Hound’s Bite-Cover Reveal/Excerpt/Giveaway

I am excited to reveal the cover for HOUND’S BITE, the fifth full-length novel in the Ivy Granger urban fantasy series by E.J. Stevens.  We also have a giveaway and a sneak peek book excerpt to share!

Cover Reveal: Hound’s Bite

 

 

Hound’s Bite (Ivy Granger, Psychic Detective #5) by E.J. Stevens

Ivy Granger thought she left the worst of Mab’s creations behind
when she escaped Faerie.  She thought wrong.

In a cruel twist of fate, Ivy has unleashed a powerful horde of
Unseelie beasts upon her city, turning her homecoming into a
potential slaughter of innocents.  Now Ivy must gather her allies to
fight a reputedly unstoppable force—The Wild Hunt.

Will the training Ivy received in her father’s court be enough to
save her city, or will Harborsmouth be forced to kneel before the
Lord of the Hunt?  She is willing risk her own life, but some
sacrifices come at a cost worse than death.  When an ally is bitten
by one of The Wild Hunt’s hounds, Ivy must face the possibility that
winning this battle may mean killing the one person she has come to
love most.

Release Date: July 12, 2016

Genre: Paranormal, Urban Fantasy

Add to Goodreads.

Hound’s Bite Book Excerpt

“Are you saying we should run?” I asked, eyebrows raised.  “Because you should know me better than that.”

“What he’s saying, Princess is that you woke up something too big for the three of us to defeat alone,” Torn said.

That made me pause.  We’d fought faerie queens, pyro demons, a
lovesick necromancer, and a psychotic lamia, to name a few.  I may not
have come through those battles unscathed, or with all my guts still on
the inside, but with my friends at my side, and a new arsenal of wisp
powers at my fingertips, I felt nearly invincible.

I looked to Ceff, hoping he’d grab his trident and join me for some
quick monster cleanup.  I may not be on the clock for this one, but I
didn’t let hungry fae prowl the streets of Harborsmouth.  And if Torn
was right, I’d somehow let this one follow us out of Faerie.  No way was
I turning tail, no matter how tired I was.

But Ceff didn’t reach for his weapons.

“We need allies,” he said.

“And larger weapons,” Torn said, with a wink.

The cat sidhe looked excited, which was a clue that I wasn’t going to like the answer to my next question.

“And what monster do we need to gather our allies and weapons against?” I asked.

“Haven’t you guessed yet, Princess?” Torn asked, eyes gleaming.  “We’re not just facing one howling beast.”

Ceff turned to me, closing the space between us.  In the moonlight,
I could see my reflection in the dark pools of his kelpie eyes—eyes
that were tight with worry.

“What are they?” I asked.

Ceff’s voice was low and reverent, and tinged with the taint of fear.

“The Wild Hunt.”

Hound’s Bite Cover Reveal Giveaway

To celebrate the Hound’s Bite cover reveal, we are giving away a $10 Amazon Gift Card!

To enter, please use the Rafflecopter form below.  This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL.  Giveaway ends February 23, 2016 midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What do you think of the cover?

E.J. Stevens is the author of 14 works of speculative fiction, including the Hunters’ Guild urban fantasy series, the Spirit Guide young adult paranormal series, and the award-winning Ivy Granger urban fantasy series.  She is known for filling pages with quirky
characters, bloodsucking vampires, psychotic faeries, and snarky,
kick-butt heroines.

Connect with E.J. Stevens by following her on Twitter, Facebook, Newsletter, Blog, Goodreads, and Amazon.

Altered Book Blitz

About ALTERED

A New Adult romance drawing on the author’s own experience studying law, the novel follows Liv, a young woman in her a first semester of law school. When her fiancé abruptly breaks things off, Liv is heart-broken.

Enter Nicholas, a classmate who is so withdrawn that he is an enigma to everyone around him. Nicholas is unusually young and unusually quiet, and keeps his past a tightly guarded secret.

While Liv is still reeling from her break up, Nicholas begins appearing in her life and coming to her rescue. Intrigued and grateful to this quiet young man, Liv becomes determined to unravel the mystery of who Nicholas is.

At first, I saw him as everyone else did.
But then, I saw him for who he really was.
Recognized the beauty beneath the pain.
Loved the quirks disguising the insecurity.
Embraced the man who hid behind the boy.
But there was so much more…
More I didn’t know.

And once I did, I couldn’t let
go…
Of the boy.
The man.
The lover…

…even if his past is threatening
our future.
Nothing will alter what we’ve built.

See the book trailer for ALTERED

Amazon – http://tinyurl.com/z46pxjt

B&N – http://tinyurl.com/jajgupe

iBooks – http://tinyurl.com/qd3ex49

Kobo – http://tinyurl.com/hgr3nsj

About the author 

Kelly Cain is a multicultural new adult and contemporary romance novelist. After many years of being entrenched in business and data analysis, she began writing a couple of years ago and discovered it to be her passion.  She loves reading most genres, but historical fiction and new adult are her favorites. She has two adult daughters, and is from Stockton, California, but now lives in a suburb of Houston, Texas.

Visit her: website, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram or Tumbler

Finding Lyla Book Blast

Ethan Cooke Security and their bodyguard team return to action in Finding Lyla – book ten in Cate Beauman’s Bodyguards of L.A. County series.

With over 4700 reviews and a 4.3 rating for the entire series, see why the Bodyguards of L.A. County is a multi-award winning series.

Buy It Now!

Amazon| Kobo |Nook |iBooks

New to the series? No problem! Each book in the “Bodyguards” series is a stand-alone title. Although reading the books in order is preferred, it is not necessary.  Each title features brand new primary characters and limited overlapping secondary characters.  Don’t hesitate to jump right in!

