Blog Tour: Vampires in Alaska - A Guest Post by Nikki Jefford & A Giveaway

Hello and welcome to my stop on the tour for the Aurora Sky: Vampire Hunter books. They're set in Alaska and I immediately fell in love with the idea of Alaskan vampires; it's a fantastically horrifying concept. I had to be part of the tour.
 

Nikki Jefford is a third generation Alaskan who found paradise in the not-so-tropical San Juan Islands (Wash.) where she is once more neighbors with Canada in a town without a single traffic light. She loves fictional bad boys and heroines who kick butt.

When she's not reading, writing, working, or out on a nature walk, she's out riding her Suzuki DRZ400SM.

Find Nikki Online:

http://www.nikkijefford.com/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5424286.Nikki_Jefford

https://www.facebook.com/authornikkijefford?ref=ts&fref=ts

https://twitter.com/NikkiJefford

Giveaway & Spotlight - Fighting for the Edge by Jennifer Comeaux

I 'met' Jennifer Comeaux when I did the line edits on "Edge of the Past", book two in her Edge series. I enjoyed it and am delighted to be part of the release celebration for the new book,
"Fighting for the Edge".

DISCLOSURE: I am an employee of Astraea Press. I am not being compensated by Astraea Press or Jennifer Comeaux for putting up this post.  

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Blurb from the author ~

Two friends. Two dreams. One night that changes everything… 

 Ice dancer Aubrey London scoffs at romance. She’s focused on winning a medal at the upcoming Olympics and uses that as her excuse to avoid serious relationships. But when she and longtime friend Chris Grayden are thrown together by unforeseen circumstances, Aubrey finds herself questioning everything she's ever known about love, complicating her life both on and off the ice. 

Pairs skater Emily Petrov embraces romance. She and her husband Sergei still act like honeymooners two years after their wedding. As Emily’s coach, Sergei provides constant support while she prepares to challenge for gold at the Olympics. But Sergei’s support might not be enough to help Emily overcome the one challenge she never saw coming. 

With the Games only weeks away, Emily and Aubrey are on the verge of realizing their dreams. But one snowy, stormy night sets in motion a series of events that will test them in ways they never imagined, giving them more to fight for than Olympic medals.  

K.A. Tucker's FOUR SECONDS TO LOSE Giveaway

K.A. Tucker and Atria Books have put together a fantastic giveaway. Four Seconds To Lose by K.A. Tucker is right around the corner so they wanted to celebrate with a giveaway of some fantastic prizes. We have the FIRST print of a FOUR SECONDS TO LOSE Dooodles by Christina (which won't be available for purchase until late December), as well as signed copies of TEN TINY BREATHS and ONE TINY LIE, and swag bags filled with FOUR SECONDS TO LOSE posters and goodies from K.A. Tucker and Atria! There will be 5 winners of signed copies and swag bags, and one Grand Prize winner for the Dooodles by Christina, signed copies and a swag bag. You don’t want to miss this! So, go ahead… Enter to win!

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Related articles

• *Cover Reveal* Four Seconds to Lose by K.A.Tucker (winebooksnfringe.com)
• Romance Review: Ten Tiny Breaths by K.A. Tucker (roundtablereviewsadult.blogspot.com)

Cover Reveal--Whispers and Wishes by Hollie Westring

Ever wanted to travel around the country? Maybe spent time looking for a loved one? I'm a homebody myself but I occasionally enjoy reading about other people's travels, and my brother has wandered extensively. In "Whispers and Wishes" by Hollie Westring, travels around the US looking for her mother and along the way she finds love. It releases next month, on November 7th. 

Hollie Westring hails from Kansas City, Mo. She used to be a journalist, which probably explains her extreme dislike of the serial comma and her preference for AP style. 



After realizing the hours of journalists were not productive to any type of social or family life, she settled into a job at a publishing syndicate. She worked with comics, astrology columns, word puzzles and feature columns for six years. Although she enjoyed her time there, Hollie decided to leave the nine-to-five world and join the twenty-four/seven world of motherhood. Now she edits from home.

When not writing, editing or reading, Hollie can be found baking cookies or watching more than her fair share of crime TV. She’s a loyal Royals and Chiefs fan.

