Monday, June 30, 2014

Release Day Party: The Chosen: Valkyrie Rising by Rae Z. Ryans

What happens when the heart and soul divides?
Chosen by the Myst, her royal prophecy traces back over a thousand years. Leader of the Valkyrie, part human and part supernatural, Auriel bridges the invisible gap between Earth and Midgard demanded by the Laws of the Nine. She alone prevents Ragnarok from wiping away those she loves.
There’s only one problem: he forgot.
Liam Skyland is a hybrid with a death warrant. The bastard son of the lycan King narrowly escaped death as an infant. Something happened though and Liam loses four years of his life. All he remembers is that she is coming.
Tick Tock
Two former friends remember them both. With time running shorter every day, it’s up to them to reunite the fated lovers. But what happens when their own pasts haunt their waking moments? Can they overcome the love they once shared or will their bond destroy the world?
Will all become a distant memory, a whisper in time, as Earth burns?
Blinded by love and compassion each finds themselves lacking the courage to overcome fear. There remains but one choice and one direction the Chosen can take, but time quickly burns dry for the Nine Realms.
Can the Chosen rise together and save Midgard?

Grab yours on Amazon today!!



Author Bio
Rae Z. Ryans is a member of the RWA and RWA Fantasy, Futuristic, and Paranormal chapter. She currently resides in Alabama with her family. Published since the age of fourteen, Rae enjoys writing romantic, erotic, fantasy/paranormal stories and poetry. Her name pays homage to her brothers: Specialist Ryan D. Rexon and Zachary U. Berthot.

She is currently working on Beyond the Brothel Walls #2: Altered. This post-apocalyptic, erotic paranormal romance is emotionally driven, dark fantasy.






 Hope to see you all there!!










Brought to you by the Release Day Diva

 

Promo Blitz: The Trouble With Flying by Rachel Morgan Excerpt & Giveaway





The Trouble With Flying - PROMO Blitz
By Rachel Morgan
Young Adult/New Adult
Date Published: June 24, 2014

 photo add-to-goodreads-button_zpsc7b3c634.png
    
  
When introvert Sarah boards a plane to fly home after an overseas holiday, the last thing she expects is Aiden, the guy sitting next to her who’s never flown anywhere before and refuses to shut up. Hours of random conversation later, they part ways. Sarah can’t stop thinking about Aiden, though, and wondering if she made a terrible mistake letting him go. Should she abandon her safe, predictable life and go in search of him, or would she be chasing a happily ever after that could never exist in real life?


EXCERPT

CHAPTER ONE
I don’t make friends on aeroplanes. I know there are people who like to strike up a conversation with the complete stranger sitting next to them, but that’s not me. It’s not that I’m an unfriendly person. It’s more the fact that the conversation centre of my brain seems to seize up in the presence of strangers, and I can’t for the life of me figure out what to say. And even if the other person is happy to simply babble on while I pretend to listen and be interested, I’d really rather be doing something else. Like reading. Or watching a movie. Or sleeping. Or trying to figure out how to stop crying.

Yes. Crying. Because if being shy and awkward isn’t enough, today I’m adding red eyes, tears, and suppressed sobs to the embarrassing mix.

I stare out the tiny, oval window at the patches of reflected light on the wet runway and silently ask God to leave the seat next to me empty. I can’t deal with a chatty neighbour right now. I’d rather watch the black sky and incessant rain until we reach cruising altitude. Then I’ll close my eyes and let sleep take the pain away.

Oh, STOP IT. It’s not like someone died.

I wiggle around a bit in my seat and sniff, trying to listen to my inner pep-talk voice. Think of the good things, I tell myself. I’m on my way home. I’m leaving behind the dreary, wet weather for a sunny, summer climate. That, at least, should make me happy. But thinking about home leads to thoughts ofwho I’m flying towards, and that only makes my stomach twist further.

I hear the sound of a bag being dumped onto the seat at the end of my row. There are only three seats between the window and the aisle—mine and two others—so there’s a fifty-fifty chance this person is about to plonk him or herself down right next to me.

I angle myself more towards the window and swipe my fingers beneath my eyes. I start the furious tear-banishing blinking. Stop crying, stop crying, stop crying. All I need now is for someone to see my blotchy, wet face and start asking me what’s wrong.

I hear someone settling into a seat. I don’t feel movement right beside me, so it must be the aisle seat. Fantastic. I send up a quick thank-you prayer and remind God that it would be spectacularly awesome if He could keep the seat next to me empty.

