November 22, 2016 by Tina Williams

REVIEW ~ Dark Fragments, by Rob Sinclair

#psychological #crime #thriller

Book Blurb

Dark Fragments: an edge of your seat thriller from the best-selling author of The Enemy Series

Murder. Money. Revenge.

Outwardly, Ben Stephens appears to be a normal, hard-working family man. In reality, his life has been in turmoil since the murder of his wife, Alice, seven years ago. The killer was never caught.

Now re-married – to the woman he was having an affair with while still married to Alice – Ben’s life is once again spiralling out of control, and he’s become heavily indebted to an unscrupulous criminal who is baying for Ben’s blood.

When Ben’s estranged twin sister, a police detective, unexpectedly returns to his life, asking too many questions for comfort, it becomes clear that without action, Ben’s life will soon reach a crisis point from which there will be no return.

In order to avoid falling further into the mire, Ben must examine the past if he is to survive the present – but just how much pressure can one man take before he breaks?

Dark Fragments is a fast-paced thriller with a blend of mystery, suspense and action that will appeal to readers of psychological thrillers, as well as a broad section of crime, thriller and action fans. If you like authors like Mark Edwards, Robert Bryndza and C.L. Taylor you will love this unforgettable thriller.

#psychological #thriller #crime #action

My Review ~ 5 stars

Addictive and Action Packed!

This is a fast-paced psychological crime thriller that sucked me in and left me gob-smacked with its unexpected dénouement. It’s the second book that I’ve read by the author, the first being Hunt for the Enemy (click on the title for my review). Once more it contains a flawlessly constructed and suspenseful plot that kept me guessing throughout.

Ben appears to be just your average hardworking guy with a wife and young family. Yet we soon find out that his first wife Alice was brutally murdered seven years previously, an episode that preys on Ben’s mind, particularly as the murderer has not been found. Ben’s marriage to Gemma, the woman with whom he was having an affair with when Alice was murdered, is far from rosy and his job is in the doldrums. Crucially the reappearance of Callum O’Grady, a crime lord to whom he turned to after Alice’s murder, puts Ben on the defensive and in fear of his safety and that of his family. At the same time Dani, his estranged twin sister, a detective inspector, walks back into his life.

It soon becomes clear that her reappearance is not a coincidence and Ben struggles to cope with current and past events, all of which shape his actions. He is under unimaginable pressure and despite his best intentions his life very quickly spirals out of control until he reaches his breaking point which has implications for all around him.

Once I started to read the novel I was hooked, not only due to the unfolding plot but also to the way it is written. The story is told in short punchy chapters, narrated in the first person point of view, by the protagonist Ben Stephens. Some chapters are written as the main events unfold and others retrospectively, as Ben is encouraged to reflect on what has happened, with a person whose identity we can only guess at. This has the effect of creating a suspenseful read, not only allowing us into Ben’s thought processes, but often foreshadowing events and putting a different perspective on what we have just witnessed.

There are some violent and disturbing scenes in the book but they are integral to the plot. I found myself at first rooting for and then cringing at Ben’s actions in response to events as the tale unfolded.

I will not reveal any more. It is enough to say that I hugely enjoyed this read. The characterisations, particularly that of the volatile Ben, are superb and the plot clever and suspenseful. It left me wondering to what extent we are all victims of fate or whether we ultimately have control over events.

Recommended for fans of crime thrillers, particularly those who like a psychological read.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

Please note, a copy of this book was given to me by the author for the purpose of a fair and honest review.

Purchase Links

Amazon US Amazon UK

Connect with the Author

http://www.robsinclairauthor.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Rob-Sinclair-746087495413628/

https://twitter.com/RSinclairAuthor

November 21, 2016 by Tina Williams

SHELLEY WILSON ~ Author Interview and Spotlight on her new release Guardians of the Lost Lands (book 3 of The Guardians)

Today we are delighted to welcome Shelley Wilson to our blog. Shelley is the author of young adult fiction and self-help non-fiction and she is also an active blogger. We are thrilled that she has agreed to provide us with an interview so that we can quiz her about her writing process, future plans and also her new release Guardians of the Lost Lands (book 3 of The Guardians). Scroll down to find out more. 🙂

Interview with Shelley

1.Welcome to our blog Shelley, can you tell us a little bit about yourself and what prompted you to start writing?

I was born in Leeds, West Yorkshire but moved to the West Midlands when I was just eight years old. Even though I have a Brummie accent, I still think of myself as a Yorkshire lass!

I’m a single mum to three amazing teenagers, one fat goldfish, and a black cat called Luna. My background is in holistic health, and I ran a successful ladies only spa for seven years before illness forced my hand, and I had to close. Writing always played an important part in my life from a young age, but it was only when I reached my thirties that I took it seriously – or should that be, took myself seriously as a writer.

2.Your books encompass young adult fiction and self-help non-fiction. Which genre did you write in first and to what extent do you think (if any) your writing in either genre influences the other?

I’ve written fiction for years but never did anything with it. I would submit work to magazines and receive positive feedback but then allow self-doubt to penetrate my thoughts. I never considered writing non-fiction until I started blogging. It was the self-help titles that hit the bookshelves first and in turn that success influenced me to complete my YA trilogy.

There is a fine line between both genres. It might seem strange saying that as one contains demons, faeries, and witches, and the other talks about meditation, goal setting, and achieving success, however, my protagonist in the Guardian trilogy requires all the skills from my self-help books to fulfill her quest.

I was also able to incorporate my energy healing and meditation techniques in my fantasy novels, giving my MC powers that accessed her chakra points (seven wheels of energy we have in our body). I enjoyed overlapping the two.

3.What role do you think that young adult novels can play in helping young people address issues around their own self-development, their relationship with others and the wider world?

