Audio Release Tour – Toccata Obbligato – Jennifer Theriot

Toccata Obbligato~Serenading Kyra

 by
Jennifer Theriot

GENRE: Contemporary Romance

COVER DESIGINER:  The Graphics Shed

PUBLISHING DATE: March 10, 2016 (audio book)

Toccata Obbligato is a companion novella to the Out of the Box series.

Todd O’Malley has been called many things, from filthy mouthed jerk to legendary Rock God. With his outlandish cocky demeanor – tatted up and pierced, compared in looks to Adam Levine – his constant use of the F-bomb, and the seductive gyrations he performs for the ladies on stage, affirm he is a man every woman craves. But there is only one woman who is able to capture his heart, Kyra Edwards.

That chance meeting at a little coffee shop in Evanston began their journey of compromise, pain, dedication and love.

From the night he took her virginity to Todd’s past sex-capades and consequences threatening their relationship, will Kyra be able to deal with it? With Todd and his band Avenue touring on the road, can he prove to Kyra that he is a changed man? Can he be faithful and avoid temptation?

Jennifer Theriot brings us yet another love story that will capture our hearts. This is truly a story of Beauty and the Beast, where we admire the beauty that is Kyra and adore the beast known as Todd.

You loved him in Out of the Box Awakening and Out of the Box Regifted. In the pages of Toccata Obbligato ~Serenading Kyra, you’ll get inside his head – see what makes him tick and get to know the woman who captured his heart…… 

Click here to enjoy a small sample of a beautiful song by Mark Odom, a very talented musician who put music to the lyrics and performed the song for Jennifer’s book.

Click here to hear an excerpt of Toccata Obbligato by Jennifer Theriot.

AUDIBLE ✯ AMAZON US

Zachary Liebenstein

 

When did you come to the realization that this was something you wanted to do?

 

2015 – It was always an idea that floated around in my head, and people always encouraged me to do it, but it was not until recently that I actually pursued it!

How long has you been doing narration/producing?

6 Months, I am quite new but progressing very quickly!

Is there any type of book you WON’T narrate? If so, why?

Only books that require accents I can’t do 😉

How many times does you normally read/record a chapter before you’re satisfied?

Depending on the difficulty of the book sometimes the first chapters might be recorded more often to get attuned with the author and how they want it done, then it becomes easier!

Can you work with a cold?

Nooooooo…. generally not. Snotty, sneezy, coughy, or raspy voice makes it not worth the time to record.

How long did it take to make this audio book?

This audiobook ended up being about 3x the length of the total finished recorded hours!

How many audio books can you make in a month?

This greatly depends on length! Generally, full length 10 hour novels I can do about 2 per month with other projects and various other jobs included.

Do you prefer to read male or female characters?

I prefer male because I am male, but I’ve developed many female voices and do not mind at all!

Do you use this newfound fame to pick up ladies?

I do not need anymore help in picking them up 😉 I’ve always been able to use the “I play guitar, bass, violin, and keyboard” card if I needed any help :p

Do you ever identify with the characters you narrate? If so, how?

I identify a LOT with many characters! Typically I find many of the naughty romances and main characters that have a music background constantly have me thinking “hmmmm……that sounds familiar”

Does you have a significant other? If so, is she supportive of your narrating career?

I have a lovely girlfriend! We support each other in almost every decision the other makes, except what is for dinner sometimes….

Any favorite books you’ve narrated? What genre does you prefer to produce?

TOSK was incredibly fun and relatable for me, I love Todd’s character and his general adventure!! I suppose I prefer Sci-Fi, but my listeners prefer me to do romance, and I prefer to make them happy!

Do you find the authors difficult to work with?

Generally no, I don’t find many people difficult to work with as long as you possess the skills to communicate and put the effort in!

Any favorite authors you’ve worked with? If so, why?

Jennifer Theriot was fun, exciting and totally supportive while providing necessary direction to make the production great! Also, I love every author I work with!

Do you have a favorite project you’ve done and why?

It’s hard to pick a favorite! I generally choose to work on books that I enjoy, relate to, or challenge me. I have some projects coming up that are in the making, and are super character intense. I find the projects that require many different characters or challenge me to develop new voices are very fun!

Do you have a career other than narrating?

I do voice acting full time. I worked an office job since I was 18 until I was 25 doing IT work, customer service, customer relations, case management and various hardware troubleshooting. I’ve never knew what it felt like to do something you love for a job until now.

What are your hobbies and interests?

My whole life generally revolves around music. I am not fully happy If I don’t hear new good music often or If I don’t compose or play music often enough. I’ve played violin when i was younger for about 7 years then started playing guitar/bass, with keyboards here and there, drums occasionally, singing, and just using my computer to make techno/house beats for the last 10 years.

AMAZON US ✯ AMAZON CA ✯ GOODREADS

AWAKENING ✯ REGIFTED ✯ EVERLASTING

Jennifer Theriot hails from the Great State of Texas. She is a career woman, working as CFO of a Texas based real estate investment firm by day and does her writing at nights and on weekends. In her limited spare time, Jennifer enjoys being outdoors; preferably somewhere on a beach curled up with a good book. Spending time with family and friends, listening to music, watching a baseball game and enjoying a good bottle of wine are usually on her to-do lists. She’s mom to three grown children and ‘MiMi’ to three (soon to be four) grandkids – all of whom she adores!

Her best-selling Out of the Box Series, OUT OF THE BOX AWAKENING, OUT OF THE BOX REGIFTED, OUT OF THE BOX EVERLASTING and TOCCATA OBBLIGATO~SERENADING KYRA are currently available on Amazon.com.

Website ✯ Twitter ✯ Goodreads ✯ Amazon ✯ Facebook ✯ Authorgraph ✯ Blog ✯ Google+ ✯ YouTube

MoB Promos

magicofbookspromo@gmail.com

Author Interview – JC Clarke

AUTHOR INTERVIEW – MAGIC OF BOOKS PROMOTIONS

 JC Clarke

An author? Yeah, well I’m getting there, hopefully. 

I’m not really one for blabbing about myself, but I can give you a few starters, if you’re interested.

I’m a mum of four kids, two girls and two boys and I’m married to a wonderful man who puts up with my crap.

We live in an area near Southampton (UK) called the New Forest, which is very beautiful. There’s ponies, donkeys and wild deer and cattle all over the place, so it makes it very interesting living here at times.

I design for a living, but I am self taught, so I have a long way to go.

I’m a very down to earth thirty something year old and yeah, I dabble with writing.

Looking for ways to stalk me…hehe…

 

Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ The Graphics Shed

Tell the readers a little about you.

I’m a rather sarcastic and slightly insane woman of thirty (ish) and I totally blame my four kids (and hubby) for my mentality lol. I live in the south of England in a place called The New Forest and I’m not too far from where the Titanic was built. I used to be a stay at home mum, but now I’m a stay at home mum who runs her own graphics design and swag business.

What genre you mostly write in and why?

