Saturday, June 21, 2014

Blog Tour: Much Ado About Mother by Celia Bonaduce



Much Ado About Mother
Series- Venice Beach Romance (Can be read out of order)
By- Celia Bonaduce
Genre- Contemporary Romance
Publication Date- May 29th, 2014
Published By- eKensington

Look out, Venice Beach--the Wolf women are all together again. But when 70-year-old Virginia arrives with her teacup Chihuahua and unshakeable confidence, she senses trouble. Erinn is keeping secrets--like being broke and out of work--and Suzanna is paying too much attention to the wrong man--a Latino dance instructor who nearly broke her heart once before. Virginia's ready for the third act of her life, and she intends to make it rousing and romantic. Now she just has to convince her daughters to throw out their old scripts. If life has taught Virginia anything, it's this: there's more than one way to a "happily ever after"...

  

Friday, June 20, 2014

Midsummer's Eve Giveaway Hop


Welcome to my stop on the Midsummer's Eve Giveaway Hop hosted by I Am A Reader. I am giving away a $15 Amazon Gift Card and five ARC ecopies of my YA paranormal romance Tortured Souls. After entering my giveaway, be sure to hop over to the other blogs for more great prizes!




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Blog Tour: Ever Mine by Eden Ashe - Excerpt & Review




Ever Mine

Eden Ashe

Urban Fantasy Romance
Lyrical Press, Inc
June 2, 2014
105 Pages

Amazon



Can a kidnapped fairy and a human find love despite all odds?

Nathan Alexander’s batty aunt has done it again. This time she’s sent him a rare plant he doesn’t want. Imagine his surprise when he finds a kidnapped fairy hidden within its leaves. As a man who heads a non-profit organization for abused women and children, Nathan makes it his mission to help her find her way home.

All her life Katenia was warned about the evilness of humans. Never was that proved more true than when she was kidnapped from her quiet valley home. Thrust into the human world, Katenia must fight her very instincts to trust Nathan if she ever hopes to return to her rightful place…and to her normal thumb-sized fairy form.

But with their lives in danger, finding home…and love…will be a journey worthy of a fairy tale.


Excerpt

“Nathan? Are you alright? You look like you’re contemplating ways to kill me.”
He opened his eyes and glared at her, even as he let out a shuddering laugh. “No, Katenia,” he gritted out through clenched teeth. “Killing you is not what is on my mind. I thought you said we would be a bad idea?”
“I did,” she said, her beautiful face screwing up in confusion. “Pair-bonding between us would never work. Sex, however…sex is a very good idea.”
Nathan nodded once, finally understanding. Ignoring the honking of the line of cars behind him, he rolled up one shirtsleeve and pinched his arm.
“What are you doing?” she asked, her voice worried.
He barked out a laugh when the pain did nothing to wake him from whatever dream he’d landed in. “Testing myself.”
“Oh.” She sighed. “I don’t know what that means.”
“I don’t, either, but considering I am not certifiable enough to have sex with a fairy, the only other logical conclusion is I’m dreaming.”
“Oh,” she repeated, still sounding confused. “Are you dreaming?”
He sighed and shook his head, accepting the facts laid out before him. “No. My whole world view has just been altered, but unfortunately, I am not dreaming.”


My Review: I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review

Ever Mine is a cute urban fantasy romance novella. It's a quick, enjoyable read with a really sweet ending.

Katenia is a fairy whose flower home is given to Nathan by his aunt as a gift. When Katenia turns full size almost immediately, she is desperate to revert to her fairy form and go home. It doesn't take long, though, for Katenia and Nathan to fall head over heels for each other.

Katenia is portrayed in a manner that reminded me of Ariel from The Little Mermaid. She seemed to be aware of the "giants" as her people refer to humans, but I was never sure how much she knew about us. Her level of fear always seemed off-- she was awfully accepting of what would be a nightmarish experience. All Ariel got were legs, and she wanted them. Katenia grows from the size of Nathan's thumb into human size and loses her wings.

It's a love story at the core, so she must fall in love within these 105 pages. Perhaps she was so absorbed by the strength of her attraction toward Nathan that she was blind to other things.

