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Wednesday, May 29, 2019

Til Death Do Us Part by K. S. David - Book Blast - Giveaway - Enter Daily!


Hi, lovelies!  It gives me great pleasure today to host K. S. David and her new book, “Til Death Do Us Part”!  For other stops on her Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tour, please click on the banner above or any of the images in this post – except the Available at Amazon picture, which takes you directly to the Amazon Book Sale Page.

Be sure to make it to the end of this post to enter to win a $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift Card!!  Also, come back daily to interact with K. S. and to increase your chances of winning!

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


Til Death Do Us Part
by K. S. David

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GENRE: Romantic Suspense

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BLURB:

Quinn McGuire is settling into her new life just fine. She's moving beyond the trauma of her past. She's fallen in love with her best friend, Jack Lassiter, and slowly rebuilding the career she'd once abandoned. Then her old nemesis is arrested for murdering her husband. To the surprise of everyone, Glenda Penderherst wants Quinn to represent her as legal counsel. Quinn doesn't do criminal defense anymore. Nope, she's focusing on areas a little more refined - less drama.

Naomi Banker, the resident vibrational therapist, asks Quinn to look into an intellectual property rights claim. The request seems innocent enough - but boring. Things soon spice up when Quinn discovers that Naomi was romantically linked to Glenda's murdered husband. Soon, more body's start to surface and like it or not, Quinn finds herself caught in a whirlwind of broken hearts and private alliances, all while trying to manage a few special secrets of her own. She’s convinced of Naomi's innocence and starts to dig for answers. But if she's not careful, she'll end up being added to the body count.

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EXCERPT ONE:

“That went well,” I teased. Jack and I stood on the front lawn of his mother’s home. He rocked back and forth on his heels, a sheepish grin brightening his tan face. The tension that had hardened his shoulders earlier was gone.

“I don’t regret holding back our news,” he said, “but I understand their disappointment.” Taking the edge of my jacket and drawing me closer, he confessed, “Call it selfish, but I liked having you all to myself for a while. Now that Emma knows we’re official, she’s going to drag you from one end of Kentucky to the next. When the baby comes it’s going to be impossible to keep those two ladies back.”

“I know, but we’ve been planning to have this conversation for weeks, even before we found out about the baby.”

“Do you wish we’d done things differently?” He lowered his head to gaze deeper into my eyes. “That you’d had the pretty gown? Family and friends.”

“Absolutely not. I can’t imagine a more magical moment than our wedding day and I wouldn’t have wanted anything different.”

While his mother and T-Lynn were overjoyed to hear our good news, their delight had turned to irritation. We’d left them out of one of the most significant moments of our lives. Not only had we gotten married without them, we’d been living with the secret for months. 

Emma had planned her son’s wedding since birth, expecting him to marry at the house and fill their massive lawn with tents for hundreds of guests. She wanted to plan engagement parties and bridal teas. She wanted to shut down the hussies at the country club when she sat me beside her and she wanted to see their salty faces when they realized her Jack wouldn’t be marrying any of their daughters.

Jack rubbed his derriere where T-Lynn had given him an old-fashioned slap on the ass. “Vegas, Jack! You took her to Vegas? Of all the places in the world to get married, that’s where you took Quinn?” She’d pressed her fingers to her temples and sighed. “I pray that Elvis wasn’t your officiant and Marilyn Monroe wasn’t a witness.”

The truth was that we were married in the Valley of Fire at sunset. I don’t remember the heat, though Jack says it was sweltering. I don’t remember details like the red sand dunes or the ancient Indian petroglyphs. The only thing I remember with absolute clarity was the way Jack looked at me when we exchanged our vows. I remember feeling a sense of love and yearning for him so strong and full, it felt like my heart would burst. And I remember that when Jack kissed me, after we’d been announced man and wife, the taste of him was so wonderful that it eclipsed anything that had ever given me pleasure before.

I lifted on the tips of my toes when Jack leaned in to kiss me. Just inches from my embrace, he asked, “So, you want to tell me why you were late? And don’t give me that story again about checking on your client’s case.”

“Geez, that’s right.” I’d almost forgotten. “I was with Naomi.”

“The crystal lady?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“You taking her case?”

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AUTHOR BIO:


K. S. David lives in the Mid-Atlantic with her husband, their three children and a menagerie of pets. New storylines are constantly running through her head. She keeps notebooks tucked in pockets of the car, the nightstand and makes voice recordings just about all day long. She's addicted to true life mysteries and crime shows, both of which marry well with a great romance. Some of her favorite things are long walks, reading in bed, baking and of course, writing her next novel.

