I should have known I would end up here...
Give me a good book and I'm in heaven. Especially romance, mystery, mayhem, the fantastic and the fey. Give me a laptop and I'm writing any one of these, and not in any particular order.
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Eve Rabi will be awarding a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Question: A seductress steals your husband, rips apart your family and shatters your dreams.
You:
a) Wish them luck, and walk away with your head held high (because that’s what society expects you to do)?
b) Quietly seethe, but accept that there is just nothing you can do about it (because it easier for everyone if you do nothing)?
c) Dig up dirt on the bitch (because someone like this would undoubtedly have dirt), use it to sabotage their relationship, then sit back with a glass of Pinot Grigio and watch them burn?
Answer: C. Oh, totally C.
…………………..
Meet Scarlett Smyth. She’s drop-dead gorgeous, has a rocking body and has an above average IQ. She brags that she can ensnare any husband or taken male, and …she often does. She also is ambitious and has a penchant for anything expensive.
When the shrewd and ambitious temptress lays eyes on Bradley Murdoch, she believes she has found her dream man and a ticket to the high life she’s entitled to. There are just two problems:
1) Bradley is married to Rival. Happily at that.
2) They have children. Adorable little girls.
Do those facts deter Scarlett in any way? No, not at all. She is determined to steal Bradley, smoothly replace Rival in his life and show him how to really live life.
In a calculating move, the seductress (she is so good at seduction, she is even penning a book on it) befriends the quiet and unassuming Rival and worms her way into Bradley’s life.
There’s more: To expedite things, Scarlett the mistress, engineers a way to wipe Rival out of the picture – sends the clueless wife on a “vacation”.
But Scarlett may have underestimated her opponent. When Rival realizes the extent of the betrayal, she decides, even though she lacks Scarlett’s genius IQ, not to turn the other cheek. In fact, she is determined to win back her husband, believing that he is a good man who is simply mistaking lust for love. She believes that someone like Scarlett has to have skeletons in her cupboards and she begins to snoop around, anything she can use against the other woman, anything that can help her exact revenge.
What Rival doesn’t realize is: no one takes on Scarlett – no one dares. The betrayed wife and the other woman collide. The result is another gripping suspense thriller from best selling author Eve Rabi.
If you’ve enjoyed Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, Girl on a Train by Paula Hawkins, books by Marian Keyes and Liane Moriarty, you will enjoy this ‘suspenseful, romantic and entertaining tale of love, lust and revenge.’
Read an Excerpt:
“Look, there’s no other way to say this. I’m leaving you, okay? I’m sorry.”
“Whaaaat? Why?”
“I’ve…met someone, Rival and I want…to…to move on, build a life with her.”
“Bradley, I don’t understand; we’re married, we have kids … what…what…?” I look at Nurse Eden and follow her eyes to Scarlett’s face.
As I stare at Scarlett, things crystalize before me. “You? You’re that someone?!” I look at Bradley, “She’s my friend, Bradley?”
He looks at the floor.
“Look, Rival,” Scarlett says, shifting to the edge of her seat, “you and Bradley, you were having problems, you went away, and Bradley, he…didn’t know when you were coming back, and –”
“No, no, no –”
“— things just happened and…and we’re now together,” Bradley finishes. “It’s nobody’s fault, Rival. Things just unfolded this way and now –”
“Bradley, I didn’t go away’ I’ve been in hospital, and for just sixty days,” I finally say in a voice that sounds strange to me.
“Yes, but…” Scarlett shrugs.
“This is not happening, Bradley,” I mutter. “This can’t –” I stop talking when I see my husband holding my friend’s hand with both of his. It feels like I’ve been Tasered.
“Rival,” Scarlett says, “Bradley’s had enough of –”
“Don’t speak,” I say in a cold voice, my index finger raised in the air.
“– you and –”
“Don’t SPEAK! This is between me and my husband!”
When she continues speaking, I grab hold of the heavy-duty stapler from the doctor’s room and slam it against her head.
“Told you not to speak, didn’t I?”
About the Author:
Eve Rabi is a screenwriter and author of 33 romantic crime and suspense novels. Inspired by the likes of Sidney Sheldon and Gillian Flynn, her tales are bold, scandalous, controversial and often humorous. To quote an Amazon reviewer: “When you pick up an Eve Rabi book, forget sleep. She writes gripping page turners that will keep you reading till the very end.” If you’re bored of regular romance, if you like your romance with twists and turns, if you prefer your crime novels to have strong romantic themes, then you will enjoy Eve Rabi’s multi-genre books. In her spare time, Eve likes to dance like no one is watching. She also likes to eat like no one is watching. That’s why she has to dance so often.
Caiseal Mor will be awarding a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
Author
Interview
1. How did you choose your genre? What made you write this book?
I
didn’t really choose this genre. It chose me. Over the course of about fifteen
years I’d collected a lot of folk stories about the famous 17th
century Irish harper Turlough O’Carolan, the central figure in “King of the
Blind”. At some point I realized my research notes would make a great novel so
I started work on it.
2. Writers write what they know, and must observe the world. Are you a first
born, middle or last child and how does this shape your view of the world?
I’m
a first born, though I was born with brain damage and wasn’t expected to live.
So, my parents were more attached to my younger sister. I was left mostly to my
own devices when I was growing up. Due to my sickly nature as a boy I had to
spend a lot of time on my own. I guess that’s where my imagination kicked in to
keep me sane. My love of stories and storytelling comes from those early
experiences.
