September 24, 2015 by Caroline Barker

Book Blitz Developing Minds: An American Ghost Story by Jonathan LaPoma

Title: Developing Minds: An American Ghost Story

Author: Jonathan LaPoma

Genre: Contemporary literary fiction

Release date: September 14th, 2015

Released by: Laughing Fire Press

Length: 343 pages

Blurb: Developing Minds: An American Ghost Story follows a group of recent college graduates who struggle with feelings of alienation and their addictions as they try to survive a year of teaching at two dysfunctional Miami public schools.

A poetic and insightful coming-of-age novel, Developing Minds is centered on 24-year-old Luke Entelechy, an aspiring writer who sees his creative output suffer when he begins teaching at one of Miami’s most challenging middle schools. As the year progresses, however, Luke begins to relate to the neglect and abuse his students suffer, and is faced with a “haunting” decision: continue to let his dark past destroy him, or rise above the struggle to realize his potential as an artist and a “real” human being.

Equal parts disturbing and humorous, Developing Minds offers a brutally honest look at the American public school system and the extreme measures many teachers take to cope with working in it.

Author bio:

Jonathan LaPoma is an award-winning novelist, screenwriter, songwriter, and poet from Buffalo, NY. In 2005, he received a BA in history and a secondary education credential from the State University of New York at Geneseo, and he traveled extensively throughout the United States and Mexico after graduating. These experiences have become the inspiration for much of his writing, which often explores themes of alienation and misery as human constructions that can be overcome through self-understanding and the acceptance of suffering. His five feature-length screenplays have won over 40 awards/honors at various international screenwriting competitions, and his novel DEVELOPING MINDS: AN AMERICAN GHOST STORY is a finalist in the 2015 Stargazer Literary Prizes for best Visionary and Metaphysical Fiction. He lives in San Diego and teaches at a public secondary school.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/jonlapoma

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JonLaPoma

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1OHvo04

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1Pez5bJ

B&N: http://bit.ly/1Mjz45M

Website: http://www.jonlapoma.com

September 18, 2015 by Tina Williams

BLOG TOUR & REVIEW ~ The CynFell Brothers, by Samantha Holt (includes excerpt and giveaway)

BOOK INFORMATION

SERIES – Cynfell Brothers
AUTHOR – Samantha Holt
GENRE – Victorian Romance
COVER ARTIST – Love, Lust & Lipstick Stains

BOOK SYNOPSIS

Lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy and pride. The Cynfell brothers are the very embodiment of a sinful existence. But could the right woman change that?

BUY & TBR LINKS

Sinful Confessions

AMAZON KINDLE US

AMAZON KINDLE CA

AMAZON KINDLE UK

My Review

Sin Away! Fabulous start to a new series! *****

Sinful Confessions is the first instalment in Samantha Holt’s sensual Victorian Romance series, The Cynfell Brothers. This novella is the story of Julian Cynfell, the Marquess of Lockwood, the eldest of seven very naughty brothers. Julian embodies the sin of wrath, being a very grumpy lord indeed, wallowing in self-inflicted solitude since the untimely deaths of not one but three wives. Believing himself responsible for their demise, he shuns and is shunned by society and has driven all but his most faithful servants away. His only real solace is the correspondence he has struck up with Viola Thompson, the daughter of a business associate, whom he believes is far out of harms way in America.

But oh what tangled web! Julian is completely blindsided when the beautiful and brazen Viola unexpectedly turns up on his doorstep, alone and unchaperoned. Just what is a reclusive lord to do? Misunderstandings abound as Viola is under the distinct impression that they are to be wed, a state that the hero is sworn off, believing that he is a danger to any future spouse.

Julian is now forced to deal with his demons as he fights his immediate and growing attraction to Viola, convinced he needs to keep her at arms- length for what he believes is her own safety. For Viola’s part she is understandably taken aback when she realises the error of coming to England, but I liked her spunk and how she bounces back making the most of the situation and Julian! As an American she tests the sensibilities of both Julian and English society at the time to its limits, which makes for some highly amusing scenes!

The romance between the hero and the heroine is at the heart of this sensual romance by Samantha Holt. I just loved the premise of this plot, which the author exploits with her customary finesse, creating oodles of sexual tension, and a story interjected with plenty of humour and torment (especially for the unsuspecting hero)!

I recommend Sinful Confessions to lovers of historical romance. I find the whole concept of sinful men irresistibly appealing and I am looking forward to indulging in the other novellas in this series in which we find out about his siblings, who each have a particular vice to overcome before they are to find their HEA.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

A copy of this book was given to me for the purpose of a fair and honest review.

Sinful Deeds

Sinful Liaisons

EXCERPT

Sinful Liaisons
Oxfordshire, 1897

A breeze whistled across his nether regions. Pierce grimaced. It could have been worse, he supposed. At least the day was mild with no sign of rain. He peered into the distance. Only the deeply grooved road cutting its path through the gentle hills hinted at civilisation. He grimaced again. Where the bloody hell was he?

He curled a fist and began trudging along the grass at the side of the road. Stones pricked his bare feet.

“Bloody Goddamn it.”

Pierce was going to kill Giles if he lived through this. He hadn’t intended to visit their favourite gambling den, but Giles just had to talk him into it. Nor had he meant to get utterly foxed. He hardly remembered wagering everything including his clothes. As for how he’d ended up naked on the roadside…

“Bloody Goddamn it all to hell.”

One final wager…He had vague recollections. Something to do with a race? Damnation, if only his head wasn’t so fuzzy. But even then, why had Giles left him to sleep it off in a field—naked?

The rumble of a carriage made him stiffen. He wouldn’t get far with his bare feet. A form of transport would be useful indeed. But who would give a naked man a ride? Pierce shrugged to himself and turned, cupping one hand over himself to preserve what little modesty he had left and using the other to gain the driver’s attention.

The black, glossy carriage rumbled closer, led by two horses. He saw the driver glance his way then look again before turning his head away. Dirt spattered his legs making him jump back as it rolled past.

“Rot in hell then,” he muttered half-heartedly and resisted the urge to scuff his bare foot across the ground.

A command from the driver reached his ears and he held his breath as the horses came to a halt. The vehicle stopped. Both hands over the family jewels, Pierce waited. The door swung open.

