Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Servant of Rage by A.Z. Anthony ~ Excerpt


Servant of Rage
A.Z. Anthony
(Bloodrage Trilogy #1)
Publication date: April 3rd 2018
Genres: Adult, Fantasy
To kill an heir is to claim their power. But at what cost?
As the khan’s fiercest headhunters, brothers Subei and Bataar are feared across the steppe. When they’re struck by lightning from a freak storm, however, they awake to find unnatural powers growing within them. And what’s more, they’re not alone.
All across the land other “heirs of the ancestors” have been imbued with these powers. Some call it a gift. Others, a curse. The khan calls it opportunity.
Under the tutelage of two infamous women – one a conqueror, the other a monk – the brothers are sent to the lands of the mighty Zhong empire to hunt heirs and consume their power for the good of the khanate.
With each kill, their powers grow. But so too does something else, boiling beneath the surface until it breaks free in uncontrollable fits of violence. As these so called bloodrages grow stronger and last longer, Subei and Bataar must weigh their duty, and their honor, against the unnatural madness growing within.
EXCERPT:
The other hunters shied from the task, mumbled excuses and accepted easier assignments. Fool’s errands, more like. If ten years of training and two more as a hunter had proved anything, it was that Subei was not one to let an opportunity pass him by.
“Let me get this straight,” Kashi said, shaking his head. “The khan marks murderers, horse thieves, and petty smugglers, but we’re assigned to hunt down the longest serving commander in the entire damned khanate?”
“Assigned?” Subei said with a laugh. “Ancestors above, brother. We weren’t assigned. We volunteered.”
Silence followed. Kashi’s expression, previously one of surprise, descended into a suspicious scowl.
“You volunteered, you mean?”
“Well, as the foremost, I speak for all of us,” Subei said, clapping Kashi and their older brother, Bataar, on the back. “So in the eyes of the khan, we volunteered.”
Subei smiled. There was a significant difference between being ordered to do a thing and volunteering for it. It was the difference between mindless servitude and burning ambition. The difference between being no one and being the khan’s finest hunter.
He held tight to his smile even as anger built in his younger brother’s eyes. Looked a river in the summer rains, swelling until it burst its banks.
“You’re a damned madman.”
“Probably.”
“You’re going to get us killed!”
“Probably that, too.”
“Ancestors damn it, Subei! Can we not just have an easy assignment for once?”
“Kashi, little brother.” Subei shook his head. Had he learned nothing after all this time? “Opportunity—”
“Opportunity is missed by most because it comes soaked in blood and looks to be suicide. You’ve said it a hundred damned times.”
“So what’s the problem?”
“The problem is the part where we hunt one of the fiercest men the steppe has ever known, and probably end up dead as a result.” He cursed under his breath and began to pace back and forth.
Always had been a bit lacking on the courage side of things, had Kashi. A trait from his parents, perhaps. Subei called him and Bataar brother, though they were not brothers by birth but rather by trade. Hunters, trained together from childhood. Subei didn’t share blood with either of them, but after twelve years and countless hunts together, that counted for very little.
Kashi continued to fume for a minute before he finally turned to Bataar.
“Oh, so you’re smiling too?”
The big man shrugged. “It’d be a fine thing to bring down Commander Jian. Horse thieves and smugglers have gotten a bit, well, boring.”
“Boring? Oh, boring is fine. Boring doesn’t end with a spear in my chest.”
Bataar hefted his wicker-and-iron shield and patted the horseman’s saber at his hip.
“You’re the tracker. You find the bastard, we’ll take care of the rest.”
“And after you take care of ‘the rest’ — or it takes care of you — it’ll be my job to drag what’s left of your bodies back to the khan.”
“Well, you won’t have to drag us far,” Subei said, savoring the best part of the news for just a moment longer. “The commander just left camp yesterday. Hardly has any lead on us at all.” He nodded to the west, through the great tent city that always followed the khan’s camp and out to the wide, windy steppe beyond.
“Oh, wonderful. We can catch up to our deaths that much quicker, then,” Kashi said, shaking his head.
“You worry too much, little brother.” Subei smirked and patted him on the shoulder, but Kashi shrugged the gesture away.
“Someone has to, seeing as neither of you care to bother.”


Author Bio:
A.Z. Anthony is best known for his genre-warping fiction whose popularity commonly crashes global markets. Also, his humility. More realistically, he is the author of several award-winning short stories. His debut novel, "Servant of Rage," releases April 3, 2018. He’s also hard at work on an additional standalone novel, the two sequels to "Servant of Rage," and is a contributor at The Fantasy Hive.
You can learn more at Azanthony.com.

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The Grown-Ups' Crusade by Audrey Greathouse ~ Excerpt


The Grown Ups’ Crusade
Audrey Greathouse
(The Neverland Wars #3)
Published by: Clean Teen Publishing
Publication date: March 27th 2018
Genres: Fairy Tales, Fantasy, Young Adult
Gwen has returned to Neverland with Peter Pan and the lost children, but this time, the adults are following close behind.
The Anomalous Activity Department has plans to finally conquer Neverland by bringing the final battle to the vulnerable island. The children will have to rally fairies, mermaids, and allies from other magical realms to stand a chance against the shadow-casting army of grown-ups heading for them.
The black-coat soldiers are far from their only problem. Lasiandra is missing. No one has seen her since Gwen left her at the lakeside with Jay, and the mermaids searching have found only grave omens in the stars. With the island on the cusp of a war that threatens to strip the land of its magic, the last thing Peter and Gwen need is the ancient flagship that appears on their horizon, sailing pirates straight for their shores.
When the battle begins amid old and new enemies, Gwen’s maturity will be a double-edged sword. She will either grow stronger or grow up… maybe both.

