My Books!

Saturday, October 31, 2015

Saturday Sample: The Captain and the Cheerleader


Welcome to Saturday Sample. Today I'll be sharing excerpts from The Captain and the Cheerleader which releases tomorrow from http://www.wingsepress.com. Let's have a blurb and an excerpt, and I hope you'll tell your friends about the book.

Blurb:


Susan English can’t stand Robin Landford!  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.f

Excerpt:

Robin Landford swept into the room and plopped down into an orange plastic chair beside Susan English. “I think Kurt Deveraux is gay.”

It was Friday afternoon, but Robin’s statement halted the teacher exodus from the faculty lounge.

“Why do you say that, Robin?” Susan asked. Yeah, her voice sounded chilly and a bit snooty, but she couldn’t help herself. Robin was fresh out of college and seemed to think she was God’s gift to men; she flirted with anything in pants. This annoying little creature had probably made a play for Kurt’s attention and been rejected. Of course, in Robin’s defense, she’d have to say that not many women could ignore Kurt Deveraux. There might be a man somewhere who had more sex appeal than the blond, blue- eyed coach, but Susan doubted it.

She watched as Robin tossed her hair and pouted. “If I can’t get his attention he isn’t interested in women.”

Several people rolled their eyes. “Oh, I don’t think that’s the problem at all.” Susan smiled her most serene smile at her irritating colleague.

“And you do?” Robin’s eyebrows shot straight up. “If that’s true why haven’t you already gone out with him? Don’t tell me you wouldn’t be interested. He’s hot.”

“Until recently I was involved with someone else. I had no desire to see Kurt or any other man socially.”

“Well, I think you’re full of it,” Robin sniffed. “If I couldn’t get him to notice me, I know you can’t.”
Around the faculty lounge a murmur of delighted, horrified voices broke out.

Susan finished her soft drink and tossed the can into a nearby recycling bin. “I could make Kurt ask me out if I wanted to.”

“Yeah? Prove it. Get him to ask you out. I’ll bet you fifty dollars you can’t do it,” Robin taunted. “All he’s interested in is football.”

Melissa Taylor, Susan’s best friend, cleared her throat. “How long would she have to get the date?”
“Two weeks ought to be enough for an old pro like Susan.” Robin snickered as her gaze swept around the lounge. “Would the rest of you like to get a piece of the action?”

All at once a carnival atmosphere permeated the room. They chose Don Brooks, who taught art to keep track of the bets, and everyone hurried to put money on his or her favorite.

From the corner of her eye, Susan watched as Robin smirked at everyone in the room. Why did Mr. Dennis hire such an undisciplined, annoying child? It would be a pleasure to give Robin her comeuppance.

Don recorded the last bet on a sheet of copier paper. “It’s about fifty-fifty. Sorry, Robin, but my money’s on Susan. When she enters a room, men sit up and take notice.”

Melissa, who stood near the door, wildly waved her hand to get their attention. “Here comes Kurt now.”

Kurt looked surprised to find so many teachers in the lounge. He probably was; on Friday the school usually emptied in a hurry.

“What’s up?” Kurt inquired of the room at large as he rounded the corner and turned toward his mailbox. “Why are you all so quiet?”

Susan spoke up before anyone else could answer. “Oh, we were talking about the game tonight. Are we going to beat Middleton?”

Kurt grinned and made Susan’s heart pick up a little speed. Bet every other woman in the room had the same reaction. Could any woman alive resist Kurt Deveraux’s smile?

Kurt shrugged. “Just between ourselves, we’re going to get our butts kicked, but the boys will do their best, so if we lose, we lose. We don’t have the talent that Middleton does.”

Susan stared straight into those beautiful blue eyes. “You’ve done everything you can to get them ready. Everyone knows that.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence. I hope we don’t let you down.” He threw a set of papers into his mailbox and turned toward the football field.

Robin giggled as she grabbed her book bag. “Not too great a beginning. What’s wrong, Susan? I thought he’d be falling at your feet.”

“It’s early days, yet,” said Don. He picked up his briefcase and waved goodbye while the others collected their belongings, and Melissa turned off the light, leaving the lounge deserted and dark. 

