2014 Christmas Collection Excerpt & Giveaway

BLURB:

Seven complete sweet to sensual romances from seven multi-talented authors in settings that are sure to be magical this holiday season. There's a story for everyone.

A SEASON OF MIRACLES by Linda Swift

Caroline Ross, a Confederate widow, desperately seeks medical help for her little son in the Union Army camp.

John Oldham, a soldier disowned by his family for choosing the wrong side, comes to her aid. As they keep a vigil for days at Danny's bedside, a close relationship develops between them. John longs for a family and wants to make Caroline and Danny his own.

Will his wish come true in this season of miracles?

AT FIRST SNOWFALL by Cecilia Corona

May all your dreams come true, takes on a whole new meaning when Xiomara finds out she's an Oracle with Fae witch powers, and her boyfriend is a werewolf from another realm.

When her half- brother shows up on her doorstep with his prophecy, the true nightmare begins. She must stand beside him in the battle of Galant or the evil Queen will destroy the kingdom.

Some faerytales are all too real, but if she can unleash her powers and learn to control them before the first snowfall, she just might find her happily ever after.

MR. CHRISTMAS ELF by Stephanie Burkhart

Jules' Christmas list is looking pretty pathetic. She needs a new muffler for her car and a hundred dollars to pay off her root canal. Her niece is asking for an iPad, but all Jules can afford is a Barbie doll. The peppermint on the top? Her boyfriend dumps her in a text message.

Jules could use a little Christmas magic, so when Elvis pops up claiming that he was sent by Santa to fill her Christmas list, all she has to do is believe – in the magic the season has to offer.

ALL THAT WE HAVE IS OUR SOUL by Katrina Gillian

The wait is finally over. Today is Theodore Lewis' 18th birthday and his essence has switched places with his soulmate for the day. His people have practiced this tradition for centuries. They are granted the chance to see the world through each other's eyes before actually meeting.

Only the Fates may have missed their mark. Theo's life is in 1940 and his soulmate is in 2014. This couldn't be happening. Is he doomed to never be with his soulmate, or will the Fates find a way to make this right?

CHRISTMAS TEARS by Rebecca J. Vickery

What's a widowed mother to do with two children to provide for and Christmas coming soon? Noelle Welborn is in dire straits when she loses her job, is cheated out of her pay, and has no relatives to which she can turn. Then they lose the roof over their heads. Sleeping in the car seems the only option left.

Officer Nick Stewart stops when he spies a familiar looking car parked in a church parking lot late one night. Sure enough, she's the same pixie-faced woman he warned before. When he discovers she has kids asleep in the car, he insists she park in his yard or go to the police station with him.

But what about the next night, and the next?

ROOM AT THE INN by Nan O'Berry

Welcome to Magic Hallow, Pennsylvania. On the day before Christmas Eve, Helena McCray finds herself driving from New York to Washington, D.C. with a car load of Felicity Adams designs. She wasn't expecting the storm of the century to send her car careening off the road. Rescued by James Buchannan, she is taken to a grand old Victorian he has been fixing up as a bed and breakfast.

Gift of the Magi has been handed down in James Buchannan's family since his great, great, grandfather brought his Russian bride home from Europe. But the Magi is a secret place where James can hide from the world. Helena McCray slowly melts his heart and together they find out the magic of the inn could be in opening their hearts to a new beginning.

BLAME THE MISTLETOE by Markee Anderson

Do you believe in love at first sight? Or love after a kiss under the mistletoe? Neither did Tasha or Cal...

Tasha Adams owns a bakery and catering shop after losing her nursing career. Lack of confidence and low self-esteem make her an almost hermit, especially during the holidays.

Calvin Miller, busy doctor and bachelor, receives a sudden and unexpected visit from his young niece and nephew for the holidays. There go his work plans.

Then a fateful collision on a staircase changes all their lives.

