My Books!

Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Beyond the Book: The Captain and the Cheerleader


Today's excerpt is from the book we've been previewing The Captain and the Cheerleader. To summarize, so far we know that Susan bet an irritating fellow teacher that she could make head football coach Kurt Deveraux ask her out. He did, and tonight he arrives at her house to take her to a party. This scene is significant because we learn that Kurt is attracted to Susan, and we also learn that neither of them drink, which will be important later on. Today Susan and Kurt are on their way to the party. I skipped a few paragraphs.

Blurb:
Susan English can’t stand Robin Lanford! She’s so full of herself she irritates everyone on the faculty of Fairfield High. When Robin bets Susan fifty dollars that she can’t get a date with Kurt Deveraux, the head football coach, Susan jumps at the chance to put the little heifer in her place. She had no idea that teaching Robin a lesson would irrevocably change her life, strain treasured friendships, and throw two families into chaos.

“Where is this party of yours?” Susan asked as she fastened her seat belt.

“It’s out on Bailey Road. Do you know where the old Texaco station used to be? A Hispanic guy by the name of Jose Mendoza bought the property that adjoins the Texaco. He and his family like me

because I can speak Spanish. The party will probably be a little on the wild side, though. Jose and his people work hard, but they play hard too.”

A stirring of guilt brought a rush of warmth to her face. I’d give anything if I hadn’t made that silly bet. Kurt asked me to go out with him in good faith, knowing nothing about the bet. I feel like a jerk who obtained an invitation through false pretenses. I’ll make it up to him, though. I’ll do my best to show him a good time. 

Buy Link: http://amzn.to/1NDgnrg

Triple Love Score



Triple Love Score
by Brandi Megan Granett

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GENRE: Contemporary Romance

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BLURB:

Miranda Shane lives a quiet life among books and letters as a professor in a small upstate town. When the playing-by-the-rules poet throws out convention and begins to use a Scrabble board instead of paper to write, she sets off a chain of events that rattles her carefully planned world.

Her awakening propels her to take risks and seize chances she previously let slip by, including a game-changing offer from the man she let slip away. But when the revelation of an affair with a graduate student threatens the new life Miranda created, she is forced to decide between love or poetry.
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EXCERPT:

Miranda played mystery on a double word score with a blank tile. “Bingo,” she chorused. “Fifty points.” She hopped up to do a victory dance. As she did, her foot clipped the table, and the tile bag toppled over.

They both bent to pick them up. He smelled like Old Spice, the way her father did before the chemo made her mom’s nose too sensitive. “You,” Miranda started to say, to ask or to explain why she couldn’t stop staring at him.

“You,” he said in reply.

Then he leaned in closer and pressed his lips against hers. His eyelashes stirred against her cheeks as he closed his eyes. She leaned in closer. And neither one moved to stop. For a very long moment, lips slightly parted, they breathed in the same air, as they hovered in the sweet spot right after a kiss.

Then his phone went off, startling them both.

He snapped backwards and patted down his pockets for the source of the interruption. He stared at the number. “I think I have to take this,” he said. “Some kind of hospital.”

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

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Brandi Megan Granett is an author, online English professor, and private writing mentor. She holds a PhD in Creative Writing from Aberystwyth University, Wales, an MFA in Fiction from Sarah Lawrence College, a Masters in Adult Education with an emphasis on Distance Education from Penn State University, and a BA from the University of Florida.

Granett is the author of My Intended (William Morrow, 2000). Her short fiction has appeared in Pebble Lake Review, Folio, Pleiades and other literary magazines, and is collected in the volume Cars and Other Things That Get Around.

In addition, she writes an author interview series for the Huffington Post, and is a member of the Tall Poppy Writers, a community of writing professionals committed to growing relationships, promoting the work of its members, and connecting authors with each other and with readers.

When Granett is not writing or teaching or mothering, she is honing her archery skills. She lives in New Jersey with her husband, daughter and two dogs.