I’m happy to write any genre that appeals to me. The only genre I can’t write (or read for that matter) is horror/gore. Oh, and I won’t write anything involving dino or tentacle porn. lol

Tell us your latest news?

With the kids going back to school soon (does a happy dance) I will really be focusing my time in pushing my business forward and taking on a lot more work. I’ll hopefully be writing more, too.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Self confidence. I have zero amounts of it. Not just in my writing, but in my designs, too. I always find when writing, that I write for myself, so maybe people won’t like what I put onto paper. Will they hate it, is it too fast paced etc . . ?

What is your least favorite part of the writing process?

Fleshing out the storyline, adding descriptions etc . . . I love writing dialogue, but really struggle at descriptions. It’s all in my head, but getting it down on paper can be tough.

Describe your writing style in ten words or less.

Ooo, that’s hard! I cover so many genres . . . Eclectic, sarcastic, random . . .

Is there a message in any of your novels that you want readers to grasp?

With ‘Pain’, the content is pretty self explanatory. It’s all about a girl who’s fed up with the crap in romance novels these days. With The Northern Gate, although I don’t see it as a religious story, at it’s core, it’s about who mankind has twisted religion to suit their own needs, wants and desires.

What are your current projects?

I have The Eastern Shore ready for editing and I’m writing Carpe Diem (the second part to Pain) at the moment. Those are my big ones. I have a few smaller novella stories to tweak before they go into editing, too.

Can you share a little of your current work with us?

I have a few on the go, like always. The Eastern Shore is book 2 to The Northern Gate. It follows Tabitha now that she’s with Nathan and they’re not on Earth any more. It’s fun filled, but has some very serious points to it.

Carpe Diem is book 2 to Pain. This story picks up where Pain left off. It centres around Princess and her Prick-a-Doodle-Doo as they find a balance to work, they relationship and other things . . . as well as the blog posts that readers have loved so much.

Are there misconceptions that people have about your book?  If so, explain.

The Edelyn Legacy (The northern Gate etc . . . ) is built on misconceptions. Man’s idea of religion, twisting it to suit his way of thinking, to suit his way of life etc . . . Religion, at its core, is nothing like how it was first intended. I’ve always debated several aspects of religion, especially with my mother and although I’ve been baptized into the Mormon faith (still Christian), I’ve always questioned everything about any faith. Some things make perfect sense to me, others really, really, don’t.

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

Not really. Pain was very blunt and too the point. The second book should be out soon, hopefully, and then book three. After I’ve written them all, then maybe I’ll end up kicking myself about leaving things out etc . . .

Blog Tour – Reckoning – Lorenz Font

 

PRESENTS. . .

RECKONING

Book 4 of The Gates Legacy Series

by Lorenz Font

Release Date: June 4 , 2015

Published by The Writers Coffee Shop

Genre: FICTION / Romance / Paranormal

ISBN e-book: 978-1-61213-383-6

Available from: Amazon, Kobo, Barnes and Noble, and TWCS PH

~~SUMMARY~~

The vampires of New York City are breathing easier after the demise of the tyrannical former head of the Vampire Council, Goran. Under Rohnert, the revered and newly ascended leader, their future looks promising. However, an unknown enemy is manipulating events, killing humans and vampires alike, and exposing their secrets to the human world.

This is bad news for new vampire Cyrus and his band of fighters at Tack Enterprises. Events derail his plans to find Zane, the sadistic vampire who tortured Cyrus and forced immortality on him. Armed with hatred deep in his bones, all Cyrus cares about is getting even, and Zane has it coming. Cyrus soon finds himself torn between the crippling desire for revenge and his responsibility to his friends. When he begins to spend time in the company of the beautiful and pureblooded vampire, Isidora, her presence in his life makes him rethink his priorities.

Isidora is able to read minds. The thoughts she hears from the respected and irresistible vampire, Cyrus, are filled with both anger towards Zane and a deep admiration for her. Being closeted all her life, Issy has no idea what to do in the face of the outside world’s war, death, and challenges. One thing is clear. She craves Cyrus, but his need for vengeance is clouding his mind. After discovering a previously hidden family member and being called to serve the Council, Issy is at a crossroads in her life and struggles to find the right path.

Both vampires face tough choices. Should Issy pursue her feelings for Cyrus or wait until he can return her affection? Will Cyrus deny his attraction to Isidora so he can kill the man who made his life a living hell on earth? Every decision leads to a reckoning.

 

~~EXCERPT~~

With Isidora in his arms, Cyrus found comfort from the torture of his nightmares and his past. The warmth of her touch and the sweetness of her kisses made him think of nothing but the present and the desire he had long denied.

Cyrus had no idea how to take things between them. He had given her rough sex because he had been a jealous ass. If he’d been thinking clearly, he wouldn’t have done it. Yet he had given in to the intense need to possess her. Maybe, if he took things slow and started from the beginning, he could make do with the little kisses and touching. However, the tenting inside his pants was a cause for concern. It didn’t take long for her to notice.

Issy broke their kiss and smiled up at him. She had that gleam in her eyes, the kind that told him she knew what he was thinking. He rotated his hips, trying to create room between their bodies, but she refused to let him go.

“This is a good time to see if we can work things out.”

“Damn it,” Cyrus muttered. Was he ready? The answer was out of his hands. With the massive wood he was sporting, even a long dip in an icebox wouldn’t chill him out. His body needed Issy, and there was no doubt she wanted him, too.

“Cy, you can take charge of everything. We’ll go at your pace and on your terms. I’m here to enjoy the ride.”

This made him smile. “Even if the ride is bumpy?”

“As long as I’m with you.” She tightened her arms around his waist. “I don’t care how rough, how easy—just take me with you.”

Goodreads * Add to Want To Read List

Book Trailer

 

~~GUEST POST~~

You’ve written different variations of romance – what’s your favourite area of the romance genre as a whole to read?

I like reading a variety of genres, but it seems like the paranormal/fantasy romance can hold my interest longer than others. As a writer, this particular genre gives me the most room for movement within the story. I like creating new creatures, world-building and coming up with supernatural plots and twists. It’s quite liberating to experiment on another being’s reaction on top of dealing with the usual human emotions.

As a reader, it’s fascinating when the author takes me to a new realm, introduces new ideas and characters that stirs my imagination. I want to be taken to new heights, explore worlds, meet new creatures and understand different concepts.

A great hook for me is a well-written story with flawed characters where you are rooting for the hero/heroine until the very end.

I enjoy a good romance that takes time to build. Just because the chemical reaction is felt the moment the two gazed into each other’s eyes, there has to be the sexual tension. I want to experience the conflict as if I’m a part of the story. No rainbows and roses for me please.

I personally write what I love to read. As I mentioned earlier, I particularly enjoy tortured characters that may not be the best at sharing their secrets, in expressing their thoughts effectively, and even walking away as a sacrifice. I want to root for them and feel their pain.

