Blog Barrage: The Boss and Her Billionaire by Michele de Winton - Promo + Giveaway

Hey guys! Welcome to today's blog barrage! My apologies for the late post, the time slipped away from me! The Boss and Her Billionaire is published by Entangled Publishing and is 60,000 words long. It is a contemporary romance novel with aspects of adventure, comedy and a holiday romance. The heat level is Sizzling (Highly explicit sex scenes/language) so do take note of that! Without further ado, let's begin!

The Boss and Her Billionaire by Michele de Winton

Cruise director Michaela Western has everything she wants—everything except a sex life. But there are no secrets on cruise ships. She risked her job once for a dalliance with the Captain, and won’t do it again for a few minutes of toe-curling pleasure. Until a devilishly handsome new staffer with a body made for sin tempts her to walk on the wild side...

Investment billionaire Dylan Johns always gets what he wants. He is used to giving orders—not taking them—until he’s forced to go on hiatus from his investment company. To bide his time and carry out an old dream, he takes a job on a cruise ship—and ends up taking orders from his gorgeous, but uptight, new boss. He is determined to loosen her up with a fun onboard romance, but their no-strings fling turns serious and Dylan is forced to confess his lies.

When the affair threatens to shatter Michaela’s own career dreams, she finds herself caught between the devil and the deep blue sea.

Buy it from Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Michele de Winton

Michele was born in the mid 1970’s amid a burgeoning sprawl of vineyards and new retirement homes. Despite training in law (or perhaps because of it) she has been a dancer, producer, writer, and all round arty type in various countries for most of her life. Now back home in New Zealand after travelling a plenty, she is a mom to one and writes full time in an office surrounded by whispering trees.

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter

She also blogs at The Naked Hero as The Luna Goddess and the Indulgence blog.

Time for a short excerpt!

“The bastard,” Felicity hissed. “Saying that a woman couldn’t do your job. As if he would do any better—he needs a staff of ten to make sure he doesn’t forget anything.”

Michaela smiled. Oh, it was good to smile.

“And the captain said it’s Dylan who’s been telling tall tales? The bloody cheek! I’ll have that man on toast.”

“We did sort of...” Michaela hesitated, but there was nothing to lose now. “Dylan and I... We...”

“You fox!” Felicity’s delight was immediate. “Was he scrumptious?”

“Oh, God!” Michaela’s heart dropped again at the thought of the gossip that was even now whirling around the ship. “Everyone’s been saying I seduced him. That I used my position to take advantage.”

“And I bet it was him that snared you, wasn’t it? The toad, trying to look squeaky clean.” Felicity switched from triumphant sex-gossip to compassionate friend in a heartbeat. “What’s he trying to prove, that he’s hot enough to score cruise director for starters and then have dessert of those dancing twins? Just wait until I get hold of him.”

Here are what some reviews have said about The Boss and Her Billionaire

“I ate this book up, just could not turn my kindle off! The story cleverly eschews the romance novel formula by having the female lead in the position of power as the cruise director...and the hunky male lead is a dancer. I particularly enjoyed the dance scenes - the rehearsals, description of performances and interplay between dancers. Often i find the support characters are barely sketched in other romance novels but in this story they are fully fleshed, interesting and often hilarious. And the chemistry between the leads bursts off the page - they're hot! Move over Love Boat...this has made me want to go on a cruise!”- Megan Beard, Amazon review

"Better than the love boat. Yep, it's a big call but I think Michaela Western makes a better Cruise Director than Lauren Tewes. More smarts, more sass, and more self respect. Eventually anyway. I really liked it. I wasn't sure I was going to, because I didn't know how having the hero go from Investment banker to dancer was going to play out, but it works. Really works. I loved Dylan, and the sex scenes were hot. If this is a debut I'm looking forward to the next one." – Jess, Amazon review

“I loved this book! It has a great premise, being set on a cruise ship in the middle of the pacific, and it breaks some of the usual boring 'rules' of romance by having a sexy dancer as the male lead, and his boss as the heroine. The chemistry sizzled, and I really got into the characters. It kept me up reading into the small hours, and I had work the next day, but it was worth it! Even the side characters worked for me. The banter between Michaela and her friend Felicity cracked me up - which is something I'm always looking for. For a debut, this is an especially good one. Looking forward for more from this writer.” - Trudi Jaye, Amazon review

And you can enter the tour-wide giveaway here! Just fill up the Rafflecopter form and you're well on your way to winning a $10 Amazon GC and an ecopy of the book!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


So yep, that's about it for today! Go here to check out the other tour stops! You'll find loads of awesome stuff on the other tour sites too! :D

Blog Tour: Twilight Saint by Jessica Penot - Guest Post + Excerpt

Twilight Saint by Jessica Penot

It has been thousands of years since the fall of the great nations and the tribes that remain in the ashes of the fallen must fight to survive in the shadows. In this desperate landscape, Ailive has spent her entire life fighting for the honor of her tribe and she has grown weary of war. When Ailive sees a chance to escape her fate, she flees into a chaotic landscape where death and darkness lurk behind every friendly face until she finds refuge in the peaceful city at the center of her world. In this city, Ailive finds everything she’s ever dreamt of, but news of a strange prophet from the South brings whispers of war to Ailive’s peaceful home. Now Ailive alone can stop the genocide of an entire tribe of people. Ailive alone holds the key to bringing peace to the world and destroying the monstrous man whom she once loved, if she can only gain the courage to pick up her sword again and make herself fulfill the destiny she’s fought her entire life.

Jessica Penot

I am a therapist and writer who lives in Alabama with my three corgis, children, husband, and other strange creatures. My short stories have been published in numerous literary magazines and anthologies including CSM, Summer Gothic, Bound By Blood, and Outer Darkness. I have ghost story columns in the Valley Planet and White Cat Magazine where I share my love for ghost stories that send shivers down your spine and keep you up at night. I also share my passion for all things ghostly and haunted at my blog, ghost stories and haunted places.

I am currently working on my next Haunted America Book for History Press,Haunted South Alabama. Follow me at my blog to learn about the ghost stories I am chasing and collecting for this fascinating addition to Haunted America. I'm also workng on the next book in my Circe series. The demon is awake and waiting for my new heroine in the swamps of Southern Alabama. Click Here to Follow My Blog!

