At What Cost ~ Jessie Andersen ~ Promo

During her junior year, sixteen-year-old Maggie Reynolds expected to shop for prom dresses not maternity clothes. Now, instead of studying for the SATs, she’s reading, What to Expect When You’re Expecting. Maggie’s ‘Mother Dearest’ lives in fear that Maggie will somehow taint the family name, so Maggie can’t turn to her for help. Meanwhile, her father is oblivious to anything but his 9-9 job. And her boyfriend, Justin? She’s pretty sure he’ll stay by her side.

While Maggie wrestles with her options, Justin offers a solution: abortion. It would solve all her problems quickly, easily, and effectively. And her parents would never know, which means they won’t throw her out and cut her off like they’d always threatened if she got herself knocked up. But an easy decision becomes difficult when Maggie’s aunt discovers her secret and sets out on a mission to stop the abortion, putting a kink in Maggie’s plan. Now Maggie must decide which choice she can live with: abortion or teenage motherhood. Either way, it’ll be a tough road to travel.

*Young Adult RONE finalist award and the USA Best Book Award finalist in Youth Issues *

Special Note: At What Cost can be purchased for 99 cents at Amazon and Barnes & Noble for this week only!

Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Astraea Press | Kobo | Smashwords | Audible

Lauren stared at Maggie with wide eyes. “Pregnant? You’re flipping pregnant?” Apparently, the word “flipping” was supposed to convey the substantial amount of shock Lauren had for the bomb Maggie had dropped. It worked. Maggie wished she had such a word to use herself. But she needed something stronger.

“No. I’m late.” Maggie tried to convince herself it was just a fluke. That she was late due to the stress her mother continually heaped on her or the new year of school starting, but the possibility she might be pregnant scared her to death. Still, she tried to keep her head.

Lauren wriggled like a worm on a hook. Being calm was not her forte. “Holy pig snot! That first day of school!” her voice trailed off.

“What?”

“When you were looking at your calendar and got all weird and sick looking.”

“Yeah, so?”

“That’s when you figured it out, isn’t it?”

The thought sucked Maggie back into that disgusting, dirty bathroom where she counted and recounted the days on her calendar realizing she had skipped her period that month.

“Yeah, but I could just be late,” she said hopefully. “The stress of school starting and all. I’m just late.” More than anything, she wanted this to be true, but the view of the calendar in her mind grated on her stability until it was a flaky pile, blown away with one wisp of breath.

“You trying to convince me or you?”

Maggie shot Lauren a narrow-eyed glare.

“Well, did you and Mr. Justin Davis use… you know,” Lauren asked, tucking her arms across her chest.

She hated when Lauren called him that.

“What?”

She leaned in and whispered it like a dirty word. “Protection?”

Thinking back, Maggie couldn’t remember. Playing that night over in her head a thousand times made the details a little fuzzy. “Yeah. I think so.”

“You think so, meaning you may not have?”

Maggie leaned back against the bed. She shook her head. “No, I’m sure we did. I made sure.”

“Mags! If you were drunk, how would you know? You were drunk, right? Please tell me you were drunk.”

“Not every time. I’d know, right? I’m sure we did. We had to.” They had used something, hadn’t they? Suddenly the purple butterflies clinging to Lauren’s walls flew at her as the room spun. Maggie choked down the bile rising in her throat and breathed deeply to steady the quivering of her lips.

“Well, if you did, it didn’t work, and if you didn’t, you’re an idiot.” Lauren slapped a hand over her own mouth. “Sorry, I didn’t mean that.”

Author Info: Jessie Andersen lives in a small town in Western New York with her husband and three kids. A former English teacher, she now spends her time writing while the kids are at school and the baby is sleeping. She volunteers at the local library and sings in the church band. You can find information about her books at her website, and you can follow her blogs at her personal blog and her book blog. You can also follow her on Twitter and on Facebook.

Wolf Fever ~ Milly Tiaden ~ Cover Reveal

Wolf Fever

Blurb:

When Raine Bowe volunteers for a sleep study for the extra cash, she didn't expect to wake in a lab or to be victimized by a mad scientist. She escapes with one objective--to find someone strong enough to wage war with the evil growing inside her. 

Ryder Storm is a man with a reputation--the bad boy of his own universe. He doesn't take prisoners, won't give into a sweet smile, and doesn't cut his pack an inch of slack. He knows the desperate woman in his bar is his the moment he lays eyes on her. He'll give her anything she wants, except the one thing she's begging for. Death.

Raine enlists Ryder’s help to unravel the mystery surrounding the hours she lost in the lab and to help tame the beast inside her. In their search for answers, the road will lead them to a twisted experiment involving shifters, humans, and the creation of the ultimate Alpha. He's ready for the adventure and she's ready for her answers. Neither are ready for the lust that calls down from the mating moon. But a wolf knows its mate, and an alpha will not stop until he or she gets what they want.








