Friday, June 30, 2017

Great Summer Reads Countdown Day Eleven: The Neighbor's Secret, A Secret Billionaire Romance by Kimberley Montpetit






When she was in Paris, Kimberley Montpetit spent most of her souvenir money at the La Patisserie shops with their beautiful and delicious pastries. She grew up in the fabulous city of San Francisco, loves all things chocolate, and now lives in a small town along the Rio Grande with her engineer husband and three sons.

She once stayed in the haunted tower room at Borthwick Castle in Scotland and didn't sleep a wink, sailed the Seine in Paris, rode a camel in the ancient world wonder of Petra, shopped the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, and spent the night in an old Communist hotel in Bulgaria.

Kimberley also writes Award-winning Middle-Grade novels with Scholastic and Young Adult novels with Harpercollins under the name, Kimberley Griffiths Little.


Connect with the Author here:
~ Facebook ~ Website ~ Amazon ~
~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

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~ Newsletter ~




After being left at the altar on her wedding day, businesswoman Allie Strickland returns to her hometown to heal her broken heart. But Heartland Cove County is a small town of Victorian homes and quirky, gossiping citizens.

Grieving the trauma of her ex-fiancĂ©’s betrayal and overwhelmed by her clingy mother, Allie rents the first available house she can find. But on the very first night, Allie’s peace is violated by an unexpected intruder who breaks into the house while she’s taking a bubble bath. An intruder using an alias with old ties to Heartland Cove.

Forced by unusual circumstances to share the same rental house, Allie’s suspicions of the man grow—even as she finds herself attracted to him. But is Ethan Smith merely a magazine freelancer on assignment—or an undercover spy for the mayor who wants to ruin the charming town by running a new highway through for his own profit?

Is Ethan Smith friend or foe? Enemy or lover?


This book is on Sale for .99 for today only! 
Make sure you get your copy now!

~ Amazon ~ Amazon UK
 The next book in the series is available next week! 

Make sure to check it out on Author Kimberley Montpetit Amazon page!



Snippets:

Stiffly, Allie sat upright in her wedding dress, enduring the awkward embraces, the whispers of empathy. 

Later, she wouldn’t even be able to recall who had been in attendance, except for her best friend Marla standing at her side like a fierce lioness, ready to take down anyone who said something snide and ugly.

One by one, the guests in their chiffon dresses and suits and ties filed out of the church. All but one young woman.

Courtney Willis. Her previous rival for Sean’s affection. Of course, she’d come to witness Allie’s moment of shame.

Courtney’s face was unreadable, but she had the good sense not to come over and give an air kiss, or pretend any sort of friendship.

The air crackled with unspoken words, and then Courtney clicked her heels down the parquet corridor toward the parking lot, pausing to sign the guest book with a flourish of the feather-plumed pen.

Allie wanted to drive the pen straight into the woman’s jugular. “Does she know where Sean is? Is that where she’s headed—to help him look for their client?”

Marla gripped her shoulder. “Don’t start making things up to torture yourself.”

Allie brushed a finger across the screen of her mobile phone. A text had just appeared. Her heart thumped with both hope and dread. It was from Sean. Thirteen words.

Sorry about craziness. We’ll get married another day. Not end of world. Promise.


Allie handed the phone to Marla who read it and cursed. “That son of a—” Before her friend could finish, Allie tugged the phone out of Marla’s curled fingers and threw it across the church foyer where it smashed against the wall and broke into a dozen pieces.



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Thursday, June 29, 2017

Great Summer Reads Countdown Day Ten: Rising Tide Dark Innocence by Claudette Melanson






Claudette Melanson writes dark fantasy in Kitchener, Ontario with four bun babies: Tegan, Pepper, Butters & Beckett. She graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a BA in English, BS in English Education and an MA in Literature. Harboring a deep admiration of vampires since the age of five left her with the desire to eventually become one, and now fuels the creation of her favorite paranormal characters. She hopes to one day work full time as an author, since there are many, many stories playing out inside her head.

In her very scant spare time, she enjoys watching Japanese Anime and reading vampire stories...along with other genres of great fiction, as well as riding every roller coaster she encounters in both her hometown and away at signings. An advocate for good health and ketogenic eating, her favorite foods are bulletproof coffee, cashew-flour crust pizza and treats made with xylitol and almond, coconut or cashew flours.

