Archive for April, 2013

Appetizers and Giveaways ~ Damaged by H.M. Ward

Posted: April 18, 2013 in Blog Tour, Contemporary Romance, giveaways, New Adult
Tags: ,
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Hi ya’ll. Welcome to my stop on the tour for Damaged by H.M. Ward hosted by AToMR Tours

I have several goodies for you.

First, check out this cover art. Nice, eh?

Read the synopsis and then enjoy the appetizers.

Don’t forget to enter the giveaways!

Yep, there are two!

damaged

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Title: DAMAGED

Author: H.M. WARD

Publisher: Laree Bailey Press

Release date: April 6, 2013

Genre:  Contemporary Romance

Age Group: New Adult

Event organized by: AToMR Tours

Buy Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Book Description:

A new adult romance novel by New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Author H.M. Ward

Life sucks. And, as soon as Sidney picks up the pieces something always knocks her back onto her butt. It’s never pretty, but this time is different. This time pretty isn’t even the right word.

Peter is the personification of perfection. It’s like he fell off his angel perch in purgatory, because let’s face it–any guy that hot has got to be naughty. He was probably sent here to ruin her life.

Peter is beyond beautiful with his sexy blue eyes, dark hair, and toned body. Add in his charming wit and Peter is everything Sidney ever wanted in a man, but when things get hot and heavy Peter shows her the door. Sidney takes the walk of shame and leaves. It’s the end of the worst blind date ever. Her life couldn’t possibly reach higher levels of suckage, but it does.

The next morning everything comes crashing down. The insanely hot guy from last night, the one that saw her half naked, is teaching at the front of the class room.

Genre:  New Adult Romance Novel, approx. 325 pages

Enjoy this sample platter and don’t forget to enter the giveaways.

#1:

Uncertainty lines Peter’s gaze. “I can’t do this anymore. Every time I see you, it’s like I’ve had my heart ripped out of my chest. I can’t eat, I can’t sleep. It’s not a crush. It was never a crush. I love you. I took too long to say it. I took too long to fix this, but I choose you.”

#2:

Last time she tried to set me up, I ended up on a date with a twitchy klepto. Let’s just say things didn’t go well. He picked up everything, except the check.  The time before that was equally horrifying. I missed some verbal cue and the guy ended the night with a face full of pepper spray.

#3.

I stand there for a moment, not knowing if I’ve been stood up, when I feel the hairs on my neck prickle. Someone is looking at me. I feel the gaze on the back of my neck. I turn slowly and scan the room. A set of eyes, as blue as gemstones, gleam back at me. My stomach flutters. Oh, holy hell, he’s hot. I walk slowly towards his table, my heart banging against my ribs.

Giveaways

I have one e-book copy of Damaged to giveaway.

***International giveaway***

To enter, please leave your email address and answer this question,

“Have you ever had a crush on your teacher?”

All available electronic formats via Smashwords code.

Additional Giveaway

This giveaway is from the author to celebrate the release of DAMAGED.

This giveaway is US Only:

Panel 0

Click on the rafflecopter link below to enter.

Rafflecopter Giveaway

About the Author

NEW YORK TIMES & USA TODAY Bestselling author H.M. Ward is a native New Yorker living in Texas. Ward was featured in the Washington Post for her debut novel Demon Kissed. Romance series by H.M. Ward include Secrets, Scandalous, The Arrangement, and The Secret Life of Trystan Scott.

Author social media links:

Facebok: https://www.facebook.com/DemonKissed

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorHMWard

Twitter: https://twitter.com/hmward

Blog: http://Blog.DemonKissed.com

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

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Mactus ~ The Light-Bearer and the Blood-Hunter

Posted: April 18, 2013 in angels, Paranormal or fantasy, reviews, Romance, Series, Vampires
Tags: , , , , ,
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light bearer banner

I just love this series!

Exciting news for all of you.

Charmeine, Book One will be free to download from smashwords on Friday, April 19th.

Mark your calendar and go here to get yours.

Use this Code – HB94P

You won’t want to miss the beginning of this beautiful series.

Now, let’s get to Mactus, Book Two.

I’ve tried not to put in any spoilers:)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mactus (The Light-Bearer Series, Book 2)“Mactus” is the Second Novel in “The Light-Bearer Series.”  The romance and action develop and deepens between our two ill-fated lovers, Tabbruis and Charmeine.

“Mactus” means well-done in Latin, and as our Tabbruis and Charmeine proclaim their love for one another, they are reminded of the daunting task before them.  However, their union is joyous and very romantic. 

Tabbruis and Charmeine’s love deepens and grows stronger.  However, they are both thrown when Charmeine is revealed to be the Queen of Light and Tabbruis is the King of Darkness!

Their son, Shane, brings an addition to the family, his fiancée, Sandra Gomez!  She bonds with Charmeine and Tabbruis instantly.  Can Charmeine and Sandra work together to defend themselves from the powerful Elder Council Blood-Hunter Pascal’s attack?

“Mactus” is a romantic and exciting book and a page turner from the beginning to end! 

My Review 

It’s always difficult to review the next book in a series.

In Mactus you get the same magnetic romance between Charmeine and Tabbruis, along with some huge surprises.

I was either sighing over Char and Tab, or chuckling about Shane.