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CONNECT WITH K. S.:

Website:

Email:
ksdavidromance@gmail.com

Facebook:

Twitter:

Goodreads Author Page:

Goodreads Book Page:

Amazon Author Page:

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AMAZON BOOK BUY LINK:



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GIVEAWAY INFO:

K. S. will be awarding a $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.


**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.

Tuesday, May 28, 2019

Ravens Cove by Mary Ann Poll - Book Tour - Guest Post - Giveaway - Enter Daily!


Hello, lovelies!  It gives me great pleasure today to host Mary Ann Poll and her new book, “Ravens Cove”!  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 $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift Card!!  Also, come back daily to interact with Mary Ann and to increase your chances of winning!

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


Ravens Cove
by Mary Ann Poll

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GENRE: Supernatural Thriller

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BLURB:

Welcome to Ravens Cove, Alaska, a tiny town nestled in a small hollow on the majestic Cook Inlet. A town familiar with storytelling—after all, Alaska abounds in rich legends. In Ravens Cove, though, legends have a tendency to come to life.

Meet Josiah Williams, the peculiar stranger whose warning to lifetime residents Kat Tovslosky and her cousin, Sheriff Bart Andersen, raises more questions than answers; a man whose dark past and knowledge of the murders make him a suspect more than an ally. Join Kat and Bart as an unlikely troop forms (including a very unwelcome FBI agent) to discover the identity of a killer. The unearthing of which will throw the reluctant warriors into a battle for their very lives and the lives of all who call Ravens Cove home.

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EXCERPT TWO:

“This is Agent Melbourne again. If you hang up, I will call back as many times as it takes. This is urgent. Tell your boss to pick up the phone, and do it now!”

Kat-fight mode sounded the first bell in the back of her brain. She knew her orders, and she would enforce them.

“With all due respect, Agent, no.” She dropped the phone into the cradle.

Ten minutes and several Melbourne calls later, Kat stomped to Bart’s office, angry at being ordered by the know-it-all FBI agent to get her “boss.”

Bart looked up to blazing eyes and a flushed face. He leaned back in his chair, linking his hands behind his head, and hoping his body language would diffuse the onslaught of emotion. It didn’t.

“There is an Agent Melbourne who keeps calling. He insists on talking to you.”

“Told you my policy on nosy outsiders.”

Being reprimanded brought the stew of frustration, weariness and hunger to a boil.

“Yes,” her voice rose, “yes you have. And, I told him, too. And I hung up. And he called back again, and again, and again. I hung up again, and again and AGAIN. He is now ordering me, under threat of interfering with FBI business, to put my ‘boss’ on the phone. He is on hold.”

Bart knew Kat. No matter who paid her, she did not have a “boss.” She had been, and always would be, a freethinker and free spirit. He could not control the grin creeping across his mouth.

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GUEST POST:

Describe Your Book Cover and How it Came About:


When we developed the book cover for Ravens Cove, I hoped to capture the readers’ curiosity and interest, in addition to instilling a sense of foreboding and/or danger. After all, it is a supernatural thriller, and it is creepy. Haha.

I wanted a cover that said, “Come on in, if you dare!”

The cover needed to project a visual picture of the story. In order to meet the criteria, I was faced with writing a short paragraph for my publisher’s graphic artist. At first, I was overwhelmed. I didn’t know if I could explain what was in my head well enough for it to be put in picture format. After the initial self-doubt and feelings of inadequacy, I pretended I was looking at a piece of artwork and wrote what I saw. (Below is the description I sent to my publisher. Until now, it has not been seen by anyone but my publisher and the graphic artist.)

The object who lures people to destruction is Pet, a shapeshifter. In Ravens Cove he is a sharp rock and/or arrowhead. The focal point is a black rock, emanating a yellow and purple light sitting on or close to a path that drops off into a ravine. There is vegetation on either side of the path and a large dirt mound to the right of the path (called Corpse Mound in the book).  Black quickly envelopes the path. A dead tree stands off to one side of the path.  It has ghostly limbs and moss (or something that looks like hair) hanging from its top (the old hag tree mentioned in the book).”

Most of this description was used by the graphic artist. The rock, the pathway, and his rendition of the tree are all on the cover.
The artist and my publisher made a critical addition—the raven sitting in the tree above the pathway. It tied the book art to the title, and the addition of the raven tells a reader, consciously or subconsciously, this is an ominous place.

 When I saw the raven, the hair on my arms stood up. I was surprised by my reaction. I couldn’t understand why the raven added dramatically to the creepy feeling we were trying to project. So, I did some research. And recently my publisher sent me some examples of why a raven evokes such dark feelings. In addition to my earlier research, these examples helped solve this mystery:

1.)  In some cultures, the raven is seen as a bad sign. In others it is described as a trickster and deceiver. Both descriptions of the raven ring true in Ravens Cove. The raven is a symbol of the darkness within.

