Rachel L. Demeter & 'Finding Gabriel' @RachelLDemeter @GoddessFish #gothic #romance

Today we have author Rachel L. Demeter visiting. Welcome!

What would you like to tell readers about yourself?

* Rachel L. Demeter lives in the beautiful hills of Anaheim, California with Teddy, her goofy lowland sheepdog, and her high school sweetheart of eleven years. She enjoys writing dark, poignant romances that challenge the reader's emotions and explore the redeeming power of love.
* Imagining dynamic worlds and characters has been Rachel's passion for longer than she can remember. Before learning how to read or write, she would dictate stories while her mother would record them for her. She holds a special affinity for the tortured hero and unconventional romances. Whether crafting the protagonist or antagonist, she ensures every character is given a soul.
* Rachel endeavors to defy conventions by blending elements of romance, suspense, and horror. Some themes her stories never stray too far from: forbidden romance, soul mates, the power of love to redeem, mend all wounds, and triumph over darkness. Her dream is to move readers and leave an emotional impact through her words.
* Don't be a stranger! Rachel loves to connect and interact with her readers.

Today Rachel L. Demeter will be talking about "CONQUERING THE WRITER’S BLOCK."
* One of the greatest literary pains is the infamous writer’s block. It’s a genuinely terrifying and suffocating experience. Time freezes. Your mind dissolves into an unforgiving void. That stark, blank page glares back at you with a blinding intensity. All the while, the cursor on your monitor pulsates, resembling a ticking time bomb more than an outlet for your muse.
* When writer’s block hits, you must hit back even harder. For the last few years, I’ve had a Post-It hanging from the corner of my monitor that reads:

“RACHEL’S REMEDIES FOR WRITER’S BLOCK”

A Look At Victoria Vale & 'Masquerade' @eroticabyvicki @LoveBitesSilk #erotic #regency

Masquerade by Victoria Vale Genre: Erotic, Historical Romance, Regency A look into the story

* Margaret Seymour is bored by the stifling constraints of society dictating her behavior as a debutante in search of a husband. Her prospects are promising by the standards of London society, yet, not one of them causes her heart to flutter, or her head to fill with scintillating, forbidden fantasies. Those feelings are reserved for Camden Rycroft, Duke of Avonleah—a man who isn’t even aware of her existence.
* While attending a scandalous Vauxhall Gardens masquerade, Margaret finds herself in the duke’s arms. His promise of a night of pleasure is tempting, but is it worth it when Avonleah is a known rake notorious for his short attention span and avoidance of marriage?
* Camden Rycroft is intrigued by the masked vixen he encounters in the Gardens. After one night with her leaves him hungry for more, his desire for her turns into a fiery obsession. Despite the scandal that could ensue from their affair, he finds himself unable to extract himself from a situation destined to end in pain. When faced with losing Margaret to a potential husband, will he rise to the occasion, or risk living without her?

* “You must know how many hearts you’ve stolen just by walking into a room. Many a night, I have watched you take a lady into your arms to waltz with her and wished I could be her. To be so close to you, moving together … to know your scent and your touch …” She paused, realizing she’d said far too much.
* Camden circled behind her, placing his hands upon her shoulders. His lips brushed the back of her neck and she shivered.
* “I cannot deny knowing you have watched me from afar all this time does not bring me pleasure, Maggie,” he murmured, his lips tracing a path toward her ear. “When you watched me with those women, did you wonder if there was more to our association than a simple waltz would suggest?”
* She nodded in response, unable to speak when he nibbled on her neck, teasing the most deliciously sensitive spot just beneath her ear.
* “You wondered if any of them would accompany me home, didn’t you? You thought about what I did to them.”
* She groaned as he took the shell of her ear between his teeth.
* “Yes,” she sighed. “I did.”
* “How did you feel when you thought about it—when you imagined all the wicked things I did to those other ladies?”
* His hands worked at the buttons running down her back, sliding them loose one by one, opening her gown.
* “Jealous,” she admitted.
* He gripped the sleeves of her gown and pulled, lowering it to the floor to pool around her feet. His hands took her waist and he pulled her against him, his lips trailing along her shoulder.
* “Did you fantasize about me, Maggie? Did you wonder what it would be like to be one of them?”
* “I did,” she said, her voice low and husky. “At night, alone in my bed, I closed my eyes and tried to imagine what it was like to be with you.”
* “Oh, Maggie,” he said, his voice tinged with amusement and mock horror. “Never say you were ever so naughty.”
* She giggled, bit her lower lip, and leaned back against him, resting her head on his chest. “I was.”
* “You touched yourself when you thought about me, didn’t you?” One of his hands slid across her stomach, lowering slowly toward the apex of her thighs. “Did you pleasure yourself to fantasies of me?”
* He cupped her mons, his fingers massaging gently and drawing moisture from her core.
* “Yes,” she gasped, her voice strained as he continued to tease her. “Yes, I did.”
* “Show me,” he whispered, removing his hand.
* She groaned in agitation, wishing for his touch again. Yet, he seemed to be waiting for her to fulfill his command.
* “Show me how you pleasured yourself, Maggie,” he said, his voice a bit rougher this time—a demand she dared not refuse. Not if she wished for more of the pleasure he could give her.