This is a light, feel-good story that would make a good beach or vacation read. Just be sure to bring your imagination and leave your disbelief at the door. 

About the Author

Convinced dragons have gotten a bad rep throughout time, and more than a little addicted to fairy tales and romance novels, Eden Ashe has decided to re-write history. In her version, the dragons are ancient warriors in tarnished armor, who not only deserve the girl in the end, but will fight forever for her.

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Book Blitz: Sticks and Stones by Shawn McGuire - Excerpt & Giveaway




Sticks and Stones
The Wish Makers Book One

Shawn McGuire

YA Fantasy
June 15, 2014

Amazon * B&N * Kobo * iTunes * Smashwords



Everyone has a dark side. Mandy’s just moved in with her.

The last time sixteen-year-old Mandy Matteo broke a rule, her sister died. Since that day she has done only what is expected of her, but life as a goody-goody has made Mandy so boring her friends have all but abandoned her. And she’s given up on ever getting Ethan, the boy she’s liked forever, to notice her. Desperate, Mandy makes a wish to simply be happy.

Her wish is granted and happiness arrives in the form of Lexi, her childhood imaginary friend come to life. Magical wishes have conditions though: Once started, the wish cannot be altered or stopped. And once Mandy is truly content with her life again, Lexi must go back to where she came from. But Lexi loves being alive and she’ll do whatever it takes to stay that way.


Excerpt

Chapter One

Mandy 

It had been twelve years since I’d broken a rule. I found that life flowed along more easily if I didn’t rock the boat. Expectations were understood and outcomes predictable. Tonight was going to be different though. Tonight I’d step out of my carefully controlled comfort zone. If I wanted to have any friends at all, it was my only choice.
I’d promised Brooke and Crissy I’d go to the party tonight, even though it wasn’t my kind of thing and they knew it. But I really wanted the three of us to be together and this was what they agreed on. Besides, if I didn’t go I’d spend my sixteenth birthday alone.
Things weren’t going as planned though. Brooke had promised to pick me up at seven-thirty. At ten minutes to eight I’d received a text saying her brother had taken her car and she’d gotten a ride from someone else. So there I was, ready and willing and no way to get to the party.
Well, there was one way. My birthday present from my uncle, an old Ford Escape he’d been fixing up for months, was waiting in the barn for me. There was the minor detail that I didn’t have my license yet, but my road test was scheduled for tomorrow morning and I knew I’d pass. So what the heck, I was already stepping out of my box, what was one more step?
Brooke was supposed to bring me her silver sequined miniskirt so I was back at the I-have-nothing-to-wear stage. The whole time I stood there staring into my closet, an invisible Jiminy Cricket sat on my shoulder reminding me that I was breaking a rule. You know what happens when you break a rule.
“Yeah, yeah,” I said, flicking Jiminy to the floor, “civilizations collapse and planets implode. Alert the media, Mandy Matteo is about to break a rule.” But the room spun a little and my stomach flipped as those words came out of my mouth. I looked down to see if Jiminy was still there. He wasn’t, of course, so I called out, “It’s just one party. Mom won’t be home ’til Sunday. No one will ever know I took the Escape.”
Finally dressed in something other than sweats, I grabbed the “sweet sixteen” key ring from the rack by the front door, ran out to the barn, and hopped in the car. At the end of the driveway I paused, waiting for a sign that planets were in fact imploding. With my luck, the first party I ever went to would get busted. But no space debris fell out of the sky to block my path. My phone didn’t ring with Mama intuitively calling to ask what I was up to. No voice from above told me to turn away from the dark side I was about to cross into. So I pulled onto the county highway and headed for town.



About the Author

Shawn McGuire started writing after seeing the first Star Wars movie (that’s episode IV) as a kid: she couldn’t wait for the next one so wrote her own episodes. Sadly, those notebooks are long lost, but her desire to write is as strong now as it was then. She grew up in the beautiful Mississippi River town of Winona, Minnesota, the small town that inspired the setting for Sticks and Stones and the upcoming Break My Bones. After graduating college she moved to the Milwaukee area of Wisconsin (Go Pack Go!) where she lived for many years. She and her family now call Colorado home and when not writing or reading, Shawn enjoys cooking and baking, crafts, interior decorating, and spending time hiking and camping in the spectacular Rocky Mountains.