I also did a lot of ‘take this’ and ‘take that’ when the evil-doers showed up. Every time one fell, I’d do a fist pump!

Emily’s love for her characters is shown in their love for each other. Never have I read a book with such love and devotion in a family. I get a goofy grin on my face when they share their emotions so freely with each other.

He leaned to her and whispered, “Semper tuus ero, Charmeine.”

She whispered back, “Semper tua ero, Tabbruis.”

There is more than one love story being told in Mactus.  And Charmeine has some heavy decisions to think about. But I believe this family is tough enough, strong enough, to triumph over any obstacle.

As I closed the book, I studied the cover and my mind wandered. And I dreamed.

I can’t remember what I dreamt, but the feeling of joy stayed with me all through the day. I’m sure Emily’s characters had something to do with that.

Each book gets better and better as you become more committed to this family.

Light and dark. Angels and vampires. The Light-Bearer series casts a spell of charm and holds you tight.

aEmily's Angel

5 Halos for Mactus

.

Book Trailer for Charmeine – Mactus – Accendo in The Light Bearer Series

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOiaAGKlEN0]

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Synopsis…

Of

“The Light-Bearer Series”

Can romance develop between a Heavenly Light-Bearer and a Hellish Vampire Blood-Hunter?

“Charmeine” the First Novel in “The Light-Bearer Series,” was released January 2012.

Charmeine: Book One

Charmeine (The Light-Bearer, #1)

Go here for my review.

Tabbruis is a Blood-Hunter, he drinks blood to survive. Over millennia Tabbruis has wandered the Earth alone aimlessly living through many historical events.

Charmeine just came to the Earth in 1997, unable to remember anything.

When Tabbruis meets Charmeine the attraction is immediate and passionate. They are polar opposites and clash together in a strongly romantic and dramatic way. When she meets Tabbruis, Charmeine’s powers as a Light-Bearer, one who throws lightning, is triggered and grows exponentially.

Will Charmeine and Tabbruis fulfill their destinies?   Will they realize their importance in both the Blood-Hunter and Light-Bearer world? 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Accendo (The Light-Bearer Series Book 3)“Accendo” is the Third Novel in “The Light-Bearer Series.”  Reality knocks our two star-crossed lovers, Tabbruis and Charmeine into the now when they have to plan to battle the Evil Blood-Hunter Elder Council.

Charmeine is cut to the core because of Tabbruis’ lack of faith in her ability to lead.  Will their love survive?  Will their faith in each other be tested as they begin their new life together? 

Tabbruis and Charmeine find their close relationship is challenged with unbelief and lack of trust.  The battle to freedom from the Dark and Evil forces which Lucifer has let loose on the Earth is harder than Tabbruis and Charmeine ever imagined.

Their family also suffers a serious loss.  Can they recover and pick up the pieces?   “Accendo” is a romantic and exciting book is a page turner from the beginning to end!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SeditiousThe Fourth Novel in “The Light-Bearer Series” is “Seditious.”  This book is the continuation of Tabbruis and Charmeine’s romantic and turbulent love story and mission on Earth to battle Lucifer’s minions!

Tabbruis and Charmeine’s life at the ‘Castle Charmeine’ is blissful until reality of the ruling the Elder Council Blood-Hunters hits them in the face.

In “Seditious” Tabbruis and Charmeine find that their love is tested in the most heinous way possible. 

Then, as a one-two punch, Lord Cromwell, one of the most deadly and powerful Blood-Hunter ever has escaped the Elder Council Prison.  Lord Cromwell sends his beautiful agent to cause trouble for Tabbruis and Charmeine and wants something that they have!

Charmeine runs away from the ‘Castle Charmeine’ to forget the betrayal of her most beloved husband Tabbruis. 

Can Tabbruis win Charmeine back?  How can he make her understand?

Exciting all the way to the end!  ”Seditious” will have you turning page after page in this story of passion, betrayal and seduction.

“Seditious” the fourth novel, will have you riveted from the beginning.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

5Ransom new cover“Ransom” is the Fifth Novel in “The Light-Bearer Series” Can Tabbruis convince Charmeine, his love and soul-mate to take him back?  Will Charmeine be able to forget the pain of the past?

Tabbruis and Charmeine take their new family on a much needed and impromptu vacation; however, there is always a twist and turn for them to recover from.

The children of Dmitri are growing up fast and there is an addition to the ‘Castle Charmeine’.

Lord Cromwell, plans a deadly attack on the ‘Castle Charmeine’ and he takes something precious to Charmeine.  However, he wants something in exchange.

Can Charmeine and her family battle this deadly adversary?

Tabbruis and Charmeine’s family bond together to fight Lord Cromwell and more surprises are in store for the star-crossed lovers, Tabbruis and Charmeine!

A must read for all who have read “Charmeine,” “Mactus,” “Accendo,” and “Seditious” in “The Light-Bearer Series.” However, “Ransom” can be a stand-alone novel in its own right!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Conundrum,” soon to be released in early 2013 will undoubtedly have more of Charmeine and Tabbruis’ adventures along with their family!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

About Emily Guido

Image of Emily Guido

Emily Guido is a very New Paranormal Romance Author.  She was inspired to start writing “The Light-Bearer Series” because one day she got an idea of two characters of light and dark who needed to have their epic romance story told.  Not ever dreaming a week later she would have over a 100,000 words written.  When Emily writes, it is similar to you or I watching a movie.  She pictures the characters in her head going through vivid descriptions of each scene.  There are so many nuances going through her mind that she cannot type fast enough. She has written five  novels, “Charmeine” “Mactus” “Accendo” “Seditious” and “Ransom”  The sixth novel in “The Light-Bearer Series.” is entitled “Conundrum” and will be released early 2013.