Future dreams include a cabin boasting a roaring fire, isolated inside a snow-filled wood in the Yukon—the perfect writing spot—and the completion of dozens of future novels and stories. A Rabbit Rescue fanatic and loving bunmom, she also hopes to help rescues all over the world save many innocent lives.


Connect with the Author here: 


When a cruel prank nearly claims Maura’s life, one of her classmates, Ron, rushes to her rescue. Darkly handsome & mysteriously accepting, Ron doesn’t seem to want to stay away, but Maura is reluctant to get too close, since her mother has announced she’s moving the two of them to Vancouver…nearly 3,000 miles away from their hometown of Indiana, Pennsylvania.

If life wasn’t already challenging enough, Maura begins to experience bizarre, physical changes her mother seems hell bent on ignoring, compelling Maura to fear for her own life. Vicious nightmares, blood cravings, failing health and the heart-shattering loss of Ron—as well as the discovery of a tangled web of her own mother's lies—become obstacles in Maura's desperate quest for the unfathomable truth she was never prepared to uncover.


This book is now free on Amazon!!!
Make sure you get your copy now!



Snippet:

A dream sequence

My vision was blurred, and the light in the room was too intensely bright. The same headache I’d been plagued with that afternoon pulsated through my skull. I made every effort to shut it all out and focus on that face. The long dark hair told me it was Ron before I could fully make out his features in the haziness that was my sight. When my vision sharpened, he smiled at me, but the softness in his eyes held the hard edge of worry.

“How are you feeling?” He kept his voice barely above a whisper, which meant he knew how sensitive my hearing was. Maybe he knew what was wrong with me. I was hurting all over…my throat burned like a bonfire, and the rest of me was so cold, I was sure they must be transfusing me with ice water.

I tried to speak to him, to demand a diagnosis, but I was too weak to utter a single word. Caelyn appeared then, cooing over me protectively and imploring me to save my strength and keep quiet.

My eyes were drawn to a shape in the doorway of my hospital room. There was someone there, a tall, hulking human filling up the space. He—it had to be a man given the size—was shrouded in darkness. I could make out no discerning features whatsoever. A nurse pushed past him, only because he moved to allow it. Funny, even when she was right behind him, I could make out every detail about her. It was as if all the darkness in the room were reserved, solely, for this unknown stranger.

The nurse brought in a blood bag. Although I couldn’t remember any accident or see any bandaged wound, my brain tried to ferret out a reason for a blood transfusion while she was hooking up the bag.

While watching her, my eyes switched focus, glancing over at the liquid in the bag. Deep, dark crimson. I couldn’t tear my eyes away. My mouth was like dry desert sand, my throat the merciless sun burning over that desert at high noon.

A rattling gasp tore up through my chest, and my body convulsed. I was sure I was dying. My blood must’ve had some horrible disease tainting it, and the transfusion’s purpose was to dilute the infection.

Ron put his hand on my chest to hold me down. He seemed troubled, but other than that, much too calm for the gravity of the situation. “Relax,” he said to me with that same softness to his voice, “you just need blood, Maura.”

He reached out and nodded to the nurse. She stopped what she was doing and took the bag down, placing it in Ron’s hand. He tore open the bottom, in a practiced manner, and held it to my lips.

“Drink, Maura. It’ll help you faster this way.”


As shocked as I was by this turn of events, I complied. In all my waking hours, nothing had ever tasted better. And even though I knew what was happening was not what was supposed to be happening, in my dream I tore the bag from his grasp so I could gulp its contents down faster.




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Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Great Summer Reads Countdown Day Nine: Venators Magic Unleashed by Devri Walls





Devri Walls is the best-selling author of six YA fantasy novels. She is a theater major with a flare for the dramatic and wishes more than anything for a magic wand. Devri is from Boise Idaho where she lives with her husband, two kids and the cutest mutt of a dog the world has ever seen. When she’s not writing she can be found teaching voice lessons, trying to resist the urge to sell her two beautiful children to the circus, and cooking. Because…. food. Mmmmmmm.