Author Links:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3231214.Shawn_McGuire

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Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Blog Tour: Temptation by Fire by Tiffany Allee - Excerpt & Giveaway



Temptation by Fire

Tiffany Allee

Paranormal Romance
Entangled Ignite
December 30, 2013



When Ava has a vision of a man's violent death, experience tells her she can't stop it from happening. For once, she's wrong. She saves him, but in doing so enters a world of manipulative demons and the men who hunt them.

Driven by the memory of his murdered family, Karson toils in the violent, thankless fight against demonkind. Masquerading as humans, demons are always a step ahead. But just when he thinks vengeance will be his, Ava shatters his plans and twists his focus.

Her powers have pushed her away from human contact, but this tattooed hunter with a battered heart draws Ava in. Working with the pretty little psychic is a challenge Karson can handle. But keeping his hands off of her is nearly impossible. With demons on their trail and Ava determined to make things right, keeping his heart safe will be just as tough as keeping Ava alive.

Excerpt

Excerpt, Ava’s POV:
“So who are these Venators? Are they like some sort of demon-hunting organization?” I asked.
“They’re like a need-to-know organization,” Karson said.
“I haven’t held anything back from you.”
He shrugged and his hand dropped from my shoulder. “I’m trying to help you. That doesn’t give you the right to know everything about me.”
I opened my mouth to argue but he held a hand up, and his index finger touched my lips. The gesture was meant to shut me up, and it worked. In that moment every thought flew from my head. There was only him. The intense look in his eyes. The roughness of his skin on my mouth.
The immediate need that curled in my stomach.
What would it be like to be with a man like him? Rough and wild and freaking amazing, that was my bet. My body ached to find out. The rest of me knew better.
“You need to hide for a while. Then you can go back to your normal life. Promise me.”
With a quick jerk of my head, I promised.
Tension flowed out of him visibly, and a small smile touched his lips. “Good.”
And if I hadn’t already convinced myself that he was probably right, that laying low couldn’t hurt, his next words would have.
“Please don’t go back on your promise. Don’t make me watch them kill you.”

About the Author

CPA-turned-romance-author Tiffany Allee used to battle spreadsheets in Corporate America, and now concentrates on her characters’ battles to find love. Raised in small-town Colorado, Tiffany currently lives in Phoenix, AZ, by way of Chicago and Denver. She is happily married to a secret romantic who tolerates her crazy mutterings.

She writes about ass-kicking heroines and the strong heroes who love them. Her work includes the suspense-driven From the Files of the Otherworlder Enforcement Agency series which revolves around a group of paranormal cops solving crimes and finding love, and Don’t Bite the Bridesmaid, a lighthearted paranormal romance (Entangled Publishing).

Website                Blog                 Newsletter
Twitter                 Facebook          Goodreads


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Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Blog Tour: Fires of Man by Dan Levinson - Review, Interview & Giveaway




Fires of Man
The Psionic Earth Series Book 1

Dan Levinson

Science Fiction
Jolly Fish Press
June 17, 2014

Amazon * B&N



Supposedly, the war between Calchis and Orion ended decades ago. But upon reporting to an isolated Orion army base for basic training, Private Stockton Finn learns the war still rages, only the weapons have changed—most disturbingly of all, Finn has been selected to become one of those weapons.

Across the border, young Calchan farm boy Aaron Waverly learns all too well just how determined his country is to win the war when he is abducted from his family's property by a sinister government operative known only as Agent. Finding himself trapped in dreary new surroundings, learning deadly skills he's never before imagined, Aaron struggles to reconcile his ephemeral faith with his harsh new reality.

As the two nations hurtle toward a resurgence of open hostilities, Finn and Aaron, along with their new friends and mentors, must rush to prepare themselves for the inevitable clash. All the while, a new archaeological find in the frozen tundra far to the north hints that the brewing conflict may only be the first of their worries...


