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Friday, July 15, 2016

Blurb Blitz: Game of Shadows by Amanda K. Byrne


Game of Shadows
by Amanda K. Byrne

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GENRE: Romantic Suspense

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BLURB:


The girl next door just got deadly.

On the outside, Cass Turner looks like any other beautiful California college girl. But besides studying at UCLA, she’s hiding a shocking secret: she’s a highly trained assassin with multiple kills under her belt. After a year spent avoiding the family business, she takes what she hopes will be her final job and winds up saving her target’s life and getting way more than she bargained for…

As a lieutenant in LA's largest crime family, Dominic Kosta is determined to find out who wants him dead, and he’s convinced Cass can help him. But the longer they search for the truth, the more questions arise…and the deeper their attraction grows. Nick has his own reasons for wanting to resist Cass, but it’s a losing battle. And together, they’re free of secrets and lies. Still, getting involved with Nick has put a target on Cass’ back—and in this game, it’s either kill or be killed.

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Excerpt Two:

Frustrated, I push my hood from my head and study the street one last time. If I had more time to prepare, I might have been able to make this work. Crowds are actually easy for me—lots of camouflage. Quick jab of the needle and off I go, let the poison do the rest. It’s good for knife work, too, though not as reliable. Hanging around to see if the wound I made was fatal could be the difference between walking away and getting caught, so I don’t.

The street’s too narrow. That’s the problem. Not enough room to move, and the shadowed spots are out in the open. A litany of excuses run through my head as I search for a place to hide. Turner would be able to make it work. His voice echoes in my head, a stream of chastising statements, disapproval lending them weight. I glance over at the restaurant one last time. Maybe I missed something.

I did. Him.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:


When she’s not plotting ways to sneak her latest shoe purchase past her partner, Amanda Byrne writes sexy, snarky romance and urban fantasy. She likes her heroines smart and unafraid to make mistakes, and her heroes strong enough to take them on. Amanda lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, and no, it really doesn’t rain that much. Visit her website at Amandakbyrne.com, find her on Facebook at facebook.com/AuthorAmandaKByrne, on Goodreads at goodreads.com/Byrneafterreading, and follow her on Twitter @amandakbyrne.

Buy links:

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE


Amanda will be awarding a digital copy of Game of Shadows to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour


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Thursday, July 14, 2016

Tour for The Double Life of Tutweiler Buckhead by Miriam Pia




The Double Life of Tutweiler Buckhead
Miriam Pia
Genre: urban fiction, magical realism,
crime fiction, mystery
Publisher: SBPRA
Date of Publication:  2015
ISBN: 978-1628572254
Number of pages:300
Word Count: 95,000




Book Description:
Frustrated by the audacity of local villains, the sheriff of Marion County turns to the mayor. Urban fiction set in a real city, The Double Life of Tutweiler Buckhead takes some of the charm of vigilante comic book heroism and mixes it with the nitty gritty of contemporary crime fiction.
A band of champions searches for the missing pieces in the evil plot of a local drug kingpin in The Double Life of Tutweiler Buckhead: An Adventure in Indianapolis.
Ideal for those who love events of the outside world and the workings of the mind – characters’ actions and thoughts are portrayed in this contemporary novel – with just a touch of magic.

About the Author:

Miriam Pia has been writing for decades, including over ten years as a professional.  Most of her work was done without a byline and as a ghostwriter.  This is the author's first published novel.
The Double Life of Tutweiler Buckhead

Setting: For those of you who don't know, Indianapolis is a big city in the East of the Midwest. Depending on where you live it could seem like the bright lights and the glamour of a big city instead of a farming town or you could find it to be a mellow, laid back place if you are used to a Megalopolis like NYC, Chicago or LA.

Hence, the story begins: Indianapolis was striving to become a place that New Yorkers no longer laughed at.

