Wednesday, February 28, 2018

#GiveAway ~ Breaking Down By Megan Lowe ~ @meganlowe87

Breaking Down
Series: Rocking Racers, Book 4
By Megan Lowe


About the Book: 

When a hot BMX champion butts head with a woman who could kick his arse, it’s only a matter of time before the gloves are off and the heat is on.

What happens when the unexpected flips your world upside down?

That’s the question Jax Ryan must answer when everything he knows and loves is tipped on its head. Adjusting to his new reality is not easy. Throw in the woman of his dreams, who won’t even give him the time of day, and Jax is out of his element.

Bentley La Roche is tough. She’s a fighter, literally. In her spare time, she can be found with the best MMA fighters on the Gold Coast. But she’s guarded and has no interest in getting involved with anyone, especially Jax Ryan.

But when things go from bad to worse for Jax, Bentley’s walls are no match for her desire to help him. Breaking down is easy. It’s the rebuild that’s hard, but so much fun.

Genre: Contemporary Sports Romance
Release Date: February 6, 2018
Publisher: Hot Tree Publishing
Cover Designer: Claire Smith
 Add to TBR
 Available now! 


Excerpt: 

“This is Bentley and Harley, two of our fighters.”
We stand and watch as they spar, neither giving an inch. Just as I think neither of them is going to crack, the guy drops his guard. It’s only for a fraction of a second, so quick if you blinked you would’ve missed it. But that’s all it takes as the chick seizes the opportunity, hitting him with a nasty right hook and sending him to the floor.
“Holy shit,” I say as I adjust my rapidly hardening MIP in my shorts. That’s Most Important Part, in case you were wondering.
Bert chuckles. “Yeah, Bentley’s a firecracker.”
“Firecracker? She knocked that guy out,” I say, as trainers help him up.
“’Snot the first time. Come on,” he says, walking over to the stairs that lead to the cage, “I’ll introduce you.” I race after him, so eager to meet this firecracker of a woman it’s not funny. “Bentley,” he calls, “I’ve got someone here I want you to meet.”
She turns and almost knocks me on my arse. Stunning is not enough of a word to describe her. She’s tall, taller than me, which oddly I don’t mind. If I had to guess, I’d put her at five eleven. Her eyes are a gold colour, she has a hole in her chin where I’m guessing a labret piercing would usually go, and her arms and legs are a riot of colourful tattoos. Her lips are pink and full and I’d like nothing more than to spend all day kissing them. She takes off her headgear as she walks over to us, and a heap of platinum-blonde hair falls around her and down her back. Her body is a typical athlete’s body, toned and trim, but what it’s doing to me is anything but typical.
“Bentley, this is Jax Ryan,” Bert says.
Quickly I wipe my sweaty palm before offering it to her. “I don’t want to scare you off,” I say, “but I think you’re my perfect woman.”
She looks at me with disgust, and I let my hand drop to my side again. Unperturbed, Bert carries on. “Jax is a freestyle BMX rider,” he explains, “he’s got—”
“Eight Extreme Games gold medals,” she finishes.
“Ah, yeah,” Bert says, disappointed she stole his thunder.
A smirk crosses my face. “So you’ve heard of me?” I ask.
“I’ve heard of you,” she says as she takes the bindings off her hands. “I also saw your epic defence of your medals at the last games.”
I shrug and try to play it off. “Freestyle BMX can be dangerous. Every rider knows it. I know it. I’m not afraid of it.”
“No,” she says, crossing her arms over her small but adequate chest, “you just ate it in front of millions of people.”


Rocking Racers Series!

Book 1
 All buy links HERE

Book 2
All buy links HERE

Book 3
All buy links HERE

About the Author: 

Megan Lowe is a lost journalism graduate who after many painful years searching for a job in that field, decided if she couldn’t write news stories, she would start listening to the characters whispering stories to her and decided to write them down.  She writes primarily New Adult/Contemporary Romance stories with Sport and Music themes. She is based on the Gold Coast but her heart belongs to New York City. When she’s not writing she’s either curled up with a good book, traveling or screaming at the TV willing her sporting teams to pull out the win.




