Blog Posts

The Blue Effect Tour Stop & Giveaway

9/8/2014

This post is part of a virtual book tour celebrating the release of The Blue Effect by Rose Shababy. Enter to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card at the end of the post. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Blue Brennan is jaded and bitter despite her pinup girl looks and quick wit. Night after night, she scours the Seattle club scene looking for someone or something to fill the emptiness inside.

When she meets the mysterious Kasey, her world stops… literally. He claims she has the ability to control time and stuns her even further when he reveals his own gifts.

Blue is inexplicably drawn to Kasey and reluctantly enters his world filled with a new breed of humanity. They’re misfits like her, blessed or cursed with powerful abilities, struggling to hide their differences from the rest of society.

Then the group discovers a nameless, faceless sociopath with nightmarish powers; and he’s coming for Blue. She’s left reeling when they discover her gifts are the key to defeating his terrible evil and saving them all.

Now she must race against the clock to harness her own powers and save her new friends. Can she be more than a renegade? Can she be a hero too?

Enjoy an excerpt:

He held out his free hand and I reached for it without thinking. Taking the hand of this stranger seemed like the most natural thing in the world.

Our fingers touched and my skin came alive. I felt a surge of electricity as some sort of energy shot from his hand into mine, running through my whole body and back to his like an endless circuit. I couldn’t stifle the gasp that broke through my lips. I stared at him, my vision narrowing until his face and eyes and smile were the only things I could see.

The energy between us exploded outward like a wave into the crowd, through the people and everything around me stopped. The music ended like a switch had been flipped, the people froze mid-step and even the air around me seemed to stop moving.

About the Author:

Rose Shababy and her family reside in eastern Washington State. Rose grew up in the Northwest but swears she’s going to move to warmer climates someday. She’s claimed this for over 20 years, however, and has yet to move more than 75 miles away from her mother.

Rose has a deep love of all things Star Trek and yearns to travel the heavens, as well as an intense desire to be bitten by a radioactive spider. Unfortunately she sucks at science and math so she hasn’t been able bring her dreams to life, instead living vicariously through books, comics, television and film. She hopes to someday make a million dollars so she can afford to buy her way to the international space station, but she’d settle for being able to fly around the world and leap tall buildings in a single bound.

Rose also loves to cook and worked for years in a gourmet Italian grocery and deli where she learned to hone her skills. She prepares culinary masterpieces for her family, but fervently wishes the dishes would wash themselves. Especially now that her dishwashers/children are nearly grown and only one still lives at home.

Rose likes to use her free time wisely. For instance, she likes to daydream, will often read for hours until she falls asleep on the couch with an electric blanket and a warm tabby cat curled up on her hip, as well as spending cozy weekend days watching Syfy movies like Sharknado and Mega Piranha with her husband.

If Rose were a cartoon animal, she’d prefer to be a wise old owl or a sleek and sexy jaguar, but in reality she’d probably be a myopic mole with coke-bottle glasses.

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Grab your copy of this riveting tale.
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Effect-Renegade-Heroes-Book-ebook/dp/B00MRML5TY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1408478073&sr=8-1&keywords=Rose+Shababy

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-blue-effect-rose-shababy/1120028782?ean=2940046069686

iTunes:https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-blue-effect/id904295984?mt=11

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Prophecy Revealed Author Interview & Giveaway

9/5/2014

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Make sure to scroll down to rafflecoptor for your chance to win a $25 Amazon card. Follow the tour by clicking on the banner in the middle.

BLURB:
Daniel Marten crossed the Burning Sea and convinced himself that he is the Prophesied One. But what does that mean? In this second installment of the Prophecy Chronicles trilogy, Daniel forges new alliances in his bid to save Naphthali from the Emperor. He meets the Tene’breon, a magical race that has evolved to use the Weave as effortlessly as he breathes air. The leaders of this race recognize him for what he is…but they also see something more.

Naphthali has been dramatically altered by the rule of a new governor, a man whose power is tied to Daniel in a horrifying way. How far will Daniel go to save Naphthali? And what is the secret that binds his destiny with his new allies? Only time will tell in The Prophecy Chronicles: Prophecy Revealed.

Meet Author Ron Hartman

Tell us about yourself: I’m a pharmacist who lives in Iowa. I have a full-time job at a pharmacy, and a part time job directing a program at a community college that trains future pharmacy technicians. I have a wife and three kids that I adore, and I spend my free time at soccer/football/basketball/track/choir/orchestra/jazz band/boy scout events. I try to write at least one page per day, but as you can probably tell, I’m a little busy…

What was your first book? My first book was The Prophecy Chronicles: Prophecy Foretold, which came out in November of 2012. It started Daniel Marten’s tale, a man from our world brought to a strange new one when he is involved in a car accident. Everyone recognizes him as a savior from scars he sustained in the accident, but he has no idea what they’re talking about, and just wants to get back home to his family. The sequel to this is Prophecy Revealed, which is why I’m here today.

Describe your first break. I struggled with getting published for nearly two years. I worked through probably sixty different agents and publishing houses, collecting rejection after rejection. I finally got my break when an author in a neighboring town had a press release in my local paper about his book. It mentioned that his publishing house was Rogue Phoenix Press, which I contacted. They said yes! And they’ve been great to work with ever since. If you are in the market for a publisher, give Arlo and the gang a try. You won’t be disappointed.

What is your favorite genre to read? To write? I have pretty wide-ranging tastes in what I read and write, and my favorite tends to fluctuate. Currently my favorite to read is historical fiction. I love reading tales about the Roman legions, or Genghis Khan, and my favorite authors in this field are Conn Iggulden and Simon Scarrow. My favorite to write is a little trickier…I think that genres pick me for the books I write, not the other way around, and I love the genre I’m writing in when I’m writing it. Currently it would be a tie between fantasy, as I finish revisions on the last Prophecy Chronicles novel, and mainstream fiction, as I work on the rough draft of my next work. It is about forgiveness, and what happens when you do, or do not, ask for or receive it.

