Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Blog Tour: Charming Hannah by Kristen Proby

SBPR-Banner-CharmingHannah-BT-1.jpg 

Charming Hannah by Kristen Proby  
Publication Date: February 27th, 2018

From New York Times Bestselling author, Kristen Proby, comes the first in an all-new trilogy in her beloved Big Sky Series!

Hannah Malone loves her new town. Despite living in Cunningham Falls for five years, she’s still considered a “move in” by most of the locals, and that doesn’t bother her in the least. She’s the “new girl”, and she hasn’t regretted it for one day. This town is her sanctuary. Her home. The one place she finally fits in and feels safe after a lifetime of being different and running from the memories and a past so far away it can’t haunt her anymore.

As the newly appointed police chief, Brad Hull has the responsibility to keep his citizens safe and to maintain order. His roots in this town are deep—five generations deep, to be exact. Cunningham Falls, Montana is his town, and being a cop and protecting what’s his is his passion. Everything’s running like clockwork until a sassy redheaded doctor moves in and disrupts the order—and Brad’s focus.

She’s not just beautiful, funny, and strong. Hannah’s everything he’s been looking for in a woman. The chemistry is undeniable, and the heat in the bedroom is off the charts. Brad knew the minute he met Hannah that she was the one for him. He’s tenacious in his pursuit of her. But when the past catches up with Hannah, will Brad be able to protect her and their hearts?

CharmingHannah-AN-1

Read Today!
Amazon US: ​http://amzn.to/2CSWNdy  
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2sUqg6v  
Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/2z7LnjN 
Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2kBRdpj

Blog Tour (11).jpg

Excerpt:
Someone is ringing my fucking doorbell. I was at the hospital until the wee hours, I was finally in a deep, lovely sleep, and someone is ringing the bell.

All I know for sure is, this had better not be the damn door-to-door people trying to sell me a vacuum. Or a magazine. Or Jesus.

I wrap my robe around me, stumbling toward the door. I pull it open and am surprised to find an excited Sadie and a ridiculously sexy Brad standing at my door.

“Is that coffee?” I ask.

“For you,” he confirms and holds it out to me.

“Come to mama,” I mutter and take it from his hand, taking a grateful sip. Sadie brushes past my leg, into the house, and curls up on my couch.

“She’s not supposed to be on the furniture,” Brad says.

“My house, my rules,” I reply and take another sip of the one thing in this world I’m addicted to, and give him a once over from head to toe. “You look like you got about as much sleep as I did.”

“Rough night?” he asks without confirming or denying.

“Babies,” I reply with a shrug. “You?”

He just shrugs. “Are you going to ask me in?”

“Sure.” I back up and gesture him into the room. “Sorry, I was sleeping pretty good. My energy level is about equal to a sloth on Xanax.”

“I can leave and let you go back to bed.”

His eyes roam up and down my body, reminding me that I’m just in a robe and nothing else. His green eyes are hot, and every muscle in his body is tight.

Even sleep deprived, I can tell when a man is in the mood.

“You’ve brought me coffee. I’ll never kick you out when you’ve done that.”

“I’ll remember that,” he says with a chuckle.

“Besides, I have plenty of room.” I turn and walk into my bedroom, glancing behind me to see that he’s following me. He makes a hand gesture at Sadie, which I assume means stay. “We can take a nap,” I suggest.

His lips twitch, but he doesn’t say anything when he joins me next to the bed. He takes my coffee and sets both of our cups on the bedside table.

“Is that what you want, Hannah?” he murmurs and skims his fingertips down my arms.

“Eventually.”

Meet Kristen:
Kristen was born and raised in a small resort town in her beloved Montana. In her mid-twenties, she decided to stretch her wings and move to the Pacific Northwest, where she made her home for more than a dozen years.

During that time, Kristen wrote many romance novels and joined organizations such as RWA and other small writing groups. She spent countless hours in workshops, and more mornings than she can count up before the dawn so she could write before going to work. She submitted many manuscripts to agents and editors alike, but was always told no. In the summer of 2012, the self-publishing scene was new and thriving, and Kristen had one goal: to publish just one book. It was something she longed to cross off of her bucket list.

Not only did she publish one book, she’s since published close to thirty titles, many of which have hit the USA Today, New York Times and Wall Street Journal Bestsellers lists. She continues to self publish, best known for her With Me In Seattle and Boudreaux series, and is also proud to work with William Morrow, a division of HarperCollins, with the Fusion Series.

