#ReleaseDay #SpotLight ~ When a Laird Loves a Lady By Julie Johnstone

When a Laird Loves a Lady

By Julie Johnstone

Blurb:

A need to belong drives her. A longing to forget compels him. Fate may send them into each other’s arms, but only love can mend their hearts. 

An Outlander 

Raised by a tyrannical father, Marion de Lacy yearns for the comfort of belonging to a loving family. So when her father announces her betrothal to an evil knight in exchange for his help to overthrow the king, she concocts a desperate scheme to avoid the marriage: feigning her own death and then fleeing England. But when her plan goes terribly awry and she’s captured by the knight, not even her careful preparations could ready her for the Scottish barbarian who rescues her and then informs her that he’s to marry her by edict of her king. Certain her father will defy the king’s orders and wed her to the knight if she refuses the Highlander’s hand, Marion agrees to marry the strangely compelling but obstinate laird of the MacLeod clan. 

A Highlander 

After the death of his beloved wife, Iain MacLeod has no desire to marry ever again. Yet when he finds himself obliged to do so to secure the freedom of his childhood friend and king, he reluctantly travels across England to collect his unwanted bride, expecting to find a cold Englishwoman. Instead, he discovers a fiery, bold beauty who is fiercely loyal, protective of those she loves, and defies him at every turn, challenging his certainty that his heart is dead. 

Ensnared 

Following a hasty marriage and perilous journey to Scotland, Marion harbors no illusions that her new husband loves her. Still, her heart cannot resist the noble, brave warrior, and she cannot suppress the hope that she has finally found where she belongs. However, the harder she tries to fit in with the clan and gain Iain’s love, the farther away her dreams drift. Iain is more than willing to give his respect to his courageous wife—her kisses and caresses even ignite his blood and demand his passion—but he refuses to give up his heart. That is, until enemies near and far threaten to take Marion from him. Now the demons that haunt him can only be conquered by surrendering body and soul to Marion, if only it’s not too late… 

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Excerpt: 

A small sigh escaped Marion as she settled against Iain’s chest and laid her head back. Her dark eyelashes fanned downward to veil her eyes. He held perfectly still, wanting the moment to suspend in time. He knew from losing Catriona that savoring such moments when he was in them was wise. He closed his eyes and memorized the way Marion’s bottom curved against him, the silky feel of her skin brushing his own, and the weight and warmth of her body pressing so trustingly against his chest. Slowly, he opened his eyes and devoured the sight of her slender legs and the delicate appearance of her arms, which belied the strength she had shown when saving Bridgette.
Marion had courage, it seemed, for everything she faced. But did he?
He squeezed his eyes shut again, a single thought drilling into his brain. He had the nerve for battle, the mettle to lead his clan, the willingness to sacrifice himself to protect anyone in his care—or anyone who simply needed him—but did he have the courage to give himself to a woman fully, heart and soul, again? He didn’t know, but he suspected he’d never have all of Marion unless he offered all of himself.



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#Spotlight ~ Shadowed Blade By J.C. Daniels

Shadowed Blade 

Colbana Files Book 6

By J.C. Daniels

Something wicked this way comes…

The arrival of a very important person in her office seemed to be the start of a lot of problems for Kit Colbana, investigator extraordinaire.  Claiming that he needed somebody with her special skillset, he sends her on a series of jobs that made little to no sense until one culminated with both her and her partner, Justin barely escaping with their lives.

Back in Orlando, they go their separate ways to recover, Justin heading to the house of a local witch, while Kit returns to the Lair, where she’s recently been living with her lover Damon, the Alpha of the Southern Cat Clans.

There’s barely a chance for Kit to catch her breath before trouble of the highest order comes knocking on her door. This time, it’s the form of a psychic by the name of Nova.  Nova has bad, bad news…Justin has gone missing and so has the witch who was going to put him up while he healed. Colleen, one of Kit’s closest, dearest friends.

With all sorts of non-humans disappearing, fury doesn’t even touch what Kit is feeling as she heads out to hunt down the people responsible.

But Kit isn’t the only one out on a hunt…somebody is hunting for her…somebody Kit would rather never, ever see again.

Release Date: April 25, 2016 

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#Spotlight ~ Wicked Enchantment By Sabrina York

New magical, fantasy romance…with a twist from Sabrina York

Wicked Enchantment

By Sabrina York

Read on for an exclusive excerpt and a chance to WIN the 

Wicked Enchantment Tiara

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BLURB:

Consigned to a magical prison, Sir Keeshan has suffered torment after torment for thousands of years. The curse of a powerful Djinn entombed him in the lamp, damning him to an eternity of pleasing the women who come to him—but never grasping true love. Every hundred years or so, a new woman comes to him and they are both are ensnared in a web of dark desire. And then, just as he grows to care for her, she is spirited away, back to the world. Such is the nature of his curse.
But when Aimalee arrives, Keeshan knows something is different. She is different. And his feelings for her are undeniable. He has no idea how long they will have together and, desperate to not waste a second of his time with her, Keeshan cannot help but indulge his every craving…and hers.
When the clever minx helps him solve a mystery that has been haunting him for ages, he can’t help but hope she may be the one to help him break the curse.
Hope is a dangerous thing in enchanted surrounds, especially because he knows her departure, when it comes, will destroy him.

