Author Guest Post: The Swords of Gregara - Honora by Cynthia Woolf

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Sword of Gregara - HONORA

"They stole her love, her life and want to steal the secrets secured in her mind". 

Synopsis

They stole her love, her life and want to steal the secrets secured in her mind. Secrets that could topple world governments and decimate quadrant security forever.  Now she’s on an epic quest to find out why and make those responsible pay.

Honora Reyestat gave up everything to become a member of the esteemed Gregarian Guard.  No family, no friends, no connections--nothing that can ever be used against her.  Captured and enslaved, she's become a prized gladiator for her master.  Given the task of training a new slave, she recognizes a fellow Zolthor and the son of a tribal leader at that.  Her mission changes from discovery of the enemy's tactics and secrets to returning Joridan to his people. 

Drawn to this fierce woman as no other, Joridan Dolana tries to explain she is wrong.  He's not Zolthor, he's Centauri.  He was raised on Centauri with his sister.  Faced with proof of a father's ultimate betrayal, he must choose between revenge and the protection of this woman who has sworn to never return his love. 

 

Quick Facts

Release Date: December 22, 2012.

Genre: Romance, Sci Fi

Formats: Kindle, Nook, Kobo, Smashwords, Apple

Excerpt

“Oww” a woman’s voice awash with pain reached his ears.
“You disappoint me, Honora.  You continue to try to escape me.  When will you learn?” asked a whiney voiced man.
The whip struck flesh.  Again the woman moaned but didn’t scream.  She didn’t scream.
When he woke again he was not alone but the man with the whip was gone.  Chained across the room from him, hung by her wrists, was a woman.  He could see the lash marks on her back.  Lash upon lash, new over old.  They obstructed the beautiful tattoo of a dragon on her back.  The blood hard to see within the red of the dragon.
Crawling to her he released her hands from the chains holding her up.  She collapsed in a heap on the floor.  He crawled back to his side of the room as darkness overtook him once more.

*****

The dried blood on her back cracked with each movement, but she worked through the pain as she stretched.  Breathed deep and accepted the pain.  Her sword weighed heavier in her hand than usual.  More evidence of the lashing two nights ago.  She looked down at the unconscious man at her feet.  A new recruit.  A Zolthor,  like herself.  Another reason Perdor punished her for her attempted escape, her sixth try in as many months.
This last punishment was the worst.  Five lashes.  Not enough to incapacitate her but enough to make her remember.  Perdor wanted her to be able to train the new slave.  He wanted them to be a team, good enough to take on all contenders.  He’d be the only owner with two Zolthor fighting for him.  Not just one, but a team.  He was practically wetting himself in anticipation of the beras that he’ll win with a team of Zolthor fighters.
Again she looked down on the naked man.  Long brown lashes lay against his cheek.  A nice contrast to his golden blond hair.  What color eyes did they hide?  Blue?  Green?  Brown perhaps.  She’d find out soon enough.
He was a beautiful man.  Well formed.  Broad shoulders.  Trim waist.  Long muscular legs.  He looked like a warrior.  Would be a good fighter.  Maybe even a good lover as he appeared well endowed there as well. 
He’d awakened from the drug induced sleep long enough to crawl over and release her from the chains.  For that she was grateful.  Her wrists didn’t hurt as much as usual because of him.  Using her blades was easier than it had been after her previous punishments.
Time to wake up the sleeping man and get him trained.  Time was short and she intended to make the most of it.  He would learn or he would die.

The Author

Cynthia Woolf was born in Denver, Colorado and raised in the mountains west of Golden. She spent her early years running wild around the mountain side with her friends.

She worked her way through college and went to work full time straight after graduation and there was little time to write. Then in 1990 she and two friends started a round robin writing a story about pirates. She found that she missed the writing and kept on with other stories. In 1992 she joined Colorado Romance Writers and Romance Writers of America.

Unfortunately, the loss of her job demanded she not renew her memberships and her writing stagnated for many years.

In 2001, she saw an ad in the paper for a writer’s conference being put on by CRW and decided she'd attend. One of her favorite authors, Catherine Coulter, was the keynote speaker. Cynthia was lucky enough to have a seat at Ms. Coulter's table at the luncheon and after talking with her, decided she needed to get back to her writing. She rejoined both CRW and RWA that day and hasn't looked back.

Learn more about the author at:  www.cynthiawoolf.com

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Author Interview: Return by Charity Santiago

Author Interview

Little Blurb about yourself:

I usually tell people right off the bat that Charity Santiago is my real name. I always get asked if it’s a pen name, but nope, it’s all mine. I’m a Leo, a cowgirl, a writer, a major cinephile (don’t ever challenge me at any movie trivia board games), and an avid reader. In addition to writing books, I also attend college full-time and contribute book reviews, movie reviews and DIY tutorials to a blog called The Creation Experiment (http://sablejane.blog.com).


1. Who or what inspired you to become a writer?

I’ve always been a storyteller, so I’ve been writing my entire life. The incident that finally pushed me to publish my work on Amazon, however, occurred in early 2011. My son, who was seven months old at the time, was hospitalized for respiratory issues, and I began reading books out loud to him on my Kindle. One of those books was “Switched,” the first installment in Amanda Hocking’s Trylle trilogy. Then my dad emailed me an article about Amanda, and I discovered that she was self-published. My first thought was, “Hmmm. Maybe I could do that.”


2. How long did it take you to write Return?

“Return” was a work-in-progress for ten years! However, for eight of those years, it was just sitting in an email folder, stagnating. I went back to it in 2011 and decided to finish the story. I would estimate that I’ve put between 250 and 300 hours of actual writing time into “Return.”


3. While writing how many times do you go back and rewrite a plot?

“Return” was the last book I wrote that I didn’t have an outline for. After the first fifteen chapters, I realized I had no idea where the story was going, so I sat down, outlined the trilogy and then did rewrites. The plot for “Return” has been rewritten three times, not counting all the editing changes, of course. The most recent rewrite involved changing the ages of characters to make the novel more appropriate for young adults.


