Thursday, August 29, 2013

Guest Blog: Harper A. Brooks Author of His Haven



Hello everyone!
As a writer, I get asked all the time “Why writing?” It's a solitary hobby and doesn't promote physical interaction. It's hard work too, full of self-doubt and sometimes self-loathing. So why do I write? 
Because I am creating something that wasn't there before. That—to me—is just beautiful. I also love the surprises that come with writing. I'll write something and put it away for some time, and when I go back to it, I can't believe I wrote it. It amazes me. When I read my work as a reader and not the writer, I can't believe that I created something so wonderful. Hopefully, once done, other people can enjoy it too. This is what I hope for all those wanting to read my newest release, His Haven.


 
HIS HAVEN
by Harper A. Brooks

Ignorance isn't always bliss...

Handsome and diligent Avrum Brenin should have died in the fire with his mother and older brother. Instead, he is saved by the powerful and wealthy immortal, Lord Henri. Placed under his care, Avrum shares in his world of endless splendors. He must do one thing in returnlook after Haven, a human and Lord Henris newest rescue.

The simple task proves to be more complicated than it seems. Haven is disobedient, ungrateful, and hostile, yet she is beautiful and mystifying at the same time. One night, when Avrum stumbles across Haven barely clothed and bound at the wrists, the world he has trusted in unravels before his eyes. He soon discovers that no onefrom Lord Henri and Haven to his closest friend, Lysanderare who they seem to be.

Now faced with the truth, will Avrum choose to surrender to the man who rescued him, or will he have the courage to save the woman who captivated him?

 

His Haven Book Trailer

 



WHAT THE REVIEWERS ARE SAYING


His Haven is a fantastic mix of historical and paranormal romanceAction. Romance. A touch of horror. You cant put this book down.–Cynthia Carole, author of the Cedarville Novella Series


“Exciting and suspenseful… sweet and hot all at the same time. I recommend that anyone that loves books about vampires read this and you won’t regret it.”– Crystal N., Reviewer from SSYL 

HIS HAVEN

Available Now!



About the Author

Harper A. Brooks lives in a small town on the New Jersey shore and is currently a student on her way to a degree in English and in Secondary Education. Even as a young child, she has always surrounded herself with good literature, so it is no surprise that her love for reading and writing has expanded into all parts of her life. She is a dedicated softball coach, student, teacher, and friend who enjoys writing about fantastical worlds when she believes real life gets too mundane.

 
Follow Harper A. Brooks at:

 


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Monday, August 26, 2013

Book Spotlight: The Halo Effect by Shauna Allen

The Halo Effect
The Cupid Chronicles
Book Two
Shauna Allen
Genre:  Light Paranormal
Publisher:  Soul Mate Publishing
ISBN:  13:978-1-61935-232-2
ASIN:  B00D2KZCYE
Number of pages:  346
Word Count: 94K
Cover Artist:  Rae Monet





Book Trailer for the first book in the series, Inked by an Angel: 







Amazon  

Book Description:


He’s gotta earn his wings…again.

Love Detail’s favorite angel has his sights set on his next target: the stoic and mysterious Noble Blackfeather.  And it just may prove to be his toughest case yet.  Noble’s reclusive ways keep his angel at wing’s distance, and love even further.  But he’s not playing a part – he’s truly masking a painful secret and a profoundly wounded heart.

A cupid’s worst nightmare.

Noble’s been paired with Braelyn Campbell, the cute single mother next door.  She’s adorable, friendly, fun…everything Noble needs.  This should be a Love Squad slam dunk.  Except she’s making a fresh start in Texas to protect her son from a volatile ex, and she’s not about to risk her heart or her son on another man.  Even if he’s sexy as sin and always coming to her rescue.

Thank God for possibilities.

But, reluctantly, they are drawn together – thanks to their cupid’s dogged efforts and a whole lotta chemistry.  Can the girl next door learn to trust again and help heal Noble’s wounded heart? Together, can they save the lost, hurting boy she's raising?  Can the angels help it happen before it's too late?

