15 July 2013

Blast: Torin (Dark Sentinels 2)



Monday, Monday. She snuck up on me and I'm running late with this one. My apologies tot he author. Without further ado:

Today's prize: A $10 gift card! Enter here, and follow the tour here.

Available at:

Description:
When greedy land developers set their sights on Dark Sentinel land, Torin turns to attorney Stephanie Bates for help, but she’ll need his protection to stay alive long enough to save his land.

Real estate lawyer, Stephanie Bates, has risen to the top of her field through meticulous sacrifice and goal setting. She has no time for distractions – and that includes pets, messy relationships, and loose ends.

Torin DuMont is a forensic scientist who chose the profession to avoid dealing with people as much as possible. Raised by a stepfather who hated him, he’s been forced to live a life of solitude, fueled by anger and distrust. When wolves and shifters start turning up dead, Torin must battle an enemy bent on destroying those he was born to protect. His greatest challenge, however, is Attorney Bates and the surprising affect she has on his heart.

Warning: This title is intended for readers over the age of 18 as it contains explicit sex scenes and/or situations and adult language, and may be considered offensive to some readers.

Excerpt - Who Are The Dark Sentinels?

They lived millions of years ago, fatalities of fear and prejudice. Now, answers to a prayer for survival, they are among us again. Other shifters were nearly extinct, murdered by the thousands at mostly human hands. Capable of shifting at will, without the aid of the moon’s phases, they were born to protect them. Bigger, stronger, faster, and longer living, with highly developed preternatural abilities, they are prized outsiders among their packs. Prized for their ability to protect, yet destined to live as outsiders because of the very differences necessary to prevent the pack’s extinction.

Born to stand at the crossroads between pack-members and their slaughterers, Sentinels quickly learn that they are on their own – a different species. Born human, only two are born to each pack, male and female alphas, brother and sister. Pack members deny them mating privileges within the pack based on fear. No female wants to bear a sentinel because their lives are constantly at risk. When danger comes to the pack, they are on the front line, considered expendable.

When they reach mating age, they leave the pack for a time to find a mate – another sentinel. What happens when a sentinel develops feelings for a human? What happens when malevolent scientists learn how to strengthen humans by using sentinel blood?  As you can imagine, with their feral nature barely beneath the surface, their wolf barely sheathed, dark sentinel passions run high. Touch, affection, and loyalty are necessary for their survival, and they are willing to go to extraordinary measures, risk everything, and break every rule for love.


Torin didn’t have to leave his spot against the wall to overhear Cindy and the unavailable Ms. Bates, despite the fact that they were intentionally speaking softly.

“…I tried to reschedule, but he won’t…and he won’t leave either! Steph, you haven’t seen him. He’s huge, and he walked in looking pissed—not a good combination. I started to call for James to escort him out of the office, but I like James, so...”

Both women shared a laugh. “No, no need for all that. You offered him another appointment. If he chooses to wait, let him wait. I’ll deal with him if he doesn’t get tired and leave.” She laughed again. “I keep saying I need a peephole in this door. You’ve piqued my curiosity now. Wish I could work him in. I’m eager to meet one of these Wild Landers I keep hearing about but never seem to run into any.”

“For the most part, they pretty much keep to themselves, but believe me, you’ll know when you see one.” Cindy sighed. “Guess I’ll go back out here and try to work while he’s glaring at me. I doubt he’s going anywhere, Steph. He seems like the stubborn type.”

“Don’t worry, Cindy. If he’s still there when it’s time for you to leave, I’ll speak to him myself and try to reschedule. In the meantime, just ignore him. Maybe he’ll take the hint and leave.”

* * *

Torin stepped outside several times to stretch his long legs, finding fewer clients waiting for Ms. Bates on each return. He’d overheard everything the lawyer and her receptionist said, but it wasn’t what she had said that bothered him; it was the timbre of her voice itself—soft, smooth, and lilting—that elicited an immediate response. Puzzled by his own involuntary reaction, he wanted to hear more of it, like a cobra drawn helplessly and nonsensically to an oboe.

