My Books!

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Barbara Casey: The Gospel According to Prissy


THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO PRISSY

By

Barbara Casey


BLURB:  


Three Army veteran misfits, a college dropout, an unmotivated high school graduate accused of murder, a controversial warden of a women's prison, and a little girl with the gift of prophesy – these are the people 31-year-old Lara Kruger invites into her life after suffering a miscarriage, a divorce from an abusive husband, and unemployment.



  EXCERPT

Miriam walked away from her desk and paused in front of the unframed full-length mirror she had salvaged from the recent renovations in the women’s shower rooms.  The edges were chipped and blackened, and there was a fairly large crack that ran vertically from one corner to the other.  The condition of the mirror was the result, no doubt, of one of many displays of frustration and anger within the prison walls before she took over.  Still, the mirror served its purpose.  On those rare occasions when Warden Miriam Temple of the Braden Women’s Correctional Institution needed to be sure she looked her best, at least she could do so in the privacy of her own office.

 Studying her reflection, she saw a tall, aging fifty-nine-year-old woman with dark hair streaked with gray cut in a simple shag, myopic brown eyes made evident by the wire-framed glasses, and a raw-boned body that could be considered well-proportioned if it weren’t for the fact that it was about twenty pounds on the heavy side, fifteen of which had settled around her thighs and buttocks.  “Pear shaped, as opposed to apple shaped,” she frequently reminded herself, “so that means at least I won’t die of a heart attack.”  The fact that her ear lobes were also plump and didn’t have the diagonal creases indicating some type of heart disease seemed to confirm that fact.  She didn’t know if these old-wives’ tales she had grown up with were really true, but she liked to keep an open mind, especially when they worked to her benefit.

 She normally didn’t wear make-up, but this morning before leaving for work, she had dug out her small tapestry bag that held what few cosmetics she owned and applied a little blush and a touch of lipstick.  She rubbed one cheek with her hand now, thinking that maybe she shouldn’t have bothered.  She didn’t need to impress anyone.  Even if there had been the awkwardness that sometimes comes with being a large woman, it had been replaced years ago by the confidence born from a privileged background and the level of acceptance and comfort from which she viewed herself.

 Her dark gray suit and crisp white blouse were clean and unwrinkled, thanks to the prison laundry facilities.  The plain black pumps she wore looked both practical and appropriate to complete the over-all appearance of discipline, control, strength, and above all, a positive attitude.  It was the attitude within the prison that Miriam had worked the hardest on when she took over as head warden six years earlier.  There had been a stifling wave of hopelessness and despair among the female inmates so thick it made it difficult to breathe.  This was manifested daily in brawls, food fights, and a behavior of non-compliance in general.  “Animals get treated better than we do,” had been the mantra at the prison.

 For six years Miriam had been working fourteen-hour days, overseeing the operations of the facility, staying on top of problems, writing reports, and talking to every person she could reach about helping to set up programs for “her girls” as she referred to them.  Each of Miriam’s programs offered something to a few of her girls, but not to all, something she struggled with daily.  She constantly researched what other correctional institutions were doing not only in this country but other countries as well, trying to come up with new ways to stimulate her girls and help them feel enthusiastic about their lives.

 It had worked.  She started getting noticed after the first year of her tenure.  Complaints from the prisoners dropped, a State audit confirmed that for the first time in over a decade the prison budget would be in the black, and the over-all appearance of the facility was vastly improved.  Government officials who previously had been reluctant to show interest now started to open doors for this hard-working, persistent, and obviously dedicated woman. 

 And then Prissy had been born.
AUTHOR INFORMATION:
Barbara Casey is president of the Barbara Casey Agency, representing adult fiction and nonfiction for authors throughout the United States, Great Britain, and Japan.  She is also the author of numerous articles, poems, and short stories.  Her award-winning novels have received national recognition, including the Independent Publishers Book Award, the Dana Award for Best Novel, and the Publisher’s Best Seller Award.  Her novel, The House of Kane, released in 2008, was considered for a Pulitzer nomination, and her novel Just Like Family received special recognition by the 7-Eleven Corporation.  Her latest young adult novel, The Cadence of Gypsies, was reviewed by the Smithsonian for its list of 2011 Best Books. The Gospel According to Prissy, a contemporary adult novel, was released in the spring of 2013.
In addition to being a frequent guest lecturer at universities and writers’ conferences, Ms. Casey served as judge for the Pathfinder Literary Awards in Palm Beach and Martin Counties, Florida, and was the Florida Regional Advisor for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators from 1991 through 2003. 

