Victoria will be awarding a $25 (grand prize) gift card with two gift cards for $15 each; the cards would for either Amazon or Smashwords (winner’s choice).
 
BLURB:   
For the last fifteen years, Rose “Manny” Mankowski has been a very good girl.  Now, at the age of 45, she’s questioning her choices and feeling more and more disconnected from her own life.  When she’s passed over for promotion and her much younger new boss implies Manny’s life will never change, something snaps.  In the blink of an eye, she’s quit her job, sold her house, cashed in her pension, and she’s leaving town on a six month road trip.

After placing an ad for a travelling companion, she’s joined in her mid-life crisis by Zeke Powell, the cynical, satirical, most read – and most controversial – blogger for the e-zine, What Women Want.  Zeke’s true goal is to expose Manny’s journey as a pitiful and desperate attempt to reclaim her lost youth – and increase his readership at the same time.

Now, armed with a bagful of destinations, a fistful of maps, and an out-spoken imaginary friend named Harvey, Manny’s on a quest to rediscover herself – and taking Zeke along for the ride.

REVIEW ****

A Life Less Ordinary is Victoria Bernadine’s debut novel about a desk-bound employee who longs for adventure after not receiving a well-deserved promotion. Manny, the heroine, could be any woman of a certain age who suddenly discovers life has reach its summit and is barreling down the other side full speed.  The controlled Manny has her life timed right down to minute for all the good it does her.

After eschewing a husband and family, and devoting herself to her career, her boss promotes a young woman big on cleavage and short on experience. He excuses his behavior by saying his new hire will help the department achieve more ignoring the fact that Manny’s department is the highest achieving unit in the firm. The straw that breaks Manny’s will to serve is when the new hire refers to her as being ancient. The words, “I quit,” pop out before she even considered them.

Manny cashes in her savings, advertised for a male traveling companion and plans to discover herself by traveling. Her friend and sister battle between wanting to discourage her or applaud her.

Her companion is a closed mouthed New Zealand bloke named Zeke. One of the reasons he is so reticent to say much about himself that he is using the trip as fodder for his online blog where he ridicules the foolishness of middle age women trying to find themselves. It is obvious from the get go that despite movie star good looks, Zeke is horrible at relationships.

The third member of this troupe is an imaginary man named Harvey. He’s Manny’s constant companion who often offers witty comments and insights. He changes outfits and attitudes with Manny’s mood. The three of them head out across the United States in a camper on cross-purposes.

A Life Less Ordinary often touches on the lives of Manny’s sister, Daisy, and friend, Rebecca, who at the beginning seem to have more excitement in their lives than she does. It also delves into the infertility issues of his Zeke’s producer, Leah, and her spouse. I was okay with the sister and friend side stories, but the infertility story was too much. It felt like filler too me, which was unneeded. The story would be great with just Manny, Zeke and Harvey.

A Life Less Ordinary is a fun tale that is easy to read. It gives you a different view on what it means to be a middle-aged woman. I was little confused on what genre it was so I am calling it women’s fiction because Amazon did. I think women of a certain age will gobble this book up in one setting. I would not expect anyone under thirty to get it. I’d also keep my eye on Ms. Bernadine because this is only her first book, I can hardly wait to see what she has in store for us.




EXCERPT: 
“All I ever wanted was a life less ordinary.”

Manny lay flat on her back, eyes wide, staring at the ceiling while she waited for her clock to hit 6:00. Another day of work, she thought. Another day older and deeper in debt.

She had the alarm timed to the millisecond. The jarring noise had barely begun when she clicked it off. She sighed then threw back the covers and got out of bed.

She padded into the bathroom, glanced without interest in the full-length mirror that doubled as her shower doors and took her morning inventory.

Plain face? Check.

Looking tired? Check.

Thirty pounds overweight? Check.

Dark circles under deer-caught-in-headlights eyes? Check and check.

She shook her head at her limp, mousy hair and wondered when she’d gotten so old.

She sighed in resignation then conjured up her Perfect Fantasy Man–or Harvey, as she liked to call him–to give her a morning lift. She cocked her head to one side as she stared into the mirror and imagined him standing behind her. She smiled at the handsome man, and he smiled back, putting his hands on her shoulders. Everything about him was warm, in stark contrast to the cold shades of grey in which she lived her life. He had warm brown eyes, warm brown skin, and a warm smooth voice that always reminded her of golden honey. Today his hair was black with greying temples, and yes, even that seemed warm to her.

He was perfect, everything she considered ideal in a man–and extra-perfect, of course, because he was a fantasy. Just the thought of trying to establish a relationship with an actual man felt too much like work.

She sighed and Harvey disappeared.

“Instead I ended up in a rut–everything planned and executed to the minute.”
 

AUTHOR INFORMATION:
Victoria Bernadine (a pseudonym) is, as the saying goes, a “woman of a certain age”. After twenty-something years of writer’s block, she began writing again in 2008. She began with fanfiction about a (now-cancelled) TV show called Jericho and particularly about the characters of Heather Lisinski and Edward Beck. From there, she expanded into writing original fic and she hasn’t stopped since.

Victoria enjoys reading all genres and particularly loves writing romantic comedy and post-apocalyptic science fiction. What those two have in common is anybody’s guess.

