Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Dracula Unleashed by Linda Mercury

It is a pleasure to have Linda Mercury with us. We are talking about her book Dracula Unleashed.


BLURB:

After centuries as the Dracula of Legend, disguised as a male, Valerie Tate's current incarnation is the last thing she expected: mother of a precocious half-angel, half-vampire, and wife to two men. But Valerie is more familiar with battlefields than domesticity. . .

Some overwhelmed mothers relax with a glass of wine. Valerie soothes her immortal soul with a refreshing blood and coke. How else can she deal with her toddler Minerva's psychic powers--not to mention her determination to throw knives. Thank goodness for Valerie's two loves, John Jante, guide to Fallen Angels, and Lance Soleil, Angel of the Lost. Without them, the trauma of her dark past and her primal, Dracul urge for violence and power would overtake her. Yet in a world where humans and paranormals uncomfortably co-exist, Valerie's peace will be short-lived.

Tensions have erupted with bombings and the emergence of creatures heralding the apocalypse itself. And Valerie's vampire brother and nemesis, Radu, is at the center of the conflict. Now Valerie finds herself at the forefront of an epic battle between good and evil--and facing a choice no woman in any realm should have to make. . .
 
My review:
This is the first book I have read by Linda Mercury and I thought it was compelling,intriguing and hot. Valerie Tate is mother to Minerva, hunter, wife to two very Hot men John and Lance. She is also Dracula, a female dracula, I wasn't sure how I felt about that at first but reading the book made me like the idea even more.

When Valerie is called to battle, it causes a rift between her and husband Lance. But she has to go to protect her family.

I got this book with a promise of an honest review. And honestly the story line was very good, and I think people would like this read. I wasn't a hugh fan but it did keep my attention. Thank you for the priveledge to read it.



Excerpt from the book:


At three o’clock in the morning, the doorways of the Old Town neighborhood of Portland, Oregon, were as dark as an open mouth. The buildings with their Old West–style false fronts loomed over the narrow street, an urban mountain pass with sheer cliff walls that hid a myriad of hiding places. Every corner held the promise of violence.

Chad Trask, former leader of the area’s largest gang of idle rich kids, stiffened as a trickle of icy sensation moved along his hairline.

The ten young did not walk unobserved. Hungry creatures hid in those shadows.

The blood in his veins pumped hot and fast. His breath sped up. The tiny prickle grew into the unshakeable knowledge that they were being tracked. After the events of last Halloween, he knew more than the average human about being hunted.

His friends were walking into a trap. Just as the smooth sides of the pitcher plant enticed flies into the digestive soup at the bottom, the silence and seeming quietness lured them into deadly carelessness.

Leave a comment here for Linda for a chance to win!!!


 

Linda will be awarding a dragon necklace (since Dracula means Dragon) (USA ONLY) to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour, and cover flats of Linda's three titles, all signed by the author, to a randomly drawn host (US/CANADA ONLY).




AUTHOR Bio and Links:


Linda Mercury left behind her varied careers as a librarian, art model, and professional clown to pursue writing. She’s interested in writing, romance, the Middle East, reading, organizing, cooking, hand-made silk Turkish rugs, and the Nike of Samothrace.



Website and blog:



Twitter:
LindaMercury1

Facebook:



Dracula's Secret, Blood Wings #1 :



Dracula's Desires, Blood Wings #2:




Dracula Unleashed, Blood Wings #3, to be released March 21, 2013:








Saturday, April 27, 2013

Finding Favor by Lana Long

I am excited to have Lana Long with us today! We are talking about Finding Favor , her newest book. If you are a Jane Austen fan you will love this read!


An Interview with Lana Long,
Author of Finding Favor

I'd like to welcome YA author, Lana Long, to the blog today as part of the celebration for the launch of her debut novel, Finding Favor. Read on for info about prizes as well as a special launch week eBook sale!

Finding Favor was just published—congrats! How do you feel now that your first novel is out there for the world to see, read, and enjoy? Are you more excited or terrified?

A little of both. I’ve spent so much time with Favor, Ethan and Tom that I’m excited for them to be out in the world but also terrified that no one will like them.

Finding Favor is a modern take on Mansfield Park by Jane Austen. What have the works of Austen meant to you as a reader, and why did you decide to pay homage to this great writer in your first published novel?

Austen’s novels reinvigorated the love of reading I’d lost during my college days of studying, working and hanging out. As my love of reading took off, I was inspired to give writing a try. I started off writing purely original works and experimenting in different voices, perspectives and tenses. Over time, I began to notice similarities between Austen and the Yong Adult genre of today.
Mansfield Park is one of my favorite Austen books. The story of a young girl coming of age away from her immediate family, required to uphold expectations but never to be rewarded for doing so, and loving a boy, her best friend, who was falling in love with someone else, and by all of society’s rules unattainable, felt ripe for a modern Young Adult novel.  

Besides Jane Austen, who are some of your other favorite authors? If you had to pick just a single answer, what is your all-time favorite book, and why do you love it so much?

