Showing posts with label Virtual Tour. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Virtual Tour. Show all posts

Monday, September 19, 2016

THE CHRISTMAS COOKIE SHOP BY GINNY BAIRD - BOOK BLAST & GIVEAWAY!


The Christmas Cookie Shop
by Ginny Baird
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GENRE: Contemporary Romance
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BLURB
Come home this Christmas to…
CHRISTMAS TOWN, TENNESSEE
Where everyday dreams come true!
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Ginny Baird brings you the start of a brand new holiday series…
THE CHRISTMAS COOKIE SHOP
(Christmas Town, Book 1)
Hannah Winchester is down on her luck and disillusioned with love, but her fortunes are about to change. When Hannah inherits a defunct bakery in East Tennessee, her first thought is to sell it and settle her substantial debt. Then the townsfolk welcome her warmly and she’s taken with the joyful spirit of the place, where stores employ holiday themes and residents have surnames like Christmas and Claus. After a handsome lawman comes to her aid dressed as Santa, Hannah learns he’s more than a hot guy in a red suit and shiny black boots. Sheriff Carter Livingston has joined in the cause of rejuvenating the town, and he’s encouraging her to do her part. Hannah’s great-grandmother, Lena, sold special holiday cookies that brought hope and renewal to the people of Christmas Town. Yet Hannah has plans elsewhere and isn’t looking to stay. Can she possibly reopen the shop known for kindling romance—without sacrificing her heart?

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EXCERPT

He met her eyes. “Hannah…?”
Her chin tilted up toward his. “Yes, Carter?”

“You going to be okay here? I can always call Sandy—”

“No, please. Sandy’s already done enough. So have Lou and Kurt, and…” She ducked her head with a blush. “You, Santa.”

“Kind of funny meeting that way.” When she looked up he was grinning. “Funny, but not bad—by any stretch.”

“No. Not bad at all.”

Hannah noticed his jacket slung over the back of the armchair and that he’d set his hat on the table by the door. Carter lifted the jacket and slipped into it, raising its zipper. “Might want to stick that bowl of stew in the microwave for a minute or two.”

“I’ll do that,” she said brightly.

He ambled toward the door and placed his hat on his head, tapping it down. His deep voice rumbled. “Kurt’s a good-looking guy.”

“Kurt?” Hannah asked, flummoxed.

“Eligible bachelor too.”

“Can’t say I noticed.”

“No? I thought I heard the two of you talking from the kitchen—”

“Sheriff.” She stopped him. “I’m not interested in any man right now, okay? And if I
were…” Hannah swallowed hard past the lump in her throat.

“If you were…?” he said, leading.

Hannah’s heart hammered and her knees felt weak. “I told you, I’m just passing through.”

“Odd thing about that, Hannah.” He tipped his hat her way. “Nobody in town seems to know that, but me.”

Then he stepped out the door, shutting it soundly behind him.

Copyright © 2016 Ginny Baird



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AUTHOR Bio and Links
Romance writer Ginny Baird has published novels in print and online and received screenplay options from Hollywood for her family and romantic comedy scripts. Whether writing lighthearted romantic comedy or spine-tingling romantic suspense, she delights in delivering heartwarming stories.
She is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, a Top 10 Best Seller on Kindle, NOOK and iBooks, and a #1 Best Seller in several Romance and Women's Fiction categories. When she's not writing, Ginny enjoys cooking, biking and spending time with her family in Virginia. Ginny loves hearing from her readers! She invites you to visit her website and connect with her on social media. http://www.ginnybairdromance.com/



AUTHOR FOLLOW LINKS

WEBSITE / BLOG – www.ginnybairdromance.com


BUY & TBR LINKS

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Amazon CA

Amazon AU

Barnes & Noble NOOK

Apple iBooks

Kobo

Goodreads



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GIVEAWAY
Ginny will be awarding The Complete Holiday Brides Collection (Books 1 - 5) to five randomly drawn winners via rafflecopter during the tour.





