Monday, September 30, 2013

The Rockin' Chair Review + Excerpt ~ Inspirational and Uplifting



Brief Synopsis:
Memories are the ultimate contradiction. They can warm us on our coldest days – or they can freeze a loved one out of our lives forever. The McCarthy family has a trove of warm memories. Of innocent first kisses. Of sumptuous family meals. Of wondrous lessons learned at the foot of a rocking chair. But they also have had their share of icy ones. Of words that can never be unsaid. Of choices that can never be unmade. Of actions that can never be undone.

Following the death of his beloved wife, John McCarthy – Grandpa John – calls his family back home. It is time for them to face the memories they have made, both warm and cold. Only then can they move beyond them and into the future.

A rich portrait of a family at a crossroad, THE ROCKIN' CHAIR is Steven Manchester’s most heartfelt and emotionally engaging novel to date. If family matters to you, it is a story you must read.

My thoughts:

You know that feeling, hanging out with your grandfather, smells wrap around you that are quintessentially him... it's comforting.  Like drinking homemade hot chocolate while wrapped in a quilt made by your grandmother.  So warm, comforting, familiar, and loving.  At least those were my experiences, and this book made my heart ache to smell that mix of Cigar smoke and Shalimar perfume that always permeated their house.  I missed them so much reading this book, missed that chance to hear their words of wisdom, all the stories I never heard, knowing I'll never play Gin-Rummy again with my chain-smokin' Babcia (that's Polish for grandmother and there would be hell to pay if I called her grandma.  She's rolling in her grave right now, no doubt, just having even referred to her in explanation.)  Sorry for the odd stroll down memory lane, but to me, that's the heart of this book.

I was approached for a review on this, and though I've seen glowing and brilliant reviews, I was hesitant.  There always seemed like some shinier book, a child getting sick (or practically thrown out of Kindergarten- trust me, don't ask), or doctor appointments, football season starting... long story short (too late) I was dragging my feet.  A few well placed prods, and reminder that I agreed to this... I opened the book.  The moment we first get inside the head of Alice, of maybe even some of her last 'lucid' moments, I was hooked.  Through one family, we see the best and worst of human nature.  One journey, even the journey of a 'simple' rockin' chair, proved so touching to me.

No sugar coating here, there are certainly Christian overtones, and this is far from steamy; usually books that take it too far become too preachy, grate against the inner rebel that says, "I must decide for myself what I believe."  These words, just like Babcia and Dziadziu, are not judgmental or unwanted; it was beautiful and uplifting to see their family rise up from the ashes of their mistakes and despair.  I was highlighting like mad, and able for a brief moment to see the rainbows in life, and smile.

I highly and wholeheartedly recommend this book.  It touched my heart, and I am so glad I read this, and absolute triumph of the human spirit.




Author Bio:
Steven Manchester is the published author of the #1 best seller, Twelve Months, as well as A Christmas Wish (the holiday prequel to Goodnight, Brian) and Goodnight, Brian. He is also the Pressed Pennies, The Unexpected Storm: The Gulf War Legacy and Jacob Evans, as well as several books under the pseudonym, Steven Herberts. His work has appeared on NBC's Today Show, CBS's The Early Show, CNN’s American Morning and BET’s Nightly News. Recently, three of his short stories were selected "101 Best" for Chicken Soup for the Soul series.
steven.h.manchester@sunlife.com
http://www.StevenManchester.com
http://www.facebook.com/#!/AuthorStevenManchester

Paperback and Kindle:
http://www.amazon.com/Rockin-Chair-Steven-Manchester/dp/161188067X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1366203850&sr=1-1&keywords=the
+rockin%27+chair+manchester


Nook:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-rockin-chair-steven-manchester/1115092542?ean=9781611880670