Maybe you have heard of Indianapolis due to the Motor Speedway or the Indianapolis Colts football team, since they even won the Super Bowl a few years ago. There are also sculptures of post-modern art, galleries, artist studios, museums, horse drawn buggies and paddle wheel boats on a downtown canal. There are a few skyscrapers and a War Memorial. The state government for Indiana is right downtown. There are right around 1 million people living in or near enough to Indianapolis to be included. The city is surrounded by a highway loop, which is normal nowadays. The highways that lead people into or out of the city and around it, are the I65 and 465.

The 1 million people: Well, the city I grew up in and around has half that many people - or did. Then again, when I moved to Indianapolis, I moved there from Greater London which harbors 12 million people- or maybe only 8 million.

Plot: The title may seem misleading to some, but that suits the whole situation. The protagonists are striving to prevent a crime during the planning stages. From there perspective, the villain is a mysterious criminal mastermind hiding behind a veil of respectability.

Readers are granted the great insight of having the villain's name, which is one of the most important pieces of information the protagonists would like to have. The character's name was developed from inspiration. Working as a contract writer for a Atlanta Real Estate a few years before I wrote the novel, I learned about Buckhead, an upscale neighborhood well known to Atlanteans. It stuck with me and just seemed ideal for the type of villain starring in this story. I don't even remember how I came up with Tutweiler aside from the vague resemblance to the name of the dog breed rotweiler. I wanted the villain to be a well dressed, tall, probably caucasian man with long brown hair and excellent shoes right along with good manners and a decent lowr middle class day job. A corporate man. A contemporary man. A man who frighteningly resembles one of the mid level managers in nearly half of the large companies in urban America. He really might have been one of the men in your office building.

I felt that might add at least a small tingle of excitement for readers, as they go about their busy urban days. This is not the same as when the media tries to terrorize the general public into losing all trust in everyone else, but it is just that, well, I wanted the identity of the villain to be like that rather than the sort of undereducated working class ruffian or tough guy type of villain. Someone not likely to be at either the top or the bottom of the hierarchy in a large business but probably management.

Our heroes: I love team work. As a consequence, the protagonists in The Double Life of Tutweiler Buckhead, are primarily a team of 4 people backed by the city government and the law enforcement agencies of the city. The lawyer does operate as a facilitator type of leader: he organizes team meetings, he is the direct report to the Mayor, and he writes us the contracts. Beyond that though, his role does not have the same kind of 'starring role' that one gets in a novel with one clear main character nor as the clear starring role in a movie. He does not even get most of the attention in the novel but he does call every meeting.

I have enjoyed the classic detectives of juvenile and adult fiction from both print and visual media. I read all of Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories and still don't tire of the movies and TV episodes of those tales. Mousier Poirot, and the gang from Scooby Doo went into my juvenile mind along with Nancy Drew & the Hardy boys detective tales. Murder She Wrote, During the couple of years prior to writing the novel I had also watched some CSI and I liked the way teamwork was portrayed in the crime solving.

As a consequence, the protagonists in The Double Life of Tutweiler Buckhead, are primarily a team of 4 people backed by the city government and the law enforcement agencies of the city. The lawyer does operate as a faciliator type of leader: he organizes team meetings, he is the direct report to the Mayor, and he writes us the contracts. Beyond that though, his role does not have the same kind of 'starring role' that one gets in a novel with one clear main character nor as the clear starring role in a movie. He does not even get most of the attention in the novel but he does call every meeting. The priest mainly serves the Sheriff as an act of personal service and God through total personal surrender and service throughout the novel. How a priest makes himself useful in the unraveling of a plot to build a drug lab in the city is not what I could call 'predictable'. There is a character who's role is to be 'the muscle' 'the fighter' for the team. His character represents what would be the personification of the military soldiers as a whole, if they were involved. The character is a strong and warm hearted rather than mean spirited fellow, who is courageous and feels protective of his fellow man. He also likes weapons. His real name - I mean, the character's regular name is never used but he is called by his online screen name throughout the entire novel for reasons not disclosed. In truth, in real life, I normally use my real name as my screen name but my son has a screen name or two that he has used for nearly ten years now. My son is nothing like the character in the novel who uses only his screen name, but all those who have screen names - including my son may be what really inspired me to have one of them going by his screen name in the novel. The other main character stands out from the others by being: female, left handed, and a professional criminal. She is most definitely not 'Cat Woman' but everyone who knows that character will not be able to avoid seeing the similarities because she is also a career criminal and not the most moral. Her moral condition by the way, is not due to her gender.