Author Social Media Links

Website:          www.brandigranett.com/
Facebook:       Brandi Megan Granett, Author
Twitter:            @brandigranett
Instagram:       @mrsgranett
Goodreads:     Brandi Megan Granett

Purchase Links

Amazon  http://www.amazon.com/Triple-Score-Brandi-Megan-Granett/dp/1942545401/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1463636063&sr=8-1&keywords=triple+love+score

Barnes & Noble  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/triple-love-score-brandi-megan-granett/1123694044?ean=9781942545408



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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE


Brandi will be awarding a $50 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Use the link below to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Monday, January 30, 2017

Fated Hearts Review


Fated Hearts
by Becky Flade

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GENRE:  romantic suspense

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BLURB:

Psychiatrist Henley Elliott fled her quiet life in Cleveland for a gypsy lifestyle, trying to stay one step ahead of her painful memories. When she breaks down in quirky little Trappers' Cove, Minnesota, she meets Sheriff Carter McAlister - a man healing from his own share of hidden heartbreaks. 

At the request of a friend, Carter offers Henley a job to help her get back on her feet . . . but soon he can't resist trying to sweep the intriguing woman off them. Breaking through her carefully built shell proves to be a near-impossible task, and to make matters worse, a dangerous new presence in the Cove seems to be targeting Henley. They must learn to trust in each other in order to keep her safe. 

Can Henley and Carter leave their secrets and scars in the past to get a second chance at happily ever after?



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EXCERPT:

“Did he kill that man?”

“No. I did.” Maggie took another sip. Henley took the glass back. Their fingers brushed over the stem. “He tried to crush Aidan’s skull with a rock. I used his gun on him. The one he’d meant to kill me with.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. It was a long time ago.”

“It bothered you—taking a life, for the right reason, to save a life. And it hurt you to
tell me about it. But you did so I would understand why your husband automatically distrusts a stranger in your home. And I’ll give him leeway if he’s rude. You have a good heart, Maggie, and an honest soul. Both are admirable.”

“Can you read minds?”

Henley laughed. “I’m a psychiatrist. Not practicing at the moment, by choice. But it can be hard to turn it off.” She’d been honest, but Henley still felt the weight of a lie.

“Good God almighty, don’t tell Aidan that. He’ll never relax with you.”

   
MY REVIEW:
Henley, the heroine has been running from her past for a long time when car trouble in a small town brings her to a halt. Expensive repairs lead her to work for the local sheriff. He's gorgeous, but Henley knows nothing can come of this attraction. She'd like to tell him why she's running, but if she did he'd never want to see her again. Or worse yet, he'd think she was crazy. Of course the gorgeous sheriff hasn't told her everything about himself either. Specifically, he's as wounded as she is.

Amid real danger from the past, Henley and her sheriff have to confront their pasts and decide if they'll face the future together or not.

I liked the plot of the book, as well as the characters. I'd give it 4 out of 5 stars.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

A coffee addict and born city girl, I tend to place my stories in and around southeast Pennsylvania, or at least have a character or two from the area. Home is where the heart is and I make mine with my very own knight in slightly tarnished armor, three beautiful daughters ranging in ages from college through pre-school, two grandsons and a charming son-in-law. When I’m not busy living my own happily ever after, I’m writing about someone else’s.

I’d love to have you visit with me on my blog; at Facebook and Twitter; on my Goodreads and Amazon author pages; or write to me directly at beckyfladeauthor@gmail.com.

CONTACT INFO
http://www.pinterest.com/BeckyFlade/

You can purchase FATED HEARTS anywhere ebooks are sold including:



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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

Becky Flade will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Sunday, January 29, 2017

Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors



Welcome to Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors, your chance to sample the work of a talented group of authors. When you finish here you can find more snippets at

http://www.wewriwa.com

https://www.facebook.com/groups/SnippetSunday/

We know so far that Rocky ticked off drug dealers and had to fake his death so he can enter the witness protection program. At the pretend funeral, Cade McCoy told Aimee he'd never go into the ring again, and Gabe Porter who is suspected of being in the drug ring hugs Aimee and reveals that he knows where she lives. I'm skipping some paragraphs today to the time Aimee goes home to Baltimore, and Rocky calls her right after she was thinking how peaceful she felt.

“Hey, hon, it’s me.”


Rocky! Aimee gritted her teeth and clenched the receiver so tightly her knuckles turned white. “Why are you calling here; the FBI said no contact for at least six months.”

Rocky laughed in her ear. “We’re safe now, hon; stop worrying.”