Where to find/follow Emily:

Website: http://authoremilyguido.com/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5764521.Emily_Guido

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/Emily__Guido

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thelightbearernovelist

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Two Giveaways/Two Winners & A New Giveaway!

Posted: April 17, 2013 in giveaways, Winners!
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winners photo: winners winners.gif

It’s that time again.

Time to announce the winners!

The winner of an e-book copy of Bitter Angel is:

Deborah M.

~

Murder on Olympus (Plato Jones #1)

The winner of the paperback copy of Murder on Olympus is:

Sherry F.

Congratulations!

All winners have been notified.

Thanks to everyone for your comments.

I do love reading them and hope you continue to visit fuonlyknew!

Thanks so much to authors for their wonderful books and for letting me host their giveaways.

*****For all of my giveaways go here*****

Now I have Evans Light here to tell you about his new book and giveaway!

Enter for your chance to win one of 10 signed advanced reading copies of Screamscapes (Limited Edition), before the June 1st release date!

Sign up anytime between April 15-May 15, 2013.

Giveaway link: http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sho…

Screamscapes

Book Description:

Screamscapes: The new collection of modern horror showcasing the dark fiction of Evans Light.

Lingering lovesick ghosts and wives hellbent on revenge, along with sinister demons, forgotten campgrounds, underground mutants and malintent friends haunt these ten strikingly original stories of horror and suspense.

Includes the bestselling novella, ArborEATum!

Stories include:

* Crawlspace
* Whatever Possessed You?
* ArborEATum
* Dark Curtains
* Gertrude
* Black Door
* The Mole People Beneath the City
* Pay Back
* Nose Hears
* The Package

If you like scary, suspenseful, macabre and horrifying stories, you’re gonna love this!

I’d love to keep telling ya’ll about some really great books.

Subscribe by email and lets talk!

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WWW Wednesday #5 ~ Magic, Creatures, and A Freebie!

Posted: April 17, 2013 in Book Promos, Meme, WWW Wednesday
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WWW Wednesday

looking out a window photo: girl looking out the window girl-looking-out-the-window.jpg

Hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?

• What did you recently finish reading?

• What do you think you’ll read next?

~

What are you currently reading?

Water's Blood

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Nature’s Elementals—Earth, Wind, Fire, and Water—have lived for countless millennia. Disguised as humans, they are charged with one mission: protect the innocent from fallen angel clans, who reap human souls and force them to do their bidding.

Brooke, a Water Elemental stationed in New Orleans, broke the rules once—she mated with a human. For her indiscretion, she is forbidden to share a life with her loved ones: NOPD officer Alex and their half-breed daughter, Ella.

Now Ella is about to turn sixteen, and the local clan of fallen angels is determined to snare her soul by Halloween.

Brooke broke the rules once by allowing love to interfere with her mission. Now she and Alex must put consequences aside to break the rules again—if they wish to save their daughter’s soul.

Tearing through this one!

~

What did you recently finish reading?

Super Dark (Super Dark, #1)

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For fans of Stephenie Meyer comes a chilling love story that will have you hooked from the very first page.

Darkness stalks seventeen-year-old Sam Harper. Ten years ago on Halloween night, grotesque creatures snatched her best friend Elliot and Sam narrowly escaped with her life. Now a decade on, the police investigation has ground to a halt and Elliot’s whereabouts remains a mystery.

Traumatized by her ordeal, Sam finds it hard to make friends. She is mistrustful of authority and changed schools more times than she cares to remember. To her, the world is cruel and unforgiving.

Then she meets the enigmatic Lee Weaver. With his gorgeous face and magnetic presence, he turns heads wherever he goes. Sam has never wanted anyone as much as she wants Lee, but there are things about the alluring stranger that don’t add up, leading Sam to ask unsettling questions about her past. Soon she discovers the boy of her dreams is keeping a terrible secret: one that threatens to destroy everything Sam holds dear . . .

Super Dark is a seductive love story that will keep you guessing right until the final page ..

My review is coming soon!

~

What do you think you’ll read next?

Eyes Like Sky and Coal and Moonlight

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Free right now on Amazon. Go here to get yours.

Small Press newcomer, Paper Golem, debuts the first in a annual series of single author collections by brilliant new authors. EYES LIKE SKY AND COAL AND MOONLIGHT brings together twenty stories from the extraordinary talent of fantasy author Cat Rambo. Here are tales from seaport city of Tabat, both before and after the sorcerous wars that destroyed the Old Continent. Here are alchemical explanations for failed blind dates. Here you’ll find a dryad, the last great elephant, and an uneasy blur of humanity. Cat Rambo doesn’t simply amaze and delight, she restores wonder to her readers with every page. You won’t simply believe that pigs can fly, you’ll question why you ever doubted the premise at all.

The cover art hooked me!