Principal Dancer Lyla Markovik-Avery is always on the go. Grueling practices and endless performances rule her busy days—and things are about to get more hectic. Russia is rolling out the red carpet for their beloved star, despite the string of violent terrorist attacks that have rocked the nation.

Bodyguard Collin Michaels’ life is falling apart. His long-time relationship recently ended. He’s trying to start over, but that’s easier said than done. Luckily, Collin has a new assignment on the horizon: keeping a beautiful ballerina safe for the next three weeks.

Collin finds comfort in Lyla’s easy friendship, but that all changes after a night out on the town. Simple feelings become complicated—something Collin can’t afford, especially when tragedy strikes and Collin realizes Lyla’s caught in the middle of a dangerous plot for revenge.

Collin and Lyla are forced to flee. They need to reach the border before it’s too late, but the odds are stacked against them in a country that wants them dead. With time running out, Collin formulates a risky plan that might be their only chance of making it out alive.

The Inspiration Behind Finding Lyla:

Typically I get my story ideas from crime documentaries or some sort of crime television program, but I can’t say that is the case for Finding Lyla. When I was coming up with ideas for this novel, I knew I wanted to tell a story about a hero that had struggled through some rough times and a heroine that had some unresolved issues of her own, but was soft, strong, and gentle all at the same time. During the summer months, I started paying close attention to the ongoing Russia/US conflict and Lyla and Collin assured me they wanted their story to revolve around an adventure that combined all of these elements together.

Read an excerpt from Finding Lyla:

Collin settled beneath the covers on his temporary bed as the dim glow of city lights radiated through the windows. He reached out, grabbing the remote off the coffee table he’d pushed off to the side, and flipped through several channels, stopping on SportsCenter. Scores and updates ticked by on the bottom of the screen, and he moved on, not all that interested in hockey stats.

He stopped again when the live footage from Saint Petersburg, Russia caught his attention. With the volume on mute, he searched for the closed caption button and sat up, reading the news report while the station switched back and forth between the newscaster and images of the police surrounding a trolleybus in the middle of a downtown street. The reporter spoke of a bomb discovered during the busy morning rush hour, mere miles from the plaza where dozens had been killed on New Year’s Eve. Luckily a citizen had been paying attention, and the explosive device had been deactivated, stopping another disaster.

Early reports were suggesting that the same rebel group responsible for the December thirty-first bombing, Chechen Freedom, had attempted to strike again. The news segment switched to snippets of the video released weeks ago, shortly after the slaughter of innocent civilians, where the masked men promised more violence in retaliation for The Federation killing one of their leaders. The man pointed at the camera, vowing to continue with his plans to destroy Russia until the regime relented and gave the Chechens back their country.

Sighing, Collin rubbed at his jaw. Why did he feel like he was walking into a losing situation? Everyday there was something new going on over there. If it wasn’t bomb threats and anti-American rallies, it was anti-Putin demonstrations outside the Kremlin walls, which often ended with tear gas and riot gear. And he and Lyla were only hours away from their late-afternoon flight.

The issues in Saint Petersburg weren’t necessarily one of his concerns. The city was a good nine hours away from their destination. It was the possibility of terrorist attacks in Moscow and Russia’s discord with the United States in general that had him on edge. The fact that Lyla was a dual citizen of two countries at odds had the potential to work for her…or very much against her. Only time would tell which way things were going to go, and they would be along for the ride while they waited to figure it out.

Did you enjoy the excerpt?  You can read the first chapter on my website, http://www.catebeauman.com, or you can finish the whole book with the links below!

Amazon | Kobo | Nook | iBooks

The Unofficial Finding Lyla Soundtrack

Music plays a HUGE part in my writing process. I typically listen to Pandora or YouTube while I create my stories and compile a collection of songs that I feel represent my characters or the situations they face as each novel unfolds. It’s a rare occasion that my creativity demands silence (And that’s a good thing. I’m a mother of two boys. Quiet doesn’t exist in my house.). I thought it would be fun to create a list of songs that ‘spoke’ to me while I wrote the Bodyguards of L.A. County series. You can listen to the “soundtrack” for each book on my website http://www.catebeauman.com.

The soundtrack, of sorts, for Finding Lyla:

• Today by Steve Moakler

• Beautiful Things by Gungor

• Teneferie Sea by Ed Sheeran

• Shut Up and Dance by Walk The Moon

• Anywhere but Here by Safety Suit

• Never Gonna Be Alone by Nickelback

• Nirvana by Sam Smith

• Don’t Deserve You by Plumb

• Unconditionally by Katy Perry

• You’re in Love by Taylor Swift

• Fight Song by Rachel Platton

About the author:

International bestselling author Cate Beauman is known for her full-length, action-packed romantic suspense series, The Bodyguards of L.A. County. Her novels have been nominated for the National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award, National Indie Excellence Award, Golden Quill Award, Writers Touch Award, and have been named Readers Favorite Five Star books. In 2015, JUSTICE FOR ABBY was selected as the Readers’ Favorite International Book Award Gold Medalist, while SAVING SOPHIE took the Silver Medal. SAVING SOPHIE was also selected as the 2015 Readers Crown Award winner for Romantic Suspense and FALLING FOR SARAH received the silver medal for the 2014 Readers’ Favorite Awards.

Cate makes her home in North Carolina with her husband, two boys, and their St. Bernards, Bear and Jack. Currently Cate is working on Deceiving Bella, the eleventh novel in her popular Bodyguards series.

For information on Cate’s new releases, monthly giveaways, and upcoming events, sign up for her newsletter at: http://www.catebeauman.com/author/home.html#!newsletter-sign-up/c9td

Cate can be reached at www.catebeauman.com and www.facebook.com/catebeauman.

