The Au Pair and the Beast by Aurora Russell - Book Tour - Guest Post - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

Bonjour, lovelies!  It gives me great pleasure today to host Aurora Russell and her new book, “The Au Pair and the Beast”!  For other stops on her Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tour, please click on the banner above or any of the images in this post.

Be sure to make it to the end of this post to enter to win a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift Card!!  Also, come back daily to interact with Aurora and to increase your chances of winning!

Thanks for stopping by!  Wishing you lots of luck in this fabulous giveaway!

The Au Pair and the Beast

by Aurora Russell

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GENRE: Contemporary Romance

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BLURB:

Veronica’s new job comes with a darling little boy, a Gothic castle and…a beast?

When recently laid-off Francophile Veronica Carson is recommended for an au pair job by the elegant leader of her French conversation group, she isn’t sure what to expect—but a Gothic castle deep in the wilds of Maine is certainly not it. Still, she’s drawn in by her joyful little charge, Jean-Philippe, and even more drawn to his brooding father.

Ruthlessly successful businessman Alain Reynard has loved before and has no wish to repeat the painful experience. The tragedy of his recent past is still fresh in his mind, and he wants nothing to do with his son’s lovely new au pair. Despite his best efforts, though, he can’t seem to get her off his mind.

A passionate romance begins to blossom but is put to the test when painful reminders of Alain’s past return. As ugly rumors swirl, the truths of the past and the present collide. Veronica must decide if Alain really is a beast and, if so, whether she can love him enough to break through the dark memories and secrets that tether him to what once was.

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EXCERPT ONE:

Monsieur Reynard was angry—furious, even—so that his eyes were thunderous and every line of his tall frame was taut with barely leashed rage.

“Who are you working for? Who sent you?” he demanded.

“What? I’m working for you—or I thought I was. Madame Montreaux recommended me.” Veronica was genuinely confused and a little freaked out, but she tried to be patient. Maybe something had happened to damage his memory in his recent accident? Still, the look he was giving her sent a chill down her spine. In spite of his injuries, this was a powerful, dangerous man—especially now, when the usually-charming façade was down.

“Yeah, sure. What newspaper? Website? Who are you sending pictures to?” He barked out the questions, stepping closer—so close that Veronica could smell his spicy cologne and feel the heat radiating off of him. And how the heck had he gotten down here from the house so fast?

Her mouth fell open. “I’m not working for anyone. I was just sending pictures to my friend. You can read them,” she offered, then added with a snap, “although I don’t appreciate your taking my phone from me.”

He glanced at the partially typed message. “Proof of life?” He raised his eyebrow.

“It’s…ah, an inside joke,” she explained.

He scrolled up and she swore he nearly smiled in spite of himself. “Locked in a dungeon, eh?”

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GUEST POST:

Carpe Diem: How Two Little Words Led Me to Adventure, Happiness, and Becoming a Published Author

First of all, thank you very much to Ally for having me as a guest on Fabulous and Brunette! Very excited to be here!

The most inspirational phrase that I have ever seen or heard has to be “carpe diem” (seize the day)…and I would say without exaggeration that it has guided all of the best decisions in my life, including the decision to become an author. For me, I guess this is the philosophy of saying yes…yes to risks, yes to opportunity, and living life to the fullest. This isn’t to say that it has always worked out for me – far from it! I have known disappointment and heartbreak with the best of them, but I have always felt good about having tried my hardest. I have put myself out there and sometimes it has really worked, and that’s a beautiful thing!

Right after I graduated from high school, I had the chance to spend a year in France as an exchange student. It was scary…no, terrifying – I had grown up in a small town in the Midwest, and I was painfully shy to boot – but it was also a chance to exponentially expand my knowledge of a different culture, of the world, and of myself. Carpe diem. I went for it, and it shaped me into someone much more confident in herself and her abilities than I had ever been before, and it also gave me a lifelong love of French language and culture that you will see woven into several of my novels, including my latest, The Au Pair and the Beast. Alain, the dark and mysterious hero, and Jean-Philippe, his young son, are both French, and the household keeps French customs and traditions.

Later, after having my heart not only broken, but shredded into tiny little pieces and then trampled and lit on fire, I was almost certain that I would never love again. I never wanted to put myself out there again to risk the same sort of pain, the same rejection. But deep inside of me, the little voice whispering “carpe diem” just wouldn’t give up, and finally, I listened to it again and opened myself up to new romance. I won’t say that I didn’t meet a few frogs, toads, poison dart frogs, and probably a salamander or newt along the way…but eventually, I met my now-husband. I cannot imagine life without having taking that risk.