Interview with Dan Levinson

1) There are several main characters in Fires of Man. Tell us about them?

The story kicks off with the psionic-powered assassin called "Agent." This guy isn't the cool, "heroic" assassin. He's a psychopath. He was raised as a child soldier in a war-torn land, and was later rescued by a man named Virard, now the top military leader in the nation of Calchis. As such, Agent has unswerving loyalty to Virard, and to Calchis itself. He has a skewed view of humanity, thinking of most people as beneath him. That said, he doesn't relish killing like, say, one of the other most famous psychopaths in fiction: Dexter. Agent's addiction is his duty to his country, and killing is simply a means to that end. It was a real challenge to make an audience want to read about a guy like that, but I think I've pulled it off!

Then, we have Stockton Finn and Aaron Waverly, the former a new psionic recruit for Orion, the latter for Calchis. Though their backgrounds are different, they've both lived peaceful lives, and being forced into this strange new world comes as a shock to both. Finn struggles with boot camp, carrying with him baggage from years of bullying, while Aaron, away from home for the very first time, must reconcile new viewpoints that conflict with the conservative manner in which he was raised, all the while dealing with a mysterious voice in his mind that he can't be certain is real.

Nyne Allen and Katherine "Kay" Barrett are both officers for Orion, Nyne a commissioned captain, Kay an enlisted staff sergeant. Nyne is conscientious, always trying to do right by everyone, even to a fault, constantly struggling with his perceived powerlessness in a war machine that will move on with or without him. Kay is damaged, traumatized by her older brother's shooting and subsequent disappearance from the hospital when she was a girl, and the later breakdown of her parents' marriage, but she wears her flaws like a badge of pride, though this is often to her own detriment. It's no wonder that Nyne, so desperate to fix something, anything, and Kay, her broken parts so clearly on display, would be attracted to one another. Yet Kay doesn't want to be "fixed," and this has led to the downfall of their relationship; when the story starts, they're already knee-deep in the fallout.

Last, we have Dr. Faith Santia, a Calchan archaeologist, and the only main character without psionic powers. She's a prodigy--though young, she's heading up an immense dig in the frozen northern land of Zenith. There's an enormous temple complex there, from a heretofore undiscovered civilization, which holds shocking secrets to mankind's past, and to the nature and origin of psionic powers.

2) What kind of research did you do while writing?

A lot of it revolved around the military elements, from training, procedure, and command structure, to vehicles and equipment. I pull quite a bit from military organizations of today, mostly the United States Armed Forces, yet at the same time there are distinct differences. I'd venture that the Orion military is a lot closer to the USAF, whereas the Calchan military has more departures. I also did research on some of the locales visited in the novel which reflect real world places. For example, at one point we end up in Kaito, a nation with strong parallels to Japan; it was fun to delve into that.

3) Do you use outlines, or are you more of a pantser?

I'm 50-50, I'd estimate. There are certain moments--"guidepost" moments, I like to call them--that are absolutely planned in advance. They're the most profound moments, the big confrontations, reversals, game-changers. These are the moments that I'm writing toward, that alter the course of the story in significant ways. For the most part, I have those figured out. But navigating the characters to those moments, I usually fill those journeys in as I go. It's part of the fun of writing: The joy of discovery.

4) What are three interesting facts about the novel, Fires of Man?

First, that Fires of Man takes place in a world very similar to our own. Is it our world in some distant future (or long-lost past)? A parallel universe? It very well could be, though I won't be providing a definitive answer to that until later in the series (and mark my words, I do have a definitive answer). Readers will find things that are immediately familiar to them, and I've gone so far as to use our own world's languages for the nations and cultures analogous to our own.

Second, that the psionic powers are essentially limitless in scope, bounded only by the confines of the characters' minds, what they can bring themselves to believe is and isn't possible. Readers can expect these powers to evolve, not just over the course of the Psionic Earth series, but even in Fires of Man itself! It's very cool and rewarding, I think, when a character gains new experience, and essentially "powers up," as it were.

