Nov 30, 2012

Cover Reveal: The Summer I Became a Nerd

From Entangled Publishing, set for May 7th, 2013 release. Also in the weeks leading up to the release you can win the book, follow Leah's site for more information.

On the outside, seventeen-year-old Madelyne Summers looks like your typical blond cheerleader—perky, popular, and dating the star quarterback. But inside, Maddie spends more time agonizing over what will happen in the next issue of her favorite comic book than planning pep rallies with her squad. That she’s a nerd hiding in a popular girl's body isn’t just unknown, it's anti-known. And she needs to keep it that way.

Summer is the only time Maddie lets her real self out to play, but when she slips up and the adorkable guy behind the local comic shop’s counter uncovers her secret, she’s busted. Before she can shake a pom-pom, Maddie’s whisked into Logan’s world of comic conventions, live-action role-playing, and first-person-shooter video games. And she loves it. But the more she denies who she really is, the deeper her lies become…and the more she risks losing Logan forever.

About the Author
Born and raised in northern Louisiana, Leah Rae Miller still lives there on a windy hill with her husband and kids. She loves comic books, lava lamps, fuzzy socks, and Cherry Coke. She spends most of her days reading things she likes and writing things she hopes other people will like.
Blog

Preorder the book on Amazon or Barnes & Noble

Just for Fun







Contemporary Romance
(Escape to New Zealand #4)
Date Published: 12/8/12

    


What if the person who broke your heart turned out to be the only one who could mend it?
 Nic Wilkinson is a responsible, organized, disciplined rugby player at the top of his game. Emma Martens is a sometimes-scattered, often-emotional, and always-broke would-be designer with a big chip on her shoulder where Nic’s concerned.
 They have no history together, except one perfect week. Nothing in common anymore, except the most important thing of all.
 Getting together again would be messy. Complicated. Scary. And, just maybe, worth every risk.




EXCERPT

“Mum!” Zack burst in through the front door. “It was brilliant!” He kicked his shoes off impatiently, dropped his rugby boots next to them before struggling out of his jacket. Nic followed him in, grabbed the jacket and hung it on the brightly painted rack next to the door when Zack would have dropped it on the floor. 
Emma reached out for a hug that, Nic saw, the boy was still willing to give his mother, at least here at home. Her eyes met Nic’s as she looked over her son’s head. How did she always look so soft? So . . . pettable? She was wearing another sweater, that was all, he told his troublesome libido. Another light, lacy one, prettily trimmed once again. A pale pink cardigan with pearly shell buttons, edged in cream, over a long stretchy top and leggings. She looked like an invitation to cuddle. Like the best blankie ever.
“Can Nic stay for dinner, Mum?” Zack asked excitedly, offering a welcome distraction from his wayward train of thought. “He could help me tell you all the things we did. We’re having spaghetti!” he told Nic. “It’s really good.”
“Can’t, mate. Sorry,” Nic put in hastily at Emma’s instinctive shake of the head. “But I’ll have a glass of water, if one’s on offer.”
“Sit down,” Emma told him. “Please.” 
Nic slipped off his own shoes before heading to the couch with Zack. “Cheers,” he said as she came back from the kitchen to hand each of them a glass, then took her own seat in a small armchair next to the couch, the only other option the little room offered.
“You look tired,” she said abruptly. “And bruised. Are you OK?”
“Just a bit confused on the sleep schedule, still,” Nic admitted. “I took a wee pill on the flight home, but it never works that well.”
“It’s a long way, Mum,” Zack put in. “South Africa’s really far.”
Nic took a long drink of the cold water, looked around for something to set the glass on. “Coaster?”
“Just put it down,” Emma told him. 
“Don’t want to spoil this,” he said, looking more closely at the coffee table. The simple rectangle had been transformed into a forest of ferns, with native birds peeping out from underneath fronds, perched in trees. The parson-throated tui making a meal of red fruit, the colorful, stumpy takahe on the forest floor, tiny fantails darting overhead. 
“You can’t,” Emma assured him. “It’s all enamels. Everything in this house is pretty indestructible.”
“Did you find the ruru yet?” Zack asked him, leaning forward.
“Don’t tell me,” Nic said. “Let me look.” Zack watched him eagerly as he searched and finally pointed triumphantly to a notch in a tree where the owl blended into the bark. “There.”
“You did this too, eh,” he asked Emma. “Nice.”
“I did everything. That’s my decorating theme. Things I made.”
“I like it,” he assured her. The warm colors of the lounge seemed to cocoon them. Two walls were a rich caramel, the others a warm yellow. She didn’t even paint every wall in a room the same color, he realized. Well, at least in the kitchen it was all the same. Purple. He wondered what color her bedroom was. How it looked. And found himself wishing, against every better impulse, that he could see it.








