Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Charming the Duke by Holly Bush - Spotlight/Giveaway


Charming the Duke
by Holly Bush





BLURB:

1849 . . . Matilda Sheldon, the middle daughter of the sixth Earl of Bisset, has never been interested in the fashionable society events that so preoccupy her parents and siblings. Her loving, albeit, daft family cannot understand why. But Matilda has little use for silly rules and dramas. She would rather occupy her time with a worthwhile cause such as opening The Sheldon Home for Orphans, much to the chagrin of her mother and grandmother. They are quite certain a venture of this nature will discourage suitors. Matilda is quite certain that if suitors are discouraged it is because she is clever, plain, a bit clumsy, and inevitably compared to her beautiful sisters.

The Duke of Thornsby is in tight spot. After receiving the title on the death of his father, he discovers the inheritance is to be gifted elsewhere if he does not marry before his thirtieth birthday. Unfortunately, our man-about-town is embroiled in a scandal, not of his own making, and the marriage mamas won’t let any eligible misses anywhere near him. What’s a Duke to do? Get invited to a house party hosted by the notoriously absent-minded Earl of Bisset, who just happens to be Papa to some young ladies of marriageable age!

Thornsby finds himself fascinated, not with the two Sheldon debutantes actively seeking a husband, but rather with the ‘brown wren’ he first mistakes for a servant. Matilda is counting the hours until the house party ends when the necessity of conversing with the guests will be over, and ridiculously handsome men go far away. Can a worldly Duke convince a sensible girl to accept his court? Find out in Charming the Duke.




Our heroine Matilda meets the Duke of Thornsby for the first time . . .

Matilda groaned inwardly. And so began a long three days of this business. Nearly two hours later all the guests were situated in the correct room. A stand-up buffet was to be served at eight o’clock, giving Matilda three hours alone. Mother was fussing with Cook over some calamity. Father had taken a few old compatriots to the stables, and her sisters were napping. Matilda was heading towards the stairs when the footman opened the door once more.

A tall, dark haired man entered with a thin woman on his arm. A blond man came behind them and whistled as his gaze cleared the three-story ceiling of the entranceway. Damnation. These were the guests Mother had been fussing about, wondering what had held them up. No Mother. No Father. No Franklin and the peach. No Juliet or Alexandra. Not even Fitz about. Matilda stepped forward and curtsied.

“Good day, Sirs and Madam.”

The dark-haired man swept a look up and down the entranceway, even down to the marble floors before handing his hat and cane to Matilda.

“Tell your Mistress the Duke of Thornsby has arrived.”

 “Right away, sir,” Matilda said.

The thin woman rushed forward. “How silly my brother can be,” she said and stole a glance over her shoulder at the dark haired man. “Aren’t you the middle daughter of the Earl?”

The blond man laughed uproariously. Matilda quelled him with a stare. “Matilda Sheldon. Welcome to Maplewood.”

“I am Lady Athena. I believe we’ve met quite some time ago. This is Mr. Andrew Smithly. And this,” she said as she grabbed the dark haired man’s arm, “is my brother, the Duke of Thornsby.”

Thornsby bowed over her hand. “Terribly sorry, my dear. I just, well . . . my fault. My apologies. Terrible mistake. Terrible.”

Matilda leaned forward. She’d had her daily allowance of stupidity as she greeted guests all afternoon. There really was only so much she could take and remain stoic.  “How do you characterize this auspicious start? Would you term it,” Matilda lifted her shoulders in a shrug, “terrible, by chance?”

The Duke pulled at his waistcoat. “I did apologize, Miss Sheldon. Was a harmless mistake on my part. I heard your family described in one fashion, and you standing there just didn’t put me in mind that you were part of the Sheldon clan.”

The sister groaned.

“And how, sir, did you hear my family described?” Matilda asked.

“Got you in a neat box, old boy,” the other man said.

“Everyone said they were blond and beau . . .”

Matilda’s brows rose. She was aware of the comparisons made between her and her sisters and mother. Her sister-in-law to be as well. Just not in the entrance to her home by a man she’d never met. She bellowed over her shoulder to the butler.

