Showing posts with label contemporary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label contemporary. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

RBTL Presents Learning to Breathe Again by Kelli Heneghan Release Day Blitz




Title: Learning to Breathe
Again
Author: Kelli Heneghan
Series: Texas Learning Book 2 (but Read as a Standalone)
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: April 6 2016
Edition/Formats: eBook & Print on Demand via Amazon
Blurb/Synopsis:

Bayleigh Morrow just wants to hide from the world for a little while, recover
from all the knocks she’s been taking lately.
What better place than small-town Texas, where she can reconnect with
her brother, meet her new sister-in-law, and just be left alone?


Jack Williams has no intention of ever falling in love
again.  One betrayal was enough for
him.  But when Bayleigh almost collapses
in his office, he’s determined to help her and keep her safe.
Stranded by an ice storm, Jack is the only one there to pick
up the pieces when she has a panic attack.
Sparks begin to fly and flames ignite as these two love-wary souls find
their way out of the darkness and learn to breathe again.
Book Links

Author Information

Kelli grew up all over the East Coast but her
family finally settled in Cincinnati long enough for her

Graduating from the University of Cincinnati with her BS in Nursing, she left
Ohio for Texas and the U.S. Army.  She received a medical discharge for a
knee injury, but was able to meet the man she'd one day call her husband
first--thanks to some mutual friends who insisted they would perfect together.
And what do you know--they are! 
to finish high school
and college.  She has always loved to read books and write her own
stories.  In high school, she used to
pass around the latest chapter of the story she was writing for her friends to
read.  There is more than one high school
teacher out there that can probably remember telling her to put the book down
and pay attention to the lectures.

She continued to read books
by the dozens and write her own stories.
And then one day, a friend dared her to enter a contest.  She didn’t win, but the feedback she received
from the judges convinced her that maybe people were interested in the stories
she wanted to tell.

She still lives in Central Texas, with her husband, two children and 2
dogs. 
Author Links











Wednesday, August 28, 2013

My Mr. Manny by Jennifer Garcia



Summary:
Mia Balducci misses her childhood days and yearns for the big, Italian family that she left behind in small town Massachusetts. At the tender age of sixteen, Mia moves with her bachelor father to Los Angeles, but no matter how many years pass, it never becomes home to her. The years spent living with her father aren’t easy, especially since she can’t stop thinking about what she once had. Her enrollment in the University of Southern California promises to bring exciting changes to her life, but Mia winds up with big problems instead. When she runs into an old friend from her old hometown of Winthrop, she gets swept up in nostalgia, and she soon loses herself in a quickly-progressing romance. When the fantasy falls apart, she is left to raise her precious little girl, Lucia, on her own. The demands of Mia’s work schedule and Lucia’s needs increase, and their lives become increasingly hectic. It is soon clear to Mia that she needs help. Luckily, her life-saving cousin saves the day and brings the mother and daughter a male nanny – their new “manny.”

After losing his high-pressure job on Wall Street, Dominic Roberts wants to follow his dreams to have a family. He’s already one fiancée down, and there are no likely prospects for another. In order to find the family he so desperately wants, he finds himself getting into the manny business. Since he is fully qualified to provide child care and is eager to leave New York City behind, his sister-in-law is able to land him a job in California working for his first client – the beautiful and intriguing Mia Balducci.


Will Lucia like the new man in her mother's life? Will Mia? And will this new trio discover the happily ever after they all so desperately seek?