EXCERPT:

MR. CHRISTMAS ELF

The bus slid up to the stop near the coffee shop. I hustled out the door and rushed toward the store, noticing a guy reading the letters to Santa in the window. There were five minutes 'til opening. I didn't want to disappoint Joe again by being late, so I broke into a trot – and slipped on a hunk of ice. The sidewalk was coming up fast, but I fell into the arms of the letter reader.

He smiled one of the most adorable smiles I've ever seen and a cute little dimple popped out in his cheek. "You smell like peppermint," he said.

I opened my mouth, stammered like an idiot, and shut up. Mr. Dimple held me close. I didn't want to move. He owned a very solid body, with unkempt, curly, sandy blond hair that covered his ears and ice blue eyes that pierced my soul. I melted like a snowman in June.

"I'm Elvis."

"Hi, Elvis." I managed to squeak.

He chuckled and helped me to firm footing on the ground. "And you are?"

"Julie Erwin, but everyone calls me Jules."

"So, you're the one with the depressing Christmas list."

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

LINDA SWIFT

Linda Swift divides her time between her native state of Kentucky and Florida. She is an award-winning author of published poetry, articles, short stories, and a TV play. Linda holds an Education Specialist Degree from Murray State University with post-graduate work from U. of Alabama and was a teacher, counselor, and psychometrist in the public schools in three states.

Linda's first two books were published by Kensington. She currently has twelve E-books (also in print) and seven short stories available at Amazon and other distributors. Her Civil War novel, This Time Forever, has been adapted for a short film titled Clarissa's War which will soon be available through Vimeo.

Visit her website at http://www.lindaswift.net

CECILIA CORONA

Cecilia Corona is a massage therapist by day and enjoys the adventures of writing by night. When she's not sitting at her computer plotting her next tale, she's enjoying the Southern California weather. She loves movies, animals of all kinds, especially her three dogs, and she's a big fan of mermaids. When she was young and saw the movie Splash for the first time, she believed sprinkling salt in the bathtub would magically allow her to grow a tail. She was sadly disappointed when the experiment didn't work. If she can't be a mermaid, then maybe she'll just have to write about them.

You can visit Cecilia at: http://authorceciliacorona.blogspot.com/

STEPHANIE BURKHART

Stephanie Burkhart is a 911 dispatcher for the Los Angeles Police Department. She served in the U.S. Army between 1986-1997 in the Military Police Corps. Raised in New Hampshire, she now makes her home in Castaic, CA. Stephanie adores chocolate, enjoys coffee and participated in the Walk to End Alzheimer's held in Santa Clarita, CA on 20 Sep 2014. She writes romance and children's stories. Stephanie is published with Victory Tales Press, Desert Breeze Publishing, and 4RV Publishing.

Visit Stephanie's website at: http://www.stephanieburkhart.com

KATRINA GILLIAN

Katrina Gillian is a big fan of Marvel comic books and superheroes. Only a real man would dare to wear tights when facing down the bad guy. Gotta love that!

When she isn't thinking of ways to take down Hydra, she creates pre-made book covers at: Gillian's Book Covers, "Judge Your Book By Its Cover". You can also check out her published cover art designs at Western Trail Blazer and Rebecca J. Vickery Publishing. All That You Have is Your Soul is her debut story with Victory Tales Press.

Visit the author at: http://katrinagillian.blogspot.com

 http://judgeyourbookbyitscover.blogspot.com/

REBECCA J. VICKERY

Rebecca J. Vickery has been married to the same very patient man for quite a while now. She has one son, a special daughter-in-law, and three wonderful grandchildren.

She lives in South Carolina, USA, and slips away to go camping at Myrtle Beach whenever possible. Long walks on the beach help her to unwind and often ignite her imagination with new stories.

She enjoys the challenge of adding a special twist to her stories of romance. Usually they involve the paranormal, mystery, adventure, suspense, or a bit of fantasy along the way to a happy ever after ending.

Recently Mrs. Vickery has branched out into speculative fiction and has several short stories published in that genre. She owns Publishing by Rebecca J. Vickery, a small independent company, and also Victory Tales Press, where invited authors share their stories in various anthologies.