4. You run into a bookstore, where do you go first?

Oh, this answer is going to sound terrible! I actually head for the bargain bin first because I love finding deals on books outside of my preferred genres. There’s only one bookstore in my town, and as a result I buy most of my books on Kindle, but when I do go to the brick-and-mortar store, I look for bargains before running over to the young adult section.

5. How many books in a month do you tend to read?

When I’m writing or school is in session, I’ll read probably between five and eight books a month, and it kills me because I feel like I’m missing out on so many wonderful new authors! When I’m in-between writing my own novels or on a break from school, I’ll read around fifteen books a month. I try to review at least one of those books every week on my blog, and I’m slowly learning to rate and review them all on Goodreads.


6. In all the books you've read. Who is your most favorite character and why?

My favorite character changes every day, but it’s usually safe to go with any character from Jane Austen’s “Persuasion.” I think Anne Elliott is gorgeously complex, in a way that makes you want to be Anne Elliott- if only so you can be gorgeously complex, too. There are so many pitfalls in fiction, one of which is to make your character too perfect. Anne can be used almost as a paint-by-numbers tutorial on how to make a character flawed, but still appealing to the reader.


7. State 5 random facts about yourself.

1. I don’t like chocolate.
2. I am a huge fan of mindless action films.
3. My husband says I’m a dork because my dream car is a Prius.
4. My least favorite chore is doing dishes.
5. I never know how to respond when people see my two-year-old son, who is adopted, and tell me, “He has your eyes!”



8. Your favorite Genre?

The Young Adult genre has claimed my heart irrevocably, but I also read any kind of romance or horror.


9. What are you currently reading?

I am reading “Hearts of Ishira” by Bethany Aan, and “River’s Recruit” by Charlotte Abel.

“Hearts of Ishira” was loaned to me by a friend after I posted on my Facebook that I’d like the opportunity for more steamy romance reads, and so far, this book is delivering. The plot is interesting, too. A ship of human women crash-lands on an alien planet, and the women encounter a race of male humanoids who have already been living there for ten years. You can imagine where it goes from there.

“River’s Recruit” was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review, and even though I’ve only finished the first couple of chapters, I’m loving it already! The heroine seems strong, feisty and independent- totally my style.

10. What is the best book you've read?

The book that has stuck with me through the years is “Garden of Lies” by Eileen Goudge. I came across it in a box of books my mom picked up from Salvation Army when I was twelve or thirteen, and I read it cover-to-cover several times. I still keep a copy of the book in my car so I can re-read it any time I’m stuck somewhere. That was really the first book to introduce me to the concept of fictional angst and unrequited love.

11. Any new projects coming up?

Yes! I am currently writing “Blood Lust,” the first book in a new paranormal romance series. This series is about a secret war between a North Dakota werewolf pack and an invading vampire coven, with a newly-turned werewolf named Eve caught in the mix. Where I focused more on the action and story in “Return,” I have slowed down a lot with “Blood Lust” and am letting the two main characters write their own romance. The end result is equivalent to a sexy, slow burn, and I couldn’t be happier with the way things are shaping up.


Here’s your chance to market your book. Describe it. And why readers should pick it up?

There are so many reasons why you should read “Return,” but here are just a few:

The heroine is a butt-kicking ninja. When Ashlyn Li is surrounded by a dozen masked attackers, she doesn’t cower in fear and pray for someone to come rescue her. She throws off her cloak, draws her katana and starts fighting for her life.

Ashlyn’s two love interests offer something for everyone. Drake Lockhart is a mysterious vampire who captured Ashlyn’s heart three years ago, but he offers no clues as to whether or not he reciprocates her feelings. If you’re not into stoic vampires, there’s also the sexy Spartan assassin, Vargo. Vargo is outspoken, sardonic and sometimes adorably annoying, but he makes no secret of how he feels about Ashlyn.

“Return” is a young adult paranormal fantasy featuring magic, vampires, martial arts, and shape-shifting. Fans of paranormal romance can enjoy it just as much as fantasy addicts. And if you’re looking for action, this book has that, too.

Book Excerpt

Clutching the reins in one hand, Ashlyn moved her other hand inside her cloak, drawing a small bo shuriken from the pouch on her belt. She preferred her sword or her larger hira shuriken, but both were strapped to her back, beneath her cloak, and there was no way to reach for them inconspicuously.
The thunder rumbled around her, and Ashlyn held her breath, waiting for the next flash of lightning. When it came, she saw with some alarm that her attackers were even closer than she expected- mere strides away.
Her heart pounding, Ashlyn flung the first shuriken at one of the three figures in front of her, and was reaching back into her pouch for another before the first reached its mark. As she spurred Suki, the first shuriken landed with a distinct thunk, and the man cried out. Suki leaped forward, colliding with a second attacker, and Ashlyn threw the second bo shuriken before pulling a knife from its sheath on her thigh. She crouched low over Suki’s neck and stabbed blindly in the darkness, aiming for whatever she could get, but the knife sliced only air.
One of her assailants caught hold of Ashlyn’s cloak, yanking backwards and nearly choking her. At that same moment, Suki whinnied in fear and reared up, and Ashlyn realized that there would be no outrunning this attack.
Kicking her feet out of the stirrups, she vaulted backwards, executing a flip before landing on the slippery grass. Ashlyn spun furiously, collecting her cloak in one hand to drag her attacker closer. She could barely make out his silhouette, black on black in the thick onslaught of rain. She dropped to one knee, quickly unlatching the throat clasp on her cloak to free herself, and stabbed the man in the leg. He went down.
With the cloak gone, Ashlyn yanked the hira shuriken off her back, barely getting a chance to wrap her fingers around the weapon before she was tackled from behind. She hit the ground hard, slipping and sliding on the wet grass. There was a sharp stab of pain in her right side, and she gasped, her cry cut short as her assailant hooked an arm around her throat.
Suddenly fire flared up around her, flames billowing and hissing in the rain, and Ashlyn panicked, realizing that her opponents were equipped with stanes.
Ignoring the agonizing pain in her side, she rolled over onto her back and struggled furiously to loosen her attacker’s grip around her neck, but he only clung more fiercely. Ashlyn’s eyes began to water. She shifted her grip on the shuriken and brought it down behind her, stabbing the man with the pronged spikes of the weapon as he lay between her and the ground.
He cried out and released her immediately. Ashlyn leaped to her feet, whirling and slicing down at his throat before ducking underneath a punch from another black-clad figure. She danced backwards and drew her sword, sheathing the shuriken on her back in the same smooth movement. There was a crackling behind her, the telltale sounds of a fire stane sputtering to life, and Ashlyn tensed, mentally cataloguing her collection of stanes and trying to figure out how best to retaliate. She turned, throwing up an arm as she prepared to cast a spell to defend herself.
What she saw stopped her cold.
Drake Lockhart stood before her, his long coat skimming the grass. His eyes flashed red in the semi-darkness, the reflection of the firelight dancing wildly in their crimson depths.