Find Hollie Online: 

Twitter: @holliewestring

Website: www.holliewestring.com

Facebook: facebook.com/authorholliewestring

Book blurb from the author ~

Eliza Monroe has been traveling the United States for three years, immersing herself in the towns she visits as she searches for the mother she’s never known. She hopes returning to her grandmother’s inn in Sage Springs, Mo., will provide the break she needs to evaluate her lonely life.

What Eliza isn’t expecting is to have two men enter the picture, not making her decision to stay or leave any easier. One has been her foundation, while the other is as comfortable as she is hopping from city to city. Throw in a kooky grandmother, a cheerful best friend, a sarcastic guest, a town where residents and spirits interact like neighbors, and Eliza has little time to contemplate her future.

Friendships grow, webs are spun and lies are revealed before Eliza comes to terms with what she wants in life and learns what's really important.

  

This sounds like a quirky book and I enjoy a well-written quirky book. 

Ready for the cover?

The Wager by Rachel Van Dyken - Excerpt & Giveaway!

Today I'm excited to have an excerpt from Rachel Van Dyken's new book, "The Wager". Rachel has many books under her belt, including some Regency romances with my publisher Astraea Press, but lately she's on fire with her New Adult Romances. Recent best sellers by her include "The Bet" and "Elite".

Rachel is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. When she's not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching The Bachelor. She keeps her home in Idaho with her Husband and their snoring Boxer, Sir Winston Churchill. She loves to hear from readers! You can follow her writing journey at http://rachelvandykenauthor.com/

Find Rachel Online:

Blog: http://rachelvandykenauthor.com

Twitter: @RachVD

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

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4882127.Rachel_Van_Dyken

Excerpt from "Isn't She Lovely" by Lauren Layne

Are you fan of the movie "Pretty Woman"? Have you read the myth "Pygmalion" which inspired it? Then you might like this new story, "Isn't She Lovely?", a New Adult spin, by Lauren Layne. The book is out October 28th but you can read an excerpt today, thanks to Random House. Click on the cover to go its goodreads page.

Blurb from goodreads ~ 

The rules are clear—until they’re broken. Lauren Layne puts a New Adult spin on Pygmalion, also the inspiration for Pretty Woman, and gives the classic love story its edgiest twist yet.

“Who knew that pretending you’re not falling for someone would be so much more difficult than pretending that you are?”

Stephanie Kendrick gave up her whole summer to ace her NYU film school screenwriting course, so she’s pissed to be stuck with a preppy, spoiled frat boy as her writing partner. Then again, with her piercings, black-rimmed eyes, and Goth wardrobe, Stephanie isn’t exactly Ethan Price’s type, either. He’s probably got his eye on some leggy blonde with a trust fund . . . or does he?

As the summer scene kicks off in the Hamptons, Ethan is desperate to make his snobbish mother forget the pedigreed girl who broke his heart. While Stephanie’s a stretch as a decoy, the right makeover and a pastel cardigan just might do the trick. She may not love the idea of playing Ethan’s brainless Barbie girlfriend, but the free rent and luxurious digs make a tempting offer. So does the promise of a ready-made screenplay idea inspired by their charade.

But when Stephanie steps into Ethan’s privileged world, the “acting” begins to feel all too real. The kissing and touching that were intended to fool the Hamptons crowd wind up manipulating them. And Stephanie faces a question she’s too afraid to ask: Is Ethan falling for the real her or for the dolled-up princess he wants to see?

 Enjoy!

 Isn't She Lovely by Lauren Layne (Excerpt) by Romance At Random

Book Dedications, A Guest Post by Abria Mattina & A Giveaway

Today's guest is author Abria Mattina. She's on tour for her novella, "Love Among Pigeons"; it's a companion novella to her contemporary New Adult romance novel, Wake (2011). "Love Among Pigeons" allows supporting characters from Wake to take center stage, and brings back the complicated couple that readers loved.

Early Review: Bea Reviews Omens by Kelley Armstrong

Publisher: Dutton
Series: Cainsville #1
Format Read: print ARC
Source: Goldberg McDuffie Communications in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: August 20, 2013
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | Barnes& Noble
* affiliate links; clicking & purchasing results in a small commission for the blog.

