Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Wedding Matilda By Heather Hiestand ~ The Redcakes ~ Cover Reveal

 Wedding Matilda
The Redcakes
By Heather Hiestand






Sugared violets, buttercream…but he craves her kiss most of all… 

Orphaned as a boy, Ewan Hales is proud to make his living as secretary to the manager at Redcake’s Tea Shop. But the startling news that he’s heir to the Earl of Fitzwalter changes everything. While tendering his resignation to lovely Matilda Redcake, however, Ewan is struck by her spirit, the luscious bow of her lips—and a realization. Matilda might not marry a working man—but will she wed a future nobleman?
Ewan’s unruly hair and roguish kisses are tempting, but Matilda has far too many problems to consider romance. With sabotage at a cake factory threatening the family empire, she must focus her considerable willpower on keeping Redcake’s from ruin—until she learns that her young son has been kidnapped. Together, she and Ewan must uncover the truth before they can savor the sweet freedom of love…

Publisher: Lyrical Press

“One Taste of Scandal is a delicious, multi-layered Victorian treat.”
–Gina Robinson, author of The Last Honest Seamstress and the Agent Ex series


Wedding Matilda is available at Amazon


Heather Hiestand was born in Illinois, but her family migrated west before she started school. Since then she has claimed Washington State as home, except for a few years in California. She wrote her first story at age seven and went on to major in creative writing at the University of Washington. Her first published fiction was a mystery short story, but since then it has been all about the many flavors of romance. Heather’s first published romance short story was set in the Victorian period and she continues to return, fascinated by the rapid changes of the nineteenth century. The author of many novels, novellas, and short stories, she is a bestseller at both Amazon and Barnes and Noble. With her husband and son, she makes her home in a small town and supposedly works out of her tiny office, though she mostly writes in her easy chair in the living room. She also writes as Anh Leod.
Heather loves to hear from readers! Her email is heather@heatherhiestand.com.

For More Information
Visit Heather’s website.
Connect with Heather on Facebook  and Twitter.

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Saturday, March 28, 2015

DEFINED BY DECEIT By A.E. Via ~ Spotlight ~ Giveaway

DEFINED BY DECEIT
By A.E. Via

A.E. Via has very generously offered three ebooks of Defined by Deceit to three lucky comments. So please leave a comment below. Please remember to leave me a way to contact you in case you are one of the lucky winners. If you are on facebook it would be lovely if you would drop by A.E. Via's page and show her some love for the awesome giveaway :) Facebook Author Page |  Facebook (Friend me) | 


BLURB:
Life isn't always fair, and that’s something that Llewellyn Gardner knows about first hand. His life was on the fast track until one night of extreme passion changed everything.

Now eight years later, he’s still living with the aftershocks of that night. Everywhere he turns or runs, there’s another reminder. What the hell do you do when you try to drown your demons only to find out they can swim? 

Shane Smith, Jr. owner of Smith Construction, could see the emotional turmoil within his new employee — it’s why he hired him. There was something about the gorgeous, misunderstood man with the overly expressive eyes that came to their small town with a past no one was willing to overlook. Shane could see the good in Llewellyn, and those eyes of his were a clear window to his soul. Shane wasn't going to let the man live a future of solitude because his past had been plagued with deceit. 
Llewellyn wasn’t sure what to think about Shane. After years of protecting himself from being tricked twice, he was now faced with worry again. What would happen to him if Shane didn’t believe his truth, and walked away? Llewellyn wasn’t sure he’d be able to survive 
being left alone. Again.

M/M GAY ROMANCE CONTEMPORARY 
Edited by: Tina Adamski
Cover Art by: Jay Aheer
300 Pages
Release Date: March 27, 2015



Buy Links:


EXCERPT:
The two-mile bike ride to his neighborhood did nothing to tamp down his fury. Llew burst through the door of the doublewide trailer he and his brother shared, slamming his backpack on the floor while he paced back and forth between the kitchen and the living room. After about thirty laps, he went to the refrigerator, yanking it open so hard, most of the contents of the door tipped over.
“You break it, you fix it,” his big brother said, standing on the opposite side of the counter. Leslie’s sharp brown eyes watched him for a few seconds, while Llew tried to calm himself. “What’s going on, bro?”
“The damn mayor is a dick, that’s what’s going on.” Llew plopped down at the small kitchen table.
“He is who he is, Llew. He’s filthy rich, and thinks anyone that has to use their back and hands to work is beneath him. He’s never going to accept you as Moss’ equal, and he will definitely never accept having a gay son.”
Llew dropped his head in his hands. Why couldn’t people just be normal? The second his brother asked him if he was gay, he knew he didn’t need to lie. His brother would love him unconditionally, just like their parents had. He did warn Llew frequently to be careful while dating the mayor’s son. If anyone found out, it would be disastrous for all of them. Llew was eighteen, but Moss was still seventeen, so he had to be careful of that, too.
“Why don’t you and Moss just take a little break and once you two are away at college… then you can do what you want. The mayor of Emporia can’t control and monitor everything, especially all the way in California.” Leslie came over and sat down in front of him. “Llew. I don’t want to see you get hurt. Don’t you think you’re getting a little too serious about Moss? There’s a great big world out there for you to explore. You have a lot to offer. I don’t want to see you used as the small town flavor.”
Llew’s head shot up. He narrowed his eyes at his brother. The concern that he saw there made it hard for him to be angry, but Leslie’s words were hurtful. “I’m not the flavor of the town, Leslie. Moss loves me.”
“Are you sure?"


AUTHOR BIO:

A.E. Via is still a fairly new author in the beautiful gay erotic genre. Her writing embodies everything from hopelessly romantic to spicy to scandalous. Her stories often include intriguing edges and twists that take readers to new, thought-provoking depths.
When she’s not clicking away at her laptop, she devotes herself to her family—a husband and four children, her two pets, a Maltese dog and her white Siamese cat, ELynn, named after the late, great gay romance author E. Lynn Harris.
While this is only her seventh novel, she has plenty more to come. So stalk her – she loves that - because the male on male action is just heating up!
Go to A.E. Via’s official website http://authoraevia.com for more detailed information on how to contact her, follow her, or a sneak peak on upcoming work, free reads, and where she’ll appear next.

Author Links:


Friday, March 27, 2015

Teardrops Know My Name by Dalia Florea ~ Spotlight ~ Giveaway

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Teardrops Know My Name
by Dalia Florea
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One winner will receive a $10.00 Amazon Gift Card. Please use the RaffleCopter below to enter.
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cooltext1950058583



book coverSomeone is stalking, fashion photographer, Linda McNair and turning her world upside down. She has no idea who it could be. Is it an old boyfriend? Someone in the industry? A complete stranger? The only thing Linda knows for sure is her stalker has to be stopped. Her life may depend on it.
When Linda meets Detective Sean Gregory, one of New York’s finest in more ways than one, stories unravel, revealing secrets, lies and betrayal that nearly destroy her, breaking her heart into a million tiny pieces.
Linda tries to resist Sean’s affection, but she can’t help wondering if he’s the right man who can put the shattered pieces of her heart back to together.

Genre: Mystery, Suspense, Romance
Recommended age group? 18 and up
Publisher: Dalia Florea (March 27, 2015)
ASIN: B00TWQJGQC


cooltext1950057983



picDalia Florea is a novelist and native New Yorker. Her debut book “Mirrored” recently reached the top 100 Best Sellers list in Women’s Detective Fiction and rated favorably on both Amazon and Goodreads. When she isn’t crafting suspenseful romance, Dalia enjoys solving Sudoku and cryptogram quotes, attending jazz concerts and visiting wineries. Dalia currently lives in Northern Virginia and is hard at work on her next two novels.




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Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author Dalia Florea and is hosted and managed by Paulette from Write Now Literary Book Tours. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send an email to Paulette @ pharperjohnson@gmail.com

Love Is Everything By Elsie Hillman-Gordon ~ Interview

 Love Is Everything
By Elsie Hillman-Gordon

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Interview:

Crystal: I am so honored to host Elsie Hillman-Gordon today. Welcome Elsie!! Would you share a little bit about yourself with us today?