My other favorite authors include Sarah Dessen, Maggie Stiefvater, and Emily and Charlotte Bronte. I adore E.M. Forster’s Room with a View. It has similar themes as in Austen’s works, but is set 100 years later than Austen’s novels with Florence and England serving as the backdrop. I could read the scene when Lucy steps through the bushes, onto into the hillside covered in violets, and George kisses her, over and over again.

What was the writing process like for you? How long did it take to complete this novel from start to finish, and what kind of research was involved?

Finding Favor is the second novel I wrote. I spent a year writing four novels without editing. I had a few ideas and wanted to get them on paper. Then I chose Finding Favor to focus my energies. I participated in workshops, joined a group of writers for critiquing and attended conferences. I spent three years off and on working on the novel. I’d already read Mansfield Park multiple time so no research there, but I did research gardening, orchids and the northeastern sea coast to better write the characters and scenes.

Although I certainly sympathized with Favor and found Tom to be charming as all-get-out, my favorite character was the old gardener Mr. Rushworth. How did you go about developing his larger than life personality? Was he based on anyone you know in real life?

Honestly, he just came to me. I needed his character to be the antitheses to an earlier character, Grandmother Brown. Her condescension and cruel nature didn’t make it to the final cut, other characters fulfilled that role, but Mr. Rushworth’s kindness and charms did.

What activities do you enjoy outside of writing? What is your day-to-day life like?

I love reading and music. I go to three or four concerts a year, download countless songs, and read at least five or more books a month, not including the scenes I tend to read over and over in some of my favorite books.
I spend a lot of time with my kids and volunteering at school. My kids are six and eight and busy little people. I’m involved with their elementary school’s PTSA and other volunteer opportunities at school. I also work at a local church as the treasurer one day a week.

***

Why I Love Jane Austen
A Guest Post by Lana Long

I can sum it up in one word: escapism.  Don’t get me wrong; I enjoy reading books that deal with hard-hitting issues—issues that are real and difficult—but for the most part watching one nightly newscast can provide enough reality to last a few weeks. When it’s late at night, the kids are sleeping, the dog is sleeping, the husband is sleeping, everything is real quiet and the day’s activities are slipping into memory, I want to spend my last waking minutes in a world that’s interesting, satisfying, and nice.
That is why I love Jane Austen.
The social propriety of Austen’s works fascinates me. All of Austen’s novels struggle with the hierarchy of society.  In Pride and Prejudice, Darcy fights his feelings for Elizabeth because she’s not quite up to his social standing. In Persuasion, Anne pines for her lost love because she allowed her family to convince her that Wentworth isn’t good enough. In Sense and Sensibility, Willoughby leaves Marianne when the risk of lost fortune becomes all too real. Willoughby is not a hero, and in the end Marianne comes to see that love doesn’t need to burn bright and hot to be real. Society tries to deflate these characters, tries to ruin their chances at happiness, but they fight through it and come out stronger, better off, and at peace. All except Willoughby, but that lout deserves what he gets.
That is why I love Jane Austen.
The physical world of Austen’s novels is like a mythical place to me after growing up in the 20th century western United States. In Austen’s world, people live in houses the size of apartment buildings. They travel by coach, horseback, or they walk. If they’re wealthy enough, they summer in the country, winter in London, and vacation or convalesce in Bath. Servants take care of the family (don’t insinuate to Mrs. Bennett that she can’t afford a cook), drive them from place to place, work the land, and take care of the estate. Quaint villages and abbeys sustain small communities. Without wealth, people become isolated in their communities due to the time and cost to travel from one place to another. The characters in Austen’s novels—affluent or not—find ways to traverse this world and allow the reader to glimpse the countryside, the city and everything in between at the dawn of the nineteenth century in England.

That is why I love Jane Austen.

In Austen’s novels, the family structure and the roles of men and women are so foreign but at the same time so simple. What would it be like to spend all day sewing, playing the piano, reading, drawing, or walking in the garden? At the same time the women find themselves helpless because they aren’t allowed to learn anything besides these activities. In Sense and Sensibility, Elinor is powerless to find a way to care for her sisters and mother after her half-brother inherits her father’s estate and doesn’t care for his sisters as promised. Emma‘s friends, the Bates, live off kindness and a small living, because Miss Bates never married and her father is deceased. It’s not necessarily easier for the men. If you’re not the oldest son your choices are limited to clergy, military or another profession deemed acceptable by the gentry.  Still, these people fight against the rules of gender and birth order. They are funny, kind, caring... frustrating and irritating, but they are always likeable and I cheer their success and mourn their losses, even Emma. And most of all, there’s a happy ending; our heroines and their friends find love and peace, and their foes find discomfort and an unfulfilling future.

That is why I love Jane Austen.

So why did I choose Mansfield Park for an adaptation out of all the Austen works? First, it’s a great story. The story is of Fanny Price, a young girl, coming of age away from her immediate family, who is too poor to rear all of their offspring. Fanny is required to uphold expectations set upon her by her caregivers, her wealthy aunt and uncle, but she is never to be rewarded for living up to those expectations because her true parentage is lowly. She’s in love with a boy, her best friend, who’s falling in love with someone else and by all of society’s rules unattainable even if he was available. The story felt ripe for a modern Young Adult novel. 