Author Bio:
Want to know about me? Milly Taiden (aka April Angel) was born in the prettiest part of the Caribbean known as the Dominican Republic. She grew up between New York, Florida and Massachusetts. Currently, she resides in New York City with her husband, bossy young son and their little dog Speedy.
She’s addicted to shopping for shoes, chocolate (but who isn’t?) and Dunkin Donuts coffee.




Contact Milly
Website: http://www.millytaiden.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/fansofmillytaidenaprilangel
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/millytaiden


Books:
As Milly Taiden
Wolf Protector – Federal Paranormal Unit – Book 1
Wynter’s Captive
Halloween Heat III – Mate Event
Fate’s Wish
Sharp Change – Black Meadow – Book 1
Caged Heat – Black Meadow – Book 2

Coming Soon
Wolf Fever
Scent of a Mate

As April Angel
A Hero’s Pride
Party Crasher
Wicked Valentine – Sizzling Encounters – Book 2
Stranded Temptation
Mr. Buff – Sizzling Encounters – Book 1

Coming Soon
Lucky Break – Sizzling Encounters – Book 3

Hayle Coven Novella Blog Tour ~ By Patti Larsen~ Chapter 2

Welcome to the Hayle Coven Novella Blog Tour for award-winning author Patti Larsen. Join us each day for a new chapter in the Hayle Coven prequel novella, Dreams and Echoes and enter to win a Kindle Fire! (Or equivalent gift card.) Be amongst the first to read this brand new edition to the 20 (now 21!) book series that will conclude with The Last Call this July, and find out why fans are raving about the Hayle Coven series.
Need to get caught up? Get Chapter 1 here.

