A Look At Angela Smith & 'Burn on the Western Slope' ( @angelaswriter @GoddessFish @Crimson_Romance #romance #suspense )

Today we have author Angela Smith visiting. Welcome!

What would you like to tell readers about yourself?

* During my senior year in high school, I was dubbed most likely to write a novel because I always had my nose stuck in a book. I would hide my romance novels under my history book until my teacher called me out on it. Writing has been my dream ever since my mother read Brer Rabbit to my sister and me so often that we were able to recite it back to each other before actually learning to read. I love reading about the adventure of love, and getting involved in the legal field developed my love of suspense. I believe love is a mystery that most people have trouble resolving. While I don’t expect we’ll ever solve that mystery, I love to read and write about characters who work to solve their love’s mystery. See more about me at my Website or Twitter

What are you going to tell us about today?
* My book Burn on the Western Slope available through Crimson Romance.

A look into the story

~ Blurb ~ * On the ski slopes of Montana, deception turns deadly and seduction becomes more hypnotic than jewels.
* Reagan McKinney is on a mission to discover more about a deceased uncle who mysteriously left her a sizable inheritance, a condo in the mountains, and a stash of stolen jewels. With both her graphic design career and her love life in shambles, the opportunity to begin a new life couldn’t have come at a better time. When she becomes involved with the sexy FBI agent next door, she finds her struggle is not only to keep her heart intact, but her life.
* Grief stricken after an undercover investigation ends in the tragic death of his partner, FBI Agent Garret Chambers goes home to find solace in the arms of his mountain home. That is, until his boss assigns him to investigate the spirited brunette staying in the condo next door. He is assigned to investigate Reagan’s involvement with a large jewel fencing organization, but his investigation becomes comprised when his attraction to her heats up. Will his discovery destroy everything he has come to love, including Reagan? ~ Excerpt ~ * “I’m not sure I’m ready for that,” Reagan said, running her tongue over her lips as she rested her glass on the counter. “Skiing, that is,” she quickly added. He would never know she’d been thinking of kissing him, but she had to force herself to look away from his mouth. Nudging Naomi, she stood. “It’s time for me to go. I need to settle in. I haven’t even unpacked yet.” And she had no intention of doing so now, but it was a good excuse to leave. She wiped her hands on her jeans before extending her hand to his, praying hers weren’t clammy. “It was great to meet you.”
* Garret grasped her proffered hand and nested his other on top, engulfing her hand. She burned. Everywhere. “Meet me on the slopes tomorrow?”
* Reagan bit her lip and glanced at the floor. “Tomorrow? I don’t know. I might need a little more time to get used to this place.”
* “We’ll start with sledding. You can’t not like sledding.”
* She didn’t know, seeing as how she’d never done it, but cozying up to him at a hundred miles an hour would probably be amazing.
* “I’m safe,” Garret said as he dropped his hand.
* “You’re what?” she asked, meeting his eyes. Maybe he was a good guy in most people’s standards, but he made her heart beat too fast to be anything but dangerous.
* “I’m harmless. Several people in town will vouch for me.”
* “But I don’t know them either.”

Buy Links for Burn on the Western Slope can be found here...
Crimson Romance

Thank you for joining us here today, Angela! It was a pleasure getting to know you and your story.

ANNOUNCEMENT! Angela will be awarding one of three prizes: a car mirror hanger or key chain (a seashell as a tie-in to her book), an mp3 album by Pretty Little Blisters, a $10 Amazon gift card, to three randomly drawn commenters during the tour! So be sure to leave your name and email with your comment and visit other tour stops (find them here: goddessfishpromotions-super-book-blast) for a greater chance of winning!

A Look At Karen Stivali & 'Decadence' ( @karenstivali @GoddessFish @ellorascave #erom )

Today we have author Karen Stivali visiting. Welcome!

What would you like to tell readers about yourself?

* Karen Stivali is a prolific writer, compulsive baker and chocoholic with a penchant for books, movies and fictional British men. When she's not writing, she can be found cooking extravagant meals and serving them to family and friends, who never seem to mind the excessive quantities she tends to prepare. She attributes her ability to multitask to the fact that she rarely sleeps, which gives her more hours every day. Prior to deciding to write full time Karen worked as a hand drawn animator, a clinical therapist, and held various food-related jobs ranging from waitress to specialty cake maker. Planning elaborate parties and fundraisers takes up what's left of her time and sanity.
* Karen has always been fascinated by the way people relate to one another so she favors books and movies that feature richly detailed characters and their relationships. In her own writing she likes to explore the dynamics between characters and has a tendency to craft romantic tales filled with sarcasm and sexy details. Although she writes in three genres (erotic romance, contemporary romance and women's fiction) all of her stories are love stories with happily ever after endings.
* Karen has published several erotic romance novels with Ellora's Cave including two award winning stories: Always You (published September 2011, First Place Winner of the RWA Passionate Plume Award - 2012) Marry Me (published June 2012, First Place Winner in the NEC-RWA Bean Pot Reader's Choice Award - 2013) and Decadence (July 2013).
* Her works of women's fiction, Meant To Be , and its sequel, Holding On , (published by Turquoise Morning Press in August and November 2012, respectively) both made the Best of 2012 list at Literati Literature Lovers.
* Karen's contemporary romances Then, Again (May 2013) and Leave the Lights On (coming November 2013) are published with Samhain publishing.
* To learn more about Karen you can visit her Website where she blogs original recipes, sassy commentary on The Bachelor, and tidbits about her journey in the writing world. Karen can also be found attempting witty banter on Twitter

What are you going to tell us about today?
* My story Decadence available through Ellora's Cave.

