Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Virtual Book Tour: An Act of Devotion





Author Name: A.M. Leibowitz

Book Name: An Act of Devotion
(M/M companion to the F/F book ‘Memoir in the Making by Adrian J. Smith)

Release Date: May 1, 2016
Blurb:
Adam Lansing has always relied on his charm to get by. Sure, he’s starting over—new school, new graduate assistant position—but he knows he won’t have any trouble working his magic on anyone he chooses.
Antonio "AJ" Mancuso is deep inside his own head. He's cool, calm, and confident. Despite all the friends around him, he often feels like he straddles two worlds. Is there anyone who could love him for everything that defines him—past and present?
From the first time they meet, Adam is determined to get gorgeous AJ to notice him. But just as the heat is cranking up between them, Adam spots AJ with another man. Adam strikes back through a fling with an ex. When he discovers the truth behind AJ's behavior, he realizes that his magic won't clean up for him this time.

Pages or Words: 215 pages

Categories: Bisexual, Contemporary, M/M Romance, New Adult

Excerpt:
Inside the one-floor building, there were half a dozen other students. Two of them were going through boxes; they looked like undergraduates on work study. Two were sitting in chairs in the waiting area, probably to see the nurse practitioner in the back offices. One was flipping through brochures in the rack on the wall, and the last one was behind the desk. When Adam saw him, his jaw nearly hit the floor.

The man—because this was absolutely not one of the gangly, barely-adult boys in abundance on campus—was gorgeous. No, not merely gorgeous. God-like in his stunning beauty. He was practically a work of art. His skin was bronze, and he had a mass of thick, almost black hair that lay in heavy waves. Under long lashes, his dark eyes shone, and his lips were full and pink. He wasn’t quite clean-shaven, and the light, purposeful stubble oozed attractive masculinity. Even seeing only his upper body, it was obvious he was muscular and toned in a way Adam barely aspired to be.

Adam wasn’t one to be overly concerned about the packaging when it came to love—or lust, as the case might be. Hot people were hot people, in his opinion. As long as everyone was on the same page with what they wanted, the particulars of hes or shes or theys were only as important to him as they were to his partners. In all the years he’d been practicing the science of mate selection, he was certain he’d never met anyone who had melted his insides as fast as the man at the desk.

While Adam was busy staring, he stood rooted to the spot, having forgotten why he was there in the first place. The low throat-clearing startled him, and he shifted his gaze from Sexy’s torso to his face. The man’s lips twitched, but he didn’t smile.

“May I help you?” he asked.

“Uh…” Adam mentally slapped himself. He was not one to lose his words over anyone, no matter how attractive. Time to take control back. He stepped up to the counter. “Yeah. I need a couple of things.” He lowered his voice and put on what he hoped was his sexiest expression. “I came in to get condoms.”

Once again, amusement flashed on the other man’s face. “No problem. You can leave a donation here.” He shoved a jar forward on the counter.

Adam almost laughed at the pink paper label taped to the front. It read, Condoms—Tip Jar. Still feeling off-kilter, he snipped, “They’re not free?”

“They are. We’re asking for donations because we offer a lot of free stuff here, and it helps offset the cost when people give a little.” He looked Adam up and down. “I’m guessing you’re non-traditional or a graduate student, so maybe you can spare some change.”

Adam sneered, but he reached into his pocket for his wallet. He withdrew a dollar and stuck it in the jar then held out his hand. The other man reached under the counter and came back up with one condom, which he slapped into Adam’s palm.

“You have got to be kidding me. You want me to pay a dollar per condom? I’m going to need more than one,” Adam huffed. “For less than that price, I could buy them at the drug store.”

The man laughed. “I’m messing with you. You’re being a huge dick about making a small donation to the health center, so payback is fair.” He snorted. “Although, look who thinks he’s such a stud. If you need that many, why not buy them at the store?”

“Because I live in student housing, and this is more convenient. If you must know, yes, I have an important date.”

“I’m sure.” The man’s smile was condescending. “Fine.” He reached under the counter again and came up with a handful of condoms. “Enjoy them, with my blessing.”

“Whatever.”