“Thank you,” he uttered, lifting his gaze to the heavens, and hurried toward the carriage. He cursed under his breath when several more rocks jabbed the soles of his feet.

Trying to look as noble as one could when naked, he paused in front of the open door. There, in the dark confines of the vehicle and set against plush royal blue seats, an elegant redhead skimmed her gaze up and down his body. Even in the gloom of the carriage, he saw an eyebrow rise. Then he noted the curve of her lips.

Pierce stared back. He allowed his own gaze to travel over her, observing the generous rise of her breasts against a low cut bodice and the slender waist that led to hips that were emphasised by a bustle. Hair coiled high, it gave him a fine view of the gems on her neck and ears. From the delicate porcelain skin to the emeralds casting a faint green hew across it, everything about this woman told him of her importance.

And her attractiveness. He had to force his gaze from her breasts or else both hands wouldn’t conceal anything.

“Get in.”

AUTHOR BIO

Samantha lives in a small village in England with her gorgeous twin girls. She enjoys writing historical romance involving chivalrous knights, hot highlanders and cravatted men, but sometimes gets lured away by bad boy bikers, soldiers and other heroic modern men.

AUTHOR FOLLOW LINKS

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE
WEBSITE / BLOG
FACEBOOK

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September 15, 2015 by Caroline Barker

Blog Tour w/REVIEW Abigail’s Affair (Looking for Love #1) by Pat Spence

Reasoning that absence makes the heart grow fonder and attempting to force her married lover’s hand, 30 -year old Abigail Aske decides to visit an old friend in Australia.

But staying with a 6’2”Amazonian fitness freak proves something of a challenge, as does maintaining ‘no contact’ with Jake, not to mention resisting other tempting ‘offers’.

Set against a wonderful Australian backdrop, with a host of quirky, emotionally dysfunctional characters, Abigail’s Affair tells of a woman’s search for love and happiness, revealing the highs and lows of having an affair, and showing how the experience of travel becomes a voyage of self-discovery, with surprising results.

A story of love, lies, betrayal and hope…

For anyone who is having an affair, has had an affair or is thinking of having an affair, this book is ESSENTIAL reading…

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You can grab e-book for FREE until end of blog tour

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Add to Goodreads

Author Bio

Pat Spence has worked as freelance writer for the past eighteen years and, prior to that, as a copywriter within advertising agencies. She has also worked as a magazine editor and freelance trainer, teaching public speaking and personal development, using a holistic approach within a business framework. In addition, she is a qualified massage therapist and aromatherapist, reads Tarot cards and is learning banjo.

One Click Links

Amazon UK

Amazon.com

Itunes

KOBO

Smashwords

Follow on Facebook

Pats facebook page

Giveaway

A Red Crystal Necklace
Signed paperback
Amazon Giftcard

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REVIEW ***** (5* rating)

I enjoyed this rom-com/contemporary romance as it has some great humour, cringe-worthy moments, flawed characters, a great setting, as well as some serious, emotional scenes too. It is full of surprises, with many characters to either love or dislike; many of whom have their own tale to tell, intertwining with the overall story.

To tell a story of the lead female character having an affair with a married man is quite brave in my eyes. The story begins with the reader not fully liking Abigail as we are met with her ‘sinful’ side, with no real understanding of how she came to be in that situation. The reader will certainly be surprised just how much they will come round and begin to like Abigail as the story moves on. Although, I must admit the first cringe-worthy moment for me is when the reader realises that Abigail’s lover, Jake, and his wife are expecting their second child! My head certainly rolled at this, and I became a little dubious of rooting for Abigail.

However, aside from wanting to know how life was going to pan out for Abigail and Jake, the one other thing that kept me reading is the way in which the story is written. The writing is fantastic, with perfect fluidity and easy to follow. Written in first person, the reader soon realises Abigail’s constant doubts of herself and the relationship. And, before you know it, Abigail is on a new adventure in Australia, visiting Melbourne and Sydney, and meeting many an interesting person, at the same time as seeing some amazing scenery in the mountains, by the sea, and visiting landmarks and museums. The reader will really get a feel for the place, whether they have visited it themselves or not.

Abigail was a little lost and lonely after the death of her sister. Although she has her parents, they are still grieving and constantly worried about Abigail’s safety, thus suffocating her. During this time, her best friend, Ros, was leaving for a new life in Australia. Her colleague, Jake, was all she had; the only constant in her life that she could talk to. Listening to him everyday overtime made him more and more familiar and warmer.

Despite the situation with Jake’s home life, Abigail’s desperation to be close to someone was at an all time high, and Jake was falling for her. Looking at the situation from the outside, we can gauge that she is in a mess and needs support, affection. But, in the thick of it all, Abigail sees only what is in front of her; someone who listens, someone who is kind, and someone who desires her.

Jake is hot and certainly has his pull on Abigail. She desires him when he isn’t there, longing for his touch. Knowing that he may not end his relationship with his wife, Tiffany, is killing her. And so it seems a great idea to distance herself away from him. This would provide him with an opportunity to either leave Tiffany, or leave her.

Going to Australia certainly opens up the story, and the colourful characters that we find ourselves acquainted with help make Abigail’s Affair a fun read. Not the trip she was expecting at first; Abigail finds herself having disputes with Ros, making friends with Ros’s housemate, Miranda, staying with her mum’s famous art friend in Sydney, and meeting new fellows in Bill and ‘cuddly’ Melvyn!

Bill was certainly more than a handful. I must admit that although attractive to some, there were some scenes with Bill that made me feel a little sick! He definitely isn’t my type, but his scenes stand out and still provide fun.

Abigail’s Affair is the story of a woman who is lost; she has made some silly choices and truly wants to learn what her best options are. Her time away was meant to open up the eyes of Jake, forcing him to decide once and for all between her and Tiffany. However, after meeting new people and experiencing new territories, friendships and situations it is Abigail’s eyes that begin to open, and the transformation to be a much more decisive Abigail is fantastic.

Reviewed by Caroline Barker

September 6, 2015 by Caroline Barker

Book Blitz Girl in the River by Patricia Kullberg

Title: Girl in the River

Author: Patricia Kullberg

Genre: Historical Fiction With Feminist Leanings

Date released: August 20th, 2015

Published by: Bygone Era Books, Ltd.