That is why I love Jane Austen.

Second, well, I hadn’t seen Mansfield Park retold. It would take your hands, my hands and twenty of our closest friends to count the number of times Pride and Prejudice has been adapted. I’m not complaining; I love it. Other Austen works need the opportunity to be discovered through modern retellings as well. As a teenager I read Emma because of the movie Clueless.  Jane Austen’s been gone for almost 200 years and we still read her novels and draw inspiration from them because they are truly great stories.
And that is why I love Jane Austen.


Read an Excerpt from
Finding Favor by Lana Long

I woke early after not sleeping well. I threw on gray shorts and a black T-shirt, and put my hair in a ponytail. My eyes were only slightly puffy.
Thankfully the kitchen was the only room awake, and not even Brenda bothered me.
When I opened the greenhouse door, I stopped short. It was only seven but there she stood, by my work table—a place she'd never been—waiting for me with a malicious smile on her face, a metal garbage can at her feet.
"Hello, Favor," Madison said. A chill traveled up my spine.
"Hey."
"So yesterday was rather embarrassing for you." She picked a piece of lint off her shirt. "I thought that would be enough, but after a restless night I decided it really wasn't. My dad sent you a birthday card."
Her eyes flashed and shone like emeralds. "I knew something needed to be done. And you know what that means."
"Madison..."
She silenced me with a finger to her lips. "Now is not the time for groveling, Favor. That time has passed... if it ever existed." She pulled a book of matches out of her pocket.
My heart sped up. She was going to burn down the greenhouse. I took a step toward the door. I didn't need her knocking me over the head and leaving me in the burning building. She was sadistic, but I'd never thought of her as violent. With the manic look in her eyes and a matchbook in her hand, I discovered that I'd never before known true fear.
"Madison," I said in a warning voice. "What are doing?"
"What am I doing? Favor, I know you're slow, but c'mon. Even you aren't that slow."
"Madison, if you burn down the greenhouse your parents are going to be really, really mad. Murder is a capital crime."
She laughed at me, her head thrown back and her fist clutched to her stomach. "That is hilarious. You think I would risk my future for you." Her eyes went bright green and even crazier still.
"That's it, you know?" She took a step toward me and I took a step back. "The attitude that everything is about you. Always about you."
"Are you crazy?" I screeched. Not the best thing to say but she'd gotten me going. "Nothing is ever about me!"
"Really? Then why did my dad send you a birthday card when he didn't send one to me?"
All hope of reasoning with her drained out of me. Mr. Brown had forgotten Madison's birthday earlier in the year. I'd been too distracted by my own problems to make the connection.
"Madison, you have to know the birthday card had nothing to do with wishing me a happy birthday."
"Oh, I know." She waved her hand, making my stomach plunge as the matches waved, too. "I know about the contract. I found it in your desk."
I tightly fisted my hands to stop my urge to throw her to the ground and take the matches.
She stretched her neck and smoothed her hair.
I stepped toward her.
She went perfectly still. "Now, now, Favor. If I were you, I would try not to piss me off anymore this summer, or I'll tell my dad about your little crush on Ethan."
Another thing she knew about me. I felt exposed.
"He'll take away your money for college. And something tells me your precious internship is in this deal, too. But right now I'm feeling charitable, and really, angrier at my father. So, unless you do something to make me less charitable, your secrets are safe with me. But that doesn't mean that I can let you get away with garnering even a little attention from dear, old Dad."
I swallowed hard. "What do you plan to do?"
"Oh, I plan to burn these." She held up the trash can and inside, stacked neatly on top of each other, were my journals.
"Madison..." I took a step towards her.
"Uh-uh." She twisted her body so the trash can was farther away from me. "Like I said, the time for groveling is over."
"Madison, please." Tears welled in my eyes. "You don't understand. Those journals are all I have of my dad. They're everything that's important to me."
"I know that," she scoffed. "Why do you think I choose this method of retribution? You take away my dad's attention, and I take away your dad's attention. It seems fair." Her tone turned sinister and she sounded crazier.
"How did you find them?"
"Oh, I have my ways. You're not the only one with secrets."
"Madison, I will do anything you want."
She put the trash can down and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Stop saying my name!" She started out in a whisper and was screaming by the end.
I should've turned to run and save myself, but I couldn't. Those journals meant everything to me.
"God." She sighed in frustration. "Don't say another word, okay?" She smiled at me. "I have a whole day planned so I'm going to get this over with. This is for the birthday card."
She pulled a match out of the box.
I stared stunned, shaking my head. She struck the match, and I felt faint.
"But most of all, this is just fun." She flung the match into the trash can and a flame shot up a few inches from the can. Even Madison jumped back.
"Huh," she said thoughtfully. "Shouldn't have used so much lighter fluid."
The flame jumped inside the trash can, but thankfully, stayed contained.
I gave Madison plenty of room as she left, not daring to take my eyes off of her. Once the door slammed shut, I grabbed the nearest water can.
Empty.
I tore through the greenhouse trying to find water. Finding a half-full can, I doused what was left of the fire, a plume of smoke rising and encircling my face. I coughed, waving at the quickly dissipating smoke.