3. Where is your favorite place to write?
I
like to write in bed with a laptop, though a comfortable sofa serves the
purpose just as well. If the room is darkened I tend to be able to continue
without a break for many hours. I’m easily distracted though.
4. How do you feel about killing your darlings, and what do you do with the
remains?
“King
of the Blind” is all about life and living it to the full so, death is a very
important part of the story. There’s a tension between life and death that’s
inescapable, even if most of us would prefer not to admit it. In my stories
death always holds a lesson for the characters. And some of my characters are
also undying, which is another side to the coin of death.
5. You are introduced to your favorite author. Who is it, and what is that one
burning question you must ask them?
I
don’t have one favourite author. My taste shifts and changes from one month to
the next. I’d love to have met James Joyce, though. And Tolkien would have been
a fascinating fellow to have a chat with. I probably wouldn’t want to talk
about their books so much as their lives. I’d love to hear about some of
Tolkien’s experiences in World War One.
6. Inquiring minds want to know…tell readers something about you that no one
knows.
I’m
classed as a high-functioning autistic. I was diagnosed in the 60’s before
there was much awareness of autism. I have the sort of mind that appreciates
and recalls details, especially about the subjects I’m obsessed with, such as
stories and music. “King of the Blind” is a story about music so I can honestly
say it was the novel I enjoyed writing most.
7. You are stranded on a deserted island with only a back pack for company.
What three items are in your survival pack?
A
calligraphy pen. A large notebook of very fine, unlined paper. A selection of
coloured inks. That would keep me busy until I got rescued.
8. If you could have one super power in your existence, what would it be?
Time-travel.
I’d love to be able to drift about through the human timeline observing and
participating in the history. Before the age of television, stories were a lot
more important and so many have been forgotten…
9. Favorite snack?
Crystallised ginger. I grew up near to some big ginger farms. I love the stuff.
10. Indy 500 – Do you know how to get where you’re going or do you drive the speed limit? I’ve never been a speed limit kind of person. At the same time, I haven’t really got a clue where I’m going or how to get there. I prefer to watch as life unfolds. Somedays it’s pedal to the metal. Other days I’m coasting along without a care in the world. The trick is to be ready. for whatever life offers you.
King Of The Blind
by Caiseal Mor
GENRE: Fantasy / Historical Fiction
BLURB:
In
1688 a plague of smallpox swept through Ireland. Like many others, eighteen
year old Turlough O’Carolan was struck down. He was one of the lucky ones to
survive. However, the sickness cost him his eyesight. Within two years of being
blinded he’d learned to play the harp and taken to the road as a travelling
musician. In time he’d be considered the greatest of all the Irish harpers. His
music is still played all around the world today.
To the end of his days he always maintained that Otherworldly beings, known in
Ireland as the Shee, had granted him the gift of music and were responsible for
at least some of his compositions. This is a story from a time when the veil
between the worlds was thinner and belief in the mystical “Good People”, was
still strong.
Excerpt:
‘And you think you can win back her affection by becoming a
great harper yourself, do you?’
‘At least she might look at me if I was a musician and
dressed in a fine coat and hat.’
‘What would you give for the chance to win her back?’
Turlough didn’t have to think about the answer. ‘I’d give
anything, anything at all, to be a great musician and to have Bridget Cruise
look on me as she looked on David Murphy this evening.’
‘A harper’s life is hard,’ Crilly warned. ‘I know, for I
myself took to the road with harp and horse in days gone by. You might leave your
home and not return for years at a time. You might walk the length and breadth
of Ireland in twelve months and barely scratch a living in that whole time.’
‘I would suffer any discomfort to learn the craft of music.
I don’t care if I never see the McDermott lands or their fat cows and spindly
goats again as long as I live.’
Crilly raised his eyebrows and put a hand on the young lad’s
shoulder. ‘You don’t know what you’re saying,’ he replied sternly. ‘It’s the
excitement of youth that’s guiding your tongue. So, I’ll try to imagine those
words never passed your lips.’
‘I truly would not be grieved if I never laid eyes on this
parish again,’ Turlough repeated. ‘I mean you no offence, squire, but I want to
be as far from this estate and Bridget’s father as possible.’
Crilly squeezed the lad’s upper arm hard. ‘Do not say such a
thing. Not here. Not on a hill where the Fair Folk might hear you. Not on a
moonless night when they like to wander from their homes.’
‘Would you teach me to play?’ Turlough asked.
‘Would you learn?’ the squire replied, loosening his grip.
‘If I had the chance I’d spend every waking moment behind that instrument. I’d devote myself to study and practise until I became a master. I’d earn the title of Chief Musician of Ireland.’
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Caiseal
Mor is an Australian sci-fi and fantasy novelist, artist and musician. Ancient
Celtic Folklore has been a major inspiration for his thirteen published Fantasy
novels. Mór also composes and records music, having produced seventeen albums
since 1995. He is well known for his self-designed book and album covers and
his intricate artworks in both traditional and digital mediums. Since 2013 he
has been developing a distinctive graphic art style and creating digital
sculptures in 3D.
Carolyn Arnold will be giving away a paperback copy of Remnants.
ON THE COUNT OF THREE
by Carolyn Arnold
GENRE: Thriller
BLURB:
And
they thought prison was hell…
When
a woman’s disappearance ticks off all the same boxes as two unsolved murders,
Miami homicide detective Kelly Marsh is convinced there’s about to be a third.
