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Monday, September 16, 2019

Saint Street by Scarlett Hopper

Title: Saint Street
Author: Scarlett Hopper
Genre: NA Romance
Release Date: September 30, 2019
Cover Design: Sarah Hansen at Okay Creations



Augustana Prescott is used to following the crowd. Having lost herself somewhere along the way, a newly graduated Stana decides to leave her lacklustre life in Los Angeles and flee to London. Hoping to discover who she truly is away from all the noise, Stana gets more than she bargained for when she meets the Ronan siblings, Alistair and Emilia. 

As she and Emilia grow closer, Stana comes to realise that blood doesn't always make family, and sometimes it's the family you choose, and not the family you're born in to, that matters the most. Stana's connection to Alistair, the manager and singer at her local bar, Saint Street, reignites a flame in herself that she thought was dimmed forever, and she quickly finds her footing in London. The sparks between the handsome Brit and the American girl are clear from the start, but that doesn't mean the path to happily ever after will be easy.

As Stana navigates the trials and tribulations of new love and a makeshift family, her perseverance is tested as strong forces back in LA try to pull her home. When it all becomes too much, Stana will have to decide how much she is willing to risk to keep the life and love she not only wants, but desperately needs.










Scarlett Hopper was born in Sydney, Australia and moved to Los Angeles when she was 10 years old. Her passion for writing came about at a young age when her sister would read her the works of Virginia Woolf and Sylvia Plath. Three years ago, Scarlett re-located back to Sydney where she studies creative writing and communications. When she isn't writing or reading, she spends her time traveling and searching for the best record stores, while eating at 24 hour diners. After her graduation, Scarlett hopes to move back to the US and begin a new adventure in Seattle.



HOSTED BY:

Fighting For Valor by Patricia D. Eddy

Title: Fighting for Valor
Series: Fighting from the Keyboard Collection
Author: Patricia D. Eddy
Genre: Military Romance
Release Date: September 10, 2019
Cover Design: Deranged Doctor Design
Photo: Paul Henry Serres







“Just ... wow. The writing - wow. The story - wow. The journey and all those feelings it evokes -WOW.” ~Amazon Review


I wish I could give this more than 5 stars. ... I think this story was the best so far in the series!!” ~Amazon Review


“This story will shred you to pieces but then it will put you together again in a beautiful way. I absolutely loved it and Ripper is now my favorite.” ~Amazon Review


val·or: great bravery in the face of danger, especially in battle

Once, Jackson Richards had it in spades. As a member of the United States Special Forces, he fought alongside the bravest and most capable men he’d ever known.

Then one mistake landed them all in Hell.

For six months, he fought. But one terrible day, his captors learned the full extent of his skills, and that sealed his fate.

Tortured and broken for endless months in conditions that made Hell look like a five-star resort, Jackson Richards died, and Isaad was born. Shaped into a weapon for the wrong side, he’d forgotten who he once was. Who he was meant to be.

Until the days his captor imprisoned Joey Taylor.

Helping Joey and her marine escape reminded Jackson of the man he used to be. And now, he’ll fight. For himself. For the friends he thought he lost in Hell. And for Caro. The woman with a secret he can’t ignore.

If he’s strong enough, he’ll leave Isaad behind. Maybe then, he can take back his true name.

Ripper.

WARNING: This book contains scenes of torture and implied sexual violence that may be disturbing to sensitive readers.