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Email

Time for a short excerpt!

I walk the way of the storm. It is all I have ever known. In the haze of early childhood memories, there exists brief moments before the storm, but now it has consumed everything. Every piece of me has been lost and all I can remember is fire and smoke and the remains of old dreams singed by death. Even as I sat high above the city, looking down on the magnificent beauty of my tribe, the smell of death lingered. Our tribe’s city was alive, vibrant, and prosperous, but to me it was nothing.

I sat perched on top of the highest tower of the karash, looking down on what most people in our tribe would call the real world. I was a Xenderian. I was part of the most powerful tribe of its time. I was more than part of it; I was the sword that cut the path to its glory. I was a karake. I was born to fight for the glory of my people, but as I looked through the icy air, I felt dead inside. My scars were long and my nightmares haunted my every moment.

And now, let's welcome Jessica to the blog!

Post-Apocalyptic Visions

 The Twilight Saint is a vision of a world thousands of years after the apocalypse.  The world is still fragmented and divided and no one remembers what the world was like before the apocalypse.   The Twilight Saint isn’t the first work of fiction to imagine such a landscape.  Many other television shows, movies, and books have painted a picture of a world long after the fall.   What makes each of these visions wonderful is their utter uniqueness.  I am a junky for post-apocalyptic worlds in all their forms.  Some are silly and others are tragic and others are utterly beautiful in their horror.  Here are a few of my favorite post-apocalyptic visions.

    1.    Adventure Time…..  Adventure Time is a children’s show that is silly and utterly unique.  It is about a little boy having adventures in a world populated by candy people, vampires, twisted dogs, bizarre unicorns, monsters, and all manner of other weird creatures that tease the imagination.   What most don’t know is that this show is set thousands of years after the apocalypse.  Mankind has mutated and change and life on earth is no longer recognizable.  The hero is the last human on earth.  I love this silly vision of the post-apocalyptic world.  It is fun for children of all ages, including myself.

2.        Mad Max……….  Long before everyone knew Mel Gibson was completely insane, he played an almost insane man wandering a post-apocalyptic landscape.  He fights all types of crazy haired folks in strange vehicles in order to protect the crumbling world from the tyranny of evil men.  This is just good fun and I watch Mad Max Beyond Thunder dome every time it comes on.

3.       The Road….. Cormac McCarthy’s vision of a lone man wandering a devastated landscape with his son is one of the most tragic apocalyptic visions ever put on paper.   It is so beautiful, it is almost literature.  It isn’t fun, but it is worth reading because it is beautiful in its horror.

4.       The Hunger Games…. Everyone knows this trilogy.   I can’t help but mention this book and the movie because they have breathed new life into apocalyptic visions.  I love Katniss and her battle to survive and protect those she loves.

5.        Delicatessen…… This French film is both funny and disturbing.  It is the story of a clown who moves into a building occupied by a butcher who kills people for food and sells their meat to a starving, desperate post-apocalyptic population.  The clown brings levity to a dark story and the movie is brilliant.

6.       Dawn of the Dead… I love zombie movies and no list of post-apocalyptic gems would be complete without this masterpiece of zombie films.  

7.       The Birthmarked Trilogy..  These books chronicle the adventures of a young midwife as she struggles to fight the tyranny of her government and find freedom for the mothers in a desperately dark apocalyptic world.

8.       Planet of the Apes….  No list of apocalyptic visions would be complete without the image of the statue of liberty buried in sand at the end of Planet of the Apes.

This list could go on and on.  There are so many wonderful apocalyptic books, movies, and television shows.   Twilight Saint is one of many, but like all these apocalyptic vision, it offers a new view of the world after the demise of the world as we know it.  I hope it adds to the beauty and horror of the world of post-apocalyptic visions.

So yep, that's about it for today! I will be reviewing the book by a week's time so do watch out for it!

Blog Tour: The Founders by Holly Barbo - Promo + Guest Post

Hey guys! Welcome to today's blog tour! I haven't read The Founders yet, but I will definitely do so soon! Do watch out for my review kay? Love you all <3 hehe enjoy the promo post! And do consider purchasing the book if you do like it!

The Founders by Holly Barbo

Recruited by an ancient race, a group of people from Earth colonize the lovely planet Ose in a far corner of the galaxy. Thirty-two years after the Founders settle the unanticipated happens. A small asteroid hits on the edge of the continent instantly throwing them into a "nuclear winter" weather pattern. Struggling to survive, the young culture slips ever nearer to a survival of the fittest world.

In this climate of hardship, Marisily comes of age. She flees for her life after watching her mother die. Unexpectedly, she discovers the cave in which she seeks refuge was a hidden Ancient's shelter and the secrets within it reveal that she is a sage: a small group of seemingly unrelated people with heightened extra senses that are strangely linked to the planet itself.

The conditions reach dangerous levels as more citizens become victims of the outlaw bands. Marisily struggles to stay safe when she is targeted for slavery. A clandestine plan is devised to take back the society and reestablish the founding culture. Can they do it in time?

Buy it from Amazon Kindle | Amazon Paperback

Holly Barbo

Holly Barbo's world is shaped by her love of her family, the beauty of the natural world in Northwest Washington State and an irrepressible creative drive.

Living where the scenery is incredible with a rich abundance of wildlife "is so special and soothing that it feels like a quiet kind of magic," according to Barbo. She is drawn to creating stories where there is just a bit of something unworldly, perhaps it is magic or psychic skills. Her stories are mostly in non-urban settings and usually have some focus on nature, building a discordant drama inside the peaceful frame.

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

And now, let's welcome Holly to the blog to talk with us a little about her inspiration in writing and where she gets her ideas from!

Remember the Room of Requirement in Hogwarts? It was a magical room that was hidden unless you needed it. You had to walk past the area of the door three times while thinking of what you wanted before it would appear. Sometimes what you required was just a place to stash something. Can’t you just see a large room completely full of stuff? Towers and piles of things with paths in between?

Let’s pretend that your brain is the Room of Requirement with every nook and cranny full of thoughts, memories and dreams. “But,” you say, “my mind is tidy. It doesn’t look like that. It isn’t messy.” That is remarkable and you have my complete respect..and awe.

