LAST CHANCE KNIT & STITCH by Hope Ramsay ~ Release Blitz ~ Excerpt

LAST CHANCE KNIT & STITCH 

by Hope Ramsay 

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Blurb: 

Molly Canaday wishes she could repair her life as easily as she fixes cars. She was all set to open her own body shop in Last Chance when her mother ran off and left her to manage the family yarn shop instead. Now guided by the unsolicited-though well-intended-advice of the weekly knitting club, Molly works to untangle this mess. But her plan unravels when the new landlord turns out to be difficult-as well as tall, dark, and handsome.

Simon Wolfe returns to quickly settle his father's estate and then leave Last Chance for good. Still wounded by a broken heart, Simon is surprised when the town's charming streets and gentle spirit bring back good memories. Soon the beautiful, strong-willed Molly sparks a powerful attraction that tempts him to break his iron-clad no-commitment rule. Can Simon and Molly find a way to share work space-and build a future together in Last Chance?

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Excerpt: 

She peeked at his sketch. “Oh, my God. Please tell me my butt is not that big.”
It amused him to think that Molly, who seemed not to care at all about how she dressed, was still woman enough to worry about the size of her butt. “It’s not big. It’s perfect.” His heart stalled the moment the words left his mouth.
“Perfect? Get real. I swear, Simon, if you paint a picture of me from the rear I will never forgive you.”
“I’m sure it’s just your baggy pants,” he muttered, putting his pencils away.
“You think my pants are baggy?”
He ground his teeth together, his mood suddenly sinking. There was no way to make her happy. He’d watched his father have the same ridiculous conversations with Mother. And over the years, he’d had his own impossible conversations with the women in his life. They never liked the way he told the truth.
He turned the conversation. “I’m getting hungry. You said something about the Pig Place and a beer?” He had become a master at the pivot.
“You’re changing the subject, aren’t you?”
“Yup,” he said, as he started putting his sketchbook and pencils into his fi eld backpack.
“Okay, you’re right. My pants are kind of baggy,” she said in a little voice. “But that makes them really comfortable.”
“It’s okay, Molly. I didn’t mean to—”
“But in any case, I don’t want anyone recording me or my butt for posterity, or posterior as the case might be. It kind of creeps me out.”
Her shoulders slumped, and she gave him a woeful look that he might have mistaken for a female pout. But on Molly, that sad- adorable look touched something deep inside him. “Why does it creep you out?”
“Because I’m not pretty. I don’t have a great body. And I’m not particularly photogenic. Or in this case, sketch-o-genic. The idea of people looking at some image of me and making fun is just creepy.”
This admission stunned him. “But you’re beautiful. One day I’d love to paint you without—” He stopped speaking. This was the kind of talk Coach would frown upon. He’d been thinking with his heart again.
She gave him her squinty- eyed look. “You’d like to paint me without . . . what?” She stared at him for a long moment as the truth settled in. “Without my clothes? Oh, my God. You want to paint me naked?” She got up and stalked away toward her fishing gear. She was visibly upset.
And he wasn’t exactly sure what to do about it. If he told her he was only joking, it would underscore her own self- doubts. If he told her the truth, he’d be breaking his word to Coach. But someone needed to tell Molly that she was stunning.
So he prayed that Coach would forgive him for telling Molly the God’s honest truth. “You’d be lovely. Backside and all,” he said.
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Bio:

Hope Ramsay grew up on the North Shore of Long Island, but every summer Momma would pack her off under the care of Aunt Annie to go visiting with relatives in the midlands of South Carolina. Her extended family includes its share of colorful aunts and uncles, as well as cousins by the dozens, who provide the fodder for the characters you'll find in Last Chance, South Carolina. She's a two-time finalist in the Golden Heart and is married to a good ol' Georgia boy who resembles every single one of her heroes. She lives in Fairfax, Virginia, where you can often find her on the back deck, picking on her thirty-five-year-old Martin guitar.




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Buy Links:

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Social Media:

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

ALONG CAME TROUBLE by Erin Kern ~ Release Blitz ~ Giveaway

ALONG CAME TROUBLE 

by Erin Kern 

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BLURB: 

Elisa Cardoso longs for passion in her life. Though she'd much rather spend her days photographing the stunning Wyoming landscape, food photography is a lucrative, if uninspiring, way to pay her bills. But when her next assignment brings her face to face with sexy restaurant owner Brody McDermott, Elisa can't deny the delicious effect he has on her.

