An Alien Exchange by Keri Kruspe - Book Blast and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Keri Kruspe will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Aimee Gwiazdowski has a passion for Alien Abduction romance stories. She vicariously lives through the heroines of her books to escape her lonely, loveless life. Until one morning, she wakes up in a strange, white room where an alluring voice invites her to the “Exchange” to find love and adventure in another world. Did she dare believe it? Could she leave everything behind and take a chance to become one of those heroines who finds true love among the stars?

Exiled Prince Qayyum E’etu and commander of the space vessel StarChance has a mission—transport the human women to the Exchange along with an offer he can’t refuse: find evidence against rumored human trafficking connected with the Exchange. If he can successfully bring the traitors back to Zerin for justice, it would give him a chance to return home. How was he supposed to know that meeting a human woman would put everything he was working for in jeopardy?

As unforeseen evil slowly brews discord within the galaxy, it works to tear Aimee and Qay further apart. If they don’t learn to overcome their fears and trust the love they have for each other, the coming cataclysm will devastate not only Zerin, but Earth as well.

An Alien Exchange is the first book in a sci-fi romance that features intergalactic action, engrossing plots, and courageous individuals. If you like fast-paced action, raw emotions, and sexy aliens, you’ll love this new space adventure.

Dedication

I dedicate this book to those who are alone in a crowd. To those who are desperately trying to right a wrong they’ve done in the past. Sometimes taking a chance may seem crazy, but you’ll never know until you try.

Read an Excerpt

Then he did the most unexpected thing. His eyes left hers to fixate on her lips before his mouth covered hers. His tongue stroked over her, gentle and tentative as if asking for permission. Then, a switch flipped, the kiss deepened with bold sweeps in a masculine demand.

What in the world was that flavor? Spicy sweetness, like the tang of nutmeg mixed with an unknown taste of pure masculine bite. Delicious. She opened her mouth and welcomed him in.

It was all the encouragement he needed. His tongue swooped through with masterful determination. His body sidled over her side, his soft linen shirt rubbing enticingly against the naked skin of her stomach.

Lost…she was lost in an overload of sensation. When he pulled back and broke their connection, she whimpered in disappointment.

“Yes, Aimee, give yourself to me—to us.” His husky whisper fueled her passions to a higher level.

Before his words seeped through her befuddled mind, he resumed their mind-blowing kiss. As his tongue lavished over hers, she returned the favor. His mouth was an intoxicating hint of savory goodness and she wanted more. She whimpered as she raised her head to get closer. Stroking, sucking, caressing, and absorbing the rush he gave her.

Her body shivered in reaction. The intense emotion scared her.

She broke away. She couldn’t think. How stupid was she to let this go on? She couldn’t be more embarrassed if she stood in a room full of strangers stark naked.

Review:

What happens when your dream turns into a nightmare. That is what happened to Aimee Gwiazdowski.  Her love of alien abductions stories became a reality and she did meet her mate it just did not go as expected. This turns the alien trope abduction upside down. Aimee has to be very strong and save herself. An Alien Exchange has great characters, is full of danger, tension, romance and many, many misunderstandings. I loved how the Exchange featured as side characters many of the aliens found in science fiction romance books. It added to the flavor of the story. First in a new trilogy I will be looking for the next book in the series.

About the Author:

“Author of otherworldly romantic adventures”

A writer since the age of twelve, Keri Kruspe has always been fascinated with otherworldly stories that end with the dream of Happily Ever After.

A native Nevadan, Keri resides with her family in the wilds of Northwest Michigan where she enjoys the stark change in seasons and the pleasures each one brings. An avid reader, Keri loves an enjoyable bottle of red wine, a variety of delicious foods and watching action/adventure movies…usually at the same time. You can find her most days immersed in her fantasy world on her latest novel while foot tappin’ to classic rock. When not absorbed in her writing, Keri works alongside her husband in building their dream home or discovering intelligent life in America in their RV.

Why I wrote this book

I was reading one of my favorite Sci-fi romances on my electronic reader after watching the latest’s news about computer hacking. It got me thinking…what if aliens hacked into my reading habits to find someone like me who liked alien romances. Wouldn’t that be a perfect way to find women who might be willing to leaving Earth to find love among the stars…

I envisioned Star Wars meets Pretty women. And that, they say, was that. My story “An Alien Exchange” was born.