EXCERPT:
Gwen gathered fruit as fast as she could in the dim of the early morning. Mangos and marionberries, peaches and papayas, star fruit and oranges… she shoved the land fruit into her bag, never breaking pace as she trekked weast across the island. She needed to get to the coast and back before any fairies awoke. The entire fairy population had indulged in joyful revelries the night before, celebrating some amorphous holiday unknown to humans. The dawn would find even the most temperate fairies still lolling in drunken dreams and merry slumber. But dawn had not yet arrived and not everyone slept; stars still speckled the bluing sky and certain inhabitants of Neverland were still speaking with them.
Tromping over vines and fungi, Gwen bushwhacked her way through the forest-jungle on anxious feet. The mermaids had not been helpful as of late.
The new mermaids she’d met wouldn’t even give her their names. Eglantine and Cynara had been snide at best, and contemptuous at worst. Gwen wouldn’t have minded it—she didn’t care what mermaids thought of her—but she felt certain they knew what had happened to Lasiandra and refused to explain. This drowsy morning offered her a chance to tempt them with an overabundance of land fruit without anyone noticing. She would persuade the mermaids to cede their starry secrets and hurry back before any stray fairy or curious child found her at the incriminating lagoon.
Gwen reached the wood’s end and hurried down the steps carved into the chalky cliff face. She moved so fast she half-flew toward the slender figures half-submerged in the lagoon.
Gwen had not seen Lasiandra since the night she escaped with Jay from Lake Agana. In the chaos, she had never retrieved the scale from Lasiandra, and thus lost her ability to call her friend. She hadn’t worried about it—until days and weeks passed without sight of her at the lagoon.
“What business have you with Lasiandra?” Eglantine had demanded last time Gwen visited. “What matter is she to you?”
“I’m just worried about her,” Gwen had answered, innocent and truthful. The region’s entire Anomalous Activity Department had been on duty that night, trying to apprehend lost children and capture whatever magic followed them. Lasiandra’s disappearance was ominous, to say the least. A few fairies had not returned from the mission, and there was no question of what fate had befallen them.
In response, the mermaids had only mocked her, contorting their melodic voices into cackling imitations of her land-dwelling accent, “I’m just worried about her.”
“Worried about her! Concerned about a mermaid?” Cynara had declared, insulted and amused. “We are not of such a feeble nature as you landmaids. Mermaids have more strength in a single scale than you have in all of your heart. You need not worry for a mermaid, girl. We can take care of ourselves.”
Gwen had wanted to believe her.



Author Bio:
Audrey Greathouse is a lost child in a perpetual quest for her own post-adolescent Neverland. Originally from Seattle, she earned her English B.A. from Southern New Hampshire University's online program while backpacking around the west coast and pretending to be a student at Stanford. A pianist, circus artist, fire-eater, street mime, swing dancer, and novelist, Audrey wears many hats wherever she is. She has grand hopes for the future which include publishing more books and owning a crockpot. You can find her at audreygreathouse.com


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Monday, March 26, 2018

The Determined Duchess by Erica Monroe ~ Spotlight


Death is just the beginning in this dark, emotional Gothic Regency Romance...

After the death of her beloved guardian, Miss Felicity Fields is left adrift, her future uncertain. Grief-stricken, she launches a plan to use the ancient art of alchemy to bring back to life the woman who was like a mother to her. The last thing this blunt bluestocking needs is the return of Nicholas Harding, the Duke of Wycliffe and rightful owner of her home on the wild coast of Cornwall. He stirs an unexpected passion within her, and Felicity has had enough change in her life.

When they were children, Nicholas never understood his aunt's brilliant but unemotional ward, or her many strange scientific studies. He ought to take her back to London, so she can make a proper society match--except he can't stop thinking about her. But with the line between life and death blurred by Felicity's experiments, can he convince her that she's no longer alone, and her proper place is by his side?

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo

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Meet the Author:


USA Today Bestselling Author Erica Monroe writes dark, suspenseful historical romance. Her current series include Gothic Brides (Gothic Regency romances), The Rookery Rogues (pre-Victorian gritty working class romance), and Covert Heiresses (Regency spies who are the children of a duke). She was a finalist in the published historical category for the prestigious Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Romantic Suspense, and her books have been recommended reads at Fresh Fiction, Smexy Books, Smart Bitches Trashy Books, and All About Romance. Her favorite things include coffee, profanity, comic books, and television. She lives in the suburbs of North Carolina with her husband, two dogs, two cats.

