Monthly Archives: December 2018
VBT – Mighty Mary
“Mighty Mary” by Max Davine
Press Release – Dina Gavrilova
Paperback: 450 pages
Publisher: Tamarind Hill Press
Australian author Max Davine is set to follow up his fifth novel “Dino Hunt” (2015) with an animal story of a very different kind. Published by Tamarind Hill Press, “Mighty Mary” tells the tragic, turbulent but sometimes heart-warming and ultimately thought-provoking story of Mary the Elephant, who was taken from the wild in India after the slaying of her mother and sold to a circus in the United States. Hers is a tale of human cruelty, of which her life would become a catalogue. She was trained with brutality by her captors and seemed to find a home amongst a surrogate herd of a different kid, that which migrated along the railroad and performed in giant tents. But there is redemption along the way. Mary forms bonds with other outcasts who also suffer at the hands of men, from horses to other elephants and even a trapeze artist named Christina. All the while, her innocence, her intelligence and her endearing qualities often inadvertently reveal the conflict within the supposedly heartless human who own her.
Davine’s previous five novels were sold all over the world to critical acclaim. His distinctly “borderless” style and keen eye for human drama has made his work accessible to anyone, anywhere and at any age. Using the sensibilities, empathy and subtlety he rendered the beloved tyrannosaurus chick in “Dino-Hunt” with, Davine instils Mary with the nuance, insight and ultimate strength that she develops over each stage of her incredible life. From a wild but naïve and dependent calf she grows into the cynical but compassionate circus performer that would become the star of the South.
Of his work, critics have said:
“Uniquely crafted, Dino Hunt isn’t your typical dinosaur action/adventure tale. In compelling fashion, author Max Davine presents a surprisingly believable story that flips the customary script on the age old battle between predator and prey. The action is fast-paced, the characters realistic, and the plot highly engaging from beginning to end.” – Courtney Wells, Apex Reviews.
“The author’s writing was almost lyrical, similar to an epic like “Beowulf” or “The Odyssey”.” – M.P Ceja on “Off The Map”, In D’Tail Magazine.
“Utilizing a surprisingly polished writing style, the author has crafted an action adventure with real depth and quality.” – Roma Gray, on “Dino Hunt”, Trick or Treat Thrillers.
A powerful tale for all ages, “Mighty Mary” is not created to shock but rather to instil a second thought about the lives and souls of the animals we tend to use and consume in our contemporary world.
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Mighty-Mary-Max-Davine/dp/1644673398/
Author Website maxdavine.com/
Spotlight – Love Is Never Past Tense
Originally from the former Soviet Union, Janna Yeshanova escaped in 1989 when persecution became violent during the crumbling of the Soviet state. This required getting permission to emigrate and a long dangerous train trip across central Europe with her elderly mother, her young daughter, and the $126 she was permitted to take out of the country. She did this by overcoming gridlock in Russia, animosity and graft at the border, and neglect in the west. Safely out of Soviet control, Janna and her family spent months as refugees waiting for permission to come to the United States.
Arriving in the United States knowing not a soul, Janna settled in Ohio and began to rebuild her life. She earned a second masters Degree and was invited as a speaker at the Bosnia and Herzegovina International Peace Conference in 1996. While building her business as a Leadership Trainer and consultant, she has become a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) through the International Coach Federation. She offers life coaching services to individuals, conflict resolution to couples and groups, and soft skills training to organizations of all sizes.
Her book, Love Is Never Past Tense, offers a message of hope and inspiration, showing that nothing is impossible if you believe in yourself.
A couple’s quick romance and hasty marriage is torn apart by family and fate, leaving them to face the collapse of the Soviet Union separately. Years later, old memories are stirred to give their love a second chance.
Serge and Janna’s chance meeting at a Black Sea beach sparks a passionate romance and a quick marriage. Serge’s parents, suspicious of Janna’s motives and heritage, force him to break up with her. As the Soviet Union collapses, revealing ethnic and social pressures, each faces danger separately. Serge drowns in self-doubt, his life spiraling down and in. Janna plots a dangerous exodus to America with her mother and daughter. Years pass, stirring old emotions.Then, changing circumstances give their love a second chance. Janna Yeshanova tells a story, providing a very personal view of political and social change.
Love is Never Past Tense is part romantic drama and part a look at real people responding to life-changing events, but mostly a suspense adventure about living through one of the biggest changes in living memory.
Love Is Never Past Tense is available on Amazon in hardcover, paperback and Kindle eBook formats. The newly released audiobook is available on Audible, Amazon and iTunes. The audible and Kindle versions are enabled with WhisperSync.
The audio is narrated by Daniela Acitelli, a narrator with dozens of audiobooks to her credit. Even those familiar with the story found new meaning in her presentation. It took me two years to find her.
http://www.loveisneverpasttense.com
Audiobook sample https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nBbMxrEb1g
Book Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quPSNk7EnoA
Buy Links:
Audio Book at audible.com https://adbl.co/2FrEWAs
Audio Book at Amazon https://amzn.to/2Bt9s8W
Audio Book at iTunes https://apple.co/2Kvh8KX
Amazon Author Page https://amzn.to/2AhhY9j
Amazon Kindle https://amzn.to/2Ku6h3S
Serge didn’t try to catch up to the shuffling, thin, leather skirt. He hadn’t a clue what he would do if he actually caught up with her. So he continued following her along the high embankment for a fairly long time, until they crossed the whole of Lanzheron Park. But, reaching the beach, the girl quickly descended to the sea. Serge even began to jog a bit to keep her in sight. His head was clear this morning, and soon he would try out his cunning for the first but not the last time this day. The spy set up camp at the upper solarium and watched over her. Maybe she was waiting for some company, or a young man, or a girlfriend (which would undoubtedly seem to be better), but to our spy, all were equally bad possibilities. This guessing game carried on in his head, but it seemed she wasn’t looking for anyone. She ducked into the changing room, and her leather skirt momentarily hung over the edge of the stall. After a minute, she exited, and Serge, pulling his long hair away from his head with both hands in anguish, groaned something unintelligible. Her breasts exited the little room first. The spot from where Serge looked down provided such visibility that his knees began to tremble. Her face was impossible to discern through her long hair and sunglasses, but something told him it would also be in order. She laid before her a light beach towel, and laying down she took a book from her bag and began to read. Burning her “landing site” into his mind, Serge took off like a shot to the nearest cabana rental. Fast as lightning, he exchanged his clothes for a key, crammed two metal rubles in the pocket of his swimming trunks, and became Don Juan. He feared, though, that there were already a bunch of admirers slinking ever closer to the sacred beach towel, and that he would simply be too late. He’d have to crawl to his place in line, and like the others, would have a poor chance of success.