Length: 340 pages

Blurb: Her pimp wants her dead, a hooker wants her heart, and the DA just wants her …

On the eve of World War II, Portland, Oregon, battles corruption as the city falls into the hands of gangsters. Newly orphaned, Mae Rose wanders the rain-stained streets alone, on the lam from a knife-wielding pimp and mustering her own worst impulses to survive. As Mae rises to power in Portland’s gritty sex industry, she’s pursued by a district attorney who seeks to snare her for more personal reasons. In the city’s smoky nightspots, the glamorous Dr. Ruth Barnett turns heads, but by day she operates a wildly successful abortion service. At war’s end, both Mae and Ruth are caught in the crosshairs of Portland’s anti-vice crusade. The women’s survival, as well as any chance at lasting love, depends on their allegiance to each other and their abilities to outsmart the cops and politicians who no longer protect them. This novel, based in part on the true story of Dr. Ruth Barnett, takes an unflinching look at the power dynamics of sex and post-war assaults on reproductive rights.

About the Author

A family physician, Patricia Kullberg, MD, MPH, devoted her career to serving persons living with physical, mental and addiction disorders at a clinic for the homeless. She has written many award-winning articles about health and medicine, but Girl in the River is her first novel. Kullberg and her husband live in Portland, Oregon, where she facilitates writing workshops for marginalized women and tends a large garden.

Website: http://patriciakullberg.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patricia.kullberg.author?fref=ts

On Amazon: http://amzn.to/1idLvpK

September 1, 2015 by Caroline Barker

Blog Tour SPINNER by Michael J. Bowler

Title: Spinner

Author: Michael J. Bowler

Genre: YA horror/paranormal

Date released: August 5th, 2015

Publisher: YoungDudes Publishing

Length: 445 pages

Blurb: Fifteen-year-old Alex is a “spinner.” His friends are “dummies.” Two clandestine groups of humans want his power. And an ancient evil is stalking him. If people weren’t being murdered, Alex might laugh at how his life turned into a horror movie overnight.

In a wheelchair since birth, his freakish ability has gotten him kicked out of ten foster homes since the age of four. Now saddled with a sadistic housemother who uses his spinning to heal the kids she physically abuses, Alex and his misfit group of learning disabled classmates are the only ones who can solve the mystery of his birth before more people meet a gruesome end.

They need to find out who murdered their beloved teacher, and why the hot young substitute acts like she’s flirting with them. Then there’s the mysterious medallion that seems to have unleashed something malevolent, and an ancient prophecy suggesting Alex has the power to destroy humanity.

The boys break into homes, dig up graves, elude kidnappers, fight for their lives against feral cats, and ultimately confront an evil as old as humankind. Friendships are tested, secrets uncovered, love spoken, and destiny revealed.

The kid who’s always been a loner will finally learn the value of friends, family, and loyalty.

If he survives…

Author Bio:

Michael J. Bowler is an award-winning author of eight novels––A Boy and His Dragon, A Matter of Time (Silver Medalist from Reader’s Favorite), and The Knight Cycle, comprised of five books: Children of the Knight (Gold Award Winner in the Wishing Shelf Book Awards), Running Through A Dark Place, There Is No Fear, And The Children Shall Lead, Once Upon A Time In America, and Spinner.

He grew up in San Rafael, California, and majored in English and Theatre at Santa Clara University. He went on to earn a master’s in film production from Loyola Marymount University, a teaching credential in English from LMU, and another master’s in Special Education from Cal State University Dominguez Hills.

He acted as producer, writer, and/or director on several ultra-low-budget horror films, including “Fatal Images,” “Club Dead,” and “Things II.”

He taught high school in Hawthorne, California for twenty-five years, both in general education and to students with learning disabilities, in subjects ranging from English and Strength Training to Algebra, Biology, and Yearbook.

He has also been a volunteer Big Brother to eight different boys with the Catholic Big Brothers Big Sisters program and a thirty-year volunteer within the juvenile justice system in Los Angeles.

He has been honored as Probation Volunteer of the Year, YMCA Volunteer of the Year, California Big Brother of the Year, and 2000 National Big Brother of the Year. The “National” honor allowed him and three of his Little Brothers to visit the White House and meet the president in the Oval Office.

He is currently working on a sequel to Spinner.His goal as a YA author is for teens to experience empowerment and hope; to see themselves in his diverse characters; to read about kids who face real-life challenges; and to see how kids like them can remain decent people in an indecent world.

* Spinner won Honorable Mention in Young Adult Books of 2015 from the San Francisco Book Festival.

Social Media Links:

www .michaeljbowler .com

FB: michaeljbowlerauthor

Twitter: https ://twitter .com /BradleyWallaceM

Blog: sirlancesays.wordpress.com

Goodreads: https ://www .goodreads .com /author /show /6938109.Michael _J _Bowler

Buy link: http ://amzn .to /1 C 32 T 9 v

August 22, 2015 by Tina Williams

BLOG TOUR ~ Bad Uncle, by Gillian Felix (includes guest post, giveaway and excerpt)

Follow the tour here: http://familyportrait.plaintalkbm.com/current-tours/

**Synopsis for Bad Uncle (standalone)**

Who needs enemies when you’ve got family

The stars are aligned in Adriana’s favor, but secrets have a way of exposing themselves just when everything is perfect. As Adriana and Haze’s relationship heads south, Carys is ready to pounce. Will Adriana’s lies drive the man she loves into the arms of another?

Meanwhile Zax is finally with his dream girl, but why can’t he get his best friend’s girl out of his mind? When she turns to him for advice on how to be a better girlfriend, can he put his selfish desires aside, or will he follow his siblings and take what he wants despite the consequences?

When Kevin’s lifestyle puts innocent L’Wren in danger, his retaliation brings his

ruthless uncle back to Los Angeles and into the lives of his family. In Bad Uncle you’ll get to know the man who has the power to change the legacy of the Banovic family forever.