LINKS:
www.barnesandnoble.com

Book Tour! Laura DeLuca Is In The House!

Welcome to Laura DeLuca's book tour. Did you know that Laura is giving away a teriffic prize package?  After you read the excerpts, I'll tell you what it is. You're gonna love it.

Phantom, Dark Musicals Trilogy Book #1 and Demon-Dark Musicals Trilogy Book #2

by Laura DeLuca

 


 

BLURB: Demon, Book Two


When Justyn and Rebecca set off for the New York School of Performing Arts, they think their dreams are about to come true. To their dismay, they aren’t in high school anymore, and the competition is steep. Rebecca must compete against accomplished singers for a role in the production of Demon Barber, including a stunning Gothic diva with her sights set on Justyn

 

It doesn't help that things keep disappearing from their apartment or that Rebecca's father refuses to accept that Justyn is an essential part of her life. Yet, all this seems minimal in comparison to the serial rapist terrorizing the campus.

 

Consumed by fear and obsessed with revenge, Rebecca and Justyn start living the story of Sweeney Todd—both on and off the stage.

 

Blurb: Phantom, Dark Musicals Book #1:

 
The “Phantom” was a musical phenomenon that Rebecca had always found enchanting. She had no idea that her life was about to mirror the play that was her obsession. When her high school drama club chooses “Phantom” as their annual production, Rebecca finds herself in the middle of an unlikely love triangle and the target of a sadistic stalker who uses the lines from the play as their calling card.

 

Rebecca lands the lead role of Christine, the opera diva, and like her character, she is torn between her two co-stars—Tom the surfer and basketball star who plays the lovable hero, and Justyn, the strangely appealing Goth who is more than realistic in the role of the tortured artist.

 

Almost immediately after casting, strange things start to happen both on and off the stage. Curtains fall. Mirrors are shattered. People are hurt in true phantom style. They all seem like accidents until Rebecca receives notes and phone calls that hint at something more sinister. Is Justyn bringing to life the twisted character of the phantom? Or in real life are the roles of the hero and the villain reversed? Rebecca doesn’t know who to trust, but she knows she’s running out of time as she gets closer and closer to opening night. Only when the mask is stripped away, will the twenty first century phantom finally be revealed.

 

 

 

Excerpt: Demon

 

Rebecca unwound the silver ribbon. When she lifted the lid, she found two matching pendants, each laced to a long hemp chain. They were shaped sort of like seashells, with an endless spiral pattern that looped out from the center as the chambers grew larger. They were dark brown in color with a few hints of tan along the edges. The stones had been polished and smoothed on both sides, but when she lifted them, she could see that the two pieces fit together perfectly. She swore the halves fought to snap together, like magnets in her hand. There was an energy pulsing and vibrating within the stones that even a novice witch like Rebecca could feel.

 

“They’re beautiful,” Rebecca whispered as she ran her hand along the intricate grooves.

 

“It’s an ammonite.” Justyn lifted one of the pendants, brushed her hair to the side, and hooked the clasp around her neck. His breath tickled her skin as his hands moved with graceful dexterity, giving her goose bumps despite the humid August night. “They’re actually fossils that are millions of years old, named after Ammon, an ancient Egyptian deity. When they’re divided in half, they’re perfect mirrors of one another. Some cultures believe that if the two halves are given to lovers, it will bind them together forever. When made into necklaces, they’re often called soul mate pendants.”

 

“Wo-wow,” Rebecca stuttered. As usual, the sentiment behind Justyn’s gift was even more beautiful than the gift itself. It left her a little flustered. “That’s amazing. How do you know all this stuff?”

 

“You don’t spend eighteen years living with Darlene without learning a thing or two.”

 

Rebecca laughed. Justyn’s mother Darlene was definitely something special. EMT, exotic belly dancer, and Wiccan High Priestess were only a few of the titles she claimed. Rebecca knew she was a fountain of earth-based knowledge after years of studying the Craft. As Darlene’s new apprentice, Rebecca greedily dipped into that knowledge herself as often as possible.

 

“It’s beautiful,” Rebecca repeated, too overcome with emotion to think of anything more eloquent to say. “You certainly know how to make things interesting.”

 

“Like I told you on our first date, I try not to be boring.” He winked at her. “So … are you going to put mine on for me?”

