Rachel Brimble & 'Her Hometown Redemption' @RachelBrimble @GoddessFish #contemporary #romance

Today we have author Rachel Brimble visiting. Welcome!

What would you like to tell readers about yourself?

* Rachel lives with her husband and two teenage daughters in a small town near Bath in the UK. After having several novels published by small US presses, she secured agent representation in 2011. In 2012, she sold two books to Harlequin Superromance and a further three in 2013. She also writes Victorian romance for Kensington--her debut was released in April 2013, followed by a second in January 2014 and the third is released Jan 2015.
* Rachel is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and Romance Writers of America, and was selected to mentor the Superromance finalist of So You Think You Can Write 2014 contest. When she isn’t writing, you’ll find Rachel with her head in a book or walking the beautiful English countryside with her family. Her dream place to live is Bourton-on-the-Water in South West England.
* She likes nothing more than connecting and chatting with her readers and fellow romance writers. Rachel would love to hear from you!

Today Rachel Brimble will be talking about how she became a writer and what inspired her in regard to the story she's promoting.
* I have always wanted to write since reading The Famous Five series by Enid Blyton when I was around eight or nine. I would make up stories and bind the pages together with colored ribbon. I wish so much that I’d kept my first novel attempts!
* From this young age, I wrote on and off for a few years but it wasn’t until I found my first Harlequin romance around the age of fourteen that romance (and women’s fiction) became my passion. I vowed after I’d finished reading my first romance that I would get a book of my own published one day.
* Of course, that

Linda Thomas-Sundstrom & 'Seduced by the Moon' @GoddessFish #paranormal

Today we have author Linda Thomas-Sundstrom visiting. Welcome!

What would you like to tell readers about yourself?

* Linda is the author of contemporary, paranormal romance, and urban fantasy books for Kensington, Amazon Montlake, GothicScapes, Harlequin Nocturne, and Harlequin Desire. She loves more than anything to write, and has a resident Muse who loudly sings all these stories to her.
* Linda swears that all of her books come loaded with good karma for the readers, for helping to support her writing dreams.

A look into...

~ Blurb ~ * Can blood ties be stronger than the passions that rule the heart?
* Skylar Donovan has come to her late father’s Colorado cabin to find answers to explain his death. Instead she meets a handsome forest ranger with a dark side. A stranger who is willing to protect her from an unknown assailant. A stranger who also appears in her dreams as something other than a man. He’s werewolf, and he satisfies Skylar Donovan like no mere man ever has.
* Gavin Harris was bitten by a monster in the hills he has sworn to protect and now searches for that beast. But his deadly mission unites him with a beautiful blonde bent on a search of her own. Neither is safe from the evil they’re stalking—but the forbidden lust that burns between them might be the greatest danger of all. Buy Seduced by the Moon here... Amazon - Kindle | Amazon - Print | Barnes & Noble - Nook | Barnes & Noble - Print | iTunes | Kobo | Harlequin Find Linda Thomas-Sundstrom here... Facebook | Goodreads | Website Thank you for joining us here today, Linda Thomas-Sundstrom! It was a pleasure getting to know you and your story.

ANNOUNCEMENT! Linda Thomas-Sundstrom will award a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn commenter via Rafflecopter! So be sure to leave a comment AND use the Rafflecopter below. Also, visit the other tour stops for a greater chance of winning!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Look At Gail Barrett & 'A Kiss to Die For' ( @GailEBarrett @GoddessFish @HarlequinBooks #suspense )

Today we have author Gail Barrett visiting. Welcome!

What would you like to tell readers about yourself?
* Gail Barrett is the award-winning author of thirteen romantic suspense novels. A former RITA® and Daphne finalist, Gail has received the Book Buyer’s Best Award, the Holt Medallion, the Booksellers Best, The National Readers’ Choice Award, and numerous other awards. She lives with her husband in Western Maryland.

What are you going to tell us about today?
* My story romantic suspense story A Kiss to Die For. Available now from Harlequin.

A look into the story

~ Blurb ~ * Homeless Army veteran Sullivan Turner is nobody’s hero. His failure to save his fallen comrades proved that. So when a gutsy social worker gets caught in a drug gang’s crosshairs, he knows he’s the last man who can safeguard her and the pregnant teenagers she’s trying to protect.
* Former debutant Haley Barnes learned the hard way how to survive. After witnessing a cold-blooded murder, the terrified teenaged runaway changed her identity and hid to save her life. But when the killer tracks her down and attacks the girls in the homeless shelter she now runs, Haley knows the time has come to stand and fight. But to bring down the powerful killer she must confront her high-society family’s darkest secrets -- and convince wounded warrior Sully Turner he’s the hero she believes.

~ Excerpt ~ * “Then you’ll do what they say? You’ll go to a safe house?”
* “No. Not yet. I can’t,” she added when he hissed. “I have to try to get answers. If my parents won’t talk, if I don’t learn anything at the fundraiser, then I’ll reconsider my plan. But I have to give it a shot.”
* Frustrated, he gripped the back of his neck. He was starting to realize how she’d survived the streets -- she was too damned stubborn to quit. “Then at least take a cop as your bodyguard.”
* “No. It’s either you or no one. I won’t change my mind about that. I can’t. I’ll never figure out who’s involved if I tip him off.”
* His jaw clenched. Dread mingled with desperation at the thought of her taking on the killer alone. “That’s not fair.”
* A sad smile curved her lips. “Don’t worry, Sully. I don’t blame you for not wanting to do this. I’ve already involved you enough.”
* Suddenly feeling cornered, Sully turned to the window and scowled out at the city lights. She’d just given him an out. He should leave right now while he still could. But he couldn’t let her go to that fundraiser alone. He’d never forgive himself if she got killed.
* But how could he protect her? He was the worst possible man for the job. He swung around to face her again. “For God’s sakes, Haley. Why can’t you understand this? I’m not the man you need.”
* “But you’re the one I want.”

