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Friday, February 9, 2018

Of Bells and Thorns The Rose Master Book 2 by Valentina Cano


Of
Bells and Thorns
The
Rose Master Book 2
by
Valentina Cano
Genre:
Fantasy, Magic Realism
294
pages

Rosewood
Manor has been ashes for weeks.





Left
with no post and no home, Anne Tinning never expected to find herself
in a luxurious carriage, dressed in the finest of clothes, pretending
to be the wife of Lord August Grey. The search for Miss Bellingham,
however, will require them to blend into the very height of London
society, a class Anne has only ever served, and which August
despises. But August insists that the ruse is the only way. For
although they’ve vanquished the wraith that called for August’s
life, they will never be safe unless they find a way to stop the
woman he scorned.

There
are traces of Lily Bellingham the length and breadth of London, but
when Anne and August investigate the gruesome disappearances in a
factory she has just purchased, they realize that Lily is more
powerful than either of them. And she has devised a new way to take
her revenge.

With
another curse placed upon August’s head, Anne must find a way to
defeat Lily, and this time, she will have no help from the young man
she has grown to love. This time, the curse is more insidious,
twisting him into someone unrecognizable.

This
time, August Grey is the one she must fear.

Lush,
lyrical, and layered in horror-filled suspense, Of Bells and Thorns
evokes the feel of classic Gothic literature, blending the magic of a
beautiful fairy tale against the rich backdrop of history.





The
Rose Master
The
Rose Master Book 1
194
pages


The
day Anne Tinning turns seventeen, birds fall from the sky. But that's
hardly the most upsetting news. She's being dismissed from the home
she's served at since she was a child, and shipped off to become the
newly hired parlor maid for a place she's never heard of. And when
she sees the run-down, isolated house, she instantly knows
why:


There's
something wrong with Rosewood Manor.

Staffed
with only three other servants, all gripped by icy silence and
inexplicable bruises, and inhabited by a young master who is as cold
as the place itself, the house is shrouded in neglect and thick with
fear. Her questions are met with hushed whispers, and she soon finds
herself alone in the empty halls, left to tidy and clean rooms no one
visits.

As
the feeling of being watched grows, she begins to realize there is
something else in the house with them--some creature that stalks the
frozen halls and claws at her door. A creature that seems intent on
harming her.

When
a fire leaves Anne trapped in the manor with its Master, she finally
demands to know why. But as she forces the truth about what haunts
the grounds from Lord Grey, she learns secrets she isn't prepared
for. The creature is very real, and she's the only one who can help
him stop it.

Now,
Anne must either risk her life for the young man she's grown to
admire, or abandon her post while she still can.








Valentina
Cano is a student of classical singing who spends whatever free time
she has either reading or writing. She also watches over a veritable
army of pets, including her five, very spoiled, snakes. Her works
have appeared in numerous publications and her poetry has been
nominated for the Pushcart Prize and Best of the Web. She lives in
Miami, Florida.





Follow
the tour HERE
for exclusive excerpts and a giveaway!







The Exiled Otherkin by D. Lieber


The
Exiled Otherkin
by
D. Lieber

Genre:
Fantasy Romance Adventure Steampunk

Exiled
from Faerie when her father dies, half-Fae Ember is surprised by how
much the human realm has changed since she was there last. She takes
a dangerous job on a merchant airship, hoping a life on the move will
keep her well-hidden. Sure, she misses her brother, but years of
apathy have numbed her emotions.
When
the optimistic and naïve Reilley follows her, it’s annoying to say
the least. But when she starts feeling responsible for him,
long-stifled emotions crack the ice around her heart.
Faeries,
pirates, and traveling players meet in this steampunk fantasy
adventure as Ember tries to cope with feelings long forgotten and a
past that pursues her while balancing new friends and lovers.






Excerpt:



Men and women dashed around the room, gleaming with sweat and smudged with black smears. The fires burned low. A large furnace at the center of the room had a thick chimney leading from it into the ceiling. Some people were moving piles of what looked like coal, while others tended a huge machine. It consisted of a number of large metal coils attached to gears. Some of the coils were wound tight while others were loose. The gears attached to the coils were meshed with gears that had magnets on them. Ropes, made of a material I couldn’t identify, were threaded through the center of the magnet gears.
We passed through engineering and climbed to the main deck. The wooden deck sprawled before us. The chimney from engineering came up through the floor and reached toward the cloth bubble above us.
Shy pointed to a cabin on the left. “That’s where you’ll bunk with the rest of the deckhands, Ember. I still have inventory to do. I trust you both can get settled?” He disappeared below deck.
I walked toward the cabin, and Reilley followed.
“I wish we were bunking together, Ember,” he said, slumping his shoulders. I didn’t respond and entered the cabin, shutting the door in his face.