Third, this story is one I've been working on, in various iterations, for a long time--about 15 years. Though it has undergone a complete shift from the themes and trajectory of its original version, a number of both main and supporting characters--including Agent, Nyne, Kay, and Aaron--remain largely unchanged from where they began all those years ago. I can't tell you how rewarding it is to finally be able to share this story, and these characters, with the world.

5) What message do you want readers to get from reading Fires of Man?

Inherent in any war story, I think, is the heavy toll of human conflict. And conflict breeds more of itself: A cycle of bloodshed and grief without end. Where does it stop? And is there a price to be paid for taking a stand against it? Is that the obligation of those in power, or can an individual make a difference? Can we, as a species, learn to work together instead of always being at each other's throats for perceived differences that are, ultimately, if you go down to our DNA, infinitesimally smaller than they appear? These are themes that run not only throughout Fires of Man, but through the Psionic Earth series as a whole. And I've done my best to pose these questions not only on the grand scale of war, but also on deeply personal levels.

6) If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation (cost is no object), where would you go?

I'd actually return to a place I've already traveled to: Singapore. What a beautiful, idyllic place. Exceptional food, wonderful art and culture, expansive green landscapes, the best zoo in the world, and a metro system that humbles even the New York subway elitist in me. This time, however, instead of staying in a youth hostel, I would stay in one of the five-star hotels on Singapore's resort island of Sentosa. And I would bring my entire family, and a few close friends.

7) If you could go to any fictional place, where would you go?

I racked my brain, thinking of fantasy or science fiction worlds I might like to visit, but they're often so fraught with danger that I doubt the trip would be very enjoyable. Then, the answer came to me: Diagon Alley from Harry Potter. Who wouldn't want to visit Diagon Alley?

8) Do you have any advice for new writers just entering the shark infested waters?

Don't be too precious with your work. This is not just for new writers, but all writers, myself included: Be open to criticism, and be open to learning, growing, improving. We, like all artists, do not begin producing masterpieces. The only way we might someday reach that goal is by dropping our barriers, our defensiveness and righteous indignation at those who "just don't get it," and instead embracing the desire to evolve into a more powerful, complete writer with every novel written, every chapter, every sentence. The second we're complacent with, or worse yet, begin to cling to the work we're producing now, we become stagnant.

One of the best pieces of advice I received, from the extraordinary Tom Jenks, is that as we become better writers, the work of writing doesn't necessarily become easier; it's just the opposite! The better the writer, the harder the work is, because more must be invested more to elevate it to higher and higher standards. If, as a new writer, you face rejection, don't despair! Instead, improve, and you will get there. 


My Review: I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review

Fires of Man is not my normal read, but it's always nice to step outside a rut and experience something different. This is book one in a three book series and ends in a cliffhanger that will leave the reader desperate for the next book. I usually prefer a bit more closure, but I know cliffhanger endings are very popular.

I'm not really sure where this novel takes place, and based on the interview above, we're not meant to know yet. It's an intriguing world, similar to our and yet different on many levels. I really enjoyed the myriad of characters. Of course that brings up my main complaint with the story. The constant shifting in point of view from character to character made the story disjointed at times. This story doesn't just follow one or two main characters, but several, each with their own story arcs.

I loved the world building. Mr. Levinson does an amazing job painting a picture of his fictional world. So will you enjoy it? I'm going to categorize Fires of Man as a sweeping urban sci-fi epic. There's a heavy fantasy element with the psionic powers, and also a strong military/war aspect. It isn't a light read but rather an immersive experience. Definitely worth a try in my opinion... just don't forget about the cliffhanger at the end.

About the Author

DAN LEVINSON is a graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of Arts and has dabbled in acting, screenwriting, and writing for the stage. He lives in Great Neck, New York.

You can find Dan Levinson online here:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/readdanlevinson
Twitter: www.twitter.com/readdanlevinson
Website: http://www.danlevinsonwriting.com/













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Book Blast: The Hunt for Tomorrow - $50 Amazon GC Giveaway

Huntfortomorrow

22 AUTHORS. 3 DYSTOPIAN BOXED SETS. 1 MASSIVE EVENT.
A virtual scavenger hunt through twenty-two fictional dystopias.
Friday, July 18 at 6:00pm (EST) - Sunday, July 20 at 6:00pm (EST).

