August 2014 - A Life Through Books

Monday, August 25, 2014

Blog Tour Book Review

Blog Tour: Abomination by Audra Middleton #review & #giveaway

Blog Tour: Abomination by Audra Middleton #review & #giveaway
9:07 AM 2 Comments

Fantasy

Date Published: June 2014

The seeds are planted. Which will take root, change or destruction?

A seed of destruction is sprouting in Forest End, but the kingdom is in too much of an uproar trying to locate their missing princess to notice. Princess Willow has been kidnapped by the enemy. Her mother, the Fauna Queen known as Watcher, is the only one who can reach Luminar and rescue Willow before the winter snows come. While the queen finds a way to save her daughter, the princess is able to plant seeds of change in the enemy kingdom. But if Watcher doesn’t make it back in time to stop the abomination that has been growing in Forest End, Willow’s seeds will never take root.


Review


Believable and Relatable characters really help to captivate the reader and get them invested in the happenings of this story. I loved Willow from the very start of book #1 and was excited to get to follow her journey again. The novel really escalates from the first and I found that there was more going on this time. It made reading even more exciting. 

A great Fantasy Novel!





Audra Middleton was born and raised in Washington State where she lives with her husband and their three boys. She gave up her teaching career to raise her children, and in between diaper changes and baseball games, she began writing books. Once she started, she couldn’t stop, even after she went back to teaching. 



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Excerpt Giveaway

Promo Blitz: The Frost of Springtime by @RachelLDemeter #free eBook & #giveaway

Promo Blitz: The Frost of Springtime by @RachelLDemeter #free eBook & #giveaway
9:00 AM1 Comments

Historical Romance
Date Published: February 14, 2014
Publisher: Black Lyon Publishing, LLC


To rescue her was to rescue his own soul.

On a cold Parisian night, Vicomte Aleksender de Lefèvre forges an everlasting bond with a broken girl during her darkest hour, rescuing her from a life of abuse and misery. Tormented by his own demons, he finds his first bit of solace in sheltering little Sofia Rose.

But when Aleksender is drawn away by the Franco-Prussian war, the seasons pass. And in that long year, Sofia matures into a stunning young woman—a dancer with an understanding of devotion and redemption far surpassing her age.

Alongside his closest friend, Aleksender returns home to find that “home” is gone, replaced by revolution, bloodshed, betrayal—and a love always out of reach. Scarred inside and out, he’s thrust into a world of sensuality and violence—a world in which all his hours have now grown dark, and where only Sofia might bring an end to the winter in his heart.

Inspired by the 1871 Paris Commune, The Frost of Springtime is a poignant tale of revolution, redemption, and the healing power of love.





EXCERPT

“I do not love you.”

Aleksender’s lips crashed against Sofia’s in a movement he was utterly unable to control. Both hands broke through the material of her cloak in a jarring whoosh of air, grazing her shoulders with his icy fingertips.

Riding up and over the curve of her hips, speaking into the dewy heat of her mouth, “I do not love you.” Rough, weathered hands skimmed over the tender swell of her breasts and worshiped every inch of her beauty. His tongue dueled with her own, drinking Sofia deep, sucking in her spirit. Her kisses were sweet as nectar, dripping with pure seduction and a virginal sensuality. “I do not love you.” Aleksender’s quivering fingertips tangled within the mass of damp, russet locks. He gave a gentle tug and reeled her closer. “I do not love you.”

His hands swept down the elegant column of her throat and enveloped the thin shaft. Aleksender tenderly cupped her face within his palms. His thumbs stroked her cheeks and drew invisible circles along the slates of porcelain flesh.

Sofia knew he was a broken soul … more so now than ever before. No, she was not scared. His cruelty was entirely wasted. One look in his eyes had confirmed her every thought. He’d never harm her. Although, for reasons she couldn’t fully comprehend, he wanted her to believe otherwise.

But Sofia saw past his rugged façade. And her heart only constricted for his pain. She felt so helpless, so very trapped. How she ached to heal him! She ached to kiss away all of his scars—internal and external, old and new. She ached to rescue him from the blackened depths of despair—just as he’d done, all those nine years ago.

No. She could not stop herself. Sofia sighed and slanted her lovely face, deepening their kiss to new limits.

Yes, Sofia’s heart screamed, she could heal him. He needed only to open his arms, mind, body—

Aleksender forced himself away. Sofia’s eardrums thundered, slamming against her consciousness in a deafening roar. She could hear her own pulse. Her heart swelled to painful proportions, threatening to burst free.

Aleksender and Sofia harmoniously panted as they struggled to catch their breaths. Eyes blinking shut in despair, Aleksender pressed his temple against Sofia’s. Nestled within the safety of her arms and speaking for the both of them, he recited the tragic confession: “I cannot love you.”










Rachel L. Demeter lives in the beautiful hills of Anaheim, California with Teddy, her goofy lowland sheepdog, and high school sweetheart of ten years. She enjoys writing dark, edgy romances that challenge the reader’s emotions and examine the redeeming power of love.
Imagining stories and characters has been Rachel’s passion for longer than she can remember. Before learning how to read or write, she would dictate stories while her mom would jot them down for her. She has a special affinity for the tortured hero and unconventional romances. Whether sculpting the protagonist or antagonist, she always ensures that every character is given a soul.

Rachel strives to intricately blend elements of romance, suspense, and horror. Some common themes her stories never stray too far from: forbidden romance, soul mates, the power of love to redeem, mend all wounds, and triumph over darkness. Her dream is to move readers and leave an emotional impact through her words.




BUY LINKS



GIVEAWAY


$5 Amazon Gift Card

5 signed “The Frost of Springtime” bookmarks 
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Sunday, August 24, 2014

Book Cover Giveaway

PROMO: Forward to Camelot by @Susan_Sloate & @Finnkv #CoverReveal #Giveaway

PROMO: Forward to Camelot by @Susan_Sloate & @Finnkv #CoverReveal #Giveaway
12:38 PM1 Comments

Time-Travel / Thriller
Date Published: October 31, 2013

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WHERE WERE YOU THE DAY KENNEDY WAS SAVED?

On the 50th anniversary of the JFK assassination comes a new edition of the extraordinary time-travel thriller first published in 2003, now extensively revised and re-edited, and with a new Afterword from the authors.

On November 22, 1963, just hours after President Kennedy’s assassination, Lyndon Johnson was sworn in as President aboard Air Force One using JFK’s own Bible. Immediately afterward, the Bible disappeared. It has never been recovered. Today, its value would be beyond price.

In the year 2000, actress Cady Cuyler is recruited to return to 1963 for this Bible—while also discovering why her father disappeared in the same city, on the same tragic day. Finding frightening links between them will lead Cady to a far more perilous mission: to somehow prevent the President’s murder, with one unlikely ally: an ex-Marine named Lee Harvey Oswald.

Forward to Camelot: 50th Anniversary Edition brings together an unlikely trio: a gallant president, the young patriot who risks his own life to save him, and the woman who knows their future, who is desperate to save them both.

History CAN be altered …




About the Authors


SUSAN SLOATE is the author of 20 previous books, including the recent bestsellerStealing Fire and Realizing You (with Ron Doades), for which she invented a new genre: the self-help novel. The original 2003 edition of Forward to Camelot became a #6 Amazon bestseller, took honors in three literary competitions and was optioned by a Hollywood company for film production.

Susan has also written young-adult fiction and non-fiction, including the children’s biography Ray Charles: Find Another Way!, which won the silver medal in the 2007 Children’s Moonbeam Awards. Mysteries Unwrapped: The Secrets of Alcatraz led to her 2009 appearance on the TV series MysteryQuest on The History Channel. Amelia Earhart: Challenging the Skies is a perennial young-adult Amazon bestseller. She has also been a sportswriter and a screenwriter, managed two recent political campaigns and founded an author’s festival in her hometown of Mount Pleasant, SC.

For updates and more information about Forward to Camelot: 50th Anniversary Edition, please visit http://susansloate.com.

Susan Sloate Facebook
Susan Sloate Twitter
Susan Sloate Blog



After beginning his career as a television news and sports writer-producer, KEVIN FINN moved on to screenwriting and has authored more than a dozen screenplays. He is a freelance script analyst and has worked for the prestigious American Film Institute Writer’s Workshop Program. He now produces promotional trailers, independent film projects including the 2012 documentary SETTING THE STAGE: BEHIND THE SCENES WITH THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, and local content for Princeton Community Television.
His next novel, Banners Over Brooklyn, will be released in 2015.

Kevin Finn Website
Kevin Finn Facebook
Kevin Finn Twitter




Buy Links






GIVEAWAY


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Saturday, August 23, 2014

Blog Tour Giveaway

Blog Tour: Plantation Nation by @Mercedes_King_ #interview #giveaway

Blog Tour: Plantation Nation by @Mercedes_King_ #interview #giveaway
6:36 AM0 Comments

Historical Fiction

Date Published: May 27, 2014

   
Sixteen year old Emma Cartwright runs away from her family’s South Carolina rice plantation after a slave is beaten to death. Determined to join the fight against slavery, Emma enlists in the Union Army disguised as a young man. Nothing could prepare her for the sacrifices needed—and for falling in love for the first time.    



BUY LINKS
Interview


What is the hardest part of writing your books?