It doesn’t hurt if there is humor in the midst of all the turmoil to break the tension. That is a plus for me as a reader. A satisfying journey for me is to fall in love with the characters and to cheer for them until the last page. This is a time well spent in the author’s world.

~~ABOUT THE AUTHOR~~

Lorenz Font discovered her love of writing after reading a celebrated novel that inspired one idea after another. She is currently enjoying the buzz from her vampire novels Hunted,Tormented and Ascension, Books 1-3 of The Gates Legacy Series, Feather Light, an erotic romance, Indivisble Line, a romance thriller and Pieces of Broken Time, a military romance.

Lorenz’s perfect day consists of writing and lounging on her garage couch, aka the office, with a glass of her favorite cabernet while listening to her ever-growing music collection. She enjoys dabbling in different genres, with an intense focus on angst and the redemption of flawed characters. Her fascination with romantic twists is a mainstay in all her stories.

Lorenz lives in California with her husband, children, and two demanding dogs. She divides her time between her full-time job and her busy writing schedule.

 

CLICK PICTURE OR RAFFLECOPTER LINK HERE TO WIN!

 

~~CONNECT WITH THE AUTHOR~~

Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads * Website

~~OTHER TITLES IN THE SERIES~~

 

Blog Tour – TWELVE – T. M. Franklin

The action-packed conclusion to the MORE Trilogy is here!

 

Ava Michaels is gifted, powerful, and — whether she likes it or not — part of a plot to take over the world.

It’s only been a few months since Ava Michaels discovered she has ties to an ancient people living in the shadows of the human world, despite their superior gifts and abilities. A select few don’t like hiding, however, and think it’s time to take control.

Now Ava’s caught up in a conspiracy in the works before she was even born. In fact, her birth was an integral part of the plan. She’s one of the Twelve, the most powerful Race ever created, and they were created for a purpose.

Turns out, Ava doesn’t like being told what to do.

All she wants is to start a new life with her boyfriend, Caleb Foster, but before they can even think about that, they must join forces with former enemies, seek out some powerful new friends, and figure out what exactly the Twelve, and their power-hungry leader, are up to.

Then, they have to find a way to stop them.

Add TWELVE to your Goodreads Shelf!

 

The Guest Post:

The End of MORE

“How does it feel to end a series after such a long time writing it?” 

It’s a question that a lot of people have asked me recently, for obvious reasons. The MORE Trilogy has taken up a lot of my time and effort over the past three-plus years, and it is difficult – a little bittersweet – to let it go. The characters have become like friends to me, in a lot of ways. I mean, I’ve spent more time with them than with some of my real life friends!

It’s strange to think that I won’t be writing any more about Caleb and Ava, but at the end of TWELVE, I believe we leave them in a pretty good place. Those crazy kids are going to be okay, I think.

Still, I think there might be more to tell.

I’ve been kicking around an idea for a story featuring our favorite Protector, Tiernan Ross.

“Three miles south-southwest,” he said, stuffing his phone back in his pocket. “I think we better go my way.” He held out his arms, and Tiernan’s eyes widened. 

“No way. You know I hate shifting.” 

“Come on, we don’t have time for this.” Caleb waved him forward with both hands. “It’s perfectly safe.” 

“Yeah, spreading my atoms all over God’s creation is safe. Right.” Tiernan backed away and turned to run.

Caleb beat him to it, shifting to stand right in front of him. 

Tiernan stopped short but not before bumping right into Caleb, who grabbed him and held on tight. 

“You might want to close your eyes.” 

“No!” 

But it was too late. 

Caleb shifted them not quite three miles but close enough. They materialized on a heavily wooded hill, and through the trees, he could make out a lake to the west. 

“Damn it, Foster.” Tiernan stumbled out of his hold and bent over, placing his hands on his knees as he retched onto the damp earth.

“I told you to close your eyes.” Caleb popped an R-cube into his mouth and started toward the lake. “Come on. We need to get going. I can feel her. She isn’t far.” 

Tiernan wiped his mouth and started after him. “Wai—” 

A fireball shot over their heads and slammed into a tree, and the dry pine needles erupted in flames. 

Tiernan cursed and ducked down to run toward Caleb, who was hunkered behind a large rock. “Looks like we’ve got company.” 

“Yeah.” Caleb peered over the top of the rock. 

“You see Ava?” 

Caleb dropped back toward the rock as another fireball shot past, closer than the last. “No. There are two of them, though. Christopher—”“The pyro?” 

Another fireball hit the rock in response. 

• TWELVE, Chapter 14

How can you not love him? I really don’t know if I can leave Tiernan behind with the end of TWELVE, so it’s possible I’ll write a stand alone story for him at some point in the future. I’m not sure exactly when, or how long it will be, but I have a few ideas, so I think something will eventually come of it.

So the answer to the question about how it feels to end a series is one I didn’t expect when I started MORE. It doesn’t really end. If there are more stories in the MORE universe that come to mind, I’ll write them. Who knows what the future holds? Although I’m saying goodbye to Caleb and Ava, that doesn’t mean we’ll never hear from them again.

That’s one of the best parts of being a writer. The stories never end. 🙂

BTW – I LOVE the idea of a story about Tiernan – Mich x

 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes | TWCS Publishing House

 

If you haven’t read the first two books, now is the time – all three books are ON SALE for a LIMITED TIME on select platforms!

MORE – Amazon | TWCS | iTunes

The Guardians – Amazon | TWCS | iTunes

T.M. Franklin started out her career writing non-fiction in a television newsroom. Graduating with a B.A. in Communications specializing in broadcast journalism and production, she worked for nine years as a major market television news producer, and garnered two regional Emmy Awards, before she resigned to be a full-time mom and part-time freelance writer. Her first published novel, MORE, was born during National Novel Writing month, a challenge to write a novel in thirty days. MORE was well-received, being selected as a finalist in the 2013 Kindle Book Review Best Indie Book Awards, as well as winning the Suspense/Thriller division of the Blogger Book Fair Reader’s Choice Awards.

 

In addition to MORE and its sequel, The Guardians, Franklin penned the Amazon best-selling short stories A Piece of Cake and Window, which also won a Blogger Book Fair Reader’s Choice Award for Short Story/Fantasy. Her new YA romance, How to Get Ainsley Bishop to Fall in Love with You, is Franklin’s first love story without a paranormal or fantasy element, although she believes love is the best kind of magic.

 

TWELVE, the final installment in the MORE Trilogy will be released October 9, 2014.

 

Connect with T.M. Franklin

 

Website | E-mail | Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | Pinterest | Goodreads

 

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Blog Tour – The Land of the Shadows – Lissa Bryan

 

The Land Of The Shadow

 

The End Of All Things II

By 

Lissa Bryan

Release Date: 21st August 2014

Genre: Dystopian

ISBN e-book: 978-1-61213-264-8

Published by: The Writers Coffee Shop

 

Available from: Amazon, Kobo, Barnes and Noble, and TWCS PH

Summary:

After surviving the Infection and a perilous journey through the wasteland that was once the United States, Carly and Justin have found a safe home in the isolated town of Colby.