Rosalind James is the author of the Kindle bestseller Just This Once and the three subsequent books in the Escape to New Zealand series. She is a former marketing executive who has lived all over the United States and in a number of other countries, traveling with her civil engineer husband. Most recently, she spent several years in Australia and New Zealand, where she fell in love with the people, the landscape, and the culture of both countries.
Visit www.rosalindjames.com to listen to the songs from the books, follow the characters on their travels, watch funny and fascinating New Zealand and rugby videos, and learn about what's new!


Contact Links





Nov 29, 2012

Angel Maker by Natasha Deen


Title: Angel Maker
Series: True Grime, #2
Author: Natasha Deen
Genre: Urban-Fantasy, YA,
Publisher: Blueberry Hill Press
Paperback/Ebook
Pages: 302

Purchase: Smashwords | Createspace | Amazon (Print) | Amazon (Kindle) | B&N |



For the last two years, human Aponi Runningbear has been training to be part of Grime, the magical police division tasked with protecting humanity from SOAP terrorists. But things aren't going well. She's barely keeping up with her studies, failing the physical component, and her Generalized Anxiety Disorder is making her bad days even worse. When her team is given the chance to find a missing coworker and stop SOAP from producing a DNA-altering drug that's killing humans, Aponi grabs hold of the chance to show she's meant for Grime. But as the investigation heats up, she's forced to deal with the tormentor from her past, dead bodies, and the certainty that SOAP's going to win this battle. Humanity's dying, Grime's in trouble, and she's failing...does a foster kid really have what it takes to save the world and herself?

Excerpt:

Echo’s technology deflected the damage of the shot but it didn’t compensate for the power. The laser’s momentum rocketed me off my feet. I exploded into the air, my arms and legs pedaled helplessly. Spinning, twisting, the world whirled around me in a blur of colors and texture.
Gravity yanked me down.
Too late, I saw my destination: the cylindrical tank attached to a rig. I smashed into the hard metal. The force made my head snap back hard enough to break my spine, if not for the shield. My teeth chomped into my cheek. A disembodied chunk of the tissue rolled on to my tongue, bathed in my blood. I spit it out and fell twelve feet to the ground.
The fall left me stunned, seeing double. Two TJ’s, smiling with evil intent, came my way. I pulled out my gun, aimed, and fired. The shot went between them.
TJ laughed.
I closed one eye, and pulled the trigger.
He did the same and his laser beam devoured my shot with ease. “You’re too slow, Grime.” He twirled his gun. “Kill you or use you for information?” His lips pulled back from his teeth. “You have no usable intel, but it would be fun to torture you, all the same.”
I spit out the blood pooling in my mouth. God. Nothing pisses me off like an adversary who doesn’t think I have what it takes to beat them. First the aswang. Now him. I pulled the trigger, aiming for one of his hearts.

About the Author:

When I was little, there was only one thing I wanted to be: a superhero. Then I realized that being a klutz was not, in fact, a super power, and my super weakness for anything bright and shiny meant a magpie with self-control could easily defeat me in a battle of wills.

What was a superhero in training to do?

I turned to writing young adult, urban fantasy, and romance as a way to sharpen my mental super-hero skills, and as a way to bide my time until I can hone my klutzy nature into a superpower. I don’t get to orbit the earth in a space station (and thank God, because I get sick on merry go round), but I do get to say things like: “Stand aside! This is a job for Writing Girl!!”

Website | Facebook | Twitter |

Decadent Thursday: Sugar Girl

Title: Sugar Girl 
Author: Nicole Austin 
Series: Naughty Sleepover
Publisher: Decadent Publishing 
Source: Recieved from publisher in exchange for an honest review
Reviewer: Lacey Wolfe
Buy: Decadent 

A guy walks into a bar…

And finds the sweet girl he shouldn’t have left behind.

While book smart Candy Dillon went to college and embarked on an engineering career, Jeremiah Lange became a rodeo champion and country music icon. Their differences have kept these childhood friends apart until finally, the twists and turns in their individual paths lead them right back where they belong.

All work and no play has Candy aching for a thrill. Jeremiah is the perfect man to help check a few things off her bucket list. From bungee jumping to making out on a Ferris wheel and an emotional spin beneath bright spotlights, Candy’s having the time of her life.

But in the harsh light of the morning after can she really hold on to a shooting star?

~Excerpt~

Unruly black hair had been tamed to silky waves above big blue eyes she’d gladly drown in. His face was rough-hewn with sharp angles, and a rugged beard shadow softened the intensity of his square jaw. He’d grown into that coltish boy’s body and then some. Broad chest, powerful arms roped with corded muscles, lean hips….

Calloused fingers grazed her cheek, drawing her focus back to his smiling eyes.