Blurb from goodreads:

#1 New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong begins her new series with Omens, featuring a compelling new heroine thrust into a decades-old murder case and the dark mysteries surrounding her strange new home.

Twenty-four-year-old Olivia Taylor Jones has the perfect life. The only daughter of a wealthy, prominent Chicago family, she has an Ivy League education, pursues volunteerism and philanthropy, and is engaged to a handsome young tech firm CEO with political ambitions.

But Olivia’s world is shattered when she learns that she’s adopted. Her real parents? Todd and Pamela Larsen, notorious serial killers serving a life sentence. When the news brings a maelstrom of unwanted publicity to her adopted family and fiancé, Olivia decides to find out the truth about the Larsens.

Olivia ends up in the small town of Cainsville, Illinois, an old and cloistered community that takes a particular interest in both Olivia and her efforts to uncover her birth parents’ past.

Aided by her mother’s former lawyer, Gabriel Walsh, Olivia focuses on the Larsens’ last crime, the one her birth mother swears will prove their innocence. But as she and Gabriel start investigating the case, Olivia finds herself drawing on abilities that have remained hidden since her childhood, gifts that make her both a valuable addition to Cainsville and deeply vulnerable to unknown enemies. Because there are darker secrets behind her new home and powers lurking in the shadows that have their own plans for her.

Cover Reveal! No One's Angel by Kelly Walker

Hello, pull up a seat and have a look at the cover for "No One's Angel" by Walker. It's a New Adult Romance releasing in September and for you geeks out there, the hero and heroine are gamers! I've been seeing more romances recently that feature gamers and I think it's great. I don't game but so many people do, why shouldn't they be represented in books too? Take a look at the blurb and see what you think -

Excerpt & Giveaway: Zombie, Incorporated by Jill Elaine Hughes

Welcome to today's stop on the Zombie, Incorporated tour. Jill Elaine Hughes is an independent author of New Adult (mature YA, 18-26) fiction as well as a full-time freelance journalist based in Chicago. She's contributed to the Chicago Tribune, Washington Post, Chicago Reader and many magazines as a journalist over the past 15 years.  Like most New Adult fiction authors these days, she's gone the self-publishing route for her work since most publishers haven't caught up to the readership trends in this emerging shelf category. Her writing is usually laced with humor and also often has sexual and/or dystopian elements.

Character Interview with Rylee Adamson & A Giveaway

 
Welcome to today's stop on Shannon Mayer's tour to promote her Rylee Adamson series. It has a little bit of everything; it's a New Adult Romantic Urban Fantasy Mystery series. Yeppers, that's a mouthful. Maybe we can just call it a NA PNR? No? Okay, can't blame a girl for trying. :D

Why Doesn't She Just Leave the Jerk? A Guest Post by Lori L. Clark

 
Please welcome author Lori L. Clark to the Nook today. She reads, she writes, she runs 1/2 marathons for fun. Ten things about her:

1. She's an only child.
2. She loves dogs!
3. She was born in Iowa City, Iowa and lived in Iowa her whole life until January 2007.
4. She worked as a professional psychic reader for 2 years.
5. She's a Pisces Sun, Leo Moon with Aquarius rising.
6. She's written 5 books and is in the process of brainstorming a 6th.
7. She doesn't look or act her age!
8. ISheran my first 1/2 marathon at age 50.
9. She loves 80's hair band music.
10. Her day job is as a claims payment analyst for one of Fortune 500 Magazine's "Top 100 places in America to work."

I haven't experienced any of the abuse that Jaq suffered. The date rape scene is fairly early in the book, and I used it as the main catalyst for a young woman's life spiraling out of control. That and making some really poor choices.

Some of the horrific things that happened to Jaq were the result of being too trusting of the wrong individual. Also she believed that somewhere, some way, something (or someone) would always come along to save the day.

Jaq's relationship with Damon was undeniably unhealthy. Unfortunately, it wasn't simply a matter of walking away from him and never looking back, in spite of how bad he was for her and to her. She knew how dangerous he was, the warning signs presented themselves to her, but what was it inside of her that caused her to continue seeing him?