 

Even so, balancing the duties of survival and a growing family isn’t easy. As they emerge as leaders, they face difficult questions about justice in a lawless land, basic human rights, and freedom in a world where strength defines worth. More than ever, they have to rely on one another for strength and support during the darkest of times.

 

The Crisis is far from over. Their fences won’t keep the world out forever, and a new threat is emerging—a gang of predators who see the town as easy pickings. When danger looms over Colby, Carly must decide how far she’ll go to protect those she loves. 

It’s a journey down the long and broken road through The Land of the Shadow.

Guest Post: 

Everyone is in love with Sam, he is a big favourite in your series. Do you have a strong love for wolves/dogs? Do you have a dog like Sam in your life?I do have a strong affinity for canines and I think that comes across in the books. Dogs and wolves are different creatures, of course, but their social structure and intelligence are similar. Exploring those similarities and differences has been one of the things that made writing this series so enjoyable.I’ve always had dogs in my life, from the time I was very young. All of them have been rescue animals, so I’ve dealt with dogs of a lot of different backgrounds and have seen their remarkable ability to adapt to their situations. They’ve taught me how attuned canines are to our body language—sometimes they know what we’re thinking even before we do.One in particular helped shape Sam.  She was the most intelligent canine I have ever encountered. Honestly, if I tried to put some of the things she did in a novel, no one would believe it. I get incredulous looks whenever I tell stories about her.

Most of my experience with wolves, has been from a distance —alas— since they’re extinct in this part of the country.  All I can do is watch nature videos and uploaded footage from wildlife rehabilitation centers, and read research papers on their behavior. Sam is special, but I wanted his behavior to be believable.

Carly knows that Sam isn’t a dog, and she carefully monitors his behavior for any danger signs. He was intensely socialized with her as a pup, so he’s bonded to his human “pack,” and he has a submissive nature. However, Carly has to always be alert when around others to make sure that Sam’s nature doesn’t cause problems.

Sam has been a great character to write about, and I’ve learned so much in my research. I’m really going to miss writing about him now that the trilogy has finished.

We got a little glimpse of how Carly met Sam in the first book, but we get to see a bit more of the scene in the second. I thought I share it with you here, a little sneak peek of The Land of the Shadow:

She passed by a small alley between the buildings, and a rattle made her jump and fumble for the nine iron tucked into the basket.

Behind one of the buildings was a pile of trash, and one of the bags was moving. Carly stared at it and watched as it shook. She railed at herself for being an idiot, even as her feet carried her forward. She was likely to see something awful on the other side of that bag, a rat maybe. She kept close to the wall until she was close enough, then craned her neck.

A small, black-brown ball of fur was pulling at the black plastic. Carly must have made a small sound, because it looked up at her, its blue eyes shining.

“A puppy!” Carly gasped. It was the first dog she’d seen in a long while. The news had said dogs and cats were just as susceptible to the Infection as humans. At the sound of her voice, the puppy ran toward her, and tears stung her eyes. It was so desperate at the sight of another living creature that it ran to her without hesitation, without fear. She bent to pick it up. It wiggled in her hands, licking every bit of skin within reach of its tiny pink tongue. Carly laughed and rubbed behind the little flopping ears.

The thing was so small, it couldn’t have weighed more than a pound or so. Her fingers felt little but bone and fur. She lifted it to peer underneath. A boy. His little paws swam in the air, and she laughed again. She smiled when he licked the tip of her nose . . . an honest smile. It felt like so long since she had done that.

She plunked the puppy into the child seat and pushed the cart back to her building. It took three trips to carry up all the bags up to her apartment one-handed, but she found she didn’t want to put the puppy down. She even held on to him as she put the food away into the cupboards.

She also talked to him while she worked, though she knew he could not understand. It didn’t matter if he didn’t understand. It felt good to let the words pour out of her, to tell someone else about what had happened. When her voice broke, he looked up at her with a curious tilt of his head.

“I’ll be okay,” she told him. She had to be okay now. She had another creature depending on her.

Her mind already on the things she’d need to get from the grocery store for him, Carly took her backpack from the closet and folded a towel in the bottom and zipped it up so he could poke his head out.

Back at the store, she felt no hesitation at entering, her mind on the supplies she needed: puppy food, flea and tick repellant, dewormer. She took almost as many supplies for the dog as she had for herself, she reflected with a grin as she carried her bags back to the apartment.

She spooned some of the mushy meat into the little plastic dog bowl she’d bought, and he attacked it. He was so small, he should probably still be drinking his mother’s milk, but this was the best she could do. He ate until his tummy bulged and then crawled over to curl up on Carly’s lap. He slept so soundly, he didn’t wake when she moved him over to the sofa where she could be more comfortable. She was surprised at how soothing she found petting the puppy.

The sun was setting when he opened his eyes and looked up at her with a little wag of his tiny tail. His expression was so sweet, so warm, hopeful, and trusting. It reminded her of Sam’s earnest expression in The Lord of the Rings, the last movie she and her father had watched together.

“Sam,” Carly said. She picked up the puppy to rub her cheek against his fur, and quoted Frodo’s words to him. “I’m glad you could be here with me, Sam. Here at the end of all things.”
Author Bio: 

Lissa Bryan is an astronaut, renowned Kabuki actress, Olympic pole vault gold medalist, Iron Chef champion, and scientist who recently discovered the cure for athlete’s foot…though only in her head. Real life isn’t so interesting, which is why she spends most of her time writing.

 

She is the author of three other novels, Ghostwriter, The End of All Things, and Under These Restless Skies.

Connect with Lissa Bryan on: Facebook, Twitter, Blog and Goodreads

Don’t miss out on this Amazing Rafflecopter Giveaway!

 

 

Praise for The Land of The Shadow:

 

“What a ride! Carly and Justin are people that I’d like on my side, and on the side of my community. I highly recommend this to anyone who wants a story that will keep you glued to your reader or flipping pages in a paperback just as quickly as you can.” –Kathie Spitz 

If you haven’t already, check out-

The End Of Things Book I

By 

Lissa Bryan

Available from: Amazon, Kobo, Barnes and Noble, and TWCS PH

 

 

 

 

 

Blog Tour – How to Get Ainsley Bishop to Fall in Love With you – T. M. Franklin

 

Seventeen-year-old Oliver Wendell Holmes (Yes, his parents are just that peculiar, but his brother’s name is Sherlock, so it could have been worse) knows that he’s different. He’s quirky, awkward, and he’s okay with that. Oliver also likes making lists-meticulous procedures for achieving his goals, step-by-step. Whether it’s “How to Get an A in Chemistry” or “How to Get Accepted to MIT,” he has a process, and it’s worked for him so far. He doesn’t even care that the popular kids mock him. Oliver’s got his eye on the prize.

