The Warlord’s Stormy Skye by Gail Koger – Spotlight and Giveaway

 

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Gail Koger will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

My name is Skye McAllister, I’m a psychic witch and a healer. My life is a rollercoaster ride of craziness. My unique electrical powers have a bunch of alien males eyeing me like I’m prime rib at an all-you-can-eat banquet.

If that wasn’t bad enough, a crazy old witch transformed herself into a half-human Kotsor spider and is trying to kill me with hexes, magical bombs, and her zillion hatchlings. Have you ever tried to disarm an enchanted bomb with space Neanderthals trying to claim you as their mate? It’s a good way to die.

To keep me alive, Zarek, the Coletti Overlord, assigned me a partner. Vorian is a badass War Commander who is used to people obeying him immediately. Like that’s going to happen. I will admit he’s sex on two legs, and so damn pretty. But if I let my hormones dictate my actions, we’d be bound for life. Not happening.

Once we rid the galaxy of Mallox and the evil spider lady, I’m ditching his fine ass.

Enjoy an Excerpt

“You have expended a great deal of energy today.” Vorian held out a chocolate bar. “This will help replenish it.”

Before he could change his mind, I snatched the bar out of his hand like a hungry velociraptor.

Vorian’s eyes widened slightly at my ferocity.

What did he expect? I was a chocolate-starved female. I tore off the wrapping and took a bite. Yum. It was the good stuff. “Why are you being nice to me?”

“It is my duty to provide for you.”

“Duty, huh?”

“Yes.” Vorian pulled another candy bar from his hip pocket and ate it slowly.

I guess I should look on the bright side. I had chocolate. I wasn’t dead yet. Jagger was locked up, and my partner looked nothing like Badon. No man boobs, scars, or bristly nose hair. He had classically handsome features and a body to die for. Not that I noticed. Okay, I had seen him naked when the three-eyed creep had kidnapped us, and yowzer. He was centerfold material. He made my panties wet every time I looked at him. Yep, my life was a rollercoaster ride of craziness.

I licked the melted chocolate off the wrapper and noticed Vorian was staring at me intently. “What? Do I have chocolate on my nose?”

“Did Badon violate you?”

I snorted. “As if. I hit him with my limp dick spell.”

About the Author:I was a 9-1-1 dispatcher for the Glendale Police Department and to keep from going totally bonkers – I mean people have no idea what a real emergency is. Take this for example: I answered, “9-1-1 emergency, what’s your emergency?” And this hysterical woman yelled, “My bird is in a tree.” Sometimes I really couldn’t help myself, so I said, “Birds have a tendency to do that, ma’am.” The woman screeched, “No! You don’t understand. My pet parakeet is in the tree. I’ve just got to get him down.” Like I said, not a clue. “I’m sorry ma’am but we don’t get birds out of trees.” The woman then cried, “But… What about my husband? He’s up there, too.” See what I had to deal with? To keep from hitting myself repeatedly in the head with my phone I took up writing.

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Soul of Iron by January Bain – Spotlight and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. January Bain will be awarding a $30.00 paypal gift (US) to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Book two in the Sin City Kilts series

Can two wild souls survive the storm?

Mira, a zoologist and secret cryptozoologist at Vegas Zoo, has observed an unusual wolf prowling the confines of the zoo and her own property. But her dream of discovering a new species and documenting her find brings her up against Vegas’ werewolf community when rumors of her discovery of this dangerous hybrid threaten to expose them.

Calan Creig, a Highland Heathen Wulver Enforcer and head of Worldwide Security for Lycans, is summoned to Vegas to investigate. Although Mira’s eager to study this Tasmanian wolf lookalike, thought extinct for almost a hundred years, Calan is convinced he’ll be able to distract her and put obstacles in her path to prevent the discovery from being widespread. A playboy, he enjoys women and looks forward to seeing what Vegas can offer him—only, what it brings him is Mira, his mate!

But the hybrid wolf craves Mira to strengthen his own bloodline and will stop at nothing to have her. Now Mira and Calan must work together to eliminate the threat of this renegade wolf…if they can find their way past their deep mistrust issues. It seems impossible, but with Mira’s life and all that Calan holds dear at stake, it’s the only hope left.

Enjoy an Excerpt

Calan

The night wind lashed the casement windows of Castle Creigbourne, driving rain against the tower’s glass. The din woke me from a battle I was winning, striking down the enemy with my mighty claymore that I’d named Slayer. They don’t accuse me of having an iron soul for nothing. I never give up, and danger’s my life’s blood, even in my dreams.

Stretching, then grimacing as the numerous cuts and bruises from my recent cage fight made themselves known, I checked the time. Five a.m. Early enough to avoid company. I treasured time alone, a rare commodity in the Creig clan.

My bleary vision was made worse by a pounding headache curtesy of a night spent in our local pub celebrating the Burryman and my earlier knockout victory of a worthy opponent. I rubbed my eyes, blinked and spied my cell phone lying by the bed, reminding me of the encrypted email I’d gotten last night.

Right. Today my attendance was requested at virtual council. More like demanded, but also to be expected as my clan’s enforcer and one of a select team of experts that composed the Worldwide Security for Lycans or WSL. The position was made for me…when I didn’t have a damn hangover. Well, a good run across the moors would clear my head of the remaining cobwebs.