A look into the story

~ Blurb ~ * A book in the Spice Rack series.
* In eight years of marriage, Eric Carlson has never forgotten to kiss his wife Jessica goodbye—until this morning. As Jessica runs her errands, all she can think about is the missing kiss. When Eric calls to tell her he thinks he left the toaster oven on, she rushes home, annoyed and afraid her house may be burning down. Instead of smoke and flames she finds Eric, looking hot and sexy as hell as he prepares fresh waffles.
* Eric knows he and Jessica have been drifting apart. He’s bought the hot new product everyone’s talking about—the Spice Rack, guaranteed to spice up your love life. The jar he opens advises them to “Spend a decadent day indulging all your senses.” With the whole day ahead of them, a fridge full of tempting treats and the house to themselves for a change, that’s exactly what Eric intends to do—in the kitchen, on the washing machine, wherever the mood strikes. And Jessica’s got a super-steamy surprise for him too.
* A Romantica® contemporary erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave
~ Excerpt ~ * He didn’t even kiss me goodbye. Jessica knew it was silly to get upset over something so minor, but she couldn’t help it. In the eight years they’d been married, she couldn’t remember another morning when Eric had forgone the farewell kiss. Sure, the kids were running amok, a sea of backpacks and lunchboxes, but that was normal. Eric saying goodbye with a wave was not.
* “See you later.” He’d thrown her his trademark sexy grin. She’d stood still for a few seconds, holding the door open as the kids piled out of the house, waiting. And…nothing.
* While queued in the drop-off line at the elementary school, she flipped open the vanity mirror. She didn’t look like a beauty queen but at least she’d showered. Her skin was clear, her cheeks even a bit rosy from gardening the day before. She grimaced. I should have brushed my hair. Dark hair, wavy and out of control, pulled into a loose ponytail paired with t-shirt and yoga pants. I look like a teenager. Not exactly sexy. Frowning at her reflection, she heard the car behind her honk.
* “Mom, pull up, it’s our turn.” Timmy, though only seven, had been a backseat driver for nearly five years.
* “Sorry.” She inched the car toward the orange drop-off cone and stopped. “Have a good day, guys. I love you.”
* “Love you too, mom,” the chorus of three came from the backseat as they scrambled out the door.
* Taking a last quick glance in the mirror, she snapped it shut and eased back into the parking lot. As she was about to turn onto the main road, her cell rang. XXXXX, Eric’s ringtone. She fumbled in her purse and slid the purple case open. Holding the phone to her ear with her shoulder, she pulled onto the street, not wanting to get beeped at a second time this morning.
* “Hey, sweetie,” Eric said. “Can you do me a favor?”
* Sighing, Jessica shifted to keep the phone in place as she changed lanes. “What’s up?”
* “I know you said you were going to the grocery store, but I need you to stop home first. I think I may have left the toaster oven on.”
* “Can’t you go check?”
* “I’ve got a really important meeting this morning. I need you to do it. Please?” She could hear the smile in his voice. The charming, irresistible smile to which she’d never been able to say no.
* “Fine.” Even if you didn’t bother to kiss me this morning.
* “Thanks.”
* Did he just chuckle?
* She hung up and tossed the phone back into her purse. Great. Now I have to go all the way home, which means I won’t get to the store for another hour. Not that it was a huge deal. With all three boys in school this year she had her days to herself. She’d been looking forward to that for years, but it wasn’t as fun and freeing as she’d expected. All the same responsibilities were there. The house still needed to be cleaned, dinner still needed to be made, laundry was always piling up. And she always had a stack of work on her desk. Freelance graphic design was the perfect work-from-home job and she could do it any time of day or night, but lately she felt as though everything was getting away from her. Somehow she’d had more structure to her days when the kids were home than she managed to have with them in school all day.
* As she turned onto her block she couldn’t help but look for signs of smoke pouring from her windows. God, I hope he didn’t really leave the toaster oven on. What the hell was he even using the toaster oven for? Eric ate cereal for breakfast, though now that she thought about it she hadn’t seen him pour himself a bowl this morning. She’d been too distracted by the fact that he was wearing only pajama pants as he plodded around the kitchen. She’d been so busy the past few weeks with back-to-school shopping and beginning-of-term projects they’d barely spent any time together. Seeing him bare chested, hair tousled from bed, reminded her that it had been a while. Too long. Her stomach fluttered from a combination of longing for Eric and fear that her house might be burning.
* Jessica slammed the door of the minivan shut, breathing in deeply to see if she could catch any hint of smoke in the air. Nothing. As she opened the front door, another scent greeted her instead. The incredibly delightful aroma of…waffles. Why does the house smell like waffles? She rounded the corner into the kitchen and saw the waffle maker on the counter with Eric poised before it, faded jeans slung low on his narrow hips, a t-shirt clinging to his muscular back, dark hair still damp from a shower hanging loosely into his eyes. A wave of heat washed over her, settling between her legs. Her mouth watered from thoughts of more than just a bite of the waffle Eric was lifting out of the grates.
* “Perfect timing,” he said, grinning so wide the dimples on his cheeks were positively cavernous. Blue eyes twinkled at her, full of mischief.
* “What are you doing?” She tossed her purse onto the counter, mystified.
* “Celebrating Mother’s Day.” He plucked a strawberry out of the colander in the sink, swirled it in a bowl of what appeared to be freshly whipped cream, and approached.
* “Mother’s Day is in May. It’s October fifteenth.”
* “I know.” He held the plump red berry close enough that she felt the gentle brush of cream melting against her lips. “I was thinking it was something we should celebrate more than once a year.”
* She curled her tongue around the cream-covered berry and gave a quick suck before biting off a piece.
* The moan Eric emitted sent a tremor rolling down her body, making her knees weak. His lips were on hers before she finished chewing. The sweetness of his velvety tongue blended perfectly with the fruit and cream. This was already better than any Mother’s Day she could recall.

Buy Decadence here...
Ellora's Cave
Amazon
All Romance eBooks

Thank you for joining us here today, Karen! It was a pleasure getting to know you and your story.