I scanned the crowd, but there was no sign of them. My stomach lurched, and I swallowed my panic. I moved as quickly as I could to the place where Reilley had just stood.
To the right was a dim alley with curtained doors lining the sides. I shot into the shady street.
“Reilley?” I called and received no answer.
Up ahead, a curtain covered the light that spilled into the alley. I rushed for that doorway. Ripping open the curtain, I lunged inside.
In the small room, two men sat on crates playing cards on a box in between them. They looked up as I entered.
“Where is he?”
Neither responded as they returned to their game. I spotted a door at the back of the room and barreled toward it. The two men moved to stop me.
“I don’t have time for this,” I told them as they blocked my way.
The one closest to the door I wanted to get through crossed his thick arms over his chest and lifted his chin, looking down at me with a smirk. His wirier friend stepped toward me and pointed the way I’d come.
“This party is closed,” he said with a heavy accent. “If you don’t have an invitation, leave.”
“I just need to get my friend. Then, I’ll leave.”
He shook his head and grabbed my upper arm to escort me out. “You will leave now.”
I rotated my elbow and broke his grip then pulled back and drove the heel of my hand into his nose.


Clutching my new tambourine, I walked to a clearing to have more room to dance. Reilley grabbed the drum and started a beat. Like before, I moved to the rhythm. This time, my red skirt danced with me, and I shook my tambourine appropriately. We discovered that as long as I let Reilley choose the pace, we could improvise an entertaining performance.
We fed on each other’s energy and ended at a natural breaking point, exchanging smiles as the last beat echoed off the trees.
“You’re enchanting,” Reilley complimented smoothly.
“I’m only expressing your music and following your lead.”
He flushed with pleasure at the high praise.
“Could you do me a favor?” I asked him.
He nodded.
“Would you unplait my hair? It should be dry by now.”
His eyes gleamed like I’d given him a gift, and I turned my back to him. With long, deft fingers, he gently unbraided my hair. Undone, he ran his hands through the soft waves to separate them. I shivered.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
As his hands gently stroked the dark locks, I became aware that we were very alone. We’d been alone before, but this time was different. An air of anticipation settled between us. His hands stilled. Neither of us knew what should happen next, and the pressure quickly became uncomfortable.





D. writes stories she
wants to read. Her love of the worlds of fiction led her to earn a
Bachelor’s in English from Wright State University.
When she isn’t
reading or writing, she’s probably hiking, crafting, watching
anime, Korean television, Bollywood, or old movies. She may also be
getting her geek on while planning her next steampunk cosplay with
friends.
She lives in Wisconsin
with her husband (John), retired guide dog (Samwise), and cat (Yin).






Guest Post 
Advice for new authors


There are many things I would say to new authors or people who want to become authors. The most important piece of advice I can give is to write for you. Write because you love it and because you need to write. Don’t write to please other people or because you want to be famous and make money. Sure, you want people to read your work, and there is nothing wrong with earning a living that way. However, if you write for you, you will always feel fulfilled. The creative process is an emotional rollercoaster. You are going to doubt your own worth and abilities all the time. You’re going to beat yourself up, and that’s fine. As long as you don’t give up, that kind of self-criticism will only make you better. But there will most definitely be people who don’t like your work and have no problem telling you. The best way to weather that storm is for you to love your own work. If you love your own creations and someone says they hate it, you can easily reply, “I’m sorry you feel that way. Everyone has their own tastes.”


Other helpful advice:
  • Try not to take editor and beta reader criticisms too personally. These people are trying to help you make your story better.
  • If you plan on self-publishing, absolutely hire a professional editor and graphic artist. No one can effectively edit his or her own work, and you want to put your best stuff out there.
  • When searching for agents and publishers, I use Writer’s Market’s online database. It is a fast, inexpensive way to find agents and publishers in your genre.
  • Once you are published, get a website. I don’t know about everyone else, but I have a hard time taking an author (or any business for that matter) seriously if he or she doesn’t have a website.

Follow
the tour HERE
for exclusive excerpts, guest posts and a giveaway!



DEFINING HUMAN by Candace Blevins



DEFINING HUMAN
ONLY HUMAN 
Book Four
Candace Blevins

Genre:  Urban Fantasy

Publisher:  Excessica

Date of Publication:  2/2/2018

ISBN: 1230002076652
ASIN: B078TJKST7

Word Count: 85,000

Cover Artist:  Syneca Featherstone





Book Description:

Book four of the ONLY HUMAN series…

Kirsten negotiated for what she hopes will be two glorious hours with Xaephan, but the Lord of Lust has his own ideas of how the afternoon will transpire, and the consequences of her evening are long lasting.

Her deal with Ryan means she must go to Africa to help guard gazelles for a week. She trains for the event, but her preparation doesn’t cover the Strigorii vampires who have their eye on her. Since she broke up with Abbott, gaining control of her will be like hanging a sign saying they’re more powerful than The Abbott without having to actually fight him.

Throw in complications with Nathan and a few battles with her old enemy Aquila, and Kirsten doesn’t know whether she’s coming or going. She wants peace and quiet with her daughter, but is it possible? Is she too embroiled in supernatural politics to live a normal life? Kirsten feels as if she’s become a game piece in a sick game of chess, and she wants off the board.