Chapter Two

“I'm sorry,” the big man's black mustache twitched as he shook his head, the motion setting his large belly into a slow-motion wobble. “No experience, no job.”
I was getting very sick of hearing that. Had spent an entire day being told the same thing over and over in various wordings. “Oh, you've never waitressed before? I'm sorry, this job requires someone who has.” “Our spring training for summer students is already over. Unless you've done this before?” “Our customers expect our staff to be knowledgeable and confident.”
Grumble, mumble.
“How,” I said, trying to keep my voice down, my temper in check, knowing it brought out occasional sparks of magic and absolutely needing to keep a lid on my power if I was ever going to make Mom trust me, “am I supposed to get experience if no one will give me a job?”
He didn't seem to care. Turned his back on me. The line of sweat down the middle of his white t-shirt made me gag. I left the bakery, thinking maybe this rejection was for the best.
Still. I stood there on the corner of Jobless and Loserville and did my best not to sag in defeat. Sable's main boardwalk bustled with activity, families, tourists, making their way to and fro from shop to shop. Some of which were hiring.
None of which wanted me.
Hard not to feel sorry for myself. Really, really hard.
How goes the job hunt? Sassafras's snarky tone did nothing to improve my mood.
Shut it, I snarled, cutting him off. I didn't need him to remind me that, like in everything else, I was an abject failure.
Head down, shoulders slumped, I stomped my way from the boardwalk and up the street toward home, heart as heavy as it had ever been. Maybe Sass was right. Maybe I just wasn't cut out to live in the normal world. If it was this hard to get a job at sixteen, what would I do when I was older?
No. I refused to quit. After all, once I turned eighteen and Mom and Dad removed my magic, I'd be normal. Well, probably latent. But at least I wouldn't be putting off all those witchy vibes that drove people away, vibes I tried so carefully to hide behind woven shielding so thick I felt muffled most of the time.
My demon father didn't understand my hate for magic, but he was much more understanding about the whole thing than Mom. Haralthazar, Demon Lord of the Seventh Plane, was a softy and a pushover. I just wished he could talk Mom into backing off.
Who knew? Maybe she'd be ten times worse without Dad's influence. That thought made me miserable.
I was almost home when I turned and headed down a side street. I just couldn't take going back yet. The warm day beckoned me to explore and, fighting off the gloom hovering around me, I accepted the invitation.
I only made it three blocks before the neighborhood changed from historic old construction—Mom's favorite—to more 80's rundown. Now on the edge of the main shopping district, this part of Sable seemed to have been caught in a time warp, windows barred, paint peeling.
But, up ahead, like a little beacon of joy in a storm, sat a neon-pink storefront. The sign read “Evie's”, with a massively coiffed woman in pinup pose reclining against the name.
As I drew closer, I noticed the sign. Another help wanted, but this one hand-drawn with a pair of lips in one corner and, to my surprise, a cute little pentagram in the other.
Could a witch own this place? No way. Mom would know if another coven lived in this region. Would never have settled us here if it meant infringing on a foreign family. Still, I found the pentagram as intriguing as the garish paint job.
I looked up at the swinging pinup girl again before drawing a breath and pushing open the glass door.
The scent of chemicals mixed with sweetness wafted over me, humid air humming with chattering voices, blowing air and the strains of the latest pop tune to hit the charts. A counter sat on the right, pink with the same “Evie's” painted on the front, the black counter top worn in spots, but shining clean. On the left I saw three chairs, a wall of mirrors, and, just past the counter, a row of hood dryers.
Sinks at the back.
Women in various states of hair undo staring.
A salon. I'd walked into a salon. Made me feel instantly self-conscious. My usual morning routine consisted of a pony tail, mascara and lip gloss. Jeans, t-shirt. End of story. This place made me feel like I'd failed as a teenaged girl.
I was about to turn tail and run when a tall, large woman with hair styled in a startlingly similar version of the shop's mascot, left the far chair, a lady in a black cape turning her head to see who'd stolen her stylist, and came hurrying toward me. I tried not to stare at her round, melon breasts attempting to escape the tight, leopard print tank top she wore, or the vibrant red of her hair. The thick layer of pale blue eye shadow over her false lashes. The pink lipstick. Short black skirt. Heavy layers of silver and gold jewelry clanking as she moved.
Ack.
Too late, held in thrall by her incredible presence, I stayed put as she came to a beaming halt in front of me, clasping her hands to her impressive chest. One held a pair of scissors, the other a bright blue comb.
“You're here to apply for the job.” Her voice reached about the level of ear rupture as she swept forward and grasped my arm, pulling me further into the room, her comb digging into my skin. “Aren't you?”
Um. Was I? I looked around at the waiting, watching women, and made my choice.
“Yes, thanks,” I said, my voice sounding small compared to hers.
She released me to raise her hands above her head. “I knew it.” She spun on the room, meeting other eyes. “Did I not tell you she would come in today? The perfect choice.” The woman turned back, towering over me, vibrating with excitement. “And you, my dear, are perfect.” She twirled me around, nodding as she did, while the ladies all murmured and nodded in approval. The only one who didn't seem interested was one of the other stylists, but I wasn't sure from the look of her if she was ever excited about anything.
It seemed amazing, at her apparent age, she was even standing.
“How delicious.” The large woman tried to clap her hands, the plastic of her comb tinking against the metal scissors. “I just love being right.”
Holy. What was I getting myself into?
“I've been waiting for you, my dear,” she said with a wink and an eye twinkle. “Asked the spirits to bring you to me.” Um, okay. She was clearly a normal, not even a latent. So no way the “spirits” would listen. That I knew of, anyway. “Now,” she said, “my name is Evie Downs.”
“Sydlynn Hayle,” I said, shaking her large hand as she transferred her scissors to sit with her comb. Her grip was firm, but warm, and her smile so kind I found myself smiling back despite my unease at the weirdness of the situation.
“Well then, Sydlynn Hayle,” she said, spinning and going back to her client. “I will see you here, tomorrow morning, 9 am.” She met my eyes. “Sharp!” Held up her scissors, opening and closing them a few times like an alligator's jaws. Then cackled like a crazy person.
I bobbed a nod before running like a rabbit.
The street outside felt flat and dull as evening approached, the air whooshing out of my lungs. I glanced back over my shoulder at the storefront and caught myself grinning.
Weird? Totally. My kind of place? Oh, yeah.
What better job than working for a woman who was so off-the-wall even if I did slip up she'd probably love it?
Wicked.
I ran home, excitement rising, bursting through the front door, calling for Mom.
Not home. Meira was out, too, though Gram sat at the kitchen table, Sassafras watching her as she put a jigsaw puzzle together. She cheated, using magic to make the pieces fit, but it wasn't like it really mattered. I watched her shift the picture, forcing one piece to match, cackling. When she looked up and met my eyes, her faded blue gaze sparkled with mischief.
“I win,” she giggled. “I always win.”
“That's great, Gram.” I bent and kissed her cheek, feeling her soft skin give under my lips even as her claw-like nails bit into my arm. I winced, knowing what was coming, hating the fact she wouldn't just let go of her crazy fantasy and leave me out of it.
“Girl,” she said, voice so plaintive it always made me sad, “do you have something for me?”
Sigh. “No, Gram.” I gently detached my arm from her grip, sinking into the seat beside her. “I'm sorry.” It really bothered me to have to break her heart so many times. But I had no idea what she was looking for and, lost inside her insanity thanks to an attack by a rival coven, neither did my grandmother.
Ethpeal Hayle's life had been one big spiral of nutjob ever since I was a baby. And as much as I loved her, not even Mom was able to mend my grandmother's broken mind. I knew even if I did try something, I'd screw up so badly she'd likely end up a carrot stick short of a full veggie tray.
I helped her with her puzzle as she went back to it. She'd forgotten she'd asked, like always.
“Well?” Sassafras batted at me with one paw. “How did it go?”
The little furball. I glared at him, knowing now, from the tone of his voice, he expected me to fail all along. Had sent me out there to look for a job, thinking I'd probably fall on my butt.
“As it happens,” I said sweetly, jabbing his ribs with one finger, “I found the perfect place to work.”
His eyes widened, pupils flaring a moment before he flattened his ears and growled. “Really.” His tail twitched. “Do tell.”
“It's a hair salon,” I said, raising my nose, sniffing in fake arrogance. “I start tomorrow.”
Sassy's irritation had nothing on Gram's sudden excitement. She squealed like a little girl, clapping her hands and stomping her fuzzy-socked feet with so much enthusiasm the puzzle went flying from the table, her white hair floating around her like a halo.
“Want my hairs done!” She giggled, bobbing back and forth with her hands over her mouth. “Want!”
Yikes. The thought of setting Gram loose at a salon was the very last thing on my mind.
I patted her hand as she dropped them into her lap.
“Ask Mom,” I said with a little smile.
Passed the buck. Sure did.
I left Gram in Sassy's tender care and went upstairs, tossing my head at him when he glared at my exit like I'd offended him. Made me laugh at the thought I'd beaten the smartass cat at his own manipulative game.
For once.
I stared at the mess of my room as I closed the door and leaned back against it. I still had enough boxes of stuff to clothe the population of Sable to put away. Yes, the rest of the family used magic for such mundane tasks.
But I wasn't the rest of the family.
I wove my way through the maze of cardboard, heading for the walk-in closet. At least Mom knew better than to take a house with small storage in the bedrooms. Meira and I both had so much junk it would have been impossible to fit it all into a regular closet.
My new space had lovely built-ins for hanging, and a double row of built-in dressers for foldables. I loved the size and took my time fitting in everything.
Next up were my shoes. I usually wore sneakers or flip flops, but I had a few pair of really nice boots I loved for winters. I did my best to dress stylishly, at least at school, in the hope I would fit in.
Okay, rather, that I wouldn't stand out. Fitting in was way too much to ask for.
As I lifted one of my brown leather riding boots in one hand, it slipped, landing with a thud inside the drawer of the open dresser. The bottom rang hollow, the corner lifting, tilting, revealing a false bottom. Fascinated, I crouched and lifted the panel away, peeking inside.
A collection of photos lay scattered, pictures of a blonde boy, growing over time to a really handsome young man, maybe my age. He stood with a tall, attractive man in some, and a pretty woman in others. But those family pictures ended as he grew older, only a small number of school pictures showing after about age ten.
A cigar box full of clippings about baseball and wrestling, yellowed around the edges, revealed he was an athlete, but the writing was so faded I couldn't read anything. Finally, tucked in one corner, I found a small pink box, tied with a bow. Feeling a little guilty about opening it despite the fact someone had clearly left it behind when the family moved, I pulled the ribbon and let the sparkly strip fall into my lap. My fingers shook a bit as I popped the lid and looked inside.
A lovely charm bracelet winked back at me. A few stars, some blue stones, one amber and, to my delight, a pentagram, hung from the silver chain. Mom gave me a pentagram necklace ages ago, but it contained a bit of family magic—her power—and made me feel uncomfortable when I wore it.
This one was empty of magic. And adorable. I felt instantly drawn to it and slid it on my wrist to see how it looked.
The moment I did, I heard someone sigh behind me. I freaked out, falling on my butt, gasping for breath as I looked around. But I saw no one, nothing, just felt the pounding of my heart and the piles of stuff around me.
Shaking my head, giggling a little at my own nervous reaction, I stood, fingering the bracelet. Made a mental note to ask Mom if she knew who the former family was and where they had moved.
Hoped she didn't know, but promised myself I'd find a way to get these personal items to the young man if I could find him.
Guilt over wearing the bracelet appeased, I went back to work.