The philosophy of “carpe diem” helped me become a published author, too. I have always loved writing, since I was very young, but I never thought that I would be a real author. Funnily enough, I was at a wedding on Cape Cod about ten years ago when I happened to meet another guest who was hosting an online novel contest. She gave me the details, and carpe diem, I went for it. I finished my first complete romance novel in about six weeks, and I was a semi-finalist in the contest. Although I didn’t win, it was a wonderful experience, and prompted me to submit to agents and publishers. There’s a long story about overcoming a lot of rejection there, too, and maybe a hint of the other philosophy that might be my second-favorite, “illegitimi non carborundi” (loosely translated as “don’t let the bastards grind you down” but no less true for all that it might not be grammatically correct Latin). At the end of day, I am truly living my dreams, and writing books that are just a ton of fun to write!

If I have the chance to go on a daytrip or vacation, business trip or conference, carpe diem, I will do it! I have volunteered for special projects, volunteered at events and museums, studied four different languages, taken cooking and art classes, and met amazing people and learned countless interesting facts along the way. I certainly think this philosophy has enriched my writing, especially with the wide range of settings in The Au Pair and Beast and in my Anywhere and Always series, but more importantly, it enriches my life and I hope that it enriches the lives of my husband and children, too. Whenever you have the chance, I say, “seize the day!”

********

Check out these beautiful pictures from Aurora’s recent adventures in Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire!!!

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AUTHOR BIO:

Aurora is originally from the frozen tundra of the upper-Midwest (ok, not frozen all the time!) but now loves living in New England with her real-life hero/husband, two wonderfully silly sons, and one of the most extraordinary cats she has ever had the pleasure to meet. But she still goes back to the Midwest to visit, just never in January. She doesn't remember a time that she didn't love to read, and has been writing stories since she learned how to hold a pencil. She has always liked the romantic scenes best in every book, story, and movie, so one day she decided to try her hand at writing her own romantic fiction, which changed her life in all the best ways.

Find out more about Aurora, upcoming releases, and news at the links below!

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CONNECT WITH AURORA:

Website:

https://aurorarussellauthor.wordpress.com

Email:

aurorarussellauthor@gmail.com

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/arussellromance

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/arussellromance

BookBub Author Page:

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/aurora-russell

BookBub Book Page:

https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-au-pair-and-the-beast-by-aurora-russell

Goodreads Author Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14316582.Aurora_Russell

Goodreads Book Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56522356-the-au-pair-and-the-beast

Amazon Author Page:

https://amzn.to/37PD93Z

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BOOK BUY LINKS:

Amazon Kindle eBook:

https://amzn.to/3aW90BT

Amazon Paperback:

https://amzn.to/2Nz865K

Apple Books eBook:

https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-au-pair-and-the-beast/id1545729100

Barnes and Noble NOOK eBook:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-au-pair-and-the-beast-aurora-russell/1138483939?ean=9781839434754

Barnes and Noble Paperback:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-au-pair-and-the-beast-aurora-russell/1138483939?ean=9781839439490

The Book Depository Paperback:

https://www.bookdepository.com/The-Au-Pair-and-the-Beast-Aurora-Russell/9781839439490

BAM! Books-A-Million Paperback:

https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Au-Pair-Beast/Aurora-Russell/9781839439490

First for Romance eBook:

https://www.firstforromance.com/book/the-au-pair-and-the-beast

First for Romance Paperback:

https://www.firstforromance.com/book/the-au-pair-and-the-beast-print

Google Play eBook:

https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Aurora_Russell_The_Au_Pair_and_the_Beast?id=IJEREAAAQBAJ

Kobo eBook:

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-au-pair-and-the-beast

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GIVEAWAY INFO:

Aurora will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**This post contains affiliate links and if clicked and a purchase is made, I may receive a small commission to help support this blog.  This does not cost you anything, it just helps pay for all those awesome giveaways on here**

This contest is sponsored by a third party. Fabulous and Brunette is a registered host of Goddess Fish Promotions.  Prizes are given away by the sponsors and not Fabulous and Brunette. The featured author and Goddess Fish Promotions are solely responsible for the giveaway prize.

Reaper: Aftermath by Jonathan Pongratz - Book Blast - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

Hi, lovelies!  It gives me great pleasure today to host Jonathan Pongratz and his new book, “Reaper: Aftermath”!  For other stops on his Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tour, please click on the banner above or any of the images in this post.

Be sure to make it to the end of this post to enter to win a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift Card!!  Also, come back daily to interact with Jonathan and to increase your chances of winning!

Thanks for stopping by!  Wishing you lots of luck in this fabulous giveaway!