Magical, fantasy romance…with a twist from Sabrina York

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READ AN EXCERPT:

18+ Only

Aimalee shivered as an unfamiliar inclination struck her. She wanted to drop the pillow and press her body against him. Rub against him. He was so beautiful. So perfect. She longed to touch him.
Of its own volition, her hand rose. At the last instant, just before their flesh connected, she curled her fingers.
He winced as she withdrew, winced as though she’d slapped him. Tiny tears clung to his lashes. “Please, Aimalee.” His voice was ragged. “Please touch me.”
She stepped away, ignoring the desolation sweeping across his countenance. It cost her but she forced those primal urges down, back into her subconscious where they belonged. Something wasn’t right here. Women didn’t just suddenly transport into sumptuous bowers. Gorgeous men with smoldering eyes didn’t simply appear from thin air. And most importantly, Aimalee didn’t have thoughts like this.
She never had.
She couldn’t give in to these cravings. Not until she understood what was happening to her. Her analytical mind would not allow it.
As though he could read her thoughts, a frown marred his sculpted brow in fascinating furrows. He stepped closer and closer still—though not close enough to touch. His breath was warm on her face. “Don’t fight it, Aimalee. You cannot resist. Please don’t try.” He bent closer and his nostrils flared like a stallion catching the scent of a filly in season. He licked his lips.
My but they were beautiful lips.
And my, oh my. He smelled of sandalwood and sin. The combination made her head spin. She desperately attempted to eradicate these errant thoughts. “Where am I? What happened?” More questions swirled but this was a good place to start.
“Please.” Beads of sweat dimpled his upper lip. Heat roiled from his broad chest. Everything about him was hard. “Not now. No questions now.” He whirled away with a growl, showing her his back, frustration clear in every rigid line. As he moved, the dim light glinted off the metal encircling his neck. Aimalee realized it was hewn of the same strange iridescent metal of the lamp.
Certainty dawned and with it a sense of incredulity. “I’m inside the lamp.”
He shot a glance at her over his hunched shoulder, a wounded animal. “Y-you touched it.”
“I’ve touched it many times before.”
“Many times.” A shudder racked him. He began to shiver, to shake. “But never with…never with…” Never with…what? He didn’t complete the thought, as though the words were too painful to utter. He moaned in agony and stumbled into the shadows.
She followed, racked with worry—he looked as though he was dying—and lightly touched his shoulder. He froze at the contact, sucking in a deep gasp of air, exhaling it on a small whimper. As their flesh connected, a sizzle shot up her arm, rocketing to her core. Something tight within her released.
And then she realized…the release hadn’t come from within her.
It had come from within him.
Invisible chains binding him shattered and fell away.
He straightened and stood. Sublime relief descended upon him like a cloud. “Thank you,” he gasped. “Thank you, Aimalee.” He drew his knuckles along the curve of her shoulder then trailed down her arm, sending riots of sensation through her. “You touched it with your bare hands, you see. And the lamp brought you to me,” he said, answering her earlier—long forgotten—question. He caressed her hand, lifted it to his lips then drew her thumb into his mouth and gently sucked.
Molten lava, deep in her core, churned and spat.
She knew she should not allow this. She knew she should pull away. The voice of sanity within her whispered as much. Trouble was, that voice of sanity was starting to recede. “W-why?” It was the only word she could manage. The only thought she could conjure.
He kissed her knuckles, one by one. “You are here for me, Aimalee. For this.” His scalding touch trailed back up her arm. She jerked in reaction but didn’t protest. Her body was heavy, drugged with desire. Her mind befuddled, rapt in it. Enthralled.
He tugged gently at the pillow she held before her. She watched in mute dismay as he tossed her armor carelessly aside. “God, Aimalee. You are even more beautiful in the flesh.”
Reverently, he cupped her breast. And then his head descended and those lips—those delicious lips—wrapped around a coral crest. Sucked. Pleasure rocked her. Exquisite trills danced along her spine. Tremors rippled through her womb.
But still…she resisted. As difficult as it was to fight against the alluring enchantment he was weaving—and it was difficult—she lurched back and gasped, “Who are you?”
Instead of answering, he scraped her nipple—sending spirals of delight coiling up her spine. Oh! It was getting harder and harder to resist him. Harder to focus on her outrage as he enticed her deeper into his web.
But she was not the only one besieged by temptation. His body was taut as a bowstring; he fairly hummed with the tension.
He pulled her into his arms. The shock of his hot skin against hers from chest to groin made her light-headed. He traced the line of her back from her buttocks to her shoulder blades.
“I am sorry, Aimalee,” he murmured, his tone limned with remorse. “But I cannot answer your questions anymore. I cannot wait. It has been far too long.” He lifted her hair and bent to place a gentle kiss on her nape. With his tongue, his velvet, drugging tongue, he traced a strange and sinuous symbol there.
A peculiar warmth blossomed where he’d licked her. It drifted down her arms, across her chest, infused her body and soul. Her nipples tightened. Her body liquefied. A hot rush of arousal seeped from her womb. Her clitoris throbbed and a scorching hunger growled and snapped like a long-caged beast.
She wanted him.
She wanted him like she had never wanted a man before. Savagely.
She ached to fist her fingers in his hair and drag him down on top of her. To take his lips with her own. Suck on his tongue. Consume him. Grind against that magnificent cock until he howled with need. Until he took her. Fucked her. Impaled her.
Her mind reeled with pleasure and passion…and confusion.
What was this?
This was not like her.
Not like her at all.
Hadn’t Carter told her repeatedly that she was frigid?
She had never wanted like this. Ached like this. Needed like this.
“What are you doing to me?” Even to her own ears, the cry was laced with pleasure, desire, delirium. She placed her palm flat on his chest to push him away but at that touch, passion swelled—the passion in her and the passion in him, tangling, twining. His skin was smooth but his hard muscles bunched beneath her touch.
He threw his head back and groaned in ecstasy. Or perhaps agony. Or both.
“I can’t. I need… I want to…” He hissed through his teeth. “But I cannot wait. I cannot.”
Easing her down onto the cushions, he covered her. The sensation of his hot, sweat-dampened skin against hers sent a shock wave through her. He nudged her legs apart. Neared. She writhed beneath him, eager, wanton, lost in wonder. Ravenous for him. Impatient.
He did not make her wait.