So, whatcha readin?

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Giveaway ~ Promo ~ Moonlit by Jadie Jones

Posted: April 17, 2013 in Book Promos, giveaways, Mystery, otherworldly, Paranormal or fantasy, Romance, Series
Tags: , , , ,
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I was so excited when I saw this tour. The cover art is wonderful and when I read the synopsis I just had to read Moonlit.

I will be posting my review during the blog tour in June. Now I just need to be patient until then:)

Moonlit

Eighteen-year-old Tanzy Hightower knows horses, has grown up with them on Wildwood Farm. She also knows not to venture beyond the trees that line the pasture. Things happen out there that can’t be explained. Or undone. Worse, no one but she and the horses can see what lurks in the shadows of the woods.

When a moonlit ride turns into a terrifying chase, Tanzy is left to question everything, from the freak accident that killed her father to the very blood in her veins. Broken and confused, she turns to Lucas, a scarred, beautiful stranger, and to Vanessa, a charming new friend who has everything Tanzy doesn’t.

But why do they seem to know more about her than she knows herself?

Amazon Kindle * Amazon * Goodreads

WiDo Publishing * Barnes & Noble

Praise

“Virginia’s trees look like they’re burning. Most of them blaze crimson or gold, but some still have a chokehold on their green. I wish they’d give it up already. Leaves are more beautiful when they’re dying.”

And so Moonlit begins. From here the story rolls from one twist to another with many vivid characters whose motives are hard to predict. I found myself being suspicious of everyone, wanting to tell Tanzy to be very careful. The deeper I fell into the plot, the more questions kept rising to the surface. But not to worry, all of my questions were answered. Appropriate for all ages, if you love paranormal fantasy mixed with suspense, mystery and other-worldly romance, you’ll love this novel!

~Author Julie Ford

Prologue

The first anniversary of my father’s death was even harder on my mother. Back then, I thought she was haunted most by what she didn’t know. I refused to blame her when she raged above me on our staircase that night, drunk and sad and angry. When she made me promise I’d never ride again. When she hurled a half-full bottle of vodka at my face and it exploded on the wooden stairs at my feet. I hadn’t tried to get out of the way. She had just missed.
I wanted to tell her that knowledge was no solace, that what you know can burn inside you until there’s nothing left but guilt and ash. I also wanted to protect her from losing the only piece of him she had left. So I didn’t say a word.

Author Jadie Jones

Georgia native Jadie Jones first began working for a horse farm at twelve years old, her love of horses matched only by her love of books. She went on to acquire a B.A. in equine business management, and worked for competitive horse farms along the east coast. The need to write followed wherever she went.
She currently coaches a hunt seat equitation team that competes in the Interscholastic Equestrian Association, and lives with her family in the foothills of north Georgia. When she’s not working on the next installment of the Moonlit series, she is either in the saddle or exploring the great outdoors with her daughter. Moonlit is her first book.

~

Book Blast Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 5/5/13

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Giveaway ~ What happens in Vegas….

Posted: April 16, 2013 in Adult Fiction, Book Promos, Humor, Romance
Tags: , ,
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BB Vegas Vacation Banner

Welcome to my stop on the Book Blast for Vegas Vacation.

After you read the synopsis and fun excerpt, enter the giveaway to win some great prizes.

BB Vegas Vacation Book Cover Banner

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BLURB:

It’s spring break, and a group of teachers from Half Moon Bay Middle School are planning to cut loose. History teacher Meg Phillips hadn’t planned on being one of them—Vegas isn’t really a town for a bookworm—but somehow she let her friend Anne talk her into it.

Though honestly, she’d rather indulge in some poolside reading than co-star in an R-rated edition of Teachers Gone Wild.

It took some major arm twisting for Finn Walsh to convince his fellow gym teacher, Anne, to do whatever it took to get Meg to Vegas. For over a year he’s been looking for the chance to get to know her outside of work. He’s drawn to her quiet beauty and intelligence—and the hint of fire beneath her understated exterior.

When he finally gets the opportunity to peel away those layers, the result is far more explosive than he ever fantasized. Now to convince her that the week isn’t a wildly out-of-character mistake, but the start of something amazing…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT

 

Meg got stuck in the middle seat on the plane.

She should have known it was a bad sign. The seventh grade science teacher, Carla, dumped her rum and Coke all over Meg’s white shirt and tan capris on the flight to Vegas. No amount of dabbing in the miniscule airplane bathroom had managed to get the sticky stain out or removed the stink of distillery that floated in a cloud around her.

Awesome start to the vacay.

She slumped in her seat, feeling disgusting, and cranked up the volume on her iPod to drown out the two English teachers’ giggling. How had she let Anne talk her into this? How could her three best friends have conspired against her this way? She could be home with a glass of wine—in her hand and not on her clothes—reading the new Cleopatra biography, sitting in the wicker chair on her balcony with her feet propped on the railing. She clenched her teeth as turbulence made the plane shudder and her stomach flip.

Thank God this was a short flight.

Thirty minutes later, she was waiting for her luggage to come around the carousel. The flash of bright lights and jarring sounds from the slot machines made her head ache. The cacophony seemed to permeate every inch of the airport. She really should have stayed home and played a hermit—it had to be more fun than this. The rum and Coke had formed a stiff crust in her shirt, bra, and capris. All she wanted right now was a hot shower in the hotel. Her stomach rumbled loudly—a reminder that she’d been trapped in the plane during lunchtime. Food would be good too, but cleaning up and a new set of clothes came first.