Reaper: Aftermath

by Jonathan Pongratz

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GENRE: Sci-Fi/Horror/YA

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BLURB:

Five years have passed since the Reapers invaded Earth and tore it asunder. Gregory, his mother, Trent, and their group of scavengers hunt the decimated wastelands for survival.

But when a sudden Reaper attack forces Gregory through a Reaper door, he finds himself in a bizarre place, one that may provide answers to the Reapers’ past and where they came from.

Can Gregory put together the pieces of the past and find his way home, or will he just become another human casualty in the lost war against the Reapers?

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EXCERPT ONE:

I crouched behind a row of old dusty cars beside my mom and two other sharpshooters, my body trembling. Don't freak out. Be brave. Remember your training.

I took a deep breath and dared a peek ahead between two cars. Across the street was a deserted grocery store covered in grime and soot. It was a small shop, maybe two or three times the size of an average gas station. A bunch of old, rotted wooden planks covered the windows, but the front entrance was untouched. Whoever had been here was either dead inside or long gone. No one in their right mind would leave their home unfortified, not anymore.

All was quiet except for the wind, but I knew better. We all did. Any second and the Reapers could be right on us. Though they never came out during the day, we couldn’t leave anything to chance.

Mom pulled out her walkie. “Proceeding with root-out of potential Reapers.” She retrieved an oddly-shaped ball constructed from cans, tins, and several small bells we called chatter boxes from her supply bag and hurled it over her head.

The chatter box clunked loudly on the ground, bouncing before stopping in front of the seemingly-empty store. For a couple moments we all sat there, waiting for any sign of Reapers.

Mom’s walkie crackled to life. “Patricia, I think we should--”

“Quiet!” Mom hissed. “I think I hear something.”

I couldn’t hear anything, but there was definitely a difference in the air, like it was charged somehow. Just like the basement five years ago. Images of the past filled my mind: My little sister Imogen, the electrified feeling down in the basement, the Reaper’s sudden appearance. I shook off my thoughts and edged close to my mother.

“You’re right, something’s coming.”

Mom nodded, her gaze fixed on the grocery store. “Be brave, Gregory. If you have to, fall back.”

I shook my head. There was no way I was gonna miss out on this.

Her eyes widened, and she gripped her walkie once more. “Reapers, incoming!”

I drew my Glock from my holster, turned the safety off, and tried to look through the abandoned store’s smudged entrance. It was dark inside, but I could see two hulking figures scrambling to the front of the store at breakneck speed.

Oh shi--

Two Reapers crashed through the entrance in an explosion of glass that blasted shards in a thousand directions. As the projectiles clinked on the ground I stared at the monsters before us, a chill running down my spine.

Large, festering boils covered their reddish, emaciated bodies. They stood tall on two clawed feet, but could easily switch to all fours for speed, doubling the danger of their razor sharp appendages. The Reapers opened their mouths, revealing multiple layers of jagged, pointy teeth as they gave ear-piercing shrieks of rage.

A grin spread across my face. Time to die, assholes.

I aimed, then pulled my trigger as deafening gunshots came from my left and right. We’d hit the one on the right several times. A thick, black liquid oozed from its wounds, but it was still in fighting shape and pretty freakin’ pissed based on the hideous snarl on its face.

The aggravated Reaper leaped forward on all fours, bounding over the car we were hiding behind and landing in front of the sharpshooter furthest from me. It gave a mighty roar, snatching him up and throwing him like a rag doll. He went flying, landing on a nearby car’s windshield with a loud crack. The monster eyed the other sharpshooter with furious, predatory yellow eyes.

Shit, shit, shit! I lunged towards the Reaper as I targeted it, then yanked on my trigger.  It gave a high-pitched cry of pain and staggered back a step. Damn it! I’d only hit its shoulder. Its hateful gaze was now focused on me.

A sudden gunblast boomed from my comrade, and the Reaper fell to the ground, unmoving. A large pool of black sludge gathered underneath its head where the bullet had exited.

Before I could rejoice in the kill, Mom shouted nearby. I spun around. She was battling the other Reaper in front of the grocery store with a long knife in hand. She had deep cuts on her arms and legs, while the monster sported several nonfatal gunshot wounds. I tried to aim for the Reaper but they were moving too fast, desperately circling one another for an advantage. One wrong move and I’d shoot my own mother.

The Reaper took a wide-arching swipe at her, but she dodged to the side, cutting its leg as she went. The monster screeched and turned to attack, but mom slid between its legs and was now behind it. Point blank, Mom whipped out her revolver and fired three shots into the back of the Reaper’s head. It fell to the ground, twitching in its final death throes.