2.)  Edgar Allan Poe is a great example of using a raven to create an ominous, almost frightening, ambiance in his work, The Raven. Poe was the master of using symbols in his writings. The symbols always represented something else. Edgar Allan Poe's use of the raven is very emblematic. A raven is midnight black. His story does take place at midnight. The darkness of the bird is the perfect, sinister symbol for the man.  Poe’s spooky raven enters the narrator's house, perches on a bust above his chamber door, and repeats only one word, “Nevermore.” The narrator soon learns the raven has come to stay, and he'll never be free of longing for his lost love, Lenore. In The Raven, Poe could have certainly used another animal, but the effect wouldn't have had the same impact. He could have used a parrot, for example. But not only can a parrot speak many words, they are brightly colored. And there is not much threat in a parrot. There is something menacing about a midnight-black raven repeating only one word, “Nevermore.”

3.)  In Greek mythology, ravens are associated with Apollo, the god of prophecy. They are said to be a symbol of bad luck, and were the god's messengers in the mortal world. According to the mythological narration, Apollo sent a white raven, or crow in some versions, to spy on his lover, Coronis.

These are just a few examples of the mystery and foreboding ravens can impart, and have imparted, over the centuries.

Creating this book cover took many hours and careful thought. What is odd is I didn’t realize how much thought we all put into the cover until I wrote this post. I loved the process of creating the cover. I cried when I held the first edition in my hands. Now, I know why I am always excited to create and see the book cover when we release a new novel. They are a part of me as much as the book inside.

Thank you for the opportunity to tell you a part of my story.

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AUTHOR BIO:


I’m Mary Ann Poll, America’s Lady of Supernatural Thrillers and charter member of Author Masterminds. The first question most people ask is, “What is an Iconoclast?” Iconoclast means, “The destroyer of religious beliefs or symbols.” I took this definition and applied it to the supernatural realm, which is how the Iconoclast Thriller series was born. My books revolve around the battle between good and evil. They also revolve around the heroic acts of ordinary people who must face extraordinary, even unbelievable, circumstances.

I draw from real-life experiences, as well as my imagination, to create these supernatural thrillers. My love for a creepy, goosebump-creating ghost story and my love for Christ come together in these books.

I am a proud pet lover, which is also reflected in my writing. In my off time, I enjoy gardening, swimming and spending time with beloved family.
I pray you enjoy reading Ravens Cove as much as I enjoyed writing it. Blessings in Christ!

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CONNECT WITH MARY ANN:

Website:

Blog:

Facebook Fan Page:

Facebook Personal Page:

Twitter:

BookBub Author Page:

BookBub Book Page:

Goodreads Author Page:

Goodreads Book Page:

Amazon Author Page:

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BOOK BUY LINKS:

Amazon Kindle eBook:

Amazon Paperback #1:

Amazon Paperback #2:

Amazon Audiobook:

Barnes and Noble NOOK eBook:

Barnes and Noble Paperback:

Kobo eBook #1:

Kobo eBook #2:

Google Play eBook:

The Book Depository Paperback:

Author Masterminds eBook:

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GIVEAWAY INFO:

Mary Ann will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.


**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.

Monday, May 27, 2019

Keeping a Warrior by Melanie Hansen - Book Tour - Guest Post - Giveaway - Enter Daily!


Hey lovelies!  It gives me great pleasure today to host Melanie Hansen and her new book, “Keeping a Warrior”!  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 Melanie and to increase your chances of winning!

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


Keeping a Warrior
by Melanie Hansen

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GENRE: Contemporary Romance

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BLURB:

Devon Lowe is a survivor.

A survivor of war. Of combat. And of a betrayal by men she considered her brothers-in-arms. But her trailblazing work as a Cultural Support Team member working alongside the Navy SEALs is too important for her to back down now.

Fresh off a painful break-up, Air Force pararescueman Rhys Halloran recognizes Devon’s trauma for what it is—something that’s left her isolated, but far from irreparably damaged.

With Devon’s trust still lying shattered back in Afghanistan, putting her faith in a man who’s nursing a broken heart isn’t easy. But she’s tired of people making her feel weak, and Rhys makes her feel anything but, sparking a heated attraction that was never part of the plan.

With all eyes on Devon to prove herself in a brutal man’s world, having it all will mean putting her heart on the line like never before. But when it comes to Rhys, it’s an uphill battle she’s ready to fight.

Publisher’s Note: Keeping a Warrior deals with topics some readers may find difficult, including past sexual assault.

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EXCERPT TWO:

Rhys watched until Devon had disappeared safely into her room, then turned toward his own with a sigh.

“If I were you, I’d watch yourself with her.”

The voice came at Rhys out of the darkness, and he jumped. “Jesus!”

Mullet stepped out of the shadows where he’d been leaning against the wall. He held up his phone. “Came out to call my wife, saw you drive up with Lowe.” He paused. “What were y’all doing?”

None of your business. “Just talking,” Rhys said tightly. “Unwinding. What’s it to you?”

“Man, it ain’t nothin’ to me. Just think you should be aware of what you’re dealing with.”

“We were just talking,” Rhys emphasized with a slash of his hand. “What exactly am I ‘dealing’ with?”

“Why don’t you ask one of the guys she accused of rape? Oh wait, he’s dead.”

Rhys rocked back on his heels. “What?”

“Yeah, that first team she was attached to in Kandahar?” Mullet’s voice was hard. “Lowe started fucking one of the dudes there, and when she found out he was engaged, she lost it and accused him and two other guys of rape.”

Rhys’s mouth flapped open and closed uselessly.

“She was hanging out with them,” Mullet went on. “Drinking with them, you know? A real party girl. Got into a relationship with this dude, and when he tried to break it off ’cause of his fiancée, she turned on him, tried to ruin his career.”

“Where did you hear this?” Rhys croaked. “Did she tell you this?”

“Nah.” Mullet shook his head. “You think El-Tee isn’t gonna vet anyone we’re bringing on board?”

Rhys’s face went hot with anger. “And then what, our leadership just sat down and gossiped with you about it, knowing it could destroy unit cohesion before it even had a chance to form? No way. Try again, and leave El-Tee out of your bullshit story.”

“Fuck you with the gossip and the bullshit,” Mullet growled. “All you need to know is it’s a fact that accusations were made, there was an investigation, and Lowe was transferred off the team.”

The team Rhys had been a part of for such a short time. One mission. The mission where Devon had made such an impression on him.

“It’s your life, Halloran, but that girl’s trouble, and if I were you, I’d keep it strictly business.”

He strode off, leaving Rhys numb with shock. He sucked in a few deep breaths, horror freezing his blood when he saw Devon standing there, an ice bucket in her hand, her face white as a sheet.

Oh, God. She must’ve heard everything.

“Devon.” Rhys took a step toward her, and she put up a shaking hand to ward him off.

“Just in case you’re wondering if his facts are true,” she said tonelessly, “they are.”

Devon’s knuckles clenched white on the bucket, her lips twisting in a bitter smile. She shoved open her door, and right before she disappeared inside, she turned to look back at Rhys.

“Not all war stories are heroic, you know.”

She shut the door with a quiet click.

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GUEST POST:

When most people think of Navy SEALs, they think of heroes—SEAL Team 6, the killing of Osama bin Laden, or the rescue of Captain Phillips. In romance, SEALs tend to be portrayed as hard-bodied sex gods in security or bodyguard roles. There are countless movies about them, books detailing their heroics, and now even a popular TV show.

My goal in writing the Loving a Warrior series was to shine a light on some of the realities of life in the military beyond the sexiness and heroism. My dad was career Air Force, and my husband just retired after 25 years in the Navy. During the course of his job, he worked with SEALs, and he’s still friends with some today. While they’re all brave, and of course mentally tough, wearing a Trident doesn’t automatically mean they’re honorable, or even decent human beings. There have been SEALs accused of war crimes, of drug dealing, of murder, of domestic violence. As with any other cross-section of humanity, there are weeds in every lawn, even special operations.

In KEEPING A WARRIOR, my heroine’s trust is shattered by a small group of SEALs—the very men she should’ve been able to trust the most, her brothers-in-arms. The fact that one of them also died in service to his country almost tears her apart. As my heroine points out, “Not all war stories are heroic.” It’s true, and the same could be said for those who fight them.

Thanks so much for hosting me today!

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AUTHOR BIO:


Melanie Hansen doesn’t get nearly enough sleep. She loves all things coffee-related, including collecting mugs from every place she’s visited. After spending eighteen years as a military spouse, Melanie definitely considers herself a moving expert. She has lived and worked all over the country, and hopes to bring these rich and varied life experiences to the love stories she gets up in the wee hours to write. On her off-time, you can find Melanie watching baseball, reading or spending time with her husband and two teenage sons.

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CONNECT WITH MELANIE:

Website:

Email:

Facebook:

Twitter:

BookBub Author Page:

BookBub Book Page:

Goodreads Author Page:

Goodreads Book Page:

Amazon Author Page:

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BOOK BUY LINKS:

Amazon Kindle eBook:

Barnes and Noble NOOK eBook:

Kobo:

Apple iBook eBook:

Google Play eBook:

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GIVEAWAY INFO:

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


**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.