Connect: Site | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Giveaway:

  • $10 Amazon Gift Card + an eBook copy of The Mad Countess

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Angels Fall by JA Huss and Jonathan McClain ~ Excerpt


Angels Fall
J.A. Huss & Johnathan McClain
(Original Sin #2)
Publication date: March 27th 2018
Genres: Adult, Romance, Suspense
Sometimes angels fall.
Maddie doesn’t really owe drug lord, Carlos Castillo, money. So she hadn’t taken his threats seriously. Until now. He wants it, whether she owes it or not. And if she doesn’t have it in six weeks he’s gonna take her as payment instead.
Tyler would save the world if he could. That’s a fight that lasts forever. And if there’s one thing he’s good at, it’s fighting. So if Maddie thinks she’s gonna deal with an insane drug lord on her own, she’s crazier than he is.
She’s got a debt she can’t pay. He’s got more money than he needs.
She’s not gonna fall for his charm. He’s gonna make sure that happens.
They’re destined to be together. Even if Maddie doesn’t know it yet.
Sometimes your soul mate isn’t who you’d choose, it’s who you need.
Good thing you don’t get to choose.

EXCERPT:
MADDIE
“Who the fuck invited you?” I snarl at Tyler. “And how the hell did you even find out where I live?”
“I stopped by Pete’s. Met Pete. Sweet guy, by the way. I would’ve imagined a strip club owner as being kinda—”
“Pete told you where I live?” Jesus. Thanks, Pete. Fuck.
“No, no, not exactly.” Tyler’s standing way too close to me now. The girls are pretending not to be able to hear him, but it’s clear they’re eavesdropping. I hope they’re better at fucking guys for money than they are at spying.
Tyler leans in closer still, and I really, really wish he would not do that. Because I hate him and don’t want him anywhere near me. Or maybe because I can feel the heat of his body and he kinda smells delicious. Which just pisses me off more because I hate him.
He lowers his voice and continues explaining how he found me. “Don’t be mad at Pete. He didn’t want to tell me where you live. Seems like a really ethical guy.”
“Except he did tell you where I live.”
“Well, yeah, but it cost me five grand.” My eyes go wide. “I mean, he’s ethical for, y’know, a guy who runs a strip joint.”
Nope. This is not going down like this. “Get. Out.” I’m pointing at the door now.
“No!” Diane whines. “No, no, no. We’re just getting to know him, Maddie! Oh, my God. This guy. Where the hell have you been hiding him all these months?”
“Where have I been hiding him?” I see red as I go to him, hands out, and slam them into his chest. The force of my push makes him step back… half a step. Maybe. “I wasn’t hiding him anywhere, you traitors! This asshole ducked out on me years ago. And when I needed him, when I was begging him to—” I shake my head to clear my mind. “And then he shows back up and thinks everything’s gonna be fine just because we fucked a couple of times when I didn’t know it was him!”
There’s a beat before Annie says, “You fucked him?” with, like, way more excitement in her voice than she should.
“Not the point!” I shout as I slam my hands into his chest again.
But this time, he grabs my wrist and stops me, saying, “Can we please talk?”
I struggle in his grip, but he holds tight. I clench my teeth and spit, “Let go of me.”
He does. Immediately. Both hands up as if in surrender.
I decide to change my strategy. Because clearly Tyler Morgan is being Tyler Morgan. He attracts people to him like a siren song calling sailors to the rocks. He knows how to play up the act he perfected long ago. Seemingly genuine, charismatic, and fascinating as he leads the rest of us to our destruction.
So I pull the friend card out and whirl around to face Annie, Diane, and Caroline. Taking a deep breath, I say, “He’s not what you think,” in the calmest tone I can muster. My voice is shaky. My hands are trembling with anger. But I hold it together. “He ruined me,” I say. “He broke me into tiny pieces, dropped me to the ground, and walked all over me.”
Annie just stares at me, confused.
“What do you mean?” Diane asks.
“He left me, Diane. After Scotty died. He left me alone. He never came back. He never even showed up for his funeral. I begged him,” I say, starting to cry. “I begged him and he told me to stop. He just went on with his life like nothing happened. Like my brother didn’t just die the most horrific death possible. Like what we all meant to each other was meaningless. So I hope one of those stories he told you about our childhood included that little fact. And then…” I continue, drawing in a deep breath, willing the strength it takes to get this last part in so I can twist that knife in his chest the way he did mine. “And then he went off and made millions of dollars. Been living it up in a goddamned penthouse, no cares at all. No worries at all. While I’ve been back here…”
But I lose it there. I can’t say the words selling myself. Because I’ll die right now if I have to say that. I’ll die.
There’s a filled beat while everyone stares at Tyler, who never breaks eye contact with me. And I really wish he would. Because his eyes are sad and hurt-looking and no fucking way will I fall for that shit. No. Fucking. Way.
Caroline mutters, “He’s a millionaire?”
Jesus Christ.





Author Bio:
Two accomplished writers come together to create unforgettable sexy romance. JA Huss is the New York Times bestselling author of 321 and has been on the USA Today bestsellers list eighteen times. Johnathan McClain is a veteran actor and writer whose work, either performed or written, is probably airing on at least one of the channels on your television right now. You can contact them on their website www.hussmcclain.com or find them at their social links below.
STALK JULIE
FACEBOOK / TWITTER / INSTAGRAM
STALK JOHNATHAN
FACEBOOK / TWITTER / INSTAGRAM


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Wednesday, March 21, 2018

The Highlander's Norse Bride by Cathy & DD MacRae




Title: The Highlander's Norse Bride (Hardy Heroines #4)
Author: Cathy & DD MacRae
Genre: Adult, Historical Romance
Publisher: Independent
Length: 131 pages
Release Date: March 17, 2018

Caught between two kings vying for sovereignty of the Isles and Western Scotland, Hanna of Hällstein has lost everything—and vows to repay the Scots for the deaths of her husband and children. Fleeing the smoldering ruins of her village, Hanna crosses the Strait of Mull and chooses the Laird of Clan MacLean as the object of her revenge.

