Some people might think that it’s too early for Christmas. I think those people are wrong especially when there’s a boxed set like Christmas Kisses available. For one low price you get 19 stories. Now that’s a deal. Enjoy Welcome in the holiday season with 19 heartwarming and wholesome novellas from New York Times, USA Today, national bestselling, and award-winning authors.
Sweet Christmas Kisses 2 takes you from the Smoky Mountains to Florida’s sun-drenched beaches, from the Italian Alps to Paris, France, and even to a quirky little town in Arizona. The Sweet Christmas Kisses 2 bundle features all-new, stand-alone stories that are sure to make you laugh, sometimes bring tears to your eyes, but always put you in the Christmas spirit. Foreword by New York Times bestselling author, RaeAnne Thayne. Christmas Papa by Mona Risk, New York Times, USA Today, National bestselling and Award-winning author. With twin toddlers to care for, she can’t forget her past until a playboy’s kisses challenge her to believe in herself. Gingerbread Kisses by Beate Boeker, USA Today and National bestselling author. A cookie specialist finds sweet romance in the snowy Alps of Italy. Boycotting Christmas by Melinda Curtis, USA Today, National bestselling and Award-winning author. A bachelor seeks Christmas magic from a woman who’s boycotting Christmas. A Christmas to Remember by Denise Devine, USA Today, National bestselling and Award-winning author. Stranded together in a blizzard, Katie and Ryan discover the true meaning of Christmas. An Angel for Christmas by Raine English, USA Today, National bestselling and Award-winning author. A down-on-her-luck single mom finds love at Christmas. The Cowboy’s Christmas Bride by Aileen Fish, USA Today and National bestselling author. A snowstorm and a cow in distress bring a rancher and a veterinary student together for the holidays. Lucky Break Christmas: Second Honeymoon by Patricia Forsythe, USA Today, National bestselling and Award-winning author. Christmas is the perfect time to try and make a failed honeymoon go right. Beach Walk by Grace Greene, USA Today, National bestselling and Award-winning author. An oceanfront cottage—Kelli lives there; Dylan wants to. Will Christmas give them a do-over at finding happiness? An Irish Christmas Blessing by Roxanne Rustand, USA Today, National bestselling and Award-winning author. Eve goes to Ireland to run a quaint village bookshop and meets a stranger who just might steal her heart. Christmas Wedding by Magdalena Scott, USA Today and National bestselling author. Second chance love, and a designer dress, in a Christmas card setting. Finding You at Christmas by Kristin Wallace, USA Today, National bestselling and Award-winning author. She’s going to find her destiny this Christmas. Christmas Laurel by Christine Bush. Can a female army veteran find healing and love with the magic of Christmas? Country Christmas by Lois Greiman, Award-winning author. Heartbreak turns to happiness in the healing splendor of the Black Hills of South Dakota. The Christmas Crusade by Shanna Hatfield, National bestselling author. Two old flames reunite with a little holiday magic. The Christmas Charm by Susan R. Hughes, National bestselling author. Can childhood friendship blossom into love? Evergreen Romance by Julie Jarnagin. A couple reunites while working together at a Christmas tree lot. My Christmas Cupcake by Shaleen Kapil. A last minute Christmas Eve errand to the bakery cooks up romance. A Christmas Spark by Ciara Knight, National bestselling author. An abandoned cabin becomes a healing home for the holidays. Sweet Blizzard by Milou Koenings. He saves her life, she could make or break his; will the gift of love come in time for Christmas? I’m delighted to introduce Author Isla Grey and her latest release Asylum Harbor. I asked Isla where she gets her inspiration for her characters, and was delighted by her answer. I hope you enjoy today’s post. Hi Marlow! Thanks so much for letting me stop today. I’m really excited to be here. I love creating new and interesting characters when I’m working on a story. I always get asked if a character is based on me or someone else. Well, every now and then a character will possess certain quirks that I have—I once wrote a character who hated mayo—but many times they have certain traits of other people. “Asylum Harbor” was no exception. I’ll share a couple of scenes with you and whose personality was shining through. One of my favorite scenes was a conversation between the two main characters—Devon and Kerr—who were talking one morning about coffee. When Devon mentions her father was obsessed with coffee, her description of him was based entirely on my grandfather’s love for it. (In the book, she mentions he would even drink instant coffee. My grandfather would actually perk it!) Another favorite of mine is Mrs. Foster, who runs the boarding house on Shell Island, and the morning she’s fixing breakfast. While the character isn’t based on