Elsie: Love Is Everything is my first fiction novella. I was thrilled when it won the Gold/1st Place Award for Best Short Story in The Feathered Quill Book Awards Program.
Love Is Everything is an inspirational romance about a woman struggling to find joy in life and doubting her faith in God after losing her parents in a tragic accident.  But after reluctantly accepting a blind date with a handsome widower with a strong faith, she embraces anew her relationship with God and the power of love. 
The original concept for my story had only a light theme of grief, but I emphasized it more after my mother passed away. Feeling emotional, I wrote a stronger storyline on grief to not only help me externalize my grief but to help others understand their own emotions, after losing loved ones. Several readers have told me that before reading my book, they had never heard of the five stages of grief. So, for them, the story was both enlightening and uplifting.
Many of my friends are asking for a sequel to Love Is Everything—they’re not ready to let go of the characters.  And honestly, I’m not either. So, I’m mapping out ideas for a sequel, as well as a non-fiction, inspirational book.
I welcome readers to my website to find out more about me: elsiehillmangordon.com

Crystal: Do you have a favorite scene you would like to share with us?

Elsie: I have many favorite scenes so picking only one is hard.  But if I must, I’ll go with Chapter 4 because it’s the chapter in which my two main characters, Vanessa and Elliott, finally meet each other on a blind date.  

Crystal: Where did you come up with the idea for Love Is Everything? 

Elsie: There’s a great quote by Toni Morrison that I love and it goes like this: “If there’s a book you want to read, but it has not been written, then you must write it.”   So, I decided to write a realistic and compelling story; a book with strong, inspirational characters with sound values that I would be proud to share with others.  

Crystal: What are you currently working on?

Elsie: Many readers are asking for a sequel to Love Is Everything—they’re not ready to let go of the characters. And honestly, I’m not either. So, I’m mapping out ideas for a sequel, and also ideas for a non-fictional inspirational book. 

Crystal: Do you have any special routine that you follow when you are writing?

Elsie: No, I can’t say that I have a special routine. I really don’t like to force creative writing so I prefer waiting until I feel a rush of story ideas and then hurry to get them down on paper.  I discovered that I do my best writing on weekends during the evening hours.

Crystal: Did you have to do a lot of research this book or any other?

Elsie: No, I didn’t do a great deal of research for this story, but I did read about the stages of grief because I wanted to accurately explain them in my story. 

Crystal: Who are some of your favorite authors that you like to read?

Elsie: I have too many favorites to list, but I’ll name a few:  Richard Wright, Toni Morrison, Stephen King, Terry McMillan, John Grisham, Pearl Cleage, Alexander McCall Smith, Bebe Moore Campbell, and Tayari Jones.

Crystal: Is there a genre you haven't written that you would like to try?

Elsie: I’d like to try suspense and mystery.  

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About The Book: 

Do you like to read inspirational fiction? Do you believe that people who have loved and lost can find true love again, that a hurting heart can heal, and that God’s love will see you through difficult times? If so, you’ll enjoy reading Love Is Everything.

It’s the story of thirty-five year old Vanessa Dennison—a woman struggling to find joy in life and doubting her faith in God after losing her parents in a tragic accident. But after reluctantly accepting a blind date with Elliott Reeves, a handsome widower with a strong faith and young daughter, she embraces anew her relationship with God and the power of love.
Sweet and emotional, this tale of rediscovering love, faith, and hope is sure to touch your heart. It’s a must read for anyone who’s ever loved and lost, especially those still reluctant to take a chance on love.

Genre: Fiction, Inspirational, Christian, Romance
Book Release Date:  May 30, 2014
Paperback: 106 pages
ISBN-10: 1496112458
ISBN-13: 978-1496112453

Buy Links: 

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About The Author:

Award-winning author Elsie Hillman-Gordon published her first fiction novella, Love Is Everything, in May 2014. Her book received the Gold/1st Place award for *Best Short Story* in the 2015 Feathered Quill Book Awards Program.

Elsie lives in Washington, DC with her husband. She holds a BA in English and executive graduate certificates in editorial practices and marketing. She has worked for several media organizations, including NPR. In her free time, she stays busy supporting community outreach projects sponsored through her sorority, church, and non-profit organizations. 
Elsie’s passion is creative writing, but she also enjoys live theater, movies, reading, and long walks on autumn days. She believes in random acts of kindness and encouraging people to reach for their dreams.