She lives in Edmonton with her two cats (The Grunt and The Runt). A Life Less Ordinary is the first novel she felt was good enough to be released into the wild.

Victoria can be contacted through Love of Words Publishing Inc. (loveofwords@shaw.ca) or through her brand new blog at http://victoriabernadine.wordpress.com/.

A Life Less Ordinary is available for sale on Amazon in both Kindle and hard copy formats at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AMJBOSQ.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BLURB:
When Eleanor Brice unexpectedly wins the heart of Gregory Desmarais, Crown Prince of Cartheigh, she's sure she's found her happily-ever-after. Unfortunately, Prince Charming has a loose grip on his temper, a looser grip on his marriage vows, and a tight grip on the bottle.

Eight years of mistreatment, isolation and clandestine book learning hardly prepare Eleanor for life at Eclatant Palace, where women are seen, not heard. According to Eleanor's eavesdropping parrot, no one at court appreciates her unladylike tendency to voice her opinion. To make matter worse, her royal fiancé spends his last night of bachelorhood on a drunken whoring spree. Before the ink dries on her marriage proclamation Eleanor realizes that she loves her husband's best friend, former soldier Dorian Finley.

Eleanor can't resist Dorian's honesty, or his unusual admiration for her intelligence, and soon both are caught in a dangerous obsession. She drowns her confusion in charitable endeavors, but the people's love can't protect her from her feelings. When a magical crime endangers the bond between unicorns, dragons, and the royal family, a falsely accused Eleanor must clear her own name to save her life. The road toward vindication will force a choice between hard-won security and an impossible love.

The Cracked Slipper is a book club friendly fairytale retelling in the vein of Gregory Maguire, with a dash of romance. Set in a pseudo-renaissance, corset-and-petticoats enchanted kingdom, The Cracked Slipper brings a magical twist to women's fiction.

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

Excerpt Two:

"The dragon stood and lumbered toward the first cave. It passed the other unicorns, slowing every few steps, and they responded with reassuring whinnies. The next dragon appeared, followed by two more of Tremor’s unicorn guides. The first dragon called to the second, who screamed once in return. Both creatures seemed eager to get underground.

The transfer continued for nearly an hour without much fanfare. Eleanor thought she must have miscounted when there was a break in the procession.

“This will be the last one,” said Gregory. “I wonder what’s taking so long.”

Tremor paced at the mouth of the cave. Dark smoke rolled from under the ground. Tremor sent two of his fellows down below, and when after a few minutes they did not return, Thromba called to him to send two more.

Without warning, and with an earsplitting scream, and a new dragon burst from the cave. Stubby horns revealed her as a doe.

“Ho!”Gregory yelled. “Nestlings!”

Three baby dragons, about the size of saddle horses, squealed and circled their mother’s feet. She screamed and shot fire at the wall of men and unicorns. The men fell back. The unicorns just shut their eyes. As Gregory steered Eleanor toward the cabin she caught a flash of white behind the dragon’s legs.

Teardrop had somehow been pushed from the line. She was pinned between the raging dragon and the canyon walls. As the dragon backed and reared, her massive tail, all wrathful muscle, swung in a deadly pendulum.

“Teardrop!”Eleanor screamed.

Teardrop zigged, looking for a way around the mother dragon. The dragon’s tail came down hard and clipped the mare across the shoulder. Teardrop slammed into the rock wall. She cowered, stunned and heaving.

“Teardrop!”Eleanor yanked free of Gregory’s grip.

“Eleanor, stop!”

She ran past the startled guards and into the chaos.

“Get back!” Tremor snorted.

“I won’t!” She yelled to be heard over the dragon. “I’m going to help her.”

“You can’t, and we must control this situation.”

“I will, damnit!” She tried to get around the stallion but he stepped in front of her again. “Get out of my way!” she stormed.

He lowered his head. “If you insist on this foolery at least let me help you.”

Gregory was shoving past the guards, but she climbed onto Tremor’s back before he could reach her.

“Eleanor!”Gregory screamed.

She clung to Tremor’s mane as he raced at the dragon. Her eyelashes stuck together in the blinding heat. Tremor dodged and wheeled as the dragon spit fire. Two other unicorns flanked them.

Tremor skidded to a stop. Eleanor leapt off and ran to Teardrop.

“Hurry!” Tremor called.

Foam dripped from Teardrop’s muzzle as she pressed against the wall. She wasn’t bleeding—her thick hide was nearly impenetrable—but a raised welt marred her shoulder. Her eyes rolled.

“Teardrop,”Eleanor tried to keep her voice calm over the screams of the dragon as it went after Tremor. “Help me. Take me back to Gregory.”

Teardrop swung her head at Eleanor’s voice. Her dark eyes came into focus. “Why are you here?” she whispered. “You will be killed.”

“So you must take me out.”

Teardrop nodded, and Eleanor grabbed her mane and pulled herself onto the mare’s back.“Go, now,” she called. “I need you to get me past this dragon.”

Teardrop scraped at the ground with one hoof and pricked her ears. She watched Tremor and his helpers and the mother dragon. She spotted an opening and dove for it. The dragon spun and swung her tail again. Eleanor held on as Teardrop leapt. They barely cleared the spinning spikes.