her, the scene where she’s in the kitchen is definitely the way my grandmother would cook—Southern—really good, probably not good for you, but at the time you didn’t care. (And the bacon grease she mentions? My grandmother would use it to make popcorn!) Each character may have a certain personality trait of someone I’ve known or met. Usually it’s the nicer, quirkier aspects that I love. Fortunately, I haven’t known anyone with the sinister characteristics that the antagonist, Porter, has in “Asylum Harbor”. “Still Waters Run Deep” Trouble is the last thing Devon Brown needs when she leaves the painful memories of her past behind and heads to Shell Island. As the Salty Dog’s new bartender, she finds herself drawn to Kerr, the Shell Island harbormaster. But finding her happily-ever-after is difficult when dealing with an obnoxious bootlegger who supplies the bar with illegal liquor and a jealous coworker. A standoffish loner with damaged emotions, Kerr avoids relationships like the plague. Things change when Devon catches his eye. As a simple flirtation grows serious, the coworker and bootlegger quickly become obstacles to any future Kerr and Devon may have together. As the situation worsens, Devon realizes that even the still waters of Asylum Harbor are no refuge during a storm. Excerpt “You already got dibs on this one Kerr?” Porter shot an evil glare at the opposite end of the bar and looked back toward her. “I’ll see you tonight.” He flicked his tongue. “After work.” He raised his glass in a mock toast and chugged it in one gulp. The lights dimmed for Victoria’s dance of the night. Devon watched Kerr, who was usually headed for the exit by now, and breathed a sigh of relief when he remained glued to his seat with his back to the stage. He wasn’t staying for Victoria’s peep show. There must have been something about this Porter character that got under his skin in a bad way. Devon was eager for the quick break. She hustled to the back as the chords to “Simply Irresistible” began to pelt over the speakers and ran some cold water over her forearm. A red welt was beginning to show where Porter had held onto it. She hoped he would be gone by the time she got back. Making it out before mid-song, Devon rounded the bar when someone snagged her wrist and thrust her hard against the bar, knocking the wind out of her. She could smell Porter’s alcohol-laced breath as his weight pinned her under him. One of his grubby hands shot under her shirt while the other wrestled with the button on her pants. “Let’s give them a real show.” She struggled to reach the Equalizer, but it remained hidden, out of her grasp. Devon hoisted her knee toward his crotch, but Porter lost his balance and fell backward before she could make contact. Kerr towered over him. “Get your hands off her.” AUTHOR BIO Isla Grey is from Central Virginia and still lives in the same small town she grew up in. She developed a love of writing at an early age and over the years has tried her hand at penning poetry (some good, some not so good), screenwriting, newspaper articles and historical stories. She’s “old school” when it comes to writing and is a hoarder of more pens, post-it notes and writing journals than she’ll ever need. Isla likes to write different types of stories from romance to mystery and anything in between and loves a “happy for now but there could be some bad things coming” feel. When Isla’s not writing, she spends her time being called “Mom, Mama, Mommy” (well, you get the picture) by her daughter who is forever active, even in her sleep. She considers herself an unofficial “cat whisperer” and is a pet human to a plethora of cats that have taken up residence at her home over the years. Isla also enjoys reading a good biography or ghost story, traveling even though “there’s no place like home”, good music played loud and walking. Isla loves movies and is the movie mistakes editor at Bellaonline.com where she talks about…well…movies. Her novella, “A Voice in the Dark”, is available now and her book, “Asylum Harbor”, will be released September 16th, 2015 through Wild Rose Press. You can connect with Isla at: Website: http://www.islagrey.com/ Blog: http://www.islagrey.com/islas-inklings Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorIslaGrey Twitter: https://twitter.com/IslaGrey1 Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/islagrey Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00MMTEYEK
The murder of Gordon Taylor, prominent businessman and philanthropist, has Detective Ryan Hamlin stumped. No viable suspects, no decent leads. When a chance conversation breaks the case wide open, Detective Hamlin suddenly has a long list of unlikely suspects who, with a "perfectly legal" multimillion dollar investment to protect, must make sure that none of them is convicted or everything will be lost. That's when the deception and finger-pointing begin. The detective is certain he's headed down the path that will lead to the killer, but is he?