From the minute Brody sees Elisa, he's dying to unleash her inner bad girl. He knows there's more to the sophisticated photographer than meets the eye. Now getting the sexy shutterbug into his bed is on his menu, but when she starts making her way into his heart-big problem. Love has been tricky for Brody, and he's not too eager to try his luck again. But when a golden opportunity means Elisa may be leaving Trouble for good, can Brody find the courage to grab on to love . . . before it slips away?

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EXCERPT: 

“Why do I always get the feeling you’re holding back around me?”
Her luscious lips parted and her brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”
“I can’t explain it.” His finger trailed along the edge of her jaw. “It’s like a part of you is afraid of me.”
She sucked in a deep breath through her parted lips. “Not afraid, just cautious.”
“Why do you feel the need to be cautious?”
She waited a moment, like she wanted to formulate a logical answer. “You make me feel things I’m not used to. I’m just not sure how to handle them.”
He stepped even closer to her, so that her sweet body heat fl owed around him like a blanket of sexuality. “Like what kind of things?”
The pulse beating beneath her neck sped up when his finger trailed down the column of her throat. “I don’t know. But my mind doesn’t know how to make sense of them.”
His mouth quirked in a small smile. “There’s your problem. You should stop thinking so much and allow yourself to feel.”
Oh, this woman would be wanton in bed. His finger alone elicited all kinds of reactions from her that had his body coming to life. Her pink tongue kept darting out and swiping across her lower lip, leaving it deliciously wet. After waiting for what felt like a lifetime, he gave in to his craving and leaned down. His mouth lowered to hers with a gentleness that contradicted the raging desire he felt for her. Her lips were soft, full and moist, and even more heavenly than he thought they would be.
She didn’t push him away, as he expected her to. Instead, her hand came up to grip his shoulder and her fingers dug into his muscles. The lady wanted him. She clutched at him with a desperation that had to be genuine. The knowledge had him pulling her even closer and slanting his mouth over hers even harder. His tongue probed the entrance of her hot mouth and she eagerly allowed him to enter.
Holy sweet mother. 
She would not ruin this beautiful day by crying. She’d cried over the loss of her brother for years and had since told herself she’d become a stronger person than the lonely college kid she used to be.
“Even though we’re eight years apart, Marcello and I were closer than your average brother and sister. When he left it was like losing my best friend.” She’d never forget the feel of his arms wrapped so tightly around her neck, just minutes before he boarded the plane to South America. Then afterward, the emptiness in her heart as she walked out of the airport alone.
“Sounds to me like you made the right choice, though. How could you have taken care of him at that age?”
Elisa tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I know I did. My grandparents are very successful people. They’ve been able to provide him with a life that even my parents couldn’t. He lives in a huge house overlooking the city; he went to the best schools. He’s studying to be a doctor, for crying out loud. He hasn’t wanted for anything down there.”
Brody tilted her chin up with his index fi nger. “Except for you. You can’t keep carrying the guilt around. It’s eating you up.”
His bottomless eyes were so easy to fall into. More than once she’d found herself becoming hypnotized by them, and now was no different.
“How is it you always know the right thing to say?” she asked in a husky voice.
His thumb traced her lower lip. “Because I might have an idea of what you’re feeling.”
She sucked in a breath, and held it for a second. “Because of your divorce?” She would get this man to open up to her if it killed her. Had the dissolution of his marriage been so traumatic that he couldn’t even talk about it?
His gray eyes darkened for a moment, like a cloud of grief. “It’s not one of my prouder moments, no.”
She tilted her head and studied him. Did he blame himself? “What would you have to be ashamed
about? Sometimes things like that are unavoidable.”
He stepped even closer to her, so that his body heat wrapped her in a mind- tingling cocoon of sexuality. Day by day, Elisa’s willpower grew weaker and weaker. How much longer could she resist him? If he kept touching her, like he was now, she’d be too far gone.
“I can’t think clearly when I’m around you,” he murmured in a sexy, husky voice.
He couldn’t think? Her brain was mush. 
His mouth hovered just a whisper away from hers, not touching but close enough to drive her out of her mind.
“Maybe I should just kiss you and put both of us out of our misery.”