So when he decides it’s time to declare his feelings for Ainsley Bishop, the girl of his dreams, it’s only natural for him to make a list-a point-by-point strategy to win her heart. He knows it will take a grand gesture for her to see all he has to offer, and her approaching birthday provides the ideal opportunity for Oliver to put his plan into action.

Finding the perfect gift is a challenge Oliver meets with his usual dogged determination. He’ll need to watch her carefully for clues to pinpoint exactly what he should give her. And along the way, he might just learn that what Ainsley really needs is not quite what he expected.

Ainsley is available now!

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Guest Post:

So…Where’s the Magic?

By T.M. Franklin

Anyone who’s read my books knows I love to include a supernatural/paranormal element in my stories. In MORE, it’s people with superior abilities and powers. In Window, it’s a girl who sees visions through her living room window. In A Piece of Cake, it’s a woman with a special gift to help people find their soul mate. So some wonder why How to Get Ainsley Bishop to Fall in Love with You doesn’t have that supernatural spin.

Well, I thought about it.

I knew that’s what people would expect, since that’s what I’ve given them so far. Even my logo tagline – Adventure, Romance, & a Little Magic – hints at it. I considered giving Oliver an ability of some kind.

Very briefly.

Here’s why. When I got the idea for Oliver, I was in between writing books #2 and #3 for the MORE Trilogy. I decided I wanted to tell the story of a boy who was a little different, the kind of boy who’d get teased in high school and doesn’t fit in. But I wanted him to be okay with that. That aspect is inspired by my own son. He’s not on the popularity bandwagon, and if people don’t like him, he’s fine with it. It’s not always easy, of course, but he realizes that it doesn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things.

That was the story I wanted to tell with Ainsley. That you can be different – unpopular or not part of the in-crowd – and have a great future and still end up with the girl. Because when I think about the people I went to high school with, a lot of them weren’t conventionally “popular.” I mean, who is, anyway? A small group of people, really. But after high school is when we realize that all that stuff is ridiculous and doesn’t matter in the real world. It’s something we try to teach our kids, but sometimes it falls on deaf ears. I mean, what could we know about being a teenager? We’re so old!

I thought about it and realized that making Oliver able to fly or read minds or something would take away from what I wanted to say. Oliver is special. He’s smart and funny and kind. He’s hard-working and loyal and goes after his goals with single-minded determination. He deals with bullies in his own way – sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking – and he’s a survivor.

He’s not only a survivor. He’s a thriver. And he didn’t need any special powers for that.

So in the end, as I told Mich, I decided to tell a story where the only magic is love. After all, isn’t that the best kind?

 

T.M. Franklin started out her career writing non-fiction in a television newsroom. Graduating with a B.A. in Communications specializing in broadcast journalism and production, she worked for nine years as a major market television news producer, and garnered two regional Emmy Awards, before she resigned to be a full-time mom and part-time freelance writer. Her first published novel, MORE, was born during National Novel Writing month, a challenge to write a novel in thirty days. MORE was well-received, being selected as a finalist in the 2013 Kindle Book Review Best Indie Book Awards, as well as winning the Suspense/Thriller division of the Blogger Book Fair Reader’s Choice Awards.

In addition to MORE and its sequel, The Guardians, Franklin penned the Amazon best-selling short stories A Piece of Cake andWindow, which also won a Blogger Book Fair Reader’s Choice Award for Short Story/Fantasy. Her new YA romance, How to Get Ainsley Bishop to Fall in Love with You, is Franklin’s first love story without a paranormal or fantasy element, although she believes love is the best kind of magic.

TWELVE, the final installment in the MORE Trilogy will be released in the fall of 2014.

 

Connect with T.M. Franklin

 

Website | E-mail | Facebook | Twitter

 

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

T.M. Franklin started out her career writing non-fiction in a television newsroom. Graduating with a B.A. in Communications specializing in broadcast journalism and production, she worked for nine years as a major market television news producer, and garnered two regional Emmy Awards, before she resigned to be a full-time mom and part-time freelance writer. Her first published novel, MORE, was born during National Novel Writing month, a challenge to write a novel in thirty days. MORE was well-received, being selected as a finalist in the 2013 Kindle Book Review Best Indie Book Awards, as well as winning the Suspense/Thriller division of the Blogger Book Fair Reader’s Choice Awards.

In addition to MORE and its sequel, The Guardians, Franklin penned the Amazon best-selling short stories A Piece of Cake andWindow, which also won a Blogger Book Fair Reader’s Choice Award for Short Story/Fantasy. Her new YA romance, How to Get Ainsley Bishop to Fall in Love with You, is Franklin’s first love story without a paranormal or fantasy element, although she believes love is the best kind of magic.

TWELVE, the final installment in the MORE Trilogy will be released in the fall of 2014.

Connect with T.M. Franklin

Website | E-mail | Facebook | Twitter

 

Blog Tour – Moon Over the Bay – Morgan Emerson

Moon over the Bay 

Summary

Nathan Wolfe is gorgeous, and your typical surfer guy with blond hair, blue eyes, and tanned muscle.  Looks like that should help him chase his dream of becoming an actor, but he’s had nothing but failed auditions for months. After confiding in his best friend that he’s been feeling a little lost, Kyle invites him to San Francisco where he’s been spending time with his girlfriend, Sadie. Nathan jumps at the chance in the hope that a change in scenery will lift his mood.

Jess Dempsey comes from a rich and influential family, and does have a liking for the finer things in life . . . like designer shoes and handbags. But she’s not your typical heiress to a fortune—she prefers to put her art history degree to work. Much to her parents’ dismay, Jess runs a successful business as an art agent, instead of taking her place in the family business. When her best friend, and most successful client, Sadie, asks a favor, Jess finds herself face to face with Nathan, and it’s lust at first sight.

But Nathan won’t be anyone’s playboy, he’s been there done that, and Jess has learned her lesson the hard way when it comes to pretty faces and their love of her wallet.

Excerpt

Chapter One

Nathan Wolfe dropped into the seat of his Mustang, throwing his messenger bag next to him. Another casting call, another waste of time. He was so sick of hearing the same things: you’re too tall, you’re too blond, you’re too all-American, you’re not dark enough, you’re not manly enough. He snorted. He could show those annoying casting agents a thing or two about manly. Didn’t matter anyway, Nathan would never see those people again. He was over this whole cattle-call audition process. He was starting to think he was over the whole acting thing.

He gassed it as he backed out of the parking space at the production offices in Burbank and roared toward home. Located on a mountain overlooking the San Fernando Valley, just north of L.A., it was Nathan’s favorite place. He shared the house with his best friend from college. Lately, though, it felt like he lived alone. Kyle spent all his time in San Francisco these days to be with the love of his life.

After pulling into the driveway, he was surprised to see Kyle’s Audi in the garage. Nathan smiled. Maybe a few beers with his friend would make the day better.