The Captain and the Cheerleader will be available tomorrow at http://www.wingsepress.com and Amazon.com

Ianthe

Title: Ianthe
Series: Fae Realm Series #1 
Author: Cathlin Shahriary
Genre: YA Fantasy
Release Date: October 31, 2015
Ianthe Lola Grayson hasn’t always made the best decisions, but one night at a party changes everything. Haunted by nightmares of that night and fresh out of rehab, Lola is forced to spend the summer with her great aunt, whom she hasn’t seen in over 10 years. But her nightmares aren’t all that follow Lola to her Aunt’s house. Lola soon finds herself drawn to Conall, a mysterious Fae who appears at the edge of the woods and invades her dreams. Although she knows better, she just can’t seem to stay away from him. With Conall’s help, Lola starts to unravel the secrets left behind by her long dead mother, but what happens when those secrets change everything Lola has ever known?
 
 
As she strolled across the clearing, her eyes adjusted to the moonlight and her ears took in the sounds of the forest at night. Noisy insects created harmonies of their own music. A slight breeze rustled the leaves of the trees as her feet swished through the grass. She looked down frequently to make sure she didn't trip and hurt herself. She glanced up as she closed the distance to the oak but didn’t see her mysterious man. Disappointment burned in her throat like acid and she mentally kicked herself for being so stupid as to think he could possibly be real. She paused debating whether to continue on toward the oak or go back to the house and wallow in self-pity. In that moment the hairs on the back of her neck prickled, and her arms broke out in goose bumps. She could feel someone watching her from the woods. She took a few steps closer toward the old oak and softly called out, "Hello?"

"You came," his voice responded from the darkness, making her skin tingle. She snapped her elastic against her wrist, so wanting this moment to be real.

He appeared from amongst the shadows of the forest next to the tall oak. He was exactly as she pictured him in her dreams. His dark shoulder length hair was tied back into a loose ponytail. He was even wearing the same outfit—boots, leather pants, and a tight fitting shirt that showed off his muscles impeccably. He emanated danger, but somehow Lola was only soothed by his presence. She yearned to get closer and took a few more steps toward the tall oak. This time she could clearly see that his ears were indeed pointed. She followed the contours of his chiseled jaw and pointed nose toward his eyes that seemed to glow the green of newborn grass in spring. Her breath caught. Being up close to him literally took her breath away. She had never seen a man so gorgeous before. All those guys she thought were hot before couldn't hold a candle to him. She snapped her elastic more forcibly against her wrist, the pain ensuring that she indeed was awake and was not dreaming up the magnificent specimen standing in front of her. He glanced down toward her wrist as his lips tugged down into a scowl.

"Why do you hurt yourself?" He asked.

Lola opened her mouth, but no sound came out. It was suddenly dry. She closed her mouth and licked her lips hoping to make her voice work this time. His eyes tracked her every movement and seemed to darken when they settled on her glistening lips. "I, um, wanted to make sure you were real," she whispered. Wow, Lola, way to sound like an idiot. "I'm sorry. You… um… you just look exactly as I had imagined… as if I have dreamed you up," she quickly added. Oh, great, now you sound like the creepy stalker, Lola thought cringing inwardly. "The rubber band, um, helps me know what's real and focus in on the moment at hand." Whew. There, maybe that would be an acceptable answer.

His frown didn't ease, but he reached out and gently stroked her wrist where her elastic had left a red mark. "I don't like it," he stated simply. Lola just stared at his face, savoring the trail of heat that his thumb left with every pass over her wrist.

After a few moments she seemed to shake herself out of her hormone-induced stupor and yanked her hand out of his. She took a step back. "Okay, Spock, enough with the touchy feely. Who are you and why are you hanging out outside of my window?"

"Who is Spock?" He asked scrunching his eyebrows in confusion.

"You know, Spock... from Star Trek," Lola replied. She could tell he wasn't getting it as his brows still furrowed. "The one with the pointed ears," she held up her hand moving middle and pointer finger together as well as her ring finger and pinky. "You know, the ‘live long and prosper’ thing." He still looked confused, but Lola was at a loss for how to explain the connection further. "Okay... well you still didn't answer my questions."

"I am Conall," he replied, extending his hand for her to take. The instant she touched his skin again it was like she was drunk on his touch. She leaned forward and closed her eyes to the sensation. A sense of calm and rightness filled her bones as she took a deep breath. It came out as a breathy sigh. She felt a tug and realized that this time she was the creeper holding on too long. He removed his hand from her grasp and she instantly missed his touch.

Cathlin Shahriary lives in Dallas, Texas with her husband, surrounded by cats (two of which she calls her own) and a 75 pound pitbull puppy named Erwin. By day she is an elementary teacher, creating future book nerds and writers. By night (weekends and summer) she is an avid reader, fan girl, author stalker, cat foster, and writer.
She hopes that this book will be the first of many. You can follow Cathlin on Instagram and Twitter @cshahriary. If you wish to discuss all things Winchester/Supernatural, or see what she is fangirling over most recently, you can find her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/authorcshahriary .
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Friday, October 30, 2015

Outpost


If you came for Fashionista Friday scroll on down, but why not enjoy this post first?