My review of Finding Favor:

I absolutly love Jane Austen and this book is Amazing. If you loved Mansfield Park then you must read this one. Favor Miller is riveting young lady who was orphaned at the early age of eight.  She goes to live with the Browns and their three children, where she was told that she isn't going to fit in. The Browns treated her badly. She really never got along with anyone but Ethan. Ethan and Favor built a friendship and for Favor it had become more than just friends , she was falling in love with Ethan.  Favor would spend as much time as she could in the greenhouse reading journals and doing her daily chores.

Now with her eighteenth birthday and no one remembers not even her best friend Ethan she is saddened and feels alone.

I would recommend this book to any one who loves of Jane Austen. Lana really pulls you in to the story and you fall in love with each character.Even if some are a love hate relationship.



About Finding Favor

Which would you choose:  friendship or freedom?
In the eight years since seventeen-year-old Favor Miller's father died, she’s had to endure her reluctant, self-righteous guardians the Browns. Every day for eight years, they've reminded her that she doesn’t fit in, that she’s not one of them. Every day for eight years, she's eagerly awaited the day when she'll finally be free to live her life her way.
On the eve of high school graduation, Mr. Brown ambushes Favor with the offer of college funding and a to-die-for summer internship--with the one stipulation that she must discontinue her friendship with his son, Ethan.
Accustomed as she is to sharing everything with her best friend, this is one secret Favor must keep in order to protect Ethan. The distraction of his new girlfriend, her growing friendship with his older brother, and her need to understand her family history, add in further complications.
As Favor debates signing the contract, she must decide if she’s willing to give up her best friend in order to pursue her dreams.  Will she have to stay in the place she's so desperately wanted to escape in order to make the right decision and get what she really needs?


About Lana Long

As a devoted fan of young adult novels herself, Lana Long is thrilled to be gracing the YA world with her first novel, Finding Favor. Many years of daydreaming and several writing classes and workshops have contributed to the development of Finding Favor as well as to her inevitable future books. Through her experiences at Lighthouse Writers in Denver, the Big Sur Writing Workshop in California, and the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Colorado Gold Conference, she has learned an amazing amount about writing novels.
Although writing serves as a relaxing process, Lana is also grounded by her family, by her work as a church treasurer, and by volunteering at her kids’ elementary school.
She hopes that her books provide readers with the same entertainment she herself finds in YA novels. If you enjoy a good coming-of-age story featuring enthralling characters, check out Finding Favor and read more of Lana’s thoughts at www.lanalongbooks.com.



Enter for a chance to win!

Journal with a cover inspired by Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park (as is this novel), note cards with an orchid design (Favor’s favorite flower), a hard cover edition of To Kill a Mockingbird (Ethan’s favorite book), and a cool pen (who doesn’t love cool pens?)




Friday, April 26, 2013

Curse of the Ice Dragon by Tara West

A warm welcome to Tara West as she is visiting with us today!!!!!  Leave a comment for a chance to win an e-book from Tara.




This book was the first I have read by Tara and what a great adventure, it is a captivating and fast-paced story. Marcus's adventure takes him to the Ice people, where he meets Ura who helps him prepare to take on the Sky Goddess. He must risk losing the life of his brother or keep the girl he loves safe and alive.

You get to know each of the characters on a level that draws you in. You will either love or hate Marcus and want to destory the goddess just as much as he does.

This non-stopped action story will keep you right on the edge of your seat till the very end.With it being first in a series you will want to read the next one to find out what will happen to Marcus.


Thank you Tara for a great adventure story! Can't wait till the next one!





Excerpt :

Markus had pushed Ura too far. He had not meant to upset her, but he did not wish to live in denial. If the ice was not impenetrable, he would be putting all their lives in danger by staying.

Standing, Ura turned from him, her back rigid and fists clenched. “Some say it is growing unstable,” she said toward the wall in a strong whisper. “That is why Ryne left. The debates have caused much dissension in our kingdom.”

Markus swallowed. What if Ice Kingdom was not the strong fortress that Jon described? “And, what of your thoughts, Ura?”

Spinning on her heel, she strode back to his bed, flashing him a warning glare. Gone was sweet Ura. Harsh lines had replaced soft features. She was no longer a girl, but a woman torn.

“My thoughts are that you must not speak of it again,” she spat. “The hour is late. I must finish father’s supper, land dweller.”

Turning away, she marched across the room with rigid steps and lifted the flap to leave.

“My name is Markus, Ura,” he called, refusing to let their talk end with enmity between them. He knew not how it had happened so quickly, but he needed this girl’s friendship. He did not wish to lose it.

Exhaling a deep groan, Ura turned, brushing a palm across her forehead. “You must get some rest, Markus.” A slight smile lifted the corner of her mouth. “I will bring your broth soon.”






Tara will be awarding an e-book in her YA paranormal Whispers series, Visions of the Witch to a randomly drawn commenter at every stop during the tour, and a $25 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

Encourage your readers to follow the tour and comment; the more they comment, the better their chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:


 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:


A former Texas high school teacher, I enjoyed coaching the writing team and even the hectic deadlines that came with running the school publications. After taking a break to raise my baby girl, I now work from home as a novelist and a part-time graphic designer. In my spare time, I love to read, exercise and spend time with my family and friends.