Thank God for love.

About the Author:

Shauna grew up an only child with two open and loving parents in Central Texas.  She’s married to her high school sweetheart and is the mother to three fantastic (no, that’s not a typo!) teenagers.

When she’s not writing, editing, or acting as a personal assistant to a NYT Bestselling author, Shauna enjoys reading, movies with Gerard Butler, vacays to the beach, and hangin’ with the kiddos–even if they don’t like hangin’ with her!

Visit Shauna:  Website | Facebook | TwitterGoodreads


Friday, August 23, 2013

Giveway for Finding Obscurity by Emma Shade

FINDING OBSCURITY
The Secrets Series, Book One

Lily Canton always knew she was unique.
 After she loses everything she has ever cared about ten years ago, Lily decides it's time to find answers about her past and why she has special powers. But when you can’t control seeing the future, and you hold enough electricity inside you to black out an entire city block, it doesn’t always make life easy.
She swore she would never care about anyone ever again after that fateful day so long ago. Then she meets sexy club owner, Ashton Ryder. Lily can’t afford to fall for Ashton. Then there is handsome, powerful, Blake Moore, who wants to help her with more than just her powers. She has to learn to trust people and let them into her heart, even as things spiral out of control.
Not only does she learn Ashton has a secret that will make her question everything she ever thought was real, but Lily finds out that her birth parents are anything but ordinary. Just when Lily thinks she has everything figured out, someone is determined to destroy her – because she isn’t supposed to be alive.
 About the Author

 Emma lives in Indiana with her husband and three crazy cats. When she’s not busy writing her next novel, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, listening to music, taking naps, or curled up with a good book.

Connect with Emma:






TOUR SCHEDULE:

 

8/19- Book Monster Reviews


 

8/19- Penny For Them


 

8/19 - KT Book Reviews


 

8/20- Bookin' It Reviews


 

8/20- Book Nerd


 

8/21- Literal Addiction


 

8/21- GraveTells


 

8/21- My Book Addiction


 

8/22- Musings From An Addicted Reader


 

8/22- So Many Reads


 

8/23- Cocktails and Books


 

8/23- Paranormal Romance Fans For Life


 

8/24- Mad Hatter Reads


 

8/24- Deal Sharing Aunts


 

8/25- Romance Junkies


8/25- Vampires, Werewolves & Fairies Oh My!


 

8/26- Wicked Readings by Tawania


 

8/26- Why I Can't Stop Reading


 

8/27- Miscellaneous Thoughts of A Bookaholic


 

8/28- Dalene's Book Reviews


 

8/28- Crazies R Us Book Blog


 

8/29- Spiced Latte Reads


 

8/30- Bibliophile Mystery


 

8/30- Underworld Love Addiction


 

8/31- Elfie Books


 

8/31- Darkest Addictions
http://darkestaddictions.blogspot.com/
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Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Book Spotlight: Mystique Rose by Diane Taylor

Scarred and cynical, Carmen Marshall and her security team are hired to protect master Illusionist The Rogue, and his white tiger. What should be a simple case of protecting a client is made even harder by the mysteries surrounding him, and the very real danger of someone wanting him dead.

With both The Rogue and his tiger proving to be more then they seem, an unknown enemy, and a powerful desire haunting her, Carmen's job is proving more of a challenge than she'd ever imagined. Will the flames of passion burn to ashes, or will they consume all involved.

Excerpt:
Carmen grunted. "Divvy up the bonus equally between the four and put my usual fee in the bank. I don't need the bonus and these guys do. Now, what else have you got on your list of clients that you're planning to foist on me, in my innocence?" 

"Innocent, my ass. Miss Marshall you're the least innocent woman I know." Daria shuffled her papers on the desk, then looked up at the video camera. "What do you know of The Rogue?"

