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Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Lethal Obsession by Shandra Miller


Blurb-
Angela Martin is like everyone else. She wants acceptance. Love. Passion.

For five years she’s lived with the pain of knowing her husband cheats on her. She’s dealt with the heart-rending rejection by rebuilding her life around her work, becoming the first woman detective in the history of the Moose Creek, N.C., police department.


Then she stumbles upon him. A man who reawakens desire, who makes her feel more alive than she believed possible by pulling her into a world of bondage and dominance, devotion and trust taken to a new level, fear mingling with desire, a craving stronger than any drug.


Soon women start turning up dead in Moose Creek, bound and tortured, tied in ways that Angela finds startling familiar. Angela’s heart tells her that her newfound love cannot be the killer, her detective instincts tell her otherwise, and her obsession with this new lifestyle draws her back to him, even at the risk of her life.


LETHAL OBSESSION is a tale of sex and bondage, love and fear, desire and suspicion, with an ending that will leave you breathless, craving more.



Purchase Links:   Kindle  Barnes & Noble Nook   On Goodreads

Excerpt-
It was late Friday afternoon when Angela walked into the chief’s office. Two days had passed since the second victim was found, since Angela had blacked out and fallen onto the body. For those two days Angela had been off the case, on mandatory sick leave until Chief Suggs was satisfied she was fit for duty. He had arranged for a full physical the day after her blackout, and called her in this afternoon to discuss the findings.
Or so she thought.
“Chief,” she said as she stepped through the open doorway.
“Close the door Angela.”
Fear welled in the pit of her stomach. This can’t be good. She did as he asked, then took a seat when he motioned towards the chair. The chief leaned over his desk, pulled a paper from a file folder and looked at it. From the back Angela could tell it was a picture of some sort. .
“Buddy of mine at the state lab called me a little while ago,” he said.
“He find something important?” Angela fought to keep her voice steady.
“You tell me.” He put the photograph on the desktop and pushed it toward Angela. She didn’t pick it up – even viewing the photograph upside down, she knew at first glance - a still shot taken from a surveillance camera. A picture of Angela, slipping from a hotel room, the time stamp showing she exited the second-floor room on the back side of Moose Creek Motor Inn at the same time her colleagues were surveying the latest murder scene - on the first floor of at at the same time her colleagues were surveying the latest murder scene – on the first floor of the front side of the same hotel. Angela's body turned cold, her skin clammy. Her mind was blank.
“Can you explain this?”
Angela opened her mouth. Nothing came out. Her heart hammered inside her chest, and she focused on that, on slowing her pulse. Her mind refused to address the photo. They sat in silence for several minutes.
“Detective, I’m going to need an explanation.”
Angela slumped in her chair. “I…I don’t know what to say.”
“Start with telling me why you were caught on this footage, what you were doing there when that woman was killed, and most importantly why didn't I learn about this from you?"
“Chief, I…” Her mind went blank .... Angela stood and paced the office. “Chief, I screwed up. I didn’t compromise the case. What I did there …” her voice faltered.  She knew what happened to her very well could relate to the investigation. “…had nothing to do with the case.”
“Everyone in that hotel has to be questioned, checked, and double-checked. Angela's, I don't want to pry, but we need to interview the guy you were with."
Angela’s stomach tightened. She felt as if she would throw up.
“He’s not a suspect,” she said, voice little more than a whisper.
“Everyone is.”
“He was with me when the call came, you don’t need to talk with him.”
“Coroner puts the time of death between ten that morning and noon. The call came in at twelve-eighteen; the first officers were on the scene at twelve twenty-four. I know you were here until eleven forty-five. That leaves a couple of hours where your…friend…is unaccounted for.”
I was with a killer.
The thought rammed through Angela so hard she almost gasped. She felt dizzy.
“Angela?”
She shook her head.
“Detective, that’s not a request. I am ordering you to divulge his identity.”
“I…don’t know.”
Angela bowed her head, gaze on the floor. The room was beginning to spin, and Angela thought for a moment that was appropriate, given that her life was about to spin out of control.
“Detective, I don’t really want to get into any details here, nothing more than the case requires. And I’ll keep as much out of the public arena as possible, but you have to explain what’s going on. You didn’t know the guy?”
She closed her eyes, leaned back until her head rested on the wall behind the chair. “She opened her eyes, stared directly at the chief. “I met him online."
“I need to know who this guy is.”
“I don’t know.”
“Describe him for me. We’ll use that to find him.”
Angela leaned over, propped her elbows on her thighs and buried her face in her hands.“I don’t know what he looks like.”
She heard a heavy sigh.
“Chief, I…we…I had an itch to experiment…I was blindfolded the whole time.”
“Jesus Christ,” the chief said, his voice cracking as he did. “Next thing you’re going to tell me is he had you trussed up like a damn turkey.”
Angela looked up from her hands.
“God damn,” the chief whispered

