Money or Men by David Burnett

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author giveaways, contemporary romance, male romance writers, rafflecopter giveaways

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. David Burnett will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Love or loot?

Erin must choose between the money of which she has long dreamed and the man who she has loved. Eight years ago, she chose “loot” when Chris, her former husband, competed for her hand against the god of money. Now, with a promotion within reach, she is poised to take her place among the elite of Wall Street. She will soon be working twenty-four-seven to reorganize a failing company, and she has been ordered to find someone to care for her children.

She has few options, and she reluctantly concludes she must beg Chris for help. She has not talked with Chris, written, texted, friended, private messaged, or tweeted Chris since leaving him, but if he will not keep their children for the summer, she will lose her promotion, and her dream of wealth will vanish.

Opposites had attracted when they had fallen in love. Erin remembers a Chris who was laid-back, satisfied, and, worst of all, unambitious. He seems not to have changed. He lives on a small island with no home mail delivery. He had been an author, but Erin can find nothing he has published since their split.

But Chris’s photo is the one personal item on Erin’s desk, and she still dreams of him when she sleeps. She fears if she asks Chris to care for their children for the summer, she will be drawn back into his world. She will choose Chris over money, “love over loot,” lose her drive to succeed and everything for which she has worked. Her promotion will be denied – and lightning will not strike a second time. How can she send their children to live with him without becoming entangled herself?

Read an Excerpt

Mr. Jamison did not look up, but he raised his right hand, motioning for her to approach. Erin halted as she reached his desk and waited, shifting her weight gently from one foot to the other. A minute passed. Deciding that grasping her notebook against her body made her appear to be as nervous as she felt, she dropped her hand to her side, stood straight, and raised her head, hoping to project the air of confidence she wished she possessed.

With a quick “Good-bye,” Mr. Jamison finally finished his call. He turned a page in the report and sighed.

“Ms. Stephens, you’ll be moving to an office in my suite.”

Yes, she almost said aloud, almost shouted actually. She wanted to spring into the air, pump her fist, and scream so loudly she would be heard on the street twenty-five floors below. But instead she simply nodded.

“Yes, sir.”

“We’ll be reorganizing the seafood company this summer. I’ll need you to be available when needed.”

“Yes, sir.”

“There are two guest rooms in the suite. One will be assigned to you. You should leave some clothes in the closet since you will find yourself spending the night from time to time.”

“Yes, sir.”

“You left last night’s meeting at six o’clock. It did not end until eight.”

His voice was matter-of-fact, and Erin was not sure if he had stated a fact or issued a reprimand.

“Yes, sir. I have two children. I needed to get home and—”

“You have two children?” He looked up in surprise.

“Yes. Yes, sir,” she stammered. No one had asked about children, not since she had begun work for Aqua as a customer relations advisor more than a decade ago, back when she lived in Atlanta, before her divorce, and then the question had dealt with health insurance. Were children a problem?

“Do you have a husband?”

“I’ve been divorced for—”

“Didn’t know that either,” he said, shaking his head, obviously talking to himself. “Didn’t do my homework.”

He looked into her eyes.

“Always do your homework,” he ordered.

“Yes, sir.”

Erin thought she could hear the wheels in Mr. Jamison’s mind turning as he considered her fate.

“The children…Get rid of them.”

About the Author:

We recently moved to our new home near Charleston, South Carolina. Four of my books are set in Charleston, and I’ve always enjoyed the Carolina beaches. I now have the opportunity to walk on the beach almost every day and to photography the ocean, the sea birds, and the marshes that I love.

I love photography, and I have photographed subjects as varied as prehistoric ruins on the islands of Scotland, star trails, sea gulls, and a Native American powwow. My wife and I have traveled widely in the United States and the United Kingdom. During trips to Scotland, we visited Crathes Castle, the ancestral home of the Burnett family near Aberdeen, and Kismul Castle on Barra, the home of my McNeil ancestors.

I went to school for much longer than I want to admit, and I have degrees in psychology and education. In an “earlier life” I was director of research for our state’s education department.

Website: http://davidburnett.yolasite.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DavdBurnett

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DavidBurnett.Author

Amazon Author Page: http://amazon.com/author/davidburnett

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6579272.David_Burnett

Buy link: https://www.amazon.com/Money-Men-David-Burnett-ebook/dp/B07N58KL52/

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Trail-Blazer by Michelle Diener

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author giveaways, rafflecopter giveaways, sci-fi romance

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Michelle Diener will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

He’s on a mission . . .

She’s running for her life . . .

And if they get off-planet alive, she’ll have to trust he won’t reveal her darkest secret.

Tally Riva is not what she seems, and even she’s not happy about it. Infected, invaded, she’s not quite sure how to describe it, but on a disastrous mission to a ghost ship, something burrowed its way into her body. Into her mind.

When her commander decides the best cure for what he thinks is Tally’s trauma is to send her on the famous Veltos Trail, Tally goes without revealing what’s really behind her mental anguish. Anything to be seen as normal again, anything to ignore what she’s afraid is happening to her.

But Veltos isn’t the safe place it seems. The chosen military personnel lucky enough to be offered the chance to walk the Trail are supposed to be the only people on Veltos. But Ben Guthrie, a captain in Arkhoran Special Forces, knows they’re not. He and his team have been on Veltos for a month already, tracking suspicious enemy activity, and he’s gone undercover on the Trail in search of a satellite his superiors are sure has been shot down.

When Ben’s worst fears become reality, and they find themselves hunted by a cunning enemy through the thick forests of Veltos, Tally and Ben fight together to survive. And Tally has to decide if accepting the changes inside her will save them both, or be her doom.

TRAILBLAZER is part of the Verdant String series but can easily be read as a standalone novel. Other books in the series include Interference & Insurgency (Two Novellas of the Verdant String), and Breakaway and Breakeven.

Read an Excerpt

Ben stood outside to watch the military runner come in.

The flare of the engine was visible because dusk had already fallen and the sky was the indigo blue that shouldn’t be unique to Veltos, but somehow was. There was just something special about the color here.

“Nervous?” Irwin stepped out to join him and looked up, following the runner as it fell toward them.

Ben glanced at him, wondering if the guide actively worked to be this annoying, or whether it was just a gift.

“Should I be?” He kept his tone mild.

Irwin glanced at him, shrugged. “Most people are a little nervous to meet their fellow Trail walkers. It’s a two week journey, and there’s no getting away from anyone who’s difficult.”

And certainly no getting away from them if they were the guide.

Ben crossed his arms and watched the runner touch down lightly on the hoverpad a thou away. It was close enough that he could hear the hum of the engine and the silence when it cut off.

“So you never said which warship dropped you off.” Irwin had turned to watch the runner, too.

“No, I didn’t.” Ben kept his answer short.

Irwin gave a snort. “Super secret, huh?”

Ben said nothing.

“Do you Arkhorans actively try to irritate the living shit out of the rest of us, or is it just how you’re made?”

Irwin’s comment was so similar to what Ben had thought about the guide, he couldn’t help the laugh that burst from him.

“Let’s leave it at ‘super secret’.”

About the Author:

Michelle Diener writes historical fiction, fantasy and science fiction. Having worked in publishing and IT, she’s now very happy crafting new worlds and interesting characters and wondering which part of the world she can travel to next.