With no thought to dress, I strode naked from the room and took the stairs leading to the outdoors two at a time, exiting from the back of the keep. The scent of heather and moss stirred my senses as the rain ceased and a rainbow appeared over a rise in the land. I transformed to my other nature, entering through the glimmering doorway in the dimension next door, then exiting the portal as wolf. That split-second moment in time when my energy shifted, then reformed, exposing my wild nature, never got old.

On my massive paws, I loped across the wet green fields of Eilean maddah-allaidh or Wolf Island, eager to patrol our vast holdings and check for any interloper or breach of security. No one who knew of our piece of off-the-beaten-path real estate took the chance of riling one of us, the Highland Heathen Clan born of Wulvers and Vikings and ancient warriors, but I still kept a sharp lookout for the unexpected.

Someone finding our shores and causing havoc could not, and would not, be tolerated. The freedom of our heritage needed to continue, and I would protect my clan and our secrets to my dying breath. It explained why I’d chosen to live my life on my own, not willing to allow another to suffer if it was cut short. Not that I intended that to happen, but in this world, shit happened.

About the Author: January Bain has wished on every falling star, every blown-out birthday candle, and every coin thrown in a fountain to be a storyteller. To share the tales of high adventure, mysteries, and full-blown thrillers she has dreamed of all her life. The story you now have in your hands is the compilation of a lot of things manifesting itself for this special series. Hundreds of hours spent researching the unusual and the mundane have come together to create books that features strong women who live life to the fullest, wild adventures full of twists and unforeseen turns, and hot complicated men who aren’t afraid to take risks. She can only hope her stories will capture your imagination.

If you are looking for January Bain, you can find her hard at work every morning without fail in her office with her furry baby, Ling Ling. And, of course, she’s married to the most romantic man! Who once famously remarked to her inquiry about buying fresh flowers for their home every week, “Give me one good reason why not?” Leaving her speechless and knocking her head against the proverbial wall for being so darn foolish. She loves flowers.

If you wish to connect in the virtual world she is easily found on Facebook. Oh, and she loves to talk books…

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Morsel Enemies by Alexia Chase – Spotlight

Long and Short Reviews welcomes Alexia Chase who is celebrating today’s release of Morsel Enemies.

Are you ready to meet your next Man of the Month?

Chocolate chips, year-round Christmas decorations, crystal-clear waters, and smoldering nights under the stars. What more could you ask for?

Ava’s boss, Jax, wants the same land Miles wants, and she’s there to make sure Jax gets it and escape Hell Town, Florida, as fast as she can. Miles loves the land and will stop at nothing to get rid of the interloper.

Until Miles and the town charm her. Or is it all a lie?

Morsel Enemies from Alexia Chase is a small-town, enemies-to-lovers romance about Candy Cane Key’s favorite Scuba Diving Charter owner and a woman who hates frizzy hair, bugs, and sunshine.

Sparks will ignite this National Chocolate Chip Day as these two try to outwit each other. It’s going to be a hell of a ride.

The MAN OF THE MONTH CLUB is a steamy small-town collection featuring a new hottie (or two) every month. In 2023, escape to Candy Cane Key, Florida, and celebrate All the Holidays with your favorite group of romance authors and their delicious Paradise Men. Can’t wait to see you there!

Enjoy an Excerpt

Who has Christmas all year round? In the Florida Keys? These people need their heads examined. God, it’s hot. I fan the neckline of my top to let in some much-needed coolness, except nothing but sweltering air is swooshing around.

From inside my black handbag clutch, my cell phone rings. I let go of the handle for my luggage. Portia. My teeth grind together as I answer, “Yes?”

“Did you make it okay?”

“Yes. If you call standing in the middle of a machine shed, miles from civilization with my hair frizzing, a mosquito trying to drain me of all my blood, and no way to get to the Lansing Estates, okay.”

“About that….” Portia trails off as my armpits break into a sweat, making the silk fabric hug my skin.

“What?”

“The estate isn’t exactly an estate. The relatives who inherited the land that Jax wants to buy haven’t had anyone living in the house since their father went into a nursing home four years ago.”

“Great.” I turn my attention to the grinning receptionist, who’s now alone as the pilot readies the plane to return to the mainland. Go now. Get back on the plane.

Stop. It’s just a few days. A week at the most, and you’ll be back in civilization.

Robert marches across the cement floor and engulfs the hand of another man. Is that blood? I wrinkle my nose and watch their exchange. The man is tall and tan with dark hair, and while I can’t see his eyes, I’m guessing they’re a startling shade of blue. Because why wouldn’t they be?

He might be good-looking, but his clothes are disheveled and filthy. They’re either coated in blood or something worse. I shift away from them. I don’t want to know what that something else is.

I spin on my heel as I listen to my sister ramble about the land. The view. The ocean. The wildlife. And every other disgusting thing about the outside. Give me a 5-star restaurant and some upscale shopping, please.

“You’re just going to love this town. It’s amazing. I wish I wasn’t bedridden. I’d love to go back there again.” My sister and her husband came to Candy Cane Keys for Christmas, and she apparently came home with a little present, all of her own. My future niece or nephew.

“Who has a town with Christmas decorations all year? What’s wrong with these people?”

“Excuse me?” A deep baritone voice growls behind me. I twirl around, smacking the good-looking guy in the knee with my luggage.

“Shit,” he grunts and jerks backward. “Watch what you’re doing?” His eyes narrow into slits as he eyes me up and down.

“Don’t sneak up on people; you won’t get hit.”

“Ava, what’s going on?”

“Some local bumpkin is yelling at me for hurting him with my luggage when he was the one that smacked into me.”

