Guest Post & Giveaway: Wishbone by Brooklyn Hudson

A Manhattan power couple survive a tragedy and attempt a fresh start only to be plagued by unexplained and disastrous occurrences...be careful what you wish for.

At the age of nine, growing up in the French countryside, Julien Grenier witnessed the brutal murder of his grandfather. Now, at forty-five, he continues to be plagued by horrific nightmares and reenactments of that tragic event.

Living a successful though austere lifestyle on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, Julien has recreated himself, building emotional walls that even his young wife cannot penetrate.

Though somewhat moody, Julien is a good man with a heart of gold, and a great sense of loyalty and responsibility; enabling his wife, Rachael, to turn a blind eye to his tightly-kept secrets.

Rachael is thirty-two years old; an art dealer and playful free spirit, but after a home invasion assault leaves her emotionally unstable and destroys their care-free and content world, they relocate to a safer environment with the hope of a fresh start.

Kings Hollow is a quaint town, nestled in the serene Catskill Mountains of upstate New York. At first, their new home appears to be the miracle they prayed for, until a traditional children's game begins to destroy their bliss; Rachael is no longer herself and Julien is experiencing a string of bad luck and unfortunate accidents.

At the center of it all is seventeen-year-old Sarah, a part-time caretaker on the property.

Can Julien and Rachael escape the nightmare of Kings Hollow...or is this just Wishful thinking?

WISHBONE is a multi-layered thriller incorporating several sub-plots; in the vein of Pet Sematary, What Lies Beneath, Misery and Stir of Echoes. Dramatic horror at its best, Brooklyn Hudson takes you on a suspenseful roller coaster ride of emotional turmoil and shocking events. 

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre - Supernatural Thriller

Rating - R

More details about the author

Connect with Brooklyn Hudson on Twitter & Facebook

Blog http://brooklynhudson.blogspot.com/

Top Ten Favorite Things 

- Guest Post By Brooklyn Hudson

Assuming we are not including my books, writing, or my writing tools… 

1. Dogs (Animals in general, but dogs have a special place in my heart) 
2. Music 
3. Living in my Pajama pants and Hoodies 
4. Nature (Trees/Water/Mountains/Oceans/Greenery) 
5. The Winter (snow included) 
6. Reality TV Contests (Celebrity Apprentice/Idol/Hell’s Kitchen/All of’em!) 
7. Coffee (There is no time of day when there isn’t a cup beside me) 
8. The Dark (I’m so nocturnal and have been since infancy) 
9. Anything Stephen King (Books/Movies/Interviews) 
10. My Guitars

GIVEAWAY

The author is giving away digital copy of Wishbone to three winners.  To enter this giveaway, enter the Rafflecopter below.  If the Rafflecopter widget doesn't load properly, please refresh the page.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Guest Post & Giveaway: Sleeping Roses by RaShelle Workman

Sophie married into a lie. Sick of her dangerous marriage, Sophie leaves her husband, determined to start a new life. But her husband isn't going to let her go that easily. If he can't have her, no one can.

It's hunter versus hunted.

Praise for Sleeping Roses:

 "It's strange, mysterious, and down right cool! It made me wonder if this really happened." Jek Jamison

"A suspense/thriller where nothing is as it seems." Heartsong Reviews 

"From the first page to the last I was captivated by Sophie's journey as told by Ms Workman. Well crafted twists and turns kept me completely enthralled and unwilling to put it down. I found myself empathizing with the characters I closely identified with and feeling compassion, as Sophie did, for those less likable. The author's ability to express the feelings and emotions of the characters transcended the words on the pages." D. Olson

If you think you know how it ends, hold on. You have no idea.

Buy Now @ Amazon 

Genre - Romantic Thriller
Rating - PG13 (Language, sensuality)
More details about the author


Connect with RaShelle Workman on Twitter & Facebook 

Website http://www.rashelleworkman.com/

A WORLD WITHOUT BOOKS

-  Guest Post By RaShelle Workman 

A world without books ...

Would be like pain without joy, happiness without sorrow, love without hate. We need the bad to understand and recognize the good. A world without books (and by books I mean any kind, not just paper) would leave us unbalanced. 

What do you think? Would you still feel balanced if you couldn't read a book? 

GIVEAWAY

The author is giving away e-copies of this Romantic thriller novel to three winners.  Enter the giveaway through Rafflecopter below.  If the Rafflecopter is not loading properly, please refresh the page.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Guest Post & $50 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway: Heirs of Prophecy by Michael Rothman

Original Title: Heirs of Prophecy
Series: Heirs of Prophecy #1
Author: Michael E. Rothman
Publisher: M & S Publishing
Release Date: April 3rd 2012
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy

The Riverton family had been enjoying a simple summer vacation when, through a fluke of nature, they found themselves in a strange new land.

The Riverton brothers quickly realize that in this world, they have gained unusual powers. Powers that their parents fear will attract the attention of Azazel himself – the merciless wizard who brutally controls this world.