If she’s right and the killer sticks to their previous MO, she only has three
days before Jenna Kelter’s decapitated head will show up somewhere in the city.
With no time to waste, Kelly reaches out to the one person she knows can help:
her former mentor and family friend Jack Harper, who just happens to lead a
team with the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit.
BAU
special agent and profiler Brandon Fisher easily sees the similarities between
Detective Marsh’s missing person case and the two cold cases: all three victims
served time for DUI vehicular homicide and disappeared three days after being
released from prison. But is that enough to assume Kelter has been abducted by
a serial killer? Brandon’s not so sure and fears his boss may have let his
personal connection to Marsh cloud his judgment. Surely there isn’t any other
explanation for why they jumped into an investigation less than twenty-four
hours after Kelter was reported missing. Then again, maybe Brandon is letting
his own differences with the detective affect his perspective. He’ll need to
move past it, though—and quickly.
After
all, this killer has evaded capture for the past six years, and they may be
looking at a lot more victims than originally suspected. This serial killer is
calling the shots and pulling them into a macabre game of cat and mouse. While
the team has no choice but to play, if they don’t make the right moves, one of
them may not make it out of Miami alive.
Excerpt:
“Jack.” Detective Marsh turned around. She was grinning. And
she was a looker. Her brown, blown-out hair fell a few inches past her
shoulders, and she was probably about five-and-a-half feet tall. She had a
runner’s body, almond-shaped eyes, rosebud lips, and a sun-kissed complexion.
She looked from Jack to the rest of us. “This must be your team.”
Jack smiled at Marsh like a proud father. “It is.” He
gestured for us to introduce ourselves.
“Special Agent Brandon Fisher,” I said, holding out a hand
to her. She had a solid grip and wore fluorescent-green nail polish. Her eyes
met mine, and hers lit. Who said brains and brawn couldn’t coexist? I pegged
Marsh as a powerhouse.
She made the rounds with Paige and Zach, then returned to
Jack.
“I heard about your mother,” Marsh said. “I’m sorry I
couldn’t make it up for the funeral.”
Jack held up a hand. “Not necessary. We all have jobs to
do.” He paused. “So why don’t you tell us what you can about Kelter?”
She nodded. “Her husband reported her…”
I was aware that Marsh continued to talk, but I was stuck on
the fact that she and Jack obviously shared a history. For a man who would have
us believe he didn’t have a personal life, evidence to the contrary stood in
front of us. Marsh’s instant reaction to his presence alone should have told me
that much. A large grin? Jack rarely initiated those from anyone.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
CAROLYN
ARNOLD is an international best-selling and award-winning author, as well as a
speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has four continuing fiction
series—Detective Madison Knight, Brandon Fisher FBI, McKinley Mysteries, and
Matthew Connor Adventures—and has written nearly thirty books. Her genre
diversity offers her readers everything from cozy to hard-boiled mysteries, and
thrillers to action adventures.
Both
her female detective and FBI profiler series have been praised by those in law
enforcement as being accurate and entertaining, leading her to adopt the
trademark: POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™.
Carolyn
was born in a small town and enjoys spending time outdoors, but she also loves
the lights of a big city. Grounded by her roots and lifted by her dreams, her
overactive imagination insists that she tell her stories. Her intention is to
touch the hearts of millions with her books, to entertain, inspire, and
empower.
She
currently lives in London, Ontario with her husband and beagle and is a member
of Crime Writers of Canada and Sisters in Crime.
1. How did you choose your genre? What made you write this book? You know how they say when you go to pick out a puppy, the puppy really choses you? Yeah, it was the same for me when it came time to write romance books. The Contemporary romance genre is the only one I could see for myself to write. I lovelovelove Regencies, but all the knowledge you have to have on everything from table settings to clothing to the rank of the royal lineage is waaaaaay to much for me to remember. I knew if I got it wrong, readers would hate me. Since I’m a here and now kinda girl, contemporary seemed appropriate. And since I write ContempRomance, when I decided to do another Holiday story involving the San Valentino family, it was the perfect fit. Uncle Sonny is featured in my two previous San Valentino books, 3 Wishes and A Kiss Under the Christmas Lights as a secondary character. I had so many readers tell me they loved him and wanted a story about his family, I just knew I had to write it. It’s become a simple tradition for me to pen a holiday San Valentino book every year, and I’m so pleased the way CHRISTMAS AND CANNOLIS came out.
2. Writers write what they know, and must observe the world. Are you a first born, middle or last child and how does this shape your view of the world? I adore this question because I’ve written extensively on the topic of birth order on my blog, PeggyJaeger.com. I’m an only child of divorced parents who both remarried and neither couple had any more children, so in the big scheme of things, I’ve got 4 parental figures – 2 biological and 2 steps. Now, you might assume I’d won the presents and attention lottery with all those adults focused on me and me alone as a child. You would be incorrect in that assumption. I barely saw my father and stepmother while I was growing up and my mother and stepfather where two lower middle class people who had menial, low paying jobs and who needed to work 10-12 hours per day just to keep a roof over our heads and food in our bellies. Now, because I was alone for great stretches of time after school, on holiday breaks and during the summer vacations, I learned to be very independent. I taught myself how to cook, sew, balance a budget/checkbook, and had my first paying job at the age of 11. And because of all that independence, I tend to write very strong, capable women and I’ve raised a strong, capable, independent daughter. Do I still lament the fact that I have no siblings? Yes, every day. SO much so that I married a man who comes from a huge family! 6 kids total.
