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Sunday, March 19, 2017

No Quarter: Wenches – Volume 1 by MJL Evans



About the Book
Title: No Quarter: Wenches – Volume 1
Author: MJL Evans
Genre: Historical Romance
Volume 1 of 6 begins in 1689 Port Royal, Jamaica, where Atia Crisp is imprisoned, awaiting trial, while refugees from Strangewayes's plantation seek their new home. Guided by Capitaine la Roche, they face pursuit by the pirate hunter Big Dick and the perilous terrain of Bocas del Toro. Their future home of Sérénité hangs in the balance, complicated by the outbreak of war with France.
Series Description:

The adventures from No Quarter: Dominium continue with wenches! In 1689, Atia Crisp finds herself imprisoned in the wickedest city on earth, Port Royal, Jamaica, while the refugees from Strangewayes’s plantation in the Blue Mountains are on the run and seeking a new home, deep in the Caribbean. Captain Jean-Paul la Roche must get them to safety and find a way to liberate the woman he loves while waging a war against the English with the pirate Laurens de Graaf. 

While besieged people suffer and starve, a group of women form a secret and illegal society deep from within the bowels of the city called: WENCH. A network that deals with smugglers, merchants, cutthroats and thieves. Dragged into the struggle for supremacy of the Caribbean, the women are divided and find themselves engulfed in bloodshed. The pirates of Port Royal and former enemies may be their only hope of escape.

Hell hath no fury like a cross wench!
Author Bio

MJL EVANS wanted to be a writer since she was ten years old and in 2014 she finally got her act together and pursued her dream. No Quarter: Dominium (Volumes 1-6) is her first book series. She is currently writing the No Quarter: Wenches book series, which is a continuation of the adventures in 17th century Port Royal, Jamaica. A huge fan of Monty Python, Red Dwarf, Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead. Her time is devoted to acrylic, oil and watercolor painting, catering to her two senior cats and of course, writing.
You can connect with MJL Evans on Twitter at @artistmjlevans or noquarterseries@gmail.com
GM O’CONNOR is a huge movie fan, writer and visual artist. No Quarter: Dominium (Volumes 1-6) is his first book series and he’s currently writing No Quarter: Wenches. A lover of sci-fi and history, half his brain lives in the 17th century while the other half sails perpetually through space. He hopes to one day bring the No Quarter Series to film and/or graphic novel format.
You can connect with GM O’Connor on Twitter at @gm_oconnor or noquarterseries@gmail.com
Links
Follow us on Twitter at: @noquarterseries
Where to download:
Giveaway
Win one of 10 eBook copies of No Quarter: Wenches – Volume 1 to 3

Book Excerpts
Excerpt 1
Atia stared coldly at all the self-righteous bastards. The last she’d seen of her da and uncle was when they sailed away on Lucky Charms. It was after they helped her escape from Crisp’s slaver captain, Mandingo, and also the pirate Slasher Al. She had waved almost cheerfully; unaware it was the final goodbye. “You’ll not go from me sight, only from me view,” her da had told her before they parted ways. Now her da was dead and Uncle Rourke too. She prayed to all the gods that her brothers were safe. They had been sent to Aragua on an errand.
Atia eyed a guard’s belt, where a dagger gleamed. The shackles weighed heavy on her limbs, but she had just enough leeway.
“Atia Crisp, you are charged with associating with a known pirate, mischief—” Goblet stopped.
Atia grabbed the weapon and plunged it into the guard’s neck. He screamed and flailed his arms, trying to shake her off. Blood jetted everywhere, saturating her dress.
“Order!” Goblet demanded and pointed at the remaining guards, who were staring in shock. “Well, stop her!”
Blower and a guard tackled Atia. Her face was slammed onto the wet floor. The blade slipped from her hand. She was then forced to her feet with a guard on each side of her.
Goblet jotted down an additional note. “You can add murder to your list of charges.”
“Uh, he’s not dead,” a guard said.
Goblet crossed it out and rewrote the line. “Fine. For attempted murder, you are so charged.”
The bleeding guard released a final gasp.
“Oh, he died,” Blower said.
Goblet was about to cross out what he’d written again.
“You’re sure?”
“Aye, he’s dead.”
“And murder,” Goblet continued. “Have you anything to say for yourself before I have you locked in the dungeon as a dangerous offender?”
An evil grin formed on Atia’s lips. “I’m a dangerous offender now, Da. Yer little girl’s all grown up!”
“Take her away and lock her up. Lock the rest of them up for interrogation,” Goblet ordered.
“Me Capitaine’s coming back for me. He’s comin’ for his dangerous offender,” Atia cackled.

