BTS Book Reviews August 2013 by BTSemag

CONTENTS

| BTS Book Reviews | August 2013 |

CONTEMPORARY & HISTORICAL

Featuring: Amanda McIntyre Meg Lacey Misty Dietz Michelle Smart

Book Reviews

EROTIC

Featuring: J. Kenner

Book Reviews

SCI FI & FANTASY

Featuring: Jean Johnson Jay Swanson

Book Reviews

PARANORMAL & SUSPENSE Featuring: Susannah Scott

Book Reviews

YOUNG & NEW ADULT

Rebecca Heflin Char Chaffin Cheryl Yeko Soul Mate Publishing Authors 4 | www.BTSeMag.com

Featuring: Khelsey Jackson

Book Reviews

Blog Beat 112 Helpful Blogs for Writers

COLUMNS

SHORT STORIES & SERIALS

The Lowdown with Laurie 8 Upcoming or New Author Help

Finding Phineas

Chic Trends in Romance 38 A Romantic Book-cation

James Patrick Riser

The Heat Diva 44 Hot In The Now The Scrying Eye 93 Shattering Suggestions Lynn’s Writing Tips 102 Are You a Pantser, a Plotter, or a Hybrid -Part 1 Tech Savvy Writer 104 List Building for Authors

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The varying degrees of reds and oranges began to slowly disappear behind the horizon as the sun prepared to set. Birds glided from tree to tree; their bodies whispered through leaves as they landed on branches. The air seemed to swell with their high-pitched chirping, a frantic language that complemented the soft sounds of nocturnal insects getting ready to play their music. The green hills rolled on for a few miles before plummeting into a city blanketed by smog. Every so often a bird emerged from the gray clouds and joined the small group that circled over the hills. When the night finally falls, they’ll be hidden away in the trees, resting in their nests....

Second Chance Cinema 108 Classics Go Contemporary Karen’s Writing Detours 110 Screenwriting: Would You Hesitate?

FEATURE ARTICLES

59 New Adult? What is it and is it here to stay by Anna Bloom

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From the Desk of

Myra Nour BTS CEO

Changes in the magazine starting in September: The magazine has continued to expand. On the one hand, this is a good thing because it gives viewers more to read. On the other, it doesn’t give us the room we need to put more reviews and ads. So starting in September 2013 we are moving the following columns to the website: Lynn’s Writing Tips, Tech Savvy Writer, Marketing & Promotion with Mary Manners, Second Chance Cinema and Karen’s Writing Detours. It is our hope that this will allow us to expand the magazine for our readers and provide writers with valuable resources on our website. Ad Price Increase: As of September, the ad rates have increased slightly to: $50 for full pg ad $30 for ½ pg ad $15 for ¼ pg ad Any premium ad requires an additional $20 design fee. Ad Discounts: If you purchase 6 months or a year of ads, you will receive a 10%, discount which includes authors, publishers, or author groups. New Feature for Publishers and Author Groups: We are full to the end of the year with featured author spots. It is very difficult to get a feature, so we decided to open an opportunity for authors and publishers to be featured without the long wait. Frankly, there is not enough space for all the authors who want to be featured in our magazine. BTS is now offering feature spots for purchase. This area is three pages, to include features for authors with excerpts or interviews. Think of it like three feature pages but grouped together. Publishers can purchase and showcase their authors, or a group of authors can buy these spots. Price is $210 for the feature area. Publishers contact Myra@btsemag.com for special discount. There will only be two feature group spots each issue; first come, first serve. There is only one feature spot left for Feb 2014 through July 2014. Big Splash Ad Spot: If you want something more extraordinary than a full-page ad, we now offer the Big Splash Ad. This is two custom pages. See pages 75 & 76 in the July issue as an example. This is a great way to announce a new book or series.

BTS

Book Reviews Book & Trailer Showcase

Executive Coordinator Myra Nour Executive Designer Dawn Seewer Designer/Scheduler Christina Wilhelm Designer/ Review Team Assistant Nikki McCarver Designer Mike Milliken Editor Sheri Kraft Associate Editor Kellyann Zuzulo Review Coordinator Annette Stone Promotions Coordinator/ Review Team Assistant Grinelda Markowitz Author Liaison Leslie Ferdinand

REVIEWERS: Annette Stone, Nikki McCarver, Grinelda Markowitz, Angelique Elgelbrecht, Drue DePompei-Hoffman, Francine Alli, Leslie Ferdinand, Lynda K. Frazier, Marie Haney, Kimberly Klemm, Niina Cord, Rachel Flash, Rhonda Dennis, Stephanie Phillips, Susan Frances, Michele Biring-Pani, Sally Manson, Krissy Malott, Shelly Schulz, Desiree Reilly, Nila Bi, Shan McKinney, Shelly Hammond, Beckey White, Iris Montalvo Pross, Patricia Costa Melo, Gypsie Holley, Anita Rivers, Cassandra Graham, Tim Davis, Gayle Pace, Abbie Foxton, Nicky Peacock, Michelle Willms, Dianne Solberg, Julie L Canfield, Michele Page, Nicole McManus COLUMNISTS: Karen Albright, Sandra Bunino, Lynn Crain, Christy English, Laurie Garrison, Claire Gillian, Karen M. Gross, Kelly Hudson, Mary Manners, Nicole Morgan WEBSITE: BTSeMag.com EMAIL: info@BTSeMag.com Find us on Facebook: facebook.com/BtsBookReviews No material in this magazine can be used or copied without BTS or the author’s permission. © Copyright 2013. BTSeMag, BTS Book Reviews, All Rights Reserved. By submitting material to BTS Book Reviews or its affiliates, authors certify they own the rights to all published information.

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The Lowdown with Laurie Laurie Garrison

Upcoming or New AUTHOR Help All new authors are excited when they get their first book published. They want the world to know they have arrived, but there are right ways and wrong ways to go about doing this. Most new authors want to contact well-known authors and get them to read or review their book. I’ll tell you this up front: That will flat get you nowhere. Even as a book blogger, I don’t go to the authors asking for ARCs (Advanced Reader Copies). It’s just not done. It’s a total no-no. Now if that author comes to you, then of course, that is a different story. So how do you get your books out there? Start a blog even if you’re not published yet. Then find bloggers that read your genre and follow them. You can place some excerpts or teasers on your blog as your writing process goes along. Join giveaway hops to draw readers in. Basically establish yourself as you’re writing. You can even do some guest posts for authors. You can always add a website after you’re published and attach your blog to the site.

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Join social sites like Goodreads, Facebook, Shelfari, etc., and start establishing yourself there. Gain friends that read your genre. If you’re already a published author, then make sure you are on social places like Goodreads and Shelfari. Also make sure you have an author page on sites like Amazon, Smashwords, and All Romance Ebooks, etc. Lots of bloggers take out ads. Some authors suggest this and some don’t, but for a new author, I would recommend that you place ads with bloggers or any other site that offers ads for authors. Why? Because it gets your name noticed, and once people see it, they will check it out. You won’t see a windfall in money, but what you want is to get your name out there. Just make sure the ads are affordable and that they cater to your genre. In other words, don’t place a historical book on a paranormal blog even if it is romance. Also make sure the blogger is established and reliable. Goodreads also offers ads under their Author Program. I have no idea what the charge is, but it’s worth looking into. You can also promote your book on Goodreads by

giving away one or two for free for an honest review. Once you get published, go back to the bloggers you were following and ask for a review. Just make sure you follow their guidelines. Now this is the tough part. You spent hours and money writing your book and once you hand over your book to that blogger, make sure you have some tough skin. They, or any reader for that matter, may not like it. I’ve seen some downright hateful reviews out there. So it will be hard to handle, but this is why I said to follow the bloggers first, so you can find out how they review. Do they bash authors or do they give an honest review even if they don’t like it? Also remember even if it’s a bad review, it will get noticed. I myself have bought books others hated and I loved them, so again make your skin tough even if you have to stay away once you ask for a review.

Some bloggers offer cover reveals and book trailer reveals. And it’s never too late to hit them up for spotlights. Just make sure you get your stuff to them on time. There are also bloggers just for cover reveals. So make sure you ask around. There are also groups on Facebook that offer help for authors. I got several of them started and they are doing well.

Now back to Goodreads. There are a lot of readers and reviewers out there that don’t have websites, but they do reviews and have tons of friends on Goodreads. So if you are friends with them, then by all means see if they will review a book. Goodreads also offers groups and you can find reviewers in those groups too. You can also find some reviewers on Amazon. Book tour hosting is another way to promote. They charge anywhere from $100–$200. If you join a tour host, my suggestion is make sure they only hand your books over to book bloggers that will read your genre. As a book blogger, I have them hitting me with all kinds of genres that are not our cup of tea. The reason is if they hand an erotic book over to a YA blogger, odds are they won’t be able to deliver a good review for you. Just set some rules that the tour host has to go by, and if that host doesn’t want to abide by them, then find another tour host. Also I want to say, be careful out there. Book tour hosts are popping up every day, most have no clue how to run them right. So if at any time you see an author’s quote on the tour host site, by all means ask that author to make sure the tour host is legit, before you join them. You can always ask a blogger for a suggestion.

Last, think about joining conventions that host book signings, and ask your local bookstores if they offer book signings.

Hello, my name is Laurie. I’m a mom that found the love for reading again late in life. I opened a book review blog a few years back and have been nonstop since. My review blog has led me to do different things in the writing world, such as the opening of the Indie Romance Convention and this column. I live in Tennessee with my hubby, daughter, and lots of fur babies. bittenbyparanormalromance.com August 2013 | 9

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NEW ADULT?

What Is It and Is It Here to Stay? By Anna Bloom

If I had to be honest, I did not know I had written a New Adult novel until after the fact. It was not something that I intentionally set out to do. It only became clear to me during the nightmare period that happens after you finish writing and editing your novel (otherwise known as the submission process) that I had written a manuscript that, at the time, did not fit clearly into one genre or another (insert a blooper sound of your own choice here). A year ago no one really knew what New Adult was. There was a whole lot of talk about it, the fact that it was a fad and was never going to last; that publishers were never going to consider picking up New Adult literature due to the simple fact that there was no designated shelf space in traditional bookshops. There simply were too many genres now to handle. Gone were the simple days of childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s books and adult books. Young Adult had already blown the stereotypical concept of age-specific

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| New Adult? | literature out of the water. There was a general feeling of fear that this could happen and that everything would be redefined again. I remember vividly a moment I had when looking into which agents and publishers to submit to. It looked like all doors were going to be closed, well closed to me specifically, if I did not perform a major rewrite and character change. I sat at my laptop with my head on the top of the desk, and I cursed the day I ever started to write my book. I cursed the fact that I had spent so much of my time and my familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time, let alone money, on it. More than anything, I hated the fact that I had written about a twenty-five-year-old girl who drank too much, smoked too much, and decided to go to University to do lots of crazy and naughty things. I spent a few days in despair before I picked up my manuscript again and started rereading it from the beginning. As I got to the end, through the ups and downs, the laughs and the sad bits, I realized one thing: I would never ever change that story. So I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t, and neither did many other authors out there,

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and here we all are a year later, and New Adult is still here, and there are reviewers and bloggers out there going crazy for it. There are readers clambering after the next big read, much like a few years ago everyone was doing that for Young Adult. So what happened? What stopped the doom and gloom prophecies of the genre never taking off? The reader did, of course. Where there is a demand, there will always be a supply. Or is that the other way around? I can never remember. Somewhere out there, there is a wide, broad readership all looking for the same thing and all with money to burn, and here is the clear difference: these readers all have money. They have earned it themselves, every damn penny of it, in their new jobs or with their new student loans, and do you know what? They know what they want, and they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t care if there is a shelf for it at the bookshop or not. Why would they care? They all have Kindles anyway.

They want the real stuff. They don’t want to read about wishy-washy teenage heroines who “um” and “ah” their way through a novel. They want strong female protagonists, women who can experience things at the same time they are. They want to get drunk on campus and read about someone doing something similar the next day. They want to do something outrageously embarrassing in front of the hot guy in the office and know that there is a good chance that they will meet a friend in a book who will put their mind at ease that yes, this does in fact happen to people, a lot. Before, the book market could provide you with teenage angst, the should I or shouldn’t I snog him dilemma; heaven forbid that anyone has sex, because we all know teenagers don’t do that, right! But then as a reader, you were left high and dry until you were nearing thirty and trying to find Mr. Right, who may or may not exist depending on who you read. So what happens to the twenties? Do we just skip them? Are the middle years from adolescence until marriage not worth noting? Of course they are. They are the best years—the being stuck in a lecture hall and desperate to put your hand up because you know the answer but being far too shy to actually do it. The lesson in negotiating your way up the office stairs in a tight skirt while the hot guy from IT walks behind you, so he does not notice how large your posterior is. The age-old lesson in perfecting the art of not looking hungover when you really want to die, and more important than all of these, the painful lesson that none of the other books really used to explain, that as you grow up you love people and then you lose them. That life has a perpetual motion and all the things that were before will not always remain. You will not marry the guy who took you to prom. You will not marry the first man that tells you he loves you because life does not work like that. New Adult, for the first time, provides a reality check for the maturing adult, something more than childhood crushes never meant to last but before marriage, messy babies, and divorce.

How can it not? The money-spending public are going to demand it as they seek constant reconfirmation of their lives in the pages of books. All the New Adults in our society are going to drive it as they search for books that don’t make them feel too grown up or boring but sanction the lives they are living and all the new experiences they are having. Books become our friends and safety blankets that we go to for comfort. New Adult literature may just be the way we hang onto an entire generation of readers that would otherwise be lost to us while they wait for all the grown-up stuff to happen. I, for one, am all for that.

Anna Bloom is a contemporary romance writer who writes about life as it happens. Combining a busy schedule of looking after two small children while still working in a local school and completing The Uni Files series, she also spends a lot of time imagining kissing hot guys—all in the name of her art. http://annabloomwrites.com

So is New Adult going to last?

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AUTHOR SHOWCASE

COVER feature

REBECCA HEFLIN CHAR CHAFFIN CHERYL YEKO

Soul Mate Publishing Authors

| Cover Feature | Hi everybody! Char Chaffin, Rebecca Heflin and Cheryl Yeko reporting for interview duty here at BTS Book Reviews. First of all, thanks to Myra for asking us to gang up on each other for August’s magazine. ::grin:: The three of us are currently multi-published with Soul Mate Publishing, and in addition Cheryl and Char are also Editors for Soul Mate. We talked about how we’d conduct this three-way interview, and decided it might be fun to jump into a live chat room and have at each other with interview questions and such. It was definitely fun, and a great way for us to interact and share info. Since Rebecca is a take-charge kind of gal, she started us off! Rebecca: Ladies, let’s talk about our current works-inprogress. Cheryl: I’m working on a Novella, almost finished. I want to self-pub it for promotional purposes. I’ve spent the last two days building a trailer for it . . . kinda cool. It’s called Mountain Hero. Here’s a quick blurb: Finding her fiancé cheating with her best friend was bad enough, but when Michelle heads up the Rocky Mountains for a little R & R, it goes from bad to worse when her car breaks down during a major snowstorm. When she’s accosted by two men along a deserted stretch of highway, Jason rescues her. But can he keep her safe when they’re left stranded during a harsh winter storm? Sometimes, one finds their Soul Mate in the most unexpected places. Rebecca: I like it already. Char: Sounds great! Rebecca: Okay, Char. How about you? Char: I have two in the works but the one I will no doubt finish first is a vintage romance tentatively called Jesse’s Girl. The short blurb: In 1966, local bad-boy Tim O’Malley returns to his home town of Skitter Lake, Ohio, to clear his name and get the girl: Dorothy Whitaker, the love of his life since eighth grade. Blamed and then run out of town his senior year of high school for a destructive fire he didn’t set, only Tim and Dorothy know the truth; that Jesse Prescott, Tim’s best friend and Dorothy’s boyfriend, did the deed that changed an entire town. But Jesse died in that tragedy and eight years later, Skitter Lake still honors him as a hero,

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rather than Tim, the boy from the seedy side of town whose father was a drunk . . . and whose quick actions saved six people from perishing in that horrendous fire. In trying to set the record straight and finally claim Dorothy as his own, Tim—and Dorothy, too—will discover that in some small towns the legend often outweighs the truth . . . and their family and friends will forever see Dorothy as “Jesse’s girl.” Cheryl: Sounds good! Rebecca: Does it follow the song at all? ::grin:: Char: Nope, just a coincidence! Plus I am thinking of changing the title, anyway. Cheryl: What about you, Rebecca? Rebecca: I’ve just finished my third novel, book one of a three book series. Char: Tell us about the series. Rebecca: It’s the “Dreams Come True” Trilogy. In Dreams of Perfection, best-selling romance author, Darcy Butler, is holding out for perfection in the form of her own carefully-crafted heroes. But when her latest hero, Blake Garrett, comes to life, will she find perfection isn’t always perfect? Char: Ooo! I’m liking it! Cheryl: That sounds cool, is it a paranormal of sorts? Rebecca: No, a contemporary romance, but with an element of fantasy, all centered around dreams. Three friends pursue their dreams in the Big Apple, but the dreams they pursue may not be the dreams that come true. The other two books in the series are Ship of Dreams (Book #2) – Advertising diva, Laura Armstrong, meets her match in Nathan Maxwell when he turns out to be her biggest obstacle to bagging a major account and a corner office. Will Nathan sink her ship of dreams before it ever leaves port, or will the way to love be smooth sailing? And Dreams of Her Own (Book #3) – Straitlaced personal assistant, Millicent Stephens’ only experience with love comes from books. When she meets Ian Brand she promptly dismisses him as an ill-mannered bad boy. Will she come to see past his rough-edged façade and realize he’s the only man who understands she has dreams of her own?