Mom lifted her combat boot and stomped on its head with a sickening crunch. The Reaper didn’t move anymore. She spat on it, then pulled out her walkie as I approached. “All clear. Torch the bodies.”

I glanced back. Twenty yards away behind another row of dead cars, our small group of noncombatants emerged. Mom strolled towards the grocery store and I jogged to catch up to her, eager to see what was inside. Whatever it was, it had better be worth it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR BIO:

Jonathan Pongratz is a writer and author of captivating horror, fantasy, and other speculative fiction stories. When he’s not writing, he’s busy being a bookworm, video game junkie, and karaoke vocalist. A former resident of Dallas, he currently resides in Kansas City with his Halloween cat Ajax. By day he works magic in finance, by night he creates dark and mesmerizing worlds.

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CONNECT WITH JONATHAN:

Website:

https://www.jonathanpongratz.com

Blog:

https://jonathanpongratz.com/blog

Newsletter:

https://jonathanpongratz.com/subscribe

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/jonathanpongratz

Tumblr:

https://jonathanpongratz.tumblr.com

BookBub Author Page:

https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jonathan-pongratz

BookBub Book Page:

https://www.bookbub.com/books/reaper-aftermath-by-jonathan-pongratz

Goodreads Author Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18919293.Jonathan_Pongratz

Goodreads Book Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56648682-reaper

Amazon Author Page:

https://amzn.to/2Mv59T6

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BOOK BUY LINKS:

Amazon Kindle eBook:

https://amzn.to/2NAK76a

Amazon Paperback:

https://amzn.to/37LH8P2

Apple Books eBook:

https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1550231822

Barnes and Noble Paperback:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/reaper-jonathan-pongratz/1138649891

The Book Depository Paperback:

https://www.bookdepository.com/Reaper-Jonathan-Pongratz-Mario-Lampic/9780578827445

BAM! Books-A-Million Paperback:

https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Reaper/Jonathan-Pongratz/9780578827445

Kobo eBook:

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/reaper-aftermath

Universal Book Buy Links (eBooks/Paperbacks):

https://buy.bookfunnel.com/3asmrg39g7

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GIVEAWAY INFO:

Jonathan will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**This post contains affiliate links and if clicked and a purchase is made, I may receive a small commission to help support this blog.  This does not cost you anything, it just helps pay for all those awesome giveaways on here**

This contest is sponsored by a third party. Fabulous and Brunette is a registered host of Goddess Fish Promotions.  Prizes are given away by the sponsors and not Fabulous and Brunette. The featured author and Goddess Fish Promotions are solely responsible for the giveaway prize.

The Seven Spires by Russell Archey - Book Tour - Guest Post - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

Hi, lovelies!  It gives me great pleasure today to host Russell Archey and his new book, “The Seven Spires”!  For other stops on his Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tour, please click on the banner above or any of the images in this post.

Be sure to make it to the end of this post to enter to win a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift Card!!  Also, come back daily to interact with Russell and to increase your chances of winning!

Thanks for stopping by!  Wishing you lots of luck in this fabulous giveaway!

The Seven Spires

by Russell Archey

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GENRE: Fantasy

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BLURB:

An incredible high fantasy adventure set in a world based on familiar fairy tales, folklore, and mythology, "The Seven Spires" is an epic story of dragons, magic, conquering evil, and discovering magnificent new places.

When a fearsome creature known as Wyvern begins terrorizing Emrallt, one of the seven realms of the continent of Septer, a group of heroes are brought together seemingly by fate to rally against him. A prince, warrior, wizard, and mysterious, sorceress-like sybil try to discover why a common maiden could be the best chance their kingdoms have against Wyvern’s growing forces that threaten to dominate each and every one of the ancient, arcane spires that bind their kingdoms, and world, together.

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EXCERPT ONE:

Wyvern recognized their broken language and knew that White-eye spoke of more than just a town guard or good-natured passerby. Ratlings cared little for the difference between common humans, merchants, and even nobility. It was only a difference in what goods they could pilfer; however, when a ratling described one as ‘important,’ that often meant ‘royalty’.

“The important man—what did he look like?” Wyvern asked.

The two deplorable rodents looked up at him in confusion. They looked through arms held in front of their faces as if toward off a pending strike. Wyvern leaned forward on his forelimbs.

“You said he was ‘important.’ He wore blue clothes. What did he look like? Face, hair—what?” he growled with small tongues of fire licking around his teeth.