She refocused on the luggage carousel just in time to see her bag go trundling past her. Leaning forward, she made a grab for it. And missed. “Crap!”

“Got it.” Finn plucked the heavy suitcase from the conveyer belt as if it weighed nothing.

Of course, it had to be him who came to her rescue. The smile he gave her was enough to melt any woman’s resistance and leave her panting after him. With his auburn hair, laser blue eyes, and body to die for, he was too gorgeous for words, and he clearly knew it. She stiffened her spine when he beckoned her toward him. She knew she needed to retrieve her bag, but getting anywhere near the man was a hazard to her mental health.

She wanted him. It was as simple and as complicated as that. She wanted to use his very fine body as her personal jungle gym. All night long. This kind of visceral reaction to anyone was completely foreign territory for her, but her hormones did a tango every time he was nearby, reminding her it had been a very long while since she’d made time to go on a date, let alone get laid.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Giveaway

Crystal will be awarding 5 digital copies of her backlist story, “All Tangled Up” to randomly drawn commenters during the tour, and a grand prize pack of a copy of “All Tangled Up”, a $10 Amazon or BN gift card, and a Vegas-inspired playing card necklace to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

So leave a comment for Crystal. Something about the cover or the book or just say hello!

Prize

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

CrystalJordanAuthorPhoto

Crystal Jordan is originally from California, but has lived all over the United States. Currently, she serves as a librarian at a university in her home state, and she writes contemporary, paranormal, futuristic, and erotic romance. Her publishers have included Kensington Aphrodisia, Harlequin Spice Briefs, Ellora’s Cave, and Samhain Publishing.

Links:

Website: http://www.crystaljordan.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/crystaljordan

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CrystalJordanFanPage

Buy links will be added to the book’s page on my website as they become available: http://www.crystaljordan.com/books/vegas-vacation

 

Giveaway ~ i have people ~ Review & Prologue

Posted: April 16, 2013 in Blog Tour, giveaways, Mystery, reviews, Romance
Tags: , , , ,
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Feeling forgetful? Can’t remember where the heck you set down your keys? Your glasses?
 
We’ve all been there.
 
But . . . what if you forgot your life?
 
What if that life wasn’t worth remembering?
 
In spite of the happy cover, I HAVE PEOPLE deals with the sensitive issue of domestic abuse. It is about learning to recognize a good man versus a bad one. It’s about second chances and finding love, real love. 
 
The overpowering message behind I HAVE PEOPLE is that verbal, mental, and physical abuse is NOT OKAY! EVER!
 
Read along and learn Holly’s story. It will change your life.

The Book:

23349309I Have People

by Taylor Dean

Paperback, 366 pages

Published September 19th 2012 by Create Space



Premise:

Missing any memories? 

Holly Sinclair is happily married to the love of her life, Gabriel. Young and in love, Holly hopes to have their first child soon. Of course, Gabriel wants to wait till Holly’s health is restored, much to Holly’s dismay. She feels perfectly fine. So what if she just woke up from an eight-month coma? So what if some of her memories are missing? She remembers Gabe and that’s all that matters, right?

That is, until HE enters her life again . . . she forgot about HIM.

The Prologue to I Have People 


When I write, I like to catch the attention of the reader immediately. Hopefully the prologue to I Have People does just that. The prologue begs several questions:

“Who is HE?”

“What happened between HIM and Holly?”

“Why is there a restraining order?”

“Who is the HE who should be there by now?”

“What is it that the perpetrator ‘never meant’ to do?”


Image courtesy of [digitalart] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

One short prologue = five questions–and I’m sure you could come up with even more! With any luck, it’s exactly what’s needed to reach out and grasp the reader’s attention! The greatest compliment an author can receive is when a reader says, ‘I couldn’t put the book down.” Love that!

Below is the prologue to I Have People. Tell me what you think–does it whet your appetite and make you want to read more? Love to hear from readers!