The two brothers soon learn that an ancient prophecy has finally been initiated by their arrival in Trimoria. As the heirs of this prophecy, they are destined to lead the armies of men, dwarves, elves, and even a misfit ogre against the prophesied demon horde.

Only one thing stands in their way.

The evil wizard who has learned of their presence, and has sent assassins to wipe them from existence.

A DAY WITH MY PROTAGONIST

- Guest post by Michael A. Rothman

"A day with Ryan and Aaron Riverton"

Since there are two main protagonists in the novels that are brothers, it is hard to separate them.

A typical day in Ryan and Aaron's life in the beginning of the first book is going to be one which starts in the modern world that we are all very familiar with.

They are students who are relatively young, 14 and 12 years old respectively. They grudgingly wake up in the morning to attend school, they are both bright and do well in their subjects, though Ryan has a much more subdued and quiet personality, while Aaron is a bit more brash and boisterous. After school, they both attend regular Karate lessons - in which they both excel. They have been in Karate since they could barely walk, and the martial arts are now somewhat second nature to them.

Ryan also is one of those people who is musically inclined, though it has yet to be shown in this novel - I promise there will be a moment in the series that it does come into play. Aaron has shown a lot of natural talent for sports while in school and while Ryan prefers to curl up with a good book, Aaron is very interested in risking his neck doing dangerous things that stretches his physical abilities.  Both of these traits serve them well as the novel transports them into a new world that involves, warriors and wizards.

In the land of Trimoria, I do not want to give too much away, but Ryan does follow a path which leads to his strong suit, which is a preternatural disposition for wizardly powers. He loves to study the art, though finds some of the practice that he is forced to undergo tedious at best.  Aaron, after learning that his strength has multiplied many times over in this new world, delights in the knowledge that he will follow a path which lets him practice more with the swords and the traditional uber-warrior facilities that he has at his disposal.

As far as a typical day in the author's life - that is truly a mundane and boring thing. As some might now, I am an engineer by trade. My day usually starts early in the morning, before any sane person would will themselves to normally wake and I write. I usually write for a couple of hours in the morning, every day. Afterwards, I trudge along and enjoy my mainstay of engineering work that I do on a day-to-day basis. On a day off, I might enjoy relaxing with the family, fishing with the kids, or cooking something elaborate that I hadn't done before. Yes, I am a recovering chef.

I suppose if I were to relate most to another characters in the first book, it would certainly be Jared. My wife assures me that my personality has definitely leaked into that character, so once you read the book, you'll get an appreciation for who and what I am.

That being said, I am a big believer in children's education. As a parent, I feel it is our duty to understand the abilities our children have and strive to get them to achieve to their capabilities. Oftentimes I find people who approach things with a hands-off attitude toward their child's education and end up with someone who doesn't learn the meaning of real work or real study habits. You can imagine if a child's goal ends up being higher education, those children are oftentimes not prepared - at least that is my personal observation.

You can imagine that my children might seem harried and under the onslaught that is my eye of Sauron. Not really. It is simply setting expectations and not allowing there to be excuses. Once rules are set that are known to be attainable by the children, and they KNOW that for them to get what they want, they must achieve those goals. Children are resilient and strive to meet the challenge. Or at least I can say that of my children.  I might even say they might become good little warriors or wizards if they ever were faced with a trip to Trimoria.  :-)

I hope that has given you a little insight into the characters and myself.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I am an Army brat and the first person in my family to be born in the United States. This heavily influenced my youth by instilling a love of reading and a burning curiosity about the world and all of the things within it. As an adult, my love of travel allowed me to explore many unimaginable locations. I participated in many adventures and documented them in what will be a series of books, the first of which you have just read.

Some might put these books in the Fantasy genre, and I never had issues with this label. After all, the adventures were, without any doubt in my mind, fantastic. I simply quibble with the label of “Fiction” that some might put on these tales. These tales should be viewed as historical records, more along the lines of a documentary.

I’ve learned one thing over the years. Magic is real. Keep exploring, and you too will find your magic. 

AUTHOR ONLINE: Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

GIVEAWAY

Michael will be awarding a $50 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour, and a $25 Amazon GC to the host with the most comments.

To enter this awesome giveaway, all you have to do is comment in this post WITH YOUR E-MAIL ID.  Anonymous and Name/URL comments without email IDs will not be considered for giveaway.  So, please leave your e-mail ID in the comment.

Open INTERNATIONALLY!  Giveaway ends July 6th!  Shares of this post is appreciated!

Feature & Follow #17

RULES

• To join the fun and make new book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:
• (Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Hosts {Parajunkee and Alison Can Read}
• (Required) Follow our Featured Bloggers
• Put your Blog name and URL in the Linky thing. You can also grab the code if you would like to insert it into your posts.
• Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say “hi” in your comments and that they are now following you.
• Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don’t just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don’t say “HI”
• If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love…and the followers.