Excerpt:
I rolled over to face Dominic and he began to stir. I watched him breathe and took inventory of his precious face. His lashes were thick and short against his cheek. The stubble on his face had thickened a bit more and his lips stuck out in a pout. I pecked them and his eyes opened.
“Good morning, sleeping beauty,” I said as he stretched and yawned. He scratched at his stubble and rubbed his eyes. He was adorable in the morning.
“Mhmmm, it is a good morning,” he said with a sleep-coated voice. He wrapped and tightened his arms around me and then squeezed. “A very good morning.”
“I need to get up and get ready for work. Lucia will be up in a bit. But ...” I began to say.
“What’s wrong?”
I exhaled a deep breath. “No, nothing’s wrong, but ... well I really want you to move into my room now. Too soon?” I wasn’t afraid he’d say no, but for some reason I felt strange asking him that.
He scoffed. “Did you think I was going to sleep in my room after last night? I had the best night of my life” he said while peppering soft, slow kisses on my face.
“It was my best night, too, baby.” I kissed him one more time and got up. “So, it’s official then. You’re moving in here and we’re a real couple.” I jerked my head in a nod to emphasize my statement.
He rolled on top of me, pinning me down on the bed. “I thought it was a given, Mia. You’re stuck with me forever now. I hope you can handle me.” He laughed.
“Mhmmm, I can handle you all right. I just hope you can handle me.” I kissed his lips.





Author Bio:
Jennifer Garcia’s (aka Forbes Arnone) love of travel began when she went to the West Coast to visit her father at the age of three. Her home until she was sixteen was a small coastal town near Boston. She currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband, two sons, and two dogs.
Her lifelong love for reading and writing was put aside for many years while she made her way in the world and nurtured her young family. Even though she is older, and life never seems to settle, she’s finding her way while attending college full-time in pursuit of a B.A. in English Literature. She also runs a business, and is still caring for her family. Believing she can do it all, with the help of her family, she worked on her first novel during the late hours of the night while balancing the rest of her life during the day. Her hard work paid off, as her first novel, My Mr. Manny, will be published August 2013.

Find Jennifer on:

Buy Link for My Mr. Manny on Amazon

Monday, July 15, 2013

Book Spotlight: A Haunting in Trillium Falls by: Mary Vine




Title: A Haunting in Trillium Falls

Author: 
Mary Vine

Genre: Sweet Contemporary

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press/Wildflowers Books

Release Date: June 3, 2013





Blurb:
A courageous but naïve woman and a benevolent but cynical man reconcile to evict ghosts and restore a mansion.


Taylor Glenn makes a deal on a haunted mansion in the town where she accepts her first teaching job. Her naïve optimism assures her that her depressed grandfather will come to life and help her rebuild it with the passion he once possessed for restoring old homes. Three deaths are connected to the tower room and no local workman will set foot inside except for the former owner, successful real estate developer, Dillon Nash. She wonders if this captivating man is the salvation she needs or an even greater threat to her survival when mysterious events happen in the house.




All Romance

Bookstrand

iTunes (iBookstore)

Kobo

Barnes & Noble Nook

Sony – Coming soon!

It’s also at Overdrive Content Reserve (distributes to libraries and various retailers)

Distribution to the following retailers and partners...
Amazon Kindle









Friday, June 7, 2013

Book Spotlight: Misunderstandings by Angel Rothamel



Title: Misunderstandings
Author: Angel Rothamel
Genre: M/M
Publisher: MLR PublishingRelease Date: May 25, 2013






What would you do if you got a call informing you that the family as you knew it, was a lie.
Dan Brock, retired SEAL turned mechanic in small town Cedar, Colorado, gets a call that changes his life. Dealing with the family he never knew about, Dan takes his frustrations out on the man, that because of his good looks, Dan refuses to have anything to do with.


Dallas Bainbridge’s primary job is flying Dan’s former CO from place to place. Getting a request to fly Dan to his father’s funeral, Dallas tries to keep to himself, not knowing why Dan doesn’t like him. Can the two men get past their differences, or will a simple misunderstanding keep them apart?


Where to Buy:

Barnes & Noble:

Contact the Author:




Friday, April 19, 2013

Author Spotlight: Angela Skaggs- Finding Grace





Blurb:

Grace Parker has control issues. When she meets the man of her dreams, can she find the courage to explore the darker side of her nature and embrace the world that Aidan shows her?