 
A knock on the door startled Holly. He was
early. She smiled to herself, then ran to the door as the knocking became
insistent. Maybe he couldn’t wait to see her, maybe he was just as excited
about tonight as she was. Maybe. She opened the door eagerly, a mid-October
chill meeting her skin.
Her smile died on her face. It wasn’t who
she was expecting. In her excitement, she’d let her guard down.
“Hello, Holly Noel.”
“What are you doing here?”
“Aw, c’mon, I just want to see you, baby.”
“It’s over and you know it. Please leave.”
Fear trickled down her spine. How far would he go this time? Holly began to
slam the door shut, to close him out of her life, to remove him from sight, to
push him into non-existence. If only it could be so. The edge of the door
bounced against his foot and slammed backwards, hitting her directly in the
face. She felt her lip swell as blood trickled down her chin.
Oddly, she thought about the mess it would
make on the carpet.
“See what you made me do? If you wouldn’t
be so unreasonable, these things wouldn’t happen.”
“Please leave. You’re violating the
restraining order. I’ll call the police.”
“You and I both know you won’t do that. You
love me, I know you do.” He pushed his way into the apartment. She didn’t
follow. “I don’t want to fight with you, baby. Why do you always have to make
things difficult?”
Holly knew she was in trouble. She’d known
it since the moment she’d stupidly opened the door without checking to see who
it was. It wasn’t a luxury she could afford. Ever.
 “Don’t do this, it will only make things
worse. If you leave now, I won’t press charges. Just leave, peacefully and
quietly . . . please,” she begged.
His lips formed a wicked leer as he
scoffed. “You’ll always be mine, Holly. Why can’t you see that?”
Holly stepped outside the apartment door
and he followed, standing too close. If she made a mad dash for the stairs,
could she escape him? She wasn’t sure, but she doubted it.
“Stay back! It’s over. I want nothing to do
with you. Just let it go.” Where is he?
He should be here by now.
The expression on his face turned stricken.
“How can you say that? After all we meant to each other. I know you don’t mean
it.”
“I mean it. I hate you. I want you out of
my life,” she told him with steely determination.
“Don’t say that.”
“I hate you! Leave me alone!” she said,
this time louder, hoping to attract attention.
He walked closer and shoved her, making her
stumble. “Stop it,” she warned. They were making a scene on the landing of her
second story apartment and she knew he was very aware of the neighbors opening
their doors and peeking out with curiosity.
A mask of twisted rage contorted his
features. She knew that look all too well.
“I can’t believe you would say that,” he
said through gritted teeth, his face red with anger.
He shoved her again, but she maintained her
footing. “It’s over,” she reiterated bravely. “Leave me alone.”
Another shove, this time hard. Her back hit
the railing with surprising force. Holly knew in that moment he’d finally done
it.
He’d finally killed her.
She felt the railing give way and knew she
was going down and there was nothing to stop her fall.  Even though a blood curdling scream rent the
air, even though her hands flailed wildly in an attempt to grab hold of
anything that might save her from this outcome, a strange feeling of peace
washed over her. In that moment, time stood still. She seemed to fall in slow
motion as her life passed before her eyes.
This wasn’t her fate. It couldn’t be. Where is he?
“Holly!” he screamed when he realized what
was happening. His remorse over his actions always came too late. The damage
was done. And this time it was irreparable. Really, it always had been. He
attempted to catch her, desperately groping the air for any piece of her that
might stop her descent.
It was too late.
He didn’t mean to do it.
He never meant to do it.
~
My Review
From the synopsis and the prologue you get what this book is about, or do you?
Yes, it’s about domestic abuse, about spousal abuse. A tough subject to write about.
Taylor does it as gently as she can. You read about the abuse Holly suffers at her husband’s beefy fists. The physical and emotional terror he inflicts.
You also read about Holly’s courage, her spirit that rises up when she’s had enough.
She awakens from a coma 8 months later and the first thing she says is “Gabriel.”
Where is her angel, her husband.
This is where you discover you don’t quite know where the story is going.
There is a mystery to be delved into. One that Holly’s husband , Gabriel, and her best friend, Angela are keeping hidden from her.
On several occasions, Holly catches them whispering when she enters the room.
I was waiting for her to get mad, to finally yell at them to tell her what they were hiding from her.
She knows they won’t tell her. Insisting she must remember on her own, when her mind is ready.
At first I thought she gave in too easily. But the more I thought about, I could see where she was probably terrified to remember. She knew it would be painful.
One scene I really liked was where Holly was explaining about her imagination and how it worked.
“Well it goes something like this. I’m in the elevator, staring at the back of a woman’s red coat, and I begin to think that maybe I should paint my living room wall red which leads to thinking that I really need to vacuum the living room, which leads to wondering what I’ll do this weekend…….” I’m just like that! My mother always told me, I think too much.
I adore Gabriel. He really is the boy scout Angela accuses him of being.
And who wouldn’t want a friend like Angela. She’s sweet and funny and a loyal friend. I’d like to read her story. And I’d like to get to know her pack of brothers too, especially Dimitri.
Maybe we’ll here from these characters again.
Until then, I urge you to read i have people. You’ll cry, you’ll laugh, you’ll want to kick someone, but most importantly, you’ll want to hug someone.
You’ll want to hug “your people.”
 5 Stars for i have people
While I received this book to review, I went ahead and bought it so I could read it on my kindle. I have most of Taylor Dean’s books as paperbacks and will soon be adding this one to my bookshelf. Her covers are beautiful and when I love a book I have to be able to hold it. I’ll be adding more of Taylor’s books to my shelves as she releases them. Each and every one:)

The Tour:

8 –  Launch!
9 – Snuggling on the Sofa – Review; Amnesia
–          Sylv Jenkins – The Cover of I Have People
10 – PauseTime – Review; The Music that Inspired I Have People
11 – TheBroke Book Bank – Ten Things You Don’t Know About I Have People
12 – Mel’sShelves – Review; The Worth of a Soul
14 – TheReaddicts – Review; Two Kinds of Love
15 – Paulette’sPapers – A Gentleman Who Says “Gosh”
–          Christy’s Cozy Corner – Review; The Inspiration behind I Have People
16 – fuonlyknew – The Prologue to I Have People
17 – Tressa’sWishful Endings – Review; The Locations Featured in I Have People
18 – LiteraryWinner – Review
19 – GettingYour Read On – Review; Soooo Cliche!
21 – That Girl Reads – Review; Two Kinds of Men
22 –  A Tiffyfit’s Reading Corner – My Favorite Character in I Have People – Beck Valley Books – The Title of I Have People
23 – Deco MyHeart – Review
–          Mrs. Mommy Booknerds Book Reviews – Review
24 – GreenMountain Couple – Review
25 – icultgen – Friendship
  – I Am a Reader, Not a Writer  – When is it Abuse

26 – Grand Finale Blast!

