BEA'S BOOK NOOK "I can't imagine a man really enjoying a book and reading it only once." C. S. Lewis “If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all.” ― Oscar Wilde

Showing posts with label Nance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nance. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Excerpt from Murder in the World Below by Lara Nance


Please welcome back Lara Nance to the Nook. I've featured some of her speculative fiction in the past but today I have an excerpt from a new mystery of hers. "Murder in the World Below" introduces a tight-knit community of second and third generation survivors of a government institutional system that went horribly wrong at the hands of people in control.

Monday, March 4, 2013

Excerpt & Giveaway: Memories of Murder by Lara Nance



Back in January, Ms. Nance was on tour for her steampunk mystery, "Revenge of the Mad Scientist", and I had an excerpt on here. Now she's on tour for another book, "Memories of Murder", and again I have an excerpt along with a giveaway (see end of post).



Lara Nance grew up and lived in many cities throughout the South. She loves to write in a variety of genres within the scope of women’s fiction. But the basis of all her stories is a tale that will entertain and intrigue.

If you want to escape and lose yourself in a novel, you’ve come to the right place. Choose your genre and settle in to be entertained. From thrilling mysteries and steampunk tales, to paranormal romance and adventure, Lara’s willing to explore a variety of compelling stories full of danger and suspense, with a touch of romance.

Having been on the fencing team in college and now living on a sailboat convinces her that she was a pirate in another life, or possibly kin to Errol Flynn… However, due to the unfortunate demise of the romantic pirates of the past, she lives out her fantasies, thrills and adventures in her stories.

Currently docked in Norfolk, Virginia (until the wind changes) Lara enjoys living on her sailboat and spends time reading, of course writing, indulging a variety of artistic endeavors, cooking and sailing with her husband, Joe and their Yorkie, Rio. 

Find Lara online:

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Book Blurb ~


When Maeve McKenna renounces her witch powers and accepts a low-key nurse practitioner position at a Virginia retirement community, the last thing she expects is a suicide her first day on the job.
     
As the town's sexy sheriff, Paul Sutton, starts looking into the tragic death of his father's friend, Maeve can't help but get involved--with both the case and him. Their informal investigation unveils an old journal that connects the ruins of a nearby asylum and long-forgotten cemetery with the shiny new retirement community's memory unit--and Maeve's Alzheimer's patients.
     
Maeve senses a sinister presence in the old asylum, calling to the patients, but in order to stop it from killing again, she must first conquer some demons of her own and reclaim the magic she's denied herself.

Publisher: Crescent Moon Press
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Mystery, Romance
Format: ebook, paperback
Length: 481 KB, 302 pages
Release Date: February 28, 2011
Buying Links:   Barnes & Noble  Amazon
 
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Excerpt

As if on cue, her cell phone rang and when she saw her mother’s number she sighed. Her Mom had been great during her crisis, but now had trouble letting go. Of course Maeve was grateful her mother and aunts had flown to Atlanta as soon as they’d heard about the attack. The Gems—the triumvirate of her mother, Opal, aunts Ruby and Pearl insisted Maeve return to Savannah to heal as soon as she could leave the hospital. There, the Gems helped restore her health with tenderness and a little magic.

Her mother and aunts had to stop worrying about her. She took a deep breath and forced a brightness into her voice she didn’t feel. “Hi, Mom.”



“Emerald, darling, how are you?” Her mother’s voice was a rich contralto tinged with concern.



Maeve cringed at her mother’s use of her first name. She chose to use her middle name after she bound her powers. However, her mother persisted in calling her Emerald or Em no matter how many times Maeve reminded her.



 “Yes, I’m fine. I made it and I’m on the way to the cabin I’m renting now,” Maeve said. “How are you?”



“Oh, I’m the same as ever,” her mother said with a deep chuckle. “Incorrigible.”



Maeve had to laugh. Yep, that was her mom.



“So, do you like it there?”



Maeve sighed. “I just got here. But so far it’s very picturesque. The retirement community is obviously exclusive. You should see it. In a few months maybe you guys could come up for a weekend and sightsee.”



“You’re not telling me something. What happened to upset you?” Opal’s tone sharpened.


“Mom, stop it. You always say that when I talk to you from out of town. I’m perfectly fine,” she lied.

“Really, Maeve, Ruby saw a crow in her front yard this morning. A crow!”

“Big deal, a bird flew into her yard.”

“No, not just any bird. And then she went out back to work in the garden and found another one dead on the stone path. You can’t say that’s a coincidence.” She ended on a triumphant note.