They came to a stop past the line of unicorns, and Eleanor’s legs gave out when she slid to the ground. Gregory caught her, cursing and kissing her.

“Dammit, Eleanor,” he said. “You’re the most stubborn, disobedient, brave, exasperating woman.”

She sat on the ground with her head between her knees. The magicians bustled around Teardrop. They tried to examine her injury, but she snorted them away. She stood over Eleanor, breathing down the back of her neck.

Eleanor raised her head as Tremor called a dozen of his fellows into the skirmish. The doe blew fire, but more unicorns pressed in and she backed down. Her children squeaked and smoked around her. Tremor stepped from the line and knelt on one knee. To Eleanor’s amazement one of the nestlings crept out from under its mother’s belly and slunk toward him. The doe hissed a warning. Tremor stood, and gently touched the baby dragon with his horn.

The doe exhaled a long blast of fire, but this time there was no fight in it. The other baby dragons came forward, and Tremor touched them all before nudging them toward the new cave with his muzzle. Their mother let our several low whistles and followed them.

Once the doe disappeared under the ground, Thromba ran to Eleanor and Gregory. “Dear HighGod, sire,” he said. “It was a botch-up, and the princess nearly roasted.”

“No, Thromba,” Gregory said. “We both know you can never tell how the does with nestlings will react. Last year we lost three men to a new mother. Not so bad, really.” He knelt beside Eleanor.

“Are you angry with me?” she asked.

“No,”he said. “How can I be angry? But you must be more careful.”

He helped her stand on her shaky legs. She ran a hand over Teardrop’s withers and the white hide twitched under her fingers. “Does it hurt?” she asked.

“Some, but we heal quickly.”

“Princess,”said an airy voice behind her. It was Tremor.

“Thank you,” she said. “I’m sorry if I made things more complicated.”

Tremor lowered his head. “I thank you,” he said. “For reminding me of what is important.”

AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Stephanie Alexander grew up in the suburbs of Washington, DC, the oldest of three children. Drawing, writing stories, and harassing her parents for a pony consumed much of her childhood. After graduating from high school in 1995 she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the College of Charleston, South Carolina. She returned to Washington, DC, where she followed a long-time fascination with sociopolitical structures and women’s issues to a Master of Arts in Sociology from the American University. She spent several years as a Policy Associate at the International Center for Research on Women, a think-tank focused on women’s health and economic advancement.

Stephanie embraced full-time motherhood after the birth of the first of her three children in 2003. After six wonderful years buried in diapers and picture books she returned to her childhood passion and wrote her own fairytale. Her family put down permanent southern roots in Charleston in 2011. Stephanie is an adjunct professor of Sociology at the College of Charleston.

www.thecrackedslipper.com

blog.thecrackeslipper.com

www.facebook.com/thecrackedslipper

twitter: @crackedslipper

http://www.amazon.com/The-Cracked-Slipper-Series-ebook/dp/B007FLG8KS/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1364778060&sr=1-1&keywords=the+cracked+slipper

BLURB:
She’s entered a world where blood, sex, and cash rules everything around her.

What do a four hundred-year-old vampire and a mid-level necromancer have in common? Money. Jeliyah needs it to pay off the people who trained her and Teaghan enjoys killing to get it. Together they hunt rogue vampires—assuming Teaghan can focus on something other than getting her in bed and Jeliyah doesn’t put a bullet in him first.

The uneasy partnership promises to be lucrative until Teaghan and Jeliyah get on the wrong side of a feud. Jeliyah is forced to use forbidden magic and finds herself bound to a man she should hate—but whom she can’t stop fantasizing about.

Every second they stay alive fuels a growing desire Jeliyah is unwilling to deny. Is it the magic? The danger? The only way to get the answers she craves is to outrun the enemy or kill them. She knows Teaghan’s preference but it’s Jeliyah who must put their mind-blowing sex aside and make the choice that will decide both their fates.

Excerpt #2

Teaghan knew it. A coup was about to happen. He didn’t know the players and didn’t care. So long as the bills got paid, the person in power didn’t matter. From one leader to the next, nothing ever changed.

He said, “Fine. You want me. I get that. Leave the necromancer out of it. No one would miss me but take her out and you’ll have the higher-ups gunning for you and your boss.”

“You’re right, the higher-ups would be quite upset if we killed the necromancer, and that wasn’t my intention. The others wanted to have some fun with her before handing her over but that was all.”

Jeliyah gripped the door handle and her eyes widened.

Teaghan said, “The higher-ups won’t overlook you molesting one of their own.”

“That’s where you’re wrong. They’ve given us permission to do with her as we please so long we return her to them intact.”

Jeliyah yelled, “They would never do that.”

Fredrick chuckled. “Well, hello, Jeliyah. Ephraim tells me you smell of vampire seed and blood. Recent seed. Old blood. I had thought you would hold out against Teaghan much longer given your initial reaction to him. Either I overestimated you or underestimated him.” He made the vocal equivalent of a shrug. “Doesn’t matter since I felt the need to pass on the news of your little indiscretion to Hirsch, who then relayed it to the higher-ups. They are very displeased that a high-middle class such as yourself would give a vampire permission to invade her body. That displeasure graduated to anger when I informed them of the blood sharing as well.”