ANNOUNCEMENT! One randomly chosen commenter will receive a digital copy of his/her choice from Karen's backlist! So be sure to leave your name and email with your comment and visit other tour stops (find them here: goddessfishpromotions-super-book-blast-decadence) for a greater chance of winning!

Tamsin Baker & "Heart’s Truth" ( @steamereads #erom #LGBT )

Today we have author Tamsin Baker visiting. Welcome!

What would you like to tell readers about yourself?

* Tamsin Baker is an Aussie girl who only found erotic romance about ten months ago. Before that she read sexy romance, skipping the plot looking for the ‘good bits.’ Since then she have written and obtained 14 contracts of varying lengths with erotic romance and erotica. She absolutely LOVES reading and writing it! She has two other jobs, kids and a hubby too, but writing is a passion that she has to indulge, for fear of insanity.
* M/M is a passion of hers so even in her ménage stories, there is always M/M. Female domme is a fun one to write too, but she is open to all genres. One step at a time she is learning to read more and write more. Soon she’ll have stories published in every sub genre of erotic romance – or that is her aim anyway.

What book are you going to tell us about today? Is it part of a series? If so, what's the order the books should be read in?
* The book I want to tell you about today is my latest release, a m/m contemporary called Heart’s Truth. It is the first in a series, with Blond Truth, its sequel, my current work in progress.

How'd you/your muse come up with this story?
* My publisher, Steam eReads, put out a submission call for m/m romances, and I love m/m. I sat for a bit and a scene came to me. Marcus, a 30 year old, gay man, standing in a party, waiting for the birthday girl to arrive. I wrote that scene, saw Danny arrive and the rest just wrote itself. The first draft was done in less than 10 days.

Describe the hero in five words.
* Marcus is gorgeous, well built, intelligent, successful, intense and hardworking. He is also looking for the man to spend forever with.

Describe the other hero in five words.
* Danny is twenty one and realizing that he may be gay. Meeting Marcus is the perfect opportunity to find out if that is what he needs and he jumps off that invisible cliff. Danny is brave, a little naïve at times and just a beautiful, kind, clever person.

Who's your favorite character in the book & why?
* Danny probably. He is just so adorable.

What's your favorite line in the story?
* (Danny speaking to Marcus.) “I love it when you fuck me, but can I have a go?”

A look into the story

~ Blurb ~ * Marcus is a 30-year-old successful architect. He wants someone to love and knows the right man will turn up when he least expects it. That moment arrives at his friend’s party. He sees Danny for only a moment, yet his interest is piqued. What could be more irresistible than a blue-eyed beauty who is completely untouched?
* Danny knows he doesn’t find women attractive, but how is he going to find out if he’s gay? His sister’s party answers his prayers and the most gorgeous guy he has ever seen asks him out. But can their love survive when Marcus wants more than a closeted partner and Danny wants nothing more than to hide forever? ~ Excerpt ~ * “Wait...” That was all he said before Marcus pushed him up against the fence and kissed him. Shock made him gasp. Then Marcus pressed his hot body against him. He felt Marcus’s cock harden against his.
* Danny moaned as Marcus pressed open his lips and slowly dipped his tongue into his mouth. His arms went around Marcus’s body and Marcus grabbed him by the arse, hauling him close. God, this feels good.
* Danny sighed as his own cock swelled and lengthened rapidly. This was the sort of reaction he had always expected and wanted with the girls he’d been with. A reaction he had never had before. Was this who and what he needed?
* He pulled back, panting hard from both lust and confusion.
* “I don’t... I’m not...”
* Marcus stepped back instantly and Danny felt a pang of regret. He hadn’t meant it as a rejection.
* “You don’t want me?” Marcus asked softly, though there was steel beneath the words.
* Danny swallowed and shrugged. His eyes had become accustomed to the dark now and he could see the set of Marcus’s strong jaw. A muscle ticked angrily at his clenched jaw. Crap.
* “I don’t know. I’ve never...”
* Marcus took another step back and began walking back to the house. Danny could almost feel the vibrations of anger pouring off him.
* Marcus took another step back and began walking back to the house. Danny could almost feel the vibrations of anger pouring off him.
* “It’s fine, Danny. Really.”
* Panic gripped Danny as he ran after Marcus. This time he grabbed Marcus’s huge shoulder and pulled him around. How could he not understand?
* “I don’t know what to do, Marcus!”

Buy Heart’s Truth here...
Steam eReads | Amazon

Find Tamsin Baker here...
Website | Blog | Amazon Author Page

Thank you for joining us here today, Tamsin Baker! It was a pleasure getting to know you and your story.

A Look At Laurel Cremant & 'Persuasion Skills' ( @LaurelCremant @evernightpub #erom #bdsm )

Today we have author Laurel Cremant visiting. Welcome!

What would you like to tell readers about yourself?
* Hmmm. Well aside from the usual author bio stuff, I’m a self-proclaimed Diva/Geek. I live in sunny South Florida, with my computer engineer hubby and two megalomaniac cats. And oh, yes I love to write romance with a lot of heat and twice as much heart.
* I began writing professionally a few years ago and my heros and heroines tend to be a little bit quirky, a teesy bit snarky, but always sweet and on the brink of finding love.
~~ Bio: Laurel is a romance author, who like most writers loves to read. Her first love (pun intended) has always been romance. From the sappy YA romance novel to the more risqué erotica novels, Laurel is a sucker for a good love story.
* Laurel writes paranormal and contemporary romance and is a self-proclaimed, out of the closet nerd. She admits that she can't seem to avoid adding a bit of "nerdology" or "geek-dom" to all of her books. Living in Miami, she also admits that she can't seem to avoid giving her heroines gorgeous shoes, "In Miami, we worship everything strappy, open toed and just plain hot!"