My mind has memories attached to smells and sounds. Dreams bound with colors and snatches of information tucked between feathers and pinecones all stacked on piles of books and pictures. It is unbridled and bit like a labyrinth.

From wandering in that maze I get ideas for my writing. Around every corner are flutters of inspiration. Bits of ideas can lead me down curious corridors. ‘I wonder how a world with two moons would work? How would that affect the tides and the eclipses?’ My characters have a glimmer of this or that person I have met. Rab the shepherd, an individual in the truest sense, coalesced from memories of my Uncle Ollie and a few other personalities I have known. The diverse topography of Washington State was the basis of the planet Ose before I altered it with odd things that appeal to me.

The plot also leaks out of that labyrinth. The desire to talk and spend time again with loved ones that have passed from my life can be realized by building their personality into characters and braiding them into the story. Things I would like to change in my world are resolved on the planet that I made. It can be quite cathartic while it is good creative fun.

Yes, my Room of Requirement is a delightful maze where I can catch flickering thoughts and weave them into stories. The Founders is the first book in the Sage Seed Chronicles series. The second: Divergent Paths will be out in August. The story is unfolding.

So yep, that's about it for today! Watch out for my review soon, I haven't read the book yet but I certainly can't wait to do so!

Book Feature: Forgotten Dreams by Alexia Banks

Hey guys! Welcome to today's post! Today, I'll be featuring an author, Alexia Banks here. Her real name's Diane. Forgotten Dreams is a contemporary paranormal RomCom (romantic comedy). Forgotten Dreams was just published, yesterday in fact! So, why not be one of the first to get it?

Forgotten Dreams by Alexia Banks

Itching for adventure, Miami private investigator Shane Connelly heads for Swan Creek in North Carolina wine country, but discovers it’s anything but the perfect spot to while away the summer months. Her country home turns out to be a burned out hovel that she suspects is haunted. Discouraged, she plans to head home when a handsome stranger arrives at her doorstep. Before she can beat a trail off the mountain, Shane and her dashing neighbor Jesse are inexplicably drawn together as they dodge bullets, unearth ghosts, and unravel a dark town secret.

Buy it from Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes

Check out the book trailer/interview with Alexia Banks here!

Praise for Forgotten Dreams:

From Spews of my Views:

"Ms Banks is an amazing writer. She brought everything to life for me and even made me a bit homesick for North Carolina. I laughed all through the book, and yet, the story had flow and wrapped up nicely in the end. I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves paranormal romance."

From Wilovebooks:

"There is romance, suspense, humor, a dash of paranormal, and great characters. Plenty of twists to keep you guessing until the end. I recommend this book and I will be looking forward to the next!"

Alexia Banks

Writing under the pseudonym Alexia Banks, Diane Jacques is a veteran movie and television writer, producer and director. In 2012, she added novelist to her resume with Forgotten Dreams, the first book in her paranormal series. In addition, her nonfiction work on the catastrophic 1944, Hartford circus fire is due out in late 2013. She was born and raised in South Florida, where she continues to reside today with her partner Ray, mother Beatrice, and two of her children -- Stefan and Bianca. The family lives in a historic beachfront community in three fully restored 1924 bungalows. They share their home with French bulldog Mimi, coated Mexican Hairless Pete and six rescue cats. Her oldest child Jason an up-and-coming painter and animator who lives in nearby Fort Lauderdale.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

So yep, that's about it for today! Hope you've enjoyed the post and do be sure to check out her book and if you do like it, you could get it! :)

Blog Tour: Wild Point Island by Kate Lutter - Promo

Hey guys! Welcome to today's blog tour! Read on to find out more:)

Wild Point Island by Kate Lutter

Banished from Wild Point Island as a child, Ella Pattenson, a half human-half revenant, has managed to hide her true identity as a descendent of the Lost Colony of Roanoke. Thought to have perished, the settlers survived but were transformed into revenants--immortal beings who live forever as long as they remain on the island.

Now, Ella must return to the place of her birth to rescue her father from imprisonment and a soon to be unspeakable death. Her only hope is to trust a seductive revenant who seems to have ties to the corrupt High Council. Simon Viccars is sexy and like no man she’s ever met. But he’s been trapped on the island for 400 years and is willing to do almost anything for his freedom.

With the forces of the island conspiring against her, Ella must risk her father, her heart, and her life on love.

Buy it from Amazon Paperback | Barnes & Noble Paperback | Amazon Kindle

Kate Lutter

Kate Lutter believes she was born to write. She wrote her first novel when she was in eighth grade, but then almost burned her house down when she tried to incinerate her story in the garbage can because she couldn’t get the plot to turn out right. Now, many years later, she lives in NJ with her husband and five cats (no matches in sight) and spends her days writing contemporary paranormal romances, traveling the world, and hanging out with her four wild sisters. She is happy to report that her debut novel, Wild Point Island, the first in a series, has just been published by Crescent Moon Press. She is busy writing the sequel and her weekly travel blog entitled Hot Blogging with Chuck, which features her very snarky and rascally almost famous cat.

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

So yep, that's about it for today! So today's the last stop, I hope you've enjoyed the entire tour! :)

Invitation to Ruin by Bronwen Evans

First Published: 8 Feb 2011
Publisher: Brava
Pages: 327
Format: Paperback
Finished Date: 9 June 2012

Synopsis

One Good Lady Is About to Go Bad. . .

The only thing Miss Melissa Goodly has ever wanted out of a marriage is love. But any hope of that dissolves one wild night, when she loses herself in the arms of the most irresistible--and unobtainable--man in all of England. For when they are discovered in a position as compromising as it is pleasurable, she has no choice but to accept his proposal.

Avowed bachelor Anthony Craven, Earl of Wickham, never meant to seduce an innocent like Melissa. Yet now that the damage is done, it does seem like she'd make a very convenient wife. After all, she is so naive he won't have to worry about ever being tempted. Or so he thinks, until the vows are spoken and they are left alone--and his new bride reveals a streak just as brazen and unrestrained as his own. . .

My Rating

My Review

Invitation to Ruin was an amazing book. When I first started it, I thought it was just alright, nothing really special. But halfway through the book, when I saw the love shared by the characters, all I can say is wow.