Oh please, no. No. No.

Teaghan grabbed Jeliyah’s hand in a firm grip to anchor her to the here and now. She clutched at him and stared at his profile. Tears rimmed her eyes. He knew she was holding it together by a thin thread of will. Images of the bleeding chamber raced through her mind. She was imagining herself in the place of the person she’d seen when she was young.

He told her through their link, I’ve got you, Jeliyah. Nothing’s going to happen.

Fredrick said, “Stop the car and give up. Make this easier for all of us.”

“Denied.” Teaghan released Jeliyah’s hand so he could snatch the phone off the dash and hit the end button.

Jeliyah asked, “What do we do? They want you dead and me—” Her words choked to a halt and she pulled in a shuddering breath. A single tear slipped down her cheek.

He retrieved her hand and squeezed it. “Easy there, necromancer. Don’t fall apart on me now.”

“Why? All you did was kill a rogue.”

“That’s why. It’s a changing of the guard. It happens every few centuries. Family infighting. They involve people from neighboring families who have been promised some little tidbit or other to help the wannabe head take power. It’s a story as old as the vampires. Seems you and I got in the way.”

Teaghan changed his destination. The enforcers probably knew which hotel they’d used by now and might be lying in wait. He steered the car back on the highway. If one family wanted him dead then his only protection was to seek refuge in another family’s territory.

While a risky proposition without petitioning for entrance first, the destination Teaghan had in mind came with a sponsor. He released Jeliyah’s hand once more to bring up a number he hadn’t called in years. He hoped it still worked.

 






















AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Zenobia Renquist lives in her imagination. When not traveling through her fantasy worlds, she can be found in Hawaii living with her husband and two cats.

She is an Air Force brat turned Air Force wife, which means she’s accustomed to travel and does it whenever possible (so long as she doesn’t have to fly). Her favorite pastime is torturing her characters on their way to happily-ever-after for the enjoyment of her readers.

On the few occasions her muse flees the scene of the crime, Zenobia likes to read (comics, manga, and romance), go to the movies, play a few levels of whichever puzzle game has hijacked her interest or experiment with a new chain maille weave.

website - http://zenobiarenquist.com
blog - http://blog.dreneebagby.com
FB - https://www.facebook.com/Author.DRBagby.ZRenquist
Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/zenobiarenquist

Buy Links:

Ellora’s Cave: http://www.ellorascave.com/cream.html

BLURB:
Shannon Running Deer is American Indian by blood, but he has forsaken his people's ancient ways to embrace the "modern" world as a wealthy, highly successful trauma surgeon.

His comfortable existence begins to unravel when, seemingly by chance, Shannon finds himself gradually drawn into the past. Pursued by an ancient evil, he knows he can change the future, if he can survive the past.

In the tradition of Diana Gabaldon, S.R. Howen's MEDICINE MAN is a distinctive and atmospheric novel full of spirituality, mystical time travel, romance, passion, and suspense.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt One:

   The child blinked her large eyes. Not green now. Not glowing. He’d been cursed on every hunt. Others landed fat deer, numerous quail, fat rabbits and even the old men came upon a lost buffalo bull. He came home with a thin half-starved squirrel, if luck favored him at all.

  His wife cowered in the snow; her silent sobs made her shoulders shake. Her fault. How else could this have happened? She never wanted the others in their home. The mid-wife had never come to see them, and his wife never went into the village center. She always stayed out here, away from everyone else.

  He knew what he had to do. He couldn’t lose what little he had. When he started towards the circle of lodges and the bright central fire of the meeting circle, his wife scrambled to her feet and started to follow him, making noises that echoed in his head, but didn’t form words. She became an annoying insect swarm of sound, and he smacked that sound away, taking step after step through the blowing snow. He’d leave the child. He couldn’t kill it. No, that would only make whatever evil had spawned it angrier. If he took his wife and his belongings and left, the blizzard would hide them, no one would even miss them if they ever realized they were there to start with.

  And the evil grasped in his hand would be someone else’s problem.

REVIEW ****

When I heard of the book, Medicine Man, I thought of the movie with Sean Connery. In a way, they were similar because I loved both of them for some of the same reasons. First things, first, Medicine Man: Chief of All Time is a fiction novel by S.R. Howen.

Dr. Shannon Running Deer leaves the reservation and tribal ways and beliefs to become a trauma surgeon. The reservation represents the old world, which he considers his past while medicine is his future. A strange thing happens as he evolves into a brilliant trauma surgeon. He finds that there is mysticism in healing that does not rely on textbooks or research studies. This realization causes him to question putting aside his total refutation of ancient traditions, especially the healing ones.

Morning Dove is the romantic lead who often appears to be more femme fatale than girlfriend. Will she distract Running Dear from his true destiny with her body and beauty? Although, Morning Dove continues to show up, this is not her story.

How is Medicine Man: the Chief of all Time similar to Medicine Man, the movie? They both have strong male doctor leads. Both are told from the doctor’s POV in first person. Both doctors are willing to abandon traditional medicine for a walk on the tribal side. Both men are paired with beautiful woman as they travel a voyage of healing and self-discovery.