Buy A Kiss to Die For here...
Harlequin | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Find Gail Barrett here...
Website | Facebook Fan Page | Twitter

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

ANNOUNCEMENT! Gail will be awarding a $25 Amazon gift certificate and either a signed print copy (US ONLY) or an electronic copy of Fatal Exposure (Buried Secrets book one) to one randomly drawn commenter during this tour and her other Super Book Blast on August 27th! So be sure to leave your name and email with your comment, visit the other tour stops (find them here: goddessfishpromotions-book-blast-kiss-to-die) for a greater chance of winning!

Welcome special guest: author Judy Duarte

Today we have author Judy Duarte visiting. Judy sold her first book in 2002 and has published more than forty more novels since then. A two-time Rita® finalist with MULBERRY PARK (2009) and ENTERTAINING ANGELS (2010), she was awarded two Maggies and a National Reader’s Choice Award for her heartwarming stories. Judy lives in Southern California.

So, Judy, what inspired you to become a writer?
I’m an avid reader. Back in 1996, I began wondering if I could write a book of my own. So I purchased a computer and played around with a story idea. Before long, I was caught up in creative process. I found Romance Writers of America, and the rest is history.

When did you attempt your first story? What length was it? What's become of it?
In 1996, I began work on LEGACY OF THE HEART, a historical romance that takes place on a wagon train. That 90,000 word manuscript was my very first attempt at writing. It’s now under the bed, hiding amidst the dust bunnies.

How many stories did you complete before you sold your first?
I wrote three more historical novels after LEGACY OF THE HEART. And I’m hopeful they’ll eventually be published. In fact, one of them was a Golden Heart finalist in 2001. I recently revised that manuscript, and my agent is currently trying to sell it.

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 write contemporary

romance for Harlequin Special Edition, one of their home and heart lines. I also write inspirational women’s fiction for Kensington. If my historicals take off, I’ll be writing in that genre, too.
Writing different stories for different publishers allows me a change of pace sometimes, while still providing the readers with heartwarming reads.

What are the best and worst pieces of writing advice you ever received?
The best was: Never give up on your dream. It will happen, but not if you quit writing.
The worst was… Hmm. I can’t say that I’ve ever gotten any bad advice… Well, if I did, I filed it away as unimportant and kept dreaming and writing and submitting.

How do you celebrate/deal with acceptance/rejection letters?
Selling a book leaves me with a high that lasts for days. Even after more than forty sales, it’s still a thrill to learn that a publisher wants to buy my book.
As for rejections, I’ve found that putting them aside for a few days or a week gives me a better perspective. I usually revise with the rejecting editor’s comments in mind and resubmit a better proposal the next time around.

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?

In THE RANCHER’S HIRED FIANCEE, I described the hero, Ray Mendez, as looking enough like Antonio Banderas to be his younger brother. The heroine, Catherine Loza, could be played by Katherine Heigl.

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 RANCHER’S HIRED FIANCEE is book 2 in a series called Brighton Valley Babies. The first book, A BABY UNDER THE TREE, was released in December of 2011.
This series is a spin-off of the Brighton Valley Medical Center series and The Texas Homecoming series. But this book—and the series—all stand alone.

*** Now for some fun info… ***
What’s your favorite color?
Green—at least, these days.

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor?
Strawberry—especially if it’s homemade!

Are you a cat, dog or both kind of person?
Both! Sadly, Tina, our cat, hates dogs with a passion. So we haven’t had the heart to adopt a new pet.

Would you/have you own(ed) a snake or some other exotic pet?
No, I haven’t wanted any kind of scaly or exotic critter.

Which do you prefer: rain or sun & warm weather or cold weather?
I love cold, rainy days, especially if I can stay inside.

Are you a morning person or night owl?
I love the wee hours of the morning, when the household is quiet.

What’s your favorite day of the week?
Sunday, which is a day for church and family.

What’s your favorite number?
Ten.

If you could live anywhere in the universe, where would it be and why?
Heaven would be awesome. Other than that, I’m happy just where I am. :)

If you were stranded on a desert island and were only allowed to have five modern conveniences with you, what would they be?
Wow, that’s tough. All the important modern conveniences need batteries or electricity or some kind of power source! So how about a lighter, a knife, a spear, a hammer and nails…

*** About Judy's book(s)… ***
Fake Fiancée…True Romance!
    The Antonio Banderas look-alike standing on the porch in Western gear wasn’t at all what actress Catherine Loza had expected. But when the tall, dark and totally irresistible rancher asked her to play the role of his fiancée to get the local matchmakers off his back, well…it was an offer the actress couldn’t refuse.
    Brighton Valley mayor Ray Mendez thought he’d come up with the perfect plan. But as his fake engagement awakened stirrings of real romance—and real passion—he soon found himself wondering if he could persuade his costar to make their arrangement of convenience permanent. A proposal from the heart—and a baby on the way!—might just convince her that he was for real…
    Brighton Valley Babies—A new generation of cowboys—and cowgirls!—is on the way.
The Rancher’s Hired Fiancée
Harlequin Special Edition
By: Judy Duarte
Coming out ~ June 2012
ISBN: 978-0-373-65675-2
Pre-order here: Amazon.

***Find Judy here***
WEBSITE

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

You're welcome! I'd also be happy to host a contest. I'll give autographed copies of my backlist--including MENDOZA'S MIRACLE, book 3 in the Fortunes of Texas, a Harlequin Special Edition, March 2012--to three lucky commenters.