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Thursday, February 2, 2017

Blog Tour for: Frost by Kaitlyn Davis



Frost (Midnight Ice Book One)
by Kaitlyn Davis
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
Release date: January 26th 2017

Summary from Goodreads:Even the hottest love can turn a girl cold-blooded…

Life's tough for a vampire thief on the run—just ask Pandora Scott, she knows. Four years ago she ran away from home after everyone she loved betrayed her. But now her annoyingly grown up (and handsome) ex boyfriend is stalking her, begging her to return. A mysterious vamp with a particularly dangerous (and sexy) stare keeps popping unexpectedly into her life. The extremely powerful head vampire of New York is hunting her down because she may or may not have broken into his highly-secure, highly-secretive personal vault. And the fate she's been trying to outrun? Well, it's about to catch up. Because even a super-speedy vamp with the ability to disappear can't escape her own destiny.A brand new spinoff to Midnight Fire, a bestselling series with over 200,000 copies sold and over 5000 5-star reviews on Goodreads! Fans will enjoy special appearances from Kira, Luke and Tristan while falling in love with the new characters and new adventure of Midnight Ice.
*Please note, you do not need to read the books of Midnight Fire to enjoy Frost (Midnight Ice Book 1). They are two standalone series with character crossover. 


Available from:




Google Play – http://bit.ly/FrostGP


Smashwords – http://bit.ly/SWFrost


If you haven't read the bestselling Midnight Fire series, you can get the first two books free when you buy the entire series at once!

~~~

**Over 200,000 Copies of the Midnight Fire Series Sold!**

**Over 5000 5-Star Reviews on Goodreads!** 

Kira Dawson has the power to burn vampires to a crisp. The problem is, she doesn't know it yet. The even bigger problem is, she's dating one.

When Kira Dawson moves to South Carolina, she meets Luke, a blond goofball who quickly becomes her best friend, and Tristan, a mysterious bad boy who sends shivers down her spine. Kira knows they're keeping secrets, but when she discovers Tristan's lust for blood and her own dormant mystical powers, Kira is forced to fight for her life and make the heartbreaking decision between the familiar comfort of friendship and the fiery passion of love.

From bestselling author Kaitlyn Davis comes a paranormal romance perfect for fans of Twilight, The Vampire Diaries, and Buffy The Vampire Slayer.

Books included in this bundle:
Ignite - Book One
Simmer - Book Two
Blaze - Book Three
Scorch - Book Four
Burn - An Anniversary Novella


Rave Reviews for the Midnight Fire series!

"The writing is effortlessly mind-blowing. I could not put this entire series down." 
- Happy Tales and Tails Blog

"Read the books. Do it." 
- Urban Girl Reader 

"Some of the best action scenes I have come across in a young adult book." 
- Reflections of a Bookworm

"I was riveted throughout … there was drama, danger, action and romance that was wonderfully detailed and described." 
- Obsession With Books 

"You'll make friends with Kira, choose sides with Tristan and Luke, and fall in love with the story at heart about a girl with so bright a future...even shades aren't gonna cut it."
 - Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers


Available from:








Excerpt 2:

“Dory,” he whispered, deep voice thrumming.
Part of her yearned to whisper his name.
Jax.
But the other part won.
The part still clinging to his betrayal, perpetually aching from it.
I should have left when I had the chance, she cursed inwardly. Why did I turn around? Why, oh why, did I actually look at him?
Pandora swallowed her rising emotions back down, flipping the switch inside her head, letting the vampire take over. With a cool, crisp voice free of the taint of human feeling, she asked, "What are you doing here?"
His soft green eyes flashed, revealing his surprise. But then he crossed his arms, responding with a challenge of his own. "What are you doing dropping what could be an entire life's savings into an anonymous donation box for a zoo?"
Pandora ignored the question. “Are you alone?”
A lazy smile crawled across his face, one she recognized immediately because it was the same grin he wore in the photograph she’d stuffed in the back of her closet. Carefree and confidently amused. “You really think I need backup to face you?”
She shrugged absently. “None of the other titans came alone.”