Kristen and her husband, John, make their home in her hometown of Whitefish, Montana with their two pugs and two cats.

Connect with Kristen:
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2kBRdpj  
Pinterest: @handbagjunkie  

Tuesday, February 27, 2018

Release Day Launch Review with Giveaway: Everlife (Everlife Trilogy #3) by Gena Showalter


New from Gena Showalter, author of the New York Times bestselling The White Rabbit Chronicles, comes a series finale that will keep you on the edge of your seat rooting for the characters until the very last page. Don’t miss the EPIC CONCLUSION to the Everlife novels, a series fans calls “vividly unique,” “unforgettable” and “exhilarating.” Grab your copy today!

   

EVERLIFE Synopsis:

STAND TOGETHER OR FALL ALONE.

THE FATE OF THE EVERLIFE HANGS IN THE BALANCE.

At seventeen years old, Tenley “Ten” Lockwood needed to make the ultimate choice—where to live after she died. Loyalty to her selected realm has not wavered…until now. The numbers-obsessed Conduit is out of time. Sacrifices must be made, and a terrible price must be paid. But is she too late?

As the Everlife descends into darkness, a single truth becomes clear: Troika and Myriad must unite in the end—or perish. As a way to bring sworn enemies together, Ten must enter forbidden territory…and destroy the powerful Prince of Ravens. But there’s only one way inside—bonding with Killian Flynn, a deadly rival Laborer who sets her blood aflame.

When nothing goes as planned and betrayal results in the edge of utter defeat, Ten and Killian must rebuild agree with from the ashes in their hearts. Victory seems not possible; the odds stacked against them. In spite of everything, how far will they be willing to go for the sake in their realms and the Everlife?

   

Get your copy of EVERLIFE here!

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | B-A-M | Kobo | iBooks | Book Depository

   

"Utterly unique and absolutely riveting—I couldn’t put it down! What a marvelously cool world." —Sarah J. Maas, New York Times bestselling author, on Firstlife

         

EXCERPT:

The identity of our intruders clicks. Two Troikan Generals: Shamus Campbell and Luciana Rossi. Behind them, four La­borers I’ve never met. A total of six invaders.

6: symbolizes beauty and high ideals. The sixth sense: ESP. The sixth astrological sign in the Zodiac: Virgo.  

Focus! A soft pitter-patter of footfalls echoes outside the cave. More TLs?

Killian isn’t safe.

Panic claws its way up the ridges of my spine, and my blood f lash-freezes. I strain with all my might, desperate to move, but my body refuses to cooperate. Every attempt to raise my arms threatens to pop my shoulders out of joint. I don’t care. Nothing will halt my efforts.

“Kill, kill.” Between each command—desire?—Killian snarls like a wounded animal. “Kill!”

Shamus, a big, barrel-chested redhead with pale skin and countless freckles, slams a fist against his armor-clad chest to gain my attention. His dark eyes are narrowed, a muscle jumping in his jaw. “What did you do, Miss Lockwood? And do no’ tell me nothin’.” His accent is similar to Killian’s.

Luciana, a slender brunette with lovely brown skin and startling gray irises, backs away from me, horror contorting her expression. “I’ll tell you what she did. She doomed us all.”  

Doomed…

Is she right? She can’t be. She just can’t.

I look down at Killian. My new husband is pulling at hanks of his hair.

Hopes, falling from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows.

“Out,” Shamus snarls at the TLs. “Now.”

All four soldiers rush from the cave without protest.

I stiffen. The General has evened the odds. Two against two. A foolish move for a war-seasoned veteran. Unless he got rid of any witnesses…

Willing to use my body as a shield, I push through the pain—snap. My shoulder does pop out of joint. Or maybe back into joint. Air wheezes from my lungs. Worth it! Finally, I can move. I crawl toward Killian, every inch I gain only adding fuel to an already blazing fire of agony.  

Can’t stop. No, won’t stop. Determination drives me. I only wish it gave me wings.

“Kill. Must kill.” Killian is lost in a world of his own.

“You won’t be killing anyone, you son of a Myriad troll.” With a hand curled around the hilt of a sword, Shamus stalks toward him.

“Stop! He doesn’t know what he’s saying right now.” My voice is barely audible, my gaze locked on my love. So close, yet so far away. Desperation slams a spike straight through my heart.