I think a lot times we hear, see or read about someone in an abusive relationship and we think to ourselves, "Why doesn't she just leave the jerk and never look back?" While theoretically, that's the best, most sensible option, it's not always one the victim is able to make.

I believe it's often a case of poor self-esteem -- the thread of an idea in the back of their head that this is really all they deserve. Sometimes we stay in situations longer than we should because of fear and hopelessness. Who hasn't worked at a job they loathed far longer than they wanted to because they didn't think they had a choice? Who'll pay the bills? Where will I live? If I quit people will think I'm a failure. Etc. Etc. 

Sometimes people believe that being in a relationship, any relationship, even an abusive one, is better somehow than being alone.

There's a book inside of me begging to be written about the victim of rape who decides the only way out of her torment is to take her own life. That one's on the back burner for now, while I finish my current manuscript. Watch for a cover reveal on that one to pop up very soon!

Thank you for your questions!  

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The Book

 It's been said that when we look back over our lives, we are able to recognize the pivotal moments that in some way, shape, or form have led us to where we are today.

When Jacqueline Carter is fifteen, she crosses paths for the first time with Seth Thomas, a young man who unwittingly alters the direction of her life forever.

Jaq plans to break-up with her boyfriend on her sixteenth birthday. Instead, she is date-raped, and left emotionally broken. She builds a wall around her heart and begins spiraling downward on a road filled with drinking, drugs and physical abuse.

When Seth re-enters her life a few years later, the walls around her heart slowly come down and the two of them fall in love.

Unfortunately sometimes, fate has other ideas, and we're forced down a different road from which we initially set out.

Publisher: Lori L.Clark
Genre: New Adult, Romance
Length: 177 pages
Format: Paperback, ebook
Release Date: January 23, 2013
Buying Links: Amazon  Barnes & Noble 

Blog Tour Review of Playing Hooky by Rita Webb

Publisher: Amazon Digital Services 
Series: Paranormal Investigations #1
Format Read: Kindle Book
Source: Gifted from the author in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: January 1, 2013
Buying Links:  Amazon  Barnes & Noble 

Blurb from goodreads:

Valentine’s Day.

And my 21st birthday.

Whoop-de-doo.

Just another college day full of classes and more homework than is humanly possible.

…until Jason, my best-friend-since-kindergarten, shows up to take me out for the day.Like old times: the two of us on a wacky adventure, playing hooky from real life. With his lopsided grin and tickets to a circus full of misfits and monsters, he introduces me to a whole new world—one full of magic and mystery—and turns my reality upside down.

Except nothing goes as planned, and we end up running through the city to find a missing siren before someone brews a love potion with her blood.

Sirens and love potions, witches and elves, and Valentine kisses. Nothing will be the same for me again.

229 KB

Bea's Thoughts:

This was a quick, light, fun read and I'm looking forward to more in the series.

Emma and Jason have been best friends for years, since they were little children. They enjoy the same adventures and share a stubborn nature. They are also attracted to each other but neither has worked up the courage to admit it. Emma is afraid that if things go wrong, she'll lose not only her boyfriend but her best friend while Jason has hesitated in part due to a big secret. Now, he shares part of that secret with Emma and she handles it well. A little too well actually, it should have been more of a life-changing event. But, even as little children their adventures included hunting for imaginary things so Emma is primed to believe.

I figured out early on who the villain was and I'm also pretty sure I know who/what Jason really is. If I'm right, that could make for some very exciting stories. I really enjoyed the world building, the characters, and the humor. It's a short story, or maybe a novella? I'm not always clear on the distinction, but either way it's short and a fast read. On the one hand, I appreciate that Webb didn't pad the story as some authors are prone to doing; on the other hand, a little more fleshing out would have been good. Still, it was a good story, well written, interesting and fun. Go pick up a copy.

To see quotes from the book, go here.

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

GIVEAWAY

Webb is giving away two beaded bookmarks and some additional prizes, enter using the rafflecopter below. Open internationally.

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Blog Tour Cover & Trailer Reveal for Losing Francesca by J.A. Huss

Today's book is a New Adult/Young Adult romance mystery about a teenage girl who may or may not be a girl who was kidnapped as a child. I'm excited to share the cover and the book trailer with you.