3. Where is your favorite place to write? I’m going to be honest and tell you the ONLY place I can write is in my attic office in my house. I’ve tried writing in cafes, or when I’m on vacation, or even in the car when I’m the passenger. I can’t. I need the house to be empty, total quiet surrounding me, and then I can pound out the words. So my office is my defacto favorite place to write since it’s the only place I can write.
4. How do you feel about killing your darlings, and what do you do with the remains? Luckily, my murder rate is low – I typically only have to kill redundant words, a few at a time. I’ve never had to annihilate full chapters or sections. I think the reason is because I am such a detailed plotter. Before I ever sit down to write I’ve got what I want to say plotted out. The major changes and murders I commit are to dialogue tags and repetitious words.
5. You are introduced to your favorite author. Who is it, and what is that one burning question you must ask them? Fab question and it happened to me in 2015. I was attending RWA San Antonio and met NORA ROBERTS at the Literacy book signing. I had everything planned out that I wanted to say to her. The moment it was my turn and I handed her my book to sign I burst into tears because I was so overcome just be being in her presence. She really is like a unicorn to me! She asked my why I was crying and I said, “Because it’s you!” through tears. She laughed, waved a hand at me and told me to sit down. Then she proceeded to make me feel like I was an old friend who’d arrived for tea and catch-up. By the time my turn was over I was able to ask her what the best advice to a wanna be romance writer ( me!) was. She said, simply, to put my ass in my chair and write the book of my heart. And I did!
6. Inquiring minds want to know…tell readers something about you that no one knows. I don’t think anyone knows this, but, I imagine like all authors do, I talk to myself in my character voices when I’m reading over dialogue to hear if the words ring true and sound like something the character would really say.
7. You are stranded on a deserted island with only a back pack for company. What three items are in your survival pack? An unending ream of toilet paper, a water purification filter, and a solar powered laptop.
8. If you could have one super power in your existence, what would it be? Another question I just love! Like Wonder Woman’s lasso of truth, I would want the power to know when someone is lying. I’d force politicians to be honest, make criminals confess their crimes, and hold people in power accountable to the people they serve and work for. Plus, it would be a great power to lord over teenagers, wouldn’t it? Hee Hee
9. Favorite snack? Pepperidge Farm Milano Cookies
10. Indy 500 – Do you know how to get where you’re going or do you drive the speed limit? Your questions are so perfectly written! I am a plotter – my course is set before my fingers ever hit a keystoke in a new book I’m working on. Because I’m a Nurse, I approach everything with the scientific method for asking questions and trying to elicit information. This falls into my writing as well, where I plan out every scene and every book in detail first. Do I ever change course or hit a speed bump ( Using your metaphors here!)” Yes. And yes, sometimes a character will veer of the plotted path. When that happens – rare though it does – I usually allow it to run it’s course and then see if it is worth keeping or discarding. If it doesn’t advance the plot, answer a question, or make you want to turn the page, it gets nixed. If it makes the story better, then I keep it and build from there. But nine times out of ten, I stay the course I’ve planned.
BLURB:
With Christmas season in full swing, baker Regina San Valentino is up to her elbows in cake batter and cookie dough. Between running her own business, filling her bursting holiday order book, and managing her crazy Italian family, she’s got no time to relax, no room for more custom cake orders, and no desire to find love. A failed marriage and a personal tragedy have convinced her she’s better off alone. Then a handsome stranger enters her bakery begging for help. Regina can’t find it in her heart to refuse him.
Connor Gilhooly is in a bind. He needs a specialty cake for an upcoming fundraiser and puts himself—and his company’s reputation—in Regina’s capable hands. What he doesn’t plan on is falling for a woman with heartbreak in her eyes or dealing with a wise-guy father and a disapproving family.
Can Regina lay her past to rest and trust the man who’s awoken her heart?
Excerpt:
I spotted my customer in the seat my mother indicated. His back was toward me, but I could tell he was tall from how much of him shot up from the chair. Since I didn’t know how to address him, I simply said, “Excuse me?” when I finally arrived at the table. I was all set to introduce myself and ask how I could help him, but before the words could form in my throat I was struck mute. Truly. I stopped short, my mouth falling open like unfilled cannoli shells, and no sound came out.
He turned to me at the exact moment a slice of midday November sunlight streamed through the window, landing right on him and surrounding his head in a halo of bright, brilliant light. I wouldn’t have been surprised if a choir of angels started belting out celestial high notes because the guy could have been a charter member of the Messenger of God club.
Facially, he looked a little older than my thirty-two, but not over the forty-year mark yet. Where my hair is the color of wet ink, his was a shock of silver threaded with faint stripes of peppery black above his ears. It looked so thick and touch-worthy, the tips of my fingers were actually tingling to clutch the ends and grab on. Eyes the color of threatening storm clouds—gray and tinged with pale shards of blue—peered up at me, a question pulling at their corners. Eyelashes most women had to pay for framed his lids naturally. His jaw was square, his cheekbones carved from marble by a master sculptor.
