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On tour with Prism Book Tours
It’s the Grand Finale of the REVIEW & EXCERPT TOUR for
Destiny Bay Romances: Sweet Editions
by Helen Conrad
Run Run Runaway (book one in the series) is
FREE for Kindle from today through June 4th!!!
[Pin, share, or tweet this image for an extra entry in the giveaway.]
Run Run Runaway
Letters from Annie Douglass Lima – excerpt
“Jennifer Thornton, when are you going to grow up?”
Her head shot up at the familiar voice, but the late afternoon sun was behind him, wrapping him in a mantle of light spears. All that stood out was a set of very wide shoulders and the vague outline of dark glasses hiding his eyes.
Christy’s Cozy Corners – ExcerptShe smiled at him, and his face softened, eyes hooded but not unfriendly.
“I’ll be waiting for your call,” he teased back.
Kelly P’s Blog – ExcerptHe turned and looked at her. “No pictures of boyfriends?” he asked softly.“No one special in your life?”
My Ereader and Me – ExcerptHe hesitated for a moment, watching her. The tumbling chestnut curls invited an affectionate hand to rake through and put them in order. When she looked up at him, her eyes barely visible beneath the windblown hair, she looked so forlorn and vulnerable he had the urge to sweep her up in his arms . . .
I Am A Reader – ExcerptAh, if she only dared tell him! “Let’s race,” she challenged. “Down to the pier and back. The winner gets … a kiss,” she said wildly, dropping his arm.
Astrid laughed softly. “Don’t worry about it, dear.” She dabbed powder on her nose from a golden compact. “Reid is obviously fascinated with you for the moment.”
deal sharing aunt – ReviewWho doesn’t argue with their parents? I was proud that Jennifer went home and tried to reconnect with her parents. She definitely got her stubbornness from her dad. I enjoyed reading about Destiny Bay and I am reading A Little Blackmail next!
The Wonderings of One Person – Excerpt
She didn’t really panic. A strange, white blankness came over her. Her mouth opened in a silent scream, and she tried to think carefully, logically, all the while the earth was rushing toward her as though she were in a jet plane aimed into the side of a mountain.
Jennifer is quite the wild child. It remains a mystery why she chooses to throw herself out of airplanes, among other dangerous things, until later on in the book.
The Reading Diaries – ReviewThe book is a quick read that I finished in one afternoon it was hard to put down I had to see how Jennifer’s story would play out. I love a good clean romance that has a great story that is well written that teens as well as adults will enjoy. This is my first book by the author but I’m excited to read the next installment in the Destiny Bay Series.
Mythical Books – ExcerptIt occurred to Jennifer that the more she ate, the less time she’d have for talking. “You know what, this dessert list looks awfully good. Could you add a hot fudge sundae to my order?” She smiled at the waitress.
Tressa’s Wishful Endings – Review I liked how carefree, but responsible (because she really is regardless of what others think) Jennifer is. I loved her teasing and fun nature. She definitely had her insecurities and they were her downfall on more than one occasion, but they fit her character.
I enjoyed the beach town where the book was set. It was fun to imagine what it would be like to live in a beach community.
Getting Your Read On – ReviewI liked the interactions between Jennifer and Reid. You feel the history and connection between them.
My Love for Reading Keeps Growing – Excerpt
“We can’t talk in here,” Reid yelled, his lips almost pressed against Jennifer’s ear.
“You’re not supposed to talk in here,” she yelled back.
The Written Adventure – ExcerptHis smile grew slowly and he reached for her again. “Jenny, Jenny, how could I ever have doubted you? I think maybe you’re an angel sent to comfort us all.”
It ‘s a novel sweet, soft and clean, talks about love, friendship and family.
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A Little Blackmail
Kelly P’s Blog – Excerpt
“Vanessa, Vanessa,” he murmured, grinning. “How you’ve changed from the passionate woman of my dreams.”
“I’m not Vanessa,” she hissed.
“Sit,” he ordered, and she sat. “What would you like to eat?”
“I’m not hungry,” she said, though a sudden rumbling in her stomach reminded her that she hadn’t eaten a thing since breakfast…
My Love for Reading Keeps Growing – Excerpt
“Look at her. After she travels, she goes into some sort of a time warp. She can hardly remember her name …”
“I can remember yours,” she said sweetly, pretending to smile, but glaring at him from beneath lowered lashes. “‘Mud,’ wasn’t it?”
Tressa’s Wishful Endings – ReviewMatt was also a fun male protagonist with all the usual charming personality (when he wanted to be charming) and good looks. There was definitely plenty of romantic tension between him and Janet.
All That’s Written … – Excerpt“What?” His outrage echoed in her head. “Where are you?”She hesitated. What in the world was she going to tell him? If she told him the truth, he and Howie would be over here in no time, ready to rescue her. She couldn’t have that.
I Am A Reader – Excerpt
“Do I look like her?” she asked.
“Like Vanessa?” He wasn’t sure, actually. He’d seen Vanessa’s picture in the magazine article about Matt and his enormously successful oil operations in Brazil and Argentina. He knew Vanessa was attractive, with long black hair — so that fit fine. That article was what had given him the idea to try this elaborate hoax.
“You’re much prettier,” he admitted.
My Ereader and Me – Excerpt
She frowned at him… “She was pretty surprised to hear she’d already been replaced by another phony Vanessa.”
He considered what she said for a moment, then shrugged, as though the whole affair hardly concerned him at all. “Never mind,” he said lightly. “You make a much better Vanessa than she did.”
The Wonderings of One Person – ExcerptMaybe it was her sweet red mouth or the way her black hair brushed against her cheek. Maybe it was the way her smile seemed to light up the sky, sending a wave of intoxicating warmth through him. Whatever it was, for the moment at least, he was hooked.