About the author ~

J. A. Huss likes to write new adult books that make you think and keep you guessing. Her favorite genre to read is space opera, but since practically no one reads those books, she writes new adult science fiction, paranormal romance, contemporary romance, urban fantasy, and books about Junco (who refuses to be saddled with a label).

She has an undergraduate degree in horses, (yes, really–Thank you, Colorado State University) and a master’s degree in forensic toxicology from the University of Florida. She used to have a job driving around Colorado doing pretty much nothing but shooting the breeze with farmers, but now she just writes, runs the New Adult Addiction and Clean Teen Reads Book Blogs, and runs an online science classroom for homeschoolers.

Find J.A. online:

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

The Book ~ 

Francesca Sabatini came to America to take in the sights, celebrate her high school graduation, and have fun wasting time before college starts in the fall. That’s not what happens. Fresh off the plane and barely on American soil more than a handful of minutes, Francesca’s face is recognized by TSA scanners to be a match for a child who was kidnapped twelve years ago. Brody Mason remembers the day Fiona Sullivan went missing during a family vacation in Italy and it’s haunted him his whole life. So when Francesca shows up at the Sullivan farm down the road, he’s compelled to figure out if this girl really is his long lost friend. But Francesca knows she’s not Fiona Sullivan. She knows exactly who she is. At least she thinks she knows – until Brody Mason relentlessly pursues her and she begins to have feelings for him. Maybe being Fiona isn’t so bad? Reality becomes blurred, secrets are revealed, and life will never be the same when the final questions are answered: Is she Francesca or Fiona? And where does she really belong?

Genre: Young Adult, New Adult, romance, mystery
Format: paperback
Release Date: July 1, 2013
Buying Links: goodreads



The Cover ~ 
 

GIVEAWAY:

Julie is doing a giveaway to celebrate the cover reveal. The prize is a 25$ Amazon or Paypal gift card, open internationally.

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Cover Reveal - Breaking the Reins by Juliana Haygert

I have a cover for you, for a New Adult Romance scheduled to release in August, and it has horses! Horses, people. How could I pass this up? Horses in the book and a horse on the cover. :) Yep, I was one of those horsey girls growing up and while I haven't ridden in years, I'm still fond of horses.

So, besides horses, what else does "Breaking the Reins" have? How's about a blurb? :D

Blurb from the author (I was sooo tempted to say 'from the horses's mouth' :D)  ~

Horses, mansions, tea parties, and lies are twenty-year-old Hannah Taylor’s life. To others, her family and her relationship with Eric is perfect. But she knows the truth. She lives it.

After a fire takes her grandma’s life and kills her horse, Hannah’s immaculate life spirals out of control. Her father disapproves of her decision to run her grandma’s ranch instead of focusing solely on learning the family business; Animal Control brings her Argus, a mistreated horse that she can’t turn away even though she’s not ready for another horse; and her boyfriend, Eric Bennett, a world famous polo player, becomes possessive and authoritarian. Despite her best efforts to disguise it, Hannah grows wary of him.

Then, Leonardo Fernandes struts onto the polo scene. A cocky rookie with a messy life of his own, he’s drawn to Hannah and isn’t afraid of showing it, even when Eric makes it clear she is his and he’ll do whatever it takes to keep it that way. Hannah suffers for Eric’s jealousy. The abuse only gets worse when Leo steals the title of best polo player in the world from Eric.

But the title isn’t enough for Leo. He wants Hannah too, and she can’t deny her attraction to him either. Somehow, she must find a way to break free from abusive Eric before he breaks every bone in her body.

So, horses, abuse, romance (non-abusive), and a ranch - sounds good to me. Want more? How about a teaser?

Click to enlarge image

A little info about the author -

While Juliana Haygert dreams of being Wonder Woman, Buffy, or a blood elf shadow priest, she settles for the less exciting—but equally gratifying—life of a wife, mother, and author. Thousands of miles away from her former home in Brazil, she now resides in Connecticut and spends her days writing about kick-ass heroines and the heroes who drive them crazy.

Find Juliana online:

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

And now, for the cover. *pats the horse*

Now, I'd buy it just for the horse alone (look at those eyes!). I'm not so sure that the cover reflects that the story is a romance or that it deals with an important topic such as abuse, but it's an attractive cover.