"None of the others know you like I do," he murmured, voice silky as he reached across the space between them, a distance that seemed both vast and nonexistent at the same time, gently running his finger over the bare skin of her hand. And again, her pesky heart thumped once, alive for a moment, ignited by his touch. Without even a hint of hesitation, he latched his fingers around her forearm, palm burning hot through her sweatshirt. But his brows came together as he felt the frozen temperature of her skin, confirming what he’d seen with his own eyes—that she was a vampire.
"Let go," Pandora demanded, pushing past him hard enough to make him stumble.
But he just tightened his hold. "Not so fast."
"Jax," she warned.
His entire face brightened, eyes sparkling like the ocean on a sunny day. "So you do remember my name! I was starting to get a complex about spending four years chasing after a girl who'd completely forgotten me."


About the Author

Bestselling author Kaitlyn Davis writes young adult fantasy novels under the name Kaitlyn Davis and contemporary romance novels under the name Kay Marie. 

Always blessed with an overactive imagination, Kaitlyn has been writing ever since she picked up her first crayon and is overjoyed to share her work with the world. When she's not daydreaming, typing stories, or getting lost in fictional worlds, Kaitlyn can be found indulging in some puppy videos, watching a little too much television, or spending time with her family. If you have any questions for her--about her books, about scheduling an event, or just in general--you may contact her at: KaitlynDavisBooks@gmail.com

To stay up-to-date with all of Kaitlyn's new releases, sign up for her new release newsletter here: TinyLetter.com/KaitlynDavisBooks
Author Links:

Character Spotlight: Pandora Scott



Name: Pandora Scott (Dory to a select few!)

Occupation: Thief, female Robin-Hood, general troublemaker…

Who Is She? Pandora is the main character in my Midnight Ice series! She’s a vampire with the ability to disappear who’s currently on the run from the supernatural police force she once belonged to! Oh, and her ex-boyfriend is chasing her. As is a mysterious (and annoyingly attractive) new stalker. Oh, and, well, the most powerful vampire in New York City. But she’s fine. She’s got it all under control…sort of.

Loves: Blood, money, taking overly cocky vampires down a notch, fast getaways, not-so-fast getaways for that matter, proving people wrong, and…animals. What? They’re adorable. Oh, and also using her ability to disappear to totally freak people out. BOO!

Hates: Losing at anything, the sound of her alarm clock, people who underestimate her, and, well, her ex-boyfriend Jax (and the fact that she doesn’t really hate him at all, as much as she tells herself otherwise).

Guilty Pleasures: Going to the zoo, eavesdropping on other people’s conversations, and punching Jax when he really, really deserves it (which is almost always).

If you want to read the rest of my character spotlights, just keep following the tour :)

You can visit my pinterest board now for all of the character images and the original websites where I found them! Thank you!




GIVEAWAY:


Blog Tour Organized by:





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Release Blitz for A Shot in the Dark by Jennifer Burrows


Romantic suspense
Date Published: February 1, 2017
Publisher: Limitless Publishing


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A motorcycle crash forces Skyler Smith into Laney Pearson’s hospital, barely clinging to life…
As a trauma nurse, Laney works with surgeon Josh Stone to bring Skyler back from the brink of death and toward recovery. But what initially looks like nothing more than a freak accident may turn out to be much more dangerous—and maybe even deadly.
In the years they’ve worked together, Laney has never given Josh the time of day…
She thinks he’s nothing more than a pompous doctor looking for another notch to add to his belt. But caring for Skyler brings the pair closer, and Laney lets down her guard, allowing them the chance to find happiness together in the midst of so much destruction. But someone doesn’t want them to be happy. Someone wants Laney gone.
Threats might derail their love before it really starts…
As the couple tries to build their budding relationship, Laney begins to receive menacing messages. And when she and Josh learn that Skyler’s accident is anything but unintentional, they fight to balance finding the would-be killer with keeping keep Laney safe from her stalker. But each wild turn takes them further away from the truth…and each other.
Can Laney and Josh discover who is behind the violent acts, or is each guess they make nothing more than a shot in the dark?