You may visit Rebecca at these sites online: www.rebeccajvickeryauthor.com

 www.rebeccajvickery.com

 www.victorytalespress.com

She loves to hear from readers and fellow authors.

NAN O'BERRY

Nan O'Berry lives on a small farm in Western Tidewater with her family and pets including a Black Angus cow named Esmeralda. A graduate of Old Dominion University with a degree in education, she taught elementary school for several years before turning her attention to writing romance. She loves hearing from readers.

Please feel free to contact her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nancy-OBerry-Romance-Author/161753103856411

or at her website: http://oberrynan.wix.com/nanoberryauthor

MARKEE ANDERSON

Markee Anderson resides with her husband, three older children, and various pets in Wisconsin.

See more information at www.markeeanderson.com and more information about her other pen names at www.sweettalebooks.com.

BUY LINKS:

AMAZON EBOOK:  http://amzn.com/B00PRQ5PUM

SMASHWORDS: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/494101

  

GIVEAWAY:
Stephanie will be awarding a $25 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: 

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2014/12/book-blast-christmas-collection-by.html

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The Wolf's Torment by Stephanie Burkhart Excerpt & Giveaway

BLURB:

It's 1865 and Moldavia is a country nestled against the shores of the Black Sea. Lady Theresa travels from Austria to this country that's haunted by tales of vampires and werewolves. She's going to marry the Crown Prince, but she harbors her own unspoken secrets.

Prince Mihai has just returned to Moldavia to discover he's a witch. He's intent on being a good husband and modernizing his country, but he must find a balance with his supernatural heritage. His best friend, Viktor, accompanies Mihai and marries Mihai's sister. In an unfortunate twist of fate, a werewolf bites Viktor.

Viktor's transformation threatens everyone around him, including his wife's safety and Mihai's happiness, but he's especially dangerous when he's near Theresa. Can Mihai save his family from Viktor's lies and deceptions?

EXCERPT:

Theresa walked down the hall toward Mihai's study, thrilled to finally receive an invitation from him. They were only a week into Lent, but each time she was with Mihai, his hesitation and reservations grew less. His kisses grew bolder, harder, full of passion, and the way he ran his hands over her body ignited a fire in the core of her being that she could hardly contain.

Then there was 'the feeling' between them. She didn't know what else to call it. When she and Mihai were kissing, touching, caressing, she could swear she felt his emotions, his passions, his desires, and that only heightened the sensual experiences between them.

And he felt her.

She guessed this had to be because he was a witch. The thought didn't unnerve her. She'd overheard her family on occasions talking about witches and their powers, and she always accepted the existence of witches because they did, but she never thought she'd meet a real witch, let alone marry one. She believed witches to be good, so she had no fear of Mihai or his talents.

She stopped in front of the study's door. She wanted to be good. Beatrice once told her good was boring, but Theresa never believed that. She was having fun. Mihai stimulated her like no other. He listened to her. He believed in her causes. She would be a good wife to him and a good mother to his children.

Yes, she resolved, she would be good. Her shoulders set, she knocked on the door. "Come in."

She walked in, closing the door behind her. Mihai stood behind the desk, a map nailed up

on the wall behind him. A bottle of brandy and two glasses rested on his desk.

"Hello, Theresa."

"Hello, Mihai."

He studied her with an intense gaze.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Stephanie Burkhart is a 911 dispatcher for LAPD.  She was born and raised in Manchester, New Hampshire.  She served 11 years in the US Army and currently calls Castaic, California her home. Stephanie was married in Denmark in 1991 and has two young sons. She adores chocolate and is addicted to coffee.  She writes paranormal, contemporary, and steampunk romance and has two children's books published with 4RV Publishing.

