Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Teaser | The Jewel of Nirel by Ann Snizek

Book Title: The Jewel of Nirel
Author: Ann Snizek
Release Date: July 27, 2013
Genre: YA Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Length: Over 86,000 Words
Publisher: Snow Flower Enterprises


TEASER

The next day's shopping trip was a success. Krissa found a nicely balanced belt knife, with the help of Master Leyland, a guard of Lord Naren, Alcina's father, who accompanied them to the market for protection. When they returned that evening, she made a point of tracking down Khevin and telling him about Micah's message to her. He wrote some notes about it in a journal. Then he moved around to the other side of his desk and sat on the edge so that he could look straight into her eyes. His gaze always released a shockwave inside her, but she struggled to push past it as she focused on his words.

"He's right, you know," Khevin said, reaching out and cradling her hands. "War is nasty, and deaths are an unfortunate part of it. No matter how much I hate violence, I can't just sit back and allow people like Marc and Hume to kill without at least trying to stop them. They won't listen to reason." He tilted his head back as if the answer would appear written on the ceiling. "People look to me for protection."

"I know," Krissa said softly, not sure what else to say. She knew that no matter how strong he appeared, the pressures of ruling a country weighed heavily on him. Grown men struggled with less. "Do you know who Nadzia is?" she asked in an attempt to break the silence that had fallen.

"She is a water nymph," he said. A hint of annoyance colored his voice, but his expression returned to normal. "She has an unpleasant habit of appropriating men and turning them into slaves."

"That doesn't sound so different from some women I know," Krissa said, trying to lift the mood.

"When she tires of them she feeds them to her pet sharks," Khevin added with a grimace.

"Ouch."

Khevin chuckled -- tension released… at least for a while. "Yes, that would be an ‘ouch’." He looked at her with his deep, swirling eyes again. "Will you be alright?" He gently pushed hair back from her cheek and touched her face.

"I'm sure I will, but I don't have to like it," she complained.

"I'd worry if you did like it," he replied.

AUTHOR BIO
I grew up in Vermont mostly and now live in Virginia with my family (those still at home). My husband and I have a blended family of seven kids. My childhood was spent moving around a lot. (non-military) About five years ago, we started home-schooling our youngest children. Now there are only two remaining in home-school. I have tried to nurture the love of books in our children and now our grandchildren -- always nurturing their imaginations. Recently, I have become active in our community with literacy, starting a local (and online) creative writing club and volunteer tutoring at the Adult Learning Center.

I struggle with Fibromyalgia and PTSD. So, have to be careful not to overdo things... I don't always listen to my own advice. I have a dry, sarcastic and corny sense of humor and always try to look at things optimistically. (again not always successful) However, I feel that if I don't give up -- for long -- then things will work out for the best eventually.

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Monday, August 5, 2013

Teaser | Secret of the Shielded by Ann Snizek

 
Book Title: Secret of the Shielded
Author: Ann Snizek
Release Date: March 9, 2013
Genre: YA Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Length: Over 75,000 Words
Publisher: Snow Flower Enterprises


TEASER

Everyone stared at Krissa in expectation (OK, Lonnie just turned in her direction, but he gave the impression of looking). She could feel the butterflies growing in her stomach and grabbed at an offensive weed that had been by her side. "What should I try to do?"

"Something simple," Sealey said. "Don't try to use too much power. It could be a beacon for those we want to avoid."

Nodding, Krissa thought carefully. Her stomach growled softly, but loud enough to be heard in the silence. "OK, how about an apple?" She said. Closing her eyes, she held out her hand, palm up.

Her friends maintained the silence, but Sealey and Ruuna's eyes widened. They watched as a fog formed and swirled in Krissa's hand. As it thickened, it took shape. At first, it looked like a blank, cartoon cutout of an apple, then the texture of the smooth, polished skin formed and the color filled in like the apple was blushing. It formed complete with a stem and a shriveled leaf still stuck to the stem.

Krissa opened her eyes and looked at the apple in her hand. It looked so real that she closed her hand on it. Her fingers went through it as if it wasn't there, which it wasn't really. Startled, she opened her hand again and it wobbled. With a glimmer of an idea, Krissa carefully closed her hand to where the apple would be and moved her hand closer to her friends. The apple stayed in place.