“Of all the gin joints….” he prompted, beginning a familiar greeting they’d shared a million times over while growing up.

She grinned up at him. “In all the towns, in all the world….”

“She walks into mine.” He finished the famous movie line, cupping her cheek, his thumb repeatedly gliding along her bottom lip. “I can’t believe it’s you. What are you doing here?”

“At the hotel? Guest speaker at a conference. In San Antonio? I moved back to be closer to my mom. Dad—”

Her voice choked up, unable to say the words. It had only been three months since her father’s fatal heart attack. The wounds were still raw.

Strong arms wrapped around her, pulling her in to that incredible body, one hand holding her head cushioned against a delicious chest she wanted to lick, the other rubbing soothing circles over her back. He smelled good—sandalwood and leather.

“I heard about your dad.” His voice rumbled through his chest and into her, Candy eagerly soaked in the delicious vibration. “I’m so sorry.”

In his arms, she felt safe and loved, never wanting to leave. All too soon, he broke the embrace and stepped back. “Come on, grab your drink. Let’s find a table and catch up.”

With a nod, she turned back to the bar, got another glass and a bottle of the chocolate wine nestled in an ice bucket from the crestfallen Luke. She gathered her belongings and followed Jeremiah to a small table at the back of the bar.

Once they’d settled into seats, she turned his question back on him. “So what are you doing here?”

“Had a bad injury last year and can’t compete on the circuit anymore. Got tired of constantly being on the road with the band.” He shrugged. “So here I am, spinning my wheels while I wait to close on a ranch in the Hill Country.”

She’d known about the injury. It had been all over the news. That damn ornery bull’s horn had come disturbingly close to gelding Jeremiah. But the band? She hadn’t heard about him leaving Branded.

“A ranch? Wow! I thought you never wanted to be tied to one place?”

“I grew up. Had to happen sooner or later.” Shifting his chair closer, he reached out and placed his hand over hers on the table that suddenly seemed a lot smaller. He made a blatant point of checking her out, head to toe, a lascivious smile curving his lips. “You’ve certainly grown up.”

~Review
In the mood for a romance with a man that will do anything for the woman he wants? Well, you've got your read. Candy walks into the bar at the right time and comes across the man she's always loved and in return, he feels the same way. She tells him about the things she's always wanted to do, and Jeremiah makes those dreams come true.

This is a short story, so I can tell to much without giving away the whole story. But you will swoon over their romance and the author really heats up the scenes in the bedroom. If you love a story about past loves reunited, you'll want to pick this one up.

Five Stars



Author Bio:

Nicole Austin lives on the sheltered Gulf Coast of Florida, where inspiration can be found sitting under a big shade umbrella on the beach, sipping cold margaritas. A voracious reader, she never goes anywhere without a book, but started looking for something more. Something hotter.

A passion for erotic romance led to Nicole’s creation of sizzling characters and boundary pushing stories. Now she lives in an incredible world where fantasy comes to life in bold, vivid detail. Well, until real life intrudes and she has to share the computer with the rest of the family.

Nov 26, 2012

Morrigan by Laura DeLuca


Shuffled from place to place in the foster system, Morrigan doesn't know the meaning of home. Plus, she is different. She has power over fire, the ability to move objects with her mind,  and glimpse into the future. Just when she believes her life can’t get any stranger, she discovers her true identity.


Filtiarn, a knight with a dark past and a surprising secret, has been tasked with guiding the heir of Tír Na NÓg through countless perils to be returned to her family. Once Morrigan has been reunited with her mother and grandmother, their triad can save the forgotten land of magic from being devoured by an ancient evil.



Excerpt:
Morrigan took out a white candle and a stick of dragon blood incense, and set them up in the corner of the room. She sat cross-legged, and leaned forward to light them. No matches were necessary. No lighter either. She simply touched her finger to the end of the wick, and with an iridescent spark, the candle flickered to life. It shone at first with a bright blue flame that gradually settled into a more normal orange. It was the same with the incense—another reason why she preferred not to have an audience.

She stared into the candle for a moment, and took a few deep breaths to clear her mind of all thoughts but those of the magic she intended to perform. Danu and Dagda sat on either side of her, instantly falling into silence, as though they knew she needed her complete concentration. Their energy beside her only seemed to add to the growing sense of power that charged the room.

Morrigan closed her eyes and began to shuffle the cards. As she did, she allowed her breathing to become more even. A silence filled the room as the rest of the mortal world fell away. Soon the only sound she heard was the light thump of her own heartbeat, echoed by the quicker, fast paced beat of the cats’ hearts. She wasn’t sure how much time passed as the cards slipped through her fingers. It might have been minutes. It might have been hours. When she allowed herself to fall into a trance, time became insubstantial, irrelevant.