You can follow Cate on Twitter @CateBeauman

DO YOU LIKE TO WIN FREE STUFF?

SIGN UP FOR CATE’S NEWSLETTER TO BE NOTIFIED OF MONTHLY GIVEAWAY OFFERS

AND NEW RELEASE INFORMATION

http://www.catebeauman.com/#!newsletter-sign-up/c9td

Amazon Gift Card Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Contact Cate

Amazon Author Page

http://www.amazon.com/Cate-Beauman/e/B00A05KHVM/

Social links:

Twitter: @CateBeauman

www.catebeauman.com

www.facebook.com/CateBeauman

www.goodreads.com/catebeauman

Shadow Sight Review

BUY ON AMAZON

I met this awesome writer at
ARC-NOLA and her books are right down my alley. My favorite genre is Urban
Fantasy and the supes that she has in the Ivy Granger series are Fae which is one
of my favorites.

First of all, I loved this book. It
drew me in quite quickly. Psychometry is one gift you don’t see written very
often. Ivy is a bit mellow at the start, I prefer to see a little more kick ass
heroine but I think this is mainly the fleshing of her character. The twist of
romance was a welcome addition and I hope to see the relationship grow further.
I’d also like to see some more back story on Ivy’s father. Action and romance
blend wonderfully with the story line. Excellent starting point.

Her take on the Fae is exactly how I
see them, not all are glittery TinkerBell types. This book does portray their
inhuman nature and there is some humanization but not too much to turn me off.

The plot line flows nicely and is a
good beginning to Ivy Granger saga.  Some
of the pop culture references are very relatable to me and what my interests
are.

If you like the Fae and like to see
the darker side of Faekind, pick up this book and enjoy the action and romance
that snakes throughout the book.

Looking forward to the rest of the
books in the series.

I’m giving this book a 4 Fairy rating
for the action filled Fae adventure with a twist of romance.

 CHECK OUT E.J. STEVENS AT THE FOLLOWING SOCIAL MEDIA SITES:

FACEBOOK

WEBSITE

Ghost Light Review

BUY FROM AMAZON

Welcome to the 2^nd installment of the Ivy Granger
series.

Where the 1^st book was more of a fleshing out of
the main characters, this book continues on with more depth and Ivy becomes the
kick ass heroine that I love to read about.

You also get to see Jinx, her trusty sidekick, blossom some
more.

I also like the fact that more supernatural characters show
up in this book. Lamia, faerie queens, demons, and many others. Some of the
visitors aren’t written about very often and it’s nice to see some new players on
the field.

Ivy has found out the seriousness of faerie bargains and
what happens when you are half fae and aren’t in control of your powers.

In this book, she starts the quest to find the one person
who can help her control her wisp powers and gets thrown into the frying pan.

I also enjoyed the continuation of the romance between Ivy
and Ceff.

I give Ghost Light my
5 Fairies rating for continuing action with some lightheartedness thrown
in the mix.  I couldn’t put the book down
once I started reading it and read it in about 3 days.

EJ Stevens is becoming one of my favorite authors and I am looking
forward to the next books in the series.

 CHECK OUT E.J. STEVENS AT THE FOLLOWING SOCIAL MEDIA SITES:

FACEBOOK

WEBSITE

Burning Bright Review

  BUY ON AMAZON

I just finished reading the 3^rd installment of
the Ivy Granger series and this book does not disappoint.

I again found myself immersed into Ivy’s world and didn’t
want it to end.

Every book takes you a little deeper into Ivy’s character
and shows how she grows into a phenomal kick ass heroine.

Her half human nature allows her to show compassion and
moves her away from the inhumanness of the Fae world.

Her maternal nature shows itself in her ragtag adopted companions,
one being a troll child and the other one a rare demon child.

I can’t help but smile and feel warm and fuzzy about Ivy and
Ceff’s relationship and enjoy seeing it blossom into something more.

When Ivy’s sidekick and best friend Jinx gets in a spot of
trouble, Ivy rushes to the rescue and puts her friends before her personal
quest to find her cursed father who can help her control her wisp powers.

A few twists and turns keep your turning the page and you
can’t help but root for the underdog.

I am already starting to read the 4^th installment
and anticipate I’ll have that one done in about 3 days as well.

If you are interested in a half human heroine’s story with
some paranormal romance thrown in there, don’t hesitate to pick up your copy
today.

I’m giving this installment my 5 fairy rating because of the
journey into Ivy’s world where you are led on a wondrous quest of
self-discovery and how one half human half fae woman learns about her inner
strength.

 CHECK OUT E.J. STEVENS AT THE FOLLOWING SOCIAL MEDIA SITES:

FACEBOOK

WEBSITE

EXCERPT of Montana Wildfire, by Rebecca Sinclair, AVAILABLE NOW!

Welcome to another Sweet Saturday Sample!