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Get it now!
AMAZON
Free on Kindle Unlimited

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Enter to win the Wicked Enchantment tiara here:

http://sabrinayork.com/new-magical-romance-from-sabrina-york-wicked-enchantment/


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About Sabrina York:

Her Royal Hotness, Sabrina York, is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of hot, humorous stories for smart and sexy readers. Her titles range from sweet & snarky to scorching romance.  Visit her webpage at www.sabrinayork.com to check out her books, excerpts and contests. Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/bj8tKb.

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Personal Message & Plea from Reviews by Crystal & Family

You all may have noticed I have went silent for a couple of weeks now. I miss posting and sharing my thoughts with you on fabulous books. I will be back to posting blog tours, giveaways, and reviews in time. I thank you for patients and hope that you will stay tuned until I am able to return. 

As you all know I love a good romance story. I have been lucky to live my very own romance story since the day I met my wonderful husband. Now they tell me that our romance story is going to end way sooner than it should.He has received a horrible diagnosis that is is going to take him away from me.  I am praying for a miracle that will allow us to live out our own love story just as long as possible. Our original news came with no hope and not a whole lot of time. We have passed that mark so I'm counting every day, hour, & second from here as a blessing. 

Here is the part where I need your help. First I need all the positive thoughts and prayers that you can send our way. Tomorrow we face our first big challenge to see if we are going to be about to fight this horrible disease and grant me the blessing of more time with my wonderful husband. Please pray that this risky procedure goes well and they are able to give us a game plan to maybe fight this horrible disease. 

As some of you may know we have been struggling with finances and several medical issues since my husband was involved in a truck accident a little over 4 years ago. Medical bills pile up quickly and other expenses when you're traveling a distance to get medical help. We truly appreciate any donations. There are a few ways to make a donation. 

A Go Fund me page has been set up and you may find that  here.

I have a donation link to Paypal that you will send on the left sidebar, this link will direct you to the paypal donation page for my blog.

One more way you may be able to help is to use my links to Amazon. They will pay me a few cents for each purchase that you make using my links. All the book covers on the left sidebar are linked to my affiliate account with Amazon or you may click here.

I have been blessed with so many wonderful friends online. Your support has been incredible and I honestly don't know what I would do without you. You are all awesome and the best support system a girl could ever ask for. THANK YOU seems like such a small expression when your support  means so much to me. 

Family Emergency ~ Please Read

I wanted to let everyone know Reviews by Crystal 

may be down for a bit due to a family emergency. 

Please feel free to email me or use the contact button. 

I will get back to you but it may take a little while. 

#GiveAway - EXTREME HONOR by Piper J. Drake - True Heroes Series

EXTREME HONOR

True Heroes Series Book #1 

by Piper J. Drake

Hot military heroes, the women who love them, and the devoted dogs that always have their backs.  EXTREME HONOR is the first book in a high adrenaline contemporary suspense series from Piper J. Drake published by Forever Romance. Fans of Jill Shalvis’s Animal Attraction series and Cindy Gerard’s One Eyed Jacks, will love this brand new action packed romantic suspense series. 