“Mom.”

“I know, I know. You don’t want to hear about omens. But mark my words Emerald Maeve McKenna, one day you will recognize the value of your heritage and be glad you have the powers.”

“Mom!”

“Okay. I’m done.”

“Good. Now please give the rest of the Gems my love, tell them I miss them and take care. I’ll call you later in the week and let you know how the job is going.”

“I will. Take care and I hope whatever it is you’re not telling me is nothing really bad.”

“Mom!”

“Good bye, darling.”

“Bye, Mom.”

She didn’t know whether to smile, grit her teeth, or both. Although her Gems had saved her, she also needed distance from her family for a while. It was important to find her own balance now that she had renounced her witch powers. She swallowed, regrouped her thoughts, and then headed into downtown Rolling Gap. She had to keep going. There was no other way to survive.


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The book is specially priced at $0.99 March 4 - 8. At each stop, Lara will award a signed cover flat; and a $50 Amazon gift card will be awarded to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Follow the book tour here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/01/virtual-super-book-blast-memories-of.html

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Excerpt & Giveaway: Revenge of the Mad Scientist by Lara Nance


Revenge of the Mad Scientist by Lara Nance ~
 When Lady Arabella Trunkett’s father, the High Lord Minister of Urbannia is kidnapped, all clues point to the mysterious country of Gandiss and the world is thrown into political upheaval.

Arabella is convinced the more sinister nation of Carabarras is to blame, urged on by a mad scientist seeking revenge. So, she sets out on a perilous airship journey across a variety of exotic locales to save him, and halt the potential world war.

But airship pirates, secret assassins and slave traders aren’t her only trials. The fickle hand of fate has made the captain of the only airship available for charter, the man who left her at the altar. For eight years she's wished him dead. Now he's her only hope.
Genre: Steampunk, Romance, Mystery
Format: ebook, paperback
Length: 545 KB, 268 pages
Release Date: August 13, 2012
Buy Links:  Amazon  Barnes & Noble

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 About the author: 


Lara Nance grew up and lived in many cites throughout the South. She loves to write in a variety of genres, but the basis of all of her stories is a great tale that will take you on an adventure of imagination.

If you want to escape and lose yourself in a novel, you've come to the right place. Choose your genre and settle in to be entertained. From thrilling mysteries and steampunk tales, to paranormal romance and adventure, she's willing to explore a variety of compelling stories full of danger and suspense, along with a touch of romance.

Having been on the fencing team in college and now living on a sailboat convinces her that she was a pirate in another life, or possibly kin to Errol Flynn… However, due to the unfortunate demise of the romantic pirates of the past, she lives out her fantasies, thrills and adventures in her stories. Lara loves to weave interesting true historical tidbits into her fiction which invite the reader to explore further after the novel is finished.

Currently docked in Norfolk, Virginia (until the wind changes) Lara enjoys living on her sailboat and spends time reading, of course writing, indulging a variety of artistic endeavors, cooking and sailing with her husband, Joe and their Yorkie, Rio.






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 Excerpt

Another scream sounded and then another. A group of people blocked her view and she didn’t hesitate in pushing them aside. She gasped when she reached a body sprawled on the floor and noted a trail of red blood tracking from a side room. She recognized the injured man as Conrad Bellows, her father’s assistant. Horrified, her champagne glass slipped from her fingers and shattered on the marble.

She pushed another man out of her way. What the hell was wrong with everyone standing around like statues while a man needed help? She knelt at Conrad's side. A knife protruded from his back but when she put her fingers on his neck she found him still alive, thank God. He struggled to his side and blinked as he looked up at her.

“Gone,” he whispered. “So…sorry, My Lady…gone.”

“Who is gone, Conrad?” She put a hand on his shoulder as panic shot through her.

“You’re, fa, fa, father…they took him.”

“What? Who took him?”
 

“Ahh, all in black, don’t know…” He closed his eyes and then slumped on the floor, unconscious.

Belle sucked in a sharp breath. She jumped to her feet and spun around. “Someone call for a doctor and help Mr. Bellows. Where’s my father?”


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Lara will be awarding an autographed original map of Arabella's steampunk world to a randomly drawn commenter at each tour stop, and a $50 Amazon gift card and an original steampunk necklace to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

Grand Prize Necklace

If people sign up for her newsletter on her website from Jan 29 - Feb 3, they will be entered for an autographed copy of her book as well as an original steampunk necklace.

Newsletter Sign Up Prize

Follow the tour - http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2012/12/virtual-super-book-blast-revenge-of-mad.html