Join THE HUNT FOR TOMORROW, an on-line scavenger hunt, and embark on a virtual odyssey through twenty-two dystopian futures. Become an intrepid scavenger and solve clues at each of the dystopian author stops as you navigate your way to the finish line where you’ll be entered into a random draw for the Grand Prize. For each correct answer collected along the way you’ll get an additional chance to win. During The Hunt, the authors will offer up their own exclusive material, sneak peeks, contests, and giveaways at their individual stops on The Hunt, giving all scavengers multiple chances to win bonus prizes. 

The twenty-two participating indie authors include best-selling, award-winning and emerging writers from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom who all have books included in three dystopian boxed sets - - What Tomorrow May Bring, A Taste Of Tomorrow, and Shattered Worlds. In a unique collaboration of story-telling, nineteen of the authors will write a progressive short story over nineteen days following The Hunt.

The Grand Prize Winner of The Hunt For Tomorrow will name characters and contribute the title for this dystopian world, and all participants in The Hunt will receive an advance copy of the story for an exclusive period before it is made available as a free download. The Grand Prize also includes a signed copy of books included in the boxed sets, an ebook of all the boxed sets, and the first copy of this one-of-a-kind progressive story.

THE HUNT FOR TOMORROW begins at http://huntfortomorrow.blogspot.com on Friday, July 18 at 6:00pm (EST) and ends on Sunday, July 20 at 6:00pm (EST). The Hunt is on for one weekend only, although there is no time-limit for completing the course. The Hunt is open to scavengers around the world; there is no cost to enter and one grand prize winner will be selected at random from all eligible entries.

Go to THE HUNT FOR TOMORROW for details and the full list of participating authors. JOIN THE HUNT. JULY 18-20.

  
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Blast Giveaway $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 7/20/14 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 publisher. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
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Monday, June 16, 2014

Cover Reveal: M10 by Lola Dodge


M10
Unlikely Beginnings

Lola Dodge

Paranormal Romance
Samhain Publishing
Coming December 2014


A vigilante. A warrior woman. A ballerina.

These ladies never pictured themselves as super heroes, but they’ve been called to serve—whether they want to or not.

This print anthology of superhero romance novellas arrives from Lola Dodge and Samhain Publishing in December 2014, compiling previous stories Ivory, Temptress and Belle Fury.


Lola Dodge was forged in the suburbs, tested in the retail wastelands and reborn as a romance writer after several strong cocktails. Armed with her M.F.A. in Writing Popular Fiction, she travels the world in search of story fodder and men with accents.

Author links:




Book Blast: Blackwood Crossing by MK McClintock - Excerpt & Giveaway

Blackwood CrossingBlackwood Crossing
MK McClintock

If you had to make a choice, would it be loyalty or love? Torn between loyalty to her family and refusal to marry a laird she despises, Rhona Davidson accepts a dangerous proposal from a man she knows only as Blackwood. Leaving behind a life of leisure, Charles Blackwood bravely serves his country with honor and the skill of a trained British agent. When his newest case returns him to the wild Highlands of Scotland, he is faced with a choice between killing a man and saving the only woman he has ever loved. Charles and Rhona join their lives, only to discover that their choices will result in bloodshed, unless they can uncover a truth long buried, deep in the Highland soil.