AUTHOR BIO
I grew up in Vermont mostly and now live in Virginia with my family (those still at home). My husband and I have a blended family of seven kids. My childhood was spent moving around a lot. (non-military) About five years ago, we started home-schooling our youngest children. Now there are only two remaining in home-school. I have tried to nurture the love of books in our children and now our grandchildren -- always nurturing their imaginations. Recently, I have become active in our community with literacy, starting a local (and online) creative writing club and volunteer tutoring at the Adult Learning Center.

I struggle with Fibromyalgia and PTSD. So, have to be careful not to overdo things... I don't always listen to my own advice. I have a dry, sarcastic and corny sense of humor and always try to look at things optimistically. (again not always successful) However, I feel that if I don't give up -- for long -- then things will work out for the best eventually.

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Sunday, August 4, 2013

Tour Stop | Interchangeable by Kim Carmichael


Title: Interchangeable
Author: Kim Carmichael
Series: 1Night Stand
Genre: Erotic/Menage
Publisher: Decadent Publishing
Release Date: July 9 2013
Formats/Editions Available In: eBook

Synopsis

Five years ago Dahlia Adair left her business partners, the two men she loved. Unable to choose between them, she vanished with their venture capital and their hearts. Betrayed by the woman they both love, Todd Shelton and Cooper Montgomery dissolved their company and their friendship.

When Todd and Cooper reunite, they can't move forward with their new business until they confront the woman who called them "interchangeable" before she disappeared.

Five years later, Dahlia wants to live without looking over her shoulder, Todd wants his love and his friend back, and Cooper wants answers. With the help of Madame Eve and 1Night Stand, they give Dahlia the chance to live free of repercussions for her crimes if she’ll agree to spend one night with them, vowing to make her aware of their differences, and offer her a life they're sure she can't refuse.


Excerpt

“We want what you didn’t give us before.” Though he tried to appear casual, relaxed, Cooper’s jaw twitched, betraying his tension.

The money. No doubt the money. She took hold of the edge of the table, trying to stop her shaking. “What might that be?”

“The chance to know about the other.” He strummed his fingers on his knee.

Todd put a hand on her shoulder. “The chance to show you the difference.”

They didn’t mention anything about money. Her stomach twisted at the way Cooper stared her down as if daring her to say no, and she shifted her gaze to Todd.

His eyes remained clouded, half closed. The answer to her question came in the form of heat igniting between her thighs. She shifted in her seat. What were they offering, a challenge, a choice, or her ultimate fantasy?

“What if I say no?”

Neither man answered.

One night with them. Her mind screeched to a halt. Instead of her dream, she pictured tomorrow morning, getting back on a plane to South America, returning to the small marketing consulting gigs that barely paid her rent, and spending her nights waiting to be found out. She needed to locate her spine and get what she truly needed out of the night. “One night and we part?”

Todd moved in closer. “Isn’t this what you always wanted?”

Yes, that was everything she wanted and planned for five years ago. Of course, back then it wasn’t one night, it was forever.

Wait, she couldn’t want. Her wants didn’t count.

What she needed was to get up in the morning without a bulls-eye on her back.

She licked her lips. “No repercussions or retaliation?” They both knew her well and understood her question.

Silence. Even the waves seemed to stop.

At last, they both nodded.

She took a breath. When she walked away tomorrow, she’d make sure she didn’t replace the bull’s-eye with a heart broken beyond repair, and haunting memories.

Decision made, she pushed her chair back, and stood. “Did you get a room?”

Rather than living her fantasy, she would give them theirs and take nothing more from them. No enjoyment, no dreams, not one more thing.

Maybe she’d walk away with something she hadn’t had in years.

Peace.

Review

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  A quick read from start to finish.  Snuggling up with a good book is one thing but the moment it becomes sizzling hot is quite another.  Between Todd and Cooper, there's no way I could choose one between the two.  After reading this book I wouldn't want to either.  Who's to say loving two men is a burden when both men are extremely sexy in their own way.  Willing to take care of you no matter what the cost...