Great question! As a YA author and a mum to three teens, helping young people is at the forefront of my mind. One of the things I love most about the YA genre is how no topic is taboo. The youngsters of today have more to deal with than my generation ever did, and the advancements in technology have a lot to do with that. They can’t switch off – ever! Life is 24/7 and with this speed, comes an increase in anxiety and mental health issues. Being able to cover these topics in YA novels is of great importance. Not only do you want to give your young reader a break from reality, but you want to answer their questions, or test their opinions and prepare them for an unknown future.

4.In terms of the world building in your fantasy series The Guardians, did you carry out much research into or did you give your imagination free reign?

There was minimal research involved in the world building aspect, apart from spending a pleasant couple of hours scrolling through the fantasy art images on Pinterest and adding them to my book boards. Having said that, even though my demon and faerie realms are made-up, I still need to ensure they have a hierarchy. For example, in book one, Guardians of the Dead, the demon realm is ruled by a General, who commands his army and runs the stronghold. In the second book, Guardians of the Sky, there are some scenes set in a castle (of sorts), so I needed to research the terminology to make it easier for my readers to picture. It’s these details that I need to look into as I build my worlds.

5.What was your inspiration for the story and the characters in The Guardians series?

The rough idea behind the trilogy came from a photograph of a hooded statue in a cemetery that I saw in a magazine. I have a fascination with cemeteries and so kept flicking back to this particular image. I ended up cutting it out and fixing it to my notice board. The more I looked at it, the more the story details fell into place. My organisational side kicked in soon after, and I plotted the novel out chapter by chapter.

It might be worth noting that I used NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) to write the first draft of all three books in the trilogy. According to the rules, you are allowed to plan, plot and build character profiles, but you can’t begin writing until 1^st November. Before I began writing the first book I immersed myself in the world I had created, collecting fantasy images and jotting down any scene ideas that came to mind. The characters evolved over time, but my MC, Amber, was fully formed from the moment I saw that image in the magazine. She’s everything I wished I’d been at sixteen!

6.What has been some of the most rewarding aspects of writing your self-help books?

My non-fiction book, How I Changed My Life in a Year, was published in 2014 and I still receive tons of emails, tweets, and Facebook messages from readers thanking me for writing it. Hearing how people have started Open University courses, changed career, or turned their lives around after reading my book is incredible. I’ve cried at some of the marvelous letters I’ve had and made loads of new friends because of that single book. It still amazes me when I set up at a book fair, or Mind, Body, Spirit exhibition, and readers come rushing over to meet me and thank me. I’m just a single mum with grey hair and back fat! When I ran my holistic health business it was my main aim to help empower women to be the best they can be; I’m glad that I can continue to do this with my writing.

7.What is your writing process like? To what extent do you plan and how much do you just let the words flow? Does your approach vary depending on whether you are writing fiction or non-fiction?

There’s a writing process? Only kidding, I used to wing it, which is probably why I never got anything finished. Taking part in NaNo has forced me into being an OCD plotter.

As soon as I get an idea, I open a new notebook (any excuse to visit Paperchase!), and I start to jot down character bios and basic ideas. I tend to work with Christopher Vogler’s hero’s journey system to help me get my initial thoughts down. Even though I do a detailed plot outline, once I start writing the characters take over. In the Guardian series, Amber was supposed to be a witch – mid-scene she decided that wasn’t challenging enough and so now she’s the last Oracle!

With my non-fiction, I tend to set my chapter headings and go with the flow from there. As I’m writing about topics I know, it’s easy to churn out hundreds of words without a detailed plan.

8.Do you write every day? Also how do you cope if you experience writer’s block?

I try to ensure I write something every day, even if it’s just a few notes in my planner. Monday to Friday I concentrate on writing my books, editing, and preparing blog content including book reviews, and author interviews. At the weekend I’ll write if the kids are busy, but if they’re around, I’ll try to spend time with them. The older they get, the more time I spend at my computer on a Saturday! My middle son plays football every Sunday so at least I manage to get a couple of hours of fresh air!

I’ve never experienced writer’s block; I have the opposite problem of too many ideas whirling around and not knowing which one to work on first. If this happens, I’ll write a list of all my musings just to stop the brain chatter. I can then choose one to concentrate on. Writing for my two blogs means I always have something to say or do. I guess this is the perfect antidote to writer’s block.

9.If you could give an aspiring author one tip, what would it be?

Read. I’ve got a million other tips, but that’s the one that stands out as the most important one for me. I’ve discovered more about myself as a writer by reading other people’s work than any how-to-write book can show me. You learn to ‘hear’ the writer’s voice and can then find your own.

10.If you had one wish to change the world for the better what would it be?

Oh my, what a question! There is so much wrong with our world that I wouldn’t know where to start. Ending poverty and war needs to be top of the list. If we could also learn to embrace each other regardless of colour, class, culture, religion, sexual orientation, then that would go a small way towards healing the world.

11.What sort of books do you read in your spare time? Also when you are not writing or reading what do you like to do?

I adore reading YA fantasy novels, and love getting my teeth into a book series. My favourite YA authors are Cassandra Clare and Sarah J Maas. A few years ago, I joined Rosie Amber’s Book Review Team and had to expand my reading to encompass all sorts of genres. I’ve since developed a love of historical fiction (mostly Tudors), crime, murder/mystery, and horror/post-apocalyptic. I don’t do chick-lit or romance!

If I’m not writing or reading, then I’m leading an exceedingly boring existence. I enjoy going to the gym and running on the treadmill, I also love going to the cinema and can happily go on my own to watch a film (tub of popcorn all to yourself, need I say more!). I’m quite creative, so I love doing adult colouring books, spending far too long on Pinterest, and creating projects for my motivational blog. Other than that, you’ll find me curled up with a book.

12.Finally can you share with us about what your next release will be and what you are working on?