Carmen shrugged. "He's a master of illusion. No one knows what he looks like underneath his mask, which makes him somewhat of a forbidden fruit to the female persuasion. Those who have tried to come on to him have gone away either pissed off or in tears.  Those who have claimed to have slept with him aren't believed. The ones which are rebuffed proceed to slander and smear his name, which is really useless because he never responds to bullshit like that unless it really gets messy, then the person responsible gets a talking to." She made quotation marks in the air with her fingers. "Rumors run thick and fast about what's underneath the mask. They run the entire range of being horribly disfigured to just an affectation so he can go out into public with it off and not be recognized." She smiled slightly at Daria, "The rest of the rumors are just too outrageous to think about."

"Anything else, Oh Great Abundance of Wisdom?" Her boss grinned.

She smiled and took another drink of her coffee before responding. "Flattery will get you everywhere, Daria Randall. As a matter of fact, the tabloids and the internet have commented that his crew and stage hands are very tight lipped. Even his manager won't spill the beans about the props or how his illusions are done, no matter how much money is offered. More than a few people have attempted some of his more dangerous stunts, trying to duplicate and or improve on them."

Carmen arched an eyebrow and looked meaningfully at her boss. "With very fatal results. At the beginning of each performance, everyone is warned not to try these stunts. They make the statement which basically says anyone attempting them is doing so under the full knowledge they were warned ahead of time."

Daria nodded, "Well, according to his manager, someone's trying to sabotage his performances and
possibly turn him into an illusion, permanently. From what I've read in the report I have on my desk,
all the mistakes have been caught before the actual stunt was performed. But the manager wants to find out what in hell is going on and put a stop to these incidents before something really does go wrong. He's paid double the usual fee, wanting to ensure you and your team will personally handle the assignment. He said The Rogue has specifically asked for you, saying he wishes a face to face meeting before he signs any agreement."

Carmen's eyes widened. "You know my rule on that, Daria. It's held true and every client has agreed to it. If he wants a video conference, we can arrange a time and place.  But I do not meet face to face."

"Oh come on, you can do it just this once." Daria's eyes widened and became pleading on the video screen. "If he doesn't meet you in person, he won't sign the contract. When I mentioned your rule, he said, and I quote, 'If this woman is afraid of me, then perhaps you should fire her and hire more men. At least they aren't afraid to meet face to face.'"

Crimson Frost Books Link       Cover Art by Nekkid Designs

Saturday, August 17, 2013

Guest Post: Images and excerpts from the Italian Time Travel Series by Morgan O'Neill,


The Italian Time Travel Series by Morgan O’Neill

It’s always fun to see the actual settings depicted in historical novels and time travel epics. We’d like to invite you to join us on a tour of some of the principle locations in Morgan O’Neill’s Italian time travel series. The story begins in present day Santa Lucia, Italy, a village located in the northern foothills of the Apennines. Through dark magic, our heroine, Gwendolyn Godwyn, is pulled back to war-torn tenth century Italy. Follow her from the medieval church where she time traveled, to the towering cliff of La Rocca and its sinister fortress, and then on to the gleaming castle of Canossa, home of our hero, Lord Alberto Uzzo.


The excerpts are from The Other Side of Heaven and its sequel Time Enough for Love.


Basilica della Madonna della Ghiara, 
located in Reggio nell'Emilia. It is
the inspiration for our Chiesa di Santa
Lucia. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia 
Commons.
Our first excerpt from the Other Side of Heaven takes place in the fictional Italian town of Santa Lucia. Our heroine, Gwen, is there to do genealogical research and find her long-lost relatives. Little does she know, the man she is about to meet will play a pivotal role in her future – in the past.

Gwen sipped her cappuccino. A nicely dressed man came into view and bounded up the church steps. The girls at the next table giggled and pointed. She focused on the guy as he unlocked the door and slipped inside. Possible “nice bod” sighting. She listened to the breathless Italian chatter:
Magnifico... he is so beautiful. Like a Greek god.” 
Sì, an Adonis. And that blond hair, those green eyes, bellissimo.”
They giggled again and continued to speak excitedly about the tour guide.
Gwen grinned. From this distance anyway, the girls seemed to have pretty good taste. She usually preferred tall, dark, and handsome types, yet she’d heard a lot about the attributes of northern Italian men. Tall, fair, and handsome might just fit the bill; that is, if he were tall enough. 
The Italian girls were still chattering, and a spark of competition flashed through Gwen. She found herself wondering how many tall California blondes had given these girls a run for their money.
Tucking five Euros under the saucer, she gulped down the rest of her cappuccino and left the table. An eye-candy tour guide. This was going to be more interesting than she thought.
Crossing the piazza, she climbed the church steps and arrived at the main doors just as they opened for business. Inside, she looked around, but saw no trace of Nice Bod. She bought her ticket and waited as the signorinas and a group of British tourists got in line. 
Suddenly, the doors to the nave opened from within and she gaped. The tour guide looked a lot like her cousin back in California! That much of a resemblance couldn’t be a coincidence, could it? 
The girls burst into twitters again, one fanning herself dramatically, just out of his line of sight. Gwen felt like joining them, but for a different reason.
She had to keep telling herself, Look normal, look normal, he might be family. You can’t hook up with a relative. His badge says his name is Stefano. But what’s his last name?
She needed to find out.


The promontory of La Rocca rising above Italy's 
Lake Garda. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia Commons.

In addition to our principal romance between Gwen and Alberto, we have woven in the historical story of Queen Adelaide of Italy and her fight to retain her crown against the efforts of the evil usurper, Lord Berengar. This excerpt from The Other Side of Heaven takes place after Adelaide is kidnapped and facing a terrifying future.

“Let her see.”
Berengar’s voice startled Adelaide.  She had been riding blindfolded and bound at the wrists since her capture, now untold days in the past.
Hands grabbed her, forcing her sideways, and she was pulled off the horse. Someone wrenched the cloth from her eyes. Momentarily stunned by the burst of daylight, she squinted, trying to get her bearings.
“Look at it,” Berengar demanded. “This is where you shall die if you do not do my bidding.”
A dark castle loomed before Adelaide. She felt dizzy gazing up at the sheer cliff face of La Rocca, the mountain of stone forming the foundation of her enemy’s fortress. She had heard of this place, been told of the sinister goings-on, its terrible dungeons. She shuddered.

In book two of the series, Time Enough for Love, Gwen is determined to find a way to rescue Queen Adelaide from Berengar’s fortress.

Gwen glared at the towering cliff of La Rocca, black against the night sky. It loomed before her, the castle at its apex evil personified. The fortress of Berengar and his wife, Willa of Tuscany. The place where Queen Adelaide was being held captive and cruelly mistreated, the very spot where the queen would die if Gwen and her companions could not set her free.
Mission impossible?
Gwen’s heart blazed with rage and fire. She vowed to rescue Adelaide, no matter the cost, then slipped into the forest and headed back to find Alberto and his men.
With each step, she felt his presence growing stronger. Alberto. Dark, smoldering eyes. Tall, with broad shoulders. Sober and intelligent. His sensual smile for her alone.
Despite the terrors she had encountered in this dark place and time, she felt hope because of his love. Alberto, Lord of Canossa, was the queen’s champion, but Gwen knew there was strength in numbers.
I will play a role in her rescue. She pressed on toward Alberto’s camp.
Mission accepted.

San Pietro in Ciel d'Oro
in Pavia, Italy, dates from
the seventh century.
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia Commons.
Several scenes take place in Pavia’s grand basilica, including the wedding of our principal historical couple, Otto and Adelaide. This excerpt is from Time Enough for Love.