Michelle was born in London, grew up in South Africa and currently lives in Australia with her husband and children. When she’s not writing, or driving her kids from activity to activity, you can find her at her website, or online at Twitter and Facebook.

Website: https://www.michellediener.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/michellediener
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/michelle.diener.author
Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/michelle_diener/

Buy link: https://www.amazon.com/Trailblazer-Verdant-String-Michelle-Diener-ebook/dp/B07P6PJ51H

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A Rebel at Pennington’s by Rachel Brimble

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author giveaways, Edwardian England, Historical romance/saga, rafflecopter giveaways

Rachel Brimble will be awarding a $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Stay tuned for the Rafflecopter link.

England in the Edwardian Era

I am lucky enough to live just a short 30-minute drive from the famous city of Bath, England. A city which holds its place in history (in my opinion) as much as cities such as London, Liverpool and Bristol.

Each city has its own claims to fame, but Bath easily holds its place as a destination of historical interest. It held incredible social attraction during the Georgian, Regency and Edwardian periods…not to mention the expected and believed powers of its healing waters.

Edwardian England was not alone in being an era where the class divide and hunger to climb the ladder was held in a young person’s mind as much as any other daily struggle. In fact, it could be said that social segregation is still felt by some to this day. Therefore, this is an element of life and history that fascinates me. Social advancement is featured quite often in my books as there are so many different types of people who wanted advancement for any number of reasons.

It wasn’t always about money – it was often about gaining opportunities otherwise closed to them. Respect. The need to make a difference. Having more for their children than they had themselves.

There are many motivations a writer can explore.

My books are all about romance, inspiration and female empowerment so when I decided to write the Pennington’s Department Store series, I knew the female characters would be the focus of the stories.

In A Rebel At Pennington’s, I deal with the most prominent women’s issue of the Edwardian era – women’s suffrage.

During the early 20^th century, the passion and extremes women were prepared to face was growing at a phenomenal rate and, for the government, a very scary speed. At the time, the suffragists (peaceful) were of a higher number than the suffragettes (militant), but there was an underlying feeling of the scales tipping.

Women were frustrated, angry and determined to be heard – Edwardian England was in the grip of a campaign that was not likely to disappear, and, in turn, this uprising meant other things were bound to be challenged and, ultimately, change.

Edwardian England was a time when women were beginning to find their way out of domestic service and into shops. Out of having no marital rights to a few. Change was afoot and it’s this growth and development that is prevalent in my books.

Nothing inspires me more than exploring the real-life women who paved the way for the freedoms we enjoy and, sometimes, take for granted, today.

Yes, propriety and convention were still present. Dress and decorum still expected. Money for some and poverty for others. All these things are true of Edwardian England, but the period was about so much more than manners, clothes and wealth.

It was a period of change, philanthropy and women forging forward – hence why I love writing about it!

*~*

GENRE:   Historical romance/saga

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

BLURB:

1911 Bath. Banished from her ancestral home, passionate suffrage campaigner, Esther Stanbury works as a window dresser in Pennington’s Department Store. She has hopes and dreams for women’s progression and will do anything to help secure the vote. 
Owner of the prestigious Phoenix Hotel, Lawrence Culford has what most would view as a successful life. But Lawrence is harbouring shame, resentment and an anger that threatens his future happiness.

When Esther and Lawrence meet their mutual understanding of life’s challenges unites them and they are drawn to the possibility of a life of love that neither thought existed. 
With the Coronation of King-Emperor George V looming, the atmosphere in Bath is building to fever pitch, as is the suffragists’ determination to secure the vote.

Will Esther’s rebellious nature lead her to ruin or can they overcome their pasts and look to build a future together?

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

Excerpt:

His beautiful daughter beamed as she held the cricket set aloft, Nathanial standing tall and proud beside her. ‘Daddy bought me the cricket set.’

Miss Stanbury looked from Rose and Nathanial to Lawrence and back again, her face lighting with a smile. ‘Well, look at that. I’m so glad your father saw sense in the end.’ She met Lawrence’s gaze over their heads, her eyes glittering with victory. ‘That’s wonderful.’

He stared at her, his smile fixed and his heart pounding with frustration. Did the woman not see how condescending she sounded? ‘Wonderful or not. I thought it important you knew I am not the tyrant you clearly consider me.’ Dragging his gaze from hers, Lawrence looked at his children. ‘Come, Rose. Nathanial. Let’s leave the nice lady to her work.’ He took their hands before looking at Esther once more. ‘It was…interesting meeting you.’

Her gaze shadowed as she glared, her smile too bright to be sincere. ‘I hardly thought you a tyrant, Mr Culford.’

‘Good, then the matter is settled.’

He turned towards the department exit and didn’t look back…regardless of the almost overwhelming urge to do so.

The woman had infuriated him, bewildered him and left him feeling she’d ended the conversation on her terms once again. Damnation!

*~*

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Rachel lives with her husband and their two daughters in a small town near Bath in the UK. Since 2007, she has had several novels published by small US presses, eight books published by Harlequin Superromance (Templeton Cove Stories) and four Victorian romances with Kensington/Lyrical.

In January 2018, she signed a four-book deal with Aria Fiction for a new Edwardian series set in Bath’s finest department store. The first book, The Mistress of Pennington’s released July 2018 with book two coming February 2019.

Rachel is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and Romance Writers of America and has thousands of social media followers from all over the world. To sign up for her quarterly and new release newsletter, click here to go to her website: https://rachelbrimble.com/

Blog

Twitter

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelbrimbleauthor/?hl=en

Amazon Author Page:

https://www.amazon.com/Rachel-Brimble/e/B007829ZRM/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1490948101&sr=8-1

Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1806411.Rachel_Brimble

Bookbub:

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/rachel-brimble

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

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE:

Rachel Brimble will be awarding a $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. 

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Romancing Rebecca by January Bain

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author giveaways, books about aristocracy, rafflecopter giveaways, romantic suspense, virtual book tours

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. January Bain will be awarding a Paypal $25.00 cash payout to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Canadian romance writer Rebecca Fairfax thinks a few months living in an English castle will allow her to test out her research theories about the castle and get new material for her writing. Oh, and she’ll be able to carry out her Brass Ring Sorority sisters’ dare to kiss a duke, too. Only, the whole experience ends up changing her life in a way she could never have seen coming…

Ash Piers isn’t interested in peerage and titles. He’s a freewheeling playboy who’s adopted a hedonistic lifestyle after a disastrous love affair. He thinks the upstart Canadian is a gold-digger of the worst kind, kissing his father, the Duke of Piers, on first greeting, then getting engaged to him a moment later! But, damn, he’s attracted to the woman who’s living in his home for the summer. How’s he, a red-blooded Englishman, supposed to keep his hands off her as propriety and family demand?

But with the castle lurching from one crisis to another, Ash and Rebecca have to work together to ensure his family make it through events that threaten to tear everyone apart. And when an ancient and deadly danger looms, both Ash and Rebecca are forced to conquer all fear—physical and emotional…

Part madcap caper, part serious treasure hunting, the Brass Ringers never fail to entertain or get their way!

Read an Excerpt

“That woman stole your Fabergé egg,” the thief accused, pointing a rigid forefinger at her, one she instantly wanted to bite off.