He sensed the sun had gone down before he stepped over to the small window and looked out. Even in the complete darkness, his eyes did not fail him, and he saw the grounds as clearly as if daylight greeted him. Finally, one man remained in the waiting room with him, but it was well after six p.m.

He picked up the pleasant scent of mint, lemongrass, and lilies and turned just in time to see shapely legs, a voluptuous body full of promise. The warm, mocha-colored face wasn’t bad either. Clearly, it was the owner of the musical voice. His wolf bristled beneath his skin, forcing an internal battle just to remain civilized. Confusion increased his frustration. He’d never reacted to a female this way before, and certainly not a human.

Book Trailer:

Reviews:
5/5 Stars
“…This was every bit as wonderful as the first, romance, sex and the constant presence of evil.  Will Torin and Steph find what Akila and Sable have? Is there hope of a mating between a sentinel and a human? Are they compatible enough to have children together? Well, I can’t wait for the next book so I can get some more answers and meet another hunky alpha and another amazing potential mate.”--Linda Tonis (Read complete review at Paranormal Romance Guild)

5/5 Stars
“Torin DuMont is larger than life, and commands attention from the first moment we meet him. He's brash and very much an alpha male. Stephanie Bates is a hard-butt Real Estate Attorney, with some issues of her own to work out. From their first meeting these two bring out the best, and worst in each other. Their exciting adventure is full of many unexpected twists. The book will grab your attention and run away with it. Dariel Raye certainly knows how to keep the pages turning. A little over descriptive at times, but that only adds to her unique writing style. Overall Torin is a wonderful addition to the Dark Sentinel Series. Readers who enjoyed the first one {Sable}, will be blown away by this sequel. Well done, Dariel.--Catrina Barton, Amazon Reivewer

5/5 Stars
 “Loved this book, a lot of my questions were answered in this book. The first book was good but left me frustrated with so many questions. I'm looking forward to the third book in this series. I think this story will only get better with each book!”--AlabamaGirl, Amazon Reviewee

About the Author:
Dariel is a classically trained pianist and vocalist with a degree in piano and vocal performance and a master’s in counseling psychology from The University of Georgia. She also completed studies and passed comprehensives for a Ph.D. (ABD), and tutors algebra and statistics. She loves animals, nature, all things paranormal, and presently lives with 2 large dogs and a passel of black cats. Dariel is currently writing Dark Sentinels Book Three, two Nephilim series: The Alerians – Dark Progeny and Children of Cain, and two short stories: Kaden’s Reprieve andAshanti’s Becoming: A Summer Quickie.

Connect with Dariel Raye


12 July 2013

Cover Reveal!




Deadly Crush (Deadly Trilogy #1)

By Ashley Stoyanoff




Once again author Ashley Stoyanoff surprises us with a wonderful cover for her soon to be released work.
The first instalment in the Deadly Trilogy.



Quick Facts                                        
                                           
Release Date: August 23rd 2013                                 
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance                                                  
Formats: All ebook formats and Paperback.      


And here it is! A wonderful cover!!!



Book Synopsis

Dog Mountain is just like any other small town — peaceful and uneventful.  Well, that is if peaceful means wolves howling all night, and uneventful means it’s overrun by pesky werewolves, then yes, Dog Mountain is just your average small town.Jade Shaw has spent the last two years avoiding the pack.  But when Aidan Collins moves to town, avoiding the dogs doesn’t seem possible.  The pack wants him just as much as she does.Determined to keep him out of the pack’s grasp, Jade does everything she can to gain his attention.  Little does she know, Aidan is in deeper with the pack than she could have imagined, and competing for his attention is a deadly game, one she may not want to win.



                                                          

The Author
 
Ashley Stoyanoff, award winning author of The Soul's Mark: FOUND, lives in Whitby, Ontario


and loves diving into the magical world of creating fiction. When not writing, she can be found reading sappy novels, watching cheesy chick flicks, and buying far too many clothes.





Find more about her at: http://www.ashleystoyanoff.com/




Book Content

It's a YA story so nothing explicit. :)


Excerpt:
Jade was livid when she stormed past me and it was the cutest thing I had ever seen.  It was also the most confusing thing I had ever seen.  She shot me (or maybe — hopefully — it was to Dominic) an ice-cold glare.  It was penetrating, and commanding, and my inner-wolf clawed at my stomach, wanting to run after her and make her happy.