Mythical Books – Intro from AuthorJanet’s life has been academic and protected until now. Mistakes are made and her cat ends up being taken by Matt Carrington as a prop in a con he’s running against a sweet old lady. Janet takes the plunge into the dark side when she tries to steal her Alexander back and gets caught up in Matt’s plot, blackmailed into pretending to be his wife. Con men are usually charmers, and Matt is no exception. Soon Janet is torn between what she knows is right—and what her heart begins to feel.
Katie’s Clean Book Collection – Review I thought it was funny that the opening scene showed Janet as a cat burglar trying to steal a cat. She isn’t that type of person at all. She values honestly above all else and hates to be caught in a lie, but that’s exactly where she finds herself when she is discovered by the one who “stole” her cat–Matt.
The Reading Diaries – Review I like that Janet is a character that feels real, she’s had loss in her life but she’s learned to move on. I knew right off the bat that Matt was perfect for Janet he just has to win her over and not scare her away
LibriAmoriMiei – ReviewIt ‘s a story written really well, is smooth and addictive, once you start it is hard to quit. It ‘s a novel sweet and funny , even a little mysterious .
i blog 4 books – Review
A Little Blackmail picks up with Matt Carrington (brother of Reid Carrington from Run Run Runaway). Matt is obviously hiding something, so Janet’s unexpected arrival (behind the curtains of his second story bedroom!) definitely has the potential to complicate things. I was delighted by the “marriage” of convenience aspect—another favorite storyline of mine.
Letters from Annie Douglass Lima – ExcerptHe looked over at Janet on the bed, her dark hair spilled out in a midnight cloud. She looked like an angel against the white sheets. It had been a long time since a woman had captured his natural male inclinations like this one had. He tried to hide it with jokes and lighthearted banter, but it was there. It never left him.
Getting Your Read On – ReviewMatt comes off as the bad guy at first but as bits of the story come out, we learn right along with Janet what Matt is really up to. Maybe he isn’t quite as bad as he first appeared to be.
The Written Adventure – ExcerptShe waited, heart pounding, in case anything inside was going to react, if any alarm was going to go off. There wasn’t a sound. Holding her breath, she pushed a little more. The door glided smoothly, leaving a six-inch opening. Janet stared at it, waiting, her heart beating furiously.
Christy’s Cozy Corners – ExcerptHe grinned. “Right after we’re married.”
“Oh.” She hardly knew which way was up any longer. “Are we getting married?”
“Am I getting ahead of things?” he asked, looking alarmed. “I don’t want to scare you. Forget I said that.” He kissed her softly…
[Pin, share, or tweet this image for an extra entry in the giveaway.]
Moving Too Fast
Book Intro
Kelly P’s Blog – Excerpt
Reaching out lazily, he pretended to brush a curl from her cheek and tuck it behind her ear. He gave her another wink and turned to go, making his way back across the lawn.
Carrie watched him go, breathing hard in a way that was pure embarrassment…
“Do you know him?”
Carrie shook her head. “I’m not sure. Who is he?”
“Grant Carrington. The race-car driver.”
deal sharing aunt – ReviewThe author has created a great series with characters that could be my neighbors. The Carringtons are definitely sought after men.
My Ereader and Me – Excerpt
“To chance encounters,” he said, his eyes making the statement provocative.
“To miraculous escapes,” she countered, her chin rising with the challenge.
There was a charged tension between them as their gazes locked, and then the low rumble of his laugh spilled out, the rich, textured sound of it rubbing against her in a way that did nothing to soothe her jangled nerves.
Mythical Books – ExcerptGrant’s cool gaze took in exactly what was going on. He looked at Carrie and immediately saw the anger in her eyes. They’d been baiting her and she was furious. A deep feeling of pure satisfaction filled him. Their loss just might be his gain after all.
I Am A Reader – Excerpt“You came back,” he answered shortly. “I wasn’t sure you would.”
She gestured toward the padded table. “Of course I came back. You can’t scare me off that easily.”
The Wonderings of One Person – Excerpt
The ocean breeze blew her hair across her face, and Grant reached to brush it back. Emotion welled up inside her, and she grabbed his hand, pressing it to her face, pressing the palm to her lips.
“Oh, Carrie,” he said, groaning as though in pain, pulling her into his embrace. “What am I going to do with you?”
Katie’s Clean Book Collection – ReviewCarrie is a very naive and inexperienced woman and feels that Grant is a danger to be around, just like a Big Bad Wolf (I loved that part!). She’s also pretty stubborn and quick to assume. Yet, she sure is willing to give her heart away faster than she wanted to.
My Love for Reading Keeps Growing – Excerpt“Do you always get what you want?” she prodded, gazing up from beneath her dark lashes.
He touched her chin with one lone finger. “Always,” he said, and it was as much a warning as a promise.
Tressa’s Wishful Endings – ReviewBy far Moving Too Fast was my favorite from this series! It had a dark and brooding bad boy for the male protagonist and a sweet and lovable female protagonist. There was plenty of romantic tension with just a few intense kisses…
The Reading Diaries – ReviewGrant has issues but maybe that’s why I like him so much he’s very much a broken guy who needs a girl to heal his heart.
i blog 4 books – ReviewCarrie’s determination to help Grant recover from his injury—despite the fact that he thinks he can recover on his own—was a great match for Grant’s stubbornness. I enjoyed seeing how Carrie grew throughout the book, to the point where she was a strong character rather than someone who has trouble standing up for herself.
Letters from Annie Douglass Lima – ExcerptCarrie shuddered, averting her gaze. She was deeply troubled by what he’d told her. She was beginning more and more to understand why he was so hard on himself, so hard on her.
Getting Your Read On – ReviewThe attraction, chemistry and emotion in this book are on high at all times.