The tarot cards were so old; the designs on the back were almost completely worn away. She had to shuffle gently to keep them from crumbling to pieces in her hands. Yet they held a power that she knew no newer cards could offer her. As she shuffled them, she focused her energy into them, silently requesting to be given the answers she was seeking.  She allowed the image of her mother to fill her mind. When she finally felt the cards had fallen into the order they were meant to be in, she placed the deck face down on the floor, and cut them with her right hand. Then, taking one last, calming breath, she lifted the top card from the pile. With a trembling hand, she laid it down and read it.

 “Wheel of Fortune,” she said aloud.

In the center of card was a wheel. As she stared at the picture, that wheel seemed to turn clockwise. The movements made her feel slightly dizzy. The bedroom around her became more and more surreal.  The scene on the card became her reality. The figure of the sphinx that sat on top of the turning wheel looked so very real. It might have turned its head to look at her. Its lips may or may not have moved. Morrigan swore she heard a deep, resonating voice whispering the meaning of the card into her ear. Destiny approaching. An unexpected and sudden change was coming—change that could lead to good fortune.

It was the card of fate and karma returned. It meant that she needed to be prepared—to expect the unexpected. Morrigan knew the cards were telling her something was going to happen—and soon. Her destiny, whatever it was, was about to be realized. Even if it did bring fortune, it still scared her to death. She considered packing up the cards right then and there. Her rational mind had every intention of doing just that. Her hands didn’t get the message her brain was sending. Before she knew what she was doing, she had already flipped over the second card.

“The Empress,” she whispered. She exhaled deeply. “My mother.”

It was the only interpretation imaginable. Even as she said it, the pregnant woman, crowned with stars and adorned in a gown decorated with pomegranates, turned to her and smiled. She was no longer a vague featureless stranger, but the same woman Morrigan had sketched earlier that day—a face that mirrored her own. It was an older version of herself, which she saw in the reflection in the nearby full length mirror, had turned chalk white.

The Empress was a symbol of maternal power—of strong feminine influence. But could it mean that her mother was returning? She had never allowed herself to consider such a possibility. To dwell on something so unlikely would have been too painful. But now, with just the flip of a card, she found herself daring to dream. There was only one way to find out for sure. She had to keep going with the reading.

 “Six of Cups.”

The third card in the spread represented her past, and even her immediate present. The six of cups specifically symbolized childhood, and she was, technically, still a child. But she had a feeling that her childhood was about to end quite abruptly. The cups in the picture were lined up across a high stone wall, each cup holding the memories of her past.

Her past. It was nothing but a childhood filled with longing—longings which were perhaps about to be fulfilled. She visualized herself taking each cup down from the wall, and pouring the troubling memories away. It was time to start fresh. A new world was about to open up for her. She had known it as soon as she had seen the image of her mother’s face. But what would that world be like? What was waiting for her in the future?

Morrigan turned over the fourth card.

“The Knight of Wands.”

The man on the horse carrying the staff had her baffled. Not because she didn’t know its normal meaning, but because as she stared at the card, it began to take on the physical attributes of the knight in her drawings. He had the same long dreadlocks, the same bewitching stare, even the same cocky smile. The familiarity did not cancel out the meaning of the card. The knight of wands was representative of a dark man filled with a kind of honey-tongued charm. He was also fiery and arrogant, a man with a definite possibility of a dark side. If the knight of wands was coming into her life, she knew she needed to proceed with caution.

She thought she was done with the fourth card, and was preparing to move on to the next, when once again, she found she had lost control of her body. This time, her hands refused to move, while her eyes forced their way back to the knight in the card. She watched as the long haired stranger began to move forward—wandering over various landscapes, some high mountains, some meadows and fields ripe for the harvest. He kept looking back over his shoulder, as though he were speaking to someone. He was on a journey, and he wasn’t alone. Morrigan didn’t need to see his companion to know who it must be.

So, her journey would soon begin, and she wouldn’t be traveling alone. She would have a guide. Whether or not that would be a good thing was another question best left to the cards to answer. The next card told her nothing she didn’t already know.

“The Moon,” she said. “Caution.”

It was a scary card. It warned of tricks and illusions. The two howling wolves that stood under the moon looked back at her menacingly, growling, showing their pointed fangs in a snarl. For the first time since she began the reading, Danu and Dagda made their presence known by lifting their heads and hissing threateningly in the direction of the beasts.

Even the cats sensed it. The journey she was about to embark on wouldn’t be all fun and family reunions. There would be obstacles and deceit, most likely from people she thought could be trusted. The moon was a sign that danger was certainly awaiting her. In was an ominous omen.

“Shhhh.”