Social Links:


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Tour Hosted by Write Now Literary www.wnlbooktours.com 



Thursday, March 26, 2015

My Seductive Innocent by Julie Johnstone (A Once Upon A Rogue Novel Book #2) ~ Review ~

My Seductive Innocent is the second book in the Once Upon A Rogue series. I loved the first book in this series and I could not wait to read what the talented Julie Johnstone had in store for the Duke of Scarsdale. I knew it would be good and was it EVER! I loved this book. Once again Ms. Johnstone has written another book that kept my attention from the first page all the way to the last. 

First of all let me just say if you haven't read My Fair Duchess (Book one), never fear this is easily read as a stand alone. If you have read My Fair Duchess then like me you are going to enjoy catching up with Duke of Aversley and his lovely wife Amelia. 

Sophia Vane has had a really rough life. She has been abused and belittled by her horrible father. She has a brother that she would do anything for and to protect. I instantly admired this strong independent young lady for her courage and loyalty. 

The Duke of Scarsdale doesn't believe in love or happily ever after. He had a horrible childhood with many experiences that jaded his visions of love. However you can tell under that rough and tough exterior that he has a very giving and warm heart. I can certainly see how Sophia would quickly fall in love with him. I loved his interaction with Sophia's brother. He treats Harry so nicely and lets him be a young boy. I loved when Nathan and Harry come up with a surprise for Sophia. It's really very sweet. 

OK, now comes the part of my review that I could tell you so much about this book. Oh there is some lovely romance, (shh don't tell Nathan that he really is romantic in his own way) that lead to a few steamy scenes.  Drama, oh my goodness is there drama. I was left holding my breath several times. There a lot of emotion in this book. I will issues a Kleenex warning on this one for sure. I know I found myself in tears a couple of times. I don't want to tell you what happened to make me cry. I am going to let you grab your own copy of My Seductive Innocent and find out for yourself. I will tell you that this book had me captivated from the beginning to the very end. I could not wait to see what was going to happen next and to who! Julie Johnstone has done a great job of writing lovely romance story but also has included a grand mystery as well.  I distrusted one of the characters that turned out to be one of the villains.  I had hoped this person wasn't responsible for some of the horrible things happening but it turned out I was correct to distrust them. 

There is also the wonderful close knit friendship between the Duke of Scarsdale, the Duke of Aversley, and  the Earl of  Harthorne. Amelia and Sophia grow very close quickly as well. This is a nice little group of characters that are fun, charming, and delightful to read about. I can not wait to see what Julie Johnstone has in store for the next book in this series. 

If you enjoy historical romance and have not had a chance to read Julie Johnstone's work yet, may I suggest this one? If you have read Ms. Johnstone's work before and are already a fan then hurry go get your copy of My Seductive Innocent now. I think you will enjoy it, I know I loved this story. It did certainly did tear at little pieces of my heart at times but it was well on the way to mended by the end. 

I was given the opportunity to read this great story so that I may share my thoughts with you. As always it has been my great pleasure to share my thoughts with you on My Seductive Innocent.

You may find more of my reviews on Julie Johnstone's books here....


Amazon Buy Links:

 My Seductive Innocent

  My Fair Duchess

My Seductive Innocent by Julie Johnstone ~ A Once Upon A Rogue Novel ~ Release Day ~ Giveaway

My Seductive Innocent
 A Once Upon A Rogue Novel Book 2
By Julie Johnstone
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Blurb:

Miss Sophia Vane, a hoyden of the first order, makes an unlikely match when she weds Nathaniel Ellison, the rich and wary Duke of Scarsdale. What starts with an unexpected friendship soon blooms into a fiery passion. But a betrayal plunges Sophia into the thorny world of London Society and entangles her in a labyrinth of manipulation and jealousy that will test the strength of her marriage. Behind her husband’s sudden icy facade, Sophia believes dwells the caring, passionate man she loves. To break through the barriers and reclaim their happiness, they must do more than simply cast away their pride. They must fight for their very lives.