You can find Chapter 2 here

***
Get the first book in the Hayle Coven Series, Family Magic, on sale now for just 99cents on Amazon!

About Patti Larsen

Sign up at http://bit.ly/pattilarsenemail to be the first to know when a new book comes out! No spam, just new releases :)
My official bio reads like this: Patti Larsen is an award-winning middle grade and young adult author with a passion for the paranormal. But that sounds so freaking formal, doesn't it? I'm a storyteller who hears teenager's voices so loud I have to write them down. I love sports even though they don't love me. I've dabbled in everything from improv theater to film making and writing TV shows, singing in an all girl band to running my own hair salon.
But always, always, writing books calls me home.
I've had my sights set on world literary domination for a while now. Which means getting my books out there, to you, my darling readers. It's the coolest thing ever, this job of mine, being able to tell stories I love, only to see them all shiny and happy in your hands... thank you for reading.
As for the rest of it, I'm short (permanent), slightly round (changeable) and blonde (for ever and ever). I love to talk one on one about the deepest topics and can't seem to stop seeing the big picture. I happily live on Prince Edward Island, Canada, home to Anne of Green Gables and the most beautiful red beaches in the world, with my very patient husband and four massive cats.
Connect with Patti:
Facebook, Twitter, Website, Newsletter
Follow the tour and get a chapter a day!