If you’re new to the follow friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

Review & Giveaway: The White Swan Affair by Elyse Mady

Original Title: The White Swan Affair
Author: Elyse Mady
Publisher: Carina Press
Release Date: May 21st 2012
Genre: Historical Romance

`
London, 1810
After the tragic death of her beloved, Hester Aspinall vowed never to be ruled by her passions again. Still, she is drawn to her landlord, handsome adventurer Thomas Ramsay—but she doesn't fool herself that a man of his station would look twice at a poor tailor's sister.

With the sea for a mistress, Thomas has no intention of entering into matrimony. And yet, he can't get the plain-spoken and desirable Hester out of his mind, even though she's never tried to secure his attentions as other women do.

Everything changes the night Hester's brother is arrested during a raid on a gay brothel, the infamous White Swan. With no one else to turn to, and terrified Robert will hang for his crime, Hester accepts Thomas's offer to bear the cost of the defense. A true gentleman, Thomas expects nothing in return—but Hester can no longer deny her own desires...
She may offer her body eagerly, but can she protect her heart?

Review & $15 Gift Card Giveaway: Thorn by Intisar Khanani

Original Title: Thorn
Author: Intisar Khanani
Publisher: CreateSpace
Release Date: May 30th 2012
Genre: Fantasy

Princess Alyrra’s strength lies in silence. Scorned by her family, she avoids the court, spending her time with servants. When her marriage is unexpectedly arranged with the prince of a powerful neighboring kingdom, Alyrra feels trapped. As the court celebrates her match, dark rumors spread about the unexplained deaths of the women of her new family. Alyrra begins her journey with mounting trepidation. Betrayed while traveling, she seizes an opportunity to start a life away from court.

Walking away from a prince whom she doesn’t know should have been easy. But from the moment she sets eyes on him, Alyrra realizes that her freedom could cost him his life. Without any magical defense of her own, she is plunged into a lethal game of sorcery and deceit. Now Alyrra must decide whom she can trust and what she’s willing to fight for—before her silence proves fatal.

REVIEW

Princess Alyrra is a kind, honest and polite girl, but without the knowledge and courage to become a Queen.  When the King of a larger country comes to seek friendship with their country by marrying the Princess to his son, Alyrra is forced to do her cruel mother's and brother's wishes.  On her way to her betrothed’s kingdom, an evil sorceress, who is an enemy to the King, switches her life with her a traitor girl called Valka.  Valka have always been jealous of Alyrra.  Now, she gets the chance of being the real Princess, while Alyrra was asked to work as a goose girl.  Always subjected to unkind behaviour from her family and friends, Alyrra feels free, when she gets to be someone other than her.  But, the kingdom and the Prince is in danger.  While Alyrra is so reluctant to give up her new-found freedom, will she allow the Prince and the kingdom to suffer in the hands of the sorceress and Valka?

Recently, I am having a great reading experience with different new authors.  Intisar Khanani is one of them.  This novel is supposed to be a retelling of the goose girl tale.  Being in India, I have never learnt about them.  But, this novel is pure enjoyment.  I was thrilled to read it from start to finish.  The writing is so beautiful, bringing the whole scene before your eyes and capturing your full attention.

Please don't judge this book by the blurb provided.  It has many beautiful moments that will keep you enchanted.  Although I have some moments, where I get confused by how this scene occurred all of a sudden, that definitely didn't stop me from enjoying it.

Love it and would recommend!

GIVEAWAY

Intisar will award an autographed bookmark at every stop, and a $15 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Earn extra entries by following her on Facebook.

To enter this giveaway, you have to comment in this post WITH your email ID.  Anonymous and name/URL comments without email ID will not be considered for the giveaway.

Giveaway open INTERNATIONALLY! Ends June 29th, 2012!

Book Feature & Interview: The Earth Painter by Melissa Lee

Original Title: The Earth Painter

Author: Melissa Turner Lee

Publisher: Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing

Release Date: April 24th, 2012

Genre: Paranormal, Young-adult

The Sculptor was alone. The world was gray, as it always had been. And then the Sculptor said, “It is time…
Time for color,
Time for more,
The beginning.”
With a word, three sculptures became aware. And they needed to paint.
There was Ocean, Sky, Land, and Life all painted into place.
Then it ended, just as quickly as it started. Then the painters were no longer needed.
But they were still…AWARE.
And it was in this awareness that the battle began. And continues.
When a self-conscious young woman discovers the boy in drama class is actually the immortal who painted the world into being, she becomes the target of another painter who could shatter not only her new sense of hope, but her world, as well.

INTERVIEW WITH MELISSA TURNER LEE

Is there an inspiration behind why you chose writing?

I write because there is nothing else I could do. I’ve had every job out there and hated them all. My family even uses jobs I’ve had as a category for charades.

When you were little, what did you want to be when you "grew up"? 

First I wanted to be a singer, then an actress but always a writer. The thought of an office job always made me cringe.

What movie and/or book are you looking forward to this year?

Books: Clockwork Princess Movie: Breaking Dawn 2

What are your current literary works? 