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Excerpt:

Sophia trailed her fingers over Nathan’s strong jawline. She would reveal some of her fear in hopes that one day he would reveal some of his. “You’re like Michelangelo’s David. I’m afraid one day you will wake up and wonder who the stray puppy is that you married.”
He stood so abruptly she feared he was about to agree with her and then walk out of this room and her life. He looked down at her from his towering stance, reached behind him to tug off his shirt, and revealed a rippling abdomen and muscled chest. She stared in awe and wistfulness; his body―marred only at his shoulder by the bandage covering his healing wound―was every bit as beautiful as his face.
“I’m no statue, Sophia,” he growled as he yanked his boots off, then his pants and undergarments. She gaped at the size and power of his body that could not be denied now that he stood there without a stich of clothing.
“You are perfect,” she whispered, ashamed that she was so far from it, so very unmatched to him.
His gaze grew hard. “Expecting perfection from me will hurt us both. I like that you’re not perfect. Do you understand?”
She understood that he’d been hurt deeply and that he was trying to tell her how without saying it explicitly. “I do.”
He lowered himself over her, and something fierce glittered in his eyes. “I’ll hurt you and I’ll fail you, and then you’ll see. You won’t think me perfect. You won’t want to love me then.”
“Come to me, Nathan,” she replied, knowing arguing was futile. “Show me your imperfections.”

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About the Author:

Julie Johnstone is a USA TODAY best-selling author of Regency Romance and the author of a new urban fantasy/paranormal romance book. She’s been a voracious reader of books since she was a young girl. Her mother would tell you that as a child Julie had a rich fantasy life made up of many different make believe friends. As an adult, Julie is one of the lucky few who can say she is living the dream by working with her passion of creating worlds from her imagination. When Julie is not writing she is chasing her two precocious children around, cooking, reading or exercising. Julie loves to hear from her readers. You can send her an email at juliejohnstoneauthor@gmail.com or find her at www.juliejohnstoneauthor.com, or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/juliejohnstoneauthor and www.facebook.com/authorjuliejohnstone and on twitter at @juliejohnstone. You can join Julie’s newsletter here: http://juliejohnstoneauthor.com/extras/subscribe/

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Buy Links:

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Aconite by Christine Alvarez ~ The Elektita Series ~ Spotlight

Little known fact about this cover.....Christine's kids helped her design it. She promised them her first book cover, they could help create! This is their design! How cool is that!



Blurb:

Who knew a truck stop post card would send Alexis Davis’s life spiraling into a supernatural destiny predicted lifetimes before.

Gods, Magic, Fated Love; it was nothing that the shy, quiet Alexis ever could have imagined existed.

Alexis had no desire to take over the family business or follow in her mother’s footsteps, so armed with her life savings and a fresh tattoo she takes off to the quaint little fishing port of Reedsport, Oregon; where she meets two men that awaken something frightening within her very soul.

Dominant and dark Sebastian Gates and the sleek and sexy Jonathan Evans pull her into a life where the lines between her past, present and future
become one.

When they both begin to take part in the dreams that she has drawn comfort from, Alexis learns that none of them are really what they seem. But they are not the only ones; she quickly finds others that play an intricate part in what has come to pass and what is coming. If that wasn’t enough the tattoo that she had placed across her chest has taken on a life of its own. Leaving her in pain beyond anything she has ever experienced before. Through her dreams and the men that cannot help but complicate her life further, Alexis learns that she has a target on her head that has carried over from one life to the next.

A dark coven of witches known as the Elektita believe she is the one that will restore their powers taken by the Gods long ago. A prophecy set in motion by her very own family line. There is one problem; her destiny has put a wrench in the Elektita’s plans, somehow intertwining within a curse that leaves everyone around her at the mercy of the moon.

Who can Alexis trust? The two men that have despised each other for centuries or the powerful Elektita that wants nothing more than to wield the power of the Gods?

Amazon Buy Link




Excerpt:
"Stop!" I screamed into the dark room. Instantly the whirr of the ceiling fan seized along with the humming of the mini fridge. My breath caught in my throat at the sudden silence of the world around me. Even the noises outside my window seemed to fade into nothingness. Fear slammed down on all the craziness inside my head; fear of it all.