“You’re a piece of work,” I mutter to myself, and a quick inhalation from the sidewalk causes me to jerk my head around. Brown eyes meet mine, and the woman from the previous night freezes. In one hand, she carries her set of kitty cat brass knuckles, and in the other, a grease-stained bag. 
“I…uh…b-brought you something,” she stammers as she climbs the first step and then stops. 
“Hoping to bribe me into not axe murdering you?” She flinches and squeezes her eyes shut for a brief moment. “Bad joke. Sorry. But Ripper…really is my name. Or what everyone calls me.” I push up to sitting and rest my back against the church door. “And I’m not a charity case.” 
“Didn’t say you were.” She thrusts the bag at me, and when I don’t move, drops it next to my hip. “We had extra. It’s rainy and kind of cold tonight. I thought…a hot meal might…shit. Never mind. Take it or leave it.” 
She turns, and the scents of cheese and salsa waft up from the bag. “Wait a minute, sunshine.” Digging into the paper, I find an aluminum foil pan covered with a healthy serving of enchiladas lightly covered in cheese and red sauce, a half pint of refried beans, and a bag of marinated carrots and jicama. “This smells great.” 
A hint of pride straightens her shoulders, and the corners of her lips curve into a half-smile. “Thanks.” 
“You made this?” I grabbed a granola bar and an apple at my apartment, but my stomach rumbles at the prospect of something…so very different than my everyday diet. The first bite takes me back to my mama’s cooking, and I think I moan a little. 
In the light of the street lamp, her cheeks glisten with the misty rain and turn a bright pink. “I work at a food truck. Today’s menu was Mexican comfort food.” 
“My mama learned how to cook from my abuela, who grew up in Mexico. These are the best enchiladas I’ve had since I left Texas.” 
She toys with a blue pendant hanging from a silver chain around her neck. Joy and sadness battle for control of her features, but joy seems to win in the end. “Thank you. That means a lot.” 
A tendril of long brown hair plasters itself to her cheek as she stares down at her sensible black shoes. Her ankle’s wrapped in an ACE bandage, and as she fidgets, I can tell she isn’t putting all her weight on it. “You okay? After last night?” 
“Oh. Yes. I should…go. Let you eat in peace.” 
“Wait.” I don’t know why I’m stopping her. But the idea of her being hurt, and that I caused it, doesn’t sit well with me. “What’s your name?”
“Cara,” she says quietly.
“You live…uh…close?” Her eyes widen, and I kick myself. If she didn’t think I was a stalker or an axe murderer before, she does now. “I just mean…it’s wet out. And you weren’t the most graceful last night. I…be careful, okay?”
A scowl twists those heart-shaped lips, and she levels me with an acerbic stare. “I’m not the one sleeping on the streets with no defenses. And I’m very graceful. When I want to be. Good night, Ripper.” Her curtsey is a little lopsided since she isn’t putting her full weight on her right foot, but she turns on her left heel and starts limping away. 
“‘Night, Cara.” As the rain intensifies and I dig back into the takeout container of enchiladas, I wonder why it’s easier for me to talk to a stranger than it is the men I consider my brothers. 



Patricia D. Eddy likes to consider herself an unstoppable force. As long as there's coffee. Then, the voices in her head come to life.

Her tales of werewolves, vampires and witches; Doms and subs; and battle-hardened, scarred military heroes feature characters so real, you'll want to jump inside the pages of her books to be friends with them. Or just give them a hug.

When she's not writing, she's a professional freelance fiction editor and technical writer. On weekends, she loves to take on home improvement projects, especially if they involve power tools.

Patricia lives in Seattle with her husband and very spoiled cats. You can find Patricia all over the web, and she loves to hear from readers. Email her at patricia@patriciadeddy.com






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Shifters of Black Isle Complete Series Boxed Set by Lorelei Moone


SHIFTERS OF BLACK ISLE COMPLETE COLLECTION

by Lorelei Moone
Shifters of Black Isle, #1-4
Publication Date: September 16, 2019
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Shifters, Novellas, Boxed Set

AVAILABLE NOW!

Google Play: http://bit.ly/2kLQll8

SYNOPSIS

With death lurking at every corner, love becomes more important than ever. 
With the threat of war hanging above their heads at all times, the fierce warriors of Black Isle are used to the idea that all they hold dear could be destroyed at any moment. They work hard to survive and celebrate harder. 
Shifters of various types must band together to defeat their numerous enemies, yet they never forget that life and love is precious and to grab happiness wherever they can find it. After all, any given day could be their last.
Claimed by the King
When a young human woman is offered up as a human sacrifice to the mysterious inhabitants of the Black Isles, she assumes she’ll be a slave and life as she knows it will be over. She’s half correct. Her life will change completely, but King Broc, who claims her as his mate, isn’t the brutish captor she expected him to be. 
The Soldier and the Siren
The Merfolk are the Isles’ natural enemy; have been for generations. When General Teaq comes across a mermaid inside Black Isle territory, he knows he must capture her. But there’s something about the mysterious woman that gives him pause. Their respective peoples are at war, but hate is the last thing on their minds.
A Dragon’s Treasure
The Isles are on the brink of war, and newly appointed general, Rhea, knows she must summon her secret weapon. The dragon that slumbers underneath the castle is their only hope to defeat the vast numbers of enemy fighters headed to their shores. But dragons are fickle creatures. Will she be able to reason with him and convince him to support her cause?
The Warlock’s Conquest
Ever since Ferris’ sister was taken by the barbarians that live on the Black Isles, he’s been planning his revenge. Years later, he’s finally leading a troop of warriors to liberate her, only to discover that perhaps he’s been on the wrong side of this conflict all along. 
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ABOUT LORELEI MOONE