“Say, excuse me.” The man crosses his arms over his chest. And lord, there’s a lot of it. His eyes are a stark blue like the ocean. Just as I expected. I sniff. And he smells like the ocean – salt, beach wood, and rotting fish. I hate the ocean.

About the Author: Alexia Chase is a steamy contemporary romance author who specializes in visual stories set in an interconnected world.

If you love stepping into a place that feels like home where familiar people, places, and things welcome you with open arms, then you’re in the right place.

Ms. Chase pens everything from short stories to novels with heroes from bartenders to billionaires.

What can you find between the pages? Heavy doses of snark, sinful fun, smut, and happily ever afters.

Come inside. They’re waiting for you.

Where can you find Ms. Chase when she’s not writing? Ms. Chase lives in a small community outside of Kansas City, Missouri. She spends her free time with her husband, three children, and two dogs and loves to spin stories in her head. She’s an avid learner and never far from her computer. Just ask her children. They have plenty to say about her excessive computer usage.

**** I love short stories, and I love Alexia Chase. ****
**** Oh, my I love these short hot and sexy books by Alexia. ****
**** Funny, sweet, and steamy. Alexia Chase did an awesome job with this novel. ****
**** Ms. Chase has written an engaging, steamy, funny, angst driven, and entertaining. ****
**** Sexy, funny, sweet and all the feels. ****

Quick. Dirty. Sweet.
Alexia Chase

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Shattered by Cassie Swindon – Spotlight and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Cassie Swindon will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Darkness is gnawing at my soul. The shadows swallow me a little more each day. But someone needs to destroy Elana Elidi. And I may be the only one who can. There’s a spell to stop her from destroying the remaining Ordulls. But it requires a sacrifice from my true love. The problem is—who does my heart belong to—Jadox or Isaac?

Enjoy an Excerpt

The silent moon loomed over us as a steady reminder of Gemm’s last prophecy. Her words rang in my head again and again.

“On the full Teal Moon, one man will lay down his life for love.”

I gulped and squeezed my eyes shut, praying to the goddess above that she was wrong. I only had two weeks left to find a way to prevent that fate. It wasn’t fair. I had worked too hard to keep them both alive, and we had all sacrificed so much. Maybe if I had never picked either of them, then neither man would be doomed to this fate.

Tears pooled behind my eyes. “You won’t win,” I whispered up at the moon, but she only smiled down in return.

Following Chocolate’s tug, I lumbered through the tall grass toward the abandoned skyscrapers of Vayu. Trying to claw myself out of the fog, I contemplated Gemm’s other words for the hundredth time.

One of them became cursed and was trudging toward death.

I shook my head in frustration and shot a random burst of fire at one of the buildings. “No! I won’t let anyone die. I won’t.” Flames shot through a window, and glass shattered, cascading over the sidewalk.

Chocolate barked and tugged hard, her leash slipping from my hand as she darted into one of the shadowy buildings.

“Chocolate! Hey. Come back!” I sprinted over the fallen glass through the quiet streets. Too quiet.

When I reached the threshold of a door, a strange feeling warped my tattoos. I rolled the hem of my skirt down and stared at the gray tattoo on my hip, which now resembled a toxic mist. Shit.

About the Author:

Cassie Swindon isn’t only an Indie author of six fiction books, but she has also tackled a stranger for a pair of Michael Phelps’ personal goggles, cried when the Cubs won the World Series and chose where to move cross-country by the flip of a coin. If you’d like to learn more about how her cat caused a flood in her house, or maybe to buy a book or two of hers, then check out the social media accounts below.

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Sooner or Gator by Mae Harden – Spotlight and Giveaway

Long and Short Reviews welcomes Mae Harden who is celebrating the recent release of Sooner or Gator, a Man of the Month Club novella.

JACKSON

“What do you need?”

That night was supposed to change everything… and it did. Just not in the way I had hoped.

I was there on the worst night of Harper’s life. The night her world came crashing down, bringing with it the crushing responsibility of raising her own sister when she was still practically a kid herself.

For seven years, I’ve been exactly what she asked for. I’ve been biding my time, but nothing stays the same—even on an island where it’s perpetually Christmas—and time is officially up.

HARPER

“A friend.”

The love of my life sleeps ten feet away from me, just on the other side of that wall. He doesn’t know how I feel about him, of course.

That would just be crazy.

Jackson has always been my rock, which is exactly why he can never know how desperately I want him.

Sure, every grin he throws in my direction sets off a storm surge down below and makes my heart race like sandpipers on the beach, but that’s not an excuse to blow up our carefully balanced lives… right?

Enjoy an Excerpt

I’m on the verge of asking Haley why she bought more wine glasses when we have a perfectly good set in the cabinet, but as she hands me one, I realize they’re only mostly stemless.

“You know most people use bottle toppers to save their wine, right?” I laugh, eyeing the stubby stem with its rubber gasket before pushing it into the opening of what is now, quite clearly, a bottle not meant for sharing. Experimentally, I tip it sideways and watch an inch of deep burgundy liquid pool in the bottom of the glass.

“Bottle toppers, much like bookmarks, are for quitters,” Haley says with a mischievous grin. “Besides, aren’t you always harping on about how important it is to finish what you start?” She looks extremely proud of herself as she tips back a hearty glug of cheap Cabernet.

“But, more importantly, you’re both wrong. Trailer Park Shark is the one with Tara Reid, but it was the douche-canoe developer who flooded the trailer park, and I’m ninety-nine percent sure she’s the S.B.T.S.”