“Also pretty, like lady!” Moss Blossom squealed. “Nice clothes! Long blue vest with another tower—different shiny stone, blue shiny stone…”

Wyvern growled in frustration. The Blue Prince of Avallonis. The little fop could bring Wyvern no end of misery; an army’s worth of misery to be exact. Especially if he had his sights set on the Maiden.

“He threatened you?” Wyvern asked of them.

“Y-yes, with sharp metal. He threaten blood,” White-eye answered. Moss Blossom nodded her head vigorously in agreement.

“Indeed, you had no choice but to flee,” Wyvern said. “But, rules are rules…” he added with menace.

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GUEST POST:

What Did You Learn from Writing This Book?

I’ve had some short stories published in the past, but this is my first published novel—and it was a learning experience on every front.

Writing a book is deeply personal. You love it one moment, hate it at others, but in the end, it’s always wonderful to have that finished manuscript; characters and places and events that simply didn’t exist before. I’ve been told by some, “Hey, you finished a book and that’s huge!” To an extent, I completely agree. Finishing a manuscript is a big accomplishment; however, I’ve since from this book that there’s so much more to making your book something memorable. Getting your ideas on paper is a great feat, but refining those ideas and making them grab your readers by their imaginations and emotions is much more complicated! I’m still learning how to best build my worlds and characters not just in my head, but also on the page so that readers enjoy it to the fullest. This is something that time and typing will help, I’m sure. This leads me to my next learning experience…

The process of sending a book through a publisher is so intriguing. From the moment you pitch it, you hope it sounds as good to them as it did to you. Having your work rejected is always heart-rending, but I try to remember that I’m trying, at the time, to impress one person. My plot may not hit that person just right, and so I have to try someone else. And then someone else….then someone else. But I have to keep trying! Most of my experience in this area is limited to pitching short stories. I have to admit, working with 5 Prince Publishing has made this process so much less stressful than I think it could be.

Once the script is accepted, I didn’t know how much was involved with actually getting your book printed. Working with an editor, and the editing process, in general, fascinates me. I’d never been able to be a professional editor myself and I greatly appreciate all they do. The number of passes you go through your book with an editor to iron it out is incredible. Then there are the cover selections, although this is one of my favorite parts. Getting to see multiple interpretations to wrap up your book was one of my favorite parts of the process.

The biggest thing I learned (honestly, that I’m still learning) is the marketing aspect. Your book is one among thousands…hundreds of thousands. Getting people to notice your book, let alone buy it and read it, is the biggest hurdle I’ve faced in my writing adventure. Really, I think it’s the biggest question facing authors in general who want their work to be read!

I love learning, though, and if I get to keep learning about all areas of my writing then I’m pretty happy with that!

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AUTHOR BIO:

“Russell Archey has been writing since he was old enough to hold a pencil. His love for narratives, world-building, and story-telling has fed into nearly every aspect of his life: from his video and board game hobbies to pressing his most cherished books onto his unfortunate children (who will, one day, read the Lord of the Rings trilogy whether they like it or not). When he's not creating new worlds and horrifying things to threaten them with destruction, he's bringing other author's fantastic works to life as an audiobook narrator, spending time with his two children, and pressing his dear wife's eternal patience with his quirky habits.”

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CONNECT WITH RUSSELL:

Website:

http://www.5princebooks.com/russellarchey.html

Email:

authorrussellarchey@gmail.com

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/russellarcheyauthor

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/RSArchey

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/RussArchey

BookBub Book Page:

https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-seven-spires-by-russell-archey

Goodreads Author Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19030583.Russell_Archey

Goodreads Book Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55353537-the-seven-spires

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BOOK BUY LINKS:

Amazon Kindle eBook:

https://amzn.to/2ZVIPF2

Amazon Paperback:

https://amzn.to/2NKAG3Q

Apple Books eBook:

https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-seven-spires/id1532079456

Barnes and Noble NOOK eBook:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-seven-spires-russell-archey/1137671700?ean=2940162731535

Barnes and Noble Paperback:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-seven-spires-russell-archey/1137671700?ean=9781631122514

The Book Depository Paperback:

https://www.bookdepository.com/The-Seven-Spires-Russell-Archey/9781631122514

BAM! Books-A-Million Paperback:

https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Seven-Spires/Russell-Archey/9781631122514

Google Play eBook:

https://play.google.com/store/books/details?pcampaignid=books_read_action&id=Jlf9DwAAQBAJ

Kobo eBook:

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-seven-spires

Smashwords eBook:

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1043473

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GIVEAWAY INFO:

Russell will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**This post contains affiliate links and if clicked and a purchase is made, I may receive a small commission to help support this blog.  This does not cost you anything, it just helps pay for all those awesome giveaways on here**

This contest is sponsored by a third party. Fabulous and Brunette is a registered host of Goddess Fish Promotions.  Prizes are given away by the sponsors and not Fabulous and Brunette. The featured author and Goddess Fish Promotions are solely responsible for the giveaway prize.