Char: Liking this, Rebecca! I wish I could do a series, but I never seem to write anything but singles. Rebecca: Funny, I said I would never write a series, and yet here I am writing one. Char: Let’s talk genre since we’ve already touched a bit on it. What genre do you usually write? Cheryl? Cheryl: Usually contemporary or romantic suspense, and of course series. My debut novel, Protecting Rose, was actually the first book in a series of three: Protecting Rose, A Man to Trust, then Shielding Her Heart which is awaiting its release date. Rebecca, what about you? Rebecca: So far I’ve written women’s fiction (The Promise of Change) and contemporary romance (Rescuing Lacey). My WIP (Dreams of Perfection) is contemporary romance series with an element of fantasy. Who knows what genre I’ll try next? I like exploring the possibilities. Char, your turn! Char: I’ve stuck with contemporary romance for the most part. Promises to Keep has family drama elements added in, and Unsafe Haven is romantic suspense as well as contemporary. I’m calling my WIP, Jesse’s Girl, ‘vintage romance’ because it falls between historical and contemporary. Maybe I’ll start a whole new genre! Cheryl: New question: what inspired you to write your first novel? Char?

Char: My hubby did. I was writing short stories just for fun and he nagged me into writing a real novel, which ended up being my debut novel, Promises to Keep. Cheryl: Nice! Rebecca: Sometimes nagging is sweet. Did you ever publish any of your short stories? Char: Nope. Only a few poems. But my hubby is definitely the force behind me getting published. I never took my writing seriously and nobody in my family did, either, but my hubby took me seriously right from the first. Cheryl: How about you, Rebecca? What got you started? Rebecca: I’d always dreamed of writing, but never had the courage until I had a bit of a mid-life crisis. A trip to Oxford, England gave me the idea for my first novel, The Promise of Change. Char: Very cool, Rebecca! What fun, traveling abroad. Lucky you! Rebecca: How about you, Cheryl? Cheryl: I wrote on a whim. My husband bought me a Kindle and I started reading romance novels and fell in love with them, and decided to write one. I didn’t have a clue what I was doing, and no one took me seriously. Until I got published, that is. When I won an award for my first novel, Protecting Rose, my family took notice. I loved it. Char: Amazing, winning an award on your first novel, Cheryl: Bet your family takes you seriously, now. Rebecca: Ladies, what author’s work inspires your writing most? Char: For me, Nora Roberts inspired me the most. Her heroes are wonderful. She really knows how to write men both romantically and realistically. Cheryl: Oh, I love J.R. Ward. Hot, hot alpha men! Rebecca: My good friend is hooked on J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger series. But I’m also more of a Nora fan.

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I’m reading her right now. And Nora’s men are wonderful. I love her characters—I’d love to just hang out with them. Char: Do you ladies write to the market? Rebecca: Nope, otherwise I’d write paranormal urban fantasies. ;) Cheryl, do you?

Cheryl: I’ve done them as well, and seen my Facebook count go up, but not sure it’s translated to sales. Char: Do you both blog? Rebecca: Yes, I blog once a week. Cheryl: I try to do it, but it’s hard sometimes to fit it in.

Cheryl: No, I wouldn’t do that. I need to feel what I’m writing.

Char: I’m not blogging right now but I need to. It’s hard to find the time and the subject matter.

Char: Agreed, otherwise I’d be writing Scots historicals with Jimmy on the cover. :) Actually, that sounds pretty darned good! But it’s something you just can’t force.

Rebecca: No kidding. I struggle most with subject matter.

Cheryl: I love a great sex scene, so I think I could do erotica. With hot romance. I just wouldn’t tell my family I wrote it. Char: Me, too. I enjoy writing love scenes, so I might do erotica and then brag about it. Then I’d add my maiden name to the book cover just to mortify my family. ::grin:: Rebecca: I love writing them, too. I’d do erotica under a secret pen name, with a secret bank account for the royalties! Cheryl: What do you think has been your best form of marketing? Rebecca: I think Facebook ads have worked best for me. Char: Agreed, Facebook does well for me, too. Rebecca: I can track my rank with the Facebook ads.

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Cheryl: I think if I blog a couple times a month, that’s good. But I’d rather write. I think writing is the best promotion. Char: What do you find holds you back, if anything, from writing? Rebecca: Time is my biggest obstacle. I have a fulltime job, my husband and I run a Foundation, and a busy social calendar. Cheryl: Holds me back? Everything! I would write 24/7 if I could, and I nearly do. But I work, plus edit for Soul Mate and administer the SMP newsletter. Rebecca: I’d quit my day-job tomorrow if I could and write full time. Char: For me, editing for Soul Mate takes a great deal of my time right now, but I love it. I do plan on taking a fast “vacation” from the editing so I can finish Jesse’s Girl. Rebecca: Cheryl, where does your writing inspiration

come from? Cheryl: My inspiration comes from completing my last novel . . . inspires me to write my next. What about you, Char? Char: Inspiration, I never know when it’ll strike. It’s very sporadic for me. Rebecca? Rebecca: Traveling often inspires me. Char: Ever think you might want to try world-building? Cheryl: Yes, my paranormal I’m working on, Warrior Dimensions, also has me working on an entire world. Rebecca: World-building sounds like a daunting task, but it also sounds fun to be all-powerful. Cheryl: It is hard, but I’m taking this one slow. Char: I would love to try building a world one of these days. I know it’s very hard to do. But think of how omnipotent we’d all be! After the world-building chatter, Cheryl’s hubby came home and she had to skedaddle. Probably needed to do a little research for some upcoming, er, scenes. We won’t speculate. Well, maybe just a little! So we said, “See you later,” which for us means we’ll meet up in Atlanta and participate in a fun-filled get-together with other Soul Mate authors and editors at National in July. Can’t wait to meet each other and dispense hugs! Thanks for chatting with Cheryl, Rebecca and Char. And thanks again to Myra and the awesome crew at BTS!

REBECCA HEFLIN Rebecca Heflin has dreamed of writing romantic fiction since she was fifteen and her older sister snuck a copy of Kathleen Woodiwiss’ Shanna to her and told her to read it. When not passionately pursuing her dream, Rebecca is busy with her dayjob as a practicing attorney. www.rebeccaheflin.com

When tough battle-scarred photojournalist-turnedwildlife-photographer Lacey Sommers travels to Costa Rica in a last-ditch effort to save her job, she meets beach-bum-gorgeous Luke Hancock, an outdoor guide, environmentalist and expert on economics and sustainability, who’s been hired by her magazine to serve as her pilot and wilderness guide for the duration of her stay. It’s clear from the outset there is a powerful physical attraction between the two, but strong personalities, pre-conceived notions, an unexpected and contentious family connection, and the scars from a tragic death and a terrifying event threaten to keep them apart. Will Lacey shed the mantle of Kevlar she’s worn for so long and allow Luke inside her heart? Or will her ostensible strength be her downfall?

Buy it now at Amazon 20 | www.BTSeMag.com

CHAR CHAFFIN Char Chaffin writes mainstream and contemporary romance filled with family, rich characters and engaging plots. For her, it all comes back to the love. In addition to writing, Char is also an Acquisitions Editor for Soul Mate Publishing. A displaced Alaskan, Char currently divides her time between helping hubby Don manage their Upstate NY, sixty-acre farm, and visiting family in Fairbanks. char.chaffin.com

For Annie Turner and Travis Quincy, social status doesn’t matter. Like two halves of a whole, they’re only complete when they’re together. And nothing is more important than the vow they make to someday marry. But the rich, privileged boy and the girl from the wrong side of town will find it’s impossible to keep their pledge. Because Travis’s mother, Ruth, has plans for her son and they don’t include a girl like Annie. With cold determination she sets out to destroy their bond. Love is magical at any age … and a promise is forever. Isn’t it?

Buy it now at Amazon August 2013 | 21

CHERYL YEKO

Cheryl Yeko is an award-winning author and lives in Wisconsin with her husband Patrick. She enjoys novels with fast-paced action and steamy romance, protective alpha men and strong heroines. Cheryl is also an Acquisitions Editor for Soul Mate Publishing. As an Editor, she welcomes Romantic Suspense, Paranormal, Sci-Fi, Contemporary, and Erotica. www.cherylyeko.com Kidnapped: Held captive somewhere in the mountains by men intent on blackmail, Casey Gillette soon discovers her only chance to survive is to trust the one man among her captors who seems different from the rest. Undercover Cop: As an undercover cop, Matt Sash had made plenty of tough calls in the field before, but this may be his toughest yet. Only days away from stopping a terrorist attack in Chicago, heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s thrust into the role of protector to the beautiful woman being used as a pawn in the deadly game. With Time Running Out: A desperate race ensues to stop an act of terror and save the woman he loves.

Buy it now at Amazon

CONTEMPORARY & HISTORICAL

the HAPPILY ever AFTER

Featured Authors,

REVIEWS and more

BTS REVIEW RATINGS: 5 Stars awesome book, read it now! 4 Stars a must read 3 Stars really good read 2 Stars this was OK 1 Star hard to finish, flawed

CONTEMPORARY

& HISTORICAL | book reviews |

Creole Hearts Jane Toombs

Historical Romance Heat Rating: 4

Two Creole families at odds with each other as Louisiana prepares for an Americain takeover, with England viewing this as this as their chance to take over the Louisiana Territory. Who will win the Battle of New Orleans? What will happen to Creole customs no matter who takes over? And will Madelaine La Branche from one of the warring families, ever be able to wed her lover Philippe Roulleaux from the other side without her brother Tanguay killing Philippe in a duel? As for Tanguay, will he ever find true love in the midst of the struggle for survival of the Creoles? REVIEW: When historical romances are well researched and the subject matter beloved by the author, you are given an extraordinary story like Creole Hearts. Set in the time of the Louisiana Purchase, the author has taken care to write a very detailed account of the historical incidents, ensuring that the story is both entertaining and accurate.

The Clumsy Girl’s Guide to Falling in Love Karen Wiesner Inspirational Romance Heat Rating: 0

Zoë Rossdale is the clumsy girl who always has her elbows, feet, eyes, and brass-red hair going in the wrong directions. She floats around in her own world, comfortable there alone, only to be jarred back into the real one when her obliviousness gets her in trouble again. After a lifetime of being evaluated critically—first by her own father, and then by everyone around her—and found wanting, she’s trying to change… for her own good. She’s reaffirmed her commitment to Christ and vowed not to do any of the stupid, possibly illegal, things she’d done for years on the pitiful excuse of surviving. After nearly being fired from the only job she could get to keep her from starving and living on the streets, she’s going to school once more and trying to do better for her über-patient boss. And she’s allowed her best friends to talk her into getting contacts, some new clothes, and a more flattering hairstyle. They tell her she looks beautiful, but she feels more like a dodo bird than ever before—until she literally runs into the only man she’s ever gone loopy over.

It follows the lives of a brother and sister as they experience the joys of love found and the sorrows of love lost. Their ups and downs as they struggle to maintain their culture in a new world are written with incredible passion, allowing you to feel every emotion the characters feel, transporting you into their world. It’s a beautiful story that showcases the talents of Jane Toombs perfectly. If historical romance is what you seek, Creole Hearts is exactly what you’re looking for.

REVIEW: Zoe Rossdale is a character who has a lot of trust issues, especially, where men are concerned. She considers herself to be unlovable and a little on the ugly side, which she is not. Her problems with men stems from her father and her ex-boyfriend Curt, who had the audacity to dump her over the phone, for a buxom flake who only knows how to get people to do what she wants them to do.

| Reviewer: Marie Haney |

Curt on the other hand, realized the wrong he committed, and has been trying ever since to right the wrong he’d done, and do whatever it takes to win her back. Zoe slowly forgives him

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and they come up with a marriage pact where they’ll abstain from marital relations until he can prove himself, though Zoe has her doubts that it’ll even work and he’s determined it will and he won’t be the one to crack first. It was a really good and worthwhile book to read and you could relate to Zoe and Curt. The secondary characters that supported Zoe and Curt were terrific and you did dislike the nemeses who was the cause of Zoe’s and Curt’s breakup and she probably understood the message she received from Zoe, a lot better than the message she received from Curt in the past. Fast, fun, and definitely an enjoyable read, highly recommended. | Reviewer: Cassandra Graham |

The Spiritual Man W. Lamar Flatt

generation of humankind, and as they make their way, they encounter one set of dangers and surprises after another. The truth finally hits the two men, and they realize that their journeys are not what they had been led to believe. As these two stories converge, Johnny and the singer face a battle for their very souls. REVIEW: Unbelievably moving, The Spiritual Man starts off with a surreal scene surrounding a group of people heading out to undertake a mission. W. Lamar Flatt writes with two entirely different plots that converges seemlessly in the ending. As the main character, Johnny Masters is a singer with a conflict of interests between spirituality and worldly possessions. Displaying the power of temptation versus noble intentions, this novel brings forth unexpected emotions and gives the reader a new perspective on what being “successful” really is. Undeniably wakeup call of the fleetingness of material things, this is a powerful story of redemption and faith. | Reviewer: Francine Alli |

Spiritual, Inspirational Heat Rating: 2

Rugged Hearts Amanda McIntyre

Contemporary Romance Heat Rating: 3 Johnny Master is a young, handsome country singer-songwriter who leaves his family behind in West Virginia, moves to Nashville, and stakes everything on a career in the music industry. Upon his move to Nashville, he is taken in by a tavern owner, Maude, who believes in him from the moment he walks into her club. Johnny’s career takes off, and as it does, the temptations that so often accompany success in the music industry come with it. Johnny’s life descends into a maelstrom of licentiousness and debauchery. Maude and others try to save him, but is it too late? Johnny cedes control of his career to his ruthless manager Jerry Morales, who cares nothing about his talent as an authentic songwriter and artist. All of Johnny’s prodigious talents are subsumed by the call of commercialism. Meanwhile, an unnamed singer, woman, priest, and scientist emerge from the bowels of the earth to embark on a dreamlike venture in the arctic, ice regions. The singer is their spiritual leader, demonstrating at every turn that he has a heart of gold. He and his group are the prototypes of a new

Rugged, quiet, hardworking, Wyatt takes his position as head of the Kinnison family seriously. But the scars of betrayal by the women to whom he once trusted his heart now prompt his stark, simple game plan, and no one in hell is going to convince him any differently. What matters most, besides the welfare of his brothers, is to manage the ranch left to him and never risk his heart again to something as foolish as love—but after meeting Aimee, Wyatt begins to realize that a man should never say never to a determined second grade teacher. When vivacious, resilient Aimee Worth loses her twin sister in a tragic accident, she makes the choice to live out her sister’s dream of teaching in the small mountain community called End of the Line, Montana, never suspecting she’d meet her Mr. Right in the middle of nowhere—he just doesn’t know it August 2013 | 27

Featured Author

Rugged Hearts

Amanda McIntyre

Available at Amazon for only

$2.99!

Despite the scars that run deep in his heart, hardworking, rugged Wyatt takes seriously his position as head of the Kinnsion family. His focus to take care of the ranch left to him and his brothers and never again allow foolish love to get in the way. But meeting determined Aimee Worth teaches him to never say never. After the loss of her twin sister, Aimee moves to Montana to teach in honor of her sister’s dream, unaware that getting lost on a winter’s night would lead to her Mr. Right—he just doesn’t know it yet. With a tenacious spirit, she shatters the perceptions holding his heart captive, proving that when it comes to love, the greatest risk is not taking one.