Any other day, I would have used the comm built into the forearm of spirit and Shell. With the press of a few buttons, it could transport me to Killian’s side and, as long as some part of me is touching some part of him, whisk us both somewhere else. Somewhere safe. Like a fool, I disabled the device to hide from fellow Troikans while meeting with Killian.

I should have known they’d find me one way or another.

“Stop,” I repeat, even as I gain another inch. “That’s an order.” As a Conduit, I outrank the Generals. As a newbie to the Everlife, however, my exalted rank doesn’t really mean squat.

“We can’t hurt him,” Luciana grates. She extends her arm, stopping Shamus in his tracks. “You’ve effectively tied our hands, Miss Lockwood.”

Though the shadows are no longer slithering through my mind, I’m not exactly thinking straight. I struggle to make sense of her words, finally throw in the towel. “I don’t understand.”

“You bonded to him, did you not?” She spits the words, as if they taste foul in her mouth. “That bond forces us to spare Myriad’s favorite butcher and watch as you, one of only two Conduits, slowly descends into madness.”

My Review:
My rating: 5 stars

This was the perfect conclusion to an epic trilogy.  Each book has totally blown me away, and this one was no different!  I got started a little late, due to some issues I had with downloading the e-galley, but once I did, I was hooked.  It started off with some of the familiar memos between people that we've seen throughout the other books.  And then we were pretty much where book 2 left off, Ten and Killian choosing to pledge their lives to each other, to form a bond that would hopefully be the first step towards peace between Myriad and Troika.   

If you've followed my reviews of the two books so far, especially the 2nd one, you'll know that I adored Killian, and the beginning with him and Ten had me right back in love.  Until they bond and everything changes.  Killian and Ten are affected immediately.  Ten now has to deal with the shadows that come through their bond, the shadows that threaten her light and her Troikian way of thinking and doing.  But really Killian is the one who gets the short end of the deal.  He doesn't remember anything about their relationship.  In fact, the first thing he wants to do right after is kill her.  His memories are gone, at least all that pertain to falling in love with Ten and their plan to save both of their worlds.  

So, while they must fight now against their own sides who are either not happy with the bond, or want to use it to destroy the other realm, what I loved best about the story is that we get to see Killian fall in love with Ten all over again.  Seeing him work through his hatred for all things Troikian, as well as overcoming the many, many betrayals he's suffered throughout his First and Second Lives.  Finding that love overcomes all, that's something Killian must discover and accept, and something that Ten must fight to continue to believe, even over all of the shadows that overtake her, and the bad things that happen to her.  

I want so badly to write a beautiful review for this beautiful book. But alas, I didn't finish reading until about 3 am this morning, and my review needed to be posted before noon today.  Without getting too spoilery, I will say that the way things worked out, the solution to it all, reminded me quite a bit of The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, which was a book I loved and read over and over when I was a kid.  

Oh, not only did I love Killian, as expected, but Biscuit!  And Beast!  You'll have to read to find out who they are.  And then, we get back a beloved character from before that we thought was gone, and that was so wonderful as well.  I enjoyed all of Ten's numbers and her poems as usual.  One other fun fact, is that Ten mentions a quote from one of my other favorite series, The Arcana Chronicles by Kresley Cole.  I really just fangirl  myself when it seems an author is giving shout outs to other authors and their awesome books.  Also, we get a tour of Myriad in this book, making me realize we didn't ever know exactly what it was like, and wow, it was so bizarre!

I guess to wrap this all up, if you haven't started this series, go get it now!  If you are ready for this book, get your hands on it as soon as you can, to find out how things will go down, and immerse yourself in the beautiful worlds Showalter has created.   


 

And don’t miss the first two titles in this stunning series, FIRSTLIFE and LIFEBLOOD! Grab your copies today!

(You can check out my reviews of the first two books by clicking on their titles in the paragraph above.)  

GET YOUR COPY OF FIRSTLIFE HERE! GET YOUR COPY OF LIFEBLOOD HERE!

       

ORDER EVERLIFE AND GET A FIRSTLIFE POSTER!

Order* a digital or print edition of EVERLIFE by Gena Showalter and get a FIRSTLIFE poster in .pdf format from Gena! Each entry* will also be entered for the chance to win a Grand Prize! Grand Prize consists of a signed copy of FIRSTLIFE and LIFEBLOOD, Betsey Johnson purse, Rebecca Monroe Bear cap, and Sparkling Zebra necklace!