What book are you going to tell us about today? Is it part of a series? If so, what's the order the books should be read in?
* I’m here to talk about my latest release titled, Persuasion Skills. This book is the first official book in the Boardroom Acts series. A series where each book is a stand-alone story, but they each involve an office romance in varying forms. My first novella, Negotiating Skills is the prequel to this line.

How'd you/your muse come up with this story?
* I had the bones of this story rattling around in my head for a while, but kept putting off getting my characters on paper. I liked the idea of two friends who knew each other exceptionally well. I wanted them to have a solid history and foundation that made their romance more believable and realistic. Eventually my muse got tired of waiting, and wrangled my butt into a chair and the two snarky characters of Pepper Holts and Jaxon Grey were born.

Describe the hero in five words.
* Sweet, Determined, Pragmatic, Vulnerable, Persuasive

Describe the heroine in five words.
* Fiesty, Strong-willed, Snarky, Skeptical, Vulnerable

Who's your favorite character in the book & why?
* It’s always hard to choose a favorite character. However, I have to admit that Jax holds a special place in my heart. His character is a great combination of naughty and nice that I just love. He knows what he wants and isn’t afraid to bend a few rules to get it. And of course I can’t resist a smart man with a plan.

What's your favorite line in the story?
* There’s a scene in the book where Jax’s slips some handcuffs on Pepper. Needless to say she’s a bit surprised and responds by saying...
* "Since when did silk ties become a gateway kink?"

A look into the story

~ Blurb ~ Boardroom Acts, 1
* In the aftermath of a major health scare, Pepper Holts makes the relief-inspired decision to seize the day. Unfortunately, most of her “seizing” involves a bit of merlot and her best friend's pants! After a shared night of passion she realizes that her feelings for Jax are a lot more complicated than she ever thought.
* Jax has finally realized that his allergy to marriage has nothing to do with the institution itself, and everything to do with the women in his bed—or more specifically, the one woman not in his bed. Her reaction to their one night together has him scrambling to regroup. So he does what he knows best—he disappears, and he thinks. The plan?—convince Pepper into staying with him at a secluded cabin for one week. One week of pretending to be a happily married couple to show her how great they could be together.
Be advised: Contemporary, BDSM, Light Bondage, Erotic, Interracial ~ Excerpt ~ * The look in his eyes had her catching her breath. Crazy Jax she could handle. Aroused Jax was a whole other story.
* He leaned down and nuzzled her throat with his nose before whispering in her ear.
* “The sex only helps prove my point, but I’ll make you a deal.”
* Her stomach quivered at the feel of his lips at the flesh of her ear. She cleared her throat before responding.
* “Does it involve you coming to your senses?”
* The rumble of his chuckle vibrated up his chest and against her sensitive nipples as one of his hands smoothed down her back and squeezed her ass.
* “No, but it should put you at ease.”
* His meandering hand was making it hard for her to concentrate. All she could do was snort in reply, silently begging her hips not to give in and rub against him.
* “For the next seven days, we get to pet each other as much as we want, fondle and taste to our heart’s content, but I won’t fuck you, Pep,” he said while nibbling at the soft skin of her throat.
* It took a minute for her lust-addled brain to process his statement.
* “But you said—”
* He lifted his head and placed a soft, too-short kiss on her lips before stepping away.
* “I said we’ll sleep together. Before we have sex again, I want you fully willing to be my wife and nothing less,” he said, a serious expression flattening his lips.

Buy Persuasion Skills here...
Evernight | Amazon (US) | Amazon (UK) | All Romance eBooks | Bookstrand

Find Laurel Cremant here...
Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest

Thank you for joining us here today, Laurel Cremant! It was a pleasure getting to know you and your story.

Welcome special guest: author Rebecca Brochu ( @AuthorRBrochu @evernightpub #paranormal #erom )

Today we have author Rebecca Brochu visiting. She says, "I am proud to say that I live in a small town in North Carolina, surrounded by fields and fresh air. Naturally I spend most of my days crouched in front of a keyboard or curled up with a book."

So, Rebecca, what inspired you to become a writer?
* Honestly it was a combination of the stories I was always making up and the urging of my mother. She always told me that I should just do it, that the worst thing that could happen would be that I wouldn’t make it but then at least I would have tried!

When did you attempt your first story? What length was it? What's become of it?
* The first story I ever sat down and wrote with the intent to publish was A Wolf for Haru. It ended up being almost 21k and I eventually signed it to the e-publishing company eXtasy Books where it is still for sale.

How many stories did you complete before you sold your first?
* The first story I wrote was the first one I sold and I was too nervous to write anything else while I was waiting to see if it would be accepted!

What genre(s) do you write in? What drew you to write in it/them? What’s your favorite genre of all to write in?
* I tend to write M/M and paranormal/supernatural themed stories. I’ve always loved stories with magic or shifters (werewolves, I write a lot of werewolves) and I adore the M/M genre which is easily my favorite thing to write in of all time.

What are the best and worst pieces of writing advice you ever received?
* The best piece of advice I have ever gotten was to write what I love and not what everyone else wants me to write. The worst piece would have to be the time I was encouraged to send my work out to be beta read before I signed it with anyone.

How do you celebrate/deal with acceptance/rejection letters?
* Acceptance letters normally come hand in hand with dinner and a movie which is probably my favorite celebration activity!

In regard to the book you’re promoting, which actor and actress do you envision playing the roles of your hero and heroine? If there’s a villain or other characters who are pertinent to the story, who would play those parts?
* Hmmm…my hero Raoul would have to be Tyler Hoechlin just because he is so damn handsome! Summer Glau would definitely do my heroine Silke justice! Oma could be played by the great Maggie Smith and Emil would be Ryan McPartlin!

The book you’re promoting, is it a stand-alone story or part of a series? If it’s part of a series, please list the order the books need to be read in for maximum reading enjoyment.
* The Wolf’s Moon is a stand-alone story and a part of the Naughty Fairy Tale line at Evernight Publishing. The idea for this story was obviously sparked by wanting to see a different take on Little Red Riding Hood.