Adam stuffed them in his pockets, turned around, and stalked out of the health center. No matter how hot that guy was, he was an ass, and Adam didn’t want to stick around for any more of his attitude. He had a date to get ready for, and guaranteed she would be much better company than the self-righteous jerk in the center. Which, of course, was exactly why Adam couldn’t get his handsome face and toned body out of his head.






Meet the author:
A. M. Leibowitz is a queer spouse, parent, feminist, and book-lover falling somewhere on the Geek-Nerd Spectrum. Ze keeps warm through the long, cold western New York winters by writing about life, relationships, hope, and happy-for-now endings. In between noveling and editing, ze blogs coffee-fueled, quirky commentary on faith, culture, writing, books, and hir family.

Where to find the author:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/amyunchained  @amyunchained
Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00OIC158W (A. M. Leibowitz)

Publisher: Supposed Crimes
Cover Artist: Brent Kessler

Tour Dates & Stops:



Rafflecopter Prize:

#1 - eBook bundle of An Act of Devotion plus the companion short stories;

#2 - 1 package containing a signed print copy plus a bag of Sorrento Spicchi Italian hard candy and a pack of assorted condom varieties


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, May 26, 2016

Virtual Book Tour: Fire Up My Heart

Please welcome my good friend and fellow author, Nicki Markus, here to talk about her new release, Fire Up My Heart! And she fearlessly agreed to answer my questions!

The Questions
1)      You’re marooned on a small island with one person and one item of your choice—who is that person and what item do you have?

The Doctor and the Tardis!

2)      Which musical would you say best exemplifies your life – and which character in that musical are you?

Gosh, that's a hard one. I love so many shows and characters. Plus I need to make sure I pick one that doesn't make me seem like a psychopath.... I think the title character in the Austrian musical Elisabeth. If you don't know it, find it and watch it—it's awesome.

3)      Take these three words and give me a 100 word or less scene using them:  hammer, saucer, traffic lights

The kids screamed and shrieked in the backseat. This racket was the last thing she needed after a long day at the shops. Her concentration lapsed and she nearly failed to stop at the traffic lights. She slammed on the brakes, but the car skidded and hurtled toward a worksite. One builder dropped his hammer and dove to safety; the second stood frozen in place, a teacup half-raised to his lips and the saucer in his other hand. Luckily, she came to a halt just meters from him. The kids were now silent.

4)      You’ve just been let loose in the world of fiction, with permission to do anyone you want. Who do you fuck first and why?

Oh no, more choices! How about a threesome... or a fivesome? Okay, I'll be good and try to stick to one. Let me see. It's tough, but I think it will have to be Valmont from Les Liaisons Dangereuses, because there's a man with the right skill set. I do note you said 'first', so after Valmont, I'll move on to Loki (Marvel), Mr. Rochester, Mr. Darcy, Enjolras (Les Misérables) *continues ad nauseam* Hmm. Having not wanted to appear like a psychopath in question two, I fear I've now come across as a nymphomaniac in this one. Ah well, what can you do?

5)      What is your idea of how to spend romantic time with your significant other?

Dinner and theatre. I'm a classical girl at heart. Can't beat the good old standards.

6)      When you start a new story, do you begin with a character, or a plot?

Honestly, it depends. I have worked both ways. Sometimes a story idea comes and the characters follow; other times a character talks to me and a story takes shape from there.

7)      If they were to make the story of your life into a movie, who should play you?

Kate Winslet would be my first choice. Or else Kirsten Dunst.

8)      Who’s your favorite horror villain and why?

Not sure if this will really count as horror (I don't watch a lot of pure horror), but if you allow thrillers, I'd say Hannibal Lecter. He's always appealed to me. He's cultured and debonair and would be the perfect companion on the dinner and theatre date I mentioned earlier. Sure, there is the chance he plans to eat you afterwards; however, you can survive if you hold his interest, so I think it will work out.

9)      Do you have an historical crush and if so, who is it?

Oh dear, I have several. I guess my top three are Major John André, Maxim de Robespierre, and Percy Grainger.

10)   Is there a story that you’d like to tell but you think the world isn’t ready to receive it?

                Absolutely. I can't give you an example off the top of my head, but I do get ideas from time to time that I know I'd never be able to sell to a publisher for one reason or another.  However, I can sometimes take elements from them and turn them into something else that is later accepted and acceptable. As a writer, you want to be true to your ideas, but you do need to consider the market and the current socio-political climate too.



Fire Up My Heart
Asta Idonea
25 May 2016
Dreamspinner Press
Novella - MM Sci-Fi Romance
Heat Level: 2

London bartender Fane thinks he’s hit the jackpot when he finds a rare and expensive service Bot discarded in a dumpster, and he takes it home to get it working again. The Jo-E brings some much-needed companionship to Fane’s lonely life, but there’s something different about this Bot, as indicated by its odd behavior. Fane’s developing feelings toward Jo-E trouble him, and things go from bad to worse when a robotics engineer arrives on Fane’s doorstep, demanding the return of his property. Fane is forced to choose between a hefty reward and following his heart. Giving in to his forbidden desires might get him killed—or change his life 
forever.

It was raining cats and dogs when Fane Maddox left the club and made his way through Soho’s neon-lit streets. His shift at Spunk, London’s rundown retro gay bar, had finished at 2:00 a.m., and his weary feet ached as he commenced the long walk back to his flat in Finsbury Park.
On foot, it was a journey of a good hour and a half, but it wasn’t as if he had any other options. The first tube service on a Sunday morning didn’t begin until gone seven, and since a lack of customers, combined with a recent petrol shortage, had led to the cancellation of all London’s night buses, it was a case of walking or taking a taxi. Thanks to the fuel hike, the cost of a black cab was extortionate these days, and the trip home in one would use up all his tips for the night. Therefore, he had no choice but to rely on his own two feet. At least the long walks kept him fit.
He would have passed the alley without a second glance. However, at that moment, the neon sign that wrapped around the corner of the building flickered, drawing his gaze. He started to turn away, then looked back, convinced he must be seeing things. Either he was losing his mind, or there were a pair of legs dangling over the side of the huge garbage bin at the entrance to the alleyway.
Fane dithered. He was tired and sopping wet. The last thing he wanted was to be responsible for finding a dead body. He’d have to call the cops, and who knew how long it would take them to show. If they turned up at all. In the meantime he’d be left standing in this downpour and, knowing his luck, would probably catch pneumonia. Then again, maybe the guy was merely drunk or injured and in need of assistance. Could Fane live with himself if he walked on by?
Heaving a sigh, Fane shoved his hands deep into the pockets of his jeans and crossed the street. Once he reached the alley, he glanced left and right. Then, seeing no one around, he boosted himself up and into the dumpster.
The bags of rubbish crunched and shifted beneath him. He lost his balance and shot out a hand, grabbing hold of the rim of the bin to steady himself. One of the bags must have split under his weight, because a foul smell wafted through the air. Fane screwed up his nose. Determined to make a speedy exit, he scrambled two steps forward to reach the body.

Even in the dim, stuttering neon glow, it only took him a second to realize his mistake. This wasn’t a body. At least not a human one.




Audio Excerpt: https://soundcloud.com/nickijmarkus/audio-excerpt-fire-up-my-heart

Dreamspinner Press: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=7763
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-fireupmyheart-2035490-145.html
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Fire-Up-Heart-Asta-Idonea-ebook/dp/B01F9A00QY
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fire-Up-Heart-Asta-Idonea-ebook/dp/B01F9A00QY



Author Bio & Links
Asta Idonea (aka Nicki J Markus) was born in England, but now lives in Adelaide, South Australia. She has loved both reading and writing from a young age and is also a keen linguist, having studied several foreign languages.
Asta launched her writing career in 2011 and divides her efforts not only between MM and mainstream works but also between traditional and indie publishing. Her works span the genres, from paranormal to historical and from contemporary to fantasy. It just depends what story and which characters spring into her mind!
As a day job, Asta works as a freelance editor and proofreader, and in her spare time she enjoys music, theatre, cinema, photography, and sketching. She also loves history, folklore and mythology, pen-palling, and travel; all of which have provided plenty of inspiration for her writing.
Blog: http://www.nickijmarkus.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NickiJMarkus
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NickiJMarkus
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickijmarkus/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4567057.Nicki_J_Markus
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolamarkus
Amazon Author US: http://www.amazon.com/Asta-Idonea/e/B00RMGGVYO
Amazon Author UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Asta-Idonea/e/B00RMGGVYO


Virtual Book Tour: The Trouble With Misbehaving

Please welcome author Victoria Hanlen, who is here to tell us about her new release, The Trouble With Misbehaving. Victoria will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to one randomly drawn commenter via Rafflecopter. The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. To find the rest of the stops on her tour, go here. Don't forget to look for the Rafflecopter at the end of this post.


The Trouble with Misbehaving
by Victoria Hanlen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~




GENRE: Historical Romance

~~~~~~~~~~~~~



BLURB:

Love, Betrayal and Redemption

Calista ‘CC’ Collins is used to being the talk of the town. With her scandalous past she’s learnt the hard way that a woman needs to be strong to get what she wants in a man’s world. And what she wants is the infamous Captain Beauford Tollier—roguish son of an earl, notorious blockade-runner and all-round knave of the seas.

However, Captain Beau is not one to be cajoled—he is done with the dangerous sea life and ready to follow the life of the straight and narrow. But with many powerful forces circling around him, Beau doesn’t stand a chance…


~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT:


“Since you burned my letters we still have much to discuss.”

He squared his shoulders. “I think not. Our brief association is at an end. I do not wish to be a part of your mad games. After the night before last—”

“After the night before last?”

“It seems best to allow you your distance.”

He heard a quick intake of breath and a rustle of silk. Her voice seemed to rise in pitch, “Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone what you almost did with crazy ol’ Miss Collins. But then you have lots of secrets, do you not, Captain Tollier? What’s one more?”

“I don’t know what you mean, nor do I care.” He started walking again.

“Looking at all these…lovely portraits, I can see why people whisper you’re the family’s cuckoo.”

Lurching around, he clenched his fists in an effort to control his temper. Not only did the insult shock, it cut into one of his earliest, deepest insecurities. He lowered his voice to a dangerous calm. “You are fortunate to be a woman, madam. Were you a man, such an insult might force me to call you out.”

She stood and gave him a look so sultry it almost begged him to teach her lessons of a different sort.

“Ah yes, call me out. And what should I call you?”

He turned to leave, hoping to prevent saying or doing something he’d regret. Before he’d taken two steps, C.C. said in a voice full of authority, “Mr. Wainwright. Perhaps Captain Scott? Or would it be Cornelius Dolan?”

The hairs on his neck stood straight out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~



AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Award winning, historical romance author, VICTORIA HANLEN, has worked at a wide range of jobs, from fashion, to corporate business, to treading the boards of stage and professional opera. A lifelong writer, she once put her skills to use in PR and advertising. But her favorite form of writing is happily-ever-afters spiced with a dash of wit and a page-turning mystery. Victoria and her husband live in rural New England surrounded by a host of wildlife.
She enjoys hearing from readers at:
http://www.victoriahanlen.com
https://www.facebook.com/VictoriaHanlen
https://www.twitter.com/VictoriaHanlen

Newsletter? Sign up today!  https://vr2.verticalresponse.com/s/websitesignupform0218201694902am

Mills & Boon: https://www.millsandboon.co.uk/p46539/the-trouble-with-misbehaving.htm
Amazon  US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0175WV0AE
Amazon   UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Trouble-Misbehaving-Victoria-Hanlen-ebook/dp/B0175WV0AE
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/victoria+hanlen
Google Play: https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Trouble_With_Misbehaving.html?id=1c_PCgAAQBAJ
Kobo books: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-trouble-with-misbehaving
BAM!: http://www.booksamillion.com/search?id=5529803929861&query=VICTORIA+HANLEN&where=eBooks




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  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Brand new release: Bad Dogs and Drag Queens

I'm excited to announce that the first book in my new Rose and Thorne series with Dreamspinner - Bad Dogs and Drag Queens comes out today!




Isn't that a great cover? Paul Richmond did that, and he's so talented! I especially love Vinnie's eyes. And isn't Benny (the Peke) cute?

So I want to tell you something about my guys. Vinnie and Ethan are federal undercover cops, and they're not only partners on the job but off. They've been together almost five years now, and life is great. Having said that, I must warn you, Vinnie can be a diva at times. and he's often down on himself, but he's a great guy and I love him. And he loves Ethan very much! The stories are all told in Vinnie's POV, so be prepared for a lot of sarcasm. But it's all good!

I hope you enjoy the first book and I'd love to hear what you have to say!

Blurb:

Vinnie Delarosa and Ethan Thorne are partners—on and off the clock. Federal undercover detectives, they’re part of a covert task force designed to promote goodwill between the feds and local authorities. They lend an unobtrusive helping hand wherever it’s needed. No credit required.

Vinnie and Ethan work primarily in the Southeast region of the United States and live together in Richmond, Virginia. A mugger problem brings them to Roanoke, where Vinnie is thrown out as bait to catch the man who’s been snatching purses in a city park, but they end up with more than they bargained for. Why is Vinnie always the one who has to wear the dress? Ethan says it’s because Vinnie looks much prettier in a skirt. How can he argue with that?

Expecting to return to Richmond afterward, Vinnie and Ethan find themselves assigned a new case instead. They are to go undercover at The Stroll, one of the biggest gay nightclubs in Roanoke. Someone is terrorizing both the customers and the performers. Could they be dealing with a hate crime? Someone has to protect the drag queens of Roanoke, so it’s Vinnie and Ethan to the rescue!

The author is donating 10% of the royalties from this book to No Kid Hungry. Visit nokidhungry.org for more information about this organization.

Excerpt:
“Remind me again whose stupid idea this lipstick was,” I huffed beneath my breath. Without thinking, I licked my lips. They felt greasy, and tasted even worse. I forced myself not to grimace, afraid it might crack the foundation I’d slathered on my face.
“Mine, you sexy beast,” came the smart-ass reply in my ear. “I think you got purty lips, mmhmmm.”
“Fuck you,” I growled. “You should be doing this, not me, and you know it. I did it last time.”
And the time before that. And the time before that. Wait, did I detect a pattern here?
“What I know is you look better in a skirt than I do. And you look damn good out of it, too.”
My cheeks suffused with heat at Ethan’s words. Luckily the darkness hid a multitude of sins, my embarrassment being the least of them. Hopefully, no one else was listening—I knew I’d never hear the end of it. Just what I needed—to be the object of ridicule of the Roanoke PD.
I pulled a compact from the purple paisley cloth purse slung over my shoulder and flipped open the mirror so I could assess my surroundings. I couldn’t see a damn thing. I growled again. I’d have to move closer to the half-assed excuse for a light this park possessed if I wanted to scope out the situation. The city fathers had been too cheap to install proper lighting, which is why they had this mugging problem to begin with.
“What’s wrong, Vinnie?” Ethan’s concern came through my earpiece loud and clear. He might aggravate me some of the time—or most of the time—but he always had my back.
“Nothing,” I muttered as I wobbled toward the light. These heels were ridiculous. How did women do it? I’d just gained an all-new respect for the fairer sex. They made it seem so effortless, while I possessed all of the grace of a wounded water buffalo. I’d tried opting for flats, but Ethan had nixed the idea. Said they wouldn’t go with the skirt. Plus he said the heels made my legs look longer.
Pervert.


Here is a list of the stops on the tour, check them out and don't forget to sign up for the giveaway on the Rafflecopter!

Tour Dates & Stops:
9-Jun: Unquietly Me
10-Jun: BFD Book Blog
14-Jun: Molly Lolly
15-Jun: Love Bytes
16-Jun: Havan Fellows

Wednesday Briefs: Moving Forward #36 (8.4)

Good morning and Happy Hump Day! If it's Wednesday, then it must be time for more flash fiction from the Wednesday Briefers! We're a group of authors who bring you our finest flash fiction every week, from 500 to 1000 words, inspired by one of our prompts!

This week, fun in the sun continues in Moving Forward, with Marshall and Lee taking an island cruise. So far, Dustin hasn't caused any trouble. Let's hope that continues. Don't forget to see what the other Briefers are up to. Their links follow my tale. Enjoy!

Moving Forward #36 (8.4)


Marshall, Lee, and Roger weren’t the only ones heading down to the main deck. Everyone had gathered together, interested in seeing what there was to see beneath the sea. The whole bottom of the ship was now transparent, and people ringed the viewing port, watching the fascinating tableau below.

Being taller, Marshall and Lee stood behind the others, rather than obstruct the sight of those who were shorter. They still had a somewhat decent view of what was going on.

 Schools of bright orange and purple fish swam in synchronized grace about the delicate coral reef which stretched below them.  The turquoise water was so crystal clear and unpolluted that they had no trouble seeing everything. Everyone oohed and aahed when a large turtle swam by, oblivious to their presence.

“He looks big enough to ride!” someone exclaimed and everyone laughed.

“Can we go swimming here?” a teenaged boy asked.

“No, not here, but we’ll be stopping at the beach next, and you can swim there,” the tour guide explained.

Marshall thought that sounded great, but he was really looking forward to the private beach Lee had mentioned. Making love with Lee outdoors was always amazing; he couldn’t wait to try it under Caribbean skies.

As Marshall watched, the fish suddenly darted away, out of view. The reason became evident moments later when a shark swam beneath them, evoking exclamations of both surprise and alarm from the observers on the boat. Some edged away from the viewing port, as if they were afraid the shark might attack them.

“Do not be alarmed,” the guide hastened to assure them. “He has no way of joining us.”

The tourists laughed and relaxed a little.

“I wonder what kind of fish those are,” Marshall speculated. They were pretty, but not near big enough to catch and eat. Assuming anyone would want to eat something so pretty. Much as he enjoyed fishing, he’d rather look at these than try to hook them.

“No clue,” Lee said, “but they sure look nice.” He put his arm around Marshall’s waist. Marshall stepped closer to his warmth, never losing track of what was going on just below them.

They kept the viewport open for awhile, and Marshall saw a few animals he couldn’t even name, as well as more fish. A couple of jelly fish glided by, their translucent bodies expanding and contracting as they moved. None of the denizens of the deep seemed to mind the presence of the humans, going about their business as if the boat was a normal part of their world.

All too soon, they closed the viewing port and continued. The guide announced they would be at Honeymoon  Beach shortly, so Marshall and Lee didn’t bother to head back up top.  The passengers were all let off at the dock, and the guide said they would return for them in an hour to an hour and a half. “Don’t forget to have fun!” were his parting words.

The day was bright and sunny, the sand was warm, and although they were far from alone, Marshall thought it could have been worse. They bought fruity drinks at a concession stand, and something to eat, and found a spot to call their own on the beach.

“You going to make me wait half an hour to swim?” Marshall asked mischievously as he finished off his loaded hot dog and licked the spicy sauce from his fingers.

“I should, but then you’d miss all the fun,” Lee teased. “You’re a grown man. I think you can handle it.”

“What about you?”

“What about me?” Lee asked.

“I mean, you wanna come swimming with me?”

“I kinda thought I might.” Lee grinned. “Unless you think I’m getting too old for that?” As he spoke, Lee stood and toed off his beach sandals, then began to remove his clothes. He slid his jeans slowly down his legs, his swim suit visible beneath that.  Then he took off his shirt and placed his garments in the bag they’d brought with them.

Marshall whistled at the sight. No one could ever call Lee old. He had a fantastic body, well-defined without being overly sculpted. Hard in all the right places, and yet silky soft in others. He had plenty of hair without being a grizzly bear. And he was all Marshall’s.

In response, Marshall stood and stripped down to his own low-cut blue swim suit, which he knew showed off his own figure pretty well. He was no slouch in the body department, and he knew it, but he hoped he’d look half as good as Lee when he was Lee’s age.

They’d both forgotten Roger, who was sitting with them, finishing his own meal.

“You two belong on the cover of a magazine,” he complimented them. He quickly stripped down to his own swim suit. “You guys can stand there and look pretty, I’m getting wet.” Without looking back, he threw up his arms, gave a wild cry, and raced toward the ocean.

Marshall and Lee looked at one another and began to laugh, just before they followed him into the water.

to be continued

Now see what the other Briefers are up to!






Monday, May 23, 2016

Virtual Book Blast: Wanderlust

Please welcome author Bernadette Marie, who is here to tell us about her new release, Wanderlust. Bernadette will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN GC to one randomly drawn commenter via Rafflecopter. The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. To find a list of the other stops on her tour, go here. Don't forget to look for the Rafflecopter at the end of this post!


Wanderlust
by Bernadette Marie

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GENRE: Contemporary Romance

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BLURB:

Gia Gallow has traveled the world. Her wanderlust landed her in Georgia where she has created a life for herself away from the petty differences of relatives and domineering ex-lovers. Having settled in America, she has a successful business and dear friends—and the attention of both Dane and Russell Walker. Due to her own family's dramas over dueling hearts, she might have to forget about her feelings for Dane to keep peace within the Walker family, but sometimes even running thousands of miles away can't keep a heart from going after what the heart wants. And Gia's heart wants Dane.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT:



Dane awoke in his childhood bedroom with a start. As he sat there, a bead of sweat rolling
down his forehead, he realized it wasn't that he'd heard anything to wake him—in fact, it had been too quiet.

The sun was up and warm as it filtered through the window and onto his skin.

He wiped his brow with the back of his hand and then tucked it under his head. He closed his
eyes and thought about the room.

It was his and Gerald's room. Oh, if the walls could talk, he amused himself with the thought. They'd lived too far from town to have girls climbing in the windows, but they'd climbed out a few times. But once again, they'd lived too far from town to sneak out without being noticed.

They'd done things such as walk down to the river and fish by a full moon. There had been an
enormous tree outside the window and during a storm it could be menacing and scary. But on a
warm summer night, it was a refuge as the big branch came right to their window like a bridge to the outdoors.

There had always been two beds in the room. Sometimes they'd be pushed together for comfort, especially when that tree outside swayed in the wind. They'd also been the walls to some of the greatest forts ever built with blankets and sheets.

Long talks were had in that room. Some of those talks went well into early morning. They'd
debated over Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy. There were some very serious discussions over Super Bowl XXXIII. Atlanta's new team had gone to the big game under the coaching of Dan Reeves, and they had to play his old team, the Denver Broncos. It seemed unfair to Gerald, but Dane thought it was just. He'd been a fan of John Elway his whole life. If he thought back hard enough, he was fairly sure that when he'd taunted Gerald with Elway's win, he'd gotten a black eye. The thought of it had him chuckling to himself in the quiet.

Talks about football and fishing soon gave to girls and talks about birds and bees. He was grateful that walls couldn't actually talk.

No longer were there posters and drawings on the walls. His mother had redesigned the room,
he knew, for future grandchildren. The room was clean of everything but a dresser and a rocking chair. The closet door, another menacing nightmare maker, was cracked open as the door was too warped to stay closed.

Some poor grandchild would be as afraid of the abyss of the closet as he and Gerald had been.

It wasn't long before the sound of the cattle caught his attention. He'd have to admit it was a
much better sound than early morning traffic. Then he heard the roaring of the first pickup truck engine. Surely he'd actually slept through the first. The sun was up after all, and he knew his father and brothers were up before the sun.

Dane rolled to his side and pulled the blanket up to his ear. This was why it was good to be
visiting. No one had awakened him and made him help out with the early morning chores. Suckers!




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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Bernadette Marie has been an avid writer since the early age of 13, when she’d fill notebook after notebook with stories that she’d share with her friends. Her journey into novel writing started the summer before eighth grade when her father gave her an old typewriter. At all times of the day and night you would find her on the back porch penning her first work, which she would continue to write for the next 22 years.

In 2007 – after marriage, filling her chronic entrepreneurial needs, and having five children –
Bernadette began to write seriously with the goal of being published. That year she wrote 12
books. In 2009 she was contracted for her first trilogy and the published author was born. In
2011 she (being the entrepreneur that she is) opened her own publishing house, 5 Prince
Publishing, and has released contemporary titles and has begun the process of taking on other authors in other genres.

Bernadette spends most of her free time driving her kids to their many events. She is also an accomplished martial artist, working her way to her second degree black belt in Tang Soo Do.  An avid reader she loves to meet readers who enjoy reading contemporary romances and she always promises Happily Ever After.

Bernadete Marie

Website: http://www.bernadettemarie.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorbernadettemarie
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/writesromance
Blog: http://www.authorbernadettemarie.blogspot.com/
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Bernadette-Marie/e/B003M75S8W


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