The Written Adventure – Excerpt“You’ll have to accept it, Carrie.” His voice was rough, but gentle. “I don’t know who I am when I’m not racing. I need it. I have to go. And I may never be back.”
She was living her own worst nightmare. “I can’t accept that,” she repeated.
Christy’s Cozy Corners – ExcerptHe sighed, shaking his head. “It’s different for me now.” Reaching across the gulf that separated them, he touched her cheek with his fingertips. “I . . . I’ve got you.”
LibriAmoriMiei
This is the funniest novel in the series, but is also very sweet and romantic.
The author has also created for this story characters realistic, fun and very different from each other.
A must read for those who love romance ………
Run Run Runaway
Destiny Bay Romances – Forever Yours
by Helen Conrad
Adult Romance
Paperback & Ebook, 169 pages
March 28th 2014 by Doorknock Publishing
Run Run Runaway is the Sweet Edition of My Little Runaway, the story of Reid Carrington and Jennifer Thornton.
It seemed like a good idea at the time.
The trouble is, when you run from your problems, you often find out your biggest obstacle is along for the trip–it’s you! Reid Carrington realizes that when he finds Jennifer and recognizes the quiet desperation in her eyes. Can he save someone who doesn’t want to be saved? Or like a lifeguard rescuing a swimmer, will she pull him down into the undertow in the end?
Recipes for Jennifer’s Mango Salsa and Tilly’s Bruschetta included.
A Little Blackmail
Destiny Bay Romances – Forever Yours
by Helen Conrad
Adult Romance
Paperback & Ebook, 172 pages
March 28th 2014 by Doorknock Publishing
A Little Blackmail is the Sweet Edition of Wife For A Night, the story of Janet Cardona and Matt Carrington.
Sometimes you have to break the rules to right a wrong.
Janet Cardona is usually a by-the-book good girl–but when Matt Carrington won’t give her cat back, she sees red. Rules mean nothing when there’s an animal to be saved. So when she’s caught in a burglary and blackmailed for it, she finds she can’t refuse. Matt only needs her to pretend to be his wife for a day or two so that he can run a scam he’s involved in. But once the pretense gets going, he begins to yearn for the real thing. Now Janet has to decide if she can let herself fall for a con man.
Recipes for Crab Open-faced Sandwiches and Basic Asian Soup included.
Moving Too Fast
Destiny Bay Romances – Forever Yours
by Helen Conrad
Adult Romance
Paperback & Ebook, 165 pages
March 28th 2014 by Doorknock Publishing
Moving Too Fast is the Sweet Edition of Too Scared To Breathe, the story of Grant Carrington and Carrie Harlow.
A sweet old-fashioned girl–
–isn’t what Grant Carrington is looking for. A man who lives for speed and danger, he’s only slowed down because he’s been forced to by an injury. Carrie Harlow isn’t his type, but he needs her in order to heal. She knows she’s playing with fire, but she feels she can help him and she goes for it—even though she knows she’s endangering her own heart as she fixes his.
Recipe for Carrie’s Chicken Picatta included.
Helen Conrad is an award-winning, bestselling author of more than 90 romances (over 15 million copies sold) published under various pseudonyms with Harlequin, Silhouette, Loveswept, and others. She is currently revamping and rewriting much of her backlist–some available in the US for the first time–to present on Kindle.
A Little About the Destiny Bay Romances: Sweet Editions
“The Destiny Bay Romances take place in the sort of beach town I’ve always loved–and now I live in one! But writing about beach towns came first and this series is centered on the rich, influential Carrington family living along the California Coast, and in Hawaii. These are good-looking, fast-driving, hard-hitting men and women whose impulses lead them into trouble every time–and inevitably to fall in love.
The original series includes language and love scenes that aren’t, for the most part, especially harsh and explicit–but some of my readers from my years writing sweets for Harlequin as Raye Morgan have asked if we couldn’t have sweet and clean versions–and I thought–what a good idea!
These are basically the same stories…but with the conflicts softened a bit, the language cleaned up, and no explicit love scenes. There are still a few adult situations, but they’re muted. Consider these the PG versions.
I hope you enjoy them!”
Tour-Wide Giveaway
– US Grand Prize: $20 Amazon gift card and paperbacks of Run Run Runaway, A Little Blackmail, and Moving Too Fast
– INT Grand Prize: $20 Amazon gift card and ebooks of Run Run Runaway, A Little Blackmail, and Moving Too Fast
Welcome to my stop for the REVIEW & EXCERPT TOUR for
Moving Too Fast
Destiny Bay Romances: Sweet Editions
by Helen Conrad
Moving Too Fast is only $0.99 for
Kindle from now until Sunday, June 1st!
Moving Too Fast
Destiny Bay Romances – Forever Yours
(Sweet Edition #3)
by Helen ConradAdult Romance
Paperback & Ebook, 165 pages
March 28th 2014 by Doorknock Publishing
A sweet old-fashioned girl–
–isn’t what Grant Carrington is looking for. A man who lives for speed and danger, he’s only slowed down because he’s been forced to by an injury. Carrie Harlow isn’t his type, but he needs her in order to heal. She knows she’s playing with fire, but she feels she can help him and she goes for it—even though she knows she’s endangering her own heart as she fixes his.
Recipe for Carrie’s Chicken Picatta included.
[Pin, share, or tweet this image for an extra entry in the giveaway.]
Helen Conrad is an award-winning, bestselling author of more than 90 romances (over 15 million copies sold) published under various pseudonyms with Harlequin, Silhouette, Loveswept, and others. She is currently revamping and rewriting much of her backlist—mainly into the Destiny Bay Romances Series. The first six, the Forever Yours Series, are being rewritten as Sweet Editions.