About the Author:


In February 2011, Charity Santiago's 7-month-old son was admitted to the hospital with severe respiratory issues. While Charity stayed at his bedside, she kept them both entertained by downloading several books on her new Kindle and reading them out loud. It was during this time that Charity learned about Kindle's self-publishing program, and realized that she had an opportunity to share her writings with the world.

Charity is a native of southeastern Arizona, and a writer since childhood. She wrote her first manuscript, Guinea Pig Code, at age nine. When she’s not writing books, Charity spends her time reading on her Kindle, wrangling children, watching Sylvester Stallone movies and pursuing a degree in Education.

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Book Promo: Ring of Secrets by Roseanna M White

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!




You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today's Wild Card author is:

Roseanna M. White

and the book:

Ring of Secrets

Harvest House Publishers (March 1, 2013)

***Special thanks to Ginger Chen for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Roseanna M. White grew up in the mountains of West Virginia, the beauty of which inspired her to begin writing as soon as she learned to pair subjects with verbs. She spent her middle and high school days penning novels in class, and her love of books took her to a school renowned for them. After graduating from St. John's College in Annapolis, Maryland, she and her husband moved back to the Maryland side of the same mountains they equate with home.



Roseanna is the author of two biblical novels, A Stray Drop of Blood and Jewel of Persia, both from WhiteFire Publishing (www.WhiteFire-Publishing.com), and Love Finds You in Annapolis, Maryland, a historical romance, with Summerside Press. She is the senior reviewer at the Christian Review of Books, which she and her husband founded, the senior editor at WhiteFire Publishing, and a member of ACFW, HisWriters, HEWN Marketing, and Colonial Christian Fiction Writers.





Visit the author's website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Winter Reeves is an aristocrat…and a Patriot. Bennet Lane is a Yale professor on temporary assignment in New York…to find General Washington’s spy among the elite.





This exciting romantic spy novel from Roseanna M. White combines fascinating cloak-and-dagger secrets with a tale of love and intrigue during the Revolutionary War.



Winter Reeves is an aristocratic Patriot forced to hide her heart amid the Loyalists of the City of New York. She has learned to keep her ears open so she can pass information on British movements to Robbie Townsend, her childhood friend, and his spy ring. If she's caught, if she's hung for espionage...well, she won't be. Robbie has taught her the tools of the trade: the wonders of invisible ink, drop locations and, most importantly, a good cover.



Bennet Lane returns to New York from his Yale professorship with one goal: to find General Washington's spy hidden among the ranks of the elite. Searching for a wife was supposed to be nothing more than a convenient cover story for his mission, but when he meets Winter, with her too-intelligent eyes in her too-blank face, he finds a mystery that can't be ignored.



Both believers...and both committed to a separate cause. Will their faith in God lead them to a shared destiny or lives lived apart?











Product Details:

List Price: $13.99

Paperback: 352 pages

Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (March 1, 2013)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0736950990

ISBN-13: 978-0736950992:

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:

City of New York



November 1779



Let innocence be your mask.



Winter Reeves swished her ivory lace fan and gave Colonel Fairchild the same practiced smile she always did. She squelched the response that wanted to escape, forbade her eyes from so much as flashing. Perhaps her gaze wandered, but he would only think her bored.



He thought her very easily bored.



“A stroke of luck, do you not agree, my dear?”



Despite the racing of her heart at the pearl of information he had just let slip, she made her nod a half-second later than it ought to have been. As if she were inattentive, paying no heed to his endless prattle. Why, after all, would she care about such a boring matter as paper? In his eyes—in the eyes of everyone here—she was naught but the pretty, brainless granddaughter of the Hamptons.



Let your beauty hide your heart.



Winter’s gaze snagged on Robbie’s, though she looked past him quickly. A successful business owner and newspaperman for the Royal Gazette, Robert Townsend was deemed acceptable company on a day-to-day basis, but Grandmother had higher hopes for her. At social occasions, she was not permitted to speak to him.



She didn’t have to speak to him. A mere glance showed her his waistcoat tonight bore seven silver buttons. Seven—that meant he had slid a note into the bottom, middle drawer of the chest in the drawing room.



Feigning a yawn partially hidden behind her fan, Winter blinked. Slowly.



Colonel Fairchild interrupted his monologue with drawn brows. “Forgive me, my dear. You must be in need of refreshment by now. Allow me to fetch you a cup of spiced tea.”



“That would be lovely, thank you.” Winter injected her tone with relief and made her smile sheepish. “I shall just slip out for a moment while you get it, Colonel.”



Fairchild bowed, though he kept his head erect. No doubt to stop his new powdered wig, more heavily curled than his old one, from slipping.



Winter dipped a short curtsy and headed for the ballroom’s exit, her palms damp.



“Winnie!”



She forced pleasure into her face as she turned toward her grandmother. “Yes, ma’am? Can I get you anything?”



