Sneak Peek! Knockout! by Emma Calin

Title: Knockout! 

Author: Emma Calin

Event organized by: Goddess Fish Promotions

Book Blurb:

KNOCKOUT!

A Mafia conspiracy. A female undercover cop. Her target: international sportsman and playboy Freddie La Salle.

Can she fake it? Can she nail the gangsters before her cover is blown? What happens when his charm kicks in, passion takes control and she falls for this charismatic suspect?

KNOCKOUT! The No 1 Kindle Bestseller from Emma Calin

Interpol cop, Anna Leyton, spirals down into a hopeless vortex of sexual and emotional turmoil as she fights to keep her professional cool. But who is deceiving who in this fast moving ride across continents? What motivates the art loving prize-bull of a lover Freddie La Salle?

An action-filled pulse-pounding adventure novel. A tense and erotic romantic affair. Can a relationship survive when it is founded on deceit? Can she prove her man is innocent? Can she escape with her life and her love?

The power of love and trust stands against greed and crime as conflicting forces grapple for that KNOCKOUT punch.

Authors note: This book is quite 'strongly flavoured' and features uninhibited, but straightforward steamy sexual scenes between consenting adults and true-to-life street language that would occur in high-stress situations.

BOOK EXCERPT:  from Chapter 1 – A gorgeous stranger in a cab..

The cab pushed and swished on towards Buckingham Palace. She saw him studying the famous landmark, as if he were checking out the architecture. In profile his face looked even more male - handsome yet warm - the scar above his right eye constantly attracting her gaze. He was a brute of some kind but he could lie even with his eyes. Once again she found herself responding to him and wanting to touch that scar. In this new world of a few out of reality moments with a gorgeous stranger she could let go, becoming aware of the pulse of life in her breasts and a sense of warmth and longing deep in her stomach. She bit her lip as she consciously allowed these feelings to sweep over her. She took in his striped linen jacket, dark trousers and hand stitched leather shoes. His crisp white shirt accentuated the tanned olive tone of his skin. His shoulders were broad with hard muscular upper arms while his beautifully cut clothes proclaimed the body of an athlete or sportsman.

“So, you know what I do. Do you work in London?” she asked wondering if he would tell her the truth - since she had not!

“Oh not at all - I am here to sign some papers that’s all.”

“Papers?” she questioned too quickly, aware she could be exposing her cover.

“Just a contract - you know, boring business stuff.”

He looked at her with a caress in his brown eyes. The cab was at Hyde Park Corner, just a short way from the Hilton. Her heart hammered. Soon he would step out into the night and never see her again. It had to be that way. You could dream but your story was your story. Better just accept and live it out any way you could.

You can purchase this book from Amazon.

GIVEAWAY! 

The author will be awarding an autographed copy of Shannon's Law to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author: 

Novelist, philosopher, blogger, poet, would be master chef. A woman pedaling between Peckham & Pigalle, in search of passion & enduring romance.

Emma Calin writes romance novels and gritty short stories about love and survival in the 21st century. She has published a number digital and paperback books which are available from Amazon worldwide.

She blogs about her dual life in St-Savinien sur Charente in South West France and Romsey, a market town in England. She feels extremely lucky to be able to experience the world and life through these two, very different, lenses. She spends any time she can, when not writng, on her tandem exploring the countryside.

Emma also records and produces audio books and plays the trombone (although not at the same time).

Novels, Short Stories and Novelettes by Emma Calin

Shannon's Law ((Passion Patrol Series - hot cops, hot crime, hot romance)

Steamy police action romance- another in the Passion Patrol Series - available 28th February 2014

Knockout! (Passion Patrol Series)

A Mafia conspiracy. A female undercover cop. Her target: international sportsman and playboy Freddie La Salle. Can she fake it? Can she nail the gangsters before her cover is blown? What happens when his charm kicks in, passion takes control and she falls for this charismatic suspect?An action-filled pulse-pounding adventure novel. A tense and erotic romantic affair. Can a relationship survive when it is founded on deceit? Can she prove her man is innocent? Can she escape with her life and her love? Available in print and e-book formats.

