Never Apologize

One thing I will NEVER apologize for - in life or business - is having HIGH standards. If the people in your life feel you're too picky, expect too much or that you’ve changed because you demand better, then maybe they aren't supposed to be taking this walk with you. If they can’t rise up to meet you, don’t fall down to meet them. Aim high today!!

Into The Light Review & Giveaway

Into The Light Tour & Review

Romantic Suspense

Date Published: 2/27/2014

 After Laney is shot at point blank range, Josh works tirelessly to repair her life threatening internal injuries from the gunshot wounds.  What’s worse is he is forced to inform Laney’s parents about the tragic accident.  Having only just begun a relationship with the woman he knows in his heart he will spend the rest of his life with, he now has to reveal to her parents that a stalker has been tormenting their daughter.  While his only mission is to save Laney’s life, her parents have other plans for their daughter, none of which include Josh.  They are determined to find a new doctor for Laney, and if her parents have their way, she will be taken thousands of miles away from him.

Just when Josh thinks his entire world has been turned completely upside down, he finds his sister Jillian has stopped taking her psychiatric medications and has become a person unfamiliar to him.  Dealing with her psychotic world becomes even more of a shock, leaving Josh in a horrible dilemma.  He is torn between trying to save Laney’s life, keeping her parents from moving her away from him, and providing his sister the attention and help she desperately needs before she has a complete psychotic breakdown.

Will Josh be able to save the love of his life and prevent her parents from taking her away?  Will he be able to help Jillian through her mental illness before it takes over her life?  Will Laney’s relationship with her parents ever be salvaged?  Will Josh and Laney have their happily evere after, or will the hurdles they have to jump through prove to be more than they can handle?

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Excerpt:

Dr. Josh Stone stood helpless as Laney, seemingly in slow motion, fell to the floor. The thud as her body hit the tiles shot goose bumps through his flesh. For a brief moment he was paralyzed. His girlfriend, also a trauma nurse-had been shot by the patient they had been taking care of. The sight of the man sitting up and grabbing Officer Miller’s gun from his holster replayed in Josh’s brain. The man pointed it at Laney and shot her several times before anyone was able to subdue him. Now, Josh stood helplessly as she lay motionless on the floor. How could this happen in his trauma room? How could he let this happen to Laney? His knees seemed to buckle as he sank to Laney’s side, stethoscope dangling from his neck.

Laney’s curly blonde hair covered much of her face, but it was clear she was unconscious. Josh gently shook her hoping for the slightest response. There was none. She had been shot in the chest.

Someone shrieked. One of the ER nurses, Dinah’s eyes were wide, both hands covered her mouth. She pointed to the floor. A puddle of blood oozed from under Laney. The metallic aroma wrinkled his nose.

Josh fought the anger raging inside him. He wanted to make the son-of-a-bitch who shot Laney pay for hurting her.

For now, let the cops handle it. Josh took a deep breath and struggled to regain his composure, but failed miserably.

“My God! Laney! How could this happen?” His face was hot. He swiped at it with his blood soaked hands and realized he was crying.

“Dr. Stone. Dr. Stone!”

Josh looked up. Dinah’s lips were moving, but her words weren’t computing. A couple of techs and nurses eased Laney from his arms. Not only did he feel the emptiness, it plagued his heart and his soul.

Josh helped lift Laney onto a gurney. Dinah placed her hand on his shoulder. “You need to help her. She needs you now more than ever.”

Dinah put her cold hands on Josh’s flushed face. “Dr. Stone, I know you’re in shock, but you need to focus. You’re the only one who can save her.”

Josh turned his head, causing the frigid hands to fall from his face. He rubbed his swollen eyes and surveyed the room. The devastation was beyond words. Officer Miller had the man who shot Laney subdued in handcuffs. He lay on the table with his disheveled hair covering his face. Someone must have given him a sedative because he wasn’t moving. Equipment had been knocked over, and supplies thrown everywhere. Josh’s heart rate sped up as he cast his eyes down at the pool of blood surrounding his feet.

“Where is she?”

“They’ve taken her to the O.R to get her prepped. You need to get down there right now. Dr. Nessler is coming in to finish up with this guy.”

Josh darted out of the room with an urgency he never felt before.  Each step he took, his pace quickened until he was in a full sprint to the O.R.

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Books & Chocolates Book Review

Into the Light seemed to be a  second book to a series and i really hate that I didn't have a chance to read the first part. 

Laney was only fifteen when she was raped and abused by her boyfriend Scott, and this has been an ordeal for her to get over this and move on with her life. Bad things seems to keep happening to Laney: one night while working she is shot by a man named Scott, and he shoots her multiple times, and Laney is put in Intensive care.

This book was a real rollercoaster and the action started early on from the first chapter.

Josh was one of my favorite characters in this book, he was so much in love with Laney and had a successful career as a surgeon. I really don't want to give to much of this story away, but i really enjoyed this read. I will say  that Burrows gives you suspense, humor and that mouth dropping moment in Into The Light. There was a few grammar errors, but it did not take away from the fact i was sucked into this book. 

I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.

I gave this book ****4 stars. I highly recommend that you pick this book up and read it.

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Jennifer Burrows

Jennifer is a Registered Nurse, and she holds a Master’s degree in Nursing Administration.  She has 15 years of experience working in the Emergency Room and the Intensive Care Unit of a major trauma center.  While she is equally adept at all facets of patient care, Emergency room nursing is her passion, and is the inspiration for this story and A Shot in the Dark.  Currently, she resides in Southern California with her husband and their three amazing boys.  A Shot in the Dark was her debut novel with Into the Light following as the sequel.

Website: www.jenniferburrows.net

Facebook: www.facebook.com/jenniferburrowsbooks

Twitter: @jenburrows234

BUY LINKS

Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Into-Light-Dark-jennifer-Burrows-ebook/dp/B00I3S7UVI/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1395709819&sr=8-10&keywords=into+the+light

The Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cami Hensley Owner, Reading Addiction Blog Tours chensley@myaddictionisreading.com | readingaddictionvbt.blogspot.com

The Fallen Blog Tour

The Fallen Tour Stop & Review

The Fallen (The Greatest Sin) by Lee French and Erik Kort Me

Link back to the tour

http:// fireandicebooktours.wordpress.com/ 2014/02/02/fantasy-book-tour-giveaway the-fallen-the-greatest-sin-by-lee-french and-erik-kort-tour-dates-22414-32414/

Goodreads Direct Link

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/ 20633481-the-fallen?ac=

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Blurb:

For hundreds of years, the Blaukenev clan has wandered across Tilzam, from one end to the other and back. Each wagon carries history, love, laughter pain, sorrow, and secrets. Their greatest secret of all may be Chavali, the clan Seer Spirits claim.

/use/save/damn her

With her gift/curse, nothing surprises her anymore, no one keeps secrets from her. She, on the other hand, has more than enough secrets to keep Secrets of her own, secrets of her clan secrets of the world, secrets she even keeps from herself.

There are always people who want secrets Some will do anything to get what they want.

The Fallen is the first story of The Greatest Sin, of a world adrift from its God that desperately wants Her back Chavali's comfortable, predictable life will be ripped apart and burnt to ashes as she's forced into the middle of that struggle. Change, she hates it passionately. It hates her right back.