The book is on sale for $0.99 during the tour.

Buy An Alien Exchange to experience the first installment of this exciting trilogy!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Alien-Exchange-Trilogy-Book-ebook/dp/B07JDRH6GR/ref=sr_1_1
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/an-alien-exchange-keri-kruspe/1129746931
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/an-alien-exchange/id1438985680
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/an-alien-exchange

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/klkruspe15
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lakezipper77/
https://www.kerikruspe.com/
https://twitter.com/authorkkruspe
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/26000075-keri-kruspe

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Short and Sweet Book Review # 323 = The Razor by J. Barton Mitchell

The Razor by J. Barton Mitchell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If I had to use one word to describe The Razor it would be unexpected. Why? I have read several maximum prison stories and they seem to follow the same pattern. This one does not. The plot is complicated, the characters different, and the goal is not escape but to live. The action is nonstop and the danger always around. There are flash backs to explain the actions of some of the main characters. The one reason for four stars and not five - several of the characters are just dropped in and it takes a while to find out how they fit into the story line. This looks like the first in a series as the ending leaves some things up in the air.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.

Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 322 - Someone to Trust by Mary Balogh, I'll Always Love You by Ella Quinn

Someone to Trust by Mary Balogh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Westcott family has had their problems and so have the families associated with them. This time it is a older female and younger male who are attracted and fall in love. Both bring baggage to the table and it has to be dealt with. Both Elizabeth and Colin are wonderful characters. They have a wonderful relationship from the beginning. The tension and problems are at the heart of the story and drive the plot. A very nice addition to the Westcott series.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.


I'll Always Love You by Ella Quinn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a sweet story that has four interesting main characters. There is some tension, no bad person, and cute solutions to the one problem. The problem is how to get around two mothers who want to arrange a marriage between their children. Of course the children have other ideas and that drives the plot in the story. Fun to see the Worthington again.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.

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Future Comes From Behind: Paradigm Shift by STK Chan - Book Blast and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. STK Chan will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Fighting what we’ve become.

An ancient dimension of dark echoes from the past.

Lisa and her family barely manage to escape an invasion from the Rebel army in their home of Malta. Shortly after this episode, she discovers Exo, the ancient dimension she cannot understand until her late 20s. Exo is made of memories of the past; it brings forth all the strong echoes we leave behind. Lisa desperately wants to resolve the conflicts of this inner world peacefully, but quickly learns she must fight the shadows in people’s hearts, materialized through battle re-enactments, warfare and emotional turmoil.

Enjoy an Excerpt:

“Are we in danger? I heard Daddy talking to Uncle Bernie about some bad people coming to our island. There’s only water protecting us from them, see?”

“Ah, their long debates over the phone… It’s just chatting; just people talking. No worries here, my dear.”

Her mother paused and reflected on whether to be more honest with her child, as some school advisors were recommending, or whether to continue shielding her from the world’s problems.

“I don’t want them to come to my school. My friends might stay at home because they’re scared.”

“They won’t,” the mother replied with another smile as she caressed the little girl’s brown hair. “They won’t. Let’s get inside, sweetheart; it’s getting chilly.”

They resided in a fortunately situated neighborhood. Though just two miles from the shore, it was elevated enough to have an unobstructed sea view over the gentle slope of their rocky hill. Before entering the house, Lisa spotted some movement above her head.

“Hey, it’s Reblas!” She waved at their neighbor, who was tranquilly gazing through his telescope, poking out of his dark attic window. “Any shooting princesses today?”

“Why don’t you come over and take a look? It’s a cheesy moon out tonight,” beamed the man. He was recently retired and enjoyed the simple pleasures of life on the island.

“It’s late. Maybe tomorrow,” Lisa’s mother called back.

“’Night, Reblas.”

“Sure thing, Strawberry. It’ll be there tomorrow as well—always waiting for us to look up and admire it!”

The electric shutter on the back door slowly closed after they had passed through. Reblas adjusted his telescope’s lens and angle, observing the horizon, while in the background, concerned voices on the radio discussed the recent riots in Europe and the increasing numbers of boats crossing the Mediterranean Sea from both continents.