“We’ll see how a month in the dark agrees with your tongue.” Goblet smacked the mallet again. “Court is adjourned.”

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Saturday, March 18, 2017

Virtual Book Tour for Evanthia's Gift & Waiting for Aegina by Effie Kammenou


Women’s fiction/ contemporary romance  
Date Published: August 7, 2015   

In the year 1956, Anastacia Fotopoulos finds herself pregnant and betrayed, fleeing from a bad marriage. With the love and support of her dear friends Stavros and Soula Papadakis, Ana is able to face the challenges of single motherhood. Left with emotional wounds, she resists her growing affection for Alexandros Giannakos, an old acquaintance. But his persistence and unconditional love for Ana and her child is eventually rewarded and his love is returned. In a misguided, but well-intentioned effort to protect the ones they love, both Ana and Alex keep secrets - ones that could threaten the delicate balance of their family.
The story continues in the 1970’s as Dean and Demi Papadakis, and Sophia Giannakos attempt to negotiate between two cultures. Now Greek-American teenagers, Sophia and Dean, who have shared a special connection since childhood, become lovers. Sophia is shattered when Dean rebels against the pressure his father places on him to uphold his Greek heritage and hides his feelings for her. When he pulls away from his family, culture and ultimately his love for her, Sophia is left with no choice but to find a life different from the one she’d hoped for.
EVANTHIA’S GIFT is a multigenerational love story spanning fifty years and crossing two continents, chronicling the lives that unify two families.

Women's Fiction
Date Published – January 7, 2016
Book Two in The Gift Saga: The continuation of Evanthia’s Gift…

In 1961, five little girls moved into a suburban neighborhood and became inseparable, lifelong friends. They called themselves the ‘Honey Hill Girls,’ named after the street on which they lived. As teenagers they shared one another’s ambitions and dreams, secrets and heartaches. Now, more than thirty years later, they remain devoted and loyal, supporting each other through triumphs and sorrows.
Evanthia's Gift follows the life of Sophia Giannakos. In Waiting for Aegina the saga continues from the perspectives of Sophia and her friends as the story drifts back and forth in time, filling in the gaps as the women grow to adulthood.
Naive teenage ideals are later challenged by harsh realities, as each of their lives takes unexpected turns. Now nearing their fiftieth year, Sophia, Demi, Amy, Mindy and Donna stand together through life-altering obstacles while they try to regain the lighthearted optimism of their youth.

Chapter  1


November 1955




he air was unusually chilled for early November in NYC, but despite the dropping temperature, sweat trickled down the back of Anastacia’s neck. Unable to wish away the nausea that
was taking hold of her and too ill to sit through her last class, she’d left the NYU campus, hopping on an uptown subway to return home for the day. She’d been lightheaded and queasy the past few days, but nothing as violent as what she was currently feeling. Waiting at the crosswalk, the aroma of garlic and cheese permeating from a nearby café antagonized the volcano that was about to erupt in her belly, and she prayed she would get home without incident.
At last, Anastacia ducked into her apartment building, closing her eyes, and offering a silent thank you to the heavens for the safety and comfort of her home. Once inside her foyer, she removed her coat, hung it in the closet and glimpsed herself in the mirror hanging over the Bombay Chest. Pale skin and sunken eyes replaced her usual olive complexion and healthy glow.
I just need to sleep off whatever this is.
Her husband, Jimmy, was not expected home from work for several hours, and she hoped to be feeling better by then.
Suddenly, the sound of voices startled her. She walked through