Aimee took deep breaths to calm herself and resisted the impulse to pound her pillow. “Dave told you not to come or call here, and don’t call me hon. It sounds tacky.

“Oh, Dave’s just a pessimist; I called because I have some news for you.” 


Blurb:
Aimee Sherwood never dreamed that following her fiancé into the witness protection pro-gram would land her in a haunted house in a town that’s downright creepy. She’d have laughed if she had been told the guy who lives down the road might be her soul mate, not the man whose ring she’s wearing. Life in West Virginia is nothing like life in Los Angeles, but between bean ball battles with Marilyn Monroe, remodeling a crumbling farmhouse, and starting a new online business, life in the country is anything but boring.

Buy Link: http://amzn.to/23yoW2d

Saturday, January 28, 2017

Saturday Sample


Welcome to Saturday Sample. Last week we saw that Rocky called Aimee and told her he'd bought them a house to live in. Aimee headed to West Virginia, but her car quit five miles from Fortuna, the estate that Rocky bought. To her surprise Cade McCoy comes riding down on a horse.

Blurb:
Aimee Sherwood never dreamed that following her fiancé into the witness protection pro-gram would land her in a haunted house in a town that’s downright creepy. She’d have laughed if she had been told the guy who lives down the road might be her soul mate, not the man whose ring she’s wearing. Life in West Virginia is nothing like life in Los Angeles, but between bean ball battles with Marilyn Monroe, remodeling a crumbling farmhouse, and starting a new online business, life in the country is anything but boring.

Excerpt:

Aimee’s jaw dropped. “Cade McCoy! Where did you come from?”


Cade laughed as he dismounted. “Remember that horse farm I was going to buy? It’s only a few miles down the road.”

Aimee stepped back as the horses nostrils flared. Oww. They were pink inside. “He won’t bite, will he?”

Cade’s lips quirked. “No way, but this horse is a mare, a female horse, not a male.”

Aimee gingerly patted the animal’s nose. “Horses are real big, aren’t they? She’s pretty though.”

“She sure is,” Cade agreed as the horse hid her face against his chest. “You didn’t say what brings you to my new neck of the woods.”

“Rocky bought some property five miles down Taylor Road, which my GPS thinks is this road.”

Buy Link: http://amzn.to/23yoW2d

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Jayce Ventura: Ghost Detective

Title - Jayce Ventura: Ghost Detective 
Author - Serena Akeroyd
Genre - Paranormal Romance
Release Date - January 31, 2017
It says a lot about a person when their best friend is a ghost. 
But, Jayce Ventura, ghost detective, has nothing but the deceased as friends. With no love life, no social life, and only Ben and Jerry who'll put up with her, something's gotta give. But what? 
When Drake Edwin comes to her for help in finding closure with his nephew's death, Jayce is dragged out of her apathy and into the weird and wonderful world of emotion. 
Only trouble is, Drake's nephew didn't OD, he was murdered, and Jayce is the only one who can make good this situation. 
Mixing work and pleasure is never the best idea, but when you throw murder into the scenario, it gets a thousand times worse. 
Only a helping hand from the other side will get this duo together, but even ghosts can be bitter. Will Drake and Jayce ever make it? Or were they broken before they managed to meet...?
“Is he certain that Nate Cambright was behind this?”