He flew down the stairs and quickly found the beach towel, but … its owner was nowhere to be found. There was a book, a beach bag, and sunglasses, but their owner had disappeared. Oh, yes! This would be the second time that a smart thought visited Serge’s head today. People come to the sea to swim, after all! This interpretation of her disappearance comforted and delighted Serge. He became bolder and impudently tossed his glasses onto the same towel and cheerfully marched to the water. With his half-blind eyes, he surely could not see her. And where, among dozens of bathers? He dove into a wave, and swam away from the shore. First, he couldn’t stand to watch bathers jumping around like frogs in the shallow water. Secondly, at this moment, his exceptionally quick-witted head told him he couldn’t be the first to return to her beach towel. Then he’d have to take his glasses and fiddle around a bit in front of the beach towel to buy time as he came up with a new plan. Perhaps he’d cover himself with the towel, or maybe … no, he needed to work on his initial scenario.
He even came up with a sophisticated opening: “Excuse me, young lady, but I left my glasses here on your towel. I simply didn’t have anywhere to put them, or myself for that matter.” With this, his stockpile of ideas was depleted …
At last he climbed out of the water and headed along the well-trodden route to her beach towel. The towel was in place, and on this towel lay the magnificent body of its hostess, but Serge’s glasses were lying a little bit farther on the edge of the towel. Serge squatted down and mumbled his introduction. He was counting on her to respond with typical beach chit-chat: “Where are you from? How long ago did you arrive in Odessa?” or other such nonsense.
“Your glasses are fine,” she responded. “I figured someone just confused their beach towel with mine, but have a seat anyway.”
She scooted over, freeing up half the beach towel. He got scared. If he lay down, then he wouldn’t be able to resist the urge to nuzzle up to her. Then he’d certainly look like a pervert, a youth brought up with no manners, or a pest—in a word, he would give the exact opposite impression than he wanted. He mumbled something like a “thank you” and lay down beside her on the sand. She motioned towards him with a little bag of sunflower seeds, “Help yourself.”
” Oh God, what’s this?” resounded in Serge’s mind. “Are you kidding me … sunflower seeds?” And his hand with a subsequent “thank you” reached in the bag.
“Do you like Ilf and Petrov?”2
” Lord, who is she talking about? I’ve only heard of them in passing, but I don’t know the slightest thing about them …” Serge thought to himself.
“My name’s Janna,” she came to his rescue.
“Sergey,” he stammered in reply, “but at the institute everyone actually calls me Serge, or Seriy …”
She chuckled.
“Grey. You’re actually black as tar. Where did you get such a tan?” she asked, spitting out sunflower seed shells. Not even awaiting a response, she exclaimed: “Here is an interesting moment”—and she began to read her book aloud, something about Ptiburdukov and his Varvara, who was leaving her first husband for him but couldn’t make up her mind. Janna read for a while, probably about five pages, and then thrust the book towards Serge and said, “You read from here,” marking the place with her fingernail. Serge began to read, but he didn’t understand a word. He was too busy worrying about his diction, trying not to miss any letters or words. He fought through two pages, but his audience was clearly not impressed.
“Would you like a cigarette?”
“If he has a smoke, then he’ll stop reading.” Serge could almost hear her thinking. He pulled a cigarette from a mashed-up pack of Javas, the best tobacco the Soviet Union could offer at that time. She handed him the matches. He brought the flame close to her face. She took a drag and rolled over on her back. Serge absolutely didn’t know what to do: read, blow sand from her, ask her about something. But she was not waiting for any questions and didn’t ask any questions. It was as if he simply was present. And that was that. The only thing that remained was for Serge to stare dumbfounded into the sand and observe the ants. Having smoked half the cigarette, she jammed the other half into the sand and turned back over on her stomach, brushing her leg up against Serge’s. But she did not hasten to remove it. Silent Serge, who really didn’t look the part of a reasonable person, turned into an animal. His uncontrollable desire sprang to life, pulling his swimming trunks down into the sand with such force that it became painful. Serge secretly burrowed a hole in the sand, easing the pressure. He became obsessed with a craving to climb on top of her. But this was out of the question, which made his desire even stronger …
“It’s hot. Let’s go for a swim,” she said, lifting herself up on her elbows. For the first time he could see her breasts up close, causing his heart to leap through his ribs like a bird in a cage. He muttered he’d catch up to her, and when she left, his desire ever so slowly began to hide itself away, until he was finally able to get up and head towards the sea.
She splashed around in the waves, which towards midday became quite sizable. He flopped about next to her, often brushing up against her body. Then he suggested tossing her in the waves. He cradled her head and shoulders, gathered her hands into his, and finally lifted her up and tossed her into the waves. Janna liked it, and so did he, but for a different reason: every time she hit the waves, her bathing suit slid down slightly, and when her breasts finally became exposed, he was ready to splash to his very death. Suddenly, she ended up cradled in his arms. With one arm, she grasped his neck, and he now understood that everything will happen, he just needed to patiently wait.
Once something starts, eventually, it ends. The delightful swim as well: they returned from the water and again lay down on the beach towel.
“I want to get tanned like you.” (She had already switched to the informal you4 in the water. He liked this, as it made him feel less uneasy around her). She placed her arm next to his for comparison, and her brown skin seemed much paler than his almost blackened arm. Guiltily, he informed her that he just returned yesterday from his apprenticeship in Baku, and so it was not surprising that he was so dark.