About the Author:

A fan of nourishing SF&F fiction. Seeker of essential truths in historical non-fiction. Exploring life for almost half a century. Delivering action and matters of the inner self. “Chan has license to be more philosophical and issue-oriented, and on the whole he blends together different genres well.” (John Staughton, SPR)

Website: http://stkchan.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18365677.S_T_K_Chan

The book is $0.99 during the tour.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/PARADIGM-SHIFT-Future-comes-behind-ebook/dp/B07GVNH3GQ

Other book venues: http://stkchan.com/#shortcode-88edda7ce3603c2b9a964b5f0f2b8d1e

STK Chan will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 321 - Respect for Christmas by Grace Burrowes

Respect for Christmas by Grace Burrowes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A strange title that only becomes clear as you read the story. Henrietta Whitlow and Michael Brenner do quite dance in this charming novella. Family and the importance of family is at the heart of the story. Of course it is a love story and there are problems and perceptions that must be resolved. That is where the respect comes in. A very nice Christmas tale.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.


Wrangler's Rescue by B.J. Daniels
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Cahills are usually in Montana so when Flint gets a call that his brother has fallen off a cruise ship and drowned it is one big surprise. I have to give B.J. Daniels credit she once again finds a way to put a new spin on a western romance. This has it all. There is tension and danger as the story unwinds. What seemed to be impossible does turn out to have events that expand what seems to be the unexplainable. Great job with the last Cahill brother getting his HEA.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.

View all my reviews

Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 320 - Gabe: A Badari Warriors Novel, Leverage in Death by J.D. Robb

Gabe: A Badari Warriors SciFi Romance Novel by Veronica Scott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I wondered how on earth Veronica Scott would give Gabe, a human male an HEA. Seems she had some interesting female characters up her sleeve. This adds even more interest to the Badari Warriors series. Gabe has always been a sightly larger than life side character and he lives up to that as he crashes near a unknown outpost. There is plenty of tension as the plot takes several hard turns. The romance is hot. The new characters unexpected. All in all great addition to the series.


Leverage in Death by J.D. Robb
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Eve and Roarke are back working together to solve who is behind the bombing in several different locations. This is a very different track for the plot. Eve must find out who made men who had a normal happy life suddenly start killing themselves and other. There is someone behind these crimes and the fun is trying to match the clues before or as soon as Eve. Fun series that keeps its tension and romance going.

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HAPPY

THANKSGIVING

Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 319 - For We Are Many by Dennis Taylor, All These Worlds by Dennis E. Taylor

For We Are Many by Dennis E. Taylor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ray Porter again does a great job giving different voices to different Bob's. I loved how each Bob tailors his VR setting with big differences but some common elements. This sets up the next book in the series. It does just quit but since I had the new book on tap that was OK. There are so many interesting concepts in this series. I think the series would be a great book club selection.

 All These Worlds by Dennis E. Taylor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

All of the Bob's play a part in this final book of the Bobiverse. Ray Porter does a great job giving each Bob a slightly different voice. There is still big problems that need to be solved. It was fun watching as different Bob's come up with parts of the solution. There was some sadness as Original Bob leaves his adoptive family a final time and takes off to explore the stars. I loved watching all the different ways we left the series. A fun listen filled with interesting plot lines.

Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 318 - Daisy's Run by Scott Baron, A Cowboy's Holiday by Vicki Lewis Thompson

Daisy's Run by Scott Baron
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This just did not catch me at all. By one forth of the way though I almost quit. The book did not seem to be going anywhere. I did not see world building or any plot. Just a lot of things that you do on a day to day basis. There was some action after that but still no plot. Where were they from? Where were they going? And why were they going? All eventually were answered and then the book just ended just as it seemed to get interesting.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.


A Cowboy's Holiday by Vicki Lewis Thompson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Pete Sawyer and Taryn Maroney are interesting and fun characters. Pete is loving his job at the Crimson Cloud ranch. Working for Taryn is a big plus. Can these two keep it professional. Of course not and it is fun to watch events play out. There are some really big and interesting side characters living out in the barn that add to the fun. A great addition to the McGavin Brothers series. There is also an introduction to the next one to find their HEA.