* Victoria Vale has written over two dozens Romance and Young Adult novels under various pseudonyms. As a lover of erotic romance, she enjoys nothing more than a sexy hero paired with a sassy heroine, flavored with a dash of spice and lots of heat. A wife and mother of three, she enjoys reading (of course), cooking, sewing … and other activities that aren’t appropriate for inclusion in a biography.
* Sexy heroes ... sassy heroines ... electrifying erotic romance.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Amazon - US | Amazon -UK | All Romance eBooks | Barnes & Noble | KOBO | iBooks

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

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A Look At 'Forgotten No More: A Lady Forsaken, Book Two' @CMcKnightWriter @GoddessFish #Regency #Romance

Today we have author Christina McKnight visiting. Welcome!

What would you like to tell readers about yourself?

* Christina McKnight is a book lover turned writer. From a young age, her mother encouraged her to tell her own stories. She’s been writing ever since. Currently, she focuses on Historical Romance, Urban Fantasy, and Paranormal Romance.
* Christina enjoys a quiet life in Northern California with her family, her wine, and lots of coffee. Oh, and her books…don’t forget her books! Most days she can be found writing, reading, or traveling the great state of California.

What are you going to tell us about today?
* My regency romanceForgotten No More: A Lady Forsaken, Book Two.

A look into the story ~ Blurb ~

* A lady forgotten by all...
* Ruby St. Augustin must find the truth of her past to determine what her future holds. She only has a short time in London to uncover the identity of her real father and the secrets behind her birth. If anyone learns of her mission, she will disgrace everyone she holds dear. What she doesn’t expect is to draw the attention of a man who doesn’t care about his reputation or her past.
* A man mesmerized by one...
* Harold Jakeston is a man without wealth or title. Resigned to a life he loathes, Harold has the chance at a few weeks of freedom before being trapped in a future he wants no part of. When he’s drawn into the mysterious quest of a woman from his past, he embraces the opportunity to forget the life that awaits him. What he never anticipated is falling in love with a woman who ignites his desire to create a new future for himself and for her.
* A love neither can abandon... ~ Excerpt ~ London, England
January 1816
* Ruby took a deep breath before trying the final drawer that could hold all the answers to her past, her true heritage. Her lungs expanded; she held the air inside. She didn’t exhale until it burned. With trembling fingers, she reached for the last drawer and pulled.
* Her nicely trimmed nails nearly snapped when her grasp on the handle slipped from the force of her tug. The drawer hadn’t budged.
* Locked!
* “Oh, poppy cocks!” she hissed. Moving her hands to the folds of her evening gown, Ruby procured a small pouch tucked neatly into a hidden pocket. Setting it on the desk, she pulled out her array of lock-picking devices, really only hairpins and small wires she’d collected since her first night—and her first failed attempt at breaking into a desk—to help her disengage the drawer.
* She had to know what secrets this lord held. Would she find an envelope inside labelled ‘Abandoned Daughter,’ or a report from the Bow Street Runners with details about herself—her hair color, the particular green shade of her eyes, places she’d been, perhaps the details of her activities over the course of her life?
* Nothing worth finding was that simply ascertained.
* No man, married or not, would leave record of their nefarious past. It was more likely her father had not spared her, or her mother, a second thought after throwing his pregnant mistress from his townhouse in the middle of the night with no coat and no means to get home.
* Ruby was anything but a fool, but she found herself continuing to search regardless. She didn’t need a signed confession—she just needed that letter opener.
* Picks in hand, she knelt before the locked drawer and eyed the keyhole, blowing a wayward strand of hair that had fallen across her face. She’d been unsuccessful more often than not when attempting to open locked drawers. But luck may have been on her side this evening. She’d entered the ball with little fuss, shortly after the host and hostess had quit the receiving line. It was surprising how similar the layout of most London townhouses were. Ruby had navigated the halls of the second floor and found the room she sought fairly quickly, encountering not a soul.
* The pins slipped into the lock and her tongue darted out of her mouth to lick her lips as she concentrated on moving them exactly right to click the lock over. She fought to keep her hands steady when sweat broke out across her forehead. She was running out of time.
* Ruby applied a bit too much pressure and the pin snapped, falling uselessly into the locked drawer. “Damn you to hell, mother!” she cursed and sat back, wiping her slick brow.
* She’d always viewed herself as a sensible girl, a dutiful daughter, and an honest friend. She could only imagine the horror on Vi’s face if she saw her now. A common thief. A midnight prowler. A defiler of privacy.
* Although, it could not be helped.
* She sought answers and at the moment all she had was an endless list of questions.
* Gaining her feet once more, she bundled her kit and slipped it back into her pocket. She turned her attention to the long table against the wall behind the desk. Leaning over, she ran her hand along the underside of the ornately carved piece, feeling for hidden compartments or—if her luck returned—a forgotten folder of papers.
* “Sherry, Miss Ruby?” an oddly familiar voice asked behind her.