But his mouth—Madre di Dio, his mouth. It was about as perfect as two lips meeting in the center of a face could be. Full and thick with that natural rimmed outline women were forced to create with a liner pencil, it was the most kissable mouth I’d ever seen. Tinted the color of aged Barolo—my father’s favorite wine—ripe and smooth, full-bodied and intense, it simply stopped me in my tracks.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Peggy Jaeger is a contemporary romance writer who writes about strong women, the families who support them, and the men who can’t live without them.
Family and food play huge roles in Peggy’s stories because she believes there is nothing that holds a family structure together like sharing a meal…or two…or ten. Dotted with humor and characters that are as real as they are loving, Peggy brings all topics of daily life into her stories: life, death, sibling rivalry, illness and the desire for everyone to find their own happily ever after. Growing up the only child of divorced parents she longed for sisters, brothers and a family that vowed to stick together no matter what came their way. Through her books, she has created the families she wanted as that lonely child.
Tying into her love of families, her children’s book, THE KINDNESS TALES, was illustrated by her artist mother-in-law.
Peggy holds a master’s degree in Nursing Administration and first found publication with several articles she authored on Alzheimer’s Disease during her time running an Alzheimer’s in-patient care unit during the 1990s.
In 2013, she placed first in two categories in the Dixie Kane Memorial Contest: Single Title Contemporary Romance and Short/Long Contemporary Romance.
In 2017 she came in 3rd in the New England Reader’s Choice contest for A KISS UNDER THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS and was a finalist in the 2017 STILETTO contest for the same title.
In 2018, Peggy was a finalist in the HOLT MEDALLION Award and once again in the 2018 Stiletto Contest.
A lifelong and avid romance reader and writer, she is a member of RWA and her local New Hampshire RWA Chapter.
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Van Fleisher will be awarding a $50 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
The year is the very near future. A brilliant young doctor and mathematician, Vijay Patel, has invented a new health/sport watch that monitors blood chemistry so accurately, it can actually predict when someone will die – within 10, 20, or 30 days. The intention of this “Final Notice,” as it is called, is to allow people to get their affairs in order and reach out to loved ones before it’s too late. But when those notified have easy access to a gun, the result is sometimes lethal for more than just the watch-owner.
These are the stories of several people who receive their Final Notice and their very different reactions … including a desire to get revenge with impunity. They range from an 89-year-old resident in a retirement home to a U.S. Senator…from a benevolent widow to a crass tycoon to a noted climate change scientist.
But in this fresh, fast-paced page-turner, their stories are all set against the all-too-recognizable backdrop of a guns-gone-wild America, and the relentless push by the NRA and their surrogate politicians to make guns even easier to acquire.
There is plenty of dark humor and political satire in FINAL NOTICE, as well as touching scenes and outright suspense. So expect to laugh out loud, dry some tears, and bite your nails (not necessarily in that order).
Read an Excerpt:
And sure enough, in 1.24 seconds, Trudi had 1,620,000 results. “Here it is. California law protects us if we shoot a burglar in our home. Still, it wouldn’t help if we didn’t hear them until they burst into the room. I can’t see either one of us having the presence of mind to reach for the gun, roll out of bed and blast away. What are you smiling at?”
“At the image of you doing just that!”
“Hey. I’ve been watching Angelina Jolie and I think I can manage the moves.”
About the Author:
“After 21 years with an airline, and 30 years in management consulting, I retired and found that my phone didn’t ring and the only emails I got were asking for money. So, since I was at my computer, I decided to write a novel.”
This is only half the story. (Van is notoriously modest.) The author was Director of International Marketing with TWA, and an International Management Consultant – taking him behind the closed doors of boardrooms and executive offices around the world. He knows how business works, which gives the slightly “sci-fi” premise of Final Notice a realistic feel. Moreover, his two careers led him to live abroad for much of his life. After growing up in New Jersey and Florida, where he never thought much further than the length of a football field, and going to college in New Mexico, he wound up living in England, Scotland and France, travelling frequently to the Middle East and Asia. He even spent a year living in India. And his first-hand experience with – and respect for – other cultures is apparent in this book.
“Final Notice is meant to highlight, my concerns with America’s handling of three important issues: gun control (not anti-gun), ageism and the importance of immigration. The book won’t fix these issues, but there are a number of great organizations with even greater people working on our behalf to right these wrongs. Proceeds from sales of Final Notice will help support those efforts.”
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. STK Chan will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Fighting what we’ve become.
An ancient dimension of dark echoes from the past.
Lisa and her family barely manage to escape an invasion from the Rebel army in their home of Malta. Shortly after this episode, she discovers Exo, the ancient dimension she cannot understand until her late 20s. Exo is made of memories of the past; it brings forth all the strong echoes we leave behind. Lisa desperately wants to resolve the conflicts of this inner world peacefully, but quickly learns she must fight the shadows in people’s hearts, materialized through battle re-enactments, warfare and emotional turmoil.
Enjoy an Excerpt:
“Are we in danger? I heard Daddy talking to Uncle Bernie about some bad people coming to our island. There’s only water protecting us from them, see?”
“Ah, their long debates over the phone… It’s just chatting; just people talking. No worries here, my dear.”
Her mother paused and reflected on whether to be more honest with her child, as some school advisors were recommending, or whether to continue shielding her from the world’s problems.
“I don’t want them to come to my school. My friends might stay at home because they’re scared.”
“They won’t,” the mother replied with another smile as she caressed the little girl’s brown hair. “They won’t. Let’s get inside, sweetheart; it’s getting chilly.”