Enjoy & have a great weekend!  ~ Reb

~ Montana Wildfire ~ available now! © 1991, 2011 by Rebecca Sinclair Published by: ePublishingWorks! ~ ISBN: 978-0821736173 Cover by Kim Killion @ HotDamnDesigns.com      1i! “What a book! It was the best 99¢ I’ve spent in a long time! It’s full of explicit sensual desire and heart pumping adventure that will definitely provoke your emotions. I highly recommend this book!“  — a reader @ Amazon.com 1i! ~ Montana Wildfire ~ historical western EXCERPT A shiver of heat splashed through Amanda when the stranger’s gaze raked the partially dried hair scattered around her face and shoulders. His attention dipped, lazily taking in the water-darkened bodice of her cream-colored shirtwaist and the dark rose skirt that clung to her hips like a clammy second skin. She’d heard rumors of men who could strip a woman bare with one smoldering glance, but she’d never met one who would dare. Until now.   As the man’s attention poured over her, Amanda had the unpleasant feeling he could see right through the saturated barrier of cloth. A warm, tight sensation curled in the pit of her stomach: unfamiliar, alarming. She tipped her chin up defensively. Crossing her arms over her chest, she cut his lewd investigation short. His gaze took its sweet time lifting to hers.   His grey eyes shimmered in the mid-morning sunlight, telling her it was far too late for modesty. His appreciative expression said something else again; that he’d already decided what “type” of lady she was… and that he could tolerate her sort with little trouble. “I suppose you’ll be wanting my help now, ma’am?” The way his tongue wrapped around the word “ma’am” sent an odd, warm-cold tremor down Amanda’s spine. Somehow, he made it sound less like a title and more like a sensual endearment. “If it wouldn’t be too much trouble,” she replied stiffly, and thought, why not? Her left leg throbbed from supporting her idle weight for so long. She was wet and chilled to the bone. She knew if she didn’t allow this man to help her, she might never get out of this frigid water. He nodded and turned his attention to Roger. “Go find some sticks and get a fire started. Don’t skimp; I want it blazing. The lady’s going to need all the heat she can get once she’s out of there. And get some blankets, too. All you can spare. There’s a couple rolled and tied on my horse. Use them.” Roger’s golden brows slashed high, disappearing beneath the curls that kissed his forehead. He glanced up at the stranger as though the man had lost all grip on reality. “You want me to do what?”   “Get a fire started,” the man gritted impatiently, even as he sank to the ground and began yanking off his knee-high moccasins.   “What the hell are you waiting for, kid? I want that fire started, and I want it started now!”   It must have been the ring of authority in the man’s voice, Amanda decided. Either that, or the veiled threat glistening in his eyes. Whatever the reason, Roger spun on his heel and sprinted into the woods with unheard-of speed.   “Looks like it’s just you and me, princess,” the man said as, lithely pushing to his feet, he took a step toward the river. His attention rose from the spot where the water lapped at her hips. His gaze ascended—slowly, hotly—over her breasts, her shoulders, her chin, and lips.   Finally, he locked onto her fear-widened eyes. In that instant, Amanda knew why Roger had run. If her foot wasn’t stuck, she would do the same thing. The savage glint in the man’s eyes, coupled with his insolent perusal, had a terrifying affect on her. “You have a name?” His question was instantly followed by a loud splash. He’d just taken his first swaggering stride into the icy river.   “O-of course.” Closing her eyes, Amanda stifled a groan in the back of her throat. Her voice deserted her. Not for all the money in the world could she have forced her eyes open at that moment, forced herself to watch as that dangerous-looking man stalked toward her like a hungry wolf hunting down its trapped, defenseless prey.   You going to tell me what it is?”   His voice was closer. Amanda thought that reason enough not to answer him. That, and the feel of the water being disturbed around her. The icy current lapped at her stomach. She rolled her lips inward and ordered herself not to shiver. It wouldn’t do for this man to think her tremors were caused by his nearness and not the water’s numbing coldness. And he was near. She could sense it, feel it.   “Okay, princess, let me put it another way. You want to get out of this river any time soon?”   Amanda’s eyes snapped open. A split second too late, she realized it for the mistake it was. The stranger was standing close. Too close. The span of his shoulders and chest cast a chilly shadow over her, blotting out the warmth of the late morning sun, blotting out everything.   The water was cold, but it would have needed to be covered with a thick sheet of ice to counterbalance the intense male heat his lean body radiated. The earthy, leather-and-spice smell of him surrounded her, seeped through her, seeped into her. The scent warmed her blood, thawing what Amanda had begun to think would be an everlasting chill.   She didn’t feel chilled right now. Just the opposite; she’d never felt so hot in her life! The man angled his head to look down at her, and Amanda saw that he’d removed his hat. His straight black hair scattered flatteringly around his face.   The breeze tossed the inky strands around his shoulders. Her gaze picked out a thin, tight braid, no thicker than her pinkie, woven into the underside of his hair, just behind his left ear. She trailed the braid down to a small brown feather, anchored by a leather thong tied to the end of it. On another man, that braid would have looked more than odd; it would have looked feminine. She wondered why it didn’t work that way on him.   “Well, what’s it going to be, princess?” he asked, his warm breath puffing over her cheeks.       “The way I see it, you’ve only got two choices. Either you stand there gawking at me all day, or you answer my question so I can dig you out. I’d say it’s your call.”      Question? she thought dazedly. Had he asked her a question? Maybe. She couldn’t remember. It was hard to remember her name with him standing so close. Amanda told herself her lengthy stay in the water had warped her mind as well as her fingertips, but she wasn’t convinced. No, more likely it was seeing the man’s eyes up close that robbed her of the will to speak… as well as a good deal of breath! His eyes weren’t grey, as she’d first thought, but a rich, smoky silver. The intensity of his gaze was enhanced by a fringe of thick, sooty lashes, and emphasized by his deep copper skin. “Guess I was wrong. Looks like you don’t want out after all,” he said as, tearing his gaze from hers, he pivoted and began wading back the way he’d come. Only after his body heat—the smell of him, the confusion of him—had been removed, did Amanda shake herself to her senses. By that time he was climbing lithely onto the grassy riverbank.  “Wait, Mr….!” He didn’t turn around. “Un-uh. That was my question, princess. And until you answer it, you’re staying put.” Amanda blinked hard. That was it? All he wanted was for her to tell him her name and then he’d help her out? That seemed reasonable enough. No, it wasn’t reasonable at all! A gentleman would never leave a lady stranded in the middle of frigid water merely because she hadn’t supplied her name the second he’d snapped his fingers and demanded it. Then again… Her gaze narrowed on his back, on the way the tough denim pants clung wetly to his heavily muscled thighs and calves. She reassessed. This was definitely no gentleman. Her deduction had nothing to do with his native heritage. It had everything to do with the way he dressed—truly, those pants were indecent!—and the way he walked—make that swaggered. His every move screamed arrogance and authority. Which would have been fine, were it an unintentional, spontaneous thing. It wasn’t. Amanda had a gut-feeling this man knew exactly what kind of cocky, insolent impression he made on people, and that he played it to the hilt. When he turned his head and regarded her from over one shoulder, Amanda knew she was right. She also had an uneasy feeling that he knew what she was thinking.  “Change your mind yet?” As he spoke, he sat down in the grass and reached for his moccasins, although he made no move to tug them on. Yet. The enormity of what he was doing hit Amanda like a slap. She glared at him. “You aren’t really going to leave me here, are you? Just because I wouldn’t tell you my name?” He tipped his head to one side. A lock of black hair fell forward on his brow when he shrugged. “What do you think?”  “I don’t think you’d dare.” “Then you don’t know me very well.” Her chin tipped haughtily. “I don’t know you at all.” “We could do something about that.” Was it possible for a grin to be devastating yet emotionless at the same time? Amanda wouldn’t have thought so—until she saw the proof of it with her own eyes. Her heart flipped over in her chest, its tempo hammering in her ears. Her trembling fingers closed around the water near her hips in empty fists. “That wasn’t very nice,” she snapped, and stifled a groan when his grin only broadened.  The smile, she noted, didn’t reach his eyes. They remained narrow and frosty. “I’m not a very nice person,” he said. “Ask anyone, they’ll tell you.” As though to prove it, he started tugging on his moccasins. When he was done, he pushed to his feet. In the same fluid movement he swiped up his hat and settled it atop his head. He pinched the low-riding brim between his index finger and thumb, nodded to her in mock politeness, then turned and walked toward the trees. Amanda blinked hard. Dear God, the man really was going to desert her. The rotten bastard! She didn’t realize she’d said the words aloud until she saw him stop. His shoulders squared. His back stiffened. Even from this distance, she could see tension pull the muscles in his back, shoulders, and arms taut. Come again, princess?” Since it was too late to deny it—the damage was already done—Amanda sucked in a deep breath and repeated herself, loudly, and clearly enough so he would have no doubt as to what she’d just called him. “Goddamn. That’s what I thought you said.” He sucked in a sigh and released it in a slow hiss. Then he shook his head—regretfully? she doubted it—and plucked off the hat. With a flick of his wrist, he sent it hurling to the grass. “Guess I’m going have to fetch you out of there after all.” There was something in his tone—too calm, too leashed—that sent a shiver down her spine. Amanda couldn’t pinpoint the underlying emotion he’d stressed, and, as she watched him again tug off the deerskin moccasins, she stopped trying. Before she knew it, he was trudging through the water toward her. Forcing herself not to shiver in dread took all her concentration. Wondering what had made him change his mind, she glanced up. He glanced down. Silver and green warred, and in that instant Amanda knew exactly why he’d decided to free her. His eyes were narrowed to steely slits. His jaw was bunched hard, and a muscle ticked beneath the high copper plane of his cheekbone. As she watched, his lips thinned into a tight, uncompromising line. Calling him a bastard had hit a sore spot with him. The man was quietly furious. Worse—much, much worse—all that tightly leashed anger was directed at her. The knowledge seemed a good enough reason for Amanda to flinch when he stopped so close his chest threatened to graze the very tips of her breasts. “I-I’ll tell you my name,” she offered, and winced when her voice squeaked. “Don’t bother. Where are you stuck?” Swallowing hard, she fixed her gaze on one of the flat metal buttons trailing down his shirt. As for the tight bands of muscle rippling beneath the dark blue cloth… well, she refused to notice them at all. “Amanda Lennox. That’s my name.” “That’s dandy. I repeat: Where are you stuck?” His hand came out of nowhere. His index finger hooked under her chin, dragging her gaze up. His warm, sweet breath blasted over her face when he said, “Better give some thought to answering me this time, princess. You’ve got exactly ten seconds to tell me what’s going on under this water. After that, my hands start doing some exploring of their own.”    Buy Now at Amazon (Kindle): http://amzn.to/qaTagY   Buy Now at Barnes & Noble (Nook): http://bit.ly/mXMXXK 1i! (5 Stars) @ Amazon.com “[Montana Wildfire] was enthralling. I couldn’t put it down! This is one steamy romance you will want to read again, and again, and again!!!”    h  (5 Stars) @ Barnes & Noble.com “This book is amazing and I was riveted! Well written and definitely filled with some smokin’ passion!”   h  Praise for California Caress: “My first Rebecca Sinclair novel but definitely NOTmy last. Wowee was this ever a good read! Ms. Sinclair takes her readers on a ride of laughs, heartache, betrayal, and intense passion. Her characters are finely chiseled and compliment her captivating story line.”   h Praise for Perfect Strangers: “Historical romance at its very best, PERFECT STRANGERS delighted this reader with its proud heroine and fabulous hero. Their rocky start takes them on a conflict-filled journey, but, in the end, their love for one another cannot and will not be denied.”     1i! ♫♬♩♫ Happy Birthday, Dear Ree—eeb! ♫♬♩♫ Reb’s birthday is rolling around in April. You know what that means: she wants YOU to help her celebrate — all month long! How? Simple. She’s throwing a contest, of course! Up for grabs is one very nice coffee/tea/coca gift tower, exclusively from…    <May I have a drumroll, please?> < … > Starbucks! Oh, yeah — it just doesn’t get any better, baby!    Details on how to enter will (very soon!) be posted on this blog, Facebook, G+, Goodreads, Twitter (and Pinterest if we can figure out a way <g>). So check one of these, or check all of them for even more chances to win! ♫♬♩♫ And many mo—oooore! ♫♬♩♫ 1i!