Synopsis: 

David Cruz is good at two things: war and training dogs. The ex-soldier’s toughest case is Atlas, a Belgian Malinois whose handler died in combat. Nobody at Hope’s Crossing kennel can break through the animal’s grief. That is, until dog whisperer Evelyn Jones walks into the facility . . . and into Atlas’s heart. David hates to admit that the curvy blonde’s mesmerizing effect isn’t limited to canines. But when Lyn’s work with Atlas puts her in danger, David will do anything to protect her.

Lyn realizes that David’s own battle scars make him uniquely qualified for his job as a trainer. Tough as nails yet gentle when it counts, he’s gotten closer to Atlas than anyone else—and he’s willing to put his hard-wired suspicion aside to let her do the same. But someone desperate enough to kill doesn’t want Lyn working with Atlas. Now only teamwork, trust, and courage can save two troubled hearts and the dog who loves them both . . .

Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: January 26, 2016
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing- Forever

Get More information at: 
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iTunes

Excerpt: 

David Cruz studied the woman standing in the front waiting area with equal parts irritation and interest. The room had an open design to accommodate dozens of owners and their dogs comfortably with enough space to prevent tussles the humans might not be able to break up without a trainer’s help. Of course, the area was empty of other people and dogs at the moment and this little bit of trouble filled the room just fine on her own. Her neat dress suit had to have been tailored to a fit so exact, it might as well have been a military dress uniform. And she wore it as if she was ready for inspection, her posture perfect with her shoulders straight, her chin up, and her hands easy at her sides. If her thumbs lined up with the side seams on her skirt, he’d have wondered if a cadet had gotten lost from the nearby military academy.
The severe grey fabric didn’t leach color from her face though, instead the contrast set off her peaches and cream complexion. Made him think of a dish of ice cream on a hot day. And even standing still, she radiated energy. Charisma. Like she could burst into motion at a moment’s notice and heaven help the man who got in her way. He had an urge to step right up and see if she could run him over.
Not likely, but it’d be fun to let her give it a try.
“Look, Miss…”
“Jones. Evelyn Jones.” Her sharp tone cut across his attempt to address the current issue with any semblance of calm. “Any and all documentation you might need is right there in the folder I handed you. If you’ll verify it instead of wasting both of our time trying to send me away, I’ll be able to get to what I’ve been sent here to do instead of standing around engaging in a pissing contest.”
Well, she’d come in ready for a fight.
Head held high and standing as tall as she could, her hackles would’ve been raised if she’d been a dog. The mental image was entertaining, to be honest, especially since her blonde hair was pulled back in a no-nonsense ponytail combined with the stylish poofed up effect. No idea why women did that but hell, she looked good.
And he did take a minute to appreciate her as she was: compact, curvy, and hot enough to catch the attention of every male on two legs walking the property. But her impact on the four-legged variety remained to be seen.
He could do without her glaring attempt at intimidation though and he wondered whether he shouldn’t send her sweet ass right on back out the door. If she crossed her arms over her admittedly impressive chest or otherwise altered her body language to increase her aggressive stance, he would. If her attitude was enough to scratch his temper, the dog she was here to see would rip her to shreds.
“Your credentials aren’t in question, Miss Jones.” He raised his hand to forestall another interruption. He’d had plenty of experience with her kind of sprint-out-the-gate, establish credibility immediately personality. It didn’t intimidate him one bit but he also wouldn’t be rushed. “As I was about to say, you could wait here and be run over by the incoming class of two-year-olds or you can come on in to the office area and have a cup of coffee while I make a few calls.”
She blinked and her cheeks flushed. “I…of course. A cup of coffee would be appreciated.”
Somehow, he doubted that considering the sour tone of her voice. It took some effort not to grin at her discomfort. “Glad you decided to come along. The two-year-olds aren’t a bad batch but their handlers are in some serious need of training. Go figure. ”
The corner of her very kissable mouth quirked. “Isn’t it always the human side of the pair in need of the real training?”
Now, they had some common ground after all. At least when it came to civilians.
But if he wanted to be fair—and hell, who did?—Military dog handlers needed heavy training at the beginning too. Especially if they wanted to reach the level of excellence required of a special forces working team.
He led her past the receiving desk and down a short hallway to a smaller area with chairs arranged for easy conversation. They had one of those little one cup coffee makers and she seemed fine fixing up her own mug. He preferred his coffee brewed in a real pot and none of those handy automated gadgets managed a strong enough brew.
The whole host and good manners thing dispensed, he headed for his office. “If you’ll just wait here…”
“It would save time if you showed me Atlas. I could introduce myself to him while you’re making your call.”
He halted, his temper simmered back up to the surface. “With all due respect, Miss Jones, you’re not meeting Atlas until I’ve straightened out exactly what is going on here.”
“It’s fairly straight forward. I’ve been brought in at the request of the Pentagon to work with the dog you refuse to introduce me to.” At the edge of his peripheral vision, her movement caught his attention. A slight raise of the chin. “It would save you time if you would take my suggestion before I make a call of my own.”
He studied her for the few seconds it took for his irritation to cool enough for polite conversation again. All bravado and possibly some real bite behind her threat. It depended on exactly who at the Pentagon had contracted her.
“You could save us even more time and leave now.” He turned to face her, calling her bluff. Lesser men backed down immediately under his glare. Took her a full five seconds to drop her eyes. “As far as the United States Air Force is concerned, Atlas was placed under the care of Hope’s Crossing Kennels with me as his official trainer. Currently, I’m willing to go through due diligence and consider a joint effort if your consulting credentials are confirmed. But if you truly did your homework on Atlas and this facility, you would know you either work with us or you are escorted off the property. This is not a general kennel where consultants are allowed to stroll in and work independently.”
After all, Hope’s Crossing Kennels wasn’t just a training facility for domestic pets. And the trainers who lived here weren’t civilians.