Series Trailer:  https://youtu.be/1dNZydE_LNI

Amazon    Kobo     BN      iTunes






Excerpt:

“Chère, it’s
good to see you.” Xaephan walked to a nightstand, opened a drawer, and
chuckled. “Your lion follows instructions well.” He stood and inhaled. “He’s
close enough to keep an eye on you. Nice.”

“He isn’t my
lion. He’s my friend, and he happens to be a lion.”

“He’s more yours
than anyone else’s, Chère. Eventually, you’ll have to confront his Pride, but
he’s keeping them in check, for now.”

I forgot what
I’d intended to say when he lifted a paddle and flogger from the drawer,
followed by a large glass butt plug and a worn leather strap.

The first three
items were obviously new, but the strap wasn’t, and I eyed it a few seconds
while I tried to figure out how to word my question. “The strap has a story. I
want to hear it before you use it on me.”

“It belongs to
your lion and is on loan to me for the evening.”

I shook my head.
“No. I don’t know what you hope to accomplish by using something of Nathan’s to
whip me, but I don’t agree to it.”

“Nothing in our
agreement says I can’t, Chère. You said I’d have to act in your best interest, and
you bound me from tricking you into anything. I said to find a place I could
spank you and make you scream without us being heard, and I warned you moving
the marks will hurt nearly as bad as receiving them in the first place. Nothing
in that agreement says I can’t use something belonging to the Lion King to
spank you with.”

I crossed my
arms. “I don’t like it.”

He gave me a
rakish grin. “Works for me. Our two hours of Earth-time doesn’t begin until we
get started, so get rid of the robe and bend over the bed.”

Part of me
wanted to bitch about him being a jerk, part of me appreciated the emotional
distance it created. I stood, tossed the robe onto a chair in the corner, and
bent over the tall bed. I’m short, so I don’t think it worked out quite the way
he intended.

“On second
thought, tiny human, bend over the chest at the foot of the bed.”



About the Author:

Candace Blevins has published more than thirty books. She lives with her husband of nineteen years and their two daughters. When not working or driving young teens all over the place, she can be found reading, writing, meditating, or swimming. The family’s beloved, goofy, retired racing greyhound is usually at her side as she writes, quietly keeping her company.

Candace writes Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Contemporary BDSM Romance, and a kick-ass Motorcycle Club series.

Her urban fantasy series, Only Human, gives us a world where weredragons, werewolves, werelions, three different species of vampires, and a variety of other mythological beings exist.

Candace's two paranormal romance series, The Chattanooga Supernaturals and The Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Club, are both sister series to the Only Human series, and give some secondary characters their happily ever after. 

Her contemporary Safeword series gives us characters who happen to have some extreme kinks. Relationships can be difficult enough without throwing power exchange into the mix, and her books show characters who care enough about each other to fight to make the relationship work. Each couple in the Safeword series gives the reader a different take on the lifestyle. 

AMAZON       iTUNES     KOBO      BN      GOOGLE PLAY      WALMART

AMAZON FOLLOW-  Did you know Amazon will automatically email you a link every time I publish a new book! Click the yellow FOLLOW button under my author picture. http://amzn.to/2gYAj3m










a Rafflecopter giveaway






Romance is in the Air Day 6 - Julie Coulter Bellon










Love's Journey Home

Olivia Dalton has a reputation in the DA’s office---tough, thorough, and fierce when she’s closing a case. Those skills are essential in the courtroom, but not in the relationship department---until Mick Donovan crosses her path. Everyone thinks he’s a player, but when an unexpected situation arises, she glimpses an honorable man instead. Olivia is drawn to him, but he pushes her away, unable to shake the past that still haunts him.

Mick Donovan learned at a young age never to let anyone close because those you love never stay. Keeping people at arms-length has never been hard for him---until he meets Olivia Dalton. Mick is caught up in a case she’s prosecuting, and he can’t deny his attraction to her, but when she uncovers the past he’s kept carefully hidden, he’s sure she’ll turn away. Yet, even with all his secrets in the open, Olivia reaches out. Can he let his guard down long enough to let her in and take a chance on love?





"Bellon usually writes action packed international intrigues, but with Love's Broken Road she introduces a tender romance to her readers . . . This story is a second romance between two people who have suffered hurt and loss and are uncertain whether they can risk loving again. The characters are likable and draw the reader's sympathy from the start . . ." --Meridian Magazine

"This book was easy to fall into and felt so good around my heart. I really enjoyed it!" --Getting Your Read On

"Readers will be pleased with this gentle romance . . ." --InD'Tale Magazine















Author Julie Coulter Bellon

Julie Coulter Bellon is the author of more than a dozen romantic suspense novels. Her book All Fall Down won the RONE award for Best Suspense and Pocket Full of Posies won a RONE Honorable Mention for Best Suspense.

Julie loves to travel and her favorite cities she's visited so far are probably Athens, Paris, Ottawa, and London. She loves to read, write, teach, watch Castle, Hawaii Five-O, and eat Canadian chocolate. Not necessarily in that order.




















Giveaway Details
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Giveaway

Ends 3/5/18

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. 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 here as well as emailed and 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 Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.