FIND ME ON THE WEB AT:

WEBSITE:

http://www.stephanieburkhart.com

TWITTER:

http://twitter.com/StephBurkhart

FACEBOOK:

https://www.facebook.com/StephanieBurkhartAuthor

GOOD READS:

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4031660.Stephanie_Burkhart

YOU TUBE CHANNEL:

http://www.youtube.com/user/botrina?feature=mhee

PINTEREST:

http://pinterest.com/sgburkhart/

Buy Links for The Wolf's Torment:

AMAZON KINDLE: http://www.amazon.com/Moldavian-Moon-Book-One-ebook/dp/B004YTI3FM/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1316985604&sr=1-1

BARNES & NOOK NOOK: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/moldavian-moon-book-one-stephanie-burkhart/1031031928?ean=2940012459787&itm=2&usri=stephanie%2bburkhart

ALL ROMANCE BOOKS: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-moldavianmoonbookonethewolf039storment-544310-139.html

PUBLISHER'S LINK: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-163/Stephanie-Burkhart-Moldavian-Moon/Detail.bok

  

GIVEAWAY:
Stephanie will be awarding a $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour, and a $10 Starbucks GC to a randomly drawn host.

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

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2014/09/book-blast-wolfs-torment-by-stephanie.html

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Tour: Sunrise Over Brasov by Stephanie Burkhart Interview & Giveaway

BLURB:

Rosa Getzi lives a life of intrigue at Poiana Brasov with Clement, a werewolf, and Cassandra, the witch. Her past doesn't matter to her – until she discovers what it holds.

Prince Michael Sigmaringen joins his sister-in-law, Caroline, and the vampire prince, Darius, in a daring rescue, igniting Rosa's desire to find her family. However, all is not as it appears. Rickard, Rosa's friend, escapes with her. Clement will go to any lengths to get Rosa and Rickard back.

At Darius' fortress, Michael soon discovers Rickard is a new breed of werewolf – one who can control the change, and Clement hopes to exploit Rickard's abilities.

Michael's courage, strengths, and convictions will be tested like never before. Can Michael and Rosa find true happiness and the rid the lupine haunting of the Sigmaringens once and for all?

INTERVIEW:

Question: Where did you get the idea for the novel?

Steph: It started out with a spark. There were a lot of secrets surrounding Michael's birth that came to light in book two of the Moldavian Moon series. Now in book three, "Sunrise Over Brasov," Michael has to get back to his roots and discover just who he is and what he stands for. He learns just how strong he is in the face of adversity. He's given an opportunity to stop the werewolf haunting of his family, but is he brave enough to take it?

Question: Who came up with your title, "Sunrise Over Brasov?"

Steph: I did. The titles in the Moldavian Moon series play on certain levels of darkness: torment, twilight, and sunrise. Torment (from book one) implies deep darkness; twilight – fading darkness; sunrise – a hint of light driving the darkness away. The titles are meant to link the series. I wanted the title for Michael's book to imply hope, which I think it does.

Question: Why did you pick this genre? What do you like about it?

Steph: I grew up in the 1970's watching "Creature Double Feature," on TV. The show replayed stories about vampires, werewolves, and witches. I also loved hearing ghost stories. Then I discovered gothic novels and Victoria Holt. Needless to say a love of the supernatural had been instilled in me at a young age. Becoming a paranormal romance writer was a natural path for me to take.

What I enjoy about writing paranormal romance is the creativity it affords me. There's no limits. My worlds are defined only by my imagination.

Question: Since becoming a writer, what's the most exciting thing that's ever happened to you?

Steph: I've published two children's books with 4RV Publishing. My boys are very proud to share and talk about my books. It's very endearing to hear my sons gush about Mom. Also, my story, "Journey of the Heart," has been a best seller on Amazon and it's rewarding to see my hard work pay off.

Question: What book are you reading?

Steph: I'm reading a couple. "The Mark of Athena," by Rick Riordan is one. My 12-year-old loves the Percy Jackson series. I read them, too, so we can talk about them. I'm also reading "Sensory Integration Disorder." My younger son has a sensory processing disorder and this book has helped me to understand what a sensory processing disorder is and how I can help him better. I'm also reading "Champion of Sherwood," by Laura Strickland. It's a nice, easy read that allows me to draw on my imagination.