  

Connect with the Author here: 


"Six years ago, Grey Malteer was attacked by creatures he thought couldn’t possibly exist. They repeated a word, calling him a name he’d never heard before…Venator. Since then, his life has been a hellhole of secrecy—hiding old pain alongside strange new abilities.

Rune Jenkins has an itch, as she calls it, but it’s more than that. It’s an anger that builds up like the inside of a boiler whenever she’s around anything remotely supernatural. The pressure is growing steadily worse and she can’t understand why. All she knows is—her control is slipping.

By order of an unknown council Grey and Rune are pulled through a portal in the St. Louis arch, landing them in an alternate dimension where creatures of myth and legend exist. A realm that calls them, Venators.

Made up of centuries old fae, vampires, werewolves, elves and succubi the council’s corrupt nature becomes obvious as they seek to wield the newly returned Venators as weapons. Wedged in an impossible position, Grey and Rune must decide their fate—do they go against the council’s wishes and help the innocents of this unforgiving land, or face the possibility of execution by the council."




~ Amazon ~ Amazon UK



Snippets:

Ryker’s snoring had grown to a delightful combination of a gravel truck and a freight train. The internal resentment she always felt was growing, and the irritating sound fed everything that bothered her—like an infection spreading from one cell to the next. It had been building for years, but tonight it finally hit critical mass.
Rune jerked to her feet, driven by a need to do something, and moved to the window.
She loved her brother but damn it, she hated him too. What could possibly have been so horrible that it was worth sacrificing not only his life, but hers too? Surely he knew that’s what he’d done. How could he not see that she’d given up everything because of him?
Her life consisted of two things: chasing after Ryker to make sure he didn’t kill himself, and making sure she pulled the grades and sunk the shots to make mom proud. A Herculean effort. And futile.
What about what she wanted? Didn’t that matter to anyone?
A sob escaped and she wrapped her arms around herself. Did she even know what she wanted? There was a time when she’d enjoyed drawing. Creating images of vampires and demons had made the itch stop after her and Ryker’s games ceased. But the pictures had turned so dark they’d scared her mother, so Rune had let it go.
She also loved to teach and had thought about being a coach. According to her parents, “teachers didn’t make enough money,” so teaching was therefore unacceptable. Because nothing made you so happy as a house full of expensive items you didn’t need.
Fury and resentment kindled within, directed both at her parents and her drunken fool of a brother. Past history and overflowing stores of anger provided ample amounts of dry tinder, and her emotions rose violently, flaming to an unbearably hot inferno. She shook with sobs that her unconscious brother wouldn’t hear. Years of self-sacrifice ran down her cheeks in crystal streams and then…something snapped inside.
An odd calm wrapped her in its embrace, followed by a clear knowledge of what would stop the pain. She let out a slow breath and straightened, wiping the tears from her cheeks.
She was done.

Screw Ryker. Screw her parents. They could figure out life without controlling hers.



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Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Great Summer Reads Countdown Day Eight: See Me For Me by Teya Peck





Her most recent accomplishment started in the summer of 2015. Making her dad’s dream come true with publishing his works as well, as an emotional accomplishment. She is the 2016 local A.N.W.A. chapter (Snake River Writers) president, won NaNoWriMo and loves StoryMakers.
            Teya has been writing for as long as she can remember. At a young age she lived on a street she affectionately named Hill Street Blues, which helped her creative writing. Her Family moved to Menan where she continued her love of writing. Her father would always be and will continue to be her inspiration, even after his untimely death in 2006.
            She loves sitting in her soft chair next to the fireplace and watching out a big living room window. It gives her plenty of creative juice for stories.
            She met the love of her life in the loft of a barn. Yep, that set up some teasing from her father. They have been happily married since 2003. They have four children and all are loving and supportive of her writing.  Her oldest daughter is following in her footsteps as a writer adding her own illustrations. She refuses to comment on the trolls in the closets and under the beds. She is active in her church, has compassion for others, and a love for all life brings.



Connect with the Author here: 

One wrong step changes Jocelyn’s Prima Ballerina’s life in one step...

A single choice results in Jeremiah facing unbearable consequences... 