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Bio: 

Erin was born in Houston, TX. but spent the majority of her life in the Bay Area. She married her high school sweetheart and began her writing career while being a stay-at-home mom to her daughter. Her first book, Looking for Trouble, was on the Amazon top 100 for four months, and on the indiereads.com top ten for four weeks. The second book in the Trouble series, Here Comes Trouble, was also a top seller on Amazon. Erin currently lives in North Texas with her husband and two children.



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Buy Links:

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Social Media:

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Mr. Buff By April Angel ~Smexy Fab Four blog tour

Mr. Buff

By April Angel 

Rafflecopter Giveaway (Don't forget to enter)
http://bit.ly/10m9Ri0

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Blurb:

Every morning, Alexandra drinks in the sexy vision of Mr. Buff through his office window across the street. He takes his workouts seriously, and Alexandra never misses the opportunity to see him return, sweaty and pumped, to his office suite to shower. Turns out Andrew enjoys the view just as much as she does and can’t take his eyes off the woman who makes his blood roar.

But when Alexandra bumps into Mr. Buff at a club, things go from visual to physical. And much to her delight, she learns that Mr. Buff is really Mr. Dominant. She loves spending time with him and getting to know him the way nature intended, but she’s looking for more than a fling. How’s she supposed to make Mr. Buff realize he’s Mr. Right?


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Excerpt:

“So? What’s he doing? Come on, come on. Stop holding out already.” The soft, feminine voice on the other end of the line whined like a child.

Alexandra rolled her eyes and tried not to smile. Why in the world had she decided to tell Nina about Mr. Buff? Every morning, like clockwork, she’d get a call from her best friend and cousin requesting updates. Wound up and ready to pant, she looked into the office right across the street.

The large, sparkling glass windows on both buildings allowed her to view the man walking around. She drank in the sight of the large, buff body, hence the name Mr. Buff. The man definitely took his workouts to heart.

“Alex! What’s Mr. Buff doing now, chica? Tell me please, please, pretty pleeease?” Her fiery cousin, Nina, was a pain in the neck when she thought she was missing out on something good—especially information about one sexy, half-naked man, a man currently running long fingers through his impeccably cut hair.

Alex watched a few locks fall across his forehead. “Not much. He’s about to put his shirt on.”

“Crap. Listen, I have to go, but you have to record this stuff on your phone and e-mail it to me. Stop being so selfish and share. You know I don’t have a man right now. I can use all the visual stimulation I can get.”

She hung up on her cousin’s laughter and continued watching the top contestant to fulfill all her fantasies dress. Under an idyllic trance, she visualized the rest of him when he was in the shower. Excitement hurled through her at the thought of getting a peek at Mr. Buff in the wet room. A streak of unbidden desire whisked through her veins and raced down to her cunt.

Her brain, better than any digital calendar, had recorded his schedule down to the minute. Each morning, he walked into his office wearing his workout gear. In running shorts and tank top, his body glistened with perspiration. Every time she got a glimpse of all that sweat-covered brawn, her nipples pebbled.

In wide-eyed enthrallment, she watched him head into the bathroom attached to his office to shower. Every single day it was the same. He walked out in his suit pants but never the shirt. She wondered if he had some kind of conspiracy against her hormones. The display of contracting muscle made her breath hitch.

His powerful back and amazing, tight ass were sending out Morse code signals, beguiling and inciting her interest.

His white, tailored dress shirt cut the visual feast short. She had to bite back the urge to scream. Not that he would hear her, but her coworkers sure would.

Why not just go over there and ask the man out? Typically, she would have done that already. Found out his name, instead of just calling the poor, sexy, strapping creature Mr. Buff, at the very least. “Go after what you want” was her motto in every aspect of her life; she was a self-assured woman. Until recently, she didn’t lack self-confidence. Thanks to her ex, her confidence had taken a whipping some months back.

Jerk-off Jack had been cheating, and the confrontation that followed was not pretty. Questions that had never existed before rose with his words: “You’re a control freak, Alexandra. No man wants a woman telling him what to do in the sack. Sometimes I want to be the one leading. You’re too aggressive. You’re a good fuck, but not someone I could ever be with long term. I even wonder if you’re faking it at times.” Oh yeah, Jerk-off Jack had definitely let loose.