An Excerpt: “I’m terribly sorry. I didn’t see—” Her voice stopped, and her mind went blank. It was him, her dark-eyed, scrumptious cowboy. The same guy with the amazing house straight out of Cowboy and Indians magazine. He did sort of look like a Wyatt as she stared at him. Unfortunately, he didn’t seem overjoyed to see her again. Maybe he’d already forgotten their meeting. She knelt down to pick up the apple and found it had rolled against his boot. Are those size thirteens? She shook her head, hurriedly fished out one of her apples, and traded him for the one now bruised. “Sorry. Here, W—why don’t you take me…mine…this one?” Her eyes widened with the realization she’d nearly called him by name. She didn’t want him to think she’d been asking around about him. Then again, wouldn’t this be a perfect time to exchange proper introductions? He tipped his head as he pulled out a few bills from his wallet and the Stetson he wore made it impossible to see his expression. Mesmerized by the breadth of his shoulders in that coat, she opened her mouth to ask if he remembered her, but in the next instant he was exiting the store, his coat fanning out around his legs. It dawned on her he hadn’t spoken a word to her. Not even so much as a how do you do! “Good luck, darlin’, if you think can melt that heart.” Denise eyed Aimee with an arched brow. “What a strange guy. What’s his story?” Her attention was focused on watching him pause to drop off his bag in the truck, before heading to the meat market next door. His beautiful golden retriever sat dutifully in the cab, content to watch the hustle and bustle around her. Maybe it’d been longer than she thought since she’d met a man who turned her insides to Jell-O. “Wyatt’s kind of a loner. Has been since Jed, his dad, died. Keeps to himself, pretty much. Denise stuffed the last of Aimee’s groceries in her lime-green Save The Earth bag and handed it to her. “I say you count yourself lucky he acknowledged you at all.” She cackled. “In fact, darlin’, that might be the closest thing to flirting I’ve ever seen that man do.”

Amanda’s zest for life inspires her passionate, character-driven stories. Blessed to do what she loves, she aspires to stay fresh, unique to her voice, and listen to her readers. She is published internationally, in audio, in e-book and in print and currently writes sizzling contemporary and erotic historical romance. amandamcintyresbooks.com

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yet. Used to challenges, her spirit shatters the perceptions that have kept him isolated from living life beyond the ranch, proving to him that when it comes to love, the greatest risk is not taking one. REVIEW: Wonderfully sweet and emotional, Rugged Hearts transports readers into the world populated by sexy cowboys. With the Christmas season as a backdrop, Amanda McIntyre brings to life two unlikely people together. Determined to be a loner, ruggedly handsome Wyatt has some issues concerning Christmas and tries to avoid it at all costs, that is, until second grade school teacher Aimee obnoxiously knocks on his door one snowy night. Filled with adorable school children, meddling friends, and lyrical poetry, this novel shows that Christmas is indeed magical and that love does change a person’s perspective in life. | Reviewer: Francine Alli |

Michael’s Angel Karen Wiesner Inspirational Fiction Heat Rating: 0

As the unwanted son of a mother who killed herself to escape a life she couldn’t bear another second and then being passed around from one foster family to the next, each less sympathetic than the one before, Michael Fremont has had it drilled into him from birth that he’s not worth anything…certainly not worth saving. Then he met the angel next door. LeeAnn Wagner was as small and fragile as a china doll, the unfortunate offspring of a couple more volatile than gasoline and a lit match. Together, Michael and LeeAnn escaped the horrors of their childhoods and gave their lives to the Lord. But Michael

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had realized that his love and needs for LeeAnn were only growing beyond his control. Feeling like a coward, he did the only thing he could to save her from his possibly unwanted desires: he joined the military. There he’d made close friends in Christ and unburied the very discipline and willpower he’d struggled to grasp while he was with LeeAnn every minute of every day. Never once during their years apart does Michael forget his angel…or forgive himself for leaving her just when she seemed to need him most. The last thing he expects upon honorable discharge is to find that the frail creature he’d reluctantly left behind for what’s felt like a lifetime has discovered her own considerable strengths, abilities, and deep, inner happiness. Can she forgive him? Can she ever get over the scars of her past to see him as the man of her heart? One worthy of an angel? REVIEW: Michael’s Angel is book 2 of the Friendship Heirlooms Series. Both Michael and LeeAnn have had very hard lives and although they both went their separate ways have found their way back to each other once again. Despite

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their personal demons neither can deny that they both need to be in each other’s lives. Karen Weisner again has reached into the troubled lives of her characters and brought hope, love and God into their lives. A fantastic read. I anticipate reading more of in the very near future! | Reviewer: Krissy Malott |

Glass Angels Karen Wiesner

Inspirational Fiction Heat Rating: 0

A young Christian woman struggles with seeking pardon from those she’s hurt when she can’t seem to get past her own inability to forgive

| CONTEMPORARY & HISTORICAL book reviews |

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| CONTEMPORARY & HISTORICAL book reviews |

those who have wronged her. Three years ago, Samantha Samuels had suffered under the violent hands of Ryder Feldmann, a juvenile delinquent her pastor father had been counseling. Now she’s completed her psychiatry training and plans to help other victims of violent crimes at the rape counseling clinic in her hometown of Peaceful, Wisconsin. Unexpectedly, she finds herself sharing an office building and Sunday services at her new church with the older brother, a divorce counselor, of her attacker...the very man she’d been in love with before her rape. REVIEW: Glass Angels is book 4 of Karen’s Family Heirlooms Series. Obviously meant to be read as a serial but can be read as a stand-alone novel, Glass Angels is a very touching and gut wrenching story about a rape victim trying to find her place in life and how she copes with starting over after the trauma of such an experience. Karen handles both the religious implications, personal and sensitive topics revolving around such a delicate subject very well. I encourage anyone to pick up this book and follow the journey in and out of heartbreak. | Reviewer: Krissy Malott |

The Rings That Bind Michelle Smart

REVIEW: Can a marriage of convenience survive a month trial before the imminent divorce that one of the parties wants becomes final? The other party definitely doesn’t want it and refuses to budge on the subject. That is the dilemma facing Rosa who married her boss (she was his assistant at the time) to technically, get away from an old boyfriend. After a period of time Rosa makes a mistake she regretted, told (Nico, her husband) about it, and still wanted out of the marriage. Nico for his part wasn’t having it. He forgave her, though it was nagging him, a long while after she told him. He’s kind of like, if it’s his, he’ll keep it no matter what. This one month trial was his idea and even though Rosa is none too happy about it, she’ll see it through. It was a good quick read, funny and sometimes a little sad when they traveled down memory lane, because they both carried emotional and somewhat traumatic scars. It was definitely enjoyable and you’ll definitely root for them to stay together. It definitely won’t be the last time I will read this author. Check it out. You’ll enjoy it. | Reviewer: Cassandra Graham |

Promises to Keep Char Chaffin

Contemporary Romance Heat Rating: 3

The day Rosa agreed to wear Nicola Baranski’s ring she wasn’t so foolish as to expect love. Yet nothing could have prepared her for the aching loneliness of her husband’s constant indifference—an indifference that proved too much to bear. Nico is furious—no one turns their back on a Baranski. Rosa has some nerve if she thinks he will just let her walk away. He’ll use every sensual trick at his disposal to bring her back, begging for more. And once he’s got her where he wants her? He’ll let her go. But only when he’s ready!

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An Interview

Something’s Cooking Meg Lacey

Josh is an investigative journalist, can you tell us what his drive is? Josh believes Tess is too good to be true. She’s beautiful, and has become successful overnight, but his gut says something is fishy. He’s determined to get to the bottom of it. He also wants his own TV series, and is jealous that Tess’s getting one instead. He wants to make a name for himself as Josh Faraday, instead of hiding his opinion behind a gimmicky photo and initials. Do you feel majoring in Theater helped with character development in your novels? Absolutely. An actor must know and understand his character. What does he think? Feel? Why does he act this way? How does he interact? Dialogue is the language of theatre. I write fast paced novels with lots of dialogue. With each character I get to ‘act’ on paper. These people are as real to me as those I created on stage.

What was the inspiration behind your book? To me Martha Stewart is too perfect to be human. I wondered what it would be like to have a ‘lifestyle’ expert, Tess Banyon, who has great ideas but can’t execute them herself by herself. When she gets a half-hour TV series she’s afraid everyone will see her making mistakes like using salt instead of sugar in brownies, and catching the kitchen curtains on fire. She’s desperate to keep her secret hidden.

Can you tell us about your next writing project? The Sparrow and the Vixens Three, is Book Two in my Tales of the Sparrow Paranormal Series, out 11/13. The Sparrow and The Hawk, is available now. Jillie Hart, The Sparrow, and shapeshifter Griff Ryland, The Hawk, documentary filmakers, must find the mystical Carmaletta Choker before the curse activates and it destroys the world. This time they’re assigned to a Hollywood production whose quest film echoes the real-life choker. They’re unaware that Declan, the sinister shapeshifter who previously located the necklace, and Gailan, an ancient earth mother, have teamed up with three kitsune (Japanese werefoxes) who are masquerading as stunningly seductive vixens. The kitsune must lure Jillie and Griff into their trap and seduce Griff into joining the side of evil so they can recover the necklace. To save the world, The Sparrow must first save The Hawk. But how can Sparrow compete against the power of three magically enchanting kitsune? You’re stuck on an island and can only have one famous chef dropped in, who would it be and why? Giada DeLaurentiis. She makes food I like and seems to have a good personality, with no overblown ego. I’d like to be stuck with someone I’d enjoy talking to, not murdering in the first hour!

Over the years, I’ve been an actress, director, producer, creative director, CEO, copywriter, creative dramatics teacher, mime, mom, college instructor, and a school bus driver. I’ve established two creative marketing/media companies, working in all media. meglacey.com

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| CONTEMPORARY & HISTORICAL book reviews |

REVIEW: I found this book very captivating. As soon as I started reading it I was hooked. I felt that the story line was realistic. People forget that arranged marriages exist in many different cultures. I think that the pressure that Travis has to endure is depicted very well as I found myself relating with him many times. The pressure and threat that the mother poses is very real and I could feel the reality of it as I was reading. However, I found that it grew boring as it came to an end, I found it hard to read the last few chapters, which can be a very bad thing as that is the climax and it should leave an impression. I also feel that in the last two chapters the author more than makes up for whatever lacked in the few chapters beforehand. Overall a great read. | Reviewer: Nila Bi |

Something’s Cooking Meg Lacey

Love’s Odyssey Jane Toombs Historical Romance

Contemporary Romance Heat Rating: 3

Something’s cookin in more than the kitchen… Tess Banyon is a ‘Martha Stewart’ type of lifestyleguru. Investigative journalist, Josh Faraday’s is determined to convince the women of America that Tess is too good to be true. He’s right. Their first meeting is a disaster, but tough, uncompromising, sexy Josh is the perfect man for uptight, workaholic, adorable Tess. The only problem is convincing both of them. REVIEW: Filled with delectable food and interesting and colorful characters, Something’s Cooking captures the readers with its light-hearted romance and deep insight into the lives of the successful and famous. Rich aroma of inevitable attraction highlights this story, and a light peppering of desire, humor and a set of meddling yet supportive side characters makes the novel flavorful and exciting. Laced with the bittersweet flavor of indecision and doubt, cynical and elusive newspaper article writer Josh “JR” Faraday and “Domestic Goddess” Tess Banyon have to find the strength and courage to face their own demons to be able to finally find joy in the love that has blossomed between them. | Reviewer: Francine Alli |

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Sent from Virginia back to England to live with her uncle after her parents die, Alitha is horrified when armed men come to his estate and kill him for being an enemy of the king. One of the men, Adrien, rescues her when he sees she may not survive otherwise. She falls in love with him, but they’re torn apart time after time until he finally risks his own life to rescue her from Nicholas, the famous Chinese pirate and they set sail for America. REVIEW: A very dark read with seemingly no hope to garner. One battle after another with only strength of character to carry it through. When Romell loses her father, then her uncle and narrowly escapes with help for defending herself against the king’s guard she is thrust into onion carts and foreign countries with relatives she didn’t know about. This journey takes her aboard a ship bound for dark times only to be rescued, lied to and kidnapped yet again. Only one thing has kept her this side of the grave, her determination for the man she has fallen in love with. Will she be able to find her way back through betrayal, pain and volcanoes? Will he rescue her in time? * Includes repeated rape from kidnappers. | Reviewer: Gypsie M. Holley |

An Interview Come Hell or High Desire Misty Dietz

What were the biggest challenges you faced as a new author? One of my biggest challenges as a new author was deciding when to ease back on craft workshops and books on writing in order to let my story unfold organically. You can get so caught up in plot architecture and story mechanics that you’re writing to those things instead of the passion and intrigue that spawned the idea in the first place. Other challenges I’ve beat my head against were not editing the shit out of my manuscript (can I say shit? you can totally edit that) and learning to trust my own voice instead of trying to sound like someone else currently in vogue. Can you tell us the inspiration for your book? COME HELL OR HIGH DESIRE was inspired by several things: the Red River which is one block from my house and the border line between North Dakota and Minnesota; my heroine’s boutique Skinny Dipping was fashioned after a local Fargo, ND, shop called O’Day Cache (kicks ass! I could spend hours in there.); and finally, I drew inspiration for Zack, my hero, from three men whom I love the most: my brother (Zack’s edginess and introspection), my hubby (Zack’s calm and protective nature), and my first love—my dad—who is a construction entrepreneur (Zack’s like-a-rock steadiness and down-in-thetrenches work ethic).

When passion and danger collide, there can only be one victor...

Fulfilling a lifetime dream requires boutique owner Sloane Swift to grab a tiger by the tail. But putting her guilt to rest proves more difficult than she ever imagined when a new threat comes calling in the form of an enigmatic rebel-turnedCEO Zack Goldman. Framed for a series of brutal murders in his small northern community, Zack accidentally discovers that Sloane hides a shocking gift: terrifying visions that connect her to his mentor’s missing daughter. But when he goes to ground, Zack’s dreams of redemption vanish at Sloane’s refusal to help him...until her heart and conscience begin to align. As the killer locks in on Sloane, Zack will stop at nothing to keep her safe. But if he can’t convince Sloane to trust his psychic anchoring in time to bring his nemesis to justice, they’ll both have to live with the blood of innocents on their hands--if they even make it out alive.

What are your current / future projects? I’m currently working on a sexy paranormal romantic suspense proposal for a series of books set in western ND that follows the f*ck ups and hook-ups of an estranged group of cowboys and cowgirls as they try to work through their explosive conflicts in order to return a violent wraith to her resting place. But she’s got a bigtime score to settle…and nothing to lose.

Misty’s love affair with words started in middle school when she penned dark stories set in exotic locales she knew nothing about. Now, she spends her days writing emotionally complex, adrenalinefueled stories, teaching Zumba, enjoying her family and online friends, and praying her children don’t come home with math homework. mistydietz.com

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An Insider’s View

The Rings That Bind Michelle Smart

Writing for Harlequin Presents I first discovered Mills & Boon books at the age of twelve when my Great-Aunt Myra left Penny Jordan’s book, Blackmailed, at our house after visiting for the weekend. I devoured that book in one sitting. By the time I was fifteen, I determined that I would write one of these wonderful books that gave my teenage self so much pleasure. It only took twenty years (with lots of stops and starts!) but now, here it is – my debut Mills & Boon, and it’s for the series I love above all others, the Modern series, or, as it is known in the US, Harlequin Presents. To me, Presents is Harlequin Mills & Boon. I’ve always loved the glamour, the settings, the alpha men… everything about it. But above all else, I wanted to be one of those heroines and find that passion for myself. Because reading Presents is an utter roller-coaster of emotions, with some dark lows contrasted with dizzying heights. And that’s what I want to achieve with my own writing; to take the reader on a journey that made her skin tingle and, ultimately, made her heart beat faster.

Writer of Strong, Sassy Heroines and the Alpha men they bring to their knees...

The day Rosa married Nicolai, she wasn’t foolish enough to expect love – or the crippling loneliness their marriage-of-convenience brought. She wants out. But her husband has other ideas… Nico will use every sensual trick at his disposal to bring her back. And once he’s got her where he wants her? He’ll let her go.

The idea for The Rings That Bind came when mulling over marriages of convenience, a well-loved theme in Presents. I wanted to write one that would be believable and for that I needed to create two characters for whom that kind of marriage made perfect sense… or at least made sense when signing on the dotted line… And from those rather mundane beginnings, Nico and Rosa were born, two lonely souls fighting to keep anyone from getting too close but both wanting, in their own ways, someone with whom to share their lives – no sex, no emotions, just a meeting of business-like minds. From there, it was a case of digging down deep and discovering what kind of affect this kind of marriage had on them both and how it was ultimately corrosive, enough to make Rosa want to leave… which is the point at which the book starts.