Emlyn Chand-Farsighted Review

FARSIGHTED

BY EMLYN CHAND

BUY HERE AT AMAZON:

http://amzn.to/v3kZqZ 

BUY HERE AT BARNES AND NOBLE:

http://bit.ly/sXkS7a

Alex Kosmitoras’s life has never been easy. The only other student who will talk to him is the school bully, his parents are dead-broke and insanely overprotective, and to complicate matters even more, he’s blind. Just when he thinks he’ll never have a shot at a normal life, a new girl from India moves into town. Simmi is smart, nice, and actually wants to be friends with Alex. Plus she smells like an Almond Joy bar. Yes, sophomore year might not be so bad after all.

Unfortunately, Alex is in store for another new arrival—an unexpected and often embarrassing ability to “see” the future. Try as he may, Alex is unable to ignore his visions, especially when they begin to suggest that Simmi is in danger. With the help of the mysterious psychic next door and new friends who come bearing gifts of their own, Alex must embark on a journey to change his future.

MY THOUGHTS:

This book was a nice read. This is a great Young Adult book for readers interested in paranormal ideas. I especially liked the use of Runes at the start of the chapters as Runes are one of my favorite metaphysical items. The use of one of the Nostradamus quatrains also pleasantly surprised me. I think the idea of a boy who is blind seeing past/future events is intriguing. Alex drew me into the story and really spoke to me with the teenage angst. I am looking forward to the next book in the series and hope the Nostradamus quatrains and rune references are used again. I would recommend this book for young adult to adult readers who are interested in the paranormal as well as readers who are interested in runes and Nostradamus prophecies. I gave this book 4 fairies for the spiritual/romance mix.

FIND EMLYN HERE:

All my links can be found here:

http://www.emlynchand.com/media/

Website: http://www.emlynchand.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emlynchand?sk=wall

Twitter: @emlynchand

Emlyn Chand Farsighted Blog Tour

I’m working on the review as we speak and hope to have it up by the 15th of this month. Sorry about that folks.

Lightning Book Promotions: http://lightningbookpromotions.com

BUY HERE AT AMAZON: http://www.amazon.com/Farsighted-Emlyn-Chand/dp/0983930805/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1322617648&sr=8-1

BUY HERE AT BARNES AND NOBLE http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/farsighted-emlyn-chand/1106607652?ean=2940013294646&itm=1&usri=farsighted

EMLYN CHAND INTERVIEW

aaaa

Did you always want to be a writer? If so, what medium did you start with? Poetry, Short Stories, Novellas, Novels??

I was born with a fountain pen grasped firmly in my left hand, at least that’s what my Twitter bio says. But seriously, I do believe writers are born into the craft—we haven’t got much choice, but it’s a great calling to have. As a child, I always had a story to tell. I also loved illustrating my own books and comics. I did this for my younger brothers when I was 9 or 10. The series was called Spot and Dot and was about a cat and a dog. I wrote one about Spot coming home from the pound and needing to get a bath and another with a sequence of dreams that Dot the cat might have—she woke up in ancient Egypt and was revered as a Goddess; she found herself in a giant room filled with yarn balls, and she somehow ended up inside an aviary exhibit in the zoo. They were so much fun to create, and my younger brothers loved them.

What was the inspiration for your book, Farsighted?

Everything started with a single image—my face in these tacky oversized sunglasses reflecting out at me from the car’s side mirror. I was daydreaming while my husband drove us across Michigan for my sister’s wedding. Something about my image really struck me in an almost horrific way. I felt the glasses made me look blind but found it so weird that there was still a clear image within them; it seemed so contradictory. At the time, my book club was reading The Odyssey, which features the blind Theban prophet, Tieresias. I started thinking about what it would be like to have non-visual visions of the future and began forming a modern Tieresias in my mind. Lo and behold, Alex Kosmitoras was born. I didn’t want him to be alone in his psychic subculture, so I found other characters with other powers to keep him company. Thank God for my poor fashion sense.

How does your experience as a medium impact your writing? Are your stories based on true experiences that you have had??

I’m not a medium. I often joke that I have psychic powers but only when I’m in India. I’ve been able to predict some truly random events during my visits in Delhi, but I think that’s just because I don’t talk so much and instead really pay attention to my surroundings.

What is your favorite genre to read and why?

I LOVE YA—I read it, write it, love it! It all comes down to the enjoyment factor. I like the vulnerability and changeability of the characters. I love the ease of language and the connection that is created by writing in first person point-of-view. Nothing quite compares.

Do you prefer to be indie published, self-published, or traditional published?? Why?

I actually wrote a blog post explaining why I prefer indie or self-publishing (that’s here). Basically, the industry is not only changing – it’s changed. I’m not really sure there is any benefit to being traditionally published anymore, especially if you’re an author who has the know-how and financial/time resources to A) professionally edit your books, B) get a stellar cover designed, and C) market your work. Another reason I’m all gaga for the self-pub world is because it’s what I preach through Novel Publicity. I spend all day trying to convince writers that the indie path can work for them. By choosing that route for myself, I am showing my belief in that statement; I am practicing what I preach. Yes, I have a literary agent and a condition of our contract was that I’d be allowed to self-publish Farsighted. I want the hands-on experience. I want the control. If this works out for me; I’m pretty sure I’ll stay indie forever!

Did you ever experience a major life changing event that impacted your writing?

I met my husband, Hitesh. He’s from New Delhi, India. The culture has had a profound impact on my writing. I love creating Indian characters too (like Simmi).

