Thursday, May 28, 2015

Dragon Kisses by Michele Zurlo Research for Books & Giveaway

BLURB:

Dragon Kisses #1 (Cassie and Niall)
Waking up in a strange barn was just the tip of the iceberg. Cassie and Niall find themselves transported to another world, one full of dragon shifters who want to possess them. Cassie is claimed by Illion, an electric blue dragon who shifts into five hulking men, and Niall is claimed by Wynn, a lime green dragon who shifts into two men and two women.

The Zmaj feed from the sexual energy of humans, and finding a cache of five in an abandoned barn is a momentous occasion. Convincing them to stay and protecting them from the Inamanida, their sworn enemy, is another task altogether. And falling in love? Zmaj don’t do that.

When Cassie runs away, Illion is forced to confront his prejudices and his brethren in order to save her from a fate worse than death.

Warnings: MMMFF, MMFMMM, light bondage, dominant dragon shifters

Dragon Kisses #2 (Arabella and Jonathan)
Waking with no memory, Arabella finds herself courted by three men claiming to be her mates. Dragon shifters Tobin, Gerrit, and Blakely woo her with sweet words and deeds, convincing her that she’s always lived this fairy tale existence. Life is perfect until the Inamanida King decides the experiment has gone on long enough—and Tobin is ordered to turn Arabella over to be tortured and used by the entire clan.

Meanwhile Jonathan is working to help settle the humans in Zmaj’s outer city. As the son of a prominent human leader, finds himself thrust into a leadership role and having to liaise with creatures he was raised to fear. Soon he falls for Laurel, a beautiful woman recently arrived from Earth, but as secrets emerge, he faces a stark truth that could cost him everything.

Tobin and Jonathan must risk everything and deal with consequences that could cost them the fragile relationships they’ve built with the women they love.

Warnings: MFMM, MF

Dragon Kisses #3 (Laurel, Niall, Jonathan)
In the months following Jonathan’s transformation, Laurel struggles to come to terms with her feelings for him and the horrific memories of time spent as a dragon’s slave. Jonathan struggles to be patient, but Laurel’s fear is breaking his heart. Niall and Cassie open a popular bakery and revel in the bliss of love and their new lives. Arabella pines for Tobin’s aspects to be reunited, and Nora discovers the secret of creating Zmaj offspring.

Meanwhile all Zmaj braces for the Inamanida attack that Tobin warned them about. When it finally comes, the Zmaj find themselves vastly outnumbered by enemy forces. In the violence that follows, everything changes.

Research For Books:
Research is my strong suit. I do it all the time for no apparent reason. I love to read articles and books on anything and everything, especially things related to history, science, or technology. Because I’m constantly seeking to learn new things, I typically write from personal experience and knowledge. The initial idea for Dragon Kisses came about when I wondered what would happen to five humans who found themselves stranded on another planet. Historically when two cultures who are dissimilar and unfamiliar with one another come into contact, bad things happen. One will think they’re superior, and they’ll exploit the one that’s peaceful or less advanced.
Cassie and Niall, the stars of Dragon Kisses 1, are the first to buck against the instant slavery humans find themselves thrust into when they appear on Zmaj, the dragon world. Cassie initially acquiesces because she thinks she’s dreaming, but once she realizes the truth of her situation, she takes steps to fight for equality. Niall resists his Zmaj captors, forcing them to see  him as human before he consents to having a romantic relationship.
Too many cultures are in conflict on this planet, and I wanted to explore what would happen when people are forced to confront their prejudices and admit they were wrong.
Another piece of research I did was looking up the architecture of medieval Europe. The Zmaj city is fashioned very similarly, with an inner city where the wealthy lived and an outer city where the poor resided. When the humans hiding in the caves beneath Zmaj are allowed into the light, their living conditions further illustrate how much ground they have to cover in terms of understanding and accepting their differences.
The Zmaj and humans we come to know in Dragon Kisses delve into our hearts and force us to consider our own preconceived notions about others.


EXCERPT:
Dragon Kisses #1 (Cassie and Niall)
“Cassie.” The deep voice calling my name belonged to the dragon man standing next to the one who had watched over us. “Come.”

Was it wrong that his commanding tone had me close to coming? Nora’s assurance came from, I knew, deep inside my psyche. After all, in a dream all the characters were aspects of myself. Niall was my caution, and Nora was my sense of adventure. I pried myself from Niall’s hold. “We’ll be fine.”