Question: What is your writing process?

Steph: I come up with a "germ" of a plot, then I define my characters using bios and "casting" them so I have a visual. I use the Internet to research the setting and time period. I usually write 3 chapters at a time adjusting for the characters and editing. When I finally reach "the end," I have a beta reader give it a look and I do a copyedit.

Question: At a book signing, do you just sign your name or do you write a note? How do you come up with stuff to say?

Steph: I usually sign, "Best Wishes," and my name. If it's one of my children's books, I try to personalize it with the child's name and "Enjoy Caterpillar's (or Aly and Miguel's) adventures."

Question: What is something people would be surprised to learn about you?

Steph: I was married in Nykobig, Denmark.

Question: How do you react to a bad review?

Steph: I'm usually very disappointed with myself. I feel like I didn't communicate what I wanted to regarding the characters so the reader couldn't go on the journey with them. I make it a policy to never respond to a bad review.

Question: How did you celebrate the sale of your first book?

Steph: With a smile.

EXCERPT:

He raised his hand and lowered his hood. An inherent strength filled his profile. Confidence. Concern. Relief.

Rosa's breath jammed in her throat. He looked familiar. He smelled familiar.

"Rosa, it's Michael. Let's go."

"I'm not going anywhere with you."

A frown set against his rugged features. "I don't have time to argue -- now put on a warm dress and cloak."

"No." She was not going anywhere with him despite the relief in his voice.

He sighed and shut the door. Moving with fluid grace, he crossed the room, jerked the door to her closet open and threw the items he wanted her to wear on her bed. "Get. Dressed."

"No." She was determined not to budge, despite the danger outside.

"Rosa, we're leaving."

"I'm staying."

"Why would you want to stay? Clement kidnapped you."

Disconcerted, she pointedly glanced away from his hard stare. What did he mean by kidnapped? Clement didn't keep her behind bars and feed her only bread and water. Rosa could even go into Brasov to shop as long as Lucien or one of the bodyguards went with her.

"I'm going to take you back to your mother."

Her head snapped toward his direction. Mother? Of course she had a mother -- a family, even -- only she had no recollection of them. So why did her body fill with warmth at the mention of her mother by a man she hadn't seen before, but was hauntingly familiar? She pursed her lips, torn by conflicting emotions.

"Caroline and Darius can't keep this up. Now get dressed or I'll dress you myself."

"You'll find me an unwilling subject."

He drew in a deep breath and raked a hand through his thick ebony hair. "You are exasperating."

"So I've been told."

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Author Bio: Stephanie Burkhart is a 911 dispatcher for LAPD.  She was born and raised in Manchester, New Hampshire.  After serving 11 years in the US Army she currently calls Castaic, California her home. Stephanie was married in Denmark in 1991 and has two young sons. She adores chocolate, is addicted to coffee and enjoys early morning walks.  She's also an assistant den leader for her son's Cub Scout den and is a Boy Scout mom. She writes paranormal, contemporary, and steampunk romance and has two children's books published with 4RV Publishing.

FIND ME ON THE WEB AT:

WEBSITE:

http://www.stephanieburkhart.com

TWITTER:

http://twitter.com/StephBurkhart

FACEBOOK:

https://www.facebook.com/StephanieBurkhartAuthor

GOOD READS:

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4031660.Stephanie_Burkhart

YOU TUBE CHANNEL:

http://www.youtube.com/user/botrina?feature=mhee

PINTEREST:

http://pinterest.com/sgburkhart/

BUY LINKS FOR SUNRISE OVER BRASOV:

AMAZON: http://amzn.com/B00DVLRJOU

BARNES & NOBLE: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/moldavian-moon-book-three-stephanie-burkhart/1116009842?ean=2940148123552

DESERT BREEZE PUBLISHING: http://www.desertbreezepublishing.com/moldavian-moon-book-three-sunrise-over-brasov-epub/

ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-moldavianmoonbookthreesunriseoverbrasov-1230728-162.html

 GIVEAWAY: 

Stephanie will be awarding a $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour, and a $10 Starbucks GC to TWO randomly drawn hosts.The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: 

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2014/04/virtual-nbtm-book-tour-sunrise-over.html

Book Tour: Twilight Over Moldavia by Stephanie Burkhart Excerpt & Giveaway

 

BLURB:

Romanian unification is on the horizon and the spirited Crown Princess of Carpathia, Caroline, would prefer to ride horses and archery to embroidery and dancing. Complicating her life is her recent discovery that she's a witch.