The hero was everything I adored and the heroine? Simply amazing. I admire her so damn much. Its not always I like the heroine more than the hero, but for this book, the heroine is simply perfect. Of course, it having a great storyline was something that added to its appeal too! :)

So. Let’s begin, shall we? Plot first. Invitation to Ruin had the usual historical romance plot. Rake with a tortured soul who doesn’t believe in love meets a sweet girl who completely believes in love. And then without knowing it, rake falls in love with girl and they have their HEA after some conflict. Well, this book wasn’t really any different. However, it was the way the story was written that really did it justice. Though there were some flaws, which I will talk about later, it was a really enjoyable read.

Anthony is a rake of the worst order. He has no care and concern about society’s demands and just does what he wants to do. Of course, there’s a reason for this. Growing up with the kind of father he had, torn away from a mother’s love, Anthony very quickly saw the horrors of real life. I won’t say what his father did to him or what he was made to do but just note that it was horrible. Very horrible. So essentially, Anthony is a rake with a tortured soul who doesn’t believe in love anymore. My favorite kind of hero. I know I know, cliché yes, but sometimes its this simple cliché things that really make the love beautiful.

As for Melissa, she’s a good and kind girl. Not much is known about her background, but she did grow up in a good family. However, she is being forced to marry due to her brother needing money urgently. And her brother is just the meanest person. Imagine practically selling your flesh and blood just to get money. Horrible. But. What I want to say about Melissa is that she’s the strongest heroine I’ve read about. She is truly amazing. Never has any heroine had me clapping so much in admiration. Even when Anthony was so damn horrible to her, she never gave up, she just kept trying and trying. That spirit of hers was never truly broken no matter how much Anthony rejected her.

I’ll try to say this without any spoilers. Essentially what happens is that Anthony is forced to marry Melissa, but wants it to be a white marriage to prevent any children. He doesn’t want children cos he fears they’ll turn out bad. In what sense bad, I’ll leave it to you to read and find out! However, Melissa doesn’t know anything of this. She just thinks that Anthony doesn’t want her. However, she has always wanted a marriage with love, and after what his brother and mother has told her, she is determined to be the woman that Anthony falls in love with, the woman that can heal his tortured soul.

Of course, she succeeds. But reading about how she succeeded was beautiful. I have never admired any heroine more. Her strength of will to keep trying was simply applaudable. She loved him almost from the start and no matter what he did to try and discourage that love, she never gave in. She wanted to be the woman to change him, and she tried so hard. But she did succeed. Guess it just shows hard work pays off yeah? :)

There was one part I particularly enjoyed. I won’t say what it is, just suffice to say I was really happy when it happened. Essentially, Anthony though that Melissa had done something wrong. He went to confront her, having already decided that she was guilty. But when he reached her, he still gave her a chance to explain herself and when she did, trusted her immediately. I like that sense of communication the 2 characters had.

But my favorite part by far was when Anthony realised he loved Melissa. Those were the most beautiful words I’ve read in a long, long time. I’m not gonna say what it is, cos I don’t wanna spoil it for those who haven’t read the book yet. But the second I read those words, I started crying. Not the few drops of tears kind. The really full out tears rolling down your cheeks kind. I just went back and read those few sentences again and again (and cried again and again), because that was just how beautiful it was. I guess it was because you realise how much Anthony loved Melissa and I don’t know, it just completely tugged on my heartstrings when I read it.

So yes, Invitation to Ruin was a really good read. I will definitely be looking forward to many more of Bronwen Evan’s books! :)

Note: I received this review copy from the author, Bronwen Evans, free of charge, in exchange for a honest review. I received no other compensation whatsoever.

Blog Tour: Spellbound Series by Lola James - Promo

Hey guys! Welcome to today's blog tour! My apologies that this is so late, I forgot:( Anyway, today's blog tour will be featuring two books by Lola James. Both books are from the Spellbound series. Bound to Remember is Book 1 and Unbound is Book 2. So, without further ado, enjoy! :)

Bound to Remember by Lola James

Vampires and Witches and Myths, oh my! Toni is a young doctor with a past she can't remember and a deadly reason for forgetting it. Ben is a nurse who has his own tragic past and transfers hospitals after an act of heroism forces his secluded life public. Ben can’t believe his eyes when he meets Toni, she has an uncanny resemblance to an old friend of his, and Toni can’t help but find Ben irresistible. Enter Kevin, Toni’s sexy but arrogant Ex. Kevin’s jealousy of Ben blinds him from his main objective, Toni. A dangerous secret is revealed and a magic spell seems to be a quick remedy, but the witch that helps has a little more than magic up her sleeve…

Unbound by Lola James

Toni went from being a doctor, to the lover of a god in an instant. Remembering who she was, she's now torn between her past self and her current love. Ben is stunned when Toni leaves and at the arrival of his long lost love, Catherine, but her arrival doesn't eradicate Toni from his mind. Unlikely allies will team up to get Toni back from the Lord of the Underworld, Hades, but it's not Hades they need to worry about.

Lola James

Lola James has been reading romance novels since her teens, and fell in love with the paranormal after discovering Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles. Her love of the dark worlds of vampires and witches, as well as her fascination with Greek mythology led her to create the Spellbound Series, an ongoing Paranormal Romance combining all of the above into tales of suspense with a little bit of humor in an Urban Fantasy setting.

A long time lover of reading and writing with a passion for a great story, James became discouraged by the complicated and arbitrary publishing process, James had initially set down her laptop and her hopes of being a writer. However, with the purchase of her first e-reader, James became re-energized by the new possibilities for an undiscovered author to reach the masses. Dusting off her keyboard she finally finished Bound to Remember, the first book of the Spellbound Series and self-published it. Energized and ambitious, James is now hard at work on both the

Spellbound Series as well as the Fate Series, a paranormal romance about dreams and what happens if they come true.

Living in Southern California with her two beautiful children, James finds time to write in between her full-time job as a mother as well as her other full-time job as an HR manager, as well as her academic schedule as she studies for her Master’s degree which she hopes to complete in 2013. With the success of Bound to Remember, James hopes to continue to reach an audience that will allow her to leave her HR job and focus on her writing as a full time career.

Time for a short excerpt!

From Unbound

I picked up a strawberry and ate it as I wondered: Why would Hades want me if he has a wife? The more I thought about it, the angrier I became. I wasn’t in the habit of sleeping with married men. I prepared to go to him, sick with the news that I was no more than a mistress. I turned to walk toward Hades’ office. I stood in the hallway in front of Hades’ office before


placing my hand on the door. It was amazing how that the mildew smell had just become natural to me—I didn’t think twice about it anymore. I pushed open the door and walked in.


“I was waiting for you, my sweet,” Hades said the moment he saw me.


The anger I had felt dissipated at the look in his eye. He smiled as I walked slowly over to him behind the black glass desk. I outlined the edge with my finger before I took my place in Hades’ waiting lap.

Lola will be offering a $25 Gift Card to readers choice of Barnes and Noble or Amazon at the end of her tour. Please enter below! :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway




So yep, that's about it for today! Thanks for visiting and apologies for the late post!

Blog Tour: Shadowland by C.M. Gray - Guest Post + Giveaway

Hey guys! Welcome to today's blog tour! Today, we have Christopher joining us with a guest post about his motivation as an author! We also have a giveaway lined up for you! Simply fill in the Rafflecopter form and you're done! As of now, there will be a single winner, but if response is good, there will be more winners! All winners will receive a Smashwords coupon to download the book. You can then transfer it to whichever device you want! :) So yep, do sit back and enjoy today's post!

Shadowland by C.M. Gray

We grow up with the Legend of King Arthur ... But where did he come from? Who was Merlin? What part did the Druids play in bringing Arthur to his round table? Shadowland is the story that came before, when Britain was in its darkest age. It tells of the start of the Pendragon line and the birth of a legend.


`I have lived more years than I can remember, probably more than the sum of all your years combined. Kings have called me friend and brigands have sworn to burn the flesh from my bones even if they have to search all seven halls of the shadowland to find me.'

On the night of midwinter's eve, a storyteller takes his listeners back to the Dark ages and a tale from his youth.

Usher Vance and Calvador Craen return to their village to find it being attacked by a Saxon and Pict war party. With the help of an aging bowman they pursue the warriors and manage to free Cal's sister. Now being hunted they escape into the forest and follow the path a druid sets them on find welcome and a few surprises with a rising army of Britons set upon reclaiming their land from the Saxon invaders.

With the death of Ambrosius at Mount Badon a new king must rise to meet the challenge and return the land to the tribes.

Buy it from Amazon | Smashwords

Check it out on Goodreads!

C.M. Gray

Born in Essex, England in 1963 I have since been lucky enough to live and travel in many countries around the world. In fact I have lived more time outside of England than I have living there! Home for me now is just outside of Barcelona, Spain where I live in a house in the middle of the forest with my Dutch born wife and two children, Dylan and Yasmin.


My writing is mostly fantasy and many of the experiences I have had in Asia, Africa and the middle east come to life in my writing. The Flight of the Griffin follows the adventures of a group of young orphans as they battle demons and bandits on a magical quest to stop the world tipping into Chaos. Shadowland blends fantasy with history as an old story teller takes his audience back to Britain's dark ages.

Amazon Author Page | Blog | Twitter | Goodreads

And now, let's welcome Christopher to the blog to talk with us a little about his motivation!

Motivation as an Indie author

There is an old saying that everybody has a book or two inside them, I remember hearing that echoing around in my head for years. I have been an avid reader since I was about eleven years old. I remember starting on books like Enid Blyton’s Famous Five and The Secret Seven. Treasure Island and Robinson Crusoe soon followed and by my early teens I had read everything by Wilbur Smith and was starting on the Steven King books as they were just coming out (yep, I’m that old!).


I discovered the world of fantasy in my twenties when discovering an old copy of The Hobbit in a second hand book shop. The Lord of the Rings soon followed. Those books unlocked a certain something in my head, as I know they did for many writers.


Fast forward a good few years, and after travelling the world, living in places like France, Amsterdam, Israel, India, Hong Kong and The Philippines, I settled in Spain with my wife and two Children, Dylan and Yasmin.
At the time I typed out my first sentence, Dylan was still a baby and my wife had discovered reality TV shows. I took a distinct dislike to watching people make fools of themselves trying to sing, and sat down at my laptop.


‘We all have a book or two inside us... ’ It was still there. Little did I realise, but the experience of writing was better than watching a film, better than playing a game on a computer and even better than reading a great book; it turned out to be all three things combined!


I type really fast and to be honest the first draft of anything I write is filled with mistakes and has very little grammar; I just have to get the ‘story’ out. It’s like reading that great book but controlling the characters as I would in the computer game and the film just plays in my mind.


About four months after sitting down that first time, the first draft of The Flight of the Griffin was born. I proudly typed ‘The End’ and thought I had made it; I was an author! However, reality struck when I started reading and found I had to do an awful lot of work to bring it into any kind of legible state! When I had done my best with it I had to pass it over to an editor and it’s amazing what a really good editor will find. I now work with a wonderful lady on my books named Caro from Carocaro editing. Caro is a wonderful person who is very supportive and, as a retired teacher, really good at helping me produce the best book I possibly can. I sit reading her edits shaking my head thinking ‘How on earth did I miss that... and that ... and...




Now with two books published on Amazon Kindle and Smashwords, and paperbacks of both available on Amazon and LULU and all selling well, I’m back to writing again and working on the final chapters of the sequel to The Flight of the Griffin, it has a working title at the moment of Chaos Storm.


What motivates me to write? Well it’s just the best thing I can imagine... well, one of the best things... I don’t write in any structured way. I hate the idea of coming up with a basic plot and filling in the gaps, that’s far too constrained and confined. When sitting down for the first time, I spend some time coming up with what I believe is a great first line, and then see where that will take me. A page or two in and a scene begins to unfold for me and ideas start to flow. After a chapter or two, I have an idea where a story is hiding and start to chase it. I then start to notice where a subplot might be and expand on that so that by the third or fourth chapter I may have three or four ‘threads’ that are flowing. It’s then a bit of a task to keep tabs on these threads so I tend to make notes; the worst thing you can do as a writer is to leave something hanging and unfinished. Towards the last third of the book I’m getting worried about an ending, the ending just has to be good! I suppose all these things are what motivate me and it really is a lot of fun. When I start to get feedback and positive reviews it really motivates me to write more. A writer needs readers and I only know if my writing is good if the reviews are good, so please, read my books and review them if you like them!