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Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 317 - A Bad Place to Die by Easy Jackson, Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine November/December 2018

A Bad Place to Die by Easy Jackson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I had a hard time deciding what bookshelf to put this on. It is a western and it does have some romance however it is very different from the usual in western romance. One difference is that I found this in the western section of the book display not in romance. Tennessee Smith may be the sheriff but she is not your usual breed. While she is strong she still spends part of her time crying. She does not wear her badge nor does she wear a gun. She knows she is a pawn in a game she does not understand but she keeps going and doing her best. I liked the book and the story line even as I wondered what it was leading up to. I will be looking for the next book in the series.


Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine November/December 2018 by Sheila Williams
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As usual this is a good mix of stories. I purchased it because Kristine Kathryn Rusch has a story set in the diving universe. It a side story that is not set anywhere near the main story line. It is an interesting look at how cadets were trained for life in the Fleet. There is also a story by Linda Nagata another author I follow. I also enjoyed Pregnancy as a Location in Space-Time. This is not something I read cover to cover immediately so I will read others later. I have found that I enjoy having a issue around. It gives me shorter stories to read when I need a break from full length books.

View all my reviews

Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 316- A Choice of Secrets by Barb Hendee, Diamond Fire by Ilona Andrews

A Choice of Secrets by Barb Hendee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lady Nicole Montagna is the latest to see three choices and to decide which one she will choose. I have enjoyed this series from the first book. Lady Nicole discovers her sister's secret and has to decide to keep silent or tell. If she tells she has to decide who to tell. Keep quite, tell her brother or tell her entire family. Three choice and which will she choose. All are interesting and all have very different outcomes. I loved the plot and the characters. Hope more Dark Glass stories will be around in the future.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.


Diamond Fire by Ilona Andrews
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

After seeing Catalina Baylor as a side character in the Hidden Legacy novels we learn much more about her in this novella. Catalina is working on Nevada and Connor's wedding when she is asked to solve the mystery of a missing tiara. If planning the wedding and solving the mystery was not enough both new and old enemies come out of the woodwork while she tries to control her magic. A nice intro to learning more about Catalina and priming us for a future novel with her as the main character.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.

View all my reviews

Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 315 - City of Secrets by Victoria Thompson, Not Quite Over You by Susan Mallery

City of Secrets by Victoria Thompson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Do two wrongs make a right? Is the rule of law always the way to right a wrong? Those are the questions that Elizabeth Miles and her fiancee Gideon must face and answer. Elizabeth wants to do what ever it takes to help a friend. Gideon wants to use the force of law to help. The issue looks like it will tear them apart as Elizabeth does what she thinks is right and Gideon objects. A well plotted mystery that had plenty of twists and turns. Set just before women got the right to vote the politics add interest to the story line.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.

Not Quite Over You by Susan Mallery
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Silver and Drew have a history but both were to young to make a go of their romance. Now both are older and that history is standing in the way. I really liked how both Silver and Drew have grown and changed. Silver has become her own woman. Drew knows where he wants to stay but faces pressure from his family to leave. Add the secret that is coming to light and you get an interesting story with romance, tension and more romance.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.

View all my reviews

House of Ashes by Loretta Marion - Book Blast and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Loretta Marion will be awarding a $50 mazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Thirty-seven-year-old painter Cassandra Mitchell is fourth-generation to live in the majestic Battersea Bluffs, a brooding Queen Anne home originally built by her great-grandparents, Percy and Celeste Mitchell, and still standing despite tragedies that have swept the generations. Local lore has it that there was a curse placed on the family and the house is haunted, though opinions are divided on whether it's by malicious or benevolent spirits. Cassie believes the latter―but now she stands to lose her beloved home to mounting debt and the machinations of her dream-weaving ex-husband.

Salvation seems to arrive when a nomadic young couple wanders onto the property with the promise of companionship and much-needed help―until they vanish without a trace, leaving behind no clue to their identities. Cassie is devastated, but determined to discover what's happened to the young couple...even as digging into their disappearance starts to uncover family secrets of her own. Despite warnings from her childhood friend, now the local Chief of Police―as well as an FBI agent who pushes the boundaries of professionalism―Cassie can't help following the trail of clues (and eerie signals from the old house itself) to unravel the mystery. But can she do so before her family's dark curse destroys everything in its path?

Read an Excerpt:

Eighty years ago ~ Whale Rock, Massachusetts ~ Cape Cod Bay
Friday, December 13th

The fire bell was ringing, and someone yelled in through the tavern door, “There’s a fire up on the north end! Battersea Bluffs. We need all the hands we can get!”