They resided in a fortunately situated neighborhood. Though just two miles from the shore, it was elevated enough to have an unobstructed sea view over the gentle slope of their rocky hill. Before entering the house, Lisa spotted some movement above her head.
“Hey, it’s Reblas!” She waved at their neighbor, who was tranquilly gazing through his telescope, poking out of his dark attic window. “Any shooting princesses today?”
“Why don’t you come over and take a look? It’s a cheesy moon out tonight,” beamed the man. He was recently retired and enjoyed the simple pleasures of life on the island.
“It’s late. Maybe tomorrow,” Lisa’s mother called back.
“’Night, Reblas.”
“Sure thing, Strawberry. It’ll be there tomorrow as well—always waiting for us to look up and admire it!”
The electric shutter on the back door slowly closed after they had passed through. Reblas adjusted his telescope’s lens and angle, observing the horizon, while in the background, concerned voices on the radio discussed the recent riots in Europe and the increasing numbers of boats crossing the Mediterranean Sea from both continents.
About the Author:
A fan of nourishing SF&F fiction. Seeker of essential truths in historical non-fiction. Exploring life for almost half a century. Delivering action and matters of the inner self. “Chan has license to be more philosophical and issue-oriented, and on the whole he blends together different genres well.” (John Staughton, SPR)
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. K. S. David will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the otherh stops on the tour.
From the author of A Promise Kept and Every Single Wish, comes an exhilarating romantic suspense for the holidays.
As Center City and its quirky residents get ready to ring in the holiday with merriment and good cheer, Calista Tate is forced to make a terrible decision? Does she stay and fight for the life she’s created or – does she run away? One man could be her angel – her saving grace. And, the promise of love may be strong enough to make her hold her ground. The wrong decision could put them both at risk.
Calista Singletary decided it was finally safe to settle down. She opened a small bakery, has a new home and life is good. That is until she gets arrested for killing her elderly neighbor. It doesn’t help that she chased the old man out of her house with a rolling pin two days earlier. The same rolling pin is found under his bruised and bloody body. Calista thinks some trickery is underfoot. Good thing her sexy attorney, Marc Collins, thinks he can get the charges dropped.
But Calista knows that when the authorities start digging, they’re going to uncover her true identity. That’s when the real horrors will begin. She usually stays packed and ready to blow town at the first sign of trouble – assuming a new name, a new look, a new story. But she’s growing close to Marc and just once, she wants to feel normal. Will the cost be too high?
Three years earlier, the man Calista loved sucked her into a world of indescribable horror. She’s the only one who can testify to the atrocities he committed by Thomas Langston. She stole three million dollars of his money and maimed him the day she left. In return, Thomas made her a promise. He would always love her. He would never stop looking for her. And the next time he saw Calista – he was going to kill her.
Read an Excerpt:
“He walked in on me in the bathroom!”
I had been taking a well-deserved bath. After a sixteen-hour day in my bakery, my hands felt like rubber, my ankles were throbbing, and my back felt like I’d been beaten with a baseball bat. The break would feel like a week-long vacation, and I intended to take advantage by sleeping in, eating junk, watching a little football and reading a good book. A hot, steamy bath had been on my too-do list all day. Love ballads filled the halls of my house, and I planned to polish off a bottle of Chablis.
“Way to go, Fred.”
I rolled my eyes to the night sky annoyed. Fred’s encouragement came from another neighbor who shared the center of our cul-de-sac with a man who’d been a thorn since the day I moved in. I didn’t know his name – didn’t care either, but I knew his taste in music, women and the brand of beer he preferred. Loud music boomed from his backyard nightly. He wore aged denim and a t-shirt so old the letters had started to peel. A soiled black bandana was pulled low over his brow and tattoos covered visible skin – except his hands, his neck and his face. I could always tell when he was coming or going because the motor in his Harley made my windows shake. I squinted up at the man. Streetlights barely illuminated his face and his bandana made it impossible for me to get a good look at him, but he had a firm jaw and full lips. Catching my examination, he winked. I sneered at him. I didn’t do grimy and I didn’t do assholes – at least, not anymore.
About the Author:K. S. David lives in the Mid-Atlantic with her husband, their three children and a menagerie of pets. New storylines are constantly running through her head. She keeps notebooks tucked in pockets of the car, the nightstand and makes voice recordings just about all day long. She’s addicted to true life mysteries and crime shows, both of which marry well with a great romance. Some of her favorite things are long walks, reading in bed, baking and of course, writing her next novel.
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Loretta Marion will be awarding a $50 mazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Thirty-seven-year-old painter Cassandra Mitchell is fourth-generation to live in the majestic Battersea Bluffs, a brooding Queen Anne home originally built by her great-grandparents, Percy and Celeste Mitchell, and still standing despite tragedies that have swept the generations. Local lore has it that there was a curse placed on the family and the house is haunted, though opinions are divided on whether it’s by malicious or benevolent spirits. Cassie believes the latter―but now she stands to lose her beloved home to mounting debt and the machinations of her dream-weaving ex-husband.
Salvation seems to arrive when a nomadic young couple wanders onto the property with the promise of companionship and much-needed help―until they vanish without a trace, leaving behind no clue to their identities. Cassie is devastated, but determined to discover what’s happened to the young couple…even as digging into their disappearance starts to uncover family secrets of her own. Despite warnings from her childhood friend, now the local Chief of Police―as well as an FBI agent who pushes the boundaries of professionalism―Cassie can’t help following the trail of clues (and eerie signals from the old house itself) to unravel the mystery. But can she do so before her family’s dark curse destroys everything in its path?