Finishing up The Man Painter, sequel to The Earth Painter due out November 2012

If you could invite any 5 people to dinner who would you choose?

C.S. Lewis and his wife Joy, because I find their love story so interesting. My husband always, J  because he is my most favorite person in the world.  Leonard Nimoy, because I had a huge crush on Mr. Spock as a child. David Tennant and Matt Smith, because I love them both as the Doctor on Doctor Who.

Which authors have influence on you most.. how?

Stephenie Meyer. I don’t think my writing style is like hers but she created the genre of Paranormal Romance that I always wanted to write but never existed until now. Reading Twilight reminded me that I was still that girl who dreamed of writing and not just a mom buried under diapers and laundry. And the fact that she was a mom of 3 little boys and I was a mom of 3 little boys made me realize I could go after my dream too.

Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book.  

The Earth Painter is an original Paranormal Romance with no vampires, werewolves, or angels.

Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published.

Getting messages from women in love with Theo, a guy who lives in my head.

What's one piece of advice you would give aspiring authors?

Study the craft and write, write, write.

If you could jump in to a book, and live in that world, which would it be?

I don’t know. There are too many.

If someone wrote a book about your life, what would the title be?

How to do Everything in Reverse

What is your favorite scene in the book and why do you love it?

When Theo and Holly paint together. Even my bad review said it was magical to read.

What TV show/movie/book do you watch/read that you'd be embarrassed to admit?

I don’t really read or watch the embarrassing stuff.

What is one book everyone should read?

Guardian by Gillian Joy

One food you would never eat?

Brains

QUICK ANSWERS

Favorite place?

Charleston, South Carolina

Best christmas present?

Baby Jesus

Favorite book?

Gone With The Wind

Favorite author?

Jane Austen

Favorite smell?

My Husband

Favorite series?

Twilight b/c it changed my life

Favorite writing spot?

On my back porch

Favorite movie?

Pride and Prejudice the A&E one with yummy Colin Firth

Favorite dish?

Thai Coconut Curry spice level 8-9

Favorite color?

Pink

Favorite quote?

“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, “What! You too? I thought I was the only one.” C.S. Lewis

A bunch of small gifts or one big expensive one?

I have more fun giving the gifts than getting them.

Your best trait?

My imagination

Your worst trait?

I can be selfish at times.

Interview and Giveaway ($10 Amazon GC, $50 B&N GC and romance swag pack): Giving It Up by Amber Lin

Original Title: Giving It Up
Author: Amber Lin
Publisher: Loose Id
Release Date: June 18th 2012
Genre: Erotic Romance

Allie prowls the club for a man who will use her hard and then ditch her. Hey, it's not rape if she wants it. Instead she finds Colin, who looks tough but treats her tenderly, despite her protests.

He tempts her, but kindness and a few mindblowing orgasms aren't enough to put her back together again. Allie has no hope for a real relationship. Two years ago her best friend betrayed her in the worst possible way – she’d be stupid to trust a man again. Besides, she has her daughter to think of, the only good thing to have come from that dark night.

But when her rapist returns, threatening her sanity and custody of her daughter, Allie turns to Colin. Under his protection and patient touch, Allie begins to heal and learns to hope. Colin’s no saint, though, and his criminal past draws danger of its own. Allie must fight to protect her child and the man she loves, hoping her newfound power will be enough to save them all.

"A ballsy departure from romantic conventions. At once gritty and tender, stark and hopeful."

—Cara McKenna, author of Willing Victim

"Giving It Up is an erotic, compelling story that takes us to the shadowy, lonely places but doesn't leave us there. Amber Lin shows us that romance isn't just for the rich and shiny. Love can find its way even into the dark corners of the most damaged hearts."

—Tiffany Reisz, author of The Siren

BOOK TRAILER

INTERVIEW WITH AMBER LIN

Thanks so much to Vidya for hosting me on Books Are Magic!

1. Tell us something about your book that is not part of the book description (blurb). 

Giving It Up follows Allie in her journey through healing … and scorching hot sex. What the blurb doesn’t mention is that her best friend, Shelly, is a prostitute. Well, okay, she’s an escort, but she also tells it like it is. In the first chapter, Shelly even asks Allie to work with her, but Allie refuses. They both have their reasons for doing what they do… but you’ll have to read to find out what they are :-)

2. Who is your book cover designer and what do YOU think about the cover? 

My cover artist was Fiona Jayde, working through Loose Id, and she did a fabulous job capturing the dark, gritty atmosphere of the book. The colors are gorgeous and evocative.

I told her that my heroine has a “girl next door” face, but in the scene I wanted to capture on the cover, she has done up her make-up and hair in an attempt to be slutty. But the most important thing was, despite her harsh appearance, she is submissive at her core. I think the cover model captures that tangle of contradictions perfectly!

3. What are your current literary works?  Any sneak peeks? 

I mentioned Shelly above, Allie’s best friend in Giving It Up. I am working on Shelly’s book right now, which is shaping up wonderfully. It’s breaking my heart actually… which is a good thing.