Michelle Smart is a thirty something unashamed romantic. She loves nothing better than creating glamorous worlds featuring gorgeous alpha heroes and the sparkly, feisty women who bring them to their knees. She hopes her books can make her readers’ forget their cares, and make their hearts beat a little faster. www.michelle-smart.com

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Chic Trends in Romance Sandra Bunino

A Romantic Book-cation The dog days of summer are upon us! If you’re anything like me, you’re deep into your summer must-read list by now. Whether you spend your summer days and nights on a beach, at the lake, in the pool, or maybe in a lawn chair on your deck, one thing you need besides sunscreen is a good book or two. Maybe even four or five because August is the perfect time for a book-cation. It’s the chance to lose yourself in another world and another life. A great romance story is the perfect escape from the everyday grind. So, if you’re looking for a few hot summer reads to finish out the season, you’ve come to the right place because I have some wonderful titles for you!

Fans of Fifty Shades of Grey and Bared to You will be thrilled with the third novel in J. Kenner’s erotic, fast-paced trilogy including Release Me and Claim Me. This sexy, emotionally charged romance continues the story of Damien Stark, the powerful multimillionaire who’s never had to take “no” for an answer, and Nikki Fairchild, the Southern belle who only says “yes” on her own terms.

Complete Me by J. Kenner Random House available now Beautiful, strong, and commanding, Damien Stark fills a void in me that no other man can touch. His fierce cravings push me beyond the brink of bliss—and unleash a wild passion that utterly consumes us both. Yet beneath his need for dominance, he carries the wounds of a painful past. Haunted by a legacy of dark secrets and broken trust, he seeks release in our shared ecstasy, the heat between us burning stronger each day. Our attraction is undeniable, our obsession inevitable. Yet not even Damien can run from his ghosts, or shield us from the dangers yet to come. Next up is a hot new adult read. I hit the buy button as soon as I read the first line of this story: “The last everloving f***ing thing I expected to see as I drove down I-76 toward my little hometown of Peters, Ohio was a buck-naked man wearing a spiked collar and a guitar.”

Random Acts of Crazy by Julia Kent Indie Book available now I never intended to pick up a naked hitchhiker wearing nothing but a guitar. A guitar. Really. I don’t collect guys like that (don’t ask what kind of guys I do collect), but when you spot a blonde, tanned, sculpted man with a gorgeous smile and his thumb poking up and practically begging you to stop—you stop. And I definitely never thought I’d be staring into the bright blue eyes of Trevor Connor, the lead singer for Random Acts of Crazy, an indie rock star I followed like the slobbering fileshare fangirl I am. How he came to be nude and lost six hundred miles from home is quite the tale, but how we fell in love is even more unreal. Because someone like Trevor Connor, headed to Harvard Law next year, isn’t supposed to want someone like me, a rural Ohio chick majoring in Boredom at Convenience Store University who is all curves and frizzy blonde hair and manners so unpolished they have sharp edges that make you bleed. But he did. What’s a steamy day at the beach without a Sylvia Day book? Entwined with You continues with the story of Eva and Gideon as they face the demons of their past and discover the consequences of their obsession.

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| Chic Trends in Romance |

Entwined with You by Sylvia Day Penguin available now

heart to beat.

From the moment I first met Gideon Cross, I recognized something in him that I needed. Something I couldn’t resist. I saw the dangerous and damaged soul inside—so much like my own. I was drawn to it. I needed him as surely as I needed my

No one knows how much he risked for me. How much I’d been threatened, or just how dark and desperate the shadow of our pasts would become. Entwined by our secrets, we tried to defy the odds. We made our own rules and surrendered completely to the exquisite power of possession. As soon as I saw the cover of this one, I knew it was the perfect summer read . . .

Summer in Napa by Marina Adair Montlake Romance available now When Alexis “Lexi” Moreau caught her husband, Jeff, sampling the sous-chef’s more intimate wares in their New York restaurant, she ran—all the way back to her hometown of St. Helena, California. Six months later, Lexi has no husband and no restaurant. But she does have a three-step plan: First, convert her grandmother’s bakery into her dream bistro. Second, ignore Grandma’s matchmaking attempts. And third, avoid Marco DeLuca, her ex’s commitment-phobic, distractingly sexy best friend.

In school Lexi was off-limits for Marco. After all, she was his buddy’s girl. But she’s still as smart and as gorgeous—and apparently as immune to his charms—as she used to be. Yet the simple fake romance they agree upon to dodge Lexi’s grandmother’s matchmaking plans soon turns deliciously complicated. And the sultry summer might bring together all the right ingredients for Marco to win the only woman he’s ever wanted. What’s a summer without a hot Western? You’ll love this sexy rodeo cowboy from Montana . . .

Big Sky Summer by Linda Lael Miller Harlequin available now With his father’s rodeo legacy to continue and a prosperous spread to run, Walker Parrish has no time to dwell on wrecked relationships. But country-western sweetheart Casey Elder is out of the spotlight and back in Parable, Montana. And Walker can’t ignore that his “act now, think later” passion for Casey has had consequences. Two teenage consequences! Keeping her children’s paternity under wraps has always been part of Casey’s plan to give them normal, uncomplicated lives. Now the best way to hold her family together seems to be to let Walker be a part of it—as her husband of convenience. Or will some secrets—like Casey’s desire to be the rancher’s wife in every way—unravel, with unforeseen results?

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For more Hot New Releases, join me every Friday on my blog www.sandrabunino.com where I reveal a new, sizzling, not-to-be-missed title! Enjoy getting lost in a good book this summer, but donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget the sunscreen! Happy Reading!

Sandra Bunino began a love of romance stories while penning a creative writing assignment in high school. The story ended with the heroine receiving a long-stemmed red rose in her locker on Valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day. Since then, all of her stories feature the hero presenting the heroine with roses. Sandra is constantly searching for different ways to achieve a heart-pumping, stomach-flipping, breath-catching reaction from her readers. - SandraBunino.com

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BTS REVIEW RATINGS: 5 Stars awesome book, read it now! 4 Stars a must read 3 Stars really good read 2 Stars this was OK 1 Star hard to finish, flawed

The Heat Diva Nikki McCarver

Hot in the Now Look left and then look right. What do you see? Well, if you are in my house... probably dishes and my daughterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s latest art creation... definitely not the setting for a sizzling hot sex scene. There are those of us that crave that touch of reality in our naughty reads... even if the scenario is unlikely, the scene and the setting are not. I have lined up some Contemporary seasoning that is sure to make your next reading dish spicy. You have to give it up to these talented females for being able to see through the housework and kids and make scenes that leave you gasping. The Diva is here to tempt you with some intense naughties that are sure to satisfy that need for the now.

chism). This has a bookstore scene that is simply smoking and pulls you into those countless hours of those long ago study sessions where you are not supposed to be daydreaming of this. The meeting between Mia and her soonto-be Dom is incredibly hot, and as the series progresses, it dips into all aspects in the lifestyle. The series itself covers just about all aspects, and this one has the “toys” that are available . . . so be warned.

Heat Level

Uncollared

by Nona Raines (Loose Id—available now) Nona Raines writes an interesting story on what a submissive goes through when she is uncollared by her master. I enjoyed this book because it taps into a different aspect of the lifestyle. Mia learns how to live and love again, all while staying true to her needs. Master Chess takes her body on a whole new journey that is incredibly erotic.

Dean’s List

Heat Level

by Danica Avet (Ellora’s Cave—available now) Erotica for men? Oh yes. . It’s out there. And if you are looking to give your honey ideas or at the very least, get him in on the action, you should try the EC for Men line— more specifically, Danica Avet’s Dean’s List. We follow this naughty Dean on his adventures with his very creative wife. His wife has a penchant for dressing up and gives this lucky man a literal run for his money!!

The Newbie

by Morticia Knight (Bound by Pleasure, #1, Honey Drip Publishing—available now) Morticia Knight is a newer author who has been heating it up in her Bound by Pleasure series. We follow Mia through her introduction into the amazing world of BDSM (bondage, discipline, dominance, submission, sadism, maso-

Whips and Wax by Bonnie Bliss

(Dominance, #2, Irish Wolf Publishing—available now) Bonnie Bliss spins a different kind of kink with her book Whips and Wax. She really puts an elegant twist on the genre and makes this normal housewife’s life enviable. She shows how you can be naughty and still lead a normal life . . . which in my opinion is absolutely decadent.

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| The Heat Diva |

Maid for Pleasure by Lucy Rodgers

(Maids for It, Indie Book—available now)

Heat Level

What is a rich and successful woman on top to do when she craves submission and . . . whips? Libby was everything most women dreamed of being, so the fact that she was unhappy was quite a shock. Before she becomes trapped inside of her dreary existence, she takes a chance on a dating service called Maid For Pleasure and is quickly matched with Gavin. She decides to give this a week, but Gavin has other plans. Can she bear to leave him when she’s finally found what she has been missing? This taps on several BDSM aspects and has some really hard-core love scenes.

My Wicked Nanny by Ann Mayburn

(Club Wicked, #2, Loose Id—available now) I have been a big Ann Mayburn fan for a while, and if you don’t know who she is . . . she should shoot to the top of your need-to-read list! In her latest, My Wicked Nanny, she dips into an elite club lifestyle for the unimaginably rich. Our little Anya is devoted sweatpants-wearing nanny by day and the decadent Dove by night. She got this job by a referral from an inside member and was shocked to her core on her first day (and she was working the public areas). It just so happens that the center of her every fantasy is a club cardholder, but he is also her daytime boss. Can this nanny step out of her role and make all of her fantasies become a reality? Oh yeah . . . and it is hot!!

........................................... Well my Contemporary cravers, I hope you take a look at these talented writers of romance and give them a try. They have surely helped me to look around my house in a whole new way, most especially the glass doors, windows, and walls. It may even make you remember some old fantasies of your own. Until next time . . . Stay Naughty.

Mia’s Submission by Sandra Bunino

(Satin Rose Experience (SRE), #1, Evernight Publishing—available now) So you like the idea of a private club full of hot dominantmen? Let me point you towards Sandra Bunino’s SRE series, more specifically: Mia’s Submission. Keyboards and Kink has the intro to the series and is just as hot, but I fell for Asher hard. The chemistry between the two is off the charts, and even though this book is short, it is sure to leave you panting for more . . . and there is definitely more to come!

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I have been an avid reader for as long as I can remember and erotica has brought my favorite pasttime to a whole new level. After the birth of my daughter, I started learning about blogging and all the wonderful ways to share my passion for reading and dived right in. I created my own blog to share my love of paranormal, historical, dark, and erotic books. I have had the opportunity to work with many great authors and look forward to working with many more. Come Closer and look me up at: http://closeencountersofthenightkind.blogspot.com

Look for the sequel Owning Sarah, September 25!

EROTIC | book reviews | Lord Griffin’s Prize Katalina Leon

Heated Match Lynne Silver

Ronan O’Griofa is a griffin-shifter, the most loyal of creatures. He’s been trapped in limbo as the avenging guardian of Tullamore since 1332 AD and longs to be free. When the soul of his wife returns to the castle he’s granted the privilege of becoming a man for one day to be her lover, win her heart and remind Maeve of a bond strong enough to last an eternity.

Book one in the Coded for Love series.

Time-Travel Erotic Romance Heat Rating: 4

REVIEW: Katalina Leon and I have met before - I had the great pleasure to read her collaboration with Ms. Skyze in Claimed by Dragons, which I loved, and her name has been stuck in my head for over a year now, so when I saw she wrote Lord Griffin’s Prize I had to get my paws on it! And when I did I read it through in one sitting, no matter the lateness of the hour. It was so good I’m getting all giddy about it! It had everything I love! Ireland, a castle, time-travel, paranormal creatures, strong leading lady, sexy as hell hero with absolutely no commitment issues (in fact the opposite he was fiercely loyal, attentive and had a bad case of hots for his wife even it had been over 600 years since they last met)! But, all these great things mean nothing if the story isn’t well written. And it is! It was written to be interesting, addictive (I seriously could not put the book down even though my hubby and dog complained about the night reading) and entertaining! The characters had depth and believability, I loved how Maeve told herself time and time again that all the visions/time-travel she experienced were nothing to worry about, except that she might be going bonkers, but there absolutely was no paranormal activity, period. Loved how she had to backpedal with that. And I loved Ronan who tried so hard to keep things casual when absolutely everything depended on her falling in love with him again, and her being brave enough to admit it after her recently nose-dived sham of a marriage.

Paranormal Erotic Heat Rating: 4

A lead byline and a cover story— that’s what journalist Loren Stanton wants most. Until she meets genetically enhanced soldier Adam Blacker. Team leader of a top-secret covert ops group, Adam never wanted to search for his genetic match, but whenever he gets close to Loren, things turn hot quickly, making him forget every reason he had for retaining his bachelor status. After a scorching night together, neither doubts they’re connected at a DNA-deep level, although both fear the high stakes of what it means to be together. Loren gives Adam two weeks to prove he’s bred for more than war. He must convince her that he’s also coded for love. REVIEW: You wouldn’t expect a genetically enhanced soldier and a determined reporter to conduct such wild electric friction. Heated Match is a fabulously thrilling novel potent with action, suspense and scorching romance. This isn’t just a novel full of intense love scenes, it’s a novel with very exciting action and very well written character and plot development! I enjoyed reading Heated Match very much and look forward to reading her work again in the very near future! | Reviewer: Krissy Malott |

| Reviewer: Niina Cord | August 2013 | 49

An Interview

Complete Me J. Kenner

For the last few years, my days were mixed with homeschooling my kids, but as of this fall they’ll both be in public school, so I’m excited to see how much time that frees up during the day for writing! When you begin a new story, do you pretty much know the ending already or does the ending come to you as you write? I always know AN ending (because I really like writing a synopsis before diving in). However, I don’t always know THE ending! What is the best thing about being a writer? I’ll have to be totally honest and say that it is a tie between the ability to work in my pajamas and the interaction with readers! You have a really big fan base with the Shadow Keepers series. What inspired you to write the story of Damien and Nikki? Thanks! Damien and Nikki originated with a conversation with my editor at Bantam (who publishes Shadow Keepers). We were talking about erotica and the appeal of it, and a vague idea I had for a story/characters. I sent her a blurb that she loved and then I expanded that literally overnight into a 14 page single spaced synopsis wherein I just poured out what I knew about Nikki and Damien. They really came to life for me in a way that, as a writer, is very exciting!

New York Times and USA Today Bestseller! The sexy, emotionally-charged romance that began in Release Me and Claim Me concludes in Complete Me with the story of Damien Stark, the powerful multimillionaire who doesn’t take ”no” for an answer, and Nikki Fairchild, the Southern belle who only says“yes” on her own terms.

Describe a day in J. Kenner’s writing life. If I’m nearing the end, I will often go into my “cave” and just write, write, write. It’s like I’m so caught up in the story I can’t escape until I get it all out! If I’m just starting out, I do “business-y” stuff and social media in the morning and then write a chunk in the afternoon and often in the evening.

For Fans of Fifty Shades of Grey and Bared to You, what sets Complete Me (and the two previous titles in the series) apart? A lot of things, I think. Sure there are similarities in voice (1st person, female pov) and the nature of the hero (he’s really, really, really rich). But that’s like saying murder mysteries are all the same because there’s a body. The differences stem from pretty much everything else. I don’t want to actually give the plot away, but Nikki is damaged goods, which sets her apart from Ana Steele, and she’s a bit more together than Eva. Damien has his secrets and a dangerous edge, but he’s not as screwed up as Christian Grey or Gideon, and while he’s used to being the man in control, he’s also able to hand control to Nikki, which is also a difference. Honestly, I think all three of these series, while very similar, are also wildly different. So while readers who enjoyed Fifty or Crossfire will enjoy the Stark Trilogy, I don’t feel like the books provide the same experience or story.

