Posted in Book Release, excerpt, Giveaway, suspense on March 31, 2016

free of malice

 

Synopsis

Laura Holland awakes in the middle of the night to see a stranger standing in her bedroom doorway. She manages to defend herself from the would-be rapist, though he threatens to return as he retreats. Traumatized with recurring nightmares, Laura seeks therapy and is exposed to a unique treatment called EMDR. She also seeks self-protection—buying a gun against the wishes of her husband. When Laura learns she could have gone to prison had she shot her fleeing assailant, she decides to write a hypothetical legal case using the details of that night. She enlists the help of a criminal defense lawyer, Thomas Bennett, who proves to be well versed in the justice system but has an uncanny resemblance to her attacker. As the two work together to develop the story, Laura’s discomfort escalates, particularly when Thomas seems to know more about that night than he should. Reality and fiction soon merge as her real life drama begins to mirror the fiction she’s trying to create.

goodreads-badge-add-plus

amazon buy

Excerpt

Thursday July 6th

Run. Run faster. As much as I strained my legs to move, they were immobile, like I was waist deep in quicksand.

Why can’t I move?

I tried to scream for help but my mouth was full, like it was stuffed with cotton—no sound would escape.

I felt something clutching my shoulder. No, it was someone. He was pushing me forward and then yanking me back. I tried to jerk away but he had a tight grip, like a vice.

I have to break free.

The tugging got harder, more forceful. He was calling my name—over and over. He knew my name.

“Laura, Laura.”

I jolted awake—my husband’s hand still on my shoulder.

“Honey, wake up. You’re having another bad dream.”

Slowly, I turned over in bed and looked at him—his dark brown eyes were fixated on me. I could see them clearly as the light from the bathroom brightened our bedroom.

For a month now, we had slept with this light on.

I could see the small wrinkle on his forehead. I loved that wrinkle though wished he didn’t have good reason to be so concerned. I was enduring the nightmares, but he had to deal with my tossing and mumbling in terror.

I remember when we first met—ten years ago in chemistry lab at Georgia Tech. He had walked up to me with those warm eyes and a charming, confident smile and asked, “Want to be partners?”

Two years later he took me to Stone Mountain Park, rented a small rowboat and, in the moonlight, he pulled out a diamond ring and asked me again, “Want to be partners?”

Life had seemed just about perfect.

Until now.

We looked at each other for a moment. Then he propped himself up on his elbow and said softly, “Laura, I feel so helpless. I know it’s only been a month, but…”

He hesitated.

“What?” I asked.

“It’s just as bad as that first night. After it happened. Look, I want to make you feel safe again, but I don’t know how.”

He rubbed his eyes and looked away. I waited, staring at him.

What isn’t he saying?

“I know you don’t want to see a therapist, but seeing someone doesn’t mean you’re crazy. Therapists don’t treat just crazy people. They help people who have been through traumas and you have. Hell, no
one even has to know.”

He paused for a second.

“Don’t be mad at me, but yesterday I made an appointment for you. I was going to talk to you about it in the morning if you had another bad dream. I found a woman who is downtown by my office. She’s been practicing for about twenty years, got her doctorate from Emory and comes with really good patient reviews.”

He looked for my reaction and continued. “I made the appointment for you at 4:00 so we can go to dinner afterward. You know what you always say. You’ll try anything once, right?”

“I told you I don’t want to see a psychiatrist,” I pushed back. “I just need more time. I’ll bounce back. You know I almost came in the house on my own today. Besides, if I see a psychiatrist, on every job application I complete in the future, I’ll have to check the ‘Yes’ box when they ask if I’ve had mental health treatment.”

“Jesus. No you don’t. You’re too innocent sometimes.”

He gently tapped me on the nose.

“You can check the box ‘No.’ Besides, if that’s the only thing stopping you, I think you should give it a try. Her name is Barbara Cole. I’ll take you to Houston’s afterward,” he added.

I ignored the bribe. “But what can she do that you can’t? All she’ll do is listen and you do that for me already. Psychiatrists are for people who don’t have friends or husbands to talk to.”

Chris shook his head.

“Please? Do it for me.”

The tone in his voice was different—more helpless than normal.

Chris had been so understanding, so comforting this past month, especially considering I had been waking him every night. How could I refuse his request?

I sighed. “Okay,” I relented. “I’ll go.”