A tickle inside my left nostril alerts me to the fact that my nose is dribbling. I sniff, but it doesn’t help.Crap, where are my tissues? I lean forward and reach down by my feet for my handbag. Brown strands of hair fall in front of my face and block my vision, but if I can just get the zip open and feel past my purse to the tissues—

No. Too late. Now it’s trickling down my lip and I’m digging around in the bag and I can’t feel the stupid tissues and a drop of tear-snot just landed on my hand and yuck! I haul the ridiculous handbag—I told Jules I didn’t need something so big—onto my lap with one hand while holding the back of my other hand to my nose. And there the tissues are. Right next to my purse. Perfectly easy to find. I rip one from the packet and jam it against my nose to stop the tear-snot flood.

And that’s when I catch a glimpse of the guy sitting in the aisle seat. A quick sideways glimpse, but enough to tell me he’s cute. Excellent cheekbones, a strong jawline, and perfectly messy dark brown hair. Terrific. My nose is dripping snot in front of a cute guy. Not that I should care that he’s cute, or that he’s a guy, because it’s not like I’m going to talk to him, and it’s not like I’m even available—am I? I don’t actually know. And thinking about that makes me want to cry all over again—but STILL. I don’t want to look blotchy and snotty in front of a cute guy.


Rachel Morgan was born in South Africa and spent a large portion of her childhood living in a fantasy land of her own making. After completing a degree in genetics, she decided science wasn't for her--after all, they didn't approve of made-up facts. These days she spends much of her time immersed in fantasy land once more, writing fiction for young adults.

Author Links




Buy Link

GIVEAWAY

A $20 Amazon gift card for one winner

E-copy of THE TROUBLE WITH FLYING for two winners
  

a Rafflecopter giveaway



 photo readingaddictionbutton_zps58fd99d6.png

Friday, June 27, 2014

Release Day Blitz: The Reality of You by Jean Haus Excerpt & Giveaway




SYNOPSIS
Naomi Porter was once witty, fun, and outgoing, but she has scratched outgoing off the list, along with men. She has a mediocre tech job in fabulous New York, a large smut book collection, and awesome friends, both tangible and in an online gaming community. She just doesn’t date. A future filled with cats and housedresses beats having her heart broken again.

But Naomi still likes men, even kind of stalks—mostly fantasizes about—a gorgeous one at work during lunch.


Her best friend, Kara, is determined that Naomi will be outgoing again. When Kara finds out who, as in a notorious playboy, Naomi is stalking at lunch, she plans to break Naomi of her lunchtime habit and bring her back into the real world. It’s just going to take a bit of deception.


Between all the deceiving, fangirling, and bumbling, Naomi might not be able to resist the temptation of turning her seven-month fantasy into reality. And really, so what if he’s a playboy or a demanding jerk? Her fantasies don’t include love or even like, just a bed or a couch or the back seat of a limo…


Reality might be just what she needs.


*A sexy romantic comedy intended for audiences 18+




BUY LINKS
~Meet Naomi Porter ~
- They each had some kind of jackass drink: dry martini, cosmopolitan, Manhattan, Caipirini, and one neat, overpriced single malt scotch. Except for me. I drank beer. American beer. From the tap, thank you very much.

-Whoa. Wow. Whoa. Between his gaze and his words, I imagined jumping on his lap and experiencing some of that.


- What was better than fried tortillas? Nothing. Well, except Doritos. But they were fried tortillas with cheese-flavored dusting. 


-Could sharks jump out of the water? The ocean lay more than a hundred feet away. I wanted a shark to swallow me whole and drag me to the deep, salty depths of the sea after that ramble.


- But he is also hot, delicious, and the star of my day and night dreams.


-I didn’t cook. I constructed dips.


-I wanted to grab a toothpick and stuff it up my roommate’s nose. Two toothpicks to be precise, one for each nostril.


- Seriously, I never imagined being a tux girl, but holy hot hell, I could dry hump his suit. Preferably with him in it, but…


-You can never, ever, go wrong with bacon.



- I was going to faint. Or let out a whoop. Or tackle him. And it wasn’t just because he was removing his pants.