The Love in a Hopeless Place Collection

An anthology of stories from the engine room of the human condition. Five stand-alone titles published over the last two years, from No. 1 bestselling short story writer, Emma Calin, combined in this great value 'boxed-set'. Available in print and e-book formats.

Sub-Prime

Two powerless beings are swept together in a transient struggle for survival. Could the human spirit transcend the brutality and indifference of their brief experience before they are once again swept helplessly apart? E-book only.

Escape to Love

A woman on the run from domestic violence with no one but her vulnerable autistic teenage child as a companion, lives in isolation and fear. While her hand to mouth scenarios are played out in the shadow of a threatening suspense, a story of crime and love unfolds around her. E-book only.

The Chosen

A woman, a man, a van and a plan. What do painting and decorating, Thai brides, self-help manuals and pay-day loans have in common? J.A. knows the answer. Follow his his quest for love and happiness in The Chosen. E-book only.

Angela

A mystery tale of a late night taxi ride where the final passenger may not be all that she seems. E-book only.

Love in a Hopeless Place

A mature woman stumbles into a discovery of herself that she had never suspected. E-book only.

You can learn more about this author by visiting: Her Website, Blog, Twitter, or Facebook. You can also sign up for her mailing list to find out about upcoming releases! 

Sneak Peek! Tea and Primroses Legley Bay Collection Book Two By Tess Thompson

Title: Tea and Primroses (Legley Bay Collection Book Two) 

Author: Tess Thompson

Event organized by: Tasty Tours

Book Blurb:

Nothing is as it seemed in calm, quaint Legley Bay.

Famous novelist, Constance (last name) lived a seemingly straightforward – if private – and somewhat predictable life. Friends, beloved daughter Sutton, a beautiful home, and all the success an author could wish for. A perfect life….but was it?

When a hit and run accident suddenly takes her mother’s life, Sutton finds hidden secrets with her heartbreak. Emotional walls she assumed Constance had built to protect her privacy may have been to protect something – or someone – else entirely. Family and friends return home for support, including her own lost-love, Declan. He’s the first thing she craves to help her cope with her loss and the questions she’s left with, but he’s also the last person she wants to see. Will he be able to put down roots at last?

Can the loss of true love be the making of a life or is it destined to be the undoing of everything? When money, power and love combine across time, anything is possible.

You can purchase this book from Amazon. 

Book Excerpt:

Chapter One

June 2013

Dear Sutton,

I guess I’m gone if you’re reading this. I write one of these letters every June just in case something unexpected happens and I die. I’ve been doing this for six years now, ever since Roma died and I realized you and Declan would be orphans once I go.

I know I won’t need to remind you how much I love you since I’ve said it to you every day of your life. I hope, despite my lifelong love affair with words and my unquenched ambition, my actions left no doubt in your mind that you were everything to me. I’m prouder of you than anything I ever did, professionally or personally. I was humbled and honored to be your mother. Thank you for being my lottery. That said, in mother fashion, I must leave a small list of instructions.

1. I would like to be cremated and my ashes spread in the sea foam on our beach—just you and Declan.

2. I want a huge party thrown in my honor and for everyone to make nice speeches about me. I’m just kidding about the speeches part. No one is left that really knew me except for you and Declan, Louise and Aggie. Regardless, I would like a party where you invite all the townspeople who have wished to see inside the house for twenty years now. Please ask Louise to help you, because you’ll probably be sad and not thinking as clearly as you normally do. But, Love, make it a really good party, the kind most of the people of Legley Bay wouldn’t normally be invited to. Spend gobs of money. Over-serve them top shelf alcohol and provide buses back to town so nobody drives drunk and hurts anyone. And hire a good caterer from Cannon Beach, for God’s sake,

and not Myrnas (no apostrophe—never ceases to amuse me) Fish House. Make sure there’s some kind of potato dish—the kind I never ate and which I’m probably regretting now wherever I am. Hire servers in crisp white aprons that carry around trays and offer delectable little treats like shrimp and those bacon-wrapped dates you’re so fond of. Gosh, it sounds lovely and so civilized! My mother would have hated it. But she’s dead too so we don’t have to worry about her. Anyway, the party is a way for me to say I’m sorry to all the good people of Legley Bay for never hosting any parties at the house—completely selfish of me, I know, but I hate all the mess and fuss and the small talk—please, kill me now. Ha! I’m already dead, so that’s really not so funny. Clearly I don’t really think there’s any chance I’m dying this year since I make such light of it in this letter. Remember, I’ve been doing this for six years and I haven’t died yet. After the party, invite the gang over and play darts and dance in the basement like you all used to in high school. Sometimes at night when I’m here alone I think I can hear you all down there but then I realize it’s just the wind.