He climbed out of the car and walked in the side door. Kyle was sitting at the kitchen island using his phone. He was wearing a goofy grin, which of course meant he must be texting with his girlfriend.

“Hey, man, nice to see you home for a change,” Nathan teased as he sat his bag down.

“Hey, bro, how’s it going? Audition today?” Kyle asked, standing to give Nathan a welcoming hug. Something Nathan would never ever admit he needed.

“Yeah, it was crap though. Same shit as always. I’m too ‘whatever’ for the role. Today I was too ‘surfer.’ I’m kind of over it.” Nathan rolled his eyes before heading to the fridge.

“Ah man, that sucks. I’m sorry,” Kyle said absentmindedly as he went to sort through the mail.

“Eh, I’ll survive. Besides I’m almost too busy for auditions anyway. I’ve been buried with graphic-design work for a huge company website and some other marketing stuff that I almost forgot to do today.” Nathan twisted the cap off his beer and took a drink. “To be honest, I think I’m going to take a break from acting.” Nathan sighed. Kyle looked up from the mail and stared in shock.

“What? Why? I mean I know it’s been a while since you’ve had a job, but I know you’re going to land something awesome soon,” Kyle offered.

Nathan was always touched at the unwavering support Kyle gave him. They’d moved to Los Angeles after college because Nathan wanted to be an actor, and Kyle thought he could do it. Now years later, Nathan had nothing really to show for the few gigs he’d landed except his Mustang he bought with his first big check.

“Thanks man, I appreciate it. It’s been a rough couple of weeks and with you not here . . .” Nathan trailed off, shrugging. He really hated to sound needy, but Kyle and his dad were all the family Nathan had. Sure they texted all the time, but it wasn’t the same as when he and Kyle sat in the backyard and watched the sun go down. His auditions were getting to him lately; he’d even quit the dumb valet job he’d been suffering through, because hoping to get noticed by a casting agent wasn’t panning out anyway. He’d been spending more time on his graphic design business while he re-evaluated his life.

“I know . . . and I’m sorry for not being around, and now I’m packing up to head back up there tomorrow. I only came back to go into the office for some face to face meetings today,” Kyle said. Nathan fought the disappointment that flooded him. Another weekend in the house, alone.

“Hey, why don’t you come with me this weekend? I’ve got to come back for a big client meeting on Monday, so I’m not going to stay long. I even have somewhere you can stay,” Kyle said with hope in his features.

 Buy Links

The e-book has been exclusively released at Amazon for 90 days for $1.99

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Guest Post:

Short stories that grow . . . and grow

Ever read a book and wish you could read more? Okay, dumb question. Ever read a book and wish it were a series?

I’m a huge, huge fan of book series. I can never get enough of whatever I am reading. But for me, it never fails that one of the best personalities I become attached to in a book is a secondary character in a stand-alone book.

When I started out writing my first book, Talk to the Moon, it was as a short story intended for an anthology. The publisher came back and said, extend this and send it back. So I did. I wrote and wrote and ended up creating a couple of really fun secondary characters. Once Talk to the Moon was done, I couldn’t get Nathan, the best friend of the main protagonist, out of my head. I’m not sure what it was about Nathan, but I felt he needed a story. I thought his laid back personality would be fun to play off someone sassy. That’s how Jess from Talk to the Moon came in. Their chemistry was fun to watch play out, along with their other issues, in the second book in the series, Moon over the Bay.

The same with the other characters in Talk to the Moon, Katherine and Miles. I really loved how their story just clicked and flowed out of me in Sunrise. Their attraction basically wrote itself. Sunrise is the prequel to the series, but I actually wrote Sunrise after writing the first two books in the series.

As writers we have these people living in our head, which is very weird to admit, and some of these people just make themselves known loud and clear. The best part is I get to make a series the way I would want to read it. We meet new people in each book and get a look at how things are going for the previous characters. I personally think that’s super cool.

Do you guys prefer stand-alone books or series?

About the Author 

Morgan Emerson

Morgan Emerson’s a zoo keeper, a maid and a chauffeur on top of being a reader, writer and a daydreamer.

Morgan lives in the desert, on the outskirts of Phoenix, Arizona where she and her husband try to wrangle their three small children.  Her passion for reading started as a teenager, leading her to write poetry and short stories as an adult.

She was inspired by another stay-at-home mom turned author to start writing herself, and her favourite characters are Alpha males and sassy women.

http://www.morgan-emerson.com/

https://twitter.com/morgan_emerson

https://www.facebook.com/authormorganemerson

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A little about Bottom Drawer Publications 

Read whatever you want, wherever you want, whenever you want.​

Welcome to Bottom Drawer Publications. Our motto above says it all. Publishing both e-books plus print-on-demand for our novel-length books means that if you feel like something to read at any time of the day or night, you can download a reasonably-priced, quality book within minutes from your choice of booksellers, including our own digital shop. If you prefer to hold a paperback in your hands, our print-on-demand printer has presses in the US, UK, Europe and Australia, meaning shorter delivery times and lower postage costs to you.​

We are an inclusive publisher, believing love is love, which is why you won’t see a separate LGBT genre—we publish hetero and gay fiction in all of our romance sub-genres:​

Contemporary – Historical – Literary Drama – New Adult – Alternative Lifestyle
Paranormal – Sci-fi – Fantasy – Mystery -Thriller – Steampunk

http://www.bottomdrawerpublications.net

 

 

The Truth Seekers – Elizabeth M. Lawrence – Guest Post

Summary:

At the turn of the century, the Victorian upper classes live in a vibrant but strictly-ordered world that encourages gentle, intellectual pursuits. Theirs is a life of ease and elegance, but it can be snatched away from them in an instant if the rules of polite society are not followed. Gothic novelist Geoffrey Hawes has never been willing to let such restrictions hold him back, and he refuses to honor conventions for which there is no discernible value. When he spends a social season in a community created to celebrate the Arts, music, and philosophy, he is unexpectedly befriended by the daughter of the Governor, Miranda Claridge.

Bitter and disenchanted with the privileged and wealthy, Geoffrey finds his beliefs repeatedly challenged by the intelligent and vivacious Miranda. In the midst of their heated debates on the mores of the upper class, this unlikely friendship blossoms into a passionate love. He encourages her to pursue her interest in painting and gives her a new understanding of what relationships between men and women should be. Meanwhile, Miranda begins to open his eyes to all that is wonderful and beautiful and good in the world.

Geoffrey at last accepts that he has fallen in love with Miranda, but misunderstandings and lies come between them. Knowing that Miranda believes it is her duty to marry, he prepares himself to hear news of her wedding. Geoffrey attempts to escape the pain of her perceived rejection by traveling and throwing himself into his work. However, he cannot run forever. One day, he encounters Miranda again and soon discovers that she is not the same woman he left behind. Can the couple realize that they each must relinquish some of their prejudices and preconceived notions before it is too late? Can love really conquer all?