*** Now for some fun info… ***
What’s your favorite color?
* Black! It’s easy to match, it’s slimming (ha!) and looks fantastic on its own.

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor?
* Ben & Jerry’s Chunky Monkey! I love banana flavored ice cream!

Are you a morning person or night owl?
* Night owl all the way! I do my best work in the late hours of the night.

*** About Rebecca Brochu’s book… ***

~ Blurb ~
* Silke’s life in her village has not been easy since the death of her parents. Things only get worse when the local healer takes her under her wing. Branded a witch and tormented by the other villagers, Silke has resigned herself to living her life alone.
* Then a chance encounter in the woods with a dark and handsome stranger named Raoul throws Silke’s carefully ordered life off balance. Now she has to deal with the stormy emotions that Raoul brings to life within her as she works at solving the mystery of who’s leaving gifts on her doorstep.
* When the time comes, will Silke be willing to give up everything she’s ever known for a love that’s deeper than she’s ever thought possible? Or will she reject the gift the wolf’s moon has given her?


~ Excerpt ~
* Raoul growls low in his throat and yanks Silke’s body back up against his own as one of his hands forces her head to tilt back. His lips close over hers, and there’s no hesitation this time, no gentle coaxing or playful teasing. He dominates her mouth, tongue sweeping in and going deep as he licks at the back of her teeth like he’s chasing her flavor. Silke gives back as good as she can as she digs her nails into his naked shoulders and returns his passion to the best of her abilities.
* Silke almost doesn’t feel it when he begins to move them, but she doesn’t stop him when he begins to pull at her skirt, rucking it up until he can wrap large, hot hands around her thighs. She moans and clutches at his shoulder harder as he lifts her without any effort and presses her back up against a nearby tree as he steps into the space between her thighs. Silke gasps, breaking the kiss and bucking her hips up into the cage of his hands as best she can. She can feel him, can feel his heat as he presses the hard line of his cock against her.
* “Raoul!” Silke cries out and Raoul answers her by dipping his head down to mouth at her neck as he presses his hips down against her. He racks the vulnerable, pale line of her throat with surprisingly sharp teeth before he soothes the sting with his tongue.
* “Silke.” She hears him murmur against the skin of her throat, but she pays him no mind, too caught up in the pleasure of having him against her. Then one of his hands shifts and he trails it slowly up the soft flesh of her thigh, fingertips tracing lightly over her skin. For the first time, despite how much she wants him, she feels uneasy, hesitant.
* Raoul makes a soft noise and brings his face back up so he can capture her mouth again in a surprisingly gentle kiss. When he pulls back his hand has stilled high on her thigh, the ends of his fingers just brushing her curls.
* “I won’t take you, Silke, not here, not like this. Just let me. Please.” Raoul sounds almost as if he’s pleading, as if he’s begging her to give him something precious. Silke doesn’t want to deny him, doesn’t want to deny herself, so she looks him in the eyes and nods.

***Buy Rebecca Brochu's book here***
Evernight Publishing | Amazon | All Romance eBooks | Bookstrand

***Find Rebecca Brochu here***
Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Evernight Publisher | Amazon

Thank you for joining us here today, Rebecca! It was a pleasure getting to know you and your work.

A Look At Alana Cash & 'How You Leave Texas' ( @GoddessFish )

Today we have author Alana Cash visiting. Welcome!

What would you like to tell readers about yourself?

* Alana Cash is an adventurer. She’s trekked alone through war-torn Serbia and has slept in a KGB interrogation room in Prague. She’s been to a gypsy fair in rural England, a bullfight in Laredo, and parasailing in Acapulco. She’s been inside the New York Stock Exchange and eaten in J. Pierpont Morgan’s home dining room. She's gone on a ride-along in a New York City patrol car and kissed a man inside the Norman Bates Psycho house at Universal Studios. She’s been a lifeguard, legal secretary, accountant, writer, teacher, filmmaker and artist.
* Her experiences are inspiration for her work as an acclaimed writer and filmmaker.
~~ She was one of 60 US teachers profiled on the PBS series, "A Writer's Exchange," for her talent as a teacher at the University of Texas Informal Classes - many of her students published and won writing awards.
~~ Her feature film, "Tom's Wife," based on her novel of the same name, won awards all over the world.
~~ Her documentary "Anna Freud: Under Analysis," part of documentary trilogy on women in science, was translated into German for broadcast in Austria, Germany & Switzerland.

What are you going to tell us about today?
* How You Leave Texas. Alana Cash and How You Leave Texas placed first place in the Short Story category of the GLOBAL BOOK CONTEST 2013!

A look into...

How You Leave Texas is a volume of three short stories and a novella about four young women who leave Midland, Austin, Fort Worth and Mayville, Texas for New York, California, Jakarta, and in one instance, jail. They seek escape from boredom and sorrow and find it. The stories are hilarious, tragic, revelatory.

~ Blurb for Dam Broke ~ * On the night of their high school graduation, Annabelle and Mickey ride a scooter in pouring rain as they reveal closely held secrets. (6 pages).
~~ In sixth grade, I abandoned the reading glasses for a blond wig and a fake mole above my top lip. Mickey started wearing sunglasses indoors and carrying business cards. ~~

~ Blurb for Camille’s Net Worth ~ * On the day she turns 40, Camille's life goes from bored to worse in uncontrolled demolition. She accepts an exciting job opportunity and travels back and forth to Indonesia. The job isn't what is appears, but the irony of how things turn out causes Camille to laugh until she has tears rolling down her face. (42 pages).
~~ "I’m not going to spend much time repeating myself," Camille said, "I want you to remove whatever you want to keep from this house. You can store your stuff in a rental truck if you need to until you find a new home, but you will be gone from here by midnight and never return." ~~
~~ "You can’t do that!" ~~
~~ "If you are not gone by midnight, I will set fire to the house." ~~