4. What movie and/or book are you looking forward to this year? 

Let’s see… I’m rather dying to read Elizabeth Hoyt’s Thief of Shadows. Aren’t we all? Actually I have quite the massive to-be-read list built up, some that I already have on my kindle and some that I don’t. There are also a few that I am really looking forward to where I’m holding off because the themes are too similar to what I’m writing, like Cara McKenna’s Curio and Charlotte Stein’s Power Play.

5. If you could invite any 5 people to dinner who would you choose? 

Hmmm…. Wow. I’m going to say the five writers from the group blog I participate in, Wonkomance. That would be: Ruthie Knox, Cara McKenna, Delphine Dryden, Edie Harris, Charlotte Stein and Serena Bell. Crap, that’s six people. Oh well, I just won’t eat! The blog is dedicated to “wonky” romances, or ones that are off the beaten track, so I’m sure we’d have a fab time swapping stories and discussing zany romance.

6. What's the craziest writing idea you've had? 

Oh, certainly it’s Giving It Up. A promiscuous heroine whose best friend is a prostitute and a mildly criminal hero? Yeah, it’s crazy.

7. Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book.  

If you want something to push your boundaries.

8. Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published. 

Getting to know some of amazing authors. These authors that I know, mostly from twitter but occasionally from other places, are so smart and funny. That would be enough right there, but they’re also incredibly helpful with advice and promo. Being a brand new author is pretty scary but when an experienced author lends a hand or even just an encouraging word… it’s all worth it.

9. What's one piece of advice you would give aspiring authors?

Write the book you want to read. Okay, that’s a bit trite, but it’s not because that book will necessarily sell. The truth is, you WILL have to read your book, oh, about a million times before it is published. You’ll read it and know it and breathe it… so you’d better love it!

10. If you could jump in to a book, and live in that world, which would it be?

Control from Charlotte Stein, where booksellers get banged by super-hot guys, both alpha and submissive. Yeah, it’s like that.

11. If someone wrote a book about your life, what would the title be?

 The More Things Stay The Same

12. What is your favorite scene in the book and why do you love it?

Wait, we’re talking about Giving It Up, right? Not the book of my life? Haha, okay, just checking.

There are three big moments in the book that stand out to me and (surprise, surprise) they are sex scenes. There’s one right at the very beginning, one near the middle and one at the end. They are not the ONLY sex scenes, but they are the major plot points. Together they are my favorite scenes in the book. If I had to pick one… the first one. That is the point at which the rest was inevitable.

13. What TV show/movie/book do you watch/read that you'd be embarrassed to admit?

I used to watch The Real Housewives of Orange County. Yeah, I was a bit embarrassed about that. I stopped watching when that series ended and they moved on to other cities, but I just didn’t get into the other ones as much. I should maybe check if they are doing another season of Orange County… or maybe not. These days TV watching takes away from my reading time.

14. What is one book everyone should read (apart from yours)?

Broken by Megan Hart. It will shake what you know about love and constancy, at least it did for me.

15. What is your favorite way to spend a rainy day?

Reading, of course!

QUICK ANSWERS

Favorite place?

Home

Best Christmas present?

Can my son be called a Christmas Present? He was born in January. Oh, and before that, I was married in December. Good things happen to me around Christmas-time J

Favorite book?

Comfort Object by Annabel Joseph

Favorite author?

Charlotte Stein

Favorite smell?

Lavender

Favorite series?

Lisa Kleypas’ Travis Family

Nickname?

Uh, does “blockhead” count?

Favorite writing spot?

The closet (don’t ask)

Favorite movie?

Jane Eyre (the one with Fassbender… yeah)

Favorite dish?

Our family’s recipe for pirogies

Favorite color?

Orange….I went to the University of Texas, shut up ;-)

Favorite quote?

“There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.” -  Ernest Hemingway

A bunch of small gifts or one big expensive one?

Small. If it’s the thought that counts, I’d like lots of thoughts!

Your best trait?

I know these are supposed to be fast, but I was stuck. I asked my husband what my best trait was and he said: “You care. Loyalty. Compassion. All wrapped into one.” Which I think proves my best trait is my awesome husband.

Your worst trait?

I do snark it up on occasion… *ahem*

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Amber Lin loves to read angsty romance with plenty of sex, so it was no surprise that her debut book turned out to be erotic romance set against a dark urban landscape. She writes with one rule in mind: it has to get worse before it can get better. She lives with her husband, son and passel of puppy dogs in the great state of Texas.

AUTHOR ONLINE: 

• Website:
http://authoramberlin.com/

• Twitter:
https://twitter.com/#!/authoramberlin

• Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5827158.Amber_Lin

• Book Video link: 
http://youtu.be/5NQ7NTuzFFI

GIVEAWAY

• One randomly drawn winner from each blog will receive a Giving It Up Swag Pack, which includes romance trading cards, a signed cover flat, a signature soap bar for showers together handcrafted by AnaBanana Creations and a $10 Amazon gift card.
• One randomly drawn commenter on the tour will win an erotic romance prize pack, including paperback copies of Bared to You by Sylvia Day, Simply Carnal by Kate Pearce, Lessons in Letting Go by Cara McKenna (print combo of Willing Victim and Curio), Comfort Object by Annabel Joseph, a collection of signed Giving It Up swag AND a $50 Amazon Gift Card (BN.com or All Romance may be substituted)
• The blog host with the most comments will also receive the erotic romance prize pack detailed above.