 

“Oh yeah … sorry.”

 

Rebecca giggled as she lifted the hemp chain. She wasn’t nearly as graceful as Justyn. She almost dropped the necklace in the sand three times before she managed to get the clasp locked. When she finally had it secured, he placed his hand over her heart, where the ammonite lay. He did the same with her hands, lifting them to his chest. His dark eyes had lost all glimmer of humor. He met her gaze with a stare filled with genuine emotion. Beneath her fingers, she could feel the gentle, steady rhythm of his heart beating in perfect tune with her own.

 

“Our love will span both space and time. In this life and the next, you shall be mine. All eternity I will be by your side. For a love so strong cannot be denied. Spirit and flesh merged into one. So mote it be, for all days to come.”

 

When he was done with the recitation, he kissed her. Not just a gentle brush, but a deep, passionate embrace that left her throat tight and her heart pounding with a familiar  yearning.

 

“I’ve never heard that poem before,” she said once she’d caught her breath. “Who are you quoting?”

 

Even in the moonlight, she could see him blush. “I guess I was quoting myself. It was really more of an incantation than a poem though. These necklaces are meant to be a symbol of our love, and it seemed a little spell work could only add to the power of the stones. There is power in words, Becca. Just like there is power in nature.”

 

“You mean, you wrote that?”

 

He nodded, but his eyes twinkled, and the playfulness was back in his voice. “Well, actually, I just made it up as I went along.”

 

“Wow. Actor, singer, and now an improv poet slash chant writer. Is there anything you can’t do, Lord Justyn?”

 

He smiled and tilted her chin so he could look into her eyes. “I can’t stop loving you.”
 
 
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
 
Laura “Luna” DeLuca lives at the beautiful Jersey shore with her husband and four children. She loves writing in the young adult genre because it keeps her young at heart.  In addition to writing fiction, Laura is also the editor of a popular review blog called New Age Mama. She is an active member of her local pagan community, and has been studying Wicca for close to eight years.  Her current works include Destiny, Destiny Unveiled, Phantom, Morrigan, Player, and Demon.
 
Social Media Links:
 
http://authorlauradeluca.blogspot.com
 
www.twitter.com/authorldeluca
 
www.facebook.com/authorlauradeluca
 
http://pinterest.com/authorldeluca/
 
http://www.goodreads.com/authorlauradeluca
 
 
If you haven't read the first book in the series, now is a great time to get your copy. To celebrate the release of Demon, Phantom is now on sale for only $1.99 exclusively on Amazon!
 
 
Smashwords:
 
 
Barnes & Noble:
 
 
Buy Links for Demon:
 
Amazon: 
 
 
Smashwords:
 
 
Barnes & Noble:
 
 
 

Laura will be awarding to a US Only Winner: a signed copy of Phantom with original cover, crystal geode, rough crystal point, stone pendant, sterling silver pentacle pendant, mini Buddha figurine, smudge stick with abalone shell, 2 Gothic style key chains, incense set with leaf holder and lavender purification bath salts to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.
Please use this Rafflecopter code for entries:


 

 

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

The Disillusioned




 

THE DISILLUSIONED

By

D.J. Williams

 

BLURB:  

 

A mother’s suicide threatens to destroy a family legacy. Her sons, Sam and Daniel, are forced to leave their comfortable worlds behind and search for a woman they believe can unlock the secrets that have remained hidden. They are propelled into separate journeys from Los Angeles to the heart of the Zambezi where they are forced to confront a man known as Die Duiwel, the Devil. On their adventures they will find themselves in a place where death is one breath away, where thousands of children are disappearing into the darkness, and where the woman they are searching for is on the hunt for revenge. When they stand face-to-face with the forgotten slaves of Africa they will fight to redeem what has been lost.    
 
 
EXCERPT


Ten years later I had my hands full with two young boys while John was busy traveling the world. I went with him on occasion, but for the most part I stayed home and watched my babies grow into young men. At times it was as if I were a single parent. I could’ve spoken up. I could’ve objected to the sacrifices we made in the name of God. Maybe I should have, but I didn’t. Instead I enjoyed the comforts of being a wife, our beachfront home, a private jet leased by the church, a cabin in Lake Isabella, John’s seven figure salary, as well as his book royalties. A bonus was the respect given to us whenever we entered a room by those who didn’t know us. It was flattering, and addicting.

