Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Pre-Order Blitz: BEAST

Book Title: Beast Author: Mary Catherine Gebhard Genre: Romantic Suspense/Dark Romance Release Date: March 14, 2017 Hosted by: Book Enthusiast Promotions
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book blurb
Once upon a time, I thought love was a fairytale. I thought selling myself to a mafia boss was noble. So what if they called him the Beast? I grew up in rags, and he would lift me to riches. All I had to do was give him my soul. He was punishing. Insatiable. Captivating. Nothing like I expected him to be. Each day my reality blurred, leaving me wondering if I was slave or princess. The longer I stayed, the more I lost myself to him. Even after every cruelty the Beast visited upon me, I longed for his touch. Even after every savage word he spoke, I begged for his lips. I thought the worst thing he could take was my body. I was too naïve to guard my heart. Once upon a time, I thought love was a fairytale. Now I know better than to speak of happily-ever-afters. Beast is the first book in the Hate Story duet. About what it means to fall in love with the person who has absolutely destroyed you, it contains disturbing and graphic situations that may be a trigger for some.
meet the author
Mary Catherine Gebhard bites off more than she can chew. She's lived in Salt Lake City, Utah her entire life, but occasionally goes on vacation from reality. Don't worry, she sends postcards.
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Blog Tour: The Art of Sage