“Back up.” Tizzy raises a hand like she’s about to ask the teacher for a bathroom pass. “You know I can’t with your movie shorthand.”

“Sole Big Tittied Survivor,” Haley sighs heavily.

“Okay, but that’s not exactly a common abbreviation,” Tizzy replies, copying Hayley’s sigh as dramatically as she can possibly manage.

Some people have incredible memories for languages or history, but no one can match Haley when it comes to movies that came out decades before she was even born.

The windows and doors are open to let in the spring air, and over the cacophony of tree frogs croaking and crickets chirping away outside, I hear car tires crunch on the gravel drive.

Craning my neck as far as I dare, I spot a familiar, black jeep. It’s more rust than paint thanks to the salty Florida air, but as its tires come to a halt in their well-worn spots, I can’t help grinning. In the fading light of the orange sky, the profile of my other best friend, Jackson Beauregard, is clearly visible as he climbs out and grabs his things.

Tizzy quirks an eyebrow at me as I straighten Haley goes on. “…and the poor-man’s Tommy Lee Jones, a.k.a. Robert Davi did not appear in Trailer Park Shark. He was, however, in the 2011 classic Swamp Shark where he starred opposite a busty blonde played by the O.G. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and I swear to God, if one of you so much as whispers the name Sarah Michelle Gellar…” My little sister waits for one of us to match her encyclopedic knowledge, but we all know it’s not going to happen.

“Kristy Swanson! Come on! Okay, extra credit points: Robert Davi was one of three villains in which beloved 80s adventure movie?”

Tizzy and I stare blankly at each other while simultaneously tipping our bottles toward the sky.

“The Goonies,” a deep voice supplies from just outside. “Come on, kid. Give us a hard one next time.”

Grinning, I tip my head backward over the couch just in time to see Jackson coming through the screen door. “‘Bout time,” I sass. “We were about to start without you.”

“No, you weren’t.” Jackson laughs, shaking his head as he drops his keys in the bowl where they always go. He hangs his backpack on its hook and drops onto the couch next to me, making me bounce as all six-and-a-half feet of him bottoms out the springs.

“Well… we had considered it.”

“What are we watching this week?” Jackson asks, changing the subject with about as much subtlety as a Horatio roller skating down Main Street in his favorite candy cane hot pants.

“Swamp Shark,” Haley votes.

“Literal flying sharks too much for you tonight?” Jackson chuckles.

“Maybe once I’ve polished this off…” Haley replies, raising her wine and its extra classy attachment in a toast. “But Kristy Swanson with a shotgun?” She lets out an exaggerated whistle. “I’m always in the mood for that.”

I snort. I can’t help it. “Yeah, who doesn’t love a busty blonde armed to the teeth?”

Jackson twists the top off a beer and shrugs dispassionately as he stares down at it. “I could take ‘em or leave ‘em, honestly.”

Tizzy leans over, her expression conspiratorial and eyes sparkling with mischief. Oh, fuck. Here we go, I groan inwardly. “And which part of that is uninspiring to you, Jackson? The ‘blonde’ bit or the ‘armed to the teeth’ bit? Because we know you don’t have issues with the ‘busty’ bit.”

“Fucking bluetooth speakers,” Jackson mutters, suddenly finding the label of his beer bottle utterly fascinating, but Haley is all ears.

“Wait… what happened? What’d I miss?”

“Nothing,” I say quickly, feeling my own face burn with embarrassment, even though I was just an innocent bystander in all this.

“Jackson forgot to disconnect the living room speakers from his phone last night… didn’t he?” Tizzy tilts her head, locking her eyes on six-and-a-half feet worth of blushing man.

Jackson clears his throat and gets to his feet. “Anyone want a glass of water?” Without waiting for an answer, he disappears, no doubt to let Tizzy get this out of her system.

“Tizz…” I start.I know what she’s getting at and it’s nothing new.

“Come on, Harper. Brunette roommate gets lonely and crawls into bed? You still seriously think that had nothing to do with you?”

“Of course, I do.” Admittedly, it would be easier if he was into something less… can porn be wholesome?

Tizzy would like everyone to believe Jackson and I are star crossed lovers, destined to fall for each other in some kind of epic love story that spans decades and generations and all of time and space.

I think Tizzy needs a new vibrator and a subscription to Passionflix, but I’m only a wimple away from making my vow of celibacy official, so what do I know?

About the Author:Mae Harden has a thing for spicy books, hilarious meet-cutes, mouthy women, and the kind of men who will pull your hair in bed, but run a bath for you after… if you’ve been a good girl, of course. Smut-com, rom-cum, or whatever you want to call them, Mae likes her books funny, filthy, and full of feels.

Mae lives in Virginia with her smokin’ hot husband, two kids who delight in giving out hugs and gray hairs, and a collection of fur babies that probably qualifies her as a zoo keeper. IF she had free time, she’d use it to bake, water the remaining houseplants, and do crafty shit, all while listening to true-crime podcasts.

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Eden by Bobbi Smith – Spotlight and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Bobbi Smith will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

“Just know that, no matter what, I truly do love you.”

Those words and a Bible were all that remained of Logan when Eden awoke. Their romance had been born amid the ravages of war. Love had struck Eden and she had surrendered to it. She had exchanged wedding vows with the handsome stranger who had saved her life, but she realized now that their life together had been a lie. Her husband was a Yankee spy, who had used her to infiltrate the Confederate cause. The hardening of her heart should have been as rapid as the loss of it, but one question remained—Had he left her with a final truth?