Buy Forgotten No More: A Lady Forsaken, Book Two here...
Amazon US | Amazon Print | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | B&N | Kobo | Apple | Smashwords | Createspace

Find Christina McKnight here...
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Add Forgotten No More to your Goodreads List

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

ANNOUNCEMENT! Christina will be awarding a $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn winner, and a $15 Amazon GC to another winner, both via rafflecopter during the tour! So be to use the Rafflecopter below and visit the other tour stops (find them here: goddessfishpromotions-blurb-blitz-forgotten-no-more) for a greater chance of winning!

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Ta da! Cover reveal for 'A Rogue’s Deadly Redemption' by Jeannie Ruesch @jeannieruesch @GoddessFish #regency #romanticsuspense

Today we have author Jeannie Ruesch visiting. Welcome!

What would you like to tell readers about yourself?

* Jeannie Ruesch wrote her first story at the age of the six, prompting her to give up an illustrious, hours-long ambition of becoming a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader and declare that writing was her destiny. That journey to destiny took a few detours along the way, including a career in marketing and design.
* Her first novel, a fairy-tale like historical romance, was published in 2009, but the darker side of life always captivated her. After a dinner conversation with friends about the best way to hide a dead body, she knew she had to find a way to incorporate suspense into her writing. (The legal outlet for her fascination.) Today, she continues writing what she loves to read—stories of history, romance and suspense. She lives in Northern California with her husband, their son and an 80 pound lapdog lab named Cooper. She can be visited at www.jeannieruesch.com or found regularly on Twitter or Facebook.

What are you going to tell us about today?
* Today I'm revealing my cover for A Rogue’s Deadly Redemption!

Here's the cover and a look into the story:

~ Blurb ~ * Scandal forced Lady Lily Melrose into an untenable decision: marry the man she wanted but who wanted someone else or leave her home for America. She gambled and stayed. Now, almost four years later, Lily is ready to gamble again—on a future that means leaving her neglectful, absent husband behind. But when a deadly adversary threatens them both, Lily realizes how little she understood about her husband—and her marriage. She's faced with another impossible choice: leave the man she loved to face certain death or stay and fight to help him deliver on a promise he no longer remembers.
* Robert Melrose was raised as the forgotten third-born son with no future—without even the label of black sheep to keep him respectable. Not content with obscurity, he cultivated his own path to power, aligning himself with London's underworld, where betrayal is deadly. But when an accident wipes away his past, Robert can't remember who he is or what he's done. What he does know is that his wife, Lily, evokes a strong need inside—a need to prove he's better than his past. But when his past becomes a present danger, Robert must choose: gain the trust and love of the woman intent on leaving or let her walk away from him and the danger that might cost both their lives.