Grandmother narrowed her ice blue eyes. “Where are you going? The ball has barely started, and there is someone I want you to meet.”



Winter lowered her gaze. “I will only be a moment, Grandmother. I must attend to a personal need.”



The matron lifted her chin. No one would doubt Phillippa Hampton was the queen of this particular event. Her hair was an extravagant tower of whitened curls, ribbons, and gems. Her gown was a creation so exquisite, King George himself would have envied the craftsmanship.



Her glare could shrivel a thriving oak tree. “Return posthaste. Mr. Lane is awaiting an introduction.”



Let your enemies count you a friend.



She pasted on an obedient, docile smile. “I will be quick.”



“I should think so, knowing who awaits your return.” The snap of Grandmother’s fan of Spanish lace all but forced Winter’s eyes to the right.



As if Mr. Lane were different from any other guest here. As if he were anything but another haughty, arrogant Loyalist. As if he were...



She drew in a sharp breath when her gaze collided with the stranger’s. He stood beside her grandfather, his eyes locked on her. ’Twas nothing unusual, given the gilding her grandmother poured upon her. But the way he looked at her, the eyes that did the looking...



He was only passably handsome, if one examined his nose, his mouth, his jaw. Strong features, and sandy hair he hadn’t bothered to powder or cover in a wig. Pleasant, not exceptional. But those eyes—they seemed to pierce right through her facade, down to the heart she’d been forbidden to have.



Penetrating. Stirring. Tugging.



No. She couldn’t afford to let a man turn her head, and she certainly couldn’t let one see her heart. No matter that a single gaze from him made her yearn for someone who might understand her.



God of my end, help me to focus upon Your will for me. Winter tore her gaze free and curtsied to her grandmother. “I shall be glad to meet him in a moment, ma’am.”



Perhaps some other enterprising young lady would have laid claim to him by the time she returned. Eyes like that were far too dangerous.



Grandmother kept her a moment more. “You have heard of the recent fortune of the Manhattan Lanes, I presume.”



If one could call it fortune when one’s uncle’s son died and one’s father returned to England to learn to manage the family estates. Which Grandmother certainly did, being ever loyal to the Crown—no matter how hard the heel of His Majesty’s army crushed the city.



Winter nodded.



Her grandmother pursed her lips. “Go, child. But hurry back before Mrs. Parks snatches him and forces him to dance with Theodosia.”



To God’s ear. Somehow she suspected Mr. Lane’s gaze wouldn’t unnerve Dosia at all. Her friend had no secrets to be discovered.



Winter made her escape from the ballroom. Guests filled the hallway too, and they would be in and out of all the main rooms in her grandparents’ first floor. She followed a bewigged couple into the drawing room and traced a path along the chamber’s edge until she came to the polished maple of the high chest of drawers.



The bottom, center drawer was open a bit. Not so much as to be noticeable to anyone not looking, but enough that Winter could catch her sleeve on the knob as she walked by and make a show of looking irritated before freeing it.



She folded the slip of paper she’d recovered into her fan, shut the drawer with a scowl, and then headed out of the room, inspecting her sleeve as if the lace had torn.



No one stopped her as she darted up the stairs and headed for her bedchamber. That didn’t keep a relieved breath from seeping out as she threw the bolt on the door.



Winter strode to the banked fire and stirred it enough to light a taper. She set the candle upon a table and pulled the slip of paper out. The message written upon it made her smile.



My dearest lady, flame of my heart,



How you make my day burn bright!



With the smallest turn of your reddest lips,



You are all that is beauty and light...



Winter snorted a laugh and checked the right top corner of the page. An “H” marked it. The real message, then, would appear with the application of heat.



Hands steady, Winter held the page close, then closer to the flame. Closer still until the smell of scorching paper filled her nostrils, until a faint sizzle reached her ears. Until the invisible ink filling the space between the lines of terrible poetry turned a golden brown.



Eleven o’clock tonight. The tulip tree behind the stable.



Eleven. She pulled the paper away from the flame and squinted to read the darkened face of the mantel clock. One hour more. Time enough to appease Grandmother, to bat her lashes and act the part of witless society lady for Mr. Lane. Then she could slip outside. She hoped Robbie would be there to meet her, and she could tell him what Fairchild had said. Though there remained the possibility that he had simply left another message for her.



This one could bring her trouble enough. If her grandparents saw it, they would place her under lock and key to keep her from eloping as Mother had.



Or worse, if Grandfather had meant the threat that still made her shiver. And she had no reason to doubt his sincerity, given the hatred he had never tried to hide from her.



Time nipped at the back of her throat, each tick of the clock telling her to hurry downstairs. But first she tossed the page into the fire. As the flames licked over the wisp of paper and then smoldered into glowing ash, Winter held her spot, watching the last ember die out. In her mind’s eye, she saw another letter, another fire.



Why had she burned it? Why? The last word she had from her father, the last thing her mother had given her before she passed away.



A cloud must have raced over the moon, for deeper shadows cloaked her room. Winter spun for the door. Best to lock away the memories of Oyster Bay, of life before the war. Best to remember who she was now. Best to push down the longing to go back, even for one day, to the life she once knew.



That life was gone. She had come to terms with that.



Better a life among enemies than a noose around her neck.



§



Bennet Lane buried his terror in a glass of cordial and silently recited some Latin to calm his nerves. How had he ended up once more in a ballroom lit with crystal chandeliers, surrounded by batting lashes and swishing fans?



George jabbed him with an elbow—not exactly subtly—and smirked. “You look like I felt when expected to recite the opening of Hippolytus.”



“Give me Euripides above this any day.” Ben forced a smile and stiff bow when a set of well-dressed young women glided by, simpering looks partially hidden by their fans.



His friend’s chuckle held no sympathy. “You garner admiring gazes from them all.”



“Because they all know my father just became the heir to considerable property. But the moment I try to talk to any of them... Women are baffling, George. Baffling. They complain if you treat them as pets but grow bored if you treat them as equals.”