J. Kenner is the author of Release Me, Claim Me, and Complete Me. She spent more than ten years as a litigator in Southern California and central Texas, using her rare free time to indulge in her passion of writing. She lives in Texas with her husband and daughters. juliekenner.com

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| EROTIC book reviews |

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| EROTIC book reviews | The Moon-Kissed Chi (The Kalaydan Chronicles: Book One) Grinelda Markowitz Fantasy Erotica Heat Rating: 5

In the city of Kalaydan, Arrinay and Bezhyanya, the senior members of the ruling family, are faced with the early maturation of their daughter, Gayadnae. She must start the training. It’s Kalaydan law. Their daughter has other ideas. After concocting a plan to avoid responsibility and almost succeeding in carrying it out, Gayadnae’s life takes an unexpected turn. Grayt, the ever-present serving woman to Arrinay, fills many roles and has her fingers in a number of pies. There’s definitely more to her than is apparent on the surface. Along with coordinating activities in the Main House, keeping the young

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mistress in line, and talking to horses, Grayt has a more secret agenda with a graver responsibilities. A hint of trouble on the horizon and other darker activities weave their way through the backdrop of this delightful tale which takes place in the city of Kalaydan. REVIEW: The Moon-Kissed Chi is set in a fantasy setting elaborate with politics, intrigue and romance. Elicit with poetic described interludes, this story offers an unusual and magical flair. Women are the leaders, warriors and are the ones to choose their partners. Arrinay and her bed-sworn partner Bezhyanya have their hands full when their daughter Gayadnae shows signs of becoming a woman before her time. But is Gaya willing to take “the training” to become what her mother wants her to or will she choose her own path or is there a path laid out for her already? Follow each of them on their journeys and allow this mystical realm to envelop you as it did me. | Reviewer: Gypsie M. Holley |

| EROTIC book reviews |

Wicked Beat Olivia Cunning

Contemporary Erotic Heat Rating: 4

discovers something about her? Eric has his own problem, what will Rebekah think of him when she discovers what it is? Chemistry is heated and the passion is ignited but what will happen. The best way I can describe this book is an amazing page turning read that will have you up all night reading to see what happens.

How Far Out Are Your Fantasies? When Rebekah Blake becomes the Sinners’ new soundboard operator, she has no idea that red-hot drummer Eric Sticks is the only man who can give her everything her dirty mind desires... REVIEW: Rebekah is given an opportunity to “fill in” as the Sinner’s sound board operator but will she “live” up to what is expected? She has had a crush on Trey but when she sees Eric her feelings change. But what will happen when Eric

I have enjoyed almost all of the books that have been released by Olivia Cunning. This book is one that between the author’s name and the cover of the book will draw in readers to it. The only problem I am having with this series to date is the fact that as I am reading each of the books that are released it seems to me that books are being released out of order. | Reviewer: Beckey White |

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| EROTIC book reviews |

One Tasty Night Amber Skyze Erotica Heat Rating: 4

Taylor Jax fantasizes about seducing long-time friend Shane Griffin. Only problem, he’s ten years her junior – too young in her mind. During a game of truth or dare she’s challenged by her best friends. Taylor must go buy all the accessories needed to live out her fantasy and then seduce Shane. REVIEW: This is a sweet, romantic treat just waiting to be served with a cherry on top! When 40-year-old Taylor takes a dare and winds up in the same place as her too-young studmuffin dream guy, will she be able to resist, as she has for the last three years? Then when he challenges her and she responds the heat between them melts like chocolate fudge. With her two best friends egging her on, she decides to take charge and Shane has been waiting all this time for just this chance. But, after a night of decadent, scorching sex will she follow her heart or her head? Shane has only one night to convince her that she’s his forever. | Reviewer: Gypsie M. Holley |

rules, because he’s determined to make all of Lindsay’s sexual fantasies come true… REVIEW: Lindsay Dannon is a woman who knows exactly who, and what she wants. The subject of her affection and star of her fantasies is none other than her boss Jack Randolph. After a near success, albeit more than slightly tipsy, and the subsequent rebuttal Lindsay works alongside Jack, quietly keeping her thoughts to herself, and getting caught up in steamy, naughty daydream adventures with him. All relationships come with a few misunderstandings, this one is not an exception. There are a couple snags to the protagonists’ happiness, but they’re resolved quickly and without too much drama. I did inwardly wince at Jack’s initial trust issues with Lindsay and her male friend and coworker Tegan. Speaking of Tegan, I adore the love story that he and his girlfriend, Kelli share. They’re adorable and add, rather than distract from the story of Lindsay and Jack. Overall, this is a great story. Jack is an impressive lead male character and he caters to Lindsay’s fantasies. Lindsay is a heroine that is strong and levelheaded, and knows how to get exactly what she wants. I really enjoyed this story. | Reviewer: Shelly Shultz |

Complete Me J. Kenner Erotica Heat Rating: 4

Compulsion Cassandra Curtis Erotic Romance Heat Rating: 4

Lindsay Dannon has a dirty little secret. While she hides behind her plain and proper image at work, a wanton woman with a rich fantasy life lurks beneath the surface. The thrill of sex in public places, and the risk of exposure, is a compulsive itch she knows only one man can scratch—her boss, Jack Randolph. The company’s “no tolerance” policy on interoffice dating is the only thing stopping her. Good thing Jack created the

The sexy, emotionally-charged romance that began in Release Me and Claim Me concludes in Complete Me with the story of Damien Stark, the powerful multimillionaire who doesn’t take ”no” for an answer, and Nikki Fairchild, the Southern belle who only says“yes” on her own terms. REVIEW: I came into this story in the last book, so I really feel as if I missed the character‘s back stories and some of the world building. It’s not that I couldn’t follow what was going on, I just felt as if I was missing some crucial information, especially about Nikki. I really did enjoy the story itself, and it was filled with some very naughty sex scenes that were quite explicit and yummy. The suspense was well spaced out August 2013 | 55

| EROTIC book reviews | and not predictable because I was totally shocked at who the culprit turned out to be! The ending was heart-wrenching and beautiful all at the same time. | Reviewer: Nikki McCarver |

Naughty Hot Shots: Girl Next Door Abby Hayes

may whet the appetite, then by all means give this novella a try. Otherwise I’d suggest passing on it. | Reviewer: Iris Montalvo Pross |

Ghostly Persuasion Dena Garson

Fantasy/Paranormal Erotic Heat Rating: 5

Erotica Heat Rating: 5

What woman could say no to two sexy as hell, bisexual and experimental men asking her to join them? What happens when they want her to dominate them both in their new found sexual games? Having run from vicious rumors her ex spread about their deviant sex life back home, when Mandy moves into her new apartment she is surprised to so quickly and easily strike up a conversation with the man next door who offers to help her carry in a few boxes. She is even more surprised, though, when they have her over for dinner, to learn Mike and his roommate, Kyle, have been experimenting with their own sexuality, with each other, and want her to join in on the fun and games. When given the opportunity to play the dominant in their sexual games, should she take the golden opportunity or just walk away? REVIEW: When looking for an erotic book to read there are certain things you look for. First and foremost is the sexuality level. Is it steamy enough to inspire late night fantasies and cold showers? After all, the purpose of erotica is to inspire such thoughts, right? An in-depth story line would be a plus. In Girl Next Door, Hayes gives you just that. Extremely hot, spontaneous sex with the new neighbors. Was it something I would read again? Highly doubtable. Did it serve its purpose? Absolutely. Unfortunately, I enjoy the story as much as the gratuitous sex in my books. So overall I must say that I was left wanting. I would have loved to see what happens next after a long night of debauchery between the three characters. Sadly I was left to use my imagination because the story just wasn’t there. If you’re looking for a quick fix, something that

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When American-born Katie takes her mother’s ashes home to Ireland, she finds hunky but spellbound Seamus loitering in her suite at Castle Tullamore. Seamus is surprised Katie can see and hear him because he was turned into a spirit three hundred years earlier. He acts as her personal tour guide, not only showing her the historical sights but introducing her to voyeurism and a variety of other carnal delights. As frustrating as it is not to be able to touch each other, they push the limits as far as possible. Katie is determined to help Seamus break the spell cast on him by the wife of a previous lord, a woman he refused to take as a lover. With help from a few castle ghosts and the local witch, the two of them aim to free him and find a way to be together in the flesh. REVIEW: A delightful fantasy, Dena Garson’s paranormal romance invites readers to let go of everything they know about ghosts and imagine the presence of spells and incantations which can make specters corporeal again. The spell which turns Seamus MacDonhmaill into a floating spirit is a love potion. Garson proposes that the love potion worked but it took three hundred years for Seamus to meet the woman who would win his heart. Katie Ward, the heroine in the tale, is an admirable character eager to help Seamus live again even at the risk of facing Etain, the woman who stole his life from him. Katie and Seamus’s romance is a wild fantasy that stretches the reader’s imagination while keeping the characters down to earth and living in contemporary times. The story will have readers chuckling and hoping Katie holds the key to releasing Seamus from Etain’s prison. | Reviewer: Susan Frances |

Nicole Morgan

I had rolled out of bed that morning tired and confused. I hadn’t slept a wink since I met Mary, Jack’s wife, the night before. My emotions had been on such a roller coaster the past week that I wondered if I might have finally lost it. Any explanation other than finding out that my prince charming was married would be a better one. I still didn’t know how it could be. He seemed so… perfect. Yet I was reminded with something that Kim used to tell me. “If something seems too good to be true, honey, than it probably is,” she’d say. Jack had already called me three times by the time I sat down and booted up my computer. I couldn’t talk to him. I was still reeling from the shock of finding out he was the exact opposite of whom I thought he was. Or was he? Damn it! The whole situation was too much for me to process. Several times last night I waited for the tears to come. I figured they surely must be on their way. The first man I ever truly fell in love with was married, and I had turned into his unwitting mistress. I shuddered when I even thought of the word in general, but knowing it was associated with me disgusted me even more. The check she gave me the night before sat precariously on the kitchen counter. I’d walked around with it in my hands, just staring at it for the longest time last night. On some level I felt like I must be imagining the whole thing, but when the check was still there this morning, I knew it was all too real. I stared at my computer and searched my mind for

| Sex and the Single Woman | the right words to say. It had taken me lying awake all night, staring at my ceiling, and most of the morning, ignoring his calls, to even get the courage up to send an e-mail to Jack. Now that the compose message screen of my e-mail was staring me in the face, I hadn’t a clue what I was going to say. A part of me wanted to yell at him for lying to me. While the other part of me wanted to beg him to pinch me and wake me from this nightmare. Cautiously I began typing. My fingers trembled as they hovered over the home row of keys. I closed my eyes and tried to forget all of the good times we’d had in the past weeks and months. I pushed the love I’ve come to have for him aside. I ignored everything inside of me that wanted to be selfish and hold onto him anyway, knowing full well that my conscience would never allow me to have an affair with a married man—no matter how much I loved him. With shaky hands I began to type. The words flowing from my mind on blind faith as my mind and heart fought a battle over what I should say. Dear Jack, I know. I know everything. Well, maybe not everything. But I do know that you’ve lied to me. I know that you’re married. Please don’t contact me. I can’t talk to you now, and truthfully, I’m not sure I’ll ever want to again. The way you treated me, all the good times we shared, and the love I thought you had for me have been ruined by your deceit. I don’t know if there have been others, but I can tell you this, Jack Dennison, what you have done is despicable. Marriage vows are not something I take lightly, and I will not be a party to disrespecting such a sacred union. We are finished, Jack. You and I are done, and the worst part is I gave you a part of myself I never gave another. I hope you’re happy with yourself. I hope you—

I stopped typing when I heard a knock on my front door. I considered ignoring it, as I was just getting into the nitty-gritty of all. I wanted to say to the two-timer who had the audacity to manipulate me the way that he did, maybe he thought I was a fool—a goody-goody who wouldn’t know any different—well, he was wrong! The persistent, but unexpected, visitor knocked a second time. “Ugh. All right, I’m coming. Hold your horses.” I stalked the entire way to my front door. The shock of the past twenty-four hours must be wearing off because I was now furious with Jack. As soon as I finished with whatever salesman or churchgoer was here, I was going to forego the e-mail and call Jack. Then, I’d tell him

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I tell you I had hoped for at least an apology of some kind. exactly what I think of him. I opened the door with little patience. “Yes? How can I—” I was stunned silent. “Good morning, beautiful.” Jack leaned in and gave me a kiss on the lips. “Jack…what are you…doing here?” I stumbled over my words, wondering where my anger of seconds ago had disappeared to. “Well, for starters, I missed you. Plus you haven’t been answering your phone. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were trying to teach me a lesson for being so busy this week.” “Jack, don’t. I—” “I know, I know. I should have called more. But I wanted to finish everything so we could just relax on our trip.” He waggled his eyebrows at me. “Just two more days, are you excited?” “Jack, stop!” He gave me a confused look. “What’s the matter? Are you really that mad at me? Come on, sweetness. I said I was sorry. If you’d just—” “Jack, I know about Mary.” I blurted it out, refusing to get sucked back in by his charisma a moment longer. His eyes widened in shock. “Where did you hear that name?” That was all he had to say? Who in the hell was this man that I had so foolishly given my heart and body to? “That’s all that you have to say to me? How about I’m sorry! How about I’m a jerk!” He took a step closer to me, and for a moment, I was scared. The look in his eyes was something I hadn’t seen before. To say it unnerved me would have been an understatement. “Please,” he said. “Tell me where you heard that name.” “Oh my God! You’re something else, you know that? From her, Jack. She was here last night.” He shook his head. “That’s not possible.”

“Well, possible or not. She was here. Obviously you weren’t very good at covering your tracks. She even gave me this check for—” Jack snatched the check out of my hand before I could finish. His eyes scanned the small piece of paper while his head continued to shake from side to side as if he still couldn’t believe it. I wanted to offer a sarcastic “welcome to my world” retort, but I thought better of it. “You’re telling me that Mary was here. Last night?” “Yes. I tell you I had hoped for at least an apology of some kind. The fact that you’re still trying to figure out how you got caught rather than—” “Sweetness, stop. Mary’s not my wife. I divorced her five years ago. She’s been in an institution for the past seven years.” “What?” I stared at him, looking for some sort of a sign that he was lying, but all I saw was the man that I had fallen in love with—the man who I had never seen be anything but strong. Now as I looked into his eyes, I saw fear. Real and true fear. “Shortly after we were married, she was diagnosed with schizophrenia. I tried to help her, but nothing I did

worked. One night she came at me with a knife. That’s where I got the scar on my left side.” “Oh my…Jack, what does this mean? If she’s been in an institution, then how did she get here?” “I don’t know. She wasn’t supposed to be get out for a long time. She’s…dangerous.” I looked deep into Jack’s eyes. I didn’t want to be a fool, but there was no mistaking the panic that I saw. He really wasn’t lying. Not only was he not married, but my happily ever after just took a hairpin turn on the road to terror.|

Nicole Morgan is a multi-published author of erotic romance novels, which more often than not have a suspensefull backstory. Erotic romance mixed with a good old-fashioned whodunit. While she’s written everything from contemporary to paranormal, her leading men will more than likey be wearing a uniform of some kind. From military to police, she has a love for writing about those who protect and serve. -nicolemorgan1.webs.com

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SCI FI & FANTASY

OUT of this WORLD

Featured Authors,

REVIEWS and more

BTS REVIEW RATINGS: 5 Stars awesome book, read it now! 4 Stars a must read 3 Stars really good read 2 Stars this was OK 1 Star hard to finish, flawed

SCI FI & FANTASY | book reviews | The Darwin Elevator Jason M. Hough Sci-Fi Heating Rating: 0

In the mid-23rd century, Darwin, Australia, stands as the last human city on Earth. The world has succumbed to an alien plague, with most of the population transformed into mindless, savage creatures. The planet’s refugees flock to Darwin, where a space elevator—created by the architects of this apocalypse, the Builders—emits a plague-suppressing aura. Skyler Luiken has a rare immunity to the plague. Backed by

an international crew of fellow “immunes,” he leads missions into the dangerous wasteland beyond the aura’s edge to find the resources Darwin needs to stave off collapse. But when the Elevator starts to malfunction, Skyler is tapped—along with the brilliant scientist, Dr. Tania Sharma—to solve the mystery of the failing alien technology and save the ragged remnants of humanity. REVIEW: Unique, exciting and brilliant, this wonderfully written novel takes you on a post-apocalyptic adventure like no other. The author begins by painting an intricately detailed futuristic society thriving in the midst of a zombie-like plague that has nearly wiped out the entire world. The few fighters that are left in this seemingly impossible situation are strong willed, courageous, brave and tenacious. They are warriors, written with incredible passion and determination. Their journey through this novel is what keeps you riveted from beginning to end, as you pay witness to their tumultuous struggle for survival. It is a book that allows your imagination

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| SCI FI & FANTASY book reviews | the freedom to run wild. Fan of this genre or not, the author has created an unforgettable story that I would recommend to anyone that’s a fan of books. | Reviewer: Marie Haney |

A First Love Never Dies Margaret Taylor Sci-fi/Romance Heating Rating: 3

Janel Canton must be pregnant by the time Fleet Commander Pearson Acto catches up to her again and only one man will do for that. Her one true love, sexy Montana Sheriff Jake Reeves. But returning to Earth she finds he’s still mourning his dead wife and has become very comfortable in the small-town life. Will introducing him to reality of the Universe be enough for him to move on to a new life? REVIEW: I really enjoyed A First Love Never Dies, though when I first read the premise I was a little unsure. I was blown away by the characters, and the strong female lead of Janel. I love the history between the characters, and I cannot get enough of Jake and Janel and their interactions. These two fight against their pasts and work on creating a future that includes the other. I cannot get enough of this story, or the characters. I really love what Ms. Taylor has done here, and I keep coming back to it and re-reading certain chapters and scenes. This is the first in a series and sets up for the next installment nicely. I look forward to reading more of this series. | Reviewer: Shelly Shultz |