3. Don’t marry Roger. You don’t love him. He’s weird. I never understood one thing he’s ever said.

4. Call Declan. Get him to come home. You love him and always have. For Heaven’s sake, this whole nonsense between the two of you has gone on too long.

5. Invest some of the money I left you. I was surprised how it grew over the years and you will be too. That said, please don’t hesitate to spend a small amount frivolously, like on lovely clothes or a trip somewhere or even a ridiculous little sports car. I want you to have whatever you want. I did it all for you anyway.

I know you won’t mind how much I left for Declan. He was like a son to me, as you know. But, as it turns out, there was so much to go around. We have the thirteen bad movies to thank for that.

Okay, I must close. I have to get my word count in before 4 or I don’t get to have a glass of wine. Love you, always, Mommy

About the Author: 

Tess Thompson is a novelist and playwright with a BFA in Drama from the University of Southern California. In 2011, she released her first novel, Riversong, which subsequently became a bestseller.

Like the characters in Tea and Primroses, Tess is from a small town in Oregon. She currently lives in a suburb of Seattle, Washington with her two young daughters, Emerson and Ella, where she is inspired daily by the view of the Cascade Mountains from her home office window.

You can learn more about this author by visiting: Her Website, Twitter,or Facebook

Review: Duke by Day, Rogue by Night (Nelson's Tea Trilogy #1) by Katherine Bone

From Goodreads.com 

Constance Danbury is fleeing an arranged marriage to lecherous Lord Burton, a man who has blackmailed her father and is nearly twice her age. Her escape takes her aboard a merchantman bound for Spain, where she hopes an aunt will help her procure funds to save her father’s dwindling reputation. But fate intervenes. Constance is captured by a pirate with a wit and stubbornness to match her own, and a secret he’ll do anything to keep. 

Nobleman Percival Avery is a member of Nelson’s Tea, an elite group whose members are first sons from every tier in society. Undercover, he disguises himself as a pirate to infiltrate the gang of cutthroats responsible for his sister’s death. But when his vessel attacks a merchantman with valuable cargo, Percy is forced to choose between vengeance and saving the life of his commander’s niece, Constance Danbury. Mutiny is sure to obliterate his well-laid plans. It also aligns him with the one woman sure to see through his disguise. Forced to play the fop by day to outwit his enemies, he masquerades as a rogue by night in order to avenge his sister’s death – and to win his true love’s heart.

                                                    

                                                       *******************

My Rating: 5 stars out of 5

 Duke by Day, Rogue by Night paints a beautiful picture of love, loss and what could be. Ms.Bone has a way of writing that draws you in to the point that you are transported to her world completely. You care about her characters. You can see their world as they see it. You actually care about what happens to them. Do they find love? Do they overcome their loss?

There were so many different aspects to this novel from Percy's double life as both a Duke and a Rouge and the evil men behind the tragic death of his sister, to Constance's  impending marriage to a much older scoundrel, that made this novel a gripping page turner. This was a book in which the action begins straight away, and does not let up until the very (surprising) end.

This novel held a lot of firsts for me. It was not only the first novel I've read by Katherine Bone, it is also the first novel I've read that contained pirates (shame on me I know). It was also the first novel in which a character leading a double life has seemed that real to me. Usually, the "two halves" are generally so much alike I'm beating my head into the wall trying to figure out how it is the other characters haven't figure it out yet. However, this is not the case here. In Duke by Day, Rogue by Night, the characters of  Percival Avery and Thomas Sexton are (in appearance) enough to fool most anyone. Thomas is murdering one-eyed pirate and sexual fantasy all rolled into one. Percival Avery, however, is most commonly referred to as a (two-eyed) Popinjay. It was easy to see by Ms.Bone's use of descriptions how it was this man was able to fool so many people.