Suitable for adults 18+

Purchase Link Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B011H6ZPS2

The soundtrack for Bad Uncle

One of the most fun parts of finishing a novel is compiling the soundtrack. I only started compiling soundtracks for my novels after Bastard’s Brew (Family Portrait Book 3). Actually a reader gave me that idea. She enjoyed the books so much that she compiled her own ‘hit list’ as she called it. They were the songs that resonated with her as she read the scenes. I loved it! Since the Family Portrait series is character and plot driven it made sense. The books are written like a television series with story arcs merging characters and plots.

Here is my soundtrack for Bad Uncle (Family Portrait Book 5) and an explanation of why I chose them to accompany the scene.

Little Do You Know by Alex & Sierra

Haze and Adriana are so much in love with each other they make themselves crazy. For Adriana it was love at first sight when she first saw him at a photo shoot. Their relationship went through all sorts of trials and twists but they made it. Cut to Bad Uncle (Book 5), Haze discovers that Adriana has a secret that could land him in jail or worse. Because of this secret coming to light he has to break up with her and it is killing them both.

Little do you know I … Love you till the sun dies.

Never Stop – SafetySuit

This is a power Ballard for the millennium!

Kevin knows he doesn’t deserve a woman like L’Wren. L’Wren is innocent, sweet and she had no idea how bad Kevin really is. In Bad Uncle his business dealings puts her in serious danger. Can he keep her safe and still get revenge against his enemies?

I will never stop losing my breath, every time I see you looking back at me.

Nirvana – Sam Smith

Kristin has a lot to live up to, her father has set very high standards for her, so naturally she wants to rebel. She does so with her boyfriend’s best friend who is the biggest player in Westwood Academy. Kristin and Frankie give into temptation in a big way. The scene with them is by far the HOTTEST sex scene I’ve ever written. Because of this scene I have to give the book a Mature Audience rating.

Oh baby oh baby we both know the truth, if it were the real me and you this wouldn’t be the right thing to do.

I’m in love with a boy – Kaya Stewart

So now we’re back to Adriana and Haze. This song is so bad-ass reminds me of Adriana, this would totally be a song on her playlist. Adriana is sneaking around with Haze and to keep him safe and protect her secret she has to keep their relationship on the DL.

I’m in love with a boy but I’ll never say his name…

Almost Lover – Jasmine Thompson

Haze broke up with Adriana the love of his life but he is having a hard time moving on. He keeps looking at her pictures, texts and paintings of her. He is devastated because he’d had such high hopes for their future together. From the beginning he knew that she had the power to rip his heart out.

I should have known you’d bring me heartache, almost lovers always do.

I See Fire – Jasmine Thompson

Zax realizes he has feelings for songster Leighann when he sees her performing this song around the campfire. Despite Leighann being an international singing sensation, Zax had never really paid attention to her music up until this moment.

Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran

Adriana and Haze has a wonderful moment together, in this moment he knew he wanted her in his life forever. For the first time he lets her know about the plans he has for their future. He is timid because he doesn’t know if that would appeal to her. He’s fully prepared for her to shoot him down.

Baby your smile’s forever in my mind and memory.

Who are you when I’m not looking – Blake Shelton

Haze know that Adriana is hiding something but he can’t figure it out. They’re on a date and her mind is far, he tries to find out what’s bothering her but she deflects.

My oh my you’re so good looking, who are you when I’m not looking.

Leave Your Lover – Sam Smith

Zax is falling for his best friend’s girl; he is in a losing battle with his heart and his loyalty. When he found out that they spent the night together, he pretends like it’s no big deal. He reflects on the time that she had a crush on him but he ignored her. Now it is too late.

Leave your lover, leave him for me.

Breakeven – Script

After Adriana and Haze breaks up she goes to his house and gets there in time to see her nemesis Carys leaving Haze’s house. Carys is partially responsible for their breakup but Adriana doesn’t know that … Yet.

Hope you get a chance to read Bad Uncle. In the meantime check out the playlist I’ve created just for you:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX56O0AfCAblC-x12LS46vHqEGjSndg3e

Excerpt

Haze sat in his car outside of the high school that Adriana attended. He was early and classes were still in session. It made sense to him why she didn’t want to tell her parents about them. He’d also sensed that she was hiding something, and now he knew. All those months she’d played him for a fool. She made him fall in love with her. What kind of sick game was she playing?

He went over their times together and wondered if she had been honest with him but he heard what he wanted. Was he so desperate that he imagined that she was older than she really was? The bell rang and the girls came out in their uniforms. He saw them scatter off in different directions; then he spotted Adriana. She was in uniform, her raven hair was in a single long braid down to her waist, and her blue eyes shone as she talked and laughed with one of the girls. Haze looked at her as if seeing her for the first time. She looked fifteen; why didn’t he see it before?

Her smile disappeared when she spotted his Toyota Rav4.

“Haze.” She looked in through the passenger window.

“Get in. Your dad sent me to pick you up,” Haze said icily without looking at her.

Adriana got in and sat quietly. She placed her books on her lap and buckled her seatbelt. Haze drove off without saying a word.

The tension in the air was so thick that Adriana felt that she couldn’t breathe.

“My love, I can explain,” Adriana said quietly.

“Don’t call me that.” Haze gritted his teeth. “Don’t EVER call me that!”

“I’m sorry, Haze.” Adriana felt her heart ripping out of her chest. She had never seen him so angry.

“You lied to me, Adriana! For months you fucked with my feelings for your own personal enjoyment.”

“I love you,” she cried.

“Shut up! You don’t know what love is! I fucking loved you, Adriana!” A tear rolled down his cheek. “I wanted a life with you! I wanted a future with you!” He slammed his fist on the steering wheel.

Adriana saw his knuckles turn white as he gripped the steering wheel.

“Did you laugh at me? Did you tell your little friends what you were doing to me? Did you tell them that I almost fucked you?”

“Don’t say it like that! You make it sound dirty!” Adriana wept openly.

“I’m a pervert or pedophile.” More tears rolled down Haze’s cheeks.

“I lied because I love you, and I was afraid that if you knew the truth, you’d leave me.”

“Yeah? Well, I guess you’re right about something.”

“Haze, please.”

“I don’t ever want to see you again, Adriana. When you get home, tell your parents I quit. Tell them why I quit; tell them YOU BROKE ME.” Haze pulled up to the curb in front of the gates of the manor.