She hushed the hissing cats, and gave them each a gentle stroke to try to settle them down, though she was far from settled herself. Again she felt the urge to stop the spread. Her instincts were telling her that no good was going to come out of this reading. She was only going to scare herself. She should never have done it in the first place. When would she learn that sometimes it was best to let life play out without interference or prophetic warnings? Then again, she knew that to be forewarned might be her only advantage. So with more bravery than she felt, Morrigan flipped over the final card.

 “No . . . .” she gasped when she looked down at the terrible, skeletal face. “Oh no.”

She should have known. She thought a part of her did know even before she glanced down at the gruesome scene—a skeleton with a scythe in a field of body parts. With the divination going in the direction it was, what else could be the final outcome?

“Death,” she whispered. “Death.”

She knew that in most cases, the death card was a symbol of personal transformation rather than literal death. But a deeper sense of understanding told her that this time the card was meant to be taken literally. She saw only glimpses and shadows in her mind. Brief flashes of faces, some familiar, like her mother and the knight—some still strangers, like a beautiful, almost angelic blonde woman in a flowing white gown. But around them all, including herself, she saw the shadows of death.

Morrigan felt decidedly shaky as she gathered up her tarot cards. She placed them securely in the bottom of her bag just as she heard the door downstairs slam shut. The reading hadn’t made everything as crystal clear as she had hoped, but one thing was certain. Her whole life was about to change.


Amazon      Barnes & Noble   Smashwords




About the Author:
Laura "Luna" DeLuca lives at the beautiful Jersey shore with her husband and three children. She has been writing stories for as long as she can remember. Old high school friends would tell you she was always scratching in her notebook instead of paying attention in class and the children she used to babysit for always loved to hear her scary stories at bedtime. 

In addition to writing fiction, Laura is also the sole author 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. She loves writing young adult novels, because it keeps her young at heart. She is the author of three published works including Destiny, Destiny Unveiled, and Phantom, and has several more projects in the works.

Author Links:
Site      Twitter      Facebook      Goodreads 


~Giveaway~

One Morrigan Prize Pack, It includes a signed copy of the book, a pendant, sage pack, two crystals.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Nov 23, 2012

In Leah's Wake by Terri Giuliano Long

A Story of Love, Loss, Connection, and Grace
At the heart of the seemingly perfect Tyler family stands sixteen-year-old Leah. Her proud parents are happily married, successful professionals. Her adoring younger sister is wise and responsible beyond her years. And Leah herself is a talented athlete with a bright collegiate future. But living out her father’s lost dreams, and living up to her sister’s worshipful expectations, is no easy task for a teenager. And when temptation enters her life in the form of drugs, desire, and a dangerously exciting boy, Leah’s world turns on a dime from idyllic to chaotic to nearly tragic.      As Leah’s conflicted emotions take their toll on those she loves—turning them against each other and pushing them to destructive extremes—In Leah’s Wake powerfully explores one of fiction’s most enduring themes: the struggle of teenagers coming of age, and coming to terms with the overwhelming feelings that rule them and the demanding world that challenges them. Terri Giuliano Long’s skillfully styled and insightfully informed debut novel captures the intensely personal tragedies, victories, and revelations each new generation faces during those tumultuous transitional years.



Recipient of multiple awards and honors, In Leah’s Wake is a compelling and satisfying reading experience with important truths to share—by a new author with the voice of a natural storyteller and an unfailingly keen understanding of the human condition…at every age.

WINNER, Global eBook Award, Popular Literature, 2012
WINNER, Indie Discovery Award, Literary Fiction, 2012
Recipient of the CTRR Award for excellence
2011 Book Bundlz Book Pick
Book Bundlz 2011 Favorites, First Place


Excerpt
LEAH

Leah had totally lost track of time. She and Todd had been hanging out at the water tower for hours, perched on the hood of Todd’s jeep drinking vodka and OJ, admiring the beautiful night. This was the most perfect place in the universe. Big sky, lots of trees. In the valley below, lights began to blink out.

Leaning back on her elbows, Leah gazed at the heavens. “Look,” she said, mesmerized by the inky black sky, the billions and billions of stars. “The Big Dipper.” As she stared into space, time fell away, the past merging seamlessly with the future.

Todd set the flask on the hood of his truck and put his arm around her, drawing her close. So close she could smell the spicy deodorant under his armpits. Just being with Todd Corbett made her feel dizzy all over. Todd was, by far, the hottest boy she had ever laid eyes on. His hair was long on top, short on the sides. He had full lips, and the most fabulous blue eyes, like…like crystals or something. A Romanesque nose, the exact nose she’d once told Cissy she’d die for, only now that she’d seen it on Todd, she realized that particular nose was meant for a boy. Best of all, he had this incredible aura, all purple and blue, like James Dean or Kurt Cobain.

She curled her legs under her and laid her head on Todd’s chest.