~ Blurb for Krystal’s Wedding ~ * Krystal leaves her seriously flawed family in Midland, heading for New York City, where she takes a few slippery steps. Krystal's mother encourages her to find a husband in order to escape her loud roommate in Hell's Kitchen and her boring job. However, Krystal actually gets her footing in New York and in life when she is offered a new, fulfilling direction. (21 pages).
~~ Krystal felt safe with Hudson there, but it must be as clear to him and his family as it was to her that theirs was a match of china and paper plates. As Krystal faked a sip of the champagne with a name she couldn’t read because it was printed in twirly letters in French, she wondered how hard his mother would try to prevent Hudson from getting too serious... ~~

~ Blurb for Frying Your Burger ~ * Nicky and three irreverent friends spend mornings at a coffee shop tossing repartee on love, sex, and religion. Then, Nicky gets caught up with a Hollywood player, becoming a pawn in the battle of egos between two movie directors trying to ruin each others careers. (108 pages).
~~ I went into the room marked Cashier and got into a long line. And there he was. Grinning that grin. He should have had a license for it. It was that bright. I stood next to him in my white t-shirt and white pants looking like someone straight out of the "hospital orderly fashion catalogue." It was all I had clean that day. ~~

~ Excerpt from Camille's Net Worth ~ * She was late to work at Fastbinder’s Mortgage Company, and when she arrived, the atmosphere in the office felt charged. Something was up. The top managers were in an unscheduled conference call and no one knew why. No one was working, so Camille called her mother to thank her for the flowers that were already sitting on her desk.
* “What do you and Walker have planned for tonight?” Elaine Morgan asked her daughter.
* Camille explained about the dinner.
* “What is he getting you as a gift?”
* “I don’t know, Mom. I’ve looked everywhere.”
* “Well, have a wonderful time, honey,” her mom said.
* It was ten o’clock when Camille got off the phone. The accounting department surprised her with a birthday cake, sang to her, and gave her the card they had all signed. Five minutes later, the managers were out of their meeting and everyone got canned by one loud announcement from the District Manager.
* “We’re sorry to have to tell you that you are all let go.” That is all that Camille would ever clearly remember.
* The mortgage company was belly-up. Those few employees who were retained were being transferred to the Las Vegas branch. Everyone was in shock and had no time to express outrage or disappointment because they were told to pack up all of their personal belongings and exit the building immediately. Camille took the elevator down the four floors, amid grumblings from secretaries and mortgage brokers. What about our benefits? I didn’t take all my vacation this year. Someone ought to blow up the building. I stole a printer.

Buy How You Leave Texas here...
Amazon

Find Alana Cash here...
Website | Blog

Thank you for joining us here today, Alana! It was a pleasure getting to know you and your story.

ANNOUNCEMENT! Alana will be awarding a screen printed camisole (What Happens in the Bedroom Stays in the Bedroom) to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour as well as a screen printed Brass Nuts t-shirt to another commenter! So be sure to leave your name and email with your comment and visit other tour stops (find them here: goddessfishpromotions-book-tour-how-you-leave-texas) for a greater chance of winning!

A Look At Jacqui Morrison & 'The Vigilante' ( @GoddessFish #suspense )

Today we have author Jacqui Morrison visiting. Welcome!

What would you like to tell readers about yourself?

* I am Jacqui Morrison. I started writing poems and short stories as a child. I also enjoyed public speaking in elementary school and at University. In High School, a great teacher, Lenore Hawley, inspired me and in 1995 I pursued my life-long passion for writing.
* My career is a complicated web and includes: owning an ice cream parlour and fine food shop, teaching life-skills management to adults, teaching computer applications, social service work and marketing.
* From 1994 to 2003, I assisted survivors of domestic violence in both criminal and family court as a support worker. I’ve always had a strong interest in law and justice.
* I love to write and I am happiest writing or encouraging others to fulfill their writing dreams. I facilitate writing seminars for Canadore College and various agencies.
* I live in northern Ontario, Canada with my daughter Alison, my husband Wayne, and a three-legged dog named Willow. Our daughter has convinced us to adopt four cats so Felix, Sasha, Nikke and Angel round out our family. Angel, at four-months-of-age was abandoned by its owner and we rescued her in -15 degree weather.
* Alison has a future in politics, animal rescue work or sales … because I’m not really a cat person and she’s persuaded me to adopt four.
* My parents are the late Drs John and Irene Morrison. Mom was a family physician and a competitive swimmer. My father worked for the Provincial Parole Board. Dad enjoyed to write fictional stories in his spare time. He was my mentor, my editor and my hero. I have one sister named Trish. She is a competitive swimming coach. Trish resides in southern Ontario with her husband, four children, two dogs and a cat.
* In our spare time we like to cruise Georgian Bay on our boat or spend quality family time.

What are you going to tell us about today?
* The Vigilante

A look into the story

~ Blurb ~ * It isn’t safe for men who work in the porn business in the city of Toronto.
* When porn producer Sal Turbit is found dead in his apartment, no one seems to care. No one, that is, except Detective Lynette Wilton. Lynette has been a homicide detective for only three months, and has yet to earn her stripes.
* Murder is murder no matter who the victim is—and Lynette is out to catch a killer.
* Could the killer be Wanda Chambers, a mentally ill woman who hates the “scumbags” who prey on the vulnerable? Wanda’s beloved sister, Cathy, was one such woman. Cathy became a porn actress and then took her own life when her sleazy manager/boyfriend, Gil Lee, wouldn’t let her go.
* Lynette’s sergeant doesn’t think it’s possible. Wanda has a debilitating illness. But Lynette believes that Wanda’s hatred and harsh childhood make her a prime suspect, and she proves it by catching Wanda in the act of attempting to shoot Lee.
* Renowned defense lawyer Maxine Swayman takes on Wanda’s case; Maxine has a different view of the accused. She wants to help Wanda get the help that she needs, and it’s not going to happen in a prison cell.
* As the trial proceeds, will Maxine prevail and save Wanda, or will Lynette be able to tie Wanda to Turbit’s murder as well?
* "Morrison knows how to create suspense! She brings readers on a roller-coaster ride that leaves you breathless from start to finish!" —Trey Anthony, star and producer “Da Kink in Da Hair”