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Hellfire Jean Johnson

Sci-fi Heating Rating: 0

Captain Ia, the Prophet of a Thousand Years, has finally gotten her hands on the best ship in the Terran Space Force, just in time for the opening battles of the Second Salik War. But it’s her own crew that may be her downfall, if she isn’t careful... REVIEW: Listen up gentle meioas, this book kicks butt! Once again Jean Johnson shines brightly as a world builder but also as the Kick Ass heroine Queen. Ia is just plain cool. At times the world building is laid on thick but once you get into it and fall into this carefully crafted world that Mrs. Johnson has built, you’ll thank her for it. This time around Ia is Captain of the Hellfire, and this time around there is no hiding her precoq abilities. She can now embrace them and believe me she does with full force. Ia is downright fun to read about and this

| SCI FI & FANTASY book reviews |

time around you see more of Harper, the mysterious man she can’t predict. This is a must have read, actually start from the beginning and enjoy the ride. | Reviewer: Christy Wilhelm |

An Officers Duty Jean Johnson Sci-fi Heating Rating: 0

Promoted in the field for courage and leadership under fire, Ia is now poised to become an officer in the Space Force Navy—once she undertakes her Academy training. But on a trip back home to Sanctuary, she finds the heavyworld colony being torn apart by religious conflict. Now Ia must prepare her family and followers to secure the galaxy’s survival. Her plan is to command a Blockade

Patrol ship. Her goal, to save as many lives as she can. But at the Academy, she discovers an unexpected challenge: the one man who could disrupt those plans. The man whose future she cannot foresee... REVIEW: It’s all in the details and Jean Johnson is a master at world building. Once again she blows my mind with her ability to make Ia’s world come to life. The details involved in this complex and interesting story is mind boggling. There are times though that this world building can weigh down the story but it is also what makes this serious so impressive. Ia herself is what makes this serious worth reading. Her precog abilities are pulse pounding and you find your heart beating just a little faster when she really gets down to business, wither it’s fighting as Bloody Mary or taking a reluctant believer into the time-streams. Read this book? Most definitely! | Reviewer: Christy Wilhelm |

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| SCI FI & FANTASY book reviews |

Vitalis Chronicles White Shores Jay Swanson Fantasy Heating Rating: 2

Young Ardin Vitalis’ family is murdered by his own nation’s army in a plot to undo a woman known only as the Witch. Furious, he strikes out for revenge, but is thrust into events that will change his world forever. Suddenly he finds himself driven to save the Witch’s beautiful daughter from the nations, Magi, and King of the Shades who seek to destroy her. REVIEW: The Vitalis Chronicles is a really rich fantasy novel. The world is well defined, and I found that I was getting lost in the story. To me, characters are really important, especially in a fantasy novel, and the characters here do not disappoint.

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There are plenty of characters, and there’s no way you won’t find a connection with at least one of them. I really enjoyed this story, though it seemed to slow in places. More characters were introduced, numerous side plots were also introduced, which took from the main story slightly. Overall, it’s a great fantasy piece, and a good start to a series. There were a few editing errors, and at times I found myself too overwhelmed with plots and characters. This story is worth the slow parts however. | Reviewer: Shelly Shultz |

| SCI FI & FANTASY book reviews |

River of Dreams IV: Wanted: Handsome Alien Abductor Myra Nour Sci-fi/Romance Heating Rating: 3

When a handsome alien kidnaps her, Amberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sexual fantasies become reality, but can she handle her growing love for a spaceman? REVIEW: Wanted: Handsome Alien Abductor is a smart, sexy quick read. The story takes contemporary romance, with the heroine looking for the man of her dreams, and mixes it with science fiction, successfully adding an element of spice. Our hero is a space explorer not of this world, and the two come together at first in what seems like a sexy dream, only to find that it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a dream--and our heroine is attracted to the humanoid alien, and explores the world around her with new eyes, all while falling deeper and deeper in love. The story is cute, a little quirky and well told. I really love the characters and their romance and found myself falling in love too. | Reviewer: Shelly Schulz |

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| SCI FI & FANTASY book reviews |

The Demon of Synar Donna McDonald Sci Fi Romance Heating Rating: 2

Being captain of a Peace Alliance rescue ship is the life reluctant demon master, Liam Synar, always dreamed of living. Coveting Malachi’s power, his brother hunts him to capture the powerful being his life mate unknowingly hosts. Liam put Malachi inside Ania two years ago when she almost died. Now the truth is about to come out.

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REVIEW: I am not entirely sure about this book to be honest with you. I found the beginning quite confusing, I couldn’t quite figure out what it was all about. I like books that draw me in from the first page and I will be honest and say that this wasn’t the case. It took me a while to get into it. When I finally did, the book was over. This was disappointing as it took so long to draw me in. The way I see it however, is that now I want to read the next one and I hope it pulls me in a lot quicker than this one. So if you like giving books a chance, even if they start slow, well give it a read, by the end you will want more. That much I can promise you. | Reviewer: Nila Bi |

A Sneak Peak

Hellfire

Jean Johnson

“What about Lieutenant Second Class Brad Arstoll? She served in Basic Training with him,” a middle-aged woman offered. “Yes, he’s just finished his Marines Academy training. But that means he’s still a new officer. Can we really risk the 2nd Platoon being led by a raw cadet?” an elderly man countered. Their voices blended together, male and female, middle-aged and older, like the babbling of a brook in the background of her awareness. Physically, Ia stood in one of the research rooms used by the Department of Innovations, a chamber filled with banks of workstations ringing an oval table scattered with datapads and stacks of personnel printouts. The walls themselves were mostly datascreens broken by a trio of doors. Each screen displayed a larger-than-life face and the bare-bones stats of the Service record belonging to each profiled solider, flickering and shifting with each new suggestion. Mentally, Ia stood on the grassy banks of Time itself, a rolling plain crisscrossed by the tangled streams of millions of lives. They formed a complex tapestry where major events, which would normally stir the waters out of their banks, were actually overshadowed by the tiniest of ripples. Changes that she had to track down.

National Bestselling Author of “A Solider’s Duty” Captain Ia, the Prophet of a Thousand Years, has finally gotten her hands on the best ship in the Terran Space Force, just in time for the opening battles of the Second Salik War. But it’s her own crew that may be her downfall, if she isn’t careful...

September 23, 2495 Terran Standard The Tower, Terran United Planets Space Force Headquarters Earth, Sol System The voices kept impinging on her senses, distracting her from her search. Ia wished they would shut up.

“Arstoll may be a new officer, but he is Field Commissioned, so he does have some combat leadership experience,” a second, older woman pointed out. “Plus he’s somewhat familiar with the captain, even if they haven’t seen each other in years. Not to mention their compatibility charts look pretty good.” “Familiarity doesn’t really come into it,” another male argued. “She needs a competent, combat-trained officer. I still say Lieutenant Dostoyervski is the best match—he should be her second in command.” Something was rippling the waters of Time, disturbing her carefully laid plans like a deep, unseen current. If she didn’t track it down, it could erode the bank out from under her feet. That would be bad.

Jean Johnson lives in the Pacific Northwest, writing bestsellers in genres as far apart as fantasy romance and military science fiction. Currently, she has sixteen novels out, a couple single-author anthologies, and several short stories, and promises many more to come. www.jeanjohnson.net

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An Action Scene

White Shores Jay Swanson

Finally lights started to come back on in the area. Street lights at first and then eventually the perimeter lights above the gates. To his surprise Merodach hardly saw any bodies on the ground. There appeared to be a few men shot in the crossfire, but he didn’t see the telltale slashes and gaping wounds that the Shadow King’s blade would leave behind. He scanned the screens, looking for any evidence that the Shade had even been the cause of the explosion, searching more frantically as the soldiers looked around in their own dazed confusion. Medics were being called in to tend to the wounded, and then Merodach noticed a concentration of officers at the monument of Elandir. They were gesticulating wildly, pushing soldiers back and hollering for medics. Merodach couldn’t see through the crowd from this angle. He looked around at the other monitors but didn’t see any better from which to get a view. The Mayor was about to pick up a phone in his frustration to call down and demand an answer to what had happened. But then the crowd of officers on the steps of the monument parted for an approaching doctor. It wasn’t the doctor that caught his attention, or even the movement of the officers on the screen. It was the glint of bright steel that shone as the shadows parted from the stairs. It was a sword lying on the ground, and not just any sword. Merodach recognized it immediately. His jaw dropped with his drink as it crashed to the floor in the silence of the ringing in his ears. The saber of the High General of Elandir lay broken on the steps of the city’s monument. Gunfire spat again, but Merodach couldn’t tell where it was coming from on the screens. He came back to reality and his ears perked up as his heart began to race. It came again, short bursts followed by men yelling and screaming.

The Vitalis Chronicles

Then he realized it was coming from the monitors behind him. He whipped around as the screens which displayed the internal cameras of his own tower flickered and went black. They were followed shortly by the rest of the lights in his office. The Mayor stopped for a moment, his own heavy breathing grating on his ears in the still air of his chambers. He suddenly realized how very alone he was.

Jay Swanson is currently living in Paris, France, although he will be in the Congo soon to work for Mercy Ships as their PR Coordinator. He had hoped to grow up to make movies when he was a kid, and he supposes that still isn’t out of the question once his adventures are over. vitalischronicles.com

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Finding Phineas James Patrick Riser The varying degrees of reds and oranges began to slowly disappear behind the horizon as the sun prepared to set. Birds glided from tree to tree; their bodies whispered through leaves as they landed on branches. The air seemed to swell with their high-pitched chirping, a frantic language that complemented the soft sounds of nocturnal insects getting ready to play their music. The green hills rolled on for a few miles before plummeting into a city blanketed by smog. Every so often a bird emerged from the gray clouds and joined the small group that circled over the hills. When the night finally falls, they’ll be hidden away in the trees, resting in their nests. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere, Phineas,” Rodger Link told the man who sat in the grass with his knees drawn up against his chest. “I’m lucky someone told me that they saw a man matching your description walking the trail.” He took a couple of steps forward and stopped directly behind Phineas. “I guess you’re not very hard to miss, though,” Rodger paused as he took in the view. The finer details were slowly being eroded away by the oncoming darkness. The wind ran its hand through the grass and caused the blades to sway in unison. “Oh?” Phineas replied. Rodger winced as the other spoke. Phineas uttered the syllable without the slightest trace of emotion and it drove a cold, hard spike into Rodger’s eardrum. “Yeah, you don’t see many hikers wearing an overcoat, jeans, and a beanie.” “Winter is coming,” Phineas said flatly. “That’s not for a few months,” Rodger observed while producing a red pack of cigarettes from his shorts’ back pocket. He took a seat next to Phineas and loosely placed a cigarette in between his lips as he rummaged in his other pockets for a lighter. “Time really means nothing to me. Never has.” He finally

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| Finding Phineas | broke his gaze away from the horizon and fixated on Rodger instead. “I prefer that you don’t smoke.” “Why? You can’t even smell.” Rodger lit the cigarette. “It makes no sense.” “Don’t complain. You’re the one who programmed me this way,” Phineas replied with a slight touch of concern in his voice. He took a deep drag and exhaled. The pair watched the smoke curl into the air as it steadily rose and then dissipated. “When did I do that?” “When did you start smoking?” Phineas countered, turning back to look at the remainder of the sun, which hung in the sky as a small sliver. “You almost made me miss my favorite part.” “Favorite part?” The cigarette was halfway done. “Yes. The moment before darkness finally overtakes the city. It’s inevitable.” He laid back in the grass with his hands laced behind his head. Night had finally come. “There are so few absolutes in this world. It’s pleasant to know that there’s a constant.” He let his eyes close, and a trace of a smile gently touched his lips. “How can you even experience these things?” Rodger asked as he snuffed out the cigarette butt on the bottom of his shoe and placed it on the ground next to him. “I don’t know. It’s just something that makes sense mathematically, a constant variable that can be solved.” His eyes snapped open. “I also solved the problem of the war while I was up here.” “Did you?” Rodger joined Phineas and laid down as well. “What did you come up with?” “The Earth is going to be consumed by it. Sixty percent of humanity will be destroyed in the process, and the planet will become nearly inhabitable. The government will most likely reinstate the space colonization project.” Rodger sat up and looked at Phineas, “That doesn’t sound like a solution.”

“There are no other possible outcomes. I’ve sat up here for three days hoping to find one.” Phineas closed his eyes again and let out a convincing sigh. “Hmmm . . . ,” Rodger groped in the dark for the pack of cigarettes he left in the grass next to him. “Do you know why I came here, Phineas?” “When did you start smoking, Rodger?” Phineas turned over on his side and brought his knees to his chest once again. “About three months ago, around the time you disappeared.” He slid another cigarette out of the pack, “I stopped smoking about two years ago, maybe that’s why I programmed you to request people not to light up around you.” He looked at the cigarette he held in between his index and ring fingers and then tossed it into the darkness, “Maybe I wanted to make sure that I didn’t go back to it, but you’ve been gone for a while, so . . . ,” he trailed off as if his words had been tossed into the night as well. “Don’t litter.” Phineas said.

“Do you know why I’m here?” Rodger asked again, more firmly. “Yes. My expiration date was a month ago,” the other stated simply. “Correct. They sent me to retire you.” Rodger stood up and then tossed his pack into the night. “You’re too old of a model to upgrade, and the company won’t spare the extra expense.” “I understand,” Phineas said as he rose. He looked at Rodger with a smile, not the cold, calculating look of an android, and then looked at the ground. “Did you know Elizabeth Taylor is getting married again? This time to a construction worker.” “That happened a long time ago.” Rodger took a step toward Phineas. “Your conversation software must be glitching up. It’s funny.” Rodger smiled thinly and blinked hard. “You’re an older model, outdated and destined to be spare parts, but you seem more human than any of them.” He placed a hand on the machine’s shoulder. “I can’t have you with me, but it feels good to know that you’re up here.” He turned to leave. “What do you mean?” Phineas asked. “They won’t even think about looking for you up here.” He stopped and turned to Phineas. “Do you like this spot?” “I love it.” Phineas replied. “Then stay here. I’m going to say that I never found you.” Rodger resumed walking back toward the trail with careful, deliberate steps. “I’m not going to smoke anymore, Phineas,” he called back as he almost tripped over a rock hidden in the blackness. “Good. I am very happy to hear that.” Phineas replied. “And I actually believe that you can feel happy. Goodbye, Phineas.”

James Patrick Riser is the author of Syndrome and Falling Sky, both published by Wild Child Publishing. His poetry has appeared in 4 and 20, Pif Magazine, and Dead Beats. He currently lives in Colton, California, and is at work on a short story collection. http://robotcoffee.blogspot.com/

August 2013 |

PARANORMAL & SUSPENSE

BEYOND the EXPECTED

Featured Authors,

REVIEWS and more

BTS REVIEW RATINGS: 5 Stars awesome book, read it now! 4 Stars a must read 3 Stars really good read 2 Stars this was OK 1 Star hard to finish, flawed

PARANORMAL

& SUSPENSE | book reviews |

Maple Lane Manor, Home for Retired Supernaturals Cree Walker

Legion B.J. Kibble

Mystery/Thriller Heat Rating: 0

Paranormal Heat Rating: 3

Maple Lane returns to the retirement home where she grew up, after ten years away, and must face the music. How can she rebuild the dilapidated building, repay a massive mortgage, and restore her residents’ faith in her with her arch-nemesis – Stacy Three Names — breathing down her neck, hungry for an artifact said to grant immortality? As Stacy sabotages Maple’s efforts, the gorgeous new handyman Derek complicates matters with his demon blood and hot attraction. How can Maple and her residents fight Stacy, find the artifact, and save their home with the rich and powerful of the town arrayed against them? …And can she trust a demon to help her? REVIEW: From the get-go, you know that you will be in for a comical story simply from reading the title. I sat down to read this book with the intent to laugh and I was not disappointed. The characters were entertaining, not just by the cane swinging werewolf or drunken witches, but by the similarities I found between these characters and people I know myself. Then again, who doesn’t have a sassy grandma to love these days? This story seems to have a 2-in-1 quality to it as well. On one hand, you’ll find the easy-go happy moments that causes the giggle building in the back of your throat but on the other hand, you’ll find yourself anxious to get to the next page to solve the mystery that was imbedded into the this novel. Just add a sexy handyman to work on the roof and the story would be perfect. Oh wait, there is a sexy handyman! Well there you have it, everyone. Laughs, mystery, and sexy men. I’d recommend this book to any one of my girlfriends looking for an easy and eventful read. | Reviewer: Rachel Flash |

Former MI6 agent Alex Jordan hunts his old partner’s murderer and discovers a plan to assassinate the North Korean president and replace the demigod with a brutal, cash-hungry Korean general. The plot is instigated by rogue Secret Service chief Paul Grady and its success will net the ambitious man carte blanche intelligence rights to all of Asia and the Pacific Rim. He plans to market that intelligence to the highest bidder, including terrorists, while the Korean general consolidates his international drug empire. As Jordan is pushed to the edge of his endurance, he’s forced to test the loyalty of his close friends and colleagues to the limit—for a few it will inevitably cost them everything. REVIEW: There is nothing like a great international spy/intelligence thriller. And when it’s written well, it is in a league of its own. That distinction is precisely where Legion falls. From start to finish, the story grabs you and takes you on one intensely wild ride alongside its protagonist of a main character, Alex. With his tenacity to solve the murder of his old partner, Alex uncovers an assassination plot and finds the culprit behind it to be one of the Secret Services own. As he tries to thwart the agent’s plans, he finds himself amongst people he once thought he could trust, and discovers that people aren’t always as they seem. Every page in this book is exciting – impossible to put down until you’ve reached the very end. The author’s knowledge of international relations and intelligence is impressive, leaving you to wonder just how much of that is based on personal experience. Descriptive, raw and extremely intense, it is by far one of the best thrillers I’ve read all year. | Reviewer: Marie Haney | August 2013 | 79

| PARANORMAL & SUSPENSE book reviews |

Burn in Hell Marian Lanouette

A Winter’s Grave Cree Walker

A botched missing person’s case.