Review
Terri Giliano Long's debut novel, In Leah's Wake is literary women's fiction. As such it is very geared toward family life, as a parent of teenagers myself, seeing the struggles Leah has to go through was difficult, though I pushed though.

The story I felt was good, and the flaws within the characters I believe added to their humanity, they weren't perfect, after all none of us are perfect. It was slow in some parts.

Overall it was an average read, I'd give it three stars.


The author is giving away a $100 Holiday Cash Amazon gift card to one lucky commenter. The more you comment through the tour, the greater chance you have to win. Follow it here.


About the Author

Terri Giuliano Long is a frequent blog guest, with appearances on hundreds of blogs. She’s written news and feature articles for numerous publications, including the Boston Globe and the Huffington Post. She lives with her family on the East Coast and teaches at Boston College. Her debut novel, In Leah's Wake, was a Kindle bestseller for more than 6 months. For information, please visit her website: www.tglong.com

Nov 22, 2012

Decadent Thursday Special Announcement

Decadent Publishing is hosting a giveaway. Now we're NOT giving anything away, you need to go to the Decadent blog here to enter. We're just sharing the awesome giveaway that's going on.

Share your love of eBooks this holiday season.

Give a Reader a Reader from Decadent Publishing!

Do you have a friend who doesn't yet know the ease and fun of an eBook reader?

Enter to win a Nook 'Simple Touch with Glowlight' that you can give to a friend this holiday, plus 45 Decadent Publishing eBooks for each of you from participating authors!

You have many chances to win every day from November 15 through December 15. Tweet it, Facebook it, follow the blog hop and comment daily for a chance to win this amazing prize valued at around $400.

Go here for the grand prize
And here is the daily schedule

Good Luck!


Nov 21, 2012

Silent Night, Unexpected Night by Ella Jade + Giveaway

Ever since his divorce several years ago, Dr. Tanner Rhodes has spent Christmas Eve alone. He has a tradition; he sits by the fire, sips his brandy, and falls asleep by the lights of the tree. When his son Aiden's beautiful friend, Sofia, shows up unexpectedly at his door bearing gifts, everything changes. When had Sofia become a woman?

Excerpt
You're going to make this hard on me, aren't you?” An uneasy smile graced her pouty lips.
“I'm sorry, but you have to clarify this for me.”
“I know you spend this night by yourself every year. I usually do too because of my dad's work schedule. I didn’t see why either one of us should be alone tonight.” She leaned closer to his face allowing him to take in more of her enticing scent. “I wanted to be with you. I mean, I want to be with you.”
He continued to run his fingertips along her cheek and jawbone indulging in the feel of her soft skin. “You didn’t want me to be alone? That's very sweet.” Perhaps he had misunderstood her intentions. For some odd reason, disappointment filled him again. Maybe he wanted her to admit to more.
“You probably think I'm crazy. I swear I'm not a stalker.”
He laughed.
“I don’t know what it is, but I'm very intrigued by you.” When she looked away from him he sensed her embarrassed over her words. Obviously, it took a lot for her to come to him tonight.
He pressed his palm to her face. “I was thinking the same thing about you.”
Her big brown eyes widened as he raised her head to look at him.
“I'll be honest, I haven't given you much thought through the years, other than you being my son's shy, awkward friend, but tonight when I saw you, I couldn’t believe the woman you've become. You're breathtaking.”
She shook her head.
“You don’t believe me?” He twirled a stand of her hair around his finger. “Why not?”
“No one's ever said that about me before.”
“Hmm.” He didn’t know what possessed him, but he brushed his lips against her jaw. He had to know if her skin would be as soft to his lips as it was against his fingers.
She quivered as he lingered against her face.
“Still cold?” he asked.
“No.” She stared directly into his eyes. “Quite the opposite.”
“Can I kiss you?”

Amazon Buy Link


About the Author:
Ella Jade has been writing for as long as she can remember. As a child, she often had a notebook and pen with her, and now as an adult, the laptop is never far. The plots and dialogue have always played out in her head, but she never knew what to do with them. That all changed when she discovered the eBook industry. She started penning novels at a rapid pace and now she can't be stopped.
Ella resides in New Jersey with her husband and two young boys. When she's not chasing after her kids, she's busy writing, attending PTO meetings, kickboxing, and scrapbooking. She hopes you'll get lost in her words.
Site | Facebook | Twitter


Giveaway:
Ella is giving away a digital copy of her book. To enter for a chance to win please fill out the Rafflecopter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Nov 20, 2012