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Book Title: The Art of Sage (Cruz Brothers, #2) Author: Melanie Munton Genre: Contemporary Romance Release Date: December 28, 2016 Hosted by: Book Enthusiast Promotions
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book blurb
With death came new life. She was my new life. And I would never be able to let her go. Social work was never an easy job but somebody had to do it. Fortunately for kind-hearted and tattooed Sage Tucker, she wanted to do it. Day in and day out she saw kids who reminded her of her past and she needed to do everything in her power to give them the help that she never received when she was young. The more kids she helped, the more layers she thought she could shed of her dark childhood. But nothing ever worked. She was haunted by her memories, consumed by her anger. She slowly felt herself slipping further down into a hole, one she didn’t know if she would ever escape from. Art made sense to Mason Cruz. Keeping his hands busy was his therapy. Being able to do both at his auto body shop was his sanctuary. Despite everything he had to overcome in his life, he had finally made something of himself and was where he wanted to be professionally. With every car he painted and every motorcycle he restored, he could keep the demons inside his head at bay. He just wished he was as good at repairing his soul as he was at repairing vintage fenders. Sage had never felt so exposed than when she was around the smooth and charming Mason. Talking to him made her feel like she was under a microscope, but maybe that was exactly what she needed. Nobody had ever wanted to understand her like he did. Nobody had ever cared enough to ask and she had never cared to share. And now she knew why. Because she knew that whenever Mason learned everything about her, heard all of her darkest secrets, he would never want to look at her again. *This is the second installment in the three-part Cruz Brothers contemporary romance series. Each book can be read as a standalone.
excerpt
Piercing, light green eyes. Aquiline nose and a steel-like jawline. Light olive skin that spoke to me of mixed ethnicity. And a certain ruggedness to his appearance that said he wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty. My kind of man. The fact that he was wearing mechanic’s coveralls that were unzipped and pulled down to his waist with a tight white tank top covering his thick upper body didn’t hurt either. His chest was toned and lean, the spots of grease and paint scattered over his arms only adding to his masculine appeal. Fuck. And he had tattoos. If I had one weakness when it came to a man’s appearance, it wasn’t muscles or a mouth-watering smile. It was some well-done, artistic, fucking sexy tattoos. I had quite a few myself, so I appreciated good-quality ink. My brother was also a tattoo artist, so the whole practice was engrained in me. Plus, I liked a man who could stand a little pain. Like me. “Jackpot.” I said it without even thinking, though I thought it was whispered low enough that no one else heard it. No such luck. “Excuse me?” the tattooed beauty asked, amusement creeping across his ruggedly handsome face. “Did you just say ‘jackpot’?” Panicked, embarrassed, and admittedly turned on, I adamantly shook my head back and forth. “No, I don’t think so. That doesn’t sound like something I would say.” How is this happening to me right now? He took a rag from his back pocket and began wiping off his hands, drawing my attention down to his chest, watching his muscles ripple. “You sure about that?” he asked. Before I looked away, both of his pecs flexed at the same time, as if they were winking at me, taunting me. For some reason, Joey Tribbiani’s “How you doin’?” catch phrase started playing on a loop in my head. I eventually pulled my gaze back up to his face, eyes narrowing when I saw his cheeky grin. “You did that on purpose.” “Did what on purpose?” he innocently asked before flexing his pecs again. Dammit, it’s like they were doing a little dance for me. I knew better than to look down. But I did it again, anyway. “Stop that.” “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Sexy Smartass replied, nonchalantly. “So, how can I help you, Ms…?” I stuck my hand out, forcing myself to remain cool despite how flustered and disheveled I was. “Tucker. Sage Tucker.” He shook my hand, squeezing it politely. His touch was casual enough, but his eye contact was unnerving because it never strayed from me. Very intense. “Mason Cruz. Are you needing some work done, Ms. Tucker?” I stared at him, unblinking, wondering if I had heard him right. He laughed, apparently reading my thoughts. It was a nice laugh I decided. “I meant automobile work.” My face flushed. Wow, that was stupid. Two for two, Sage. “I’m so sorry,” I replied, chuckling nervously as I averted my eyes. “It’s been a long day.” I glanced up at him to his smile remained in place, though I didn’t get the feeling that he was laughing at me. “Yes, I’m needing some assistance. My car broke down just down the road from here and I’m not exactly sure what’s wrong with it. I was hoping you might be able to take a look for me?” He looked at me for another second, then down at his watch, then around his shop, as if he were mulling over a decision. Worried that I was going to screw up his entire day, since I knew how that went, I rushed to say, “I don’t want to put you out. I can call a tow truck—” “No, it’s fine,” he answered, his voice low and grating. “I can do that.” The corner of his mouth quirked in a half-grin. “What kind of asshole would I be if I didn’t help a woman in distress?” My eyebrow shot up. I had a feeling he was just joking, trying to get a rise out of me. But I didn’t care. If looks could castrate, the man would have been walking around dick-less. Which would have been unfortunate because his was probably pretty nice-looking. Of course, he just chuckled. “Sorry, was that sexist of me?” Fighting to bite back the string of curses I wanted to release on him, I kept my expression neutral. “Little bit. Do I look like a helpless, distressed woman to you?” Wrong thing to ask. I knew it as soon as the words left my mouth. Because Mason’s eyes immediately traveled the length of my body, taking his sweet ass—and oh, his ass was sweet—time with his perusal. “No, you sure as hell don’t,” he rasped, those green eyes darkening. “But I’m still willing to help you out with anything you need.”.
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meet the author
Traveler. Reader. Beach-goer. St. Louis Cardinals fan. Pasta-obsessed. North Carolina resident. Sarcastic. Bit of a nerd. Author of the Cruz Brothers, Possession and Politics, and Timid Souls series, Melanie loves all things romance, comedies and suspense in particular because it's boring to only stick to one sub-genre. From light-hearted comedies to sexy thrillers, she likes to mix it up, but loves her some strong alpha males and sassy heroines. Sign up for her newsletter to read exclusive excerpts and teasers from her latest projects!
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Monday, February 27, 2017

Blog Tour: Spooning Daisy by Maggie McConnell #giveaway #interview



Contemporary Romance (RomCom)
Date Published: June 7, 2016
Publisher:  Kensington (Lyrical Shine)