EXCERPT
“Keep an open mind. First impressions aren’t always correct,” she said from behind me as we strode down the hall. 
“I’m not expecting Prince Charming but those three are wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am all the way. Is a little interest, a little romance, a first date with a toe-curling kiss too much to ask for?” I inquired over my shoulder. 
“Maybe you need a wham-bam to get back into business. Like get it over, then move on to the romance and the toe-curling kisses.”
“Harrumph,” escaped me before we came out of the hallway and into the main bar. Three steps into the room, I stopped dead in my tracks. I became a deer in headlights when I noticed a person sitting sideways at the bar. Dark brown hair. Square jaw. Dark winged brows. Sensual lips with a rocks glass pressed to them. I gaped as he tipped the glass higher and amber liquid touched his lips. 
Kara ran into my shoulder. “What the hell?” she asked, rubbing her jaw and stepping next to me. “Don’t pull this again. It’s only one more drink.”
“It’s him,” I somehow said, though still in shock. “My lunch guy.” 
“Him? What are you talking—” She followed my frozen gawk. “Holy shit, Naomi! He’s the guy you watch at lunch? That’s not a bike—that’s a luxury car! Like an Aston Martin!” Kara had a thing for luxury cars. And shoes. And clothes. And purses. 
I nodded as the woman next to him gave him a sultry stare. Jealousy flared within in me. Hopefully the daydream kind, but yeah, he was an Aston Martin compared to the three ten speeds waiting in the other room. 
Kara smacked her forehead. “I should have known. Why didn’t my stupid ass put two and two together when you described him? You know who he is, right?” 
Locked on him, my eyes turned huge. “What? No.” 
“He’s—”

“Aggggg, not listening to Kara.” I covered my ears. “Don’t tell me.” Sure, I stalked him at lunch, but I didn’t want the possibility of becoming a full-time stalker. More than that, I didn’t want my lunchtime lustful fantasies ruined by reality. I was more than aware of it being a fantasy. I liked it as a fantasy. 


AUTHOR BIO
I write young adult and romance novels. I read a lot too. I even do a bit of cooking, which is actually quite good. I also golf a lot in the summer with my awesome husband and son, but I cook way, way better than I golf. 
I am Represented by Jane Dystel of Dystel & Goderich Literary Management.

SOCIAL LINKS

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jean-Haus/227196784023975
Twitter - https://twitter.com/JeanHaus
Website - http://jeanhaus.com/jeanh/
Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5403174.Jean_Haus


HOSTED BY:



Thursday, June 26, 2014

Super Book Blast: Circle of Dishonor by Carla Swafford Excerpt & Giveaway


This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Carla will award one copy of CIRCLE OF DISHONOR at every stop to a randomly drawn commenter, and a $25 Amazon/BN GC to one randomly chosen winner via Rafflecopter during the tour. Please click the banner to see the other stops on this tour.


John “Ice” Takahashi’s final job for The Circle has an unexpected hitch in it; he’s fallen for an innocent civilian and his enemies know it. With his mission in a shambles, he’ll do anything to protect her, including kill. So how can a man without honor prove he’s worthy of her love?

Lena Matthews feels like she’s playing with fire by dating the mysterious Master J. He’s exotic, dangerous, and exactly what she needs in her boring life. With the bad guys bearing down on them, she discovers a whole new world of sensuality that binds her heart to his forever.


Now enjoy an excerpt:

John Takahashi, also called Ice in the more deadly corners of the world, watched from the shadows as the woman slid into her Nissan Altima. He wanted to be certain she safely reached her car.

His hands tightened on the steering wheel.

A burly fellow strolled by Lena’s car and continued to the next lane without glancing her way. John’s hold eased up. If the man had attempted to attack her, bloody fat limbs would be scattered across the parking lot within seconds. He’d never allow anyone to harm her. Hell, if the man only spoke to her, John was unsure of his reaction. He’d never felt this way before. Possessiveness wasn’t his usual response. He only knew she belonged to him.

From the first moment he saw her five weeks ago, intently watching him from the coffee shop, he’d decided to meet her. Her contradicting shyness and boldness amused him. The two times he’d allowed her to see him watching her, she’d looked away, blushing. He liked that. From the way she walked and held herself, he suspected she was a woman used to taking orders from a man. After being with so many women with that certain need, he had a sixth sense about such matters.

His contacts reported that her husband had died three years earlier. She wasn’t a flirt and hadn’t dated during that period. She dressed stylishly but modestly. Her hours were spent working in her house and in the flower beds surrounding her home. Occasionally, she had lunch with friends and attended charity functions, but nothing more.

Of course, their time in the coffee shop had been a test. If she’d been too timid or too bold, their time together would have ended without a dinner invitation. He wanted a woman willing to take commands but strong enough to demand what she needed in return.