Lorelei Moone is an author of paranormal romance based in London. A lover of all things sweet and caffeinated, when she's not writing about sexy bear shifters and their strong-willed curvaceous love interests, Lorelei can be found baking cookies or cakes for her family.
She got her start writing bear shifters in the well received Scottish Werebear series (2015-2016), and its spin-off, Alpha Squad (2016-2017). To binge-read these today, make sure to buy the boxed set collections. Additionally, she's written of vampires in her Vampires of London series (2016-2017), and has just begun her foray into paranormal fantasy romance with the Shifters of Black Isle series (2018-2019).
Most of her titles are also available in print as well as audio, so you can enjoy them in your favourite format.
Lorelei also writes contemporary / erotic romance as L. Moone. 

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY

The Illusion of a Girl by LeeAnn Werner


The
Illusion of a Girl
LeeAnn
Werner

Genre: Young Adult, Thriller

Publisher: L. Werner Marketing

Date of Publication: 6/30/19

ISBN: 978-1-7330062-5-5
ASIN: B07TP9W621

Number of pages: 258
Word Count: 61,000

Cover Artist:  Vladimir Serov, Design – Teaberry Creative

Tagline: Stay Vigilant, Act
Normal and Be Ready to Run.

Book Description: 

Perception is king, especially in
a small Ohio town. Jessie Taylor seems like a normal 15-year-old girl, but
she’s an illusion of what people expect her to be: a good girl, a smart girl,
and most importantly, a girl from a respectable family.

Her family may appear ordinary,
even wholesome, but behind closed doors it’s an alcohol-soaked nightmare
without reprieve. Jessie and her brother Brian, struggle bravely together as
they fight to survive their violent father. Even the excitement of falling in
love for the first time can’t seal the foundational cracks in her psyche.

As her home life worsens, Jessie
mentally begins to bend and then break. No one foresees the girl Jessie
becomes, the dark abilities she possesses or the vengeance she'll take. Based
on a true story, the author grew up with an abusive alcoholic father and lived
to share the tale. She hopes her story inspires others to move beyond their
dysfunctional families and stop the cycle of abuse.



       
Excerpt:
A few hours
later, Mom’s hand on my shoulder and her soft voice woke me. “Will you go to
the store with me? I would love some company.”
“What time is
it?” I asked.
“Eleven
o’clock.”
“I guess,” I
grumbled. I moved Baby over and wearily got up from the floor. A quick glance
at Brian confirmed he was still asleep. I cov¬ered Baby back up and headed to
the bathroom.
Standing in the
shower for a few minutes, I allowed the spray of water to soak my head and wake
me up. I ran the soapy washcloth over my body, shampooed and conditioned my
hair and got out.
As steam
evaporated from the mirror, a girl with dark hair and a pained expression
stared back at me. I didn’t recognize myself. My thoughts didn’t seem like they
belonged to the girl in the mirror. Fear settled in my stomach like a large,
cold stone. I knew it was me, but it didn’t feel like it. My thoughts existed
outside of my physical body. With a trembling hand, I slowly dragged my fingers
downward to blur the image. My scalp prickled as I backed away from the mirror
and slid down the bathroom wall, still wrapped in my towel.
I desperately
wanted this out-of-body feeling to go away. With my fingers pressed to my
temples, I shivered and whispered, “3130 Brookhaven Drive. I live at 3130
Brookhaven Drive. My name is Jessie. I am Jessie.” I prayed repeating my name
and address would put my brain back where it belonged.
“God, please
make this feeling go away. Please God, make this feeling go away.” I wondered
if this was what it felt like to lose your mind. My sanity would be the toll
for the constant uncertainty and fear in my home.
“Jessie, how
much longer ‘til you’re ready?” Mom asked outside the bathroom door.
Her voice broke
me out of my panicked trance.
“Not long,” I
answered. Slowly, I rose from the pink carpeted floor and got dressed. I pulled
my still-wet hair into a ponytail. I kept my eyes glued to the floor. I was
afraid my reflection in the mirror would kick off the disconnected feeling
again.
I settled myself
into the front seat of the car and buckled up. Mom glanced over at me.
“You okay?” she
asked.
“No. Are you?” I
glared back at her. Did she seriously think I would be okay? Frowning, I folded
my arms across my stomach. Mom just sighed. She didn’t try to talk again. She
knew I would quickly shut down her weak attempts.
As we drove to
the store, I stared out the window at the passing scenery: our neighborhood
with large maple trees, soft rolling hills, ranch-style homes and kids’ toys in
almost every yard. The landscape shifted to flat land and brown corn fields
once we drove a few miles out of our subdivision. In the summer, the fields
were lush with tall, dark green corn stalks and moist earth, but now, in the
fall, only dried, cut-down stalks remained. I rolled down the window and let
the breeze soothe my brain.
Finally, retail
stores appeared as we entered Stanton’s downtown. We arrived at the grocery
store and quickly went through each aisle picking up our usual grocery items. I
ambled through the aisles, not saying much, and mulled over the events of the
morning.
In the cereal
aisle, we ran into lavender-haired Mabel, one of the older ladies from church.
I guessed she was in her early eighties. In fact, all the ladies near Mabel’s
age had lavender hair. And why did they jingle with every step? Once you got
old, were you assigned a bell to clip on your clothes and lavender hair dye?
“Hi Jan, Jessie,
how are you?” Mabel greeted both of us.
I wanted to say,
Hi Mabel, Dad punched Brian this morning and due to our constant abuse, I’m
losing my mind. How about you?
“We’re good,”
Mom said. “How are you?”
Her response
prevented mine, which was probably a good thing.
Let’s all
pretend everything is fine. They continued to chit-chat while I sauntered away
under the pretense of cereal selection. To avoid any additional conversation, I
stared intently at the various brands of Raisin Bran until Mom and Mabel
stopped talking.
We finished
shopping and headed to the parking lot. It was a windy fall day and my long
ponytail whipped at my face as I loaded the grocer¬ies into the trunk. The warm
wind washed over my skin like a caress. I loved the fall weather. It wasn’t too
hot or too cold, but perfectly dry and sunny. As I loaded the last of the
groceries into the trunk, the image of Brian’s face from this morning flashed
in my head. It was the look of despair in his eyes. More than anything, I hated
Dad for hurting Brian. I didn’t like it when Dad hurt Mom either, but it pissed
me off that she kept him around when she could have sent him packing.