Sin City Wolf: Howl by January Bain - Book Blast - Book Sale - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. January Bain will be awarding a $30 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.

Never get between a wolf and his mate…

Billionaire. Casino owner. Tall, dark and deadly. Cristaldo Luceres is a potent force and a dangerous wolf to cross. Head of the House of Luceres, he’s used to fighting—literally—off any threat from rival houses. Wealth and women are his, but the one thing missing from his life is his mate.

Cristaldo’s on full alert when trouble comes to town in the beautiful shape of one Miss Everly Affini. The talented musician won a shot to play at the coveted Nero’s in Cristaldo’s Glittering Palace… and she could be the one, Cristaldo’s Forever Mate.

One problem is that she doesn’t think so—and isn’t shy about telling him—and another is that Rocco, an enforcer for the House of Ribelle, the Luceres’ sworn enemies, thinks she’s destined for him. Oh, and it’s the most powerful Super Blood Wolf Moon of the century, meaning chaos is unleashed.

Too bad. Once Cristaldo has a scent of his Forever Mate, he’ll fight for her…to the death if necessary. Everly doesn’t stand a chance.

Read an Excerpt

Cristaldo

I stared out at the night, the pull of the waxing moon yanking hard. Taking a gulp of my Dalmore 62, the finest single malt whisky ever produced, I raked a hand through my hair. The need to run free was building, growing stronger by the hour. I needed to let the clean, dry desert wind blow everything else away.

Blame it on the blood moon, an ominous potent to all my wild forbearers, scheduled to rise over Las Vegas’s towering skyline in a matter of days. All my billions couldn’t stop that trickster from wreaking havoc on my kind. Not that I would trade places with any otherworldly creature. Nothing beats being a werewolf. Nothing. Especially being a billionaire werewolf, with more money and possessions than any other wolf or human on the planet.

I savored the final gulp of the fragrant whisky with its drumroll and smooth finish. It would prove amusing to see what my rivals at the House of Ribelle had planned during the event, necessitating me showing those mongrels their low rank in the pecking order. My wolf bristled at the very idea, prepared to strike.

I dropped my glass onto the proofs of the recent interview I’d done for Business Leader Quarterly. The founding of the Royal Bank of Luceres and the recent expansion of our casino enterprises into several new countries was the stuff of legend and warranted a huge center spread in the magazine. Amusing really, humans being unable to see more than what was right in front of their noses. My photo stared from the piece, all GQ to the public, but the slick surface hid a beast, ready to burst forth at a moment’s notice.

And that beast, bored and weary at the sameness of the days, needed a change. Where was the excitement? The new challenge? Having gathered all the riches the world had to offer didn’t fill the deep void of longing, growing stronger by the day, of wanting something more. Only to myself would I admit that my life was lacking, that surrounded by so many, I was lonely.

Maybe it was time to choose a mate? Even if she wasn’t the famed Forever Mate so valued by the pack, at least I would have company at night. Someone to share my victories with. No. I wanted the real thing. A true mate at my side, anointed as being the chosen one of destiny. I raised my head and closed my eyes, catching a sense of change on the wind. Something…was coming.

Thud.

My office door slammed wide open, causing a low growl of warning to escape my throat before I caught sight of the intruder who’d broken my concentration. Ah, Lucius. My identical twin. He’d come bearing dubious gifts, by the look of it.

Two frightened young women preceded my brother inside the penthouse offices of the Glitter Palace casino. They should be scared. Lucius might have been named for the light, but his heart was filled with darkness.

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…

Blog: http://januarybainjourney.blogspot.ca
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JanuaryBain
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/january.bain
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6437282.January_Bain

This book is on SALE for ONLY $0.99 during the book tour!!!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08PVSFF19/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Summer Wedding at Cross Creek Inn by Cheryl Holt - Book Tour - Guest Post - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

Hello, lovelies!  It gives me great pleasure today to host Cheryl Holt and her new book, “A Summer Wedding at Cross Creek Inn”!  For other stops on her Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tour, please click on the banner above or any of the images in this post.

Be sure to make it to the end of this post to enter to win ONE of TEN autographed printed book copies of the featured book, “A Summer Wedding at Cross Creek Inn,” which is Book One of Cheryl’s fabulous new Book Series, “Cross Creek.”  Yep, that’s right!!  There will be TEN lucky winners!!!  Also, come back daily to interact with Cheryl and to increase your chances of winning!