Guardians of the Lost Lands is the final book in my Guardians trilogy and releases on Friday 11^th November.

Here’s the blurb:

Amber’s final quest could claim her soul, but it’s a journey she must make.

The evil that lurks in the Lost Lands threatens to infest the realms unless Amber, Redka, and Connor can destroy it. But Amber is more concerned about her father’s safety as he is held captive by the wickedness that terrorises them all.

Amber faces isolation and mistrust from her friends as they travel across land and sea to meet their most dangerous foe.

Will she be able to stay true to her destiny as the last Oracle, or will she be tempted by the darkness? The fate of the realms is in her hands.

Amber’s final quest will be her most terrifying yet. This time, it will be deadly.

I’ve loved writing these books, but Guardians of the Lost Lands is slightly more special for me. During the writing process, I was diagnosed with severe depression and anxiety, a nasty side effect of the illness I had. The dark mood and black thoughts seeped into my writing and ended up taking Amber in a different direction. Book three is much darker than the others, but it all adds to the impact, and hopefully shows my teen readers that these feelings are perfectly normal.

I’ve got a couple of projects on the go at the moment, now that the Guardian trilogy is complete. I’m editing a standalone YA werewolf novel which I have thoroughly enjoyed writing, and this should be available early next year – my editor loved it too and wanted me to write a sequel!

On the non-fiction side, I have an Oracle Guide Book coming out in December which is a motivational tool for inspiring you every week of the year. I’m also working on a sequel to How I Changed My Life in a Year which will fit into the memoir/self-help/women’s biography category again.

It’s a busy time, but I’m loving my writer life and hope it continues for many years to come.

Thank you so much for allowing me to invade your beautiful blog, Tina. I hope your readers enjoyed my interview.

If they want to connect with me then I can be found lurking around social media most days:

Twitter – http://www.twitter.com/ShelleyWilson72

Author Blog – http://www.shelleywilsonauthor.com

YA Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/FantasyAuthorSLWilson

Motivational Facebook Page: http://www.Facebook.com/resolutionchallenge

Website – http://www.shelleywilsonauthor.co.uk

Motivational Blog: http://myresolutionchallenge.blogspot.com

Pinterest: http://uk.pinterest.com/MotivateMeBlog

Instagram: http://www.instagram/authorslwilson

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7362789.Shelley_Wilson

Amazon Author Page: http://amazon.co.uk/Shelley-Wilson/e/B00G5KPMJI

Thank you for visiting us today Shelley and best of luck with your future releases. ❤

November 18, 2016 by Tina Williams

EXCERPT REVEAL ~ Forbidden Love, by Kacey Hamford

**~* EXCERPT REVEAL*~**

Title: Forbidden Love

Series: South Coast Brothers MC #4

Author: Kacey Hamford

Cover Designer: SP Cover Design

Release Date: November 30th

Goodreads:

Pre-order for just 99c!

Amazon UK Amazon US

Synopsis:

When Ashlyn escaped the hell she was dragged into, she thought her life was over, damaged. Then came along the one man she couldn’t have. Never mind that he was the only person she had ever felt such a connection to, the only man she felt that she could trust. So what did she do? She denied those feelings, fought them. Because what use is a Forbidden Love to a broken girl?

Everything that had happened in Drake’s life had led to that exact moment and things were finally on track, being a prospect for the club that saved him made him more thankful than he could ever explain. The brothers, his family gave him the chance that no one else would. And as soon as he saw her he was willing to throw that all away. So decisions had to be made… His loyalty to his family or his love for the girl who he would give his life to protect. Even though it was Forbidden, Drake had never felt anything more real…

Excerpt:

“Do we really have to leave?” Ashlyn asked as she ran her hands through her blonde, wavy hair. I was leant against the communal bathroom door watching her as she got ready for the party. She was wearing a white summer dress that hit her knees, strappy sandals and a white short cardigan that covered up her scars on the top of her back. Those ones weren’t very noticeable, you wouldn’t see them unless you knew about them.

“Yes, Prez’s orders,” she looked down at her hands. “What is it?” I stalked into the room until I was pressed against her back and looking at her through the bathroom mirror.

“We’ve been safe here, no drama and no danger. I just feel like that’s going to change once we leave.” Her eyes connected with mine and I saw unshed tears forming.

“I’m not going to lie to you, it might. But we’ve out stayed our welcome.” She took a deep breath and plastered on a fake smile.

About the Author:

Kacey Hamford is a pen name for me (Kelly). I am in my thirties and started this journey in 2014, I love to read romance books about rockstars, so thought I would have a go at writing one myself. I really enjoyed it and got a boost of confidence once my books started selling.

I have gone on to write a young adult series, set in a college. The series is still on going.

I also have an MC series, it was something different for me to write and I enjoyed it so much, especially when I got readers telling me they would love to read books about the sub characters.

I work full time as a dog groomer, I love to read and my friends and family are very important to me. They are all so supportive of my writing career and encourage me to carry on.

Stalker links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaceyHamford/?fref=ts

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CKHamford

November 15, 2016 by Caroline Barker

BLOG TOUR Seed of Control: Generations to Execute by Lawrence Verigin

Released on November 1st, Seed of Control is the explosive sequel to the award-winning, high-concept thriller Dark Seed, from author Lawrence Verigin.

Title: Seed of Control: Generations to Execute

Author: Lawrence Verigin

Genre: Thriller, ecological thriller

Date released: November 1st, 2016

Released by: Promontory Press

Length: 360 pages (paperback)

Blurb: Journalist and author Nick Barnes is back, finding himself quickly thrown into a chain of events which uncovers a plot so beyond moral comprehension that it will affect Earth’s entire population. The plot has taken generations to develop and in on the cusp of being fully implemented.