Dahlia has a choice to make when she notices Todd and Cooper are the men she's to meet up with.  She can either turn around and walk away or face her past demons and follow through.  Never in her life did she expect what Todd and Cooper had in store for her.  A night to remember always and forever.  Always taking care of the men in her past, she chooses to do the same once again asking nothing in return...  Though Todd and Cooper have something else in mind when it comes to Dahlia and everything changes.  Time stands still while the men ravish her body working together leaving Dahlia completely and utterly satisfied...exhausted.

The choice is hers...  Does she stay letting her heart lead the way or does she take the escape route betraying the two men she loves once again?  Todd and Cooper never fail to amaze me as they both feel led down the road of betrayal once again... When it comes to TCD not one seems to have the answer...


About the Author
Kim Carmichael began writing eight years ago when her love of happy endings inspired her to create her own.

A Southern California native, Kim's contemporary romance combines Hollywood magic with pop culture to create quirky characters set against some of most unique and colorful settings in the world.

With a weakness for designer purses, bad boys and techno geeks, Kim married her own computer whiz after he proved he could keep her all her gadgets running and finally admitted handbags were an investment.

Kim is a member of the Romance Writers of America, as well as some small specialty chapters. A multi-published author, Kim's books can be found on Amazon as well as Barnes & Nobel. From alcohol to makeup to infrared cameras and even scientific lasers studying the atmosphere, Kim has worked in some aspect of sales and marketing for over twenty years.

When not writing, she can usually be found slathered in sunscreen trolling Los Angeles and helping top doctors build their practices.


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Teaser | Sliding Beneath the Surface by Doug Dillon

Title: Sliding Beneath the Surface
The St. Augustine Trilogy Book 1
Author: Doug Dillon
Genre: Young Adult

Teaser

When Mr. Lobo entered the room, his weird-looking eyes instantly locked with mine.

Without shifting that laser-like gaze, he lumbered over to the recliner opposite me on the other side of the coffee table and sat down. Even when he picked up the bottle of water Carla left for him, he kept up that intense stare. Man, I felt like a germ under a powerful microscope—a germ still fighting a headache.

No one spoke, and the silence around us seemed to get heavier somehow, thick like clear syrup or something. I tried not squirming in my chair, but it was hard. I mean all that silence got really uncomfortable, you know? Instead of looking at Carla‘s friend directly, I stared at the Tiffany floor lamp next to his chair. It‘s glass bowl pointing downward showed little green leaves against an light orange background. What can I say, looking at the thing kept my mind busy.

And another thing. It wasn‘t freezing in the house, but it sure wasn‘t warm—no heating going on that I could tell. Carla had her coat on and I wore a heavy long-sleeved shirt, but old Lobo sat there in that same sleeveless shirt he wore in his workshop. The guy seemed not to notice the room‘s coldness at all.

The snapping sound when he opened his bottled water broke the spell, but only when the man chugged a couple of deep swallows did he look away. What a relief not to have those eyes slicing through me for even a short time. In seconds though, he was staring at me again, hard as ever. Still no one spoke. At that point, I figured if nobody else was going to say something, I would—anything, to get things moving. Yeah, I wanted the guy‘s help but sitting there facing him in complete silence, especially with Carla watching, wasn‘t working for me. “Ah, Mr. Lobo,“ I did my best to smile, “Carla thinks that maybe you can—“

“Save it“ His deep voice filled the room. “First rule, don‘t call me Mr. The name‘s Lobo, nothing more.“

“Uh, OK.“ I tried to look and sound as relaxed as possible. Actually, I was starting to get irritated.

“Rule number two, Mr. Golden,“ he lectured, like I thought he might. “If you want my help, you do things my way. Got that?“


Author Bio
Doug Dillon has been writing for adults and young people since 1984, especially in the paranormal realm. An award winning educator, he spent many years as a classroom teacher, school administrator, and coordinator of programs for high-risk students. Prentice Hall, Harcourt, Mitchell Lane Publishers, Boys' Life magazine, Learning Magazine and The Orlando Sentinel have all published his work.