Alex MacLean has buried a wife and three children. Ignoring the clamors for him to wed again and produce an heir, he finds himself drawn to a Norse refugee who defies him and tests the limits of his patience—and his power as Laird.

Torn between revenge and honor, Hanna fears setting aside her vow of vengeance means she has lost her reason for living. Alex is determined to save her, even if it means defying the king.

Purchase: Amazon

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Meet the Authors:


Cathy MacRae lives on the sunny side of the Arbuckle Mountains where she and her husband read, write, and tend the garden—with the help of the dogs, of course. You can visit with her on facebook, or read her blogs and learn about her books at www.cathymacraeauthor.com. Drop her a line—she loves to hear from readers!


* * *
DD MacRae enjoys bringing history to life and considers research one of the best things about writing a story! With more than 35 years of martial arts training, DD also brings breath-taking action to the tales. You can connect with DD through www.cathymacraeauthor.com. It’s always exciting to hear from readers!

Connect: Site | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads - Cathy | Goodreads - DD

Giveaway:

  • $20 Amazon Gift Card

 

Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Dominion by Julie Hall ~ Excerpt


Title: Dominion (Life After #3)
Author: Julie Hall
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Publisher: Independent
Length: 365 pages
Release Date: March 19, 2018


After defeating the red dragon’s legion of bloodthirsty demons, Audrey can finally settle into the afterlife with the knowledge her family is safe. But her quest for a perfect existence shatters the moment Logan is kidnapped in an attempt to bend her to Satan’s will.

Audrey must now travel to the one place no hunter has ever ventured to save the man she loves . . . Hell.

Savage demons, desiccated corpses, life sucking zombie trees, and a land of death and rot await Audrey and her friends as they battle through the fiery realm.

But Logan’s freedom comes with a price . . . the destruction of Audrey’s happily ever after.

As Satan schemes for dominion over all the realms, Audrey learns that some acts may be beyond redemption.


**********
Excerpt
Naps were amazing. I loved naps. They were so magically awesome I wanted to marry them and have a nice long relationship with them.
            My body buzzed with energy even as I snuggled into the soft bedding. Something warm and solid was at my back. Some sort of heated pillow?
Mmm, I like.
With eyes still closed, I shifted closer to it and nuzzled a second heated pillow beneath my head.
            “Finally. She’s alive,” a campy male voice announced.
            “Oh, don’t wake her just yet. They look so cute together. I feel like I need to capture this with a camera.”
            Wait. What?
            “You know how mad she’s going to be when she wakes up and finds out you’ve all been staring at her sleeping. Especially with her hair all crazy-like.”
That male voice rumbled along my back and shifted my warm pillow. I cracked an eyelid.
            That’s not a pillow; that’s an arm! Which means . . .
            I grabbed the top blanket and hauled it over my head. Jerking myself away from Logan’s arm and the side of his body, I armadilloed into a ball beneath the covers.
            “I hate you all.”
            “What was that?” Kaitlin asked. “You love us the most and think we are the best? Oh, so sweet! We love you too.” She blew loud kisses at me from the other side of my makeshift blanket shield. She was the worst.
            Tremors from Logan’s direction started to shake the bed, reminding me that I was very much still lying next to him . . . in front of our friends.
            Letting my legs lead, I slipped out of bed and then army-crawled beneath it. The room was silent for several heartbeats.
            “Did I just see my granddaughter slide out of your bed and sneak under it?”
**********
AUTHOR BIO:
Julie Hall is a USA Today bestselling YA fantasy author and 1st place winner of the 2012 Women of Faith national writing contest. She was also was awarded "Best Debut Author" at the 2017 Ozarks Indie Book Festival.

Before writing her first novel Julie worked as a film publicist and rubbed elbows with the rich and famous . . . as in she would gently nudge them to let them know their meal had arrived during press interviews.

She now spends most of her "office hours" with her two furry writing buddies. Her daughter thinks that mommy's superpower is “sleeping all day,” but that’s because she’s often awake until the wee hours of the morning weaving tales of adventure in worlds of her own creation. When asked in an interview what she wanted to be when she grew up, she’s quoted to have answered, “to never have to grow up.”

She currently lives in Portland, Oregon with her four favorite people--her husband, daughter, and two doodles (because dogs are people too).