I would love to hear from my readers!

Blog: tarawestauthor.wordpress.com

Email: tara@tarawest.com

Facebook: tarawestautho 
Twitter: tarawestauthor

Website: tarawest.com



Thursday, April 25, 2013

Thursday First

It's Thursday and what better book to feature today than...


Last Wool and Testament: A Haunted Yarn Shop Mystery (Haunted Yarn Shop Mysteries) by Molly Macrae



Book Description

September 4, 2012 Haunted Yarn Shop Mysteries
Kath Rutledge is about to learn the true meaning of TGIF—Thank Goodness It’s Fiber.…

That’s the name of the spunky group of fiber and needlework artists founded by Ivy McClellan, Kath’s beloved grandmother. Though Ivy has recently passed on, the members still meet regularly at her fiber and fabric shop, The Weaver’s Cat, which Kath has now inherited. But that’s only the first in a series of surprises when Kath returns to the small town of Blue Plum, Tennessee, to settle her grandmother’s affairs.

There’s been a murder, and it turns out her grandmother was the prime suspect. Before she can begin to clear Ivy’s name, Kath encounters a looming presence in the form of a gloomy ghost. It turns out the specter has just as much interest in solving the murder as Kath. So, with a little help from the members of TGIF—and a stubborn spirit from beyond—she sets out to unravel the clues and hook the real killer.…
 
This book is so great you won't want to miss out!
 
WAY TO GO Molly for a great first read!!!!!!!
 

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Author Shout Out Wednesday

Happy Wednesday everyone!! Today's Spotlight  goes to the               Wonderful Elaine Viets!

Elaine Viets is the Sensational author of The Dead End Job Mysteries  and the Mystery Shopper Mysteries.

Her newest book Board Stiff comes out on May 7th





Book Description

May 7, 2013 Dead-End Job Mystery (Book 11)
 

Husband and wife PI team Helen Hawthorne and Phil Sagemont won’t be sparing the sunscreen on their latest assignment, but they’re about to find out murder is no day at the beach….
Will the Real Paddleboard Killer Please Stand Up?
There’s a dark cloud over Sunny Jim’s Safety First Parasailing and Stand-Up Paddleboarding business on Florida’s Riggs Beach—especially after one of his clients is killed in a tragic paddleboarding mishap. Sunny Jim is sure it was no accident, and he hires Helen and Phil to find the murderer.

Between cutthroat competitors poaching his territory, the city threatening to revoke his license, a restaurant owner wanting his beach spot for a parking lot, and a wrongful death suit filed by the victim’s husband, Sunny Jim may soon be up the creek without a paddle.

But he does have Helen and Phil on his side, and as the couple start to investigate, they discover dark undercurrents of corruption behind the cheerful facades of the beachfront businesses, as well as domestic secrets. But the sands of time are running out, and if they don’t catch the killer soon, Sunny Jim won’t be the only one to go under….

Thanks for writing these series so we can enjoy hours of fun reading!!!!



Elaine Viets has actually worked many of those dead-end jobs in her mystery novels, just like her character Helen Hawthorne. She is also the author of the Josie Marcus, Mystery Shopper series and numerous short stories. Elaine has won an Anthony Award and an Agatha Award.

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Price McNaughton is with us today!

Good Morning Price, Thank you for being here today with us.
Tell us about yourself.
I don't know where to start! I'm a southern girl in my twenties. I enjoy writing and traveling. I've always raised, ridden, and worked around horses and so a southern based mystery featuring horses was right up my alley.

How did you come up with this book and the hero/heroine?

I was recovering after a horseback riding injury and it just came to me. I found myself "visiting" the community along with Jinx and I pictured it as a spooky place. The mystery continued to grow and develop as time went on.

What are you working on Next?

 I'm working on two projects right now. I want to write a sequel to my first book, A Vision of Murder, and I'm writing a dystopian trilogy
.
What was the easiest and hardest thing to write about this book?
The easiest part was describing the community, characters, and riding scenes. The hardest part was definitely the death of one (or more!) of the characters.
Who or what inspired you to write?

 I would have to say that my parents inspired me. I also read a lot over the years and that is always inspiring.

If you could have dinner with two characters from any novel who would they be and why?

 Merry and Pippin from The Lord of the Rings. I just loved them in the books and they seem like my kind of people!

Synopsis:

When Jinx Delaney accepted her friend’s, Brynn Brookefield, invitation to spend the summer with Brynn and her family she expected a relaxed, fun, horse-filled getaway that would hopefully help her find direction and get her life back on track. However, upon her arrival at the Brookefield’s exclusive community, she begins to suspect that not everything is as perfect as the members of the wealthy, picturesque neighborhood would like her to believe. Jinx finds herself embroiled in a web of suspense and deceit as a series of grisly crimes sweeps through the community, revealing dark secrets and tearing apart the residents’ seemingly perfect lives. As neighbor turns against neighbor, Jinx begins to realize that when it comes to high society, murder really is ugly.
Set against a backdrop of a historic, Old South community and a high class horse barn, McNaughton weaves a riveting tale of murder and suspense, filled to the brim with twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the end, while skillfully painting the ironic tale of a community whose beauty lies only skin deep.