“You have beautiful hands,” she pensively remarked. Then, determined, she added, “No, you just wait. I’ll catch up with you in two days. Just wait and see.” These words poured over his body like oil. For Serge, this meant that he would spend at least two more days with her.
“Get some ice cream. Do you need some money?”
“I have it,” answered Serge, but before he could get up and leave, he had to turn and crawl to hide his “desire” …
***
During their first three days together, Serge (as they called our hero at the time) was the quieter of the two, once in a while muttering some insignificant phrases. The first time he saw her, he silently followed her for a long time. She walked along easily, shifting her long, rather well-proportioned legs. Her thin leather skirt swung from side to side, barely hiding her shapely hips. A green blouse tightly covered her beautifully straight back. All the while, Serge followed her like she was a vision, lacking the courage to come closer or to back away. He knew that making her acquaintance was a long shot; she was simply out of his league. How could he possibly know that she, a complete stranger, would inexplicably impact his life and be with him forever, whether she was at his side or not?
Tell us about you
When I wrote Love Is Never Past Tense, I devoted a whole section of the book to my exodus, leaving the Soviet Union with my mother, my daughter, and the $126 they permitted me to take with me. When I say the book is based on a true story, this part is true (if largely understated).
I left the Soviet Union as the country was collapsing and became part of a wave of Soviet Jewish immigrants seeking safety and a new life in Israel, the United States and elsewhere. In the 30 years since, nothing has come close in terms of the effort it took or the impact it had on my life. It led me to America and to US citizenship—a difficult and dangerous path.
In the United States, I have earned a second Master’s Degree, taught at two different colleges and Antioch University, and presented at the Dayton Peace Accords on Bosnia and Herzegovina. I am an Internationally Certified Life Coach and I write when I am not with my clients.
What inspires you to get out of bed each day?
I’m a night owl, generally more inspired to stay out of bed than get out of bed. My morning usually starts in response to a Starbuck’s Venti Pike Place, meditation, contemplation, gym and a four – five-mile walk. I like it!
If you could hang out with one famous person for one day, who would it be and why?
It would be my Mom. She was well known in the society and she was always famous in my eyes.
Why? Because she loved life. She was always overcoming difficulties thrown at her.My Mom was a remarkable woman. She was instilling in me that the dearest possession in life is life. I appreciate her for giving me this vision. I’d be happy to spend with her a precious day and ask her some questions, I did not ask before and share with her what is going on with me and the family.
If you’d like to know more about my Mom, I am offering a link to a blog article I devoted to her a while ago.
https://jannayeshanova.wordpress.com/2017/05/08/happy-second-birthday-mom/
What’s the story behind your latest book?
Love Is Never Past Tense is based on a true story – my true story. It is part a wholesome romance, part —a narrative of my immigration to America, and it’s hard to pin it down to a single genre. It pushes the boundaries of women’s fiction (some parts are based on actual events), literary fiction and contemporary romance. Some might even classify the novel as a historical romance — actual recent history fills the book. Love Is Never Past Tense is now seeking a new audience in the form of an audio book. I searched for years for the right narrator and finally found her. Daniela Acitelli captured the voice I was hearing in my head as I wrote the book.
And here is a sample: http://bit.ly/2Ah0ESX
Tell us your writing process
I really need my muse, so getting started is difficult. When it shows up, I still reach for a pen and a pad of paper, first. If I’m not inspired, my reader won’t be either!
What tips can you give other authors who are looking to get the word out about their book?
Lately I’ve been auditing “YouTube U” for book marketing around Amazon. If you haven’t started writing yet, check out Chris Fox on writing to market (chrisfoxwrites.com). For the back end, try Dave Chesson at kindlepreeur.com. Both focus on working with Amazon. My efforts at Facebook were killed when they rejected my attempts to boost posts. Apparently, my wholesome romance didn’t meet their G-rated advertising standards. Their loss!
Tell us about your main character
Truthfully, I am my main character. Big pieces are autobiographical. For the record, Janna is courageous, resilient and beautiful. She takes problems head on and doesn’t take “No” for an answer. Just what an indie author needs. 😊
I was looking for a different name for her. I talked with my friends around the world, asking them to offer ideas. Everybody advised against me using the name Janna, but no suggestion was accepted. I thought about Edith, but the name seemed too soft for the character. Another thing that made me keep the name Janna is that I did not want to give away my exodus experiences. This is how we stuck with Janna.
What are you working on next?
I’m looking to make Love Is Never Past Tense into a movie. A screenplay writer J. Walter Cohen read the book and fell in love with it. He involved his friend and colleague Lewis Gordon, and they together created a great screenplay!
Do you have any special/extraordinary talents?
I’m very intuitive, perhaps even a bit psychic. For example, I’m guessing you’ll ask me about my favourite authors 😊
Umm… Who are your favourite authors?
In English, my list would start with Hemingway. From there, it’s a long list. If you follow me on Goodreads you can check out my shelves.See http://bit.ly/2R6V5zP
My first Master’s Degree is in Russian Language and Literature. I’ll leave that list of authors to your imagination.
What do you like to do with your free time?
Love to be with my friends and family, love travel, ocean. I love to sit on the white sand embracing my knees and watching the waves of the ocean and seagulls above my head! I love to be on the boat with a music and a glass of wine… and the whole ocean in front of you. It feels like freedom!I like to sit in an outside restaurant at a table covered with a white cloth having a cup of coffee and watching pigeons peck on the cobblestone…
I like to have in my hand the yoke of a Cessna aircraft with my trainer on the right warning me not to turn over the aircraft during my classes. It’s so enjoyable to look down on the trees and buildings that suddenly become small. Even all problems from the sky seem small!
Oh! I totally forgot about reading! I listen to audiobooks when I am driving, cooking or walking. This is the reason that I created the audiobook.
Tell us about your plans for upcoming books.