“Haze, this can’t be over. Please, Haze, please try to understand,” Adriana pleaded. She tried to touch him, but he flinched.

“Get out.”

“I can’t, I don’t want this to be over. You have to believe that I love you. I love you more than anything.”

“GET OUT, Adriana!” he shouted.

“NO! I’m not leaving. I don’t care who knows.”

Haze got out of his car and started walking down the street. Adriana got out and ran after him.

“I love you, Haze, please!” she cried and Haze turned away.

She stepped in front of him and forced him to look at her. “I know you love me. I know what we have is real.”

“It was all a lie.”

She held on to him. “No, baby, it wasn’t. I promise I’ll be good. I’ll tell you everything. I’ll never keep anything from you. I promise.”

Haze pried her away from him. “I have to go.” He walked back to his car and Adriana watched him drive away. She sank to the sidewalk and sobbed.

Get introduced to the characters in Changes Book 1 FREE on Amazon and everywhere digital books are sold in the US http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EADYMCA.

If you are located internationally and would like to review email me for a digital copy at gillianfelix23 AT Gmail.com. Books 3 to 5 can be read as standalones.

Books in the series:

For information on other novels in the series on Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00EAUDZM6 or

Family Portrait Media site – http://familyportrait.plaintalkbm.com/

Giveaway

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People are talking about the series

These characters will forge a place in your heart and mind as they fall into three categories, the good, the bad and the ones who must straddle the line with great care. – Dii Bylo, Tome Tender Book Reviewer

The endless drama is still here and I can’t seem to get enough of it. The plot gets even more complicated and every characters receives even more depth and complexity. Jola, Book reviewer

I absolutely loved this story written at a very high standard very talented one not to be overlooked. Highly recommend 5 mind blowing stars! My playlist for this book would be The Killers – Direct Hits 2013. – Nikki, Book reviewer

Changes gets an overall rating of 9 on 10 for the excellent storytelling, smart characterization and interesting plot. The story is good enough to be made into a TV series. – Ondrilla De, Book reviewer

Author Bio

Gillian Felix was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad. She grew up watching prime-time soap operas by Aaron Spelling with her mother. That’s where her obsession with rich, powerful and devious characters were born. After repeatedly seeing Mr. Spelling’s name on the screen night after night, Gillian knew she wanted to be an Aaron Spelling, before she knew that Aaron Spelling was actually a person.

Gillian have been involved in the entertainment industry for over ten years. She is an entrepreneur and advocate for women and children’s rights. She enjoys hiking and volunteering.

Let’s get social

Newsletter: http://goo.gl/forms/p7cSQo5sVG

Media site: http://familyportrait.plaintalkbm.com/

Website: http://www.plaintalkbm.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/gillianfx

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7210783.Gillian Felix |

Bad Uncle on Goodreads

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FamilyPortraitNovels

August 22, 2015 by Tina Williams

BLITZ & BLOG TOUR – Fourth Debt (Indebted #5), by Pepper Winters (includes excerpt)

Adult/18+ Read

I am SO pleased that Pepper Winters has released this latest instalment of the Indebted series! The events in the previous book just about killed me and I am aching to know what happens next and whether the seemingly impossible can happen! Scroll down to find out more and read an excerpt. For readers who love dark romance and who are as yet unacquainted with this series (is there anybody out there??? Seriously?), remember that Debt Inheritance (Indebted #1) is FREE. Tina ❤

More Jethro & Nila? Yes Please!

Fourth Debt is LIVE!

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1Dl6Lji

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1hsAj8p

Nook: http://bit.ly/1J5pDUA

iBooks: http://bit.ly/1BjoFUA

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1zoFkFL

Google Play: http://bit.ly/1PgTgWZ

Blurb

Fifth Book in the New York Times Bestselling Series.

“We’d won. We’d cut through the lies and treachery and promised an alliance that would free us both. But even as we won, we lost. We didn’t see what was coming. We didn’t know we had to plan a resurrection.”

Nila Weaver fell in love. She gifted her entire soul to a man she believed was worthy. And in the process, she destroyed herself. Three debts paid, the fourth only days away. The Debt Inheritance has almost claimed another victim.

Jethro Hawk fell in love. He let down his walls to a woman he believed was his cure. For a moment, he was free. But then he paid the ultimate price.

There is no more love. Only war. Hope is dead. Now, there is only death all around them.

**Only suitable for Dark Romance lovers.

Full length book. Six in series. Fourth Debt is 85,000 words.

FUNNY HOW LIFE plays practical jokes.

The past few days—that had to be a fucking joke, right?

No logical answer would make sense of what I’d seen, heard, and lived the past seventy-two hours.

My sister.

My best friend and twin.

This was what she’d been living with? This was how she’d been treated?

This was what she wanted to return to?

Motherfucking why? Why would she ever want to return to this insanity?

We’d been raised in a broken home, chained to an empire that absorbed us right from birth. But we were kept safe, warm, and loved. We grew up together. We shared everything.

But now…I had no fucking clue who my sister was.

But then she came to me.

A woman I never knew existed.

The most stunning creature I’d ever seen.

Only she didn’t come to me on feet or wings of an angel. She rolled into my life and demanded my help.

And for better or for worse…

I helped her.

“LET ME GO!”

Daniel cackled like a mad hyena, his fingers stabbing into my bicep. Without breaking his stride, he stole me further away from the parlour and into the bowels of the house.

I didn’t want to go. I didn’t want to go anywhere with him.

“Take me back!”

He can’t be dead!

Just because he lay unmoving and bloody didn’t mean he was gone.

That’s exactly what it means.

I shook my head, dislodging those awful thoughts. He’s alive. He had to be.

I couldn’t tolerate any other answer. I refused to live in a world where evil triumphed over good. That wasn’t right—life couldn’t be that cruel.

It’s always been that way.

My mind filled with images of my mother. My father’s desolation. My broken childhood. Evil had puppeteered us from day one. Why should now be any different?

He’s not dead!

I swallowed a sob.

Please don’t be dead…

I fought harder. “Let me see him. You can’t do this!”

Daniel cackled louder. “Keep begging, Weaver. Won’t do you any good.”