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Friday, March 16, 2018

February in Atlantis by Alyssa Day ~ Excerpt


February in Atlantis
Alyssa Day
(Poseidon’s Warriors #2)
Publication date: March 12th 2018
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance
When Poseidon’s elite warriors gear up to train a new generation of fighters, they have no idea that Atlantean Queen Riley has secretly taken on a new role: Matchmaker. By the end of the year, she plans to find soul mates for all twelve of Atlantis’s fiercest warriors . . .
. . . whether they like it or not.
Twelve all-new adventures in the hotly anticipated world of Poseidon’s Warriors, coming once a month from New York Times bestselling author Alyssa Day. These books are sexy, romantic, and wickedly addictive —welcome to 2018! And welcome to:
A Year in Atlantis
Warning: This book contains magic, Atlantis, Poseidon, warriors, human nationalists, falcon shifters, an armed standoff, a surfer boy, a king and queen, the FBI Paranormal Operations division, a black sheep, bad boys, paranormal romance, fantasy, matchmaking, laughter, danger, kisses, and a happily ever after. Read at your own risk!
Praise for the Alyssa Day’s Atlantis:
“Inventive and electrifying. An exhilarating new series!” —Romantic Times
“Alyssa Day roars onto the paranormal scene with this tense and magnetic read.” —Romance Junkies
“Fascinating and intriguing . . . Fantastic reinvention of Atlantis.” —Huntress Reviews
“Breathtaking paranormal romance.” —Fresh Fiction
“Wow! What a spectacular series opener . . . The love scenes are sizzling hot.” —OnceUponARomance.net
“The world-building is superb . . . The Warriors of Poseidon are a sexy, chivalrous, and dangerous team [who] create an atmosphere of testosterone so thick you can cut it with a knife; the interaction between this brawny bunch is priceless.” —ParaNormal Romance Reviews
“A cast of sexy but tormented alpha heroes.” —The Romance Reader
EXCERPT:
Jake pulled out the dagger he always carried with them and crouched down to slice open the ropes that had caught the Fae and banged her against the side of the ship hard enough to knock her out. He had no idea why someone this powerful – and he could tell power from the way her skin was shimmering even when she was unconscious – would have let herself get close enough to the ship to get captured in the nets, but none of that mattered. What mattered was that she was going to wake up furious any minute now and nobody wanted an angry Fae within shouting distance. Especially not on anything as fragile as this ship. There was steel, certainly, and steel still had power over the Fae. But wood and vinyl and other materials had been used to fabricate this ship, and nobody would want to be around to see what a powerful Fae could do to a ship—or her crew—when she was furious.
Especially not Jake.
“She doesn’t have a tail, see? Not a mermaid,” he repeated as he kept cutting, hoping none of them would ask about the translucent scales that covered her legs and most of her body.
“I don’t think so, Surf Boy,” an almost comically squeaky voice said. That is, you might think it was comical until you looked up and saw the mountain of a man speaking. Bangles, so called because of his tendency to wear dozens of gold and silver bracelets, was only a few inches shy of seven feet tall and sometimes, like when he was looming over Jake right at this minute, seemed to be almost as wide. The first mate was too big, too ugly, and too mean for anybody ever to make fun of his voice.
Jake had heard that the last person who did so was currently decorating the inside of a shark’s belly, and he’d been in pieces before the shark got to him.
“She’s a mermaid, and she’s ours,” Bangles yelled, playing to the crowd surrounding him. “We caught her, so we keep her. Finders keepers.”
“Still not a mermaid,” Jake said, sighing.
BOOM.
Jake struggled to keep his balance when the blow struck his side of the ship. The Kraken was not kidding around.


Author Bio:
Alyssa Day is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than forty novels filled with kissing, laughter, mystery and magic. Alyssa’s paranormal series include the Poseidon’s Warriors and Cardinal Witches paranormal romances and the Tiger’s Eye Mysteries paranormal mysteries. In an Alyssa Day book, the good guys (and gals!) always win and happily ever after always prevails!
Alyssa's many awards include Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA award for outstanding romance fiction, and the RT Reviewer’s Choice Award for Best Paranormal Romance novel of 2012. She's a recovering trial lawyer who loves life outside of a courtroom. Her books have been translated into a zillion languages but she’s still holding out for Klingon.
You can hang out with her on Facebook (www.facebook.com/AuthorAlyssaDay), Twitter (@alyssa_day), where she talks about her rescue dogs and her future pug ranch, and her blog, where she talks openly about her struggles with depression and hosts Mental Health Check In Fridays (www.alyssaday.com/blog).
Text ALYSSADAY to 66866 or stop by her website to sign up for the newsletter and get release day news, behind-the-scenes scoop, win prizes, find out where Alyssa will be making personal appearances, and more! And if you love to talk books, join the DayDreamers!

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Thursday, March 15, 2018

Wheeler by Sara Butler Zalesky ~ Excerpt


Wheeler
Sara Butler Zalesky
Publication date: July 4th 2016
Genres: Adult, Romance, Sports, Suspense
Loren Mackenzie has overcome many obstacles in her life to be an elite professional cyclist in the Women’s World Tour in Europe. Known as the Ice Queen of the peloton, she rarely shows emotion in the heat of competition; inspiring her team with quiet strength and determination. But her cool confidence masks a dark past filled with horrors.

A change in management of Loren’s cycling team brings her face to face with a life she thought she left behind, adding to the pressures of competition. When a chance meeting with an A-list celebrity quickly develops into a whirlwind romance, the cameras of the tabloid-media focus on Loren, revealing the cracks in her facade.

The affair also exposes a menacing rival, threatening not only her chances in the World Championship but her life. When love and obsession collide, Loren stands in the center of a storm.