Ef f ie K ammenou
the living room, following the noise. She almost forgot the motion sickness that forced her home earlier than usual as the guttural sound of rhythmic moans grew louder, interrupted only by a woman’s shrill laughter. Anastacia forced her legs to follow the cacophony and found herself at the doorway of her bedroom. She stood there frozen. Seeing, but not believing. Tears sprang to her eyes and dripped down her cheeks, and she began to shake uncontrollably. Anastacia attempted to speak, but bile rose to her throat, rendering her incapable of uttering a word. Then, a cry that seemed to escape from her very soul, revealed her presence.
In that second, they knew she’d witnessed their betrayal. Anastacia was taken aback by the look of pure satisfaction that flashed across the naked woman’s face. A face that held not even a hint of guilt or remorse.
Her husband’s face told a different story. Shock, fear, maybe regret. For getting caught. It couldn’t have been more than a few seconds, but so many thoughts bombarded her mind that it was as though she were moving in slow motion. But then, the impact of it all slammed into her, and she ran.
Jimmy jumped up, wrapping himself in a bed sheet.
“Ana! Wait!” He pushed the woman off him. “Get off me! Move! Get out of here.”
Barely making it to the bathroom, Anastacia leaned over the toilet, expelling the contents of her stomach.
“Ana,” Jimmy pleaded, coming up beside her.
“Get away from me.” She wiped her mouth with a towel, straight- ened up and gathered all her strength to push past him.
Jimmy blocked the doorway.
“Ana mou, I’m sorry. Please. Let me explain. Sagapo. I love-” “Don’t touch me or ever say that to me. You’re disgusting. You
both are.” She ducked under his arm, but he grabbed her wrist.
His touch seared her to the bone and she pulled away. She was shamed, shaken—broken, but there was no way she was going to let him see it.


“I said don’t touch me. Never come near me again.”
“It’s not what it looks like. She… it was all her. I never meant to… Ana, please.”
“It looked like it was both of you. Now let me pass,” she spat. He lifted his hands in surrender and stepped aside as she pushed her way past him through the narrow bathroom doorway.
In the hallway, the woman stood, watching, gloating. Although she and Anastacia both had dark brown hair and similar Mediterranean features, she lacked the poise and grace that Anastacia exuded.
“Get out of my home,” Ana ordered her. “I never want to see you again.” Anastacia stormed out her front door, slamming it behind her. Doubling over, she thought she might heave again, but she drew in a deep breath and continued down the hall to Soula’s apartment. She frantically knocked on the door. When she opened it, Soula took one look at her best friend and she hugged her.
“Ana mou, what is it?
Between gasps and cries, Anastacia relayed the entire humil- iating scene, as well as Jimmy’s despicable attempt to explain the unforgivable.
“What do I do now?”
“We go upstairs and talk to your uncle,” Soula said. “He will know how to handle this.”
“How can I tell him? What will my parents say? How could I be so stupid? What will Uncle Tasso think?”
“Of you? Nothing different than before. Of them? They will get what they deserve. Come. We will go together. I will tell your uncle if you cannot.”

Friends are as companions on a journey, who ought to aid each other to persevere in the road to a happier life.
– Pythagoras


Effie Kammenou is a believer that it is never too late to chase your dreams, follow your heart or change your career. She is proof of that. At one time, long ago, she'd thought that, by her age, she would have had an Oscar in her hand after a successful career as an actor. Instead, she worked in the optical field for 40 years and is the proud mother of two accomplished young women.
Her debut novel, Evanthia’s Gift, is a women’s fiction multigenerational love story and family saga, influenced by her Greek heritage, and the many real life accounts that have been passed down. She continues to pick her father’s brain for stories of his family’s life in Lesvos, Greece, and their journey to America. Her interview with him was published in a nationally circulated magazine.
Evanthia’s Gift: Book One in The Gift Saga was a 2016 award finalist in the Readers Favorite Awards in the Women’s Fiction category.  Waiting for Aegina: Book Two in The Gift Saga is Kammenou’s latest release.
Effie Kammenou is a first generation Greek-American who lives on Long Island with her husband and two daughters. When she’s not writing, or posting recipes on her food blog, cheffieskitchen.wordpress.com, you can find her cooking for her family and friends.
As an avid cook and baker, a skill she learned from watching her Athenian mother, she incorporated traditional Greek family recipes throughout the books. 
She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theater Arts from Hofstra University.