Ultimate Courage
True Heroes series Book #2

Elisa Hall is good at starting from scratch. Leaving an abusive relationship in her rearview, she packs everything she owns into the trunk of her car and heads for refuge with her friend in Hope’s Crossing, Pennsylvania.
Alex Rojas returned from his second deployment as a Navy SEAL to find his condo empty and divorce papers on the breakfast table. Now he’s building a life for himself and his daughter at Hope’s Crossing kennels training younger dogs and handlers to search and rescue, struggling to adjust to life back in the States and as a single father.
When Elisa shows up at the kennels, it’s obvious she’s running from something. Luckily, the dogs and trainers at Hope’s Crossing are more than capable of warding off trouble. And with every minute he spends with Elisa, Alex becomes even more and more determined to protect the woman he’s certain he won’t be able to live without…

Available July 26, 2016

Get More information at:
 Goodreads  | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes

About Piper J. Drake:

Piper J. Drake (or “PJ”) began her writing career as “PJ Schnyder” writing sci-fi & paranormal romance and steampunk. She has recently received the FF&P PRISM award for her work as well as the NJRW Golden Leaf award and Parsec award.
Now, PJ is exploring the complexity of romantic suspense, incorporating her interests in mixed martial arts and the military into her writing.



Connect with Piper at: 
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Google + | GoodReads| Youtube



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#GiveAway- Simmer and Smoke: A Southern Tale of Grit and Spice by Peggy Lampman

Simmer and Smoke: 

A Southern Tale of Grit and Spice

by Peggy Lampman

Peggy Lampman will be awarding a $50 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner 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. 

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Interview:

Crystal: Today I have the pleasure of hosting Peggy Lampman. Welcome Peggy! I'm so happy to have you here today. Would you share a little bit about yourself with us today?

Peggy: One of my protagonists, Mallory, is a version of myself in that we both had similar upbringings in the Deep South and we both share a love of cooking, writing and photography. As well, we both had by-lines in a newspaper and then, dot com. Mallory is a more twisted, tortured and exaggerated version of myself, and––unlike Mallory––I’d had a couple of kids and a divorce under my belt at her age.  Having owned a specialty food store, and worked in advertising and hiring in the grocery industry, I’ve gotten to know many Shelby’s (my other protagonist) in my life, as well. I was fortunate not to grow up in in an environment like Shelby’s, but I am familiar with the world where she was raised.


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

Peggy: I have a favorite scene in every chapter; some of them happy and some disturbing. I’ll share a quirky-odd, funny-sad scene that involves Shelby when she leaves her new (promising) job in Atlanta and returns to her armpit of a hometown for a weekend visit in Coryville.