What makes a protagonist interesting? Internal struggle that you can relate to. For Daniel Marten, the protagonist in The Prophecy Chronicles, his inner struggles center around missing his family and the incredible guilt he feels for all the sacrifices people have made because they believe in him. If you give your protagonist real feelings, with real concerns, how can anyone help but be drawn to them?

What is the best thing about being a writer? Creating something where there was nothing before. For me it is exhilarating to put the final words to a story, to look at what you’d created and share it with the world. I don’t love that feeling quite as much as the feeling I had when I first saw each of my children, but it’s pretty close…

What makes a protagonist interesting? Internal struggle that you can relate to. For Daniel Marten, the protagonist in The Prophecy Chronicles, his inner struggles center around missing his family and the incredible guilt he feels for all the sacrifices people have made because they believe in him. If you give your protagonist real feelings, with real concerns, how can anyone help but be drawn to them?

What is the best thing about being a writer? Creating something where there was nothing before. For me it is exhilarating to put the final words to a story, to look at what you’d created and share it with the world. I don’t love that feeling quite as much as the feeling I had when I first saw each of my children, but it’s pretty close…

What is the worst thing? Putting the first words on the page! There is nothing more daunting, even when you have a full outline to follow, than deciding how exactly to open the flood gates. You know the entire story is there, but how do you get it started? That is without a doubt the hardest part.

Pantser or plotter? I’m definitely a plotter. You don’t want to get lost. If you’re driving without a map, that can be very dangerous! To me when you’re driving a story, not only do you need to know where you’re going, you need to be able to get around the twists and turns on the road without wiping out.   With The Prophecy Chronicles I had kind of a loose outline, and just let the story flow. With my newest project I’m trying out a much more focused outline. Hopefully that will help me to streamline the process and produce the tale faster.

What do you see the direction of your future writing taking? What can we expect next? Give us a little taste. As you may have guessed from the answers above, I’ve already started on another project. Currently I’m finishing the revisions of the third and final book in The Prophecy Chronicles trilogy, which will tentatively be called Prophecy Fulfilled. My new book is more mainstream fiction. Since you asked for a taste, here is the rough draft of the opening sequence:

The phone rang in the middle of the night, its strident cries shrill enough to pull the man from his numb stupor. He rolled over, ignoring the soft moan from the woman beside him, and grabbed his cell. “’Lo?” he asked, still half asleep.

            “Sam.” His name. It wasn’t asked, like “Is this Sam?” No, it was a statement, and he recognized the voice making the statement, bringing him fully awake.

            “Yeah.” His voice was barely a whisper.

            There was silence for just a second on the other end, measured out in a digitized drone. “Jester’s dead.”

            Blood rushed to Sam’s weathered cheeks, flushing his face. Suddenly his own heartbeat roared louder in his ears than the drone of the cell. His vision blurred and his hands started to shake. “I’m comin’,” he murmured. Numb fingers, shaking almost too badly to press the buttons, cancelled the call.

            Pretty exciting, huh?

Just for fun

Cat or dog person? I guess I’m more of a cat person. I prefer animals that can fend for themselves if you want to go to the Bahamas… We have two cats, named Twinkles and Rose (my daughter named them when she was in kindergarten).

Favorite food? My favorite food fluctuates with the seasons. My favorite in the summer is a Blueberry Milkshake. In the fall I like anything with pumpkin in it. In the winter I like hearty beef stew, and in the spring I like fresh salads with grilled chicken on them.

Favorite book? The Bible. How can you go wrong? It’s got every possible genre and context under the sun…

Favorite movie? Like foods, my favorite here also fluctuates. I’d say probably the closest to an all-time favorite would be Star Wars, but I watched that so much when I was young, and again now with my kids, that I’ve lost some of my passion for it. My current favorites of the last couple years have been The Heat and Guardians of the Galaxy. Both made me laugh and left me wanting more, essential for a good movie!

Favorite vacation destination (you just have to want to go there) The Alden Suites in St Pete’s Beach, Florida. It is right on the gulf, with beautiful white sand beaches. My wife and I went there once on an anniversary trip and loved it so much we took the kids back with us. When I think of the perfect get-away, that’s it. It isn’t fancy, but it’s perfect for us!

Excerpt Four

He heard a noise and turned to see Meadow Song walking across the map room at the tower's top. He walked through the double doors to greet her and was surprised when she pulled him in close, hugging him tight. His left arm wrapped around her waist and his hand slid up her back until it cupped the base of her neck. She tilted her head up as he leaned in and their lips brushed together. Her tongue darted in his mouth, soft and sweet, and a hot rush bloomed inside him as he pressed into her, responding to her need with his own. Barely registering over his desire, a part of Daniel's mind whispered, so different from Ashley. The feel, the taste…

He gasped and pulled away. Meadow Song looked up at him, her eyebrows raised. "What is it?" Her voice was low and husky.

Daniel hesitated before breathing, "I-I love you."

Her face lit with a soft radiance. "And I you. Why do you stop?"

Daniel's arm fell away and he stepped back. It was too easy to lose his resolve when he stood in her warm embrace. "I can't," he whispered. He closed his eyes and saw Ashley. "I may never see them again, but I can't betray them."

Meadow Song frowned before understanding dawned. "Ashley is a fortunate woman." Daniel's heart wrenched at the pain in her whisper.

AUTHOR INFORMATION:
Author Bio: Ron Hartman has had a life-long passion for the written word and is an avid reader. The Prophecy Chronicles are his first written works. The first in the series, Prophecy Foretold, was released in October of 2012. Prophecy Revealed is the second in the trilogy. Ron graduated from the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy in 2000 and lives in Ottumwa, Iowa with his wife and three children.