 This isn’t my life anymore.

 I’ve been locked up here for one thousand and ninety five days. I’ve had time to think about the choices I’ve made. I’ve thought about what is best for everyone. I’ve become a burden. I know it. I feel it. I hate it. The whispers inside tell me there’s only one decision to make, undoubtedly the hardest one of all. It goes against everything I’ve believed.

But nothing is the same as it once was.

God forgive me.

 
 


AUTHOR INFORMATION:

 

With the DNA of a world traveler, Williams was born in Hong Kong, has ventured into the jungles of the Amazon, the bush of Africa, and the slums of the Far East, to share stories of those who are overcoming incredible odds. He is the co-author of Restoration Road with Mitch Kruse and has produced and directed over 140 television episodes syndicated on NBC, ABC, FOX and various cable networks worldwide. Currently, he lives in Los Angeles, California with his wife.


 
REVIEW SOUND BYTES
 
“A fast-paced mystery…you won’t put it down until
you’ve unlocked the secrets and lies to find the truth.”
Judith McCreary, Co-Executive Producer
Law & Order: SVU, Criminal Minds, & CSI
 
“Riveting...an indelible picture painted with suspense.”
Mitch Kruse, Author of Restoration Road
 
“An engrossing tale…makes you think about the world we live in and your place in it.”
Tony Guerrero, Founder of F.A.C.T. Alliance: Fight Against Child Trafficking
 

 

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Wanted: One Ghost by Loni Lynne

Beyond the Book will be back next week. For today, just enjoy reading about today's featured books.
There are two of them.

Wanted: One Ghost

by Loni Lynne

 

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

 

BLURB:

 

Stuck in ghostly limbo for 238 years, James Addison can't move on to an afterlife.  After being falsely accused of treason and executed, fate's cursed him to remain an earth-bound specter until he meets a historian sent to research his past.

 

Distrustful of fate, Dr. April Branford wants to be taken seriously, but her unique ability to divine history by touching objects seriously compromises her credibility. Her latest assignment?  James Addison, a legendary colonial ladies' man with a shadowy past.  Without much to go on, she doesn't hold out much hope to discover the man behind the legend until the day she accidentally touches him and brings him back to life.

 

With the help of family and ghosts from James’s past, they unravel the truth. But after falling in love and with time running out, it’s hard for April to believe in fate and a future where forever is now.

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

 

EXCERPT

 

“Who are you?”April asked.

 

“You already know the answer, Dr. Branford. You saw me out at the mill the other day.”

 

Her eyes widened. “You’re…James Addison.”

 

She knew. But whether or not she accepted the knowledge was yet to be seen.

 

“Really, I did want to tell you the truth about me, but I couldn’t. Not knowing how you would react, I couldn’t take the chance of having you run away from me. I don’t want you to fear me, or what I am. You’re the only person who has ever been able to see me in this form. But more importantly, you’re the only person who’s cared.”

 

She stopped and turned. “I can see you. But you’re not real…I don’t know…”

 

“You make me feel real again,” he said softly.

 

She muttered profanities under her breath. “I don’t have time for ghosts. I’ve a case to solve. Go back to wherever it is you came from.” April waved him off.

 

“I can’t. This is where I am. Right here, right now. There is no place for me to go back to.” James knew this couldn’t be easy for her to understand. “Perhaps I could be of assistance to you, since you know who I am.”

 

“How do I know you really are James Addison?”

 

“You don’t,” he agreed. “But what would it take to prove to you I am?”

 

“Tell me where he is buried,” she challenged.

 

James shrugged. “Easy enough, but I would prefer to show you.”
 
 
 
 
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
 
Loni Lynne is a stay at home mom, domestic goddess, U.S. Navy Veteran and
lover of all things vintage/shabby-chic/Victorian and antique. From china cups
and tea sets to lace doilies crocheted by hand (her grandmother made the best)
she believes a touch of femininity never goes out of style.
 
Growing up all over the country she's been blessed with experiencing a good
deal of culture and lifestyles. Much like her personality, she has eclectic
tastes in what she likes to read and write. There is no 'one' genre in which
she settles for.
 
God and fate have been big influences in her life. Both have taken her to
places she never thought she'd be, both in the physical sense and in the
spiritual. She wrote brief stories and snippets of life as it happened to her
in her youth, and encouraged by her teachers, continued to write. Blessed with
a loving supportive family growing up, she was able to explore her options
which at times have been put into use in her stories. The Navy--and fate,
afforded her the opportunity to meet her Army, "Annapolis-native" husband and
team up with him to parent two beautiful daughters.
 
