Monday, April 27, 2015

Tour Kick Off - The Bicycle Waltz by Paul and Jean Zimmer




Women's Fiction
Date Published: November 20, 2014

Haunted by a traumatic incident in his past, Alan Christiansen desperately wants to learn how to dance.  After several failed attempts, he stumbles onto Choreographed Ballroom Dance (Round Dance), and begins to make progress.  His instructors, Ray and Shelly Tenrio, are famous in the Round Dance world, popular choreographers and featured teachers on the festival circuit.  Once married, they are now divorced, but Ray seeks a reconciliation.   Shelly's world is turned upside down when one of her nephews is diagnosed with a rare case of thyroid cancer.  As his parents fly around the country searching for answers, it falls to Shelly to care for his twin brother.  Uncomfortable with children in general and boys in particular, she turns to Alan for help.   Thrown together with the sort of man she used to disparage, she discovers hitherto unsuspected talents and depth in Alan, and unsuspected and somewhat unwelcome feelings in herself.  In the end, Shelly must choose between the sort of life she's always known with Ray and a life she's only glimpsed with Alan.  Along the way, we learn about round dance, romance, thyroid cancer, Silicon Valley startups, the wit and wisdom of Bill Watterson, and what sort of vegetable goes best with tuna-chip casserole




#1 – Do You See Writing as a Career?
Not unless we sell a LOT of books.  Paul already has a career he enjoys which still allows time for writing, so writing will likely continue to be a hobby for us.


#2 – What was the Hardest Part of Your Writing Process?
The editing!  We loved the story development and the writing, but the editing isn’t nearly as much fun. 


#3 – Did you have any One Person Who Helped You Out with Your Writing Outside of Your Family?
No.  It’s a family affair.


#4 – What is next for your writing?
Not sure.  After being unable to come up with a book idea for ages, we now have several percolating.  We'll see what rises to the top.


#5 – Do you have an addiction to reading as well as writing? If so, what are you currently reading?
Paul:  I mostly read via audiobooks.  I read a lot of science, classics, and I often re-read my favorite authors (Sabatini, A. Conan Doyle, James Herriot, Agatha Christie, Rowling)

Jean:  I read a lot, mostly fiction, and especially these last few months, as I've been recovering from a couple of pelvic fractures.  A couple of books I've recently read, and enjoyed, were "Delicious!" by Ruth Reichl, and "Never Change" by Elizabeth Berg.


DESCRIBE Your Book in 1 Tweet:
A love story set in the wonderful world of choreographed ballroom dance.

This or That?

#1 - iPd or Mp3?
Mp3

#2 – Chocolate or Vanilla?
Paul: Vanilla
Jean: Chocolate

#3 – Mashed Potatoes or French Fries?
Mashed Potatoes - with Broccoli (excellent combination!)

#4 – Comedy or Drama?
A little of both (just like life)

#5 – Danielle Steel or Nicholas Sparks?
Paul: who?
Jean:  Nicholas Sparks

#6 – Fantasy or Reality?
Paul: I’m living my fantasies – they are my reality.
Jean:  What he said...

#7 – Call or Text?
Paul: Call! (‘cause I can hear without my glasses…)
Jean:  Call

#8 – Public School or Home School?
Public School

#9 – Coffee or Hot Chocolate?
Tea

#10 – eBook or Paperback?

Paperback




Paul and Jean Zimmer are first time authors.  “The Bicycle Waltz” began with casual remark by Jean that it would be great if somebody were to write a book featuring their favorite pastime, Choreographed Ballroom Dance (Round Dance).  That is, somebody else should write such a book.

But then a story began to form around a germ of an idea Paul had while watching some instructors at a dance festival.  Pretty soon, the story had taken on a life of its own.  Scenes played out across the kitchen table and the characters became like old friends, crying out to have their story told.  Before they knew it, the book had practically written itself.

Paul is, by training, a computer chip designer.  He has worked at several large companies, including Hewlett Packard and Cisco, as well as several start-ups, so he had the knowledge to describe this world to readers.  He has written many award-winning technical papers, but these are (or are intended to be!) non-fiction.  Writing fiction required something of a leap of faith.  

Jean trained as a speech therapist, but left the working world to become a full-time mom when their twin sons were born.  She is an avid reader, and she knows what makes a story flow.  Her detail-oriented approach was the perfect balance to Paul’s impatience to get on with the story, and she thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to help craft a story herself.