“I know what you’re thinking,” Dominic said.

My blood ran cold.  He couldn’t know that she was making me crazy, none of them could.  If they knew … “What’s that?” I asked, glad that my voice sounded uncaring, and glanced his way.
He laughed.  “That she’s adorable when she’s mad.”

“That she is,” I agreed, watching as Jade disappeared around the corner and Erika scowled after her.  My heart started to beat again, and the knot in my stomach loosened.  He didn’t have a clue.  Who was that girl? The question echoed through my mind again, relentlessly.  I just didn’t get it.  I could take down an alpha, command an entire pack of twenty-nine werewolves to submit and grovel at my feet, but this … this … human girl could make me cringe with just one glance.

Erika turned to us with a big grin on her face and started over.  I snapped my gaze to meet hers and said, “Don’t you have somewhere to be?”  It came out harsher than I had intended, but it worked, and without a word, she backed up a step and then took off down the hall.

“Stay away from her,” Dominic said, casually, as if he was talking about the weather, and not really trying to tell me what to do.  I had heard the line more than I could count in the last forty-eight hours, and each time I heard it, it only made her all the more interesting.

“That’s her call to make, not yours,” I retorted, keeping my tone just as light.  He still refused to enlighten me about his obsession with Jade, and spending the weekend following her around hadn’t helped me figure it out either.  The most I had gotten from that was confirmation that she missed him.

Dominic pushed off from the locker, and stretched his arms lazily over his head.  He smiled a little.  “She wouldn’t even look at you if she knew who you were.” 




Other Books by Ashley Stoyanoff:
Press on the cover or the name to go to Goodreads and read the synopsis:






















Giveaway:

International: 1 winner

Prize: Swag Pack with a Coaster, keychain, and bookmark.




a Rafflecopter giveaway

11 July 2013

Interview: No Gentleman Is He



Happy Thursday! Today's spot is an interview with Carley Bauer and Lynette Willows. Enjoy!

The prizes for this tour are (one) pair of Colonial era earrings, and (one) $100 Amazon gift card, awarded to two randomly drawn commenters. Follow the tour here for more chances!

INTERVIEW

Welcome aboard! Tell us a little about yourself, please.

Carley:  I reside on the eastern seaboard of the U.S. with my husband and our blue eyes feline, Noelle. An empty-nester, my husband and I enjoy weekend travels. I love the quite of the mountains, as well as the noise and commotion of the city. I've recently thrown myself, heart and soul, into diet and a rigorous exercise routine resulting in the loss of nearly 60 lbs (mostly gained during my more sedentary writing career.) I have three grown on-their-own, married children with a passel of beautiful, precocious grandchildren. Greatly enjoy spending time with them, along with numerous cousins I've been reunited with through facebook. Within a couple of hours I can be in the mountains, NYC, Washington DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia and the Atlantic Ocean. I take advantage of my locale and enjoy all of these spots. Obviously reading and writing are also a huge part of my days.

Lynette: I live in rural Alberta, Canada. It has been said I have a very interesting past. Not only was it unusual, but some would even say reckless. I’ve lived on an Indian reserve in a teepee with my young son for three months in the winter, just to see if I could. I’ve chased storms, and worked as a social services aide on one of the most troubled and dangerous reserves in Canada, where I met great friends as well as made a few enemies. I enjoy camping, movies, especially historical bio dramas, strange dogs, stranger cats, exclamation points, coffee mugs with stupid sayings, friends, the crazier the better, family, as long as they are crazier than I am, and I have a huge collection of shiny, outrageous earrings. Yes, I’m a magpie. I also love gardening.

What about your latest release?

Carley: No Gentleman Is He. It was released in March of this year and is the first book in the Sons of Liberty series. We're excited about the possibilities of this series since we've received better than average reviews. It is set in 1775 Virginia with some scenes in Boston.