Meet Shandra Miller

Shandra is a mid-western gal who left home at 16 and never looked back. Eventually she made her way to Florida, worked for three years as a carnie and another three with a circus--yes, a real, live, honest-to god-circus. Traveled all through the south and the Mid-Atlantic, town to town, on the road eight months at a time.

Now she's a small-town office girl, filling papers, making coffee, and dreaming of being free. She doesn't own a cell phone or a TV, she takes long walks at night, lies in the grass in the day time and watches the clouds go by, and she writes erotica and mystery. dripping with lust,sex and suspense.

LETHAL OBSESSION is her debut novel. Her short stories PRIVATE DINNING and ROOM SERVICE, both part of the TIDES INN EROTIC TALES series; and JENNIFER LOST and JENNIFER BOUND (part of the Ville D'Esclavage TALES) are all available on Amazon.com.

Follow Shandra: Blog  Facebook  Twitter  Amazon  Goodreads  

Just One Cup by Cassandra Giovanni

Title- Just One Cup
By-Cassandra Giovanni
Genre-New Adult
Publication Date-June 20, 2013

Blurb-
Emma Walker was a writer who'd lost herself to someone else's anger--who had given up on ever feeling
like herself again.
Evan Levesque was a rock-god--the one all the woman wanted, but he'd never gotten used to the loneliness
between the stage and real life.
With just one cup of coffee they'll begin a journey of self-discovery at each others sides, but can Emma handle Evan's fame while dealing with her own demons? Emma's checkered personal past, a bad relationship that haunts the edges of her memories, threatens to make everything implode on them when Evan takes matters into his own hands.
Sticks and stones may break my bones, but your words...they'll destroy my soul--Can Emma handle being put back together and facing who she's become because of it? 

 Book Link:   Goodreads  


Meet The Author

Cassandra doesn't remember a time when she wasn't writing. In fact, the first time she was published was when she was seven years old and won a contest to be published in an American Girl Doll novel. Since than Cassandra has written more novels than she can count and put just as many in the circular bin. Her personal goal with her writing is to show the reader the character's stories through their dialogue and actions instead of just telling the reader what is happening. In 2012 she became a published Young Adult author, releasing In Between Seasons (The Fall, #1) and Walking in the Shadows. In 2013 she branched out by using her artistic illustrating talents to publish her first Children's novel, The Adventures of Skippy Von Flippy: Tales of Friendship (Skippy Tales, #1). Cassandra will also release her first New Adult novel, Just One Cup, in the Spring of 2013.

Cassandra is a freelance professional photographer known for her automotive, nature and architectural shots. She is the owner of Gio Design Studios, a photography and publication marketing company that designs covers and marketing materials for authors utilizing the company's photography. She is currently studying to receive her associates degree in Marketing. Cassandra is happily married to the man of her dreams and they live in the rolling hills of New England with the other loves of her life their dogs, Bubski and Kanga.


Follow Links:  Goodreads  Website  Blog



Monday, April 29, 2013

Mohawk Moon


Title: Mohawk Moon
Author: N. Kuhn
Genre: Romantic Suspense 
Blitz Host: Lady Amber's Tours

Synopsis:
Janelle hasn't been home in ten years. All of a sudden, she has to deal with her mothers death, her broken relationship with her sister, and some sexy stranger following her. She doesn't know whether to be scared, or excited.

Damien needs to restore his families honor. He needs to use Janelle to do it, there's one problem. There's someone standing in the way. He's vowed that no one will stand in the way or getting what's his. 

Together they must save what's left of both their families, and along the way, deal with what's going on between them. Join them on the beginning of their journey, under the Mohawk Moon.


Excerpt: 
“Come in,” I say. Sammy opens the door and enters. “The funeral is in forty minutes, get ready.” She turns and leaves, not even waiting for me to answer, slamming my door behind her. I’m left alone again. I sigh and get up. So much for the loving family reunion.

I pull the only dress I own out of my suitcase. I had gotten this little black dress when I thought I would try to date seriously. It was a soft satiny material, hung off the shoulder, and accentuated my curves in all the right places. Not very appropriate for a funeral, but it’s all I had. I slip into it, not bothering to do much with my hair. It’s always been long, thick and straight as a stick. I slide on my black stilettos and stand at my window. I don’t know what possessed me to buy these items. They are so unlike me. I prefer jeans and t-shirts, sneakers, boots, casual clothing. I hated shopping. Seemed a waste when I didn’t need anything.

Not like I ever met any guys worth dating. Most men I met were losers. Criminals, married men looking to cheat, or violent. I wonder which category that man from the station fits into. Why can’t I get him out of my head? What was it about him that worries me? Besides the fact that I believe it was him following us last night. It’s not like I can’t handle dangerous men. Between work and my personal life, I’ve seen it all. I always pick the worst ones to date. I was raised seeing a man treat women like garbage. I know it’s wrong, but I guess I craved the confrontations. I wanted to prove to myself I was stronger than Ahi. Unlike her, I fought back. I slip my .22 short into the small leg holster. I gaze at myself in the mirror. Old habits die hard I suppose. Back in Chicago I won’t go anywhere unarmed. I smooth down the sides of my dress, unnoticeable. Good. I pick up my large black Coach purse, one of the few indulgences I allowed myself, sling it over my shoulder, and I’m ready to go.

Meet the Author

The N in N. Kuhn is actually Nicole. She was born and raised in western New York. She grew up with a love of books, and a passion for writing. She was always found with her nose in a book. She finally decided to take the steps to embark into self publishing at the urging of her Grandmother. Mrs. Kuhn has dedicated her second book to Janet Starr, as she passed just days after being published. 

Nicole survives on coffee alone. Mostly Tim Hortons. (It’s a NY thing.) A fan of drinking it from the time she gets up, until she finally rests. When not writing, she crochets and spends time with her beautiful daughter and her husband. Her friends call her Octo-Mom because she multi-tasks so well. Between her full time job, family, crochet and writing, it’s a wonder she ever sleeps. 

Mrs. Kuhn feels that reading in our youth is a very important trait to instill. She reads with her young daughter as much as she can. “It’s the most important thing a parent can ever do with a child. Read, teach them to read. Don’t buy them toys, buy them books,” She says. 

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Paint Me Beautiful Blog Tour

Title: Paint Me Beautiful
Author: CM Stunich
Genre: Adult Contemporary
Tour Organizer: B3 Tours
























Synopsis:
“I'm dying to be beautiful.”
My story isn't unique. You've heard it before. I'm just a girl who doesn't eat as much as she should. See, I have goals, big ones, and nobody is going to stop me, not even a boy named Emmett. He has good intentions and he's hot as hell, but he doesn't understand what it's like to want something so bad that you'll do anything for it. I'm going to become a model, even if it kills me. Dream big or go home, that's what they always say, right?

Book Link:  Goodreads      
 Purchase Links:  Amazon Kindle  Amazon Paperback

Excerpt:
I set my phone down and get dressed in yet another set of workout clothes. It's surprising how
many sets I have, most of them brand new since I've never really been much of a fitness guru. I
imagine that my lack of exercise is part of the equation that ended up leaving me a fat mess, but I try to
think past that, try to make up for it by killing myself with a new workout routine. I only make it ten
minutes before I have to stop and take a break. In my mind, I have to take a break because I'm
overweight, too heavy to force myself through it. In reality, I'm starving to death. Literally. I'm dying
to be beautiful, and I don't even know it. Emmett does though. He does, and he wants to help me, but
even he doesn't quite realize that the only way he can help me is if I want to help myself first.
I start up the routine again and can only make it through a single set of crunches before I'm
rolling onto my side, wheezing and clutching my aching tummy. It causes me to double over and curl
into a fetal position, but only because my muscles are sore and not because of food. I'm not hungry, not
anymore. It's sort of amazing that I've broken my body's bad habit in just a few days. I tell it when I
eat and not the other way around. I like that.
Ten minutes and a whole water bottle later, I get up and try again. This time, I manage to make
it to the end of the video and feel so damn proud that I reward myself by lying down on my bed to rest
my eyes. When I open them, the sky is dark again and I'm shivering with cold.

Kj's Review
 Everyone reads about so and so having an eating disorder, that we all know, that she’s way too skinny. But, I have never had as much of an insight into anorexia as I got while reading this book. Written in Claire’s point of view, we get to see and feel a lot of the emotions, the thought process, and the hopelessness of her issue.
  Claire was going to be a model, come what may, she was determined to make it. She had the right clothes, worked the right angles, but didn’t see that she was thin enough already. She thought her size 10 sister was fat, her body disgusting, and she wasn’t going to be that way. She slowly stops eating altogether, fasting and wasting away. The only person that can actually get through to her was Emmett, who sees her just exactly how she is and she feels truly understands her. No one seems to know exactly what to do to help other than Emmett who makes her feel warm and loved.
  This is not a book you can feel comfortable about no matter what size you are. This story is poignant and heart wrenching and you are constantly rooting for Claire. I give this book five stars, it is truly beautifully written, and shows you a side of life that is truly not understood. I think CM Stunich has taken a step in helping us understand a little bit more about what an eating disorder truly can be. Kudos Ms. Stunich you have hit a home run with this book, I can’t wait to see what the next book brings. Thanks for giving me this book to read and review, it has been an eye opener!

Meet C.M. Stunich


C.M. Stunich was raised under a cover of fog in the area known simply as Eureka, CA. A mysterious place, this strange, arboreal land nursed Caitlin's (yes, that's her name!) desire to write strange fiction novels about wicked monsters, magical trains, and Nemean Lions (Google it!). She currently enjoys drag queens, having too many cats, and tribal bellydance.
Always a fan of the indie scene and 'sticking it to the man,' Ms. Stunich decided to take the road less traveled and forgo the traditional publishing route. You can be assured though that she received several rejections as to ensure her proper place in the world of writers before taking up a friend's offer to start a publishing company. Sarian Royal was born, and Ms. Stunich's books slowly transformed from mere baking chocolate to full blown tortes with hand sculpted fondant flowers.
C.M. is a writer obsessed with delivering the very best and scours her mind on a regular basis to select the most unusual stories for the outside world.

Follow Links:  Official Website  Amazon  Goodreads






When Silver Moons Rise Paperback Release Blitz


Title: When Silver Moons Rise (The Lost Immortals 2)
Author: KaSonndra Leigh
ebook release: January 20, 2013
Paperback Release: April 21, 2013
Genre: Young Adult
Blitz Host: Lady Amber's Tours


Book Description:
Facing an unstable future, Chela Prizeon leaves Castle Hayne and crosses over to enemy territory in pursuit of Faris--the boy of royal blood who is cursed by a bitter rival. But soon Chela learns that he has been taken deep into the treacherous frozen prisons--a majestic, but deadly place where people enter and are never seen again. To find the boy she loves, Chela must join forces with one of her greatest enemies. And even though she pulls strength from the good in her powers, she finds herself drawn to the dark side's temptation as well.

Narrated from both Chela's and Faris's point of view, this enchanting sequel to When Copper Suns Fall will take them on a voyage into unknown lands, where the dark, twisted, and revengeful wait to make this their most dangerous journey ever.

Please Note: This book contains mature content including profanity, drug/alcohol use, and sexual situations/language.

Purchase Links for When Silver Moons Rise (The Lost Immortals 2): 

Purchase Links for The Lost Immortals When Copper Suns Fall: 

Meet KaSonndra Leigh

I live in the City of Alchemy and Medicine, North Carolina. I write about people doing fantastical things in magical worlds. Sometimes they fall for each other and make sacrifices for their friends. Oh, and sometimes they love music and nature too. I live with my two sons,a guinea pig, a cat, and two dogs. Now that I have completed my MFA in creative writing, I find that I have a little extra time to play CLUE more often. I live in an L-shaped house dedicated to my grandmother. It has a secret library complete with fairies, venetian plastered walls, and a desk made out of clear blue glass. 

The Lost Immortals: When Copper Suns Fall is my debut novel.

Follow Links:

I can see I really need to add KaSonndra's books to my reading list, they look awesome!!
~~Kj's Little Opinion~~

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Gemini Of Emreiana




Gemini of Emreiana 
Gemini Series Book #1 
By Kristen DaRay 
Genre: YA Sci-Fi/Fantasy






Blurb-
My entire life has been a lie: My parents didn't die in a car accident. They're not even dead. I'm not American. I'm not even human. I have strange powers, and I'm the heir to the throne of the planet Emreiana. 

If I take the crown, I have to leave behind everything I have known here on Earth. I would have to say goodbye to my friends and leave behind Kyle, the boy I've loved since I was five. If I don't, then I risk the Bremoir finding me here on Earth and destroying everything I love.



Find the Book at:

Excerpt:
"Look, this isn't very funny if you think it is a joke." I turned around to leave. I wanted to believe that my aunt had cracked and this guy was just insane, but the fact that he was in my dream confused and frightened me. Everything they were telling me could not be true. That would just be crazy.
I had not even made it out of the kitchen when something itchy grabbed my wrist. I looked down to find what looked like a vine. Then I followed the rest of it to find that it actually was a vine! The vine had come through the window above the sink and somehow grabbed my arm!
"Please dear, let me explain." Aunt Trish pleaded with me. Her arms were reached out and swaying to the rhythm of the attacking vines. That was when I realized she was controlling the vine.

Kj's Review

  Carson had been sent to earth when she was just a baby to be raised by her aunt, to escape the war. Her aunt told her that her parents had died in a car accident and she never expected to be anything but human. When she dreams of Aaronmon she thinks that it is all imaginary, she’s in love with Kyle, and she’s the valedictorian of her class in Alice. Imagine her surprise when Aaronmon shows up in her home, and she learns her entire life has been built on lies. Even better she’s a princess and has powers.
  I liked this story, it was well written and the detail to it utterly superb. I found myself getting caught up in Carson’s world as she’s trying to reconcile everything and put a good face on it. I would recommend this book to anyone. I find myself eager for the second book and discover what’s going to happen next. I would like to thank Kristen DaRay for giving me her book to read and review.

Meet the Author



Kristen was born in Alabama in 1991 and still resides there today. She has been writing since the 6th grade. However, she did not begin to write fiction until she was 15. In 2009, Kristen had an idea that would spark the concept for Gemini of Emréiana that she would later write in 2011. During that time, she met her husband. They married in August of 2012. When Kristen is not writing, she spends time watching Korean Drama's or creating SIM's 3 stories. Kristen continues to write the next novels to the Gemini Trilogy. She also plans to release a new series later on in the year.



Follow Kristen at: Facebook|Blog|Goodreads|Twitter


Cover Reveal: Today Only by D. Love


Title: Today Only 
Author: D. Love
Genre: NA Contemporary
Expected Release: Some time in May 2013




























In life, there are times you are granted a miracle. It may not be the one you wanted exactly, but it will be the one you need. It will prepare you for the next step in your journey and help you learn to accept the life you are given, even if that life can be heartbreaking.

Add it to your To-Be-Read list on Goodreads

Derinda lives in Maine. Her biggest passion is for her family and friends. She adores loving others as if it is the biggest gift life can offer. She is a read-a-holic, loves chocolate, cowboys and everyone on her Young Adult & Teen Readers Facebook page. Her dream is to travel to Australia one day.

Her debut novel ‘Today’ Only will be released some time in May.


Follow Links:  Blog  Twitter  Goodreads


Make sure and keep your eyes peeled for this book, we just know it's going to be awesomeness!!
~~Kj's Little Opinion~~

Friday, April 26, 2013

Softly Say Goodbye



About the Book:
Erin Sellers, an eighteen-year-old high school senior, hates teen drinking. She and her three friends – Bill, her guy, Shari and Jake - decide to use Twitter to stop a group, the Kewl Krew, from using their high school as the local bar. But the members of this group are just as determined to stop anyone from messing up their fun. Despite veiled threats to her safety, Erin continues her crusade.
To make matters worse for her, the stress of school and extra curricular work mounts and suddenly, shockingly, booze-fuelled tragedy strikes. Erin is now under greater pressure as she spends all hours to produce a mural and other work to commemorate the death of a teen friend. Bill, Jake and Shari support her in all this...
But more tragedy lurks nearby… until it’s time to softly say goodbye.

Buy Links:

Kj's Review
  My opinion of this book is that it’s a great story, I wish that teens all over would sit down and read it. Honestly I do not think enough kids stand up and say no drinking, or bust those that do in any way for fear of revenge. In today’s world drug use and alcohol use are high, anything to forget whatever pain they are going through. 
  Erin and her friends hate the Kewl Krew’s drinking, and the fact that a couple of their good friends have fallen in with them. They start using Twitter to anonymously report the drinking episodes in an effort to clean up the drinking in the high school. The Kewl Krew tells Erin if they find out she’s behind the whole thing she will pay, scary threat but the group ignores the threats and keeps reporting them. Unfortunately there is a tragedy, it’s bad enough, but the final tragedy rips hearts out and changes everything.
  I wish we could make this required reading for high school students, I all too well remember the pressures that are there. I recommend this to anyone who is a parent of a teen, teachers that work with our children and ANYONE who wants to read an excellent book. Thank you KC for writing this wonderful story and for giving me your book to read and review!!

Excerpt:
“This is my EOC, Erin.” Mr. Janks shakes his head. “You saw the syllabus when you started the class last fall.” He stares at each student, all twenty of us, for a heartbeat. “All of you signed the syllabus, and so did your parents. No excuses. Now—”
“But we have to do all our other studying,” Tiana cries, interrupting him. “When will we have time for your project?”
Slender, sweet, and conflicted, Tiana's cap of brandy brown hair frames her porcelain complexion. Oh, so jealous here. She never has to worry about her hair bushing up on a humid day or the sun giving her freckles like I do with my shoulder-length red hair and uber-pale complexion. Even her eyes drive me nuts. Instead of green like mine, which everyone says look like the local pond's algae, Tiana's are gray. She has more than high school to worry about. Her mom won a court decision only a week ago, forcing Tiana to visit her in prison. The timing can't be worse. The first visit is the same day as the Valentine's Day Dance. Poor Tiana not only has to miss the most romantic dance of the year, she has to listen to her mom grouch about how a judge forced her into a plea deal that keeps her in prison for ten years. The dummy never should have driven when she was drunk. The family she hit is still recovering from their injuries.
“You also have a long term art project,” Mr. Janks says with what sounds like very little patience for our issues. “Now, I have a few things to say about the project since it sounds like most of you can't remember what you signed last August. It will be a major part of your final grade. Just like all your other EOCs.”

About KC Sprayberry


I am happily married to a man I met while in the Air Force. We recently celebrated our 18 years of marriage. Our teen, the youngest of 8, keeps us on our toes with his band activities. Writing is something I've done since I was very young. At first, it was in a diary and then I poured all my energies into English compositions, earning praise from my Advanced Composition teacher in high school for an extremely visual project. While in the Air Force, I placed second in the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge's annual contest and from then on, was hooked. However, the reality of a military career and raising children forced me to put off attempting publication until my husband and I moved to Georgia. It was after the birth of our now teen that I began taking courses through The Institute of Children's Literature, Long Ridge Writer's Group, and Writers Digest in an effort to make my life's dream come true.
We live in Northwest Georgia, in a small town, where I write Romance, Westerns, Young Adult, and Middle Grade stories, both short and book length. More than a dozen of my short stories have appeared in magazines such as Listen Magazine, Brio, and The Pink Chameleon website. I also have short stories in anthologies, Passionate Hearts Anthology, Mystery Times Ten, The Best of Frontier Tales, Vol. I, and Mystery Times Nine. My western stories have garnered interest by avid readers and appear on The Western Online and Frontier Tales.
My work appears under the pen names of KC Sprayberry and Kathi Sprayberry. Softly Say Goodbye, a young adult novel, was my NaNoWriMo winning project for 2010. This story was inspired by a quote from a song and hearing of an auto wreck involving teens and drinking.

Follow Links:  Facebook    Twitter    Blog    Website

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Unsinkable Blog Tour


 Unsinkable by Nicole Bradshaw
Publisher: S &S Strebor Books  
Paperback: 320 pages   
Release Date: May 21, 2013 
Blurb: 
Fifteen-year-old Corinne LaRoche’s life changes one evening when she returns home and witnesses her father being harassed by racist French policemen. That’s it! Her frustrated father decides the family is leaving France and moving back to Canada.  
After boarding the beautiful Titanic, Corinne meets Christopher, the Captain’s nephew. Coming from a wealthy British family, Christopher is privileged in every way. He matches perfectly with Sophia, the daughter of a dear family friend he plans to wed.   
Unsinkable is the tale of how two teens from seemingly different worlds come together amidst a tragedy that changed thousands of lives forever. They could have never imagined their impending fate as well as the family secrets revealed four days before the sinking. This novel gives a day-by-day account of the doomed voyage as told from a minority perspective. 

Excerpt:
He reached into his trouser pocket
and pulled out a tiny leaf. He pinched the stem and held it up to my
face, only inches from my nose. “This is for you, ma belle femme.”
“What is it?” I gently took it from his hand.
“It’s a leaf from the tree we sat under,” he said. “Remember?
The first time we met?”
My heart sank. He actually remembered. I reached for the precious
memento and held it close to my heart. It was so beautiful,
not so much the crumpled-up dried leaf, but rather the symbol
of our togetherness. I looked up to thank him, but he was already
headed toward the barnyard doors.
“Where are you going?” I asked, pulling away loose strands of
hay from my hair. “Please don’t leave.”
There was a very quick but uneasy hesitation before he responded,
“I have to go to the market for ma mère before it gets too dark.
I’ll see you at the schoolhouse tomorrow, yes?”
“But—” Before I could protest, he passed through the barn
doors and headed down the dirt drive.
I looked down at the leaf in my hand. I pulled myself up from
the haystack and followed. I peeked out of the double wooden
barnyard doors and when he was far enough down the road, I
followed, making certain to remain at least ten paces behind as
he strolled along the dusty path and toward the market. The
strong winds carried his soft whistle and his strides picked up
pace. Dark clouds partially concealed the half moon as thunder
roared off in the distance.

 Facts About Nicole Bradshaw

•Born and raised in Malvern, PA but has lived in Silver Springs, MD and currently resides in the Bahamas. 
•First taste of writing began when she and her older sister used to create plays from Archie comics. 
•Wrote a parenting column for The Bahama Buy and Sell, a local newspaper. 
•Penname Nicole Bradshaw is her middle name and her mother’s maiden name. 
•Chose a penname to differentiate her adult novels from her children’s novels. 
•Currently writes children’s stories for an ipad app. 
•Unsinkable came about one day when she was watching the popular movie, Titanic. 
 •She wondered if there were any minorities on the ship. After the movie, she googled it and found out about the LaRoche family. From there, she created Unsinkable.

Prequel e-novella to Unsinkable

Publisher: Strebor Books  
Sold by: Amazon Digital Svcs  
ASIN: B00APJ7K68  
Release Date: April 16, 2013 
Blurb:
Corinne’s big sister, Astrid, has always looked out for her, even if Astrid believes Corinne has favor with their parents. But Astrid has a secret. She confides to her younger sister her plans to leave the tiny town of Cherbourg, France to become the first colored fashion designer in New York City. She’ll finally be on her own and rid of the family’s strict rules. 
When their father loses his job, Astrid is commanded to leave school in order to assist the family financially. Trying to help, Corinne reveals Astrid’s secret but only makes the situation worse. Astrid feels betrayed by her younger sister and promises revenge. She seizes the perfect 
opportunity with Corinne’s blossoming friendship with a boy from class. 
The sisters become mortal enemies and vow to hate one another until the day they die. That day may come sooner than they think.  On April 10th, 1912, the family boards the beautiful Titanic on a voyage that will change their lives forever.   
A Bond Broken is the prequel novella to the novel Unsinkable, which tells the fictitious story of the only black family on the doomed ship, the Titanic. 

Purchase Links:  Amazon Kindle  Barnes & Noble Nook 

Meet the Author:


Fifteen years ago, Laurel Handfield was a single woman living in a tiny one bedroom in the suburbs of Philadelphia. She worked a monotonous nine-to-five handling copy equipment leases. 
One day she decided to get back to what she loved most—writing. She decided to write a novel. But what would it be about?  
A month later, she went on vacation to the Bahamas. In true Stella fashion (See Terry McMillian-How Stella Got Her Groove Back) she met a Bahamian. The rest is history, as they say. She came back from vacation, quit her job several months later and moved to Maryland to live with her sister while she wrote her first novel based loosely on how she and her husband first met. She has since moved to the Bahamas where she has lived for thirteen years with her husband, three children and Abigail, the family hamster. She writes full-time. 
Her first upper middle grade novel, Unsinkable, will be released May 21, 2013 by Simon & Schuster/Strebor Books. Unsinkable gives the day-by-day account of the only black family aboard the doomed Titanic. The prequel novella, A Bond Broken, is an ebook that will be released April 16th for the anniversary of the sinking. Both novels were written in her penname, Nicole Bradshaw. Her first picture book, Cassi da Conch, will be released by Xist Publishing in 2014. 
When she’s not writing, she’s sipping piña coladas on the beach. (seriously) 
Author Links:   Website   Facebook







Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Born in Flames Blog Tour


Blurb:
Red mirrored scales race up my arms as the haze of pain blurs my vision. My bones crack, breaking to realign. I scream. It is then that the realization of my unavoidable fate sinks in; I am of a dying race. I am dragon.
Aurora Megalos, orphaned and teetering on the edge of adulthood, thought finding her past would curb the sting of being an outcast. Having no memories of the time before she awoke on her foster mother’s doorstep, she yearns for the emptiness inside her to be filled. With her fellow orphaned best friend, Fenn, by her side, she has nothing to lose and everything to gain. But something powerful stirred within her that she couldn’t explain. Something wanted out.
In the dark of night, a crazed Seer, dubbed Mr.Creepy, erases everything she’s ever known with an impending prophecy. She now faces two paths. Return to her true home to protect a dying race against a growing evil, or stay hidden in the safety of our realm with a shot at a true love. With a vengeful Arch Enemy stopping at nothing to see her dead, she’s running out of time; a decision must be made. What would you choose?


Purchase Links:  Amazon Kindle  Barnes & Noble Nook  Kobo

Kj's Review

Let me start by saying I loved this book. It could have something to do with the fact that I love all things dragon, but when it came to this story I was entranced. I loved that we got to see Aurora from the time she was young so we had a backdrop of who she was, and Fenn too. To see her having to come to our realm to stay safe, with her memory erased to keep her safe, until which time she is supposed to return.
  Aurora is supposed to be the savior of her people, to be able to go back she needs to find the keys and regain her memory. When her world starts going a little crazy, and she starts to see that there are things about herself which confuse her and leave her feeling a bit crazy, she wants to turn to her best friend Fenn. But she cannot let herself love him even though it feels so right. And so it goes, following Aurora’s story and what she will do. Will she keep going to find her truths or quit and stay in this realm?
  I give this book five stars, just an awesome book. I am such a fan now, I will be watching for more on this trilogy!! Do yourself a favor and read this book, you will not regret it. Many thanks to Candace Knoebel, first for writing this and secondly for giving me this book to read and review.

Preface:
The call of the orb was strong now that it rested in my hands. A song thrummed in my chest as I felt the veins in my neck beating wildly. Looking at it now, the change wasn’t as scary as I had thought it would be. Even with knowing that I could be staring my possible death in the face. The question was—would I be strong enough to sustain these powers given to me? Maybe I was just scared of The Fates choosing my destiny, or maybe I was scared that what was about to happen would forever change my life.
Either way, growing up I had always hoped that my life would mean something more than just being a foster child, but this, this was much bigger than anyone could imagine. And what lies ahead? Well if it’s anything compared to what I am going through now, then I expect my life to fall into a whole new level of crazy. And I think it may be just what I was looking for.

Author Bio:

Candace Knoebel had dreamed of being a dancer ever since she could remember. With a love of all things art, she saw herself moving to New York and pursuing her passion as an artist. But all that changed on October 10th, 2002 when she met the love of her life. Her dreams diverged and after marrying her high school sweetheart and having two beautiful children, she realized she missed her creative side.
Growing up alongside the Harry Potter series, Candace found herself missing the epicosity of a story that pulls you in and won’t let you go. In 2009, she began dreaming up characters that would mold her first novel. Through lunch breaks and late nights, after putting her kids to bed, she built a world where she could escape the ever-pressing days of an eight to five Purgatory. She found her calling in life and knew this was more than dancing could’ve ever meant to her.
Once complete in 2010, she began the grueling process of finding a publisher. With relentless determination, she was finally able to realize her dream in December of 2011 when 48fourteen offered her a publishing contract. With a HUGE yes and a happy dance, she now continues her Trilogy.

Author Links:  Facebook  Twitter  Blog  Goodreads