In addition to their twin sons, the Zimmers have a daughter.  It is her thyroid cancer story that Matthew lives in “The Bicycle Waltz”.

The Zimmers have traveled far and wide, and lived in Germany and England.  They currently live in Roseville, CA, near Sacramento, where they are active in the local Round Dance community.  





April 28 - Texas Book Nook
April 30 - The Indie Express
May 1 - Steamy Side

May 8 - RABT Reviews - Wrap Up


Tour Kick Off: The Nines by @karenmbryson #giveaway


Romantic Suspense
Date Published: April 13, 2015

USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR Dakota Madison and Sierra Avalon team up to bring readers a new breed of antiheroes…THE NINES. 

Vengeance is mine not the Lord’s. It’s what I breathe for. It’s what I’m still living for. I live for the moment when I will literally have his eye for mine. It’s been two years. Two long and difficult years, but my plan is nearly complete. When I’m not in a hospital having doctors try to repair my ravaged body I spend my time on the computer, doing hacking jobs for large corporations and governments who don’t want to get their hands dirty or be associated with a job if things go sideways. But they don’t have any reason to worry. I’m meticulous, so I’ll never get caught. Just one thing stands in my way: The mysterious young woman without a past who desperately wants to be part of my future. I just need to figure out why…

THE NINES is an ongoing romantic suspense series. Each book can be read as a STAND ALONE NOVEL or as PART OF THE SERIES.
#1 – Do You See Writing as a Career?

Writing is one of my careers. I also work full-time as a university professor.

#2 – What was the Hardest Part of Your Writing Process?

The most difficult part of the process is finding the time required to do the business of being an author. Writing is only half of the equation. Authors also need to promote their work. This can be extremely time-consuming.

#3 – Did you have any One Person Who Helped You Out with Your Writing Outside of Your Family?

I think most writers have people who have influenced them along the way. I have certainly had a lot of readers who have supported me and my work, and many people who have encouraged me to keep writing.

#4 – What is next for your writing?

THE NINES will be an ongoing romantic suspense series. I have plans for five additional novels and will keep writing them if there is interest from readers. I also have a paranormal romantic comedy series in the works as well as a young adult science fiction action adventure series.

#5 – Do you have an addiction to reading as well as writing? If so, what are you currently reading?

I read quite a bit. I am currently reading Thoughtful by S.C. Stephens, which I have been waiting to read for months.

DESCRIBE Your Book in 1 Tweet: If an avenger comic and a romance novel got married and had a baby it would be The Nines.


This or That?

#1 - iPd or Mp3? Neither. I use Pandora.

#2 – Chocolate or Vanilla? No!

#3 – Mashed Potatoes or French Fries? Depends on my mood.

#4 – Comedy or Drama? Both.

#5 – Danielle Steel or Nicholas Sparks? No!

#6 – Fantasy or Reality? Reality.

#7 – Call or Text? How about in person?

#8 – Public School or Home School? Public.

#9 – Coffee or Hot Chocolate? Neither.



#10 – eBook or Paperback? Both.





USA TODAY Bestselling Author Karen Mueller Bryson writes romance novels under four pen names: Dakota Madison, Savannah Young, Sierra Avalon and Ren Monterrey. She lives in a small town outside of Phoenix, AZ with her husband and their bloodhounds.







Tour Kick Off: His Name is Killian #giveaway



Erotic Romance
Date Published: November 25, 2014

Killian Stone paints harpies. 

Killian Stone is not into vanilla sex. 

Killian Stone suffers from mood swings. 

Killian Stone has done something very bad. 

The day the painter approaches her on the bridge and asks her to pose for him is the beginning of a lust Melissa won’t be able to bridle. When Killian Stone offers her a month of submission, she’s already too captivated to turn him down. His unhinged sexuality lets her explore her own dark fantasies, but his anger outbursts are scary and devastating. As the time goes by, Melissa realizes there’s something more than just irritability and anger. He has done something which doesn’t let him rest.


#1 – Do You See Writing as a Career?
Writing is my job, my career, and my delight.


#2 – What was the Hardest Part of Your Writing Process?
Writing in a foreign language. There must be few things that are harder.


#3 – Did you have any One Person Who Helped You Out with Your Writing Outside of Your Family?
My editor.


#4 – What is next for your writing?
More writing!