Hayle Coven Novella Blog Tour List
Dreams and Echoes by Patti Larsen

June 10: Chapter 1- Kimberly Kinrade, Author
June 11: Chapter 2-Reviews by Crystal
June 12: Chapter 3-Le' Book Squirrel
June 13: Chapter 4-Author Ellie Potts
June 14: Chapter 5-Herding Cats & Burning Soup
June 17: Chapter 6-Room With Books
June 18: Chapter 7-My Life With Books and Boys
June 19: Chapter 8-Mama's Reading Break
June 20: Chapter 9-Paws and Print
June 21: Chapter 10-Patti Larsen, Author

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Killer in Crinolines ~ A Consignment Shop Mystery ~ Duffy Brown

Killer in Crinolines by Duffy Brown had me laughing and kept me intrigued from the beginning of the book all the way to the end. There were so many possible suspects, Simon Ambrose had ticked off so many people a lot were happy to see him dead. I'm not going to give away the ending but oh my goodness I never guessed who actually did kill him. 

Duffy Brown has created a cast of characters that are interesting, humorous, quirky, and just plain a whole lot of fun to read about.

Reagan Summerside kept finding herself in some of the worst situations but oh my, reading about how she got out of those situations was so much fun! I really liked Reagan and I loved Aunt Kiki! Aunt Kiki can get herself into trouble without trying, and Reagan does her best to keep Kiki safe. I loved the relationship between these two. They really are a mischievous dynamic duo.

If you enjoy a fun mystery, you should really check out Duffy Brown's Consignment Shop Mystery series. This is the second book in the series and I can not wait to see what Ms. Brown comes up with next. I know I'll anxiously be awaiting her next release. 

A Rogue in Sheep's Clothing ~The Albright Sisters: Book 1~ Elf Ahearn

A Rogue in Sheep's Clothing by Elf Ahearn is book one in the Albright Sister series. Ellie is the first sister to have her story told. I have to say I adored Ellie, she funny, independent, spunky, smart, charismatic, and has no problem going against the rules of high society to do what makes her happy and helps her family. She loves horses and is very good with them. I too love horses so I enjoyed reading about their training and racing. I admired this girl for the lengths she would go through to help her family. She does a lot of things in order to protect her family and their home. Ellie is quite the brave young lady.

Ellie's relationship with Hugh Davenport is complicated to say the least. I had such fun reading the scenes between these two, they have a chemistry that is all their own.  

Hugh Davenport has issues from his past that complicate his relationship with Ellie. These two have a few obstacles to over come in order to find their way together. There is a lot of drama and mystery that unfolds during Huge & Ellie's story.  It kept me turning pages to see what was going to happen next.

I'm anxious to read the other Albright sisters' stories,  I will be looking forward to see what Elf Ahearn has in store for Ellie's sisters.  If you enjoy a historical romance with some mystery and drama thrown in the mix, I think you will like this one. 

The Sweet Spot by Laura Drake ~ Review

The Sweet Spot grabbed my attention from the beginning and held on to it all the way through to the end. Laura Drake has written a book with characters that are so compelling and charismatic that I could not stop turning pages. This is such a wonderful story full of strong emotion that deals with the pain of loss, the joy of finding a second chance at love, family, and friends. This story really tugged at my heart. With the loss of their son, the loss of their marriage, her father's illness & and finding their way back to each, there is a lot of drama and excitement that kept my interest. 

Charla Rae Denny's life completely fell apart and she just didn't know how to go on with life after the death of her son. Life continued but not in any way she was use to. She found herself in charge of everything from her Dad's health problems to the animals on the ranch. I don't want to give out to much of the story but one of my very favorite scenes is when Charla has to help one of the cows give birth to her calf. I admired her for the courage it took to stick it out and get that calf born alive. Charla has a lot more strength than even she knew she had. To me I think this was the turning point for Charla. Having helped with the birth process of a calf myself I know what she was going through. I think I also bonded a little more with Charla at this point.

JB Denny tried to reach out to his wife, Charla after they loss their son, it just didn't work. What I loved about JB is after he found his heart still belonged to Charla he didn't give up. He looked for ways back into her heart. JB may have done some things he's not proud of but he knows he has to earn the trust of his wife back in order to make it work. I just love a cowboy that goes after the girl he loves!

