Saturday, December 21, 2013

Cover reveal: Romance through the Ages + Giveaway

Romance Through the Ages  
Coming February 1, 2014 Romance through the Ages brings you SEVEN NOVELS from 7 bestselling authors (including New York Times, USA Today, and Amazon bestsellers). Join us for a fabulous collection.
  *7 Romance Novels, 7 Bestselling Authors, 1 Amazing Price*   99 cent Romance Boxed Set for a limited time only!  
Running Barefoot by NY Times & USA Today bestselling author Amy Harmon!— Deeply romantic and poignant, Running Barefoot is the story of a small town girl and a Native American boy, the ties that bind them to their homes and families, and the love that gives them wings.
Masquerade by Janette Rallison, who has sold more than 1 million books!— It's hard for a woman to keep up the masquerade when her boss is as handsome as Slade Jacobson and the job takes her to Hawaii with him. In between handling his whirlwind four-year-old daughter and dealing with a whole cast of Hollywood personalities, Clarissa has to keep a tight hold on her heart.
The Reluctant Bachelorette by Rachael Anderson, Amazon Bestseller!—Unknowingly cast as the bachelorette for her town's charity event, Shelter’s Bachelorette, Taycee Emerson is in for the ride of her life. Especially when she discovers her old teenage crush, Luke Carney, is one of the bachelors and it's up to the viewers—not her—to decide which bachelors stay or go.
Pride and Precipitation by Heather Horrocks, Amazon Bestseller!— Breezy Jones is crazy about the weather, rain or shine, which makes her job as the local television station’s meteorologist perfect. That’s before she meets the attractive new general manager, Noah Drake, who is determined to repackage everything—including Breezy’s down-home delivery.  
My Own Mr. Darcy by Karey White, Amazon Bestseller!— Lizzie falls hard for Matthew Macfadyen’s Mr. Darcy character and makes a promise to herself that she will settle for nothing less than her own Mr. Darcy. When she meets two men, Chad—a science teacher, and Matt Dawson—who looks and acts like Mr. Darcy, she’s forced to re-evaluate what it was she loved about Mr. Darcy in the first place.  
She Owns the Knight by Diane Darcy, Amazon Bestseller!— Why does Gillian Corbett have to travel seven hundred years through time to find a decent guy?... Why can't Sir Kellen Marshall find a lady who is obedient, submissive... or at least not trying to kill him?  
Heart of the Ocean by Heather B. Moore, Amazon Bestseller!— A dark secret . . . a grieving ghost . . . a handsome stranger . . . What more could Eliza Robinson want? Except for maybe her life. When Eliza discovers that Jonathan Porter’s dark secrets may be the link between the dead woman who haunts her and her aunt’s murderer, Eliza realizes that Jonathan is the one man she should never trust.  

Giveaway Details $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 2/1/14 Bloggers who put up a spotlight post about these books on their blog can enter to win an additional $25 gift card or paypal cash. See details in the Rafflecopter. Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the authors. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
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Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Book Blast: Task Force:Gaea by David Berger + Giveaway







During the age of Olympos, when a vengeful goddess shatters the Sacred Scales, both immortals and humans alike suffer. Apollo, the god of truth, goes from a glorious existence as The Shining One to a victim of Zeus’ wrath, and his journey makes him question his godhood, his role in the cosmos, and his views on humanity. Prophecy and the Fates direct his course, and he must make difficult, yet vital, choices. Millennia pass, and Dan, Aleta, Brandon, and Sarah—four reluctant modern-day heroes gifted by ancient civilizations born of the gods—bound by prophecy, have to choose whether or not to save their world when it could mean they never existed. They must master their new powers while battling against incomprehensible forces from the Underworld and repairing the Sacred Scales, destroyed long ago. With the equilibrium between Order and Chaos unhinged, and the Olympian gods struggling to exist, these four must ally themselves with the United Nations to protect an endangered world, becoming the only group who can fight against metaphysical threats to the Earth, forging Task Force: Gaea. Can mortals succeed where gods cannot go?


Amazon | Smashwords | BN





David Berger
Boston born, I grew up on Long Island in New York, and have my B.A. in English with a Master's in Secondary Education. I currently teach AP English Literature, IB English, and Creative Writing in Land O' Lakes, FL. My avid appreciation for fantasy fiction came from a childhood love of Greek mythology and comic books, especially Wonder Woman. Stemming from this literary love affair, I published my first novel, Task Force: Gaea—Finding Balance, in February 2012.

In addition to my fantasy writing, I have written poetry, much of which was influenced by my travels abroad, namely to Ireland. My hibernophilia extends not only to a great love of the Emerald Isle itself, but also to the writers who hail from there, namely W. B. Yeats, and I studied this poet in a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship at the National University of Ireland in Galway in 2005.

Additionally, I have traveled to Spain, France, and England—all with trips I have led with students—and hope to show more of my students what the world beyond Florida looks like.

I'm "living the dream," as it were, and I love life—I just hope it loves me in return. I reside in Land O' Lakes, FL with my partner of 13 years, Gavi, and our two cats, Yankel and Shayna.

Official Author Website  |  Series Website  |  Series Facebook Page  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads


 GIVEAWAY

$25 Amazon.com or BN.com Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 12/28/2013. Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com or BN.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kisha from Indie Hoopla Services & Promotions, http://indiehoopla.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
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Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Book Blitz: Divided Loyalties by Lia Davis

                    Displaying DividedLoyalties72.jpg


 
Divided Loyalties, Ashwood Falls, #4
By Lia Davis
 
Blurb:
  Trained to hunt rogues and protect the human race from the threat of shifters, Christa Baker is
beginning to rethink her career choice. Especially when her niece and nephew—who she’s raised on her own—end up in the crossfire. Now she’s looking for a way out and disappear off Shield’s radar for good.
  She never thought her out would be a gorgeous wolf who kidnaps her after raiding Shield HQ.
Hayden Raines has always followed the rules. As the Ashwood Fall wolf Marshal, he has to set the
example for those working under him. When he sets his sights on the beautiful human hunter things go downhill, fast. Fate has a funny way of turning things inside out—because the woman he kidnaps, the enemy he might need to protect his family from, just happens to be his mate.
 
Warning: Contains one woman on a path she’s not ready for, a man who thought things would be
different, and a heated exchange that turns out to be the best thing ever.
 
Excerpt:
  Something didn’t ring right with Christa Baker as she sat in the conference
room listening to the new leader of Shield rattling on about rogue shifters. He said they were
growing in numbers, yet he hadn’t provided any physical proof. Sure a few humans had gone
missing, most of whom were homeless, and according the police, their disappearances weren’t
that unusual.
 She failed to see his point because shifters were born, not created. So why would they
need to kidnap humans?
  Her new boss had gone on and on for the last several weeks about an increase in shifter
sightings. Again, no proof. Christa had checked.
She could pull up anything from the Internet. Social networks like Facebook and
YouTube were the best places to look for the weird and unusual.
 There hadn’t been a human attack by a shifter since she’d killed the beast in her home
eight years ago. It had been her first encounter with what she now knew was called a mutant, a
half-animal, half-human creature with no regard for life—its own or others’.
  However, Vance Miller believed a civil war was raging among the breeds that had spilled
over into the human world. There was something he’d left out, something bigger than he wanted
her and the others in Shield to believe. So what if the shifters were at war with one another and
killing themselves? Was it the mutants? If so, then they deserved what they got. They’d created
the damned creatures; they could all go to hell as far as she cared.
  It wasn’t Shield’s place to get involved in the shifters’ civil war. Shield was a human-
run group of rebels that went above the law to protect mankind from the were-kind or shifters,
as they liked to be called. She didn’t care what they called themselves as long as they left the
humans alone. So far, in the eight years she’d been with Shield, the shifters had. However, there
was the occasional mishap—like the mating-gone-wrong situation her sister had suffered.
  Mary didn’t have the chance to run when her mate turned on her in a fit of jealous rage.
Or at least that’s what Christa believed happened. Her niece and nephew, fraternal twins Brenna
and Bryce, had been only eight at the time and thankfully not at home to witness how their
mother died.
  However, Christa had been the one to ID the body.
  From that day forward, Christa had fought for Shield to protect humans from the shifter
races.
  Up until a few months ago, Shield hadn’t attacked innocents or started wars between the
shifters, but then Vance had stepped in as the new leader of Shield. He’d changed the way the
others thought, more like manipulated them into believing his load of bullshit. She wasn’t sure
how he’d done it, but the others just bowed down to him and believed every lie out of his mouth.
  How could they be so blind to his cause?
  Then again, the other soldiers couldn’t detect a shifter like she could. Sure, they all
had training to know what to look for. Eye color was the biggie. Most shifters had an unusual
coloring, and when they were challenged or provoked, their eyes seemed to glow. Plus the pupils
were reflective like the animal that lived within.
  Christa had lived with two shifters for the last seven years. She’d been there when Brenna
and Bryce shifted for the first time. She’d also helped them control their wolves, thanks to the
information her sister had shared with her when she was alive.
  “My sources tell me that the rise in shifter attacks points to a hybrid Pack of wolves and
leopards called Ashwood Falls,” Vance said then tapped on the table to get her attention.
  She met his gaze and held it until he looked away, but not before she caught the flashing
shift of color in his irises. Satisfied she wasn’t being paranoid about what he was, she asked,
“How trustworthy is this source? Why haven’t we heard about attacks from our police contacts?
It should be all over the Internet.”
  Vance set his jaw and turned away from them to study the map on the wall. “The
shifters are very good at hiding these things from humans. You, of all people, should know that,
Christa.”
  Fucking ass…
  What she really wanted to say was, “Like you, asshole,” but she refrained and squashed
her temper down before it got her in trouble. Again. “How sure are you?” she asked in a slightly
softer tone.
  See? She could be calm and cool.
  He peered at her over his shoulder and smiled one of those smiles that held no humor or
amusement. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were protecting the shifters.”
  She narrowed her eyes and wished she had the gift of pyrokinesis so she could light
his ass on fire. Okay so maybe that was a little extreme, but she didn’t trust or like him. The
darkness he held around him put her on edge every time he was near. “I wouldn’t want to go in
and destroy the wrong den when there could be a bigger threat out there. I just like to be sure.”
  The truth was Vance had taken all the control of research and strategy from her when he
took over the unit. That annoyed the hell out of her, and it also left her feeling as though she was
going into an OP blind.
  She swore he let out a low growl before he called the meeting to an end. Gathering her
notebook and pen, she moved toward the door, only to stop when Vance stepped in her path. She
fisted her free hand by her side and silently counted backward from ten. One corner of Vance’s
lips lifted. She wanted so badly to punch that smirk right off his face.
  Or just shoot him.
  If there was a rogue, it was him for sure.
  “What’s the rush?”
  She stared into his dark brown eyes and squared her shoulders. “I skipped lunch.”
  He moved to the side, and she stepped forward. He gripped her biceps and leaned in to
whisper in her ear, “Tell the brats to stay safe.”
  She jerked out of his grip and stormed down the hall to the lobby of Shield HQ, away
from the bastard shifter-acting-human. Only then did she allow her heart to pound uncontrollably
and let fear consume her.
  Pulling out her phone, she sent a one-word text to an untraceable cell.
  Marco.
  A few seconds later she got a reply.
  Polo.
  Relief flooded her system and threatened to make her knees give out. She had to get a
grip. The twins were safe and very smart. But still she insisted on the text codes for her own
piece of mind.
  Although Vance had just threatened her niece and nephew. At least that was what she
took it for, a threat. Maybe he knew they were wolves. No. He’d never met—or even seen them.
She had to get out of Shield and disappear. Fall off the radar for good.
But how?
  When she reached the lobby door, she jerked back as it flew open to reveal a large man
with black hair and bright green eyes that bored into her as he moved forward. She sidestepped
him, but he was too quick. He snaked one arm around her waist, drew her into the hard length of
his side, while he held a gun straight out, and fired at everyone around them.
  She screamed, but no one heard her over the gunfire. Shield soldiers came from the back
offices, weapons drawn. Two more men stepped up beside her and her captor then rushed the
wall of Shield soldiers, killing them with ease like trained assassins.
  Christa twisted and kicked with no results. The man had a death grip around her waist.
“Let me go. We don’t have money in here.”
  He didn’t reply, which was no surprise to her. She didn’t expect him to. Think, Christa.
She scanned the large lobby, and her heart ached for the men and women she’d worked with for
the last eight years. They were giving it their all, but it wasn’t good enough. One by one, they
fell.
  And she was helpless, trapped in the arms of the murderer.
  One of her captor’s allies, an auburn-haired man, advanced down the hall. He came back
a few minutes later and said, “He’s not here.”
  The man holding her firmly to his body growled. “Let’s go.” He shot the last soldier
before turning her around to face him.
  She gasped. No fucking way. He was a shifter.
  The way his eyes reflected off the light told her that. Frantic, she shoved against his
chest. He wouldn’t budge. “Let me go!”
  He lifted a brow and studied her for a moment or two as though he was trying to read her
mind or something. Oh, no he wouldn’t. She yanked her knee up and connected with his balls,
hard. He cursed and let go of her as he doubled over.
  She didn’t waste time. She ran for the door, only to skid to a halt as the auburn-haired
man appeared in front of her. What the fuck? A teleporter? No, he hadn’t materialized in front of
her. She’d seen it done before. Fucking shifter speed was what he’d used to reach her so fast.
  Christa patted her hip. Damn. She’d left her gun in her car because it was always too
tempting to shoot Vance if she took it into the meeting.
  She tried to fake a left and then moved right to move around him when the other man
gripped her by the arm. A sharp stick in the arm made her jerk. She peered at the man as he
pulled a needle out of her arm.
  Son of a bitch.
  Her vision blurred, and her legs wobbled, no longer able to hold her up.
“Bastards,” she managed to say before everything went black.
 
About the Author:
  Lia Davis is a mother to two young adults and two very special kitties, a wife to her soul mate, a
paranormal romance author, and co-owner to Fated Desires Publishing, LLC. She and her family live in   Northeast Florida battling hurricanes and very humid summers. But it’s her home and she loves it!
  An accounting major, Lia has always been a dreamer with a very activity imagination. The wheels in her head never stop. She ventured into the world of writing and publishing in 2008 and loves it more than she imagined. Writing is stress reliever that allows her to go off in her corner of the house and enter into another world that she created, leaving real life where it belongs.
  Her favorite things are spending time with family, traveling, reading, writing, chocolate, coffee, nature and hanging out with her kitties.

Book Promo: True Love's First Kiss by Heidi Garrett + Giveaway

Only for a limited time, True Loves First Kiss by Heidi Garrett is only .99 cents for kindle!  True Loves First Kiss is the bind up of Nandana's Mark, The Flower of Isbelline and The Dragon Carnivale.  This series is YA  (ages 14+) Fantasy/High Fantasy/Fairytale Fantasy and is a total of 681 pages.
 
True Love’s First Kiss:

~ Books 1-3 of this five-book series in a single digital bundle ~

Half-Faeries and mortals. Black magic and genocide. Coming of age and coming into power.


~ Book 1 - NANDANA’S MARK ~

Melia longs to fly like the fullblood faeries.

Her mortal father plots to bring war to the Enchanted world.

Her faerie mother practice black magic behind closed doors.

Overshadowed by her parent's obsessions, Melia has become an outcast. She seeks aid from the mysterious Illustrator, who makes a strange mark on her forehead. The mark is meant to draw the help of a green-eyed stranger from distant lands. Before he arrives, a tragic accident destroys what's left of Melia’s already fractured family. Her mother is unforgiving. The punishment she metes out will leave her middle daughter torn between guilt and ecstasy—and will complicate her relationship with the green-eyed stranger.


~ Book 2 - THE FLOWER OF ISBELLINE ~

When a false marriage seduces Melia’s sister,

And the keys to power are at risk,

The cost of denying true love will be apocalyptic.

Melia is determined to stop her sister from pursuing their father’s damning legacy.


~ Book 3 - THE DRAGON CARNIVALE ~

In Illialei, a light queen practices black magic.


In Tyrannis, the dragonwitch rises to power.


In the Mortal World, Umbra pursues the halfbloods as vessels of incarnation.

Energies in the Enchanted World are shifting and new alliances are forming; the Battle of Dark and Light has begun. Melia is desperate to make things right with Ryder, the young priest from Idonne, but first she must warn the halfbloods in the Mortal World that Umbra is coming for them--and face the powerful Dragonwitch and her spectacular Dragon Carnivale.
Find it:
Amazon

If you don't have a kindle, download an app to read on any device here.


 About the Author:

In her life and in her writing, Heidi Garrett is fascinated by thresholds and borders between: human and divine, ego and Self, conscious and unconscious, reality and imagination.

Confronted daily with situations where the most superficial aspects of life are valued, she's obsessed with going deeper.

Whenever she's lost her way, fairy tales and fantastical stories have restored her faith.

Whether you've picked up The Queen of the Realm of Faerie series, or a story in her Once Upon a Time Today collection of contemporary fairytale retellings, these stories feature female characters who must draw from their deepest selves to win.

Heidi was born in Texas, and in an attempt to reside in as many cities in that state as she could, made it to Houston, Lubbock, Austin, and El Paso.  She now lives in Eastern Washington state with her husband, their two cats, her laptop, and her Kindle.

Being from the South, she often contemplates the magic of snow and hopes to remind readers that:
Once upon a time, you lived in an enchanted world...

 Find the author:

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads


We'd love your help to spread the word,  and for convenience we've put together some tweets or facebook posts for you.

What’s in a kiss? $0.99 Sale! TrueLove’s First Kiss #amreading #highfantasy #fairytale #quest #romance http://ow.ly/riRkB

$0.99 Sale! Half-Faeries & mortals. Black magic & genocide. Coming of age & coming into power. #TrueLovesFirstKiss http://ow.ly/riRkB

Half-Human, Half-Fae Protagonist Struggles Against the Dark #TrueLovesFirstKiss $0.99 Sale! http://ow.ly/riRkB

$0.99 Sale! TrueLove’s First Kiss #highfantasy #fairytale #compilation #KCD #KindleCountdownDeal http://ow.ly/riRkB

Melia longs to fly like the fullblood faeries… TrueLove’s First Kiss $0.99 #amreading #YA #fantasy #quest #romance http://ow.ly/riRkB

GIVEAWAY: 


a Rafflecopter giveaway   

This has been put together by CBB Book Promotions.

 

Monday, December 16, 2013

Cover reveal: Stakeout by Nikki Jefford

BOOK & AUTHOR INFO:

Stakeout by Nikki Jefford
(Aurora Sky: Vampire Hunter #2.5)
Publication date: January 14th 2014
Genres: New Adult, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy

Synopsis:
Noel Harper got a second chance at life when the government recruited her as an undercover vampire informant. Since the day they brought her back from the good-as-dead, she has wanted to prove herself worthy.

When a member of her investigative unit is murdered, Noel is paired up with a vampire hunter named Dante to spy on a suspect in Fairbanks. The problem? They’re not the only ones on stakeout. Taking down murderous vampires is one thing. Dealing with the past is another. But this time, Noel isn’t letting fear win. She’s calling in help from the other side and learns a shocking secret along the way.

(STAKEOUT is an Aurora Sky: Vampire Hunter novella told from Noel Harper’s POV. Approximately 40,000 words.)

Purchase Book 1:

Purchase Book 2:

----

AUTHOR BIO
Nikki Jefford is a third generation Alaskan who found paradise in the not-so-tropical San Juan Islands (Wash.) where she is once more neighbors with Canada in a town without a single traffic light. She loves fictional bad boys and heroines who kick butt.

When she's not reading, writing, working, or out on a nature walk, she's out riding her Suzuki DRZ400SM.

Author links:
http://www.nikkijefford.com/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5424286.Nikki_Jefford
https://www.facebook.com/authornikkijefford?ref=ts&fref=ts
https://twitter.com/NikkiJefford

--

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Cover reveal: The Underworld King by Ranjit More + Giveaway


Today we're excited to bring to you the cover reveal for the fantasy novel,  The Underworld King by Ranjit More. While this is an adult fantasy, it is appropriate for YA readers.



Book Description:
60,000 miles below the surface of the earth thrives a kingdom inhabited by daityas – giant, fanged beings of the night who sometimes travel to the surface above and eat humans in the hearts of grim forests. Their four-armed king, Drumila, faces a new peril, and this time it is advancing upon him not from the heavens, where his eternal enemies reside, but from the darkest depths of creation. The naagas –giant, flame-breathing serpents– are traveling towards the capital of daityas, intent upon reducing them to ashes, and Drumila must do everything in his power to thwart them. For no matter how strongly he detests his subjects' lifestyle and nature, it is his duty to protect them as king.



 Moved by Drumila's plight, the powerful sage, Shukracharya, swims down into the underworld upon the back of his giant crocodile and convinces his disciple-king to migrate to the surface of the earth.



What follows is an epic exodus to the world above and a strange encounter with a beautiful girl thereupon. Nandini seems to be human, but all signs point towards her having descended from the heavens, the least of which are a delicate waist and long eyes extending up to her ears. But is this a trick of the gods? Drumila will find out soon enough, when the battle begins.

THE UNDERWORLD KING is the tale of the emperor of Paataal, the Hindu underworld, and the goddess of Svarg, the Hindu heaven, and their quest for endless power, lust and each other's destruction.

Here's an excerpt for your enjoyment:

A sage called Shukracharya emerged from the limpid waters of a lake upon the back of a giant, green crocodile. Swiftly had they shot through the reservoir, the sage and the crocodile, like a divine shaft released by Shambhu[1] from the underworld, and had arrived on the banks of the lake, which lay within a myterious island. Yet, it was early, as far as their fixed arrivals at the secret site were concerned, for the sun-globe was still visible in the sky and had yet to redden the earthly firmament.
Churning the life airs[2] within his body, Shukracharya heated the surface of his skin and dried off the water running over it. Then he got down from the crocodile upon the golden sands of the bank and surveyed the forest around him. 

A thousand times over had he seen these woods, which were the residence of his beloved deity, Nataraj, Who produced blazing fires from His third eye and scorched the cosmos until it became devoid of life and matter. Fanning those flames with His destructive dance, Nataraj then destroyed the twelve worlds and their denizens at the end of every divine millenium, and created the worlds anew.

A thrill ran across Shukracharya’s body as he recalled his Lord’s destructive activities, which, although terrific and frightening to most living beings, were necessary for the balance of nature. It produced in him a great desire to see the white Lord immediately, but alas, it was not possible. There were rules to be followed, regulations to be observed, in the divine jungle of Shiva-Shankara. Shukracharya controlled the urge, and turned the other way, for Nataraj didn’t expect his services for one and a half muhurt[3] yet. 

Of course, idols normally didn’t expect anything, seeing as how they were made of gold, stone, wood or jewels (Shukra’s idol was made of jewels) but this particular statue managed to express such things nevertheless, and more. Shukra believed it was due to the divine mystic power of the forest-island than any miraculous result of his own devotion, but he was glad about it either way. Only, whenever Damstra, the crocodile, accompanied him to His sacred grove, did the deity remain lifeless. Otherwise He talked and laughed with Shukra in the most astonishing way.

Since he had time to spend, Shukracharya looked in the direction of south, where he hoped to find something that would occupy him. As though in response, a cool breeze imbrued with many sweet fragrances blew from the direction, beckoning him. 

‘I can smell the scent of the champaka flower in there somewhere,’ he thought, as the fragrances passed him by. ‘And even a hint of bilva!’ Both trees were exceedingly dear to Nataraja; with their flowers and leaves finding extensive use in His worship.
 ‘If not, he thought, at least I’ll get some fresh flowers to tuck in my hair.’
Like most divine sages, Shukracharya had matted hair upon his head, tied in a manner that resembled a large beehive. Due to swimming so rapidly through the waters of the lake, all the flowers and leaves had washed away from it.

Shukracharya turned to his crocodile. “Damstra,” he said, “stay here.” 

The crocodile nodded his heavy, green head but Shukra continued to look upon him. “Last time I saw you, you were holding one of the reptiles from the forest in your mouth.” He narrowed his eyes. “It looked like you were about to swallow the poor creature. May I ask why? At the time I had some important matter pressing on my mind, and I didn’t say anything to you. But now that I remember, I demand to know the meaning of such behavior.” 

The giant crocodile tossed his scaly head as though shaking it in denial. “I never was going to eat it, maharaj[4],” he said in a heavy voice, looking grumpily at the spot where this event had occurred. “But the crocodiles took me to be an ordinary reptile like themselves and came to challenge me. I had to expand my body and display my strength. Would you rather me sit still and do nothing? Your mount?”

“Of course not,” Shukra said at once. “You must defend yourself and your self-respect at all times… I only ask that you don’t kill anything here, on this sacred island.”

“Of course, maharaj,” Damstra said. “I won’t.”

“Very well. Rest awhile.”

Damstra then nodded and began to lumber away lazily on his four, bent legs.

Shukracharya gripped his golden stick firmly and began to walk towards the southern forest, treading upon fine gravel in his wooden sandals. He passed palash trees laden with startling red flowers and groves of kadamb trees, which lent a sweet fragrance to the air, and caused fat bumblebees to buzz lazily around his matted hair.

He must’ve walked for a long time, because when he turned back, the lake, the crocodile and the forest had disappeared from view. As he looked around he only saw tiny shrubs and standing plants growing in large clusters here and there. It was a most wonderful thing. 

Where trees had been at least a yojan[5] tall near the lake, now appeared to be of the mere size of his thumb... If he wanted, Shukra could’ve uprooted a tree with his two fingers by exerting only a bit of force, but he restrained himself. 

‘What strange wonder is this?’ he thought. ‘Everything is so small!’

Shukra looked closer and was astonished even further. Verily, surrounding him on all sides, were hills and mountains…growing to the height of his waist!

He could have sat upon them like a throne, or beat them to crumbling rocks with his stick.
There was no mistaking it. 

Shukracharya had entered the dimension of the humans. 


The Underworld King is now available for purchase for only .99 cents for a limited time! (Regular price: $3.99)


Find the author:
Giveaway:
The author is generously giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card to one lucky person!
(INT)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

This cover reveal was organized and put together by CBB Book Promotions.
 

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Book Blast: The Foundlings by R.M. Garcia + Giveaway


Series: The Foundlings
Book #1


Foundling: A Vampire caused by accidental means. Throw together Nazi Vampires, Jewish Vampires, and one very special protective Vampire who is 1000 years old; and you have the makings of an explosive and riveting story.

What would you do, if the love of your life, was suddenly kidnapped by Nazi vampires and forced to become one of them? How would you feel if these same vampires discovered she was Jewish and sentenced her to a permanent death?

Join our hero Donnie as he battles the obstacles of the underworld in a quest for survival against the odds. Will he prevail and save his one true love from eternal damnation?

If you enjoyed Linian Carmine's The Lost Boys, or Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code, then you will truly enjoy this story. Filled with wonderful twists and turns it will keep you guessing to the dramatic end.

Praise for The Foundlings:
"This is just one of those stories that draws you in and keeps you reading till the very end."
"Very imaginative and a refreshing twist with vampires can't wait for next book too come out."
"a lot of surprises and some twists in this story, it was not predictable and I love that in a book"

Amazon | Smashwords | BN

R.M. Garcia


I was born and raised in New Jersey, and I am the proud son of Puerto Rican parents. My parents moved to New Jersey from Puerto Rico shortly after getting married; I was born about a year later. I have 2 younger siblings, twins, Eric and Erica. Growing up I was a kind child who never asked for much. I didn't ask for anything because my imagination provided me with everything that I would ever need. My mother always said, that of all her children, I was the one that gave her the least amount of trouble.

I was considered a dreamer by all of my teachers, but I never thought that label was a bad thing. I was initially very shy until I got older and stopped caring about others' opinions of me. I realized that I was, who I was, and you either liked me or you didn't; simple as that.

I have been called weird, quirky, funny and trustworthy, all titles I hold dear. I wrote the short story of The Foundlings when I was still in high school and it was not until much later that I fully developed it into a book. Back in the day, I also wrote poetry, but story telling became my true love.

After high school, I moved to Florida and went to college. I dabbled in various professions over the next several years. I worked in jobs such as Hotel Manager, Accountant, Insurance Agent, Travel Agent, Customer Service Rep, Draftsman, and even a Fry Cook.

When I started on the book, I realized that this was my passion, what I was ultimately meant to do. I loved writing The Foundlings and even if it does not become a best seller, I will continue to write. Publishing my first book led to me meeting my wonderful wife. So God willing and with the help of my fans, The Foundlings will make a mark in the literary world. Thank you for reading about me.

Website  |  Author Facebook Page  |  Series Facebook Page  |  Twitter 
GoodreadsAmazon Author Page

 GIVEAWAY

$25 Amazon.com or BN.com Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 12/25/2013. Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com or BN.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kisha from Indie Hoopla Services & Promotions, http://indiehoopla.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Cover reveal: The Wolf's Cry by Natalie Crown + Giveaway

 I'm excited to reveal the cover of The Wolf's Cry by Natalie Crown. This is a YA Fantasy/Alternate World book that releases January 2014. This is the first book in the The Semei Trilogy.


She is his weakness.
And she will ruin everything.

Kammy Helseth's idea of adventure never amounted to more than getting a boat across to the mainland and finally escaping to London. That was until she stumbled through the mouth of the forest into a world beneath our own, the world of the Semei.

Her only wish is to find her way home but when Jamie, her best friend, is taken into this new world of shapeshifters and Crystals she has no choice but to stand up to her fear and to remain beneath the surface. Hunted by Bagor, King of Alashdial, and those that are loyal to him, Kammy finds herself in the company of a group of outlaws led by Jad, a Prince with a bitter past and a similarly bitter demeanour.

They overcome age-old prejudice to find a way to work together. But Bagor knows a secret about the Crystals that threatens to change everything. Kammy and Jad must find a way to thwart the king and to save Jamie, but that is just the beginning. For Kammy is in possession of a Key and the fate of countless lives, both human and Semei, may rest in her hands.
Find the book:



About the Author:
I grew up in a village called Swilland, in the countryside of Suffolk, England. There wasn't much around, other than farms and fields, but for the most part I loved it, and I still do. I’m a passionate person by nature. I don’t just LIKE things, I LOVE things. Whether it’s a book, a film, or a sports team. Once I decide to enjoy something, I enjoy it to the MAX.

I’m a terrible cook. I prioritise essential social media work over keeping my flat tidy, because I know best. I

Onto my love of reading and, consequently, writing - it was my dad that played a big role in encouraging me to read. He didn't push me towards books necessarily; he simply read a lot himself. Then I would pick up his books and read them after him. I was reading high and epic fantasy from a very young age. I guess that might explain why I have always loved adventure stories with magic and intrigue and princes and princesses in.

I was aware that I wanted to ‘be a writer’ from a very young age. I was convinced I would be the first best seller that hadn't reached double figures in age yet! I wrote about the Danshees, furry creatures that lived through a mirror. I wrote about a Sand Bottle that transported a boy into a world of magic. I wrote about a sick girl finding a music boy that healed her, but transported her back in time. (Wow, I always have loved alternate universes…)

When I was eight I wrote my first novel called The Land of No Return. Despite the title, I am determined to return to it one day. I feel like I owe it to my past self. So, as you can see, I have always been writing. There have been times when I have gone weeks without scratching down a word. Then there are days where I churn out multiple chapters and only my body’s silly desire for sleep and/or food can stop me.

I write because I enjoy it. I write fantasy because I enjoy it. I try my hardest to put something of myself into my writing. I like to think my characters have depth, I like to think that my fantasy worlds reflect upon the real world in some way. You guys will be the judge of that but even if you don't agree I know that I at least try and I can do no more than that.

These days I live in North London and I love it. I work full time and London is a hectic city. Juggling work, writing and a social life is tough but nobody is forcing me to do it so I can't complain. The dream is that writing will be my career one day but it doesn't matter if I never quite make it. I love writing too much to ever pack it in.

I am desperate to get a dog. My mum suspects I miss my cats at home more than I miss her. I am a devout Arsenal/Ferrari/Rafael Nadal fan. I get all mad when confronted with a case of social injustice and then I get all mad when people take the fight for social justice too far. I mostly keep those thoughts to myself and simmer with rage. I watch good TV and bad TV, because I can. What I can’t do is enjoy bad books (subjective opinion of course). I just can’t.

Find the author:
Website/BlogTumblr | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads


Giveaway:
$40 Amazon Gift Card (INT)
a Rafflecopter giveaway


This cover reveal was organized by CBB Book Promotions.  
 
Sounds pretty good! What do you think?

Monday, December 9, 2013

November reading list




  So I'm a little behind on posting this. I've been sick on and off this month and just been really busy. Anyways, here's what I was able to read in November.

18211118 3/5*
 

                                  18169358 3/5*
 I received this one in exchange for an honest review. Its part of a box set of books.
 
42899 4/5* reread
Part of the BDB read-along with the
 
18715180  3/5*
Given to me in exchange for an honest review
 
18309146  2/5*
Given for review. Part of the Billionaire Erotic Romance Boxed Set
 
13489875  4/5*
Reviewed for The Smutty Kitty
 
35729  5/5* reread
For the BDB read-along
 
5582295  4/5*
 
15981347  4/5*
 
16247958  4/5*
Received in exchange for an honest review
 
2168860  4/5* reread
 
17287690  3/5*
Received in exchange for review. Part of Billionaire Erotic Romance Boxed Set
Also read for the 2013 Sports Romance challenge on Herding Cats and Burning Soup
 
8480042  3/5*
Reviewed for The Smutty Kitty
 
42900  5/5* reread
Read for the BDB read-along
 
12409363  3.5/5*
Reviewed for The Smutty Kitty
 
 
15 for November.. not too bad. :) 
Have you read anything good?