Ok, let’s get down to the fun stuff. If you were stranded on a lush tropical island, and all of your basic needs were met, what two items would you have with you? What person would be with you? Remember, you’re stuck there for an indefinite period with only each other to occupy the time.

Carley: Basic needs to me would mean electricity, so I am going to assume I have that. Which means item number one would be my laptop. Item number two would be my blow dryer. I mean how can a girl survive without a decent blow-out?

As for what person I would take with me, I know everyone says it, but when it gets down to it, I could not be without my husband and best friend for any length of time. Though, if he had to work or for some reason couldn't be there, I could do nicely with Mark Harmon. Gibbs would probably have far more survival skills than my husband, too!

Lynette: I would need books, a lighter for campfires and cooking, tons of quilts, food and milk (I’m a milk-aholic). Oh, can’t forget the chocolate; absolutely essential to survival, especially to whoever is with me. As for company, my husband. That man can cook up a storm over a campfire and make it taste gourmet. He can also fix anything and find his way around woodworking tools like no one’s business.

If you could play opposite any of your lead characters, which one would it be and why?

Carley: Morgan Freeman. I fell in love with his acting from Lean On Me and have been entranced by him ever since.

Lynette: Colton, of course. I modeled him after a few men I’ve known, so I’d be comfortable with him.

If you could lead any of your secondary characters, which one would it be and why?

Carley: Kirk Courtney. Though I created him, and it may sound odd, I have a terrible crush on the guy! As for why? He has that adventurous, devil-may-care persona that makes a girl crazy.

Lynette: Tom Hardwick, Colton’s lead hand. Despite being illiterate, the man is wise.

You’re locked in a closet with Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell, Kate Beckinsale, three paperclips and a string. How do you get out?

Carley: Kate could figure that out while I kept the men entertained. Maybe Kate could just quietly let herself out.

Lynette: After a heated debate on the intelligent way to handle things, we’d team up and exchange ideas and I’m sure we’d eventually….oh hell, what am I saying? Carley, you’ll have to share, and Kate’s on her own.

Name five things you can do with a pencil.

Carley: Write, erase, poke a hole in the top of the foil under a product lid, make a splint and tuck it in an up-do at a writer's conference.

Lynette: Write, draw house plans (another strange hobby of mine), poke holes in foil packets, make marks on wood before cutting it, and chewing.

Who’s your favorite character from your book(s)? Why? Don’t worry, we won’t tell.

Carley: Jackson Lee. He is the hero in book two, and plays off of Colton in a large part of book two. He's a great deal of fun, love practical jokes and has no desire to be anything but friends after the deed is done. Yet there is a serious side to him. He would give his all to the Sons of Liberty. I admire that.

Lynette: Margaret McLean. She is immoral, independent and rarely feels regret. I envy her.

Where can we find you around the vast interwebs?


What about your books? Where are they being sold at?

Purchase Links:
AllRomanceBooks: http://bit.ly/14nXNji


Thanks for dropping in! Any last words?
We'd love to have your followers read No Gentleman Is He. It's a great read, and we don't believe you'll be sorry!

BLURB:  
Young, adventurous and widowed in a new land, Cassandra Courtney Brooks finds her dream of raising a superior breed of saddle horse slipping away with the death of her husband. Left with four horses, living in a tavern attic, and her scant savings depleting, she resolves to see her vision through to fruition by accepting the scandalous position of steward at Varina Farms.

Born in the image of his native ancestry, Colton Rolfe’s savage blood runs through his veins. Scorned by his father, Colt grew into a man of ill temperament whose only interest is the wild equine beasts on his plantation. His desire to breed his horses with the superior Thoroughbreds of the newly widowed Cassandra Brooks leads him to abandon societal rules. Colt’s growing resentment toward the Crown and his assistance to Sons of Liberty missions is complicated by the discovery that Cassandra’s father is a titled English nobleman.

Cassandra is soon forced to question the wisdom of her decision when she finds herself enamored with her employer. As fiery passion grows between them, Cassandra realizes her own spirit of independence, love of the land, and the savage man who is so much a part of it.
As the threat of war comes ever closer, wills are tested through gunfire, treachery, danger, and kidnapping. Does Colt dare trust Cassandra with Sons of Liberty secrets? More importantly, can he trust her with his heart? And will Colt ever trust Cassandra enough to love her as she longs to be loved?