When these two meet, it could be catastrophic or the answer to unspoken prayers.
Can love be tested too far? Will hearts soften and hurts be forgiven? 
Or will too much loss be too devastating to find hope?
One thing is for sure, lives are about to change forever…







Snippet 

She stretched her furthest extension ever, her personal best. She felt Jason’s hand strengthen at her waist, pushing her up to his fullest lift as his right hand let go of her leg for a moment. Pure perfection. Her heart calm and running rapid, at the same time feeling the excitement of the crowd fill the air. Closing her eyes, she readied to be tossed into the air and captured in a fish dive in Jason’s arms, but the moment never came.



To view our blog schedule and follow along with this tour visit our Official Event page 





Monday, June 26, 2017

Blog Tour: Code Name Scorpion by Donna Gustainis Fuller





When Trevor Willis offers Dani Carpenter her dream job as director of a new camp for children, she is thrilled. Dani intends to keep Trevor, a family friend, at arm’s length. But her heart changes toward him as they team up to protect Ady, the young daughter of a kidnapped scientist. 

After Trevor testifies against the son of Don Francisco Morales, a major supplier of heroin into the United States, Morales (aka the Scorpion) targets Trevor in a personal vendetta to destroy his reputation and then destroy everyone Trevor loves. 

With Ady tucked away in a secure location, Dani and Trevor embark on a chase that takes them from the forests of the Pacific Northwest to the jungles of Mexico. They must stop the Scorpion before he strikes again.




Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ Amazon UK ~ 

Born in Illinois, Donna Fuller has lived in a variety of places and currently resides in Butler, Pennsylvania. At times she feels like a ping pong ball—bouncing from coast to coast and back again. Her grandchildren bring her the greatest joy. She has always been involved in writing, from journals to plays for Cub Scouts, to short stories for her children and as a reporter for a small newspaper. Donna has won awards for her writing and has also taught in writing workshops and retreats. She is the co-founder of the annual OHPA Writer’s Retreat in Western Pennsylvania. Her novels include A Strand of Doubt and CodeName Scorpion.



Connect with the Author here: 


Code Name Scorpion is a fast paced book following several intense story lines. Trevor Willis is an FBI consultant who gets mixed up with the biggest heroine dealer into the U.S. via Mexico when he busts the drug lord's only son. Out for revenge, this drug lord, Morales, decides to kill the man who put his son behind bars, along with everyone he loves.

Dani Carpenter is a woman falling in love with her boss, who happened to offer her her dream job of being a camp director. It appears she has problems of her own when people try to go after her as well. 

The two come together when Willis is asked to care for Ady, the daughter of one of his kidnapped employees. When the two both come to care for her as their own, things get complicated, especially when they have to leave her behind to protect her from Morales.

Code Name Scorpion is a relatively fast-paced action/adventure suspense/thriller type of story that seemed to move at almost breakneck speed. There is a lot going on, with a ton of threads that don't, at first, seem connected. If you're not paying attention when reading, you will miss things and get confused really quickly.

I give this book three and a half stars out of five, more because I think there was a little too much going and I did get a little lost at times because the pace was just too fast.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book.

Excerpt



“I’m worried about someone coming at me from behind. What should I do?”
“That’s a very good question. Let me demonstrate. Dani, can you help?”
She looked around, then pointed to herself in an exaggerated manner. “Me?”
“It seems as if she’s a little shy. Let’s encourage her.” Trevor started clapping. The noise grew until Dani blushed and gave him a look he hoped wouldn’t kill him.
He reached out his hand to help her up. “Come on.” He positioned her in front of him and said, “Act like you’re waiting for a bus.”
Dani crossed her arms and tapped her right foot, then checked her watch. Standing behind her, Trevor reached around her neck. “Remember number 2, take charge. The first thing to do is lock your chin down.”
She followed his directions.
“This will make it so your attacker cannot cut off your air supply.” Still holding onto Dani, Trevor continued. “One move won’t be enough, so think in multiples—a heel to his instep and an elbow to the solar plexus.”
Dani acted quickly, stomping on the inside of his foot. He grunted and let go of her neck. She finished with an elbow to his stomach.
Trevor groaned and grasped his abdomen. “Excellent demonstration. Did everyone get that?”
Dani smiled innocently. “Should I do it again—in case someone missed it?”
“No. no. That’s good. You can sit down.” 




To view our blog schedule and follow along with this tour visit our Official Event page