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I wake up with a start. That smell. Lord, do not let it be what I’m sure it is. I glance at the clock: ten thirty; I’ve been sleeping an hour. I walk out of my bedroom, down the hall, and lo and behold, there sits Mama in Lester’s lap, a lit cig dangling between her fingers. When she sees me, her back stiffens and she stubs it out with quick jerks. The butt is stained with a plum-colored lipstick, matching the ticking on her plunging neckline, and in the dim light, the TV outlines them in a blue florescent glow. Smoke furs the room and bends around the cragged, fanged antlers of the jackalope, who’s presiding over the scene, eyes dancing, eager to see my reaction.
“You promised me you weren’t smoking in the house....”
“You heard the doctor. He said cigarettes weren’t causing her asthma.”
“He said they could be a trigger.”
“This is the first time in over a month I’ve smoked in my own home. Smoking outside hasn’t made a lick of difference to Miss Ann’s cough, one way or the other.”
Grinding my teeth, I growl low and deep, like a mama bear protecting her cub. “I don’t know how you could be so selfish. You only think of yourself. I don’t give a rat’s ass what the doctor says, either your smokes or your hair products are hurting my baby. Your—only— grandchild.” I spit out those last words slow, like I was thrusting a knife deep into her heart. The jackalope’s antlers rattle, as if applauding my performance.
She gives a sharp wounded cry like a crow’s caw, puts her face into her hands then turns into Lester’s shoulders. Static strands of red hair stand from her head like pins stuck in a cushion  and Lester smooths them down.
“Now, I don’t want you talking mean to your mama like that.” 
Rage swells my chest as my shoulders rise to my ears, fingers curling inwards, poised to jump at Mama, to claw out her freckles like a bobcat. I shake my hands then press them into my thighs, leaning over, trying to clear these crazy thoughts. One minute I’m in love with Clare, and the next I hate my own mother. Something is wrong with me. I’m not mad at Mama. She loves us and is doing the best she can taking care of Miss Ann so I can follow my dream, to carve us a better life. The jackalope snares me with his eyes, anticipating my next move, goading me on, urging me to attack her. I pull a chair from the card table, stabilize it against the wall, hop up, then pounce into the creature. 
Weaving my fingers between his antlers, and with every bit of strength I can muster, I pull...wiggle... pull. Ripping sounds of tearing wallpaper fill my ears...bolts heaving from drywall...Mama crying no, Shelby, no... a puff of plaster dust explodes from the wall blinding my vision....as I lose my balance...as I fall to the floor...gripping the vicious, tormenting jackalope.
His antlers, like swords, puncture my palms, and my blood seeps and stains his gnarled, matted fur. I hurl him to the floor, stand, press my hands together and hold them over my head to stop the bleeding. Lifting my leg, I smash the jackalope with the heel of my foot, over and over and over, flattening his skull and crushing his eyes...until an antler cuts my foot...until Lester links his elbows under my arm pits, dragging me away. 
Miss Ann is standing in the doorway, which frames her as if she was a portrait of an angel. She is wearing a white cotton nightgown and curls circle her head in a halo of glistening gold. Her blue eye stares at me, crusted around the edges, yet wide, shining with silvery light. Looking down at the shattered jackalope, my throat tightens, and I am proud, amazed by my bravery; both of his evil eyes are missing. Miss Ann and I are rescued. That creature’s been done in for good.


Crystal: Where did you come up with the idea for “Simmer and Smoke: A Southern Tale of Grit and Spice.

Peggy: One December afternoon in 2010, I was visiting my ancestral graveyard in Stewartville, a back-woods, confederate flag-waving town in Alabama. As I watched a young woman and child wander down the road, I wondered how a young mother could escape a town of poverty, racism and crack houses. That evening I wrote the first page of “Simmer and Smoke”. 

Crystal: What are you currently working on?

Peggy: I’m currently working on a contract with Lake Union Publishing. They’ve presented my agent with an offer to buy “Simmer and Smoke”, as well as an advance for a second book to be completed within the year. Prior to this, I was working on a sequel, “Where There’s Smoke”, had finished the outline and first few chapters, but they (boo hoo!) may be out the door if Lake Union has other ideas. 

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

Peggy: Any routine that can get me into a calm space, void of distraction. I much prefer writing in the morning, well caffeinated.  I “stream” 500 words on day, the go back and file and shape them the next. I try to stick to this discipline but life often gets in the way. I always work from an outline.

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?

Peggy: I researched the book living my life. My husband and I have relatives that live in “colorful” communities. I have drawn tremendous inspiration from these folks that I’ve come to love, and appreciate their giving me license to draw intimately from their landscape.

I’ve worn dozens of hats in my life, have lived in big cities and small towns, and have studied and befriended various types of people. To know, first-hand, the people and community of your book, is the best research for me. 

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

Peggy: I gravitate towards literary fiction, particularly fiction set in the American South. Think authors like Sue Monk Kidd, Pat Conroy and Rebecca Wells. I also love Ann Patchett and Donna Tart. My favorite memoir is Patti Smith’s, “Just Kids” and I’m currently reading her book “Woolgathers”. I just finished Jonathan Franzen’s, “Purity”. It’s filled with psychotic twists and turns and I was intrigued with the quirky mother-daughter relationship. Daniel Woodrell’s work, particularly “Winter’s Bone” that was turned into a movie starring Jennifer Lawrence, is quite inspiring. Ree’s character reminds me of Shelby in “Simmer and Smoke”.

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

Peggy: No. I’m very comfortable writing high-concept woman’s fiction as it is the type of literature I enjoy reading, and I have so much personal life experience upon which to draw.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
BLURB: 

A single mother who dreams of becoming a chef.

A food writer who just lost the love of her life.

Two women discover what's worth fighting for in this deliciously rendered novel that illuminates the power of food, love, friendship and family on the human heart


1. ASSEMBLE INGREDIENTS:

Shelby Preston--a young, single mother trapped in a hardscrabble life in rural Georgia--escapes her reality as she fantasizes herself a respected chef in a kitchen of gleaming stainless steel and pans shimmering with heat. Mallory Lakes--an Atlanta newspaper food writer--may lose her job, and searches for her muse in a shot glass of illusion. 

2. SIMMER:

Mallory secures her job by crafting a zealous doppelgänger to satisfy the expectations of an illusive cyber audience. This also mollifies the memories of her lover who recently bolted; no warning. Shelby persuades her mother to take care of her daughter so she can pursue her dream of going to chef school in Atlanta. She cooks them a special dinner said to bring good luck; Lord knows her family could use a pot of something good. 