#5 – Do you have an addiction to reading as well as writing? If so, what are you currently reading?
I’m addicted to reading. At the moment I’ve reached the end of “A Song of Ice and Fire” by George Martin. Also, he’s a genius.


DESCRIBE Your Book in 1 Tweet:
A hot schizophrenic fighting the ghosts of his past. #HisNameIsKillian


This or That?

#1 - iPod or Mp3?
Anything that plays music.

#2 – Chocolate or Vanilla?
Chocolate!

#3 – Mashed Potatoes or French Fries?
French Fries.

#4 – Comedy or Drama?
Comedy.

#5 – Danielle Steel or Nicholas Sparks?
Haven’t read them.

#6 – Fantasy or Reality?
Fantasy.

#7 – Call or Text?
Neither.

#8 – Public School or Home School?
Home School sounds better.

#9 – Coffee or Hot Chocolate.
Hot chocolate.

#10 – eBook or Paperback?

Paperbacks at home, eBooks anywhere else.




Ella Adamian

Ella Adamian lives in a small country named Armenia and writes in English. She also hides her identity, so that the local law enforcement bodies won’t fine or detain her for her explicit erotic novel “His Name is Killian.” Currently she’s working on the sequel of her first book.




April 28 - Two Crazy Bookaholics - Review
April 29 - British Bookworm - Excerpt
April 30 - Sara's Organized Chaos - Review
May 1 - Steamy Side - Excerpt
May 2 - Obsessed By Books - Review
May 4 - A Life Through Books - Review
May 5 - Books to Light Your Fire - Guest Post
May 6 - The Indie Express - Guest Post
May 7 - Satin's Bookish Corner - Excerpt
May 8 - All I Want and More Books - Excerpt
May 11 - My Reading Addiction - Interview
May 12 - Queen of the Night Reviews - Guest Post
May 13 - Texas Book Nook - Review
May 14 - Satin's Bookish Corner - Guest Post
May 15 - Caught Up in Books - Review
May 16 - Jazzy's Book Reviews - Guest Post
May 17 - Ella Malone - Excerpt
May 18 - The Ultimate Fan Blog -  Excerpt
May 19 - Jessica Cassidy - Review
May 20 - Reily's Point of View - Excerpt
May 21 - Lovely Paranormal Books - Interview


May 22 - RABT Reviews - Wrap Up






Release Blitz: Crossing Danger by @ColleenHelme #excerpt & #giveaway



Mystery
Date Published: April 27, 2015

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Shelby Nichols isn’t your average soccer-mom turned private investigator. She’s more on the quirky side with a little wild thrown in. That’s because a near-fatal gunshot wound to the head left her with the ability to read minds. This lands her in all kinds of trouble, and this time is no exception. Helping a reporter, Billie Jo, get the low-down on a case is just the tip of the iceberg. When her best friend’s niece goes missing, Shelby is pulled into a conspiracy that involves the police and the leader of a violent drug ring. Add to that a stranger in town with ties to the mob-boss she works for, along with a known assassin out to kill him, and Shelby is crossing danger at every turn. Will she find the answers in time? Or will this be her last adventure?