Some accidents aren’t accidental…


About the Author


JG Sumner is a Registered Nurse who went rogue.  As good as she was at starting IV's, she enjoys writing the down the stories in her head even more.  Most of the time the characters won't stop pestering her until she has them down on paper.
JG can often be found with a glass of red wine or prosecco in front of her computer.  When she's not creating, she enjoys the outdoors hiking, bike riding, snowboarding, and camping.
JG has a very dry sense of humor, and should never be taken too seriously.  She loves to hear from her fans, and even those who aren't and would love to hear your opinion on her books.
JG writes romantic suspense/thrillers including: A Shot in the Dark, Into the Light, The Surrender Trilogy including Surrender, Shattered, and Saved which will be available through Limitless Publishing soon.


Contact Links

Twitter: @jg_sumner


Purchase Links




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Excerpt Tour: Regenerate by Sarita Leone



Regenerate
by Sarita Leone
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE: Paranormal Romantic Suspense
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
The Octopus isn't an urban myth—and its agents are anything but ordinary. The intelligence bureau is so well-hidden most doubt its existence. A handful know its location. And fewer walk the halls in the subterranean compound.
Benjamin Sinclair didn't ask to be a scientific miracle but every mission has its risks and one perfectly-placed bullet ended his life—for a brief moment in time.
Nicole Anima battles demons every day. Life as a paranormal resources operative gives her tortured mind a rest—and keeps her from contemplating her own death.
When Anima and Sinclair partner on a globe-trotting race to eliminate the threat about to cripple humanity, all hell breaks loose. Leaping from planes, crashing into continents, dealing with voodoo priestesses, and running through jungles with zombies hot on their trail doesn't leave much time for romance, but this duo somehow manages to sizzle.
Two agents. Telepathic mind paired with regenerated commando. One world—and a mission to save it.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPTS (Exclusive Excerpt):
Most agencies of the federal government paid their employees enough to keep them in a style to which they were accustomed. Not the manner in which they wished they were accustomed, but just close enough to their dreams that they obediently kept their noses to the grindstone. Paycheck after paycheck, year upon year, until they retired with a government pension solid enough to keep them in the way they had finally resigned themselves to living.
Nicole Donatella Anima, however, wasn’t a conventional federal employee. Her pay came in the form of discreet direct deposits to a number of banks across the globe. One Swiss account’s total held more zeroes than was even practical to contemplate.

Thinking about the money made her dizzy, so she didn’t think about it. There wasn’t any way to ever use the funds, short of buying a small island or a fleet of private jets. Money was essential but it couldn’t buy the important things.  
It was, as were so many facts in her life, a lesson she’d learned the hard way.

But some things were the luck of the draw. Or the curse of lineage—so the single issue she didn’t have to work for was, as karma would have it, the only thing that came easily to her.
The government paychecks? She didn’t give a shit about them.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:



Sarita Leone is an award-winning author who has written romance in many forms including Regency, paranormal, and contemporary. She loves happily-ever-afters in any setting!
When she’s not writing, Ms. Leone spends her time hiking, learning languages, and traveling. She loves adventure and can pack a suitcase, grab her passport, and hit the road in less time than it takes to peel an apple!




~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GIVEAWAY INFORMATION


Sarita will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

Follow the rest of the tour here:


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Blast for ROLF'S QUEST by Aubrey Wynne


A wizard, a curse, a fated love…



ROLF'S QUEST
A Medieval Encounter #1
Aubrey Wynne
Releasing Feb 1st, 2017
Plato Publishing

A
wizard, a curse, a fated love…

When Rolf
finally discovers the woman who can end the curse that has plagued his family
for centuries, she is already betrothed. Time is running out for the royal
wizard of King Henry II. If he cannot find true love without the use of magic,
his line will end.

Melissa is
intrigued by the mystical, handsome man who haunts her by night and tempts her
by day. His bizarre tale of Merlin, enchantments, and finding genuine love has
her questioning his sanity and her heart.