Website link: www.prophecychronicles.com

Purchase link at Rogue Phoenix Press: http://shop.roguephoenixpress.ieasysite.com/category_v3.aspx?categoryid=96

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Relationship Interview & Giveaway

9/4/2014

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Let's Meet Author A. William Benitez

Tell us about yourself:

For more than 30 years I have operated one-person businesses. Twelve years of my life were spent managing federally-assisted housing programs for local government.

I established a small publishing company to publish the books and a monthly newsletter and did consulting and public speaking on housing related topics for agencies and organizations in cities across the country. I wrote and published nine guidebooks on the subject of housing rehabilitation.

When the federal housing programs dried up I owned and operated a woodworking business for over twenty years, first in Tampa, Florida and then in Austin, Texas. During these years I began writing books about my experiences.

In 2007 I established my present publishing company, Positive Imaging, LLC. To date I have published sixteen paperback books and over a half dozen ebooks.

My computer experience dates back almost twenty years and began in response to poor technical support for our computer. I used home study to acquire A+ and Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer Certifications.

I was born and raised in Tampa, Florida and moved to Austin, Texas in 1986, where I now live with my wife, Barbara Frances.

What was your first book?

The first book I wrote was a guide to housing rehabilitation that I was asked to write by the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials. It was a detailed guide on how to operate housing programs in local communities using federal funding.

What is your favorite genre to read?

I enjoy reading mysteries but my favorite to write is business how-to. My latest book, which is about relationship, is a total departure from anything I’ve written before.

What is the best thing about being a writer?

I gives me the opportunity to share things that I learned over many years with others.

What is the worst thing?

When I don’t have enough time to write because of other work that needs to be done.

What do you see the direction of your future writing taking?

Since I enjoy sharing what I have learned I plan to continue writing in the how to genre.

What can we expect next? Give us a little taste.

I want to write a detailed book on how to operate a financially successful, one person, home based business. Unlike many such books I want to focus on simple methods that will attract customers and allow you to have time for enjoyment instead of having to work all the time.

Just for fun

I love to write so it’s fun but I also enjoy traveling. We recently returned from a wonderful trip to Paris.

Cat or dog person?

I don’t have a pet but I like cats.

Favorite food?

I love pizza but don’t get to eat it often any more so my favorite now is sausage of almost all kinds.

Favorite book?

The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran because it had such a significant impact on my life.

Favorite movie?

Doctor Zhivago, a powerful and unforgettable epic.

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

We just got back from Paris and we loved the great art and enjoyed walking throughout the city. Right now it’s my favorite.

It was great getting to know about you. Now, I'm interested in the Relatonships book.

Relationship: Notes on Love, Mutual Respect, Boundaries, Marriage, and Divorce

by A. William Benitez

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

BLURB:

When I decided to write this book on relationship, my wife Barbara was surprised and cautioned me by saying that she would not dare write such a book because it was such a varied topic with so many nuances. That scared me because she is certainly more qualified to write about relationship than I am. I hesitated for a while but then I jumped in.

I have written about relationship before but was not satisfied with the results but now, for some unknown reason, I felt ready to tackle this huge topic and feel good about this book. I don’t see myself as an expert on relationship but I definitely have a lot to share that may be helpful to others.

The book contains ten chapters including What is Love, What is A Good Relationship, Fostering and Nurturing Relationships, Harming Relationships, Mutual Respect, Boundaries, Marriage, Breakups and Divorce, Helpful Tips, Final Thoughts, plus a Preface and an Introduction.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT

What Is Love?

Love is essential in relationship so before writing this book I needed a clear definition of love. What is love? Asking that question of everyone you know and you would surely hear many different answers. I’m certain that would be the same if asking many writers on the topic. Clearly, coming up with a definition of love is no small task. Once you ask the question and come up with all those definitions of love, some will seem quite accurate and most will probably contain at least a kernel of truth. It would be no surprise if most individuals believed their definition was right on target and more accurate than most. Some may actually sound really good because they fit in with some of our own beliefs or feelings about love.

In spite of our feelings, and how good some of these definitions sound to us, some of them may not ring true to a few of us because love’s nuances vary so much with each individual. In spite of all our efforts, love sometimes seems to defy any single definition. That’s the reason I was so hesitant to create my own definition of love, but I felt it was absolutely necessary to refer to one clear definition of love, with which I was comfortable, to write this book.

Even though this wasn’t the first time I tried to develop a viable definition of love, it wasn’t any easier. With all my previous attempts it seemed that I always wound up describing what love isn't instead of what it is. That seemed like a much simpler task, but it just wasn’t enough to be part of this book and after several attempts I finally came up with the following definition.

Definition of Love

Love is caring for another person enough to want for her what she wants for herself, even if what she desires is not in your best interest.

With a quick read this may seem like a simple, straightforward definition that most can accept. After all, most individuals would say they want what is best for their partner. When reading carefully, it becomes obvious that it’s not that simple because it’s not solely about what you want for your partner, it’s actually about what your partner wants for herself. It can still be simple if you want what your partner wants but what if she wants something you don’t believe is best. Would you be willing to accept what she wants? If you believe she’s making a mistake, perhaps you could be convincing enough to change her mind. But what if you fail? Would you be willing to accept her choice under those circumstances? Does this definition still seem simple to you? Things could become much more complicated and your answer may affect the long-term happiness of your relationship.

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

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

I spent most of my adult life self-employed after being born into the construction business. I worked with my father and then spent more than ten years as a general contractor, building homes and commercial buildings in Tampa, Florida.

For more than twelve years, I worked as a government official running housing related programs for the City of Tampa and then operated a publishing and consulting business on housing rehabilitation. During this time, I testified on this subject before the Housing Sub Committee of the U.S. Congress.