Areas of experimentation: Some aspects of this novel resemble experimental fiction, in that, as an author I tried a few things. The most dramatic quality that sets this novel apart are the multiple points of view and massive amounts of character mind reading that goes on. I did it that way to intentionally create and grant a depth of intimacy with the characters for readers that mimics how intimacy works in real life. I would love reader feedback about whether you all loved this - was that the greatest thing about this whole novel? Or was it only okay, or even worse? Of course, I hope every reader finds the story great, but scathing reviews and passionate reports about how wonderful it is are both better, in my own view, than if it is just drab and not worth noticing.

Team: having the team of main characters within the novel is a little bit of an experiment. Again, I would love feedback about this for future novels.

Magical realism: I wrote magical realism into the novel. Compared to most fantasy novels that means the magic is barely discernible. Compared to novels that have no magic in them whatsoever, there is some. Some of it is wizardry or witchcraft or sorcery and the rest of it is done by God through that priest.


If any, some or all of these factors appeal to you, then definitely check out this great first novel by Miriam Pia!

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Blurb Blitz: 26 Hours in Paris by Demi Alex


26 Hours in Paris
by Demi Alex

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GENRE:  Erotic Romance

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BLURB:
One day to see the sights.

One night to change your life. .
.
Magazine writer Kathryn Taylor is traveling from New York to Paris for work. But the flirtatious Frenchman she left long ago is waiting at the airport--and he wants to play. . .

No one can guide Kat through the sensual city's delights like Marko Renard. He let her get away once, and now he's determined to make her stay--even if he has to tie her down. He will wrap her in cashmere, tease her tongue with chocolate, and take her to the peak of the Eiffel Tower . . . But can he convince the bohemian beauty she belongs with him, in his luxuriously decadent world? In business, he's the master--but it's Kat's body and soul he truly longs to rule. He has just enough time to show her the pleasures of the boulevards, the boulangeries--and the bedroom. To finally get her to just say oui, he'll have to seize the day--and the night. . .

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Excerpt Three:

“You calling him?” Justin stepped out of his office and sidled up behind her. A woman couldn’t have a moment with her own thoughts in her own office when she worked with three of her best friends. Paul’s Justin, her Justin, with all his mathematical genius, was City Wing’s accounting department.

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Because,” she replied, pretending she was too absorbed in the printouts about the Eiffel Tower to give the question more merit, “this is about work. I need to prove that people find love in Paris, not recapture a lost possibility. I’ve worked my ass off to get to where I am. I’m not screwing it up by spinning my wheels over something, someone, that’s never going to happen.”

“Right. If that’s how you really feel, you need to get laid by a real man and let the overseas god go. Your man from the past is the reason nobody else is enough for you. You know you’re measuring these poor guys against a dream guy. Let him go, or invite him back.”

“Past,” Kathryn said, regret swelling in her chest. “It didn’t work then. It’s not going to work now.”

“He emailed you—”

“Stop, Justin. This isn’t about me and Marko. It really isn’t. Plus, we’re just friends.” It didn’t matter how she felt, because she knew she loved him, had always loved him, and would probably always love him. What mattered was that there was an ocean between them. “We’ve always been friends and will always be friends.”