Author bio:

Price McNaughton was born and raised in a small town in Tennessee. A childhood steeped in the stories and legends of her ancestors, as well as the Southern way of life, led her to carry on the tradition and become a storyteller herself. After years of traveling and working at a variety of jobs, she has finally returned to her roots and devoted herself to writing. Although McNaughton loves almost all genres, she has always found herself drawn to mysteries. She has also always enjoyed riding and working with horses and likes to incorporate them into her literary works when possible. Price McNaughton currently lives on a farm in the country, happily surrounded by her beloved equine companions. She is the author of A Vision of Murder and Murder is Ugly.



Thank you!
Price McNaughton
Author of A Vision Of Murder

Monday, April 22, 2013

Deadly Policy by Mitzi Kelly

Today we have Mitzi Kelly joining us today, Leave a comment, for her here and you may win 1 set of her books~!!!!




my review:


Loved this book.

Mitsy is AMAZING  and this book was fun, witty and very enjoyable! Millie is an 80 year old with spunk, wit, and attitude, Edna is the semi quiet one in the group and Trisha is the woman of reason. She keeps the logic in the group. When Millie abruptly wakes Trisha up in the wee hours of the morning, Trisha tries to be reasonsable but lets Millioe know that she isn't happy with this craziness. Millie lets her know it is with good reason she woke her and when Edna arrives as well , the coffee is made.

Millie lets her friends know that she woke them at this hour because her Millie's daughter Michelle is in trouble with the law for something she didn't do and they need to help her before she goes of to jail.

When a body is found just outside of the insurance company that Michelle works at , time is running out and the silver slueths as they are known step into gear to find the killer and solve the case.

I had such a great time reading this book and am so glad I had the oppurtunity to do so.


If you would like to win a a copy of Classic Revenge and Deadly Policy leave a message with your email here!!!!







Saturday, April 20, 2013

Eighty- Eight Keys by Catherine Lavender tour

Catherine Lavender is joining us today talking about her book 88 Keys

Welcome Catherine!



Guest Post

Staying Positive
Have you ever met a person who just seemed to radiate positive energy regardless of what situation they were going through? Even when facing serious life challenges, they were still happy and smiling. This is an example of a person who has learned that having a positive attitude towards life will help overcome any fear and anxiety.
Everyone faces challenges, heartaches, disappointments, and shattered dreams at different points in life. Some people dwell on negative situations and cannot seem to find any peace during these difficult times. They become stressed out, sad, and burden down by negative energy.
Other people adopt a more optimistic perspective when challenges arise. They refuse to allow situations and people to dictate their moods and outlook. They do not allow negative thoughts to control their lives and they surround themselves with positive people. They may also invest in their own spiritual growth by listening to positive people and reading inspiring and motivational literature.
Catherine Pulsifer once said, “Your attitude can take you forward or your attitude can take you down. The choice is always yours!” She understood that our attitude is something that we can learn to have control over regardless of the situation.
Most people who have an optimistic perspective on life believe that valuable lessons can be learned from the obstacles that we face in life. For example, I know a woman who got laid off from a mental health position and instead of complaining and stressing about it; she took the opportunity to begin her own business as a Life Coach. She could have surrounded herself with negativity and complained about how life was unfair but she chose to turn a negative situation into a positive outcome.
If you struggle with negativity, you should try re-training your thought process by observing your thoughts. When a negative thought comes, immediately change it to a positive thought. If the thought, “I’m nothing but a failure” comes, simply change it to, “I’m successful in many areas”. Using positive affirmations daily will help you filter away negative thoughts within time. Remember having a positive attitude will make a huge difference in your life and can help you achieve incredible things.


My Interview with Cathrine:

Tell us about yourself?

I’m from Baltimore, Maryland but now reside in Tampa, Florida with my miniature schnauzer name Ripken. I’m an animal activist, as well as a supporter of the organization First Book which helps supply literature for underprivileged children. In my spare time, I enjoy reading classic literature and playing the acoustic guitar.


How did you come up with this story?

The story sort of unraveled itself. However, life in general always inspires me to write.


What are you working on now?

Shadow of a Yardbird is the novel I’m working on now. It’s a suspense novel, with a little bit of romance.


What character was the hardest to write and which one was the most fun?

I would say that Leah was the hardest character to write, simply because you typically want your main character to be likeable to readers, however Leah was a character who had a lot of personality flaws.
Mrs. Turner was really fun to write about. Her sarcastic and prima-donna personality really made her stand out in the story.


Do you have a favorite comfort read?

I just love to read, no matter what mood I’m in.

If you could live in any book what one would you choose and why?

The Great Gatsby, simply because he knew how to throw great parties!





My review:

I really liked this book. Catherine introduces you to a few captivating characters. You get to know Leah,  a pianist trying to make her way, and the Daughter of religious parents. Leah is in love with Jason who has been murdered. With her heart broken over the one she loves she does what she can to find out who killed the only man she loved!