Buy links:

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/The Fallen-Greatest-Sin-ebook/dp/ B00I1OMEH4

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Book Excerpt:

“Come in.” They did not speak the clan tongue in front of Outsiders, not without dire need, lest someone overhear enough to translate it and learn it. Instead, they spoke Shappan, the dominant language of Tilzam. Nearly everyone knew it, regardless of country or native tongue. Along with the words, spoken in the light accent of the clan, she lifted a hand to gesture to the stool opposite herself. “You are welcome here.”

He was timid as a mouse and small like one, too. Keino could probably lift this man over his head with one hand, or break him in half over his knee Chavali watched him take small steps and dart his eyes all around. “Um you’re the Seer?” His Shappan was obviously better than her own, she could tell even with so few words spoken.

“Yes. No one can see into the tent, it is safe, you are safe here. Sit, be calm.” Coaxing a scared little man onto the seat was not her preferred way to spend her time, and she stifled a sigh and a roll of her eyes. “If you do not sit, I cannot help, yes?”

“Oh, right. Of course.” He moved quickly practically jumped onto the stoo while shooting terrified looks all around the tent. “I’ve just never done anything like this before, and, um, I’m worried about…”

Holding out her hand, she kept her tone calm and patient. “Give me your hand. I cannot help if I have no connection to you.”

His audible gulp made her want to rol her eyes again, but he tentatively offered her his hand. As she seized it, the spirits rushed him, eager as always for new people to interact with DearCreatorIhopeyoucanhelpmeI’mdoomedthisissocrazy

“Calm,” she told him, shutting her eyes to make it easier to focus on this pile of crap. “If you do not calm down, see nothing, just a bouncing jumble of nervous. Deep breath in through your mouth, out through your nose. Come, do this a few times.”

His thoughts began to settle as he followed her orders. It became less a rushed mush and more actual coherent ideas. Amy is going to kill me for this. I shouldn’t be doubting her, but am, and I need to fix that. She’s a sweet girl, this is all my fault.

“I see a name. A-something, Anna? No Amy. Does this name mean something to you?”

As expected, he gasped a little. How does she know that? Is this the rea thing? If she knows that, she must know if she’s seeing Marcus or not.“Yes, that’s my wife.”

“You worry about her, you think she is meeting someone else?”

“Yes!” His mind flooded with images of Amy, who he loved, deeply, but also with images of a man much more virile than himself. That other man wore armor and used a blade for his work. A city guard, perhaps, or a soldier.

“There is another name, with a…’c’. But not at the front, maybe in the end? No, no, the middle. Arcu, Marcus. Yes Marcus. He wields authority.”

“Yes, he’s in the Order of the Strong Arm one of their knights. I need to know.” He already knew, of course. That was the beauty of what Chavali did All the answers were in his mind already he just needed someone else to say it out loud because he couldn’t, the poor fool. People really were the same no matter where she went.

Still, it wasn’t good to just say things like this aloud with no feeling or props, or anything to give her an air of more authority than just pulling things out of the air. Her free hand dipped into the pouch tied to the thin belt around her waist (it also held a smal blade in a sheath at the smal of her back), pulled out five objects at random and tossed them on the table. Keeping hold of his hand, she peered down at the bones, finding it amusing that all five were actually bones The pouch also had crystals stones, and even bits of shell and wood all minimally shaped and etched with ink-stained runes by her own hand.

It wasn’t that the bones were only props they had meaning for Chavali. It was that they weren’t tools for divining. In this context, she used them as prompts, as ideas for how to word things“Mmm.

” Starting with the one closest to him, because she didn’t like having them out of her control for any longer than necessary, she picked up a chicken wing bone, displayed it then deposited it back into her pouch“Pain of the soul, for you.” The next was a finger bone, from Seer Marika’s dead body. “Betrayal. Face down the betrayer is a woman.

” A bone from the paw of a dog was next. She liked that dog enough to preserve a part of him. “Love, but face down, so actually just lust.”

This was all so stupid and predictable. His mind raced as her words confirmed everything he feared.

The next a horse’s tooth, was an amusing addition.

“Secrets. Many secrets.”

The last one almost always turned up when she did this. It was a chunk of unidentified bone, picked up some time ago just because of its odd shape.

“Fear There is much fear through all of this.”

She needed nothing more from this man to make her pronouncement, and she didn’t care in the slightest if it turned out to be true or not.

They would be gone tomorrow morning, and likely wouldn’t return for several years, if ever.

Letting go of his hand, she gave him a mildly sympathetic look.

“The bones have spoken. She has betrayed you, and you must deal with that in your own way.

The bones, I think, suggest you confront it head-on, but this Marcus may not be wise to cross.”

He nodded, resigned. “Thank you.”

“It is not a thing I wish to be thanked for Good fortune to you.” She watched him get up and leave, and snorted at him as soon as the tent flap was shut again. Idiot. He was, of course the first of today’s parade of idiots and twits, each of them with a story as uninteresting as the next, a story Chavali had heard dozens of times before.

About the Authors

This book has two authors, Lee French and Erik Kort.

Lee French lives in Worcester, MA with two kids, two mice, two bicycles and too much stuff.

She is an avid gamer and active member of the Myth-Weavers online RPG community where she is known for her fondness for Angry Ninja Squirrels of Doom.

In addition to spending much time there she also trains year-round for the one-week of glorious madness that is RAGBRAI, has a nice flower garden with absolutely no lawn gnomes, and tries in vain every year to grow vegetables that don't get devoured by neighborhood wildlife.

Erik Kort abides in the glorious Pacific Northwest, otherwise known as Mirkwood-Without-The-Giant-Spiders Though the spiders often grow too numerous for his comfort.

He is defended from all eight-legged threats by his brave and overly tolerant wife, and is mocked by his obligatory writer's cat. When not writing, Erik comforts the elderly, guides youths through vast wildernesses, and smuggles more books into his library of increasingly alarming size.

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Connect with the Authors:

Lee

Twitter https://twitter.com/ AuthorLeeFrench

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/ AuthorLeeFrench

Blog   http:// AuthorLeeFrench.wordpress.com

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Erik

Twitter https://twitter.com/ErikMKort

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/ ErikMKort

Giveaway:

The authors are giving away five print copies of The Fallen – autographed by both authors! Enter at Goodreads Entry will be open the length of the tour.

Direct Link to the Giveaway

https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/ show/79967-the-fallen

The Fallen Blog Tour & Review

The Fallen

Blurb For hundreds of years, the Blaukenev clan has wandered across Tilzam, from one end to the other and back. Each wagon carries history, love, laughter pain, sorrow, and secrets. Their greatest secret of all may be Chavali, the clan Seer Spirits claim.

/use/save/damn her

With her gift/curse, nothing surprises her anymore, no one keeps secrets from her. She, on the other hand, has more than enough secrets to keep Secrets of her own, secrets of her clan secrets of the world, secrets she even keeps from herself.