Something More by Ella Jade + Giveaway

An affair and a shocking secret threaten to tear apart a rich and powerful family.
Claudia Samson, housekeeper to the privileged Callahan family, finds herself alone and pregnant after a brief fling with Gavin, the youngest Callahan son. When she informed him of the pregnancy he accused her of running a scam and made it clear that she was on her own.
Brody Callahan, Gavin's older half-brother, has devoted his entire life to running the family business. He doesn't realize what he's been missing by throwing himself into his work until he finds Claudia asleep in the family guest bedroom. He has discovered his very own Sleeping Beauty. Intrigued by the young woman, he vows to get to know her better.
Although Claudia is instantly attracted to the charismatic businessman, she knows her secret will destroy any chance they have for a future together, but Brody's awfully hard to resist.
Meanwhile, as Gavin watches Brody and Claudia's relationship develop, he begins to devise a plan to use the secret to his advantage. He wants full partnership in the business—something he was denied by both his brother and their deceased father—and maybe now he can finally obtain it.
Can Brody and Claudia survive the storm, or will the secrets and blackmail destroy both them and their love?
Content Warning: graphic sex and some explicit language
Beachwalk Press Buy Link

Excerpt
As Claudia placed the last throw pillow on the bed, she couldn’t help but think how inviting it looked. It was a little after three o’clock, and she still had an hour to work, but she was so tired, and her back was sore. She just needed to sit for a moment. She knew Angela was down at the stables and wasn’t due back for a bit, so she sat on the edge of the bed and closed her eyes.
She was only eleven weeks pregnant, but that little baby was sucking every last ounce of energy from her body. The afternoons were the worst. All she wanted to do was cuddle on the couch in her tiny apartment and sleep for an hour or two. She leaned back and sunk deep into the soft mattress. Her bed at home was nowhere near this comfortable. Everything was spotless and pretty in the guest bedroom. The sunlit room smelled like fresh-cut roses. The soft pink tones adorning the walls and curtains lulled her into a deep state of relaxation.
The last thing she remembered was the white of the ceiling before she heard a voice pull her from her unintentional slumber. She felt a warm hand on her arm. As soon as she opened her eyes she realized what had happened.
She’d fallen asleep, on the job, in a guest bedroom of a home she was hired to clean. As she gazed into his stunning blue eyes she tried to recover from her nap. She’d never noticed how clear his eyes were. Then again, she’d never been this close to Brody Callahan before.
“Is everything okay, Ms. Samson?” He pushed a strand of his thick, dark hair from his forehead. He and Gavin had almost the same messy kind of haircut, but Brody’s hair was darker and tamer.
Claudia stood from the bed much too quickly. The room swirled around her and then she lost her balance, falling against his hard, muscular chest.
“Whoa.” He caught her by the forearm, staring down at her with concern. “Are you okay?”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Callahan.”
Could my day get any worse?


Watch the Trailer:


About the Author:
Ella Jade has been writing for as long as she can remember. As a child, she often had a notebook and pen with her, and now as an adult, the laptop is never far. The plots and dialogue have always played out in her head, but she never knew what to do with them. That all changed when she discovered the eBook industry. She started penning novels at a rapid pace and now she can't be stopped.
Ella resides in New Jersey with her husband and two young boys. When she's not chasing after her kids, she's busy writing, attending PTO meetings, kickboxing, and scrapbooking. She hopes you'll get lost in her words.
Site | Facebook | Twitter


Giveaway:
Ella is giving away a digital copy of her book. To enter for a chance to win please fill out the Rafflecopter!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Nov 19, 2012

Forsaken Norse Wind by Ciara Lake + Giveaway

A troll, a mortal, and a love hot enough to melt ice.

Trapped in a vicious life, Breanna Devion survives only by the strength of her heart. Determined to have more than what her abusive stepfather has planned for her, she's willing to risk everything to be free.

Axel Venrick is a troll who has spent centuries alone, isolated in his castle in Iceland. At the insistence of others, Axel crafts the ultimate tool to find his soul mate. He creates a beautiful ring which is bespelled, blessed by a god, and sent forth to locate Axel's other half.

The ring finds Breanna just in time to prevent her stepfather's disastrous plan from taking place. But angry gods, vengeful parents, and an evil lurking in the immortal world all conspire to destroy the love of the jaded troll and his innocent mortal. Can their love free them or will the evil spreading from the bowels of the earth destroy them first?

Content Warning: graphic sex, some violence

EXCERPT
"How can you be a troll? They don't really exist." Breanna shook her head. "You're too
handsome. At least now you're handsome. You're like a warrior and very clever. That's not a
troll."

"So you've heard stories of trolls, and you believe these stories are true? Yet you think trolls are
fiction?" He chuckled. "That's not consistent logic."

"Yes." She nodded. "I mean, no." She shook her head, confused. "I don't know. Sometimes, it's
hard to know what's real."

"Well, there are trolls. I'm testament to that. I am a master craftsman, an artisan among the troll
peoples. Axel Venrick at your service." He bowed, then took her hand. She did not resist. He
kissed the back of it, and heat rushed to her face. From where his lips touched her hand, a
powerful sensation traveled through her, much like the ring's effect.