“No, it can’t be,” Percy whispered. The Bluffs was his home. He leapt from the barstool and ran for the street, bumping into a stranger as he passed through the tavern door. The man’s eyes were ominously familiar to him, but with more pressing concerns, there was no time to bring to memory why. He had to get home to Celeste.

It sickened him to see the flames as his Ford pickup rounded the top of Lavender Hill. How hard he and Celeste had worked to build this house, a grand Victorian with a widow’s walk and a proud front porch facing out to sea. Fire trucks were already there, and men he’d known these many years were working hard to contain the blaze.

As he ran toward the house, it came to him who the stranger in the tavern had been, and later one of the firefighters would recount that Percy had screamed: “Damn that lighterman’s curse. Damn you to hell, Robert Toomey!” Nobody was quick enough to keep Percy Mitchell from entering the inferno. Moments later he emerged, his clothing and hair afire, carrying a charred human form. Any man would have been delirious from the pain, but as the firefighters looked on in shocked disbelief, Percy walked with a purposeful bearing and a swift gait toward the bluffs. A few men chased after their friend, but before anyone could stop him, Percy reached the ledge and cried out, “I am not finished!”

And then, with his already dead wife in his arms, he hurled them both into Cape Cod Bay.

About the Author:

A true bibliophile, Loretta Marion's affection for the written word began in childhood and followed her like a shadow throughout her life as she crafted award winning marketing and advertising copy and educational brochures. She then applied her writing skills as a volunteer, establishing a Legacy Story program for hospice patients, which inspired her to create her own fictional stories. Her debut novel, The Fool's Truth, was a twisty mystery with whispers of romance. Her newest novel, HOUSE OF ASHES – A Haunted Bluffs Mystery, is the first in a series published by Crooked Lane Books.

When not whipping out words on her laptop, she is traveling, enjoying outdoor pursuits, or is curled up with a delicious new book. Loretta lives in Rhode Island with her husband, Geoffrey, and their beloved Mr. Peabody, a sweet, devoted and amusing “Corgador”.

Website: https://www.LorettaMarion.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LorettaMarionAuthor
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/House-Ashes-Haunted-Bluffs-Mystery/dp/1683318439
Barnes&Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/house-of-ashes-loretta-marion/1128856330?ean=9781683318439#/
Books-A-Million: http://www.booksamillion.com/p/House-Ashes/Loretta-Marion/9781683318439
Indiebound: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781683318439

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Retribution by Diane Demetre = Virtual Book Tour and Giveaway

Retribution

by Diane Demetre

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GENRE: Romantic suspense

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BLURB:

She’s a ballerina with a dark secret. He’s a retired sniper with a tortured past. Will they find love or fall prey to a stalker’s deadly game?

Professional ballerina Jessie Hilton wraps her battle scars in satin pointe shoes, but there’s a deeper hurt that haunts her sleep. When a handsome man steps in to save her from a mugging, something about her hero makes her heavy heart leap. Though her career can’t afford distractions, he may be her sole source of safety when she gains the unwanted attention of a relentless stalker.

Ex-sniper Brad Jordan survived his tour of duty, but a tragic accident cost him the lives of those closest to him. With his faithful border collie Whiskey by his side, Brad gets a second chance when he protects the beautiful Jessie from danger. When the ballerina's stalker grows more brazen, Brad's tactical training may be their only weapon against tragedy. 

Will Jessie and Brad survive a deadly game, or will the assailant destroy their chance at love?

Retribution is a standalone romantic suspense novel. If you like tough-as-toe-shoes heroines, second-chance romance, and page-turning plots, then you’ll love Diane Demetre’s heart-stopping saga.

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EXCERPTS 

There she was, bolting up the hallway towards him like she did every time he returned. All amber eyes and happy face, she danced and pranced, speaking an exuberant welcome as best she could through her doggy larynx. 

“How’re you doing, Whiskey? You miss me?” Reaching down, he rubbed his black and white Border collie’s lopsided ears. “You are the most beautiful girl I know. Come on, let’s chow down.” As he strode down the narrow hall of his weatherboard cottage, he weaved from side to side so as not to step on her paws. “So, what did you get up to this evening? Been protecting the castle?” He opened the fridge door and Whiskey shoved her nose in where she knew her dinner waited. BJ grabbed a bag of beef brisket bones and tossed it on the kitchen bench. He’d left the lights on out of habit, rather than for Whiskey. If there was light around him, the darkness within was somehow easier to bear. 