     

EVERLIFE is now available in print and eBook!

Just CLICK HERE, scroll down, and then enter your name, age, email address, and the order number from your digital or print edition order receipt to receive your FIRSTLIFE poster in .pdf format! All entrants will receive the FIRSTLIFE poster in .pdf format on March 4, 2018 through email using the email given when the entrant filled out THIS FORM.

iBooks entries should be screenshot and uploaded or the entrant will have to wait until they receive their confirmation email to fill out the form.

**This opportunity will stay available for readers to enter through 11:59pm EST on March 3, 2018 in order to allow everyone a chance to enter. See Official Rules for details.**

*Alternate method of entry available. No purchase necessary to enter to win. See Official Rules for details.


About the Author: 
Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of the spellbinding Lords of the Underworld and Angels of the Dark series, two young adult series--Everlife and the White Rabbit Chronicles--and the highly addictive Original Heartbreakers series.  In addition to being a National Reader's Choice and two time RITA nominee, her romance novels have appeared in Cosmopolitan (Red Hot Read) and Seventeen magazine, she's appeared on Nightline and been mentioned in Orange is the New Black--if you ask her about it, she'll talk for hours…hours!  Her books have been translated in multiple languages. 

She’s hard at work on her next novel, a tale featuring an alpha male with a dark side and the strong woman who brings him to his knees. You can learn more about Gena, her menagerie of rescue dogs, and all her upcoming books at genashowalter.com or Facebook.com/genashowalterfans    

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

   

Release Blitz: Misadventures of a College Girl by Lauren Rowe

 

Misadventures of a College Girl, an all new standalone romance by Lauren Rowe is NOW AVAILABLE!!

   
***MISADVENTURES ARE STANDALONE ROMANCES THAT CAN BE READ IN ANY ORDER***

Straitlaced freshman Zooey Cartwright has arrived at UCLA determined to have a heck of a lot more fun in college than she did in high school. What’s the first item on Zooey’s agenda before classes start in two days? Losing her pesky V card. She’s definitely not looking for a boyfriend, so where can Zooey find the right guy to do the deed and move along without a backward glance? At a party thrown by a bunch of football players, of course.

Enter Tyler Caldwell. A beast on the field and off, cocky as heck, and often wearing T-shirts with sayings like “God’s Gift to Womankind,” Tyler is most definitely not boyfriend material.

After a make-out session with Tyler leaves Zooey entirely unsatisfied, she is determined never to see him again. But her schedule lands her in not one but two of his classes, and it doesn’t take long before Tyler and Zooey have reached an arrangement for Tyler to teach Zooey exactly what she wants to know―and a whole lot more she never bargained for. Can Zooey surrender her body to this bad boy without giving him her heart, too?


 

Purchase Your Copy Today!
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2FkoIWd 
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2AsxE95 
ADD to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2CollegeGTBR

   

About Lauren Rowe

USA Today and internationally bestselling author Lauren Rowe lives in San Diego, California, where, in addition to writing books, she performs with her dance/party band at events all over Southern California, writes songs, takes embarrassing snapshots of her ever- patient Boston terrier, Buster, spends time with her family, and narrates audiobooks. Much to Lauren’s thrill, her books have been translated all over the world in multiple languages and hit multiple domestic and international bestseller lists. To find out about Lauren’s upcoming releases and giveaways, sign up for Lauren’s emails at www.LaurenRoweBooks.com. Lauren loves to hear from readers! Send Lauren an email from her website, say hi on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook by searching for @laurenrowebooks.

Connect with Lauren Rowe

Release Blitz with Review: Start Me Up (Man of the Month #4) by J. Kenner

RB_BANNER 

Start Me Up, the newest standalone in the Man of the Month Series by #1 New York Times bestselling author J. Kenner is LIVE!


Wicked days. Sinful nights.
Meet Mr. April.

A high school drop-out with only his twisted sense of humor and panty-melting good looks going for him, Nolan Wood has turned a small radio gig into a thriving career.

Now a local celebrity, Nolan never wants for female companionship. But he never gets too close. And he damn sure never lets them see the man—or the pain—behind the jokes.

Then a one-night stand changes everything.

Career-focused, goal-oriented, and buttoned-down accountant Shelby Drake isn’t the kind of woman who’d usually catch Nolan’s attention, but her soft mouth, hidden curves, and deep sensuality blow his mind. And after only one taste, he wants more.