~ Excerpt ~ * “Hey,” Sal said, “come on in. You’re right on time. Good to meet ya.” He left the visitor in the living room of his shabby apartment in a grungy, low-rent building, and slipped into the kitchen. The metallic pop of a beer bottle opening echoed in the other room. Then another.
* Six empty beer bottles, a heaping ashtray, and assorted marijuana paraphernalia were already strewn across his table. The grandfather clock struck four times. Sal stumbled back into the room. “I got you a beer.”
* Glassy-eyed, Sal said, “I’ve got lots of great products for you to move today.” He showed the visitor the cover of a DVD. “This one is new. It’ll sell out. She’s a real sweet thing. Told me she was eighteen ’n had the ID to prove it. Likely just some little tramp from nowhere-ville. Came to the big, bad city for excitement––”
* The metal felt cool as the visitor pulled out a gun.
* “What the hell?” Sal screamed, just before the bullet penetrated his skull.
* He fell onto the sofa, blood oozing out the back of his head. His face was contorted, almost angry looking. Certainly surprised.
* The spent cartridge from the handgun ricocheted against a metal garbage can––reminiscent of the pop of a beer cap––and then landed on the carpet.
* The murderer studied the victim’s splayed body, feeling a sense of elation and satisfaction. Out came a Swiss Army knife, and the killer wordlessly hacked off a section of Sal’s hair, stuffed it into a small plastic bag, and then threw it into a knapsack. The killer then picked up the half-spilled beer that Sal had been handing over when the shot was fired. Perfect. Grinning, the murderer chugged the beer, retrieved the spent cartridge, and smugly looked at Sal Turbit’s still body, now surrounded by pooling blood.
* Still wearing leather gloves, the murderer put the beer bottle and hot metal bullet charge into a knapsack and fled, smiling, into the dense night.

Find Jacqui Morrison here...
Website | Facebook

Thank you for joining us here today, Jacqui Morrison! It was a pleasure getting to know you and your story.

ANNOUNCEMENT! Jacqui will be awarding Loose Tea and Chipnuts to two randomly drawn commenters! So be sure to leave your name and email with your comment and visit other tour stops (find them here: goddessfishpromotions-book-blast-vigilante) for a greater chance of winning!

A Look At Joan Hall Hovey & 'Defective' & 'Nowhere To Hide' ( @joanhh @GoddessFish #suspense )

Today we have author Joan Hall Hovey visiting. Welcome!

What would you like to tell readers about yourself?

* In addition to her critically acclaimed novels, Joan Hall Hovey's articles and short stories have appeared in such diverse publications as The Toronto Star, Atlantic Advocate, Seek, Home Life Magazine, Mystery Scene, The New Brunswick Reader, Fredericton Gleaner, New Freeman and Kings County Record. Her short story Dark Reunion was selected for the anthology investigating Women, Published by Simon & Pierre.
* Ms. Hovey has held workshops and given talks at various schools and libraries in her area, including New Brunswick Community College, and taught a course in creative writing at the University of New Brunswick. For a number of years, she has been a tutor with Winghill School, a distance education school in Ottawa for aspiring writers.
* She is a member of the Writer's Federation of New Brunswick, past regional Vice-President of Crime Writers of Canada, Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime.

What are you going to tell us about today?
* My books Defective & Nowhere To Hide

A look into the story

~ Blurb for Defective ~ * Therapist Melanie Snow is driving to her office when her Honda is struck by a dark-colored van and sent spinning into a ditch, where it catches fire. The driver never stops. A passerby pulls Melanie from the car just seconds before it explodes.
* Waking from the coma nine days later, she is devastated to find she is blind.
* As Melanie struggles to cope with her new reality, life as a blind woman, her fragile state of mind is further threatened by a madman who is stalking and strangling disabled women. The first two victims were mentally challenged and Detective Matt O’Leary, who carries a torch for Melanie, (even though Melanie is engaged to someone else) tells himself she is not the killer’s targeted prey. But then a woman who lost a leg to cancer is murdered, and another physically disabled woman is stalked. Even with a whole town in terror, Melanie refuses to live her life in fear and reopens her practice in the basement of her home. She has a living to earn.
* And Detective Matt O’Leary must find a way to keep Melanie safe until the monster is caught. But how? Her door is now open to the public and the killer can just walk through anytime he chooses.
* And he does.

~ Blurb for Nowhere To Hide ~ 2001 eBook (EPPIE) Award Winner - Thriller Category (EPIC - Past Winners
* SHE DARED TO CHALLENGE A MERCILESS KILLER
* Raised in an atmosphere of violence and unpredictability, Ellen and Gail Morgan have banded together, survivors of a booze-fertilized battleground, forming a fierce united front against an often cold and uncaring world. When their parents are killed in a car crash, Ellen becomes the mother figure for Gail.
* When fifteen years later Gail is brutally raped and murdered in her shabby New York basement apartment, practically on the eve of her big breakthrough as a singer, Ellen is inconsolable. Rage at her younger sister's murder has nearly consumed her. So when her work as a psychologist wins her an appearance on the evening news, Ellen seizes the moment. Staring straight into the camera, she challenges the killer to come out of hiding: "Why don't you come after me? I'll be waiting for you."
* Phone calls flood the station, but all leads go nowhere. The police investigation seems doomed to failure. Then it happens: a note, written in red ink, slipped under the windshield wipers of her car, 'YOU'RE IT.' Ellen has stirred the monster in his lair … and the hunter has become the hunted!