Website – Facebook – Goodreads
A Little About the Destiny Bay Romances: Sweet Editions
“The Destiny Bay Romances take place in the sort of beach town I’ve always loved–and now I live in one! But writing about beach towns came first and this series is centered on the rich, influential Carrington family living along the California Coast, and in Hawaii. These are good-looking, fast-driving, hard-hitting men and women whose impulses lead them into trouble every time–and inevitably to fall in love.
The original series includes language and love scenes that aren’t, for the most part, especially harsh and explicit–but some of my readers from my years writing sweets for Harlequin as Raye Morgan have asked if we couldn’t have sweet and clean versions–and I thought–what a good idea!
These are basically the same stories…but with the conflicts softened a bit, the language cleaned up, and no explicit love scenes. There are still a few adult situations, but they’re muted. Consider these the PG versions.
I hope you enjoy them!”
Tour-Wide Giveaway
– US Grand Prize: $20 Amazon gift card and paperbacks of Run Run Runaway, A Little Blackmail, and Moving Too Fast
– INT Grand Prize: $20 Amazon gift card and ebooks of Run Run Runaway, A Little Blackmail, and Moving Too Fast
– 2 sets of ebooks of
Run Run Runaway,
A Little Blackmail, and
Moving Too Fast (INT)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
The other stops on this tour:
Run Run Runaway
May 13
May 14
May 15
May 16
May 18
A Little Blackmail
May 20
May 21
May 22
May 23
May 25
Moving Too Fast
May 27
May 28
May 29
May 30
Jun 1
June 2 – Grand Finale
An Excerpt from the Story:
He turned back to the sink. “But right now I’m interested in cleaning these fish. What do you think? Can we eat them all tonight?”
Carrie shuddered, averting her gaze. She was deeply troubled by what he’d told her. She was beginning more and more to understand why he was so hard on himself, so hard on her.
“I was thinking of sending out for pizza,” she said teasingly.
“Not on your life. We’ll make a huge cioppino.” He whacked off another head and it went shooting across the kitchen. “Oh, get that, will you?”
“You must be kidding!” she cried, half laughing.
He looked at her skeptically. “I’m not going to have much success in getting you to sauté the eyeballs, am I?”
Before she could answer he scooped up a handful of minnows and reached for the neck of her jersey top. Squealing, she backed away, but hardly fast enough. By the time they were finished, they both smelled like a fish market and had to go outside to hose off, but it was worth it.
It was days like this that gave her hope. They went through some serious jolts in their relationship, but the moments of warmth and laughter always came tumbling in just in time to save the emotional connection that was just growing between them.
At least, that was the way she saw it. She wasn’t so sure about him.
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I was invited to participate in this writing process tour by author Sara Gauldin. Her latest book, The Corporeal Pull, is free at the moment on Amazon! You can find out more about her writing at SEBGwrites.wordpress.com.
1) What am I working on?
Having just published my third YA action/adventure fantasy novel, Prince of Malorn, on Kindle, I’ve started the process of formatting it for paperback. Next in line is the fourth book in the Annals of Alasia series, tentatively titled King of Malorn. It’s been “finished” for a couple years now, but I need to go through and make sure everything ties in properly with Prince of Malorn. I hope to have it ready to publish in the fall, though. Then I have a book called The Collar and the Cavvarach, which I drafted last November during National Novel Writing Month. It needs more polishing, but I’m excited to get that one ready for publication, too, hopefully by the end of the year.
2) How does my work differ from others of its genre?
My Annals of Alasia series is unique because the first three books take place at more or less the same time (at least, there’s quite a bit of overlap). They each describe the same major political event: the invasion of the kingdom of Alasia by the neighboring kingdom of Malorn. Prince of Alasia begins on the night of the Invasion and describes what happens to twelve-year-old Prince Jaymin after he is forced to flee for his life. In the Enemy’s Service tells the story of those who were not able to escape from the Alasian palace when the enemy invaded. Prince of Malorn begins several months earlier and focuses on the Malornian perspective of the events leading up to the Invasion. In each of the books, main characters from the others make brief appearances and interact with each other at the point where the time frames and settings overlap. King of Malorn will be different, though; it takes place five years later and brings together the main characters from all three of the other books.
The Collar and the Cavvarach is unique because it’s hard to even classify it under a specific genre. The story is set in a world almost exactly like ours in almost every way, except that slavery is legal and widely practiced there. I’m calling it “speculative fiction”, which is a nice broad term that can encompass pretty much any form of fiction that isn’t strictly realistic.
3) Why do I write what I do?
I write the stories that come to me. Realistic fiction has just never come to me. I think it doesn’t offer my imagination enough freedom.
4) How does my writing process work?
I always begin by creating an outline. It starts off as a brief summary of the whole book (a page or two long), then at some point I usually divide it up chapter by chapter, with a few sentences about what will happen in each. The details change as I go along, and I often end up with more chapters than I originally planned, but I really need that structure to get me started and keep me focused as I write.
When I come to a part of the story where I have to write about something I don’t know, I stop writing for a while and research the issue. (For example, in Prince of Malorn the main character, Prince Korram, has to live off the land while making a solitary trek through the mountains. I spent hours researching details about wilderness survival to make sure everything was accurate. I learned about making wooden spears without steel tools, how to start a fire with rocks, what kinds of edible plants you could expect to find, and what beetle larva tastes like!) While I research, I type notes right into my manuscript, then when I’ve found out what I need to, I turn the notes into a coherent scene or into bits of information to be used in various scenes.
After I finish drafting a scene or chapter, I let it sit for at least a day. Then I go back and re-read it, fixing any obvious errors and adjusting the word choice and sentence fluency to make it sound as good as it can. I go on to the next scene after that, and so on. When I’ve finished the whole book, I read through it at least once, often twice, checking for inconsistencies and making sure it all flows right. Then I read it aloud to my students and/or send it to beta readers for their feedback.