 Game On Submissions

Tuesday, February 27, 2018

#GiveAway ~ The Marquis and I by Ella Quinn ~ @ellaquinnauthor @GoddessFish


The Marquis and I
by Ella Quinn

Ella will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Please use the Rafflecopter below to enter. Remember you may increase your chances of winning by visiting the other tour stops. You may find those locations here

~*~*~*~*~*~
BLURB:

Trouble is no match for a lady of the extended Worthington family—except when it comes in the form of a most irresistible gentleman . . .

Lady Charlotte Carpenter’s brother-in-law has put an infamous brothel owner out of business—yet it is Charlotte who suffers the consequences. Abducted by thugs and held at an inn, she is plotting her escape when she’s suddenly rescued by a dashing gentleman. Only afterward does she realize she’s seen him before—with two courtesans! Unwilling to tarry with such a man, Charlotte makes her second escape. But it is too late to repair her reputation . . .

A known gossip has spied Charlotte’s movements, and his report is speeding through the rumor mill. Soon, everyone knows that Charlotte spent the night with Constantine, Marquis of Kenilworth. And everyone agrees the only answer is marriage—including Constantine himself, his overjoyed mother—and his mistress! But Charlotte’s abductors aren’t finished with her yet. Now Constantine will do anything to protect the spirited woman he loves and win her heart . . .

GENRE: Historical Romance 

The Marquis and I Buy Links:
Barnes & Noble http://bit.ly/2rI8cKu

~*~*~*~*~*~ 
Excerpt:
  
Wife? Wed? No, no, no! Being betrothed was bad enough. But she could get out of that. But married! Lord Kenilworth was the last man in the world she would wed. Just the idea that he would touch her with the same hands he used to mistreat other women made her stomach lurch.

Charlotte quickly shoved the memory of his kiss aside. If she had known who he was, she would never have kissed him.

Taking a deep breath, she said with as firm a voice as she could muster, “Despite what his lordship said, I do not wish to marry him. There must be a way to—”

“That is neither here nor there, my dear.” Lady Bellamny waved away Charlotte’s complaint in a voice so composed it made her want to slaughter someone. Preferably Lord Kenilworth. “I stopped by Stanwood House to inform your sister I intended to be out of Town for a few days. Instead, I found your cousin Jane, Mrs. Addison. Knowing that I am a trustworthy friend of the family, she told me what had occurred. Unless I am mistaken, you were with Lord Kenilworth at least overnight, and you were seen entering the inn with him.” She raised a brow. “In a rather disheveled state.”

Charlotte decided to ignore her creased, dusty gown, and address the most important issue. “I did not exactly spend the night with him.” Not all night and, technically, she had entered the inn first. “He followed me into the inn. I—”

“Close enough, my lady.” His tone was as dry as sand. “We were seen together walking toward this place, and I held the door open for you.”

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Bestselling author Ella Quinn’s studies and other jobs have always been on the serious side. Reading historical romances, especially Regencies, were her escape. Eventually her love of historical novels led her to start writing them.

After living in the South Pacific, Central America, North Africa, England and Europe, she and her husband decided to make their dreams come true and are now living on a sailboat cruising the Caribbean and North America. Europe is next!

She loves having readers connect with her.

Monday, February 26, 2018

#Interview ~ The Agreement By Linda Burson ~ @lindaburson23

The Agreement
By Linda Burson

Interview with Linda Burson:

Crystal: Today I am so excited to host Linda Burson! Welcom Linda! I'm so thrilled to have you here today. Would you share a little bit about yourself with us today?

Linda: I’m at the stage of my life where I can be a full-time writer. My husband still works full-time and this affords me the opportunity to finally do what I love every day. We are empty nesters other than our white Lhasa Apso who shares our home. Our two daughters have graduated college and have their own lives and careers

I’ve had one job or another since I was eleven years old. I ran my own businesses during the last twenty-five years of my life. I never stopped writing, but it isn’t easy to write while working full-time, raising children, pets, volunteering and running a home, as anyone out there who does this can attest. What amazes me is there are many who do. I give them a lot of credit and respect. It’s not an easy task. I feel fortunate that I no longer have to have another job besides writing and I’m able to finally live my dream.

Crystal: What are you currently working on?

Linda: A novella using my PI character lead, Cammy, from the murder mystery book due out April 15, 2018, called MURDER BETWEEN FRIENDS. Cammy Thurston is a female private investigator in the book coming out, and I carry her over to this novella after MURDER BETWEEN FRIENDS ends.