Even facing the weirdest situation and the worst odds, I was an optimist. Before Niall could process what I was doing, I left the safety of the group. Taking those first steps toward a new life was easy when I knew I’d soon wake up in the safety and comfort of my bed, and I figured nothing was to be gained by huddling against a barn. Plus, this would make one hell of a diary entry when I woke up, and it would help keep my mind off Chad, the jerkweasel who’d dumped me yesterday.

Laurel and Oliver followed me. Both of them seemed to be dazed and confused. The blue-haired men morphed into a dragon, and we climbed onto its back. The three of us fit easily. I sat forward of the wings. Oliver situated himself behind me, and Laurel wrapped her arms around his waist.

“Hold onto the scales,” Nora shouted.

I slid my hands around the edges of two blue scales. Each was a large as a dinner plate, but they had ridges on the top which were perfect for holding. One leap, and it took off.

Flying on the back of a dragon was unlike anything I’d experienced. My tummy fluttered from the quick ascent—or from that niggling bit of sense that told me I wasn’t playing it safe, and wind whipped through my hair. I had the feeling the dragon was flying slower than normal, and I appreciated his restraint. Any faster, and I might have freaked out.

Or not. Who could be afraid of heights or strangers in such a wonderful fantasy?

AUTHOR Bio and Links:
I’m Michele Zurlo, author of over 20 romance novels. During the day, I teach English, and in the evenings, romantic tales flow from my fingertips.

I’m not half as interesting as my characters. My childhood dreams tended to stretch no further than the next book in my to-be-read pile, and I aspired to be a librarian so I could read all day. I’m pretty impulsive when it comes to big decisions, especially when it’s something I’ve never done before. Writing is just one in a long line of impulsive decisions that turned out to showcase my great instincts. Find out more at www.michelezurloauthor.com or @MZurloAuthor.

Links:




Twitter: @MZurloAuthor

GIVEAWAY:
Michele will be awarding $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. 
The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday, May 22, 2015

Dark Summoner by D. D. Miers Excerpt & Giveaway

BLURB:
"Looking at him made me desirous for things I never thought I would want."

Abby Davenport has spent the last ten years forgetting her past until a fateful night reveals her false reality. Thrust into a new world of dark sorcery and ancient magic, she's shocked to discover her destiny lies as the keeper of a powerful relic. Now everyone wants to control, own, or destroy her. No longer able to discern truth from lie, she’s torn between a charming guardian and a mysterious summoner. Abby finds herself strangely drawn to each man—one sworn to protect and one who calls to her soul. Can she survive the strange and dangerous labyrinth of the first realm, where every move, emotion, and reaction must be a calculated one?



EXCERPT:
A thunderous boom clattered overhead. The powder-blue blanket of sky had been replaced with ominous black clouds barreling over town. Unnerved by the sudden change, I picked up my pace, but I barely had a moment to move when an enormous downpour plunged from the clouds and drenched me in seconds. The odor of rot blew in my direction, and I panicked. I took off into a sprint, running for the first open door I could find, which happened to be the next shop over. The bell jingled violently as I swung the door open at full force before slamming it shut behind me. I was surprised I didn’t break the glass.

I searched for the figure that had followed me. Fear crept up my spine as the minutes ticked on. A thunderous roar broke from the sky and within seconds lightning flashed. The lights in the small shop flickered before completely going out.

“Can I help…?” The words came from the saleswoman at the register, but I didn’t respond or even bother turning around. Her voice trailed off from behind me. No doubt she was alarmed by my behavior, but it couldn’t be helped.

Whether it was paranoia or reality, I didn’t care anymore. I kept my hand tight on the brass doorknob as I pressed forward against the wooden frame. The door creaked under the pressure, but I held my stance. I needed to keep whatever was outside, out. My heavy breathing fogged the glass, making it difficult to see through. I squinted and pulled the arm of my jacket up, trying to rub away the moisture, but all it did was create foggy smears. When the lightning flashed again, two black soulless eyes stared directly into mine from outside. The gray skin of his lips sagged over his smile. I screamed in terror and jumped away from the door. I stumbled backward, lost my footing, and tripped over the plastic bags that I’d scattered along the wood floor behind me.

I didn’t even have a chance to brace myself as I hit the edge of a table with a hard smack. The back of my head made direct contact with the wood and then everything went black.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:
With her debut novel Dark Summoner, D.D. Miers begins the Relic Keeper Series, a fast-paced romantic saga filled with danger, destiny, and magic, set in her favorite genre, Paranormal and Fantasy Romance.