Carla Swafford is a lithe twenty-nine year old with long auburn hair and sparkling dark eyes who loves dancing with her gypsy friends. Geez! Can you tell I love writing fiction? Now for the real stuff: I'm married to my high school sweetheart and live in Alabama. I swear my stories are more exciting.

http://www.carlaswafford.com

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CarlaSwaffordAuthor

Twitter - https://twitter.com/carlaswafford

Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/profile/carlaswafford

Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Carla-Swafford/e/B005MLXJPA/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1402014953&sr=1-2-ent

Barnes and Noble - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/carla-swafford?store=allproducts&keyword=carla+swafford

Kobo - http://www.kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=carla+swafford

iBooks - https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/carla-swafford/id461032072?mt=11

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Release Blitz: A Will To Change by Beth Rinyu Excerpt & Giveaway






SYNOPSIS

In A Cry for Hope you meet Jamie’s carefree younger brother, Will. Now read his story…

Will McAdams is a New York City firefighter who has always lived in the shadow of his older brother, never quite measuring up to his parents standards. He lives his life without regrets, and answers to no one. The women love him and he uses that to his advantage, making it clear that he only has one use for them.

Gabby Spencer is a nurse in the burn unit of a busy New York City hospital. Her guarded personality doesn’t allow many people into her life and her patients take the place of her lack of family. She masks the pain that she is harboring deep inside with quick wit and sarcasm.

When Will becomes one of Gabby’s patients they form a special bond and soon become each other's solace. But Will doesn’t see her like every other woman in his life. She means the world to him and he feels an underlying need to always protect her – most of all from himself. Even though he wants her more than he’s ever wanted any other woman, he’s not willing to take that next step and jeopardize everything they have. When jealousy and pain begin to overtake their once perfect friendship, will Will's fear of falling in love and never measuring up, cause him to lose the one and only woman to ever own his heart? 

* This is a companion novel to A Cry For Hope and can be read as a stand-alone.

BOOK TRAILER




EXCERPT
Gabby rambled on until our food came, only stopping when her eyes lit up at the size of her burger.
“Told ya!” I teased.
“Told me what?” she asked, taking a bite from her fry.
“I saw the look on your face when you saw the size of that burger.”
“This little thing?” she asked, looking down at her plate. I nodded. “Oh please, Will. I’ve had bigger ones than this in my mouth.” I almost spit my ice tea all over the place. “I meant burgers, pervert!”
“Mmm hmmm, I bet you did!” She smirked as she smothered her burger in ketchup and relish. “Geez, Gabby. Why don’t you have some burger with your ketchup and relish?”
“I love ketchup!” she said, licking it off her fingers.
“I can see that!”
“Don’t you?” she asked, opening her mouth wide and taking a bite.
“Yeah, but not half the bottle. Definitely not relish, though.”
“Mmmm….you don’t know what you’re missing!” she said, taking another huge bite. “Here, taste.” She held the burger up to my mouth.
“Gabby, it’s drenched in -.”
“Come on, Will. Don’t be afraid to try new things.” I opened my mouth and took a bite. It wasn’t half bad. “Not bad, is it?” she asked with her adorable grin as she picked up the napkin and wiped the ketchup off my face.
I took the top bun from my burger. “Lay it on me, Gabby girl!”
She held her hand up to give me a high five before picking up the bottle of relish and ketchup. “Woohoo! Sister Gabby has made you see the error of your ways. Bless you, Will,” she giggled.
She squirted on the ketchup and relish, and lifted her burger up to her mouth. “Come on, Will. Let’s do it together,” she teased in an overly sexy voice.
“You are a piece of work, you know that?” I chuckled.
She took a bite of her burger at the same time as me. I never thought that someone could actually look adorable chewing food, but Gabby proved that theory wrong. She swallowed it down and took a sip of her milk shake. “Was it good for you?” she asked. Neither one of us were able to control our laughter. It didn’t get any better than being here with her.

Chapter 1 link A WILL TO CHANGE

AUTHOR

Ever since I can remember, I have always enjoyed Creative Writing. There was always something about being able to travel to a different place or become a different person with just the stroke of a pen - or in today's world a touch of the keyboard. I am the author of The Exception To The Rule, An Unplanned Lesson, An Unplanned Life and Drowning In Love and A Cry for Hope. I am currently working on A Will To Change the companion novel to A Cry For hope....stay tuned!





My life is not as interesting as my books or the characters in them, but then again whose life is? I was born and have lived in New Jersey my whole life. I'm a mom of twin teenage boys, a teenage stepson, a crazy Border Collie and a cat with an identity crisis! I guess you can say writing is my form of Calgon! I am married to a wonderful guy - but we'll keep that between us, I don't want him getting a big head! 



Thanks for taking the time to learn about my books and me! If you decide to read them (and I hope you do!) please be sure to go on and review it for me - yes, even if you don't like it!