Can she find the courage to defeat her inner demons, or will her fear and shame consume her?
FREE from March 12-16 only!
Coming soon – book 2: In Darkness, There Is Still Light
Sneak a peek at Chapter 1:
Atherton Leaves Her! Has the Actor’s Whirlwind Romance with the Pro Cyclist run its Course?
“Yes, Charlotte, he left me. In the airport, to fly back to California.”
Loren Mackenzie knew the headline in The Sun was an exaggeration, but the World Champion time trialist still felt the sting. As her pro cycling season draws to a close, Loren looks forward to taking a break from training and a reuniting with her boyfriend, Graham Atherton. When rumors and innuendo begin to swirl around them, secrets they have kept from each other shake their relationship to its foundation.
Echoes from the past ripple into the present, giving Loren a bittersweet reunion with a love she thought was lost. But, reliving the fractured memories of her childhood has left her afraid to dig deeper; lest the monsters that dwell in the dark corners of her mind drag her down again.
Meanwhile, obsession and greed churn into a storm on the horizon, threatening Loren and those closest to her. When the tempest hits and the dust finally settles, what is uncovered tilts the axis of her world.
Loren must find the strength to believe that even in darkness, there is still light. There is still hope. There is still love.
The following is the first chapter of In Darkness, There is Light.
***
3 October
New York
It’s not over. It’s not.
Loren Mackenzie let out a sigh, her eyes following the blinking lights of a jetliner as it disappeared into the distance over Kennedy International Airport. He’s just going back to work in California and I’m going home, to England. She let out an even longer sigh. Just two more races and I get to take a real break. How perfect would it be to just go lie on a beach somewhere with him.
Her gaze refocused on the reflection of a man approaching her in the window; his long, confident stride and athletic form quickened her pulse. She turned to face him, but her smile dissolved into a hard frown when he was stopped by a group of fawning teenagers, begging for autographs and selfies with him.
Yep, I had to fall in love with an A-list actor. As Graham Atherton separated himself from the group to continue toward her, Loren forced a smile, but it didn’t stick as he stopped again to become engrossed in his mobile. He looked up from the screen to continue on his way.
“Sorry about that, love,” he said to her. “Just a text from Ron. He said he’ll ring you when he gets into London to discuss setting up a meeting. Is that alright with you?”
She squinted an eye. “So I have people now?”
“I do come as somewhat of a package deal. All that, you know.” He thumbed at the disbursing crowd behind him. “And Ron’s a bit more than just my agent,” he said. “He’s my best mate and I trust him.”
“That’s nice of him to offer.” She turned back to the window as Graham came up behind and wrapped his arms around her.
“Talk to me, love.”
“It’s just, this is the longest we’ve been physically together, and I don’t want it to end.” Her shoulders drooped. “I’m sorry I’m whining. I’m just tired.”
“No, darling, you’re not just tired,” he murmured. “You’ve been completely shat on.” He kissed her neck then tightened his arms around her. “You won the time trial Championship in Richmond, but you had to put up with all the nonsense from the press. And then losing the road race, which even that BBC reporter, Theo Arnold agrees was not your fault.” Graham came around to face her with pinched brows.
“But if that weren’t enough, you had to deal with me throwing your past in your face.” He cupped her cheek. “I still feel awful for that, and I want to help you, but I have no idea how.” Loren kissed him, then put her arms around his waist and held him close.
“I just want this, and more of it when I see you again.” He gave her a squeeze then drew away to glance around them. “Graham?”
“Grab your bag and come with me.” He bent to pick up their carry-ons, then led her to a private seating area, far away from prying ears and eyes. He took a seat on the small sofa across from her and held her hand with both of his.
“Darling, I know how hard it was for you and your aunt to talk about what happened to your mother and sister, and I’m awfully proud of you for doing that,” Graham said and glanced down at their clasped hands. “I also know Maggie gave you all of the photos and documents she found in the attic, and you have the file my father’s man put together.” He grimaced. “I want to ask that you don’t look through all that again by yourself.”
“Is that all?” she chuckled softly. “Here I thought you wanted to have a quickie or something.” His stare was somewhere between being shocked and wanting to laugh; his laugh won.
“I love you.” But his mirth it died out as his bright blue eyes studied her. “I have a present for you, and I wanted to save this for your birthday, but it’s burning a hole in my pocket.” He removed a small red velvet box from his jacket and her jaw dropped.
“What are you doing?” she whispered.
He leaned in closer, smirking. “I’m not asking; I’m giving. That’s all.” Her hands shook as she took the box and opened it. Nestled inside was a platinum ring of two clasped hands holding a red stone shaped like a heart, capped with a crown.
“It’s a Claddagh. I’ve always wanted one,” she said, smiling at him. “What’s the stone?”
“It’s a garnet,” he replied. Taking it out of the box, he slipped it on her left ring finger, the hands facing outward. Graham held her gaze as tightly as her hand. “With this crown, I pledge to you my loyalty. With these hands, I offer you my service, and with this heart, I give you mine.”
Loren couldn’t speak as her brain reset. “I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything, love. The stunned look on your face says it all,” he chuckled, but her eyes welled up.
“I didn’t want to cry in public, dammit,” she hiccupped, covering her mouth. He pulled her to sit on his lap, brushing her tears from her cheeks, but Loren frowned at him. “You had this with you the whole time we were together, and you’re just giving it to me now?”
“Well, yes and no,” he countered. “It belonged to my great-grandmother, so I’ve had it for a while, but it needed to be resized. It’s a complicated process, you know.” She kissed him then moved off his lap to the sofa but kept her legs draped over one of his.
“It’s beautiful. Thank you.” She settled her head on his shoulder, breathing in his scent and grazing her lips against the scruff on his jaw. “I don’t want you to go,” she whispered.
“I don’t want to either, but we both have jobs to do.” Graham held her tighter. “I’ll be home before you can miss me.”
She squeezed her eyes closed to hold back the tears. I miss you already.
He cleared his throat. “Loren, about the file﹘.”
“Who am I going to talk to, other than you or Maggie?”
“You can’t talk to Cece about it?”
She shook her head. “How can I talk to her about something I’ve never told her?”
“Perhaps you should.”
Loren sighed. “I need to talk about all of this with my brother, my real brother,” she replied. “I need to find him.” Graham moved back to see her, his mouth curled down.
“I know I have no right to ask this of you, but will you wait until I come home to do that?”
“Yah, I can wait. Hell, I don’t even know where to start looking,” she grumbled, and he kissed her forehead.
“I do love nothing in the world so well as you,” he murmured.
“Je connais,” Loren whispered, sliding her arms around his neck and kissed him.