Spiral Book Tour Giveaway & Review

Spiral Book Tour Giveaway & Review, hosted by Fire And Ice Book Tours

Link back to the tour

http:// fireandicebooktours.wordpress.com/ 2014/02/04/ya-contemporary-romance tour-giveaway-spiral-by-jacqueline levine-

tour-dates-22714-32714/

Virtual Book Tour Dates: 2/27/14 - 3/27/ 14

Genres: Young Adult, Young Adult

Contemporary Romance, Chick lit

Tour Promotional Price: $.99

Goodreads Direct Link https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/ 18367660-spiral?ac=

Book Blurb:

Still adjusting to life with his new stepfamily, complete with annoying twin sisters, seventeen-year-old Jack Hansen thought his Christmas Eve dinner couldn't get any more complicated- until celebutante Cherie Belle walks into the room.

The niece of Jack's new stepfather, Jack had no idea the young starlet was even in the family But his initial excitement quickly fades when the teen queen ruins dinner, humiliates his little brother, and storms out, leaving the blame for the night's demise to fal squarely on Jack's shoulders.

But then tragedy strikes for America's tabloid princess, and Jack and his family are all Cherie has left.

Suddenly roller coaster that is Cherie Belle's life fending off the paparazzi moving to California, and being cast in the tabloids as her new boyfriend.

That part would be fine if it were true Instead, Jack missteps onto Cherie's bad side and becomes the target of her diva mood swings and mean-spirited pranks, as she goes to ridiculous lengths to make his life miserable.

life turned upside down, Cherie shows up drunk and sobbing, revealing she is far from over her parents deaths. He realizes she's giving the public exactly what it wants: an epic fall from grace. Jack knows he should tel someone that Cherie is spiraling out of control. But once Jack begins to care about Cherie, it becomes harder to keep her secrets; especially when Jack becomes her biggest secret of all.

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Books & Chocolate Book Review:

This book really shows you how sometimes being a celebrity can harm more than help. Characters Jack and Cherie were strong and memorable. Jack's family was a very crazy family, and I mean they were some characters. I think so many can relate to having a family or family member that brings some kind of drama, especially a bratty cousin. Cherie parents are killed and now Jacks mother has become his celebrity cousins guardian, and they are now residing in her mansion and being part of all the drama that comes with Cheries stardom. Spiral was in my opinion a good enough read, at times I got a bit frustrated with the family and step sisters, but overall it peaked my interest. It really shows the dirty things that can go on in the lives of young celebrities. I was given this book in return for an honest review.
I gave Spiral ****4 chocolate stars. I look forward to reading more from this author.
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Excerpt:

Cherie had faded in and out the entire time we shopped, so I don’t pay attention to her.

I don’t follow her gaze and instead I proceed to pay the cashier. Britney asks to carry the grocery bag, and I fiddle with her coat to make sure it’s zipped.

We’re immersed in our own worlds, our norma routines. I wish that for just a second had noticed the growing media storm outside.

Because when we emerge from the supermarket, we are swarmed by humans with cameras for heads.

There are all types – fans holding up cellphones professional photographers, and news reporters with video cameras and microphones that they immediately thrust in her face.

“Cherie! Cherie how are you?”

“We love you Cherie!”

“We’re praying for you, Cherie!”

“Stop wearing furs! Do you know how many defenseless animals are killed for your stupid fur coats?”

“Cherie, will you still be hosting the New Year’s Ball with Caz?”

My head is spinning. We take a step left and they step in our path. We swerve right, and there they are again blocking our path.

I look down at Cherie, who keeps her sunglasses down to hide her eyes.

I can tell by her stiff, unsmiling mouth that she is unnerved. Her head hangs low, her shoulders curve inward, and she tucks her arms against her body.

She is shrinking inside of herself.

But they don’t seem to notice. Or care.

“Cherie, are you going back to work on Choc it Up?”

“Cherie, is it true you were drinking at a nightclub the evening your parents died?”

“Cherie, is Jack your new boyfriend?”

Britney cries out, “Jackie!” before I have a chance to digest that last question. I look down and see she is engulfed by the photographers.

I’ve tried to keep my cool up until now but these people have crossed a line.

Frustrated, I command, “Move!”

They part immediately. I lean down and hoist my sister up in one arm. I reach out with my free hand and grab Cherie’s.

Gritting my teeth, I lower my head and plow through the crowd like we’re one yard short of a first down and I have been given the ball Surprisingly, they get out of my way.

But it doesn’t stop the questions“Jack –

Jack, are you and Cherie dating?”

“Cherie, how does it feel to be an orphan?

"Can you give us a statement?”

The barking continues to swirl and swim around my head as we walk hastily forward.

I do my best to tune them out and protect the girls.

They both look like they’re about to cry, and I’m not sure who needs more shielding I quickly deposit Cherie into the front seat.

“Buckle Britney in when I put her in the car seat,” I command, and she nods. I swing around to my side and drop Britney, who has started to cry from all of the commotion, into the back It’s the first time I have ever set her down in the car without checking that she was safely buckled, but trust Cherie to take care of it. I jump inside, start the engine, and throw the stick shift into reverse.

The cameras are everywhere.

I honk my horn and gesture for them to move. can get in trouble if I hit someone, and would definitely lose my license. Frustrated, I shout,

“Get out of the way!”

I’m almost ready to hit someone anyway.

They seem to sense I’ve reached my limit of patience and start to back away from my bumpers.

“Thank you! Geez!

How the hell did al those people know we were there?”

mutter, more to myself than to Cherie“Only two guys were outside when we first got there!”

“Those two guys tell two guys, and pretty soon you have a gaggle of them at your door,” she replies I’m baffled.

“Tell me that this is not every day of your life.” She shakes her head.

“It wasn’t this bad before.”

DIRTERAZZI.COM

CHERIE BELLE LOVE AFFAIR: REAL LIFE ROMANTIC COMEDY

Celebrities really are just like the rest of us: they trip, they fall, and they are caught in midair by a handsome prince charming that can’t tear his eyes off of…um…yeah, keep dreaming folks. That kind of stuff only happens to princesses, and celebutante Cherie Belle.

Cherie Belle stepped out yesterday for the first time since the funeral for her parents, who were killed in an automobile accident on Christmas Eve Escorted by her new family member/ possible love interest/arm candy, Jack Hansen, Cherie made her way to a loca grocery store in upstate New York Following our last report about Cherie’s dwindling waist size, we’re not really sure she’s going to eat the food she was buying, but that’s another story.

Our reporter on the scene claims the moment between Hansen and Belle pictured above, was the kind of stuff romantic comedies are made of as Cherie, who was sporting her signature high heels, suddenly tripped and soared toward the ground.

In a blur Hansen, the 6’2” tight end (ahem, get your mind out of the gutter, ladies, it’s a position he plays for his high school football team) thrust his arm out and caught the teetering Belle just in time. Then, they stared into each other’s eyes, forgetting everything and everyone existed, even Hansen’s five year old sister.

Al these love-struck kids needed was a little Maroon 5 ballad playing in the background and some rain to make it a magical movie moment.

Cherie’s reps are keeping mum about Hansen’s relationship to their client insisting he’s just a nice kid who is trying to help Belle for the short time she is in his hometown, and they want to emphasize the word short.

No decision has been made yet about whether or not Cherie’s grandparents wil be her permanent guardians, but Cherie isn’t letting an uncertain future keep her from fulfilling her duties as a star of the upcoming flick, “This Side of Sunny.”

Cherie will be on the first flight back to Hollywood after she and Caz Farrell perform in Times Square for the Kidz Channel’s New Year’s Special.