Would she be able to find a man who would want her, deal with her for who she was and not try to change her? At thirty-three she was tired of the dating scene. Was it so wrong that she wanted to meet someone and maybe settle down?

Alexandria refocused her mind, her vision still glued to Mr. Buff. Oh shit. He was watching her. Heat crawled across her skin and settled over her cheeks. Embarrassed, she gave him the usual small smile and microsecond wave.

His wicked grin turned the man from handsome to outright gorgeous when he waved back. Balling and holding papers in a death grip, she dropped her gaze. All she needed was for the man to think she had some kind of sick fetish for watching him.

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Buy links:

Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009LR0P8A/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=B009LR0P8A&link_code=as3&tag=revibycrys-20

Are
https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-mrbuff-968811-147.html

B&N
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mr-buff-april-angel/1113136434?ean=2940015553734

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Author Bio:

Hi! I'm Milly (AKA April Angel) I love to write sexy stories. They're usually either paranormal or contemporary with a large dose of heat. My paranormal stories can be anything from wolf-shifters (my favorites) to witches, demons and anything in between. My contemporaries are usually anything from soldiers to corporate romances.
I was born the prettiest part of the Caribbean known as the Dominican Republic. Currently, I live in New York City with my hubby, the bossy kiddo and our little dog "Needy Speedy". Don't ask.
When I'm not working some really long hours at the day job, or hanging out in the awful life-sucking invention known as Facebook, messaging my bestie in the UK or shopping with my sis Julie, then I can be found watching scary movies. Buuut when I'm not doing that, I'm usually writing because the voices won't shut up.
I am addicted to shoe shopping, chocolate (but who isn't, right?) and Dunkin' Donuts coffee.
Come on over and visit me! I love to meet new readers!
Like my books? Want to stay on top of all things Milly? Sign up for my newsletter http://mad.ly/signups/87477/join
There’s a monthly $50 GC Giveaway to all the emails signed up to get the latest news on my releases.

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Find out more about Milly Taiden here:

Email: millytaidenauthor@gmail.com
Website:  http://www.millytaiden.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/millytaidenpage
Facebook Friend Page: http://www.facebook.com/milly.taiden
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/millytaiden


~ Look for these titles from Milly Taiden ~

Now Available
Scent of a Mate Sassy Mates Book One
Wolf Fever Alpha Project Book One
Wolf Protector Federal Paranormal Unit Book One
Sharp Change Black Meadows Pack Book One
Caged Heat Black Meadows Pack Book Two
 “Mate Event” Halloween Heat III
Fate’s Wish
Wynter’s Captive

Coming Soon
A Mate’s Bite Sassy Mates Book Two
Dangerous Protector Federal Paranormal Unit Book Two
Caught by the Alpha


As April Angel

Now Available

A Hero Scarred Wounded Soldiers Book Two
A Hero’s Pride Wounded Soldiers Book One
Stranded Temptation
Party Crasher
The Sizzling Encounters Series
Mr. Buff
Wicked Valentine
Lucky Break Sizzling Encounters Book Three

Coming Soon

A Hero’s Temptation
A Hero’s Surrender
An Unexpected Chance

The Gospel According to Prissy by Barbara Casey~ Goddess Fish Super Book Blast ~ Giveaway ~ Excerpt ~

The Gospel According to Prissy

by Barbara Casey

Barbara will be awarding a $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. So please be sure to leave a comment below along with your email address. To increase your chances of winning please visit the other tour stops. You may find those locations here...  http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/10/virtual-super-book-blast-tour-gospel.html

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BLURB:





Three Army veteran misfits, a college dropout, an unmotivated high school graduate accused of murder, a controversial warden of a women's prison, and a little girl with the gift of prophesy – these are the people 31-year-old Lara Kruger invites into her life after suffering a miscarriage, a divorce from an abusive husband, and unemployment.