Read an Excerpt:
Present day ~ Whale Rock, Massachusetts ~ Cape Cod
September ~ three days since the disappearance
Back at home, I took a good look at my beloved Battersea Bluffs, with its towering widow’s walk, double chimneys, and impressive wrap-around porch. It had become part of Whale Rock’s lore that the majestic Victorian sitting high above the cliffs on the craggy northern end of town was possessed by the spirits of my great- grandparents, Percy and Celeste Mitchell, its original owners. The legend evolved from a rumor initiated by my father when he was trying to take back his rightful home. It had been a successful strategy, but he could never have guessed how prophetic his fable would become—or maybe he’d already sensed the mysterious aspects of the old house. To be fair, Papa and I had never discussed the lurking scents and sounds presented by the spirits sharing our home.
I unlatched the gate, to a warm greeting of soft whimpers and an exuberant tail.
“You’re missing them too, aren’t ya, buddy?” I reached down to stroke the German shepherd’s glossy black fur, those usually erect ears momentarily relaxed. I widened the gate.
I followed the dog to the ledge of Percy’s Bluffs, so named after my great-grandfather’s dramatic leap from the cliffs overlooking Cape Cod Bay. I stared down to where the waves were crashing against the rocks below. Through the years, this spot had become my refuge, where I’d come to contemplate decisions or brood over troubles. Exhausted and numb, I sank to the ground and idly fingered an abandoned champagne cork, probably left here the night Vince and Ashley moved in with me. We’d brought a bottle down to the cliffs to toast our new alliance and the home they were going to help me save. I closed my eyes to bring to memory the feel of the fizzy liquid against my tongue, the first I’d tasted in years. There’d not been much to celebrate in recent times. But that night, a sense of hope had returned to me.
About the Author:
A true bibliophile, Loretta Marion’s affection for the written word began in childhood and followed her like a shadow throughout her life as she crafted award winning marketing and advertising copy and educational brochures. She then applied her writing skills as a volunteer, establishing a Legacy Story program for hospice patients, which inspired her to create her own fictional stories. Her debut novel, The Fool’s Truth, was a twisty mystery with whispers of romance. Her newest novel, HOUSE OF ASHES – A Haunted Bluffs Mystery, is the first in a series published by Crooked Lane Books.
When not whipping out words on her laptop, she is traveling, enjoying outdoor pursuits, or is curled up with a delicious new book. Loretta lives in Rhode Island with her husband, Geoffrey, and their beloved Mr. Peabody, a sweet, devoted and amusing “Corgador”.
CB Samet will be awarding a $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
Author Interview
1. How did you choose your genre? What made you write this book?
My writing is more of a theme than a genre. I love the quote, “She needed a hero, so she became one.” I feel my novels have this theme in them whether I’m writing thriller, romantic suspense, or fantasy.
Specific to my newest release, Gray Horizon, I attribute my thriller interest to two of my favorite authors growing up–Tom Clancy and Robert Ludlum. Both writers created action-packed stories filled with suspense. They also had strong female secondary characters. In The Bourne Identity, Marie St. Jacques helps Jason Bourne when no one else will. Jack Ryan’s wife in the Tom Clancy books is physician. While reading those novels, I often wondered what it would be like if the women were the main characters. Thus was born the Dr. Whyte adventure series. Lillian Whyte is a sassy emergency room physician who, in a series of life-threatening events, is cool under pressure and fights to save the day.
Writers write what they know, and must observe the world. Are you a first born, middle or last child and how does this shape your view of the world?
As a middle child, I was definitely the introverted observer. We traveled a great deal when I was younger—all over the US as well as Holland and Saudi Arabia—and each new move meant new places and new people. I never had the ease of blending in as my older sister or the support my younger sister had. I often escaped into daydreams. Over the years, the daydreams sprouted into stories and the stories into novels.
3. Where is your favorite place to write?
I can write anywhere tranquil—beach, waterfall, quiet bar, my home office, my porch. One of my most productive writing area is on an airplane since there are zero distractions with no internet access … at least none I’m willing to pay extra for.
How do you feel about killing your darlings, and what do you do with the remains?
No darlings were harmed in the making of this novel.
5. You are introduced to your favorite author. Who is it, and what is that one burning question you must ask them?
I would be delighted to meet Janet Evanovich. She creates intriguing stories with great characters and a good mix of suspense and humor. I’d love to learn about her writing process.
6. Inquiring minds want to know…tell readers something about you that no one knows.
Most people know that I have two sons and an adorable Jack Russel terrier (she’s 13 years old now so she’s reached the adorable stage). Most people know I’m a full-time physician, part-time writer. Most people know I like jogging, tennis, and hiking. Most people know I loved to horseback ride when I was younger. Very few people know I like dancing in the privacy of my home with the music cranked up and when no one’s watching. Life is short and precious. Savor every moment.
7. You are stranded on a deserted island with only a back pack for company. What three items are in your survival pack?
The three items in my backpack on a deserted island would be: survival kit, satellite phone (solar powered), and Skipper from Penguins of Madagascar (he knows how to get out of every stick situation and he would fit in a backpack).
If you could have one super power in your existence, what would it be?
My super power would psychokinesis—the action of mind on matter. I could move objects, heal organs, and, yes, bend a spoon or two.