During our
silent ride back home, I glared out the window and noticed nothing. All the
while, my anger built. I hated Dad more for hitting Brian then me. I hated him
for hitting me too, but it hurt me more if he hit Brian. As Mom slowly pulled
into the garage, I couldn’t hold back any longer. 





About
the Author:



LeeAnn Werner is a marketing
consultant, blogger and author. Her book, The Illusion of a Girl, a young adult
thriller, is based on her own childhood where she struggled to survive her
violent alcoholic father. She hopes her story inspires others to move beyond
their dysfunctional families and stop the cycle of abuse. LeeAnn holds a
bachelor's degree from Bowling Green State University in Journalism. She lives
in Illinois with her wonderful husband, three beautiful children and one super
hyper dog.

You can check out her webpage and
blog at www.illusionofagirl.com


Twitter -
@LWerner27          

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/illusionofagirl



Interview with LeeAnn Werner
Do your characters seem to hijack the story or do you feel like you have the reigns of the story? 
My story is character driven, I’m not sure how I would have written it any other way. The story line is based on their decisions. Just like in real life, your life changes based on what decisions or actions you take. Life could go an infinite number of ways. 
Convince us why you feel your book is a must read. 
In some books you skip pages because of boring back story, too much description, or characters you don’t care about. This is why I skip pages in books. You won’t experience lulls when you read my book. It’s fast paced and every scene has meaning. You will feel my characters emotions. It grabs you from the beginning, races toward a crescendo and then releases you. I promise you won’t be bored!
Have you written any other books that are not published? No
Pen or type writer or computer? Computer, I hate writing with a pen, it’s too slow.

Anything you would like to say to your readers and fans?  I hope you love The Illusion of a Girl and I would be delighted to hear from you. 






Vaughn by Ella Fox & Rochelle Paige




Title: Vaughn

Series: Love Under the Lights #2
Authors: Ella Fox & Rochelle Paige
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: September 16, 2019





Blurb


Gorgeous, charming, and funny, Vaughn Corbett rose far above
his less than optimal beginning to become a household name. Known for being a
dynamic and unflappable interviewer, no one was more surprised than he when he
got tongue-tied over a gorgeous blonde in the middle of a live interview.

Allie Henderson was so focused on her career that she rarely
thought about men or dating. That all changed when she came across a
silver-tongued devil on the red carpet. The moment his deep blue eyes met hers,
something inside her shifted.

Allie was there to support her best friend. Vaughn was just
doing his job. Neither of them expected the instant, magnetic attraction that
couldn’t be denied.