Enjoy an Excerpt

St. Louis, 1863

“How did it happen?” Logan Matthews demanded, fury and fear gripping him as he stared across the desk at Larry Cotlar, his superior in the Union’s Secret Service.

“Your brother was assigned to guard a shipment of arms coming upriver from New Orleans. Evidently, some Rebels in disguise boarded the steamer and stole the shipment. From what I’ve been able to learn, you brother tried to stop them, but was shot during the fight.”

Logan went still. “Is he—?”

“No. He was only wounded, but they took him and the other guard along with them as prisoners.” He quickly explained how the passengers and most of the crew had been abandoned on the riverbank and how the thieves sailed the steamer farther upriver before taking the shipment and setting the boat on fire.

“I’m going to New Orleans.”

“I thought you’d want the assignment.” Larry gave him a tight smile. Logan was one of the best operatives. If anybody could find out who was running the spy ring, he would.

“What do we know about them?”

“The Army wasn’t able to learn anything. By the time was steamer was found, there was nothing left but a burned-out hull, and the Rebs either escaped through the bayou or on another boat.”

Logan was grim as Larry described the men who might have planned the raid.

“Adrian Forrester served in the Confederate army, but lost a leg early on. He returned to New Orleans and founded an orphanage for the children of dead Confederate soldiers. It’s called the Homeless Haven Orphans’ Asylum. He and Nathaniel Talbott, a banker, could be relaying information to spies. That’s where you come in. How soon can you be ready to leave?”

“Today.” Logan had no ties to keep him there. The sooner he began his investigation, the better. “And I know exactly what disguise I’ll use.” At Larry’s questioning look, he went on. “The Reverend Matthews will be traveling south to save souls.”

“Perfect.” Larry had always known that Logan was a brilliant operative, and he’d just proven it again.

About the Author: After working as a department manager for Famous-Barr, and briefly as a clerk at a bookstore, Bobbi Smith gave up on career security and began writing. She sold her first book to Zebra in 1982. Since then, Bobbi has written over 40 books and several short stories. To date, there are more than five million of her novels in print. She has been awarded the prestigious Romantic Times Storyteller of the Year Award and two Career Achievement Awards. Her books have appeared on numerous bestseller lists. When she’s not working on her novels, she is frequently a guest speaker for writer’s groups. Bobbi is mother of two sons and resides in St. Charles, Missouri with her husband and three dogs.

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Diane Scott Lewis – Interview and Giveaway

Long and Short Reviews welcomes Diane Scott Lewis who is celebrating the recent release of her latest book Outcast Artist in Bretagne. For a chance to win a digital or paperback copy of the book, please leave a comment or ask the author a question. The giveaway will end on May 12.

Diane grew up in a very small town 30 miles from San Francisco. She loved that her childhood was rural, with horses, and fields to meander through. Everyone knew each other, and she grew up with some very dear friends.

“I’m still in touch with many of them,” she told me. “We felt safe in that town, whether it was noon or midnight.”

“What was the scariest moment of your life?” I asked.

“When I was ten, we were driving back from picking up my best friend’s catechism card, and a drunk driver drifted over the center line and hit us head-on. The station wagon had no seat belts, so I dove under the dashboard, but my mom and best friend were badly injured. Mom hit the steering wheel, and my friend smacked into the radio on the dashboard. My brother was in back and banged his head on the front seat. Lots of blood, very scary. I only got scrapes but the blood I saw on my mom and friend was horrifying. Thankfully, they recovered, but it took years.”

She first knew she wanted to be an author when she was five years old. She had illustrated her first story and told her mom what words to write, since she hadn’t yet learned to write. She began her first novel at the age of ten, which she also illustrated. It was set in ancient Egypt and Rome.

“I’d just watched the movie Cleopatra and became fascinated by the era,” she explained. “I’m sure my research was faulty, but it was great fun.”

She started writing young but took a hiatus from writing while raising her family.

“When I started writing again, I thought I knew everything about the craft,” she said. “I found I knew little, and styles had changed. Those troubling action scenes again. You have to start off with a brick through the window scenario, no easing into the stories. I should have been a Victorian author.”

Her office is the spare room that leads to the backyard.

“My desk is neatly cluttered—if that’s possible,” she said. “My bookcases are jammed with research books. I also have a shelf of my own published works. Maps of other countries, travel books, and I’m sure many things I should throw away.”

She’s written about ten historical novels, and two small children’s books for her granddaughters. Her favorite is the one she just finished.

“I hated to say goodbye to my star-crossed WWII characters, Norah and August,” she confessed.

Diane shared with us that she writes under a pseudonym.

“The middle name is my brother’s. He died many years ago. I wanted to keep him close. Lewis is my mom’s maiden name. I thought it fit better for an author.”

When she’s not writing, she loves to camp, travel, play with her granddaughters, or create graphics for blogs, Twitter, and Instagram posts. She’s also in a book club, so when she’s not busy with research, she reads their picks.

“Sometimes I don’t care for the choices, but I forge on. The last book was I never Promised you a Rose Garden. I’d read this story in my teens and loved it. This time around I found it dry and lagging in places, though the heroine is still a fascinating character. With my great medical knowledge,” she said with a wink, “I decided she wasn’t schizophrenic at all. I also read that the author, whose story this is based on, surmised she wasn’t schizophrenic either. Great minds!”

I asked her to share what her work schedule was like.