Argochemical and pharmaceutical industrialist Dr. Hendrick Schmidt and media baron Davis Lovemark lead the scheme with the unerring belief that they are the stewards of humanity and that they alone have the right to decide the fate of the masses.

Nick’s chase spans continents as he works desperately to foil Schmidt and Lovemark. But he quickly discovers that it might already be too late.

Immerse yourself in the action and intrigue of this high concept thriller that may not be as far from reality as you might think.

About the Author:

Lawrence Verigin is the author of the award winning novel DARK SEED and the just released sequel, SEED of CONTROL. He is currently writing the third book in the “SEED” series.

His goal is to entertain readers while delving into socially relevant subjects. Lawrence and his wife, Diana, live in Vancouver, Canada.

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lawrence.verigin.7
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/LawrenceVerigin

Website: http://www.lawrenceverigin.com

On Amazon: http://amzn.to/2efsQbQ
On Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2dvIcL2
On B&N: http://bit.ly/2dWAQQ5

November 15, 2016 by Tina Williams

RELEASE BLITZ, AUTHOR INTERVIEW & ARC REVIEW ~ Honeymoon, by Samantha Macleod

#paranormal #erotic #romance
Adult/18+ read

Samantha Macleod’s novella Honeymoon releases today, which continues the romance between the uber sexy Norse god Loki and the mortal Caroline, which began in The Trickster’s Lover, published earlier this year.

I was super excited to receive an ARC of this book as not only do I adore the characters of Loki and Caroline but I love the worlds that the author has created which draw deeply on Norse mythology. I was also thrilled to be given the opportunity to quiz Samantha about her writing journey and her plans for the future! Scroll down to read my review of Honeymoon and to read the interview with Samantha. 🙂

Blurb for Honeymoon

Mythology expert Caroline Capello agreed to marry Loki, the Norse god of fire and lies.

She didn’t realize the most dangerous part of their marriage might be the honeymoon.

My Review ~ Five stars

Just wow – frantically fanning myself!

Samantha Macleod’s novella Honeymoon follows on from the events in her scorching erotic paranormal read, The Trickster’s Lover (click on the link for my review). This sexy story packs one helluva sizzle and is a fabulous addition to Caroline’s and Loki’s romance. It works well as a standalone, but for maximum reading pleasure I’d definitely recommend reading The Trickster’s Lover first.

In it, Loki whisks Caroline away on an impromptu honeymoon, a welcome distraction from her impending nuptials on earth. Transported to Alfheim, home of the Light-elves, Caroline is subjected to Loki’s carnal attentions in this beautiful land, whilst also becoming more embroiled in the politics of the Nine Realms and the part Loki plays in it.

The lovemaking scenes are off the Richter scale and you will need a copious supply of iced drinks! The picture painted of Alfheim and the Light-elves is a vivid one and adds to the author’s rich world building of the Nine Realms. There’s also a heavy dose of magic, danger and suspense which adds to the reading pleasure.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

Please note, a copy of this book was given to me by the author for the purpose of a fair and honest review.

Purchase Links

Honeymoon

Amazon US Amazon UK

The Trickster’s Lover

Amazon US Amazon UK

Author Interview

1.Can you tell us a little about yourself and how long you have been writing?

Sure, and thank you so much for hosting this interview!

Like many writers, I’ve always wanted to write, and I wrote quite seriously in my early twenties (mostly short stories and personal essays). But I never got any publications, so I got discouraged, quit, and went to graduate school to study religion and mythology.

I started writing again in the spring of 2015, because of my children. I realized I was telling my kids to follow their dreams and never give up, but here I’d given up on my own childhood dream of being a writer. So I forced myself to sit down and write the sci-fi story I’d been kicking around for years. Once that was finished, I realized I had a few more stories in me. One year ago, in November of 2015, I started what I thought would be a sexy short story. It turned into The Trickster’s Lover, my first novel.

2.Do you base any elements of your heroes or heroines on anyone you know, either physically or in terms of their characters?

Hmmm, that could be a loaded question!

In The Trickster’s Lover, Loki and Caroline pretty much showed up on their own. But many of the supporting characters are based on people I’ve known, especially my friends, colleagues, and professors at the University of Chicago. All names have been changed to protect the innocent, I promise! 😉

3.What inspired you to write about the Norse god Loki (furiously fanning myself)?

Well, here’s a story I thought I’d never tell anyone: I had a dream about Loki showing up on the University of Chicago campus. That morning I sat down to turn the dream into a short story, which became the first scene between Caroline and Loki, which turned into a much longer story!

4. I loved The Trickster’s Lover and Honeymoon, your latest release which continues the story of Caroline and Loki. Do you have any plans to continue their story or to write any more books set in the world you have created? (Please say yes!)

Thank you so much! Since you asked so nicely, I’m happy to say the answer is yes!

I’m currently working on my next novel, and it does take place in the same world. This story focuses on Loki’s son Vali, who was turned into a wolf when Loki was imprisoned in the cave, and Karen McDonald, a wildlife biologist in Yellowstone National Park. It’s not exactly a sequel, although several characters from The Trickster’s Lover do show up.

I’m in the early stages of revising and, for me, that’s a painfully slow process, so I’m not going to make any promises yet. But I am hoping for a spring 2017 release…

5. What was the most challenging aspect of Caroline’s and Loki’s story to write and why?

What a great question!

Let’s see… Both Loki and Caroline are emotionally closed-off, private characters, which made them a real pain to write.

There’s a scene in the U. of C. library, after Charlie Trotter’s, that immediately comes to mind. I woke up in the middle of the night – more than once! – thinking about the dialogue in that scene. Actually, I woke up thinking about that scene even after the book was published.

And I probably re-wrote the “meet-cute” scene between Loki and Caroline about fifty times. That was my first attempt at writing a sex scene; I really struggled with pacing. It’s also the first time the reader meets Loki, so I wanted to make sure his character came across in a realistic, interesting way.