To enter this amazing giveaway, all you have to do is comment in this post WITH your e-mail ID.  Anonymous and Name/URL comments without e-mail ID will not be considered for the giveaway.  So, please leave your e-mail ID everyone!

Giveaway is INTERNATIONAL!  Ends July 20th, 2012!

Interview and Pendent Giveaway: The Gasquet Princes Series by Sherry Gloag

For Prince Liam, families meant bad news, unwanted commitments, and the loss of his personal freedom.  Love spawned white picket fences, slippers at the hearth with a wife and kids making demands, so why did those images disappear when he met Melanie Babcot?

Melanie Babcot fought hard to escape the horrors of her youth and vowed to remain single and free, so when paid to protect Prince Liam from insurgents why did her personal pledge fly out the window?

Prince Henri Gasquet is happy to let his father, the king, choose his bride for him until he meets Monica Latimer.

Monica Latimer is not prepared to risk letting any man close enough to learn about her Gift. A gift that normally has men running for the hills when they find out about it. 

INTERVIEW WITH SHERRY GLOAG

Tell us something about your book that is not part of the book description (blurb)..

In From Now Until Forever, book one of the Gasquet Princes series the heroine, Melanie used a tract/garbage truck to escape from the terrorists.

In His Chosen Bride, the second of four books in the Gasquet Princes series, Prince Henri, heir to his father’s throne, discovers there’s another side to life other than an obligation to family, future and country – something much more important.

Your book cover is nice..  Who is your designer and what do YOU think about the cover?  Both have some horses and a cute couple..please say something about this.

Thank you for your kind words about the books covers.  I can’t begin to tell you what a wonderful person Tishia/paragraphic designs is to work with.  And while working on the cover for His Chosen bride she still brought it in on time despite a total PC crash where she lost everything.  She is an awesome and talented lady, and I am so pleased she is the cover artist for my books. As for the horses, the background to these two books is a riding school for disabled/physically challenged children so I for the horses to feature in both covers as a visual connection.

What are your current literary works?  Any sneak peaks?

*grins* Just this evening, I discovered their may be a ‘spin-off’ book to the Gasquet Princes series.  I can’t, in all honesty, add it to the princes series as the hero is not a prince, but I’m beginning to suspect he’s going to feature prominently in books three and four.  As I am a ‘pantser’ writer, I still don’t know write how the plots are going down.  They keep changing! So, that accounts for three WsIP. I have another regency romance to start and finish before September, and another Regency romance has been accepted by Secret Cravings Publishing, with a projected release date the August, and anticipate edits to start in June for that. So I do expect to be a tad busy :-)

What movie and/or book are you looking forward to this year?

I’m not a movie person, and my TBR and Wish List are both so long I couldn’t begin to choose.

If you could invite any 5 people to dinner who would you choose?

Lea from Australia, I met her for the first time at the beginning in May this year.  Then there are the ‘2 Judiths’ from America, one I met many years ago and used to ‘meet weekly’ at a time when msn ran their private chat rooms globally, and the other is a writing friend I met when I joined a wonderful online crit group-also many years ago. Kay is from America, and another writing friend who has had an enormous impact on my writing life for which I will be forever grateful.  Finally Cindy, my first editor, had amazing faith and patience with me while I learned the basics of ‘editing for a publisher’ rather than just editing my own work, if that makes sense?

What's the craziest writing idea you've had?

Trying to write a Regency romance ;-0 happily, it worked!

Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your books. 

Because my contemporary romances contain a twist of mystery and suspense which will keep you turning the pages while you sit on the edge of your seat.

Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published.

Once again there are so many it’s hard to pull just one out of the hat.  Receiving that first acceptance is right up there, as are the many wonderful like-minded friends I’ve made on my writing adventure; then there are the reader responses and those reviews you print out and use to paper over previous rejections, to name just a few!

What's one piece of advice you would give aspiring authors?

Don’t give up and don’t give in.

If you could jump in to a book, and live in that world, which would it be?

I love to be a member of the affluent English aristocracy during the Regency period.

If someone wrote a book about your life, what would the title be?

Oh! My Goodness, I think it would have to be ‘Follow Your Heart’.

What is your favorite scene in the book and why do you love it?

In From Now Until Forever it has to be the escape scene.  I laughed until I cried when I discovered what Melanie was up to.

In His Chosen Bride it was one of the earliest scenes in the book, when the reader learns about Monica’s ‘gift’, the consequences, and why they wrought havoc such in her life.

What TV show/movie/book do you watch/read that you'd be embarrassed to admit?