For several years, I operated an active woodworking business in Tampa, Florida and then in Austin, Texas. My cabinets, furniture, and carvings can be found in private homes, businesses, churches, and public buildings in both cities.

In 1996, I began working for the Hyatt Regency in Austin, Texas and am now the IT Manager.

In 2007 I established a new writing and publishing business called Positive Imaging, LLC and now write and publish how to books.

My first marriage ended after 17 years and I remained single for 14 years before marrying Barbara. We have been married over twenty-three years and share a happy and healthy relationship. We now live in Austin, Texas.

I learned a great deal from my first marriage and other relationships. However, my years with Barbara have been my most valuable learning and growing experience and definitely the happiest years of my life.

All the information in this book is based on my first-hand experiences, a small amount of research, and discussions with other couples. I sincerely hope that you will find it of real value in your own relationships. If you have any questions or comments, please contact me at:

bill@positive-imaging.com

BUY LINKS:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/relationship-a-william-benitez/1120077591?ean=9780985687670

http://www.amazon.com/Relationship-Respect-Boundaries-Marriage-Divorce/dp/0985687673/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1409752415&sr=8-1&keywords=relationship+a.+william+benitez

http://www.angusrobertson.com.au/book/relationship-notes-on-love-mutual-respect-boundaries-marriage-and-divorce/48788268/

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Extension Book Blast & Giveaway

9/3/2014

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

After having been cryogenically suspended for eighteen years, Oliver Conroy is brought back to life and given a second opportunity to live out his dreams. Velcron Technologies assures Oliver there’s nothing wrong with the procedure. Excited to find his family and finish his senior year at Sierra Vista High, Oliver ventures out into the new and very different world.

Across town, Colby Patterson, Sierra Vista’s star student, has just experienced his soul torn from his body and returned to its original owner, Oliver, leaving him empty, void of emotion, a psychopath, who is now determined to get his soul back using any means necessary.

When Oliver comes to realize he’s being pursued by Colby he must decide what to do. Can he defend himself against this soulless psychopath? Will he be able to bring himself to murder? And, if so, what will happen to his soul?

It’s a battle for the ultimate prize – ownership of the soul.

Enjoy an excerpt:

Colby woke on the cold floor. Only one of his eyes worked. The other was sealed shut. He pulled himself to sitting, feeling every inch of his body bruised and sore. An ache radiated inside of him like his ribs were broken. Blood dripped from a cut on his lip. He smeared it away with the back of his hand, then looked down at his arms and saw burn marks seared across his flesh. The same red marks covered his legs. Colby struggled to his feet and looked around to orientate himself.

He wasn’t in the room he had been brought to when he first arrived to Velcron. This room was a laboratory—a dimly lit one. The floor was smooth and polished, with a metal table was in the middle of the room. Silver chutes lined one wall, a metal door on the other. He hobbled to the door and tried the handle not really thinking it would work, but determined to escape. He had to get out.

He remembered the last thing Dr. Wang had said. Take him to the vaporization room. Colby turned around again and saw a shower on the far end of the room—the vaporization shower. He had heard about it before. It was used in prisons to execute criminals. A prisoner would be forced into the chamber and ultrasonic lasers would shoot out of the showerhead, vaporizing the victim into oblivion. Now, they were going to try to execute him without any just cause. He hadn’t even had a trial. There was no jury, no witnesses called forth to testify, no judge to hear his version of the truth. All of it was a set-up, to annihilate him and keep him quiet, but why?

About the Author:

Young Adult author L.V. Pires lives near Baltimore, Maryland.

She graduated from Vanderbilt University with a Master’s in Education and the University of Maryland, College Park with a Bachelor's in English. She is currently working towards her MFA in Creative Writing at Spalding University.

Her work includes "The Portrait" (Gypsy Shadow Publishing), "Summer of Winged Creatures" (Saturday's Child Press) and EXTENSION (6/15/14, Crescent Moon Press).

Follow her at lisavpires.com.
Twitter at @lisavpires
www.facebook.com/lisavpires

Buy the book at Amazon.

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Return to Me Book Blast & Giveaway

9/3/2014

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This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Melissa will be awarding $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour, and a $10 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn host. Please click the banner to see additional stops on the tour.

Archaean bounty hunter Marek Coinnich isn't particularly fond of Engels. In fact, he prefers them dead. But to save his injured brother, he must enter the manor of an Engel enemy. Marek finds himself enthralled by the slave girl nursing his brother back to health. When his enchantment with her lands them in a compromising position, he refuses to let the young beauty pay for the misunderstanding with her life.

Brynn of Galhaven prefers to keep to the shadows. When she is ruined by an outsider, she barely escapes with her life and finds herself left alone in an unforgiving land. Through her struggles to survive, Brynn discovers a world she never imagined and never forgets the enemy Archaean who stole her heart.

Marek can’t deny his desire for Brynn, but these are wartimes, and she is the enemy. And though love knows no prejudice, the world in which he lives isn’t nearly as forgiving.

Now enjoy an excerpt:

Shrieking out in agony, Brynn pleaded for her life. Another lash dug in. Then another. Her wails did not deter the earl. Her body went limp.

Marek elbowed his way through the blood-crying mob. With every crack of the whip, he pushed himself farther. He would slice these fools through if it would clear him a path. The girl’s screams echoed in his ears, signaling every lash reached its target. The crowd cheered with each crack. Five lashes.

Six. He cursed, finally stumbling from the spectators. The girl hung lifeless before him.

The seventh lash cracked through the air, and the earl pulled his arm back to deliver the eighth when Marek charged. He wrenched the leather from Bertram’s fist. Bertram lost his footing and tumbled to the ground.

Marek tossed the whip aside. Standing over the shocked man, Marek pulled his sword from its sheath. The edge lingered dangerously close to the earl’s throat. He wedged the tip under the man’s chin, pressing it into the fat. “Why do your people not rush to protect you, Earl of Galhaven?” Kneeling beside Bertram, Marek chose the words with care. “Touch her again, and I will kill you. I do not make idle threats, Engel.”