“That’s not what happened, and you darn well know it!” Adrenaline flooded her system. The unmitigated gall. “I was chasing you!”

“She’s lying!” he said.

She took her eyes off the obnoxious pants-on-fire thief for a second, glancing around to see who had finally shown up to help, expecting perhaps the errant tour guide. But it wasn’t him. He hadn’t looked at all like a legendary ruler such as Uther Pendragon or King Arthur in his yellow safety vest. But this man did. Oh boy, does he. As though he had walked straight out of The Mists of Avalon or The Once and Future King, standing there with his arms crossed, glaring at the two of them as if they were in cahoots. From his thick brown hair falling forward onto his forehead to curl just right, to his chiselled facial features that spoke of centuries of good breeding, he would make the perfect lead in any movie that required a hot, over-the-top-sexy hero.

Oh. My.

She swallowed hard, her mouth suddenly too parched to be able to speak a word. Xaviera, we’ve got the guy to play your hero in your swan song, that’s for damn sure. He was also the perfect protagonist for the historical literary book she envisioned using this castle location for, now that she was preparing to make the break from writing steamy romances. Finally.

“You can both come with me. I’ll need to get to the bottom of things.” His fine British accent tugged at something deep inside her.

“You don’t believe this lying sack of sh—this idiot,” she said, clearing her throat, self-correcting at the last second, with how cultured the man sounded and not her wanting to make a poor impression. He offered her his hand and she took it. Whoa. Nice strong hands, too. He helped her to her feet, blessing her with a stern look. Fine, play it that way. Anger rose at the unfairness of his accusations. At least it ratcheted down her libido.

“I just got here. How am I supposed to know who’s lying and who’s not? Are you okay?”

About the Author:

January Bain has wished on every falling star, every blown-out birthday candle, and every coin thrown in a fountain to be a storyteller. To share the tales of high adventure, mysteries, and thrillers she has dreamed of all her life. The story you now have in your hands is the compilation of a lot of things manifesting itself for this special series. Hundreds of hours spent researching the unusual and the mundane have come together to create books that features strong women who live life to the fullest, wild adventures full of twists and unforeseen turns, and hot complicated men who aren’t afraid to take risks. She can only hope her stories will capture your imagination and heart as much as they do hers.

If you are looking for January Bain, you can find her hard at work every morning without fail in her office with two furry babies trying to prove who does a better job of guarding the doorway. And, of course, she’s married to the most romantic man!

If you wish to connect in the virtual world she is easily found on Facebook, her second home. Oh, and she loves to talk books…

Blog Address: http://januarybainjourney.blogspot.ca/
Twitter Name: https://twitter.com/JanuaryBain
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/january.bain
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6437282.January_Bain
Email address for fans – januarybain@xplornet.com

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Believe in Me by USA Today Bestselling author, Ella Quinn!

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author giveaways, English aristocracy, rafflecopter giveaways, Regency romance, USA Today Best Selling author

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Ella Quinn will be awarding a $50 gift card – Amazon or iTunes (winner’s choice) to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Even the Worthington least likely to wed may find her perfect match

. . .

Marriage has worked out quite nicely for her older sisters, yet Lady Augusta Vivers is certain it would end her studies in languages and geography, and stop her from travelling. But when her mother thwarts her plan to attend the only university in Europe that accepts women—in Italy—she is forced to agree to one London Season. Spending her time at parties proves an empty diversion—until she encounters the well-traveled Lord Phineas Carter-Wood. Still, Europe awaits . . .

Phineas has studied architecture all over the world, yet Augusta is his most intriguing discovery yet. How can he resist a woman who loves maps and far-off lands? But her longing for all things foreign hinders any hope of courtship. When he learns her cousins have offered a trip to Europe, he secretly arranges to join their party. For he is determined to show Augusta that a real union is a thrilling adventure of its own. And when their journey is beset by dangerous obstacles, he gets far more opportunity than he bargained for . . .

Read an Excerpt

“Italy!” Her brother’s bellow could probably be heard all over the town house and in Berkeley Square. Possibly even farther.

From her position on the sofa, Lady Augusta Vivers stifled a sigh. She refused to allow her posture to sag or disappointment to show on her countenance. She had known her campaign to be allowed to attend university was not going to be easy. Perhaps she should have started her scheme earlier. Or given her brother a hint to temper his shock.

“It is not as if Padua is some unknown place in South America or Africa,” she pointed out calmly.

“Where on earth did you come up with such an . . . idea?” Her mother paled a bit and her faint voice pierced the deadened air.

“I wish to further my studies.” Augusta fought to keep the exasperation from her tone. Why else would she want to go to university? Not only that, but traveling there and living in Italy for a time would allow her to see a little of the world she had been studying. “As educated as Miss Tallerton and Mr. Winters are, they long ago exhausted the limits of what they can teach me. Which is the reason I have been corresponding with professors in Europe and taking lessons from visiting scholars, hoping to learn more. It is no longer enough.” In fact, her thirst for knowledge had grown to the point that she needed to attend university as much as she needed food or air. “Yet it has become clear that the only way I am going to succeed is by studying with experts. For that, I must attend university.”

“But, my dear”—her mother paused for a moment as if to gather her thoughts—“do you not wish to wed?”

Of course she did. Just. Not. Now. “I do not recall anyone asking Charlie if he was forsaking marriage simply because he wished to attend Oxford.” She wished Grace’s brother, properly called the Earl of Stanwood was here. He’d be able to help. Augusta turned her gaze back to Matt. As her guardian and Earl of Worthington, he was the final decision maker. “If I were a boy you would allow me to go.”

About the Author: USA Today bestselling author Ella Quinn’s studies and other jobs have always been on the serious side. Reading historical romances, especially Regencies, were her escape. Eventually her love of historical novels led her to start writing them.

She is married to her wonderful husband of over thirty years. They have a son and two beautiful granddaughters, and a Great Dane. After living in the South Pacific, Central America, North Africa, England and Europe, she and her husband decided to make their dreams come true and are now living on a sailboat. After cruising the Caribbean and North America, she completed a transatlantic crossing from St. Martin to Southern Europe. She’s currently living in Germany, happily writing while her husband is back at work, recovering from retirement.

Ella loves when readers connect with her.

Author Contact and Social Media:

Website: https://www.ellaquinnauthor.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EllaQuinnAuthor
Twitter: “https://twitter.com/ellaquinnauthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7044274.Ella_Quinn
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/ella-quinn
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Ella-Quinn/e/B00CAE0FSQ

Buy Links:

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2kBb73b
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2HbSxgb
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/2MbKRcD
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2H8ecFY
BN: http://bit.ly/2HUgIuC
Apple Books: https://apple.co/2xtw0GN
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2sjC2VE
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2lfQCJQ
Bookbub: http://bit.ly/2Cn79nm
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2RRaMeM

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Picture Not Perfect by D.E. Haggerty

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This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

A picture tells a story. But is it the truth?

When the police find pictures of Melanie hanging up at her murdered colleague’s house, they’re convinced he was stalking her. Maybe she even killed him. Melanie was not being stalked! And she certainly didn’t kill her supposed stalker – as if. But Mel – always up for a bit of drama – jumps at the chance to go search for the real killer. When Mel’s ex-boyfriend, Owen, discovers her plans, he pulls out all the stops to ensure she’s safe and to win her back. No matter what happens with the murder investigation, he’s not letting her go. With the police setting their sights on Mel, he may need to jeopardize his own career on the police force to protect her.