He scanned the back yard, checking the perimeters that he’d planted with impenetrable, skyward-reaching bamboo. He never knew what he expected to find. Maybe he hoped it was all a bad dream and that everything would return to the way it was. But nothing would be the same again. Regret tore at his heart as he tore open the plastic bag of bones. “Here you go, girl. Take it outside. I’ll grab a beer and join you.”

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I asked Diane where are five places you might visit for inspiration for your books?  Read her answer below.

 As someone who is a highly organized and intuitive writer, I love bringing authenticity to my settings. My first three erotic romances in the Dance of Loveseries, have vivid international locations. The first book, Dancing Queenis based on the Gold Coast in Australia where I live. Set at the beginning of 2000, the story is wild ride set in Australia’s party capital. Sun, surf, beaches, night clubs and hot heroes…. What more does a newly-divorced woman want 😊

he second book, Tiny Danceris set in Paris where my heroine Samantha is a dancer at the Moulin Rouge. Having been a professional dancer, and having been to Paris, I weave the highlights of the city of love and its fabulous dance world into this story.  Although I haven’t been to Spain as research for Dance to a Gypsy Beat, the third book in the Dance of Love series, I did extensive research to ensure I nailed the locations — the sights, sounds, smells and feel.

In Retribution, I wanted to set my heroine, Jessie Hilton’s past in the context of a real location. Since she is a soloist in the Australian Ballet Company, I needed a small rural town within a six-to-seven-hour driving distance from Melbourne, where the company is based. This town needed to be quintessentially Australian, with an historical bed & breakfast on its outskirts and a believable lair nearby for the villain. My husband, who has travelled by road throughout most of Australia suggested a little town called Yass. A place I’d never heard of. Bingo! Not only did Yass look like the town I imagined when I began plotting Retribution, it had a nearby homestead, perfect for Jessie’s childhood—Coodravale Homestead. I weave its history and scenery into the plot, giving the story more emotional depth.

My just-released epic love story, Island of Secretsis set on a privately-owned island off the coast of Maui. I’d visited the Magic Isle in 2015 and fell in love with its energy and history. I engrossed myself in the Hawaiian culture and it became the backdrop for this magical love story. Bringing to life the brilliant colors, rugged volcanic geography and timelessness of this amazing part of the world enriched me as a writer.

I’m now writing the Diana Daniels murder mystery series and have visited the locations of the first two books. The first is set on an expedition ship in the Galapagos Islands while the second is set in one of the most ancient places in the word, the Kimberley region of northern Australia. 

I adore using exotic locations for my stories as it gives me the opportunity to develop my craft and introduce new places to my readers. And of course, the excuse to travel and see more of this fabulous planet we call home 😊 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Being a passionate woman who’s always done things a little differently, Diane’s diverse career began as a school teacher before she moved into a full-time career as a professional choreographer, director and dancer, strutting her stuff on many stages throughout Australia. She was responsible for the original multi-million dollar extravaganzas at Conrad Jupiter’s Casino, Gold Coast—Starz & Galaxies. 

            

Following her onstage career, Diane’s thirst for knowledge led her into the field of self-development. Using her highly developed communication skills and love of people, she spent many years as a stress & life skills therapist and life coach, teaching individuals, couples and groups the methodologies of personal success and fulfilment. 

            

With her business acumen, Diane launched into the corporate arena, working in a variety of positions as a consultant in marketing, special events, tourism, business strategies, quality management and human resource management. Combining her entertainment and business backgrounds, she returned to the stage as a keynote speaker and corporate facilitator, educating business leaders in the ‘new mindset’ for business and relationship building in the 21st century. 

            

Assuming the pseudonym of the Goddess of Love, she appeared as a guest presenter on Gold FM radio, Gold Coast, a national radio program broadcast to 1.4million listeners. Her weekly program proved popular with Diane providing empowering advice on life, love, sex and relationships, sprinkled with a good dose of humour. Her passion for life and compulsive sharing nature made her a great inspiration to her listeners. As the Goddess of Love she also appeared as a regular guest on the national television program Beauty & the Beast, where her practical insights were televised to viewers across Australia. 