Melissa grew up surrounded by dragons, fearsome creatures, and damsels in distress from the wonderful world of make believe. She soon found her ideas on paper, littering her desk with world maps and character biographies. Study hall was used not for homework but for writing. Although she pursued a career in theater, the written word never left her. Melissa now leads a full life with her husband and children (five amazingly adorable clones to be exact), though she still finds time to write in her “spare time”. She sports a Military Wife badge of honor, and is lucky enough to have her own knight in camo armor.

Melissa enjoys writing everything from sexy, sword-toting heroes to spit-out-your coffee funny romantic comedies. Her passion lies within the ancient walls of fantasy and historical romance, where anything is possible.

Melissa MacKinnon: http://melissamackinnon.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MelissaMacKinnon602?fref=ts

Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/melissa.mackinnon.author

Twitter: https://twitter.com/M_MacKinnon

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Cairns of Sainctuarie Book Blast &Giveaway

8/24/2014

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This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Hawk will be awarding a $25 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.

The Cairns of Sanctuarie: Volume I - The Bleikovat Event

Among the close-kin clans of western rural Malfesian Murians, farming and gelf ranches are long held traditions. Times are good…full barns, fat gelf calves and large families thrive among the sprawling grain fields and hamlets and the river from which they derive their name—the Feldon. Word comes with the trade caravans that times are not so good in the regions far to the east of the Feldon River: tumultuous changes stir among the remote province of Bleikovia. Old timer Feldovats shrug it off as one more squabble between clans over boundaries or water rights…too distant to affect the Feldovats.

The western clans learn too late, however, it is no local squabble. Outnumbered and unprepared, Feldovats resist a hoard bent on plunder and conquest. Days of battle along the Feldon River stain the riverbanks in green Murian blood. In the finals days of exhausted fighting, Judikar Klarvko Celo, leader of the Clan Klarvkon and the Feldovats, is fatally stabbed with the slow-acting sevon poison. The Judikar’s consort, Etikaa Klarvkaa, becomes Regentkaa, and with Celovat Field Commander Korvo Celo serving as her advisor, she leads the demoralized Feldovat survivors on a gruesome ill-prepared winter trek through high mountain passes of ice and blizzard snow in an attempt to elude the Green Dragon forces of the Bleikovats.

Etkaa’s only son, Klarvko Celo II, helps spirit Feldovat young across a remote mountain exodus to the west toward Eedov Province. The battered, starving Feldovats reach the Malfesian coast at Eedov City only to be confronted with their implacable enemy determined to destroy the remaining Klarvkon rabble. Taking passage on crowded lumbering Maalonovion freighters, Feldovats and Malfesian refugees set sail. On arrival in Maalon City they are welcomed among their Maalon hosts, and settle into a new life.

But famine and a pandemic pestilence stir old hates and nurse former ambitions. The enraged Overseers of Bleikovia move against the Klarvkons, this time bringing bloodshed to Maalonovia. The exiles from the Feldon must fight once again, but starvation and plague across the Planete Myr make it a different war from the battles along the Feldon…a na’ä blikovat…the Bleikovvat Phenomenon…an event with unexpected consequences and outcomes none could have foreseen.

Before the vendetta killing is exhausted, the Regentkaa Klarvkaa and her son are swept onto the Maalon throne, setting the Klarvkon Dynasty and the Murians toward an intergalactic golden age, and a star-flung destiny the once-agrarian Feldovats could never have envisaged.

Enjoy an excerpt:

Prologue

The catafalque of the old Dowager Queen rested on the high rostrum of the Temple of the Goddess Myraa. There was little ceremony to the cremation of dead. Yet, all that had passed made this requiem for the Dowager Queen Klarvkaa Etkaa Bremanova Celovaa Bremanova symbol of the changes which had swept so many lives. Long annuals before the ascendancy of The Klarvkon Dynasty, the massive wood and granite Temple to the Goddess Myraa had been destroyed in the firestorm which laid waste Eedov City. After the close of the Malfesian War the temple was rebuilt, but not the city. On the ashes of the old temple, immense columns rose above the sanctuary and vaults. Iridescent alabaster and polished marbles greeted pilgrim supplicants who had come to the shoreline plains washed by the Green Sea.

Dowager Etkaa Klarvkaa…wife, myäat, founding matriarch of the Klarvkon Dynasty, gave hope from a time without hope. As was her wish, she would be cremated on the soil of her birth, her ashes to mingle with those of her consort, Klarvko Celo. Their son, His Imperial Majesty Klarvko Celo the Second, decreed it would be. At the enormous base of the great temple…a spectacle never seen before and seldom since those times, came an undulating ocean of banners. Some of clans which no longer existed, even the once-hated Green Dragon of Bleikovia. Murians had taken her to their hearts…and never relinquished her. Her shadow would reach across the centuries, and measure all who followed.

About the Author:

Welsh and Scottish Hawk MacKinney grew up in northwest Arkansas, and wrote for his school newspaper. Hawk served over twenty years as a Special Staff Corps Officer with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps, a Naval Academy Blue and Gold Recruiting Officer, a Navy Recruiting Command Liaison Officer, and Commanding Officer of units attached to the U.S. Marine Corps bases at Parris Island, South Carolina and Twentynine Palms, California. Along with his postgraduate degrees, he studied English and Russian history and foreign languages. As a faculty member in major medical and veterinarian universities, he authored professional articles and taught postgraduate courses in the United States and Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem. In addition to his sci-fi series, The Cairns of Sainctuarie, Hawk MacKinney has authored the Craige Ingram Mystery Series and Moccasin Trace, a historical romance nominated for the prestigious Michael Shaara Award for Excellence in Civil War Fiction and the Writers Notes Book Award.

www.hawkmackinney.net
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-m-H8pfoh-A
Buy the book at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or Sage Words Publishing.