 

To celebrate the release of Elizabeth M. Lawrence’s debut novel, I decided to get her to talk us through the setting and characterisation of The Truth Seekers. Here’s what she had to say…

You’ve set The Truth Seekers in Victorian times. What was it about the era that you felt suited the story better than setting it in today’s society and did this thinking impact on creating a male main character rather than a female one?

In order to address this properly, I have to go back to the very beginnings of The Truth Seekers.

The manuscript originally started out as letters that the two main characters were writing to each other. The first “voice” I heard was the female main character, followed by a response from the male. The words just popped into my head one evening, so I wrote them down. I was left to figure out what had led these people into the conflict and how it would be resolved. This forced me to construct a story around that conflict. As my ideas developed, it soon became clear that this was really the man’s story. Miranda’s point of view was simpler, more accessible, and it didn’t need the kind of insight that the reader could get from showing events through her eyes. It had to be Geoffrey, then, who guided us through this world. His motivations and principles and feelings were not straight-forward; therefore, the reader needs to see what lies behind his words and actions. Without understanding Geoffrey’s thought processes, it is much more difficult to see him as a sympathetic or romantic character.

The era in which the story is set also contributes to this a great deal. Miranda’s world is very restricted, and there are limits to what she can get away with while staying true to her character. Geoffrey, as a man, is given far more freedom to behave badly and make all sorts of trouble. Because of Miranda’s personality, she is not going to rock the Victorian boat, no matter how many boat-rocking ideas may occur to her. Geoffrey is able to be the catalyst in their exchanges, and so focusing on him gives the story more depth and variety.

As to why the Victorian era, that is much easier to explain. The setting for the first half of this story is based upon a real location, Chautauqua Institution in New York State. This community was created during the Victorian period as a haven for the study of religion, philosophy, art, music, dance, literature, theater, and learning. It still exists today and is one of my favorite places to write. The grounds have been preserved in their Victorian glory as much as was possible, and so you can walk along the same streets, sleep under the same roofs, and experience the arts in the same buildings that were used over one hundred years ago.

When I wrote the initial exchange between Miranda and Geoffrey, the formality and structure of the language made it necessary to set it in the past. After that, choosing to set the story in a Victorian utopia for creativity and thought was not a great leap, although I took a great deal of creative license when approaching some of the details. However, Geoffrey’s small apartment really exists, as do the hotel, the grand mansion, the lakeside gardens, and the lecture hall that appear in the novel.

Although I enjoyed writing about a period and a location that fascinate me, I would not consider myself an historical novelist. Despite the considerable research I did while working on this book, The Truth Seekers is meant primarily to be a story of two people falling in love, and not a recounting of Victorian society. There are novelists out there who excel at historical fiction; I do not pretend to be one of them. My muse simply seems to enjoy excruciatingly precise syntax and the idea that two people can fall in love and help each other find something greater, despite the limitations of their era.

Author Bio:

 Elizabeth Lawrence is the author of both contemporary and period romances. Each book incorporates its own unique blend of humor and reverence, the peculiar and the mundane. In addition to her novels, Elizabeth serves as a freelance editor. A lifelong writer and former paralegal, Elizabeth divides her free time between her husband and two sons, her three cats, her collection of cozy murder mysteries, and her mildly severe caffeine addiction. A native of Lawrence, Kansas, Elizabeth now works from her home in Cleveland, Ohio.

Links:

About.Me: http://about.me/elizabeth.lawrence

Blogger: http://elizabeth-lawrence-author.blogspot.com/

Facebook (Page): https://www.facebook.com/ElizabethMLawrence.Author

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6475848.Elizabeth_M_Lawrence

Twitter: @ELawrenceAuthor

Buy the Book!

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Elizabeth-M.-Lawrence/e/B009FDEGIA/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_4

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/elizabeth-m.-lawrence

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/elizabethmlawrence

Diesel, a Book Store: http://www.dieselbookstore.com/search/kobo?author_filter=Elizabeth%20M.%20Lawrence

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/Search?query=Elizabeth%20M.%20Lawrence&fcsearchfield=Author

Sony Reader Store: https://ebookstore.sony.com/author/elizabeth-m-lawrence_426614

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/elizabeth-m.-lawrence/id566161709?mt=11

The Guardians – T.M. Franklin – Guest Post & Review

I’m excited to post this post as I stumbled across the first book in the series, MORE, on Netgalley. I didn’t get round to reading it straight away, but when i did, i instantly wanted MORE! (see what I did there?) I was so happy when the author told me that there were going to be further books in the series. And now it’s almost time for book 2, The Guardians, to be released. You can read my review of MORE here.

Summary:

Ava’s life is . . . Complicated

After all, it’s not every day a girl learns she’s not entirely human, or unlocks hidden powers strong enough to make even the First Race sit up and take notice. After surviving an attempted kidnapping and standing up to the Race’s Ruling Council, Ava Michaels returns to college and what she hopes is a normal life. But Ava quickly realizes that for her, normal may not even exist anymore.

In fact, the Council wants her under their control, and they’re not the only ones. The mysterious Rogues have a plan of their own, and it turns out Ava’s a big part of it, whether she wants to be or not.

On top of that, her new relationship is tested in ways she never expected. Her boyfriend, Caleb Foster, has disappeared—accused of betraying the Race—and Ava herself stands implicated in a crime she didn’t commit.

Clearing their names will mean uncovering a web of deceit and intrigue with Ava woven right in the center. To unravel the strands, she joins forces with some unlikely allies; a Protector who once haunted her nightmares, a young girl with secrets as unexpected as Ava’s, and a group of rebel Guardians who have their own fight against the Council.

Together they stand in a battle to find the truth, bring Caleb home, and secure Ava’s freedom—not to mention save her life.

Firstly, I asked T.M. Franklin about comments from readers that were her favourite to date. Here’s her response:

Reader Comments that Make Me Squeal, Scream, and Stand Up & Shout!

I think every author kind of reads reviews like they watch horror movies—huddled up on the couch and maybe peeking between their fingers. You know you need to look so you know what’s happening, but you’re not sure exactly what you’re going to find.

No matter how many times we authors remind ourselves that not everyone is going to like what we write, we still want them to! So, when we do get a positive comment, it’s like finally being able to breathe.

Mich asked me to share some of my favorite responses from readers. So, in no particular order, here are a few that especially touched me.

“I adored Ava. She was no whiny, complaining, faint of heart heroine.” –Andrea

I love it when readers love my characters – especially Ava from MORE and now, The Guardians. In her, I tried to create a strong heroine, but I wanted her to be relatable as well. She’s not perfect, and she doesn’t always make the right decisions. She does the best she can with the information she has at the moment. She’s brave, and she deals with whatever life throws at her (and believe me, it’s a lot!) with a put-on-your-big-girl-panties-and-deal-with-it kind of attitude. I love it when readers see that in her!