Prince Stefan Sigmaringen travels to Carpathia to meet Caroline. He discovers he has much in common with her. He also learns that a strange man, Timon, has an unnatural interest in him.

Upon Stefan's engagement, he overhears his mother confessing to a horrible secret – she cursed him in order to conceive him and Stefan will become a werewolf when he turns eighteen. There is a condition to overcome the curse, but it will require Stefan to draw on all his inner strength and Caroline, her courage. Can they break the foul enchantment and secure their future or will Stefan give himself over to the lupine curse that haunts his family?

EXCERPT:

Stefan stepped into the grand room and came face-to-face with the Carpathian royal family.

"King Mircea, Queen Aurora, and their children, Crown Princess Caroline and Princess Helena, welcome you to Carpathia."

Stefan took one look at Caroline, and his heart rate accelerated. She was Aurora -- the beautiful outdoorswoman he'd met only hours earlier. She had used her mother's name.

Her cheeks colored fiercely, and satisfaction filled him. Even from this distance, he could feel the same magnetic heat from her he had in the forest.

How different she looked -- how regal. The dress accentuated her curves and made her look decidedly feminine, yet despite her outward beauty, her eyes betrayed not only surprise, but also unease.

Queen Aurora nudged her. "Caroline."

She stepped forward, along with her sister, and both curtsied. Stefan bowed.

King Mircea spoke up. "We hope your travel to Ploiesti went well."

"It was a delight to travel by rail," Stefan's father replied.

"Come. Dinner is served." Mircea gestured toward the table along the wall. Caroline stood tall next to her father, a spark of pride in her eyes. Stefan quickly assessed her parents and determined she was a unique blend of both, though she slightly favored her father. They shared the same thick chestnut-brown hair.

"Your Highness, Princess Caroline, I have something that might be yours," Stefan said. She raised an eyebrow.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out her scarf. He'd had the dirt and grime removed so the golden parts of the embroidery glistened in the light from the chandelier.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Stephanie Burkhart is a 911 dispatcher for LAPD.  She was born and raised in Manchester, New Hampshire.  She served 11 years in the US Army and currently calls Castaic, California her home. Stephanie was married in Denmark in 1991 and has two young sons. She adores chocolate and is addicted to coffee.  She writes paranormal, contemporary, and steampunk romance and has two children's books published with 4RV Publishing.

FIND ME ON THE WEB AT:

WEBSITE:

http://www.stephanieburkhart.com

TWITTER:

http://twitter.com/StephBurkhart

FACEBOOK:

https://www.facebook.com/StephanieBurkhartAuthor

GOOD READS:

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4031660.Stephanie_Burkhart

YOU TUBE CHANNEL:

http://www.youtube.com/user/botrina?feature=mhee

PINTEREST:

http://pinterest.com/sgburkhart/

BUY LINK:

Desert Breeze Publishing:  http://www.desertbreezepublishing.com/moldavian-moon-book-two-twilight-over-moldavia-epub/

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Moldavian-Moon-Book-Two-ebook/dp/B006RQ7LU8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1379728050&sr=8-1&keywords=twilight+over+moldavia

Barnes & Noble:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/moldavian-moon-book-two-stephanie-burkhart/1113645168?ean=2940013822177

GIVEAWAY:

Stephanie will be awarding a Coffee & Chocolate bag: a coffee mug, Starbucks gift Card, Andes Chocolates, magnets, and a Lori Powell original book bag (US only) to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.



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

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/09/virtual-blurb-blitz-tour-twilight-over.html