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Truth Unscrewed Review Tour

8/22/2014

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Lisbeth will be awarding a $15 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour plus a digital copy of her previous book The Biggest Lie to a randomly drawn commenter at each stop

BLURB:

Simon Tate is slowly allowing himself to die.

When Lana makes a throwaway comment about the people from her past, it triggers a notion in Simon’s head, an idea which should have gone no further.

Simon enlists the help of Rupert, his young nephew, to track these people down but his seemingly innocent project is on course to create carnage as it ushers his nephew towards the odious and dark world of Piet de Vos.
Where the tragic consequences can only go one way.

No-one is untouched by upheaval; no-one’s life will ever be the same again.
Lessons are learnt. Love is found, and lost.
Livelihoods are destroyed and new lives begin.
The end result, for all concerned, is not what Simon had in mind when he first planned his final gift to his friend, Lana.
But then, nothing in life goes strictly to plan, does it?

Truth Unscrewed will take you on an odyssey through Europe, Asia, North and South America, into the lives of these same people who are no longer connected to each other; but each has their own story to tell – and the fallout to deal with.

The Biggest Lie introduced you to Lana, Joe, Fran, Simon, Tess, Theo, Piet, Anita, Howard…
Now, many years later their lives have moved on. Simon’s nephew, Rupert, is sent by his uncle to discover secrets from their past, one of which - had she known at the time - could have altered the path which Lana took, all those years ago.

EXCERPT

‘Tonight, Arno spent most of the night - his birthday party, dancing with a woman who looked like she would be more at home on stage, receiving an Oscar.’

   ‘Well, that’s a bit of a shocker, Arno dancing…’

   ‘Watching him, I realised that…I don’t love him anymore.’ Fran spoke the words without emotion. ‘I saw him laughing with this woman and I knew he was more suited to her, they looked so normal together, so good…’

   ‘Is this the first time you’ve felt like this?’ Lana cringed at her words, she sounded like a marriage counsellor.

****

The man with a black Stetson lowered his head, he took hold of the microphone stand, he moved closer, with his head cocked to one side his eyes beneath the wide brim slowly scanned the vast crowd, then, with the side of his mouth close to the microphone he spoke, in a deep and sexy American drawl; ‘Ladies and gentleman…The Grand Ole Opry comes to town…in Greenwich, London.’

****

His hair smelt of coconut oil which had been boiled over and over again, making it sour and rancid. He couldn’t smell it himself, and why would he? They all had the same effusive scent; his wife Tham and their two children, they rubbed their heads with the foul smelling ointment each day to keep the lice away.

   Minh, and his wife Tham, rubbed the unction into other parts of their body too. They all washed regularly with a soap made of the same oils which had been solidified with the addition of boiled bones and organs from dead animals, birds found on the roadside before the scavenging dogs had a chance to snatch them.

   The cab of his truck had the same scent ingrained into its ripped seats and the faded cardboard insulation above his head. Most men that he knew had only one dream, but Minh had two.

****
Hazel was a woman who had no reason to shop for new clothes, her wardrobe was full of faded Laura Ashley flowered frocks from the seventies, fleece trousers with a comfortable elastic waistband, large hand-knitted woollen jumpers and scarves, a couple of old wax jackets, dungaree shorts and t-shirts for the summer; new clothes held no interest for her. Now and then she’d go to the car boot sales in Mallaig and come back ladened with her “new” clothes.

   She even begrudged spending a few pounds on getting her wiry grey hair cut, so she let it grow until she could swing it over her shoulder; she would then snip a couple of inches off the length. She would plait it and bun it and push it under her woollen hat. Hazel was happy and content with her life and longed for nothing more than that which she had.

**** Review
Truth Unscrewed
by
Lisbeth Foye

Did you enjoy Joe and Lana from The Biggest Lie? Ever wonder what happened to them? Truth Unscrewed gives you a chance to check in on Lisbeth Foye’s characters. Truth Unscrewed while it uses some of the same familiar characters, it is a stand alone book.

The premise is everyone has a story to tell, but some of Lana’s friends have very interesting stories. Rupert, Simon’s nephew, sets out to investigate these stories of love lost, direction lost, and lives lived. In the revisiting of the stories, danger is unearthed. It also gives Lana a chance to reflect on her choices. How would her life been better if she’d made different choices?

The characters have the feel of ordinary people who suffered the consequences for their decisions. This lovely book ties all the individual stories and choices together. A thoughtful read that shows how actions can have a domino effect. It should appeal to those who enjoy mysteries, fiction, slice of life tales, and suspense stories.

AUTHOR INFORMATION:
Lisbeth Foye lives in England, she is the author of The Biggest Lie, Luca and, her latest novel, TRUTH UNSCREWED.

From a very young age Lisbeth was convinced that, one day, she would be a writer – she is now very happy to let everyone know, that she was right to never let go of that dream.

She would like to be very author-like, and say that even before she takes up her pencil to write, that she plans each book with a beginning, middle and end - but that’s not how it is, once the first words are written those darn characters come to life and re-write every thought that she had planned in her head.

Lisbeth likes to write in pencil directly, into her precious notebooks, before typing the story up on her laptop in sections and chapters, which she then flourishes out as she types.

Lisbeth loves the smell of a chilly autumnal morning, getting into a freshly made bed and knowing that she is loved by those she loves in return.

Truth Unscrewed is available from your local Amazon site or
Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/433869

Follow Lisbeth on Twitter @LisbethFoye
Blog – check it out: http://lisbeth-foye.com/
Come along and like: https://www.facebook.com/LisbethFoyeAuthor?ref=hl

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Lady Beauchamp's Proposal Book Blast & Giveaway

8/20/2014

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This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding a $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn winner via the rafflecopter at the end of this post during the tour. Click on the banner to visit other stops on this tour.