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EXCERPT:

Laramie Larkins Kruger drove up to the hospital emergency door.  It was the second time in twice as many weeks.  The hand that had been holding a bloody towel against the left side of her face somehow managed to push the car door open.  Her other hand rested in her lap, limp and useless.  A hospital orderly standing outside by the front entrance saw her.  He crushed his half-smoked cigarette into the concrete container of sand provided and quickly located a wheelchair for her.

“Jesus, Ms. Kruger, what have you gone done to yourself now?  You been working on that old house again, haven’t ya?”

Lara closed her eyes and let the strong hands of the orderly gently position her into the wheelchair.  “Thanks, Ben.”

“I told you to call me next time you needed something done and Mr. Kruger wasn’t around to take care of it.  Didn’t I?  Didn’t I say that?”  He pushed her through the emergency entrance and over to the sign-in window where an elderly woman smiled and handed her a form.

“Back so soon, Mrs. Kruger?”

Lara stared at the piece of paper that had been secured to a clipboard, but her eyes wouldn’t read the print.  She couldn’t pick up the pen anyway.  Ben took the clipboard from her and began filling in the information next to her name:  Age, 31; Time, 1:15 p.m.; Insurance, on file; Nature of Visit, cuts and bruises caused by accident.  It was always the same.

Lara and Jake had been remodeling the old Victorian home they bought when they moved to Rocky Mount six months earlier.  Everyone knew they were doing it.  In a town the size of Rocky Mount, nothing went by unnoticed.  Since they were doing a lot of the work themselves, it was easy just to say she slipped off a ladder, a rotten floorboard gave way, something had fallen on her – whatever.  No one questioned her answers.

“My, my.  Looks like you got scraped up pretty good, Mrs. Kruger.”  The elderly volunteer worker smiled sympathetically and took the form Ben had just filled out.  “What happened this time?”

Lara tried not to grimace from the pain.  It felt like one of her ribs was broken.  “I yanked too hard on the door of that old shed in back we’re trying to convert into a garage and it gave way.”  The lie came easily.


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AUTHOR Bio and Links:



Barbara Casey is president of the Barbara Casey Agency, representing adult fiction and nonfiction for authors throughout the United States, Great Britain, and Japan.  She is also the author of numerous articles, poems, and short stories.  Her award-winning novels have received national recognition, including the Independent Publishers Book Award, the Dana Award for Best Novel, and the Publisher’s Best Seller Award.  Her novel, The House of Kane, released in 2008, was considered for a Pulitzer nomination, and her novel Just Like Family received special recognition by the 7-Eleven Corporation.  Two other novels, The Gospel According to Prissy (released in the spring of 2013) and Shyla’s Initiative, both received an IPPY Award for Best Book in Regional Fiction. Her most recent young/new adult book, The Cadence of Gypsies, has been selected as an Amazon Best Read and received the 2013 IPPY Living Now Award.

In addition to being a frequent guest lecturer at universities and writers’ conferences, Ms. Casey served as judge for the Pathfinder Literary Awards in Palm Beach and Martin Counties, Florida, and was the Florida Regional Advisor for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators from 1991 through 2003. 

www.barbaracaseyagency.com

www.amazon.com 

www.barnesandnoble.com 

www.goodreads.com 

www.authorsden.com

www.linkedin.com  

ASCENSION By Stacey Rourke ~ Blog Tour ~ GLITERARY GIRL MEDIA

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Interview:

Crystal: Today as part of the GLITERARY GIRL MEDIA Ascension Blog Tour, I have the opportunity to interview Stacey Rourke. Would you share a little bit about yourself with us today?

Stacey: I’m an author, mother and wife with an irrational fear of garden gnomes and a shoe obsession that borders on unhealthy. That pretty much sums me up!

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

Stacey: There is a scene at the end of Ascension, I don’t want to give anything about it away, but that final battle scene is a huge favorite of mine. It gave me chills and I hope it does the same for readers.

Crystal: Where did you come up with the idea for your newest release?

Stacey: The series needed a turning point, a game changer if you will. This book is just that. The past and the present come together and everything changes. This book leaves the future of all the characters very up in the air, anything could happen from here and I love all the possibilities that opens up for me!

Crystal: What are you currently working on?

Stacey: An entirely new series that is uber top secret! I am so excited about it and am having a great time with it! I’d tell you more but I’d have to use one of those MIB mind eraser gadgets and those are hard to come by.