6. What do you think makes a good hero and heroine?

You know, I’ve just never been drawn to a hero or heroine who always does the right thing, the first time around. I’m much more interested in a flawed and struggling hero (or heroine), the kind of person who has to overcome their own dark side or face their insecurities in order to save the world.

7.Loki, the hero of The Trickster’s Lover and Honeymoon is a powerful and conflicted character. How much research did you have to carry out into the Norse legends before writing the novel?

I studied mythology for several years, so I’d already done quite a bit of research before I decided to put my hard-earned mythology chops to work writing a romance novel!

I tried to remain true to the original sources, with one major exception – I totally invented the Trial of Ӕsìlynd. Everything else, though, comes straight from the myths.

I did have to return to the texts quite a bit, especially once Caroline went to Asgard, and when Ragnarök began. My personal copy of the prose Edda is a dog-earned, scribbled mess at this point!

8.Why do you think that readers enjoy reading about ancient gods and goddesses and myths and legends?

Well, when I first started reading myths and legends as a kid, almost all the books included an explanation along these lines: “Ancient people didn’t understand how the world works, so they invented myths to explain these everyday phenomena.” So, as an example, the story of Hades and Persephone was merely their primitive way of explaining why the seasons change.

But I don’t buy that. I think myths are still popular today because they really speak to the human experience, which honestly hasn’t changed that much in several thousand years. To continue with Hades and Persephone, that myth is a lot more than an explanation for the seasons; it’s about the human, and especially the female, experience of leaving one family to start another, and trying to balance the call of romantic love against familial and other obligations.

Most gods and goddesses are complicated, flawed characters, and I believe that also helps to explain their persistence. Odin, for example, is pretty damn unpredictable. Sure, he’s a warrior, but he’s also someone who transforms himself into a snake and spend three nights sleeping with his enemy’s daughter to get what he wants. That kind of complexity is fascinating, as much so for modern readers as it must have been for the Vikings.

Finally, I think the persistence of myth also speaks to the universal power of a really excellent story. Spin a good yarn, and it lasts.

9.Have you any writing/publishing projects in the pipeline that you are able to share?

Why yes, I do have some projects to share!

First, I’ve got the Vali novel. I’m hoping to have that out this spring, and you can follow my website or subscribe to my newsletter for more updates.

Second, I’m really excited to announce that Less Than Three press is publishing a story of mine called The Night Watch. This is a bit of a departure for me; it’s a high fantasy romance between two male characters with nary a shred of mythology. This novella tells the story of Prince Liam, who returns to his kingdom after five years at the Academy to find an ailing king, an arranged marriage, and his closest childhood friend Cerdec, who is now his personal guard.

Finally, as usual, I’ve got a handful of projects I’m currently polishing, and another handful of projects out for submission.

10.Have you a message to readers?

Thank you!!! I’m so honored you’ve chosen to spend your precious time reading my stories. 🙂

Connect with the Author

https://sammacleod.wordpress.com/about-me/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100012016893561

November 12, 2016 by Tina Williams

RELEASE BLITZ & REVIEW – Tainted (#4 in the Druid Chronicles), by Christina Phillips

#erotic #historical #romance

A real treat for fans of historical romance set in Roman Britain!

We are thrilled to be part of the release blitz for Christina Phillips’ erotic historical romance TAINTED. Set in Roman Britain and previously published in 2013, the book, containing a timeless love story between a Druid warrior and a Roman Patrician, has now been re-launched with a beautiful new cover. This enemies to lovers romance is an emotional and heart rending read, full of erotic and sensual scenes and contains plenty of suspense as the lovers struggle for their HEA against all the odds. It is a riveting read which is highly recommended. 🙂

A dangerous love Rome will never allow…

Driven by the knowledge he failed to protect his king, Druid warrior Gawain abandons his gods and vows to destroy the Roman invaders by any means possible.

Nothing and no one is more important than protecting his fellow Druids from the enemy until he meets the beautiful Roman patrician, Antonia. She is everything he’s never wanted in a woman, yet she fascinates him like no other. Despite the danger of discovery he embarks on an illicit liaison with her, determined to uncover the reason for the infinite sorrow that haunts her eyes.

Newly arrived in Britannia from Rome, Antonia is inexplicably drawn to the cold, tough Celt. His touch stirs a passion she long thought died at the hands of her brutal former husband and his unexpected tenderness thaws her frozen heart. But she hides a deadly secret that could be her undoing, and knows her growing feelings for him can lead nowhere. Yet when a shadow from her past threatens her future Antonia is torn between the Empire of her birth and betraying Gawain, the man she’s grown to love.

Previously published in 2013

Tainted is the fourth book in The Druid Chronicles and this time I mixed it up a little. The hero is a tough Celtic warrior we first met in Forbidden, and although at the time I didn’t know if I’d write his book, readers were keen to find out what happened to him. And so was I! But it was hard to find the perfect heroine for him, until Antonia appeared.

A beautiful Roman noblewoman, she’s nothing like he first assumes and what starts out as a fleeting affair soon develops into something much deeper, and deadlier, for them both.

Read Chapter One

My Review

Historical Erotic Romance 18+

Lush Eroticism and a Riveting Romance – 5 stars

Tainted is bursting with lush eroticism and riveting romance. The tale is set in ancient Britain and features a love between a sexy Celtic warrior and a Roman aristocrat, whose combination of strength and vulnerability melts his heart. The novel also has paranormal elements, befitting of a time when both Romans and Druids communed with their respective gods.