            

When she launched into a writing career, Diane’s debut erotic romance series, the Dance of Love was voted Luminosity Publishing Readers’ Choice Best Books and Best Covers for 2015 and 2016. 

            

Her romantic suspense, Retribution won the Romance Writers of Australia Emerald Pro Award 2017 for Best Unpublished Manuscript. Diane loves to write genre-busting stories with a twist. Her works are packed with emotional punch and feature empowered heroines who live life to the fullest, much like the author herself.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

WEBSITE                  www.dianedemetre.com (http://www.dianedemetre.com/)

BLOG                        https://dianedemetre.com/blogposts/ (https://dianedemetre.com/blogposts/)

FACEBOOK               https://www.facebook.com/dianedemetreauthor

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION 

Diane Demetre will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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Some Men's Dreams by Eileen Dreyer - Book Blast and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Eileen Dreyer will be awarding a $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

SHE HAS NO TIME FOR LOVE

Dr. Gen Kendall has paid too high a price to let anything get in the way of her dream. In one month she’ll be a full-fledged doctor. She just has to impress her chief of staff, Dr. Jack O’Neill. She impresses him, all right. With one swing of a softball bat she puts him in his own hospital and changes both of their lives forever.

HE HAS NO TASTE FOR LOVE

A widower with a 12-year-old daughter, Jack hopes this move to Chicago will signal a new life for them both. He doesn’t plan on finding himself literally at the feet of one of the most compelling women he’s ever known. He certainly doesn’t expect her to turn his life upside down when she recognizes something in his daughter that could well break his heart. Is love enough to see them through, especially when it means that not just Jack but Gen must face the ghosts of their pasts to save his little girl?

Read an Excerpt

Dr. Genevieve Kendall met the new chief of pediatric critical care at the house staff softball game. More to the point, she knocked him out.

Literally.

Dr. John Parker O’Neill, the handsome new wunderkind of medicine, who until very recently had made his name in Boston by effecting near-miraculous saves of desperately ill children, had this day decided to introduce himself to Chicago’s Memorial Medical Center by pitching for the attending-physicians’ team that always challenged the residents on the field of battle the Saturday after Memorial Day.

He had so far pitched as near-perfect a game as anybody would have expected him to. By the time Gen showed up late, because of a surprise admission she’d had to finish, he’d helped the attendings trounce the hapless residents by a score of fifteen to one. The residents promptly sent Gen in to pinch hit for their own sadly overmatched pitcher.

For Dr. O’Neill’s part, he looked unwrinkled and unflustered, standing out on the pitcher’s mound in perfectly pressed khaki shorts and a peach Izod shirt, his hawk-like features tanned and smiling, his gray-fingered black hair tousled just slightly in the humid breeze of an early Chicago summer afternoon.

Gen, on the other hand, looked as if she’d just pulled a thirty-six-hour shift, which, in fact, she had. Stretching the kinks from a sleep-deprived body still encased in wrinkled, Snoopy-decorated scrubs, she tossed her thick chestnut braid over her shoulder and choked up on the softball bat.

“Come on, weenie pitcher!” she taunted, much to everyone’s surprise. “See if you can reach the plate!”

Dr. O’Neill’s smile, a thing of controlled beauty, widened a notch. He tossed the thick, scuffed ball a couple of times into his oiled and gleaming glove and eyed his prey as if she were an amusing child.

His first pitch was wide. Gen waited until the ball safely thunked into the glove behind her to give her bat a few more practice swings.

“Big-time doctor can’t even find the strike zone,” she taunted, which drew howls of outrage from the infielders and another enigmatic smile from her foe.

His next pitch was as sweet a strike as is allowed in slow-pitch softball. Gen watched it arc into the afternoon sun and smiled with delight. She was winding up even before the ball reached its apex. Feet planted, left shoulder slightly forward, her whole body tensed for contact. The ball dropped toward her, and she slammed into it as if it were the head of the last surgeon who had called her an idiot.

The crack of a solid hit could be heard into the next diamond. The ball shot straight back the way it had come. Gen never even got the chance to drop her bat or turn toward first base. She recognized imminent disaster before anyone else.

Even Dr. O’Neill.

“Oh, shit,” was all Gen got to say before the ball, with unerring accuracy, slammed into Dr. O’Neill’s forehead and dropped him like a rock.