Blackmail, threats and murder make this book a nail-biting suspenseful love story. Cathrine is a Sensational author and it shows in this book!

Thank you for letting me read and review Eighty-Eight Keys!






Author Bio:
Catherine Lavender is from Baltimore, Maryland but now resides in Tampa, Florida with her miniature schnauzer name Ripken. She is an animal activist, as well as a supporter of the organization First Book which helps supply literature for underprivileged children. In her spare time, Catherine enjoys reading classic literature and playing the acoustic guitar.

Thursday, April 18, 2013

When Girlfriends Make Choices by Savannah Page

Savannah Page is joining us today to talk about her book When Girlfriends Make Choices



excerpt from the book:




What are you drinking?” came a voice from behind. I stopped picking at the corner of my cocktail napkin and turned on my barstool.
“Excuse me?” My mind was transfixed on the Spokane company the firm was working on landing, Hoppeller, Inc. I’d done what I thought was a smashing job during my branding team’s main pitch that afternoon in the hotel’s stuffy conference room, but now that I was seated at the hotel’s bar, spending time pondering the day’s events, I wasn’t so sure.
“What’s your poison?” It was Paul Mackenzie, the handsome executive. He’d done a fine job with his team that morning. If we were going to lose the Spokane deal, it wouldn’t be because of his performance.
“Oh, white wine spritzer,” I said. “Lame, I know.”
He took an uninvited, although not unwelcome, seat next to me and asked the bartender for a martini, extra dry.
“You sound so down. Someone die?” he asked. He gave me a wink. His blue eyes were beautiful.
“Oh, I’m thinking about the pitch today. I really hope we—I mean I didn’t screw it up. I want Hoppeller.”
“We all do. It’s a big account. Haven’t had one like this since late last year, I think.” Paul took a draw of his martini as soon as it arrived. “I don’t think you sucked it up. I think you did a fantastic job. But you always do, Lara.”
“Ha! You’re being nice.” I took a sip of my own drink. “We rarely ever work together. What do you mean I ‘always do’?”
“Well, from what I’ve seen, you always do fine work. I tell you, if half the people on my team were as committed as you, Cooperton would be far more profitable. You’re a pit bull.”
“Now there’s a compliment every woman loves to hear.” I said with a small grin.
“I thought a big career woman like yourself would find that to be complimenting.”
I sensed a hint of flirtation in his voice, and I liked it. Yes, I wasn’t one to go against my anti-workplace-relationship stance, but I was also dry on the relationship front. I hadn’t had a single date in months. I hadn’t had a boyfriend in what seemed like forever. Zero serious prospects in years. So what was a little shameless flirting going to do, even if he was a co-worker? Besides, he was the flattering and complimenting party here. He approached me. I was just minding my own business, mulling over the day’s suddenly dismal events. I was slowly putting on my drunk girl goggles. A girl can always blame them.
“If pit bull is a little rough, how about firecracker?” he said.
I raised my eyebrows bewilderingly. Was he serious? Was he trying to amend the feminist faux pas situation or take this flirting thing to a new level?
“Firecracker?” I asked, slightly dubious. “Firecracker?”
He smiled slyly and I felt tiny butterflies flutter in my stomach.
He leaned into the bar on his elbows, then over to his right, closer to me. “Yeah, firecracker,” he said coyly. “Lara, you were a firecracker back there. You’ve done the firm proud.”
“Well,” I said, shifting somewhat uncomfortably in my seat. “I wouldn’t go that far. But I’ll take this ‘firecracker’ thing as a compliment.”
“As you should.”
I gave him a half-smile, thinking how precarious the situation was getting. Then rational Lara—good old, reliable, and rational Lara—popped up in my mind.
You’re at a bar. You’re drinking. You’re on a work-related trip. Talking—no—flirting, with a co-worker. It’s time to set down the wine glass and go to bed. It’s back to the office tomorrow. Business is business.
“I think I’m going to turn in for the night,” I said wisely, giving in to my sensible side. “Have a good one, Paul.”
He gave me another wink and bid me good night, before telling me, “Sweet dreams, firecracker.”




Guest Blog Post



One of the most fun things about writing is the creation (and development) of the supporting cast, or the secondary characters, or, loosely quoting one of my favorite rom coms, The Holiday, “There’s the leading lady and then there’s the best friend.”

Each novel in my When Girlfriends… collection is told from the perspective of one of the six women in their eclectic group of best friends. While each novel gives one lady a chance to take on her leading role, the rest of her friends are certainly right there next to her. They’re playing important, special, and often integral parts in the story. Just like our own BFFs in real life.

I mean, imagine going wedding dress shopping without your friends there to help you slip in and out of all those ruffly gowns? (And tell you which ones should definitely be returned to the wrack!) What would the world be like if you didn’t have someone with whom you could watch guilty pleasures like The Bachelor? What on earth would happen if you were pulling your hair out because that guy from that place the other day still hadn’t called back and you needed a sound mind to calm you down (and maybe take you out to catch a rom com to get your mind off things)? From the small to the monstrous, the supporting cast—those best friends—can push forth the plot and make for a very fun story just as much as the leading lady herself.