Placing his empty glass on the tray of a passing servant, George snorted. “Your idea of an ‘equal’ is a fellow from Yale. They are lost and bored with your constant references to Latin and Greek, but that does not mean they have no brains at all. Well, most of them.”



Ben grunted a laugh and sent his gaze over the gathering. Young ladies abounded, all in imported silk and lace. Some had beauty to their faces that couldn’t be hidden by the mountain of curls atop their heads; others relied on the fuss to bolster what nature had withheld.



“I have spent too many years in Connecticut, with its boycotts and homespun. All this luxury is confounding.” He took another sip of his drink and let his gaze linger upon a young lady with pink powdered hair. She was pretty, but when they had been introduced, it had taken only a stuttered sentence from him for her eyes to glaze over. Perhaps she would be amenable to a suit, but he’d rather find a woman to court with whom he could have a full conversation every now and again.



George narrowed his gaze upon Ben’s hair, tied back but otherwise unadorned. “You had better get accustomed to fashion again quickly, old boy. Gentlemen of Hampton’s ilk expect you to dress appropriately when you come to their houses. Even I know that, and I would never have been invited if not for your request.”



“Hmm.” He hated powdered wigs—itchy and hot. But he would do what he must. Ben scanned the room again, looking for the angel in pale blue and gold he had seen leaving a quarter-hour earlier. Hampton’s granddaughter, and hence the highest-bred young lady here. With her on his arm, he could secure invitations to all the elite’s functions. His family’s heritage gave him the proper pedigree for them, but he had been too long away from New York to know from where the invitations would come.



Access was crucial. Somewhere in this ballroom, or another as exclusive, a spy might lurk. Someone undermining the British cause, feeding information to the rebel army that they could only have learned from high-ranking associations. Either an elite themselves, or one of the bottom-feeders who catered to them.



He would find that someone, eventually. He must. And he was prepared to do whatever was necessary to achieve it.



Even if that “whatever” meant attaching himself to one of these terrifying, lace-bedecked creatures.



His expression must have shifted to betray his panic. George laughed. “If they befuddle you so, why are you determined to make a match?”



Ben shook himself and grinned. “It is like chemistry, George. You know well that combining certain elements might explode in your face, but you cannot resist pouring them together on the chance they will create something spectacular.”



“’Tis talk like that which sends them running.” George clapped a hand to Ben’s shoulder and nodded toward the corner. “Now, look at that one—Miss Parks. She bears a striking resemblance to our old friend Charlie Mason, does she not?”



“Parks.” Ben frowned. “Are they not cousins to the Masons?”



“Probably. Hence the resemblance, I suppose. Irrelevant. My point is, you could always carry on a conversation with Charlie, who lacked your excellent education, without confusing him. Do the same with Dosia. Talk of the weather, of the latest news, of anything not straight from your laboratory at Yale. Pretend she is Charlie.”



Ben folded his arms over his chest and nodded decisively. “Charlie in a dress.” An excellent plan.



“Right,” George said on another snort of laughter. “Or, if you can wrest her from Colonel Fairchild, you might set your sights on Miss Reeves. She hasn’t a spare thought in her head anyway, so she is well used to giving an absent nod of assent. Well, from what I have seen. I’ve never been introduced, mind you.”



Bennet’s gaze followed George’s gesture toward the doorway, filled by the vision of beauty herself. Hampton’s granddaughter—Miss Reeves, apparently.



Empty headed? That dug a furrow into his brow. When he had caught her gaze a bit ago, she had struck him as many things, but thoughtless was not one of them. Hers were not eyes that covered an idle mind.



Were they? He was not the type to be so blinded by beauty as to attribute to a lovely face nonexistent qualities, was he?



Well, time would tell. Hampton was even now striding toward Bennet, undoubtedly to make the promised introduction since his ward had returned. Which Georger apparently took as his cue to leave with a mumble about another drink.



Miss Reeves held her place in the doorway for a moment more, looking out at the ballroom as if taking stock of everyone there. A princess surveying her kingdom? Perhaps. Certainly she put all the other young women to shame, from the details of her gown to the powdered tower of hair, to her face, exquisite in its detail.



His pulse hammered. She was too beautiful for him. His tongue would twist into knots if he dared to open his mouth in her company. She would dismiss him in a moment, as every other girl did. He’d do better to find a more approachable lady to court, one common enough that she wouldn’t actually distract him from his true motive for returning to New York.



Miss Reeves turned her head to her left and then moved toward Mrs. Hampton. Her every step was a dance, each gesture the epitome of grace.



Ben would be lucky to secure a minuet with her, much less any other sign of favor. And because he was not so superficial as to think a pretty face was all one needed, he certainly wouldn’t mourn the loss of what would never be.



She kept her gaze down as Mrs. Hampton ushered her forward. Seemingly demure, but there was something else in the tension of her neck. Something that spoke of anxiety, perhaps conflict.



Interesting.



Hampton stopped at Ben’s side and nodded at the approaching ladies. “My granddaughter has returned.”



“Excellent, sir.” He should have stayed home tonight. Settled in with a text. Montesquieu, perhaps. Montesquieu would be a fine companion for this blustery November night, far better than this present company—George excluded.



Hampton glared at the women when they arrived. “There you are.”



Miss Reeves curtsied, her gaze on her grandfather now, though his granite face didn’t soften in the slightest. “I trust you are enjoying your birthday celebration, Grandfather?”



“Quite.” He looked as though enjoying wasn’t a word in his vocabulary. “Allow me to introduce Mr. Bennet Lane, of the Manhattan Lanes. Mr. Lane, my granddaughter and ward, Miss Winter Reeves.”



She didn’t look at him, though she turned her face his way. When he held out a hand, she settled her fingers on his so lightly as to barely touch him at all.



Still, awareness coursed through him. She was even lovelier up close than from afar. A narrow bridge of a nose, lips of a perfect rose, brows that bespoke hair the color of his favorite mahogany chair—if one could see beneath the powder coating each lock, anyway.