But Shelby wants nothing more to do with him. And now the radio playboy is on a sensual mission to convince her that opposites really do attract.

Her pleasure is his passion.

**Start Me Up is part of a binge read series by New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Publishers Weekly, and #1 International bestselling author of the million copy Stark series, J. Kenner.
Each novel in the series is a STANDALONE romance with a guaranteed HEA!

AVAILABLE NOW

Read Today!

Google Play: http://bit.ly/2CHtAlc
Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2Au0GEp

My Review:
My rating:  4 stars

If you remember, I read the third book of the series earlier this month, Need You Now, and while I enjoyed it, I wasn't thrilled with it.   My thoughts after reading this next book in the series, Start Me Up, is that it must have just been that I didn't connect with those characters, because I really, really liked this one!  I sped through this one, as I could barely put it down.  I'd tell myself only one more chapter before bed, but then I'd look up at the clock and realize that I hadn't stopped and I needed to go to bed.  

This story was just as sweet as the other one, but the humor in it really stood out for me.  Maybe it is because I related more to the female main character, Shelby.  She was worried about how people saw her because of her job.  As a high school librarian, a former middle school teacher, I totally have to be concerned about my social media presence and how people see me.  Maybe it is because I love to hang out with people who have the raunchy, tongue-in-cheek humor of our male lead, Nolan.   Another reason I might have loved the story is that it started off with a scene in a sex toy shop, and that reminds me of so many other stories and tv shows that I love.  

One of the issues I had with the last story was how many side characters there were, and trying to keep them straight.  This one was a bit better, probably because I did read the last one, and I assume they'll get better as we go along, as I get to know more of them through the stories themselves.  I definitely liked this one a lot, and it is definitely got me excited to read on for the next stories.  Based on the two stories I've read, I'm going to have to say that Mr. April has my vote, and would be the calendar page I'd probably want to leave hanging up all year, so far that is.

I've also realized, yeah, maybe I'm slow, that the titles are lines from songs.  And so whenever I say them in my head, the song, that line specifically plays in my head and gets stuck for a while.  This time it is the Rolling Stones, whereas last time it was INXS.   

TEASER_4.1

Start the Series of Standalones Today!

Down On Me
Amazon Universal: myBook.to/DownOnMe
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2iNkziM
Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2jd6hs6


About J. Kenner

J. Kenner (aka Julie Kenner) is the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, Wall Street Journal and #1 International bestselling author of over seventy novels, novellas and short stories in a variety of genres.

Though known primarily for her award-winning and international bestselling erotic romances (including the Stark and Most Wanted series) that have reached as high as #2 on the New York Times bestseller list, JK has been writing full time for over a decade in a variety of genres including paranormal and contemporary romance, “chicklit” suspense, urban fantasy, and paranormal mommy lit.

JK has been praised by Publishers Weekly as an author with a “flair for dialogue and eccentric characterizations” and by RT Bookclub for having “cornered the market on sinfully attractive, dominant antiheroes and the women who swoon for them.” A five time finalist for Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA award, JK took home the first RITA trophy awarded in the category of erotic romance in 2014 for her novel, Claim Me (book 2 of her Stark Trilogy). Her Demon Hunting Soccer Mom series (as Julie Kenner) is currently in development with AwesomenessTV/Awestruck.

Her books have sold over three million copies and are published in over twenty languages.

In her previous career as an attorney, JK worked as a clerk on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and practiced primarily civil, entertainment and First Amendment litigation in Los Angeles and Irvine, California, as well as in Austin, Texas. She currently lives in Central Texas, with her husband, two daughters, and two rather spastic cats.

Connect with Julie:

Website: www.jkenner.com

Blog Tour: Sweet Dreams (Beach Squad Series #1) by Marika Ray


Title: Sweet Dreams
Series: Beach Squad Series #1
Author: Marika Ray
Genre: Romance 
Release Date: February 22, 2018
 