“James. Fetch Mother. The Duke of Thorny has arrived.” Matilda schooled her features. “Lady Athena, Mr. Smithly, enjoy your stay.”



Holly Bush was born in western Pennsylvania to two avid readers. There was not a room in her home that did not hold a full bookcase. She worked in the hospitality industry, owning a restaurant for twenty years. Holly has been a marketing consultant to start-up businesses and has done public speaking on the subject.

Holly has been writing all of her life and is a voracious reader of a wide variety of fiction and non-fiction, particularly political and historical works. She has written four romance novels, all set in the U.S. West in the mid 1800’s. She frequently attends writing conferences, and has always been a member of a writer’s group.

Holly is a gardener, a news junkie, and former vice-president of her local library board and loves to spend time near the ocean. She is the proud mother of two daughters and the wife of a man more than a few years her junior.

Links:


Twitter - @hollybushbooks







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Touch of Sin by Carlene Love Flores - Free Book Blast/Giveaway


Touch of Sin
A Sin Pointe Novel
By: Carlene Love Flores
Available April 14th, 2014
FREE READ



Blurb

Lonerby guitarist, Luke Willoughby, knows he and his band are under management’s scrutiny since last week’s press conference puking incident by his little brother. The stunt got them suspended from the Sin Pointe tour and Luke fears they’ve blown it for good. The last thing he expects is the cute spy who management sends to observe him. When no-nonsense Sarrie Walker shows up at a gig and blows her own cover by announcing exactly what she’s there to do, Luke is impressed but knows instantly he’s in deep trouble with this one. Sarrie is a breath of innocent yet strong and sexy, calming air and seems completely disinterested in him until they end up stuck together in close quarters. She’s dangerously irresistible but so very off-limits.
Clearly Sarrie holds Luke’s second chance in her hands.

But what about his heart? By week’s end, it might be tangled in there too.

Link to Follow Tour: http://tastybooktours.blogspot.com/2014/04/now-booking-book-blast-for-touch-of-sin.html
Buy Links




Carlene Love Flores is a big fan of the stars (especially Orion), honest music (especially Depeche Mode), and her traveling family (no favorites there-she loves them all). These things inspire her intimate style of romance writing. She feels honored to be a member of Washington DC Romance Writers (WRWDC). Carlene currently lives in the D.C. area where she can often be found listening to live music and looking up at the sky on clear nights.  If she could touch someone’s heart with her writing the way others have done for her, she’d say truly there never lived a luckier girl.  

Author Links


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Rough in the Saddle Series by Hennessee Andrews!


The XYZ Ranch is more than just a ranch….Made up solely of gay men, Zander Wesley, the owner is on a mission. Tired of feeling ignored and segregated from the rodeo world, Zander is building a rodeo team made up of some of the best cowboys around. As a secondary goal, Zander and his partners are building what they hope becomes one of the largest ranching cooperatives in the west.

Five stories introduce you to the world of the XYZ with hot love stories and even hotter nights. Start your journey for free with Macon’s Story, now available at Amazon. Saddle up, and come take a ride with cowboys that a sure to tickle your fancy.

Macon’s Story blurb: Macon Sumner loves two things in the world. One is taboo, his best friend Wade Sutherland. His second love is the rodeo, where their problems begin. When a nosy reporter clicks a picture at the rodeo, capturing Wade and Macon kissing, life is never the same and neither are their relationships with their family and peers.

As outcasts in their small, narrow-minded town, Wade and Macon feel the effects daily. Wade becomes secretive with their relationship, foolishly believing that hiding is the answer. What he doesn’t realize is how much harm he is inflicting on Macon by doing so.
Sneaking away for intimate moments with Wade are as hurtful as the glares Macon receives from people who are supposed to be neighbors, friends. Even roping buddies have stopped inviting them to functions. He can’t stand how he feels or how Wade is treating him. When he receives a call from Zander Wesley, he sees a new life and opportunity for him and Wade.

http://www.bookstrand.com/macons-story

Zander’s Story blurb: Zander Wesley feels cursed by his sexuality. While he wouldn’t change it, he is having difficulty coping and finding his place in the world. His family exiled him from their lives years ago, but the pain of rejection still haunts him as well as the memory of the beating he suffered at his father’s hand.

At thirty-two, Zander wants more than a life on the road and working for someone else during the winter. He has saved for a ranch, and all he needs to do is find it.

When Zander runs into Dean Buchanan and John Acker, desire he has held for the two heightens to a new level. He believed the men were straight, but a rendezvous with Dean in his horse trailer proves him wrong. Dean admits his feelings and expresses his want for more than just a fling. The only problem is John. Can he overcome his jealousy and succumb to his desire for Zander?

http://www.bookstrand.com/zanders-story


Warren’s Story blurb: Warren Reynolds has never been one for commitment, and the idea of settling with one partner isn’t something he's ever wanted. When Zander Wesley steps into his world and offers him a lucrative deal, everything in his life begins to go haywire.
Jesse Martin, a shy cowboy with a crush on Warren makes a bold move at the bar, capturing Warren’s attention. The two share a night they will never forget. Old habits are hard to break, and before Warren realizes the implications of sneaking out during the night, his feet continue forward even though his heart directs him to do the opposite. His mistake haunts him daily, as well as the image of the man he seemed to connect with.

When Warren decides to visit the XYZ Ranch, he runs into Jesse. All he wants is one more chance, but Jesse isn’t sure. He is still hurting. Can Warren prove himself and win Jesse’s affection?

http://www.bookstrand.com/warrens-story

Joe Ray’s Story blurb: Joe Ray Mullins can’t escape the sins of his father and is constantly looking over his shoulder. Trouble seems to lurk everywhere he goes. When two men are looking for him at a rodeo, he is leery because his father has recently been paroled from prison, and many are seeking to find him.

Christian Wright didn’t want to be in Kansas City with the owner of the XYZ Ranch, Zander Wesley, scouting for new members to begin with. He liked the event even less when the hot calf roper, Zander, who he has his sights set on, sticks a gun to his head in the restroom. They cut their losses and chalk up the event as nothing more than time wasted.

When they find Joe Ray badly beaten in the parking lot, they miss their flight in order to get him to safety. Who knew the bad boy image Joe Ray projected is nothing more than a ruse?

http://www.bookstrand.com/joe-rays-story


Everett’s Story blurb: Everett Davis never expected to find his wife in bed with his best friend. Divorce gives him a second chance to be true to himself after hiding his secret desires for years. Packing up and walking away to take a farrier job at the XYZ Ranch lands him in quite a predicament.

Kyle Quinten, the ranch trainer, catches Everett’s attention. The only problem is the fact that Kyle is ten years his junior and has his sights set on winning Everett’s affection. Kyle isn’t concerned with the age difference and wants nothing more than to help heal Everett’s heart.
Fantasies were all Everett had ever experienced. When Kyle blatantly invites Everett to act on his desires, neither will ever be the same. Everett is led by his overwhelming passion for Kyle but fears the age difference between them will eventually cause problems.

Will Everett let go of his hang-ups and submit to the younger man who has fallen for him?

http://www.bookstrand.com/everetts-story

Amazon:
Macon’s Story
Zander’sStory
Warren’sStory

Hennessee Links:
http://hennesseeandrews.blogspot.com/
http://facebook.com/hennessee.andrews

Book trailer link: http://youtu.be/SUjgRPKMbgk









Knight of My Dreams by Lynsay Sands - Spotlight/Giveaway

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Title: Knight of My Dreams 
Author: Lynsay Sands 
Genre: Romance / Historical / Medieval 
Publish Date: April 29, 2014 
Publisher: HarperCollins 
Event organized by: Literati Author Services, Inc.  


~ Book Synopsis ~

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lynsay Sands comes a classic short story of a knight in need of a bride… Lady Alice knows she is not the type to entice a man. She’s too voluptuous, too intelligent, too strong-minded. Why, she even reads! But then Jonathan, Earl of Fairley, arrives at court. Tall, dark and handsome, the knight is any woman’s dream. And he has just been ordered by the king to find a bride…and Alice is to help him! Jonathan has been evading his mother’s matchmaking schemes for years, so why does she insist that Lady Alice isn’t for him? Alice is only to aid in his search for a bride, yet Jonathan can’t help but be distracted by her glorious hair the color of a sunset, and her figure that is like a lush berry about to burst to full ripeness... Has Jonathan fallen prey to love?

Excerpt

"Are you all right?" Alice glanced up in surprise at the concern in Lord Jonathan's voice. He wasn't looking at her; his gaze was traveling down her body in the wake of his hands as he checked her over to be sure she wasn't injured. She flushed at the familiar way his fingers skimmed over her, and took a quick step back, nearly tumbling again. "I am fi-fine," she got out a little breathlessly as he caught her arms to steady her.
"Really," Alice added when he continued to look concerned. After a brief pause, he swallowed and nodded, then turned to grab at the reins of his mount. Her gaze moved distractedly back to the small swatch of blue cloth on the ground by her feet. She was about to draw Jonathan's attention to it, when she was suddenly caught by the waist and lifted onto his horse. Alice promptly began to protest. "Oh, really, my lord. There is no need for us to ride. I can walk back to the clearing. I—" At last she gave up her protests, mostly because he was ignoring her. He mounted in front of her and drew her hands around his waist. "Hold on," he instructed. Alice nodded against his back, breathing in deeply to try to steady her nerves. It was rather novel to be in such close proximity to a man. She had never done so before. Unmarried women were simply not allowed such familiarity. Of course, this was an unusual circumstance, and… Her thoughts died as she breathed in the scent of him. He smelled of the woods and the river and…male. It was a surprisingly pleasant mix, she decided, breathing it in again as her fingers interlocked at his middle. Feeling the muscles of his stomach bunch and ripple, she flattened her fingers over them to get the full sensation, then, realizing what she was doing, stopped breathing in embarrassment. Her fingers stilled. Of course, Alice couldn't go long holding her breath. She managed to do so for the short ride back to the clearing, but there the breath left her in a slow hiss. The place was empty. Lady Fairley and her uncle had not waited for them; they had apparently ridden on ahead. Alice recalled the small swatch of cloth she had spotted near the horses and pondered silently, wondering why Lady Fairley had been by the horses. Surely she hadn't untied Alice's mount and let it go? Had she really been so annoyed with Alice as to wish to have her walk back to the castle? "Well, we shall have to ride quickly to catch up," Lord Jonathan said. Alice glanced at the back of his head, then pressed close and held on tightly as he spurred his mount into a trot. She didn't hold her breath this time. Instead she sat, her breasts pressed against his back, her hands clutched at his front, breathing in deeply of his scent. She was enjoying it so much, it took her most of the ride to realize that despite his words, Jonathan wasn't trying very hard to catch up to her uncle and his mother. He had the horse going at a trot, but a rather slow one, really. They had ridden here faster. She was so startled by the realization that she loosened her hold and started to pull away, but he stopped her by catching her hands with one of his own. "You had best hold on," he said. "I would not wish to see you fall." Alice wondered at the husky note to his voice, but decided to merely enjoy the ride. She relaxed against him.

Purchase Links

 

About the Author

Lynsay Sands photo 17059_zps13695b26.jpg LYNSAY SANDS is the nationally bestselling author of the Argeneau/Rogue Hunter vampire series, as well as numerous historicals and anthologies. She’s been writing stories since grade school and considers herself incredibly lucky to be able to make a career out of it. Her hope is that readers can get away from their everyday stress through her stories, and if there’s occasional uncontrollable fits of laughter, that’s just a big bonus.

Author’s Social Media


Giveaway

3 digital copies of To Marry a Scottish Laird
 



Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Night Magic by Kathleen Ann Gallagher - Spotlight/Giveaway



Night Magic
by Kathleen Ann Gallagher





The beautiful but lonely owner of a bath and body shop, Krista Winter is in need of legal counsel. Her past is about to catch up with her.  She was forced to flee from her life as a teacher in New Jersey after being shunned for being a witch.

Life is not the same for Jon Bartolo. He’s a dedicated lawyer, living in the town of Conway, New Hampshire. His days are spent helping his clients with their struggles and his nights are spent in agony, lost in a world between life and death.

His mother, who died three years ago, lurks in his house, suffering from a curse for eternity, without a resting place.

A smoldering fire between Jon and Krista ignites almost immediately, however, he’s sure his secret would frighten a woman away. An afternoon escape brings them closer, but doubts linger between the love-struck couple.

How will Jon’s  mother find eternal rest so he can move on with his life? Is he bound to a life of hell on earth?

Will Krista fit into his world when he learns about her past?  Could she be hiding a bigger secret? Is it possible for them to open their hearts to love? Could  a touch of Night Magic be just what this couple needs?




Steadying herself, she stood back and stared into his eyes. As Jon moved in again and plunged his tongue deep into her mouth, he lightly brushed his hand across the back of her hair, and she surrendered to his touch. It was as if a long lost lover had reappeared and claimed her heart’s desire. There was no telling what might happen next. Her whole body relaxed as he nuzzled her ear, teasing her with playful nips at her neck. All rules had been broken, but it didn’t matter. His hard shaft rubbed up against her stomach, and she swayed back and forth, unable to break away from temptation. His breathing sped up and his strong arms were tight around her back. She quietly moaned, lost in another world. Every movement brought her one step closer. Am I that lonely? I’m about to have sex with a man I just met. As his hand trailed across her back, her body rocked with his.

Each touch was electrifying, as if he wanted to devour her, and she found herself in a trance-like state. Is this what I’ve been missing? Running her hand across his firm bicep, she felt woozy. The warmth of his body was raising her level of arousal. Here in the middle of his office, she experienced a passion like no other. Everything seemed right. Lust took control of her senses and she let herself go with it. With each kiss he cradled her in his arms, his embrace warm and protective like a warrior of love. How did this happen? Had she found the man she was destined for or was it all a dream?





Kathleen lives in New Jersey with her husband and their two dogs. She’s a registered nurse who works in an emergency room. Writing has been her passion since she was a young girl. Contemporary and paranormal romance are her favorites.  She has three adult children and three lovable grandsons. Her favorite romantic getaway is Cape May, New Jersey. You might find Kathleen on the beach down The Jersey Shore, wearing a straw hat, sipping on an iced tea, dreaming up her next romance novel.  








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How to Seduce A Vampire (Without Really Trying) by Kerrelyn Sparks



Vampire Zoltan Czakvar is on the hunt for the truth about his father's death. He's been searching for a very long time—since 1241, in fact. And he is not about to give up, even when he's attacked by a woman with striking blue eyes and a hell of a right hook!

Neona is also on the hunt. She's looking for a mate, and she thinks muscled Zoltan will work just fine. After all, men are good for only one thing. Soon, though, she realizes there's more to this handsome vampire than just sexual prowess. But she's keeping a secret from Zoltan, something so big that it will rock the vampire world.

Can their newfound love survive . . . even if their passion means the destruction of her world?
                                                                     




Kerrelyn Sparks has done it again, she enriched her world and expanded it beautifully all while giving us a fantastic love story.

I really loved Zoltan, he’s a great character and the way he won’t give up on Neona, not matter the consequences, I loved that about him. He works to earn her trust and I enjoyed the fun way he does it.

Neona is a strong, confident and beautiful woman that I adored, she doesn’t just roll over for Zoltan, she makes him work for it. I love a heroine who has a mind of her own.

We got to see some of the past Love at Stake books, but never fear, if you haven’t read the past fourteen books in the series, you can still enjoy Zoltan and Neona’s story. I look forward to where this series will go in the future. I think this installment breathed some fresh air into the series.




I received a copy in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not compensated for my review.





Monday, April 28, 2014

Stop Dragon My Heart Around by Susannah Scott - Guest Post/Giveaway

Stop Dragon My Heart Around
by Susannah Scott
Entangled Publishing, Covet Imprint




Lucky Leprechaun underwear ironed? Check.
Gold plated hearing aids? Check.
Pink doggy booties, times four? Check.
Tee is Vegas’s favorite casino hostess, ready to grant her high rollers their every quirky wish. But when her own wish to financially help her Paiute Tribe finally comes true, she decides to double-down with lady luck and go for a hot hook-up with her sexy boss, Leo. Unfortunately, Tee’s about to find out why their romance is such a long shot—Leo is a shape-shifting dragon.