Almost any of the soppy Walt Disney films!

What is one book everyone should read (apart from yours)?

You do ask some awkward questions, don’t you *grin*?  Seriously, I can’t answer that because I’m an avid reader of romance, so those that don’t have time for my preferred genre, wouldn’t be impressed with my choice! Sorry :-)

What is your favorite way to spend a rainy day?

LOL.  If I say ‘writing’ will you huff and ask me to take you seriously?  If I’m not writing or reading I enjoy my crystal craft work because, like gardening and walking it is so therapeutic.

QUICK ANSWERS

Favorite place?

Home

Best Christmas present?

A back massager, last Christmas! LOL

Favorite book?

Too many to mention.

Favorite author?

Nora Roberts is one of my favourite authors.

Favorite smell?

Elizabeth of Glamis roses and Lily of the Valley flowers

Nickname?

Never had one!

Favorite writing spot?

My desk is in the bedroom, but if I could I’d write in the kitchen!

Favorite movie?

Am not a film buff, so will say Sleepless in Seatle

Favorite dish?

Almost any Lamb dish.

Favorite color?

Red and yellow because both are so cheerful.

Favorite quote?

If you want change you must be that change (think it’s Mahatma Ghandi)

A bunch of small gifts or one big expensive one?

Bunch of small ones, please :-)

Your best trait?

Understanding

Your worst trait?

I’m becoming less tolerant.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Multi-published author, Sherry Gloag is a transplanted Scot now living in the beautiful coastal countryside of Norfolk, England.  She considers the surrounding countryside as extension of her own garden, to which she escapes when she needs "thinking time" and solitude to work out the plots for her next novel.  While out walking she enjoys talking to her characters, as long as there are no other walkers close by.

Apart from writing, Sherry enjoys gardening, walking, reading and cheerfully admits her books tend to take over most of the shelf and floor space in her workroom-cum-office.  She also finds crystal craft work therapeutic.

AUTHOR ONLINE: Website | Blog | Facebook

GIVEAWAY

Sherry will giving away the following prizes:
* One randomly drawn commenter at every stop will win a hand-crafted book thong.
* One randomly drawn commenter during the tour will win a hand-crafted selenite pendent

To enter this giveaway, all you have to do is comment in this post WITH your e-mail ID.  Anonymous comments without e-mail ID will not be considered.

Giveaway ends July 6th!  Open INTERNATIONALLY!

Guest Post: Fame or Fortune? & Giveaway: IN LEAH'S WAKE by Terri Long

Will Tyler
Fortune, no question about it. In high school and college, I played football.  When I was at Penn State, Beaver Stadium held 85,000 fans. You walk on the field, the noise is deafening. It feels like a million fans cheering for you, calling your name; you feel like you can do anything. You’re 1000 feet tall. Junior year, I dropped out of college and moved to California, with the half-baked idea I could make it as a folk singer. I’m not going to lie – I loved being the center of attention.  When you’re on fire, you’re invincible.

Then I met Zoe, we married and had kids. Being a father changes you. You realize it’s not all about you anymore. Your children depend on you. It’s up to you to be sure they’re cared for, they have a good life. Between my wife and me, we make enough to live in a good town. That’s important. Kids learn soon enough about all the crap that goes down in the outside world. They don’t need to witness it in their backyard. Fame just drags kids through the mud. With fortune you’ve got a chance to protect them.

Zoe Tyler
I’d have to say fame. I’ve never had a good head for money. Every other therapist in my office requires a twenty-four-hour notice of cancellation; if a patient fails to show, they charge for the hour. I’ve posted a cancellation policy in my office, but I rarely enforce it. Most of the families I work with live barely above sustenance level. I don’t have the heart to charge for missed appointments. It’s a constant source of tension between Will and me, especially with money so tight.

I barely break even on my workshops, “Success Skills for Women on the Move” – I make a lot more through my practice – but I love the work. If I could get the workshops to turn a profit, I’d quit my day job at the counseling center. Don’t get me wrong: I love the kids. The parents wear me down. They come not for advice but validation, letters attributing their child’s misbehavior to brilliance, drugs to give their child an edge. To them, I’m merely a service provider. With the workshops, I help women make important changes in their lives. At the end of the day, their eyes shine with new confidence. The women look up to me. After the workshops, they send cards and letters, describing the changes they’ve made. I feel like I’m accomplishing something, helping the women, doing something useful and important. That makes me feel good. 

Leah Tyler 
For real? Fame! We’re thinking about starting a rock band, Todd and me. He’s going to teach me to play the guitar. We’ll be like a boyfriend-girlfriend or a husband-wife team, you know, like Jack and Meg White or John and Christine McVie. Or, I don’t know, maybe I’ll go solo and he’ll just manage me. Did you know Ani DiFranco moved to New York—alone—when she was only my age? She’s this huge success, which just totally proves I could be successful too. I’ve been thinking I should try out forAmerican Idol or The Voice. I mean, look at Jennifer Hudson, right? She was nobody before Idol. OMG, Adam Levine is SOOOO hot!! It would be awesome if picked me. I can totally see myself rocking it on the stage. That would be the coolest thing ever.