Aidan McKinney keeps his private and work lives separate, until he meets Grace Parker at a PR event for his team. She's the woman he's been looking for all his life. His life is so tightly controlled he's not sure it even qualifies as a life anymore. Will Grace help him loosen up and find the inner peace he's been seeking?

Together these two damaged souls help each other navigate the choppy waters of adulthood, learning more about themselves along the way.

Buy Links

Amazon
B&N

Social Media

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Twitter

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Author Spotlight: David Russell - Self's Blossom







This is about a young woman's self-discovery. Selene is a 'success story', having become a top journalist, while retaining her dazzling looks. However, in the past she has had unhappy relationships, and feels she has missed out on hedonistic fun.  This she obtains, firstly with a young stranger on a beach, and finally with enigmatic Hudson: tryst is preceded by cultural tourism, and careful sizing up of minds. Afterwards Selene returns to her 'I stand on my own' attitude.
While she is on holiday, her mind is free to ramble, often into Selene's chequered past. Flashback blurs into the present, past-rooted interior monologue into direct observation. The dialogue is sparse. Selene is a cautious, premeditative type, in whom thought, reflection and analysis outweigh direct action.
Selene’s subtle, monitoring mind coolly observes and controls all the events. Maybe she is super-confident, or perhaps has a deep, underlying insecurity. She is many things to many readers.

March 25th 2010


Self's Blossom eBook: David Russell: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store

Self's Blossom eBook: David RussellAmazon.co.uk: Kindle Store.




Self’s Blossom is unlike any story I’ve read before. It is very lyrical and abstract. A kaleidoscope of reflections on past and present woven throughout Selene’s journey in a dreamy disconnect. 

I sometimes felt like I was watching a foreign film or an art house movie and the story was beyond my grasp. I finished this book uncertain as to what the heroine had discovered about herself. But I could still appreciate the beautiful pictures the author paints with his words and his unique narrative approach.

The story is all about Selene and her long awaited, scrimped and saved for, holiday. I connected with Selene on a few levels. She’s a workaholic. She’s single and busy moving through life. And I admired her desire to seek out new experiences and learn new things. I didn’t always like her. But I appreciated her intelligence and that she was unashamedly confident in herself and determined to follow through on her decisions.

She uses her vacation to try and break out of the rut she feels her life has become and fling caution to the wind. To have adventures and a passionate affair… or two. Her stay is at a resort in Central America. There are beautiful descriptions of the ocean waves and the lush paradise and how they relate to life and love, lust and passion. And then there are all the characters she meets on holiday and how they help or hinder her journey.

Review in The Book Tart


Self's Blossom is a story that should be in the Tate Gallery, were the Tate a gallery for literature as opposed to art.

With this story, you are getting a highly unusual and in-depth style of writing that you don't usually find in the erotica genre. Some people may regard it as abstract, although in truth it is actually very detailed. (Just like many of the paintings in the Tate -- you see where I'm going with this?)

It took me a while to get into this story, and I think it's because when reading erotica, I've become accustomed to an "easy" read -- a book that you can open and, wham-bam, there you are in the story. While some readers may have that experience with this, I can't say that I did at first, and I suspect that most will not. There is an array of back story and character development from page one, and I'm glad I found the patience to stick with it, because I enjoyed the read.

It's the story of Selene. She's an intellectual. She's independent. She's seeking freedom because she's an adventurer at heart. Or at least, that was my interpretation: for me, this was a story about the search for freedom, through sexuality, sensuality and emotions of the heart.

I dare say that not everyone will take to Selene, but she's very real. She's a restless soul, and she is not the "flouncy" kind of heroine you usually get in erotica novels, but can be quite blunt and analytical in her thinking. Yes, it's unusual, but when I got into the story and her character, I found it refreshingly so.

The male lead is likable and patient, giving her the space she needs to learn and grow throughout the story, but there is a two-way exchange here, and he learns from Selene as well.