A romance so sweet it’ll give you a cavity…

After the devastating loss of my parents when I was in college, I vowed to focus all my energy on fulfilling my promise to my mom: to open up the hot chocolate store we’d always dreamed of running together. 
No distractions. My plans are set.
But things heat up faster than I can handle when a bronzed lifeguard pursues me in the most delicious of ways. Mix in a stalker determined to throw me off my game, and a comical, ass-kicking Beach Squad (okay, ‘squad’ is a littler over the top…it’s just me and my two best friends)…well, then you have a situation that requires a level of bravery I don’t know if I possess.
I may appear to be a damsel in distress, but I can save my own damn self, thank you very much. And I might just keep that hottie lifeguard as the whipped cream on top of my sweet dreams.
***Warning: this book contains references to sexual assault. 18+ strong adult content. Oh, and cursing. Let’s not forget the cursing.***
Marika Ray spends her time behind a computer crafting stories, walking the beaches of southern California scoping out the lifeguards, and making healthy food for her kids and husband whether they like it or not. Prior to writing novels, Marika held various jobs in the finance industry, with private start-up companies, and then in health & fitness. Cats may have nine lives, but Marika believes everyone should have nine careers to keep things spicy.
Marika enjoys writing all types of fiction novels, based on what inspires her. Right now she's working on stand-alone romances in the Beach Squad series, all about California lifeguards and their equally fearless women. Moderate suspense, a splash of humor, and lots of steamy romance...all with the beautiful ocean as a relaxing backdrop!
If you’d like to join the Beach Squad, getting access to frequent sneak peeks and access to Handcuffed Hussy (a novella in the Beach Squad series), simply sign up here: http://eepurl.com/db7W6z
More information can be found at www.marikaray.com

HOSTED BY:

Monday, February 26, 2018

Blog Tour with Giveaway: Mercury Rises by Scarlett Kol


Book info:
TitleMercury Rises  
Author:  Scarlett Kol
Publication Date:  February 13th, 2018
Publisher:  Inkspell Publishing
Genre:  YA Dystopian

Synopsis:

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A girl looking for a way out.



Being the daughter of New America’s leader, Mercury Masters has everything a girl could want. A glamorous life full of beautiful people, and the power to have anything she wants, except for one thing—to escape. Because Mercury’s perfect life comes with secrets to keep. Dangerous secrets that if made public would destroy her, her family, and her father’s reign. Then she meets Hawk.



A boy looking to be a hero.



Hawk, a handsome prep school dropout turned vigilante, has his own family secrets. Deadly secrets that have haunted him since he was fifteen. But instead of fighting the ghosts of his past, Hawk has assembled a group of misfit hackers and thieves to save the future from the corrupt government of New America and the mysterious virus that is killing off its citizens. But trying to do the right thing is tough when the person you really want to save is your enemy’s daughter.



A love that could kill them both.



Powerful forces keep them apart, but coming together could be the key to saving New America from destruction—even though it may cost both their lives.



A near-future YA biopunk retelling of Robin Hood.



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Link to Goodreads:




Purchase Links


About the Author:
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Scarlett Kol grew up in Northern Manitoba reading books and writing stories about creatures that make you want to sleep with the lights on. As an adult, she's still a little afraid of the dark. Scarlett now lives just outside Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada with her husband and two boys, but if you need to find her she's likely freezing at the hockey rink.













Giveaway:
 


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·       One (1) winner will receive a Stella and Dot "On the Mark" Arrow Necklace and a $20 Amazon gift card (INT)


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sunday, February 25, 2018

Promo Post with Giveaway: Nominate A Pirate at Pembroke by Danielle Thorne in the Kindle Scout Contest

 
A Pirate at Pembroke by Danielle Thorne  

A Jane Austen-inspired Pirate Romance

Sophie Crestwood is never going to catch a husband, and she isn’t even sure she wants one. Her father is a gossip, her mother always has her nose in a book, and little Jack has shamefully been dismissed from boarding school. Worst of all, a pirate moves next door into Pembroke Hall! 

When Sophie’s sent to a matchmaking party at a neighboring estate, the pirate from Pembroke arrives and distracts everyone from the summer festivities. Unguarded, her feelings about the mysterious Captain Murdock bloom into a trusted friendship that Sophie fears may come to mean much more than anyone would ever suspect. Keeping company with a reputed pirate is one thing but falling in love with him could ruin the eccentric Crestwood family for good.
 
Danielle Thorne's book A Pirate at Pembroke is up for nomination in the Kindle Scout Contest.  

Please vote for her book!  

If Kindle Scout selects A Pirate at Pembroke for publication you'll get a copy of the book for free!  