EXCERPT

Jackson looked around and spotted a length of rope hanging on the wall at the opposite end of the stables. He went over and snatched it up. “Got a rope,” he said, holding it up.

“Good,” Colton murmured as he removed his coat and flung it, and his shirt, over the stall door. He took the rope from Jackson and laid it aside, knelt by the mare’s hindquarters and moved her tail aside.

Jackson followed suit, removing his coat but only loosening his shirt around his neck and rolling up his sleeves. “You will frighten the girl if you stay half naked, Colt.”

“If she is that delicate, she should not have horses. Where is the wench, anyway?”

“She has only been gone two minutes. Give her time.”

Just then, Cassandra rushed in, a bucket of water in one hand, its contents sloshing down her skirts, soaking them. She clutched a pail of grease in the other. “I could not find a rope,” she huffed, out of breath.

“We found one,” Jackson assured her.

Cassandra looked in the stall as the men worked. To Colton’s amusement, the woman suddenly flushed when she noticed the state of his undress. Apparently disturbed by her own reaction, she busied herself getting the soap from her apron pocket, almost dropping it from her noticeably shaking hand.


AUTHOR INFORMATION:

Lynette Willows
I’m Lynette Willows. I live in rural Alberta, Canada. My debut novel, “No Gentleman Is He”, the first in the Sons of Liberty series, is co-written along with my partner in romance, Carley Bauer. 
Some have mentioned I have a very interesting past. Not only was it unusual, but some would even say reckless. I’ve lived on an Indian reserve in a teepee with my young son for three months in the winter, I’ve chased storms, and worked as a social services aide on one of the most troubled and dangerous reserves in Canada, where I met great friends as well as made a few enemies.
I enjoy camping, movies, especially historical bio dramas, strange dogs, stranger cats, exclamation points, coffee mugs with stupid sayings, friends, the crazier the better, family, as long as they are crazier than I am, and I have a huge collection of shiny, outrageous earrings. Yes, I’m a magpie. I’ll only play chess with my husband because he’ll let me win.
If you’re curious about my favorite reading material, it’s very eclectic and varied. I’m extremely picky about what I read, so check out my “to read” list on Goodreads. You can also follow me and Carley, my talented, patient, and illustrious co-author at our fan page on Facebook at “Lynette Willows & Carley Bauer”. I’m also on Twitter under @LynetteWillows, as well as Pinterest, though I’m still figuring that out. You are welcome to also visit me and chat at “Lynette Willows, Author” at http://lynettewillows.blogspot.ca/.

“I have enormous respect for the reader. They are able to take symbols from a page that an author has invented, and turn them into images in their minds that create an enduring story. If that’s not artistry, I don’t know what is.”-Lynette Willows

Carley Bauer

Carley Bauer enjoys life on the eastern seaboard of the U.S. with her husband and their blue eyed feline, Noelle. After 30 years as a state contractor in a self employed capacity, she decided to try her hand at her first love, writing.
She loves being an empty nester, free to travel with her husband. Still involved with her children and grandchildren, Carley loves big family events. Some of her other hobbies are home decor, fashion, graphic arts, and the occasional bite of the Big Apple where the excitement feeds her natural love of city life.


LINKS:

Email: carleybauer210@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carley.bauer.3
Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lynette-Willows-Carley-Bauer/278323855613717?ref=hl
Blog: http://fromcarleyslaptop.blogspot.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CarleyBauer210
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/cscrawley/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6981224.Carley_Bauer
Tirgearr Publishing: http://tirgearrpublishing.com/authors/Bauer_Carley/index.htm
No Gentleman Is He available for purchase at:
Tirgearr to Author Carley Bauer
www.tirpub.com/cbauer
Tirgearr Publishing:
http://www.tirpub.com/NGIH



10 July 2013

Review: Rys Rising



Happy Wednesday! This is a review post for Rys Rising. The author is offering a prize, too! A $25 gift card to a randomly drawn commenter, so follow the tour here and comment away!