He bowed over her hand. “It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Reeves.” Ah, not so much as a stutter. He would do his debate professor proud.



She drew in a breath too short, too sharp. And finally she lifted her eyes to his.



They were green. Deep as an emerald and not just in color. So many thoughts, so many needs seemed to swirl within those jewel-like irises for one fraction of a second—then it was as if a door slammed shut and they were only eyes. Pretty, empty eyes.



The strain was gone from her posture, and the turn of her lips looked half bored. “Likewise, Mr. Lane.”



He let her fingers go but couldn’t convince himself to look away from her perfect countenance. Not so much as a twitch revealed any thought at all, but he knew well he hadn’t imagined it.



Winter Reeves was more than the face she showed this crowded ballroom. Why did she feel she must hide it? And what, exactly, was it that she hid? Puzzling.



One corner of his mouth tugged up. Ben loved nothing so much as a puzzle. “Mr. Hampton, may I have the honor of dancing with your granddaughter when the next set begins?”



Hampton glowered. “She would be delighted.” Another word that seemed foreign to his frowning mouth.



Mrs. Hampton, however, beamed. As for Miss Reeves...if he weren’t mistaken, that look of ennui upon her face was designed specifically to put him off.



Well, they would see about that. Any philosopher, be he political or scientific or abstract, knew that sometimes one must revise one’s stated mission. His may have to become twofold.



Find the Patriot spy in New York.



And unravel the mystery that was Winter Reeves.

Cover Reveal:Catalyst by Jennifer Snyder

Title: Catalyst

Author: Jennifer Snyder
Expected release date: May 1, 2013
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Cover Designer: Mae I Design; http://www.maeidesign.com/
Reveal organized by: AToMR Tours
Goodreads : http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17373764-catalyst


Book Description:
Sometimes who we really are lies buried just beneath the surface…

After learning she’s inherited a house in the beachside town of Soul Harbor, Georgia, Addison Harmon and her best friend decided to take a much needed vacation before the pressures of life after high school suffocate them too heavily.

But what Addison finds isn’t a chance to recoup from a bad break up and hang out with her best friend while she decides what she wants to do with her future. What she finds is Kace Sullivan—a sexy guy she can’t seem to get enough of—someone who with one touch reveals a seductive world full of magick and secrets Addison isn’t sure she’s ready to be a part of.


About the Author

Jennifer Snyder lives in North Carolina were she spends most of her time writing young adult fiction, reading, and struggling to stay on top of housework. She is an instant coffee lover with an obsession for spiral bound notebooks and smooth writing pens. Jennifer lives with her husband and two children, who endure listening to songs that spur inspiration on repeat and tolerate her love for all paranormal, teenage targeted TV shows.

Social Media Links:
Blog: http://jennifersnydersblog.blogspot.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/jennsnyder04
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/760553.Jennifer_Snyder
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorjennifersnyder

Book Blast:Max Xylander and the Island of Zumuruud by Jon Thomason

Max Xylander and the Island of Zumuruud



Max has anger management issues. But she has a secret, too. She can make things happen. Like magic. She almost killed a loser skate punk and nearly used it on her stuck up older sister. The question is, can she do anything other than blow things up? Can she learn to control it? And is it really possible that an obscure teenage girl is the key to keeping all of humanity safe?



Philip just got his ring back. He got it taken away for messing with his teacher’s mind so he can cheat on a test. Now that he has his ring, he thinks he should be able to use his power to make his life better. A lot better. The problem is that people want him to be responsible. But if you could do magic, wouldn’t you use it to escape work in any way possible?



Aaron wants to be a soldier. He knows there are lots of people who would try to take over, and he’s determined to stop them. The problem is that there’s this new girl. And she might be not be on the right side of things. She’s really talented and pretty, but she might be able to destroy everything he believes in. Whatever the case, he knows he needs to learn to be world class with the magic sword while he figures out what to do.



Brynn never gets out. Her grandfather won’t permit it. Her only access to the outside world are high fashion magazines, so she has an unusual idea what she should wear. She’s dying to get out and travel. And adopt animals. Any kind of animal. Is she a lonely future granny with cats or are her ridiculous clothes actually the next fashion craze? What possible role could she play in the destiny of the world?



Max Xylander and the Island of Zumuruud is a fast-paced fantasy adventure for all ages (10 and up) and is the first of a planned trilogy. Fans of magic, swordplay, secret agents, and conspiracies set in a modern everyday world will not be able to put the book down. Jon Thomason is a debut author and paints a vivid world of magic right under our noses and delivers rapid-fire action that keeps the pages turning.

Purchase

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Praise



"Impressively inventive and enjoyable...vivid storytelling and exceptional characterization...Max's personality is layered and complex...conveyed flawlessly...keeping readers intrigued and engaged...writing style is smooth, and a subtle sense of humor comes through...narrative tension builds at a good pace and easily flows toward a satisfying and exciting conclusion...parents are likely to both approve of the story and enjoy reading it themselves...talented writer...sure to find an appreciative audience that will eagerly anticipate the next book in the series." -- ForeWord Clarion Review



"Thomason shines in his heroine's characterization...magical" --blueink Review

Download a FREE Copy!

Max Xylander and the Island of Zumuruud is FREE from March 7th to 11th on AMAZON.

Author Jon Thomason





Jon Thomason lives with his family in San Diego, after many years living in the beautiful Seattle area. He has a successful career in high tech where he's been fortunate enough to participate in many big-name industry releases.



Storytelling permeates everything he does. In the moments when Jon is not helping build the story of the tech world, he can almost always be found working on a project: writing, photography, videography, graphics design, or 3D art.



And he's always careful to conceal his jinni magic abilities, though perhaps might slip one day and be discovered...