Contact Information



Purchase Links

Landing page for both books –




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Friday, March 17, 2017

Virtual Book Tour for The Legend of Queen Agatha by Sam Cunningham



The Legend of Queen Agatha
by Sam Cunningham
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GENRE:   erotic fantasy/political allegory
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BLURB:
In the mythical, medieval land of Xana, Queen Julia ruled as a typical aristocratic monarch in a country whose great wealth was concentrated among the privileged few.  Her  daughter, Princess Agatha, was the champion of the commoners.  The evil sorcerer Magi comes to Xana to kill Queen Julia and ravage aristocrats and commoners alike.  Princess Agatha alone is spared, for she is protected by her fairy godmother.  Now the beautiful heiress has two challenges, first to rid Xana of Magi and then to lift all the commoners from poverty into prosperity.  To achieve her first goal she must identify her handsome prince incognito in the crowd on her first try.  She won't have a second chance.  To achieve her second she must invent and use radical political schemes even if not all her people approve.    
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Excerpt Two:
With Magi at last gone, a small group of Queen Julia's inner circle, haggard, emaciated, and the only ones still alive, found the heiress.  Hoping still to stave off her radical ideals, the eldest pleaded, "You know the story of Cinderella.  Now your prince has found you.  Let him be king and rule with moderation, for he will treat you with all the kindness that befits his queen.  We can advise him in the ways of Xana."
Agatha palpitated.  So immense was her rage that it is to her credit she did not explode.  She took twenty slow, deep breaths and then replied with resolve, "Cinderella and Snow White became pampered palace ornaments in lands already prosperous and wisely governed.  They also had wonderfully happy marriages and beautiful children."  With a dignified air of absolute authority, and with all hesitation gone, Queen Agatha declared, "I have a destiny to fulfill.  I must inspire my people to rebuild our ruined land into a prosperity such as the world has never seen.  I must make sure that prosperity is shared with all my people.  Not one shall be left out.  Be off with you, naysayers, and never return to my palace.  Among the humble and honest people I will find women and men with great talent to lead in this noble endeavor, people who never say, 'It can't be done,' but who will do it."
                                                                           




   
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Sam Cunningham is a small college physics teacher.  He knows from personal experience with his pupils that through nurturing nearly all young people can become productive citizens.  It is an overwhelming tragedy that so many poor children are not given this nurturing.  Their personal loss, and the loss to their country of their productive ability, is a catastrophe.  As a scientist he understands that critical thinking and the ability to follow where the evidence leads are the only reliable ways to understand the real world.  Away from work he leaves the real world of hard evidence to read science fiction and fantasy.  His favorite childhood movie was the Walt Disney 1950 cartoon of Cinderella, and he greatly admires strong women.  Sam brings together all of these ingredients in this story of a princess who becomes a wise and inspired queen with a personal mission to achieve productivity, prosperity, and happiness for all of her people.
The book is on sale for $0.99.
Amazon:
Interview with Sam Cunningham
1. What is your favorite part of “The Legend of Queen Agatha” and why?
My favorite part is the passage in which Queen Agatha asserts to the old guard aristocrats her right to rule instead of disappearing into pampered obscurity like other fairytale princesses.  “I have a destiny to fulfill.  I must inspire my people to rebuild our ruined land into the greatest prosperity the world has ever seen.  I must make sure that prosperity is shared with all my people.  Not one shall be left out.  Be off with you, naysayers, and never return to my palace.” This passage dramatizes Queen Agatha’s great strength of character and her commitment to the prosperity of the many commoners above the few fabulously wealthy aristocrats.
2. If you could spend time with a character from your book whom would it be? And what would you do during that day?
I would like to spend one day with Queen Agatha just to watch and learn what she is doing.  In the morning she meets with her council of advisers and listens carefully to their advice but makes all the final decisions as together they run the country.  Then she goes to schools and talks with the pupils to learn how well her program of quality education for all people is working.  After school she visits the homes of the commoners. She listens sympathetically to their problems and plays with their children – and she is very wonderful with children. But I’ll respect their privacy and end my visit in the evening before she retires to the royal bedroom to make love to her Prince Consort Olaf.