It’s a long way from Seattle to Otter Bite, Alaska. But if one woman can survive the trip-and the locals-she just might find what her heart has been searching for. Her mango chutney is exquisite; her blueberry sauce is to die for. But right now, Chef de Cuisine Daisy Moon is a woman without a kitchen-and without a fiancé. Unceremoniously dumped from her place of business and her relationship, Daisy sells her belongings, plus a few of her ex’s, and packs her bags. Maybe smashing all the china in her former restaurant was a bad move. Stripped of her Golden Spoon for “un-chef-like” conduct, she is now blacklisted all over Seattle. Her sole job offer is from Wild Man Lodge…in Otter Bite, Alaska. Too bad Daisy can’t even get out of Dodge without incident. By the time she boards a ship for Alaska, she’s got a trail of new troubles behind her, and suddenly Otter Bite is sounding pretty good. But the vessel turns into her own personal Titanic when a series of close encounters confirms her terrible taste in men-including one very good looking bad luck charm named Max Kendall. She vows to dedicate the rest of her days to chowders and brulée. Yet even Alaska isn’t far enough away to shake the memories of the sexy shipmate who rocked her cabin-and her world. Thank goodness she’s done with surprises-but they may not be done with her…


Interview

Is There a Message in Your Novel That You Want Readers to Grasp?

My romances tend to be light and fun, although I usually slide in a bit of my own philosophy about animals, but nothing that hits the reader over the head. I prefer to focus the story on love with more serious issues on the side.


Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Yes! Staying on course. I’m a fool for details; I love to put in trivia tidbits and obscure information readers may not know, but might find interesting and maybe even a little educational. For instance, Daisy and Max have a short, fun conversation about the Roman emperor, Caligula. Probably not something you normally see in romance (unless it’s a romance set in 37AD Rome). 

How many books have you written and which is your favorite?

I’ve written 4 romances, but Daisy is the first one published. Every book has qualities that make it special, like your kids (yeah, everyone says that), but if I’m forced to choose, my all-around favorite is probably YOU HAD ME AT HABARI, which is set in Kenya and was a 2012 RWA Golden Heart finalist.  


If You had the chance to cast your main character from Hollywood today, who would you pick and why?

Amy Adams is definitely Daisy! Based on her various movies that I love like Leap Year, Trouble with the Curve, The Wedding Date, and Enchanted. Amy’s characters are charming, assertive, and yes, even sometimes a bit witchy and self-centered, but they have good hearts, and in the end are kinder, more compassionate people. Just like Daisy.


When did you begin writing?

I was about six when I wrote my first story, with pencil and crayon, about a boy and his donkey who lived in China. My parents were US diplomats and we were living in Viet Nam at the time which explains the general location. I still have the pages. I started writing seriously (with a goal to be published) about 10 years ago.




How long did it take to complete your first book?

About 2 years. I had a family and a career and my writing was limited to weekends.



Did you have an author who inspired you to become a writer?

I think I was self-inspired to be a writer, but there are writers who inspired me to push the envelope of the romance genre and maybe color outside the lines (how’s that for mixed metaphors?) like Sandra Brown and Marion Zimmer Bradley.


What is your favorite part of the writing process?

Research! Which is why I have difficulty staying on course. One topic leads to another and another and pretty soon I’m adding a conversation between my leads about Caligula.



Describe your latest book in 4 words.

 Clever. Sexy. Quirky. Fun.

Can you share a little bit about your current work or what is in the future for your writing?

I return to Otter Bite, Alaska, for Embracing Felicity, the second book in the Otter Bite RomCom series. Felicity is part Alaskan native (Alutiiq) and she owns a curio shop in this seaside village. She’s also a staunch animal lover and environmentalist and might even be a mermaid…

Ian MacIntyre is her love interest and someone we briefly met in Spooning Daisy along with his 10-year-old daughter, Emily.

The first chapter is included at the back of Spooning Daisy, or readers can find it on my website, along with a plot teaser.


 Golden Heart nominee Maggie McConnell spent her childhood overseas as the daughter of US diplomats. Attending college in Illinois, she earned a BA in Art and an MBA while working at the local humane shelter. At 26, she packed her dog and cat into a Ford truck and drove the Alcan Highway to Alaska, where she spent 23 years exploring The Last Frontier in a single-engine Cessna. A vegan and animal rights advocate, Maggie provides a sanctuary on her Arizona ranch for all creatures great and small, but her immediate family includes dog Molly, cat Sara, horses Quinn and Teena, and an ever-growing dynasty of chipmunks. Every year, like the Gray Whale, Maggie returns to Alaska.

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