From the
moment Melissa stepped from his dreams and into his arms, Rolf knew she was his
destiny. Now, he will not only battle against time and a powerful duke, but
defy his king and the gods to save her.


Excerpt #2

England 1154
The surrounding mist climbed Melissa’s boots and swirled in and around her legs like an affectionate cat. Gentle but firm, it pushed her inside the magical forest. The stillness of the place struck her. The kind of hush that fell over a room when something significant was about to happen. Her heart raced in anticipation. In front of her towered a massive Hawthorne tree with charred branches that seemed to welcome her. Between the gnarled limbs was a large blackened hole that filled the center of the trunk.
“I have been waiting for you.” She jumped at the sound of an old man’s voice. She screamed as a face appeared in the tree. “I do not mean to frighten you, child. I admire your courage. It’s a quality essential to your future.”
“Why am I here?” Melissa asked.
“To meet your Fate,” answered the raspy voice. The distant sound of hoof beats distracted the ghost–like image. “And he has arrived.”
Melissa turned toward the forest opening in confusion. “The mist...”
“Yea, it conceals our home from trespassers on the outside but does not impede our view from within.” The elderly man chuckled. “Rolf did not exaggerate your beauty.”
“Rolf?”
The hammering of hooves grew nearer.
“Ah.” The old man shook his head, regret in his eyes. “I must go.”
Horse and rider burst through the tree line. A presence enveloped her, an aura she recognized… The man on the hill. The same man that entered her mind each night. And his name was Rolf.
The great black beast came to a stop before her; an agitated snort escaped his flared nostrils. The stranger dismounted in a swirl of black cloak and raw strength. His eyes—glittering like gilded gold—fastened upon her, stealing her breath. In one fluid motion, he wrapped a powerful arm around her waist and pulled her hard against his chest.
He spoke only one word. “Melissa.”
Her body’s response to him frightened her—already she gave in to his demands willingly. The nearness of him sent Melissa’s blood pounding through her ears. “Rolf?” she whispered, clinging to him, afraid to raise her eyes.
His fingers lightly stroked her cheek and sent a shudder through her body. He lifted her chin, bent his head, and then paused. Uncertain, she found the courage to look up, her mouth half–open in a silent question. The intensity and passion in those hawk-like eyes told her he now claimed her as his own. Their breath mingled for a moment before his lips brushed hers. Then she threw back her head, surrendered to the sheer pleasure of his kiss, and her world shattered.
The soft touch of his mouth sent a shiver through her soul that made her knees buckle. His chest was hard beneath her palms. He buried his fingers in her hair and forced her head back, demanding more. She clutched at his surcoat to keep herself upright.
“I must have you,” he murmured as his teeth nipped her earlobe. His breath tickled and teased her neck. One hand roamed the length of her back, sending waves of heat to her core. His manhood pushed against her skirt.
Melissa struggled to free herself from this spell, this desire that brought with it a hunger she’d never known. Her betrothed waited somewhere beyond the trees, and she knew instinctively this meeting would cause them both grief. Even as her mind told her to run, her heart kept her rooted in place. She stopped resisting, leaned into him, and gave way to pure passion.
But as her mouth opened to return the kiss, he slipped away. Her eyes flew open, and his image wavered then faded into the darkness. “Come back to me. Do not leave me like this,” she cried.
Melissa awoke, the tears wet upon her cheeks. Emptiness burned in her stomach. She wrapped her arms around herself and curled into a tight ball to shield her body from the pain. She should not have hesitated.



Bestselling
and award-winning author Aubrey Wynne resides in the Midwest
with her husband, dogs, horses, mule and barn cats. She is an elementary
teacher by trade, champion of children and animals by conscience, and author by
night. Obsessions include history, travel, trail riding and all things
Christmas.

Her
short stories Merry Christmas, Henry and Pete’s Mighty
Purty Privies won the Preditors & Editors Reader’s Choice in 2013
and 2014. Dante’s Gift, the first in A Chicago Christmas series,
received the 2016 Golden Quill, Aspen Gold and Heart of Excellence awards.