Because my day job keeps me busy on weekdays, I mostly write on the weekends. Sometimes I’ll write a little in the evenings if I don’t feel too brain dead after a long day of teaching.
My favorite place to write is at Georg Peck, the tea shop a few minutes’ walk from where I live. I bring my laptop and sit at one of their little outside tables, sipping one of their teas or smoothies while I work.
There are distractions there, but not as many as when I work at home.
Next Monday, find out about these other great authors and their writing:
Sherry Chamblee lives with her husband, six kids, two dogs, and a cat in southern California. She doesn’t really have free time, so she wrings some writing time out of hours normally meant for sleeping. You can visit her blog and learn more about her family and her books here: www.sherrychamblee.weebly.com.
R.A. Meenan has been writing since she was old enough to hold a pencil. Her first novel, The Stolen Defender, is the first of a long series and will come out later this year. She lives in Southern California with her husband Joe, and her two cats, Annie and Ziggy. http://zyearth.blogspot.com
Welcome to my tour stop for the
A Little Blackmail
Destiny Bay Romances: Sweet Editions
by Helen Conrad
Special Price!
A Little Blackmail is only $0.99 for Kindle from now until Sunday, May 25th!
Destiny Bay Romances – Forever Yours
(Sweet Edition #2)
by Helen Conrad
Adult Romance
Paperback & Ebook, 172 pages
March 28th 2014 by Doorknock Publishing
Sometimes you have to break the rules to right a wrong.
Janet Cardona is usually a by-the-book good girl–but when Matt Carrington won’t give her cat back, she sees red. Rules mean nothing when there’s an animal to be saved. So when she’s caught in a burglary and blackmailed for it, she finds she can’t refuse. Matt only needs her to pretend to be his wife for a day or two so that he can run a scam he’s involved in. But once the pretense gets going, he begins to yearn for the real thing. Now Janet has to decide if she can let herself fall for a con man.
Recipes for Crab Open-faced Sandwiches and Basic Asian Soup included.
[Pin, share, or tweet this image for an extra entry in the giveaway.]
Helen Conrad is an award-winning, bestselling author of more than 90 romances (over 15 million copies sold) published under various pseudonyms with Harlequin, Silhouette, Loveswept, and others. She is currently revamping and rewriting much of her backlist—mainly into the Destiny Bay Romances Series. The first six, the Forever Yours Series, are being rewritten as Sweet Editions.
A Little About the Destiny Bay Romances: Sweet Editions
From Author Helen Conrad
“The Destiny Bay Romances take place in the sort of beach town I’ve always loved–and now I live in one! But writing about beach towns came first and this series is centered on the rich, influential Carrington family living along the California Coast, and in Hawaii. These are good-looking, fast-driving, hard-hitting men and women whose impulses lead them into trouble every time–and inevitably to fall in love.
The original series includes language and love scenes that aren’t, for the most part, especially harsh and explicit–but some of my readers from my years writing sweets for Harlequin as Raye Morgan have asked if we couldn’t have sweet and clean versions–and I thought–what a good idea!
These are basically the same stories…but with the conflicts softened a bit, the language cleaned up, and no explicit love scenes. There are still a few adult situations, but they’re muted. Consider these the PG versions.
I hope you enjoy them!”
Tour-Wide Giveaway
– US Grand Prize: $20 Amazon gift card and paperbacks of Run Run Runaway, A Little Blackmail, and Moving Too Fast
– INT Grand Prize: $20 Amazon gift card and ebooks of Run Run Runaway, A Little Blackmail, and Moving Too Fast
– 2 sets of ebooks of Run Run Runaway, A Little Blackmail, and Moving Too Fast (INT)
The other stops on this tour:
Run Run Runaway
May 13
May 14
May 15
May 16
May 18
A Little Blackmail
May 20
May 21
May 22
May 23
May 25
Moving Too Fast
May 26 – Book Intro
May 27
May 28
May 29
May 30
Jun 1
June 2 – Grand Finale
Are you a blogger and want to receive information about new tours? Go HERE.
Are you an author or publisher and would like to have us organize a tour event? Go HERE.
Excerpt:
He looked over at Janet on the bed, her dark hair spilled out in a midnight cloud. She looked like an angel against the white sheets. It had been a long time since a woman had captured his natural male inclinations like this one had. He tried to hide it with jokes and lighthearted banter, but it was there. It never left him.
But he knew better than to make an attempt at seduction. And when the urge surfaced, he raged at himself silently. She doesn’t trust you. She doesn’t want you. Leave her alone.
“Tell me, Janet,” he said aloud. “What’s your theory? Why do you think I’m doing all this?”
“To somehow get your hands on Mavis’s money,” she said promptly, then grimaced. How could she be so attracted to a man she suspected of being such a jerk?
He laughed ruefully. Darn it all, in a way, she was right. “So you really think I’m a con artist, do you?”
Janet turned away as he rubbed himself all over with the yellow towel. “If you’re not a con artist, why are you so concerned with keeping her happy and unquestioning?”
“Maybe it’s because I like her. Maybe it’s for her own good.”
“Or maybe it’s for some other reason. Like finding out something about her that you can use for blackmail.” That came off the top of her head, but once she’d said it, she rather liked it.
He laughed aloud. “Is that your theory? What a larcenous mind you have, kiddo. Why did you agree to go along with this little masquerade if you thought I was such a crook?”
“Because you were blackmailing me. So I figure it might be your go-to con system.” She lifted her chin and challenged him in the dark. “The more I can learn about how you do it, the better prepared I’ll be.”