Leo needs a proper dragon mate to save his waning dragon form, and despite their magnetic sexual attraction, he knows Tee is anything but proper—or a dragon. But when threats arise from Tee's tribe, Leo’s protective instincts kick in. Can he give up his dragon form for the woman he loves—even if it means shortening his life? Or has Tee finally had enough of having her heart dragged around?

Stop Dragon My Heart Around buy-links:





Any SJP fans out there?

We Gen-XYers don't even pause-hell yeah! The bad dating of my twenties seemed benign compared to the antics of Sarah Jessica Parker of her posse on Sex and The City. When I saw Sarah she had done a "zippy-fun" 5 minute video interview with Vogue answering 73 questions, I was intrigued. 73 questions, in 5 minutes! (No, don't go google it now! I'll give you the link at the bottom)

The first time though the video, I was charmed and entertained. The second time, I felt the challenge of rapid-fire repartee calling my name... I wonder how I would answer all those questions?

Drum roll please....

For your snappy reading pleasure, I transcribed the questions and broke them into serial blog posts for my release tour. Many thanks to Sheri for hosting my 2nd segment!

Let's do this thing!

Q9: iPhone or Android?

A: Android

Q10: Twitter or Instagram?

A: Twitter, @Susannah_Scott

Q11: Vine or Snapchat?

A: Neither? It just takes a few months to be behind on all the social media changes I really like FB, Goodreads, Pinterest and Google+. I tried Tumblr and the new MySpace - but I could never find my peeps.

Q12: Who should everyone be following right now? 

A: Me, and Sheri

Q13: Coolest thing in your home?


A: The tile work. 

My husband and I just finished building our dream home in July. It isn't the size that makes it "dream" to us, it's the intricate detail I knew exactly what I wanted for the tile, and so we did it ourselves. Thank goodness my Hub is good a grout clean up. I was more the visionary, he the grunt and clean up work!


Q14: Favorite Restaurant?

A: Djangos: Crested Butte, Colorado. 

An awesome tapas restaurant where every single dish is exquisite and unique. 


Q15: Favorite Food?

A: Ethnic 

I'm a really good cook, but an awful baker. Moroccan Kefta Tagine is easy to make and yummy spicy comfort food.

Q16: Least Favorite Food?

A: Barbeque sauce. Too many curvy Ozark roads and picnics.


How about you? I challenge you to pick 1 question from above and answer it in the comments. As a bonus, I'll give a free kindle copy (one per person) of my new release STOP DRAGON MY HEART AROUND to 1 randomly picked answerer.

You know you what to try!

If you want to follow the rest of the interview, you can see a complete listing of my serial blog tour here.

All my best,
Susannah Scott

PS. Here is the SJP Vogue Interview I promised 




“I told you we’d see celebrities here!” Trixie exclaimed and squeezed the brunette woman’s bare arm.

“Celebrities?” Tee asked in confusion.

“It’s that hotty superhero with the hammer.” Angie pointed at Leo. Her mouth hung open to show a brass tongue piercing.

“Thor,” Trixie whispered and smacked her gum again. “I bet he has a big ole hammer too.”
Beside her, Leo smiled and shrugged, like he had some super hero secret he couldn’t share.

Ridiculous.

“This is not Thor,” Tee said with an uncomfortable laugh. Next to the diminutive young women, she felt gawky. She straightened her stooping shoulders and stretched to her full height. Then, she gave the two a smile she hoped conveyed patient helpfulness.

Leo was tall, even taller than her, with blondish hair that brushed his shirt collar. His eyes were deep set like the actor’s, and he definitely had the forearms and muscle packed in all the hunky places. But he was so much more than some hammer-throwing cartoon.

He was Leo. He was real, and she’d wanted him from the first moment he’d walked toward her across the Bellagio foyer. Then he’d smiled at her, and her heart had done a ridiculous loop-de-loop and she’d been lost.



Susannah Scott writes dragon-filled Paranormal Romance and lives with her family in Southern Missouri. She loves connecting with readers through Social Media—and almost always replies!







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*Sheri here - I will be reviewing this book in the next day or so on the blog. I can say that it's excellent and worth picking up!