Her
upcoming series “A Vintage Romance” was inspired by tales of her stepfather,
who served for the British Air Force in WWII. Wynne’s medieval fantasy series
“Medieval Encounters” will launch in 2017 with Rolf’s Quest.





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Curse of Stars by Donna Compositor blitz


Curse of Stars
Donna Compositor
(Diamond Crier #1)
Publication date: February 19th 2017
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

Sabi Perez is the last Diamond Crier, only she doesn’t know it. Not until a crazed ruler from another world comes to collect her priceless tears and won’t take no for an answer.

Living in New York, Sabi’s seen some nasty things, but the lengths to which her captor will go to keep his crown are things found only in the darkest nightmares. Afraid and alone, Sabi finds solace in her cellmate, Anya, and Cabal, a fellow Crier who also has powers, a rare combination that buys his favor from the ruler. Only it’s a favor he doesn’t want.

In a fit of rage, power erupts out of Sabi, the same power Cabal has, and a spark of hope ignites. Together they may have a chance at escape, something no other Crier has done. Except a ruler hellbent on draining them of every last diamond tear isn’t their only hurdle. If they escape they’ll be hunted to the ends of the earth, if they survive the trek to safety. If they stay the ruler will leech them dry. Sabi would rather die trying than lie down and die, even if that means running away into even more danger.

“. . . vividly imagined and deftly plotted dark fantasy . . .” BookLife Prize in Fiction

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / iBooks

—

EXCERPT:

“You must be Sabina,” he said.

Her heart felt ready to explode. Ringing in her ears made it hard to hear but she could have sworn he called her Sabina. She didn’t know whether to answer him or not. She went by Sabi but her birth certificate said Sabina. He wasn’t wrong, but she wasn’t about to admit that.

“Sabina Petris.”

The sound of his voice was soft, almost welcoming. But the way he looked at her, how his gaze bored directly into her eyes, it sent goose bumps across her skin. All she wanted to do right then was leave.

“Sorry,” she choked, the word barely making it out. “You have the wrong house.”

The thin smile that sliced across his face like a paper cut cracked open to reveal gleaming teeth underneath. Sabi couldn’t help but think of a wolf and how he would eat her with his big teeth.

“I don’t think so. But maybe it’s Perez now, yes? At least that’s what my sources say.”

Every thought she had smashed together in her head. He had her name. Her name. But who was Sabina Petris? And why did he say Perez like that wasn’t her real name? Crap, she needed to get out. Now.

“Baby, you okay?”

Sabi jumped and nearly choked on her heart. Keeping her eyes on the man in front of her she called down to Mrs. Wexler in the steadiest voice she could muster, “Fine. I’m fine.”

Nothing about her cracking voice sounded fine.

“Why don’t you come on down? Come sit with me until your Mama gets home?”

Yes! That’s what she’d do. Nothing could happen if she stayed out in the open with Mrs. Wexler. She took a step backward, not daring to turn her back on the man, but she stopped when he spoke.

“Perhaps you shouldn’t. Or your sister, Matti is it? Could feel the effects of that poor decision.”

Bile burned Sabi’s throat and her vision swam. The man took a step closer.

“You are my property, Sabina. Your parents knew this. They knew this would happen. Come with me now and I’ll forgive their indiscretions. I can’t say the same for their people, of course. So many deaths piling up behind your parents. Something like that is hard for people to forgive.”

Everything in Sabi’s head cleared and one thing rang out above it all: Matti. Get to Matti. Whoever this guy was, whatever he was saying, he wasn’t right. In the head, in life, in anything. Except just looking at him Sabi knew he was far from harmless. He was too casual, too confident. He was the wolf and she the prey and she was getting too close to backing into a corner.

With every ounce of air she had in her lungs Sabi screamed Mrs. Wexler’s name and booked back down the stairs. Footsteps thundered up to meet her and Mrs. Wexler mumbled ‘outside’ and nearly pushed Sabi down the rest of the stairs. But she didn’t need any help. And she didn’t stop on the stoop or to see what her neighbor was going to do.