“Early morning works best for me these days. When I was younger, I could write any time of day. But now my mind is sharper in the morning, 7 to 12. In the afternoons I’ll often read for research, or to catch up with my book club choices.”

“What is the hardest part of writing for you?”

“Writing more action scenes. I think I’m pacing the book just fine, but my critique partners want more action. Usually my novels grow so large, it’s hard to put them in, but I try. I also learned to write shorter novels.”

Diane likes a story that grabs her right away with vibrant characters, setting, and conflict. Beautiful prose, luscious descriptions.”

“I strive to accomplish all these elements I strive to accomplish; but some authors have the knack to mesmerize you with their prose. Their plotting might be strange, but the prose pulls you in,” she told me.

“What comes first,” I wondered, “the plot or characters?”

“Both, but I’m a pantser. I never outline, which can cause a lot of revising later on. When I get to the end of my stories, my characters are well developed and I must go back to the beginning and change them, because now I really know who they are and what they want.”

Finally, I asked, “What are the best and worst pieces of writing advice you ever received?”

“The best: write what you love. The worst: write what you know. What about imagination? If we all wrote what we know, there’d be no historical novels, or fairytales.”

Unwed and pregnant, Norah Cooper flees England to hide with her cousin in Brittany before Germany’s 1940 invasion. After her baby is stillborn, she’s trapped under the Occupation. Norah consoles herself by sketching wildlife. When she’s caught near the coast, she comes under scrutiny of the German commandant, Major August von Gottlieb.

August loathes what Hitler is doing to his country and France but is duty-bound to control the people in his jurisdiction. The young Englishwoman piques his interest. Is she a spy? He asks her to sketch his portrait so he might uncover the truth.

Soon, their relationship evolves into a passion neither can deny. He plans to sabotage a major war machine of the Reich, while she secretly helps the Resistance. Will their love ruin her and end in heartbreak? Or will they overcome the odds and survive the surging threats.

About the AuthorDiane Parkinson (Diane Scott Lewis) grew up near San Francisco, joined the Navy at nineteen, married in Greece and raised two sons in Puerto Rico, California, and Guam. She’s a member of the Historical Novel Society and wrote book reviews for their magazine. She’s always loved travel and history and has had several historical novels published.

Diane lives with her husband and one naughty dachshund in western Pennsylvania.

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Hate Tea, Love You by Annie Charme – Spotlight

Long and Short Reviews welcomes Annie Charme who is celebrating tomorrow’s release of Hate Tea Love You, a Man of the Month novella.

Chamomile
When my great aunt left me half of her tea shop in the Florida Keys, I didn’t know she left the other half to Grayson. My enemy who teased me on every family holiday. My first crush and my first kiss, CPR counts, right? Regardless, those lips are still imprinted, even if he is the most aggravating man I’ve ever known.

Grayson
She stormed into the tea shop like she owned the place. Technically she does, but I’m not about to let her ruin everything I’ve worked for while she’s been living it up in England all these years. Isn’t chamomile relaxing? Not her. She makes every muscle in my body hard and my throat dry, but I’m thirsty for her curves. She can have the tea cups. I want those double Ds.

Enjoy an Excerpt

Her shoulders drop and for a moment, the woman is replaced by the girl I remember. “I couldn’t get time off work. I tried. I really did try to get here for the funeral, but we had a deadline.”

“So did your aunt.” I huff, crossing my arms over my chest.

“She would have understood. She was always proud of my work, which is why I still can’t fathom why she left me her tea shop.”

“Half her shop.” I correct her.

“Gray can you fix the urn. The spout is sticking again,” Trudy says, waddling to the table with a tray resting on her pregnant belly.

“I’ll leave you to it, while I take my things up. I assume Betty’s flat is still in order upstairs.

“Upstairs?” I blink fast. “You’re moving in upstairs?”

“Where else would I stay?”

“There’s a bed and breakfast next door. You’ll have to stay there. I’m living upstairs.”

“Since when?” She crosses her arms over her chest.

“Since your aunt went into a care home and asked me to run the place.” I check to see if Lark is still sitting at the table, hoping she can offer a room at her bed and breakfast. My eyes plead with her, knowing Lark, she’s heard all our conversation.

Her lip curls as she sips on her tea. “Sorry but the bed and breakfast is full, so is the inn. You won’t find any spare rooms this time of the year with the Easter holidays.”

“Great. Well there’s no room here.” I wave my hand in the air, then pinch the bridge of my nose.

I wanted her here, but I hadn’t expected her to just show up unannounced. I’m not prepared for this.

She digs a fist into her cocked hip. “Oh my goodness, it’s like Bethlehem. Are you going to put me up in a stable?”

“Why you’re not pregnant are you?”

She gives me a death stare. “Do I look pregnant to you?” She glances down at her tight denim jeans hugging her belly. “Don’t answer that,” she warns. “It’s just a little holiday weight.”

I nod, holding back my smile. I always loved her curves. And she hasn’t lost her confidence.

Lark continues to sip her tea with a smile hiding behind her china cup.

I scratch the back of my neck. “I guess you’ll have to stay here. There’s a couch.”

“Thank you.” She lets out a sigh and continues lugging her case through the back.

Damn she’s even more feisty than I remember. Her ass sways in front of me and I have the urge to squeeze it or swat it. Does she expect me to drop everything, give up my bed and wait on her, this ain’t no damn holiday resort.

Who does she think she is? Walking in here like she owns the place. Technically she does.