About the Author:

New York Times bestselling, RWA Hall of Fame author Eileen Dreyer has published 31 romance novels in most genres, 8 medical­forensic suspenses, and 10 short stories.

2018 sees Eileen enjoying critical acclaim for her foray into historical romance, the Drake’s Rakes series, which Eileen labels as Regency Romantic Adventure that follows a group of Regency aristocrats who are willing to sacrifice everything to keep their country safe. She is also working on her first non­fiction book, TRAVELS WITH DAVE, about a journey she's been taking with a friend's ashes.

A retired trauma nurse, Eileen lives in her native St. Louis with her husband, children, and large and noisy Irish family, of which she is the reluctant matriarch. She has animals but refuses to subject them to the limelight.

Website -- http://eileendreyer.com
Facebook -- https://www.facebook.com/EileenDreyer
Twitter -- https://twitter.com/eileendreyer

Buy Links:

Amazon https://goo.gl/WT5QfF
Nook https://goo.gl/UU7oyD
Kobo https://goo.gl/SjWEUn
iBooks https://goo.gl/bALN6z

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Mistletoe in Mayhem by L.E. Rico - Book Blast and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. L.E. Rico will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the rest of the stops on the tours.

A Christmas Wedding In Mayhem

You’re cordially invited to the wedding of the century! Please join bride-trying-not-to-be-a-zilla Hennessy O’Halloran and her prince-in-shining-snow-boots as they finally say, “I do.” Unless a rogue wedding planner and a blizzard that takes out the entire Midwest can stop them, these two will get married on Christmas. The town of Mayhem will make sure of it.

A Surprise Baby In Mayhem

The town of Mayhem, Minnesota, is about to have a population explosion…and the Whiskey Sisters are getting more than they expected! While newlyweds Henny and Bryan are anxiously awaiting not one but two little bundles of joy, Jameson and Scott are focusing on planning their own perfect wedding, with only one troublesome toddler in tow. But babies have a way of arriving on their own schedules…and fate has a way of intervening in this quirky hamlet. Now, the couple finds themselves scrambling to beat the clock—and the odds—to their own happily ever after before their unexpected special delivery arrives.

Travel to the quirky town of Mayhem, Minnesota, with these two companion novellas that prove love, and sisterhood, will always save the day.

Read an Excerpt

From Novella 2: Baby Bedlam

“I was thinking…”

She’s on guard immediately.

“Uh-huhhhhhh?”

I give her my best naughty smile.

“Nothing bad,” I assure her. “I figured maybe you and I could just get away for a couple of nights? We could sort out some of the wedding plans…maybe get a jump on the honeymoon…”

Jameson rolls her eyes and smiles at my suggestive suggestion. “Why don’t we just stay here? You, me, the calendar…the three of us can hole up here under the covers,” she counter-offers, wagging her eyebrows up and down in her own…suggestion.

But, adorable as she is, I shake my head.

“Nope.”

“Nope to which part of it? Me? Bed? The calendar?” she asks, sounding slightly amused.

“The ‘here’ part of it,” I explain. “Because you know it won’t just be you and me. It’ll also be Walker. And Bailey. And Bailey’s friend Dana. And Dana’s boyfriend Joseph—”

“All right already! I get the idea!” She’s giggling, even as she kicks me gently with her foot. “Then where did you have in mind?”

“Just leave that up to me.”

“Hmmm…a surprise…I think I quite like that, Scott Clarke.”

“Me, too,” I say, even as I’m leaning down to put my mouth to hers.

“I can’t wait to see what you have in mind,” she whispers between kisses.

Me, too.

About the Author:

L.E. Rico didn’t set out to be an author. In fact, she’s made a name for herself as a classical music radio host—doing her best to make the music and the composers relevant by putting them into a modern context. It was just a few years ago that she discovered a passion for writing that blossomed into an entire novel. And then another. And another. And, while she still spends plenty of time on the radio, telling the stories of the great composers, she spends even more time composing her own great stories.

Website: http://www.LaurenRico.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/TheLaurenRico
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/LaurenRicoAuthor

Buy Links:

https://www.amazon.com/Mistletoe-Mayhem-Boxed-Whiskey-Sisters-ebook/dp/B07JLZMGD1/ref=sr_1_1
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mistletoe-in-mayhem-boxed-set-le-rico/1129767993

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