A runaway countess finds love when she least expects it…but she can’t hide from her past forever.

Elizabeth, Lady Beauchamp, fears for her life. When she discovers her dissolute and long-estranged husband has syphilis—and he wants to beget an heir no matter the cost—she flees to a remote part of Scotland to begin a new life as the widowed governess, Mrs. Beth Eliott at Eilean Tor Castle.

When Mrs. Eliott unexpectedly arrives on his doorstep, the reclusive and recently widowed Marquess of Rothsburgh is both irritated and intrigued. No longer in need of a governess—his young daughter now resides with his sister’s family in Edinburgh—he proposes the beautiful widow fill a position of a different kind…

Torn between staying true to her marriage vows and her wanton attraction to the devilishly handsome marquess, Elizabeth struggles against the temptation to become his mistress. But living a lie is not easy when you have fallen in love. And secrets always have a way of coming out…

Enjoy an excerpt:

Harcourt House, London, September 1815

Elizabeth sat before her cherrywood dressing table, determinedly brushing her hair with slow methodical strokes, trying in vain to relax. The simple routine always used to be soothing, a balm to her taut nerves.

But not anymore.

Especially not tonight.

The grandfather clock in the hall outside suddenly heralded the hour. Midnight.

With a shaky sigh, she placed the brush upon the silver tray and glanced at her candle-lit reflection. A grave young woman stared back at her; shadows as dark as bruises marred the usually pale skin beneath her grey eyes. She was so tired. And so anxious, she felt as brittle as a dried-out birch twig that was going to snap at any moment.

But she couldn’t break now. All going well, in six hours she would be gone from here in a hired cab that was scheduled to arrive in the mews behind the servants’ entrance where her travelling trunk had been carefully stowed. Despite her fatigue, she doubted that she would be able to sleep at all between now and then.

There was too much at stake.

The unexpected sound of her bedroom door opening made her start. In the dark shadows behind her, the reflection of her husband’s tall, lean frame appeared. He paused on the threshold and by the way he leaned against the door frame it was obvious that he was drunk—not an unusual circumstance for this time of night. Elizabeth knew that he’d probably spent the best part of the evening at his club or some gaming hell. But what was unusual, what caused her heart to hammer against her breast, was the fact that he had come to her room at all.

Hugh hadn’t entered her bedchamber for more than a year.

She tried to read his expression, judge his mood. Desperately tried to fathom what could have prompted this unexpected nocturnal visitation. But Hugh’s blue eyes, indeed the sculpted planes of his entire face, were hidden in shadow.

“Elizabeth.” Pushing away from the door, he prowled toward her bed, then sank onto the pale blue silk counterpane with a heavy sigh. The lingering odor of port and stale cigar smoke assailed her, but she forced herself to remain still, as she watched—and waited, her stomach cramping with fear. It made no sense at all that he had come to her, instead of seeking out the more titillating company of his latest mistress or at the very least a prostitute—his usual custom at this late hour.

Unless…Does he know what I have planned?

Despite her rising panic, Elizabeth was suddenly struck by the realization that her husband was uncharacteristically maudlin. Turning to face him, she was acutely conscious of the fact that she only wore a thin, white cotton nightrail. Although it buttoned all the way to her throat and had long sleeves, she felt vulnerable. Exposed. It bothered her that her feet were bare.

But she couldn’t afford to show any weakness.

“Are you all right, my lord?” she asked carefully, forcing the words past her tight, dry throat. It seemed safer than asking—what do you want?—or—are you here to stop me leaving you? She hoped to God he hadn’t uncovered her secret. She must tread carefully. Her life depended upon it.

Amy Rose Bennett has always wanted to be a writer for as long as she can remember. An avid reader with a particular love for historical romance, it seemed only natural to write stories in her favorite genre. She has a passion for creating emotion-packed—and sometimes a little racy—stories set in the Georgian and Regency periods. Of course, her strong-willed heroines and rakish heroes always find their happily ever after.

As an unpublished author, Amy has been a finalist in contests in both Romance Writers of Australia and Romance Writers of America. In 2013 and 2014, she has achieved a place in the top three of Romance Writers of Australia’s Emerald Award, and her debut Regency romance novel—‘Lady Beauchamp’s Proposal’—was the winning entry in the historical section of two Romance Writers of America Chapter Contests in 2013—the Chicago North Fire and Ice Contest and the San Francisco Heart to Heart Contest.

Amy is happily married to her own Alpha male hero, has two beautiful daughters, a rather loopy Rhodesian Ridgeback and a Devonshire Rex cat with attitude. She is a Speech Pathologist, but is currently devoting her time to her one other true calling—writing romance.

Contact information:

Author Website: http://amyrosebennett.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amyrosebennett.author

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmyRoseBennett

Buy Links:

Amazon US store: http://www.amazon.com/Lady-Beauchamps-Proposal-Rose-Bennett-ebook/dp/B00MMVK13G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1407882672&sr=8-1&keywords=lady+beauchamp%27s+proposal

Amazon Australian store: http://www.amazon.com.au/Lady-Beauchamps-Proposal-Rose-Bennett-ebook/dp/B00MMVK13G/ref=zg_bs_2537591051_21

Amazon UK store: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lady-Beauchamps-Proposal-Rose-Bennett-ebook/dp/B00MMVK13G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1407886324&sr=8-1&keywords=lady+beauchamp%27s+proposal

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/466689

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lady-beauchamps-proposal-amy-rose-bennett/1120113778?ean=2940150334076

BookStrand: http://www.bookstrand.com/lady-beauchamps-proposal

All Romance EBooks: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-ladybeauchamp039sproposal-1592868-340.html

Secret Cravings Publishing Store: http://store.secretcravingspublishing.com/index.php?main_page=book_info&cPath=10&products_id=925

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50 Shades Of Fur Book Blast & Giveaway

8/19/2014

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This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding a signed copy of 50 Shades of Fur by Missy Barkalot, as told to Belinda Stevens to a randomly drawn winner via the rafflecopter at the end of this post during the tour.