Excerpt: The Grim Reaper is a capricious son-of-a-bitch who’ll let an undeserving miscreant go with nothing more than a renewed faith in God, then throw a surprise party for a guy like Gordon Taylor. A decent guy who was about to go from merely to hugely rich. With good business sense, ambition, and a few lucky breaks, Gordon had parlayed a small inheritance from his grandfather into Taylor Industries, a multimillion dollar conglomerate with fingers in everything from manufacturing to banking, and he was at the endgame for the IPO. He had worked hard and it was all about to pay off. None of it mattered. Gordon Taylor would die within the hour. Gordon’s work day had ended. He was lounging in his leather executive chair, feet crossed and propped up on the desk, hands behind his head, strong fingers intertwined. He was enjoying a moment of solitude after another grueling day dealing with overly cautious attorneys more interested in racking up legal fees by creating obstacles than finding solutions, and greedy investment bankers wanting more than their fair share of Gordon’s empire. He’d spent the day wrapping up details for the IPO which, when done, would tack three beautiful zeroes on the end of his already substantial net worth.The thought didn’t leave him as elated as he had thought it would, and he wondered if trading control for dollars was worth it. He already had more money than he and his wife Jessica could spend in three lavish lifetimes and, when all was said and done, it wasn’t about the money. It never had been.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Anne Kennison’s unique plot twist comes from a fertile imagination honed by 20-plus years as a trusts and estates attorney. Now retired from the practice of law, Anne lives in Richmond, Virginia, with her husband Dale and two Ragdoll cats Grady and Elliott. When she’s not writing the sequel to Death by Romance, Anne loves to travel, dabble in photography, and spend time with her two adorable granddaughters. Website: www.annekennison.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annekennison?fref=ts Twitter: https://twitter.com/annekennison Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/annekennison/
Anne will be awarding a $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2015/07/blurb-blitz-death-by-romance-by-anne.html My Review Hit ‘N’ Run is an edge of the seat ride. Lori Power has crafted an action-packed, fast-paced romantic suspense. Lorna shines as a woman who’s trying to hold together her family and career while clearing her name. And as for Mitch, he is simply swoon worthy. This is definitely a five star read. I don’t normally write reviews but I’ve decided to share my opinions on the work of some of my colleagues. All the books I review I have purchased myself with my own money. I do not take review requests, and I only review books that I’ve enjoyed reading. I should point out that this is, as I said, just my opinion. Lorna Tymchuk fights to overcome a past filled with neglect and abuse.
Determined to build a better life, Lorna has climbed the ladder to a success publish relations career on slippery rung at a time. But while on her way to an important meeting, a former lover crashes back into her life—literally—and she becomes embroiled in a police investigation that threatens everything she’s achieved. Mitch Morgan doesn’t believe in coincides. Mitch has spent five years trying to forget Lorna, only to run into her on his way to an undercover sting operation. Old feelings quickly resurface and passion reignites, but as his investigation unfolds, evidence suggests the woman he’s falling for might have ties to the very criminals he’s after. When Mitch tugs any thread of his investigation, it seems to lead back to Lorna. Caught between his desire for the strong, curious beauty and the growing suspicions of his superiors, he must choose between trusting his instincts and following regulations. Lorna finds herself entangled in a web of betrayal. Whens he learns the nature of the investigation—and her role as a suspected spy—Lorna goes to dangerous lengths to clear her name and prove to everyone, including herself, she’s worth of the handsome, tenacious Mitch. With danger around every corner, Lorna is on the run for her life, but refuses to run from the past any longer. She can find the evidence she needs, but at what cost? Mitch now knows her secrets and must find her first and convince her she—and their love—are worth fighting for, before it’s too late.
Colonel Gabriel de Laurent departed for the war intending to die.