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Saturday, August 3, 2013

Tour Stop | Wicked Hunger by DelSheree Gladden


Book Title: Wicked Hunger
Series: SomeOne Wicked This Way Comes
Author: DelSheree Gladden
Release Date: July 9th
Genre: YA Urban Fantasy
Length: 95,000 words/240 pages
Publisher: GMTA Publishing LLC
Presented by: As You Wish Tours

10 Tips for becoming a better writer

First…read. There is so much writers can learn from reading. When I review books, I can always tell which writers are avid readers and which aren’t. Non-readers don’t know the conventions readers expect, and it hurts the readability.

Read what is currently hot in your genre. Know what readers want to read about. You can write the greatest book, but if the market for what you’re writing is too small, your work will never take off.

Write the genre you like to read. If you love reading mysteries, but decide to try your hand at YA because it’s getting the most buzz right now you may find that harder than you think. Each genre has a voice, a feel, its own vernacular. Without knowing these details in and out, readers will spot you as an outsider right away.

Talk to people who read your genre. If you’re writing YA, talk to teens. Listen to how they talk, what they talk about, and how they interact with each other.

Write what you know. This is one I’m sure every writer has heard, but it’s one you really only learn well after experiencing readers calling you on mistakes a couple of times.

If number 5 isn’t possible, research, research, research! I once took a college course on New Mexico history just to learn more about the Native American tribes I was writing about. Creating realistic settings can bring a whole new level of interest to your book.

Writing characters that readers care about can be a huge challenge. The best way to make a realistic character is base them on real life. Now, I do not recommend basing a character off that one guy you were in love with in high school. It might be awkward if they find out later. Instead, take bits and pieces of people you have known or met. Start with what made these people memorable and go from there.

Don’t let your characters be one-dimensional. No one is good all the time, and no one is evil all the time. Even the most villainous character can have moments of compassion. People aren’t driven by only one thing. Make sure your characters always have at least two sources of motivation.

Make the hard decisions when it comes to characters. You may want your character to stand up to her abuser and fight back, but in reality, that doesn’t happen very often. Characters doing what you want them to do rarely makes the best story.

This is another one every writer has heard before, but just keep writing. I have written whole novels that will never see the light of day. But I learned something from each of them that made my next book better. I’ve heard is takes 10,000 hours of practice to master a skill. I’m hoping I’ll be able to beat that, but I’m willing to put in the time no matter how long it takes.


SYNOPSIS

Vanessa and Zander Roth are good at lying. They have to be when they are hiding a deadly secret. Day after day, they struggle to rein in their uncontrollable hunger for pain and suffering in order to live normal lives. Things only get worse when Ivy Guerra appears with her pink-striped hair and secrets. The vicious hunger Ivy inspires is frightening, not to mention suspicious.

Vanessa’s instincts are rarely wrong, so when they tell her that Ivy’s appearance is a sign of bad things to come, she listens. She becomes determined to expose Ivy’s secrets. Vanessa tries to warn her brother, but Zander is too enamored with Ivy to pay attention to her conspiracy theories.

One of them is right about Ivy … but if they lose control of their hunger, it won’t matter who is right and who is wrong. One little slip, and they’ll all be dead.

AUTHOR RECOMMENDATIONS
Delsheree Gladden's first book in her new YA series SomeOne Wicked This Way Comes is a riveting story of uncontrollable bloodlust that turns dealing with family, friendships, trust, devotion and love into a WICKED HUNGER~~~Susan Stec, author of Dead Girls Never Shut Up and The Grateful Undead Series.

AUTHOR BIO
DelSheree Gladden lives in New Mexico with her husband and two children. The Southwest is a big influence in her writing because of its culture, beauty, and mythology. Local folk lore is strongly rooted in her writing, particularly ideas of prophecy, destiny, and talents born from natural abilities. When she is not writing, DelSheree is usually teaching yoga, coaching gymnastics, reading, painting, sewing, or working as a Dental Hygienist. Her works include Escaping Fate, Twin Souls Saga, and The Destroyer Trilogy. DelSheree's newest series, The SomeOne Wicked This Way Come series, follows Vanessa and Zander Roth, siblings with an uncontrollable hunger for pain and suffering that will either gain them limitless power or lead them to their deaths.



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