3. If you could have been the author of any book ever written, which book would you choose?
I’d choose my own book, “The Legend of Queen Agatha.”  It’s uniquely my creation with a story line very different from any other book I’ve ever read.
4. Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?
The Fairy Godmother looks and acts like the Cinderella’s fairy godmother in the 1950 Walt Disney cartoon movie.  Cinderella from that movie may to some small extent have inspired the Queen Agatha character, but all the other characters come entirely from my imagination.
5. What made you want to become a writer?
I have a rich imagination and am continually imagining my own unique scenes and actions.  I can clearly distinguish fantasy from reality (Trump cannot) and deal with the real world, not some fantasy world. But by writing down my fantasies and publishing as fiction stories, they acquire a reality of a sort – they become part of the literary heritage of the world.  

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION


Sam Cunningham will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.


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ALEX blog tour


ALEX: Perfect Opposite Book One (Extended edition)
Zoya Tessi
Publication date: January 23rd 2017
Genres: New Adult, Romance
Their wishes were simple and modest. Fate had other things in store though, and she can be a real bitch sometimes.
All he wanted was to get the job done and somehow to endure those long months playing nanny to a spoiled little rich girl. Without strangling her with his bare hands in the process. Well, it is going to be much easier said than done.
All she wanted was to escape the past and live like any other girl. Her plan definitely didn’t include the arrogant, tattooed savage, with his awful mohawk and lack of social graces, whose only mission was to stick real close and mess up her life.
But, people aren’t always what they seem to be, are they?



Author Bio:
Zoya spent years doing volunteering work all across Europe, from cleaning school basements in Northern Russia to excavating Stone Age artifacts in Euskadi (the Basque country) and renovating castles from the middle ages in Southern France. She always dreamed of working with ‘Doctors without borders’ somewhere out in Africa, but ended up doing an ‘ordinary job’ in one of the smaller European countries.
Her greatest passion is devouring each and every book that comes within her reach.

 Interview
1. What is your favorite part of this book and why?
I would definitely say the parts from Alex’s POV. When I originally published it, the book dealt exclusively with Sasha’s point of view, but after so many readers emailed me asking for Alex’s story, I decided to add his POV and republish it. It was quite a challenge, because I had to insert these parts into a storyline that was already formed. I also had to make sure that I didn’t let slip too much in the process, so as not to spoil the major plot twist at the end where Alex’s true identity is revealed. But yeah, I definitely enjoyed writing the parts of the story from his POV most.
2. If you could spend time with a character from your book, who would it be? And what would you do during that day?
I guess I would really like to spend a day with Nikolai, but after he dropped the mafia-Godfather role and went into organic food production. I think it would be hilarious to let such a serious, reformed criminal guide me through his farm and listen to him explain the various techniques for growing food.
3. If you could be the author of any book ever written, which book would you choose?
There are so many great books I would love to have written, but if I have to choose it will be Susan Ee’s Angelfall (Penryn & the End of Days Trilogy). I’m amazed that she managed to deliver something so fresh and original based on an idea (Angels vs. Humans) that had been rehashed so many times before. One of my favorite books ever.
4. Are your characters based on real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?
I didn’t intentionally base any of the characters on real people, but I guess they ended up with characteristics that I subconsciously ‘borrowed’ from people I know.
5. What made you want to become a writer?

Well, I can’t say that I consider myself a writer, since I’ve only written one book, and that just kind of ‘happened’ LOL. The story just formed in my mind one day, and over the next few months I’d sit down after work every day and just write, often till the sun came up. I’m currently finishing my second book (a PNR romance), and I have book #2 of the Perfect Opposite Series planned for 2019, so I guess when those 2 are out, I will think about calling myself a writer… Maybe. :D 


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