 

The Author:


Taylor Dean lives in Texas and is the mother of four grown children. Upon finding herself with an empty nest, she began to write the stories that were always wandering around in her head, quickly finding that she had a passion for writing, specifically romance. Whether it’s paranormal, contemporary, or suspense-you’ll find all sub-genres of romance in her line-up. 

The Giveaways:

5 prize packs to US winners: 1 signed paperback, 1 tote bag, 2 bookmarks, 1 “I Have People” pencil, and 1 “I Have People” pink dog tag necklace.
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10 ebooks to US or International winners

Open only to those who can legally enter. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and announced on Rafflecopter and Grand Finale posts as well as emailed and the winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Burgandy Ice @ Colorimetry and Prism Book Tours and sponsored by Taylor Dean. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck ya’ll!

Teaser Tuesday’s # 20 ~ Kissing Fire by A.M. Hargrove!!

Posted: April 16, 2013 in Humor, Meme, New Release, Romance, suspense, Teaser Tuesdays
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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page.
•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
~

My tease for today is from A.M. Hargroves newest release Kissing Fire.

Now available!

KissingFire amazon GR Smashwords

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Releasing April 15th!

This scene is from when Avery is interrogated by the airport gestapo! I had to include most of it as I loved it.

“How can you explain this?” one asked as he held up the wrapped box.

“The present from Melissa?”

“Don’t be a smart ass with us Miss. What is your name?”

“Avery Middleton.”

“Miss Middleton. How can you explain this?”

“It’s a gift from Melissa.”

The FBI guy groaned and rubbed his head. The door opened again and another TSA agent came in with one of those big German Shepherd guard dogs. The dog came up to me and I reached out my hand to pet it. I thought it was a handsome looking dog and I’d always loved animals.

“Hi there fella,” I said.

The damn thing nearly took my hand off as it growled and snapped at me, while the agent pulled it back by its leash. I screamed at the top of my lungs and everyone jumped to their feet as the room broke out in chaos. I leaped up on the table fearing the beast was going to chow down on me for lunch, as it was now foaming at the mouth while his saliva was gushing out and pooling on the floor.

“Are you all trying to kill me or something?” I hollered.

“That’s a bomb sniffing dog! You’re not supposed to pet the damn thing. It’s trained to attack!”

“Well, it would’ve been nice if ya’ll had told me! Dern, it nearly ate my arm!”

“It did not!”

“Did too! What kind of place are ya’ll running here?”

Leave it to Anne to have me laughing at and loving Avery.

How about you? Got a tease? Tell me!

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Gateway to Reality ~ Scavenger Hunt Giveaway

Posted: April 15, 2013 in Blog Tour, giveaways, otherworldly, Romance, Science Fiction
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Welcome to my stop on the Scavenger Hunt for Gateway to Reality by Becca Campbell. Please, enjoy the post, enter the giveaway and read on for details about bonus entries in the scavenger hunt!

GATEWAY TO REALITY; A MIND-BENDING URBAN FANTASY TALE BY BECCA J. CAMPBELL

GtR kindle cover final websize scavenger hunt

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Gateway to Reality, now available at Amazon US and Amazon UK and Barnes and Noble.  Keep reading for a chance to win one of three prize packs!

Description

Talented artists shouldn’t be waiting tables, scraping by, and living mediocre lives. But that’s exactly what art school graduate Wes Teague is doing.

Then he wakes from a bizarre dream, haunted by the sense that his life isn’t real. A harrowing truth presents itself–the real world lies in his dreams, not when he’s wide awake.

The dream world he enters each night is rich and vibrant. Chicago appears the same on the surface, but chaos runs rampant as gravity, physics, and other laws of nature become fluid, changing unexpectedly. There, Wes’s parents, brother, and sister are strangers. His girlfriend Emily doesn’t recognize him. Wes longs to return, to unlearn the truth about his dual reality.

Wes would sacrifice almost anything to get back to blissful ignorance in a false world.

But now he has feelings for the real Emily.

My Review

Are our dreams real or are our lives a dream?

That’s what Wes Teague is about to discover.

He’s a struggling artist waiting for his big break.

Then he wakes up one day and everything appears out of focus, like peering through a cloudy lens.

Everything familiar feels out of sync and his life feels ,just, wrong.

He’s about to learn his current life is a dream, and the bizarre dreams he’s been having are real life.

In the world of his dreams, he’s lost his love, Emily. In real life, she doesn’t even know him.

Whew, what a step out of reality.

I felt like Wes. It was overwhelming to contemplate the ‘real’ world. Everything was chaotic and seemed without purpose.

Why would he choose this world? Maybe because he can have a fresh start with the new Emily, and his job is to create worlds. What better task than to imagine other worlds and build them?