Guilt slowed her down, but the way Matti rolled off the man’s tongue made her pump her legs harder. It was blocks to the school, but Sabi wasn’t about to wait at a subway stop, sitting like a duck with a price on its head. She needed to get to Matti.



Author Bio:

Donna has been writing since she was in the single digits when she first realized she needed to do something about all the thoughts in her head. After a stint with bad poetry she finally found her way to novels, mainly of the young adult fantasy variety. When she’s not cranking out more stories she works a regular 9 to 5, reads anywhere from 2 to 3 books a week, drinks copious amounts of tea, eats way too much, and makes her own beauty products because her skin turns into a sentient hive if she uses anything else. This is mostly because she lives in the desert where the air siphons water clean out of her. She lives with a man named Steve and several quadrupeds: three cats named Renfield, Sam, and Dean; and a MinPin named Malfoy.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter


GIVEAWAY!

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book blitz for the Amanda Lester series by Paula Berinstein

Amanda Lester Series banner




This is my stop during the book blitz for the Amanda Lester Series by Paula Berinstein. This book blitz is organized by Lola's Blog Tours. The book blitz runs from 30 January till 5 February. You can see the tour schedule here



About the Amanda Lester series

The Amanda Lester series is a Middle Grade/ Young Adult Mystery series.

The series contains 5 books so far and at least 2 more books are planned. The first four books are also available bundled in a box set. And the first book is also available in audiobook format. The currently published books are:

- Amanda Lester and the Pink Sugar Conspiracy (Amanda Lester, Detective #1)

- Amanda Lester and the Orange Crystal Crisis (Amanda Lester, Detective #2)

- Amanda Lester and the Purple Rainbow Puzzle (Amanda Lester, Detective #3)

- Amanda Lester and the Blue Peacocks’ Secret (Amanda Lester, Detective #4)

- Amanda Lester and the Red Spider Rumpus (Amanda Lester, Detective #5)



The First book in the series:

Amanda Lester and the Pink Sugar ConspiracyAmanda Lester and the Pink Sugar Conspiracy (Amanda Lester, Detective #1)

by Paula Berinstein



Blurb:

Amanda Lester wouldn’t be caught dead going into the family business. Her ancestor, Sherlock Holmes’s colleague Inspector G. Lestrade, is a twit. Nevertheless her parents refuse to see his flaws, and she’s going to a secret English school for the descendants of famous detectives whether she likes it or not.



When Amanda arrives at the dreaded school, she considers running away—until she and her new friends discover blood and weird pink substances in odd places. At first they’re not sure whether these oddities mean anything, but when Amanda’s father disappears and the cook is found dead with her head in a bag of sugar, they’re certain that crimes are taking place.



Now Amanda must embrace her destiny and uncover the truth. The only snag is that arch-villain Blixus Moriarty, a descendant of Holmes’s nemesis Professor James Moriarty, might be involved, and he doesn’t like nosy little girls interfering in his business.




You can find Amanda Lester and the Pink Sugar Conspiracy on Goodreads



Get the e-copy for free!

The e-copy of Amanda Lester and the Pink Sugar Conspiracy is free now on all vendor sites! Grab your free copy here:

- Amazon

- Barnes & Noble

- Kobo

- Smashwords



Get the Audiobook!

You can buy the audiobook of Amanda Lester and the Pink Sugar Conspiracy here:

- Audible

- Amazon

- iTunes



Listen to a sample of the audiobook here on Soundcloud.



All five books in the series
Amanda Lester and the Pink Sugar ConspiracyAmanda Lester and the Orange Crystal CrisisAmanda Lester and the Purple Rainbow PuzzleAmanda Lester and the Blue Peacocks’ SecretAmanda Lester and the Red Spider Rumpus




Buy the whole series on Amazon!