Thanks for stopping by!  Wishing you lots of luck in this fabulous giveaway!

Please note that this giveaway is only open to US residents.  Sorry INTL – please check out the other giveaways on this blog!

A Summer Wedding at Cross Creek Inn

by Cheryl Holt

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GENRE: Contemporary Women’s Fiction

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BLURB:

From New York Times bestselling author, Cheryl Holt, comes a sparkling, fast-paced novel about the complexity of family—and all the ways they can drive us crazy.

The lavish Layton-Benjamin wedding promises to be an event to remember, and the groom’s wealthy parents have spared no expense to impress their guests by hosting it at the exclusive Cross Creek Inn, a private mountain retreat tucked away in the heart of the Colorado Rockies. But the bride and groom are from completely different backgrounds, and they’ve only known each other for a few months, so it’s been a ‘hurry-up’ engagement that has everyone worried.

When the groom arrives late and tempers start to flare, it’s clear the wedding is a minefield that has to be carefully navigated. As parents and friends begin taking bets over whether the happy couple will make it to the altar, secrets are revealed, new loves emerge, and true happiness is finally found.

Book your visit to the Cross Creek Inn! A witty, fun summertime story about family, friendship, and finding out what matters most—that only Cheryl Holt could tell.

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An Amazon ‘Top-100’ Bestselling Author…

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EXCERPT ONE:

Jennifer…

“It’s so beautiful here!”

Jennifer Layton spun away from the stunning scenery out the window of her hotel room, and she smiled at her father, Greg.

“I suppose it’s all right,” he replied.

“You suppose?” she asked.  “Don’t injure yourself by exhibiting too much enthusiasm.”

She had three siblings, but she’d always been his favorite.  It was an open and established family fact about which they all joked.  On hearing her remark, he was instantly chastened.

“I’m sorry, peanut.  It’s marvelous, and I’m delighted by it too.”

She grinned.  “That’s more like it.”

From the minute she’d phoned to tell him she’d gotten engaged and was planning a quick wedding, he’d been slow to exhibit the attitude a girl ought to expect from her only parent.  He was a widower and carpenter whose wife died of cancer when his four children were very small.  Jennifer had just been eight at the time.

He’d spent his life providing for them as best he could.  He was sensible and pragmatic, with strong views about the world and his place in it.  He’d never been the type to reach out and grab for more than he’d been given, but he’d wanted more for her and her siblings than he’d ever been able to supply.  In that, he’d been very generous.

He’d encouraged her to spread her wings, to go to college and move on to a great future, and she’d done exactly that.  She’d fled their home in Portland, Oregon, to attend college in Eugene, then she’d flitted off to sunny, exciting Los Angeles.

In the process, she’d fallen in love with Eric Benjamin.  He was disgustingly rich and had grown up in an environment so different from hers that he might have been raised on the moon.

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GUEST POST:

Bring on the boo’s! Everyone loves to hate the villain!  Tell us all about this truly loathed character and the inspiration behind their development.

I have been writing novels for twenty-five years, and I’m renowned as the ‘International Queen of Villains’.  Depending on your point of view, I write some of the best—or worst—villains in American fiction.  In my new novel, A Summer Wedding at Cross Creek Inn, I have a great villain who readers will love to hate, so I decided I should share a few thoughts about how I view villains and how I use them in a story.

When I was first starting out, I would have ‘bad’ people in my books who did bad things to the main characters, but they weren’t as driven as they needed to be.  As I got more experienced, they got much better.  I made a huge change after a reader once wrote to me after she’d finished one of my books.  She pointed out that the ending wasn’t satisfying because she didn’t feel as if my villainess had gotten her just desserts at the end.  After the villainess had caused so much havoc for the heroine, her paltry ending was a letdown.  After that, I always made sure I pushed my villains to a very tall precipice so they would fall a very long way, and I made sure they had a huge crash at the end.

I also learned to write great villains because, for years, I worked with a New York ‘power’ editor who insisted that my novels build and build to exciting endings, with there being no let-up in the drama or pacing.  She wanted a very fast tempo to build on every page so readers would flip through the story like mad without being able to put the book down until they reached the end.  She always encouraged me to let my villains ‘fly free’, to let them be just as horrid and infuriating as I could make them, so readers would race to the end to see what happened to the main characters.

I always keep that advice in mind when I’m selecting a villain.  They push my stories for me, and they provide an infuriating brick wall that might keep my heroine from achieving her goal.