Born with a wildly overactive imagination, she’s told stories of enchanted worlds, treacherous villains, and epic love for as long as she can remember. She keeps a watchful eye for the paranormal hiding around every corner and constantly checks the window or rearview mirror for a vampire or fairy.

Although she has a fondness for all things fantasy, she's an epic romance fan at heart and in everything she asks, “What would Jane Austen do?” The journey to becoming a published author has been a long but exciting one. A fervent desire for taking readers from the ordinary to the extraordinary keeps her motivated, and she believes that everything is better with a good helping of romance thrown in.

D.D. is a proud member of the Romance Writers of America (RWA) and the Fantasy, Futuristic, & Paranormal Sub-Genre of RWA (FF&P). She continues to attend conferences and writers’ workshops in order to help inspire, share, and promote her love for romance.

During her downtime, she loves to spend time with her family, share her obsession of all things romance with other fans, and catch up on her never-ending TBR list. She resides in beautiful Southern California with her wonderful husband, an adorable toddler, two kitties, and the many different characters living in her head.

Website: www.ddmiers.com


BUY Links:


GIVEAWAY:
D.D. Miers is awarding a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift card to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter.  
The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Elysium by Thea Landen Excerpt & Giveaway


BLURB:
Two years have passed since April Patterson’s husband was shot and killed in the line of duty, and she’s trapped in a haze of grief and uncertainty. Having grown frustrated by all other efforts to engage her in activities where she could meet new people, her cousin pays for a date via 1Night Stand. Not thrilled with the idea, April nevertheless contacts Madame Eve and requests the impossible: a date with her deceased husband.

Brilliant software engineer Drew Monroe created his company, Elysium, to help give closure to those who have suffered the loss of a loved one, through the use of virtual reality. Though passionate about his work, being constantly surrounded by heartache and death has taken a toll on his mental health. When he accepts the case of a young widow referred to him by Madame Eve, her tragic tale depresses him further, but he commits himself to programming April the romantic date she desires.

April arrives at Elysium and prepares to enter Drew’s virtual realm. Will she find the solace she seeks within? Or will she discover she doesn’t need a fantasy world to discover happiness again?

EXCERPT:
We sat in silence. It was the first time a client had asked me so many personal questions. On one hand, I worried about coming across as unprofessional, but on the other, it felt good to verbalize those thoughts for a change. Putting that aside, April hadn’t come to play psychiatrist with me. I had a job to do.

“Anything else before we get started?” I pushed off the edge of the desk and straightened.

She didn’t get up. “Do you ever go into your own virtual realities?”

“Actually, I don’t.” I ran a finger along the top of one of the screens. “First of all, it needs to be monitored from the outside. I can’t do both at the same time.”

“Got it.” She nodded. “What else?”

A clammy feeling crawled over me. “Nothing.”

“You said ‘first of all.’ That means there must be a second.”

She’d paid attention, I’d give her that. I tried to backtrack. “Forget it.”

Sliding her arm off the chair, she leaned forward, ginger hair spilling over her shoulders. “I want to know what I’m getting into. Tell me.” Face upturned, she stared at me and I struggled to breathe in a normal rhythm. “Please?”

Don’t say it, don’t admit to it, she doesn’t need to know…. Talking to her eased a little of the tension that had been twisting tighter and tighter over time. I ignored the voices telling me not to make a confession, but the words spilled out faster than I’d intended.

“With all the misery and heartache I see in the world, the temptation exists to disappear into a painless fantasy.” The chill spreading through me intensified. “I’m afraid I’d lose myself and never want to come out.”

April blinked her long lashes and straightened in the chair. “That’s one of the reasons I’m anxious about going in there.”

AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Thea Landen lives in New York with her husband and a variety of houseplants. A former educator, she strives to encourage creativity and passion in all those around her, and uses writing to help inspire. Though she reads and writes in nearly all genres, she has a special fondness for science fiction, fantasy, and adventure and anything that pushes the imagination beyond its usual limits. When she’s not writing, or thinking about writing, her hands and mind are occupied by either yarn crafts or role-playing games.

Links:


Elysium Buy Links:




Google Play:



GIVEAWAY:
Thea will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Welcome to Temptation by Charlotte Hughes Excerpt & Giveaway


BLURB:
With a hurricane closing in on Temptation, Louisiana, Michelle Thurston fails to convince her stubborn grandmother to leave her home on the bayou. Sheriff Gator Landry arrives by boat, hell-bent on forcing the elderly recluse to evacuate. He is stunned to find Michelle, who was just 16 years old when he courted her one steamy summer.