Author Bio:
Sara was born in the wee hours of a November night in New York City. When her family moved to a small borough in northwestern New Jersey, she had little choice but to move as well. Self-sufficiency is a tough thing for a toddler.
The dichotomy of being the middle child of three, but the only girl, was difficult, as typically no one really pays attention to a middle child. Mostly, Sara spent her time creating fanciful stories in her head when she should have been focused on other things, an issue that continues to this day.
Most of these stories have never been shared, let alone completed. This all changed in the spring of 2015, when Sara was encouraged by a friend to expand upon a short story she had accidentally emailed to him. The result is 'Wheeler’, a romantic, women's fiction/sport novel, which combines the author's romantic inclinations and her passion for cycling.
Sara currently resides in the suburbs of Philadelphia, PA, with her loving husband and their son. She is a paralegal for a boutique law firm in Chester County, Pa, an avid road cyclist and indoor cycling instructor at a national chain.
Follow the author’s blog at sarabutlerzalesky.wordpress.com or on Twitter @sarazalesky. She does a little dance every time someone ‘follows’ her on Twitter. Really.

Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Door in the Garden of Shadows by April Canavan ~ Spotlight



Title: Door in the Garden of Shadows (Destruction of Magic #3)
Author: April Canavan
Genre: Adult, Fantasy
Publisher: Independent
Length: 280 pages
Release Date: March 3, 2018

***The Destruction of Magic is an ongoing series of standalone stories featuring different supernatural families***

There are rules that every supernatural faction lives by. The fae are no exception. Light and Dark, good and evil. Every choice has a consequence, and magic always comes with a price.

Mykah has lived her life for her people, giving everything that she possibly could…until she couldn’t handle anymore. Five years have passed since the beginning of the end, and she was expected to sacrifice herself to right a wrong. Instead, she ran. She ran away from her home, the people she loved, and the life she dreamt of living. Now she finds herself facing not only her past but a future that’s impossible for her to grasp.

To a vampire like Tyler, honor means everything. He has given his life to the throne and will do so until the unlikely day that he dies. His life has never been disrupted, until the day a pint-sized woman calls him a marshmallow only to disappear before he can figure out why she entices him.

Finding herself means more than discovering love, grasping happiness, or anything else that has come before in Mykah’s life. It means being able to choose which path her life will take. Knowing what her future holds, can she choose to walk away from the only man who makes her hesitate?

Purchase: Amazon

Add to Goodreads


Meet the Author:


April spends her time wandering through the woods chasing after a precocious child, trying to keep the voices of her characters in check as they tell their stories. Sometimes, though, those characters need to be heard. That’s when you can find April curled up into a ball surrounded by snacks and playlists with her favorite music, fleshing out the stories in her mind’s eye. She is a member of the Maine Romance Writers. You can find her on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Connect: Site | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Giveaway:

  • $20 Amazon Gift Card

 

Monday, March 12, 2018

The Promotion by Mika Lane ~ Cover Reveal


The Promotion: A Reverse Harem Novel
Mika Lane
Publication date: April 18th 2018
Genres: Adult, Romance
You know that saying “I get by with a little help from my friends?”
Well, that’s not me.
I don’t take help. Not from anyone. At least I didn’t, until I was backed into a corner. With no choice.
And when help came my way in the form of several handsome guys, I wasn’t sure if my situation had gone from bad to worse.
Or if it was just what I needed—and what I’d actually needed all along.


Author Bio:
Writing has been a passion of Mika’s since a young age (her first book was "The Day I Ate the Milkyway"), but erotic romance is now what gives purpose to her days and nights. She lives in magical Northern California with her own handsome alpha dude, sometimes known as Mr. Mika Lane, and an evil cat named Bill. A devotee of the intelligent and beautiful, and lover of shiny things, she’s a yogi, hiker, traveler, thinker, observer, and book worm. She has been known to drink cheap champagne and has way too many shoes.
A National Reader's Choice Awards finalist, Mika always deliver a hot, sexy romp, often with imperfect characters, and a promised happily ever after (or at least happy for now).
She LOVES to hear from readers, and can be found at www.mikalane.com, and facebook.com/mikalaneauthor, when she's not dreaming up naughty tales to share.