When you’re famous you can do whatever you want. You can mess up and totally get away with it. I’m not saying I want to mess up. That’s just weird to like plan to mess up. I’m just saying you can. People might criticize but they still look up to you. Fame makes you somebody.

Justine 
Fame or fortune? Honestly? Neither. I just want to be a regular person. Obviously, we have to have money to buy the things we need. But we really don’t need all that much, you know? We just need enough to get by. I push myself to accomplish things – like entering the science fair, for example – because I like the challenge. It’s cool to see how far I can go, what I can achieve.

Fame is weird. It’s like the whole world takes part in building you up, making you famous; as soon as you get there, they want to tear you down. Look what they did to Britney Spears! I’m not famous or anything, but I skipped a grade in school, so people know who I am. I hate that, my reputation preceding me. I’d rather people just liked me – or didn’t like me – for me.  My sister’s soccer success made her famous around town; because they’re jealous, people always judge her. They want to see her fail. If she wasn’t a soccer star, they wouldn’t be so quick to jump in and talk trash about her.  Fame stinks. I don’t know why anybody would want it.

Jerry Johnson
A little of both, I guess. I don’t need to be Bill Gates – guys who make that kind of dough give up a lot, always traveling, away from their family. I wouldn’t mind having a little more, though. Me and Maura live in the sticks. It’s a pretty street, but the location’s as inconvenient as hell. We don’t even get cable. We wanted to stay in town and this was house we could afford. If we had the money, we could live in a development closer to town, in one of the neighborhoods with young mothers with kids. Maura would be a lot happier, I think, less isolated.

Like I say, I wouldn’t want to be Bill Gates – anybody famous, for that matter. Being known in town is a different story. When people recognize and respect you, they’re more likely to trust you. With a platform, you can do more; you can make a real difference in your community. 

Todd Corbett
Fame? Fortune? Who cares?? I went on the road for a couple of years with a rock band. Let me tell you, it’s tough to make it today. Talent don’t mean squat. Record companies would rather invest a boatload of cash in some lame American Idol than risk a dime on an unproven band. In the sixties, my old man worked for an indie label in Boston. Back then, it was different. People cared about the music. Today it’s all about the denari. What they think they make off of you.
Fame, fortune—that’s what the consumerist pigs want you to want. You can spend your whole life working to accumulate things. And for what? So you can spend every second looking over your shoulder, pretending to be something you’re not? Not me, man. For me, it’s gotta be real.

*****

Who are the Tylers, Jerry and Todd? They are the main characters in Terri Giuliano Long’s best-selling novel, In Leah’s Wake.  

Will Tyler sells projects for North American Construction, the largest commercial contractor on the East Coast. Project oversight requires frequent travel throughout the U.S. He lives in Cortland, Massachusetts, with his wife, Zoe, and their adolescent daughters, Justine and Leah.

Zoe Tyler holds a master’s degree in social work and is employed by Cortland Child Services. She is founder and executive director of “Success Skills for Women on the Move,” a motivational workshop for women seeking life changes. She lives in Cortland, Massachusetts, with her husband, Will, and teenage daughters, Justine, 12, and Leah, 16.

Leah Tyler was an All-Star soccer player, the MVP of her high school team, and a Boston Globe All-Scholastic Player of the Year. She’s 16 years old and lives in Cortland, Massachusetts, with her parents and younger sister, Justine.

Justine Tyler, 12, is an eighth grader at Cortland Middle School. A straight-A student, she has won town-wide awards in science and math. She’s currently working on a project on planetary movement for her school’s science fair.  She loves karate, vampire slaying, chocolate chip cookies and Dog, her yellow Labrador Retriever.

Jerry Johnson is a decorated officer in the Cortland Police Department. A lifelong resident, he lives in Cortland, Massachusetts, with his wife and two infant sons.

Todd Corbett dropped out of school in the tenth grade and spent two years on the road with a rock band, working as a roadie. He currently works as a clerk at a used record store and lives with his single mother inCortland, Massachusetts. His girlfriend, Leah Tyler, makes his world go around.  

About the author

Terri Giuliano Long is the bestselling author of the novel In Leah’s Wake. Her life outside of books is devoted to her family. In her free time, she enjoys walking, traveling, and listening to music. True to her Italian-American heritage, she’s an enthusiastic cook. In an alternate reality, she might be an international food writer. She lives with her family on the East Coast and teaches at Boston College. In Leah’s Wake is her debut novel.

Website: www.tglong.com

Blog: www.tglong.com/blog

Twitter: https://twitter.com/tglong

Buy Now @ Amazon 

Genre - Women's Fiction / Contemporary

Rating - PG13

More details about the author & the book

View the trailer for this book

GIVEAWAY

The author is giving away e-books of this award-winning novel to 3 winners.  Enter the Rafflecopter below to enter the giveaway.

a Rafflecopter giveaway