Now, at 32, Michelle comes face-to-face with the man whose kisses tempted her to lose control, only this time there is no place to run. Although Gator is not about to leave the two women defenseless, Michelle can’t help but wonder if he is more dangerous to her than anything the storm can do.




EXCERPT:
“We need to get out of these wet things,” Michelle said, crossing her arms in front of her in an attempt to hide herself. She shivered as Gator continued to stare. He still had the power to make her body go berserk when he looked at her that way. Those glittering black eyes didn’t miss a thing. It was as though he were capable of seeing past flesh and bone to her inner workings, all of which shook at the moment as violently as the tree limbs outside the window. She was certain he knew what that look did to her. He had it down to an art. And if it had had a powerful effect on her at sixteen, it was doubly so now at thirty-two.

“That’s the best idea I've heard all day," Gator said, shrugging out of his shirt. He mopped his brow and chest with it and ran it across the back of his neck.

Michelle wondered if he had any idea how sensual that simple act was. He was all rippling muscles and taut flesh. Goose pimples stood out on his shoulders and his nipples puckered from the chill in the room. His arms were lean and as brown as the rest of him. The room seemed to shrink to the size of a shoe box. Michelle had seen enough male bodies in her job to know that the one before her was one of the best she’d ever laid eyes on.

Gator would have had to be blind not to notice her perusal. The grin he shot her was brazen. “Like what you see, Mic?”

AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Charlotte Hughes published her first category romance in 1987, a Bantam Books’ Loveswept, titled Too Many Husbands, which immediately shot to #1 on the Waldenbooks Bestseller list. She went on to write almost thirty books before the line closed in 1998.
 
Although Charlotte is widely known for her laugh-out-loud romantic comedies, she went on to pen three Maggie-Award winning thrillers for Avon Books in the late nineties, before resuming her first love, funny stories about people falling in love. She thrilled readers with her hilarious books, A New Attitude and Hot Shot, the latter of which won the Waldenbooks Greatest Sales Growth Achievement in 2003.

Her books received so many accolades that she was invited to co-author the very popular Full House series with mega-star author Janet Evanovich.

With that series behind her, Charlotte began her own, starring psychologist Kate Holly; What Looks Like Crazy, Nutcase, and High Anxiety, creating a list of somewhat kooky but always loveable and funny ensemble characters.


To keep current with Charlotte and her projects, please sign up for her newsletter - http://readcharlottehughes.com/newsletter.htm.

You can also visit her website at http://readcharlottehughes.com and follow her on Twitter  @charlottehughes. Her Facebook page is at https://facebook.com/authorcharlottehughes

BUY Links:

GIVEAWAY:
Charlotte Hughes will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN Gift Card to a randomly drawn commenter via Rafflecopter. 
The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

A Soul to Keep by Moira Keith Interview & Giveaway


BLURB:
In the realm of the Fallen, there’s a little saint and sinner in us all…

One moment can impact the future.

Love never served Jayde Cross well and owing a debt to a demon is the proof. Reaping is a lonely existence and with her thirtieth birthday approaching, she's got enough to worry about without adding romance to the mix. It's why her friendship with the man living next door works so well. They both live lives filled with secrets and ignoring their self-imposed rules isn’t an option. Too bad her heart disagrees.

The past is about to come back and haunt one of Heaven’s Fallen.

Caleb Thorne always found living among mortals difficult, until he met the intriguing woman down the hall. She demands nothing of him and is completely safe. When an enemy from his past catches up with him, Caleb soon discovers the rules of the Fallen exist for a reason and loving a mortal may prove to be the bigger danger.

In a world where their love is forbidden, Jayde and Caleb may just discover that sometimes breaking rules is the only thing that can set you free.

INTERVIEW:
Q: Tell us a little about the series and how you came up with the idea for it?

A: Well, the series is titled the Saints and Sinners. I imagined a world where the fallen walk among us, battling to claim our souls for their respective sides. But what if they were all looking for some form of redemption? Whether it was in the eyes of a lover, or within themselves? And the idea grew from there. Caleb and Jayde’s story came first. The next will be Azrael and Syn who you meet in the first book, and the rest of the lineup, the characters aren’t revealing yet…not even to me. There is a quote by Oscar Wilde that always comes to mind when I think of this series~ The only difference between the saint and the sinner is that every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future. It seems quite fitting.