"That's it!" The air seemed to bow in resistance with my sudden outburst. It had stopped, too, heeding my command. I jerked the bottle off the table, slicing through the world’s resistance and headed for the door. The movements were forced, opposing the motionlessness that occupied the surrounding space. The hallway felt like a blessing; the air flowed as it should and I could hear the garbled sounds of televisions in other occupied rooms. Whatever was going on only affected my room. Linda wasn't at the front desk and I was more than thrilled that I didn't have to explain my growing insanity. I just needed to escape. I walked towards the water, the waves beckoning me out with them. The noises of the night seemed to be unaffected by whatever it was that had happened. I threw my head back in invitation, silently willing the dark serenity to consume me. As I reached the shore the water reflected a thousand night lights, giving life to the emotions that had resumed their battle inside of me. I perched myself on a large rock, letting its strength and solidity anchor me down.  The water's salty tears splattered against my skin, giving life to the tears that flowed from me. I cried with her, sharing my tears, letting them ride the waves together. I drank and raged with the night. Wind whipped around me, cocooning me in its embrace; protecting me from my growing madness. I could almost hear the soft bay of the wolves along the waves which drove a burst of laughter through my tears. I sounded hollow and unlike myself. I chucked the bottle which only had a few swallows left into the cold expanse, listening to the glass shatter through the ocean song.
I felt completely lost, consumed in the night. I couldn't find the thoughts that would give me an answer to what was happening to me. I watched as the ocean’s anger took its course all around me. Something about this night had her up in arms as well. At this moment I was in the company of a kindred soul. I sat still, letting her fight out her anger. I let the ocean have its turn to cry. Finally the waves began to glide and sway, ceasing its angry dance. The winds brushed against my cool skin, wiping away the remainder of my tears. We were both exhausted and spent; our emotional turmoil sated. Weariness left my body and mind heavy as I worked to make it back to the Inn before it gave out completely. The front desk remained empty and unwelcoming as I passed. I couldn't fight the exhaustion–not even to strip away my grief soaked clothes, letting sleep take over.

Bio:
I am Christine Alvarez, mother of four spectacular hoodlums and married to the man of my dreams. We all currently reside in my home state of Missouri. When I am not writing I spend my spare time as a chauffeur, maid, cook, and everything in between.
I am addicted to Dr. Pepper and chocolate. They are my vices and lend a large hand in getting the creative juices flowing. I write anything from paranormal romance to erotica. I am a sucker for romance whether it is the kind with a happily ever after or burned and broken end. You will find my work covers those gray areas in between as well.
You can learn more about my work at
My website at www.authorCAlvarez.com
Join my newsletter https://madmimi.com/signups/134411/join

Monday, March 23, 2015

Abruzzo Intrigue and Corsican Justice By Bluette Matthey



Abruzzo Intrigue and Corsican Justice
By Bluette Matthey



Abruzzo Intrigue bcc:

Bluette Matthey’s latest novel, Abruzzo Intrigue, embodies mystery, thievery, and spiritual encounters in this entangled plot, all set in the landscape of rural Italy.
Hardy Durkin, an American tour outfitter, leads a hiking tour into Italy’s Abruzzo region where they experience the area’s culture, food, and history.  There is a good deal of exposure to the region’s religious and spiritual past, and one of the tour group members struggles with an odyssey of the soul that ends in redemption.  Some of the cast of characters are who they seem to be, but most aren’t.  A member of the group, a grieving widower, plans to steal one of the Vatican’s most precious religious relics, The First Eucharistic Miracle, from the Church of San Francesco in Lanciano.  The book is a collision of values and traditions while hiking through the oft-overlooked beauty of ancient Abruzzo.
Buy Links:
Amazon
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 Corsican Justice bcc:

In Bluette Matthey’s first novel, Corsican Justice, we are introduced to Hardy Durkin, an American tour outfitter who seems to experience a mystery at every stop.
Hardy is visiting Corsica for the first time to explore the possibility of arranging a hiking tour for   segments of Corsica’s infamous hiking trail, the GR20.  He was also seeking closure from the fact that his father was killed in a highway accident on the island of Corsica several years earlier, Hardy learns his father was actually murdered.  The truth of his father’s murder lies among arms smuggling, Russian mobsters, and judicial corruption.
Buy Links:
Amazon



Bluette Matthey Bio:
Bluette Matthey is a third generation Swiss American and an avid lover of European cultures. She has decades of travel and writing experience. She is a keen reader of mysteries, especially those that immerse the reader in the history, inhabitants, culture, and cuisine of new places. Her passion for travel, except airports (where she keeps a mystery with her to pass the time), is shared by her husband, who owned a tour outfitter business in Europe. Bluette particularly loves to explore regions that are not on the “15 days in Europe” itineraries. She also enjoys little-known discoveries, such as the London Walks, in well-known areas. She firmly believes that walking and hiking bring her closer to the real life of any locale. Bluette maintains a list of hikes and pilgrimages throughout Europe for future exploration. She lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with her husband, faithful dog, and band of loving cats.