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Friday, February 19, 2016

APOCALYPSE WOW BY BEN MARINER - VIRTUAL & REVIEW TOUR + GIVEAWAY


Apocalypse Wow
by Ben Mariner
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GENRE: Science Fiction/Humor
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BLURB:


Jack Winters is in a bit of a pickle. Things started out just fine. He had a decent job and a few friends. Then he met the woman of his dreams. They go out on a date and things go really well. That’s when things go south. The morning after turns out to be a week later and the world went ahead and ended itself while Jack was far away in dreamland. Now he’s awake in a post-apocalyptic world with no family, no job, and worst of all, no girlfriend. Along with his friends and some other random tag-alongs, Jack will journey cross country to find the woman of his dreams against zombies, heavy metal horsemen, pirates, and a power so immense and evil it will put his very soul to the test.




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EXCERPT
7:51 a.m.
My alarm went off at the same time it always did. It prattled out its god awful incessant whine like it’s prone to doing as if I actually cared about its existence. I reached a hand out from under the blanket and slapped the snooze button with a little more gusto than I probably should have. Maybe it’s just me, but putting a little extra mustard on that snooze button in the morning gives me a feeling of satisfaction, like it’ll think twice about bothering me again if I just smack it hard enough.
I rolled over and went back to sleep.
8:00 a.m.
The alarm blared back into life. Who decided nine minutes was the standard amount of time for the snooze feature on an alarm clock? Was there some kind of study done at some point that found that people only needed nine minutes of extra sleep at a time? Personally I would think fifteen or twenty minutes would be more appropriate. Again, maybe it’s just me. I pushed the blanket back and lurched onto my feet. The room was spinning ever so slightly. That had to do a little with standing up too fast, and a lot to do with being hung over. I clicked the snooze button on the alarm with the big toe on my right foot. Everything in my room was on the floor. I didn’t own a traditional bed. It was just a futon mattress lying on the floor, so everything had to be at ground level so I could easily reach it. I was trying to adopt a Japanese style of living.

All right, fine. I just couldn’t afford real furniture. Are you happy now that you got me to admit that?
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MY REVIEW

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
*3.5 Stars*
With this book I found myself in a crossroad.
Apocalypse Wow is hilarious, with funny situations, witty dialogues, smart references, an awesome soundtrack and an original plot, but somehow, all that became fuzzy towards the end, I lost the storyline several times and it was a bit rushed.
Overall, I laughed at loud, really enjoyed the 90's references and our main characters were delightful!!
This book is the perfect read for a boring day, it will cheer up your day!
P.S. You must listen to the songs of each chapter while you're reading.

*I received a Free Copy in exchange for an Honest Review*


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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Ben Mariner is the author of Apocalypse Wow as well as The Many Lives of Zane Montgomery, which definitely sold some copies to some people. He currently lives in Denver with his wife and animals. He enjoys mozzarella sticks, dunk tanks at carnivals, and solving crime with his psychic powers and best friend/sidekick.
Amazon listing:

Twitter:
Facebook:
Blog:


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GIVEAWAY
Ben Mariner will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner

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Tuesday, February 9, 2016

A SEPARATE HEAVEN BY ALEX DISANTI - VIRTUAL TOUR & INTERVIEW + GIVEAWAY


A Separate Heaven
by Alex Disanti
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GENRE: Fiction/Romance
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BLURB:


Step into a world of riveting drama.  Enter A Separate Heaven, a story comprised of power, wealth, and romance, multifaceted characters, and complex relationships.  A novel by Alex Disanti.  From Long Island to the shores of the Mediterranean, this exciting series spanning twenty five years in the lives of the Gianelli and Hamilton families will hold you spellbound.



Other Books on A Separate Heaven Series
Book #2
Book#3






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EXCERPT

Excerpt one from Book One

Around 1:00 A.M. Paige found she couldn’t sleep.  As quietly as possible she eased herself from the bed and walked out onto the balcony.  The weather was still nice.   The breeze from the water was cool and she could see the waves crashing against the sandy beaches.  Below her, the pool looked inviting. His soft snoring assured her Dominic was sleeping soundly.  Hesitating only a moment, she tiptoed into the bathroom, wrapped herself in a big towel, and made her way down the stairs and outside to the pool.