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Black and Blue by Cynthia Rayne ~ Spotlight


Black and Blue
Cynthia Rayne
(Black Star Security, #1)
Publication date: March 12th 2018
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Life can leave you bruised
Former Navy SEAL, Jackson West, is starting over. After his son died, West chose between serving his country and being the parent his young daughter deserves. He’s missed too much already and isn’t wasting another second. West formed Black Star Security with his military buddies, and they’re gonna kick a little @ss. For a price.
Sometimes you need a second chance
Deputy U.S. Marshal Annie Foster accidentally got her partner killed during a routine prisoner transport. Now three dangerous felons are roaming the Kentucky countryside, and it’s all her fault. West is also hunting the fugitives and Annie’s assisting. She’s devastated but determined to make it right. Although, Annie didn’t count on West, a big, bad alpha male who’s an intoxicating mixture of ruthless and tender.
Will they capture the escaped convicts? And will West and Annie take a chance on each other?


Author Bio:
Cynthia Rayne is the USA TODAY bestselling author of the Black Star Security Series, the Lone Star Mobster Series and the Four Horsemen MC Series. While Cynthia was born and raised a damn Yankee in Ohio, her parents hail from Dixie, and she grew up on homemade buttermilk biscuits and southern wisdom. In her spare time, she enjoys shopping, reading way too many romance novels, and drinking a truly obscene amount of coffee.

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Thursday, March 8, 2018

Beneath by Maureen A. Miller ~ Excerpt


Here’s your FIRST LOOK at USA Today’s bestselling author Maureen A. Miller’s upcoming young adult novel, BENEATH! Join us as we get our first peek at this dark YA adventure with a touch of romance. where an accident in the Atlantic Ocean brings a fate, no one could imagine. Check out the excerpt and enter to win a $25 Amazon gift card!

Title:  Beneath
Author: Maureen A. Miller
Release Date: March 26, 2018
Publisher: Self-published
Genres: YA
Page Count: 340
Format: Print and digital 

An overnight fishing trip on the Atlantic Ocean…

It was Stella Gullaksen’s final break before starting her freshman year at college. Joining her best friend, Jill, and Jill's family aboard the STARKISSED, Stella wakes to a violent storm that capsizes the boat over a hundred miles off the New Jersey shore.

As the waves haul her under Stella knows that she is going to die. Instead, an unusual current drags her deep into the underwater canyons of the Atlantic Ocean. Powerless against the raging waters, she is suddenly sucked into a ventilated cave. One by one, Jill and her family also emerge in the sunken cavern.

With only a faulty diving flashlight to keep oblivion at bay Stella and her best friend's brother, Colin, search the cave in hope of finding a way back to the surface. What they discover, however, is that they are not alone. There are other survivors in this subterranean grotto–survivors spanning decades of maritime disasters.

Will this discovery prove salvation, or have they all been condemned to the same fate? A grim finale at the bottom of the sea?

On an alliance forged by friendship and attraction, Stella and Colin battle to escape the danger that lies beneath.

Add to your Goodreads shelf now!

Pre-Order Now: Amazon | B&N |  iTunes | Kobo

BENEATH Excerpt
Copyright © 2018 Maureen A. Miller

Colin moved, shaking Stella from her daydream.
“Come on. Stay close,” he instructed.
Close. There was no problem with that command. There was no way she was being left behind in this subterranean abyss.
As they started forward, her toe clipped Colin’s heel causing her to stumble and plant a palm on his back for support.
“A little too close,” Colin muttered over his shoulder.
Stella’s hand snapped back. It wasn’t the first time she had inadvertently touched her best friend’s older brother.
In high school, she had taken many fishing trips with the Wexlers. It was common for them to spend the night out at sea so that Jill’s dad could reach the best fishing spot. The cabin was tight on the STARKISSED, and normally Colin would sleep on the bench seat beside the kitchen table while the three females monopolized the v-shaped bed.
On one occasion she, Jill, and Anne Wexler retired into the cabin for the night, while Colin and his father remained up on deck. Stella and Jill took the bunk on one side of the V, and Anne slept on the other. At some point the boat pitched slightly on a wave and Stella rolled off her tight perch into the gap between the mattresses. Expecting to hit the floor she instead landed on something pliant. Something strong. Something that smelled like the sea and Irish Spring.  
Stella was a junior at the time. She had already been kissed and maybe pawed a little, but she still had very little knowledge of what a man felt like. Now she was pinned to a wide chest with her legs twined between his. Planting her palms on the carpet, she clambered for balance. Heat rushed to her cheeks and it seemed every move she made to dislodge herself only made matters worse.
Colin didn’t say a word. Powerful arms hefted her back onto the mattress and just like that, his silhouette climbed through the hatch and back onto the deck.
Ever since that incident she had a tough time looking him in the eye. It wasn’t just because of the awkwardness of the situation. The truth she concealed was that she had a big-time crush on her best friend’s brother.

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About Maureen A. Miller:

USA TODAY bestselling author, Maureen A. Miller worked in the software industry for fifteen years. She crawled around plant floors in a hard hat and safety glasses hooking up computers to behemoth manufacturing machines. The job required extensive travel. The best form of escapism during those lengthy airport layovers became writing. 

Maureen’s first novel, WIDOW'S TALE, earned her a Golden Heart nomination in Romantic Suspense. After that she became hooked to the genre. In fact, she was so hooked she is the founder of the JUST ROMANTIC SUSPENSE website. 

Recently, Maureen branched out into the Young Adult Science Fiction market with the popular BEYOND Series. To her it was still Romantic Suspense…just on another planet!

Follow Maureen:  Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub | Instagram