Links
Website   http://www.bluettematthey.com/ 



Blood Dance by A.R. Von ~ Spotlight


Blurb:
Valentine's Day is just not what it seems. Two friends long ago discovered their deep dislike for the lovey dovey holiday. Now they realize it holds much more meaning then frilly hearts, love and chocolates when a party leads them to a bloody fun house and a demon that's been around since the dawn of time...


Buy links:


Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23496762-blood-dance



A.R. was born and raised in Bronx, NY and is the oldest daughter of two girls. She holds an Associate's Degree in Computer Science and Information Technology, which was only briefly used. She's a mother of two entertaining teen boys (as well as a lovely fawn Chihuahua, whom she considers her furry daughter.) She's also a wife to a delightfully handsome and amazingly funny man-beast. She loves anything dragon and fantasy related. In her free time she enjoys exercising, listening to music, hiking, cooking, dancing and writing. She also loves a great adventure in and out of a book!
She writes to free her mind of its constant wondering and priceless clutter. She thrives on the fact she can share some of it with readers that have the same passion for a great story.

She also loves to hear from her reader's and chat away, so feel free to reach out to her any time. https://www.facebook.com/ARVon2




The Blackmail of Evelynn Faust By Shirley Anne Edwards ~ Cover Reveal ~


 The Blackmail of Evelynn Faust
By Shirley Anne Edwards


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Evelynn Faust suffers from horrible insomnia and paranoia. The summer before her senior year of high school should be one of the best summers of her life. But she’s tormented by guilt and an addiction that haunts her every waking moment. Evelynn
is a drug dealer who also craves the drug she sells. The money and the popularity that come with it aren’t bad either. But when she’s caught dealing on school property by Eric Wagner, the respected and admired police chief’s son, the game is over.
He won’t snitch on her, unless she gives him whatever
he wants - her.

She’s being blackmailed.

Evelynn has no one to turn to for help. Not her parents who don’t understand her rebellious nature or her circle of friends who only care about partying and getting high. When Adam Tristen moves in across the street, and he wants to get to know her better, it all seems too good to be true.

She must make a pact with the devil.

Evelynn now looks over her shoulder wherever she goes,
waiting for Eric to act on his threats. But Adam, the charming college sophomore, sees something special inside Evelynn, and he wants to help her fix mistakes. In order to do that she must confront a dark secret from her past that could destroy her family…her life…and her entire world as she knows it.

She must take a leap of faith.

YA Contemporary w/Romantic Elements, 73k

Releasing on May 25th !!


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Pre-edit Excerpt: 

The Blackmail of Evelynn Faust by Shirley Anne Edwards. Evelynn reveals one of her dark secrets to Adam…