She dropped the towel and slipped into the warm water that felt like silk on her naked body.  Leisurely, she swam back and forth, again and again.  This was heaven.  It was all heaven.    She lay on her back, floating, her eyes closed, replaying in her mind the wedding and all that had happened since.

Finally, she began to tire and, feeling she could sleep again, made one last lap underwater, crawling along the bottom of the pool.  As she entered the shallow end, her hands reached for the tiled rim as she emerged, breaking the surface of the water.  


Suddenly, something like a steel vise gripped her wrists, jerking her upward, and she was momentarily airborne.  Her feet slammed against the concrete, jarring her from head to toe.  Now Dominic had her by her shoulders and was shaking her.  She knew he was saying something, but she could hear only the roaring in her head.  Not six feet from them stood two men with guns.  Behind them on the massive walls that surrounded the villa were several more.


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1. What inspired you to write A Separate Heaven?
A Separate Heaven developed daily over a period of months as I was walking. The scenario played out daily in my mind, the characters, all the main points and events. I thought about it for several months before I decided to write it down. I do not use outlines.

2. When or at what age did you know you wanted to be a writer?
I was around eight or nine years of age when I began writing short stories and poetry, but A Separate Heaven is my first publication.

3. What is the earliest age you remember reading your first book?
I have always treasured books. My father taught me to read when I was four years old.

4. What genre of books do you enjoy reading?
I enjoy novels, mysteries, romance with an edge.

5. What is your favorite book?
I’m sure I could name my favorite 100, but as one of those...To Kill a Mockingbird.

6. You know I think we all have a favorite author. Who is your favorite author and why?
Again, so hard to select just one because I have many but Karen Blixen (Out of Africa) is always in the top ten. Such a wordsmith.  When you can read a book (be it a memoir or a work of fiction) and you can feel as if you know the characters, when you become empathetic to what they are doing, what they are experiencing, you can’t beat that. When a book comes alive for you that is what makes a great read.

7. If you could travel back in time here on earth to any place or time. Where would you go and why?
Talk about someone who is a fan of the present, I would not want to go back any further than the sixties!

8. When writing a book do you find that writing comes easy for you or is it a difficult task?
It comes easily, I think because I really enjoy character creation and development.

9. Do you have any little fuzzy friends? Like a dog or a cat? Or any pets?
Presently I have no pets, but I am definitely an animal lover.
10. What is your "to die for", favorite food/foods to eat?
Chips and salsa!

11. Do you have any advice for anyone that would like to be an author?


Trust your instincts. Write what you love.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Alex Disanti lives in the Texas Hill Country.  While writing has been a lifelong love for her, A Separate Heaven is her first novel.  Early works were mainly poetry and short stories.  As A Separate Heaven progressed from thought to paper, friends and family began reading the manuscript.  Then, in an effort to test the marketability of the material, she enlisted the aid of what she calls her “test readers.”  These readers vary in age, occupation and background.  It simply grew from there.  Alex’s rich detail brought the characters to life, and the ensuing chapters could not come quickly enough for her readers.

Twitter:        https://twitter.com/AlexDisanti   
Website/Blog   http://alexdisanti.com

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GIVEAWAY
Alex Disanti will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner

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Friday, February 5, 2016

HORIZON BY TABITHA LORD - VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR + GIVEAVAY



Horizon
by Tabitha Lord
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GENRE: Science Fiction/Fantasy
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BLURB:
Caeli Crys isn’t living—she’s surviving. On the run after the genocide of her empathic people, she witnesses a spaceship crash near her hidden camp. When she feels the injured pilot suffering from miles away, she can’t help but risk discovery to save his life.
Commander Derek Markham awakens stranded on an uncharted planet. His co-pilot is dead, his ship is in ruins, and he’s only alive because a beautiful young woman is healing him with her mind.
As Derek recovers, Caeli shares the horror of her past and her fear for the future. When Derek’s command ship, Horizon, sends rescue, Derek convinces Caeli to leave with him. But his world is as treacherous as hers—full of spies, interplanetary terrorist plots, and political intrigue. Soon the Horizon team is racing to defend an outlying planet from a deadly enemy, and Caeli’s unique skills may just give them the edge they need to save it.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT
She sat on the floor in a corner of the cell. The only contents of the frigid room were a cot with a threadbare blanket and a bucket, which she assumed was to be used if she needed to relieve herself. The blood spatter had dried to a crusty mess on her clothing and face, and was matted into her hair.