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

Stacey: I usually write best in the evening; comfy chair, music playing, and my hands clicking over the keys.  

Crystal: Did you have to do a lot of research for this book or any other? If so do you have a fascinating fact that you have learned you would like to share with us?

Stacey: I do a great deal of research for each book and have found many story ideas that way. For example; in my series I refer to the Gryphon as the Protector of the Divine. This is an actual myth associated with the creature, that two of those bad boys guard the entrance to Heaven. Finding that rumor worked as wonderful story fodder.

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

Stacey: There are really too many to name! Most of them are under the Anchor Group Publishing label! Check them all out at anchorgrouppublishing.com

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

Stacey: I go more for storyline than genre. If there is a story there I will never let the genre hinder me! :)

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ABOUT STACEY:

There is nothing worse than being put on the spot and asked to talk about yourself. For me it brings back that inevitable moment in a new school when the teacher would ask me to stand up, introduce myself and tell the class something about myself. I was always worried I would blurt out something stupid that I would get teased for. Something like, “My name’s Stacey and I like pickles!” Then for the rest of the school year I’d be known as the Pickle Girl and let’s be honest, no one wants that. So to avoid such a faux pas I will simply say that I love to write. It allows me to get my crazy out just enough that I can function as a normal member of society.

Best selling award winning author of the Laugh-out Loud Gryphon Series and the nonfiction book I'm Not Crazy I'm on Lupron; a Journey Through Infertility. Learn more about Stacey's books at www.staceyrourke.com or diaryofasemi-crazyauthor.blogspot.com. If you are a blogger or reviewer interested in reviewing any of Mrs. Rourke's work please contact her publicist Sara O’Connor at info(AT) gliterarygirlmedia(DOT)com

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ABOUT ASCENSION:

From best selling and award winning author Stacey Rourke comes the heart-pounding continuation of the acclaimed Gryphon Series. 
The turning point of the Gryphon saga is at hand …
Battle looms. Three unstoppable forces prepare to clash in a colossal explosion that could wipe Gainesboro off the map. Fate and sacred calling have landed nineteen year old Celeste Garrett in the middle with nowhere to run. 
Her trust wavers as she uncovers dark secrets of the Council, powerful enough to test her loyalty and turn her against those she swore to protect. Playing to the longing of her heart, a malevolent enemy uses her weakness against her to form an alliance. 
With the trumpets of war about to sound, which side will the Conduit choose, and who will be left standing?  



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Excerpt: 

Blood pooling.

Seeping.

Merging.

Swirling together to form a detailed map of carnage.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk.” The Countess pursed her full lips in a mock pout. “And to think he was trying to save you. You must feel simply dreadful right now.”

Anger quickened my breath making each word come out a breathless gasp. “Shut … up.”

“Why’s that?” She rested her palms on her ample hips and let her head fall to the side in a flowing curtain of scarlet. “Don’t feel like talking about it? Can’t say that I blame you. Here he was marching over here so gallantly to protect you while you called him names and berated him. That’s evil even by mystandards and I make a viable vocation out of this.” 

One stride into a forward charge toward certain death, I froze. My shocked heart lurched into an awkward stutter beat. The cause of my surprise? Rowan, rolling to his side and yanking the dagger from his gut. The Countess’s painted lips pulled back in a sneer.

Heels clicked across the floor with sharp snaps as she strode straight for him. “I hate it when people don’t have the courtesy to die the first time you kill them.”

With the stiletto heel of her boot, she pinned Rowan’s wrist to the floor … then stomped. Rowan howled and writhed as blood spurted from his wound. His injured hand loosened around the hilt. Before the blade could clank to the ground, the vile enchantress scooped it up. Flipping it in her hand, she arched back for the death blow.  

“Nooooo!!”  I channeled everything inside me. Pulling every emotion that ravaged me throughout this god-awful day into my core, I raised both hands and hit her with the full force of my telepathic fury.

The dagger flew from her hand as she pin-wheeled into the darkness.

I rushed to Rowan’s side and eased him to a sitting position. “Row? Rowan?”

It took a minute for his sleepy gaze to find me. Even then his dilated pupils hinted consciousness would be fleeting. In the distance came a soft thud. The Countess must’ve found the other side of this massive hall. My little stunt bought us seconds only.