Speaking of the characters - you either loved them, hated them, or were unsure of them. And while this may lead people to believe that they were one-dimensional, trust me when I say they were anything but. Each and every one of the characters you meet has clear motives when it comes to acting the way that they do. 

After reading this novel, I absolutely cannot wait to read more by Katherine Bone! 

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Duke by Day, Rogue by Night (Nelson's Tea Trilogy #1) is available from Amazon.com

DISCLAIMER: I received a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not reflected upon my review in any way.

Review: The Defectors (Defectors Trilogy #1) by Tarah Benner

From Amazon.com First came the virus. Then came the Collapse. The only way to contain the epidemic is mandatory migration across the northern border of the United States. Each vaccinated citizen is identified by a tiny microchip — the most intelligent piece of technology ever to be implanted in a human being that tracks and analyzes your every move.

Twenty-year-old Haven Allis is in the system: her Citizen ID tracks her location, conversations, Internet activity, bank account — everything. Any suspicious activity is warrant for arrest.

But for those who are undocumented, life is much worse. Illegals are taken to the prisons in Sector X and made to disappear.

When her best friend Greyson is captured and arrested for his undocumented status, Haven must go off the grid to save him. Life outside the city has its own dangers: carriers of the virus lurk everywhere, and the Private Military Company is rounding up illegals. On her mission to rescue Greyson, Haven will discover a revolution in motion and be forced to question everything she believes.

                                              

                                                  *******************

 My Rating: 3 stars out of 5

This is one of those books that is slow to get started (and can be somewhat confusing), but combines interesting characters with a (somewhat) new take on an old theme. It sort of reminds me of The Walking Dead meets (parts of) Divergent. 

The "zombies" in this book are never referred to as such, rather they are referred to as "Carriers". In fact, it is mentioned several times that they don't "eat" the living. They do however bite them and kill them in viscous manners. 

However, they are not the only threat. The Private Military Company (or PMC), is also a threat, rounding up anyone deemed an "illegal", a "rebel" or a "defector". Basically they are all kind of the same thing, only an illegal has never registered for the mandatory implant, a defector is someone who has, but who has either removed their implant or been erased by the government, and rebels can be any combination of the above. If you are arrested by the PMC, you are hauled off to jail, where there is a good chance you will be tortured for information. 

The characters are all unique, each of them harboring their own secrets and motives, and while some of them you can pretty much guess their reasoning, others "former lives" come as a complete shock. When combined with the other elements, it makes for an interesting mix of characters, desires and consequences.

Overall, there is some sparse action throughout the book, but the majority of it does not take place until the last few chapters. There was enough build up in the novel that kept my interest, but this wasn't one of those books that I felt I "couldn't put down". 

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 The Defectors (Defectors Trilogy #1) is available from Amazon.com

Review: Parched (Parched #1) by Z.L. Arkadie

From Amazon.com Dark dangers, startling secrets and a life transformed forever - Discover a new spellbinding and increasing popular adult contemporary vampire/paranormal romance book series that radiates with passion, suspense, intrigue and surprise. 
 
In this first installment of the Parched novel series a New York ad exec falls in love with a sexy vampire, which changes her life forever.

Clarity Parker thought she would never see Baron Ford again. Five years ago, she fell in love with him on their magical first date and then poof--he literally vanished into thin air. That's why she's stunned to hear his name again. After all, five years have passed since that night, and now, to add intrigue to insult, he's requested that she be exclusively assigned to his multi-million dollar account. 
Clarity makes every effort to avoid Baron Ford but when he finally catches up to her he issues a warning; things are not safe for her in the city anymore, especially since the strange fog has settled over Manhattan.
 
Before the foggy day is over Clarity's entire world will come crashing down. Everything about her life that she thought was true is a lie! And there's no time to question her soap opera star mother or business mogul father about it because Baron was right, her life is in danger, and so is his!

One thing's for sure, from this point on, the world as Clarity Parker knows it will never be the same.                            