After a decade of bloodstained battlegrounds while fighting in Napoleon's army, Gabriel returns to the streets of Paris a shattered and haunted soul. Plagued by inner demons, he swallows the barrel of his flintlock pistol and pulls the trigger. But fate has a different plan. Ariah Larochelle is a survivor. Orphaned at twelve and victim to a devastating crime, she has learned to keep her back to walls and to trust no one. But when she finds a gravely injured soldier washed up on the River Seine, she's moved by compassion. In spite of her reservations, she rescues him from the icy water and brings him into her home. Now scarred inside and out, Gabriel discovers a kindred spirit in Ariah – and feelings he imagined lost forever reawaken as he observes her strength in the face of adversity. But when Ariah's own lethal secrets unfold, their new love is threatened by ancient ghosts. Can Gabriel and Ariah find hope in the wreckage of their pasts – or will the cycle of history repeat again? Perfect for fans of Gaelen Foley's Lord of Ice and Judith James's Broken Wing, Finding Gabriel features all the dark romance, searing passion, and historical intrigue of The Phantom of the Opera and Les Misérables. Excerpt: “Look at me. Look at what you have saved.” Gabriel released Ariah’s chin and tore away the bandage in a harsh movement. As his eyes bore into her own, pale moonlight fell upon the deformity, illuminating the twisted flesh and grotesque welts. The sight reminded her of a beautiful chateau . . . a stunning fortress situated along the coastline . . . one that had fallen into ruin and neglect. The skin was concave, destroyed, cavernous – a remnant of former glory. And the surrounding features – his burning eyes, the right side of his face, his powerful body – dwarfed the disfigurement with a striking beauty. “Look at the monster you have created. Look upon my face, Ariah.” She shivered at the sound of her name; slightly muffled from the injury to his mouth, it slid from his tongue with equal parts venom and hunger. “I was supposed to die that night . . .” The last of his words ended in a choked whisper. His face fell forward in despair until his forehead was pressed against her own. He was impossibly close. And he appeared every gram a flesh-and-blood warrior – coarse and ruthlessly untamed. Sweltering heat radiated from his body and engulfed all five of her senses. She was suffocating. Visions of that long-ago night echoed in her mind until she could perceive nothing else. Ariah gave a shallow cry as she struggled to free herself once more. “Don’t. Don’t leave me. Please.” Her movements ceased. The words struck a chord deep inside her chest. She connected her gaze with his and was rendered speechless by the naked anguish in his stare. Regret and desire were etched in every line of his face – but what stole her breath was something entirely different. For the second time, it was neither anger nor resentment that radiated from his eyes, but a longing so intense that it nearly overwhelmed her: hope.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Rachel L. Demeter lives in the beautiful hills of Anaheim, California with Teddy, her goofy lowland sheepdog, and her high school sweetheart of eleven years. She enjoys writing dark, poignant romances that challenge the reader's emotions and explore the redeeming power of love. Imagining dynamic worlds and characters has been Rachel's passion for longer than she can remember. Before learning how to read or write, she would dictate stories while her mother would record them for her. She holds a special affinity for the tortured hero and unconventional romances. Whether crafting the protagonist or antagonist, she ensures every character is given a soul. Rachel endeavors to defy conventions by blending elements of romance, suspense, and horror. Some themes her stories never stray too far from: forbidden romance, soul mates, the power of love to redeem, mend all wounds, and triumph over darkness. Her dream is to move readers and leave an emotional impact through her words. Don't be a stranger! Rachel loves to connect and interact with her readers: Visit Rachel's Official Website: http://racheldemeter.net Stay in the loop with Rachel's Author Newsletter: http://tinyurl.com/rldnewsletter Follow Rachel on Twitter: @RachelLDemeter Join Rachel on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rldemeter Add Rachel on Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/RachelLDemeter Extensive list of Links and Social Media Platforms Official Site: http://racheldemeter.net/ Author Newsletter: http://tinyurl.com/rldnewsletter Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rldemeter Twitter: https://twitter.com/RachelLDemeter Google+: https://plus.google.com/+RachelLDemeter/ Goodreads Author Profile: https://www.goodreads.com/RachelLDemeter LibraryThing Author Profile: https://www.librarything.com/author/demeterrachell Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Rachel-L.-Demeter/e/B00IBKLO06 YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/RachelLDemeter Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/RachelLDemeter/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/pub/rachel-l-demeter/40/ba1/9aa
Rachel will be awarding a Momentum bundle of 3 romance titles chosen by the winner to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning.
I haven’t posted on this blog in quite a while. I had a long, sad August where I dealt with the death of a loved one. I was in England away from my husband and children, sinking into despair.
Enter my Irish cousins, their genuine concern and affection coupled with their irreverence saved me from my misery. Their ability to laugh in the face of death gave me strength and reminded me how important laughter is to our well-being. With that in mind I want to share one of my Pinterest boards with you. It is a collection of images I find funny. I hope they brighten your day. |
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