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But he still yearns for Emily. The Emily he loved and lost in his dreams.

Does he have a choice of which world to live in and which one should he choose?

Gateway to Reality is like peering through a kaleidoscope, dazzling you with its possibilities.

Rebecca gives you a love story and  a search for one’s self,  with a science fiction flavor. I can honestly say, I’ve never read anything like it.

The author showed me a new reality in a way I could understand without becoming confused. It kind of reminded me of The Matrix as far as the dreaming, but it also made me think of an old Twilight Zone episode where a girl could create different realities.

I enjoyed feeling like I had stepped out of this world to read Gateway to Reality, but I’m glad I’m still here in mine.

It is just a story….. right?

Four Stars for an out of this world story.

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~

Giveaway
~
I’m really excited about the giveaway. For those of you who may not know, the majority of the story takes place in Chicago, and it is heavily intertwined with the Cloud Gate sculpture (aka the Bean). All that comes together in the big prize pack. Here’s a peek at the prizes:
  • Grand prize: Chicago theme prize pack (autographed paperback of Gateway to Reality, a journal with an artistic representation of Chicago on the cover, Cloud Gate button, Gateway to Reality button, Gateway to Reality postcard, Cloud Gate postcard, and Crown Fountain postcard. (US only)
  • Second prize: autographed paperback of Gateway to Reality and Gateway to Reality postcard. (US only)
  • Third prize: entire Becca J. Campbell eBook library (Gateway to Reality, Foreign Identity, Not the Norm, and Unmasked Alloy). (All countries)

 Enter the rafflecopter giveaway

Visit all of the stops, collect the clues, and Good Luck

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Happy Hunting!

The Scavenger Hunt Blog Tour

You can enter the giveaway now, but to really amp up your odds at snatching one of these prize packs, check out each site along the blog tour.

April 1st     Paranormal and Urban Fantasy Reviews

April 2nd     The Peasants Revolt

April 3rd     Catharsis of the Bogue

April 4th     The Pen and Whisk

April 5th     Write for Life

April 6th     S.M. Boyce

April 8th     Paranormal Lounge

April 9th     Lisa Is a Bookworm

April 10th     Jade Kerrion

April 11th     Paper Book Princess

April 12th     Now is Gone

April 13th     Worlds Away Book Blog

April 15th     FU Only Knew

April 17th     Sarcasm and Lemons

April 18th     Brandon R. Luffman

Your Thirteenth Clue

Wes visits many worlds in the Existence. Here’s your challenge in this scavenger hunt:

Collect the names of the fifteen worlds in Gateway to Reality (one will be revealed each day).

Following the schedule above, collect a world name at each stop, and when you have them all, plug that list of 15 worlds into the giveaway below to win a BONUS TEN ENTRIES.

HERE’S YOUR THIRTEENTH WORLD:  Crestview Drive

Continue with your hunt tomorrow at Sarcasm and Lemons. Good luck!

About the author

Becca J. Campbell

An avid lover of stories that tiptoe the line between fantasy and reality (even when they plunge off one side or the other), Becca J. Campbell looks for new angles on bridging the gap between the two. She holds a special place in her heart for any story that involves superpowers or time travel. Her passion is defying the limits of her own creativity.

Becca’s journey into writing began as many of her other creative endeavors do – by daring herself to try something new. The question “what if I wrote a novel?” and some hastily scribbled notes on a church handout were the inspirations that jump-started her first book. Since then, she has written three additional novels and several shorter works.

As the wife of a musician and mother of three young boys, Becca’s life is never dull. Whether it is writing, painting or knitting, she enjoys making stuff that wasn’t there before. You can find her blog, Inspiration for Creation, at http://www.beccajcampbell.com.

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What’s New on my Bookshlelf # 14

Posted: April 14, 2013 in Book Promos, giveaways, Meme, reviews, What's New on My Bookshelf
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This is my own version of a weekly bookhaul post where  I’ll be telling you about all of the books I got this week, whether print or e-book plus all things bookish.

I got a few books this week, some free, some for review, and some I purchased just for my reading pleasure.

I also post reviews on another blog aknifeandaquill . It’s all about horror. If someone doesn’t die, we don’t do it here!

Here’s one I picked up to review on both blogs. Double exposure for the author:)

The Seething Place

Here are some freebies I picked up to review on fuonlyknew.

Abraham Road: A Novella  Dead Hunger: The Flex Sheridan Chronicle

Got some good ones!

~

Books I received for Review.

Water's Blood  Halo of the Nephilim  Bitter Angel

I had to have these!

~

Books I won.

I didn’t win any books this past week:(

~

These are books I reviewed.

Grim

You can read my review of Grim here.

~

Halo of the Damned

You can read my review and enter the giveaway here .

To Tame a Montana Heart

You can read my review here .

These are my scheduled Reviews for next week.

GtR kindle cover final websize scavenger hunt

You can find my review and enter the giveaway and scavenger hunt here on Monday, April 15th.

I Have People

Enter the super giveaway and read my review here on Tuesday, April 16th.

~

Go here to find all of my giveaways. Enter one or enter all of them!!

Busy, busy, busy. So many delicious reads! Some I’ve read and will be posting my reviews soon.

So what did you get this week? See something you like? Do you have any of these? Leave a comment and let me know.

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