Anyhow, if you’ve ever heard a small voice in the back of your head telling you to switch off the television and write a book, give it a go. We all do have a book or two inside us and it may just be that your one is an awesome read!

And now, enter the giveaway here! 1 winner will be selected, but if response is good, I will increase the total number of winners! So don't worry, just enter and you may just win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


So yep, that's about it for today! Go here to check out the other tour stops! You'll find loads of awesome stuff on the other tour sites too! :D

Book Feature: Asenath by Anna Patricio

Hey guys! Today, I'll be featuring an author and her book on my blog. Asenath is a historical romance set in ancient Egypt. What's more, the main characters in the book are even biblical characters! Now, I haven't read the book yet, so I cannot tell you what I think of it. But I will say this. When I first saw the blurb, I was instantly intrigued and got it off Amazon immediately (it was free at the time). I hadn't even been contacted by the author yet, so I had no influence whatsoever. It just completely captured me!

Asenath by Anna Patricio

Two Destinies...One Journey of Love

In a humble fishing village on the shores of the Nile lives Asenath, a fisherman's daughter who has everything she could want. Until her perfect world is shattered.

When a warring jungle tribe ransacks the village and kidnaps her, separating her from her parents, she is forced to live as a slave. And she begins a journey that will culminate in the meeting of a handsome and kind steward named Joseph.

Like her, Joseph was taken away from his home, and it is in him that Asenath comes to find solace…and love. But just as they are beginning to form a bond, Joseph is betrayed by his master’s wife and thrown into prison.

Is Asenath doomed to a lifetime of losing everything and everyone she loves?

Buy it from Amazon (Kindle) | Amazon (Paperback) | Barnes & Noble | Powell's Books

Check out the book trailer here!

Anna Patricio

Anna Patricio is a lover of ancient history, with a particular interest in Egypt, Israel, Greece, and Rome. She is also intrigued by the Ancient Near East, though she has not delved too much into it but hopes to one day.

She undertook formal studies in Ancient History at Macquarie University. She focused mostly on gyptology and Jewish-Christian Studies, alongside a couple of Greco-Roman units, and one on Archaeology. Though she knew there were very limited job openings for ancient history graduates, she pursued her degree anyway as it was something she had always been passionate about.

Then, about a year after her graduation, the idea to tackle historical fiction appeared in her head, and she began happily pounding away on her laptop. ASENATH is her first novel.

Recently, she traveled to Lower Egypt (specifically Cairo and the Sinai), Israel, and Jordan. She plans to return to Egypt soon, and see more of it. In the past, she has also been to Athens and Rome.

Anna is currently working on a second novel, which still takes place in Ancient Egypt, but hundreds of years after ASENATH.

Blog | Facebook | Twitter

And now, let's welcome Anna to the blog to have a little chat with us! :)

Hey! It’s lovely to have you on the blog today! So, shall we begin? J

Hello Victoria, thank you for having me. Yes, we shall!

For starters, why not tell us a little about yourself? Perhaps something not many people know?

I am a debut author. My novel Asenath is set in Ancient Egypt and is about the little-known wife of Joseph of the coat-of-many-colours.

Being an author of historical fiction, it might come as a surprise that I used to detest history as a child. I thought it was a tremendous bore. This is probably because in my younger years, I equated history with having to memorise lengthy lists of dates and names. Hence, whenever I would hear about something history-related, I would immediately tune out.

However, in my second year of high school, I had a brilliant teacher who was like a storyteller. She made history come alive, not to mention she did not make me memorise anything either. Not only did I truly learn about history, I even began to love it.

When I entered university, I decided hands down that I would study Ancient History. If my childhood self were to see me today, I think she would get the shock of her life.

Last year, I had the pleasure of traveling to the setting of my novel. My mum and I went on a bonding excursion to Egypt, Israel and Jordan. It was a wonderful experience. I will especially never forget climbing Mt. Sinai. It wasn’t easy, admittedly, but it is something I would not have wanted to miss out on.

As for something not many people know… hmm… well, this is totally random: I can’t eat onions. I cannot stand them. I guess this came to mind because many folks seem to be astonished whenever I mention this.

I used to be able to tolerate onions though. However, one day I ate a pizza that had too many onion slices in it. Since then, I have been careful to avoid them. Whenever I order food, I always ask the server if there are any onions in it, and if so, could they please exclude them.

What made you want to become a writer?

I have always been inclined to writing since childhood. That is to say, I felt more capable of it than, say, sports, singing, dancing, drawing etc. Whenever I wrote something for school, I would always get positive feedback.

However, I had trouble with writing outside of school requirements. The reason was simple: I did not know what it was that I wanted to write. I tried my hand at various things, mostly poetry and short stories (and I never thought to attempt a novel). But it felt and looked forced. So I thought perhaps writing was a fleeting thing.

Not long after my graduation from uni though, the idea to write a novel suddenly appeared to me. I don’t know why and how it happened, but I am glad it came. Now, as long as I can write, I will be happy.

So in short: I did not look for the writing life. It found me.

Do you have any hidden talents? *wink*

Well, I make pretty good spaghetti, satay, and fritata! Though of course, I wouldn’t make them at the same time.

What gives you inspiration for your book(s)?

With Asenath, that was pretty easy. I have been an enthusiast of the Joseph story for a long time. Though for the record, I am not too crazy about the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical. It’s not really my type of thing.

Anyhow, I grew really curious about his wife Asenath. There did not seem to be much mention of her. I looked her up and found hardly anything on her.

I then thought to imagine what she might have been like. And I have actually been playing around with ideas for a novel about her since my uni days. In between my studies, I would write these really random scenes.

Backtracking a bit, I ought to add that when the writing idea came to me, I thought this would be a good opportunity to take the Asenath novel to the next level. Or, to be more precise, to seriously work on it. So I did.

Probably, I might not have thought to imagine about Asenath’s life if I had not been introduced to the historical fiction genre. Back in the day, I didn’t even know there was such a thing as historical fiction – and it could be because I eschewed from all things history, due to my previous perception about it. But not long after I came to love history, an acquaintance recommended to me Wilbur Smith’s River God. Since then, I have been hooked.