Another aspect that I really liked about this book is that both Charla and JB found friends that were able to support them and guide them along the way. I got a kick out of Charla's friend Bella. Bella is a city girl that has moved to the county, and this city girl adds some really humorous moments to the story.

If you enjoy a good second chance at love story I think you will enjoy this book, however you very well may want to grab that box of Kleenex. I really enjoyed Laura Drake's writing style and I look forward to reading more of her work. I can't wait to see what story she has in store next. 

I received an advanced reading copy of this book to read in order to share my opinion with you. It has been my pleasure to share my thoughts with you on this touching story. 

The Sweet Spot by Laura Drake ~ Interview ~ Excerpt~

Crystal: Today I am so happy to welcome Laura Drake to my blog. She has been kind enough to stop by and answer a few questions for me. I just had the pleasure of reading The Sweet Spot, her current release, and my review can be found on here of course. Thank you so much for stopping by today Laura, Would you share a little bit about yourself with us today?

Laura: I am a city girl, from Detroit, who never grew out of my tomboy ways, or a serious cowboy crush. In 1980, my sister and I packed our Pintos and moved to California, sight unseen. There I fell in love with the West, and my husband, a ‘bleed maroon’ Texas Aggie. I now aspire to be a Texan!

I began writing sixteen years ago. Three books and 413 rejections later, I sold! I retired the Corporate CFO gig last year to write, full time. I’m a wife, grandmother, and motorcycle chick in the remaining waking hours.

Crystal: Where did you come up with the idea for The Sweet Spot?

Laura: It evolved from my love of Pro Bull Riding. Charla is loosely patterned after my Mother-in-law, Edith. She’s an old-fashioned ranch wife, who majored in Home-Ec in college (yes, that was a major at one time!) She considered everything inside the house her job and outside, her husband’s. So I got to thinking, what if a woman like that suddenly had to run a ranch by herself? I love ‘fish out of water’ stories!

Crystal:  What are you currently working on?

Laura: I recently turned in the last book in my Sweet on a Cowboy series, and I’m writing a three book series; stories set in the same town as my ‘biker-chick’ novel, Her Road Home.

Crystal: Do you have anything else to be released soon? 

Laura: I have three books out this year! Next is Her Road Home, my ‘biker-chick’ novel. It will be released by Harlequin’s Superromance line in August. Then the second book in my Sweet on a Cowboy series, Nothing Sweeter, will be out in December.

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

Laura: I get up to write every day at 3 am. Weekends too. It started years ago, when I’d get up two hours early to write before work. Now that I’m retired, I’m stuck with it – I have an alarm-cat that doesn’t have a snooze button. 

If it’s a good writing day, I’m done by 11 am. If it’s a ‘chip from stone’ day, I may work until 3 pm . . .or later.  But I’m loving every bit of it! It took me 16 years to get here, and I’m not stopping! 


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

Laura: Oh wow, how much time do we have? You know writers are the biggest readers, right? 
Here’s just a few:
Barbara Samuel
Jody Piccoult
Jane Porter
Anne River Siddons
Sharla Lovelace
Pat Conroy
Herman Wouk
Stephen King
Ayn Rand
Jeffery Deaver
Tessa Dare
Yes, I can get a bit far afield…

Crystal: Did you do anything special to celebrate the release of The Sweet Spot?

Laura: I’ve felt like a Disney Princess, all week! I’ve had a newspaper and blog radio interview, a Twitter party with Tessa Dare, and Vicky Dreiling, who had releases the same day, Facebook postings from friends all over the country, posting photos of my book on the shelves….it’s been a ball!
But Cinderella is back to the cinders on Monday – I’ve got to turn off the internet, and write!

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

Laura: The Sweet Spot is an emotional, dramatic story. But there’s humor, too. This is a scene where the heroine, Charla, and her New Yorker friend brave the gossips at the Clip n Curl.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Excerpt:

Bella wore the black faux leather like chain mail. It hugged every curve, bend, and hollow. As Bella crossed the sidewalk to the car, Char let her eyes slide to the knee high, stiletto slouch boots with silver chains across the instep, jingling like a cowboy’s spurs with every step. 
She leaned across the seat and clicked open the passenger side door. “I didn’t think to tell you, but women hereabouts don’t generally dress up for a trip to the Clip ‘n Curl.” 
Bella slinked in and slammed the door, her sea of black curls taking up almost as much space as her body. Her earrings matched the silver chains on her boots, and one strand stretched to a diamond stud in her nostril. She noticed Char’s stare. “Don’t worry, it’s a magnet, not a piercing.” She reached for the seat belt. “I figure, I’ve got a closetful of New York, Badass black, and if there ever was a day for it, it’s today.” The buckle snapped with a decisive click. 
Char glanced down at her own outfit. An old lady seersucker blue and white striped blouse with embroidered daisies, pedal pushers, and slip-on tennis shoes. “How about I drop you off and I’ll go shopping? I owe you a manicure for working on the ranch, but I don’t need to go.”
Bella stared through the windshield, a muscle working in her jaw. “If you think I’m going into that wolf’s den alone, you’d better think again.”
Char chuckled and put the car in gear. “Don’t tell me a tough city girl like you is afraid of a bunch of good ‘ol country gals. I don’t believe it.” She wheeled out of the apartment complex into the traffic on North Washington. 
“You’re kidding, right? Those women would eat their own young, then gossip while they picked their teeth with the bones.” Bella fingered the rings on her necklace as if they were prayer beads.
Char wheeled into the parking lot and slid into one of the few remaining spots.
She turned off the car and grabbed her purse from the floorboard. 
“Have you ever thought of a weave?” 
Char met Bella’s measuring gaze with a shake of her head. 
“Nothing crazy. I’m talking about a lighter shade of blond on the top layer, and around your face.” She cocked her head. “It would brighten your skin and set off those cornflower blue eyes.”
Char looked in the rearview mirror at herself. Same blonde, shoulder length hair she’d had since high school, caught up in the usual ponytail. But the light through the sunroof shone off the silver. When had that happened? Char ducked her head. Yeah, and then comes a touch-up every six weeks at forty bucks a pop. “Nah, maybe just a cut.” Char pulled herself out of the car. Bella unfurled from it like a starlet on the red carpet. She looked from herself to Bella. “We look like a joke about the grandma and the dominatrix.” 
Bella let out a startled bark of laughter. Then her face sobered as she looked toward the Clip ‘n Curl. “I’m regretting the decision to leave my leather whip home.”
As they approached the salon, Bella’s steps shortened, and her chin got higher.
She balked at the door, a little girl’s uncertainty on her face. Char leaned over, pulled the door open, and held it for her friend. “Come on, Sista. I’ll show you ‘round the ‘hood.” 
They walked in laughing. 

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Website: www.LauraDrakeBooks.com
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Book Launch ~ Deathtrap ~ Dana Marton~

DEATHTRAP, Dana Marton's new full-length romantic thriller, is available starting today, June 3rd. It's priced at $0.99 for the first week of release, so bargain hunters, read now, don't wait!           

         

       Buy from AMAZON   Buy from B&N 

                                          

The special $0.99 price is for a limited time, so grab this deal while you can!

She'd been "the sick girl" for most of her life.  She refused to go straight to "the weird girl".  Heart-transplant recipient Sophie Curtis has been in her own antiseptic bubble for so long, she just might not be able to venture out into the real world again.  Her spooky body memories are scary enough, but then she finds herself in the cross hairs of a killer.

"Love was blind, people said.  But lust was blind, deaf and reckless."  Ethan Bing hadn't been a great romantic before he became a cop.  Whatever shred of optimism he had left after becoming Broslin Chief of Police had been seared out of him by the unsolved murder of his wife two years before.  A new case brings the killer within reach just as Sophie pops into his life.  She gets through his defenses like no other before, but soon it becomes clear that she's been selected as the killer's next victim. 

   

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And while you’re having fun with spine-tingling suspense and breathtaking romance, don’t miss Dana Marton’s DEATHSCAPE, a #1 Amazon romantic suspense bestseller!                                               

                                                                                      AMAZON

                                                                             
National bestselling author Dana Marton has penned over thirty novels that are published in a dozen languages around the world. She is the recipient of the Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence, and a Rita Award finalist.
       

Shatter ~The Seaside #3~ by Rachel Van Dyken ~ Review

Shatter is the third book in The Seaside series by Rachel Van Dyken and I have had the great pleasure of reading all three of them. To say I enjoyed this book is putting it very mildly, I LOVED this book. Shatter is full of drama that kept me on the edge of my seat, turning pages, and wondering what in the world could possibly happen next! There is one major drama or surprise after another. I could not put this book down, I kept trying to do other things that needed to be done but I kept quickly returning to reading.

I have to say Rachel Van Dyken is a very talented author that has created characters that are not only very dynamic and thrilling, but humorous and emotional as well. I love Rachel's style of writing, she has a way of writing a story that pulls me in from the beginning and hangs on all the way until the end, then leaves me anxious for the next book.

Alec finds himself in some very hot water that he is unsure how to get out of. There are so many things going on that I wanted to scream at Alec to just tell the truth and let his girl and his family help him get through the mess. I don't want to give too much away so I'll let you read it for yourself and find out what all the drama is about. If you have read Tear and Pull then you will definitely want to read Shatter, there are some major surprises that are revealed.

I was very excited to see a preview to another Seaside Series book at the end of Shatter. I can not wait to read it! I am sure Ms. Van Dyken has created yet another great story that will keep me entertained. I know I have a few more of her books in my to be read pile and I can not wait to get to them! 