The first Amanda Lester book is free and book 2, 3, 4 and 5 are only 0.99$ per book or can be bought as part of a box set. Links to each book on Amazon are below:

- Amanda Lester and the Pink Sugar Conspiracy (Amanda Lester, Detective #1)

- Amanda Lester and the Orange Crystal Crisis(Amanda Lester, Detective #2)

- Amanda Lester and the Purple Rainbow Puzzle (Amanda Lester, Detective #3)

- Amanda Lester and the Blue Peacocks’ Secret (Amanda Lester, Detective #4)

- Amanda Lester and the Red Spider Rumpus (Amanda Lester, Detective #5)

- Amanda Detective box set Books 1-4

- The Amanda Lester series page



The Amanda Lester books on other vendors

The Amanda Lester series is also available on other vendor sites. Get the books on B&N, Kobo, iTunes and Smashwords.



Paula BerinsteinAbout the Author:

Paula Berinstein is nothing like Amanda. For one thing, she’s crazy about Sherlock Holmes. For another, she’s never wanted to be a filmmaker. In addition, compared to Amanda she’s a big chicken! And she wouldn’t mind going to a secret school at all. In fact, she’s hoping that some day she’ll get to build one.



You can find and contact Paula here:

- Website

- Facebook

- Twitter

- Goodreads

- Paula's blog on Goodreads

- The Writing Show podcasts

- Newsletter

Guest Post 4: Amanda Lester’s villains



When you’re writing about the descendants of the Sherlock Holmes characters, the obvious choice for a villain is a Moriarty. In fact it’s obligatory. But what should this Moriarty be like? The original Professor James Moriarty was a sketchy character who appeared in only three of Conan Doyle’s stories. That’s right, three. And yet despite the paucity of information about him he’s as infamous as a villain can be.
Because the original Moriarty was never fleshed out, his descendants could be virtually anything I wanted them to be. But I did need them to work in the story. At a minimum I needed a criminal mastermind who would dominate the detectives throughout the series. I also wanted to be able to call on his associates to do his dirty work for him. So I decided that Blixus Moriarty would, like his ancestor, head a criminal cartel full of bad guys. But then I diverged from what Doyle did. I gave him a family and made him a babe. That’s right: my principal villain is a drop-dead gorgeous family man, kind of like Tony Soprano if he were played by Brad Pitt, but higher class and frankly, smarter.

If I tell you why I made him that way it might spoil Book 1 for you and I don’t want to do that. Suffice it to say that once you’ve read the pink book you’ll understand. You’ll also find some surprises about other members of Blixus’s family, especially in Books 3 and 6.

But even though Blixus is the Voldemort of Amanda’s world, he and his entourage aren’t the only bad guys in the series. As with Harry Potter, I’ve populated my story with a whole cast of villains large and small, and Amanda has to fight all of them. In fact I create at least one new villain for each book to keep things interesting. And that means an assortment of not only criminals but other antagonists that keep those obstacles coming.
Some of my villains are seriously awful people—psychopaths and sociopaths you would not want to meet in real life (Banting Waltz and Hugh Moriarty among them). They can be dangerous and cruel and greedy and way beyond unpleasant. But some of them are more wannabe than true criminal, and those end up providing a bit of comic relief (what I do to poor Twinkle Earnshaw is just so mean, for example, but she so deserves it). I’ve also created characters who make trouble but aren’t true villains (hello, David Wiffle and Ancillary Darktower). They’re just jealous or envious or grandiose or frustrated. Then there are characters who don’t start out as villains but become that way through necessity, as well as bad guys who go straight (no spoilers here).

My bad guys come in all flavors: male and female, young and old, public school and working class, urban and rural. Some live in luxury and some live literally underground. Some are likeable and some are repulsive. They have names like Crocodile Pleth and Alfie Kingsolver and Taffeta Tasmania and Jackie Lumpenstein. But there is one thing they have in common: they all make trouble for Amanda and her friends. Still and all, where would a detective be without them?

Tomorrow I’ll talk about romance in Amanda’s world.


Giveaway

There is a tour wide giveaway for the book blitz of the Amanda Lester series. These are the prizes you can win:

- One winner will win all 5 Amanda Lester books in paperback.

- Two winners will win a set of all 5 Amanda Lester books in e-format.



For a chance to win, enter the rafflecopter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway





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