I’m a very avid reader, and when I read novels, I often find that authors almost seem afraid sometimes to make their villains as wicked as they should be.  And they often don’t give them the horrid and perfect endings they deserve.  I never have that problem.  In my novels, my villains are just as driven at the end as they were at the beginning.  They never give up, they never think they’re in the wrong, and from the moment they’re thwarted, they start figuring out ways to get going again.

In my new novel, A Summer Wedding, my villainess is a woman named Crystal.  She’s a uber-thin, gorgeous trophy wife who’s married to a famous Hollywood movie producer.  She glommed onto him when she was 23 and was trying to break out as a Hollywood movie star.  He was married to another character in the book, and his first wife was a sweet, pretty, very nice woman.  He dumped her for Crystal—simply because she was younger, beautiful, and very decadent.

She’s a vicious, scheming harpy who has no morals or scruples, and she’s never suffered an ounce of shame or remorse over stealing another woman’s husband.  She’s built a life with her much-older, famous husband, where they are an LA power couple, and she feels she’s entitled to every bit of glory, wealth, and power she’s managed to accrue by being shrewd enough to marry him.

During the novel, lots of trouble is starting to wing in her direction.  For one of my plot threads, I used a topic from recent LA news stories:  Crystal has a spoiled, lazy daughter, and she bribed a college admissions officer to get her into college.  That scandal is unraveling and about to crash into her.  She’s about to turn forty too, and her husband isn’t interested in having a forty-year-old wife.  He’s about to trade her in for a much younger model, but she’s too smugly confident of her place by his side to believe that anything could go wrong in her life.

But of course, everything goes wrong.  She spends the entire novel, making mischief, causing trouble, and infuriating characters (and readers alike), and at the end, she has the best ‘just desserts’ ever!  I’m always really, really good at making sure the ending fits the crime.

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AUTHOR BIO:

CHERYL HOLT is a New York Times, USA Today, and Amazon “Top 100” bestselling author who has published over fifty novels.

She’s also a lawyer and mom, and at age forty, with two babies at home, she started a new career as a commercial fiction writer.  She’d hoped to be a suspense novelist, but couldn’t sell any of her manuscripts, so she ended up taking a detour into romance where she was stunned to discover that she has a knack for writing some of the world’s greatest love stories.

Her books have been released to wide acclaim, and she has won or been nominated for many national awards.  She is considered to be one of the masters of the romance genre.  For many years, she was hailed as “The Queen of Erotic Romance”, and she’s also revered as “The International Queen of Villains.”  She is particularly proud to have been named “Best Storyteller of the Year” by the trade magazine Romantic Times BOOK Reviews.

She lives and writes in Hollywood, California, and she loves to hear from fans.  Visit her website at www.cherylholt.com.

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CONNECT WITH CHERYL:

Website:

https://cherylholt.com

Email:

cheryl@cherylholt.com

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/officialcherylholt

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/TheCherylHolt

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/cherylholtauthor

BookBub Author Page:

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cheryl-holt

Goodreads Author Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/36853.Cheryl_Holt

Goodreads Book Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56693461-a-summer-wedding-at-cross-creek-inn

Amazon Author Page:

https://amzn.to/2NPzU5B

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BOOK BUY LINKS:

Amazon US Kindle eBook:

https://amzn.to/2ZK2ms2

Amazon US Paperback:

https://amzn.to/2NT2eDS

Amazon CA Paperback:

https://www.amazon.ca/Summer-Wedding-Cross-Creek-Inn/dp/1637328184

Amazon UK Kindle eBook:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Summer-Wedding-Cross-Creek-Inn-ebook/dp/B08QNMMNJW

Amazon UK Paperback:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Summer-Wedding-Cross-Creek-Inn/dp/1637328184

Barnes and Noble Paperback:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-summer-wedding-at-cross-creek-inn-cheryl-holt/1138477776

The Book Depository Paperback:

https://www.bookdepository.com/Summer-Wedding-at-Cross-Creek-Inn-Cheryl-Holt/9781637328187

BAM! Books-A-Million Paperback:

https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Summer-Wedding-Cross-Creek-Inn/Cheryl-Holt/9781637328187

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GIVEAWAY INFO:

Cheryl will be awarding ONE autographed printed book copy of the featured book, “A Summer Wedding at Cross Creek Inn,” to TEN randomly drawn winners via Rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**This post contains affiliate links and if clicked and a purchase is made, I may receive a small commission to help support this blog.  This does not cost you anything, it just helps pay for all those awesome giveaways on here**

This contest is sponsored by a third party. Fabulous and Brunette is a registered host of Goddess Fish Promotions.  Prizes are given away by the sponsors and not Fabulous and Brunette. The featured author and Goddess Fish Promotions are solely responsible for the giveaway prize.