This book is prose at its best. The language used is eloquent and intelligent. You won't find crude words or phrases here, but a rhetoric that is closer to that of Charlotte Bronte (yes, I did say Charlotte Bronte -- well, if she wrote erotica that is....) The narrative is highly descriptive and even a little "gothic" in some places. Here's a brief example:

"Each, to the other, became universe god and goddess. After so many times in their pasts when the brakes had been applied, when both had been frozen by reticence, or had their yearnings derided -- the universe's currents now galvanized their bodies. Now words could be uttered in acceptance of total immersion. With their slow speed, they generated maelstroms. Their every part revealed with deep exuberance, two bodies showing themselves as two complete presences."

Maybe it could even be considered poetry.

If you want an easy read that gets to the point, hard-hitting, direct language and a lot of instant action, this book is not for you. If you want a different, eloquent and intelligent erotic story, that indulges in every emotion and thought from the characters, that works towards a specific goal of self discovery, this is the book for you. I urge you to read the sample chapters from eBook retailers. If you can accept that it's a different style of erotica, you will not be disappointed with it.

I received a free copy of this eBook from the author, in exchange for an honest review.

(Review by Dianna Hardy in Erotic Flashes Review)

Monday, April 1, 2013

Author Spotlight: Tina Gayle - Summer's Growth


Welcome Tina Gayle today who is letting us know about her new book Summer's Growth.

Summer’s Growth – 1st Book in the “Family Tree” series
Blurb –
Forced by the family spirits to get a life, Mattie Winston has to train her replacement Amber Harrison to be in charge of all the workings of the Winston estate. Reluctant to make changes in her life, Mattie forms a bond with Amber, when strange accidents start happening which threaten their lives and an unknown ghost makes an appearance.

After being rescued by an old flame, Quincy Miller, Mattie faces old wounds of rejection. As the general contractor for Amber’s redecoration project, Mattie is in constant contact with Quincy and realizes she still in love with her childhood sweetheart.

Amber, learning her new role in the family, wants to discover the identity of the ghost who keeps appearing. After several appearances, Gwen, Amber’s distance grandmother, shifts the book into more of Amber’s struggle to find out why her grandmother disappeared two hundred years ago without a trace. In a fight to claim her position in the family, Amber searches for clues to solve the mystery.

Mattie and Amber are both challenged when the family spirits decides Amber shouldn’t be the keeper. Battling for Amber, Mattie realizes she wants a life with Quincy outside the Winston estate.

Amber realized the importance of her new spiritual family, and she works to discover how Gwen died.

Can these two women achieve their goals?

Read the first chapter at
<a href="http://www.tinagayle.net/SGchapter.html">http://www.tinagayle.net/SGchapter.html</a>
Find at
<a href="http://www.smashwords.com/" target="_blank"> www.smashwords.com</a>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Summers-Growth-Family-Tree-ebook/dp/B00B8VXGLK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1359733435&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=summer%27s+growth+by+Tina+Gayle" target="_blank">www.amazon.com </a>