“I couldn’t put it down and found myself stuck in the story.” –Joc

To me, this is the highest compliment – for someone to become immersed in the story. It’s what every author wants. I know how much I love to find a book that I just can’t put down and can kind of get lost in. It’s such a thrill to hear from a reader who feels that way about my book. I’m a little awed and a lot humbled when I get a comment like this.

“I did not see any of the twists and turns coming, which made them all the more exciting.” –Karen, Quirky Gurl Media

This always gets a fist pump from me. I love it when people are surprised.

“I could imagine that people like this DO exist!” –TuliAnnie

I squeal when people say this to me, because that’s what’s fun for me when creating the world of MORE and the First Race. The whole idea is that it’s possible these people could be out there. There could be an ancient Race of superhumans on Earth who stay out of sight for the most part. Maybe they were responsible for Stonehenge or the pyramids. Maybe they lent a helping hand when we needed a vaccine for polio or a way to split the atom. There could be Half-Breeds living among us. When people are able to imagine that the MORE world could happen…well, then I feel like I’ve done my job. 🙂

 Really, though every comment and review from a reader is precious to me. That they took the time to give my stories a try, and then to tell me what they thought? Well, that’s pretty amazing, and I’m so grateful to every one of them. I’m not sure if readers (who aren’t authors) realize how much that feedback impacts an author. We sit in a little bubble for the most part, writing our words – and those reviews are the one time we get to hear if someone’s hearing what we’re saying. It’s invaluable, and so, so appreciated!

My Review:

It took me a little to get into this book because it had been so long since I’d read the first. So, i put it down and read MORE again. It really helped as there are so many quirky little details to this world and to The race, that are important to Franklin’s stories that they really should be fresh in your mind.

Caleb is as adorable as ever in this book. He still wears his ‘geeky’ face to those around him which endears him to me. I like my book boyfriends to be thinkers with a inner strength rather than out and out brawn. Although, he does have that too in his natural form, but that’s ok.

Ava is also a character that I enjoyed reading about. Unlike many heroines in this genre annoy me for a number of reasons, but not her. She’s sassy, knows her own mind, and fights for what she wants/needs/loves. Just how you want a female lead to be. I’m sick to death of the ‘damsel in distress – must be rescued by a hot, rich hunk’ types and Ava is as far from that as you can get.

The relationship between the 2 is tested when Caleb disappears and Ava is suddenly being accused of all sort of crazy stuff. The way Franklin writes most of this makes the reader consider both Ava and Caleb’s innocence. I mean, if they’re questioning themselves, then maybe they did do it… right?

I honestly can’t wait until the release of the next book because the world that Franklin has created is one that sucks you in and doesn’t quite let you go, even when the story is over. If you like a paranormal story that makes you consider it could be possible, sort of, then this is the series for you!

About the Author:

T.M. Franklin started out her career writing non-fiction in a television newsroom. Graduating with a B.A. in Communications specializing in broadcast journalism and production, she worked for nine years as a major market television news producer, and garnered two regional Emmy Awards, before she resigned to be a full-time mom and part-time freelance writer. After writing and unsuccessfully querying a novel that she now admits, “is not that great,” she decided to follow the advice of one of the agents who turned her down—write some more and get better at it. Her first published novel, MORE, was born during National Novel Writing month, a challenge to write a novel in thirty days.

She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, Mike, is mom to two boys, Justin and Ryan, and has an enormous black dog named Rocky who’s always lying nearby while she’s writing. Whether he’s soothed by the clicking of the computer keys or just waiting for someone to rub his belly is up for debate.

In addition to MORE and The Guardians, Franklin penned the Amazon best-selling short story, Window, as well as another short story, A Piece of Cake, which appears in the Romantic Interludes anthology.

Connect with T.M. Franklin

Website | Facebook | Twitter    | Goodreads

Last but not least, here’s a giveaway!

Take A Gamble – N. Wood – Guest Post

Summary:

Each Friday night, a mysterious man enters Blackjack’s Bar, orders the same drink, and sits in the same seat in the furthest corner. His presence is a welcome sight for Isaac Anderson, a regular bartender at Blackjack’s. There’s just something mysterious and intriguing about Caleb Miller that Isaac can’t ignore. Perhaps it’s his pale and sickly appearance, or the smart way in which he dresses. Isaac just can’t put his finger on what makes this man so different. Another thing he can’t do is stop staring at this fascinating, special person. Encouraged to take a gamble and to get to know this quiet stranger, Isaac invites Caleb to watch a rock band with him. All seems to be well, until Caleb suddenly makes a mad dash for the door.

 Caleb doesn’t know what to think when Isaac Anderson pursues him that night. A lifetime of rejection has taught him to expect the worst, but the attractive and warm bartender’s response to him confuses him. Isaac sees him at his worst, and Caleb is prepared to protect himself from judgment and heartache. He is shocked when he is instead given kindness and compassion. As Isaac continues to reach out to him, Caleb struggles with the choice to trust the new man in his life. Even if Isaac wants to build a relationship with Caleb, there are other people in their lives who would be happier if they stayed apart. And even if he  follows Isaac into his heart, it still may not be enough for Caleb to learn to accept himself.

Anger, judgment, distrust, and violence all threaten Isaac and Caleb’s newfound love. Their relationship faces too many challenges for either man to overcome on his own. Will taking a gamble pay off, or do they both stand to lose everything?

As part of the Take a Gamble blog tour, I have asked N. Wood to take part in a guest post. Here’s what she had to say:

How much research do you put into the subject matter of your books, or do you follow the ‘write what you know’ rule? 

I tend to do a bit of both. I like to set my stories in places that I know because that makes it much easier for me to picture them in my mind while I write and to help me to describe them more clearly so that the reader can see the locations too. 

My stories are mostly set in Cornwall, UK. I moved here in 2005, and it’s a truly wonderful place to live. You can drive from one coast of Cornwall to the other in 40 minutes, and there are so many beautiful beaches to explore.

(There was a gorgeous picture of a beach sunset taken by the author here, but no matter what I do, I can’t get it to post Apologies to N. Wood)

When it comes to the contents of my books, it’s always a mix and match of both what I know and what needs to be researched. With Take A Gamble for example: Isaac is a bartender in a pub in Truro. When I moved to Cornwall, the first job I got was working the bar at a rugby club, so I know how to pull pints and how to clean behind a bar. That made Isaac and his profession fairly easy to write. Whereas with Caleb, he is a music teacher at a college. I can’t play an instrument to save my life, so his career took a little research to get it right. 

(SPOILER) There’s a chapter in Take A Gamble where Isaac takes Caleb to the aquarium in Newquay for a date. That chapter is based on my birthday when my boyfriend took me there for the first time. My birthday is in January, so the aquarium was rather quiet, almost like a ghost town. Like Caleb and Isaac, we just wandered from tank to tank to see what was inside. While we were in the main shark tunnel, a staff member came out of his way to find us to say that he was about to feed one of the exhibits if we’d like to go with him to watch. The exhibit was the mantis shrimp which I described in the chapter, and we witnessed its feeding habits just as the characters did in my book.