Crystal: Where did you come up with the idea for either your current release or your current WIP?

Linda: The book due out April 15, 2018 was an idea based on a previous job experience. I worked for a Private Investigator years ago. I decided it would be cool to take it a bit further—to elaborate on the story and have fun with it. I always wondered what would’ve happened if I had stayed in that job and didn’t leave to get married. My husband to be was in the military, so we had to move far away.

Crystal:  Do you have a favorite snack that you like to munch on while writing? If so, would you mind sharing what it is with us?

Linda: I don’t eat while I’m writing. I don’t like distractions. I prefer to keep my mind focused and clear on my task at hand. If I’m hungry, I try to get up and eat what I need, then sit back down in front of my computer and continue. I will keep sparkling water next to me, though. I don’t want to get headaches by getting dehydrated. The only exception for food, and I don’t consider it food, is having a hard candy of some sort that will last a while or maybe chewing gum.

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

Linda: One of the scenes I really like in the new murder mystery MURDER BETWEEN FRIENDS that is due out in April is the two police officers interviewing the neighbors of the missing woman and the follow-up conversation to the interviews. I love the relationship between the two police detectives. I also enjoyed developing each of the women characters in the story.

Crystal:  When you are not busy writing wonderful stories to keep us lucky readers entertained, what do you like to do? Do you have a hobby?

Linda: Well, writing is my hobby as much as it is my job; however, outside of that I spend time working out at a private gym three times a week. I love to bake, but obviously, that’s not a great hobby to have when one is trying to lose weight and stay fit, at least that’s what my trainer keeps telling me! I also enjoy word games and puzzles. I try to keep my mind working and active at all times. I’m not a great painter, but I enjoy those painting classes offered for an evening. It’s a way to have a fun, relaxing evening with a friend, have a drink, and create a painting I can hopefully be proud enough to hang in my house.”

Crystal: Do you have a favorite background noise you like to have going while you write (TV, Music, kids playing)?

Linda: Quiet is my muse, though, during some parts of my novel, I get more creative if I listen to music from mid-20th century. I love those oldies! They bring a certain sense of comfort to me.

Crystal: Thanks for visiting. It has been a pleasure having you visit today. Can you think of anything else you would like to share with us today?

Linda: It would be nice to gain new readers. I love to hear from my readers as well, and if they do read any of my novels, I hope they’ll recommend my books to their friends and family. Not all books are for everyone, but even if one person isn’t 100% in love with a story, that doesn’t mean someone they know won’t be. I can’t say often enough, either, that reviews are always appreciated.

Thank you, Crystal for having me today. I feel honored to be interviewed and I appreciate your time and efforts.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Blurb for The AgreementBook 4 in the Marcy series:

After the perfect honeymoon, Brad and Marcy return to reality to begin their new life together. Unfortunately, Brad and Marcy’s wedded bliss runs into complications. Brad seems distant and cold, and Marcy is confused by his unexpected behavior.

When Marcy goes into labor, Brad is by her side. Later, Marcy confronts Brad about their crumbling marriage and decides it may be better for them to separate. Brad begs Marcy to reconsider, pleading with her not to leave.

For now, Marcy agrees to stay put with their son. Brad and Marcy reconcile. Brad forms a surprising and unexpected friendship which changes the course of their lives.


Buy Links:

 ~*~*~*~*~*~
Excerpt from The Agreement:

We go to find Brad. He’s talking to his brothers. I walk up behind him, wrap my arms around his waist, and kiss his back. He turns his head, sees it’s me, and puts his arms
around mine.

Matt says, “I’m glad this brother of mine finally got smart and asked you to marry him. I was thinking I might have to step in and see if you’d like to switch brothers.”

“The best gifts in life are worth the wait,” Brad says squeezing my arms, then picking them up and bringing me around to the side of him so he can kiss my head.

“You always say the most wonderful things to me,” I convey.

“Well, if you two are going to get mushy, I’m leaving. Come on, Ryan. Brad’s making us look bad. Good thing Kelsey and Samantha are in the other room.”