~ Excerpt from Defective ~ * It was mid-afternoon, overcast, and The East End Mall in Kingsdale was crowded with shoppers. The Eraser, as he liked to think of himself, sat at one of the molded plastic tables by himself, nursing a Pepsi and eating fries from a small cardboard plate, and people watching. It was one of his favorite things to do, especially in nice weather when the girls wore shorts or tight jeans, some with their tanned midriffs bare, skimpy tops that showed off their boobs and skinny jeans that accentuated their tight little butts. Why not? He was a normal guy, he told himself. He avoided looking at the ones with flab hanging over their waistbands. He had girlfriend once or twice, but it didn't last. The last one said he was weird and just stopped returning his calls. Well, to hell with her.
* His eye strayed momentarily to the big screen monitor advertising Nike sneakers. Then it changed to a rent-a-car commercial and on to something else, but he'd already looked away. Idly dipping a French fry in the small pool of ketchup on his plate, he popped it in his mouth and went back to girl-watching. They did little for him today. His hand moved to cover the scratch that the retard left on his cheek, though it was fading now. That Polysporin ointment was good stuff.
* Music played over the sound system, competing with the jabbering of shoppers, nothing he recognized. Probably supposed to keep people shopping, buying junk they didn't need. His gaze narrowed ever so slightly as a young girl with a silver ring in her lower lip and wearing black eyeliner got up from a table not far from him and limped heavily to the waste bin and dumped in the remainder of her meal, a half-eaten hamburger, fries. She sat the tray on top of the stack. Behind her, someone called out, "Hey, Lana," and the girl turned in his direction and took a step forward so he could see her full-length; she looked past his shoulder and waved. He felt his heartbeat rev up, his throat go dry.
* She had short dark hair, and was wearing a khaki skirt and cream-colored blouse. Her dimpled smile, the gleam of white, even teeth barely registered on him. He didn't even glance behind him at the woman who had called out to her. He had no interest. As he had no genuine interest in the woman who returned the wave, really.
* No. It was her foot in its big brown shoe that drew and held his attention. Not brown exactly, but like tea when you put milk in it. Taupe. Yes, that was what his mother called that color. It was all he could see when he looked at her: that big clunking shoe. So ugly it offended him, as deformities of any kind offended him. Even horrified him. A chill had crept down his back. He had to work extra hard to keep the disgust and pity from his face. She was a mistake. A blight, a tragic spawn. She must be erased. Like when you're a kid and you draw a picture of something and it doesn't come out right. You just erase it. Or rip out the page, and start again.
* He was the eraser of mistakes. The good Lord had chosen him to do this work. Not that he was blaming God. No, there was no blame to be handed out here. Some small voice told him his reasoning was flawed, that that wasn't why they had to die. But he wasn't listening. As people were born of sin, women carried the faulty limbs, twisted features and minds within them. Carriers. As his mother had been a carrier, her womb spewing forth a defective, barely human—thing. Not the defective's fault either. But since the flaw couldn't be repaired, the whole issue had to be erased. The burden lifted. The Eraser held that kind of power; he could end suffering, change lives for the better. He remembered well the very moment he had changed his own life but no time for that now. She was heading for the exit doors. He rose casually from his chair, tossing the remainder of his own fries and drink into the trash, dropped his tray on top of hers, and followed. He was really following the 'shoe'. His eyes were riveted on the shoe. It filled his vision, his consciousness. That big, ugly shoe that rose and fell, rose and fell, her left hip dipping in sync, the shoe dragging it downward, seeming an entity in itself. When she stepped through the automatic doors into the grey, drizzly day, he was right behind her. Close enough to touch her. He buried his hands deep in his pockets to stifle the urge.
* The bus pulled up with a hiss of air brakes and a belch of exhaust, and she hitched herself up onto the step. He followed, paid his fare. His bike was chained and locked in the parking lot; it would be fine. She took a side seat near the driver, and he sat himself two seats behind her and pretended to look out the window.
* In the grayness of the day, his reflection in the glass was faint, but almost at once he could see his reflection begin to morph into that of another, as she had once been. A raindrop ran down the window and caught one corner of her mouth like the drool he remembered, couldn't forget, and he could not tear his eyes away. The small voice in his head spoke to him, sending the familiar chill through him, as if his heart had just received an infusion of ice water. The voice could form words now, where once it was capable only of mindless gibberish. "You know it's me in there, don't you. I'm watching you. I've come back. I'll always come back. I'll never leave you."
* "No! No!"
* Fearing he had cried out, he jerked his head around in sudden panic, but no one on the bus was looking at him. One man was reading a newspaper. A woman was talking and smiling at her little boy. Relief swept through him, but he was trembling just the same. A Chinese man seated across from him turned the page in his paperback, paying him no mind.
* The girl had put earphones in her ears and her lips were moving to a song only she could hear. Her legs were crossed, the shoe swinging in time, mocking him.

Buy Defective & Nowhere To Hide here...
Amazon - Defective | Amazon - Nowhere To Hide
Praise for Joan Hall Hovey’s Books: “…suspense that puts her right up there with the likes of Sandford and Patterson..." Ingrid Taylor for Small Press Review; "...Alfred Hitchcock and Stephen King come to mind, but JOAN HALL HOVEY is in a Class by herself!…" J.D. Michael Phelps, Author of My Fugitive, David Janssen; "...will keep readers holding their breath until the very end..." inthelibraryreview, Melissa Parcel

Find Joan Hall Hovey here...
Website

Thank you for joining us here today, Joan Hall Hovey! It was a pleasure getting to know you and your stories.

ANNOUNCEMENT! Joan will award one randomly drawn commenter a $50 gift certificate for sunglasses at Sunglasses Shack (US/Canada only)! So be sure to leave your name and email with your comment and visit other tour stops (find them here: goddessfishpromotions-blurb-blitz-suspense-from-joan-hall) for a greater chance of winning!