If you are hesitant to try a book in the New Adult genre, try it, I think you will enjoy it. I know I sure did. 

I was very luck to receive a copy of this book to read in exchange for sharing my thoughts with you. I also received Shatter as a gift. If you are looking for a good book to give as a gift may I suggest this one?

Legal Ease: Sutton Capital Series, Book One by Lori Ryan - Excerpt - Giveaway

Legal Ease: Sutton Capital Series, Book One

by Lori Ryan

Lori will be awarding a $25 Amazon Gift Card to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. So make sure to leave a comment and your email address so we can contact you if you win.  Be sure to check out the other stops on the tour and comment to increase your chance of winning. You can find the tour stops here...http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/04/virtual-super-book-blast-legal-ease.html

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BLURB:

Jack Sutton needs a wife and he needs one now. Jack loved his mother, but she really screwed him over when she set up her will. If Jack doesn’t have a wife by the end of the week, he’ll lose control of the largest chunk of voting stock in his company and will most likely lose his position as CEO as a result. 

And Jack’s Aunt Mabry is waiting in the wings to make sure that the terms of the will are enforced. If he doesn’t find a wife, she’ll seize control of the stock so she can install her own son at the helm and she couldn’t care less that her son doesn’t want the job or that he probably won’t be any good at it. 

Enter Kelly Bradley, a twenty eight year old college graduate with a spot at Yale Law School but no way to pay for it. Kelly and Jack’s eavesdropping secretary have discovered Jack’s secret need for a wife and Kelly comes up with a plan to fix both of their problems. 

Just when Jack needs her, Kelly breezes into his office, introduces herself to his Aunt and cousin, and hands Jack an offer. She will marry him for a year so that he can retain the stock that will keep him in control of Sutton Development if he’ll pay for her to go to law school. Jack has no idea where his beautiful savior came from or who she is but he’s willing to take a chance to save it all. 

The deal may have kept Jack in control at Sutton Development but his private life quickly spirals out of control. Just when Jack realizes that he wants more than a year with Kelly, his wealth puts her in great danger and he is left scrambling to save her life and their future together.

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EXCERPT:



Kelly whipped through the house and up the stairs, calling out for Mrs. Poole as she ran. “Mrs. Poole, come quickly! We have to move. We have to move.” Kelly continued yelling as she ran into her room and grabbed drawers full of clothes and piled hangers with slacks and dresses on them.

Mrs. Poole came up the stairs with a puzzled look on her face. “What on earth are you hollering about, Kelly?” she said as she tried to enter the room. She had to jump out of the way as Kelly made a mad dash to Jack’s room.

“We have to move all of my stuff into Jack’s room,” Kelly said, out of breath from her packing and running. “Jack’s Aunt Mabry is on her way here and she’s staying with us for a couple of weeks,” Kelly blurted out as she ran back down the hall to gather more of her belongings.

“Oh Lord,” Mrs. Poole rolled her eyes and followed after Kelly. She quickly grabbed clothes and toiletries and rushed down the hall to Jack’s room. She and Kelly repeated the trip half a dozen more times as they transferred everything and set it into place. Mrs. Poole cleared out half of Jack’s dresser and closet and made room for Kelly’s things while Kelly folded and put her clothing away to make it appear as though the two had been living in holy matrimony since day one.

Kelly put away the last of her things and took a deep breath. She turned to survey the masculine-looking room. There was a dark mahogany dresser and matching armoire against the deep green walls. Large windows looked out on the same beautiful waterfront view that her guest room windows had shared. She stopped suddenly and held her breath when her eyes landed on the king-sized bed in the center. Until that moment, it hadn’t occurred to her that she and Jack would now have to share a bed. Kelly’s smile fell away as she realized that keeping her attraction hidden from Jack just became a lot more difficult.


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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Lori has had a number of careers before embarking on her newest adventure of writing novels. After graduating from the University of Connecticut School of Law, she practiced law for three years, working primarily in the areas of utilities law and intellectual property litigation.

More recently, Lori owned and operated a dog training business in Austin, Texas, where she specialized in aggression and became an expert in the field of dog bite analysis. Lori sold her dog training business in 2013 and is now a full time writer and mother of two. 

Lori still lives in Austin with her husband -- who is endlessly supportive of her changing career paths -- and her two children, one cat, and three dogs. 

How can your readers follow you?

To follow me on Facebook, visit: http://www.facebook.com/loriryanromance

To visit my website, visit: http://www.loriryanromance.com/

Want to be a part of my online street team? Email me at Loriryanauthor@gmail.com and put the words ‘street team’ in the subject line. I’ll email you back with directions for joining my team. 

To join my email list to receive updates and news, including sneak peeks and free giveaways or contest news, visit http://www.loriryanromance.com/#!join-my-mailing-list/cdpp.