Dave comments to Brad, “You know, Brad, you and your brothers aren’t that different from LM, JJ, Elb, and me. You have that good, bad, fun, and serious sides that we all have. I can see you understand the way it was and is between us. So I owe you an apology. I suppose it’s difficult for us now, with Liam not being here, considering how we feel about Marcy. We want to be a part of her life. Her life now includes you. It’s unfortunate you and Liam were in love with the same woman. If it weren’t for that, you and he would’ve probably been good friends; but then again, if it wasn’t for the two of you loving the same woman, none of us would’ve ever met.”

“If it wasn’t for Liam, Dave, I would’ve never met Marcy,” Brad answers. “She probably wouldn’t be here now, which means none of us would have her in our lives. I’m aware she’s here now because of his heroic actions all those years ago. To be honest, he may have been competition to me for her heart, but I can’t fault the guy for that. I understand him being in love with her. I may be slightly sensitive when it comes to him, but that’s only because I know she’s in love with him as well. I still blame myself for letting her go in the first place. If I hadn’t, their relationship wouldn’t have started. I don’t dislike Liam. He loved Marcy, I love Marcy, I like all of you guys, Marcy loves all of you and you’re all friends with Liam. I’m aware he was a great guy, which means I don’t mind hearing
stories about him. What makes me annoyed and uncomfortable is when everyone else acts like they’re uncomfortable talking about him in front of me. He was a part of all your lives, and whether I like it or not, he was a part of Marcy’s life. I won’t deny it and pretend it didn’t happen. Besides, I can’t deny her relationship with him. The
baby she’s carrying might be his. What kind of a person would I be if I try to deny his existence in her life, and this baby is his and not mine?”

“I said it before and I’ll say it again; you’re a hell of a man, Brad. And if Liam were here right now, I’d tell him so. I’d be happy to tell him you’re an honorable man and
Marcy’s in good hands.” Dave puts his hand out for Brad to shake. “Brad, if you’ll accept, I’d be proud and honored to call you friend.”

“I do accept and thank you. That means a lot to me.”

They start talking about sports, and that’s when I excuse myself.

 ~*~*~*~*~*~ 
About the Author:

Linda is an author from Connecticut.

After years of writing and editing for others, raising a family, and over twenty years of running her own businesses, Linda decided to tackle her first fiction novel entitled Rage, which began as a single book. Eventually, the novel became a trilogy, and finally a much longer series. All the books are a part of The Marcy Series, a romantic suspense series.
There are currently six novels in the series.

Find out more about Linda at:
Website is lindaburson.com 
Twitter: @lindaburson23

#GiveAway ~ Havana Blues by David Pereda ~ @DavidPeredaAVL


Havana Blues
by David Pereda

David Pereda will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Remember you may increase your chances of winning by visiting the other tour stops. You may find those locations here. 

 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ 
BLURB:

The year is 1952 and Ramon Rodriguez’s life as a teenager in fun-loving Havana is filled with typical activities and concerns: girls, education, religion, baseball, parties, and hanging out with friends. The country is enjoying a period of prosperity and happiness--until General Batista stages a coup that topples the government and Ramon’s life is flung into chaos.

In a few short years, the carefree fifties morph into a vicious and repressive dictatorship highlighted by corruption, organized gambling, school closures, student demonstrations, police brutality, and assassinations.

As Ramon experiences the thrills of his first romantic relationship, graduates from school, and struggles to plan for an uncertain future, he is forced to make important decisions that may be dangerous to him, his family, his friends, and his girlfriend – the beautiful Sonia -- and could turn deadly.

 GENRE:   Historical Coming-of-Age novel

Buy links:


~*~*~*~*~*~*~ 
EXCERPT:  
A car turned the corner with a screeching of tires. With
mechanical harmony, another screeching echoed from the opposite
direction.

Siren noises combined to wreck the peacefulness and drown my
father’s voice as two cars skidded face to face in front of my house. I
recognized the blue and white stripes. Car doors opened and
slammed. A stream of policemen armed with rifles and machine guns
crashed through the garden door and spilled over our garden like
insects.

My mother shrieked once. My father stood paralyzed.

I stared in growing disbelief at the bulk who loped into the
garden and stopped just outside the bright range of the porch lights.
The clean-shaven face, the brittle smile, were familiar to me. So was
the voice.

‘Buenas noches,’ Santana said. ‘Lovely night, isn’t it?’

Even with a veneer of politeness, Santana’s voice made the hair
in the back of my neck stand on end.

