Guest Post/Giveaway: Caramel and Magnolias by Tess Thompson

Blurb:

Crushed by a broken heart ten years ago, Cleo Tanner walked away from her acting dreams and now leads a quiet, secluded life in Seattle. Sylvia, her best friend from college, is trapped in a loveless marriage, distraught by her inability to conceive a child - until an adoption agency owner in relentless pursuit of Cleo offers to help.

Just as Sylvia begins to experience a profound love that only a mother can feel, a detective approaches Cleo with disturbing questions about the adoption agency. Determined to protect her friend, Cleo jumps into a dangerous investigation that forces her to confront the ghosts of her past.

Bestselling author Tess Thompson, whose debut novel Riversong touched the hearts of readers worldwide, delivers a captivating and suspenseful tale of the possibilities that await us in life and in love - if we can find the courage to get off the sidelines.

A toast to friendship, motherhood, mended hearts and new beginnings, Caramel and Magnolias reminds us it's never too late to reawaken the heart.


Buy Links:

Amazon      B&N      iTunes          Kobo

Guest Post:

When did you know writing was for you?

When I was young and read my first book and subsequent novel, I fell in love with stories in written form. I was first a reader – the kind so passionate about books it was all I wanted to do – sit in my mother’s big green chair and become absorbed. Later, as so often happens with avid readers, we feel an urge to write, like a scratch in the middle of your back you can’t quite reach. The only way to get relief is to begin to write. After a time, if you’re a real writer, you find you cannot stop, even on the days when it’s hard or you are sure you’re a hack. Writers know because they cannot live without it, no matter commercial success or not.

What inspires you?

I get ideas from the news and real people in my life. I’m inspired by the ordinary, the simple acts of courage so many people exhibit on a daily basis. Nothing moves me more than those who have been through hard times and come out the other side to continue to love and fight for a good life in spite of the slings and arrows of this sometimes difficult journey.

Tour Schedule:

4/8 RomFan Reviews / Ariesgrl Book Reviews

4/9 For the Love of Bookends / Storm Goddess Book Reviews

4/10 Kricket's Chirps / My Secret Romance

4/11 Romance Book Craze / Rambling Reads / Twinsie Talk 

4/12 Queen of all She Reads / Salacious Reads


Giveaway:

Tess is offering one winner at each blog an e-copy of Caramel and Magnolias and a grand prize of print copies of both Caramel and Magnolias and Riversong. I will chose winners from comments at each blog after the tour is open and post the winner in the blog post. The Rafflecopter below is for the grand prize.



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Find Tess Thompson Online:


FB Author Page

Website 

Amazon Author Page

Goodreads 

Guest Post: Ella Jade

I’m celebrating the one year anniversary of the release of my contemporary romance Crossfire of Love. In honor of that milestone my fabulous publisher Beachwalk Press has lowered the price of the book to $1.99. That’s 60% off! You can purchase the novel wherever you buy your eBooks including Amazon, B&N and ARe for the entire month of March.

Blurb: 

Can an arranged marriage lead to love?
Recent college graduate Gabriella has finally married the man of her dreams, the older, charismatic attorney Lorenzo Martinez. She's had a crush on him for as long as she can remember and always imagined they'd one day find their happily ever after. Unfortunately, they enter into a union arranged by their fathers.
Lorenzo is charming, protective, and loyal to his crime lord father Carlo. When Carlo asks Lorenzo to marry Gabriella he jumps at the opportunity. He's been drawn to her for many years and knows by marrying her he's helping to protect her father.
Gabby is resentful and won't be Lorenzo's charity case. But sparks fly and the couple soon gives into their desire, realizing they were meant to be together.
What happens when Carlo's enemies threaten their future? Will someone get caught in the crossfire?
Content Warning: graphic sex, some violence
Buy Link - http://beachwalkpress.com/crossfire-of-love/

Excerpt:

Lorenzo walked up the porch steps, turning to stare at her. "Are you coming, Gabriella?" No one but Lorenzo and his father called her by her full name. She liked when Lorenzo said it. He'd always made it sound so formal and sexy.
These were the first words he had spoken to her since they left the courthouse. They were married in the chambers of the prestigious Judge John Cartwright. He'd been a family friend of the Martinezes for many years. He was their go-to man whenever they needed something done fast and legally. Well, legal in her new father-in-law's eyes anyway.
She hurried up the steps and followed Lorenzo inside their new home. It was built within a matter of months after she'd agreed to marry him. Carlo wanted them to have their privacy, but he also wanted to keep them close. He didn't trust she'd hold up her end of the bargain, and keeping her on the property was the best way to ensure she wouldn't run.
It was silly, really. How could she run from a family like this? They had ties all over the world. There wasn't any place she could escape to that they wouldn't know about. She was a woman of her word. She said she would marry Lorenzo and she did. She'd find a way to cope. She always had.
Lorenzo pulled his jacket off, poured himself a scotch, and then loosened his tie. "Would you like a drink?"
"No, thank you," she said.
Most brides would be dancing the night away and drinking champagne by this point in their wedding night. She didn't think that was part of Lorenzo's plan.
"I didn't think you'd go through with it." He sipped the amber colored liquid as he looked her over.
"I said I would."
"I know, but when push actually came to shove, I thought you'd run."
"You don't know me that well," she said. "I don't run."
"Good." He smirked as he put the glass to his lips.
Gabby couldn't take her eyes away from those lips. She'd never had the pleasure of having them on her own. Judge Cartwright hadn't asked him to kiss his bride. She hated herself for thinking about him that way.
"You could've stopped this. Why didn't you?" she asked.
As they stood in front of the judge, she kept hoping he'd put an end to the charade and stop the wedding. It didn't make sense to her why he had agreed to marry her. She didn't have a choice. Her father's gambling debts made sure of that. But she didn't understand why he'd allowed things to get as far as they had.
"I was just as trapped as you were." He downed the rest of his scotch.
She didn't believe that. She knew he respected his dad, but she didn't get why he wouldn't have put his foot down and said no to such a life-altering decision.
"You could've told your father no from the beginning. Why would you agree to marry someone if you didn't have to?"
"Look." He shook his head. "It's done now. We're going to have to make the best of it."
"Make the best of it?" She plopped down on the leather sofa. "I'm twenty-two years old. I just graduated from college, and you want me to make the best of it?"
"I know this isn't what you might have wanted, but it is what it is. You agreed, and now it's done. You can't go back on it now. My father won't forgive that."

Giveaway

Please enter the rafflecopter for your chance to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card during the month of March. Like my FB page for details about the swag I’m giving away to celebrate the sale!



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You can connect with me at http://ellajadeauthor.blogspot.com or on FB http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ella-Jade-Author/186959391390708?ref=hl

Guest Post/Giveaway: Dakota Trace

*whistles a jaunty tune, entering the room* Happy St. Patrick’s Day. *Throws green and silver confetti into the air.* What? *places hand on hip* You didn’t honestly think that I would ignore St. Paddy’s Day did you? *arches brow* I’ll have you know I’m a devout Irish muse and can get my Muse card revoked if I don’t celebrate our national holiday.

“Girl, you make me soo jealous. Where did you get that corset?”

*spins around* Rena! This little thing *gestures to hunter green corset* I found it at some little shop on Lake Shore Drive. But enough about my kick ass clothing. What are you doing here? I thought I was gonna have to deal with your man at this stop. *hugs the black submissive*

“Like I’d let her out of my sight.” *Jackson saunters into the room wearing a forest green pullover*

Well damn it. *bats eyes at Jackson* Why did you have to be wearing green? I was looking forward to pinching your hind end.

*rolls eyes at antics* “Like I’m going to be stupid enough to show up without green on after you assaulted Hark yesterday. I’m surprised he let you free so soon.  Besides it isn’t St. Patricks Day yet. You can’t pinch me even if I wasn’t wearing green.”

*shakes head*  Like that’s gonna stop me.  Us Muses celebrate the whole weekend.  And Hark? He knew what was good for him. If he kept me tied up too long I’d have given him the biggest case of blue balls ever known to man.

*Jackson shudders* “Evil, evil woman.” *joins Rena, nuzzling her neck* “So we going to get on with it? I know a submissive who has a date with a crop.”

*Rena squirms* “White boy, you don’t stop that I’m going to…”

“What?” *nips her ear*

Ooooo can I watch? If you folks didn’t know this Jackson and Rena from Choosing Rena. He’s got a fetish for exhibition. Don’t let his southern boy charm fool you, he loves to perform. *wiggles eyebrows* If you know what I mean….

*Jackson growls* “It’s not happening. I had enough of that while Dakota was writing our story, you damned voyeur.”

*pouts* But you like to be watched, remember?

“There’s a difference between watching and giving rude suggestions and pointers in the middle of a scene, Muse.”

 *giggles* Can you believe a man who loves to be watched is actually offended because I told him it was better to…?