Will Mel find the real killer before the detectives arrest her for murder?

Read an Excerpt:

“Ms. Hanson, please have a seat.” Detective Meyer motioned to a chair before setting a bottle of water on the table in front of it. Then, he sat down and placed a file on the table in front of him. His partner remained standing in the corner of the room near the door. Mel started to stomp her way to the chair before remembering someone was probably watching and recording whatever she did and said in the room. She firmed her jaw before slowly walking to the chair and sitting down.

She took a few gulps of water before asking, “Is this where you finally tell me what’s going on?”

Instead of answering her question, the detective pulled a picture out of the file and put it on the table in front of her. “Do you know this man?”

Mel picked up the picture. “Sure. It’s Alfred Schultz. He’s a social sciences teacher at the high school where I’m a guidance counselor.” She handed the picture back to the detective. “Why?”

Again, he ignored her. He pulled out a series of pictures and laid them on the table in front of her. Mel looked down and gasped at what she saw. Every single picture was of her. “What in the world are you doing with these? What is going on?”

“These are pictures we found in Mr. Schultz’s apartment.”

“What?” Why would Alfred have pictures of her in his apartment? They weren’t friends. Was he following her? She shivered. The man’s creepiness level just skyrocketed. “What’s going on?”

“That’s what we’d like to know,” Detective Davis replied from her position leaning against the wall.

Mel’s hands shook as she gathered the pictures together and handed them back to the detective. She needed to calm down. Freaking out wouldn’t get her any answers. She forced herself to remember her yoga training. Calming breaths. She could do this. Deep breath in through the nose. Exhale through the mouth. Again. Breathe in. Breathe out.

“What was your relationship with Mr. Schultz?”

“We don’t really have a relationship. We’re colleagues. He’d like more, but …” she trailed off. Wait a second! Her mind rewound on his words. “Was? Did you say was?” She gulped. “What happened?”

“Mr. Schultz was found dead in his home yes—” His words were cut off by Detective Davis clearing her throat.

Mel gasped. “Found dead? Is that cop-speak for murdered?” At the detective’s nod, her mouth dropped open. “How? Why? Who?”

“We were hoping you could answer those questions for us,” Detective Davis answered. She was no longer casually leaning against the wall but now stood with her arms crossed over her chest staring down at Melanie.

“Me? Why would I be able to answer those questions for you?” In response, Davis merely tilted her head towards the pictures.

The pieces of the puzzle clicked together, and she finally realized what was going on. She jumped from her chair. “Holy moly! You think I had something to do with his death!”

About the Author:

I grew up reading everything I could get my grubby hands on, from my mom’s Harlequin romances, to Nancy Drew, to Little Women. When I wasn’t flipping pages in a library book, I was penning horrendous poems, writing songs no one should ever sing, or drafting stories which have thankfully been destroyed. College and a stint in the U.S. Army came along, robbing me of free time to write and read, although on the odd occasion I did manage to sneak a book into my rucksack between rolled up socks, MRIs, t-shirts, and cold weather gear. After surviving the army experience, I went back to school and got my law degree. I jumped ship and joined the hubby in the Netherlands before the graduation ceremony could even begin. A few years into my legal career, I was exhausted, fed up, and just plain done. I quit my job and sat down to write a manuscript, which I promptly hid in the attic before returning to the law. But practicing law really wasn’t my thing, so I quit (again!) and went off to Germany to start a B&B. Turns out running a B&B wasn’t my thing either. I polished off that manuscript languishing in the attic before following the husband to Istanbul where I decided to give the whole writer-thing a go. But ten years was too many to stay away from my adopted home. I packed up again and moved to The Hague where, in between tennis matches and failing to save the world, I’m currently working on my next book. I hope I’ll always be working on my next book.

Picture Not Perfect is my fourteenth novel.

Author links:

Website: http://dehaggerty.wordpress.com
Blog: https://dehaggerty.wordpress.com/category/mymusings/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dehaggerty
Twitter: https://twitter.com/dehaggerty
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dehaggerty/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7210211.D_E_Haggerty
Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/D.E.-Haggerty/e/B00ECQBURU/
Newsletter signup: http://eepurl.com/bbmdj9
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+DEHaggerty/posts
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/denahaggerty/
Bookbub author page: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/d-e-haggerty
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/d-e-haggerty-4b49a29/
Email: dena@dehaggerty.com

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Picture-Perfect-Reluctant-Detectives-Book-ebook/dp/B07KG6ZH33/
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/907044
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/nl/en/ebook/picture-not-perfect
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/picture-not-perfect-de-haggerty/1129901203
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42767307-picture-not-perfect

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One of a Kind Christmas by Lexi Post

Tags

author giveaways, book series, books about Christmas, books about spirits, contemporary romance, paranormal romance, rafflecopter giveaways

One of a Kind Christmas

A Christmas Carol Book #4

By Lexi Post

 

Lexi has a $25 Gift Card to giveaway during the tour. Please use the Rafflecopter below to enter. Remember you may enter every day for your chance to win. You may find the tour locations here https://goo.gl/sPP5CV.

~~~~~~~

Lexi has agreed to answer a few questions for us.  Let’s get to know her a bit better, shall we?  Lexi, you have the stage!

1. Which genre or genres do you write or prefer to write? And why?

I write paranormal romance and contemporary cowboy romance.  Some of my paranormal are also sci-fi. I like to write these because I can create my own world. My contemporary cowboys are sometimes veterans as well. I like to write cowboys because I look at them as present-day knights in shining armor and there’s nothing more attractive than a hero who a woman could actually run into someday. LOL.

2. What gets your creative juices flowing?

All my romances are inspired by classic literature. Some of these have been Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Masque of the Red Death,” Washington Irving’s “Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, and of course, Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol to name a few. I don’t rewrite the tale. I sort of jump off from it. 

3. Do you have a favorite snack that you like to munch on while writing?

I actually drink tea while I’m writing. I find eating and writing doesn’t work so well for my keyboard. I start off with English Breakfast tea and then move to either red rooibos, Earl Grey, or Highland Chai. When I’m under deadline, I’ll even make myself a chai latte with the tea machine my hubby bought me last Christmas. 

4. Do you have a hobby?

I do. I like to line dance. I take lessons every week and once in a while I substitute-teach. I teach at reader conferences on occasion. It’s not all western anymore. I know Latin and pop ones as well. My favorite is Footloose. But I’ve been a dancer since first grade, so I’m usually up for learning any new dance. I’ve even taken Scottish Country dance classes. 

5. Do you have another profession besides writing?

Occasionally, I’ll teach a class at the university, but writing is my fulltime profession. 

6. If you could go back in time, where would you go?

I’d go to the Romantic period in both England and America. I’d love to chat with Mary Shelley and her husband, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Louisa May Alcott and her father Bronson Alcott, Washington Irving, Edgar Allan Poe, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, William Wordsworth, Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson, etc. Of course, once chatting with all of them I’d want to talk to other authors like Homer, Dickens, Shaw, et al. You can tell where my heart lies. LOL 

7. What’s the one thing you would do if you could be your character for a day? If I could be Holly, I think I’d like to visit my future and see what the possibilities are so I can make better informed decisions now. 

8. What was the inspiration for “One of a Kind Christmas”?

I was inspired by Charles Dickens’ story, A Christmas Carol. The whole series was actually inspired by that story. But instead of a Scrooge I have a young widow, Holly, who isn’t able to move on after her husband passed. Instead of Marley, I have her late husband who sends spirits to her. And instead of one spirit, Holly is visited by two from the Past, Present, and Future. 

9. Will there be more books in your series, or can you tell us about any previous books? This is the final book in the series. In Pleasures of Christmas Past, the Spirits of the past are Duncan, the playboy from Scotland in the 1800’s and Jessica, the social worker from America. In Desires of Christmas Present the spirits are Ian, a wealthy aristocrat from Scotland and Coco, an ice cream parlor employee from Kentucky, and in Temptations of Christmas Future the spirits are Malcom, a Watchman from a future Glasgow and Joy, a hospice nurse from Scottsdale, Arizona. All the spirits help Holly, but they also learn quite a bit about themselves as well. 

10. What is your favorite part of this book and why? 

One of a Kind Christmas has so many favorite parts for me. I actually like the humor that bubbles up. It’s scattered throughout. Everyone from Holly to the cat seem to find a time to make the reader smile. I also love how Holly still holds her late husband accountable and doesn’t let him get away with anything even though he’s a spirit. 

11. What are you currently working on? The 6^th book in my Eden series, Beast of Eden. Eden is a planet of nude men who find their beloved on Earth and bring their women to Eden. This is a utopia with flaws series. It’s a Utopia because Edenists will do anything for their women and every woman must have at least two of these hunks as husbands. However, though Edenists are evolved humans with special abilities, they can be very human in their flaws. I love working in Eden. The scenery is great! LOL

Thank you, Lexi, for the fun interview. Love the orange cowboy hat and matching sweater,, BTW. Now, let’s learn about your  book!