Drake's voice penetrates the ghostly conversation. “It's more circumstantial than I'd like. Nate threatened David, told him he'd regret it if he went to the party where his drink was spiked.”
“Can he remember anything else?”
“What did they spike the drink with?” David asks, and I pass on the question to Drake who answers:
“Ketamine.”
“Special K?” He huffs. “Then it's Nate. He was dealing it at school.”
When I pass that on to Drake, his eyes bug out. “Are you being serious? You knew and didn't tell me?”
“What? And make my life a thousand times worse?” David shakes his head. “Nate's the most arrogant SOB because of who his dad is. He thinks nothing can touch him. If people know I died of a Special K overdose, then they'll know he was the one to spike my drink.”
“David, I've heard of Ketamine. It's hallucinogenic. Before you passed, you'll have been hallucinating. Think back,” Kenna tells him. “Do you remember anything from that time?”
“I've thought about that night every day since, Kenna.”
She narrows her eyes at him when he bows his head. “You're keeping something back. I can sense it.”
“No, I'm not. Why would I?” He licks his lips. “The only thing I can remember is...well, I do remember Nate getting in my face. He was laughing at me. Taunting me.” When I tell Drake that, he bites out, “What are we going to do? He needs to pay.”
“Well, first things first, we need to get David out of here.”
Drake frowns. “How do you even do that?”
“That's for me to know and for you not to find out.”
His glower doesn't affect me. Hell, Kenna does nothing but glare at me for most of every, single, freakin' day! “If it's going to affect my nephew, then I think I deserve to know.”
David's chest puffs up again. “That's my uncle,” he tells Kenna, who really isn't impressed.
“Yeah, I got that.” She rolls her eyes. “Tell him not to get his knickers in a twist.”
I sniff. “It's not like I'm going to do something bad, for God's sake. I'm going to make it so he's no longer connected to this place.” As I fold my arms across my chest, I won't lie, there's a pout to my lips. “I thought you'd approve.”
He blinks at me. “Oh.”
“Yeah. Oh. Watch it, buster,” I snipe. “Do you want to come with me, David? Or do you like this dump?”
Apparently I've astounded both men, because David's ghostly lips work but no noise pops out. He looks like a silvery goldfish. When he gulps, I know he's way too close to tears for my own comfort. “I'd like that,” he whispers, his tone quivery. “Kenna says it's cool where you live.”
“It's certainly better than this shithole,” I remark, peering around the admittedly grim bookshop. But, it's not like if I pretty up the place it will make it better for its current residents. Ghosts actually come here because it's, well, I guess it suits their mood. Ghosts aren't exactly happy, after all. 
Serena Akeroyd is a romanceaholic. She won’t touch a book unless she knows there’s a happy ever after at the end of it. Pathetic as it may be, because of this addiction, Serena decided to craft her own tales, stories that suit her voracious need for sexy romance. After all, a love story ain’t a lurve story without a bit of naughty!
A citizen of the world, Serena is a nomad at heart, and her novels enable her to travel the globe and all behind her computer desk. Naturally, she’d prefer the option of a private jet, but still, if wishes were horses, eh?
Always feel free to connect with Serena, she’d love to chat with her readers, as well as fellow romance addicts!
HOSTED BY:

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Beyond the Book: The Captain and the Cheerleader


Today's excerpt is from the book we've been previewing The Captain and the Cheerleader. To summarize, so far we know that Susan bet an irritating fellow teacher that she could make head football coach Kurt Deveraux ask her out. He did, and tonight he arrives at her house to take her to a party. This scene is significant because we learn that Kurt is attracted to Susan, and we also learn that neither of them drink, which will be important later on.

Blurb:
Susan English can’t stand Robin Lanford! She’s so full of herself she irritates everyone on the faculty of Fairfield High. When Robin bets Susan fifty dollars that she can’t get a date with Kurt Deveraux, the head football coach, Susan jumps at the chance to put the little heifer in her place. She had no idea that teaching Robin a lesson would irrevocably change her life, strain treasured friendships, and throw two families into chaos.

Susan rose from the sofa and took her jacket off the back of a chair. My oh my, what a view! Her entire outfit fit so snugly it might have been painted on, but it didn’t look off color or suggestive. Instead, the jeans and sweater looked elegant and classic, just like Susan herself.

A look of chagrin crossed her face when she turned back around. “I think I’ve been a bad hostess. Would you like a drink before we go, or should we be on our way?”

“I don’t really drink. I guess you think it’s corny, but I want to set a good example for the kids.”
Susan nodded as if his answer pleased her. “I don’t think that’s corny at all, and I don’t drink either. Coffee’s about the strongest thing I’m interested in.” 

http://amzn.to/1NDgnrg

Monday, January 23, 2017

New Beginnings


The story is set in Hobart, the capital of Tasmania, the most southern state in Australia. A most beautiful place. I went there a few years back and imagined how it would be to live in this city, how to adapt as a “non-local”, and bit by bit I wrote the story of two sisters moving there.
Obviously, I added a little romance into the story as well – so I added Mark and Zach.
This is the second edition of NEW BEGINNINGS.
The story is now a bit sexier and has also received another edit.