I’m creating a collection of stories of my life lessons, describing my personal unique experiences. So far, I’ve posted a couple of pieces on my blog at jannayeshanova.wordpress.com.
Any final thoughts?
If you’re the sort who likes to hop back and forth, Audble.com and the Kindle ebook are WhisperSync enabled. I hope you enjoy either or both. If you do, please consider posting a review where ever you like and please write to me via Facebook.
VBT – The Monster of Selkirk Book 1: The Duality of Nature
About the Book
Title: The Monster of Selkirk Book 1: The Duality of Nature
Author: C.E. Clayton
Genre: Fantasy
Monsters come in many forms, and not everyone knows a monster when they see one. After three hundred years of monstrous, feral elves plaguing the island nation of Selkirk, everyone believes they know what a monster is. Humans have learned to live with their savage neighbors, enacting a Clearing every four years to push the elves back from their borders. The system has worked for centuries, until after one such purge, a babe was found in the forest.
As Tallis grows, she discovers she isn’t like everyone else. There is something a little different that makes people leery in her presence, and she only ever makes a handful of friends. But when the elves gather their forces and emerge from the forests literally hissing Tallis’s name like a battle mantra, making friends is the least of her troubles. Tallis and her companions find themselves on an unwilling journey to not only clear her name, but to stop the elves from ravaging her homeland.
Author Bio
C. E. Clayton was born and raised in the greater Los Angeles area, where she attended the University of Southern California (Fight On!) for both her Bachelors and Masters, and then worked in the advertising industry for several years on accounts ranging from fast food, to cars, and video games (her personal favorite). After going the traditional career route and becoming restless, she went back to her first love—writing—and hasn’t stopped. She is now the author of “The Monster of Selkirk” series and her horror short stories have appeared in anthologies across the country. When she’s not writing you can find her treating her fur-babies like humans, constantly drinking tea, and trying to convince her husband to go to more concerts. And reading. She does read quite a bit.
More about C.E. Clayton, including her blog, book reviews, social media presence, and newsletter, can be found on her website: https://www.ceclayton.com/
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/c-e-clayton
Links
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34736540-the-duality-of-nature
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B06XSTY6PL
Website: https://www.ceclayton.com/
The Monster of Selkirk Books series available now!
Excerpt
Tallis’s mind was racing as they went. There was something much bigger than anything they had anticipated at work here. She just didn’t know what it was. She was holding so many pieces of the puzzle and yet none of them fit together to make a whole picture, and yet, she was somehow in the center of it all.
As she walked beside her cousin, weapons at the ready, she whispered, “Why haven’t we come across more elves?”
Donovan gave her a strange look. “What? The ones we have come across haven’t been enough for you?”
“But that’s just it,” Tallis added quickly. “We’ve really only encountered the one and a score of deranged animals. Everyone says that the forests are crawling with elves when you get this far in, and yet we’ve seen blessed few. Doesn’t this seem, I don’t know, just a little bit odd to you?”
Donovan was silent for a long while. Tallis could not tell if he found her questions annoying because they were silly, or because they genuinely caused him pause.
Just as Tallis gave up that her cousin would ever respond to her, he said, “Ever since Aunt Lana died I have said that the elves were changing in their behavior. For whatever reason, they were going back to old camp sites and deciding to fight to the death rather than flee like they used to. For three years I’ve had to listen to my commanding officers and even my fellow knights tell me I was delusional, and I would be stripped of my position if I kept harping on about being vigilant against a threat they couldn’t see. Even you seemed reluctant to believe me when I said that danger was approaching. But now you see it, the elves are seeping across Selkirk like a wave that cannot be stopped until it has washed its corruption over everything we hold dear. I don’t find this behavior odd Tallis, I find it expected.”
Book Blast – WHAT A WIDOW WANTS
WHAT A WIDOW WANTS
by Jenna Jaxon
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GENRE: Historical Romance
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BLURB:
Widowed by the Battle of Waterloo, the ladies of Lyttlefield Park are returning to London society—with their futures in their own hands . . .
The widowed Lady Stephen Tarkington, Fanny to her friends, has finished mourning her cad of a husband and is ready to enjoy her freedom. The kind of freedom neither a gently bred miss nor a close-watched wife is permitted: dressing up as Aphrodite for a masquerade, drawing gentlemen away from the party, and hinting at late-night assignations with her dance partners. All is going pleasurably according to plan—until the Roman god Fanny kisses during a masquerade turns out to be Matthew, Lord Lathbury, whose proposal she refused years ago . . .
Lathbury is charming, passionate, inventive, everything Fanny wants in a lover—but unfortunately, he’s on the hunt for a wife. He’s more than willing to use all his wicked skills to persuade her back to the altar, but he can’t wait forever. And now Fanny’s position is more precarious than she once thought. If the tongues of the ton set to wagging, it’s possible no offer in the world will save her from ruin. But does she want to be saved? . . .
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Excerpt
Leaning into him, she whispered, “We can renew our acquaintance in all ways that count.”
“So you’ll agree to bed me but not wed me?”
“For the moment.” She tapped her fingers lightly on his chest. “Would that be such a hardship on you?”
Sighing, he pulled a face. “I suppose not.” A flash of his boyish grin made her stomach drop. “May I woo you properly, at least?”
“Improperly would be more to my taste.” Fanny returned his smile with one of her own, as sultry and seductive as she could make it. “But I suppose some decorous behavior wouldn’t kill me either.”
“Good.” He took her hands and raised them to his lips. “I leave for Brighton at the end of the week. I’d hoped you’d be accompanying me as my wife, but that—”
“As your wife?” How arrogant of him to think she’d fall into his arms at the snap of his fingers.
“Well? Will you meet me in Brighton?” Matthew’s eager voice brought her back to the dim room now filled with possibilities.
“I will be happy to journey to Brighton, my lord. If I find you there, I do hope you will attend me most earnestly.” In a heart’s beat she slipped her hands from his, pulled his lips down to hers, and sealed the pact with a kiss so warm and sweet her resolve slipped a notch. “And now if you’ll excuse me?” Turning swiftly on her toes, Fanny raced for the door. As she grasped the handle, she glanced back at him.