Links

Facebook * Amazon * Goodreads * Twitter

Tour Schedule

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Author Interview: The Greeks of Beaubien Street by Suzanne Jenkins

Describe your book in five words or less. Compelling, disturbing, memorable, effective, intriguing. (from reviews;-)

How did the ideas for your books come to you? The idea to write The Greeks of Beaubien Streetevolved as I daydreamed about my childhood growing up in Dearborn. My father took us to Greektown to shop; we didn't go there to eat in the restaurants. We bought the foods we couldn't get anywhere else; wonderful Greek bread, tangy Kalamata olives, cheese, taramasalta, halva, and of course, filo dough based pastries. I loved the Eastern Market, too. Writing a book about my childhood sounded too boring. I am intrigued with women who become police officers, so the next logical step was to have a fantasy about one and write it down. Writing the crime scenes came from some perverse place I don't want to investigate too deeply. I'm sixty-two years old so it's too late to find out what's going on now.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
Possibly to remember that even in the rose-covered cottages of the world, creeps may dwell. And that those who are often thought of as marching to the beat of a different drum will be most normal of all.

What is the hardest part of writing for you? What's the easiest?
The hardest is not rushing the process! I am impatient. I’m also totally dependent on a good editor. The editing of my first two books continues to be an issue. I am so grateful for the readers who love the story line and are willing to plow through the misspellings, etc. Hopefully, the next round of post published editing will do the trick. The easiest is the fiction. It just comes to me.

What's next for you? Are you currently working on or have plans for future projects?
I have three fiction works and three non-fiction in process. When my brain is fried from trying to think too hard, I work on the non-fiction.

Why did you choose to write for specific genre?
The stories just came to me, so I think the genre chose me. I’m trying to write a sci/fi book and boy, that is really tough if you aren’t inspired.

What's it like hearing that readers are eagerly awaiting your book's release date? It’s thrilling!

What is one question that you've always wanted to be asked in an interview? How would you answer that question? Lol! Wow, that’s really tough. How about “Are you a recluse?” The answer would be “I’m a wannabe, but it’s awfully difficult to market books as a recluse.

What was your road to publications like?
I just did it myself. Now that my first books are doing well, I am thinking that it was really a smart move for me. The traditional publishing houses are jumping on the indie bandwagon and I think it will make it even more difficult and more expensive to do it yourself. The key for new authors is to ask questions before you pay out any cash. It’s too easy to allow your pride to intervene and costly mistakes are made that way. Bloggers are key for indie authors. I think I was really lucky that I found Pump up Your Books and Book Tweeting Service early on. Thank you so much for helping me promote my book!

About the Book:

Nestled below the skyline of Detroit you’ll find Greektown, a few short blocks of colorful bliss, warm people and Greek food. In spite of growing up immersed in the safety of her family and their rich culture, Jill Zannos doesn’t fit in. A Detroit homicide detective, she manages to keep one foot planted firmly in the traditions started by her grandparents, while the other navigates the most devastated neighborhoods in the city she can’t help but love. She is a no nonsense workaholic with no girlfriends, an odd boyfriend who refuses to grow up, and an uncanny intuition, inherited from her mystic grandmother, that acts as her secret weapon to crime solving success. Her story winds around tales of her family and their secret laden history, while she investigates the most despicable murder of her career.

The Greeks of Beaubien Street is a modern tale of a family grounded in old world, sometimes archaic, tradition, as they seek acceptance in American society. They could be any nationality, but they are Greek.

About the Author:

Suzanne Jenkins is the author of the Pam of Babylon Series. The Greeks of Beaubien Street is a new series about a Greek homicide detective who grew up above the family grocery store in Greektown, Detroit. Jenkins has fond memories of growing up in a Greek American household in the suburbs of Detroit. She currently lives in the west Michigan lakeshore area with her husband, two dogs and two sheep.

Visit her website

Visit her blog

Book Trailer Code:



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Release Event:Trust in Me (Friends & Lovers, #3) by Bethany Lopez

TRUST IN ME Release Event Information
Posts need to be live between March 3-12, 2013.
Title: Trust in Me (Book 3, Friends & Lovers)
Author: Bethany Lopez
Release date: February 28, 2013
Genre: Contemporary Romance - novella
Age Group: New Adult
Event organized by: AToMR Tours


Buy Links:
Barnes & Noble

Amazon

Smashwords

Goodreads

Book Trailer:



Book Description:
Roni’s dreams of becoming a contemporary dancer were smashed under the brutal rage of her ex-husband's fists. Getting divorced and starting over at the age of twenty-two was never her plan, but maybe in Texas, she'll find her path. When the town's local player, Rich, opens a Rec Center, she sees a way to rekindle her dancing dreams...and maybe have a little fun with her sexy new boss.

Rich never expected to fulfill his dreams in the town he planned to leave behind, but that's just what he's doing. His reputation as a noncommittal ladies' man might make it challenging to earn respect in the business world, but he's willing to prove that he's serious. In fact, when it comes to pursuing Roni, he's more than willing. But she's taking a page out of his book, not wanting to risk another relationship. Can he convince her that his playboy days are over and that she can trust him with her heart?

Book Excerpt:

She pushed the door open and peered inside. Her jaw dropped and her eyes seemed to freeze open at the site before her.
There was a makeshift bed in the corner, boxes strewn about the room, and a door that led into a small bathroom. In the center of the room Rich stood in nothing but basketball shorts. His very toned and naturally tanned body glistened with sweat as he worked the speed bag before him, his fist moving rapidly as they punched.
The quick curl of lust in her belly shocked Roni. She’d never had such an intense and immediate reaction to a man before. Even more shocking was the fact that it was Rich that caused her body to suddenly feel infused with liquid heat.
He hadn’t heard her enter. The music was too loud, and he was totally focused on pounding the bag.
Roni couldn’t look away. She felt a visceral need to touch. As the muscles rippled under his skin with each movement, her hands itched to feel.
Roni shook her head briefly. What was she thinking? This was Rich. A player. A Flirt. The exact opposite of the kind of guy she needed in her life.
Someone needed to explain that to her legs, she thought. They were about to give out.
Suddenly she realized that the movement before her had stopped. She shouted out, “Hey,” to get Rich’s attention, before he turned and caught her staring at him. The last thing she needed was for Rich to think she thought he was hot!
Rich wiped at his brow and turned, a grin spreading across his face when he saw her in the doorway. He held up a finger, to tell her to give him a second. He crossed the room and bent to turn down his iPod.
Roni stifled a grown at the sight of his ass as he bent over. Who knew a man’s ass could be so freakin’ tight? And his back… Good Lord!
Roni composed herself as he turned back towards her, but couldn’t help the jitters of happiness in her stomach, when he didn’t reach for a shirt.
“What’s up, Roni?” He seemed truly happy to see her.
“Hey,” She responded, trying to focus on his face. His brown hair was curling at the ends, damp with sweat. She didn’t understand why she found that so attractive. Maybe it had been too long since she’d had sex. It shouldn’t feel like she had to make a concerted effort not to throw herself at him. “Um, not much. I hope I’m not intruding.”


About the Author


Bethany Lopez was born in Detroit, Michigan, and grew up in Michigan and San Antonio, Texas. She went to High School at Dearborn High, in Dearborn, Michigan, which is where she has set her Young Adult series. She is married and has a blended family with five children. She is currently serving in the United States Air Force as a Recruiter in Los Angeles, California. She has always loved to read and write and has seen her dream realized by independently publishing her novels through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords.

Author social media links:
IAN - http://www.independentauthornetwork.com/bethany-lopez.html
Webpage - www.bethanylopez.blogspot.com
Twitter - https://twitter.com/#!/BethanyLopez2
Facebook - http://on.fb.me/LypEaO
Pinterest - http://pinterest.com/bethanylopez2/


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Cover Reveal:Death’s Awakening by Sarra Cannon

Title: Death's Awakening

Author: Sarra Cannon

Expected release date: March 28, 2013

Genre: Paranormal

Age Group: Young Adult

Cover Designer: Renu Sharma - http://www.thedarkrayne.com/

Reveal organized by: AToMR Tours

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17164944-death-s-awakening


Book Description:

For sixteen-year-old Parrish Sorrows, life is about to become a nightmare.

This is the night she'll wake up to her mother's convulsions. The night she'll lose contact with her father and sister in New York. The night 911 will stop answering the phone.

This is the night a mysterious supernatural virus begins its deadly rampage across the globe, killing billions in a matter of days. And just when things can't get worse, the dead begin to rise.

Parrish must embark on a perilous journey to find what's left of her family. Along the way, she'll team up with the gorgeous boy next door she's always been drawn to, the snobby ex-bff she's hated for years, a genius computer nerd, and a young boy who never says a word but is somehow a kindred spirit.

DEATH'S AWAKENING is the first book in Sarra Cannon's new Eternal Sorrows series. Told from alternating points of view, this story is packed with action, magic, and romance that will leave you begging to find out what happens as this group of teens struggles to survive the zombie apocalypse.

They are about to find out zombies are the least of their problems.


About the Author


Sarra Cannon grew up in a small town in Georgia where she learned that being popular always comes at a price. She is the author of the young adult paranormal Peachville High Demons series, which she first began self-publishing in October of 2010. Since the series began, Sarra has sold over 120,000 copies and recently signed a contract with Sea Lion Books to create a graphic novel adaptation of Beautiful Demons, the first book in the series.

Sarra lives in North Carolina with her amazing husband, her new baby boy, and her teeny tiny Pomeranian, Snickerdoodle.

Sarra Cannon | https://www.facebook.com/sarracannon | Twitter

Book Blast: Death & Kisses by Clover Autrey

Death and Kisses



“My only thought was for Aden. I ran to him, kicking up water and called out his name. He turned and my heart skidded, crumbled and dropped to my feet. Not Aden, but Brad. Then where was . . .?



I looked down to where Brad’s gaze had been focused, down, down, in the murky water towards the center of the pond. No. Noooo! I shouldn’t be able to see him through the stirred-up sediment, but I did. Pascual was drowning Aden just as he had drowned Brad.”



One night changed Kasey’s life forever. The star football player drowned and everyone at school blames her. And oh, yeah, since that night, she can see ghosts. Not that she’s afraid of them. Much. She’s more concerned with staying under the radar as the school’s once-popular, now outcast loner freak. Until the boy she supposedly killed shows up wanting revenge.



Regardless of Kasey’s outcast status, the hot new guy in school, Aden, wants to help her figure out how to get the angry ghost to leave her alone. So what if he also wants to contact his dead brother? And why are all the ghosts suddenly following Aden around?

Purchase

Kindle * Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Author Clover Autrey 



Clover Autrey’s books have been referred to as “Romance in the Safety Zone.” The pages are chock full of adventure, attraction, fantasy and love, safe enough to read with your daughter or your grandmother, yet not so sweet it will put you in a sugar coma.



Inspired by her love of Louis L'Amour heroes, Clover (yeah, that's her real name), packed up and moved to Texas where she found a real live Texan of her own. She's been there ever since where she and Pat (who else would a Clover marry but a Patrick?), and their three boys, listen to the coyotes howl at the trains each evening.

Links

Blog * Website * Twitter 

 Facebook * Amazon * Goodreads

Praise for Clover Autrey

~Great Expectations Finalist 2012~

Ms. Autrey is a dynamic storyteller. I was enthralled from the very first page. ~~ Dark Angel Reviews



You will find yourself rooting that these two brave characters are able to find a way through every obstacle thrown in their way. ~~ TwoLips Reviews



…has excitement and danger, intrigue and adventure. The love that grows is but one facet of this story… ~~ The Romance Studio



It really left me speechless, it was so wonderful. Not only is it unlike anything you’ll ever read, but it really pulls you through so many emotions as you read it. ~~Rogues and Romance











BookBlast $100 Giveaway

$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 3/17/13



Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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