He stepped out of her line of vision and dropped the towel from around his hips, slipping into pajama bottoms. Then he came back close to the side of the bed. “Not a bad idea, sweetheart. And it turned out you were pretty good at it, didn’t it?” His voice was soft with teasing. “We’re both good at it. Hey, what do you say we team up, travel all across the country . . . Make a fortune.” Without waiting to be invited, he sat down on the edge of her bed.
She glared at him, but she couldn’t bring herself to tell him to move away. She liked having him close like this. “Deceiving people?” she accused.
His eyes glittered in the moonlight. “Sure. We’d be great.”
“Like Bonnie and Clyde?”
“Much classier than that. Matt and Vanessa. And no bloodshed.” He pretended to shudder. “Nothing so messy and common.”
Elle Burton and the Reflective Portals is a delightful fantasy about a young girl recruited by winged creatures from another dimension to help them protect the children of Earth.
As a Guide to the Fiorins, Elle experiences tremendous loss, joy, and incredible evil as she struggles on her crusade to protect other children.
Her journey to adulthood begins in book one as she discovers magical foot lockers, spider elevators, an enchanted bronze pendant, and the beloved Pegasus.
Elle struggles with the loss of her father, who was stationed in Afghanistan. She is challenged to address bullying, abuse, and other issues that children everywhere encounter on a daily basis. Journey with her as she faces the three challenges predicted in the ancient writings of the prophet of Fiori. Will Elle turn out to be the child who will change the world as predicted in the sacred scrolls? Will she complete three challenges by her 11th birthday? She is aided on her quest by the Fiorin warrior Amadeus.
Elle Burton and the Reflective Portals is true fantasy, written in a language that will make sense to today’s youth. With secret friends, winged creatures that resemble guardian angels, talking animals, spider elevators, a magic pendant and flowers as big as tractor tires, this book contains everything to capture the imagination of children everywhere.
Elle Burton will inspire children to reach their highest potential and to protect themselves from the real and imagined dangers that exist in the difficult world we live in.
Q: Why did you decide to write a fantasy for children?
A: As a person who suffered abuse as a child, it was my vision to write a delightful story that kids would enjoy; a story that would empower them to seek help if being hurt. I also wanted to inspire those children who enjoy a safe and loving environment to be able to recognize kids in trouble and attempt to help them. The statistics on abuse and bullying are staggering. It was time to develop a story about a child who exhibits the kinds of behavior that every parent wants their child to develop. Elle is a modern day role model who has faced her own challenges and recognizes the problems that her friends face on a daily basis.
Q: Who does this book appeal to?
A: My intent was to provide an engaging fantasy that would be enjoyed by children from age 10 – 19. Elle is only ten as book 1 begins, but the series will follow her to adulthood. What has amazed me with beta readers is mothers and grandmothers have enjoyed the book as much as children ages 11-13 who have read it. One grandmother told me she cried while an 11 year-old laughed animatedly as she talked about Jimmy Backus the class bully.
Q: When will the next book be available?
A: I have about 120 pages of book 2 already written. The editing process took much longer than I had envisioned on book 1, but I expect book 2 to be available by the end of 2014. There will also be short story additions to the book on my website plus Elle is writing a cookbook. She has already released two chapters of the cookbook to people who have registered at my website:
http://peggymcaloon.com/
There will be a free pdf version of the book available on my website for a limited period of time, starting the end of May, 2014.
About the Author
Peggy Mound McAloon is a recognized watercolor artist who has received national awards for her efforts in the conservation of water resources. Her journey through child abuse, depression and a debilitating car accident elevated her desire to help children cope with their challenges.
She attended the University of Northern Iowa on Scholarship from the Miss Washington Pageant. The majority of her career was spent as the National Account Manager for a division of the National Association of Credit Management, helping commercial credit managers through trainings, seminars, and an array of services. Her previous book,
The Art of Business Credit Investigation was published under the name Peggy Mound and is now out-of-print. (Highlighted in Inc. Magazine)
In addition to watercolor, she enjoys an array of crafts and is an avid reader. She has been a contributor to Fox , NBC, and ABC News. She as served her local community as a columnist to the Dunn County News for many years and is active in efforts to raise scholarship funds for young women. She is a founding member of the Women’s Giving Circle of the Community Foundation of Dunn County.
Connect with Peggy M. McAloon:
Twitter: @peggymcaloon
Now, enter to win a $20 Amazon gift card and a signed copy of “Elle Burton and the Reflective Portals!
I read a great book recently, which I’d like to share with you!
http://cache.smashwire.com/
Book Description:
What begins as a simple mission to recover lost comrades in the Martian desert quickly turns deadly as Tyke and the others find themselves stranded on the Red Planet, with only the slimmest of chances to ever make it home.
After several members of the group are badly injured during attacks by soldiers loyal to Colonel Burns, the murderous dictator of the Martian colony, it begins to seem that all hope is lost.
But things are not quite what they seem, and sometimes hope comes from the most unlikely of sources. Because even though he doesn’t know it yet, Tyke has a destiny to fulfill; one which has been hundreds of years in the making.
If he has the courage to accept it.
My Review:
This was an interesting story. My favorite thing about it is the way the author sounds as though he actually knows what it’s like on other planets and moons. He doesn’t describe them like a sci-fi writer, he describes them like a traveler who’s been there. A traveler who’s knowledgeable about science and can explain why and how the gravity, different gases in the atmosphere, etc. affect the characters and what they do. At times I felt almost as though I was reading a real person’s journal – the descriptions were so realistic that I felt I really understood what it would be like to try to breathe on Mars or take a flying leap into the sky of Deimos. There’s just enough actual science mixed in with the science fiction to make it seem quite believable.