The god they serve is as fickle as a crow...


Publication Date: November 1, 2015
Genre: Fantasy
Series: The Fylking, Book One

Nine thousand suns ago, a race of immortal warriors came from the stars through a rare alignment and stepped onto the world of Math, a world much like their own, cradled by mountains, cold seas and tall forests. A perfect place for a backwater outpost from which to fight their ancient war. The realm they claimed came to be known as Dyrregin, Gateway of the Gods.

They call themselves the Fylking. Unseen by all save those sensitive to the Otherworld, the Fylking taught seers to build and ward over the Gate, an interdimensional portal spanning the realm like a sigil shining on the surface of the world. The Fylking’s enemies, pitiless beings who think nothing of annihilating a world to gain even a small advantage, are bent on destroying it. They succeeded once, leaving Dyrregin in abandoned desolation for a thousand suns.

Twelve centuries have passed since the Fylking returned. Dyrregin is at war. Seers are disappearing and their immortal guardians are blind, deceived by their own kind. A Gate warden with a tormented past discovers a warlock using Fylking magic to gather an army of warriors that cannot die. A King's ranger who defends the wilds of the realm is snared in a political trap that forces him to choose between love and honor. And a knitter touched by the gods catches the eye of a dark immortal warrior with no name and the power to summon storms.

Bound by synchronicity, forced to find allies in unlikely places, these three mortals are drawn into a maelstrom of murder, treachery, sorcery and war, fertile ground for both their personal demons and those of their immortal masters, who cast long shadows indeed. When they uncover the source of the rising darkness, they must rally to protect the Gate against a plot that will violate the balance of cosmos, destroy the Fylking and leave the world of Math in ruins.

The god they serve is as fickle as a crow.


F.T. McKinstry grew up studying music and reading books. An old-school fantasy geek, she acquired a deep love for fantasy, science fiction and the esoteric, of which she was an avid reader. With a background in computer electronics and software development, she wrote and illustrated technical documentation for many years, during which time she created fantasy worlds. She is inspired by plant and animal lore, Northern European legend and mythology, fairy tales, mythical creatures, heavy metal, medieval warfare and shamanism. She also enjoys oil painting, gardening, yoga, hanging out with her cats and fishes, and being in the woods.

Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads  |  Pinterest Artist Website