SOCIAL LINKS


HOSTED BY:



Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Super Book Blast: The Mating Game by Melissa Snark Excerpt & Giveaway


This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Melissa will be awarding a Nordic Lights Dolphin Triskilian Pendant for Guidance and Inner Peace to one randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour, as well as a signed paperback copy of The Mating Game to two randomly drawn winners (US ONLY) via the rafflecopter at the end of this post.


Melissa will be awarding a Nordic Lights Dolphin Triskilian Pendant for Guidance and Inner Peace to one randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour, as well as a signed paperback copy of The Mating Game to two randomly drawn winners. (US ONLY)




Two males…two friends…a competition for the right to claim The Heart of the Iron Stone Pack.

An alpha female at her core, Theresa Sanchez struggles to protect her young daughter, but rivalries and politics create volatility in the pack. As Theresa comes into heat, lust and need rule her body. Her pack demands only the most virile male have her. How can she choose only one mate when her body craves two—the virile beta and the man she loves?

Zachary Hunter will do anything to take Theresa as his mate, even if it means killing his best friend. However, Robert Blane is just as determined to ascend to Alpha. Both their beasts howl to mark her flesh, but only one can survive to claim her. But with enemies circling, they must fight…for the pack, for Theresa, and for a future together.

Warning: Book contains wolf shifters, pack politics, gritty fight scenes, offbeat humor, and sizzling sexual adventures between a ménage of partners.



Enjoy an excerpt:

“Zach, about what I said to Isabel,” Theresa said in a voice riddled with pain. “What you overheard—I never meant to imply that you’re unattractive.”

A quick grin crossed his face, and he bit back a laugh. So, she thought his ego was that fragile, eh? Ever the ham, he adopted an expression of patent relief. “Thank goodness for that. I was starting to feel like an ugly duckling.”

Her cheeks reddened. “I-I…I just don’t want Isabel getting her hopes up or getting the notion that something might happen…”

Zach surged to his feet. He used their joined hands to pull Theresa upright and toward him. He leaned across the small table. Just before their lips met, he felt the gasp of her breath, and then the heat of her skin. He captured her mouth in a kiss. She yielded and opened to him, and his tongue feathered across her upper lip before encountering the smoothness of her front teeth.

Zach settled both of his hands onto Theresa’s shoulders, caressing the smooth bare skin with a circular motion. His sensitive hearing tracked the racing beat of her heart and the accelerated rate of her breathing. He scented perspiration and arousal, and he ached to taste more than just her delicious mouth. He wanted to peel the neckline of her sundress down to expose her full breasts to his heated gaze. He imagined the silk of her thighs and the honeyed flesh between her legs, swollen and sensitive and ready for him.

He kept the pressure of his mouth upon hers light, seductive rather than assertive, because he had to be careful not to frighten her. Under the coaxing stroke of his tongue, her lips parted wider, welcoming his advances, and her tongue stroked his lips and then his teeth with increasing confidence. She tasted smoky and spicy, like peppercorns and paprika, not as he had imagined but so much better. Heavenly. She whimpered and then moaned, and her tongue met his with a bold thrust. Her small hands clung to his shirt, fingers knotted about the soft cotton.

“Mama! I want to watch a movie.”

Isabel’s voice from the other room hit Zach like a bucket of ice water. He released Theresa and moved back. They stared at each other. Her eyes were huge and her skin flushed. Her tongue crept out to wet her swollen lips, which moved as if to speak, until his name emerged as a strangled plea. “Zach?”

Zach looked straight into her eyes, and he saw her fear, uncertainty, and desire. “Don’t count me out so easily, love.”


Fast Facts About Melissa Snark:

• Melissa Snark is published with The Wild Rose Press & as an Indie author with five unique titles: A CAT'S TALE, THE MATING GAME, LEARNING TO FLY, THE CHILD THIEF, HUNGER MOON.
• Her Loki's Wolves series includes THE CHILD THIEF, HUNGER MOON AND BATTLE CRY (to be released in 2014).
• She lives in the San Francisco bay area with her husband, three children and a glaring of cats.
• She is a professional cat herder and unrepentant satirist who blogs about books and writing on The Snarkology.

Connect with Melissa Snark:

Author Website
http://www.melissasnark.com/

The Snarkology
http://www.melissasnark.blogspot.com/

Email: melissasnark at gmail.com

Facebook Author Page
https://www.facebook.com/melissasnark.author

Twitter
https://twitter.com/MelissaSnark

Goodreads
http://www.goodreads.com/MelissaSnark

Amazon Author Page
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0076EEQIU

Available at: 









a Rafflecopter giveaway