What would you do if you woke up in the snow with absolutely no memory of who you are or how you got there?

Mystery/Thriller/Suspense Heat Rating: 0

A nervous mob boss. Lt. Jake Carrington’s gut tells him Phil Lucci is being cagey— with good reason. Jake can see this case has been mishandled from the beginning. Sloppy police work? Or does Lucci’s hand reach as far as the WPD? It’s Jake’s job to find the answers. Then Jake meets Kyra Russell, a woman with an unusual job—she runs the local crematory. Despite the heated attraction between them, Jake becomes more and more suspicious of Kyra. Her gambling problem has already cost her a marriage and custody of her son. More than that, she also happens to be friends with Phil Lucci. Kyra assures Jake that it’s just coincidence, but Jake’s experience and his instincts warn him not to believe in chance. Can Kyra be burning bodies for the mob? If she is, what will Jake do about it? REVIEW: Burn in Hell is an intense mystery that will have you hooked from beginning to end as you follow Detective Jake Carrington on a missing person’s case. When he delves deep into the case, his search puts him in precarious situations with the mob, including one that may involve his potential love interest, Kyra, being responsible for making people disappear. As the case begins to unfold, the relationship between Kyra and Jake grows, allowing the reader to keep an emotional investment in the story. From a ruthless crime family to a desperate mother, this fast-paced and well developed storyline keeps you on the edge of your seat, making it impossible to put it down. (This is the second book in the Jake Carrington series, but can be read and appreciated as a stand-alone.) | Reviewer: Marie Haney |

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Paranormal Heat Rating: 3

What would you say to your savior when she tells you that not only are you now dead but you’ve been chosen to become a Grim Reaper? REVIEW: This story is one I would call rather refreshing. With the storyline involving reapers, tortured souls, and untimely deaths, you would think it would leave you with hairs sticking up on your neck. When I sat down to read this book, I found myself laughing until my sides cramped. The author took a plot with horrific potential and decided to go down a comedic route; taking cloak covered skeletons and turning them into everyday people with bills to pay and souls to collect. The characters have personality traits you often find in the people you see every day making it hard to forget that they aren’t real. I found myself bonding with the characters as I read on and was sad to see them go when I regrettably reached the last page. The story itself, while incredibly sidesplitting, often leaves the reader with questions they’re eager to find the answers to. It was painful to set the book down when 2 am rolled around I remembered I had to get up in 4 hours. This is a story to read after a long day at work and you’re looking for a laugh. It’s easy to read and, despite the whole reaping thing, easy to relate to. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good read. | Reviewer: Rachel Flash |

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| PARANORMAL & SUSPENSE book reviews |

Magic Rises Ilona Andrews

Disrobed for Death Sylvia Rochester

Atlanta is a city plagued by magical problems. Kate Daniels will fight to solve them—no matter the cost.

Susan Griffin awakes from surgery with one thought—how to stop a murder before it happens. Only the intended victim refuses to believe that she has foreseen his death. Worse yet, she hasn’t a clue as to the murderer, and the day of reckoning is but two weeks away.

Urban Fantasy Romance Heat Rating: 3

Mercenary Kate Daniels and her mate, Curran, the Beast Lord, are struggling to solve a heartbreaking crisis. Unable to control their beasts, many of the Pack’s shapeshifting children fail to survive to adulthood. While there is a medicine that can help, the secret to its making is closely guarded by the European packs, and there’s little available in Atlanta. Kate can’t bear to watch innocents suffer, but the solution she and Curran have found threatens to be even more painful. The European shapeshifters who once outmaneuvered the Beast Lord have asked him to arbitrate a dispute—and they’ll pay him in medicine. With the young people’s survival and the Pack’s future at stake, Kate and Curran know they must accept the offer—but they have little doubt that they’re heading straight into a trap…

Mystery Heat Rating: 0

As owner of the Bawdy Boutique, Susan’s forte is fashion and frills, not murder and mayhem, so she calls on the two people she trusts the most--Wesley Grissom, a detective with whom she hopes to rekindle a past relationship, and her assistant manager, A. K. Williams, a forty year old cougar who’s game for anything. But when Susan uncovers a conspiracy, she finds herself in over her head and dead wrong as to the killer.

REVIEW: See I knew I was going to love the Kate Daniels books – I’ve been meaning to read these for years now and I finally had one in my hands, and it did not disappoint! This could have been disastrous, as I had not read any of the previous books but… the adventure, the action and the romance kept me so preoccupied that I only occasionally felt like I was out of the loop. Kate and Curran’s relationship was so much fun to read, as well as Kate’s interaction with the children, her mercenary ways weren’t exactly kid friendly but she made it up with a lot of heart. The plots exciting, and like I expected these books have that same feel as Jeaniene Frost books, the fun, the entertainment and the action that keep you glued to the books! Now of course I’ll be buying the first five books because this series is WAY addictive! | Reviewer: Niina Cord |

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If you like your mystery with a dash of humor and a can-do heroine, this one’s for you. REVIEW: If a fun mystery with plenty of twists and turns is what you’re looking for, then look no further! This book was a fairly quick, easy read with a plot that moves smoothly. The author’s use of descriptive words paints a wonderful picture with each scene of the book making it easy to get lost in the story. The characters, particularly the two main characters – Susan and Wesley – are engaging, likeable and fun. When Susan’s new-found ability to foresee a murder lands her close to Wesley, she finds herself hoping to rekindle the romance the two of them once shared. Susan and Wesley have great chemistry, and the unforgettable supporting cast of characters (especially Susan’s assistant manager A.K!) plays into it and off of it very well. The author has created a great mystery that’s exciting and leaves you wanting more. I can’t wait for the next book in the series! | Reviewer: Marie Haney |

The Prince’s Gamble Caridad Piñeiro Romantic Suspense Heat Rating: 3

Two years ago, FBI agent Kathleen Martinez’s investigation into human trafficking in New York was blocked by lawyers, who represented the Ivanov royal family. The delay caused many women to suffer – and one to die. And Kathleen swore that one day; she would make the Ivanovs pay. Now Kathleen has been assigned to an undercover operation to investigate money laundering and possible human trafficking at Atlantic City’s newest casino – Russian Nights. And the owner? None other than Prince Alexander Ivanov. He’s cold, imperious and wickedly gorgeous. And as far as Kathleen is concerned, he’s her prime suspect. But everywhere she turns, she finds herself fascinated by his contrasting nature – icy cool one moment, then burning hot the next. Worse still, she can’t stop herself from fantasizing about his touch. Because what Alexander wants, Alexander gets… and this is one gamble that could cost them both everything! REVIEW: What a fascinating read, and the buildup to Kathleen and Alexander finally coming together is so spectacular plus the suspense of trying to solve the mystery of exactly what crimes have or are taking place and who is responsible is intriguing, as are the inner workings of a major casino. Kathleen’s character is amazingly strong and independent, rough around the edges but still able to pull off an evening gown, and Alexander is a prince like no other. The Prince’s Gamble held my interest effortlessly. | Reviewer: Drue A. Hoffman |

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Character Interview

Luck of the Dragon Susannah Scott

Romance, Dragons, Magic, Oh My!

Luciana de Luca has a PhD in sass and gemology—and a problem. Her twin brother’s gambling debts have gotten out of hand, and a mob enforcer is blackmailing her to rob the latest, greatest mega-casino on the Strip. Although Lucy has worked her whole life to get away from her family’s grifter past, to save her brother, she dons three-inch heels and a sluts-r-us dress and struts into Alec’s Gerald’s casino, determined to put her long-forgotten thieving ways to the test again. Alec Gerald, a shape-shifting dragon, has built the Crown Jewel casino to provide sanctuary for his people amongst the flash and awe of Las Vegas. Unfortunately, the sexy little thief trying to rob his gem exhibit turns out to be his mate, and he must woo her before he loses his dragon form forever. With enemies in every corner, and the all-important mating ceremony looming, Alec and Lucy must learn to trust each other, before time runs out for Alec and the rest of the dragons.

~7:50 a.m., Las Vegas Time, The Crown Jewel Casino~ Alec Gerald, the casino owner, and king of the shapeshifting dragons sits down with Dr. Luciana De Luca: world renowned gem appraiser--his possible mate--and a probable thief. Alec: I have breakfast ready, won’t you sit down?” Lucy: I have my contract for you to sign. (Reaches into her briefcase and holds papers toward Alec.) I’ve already eaten. Alec: But I haven’t. I would enjoy your company. Would you eat with me? Lucy: I’m here for business. (Walks reluctantly to the table and sits in proffered chair.) I’m not interested in being one of your conquests. Alec: Why do you assume that I only have conquests? (Sits and spreads napkin across his lap.) My relationships are not conquests—they’re more like mergers. Lucy: Mergers? (laughs) Is that the best line you have? Alec: Do you always wear glasses? Lucy: When I’m working. (Pours coffee from a silver carafe into her cup. Pot shakes slightly before she put it down.) Alec: And a pant suit? (Eyes wander from the button below her chin to the curve of her waist.) Lucy: Please quit asking me non-business related questions. Alec: Am I making you uncomfortable? Lucy: No. (stares hard) You do not affect me at all. Alec: Really? (laughs) “Fine, you ask me something. Just no business.” Lucy: Okay. (tilts her head) What’s your favorite jewel in your collection? Alec: I have a black opal the size of my palm. It’s my favorite. Lucy: Why is it your favorite, when you have so many? Alec: It resonates with my heart. (leans back and touches his chest.) When I hold it, I feel a part of it, and it becomes a part of me. Lucy: (Mouth opens, but no words come out). Alec: I can feel the history—the heat and fire and passion that forged it. I respect its journey, and it knows I will treasure it and keep it safe, always. Lucy: A merger. Alec: A melding. SUSANNAH SCOTT lives in the Missouri Ozarks and is the lone female in a very loud household of males ranging in age from 4 to 40. While she jokes that the extreme levels of testosterone inspired her to write romance, it is really the love of creating an excellent story, and the occasional dreams of twenty-foot dragons, that wake her and send her to the laptop before the chaos of daily life ensues. susannahscottbooks.com

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| PARANORMAL & SUSPENSE book reviews |

part of him, she seems to be in his blood. When he meets Olivia face-to-face, long-buried memories begin to surface. She might be the answer to his prayers...or she might be the dead of him. REVIEW: Olivia owns a club in NYC that is run by coven of vampires. One night a murder occurred and the person that comes to investigate is someone that Olivia least expects. The reincarnation of her true love… As I was reading this book I couldn’t help but think of the saying that love has no bounds. I found the book to be a great mix of paranormal, mystery, romance and humor. Overall the storyline was one that I could sink my “teeth” into and really enjoy. But the ending abrupt and sweet, some will enjoy while others may not like. | Reviewer: Beckey White |

Out of Control Stephanie Feagan Romantic Suspense Heat Rating: 3

Tall Dark and Vampire Sara Humphreys Paranormal Romance Heat Rating: 3

She always knew Fate was cruel... The last person Olivia expected to turn up at her club was her one true love. It would normally be great to see him, except he’s been dead for centuries. Olivia really thought she had moved on with her immortal life, but as soon as she sees Doug Paxton, she knows she’d rather die than lose him again. And that’s a real problem... But this is beyond the pale...

And they thought the blowout was hot… Oil rig blowout specialist Blair Drake is finished with men—especially after her disastrous marriage that caused her family to disinherit and cut all ties with her. But when Nick Robichaud, a handsome, roguishly charming oil well fire expert, wildcats into her life, throwing his devil-may-care attitude all over the place, the real sparks begin to fly. REVIEW: Boy did I enjoy this! There were no dull moments, its action after action, chemistry after chemistry but with a great take-no-bullshit heroine and a hero with a mystery past, even the lulls in the action are interesting. I simply couldn’t, wouldn’t and didn’t want to put this book down! Feagan has a great story telling style where you are on the edge of your seat action wise or desperate to see where this fiery couple is going emotionally, I will say it is hot the chemistry is right on and I ended up rooting for the couple quite quickly! She knows how to write a plot that can compete with watching an action thriller, and still add all the yummy

Doug is a no-nonsense cop by day, but his nights are tormented by dreams of a gorgeous redhead who’s so much a August 2013 | 87

| PARANORMAL & SUSPENSE book reviews |

romance - well done!

orders are to take her out.

Oil is a big word these days, so hitting where it hurts gives credibility to the plot. I’m sure we’ve all seen those what happens when oil runs out documentaries. The plot really brings that idea home and gives the characters the spring board they need to haul ass and do something before it’s too late. I will definitely be reading more Stephanie Feagan books!

Lana Turpin doesn’t realize she’s a moving target. Raised in the foster system, she only knows that she blacks out during the new moon and wakes up without remembering a thing. But now she’s being tracked by some strange organization that wants her back—even though she’s never stepped foot inside their compound. And the stranger across the diner is watching her like an enemy.

| Reviewer: Niina Cord |

Murder Mi Amore Cara Marsi Romantic Suspense Heat Rating: 3

When jewel thieves, murder, and terrorists intrude on Lexie Cortese’s Roman holiday, Interpol agent Dominic Brioni is assigned to befriend the American and bring her to justice. Only Lexie seems the most unlikely terrorist Dominic has ever met. Will he learn to trust his heart before they both get killed? REVIEW: Murder Mi Amore is a great mystery romance novel. The author Cara Marsi has done a great job of building a very exciting story of danger and hidden deceptions at every corner. Can Lexie and Dominic work through their suspicions and uncover the truth? I couldn’t wait to find out! Love, adventure and happy endings, you can’t go wrong!

It should be a simple mission for Adam, but when he touches the frustratingly beautiful Lana, his inner wolf howls…mate. Now, the two must find and stop the people who hunt her… and Adam must keep his own family from killing the only woman he will ever love. REVIEW: A beautiful love story of a dog (wolf) and a cat (jaguar), Moonlight starts off with Lana having no idea that she’s a preternatural being and Adam being sent to hunt down her kind. Kessler brings out the personality of each character, whether he is main character or side character. Each of them has been given a chance to prove their worth. Written in the first person narrative, both Adam and Lana has their own POV (point of view) in every situation. The well-written and emotion-laden climax tapers off into an epilogue which gives the novel a feeling of completion, making this first book of the Moon Series, capable of being a stand-alone. | Reviewer: Francine Alli |

Bound Spirits Karen Wiesner

| Reviewer: Krissy Malott |

Paranormal Romance Heat Rating: 1

Moonlight Lisa Kessler

Don’t close your eyes...