The victorious grin on his face sent a shiver down her spine. She pulled the door open and fled into the corridor before she could change her mind.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Jenna Jaxon is a multi-published author of historical romance in all time periods because, she says, “passion is timeless.” She has been reading and writing historical romance since she was a teenager. A romantic herself, Jenna has always loved a dark side to the genre, a twist, suspense, a surprise. She tries to incorporate all of these elements into her own stories. She’s a theatre director when she’s not writing and lives in Gloucester, Virginia with her family, including two very vocal cats and one silent one.
Jenna is a PAN member of Romance Writers of America as well as an active member of Chesapeake Romance Writers, her local chapter of RWA. She has four series currently available: The House of Pleasure, set in Georgian England, Handful of Hearts, set in Regency England, and Time Enough to Love, set in medieval England and France, and The Widows’ Club series, also set in Regency England and available from Kensington Publishing in both print and digital.
She currently writes to support her chocolate habit.
Find Jenna Jaxon online:
BLOG: https://jennajaxon.wordpress.com/
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/Jenna_Jaxon
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jenna-Jaxon/146857578723570
AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE: https://www.amazon.com/Jenna-Jaxon/e/B005CHPBD2/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1
Buy the book at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1516103297/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i6
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/what-a-widow-wants-jenna-jaxon/1128297334
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RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY
THE AUTHOR WILL BE GIVING AWAY: $20 Amazon/BN GC
Enter to win a $20 Amazon/BN GC – a Rafflecopter giveaway
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VBT – Flawed
Flawed
by Vivian Kohlman
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GENRE: Contemporary Romance
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BLURB:
That guy—the one that most girls would run away from—captured Kara’s attention and wouldn’t let it go. As expected, he turned out to be a player. So she cut him off.
But he wasn’t done with her yet. He waited until the memory of their start would have been forgotten—at least, softened a bit. Then he returned to her life, and captured her heart.
Finally blissfully happy, they fall in love and decide to make it official…until his past catches up with him and he destroys her again. But this is it…this is the last time she’ll fall for him.
And she keeps telling herself that until she almost believes it.
This book is for mature audiences.
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EXCERPT
Chapter 1
I picked up my phone to check for messages and, well, to be honest I was using it as a way to not have to speak to whatever guy Dania left me with.
“Hi Kara, I’m Naheed,” a deep, relaxed voice stated.
When my eyes met his, everything seemed to stop. I couldn’t speak, I couldn’t hear the music anymore, and I felt like I was about to faint…I was mesmerized by him. He was gorgeous, but it was more than that. I felt his presence in my stomach.
He had naturally tan skin, dark brown thick and wavy hair, deep and large brown eyes with black eyelashes a mile long…and a slight under-bite that that instantly brought my attention to his full, perfect lips. He was so familiar to me, but I couldn’t place him.
I looked down to stop myself from staring and noticed that my bare, crossed legs were nearly touching his leg; we were very close—and he was slightly leaning in towards me. I suddenly wished I wore jeans instead of this short skirt. I felt exposed…and had to fight to keep my leg from moving to touch his.
The four words he said to me were echoing through my head…and I still couldn’t respond. I could only look at him…and I saw nothing else. I sat there in silence for way too long…unable to do much more than barely smile through what probably looked to be an unimpressed expression (I was good at hiding my emotions). …sometimes that came back to haunt me.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links
Vivian Kohlman writes romance novels based on stories of love and loss under the backdrop of Washington, DC. She grew up in Maryland just outside DC, but lived in Los Angeles on and off in her 20’s before returning to the Washington, DC area to live out her adult life.
Vivian attended a private university in Washington, DC for undergraduate and graduate school, and lived a very active social life. During her teens and twenties she and her friends lived through a lot of ups and downs—these experiences have fed the stories of this series.
Currently, she loves to travel with her husband and reads or writes romance novels as often as she can. When she’s not writing, she works a fulltime job and enjoys all of the bars, restaurants, and other hot spots of the nation’s capital. Born and raised in the DC metro area, she adores the culture of the city and is passionate about highlighting the city’s attributes, lifestyles, and norms—not including politics.
Links
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B013M8PJDE Flawed, Book 1 of the Y&P series (Kara’s story, part 1)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01801MRO2 Found, Book 2 of the Y&P series (Kara’s story, part 2)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GUDGQGW Let Go, Book 3 of the Y&P series (Billi’s story)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074ZN48CD Girls Like Me, Book 4 of the Y&P series (Ava’s story, part 1)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07C1C5WSX Guys Like You, Book 5 of the Y&P series (Ava’s story, part 2)
www.viviankohlman.com
www.instagram.com/viviankohlman
www.facebook.com/viviankohlman
www.twitter.com/viviankohlman
Note from Author: The book, Flawed, is not erotica, but does include some steamy scenes, and contains adult situations (curse words, drinking alcohol, etc).
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RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY
Vivian Kohlman will be awarding $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
Enter to win a $25 Amazon/BN GC – a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Vivian. Thanks for being here today. Tell us about you.
I’m a very responsible and mature person, but really just a kid at heart. My husband and I decided to not have children, so the chaos of activities relating to kids isn’t a part of our life. We do happy hour every Friday, brunch just about every Sunday, and I go to my exercise classes four days a week. We have time to relax and watch movies…and write books.
I also wake up super early—like around 3am—but never to an alarm. My body’s clock just naturally starts to wake up around that time. It started when my husband and I came back from a trip a bit jet-lagged, and realized that we really enjoy having extra time in the morning to watch news and have coffee. So I slowly wake up to my days, and started to take advantage of that by going to work early, or going to barre class before work.
If you could hang out with one famous person for one day, who would it be and why?