Excerpt:
Standing by the bay window in the front room, Mattie watched the car approach. Her new recruit’s arrival had goose bumps popping out on Mattie’s skin, adding to her anxieties.
She wanted to run, but instead glanced at the kindhearted spirit of Opal, her distant grandmother. Dressed in her best early American gown, the many layers of her petticoat swished with a soft hiss when she moved.
“There’s no reason to be nervous. Once you meet Amber, you’ll see she caps the climax,” Opal voiced in a soothing tone. “Your Aunt Rachel is absolutely thrilled to have a descendant from her branch of the family as keeper.”
Looking beyond her at the rest of the room, Mattie searched for the other members of the family council. They always offered her their support when she faced a big decision. Yet, today they were conspicuously absent.
“Don’t worry. The whole family is behind you. We just thought it better if we didn’t all hover.”      
Shifting from foot to foot, she wrung her hands together. A simple process of a changing of the guard for them, Amber’s arrival marked the end of the life Mattie loved.
The beautiful spirits around her didn’t understand how cruel humans could be to each other. What if she screwed up and the girl left? Or the girl hated living with a house full of spirits?
Unease pricked at Mattie’s mind. She had no experience in dealing with strangers. All her business associates understood her likes and didn’t force her to attend any social events.
A quick glance out the window, and a car rounded the fountain. She wasn’t prepared to entertain Amber. How could she be? She never invited guests to the estate.
“Now, Pumpkin, there’s no need to worry. It’s time another branch of the family realize what a pain it is to be keeper.” Opal smiled, offering her special form of reassurance. “We’re all here to help with the transition.”
The high notes of Beethoven’s Fifth sprang from the piano. Mattie jumped in surprise at the sudden noise. She whipped around to see Uncle Samuel, the artist of the family, standing next to the piano.
“The game is afoot.” He arched his eyebrows and grinned, then disappeared.
“I’d better leave.” Her aunt patted Mattie’s shoulder. “Just remember, the girl is uneasy too.”
Opal disappeared.
With a deep breath, Mattie turned and gripped the cold metal knob in her hand.
Soon her home would belong to a stranger, and then what would she do?


Find Tina Gayle everywhere

Home - www.tinagayle.net
Blog - www.tinagayle.blogspot.com
Twitter - https://twitter.com/#!/AuthorTinaGayle
Goodread - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1641826.Tina_Gayle
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/tina.gayle
Google + - https://plus.google.com
Linkin - http://www.linkedin.com/pub/tina-gayle/11/689/759



Saturday, March 30, 2013

Author Spotlight: Mickie Sherwood

 Like Slow Sweet Molasses


Blurb:
Teacher Angela Munso has lost control—of her spiraling life. She can control the fallout of recent news from whose loins she sprang as easily as she can her heart’s pitter-patter. To have feelings for a man who is everything she nowwants to hate? That’s the last straw!
Lt. Brock "Chance" Alexander’s arrogance baits Angela. And—he knows it. It’s never so obvious to him as when she lobs that insulting phrase at the side of his head. She pushes all of his hot buttons. But, there’s one he dares her to touch—the one that pushes him out of her life.
 
Release Date: January 10, 2013
 
Contact Mickie at:

Author Bio:
I'm a cruise-loving, people-watching, picture-snapping baby boomer with time on her hands. So, I create sweet, spicy relationship-based mainstream contemporary romantic love stories.


Friday, March 29, 2013

Risk Factors By: Calisa Rhose

Calisa Rhose is joining the  AJ Wiliams Blog today to talk about her latest release Risk Factors