According to Carl Schwartz Cherie will promptly begin touring and giving interviews to promote the movie.

From the looks of this picture, however out of his sight too easily. Even though she plans to perform with Caz Farrell on New Year’s Eve, one question still remains: Who will Cherie kiss when the ball drops?

Buy The Book:

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Spiral Volume-1-Jacqueline-Levine/dp/ 061580294X

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About The Author:

Born and raised in New York, Jacqueline Levine is a new Indie author on the block.

After seven years in the classroom she decided to turn a play written for an after-school drama class into a full-length novel.

Her experience teaching and mentoring young teens, combined with a guilty pleasure of reading celebrity news inspired the themes and many of the scenes in the tale of a starlet's fall from grace and the small-town boy who is doing everything in his power not to fall for her.

After a year of hard work and editing, she self-published Spiral in August of 2013, and it is one of her greatest accomplishments.

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Connect:

Website

http://www.spiralseries.com

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/ Spiralbook

Twitter   https://twitter.com/Dirterazz

Giveaway:

One lucky winner will win a $25 Amazon gift card and a print copy of Spiral. USA only please. Enter with Rafflecopter.

Direct Link:

http:// www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/ d202c324/

Thank you for allowing Books & Chocolates to take part in this book tour!

Gospel Of The Damned Blog Tour & Giveaway

Gospel Of The Damned; hosted by Fire And Ice Book Tours

"What does your Gospel say to you?"

Virtual Book Tour Dates:2/17/14 - 3/17/14

Genres: Speculative/Dystopian/

Literary Goodreads Direct Link

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/ 18296629-gospel-for-the-damned? from_search=true

Book Blurb:

Set against the backdrop of a city under quarantine, Gospel for the Damned is an episodic and introspective novel that follows young journalist Aaron Garrett on his three day assignment within sequestered San Francisco.

His assignment: Interview The Elliots family of the missing minister suspected of releasing the deadly Omega virus.

What he finds is a fractured community and a myriad of ways of facing hopelessness: clinging to normalcy in banal routines; thrill seeking in dangerous truth-or-dare games; mercy killing and federally sanctioned euthanasia; embracing sorrow through macabre celebrations; and searching for God where faith has been abandoned.

Together with The Elliot Family, Aaron embarks on a mission to save someone, anyone, from a doomed existence.

This is Gordon Gravley’s first literary work, and its philosophica leanings may very well provoke questions of your own about the world we live in, and the future we face.

Excerpt:

It was an opportunity that would make my career or crumble it, and I’d like to say it came to me by way of my diligence and journalistic talent.

But truthfully, I was given the assignment for the simple reason that I was the only one on staff at the Sound who tested as resistant to the Omega virus it was my luck to be in the 2 percent of the nation immune to a disease that, to date, had wiped out a third of the West Coast’s population.

Author Interview:

1.What was the inspiration behind Gospel for the Damned?

Generally, my inspiration comes from the simple need to write. I get a bit unpleasant to be around if go too long without doing some kind of writing whether it's my latest novel or a short blog post.

That's why I write for at least an hour every day Specifically, the inspiration for Gospel for the Specifically, the inspiration for Gospel for the Damned came from a short story I wrote in the early 90's about a group of teens living in a dystopian society who play dangerous truth-or-dare games to overcome their fear of the world around them.

The story was never published because, honestly, it wasn't very good. But it planted a seed that decades later grew into my first novel. society who play dangerous truth-or-dare games to overcome their fear of the world around them.

The story was never published because, honestly, it wasn't very good. But it planted a seed that decades ater grew into my first novel.

2.What was it like for you writing this book?

At first, a struggle, as I had no clue what I was doing I didn't know how to organize and assimilate all the characters and events that filled my little brain.

Went through multiple rewrites and waves of frustration. Then, it came to me, in a kind of epiphany, to build the narrative around a young journalist (the book's main character, Aaron Garrett who was as unsure of himself as I was.

Aaron served as the hub which brought all the other elements to the story into a singularly cohesive whole. With Aaron in place, the writing became immensely easier, almost effortless.

3.What do you want taken from this book?

My book, I think, is about a lot of things. My ntention was to ask questions and let the reader intention was to ask questions and let the reader derive their own answers.

Through my novel, wonder about the subjects of hopelessness, euthanasia, and God without religion.

It's nice to spark the same curiosity in others, but It's nice to spark the same curiosity in others, but mostly I just want people to enjoy a good read.

4.What entity other than family motivates you?

As I believe it is with any writer or artist, the need to create is quite powerful and tangible, such that it could be considered an entity in itself.

5.What has been your 3 main struggles as a writer?

My lack of experience in writing something as daunting as a novel; finding time to write, as I have to work full-time; and a sometimes debilitating fea of failure.

6. How has your support been?

Family and friends have been my best support Heck, pretty much my only support.

It's been difficult to pique the interest of readers enough to  purchase a copy of my book.

I have received positive reviews from a few giveaway winners, however.

7.What are three quirky things about you?

My wife says there's nothing quirky about me. But, guess some quirky-like things might be: I have an old sphynx (hairless) cat named Hieronymus; the only part of the newspaper I read are the comics and I own all 26 films in the Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman series.

8. When writing, do you sip on coffee, wine or nothing at all?

I write primarily in the early morning and have a cup.

9.How do you deal with writers block?

I don't really get writer's block. Writing is a process of challenges, really. When I'm just sitting and staring at my computer, I'm actually working through the next challenge - looking for the righ word, constructing a smooth transition between word, constructing a smooth transition between paragraphs, deciding if a character should live or die.

Any number of things can pose a literary conundrum. But I don't consider it a blockage, just part of the process. I have a post on my blog - paragraphs, deciding if a character should live or die paragraphs, deciding if a character should live or die Any number of things can pose a literary conundrum.

But I don't consider it a blockage, jus part of the process. I have a post on my blog ggwritinglife.blogspot.com - that goes into depth about this exact topic.

10.What food describes your book?

Something with complex flavors and a little spice ike a coconut curry.

11.Any last words?

I appreciate your blog audience for taking a minute of their day to read this

Buy links:

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/s/ ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search alias%3Dstripbooks&field keywords=gordon+gravley < http://www.amazon.com/s/ ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search alias%3Dstripbooks&field keywords=gordon+gravley >

Createspace https:// www.createspace.com/4097987

About Gordon Gravley

After decades of self-doubt and errant life choices, Gordon Gravley finally came to write this, his first novel, and is now diligently working on his next two. He and his wife currently reside in the Northwestern United States.

Connect With Author:

Website

https://sites.google.com/site/ gordongravleybooks/

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/ pages/Gordon-Gravley/537843332916956

Blog   http://ggwritinglife.blogspot.com/

Goodreads Book Page

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/ 18296629-gospel-for-the-damned

Freado.com Page

http://www.freado.com/ users/36253/gordon-gravley

Giveaway:

Seven lucky winners will win a signed print copy of Gospel for the Damned. The giveaway will run the length of the tour USA only please.

Direct Link to Giveaway:

  https:// www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/ 79110

Book Tour & Giveaway..Ring The Alarm (Clique Of Misfits)

Virtual Book Tour Dates:  2/28/14 - 3/14/ 14

Genres: Contemporary Romance

Promotional Price: Ring the Alarm will be $.99 during the tour

Direct Link to Book on Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/ 17702939-ring-the-alarm? from_search=true

Blurb

Happye Naughton had a safe life. She had a sister she loves, a job she was good at, but she wasn't truly living.

She wasn't happy but she was content Comfortable. That is until a tragedy rocks her world and turns her into the most hated person in the city.

When she is assaulted by a beloved loca hero, people are quick to take sides. The press paints her as a golddigging liar.

She receives death threats and loses her job. Just when she wants to give up, billionaire Drake Powell swoops in to pick up the pieces, refusing to let her go down without a fight.

With his love, his stubborn commands that she rejoin the land of the living and the sensual amazing things he does to her body daily, she finds the will to stop being a victim and become a survivor.

Soon, Happye is caught up in a much bigger conspiracy than she thought. With the help of five other women whose lives were also touched by the same corrupted hand, she learns she is much more of a fighter than she thought she was. The women risk their lives to find justice not only for themselves but other women in the same situations.

Drake Powell has wanted Happye since the first time he laid eyes on her. He has loved her from the moment she first smiled at him.

When she becomes broken, he knows he has it in him to fix her. But does he have the strength to keep her alive when she, and her new crazy friends, go up against a killer?

The Clique of Misfits is a new series about six women who forge an unbreakable friendship out of tragedy.

Their new bond gives them the strength to find justice for themselves and the courage to fight for others.

Maybe, just maybe, they can also open their hearts to love and embrace the comforting arms of the men that want to protect them.

Excerpt:

I got myself under control, pushed down on the handle and rushed out of the door before I had a chance to talk myself out of it. In my haste, I ran right into a bare-chested Drake.

"Oh." I bounced off him and started falling backwards. Flailing my arms about, I tried to catch my balance when two large hands wrapped around my waist and steadied me back on my feet. felt the blood rushing up my neck my skin turning the color of my peach pajamas, as I braved a look up at him. "Sorry."

"Not your fault. I was clearly in the way."

He eyes sparkled and smiled his lips twitching with amusement.

My eyes lowered again, this time to roam over his body. I'd never seen him without a shirt before, and the smooth chocolate skin over hard muscles made my mouth water.

His pajamas hung low on his hips, the V in his torso peeked out of the top, making his sex appeal go almost nuclear.

Damn. This was going to be harder than thought.

He removed the towel he had hanging around his neck and threw it with perfect aim to one of the armchairs in the corner.

He turned around, moving towards the bed, and I saw the slight moisture on his back. Apparently he'd taken a shower in another bathroom while I was in the tub.

"Time for bed."

"Um," I mumbled, wringing my hands together. I looked around, biting my bottom lip, but peeked back at him when I noticed he'd stop moving and had turned back towards me.

"We're just going to sleep," he said cautiously.

"I promised that I wasn't going to push you on that, and I meant it."

I took a hasty step forward, my hand held out in front of me. "I know. It's just...."

"It's just what?"

"I never slept in a bed with a man before.

His body locked, his entire face turned to stone. His eyes darkened with something I couldn't explain, but I knew it was dangerous. "Please tell me you weren't a virgin that night."

"What?"

I shook my head. "No, no. I had a boyfriend in college that I gave my virginity to. We just stayed in our own rooms when we were done...you know...doing it."

His face softened, and his lips twitched again.

"Doing it?"

I dropped my head again. "You know what I mean."

He moved until he was standing in front of me again and gripped my shoulders.

"Sweetheart, it's just sleep."

I nodded, allowing him to lead me to the bed. I watched, wide-eyed, as he turned down the covers, settled me into the bed, tucked me in (he actually tucked me in), walked around to the other side and got in. He turned me on my side, my back to his front, pushed one knee between mine, and wrapped me up in his arms.

If I thought the sofa was bliss, lying in Drake's bed, in Drake's arms, was pure heaven.

I started to drift off when he started talking. "I have a confession to make.

"What's that?"

"I did come to your apartment in order to talk you into testifying." stilled and started to pull away to face him. He tightened his arms and held me where I was. "But, as soon as saw you, I knew that I wasn't going to leave that apartment without you. was telling the truth, even if that was the reason I sought you out, you are here because of this right here—you, in my arms, sleeping in my bed right next to me."

I relaxed and settled back into the bed. It felt good lying in his bed, in his arms, and I wanted to drift off. But before I did, I needed to know one thing. "Why was it so important to you?""Because he destroyed something vital in you, something that was mine, and I want it back."

Buy links:

Purchase Kindle edition < http:// www.amazon.com/dp/B00HLMER6S > http://www.amazon.com/dp/ B00HLMER6S

Purchase Nook edition< http:// www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ringthe alarm-amazon-tara-ann-bradley/ 1117922747?ean=2940148966357 > http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ring the-alarm-tara-ann-bradley/1118635102? ean=2940148966357&isbn=294014896635

Purchase at Smashwords < https:// www.smashwords.com/books/view/ 392813 > https://www.smashwords.com/books/ view/392813

Purchase at iBooks< https:// itunes.apple.com/us/book/ring-the alarm/id793890047?mt=11 > https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/ring the-alarm/id793890047?mt=1

Purchase at Kobo < http:// store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/ring the-alarm-1 > http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ ebook/ring-the-alarm-

Purchase Paperback< http:// www.amazon.com/Ring-Alarm-Clique Misfits-Volume/dp/149102285X/ ref=tmm_pap_title_0 > http://www.amazon.com/Ring-Alarm Clique-Misfits-Volume/dp/149102285X/ ref=tmm_pap_title_0

Books & Chocolate Review:

First and foremost, entertaining and humorous. This book was a real mind pleaser. The characters had a strong presence, and it wasn't just about the main characters, everyone in the book was memorable.
Happye and Drake had many hurdles, but their love held them together. So many couples can relate to Happye and Drake, and thats what makes this such an enjoyable read. The twist and turns and suspense really draws the reader in. Bradely really let her imagination flow, and her fingers did the typing. Really enjoyed this book. I gave it *****5 chocolate stars....wish I could have given more..lol.

About The Author:

Tara Ann Bradley has been reading romance books before she could walk Not really, but it feels that long.

Her love affair with alpha males and happy ever afters started really early.

She's been writing stories since middle school but didn't dare let anyone read them. She now writes the type of stories that she'd loved all of her life, and finally built the courage to share them with others. When she isn’t writing, she’s either reading, at her sewing machine or baking something.

She grew up in Chicago, and that city stil holds a special place in her heart. She now resides in Alabama with her three sons, waiting for the day where she will return to her beloved city.

Author Links:

Website   http://www.taraannwrites.com

Facebook   https://www.facebook.com/ TaraAnnWrites

Twitter https://twitter.com/ TaraAnnWrites

Goodreads   https://www.goodreads.com/ author/show/7024333.Tara_Ann_Bradley

Giveaway

Win a $25 Amazon Gift Card.

18+, USA only please! Enter by Rafflecopter

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Close Call Blog Tour/ Review

Close Call Blog Tour Stop & Review

  "What is your Vajay Jay saying to you?"