It’s a little too late now, but I would love to hang out with Anthony Bordain for a day. He’s so interesting, and is knowledgeable about so many different cultures and countries. Plus, he knows how to have a good time, with great food and experiences. I’d love to just hear his stories and ask for his thoughts about our world.
What’s the story behind your latest book?
The last book in the series is, right now, a continuation of Ava’s story. book 4, Girls Like Me, ended up with Ava and King finally getting together. Book 5, Guys Like You, the most recent book, is about their relationship maturing.
Book 5 is published, and I’ve started to kick around ideas for book 6, but it’s nowhere near complete yet.
What is your writing process?
My writing process starts after I come up with the idea of a story. The drive for the ideas varies. Some are true stories and one came to me in a dream. Another was a combination of a Game of Thrones character (Khal Drogo), combined with my favorite song at the time (Girls Like You by The Naked and Famous). Once the idea hits me, I kick off the writing process.
I put the core of the story into a Word doc by fervently writing during all of my free time. Once it’s done, I read it…and begin to change the story for clarity or whatever. Then I do a few rounds of fleshing out the characters, places, dialogue, etc. And finally, do an official edit.
After that edit, I print the book on paper and edit it in this format. Books on paper give me a different feel than e-books, so I tend to make fairly significant changes to the on-paper one. After that’s complete, I make the changes in the Word document, and read it end-to-end again for another round of editing.
Only recently have I learned of the positive impact professional editing can make! So my final process step is now to send the manuscript to a professional editing company.
Tell us about your main character.
The main character of the book featured in this tour, Flawed, is Kara. Her childhood was easy and close to perfect, and her life is pretty nice. She’s young and attractive and has a close group of friends. She’s a romantic at heart, but is strong as well, and very introverted. I think it’s easy to relate to her.
If your book was to be turned into a movie, who would play the lead role and why.
I would absolutely love to see Flawed on the big screen! If I had the opportunity to cast it, I think I’d go for Zoey Deutch or Nina Dobrev for Kara. I haven’t seen an actress that really hits the mark for Kara—she’s basically a young Sophie Marceau look-alike, in my mind. For Naheed, I would pick either Çagatay Ulusoy or Gregg Sulkin…maybe Zayn Malik, if he decided to act. These choices cover the looks of the characters, but the most important thing to me would be their chemistry together.
What are you working on next?
In the next book, Ava’s ex-boyfriend is determined to get her back, challenging her current boyfriend to a mixed martial arts competition while doing what he can to undermine his business plans. I haven’t worked out the details yet, and the summary I just wrote may change before the book is released, but it will conclude Ava’s story.
What advice do you have for other writers who want to get the word out about their book?
Not much! I’m not good at promotion and don’t like to talk myself (or my writing) up, so the marketing side of being self-published has been a huge challenge. The only bit of advice I would give is to be sure to have a site (including a blog, if you have the time) to tell your readers all about your books, and have social media accounts that you can keep active.
Also, listing your book for free is a great way to get new readers to read your work, but you have to spread the message about the giveaway. Many companies out there provide this service, finding the right one for your work is the key.
What is your favorite book on your shelf right now?
I think I’m still hooked on the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I love the books, and the movies. I’ve seen the movies and read the books multiple times. There’s just something to interesting about the characters and the storyline. I feel like I learn or see something new every time I read this book.
But I just downloaded Jessica Sorensen’s newest novel Breathing Lies…I’m super excited to read it. I love her books!
Do you have any special/extraordinary talents?
No! Unfortunately, my sister got all of the talent from our gene pool. When I was young, I used to ice skate pretty well, and I played lots of musical instruments (clarinet, flute, piccolo). But all of those activities were dropped before I hit high school. No other special talents stand out.
You are given the choice of one super power. What super power would you have and why?
Oh wow, this is a tough one! I think my superpower would be to read minds. It would be so cool to know what people were truly thinking. I have no idea what I’d do with that information, but it would be fun to have this as a superpower. I’d find a way to use it to protect the innocent!
List 5 things on your bucket list:
- Drive an M car on the Nurburgring
- Visit the Kakslauttanen resort in Finland to see the Northern Lights
- Take an Alaskan cruise to see the whales
- Go on safari in Africa
- Learn a craft of some sort, like knitting, and do it well
Any final thoughts?
I know every reader has a style of romance novel that they like, and my novels may not be it. But if it is, I LOVE to hear from readers who can relate to, or just love, the stories and characters. I’m on Facebook, Instagram, and will respond to my own site’s blog posts or messages sent. So please reach out and connect with me!
Spotlight – The Atlantis Deception
About the Author
Mark is a qualified solicitor who splits his time between protecting the rights of academics, writing thriller fiction and raising five mostly lovely children. He studied Archaeology and Ancient History at the University of Birmingham with a nod towards alternative theory, focusing on the relationship of the Giza complex to the stars; portolan maps; and the origins of civilisation and religion. It was within this flame the plots for his future novels were born.
Mark’s writing career extends back over a decade and his diverse portfolio includes three novels, a number of short stories and even a six-part sitcom. Long listed for the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award, he is currently a featured author on the popular writing website, Wattpad, with over 6,000 followers from all around the world and well over one million reads of his first novel. Aside from Wattpad, Mark is an active member on a number of other writing websites, spending his spare time offering editorial and structural advice to fellow authors. Up to now Mark has considered writing as a creative outlet for the myriad of characters and ideas roaming about his head. The time has come to tease them out of hiding and breathe a little life into their lungs.
His latest book is the adventure/thriller The Atlantis Deception.
Website Link: https://markhjackson.com/
Twitter Link: https://twitter.com/MarkJackson873
Facebook Link: https://www.facebook.com/AtlantisDeception/
About the Book:
Title: THE ATLANTIS DECEPTION
Author: Mark H. Jackson
Publisher: Unbound Digital
Pages: 288
Genre: Adventure/Thriller
BOOK BLURB:
A German property developer, Hans Hoffmann, revels in the belief he has discovered the key to unleashing the weapon responsible for sinking Atlantis. Hoffmann requests the help of Cambridge archaeologist, Dr John Hunter to validate his mysterious find. Hunter’s acceptance leads the maverick academic on a journey from the headquarters of a clandestine organisation in England, to a lost city in the heart of the Brazilian Rainforest, and climaxes inside a chamber hidden deep beneath Egyptian Heliopolis. Pioneering theory is spliced by epic battles, daring escapes, and elaborate schemes aimed at unravelling a secret history hidden from humanity for the past twelve thousand years.
Atlantis is a very visual word. A word evoking mystery, forgotten realms, underwater palaces… the list goes on. I find this Plato inspired concept of Atlantis fascinating and read anything and everything I can lay my hands on. The theories are diverse and range from the feasible to the outlandish, but certain concepts keep reoccurring. The Atlantis Deception takes the ideas of accepted and alternative theory, weaving them together to create a believable universe where our past still dictates our future.
The novel follows the trials and tribulations of a fictional Cambridge academic, Dr John Hunter. The focus is not on Atlantis itself, but rather on what happened to its people it the wake of the loss of their homeland. The Atlantis Deception is a classic action adventure tale with heroes, villains, shadowy organisations and self-serving plots, each underpinned by progressive archaeological theory. The novel is written with the aim of both exciting and making readers think in equal measure. Although imagined, many of the conclusions the characters reach are cutting edge and described in such a way so as to blur the line between fact and fiction.
ORDER YOUR COPY:
Google Play: http://bit.ly/AtlantisDeception
Kobo: http://bit.ly/TheAtlantisDeception
Amazon: http://bit.ly/Atlantis-Deception
Book Excerpt:
Prologue
Lindow Moss Bog, December 43 CE
Teetering on the edge of unconsciousness, Caratacus squirmed as a pair of coarse hands pulled and tugged at his robes. Death was inevitable, yet still he managed a flicker of a smile. These men would never find what they sought.
He grimaced as a heavy hobnail sandal connected with his ribcage, the blow hard enough to flip him over and onto his back. He blinked and opened his eyes to find his chubby, chinless assailant peering down at him.
The Roman wrapped his pristine, cream-coloured sagum tighter around his chest to shut out the cold wind. He looked nothing like the brutish military commanders Caratacus typically dealt with. The man’s regal air of arrogance and contempt for the soldiers around him made it clear he was a Roman of importance. It was an arrogance only men of unimaginable wealth and power could ever hope to wield with success, particularly amongst a group of Praetorian guards.
Caratacus sensed the Roman’s gaze rake his naked body; the man’s tight lips and beady eyes radiated a general air of cruelty which sent a chill coursing through the captured priest. His muscles twitched, tense in anticipation of what might follow. He broke eye contact and cleared his mind, attempting to relax. He wasn’t far from death and rule dictated he must embrace the moment.
‘You are a hard man to track down, Druid,’ sneered the stranger.
‘Or would you prefer I call you by your official title – Gatekeeper?’
He paused, giving Caratacus time to digest the significance of this revelation. ‘You seem calm for a man on his way to Pluto’s realm. Do you not recognise me, priest?’
Caratacus puffed his cheeks and spat blood at the man’s feet, regretting it as a wave of pain surged through his earthly body.
The Roman’s eyes narrowed to slits. He stepped clear of the blood and raised a foot, mashing his muddy sandal deep into Caratacus’ wounded shoulder. ‘I am Claudius, Emperor of Rome, and conqueror of your pathetic island race.’ Claudius hesitated before continuing, his eyes narrowing in hope of at least a flicker of recognition. ‘Well? Have you nothing to say? It is not every day you chance upon a living god.’
Caratacus screwed up his eyes as another hobnail boot connected with his nether regions and a thick-fingered fist smashed into his jaw.
‘Show respect, barbarian,’ barked a Praetorian. An excruciating bolt of pain shot through him and he rolled back onto his side. He retched and coughed blood through his shattered jaw, wincing as he realised it was no longer attached to his skull. Between his legs he saw the soldier shrink away, fearful of his emperor’s reaction. ‘Sir, I’m not sure if he can speak.’
‘Praetorian, your orders were to deliver this man unharmed. Is this unharmed, stulte?’ The Praetorian shook his head and edged beyond the range of Claudius’ sword. ‘What good is he if he cannot speak?’
Caratacus groaned as the heavyset emperor straddled his chest, barely registering the pain as Claudius slapped his cheek. He tried to resist, but the effort was futile. He gagged, choking on the blood coagulating in his throat. The light of the day faded to pinpricks. Death was close. Caratacus’ heart stuttered as darkness enveloped him, beating its final beat as he surrendered himself to God.
‘Where have you put it, Gatekeeper?’ said Claudius. ‘Tell me now or by Jupiter I swear I’ll…’
The priest’s head lolled, all life draining from his once-bright eyes. The Praetorians glanced at one another uneasily, each of them aware the Druid lay dead between their Emperor’s thighs. Claudius cursed and shoved the body aside, watching with morbid interest as the battered body sank into a puddle of its own muddied blood. Killing the man was not part of the plan; well, at least not before he’d extracted a confession.
The Emperor thrust out a hand and one of his men pulled him to his feet.
‘Cut his throat and bury him in the bog.’ He clenched his fists. ‘Then find his belongings. Find them, or I’ll order you buried with him.’
VBT – The Raygin War
About the Book
Title: The Raygin War
Author: Larry Gerovac
Genre: Science-Fiction
The Raygin War is a futuristic sci-fi story about an alien race that evolved from Carrion beetles. 25 years after first contact the aliens return with a fleet to invade human space. To stop the invasion the military puts all its hope into a single person. He’s an old school soldier who started his career as a ground pounder in the Sniper Corps. Mac has been involved in about every conflict the military has participated in. His skill as a sniper earned him the respect of every soldier who ever worked with him. He is a self taught killer. On the battlefield he has no equal. Whether it was killing the opponent in hand-to-hand combat, killing them with a weapon, or just plain old out maneuvering them Mac was the best the military had ever seen. When the Raygin war starts Mac is forced into a leadership role he wanted nothing to do with. Will Mac’s experience and talent be enough to neutralize the alien invasion? All is not what it seems. Read the Raygin War to see if the human race will survive and remain free.
Author Bio
Larry Gerovac was born in the shadows of the steel mills, oil refineries, and railroadyards of the Midwestern United States. He is a Navy Veteran and a first generation American. He writes in the genre of Science, Sci-fi, Fantasy, and Horror.
Links
Author web site: http://www.larrysgerovac.com/
Author Twitter: https://twitter.com/LarryGerovac
Author Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/larrygerovac/boards/
Book Excerpt
All but the old mystic exited the medical facility. She turned and went back to the princess. Mahpee followed her. The ancient woman made motions in the air with her hands as she spoke in a voice so low he couldn’t make out any of the words. She turned so quick to face him his body jerked in a startled reflex.
She was inches from his face and staring at him with her blind eye. When Nahimana spoke, he could smell the spices on her breath. “See. Her wound already heals.”
He looked at the scar. She is right, its no longer red and irritated. It could be a coincidence.
“Even with what you have seen, grandson of Uzumati, you still doubt?
Can the hag read my mind?
The witch grinned as if she read his thoughts. “I have glimpsed into your future. Do you want to know what waits?” She cackled at him.
He felt his heart raced. He could feel the sweat oozing out of his palms. I don’t believe all this nonsense, but – if I don’t believe why am I nervous?
Not waiting for an answer Nahimana squinted at him. He swore she touched his soul with her stare. “In time, you will betray your daughter, and leave her heart broken. You, Chief Mahpee, will become the rider of the storm. Your fate is sealed.” The old mystic turned and walked out before he could ask a single question.
What the hell did she mean? He had never betrayed anyone in his life. He would rather choose death than to betray anyone, let alone his daughter. The hag spoke nonsense. I will become the rider of the storm? Mumbo jumbo. She wouldn’t even stay to answer questions. I never want to see her again.
Hopes of keeping a lid on his daughter’s unusual birth lasted less time than it took to get back to Nokomis. Word spread throughout the Nation his tiny daughter was the warrior born princess from the old prophesies. Later in the evening the Tellers showed up at the War Council. They warned of impending doom and gave Mahpee everything he requested. For better or worse, it looked like they would be a major part of his life.
The People’s Nation broadcast pictures of the aliens and vids of the attack. A few videos from the fight were also shown in all their gruesomeness. The old war drums beat across Nokomis to let the People’s Nation know they were at war.
Spotlight – Slay Bells
About the Author
T.C. Wescott was born in Missouri but has lived in Oklahoma most of his life. Like pretty much every author who has ever breathed, he is an avid reader. His favorites are classic mysteries from the Golden Age, as well as just before or just after that period (which is widely considered the period between the two World Wars). His first mystery novel, Running from Scissors, was published in July 2018 and will be the first of at least three books in the Running Store Mystery series.
The Christmas Village Mystery series launched in November of the same year with the debut title Slay Bells. The formula for his books is simple – mixing the classic, traditional detective fiction standards with all the trappings of the modern cozy mystery.
Wescott is also (under another name) the author of two award-winning non-fiction books as well as many essays and articles.
His latest book is the cozy mystery, Slay Bells (A Christmas Village Mystery).
Website Address: www.tcwescott.com
Twitter Address: www.twitter.com/MousetrapBooks
Facebook Address: www.facebook.com/BetterMousetrapBooks
About the Book:
Title: SLAY BELLS (A CHRISTMAS VILLAGE MYSTERY)
Author: T.C. Wescott
Publisher: Better Mousetrap Books
Pages: 273
Genre: Cozy Mystery
BOOK BLURB:
‘Twas the week before Christmas and all through the village, the night settled in over swirling-smoke chimneys; the air was alive with pine and holly, with sugar and cinnamon and cider, by golly!
Along snowy lanes and through shadows it crept, past windows behind which each villager slept, where sleeping dogs lie and cats rest a’purring-
Tonight, in Christmas Village, a killer is stirring.
Welcome to Christmas Village, a magical hamlet where even in December the roses hold their luster and bees buzz among the bluebells. Nestled betwixt an opulent garden with meandering footpaths and an ancient grove of plum trees, Rose Willoughby’s boarding house is plum-full with lodgers. There are no vacancies, but just wait. Soon there will be one…and another…and another.
When the Inn’s guests begin dying in inexplicable ways, some villagers believe a beast from old village lore is the culprit. The sheriff knows better, but he’s just as helpless to catch the invisible killer as are the town folk with their eyes to the sky in search of a flying creature. But our mysterious murderer hasn’t counted on yet another lodger coming to the cottage: Maribel Claus.
Short as a stump, round as a wheel, sweet as a candy cane, and a sharp as a whip, Maribel loves a good puzzle. But can she unmask the phantom killer in time and save Christmas?
ORDER YOUR COPY:
Amazon
Book Excerpt:
PROLOGUE
Night settles in over smoking chimneys and snow-capped rooftops.
A potpourri of pine, holly, and cinnamon swirls in the breeze over white pastures and along sleepy lanes as festive decorations left hanging on each street lamp and along every thoroughfare dance upon its passing.
Winter birds offer up their sing-song as the rows of cottage windows blink out their goodnights.
But for many in the happy hamlet of Christmas Village, the night will be a short one, made restless with excitement for the morning when they will rise early to prepare for the inaugural day of the annual Christmas Festival.
The festival, running the full week before Christmas Eve, is the last great hurrah of the year, barring the ringing of the new year bells. It is no exaggeration to say that the best hope one has of experiencing something more glorious is to return the following year for the next Festival.
So, it is with smiles on their faces and joy in their hearts that every soul in the village, farmer and squire alike, closes their eyes in anticipation of sunrise.
One among them will not live to see the sun.
Something moves among the birds, along the snowy lanes, skirting the light in favor of shadow.
In Christmas Village, this night, a creature is stirring.
C.A. Milson 