  Medicine Man is a book that abandons probably what most people think of as a western book to embrace actual Native American practices and beliefs as opposed to movie ones. This might make it a more difficult read for some since people tend to go with what they are familiar with. On the other hand, it is an enjoyable trip off the ordinary path.

Medicine Man should appeal to those who enjoy Native American Tales, mysticism, and coming of age and cultural issues. Two thumbs up from this reviewer.

BLURB:
 Contemporary witch Cara Augustine goes international and inter-dimensional, from San Francisco to France to an alternate Eden-like
  dimension, in this second book of the Synemancer series.

 Cara is a fugitive, pursued by the Portalkind police for breaking a
major covenant. When she accidently made a werewolf her witch’s familiar, it amounted to enslaving a human. And the punishment is death. On the run for her life, she and her companions stumble into a strange paradise dimension. But they quickly find the dangerous world is filled with strange creatures, deadly and beautiful. And, because she’s quickly learning a Synemancer’s life is never simple.  Cara has to deal with an
amorous Nephilim (half-angel half-witch), a dangerously deranged French
werewolf, and the darkly handsome Nightkind she just might love. Each powerful supernatural man has his own reasons for wanting to possess Cara, body and soul. But if the Portalkind police catch her, she’ll be in a fight for her life.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 Excerpt One:
The nape of my neck tingled with the familiar sensation of being stalked. I glanced over my shoulder to see my bodyguard, Azrael. He was named after the angel of death, but he was no angel—in any sense of the word. I used to think it was a nickname. It wasn’t. We were both witches, but he came with specialized security training.  He watched me from his favorite indoor spot halfway up the stairs to the second story of our Berkeley hills house. His sky blue eyes stared at me hungrily.That stare reminded me of a hawk watching a tasty mouse.  Irritated, I took a last bite from my nearly finished apple, turned, and threw the core at him with deadly precision. I’d been practicing using non-magical self-defense skills. My magic skills were unreliable to say the least.The apple core flew between the wooden posts directly at his beautiful face. He deftly caught it in a blur of motion, put it up to his nose, inhaled deeply, and slowly licked the apple. His eyes never left me.

REVIEW  ( 3.5 Stars)
Angel of Syn by Mertianna Georgia is the second is the Synemancer series starring witch Cara Augustine. Ever get in trouble for a mistake you didn’t know you made? Well if you did, it might be easy to sympathize with Cara. It appears she broke a law by making a werewolf her familiar. She didn’t know she broke a law. Unfortunately, the penalty is death. Just call her witch on the run.

What is worse than running from the Portalkind law? It might be deciding between three sexy supernatural males who are determined to make Cara
and her emerging powers part of a power couple. Cara has a lovelorn Nephilim who is half angel and half witch. There is a crazy French werewolf, who wants her. His intentions may not be entirely romantic. Add to the trio, a sexy, semi-scary Nightkind who actually wants to marry her. The group follows Cara as she seeks sanctuary in the Garden of Eden,
which has its own share of dangers.

 This is a three part series as far as book goes. It is highly recommend reading the first book, Syn in the City before reading this one. It explains things like Nephilim, Nightkind and more of what Cara is up too. It is a little bit like walking into a conversation about people you don’t know and the conversation continues without any explanation. Most things can be figured out through context.

Ms. Georgia’s writing is fun and often steamy. It flows well making the story a joy even if everything isn’t clear. If you are looking for a paranormal with attitude and bite, then this is the book for you. Just make sure you read Syn in the City first.

To escape a deadly stalker, Caitlin Fitzgerald flees her home in Ireland and takes a governess job in the top end of Australia.
In her chosen safe haven, she has poisonous snakes, spiders, and crocodiles to contend with. And the very handsome and moody station owner, Jake Monterey, to
keep her awake at night. But not only is Caitlin at risk of losing her heart to Jake and his two adorable children, the danger she thought she’d left behind has found her again. Has she unwittingly placed the lives of those she loves in jeopardy?

Review. **** Stars

With Murderous Intent by Maggi Andersen is a romantic suspense published by Black Opal books. Caitlin Fitzgerald is the victim of a romance gone bad, very bad. The only way she can avoid her crazed ex-boyfriend is to flee Ireland. With this in mind, she accepts a nanny position in Australia, far, far away from her intimidating ex.

Caitlin would like a chance to start over and do something that matters. Her plans did not include landing a new man. That is the farthest thing from her mind, but it still doesn’t stop her from noticing her handsome boss.  The man isn’t for her since she is well on his way to marrying a wealthy socialite. Instead, she focusses on her two charges.

Jake has his life in order, or at least he thinks so.  The nanny he advertised for may turn the tide in the children’s favor as far as his
fiancée goes. It is no secret that his wealthy, gorgeous girlfriend isn’t
anxious to become a stepmother. It would work out better if his fiancée could be more like Caitlin.

 Caitlin realizes her job might end if Jake’s fiancée gets her way. Worse yet, she has suspicions that her distant, dangerous ex might have followed all the way out to the bush.  The last thing she wants to do is to endanger Jake or the children.

With Murderous Intent explores the world of Australia with facts about the climate, landscape, fauna and wildlife. This is a sweet romance with the flavor of the outback.