Books & Chocolates Review:

Close call was truly an interesting and funny read. Jemma is trying to find Mr. Right, and looking in some of the wrong places, such as night clubs, but Jemma's little pocket book, Doris has other plans. I think so many of us women can relate to trying to find the right one to settle down with and have allowed our own Doris to be let down and disappointed.
Imagining that my vajay jay could truly communicate with me, would probably scare me a little bit.  Doris, is very sensible and intelligent. Close call is a very light and humorous read. Vagina's and Penises being able to communicate about things such as waxing and the last person you slept with. I could not have imagined that I would have ever come across a book about a Vagina and Penises calling the shots. For those who are worried that this may be a graphic and erotic read, its not, but be prepared to laugh and ask your Vajay jay some serious questions...KMSL! If my down under friend had of come to my rescue, I may have made some better choices in life.
"What are you waiting for, go and get this book and read it. I gave this book *****5 chocolate stars. I was given this book for a honest review...It was truly my pleasure to have taken part in this tour and review.
Eloise March you really nailed this short read......

Viva la Vadgeventures!

Close Call: A Doris & Jemma Vadgeventure

Close Call is the first instalment of "A Doris & Jemma Vageventure" series.

Think Bridget Jones Diary and The Vagina Monologues.

Twenty-two-year-old Jemma can’t seem to get her life in order. Her track record with men stinks, she constantly worries about getting fat and ending up a spinster at thirty. And to top it off, she has to be a bridesmaid at her most-hated cousin’s wedding. She feels like her life is over, until Doris decides to help out. Who’s Doris? Doris is Jemma’s vagina and she thinks more of Jemma than her own brain does. Doris is on a mission to save Jemma from herself, but is the task too much for one vagina to handle?

TAGS: Fiction, Chick Lit, Humor, Women's Lit, Romance

© 2013 Dionne Lister Cover by Sol Pandiella-McLeod

Now available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, Kobo, iTunes, and Sony.

Excerpt from Close Call.

Jemma left the bathroom and walked out into the main bar. Flicking her dark hair over her shoulder with one hand, she approached her friend, Erin. “Any action?” she asked.

Erin, giant silver-loop earrings peeking through her wavy auburn locks and weighing her lobes down, sipped her chocolate cocktail through a straw. “Hmm, there’s a couple of hotties over there. The blonde one’s been checking me out. What do you think?”

Jemma spotted the two twenty-somethings. “Nice. His friend is built, and you know I prefer brunettes.” The girls giggled.

Doris braced herself when they started walking. She was sick of Jemma picking up guys in bars; well, she hadn’t picked up a lot, but the five in the last six months were all losers — the kinds of guys who had their fun then never called again. What made Jemma think these guys would be any different? And Doris wasn’t fooled into thinking Jemma didn’t care; she had to listen to her swearing and crying to her friends when the guys never called back. The things vaginas had to put up with, and there was no escape!

So many times, Doris had information, after talking to the penises of these one-night stands, that Jemma could have used to make more informed decisions. Penises, Doris found, were way more honest than their owners . . . well, mostly.

“So, lovely ladies, can we buy you a drink?”

Doris cringed and heard giggling again, and then Erin spoke, “Yes, but only if you tell us your names.”

“I’m Paul, and this is Aaron.”

Jemma and Erin said, in unison, “Hi,” then turned to each other, said, “Jinx!” and laughed.

Jemma nodded once and mouthed to Erin, “Matching polo shirts.”

Erin grinned in approval.

Aaron spoke to Jemma, “What would you like to drink?”

“I’ll have a gin and tonic, thanks.”

Aaron winked at her, pulling out his wallet. Jemma noticed the fifty-dollar bills peeking over the edge.

“Coming right up, beautiful.”

Jemma melted inside, sending a rush of heat to Doris, who sighed. Here we go, she thought.

Erin’s vagina, Prudence, whispered, “Psst, Doris.”

“What is it?” asked Doris.

“I think we’ll be leaving with this one — I’m getting wet. They must look attractive, because I haven’t heard anything special come out of their mouths.”

 “I know you can’t see me, but I’m rolling my eyes. When will these girls ever learn?”

“I don’t know,” said Prudence. “Men think with their penises, but women can’t hear us.” She sighed. “Oh, dear, Erin is swaying. I think she’s had too much to drink. I’ll say bye now ‘cause we’ll be out of here soon. Good luck.”

“Thanks, Prue. Might see you tomorrow after the girls get dumped.”

“Yeah, more than likely. Okay, bye.”

Meet Eloise March aka Eloise March

Eloise March is a woman who laughs at her own jokes, swears way too much and breaks any new diet by lunchtime on the day she starts. She believes in women’s equality, and all equality for that matter, and hopes the things she writes touch people in a positive way, and make them think about how they can create a better society for themselves and others.

In her spare time, she enjoys living as her alter ego, Dionne Lister — a suspense and YA fantasy author who is way too embarrassed to talk about vaginas. She likes spending time as Dionne because Dionne has an awesome family, wonderful friends and a cat called Lily, oh, and she has great hair.

If you’re looking for Eloise, or any information about future books in the Doris & Jemma Vadgeventure series, you can visit Dionne’s website, where Eloise has been lucky enough to get her own page http://www.dionnelisterwriter.com. If you’re looking for a chat, you can find Ms. March on Twitter.

Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Website

Follow the Tour

Monday - 3/3/2014:

• Random Reviews by Leanne Review
• The Sinner Author Review

Tuesday - 3/4/2014

• Literary Chanteuse - Ask Doris - Dating Advice
• Photography, Poetry and Indie Authors - Ask Doris & Review

Wednesday - 3/5/2014

• Lady Reader's Bookstuff - Close Call Playlist
• Like a Bump on a Blog - Ask Doris & Review

Thursday - 3/6/2014

• Pinky's Favorite Reads - Ask Doris & Review
• Ramen Noodle Book Reviews - Ask Doris & Review

Friday - 3/7/2014

• Our Wolves Den - Ask Doris – Why Doris?
• A Day in Doha - Review

Saturday - 3/8/2014

• Books & Chocolates - Review
• A Book Addict's Delight - Ask Doris - Dating Advice

Monday - 3/10/2014

• J E Haldeman - Ask Doris - Dating Advice

Tuesday - 3/11/2014

• Jess Resides Here - Review
• Indie Authors You Want to Read - Ask Doris - Dating Advice

Wednesday - 3/12/2014

• Our New Generation for Reading - 3/12/2014

Thursday - 3/13/2014

• WS Momma Readers Nook - Ask Doris & Top 10 Favorite Books
• Bestsellerbound.com - Tell Us One Thing

Final Day of the Tour - Saturday March 14th

Interview with The Cabin Goddess

Follow along on FACEBOOK

Once Upon A Hero Blog Tour Stop

 

Title – Once Upon a Hero  

Author – C.N. Bird, Samantha Holt, Lily Magee, Em Taylor  

Genre – Historical Romance  

Publication Date – 1st February 2014  

Length (Pages/# Words) – 50,000 words  

Publisher – Indie  

Cover Artist – Samantha Holt

 

     

Four tales of love throughout history.

Pompeii by C.N. Bird 69 A.D. Following the loss of her father and her mother years later, Hadriana is saved from a life of prostitution by her closest friend Victus. Through rebuilding and many loves, one night finds them unable to resist their feelings for one another any longer. With their new found affection and moving forward in their lives, the city of Pompeii seemingly doesn’t have a happy ending in store.