He’s not dead!

I locked my knees, fighting him every step. “Stop!” Looking back the way we’d come, the door to the parlour seemed so far away—a bright beacon at the end of a festering corridor. “They were your brothers, you insane psychopath. Don’t you feel anything?!”

Please let me go to him. He has to be alive…

Please let my twin stay alive…

Let all of this be a nightmare!

I couldn’t cope with Jethro murdered; I’d go clinically insane if they killed V, too.

“I feel relief. I no longer have to put up with their simpering bullshit.” He flashed his teeth. “Cut did us all a favour.”

Cut will die.

He was evil incarnate. He deserved to die in excruciatingly painful ways.

I refuse to believe they’re dead.

“I said stop!” I wriggled harder, only succeeding in Daniel’s fingers tearing into my flesh. Goosebumps covered my skin while ice steadily froze my veins. Every second was endless torture. I couldn’t live without Jethro.

It can’t end like this!

“You won’t win, Weaver.” Daniel tugged harder. “Accept what’s fucking happened and obey me.”

Series Reading Order

Debt Inheritance (Indebted #1) FREE

Amazon: http://amzn.to/17UZImo

iBooks: http://bit.ly/1BjoFUA

Nook: http://bit.ly/1Cl8rau

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1zoFkFL

First Debt (Indebted #2)

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1BjpblH

iBooks: http://bit.ly/1sMEyQo

Nook: http://bit.ly/10PcYWi

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1qmB3d7

Second Debt (Indebted #3)

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1aOEW95

iBooks: http://bit.ly/1ufkO3z

Nook: http://bit.ly/1yqRa2R

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1xgCSvb

Third Debt (Indebted #4)

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1DZbZEV

iBooks: http://bit.ly/1ufkO3z

Nook: http://bit.ly/1DZctL0

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1xgCSvb

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1BRsIGR

Fourth Debt (Indebted #5)

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1Dl6Lji

Nook: http://bit.ly/1J5pDUA

iBooks: http://bit.ly/1BjoFUA

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1zoFkFL

About the Author:

Pepper Winters wears many roles. Some of them include writer, reader, sometimes wife. She loves dark, taboo stories that twist with your head. The more tortured the hero, the better, and she constantly thinks up ways to break and fix her characters. Oh, and sex… her books have sex.

She loves to travel and has an amazing, fabulous hubby who puts up with her love affair with her book boyfriends.

Her Dark Erotica books include:

Tears of Tess (Monsters in the Dark #1)

Quintessentially Q (Monsters in the Dark #2)

Her Grey Romance books include:

Destroyed

August 21, 2015 by Tina Williams

Raven Pirate Assassin Spy, by Landra Graf

Raven Pirate Assassin Spy

The Final Stop

First off, thanks to areadersreviewblog (Tina and Caroline) for hosting me today. It’s been a whirlwind of a tour with lots of excerpts, fun facts, and talking about myself and my story. The great news is readers can buy a copy at any ebook retailer as of today. If you do purchase a copy, please drop me a line and let me know what you think. Feedback is the one true validation for a writer.

As for the actually blog topic let’s talk plot and inspiration. The plot in a sentence is: Sorella, a raised assassin and air ship captain, is searching for her brother who acted as her ransom to a mercenary gang called The Cursed.

The plot was mainly inspired by the Grimm Fairytale, The Seven Ravens. But the story is also inspired by my love of Steampunk and alternate history/realities. I wanted to touch on something I hadn’t read yet. A time period not often in the NYT Bestsellers romance books. So the 1930’s popped into my head. A serious time between the two world wars that involved a lot of pain and sorrow. It saw the beginnings of German renewed dominance, and a country in the throes of a Great Depression. The only problem, I didn’t want to write about the Great Depression. I wanted things to be different.

In Sorella’s world Germany has won World War One and the United States has closed their borders. This is a world where the U.S. never got involved and Britain survived the insanity by seceding to Germany’s domination of the main European continent. This opened a world of possibilities for me, and I had a lot of fun playing with the details.

My question to readers: What are your favorite time periods to read about? If there was alteration to history you could make in a book what would it be?

Book Blurb:

Once Upon A Time… Sorella Corvino lost her brother to The Cursed years ago. Sorella is so determined to find him, she’ll make any deal, rescue the outcasts and those like him, and risk flying into any port to rescue him. When her latest pirate efforts partner her with a bounty hunter who’s too charming, sexy, and handsome for his own good, she knows she’s in trouble.

Ian Marshall no longer believes in fairy tales… Disowned and a marked criminal in the United States, this merchant turned bounty hunter, is one bounty away from freedom; and freedom’s price is handing over one person to the most cutthroat gang in the world, The Cursed. Yet, he can’t get to them without Sorella’s help. Too bad she’s gorgeous, aggravating, and a little trigger happy.

As the attraction mounts, the danger grows and the pair find themselves invading a skin trader den, the ballrooms of dictator-ruled Germany, and fighting battles in the sky in the hopes of getting everything they want. Only thing they didn’t plan on… falling in love.

About the Author:

Landra Graf consumes at least one book a day, and has always been a sucker for stories where true love conquers all. She believes in the power of the written word, and the joy such words can bring. In between spending time with her family and having book adventures, she writes romance with the goal of giving everyone, fictional or not, their own happily ever after.

You can find Landra at: Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Website, Silken Sheets & Seduction, or Newsletter

Giveaway

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Link to Tour Schedule

August 18, 2015 by Tina Williams

BLOG TOUR – Starry Knight, by Nina Mason (includes excerpt, trailer and giveaway)

Today, we are featuring Starry Knight by Nina Mason, the author of The Queen of Swords and Devil in Duke’s Clothing, among other books. Starry Knight is Ms. Mason’s fifth novel and the first in a new erotic paranormal/urban fantasy series titled The Knights of Avalon. The series–which combines paranormal and occult elements with Celtic and Arthurian legend–tells the story of four “knights” under the spell of the evil faery queen Morgan Le Fay.

Buy it now!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00PEOIYZ0

Can these star-crossed lovers bridge two worlds?