“Row?” My fingers dug into his shoulders as I attempted to shake him awake. “Can you teleport? I don’t know any other way out of here and we need to go now!”

In place of an answer, his eyes rolled back and his head lulled to the side.

Like rapid-fire gunshots, her heels clicked closer, building around us in an ominous echo.

I slapped Rowan softly once, then a second time with more vigor. “Rowan! Come on! One little poof then you can pass out! I promise! Just get us out of here!”

He woke with a jerk, a protective passion rising on his face. His tensed features sharpened. Turquoise eyes blazed as his injured hand weaved into my hair and pulled me to him. Blood dripped down the back of my neck and dampened my hair, yet pulling away never occurred to me. His lips brushed mine with a tentative question—a plea for acceptance. I hesitated for a fraction of a second before consenting with a resounding mutual urgency. Locked in each other’s embrace, we disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

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LINKS:

Website: http://Staceyrourke.com
Blog: www.diaryofasemi-crazyauthor.blogspot.com

Amazon

With the release of Ascension comes the newest edition of the entire series, complete with amazing illustrations of these dynamic characters. Here’s a sample:

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Illustrator Crystal Ord will be bringing some of your favorite Gryphon Series characters to life!  
Crystal Smalls Ord is a freelance illustrator and writer who resides in the rainy Pacific Northwest. Her art and stories have appeared in the macabre children's lit magazine, Underneath the Juniper Tree. Last year she illustrated her first children's book, Ethan's Story; My Life with Autism which can be found on Amazon.com. Her art has also appeared in hitRECord.com's musical short, Madamoiselle Noir.


In her free time Crystal plays with her kids, cleans house, teaches music in Sunday School, and lingers in the geekery corner of Pinterest.
Contact her at: 
Website: wix.com/fynn47/author-website
Facebook: facebook.com/smallsord




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The demonic and fantasy elements of the Conduit’s journey will jump off the page thanks to Robert Immings;

In 2000 Robert Immings graduated from the Art Institute of Atlanta with a BFA in graphic design. Since then he’s done work in package design, web development and designed training applications and software interfaces. These days he’s a mild-mannered operations technician with an electronic trading firm in Alpharetta Georgia. Earlier this.year he had a chance to enter Sony's "Treasures of Middle Earth" design contest which was a promotion for the hobbit movie. He came in as a runner-up. More recently he had the opportunity to do some sketches and collaborate on the cover for Emily Fogel's wonderful fantasy novel Dragon Wars and created the cover for her soon to be released book "Chasing Flames". Right now he’s excited to be working on a collection of illustrations for Stacey Rourke's Gryphon Series.
He’s always interested in illustration and graphic design projects and can be contacted at robertimmings@hotmail.com.

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SANTA TO THE RESCUE by Adele Downs ~ Guest Post ~ PERFECT PEAR MARGARITA ~ Review ~

FIREHOUSE SANTA 

SANTA TO THE RESCUE 

by Adele Downs

New Release!

--CONTEST ALERT! -- Leave a comment for author Adele Downs and be automatically entered to win a firefighter themed Christmas ornament for the holidays. USA and Canada mailing addresses please. Follow Adele’s blog tour for multiple chances to win. Weekly winners announced on Adele’s blog Saturdays through December. http://adeledowns.wordpress.com 

Pears are the perfect holiday fruit and a favorite of SANTA TO THE RESCUE hero Jamey Tucker and heroine Heather Longhurst. When friends stop by to visit, Heather serves Perfect Pear Margaritas. The adult beverage is something a little different from the standard holiday cheer. Jamey and Heather like this cocktail so much they decided to share it with you. Enjoy!

Here’s the recipe, courtesy of Sauza® Tequila. Posted with permission.

PERFECT PEAR MARGARITA
You'll Need:

Serves 9
1 can frozen limeade
8 parts Sauza Blue 100% Silver tequila
8 parts water
8 parts Pear Juice
Optional: Sugar for rimming glasses

To Make:
Combine all ingredients in a pitcher and serve over ice with or without a sugar rim. Salud!