If you could be any book genre, which one would you choose and why?

You know what? I’d be YA, because friends are made, adventures are had, lessons are learned, loves are found, and endings are generally happy. Almost any other genre is too dangerous to live inside!

Name a song(s) that define(s) you as a writer.

It’s an old one, “On the Street where you live” by Nat King Cole. It’s a song about love but can be applied quite aptly to the love of writing. My favorite line is “people stop and stare, but they don’t bother me for there’s nowhere else on Earth that I would rather be. Let the time go by, I won’t care if I can be here…”

If the world was on the edge of extinction, how would you survive??

I’ve actually watched quite a few survival shows on Discovery, so I feel like I would have a good working knowledge of what to do. I also have the good fortune of being married to a man with a doctorate in engineering—technology, check. I’m good with animals and with finding strange, creative solution, plus we have a killer attack parrot named Ducky and a Golden Retriever who is big and strong and will do whatever it takes to make us happy. End of the world? Bring it!

What advice would you give to other aspiring writers like myself??

My advice is this: Have fun with your writing. Don’t put pressure on yourself or your story and don’t try to fit either into some type of mold. Not every work HAS to be published, but every work will teach you something, and it will make you a better writer. Find the joy in writing, and you won’t go wrong.

What other projects do you have on the horizon??

Farsighted is a 5-book series. Each book will be told from a different character’s point-of-view, so in book #2, we’ll actually be able to see what Grandon looks like! Next up is Open Heart. I hope to have that ready by the middle of next year.

Tell us about 5 books that changed your life in some way??

I always credit Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crocket Johnson as THE book that changed my life. It opened my eyes to the world that could exist if only I was willing to create it—I think it’s what encouraged me to be a writer in the first place. Others that have had a profound impact are: Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita, JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series, Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables, and Anton Chekhov’s Seagull (Okay, that last one is a play).

If you could time travel, what time period would you go to and why??

I’d love to go back to 19th century Britain and see the setting of so many of my favorite literary tales, like Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, and the whole host of Dickens.

And a fun one, what would you do if there was a zombie apocalypse?

I would train a flock of parrots to attack on command (I already have one who will do it). I will keep the birds swarming around me wherever I go. The zombies won’t have too much interest in them since their brains are so small, but they can pack a very powerful bite!

Feel free to add any social media links you have and anything else you felt I should have added to this interview.

All my links can be found here > http://www.emlynchand.com/media/

Website: http://www.emlynchand.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emlynchand?sk=wall

Twitter: @emlynchand

Tour Schedule:

December

1st Heather K @ Hezzi D’s Books and Cooks

2nd John @ The Incessant Droning of a Bored Writer (interview only)

2nd Stephanie @ Our Family World

3rd Amanda @ Letters Inside Out

4th Alaiel @ Librarian Mouse

5th Beverly @ The Wormhole

6th Gina @ Behind a Billion and One Pages

7th Wendy @ Minding Spot

8th Cecillia @ Rather Barefoot Than Bookless

9th Angel @ 909 Reviews

10th Heather P @ Earth’s Book Nook

11th Lisa @ The Ultimate Fan Blog

12th Connie @ The Character Connection (interview only)

13th Andrea @ Dark-Readers

14th Deina @ Pages Hidden In Time

15th Jen @ A Book and a Latte

Aithne Jarretta Interview

Aithne Jarretta

Shrouded in the Mists of Avalon is a Hidden Legacy. Enter this in-between realm and discover new found love and perilous danger. Meekal Chilkwell, life Guardian to the Chalice Well, meets a young woman in the Gardens.

Little does he know his family stands at the edge of a new danger. An evil wizard threatens

their sacred way of life. Shayla Brinawell, American visitor, comes from a fragmented family. Fearful of the dangers Shayla could face, her mother raised her to deny and hide family magic.

Shayla’s world is about to be turned upside down. She must come to terms with her magic in hyper-drive. Syther the Quitch is bent on spreading wicked darkness into the non-magical world. To do that he must steal the power of the sacred Chalice Well. Will Meekal and Shayla survive Syther’s diabolical plan? Will love conquer all?

Did you always want to be a writer? If so, what medium did you start with?

Poetry, Short Stories, Novellas, Novels??

Confession… I was so busy reading I never considered writing. Once upon a time I grumbled during a college American

History exam that my answers weren’t ‘technical’ enough.

Why? My essay answers read like a story.

I’m a bit stubborn. It took awhile for the truth to sink in. Then… the magic unleashed!

Although there are a few short stories out there that I’ve written, the challenge of novellas is my current thread of focus.

The idea of putting a whole story into a shorter package without losing aspects of my characters is a fun twist.

It’s also an interesting way to give Concentric Circles (novel) little branches like a family tree.

What was the inspiration for your book, Concentric Circles?

Avalon. With a modern twist.

One day I sat down to write and an ornery young wizard entered the story. It didn’t take long to discover he lived in

Glastonbury, England (Avalon) and is descended from a long line of magical Guardians. (‘twas actually his many-many-times-great-grandpa, an immortal changeling, who introduced us;) This young wizard faced several life threatening challenges during

his teen years, but managed to grow up just fine.

His name is Meekal Chilkwell and he became the hero in Concentric Circles. It wasn’t until the day he met Shayla Brinawell

that his storybecame this novel.The core inspiration also includes the Chalice Well (the family protects this important

magical artifact). The beautifully designed well cap has a depiction of concentric circles looped together. Symbolically that

represents Meekal & Shayla joined within my magical mind.

Are your stories based on true experiences that you have had??

😉 Yes, I’ve been known to sneak real life experiences and locations into my writing. The goal is to blend them in so effectively

that a reader will add them to the storyline in their mind and never know they are reading a real event. They are just little

ripples anyway and are not earth shattering. 😀 You could say it’s magical.