British aristocrat Vanessa Bentley has beauty, fame, and fortune, but she gets no respect for her decision to become a paranormal investigator. Determined to prove the naysayers wrong, Vanessa ventures to the misty moors of Caithness, Scotland. There stands the immense Castle Barrogill, where a vampire is rumored to be stalking the dungeons—a vampire Vanessa is determined to find. She’ll just have to get past the resident shape-shifter…

Callum Lyon is the gorgeous reclusive astrologer and faery knight who guards the castle. For free-spirited Vanessa, seducing him proves to be easy. After all, he was once a breeding drone to a Queen. But astrologically, their differences are harder to overcome. Will Vanessa’s mission—and Callum’s secrets—be more than their burgeoning love can take? Or will flesh—and blood—win over the ghosts that haunt them both? ….

Here’s where you can find the trailer on Youtube:

Here’s an excerpt:

In this scene, the hero, a centuries-old faery knight whose life has been devoid of romance, is doing his best to woo Lady Vanessa, a free-spirited “poor little rich girl” and paranormal investigator who, unbeknownst to him, is using sex to gain access to his castle. He’s spent the day showing her around Caithness and, in the midst of a sunset stroll on the beach, has suggested they take shelter from the wind in a nearby cave.

Callum got to his feet, took Vanessa’s hand, and pulled her across the dunes toward the cliffs. She couldn’t see the entrance to the cave until he swept back a curtain of vines. She followed him through the narrow entrance, holding tightly to his hand. The interior was cool, dark, and smelled a bit fishy, but not offensively so.

Stepping in front of her, he put a hand on her chin and lifted her gaze to his. The spark between them was palpable and she longed for him to kiss her. She licked her lips invitingly, hoping he’d take the hint.

“You’re very bonny, mo dearbadan-de,” he said softly, seductively, as he brushed back a wayward strand of her hair.

“What did you just call me?”

“My butterfly,” he said, “in Gaelic.”

She put her arms around his neck and offered him her mouth. He accepted, nibbling and flicking his tongue against her lips. She pulled the band from his ponytail, freeing his windblown mane. As it tumbled around his shoulders, she wove her fingers among its silky strands, pressing his mouth harder against hers.

When he offered his tongue, she greeted it with her own. He moaned—a deep, needful sound that dumped accelerant on her desire. She thrust her hips against him, finding him as aroused as she was. He pushed back, grinding against her as he walked her backward toward the wall of the cave. As her back met rough rock, warm fingers came under her blouse, climbed her ribs, and pushed under her bra. As he teased her nipples, something deep in her core turned all soft and molten.

She was air, he fire, and right now, she wanted his light and heat, wanted him to consume her in a crackling blaze.

He broke out of the kiss, moved his mouth to her ear, and nibbled the lobe. She grew weak in the knees as his tongue traced the sensitive inner folds.

“Why do you run away from love, mo dearbadan-de?” he whispered huskily. “Do you see it as a trap?”

“More a fraud than a trap.”

“And sex isn’t?”

“With sex, you know what you’re getting.”

“And when it’s over, you’ve got nothing.”

“How is love different?”

“I don’t know,” he said, “having never felt it.”

“We’re alike in that,” she said, “but from what I’ve observed, it’s a mirage people only chase because they feel incomplete within themselves.”

Taking her face between his hands, he trained her in his riveting gaze. “Do you truly believe that?”

“Yes.”

He let her go, turned his back, and stepped away. For the longest time, he stood there, just out of reach, saying nothing. Then, as suddenly as he’d turned his back, he rounded on her with eyes like yellow coals. “Tell me, Madame Butterfly. Who made you feel so unlovable?”

The question impaled her like a red-hot spike. Damn him for asking it, for digging so deep, for skewering her with his probe. She suddenly felt ridiculous, like some poor little rich girl. She’d been born into wealth and privilege. What right did she have to be unhappy? So what if her parents didn’t love her or she had no true friends.

Boo-fucking-hoo. Get over yourself.

What right did she have to wallow in self-pity when children were starving, people were dying of Ebola, and the planet was being raped on a daily basis? She deserved no compassion, despite the searing wound she did her best to ignore.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she said in a voice that sounded faint and faraway under the blood-thunder in her ears.

“No? Then why have you closed your heart?”

Defiance bubbled in her heart like hot tar. Damn him for trying to get past the battlements she’d spent years erecting hurt by hurt and brick by brick. If anything, she should build her walls higher where this bedeviling baron was concerned, not let him wear them down like rain.

“Did you bring me in here to psychoanalyze me?”

“No,” he whispered, the heat of his breath caressing, soothing. His hand glided purposefully down her body and pushed between her legs. As he stimulated her through her knickers, she threw back her head and expelled a soft sigh—of pleasure and relief. A rapacious lover, she was equal to. A probing one, not so much.

As he stroked her through the satin crotch of her knickers, desire fluttered in her abdomen like an injured bird. He’d struck too close to home. She’d didn’t feel loveable because she’d never felt loved. Not for one single, solitary moment of her entire privileged life. She’d had a chain of nannies who believed children should be seen but not heard before being packed off to boarding school where she was treated with equal detachment. Her parents, in short, had hired others to raise her—no, make that train her. In their eyes, she was a hunk of clay to be molded, not a human being to be nurtured. How disappointed they must have been when they got an outspoken nonconformist in place of the pretty marionette they’d paid for.

Callum’s finger came inside her knickers and began to circle her clitoris, smothering her bitterness in the syrup of pleasure. The orgasm charged and retreated, charged and retreated, and then finally exploded in a heavenly cascade.

Setting his hands on the wall on either side of her head, he docked his forehead against hers and said, “I’d rather chase the mirage than die alone without hope in the desert.”

Here’s a little more about the series from the author:

The Knights of Avalon, the four-part erotic PNR/UF series Starry Knight launches, was born of a simple idea: to write a series incorporating different forms of divination. From that kernel grew the far more complex world of the series. The “knights” of Avalon, the enchanted otherworld isle featured in Arthurian and Celtic legend, were Scottish noblemen who, after falling in battle, were taken by the fairies to serve as breeding drones to their queen. Each of the four books in the series tells the story of a particular knight and the heroine whose love saves him from his unhappy existence.