 Sometimes the hardest part is being ‘done’, having the confidence to say, “okay, the book is finished, edited, doesn’t need anything else...” Letting it go and putting it out there. A bit of a nail-biter, but in a good way. 

 What songs are most played on your Ipod?

 A ton of Maroon 5, Phil Collins, Train, and some classical. Rock is my favorite when working out; Classical when I’m writing. 

 Do you have critique partners or beta readers?

 I do have a couple awesome people who help me comb through the drafts. Fresh eyes and perspective are so important.

 What book are you reading now?

 The Shroud Key by Vincent Zandri

 How did you start your writing career?

 I’ve always been a writer; it’s my ‘thing’. I think it’s fair to say I’m still working on the ‘career’ part. Getting published is a long process. Then you have to find your readers...all while working on more books. But I love all the challenges. 

 Tell us about your next release.

 My next release, tentatively titled “Bouvier Afternoon”, is a short story about Jackie Kennedy’s wedding dress. Think of Say Yes to the Dress with Jacqueline Bouvier...and a bit of conflict.





Mercedes King is an Ohio native and founding member of Sisters in Crime Columbus, Ohio (affectionately dubbed SiCCO). With a degree in Criminology from Capital University and a passion for writing, she crafted O! Jackie, a novel focusing on the private life of Jackie Kennedy. She has also written The Kennedy Chronicles, a series of short stories featuring JFK and Jackie before they were married and before 'Camelot'. Mercedes writes in a variety of genres, including historical and mystery / suspense. In fact, she's working on creating a new genre, 'modern historical'.
Her newest release, Plantation Nation, follows the journey of Emma Cartwright, a 16 year old Southern girl who disguises herself as a young man and joins the Union Army.
Visit her sites, OJackiebook.com or Mercedesking.com . Contact her at Mercedes 'at' ojackiebook 'dot' com. You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Twitter: @Mercedes_King_
Instagram: mercedes_king_author


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Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Blog Tour Book Review

Blog Tour: Deceitful Truths by @maggiethom2 #giveaway

Blog Tour: Deceitful Truths by @maggiethom2 #giveaway
8:33 AM1 Comments

(Book 2 The Caspian Wine Series)
Suspense/Thriller

Date Published: March 2014
   
He created a legacy that no one could imagine…

Tarin has lost a week of her life. She doesn't know what happened but not long after she returns to work she is suspended from her job. Confused and pregnant, she quits and agrees to marry Stephen, only to be thrown into a whole new nightmare. Desperate, she grabs her son and moves across the country to get away from her abusive husband and to avoid her unforgiving father. Thrilled at getting the Tech assistant job at Knights Associates, not only will she be helping them solve cyber crimes but she'll be able to use their connections and resources to solve her own mystery. Who stole a week of her life? And will they return to steal the secret she is now protecting?

Graham and his partner Guy can't keep up with the demand. They are being flooded with requests at Knights Associates, where they offer a combined service of private investigator and that of solving cyber crimes. It appears that someone wants to get their attention, not only have they been hacked but Guy's family business, Caspian Winery, seems to be under attack as well. Hiring an assistant seems to be the answer but when Graham discovers she's been accessing their high-security accounts, he decides the cause of their predicament might be closer than he thought. Is their new assistant behind the problems they're having? If she's so innocent, why is someone after her?

Tarin and Graham discover that although they don't trust each other, they are forced to work together to solve several seemingly unrelated crimes that may lead to one disastrous conclusion. Can they figure it all out before Tarin's nightmare plays out? Before an eighty-year-old woman pays with her life? Or before Tarin learns a truth that may seal her fate, a truth that will keep her and Graham apart, a truth that neither one of them may be able to forgive or forget...
(Caspian Wine Series - Book #2. This novel is standalone but is a Sequel to “Captured Lies”)

 "... Deceitful Truths showcases Maggie Thom’s talent... a masterpiece that begs to be read and savored!..." Dii at Tome Tender
Review

 This is a novel with quite a bit going on. There are a lot of moving parts and while in the beginning it can be a bit difficult to wade through everything, Maggie Thom does a great job of pulling everything together for the reader.

 I found the Suspense aspect to be very well executed. I was surprised and kept on the edge of my seat while reading.

 I am a huge fan of Maggie Thom's writing style. She is superb at pacing and plot development. 




