Tag: Romance

Excerpt, Giveaways

Excerpt from Deception by Samuel Jay w/a rafflecopter giveaway!

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Deception

by Samuel Jay

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GENRE:   mystery/romance

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BLURB:

Lieutenant Jack Morro has just days to go before being sent home from the war in Vietnam. But after inadvertently learning of evidence of a conspiracy involving his captain, he is hit by the captain’s ‘friendly fire’ in the midst of battle. He is left for dead but is only wounded, captured by the Viet Cong, and imprisoned. When Jack is reported killed in action, his fiancé, Diane – a rising New York journalist – plunges into alcoholism. A media giant named Vidal helps her recover, and Diane falls in love with him. But Vidal has secrets – including a connection to Jack’s supposed ‘death.’

However, Jack is alive, and after a year of imprisonment, he manages to escape. But he comes home to find Diane married to Vidal and his life still in peril from the information he learned in Vietnam.

Vidal, Jack, and Diane find themselves wrapped in a web of romance, deceit, and danger – and none of them will escape unscathed.

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Excerpt Two:

Manhattan, November 1971

Standing in the men’s department at Macy’s, Diane Gannon smiled as she enthusiastically fingered her way through layers of folded sweaters to find one for her fiancé, Jack, who’d soon be coming home from the war in Vietnam. Alongside her was future mother-in-law, Grace Morro, also smiling as she held a shopping bag in both hands. Out in the center aisle, heel-clicking women shoppers marched along on their way to Ladies’, some of them peeling off near Diane and Grace into other rows and racks of men’s clothes. Brightening the scene, broad paths of sunlight flowed through the large windows on Seventh Avenue, revealing rows of appealing merchandise as saleswomen stood behind glass counters, chatting with customers or placing clothes in gift boxes.

Diane stood in low heels, wearing a brown suede jacket over a white sweater and black slacks, her dark, reddish hair pulled back in a ponytail, her sculptured face of fair skin and striking eyes heightened by a cleft in her chin. Holding up a light blue sweater by its shoulders, she looked over at Grace and said, “What do you think, Mom? Wouldn’t this look great on Jack?”

Wearing a gray overcoat open down the middle, Grace nodded. “Yes, it would. It really would, but I can’t stop feeling nervous about him. Him still over there. Won’t stop ’til he’s home. Two years of worrying. Sorry, hon.”

Diane lowered the sweater and arched her eyebrows at Grace. “Thirty-five more days and all our worries will be gone! He’ll be home just before Christmas!”

Grace nodded. “Meantime, he’s still over there, in the fighting.”

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

The author and his wife, Joan, live in Hunterdon County, NJ. As a public relations professional he and his firm successfully handled major public issue campaigns, including raising $68 million to build Liberty Science Center, now the nation’s fourth largest hands-on science museum. He is also president of a family-owned water utility. Deception is his third novel. His website is samueljaynovels.com, and he welcomes speaking invitations and correspondence via samuel@samueljaynovels.com.

 

https://www.facebook.com/Samuel-Jay-610181309025664/

 

https://www.amazon.com/Deception-Samuel-Jay/dp/0692797742

 

The book will be free during the tour.

Amazon Buy Link

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE:

 

Samuel Jay will be awarding a signed copy of Deception to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
a Rafflecopter giveaway ”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Excerpt, Giveaways, Loose ID, Reviews

#Review of Trusting Justice by J.J. Lore w/a rafflecopter giveaway! #UrbanFantasy #Dystopian #Review #excerpt #giveaway @JJLore1

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Trusting Justice

by J. J. Lore

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GENRE:   futuristic/Dystopian

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BLURB:

It’s been twenty years since the Sion arrived on Earth, changing everything, and Sasha Morency has spent her life avoiding their notice as best she can. She’s grown up with a collapsed population, unstable climate, and the bare minimum of survival necessities, all while the conquerors thrive. When she’s caught up in an investigation of the theft of rare jewels at the Reliquary where she works, she becomes the focus of a cynical Sion who is charged with solving the crime.

Banished from his Sion clan and his squad in the police department for not following orders, Dram Opano is not surprised to be assigned a basic theft case at an obscure Earther museum. A young woman working there knows more than she’s telling, so Dram decides to stay close. Sasha has a talent for climbing walls, confronting authority, and digging for information, much to his surprise-and-delight.

Sasha and Dram expect to distrust each other, but as they pool their resources to discover exactly what happened, a bond of respect and passion develops between them.  When Dram is kidnapped by the people behind the theft, Sasha has to call on all her skills to save him. It’s a question of survival, for both their lives and their love. 

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Excerpt One:

The young woman slid a bold glance his way, her brown eyes bright, and he went still. As soon as she dropped her gaze to her shoes, his heart started again. Yes, there was something there. Dismissing the stupidity of the idea that anyone who’d stolen something would loiter about with the goods in her pocket, he considered her. Average size, average height, good skin that he could see, and balanced posture, so she was getting enough to eat.

“I’m Dram Opano.” As smoothly as he could, he reached out his hand in human fashion, rather than grasp at her forearm as he would a Sanad clan-mate. She pressed her lips together and briefly clasped her hand to his. He felt callouses, cold skin, and a slight shudder from her.

“Sasha Morency.” She tried to take a step away but backed into the wall. Her body jolted, and he internally winced in sympathy.

“Would you consent to a search?” Technically she had the right to defer, but it was understood any time a human refused they would be arrested on suspicion of criminal activity. A rule intended to clear people with nothing to hide but used in actuality by his people as a way to intimidate. Yet another way his fellows maintained control over their unruly cousins.

“If I don’t?” Sasha Morency’s lips slanted in an unhappy line, and she finally met his gaze. His awareness was shrinking to encompass only him and her, just like any fine interrogation should.

“I have a feeling you know.”

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I was so excited to read this book.  I’m not a big fan of urban fantasy.  Sure I love Kit Rocha but that is my only venture into the genre.  So basically reading Ms. Lore’s tale is like popping my cherry all over again.  I’m sure glad that she popped it.  I adored this book.  ADORED!!!!  In fact, if she wrote more about the Earthers and Sions I would auto buy them.  Pre-order them even.  Yes, this book is that good.

Prepare yourself for one hell of a ride, too.  The action only stops when the smexy times heat up.  It’s fast paced, flows beautifully and you will definitely be in Sasha and Dram’s corner has a couple.  Both are coming from sad relationships that ended badly but when they start to fall in love with each other, it shocks them.  In fact, they are both scared to death.  Sasha is the Earther and Dram is the Sion.  Keep in mind that Sion’s are humans, too that have only come back to Earth after several millennia away from the world.

The world building is easy to follow and fascinating, too.  Again, if she came back to this world, I’m there.  The setting for this story is in Toledo, Ohio.  I know, right.  And to think that being exiled to Massachusetts is a bad thing.  I liked the fact that Dram’s superior didn’t look down on Sasha either.  She respected her but knew that for Dram and Sasha to be together it would be a tough row to hoe.

The secondary characters only add to the fun of the book.  Not everyone is nice to each other but it’s nice to see that there isn’t a clear villain in this story.  If I had to say who the villain is, I would say both the Sions and the Earthers.  Its a different kind of suspense element in the book and when they finally figure out everything, I was holding my breath.  Whew!  I would be remiss to mention the smexy times.  They are hot but very emotional for both Sasha and Dram.  I left the love between them before they did.  *swoon*

Overall, I highly recommend the book.  Ms. Lore, please I’m begging, I need more Sions and Earthers.  You have a fan for life.

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

  1. J. Lore needs three things; strong, black coffee, time to write, and…well…you can guess the third. When she isn’t inventing fantastical tales filled with passionate people, she’s shaking sriracha on whatever she’s eating or reading about the Justinian plague. For updates on her erotic romance releases, visit her at http://www.jjlore.com/ She’s also on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/J-J-Lore/1393971707546734 and Twitter @JJLore1

Buy Links:

Barnes and Nobles: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/trusting-justice-jj-lore/1125504204

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Trusting-Justice-J-J-Lore-ebook/dp/B01N9QF69Z

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

 

J. Lore will be awarding $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
a Rafflecopter giveaway ”

 

Excerpt, Giveaways, New Release, Reviews

#Review of The Unlikeable Demon Hunter by Deborah Wilde w/a rafflecopter giveaway! @wildeauthor

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The Unlikeable Demon Hunter

by Deborah Wilde

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GENRE: Urban Fantasy Romance

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BLURB:

Bridesmaids meets Buffy.

The ago-old story of what happens when a foul-mouthed, romance impaired heroine with no edit button and a predilection for hot sex is faced with her worst nightmare–a purpose.

Ari Katz is intelligent, driven, and will make an excellent demon hunter once initiated into the Brotherhood of David. However, this book is about his twin Nava: a smart-ass, self-cultivated hot mess, who is thrilled her brother is stuck with all the chosen one crap.

When Nava half-drunkenly interrupts Ari’s induction ceremony, she expects to be chastised. What she doesn’t expect is to take her brother’s place among the–until now–all-male demon hunters. Even worse? Her infuriating leader is former rock star Rohan Mitra, whose sudden retirement in his early twenties now seems a lot less mysterious.

Convinced that her twin still has a shot at his destiny, Nava hatches a plan to convince the Brotherhood to bring the other Katz sibling into the fold. It’s too bad Rohan’s guarding her so closely that she might not be able to put it into action.

And it’s really too bad Rohan’s exactly what Nava’s always wanted: the perfect bad boy fling with no strings attached, because he may also be the one to bring down her carefully erected emotional shields. That’s as dangerous as all the evil fiends vying for the bragging rights of killing the only female ever chosen for Demon Club–or the one demon in particular out for payback.

Odds of survival: eh.

Odds of having a very good time with Rohan before she bites it: much better.

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Excerpt One:

The red wine on the modular coffee table gleamed in a shaft of sunlight like its position had been ordained by the gods. I snatched up the crystal decanter, sloshing the liquid into the glass conveniently placed next to it. Once in a while, a girl could actually catch a break.

I fanned myself with one hand. The myriad of lit candles seemed a bit much for my brother’s romantic encounter, but wine drinking trumped curiosity so I chugged the booze back. My entire body cheered as the cloyingly-sweet alcohol hit my system, though I hoped it wasn’t Manischewitz because hangovers on that were a bitch. I’d slugged back half the contents when I saw my mom on the far side of the room clutch her throat, eyes wide with horror. Not her usual, “you need an intervention” horror. No, her expression indicated I’d reached a whole new level of screw-up.

“Nava Liron Katz,” she gasped in full name outrage.

My cheeks still bulging with wine, I properly scoped out the room. Mom? Check. Dad? Check. Ari? Check? Rabbi Abrams, here to perform the ceremony to induct my brother as the latest member in the Brotherhood of David, the chosen demon hunters?

Check.

I spit the wine back into what I now realized was a silver chalice and handed it to the elderly bearded rabbi. “Carry on,” I told him. Then I threw up on his shoes.

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Ever get hyped about a book?  Love the cover?  Blurb is terrific and then you read it and you are left wondering how to rate the book and review it?  Let me back up a bit.  I don’t read Urban Fantasy at all.  I barely read Paranormal Romance, so for me to read outside my comfort zone is HUGE!  I’m also looking for new to me authors.  Especially authors that can make me laugh.  So, you are still wondering if I even liked the book?  Yes, I did and I highly recommend it to all the UF peeps.  Here’s my list of likes and dislikes about the book:

LIKES

  1.  The writing is top notch.  I was immediately sucked into the story from the first page.  The flow is great and I never got frustrated.
  2.   The plot is unique and fresh.  Rabbi’s as demon hunters?  I have lots of Jewish friends and trust me, I can see one or two of them as Nava…seriously.
  3.   The family dynamics are also good.  Sure Nava’s parents are pissed and even ignore her to some extent but that just makes her work harder.
  4.   The romance is slow to build.  Sure there are smexy times between Nava and Rohan are hot but since this is the first book, the romance is slower to build.
  5.   Nava’s snark.  I was literally laughing out loud at parts of the book.

DISLIKES

  1.   The romance between Nava and Rohan.  I know, I liked it and then didn’t like it.  Part of my problem with it is Nava.  She talks about sex all the time and even has named your vag.  Yep, you lost me on that one.  I’m all for the heroine being sexually active and all but Nava kinda borders on being a tramp.
  2.   The family dynamic.  Her parents were crappy to her and I really felt for her.
  3.   Nava is NOT likable but that’s the point of the book.  Unfortunately, I didn’t really warm up to her until the end.  I know that it doesn’t make sense that I liked the book but not the heroine but trust me, if you read the book, you will understand.  She does some dumb stuff that left me scratching my head.

My review doesn’t make sense and I’m sorry.  Overall, I really liked the book.  The characters and plot are fresh but I felt like Ms. Wilde took Nava to the extreme and at times I just couldn’t connect with her.  Will I read the next one in the series?  You bet.  I need to see the romance between Rohan and Nava.  Plus, I need to see more of the demon hunter aspect of her job, too.

 

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

A global wanderer, hopeless romantic, and total cynic with a broken edit button, Deborah writes adult urban fantasy to satisfy her love of smexy romances and tales of chicks who kick ass. She is all about the happily-ever-after, with a huge dose of hilarity along the way. “It takes a bad girl to fight evil. Go Wilde.”

Links:

Website: http://www.deborahwilde.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/wildeauthor (@wildeauthor)

FB: https://www.facebook.com/deborah.wilde1

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16189297.Deborah_Wilde

Buy Links:

Pre-order on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Unlikeable-Demon-Hunter-Nava-Katz-ebook/dp/B01MR8GI6B

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

Deborah will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN GC to one winner, another winner will win a print copy of the book (International), both are randomly drawn via rafflecopter during the tour.
a Rafflecopter giveaway ”