♥♦♥  SYNOPSIS ♥♦♥


The chance to start life all over with the help of a stranger.

Twenty-two-year-old Sophie Levesque has been guardian to her eight-year-old sister Mia since their mother’s death a few years ago, and it hasn’t been easy. Luck comes their way when they inherit a small house in Hobart. Problem is, though, they don’t know and have never heard of Clara Bellinger, the testator. Settling into their new life, Sophie is still afraid it’s all a mistake.

Mark O’Connor, attorney in Hobart and the bearer of the good news for Sophie and Mia, curses himself for the lack of information about the testator. However, researching the questions gives him an opportunity to see Sophie again, and the more time he spends with the two, the more he realises that his life is missing something. And it’s not his casual lover Linda.

But then there’s Zach, Sophie’s sexy neighbour from across the road… and a very good friend of Clara’s.

Will unravelling the mystery unravel Sophie and Mark’s promise of a future?

♥♦♥  EXCERPT ♥♦♥

Sophie Levesque stared at the attorney in front of her, waiting for some answers. She and her little sister, Mia, had been quietly sitting in Mr. O’Connor’s office for more than half an hour, learning about the details of their inheritance.

Once he was finished, silence hung in the air before she asked with raised eyebrows. “Who?”

“Clara Catherine Bellinger.”

Mia leaned closer to her elder sister and gave a soft tug on Sophie’s shirt. “Who is she?”

Sophie shrugged. “I wouldn’t have a clue.” Then turned her attention back on Mr. O’Connor and asked the same thing. “Who is she?”

The handsome attorney on the other side of the massive desk leaned forward and rested his elbows on it before he started to repeat his earlier speech. Although hearing his words, Sophie still found it all very hard to comprehend. Here she was in this old office, furnished with heavy antique oak furniture, the curtains in a pretty shade of aubergine, and the carpet beneath her shoes thick and warm in a matching shade, hearing about an inheritance from someone she’d never even heard of.

Startled by the subtle sound of the clock chiming across the road, Sophie’s gaze turned to the window, where she saw the post office building across the road. It looked impressive and old. It’d been only a few hours since they’d arrived in Hobart, the most southern capital in Australia, but she already liked it. A lot more than Sydney, the place she’d lived all her life.

Hauled back from her thoughts, she heard Mr. O’Connor say, “I believe she was a distant relative of yours. I’m afraid I don’t have any further details.”

Sophie arched an eyebrow in disbelief, doubting the accuracy of it all. Not only did she try not to question his competence as a lawyer, but she also hoped it wasn’t a dreadful misunderstanding.

With a slight shrug of her shoulder, she asked, “Why not?”

He met her gaze steadily. “Pardon me?”

Sitting up straight, she repeated, “Why not? Why aren’t there any further details?”

He rubbed his chin with his fingers, his unease now obvious, and although she almost felt sorry for him, she tried not to care. She needed to know more. And not just the what, but why and who as well.
Only a week earlier, Sophie had received the call from Mr. O’Connor telling her about an inheritance. Initially, she’d thought it had been a horrible joke when he’d given her details on where to pick up airplane tickets to Hobart. It was important for her to come, he’d explained. Some legality she hadn’t understood. Something about her having to sign documents for the transfer of ownership of some assets. It’d sounded too farfetched at the start, but after some research on the firm with the help of a friend, it sounded valid, and she’d hoped her life was finally turning around for the better.

AMAZON US: http://amzn.to/2a1BSJ7

Literary Chanteuse's review:This author has a way of endearing her characters and it is easy to fall in love with them. An intriguing story with emotion, love and hope.”
Sharon's review: “This was a very enjoyable read and it left me wanting just a little bit more. I highly recommend it.”

♥♦♥ MEET THE AUTHOR ♥♦♥
IRIS BLOBEL

Iris Blobel was born and raised in Germany and only immigrated to Australia in the late 1990s. Having had the travel bug most of her life, Iris spent quite some time living in Scotland, London as well as Canada where she met her husband. Her love for putting her stories onto paper has only emerged recently, but now her laptop is a constant companion.

Iris resides west of Melbourne with her husband and her two beautiful daughters.

Next to her job at a private school, she also presents a German Program at the local Community Radio.


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