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:



Demi Alex writes steamy romances, blending emotional fulfillments of the heart and carnal desires in her work. Born in Athens, Greece, and raised in her own version of a big fat Greek life in New York, Demi was infected with book and travel bugs early, and currently admits the only therapy for this condition is to combine the two in fictional stories that allow her characters to let loose and experience all they crave. She attended SUNY at Stony Brook, and after changing her major numerous times, graduated with a degree in Public Policy and International Studies. Her characters are loosely based on people she encounters while she travels or during the time she spends matching homes to owners as a Realtor. She simply has a passion for matchmaking that can’t be put to rest.



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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION

Demi will be awarding a digital copy of 26 Hours in Paris to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f1740/" rel="nofollow" data-raflid="28e4345f1740" data-theme="classic" data-template="" id="rcwidget_nacusnn1">a Rafflecopter giveaway


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Book Blast for THE LAST OF THE FIREDRAKES by Farah Oomerbhoy



THE LAST OF THE FIREDRAKES
by Farah Oomerbhoy

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GENRE: Young Adult Fantasy

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BLURB:

16-year-old Aurora Darlington is an orphan. Mistreated by her adopted family and bullied at school, she dreams of running away and being free. But when she is kidnapped and dragged through a portal into a magical world, suddenly her old life doesn't seem so bad.


Avalonia is a dangerous land ruled by powerful mages and a cruel, selfish queen who will do anything to control all seven kingdoms--including killing anyone who stands in her way. Thrust headlong into this new, magical world, Aurora's arrival sets plans in motion that threaten to destroy all she holds dear.


With the help of a young fae, a magical pegasus, and a handsome mage, Aurora journeys across Avalonia to learn the truth about her past and unleash the power within herself. Kingdoms collide as a complicated web of political intrigue and ancient magic lead Aurora to unravel a shocking secret that will change her life forever.

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Excerpt One:

For a second that felt like a lifetime, everything stopped; I felt like I was floating in nothingness. Then I blinked, and, when I finally opened my eyes and focused again through the tears, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.

I found myself standing at the mouth of a small cave situated on a hill and overlooking a quiet, moonlit valley. On my left, a dark forest stretched out as far as the eye could see, treetops glistening silver in the light of the full moon. The hills around us undulated into wildflower-filled meadows that lay sleeping in the dewy night.

Far down in the valley, I could see a little village, its lights twinkling in the distance. To my right, a waterfall splashed playfully into a small river that ran down into a lake, next to which the little village was built. The moon here was fuller and larger than I had ever seen it, and the night sky was awash with a fantastic array of glittering stars.

Had I passed through the tapestry? Where was I?

I looked around, disbelief clouding my judgment. I was still trying to get my bearings after that strange moment when I had been inside the tapestry and nowhere at the same time. It gave me a funny feeling, as though I had been lifted out of my own consciousness and then put back into my body.

A warm breeze brushed past my face and played with my hair. Gone were the cloudy grey mist and the cold, nipping wind of the English countryside. I drew in a sharp breath—the air was crisp and clear, sweet smelling, and fresh. The moonlit valley was filled with fruit trees, wildflowers, and rolling meadows.

“How did we come here? Where are we?” I asked, still confused.

“You really are ignorant,” said Oblek, glancing at me. “I take it your uncle didn’t tell you anything?”

I shook my head and looked down. Oblek had tied my hands with a rope he had with him while I was still dazed and looking around. It was humiliating, and the rough ropes cut into my wrists, rubbing them raw every time he pulled me forward.

I had to find some way out of this. And, at the moment, the only thing I could do was discover more about where I was. Then, when I got an opportunity, I could escape and find my way back up to the cave on the hill, where we had arrived out of the tapestry.

But then what?

Christopher was probably dead, and Aunt Arianna would doubtless blame me for everything since I had disappeared at the same time. I had no idea what to do. I didn’t really want to go back, and, now that my adoptive parents were dead, I had nothing to return to.

I was starting to panic. I had nowhere to go, and my mind was imagining an array of horrible outcomes of my kidnapping. My palms had become sweaty, and my racing heart was thundering in my chest as I half-walked and half-ran, desperately trying to keep up with Oblek’s giant strides.

“Why are you doing this?” I pleaded with my kidnapper.