They’d left her alone and she had lost all sense of time, but she knew they would be coming for her. Marcus wanted the information in her head. She was a liability to the whole group now, not only for what she knew, but also for how she could be used. She understood that she would have a limit. She would protect the resistance with her life, but Marcus was creative. If he put his gun to the head of a child, what would she do? Her mind raced with unspeakable possibilities. She had to get away.
When she heard the door begin to open sometime later, she already had a plan. A single soldier entered the cell carrying water and food. She lay unmoving on the concrete floor and didn’t respond when he called to her. She heard him swear under his breath and put the tray down to approach her. When he knelt beside her and put his hand out, presumably to check her pulse, she grabbed his wrist. Startled, he tried to pull back, but she had already pushed her consciousness into his.


His eyes widened with surprise and then fear as she used her mind to constrict the blood vessels traveling to his brain until he was unconscious. She dragged him into one corner of the cell, took his weapon, and after checking the hallway, closed the cell door behind her. The corridor was dimly lit. It was quiet and empty as she quickly made her way to the lift. Her heart pounded in her chest as the machine rose steadily and finally came to a stop aboveground.
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Do the characters all come to you at the same time or do some of them come to you as you write?

The Voices In My Head…
Creating characters is such fun! Sometimes a character will appear in my mind, complete with a personality, career, and name, without having a story yet. When this happens, I’ll file them away and tell them to wait their turn!
With Horizon, before I began writing, I had two ideas swirling around. The first was a simple character sketch of Caeli, who became the female protagonist in the book. When I met her (in my head) she was alone and on the run, but I hadn’t quite worked out the where or why yet.
At the same time, I was playing with the idea of what would happen if one segment of an already small isolated population evolved differently (either naturally or by design) from the other. What if some had gifts that enabled them to imagine a different kind of future for themselves and their world? What if they were empathic and could sense each other’s emotions and thoughts? What if some of them could heal with their mind? How would the unchanged people feel about their neighbors?
When I merged Caeli into this plot, the outline for Horizon began to develop.
Then, of course, I needed a dashing male protagonist! Derek’s character was actually more fun to write. He’s a pilot, a spy, and a soldier (basically, an all around bad ass!), so he tended to have more of the action scenes which I really enjoy creating. But a few of my early readers didn’t like him at all, and I had to figure out what they were seeing in him that I wasn’t. I realized when I started the story, I imagined Derek about ten years younger. Once the plot got moving, he needed to make decisions and have a certain authority in his own world that required him to be older and have more experience. The character I had written was still too arrogant and immature to be the hero I needed him to be, and I think this is what my readers recognized. So I did a major edit of his scenes, attempting to keep the essence of his character, but giving him more depth and maturity.
Some of the supporting cast for Horizon emerged as the story developed. Once the plot demanded a new character, I spent time giving them a backstory and personality, even if they only had a small role. It’s important to have that kind of depth or these characters can feel hollow. If I were to pluck any of them out of the main plot and feature them in their own, I think they should be interesting enough to carry their own story. One of my favorite minor characters in Horizon is Andreas (readers meet him in the second half of the book). Although he only appears in two or three scenes, I think his personality and charisma shine through, and readers seem to like him.

Creating characters that people connect with is one of the pleasures of writing. I think it’s also what keeps readers invested in the story. I hope my readers care enough about Caeli and Derek to keep the pages turning!

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Tabitha currently lives in Rhode Island, a few towns away from where she grew up. She is married, has four great kids, a spoiled Ragdoll cat, and lovable black lab. The house is noisy and the dinner table full! She holds a degree in Classics from College of the Holy Cross and taught Latin for years at a small, independent Waldorf school. She also worked in the admissions office there before turning her attention to full-time writing.
You can visit her blog at www.tabithalordauthor.com where she posts author interviews, hosts guest bloggers, and discusses some favorite topics including parenting and her writing journey. Horizon is her first novel.
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/tlordauthor.







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GIVEAWAY
Tabitha Lord will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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