3. SMOKE:

Chasing desires and ambitions, the women's lives unravel down a path beyond the kitchen, then weave together in an unsettling culinary landscape of organic farms and shadowy borders--some borders not meant to be crossed. As Mallory combats her demons with booze and pills, and Shelby battles the odds stacked against her for becoming a chef, the women discover what's really worth fighting for.

GENRE:  women's contemporary fiction

Amazon Buy Link

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
EXCERPT:

Excerpt Two:

Mallory

Memos from the edge, self-help hieroglyphics, throwaway lines galloping off paper, most of them unfinished. These are the words I should have said to Cooper the day he left, bade farewell, adios, arrivederci—however you say goodbye. Itchy, my dearest friend, is returning a platter and will ignore them, assuming they are recipe scribbles. But if these tourniquets had a voice, their banshee wail would rant, rage and scream, shaking the foundations of Atlanta.
     
Dearest Cooper. What a splendid feast you made of me. A sprinkle of salt, a grind of pepper, you chewed me up then spit me out. Was I that abhorrent?
   
Visceral, grisly, teeth-gnashing words; much better script. I write, post, then return to my cutting board. Chopping furiously, I collect, examine, and discard words much too ordinary to assuage my grief. Words...words...I need more words; what words can I write that will ease the pain of what you’ve done? 


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Peggy Lampman was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. After graduating from the University of Michigan with a degree in communications, she moved to New York City, where she worked as a copywriter and photographer for Hill and Knowlton, a public relations firm. She moved back to Ann Arbor, her college town, and opened up a specialty foods store, The Back Alley Gourmet. After selling the business, she wrote under a weekly food byline in The Ann Arbor News and MLive. This is her first novel.

Goodreads Link | Website  | Blog



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#GiveAway #Interview - STORM DAMAGED by Kerry Adrienne

STORM DAMAGED 

by Kerry Adrienne

Follow the week long tour January 25th - 29th and enter to win! One winner will receive a new Kindle!  Please use the RaffleCopter below to enter. Remember you may increase your chances of winning by visiting the other tour stops. You may find a list of locations below.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Interview:

Crystal: Today I have the pleasure of hosting Kerry Adrienne.Welcome Kerry! I'm so excited to have you here today. Would you share a little bit about yourself with us today? 

Kerry: Hi, I’m Kerry Adrienne. I’m a stay at home mom who homeschools my youngest daughter, and I have two daughters in college. I also have a houseful of pets—seven cats, a panther chameleon, a gecko, and a lionhead bunny. I have a fun little car—a Mini Cooper Convertible—and I spend a lot of time driving up and around the lake nearby, just listening to music and plotting.

Crystal: What are you currently working on?

Kerry:  I’m on deadline for a shifter book for Carina Press.

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

Kerry:  My new release, Storm Damaged, with Loose Id, came from my enjoyment of being at the beach. I’ve always loved mermaids so writing a book featuring them seemed like a fun idea. It’s really a mermaid-lite book—most of the book takes place on land.

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

Kerry:  I love to pop M&Ms while working, but obviously that isn’t ideal, so I don’t do it all the time.

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

Kerry:  Here’s an excerpt! 

And if Chase was going to come into her shop, she’d take full advantage of it—absorb every detail of his sexy self to round out her fantasies. In her head, she’d written at least fifty romance novels with him starring as the hero. Steamy sexy romances, with her as the heroine. The Mermaid and the Millionaire, Shells in the Sand, Once Upon an Ocean…
“Mari?”
She jerked her head up. “Yeah?” Crap. She’d been busted while fantasizing again.
Chase straightened the last suction cup in the box. “Well…”
“You done there? Wanna sweep too?”
Apparently, the man couldn’t resist. He had to help out, no matter if he was asked to or not. Mr. OCD Protector hot man diver. She stifled a smile. Hot.
He shook his head and folded the box closed. “No need to sweep till after the storm. Where do you want this?”
“I don’t care. Set it on that top shelf by the plates, I guess.” She realized she wasn’t being nice, but she couldn’t help herself. Chase’s news of the big bad was stressing her out.
“Okay.”
“I want to know what the news is. Spit it out.”
Chase pushed the box onto the top shelf, then stuck his hands in his pockets and looked at the floor. She knew his face well enough to imagine his bright green eyes narrowing with whatever stress this bad news was causing. She remembered the panic during the accident. She studied his thick muscles and the tentacle tattoo that wound its way up from his wrist to his left bicep and then disappeared under his snug T-shirt. His other arm boasted some type of navy diver tattoo, faded and smudged. The one time he’d gripped her he’d almost lost his life.
And he didn’t remember any of it.
“Rent isn’t going up.” He stepped closer to the display case and picked up a sand dollar from the wooden bin on top. As he turned the white disk over, it broke in half, and dusty fragments spilled into the air and onto the counter. He winced. “I’m selling the bar and moving west. Leaving the island for good.”
Mari’s stomach lurched and she steadied herself against the glass case, staring at the mess on the counter. Moving? “Why?” she asked, her voice a quarter-octave higher than normal. One of her main reasons for staying in the little coastal village was to spy on him. Erm, watch him. Ogle him. Pretend he loved her the way she loved him. “Why sell the bar? Why leave? I thought you loved it here.” Oh, no, buddy. You aren’t leaving me. I saved your ass and you are my “Plus One” from now on.
“I gotta get out of this little town and away from the ocean.” He gripped the sand-dollar fragments. “Tired of storms and water and reliving bad memories.”
“Your brother…”
“My brother is dead.”
“But wouldn’t he want you to stay?” Chase had loved his brother and had taken his death hard. Now he wanted to move. Well, that wouldn’t solve anything. Was it her business, though? Her mother had always said Mari lacked tact. Maybe she was right.
Chase grunted but didn’t respond.
“I mean, wouldn’t he want you to run the bar? It was his dream too. A beach bar, right on the sand.” Sweat dampened her palms and she wiped them against her jeans’ legs. She’d never been outspoken with Chase, but she couldn’t let him walk out of her life when he should be swimming alongside her.
“Luke’s gone, Mari. And I’m moving to Kansas and buying a farm. Or possibly Montana. Hell, maybe I’ll buy a mine and become a miner if I have enough money. I don’t know exactly where I’ll go or what I’ll end up doing, but I do know it will be far, far away from the ocean. I don’t even want to be near a lake.” He dropped the remaining pieces of the sand dollar onto the counter and dusted off his hands. “Sorry about that.” He nodded at the mess. “Let me know what I owe you.”
“You owe me more of an explanation.” Mari could feel her nostrils flaring, and her face was probably as pink as her T-shirt. But she needed Chase. Not his building for her store, but his presence.