The Rockin’ Chair excerpt


Alice could feel the sun on her eyelids before she dared opening them. Beginning with a squint, she was blinded by the light that engulfed the room. Taking a second to adjust, she shook off the two quilts that restrained her, and then grabbed for her flowered housecoat at the foot of the massive bed. Throwing it on, she steadied her tiny feet into a pair of worn moccasins, all-the-while wondering, Why didn’t Ma let me sleep in? It don’t make no sense. It’s Saturday…with no responsibilities to school or church. She felt tired, more exhausted than usual, but waking to a fire burning into her pupils was certainly not the way to start such a pretty day. Making the mental note, I’ll have to talk to Ma about the rude awakening, she stumbled and had to brace herself at the doorway. Her mind had sent some message that her body could not interpret. Brushing it off as fatigue, she started again toward the kitchen, thinking, Maybe Ma will let me help with breakfast?
Grabbing the dented copper kettle off the stove, she turned to the sink and let the water flow like one of the fresh mountain springs that ran out in the backyard. She lit all four burners, placed the kettle back on the stove and began humming a childish tune. The last embers in the wood stove made her nostrils flare at the distinct scent of burnt oak. Smells like the remnants of a late night’s chill, she thought, one of my chores to remove. But she couldn’t recall bringing in the wood, or lighting a fire. Shrugging it off, she snugged down on the robe’s cotton belt, folded her arms across her chest and continued to hum.
She wandered toward the kitchen window and, though she could not have fought it off, nor even detected it, her mind was suddenly exposed to a different reality. Like a child discovering a new world through ancient eyes, she peered out the window and her jaw went slack.
A stranger was busy at work and the sight of him made Alice’s mouth go dry. Her heart began to race and her breathing became shallow. Yet, though the man’s presence absolutely terrified her, his every movement was hypnotizing. Trembling, she stood paralyzed and watched.
He was a large fellow, maybe six feet or better, with shoulders as broad as his smile. In his fists, he held cracked corn, scattering it in a pattern so that every chicken had its fair chance. He was an old-timer, his face wrinkled and weathered like his callused hands. In the middle of that chiseled face sat the biggest nose. Curiously—as if she’d thought it a million times before—she decided that it showed great character. For a cruel second, he turned toward the window, making her squirm with anxiety. She relaxed, though, when she was sure that his liquid blue eyes had not found her. He returned to working slow, his every move filled with purpose and kindness.
But that moment of peace only lasted one single sigh of relief. As if caught in an inescapable nightmare, she watched the man’s three-legged dog limp straight to the window, glance up and tilt his head—cynically. Though she could not manage the words from her constricted throat, her eyes begged for the animal’s silence. Please don’t, she pleaded in her mind. Please…please…please… But it was not to be. The crippled mutt barked out his wailing alarm, calling his master’s attention to her. In an instant, she felt her knees buckle, as the room spun slowly—in a cruel sort of way. She tried desperately to hold on, but the last thing she saw was a red cap and green overcoat rushing for the house.
“Oh God...no!” she screamed, but the stranger kept coming. He’s comin’ to get me, she feared, and though her mind pleaded for her legs to flee, they would not budge. She collapsed to the cold linoleum floor and awaited the worse.

With no more than a stern look, Three Speed lay down on the porch, the storm door slamming in his silver-haired face. John raced through the parlor and could hear the teakettle screaming for help. Breaking the kitchen threshold, his worried eyes caught Alice lying near the bottom cupboard. Her frail body was rolled up in the fetal position and her thumb was stuck in her mouth. As if he were approaching a wounded bird, he slowly kneeled down beside her and held out his hand. She swayed back and forth, humming louder with each movement. For what seemed a lifetime, she avoided his stare. And then finally, courageously, she glanced into his eyes. For a moment, she looked as if she was going to accept his hand but, in the last glimmer of such a hope, she pulled back, retreating deeper into her tortured mind.
“It’s me, darlin’,” John whispered. “It’s John…your husband.”
“You do look some familiar,” she mumbled. But still, her eyes betrayed her lack of trust.
Again, he whispered, “Come on, Alice. I’m not gonna hurt ya. You’re just sick, ol’ girl.” He opened his hand even wider and watched as her horrified eyes gradually registered his words as truth.
Like an abandoned child who had lost all hope only to find that her parents had not meant to leave her behind, Alice raised her arms and began to weep mournfully. “I’m sorry…” she whimpered.
In one easy motion, John scooped his tiny wife into his arms and kissed her frightened face. Turning off all four burners—the majority that did nothing but lick at air—he carried Alice like an infant to their bedroom. All the way, he could taste the salt of her tears on his tongue. It was a bitter taste and he hated it, yet he knew all-too-well that it was only a small taste of what was still to come.
On the way up the stairs, Alice sobbed, “I’m so stupid now…so dumb.”
“You shoosh now,” John whispered. “That just ain’t true.”
He placed her back into their four-poster bed and, conforming to their daily ritual, gave her the two white pills and a small glass of water to wash them down. He talked slow and gentle to her, trying to remove her fears and keep her mind in the present. “Time to rest, Alice,” he whispered. “You just need to get some rest, is all.”
For a moment, she smiled—as if she believed him. But in the next moment, her eyes filled with panic and she pushed herself toward the headboard, scrambling desperately to create a safe distance between them. “Don’t you touch me, mister!” she screamed. “Don’t you dare lay a finger on me!”
She’s getting’ worse, he thought, and began humming a lullaby.
“Mama! Mama…help me!” she screamed out, but as she called out in a panic for her mother the pills began to take effect. He stroked her hair until her mind eventually removed itself from the harsh reality of now and found a more pleasant place to dwell. When John was sure that Alice would need nothing more, he kissed her and returned the cap back onto his throbbing head.

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Tragically Flawed FLASH SALE ~ Woohoo for Hot Flashes!


Riviera Benson’s past has been nothing but horrific. It’s filled with secrets that she intends to keep tightly locked away...terrifying secrets that keep her awake at night...that prevent her from getting close to anyone...anyone that is, until her work as a muralist drives her into the arms of the hot and sexy Shan.