9. Favorite snack?
Favorite snack: Chai latte (it’s 300 calories, so yes, it is a snack)
10. Indy 500 – Do you know how to get where you’re going or do you drive the speed limit?
Fortunately, the Indy 500 is a circular track, so no directions are required. While it’s easy to speed in a circle, I prefer to drive off road, and since I don’t always know where I’m going, I usually drive the speed limit. I’m an endless rule-follower including the rule of following your dreams. I have one, five, and ten year life plans, but those are always subject to change. Five years ago, I hadn’t known I’d now be on my tenth novel with more on the way. I’m looking forward to what future adventure awaits.
Gray Horizon
by CB Samet
GENRE: Thriller
BLURB:
Sworn enemies. A stolen nuclear weapon. And the clock’s ticking.
When Dr. Lillian Whyte learns a nuclear weapon is on the loose in Europe, she collides with a ruthless mercenary from her past. Isolated from her husband, a former CIA operative, Lillian tries to covertly help track the weapon. As she he joins the race to stop the bomb, she is drawn into a deadly game of chase. Despite her efforts, those intent on global catastrophe remain one step ahead of her.
As Lillian faces the fears of her past and deadliness of the present, can she secure the future of the world.
Excerpt:
“Dr. Whyte,” a guttural voice greeted her.
Her blood turned frigid and her stomach lurched as her heart thudded against her ribcage. As long as she lived, she would never forget that deep German accent—the voice of one of her captors nine years ago in Kenya.
The one that got away.
She was fairly certain Ivan Kleist would have only one reason for tracking her down: revenge.
Springing from the bench seat, she lashed a leg out into his gut. She saw a brief look of surprise on his pale face before she took off in a sprint.
Why now? Nine years he had waited.
The calculating killer had waited until she was out of the United States and away from Sean to corner her. She dashed in the direction of her hotel. Would she be safe in the lobby? In her room?
She slung her purse over her shoulder. Her phone was in the outer pocket, but she would have to slow down to make a call. Not happening. She would not slow until she reached the hotel.
Could she beat him to the hotel? His legs were longer, but she was ten years younger. But he probably hadn’t already logged twenty-six thousand steps for the day, as she had.
From her peripheral vision, Lillian saw an enormous object barreling toward her like a freight train. She barely had time to brace herself before Ivan plowed into her. She felt like she had been tackled by a linebacker. His large arms encircled her as she sailed to the ground. They rolled through the grass, her body encased by his.
He was so large he could probably crush the life out of her with his arms. She gasped for air. He wasn’t crushing her, but his grip was immobilizing.
Grunting, he hauled her to her feet. “Settle down, hase. Little white rabbit.”
Lillian, still dazed and sucking wind after her sprint, hardly put up a fight as he dragged her into an alley. Looking around frantically, her eyes couldn’t focus long enough to see anyone within shouting distance. She clawed at his large hand blocking her mouth from screaming.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Christina is a practicing physician, mother of two boys and a terrier, and wife to a caring and supportive husband.
“I grew up reading Tom Clancy, Michael Crichton, and the Bourne books. I write seeking to create that level of action and intrigue but with female heroines. I love the quote, ‘She needed a hero. So she became one.’ My novels have empowered women overcoming powerful obstacles and the strong men who support them.”
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Maureen L. Bonatch will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
The last thing Hope Hallows wants is to become the latest headline. Living in a town that likes secrets, she prefers to keep hers hidden. Avoiding a nosy reporter’s questions about her ability to infuse euphoria or despair with a single touch, and those who crave this bliss, is nothing new. But having her brother’s annoying girlfriend, Berta, go missing is—especially when it makes Hope suspect number one.
As a triplet, her resemblance to her beloved dead sister causes her family to grieve even more, and her escalating supernatural skills makes Griffith, her half-human-half-Oppressor boyfriend, wary. He wants to put his unsavory past behind him—this could include Hope—since her abilities remind him of the Underworld.
In her desperate search to find Berta, she stumbles across a tunnel. Phantom voices within whisper that evil has been waiting for a new leader—and isn’t she lucky, they’ve chosen Hope.
Read an excerpt:
Too many times in my life I was assumed guilty until I proved my innocence. This wouldn’t be one of those times. Disliking Berta wasn’t a crime and neither was going on a bike ride. It figures the first time I try to be nice to her it stirred up more trouble than all the times I was rude. “The last time I saw Berta was when she and I went on a bike ride. I’ve done nothing that would require me to visit the police station. I’m starting to think you have something against me personally.”
The officer scowled, as if he sensed my shift in control and was none too happy about losing the upper hand. “I told you before, we stick together in this town. You claim you returned to be with your family, but since you arrived things have changed. People are disappearing, not just vagrants or others passing through, but townies.”
I lifted my chin. No matter how long I lived here, or how many of my family members did, I’d never be considered a townie. Not in this town.
About the Author:
Maureen lives in small town Pennsylvania and her love of the four seasons —biking, sweat pants, hockey and hibernation—keep her there. Surviving twins gave her the confidence to learn to belly dance, declare herself a tequila connoisseur, act as biker babe to her alpha hubby and to release the characters from her imagination. These adventures, and a love of sarcasm, help her craft paranormal and fantasy stories full of fun, family, magic and mayhem. She survives on caffeine, wine, music and laughter. A feisty Shih Tzu keeps her in line.