Hunting His Highland Lass by Samantha Holt Scotland, 1292 Rory MacPherson has returned home to find his castle overrun by the English and his timid wife missing. So when he hears of her tales of bravery, he’s just a little surprised. But his main concern is whether she is still alive or has been captured. Upon discovering her intention to run to her father’s and to leave their affectionless marriage for good, Rory realises just how much sweet Isla means to him. Can the warrior get past his fears of being too rough for her?

Though fear of capture drove Isla out, it’s the fear of returning to her marriage that keeps her travelling across the unforgiving Highlands. Not that doesn’t care for her husband, but she can no longer bear desiring a man who clearly doesn’t want her. Believing that he must be sharing his bed with another lass, Isla plans to beg her father for refuge from the English…and her husband. But the journey is dangerous and Rory is a determined man. Will he even let her go?

A Love Remembered by Em Taylor England, 1811 When Lord Benedict Mallory is lost at sea while fighting in His Majesty's Navy, Lady Cassandra Strong knows her happy ever after with the handsome duke's son will never be. That is until she spots her friend's footman. He bears a striking resemblance to the Lord who was presumed drowned.

A chance encounter with the newly restored Earl leaves Cassy with no option but to marry Lord Benedict. Can they overcome his loss of memory and forge a marriage for themselves?

An Honourable Enemy by Lily Magee Russia, 1812 War has been kind to Capitaine Amaury de Poitiers. With every victory over the Russians, Napoleon’s Grande Army brings ever greater glory to France. Highly regarded by both his superiors and his men, his career looks set to soar.

When he is tasked with guarding a prisoner of war critical to the war effort, an archduchess no less, Amaury finds himself enchanted by her. The only surviving member of her family, the proud Katinka of Viasma is overwhelmed by grief and the desire for revenge upon the French for her family’s death. Despite her initial hostility, Amaury finds himself becoming ever more drawn to this feisty, angry yet fragile young woman and is overcome by the need to protect her. Katinka in turn finds herself confused by her increasing attraction to the witty, chivalrous capitaine who refuses to give up on her despite her temper.

Their longing for each other is undeniable but both of them know that the barriers between them are great. Amaury finds himself torn between his mission, his love and his honour. Katinka is a noblewoman and he is but a common soldier. To be together could cost Katinka everything.

Can Amaury and Katinka ever overcome the barriers of war and class that separate them?

EXCERPT

Please share the tour excerpt you want used below: 

Please choose just one:

Hunting His Highland Lass by Samantha Holt

He reached the village leader’s house and dismounted, hopping down and tying his mount to the joust of the well that sat in the centre of the settlement. Before he made himself known to the man, a young lass, not much older than Isla, scurried up and dipped into a hurried curtsey. 

“My laird,” she said breathlessly.

“Aye, lass, what is it? Speak quickly for I crave a word with yer leader.”

“He is out in the fields at the moment, laird. We are checking the flocks. The English were on our land last night.”

“Hellfire, in truth?”

“Aye, my laird.”

Rory swung his gaze around and frowned. “But they didnae harm ye?”

“Nay, my laird. We scared them away.” A smile flickered on the fair haired lass’s lips.

“Scared them away ye say?” He shook his head. How had a bunch of raggedy peasants scared away a troop of battle-hardened English? “Then all is well?”

“Aye, my laird. But I must tell ye…yer lady wife was here.”

He gulped. So she was alive. But that meant little now. Not until she was in his arms where she belonged.  “During the attack?”

“Aye, she—the lady that is—helped us scare off the English.”

Rory rubbed a hand across his face. “Ye cannae mean Lady Isla, surely? Were ye mistaken, lass?”

“Nay, truthfully, my laird. She sought refuge with me. She said the keep had been overrun and she was to travel to her father’s. Does this mean ye have won back the castle?”

“Aye, aye.” He waved a hand. “Is she here still?”

“Nay, my laird.” The girl’s face dropped. “I tried to persuade her but she wouldnae listen. She seemed very determined to travel on.”

“God’s blood,” he whispered.

“Forgive me, my laird. I should have tried harder but we didnae know ye were on yer way. She insisted she needed to ensure the English didnae catch up with her in case they tried to use her against ye.”

“And she is unaccompanied?”

The girl bit her lip. “Aye.”

Rory groaned. The lass had fought the English twice and was now gallivanting around the Highlands all alone. It was so at odds with what he knew of his wife. It didn’t stop the fear clutching his heart. Though the lass was more a warrior than he ever realised, she was still vulnerable. And still determined to make it to her father’s. If her father agreed to protect her from him, he might never see her again. Might never get the chance to try again. To show her he had changed and could be gentle. 

“What is yer name?” he asked the girl.

“Kate, my laird.” She grasped her skirts and dipped again.

“My thanks, Kate. Tell the villagers that I have claimed back the castle and will send men out to patrol the lands. We’ll no’ be threatened by the English scourge again. I will have ye a fine fat pig sent to ye in return for looking after my lady wife.”

“Oh, pray, ye dinnae need—”

“I do. Good day to ye, Kate.” Without waiting for a response, he leapt onto his mount and gripped the reins. At least he knew one thing. Isla was alive. For the moment. Determination pervaded every fragment of him, making his muscles tense.  It seemed Isla was resolved to prove she was more than the sweet lass he thought she was. But could he prove to her he was more than just a rough warrior?

A Love Remembered by Em Taylor

Ben sat on a stool on the kitchen table as Cassy none too gently tended to his wounds. He had dreamt about a woman who looked just like her. Had it been Lady Cassandra Strong? Had his dreams been trying to remind him of who he really was?

He felt comfortable in the large, dark kitchen, surrounded by the smell of baking bread, the clang of pots and the whispered conversations of the maids. The cook surreptitiously watched the young lord and lady as Cassy dipped a clean rag in water and pressed it against his eye.

God’s teeth, he should not be sitting in this position, his thighs apart and her standing primly between them. Every time he looked down, he could see the steady rise and fall of her ample bosom, made even more ample by the empire waistline and stays that she wore. The thin muslin gown did nothing to quash the heat of her and he felt himself harden in his breeches, despite the pain in his eye caused by her inept nursing skills.

Did every young gentleman on the Ton lust after the ladies in such a manner? Her rose petal lips pursed slightly as she studied him. That did not help matters. Any decent fellow would, at worst, be imagining kissing those lips. In his fevered imagination, that delicate mouth was wrapped around…

“Yes, well,” he said, jumping to his feet and causing her to step back in alarm. “I thank you for everything but I must be on my way.” Damn, the girl. Why could she not have worn a fischu? 

“Lord Sefdom!” Was she breathless? Was she discomfited by his closeness? His palms itched to close around her breasts. He flexed his fingers and side-stepped her. “Of course. I should ask the cook at Apringdon House for a steak to put on your eye if I were you. It will bring down the swelling.” He nodded curtly. He knew of some other swelling he would prefer not to be present. He clasped his hands in front of his breeches.

“Please God, tell me it is not true.” A woman’s voice, which came from behind the kitchen door, rang through the room.

“Her ladyship,” whispered the cook and the maids lined up. Ben turned towards the entrance to the kitchen, as did Cassy. The butler entered first and held the door open as an older woman in a dark blue gown and an older version of Cassy’s face swept regally in.