Benjamin Shandon, owner of Shandon Homes, works like a thousand demons are chasing him...because perhaps they are. His business has boomed, ever since the forest fire swept through the canyon and destroyed hundreds of million dollar homes. He demands excellence in everything...from his employees to his women. He slows down for nothing, keeping a schedule that no sane person would want. But Riviera interrupts everything, twisting his guts inside out, and wedging her way into his heart, destroying a promise he made to himself.

Will they let their pasts control their future, or will they decide to let go and allow their hearts to discover each other’s?

 This book contains mature content and is not intended for younger readers.

Be sure not this miss this book- and at SUCH a great price!  
My review is still forthcoming, but I give it:

Buy Links:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/14wIgQ0
Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/19qMpVb
Smashworks: http://bit.ly/18MPgf1

A.M. Hargrove's Bio:
One day, on her way home from work as a sales manager, A. M. Hargrove, realized her life was on fast forward and if she didn't do something soon, it would quickly be too late to write that work of fiction she had been dreaming of her whole life.  So, she rolled down the passenger window of her fabulous (not) company car and tossed out her leather briefcase.  Luckily, the pedestrian in the direct line of fire was a dodge ball pro and had über quick reflexes enabling him to avoid getting bashed in the head.  Feeling a tad guilty about the near miss, A. M. made a speedy turn down a deserted side street before tossing her crummy, outdated piece-of-you-know-what laptop out the window.  She breathed a liberating sigh of relief, picked up her cell phone, called her boss and quit her job.  Grinning, she made another call to her hubs and told him of her new adventure (after making sure his heart was beating properly again).

So began A. M. Hargrove's career as a YA/NA and Adult Romance writer. Her books include the following: Edge of Disaster, Shattered Edge and Kissing Fire (The Edge Series); The Guardians of Vesturon series (Survival, Resurrection, Determinant, reEmergent and Beginnings); Dark Waltz and Tragically Flawed.

Other than being in love with writing about being in love, she loves chocolate, ice cream and coffee and is positive they should be added as part of the USDA food groups.

Author Links:
A.M. Hargrove's Blog
@Amhargrove1 on Twitter
AMHargroveAuthor on Facebook
A.M. Hargrove on Goodreads
TRAGICALLY FLAWED Goodreads
Pinterest A.M. Hargrove1


Grimnirs Cover Reveal (Runes Series) ~ Stunning!



Book Title: Grimnirs
Series: A Runes Novel
Author: Ednah Walters
Release Date: December 2nd 2013
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Firetrail Publishing
Presented by: Twisted Book Tours and More & As You Wish Tours
Banner Made by: Camelia Miron Skiba

 
BLURB

One lost love.
One lost best friend.
One hot soul reaper.

Straight out of the psyche ward, Cora just wants her life to be normal. She doesn’t want to see souls or the reapers collecting them. The love of her life, the guy she’s loved from a distance for years, has moved away without saying goodbye. So yes, she’s nursing a serious heartbreak. It’s no wonder love is the last thing on her mind when Echo storms into her life.

The chemistry between them is mind-blowing. The connection defies logic. It doesn’t help that Echo is the poster boy for everything she hates in a guy—hot, beautiful, and cocky. A general pain-in-the-butt. Being around him makes her feel more alive than she’s ever felt before. But more important, the souls leave her alone when he is around.

Echo is perfect for her. Echo might even be her soul-mate. There is only one problem. Echo is a freaking soul reaper. A Grimnir. The very beings she wants out of her life. Maybe normal is overrated because Cora wants it all. Answers. Love. A life. You see, once you fall for a Grimnir, your life will never be the same again.

AUTHOR BIO
EDNAH WALTERS grew up reading Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys and dreaming of one day writing her own stories. She is a stay-at-home mother of five humans and two American short-hair cats (one of which has ADHD) and a husband. When she is not writing, she’s at the gym doing Zumba or doing things with her family, reading, traveling or online chatting with fans.

Ednah is the author of The Guardian Legacy series, a YA fantasy series about children of the fallen angels, who fight demons and protect mankind. AWAKENED, the prequel was released by Pill Hill Press in September 2010 with rave reviews. BETRAYED, book one in the series was released by her new publisher Spencer Hill Press in June 2012 and HUNTED, the third installment, will be released April 2013. She’s working on the next book in the series, FORGOTTEN. Visit her at www.ednahwalters.com

Ednah also writes YA paranormal romance. RUNES is the first book in her new series. IMMORTALS is book 2. She is presently working on book 3, GRIMNIRS (Release date TBA). Read more about this series and the world she's created here www.runestheseries.com

Under the pseudonym E. B. Walters, Ednah writes contemporary romance. SLOW BURN, the first contemporary romance with suspense, was released in April 2011. It is the first book in the Fitzgerald family series. Since then she has published four more books in this series. She's presently working on book six. You can visit her online at or www.ebwalters.com.


Friday, September 20, 2013

Amazing Reviews Giveaway!! You don't Wanna Miss This!