Years later, her husband gave her the best birthday present ever--a laptop, a
membership to Romance Writers of America and a goal to complete a
manuscript for submission by her next birthday. She did it. A few years later
she was blessed with one of those novels, Wanted: One Ghost, as her
debut novel.
 
Believe in Fate
 
Links:
 
http://www.lonilynne.com
 
http://www.crescentmoonpress.com
 
https://twitter.com/#!/LoniLynne1
 
https://www.facebook.com/lonilynne
 

 
 
Loni will be awarding a $50 Amazon or B&N gift card (winner’s choice) to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Follow her tour and comment often for a better chance to win. Her schedule is found at http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/05/virtual-super-book-blast-wanted-one.html http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/05/virtual-super-book-blast-wanted-one.html
 
 

 

.

Shadow of Danger by Kristine Mason


Shadow of Danger

by Kristine Mason

 

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

 

BLURB:

 

Four women have been found dead in the outskirts of a small Wisconsin town. The only witness, clairvoyant Celeste Risinski, observes these brutal murders through violent nightmares and hellish visions. The local sheriff, who believes in Celeste’s abilities and wants to rid their peaceful community of a killer, enlists the help on an old friend, Ian Scott, owner of a private criminal investigation agency, CORE. Because of Ian’s dark history with Celeste’s family, a history she knows nothing about, he sends his top criminalist, former FBI agent John Kain to investigate.

 

John doesn’t believe in Celeste’s mystic hocus-pocus, or in her visions of the murders. But just when he’s certain they’ve solved the crimes, with the use of science and evidence, more dead bodies are discovered. Could this somehow be the work of the same killer or were they dealing with a copycat? To catch a vicious murderer, the skeptical criminalist reluctantly turns to the sensual psychic for help. Yet with each step closer to finding the killer, John finds himself one step closer to losing his heart. 

 

 

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

 

EXCERPT: heroine


Fingers clawing at the sheets, tearing them from the mattress, Celeste Risinski woke with a scream. Panicked, disoriented, she shoved at hands she swore still gripped her. As she struggled, she knocked the alarm clock from the nightstand. When it hit the hardwood floor, the radio blared. The loud music, laced with crackling static, startled her.

 

She whipped open her eyes, relief slowed her racing heart as she looked down at her body, to where her arms and legs were tangled in the thin sheets and comforter. Brutal hands weren’t holding her down. She wasn’t in the woods. She wasn’t fighting for her life. She was in her bedroom, waking up from another nightmare, another look into hell.

 

Dragging in a deep breath, she pulled herself to the edge of the mattress, bent and retrieved the clock. After turning off the radio, she placed it back on the nightstand, then wiped tears from her face she didn’t remember crying.

 
No, not true. In her nightmare, she’d cried and screamed, begged and pleaded, while trapped in the body of another woman. She hated the way her mind had been sucked into the woman’s soul. She’d experienced every ounce of the terror, and even the pain the woman had endured. She rubbed her neck where the phantom cord had been wrapped during the dream. Even though she was blessedly free of the nightmare and sitting in her bedroom, claustrophobia wrapped tightly around her, making it difficult to breathe.

Amazon:


Barnes & Noble:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shadow-of-danger-kristine-mason/1115409294?ean=2940016675886




AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

I didn’t pick up my first romance novel until I was in my late twenties. Immediately hooked, I read a bazillion books before deciding to write one of my own. After the birth of my first son I needed something to keep my mind from turning to mush, and Sesame Street wasn’t cutting it. While that first book will never see the light of day, something good had come from writing it. I realized my passion, and had found a career that I love.

 

When I’m not writing contemporary romances and dark, romantic suspense novels (or reading them!) I’m chasing after my four kids and two neurotic dogs.

 

LINKS:

 

FACE BOOK: http://www.facebook.com/kristine.mason.1029

 

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/KristineMason7

 

WEBSITE: www.kristinemason.net

 

Books available on Amazon, B & N, iBooks
 
 
Kristine will be awarding four (4) print copies of Pick Me (US only) and three (3) $10 Amazon GCs to randomly drawn commenters during the tour so follow the tour and comment often. Find her schedule at http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/05/virtual-super-book-blast-shadow-of.html