‘What's the meaning of this?’ my father asked, surprising me.
‘Crashing into our house, as if we were common criminals.’
Santana’s stare was cold. ‘Just doing my duty, Señor Rodriguez.’
He turned to me, smoothing out the front of my dinner jacket
with his hand. ‘You're very elegant tonight,’ he said. ‘Don’t tell me,
let me guess. You were at the Club Profesionales, weren’t you?’

‘Yes, we were,’ my mother said sharply, ‘and we had to leave
because of some terrorists. Disgusting. And on his graduation dance
night too.’ She glared at Santana.

He gave her a polite smile, more of a smirk, and turned to me.

‘Being in the building as you were, you could have planted that bomb
very easily, couldn’t you?’

‘What? You think I…? No!’

‘No what?’

‘No, I couldn’t.’ My heart pounded in my chest. ‘My mother can
testify to that.’

My mother had turned a chalky white and her lips were open
and round like an O. She seemed at a loss for words.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

David Pereda was born in Havana, Cuba. The award-winning author of seven previous novels, he enjoys crafting political thrillers and edgy mainstream novels with unique characters placed in exotic settings. He has traveled to more than thirty countries and speaks four languages. Before devoting his time solely to writing and teaching, David had a successful international consulting career with global giant Booz Allen Hamilton, where he worked with the governments of Mexico, Venezuela, Peru and Qatar, among others.

A member of MENSA, David earned his MBA from Pepperdine University in California. He earned bachelor degrees in English literature and mathematics at the University of South Florida in Tampa.

He lives in artistic Asheville, North Carolina, with his youngest daughter Sophia, where he teaches mathematics and English at the Asheville-Buncombe Community College. He loves sports and is an accomplished competitor in track and show-jumping equestrian events.



Saturday, February 24, 2018

#GiveAway ~ A Whole New Life By Sheri Velarde ~ @Sher_V

 
 A Whole New Life

About the Book: 

A handsome deputy who’s not looking to settle down.

A mysterious woman who’s on the run.

When Deputy Henri Gunther realizes there’s so much more to waitress Jenna Trippleton, his simple small-town life explodes right open. With her safety and freedom at stake, Jenna must decide whether she can put her trust in the one man who’s promised to protect her.

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: February 24, 2018
Publisher: Hot Tree Publishing
Cover Designer: Soxsational Cover Art

 Add to TBR

 On sale for 99c! 
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2DK8nbo 
All other links: books2read.com/whole


 On sale for 99c! 
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2DK8nbo 
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2zZFDsB 
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2CB93k2 
Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2lzlhSG 

About the Author: 

Sheri Velarde lives in New Mexico with her husband and their two dogs.

Being an avid reader since an early age, Sheri wanted to be a writer for as long as she can remember. She has been writing all her life, but only recently started to pursue her dream of writing for a living. Sheri specializes in all things paranormal and that go bump in the night. Her heart truly lies in exploring unknown worlds or adding the supernatural to our world. If it goes bump in the night or has magical connotations, Sheri writes about it. She writes everything from sweet romances to horror stories sure to scare you.

In her spare time Sheri is an artist, jewelry designer, independent comic writer/artist and freelance non-fiction writer. Hiking in the mountains, going to live concerts, art openings, museums, watching movies, playing games, and hosting intimate dinner parties.

Sheri is constantly putting out new material with various publishers, so it is best to keep up with her on her website www.authorsherivelarde.weebly.com.
 Rescue Me Submissions


#ReleaseBlitz ~ Taken By Rebecca Brooke ~ @RebeccaBrooke6

 Taken
Series: Traded Series (Stand alone)
By Rebecca Brooke



About the Book: 
Kill her or don’t kill her

One job. I had one damn job: Eliminate Marcello, leave no witnesses.

I should kill her, but I can’t. Except letting her live may cost me my life.

Only one choice left. Lock her in my basement until I figure out what to do. I’ve never questioned myself before.

Until her.

She’s been Taken
Genre:  Contemporary/Suspense Romance
Release Date: February 22, 2018















Rebecca Brooke grew up in the shore towns of South Jersey. Writing has always been a love for her, as well as reading. She loves to hit the beach, but always with her kindle on hand. She is married to the most wonderful man, who puts up with all of her craziness. Together they have two beautiful children who keep her on her toes. Rebecca is the author of contemporary, new adult, and paranormal romance.





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