December 25. It was late, an evening wedding, the scene glowing with candlelight and hope, the air redolent with sweet incense, the future for the royal couple beckoning and so very bright.
In St. Peter’s Church of the Golden Ceiling, King Otto and Queen Adelaide were participating in the velatio, an ancient ritual where the bride and groom knelt beneath the nuptial veil and received God’s blessing. Pope Agapetus II stood over them, hands raised in prayer. All looked resplendent, Otto and Adelaide in silken robes of Imperial Purple, the Holy Father’s brocaded vestments crimson and trimmed with ermine.
Gwen kept her eyes on the king and queen, but she could feel Alberto’s presence, feel his eyes upon her.

Since our epic Italian time travel series is a romance, we leave our readers to ponder who will get married next at the Church of the Golden Ceiling…

Morgan ONeill invites you to join Gwen and Alberto on their epic adventure from Santa Lucia to La Rocca, then to Pavia and beyond. 

If you have comments or questions about medieval Italy, we would be glad to answer them. Thank you and happy reading!

Amazon | BN | Apple

The Other Side of Heaven
Book One of the Italian Time Travel Series
by Morgan O'Neill

Release Date: May 13, 2013
Publisher: Crimson Romance

About Book One:
Californian Gwendolyn Godwyn seeks to learn her family’s history and hopes to restore the bond that once existed between her Italian forebearers and those who live in America. While visiting her ancestral Italian town, Gwen is caught in a violent earthquake and inexplicably thrust through time.
At first refusing to believe what has happened, she nevertheless uses her wits to survive, donning a monk’s cowl to hide her identity as a woman. Ripped apart from all she has ever known, Gwen finds herself in the midst of brutal territorial battles in an era she once blithely called “The Dark Ages.” When the golden Italian summer of 951 emerges from the strife and gloom, Gwen joins forces with a cadre of gallant men, allies in the struggle against the evil nobles, Willa of Tuscany and Count Berengar, kidnappers of Italy’s rightful queen, Adelaide.
Along with Father Warinus and Lord Alberto Uzzo, Gwen seeks to rescue Adelaide and restore her kingdom. In the midst of this great adventure, Gwen falls in love with the complex and passionate Alberto, to whom she reveals her identity as a woman. But can Alberto learn to love her strong and independent nature and help Gwen in her quest to discover her rightful place in time?

Time Enough for Love
Book Two of the Italian Time Travel Series
by Morgan O'Neill

Release Date: August 12, 2013
Publisher: Crimson Romance

About Book Two: 
Through dark magic, Californian Gwendolyn Godwyn has been swept back in time to medieval Italy. There, she finds herself in the midst of a war between Italy’s rightful queen, Adelaide, and those who have kidnapped her and seek to usurp her crown. Risking her life, Gwen elects to play a pivotal role in the planned rescue.
In the chaos, she is drawn to the queen’s champion, Lord Alberto Uzzo, who battles not only their military foes but also his personal demons. Tested to the limit when he discovers Gwen’s true identity as a time traveler, Alberto nevertheless fights through his doubt and the whirl of superstition that surrounds this intriguing and strong-willed woman. Time is of the essence as the lovers seek to overcome the evil forces rallying against the queen they’ve vowed to save.
Will Gwen and Alberto be able to overcome the groundswell of danger to find time enough for love?

Other books by Morgan O'Neill:

The Roman Time Travel Series:
Love, EternallyAfter the Fall and Return to Me.
Released in 2012
Publisher: Crimson Romance

For more on Morgan O'Neill visit:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Reviews:

To my complete amazement, an ending I did not expect made me say "wow." Time Enough for Love is a wonderful sequel to its companion, and a stand alone read worth any number of "wows"! - Leslie Garcia, author of Unattainable.

Alberto and Gwen’s relationship was one of the most touching and heartfelt romances, that I’ve read in a long time. The conflicts they endured in the story had me holding my breath one minute, and crying the next....Time Enough for Love by Morgan O’Neill is a must read!   - Angela Boudreau Searles, Satin Sheets Romance