                                               *******************

 My Rating: 1 star out of 5

This book.... *sighs* I had such high hopes for this book. Not only from the synopsis, but from reviews that I had seen for it (all of which were 4 or 5 star). Now maybe its just me, or maybe this is one of those books that "just isn't for everyone", but I feel seriously ripped off. And I found this book for free.

While the overall concept of this book was appealing, I found that overall, the story had very little "thought" or "feeling" to it, and the characters were all very one dimensional. These were characters that I just could not bring myself to care about. Will they live? Will they die? Will they fall in love? WHO CARES? And that my friends is a sign of a badly written novel. 

It seems like the author took on too much at once, they are after all trying to balance vampires with... what exactly are they supposed to be? Angels?Other worldly beings? Super-humans... I don't even know. I do know that for someone claiming to not be a "snob".. Clarity was a freaking snob. After endless droning on about the designer clothes she had, even though she was not a snob (her words), when it came to purchasing some for herself, the only place she could think of was Saks .. and lets not forget her and her "sister" (that she had never met) spent a good two pages deciding what to order from a Burger King menu.. yeah. She's a snob. Sorry, but she is. 


I did manage to make it to the end (there is that book masochism I was talking about in prior entries), but I will not be continuing any farther than that. I *had* downloaded The Seventh Sister (Parched Book 2), but after reading this novel.... 

Ok you know what I might have still tried to read it, if not for the blurb the author put at the end of this book stating "The main story picks up in Quenched (Parched Book 3). The Seventh Sister (Parched Book 2), is a shorter novella that tells what happens to the seventh's sisters life before she enters the main plot. Therefore, I skipped book two and inserted an excerpt from Quenched below."

Seriously? You can't even be bothered to include an excerpt from book 2? No thanks. 

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 Parched (Parched #1) is available from Amazon.com

Sneak Peek! The Prayer, a Love Story by Jacqueline von Zwehl

Title: The Prayer, a Love Story 

Author: Jacqueline von Zwehl

Event organized by: GoddessFish Promotions

Book Description:

Do you Believe in Miracles?

Do you Believe in Eternal Love?

Do you Believe in Answered Prayers?

YOU WILL

The Prayer, A Love Story is the inspirational true story of one woman who discovers the secret to living a life filled with miracles, unconditional love and answered prayers.

The journey begins with a divine promise, continues with unforeseen life challenges, and eventually leads to Jerusalem. Inside the Old City, a prayer will unlock the key to a life of miracles. This journey is proof heaven is real and its gifts are available to you now. Whether you have stopped believing in God or not, God believes in you.

The journey holds a promise for everyone. No matter how much darkness exists in your life, it cannot diminish the flicker of even the tiniest light. That light will lead you to your destiny and it will change your life forever.

Book Excerpt: 

Wedding Day

I often wonder about the idea of a miracle. Is it something you feel? Can you see it? Or is it some- thing you just know? Miracle is a very big word, perhaps best saved for big events like the birth of a baby or the first man walking on the moon.

As I ponder this thought, I’m surrounded by lovely, fresh-cut flowers. Isn’t the blossoming of these flowers a miracle? A tiny little seed in the ground, nurtured with rich soil, water, and light, grows to reveal its unique beauty. When we look at the seed, we can’t see the miracle. It’s only later, after its potential has been manifested, we realize what that seed carried all along. Isn’t that how we all are? On the journey of our destiny in this life, all of us start as seeds. Some of us are still in the ground, waiting to grow. Some of us have sprouted a few leaves, and some of us have fully blossomed. Is the miracle the blossoming of the flower, or is the miracle knowing with certainty that everything is already in the seed? Yes, for me it always comes down to certainty. When all I can see is a seed in the ground, the miracle is certainty in my knowl- edge of what the seed is destined to become.

These were the thoughts I recorded in my journal on the morning of our wedding. I have heard that most brides wake up jittery and full of excitement, perhaps thinking about their hair and make-up, the excitement of the day ahead, and how the weather will hold up. I woke up and started writing.