Praise for Blackwood Crossing

"MK McClintock has spun an enchanting tale deeply entrenched in the lands of Scotland and England that will leave you riveted to your chair until you turn the last page." - Donna McBroom-Theriot, mylifeonstoryatatime.com

“This is a wonderful book with suspense to keep me on the edge of my seat and surprises to keep me guessing . . . a feisty heroine and a strong, gentle hero . . . My poetic soul is fed by the beautiful descriptions of nature.” – Verna Mitchell, author of Somewhere Beyond the Blue

“Ms. McClintock has written another whirlwind romance set in a historical world. I loved returning to a world with such a mesmerizing atmosphere, and I am more than eager to read Devon's romantic story in the next British Agent Novel.” – R. Harness, Amazon reviewer

“Her writing is always top notch . . . In BLACKWOOD CROSSING, her storytelling flows with a clear plot and strong characters.” – L. Townsend, Amazon reviewer
 

 Excerpt

Charles held the silver watch in his palm, watching the seconds and minutes pass. Devon would arrive to relieve him in half an hour. Until then, his thoughts would continue to be plagued with images of Rhona in the room behind him. If she had met him, Charles Blackwood, Viscount and British agent, and not Charles Pearce, the common man who saved her life a little more than two years ago, would they have found a way to stay together?

Keeping their identities secret was one of the reasons why both he and Tristan had quit the agency. Had the last assignment, which pulled them back into service, been for anyone other than a friend, they would have remained retired or at least tried to. That matter was easily solved, but then another case arose, and then another, until they found themselves once again at the top of the agency’s assignment list. They had managed for nearly two years to avoid accepting assignments, and Charles appreciated that Tristan was here for him. 

He also knew there wouldn’t be another woman in his lifetime, and he was prepared to make his life a solitary one, but he never imagined escorting the only woman he had ever loved to another man. Charles recalled Rhona promising him that one day he would regret his choice to leave her behind.

“My father will never let me marry a commoner, but I will run away with you.” Rhona pressed her gloved hand against Charles’s face.

Charles turned his face inward and kissed her palm. “Nothing would please me more, but I can’t stay.” 

Rhona pulled away. “I don’t understand.”

Charles ignored the heavy ache in his chest. “As you said, I’m a commoner, and England is home. It’s where my work is.”

“Then work here.”

“Too many are leaving Scotland. You know it’s not possible.”

Rhona stood from the bench they’d been sharing inside the walled garden, now left dormant with the heart of winter settling in. “It would be possible if it’s what you truly wanted.”

“Rhona, it’s not a simple thing for me to stay.”

“When do you leave?”

Charles stood beside her and reached out, but she backed away. His hand dropped to his side. “I have to leave in the morning.”

“One day, Charles, you will regret this choice.” Rhona walked quickly, frost and leaves crunching under each step as she moved farther away.

“I already do.” Charles’s whisper was carried away with the wind. 

 There’s also another giveaway taking place on Goodreads. Blackwood Crossing Goodreads Giveaway


MK McClintockAuthor MK McClintock

MK McClintock is an author, entrepreneur, and photographer. She enjoys spending hours walking along rivers or over mountains, loves the Scottish Highlands, and likes to put her creative energy to use in the kitchen. She dreams of a time when life was simpler, the land rougher, and the journey more rewarding. With her heart deeply rooted in the past and her mind always on adventure, McClintock lives and writes in Montana.
    







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Blast Giveaway $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 6/30/14 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.
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Sunday, June 15, 2014

Blog Tour: Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda Song Series - Excerpt & Giveaway


This Would Have Been Our Song! Catchy tunes and dancers’ tales
Coulda Woulda Shoulda Song #2
By- Danielle-Claude Ngontang Mba
Genre- Family saga/ chick lit/ interracial romance/ romantic comedy


Marcus, Greg and Lucia are back in the second part of their journey to their perfect love song... will they finally find it?
This would have been their perfect love song…

It has been two years since Lucia Mpobo-Riddell has made her choice between the two men in her life. She and her beloved would have been perfectly happy if it wasn’t for… the constant distractions from her past, her sister Noor’s complicated life, her own doubts and fears. Maybe there wasn’t such a thing as perfection and this was a lesson that Lucia was going to learn the hard way. Greg McMullen and Marcus Grant’s lives had been affected by Lucia’s choice that day in Glasgow two years ago. Since then one had been fighting to keep her when the other had been relentlessly trying to get her back. It soon became apparent to them that she wasn’t the Lucia they met and fell in love with anymore. Her life and priorities had completely shifted. To even consider keeping her or just getting her back, they would have to accept it or they would have to let her go. But would they ever be able to do either?