Excerpt:

The sad sonata continued its siren's call. It echoed a passionate and haunting melody, just like the dark halls of Pembroke with its soiled paintings of aristocrats from long ago. Sophie examined the chamber doors through the gloom and decided the door to the second room on the left was slightly ajar with a dim light shimmering around it. She moved in silence to the small gap and caught her breath.

Captain Murdock stood in front of a languid fire burning beneath a marble mantel. One bare foot was balanced on a low, milking stool nestled up against a heavy, velvet-covered chair. The other kept time on the floor. With his cane leaning against the fireplace, Murdock stood balanced on his own. In his hands, a violin tucked underneath his chin swayed. It moved in time with his body as he performed a strange dance to the music. His profile in the firelight was sharp and clear. He stood slender and tall. In these private bedchambers, half-dressed in loose buckskin breeches and an untucked shirt open at the neck, he did not seem as rigid and menacing as before. From his dreamy stare, his thoughts were somewhere inside the flickering blue and orange flames. The reflection of the firelight made his pale eyes glow.

Sophie noticed his hair was undone. It hung far past his neck, with slight waves resting on his broad upper back on either side of his shoulders. She put a hand to her mouth realizing it had fallen open, and at the same time, that it was scandalous to spy on her host. She swallowed and stepped away. The music stopped in mid-cry. Her heart jumped in her chest, and for a brief pause, the only sound to be heard was her own loud breathing. She stepped back and pivoted on her heel.

Horrified he might have felt her examination, she strode down the rug-lined hallway as quietly as she could, but each footfall sounded like muffled thunder as she hurried back to the stairs. She reached the banister and slipped down the first step, but her shift snagged on something, and she spun about to free it.

Captain Murdock stood behind her, silent. He held a handful of her shift in his fist. She had not snagged it after all. Rather, he had snagged her. She jerked in surprise, but his hold kept her from falling backward and tumbling down the stairs. His other hand trembled as it balanced precariously on a carved dragon head at the top of his cane.

"What do you think you are doing?"

"I… I heard music and followed it."

His eyes blazed with accusation, and it unnerved her.

"I'm so sorry," she said in a choking voice. Her nose tingled again. She touched it with her fingers to make it stop.

"It's not possible you heard music from all the way down in your room."

Sophie took a nervous breath. He stood there, one step above her like a giant, her bedclothes gripped in his hand so tight it shook. She hadn't heard him shuffle down the hall after her. He moved as silent as a ghost when he wanted -- even with a cane. She found the courage to meet his penetrating gaze. "I did hear something from my room. Then I was in the hall."

Captain Murdock waited for a long pause, while the dust they had stirred up in the rugs pirouetted in the air and into Sophie's eyes and nose. "You should not be out of bed," he said.

Sophie swallowed down her frightened apprehension. She tried to beg his pardon, but her lungs failed her, and she coughed in reflex. She covered her mouth with her fingers. "I'm so sorry," she repeated between them, her cheeks hot with humiliation. She stared at the fistful of her garments he'd snatched, aware his eyes examined her from her straight, waist-length hair down to her naked ankles. With a jerk, he dropped her shift like it burned his hand.

"Go to bed," he said in a quiet voice.

Sophie's nose had not quit tingling and itching. "Yes, sir," she said at once, but not soon enough to keep a sneeze from erupting. It came so fast and without warning, she had no chance to catch it before it doused him with all her rejection.

Horrified, she stumbled down the next step, thankful the old handrail held fast. When she glanced back, he was wiping off his shirt with a look of disgust.

     


About the Author:
 
Danielle Thorne is the author of classic romance and adventure in several genres. She loves Jane Austen, pirates, beaches, cookies, antiques, cats, dogs, and long naps. She does not like phone calls or sushi. A graduate of Ricks College and BYU-Idaho, Danielle saw early work published by Every Day Fiction, Arts and Prose Magazine, Mississippi Crow, The Nantahala Review, StorySouth, and… you get the idea. Besides writing, she’s edited for both Solstice and Desert Breeze Publishing. Her growing blog, The Balanced Writer, focuses on writing, life, and the pursuit of peace and happiness. Currently, Danielle freelances as a non-fiction author while waiting to hear from readers like you through her website. During free time, which means when Netflix is down, she combs through feedback and offers virtual hugs for reviews. A Pirate at Pembroke is her newest release. Her non-fiction book, The Story of Queen Victoria 200 Years After Her Birth, is coming fall 2018. 

 

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