Fashionista Friday

street style


People Tree long sleeve shirt
$75 - peopletree.co.uk


Pleated skirt
$9.18 - newlook.com


Aquazzura lace up sandals
$485 - shopbop.com


MANGO long purse
$61 - mango.com


Casetify iphone case
casetify.com


Urban Decay lip gloss
$22 - harveynichols.com

Thursday, October 29, 2015

Jackson's Destiny

Title: Jackson's Destiny
Series: Sawyer Brothers #2
Author: C.A. Harms
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: October 20, 2015 Publisher: Limitless Publishing
Shaken to his core, the loss was excruciating…
Jackson Sawyer was strong, confident, cocky, and arrogant, but when he loved, he loved hard.
The Sawyer family was faced with a tragedy that rocked their foundation. Jackson, however, was hit the hardest. He’s the one who can't seem to rise above the grief.
It has overtaken him…
Until he finds Bailey Whitmore. She also has a darkness she just can't shake. Yet she hides it well—tucking her sadness away, and shadowing it with a spunky attitude. 
But those demons have a way of showing up when you least expect it…
Love is intense.
Loss is inevitable.
Pain and anger are unavoidable.
Will they find the strength to rebuild their tainted hearts together? 
Or will it go against…Jackson’s Destiny?
“C.A. Harms has created a fast paced read that will take your heart away. It will make you laugh and love all at the same time. I truly loved this storyline and the depth of the main characters.” ~ Goodreads Reviewer
“Like always I have a lot of praise for C.A Harms, for she is a true story-teller and place would on a page that will have you glued to a book till the very end like all her other book this one will not disappoint, and you will want her to find you a Prince Charming or cowboy just like the ones she writes about.” ~ Goodreads Reviewer
“WOW! These Sawyer brothers are some HOT cowboys! I usually don't care too much for stories that are about cowboys, but after reading C.A. Harms' "cowboys", I'm starting to change my mind! They are starting to make me think I should have gotten myself a cowboy! LOL.” ~ I Love Story Time
I heard Olivia’s laughter just before the front door opened. “I did not,” she said.
“Oh yes you did,” Jackson insisted as he dropped his keys onto the table next to the couch. “Thank God it wasn’t Bailey’s Jeep. Hell, she would flip her shit if it was.”
That comment caught my full attention. “What happened?”
They both turned to face me, and Jackson grinned. Pointing toward Liv, he continued to taunt her with his orneriness. “Little Miss Speed Demon here wrecked my truck.”
Olivia’s eyes widened, and she looked like she was panicking. “You liar. You said you’d never tell.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. The two of them were always so funny together. They would pick and prod at one another, always trying to get under one another’s skin, even over little things.
“Bailey is different,” Jackson said as he walked around the counter and placed his hand on my hip. “She’s the cool aunt who’s with the cool uncle, and she ain’t gonna say shit. Are ya, babe?”
Before I could answer, he leaned forward and placed a kiss against my lips. Not one of those soft, sweet kisses but one of the hard, loud ones that was playful and full of silliness.
“Besides, I need her to run into town and pick up the tire after Booker gets it mounted and balanced.”
“Tire?’ I asked.
“Yep. Never yell ‘squirrel’ when a teenage girl is behind the wheel.” Jackson widened his eyes. “I should have just let her hit it.”
“There was no squirrel, you fool,” Olivia fired back, crossing her arms over her chest.
“I know. It was a reflex test, and darlin’, you failed that shit,” he told her with a chuckle.
I was so damn lost at this point. “Wait, what happened, exactly?”
“This dumbass yelled ‘squirrel,’ and I freaked out. But there was no damn squirrel; he just wanted to see how I would react.” She looked away from me and narrowed her eyes at Jackson. “He scared the hell out of me, and I ran off the road.”
“‘Ran off the road,’ hell,” Jackson barked. “She went down in the ditch and blew out my tire. Bent my rim to shit and crushed my running board.” He leaned over the counter, placing his elbow on the marble top. “Oh, and let’s not forget about the hood and windshield.”
“What happened to the hood and windshield?” I asked.
Jackson stared at Olivia, and she stared back at him. They were waiting for the other to explain.
“Fine,” Olivia huffed. “I hit Mr. Burk’s irrigation equipment. Well, just the side of it. It scraped the hood and cracked the windshield. But in my defense, it’s the dumbass’s fault for yelling ‘squirrel.’”
I could no longer hold back my laughter. I bent at the waist, and tears blurred my vision as I howled. Jackson was right; I wouldn’t say a word, but I sure as hell was going to take a few minutes to be amused by the situation he and Liv had found themselves in.
“Damn,” he groaned as he pushed farther inside. His head tipped back as he thrust forward, taking that last inch. I felt so full, so consumed by Jackson. That realization overwhelmed me and left me feeling so raw. I closed my eyes tightly, concentrating on the pleasure alone, willing away the emotions it brought on.
“Eyes,” Jackson demanded. “I need your eyes on me.”
I looked at him as he lowered his body over mine, placing his arms under my shoulders, keeping himself extended above me. “When I’m inside you, I need your eyes on me,” he whispered. “I wanna know what you’re feeling, know you’re with me completely.”
“I’m with you,” I assured him as I wrapped my legs around his waist and pulled him against me.
He lowered his lips to mine as he began to thrust inside of me. Our bodies moved in perfect rhythm as his tongue in my mouth mimicked the motion of his cock inside me. I could feel myself building to a climax once more, and I knew Jackson could feel it too as he lifted his head and looked at me. My eyes fluttered shut from the intense orgasm cresting inside me.
“Eyes on me, baby,” he commanded.
I didn’t hesitate to obey, and our eyes locked on one another. “When you hit that peak, I need to see you.” Jackson lowered his hand to where we were joined and began rubbing his thumb over my clit, applying just enough pressure. I moaned as I began to fall over the edge.
“Yes.” I bit down on my lip and focused on his lust-filled eyes.
“Beautiful,” he whispered. And in that moment, I did feel beautiful. Jackson made me feel a whole lot of things I hadn’t before. He gave me everything I had been missing but had never demand because I didn’t think I was worthy of happiness. And now that I’d sampled what being his was like, I knew nothing would ever compare.
C.A. Harms is like any other addicted reader. She enjoys happy endings and HEA love stories. She hasn't always been a lover of Romance and had once been addicted to a good Mystery. Just recently she has taken on a new liking and now is a full blown Romance novel addict. She lives in Illinois and enjoys spending time with her husband and two children. You will always find her with her kindle or paperback in hand as it is her favorite pass time.
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