Yeah but not for long. She wants me to buy her out. She wants to sell. Her great aunt would turn in her grave if she knew. I couldn’t buy her out even if I wanted to. And up to now it’s the only hold I had over her to get her ass back here after ten years.

About the Author: I’m a graphic artist by day and author by night, writing real, raw, racy romance. My book boyfriends are inked heroes who like fat, fun, and feisty women (sounds familiar).

My goal is to spread body positivity through my fat and fabulous curvy heroines with a good serving of British humour on the side (not forgetting an extra helping of alpha goodness).

On the very rare occasion I’m not working in my day job…or night job as a writer, I’ll be living my best life in the heart of England with my other half, two wildlings (otherwise known as Veruca Salt and Mike Teavee), and a randy cavalier pup.

My serious book fetish travels with me in our tin cruiser as we roam the English countryside. You’ll usually find me in a field somewhere or curled up on the sofa with a coffee (wine), blanket and dog to keep me cozy, and a good steamy book to make me w—warm.

Get in touch! I love hearing from readers.

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Heart of Stone by January Bain – Spotlight and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.January Bain will be awarding a $25.00 PayPal prize, U.S. money to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Only one wild heart can claim another.

Esme Luceres, poor relation and outsider with the House of Luceres, devotes her free time to exposing fake psychics and charlatans who dupe and exploit a credulous public. She’ll never be anyone’s fool. And she certainly won’t make one of herself over the kilt-wearing, bare-chested Lachlan of the Highland Heathens Clan, even if he does looks like a plundering Viking right out of the mists of history with his magnificent body on proud display. No, she’ll expose his secrets…

Lachlan Creig certainly has a few of those. An illusionist and mind-defying hypnotist, he’s also a wolf shifter. In Vegas to perform at a prestigious venue on the Strip, he’s not above using his were heritage to his advantage. But the Scot has even darker, deeper secrets than most alpha billionaire weres…one which are about to surface.

When ‘ghostly’ events kill a tourist at the Haunted Museum where Esme conducts midnight tours, the feisty blonde and proud Scot are forced to put their heated differences aside and forge an unlikely alliance.

Can they find their way past their deep mistrust issues to solve the murder? If they can’t, Esme might lose her freedom, Lachlan all he holds dear…and both of them their fated mate…

Enjoy an Excerpt

I jumped naked from my bed, the stone floor bracing against my bare feet and the early morning chill raising quick goosebumps on my flesh. The clash of swords and shouts of men I led into battle nightly in my dreams still rang in my ears before I stretched and let the images fade away.

Last night’s full moon still lingered and false dawn approached, that luminal moment when the sun has yet to appear. My ancestors believed it heralded glimpses of the future and great secrets to be shared. Me? I thought it time to be up and about.

Throwing on my shirt, kilt and boots and strapping my claymore to my back, I descended the steep steps from the north tower. Despite myself, I sensed something of import with the night’s Hawthorn moon—a time of masculine power, potency and fertility, even more so than the other eleven months of the year.

Fingers of heavy mist crept across the vast estate toward me, intensifying the fresh woodsy scents of heather and moss. The low-lying fog obscured my long view of forest and hedgerows, but I knew they were there.

Untold numbers of Creigs had carved this land and battlements out of solid rock eons ago on Eilean maddah-allaidh, or Wolf Island as it was known to those from away, creating a legacy that would stand for generations to come. A sanctuary that was mine to oversee and care for…which included being alive to any messages sent my way.

“Okay, fine,” I sighed to whomever or whatever might be listening, and, giving in, stood in the shadow of Castle Creigbourne, awaiting a glimpse of what lay beyond the ken.

An intense flickering in my peripheral vision hit my senses hard before the world disappeared entirely, sending me back to that timeless realm with no name and no season. Then a glimmering of light appeared as my third eye opened, sending flashes of blue and gold to strike my retinas. The blue of eyes and the gold of hair?

About the Author:January Bain has wished on every falling star, every blown-out birthday candle, and every coin thrown in a fountain to be a storyteller. To share the tales of high adventure, mysteries, and full-blown thrillers she has dreamed of all her life. The story you now have in your hands is the compilation of a lot of things manifesting itself for this special series. Hundreds of hours spent researching the unusual and the mundane have come together to create books that features strong women who live life to the fullest, wild adventures full of twists and unforeseen turns, and hot complicated men who aren’t afraid to take risks. She can only hope her stories will capture your imagination and touch your heart.
If you are looking for January Bain, you can find her hard at work every morning without fail in her office with her furry baby, Ling Ling. And, of course, she’s married to the most romantic man! Who once famously remarked to her inquiry about buying fresh flowers for their home every week, “Give me one good reason why not?” Leaving her speechless and knocking her head against the proverbial wall for being so darn foolish. She loves flowers.

If you wish to connect in the virtual world she is easily found on Facebook. Oh, and she loves to talk books…

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How to Handle Negative Criticism as an Author by KaSonndra Leigh – Guest Blog and Giveaway

 

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. KaSonndra Leigh will be awarding a $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

How to Handle Negative Criticism as an Author
As a fiction author, receiving negative criticism can be a challenging and disheartening experience. However, it’s an inevitable part of the writing process that every author must face. Criticism, both positive and negative, can provide valuable feedback to help you improve as a writer – but only if you know how to handle it effectively. Here are some tips on how to manage negative criticism as a fiction author.

Firstly, it’s essential to remember that not everyone will like your work. No matter how great your book is or how much effort you put into it, there will always be someone who doesn’t enjoy it. You cannot please everyone, and that’s okay. Instead of taking negative criticism personally, try to approach it objectively. Look at the critique and use it to identify areas you can improve upon.