“How was your party?”
            “You should have come. A lot of people crashed it.” I held the metal chains and
twisted left and right.
            He swung back and forth as I twisted. “Maybe if someone asked me to be their date,
I would have then.” He swung slightly to the side and bumped my hip with his.
            “Wouldn’t have been a good idea.”
            “Why not?” Again he tapped his hip to mine.
            “Adam, I’m not dating or girlfriend material. I’m just looking for a warm body to use
so I can forget about life for a while. I know you don’t want to hear that, but it’s the truth.”
            He stopped rocking and reached over to take my hand. I moved my arm away, but he
wouldn’t let me, and linked his fingers with mine. “For some reason I can’t leave you alone, and even though you act like you only want me for sex, or whatever else, I don’t think that’s so. What I do think is that you have a lot on your mind and want to tell someone, but not sure how.”
            “What am I, your project for school? Trying to psychoanalyze me?”
            “No. I want to be your friend and help erase those shadows in your eyes. That’s all.”
            I looked right at his face, at this big brown eyed, caramel skinned boy…man who was too good for the likes of me. My stomach cramped because I was going to tell him one of my dark secrets. Why? It just felt right to do in this dark, wet morning surrounded by metal, and dirt and rocks where I once played,
unaware of how horrible my life would become.
            “My shadows, as you say I have, weren’t always there. I guess it was a gradual thing starting when I was around thirteen. You think I’m something special, but I’m not. There’s not much to recommend about myself, other than I like jazz, jogging, actually love playing with my younger sister, and I enjoy…smoking up.”
            “Smoking up? Meaning something harder than cigarettes?”
            The look on his face was of surprise and not horror as I’d been expecting.
            “Yeah. I’ve been a big pot smoker ever since I was in eighth grade. I need to smoke every day. I think I’m an addict.”
            He stood up from his swing and bent down, grabbing both my hands in his. “At least you admit it. It’s the first step.”
            “I wish it was the easy. My habit is out of control. I’m stuck in a corner with no way out.”
            “What do you mean?” He gave me a tender smile. It made my chest constrict.
            I stood and my knee cracked. Holding back a grimace, I shook out my leg while I squeezed his hands. “A…friend, who wants to be more than that knows I’m using, and he caught me doing it at school. He’s threatening to tell my parents, unless I do what he wants. He’s more than willing to be that warm body I could use.” The need to tell Adam all the facts was strong, but I held back. Part of it was because I still felt leery of him. He may come across as a good guy who wanted to help, but he could always be like Eric underneath a great package.
            “Oh.” He let go of my hands and stepped back, rubbing his mouth. I saw the outline of
a beard on his chin and cheeks. I longed to rub my fingers over his rough, bristled skin.
            “See the problem? I either give this guy what he wants, or tell him to get lost and hope for the best.”
            “I know you don’t want to tell your parents, but what would be the worst thing that would happen if you told them?”
            I scraped my shoe across the pebbled ground and put my hands back in my pockets. “It’s not as easy as it sounds. I…I can’t really explain why, but just take my word for it.”
            He didn’t look like he believed me. I swore my heart stopped beating for a second. “You’re not being totally honest with me.”
            Damn. “Adam, the situation is more complicated than I make it sound. If you know too much, it could get difficult for you. Plus, your brother is a high ranking official in town. If he found out because you slipped up or mentioned something to him, things on my end would go downhill and fast. I’m not the only one
involved in this.”
            “You’re not only worried for yourself but the others you care about, right?”
            I nodded. “You could say that.”
            He gave me bright smile. “See, you’re not hopeless as you think you are. You’ve just proven to me you’re worth something because you care and don’t want those in your life to get hurt. Correct?”
            I
scratched my ear. I wasn’t sure where he was going with this. “Yeah so? It still doesn’t help the situation I’m in.”
            “Well, not necessarily. But it’s a start. If you can trust me with this small piece of information, than you’ll eventually trust me enough to tell me the whole story.”
            I couldn’t hide me smile. His joy was too contagious. “We’ll see.”
            “Are you’re feeling better now?”
            I rocked my head side to side. “Maybe I’ll feel better if you give me another massage.”
            He pulled me to his chest and rubbed his scruffy chin on my forehead. “If I give you another one, will you open up to me some more?”
            “You want me to bare my soul.”
            “Just a little bit. Haven’t you heard absolution is good for the soul?”
            I titled up my face. “Sure you’re not studying to be a priest?”
             “I have no desire to enter the priesthood.”
His mouth landed on mine, and his kiss proved that perfectly.

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About the Author:

Shirley Anne Edwards is a Northeast girl who first found her love for books when she read Nancy Drew's The Secret of the Old Clock Tower at thirteen. Shirley found
her love for writing at a very young age, and since then has let her imagination run wild by creating quirky characters and vast worlds in her head.

Shirley lives in New Jersey and works in the entertainment industry in New York City.

In the immortal words of Mark Twain: "Life is short, Break the Rules. Forgive quickly, Kiss SLOWLY. Love truly. Laugh uncontrollably and never regret ANYTHING that makes you smile."

For more information about Shirley and her writing journey:

Twitter: @ShirleyAWriter (link: https://twitter.com/ShirleyAWriter)