‘What is a miracle? Today I will get married. I will marry the man who makes my heart sing and who was sent as the answer to my prayer. A man who calls me his miracle. Today is our seed, the first day of our journey as husband and wife. We don’t know how our seed will grow. We don’t know how many leaves will bloom or what its flower will look like. We don’t know what storms we’ll face. We do know with certainty that this seed is our destiny. It is our miracle.’

We were all ready. The driver took my hand and escorted me to my seat in the limo.

You can purchase this book from: Amazon (paperback) or Amazon (Kindle)

GIVEAWAY! 

• One randomly chosen commenter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card.

• Two randomly chosen hosts will each receive a $25 Amazon/BN.com gift card.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author: 

Jacqueline von Zwehl, is a faith based relationship expert. She holds a BFA from New York University and a MBA from Pennsylvania State University. Jacqueline travels the country as a motivational speaker encouraging singles on the path to finding their soul mates. She has appeared on Nite Line, The Harvest Show, EWTN, TCT TV, Victory TV, CatholicTV, Telecare, Changing Lives, CatholicLife, That's the Spirit, The Church, The Cardinal and You, NPR, and more. Jacqueline lives in Fort Lauderdale, FL with her husband Christopher, their two daughters and dog. The Prayer, A Love Story is her debut book. Jacqueline von Zwehl, is a faith based relationship expert. She holds a BFA from New York University and a MBA from Pennsylvania State University. Jacqueline travels the country as a motivational speaker encouraging singles on the path to finding their soul mates. She has appeared on Nite Line, The Harvest Show, EWTN, TCT TV, Victory TV, CatholicTV, Telecare, Changing Lives, CatholicLife, That's the Spirit, The Church, The Cardinal and You, NPR, and more. Jacqueline lives in Fort Lauderdale, FL with her husband Christopher, their two daughters and dog. The Prayer, A Love Story is her debut book.

You can learn more about this author by visiting: Their Website, Twitter, GoodReads or Facebook

Sneak Peek! Cat Got Your Tongue? By: Rae Rivers

Title: Cat Got Your Tongue? 

Author: Rae Rivers

Event organized by: Tasty Tours

Book Blurb:

A billionaire’s life and art collection are at risk. Who better to help than the daughter of a cat burglar?

When art collector Cole Anderson is targeted for his priceless Renoir, he reluctantly employs a bodyguard to upgrade his personal security. Imagine his surprise when she arrives—professional, capable, and sporting a ponytail and a gorgeous smile. Alex Foxley is all woman—sexy, feisty, and intimately familiar with the shady workings of the art underworld thanks to her mother’s connections.  

While battling an explosive attraction for each other and thwarting thieves determined to have Cole’s Renoir at any cost, Cole and Alex must work together to protect his life and property—and uncover a secret neither of them knows exists. Will they discover who is behind the deadly conspiracy before it’s too late? Or will passion and lust blind them to what’s right under their noses?

Book Excerpt:

“Perhaps we should up your bodyguards to two agents when you attend a more public event?”

Cole’s eyes flickered with amusement. “You think you can’t handle it on your own?”

Mm, she should have expected that from him. “I can handle it, Anderson. Just thinking ahead and trying to be prepared, that’s all.”

“You’re my arm candy with a kick, remember? You can handle me.”

“I can handle the press,” she said softly. “As for you, I’m not so sure.” She’d meant to tease him but to her surprise, she found her words had a ring of truth to them. She wasn’t sure if she could handle him – or the chemistry that sparked between them.

“If you can handle a bullet and a cat burglar, I should be a walk in the park.”

“Bullets and cat burglars are familiar to me. You are an entirely new game.”

“I like games.”

“Why am I not surprised?”

Dark eyes zeroed in on her and he gave her a slow, predatory smile. “Scared?”

You can purchase this book from Amazon.

GIVEAWAY! 

$10.00 Amazon or B&N Gift Card

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author: 

I’m an avid reader and writer with a passion for writing romance novels. I live in Cape Town, South Africa, with my gorgeous husband, two beautiful children and a zoo of house pets. Besides writing, I love family time, the outdoors, travelling, watching TV series, reading and chocolate.

You can learn more about this author by visiting: Her Website, Twitter, GoodReads or Facebook