If you haven’t read the rest of the series, I would recommend reading them first. I hadn’t (though I’ll probably go back and read them now), and so some things in Elysium were hard to understand. However, I still enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone who likes science fiction. If you’ve ever wanted to REALLY picture what it’s like on another planet, Elysium will take you there!
About the Author (in his own Words):
I’m an author of young adult and middle grade adventure novels with a Christian flavor, including the Last Werewolf Hunter series and other books.
My books are mostly fantasy, and sometimes science fiction. I like to make my readers laugh, and sometimes give them some food for thought along the way. Quite a few readers have commented that my stories are unlike anything else they’ve ever read, which I take as a compliment.
I’m told that my stories often have a southernish, Huckleberry-Finn type atmosphere in some ways. They’re usually set somewhere in the South, primarily Texas, Louisiana, or Arkansas, which is my own home turf. Every place in the world has good things to offer, and I like to display all the good things about this place that I love.
The Christian aspect of my work is upbeat and sunny, the kind of thing that appeals even to non-Christians. It’s meant to be an integral part of the story, not just something tacked on.
I love to hear from fans who enjoyed my work, so if you’d like to make a comment or ask a question, please feel free to message me. And thanks so much for reading my work!
Welcome to the Cover Reveal for the third book
in the YA/NA Urban Fantasy Descendants Series:
Reign of Shadows
By Melissa Wright
Brianna can see her future, but it’s the past that haunts her. Plans laid in place centuries ago are threatening not only her and her sister, but all of the Seven Lines. As the shadows plot their way to old rule, the visions shift again. Her power has led to some hard choices and the occasional stab wound, but this set of futures holds nothing but darkness.
Unable to bear the idea of losing the footing they’ve so recently gained, she turns the soldiers of the Seven. But with shadows hidden among the ranks, can she overcome the path they’ve set in place, or is she blindly following their lead?
The other books in the Descendants Series
by Melissa Wright
Summary
According to prophecy, Brianna Drake was born to save the world. The trouble is, she doesn’t have the slightest idea how. Her visions should have given her the answer, but they’re beginning to shift, making the danger too unpredictable, even for a prophet.
If she can just help her sister restore their hidden powers, she might be able to stop what’s coming. But an old enemy returns, and he’s got plans for Brianna and her visions.
What neither of them knows is that fate has given a stranger one chance to find her. He was trained to protect the chosen, but if he fails, the future will crumble.
Shifting Fate is the second book in the Descendants Series (following Bound by Prophecy) and focuses on Brianna and Logan.
There is a teaser posted here and the first chapter posted here, but beware, it’s full of spoilers from the first book.
Purchase from Amazon , Barnes and Noble, and the Book Depository. Can also purchase in audio at iTunes and Audible.
Bound by Prophecy
Twenty-two-year-old Aern is done watching his brother destroy the only thing that matters. He never wanted to take Morgan’s place among council, never wanted to rule their hidden world. But when the key to the prophecy is found, a young girl named Brianna whom Morgan will destroy, Aern knows he has to take action.
What he really wants, is for things to go back to normal. But now he’s kidnapped a girl, and his brother’s men are after him. His only hope is to join with the Division, but they have plans of their own, and it’s the last thing Aern is willing to do.
Emily just wants her sister back. She doesn’t care about the prophecy, or realize what’s at stake. But when she goes after Aern, the truth of the matter uncoils, and Brianna isn’t the only one who’s in danger.
Suddenly, they’re at the center of a secret war, and unless they can work together, they’ll both have a sacrifice too big to make.
You can read an excerpt of Bound by Prophecy here.
Get the ebook for FREE on Nook and Kindle. Can also purchase from the Book Depository, and in audio at iTunes and Audible.
About the Author
Melissa Wright is the author of the Frey Saga and the new Descendants series. Melissa spends her time working on novels, but when not writing she can be found on Goodreads and Pinterest.
Want to have some fun? Play this online matching game with Melissa’s covers!
Giveaway
$25 Amazon Gift Card
Open internationally.
Ends May 25th.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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UnraveledBy Heidi McCahan
About the Book:
Blind-sided by her questionable fiance, Lauren Carter returns to the one place she’s been avoiding, the place she used to call home. As she’s forced to look into the eyes of her past and even worse, her unraveling future she discovers that running only leaves you out of breath on a dead end street. Will she choose to unveil the secrets that haunt her? Or will she bury them once and for all and embrace a new life so different from the one she once held dear? Blake Tully, wildly successful and breathtakingly winsome owner of a new rafting business, finds Lauren’s unexpected reappearance confusing. As he torments himself with what if’s and what should’ve been’s, he can’t mistake the feeling that crawls down his spine every time he looks at her. Although she broke his heart once, he longs to give his childhood sweetheart another chance, but can he convince her to stop running away when life gets tough? And can he forgive her when he discovers the reason she’s been hiding? Follow the story of these two shattered hearts as they discover the beauty of grace and forgiveness.
Heidi McCahan was blessed to spend her formative years in Alaska, where she met many interesting people who frequented the lodge her parents owned and operated. Heidi’s unique upbringing, coupled with Alaska’s breathtaking scenery, fueled her active imagination and loosely inspired her debut novel, Unraveled. Heidi graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Sports Medicine from Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington and then earned a Master’s Degree in Athletic Training from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. After a brief career as a Certified Athletic Trainer, Heidi married her husband, Steve. They live in North Carolina with their three active little boys. When Heidi isn’t stepping on Legos, chauffeuring the boys around suburbia or folding laundry, she loves to write heartwarming romance set in unique locales.
Follow Heidi McCahan
Enter to Win a $50 Amazon Gift Card!
Enter below to enter a $50 amazon gift card, sponsored by author Heidi McCahan! a Rafflecopter giveaway This book blast is hosted by Crossreads. We would like to send out a special THANK YOU to all of the CrossReads book blast bloggers!
