Thursday, August 2, 2012

Blog Tour - Made the Grade: The de Montforte Brothers Series, Book 1 by Danelle Harmon | Guest Post, Review, & Giveaway

Today I'm turning my blog over to Danelle Harmon, who is talking about the top things that make a great historical romance hero!

ALSO -- Be sure to comment on this post to be able to sign up for this tour's GIVEAWAYs (listed below)!! [Blog Tour will run from July 23 - August 3, 2012]



What are the top 5 things that make a great historical romance hero and why? :

First off, I'd like to take the time to thank you, Jess, for hosting me on your blog today!

You ask a wonderful and thought provoking question, and one that I'm happy to answer. In real life, true heroes can seem to be few and far between, and often "too good to be true." We all know of the drop-dead-handsome guy who is as unfaithful as the day is long, leaving a trail of broken hearts in his wake. We all know of the recklessly courageous man whose constant need for an adrenalin rush makes him unavailable and undependable. We all know of the sweet guy who is as kind as the day is long, but lacks courage and allows the world to walk all over him. Perfection (so to speak) is seldom found in the real world, and mature people will take the good with the bad (as we hope our own "heroes" do with us!), but we don't have to settle for compromises in a romance novel. Oh, no! There, the elements that make a true hero combine into one perfect, wonderful, fantastic, (and usually impossible to find in real life) man!

I could write forever on the qualities that make a great historical romance hero, and for each reader, they may vary, but if I were to pick five, they would be:

  1. Courage. A man without courage has no business as the hero in a romance novel. Period. It takes courage to stand up to wrongs, it takes courage to save a heroine trapped on the edge of a high cliff, it takes courage to go into battle, it takes courage to admit a deep, dark secret that might mean the end of a treasured and precious relationship. All four of my de Montforte heroes face these and other challenges throughout the course of the series, and all of them are wildly imbued with courage, but a good example of it is shown by Lord Gareth de Montforte of "THE WILD ONE," the first book in the series. Down and out on his luck, and determined to show the world that he has grown up and can, indeed, be the husband and father his young wife believes he can be, he voluntarily subjects himself to a dangerous situation where he's pitted against a man much his superior in strength, size and experience -- a man who has been paid to kill him. Gareth has the choice to either walk away with his life intact ... or to follow through, even knowing the odds are against him, in order to win a home for his beloved wife and tiny daughter -- and sense of self-respect that has long been denied him. That is courage ... and it's wildly sexy!

  2. Integrity. A person who can't or won't stand up for his own convictions, and/or what he knows is right, is no hero in my book. It takes a certain amount of courage and self-confidence to stay true to one's ideals, and the best romance heroes are those who don't falter or waiver from their beliefs, no matter what the cost. This quality is aptly demonstrated by my hero, Lord Charles de Montforte in "THE BELOVED ONE," whose unreasonably high expectations of himself cause him incredible pain and nearly destroy him. But he never waivers from what he knows to be right, no matter what his own desires or the cost to his own personal happiness, and that is wildly attractive in any hero!

  3. Intelligence. A smart guy is a sexy guy; just look at how many nerd-types are showing up in romance novels these days! What woman in her right mind would want to spend her days with a guy who may be all brawn, but no brains? But in romance novels, we get to have both. One example of a super-intelligent (and very sexy) hero is Lord Andrew de Montforte, the hero of my book "THE DEFIANT ONE." A gifted inventor/scientist who takes refuge from the world in his laboratory after a terrible accident, Lord Andrew creates inventions that are guaranteed to change things: if not the world, then certainly his life, which is just the case when he creates an aphrodisiac that sends him and his heroine, Lady Celsiana Blake, on a hilarious journey of love and laughter. A smart guy is a sexy guy; there's no denying that!

  4. Devotion/Faithfulness to the Heroine. From presidents to sports figures, the news is depressingly full of rich, handsome, extremely powerful men whose downfalls come about because they just can't be faithful to one woman. Do we really need to find these guys in a romance novel? This one doesn't need any explanation! After all, what woman doesn't fantasize about being the sole and abiding craving of one of the richest, most powerful and handsome men in the land? A duke, no less? A man who has eyes for her, and for her alone? Eva de la Mouriere encounters just such a man in Lucien de Montforte, the mighty Duke of Blackheath, in "THE WICKED ONE." Even when tragedy strikes and Eva is told she will never be able to give her husband the heir he so desires, he isn't going anywhere. His love for his duchess is true and abiding and she is as essential to him as air and water; his adoration for her is as fixed as a star in a mariner's sky. To be the enduring fascination of such a powerful and sexy man ... does it get any better than that?

  5. Basic Goodness. Is there anything sexier than a guy who is kind to children, to animals, and to others? A man who goes out of his way, perhaps even at great personal risk to himself, to make life better for someone else? Tortured hero Damon de Wolfe, the sixth Marquess of Morninghall and naval captain who has fallen from grace, begins his hero's journey in "WICKED AT HEART" from a place of despair, apathy, and a burning need for revenge. It takes a very special heroine to awaken him to the basic goodness that is in this man's heart, and to turn that goodness into a force to be reckoned with. Damon will eventually risk his very life in an attempt to make life better for those around him who are suffering indescribable pain -- and that makes him a hero well worth meeting!

There are many "ingredients" that go into the recipe of a great romance hero, and these are just a few of them. I hope you've enjoyed reading my thoughts on this fascinating subject, and as for me, I've greatly enjoyed being here today. Thank you, Jess, and the readers of From Me To You, for hosting me. It has been a pleasure, and an honor, to be here!



About the Author :

Multi-award winning and critically acclaimed author Danelle Harmon is the author of ten books, previously published in print and distributed in many languages throughout the world. A Massachusetts native, she married her English husband while living in the United Kingdom, and both now make their home in Massachusetts with their daughter Emma and numerous animals including four dogs, an Egyptian Arabian horse, and a flock of pet chickens.



- This is an ARC book - Available Formats through Amazon.com: Paperback - Pages: 384; Kindle Edition - File Size: 916 KB | Expected Release Date: May 2012 | Publisher: Self-Published | Obtained: Goddess Fish Promotions

"The Wild One" [The de Montforte Brothers Series, Book 1] by Danelle Harmon

My Book Summary : Everyone who knows of his family knows Lord Gareth as The Wild One. He's reckless, the leader of his friends group called 'the Den of Debauchery,' popular with the ladies, and enjoys his carefree lifestyle. That is until Juliet falls into his life and turns his world upside down.

Juliet is from the colonies, the wilderness of Maine to be exact but most recently Boston. She is on her way to meet the Duke of Blackheath (her beloved's, Lord Charles, older brother) to see if he and his family (the de Montforte's) will take her and her daughter, Charlotte, in and help them out. However, on her way to meet the Duke of Blackheath her stagecoach gets robbed. Gareth, not far from robbery, becomes the hero when he attempts to stop the robbers and gets hurt during the process. During the time, that Juliet tries to help Gareth with his wound they find out about each other---that Juliet is Gareth's dead brother's fiancée, Gareth is the Duke & Charles' younger brother, and Charlotte is Gareth's niece. Gareth brings Juliet to the de Montforte home and while he's recuperating they get closer and become friends.

However, finding it hard to get over his "wild" ways, once Gareth is better, he takes out his Den members to have a bit of fun. Yet by the next morning Juliet & Gareth's lives change completely when they find out that the Duke won’t help Juliet out, so Gareth decides to step-up and help them out the only way he can think of how ... to marry Juliet!!

Will this be the best solution for them both?? Will they find that their feelings for each other are more than just friendship? Can Juliet finally settle down The Wild One??

My Book Review : 3.5 out of 5 stars! This fast-paced historical romance will show you what it's like to be the carefree third-son of a Duke who decides to finally become the man he was meant to be, yet has no idea where to begin. It's a very intriguing tale of heartache, new love, friendship, and the lengths one will go to keep those who he loves the most. I really liked the easy relationship/banter between Juliet and Gareth!! They were perfect for each other and setup a wonderful beginning to this series!! Plus, the surprise twist at the end is very shocking that I just not sure, how to take it, so it'll be interesting as to how the second book, "The Beloved One," will develop the series.

I recommend this novel and series to anyone who enjoys historical romances!

- On a side note -
I think I was a little biased with how much I liked Juliet since like her I'm from Maine too. =0)

Author's Series Extras : My first blog post! | Music to Write By

Book Teaser(s) :
"You, my dear, do not know how to have fun."
"I do, too!"
"You do not. You are as bad as Lucien. And do you know something? I think it's time someone showed you how to have fun. Namely, me. You can worry all you like about our situation tomorrow, but tonight ... tonight I'm going to make you laugh so hard that you'll forget all about how afraid of me you are."
"I am not afraid of you!"
"You are."
And with that, he pushed his chair back, stalked around the table, and in a single easy movement, swept her right out of her chair and into his arms.
"Gareth! Put me down!"
He only laughed, easily carrying her toward the bed.
"Gareth, I am a grown woman!"
"You are a grown woman who behaves in a manner far too old for her years," he countered, still striding toward the bed. "As the wife of a Den member, that just will not do." ~ within Chapter 18
For more information on this book, series, and/or any other books by Danelle, then please check out her website.



Book Excerpt :

Prologue

Newman House, 18 April, 1775

My dear brother, Lucien,

It has just gone dark and as I pen these words to you, an air of rising tension hangs above this troubled town. Tonight, several regiments — including mine, the King's Own — have been ordered by General Gage, commander in chief of our forces here in Boston, out to Concord to seize and destroy a significant store of arms and munitions that the rebels have secreted there. Due to the clandestine nature of this assignment, I have ordered my batman, Billingshurst, to withhold the posting of this letter until the morrow, when the mission will have been completed and secrecy will no longer be of concern.

Although it is my most ardent hope that no blood will be shed on either side during this endeavour, I find that my heart, in these final moments before I must leave, is restless and uneasy. It is not for myself that I am afraid, but another. As you know from my previous letters home, I have met a young woman here with whom I have become attached in a warm friendship. I suspect you do not approve of my becoming so enamoured of a storekeeper's daughter, but things are different in this place, and when a fellow is three thousand miles away from home, love makes a far more desirable companion than loneliness. My dear Miss Paige has made me happy, Lucien, and earlier tonight, she accepted my plea for her hand in marriage; I beg you to understand, and forgive, for I know that someday when you meet her, you will love her as I do.

My brother, I have but one thing to ask of you, and knowing that you will see to my wishes is the only thing that calms my troubled soul during these last few moments before we depart. If anything should happen to me — tonight, tomorrow, or at any time whilst I am here in Boston — I beg of you to find it in your heart to show charity and kindness to my angel, my Juliet, for she means the world to me. I know you will take care of her if ever I cannot. Do this for me and I shall be happy, Lucien.

I must close now, as the others are gathered downstairs in the parlour, and we are all ready to move. May God bless and keep you, my dear brother, and Gareth, Andrew, and sweet Nerissa, too.

Charles


Sometime during the last hour, it had begun to grow dark.

Lucien de Montforte turned the letter over in his hands, his gaze shuttered, his mind far away as he stared out the window over the downs that stood like sentinels against the fading twilight. A breath of pink still glowed in the western sky, but it would soon be gone. He hated this time of night, this still and lonely hour just after sunset when old ghosts were near, and distant memories welled up in the heart with the poignant nearness of yesterday, close enough to see yet always too elusive to touch.

But the letter was real. Too real.

He ran a thumb over the heavy vellum, the bold, elegant script that had been so distinctive of Charles's style — both on paper, in thought, and on the field — still looking as fresh as if it had been written yesterday, not last April. His own name was there on the front: To His Grace the Duke of Blackheath, Blackheath Castle, nr. Ravenscombe, Berkshire, England.

They were probably the last words Charles had ever written.

Carefully, he folded the letter along creases that had become fragile and well-worn. The blob of red wax with which his brother had sealed the letter came together at the edges like a wound that had never healed, and try as he might to avoid seeing them, his gaze caught the words that someone, probably Billingshurst, had written on the back....

Found on the desk of Captain Lord Charles Adair de Montforte on the 19th of April 1775, the day on which his lordship was killed in the fighting at Concord. Please deliver to addressee.

A pang went through him. Dead, gone, and all but forgotten, just like that.

The duke of Blackheath carefully laid the letter inside the drawer, which he shut and locked. He gazed once more out the window, lord of all he surveyed but unable to master his own bitter emptiness. A mile away, at the foot of the downs, he could just see the twinkling lights of Ravenscombe village, could envision its ancient church with its Norman tower and tombs of de Montforte dead. And there, inside, high on the stone wall of the chancel, was the simple bronze plaque that was all they had to tell posterity that his brother had ever even lived.

Charles, the second son.

God help them all if anything happened to him, Lucien, and the dukedom passed to the third.

No. God would not be so cruel.

He snuffed the single candle and with the darkness enclosing him, the sky still glowing beyond the window, moved from the room.


Chapter 1

Berkshire, England, 1776

The Flying White was bound for Oxford, and it was running late. Now, trying to make up time lost to a broken axle, the driver had whipped up the team, and the coach careered through the night in a cacophony of shouts, thundering hooves, and cries from the passengers who were clinging for their lives on the roof above.

Strong lanterns cut through the rainy darkness, picking out ditches, trees, and hedgerows as the vehicle hurtled through the Lambourn Downs at a pace that had Juliet Paige's heart in her throat. Because of Charlotte, her six-month-old daughter, Juliet had been lucky enough to get a seat inside the coach, but even so, her head banged against the leather squabs on the right, her shoulder against an elderly gent on her left, and her neck ached with the constant side to side movement. On the seat across from her, another young mother clung to her two frightened children, one huddled under each arm. It had been a dreadful run up from Southampton indeed, and Juliet was feeling almost as ill as she had during the long sea voyage over from Boston.

The coach hit a bump, became airborne for a split second, and landed hard, snapping her neck, throwing her violently against the man on her left, and causing the passengers clinging to the roof above to cry out in terror. Someone's trunk went flying off the coach, but the driver never slowed the galloping team.

"God help us!" murmured the young mother across from Juliet as her children cringed fearfully against her.

Juliet grasped the strap and hung her head, fighting nausea as she hugged her own child. Her lips touched the baby's downy gold curls. "Almost there," she whispered, for Charlotte's ears alone. "Almost there — to your papa's home."

Suddenly without warning, there were shouts, a horse's frightened whinny, and violent curses from the driver. Someone on the roof screamed. The coach careened madly, the inhabitants both inside and out shrieking in terror as the vehicle hurtled along on two wheels for another forty or fifty feet before finally crashing heavily down on its axles with another neck-snapping jolt, shattering a window with the impact and spilling the elderly gent to the floor. Outside, someone was sobbing in fear and pain.

And inside, the atmosphere of the coach went as still as death.

"We're being robbed!" cried the old man, getting to his knees to peer out the rain-spattered window.

Shots rang out. There was a heavy thud from above, then movement just beyond the ominous black pane. And then suddenly, without warning it imploded, showering the inside passengers in a hail of glass.

Gasping, they looked up to see a heavy pistol — and a masked face just beyond it.

"Yer money or yer life. Now!"

~~~~

It was the very devil of a night. No moon, no stars, and a light rain stinging his face as Lord Gareth Francis de Montforte sent his horse, Crusader, flying down the Wantage road at a speed approaching suicide. Stands of beech and oak shot past, there then gone. Pounding hooves splashed through puddles and echoed against the hedgerows that bracketed the road. Gareth glanced over his shoulder, saw nothing but a long empty stretch of road behind him, and shouted with glee. Another race won — Perry, Chilcot, and the rest of the Den of Debauchery would never catch him now!

Laughing, he patted Crusader's neck as the hunter pounded through the night. "Well done, good fellow! Well done —"

And pulled him up sharply at he passed Wether Down.

It took him only a moment to assess the situation.

Highwaymen. And by the looks of it, they were helping themselves to the pickings — and passengers — of the Flying White from Southampton.

The Flying White? The young gentleman reached inside his coat pocket and pulled out his watch, squinting to see its face in the darkness. Damned late for the Flying White...

He dropped the timepiece back into his pocket, steadied Crusader, and considered what to do. No gentlemen of the road, this lot, but a trio of desperate, hardened killers. The driver and guard lay on the ground beside the coach, both presumably dead. Somewhere a child was crying, and now one of the bandits, with a face that made a hatchet look kind, smashed in the windows of the coach with the butt end of his gun. Gareth reached for his pistol. The thought of quietly turning around and going back the way he'd come never occurred to him. The thought of waiting for his friends, probably a mile behind thanks to Crusader's blistering speed, didn't occur to him, either. Especially when he saw one of the bandits yank open the door of the coach and haul out a struggling young woman.

He had just the briefest glimpse of her face — scared, pale, beautiful — before one of the highwaymen shot out the lanterns of the coach and darkness fell over the entire scene. Someone screamed. Another shot rang out, silencing the frightened cry abruptly.

His face grim, the young gentleman knotted his horse's reins and removed his gloves, pulling each one carefully off by the fingertips. With a watchful eye on the highwaymen, he slipped his feet from the irons and vaulted lightly down from the thoroughbred's tall back, his glossy top boots of Spanish leather landing in chalk mud up to his ankles. The horse never moved. He doffed his fine new surtout and laid it over the saddle along with his tricorn and gloves. He tucked the lace at his wrist safely inside his sleeve to protect it from any soot or sparks his pistol might emit. Then he crept through the knee-high weeds and nettles that grew thick at the side of the road, priming and loading the pistol as he moved stealthily toward the stricken coach. He would have time to squeeze off only one shot before they were upon him, and that one shot had to count.




Giveaways!! :
  • A digital copy of book two, "The Beloved One" to one randomly drawn commenter at every stop during the tour

  • A $25 Amazon Gift Card to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour

To Enter : Please leave a comment on this post, with a valid email address included at the end of it.

Soo .... COMMENT, COMMENT, COMMENT on this post!! And you could WIN!! =0)

ALSO -- Be sure to follow the tour around the other blog sites! Commenting on the other stops on the tour will also increase your chance of winning!


Find Danelle Harmon :

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

"Waiting On" Wednesday: Playing to Win

  • Today's "Waiting On" Wednesday by Jill - click here

  • "Playing to Win" [Play-by-Play Series, Book 4] by Jaci Burton
    Expected Publication Released Date: September 4, 2012

    Author's Book Description:
      Someone's going to have to let down their guard...

      Football star Cole Riley is notorious for doing as he pleases—on the field and off. He parties hard and fights harder, but if he doesn't clean up his act, his career is over—so Cole reluctantly agrees to work with image makeover consultant Savannah Brooks. He's not used to being told what to do, especially by some (admittedly hot) southern belle. As for Savannah, she's not convinced she can transform this cocky (and aggressively sexy) force of nature. But she's determined to give it her best shot.

      When the sparks start to fly, Savannah lays down the ground rules: no personal complications. If she can turn off the tingle she feels every time Cole gives her a hot stare with his gorgeous baby blues, he can turn off his desire as well. But for two people determined to have it all, a hands-off policy can only last so long before one of them yields.

    Monday, July 30, 2012

    Blog Tour - Made the Grade: A Howl in the Night by Courtney Rene | Interview, Review, & Giveaway

    Today I'm turning my blog over to Courtney Rene, who I interviewed about her latest novel "A Howl in the Night!!"

    ALSO -- Be sure to comment on this post to be able to sign up for this tour's GIVEAWAYs (listed below)!! [Blog Tour will run from July 30 - August 3, 2012]



    My Q&A with Courtney Rene :

    Jess : What books have most influenced your life?

    Courtney : I think this changes depending on where my life is at the moment. Right now though, I would have to say: V. C. Andrews. She gave me great incite into the darkness of life. A real darkness, not the monsters and stuff you find in Anne Rice or Stephen King. The Heaven series was a great one in that regard. Seeing how real people can be so screwed up, and look just as normal as you and me, changed my view of the world in general. Took some of the rosy color out of the world.

    Jess : Which of your characters would you most & least like to invite to dinner, from which book and why?

    Courtney : I would most like to have dinner with Gabriel from my book, "Shadow Warrior." I picture him as a Viking or maybe a gruff but handsome man from the highlands of Scotland. If you could get him to talk, it would be fun to see what he would say. Plus he’s kinda hot. I know for the teen reader, Gabriel is old, but to me an adult, he’s a gorgeous, buff, masculine guy. I would love for him to come to life and sit down at my table.

    I would least like to invite Grandfather Staton, from my book, "A Howl in the Night." I have a snarky mouth at times. My luck it would get the best of me and he would go on the attack. Plus I don’t do the whole, “man is greater than woman” thing. That would get under my skin pretty quick!

    Jess : Which character spoke the loudest to you when writing? Do any of them clamor to be heard over the others? Who is it, and from which book? What type of things do they say?

    Courtney : A lot of my characters will chat me up now and then. I don’t mind in general, as it’s a great way to really connect with each of them. I know this sounds mental to un-writer people, but I promise we aren’t nuts. Well not about this anyway.

    However, Abby, the main character, in my book, "A Howl in the Night," was loud as all heck! All the time. She would wake me up at night demanding to be heard. She would pester me while I was trying to do other things, like read. Her biggest problem was, that she didn’t like Derek. No, that’s not even accurate. There was a period there that she loathed him. If she’d had her way, he would have been neutered at one point. There was also a point at the end where she wanted to basically have a blood bath between the two clans of wolves. I wrote the scene for her and realized, it was too, too much.

    Jess : What was the hardest part of writing "A Howl in the Night?"

    Courtney : I am pretty good with horror and fantasy writing, but I struggle big time with the love parts. There I am, trying to put myself into the scene to see if it’s working and I get all giggly and embarrassed, and red in the face. I can feel the blush on my cheeks. Blood and guts no worries, a bit of touchy feely and Courtney freaks out. All in all it turned out pretty good (even if it’s me saying so) but man, that was rough.

    Jess : If "A Howl in the Night" were to be made into a film, who do you see playing the main characters and why?

    Courtney : Oh, great questions. I hadn’t even thought about a movie for this book. I would say Selena Gomez is still young enough to pull it off. Plus she has the dark hair already with the small form that Abby has. Oh! Miranda Cosgrove from iCarly. She would be great. She even has a good face for it. Yeah. I like her for the part.


    Jess : Which usually comes first for you, the character(s) story or the idea for the novel?

    Courtney : Usually just a random thought pops in to my head and it takes off from there. Something like, “It would be so cool to shape shift into a wolf. Where do werewolves actually come from? Do they all get along?” Next thing you know, you have two warring clans, fighting over a female shape shifter, and taa daa, novel in motion.

    Jess : Please describe your heroine, from "A Howl in the Night," in one to two sentences.

    Courtney : Abigail Staton – A confident, yet strong willed, sixteen-year-old girl. She has a bit of a mouth now and then, but has a soft heart that surprises even her at times.

    Jess : In regards to your most recent novel, if you could write it all over again, would you change anything about it?

    Courtney : I am always second-guessing myself when it comes to my novels. For this one, I wonder if it should have been more violent in the end. I tried to hold back on too much violence as it is a teen novel, but I wonder if in doing so, I made it not violent enough.

    Jess : How many books have you written? Which is your favorite and why?

    Courtney : I have written four at this time.

    "Shadow Dancer"
    "Shadow Warrior"
    "A Howl in the Night"
    "Shadows End" (to release Fall 2012)

    My current favorite is "Shadows End." I think its because I am neck deep in it right now with final edits as we get ready for release. I have gotten very attached to the characters of the Shadow Dancer Series and this book is the climax of that story. It has love. It has deception. It has murder, mayhem, and death. It’s a great story. I can’t wait for it to come out so that everyone can read it.

    Jess : Do you have any other projects in the works? If so, can you share a little of your current work with us?

    Courtney : I am currently writing a new story about angels and demons. Not much to tell at this point except that I found this old book of the bible (that had been removed by the church centuries ago) called "The Book of Enoch" about the fall of the angels from heaven. So I decided to write a story about one of the fallen. It has potential.

    Jess : Have you ever gone out in public with your shirt on backwards, or your slippers on, and when realizing it, just said screw it?

    Courtney : Yes, yes I have, more than once and many different silly things too. I once realized I needed to put on a slip under my white skirt as I could see in great detail, the little pink sunshines that covered my panties through my skirt. Then I got busy feeding the dogs, and getting the girls off to school that I completely forgot until I was out in public with the sunshines out for the world to see. That was a fun day... Not much you can do about it some days, so you just have to plod on and yes, say screw it.

    Jess : If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be?

    Courtney : "Out of the darkness."
    "From the bottom, up."
    "Oopsy, sorry about that" (Ha! This one is the best if you know me at all).

    Jess : What book are you reading now? How do you like it so far?

    Courtney : "Blood Trails" by Sharon Sala (The Searchers Series). I’m only about 2 chapters in and...oh I hate to say it, but I am bored. I know if I can just get to the good stuff it will be great but yeah, slow start to this one. Too much back story.



    About the Author :

    Courtney Rene lives in Ohio with her husband and two children. She is a graduate and member of the Institute of Children’s Literature. Her writings include magazine articles, short fiction stories, several anthologies, and her Shadow Dancer series, published through Rogue Phoenix Press. For a complete listing, visit www.ctnyrene.blogspot.com. Feel free to contact her at ctnyrene@aol.com.



    - This is an ARC book - Available Formats through Amazon.com: Kindle Edition - File Size: 330 KB | Expected Release Date: June 2012 | Publisher: Rogue Phoenix Press | Obtained: Goddess Fish Promotions

    "A Howl in the Night" by Courtney Rene

    My Book Summary : Abigail (Abby) sixteenth birthday goes from promising to bad to worse in just a few hours. First, her best friend, Brian, announces that he's in love with her, yet she doesn't feel the same way about them, so they end up arguing. Second, she receives a birthday present from her father who she has never met and knows nothing about. Third, she finds out from her mother that her father is a werewolf. Which are all great ways to ruin her birthday and change her world forever, especially when her father decides on coming back into her and her mother's lives. Now she's thrust into a world she isn't prepared for and into the middle of a war between two werewolf clans that has been brewing for a while. Will she be able to get up to speed with the new changes in herself and her life before everything else around her comes crashing down? Is she the key to change everything for the better?

    My Book Review : 3.5 out of 5 stars! This fast-paced young adult novel is filled with unexpected twists that lead you to its surprise ending and wanting for more! Abby is a strong lead character who knows who she is (for the most part) enough to stay true to herself throughout this novel. Also, I really liked her spunk and resourcefulness when she dealt with all the changes coming at her.

    Even though it worked well for the plot, I really hated how Abby's mother suddenly changed once Abby's father came into the picture. It made the novel harder for me to read since I couldn't get over the thought of 'how could she do that to her daughter?' Yet even because of that and the how slow the beginning was of this novel, it makes the middle and ending all the better!!

    Since I typically read romance novels (yes, YA ones too) I was a bit surprised at how Abby went about her feelings for the men in her life. However, because of that it definitely makes you intrigued as to where she'll be going and whom she'll be with in the sequel to this novel whenever that'll come out. I really have high hopes for this series. =0)

    I recommend this to anyone who likes paranormal romance/horror young adult novels!

    Author's Novel Extras : Cover Reveal - A Howl in the Night | ...and then I thought, RADIO

    Book Teaser(s) :
    As I was closing the door, I heard her softly say, "Night," but I didn't respond back. I just closed the door and locked it.
    Shadow was sprawled out on my bed like the King of Spain. It brought a smile to my face if not my heart. I shook my head and then turned out the lights. I crawled under the covers on my bed, shoving Shadow over a bit to get some room. I flung an arm over his warm body, buried my face against his furry side and slept.
    I was not afraid. I was not alone. Shadow was enough for me, for the night. ~ within Chapter 5
    Why did I even try? Because I needed to make him understand who I was, what I wanted...but then what? He would still be Derek the great and wonderful wolf, and I would still be stuck with him.
    "Oh good. You need to remember that love is evil. It makes you weak. It makes you a fool. I mean, look at the first Staton Wolf. He was in love and look what it did for him?" Derek said.
    "It wasn't love that made him an animal," I said.
    "Yes, it was. It made him crazy and loose focus. No, I don't want love and neither should you."
    I shrugged. "But I do want it," I said. "Where does that leave us?"
    "Well, you have two years to get over it."
    If only it was that simple. My wolf shifted under my skin, making me aware of her presence. She was both a curse and a gift. She was also going to be my salvation, if I could just figure out how to use her. ~ within Chapter 10
    For more information on this book and/or any other books by Courtney, then please check out her website.



    Book Excerpt :

    “What’re you cooking?”

    “I just got in, so nothing yet.”

    I felt a bit confused for a moment, because I could smell something. It smelled salty and something else I couldn’t put my finger on. I tipped my head up a bit and sniffed the air. The smell was really strong and pungent in the kitchen. It was there somewhere.

    “What’s that smell then?” Suddenly, I was starving.

    She turned around and looked at me, but before she could answer, I spied a white package sitting partially unwrapped on the counter. I went over to it and pulled open the paper to see what smelled so good.

    Inside was a chunk of bloody, raw meat. My stomach churned and flipped suddenly, not in sickness but in desire. My brain may have been saying eww gross, but for some reason my body was saying, oh yeah, give it to me now. I backed away from the counter. I had a feeling if I didn’t, I would have pounced on that slab of meat and chawed down on it, raw or not.

    “What’s wrong?” Mom said, “It’s not for you, I promise. I have stuff to make pasta salad too. What else you in the mood for?”

    I decided she didn’t really want to know the answer to that question.

    I couldn’t take my eyes off the white paper, sitting there, unattended, smelling up the house with its heavenly scent.



    Giveaways!! :
    • A $5 Amazon Gift Cards to two randomly drawn commenters during the tour

    To Enter : Please leave a comment on this post, with a valid email address included at the end of it.

    Soo .... COMMENT, COMMENT, COMMENT on this post!! And you could WIN!! =0)

    ALSO -- Be sure to follow the tour around the other blog sites! Commenting on the other stops on the tour will also increase your chance of winning!


    Find Courtney Rene :

    Saturday, July 28, 2012

    Made the Grade: Cracked by Tara Logan

    Format: Kindle Edition | File Size: 201 KB | Release Date: July 2012 | Publisher: Self-Published | Obtained: Smashwords

    "Cracked" by Tara Logan

    My Book Summary : Dailey “Wiggle It” Wood has been playing minor league baseball for a while now, but he has a feeling that he'll be moving up to the major league soon. However, his dreams of being a major league player look to be ending after he gets into a fender bender with Allarie's (Al) younger sister.

    Al is a chiropractor who has been talked into helping Dailey for free so her sister won't have to call her insurance company and so Dailey's injury can be hidden so it won't hurt his chances for the majors. Nevertheless, as they help one another while pretending to be a couple they're both surprised by the chemistry that they have and evolves with each other. Can they or do they want to make their fake relationship into something more? On the other hand, will their past and their future plans get in the way?

    My Book Review : 3.5 out of 5 stars, this is a very cute novella about finding the right person for you and be willing to do what it takes to keep them. I liked Al and Dailey; they played off each other well. Al's family and Dailey's friends/players really entertained throughout this novella.

    However, even though this was a novella I think the end of it just wrapped up to quickly for my liking. I just wish for a little bit more. Yet I did like the "epilogue." =0)

    I recommend this to anyone looking for a fast-paced contemporary romance novella.

    Book Teaser(s) :
    He glanced back at the others who were still holding their sides. “What’s so funny?”
    “The great Dailey Wood. Everyone knows you from baseball. So many women would kill to get in the seats you put the new girlfriend in. Right up front. Best seats in the house. But does she care about the game? You’ve been with some bubble headed blondes before, but this one takes it.”
    Dailey stood there stunned. He thought the word would have been out that he took a classy and intelligent lady to the dinner last night. Strange that no one heard. How could anyone be under the impression she wasn’t the smarty pants that she was? “Bubble headed? She’s anything but that.”
    “She yelled ‘touchdown’ so loud half the guys looked around to see if someone had been tackled.” At this he started laughing so hard he couldn’t stop. ~ within Chapter 5
    For more information on this book and/or any other books by Tara, then please check out her website.

    Friday, July 27, 2012

    Blog Tour - Breathless Press Book Blurb Blitz Tour #3

    Today I'm turning my blog over to Breathless Press e-book publisher of "Rescued Love," "All For a Dead Man’s Leg," "Her Unlikely Bodyguard," "Unearthed," & "Blessed Homecoming!"

    ALSO -- Be sure to comment on this post to be able to sign up for this tour's GIVEAWAY (listed below)!! [Blog Tour will run from July 23 - 27, 2012]



    "Rescued Love" [Second Chance Rescue Series, Book 1] by Angelina Rain

    Author's Book Description :
      One by one, household dogs disappear only to come back after senseless abuse. Veterinarian Jordan Powell will stop at nothing to make sure her patients safety. Even if that means seeking help from ex-boyfriend, Police Officer Nate Thrillson, the man whose heart she once broke.

      The last thing Nate wants is a relationship. He has an inoperable cancerous tumor in his brain and his days are numbered. Yet, he couldn’t resist Jordan.
      It’s a race against time to save the dogs and the man who captured her heart. Can the doctor, who made a life out of helping animals, heal a human? [Click here to read the EXCERPT!]


    "All For a Dead Man’s Leg" [Tour Director Extraordinaire Series, Book 1] by R. Ann Siracusa

    Author's Book Description :
      Meet Harriet Ruby, a well-balanced MIT graduate with a degree in languages, whose life has been good but ordinary and predictable. Wanting new experiences before she settles down to a career and family, she accepts a position as a tour director in Europe.

      Meet Will Talbot, a handsome Europol spy and covert operative for the US government with a dark troubled past, major trust issues, and dissociative amnesia. Driven by guilt over something he believes he did, he has a penchant for rescuing innocent victims caught up in dangerous circumstances.

      Harriet’s first solo stint as a tour director in Spain and Morocco is going well until they get lost in the medina in Tangier. There, one of her tourists becomes ill. Harriet needs to find a doctor, can’t speak Arabic, and doesn’t know how to get out of the walled city. A handsome and mysterious stranger, Will Talbot, examines the tourist, pronounces him dead, and offers to help her smuggle the body out of Morocco. At this moment, Harriet’s once-predictable life turns upside down. Little does she know that getting out of Morocco is only the beginning of an incredible adventure in pursuit of murders, smugglers, terrorists, and a meaningful relationship. [Click here to read the EXCERPT!]


    "Her Unlikely Bodyguard" by Lorraine Nelson

    Author's Book Description :
      A stalker who wants revenge...a past flame rekindled...Jemma Leigh's summer just got interesting.
      ***

      Jemma Leigh Harding has drawn the attention of an unknown stalker and returns to her hometown of Somerville, a safe haven—or so she thinks—on the east coast of Canada.

      Theodore Garrity is the last person she expects to see, considering how easily he walked away from her after graduation to join the army.

      Their past history involves secrets Jemma Leigh is hesitant to share. When it becomes clear the stalker has followed her home, Teddy becomes her unlikely bodyguard. Will the terror and past hurts separate them forever? Or will love blaze a fresh path for their future? [Click here to read the EXCERPT!]


    "Unearthed" [Duty Bound Series, Book 2] by J. S. Marlo

    Author's Book Description :
      Shaped by regrets. Bound by duty. Driven by secrets.

      Rowan's future is jeopardized by the regrets she harbors and the deadly secrets she unearths.

      ***

      Obligated to give up the man she loves, Rowan O'Reilly takes over Buccaneer Bed & Breakfast. Though her heart is in shambles, she is drawn to Avery Stone, a mysterious guest who reminds her of Bjorn...and everything she lost.

      Haunted by a fatal decision, Avery escapes his past in Buccaneer's attic, but he can't ignore the previous owner's peculiar death, the strange bones exhumed by the spirited Rowan...or the annoying doctor vying for her attention.

      As visitors wreak havoc on Buccaneer, Rowan stumbles onto deadly family secrets and unknowingly unearths a murderer. Yet nothing, not even the threat of her predecessor's fate, can stop her from digging for the truth. [Click here to read the EXCERPT!]


    "Blessed Homecoming" by Lorraine Nelson

    Author's Book Description :
      The hometown girl and the handyman both carry emotional baggage. Are they destined to remain friends, or is there room in their hearts for more?

      ***

      Wendy Danforth is preparing to be a single mom with her ex-husband in jail for spousal abuse. She returns to her hometown to renew her faith and heal. Caught off guard by the handyman in residence, attraction hits, swift and piercing, but she quells her unruly emotions. She's in no hurry to get involved in another relationship. Besides, at almost nine months pregnant, she's not exactly looking her best.

      Jake Roberts, hired to renovate the Danforths' house, takes one look at his employer's daughter and wants to run far and fast. He hasn't possessed an ounce of faith or been around a pregnant woman in three long years, not since his wife and unborn son died in an auto accident.

      They become friends, and when her ex-husband escapes custody, Jake steps up to protect Wendy and her unborn child. Will the danger and close proximity test their friendship? Or will it lead to more? Can Jake regain his lost faith, or will it elude him forever? [Click here to read the EXCERPT!]



    About the Publisher :

    Breathless Press is an e-book publisher specializing in Romance and Erotic(a) stories.

    Our mission statement is simple: To provide the opportunity for readers to connect with romance authors through the purchasing of quality e-books at a low price.

    Starting in the summer of 2009, Breathless Press came into existence. Since then, we have been producing top end romance and erotic stories for valued readers to enjoy.

    Our Goal?

    Breathless Press is an electronic publisher of paranormal, erotic, and mainstream romance, releasing one to three e-books a week in a variety of downloadable formats. It is Breathless Press' mission to provide readers with quality romance books in electronic formats and to raise the standard in e-publishing.




    Giveaway!! :
    • A $20 Breathless Press Gift Card to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour

    To Enter : Please leave a comment on this post, with a valid email address included at the end of it.

    Soo .... COMMENT, COMMENT, COMMENT on this post!! And you could WIN!! =0)

    ALSO -- Be sure to follow the tour around the other blog sites! Commenting on the other stops on the tour will also increase your chance of winning!


    Find Breathless Press :
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