For more Sauza® Tequila recipes, visit http://us.sauzatequila.com/



SANTA TO THE RESCUE by Adele Downs
A sweet firefighter contemporary romance novella
New Release! From Entangled Publishing


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Summary:

Firefighter Jamey Tucker knows three things in life to be true: An honorable man doesn't go back on his word, never hurts a woman, and lasting love isn't a myth. But with his recent move to a new job at the Appleton Fire station, the long hours don't offer hope of finding the love he’s looking for.
When Jamey meets beautiful pediatric nurse Heather Longhurst after hearing her sing Santa Baby in a supermarket aisle, he offers her a promise he discovers he can't keep. Heather has been betrayed by men in the past, making it hard for Jamey to gain her trust. Determined to find a way to win her heart, Jamey uses firefighter engine-uity and Heather's favorite song to prove he's got Christmas spirit she can believe in all year.

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Only .99! B&N Nook Buy Link:
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Excerpt:

She laughed out loud this time, and the sound of her voice rang through the air, pure and clear. He could listen to that voice for hours. “These are for my kids at the hospital. I’m an R.N. at County. We’re decorating the pediatric ward. And spoiling the children too, a bit. I’m baking cookies for our holiday party on Saturday.”
She held out her hand for a handshake. “I’m Heather Longhurst.”
Jamey introduced himself and took her hand. He told her what he did and where he worked. Her skin felt soft against his palm, though her grasp conveyed confidence and strength.
He cocked his chin. “What kind of cookies?”
“Chocolate chip, of course. Is there any other kind?”
Jamey shook his head. He could almost taste melted dark chocolate and smell the aromas of fresh baked flour, eggs and sugar filling her kitchen. His mouth watered. He hoped she couldn’t hear his stomach rumble. He hadn’t eaten in over fourteen hours. “No ma’am.”
Heather returned a lopsided grin. “You’re not from around here, are you?”
“Southern Indiana, born and raised.”
She moved out of the way of an elderly couple trying to pass with their half-filled shopping cart. Jamey moved too and they strolled together toward the exit. “I’ll make a plate of cookies for you, if you stop by the hospital to pick it up.” She said.
Jamey smiled at her, his heart lifting at the turnaround in his day. “That’s the best offer I’ve had since I moved to Appleton.”
“You’re new in town?”
“Been here almost three months.”
“Glad to meet you, Jamey Tucker. See you about one o’clock?”
“I’ll be there. Count on it.”
“I will.” She smiled back and their gazes locked. His mood soared with the realization she was flirting with him. The day had definitely taken a turn for the better.

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About Adele Downs:

Adele Downs writes contemporary romance inside the office of her rural Pennsylvania home. She is a former journalist, published in newspapers and magazines inside the USA, UK, and Caribbean.

Adele is an active member of Romance Writers of America and her local RWA chapter where she serves as past-president. She has written several articles for RWR magazine (Romance Writers Report), the trade journal of Romance Writers of America, and has presented workshops for writers. When she isn’t working on her current project, she can be found riding in her convertible or reading a book on the nearest beach.

Visit Adele Downs at http://adeledowns.wordpress.com
Like Adele Downs on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/authoradeledowns
Follow Adele Downs on Twitter! @Adele_Downs

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Review: 

Oh my goodness I just had the pleasure of reading the sweetest holiday romance story! SANTA TO THE RESCUE by Adele Downs is one of my favorite holiday stories so far this year. 

Jamey Tucker is a new rookie firefighter with Appleton Fire Station. He runs to the store to pick up breakfast supplies for the crew and meets the very cute, very sweet nurse Heather Longhurst. They make an instant connection and plans to meet again. However Jamey is unable to proceed with their plans and Heather thinks he may be like the other men from her past.

Jamey comes through in a big way though, I don't want too tell you to much to spoil the story but experienced one of those nice little aww moments for a quite a while after reading this wonderfully sweet romantic story. 

If you are looking for a sweet holiday romance, I think you should give SANTA TO THE RESCUE a try. I don't think you will be disappointed at all. I know I certainly was not.
I have not had the pleasure of reading any of Adele Downs' work until now and I found her writing style to be very enjoyable and easy to read. I know I most certainly will look for more of her work in the future. 

I was given the opportunity to read this book to share my thoughts with you. As always it has been my pleasure to share my thoughts about this wonderful book with you.

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