*Jackson interrupts* “Where the hell’s that scarf? Hark definitely had the right idea. You are best seen and not heard.”

*sticks tongue out at Jackson* Whatever. I hid that scarf, so don’t bother looking Demo-boy. *turns to viewers* Before Jackson decides to do something unnatural with the contents of my slave’s – I mean Dakota’s basket, lets get around to discussing why I’m here and Dakota’s off in Florida bathing in the sun. She has a new addition to her Doms of Chicago series. Gabriel’s Light revolves around the grumpy restaurant owner every one saw in Choosing Rena and this little sweet Greek honey from across the pond...

“Ah Livvy you do realize that ‘across the pond' refers to England right?” *Rena offers*

*shrugs shoulders* Pond, ocean, there’s a lot of water between that little back asswards Greek town she grew up in and the bustling city of Chicago. *giggles* So anyhow Zhenya meets the hunky Gabriel and decides she needs to jump his bones but he’s still mourning the delightful Sara. *nibbles on lip as Jackson unbuckles his belt* Hey you gonna perform here? I know that this is adult rated blog but I don’t know if Ms Sheri will be happy with you getting jiggy with Rena right here…

*grins* “Oh this isn’t for Rena.” *lays belt on the table* “It’s for you if you get out of hand….so why don’t you get to the point our visit, so I can take Rena home, hmmm? You have thirty seconds…”

Or what? *taunts* You’re gonna paddle my butt with it?

*shakes head* “Nope, I’m gonna use it to hogtie you with it and send you home to your mother.”

*pales* You wouldn’t dare…                                                                                                                                                     

*tsks at Muse* “You ought to know me better than that, Livvy. And you have twenty five seconds left.”

*swallows* Fine *eyes the dark leather belt* As I was saying before, I’m not the writer, just Dakota’s lowly muse and she does such a better job describing her book than me. So CLICK HERE to read the official blurb and excerpt.

“Twenty seconds.”

 *continues in a rush* And today we’re giving away a E-copy of Choosing Rena to one lucky commenter. It’s a steamy story featuring these two….

*Rena giggles as Jackson counts down*

“Ten, nine, eight…” *reaches for belt*

*squeaks* …just leave your addy below with your comment. It will enter you for the daily prize as well as the grand prize Dakota will be giving away on the 23^rd. *muse finishes with a rush* I’m soo out of here…I’m going back to Coffee and Books Anytime. Not only aren’t there any Doms there at the moment I can at least find some new reading material for my St. Paddy’s reading marathon.

“Don’t forget the parting gift, Livvy…” *Jackson stops fleeing muse*

*tosses chocolate bar at him.* You give it to her. *disappears*

*Jackson catches it and grins at Rena* “I told you it would work.” *pulls Rena close, before setting chocolate bar on the table next to his belt* “Here you go Ms. Sheri. Thanks for letting us invade your blog for a while. Enjoy your chocolate and St. Patty’s Day. I know I intend to.” *wolfish grin as he escorts Rena out of the room*

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Guest Post: Heather Long

Tour Schedule

Welcome Heather Long to the blog today! She dropped by to chat a little bit about her writing process and to share a story or two about Las Vegas and Atlantic City!

Thank you Heather! Now for information on where you can find the book and Heather online!

Blurb:

Fifty years ago, Jeannie Williams made her way to Las Vegas seeking fame and fortune. Instead, she lost her soul and wound up performing nightly shows at the Arcana Royale. Every day, she straps on her feathers, her glitter, her stilettos, and she dances. Every day, it’s the same.

Until the day he walks in.

For six centuries, Malcolm Reynolds has been the go-to guy for anything his family needs: warrior, diplomat, wrangler, researcher, and now an attorney. He enters the Arcana Royale Casino, intent on negotiating the release of his cousin’s bad debt, but one look at the golden-skinned showgirl ignites a fire of need that he’s never experienced. When the fantasy come true sits at his table, words he never expected to hear come out of her lush mouth: “I need your help.”

Now he’s in for the toughest battle of his life, because the Overseers own both his cousin’s debt and her soul. And he’s not planning on leaving the Royale without either one.

This book has been previously published and has been revised and expanded from its original release.

Warning: Contains high-stakes games, sexy showgirls, and a powerful showdown between a vampire that can’t lose and the House that never does. Spells, slots, sirens and sex, oh my!

Buy Links:

Amazon         B&N         Samhain           Bookstrand         ARe

To read an excerpt and to find out more about this series click here.