A delightful, yet somewhat bawdy “tail” about Missy Barkalot, a petite rust-colored long-haired Dachshund and the apple of her eye, Humphrey B (aka “Hump”), and the other characters, both dogs and cats, who are frequent guests at Doggie Bath. Missy is pursued by Ralph the Bulldog, but she only has eyes for Hump, who was seduced by the glamorous toy poodle, CoCo. It turns out CoCo was a victim of her environment, as her owner had some kinky habits using a gray tie. Bondage with leashes, bite marks, jive-talking cats and cross-dressing Dobermans – not to mention a Doggie Blues band – keep the story rolling as Missy Barkalot uses her feminine wiles to woo Hump away from CoCo. DoggieBath has a little bit of everything – sexual intrigue, rock-n-roll and blues – canine style, and of course, a little weed. This fun romp through the world of Missy and Hump make a “furfect” read! If you love animals, you will love “50 Shades Of Fur.”

Enjoy an excerpt:

You would think it was Valentine’s day, the way the romances were emerging among the guests at Doggie Bath. It was obvious something was going on between Roxie and Bubba. She followed him around without her herd of Spaniels and Bubba didn’t seem to mind. The two spent hours softly growling, licking each other’s faces and of course, you know. Everyone was happy they were an item, not to mention the welcomed end to cougar stalking. Without their leader, the over-the-hill gang disbanded. Those females started looking for fur separately.

Even Lance found love with a two-year-old German Shepherd. They shared a water bowl, and wore matching pink and purple outfits. Lance’s new love fit right in with the Blues Dogs. His name was Mozart and he was musical. It wasn’t long before he joined the group. Those paws of his could bang out some serious R & B on the ivories.

Belinda J. Stevens was born in Yazoo City, Mississippi, the gateway to the Mississippi Delta, in 1948. She grew up in the turbulent sixties, and has a true appreciation for the difficulties experienced Katherine in her first novel, "Just Out of Reach.” A radical departure from her first novel, her lastest effort is a fun parody, “50 Shades of Fur by Missy Barkalot, as told to Belinda Stevens.”

An attorney by profession, Belinda tells the story of young love and dark secrets in the world of the Doggie Bath. Canines, cats and even a skunk with a prestigious lineage converge for a bawdy “tale” that will keep you laughing.

Belinda is a graduate of Belhaven University and earned a Masters in Social Science and a Law Degree from Mississippi College. From 1987-1997 she served as Special Assistant to Mississippi Attorney General Mike Moore. She resides in Brandon, Mississippi with her dog Humprey B., and practices law in Yazoo City where she is a Public Defender.

Learn more about Belinda at www.belindastevens.com, or follow her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/belindastevensauthor.

You can order her book at http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=50%20Shades%20of%20Fur%2C%20Belinda%20Stevens

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The Honeymoon Prize Tour Stop & Giveaway

8/18/2014

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This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Melissa will award a $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn winner via the rafflecopter at the end of this post during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

NOTE: This book is on sale for only $0.99 during the tour. Why not grab yourself a copy today?

He needs a wife...

Single bodyguard Nick Calhoun has been given an ultimatum by his boss--find a wife or lose his cushy, high-paying job. Clients' wives are hitting on him and putting Nick, and his boss, in hot water. But monogamy? He's never been a white picket fence kind of guy, and he's not about to embrace the happily married lifestyle now. He needs a wife who doesn't care about his steamy, extra-curricular love life...and he knows just the woman to fit the bill.

She needs a home...

Adalaide Sinclair spent years caring for her ill grandmother. Upon Grammy's death, she's stunned to find herself evicted from the only home she's ever known and labeled a thief by her inheritance-hungry family. Addie needs to find a place to live and a job--fast. So when her childhood friend, Nick, proposes a no-sex marriage of convenience, she puts her dreams of true love and happily-ever-after on hold. Finding Prince Charming can wait a little longer, right?

But will their friendship survive the honeymoon?

When Nick and Addie unexpectedly win a dream honeymoon, they decide to go their separate ways during the ten-day vacation. Too bad a camera crew is waiting for them at the tropical paradise. Acting like a head-over-heels bride and groom for reality TV wreaks havoc on their no-sex agreement...and blurs the line between fantasy and reality. Will Nick and Addie remain married in name only, or will a romantic honeymoon for show turn them into true newlyweds?

Enjoy an excerpt:

“I feel like a Miss, not a Mrs.”

“Well, you’ve got five years to get used to the title.”

Five years.

That suddenly seemed like a long time to play house. Dating while caring for her grandmother had been impossible. She’d tried a few times over the years. But given up. Still she believed in love, the forever kind that would last a lifetime. Someday she would find that.

Someday . . .

He touched her arm. “Hey, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing, just . . .” In spite of her doubts, Addie hoped Nick understood the depth of her gratitude. A week ago, she’d forgotten her key to Emily’s apartment and fallen asleep on the welcome mat leaning against the front door, waiting for her friend to return from a date. “Thanks for everything. I owe you big time.”

“Thank you.” He flashed her a charming smile that sent female hearts aflutter, brought women to their knees at bars and clubs, and convinced Addie to accept his marriage-of convenience proposal. Not that saying yes took much convincing. Desperation had a way of making a person see the brighter side to any option, including marrying her closest guy friend.

“Without legal proof I was a one woman guy, my boss would ship me off to some boring assignment guarding a building or I’d be looking for a new job.” “I’d be homeless.”

He winked. “You win.”

“We both win and get a free honeymoon out of the deal.”

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: @melissamcclone

Buy link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LE4Q370