AUTHOR
Bio and Links:
Maggi Andersen and her lawyer husband are empty nesters, living in the countryside outside Sydney with their cat and the demanding wildlife. Parrots demand seed, possums fruit, ducks swim in the stream at the bottom of the garden, and the neighbors chickens roam their yard
providing wonderful eggs. She began writing adventure stories at age eight. Three children, a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Arts in Creative Writing degree later, her novels are still filled with adventure and suspense, but are also passionate romances. Georgette Heyer among others, brought inspiration to her seductive Regencies and she also writes darker, Victorian novels, contemporary romantic suspense and young adult.

 She supports the RSPCA (The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to animals) and animals often feature in her books.  
 
Buy links: Author website:
http://www.maggiandersenauthor.com

 Blog: 
http://www.maggiandersen.blogspot.com

 Twitter:
  https://twitter.com/maggiandersen

 Facebook:
  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Maggi-Andersen-Author/372854959805

 Publisher website: 
Black Opal Books
  http://bookstore.blackopalbooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=18&products_id=58

EXCERPT
She parked next to an old Chevy pickup—could it belong to Ceejay’s cousin?—grabbed her stuff and headed out back toward the carriage house. Praying their dog Sweet Pea wouldn’t sense her presence and
start barking, she tiptoed along the path from the gate to the door. All she had to go by was the scant light of the new moon. 
 
So far, so good. Sweet Pea remained blissfully quiet. She dropped her bag on the concrete and rifled through the pockets of her purse for the key she’d stashed there. “Ah-hah. Got you.” She fumbled a few times in the darkness, trying to insert it into the lock. Finally she got the key in the right way, turned it, reached for the knob and pushed, just as light flooded the interior. The door was yanked from her grasp so suddenly she fell
inside, right into a naked man—a naked man wielding a gun.

 “Aaah!”She squealed and scrambled back to regain her footing, staring in shock at the wild man before her. Shaggy blond hair hung down to his shoulders, and an untrimmed, tangled mess of a beard hid most of his
face. Panic-filled brilliant blue eyes were riveted on her with a haunted look
that stole her breath.


 

As a child, Barbara Longley moved frequently, learning early on how to
entertain herself with stories. Adulthood didn’t tame her peripatetic ways: she has lived on an Appalachian commune, taught on an Indian reservation, and
traveled the country from coast to coast. After having children of her own, she
decided to try stayinAuthor Barbarag put, choosing Minnesota as her home. By day, she puts her master’s degree in special education to use teaching elementary school. By night, she explores all things mythical, paranormal, and newsworthy, channeling what she learns into her writing.

 LINKS:
http://www.barbaralongley.com

BLURB: When four ten yen coins are mysteriously received, who knows where the journey will lead and what miracles may occur along the way.

For many years, the monk sat beside the Ajiike pond as he did today in the early morning, breathing in the peaceful settings of the Pure Land gardens........He was angry at the awful atrocities so recently
bestowed upon his people....

Caitlin was ambitious to the point of ruthlessness.........

JJ was counting on getting a job at Johns Hopkins......he had to get out of Ashland KY and his fathers house before he blew his stack......

 Little Tommy....He glanced again at the coin beside his hospital bed and felt suddenly peaceful.....Like maybe everything would be ok.......

Paul Somerville....Tommys father, former Hollywood actor, wannabe political star.......

Four people....four ten yen coins....
and a miracle.........?

EXCERPT
Raising a hand to stroke his bald head, a tear slipped down Tommy's soft white cheek, and he turned his face into the pillow to muffle the sobs he knew were coming.

He felt something cool on the pillow against his cheek, and he raised his head, reaching his hand--the one without a needle in a vein--to feel for the object that had caused it. A shiny round coin seemed to glow in the darkness of the room and he took it in his palm, gazing at it in wonder. Was he still dreaming?

At that moment, his mummy re-entered the room and smiled to see him awake. "Hi Sweetie." He smiled back, knowing she'd put on her brightest smile for him; she always did. Her gaze dropped to the coin in his hand. "What have you got there?" she asked.

"Money," Tommy whispered, noticing the coin was no longer glowing but looked as dull and brown as an ordinary copper penny.
 
"Show me." His mummy held out her hand. Tommy obediently handed her the coin.
 
"Well, I've never seen a coin like this before,"she said. "Where on earth did you get it from?"

 Tommy shrugged sleepily. "It was on my pillow."

 His mummy gazed at him questioningly, and patted his hand. "You go back to sleep, darling." She put the coin on his bedsidetable. "This must be a good luck coin," she finally said as she sat on his bed, "and Lord knows we need all the luck we can get right now."

Christina St. Clair
Award winning author, former shop-girl, chemist, and pastor, is currently a spiritual director, Reiki Master (don't read too much
into the title master!), wife, animal lover, and
writer.

She says, "Boring life? Let's not do duty. Let's
do awe! Take a look at your own complexity? You might be amazed. Life leads us into so many interesting and sometimes difficult crossroads where we get to choose what now, what next? As a student of mysticism and spirituality in all its incarnations both religious, secular, and new age, I want to understand what life is about, what is truth? I am still seeking, but I am offering to those who are interested my insights weaved throughout my essays and stories. I hope my writings might add to your already surprising lives."

 www.christinastclair.com  
www.christinastclair.com/blog
e-mail:  christinastclair55@yahoo.com

 Amanda
  Armstrong
As author of Rose, this is my second published
novel. They say everybody has at least one book in them. I have thousands, just
screaming to get out!