Q: Caleb Thorne and Jayde Cross are the two main characters in A Soul to Keep. How did their development come about? Are they based on anyone you know?

A: They aren’t specifically based on a single person in my life. They are a mash-up of characteristics, traits, and mannerisms from many people I interact with on a daily basis. Slowly the bits and pieces culminate into a character that I can hopefully be proud of and the reader can identify or fall in love with. If I’ve developed them well enough, the creative process kicks in, then they will talk to me, tell me their flaws, their struggles, likes, and dislikes. So, yes, and no, is my short answer.

Q: How long have you been writing?

A: I’ve dabbled in writing on and off for years, but I didn’t write my full complete story until about seven years ago. It was a story I wrote for my mom as a birthday present, which I had no intention of submitting for publication, but did at the promptings of some wonderful authors I met early on in this journey. I've been writing ever since.

Q: What tools are must-haves for you when you sit down to write (besides the obvious things)?

A: Cherry Coke or energy drink (which I know are not the healthiest choices), paper and pen. (Oh, those are the obvious things), the writer’s bible—a.k.a. the Chicago Manual of Style, research books, and I hate silence when writing so I often have music playing in the background and create playlists for every book.

Q: What books do you read when you have the chance? Any must have authors or series?
A: I’m currently reading The Fault in Our Stars, and have a few other young adult novels I’ve picked up from the library. My go to authors though aren’t young adult and I’m dying for the new Vicki Pettersson book to come out. It’s a slight break from her usual gritty urban fantasies I love, but it’s mystery which is another favorite genre

Q: Have you had dreams realized as a result of your writing? Any special memories that you would like to share...please, oh, please?

It took me a minute or two to come down out of the clouds enough to see the small accomplished moments because with my first novel I went a little crazy fantasizing about how much my life was about to change. I just knew I would be the next Nora Roberts, or Sherrilyn Kenyon, or lunching with my idol Vicki Pettersson, dishing publishing stories. Alas, those things never happened, though I did have the honor of meeting my idol at a book signing and getting a completely fab bunny ear picture with her (she was totally the giver of bunny ears in the photo). While I'm still waiting for the big moment to actualize, I work a day job, live paycheck to paycheck, but fully enjoy the ups—a new book cover in my inbox, interacting with readers—and push through the downs by reminding myself that every step is a part of making the dream a reality.

EXCERPT:
While he was preoccupied, I glanced around at the other patrons. They all appeared focused on their meals, or their dates. I reached over, flipped open the ring, and let the liquid pour into the glass of scotch sitting on the table. With a flick of my finger, the ring snapped shut and I pulled away from the man at my side.

“How about a toast?”

“What should we toast to? Your beauty?” He winked at me. “Getting lucky.”

Not in a million years.

“Survival.” I raised my glass.

“Odd thing to toast to.”

“Why is it odd?” I studied him for a moment and when he didn’t respond, I continued. “I learned a long time ago the will to survive drives people. It’s what drives you.”

“And you,” he said as he took a healthy swig of his scotch. “It’s one of the things that draws me to you.”

“Then I’m sure you will understand.” I watched over the rim of my glass as I took another sip and his face quickly began to turn shades of red and purple.

“What have you done?” He managed to choke out the words.

“What was necessary to survive.” I leaned in close and whispered against his ear. “Azrael's expecting you.”

Marco's eyes widened and he gasped for air. Before anyone noticed their beloved boss was choking, I grabbed my purse and slid out from the seat. I walked away, but not fast enough to avoid hearing Marco struggling to catch his breath and the commotion behind me as people rushed to his aid. There would be no saving him.

Once a name landed in the hands of a reaper, there were only three things that could stop the order from being carried out—a mortal willing to make a deal on their behalf, the demon in charge of the assignment, or the reaper themselves.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Moira Keith is a lover of shoes, a connoisseur of Guinness, baker of cocktail themed cupcakes, and an overall complete mess! She is also a proud Texan by birth (and true Southern girl at heart).

Moira lives in the city of neon with her twin zombie sons, a fish, three parakeets, and a turtle.



Buy Links:




GIVEAWAY:
Moira Keith will award a $15 Amazon/BN GC to one randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter.
The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:  http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2015/03/vbt-soul-to-keep-by-moira-keith.html
a Rafflecopter giveaway