Award winning author, Maggie Thom, took the challenge and leapt off, leaving a fulltime, twenty year career in management, to write full time. After publishing her first suspense/thriller book Captured Lies, October 2012, she published her second novel, Tainted Waters, April, 2013. Tainted Waters went on to win 2013 Suspense and Thriller Book of the Year through Turning the Pages Magazine and Captured Lies won book of the Month through LAS Reviews (February 2014). She published her third novel, Deceitful Truths (The Caspian Wine Series - Book 2), March 2014. An avid reader and writer her whole life, she decided to break the monotony of wishing to be an author by making it happen. She is a wholehearted nature lover and likes nothing better than to take a book, hike to a remote spot by a river or waterfalls and read. Married to her best friend, she is learning that humor, love and patience help her navigate her way through her twins’ teen years. Her motto: Escape to read and Read to escape. "Maggie Thom writes a fast paced thriller laced with romance that keeps the reader interested and on edge!" InDtale Magazine
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Monday, August 18, 2014

Erotic PROMO

Week Blitz: Andreas by @writerbellaross #Free eBook

Week Blitz: Andreas by @writerbellaross #Free eBook
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Andreas Vol I, II, and III by Bella Ross
BDSM Erotic Serial
Date Published: May 16, 2014

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One determined Journalist….

Freelance journalist, Genevieve Parker, has just been handed the biggest story of her career. But there’s one problem…Going undercover as a submissive in one of the most exclusive BDSM clubs in the world was more than she bargained for. But that’s nothing compared to the man she meets there. Andreas Contos. Her assignment. Gorgeous. Powerful. Mysterious. Genevieve is fascinated…intrigued. But does her intense attraction and willingness to go places with him she’s never gone before sexually really have to do with writing her exposé? Feeling confused and overwhelmed, every instinct tells her to run before her professional facade comes crashing down…before she has to choose between obligation and desire....

One elusive billionaire…

Greek billionaire, Andreas Contos, is more than he seems. Between the powerful company he keeps and the secrets that lurk behind closed doors, trusting anyone is out of the question – especially the lush and sensual woman he just met. But there is something different about Genevieve – a guarded nature he’s anxious to penetrate. Unable to resist her, Andreas proceeds in taking her under his wing for the night to show her his world – a world of exquisite pleasure. As the two of them get deeper in exploring the eroticism of mind and body, danger watches them from the shadows….



About the Author

Bella Ross wrote her first book (a novel) at eighteen a la Jackie Collins. But back then, unbeknownst to her, life was about to take her on a detour. As she set off on her new course, her dream of writing took a backseat and her entrepreneurial spirit flourished instead. But after many years of worldly pursuits, the urge to write returned.

With her love of travel, it is no surprise that her ‘Wanderlust Series’ & ‘Club Pluto Series’ take place in glamorous capitals or exotic locales around the world. Its the perfect backdrop/setting for her characters to explore and indulge their lusts and passions, loves and desires.

When she’s not writing, she’s reading, or gallivanting all over seeking new inspiration, or people watching while enjoying a latte at Starbucks and jotting down ideas.

She loves to hear from readers and looks forward to interacting through her social media channels. You can also sign up for her mailing list to be notified about new releases, giveaways and more.

Author Links



Buy Links

Amazon | Amazon UK | ARe | Kobo

Currently FREE on AMAZON!

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Blog Tour Book Review

Blog Tour: Roth by Jessica Frances #giveaway

Blog Tour: Roth by Jessica Frances #giveaway
3:00 AM1 Comments

Book #2 of the Invasion

New Adult Sci-Fi Romance
Date Published: August 16, 2014

   
Mattie:
I was taken and left for dead on a planet far from Earth. My new nightmare is called Roth. 
I have only Hank for an ally here and a burning rage that builds higher with each passing day. 
But we have a plan.
One that will hopefully give humans back the Earth.
One that will ensure I get revenge for what was taken from me.
I will stop at nothing to get Earth back.
I am willing to die for this.

Marduke:

I made a mistake. 
I sent Mattie away from Earth and now she is in more danger than she ever was there.
The threat to her life doesn't just come from my people, but from humans as well.
I have to find her. 
She needs to know there is more at risk than just her life. 
She carries a secret, one that would lead to our deaths if anyone found out.
If we want a future together, then we need to escape Roth and leave the war and everyone behind.


What happens when their plan begins to fail? 
What will they do when a new threat presents itself, one more dangerous than anything they have ever faced before?
Will Mattie be able to survive the loss she is forced to endure?
Will Marduke be able to protect her from not only his people and hers, but also from herself?
Is there still a way to save Earth?
Is there even a way to save each other?
Or will humans fall? 
Will Earth be lost to them forever?




Review

I was very excited about this continuation to Mattie and Marduke's story. Jessica Frances delivers on every level she did with Earth and amps up both the romance, drama, and twists. I was super shocked by what all happened and am now anticipating the next novel any more! 



Born and raised in South Australia, Jessica spends her days working in a bakery, afternoons catching up on lost sleep, and nights reading and writing. After having the Taken Trilogy taking up space in her head for years, she was relieved to have a break and her mind clear. But apparently the free rent was spoken to Mattie and her friends, because now she is hearing new voices and a whole new story. The Invasion Trilogy was then born.
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