"Good day, Axel Venrick." She curtsied, her heart pounding in her chest. She was not afraid.
Instead, she felt enamored. "It's been an experience meeting you." She'd never been close to a
handsome man. Not only was he handsome, he was powerful. She liked his power. She knew she
should be fearful of him, but she yearned for the excitement he brought. Waves of reassurance
seemed to vibrate from her ring, relaxing her, helping her trust him.

"I'm not always as you just witnessed, it's only when I allow myself to transform to frighten
others or to serve whatever purpose I need. But most think trolls to be ugly and monstrous. It's
what they remember. Plus, I'm hardly dim-witted." He grinned. "I like to think I'm rather clever.
Those tales you've heard are only tales. All tales have bits of truth mixed with fiction. They've
been made and spread by humans. Humans are often inaccurate."

"Trolls are mean," she challenged. "Right?"

"Yes, at times. Humans are as well. All beings can be mean. Look at Hugh. He's a monster, just
not a very powerful one."

"Yes, he is." She played with the rose Axel had given her. It smelled wonderful on this winter's
day.

"I don't deny trolls are selfish, territorial, predatory, and scheming, or at least we can be. Doesn't
it sound like Hugh?"

"Yes." She nodded. "You admit those things about trolls?"

"Would you wish me to lie? I'm not a saint or even close. As I said, the tales are mixed with truth
and fiction. Trolls do have a reputation for being unpleasant at times. I can be unpleasant if need
be."

"You can be unpleasant? I don’t believe it," she teased him, grinning.

"What's your name, lass? I like your quick wit." He smiled down at her.

"Breanna Devion."

"Lovely name. It's a great pleasure to have found you, Breanna Devion." Again, he bowed at the
waist. "You're lovely beyond words. I can tell you have a tender heart. May I come in to visit
more with you? Will you serve me a drink at your table? I wish to know you, and I want to
answer all questions you may have."

She studied him for several moments. "I don't know." She backed further into the house, the door
still open, just looking at him.

"Breanna, if I intended to harm you, I would have done it by now. This door cannot stop me.
You've seen my power. I intend you no harm. I wish only to bring you pleasure, to keep you
safe. I've looked for you especially. My heart as well as my body has been lonely." At his words,
her heart raced more.

"Go wait out there." She pointed out into the yard a distance from the house. "I need to think.
You make me…nervous."

"Out there?" He nodded to where she'd pointed.

"Yes, I'll think about it. Your closeness confuses me." She stepped forward and closed the door.

"Breanna. Breanna Devion, open your door to me."

"I said I want to think about it," she yelled through the door. "If you are as you say, you will
wait."

About the Author:

Reading and writing is a wonderful diversion from an often-difficult world. I love to create my own
stories and have control over how things will end. It's exciting to create brand new worlds and
characters. My imagination can come alive.

In sci-fi, fantasy, and paranormal stories, I can invent wonderful places and people. Anything is possible
in these genres, it's limitless. I'm able to create an escape into a special world filled with unique and
fantastic things and there is always a happy ending.

A high school teacher inspired me to write. However, instead of initially pursuing my writing career I
became a lawyer. I work in divorce court, so erotic romance is a great escape. There can be true love
and happy-endings, at least on my pages.

My two children and I have two good-humored dogs that share our home and ease our stress. I have
traveled and lived all over the world, and these experiences have given me great creative ideas. I look
forward to creating many more adventures in romance.

Site | Twitter | Facebook

Buy at Beachwalk Press

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Nov 18, 2012

Sunday Post

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer.
~this meme was inspired in part by ~ In My Mailbox~
It's a chance to share News.
A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.
This is your news post, so personalize it! Include as much as you want or as little.
Be creative, it can be a vlog or just a showcase of your goodies.

This time of the year can be so hectic, remember in between your feast cooking to breathe, maybe even get a chapter or two in.

This week on the blog was busy!


Monday: Guest post with Natalie Wright, author of Emily's Trial
Tuesday: Make it Last by Bethany Lopez Giveaway
Wednesday: One Night of Need by Ella Jade
Thursday: For Decadent Thursday we reviewed The Zombie Vote by Rusty Fischer
Friday: Review for The Forever Contact by Avery Sawyer

And coming up this week? It's going to be another busy one!

From Shades of Rose Marketing, I have three tours this week.
Forsaken Norse Wind by Ciara Lake, Something More by Ella Jade and, Silent Night, Unexpected Night by Ella Jade

Two reviews due, one for Leah's Wake, and the other for The Hollywood Scoop.

For Decadent Thursday we have something special.

I received two books for review this week, both from Decadent Publishing.