Want a chance to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card from David Estes, author of the Dwellers Series and The Country Saga? All you have to do is post reviews for David's books you’ve read on Amazon.com between September 20th and September 27th and enter them into the Rafflecopter form below-- it’s that easy! For each review posted, you will receive two entries into the giveaway! And the more reviews you post, the more chances you have to win, so don’t forget about the sequels! Of course, those who have already posted reviews on Amazon.com can also enter, but be sure to enter each review in the Rafflecopter form so you get credit. You can also receive additional chances to win the $20 gift card by helping to spread the word about the giveaway, see Rafflecopter form below for details.

The Books that qualify for this giveaway are from The Dwellers Series or Country Saga Series by David Estes.


A personal note from David Estes about this giveaway:
Reviews are so important to the success of my books, especially those posted on Amazon.com, which is the largest retailer of eBooks in the world. Each and every review helps allow me to do what I love to do for a living, and I truly appreciate those readers who take a few minutes out of their busy schedules to review my books on Amazon.com, especially the sequels, for which reviews are often forgotten. Thank you all for entering this giveaway and for posting your reviews, I read each and every one! Good luck!



NOTE: All winning entries will be verified prior to the winner being awarded their prize.

**Note from Alana**
 Does a little dance of excitement about getting to read more in the series and leaving reviews!
They are NOT ones to miss!

Enter on the Rafflecopter below and Good Luck!

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Thursday, September 19, 2013

Losing Virginity Release Day ~ Awkwardly Toe Curling

Adult Content: 
Recommended for Mature Audiences Only.


WARNING: THIS BOOK IS DEFINITELY ONLY FOR AGES 18 OR OLDER. OLIVIA HAS CRAZY THOUGHTS. IF YOU ARE OFFENDED BY INAPPROPRIATE THOUGHTS I RECOMMEND YOU DON'T READ THIS. IF YOU HAVE VIRGIN EARS I RECOMMEND YOU DON'T READ THIS. IF YOU HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR THEN READ THIS.


Olivia Spurgeon has been a good girl her entire life. Her friends have called her Spurgeon the Virgin since 9th grade. Why? Because everyone in her group of friends had already lost there virginity by then. Over the past four years it has been like a foreign object attached to her and even named it something simple.

Virginity.

Now, she's a freshman in college and still hasn't done the deed. All three of her roommates do not have Virginity attached to them and they aren't scared to show it off. Olivia is jealous. She wants what they are having, feeling. One day she finally decides that she doesn't want Virginity attached to her anymore and begins the journey of shedding it.

My Thoughts:

I was really torn about this.  There were moments that made my toes actually curl; exquisite anticipation was charged and tangible... but there were moments (especially the epilogue) that just left me wanting and unfulfilled.  So many little things that added up to a roll of my eyes, but I still found myself turning pages with little prodding.

You know, New Adult is fast becoming a favorite of mine, and virginity is a theme occurring with more regularity... the key, I think, is wanting to take that journey with the character.  Olivia was an issue for me, being an 'older' virgin (in this day and age) is not a usual thing anymore.  It lends credibility that she would be awkward; but she was 'funny/silly' awkward it was like this painful mess that just wanted to make me shake my head and sigh.  Ryder helped balance everything- a little, at least.  The banter was odd and not at ALL what I would expect, but tempered by the easily guessed direction of the book.


The book seemed to try to channel a little of the chemistry and flavor of humor from Wallbanger.  It had the witty 'names' like Elevator Girl.  It had some of the most awkward interaction on a first date that I think I've ever seen or read.  I wanted to be excited, I wanted to be 'woo'ed, I wanted to cheer... but it was like getting worked up then left cold.  But, at the same time, there were some zingers that made me smirk.  Here, I'll share one:

"Well, don't get any ideas because I'm not like any of those other girls you take home.  Legs isn't the word of the day so I'm not going to be spreading it."

The epilogue.  *Glares at Kindle* It alone lost at least 1 heart all it's own.  Epilogues are NOT meant to do that.  If it had been left off, never to be seen by me, I'd feel 100% comfy with a 4♥ rating.  No qualms.  BUT.  It exists.  It sits there, mocking me.  The worst thing, is I can't say anything specific without giving away spoilers and I don't want to do that.  And it might just be me.  It could absolutely just be me and my weird little self that feels this way about it- but.. it was the bane of this book.  Above the awkwardness, above the freaky conversations, above my eye rolling... I. Hate. The. Epilogue.

Despite all this frustration, my minds still goes back to that toe curling.  There were times that I was SO caught up, that it rose above all my other petty issues (until I reached the *bleeping* epilogue.)  I really want to give it a 3½, but oh, no- I have to stick with whole hearts.  So, by a hair- or rather, a toe curl, I give it a 4♥ rating.  If you like fun, awkward, light romance with no heavy emotional gut-wrenching hits, then I'd recommend Losing Virginity (that sounds so wrong, right?) to you.