Are your characters based off real people, or did they all come entirely from your imagination?

Both. With principle characters though, I have an easier time basing them on people I know. I won’t mention names though.

But I think it’s enriching that I’ve met all sorts of people, both the good and the bad. These experiences have richly contributed to my writing.

Could you tell us a bit about your book and why it is a must-read?

As I mentioned, it is a fictional memoir of Joseph’s wife. It is written entirely from the POV of Asenath, though Joseph still figures prominently in it.

The Bible mentions that she is the daughter of a high priest. In my novel, she is the priest’s adopted daughter. Her origins are in an inconspicuous fishing village along the Nile. When a group of marauders ransack the village and murder her family, she and other orphans are rescued and brought to the temple, where she is later adopted.

The story of Joseph is one of the world’s most beloved tales, enjoyed by people regardless of their faith. I thus thought it would be interesting to present his story as seen through the eyes of the woman he would marry.

What do you love most about the writing process?

I guess the mere fact that I am doing something I truly enjoy. There is nothing more fulfilling than having a job you truly love.

And of course, do you have a particular favorite character? I know an author will love most if not all of the characters he/she creates, but I’m sure there must be a favorite of yours! So who is it, and why?

This may sound totally predictable, but I would have to say Joseph and Asenath. They have been really fun to work with. Some readers have been suggesting to me a sequel of Asenath. And why not? I’d love to meet up with Joseph and Asenath again. They’re a lovely couple.

Will you tell us a little about your plans for the future, and maybe other books that are in the works? (Ideas thought out, perhaps even a rough draft?)

The abovementioned Asenath sequel is probably still something for the farther future. Currently, I am working on a novel set during the time of Moses.

I know it seems planned out that after writing about Joseph, I would write about Moses. But like what happened with Asenath, the idea found me! I totally was not expecting it.

This time, my heroine will be the princess who adopts him. She is not as obscure as Asenath, but again, not much is mentioned about her. So it will be nice to explore her emotions and motivations.

And now, just some little random questions!

Favorite colour?

All hues of purple – lavender, indigo, violet, orchid etc.

Favorite place?

Egypt and Israel. Plus my house. It’s a sanctuary.

Favorite book?

I have a lot, but these are my tops: Arthur Golden’s Memoirs of a Geisha (which, I must say, influence Asenath), Wilbur Smith’s River God and Warlock, Alex G. Chappell’s Joseph and Asenath, and Gilbert Morris’ Till Shiloh Comes.

Favorite genre? (and why, if you like)

Historical and Biblical fiction, needless to say. Although I also try to expand my horizons. I pretty much enjoyed Amy Tan’s Joy Luck Club, which I read some years ago

To end off, is there anything you would like to say to your readers?

May you always drink from the Nile. (A common Egyptian blessing.)

Hmm, I think that should be about it for today! It was a pleasure to have you on the blog today! Wishing you all the best in your career! :D

Thank you, Victoria. My pleasure as well. Have a lovely day.

So yep, that's about it for today! Thanks for visiting!

Book Feature: Tanned, Toned and Totally Faking It by Whitney Boyd

Hey guys! Welcome to another day where I feature Whitney and her book, Tanned, Toned and Totally Faking It. It is a chick lit novel, good clean fun and a fast, flirty read. So, what are you watiting for? Dive in and start this!

Tanned, Toned and Totally Faking It by Whitney Boyd

Ever had a secret you were terrified would get out?

MIKAYLA: Cute Canadian college girl turned world-famous, super- sexy pop-star practically overnight. And still figuring out if she belongs in this celebrity wonderland.

JORDAN: The only genuine guy in all of L.A. Law student, and extremely attractive. Also happens to hate the Hollywood celebrity scene.

MATT: Stupid, lying, money-loving ex-boyfriend trying to get back into Mikayla's life and ruin every hope she has with Jordan.

KURT: Personal trainer, confidant and only true friend Mikayla has in Hollywood. Questionable fashion sense included.

CHERYL: Completely psychotic manager.

The next three months? Happily ever after with Jordan. Or social and career ruin with no hope of ever finding true love . . . .

What people are saying about it:
~"The book is comical, witty, and romantic. It is a perfect read for travel, at the beach, by the fireplace, anytime you want to sit back relax and be entertained."


~"I enjoyed all her characters and laughed many times at different conversations, which were--in my opinion--spot on."


~"It was not the usual stereotype ending."


~"It was like reading US Weekly, only not as trashy and better written."


~"Thought it would be a predictable book, but the author kept making turns that kept me from putting the book down."


~"Fun, insightful, and filled with characters you both love and love to hate, this is the next must-read chick lit."

Buy it from Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Whitney Boyd

Whitney Boyd was born and raised in Calgary to parents who loved reading and shared that passion with their children. Today, Boyd loves traveling and over the last few years has lived in various parts of the United States including Utah, Florida and Idaho. She graduated from the University of Calgary in 2010 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Spanish. Boyd married her husband, Stephen, in 2009 and together they enjoy camping, hiking, fishing and spending time together.

Blog | Twitter

So yep, that's about it for today! Thanks for visiting and please do leave a comment! :)

Book Feature: The Brainiacs by Brook Syers - Author Interview

Hey guys! Today I'll be featuring an author on my blog, Brook Syers. Brook has recently released the second book of his Brainiacs series. The book featured today will be the first book in the series, The Brainiacs. It was published on February 22, 2012. Brook will also be joining us with an author interview!

The Brainiacs by Brook Syers

fter graduating from Harvard and returning home to the worst economy in decades, Theo Phillips is forced to swallow his pride and take a job at a burger joint. An act of violence against a co-worker puts him at the center of a deadly drug war that threatens to destroy his hometown. Determined to fight back, he and his childhood friends band together to challenge the gangs. Using their unique skill sets, cutting edge technology, and psychological warfare, they fight for those who can't protect themselves.

Action-packed and suspenseful with surprising moments of humor, The Brainiacs is a tale that grabs you with the very first sentence and captivates all the way to the shocking conclusion.

Buy it from Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords

Why not check out the sequel to The Brainiacs, The Brainiacs vs. The Ravens here?