“Cassy!” she admonished. “What the devil are you doing? You have been seen sneaking around the lane with a gentleman in tow. And I see it is true.”

Pompeii by C.N. Bird

After taking a moment to collect myself, I spoke, “Well, when I came here to see you after you invited me, I didn’t want to feel like an intruder since you seemed content when I saw you with Iulia.”

“Iulia? She’s a friend and nothing more, Hadriana. She’s not the one I’ve been longing for.”

My heart sped up a bit, but I still refused to believe anything was going to happen between us.

“Well, cease wasting time, Victus.” I laughed and tried to turn him around toward the ever enlarging groups. “Go and find your girl, have wine and a great night. I’ll be right over here by the tree for the night.”

I turned, and, instead of going in the direction I had been headed, altered my course toward the tree I told him I’d be under. I’d stay for a little, but leave once the crowd started clearing to avoid seeing him with the woman he desired, so my heart could be saved from another blow.

His footsteps were stealthy, so much so that I didn’t know he was behind me until I turned back to the people to sit down.

I scowled. “What are you doing?”

“I am going to sit here with you under this tree and watch the showers with you, and there’s nothing you can say or do about it. I also don’t want to hear any more nonsense about me going to find a girl. As far as I am concerned, there need not be anything more said about this. I want to spend the night with you.”

I pursed my lips together and bit my tongue to prevent me from saying anything. Pulling the cloak around me, I sat down on the ground with my knees crossed and Victus followed suit. We didn’t speak for a long while, just sat in silence, but it was comfortable. We listened to the crowd in front of us talk about things and as the night grew darker, a few oil lamps were lit to light certain paths and everybody’s gazes turned skyward.

“I remember coming out here with my pater when he was still alive,” I said softly.

“You haven’t been to one of these since, have you?”

“No, not even with my mater and frater.”

“Why choose now?”

“You asked me to.”

He grasped my hand, a move I was familiar with and unfamiliar with at this very moment. The warmth radiated through my hand and up my arm; a small zing of excitement whizzed through me. He took it further than in times past and intertwined our fingers, his thumb rubbing small circles on the top of my hand. I could feel his gaze on me and I turned my head to the right and to meet it.

An Honourable Enemy by Lily Magee

She stood up and walked towards the decanter, filling her glass. “Tell me. Do you believe France to be a better place for the revolution?” Her voice trembled as she spoke and he felt a flush of longing and shame at his countrymen’s actions. 

He sighed and rubbed his temples. “I was but five years old when it began. I’m told of the vile excesses of the nobility. I have heard that whilst honest, God-fearing men starved for want of grain fit only to feed livestock, those with no greater claim to power or fortune than the accident of their birth treated food like a plaything, to create over-elaborate concoctions of sugars and meats and butters and to waste so much.” 

He paused and she stood still. A moment passed and he sighed. “Madam, I can only speak thus. If your conscience is clear that those people living under your father’s care had food every day that sustained them and their families, you should have nothing to fear from revolutionaries. Your people’s ears will be filled.”

They were silent for a moment, considering his words. After a small while, she sighed and held her arms, delicate fingers curling around her upper arms. “I suppose it is now not a question that is sensible to answer, nyet? Napoleon has brought his revolution to Russia and until my tsar sees fit to send men to fight le Grande Army, it will happen, whether it be the will of the people or not.” 

She looked down and he watched as her shoulders began to tremble with thinly restrained sobs. He paused, unsure how to proceed. He wanted so much to hold her, make all her cares disappear. She must surely see that he—that l’Empereur and he intended no harm to her or to her compatriots. She must know that the Austrian and Polish nation states now within the new Empire had been permitted—encouraged in fact—to retain their royal families. She surely had no reason to be so distraught. 

“Madam….” he paused and inhaled. “Madam, this war will not last long and the tsar is an honourable man with good sense. He will surely reach an accord with l’Empereur and stop his foolish trades with the English. Soon you will surely be able to go home.”

She snorted through her tears and brought her hands to her face. “But who will be there when I return? Papa and Vasili…”

She burst into a huge, chest rending sob and emotion and instinct overrode his restraint. He stood and came to her, wrapping her up in his large arms and holding her. She leaned her head against his chest, sobbing. A flood of protective feelings engulfed him and he held her closer, angry at the soldiers who were too hungry and afraid to follow orders. Angry at the tsar for provoking the world’s greatest military genius and providing the spark to the series of events that would bereave this young woman in such a senseless, unnecessary way. Angry at himself for not having the ability to make amends, to make her feel better. 

Amazon Kindle Link

Interview With Author Samantha Holt

Tell us a little about yourself?

My name is Samantha Holt and I am a British author of medieval romances and a few contemporary ones. I have twins girls and my husband is a bodyguard. Currently he trains other bodyguards. All good fun! Sometimes he thinks he can come home and practice on me :/

2. How did you come up with the concept of Once Upon A Hero?

Once Upon a Hero was put together with the idea of having a collection of short stories spread throughout history. I think it’s great to be able to read through all these different settings and times.

3. How did the characters come about?

I wanted to write an already married couple. As most people know, arranged marriages were common in medieval times and I wanted to see how it would be between a couple who didn’t really know each other. Isla is a soft, sweet woman but I wanted to show that, for both of them, appearances can be deceiving. 

4. What character did you least like? And why?

In a short story, you can’t really loathe someone too much but naturally I didn’t like any of the English who were trying to invade Scotland. (Which felt weird seeing as I’m English!)

5. Which character did you like the most? And why?

I love Isla and Rory but I’m probably fondest of Rory. He’s a good man with a strong heart and a sense of duty. I do love the brooding types.

6. Was it hard writing this book?

Writing the end was. I really struggled to know how to round it up. I showed it to a few friends and they all said, leave it. I probably only needed one sentence to finish it but the characters were reluctant to let me go.

7. What drives you?

First and foremost, the need to keep a roof over my head! Writing has been my full time career for about a year now. Secondly, guilt. Awful, I know but I feel guilty a lot so that drives me to do more and be more productive.

8. What are some quirky things about you?

Erm...there are probably lots of quirky things about me. I can’t think of many at the moment. I have an odd sense of humour. 

9.Explain your mood when writing?

Determined!

10. What other ventures are you working on?

I’m finishing off my latest highland romance, To Dream of a Highlander and working on my next contemporary. 

11. Any last words for our readers?

Just a great big thank you for making it all worthwhile! I’ve met some incredible people on my writing journey and I’m so grateful for the selfless support they give.

This or That – Author Em Taylor (Once Upon A Hero)

Ebook or Paper/Hard backs – Ebooks (she says having just received two paperbacks from Amazon today)

Call or Text - Call

Lilies or Roses – Roses (lilies make me sneeze)

Army or Navy - Navy

Coffee or Tea – Coffee

Action or Chick-Flick – Chick Flick

Beach or Mountains – Beach in summer, Mountains rest of the time

Insects or Reptiles - reptiles

Paper or Plastic - paper

Skyscrapers or 1-3 story(ies) - 1-3 story(ies) since I’m scared of heights

$10 Amazon GC 2 x ecopies of Saved by a Rake by Em Taylor 2 x e copies of To Steal a Highlander’s Heart by Samantha Holt

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