About Me

I'm an LA girl who lives in San Francisco. I'm currently working a 9 to 5 joh but decided to write my own book in January 2013 instead of watching television. My new years resolution. I'm glad that I've finally ready to release it after 8 months of working on it!

Ava Michaels on Facebook
Twitter

EXCERPT:

 I set my cup to the side and leaned in to him. I gently kissed his lips that were sweet from the wine. My mind had shut off. There were no tumultuous thoughts or conflicting emotions like there had been last night. I was completely in the moment with him… Alone with him.

I gently pulled back from him and looked seriously into his eyes. I studied his face, and his hair, touching them gently as if they were made of porcelain. I leaned back in to kiss his neck and breathe no words but just my desire into his ear. His arms tightened around my waist and he pulled his breath in quickly as he pulled me on top of him. I was nervous. My body seemed to know what it wanted. My hands grasped his hair as our lips met. I felt myself pull closer and closer to him, my hips grinding gently against his.  In one motion I sat up, still straddling him and pulled the top of my dress down to expose my breasts. I didn’t feel self-conscious or awkward. I felt excited and confident and I wanted him to feel that way too. He unbuttoned his shirt, exposing his perfectly defined chest. I leaned back down and felt all the blood in my body race as the warmth of our bodies connected.

As we kissed, I reached down and, a little clumsily, unbuttoned his pants and gently pulled the zipper down. This was it. I was ready. I wanted to lose my virginity here, with this man, right now. It wasn’t the alcohol. It was him, Ryder Dawson. He was the man worthy enough.
"Are you sure?" he asked.

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Monday, September 16, 2013

Tears of Tess ~ "I Was Sold" + Giveaway!


Title: Tears of Tess by Pepper Winters
Release Date: September 9th, 2013
Genre: Dark New Adult Romance
Goodreads Link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18134894-tears-of-tess
Video Link: http://youtu.be/ZI1azW2ydUo
Cover Design by Cover It Designs : http://www.coveritdesigns.net/


Blurb:

A New Adult Dark Contemporary Romance, not suitable for people sensitive to grief, slavery, and nonconsensual sex. A story about finding love in the strangest of places, a will of iron that grows from necessity, and forgiveness that may not be enough.

“My life was complete. Happy, content, everything neat and perfect.
Then it all changed.
I was sold.”

Tess Snow has everything she ever wanted: one more semester before a career in property development, a loving boyfriend, and a future dazzling bright with possibility.

For their two year anniversary, Brax surprises Tess with a romantic trip to Mexico. Sandy beaches, delicious cocktails, and soul-connecting sex set the mood for a wonderful holiday. With a full heart, and looking forward to a passion filled week, Tess is on top of the world.

But lusty paradise is shattered.

Kidnapped. Drugged. Stolen. Tess is forced into a world full of darkness and terror.

Captive and alone with no savior, no lover, no faith, no future, Tess evolves from terrified girl to fierce fighter. But no matter her strength, it can’t save her from the horror of being sold.

Can Brax find Tess before she’s broken and ruined, or will Tess’s new owner change her life forever?


 
What I thought:

Well... I'm still having trouble expressing what this book did to me.  That may sound negative, "did to me", but it wasn't.  Well, it was, but I'd happily submit to it all over again.  I'm making all kinds of sense, right?

Also, a warning of sorts, this book deals with human trafficking.  It's dark and to steal from Rocky Horror Picture Show, "A little mink f*** can be nice."  I feel I should also warn readers of this review: though I've been recommended numerous titles similar to this book, I had not read any of them prior to this.  The desire I had to read this book finally won over my reservations that made me hesitate previously.  I'm much more confident about picking up those other titles, and it was SO cathartic to have a nice cry.  Well, an ugly cry, anyway.  OK, I was bawling for like an hour straight.

I knew going in, and you can't help but know from the very first page, but I was just struck dumb by everything.  The basic idea that I was anticipating and probably dreading- falling for your captor.  But oh, Stockholm Syndrome- sign me right up if it includes Q.  I was SOLD on this book.  Not that I would EVER want or wish to be kidnapped, and sold as a slave, a possession, that very thought makes the rebel in me want to spit and fight and claw.  Books are this magical 'safe zone' to feel what the characters are feeling without actually being stripped, tattooed as a product, and sold.  If fluffy romance with flowers is where your heart lies (in regard to reading) then run away right now.  This is NOT that book.  However, if you think you might be able to handle the darker, kinkier side and the emotional turmoil of 'master and slave' then hurry up and snatch up your own copy!

Have a handy 'book hangover' cure ready as well.  I am a serial reader, on the heels of one book- I'll dive right into another with no waiting time.  After Tess, I couldn't do it.  I had to wait hours before I could bring myself to crack another cover.  I was tentative and timid at the beginning.  Read the first two pages and had to put it down just to get the nerve to continue.  It tested me (being my first mind f*** book of this particular type.)  But by the end, I would have bared myself in a pose of absolute submission and begged for more Q.