 A former banker turned wife and mother, I've been given the privilege to do just that and I am having so much fun.

Check out my author page on Amazon, read my blogs
and book excerpts at www.amandaarmstrong1974.co.uk or tweet me
@mandymia

BLURB:
Death stalks Kris in dreams and in reality. The target of a cunning
serial killer, Kris must defend her life and her love. Visions prepare her for what’s coming, but is knowledge enough to change the future? Or will demented
mania claim victory over fated love?

 The good things in life are coming together for Kristina Collins. She’s
found her ideal home, her career is on track for mega success and the man of her dreams has finally come back into her life. 

In Fate, the first installment of the Timeless Trilogy, Kris Collins discovers the benefits and risks of having precognitive visions while being stalked by a serial killer. Her friends can’t help her, the FBI can’t save her; she must save herself. 
 
The Timeless Trilogy heroines, Kristina, Veronica and Cassandra, each
deal with paranormal abilities as they discover and rediscover eternal
love.

Tallulah will be awarding winner's choice of a backlist eBook to a randomly drawn commenter at every stop, and a choice of a backlist eBook to each host.

EXCERPT:

The edge of the blade felt like ice against her skin. One breath too deep, one movement—ever so slight—would give the knife a taste of her blood. It’s a part of the nightmare, she thought, even as she felt the breath of her attacker lightly touch her face. 

The nightmares that had been plaguing her for weeks warned of this moment. Images, too terrifying to be real, flashed quickly across her mind’s eye in an instant replay of her recent night terrors. Running down a long, empty hallway, filled with doorways on either side, chased by some
unknown monster that knew her deepest fears. Running towards a movie, scrolling incessantly with images of those she loved most trapped in a fiery hell. Sepia-toned faces, twisted in pain, were a stark contrast to the blue, red and yellow of the flames engulfing them. The echoes of their screams filled the dark, never-ending hallway. She couldn’t look away and she couldn’t stop running; her only escape was straight ahead, towards the horror show.  
 
  So far, the nightmares ended with her sitting straight up in bed, breathing hard in a cold sweat. He hadn’t caught her yet.

The all too real feeling of cold steel pressed against her neck gave the nightmare an alternate ending. Kris tried to control her breathing so her attacker would think she slept. Her mind raced as she tried to think of a way to reach the loaded SIG waiting beneath the extra pillow beside her. She didn’t always keep a gun so handy, but recent events, including the dreams, made it a necessity.

 “Wake up, Sleeping Beauty.” The familiar voice spoke the words softly in her ear.

Tallulah Grace is an aficionado of anything paranormal, loves to read a good thriller and creates characters that become friends. Tallulah was born and raised in a small southern town located in the foothills of the vibrant Blue Ridge Mountains. When she's not developing characters and weaving stories, Tallulah enjoys antiquing and bead-weaving.

Personal Links:
 Website:
  http://www.tallulahgrace.com
 
Blog: 
http://www.tallulahspeaks.com

 Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/TallulahSpeaks 
 
Facebook:
  https://www.facebook.com/grace.tallulah

 Amazon Author Page:
amazon.com/author/tallulahgrace

  Book Trailer on You Tube:
http://bit.ly/mC5UfX
 
Book Links 
 
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0054QZNRA
 
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/timeless-trilogy-book-one-tallulah-grace/1104729281


http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/timeless-trilogy-book-one/id454533167?mt=11
 
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/66643
 
http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Timeless-Trilogy-Book-One-Fate/book-AGyrHX17p0yENAS0mnawxg/page1.html


 

A chain of advertising agencies, a new breed of humans, and a fallen angel to worship... Andel Talistokov is known for his slick advertising agencies across the globe. He is a fallen angel that uses advertising as a weapon for Satan's work. His growing power emboldens him to break several of Hell's Commandments. Furious with his arrogance, Satan commands him to return to Hell after finding
his own replacement. Yezidism, an ancient angel worshiping religion, quietly
expands throughout the West. Armaros appears as a guest of honor during their ceremonies. He mates with young women to produce nephilim, a mixed race of humans and angels. They are alone and unprepared for their supernatural power.
Joanna Easterhouse, a recovering drug addict, steps out of prison shortly after her mother's fatal accident. She and her sister, Kim, unravel their mother's secretive past. Intrigued, they learn their bloodline is part of a celestial legacy. Both worlds collide. Halo of the Damned is a horrifying tale that weaves research together with suspenseful twists and turns.

REVIEW
 ****
Dina Rae’s Halo of the Damned, a different type of paranormal, is published by Eternal Press. Instead of the retelling of Gods and
Goddesses, Ms. Rae decides to go with one of Satan’s own. As many of you have suspected after bombarded by images of perfect slender females in commercials, there is pure evil in advertising. This happens to be a devil named Andel’s tale.

 Andel shows up in Wheaton, Illinois to do Satan’s bidding, or at least that’s the plan. Andel head up an advertising firm named Evil Empire. He’s so successful because he really knows how to use subliminal advertising to feed into people’s fear and inherent greed. Think Mad Men only more modern. The story opens with a recent murder, and not much rationale behind it. Perhaps, murder is what dark angels do. Like all advertising executives, Andel becomes full of himself and does not feel the need to follow his original orders.