~~~

About One of a Kind Christmas:

For her to love him, he must face a spirit, an archangel…and himself.

The spirit of Cameron Douglas has totally screwed-up…again. Now, he has to fix his mess in one night with the help of his best friend and somehow encourage his widow to move on.
Holly Douglas is anguished that this is the last Christmas she’ll be visited by her late husband, Cameron. For three years he’s sent her the spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, and they‘ve helped her cope with her loss. But now all that ends, and she doesn’t understand why he must push her away.

Ethan Stewart has been in love with Holly since Cameron’s death, but she isolated herself from everyone, including him. Then something changed, and he was welcomed back as her friend. But he wants more— to love her openly, and most of all to make her happy again. Though he loved his best friend like a brother and will do anything for Holly, as he’s pulled into the spirit world, he discovers the price they must pay for their chance at forever…and it just might be too high.

Releases Day December 5, 2018

Buy Links for One of a Kind Christmas:

• Amazon: https://amzn.to/2TukRfU
• B&N:  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/one-of-a-kind-christmas-lexi-post/1129901071?ean=2940161606766
• iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1442733578
• Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/one-of-a-kind-christmas
• Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/One-Kind-Christmas-Carol-Book-ebook/dp/B07KK2LFHN/
• Amazon AU:  https://www.amazon.com.au/One-Kind-Christmas-Carol-Book-ebook/dp/B07KK2LFHN/
• Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/One-Kind-Christmas-Carol-Book-ebook/dp/B07KK2LFHN

Excerpt:

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before opening them. “I miss Cam. It was as if we were two parts of the same soul. I lived vicariously through him even while I worried constantly about him. It was one of the reasons I was constantly warning him to be careful. I was afraid to lose him.”
Ethan looked away and rubbed the back of his neck. “And then I did.”
She felt as if her heart were breaking all over again, not for her bu

One of a Kind Christmas

A Christmas Carol Book #4

By Lexi Post

 

Lexi has a $25 Gift Card to giveaway during the tour. Please use the Rafflecopter below to enter. Remember you may enter every day for your chance to win. You may find the tour locations here https://goo.gl/sPP5CV.

About One of a Kind Christmas:

For her to love him, he must face a spirit, an archangel…and himself.

The spirit of Cameron Douglas has totally screwed-up…again. Now, he has to fix his mess in one night with the help of his best friend and somehow encourage his widow to move on.
Holly Douglas is anguished that this is the last Christmas she’ll be visited by her late husband, Cameron. For three years he’s sent her the spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, and they‘ve helped her cope with her loss. But now all that ends, and she doesn’t understand why he must push her away.

Ethan Stewart has been in love with Holly since Cameron’s death, but she isolated herself from everyone, including him. Then something changed, and he was welcomed back as her friend. But he wants more— to love her openly, and most of all to make her happy again. Though he loved his best friend like a brother and will do anything for Holly, as he’s pulled into the spirit world, he discovers the price they must pay for their chance at forever…and it just might be too high.

Releases Day December 5, 2018

Buy Links for One of a Kind Christmas:

• Amazon: https://amzn.to/2TukRfU
• B&N:  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/one-of-a-kind-christmas-lexi-post/1129901071?ean=2940161606766
• iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1442733578
• Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/one-of-a-kind-christmas
• Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/One-Kind-Christmas-Carol-Book-ebook/dp/B07KK2LFHN/
• Amazon AU:  https://www.amazon.com.au/One-Kind-Christmas-Carol-Book-ebook/dp/B07KK2LFHN/
• Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/One-Kind-Christmas-Carol-Book-ebook/dp/B07KK2LFHN

Excerpt:

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before opening them. “I miss Cam. It was as if we were two parts of the same soul. I lived vicariously through him even while I worried constantly about him. It was one of the reasons I was constantly warning him to be careful. I was afraid to lose him.”
Ethan looked away and rubbed the back of his neck. “And then I did.”
She felt as if her heart were breaking all over again, not for her bu

One of a Kind Christmas

A Christmas Carol Book #4

By Lexi Post

 

Lexi has a $25 Gift Card to giveaway during the tour. Please use the Rafflecopter below to enter. Remember you may enter every day for your chance to win. You may find the tour locations here https://goo.gl/sPP5CV.

About One of a Kind Christmas:

For her to love him, he must face a spirit, an archangel…and himself.

The spirit of Cameron Douglas has totally screwed-up…again. Now, he has to fix his mess in one night with the help of his best friend and somehow encourage his widow to move on.
Holly Douglas is anguished that this is the last Christmas she’ll be visited by her late husband, Cameron. For three years he’s sent her the spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, and they‘ve helped her cope with her loss. But now all that ends, and she doesn’t understand why he must push her away.

Ethan Stewart has been in love with Holly since Cameron’s death, but she isolated herself from everyone, including him. Then something changed, and he was welcomed back as her friend. But he wants more— to love her openly, and most of all to make her happy again. Though he loved his best friend like a brother and will do anything for Holly, as he’s pulled into the spirit world, he discovers the price they must pay for their chance at forever…and it just might be too high.