Ultimately, just as Tess sums up in the book, after reading this the ONLY thing I can think of to say, "I was Sold."






Author Bio:

Writer, reader, sometimes wife. An avid devourer of sexy romance and angsty New Adult. Nothing beats lolling in a bubble bath with her array of book boyfriends, and plotting torturous stories to put her characters through.
Living Down Under means she writes in the Queen’s English, not Obama’s, and aims to have an entire catalogue of sexy books that keep you wanting more. Oh, and she may or may not be in love with Q from Tears of Tess.

Author Links:

Facebook Link: https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Pepper-Winters/539976006062848

Goodreads Profile Link: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7151973.Pepper_Winters

Website Link: http://pepperwinters.wordpress.com/

Twitter Link: https://twitter.com/PepperWinters





In Addition, Dark Obsession Chronicles will be giving away ONE eBook copy of Tears of Tess!

Saturday, September 14, 2013

Roadside Service Cover Reveal ~ Oil Change, Anyone?

Roadside Service
by B.L. Wilde

Cover Design by Jo Matthews
Genre: Erotica
Scheduled Release: September 27, 2013
Summary:
When fate brings you face-to-face with what your heart desires, how can you ignore it?
Violet Weathers, the world’s top supermodel, is in Omaha, Nebraska for two weeks shooting a campaign for a new skincare line that she’s the fresh new face of.
When her car breaks down on the way to the hotel, she is rescued by a hot mechanic who just might make her stay in Omaha more bearable.

Excerpt (PG13):
By nine o’clock, I had given up hope that Blake would show. He wasn’t even willing to hear me out and I was furious! I couldn’t go and find him, either, because I had no idea where he lived. Fine! If that was how he wanted to be, I wouldn’t waste any more time thinking about him…or about his lips, fingers, or amazing body…damn it!
I decided a hot shower would help to calm my nerves, and it did a little. I wanted to order a huge bowl of chocolate ice cream, but Allie would kill me because I had the shoot tomorrow.
I was lying on my bed, watching a silly old movie and eating a grilled chicken salad a few hours later when I heard someone knock on my door. Blake wouldn’t dare turn up this late, would he?
After wrapping my robe tightly around my body, I looked through the peephole to see who it was. That jerk! Blake was standing outside, running his hands through his hair nervously. I threw open the door, livid that he had the gall to show up more than three hours after he said he would. “You’re a little late, aren’t you?” I seethed.
“Violet, look, I’m sorry. Something came up.”
“And you didn’t think to call me?”
“I had to go out on an emergency call and my phone died. I came as quick as I could.” Damn, now I felt like crap. Blake did look a little flustered.
“Oh,” I squirmed, feeling like a complete idiot.
“It happens from time to time. Drew had already asked for the night off to take Sarah out, and well…I got the request just as I was about to come and see you. I thought I could call you, but then I noticed my phone had died. I really am sorry, Violet.”
“Have you eaten?” I asked, widening my door so he could come in. “I just ordered room service. You’re welcome to help yourself.”
“No. I’m starving, actually,” Blake smirked. He would have drenched my panties with his look alone, if I’d been wearing any.
I sat watching him eat my leftover salad. It was lucky I hadn’t eaten all of the bread because he quickly finished that off, too; Damn, Blake really was hungry.  
“Wow, you weren’t joking about being starving, were you?” I chuckled. “I can order something else if you’re still hungry.”
“That was fine, Violet,” Blake smiled, reaching out to gently stroke my cheek. “Thank you.”
“I have a fully stocked mini bar, too.”
“The perks of being a famous supermodel, huh?” he teased, raising his perfect eyebrow.
“I guess so,” I giggled, getting up. “What do you want? A beer?”
“Sounds good.”
We made small talk for a little while and Blake told me about his day before I filled him in on mine.
“What?” I asked when he laughed at me.
“Can’t you see how different our lives are? I’m telling you about oil changes and breakdowns, while you’re telling me about diamonds hanging from the ceiling in your latest commercial.” 
“I’ve had my fair share of breakdowns, too,” I quipped, sipping my water.
Blake sniggered into his beer bottle. “I can imagine.”
“Are you still angry with me?” I whispered.
“No,” he sighed. “Everyone knows who you are, Violet. I can’t believe I never realized it.”
“I liked that you were just interested in me.”
“Violet,” Blake smoldered, “I’m still very interested in you.”


About the Author:
B.L. Wilde is a British author obsessed with many things, including heated love stories. Supported fully by her husband, she can often be found at her desk working on her next project.
Her journey into the world of erotica began when she started writing online stories over three years ago, and she hasn't looked back since.
 
Author Links:
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Thursday, September 12, 2013

The Earth Dwellers is OUT and Another David Estes Interview!

It's that time again...
Yes, I do mean another Dwellers book by David Estes!
And what else does that mean? INTERVIEW!