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? 

Kerry:  I love to sew, and do most any kinds of crafts. I paint and draw, play guitar, and of course, love to read!

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

Kerry:  I listen to music (but not always). Marilyn Manson, Green Day…

~*~*~*~*~*~*~
About STORM DAMAGED: 

In another time and place, she’d be exactly the kind of woman he’d want to date. And more. If only…

In a world where humans don’t know mermaids exist, Mari leaves her home in the ocean to escape her mother, her betrothed, and her tribe’s expectations in order to make a go of independence on land. Chase, former Navy diver and self-appointed curmudgeon-who-isn’t-worthy-of-love, lost his brother in a freak diving accident and now fears the ocean he once loved. 

When a hurricane threatens, they have to work together to save everything they've worked so hard to build. With Mari's betrothed on the rampage over a centuries-old vendetta, the storm isn't the worst thing they'll have to face. 


Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: January 26, 2016
Publisher: Loose Id
Print Length: 231 pages
Format: Digital
Digital ISBN: 978-1-68252-044-4

Purchase STORM DAMAGED: 
Amazon | LooseId | Kobo | ARe 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~Read an Excerpt:

Mari’s lower lip trembled and she rubbed her palms against her knees and looked back toward Inna. She was in trouble.

Big trouble.

Inna stood, unmoving, and staring at her. She reached to her throat, but words had dried on her tongue. She shook her head as tears sprang to her eyes. This couldn’t be happening. Not now. Not when she was finally getting Chase to relax. Not when she thought things were finally getting better. Not when she’d finally pushed her betrothal out of her mind, at least for the moment.

Mari looked from Chase to Inna, then back to Chase. What to do? What to say? The only way this situation could be worse was if Inna saw everything… Oh gods, how long had he been watching?

He’d kill them both.

“He’s been watching.” Had she spoken aloud, or was her mind screaming? She blinked away the tears and wiped away the trails on her cheeks. It felt like her frightened heart had expanded and she couldn’t breathe. Inna was going to kill them.

Chase jerked upright. “He couldn’t have seen anything inside the cart. It’s okay. He didn’t see anything.”

The setting sun streamed across the park, casting long shadows of rides onto the empty beach like an invading army of giant insects. Inna’s thick shadow moved swiftly along the ground. One thing was for sure, Inna had seen enough to be pissed.

He was headed directly for them.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~
About Kerry Adrienne:

Kerry loves history and spends large amounts of time wondering about people who lived and walked on Earth in the past. She’s a mom to three daughters, six cats, and various small animals. Her husband says she’s a marketer’s dream, as she often believes everything she hears—at least initially. Her shoe horde will attest to her fine shopping skills.

In addition to writing, Kerry loves to sew (costumes and cosplay, especially), draw, paint, make chainmail, and play guitar. 

Her new love is her Mini Cooper Convertible, Sheldon, and they have already gone on many adventures. They travel to as many concerts as they can–especially Green Day and Marilyn Manson.

You can visit her much-neglected costuming blog here: http://cloakandcostume.blogspot.com/ Maybe she’ll have time to update it soon.

Repped by the fabulous Marisa Corvisiero with the Corvisiero Literary Agency. http://www.corvisieroagency.com/


Connect with Kerry: 
Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon | Goodreads


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