Releases Day December 5, 2018

Buy Links for One of a Kind Christmas:

• Amazon: https://amzn.to/2TukRfU
• B&N:  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/one-of-a-kind-christmas-lexi-post/1129901071?ean=2940161606766
• iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1442733578
• Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/one-of-a-kind-christmas
• Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/One-Kind-Christmas-Carol-Book-ebook/dp/B07KK2LFHN/
• Amazon AU:  https://www.amazon.com.au/One-Kind-Christmas-Carol-Book-ebook/dp/B07KK2LFHN/
• Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/One-Kind-Christmas-Carol-Book-ebook/dp/B07KK2LFHN

Excerpt:

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before opening them. “I miss Cam. It was as if we were two parts of the same soul. I lived vicariously through him even while I worried constantly about him. It was one of the reasons I was constantly warning him to be careful. I was afraid to lose him.”
Ethan looked away and rubbed the back of his neck. “And then I did.”
She felt as if her heart were breaking all over again, not for her bufor Ethan. He was so good to her. He even loved her. And she… “Ethan, I understand.”
His gaze returned to hers. Though she couldn’t see his face clearly, the limited light reflected off the sheen in his eyes.
She placed her hand on his cheek and rising on her toes brushed her lips across his in a feather-light kiss. She only meant to give comfort, but a spark of something else hit her heart.
She remained there, her lips close to his but not touching, wanting more but afraid to ask.
Ethan remained absolutely still, his breath mixing with her own.
He loved her but would never push her. It wasn’t his nature. She could walk away right now, but to what?
Nothing.
She stared at his mouth in the dim light. She wanted to live again. She wanted to feel again. Tilting her head, she pressed her lips more firmly against his, moving her hand down his stubbled jaw and behind his neck to pull him closer.
Ethan’s lips opened, and she slipped her tongue between them.
As his arms came around her, it was like waking from a dream. A slow burn flowed through her veins as he took control of the kiss and explored her mouth with his tongue. It was an unhurried exploration and heat built in her belly. When he pulled back to lick the underside of her top lip, she took her first deep breath. As she exhaled, tingles spread throughout her body.
He kissed the corners of her mouth before leaning his forehead against her own. “Ye catch my blood on fire, lass.”

Other Books in the Series:

A Christmas Carol Book 1, Pleasures of Christmas Past is on sale for only $.99!



Jessica is assigned a hot, Scottish mentor who confuses her heart. But will he protect her soul?

Buy Links for Pleasures of Christmas Past:

• Amazon: https://amzn.to/2DxWFDU
• B&N: http://bit.ly/1jICy8T
• iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1026485012
• Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/pleasures-of-christmas-past
• Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/Pleasures-Christmas-Past-Carol-Book-ebook/dp/B013EVYRV4/
• Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.com.au/Pleasures-Christmas-Past-Carol-Book-ebook/dp/B013EVYRV4/
• Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pleasures-Christmas-Past-Carol-Book-ebook/dp/B013EVYRV4

Desires of Christmas Present (A Christmas Carol Book 2)



Sometimes not knowing is better…for everyone.

• Desires of Christmas Present Amazon Buy Link: https://amzn.to/2DxtbpE

Temptations of Christmas Future (A Christmas Carol Book 3)

He set out to prove the future was far worse than she imagined. Now he wished it wasn’t.

• Temptations of Christmas Future Amazon Buy Link: https://amzn.to/2Q9s71L

About the Author:

 

Lexi Post is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of romance inspired by the classics. She spent years in higher education taking and teaching courses about the classical literature she loved. From Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The Masque of the Red Death” to Tolstoy’s War and Peace, she’s read, studied, and taught wonderful classics.
But Lexi’s first love is romance novels so she married her two first loves, romance and the classics. From hot paranormals to sizzling cowboys to hunks from out of this world, Lexi provides a sensuous experience with a “whole lotta story.”
Lexi is living her own happily ever after with her husband and her cat in Florida. She makes her own ice cream every weekend, loves bright colors, and you will never see her without a hat.

 

Lexi’s Social Links:

• Website: http://www.lexipostbooks.com/
• Lexi Post Updates: https://app.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/c1w1g3
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lexipostbooks
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexiPost
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexipostbooks/
• Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/1IEL2cc
• BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lexi-post
• D2D: http://books2read.com/author/lexi-post/subscribe/1/16171/
• Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/goodreadscomLexiPost
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexipostbooks/
• Blog: http://www.happilyeverafterthoughts.com/
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lexipost77/
• Email: lexi@lexipostbooks.com 

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The Renaissance Club by Rachel Dacus

Tags

author giveaways, author interviews, rafflecopter giveaways, Time Travel, Women's Speculative Fiction

The Renaissance Club

Rachel Dacus will be awarding a $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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

I’d like to welcome Rachel to The Chateau. She has agreed to answer a few questions, so let’s get to know Rachel a little better and check out her new book, The Renaissance Club.

1. Tell me three words that describe yourself starting with A, B, and C

Arabesque = My early life as a dancer and the title of my current poetry book

Ballerina = See A

Craftsman/Concentration = My approach to writing stories

2. Which genre or genres do you write or prefer to write? And why?

I’m most interested in writing women’s fiction with fantasy elements. Time travel, ghost stories, and historical elements and settings. Also, I write books set in Italy. Long story.

3. What gets your creative juices flowing?

Reading often inspires me, also nature. I’m big on forest bathing and long walks.

4. Who would you love most to meet ‘in person’ and why?

The person I’d love to meet isn’t a novelist but screenwriter Aaron Sorkin, creator of The West Wing.

5. Do you have a favorite snack that you like to munch on while writing?

Tortilla chips. The saltier the better!

6. Do you have a hobby?

Walking, petting, and grooming my Silky Terrier.

7. Do you read your reviews on your books? Do they influence your story at all?

I do read them and the thoughtful reviews absolutely influence me. Writing is a form of communication, and hearing what readers take from your story is an education.

8. What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I often start a whole book by writing the title. It’s an arrow pointing me in the right direction. Often those first titles don’t change, as is the case with The Renaissance Club. No matter how many editors (and there were many) wanted changes, no one suggested changing the title.

9. Do you have another profession besides writing?

I raise funds for nonprofit organizations, which often involves writing.

10. If you could go back in time, where would you go?

I’d go so many places! The first one would be the Italian Renaissance, as a male painter. I wouldn’t want to go back as a woman, because they didn’t get a very good deal in those times!

11. What’s the one thing you would do if you could be your character for a day?

I’d make out with Gianlorenzo Bernini!

12. What was the inspiration for The Renaissance Club?

I took an art history course on the Italian Renaissance, followed by a sumptuous, first-class tour of Renaissance art in Northern Italy. One of the most amazing things I’ve ever experienced. Everyone should go to Italy.

13. Will there be more books in your series, or can you tell us about any previous books?

I’m working on a prequel, a sequel, and planning out another sequel beyond those two. The prequel will tell the story of time travel tour guide George St. James, and how he learned to use his time travel ability to benefit others and assist them in growing as people through short jaunts in time and history.

14. What is your favorite part of this book and why?

My favorite is when May tries to let go of her connection to Bernini, as it seems in his best interest that she do so. That scene stays vivid in my mind.

15. What are you currently working on?

My second novel, The Invisibles, a story of two half-sisters whose sisterhood is undermined by their clash over inheriting a cottage on the coast of Italy, along with its resident ghost, the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley.

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

BLURB:

Would you give up everything, even the time in which you live, to be with your soul mate? That’s what young art historian and teacher May Gold must decide when she slips through time’s folds to meet the man of her dreams and the subject of her master’s thesis — fiery 17th century genius artist Gianlorenzo Bernini.

In her fantasies May is in his arms, the wildly adored partner of the man who steered Renaissance art into the Baroque. In reality, she has just landed in Rome with her stodgy boyfriend and teaching colleagues for a tour of Italy. She yearns to unleash her passion and creative spirit.

When the floor under the gilded dome of St Peter’s basilica rocks under her feet, she finds herself in the year 1624, staring straight into Bernini’s eyes. Their immediate and powerful attraction grows every time she meets him during the tour. Passion blossoms, but history says they have no future. Can May thread her way through time, and will she take a perilous risk to begin a magical, exciting new life?

This time travel romance is perfect for lovers of Italy, art, and love stories.

Excerpt:

May changed her mind about going into the church and decided instead to climb the tall hill of Assisi and find a shop or two. She passed a small shop tucked under the overhanging, geranium-strewn balcony. Its window bore a sign: “Farmacia.” Pharmacy. She stopped. A morning-after pill was an over-the-counter item in Europe, probably here in Assisi too.

She ventured inside. It was a small place, a new shop built inside the ancient stone walls. She looked around at displays of mementos, purses, and perfumes. A small counter had a sign that said “Farmacia.”

She was about to call for the proprietor, when the light inside the shop changed. Glass bottles rattled on their shelves. She looked around and saw the shopkeeper emerge. Their gazes held. Earthquakes were familiar in Assisi, and could be frightening after their huge quake. The ground settled again, and he smiled and shrugged in that very Italian way.

George called them folds in time. She didn’t feel them any differently than normal quakes, but they made her unsteady. She touched the counter. Her mind raced somewhere else. Could he possibly appear here? She felt the doorway appearing at her sides and overhead.

A glimmer all around. Just step through.

Bernini came out of the shadows looking different than last time. He had circles under his eyes, and his skin was paler. He wore a flowing white shirt and a black jacket, as he often did, but the slashes in the sleeves were frayed, and the jacket was dusty, as if it had been through many  travels.

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

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Rachel Dacus is a poet, essayist, and novelist who writes about love and relationships, with a touch of the supernatural. Love and history are the themes of her debut novel, The Renaissance Club, a tale of romance between a young art historian and her hero, the fiery 17th century Italian sculptor Gianlorenzo Bernini. Praise for her novel — “enchanting, rich, and romantic” — describes the kinds of love and adventure stories Rachel enjoys, preferably set in exotic places. She has traveled to Italy and India and plans to expand her journeys beyond countries that start with the letter “I”.

She’s the daughter of a bipolar rocket engineer who worked on missiles during the race-to-space 1950’s. He was also an accomplished painter.

Her interest in Italy was ignited by a course in Renaissance art history that culminated in tour of northern Italy. She’s been hooked on Italy ever since. Her essay on Italy, motherhood, and infertility was anthologized in Italy, a Love Story: Women Write About the Italian Experience.

 Dacus shows off her versatility in four poetry collections. Her newest is Arabesque. Three other collections are: Gods of Water and Air, Femme au Chapeau, and Earth Lessons. She raises funds for arts, human service, and healthcare organizations and takes walks with her way-too-smart Silky Terrier.

Find out more about Rachel Dacus  and The Renaissance Club:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07832TVWN

Website: http://racheldacus.net

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Rachel_Dacus

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Rachel-Dacus-Poet-Writer-514837478526919/

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

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE:

Rachel Dacus will be awarding a $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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Follow the tour and comment; the more they comment, the better their chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2018/09/nbtm-renaissance-club-by-rachel-dacus.html

Ribbon of Light by Claire Yezbak Fadden

Tags

author giveaways, rafflecopter giveaways, Women's Fiction

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Claire Yezbak Fadden will be awarding a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Julie Rafferty’s life-long dream is within her grasp. But just as the toy company she founded verges on becoming a multi-million-dollar enterprise, her husband abandons their marriage.

Trevor had no choice but to walk away from Julie. How else could he show his wife that the business was her priority, not him and their three children? His drastic stunt backfires though, jeopardizing the family business and seemingly pushes Julie into the arms of a younger man.

Just when Julie and Trevor find their way back to each other, a ruthless competitor escalates a bogus lawsuit. Together they plot to reclaim control of the toy company, only to uncover a shattering betrayal that puts them in unimaginable danger.

Can they overcome their dreadful mistake and reclaim the passion, trust and commitment that once drew them together? Or will the greed of an evil man irreparably destroy everything they hold dear?

Read an excerpt

Before Julie placed her purse on the desk, Leanne handed her three phone messages, two from Gary and one from a local reporter.

“Oh, and I thought you might want to read this,” Leanne handed over an article printed off the Internet. “After your meeting with Bennett Burnside, I remembered reading this from two years ago.”

The story recounted the case of a family from Georgia. The parents of a ten-year-old had won $100,000 in compensatory damages and $9.9 million in punitive damages in a lawsuit against MaxOut Toys. The suit claimed their son permanently lost partial use of his right hand after playing with BlastAway, a handheld video game manufactured by the start-up company. The article read in part:

“Because of their negligence, this young lad is unable to perform any of the normal activities a boy of ten would enjoy,” their attorney said, arguing that MaxOut management knew the dangers of overuse of their product and was required to provide consumer warnings. “Young Benji is now designated as a special needs student. On the Little League field, Benji can’t pitch, play first base, or even bat properly.”

Julie remembered Mort Gunther’s appeal to the ruling. An appellate court upheld the original judgment, forcing the fledgling toy manufacturer to file for bankruptcy.

Funny. She hadn’t seen Mort since he lost his company…until he introduced her to Bennett Burnside.

Leanne handed Julie a copy of another news item dated months later from the Global Business Briefs section of the Wall Street Journal, announcing Game Masters’ acquisition of bankrupt MaxOut Toys for an undisclosed amount.

An icy surge ran down Julie’s back. She set the papers on Leanne’s desk and clenched the journalist’s phone message in her hand.

Roberta Perkins, San Marcel Mercury News. Please call before 2:00 p.m.

Julie recognized the name and the same byline on the patent-infringement lawsuit article.

While placing the call, Julie licked her lips, a nervous habit she had since a child, waiting for the phone to connect.

“Ms. Rafferty, thank you for returning my call.” Roberta Perkins’s monotone voice replied. Julie pictured her more as a Helen Thomas-style journalist than a wide-eyed Lois Lane.

“An unnamed source on the San Marcel Narcotics Task Force claims the US attorney’s office is requesting a court order to confiscate your company files. Would you care to comment?”

Julie collapsed in her chair, her legs no longer able to support her. “What did you say?”

“Is FunWorks actually a front for money-laundering?”

“I don’t understand the question,” Julie said, her voice shaking.

“It’s the first step before the Narcotics Task Force initiates an investigation,” the reporter said in a matter-of-fact tone.

Nervous energy soared through Julie’s veins. “The Narcotics Task Force? What is this all about?”

“The task force received a tip that FunWorks launders money for drug traffickers.”

“What a ridiculous allegation.” Julie’s pulse quickened, and her hand flew to the silver crucifix dangling on a thin chain around her neck. She fingered the cross and took in a deep breath.

“May I quote you?”

“Quote me? For what?”

“For the article I’m working on. You did know you are under investigation?”

Julie didn’t respond.

“In my experience, allegations of federal law violations are taken very seriously by the United States Attorney, especially Del Evans’s office,” Roberta said, suddenly sounding supportive. “If I were you, I’d call my attorney.”

“I have no comment about the allegation,” Julie managed to say. “I will remind you, though, that a libel suit can be very expensive. In my experience, newspaper publishers fire irresponsible writers whose sloppy work costs them money.” Julie disconnected the call and threw the cordless phone across the room.

Now those jerks had gone too far.

She retrieved her phone.

Twenty minutes later, after waiting on hold, a clerk in US Attorney Del Evans’s office informed her that Mr. Evans was unable to take her call. The clerk couldn’t say anything about the allegations, but she confirmed that contacting a lawyer would be a good idea.

“How long do these investigations take?” Julie asked.

“Hard to say,” the droning voice replied. “Every case is unique. When it’s connected to money, sometimes the IRS and the DEA get involved.”

Julie held the phone receiver near her ear for a minute or two listening to the dial tone.

The IRS and the DEA?
Burnside wanted FunWorks so much, he sicced the Feds on me. Why?

About the Author: When she’s not playing with her granddaughters, Pennsylvania native Claire Yezbak Fadden is writing contemporary women’s fiction. Her books feature strong women who overcome life’s challenges, always putting their families first.

There’s a special spot in Claire’s heart for carousel horses – quite possibly the result of watching “Mary Poppins” 13 times as a young girl. She loves butterflies, ladybugs and confetti! Just ask anyone who’s received a birthday card from her.

The mother of three lives in Orange County, California with her husband, Nick and three spoiled dogs.

Claire’s work as an award-winning journalist, humor columnist and editor has appeared in more than 100 publications across the United States, Canada and Australia. Ribbon of Light is the third novel in her Begin Again series.

Buy Links:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GZTZK3T/ref=sr_1_1
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ribbon-of-light-claire-yezbak-fadden/1129446496
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/892576
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/ribbon-of-light
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41578682-ribbon-of-light
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/ribbon-of-light/id1434756246?mt=11

Follow Claire http://www.twitter.com/claireflaire
Email her at claire@clairefadden.com
Like her Facebook Fan Page https://www.facebook.com/claireyezbakfadden
Visit her at http://www.clairefadden.com
Join her mailing list: http://eepurl.com/cclBRv.
Woman@Heart Blog. https://clairextraordinaire.wordpress.com

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Goddess Fish Promotions Tenth Anniversary

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editing services, gift card giveaways, Goddess Fish Promotions, rafflecopter giveaways, virtual book tours

Goddess Fish Promotions Tenth Anniversary

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Welcome to the Goddess Fish Promotions Tenth Anniversary Month Long Celebration!

Who is Goddess Fish Promotions? And what do we do? We’re glad you asked!

We didn’t want your visit here to be dry and boring, so we decided to have a poetry competition and put what we do into verse. Here are the initial entries:

Marianne:

Roses are Red.
Violets are Blue.
I’m awful at poetry.
Coffee.

Judy:

We can edit your book
find things you didn’t see
It will be fun to look
at the changes from me.

Yeah, for some reason, Judy won!

Even better, her poem is correct. We DO offer editing as one of our options. Here are a couple of testimonials from clients:

I worked with Marianne on a complete edit and was very happy with the results. Her feedback was clear, easy to follow, and she probed on things I hadn’t thought of. She was also responsive whenever I had questions and helped me work through a few issues. Her feedback and guidance improved the quality of my manuscript, all at a very fair price. I’m working on my next book and plan to use their services again.

-J B Glazer, author, In Search of Mr. Anonymous

*

Choosing the right editor for a project is incredibly important to an author. Let’s face it, we want the best for our books. When I was considering editors for my first indie-published book, Regenerate, I naturally thought of Goddess Fish Promotions–and I’m so glad I did.

Marianne Arkins and Judy Thomas are incredibly attentive and professional during the entire editing process. Their input was invaluable and the story is much stronger because they cared enough to help unsnarl plot points and find order in the chaos..

I can’t wait to work with them again. Truly, a top-notch editorial team! – Sarita Leone, award-winning author of Regenerate

We also offer Virtual Book Tours, Graphic Design, Social Media Promotion and more. You can see more testimonials here.

We hope you enjoyed getting to know us a little (more information is below) and we’d like to do the same. We’d LOVE to see a little poem that tells us a bit about you in the comments. We’ll be awarding random book giveaways and $5 Amazon GCs to some of the best poetry we find. It might not be at every stop, but when something really makes us smile, we’ll reward it! Come on, be daring…

Writing on a Budget

You’ve finished your book – now what?  You want to share it with the world- and you want to make some money while you’re doing it.  However, if you are like most of us, you don’t have unlimited funds to put into getting your work published and promoted.

You might want to budget, but you don’t want to go cheap. Why would you put your heart and soul into your work and then not give it the best chance out in the world.  There are times you should count the cost well spent… editing and promoting.

It is easy in today’s world to finish writing and format it and self-publish it, but if you are doing so without having it professionally edited, you’re doing your story a disservice. No matter how careful you are editing your own work, there are things that will slip past you – you will see what you expect to see.

And, once it is edited and published, you could take the time to find 20 or more blogs that would host you to help get the word of your book out.  That will take time away from what should be your next step—writing the next book. Why not turn your promotion over to someone who has the contacts and the know-how to do so, while you get on with the business of building your career… one new book at a time.

Check out our editing and book promotion services – we would love to hear from you.

And now, more about us:

About Goddess Fish Promotions

Goddess Fish Promotions was established October 14, 2008. Why? Well, when Marianne became a published author and got her the first taste of trying to promote a book on a budget, there was only one other virtual book tour company in place at the time, and their fees were simply too high for a small press author. After coordinating and running her own tour, she knew other authors could use the same service for a reasonable price. Thus, Goddess Fish Promotions was born.

Because both Judy and Marianne were authors and editors prior to running Goddess Fish Promotions, they approach the business with a unique point of view, and treat their clients how they would expect to be treated.

The people behind the fish

Judy Thomas

Judy has a college degree in English and she’s worked in retail, education, at her local library as well as an editor for a small press and for the now defunct ShadowKeep Ezine. She’s also a published author so can see things from both sides of the fence. In 2013, she “retired” and now spends her days helping authors make their dream come true—as well as working as much as she can with her local theater group.

Marianne Arkins

Grammar freak and coffee lover, Marianne wrote her first novel at ten years old, built her first commercial website in 2000, and published for the first time in 2006. She worked as a professional editor for just over a year, and knows what it’s like to write, edit and promote a book on a budget.

http://www.goddessfish.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoddessFishPromotions
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GoddessFish
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/goddessfish/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariannejudy/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/+Goddessfish

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

For Everyone: One $50 Amazon/BN GC, two $25 Amazon/BN GCs, Two $10 Amazon/BN GCs

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For Authors: 2 $10 GC for any Goddess Fish Promotions service, Winner’s choice of either a free blurb blitz (2 wk) or book blast (5 day), 50% off any tour (excludes Review tour or Full Service Tour), 4 free 25 page complete book edit, 2 Winner’s choice of teaser or social media cover graphic design

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