But I first want to take a little mosey down memory lane.  If you've never had the chance to mosey before, what on earth is stopping you?

Dark Obsession has had the priviledge of hosting David Estes numerous times.  Seriously, I think he holds the record for most appearances on this blog!  Hmm... maybe that deserves an award or something?

But let's take that moment to stop and 'smell the roses'...



See, now wasn't that fun?  Of coarse it was!
To find out more about David, and the Dwellers Series, 
be sure to visit the Moon Dwellers Birthday Bash!


Who wants a FREE eBook copy of Fire County?  
Or to enter the GIVEAWAY?

Then be sure to check out the
for details! 

David, we've learned so much about you... the color of your toothbrush (back in June), what YOU would do for a Klondike bar, why the chicken crossed the road... it's hard to come up with something new and amazing to ask you.  Well, here goes nothing...

Now that you've finished The Country Saga and The Dwellers series, are you going to continue in the dystopian genre or try your hand at a different one?

Ha! Yes, you and your members have learned all kinds of crazy stuff because of your random and off-the-wall (but very fun and interesting!) questions. It’s been awesome being interviewed on your blog so much, and I’m so happy to be back again!
Great first question! The answer is yes…and no. How’s that for wishy washy? Let me explain. I love dystopian books, both reading and writing them. And it wasn’t until I wrote my first YA dystopian novel that I was able to start writing full time. So dystopian novels will always be my favorite genre to write in, and I can’t just stop doing what I love. All that being said, my next series will ONCE AGAIN be dystopian. *cheers and whistles* However, it will also mix in a whole lot of paranormal/fantasy, so it won’t be your standard Sci-Fi evil government dystopian. It will have a ton of imagination in the characters and plot and I hope my readers will enjoy the way I’m combining multiple genres in one book.

I know I usually wait for the funky questions... but I have to keep you on your toes, right? 
If you had a movie made of your (to date) life story, what would the title be?
Ha! As if! IF, and that’s a big IF, someone ever made a movie about my life so far, I think it’d be called Broken Road. For one, Adele’s and my wedding song was God Bless the Broken Road by Rascal Flatts, and it always makes me cry. And two, it really is true that my road to becoming a full time author has been full of potholes and wrong turns and fallen trees. But in the end, that road was always leading me to Adele and to being a writer.

If the TV remote (or any items with buttons) isn't working the first time, do you press harder in hopes that it will work?
Hahahaha! No matter how prepared I think I am for your unexpected questions, you always surprise me! Yes! Absolutely. And I try to point the device at whatever it’s meant to be controlling, in hopes that will help create a better connection.

What is the hardest thing about writing sequels?
The fear of letting your readers down. Everyone talks about “the sequel slump,” which basically means that the sequel doesn’t live up to people’s expectations after the first book in the series. It happens all the time, and readers are really surprised and happy when the sequel is actually better than the first book. For me, a good example is Under the Never Sky. For me, the first book was just okay, and I wasn’t sure whether I’d read the sequel. But then, to my surprise, some people I trusted said the sequel was better. I was skeptical, but I gave it a try, and WOW! What an awesome sequel and the third might prove to be the best book in the series.
Why do I tell this story? Because although I want all my books to be awesome, I also think series should get better as they go. You have longer to develop your characters, to formulate your plot twists, to build the world…so why shouldn’t it get better? Plus, in my case, I’ve been improving as a writer with each book, so I really hope readers can see the improvement from book to book.

Do you know how to do the Macarena? What about the Electric Slide?
Wellllll, I can Macarena reasonably well for a six-foot-three guy with gangly arms and legs and two left feet. It’s a fairly straightforward dance and once I get going, I can’t really stop. The Electric Slide not so much though. I have my limits!
This might be too much information, but I much prefer the shopping cart, the lawn mower, or the sprinkler. And if my wife’s across the room from me, I’ll definitely try to hook her with the good ol’ fishing dance.
And this really might be too much information, but Adele made up a dance called the sideways dance, which is simple and really fun, especially when you get multiple people doing it at once. Basically you just gallop sideways for maybe five or six hops and then turn and gallop back. We had a little house party at her cousin’s once, and we had the two of us, her cousin and her husband, and their two kids going all at once, every other person going in different directions, and it was way fun.

What is one of your favorite fan mail stories?
Hmm toughie! I get a fair amount of fan mail, and quite a bit from other aspiring authors. But one of my favorites was from a teacher in California who said that he and his students (as part of a reading program) had stumbled upon my books because they were getting good reviews and they were reasonably priced, and they were really enjoying the Dwellers/Country Saga. So much so that he was able to use part of his yearly budget to buy a whole bunch of paperbacks of the series. That was a really big WOW moment for me, as not only did it mean that my books were getting into the hands of teenagers, but that teenagers were reading! That’s huge for me. In this world of gadgets and video, my biggest fear is that the new generations stop reading. It’s amazing to hear that the opposite is happening and that the written word is only getting stronger. It was also incredible to be recognized and appreciated by an educator, as I value what they do for kids more than almost anything.