EXCERPT

I stood inside the small women’s locker room dressed in white drawstring pants that ended several inches above my ankles, and a robe-like top that crisscrossed to close in front. Luckily, I wore a black tank top underneath, since there wasn’t anything besides a white belt to hold it together.
I tied the belt in a knot and let out a breath, hoping I’d done it right. The white training uniform was a bit stiff, and worse, felt like a poufy marshmallow around me. I let out a disgusted huff, knowing that I looked like the womanly version of the Pillsbury dough-boy.
Billie Jo waited just outside the door, but it was hard to step out there dressed like this. Did I really need to do this? Especially since I’d know what everyone was thinking about me? Reading minds often came in handy, but not in situations like this.
Of course, the fact that a serial killer had recently taken me hostage and nearly killed me certainly helped. It was time to learn some self-defense, so nothing like that could ever happen to me again.
So what if I looked silly, and that with my ‘superpower’ of reading minds I’d know what everyone thought of me. I could take it. Besides, I had to start somewhere, right?
I took a calming breath and opened the door.
Billie smiled encouragingly before glancing down at the way I’d tied my belt. Her brows drew sharply together, and she was thinking it looked like a disaster. No way did she want me out on the mat looking like that. “Here…let me help you with that. Tie it this way…” She demonstrated how to do it, then pulled it tight. “Okay. Now you’re good to go.”
“Um…thanks,” I said.
She didn’t miss the embarrassed flush creeping up my neck and was thinking I should just suck it up and be grateful she was there to keep me from looking like a dork. With an indulgent smile that contradicted her thoughts, she turned and led the way to the mat.
Swallowing my pride, I followed behind, noting that her black skirt-like pants with the waist-high belt looked ten times better than my outfit. Compared to her, I looked like I was still in my underwear and had forgotten to put my pants on.
A vision of getting out there and everyone laughing at me crossed my mind but, given how Billie made sure my belt was right, I didn’t think she’d let me embarrass her like that. Still, once we got to the mat, I let out a relieved breath to find I wasn’t the only one wearing white training pants.
Billie did a quick bow before stepping onto the mat, so I bowed as well. I followed her to stand in a line before the teacher, or Sensei, as everyone called him. He wore the same black pants as Billie but, on him, they seemed more dignified and masterful. He was also a big, tall and brawny kind of guy. With his long, gray-black hair pulled back into a ponytail, he intimidated the crap out of me.
He caught my gaze and nodded a cool greeting while I tried to hide my jittering nerves. After he introduced me to the rest of the class, we began with a few stretches and warm-ups. Then he taught us that the most important part of Aikido was learning how to fall safely and then roll around to get back up.
Besides Billie, there was only one other woman in the class. Her name was Melissa, and she was a second-degree black belt like Billie. With the two of them paying special attention to me, I began to relax and actually started to enjoy myself. Even the rolling-around part didn’t seem so bad. They showed me some basic techniques, and my confidence grew.
Near the end of class, Sensei asked if I had any questions, so I blurted out the one thing I’d been thinking about all night. “Yeah. I was just wondering…if someone was to get me in a choke hold with his elbow around my neck and started dragging me backwards, would I be able to get away?”
His gaze caught mine, and his eyes narrowed. He was thinking that, from the fear in my eyes and the tone of my voice, it probably wasn’t a rhetorical question. No. I had the look of someone who’d been there, and a spike of anger rushed over him. He’d seen it more times than he liked, and it always made him furious.
“Yes you can. I’ll show you how.” He turned his gaze to Melissa and asked her to help him demonstrate the technique. Since she was about my size, and he was huge, I was interested to see how she could possibly take him on and come out on top.
He stood behind her and clamped his elbow around her neck beneath her chin. “The first thing you do is tuck your chin down so they can’t choke you.” She did this, and Sensei proceeded to explain how she needed to pull down on his elbow and step back, then grab his wrist and forcefully push outward with his elbow still bent. “At this point, you will break his arm.”
Whoa! That sounded pretty awesome, and I couldn’t help smiling with wicked delight. He demonstrated the technique a few more times, adding different variations to the attack, and then asked me to practice with him. Him! The biggest guy in the class!
I nervously licked my lips and, as he put his arm around my neck, that feeling of helplessness washed over me. But he patiently talked me through the moves and, after breaking his hold a few times, confidence replaced my fear. I even forced him to the mat once. Who would have thought? By the end of class, I was pumped. This was the right place for me, and I could hardly wait to come back and learn more.



About the Author

As the author of the Shelby Nichols Adventure Series, Colleen is often asked if Shelby Nichols is her alter-ego. "Definitely," she says. "Shelby is the epitome of everything I wish I dared to be." Known for her laugh since she was a kid, Colleen has always tried to find the humor in every situation and continues to enjoy writing about Shelby's adventures. "I love getting Shelby into trouble...I just don't always know how to get her out of it!" Colleen lives in the Rocky Mountains with her family. Besides writing, she loves a good book, biking, hiking, and playing board and card games with family and friends. She loves to connect with readers and admits that fans of the series keep her writing.

Author Links

Twitter: @ColleenHelme


Purchase Links



Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card


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Saturday, April 25, 2015

PROMO Blitz: For the Love of a Gypsy by @AuthorMaddyHill #giveaway #excerpt



Historical Romance
Date Published: April 17, 2015


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Can she betray the Gypsy clan who saved her for the love of a stranger?

Martine Petrulengo is stifled by the traditions of her adopted Gypsy clan. They gave her new life when she was left all alone. And now she is expected to marry in order to forge clan allegiances. When she nurses handsome and charming Lord Declan Forrester back to health, she is lured by the seductive idea of life outside of the clan—and the prospect of love with the Irishman.