Trailer

About the Author

liz lazarusLiz Lazarus is an engineer, career business woman, private pilot, and consultant – nothing that necessarily says author. But this book literally kept nagging her to write it, so she finally relented. Loosely based on personal experience and a series of ‘what if’ questions, FREE OF MALICE traces the after effects of a foiled attack; a woman healing, and grappling with the legal system to acknowledge her right to self-defense. Liz is a native Georgian, born in Valdosta and now living in Atlanta with her fiancé, Richard, and their very spoiled orange tabby named Buckwheat.

Website * Blog * Facebook * Twitter * Pinterest * Amazon Author Page

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 | 
Comments Off on #BookRelease & #Giveaway – Free of Malice by Liz Lazarus @liz_lazarus #FOMbook
Posted in excerpt, Giveaway, romance, Spotlight on March 30, 2016

love walks in

Synopsis

The Shaughnessy Brothers are back

He lives by a schedule

Aubrey Burke is on the run from an about-to-be-disastrous mistake when resort owner Hugh Shaughnessy catches her climbing through his office window. Until Aubrey tumbled into his life, Hugh had relied on work and discipline to safeguard a heart damaged by family tragedy. Now his careful world will never be the same.

She lives for the moment

Hugh’s approach to life and love is the opposite of Aubrey’s, but she soon finds herself falling hard for the handsome hotel mogul. There’s a darker reason behind her “live for today” attitude than Hugh could possibly know, but for the first time Aubrey dares to hope this man’s love might make it worth taking a chance on the future.

goodreads-badge-add-plus

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * iBooks * Kobo * Google * IndieBound

Excerpt

“So a bunch of us are going out tonight. You in?”

Hugh looked up from the pile of mulch he was carefully spreading out along the flower bed in front of his father’s house and stared blankly at Quinn.

“Dude? Come on. Every time you come home, you pretty much just…you know…sit. Let’s go out tonight, grab a couple of drinks, play some pool. You know, like we used to.”

“I never used to do that.” Hugh moved the rake through the mulch pile again.

Quinn rolled his eyes. “All the more reason to come out and do it tonight. Come on, Hugh. Aidan’s going, Bobby’s going, Riley and his shadow are going. Hell, I think we’re even going to get Owen to go if he gets here in time.”

Hugh chuckled. “What exactly do you think Owen’s going to do in a bar?”

“Laugh if you will, but he’s a whiz at pool. He spouts all kinds of geometry crap and he’s a little slow making his play, but when he does, it’s a thing of beauty. We made a killing last time he was in town.”

“That’s just wrong.”

“No,” Quinn corrected, “it’s fun.”

Hugh supposed some could call it that. “Thanks, but I think I’m just going hang back. By the time I’m done here in the yard, Aubrey should be back, I figured I’d take her to dinner.”

Taking the rake from his hands, Quinn shook his head. “Uh-uh. Nope. I already took care of that too. Anna’s taking the girls—including Darcy—to her place for a continuation of girls’ day. She’s making them dinner and they’re going to watch a movie and do whatever it is girls do at those things.”

“You mean like having pillow fights in their underwear?”

“Dude. Gross. Our sister is going to be there. Don’t make me stab my own eyes out.”

Hugh shuddered. “You’re right. Sorry. I wasn’t thinking.”

“Anyway, I think Dad and some of his friends may meet up with us too, so you have to go. Everyone will be there. Don’t be all…you know…you. Be like us mere mortals for a night.”

There was no way he was going to win this argument. Quinn was the most tenacious of all his siblings, and when he wanted something—or thought he was right about something—he’d keep the argument going all night. Not what Hugh was in the mood for.

But the thought of going out—especially without Aubrey—wasn’t appealing.

“Stop it. Stop it right now,” Quinn snapped.

“What? Stop what? I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

“God, you are so whipped! I can’t believe it. You’ve been dating Aubrey for what? A month? Two? I can already see it. You’re standing here with a look on your face normally reserved for thirteen-year-old girls looking at the latest teen magazine and fantasizing about dating Justin Timberlake or a member of One Direction. Knock it off!”

Hugh grinned. “I think it’s adorable you know who One Direction is.”

“Screw you. You know I’m right. You’re all sad and a little depressed because you’re not going to see Aubrey tonight. Stop being such a chick! Why are you even dating anyone?” He took the rake from Hugh’s hand and tossed it aside. “You have the perfect life! You and Riley—I swear—I don’t know how you got to be so lucky.”

“You’ve lost me. Again, might I add.”

Quinn rolled his eyes again and began to pace. “You travel all over the country—sometimes the world. You have no ties to any one place. Why would you tie yourself to one woman? You could literally have a girlfriend at every damn place you own and be living the sweet life! Why are you tying yourself down? And so damn fast! Hell, Hugh, you barely know this girl!”

Rage started to slowly build inside of Hugh. It wasn’t often he shared his personal life with his family. Primarily because he didn’t have much of one. But right now he really resented the fact his brother was talking like this about Aubrey.

“First off,” he began with a deadly calm, “it’s none of your damn business. If you have a problem with Aubrey…”

“That’s not it,” Quinn quickly interjected. “I just don’t get why you—careful, always has a plan—are suddenly so committed and deeply involved with a woman you just met. It doesn’t make sense.”

Hugh guessed he could understand. It didn’t fully make sense to him either. He’d never felt like this before and no matter how much he analyzed it, there weren’t any clear answers or explanations. All he knew was he and Aubrey simply fit.

About the Author

Samantha Chase, a creative writing teacher, released her debut novel, Jordan’s Return, in November 2011. Since then, she has published seventeen more titles and has become a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. She lives with her husband of twenty-four years and their two sons in North Carolina.

Website * Twitter * Facebook

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Posted in Book Release, Giveaway, romance, Spotlight, women on March 30, 2016
The Decision RDB

 

The Decision
by Lorhainne Eckhart
Series: The Friessens, #5
Genre: Women’s Fiction/Contemporary Romance
Release Date: March 30, 2016

 

 

The Friessens, stars of the bestselling series, are back with THE DECISION, another heartwarming fan favorite romance from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lorhainne Eckhart.

Emily Friessen has everything a woman could want: a husband who’s the love of her life, a family that stands together, and children she wouldn’t trade for anything. To everyone around her, she’s confident and strong—but then, she has to be with a man like Brad, who is all about family and too handsome for his own good.

Emily isn’t as together as she appears, though, and when life throws her and Brad a curveball, it tests their relationship, leaving Emily scrambling and feeling very much alone as both are faced with a decision no parent should have to make.

 

Don’t miss any of The Friessen books, beginning with The Forgotten Child, the very first book in this big family romance series:

THE OUTSIDER SERIES
The Forgotten Child (Brad and Emily)
A Baby and a Wedding (An Outsider Series Short)
Fallen Hero (Andy, Jed, and Diana)
The Search (An Outsider Series Short)
The Awakening (Andy and Laura)
Secrets (Jed and Diana)
Runaway (Andy and Laura)
Overdue (An Outsider Series Short)
The Unexpected Storm (Neil and Candy)
The Wedding (Neil and Candy)

THE FRIESSENS: A NEW BEGINNING
The Deadline (Andy and Laura)
The Price to Love (Neil and Candy)
A Different Kind of Love (Brad and Emily)
A Vow of Love, A Friessen Family Christmas

THE FRIESSENS
The Reunion
The Bloodline (Andy & Laura)
The Promise (Diana & Jed)
The Business Plan (Neil & Candy)
The Decision (Brad & Emily)

 

PRAISE for Lorhainne Eckhart’s books: 

 

“Lorhainne Eckhart has a way at really tugging on the heartstrings and this story is no exception.”

 “The latest installment into the Friessen legacy has continued the rich storytelling and chemistry since the series began with The Forgotten Child. I love how all of these characters have grown/matured with each new story. Thank you Ms. Eckhart for continuing this wonderful saga.”

“Eckhart is one of the best storytellers that I have read in a long time. I was riveted by this series as much as I was by Saved. I am an avid reader, and I’ve become impatient with poor writing. I would recommend reading any of Lorhainne Eckhart’s books, but only if you enjoy reading books that you can’t put down.”

“Wow, what a story!
Loved this, loved this, loved this! Grabbed me from the start and held me the whole way through. Obviously this writer has the talent to pull the readers in and keep them – thank you.”

 “A brilliant book, a must read and thoroughly enjoyable. I am passionate about Lorhainne Eckharts writing.”

 “This family history is so intense it is hard to stop until the end. I enjoy this story so much that I bought all the books concerning this family. Had a hard time closing the book until I finished.”

“Best Family Series Ever!
I love the dynamic of this powerful close family. Three brothers, a cousin and all the spouses and children make for an interesting spellbinding story you won’t want to put down.”

 “Whole lot to love!
Haven’t read one yet I haven’t absolutely loved, this one is no exception. Get it, read it, fall in love with this series and this author.”

“I loved the whole series. I could keep on reading about this family. Makes a person wish they could be part of them.”

 

 

THE DECISION (Brad and Emily are back) releasing March 30, and for all my superfans I’m offering a very special #99Cent pre-order DEAL on THE DECISION up until March 31 when it will revert to its regular price of $2.99

 

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lorhainne Eckhart’s books have been described as Longmire meets old-school Dallas, and she recently received the 2015 & 2013 Readers’ Favorite Award for Romance & Romantic Suspense for her titles The Price to Love and  Lost and Found. With over forty titles under her belt, her big family romance series are loved by fans worldwide. Books that celebrate love, family, commitment, hope, and making a relationship work. With flawed strong characters, characters you can relate to. Lorhainne writes the kind of books she wants to read.

She is frequently a Top 100 bestselling author in multiple genres, such as romance, western, military and mystery/suspense. She has written multiple series, including The Outsider, Walk the Right Road, The Wilde Brothers, Saved, The Friessens, and her two newest additions, Married in Montana, and her high-stakes suspense and sizzling, red-hot romance series, Kate and Walker, Deadly, Dangerous and Desired.

You can chat with Lorhainne on Facebook www.facebook.com/AuthorLorhainneEckhart, Twitter @LEckhart, and her blog at http://www.lorhainneeckhart.com/blog/.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in 5 paws, Cozy, Review on March 29, 2016

geared for the grave

Synopsis

Mackinac Island is a peaceful summer resort town where everyone coasts through the streets on bicycles. But after someone sends a prominent local on her final ride, it’s up to one resourceful visitor to get things running again…

Hoping to shift her chances of a promotion in her favor, Evie Bloomfield heads to Mackinac Island to assist her boss’s father. Rudy Randolph has broken his leg and operating his bike shop, Rudy’s Rides, is too much to handle by himself. But Evie’s good turn only leads to more trouble…

After Evie’s arrival, wealthy resident Bunny Harrington dies in what looks like a freak bike accident. Upon closer inspection, Bunny’s brakes were tampered with, and now the prime suspect in her murder is also Bunny’s number one enemy: Rudy. So if Evie hopes to stay on her boss’s good side, she’ll need to steer Rudy clear of jail. Now she must quickly solve this mystery so she can put the brakes on the real killer’s plan.

goodreads-badge-add-plus

Review

Evie never had a chance coming to Mackinac Island…she’s a city slicker from Chicago with no clue how things really work on the island…like no cars!  People walk or bike or ride horses everywhere and I’m betting they are all in good shape.  The island isn’t large, maybe 8 square miles and I’m sure you get used to it living there, but I would be like Evie, huffing and puffing at least in the beginning.  I also wondered if Evie was accident prone because she got into a lot of mishaps in the short time since she arrived on the island.

Another favorite character of mine is Angelo – a mobster from Detroit.  He is retired but some of his antics had me in stitches especially since they also involved Evie and her “luck”.

The mystery is to figure out who killed Bunny.  Now because it is tourist season they can’t announce there has been a murder on the island, so the locals are calling it the Bunny Festival which now makes the tourists think there will be some of festival with a bunny theme.  It is quite humorous because I am not sure all the locals know about the secret word!

There are several possibilities for the killer and I don’t think I guessed the killer but I did try and pin it on various townies!

We give this book 5 paws up.

pawprintpawprintpawprintpawprintpawprint

Posted in 5 paws, mystery, Review, suspense on March 28, 2016

Unscrupulous_Cover

Synopsis

Christmas is only a week away, but not all is merry and bright for Sergeant Brent Freeman and his partner, newly promoted Detective Anne Samuels. They find themselves facing more than a homicide when they discover the victim’s five-year-old daughter, Maricella, is missing.

When suspicion moves to human trafficking and gang involvement, the FBI sends in two of their best to assist in the investigation. In the meantime, two people who insist her mother didn’t want her anymore have transported a terrified little Maricella out of state. Fortunately, she finds solace in two older children. These two soon realize their captors are prepping Maricella for organ harvesting. Their main goal becomes to protect her at any cost, even if it means running away in the snow and bitter cold temperatures of December without any knowledge of the area where they’re being held. Can Maricella’s newfound protectors get her out of the house and to safety before the doctor decides she’s a transplant match? Will Brent discover where these unscrupulous persons are hiding the children before it’s too late?

goodreads-badge-add-plus

amazon buy

Review

This may be the 5th book in a series but I would never have guessed that by the author’s writing. Normally I feel like something is missing or that I don’t understand a relationship between people, and while I think there is more history between various characters, I didn’t think that stories were half told about something that happened in the past.

Now the story itself was quite interesting – why were children being kidnapped? Trafficking at its worst, more than selling young women as prostitutes, but taking even younger children and harvesting them for their organs is despicable. However, there is no low that some people will sink. I found myself rooting for the police force and hoping that they found the children in time. There are a few surprises but all in all I felt the story flow kept me interested and it was hard to put the book down.

I might have to go back and read the first 4 books one day.

We give this 5 paws up.

pawprintpawprintpawprintpawprintpawprint

About the Author

Michele (M.E.) May attended Indiana University in Kokomo, Indiana, studying Social and Behavioral Sciences. Her interest in the psychology of humans sparked the curiosity to ask why they commit such heinous acts upon one another. Other interests in such areas as criminology and forensics have moved her to put her vast imagination to work writing crime fiction that is as accurate as possible. In doing so, she depicts societal struggles that pit those who understand humanity with those who are lost in a strange and dangerous world of their own making.

In creating the Circle City Mystery Series, she brings to life fictional characters who work diligently to bring justice to victims of crime in the city of Indianapolis. Michele also hopes her readers will witness through her eyes, the wonderful city she calls her hometown.

Website * Facebook * Twitter

Other titles by M.E. May:

Perfidy (Circle City Mystery, Book 1) – winner of the 2013 Lovey award for Best First Novel

Inconspicuous (Circle City Mystery, Book 2) – nominee for the 2014 Lovey award for Best Suspense novel

Ensconced (Circle City Mystery, Book 3)

Purged (Circle City Mystery, Book 4)

 | 
Comments Off on Review – Unscrupulous by M.E. May #5paws @memayauthor
Posted in Cozy, excerpt, Giveaway, mystery on March 28, 2016

skinny baker cover
Cozy Mystery
Date Published: April 11, 2016

Synopsis

A cozy mystery with a heap of laughs, a generous portion of romance, and just a smidgeon of suspense.
Callie’s life is rather awesome. She owns a successful bakery and teaches German literature at the local university. There’s just one tiny problem. She has no self-confidence when it comes to her body. And then there’s the little matter of her being accused of murdering her pole dancing instructor. There’s no way Callie’s going to risk losing her teaching position and thus she embarks, with her best baker bud Anna, on a journey to discover the real killer. Between stripper auditions and a detective who insists Callie is the woman of his dreams, it’s a roller coast adventure. Cupcakes not included.

goodreads-badge-add-plus

Amazon * Smashwords * Barnes and Noble

Excerpt

I take a deep breath and walk into the club. It’s dark and smoky. No surprise there. The floors are covered in shag carpeting, the walls are painted a red so deep it looks black, and the chairs are red velour. Is strip club a euphemism for whore house? To the right is a shiny, black bar. Straight ahead is a stage in an M-shape with three stripper poles. Of course there are stripper poles. Dolly worked here after all.

“You next?” A man shouts, and I nearly jump out of my shoes. I look to my left to see two men in shiny suits sitting at a table in the middle of the room. “Come on, doll, are you the next dancer?”

“Dancer?”

The man rolls his eyes and talks to the man next to him. “Not the brightest one of the bunch is she?” He turns back to me. “Come on, sweetheart.” He looks me up and down, and I feel the sudden need to shower with bleach. “You’ve got the body for it. Show us what you can do.”

I’ve got the body for it? Have we landed on planet opposite? I’m still trying to figure out how to respond when Anna grabs my hand. “Where are the dressing rooms? She needs to change.”

The man points to a door on the right side of the stage behind the bar. “Hurry up. We ain’t got all day!”

Anna pulls me to the door. I stumble behind her unsure if I should follow her or get the heck out of Dodge. She pushes through the door and looks around before spotting a room filled with racks of clothing. She lets my hand go and starts pawing through the outfits.

“Anna, stop!” I say when my brain finally catches up. “I can’t go up there and dance. Let’s just get out of here and come back another time.”

I don’t even get a chance to stand up from the chair before Anna’s on me. Her tiny body boxes me in the chair. “I don’t want to hear it! You heard the man. You’ve got the perfect body for this because you’re… let’s say it together… sexy!” She turns back to the rack of clothes. “Besides, while you’re up there doing your thing, I can snoop around.” She pulls out an outfit and hands it to me.

I don’t have a choice but to take the hanger as she shoves it in my hand. There’s not enough fabric here. She’s got to be kidding me. “I can’t wear this,” I protest.

Anna’s having none of it. “You will wear it, and you will go up on that stage and totally rock! In the meantime, I’ll be doing some investigating so we can save your job. You know the one that you spent the last 10 years studying and preparing for?”

I want to scream and shout and fight her, but I don’t really see what other option we have. I suppose we can sneak out the back door, but then we’d have to come back at some point as this is our only lead. Mr. Creepy #1 and Mr. Creepy #2 might not recognize me – a chubby girl with boring brown hair. But a tiny pixie with bright pink hair? I shake my head and put on the darn outfit.

About the Author

I grew up reading everything I could get my hands on from my mom’s Harlequin romances to Nancy Drew to Little Women. When I wasn’t flipping pages in a library book, I was penning horrendous poems, writing songs no one should ever sing, or drafting stories which have thankfully been destroyed. College and a stint in the U.S. Army came along, robbing me of free time to write and read, although I did manage every once in a while to sneak a book into my rucksack between rolled up socks, MRIs, t-shirts, and cold weather gear. A few years into my legal career, I was exhausted, fed up, and just plain done. I quit my job and sat down to write a manuscript, which I promptly hid in the attic after returning to the law. Another job change, this time from lawyer to B&B owner and I was again fed up and ready to scream I quit, which is incredibly difficult when you own the business. Thus, I shut the B&B during the week and in the off-season and started writing. Several books later I find myself in Istanbul writing full-time.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads * Google+ * Amazon author page * Pinterest

Giveaway

$15 Amazon Gift Card
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Posted in Giveaway on March 25, 2016

​BookGrabbr: A
 great way for readers to discover new books and an innovative marketing tool for authors. 

bookgrabbr logo

​For Readers:

BookGrabbr is a social media-marketing tool that allows authors to share both full books and previews of their books with readers. Readers, you can have access to these books by signing in through Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn and using their ability to share as a form of currency. The “Share” is the payment! Share the book, and it will allow you to read it. Just click the “Grabb this book” button next to the book and our system will prompt you to share in exchange for reading!

BookGrabbr contains books of many genres, so visit today, “grabb” a book that catches your eye and start reading!

For Authors and Publishers:

Through their unique marketing tool and platform, BookGrabbr helps authors connect to readers that they wouldn’t generally be able to connect to through their friends and their friend’s friends. The noise in the marketplace is deafening, and at times can be a bit overwhelming for authors trying to promote their books.

BookGrabbr created a way to generate some more buzz by harnessing the power of each individual author’s social media platform.  Once you create your profile on BookGrabbr it allows potential readers to read a preview of your book or the full copy and then directs them to your site of choice to purchase your book in the format that you desire. And since BookGrabbr doesn’t make any money on book sales, you can send them to a retailer, or to your own personal page or wherever you choose! BookGrabbr’s purpose is to help you sell more books, gain momentum and generate exposure.

See how it works:

iRead Website new logo


​How does iRead Book Tours help?
For Readers: We help you discover new authors that have put their profile and books on BookGrabbr through our BookGrabbr Promotion Service.For Authors and Publishers:Don’t have time to dedicate to yet another marketing campaign? Let us take care of it for you. Through the BookGrabbr Promotion Service we create your profile, help you share your books on your social media and ours too, of course. In addition, we provide you with ideas and the support on how to best use your BookGrabbr profile. This is a cost-effective, efficient way to publicize your books! Contact us to see how we can help you spread the word about your book through BookGrabbr.

Like the idea? Enter the giveaway below to win a BookGrabbr Promotion Service worth $75 and $100 in cash!

Not an author? You can still win the $100 in cash.

Giveaway starts March 14 and ends April 15, 2016.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 | 
Comments Off on BookGrabbr – for authors, bloggers and readers! #$100Giveaway #FreeEbooks
Posted in Cozy, mystery, Spotlight on March 24, 2016

fairfield's auction cover

Fairfield’s Auction

By Betty Jean Craige

 

Witherston Murder Mysteries (Book 2)
Genre: mystery
Paperback: 284 pages
February 6, 2016

Synopsis

On a cold winter evening in the small mountain town of Witherston, Georgia, antique dealer Hempton Fairfield auctions off rare Cherokee artifacts, Appalachian antiques, and a young African Grey parrot. Late that night, a blizzard stops traffic for a three-mile stretch of the Witherston Highway, prohibiting anyone’s arrival or departure and stranding an eighteen-wheel semi full of chickens. The next morning two bodies are discovered in the snow, the chickens are running free, and the parrot is missing, leaving a number of unanswered questions. What happened? Where’s the parrot? How did the chickens escape the stranded truck? Who rightfully owns the remnants of the thousand-year-old Cherokee civilization? Who killed the two men? And, most importantly, how many more bodies will turn up before the killer is caught?

goodreads-badge-add-plus

amazon buy

About the Author

BJ Craige and CosmoBetty Jean Craige is University Professor Emerita of Comparative Literature and Director Emerita of the Willson Center for Humanities and Arts at the University of Georgia.

She received her B.A. in Spanish Literature from Pomona College (1968) and her M.A. (1970) and Ph.D. (1974) in Comparative Literature from the University of Washington. She taught at the University of Georgia from 1973 to 2011.

Dr. Craige has published books in the fields of Spanish poetry, modern literature, history of ideas, politics, ecology, and art. She is a scholar, a translator, a teacher, and a novelist.

In 2010, Dr. Craige published in both hardback and audiobook Conversations with Cosmo: At Home with an African Grey Parrot. In 2011 and 2012 she published a weekly Sunday column in the Athens Banner-Herald titled “Cosmo Talks.”

Dr. Craige’s essays have appeared in PMLA, The Chronicle of Higher Education, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and The Athens Banner Herald.

Dr. Craige has received the University of Georgia Alumni Society Faculty Service Award (1994), the Albert Christ-Janer Award for Creativity in Research (2003), the Blue Key Service Award (2010), and the Women’s Studies Faculty Award (2011). She has also received awards for teaching, including the Honoratus Medal from the Honors Program. The title “University Professor” was granted to her in 1995 as “highest recognition for significant impact on The University of Georgia.” On May 13, 2004, she received the Governor’s Award in the Humanities.

On December 20, 2003, Dr. Craige delivered the graduate and professional schools’ commencement address at the University of Georgia. On January 27, 2012, she gave the University’s Founders Day Lecture. On September 17, 2013, she accepted the Jeannette Rankin Fund Founders’ Award. In March of 2014, UGA’s Comparative Literature Department honored her by establishing an annual lecture in her name.

Dr. Craige was Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Delta Prize for Global Understanding. Most recently she has written a murder mystery titled Downstream, published by Black Opal Books on November 26, 2014.

Website

 | 
Comments Off on Spotlight – Fairfield’s Auction by Betty Jean Craige #cozy
Posted in 4 1/2 paws, chick lit, humor, Review, women on March 23, 2016

Hershey's Choice Review banner

 

Hershey’s Choice

Choices Series

Darlene Fredette

Release Date: December 11, 2015
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Small Town, Humorous/Romantic Comedy
Sweet Contemporary, 184 pages, 45015 words
Britt may be Hershey’s choice, but can the boisterous Labrador convince his owner?

Engineer Ryan Jerome has a knack for designing the future but can’t create one for himself. When Ryan lets his dog, Hershey, take the lead, going to the park is never the same. Unintentional meetings, a soiled coat, and a meddling mother are a few of the obstacles in his way of convincing Britt he’s not a stalker. Will he accept his dog’s direction and open his heart to the beautiful woman with a side of crazy?

Ruined weddings, divorced parents, and disastrous relationships have left event planner Britt Wells a non-believer in happy-ever-after. She’s readying for a future in interior design with one last wedding to oversee. Complications arise when she learns a suspected stalker and owner of an unruly dog is related to her client. Falling for Ryan and Hershey were not part of the plan. Can she put aside her doubts in relationships and take a chance on love?

goodreads-badge-add-plus

The Wild Rose Press * Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Excerpt

A thunderous pounding trampled the ground behind her. She turned to glance over her shoulder, but the bench suddenly jolted forward to hover on its front legs before landing roughly on all fours. “Ohh.” She would have toppled face forward if her heels hadn’t been firmly dug into the grass. Britt straightened then froze in mid-motion. Warm panting breaths caressed the base of her neck. Her own breath suspended in her throat. Without moving her head, she shifted her stare to the right.

Two very large brown paws gripped the back of the bench.

“Bear!” Britt jumped to her feet. Her coat and cold coffee flew into the air in a tangled dance. With a racing pulse, she spun to see the vicious beast before her impending death. The image of a man doubled-over at the waist turned her panic quickly to anger. Beside the laughing man sat the dog she had mistaken for a bear.

“You arrogant jerk! How dare you laugh when your beast of a dog scared the life out of me.”

Review

This is a light and clean romance but humor peppered throughout and a little tension between a few characters….basically a really good story!

I was in the mood for something light and this fit the bill perfectly.  Britt is a frustrated event planner who has taken a week off to coordinate her best friend’s wedding.  Ryan is unlucky in love, mostly due to his chocolate lab Hershey that doesn’t seem to like the women he dates.  Dogs are smart and Hershey isn’t going to let Ryan date the wrong woman.  And when Hershey senses Britt from across the park, he knows that she is the one for Ryan.  Of course Britt isn’t too sure about all of this but who could blame her for falling in love with Hershey…and Ryan.

There are a few twists such as who Ryan is related to in the story (can’t divulge too much because it is quite interesting how things come about).  There are some ups and downs in their relationship, but it all works out as it should (and if the book didn’t end this way it wouldn’t be a romance!)

If you like dogs and romance, check this book out.  We give it 4 1/2 paws up

pawprintpawprintpawprintpawprinthalfpaw

About the Author

Darlene resides on the East Coast of Canada with her husband, daughter, and Yellow Lab. When not working on her next book, she enjoys spending time with her family. An avid reader since childhood, Darlene loves to develop the many stories swimming in her head. She writes heartwarming contemporary romances with a focus on plot-driven page-turners.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Pinterest * Goodreads

 

Posted in Book Release, chick lit, Spotlight, women on March 23, 2016

porn wannabe cover   

Release Blitz

Porn Money and Wannabe Mummy 

Release date: 23rd March 

 
 

Synopsis


What is it about turning thirty that sends rational women into a tailspin?
Suddenly going from having all the time in the world, to cringing at the ticking of her biological clock, Poppy is drowning under the strain of trying to get pregnant.
With a dad in the throes of a mid-life crisis, a crazy mother-in-law and time racing towards Lilly’s wedding, will she be able to cope with it all…and give Ryan the baby they so desperately want?
Finally able to inherit her dad’s porn money, Jazz can’t wait to be rich! She can buy a house in Chelsea, go out partying with her old mates and start living how she deserves.
But with Ollie, Jemima and Meryl each clawing at their own little piece of her happiness, will she have to leave behind those closest to her in exchange for it?
The real question is, can Poppy and Jazz rescue their own lives before everything gets ruined, or will their own stubbornness destroy the lives they’ve created

goodreads-badge-add-plus

amazon buyamazon uk

 

Author info



Laura Barnard lives in Hertfordshire, UK and writes romantic comedy or ‘chick lit’ as its so often described. In her spare time she enjoys drinking her body weight in tea, indulging in cupcakes the size of her face and drooling over hunks like Jamie Dornan, Ryan Gosling and Leo Dicaprio.

She enjoys wearing yoga pants and reading fitness magazines while sitting on the sofa eating chocolate. She’s a real fan of the power nap and of course READING!

She writes not to get rich or famous, but because she LOVES writing. Even if one person tells her they enjoyed her book it makes the midnight typing worth it!

Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hosted by Two Ordinary Girls and their Books 

 | 
Comments Off on #NewRelease & #Giveaway – Porn Money and Wannabe Mummy by Laura Barnard @BarnardLaura