The patrician Antonia, recently divorced, has left Rome and journeys to Britain with her merchant father. Antonia is relieved to have left her brutal marriage far behind her. As soon as she catches sight of Gawain, whom has featured in earlier novels in the series, instant mutual attraction flares between them. Gawain blatantly parades his lust for Antonia and his intention to bed her, whilst at the same time making known his disdain for Rome and all it represents. Although Antonia tries to hide her attraction, she finds it impossible to maintain her apparent disinterest. She decides that there is no reason not to encourage this man, whom she is very much attracted to, and embark on a short term affair, where she can hopefully put the bad memories of her marriage behind her.

For Gawain’s part he is determined to possess this woman, just as he has the bodies of many a Roman aristocrat. However, Antonia is different – she has no husband with her whose secrets he wishes to uncover in his quest to bring down the Roman oppressors as a good Druid warrior should. Nevertheless he determines to slake his lust on her before moving to pastures new.

Gawain, well practised in the erotic arts, inducts Antonia into sensual pleasures beyond her wildest dreams, a far cry from her experience of the marriage bed. His seduction includes sexual acts that she has only heard spoken of in whispers by her erstwhile friends in Rome. The lovemaking scenes are very hot indeed! The couple very soon begin to share more than physical pleasure and develop strong emotional bonds, which grow into mutual respect and a deep love. As with all of Christina Phillips’ novels that I have read in this series, their developing romance is beautiful to behold. Both Gawain and Antonia however have their own secrets and when a figure from Antonia’s past reappears in her life and Rome’s determination to destroy the Druids comes to the fore, their budding romance is threatened by violence and treachery. There is also an unexpected plot twist, which i did not see coming, which added to the pleasure of the read.

I loved the characters of both Gawain and Antonia. Gawain is portrayed as a strong and honourable individual, committed to the path of the Druid warrior, to repel and destroy the Roman invaders, whom he despises. He feels as if he has failed his Celtic God Lugus, as he was unable to prevent the treachery which resulted in the King Caratacus being captured and taken to Rome, an episode which also resulted in the execution of the other Druid warriors loyal to the king. Gawain feels less honourable because he managed to escape their fate. He is a considerate and inventive lover and I found him to be a irresistible, just as Antonia does!

On the surface Antonia is the perfect reserved Roman aristocrat, but she has been made to feel wanting by virtue of her merchant father’s heritage which is not considered good enough for her mother’s patician blood. She has therefore suffered whilst in Rome. However, Antonia has an inner strength, which Gawain comes to respect. Gawain helps to heal her sexually and their relationship is also full of humorous and lively banter. Neither individual wishes to see the other hurt by their own actions or those of another.

Other characters include Carys and Maximus, the hero and heroine of book 1, Forbidden, who play a key role in the novel. There is also Antonia’s father, who has his own secrets and the Praetor who does not have the best interests of Antonia and Gawain at heart. The tale is set against the backdrop of the Roman objective to annihilate the Druids and the power and influence they wield over the populace, by whatever means possible. Author Christina Phillips is in the Premier League when it comes to historical erotic Romance. Her novels have the perfect balance between erotic lovemaking and an exciting, credible and well crafted plot.

I recommend the novel to romance lovers who like to read erotic romance, set within an historical context.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

A copy of this novel was given to me by the publisher for the purpose of a fair an honest review.

Buy Links

iBooks | Amazon | B&N | Kobo

#1 Forbidden – iBooks | Amazon | B&N | ARe | Kobo

#2 Captive – iBooks | Amazon | B & N | Kobo

#3 Enslaved – iBooks | Amazon | B&N | Kobo

#4 Tainted

Bio

As a child, Christina always loved reading about far away places and magical worlds, but never imagined that one day she’d spend her days writing about them! Thankfully, when she grew up she decided her brave heroines deserved a gorgeous warrior to share their journey with, and hopes you enjoy the world of The Druid Chronicles as much as she enjoyed writing it J

Keep in touch with Christina

Website | Facebook | Twitter

If you’d like to receive notification of when my next book is released, sign up for my Newsletter

November 10, 2016 by Tina Williams

COVER REVEAL ~ Honeymoon, by Samantha Macleod

#erotic #paranormal #romance

Adult/18+ read

Last month I had the pleasure of reviewing an ARC of Samantha Macleod’s erotic paranormal romance The Trickster’s Lover (click on title for review). I LOVED this sizzling and intelligent take on Norse mythology where the god Loki meets the mortal woman Caroline. The sex scenes are hot (Loki is certainly not lacking in the stamina department) and the plot is for the most part fast and furious, whilst at the same time drawing on the richness of Norse legends.

Today we are THRILLED to share the cover of Honeymoon, a short steamy read which continues the romance of Loki and Caroline. I’m really looking forward to reviewing this and will be posting my review, plus featuring an interview with Samantha, on release day scheduled for November 15th.

Blurb

Mythology expert Caroline Capello agreed to marry Loki, the Norse god of fire and lies.

She didn’t realize the most dangerous part of their marriage might be the honeymoon.

Add it to Goodreads

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32736930-honeymoon

Author Bio

Born and raised in Colorado, Samantha MacLeod has lived in every time zone in the US, and London. She has a bachelor’s degree from Colby College and an M.A. from the University of Chicago; yes, the U. of C. really is where fun comes to die.

Samantha lives with her husband and two small children in the woods of southern Maine. When she’s not shoveling snow or writing steamy sex scenes, Samantha can be found teaching college composition and philosophy to undergraduates who have no idea she leads a double life as an erotica author.

Samantha’s blog: https://sammacleod.wordpress.com/

November 8, 2016 by Tina Williams

BLOG TOUR PLUS AUTHOR POST – A Hundred Hands, by Dianne Noble (includes excerpt & giveaway)

AUTHOR POST

I’d been doing voluntary work in India, teaching street children to speak English, and when I came home again had the idea that the journal I’d kept would be a good basis for a novel. Unhappily, agents and publishers thought differently and after 32 rejections I stopped submitting, sat back and licked my wounds.