Can he prove his innocence in order to claim his Gypsy?
Lord Declan Forrester trades prison bars for a loveless marriage in order to save his soul. And now he’s trying to prove his innocence not only as a traitor, but that of his wife’s murder.  When the lovely and beguiling Martine saves him, he falls in love for the first time. Yet, the obstacles of his past seem insurmountable.

Martine and Declan must fight tradition, prejudice and the haunting ghosts of their past in order to fight for their love and ensure their future.


EXCERPT

A rider urged his horse forward. He wore a leather doublet of a quality she’d never seen. The black hide was pierced with metal and thick stitching formed elaborate Celtic designs. Regal and rich. His breeches hugged his thighs so closely ’twas indecent, but that didn’t stop her gaze from venturing along the hard expanse of his legs. Heat crept up her neck and flushed her face like a flame.

He tipped his head in her brother’s direction. Martine gasped.

The stranger from the glen.

“We’ve business,” was all he said.

Rafe nodded, but didn’t twitch a muscle. Martine wanted to run from the confrontation, hide in her grandmother’s berth safe from the bewitching blue eyes of the intruder. But her feet stayed rooted to the ground.

Och, this man was handsome. Strong jaw, brilliant eyes, and a broad mouth composed a man so striking. His face was a composite of hard planes of granite that matched the intense glare of his eyes.

The man sighed and his comrades inched closer to his side. They dressed as he did, except their clothing lacked the obvious quality she could see stitched in the leather of his.

“The villagers are concerned with your presence, Gypsy.”

She could feel the tension in the tight line of her brother’s shoulders, taste the anger in the air that hummed about him and the stranger. His jaw clenched and he remained silent.

“I’ve come to ask you to leave. Gypsies bring foul memories to Riverton.” His voice was rough, husky, as he commanded her brother.

Rafe stepped forward. She knew he wished to throttle the tactless man. “We’re Tinkers. Men and women with skills and trade.”

“And itchy fingers if Lady Bannon’s sheep have say of it,” the man behind the stranger spouted. The other men chortled and slapped the man on the back.

The stranger held up his hand and was rewarded with instant silence.

Her brother shrugged, a harmless action unless you were Rafe Petrulengo. “My clan has no need of other people’s sheep.”

Martine took a step forward.

The stranger’s head snapped in her direction.

He leaned forward in his saddle. “You’ll leave my land, or pay the consequences.” His tone brooked no room for argument.

“We’re people of the land, trainers of dogs, and masters of horses.”

Her brother’s words seemed to befuddle the stranger’s friends. They looked to one another, smirks creasing their faces. If only they knew her brother’s genius.

“I’m Lord Declan Forrester, Earl of Riverton,” the stranger pompously said. “This is my land—and you are to leave.”

Rafe bowed deep at the waist, his extended arm almost grazing the dirt before him. “As you wish.”

“Be gone by morning. ’Tis all the time I’ll give you.”

A shiver ran up her spine at the cold gruffness of his voice. He clucked his horse forward, a magnificent animal, well-muscled with a gleaming coat of black.

Martine was so aware of the lord’s presence, her skin tingled. And she knew without looking up that trouble was about to ensue. He stopped the horse before her and just sat. When her gaze met his, the lord nodded his head and gave a mocking salute.

She sighed, not knowing why she was reacting so unlike herself, why she was enthralled with the stranger.

With a nudge to his horse’s side, he was off without a backward glance at her or her brother.

One look at Rafe and she knew he’d witnessed what had transpired. Rage boiled in his dark eyes and tension pulsed his jaw. He tapped a pointy leather boot against the packed earth. The women of the clan weren’t to be appraised by Gajos. Especially a Gajo who’d ordered the Kapo to leave.

No matter, she thought with a smile of satisfaction. Lord Forrester had acknowledged her, and the realization swept through her with unparalleled warmth.



About the Author

Madelyn Hill has always loved the written word. From the time she could read and all through her school years, she'd sneak books into her textbooks during school. And she devoured books daily. At the age of 10 she proclaimed she wanted to be a writer. After being a "closet" writer for several years, she sent her manuscripts out there and is now published with Soul Mate Publishing. And she couldn't be happier! A resident of Western New York, she moved from one Rochester to another Rochester to be with the love of her life. They now have 3 children and keep busy cooking, watching their children's sporting events, and of course reading!

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Purchase Link



Giveaway

3 ebook copies


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