Love, like life, is not without risk.
BLURB- Veterinarian Vivian Dane has purchased her uncle’s practice in the tiny town of Wales,
Missouri, where most residents still doubt her ability to treat their pets. But Viv is used to being
considered less-worthy than her predecessors. After all, her parents are world-renowned wildlife
vets, and most everyone is unimpressed she’s chosen to not follow directly in their footsteps.
Now Connor, a patient’s owner, is hot for Viv, but clearly doesn’t think she’s dating material
because he has a daughter…who he believes no woman is good enough for.
Being a perfect dad is EMT paramedic Connor’s life focus. He can’t seem to stay away
from sexy Doctor Viv, but attraction is as far as he’ll ever let it go. His mother abandoned him,
leaving him to be raised in the foster system, and then his wife abandoned both him and their
daughter. He absolutely will not risk bringing another woman into his little girl’s life and having
her feel the hurt of being left…again.
Forfeiting is easier than attempting and failing. So why does Viv feel compelled to prove
she’s a sure bet for Connor and his daughter? Can Connor trust Viv--and himself--enough to play
the possibilities?
LONG EXCERPT:
It was close to five o’clock and Viv wanted to go home. Winter hadn’t reached the Midwest yet, but from September through October the temperatures often dipped and dove sporadically, before diving for the long winter ahead. There’d been a slight chill in the air that morning and she hoped for a few more weeks of warmth before harsh weather moved in.
She looked forward to a hot soak in the bathtub, but Skittles was due for pick-up first. Connor had assured her he’d pick her up, or have his father get her before five. She glanced at her watch again. Four-fifty-six. She didn’t mind staying late if she needed to; it would be a shame to leave the nervous animal alone another night.
She opened the small closet to put the dust mop away.
“Hello.”
With a start, she spun and her hand caught the broom handle on her way around. Gasping, she grabbed uselessly, horrified as the cleaning tool flew sideways from the closet. In slow motion she saw it shoot out against Connor’s shoulder and fall with a sharp snap onto the tile floor.
“Oh! I’m so--so sorry! Are you hurt?” Instant heat rushed up her neck and she bent to reclaim the errant broom to shove into the closet. She slammed the door and leaned against it on a sharp breath.
“I’m fine. You worried your killer broom might attack again? You might consider putting a lock on the door,” he said with a crooked smile.
Puzzled, Viv looked around and realized with total humiliation how it appeared she’d trapped the broom inside the closet--when in actuality, she wanted to climb through the door beside the instrument and hide.
“Of course not. That would be silly. I didn’t expect you right now.”
“It’s two minutes of five. I told you I’d be here for Skittles. Is it too late?”
Right. The skunk. “No. I’m sure she’s more than ready to go home. Do you have the pet carrier to put her in?” She probably didn’t need to ask when Connor stood empty-handed before her.
He lowered his head and she knew he’d forgotten it, fought back a smile at his forgetfulness. “Sorry. I drove straight from work and didn’t think about it.”
“No worry. I have one you can borrow.” Which meant he’d have to see her again. She’d definitely need to see him again.
“Thank you. I’ll bring it back tomorrow.”
“Oh, there’s no rush. I keep a few on hand for emergencies.” She led him back to the cage where the skunk still huddled, and got a carrier while he opened the cage to retrieve his daughter’s pet. As he lifted the black fur ball out, Viv set a pink case next to him.
He hissed under his breath and almost let the animal loose. Viv opened the cage and held it upright for him to lower the skunk down inside and shut the door. Once he stood with the pet taxi, she detected a smear of red on one finger.
“She bit you?” Skunk bite, rabies, germs…
“It’s fine. When she’s scared she tends to nip a warning like a cat.” Connor’s lack of care concerned Viv, however.
“I should clean it with antiseptic before you go.”
“I’ll tend it when I get home.”
“But, it may have germs…get infected.”
“It’s not the first time, and her rabies vaccination is current. Thank you, but it’s not necessary.”
Viv stopped by a cabinet on the way to the front reception area to grab ointment and a Band-Aid.

Amazon- http://is.gd/OOGR4t  
iTunes- http://is.gd/J2aelz

Also, Risk Factors is on Authorgraph! Get your copy signed. http://www.authorgraph.com/authors/CalisaRhose

Author Bio:
Calisa Rhose is an Okie, born and bred, through and through, and proud of it. While growing up, when she wasn’t on the back of a horse, she could be found with pen and paper in hand. Her writing career began with poetry in her younger days. Then she discovered Rock-n-Roll and cute musicians. Poetry turned into stories of romance and dreams. These days she lives with the same man who convinced her to take a romantic journey with him almost 30 years ago. After raising three strong daughters she spends her days loving their granddaughters, hoping for a boy someday, and writing. When she’s not writing, you can find Calisa putting on her editor hat and working to help other published and aspiring writers.
She is working on more projects with her favored contemporary cowboys, first responders  and firemen, as well as, the occasional ‘other’ heroes- and their sexy female counterparts, those sassy, stubborn heroines.

Find Calisa at her website/blog http://calisarhose.wordpress.com