Each knight grapples with a different relationship with Morgan Le Fay, the cruel and selfish queen of Avalon. Callum Lyon, the hero of Starry Knight (book one), is free of Morgan’s influence, having escaped enslavement after faking his own death. Leith MacQuill, the hero of Dark and Stormy Knight (book two), was expelled from Avalon after the queen discovered his amour with one of her scouts. In book three, which I’ve yet to write, Axel Lochlann, a rune-casting Scot of Viking descent, guards the portal between Hitherworld (our realm) and Thitherworld (the otherworldly realm). The fourth knight, Finn MacKnight, doesn’t know what he is or that he’s destined to fulfill an ancient prophecy telling of the queen’s overthrow by a “natural-born” drone. Because of this prophecy, Morgan kills all the male children she bears and punishes the knights who father them

Avalonian knights are vampire-like, but not vampires per se. Members of the Unseelie Fae, they drink blood and can assume the form of any creature they choose, but generally take the form of a particular animal to hunt. Callum’s preferred form is a lion, Leith’s is a Kellas Cat, Axel’s is a gyrfalcon, and Finn’s is a jaguar.

Astrology is the new-age element featured in Starry Knight (hence the name). Callum, the court astrologer to King James IV, fell in battle in 1513, after warning the king the stars did not favor the invasion of England. Ignoring Callum’s advice proved costly to the king and his astrologer.

In modern times, Callum lives in the northernmost county of Scotland as a reclusive political astrologer. The heroine, a free-spirited English aristocrat named Vanessa Bentley, comes to Caithness with the goal of getting inside Barrogill Castle. She’s just finished her training as a paranormal investigator and the London paparazzi have been giving her a hard time. Legend has it a vampire lives at Callum’s castle, so she decides to seduce the gorgeous, golden-haired baron to gain entry to his otherwise inaccessible abode. Needless to say, both get a lot more than hot sex (but also plenty of that!) from the bargain they strike.

Tarot cards, voodoo, ghosts, and the more traditional form of vampire also play roles in the plot. I hope readers enjoy Starry Knight and the rest of the series as much as I have enjoyed writing it!

Here’s a little more about the author:

Nina Mason is a hopeful romantic with strong affinities for history, mythology, and the metaphysical. She strives to write the same kind of books she loves to read: those that entertain, edify, educate, and enlighten. She has four books out at present and three more on the way. Her current releases are, in order of publication: The Queen of Swords, a darkly erotic Scottish paranormal romance/urban fantasy; The Tin Man, a political thriller; and Devil in Duke’s Clothing and The Duke’s Bedeviled Bride, the first two installments in an erotic historical series titled Royal Pains. Book three of Royal Pains will be released in October. Starry Knight is the first book in a four-part paranormal romance series titled The Knights of Avalon. The series combines Arthurian legend, Celtic mythology, and Scottish history to tell the story of four mortals taken by the faeries after falling in battle. The Knights of Avalon are the breeding drones of the legendary sorceress Morgan Le Fay. Book Two, Dark and Stormy Knight, will be released in January 2016. The series is being published by Lyrical/Kensington.

Here are Ms. Mason’s social-media links:

Author website: http://ninamasonauthor.com

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/ninamasonromance

Twitter handle: @NinaMasonAuthor

Goodreads page: http://goodreads.com/ninamasonauthor

Blog: http://ninamasonromance.blogspot.com

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/ninamason165

YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/ninamasonauthor

Here’s the link to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for a signed copy of STARRY KNIGHT and other great prizes:

A Rafflecopter giveaway

August 14, 2015 by Caroline Barker

Release Blitz Innocence by Holly J. Gill

Innocence by Holly J Gill

Book 1 in the Innocence Series

Buy Links

Amazon UK
Amazon US

Quote: ‘Don’t make promises you cannot keep!’
Calvin Edwards, has everything he could dream about, perfect lifestyle, running the family real-estate company back in London. He takes a holiday up North to visit his parents, only when out walking on his parents land, he finds a young pregnant woman attempting to take her life. Calvin wishes to help, becoming a friend through her troubles, only fears he’s out of his depth, let alone discovers his past comes back to life, sending his life crashing.
Kacey is pregnant and her life is out of control, with nowhere left to go. She descends on her mum for one last chance for help, only the door is slammed in her face. At her wits end, alone, scared and helpless until Calvin comes along. He becomes a dear friend giving her kindness. Only what she’d pushed to the back of her mind through selfish pain, is back. Her past has come back to life!
Teasers:

5 Star review

Well I’ve enjoyed all of Holly ‘s previous books ,but this one was written in a completely different direction to her others . I wasn’t sure what to expect . Well what can I say other than ‘when is book two out’ . Loved it from beginning to end , you could feel both of their pain on the decisions life had put in front of them .not sure where to go who to turn too, yet she came through it all and is still fighting. What a roller coaster ride she had ,then after all those years she meets a man who seems to care about her ,like no one has for such a long time ,only to find he was the someone she had to run away from ,frightened he would disown her like her mother did . Bringing her mother to mind as someone I would like to disown , treating her daughter the way she did ,leaving her homeless , helpless on the streets vulnerable .while she carries on leading a normal life .. what amazes me is they all feel there suffering more ! They haven’t lived the life of hell she has ,quitting her family ,giving something precious up ..well without telling you the whole story , this was a book I enjoyed from beginning till end ….

About the Author

I’m a wife, mum of three all grown up and fleeing their nests and I’m a proud nana to twins. I live in England a town called Grimsby where I work as a care assistant in a residential home. I enjoy spending quality time with my family. Me and hubby have a secret hideaway for peace and quiet in a sweet idyllic campsite were we like to pitch a tent close to York one of my favourite cities. I enjoy touring around the UK, sight-seeing, visiting stately homes and castles. Hobbies I like to read and write. I have been writing since being a young girl, always having a wild imagination which never ceases to amaze me. When writing I am not committed to one genre I like to move around wherever my mood takes me. I currently have an erotic series out called Desires about a sex club. And finally I have a terrible sweet tooth especially when it comes to treacle sponge.
Stalker Links for the Author
http://www.facebook.com/hollyjgillauthor
http://hollyjgill.blogspot.co.uk/
http://hollyjodygill.blogspot.co.uk/