Find Jeannie Ruesch here...
Website | Facebook | Twitter

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

ANNOUNCEMENT! Jeannie will award a $20 Gift Card to Amazon or B&N to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour! So be sure to leave your name and email with your comment AND use the Rafflecopter below to enter. Also, visit the other tour stops (find them here: goddessfishpromotions-cover-reveal-rogues-deadly-redemption) for a greater chance of winning! Jeannie will also be holding a contest on her website! ENTER HERE to win a Keurig machine at Jeannie Ruesch's Coffee, Tea and Reads! (I love my Keurig so I think this is an awesome prize Jeannie is offering!)

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A Look At Holly Bush & 'Charming the Duke' ~ @hollybushbooks @GoddessFish #regency #victorian #romance

Today we have author Holly Bush visiting. Welcome!

What would you like to tell readers about yourself?

* Holly Bush was born in western Pennsylvania to two avid readers. There was not a room in her home that did not hold a full bookcase. She worked in the hospitality industry, owning a restaurant for twenty years. Holly has been a marketing consultant to start-up businesses and has done public speaking on the subject.
* Holly has been writing all of her life and is a voracious reader of a wide variety of fiction and non-fiction, particularly political and historical works. She has written four romance novels, all set in the U.S. West in the mid 1800’s. She frequently attends writing conferences, and has always been a member of a writer’s group.
* Holly is a gardener, a news junkie, and former vice-president of her local library board and loves to spend time near the ocean. She is the proud mother of two daughters and the wife of a man more than a few years her junior.

What are you going to tell us about today?
* My story Charming the Duke.

A look into the story

~ Blurb ~ * 1849 . . . Matilda Sheldon, the middle daughter of the sixth Earl of Bisset, has never been interested in the fashionable society events that so preoccupy her parents and siblings. Her loving, albeit, daft family cannot understand why. But Matilda has little use for silly rules and dramas. She would rather occupy her time with a worthwhile cause such as opening The Sheldon Home for Orphans, much to the chagrin of her mother and grandmother. They are quite certain a venture of this nature will discourage suitors. Matilda is quite certain that if suitors are discouraged it is because she is clever, plain, a bit clumsy, and inevitably compared to her beautiful sisters.
* The Duke of Thornsby is in tight spot. After receiving the title on the death of his father, he discovers the inheritance is to be gifted elsewhere if he does not marry before his thirtieth birthday. Unfortunately, our man-about-town is embroiled in a scandal, not of his own making, and the marriage mamas won’t let any eligible misses anywhere near him. What’s a Duke to do? Get invited to a house party hosted by the notoriously absent-minded Earl of Bisset, who just happens to be Papa to some young ladies of marriageable age!
* Thornsby finds himself fascinated, not with the two Sheldon debutantes actively seeking a husband, but rather with the ‘brown wren’ he first mistakes for a servant. Matilda is counting the hours until the house party ends when the necessity of conversing with the guests will be over, and ridiculously handsome men go far away. Can a worldly Duke convince a sensible girl to accept his court? Find out in Charming the Duke. ~ Excerpt ~ Our hero can’t resist a kiss . . .
* “Thornsby!” Matilda hissed. People from one end of the room to the other were staring. Oddly, the glimpse Matilda caught of her mother revealed a smile.
* “What is wrong with you, Thornsby?” Matilda asked when he finally released her after pulling her into the first deserted room they came to.
* “You said yourself that Altry has never asked you to dance. What do you imagine prompted him now?”
* “Heavens, I don’t know. Why would I care? It was just a dance,” Matilda replied.
* “Just a dance? That young pup was nearly drooling.”
* “Drooling? Whatever are you talking about?” Matilda asked.
* “Miss Sheldon! You are no fool. Don’t presume to tell me you don’t understand. Altry asked you to dance because of this damned outfit you’re wearing.” Thornsby shouted.
* “You’re only angry you can’t compare me to a maid or a washwoman.”
* Matilda supposed the Duke was right though. Altry would have never paid her court if she hadn’t been wearing this dress. It all supported her notion that the glasses, brown dresses, and scruffy boots separated the chaff from the wheat. Those that deemed her worthy enough to speak to when dressed that way, and those that chose this evening to address her. The Duke had apparently noticed her gown.
* Thornsby stared at her as if in a trance. She wondered what was going through his mind. “Don’t make Altry to be any more the cad than you, Thornsby. You’ve never noticed me either. Unless to insult me.”
* His eye twitched. “That is untrue.”
* “Far from it,” Matilda said.
* “Don’t presume to know what is in my mind,” Thornsby said and grabbed Matilda’s bare shoulders.
* The moment was charged with sparks, shooting through the air, connecting him to her. Matilda felt, well, she didn’t know what she felt. Fluttery and female. Angry. Aware. The touch of his fingertips drifted down her arms leaving her hands numb. Her voice came out barely above a whisper.
* “What is on your mind then?” she asked.
* “I’m thinking of kissing you, Miss Sheldon.”
* Matilda batted her lashes. “Is it the dress?”
* Thornsby touched his lips to hers. A feather’s touch. He inched back to gaze over her face. “I don’t know. But I don’t think so.”
* His breath was warm on her cheeks. She’d never been this close to a man before. She could see the lines around his mouth and the bristle of his beard. He touched his lips to hers again.
* “What do you imagine it is?” Matilda whispered into his mouth.
* Thornsby slipped his hand around her waist and pulled her close. He tilted her head up with his finger. “I haven’t a clue,” he said. Then he kissed her. Really kissed her.