Did you have imaginary friends growing up?
Oh. My. Gosh. Where are these questions coming from? OK, I’m playing dumb. I get it, I really do. As anyone who’s read my book, Fire Country, knows, the main character, Siena, forms a strange and unexpected (and comedic) relationship with a cactus, who she names Perry. Over the course of the series, Perry has received a lot of attention from my readers and has formed his own fan group of sorts.
So back to the question: Surprisingly, I did NOT have imaginary friends growing up, but I sort of do now. When I met Adele, I also met a stuffed bear, appropriately named Teddy, who she’d had since she was a kid. Teddy very quickly became my arch nemesis, as he felt I was stealing Adele’s attention away. (Yes, I’m weird, thank you for recognizing that.) Anywayyyyy, Teddy is the inspiration for Perry. And before you ask, yes, Teddy is suing me for royalties from the sale of Fire Country.

What do you like most about writing YA?
Great question. I love writing (and reading) YA, because it can be so pure and simple one minute, and yet so gritty and complex the next. When you’re a teenager, life is so much less complicated in so many ways, and yet you still have a million complex feelings of hope, of fear, of triumph, of defeat, etc. Plus you’re experiencing so many more things for the first time that it makes life that much more exciting. Young people are interesting. Young people are stronger than anyone gives them credit for. Young people are the future. That’s what makes writing about them so awesome.

What was your first book (that sparked the love of reading), or if you cannot remember that, the last book you bought.

I can’t remember the first book my mother read to me (she read me a ton of books growing up), but it was probably one of the Berenstein (sorry about the spelling) Bear books. I quickly graduated to reading The Hardy Boys on my own, and after polishing off that series, I was hooked! At a very young age, I grabbed everything in the house, from my dad’s Agatha Christie collection, to my sister’s Babysitter’s Club books. I didn’t discriminate. As long as there were words, interesting characters, and exciting stories, I’d give it a shot. I won many a reading competition at school, by reading dozens more books than any of my fellow students. And then…
…I discovered The Lord of the Rings. Yeah, that was the series that REALLY sparked my love of reading. My old copies of The Hobbit and the three books that followed are so worn they look like antiques. I’ve read them all cover-to-cover more than a dozen times.

Wow! Well, once again, you’ve surprised me and given me so many awesome thought-inducing questions, Alana! Thanks for having me on your blog and I hope you’re members enjoyed the interview!! For those of your readers who are thinking about reading the combined Dwellers/Country Saga, I’d just like to clear up any confusion about the order they need to be read, as I’m getting lots of questions about it. You can read EITHER the Dwellers Saga OR the Country Saga first, doesn’t matter which. Although I wrote the Dwellers Saga first, the two series are completely separate in terms of characters, setting, and plot, up until the point where they combine at the end of the third book in each series. Then the 7th and final book, The Earth Dwellers, smashes the two series together in an epic finish to a very long journey. I hope you all enjoy the ride as much as I have!!!

Have YOU read the Dwellers Series or Country Saga?  Don't miss out!

Highlights from my Reviews: 

The Moon Dwellers (The Dwellers, #1)The Moon Dwellers by David Estes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"My heart is alive again. Because I see her."

"I don't particulary like confrontation. Unfortunately, confrontation seems to like me"
 I laughed, I cried (well at least got misty-eyed), I said "NO!", I gasped... it really takes you, wraps you up into this strange new world, and sweeps you away into the story. I cannot recommend this enough!

The Star Dwellers (The Dwellers, #2)The Star Dwellers by David Estes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

More twists and turns than a roller coaster, be sure to strap in your belt and return your tray to it's full upright position before beginning this book! Be sure, too, to fire up your brain and get ready for some cryptic clues to what the future holds. My crystal ball was a little too murky to make much out, but I'm keen to find out more secrets and continue the series!

And finally, my review of The Sun Dwellers!

The Sun Dwellers (The Dwellers #3)The Sun Dwellers by David Estes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is, hands down, my favorite book of this series (that I've read thus far.) It was just so WOW. The right amount of angst and self-doubt to make the teenage mission so believable. There were brief moments of hormone driven passion, but there is only so much time for that when you're in the middle of a war and a soldier fighting for everything.

The sweet, sweet innocence juxtaposed with sharp pointy weapons. One minute, it's all daggers and bows, arrows and a gun... the next it's the naive worry of holding hands while you're sweating. There are moments, where the reality crashes around them, revealing with stark naked cruelty the extent of what they have signed up for. Everything is in the balance, resting on the shoulders of these young adults. No pressure, indeed.

It's really odd, but I swear the further they journey into the Sun realm (the 'brightest' of all the realms) the darker the story seems to get. I've so eager to see where it further leads... I cannot gush enough. Really, this book raises the entire series to a 5 star series for me!

I received a free eBook in exchange for an unbiased review. I have received no compensation for my thoughts.

I give The Dwellers Series a rating of: