Series Blitz and Giveaway: Strange In Skin Series by Sara V. Zook

 

 

Title – Strange In Skin

Series – Strange In Skin – Book #1

Author – Sara V. Zook

Genre – Paranormal, Fantasy

Publication Date – July 24, 2012

Publisher – Imagine Press

Cover Artist – Brenda Grate

BLURB:

From the moment Anna James meets the strange prisoner Emry Logan, she becomes instantly obsessed and will stop at nothing to try to get another interaction with him. But going against her family and church aren’t without consequence. She is deemed a traitor as she quickly realizes that there’s more to Emry’s past than just murder. He has a special ability that is far from human that he only shares with her. Feeling this magical connection, Anna has to free her beautiful inmate so that they can be together finally, but someone else knows about Emry’s secret and wants Anna to stop digging for answers as she finds herself in the midst of a modern day witch hunt. The life of an innocent pastor’s kid suddenly is turned upside down in a war between good and evil as Anna begins to wonder which people in her life are on the side of good, and is she one of them.

SYNOPSIS

Anna James’ sheltered life is turned upside down the moment she meets Emry Logan in prison. She can’t stop thinking about how nice he was to her and his stunning yet sad blue eyes. Then he writes her a letter asking her to save him which prompts Anna to sneak into the jail as a visitor to see him.

Buck Brady is a local policeman who also has a crush on Anna. Knowing this, she goes on a date with Buck to try to get some answers about the prison as well as Emry. During the date, Buck slips that Emry Logan is incarcerated on a charge of murdering his best friend. On the ride home, Buck’s car gets a flat tire. They walk to Mrs. Anderson’s house nearby where Anna catches her father, the pastor, uncomfortably close to Mrs. Anderson and seemingly in an affair with the strange woman.

Feeling like her secure home life is becoming a lie, Anna finds another letter sent to her from Emry. Returning the prison, Emry tells her about his home life and that he once was married to the wrong woman.

Hanging out with Buck again results in his attempt to kiss Anna, and her disapproval by punching him in the eye. The phone rings at Buck’s house. Anna’s mother is having heart trouble and has been admitted to the hospital. Once there, Anna is disturbed even more to see that Mrs. Anderson has shown up at the hospital and asks to speak to her father privately.

With more home turmoil as Anna’s aunt, Carlin, arrives to help take care of Anna’s mother, Anna tries to stay out of the house as much as possible. She sees Emry’s ex-wife in a grocery store and ends up following her to her house just to get a glimpse of another woman who had stolen the prisoner’s heart.

Obsession taking over her mind, Anna dresses as a lawyer to get a face-to-face visit with Emry. He tells her how he doesn’t remember his best friend dying and tries to tell her that something strange happens to him every once in a while beyond his control. Then they lock hands and Anna realizes she’s not in Seneca, Ohio anymore.

Emry Logan has transported Anna somewhere else, another world named Evadere. They are on a gorgeous beach and alone together where they get the chance to talk about each other’s lives. As quickly as it happened, Anna is jerked back to Earth, her lawyer disguise found out by Buck Brady.

Anna is interrogated by Buck and her father who are very angry with her having been there, putting herself in the position of danger. Instead of going home, Anna decides to go to a bar, not her usual setting, where she finds Buck Brady and his friends. Buck mocks her and Emry. Mrs. Anderson is the one who comes in and puts an end to it. She has some sort of power over the policemen.

Trying to investigate further into Emry’s life, Anna visits his adopted mother’s house, a filthy, old woman with dementia who slips that not only is Emry adopted, but Anna as well.

Anna still avoids home and goes to Mrs. Anderson’s house where she becomes hidden in the woods in the middle of a snowstorm. A group of local men, well known in the community, gather around as Mrs. Anderson conducts some sort of ceremony with a bonfire as Emry’s name along with a Lucas Banesberry is announced during the chant.

Anna digs further into who Lucas Banesberry is as she drives to speak with his family. She finds out a story of a little girl named Cassie who found Lucas and the family took him in and adopted him as one of their own. However, one day while playing with Lucas, Cassie mysteriously disappeared and was never found again. Lucas was arrested, put in prison and on his day of release, assassinated the moment he stepped out of the courthouse. Anna finds that Mrs. Anderson, also known by the last name Hanley, was involved with helping Lucas get locked up.

Confronting her family about her adoption, Anna becomes depressed. She alienates herself from everyone until she attempts to forget Emry Logan altogether. She tries to get her sheltered life back, returning to a normal routine at her mother’s antique shop.

While attending her father’s service one Sunday morning at church, Anna sees her father speaking with Lauren, Mrs. Anderson’s son. They leave in a hurry, and Anna attempts to follow them. She decides to go to Mrs. Anderson’s house and breaks in to investigate. She finds Emry’s birth certificate and an old polaroid of him as a child. She questions why Mrs. Anderson has these items. Lauren catches her in the house and forcefully throws her down the basement stairs where she becomes injured and trapped.

Mrs. Anderson’s other son, a doctor, repairs Anna’s ankle. Her father comes to see her and decides to leave her there. It’s actually Carlin who comes to her rescue to get her out of Mrs. Anderson’s basement and take her to the courthouse where they’ll be announcing Emry’s verdict later that day.

As she’s getting cleaned up in Carlin’s hotel room, Carlin confesses to Anna that she is actually Anna’s real mother.

They go to the courthouse together. Everyone stares as they enter. Emry is declared innocent. He introduces Anna to his attorney, Ben Hanley. The last name strikes Anna’s memory, and she becomes convinced that Mrs. Anderson is related to Emry’s attorney and that he’s in danger. If he leaves the courthouse, he may be assassinated in the same manner Lucas Banesberry was.

After failed attempts to warn Emry, Anna sees a woman pull out a knife and go toward Emry. Anna grabs Buck’s gun and shoots the woman dead before she is able to harm Emry.

The last scene is Emry and Anna walking on the beaches of Evadere together. A man approaches them and speaks to them. They realize that Evadere is not empty, but that there is life living there also.

BUY LINKS

Amazon Kindle Link – http://www.amazon.com/Strange-in-Skin-ebook/dp/B008ONH78S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1380713279&sr=8-1&keywords=Sara+v.+zook

Amazon Paperback Link – http://www.amazon.com/Strange-In-Skin-Sara-Zook/dp/1478277556/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1380713279&sr=8-1

Goodreads Link – http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6450481.Sara_V_Zook?from_search=true

 

Title – Evadere

Series – Strange In Skin – Book #2

Author – Sara V. Zook

Genre – Paranormal, Fantasy

Publication Date – December 18, 2012

Publisher – Imagine Press

Cover Artist – Brenda Grate

BLURB

When Anna becomes separated from Emry, she has no other choice but to explore the foreign world of Evadere on her own. She soon discovers that it is tainted from a stirring turmoil among the people.

Evadere has been a place of respite and escape from the difficulties of Earth for Anna and Emry, but alone on Evadere, Anna is pulled into the stirrings of an uprising between the Scaves and the ones who force them to live as scavengers. Anna is determined not to let the fear and attempts on her life stop her from finding her way back to Emry.

But Anna is shocked when she discovers who Emry really is, the forces of evil supporting him and how the temptations in paradise have been misleading them both.

It will take all the strength and determination Anna and Emry possess to survive Evadere, even as the killing starts ...

BUY LINKS

Amazon Kindle Link – http://www.amazon.com/Evadere-Book-Strange-Skin-ebook/dp/B00AQ9S1G0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1380805495&sr=8-2&keywords=sara+v+zook

Amazon Paperback Link – http://www.amazon.com/Evadere-Book-Two-Strange-Skin/dp/1927404177/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1380805495&sr=8-2

Goodreads Link – http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6450481.Sara_V_Zook?from_search=true

 

Title – Solace

Series – Strange In Skin – Book #3

Author – Sara V. Zook

Genre – Paranormal, Fantasy

Publication Date – September 29, 2013

Publisher – Planettopia Publishing – http://plantettopiapublishing.wordpress.com

Cover Artist – Stephanie Fontecha – http://www.facebook.com/beetifulbookcovers.com

BLURB

Emry and Anna's love has always been forbidden. They've been hunted, seen those around them murdered and still don't know who to blame or who to trust. In a world where Anna is considered just a human, can peace be achieved between those inhabiting Evadere and those cast out and left for dead? They have to find out who is after them before it's too late, before one of the lives lost is their own, but are Emry's powers strong enough to save the one he loves? As their wedding day approaches, so does a war, and no one sees it coming.

Amazon Kindle Link – http://www.amazon.com/Solace-Three-Strange-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B00FIWO9JS/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1

Goodreads Link – http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6450481.Sara_V_Zook?from_search=true

AUTHOR BIO

Sara wrote her first book at age six.  Of course, it was only a few pages, handwritten by a 6-year-old and was about kitty cats.  As a child, some days she would be out venturing in the woods with her older brother and cousins, but sometimes would stay inside and create stories, write them down in a notebook and then pretend to publish them by typing them up on her mother's old typewriter.  "I know, what a weird child I was."  From then on out, Sara didn't want to be anything but a writer.  When others would ask her classmates what they wanted to be when they grew up, some would say the usual things, singers, veterinarians, astronauts, but not Sara.  Sara would say writer, and then she'd get a strange stare.  Writer?  What child says they want to be a writer? 
Sara graduated from United High School in 2000, a small school out in the country where everyone knew each other from kindergarten up and could tell you every little detail about each other and still can.  "It was a nice area to grow up, and I love going back."
In 2004, Sara graduated from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown with a bachelor's in, you guessed it, creative writing.  She had such a blast in college, met some of the greatest people that Sara still remains in close contact with along with her husband, Brad.  They were married and had two children back to back, so while Sara was in "mommy land," her writing was put on the back-burner.

Sara started writing again in the summer of 2010, and after three months, 'Strange in Skin' became the product of her imagination.  Sara had so much fun writing it, she couldn't stop.  She would work all day and then stay up late at night typing up a few more chapters.  She didn't want it to end, so Sara decided she would have to write more books to follow it.  The main characters, Anna James and Emry Logan, were people Sara could relate to, that she loved to relate to.  There's nothing quite like a sappy love story that's so good it sucks you in.  You want them to be together.  They have to be together and you can't stop reading until they are together.  That with a little paranormal twist, and voila, a book is born.  
Then Sara and Brad became proud parents once again. Sara is still in "mommy land" but also Strange in Skin fantasy land.  The mix of both raising children and writing makes for some pretty entertaining days.  Sara could write a million stories on her kids alone, especially the things that come out of their mouths that you're either so shocked they said or are so funny that you can't stop laughing.   

STALKER LINKS

Amazon Author Page – http://amazon.com/author/saravzook

Website/Blog – http://www.saravzook.com

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/SaraVZook

Twitter – https://twitter.com/SaraVZook

Google+ - http://authorsaravzook.blogspot.com/

Goodreads- http://www.goodreads.com/SVZook

2 $25 Amazon Gift Cards

1 Gift set of all 3 Books signed w/swag – US Only

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author Interview with Kaitlin Bevis, author of The Daughters of Zeus Series.

 

Today on the blog we have the fabulous Kaitlin Bevis, author of The Daughters of Zeus Series. I have to say that this series was an amazing read and it’s an honor to have such a brilliant mind on the blog today. So sit back and enjoy the interview.

Did you always wanted to be a writer? If not what did you want to be?

I've always wanted to be a writer. There's not a specific moment I remember. I colored pictures of stories before I could write and I have this tendency to act out story scenes that goes back as long as I can remember. I used to be a much more enthusiastic actress. I'd run around my house acting out scenes like a little psychopath. Now I just talk to myself while I'm driving in the car.

When did you first consider yourself a “writer”?

When a friend introduced me as a writer. Even after I got published, if people asked what I did for a living, I said I mostly stayed home with my daughter and moderated a website. It never occurred to me to answer that I was a writer until she said it.

How long did it take to get your first book published?

About two years. But the writing process for Persephone was complicated. I came up with the idea the summer Clash of the Titans came out, drafted the entire thing in my head during the movie (really, it was that bad), and went home and wrote a very rough first draft.

I was six months pregnant at the time. Pregnancy affects everyone differently, but for me, at a certain point, it made me feel like an idiot. For the first time ever my college classes resembled the classes I'd seen on television, where the professor asked students and answers would fly out of their mouths over my head. My brain just couldn't keep up. Writing felt about the same way. I'd sit down to tinker with my rough draft and stare blankly at my computer screen before realizing all I really wanted to do was eat breadsticks from Olive Garden.

I was also finishing up my last semester of college, moving to Athens, and dealing with all the chaos that comes with pregnancy, graduation, and moving. So I shelved the idea for a few months, returning to it when my daughter was three months old. I fleshed out my rough draft, wrote a second draft from first person, and found a local writers group, and took the whole draft through writers group in five thousand word chunks every other week.

I can't even begin to explain how much of a difference a good writers group makes. My writers group, rocks. We have a content editor from a small publishing house, a copy editor from the same house, several published writers, lots of writers with academic credit, and an incredible amount of talent. There are two members of this group that could sit down, half asleep, and type out a book that could be published and hit bookshelves across the country tomorrow.

I'm not jealous or anything.

With their help, I whipped my book into shape. The pacing had to be improved, subplots had to be expanded on, character motivation had to be clearer. There were a few changes they suggested that I resisted, and kept the same.

And they were the first things my editor had me change, so lesson learned.

My next draft was practically unrecognizable from the first. I took it through again, then had several friends that hadn't spent the last year working on my story read through it. Finally it was ready for submission.

I sent my story to a few agents known to the group, and never heard back. I sent my book to TOR, and Belle Bridge. I never heard back from TOR but Belle Bridge rejected me because two popular young adult writers were apparently in the process of having books about Persephone published. Which is actually funny, because after I got my contract with Musa, I sent an arc to one of my favorite writers, and she said it was very similar to a book she and a group of well known young adult writers had worked on together, but ultimately decided not to publish.

My editor tells me that's very common. An idea gets in the air between writers that have never communicated, and suddenly everyone in the writing community is working on the same story.

Obviously my story was accepted by Musa publishing. It went through two rounds of content editing, and then a round of copy editing. Now it's out in the world and waiting for readers.

It was a lot of time, and a lot of work, but I've enjoyed every step in the process. I hope you all enjoy reading my book as much as I enjoyed writing it.

A while.

Do you do another job except for writing and can you tell us more about it?

I do. I work as a moderator for a website called Truu Confessions. People go and anonymously confess embarrassing stuff, and I read it and decide whether or not it gets put on the website.

What is the name of your latest book, and if you had to summarize it in less than 20 words what would you say?

The Iron Queen. The Iron Queen concludes Persephone's arc in the series. Persephone has come to terms with being a goddess and her new responsibilities

Who is your publisher? Or do you self-publish?

I'm published through a small publishing house called Musa Publishing. But all authors, indie or not, have to do a big chunk of their own self-promotion, so I have a lot in common with self-published writers. I just lack the technical know-how to turn my books into an ebook on my own. I tried, with one of my short stories, Siren Song. I still can't figure out how to get an excerpt to show up, so I just typed it in the description

What can we expect from you in the future? ie More books of the same genre? Books of a different genre?

My next book, Venus and Adonis kicks off Aphrodite's arc in the Daughters of Zeus series. Aphrodite (in my version) is a new goddess, and while she doesn't have the same issues Persephone has with accepting her role and responsibilities, relationships are a mystery to her. She needs to figure out how to interact with humans in a way that makes people less inclined to slap her, and she needs to do it while searching for a group of missing demigods and tracking down a group that has weapons designed to kill gods. Aphrodite will get a trilogy, then Artemis, and then I'm considering a prequel with Helen and Cassandra. I have a few non-Greek mythology based book ideas, and I plan on using Nanowrimo to fully develop one of them.

What genre would you place your books into?

Young adult Greek mythology retellings.

What made you decide to write that genre of book?

I've always loved young adult books, and because that's what I read, my voice is better suited for it. I really enjoy writing young adult fiction. As far as the Greek mythology bit, that just came with the story. I'll write something outside of that genre eventually.

Do you have a favorite character from your books? And why are they your favorite?

Melissa. A lot of people hate her, which makes me sad because she's the character I get the most. I've read books about characters with fantastic abilities my entire life. I've wished magic was real with every fiber of my being, and you know what I eventually figured out? If all the stuff I read about was real, I'd probably still just be a regular human. That's why I love Melissa. She has to deal with the knowledge that everything is real, just not for her, and she manages to deal with that crushing disappointment while still being a good friend. I admire her for that, it can't be easy having a goddess for a best friend.

How long have you been writing?, and who or what inspired you to write?

I've been writing all my life. Before I could read I called it make believe, but the same basic components were there. Plotting, developing characters, dialogue. It's all there,

I developed much of my writing style through reading. I would read my books with a black marker and a pen in hand, so I could change anything I didn't like. If the next book wasn't coming out soon enough, I'd create my own version.

I did that with shows too. As soon as Sailor Moon went off I'd start acting out the next episode. I was so proud of myself, because I was almost always right.

Took me awhile to realize the show had a rather repetitive formula...

While I was in middle school I wrote my first book. It was terrible. I still have it on a floppy disk, and I'm too terrified to open the file because it was that bad. In high school I was able to take creative writing classes and learned how to critique the work of my peers.

I enjoyed writing so much that when I ran out of creative writing classes in high school, I begged my school councilor to let me take it at the college through joint enrollment. In the summer between eleventh and twelfth grade I took English 1101 and 1102. During my senior year I took introduction to creative writing, advanced fiction writing, advanced non fiction writing, advanced poetry writing, and screenplay writing. The next year I took my core classes and even more creative writing classes. Including autobiographical writing, science fiction and fantasy writing, technical writing, and every other writing class I could find. Once I ran out I moved to Atlanta to get an English degree with a concentration in creative writing. I'm finishing up my masters now, and am applying to the Phd program with a creative writing dissertation.

Despite my lifetime commitment to writing, my personal writing didn't really take off until I joined my writers group. I was familiar with the workshop format through my schooling, but there's something different about a group of people who willingly spend Saturday nights away from their family and friends to talk about their writing that just can't be replicated in a classroom.

Do you have a certain routine you have for writing? ie You listen to music, sit in a certain chair?

The problem with routines is that they become necessary to your concentration. I've moved eight times in the last five years. My husband and I both work, both have school, and now I have a toddler in the mix. Right now I write best at night, but next semester my school schedule may shift and I may do most of my writing in a coffee shop between classes. I have to stay flexible, at least until my life settled down into a more predictable routine

Do you read all the reviews of your book/books? Yes. And all the goodread status updates. I'm a bit self-obsessed, I know, but I can't help it. The fact that people are reading my book is just amazing to me. Fortunately most of my reviews are good, but I am SO tempted to answer when people ask a question in the review, but you can't do that without looking really immature and unprofessional.

Do you choose a title first, or write the book then choose the title?

That really varies with the books. For the Persephone books, the titles came first, but I had a really clear idea where the series was going before I wrote a word. The titles were all her titles. Names are very important in the Persephone myth. They set the tone for the gods entire persona. Persephone didn't even have a name until she was abducted. The myth called her Kore, which is Greek for girl. Ovid referred to her as the Iron Queen in his retelling of the Orpheus myth to reflect her changed demeanor as this heartless, stone-cold jerk of a queen. A good chunk of who Persephone was in myths had nothing to do with her, but her lineage (hence Daughter of the Earth and Sky). In my series, each title has to do with Persephone's progression and acceptance of who she is, and who she is becoming

How do you come up with characters names and place names in your books?

For Persephone it was a tough decision whether to go with the classic Greek names or rename the characters something more modern. It was a tough call, but I'm glad I stuck with the classics. Sometimes the names find me, and that creates the character. While I was researching the Persephone myth, I stumbled upon Melissa, which was a title for a priestess of Demeter. To me, Melissa sounds like a young name, a modern name. Not some ancient title. That contrast got me thinking of whether or not the modern gods would have modern priestesses, and what that dynamic would be like.

Place names, I was always going to stick with Greek mythology and as many real places in the real world setting as I could. Memorial Park is real, Demeter's Garden is not. Demeter's Garden is really the only place name I got creative with.

Do you decide on character traits (ie shy, quiet, tomboy girl) before writing the whole book or as you go along?

I try, but my characters really develop themselves while I write. Persephone was supposed to be super shy and non-confrontational, then she surprised me and stabbed a guy with a pen in the third chapter and I realized she wasn't going to fit into the box I kept trying to write her in.

Are there any hidden messages or morals contained in your books? (Morals as in like Aesops Fables type of "The moral of this story is..")

Not so much for my books. I don't have an agenda and I'm not trying to pass on any pearls of wisdom, I just like good stories. I did a ton of research so if you're familiar with the myths there's all kinds of fun references in my stories, but I'm not trying to teach anyone anything. I just want people to have fun reading my book.

Which format of book do you prefer, eBook, hardback, or paperback?

EBook. When you've moved as often as I have the novelty of print becomes a bit of an encumbrance. Plus I like having my entire library on me at all times. Stuck waiting in the doctors office? No problem, I have a book. Can't remember something I've read, I can pull it up. I'm never going back to print!

I do sometimes reflect on the fact that should I ever find myself in post-apocalyptic conditions, most of my books will be on a dead phone. But libraries and bookstores should still exist, they just may not be manned, so I figure I can make due.

What is your favorite book and Why? Have you read it more than once?

Tamsin, by Peter Beagle. It's this fantastic ghost story that.. I can't even describe it, just go get a copy. It's amazing writing.

And of course I've read it more than once! I've read almost every book I've ever owned dozens of times. I read really fast, and I have to read before I can fall asleep. My budget would implode if it always had to be a new book. The library takes some of that pressure off, but I can only check out twenty books at a time, and most of those go to my daughter who is just learning how to read. Plus gas to get to the library is half the cost of one book, so I cant go too often.

Do you think books transfer to movies well? Which is you favorite/worst book to movie transfer?

It really depends on who's making it. Harry Potter translated really well because the writers paid attention to the books and what the fans liked and didn't stray that far from it while being conscious of the fact that film is a different medium than books. Ella Enchanted is the absolute worst book to film adaptation ever because the writer seems to have essentially read the back of the book once while texting a pal, waited a year, then wrote the movie. They didn't keep a thing, invented the villain, the conflict, and the subplots from thin air, changed the rules of the universe and then acted shocked by the results.

Your favorite food is?

Pizza.

Your favorite singer/group is?

The Goo-Goo Dolls. I don't know why, but I love most of their songs.

Your favorite color is?

Pink. I know, it's a super fluffy color, and people are always trying to make me feel childish for liking it, but it's a good color!

Remember to check out my 5 Star review of Iron Queen today on the blog and find out more about this amazing series!

Series Blitz, Review and Giveaway: Daughters of Zeus by Kaitlin Bevis

 

 

Book Info-

Title- Persephone

Series- Daughters of Zeus Book #1

By- Kaitlin Bevis

Genre-YA Paranormal

Blurb-

There are worse things than death, worse people too.

The "talk" was bad enough, but how many teens get told that they're a goddess? When her mom tells her, Persephone is sure her mother has lost her mind. It isn't until Boreas, the god of winter, tries to abduct her that she realizes her mother was telling the truth. Hades rescues her, and in order to safely bring Persephone to the Underworld he marks her as his bride. But Boreas will stop at nothing to get Persephone. Despite her growing feelings for Hades, Persephone wants to return to the living realm. Persephone must find a way to defeat Boreas and reclaim her life.

Links-

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15724908-persephone

Musa-http://musapublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=5&products_id=326&zenid=b864b1f25dd8379c4372cbee6ca0b106

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Persephone-ebook/dp/B008HYPD58/ref=la_B00875POAG_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1371825394&sr=1-2

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/persephone-kaitlin-bevis/1111973897?ean=2940014686051

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/181487

Kobo: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Persephone/book-Gcimqk_7y0-LYRkfZGKqWA/page1.html?s=85GJFYf1YUq964dgoSyu0Q&r=2

Ibooks: https://itunes.apple.com/au/book/persephone/id550273478?mt=11

ARE: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-persephone-1041197-143.html

 

Book Info-

Title- Daughter of the Earth and Sky

Series- Daughters of Zeus Book # 2

By-Kaitlin Bevis

Genre-YA Paranormal

Blurb-

Some vows can never be broken.

Persephone thought she could go back to her normal life after returning from the Underworld. She was wrong.

The goddess Aphrodite is born among the waves with more charm than she can control. Zeus is stalking Persephone and her loved ones, and Thanatos is no longer content with Persephone's silence.

He wants her soul.

Persephone can't tell anyone about Thanatos' betrayal, and it drives a wedge between her and Hades. Her mother is still keeping secrets, and Melissa's jealousy of Aphrodite threatens to tear their friendship apart.

Alone, Persephone turns to a human boy for comfort. But will their relationship put him in danger?

Sacrifices must be made, and Persephone must choose between her human life and her responsibilities as a goddess. If she doesn't, she could lose them both.

But will either life be worth choosing once Zeus is through with her?

Links-

Goodreads:http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16240988-daughter-of-the-earth-and-sky

Musa: http://musapublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=5&products_id=503

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Daughter-Earth-Daughters-Zeus-ebook/dp/B00ARA2YK2/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/daughter-of-the-earth-and-sky-kaitlin-bevis/1114018019?ean=2940016124100

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/267337

Kobo: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Daughter-of-the-Earth-Sky/book-WaPLppy9pUysEAVoCa28Lg/page1.html?s=ZwemYx4mrkSYkDVgZNAJLw&r=1

Ibooks: https://itunes.apple.com/au/book/daughter-of-the-earth-and-sky/id590558106?mt=11

ARE: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-daughteroftheearthandsky-1044959-143.html

 

 

Book Info-

Title- The Iron Queen

Series- The Daughters of Zeus Book # 3

By- Kaitlin Bevis

Genre- YA Paranormal

Blurb-

Life is hell for Persephone. Zeus will stop at nothing to gain access to the living realm and the Underworld, and as the only living god with a right to both, Persephone’s in trouble. Captured and tortured beyond the limits of her resolve, Persephone must find the power to stand against Zeus. But will she be strong enough?

Meanwhile, Hades contemplates desperate measures to rescue his queen. Persephone never thought of herself as dangerous, but there’s a reason gods never marry for love. A being with the power to destroy all of creation shouldn’t place more value in one individual than the rest of the planet. But Hades...Hades would break the world for her.

To save the world and stop both Hades and Zeus, Persephone must make a difficult choice. One that may cost her everything.

Links-

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17189031-the-iron-queen

Musa: http://musapublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=5&products_id=587

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Iron-Queen-Daughters-Zeus-ebook/dp/B00CUFSIIY/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1371826095&sr=1-1&keywords=9781619376045

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-iron-queen-kaitlin-bevis/1115360048?ean=2940016701929

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/317007

ARE: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-theironqueen-1211958-153.html

Excerpt-

Hades

Watching my wife chase after a human boy was hell. The heavy rain drenched the thin fabric of her clothes in seconds, plastering them to her body in a way that would be appealing…if he wasn’t going to see her, too. I clenched my jaw. She just doesn’t want him to get hurt. It wasn’t as though I wanted any mortals caught in the crossfire when we faced Zeus either. Persephone was just going to charm the boy into leaving the park.

Tearing my gaze away from her as she scurried up the hill, I searched the parking lot for Aphrodite, or Zeus, or whoever he, she, it may be. I had the layout of Memorial Park memorized, anyway. Who was I kidding? The entire city of Athens, Georgia was embedded in my mind. The precaution was reasonable. Persephone spent most of her time here, and she was a magnet for trouble.

I followed her up the dirt-packed path in my mind’s eye. She’d be rounding the corner now well above the park, oblivious to the way the plants she passed leaned toward her. Persephone was beautiful. Vibrant. Light and vitality pulsed from her that like the first warm gust of a spring breeze promised everything would soon be new and alive again, that winter would thaw into life. Everything was drawn to her. Unfortunately.

My thoughts returned to the human boy she was following. I scowled. Rain fell, pinging against the transparent shield that kept me out of sight while I sat dry atop a metal picnic table. My fingers worried a spot of rust. I tried not to think too hard about whatever else might have touched the shining surface.

This realm was disgusting. Insects swarmed the park, and birds flew through the air, dropping waste indiscriminately onto the world below. I couldn’t wait to return to the Underworld. The surface had its charms, but I had no desire to stay for long.

Joel!

Persephone’s voice rang through my mind, and I tossed up a mental wall. It wasn’t just good manners preventing me from listening in. This boy had been in her thoughts every night. I’d seen the way he looked at her like she was something to be consumed, the way he touched her like her body was his for the taking, the way her heart raced when she felt his breath upon her neck. I clenched my jaw and studied the parking lot like it might change shape any moment.

She’d probably think less of me if I ripped him apart.

Not that her opinion was all that stopped me. It wasn’t my habit to go around killing mortal children, and not just because I’d have to deal with them in the Underworld. I liked humans. Just not when they groped my wife.

My heart thudded at an uncomfortable speed, filling my body with adrenaline. I couldn’t seem to catch my breath. My hands gripped the edge of the picnic table, and I leaned forward, muscles tensed. That was strange. I had no reason to be this anxious. He was just a kid, and Persephone was Persephone; she had no idea what effect she had. I couldn’t really fault him for being interested, and I had encouraged her to see other people. A spectacularly stupid move on my part. Not only was it condescending as hell to tell Persephone what she should and shouldn’t feel toward me, but I’d managed to push her into the arms of another man. It had taken all of two seconds for me to realize I really didn’t want her to be with other men.

Apparently on top of all my other charming flaws I’m over-possessive. Who knew?

I took a deep breath to force myself to calm down, but it didn’t seem to work. What was the matter with me? Channeling Persephone’s power away every night had given me a very unwanted front row seat to her developing relationship with Joel. I’d seen every kiss, everything, and not felt this before. It hadn’t been pleasant, but—

Cold dread filled the pit of my stomach, and I frowned. This didn’t even feel like rage. My heart was still beating a mile a minute, like it might burst free from my chest at the slightest provocation. I felt strange, no…terrified.

That was it. Fear. But why was I—? It wasn’t mine.

My thoughts flew to Persephone, crashing through the mental wall. Her abject terror flooded my thoughts with such paralyzing force that for a second I lost the ability to move or breathe. All that existed was her fear. The boy spoke in a harsh voice, grip tight on her arm. I rose from the picnic table, ready to relieve him of that limb, when his words filtered through her thoughts.

…Hades.

I blinked. How would he know my name?

A red sports car squealed into the parking lot, and I swore. Hate to interrupt, I directed the thought to Persephone. The boy locked gazes with Persephone and seemed to look through her to me.

I knew those eyes. Images and thought fragments flashed from Persephone’s mind to catch me up, but I already knew everything I needed to.

Persephone, run! I tore through the parking lot to reach the path.

Hades, it’s Joel! He’s Zeus! The whole story passed through my mind accompanied by waves of fear and guilt. Persephone gripping Joel’s arm to teleport but nothing happening, followed by her realization that Joel wasn’t from this realm. Her shock and horror when his glamour melted away. Why wasn’t she running?

Get out of there, now! I couldn’t keep the panic out of my thoughts. If Zeus hurt her…

Our plan, she protested.

She wouldn’t. Only a fool would risk going through with our plan now. We’d intended to trap Zeus by having him stand on an entrance to the Underworld so we could bring some of my realm up and around him. A little slice of Tartarus. It had worked to imprison some of the Titans before, and it could work with him. But not like this. Not with her alone and hopelessly overpowered.

But this was Persephone. The girl who fled the safety of the Underworld to confront Boreas with nothing but righteous indignation on her side. It was foolish of me to expect her to do anything else.

I swore and scrambled up the hill. Just teleport. Leave!

I can get him to the entrance. Hades, this is our best chance.Her determination pounded through me coupled with her desperate need for this to be over. She wouldn’t run. If I couldn’t reach her in time… A bright light seared my vision as I rounded the corner. She screamed, intense pain flashing through her and reverberating to me. I stumbled, blinded by her white-hot agony. Another flash. Pain flared through her, exploding within my mind in a cacophony of anguish. My vision cleared for a split second, and I saw the ground rush toward me. Then everything went black.

5 out of 5 Stars

The Iron Queen

Daughters of Zeus #3

Kaitlin Bevis

The final battle have come Persephone finds herself in the hands of her demented father, Zeus. He wants her power to take the underworld.

Racing to find his wife Hades struggles to unite the children of Zeus to destroy him once and for all. Worse is that he doesn’t have a connection with her anymore, their bond broken by Zeus.

The race is hard, brutal and deadly. She has no choice but to fight back and destroy her father.

Wow this round was epic! Persephone had to endure endless torment and torture from Zeus as he tries to get her powers. But with all her trails Persephone have gowned into a fierce warrior, and Iron Queen. She stands tall and endure it to give the others a chance to destroy him.

On earth Hades and Demeter is gathering all of Zeus Children to kill him. This time around Hades isn’t taking anyone’s crap. I loved this book! Hades was figting everything to find his wife. But Kaitlin make sure to pull on some heart strings and have you clutching the book as more and more is revealed. Finally at the end I could breathe again. If you haven’t started to read this series, you need to start now. It is a must read to all. Yes, 5 Stars all the way.

 

About the Author-

Kaitlin Bevis spent her childhood curled up with a book, and a pen. If the ending didn't agree with her, she rewrote it. She's always wanted to be a writer, and spent high school and college learning everything she could so that one day she could achieve that goal. She graduated college with my BFA in English with a concentration in Creative Writing, and is pursuing her masters at the University of Georgia.

Her young adult series "Daughters of Zeus" is available wherever ebooks are sold. She also writes for truuconfessions.com and Athens Parent Magazine.

Links-

Webpage: www.kaitlinbevis.com

Blog: www.kaitlinbevis.com/blog

Amazon Page: http://www.amazon.com/Kaitlin-Bevis/e/B00875POAG/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Goodreads Page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6150699.Kaitlin_Bevis

Authorgraph: http://www.authorgraph.com/authors/KaitlinBevis

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kaitlin-Bevis/224768864266454

Tumbler: http://kaitlinbevis.tumblr.com

Twitter: @kaitlinbevis

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/kbevis1/

Linked In:http://www.linkedin.com/pub/kaitlin-bevis/35/383/622

Google Plus:https://plus.google.com/109348246034296581186/posts

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/Kbevis

ARE: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/storeSearch.html

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Author Blitz and Giveaway: Author Angee Taylor

 

Angee was born in Houston, Texas in 1977, to an interesting family. Her mother and father separated when she was young. She lived with her mother who later remarried a wonderful man, who had a huge impact on her as she grew up. Angee has always had a love of reading, mostly paranormal. As a child, she would sneak up at late night when her mom thought she was sleeping, to read. They moved around a lot, eventually settling in Deep East Texas. Angee married at a young age and eventually divorced. She has raised her now 16 year old son alone. Angee works full time as a pre-hospital nurse and sometimes sees things that would make the rest of us have nightmares. On other days, she is blessed to see miracles. These things are what drive her to write.

In 2006, she was diagnosed with a rare disease, shortly after that she was told she would be on full disability in five years and most likely to be dead in ten. She’s fought to live a normal life every day since and is beating those odds. She works at a demanding job, is a single mom, cares for an elderly mother, and two dogs.

Angee describes her job as- “I fight to save people’s lives. Sometimes I lose, sometimes I win. It's the emotional roller coaster of that job, which leads me to writing. I'm able to put those emotions into my characters and let them out of my heart and soul.”

Author Links -

Website - www.angeetaylor.com

Blog - www.angeesafterthoughts.com

Facebook Author - www.facebook.com/theangeetaylor

Facebook Blog - www.facebook.com/angeesafterthoughts

Author Twitter - www.twitter.com/angeetaylor

Blog Twitter - www.twitter.com/angeesthoughts

GoodReads - www.goodreads.com/angeetaylor

Pinterest - http://www.pinterest.com/angeetaylor3/

Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/angeetaylor

StumbleUpon - http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/angeetaylor

Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Angee-Taylor/e/B00B7BG5QO/

Giveaway -

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Book Blitz: Jolt by KD McLean

 

 

Jolt

Book One

K.D. McLean

Genre: Dystopia, Paranormal

Publisher: Monarch Moments

Date of Publication: November 25 2013

ISBN: 978-0-9917995-1-0

ASIN:

Number of pages:183

Word Count: 68,572

Cover Artist: Derek Chiodo

Book Description:

JOLT begins with a touch. A touch that will either send the world spinning out of control, or return it to where it belongs…

Joel Heath PhD, is obsessed to unlock nature’s secret of an alternative source of clean, abundant and cheap energy. It’s the most important research a physicist should be doing. His single mindedness has alienated him from his peers at Queen’s University.

Joel’s potential success is a threat to conglomerates such as Devlin Energy. Phil Devlin has Joel terminated from his position before there are any breakthroughs. Devlin will protect his company’s enormous profits and the influence such wealth buys at any cost.

On a cold December night, Joel encounters a homeless man, Charlie Maracle. Visions of impending global slaughter, triggered by an Oil War have driven Charlie to the brink of insanity. Joel’s simple gesture of compassion is rewarded with a dazzling insight and within hours, the LITE device is created.

Joel learns how ruthless a man protecting an empire can be. Devlin’s private strike team has a mission—bury this device by any means necessary. Their ferocity and speed is overwhelming.

But Charlie has also encountered four others. A young woman battered by a series of crises, a middle aged widow and a fatherless teenage boy. To each of them Charlie imparts a gift. Or is it a curse?

These five people are all that stand in the way of Phil Devlin’s plans one night before Christmas.

Excerpt

He kept his head down. Like blinders on a horse his stringy hair kept the faces of the people ignoring him from his peripheral vision. He had been out on the street begging all day and now deep into the night. With each step his feet ached from the cold. He placed them as softly as he could, every pace agony.

He was muttering to himself, arguing with the unseen tormentors of schizophrenics everywhere.

“No, no, no! I won’t! You can’t make me!” repeated over and over again.

The rank stench of too many clothes and too few baths surrounded him, an unseen barrier between him and the shoppers and diners rushing home.

He paused for a moment. “Okay! Okay!” he muttered as he approached the entrance to Odessa’s. He brushed the hair from the side of his face and peered in the window. Brown teeth peeked out from behind his salt and pepper beard when he grimaced. He sidled backwards until his back rested on a telephone pole. He wasn’t even forty years old and was worn out.

He jingled the coffee cup at passersby. “Gotta quarter? Gotta dollar? It’s cold out here. Gotta quarter? Gotta dollar? It’s cold out here.” He remained as unseen as always.

He waited.

About the Author:

Katie lives in Canada near Lake Ontario with her partner Desmond. They are living the life that they’ve always dreamed about--writing, editing and collaborating on books. Both are alumni of Queen’s University in Kingston and are frequent visitors to the Tyendinaga reservation, where the novel JOLT is set. She has published a series of adult romance books as well as a romantic comedy, recently released – Funny Business.

For relaxation (what is that?) she and Desmond enjoy walking their neurotic pug, trying different recipes together (Des cooks, Katie helps) and watching HBO movies, followed by immersion in their hot tub. There’s almost nothing better than star gazing in the frigid air while being toasty warm…Well maybe skiing at Mont St. Anne is a close second.

In taking on an epic of the scale of JOLT, Katie has been inspired by the words of Goethe.

“Be bold and mighty forces will come to your aid.”

http://kdmcleanauthor.blogspot.ca/

https://www.facebook.com/kd.mclean.77

http://www.goodreads.com/kdmclean

Author Interview with Emily Godwin, author of Mutilate My Heart

 

Today on the blog we have Emily Godwin, author of Mutilate My Heart for an interview. Thanks for taking the time Emily. Now without further ado, here we go!

 

 

Did you always wanted to be a writer? If not what did you want to be?

My sister was the one who always wanted to be an author. I was more interested in things like being an actress or a pop star. Then I wanted to be a mortician.

When did you first consider yourself a “writer”?

I started writing poems and attempted a few books when I was thirteen. So, I’ll go with that. Thirteen.

Who is your publisher? Or do you self-publish?

I self-publish.

How long does it usually take you to write a book, from the original idea to finishing writing it?

 When I’m not being lazy, about three to five months.

What can we expect from you in the future? ie More books of the same genre? Books of a different genre?

 When I finish the Mutilated series, I have two fantasy books planned and a few contemporary. I don’t really write just one genre.

Do you have a favorite character from your books? And why are they your favorite?

As of right now, my favorite character that I have created would be Nightmare. He seems like such a bad guy in Mutilate My Heart, but he’s really just trying to hold everything and everyone together.

How long have you been writing?, and who or what inspired you to write?

I have been writing for seven years. My sister was always hardcore into writing, and I guess I just picked up the craft myself and really liked doing it.

Do you have a certain routine you have for writing? ie You listen to music, sit in a certain chair?

I absolutely have to have music playing in the background. Usually something with an acoustic guitar or a piano.

Do you choose a title first, or write the book then choose the title?

They usually come to me with a title. If they don’t, I go to my sister for help.

Do you decide on character traits (ie shy, quiet, tomboy girl) before writing the whole book or as you go along?

I go in with a basic idea for my characters, but they tend to develop themselves as I write.

Which format of book do you prefer, eBook, hardback, or paperback?

I love hardback books and eBooks. I’m the type of reader who will re-read a book a thousand times until the spine breaks. So I have to have something a bit more durable than a paperback.

What is your favorite book and Why? Have you read it more than once?

I have two favorite books. Chasing Forever Down by Nikki Godwin and Reckless by Cornelia Funke. I have read both of them several times. I can actually quote full passages from both.

Your favorite singer/group is?

Escape the Fate

Your favorite color is?

Emerald Green

Your favorite Author is?

Cornelia Funke

 

Remember to check out today’s book blitz to find out more about Emily and Mutilate My Heart!

Book Blitz and Giveaway: Mutilate My Heart (Mutilate #1) by Emily Godwin

 

Title: Mutilate My Heart (Mutilate #1)

Author: Emily Godwin

Date of Publication: July 9, 2013

Genre: contemporary YA romance with paranormal elements

Blurb:

Punk rock band Mutilated Arteries has been seventeen-year-old Becca's world (aka obsession) for the last year. When the band schedules a concert in her hometown, she and her best friend Carli are the first ones in line to buy tickets. The night is everything she expects it to be and more, especially after making friends with the new super-cute bassist, Sketch.

Becca's mom warns her not to fall for a rock star because rock stars are always on the road - or they die in a plane crash, like her mom's favorite band did twenty-something years ago. But after the band's tour bus breaks down and they're stuck hanging out in Roizen Hills for a week, it's hard for Becca not to fall for Sketch and his caricature drawings and toxic green eyes.

Becca knows Sketch is leaving as soon as the bus is fixed, and she can't be his fan-turned-girlfriend anyway because of the lead singer's "No Girlfriends" rule. Plus, there's something strange about the guys that Becca can't quite decipher... like how they won't reveal their real names, their always-changing odd appearances, and the guitarist's obsession with blood and zombies. Still, Becca wants nothing more than for Sketch to mutilate her heart...but it just might not be in a way she expects.

Goodreads link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17622850-mutilate-my-heart

Purchase links: Amazon | B&N

Excerpt -

Once we’re firmly planted in the sand, I tell him of the man named Benjamin Bell and the married woman he fell in love with. They would secretly meet at night in a small area near the lighthouse that was inaccessible unless you knew the way. She knew better than to try to get there by boat. The current was strongest near the rocks, and the waves were monstrous, but their secret path was being guarded by her suspicious, abusive husband and her husband’s drunken friends.

“A storm caused the fog to grow thick that night,” I tell him. “So Benjamin turned the light on in the tower of the lighthouse. The last thing he saw was the waves crashing her boat against the rocks. He stumbled back in shock and fell over the stair railing in the lighthouse. He died on impact.”

“Did the woman die too? Or was it just her boat that crashed?” he asks, never taking his eyes away from mine.

I lie back in the sand and stare at the grey sky.

“I like to believe she crashed with it. If he is a ghost, I hope she’s lurking around here too, so they can finally be together,” I say.

He digs a hole in the sand and places his paintbrush to rest before burying it.

“Maybe years from now, some random person will come to this very spot, and they’ll find that paintbrush, and we can be legends too,” he says and falls back beside me.

My heart beats roughly against my sternum at his words. I don’t know how anyone could seem so perfect, but he does. We lie motionless in the sand until his breathing becomes one with the sound of the ocean.

“Becca?” he says, rolling onto his side to look at me.

“Yeah?” I mirror his image.

He brushes my hair out of my face and places his hand on my neck. I breathe in deeply and say a prayer that the ghosts won’t interrupt this moment like Corpse did last night. Sketch leans forward and rests his forehead against mine.

“Don’t crash,” he whispers.

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About Emily Godwin

Emily Godwin is a Young Adult author. She enjoys writing, painting, and sewing her own line of non-evil voodoo dolls. She's a Slytherin, trying to disguise herself as a Hufflepuff, and wishes she could read herself into books.

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/EmilyGodwin17

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EmilyGodwinWrites

Blog: http://emilygodwin17.blogspot.com

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6912429.Emily_Godwin

Chasing Flames Blog Tour–Finishing with a bang!

Our final stops for the blog tour is over at  Dalene's Book Reviews and Bound 4 Escape and they will be finishing it with a bang. Head on over and check them out!

We would like to thank all of the blog that participated in this tour. You guys have made it amazing!

 

 

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Book Blitz and Giveaway:Saved by a Rake by Em Taylor

 

 

Title – Saved by a Rake

Author – Em Taylor

Genre – Regency Romance (Historical)

Publication Date – November 22, 2013

Publisher – Author – http://romanticregency.weebly.com

Cover Artist – Veronica Fernandez

Book Synopsis –

When Lady Rebecca Eversley is left ravished by the Earl of Newthorpe and facing ruination, she has the choice to point her pretty little nose in the air and face the gossips of the Ton or scurry off to the country to live out her life as an old maid. When she meets Lord Daniel Ramsey, a notorious rake, she decides on the former course of action.

Daniel has been given an ultimatum, marry before his father dies or lose the majority of his inheritance money. Rebecca seems the perfect candidate, especially once rumours about her start to circulate in the drawing rooms of Mayfair.

When Newthorpe is found dead on the morning of their wedding, the people they care about find themselves suspects in the case. Who murdered Newthorpe and can Rebecca ever get over what he did to her?

Goodreads Link – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18631178-saved-by-a-rake

Excerpt -

As his lips briefly touched hers, the carriage jolted, pushing him closer to her. He caught her around the waist to ensure she did not bounce off the seat, then, without thinking, covered her mouth with his.

He noted a moment’s hesitation from her before she moved her lips and reached up to tangle her gloved fingers in his curls. Tentatively she touched her tongue against his, causing him to stifle a groan. He had been without a woman for over a month and now his pretty little wife had her arms around him, kissing him as if she had done it a thousand times. She was a quick learner as she explored his mouth with her tongue, pressing herself closer to him.

Devil take it. He had been struggling all day to stop himself becoming aroused. Her wedding gown had been low cut and her stays showed her breasts off perfectly. He had been distracted throughout the service and the wedding breakfast as images of disrobing her later had flitted through his mind. He wanted to see those breasts again.

He unfastened the three buttons on her pelisse, peeling the material away to her side, then pulled out of the kiss and began to pepper light kisses along her jawline. God, he wanted her, and he was most definitely aroused now.

He kissed her neck and was about to place his hand over that beautiful inviting orb, when he sensed her tensing. He pulled away slowly, tugging the material of her pelisse back over her. When he looked into her eyes, they were bright with confusion, passion and fear, all clearly warring within her. He cursed himself for being too impatient. Then he cursed Newthorpe for what he had done and could not help thinking that death was too good for the blaggard.

“No. That’s the only word you ever have to say and I will stop,” he said simply.

“I am sorry, my lord. I just expected some time before… well I expected to wait until we were in the coaching inn tonight.”

“Yes, of course. It was very impatient of me. I beg your forgiveness.”

Rebecca nodded and looked out the window.

The streets of London rushed by as they headed for the Great North Road. He studied the view out of the other window, and they sat in silence for a long time. Eventually Rebecca spoke in a small voice which sounded as if she was on the verge of tears.

“I fear I will not make you a very good wife if a mere kiss frightens me.”

He turned and took her hand in his. He wanted her to be comfortable and not think he was going to pounce on her and ravish her at any given opportunity.

“I have no doubt that you will make a wonderful wife, Rebecca. You just need time and patience and I have an abundance of both.”

She turned large, tear-filled eyes towards him. “You should take a mistress as soon as we reach Scotland.”

He could not possibly have heard correctly. She was giving him permission to have a mistress? Surely not. But her mouth was set in a firm line as if she had made up her mind. A stab of hurt hit him. She thought of him as a rake who would be unfaithful.

He pursed his lips and considered her. What should he do? He wanted to rail at her and tell her he had no intention of being unfaithful. He had taken vows only a few hours previously and yet now she was giving him permission to break them. But maybe the idea of him having a mistress brought her comfort. She was clearly terrified of intimacy between a husband and wife.

“We shall discuss it once we reach Scotland, my lady. I have no wish to think beyond our present journey.”

“Do you not see that I can only ever tolerate the marriage bed for the sake of giving you an heir,” she wailed, pulling her hand away from his. “He ruined me in more ways than you can ever know.”

“You are only ruined if you allow him that power. A skilful lover could make you feel very different about certain aspects of a marriage.”

“Well, I have heard enough tales to know that you are a skilful lover, Lord Ramsey. But I think you should save it for your mistresses.” Her tone was almost venomous but he ignored it, knowing that it was fear that drove her.

She turned her head to look out of the window again. He was at a complete loss. She thought him almost as bad as Newthorpe. Well, not quite but she did not think he would be faithful. A long silence stretched out between them as he considered what to say to her. Her back was rigid, and she swiped at her cheek with one gloved hand.

“What he did to you…”

“What he did has destroyed me, and I am not sorry that he is dead. I wish I had been the one to kill him.”

“Please, Rebecca…”

She burst into tears and fished in her reticule for a handkerchief, he presumed. He held his out to her and with a large sob she accepted it. He untied her bonnet and threw it onto the seat opposite before gathering her in his arms.

She tried to move out of his grip but this time he held firm, knowing that she would accept his comfort, which she did, weeping as she buried her face in his coat.

As her sobs turned into sniffles, which turned into silence then light snuffles of sleep, he held her and wondered how he was going to help his beautiful young wife over her fear of physical love.

 

AUTHOR BIO:

Em was born and brought up in the Central Belt of Scotland and still lives there. She was told as a child she had an over active imagination—as if that is a bad thing. She’s traded her dreams of owning her own island, just like George in the Famous Five to hoping to meet her own Mr Darcy one day. But her imagination remains the same.

Unfortunately, Em was put off reading and writing by school and although she rediscovered her love of reading many years ago, she only tried her hand at writing again in 2011. After a year of writing fan fiction, she wrote an original short story for an anthology. This was followed up with two more shorts and 4 novella length books, all published under a pen name. Having fallen in love with a new sub-genre, courtesy of books by Mary Balogh and Lynsay Sands, she decided to try her hand at her new favourite genre for reading—regency.
Having bitten the bullet, she feels she has found her home in the 19^th century, and it does give her an excuse to watch Colin Firth in a pair of buff breeches and riding books ad infinitum.

STALKER LINKS:

Amazon Author Page –

Website/Blog – http://romanticregency.weebly.com/ / http://emtaylorwriter.blogspot.co.uk/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/EmTaylorRegency

Twitter – https://twitter.com/EmTaylor_author

Tumblr – http://emtaylorregency.tumblr.com/

Bloglovin – https://beta.bloglovin.com/emtaylor9

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7326970.Em_Taylor

Please provide a copy of the book cover for the tour & for us to create a tour banner with. As well as an author photo. Also if you have photo teasers that you would like used leading up to the tour and during the tour please provide those.

GIVEAWAY –

$50/ £50 Amazon Gift Certificate

a Rafflecopter giveaway