Prince of Malorn, the third book in my Annals of Alasia trilogy, is now available!
About the Book:
One major obstacle stands between seventeen-year-old Prince Korram and the throne
that is his birthright: Regent Rampus. Temporary ruler of Malorn, Rampus has no intention of giving up his position when the crown prince comes of age – or of allowing the prince to live long enough to reach that age.
Desperate to build an army of his own to stand against the regent, Korram treks into the Impassable Mountains to try to recruit the one segment of Malornian society not under Rampus’s control. But can he lead a band of untrained hunters and gatherers to victory against the full might of the Malornian military? Or will they all be crushed by the grasping hand of the regent before the prince can claim his rightful throne?
Q: What makes this trilogy unique?
A: The books don’t take place one after the other; instead, their time frames overlap. They each describe the same major political event: the invasion of the kingdom of Alasia by the neighboring kingdom of Malorn. Prince of Alasiabegins on the night of the Invasion and describes what happens to twelve-year-old Prince Jaymin after he is forced to flee for his life. In the Enemy’s Service tells the story of those who were not able to escape from the Alasian palace when the enemy invaded. Prince of Malorn begins several months earlier and focuses on the Malornian perspective of the events leading up to the Invasion. In each of the books, main characters from the others make brief appearances and interact with each other at the point where the time frames and settings overlap.
Q: Do you recommend that readers start with your first two books before reading Prince of Malorn?
A: Not necessarily. The books can be read in any order, and each one can stand on its own. But each of the three fills in gaps in the others’ stories, and their different perspectives on the same events and characters will make for a richer reading experience overall.
Q: Will there be more books in the Annals of Alasia?
A: Definitely! I’m nearly done with the fourth book, tentatively titled King of Malorn. It takes place five years later and brings together the main characters from all three books in the original trilogy. There may eventually be other books in the series too; I have lots of ideas!
Annie Douglass Lima considers herself fortunate to have traveled in twenty different countries and lived in four of them. A fifth-grade teacher in her “other” life, she loves reading to her students and sparking their imaginations. Her books include science fiction, fantasy, YA action and adventure novels, a puppet script, anthologies of her students’ poetry, and Bible verse coloring and activity books. When she isn’t teaching or writing, Annie can often be found sipping spiced chai or pomegranate green tea in exotic locations, some of which exist in this world.
Click here to view her other books on Amazon.
Connect with Annie Douglass Lima:
Now, enter to win a $20 Amazon gift card!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Zondervan’s YA Imprint
Blink launches…
The Blink Tour!
Each stop on the five-city tour will feature a combination of seven prolific YA authors, including Golden Heart finalist Carey Corp and HonestlyYA blogger Lorie Langdon (DOON); Christy Award finalist Lisa T. Bergren (REMNANTS); co-founder of readergirlz Lorie Ann Grover (FIRSTBORN); Robert Treskillard (THE MERLIN SPIRAL series); Christy Award winner Jill Williamson (THE SAFE LANDS series); and Jonathan Friesen (AQUIFER), whose first YA novel Jerk, California received the ALA Schneider Award.
Events will feature a reading and Q&A, tons of swag up for grabs, and even bigger prizes to win in the grand prize giveaway at every stop.
Can’t make it in person?
Meet the authors on the virtual Prism Tour!
Enter to win copies of each featured book…
Sunday, May 11 – Tour Launch Blitz
Monday, May 12
– Tressa @ Tressa’s Wishful Endings: Lorie Langdon & Carey Corp: Doon (Doon #1)
Tuesday, May 13
– Meet the authors in person at School Events in the Atlanta Area
– Kathy @ I Am A Reader: Lisa Tawn Bergren: Season of Wonder (Remnants #1)
Wednesday, May 14
– 6:00 pm at THE BOOKSELLERS AT LAURELWOOD, 387 Perkins Road Extended, Memphis, TN 38117. Robert Treskillard, Lorie Anne Grover , Jonathan Freisen
Thursday, May 15
– 7:00 – 9:00 pm at SALT LAKE CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY, 210 East 400 South, Conference Room A, Salt Lake City, UT 84111. Lorie Ann Grover, Jill Williamson, Jonathan Freisen, Lisa T. Bergren
Friday, May 16
– School Events in the Phoenix Area
– Laura @ Colorimetry: Jill Williamson: The Safe Lands Series: Captives & Outcasts
Saturday, May 17
– 4:00 pm at CHANGING HANDS, 6428 S McClintock Drive, Tempe, AZ 85283. Lorie Ann Grover, Jill Williamson, Jonathan Freisen, Lisa T. Bergren.
Sunday, May 18
– Lisa @ Bookworm Lisa: Jonathan Friesen: Aquifer
About Blink: Blink brings true stories and fiction to YA readers. The literature published by Blink is a positive reflection of what is inspiring and heartening while maintaining a tradition of imaginative and exciting storytelling that will bring readers to the edge of their seats, immerse them in a heartrending love story, or engross them in a story of a life well-lived. Readers will see themselves in all facets of Blink’s literature and will find new levels of entertainment that enrich and uplift. For more information please visit
http://blinkyabooks.com/ or visit us on
facebook and
Twitter.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/blinkyabooks
Tour-Wide Giveaway
Must be old enough to enter (see Rafflecopter). USA/Canada only. 6 Winners!!
Merlin’s Blade, Merlin’s Shadow, and Merlin’s Nightmare (Paperbacks)
Captives & Outcasts (Paperbacks)
Doon (Hardcover)
Firstborn (Hardcover)
Aquifer (Hardcover)
Season of Wonder (Hardcover)
Are you a blogger and want to receive information about new tours? Go
HERE.
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HERE.