Brook Syers

A graduate of The University of Texas, Brook has been a practicing CPA and bean counter for over 10 years. On the weekends he likes to BASE jump, skydive, rock climb, free-dive, hunt Great White sharks, and participate in other life-threatening activities. Actually, he doesn't do any of those things. He usually just comes home from work, eats dinner, plays with his son, and attacks the DVR with his wife. He follows UT football obsessively and occasionally tries to inspire young people to stop complaining about life, get out of debt, and save for their future. The inspiration for his first book, The Brainiacs, was his own childhood in which he was bullied until learning karate and fighting back. He lives with his wife and their son in Houston, Texas, which consistently ranks in the Top 10 of America’s Fattest Cities.

Blog | Facebook | Twitter

And now, let's welcome Brook to the blog for an author interview!

Hey! It’s lovely to have you on the blog today! So, shall we begin? J

Thank you and I was born ready to begin ;-)

For starters, why not tell us a little about yourself? Perhaps something not many people know?

Well I’m an accountant, so as you can imagine my life is very exciting and rewarding.  Actually, it’s pretty much the opposite of that.  I work as an internal auditor, meaning people aren’t too excited when they see me coming towards their office.  No one wants to invite the auditor to lunch, if you know what I mean.  I do have a Master’s degree in Criminology.  Does that make me sound more interesting and mysterious?         

What made you want to become a writer?

I could say I did it for the fame and fortune (if you are an indie writer, you are laughing right now) but I would be lying.  I became a writer simply because of….wait for it…..Envy! 

I read an article about a certain author making tons of money selling ebooks.  I downloaded a sample of their ebook and it was terrible.  When I say terrible, I mean it was basically unreadable.  That’s not to say that I can’t read, because I can, but there were tons of run-on sentences and grammatical errors.  Right then and there I decided I could write a book.  So there you have it.  I was envious of someone else’s success (typical American, right?) and figured I could replicate it, which I haven’t been able to do yet, but I’m working on it.  Apparently success takes lots of hard work.  Who knew?       

Do you have any hidden talents? *wink*

I can chirp exactly like a cricket.  I’m so good that I can approach a group of children, start chirping, point at the ground, and they will begin looking for the cricket. 

What gives you inspiration for your book(s)?

I love entertaining people.  I don’t mean having people over and serving them dinner with antique silverware, I mean grabbing someone’s attention and keeping it.    Whenever I write a book, I am inspired by the reaction I hopefully create for the reader.  It’s not uncommon for readers of my books to finish them in one sitting while ignoring their kids, skipping work, and foregoing bathroom breaks.      

Are your characters based off real people, or did they all come entirely from your imagination?

The central character in my The Brainiacs series is a genius.  He graduated from Harvard and has a photographic memory.  So basically I used myself as a model.  Okay, that’s not true.  He is a figment of my imagination.  Each of my characters is a figment of my imagination, however some of the things that happen to them actually happened to me.  Most of the time, they react to these situations in ways that I wish I would have at the time.  Writing about them is kind of like a do-over for my own failed experiences.     

Could you tell us a bit about your book and why it is a must-read?

There are two books so far in The Brainiacs series (The Brainiacs and The Brainaics vs. The Ravens).  They are both must-reads simply because I wrote them.  That and they are loaded with action, humor, and witty dialogue.  Seriously, you must stop reading this interview and go buy them right now!  You can buy both of them for less than a Grande Mocha Latte Frappuccino Vente Half-Caff at Starbucks.  And my books don’t have any calories, so you can enjoy them without fear of gaining weight. 

What do you love most about the writing process?

You mean other than the constant struggle against writer’s block and fear of failure?  I’ll go with the creativity.  I’m an accountant and unless you worked for Enron, you can’t be too creative when you’re an accountant.  Creating characters and storylines is a lot of fun and I enjoy making them come to life.  Artists and writers live for creating something out of nothing.        

And of course, do you have a particular favorite character? I know an author will love most if not all of the characters he/she creates, but I’m sure there must be a favorite of yours! So who is it, and why?

Most writers will pick their protagonist.  While I love mine (Theo Phillips), I would have to say my favorite character is Zing Li.  He showed great aptitude for math when he was a child and the Chinese government plucked him from his home and trained him to become a world-class hacker.  They sent him to America with an assignment (under the cover of an exchange student) and he joins up with Theo and the other nerds to fight the bullies.  He has a very interesting backstory and the best superhero name (The Angry Panda).   

Will you tell us a little about your plans for the future, and maybe other books that are in the works? (Ideas thought out, perhaps even a rough draft?)

I have been working on another series after finishing The Brainiacs vs. The Ravens.  It’s called The All-American Family and is basically a serialized sitcom in ebook format.  It is an ongoing story about a typical American family and the craziness of life and the pursuit of money – I mean happiness.  I don’t think there is anything out there quite like it among the millions of ebooks.  Each episode is jam-packed with humor and fun.  For example, in Episode 1, the parents decide to send their teenage children to Facebook addiction therapy and as you would expect, they don’t like it.       

And now, just some little random questions!

Favorite colour?

Green.  It’s the color of my eyes so I see it every time I’m admiring myself in the mirror. 

Favorite place?

Austin, Texas.  The food is spectacular and there are tons of things to do.    

Favorite book?

Catch Me If You Can.  After reading it, I wanted to start forging checks and impersonating airline pilots.    

Favorite genre? (and why, if you like)

Crime thrillers – especially about serial killers.  After seeing The Silence of the Lambs, I wanted to be an FBI agent and hunt them down.  Then reality (bad eyesight, weight problem, small hands) hit.   

To end off, is there anything you would like to say to your readers?

I have my eye on a Ferrari that I would like to buy at the end of the year.  Please keep buying my books so I may do so.  Just kidding!  I would like to tell my readers that I truly appreciate them and the fact they have set aside time out of their busy schedules to read the words that I have written.  I know that my books are just an escape from the daily stressors of life and I love providing that outlet for them.  If you enjoy my books, please recommend them to your friends.  If you find typos or grammatical errors, you can blame my wife since she is my editor.      

Hmm, I think that should be about it for today! It was a pleasure to have you on the blog today! Wishing you all the best in your career! :D

Thank you!  It’s been a whirlwind, but writing books has become the love of my life.  Unless my wife is reading this, then scratch that.  

So yep, that's about it for today! Thanks for visiting and do leave a comment! :)