Enter our female characters, who more than what they seem, and more than what they know. Joanna Easterhouse, talk about a telling name, her sister Kim, and her daughter Maria are a bit different. Unaware that they aren’t fully human, their psychic gifts come as a surprise, not necessarily a pleasant one either.

 As you would expect Joanna takes a job at the Evil Empire and becomes
involved in Andel’s machinations. A battle for domination ensues. It takes place on the world stage and culminates in Wheaton. This fast paced, and sometimes gory, story takes advantage of the Yezidism, angel-worshipping religion to support its premise.

 Halo of the Damned does have dark romantic elements rather like Wuthering Heights. Horror, paranormal, dark romance fans should all enjoy this book. From his creative cover by Dawne Dominique to its unusual storyline and stunning ending, it is a tale that is sure to stay with you.

 

AUTHOR INFORMATION:


Dina Rae is a new author here to stay. 
As a teacher, she brings an academic element to her work.  Her three novels, Halo of the
Damned, The Last Degree, and Bad
Juju weave research and suspense throughout the plots. 
Her short story, Be Paranoid Be Prepared, is a prequel of sorts to The Last Degree, focusing on the James Martin character.  In the spring
of 2013, her latest novel, Halo of the Nephilim,will be released. 
Dina also freelances for various entertainment blogs.

 Dina lives with her husband, two daughters, and two dogs outside
of Chicago.  She is a Christian, an avid tennis player, movie buff, and self-proclaimed expert on several conspiracy theories.  She has been interviewed numerous times in e-zines, websites, blogs, newspapers, and radio programs.  When she is not writing she is reading novels from her favorite authors Dan Brown, Anne Rice, Stephen King, Brad Thor,
George R.R. Martin, and Preston & Childs.  

Dina Rae is running a second contest on her website.
 http://dinarae.co

 www.dinaraeswritestuff.blogspot.com

 Pinterest:http://pinterest.com/dinaraebooks/

 Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/DinaRaeBooks

Twitter:  @haloofthedamned

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Halo-Damned-DinaRae/dp/1615726055
BN.com    http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/halo-of-the-damned-dina-rae/1108816716?ean=9781615726059

 Publisher: http://eternalpress.biz/ 

EXCERPT:
 Kim finished the mini-project and then hung the painting above
Maria’s headboard. She took a mental note to get the painting appraised and insured later on during the week. Both Kim and Joanna were eager to find out about their mother’s relics left behind at the Lake Geneva home. As promised, Kim looked up an old friend from high school, Doctor Sandra Jackson, who currently held a post at Loyola University. She hoped that her friend, Sandra, or one of her colleagues could identify the script and point Kim in the right direction in finding out its translation. If she was really lucky, they would be able to answer all of her questions about the unfamiliar items.

Kim quickly found Sandra online listed under the College of Arts
and Sciences. She called her at work, and Sandra was available to talk. They quickly caught up with each other’s lives until Sandra got down to
business.

 “Kim, I’m so glad you called. Is this a purely social call or is there anything I can help you with?” Sandra asked, sensing that Kim was withholding something from her.
 
“Well, yes. I’m embarrassed to call after all these years of failing to keep in touch. And now when I could use your help, here I am. I’m a lousy friend. Please forgive me,” Kim begged.

“Kim, it’s okay. I haven’t called either. Please, I’d love the chance to help. What can I do?”

 Kim remained as vague and elusive as possible, briefly describing some of the carvings found in the basement wall. She told Sandra she copied down the markings and wanted to know what they meant. She also described the old scroll, without commenting about the who’s, where’s, and when’s. She omitted telling Sandra about her mother. Lydia’s death would have tipped Sandra off as to where the items came from.
 
“Kim, this all sounds very mysterious. Please bring what you have and come around lunchtime. We’re all here in our cubicles. If I can’t help
you, I’m confident one of my colleagues can. See you tomorrow.”

 Later that evening, Kim informed Joanna about the meeting with
the Loyola staff. “These heirlooms will bring us fame and fortune. They are our ‘holy grail’! I feel like Indiana Jones!” Joanna exclaimed.

 “Don’t get too blissful. They might not be able to help,” Kim cautioned.
 
Overhearing the conversation, Maria became upset. “But Mom, who is gonna pick me up from school?”

 “Holly’s mom is. You’re going to stay there until I get back, probably around dinner time,” Kim assured.
 
“Mommy, those people are strangers! You just can’t be showing them Grandma’s things! It’s not right! It’s not what she would have wanted!
Lonnie doesn’t trust your friend!” Maria’s petulance was escalating. In
desperation, she threw her aunt into the argument. “Auntie Jo, don’t let her do this! Especially Grandma’s scroll! It’s too dangerous!”

 Although Joanna was uneasy about her niece’s behavior, she was not going to let a six year-old manipulate Kim’s and her plans. “Sweetie, your
mother and I are curious to what that stuff is. She is taking these things to a very smart bunch of people who may be able to help us. No one is going to wreck it or steal it,” she placated.

 “I already know what it is! Grandma was an angel, or a nephilim! Why don’t you believe me?” Maria screamed as she raced up to her room.