Would a surprise that neither of them planned on end things
before they really began?









Purchase Links

$2.99 for a limited time!

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

Will be free in Kindle Unlimited soon





Excerpt

The second I saw the
sexy as fuck blonde in the green dress, everything shifted. When our eyes met,
I was poleaxed. An intensely possessive feeling roared to life inside me. The
need to touch and claim her was so extreme that I struggled not to drop my mic
and go right to her. 
I was known for
being a dynamic and unflappable interviewer, yet for the first time in my
career, I fumbled for words and struggled for coherence. This was due to the
fact that the only thing I cared about was her. Only when I realized that my
segment producer had been frantically waving at me from his spot next to the
stationary camera did I remember that I had a job to do. 
Forcing myself into
host mode, I somehow went about interviewing the group of people the girl in
the green dress was walking with. I knew who each one of them was, but her name
was a mystery because she stood off to the side, and it wasn’t like I could
call her over. 
The rules on the red
carpet were simple and definitive. Talk to the talent and keep it moving.
Assistants, friends, and family members didn’t get a lot of play, even if they
were as sexy as the goddess in the green dress. It frustrated me not to know
her name, but I comforted myself with the knowledge that it would only be a
matter of time before I solved that mystery.
After I wrapped up
my pre-show hosting duties, something that took far longer than one would
imagine, I headed into the Dolby Theatre. I was seated with one of my good
friends, Liam Hall. He wasn’t nominated but was presenting, so he was in a
chill mood. Typically, we’d have shot the shit and pressed the flesh with the
people around us, but I was so busy staring at the girl in the green dress that
I didn’t have it in me to do much more than phone it in. I was smart enough to
train my eyes mostly on the stage when the cameras were rolling, but every time
the host threw to commercial, my attention went right back to her. I hated that
she was seated so damn far away in another section.
Oscar ceremonies
were known for being ridiculously long and what was scheduled as a three-hour
broadcast always went over. Sometimes by seventeen minutes, and sometimes by
eighty. I’d never hated the length more than I did then. I silently willed the
damn show to come in on time for once, but naturally, that didn’t happen. The fucking
thing dragged on longer than War and Peace.
During one of the
commercial breaks, Liam leaned over and muttered, “What’s the deal with the
sexy chick in the green dress you’re busy eye-stalking?” 
While it was true
that I was ogling her—clearly not as covertly as I’d hoped—hearing Liam refer
to her as sexy set my teeth on edge. That I had any kind of reaction to his
question was unusual. I’d had a similar response when I’d seen Dane Garrison
take her arm earlier. The only thing that calmed me down about that was the
certainty that Dane wasn’t dating her. I knew this because Dane and I were
tight. The only girls in his life on the regular were his mom, Gloria Garrison,
and his daughter, Maggie. Thank fuck I’d remembered that before I made a fool
of myself by telling him to get his goddamn hands off the blonde. I’d never
felt territorial about anyone before, but there was no denying that I
wanted—needed—her to be mine. That brought me back to Liam, who needed to know
that the goddess in green was majorly off-limits.
“Call her sexy
again, and we’re going to have a problem,” I grumbled, speaking low enough so
only he could hear me.
Sitting back, Liam
raised his brows and gave me an “are you serious” look. I dipped my head to
acknowledge that yeah, I sure as fuck was. Unbothered by his obvious amusement
about what was going on with me, I turned my attention back to the woman in
green.






Also Available


AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

Free in Kindle Unlimited






Ella Fox

USA Today
Bestselling Author Ella Fox
has learned a bunch of stuff along the way but the most important of all
those things is that anything is possible when you try. In 2012 she took a big
leap of faith and published her first book, Broken Hart. Since then she’s
written fifteen more full-length books and several novellas– and every one is a
reminder that you can live your dream as long as you work for it.

Ella’s favorite
things are music, movies, traveling, The Foo Fighters and, of course, reading.
This isn’t a surprise considering the fact that her mom is USA Today
Bestselling Author Suzanne Halliday.




Rochelle Paige

Rochelle Paige
absolutely adores reading—always has and always will. When she was growing
up, her friends used to tease her when she would trail after them, trying to
read and walk at the same time.  If she has downtime, odds are you
will find her reading or writing.

She is the mother
of two wonderful sons who have inspired her to chase her dream of being an
author.  She wants them to learn from her that you can live your dream as
long as you are willing to work for it.

When she told her
mom that her new year's resolution was to self-publish a book in 2013, she
pretty much told her, "About time!"