The painful truth was that my writing just wasn’t good enough. After nursing my bruised ego for several months, I decided to write another book, also based in India, but with a different storyline. I joined two writing groups and took my work in, chapter by chapter, week after week. Their critique was merciless and within a very short time I felt tempted to abandon the whole idea. What? A writer? Me? However, the stubborn part of me persevered and bit by bit every chapter was re-written, every word checked and evaluated, until I had a complete manuscript. I trawled The Writers’ and Artists’ Yearbook to find agents or publishers who 1) dealt in contemporary women’s fiction and 2) accept unsolicited manuscripts. I discovered that they were very thin on the ground!

It took Conville & Walsh 17 days to refuse me and Curtis Brown 5 weeks. Some took months to respond, others never answered at all. It’s hard to describe how demoralising it is when everyone says no. You wonder if you’re totally deluded thinking you can write, and your skin seems to get thinner rather than thicker. Wine intake rises dramatically and chocolate goes through the roof!

When I received an email from Tirgearr Publishing my heart sank. I really couldn’t take another rejection. But it wasn’t! It was an acceptance and a contract. I don’t know how many times I read it, totally disbelieving that somewhere, someone (apart from me) thought I could write.

That was a year ago and A Hundred Hands will be my second book with a third already submitted. If anyone out there is writing and ready to give up, listen to me! Keep going! Join a writing group, not a cosy one with coffee and cake, but one who will critique your work, pull it to pieces, possibly reduce you to tears and then when it’s as good as you can get it, start submitting and keep going until you’re accepted.

Excerpt

Polly was dreaming of the night they came to arrest David, hearing the pounding on the door.

But when she woke she could still hear it. It was real.

She struggled to untangle herself from legs and arms. Ran for the door, heart banging against her ribs. Behind her girls screamed with fear and she heard shouts from the boys’ room.

Struggling with the ancient bolts, she broke a nail, skinned her knuckles. Outside stood a young man.

He averted his eyes from her bare legs, addressed the doorframe. ‘Meester Murdoch?’

She sucked her bleeding finger, gave him a blank stare.

‘Emergency. Where is, please?’

What was he talking about? She shook her head but he pushed past her. A screech of wheels as a stretcher followed him. Small frightened faces peeped round the door.

‘It’s all right. Go back to bed.’ She tried to sound reassuring.

They rushed Finlay towards the front door. His eyes, those eyes which had looked at her with such love, were closed. The colour of his face resembled ashes. She reached out to him but they’d already passed. Please God, don’t let him die. She stood, frozen, the blood from her finger dripping on to the floor.

‘We are thinking heart,’ the man called over his shoulder, then they were gone.

She leaned against the wall. A heart attack. It had to be a direct result of Pushpa vanishing. He had been beside himself, totally distraught. She buried her face in her hands. Nimesh had died, for God’s sake, and Finlay had taken it in his stride. But Pushpa was different.

She slid down the wall till she reached the floor. How could she have got it so wrong again?

Blurb

Following her husband’s arrest, Polly is forced to flee her small Welsh village. While she is in India visiting an old school friend she meets an older man, Finlay.

She is hugely affected by the way he is trying to alleviate the terrible suffering of Kolkata’s children who live on the streets in poverty and deprivation. As she becomes more involved in the day to day work she begins to fall in love with him. Together they share the heartbreak and also the happiness.

Then something changes and Polly begins to believe Finlay is hiding the same dreadful secret she ran away from.

Buy links:

Amazon UK: Amazon US:

Smashwords: iBooks:

Kobo: Barnes & Noble:

BIO

I think I became a reader before I could walk. While other people had childhood memories, I amassed a vocabulary. I was born into a service family and at the tender age of seven found myself on the Dunera, a troopship, sailing for a three year posting to Singapore. So began a lifetime of wandering – and fifteen different schools. Teen years living in Cyprus, before partition, when the country was swarming with handsome UN soldiers, and then marriage to a Civil Engineer who whisked me away to the Arabian Gulf.

Most of the following years were spent as a single parent with an employment history which ranged from the British Embassy in Bahrain to a goods picker, complete with steel toe-capped boots, in an Argos warehouse. In between I earned my keep as a cashier in Barclays, a radio presenter and a café proprietor on the sea front in Penzance. All good material for an author!

I always enjoyed writing and kept a journal whenever I travelled abroad, but it wasn’t until I retired I had the chance to write a book. My first novel Outcast was published as an ebook in March 2016 by Tirgearr – after 32 rejections! This has been followed by A Hundred Hands. Both books are set in India and are based on the diaries I kept when I did voluntary work one winter, teaching English to street children in Kolkata.

Web and social links:

www.dianneanoble.com

www.facebook.com/dianneanoble

www.twitter.com/dianneanoble1

*****

GIVEAWAY!

Make sure to follow the whole tour—the more posts you visit throughout, the more chances you’ll get to enter the giveaway. The tour dates are here: http://www.writermarketing.co.uk/prpromotion/blog-tours/currently-on-tour/dianne-noble-2/

a Rafflecopter giveaway

November 7, 2016 by Tina Williams

REVIEW – Fated for Sanchez (Mediterranean Romance), by Kristin Ravelle

Stylish and Smexy Contemporary!

“Four years ago, I was nearly seduced by Lilli’s obvious sensual assets. Today, I desire her business savvy. My strange luck, her uncle signed over her trust fund before dying in a business investment to me.” Sanchez

********************************************

Lilli Eden has never forgotten the summer she spent in Malaga, Spain, at her friend, Jimena’s. Or Sanchez Varellano, Jimena’s brother. They shared smouldering glances all that summer but no more for Sanchez was engaged. Or so she thought.

Four years on Lilli feels she’s finally grown past their searing mutual attraction but upon gaining control of her parents’ trust fund, she discovers her deceased Uncle Jeremy had secretly invested it in a Varellano business expansion. Sanchez now holds the strings to her and Lucie’s futures for several years.