Buy Charming the Duke here...
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Find Holly Bush here...
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon Author Page

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

ANNOUNCEMENT! Holly will be awarding a $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour! Please use the Rafflecopter below for your entry. Also be sure to visit & leave your name and email with your comment at the other tour stops (find them here: goddessfishpromotions-virtual-book-blast-charming-duke) for a greater chance of winning!

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A Look At Maggie Lowther from 'Peregrine's Prize' ( @RavenMcAllan @evernightpub #erom #regency )

..Today we have Maggie Lowther visiting from the story Peregrine's Prize. Welcome!

..Maggie Lowther, what would you like to tell readers about yourself?
......* I live in Regency times, which let me assure you is not as carefree and fun loving as a lot of people think.
......* I've loved Peregrine Gretton, Lord Corby, for many a long year, and him me. However, due to his employment, both disclosed and secret, for his Majesty's government, my life was threatened. This worried Perry to such a degree, I was forced to leave him and move to Rutlandshire, where I became the housekeeper to his brother. I never knew how satisfying it is to see a dresser full of clean starched linens until I was forced to move here.
......* Luckily, Nash's wife is a cousin of mine, and my housekeeping duties are not arduous. However, let me say I have every respect for those ladies who are 'proper' housekeepers. There's so much to remember.
......* Meanwhile, although I'm enjoying my sojourn in the country, the slither of fear I have grows ever larger whilst my dearest Peregrine is in danger.

..Are you happy with the way people perceive you?
......* *Shrug* I think so. It's difficult to translate some of the things people on the twenty-first century say, but yes, I think so. I live my life as best I can in my circumstances, and do as I have to. It may not always be the proper way to do things, but even though I'm a lady, I've never presumed to be 'proper'.

..Is humor important? Why or why not?
......* Humor is more than important, it is necessary to live a balanced life. For myself, I live in times that are hard at times. We still have the specter of Napoleon and his supporters hanging over us, and the Regency is not always an easy thing to live under. You have to have humor to enliven things, and to give light release from the humdrum. Luckily Nash has hounds, which can do the most unexpected things at times, (don't tell Andre the chef about the sausages). Perry contrary to what most people think has a wicked and well-developed sense of humor. He just has to be selective about where and when he shows it. His sobriquet of Prosy Perry is not deserved, but as he says, it serves him well. *Shrug.* If it keeps him safe, then I am all for it. After all I see the lighter, loving side of him.

..If you could pull your author into your world, what do you think would happen to them?
......* She would ask too many questions, query everything, and no doubt be ill. (She can not eat Gluten, and flour is Andre's friend.) Things we take for granted (The chamber pot in the cupboard, for instance) may well horrify her. But that which is called progress, is something we all have to accept. Things my mama told me about make me shiver!

..What was the best sexual experience you’ve had?
......* *Snigger* well, that's hard. Every sexual experience with Perry, (who I must add has been, and will be, my only lover) is exquisite. Mind you the first time he showed me just how creative he can be with a candle springs to mind! Lately, as we've been separated, I'd say any one we can manage.

..What was the least interesting thing that has ever happened to you? (In bed or out.)
......* It must have been so uninteresting, I can't remember.

..What’s your take on Gussie Gravesend?
......* Poor Gussie. She was always weak and shallow, and her head easily turned by wealth or the promise of something others didn't have. (Or they did and she coveted.) However, never did I think she would become a traitor. Perhaps if her father hadn't been so greedy…no, sadly I think greed and jealousy is embedded in her. Gravesend pandered to it; he was as bad. They both only saw a way to make money for themselves. Either they didn't see, or chose not to, how they were traitors to their country, and sent many a loyal servant of the crown to an unpleasant death by their actions.

..Now for some author information!
......* My author is Raven McAllan. A multi-published author of erotic romance, Raven lives in Scotland, along with her husband and their two cats—their children having flown the nest—surrounded by beautiful scenery, which inspires a lot of the settings in her books.
......* She is used to sharing her life with the occasional deer, red squirrel, and lost tourist, to say nothing of the scourge of Scotland—the midge. As once she is writing she is oblivious to everything else, her lovely long-suffering husband is learning to love the dust bunnies, work the Aga, and be on stand-by with a glass of wine.

..You can find my author, Raven McAllan, here...
......Website | Blog | Facebook | Author Page Facebook | Twitter

..Now for some book information!
..A look into the story

..~ Blurb ~ ......* They called him Prosy Perry.
......* Anyone who really knew him—like Maggie did—understood that was a façade to protect his secrets.
......* When danger threatened his family, and his lover, he dropped the role and the real Peregrine emerged.
......* Now all he had to do was unmask the traitor and live happily ever after.
......* Was it going to happen or was he destined to be alone again? ..~ Excerpt ~ ......* "You're supposed to rest," she said breathlessly, and bit her lip to stop herself moaning in pleasure. One finger stroked the cleft that separated her buttocks, sliding the silk of her gown up and down and creating perfect tingles and shivers.
......* "We can rest together. What if I need someone?" His voice was low and teasing. "I might, get out of bed and become disorientated. I might, oh have nightmares and need someone to cuddle me, and shoo the dragons away." Maggie sighed. It was so long since she'd seen this loving playful side of Perry. It showed rarely as he struggled with keeping his family together, and trying to uncover the spy ring that threatened their beloved country.
......* "You might not," she said prosaically. "I will only be across the hall if you call out."
......* "Not good enough. I might need my…" He paused and winked. "My hurts stroked away."
......* His cock twitched under her, as if to remind Maggie that was a part of his body that loved to be stroked, and she was always happy to oblige. She giggled and wriggled against him as best she could. His hand tightened and he laughed.
......* "I may have forgotten you, but my cock hasn't, it seems. So Maggie-mine, will you rest with me? Please?"
......* The hangdog, hopeful look was her undoing. This was the private lover of past times. The one she often worried she would never see again. "If you let me up, then I'll move into bed with you." Once more he slid the material he held along the cleft of her arse, and then she was loose. "Naked." It was a command not a request. "Flesh to flesh. Breast to breast."

..Buy Peregrine's Prize here...
......Evernight Publishing | Amazon | All Romance eBooks | BookStrand

..Thank you for joining us here today, Maggie Lowther! It was a pleasure getting to know about you, the story you're in, and your author.

A Look At JoMarie DeGioia & 'Just Perfect' ( @JoMarieDeGioia @GoddessFish #historical #regency )

Today we have author JoMarie DeGioia visiting. Welcome!

What would you like to tell readers about yourself?

* JoMarie DeGioia has been making up stories for as long as she can remember, and has spent years giving voice to the characters in her head. She’s known Mickey Mouse from the “inside,” has been a copyeditor for her town’s newspaper, and a bookseller. She writes Historical and Contemporary Romances, along with Young and New Adult Fantasy stories. She divides her time between Central Florida and New England. You can contact her at: JoMarie@JoMarieDeGioia.com

What are you going to tell us about today?
* My Historical Romance book available now from Lachesis Publishing, Inc. ~ Just Perfect

A look into the story

~ Blurb ~ * William Chesterton, the Earl of Chester, might be the perfect gentleman, but his feelings for Constance Bridgewater are anything but gentlemanly.
* Constance Bridgewater, the daughter of the late Earl of Bridgewater, might be the perfect lady, but her feelings for the Earl of Chester are anything but ladylike.
* They both know that if they were together, everything would be just perfect.
* So what is keeping them apart?

~ Excerpt ~ London, England 1825
* William Chesterton, the Earl of Chester, sat in his comfortable parlor swirling an untouched glass of brandy in his hand. Spring had come at last to London, though the April evening was still chilled and damp. His staff had seen to the modest fire burning behind the grate, and the warmth lulled him into a false sense of serenity. It did nothing to dispel the turmoil deep inside, however.
* Most of the ton, his closest friends included, believed he was a steady man with a calm demeanor. That was true, for the most part. In the whole of his life, from his privileged childhood through his early ascension to the earldom upon his dear father’s passing, he’d been as steady as the Thames. Stalwart companion, dutiful only son, closest confidant. It was all so bloody boring.
* He drank from his glass at last, his eyes on the fire. Tonight had gone just as so many nights before. The season was in its early stages and yet the parties and frivolities had already started. He’d joked with his friends, danced with their wives and sisters, and made certain not to show undue attention to marriage-minded young ladies. Their mothers would love to snare the calm and affable Earl of Chester for their daughters. That was certain.
* He’d played his part as was expected, and even managed to ignore the urge to dance with one particular young lady more than the allotted two times. It had nearly killed him. Constance Bridges, the late Earl of Bridgewater’s daughter, was the only woman he wanted for more than two dances.
* Her lithe body, her pale golden hair and sparkling gray eyes, were like no other woman’s he’d encountered. Last year, at yet another interminable house party, at one of his happily married cohorts’ estates, he’d attempted to make her see she was more than a pleasant diversion. He wasn’t merely a willing dance partner or riding companion, either. He might have acted a bit wild, however, and no doubt frightened her out of her wits.
* He lifted the glass to his lips again and smiled. Ah, but that five seconds he’d spent holding her close, her breath warm on his cheek, her pink lips so close to his . . . he still got hard thinking about the heat she hid beneath that alabaster skin. He’d seen burgeoning knowledge in those gray eyes of hers, too. She’d wanted him. He’d stake the considerable estate his father left him on that fact.
* She was a puzzle, to be sure. So serene and bashful on the surface, yet he knew she was more than the perfect picture she presented. He downed his brandy and let out a frustrated breath.
* He was tired of playing the nice fellow. If he risked his lauded reputation in the process, so be it. He wanted more in his life than polite dinners and mildly pleasant diversions. He wanted love and passion and everything his friends had been lucky enough to find.
* He knew Constance was the one to show him that heat. He drained the glass, letting the smooth liquor burn pleasantly down his throat.
* He couldn’t wait to find out just how hot the fire inside her burned.

Buy Just Perfect here...
Lachesis Publishing | Amazon

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

ANNOUNCEMENT! JoMarie will be awarding Loose Tea and chip nuts to two 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-book-blast-just-perfect) for a greater chance of winning!

A Look At 'La Bella Isabella' by Raven McAllan ( @RavenMcAllan #FF #writer )

Today we have author Raven McAllan visiting. Welcome!

What would you like to tell readers about yourself?
* I live in Scotland, along with my husband and two cats—our children having flown the nest—surrounded by beautiful scenery, which inspires a lot of the settings in my books.
* I'm is used to sharing my life with the occasional deer, red squirrel, and lost tourist, to say nothing of the scourge of Scotland—the midge.
* As a lover of reading, I appreciate the history inside a book, and the chance to peek into the lives of those from years ago. I admit that I enjoy the research for my books almost as much as the writing; so much so, that sometimes I realize I've strayed way past the information I need to know, and not a paragraph has been added to my WIP.

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?

La Bella Isabella, is book one in my Regency Series Ladies Of London. Book two is The Best Man's Bridesmaid, and will be published in November. The third book, The Perfect Gift, is a Christmas story and will be published in December. They can be read in any order, but I think they'd be better read in one, two, and three.

How'd you/your muse come up with this story?
I was doing my usual procrastination, er research, and arranged marriages in Regency times popped up. I then started to think how a young girl might rebel, how someone older might, and La Bella was born.

Describe the hero in five words.
Book One. Harry…Swoonworthy, elegant, macho, intrigued and interested.

Describe the heroine in five words.
Amanda… Tall, feisty, clever, determined, intriguing.

Who's your favorite character in the book & why?
It has to be Amanda, she will settle for nothing less than she deserves. It is all or nothing, no compromise. The way she set out to see if she can have a good life is funny and romantic.

What's your favorite line in the story?
There are quite a few, but, said by Harry… ‘Anticipation was almost as satisfying as the actual event...almost.’

A look into the story La Bella Isabella
~ Blurb ~ * When your life is all arranged for you, there's only one thing to do—enjoy yourself while you can.
* When Amanda finds out whom her parents have chosen for her to marry, it puts her into despair. The one man occupying her dreams is to be hers in name only. Determined to enjoy life before it's all too late, La Bella Isabella and Her Dancing Girls is formed.
* The beautiful girl he keeps meeting by accident intrigues Harry. There is something familiar about her...he just cannot place.
* A private performance by La Bella Isabella provides a little knowledge, but is a little knowledge a dangerous thing?
~ Excerpt ~ * The snow was beginning to fall faster, and there were no cabs to be seen.
* "Bloody hell, I'll be too cold to warm anyone up at this rate," he muttered as he slid through the thickening snow, his footsteps muffled by its depth. "My prick will be so shriveled up, it'll take a week to be normal again. Even with help."
* So engrossed in keeping warm and muttering to himself, he heard nothing until a snort and a jangle of harness immediately behind him almost made him loose his footing.
* A black carriage had drawn level.
* "My lord," said a soft voice from inside, "this snow is getting thicker, and walking must be hazardous. As I trust there are no dogs out and about, I believe it is safer traveling in a carriage. May I give you a lift anywhere?"
* He recognized that voice. So did his body. No, not a week, after all. He felt light-headed and somewhat giddy. Not even a minute.
* "That would be kind...miss? Lady?"
* She laughed. "Yes, wouldn't it. Now, if you wish, get in and tell my coachman where you are heading."
* "Smithson Gardens," he said to the coachman, knowing that was near enough to his destination without revealing exactly where he was heading. He opened the door and swung inside, shutting it quickly after him to keep as much snow out as possible. The occupant was cloaked in dark velvet, a hood covering most of her face. She showed no inclination toward removing the hood.
* "I do hope I'm not taking you out of your way," he remarked urbanely. "For I believe on our earlier meeting, you were heading in the opposite direction.
* "I was, wasn't I, my lord? But as you see, now I am heading in this direction. And indeed, you will not take me out of my way."
* Harry sat back against the squabs. It was definitely his damsel in distress. And she obviously felt secure enough to invite him into her carriage even though she had no companion. But who was she? Obviously quality, but surely no lady of quality who valued her reputation would be in a carriage without a companion, let alone would invite a gentleman to share it with her. "I feel you have the better of me. You know me, but do I know you?"
* Again, that musical laugh.
* "You feel so, my lord? I wonder why? Because I call you 'my lord'? Are you a lord?"
* "I am. As to why? I thought I did feel so, perhaps I will feel so again." Such gentle innuendo, but realized—and judging by the brief laugh he heard—appreciated. "Are you a lady?"
* She considered. "Well, I am female, so that makes me a lady. Am I a lady? One of life's mysteries, my lord."
* Harry moved slightly, so his thigh rested against her cloak. "I love a mystery."
* "Oh, so do I."
* The coach came to a halt. "I believe we have reached Smithson Gardens, my lord. Are you sure you do not want to be taken all the way to your destination? We wouldn't want you to catch a chill and be unable to...shall we say...help Lady Mellissa, would we?"
* The minx! So she did know who he was! And about his involvement with Mellissa, something he was sure very few people were aware of.

Buy La Bella Isabella here:
Breathless Press

Find Raven here...
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Breathless Press
Evernight Publishing
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