In When Girlfriends Make Choices, the leading lady Lara Kearns finds herself in a really wretched situation—falling in love and carrying on a relationship with a married man. At first, Lara, a strong-willed and high-powered career woman, thinks she can figure out what her head and heart want on all her own. She quickly realizes, however, that her friends are there to help and she needs them desperately. They want to help because they simply want what’s best for Lara, and sometimes the best friends can see that a bit more clearly than the leading lady herself. Sometimes those best friends are there to commiserate with her, sometimes to give her a shoulder to cry on, and sometimes just to tell her to buck up and get her act together already!

Without her friends (and a little help from her therapist), where would Lara be in such a difficult situation? Every girl needs that best friend or that group of fab girlfriends she can turn to for anything from a fun afternoon out to sage advice when the world seems to crumble. “There’s the leading lady and then there’s the best friend,” and no chick lit is complete without a healthy dose of both!



 My interview with Savannah:

Tell us about yourself?

I’m a Southern Californian expat living in Berlin, Germany with my husband (and hopefully some day soon a Puggle because every writer needs a cute canine companion). If I’m not writing or enjoying a good book, I’m probably doing Pilates or yoga, desperately trying to grow plants on the apartment balcony, blogging about wedding flowers (my other super awesome job), watching Office or Frasier re-runs, or trekking around my fabulous home city.


How did you come up with this story?

I love a sappy love story or a feel-good chick lit just as much as the next girl, but I also love the kind of book that pushes the envelope or makes you think about an issue in a different light. For a long time I’ve wanted to write a more provocative chick lit about “the other woman.” About what happens when the protagonist falls in love with a man who’s already taken. When Girlfriends Make Choices has been my most challenging book I’ve written so far, but it’s hands down my favorite.


What are you working on now?

A couple weeks ago I released the fourth novel in the When Girlfriends… collection: When Girlfriends Chase Dreams. I am really excited for readers to follow Claire as she plans her wild wedding! That book was a ton of fun to write!

Currently, I’m working on the fifth novel in the collection, which is set to release in summer 2013. This one is all about globe-trekking Emily and her inability (or…reluctance?) to find a meaningful and lasting relationship. Again, another fun one to write.


What character was the hardest  to write and which one was the most fun?

Lara Kearns, the leading lady in When Girlfriends Make Choices, was a tough cookie to write. I had a good idea of her admirable strengths thanks to the previous book, When Girlfriends Step Up. Lara’s a reliable and dedicated best friend to Robin, the protagonist in that book, but discovering her weaknesses was a tough one when it came time to write her story. Kind of like her slow move towards finally making a choice about her love life, Lara slowly revealed her weaknesses and her story to me as I wrote. It was tough and slow-going at points, but very fulfilling. It’s always neat to see characters reveal themselves during the writing process, especially when they act in ways you didn’t anticipate.

My most fun character to write is the care-free, wild-child, over-the-top and full-on drama queen, Jackie Anderson. Her story has yet to be to be told, but whenever I incorporate her into each When Girlfriends… novel I get so excited. She’s funny, crazy, and outspoken, but she’s also insecure and damaged. She’s a complex and kind of tortured character, but I just adore her. Jackie’s story will be told after Emily’s and I’m planning on releasing that later this year. I can’t wait!!


Do you have a favorite comfort read?

I give Emily Giffin and the Harry Potter series many return reads. When I read EG I feel like I’m taking to the city with my best girlfriends! And an afternoon at Hogwarts? Those afternoons quickly turn into evenings and, well, there’s no hopping back on the Express to leave. :)


If you could live in any book what one would you choose and why?

I have a ton of Paris-based books (Le Divorce, The Sweet Life in Paris, Paris to the Moon) and whenever I dive into one I immediately want to be a character in the story. Paris (closely tied with Berlin) is by far my most favorite city I’ve ever visited. It’s the ideal city for a romance, a chick lit, a mystery, a memoir… Paris is just magical and it’s like that little black dress: It’s ideal for all occasions! Naturally I’m very excited to set one of my When Girlfriends… novels there soon!

My review of the book:

Lara is career oriented and wants to move up in her job. She seems to know what she wants and how to get it until she meets Paul. Her and Paul start to date and things were going good for them, she was starting to fall in love. Then she finds out that Paul isn't who he said he was and that he is married and has to children as well. Lara is torn on what to do because she loves him and wants to be with him. Thats when her girlfriends step in and try to get her back on track and tell her what she is doing isnt right even though she doesn't want to hear it. All she can think about is Paul and the love she has for him.

Torn between right and wrong she knows what she has to do but doesn't want to let go of something she has wanted for so long.

This is a Fantastic book about the love you share with your girlfirends and how they are they to help you through the good and the bad.

I loved this book and am glad I had the chance to read it!







Author Bio:

Savannah Page is the author of the continuing When Girlfriends… collection and her travelogue and first book, Bumped to Berlin. When she isn’t writing, Savannah enjoys a good book with a latte and jazz tunes, Pilates, and exploring her home of Berlin as an American expat.

Connect with Savannah!


Website & Blog:


Facebook Link:


Twitter Handle & Link:
@Savannah_Page

Buy the Book!






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