Secondly, take the time to assess the criticism. Determine whether it’s constructive criticism, which offers suggestions for improvement, or destructive criticism, which is meant to be hurtful. If it’s constructive criticism, use it as a learning opportunity to improve your writing. Take the feedback seriously, but don’t let it discourage you.

Thirdly, don’t engage in arguments or respond defensively to negative criticism. It’s natural to want to defend your work, but it’s important to avoid becoming confrontational. Responding defensively can end up making you appear unprofessional and defensive, which can damage your reputation as a writer.

Lastly, surround yourself with a supportive network of fellow authors, beta readers or critique partners. These people can offer constructive criticism and positive feedback to help you grow as a writer. Seek out their expertise and ask them for their honest opinions. You can also focus on positive reviews and feedback to keep your spirits up during tough times.

Remember that negative criticism is part of the writing journey. Try to see it as an opportunity to grow and improve your writing skills. Stay positive, stay focused, and stay committed to your craft. With the right mindset and approach, you can handle negative criticism like a pro and continue to prosper as a fiction author.

Thank you for hosting my book on your gorgeous blog!

Tandie Harrison is a police medium struggling to pick up the pieces of her life after a devastating divorce that left her without her precious daughter and her psychic visions. With a heavy heart, she escapes the hustle and bustle of New York City and moves into the alluring plantation house, Chelby Rose. Here, she meets Eric, the home’s charismatic caretaker. Despite the ghostly warnings, Tandie finds herself drawn to him, and as their affair intensifies, so does the centuries-old curse haunting them both.

Suddenly, Tandie finds herself at the center of a dark and dangerous web full of deceit and intrigue. As fear begins to consume her, she must find the courage to face the demons of her past if she is to have any chance at a future. Hacienda Moon is a captivating story full of suspense and romance that will ensnare you from start to finish.

Note to readers and bookclubs:

This is the expanded and revamped edition of the Hacienda Moon that was originally published in 2012. Please be sure to add this version to your to-read list as this edition contains more gothic suspense, intrigue, and of course romance.

Enjoy an Excerpt

The results of Eric’s handyman skills were beautiful. The final perk was the light rose-colored exterior paint, a shade considered original to the house. Eric didn’t say a word about my upgraded paintbrushes. He was too busy making sure I didn’t catch him watching me as I bent over to paint the lowest boards on the house. However, I turned around at the perfect moment on paint day and caught him staring. His face flushed so badly, I couldn’t resist doing something to celebrate my small victory.

“Wow, it’s so hot out here today.” I stretched my arms, lifting my tee-shirt up until my belly button was exposed, basking in the warmth of the late summer sun. Eric’s mouth fell open. Success! That move totally stole Mr. Intense’s attention. Tucking my lips, I made a move toward an even more creative tease, bending over to pick up one of the three paint brushes I’d dropped.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“What does it look like? I dropped my paintbrushes.” I shrugged and waved the brush between us. “Did I not use the proper technique for bending over and picking it up?”

He gave me a dimpled grin and moved closer to where I stood beside the house. Glancing down at the brushes beside my feet, he said, “They do look somewhat dirty. You sure you can handle that task? You strike me as somewhat of a nice girl. With that much paint and dirt all in the heads, you have to get a little rough with cleaning them.” His gaze bore into mine, smoldering me under a hazel brown sugary-colored look this time.

I held his gaze. “Oh, believe me. I have plenty of ways to clean dirty things.”

There was about a foot of space between us now. “Is that right?”

“Oh yeah,” I answered, hoping that the pulse line on my neck didn’t show the way my heart thumped inside my chest.

His gaze drifted from my eyes down to my lips and finally ended at my left shoulder. “Then why don’t you start by cleaning that big red spider off your shoulder?” An amused smile spread across his lips, but a scream shrilled out of mine.

Eric slammed his hands over his ears. “Damn it, Tandie.”

Adrenaline spiked through me. He might as well have said my breasts were hanging out. He would’ve gotten less of a response than he did with the spider statement. “Get it off me! Do you see it? Is it still there? Get it!” I shrieked, jumping around and spinning in half circles.

“I won’t help you until you stop trying to burst my eardrums,” he said, still half-way smiling. He came over and put his arms around me, pulling me into his embrace. “Calm down, Tandie. It’s gone, all right?”

Vowing to never tease Eric ever again, I waited for my breathing to normalize and for my trembling limbs to steady as I was pressed against Eric’s chest.

About the Author:Meet your word sculptress…

Author of the #1 Amazon International bestselling novels, the Prelude and the Lost Immortals Saga, KaSonndra is also a mother, designer, reader, gardener, home renovator, and a slayer of undead Egyptian mummies in Tomb Raider. She believes in karma, coffee, and seriously wishes that the producers of Xena would bring her favorite show back.

KaSonndra was born in the race-car city of Charlotte, NC, and now lives in the City of Alchemy and Medicine, NC, when she’s not hanging out in Bardonia (Lost Immortals Saga setting). Most of her characters are based on people that she has met throughout her travels and adventures.

People tend to stop and start conversations with KaSonndra as if she has known them her entire life. Does this freak her out? Not really. Her mom says that one day she’ll get kidnapped by one of these folks. KaSonndra’s response? She told her mom that if it weren’t for these lovely people, then she wouldn’t be able to create such fabulously romantic stories!

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