Find Heather online:

Website           Facebook            Twitter

Spotlight/Guest Blog: Stephanie Tyler

Lonely is the Night by Stephanie Tyler

Recently retired Delta Force Operator Reid Cormier utilizes his special skills by working black ops jobs all around the world with his former teammates and their wives. Reid's career keeps him busy, but he can't get his last job—or the woman involved—out of his head.

US Marshall Grier Vanderhall faked her own death without telling Reid of the plan first, and he couldn't forgive her duplicity. But when Reid learns that Grier has been kidnapped by a dangerous ring of criminals, he drops everything and heads to New Orleans to rescue her. And while Reid knows that his skills make him the best option to get Grier back, he's not sure if this mission will give them another chance—or get them both killed.

Buy Now:

Amazon            B&N

Surrender by Stephanie Tyler

On the run and living for revenge…

Desperate, fearless, and hunted.

For ex-Navy SEAL Dare O'Rourke, Section 8 was legendary. The son of one its missing members, he grew up in the shadow of its secrets. All he knew was that it was a cabal of operatives discharged from branches of the military and reassigned to extremely dangerous, off-the-books international missions. And their handler, who answered only to the president, was as shrouded in mystery as the missions themselves.

Nothing can stop them. Nothing can break them.

Now, the handler of Section 8 has given extreme orders: kill any remaining members, along with their families. It's then that Dare makes a startling discovery: the existence of a long-lost half sister named Avery he was never meant to meet. Determined to fight for their lives and find their missing father, Dare and Avery bring together the last members of Section 8 for one last mission: to avenge their families, and to survive.

 Pre-Order Today:

                            Amazon               B&N        iTunes

Guest Post:

Recently, I was asked to fill in my profession on a form in a new doctor’s office. I put down, writer.

The doctor was perplexed by this. Writer. Writer. Oh, you mean, author, he said finally, as if he’d just figured out the greatest puzzle in the world.

I nod.

I won’t ask if you’re published or not.

I am, I tell him.

Then you should call yourself author.

I shrug. And tell him that I consider myself a writer because that’s what I do – the part I love. The writing.

You should still call yourself author, he said confidently.

Hi – I’m Stephanie Tyler – and I was born a writer – there’s no other way to say it. When I tell people things, it’s in story form. I use dialogue tags in emails. I carry a notebook with me all the time, even to dinner with friends. They ask me if I’m planning on writing if they bore me and I tell them, maybe.

I also don’t really like to be told what to do, which is why I adore writing. Even though the characters tell me what they’d like to do (and, most of the time, I listen) - and eventually, my editor tells me what she’d like done (and again, most of the time, I listen) I still rule my created world for those four hundred plus pages. And, when it’s done, I get to do it all over again.

So writing for a living was absolutely my dream, but I never thought it could be a reality.

In college, I was a double major – English Lit and Creative Writing. I wrote poetry and short stories and then I graduated and had no idea how to make a living from writing.

For a long time I did things that circled around the writing world. I was a manager in a bookstore. I went back to school for a Masters in English Lit – and finished half a PhD as well, while completing a Masters in Secondary English Education (there’s that only child, overachiever thing. Add to it a strong dose of impatience and a sense of, I must do it all, at once, and you’ll understand.) And then I taught – middle school and college, at the same time, which was fun. Except I wasn’t writing. I was too busy being creative for my students and had nothing left over for myself.

I also got married – traveled to Africa a couple of times and decided that one day I must live there. And then my daughter was born in 2001 with some serious medical problems and my world changed completely. I left teaching. And I went back to writing and I haven’t stopped since.

It took me about four years and ten manuscripts before I got my first sale call. Which was quickly followed by another, and then another, and so in one year, I was offered contracts for eleven books. Three years later, Hold on Tight hit the New York Times Bestseller list. Persistence pays off – as does practice. And so what I’ve learned is that, even if you try to give up on your dreams, they somehow have a way of finding you.

• Why do I write romance? I answer that question here and here.
• Why do I write as both Stephanie Tyler and Sydney Croft? Check out my Frequently Asked Questions page.
• Looking for a shorter bio? Try this on for mini-size:
  New York Times Bestselling author Stephanie Tyler writes what she loves to read - romantic suspense novels starring military heroes and paranormal romance novels novels starring warrior heroes, all complete with happy endings. She also co-writes as Sydney Croft. She lives in New York with her husband, her kids and her crazy Weimaraner, Gus.
• How about a longer, publishing industry-oriented bio? Bring up this page, and print it out, if you want.

Find Stephanie on the Web!

                                                Website