BLURB:

Onja can control what others see.

The day will come when everyone sees things her way.

Enjoy this unique epic of complex heroes and villains that engulfs readers from many angles. Packed with primitive energy, the intertwining stories and rising stakes of this fantasy world will indulge your cravings for intrigue, bravery, desire, and freedom.

EXCERPT

Dacian and Onja talk in prison

“What do you hope to accomplish with your defiance? The tabre will not learn to respect rys if we act below the standards of society,” he said.

His challenging question appeared to sadden her, and she took a moment before answering that she had not really thought about accomplishing anything. She had only wanted the dignity of her freedom.

Dacian contemplated her answer. He had never really considered that the rys were not free. Their second class status had always been such a blaring difficulty that he had not noticed the essential truth of rys life. Keeping to their places also meant that rys were not supposed to go anywhere.

But I was changing that. I was going to go to Kwellstan. Become a part of the hierarchy. Break the trail for others. What have I done? he lamented. After defending Onja how could he possibly be accepted by the Nebakarz?

Onja read his thoughts. He had such lofty goals. Awkwardly she tried to console him. “Maybe this will not be so bad for you.”

He was startled by her comment because he realized that he had left his mind open to her. The intimacy felt strange. It provided an unfamiliar freedom. Dacian did not have to focus on dogma and strive for the correct answers with her.

Dacian moaned. He had not imagined that such a day as this would come. His confinement confused him, but he resolved to be patient and keep his mind away from the door and its sealing spell. Breaking free would only make things worse for him.

To Onja, he admitted, “I don’t know what my life will be like now.”

“Then you have never had so many choices,” she said.

REVIEW

Rys Rising is a fantasy novel about magical beings and sorcerers, with a little human war thrown in.

I enjoyed this book. Honestly, I'm having trouble writing this review because there is so much going on in the story. We follow several different storylines, and it's difficult to summarize one without bringing in the other, and by the time I do that I've told you the story. The story flows, and as we move through, we can see where the tales come together. The author did a good job with this one, and I recommend it.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:
 
I was born in Michigan in 1972 and grew up in Mount Pleasant. It's called the "Mountain Town" but there is no mountain and it's debatable about whether it's pleasant. They say it's a party town and based on extensive research as a young adult I can concur.

Because I always had the childhood fantasy of running away and joining the circus, I moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1995 and lived there until 1997. Those who only stay a week are wimps, but I will say that it's the second year in Vegas that wears you down. Then I realized the pioneers were trying to get to California, and Nevada was not the goal. So I moved to Chico, in Northern California and lived there until 2009. I miss Chico dearly and value greatly the experience of living in that enlightened realm (local government excluded). My wandering has circled back and I'm currently residing in Battle Creek, Michigan. I think I adore the place, but that doesn't make sense. I'm still California dreamin' and fantasize about my return to the Golden State, but for now my existence within the post-apocalyptic Rust Belt is suitably fascinating.

In 2000, I earned a journalism degree from California State University, Chico with the conscious ambition of becoming a fiction writer. With the rapid demise of the newspaper industry and journalism in general, novelist is not such a daft pursuit after all. It's not like I'm actually going to get a job that values my education. Luckily I'm cursed with the impulse to write in a popular yet competitive genre.

Links

Rys Rising: Book I is available worldwide at these retailers:

Brave Luck Books http://www.falbepublishing.com/braveluck/index.html

Amazon Kindle http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005FYSSSC

Amazon Paperback http://www.amazon.com/Rys-Rising-Volume-Tracy-Falbe/dp/0976223570/

iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/rys-rising-book-i/id458569652?mt=11

Barnes & Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rys-rising-tracy-falbe/1104808237

Kobo http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Rys-Rising-Book-I/book-Wvq-CXnSbESRpk1lFAy6zQ/page1.html

Sony https://ebookstore.sony.com/ebook/tracy-falbe/rys-rising/_/R-400000000000000473918

Smashwords http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/79722

Blog - Her Ladyship’s Quest http://www.herladyshipsquest.com

Twitter - https://twitter.com/tracyfalbe

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Brave-Luck-Books/41583881478