What is your favorite genre to read and why?

Romance with paranormal elements. Whether it’s time travel or magical characters, (gotta love those fae & shapeshifters)

romances are usually my favorite place to escape.

Why? Well… I guess it has something to do with seeing books and stories as a means to explore new worlds. I was an avid

reader from early childhood and that was the true purpose of books. (I grew up in a sleepy little neighborhood where

nothing ever happened and Saturday trips to the library opened doors to new worlds.) I thought I would outgrow the magical

elements. That never happened. lol

Do you prefer to be indie published, self-published, or traditional published?? Why?

Self-published. Because I can make the important decisions like cover images, who will edit (once lost a book to an

editor for 6 months-editor disappeared) and I can also keep my unique story lines.

That doesn’t mean my words don’t get nipped and tucked. Such actions are a regular occurrence in every author’s experience.

It just means I have an opportunity to handle those issues myself. Think about it as though a self-published author is a business owner. 😉

Did you ever experience a major life changing event that impacted your writing?

Unfortunately, yes. It’s difficult to write about, but I believe it’s necessary.

In the beginning I became a writing fiend. Frequently, eighteen hours in front of the computer was normal.

Well, sadly it took a toll on my health. Seriously. It destroyed my immune system.

Now, I must be very careful and monitor all time spent in front of this wonder machine.

I didn’t write for more than a year.

There’s something about creatives… When we stop doing what we love a part of our spirit dies. Therefore, when I stopped

writing, even though I was no longer spending hours in this chair, my health didn’t improve because I lost my true expressive

joy. So I’m learning balance. Tricky, tricky, tricky.

If you could be any book genre, which one would you choose and why?

Magical of course. Imagination is boundless. Think of the pages and worlds I could explore and share!

Name a song(s) that define(s) you as a writer.

Not just one song. 😉 During writing Concentric Circles my fav was Stevie Nicks solo cds & Fleetwood Mac The Dance

(because of Stevie).

If the world was on the edge of extinction, how would you survive??

I would stand at ‘the edge of extinction’ and face off… Rewriting the future with kicka$$ heroine’s and magical shapeshifter

heroes.

What advice would you give to other aspiring writers like myself??

Take care of your health. That’s a short but powerful statement because your body houses your muse.

And listen to your muse. It’s a wonderful symmetry when story elements come together. In the beginning I had a few

disagreements with my muse. That’s how I discovered that nasty thing–writer’s block. But when we listen, even if we

don’t always know where the muse is leading us pieces fall into place and you’ll read it later and think, Wow! 😉 Then, have

gratitude and say, “Thank you.” Muse will reward you with more…

Why is this important? Well, I only recently discovered that Shayla was conceived in a pyramid. Something clicked in my

head…that certainly explains a lot! Shayla has been around for a while, but her story still grows.

What other projects do you have on the horizon??

Claire: the Lost Fae is due for release soon. Novella length, it details aspects of Claire’s life that could not be touched upon

in Concentric Circles. Why? It falls into the category of ‘things your mother never told you.’ Trust me, *wink* Claire had her

reasons. Besides, would you really want to know everything about your mother?

As for Shayla, heroine in Concentric Circles, learning aspects of her mother’s life story? Yikes!

For updates and release news visit Claire here: http://http://aithne-jarretta.blogspot.com/2011/10/claire-lost-fae.html

Tell us about 5 books that changed your life in some way??

Only 5? lol I asked because my two favorite authors (influence divas) wrote more than 5 books each.

From a ‘historical’ perspective Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander Series turned me on to time travel. Her richly descriptive prose,

intriguing characters and specific historical times hooked me.

From a ‘magical’ perspective J. K. Rowling is the Goddess of magical worlds. (Even though she doesn’t include Fae) It would

probably take a whole book to describe how she influenced me.

But the main thing JKR taught me was that there’s a widespread subculture of adults reading magical stories. The Internet

has also helped with that, too.

Until that realization struck me full force, my muses hid in the closet behind the family skeletons. That’s how JKR changed

my life. For the first time I started putting my stories into words and computer files.

I do want to mention that once upon a time I tried to write a non-magical story. It was an impossible feat. ;D

The magic in my stories grabs hold and won’t let go until revealed. That’s what makes this so much fun!

If you could time travel, what time period would you go to and why??

Early American, between 1795-1820.

Why? Remember that history exam mentioned in question 1? Well the answer I wrote that day was about a law in the

Carolina hills that made fighten’, biten’ & kickin’ a hanging offense. Yes, you could be hung for biting someone’s ear–in this case–off. *yuck*

That isn’t the whole answer though. I’d like to travel back in time and ask my many-times-great-grandpa if love was worth it. ;D (that yucky taste in his mouth from the ear)

You see, he got into a fight over a Cherokee woman, bit the other guy’s ear off, grabbed his woman and ran. Knowing what

he did was a hanging offense he didn’t stop until he got to Alabama.

There, they made babies… Here, I am.

And a fun one, what would you do if there was a zombie apocalypse?

Make sure I have plenty of healing Chalice Well water, several phoenix friends (for magical travel & helping others) and the

memory of accessing the sacred veil between Annwn and the Earthly realm so that I could save extended family, community

and many creatures. Zombies beware! The Fae are here to stay!

Feel free to add any social media links you have and anything else you felt I should

have added to this interview. Thanks for joining me and being a part of my blog!

I’m a bird! 😉 Most of my online time is at Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/AithneJarretta

It’s my favorite and yes, I do frequently chatter with my Peeps. Come over and join in the conversation!

Thank you, Heather for hosting me at your magical niche of the Internet. Good Luck with your writing.

I hope you eventually share your stories with the world. Blessed Be. ~ Aithne