Sanchez dares to take fate into his own hands. He can redress both Jeremy’s ill thought out offer and an old Varellano family score at the same time. And Sanchez has a private agenda of his own for the ravishing Lilli.

Lilli must decide whether to tempt fate on a chance with Sanchez for dreamt of futures for her and Lucie as the Edens and Varellano share a painful history that brings Lilli and Sanchez together but also threatens to drive them apart. Will fate be on the side of their love this time?

Sweet/spicy heat, Mediterranean Men. Stand-alone novel, HEA.

Buy your copy now to learn how Sanchez dares to manage fate!

My Review

Stylish and Smexy: A Real Gem! – 4 and a half stars

Fated for Sanchez is a sweet and stylish contemporary romance penned by Kristin Ravelle. It is the third book I have read by the author, the other two being Discovery (the Iron Web) a dystopian novel and The Everlasting Spell, a paranormal romance (click on the titles for reviews). This exquisitely crafted romance pairs a drop dead gorgeous Mediterranean hero with a young English woman, who destiny has once again thrown together. Yet the couple need to overcome a number of obstacles, not least their own stubbornness and the vagaries of fate before they can find their HEA.

If like me you are a fan of alpha heroes you will LOVE Sanchez, a successful businessman who exudes natural charm and who is irresistible to the female sex. He is determined to take advantage of the situation and get his hands on the ravishing Lilli, a woman whom he has not been able to forget. If he needs to use a little emotional blackmail in the process then so be it! Although his actions were a little high handed a times, he is an alpha with a heart and it was easy to see why Lilli is so drawn to him.

Lilli is a heroine who I rooted for from the off. Since her parents’ death she has provided for Lucie, her younger sister, whilst her uncle manages their trust fund. On the death of her uncle she is stunned to hear that the fund is now invested in a business venture in Spain, a venture presided over by none other than Sanchez Varellano, a man whom she had a serious crush on four years before. She finds herself in an impossible situation, reluctantly agreeing to a six month engagement and a move to Spain so that her talented sister can have the funds to go to art school to pursue her dream.

The plot thickens as Lilli asks herself what a man like the successful and cosmopolitan Sanchez, a man who could have any woman he desires, could possibly want with her? Does he want her purely for the money she has brought to the table or is there something else at play? Lilli cannot believe that Sanchez wants her for herself alone. She feels like a pawn, yet is conflicted as she is so attracted to this man who made such an impact on her younger self. Can she extract herself from the situation before she loses control over not only her life but her heart?

The plot grows ever more complex as we encounter persons from both Lilli’s and Sanchez’s pasts, a series of misunderstandings and the mystery of an ailing business venture. I was entertained throughout waiting to see if the couple’s growing mutual attraction and their undoubted sexual chemistry and passion would triumph this time or whether fate would once again tear them apart.

Recommended for fans of contemporary romance who enjoy a sweet and spicy read.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

Please note, a copy of this book was given to me by the author for the purpose of a fair and honest review.

Purchase Details

Amazon US Amazon UK

Author Contact Details

http://kristinravelle.blogspot.ca/ (Kristin’s Blog)

@KristinRavelle on Twitter

https://twitter.com/KristinRavelle

https://www.pinterest.com/kristinravelle/ (Kristin on Pinterest)

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29489820-fated-for-sanchez

November 3, 2016 by Tina Williams

RELEASE BLITZ – Love on Location (audio book), by Lucy Felthouse

Love on Location by Lucy Felthouse Now Available in Audiobook Format! #audiobook #romance #erotica #mm #gay

The critically acclaimed M/M erotic romance novella, Love on Location by Lucy Felthouse, is now available in audiobook format. Narrated by the popular, well-reviewed voice artist Joel Leslie, you can now listen to this sexy and romantic tale on the go!

Blurb:

When Theo Samuels heads off to film on location in the village of Stoneydale, he’s expecting drama to take place on camera, not off. But when he meets gorgeous local lad, Eddie Henderson, he struggles to ignore his attraction. A relationship between the two of them would be utterly impractical, yet they’re drawn together nonetheless. Can they overcome the seemingly endless hurdles between them? Or is their fling destined to remain as just that?

Audio links:

Amazon UK Amazon US

Audible UK Audible US

iTunes UK iTunes US

eBook links available here: http://lucyfelthouse.co.uk/published-works/love-on-location/

*****

Reviews:

“This M/M is about two men who are coming into their own and love comes along unexpectedly. If you like quick reads then I would say pick up this one. The attraction they build is sweet and steamy; but for those who are new to M/M romance it isn’t so intense. I hope we get to read more about Eddie and Theo as their love blossoms and grows. Plus Eddie was fun to read with his humor and free spirit.” The Jeep Diva

“So all in all, this was a great book, with some light angst, scorching sex scenes, and fantastic characters! A must read!” 5 out of 5, Bayou Book Junkies

“This is a sweet love story, a lot of fun, and wildly entertaining!!!” Diverse Reader

*****

Author Bio:

Lucy Felthouse is the award-winning author of erotic romance novels Stately Pleasures (named in the top 5 of Cliterati.co.uk’s 100 Modern Erotic Classics That You’ve Never Heard Of, and an Amazon bestseller), Eyes Wide Open (winner of the Love Romances Café’s Best Ménage Book 2015 award, and an Amazon bestseller) and The Persecution of the Wolves. Including novels, short stories and novellas, she has over 150 publications to her name. She owns Erotica For All, and is one eighth of The Brit Babes. Find out more about her writing at http://lucyfelthouse.co.uk, or on Twitter or Facebook. Sign up for automatic updates on Amazon or BookBub. You can also subscribe to her monthly newsletter at: http://eepurl.com/gMQb9

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