But Lord Oblek said nothing. He didn’t even look at me. He just kept walking ahead and dragging me along behind him, with no more explanations as to what he was planning to do with me.

I was terrified, and I had no idea if I was going to survive this. But I tried to be brave. Maybe I could talk my way out of this?

“You do know that this is called kidnapping?” I said, trying to reason with Oblek.

He didn’t bother to answer.

“What will happen to me now?” I squeaked, my voice breaking, as I tried not to cry.

“Queen Morgana will decide what is to be done with you,” said Oblek, finally.

Queen Morgana! The woman from my dream? It was not possible that this, too, was a coincidence. It must be the same Morgana, the one who had tried to kill my real mother.

Who the hell was she?

Suddenly all of this seemed extremely scary. I hoped that I was still dreaming and that there was no way I had actually traveled through a magical tapestry into some strange land. It all seemed very exciting in books. But actually being kidnapped and then hauled around like an animal, traveling deep into a land I knew nothing about, was not my idea of fun.

I had to get away from this horrible man, and fast.



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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Farah Oomerbhoy is a young adult writer with a master’s degree in English literature from the University of Mumbai. Farah loves the fantastical and magical and often dreams of living in Narnia, Neverland, or the Enchanted Forest. Her debut novel, The Last of the Firedrakes, Book 1 of The Avalonia Chronicles started on Wattpad where it received a Watty Award in 2015 and over 1.5 million reads. Since publication, The Last of the Firedrakes has gone on to win a silver medal in IBPA’s Benjamin Franklin Awards, become a finalist in the USA Best Book Awards and become an international bestseller. Farah lives with her family in Mumbai, India where she can be found checking for magical portals in every closet.
Connect with Farah:

Purchase The Last of the Firedrakes: the book is on sale for $0.99


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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION 

The author will award a $10 Amazon/BN GC - a Rafflecopter giveaway.




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Blurb Blitz: Ride 'Em by Delphine Dryden




Ride ‘Em
by Delphine Dryden
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GENRE: Erotic Romance
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BLURB:
Saddle Up
Mindy has come to Logan’s dude ranch to convince him to sign away his land’s mineral rights to her stepfather. She doesn’t want to beg, but she will if she has to, like she does Friday nights when she submits to her master’s desire . . .
Buckle Down
Logan doesn’t like to be jerked around, in business or pleasure. And when he learns what Mindy is up to, he’s ready to teach her a lesson. In fact, he’d like to tie her up, strip her down, and give her a spanking she’ll never forget . . .
Ride Hard
With passion riding high, Logan and Mindy indulge in carnal play that leaves them both wanting more. And with their jobs on the line, they realize that their erotic fantasies might be their ticket to success . . .
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Excerpt Two:
Mindy fumbled for her phone, turning off the annoying nasal voice of the GPS app before tossing the device back into the passenger seat. She didn’t know why she’d used it anyway. She didn’t need any navigation assistance for this trip. This was territory she’d conquered long ago, and left behind for better things. She hadn’t been back in a dozen years, not since that summer after she graduated, but nothing had changed much. The familiarity was disconcerting. When she’d passed the City Limits sign, she’d had to swallow back a pang of something suspiciously like homesickness.
I can do this.
She turned when she reached Bolero, barely skimming the edge of town before heading back out of it. Instead of driving toward her childhood home, she veered deeper into the countryside, toward the future she was determined to make for herself.


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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Delphine Dryden majored in English at the University of Texas at Austin. She has written contemporary and erotic romance for Carina Press and Harlequin, and mainstream steampunk romance for Berkley Publishing. Her writing has earned an Award of Excellence and Reviewers’ Choice Award from RT Book Reviews, an EPIC Award, an IPPY Gold Medal, and a Colorado Romance Writers’ Award of Excellence. She was the also the inaugural winner of the Science in My Fiction contest.
Buy the book:



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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION

Delphine will be awarding a digital copy of Ride 'Em to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.



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