Paranormal Romance Heat Rating: 4

Rancher Adam Sloan is more than meets the eye. As the heir to his Pack, the sexy werewolf’s biggest challenge is keeping his kin’s true nature under wraps. But a group of jaguar shifters threatens to reveal the pack, blasting into town killing humans in plain sight. And when he smells one at the local diner, his standing

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“Harrity Scaritty, on the mountainside, in the realm of the dead, how will you escape, how will you be fed? With the living and the undead”… Nestled on Lake Superior in northern Wisconsin is a small, secluded town called Bloodmoon Cove with volatile weather, suspicious folk…and newly awakened ghosts bent on revenge. Esmeralda “Esme” Dumas comes to the town looking to find work surrounded by wide-open nature, and most of all looking for a place to hide. Bloodmoon Cove Park Ranger John Kotter senses immedi-

| PARANORMAL & SUSPENSE book reviews |

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| PARANORMAL & SUSPENSE book reviews |

ately that she has ghosts of her own. As a child, Esme was kidnapped and locked in a cold, dark basement. Her friends were rodents, insects, and the changeable terror that held her hostage. The only thing that kept her sane those nightmare years were her books. She’s been on the run since her escape a few months ago, never expecting to find another bound spirit come back to life. REVIEW: Bound Spirits is like an urban legend told sitting around a bonfire with your hairs rising on the back of your neck from this tale. It sucks you right in and you’re on the edge of your seat waiting to hear the rest of the story. Bloodmoon Mountain has an eerie secret as well as the woman that John Kotter finds inhabiting his home. After many years away, John returns to take over the family business, but finds himself drawn deep into ghost of the past. He must find a way to solve children being murdered on his mountain and find out exactly who the woman is, because falling in love could get you killed. | Reviewer: Gypsie M. Holley |

A Gift for Murder Karen McCullough Suspense/Mystery Heat Rating: 1

Greed, jealousy, and anger often lurk below the surface of trade shows and business exhibitions, but murder isn’t usually on the program. The Gifts and Home Decoration trade show provides Heather McNeill with the longest week of her hectic life. As assistant to the director of Washington, D.C.’s, Market and Commerce center, she’s point person for complaining exhibitors, missing shipments and miscellaneous disasters. It’s a job she takes in stride—until murder crashes the event. REVIEW: Something big happens in chapter one centered around mysterious circumstances played out in a manner reminiscent of Agatha Christie. The subsequent chapters had me drifting away from the story as the narration, written in first person, loses its motivation. The prospective is from career-oriented Heather McNeill who takes it upon herself to discover the identity of the murderer though it’s never made clear what compels her to become an investigator. Heather’s life revolves around her workplace and rarely does the story leave it. References allude to her physical attraction to security expert Scott Brandon, but the would-be romance never amounts to much more. Even the discovery of the murderer lacks stimulation. The story has potential but the details of managing a trade show and its climate as a rumor mill/grapevine clusters it with distractions that cause the reader to drift and lose concentration on the murder mystery. | Reviewer: Susan Frances |

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The Scrying Eye Kelly Hudson

Shattering Suggestions Ah! Is it that time already? Come, come, enter my domain. Sit! Take a deep breath, as we are about to plunge into fiction that is swirling with mystery, fantasy, and horror. Slow your fluttering hearts; we must pace ourselves, dear hearts, for the Scrying Eye opens, and what it reveals could very well shatter you souls . . .

Fantasy/Science Fiction The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes (Mulholland Books—available now) is a fine mix of mystery, fantasy, and science fiction. A serial killer finds a key to a very special house in Depression-era Chicago. This house allows him to travel through time, where he seeks out new victims, women he calls the shining girls. He wreaks havoc until one of his victims survives, and she starts hunting him back. Be prepared to hold on tight as you read this delicious tome; it is guaranteed to thrill and chill! The Thinking Woman’s Guide to Real Magic by Emily Croy Barker (Pamela Dorman Books—available August 1, 2013) is a wonderful, romantic fantasy about Nora Fischer, a grad student who has a whole new world open to her when she walks through a portal into another world. Gone is her stalled dissertation; forgotten is her former boyfriend who’s go-

| The Scrying Eye | ing to marry another woman. In their place is a fairy tale land full of charm and romantic fun. But, as with all things, darkness comes, and Nora will have to use all her wit and skill to survive and escape this other world.

Mystery

Horror

Holy Orders: A Quirke Novel by Benjamin Black (Quirke, #6, Henry Holt & Company—available August 20, 2013) is another in a line of outstanding mystery tales by Black concerning the unique pathologist Quirke. When the body of a daughter’s friend is brought to his autopsy table, Quirke is plunged into a world of corruption that takes him to the darkest corners of the Irish Church and State. Black is a great writer and this book promises to be one of his best. Check it out, if you dare!

The Witching House by Brian Moreland (Samhain Publishing—available August 6, 2013) is another excellent horror tale by Mr. Moreland. In 1972, twenty-five people were murdered in a bloody massacre in Texas, and no one was ever caught for the crime. Now, forty years later, Sarah Donovan, her new boyfriend, and a couple of friends are out on an adventure, and one of the places on the agenda is the Blevins House, the scene of the gruesome massacre. And the Blevins House is supposedly haunted. Things go wrong very quickly as Sarah and friends are plunged into a nightmare they may never escape. Do not enter houses that were meant to stay abandoned!

The Broken Places by Ace Atkins (Quinn Colson, #3, Putnam—available now) concerns Sheriff Quinn Colson and the dilemma he faces as infamous murderer Casey Dixon is released from prison and returns to Jericho preaching redemption. But that’s not the only problem. It seems Dixon’s former gang has broken out of prison and is headed to Jericho to nab the hidden money they’re afraid Dixon is after. Can things get worse for poor Sheriff Colson? Of course they do. For some fine Southern-fried crime action as well as deep, interesting characters, you can’t go wrong with The Broken Places.

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NOS4A2 by Joe Hill (William Morrow—available now) is another stellar release by the newest master of horror. This novel tingles with excitement as Victoria McQueen, a victim of an early encounter with the evil Charles Manx, has grown up and gone on to live a fulfilling life. The only problem is her son has now been kidnapped by Manx, and she must do everything in her power to save him. For you see, Manx has a special place that he calls “Christmasland,” where he takes the kids he snatches and puts them through a terrifying ride. Can Victoria save her son, or will Manx triumph once again?

The supernatural clashes with fantasy in this riveting novel. The Scrying Eye closes and the swirling mists of its prophecies have gone silent. Take care, weary traveler, as you head home. Be safe! And keep this forbidden knowledge tucked away in a safe place, for when the time arrives, you may find yourself unleashed in a world of literary greatness . . .

Kelly M. Hudson has published over two dozen short stories in various anthologies as well as two horror novels, The Turning and Men of Perdition. You can read more about him and his work at

kellymhudson.com

Until the next SCRYING EYE...

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YOUNG & NEW ADULT

BEYOND the fairy TALE

Featured Authors,

REVIEWS and more

BTS REVIEW RATINGS: 5 Stars awesome book, read it now! 4 Stars a must read 3 Stars really good read 2 Stars this was OK 1 Star hard to finish, flawed

Character Interview

Kallos

Khelsey Jackson

I smile as Kallos Dean walks in the room and sits across from me. “Hello Kallos how you like to say hello to your fans?” Kallos rolls her eyes, and shakes her head. “I don’t have fans.” “Kallos now be nice. I know some people would like to know how you feel about having the Hunter boys in love with you.” Kallos narrows her eyes, and shrugs. “I haven’t really had time to think about it, I will say it’s weird to have two guys in love with me and that are my soul mates.” “I know your fans,” I wink at her and she groans. “Want to know how you like more. Sean or Ian?” Kallos throws her hands up and glares. “I don’t know, I can say I love them both. Maybe in time I will choose.” I laugh and slowly shake my head. “Okay well when you decide will you let me know?” Kallos nods. “Okay I have had some people ask me how you felt when you met Aphrodite.” Now Kallos smiles. “She is so gorgeous that is makes your eyes hurt and that isn’t the best part about her she is undeniably sweet. To me she is like my second mother, and she is always there when I need her.”

“A fresh new YA take on the Greek Gods”

Kallos is a shy sixteen year old girl unready to face the world, but when she meets Ian and Sean Hunter the world will open up for her. Secrets revealed are too much to bear and her past life as a goddess, unimaginable. A visit from the goddess Aphrodite, Kallos is told her soul mate must be found or her life will be forfeit. Kallos desperate to find her one true match has discovered she may have two possibilities. Kallos has a choice to make and her decisions may have life ending consequences.

I reach over to her and take her hand in mine. “Okay last question. What are you afraid of?” Kallos smiles sadly at me. “I am scared I’m going to hurt someone I love. I have these amazing people in my life confusing their love for me and I don’t know if my heart is big enough to handle all of them. I just hope I am enough for them.” “Ok Kallos, I know you are enough. Well thank you for chatting with me.” I wrap my arms around her and hold her close to me. Khelsey hails from the Sunshine State (California) but moved to Minnesota when she was 11 years old. Her grandmother raised her and her brother. When she was 18 she did what any sane teen would do and moved to the city of sin, Las Vegas NV. There she met her handsome husband and the rest is history. khelseyjackson.weebly.com

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YOUNG &

NEW ADULT

| book reviews | Bad Blood Nicky Peacock YA Paranormal Heat Rating: 1

A five-hundred-year-old bloody game of vengeance will need to be put on hold if vampires are to survive the zombie uprising. Britannia and Nicholas, bitter enemies and the only two surviving vampires left in London, have to work together to save un-infected humans and deliver them safely to a vampire stronghold in the Scottish Highlands. Unable to drink the zombie “bad blood,” the remaining vampires need the humans to stay alive. But will the vampires tell the survivors who they are and what they want from them? Will Britannia be able to hold back her vengeance for the greater good? Is survivor Josh the reincarnation of Britannia’s murdered true love? And can she bring herself to deliver him to the “safe” hold? Survival instincts run deep, but bad blood can run deeper.

REVIEW: Britannia hates Nicholas. Hundreds of years ago he stole her humanity from her. Now she has to put it behind her and work with him to save what little humanity there is left in London from the hordes of zombies. At times brilliantly quirky and excitingly physical, Brit is an amazing character. From the get go I was deliriously pleased with her cynical view on life and her stubborn insistence on making life hell for Nicholas. The characters were well described and quite well rounded. Ms Peacocks telling of the story made it very easy for me to step into their world and kick some undead but with the rest of them. This was my first zombie-infested read, and really rather enjoyable. It was a quick, fun read that I would highly recommend to friends. | Reviewer: Angelique Elgelbrecht |

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turning WORDS into WORLDS

WRITING

Hints, Tips, How-Tos

COLUMNS and more

Lynn’s Writing Tips Lynn Crain

Are You a Pantser, a Plotter, or a Hybrid? Part 1

Do you just sit down at the computer and start writing your latest novel? Or do you stew on it for days, writing outlines or doing character charts? Or are you somewhere in the middle? There are many times I’ve wanted to stand up and shout: “I’m Lynn Crain and I’m a pantser.” Yeah, I love writing by the seat of my pants as I’m just that type of creative person. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that many authors don’t know what they are or even where they fit in. First, let me briefly define what each does before I start this month on the pantser aspect of writing. A pantser is a writer who does little to no planning or plotting. They just sit down and write by the seat of their pants, allowing the story and characters to take them where they may. A plotter is just the opposite of a pantser. They plan their stories and novels out, no matter how long or short. And they will use a variety of tools to get from point A, usually the beginning, to point B, either a critical plot point or the end. We’ll discuss more on this next month. Then there’s the hybrid. This was a new area for me, and for some books, I am definitely a hybrid. This is where an author combines the aspects of both pantser and plotter to come up with the story line or story arc. Now, there are advantages and disadvantages to all, and I’ll be going over many of them. This month we’ll be discussing the pantser. Now I can totally relate to this area as I am a pantser I’d say at least ninety percent of the time. Based upon the definition above, an author will do little to no planning or plotting. They will sit down at the computer with a germ of an idea and start writing. For some people, this can lead to many problems such as unfinished or sidetracked stories as well as a book with many twists and turns that are confusing to the reader. This is why pantsers need beta readers and really good critique groups, so the bad parts will be smoothed out, and the twists and turns are negotiable. Otherwise, people won’t read the book, and it won’t sell. However, this type of writing can also lead to moments of brilliance as an idea will take hold and won’t let go until

it’s done. Sure, there will be some bumps in the road, but for those of us who are pantsers, our creativity is unleashed to the max. There are no boundaries to hold us in. We also aren’t as prone to getting mad when we toss some writing out, maybe even big sections, because sometimes we just had to get it down to get it straight in our heads. Many times, we write to learn about our characters and later discover we don’t need what we’ve written. Sometimes, we back ourselves into a plot box, and the story remains unfinished until we backtrack and figure out just where the characters stopped talking to us. But that doesn’t stop us at all. Those portions we delete can be kept in a dump file for later use if necessary, but many times, we’ll never come back to that particular story. Still, we learned from our writing and delivered the best story or novel we could. Before we know it, we’re sitting down to write that next one because the bug has bitten us again. We are almost never at a loss for ideas nor the energy to write them down. I know many of you don’t think that being a pantser is the way to go. I beg to differ, and I’m sure these two very famous pantsers would agree. Stephen King and Nora Roberts are both admitted pantsers. Ms. Roberts has said that she never knows where her story is going until she sits down at the computer to find out. I can so identify with her on this one. Lastly, no matter what you are . . . be proud of that designation . . . you earned it when you typed “The End” on the page . . . does it really matter how you got there? Join me next month when I discuss being a plotter and all that means.

Lynn Crain has penned over twenty-five novels in the genres of science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance, from erotic to tame in nature. She always knew writing was her calling even if it took years at other professions to prove it. She has belonged to EPIC (Electronic Publishing Industry Coalition) and RWA (Romance Writers of America) for many years. Currently, she lives in Europe while her husband of thirty years pursues his dream of working internationally. Her stateside Nevada home is where family and friends wait patiently for their return. You can find her hanging out at her blog (lynncrain.blogspot.com) and various other places on the net (theloglineblog.blogspot.com, twitter.com/oddlynn3). The thing she loves most of all is hearing from her readers at lynncrain@cox.net.

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Tech Savvy Writer Karen M. Gross

LIST BUILDING FOR AUTHORS Congratulations! You now have an online presence with your Author Page and Blog. People can access your content 24/7 from anywhere around the world via the Internet. Besides being able to promote your book once, this virtual real estate has the potential to promote it over and over . . . with e-mail marketing. This form of marketing is being used right now by thousands of small business owners and entrepreneurs. Today we are going to discover how you can benefit from it as an author and how to quickly and easily start growing your e-mail list. What is e-mail marketing? In the simplest terms, it is building a list of contacts to promote your product to via e-mail. In the early days of the Internet, this could be your address book, but with the creation of auto-responder software, that method has become slow and unwieldy. Today marketers use free or paid auto-responder services to build lists of hundreds of thousands of contacts which they have permission to send e-mail for commercial purposes. The reason for this is simple, the more people you get your offer to, the more sales you can potentially make. As an author with your own product to promote, this is especially important.

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How can you benefit from this? Your list is your audience. They act on their desire to hear more from you by signing up for your list. This is what, in the marketing world, is known as a highly targeted lead. Let’s put this in perspective. A cold lead can have a sales conversion of 0.02–0.05 percent on average. Leads that are generally targeted convert at 1–5 percent. A highly targeted lead can convert from 10–50 percent. That’s huge. Now just having a list isn’t enough, you must have a marketing strategy to tap into this sales potential. For today, we are going to focus on getting it set up. To begin, you need to create a HTML sign-up box (also known as a web form) from your auto-responder account. This is where you determine what information to collect (name and e-mail address) and select how the form will look. The page that the visitor will see on successful sign-up generally can be edited here, as can the duplicate sign-up page. (Your autoresponder help & FAQ pages can walk you through the steps.)

You will get something like this: <!—Auto-responder Web Form Generator—> followed by the HTML <!—/ Auto-responder Web Form Generator—> Some auto-responders provide a Java snippet which is much shorter, but works the same way. Just copy and paste with the directions below. Note: For ease of use, copy and paste the HTML or Java snippet into a notepad document and save it on your desktop where you can find it quickly. To insert your sign-up box into your Author Page, you will need to access your c-Panel File Manager to edit the web page HTML file. 1. Using the HTML editor, open your Author Page and insert a table where you want the sign-up box to appear in the Design view. 2. Click to ensure you are inside of the table and then click the tab to change to Source view. 3. Paste in the HTML from your auto-responder and save your changes. 4. Test the sign-up process by going to your Author Page and signing up with your own e-mail address to confirm that everything works. Tip: Be sure to include a privacy statement that assures your prospective subscribers that you will not rent, share, or sell their contact information. Now visitors to your Author Page will see a sign-up box where they can add their contact details. By adding the web form to the page, you get double the results from the same page. Adding a web form to your Author Blog is just as simple. 1. Login to your blog’s Dashboard. 2. Select Appearance from the left sidebar and click Widget in the menu that opens. 3. Drag and drop a text box to your available sidebar on the right of your screen. 4. Open the text box, give it a title, paste in the HTML or Java snippet, and click save. 5. Open your blog and sign-up to test the process. Now visitors can add themselves to your list from your blog with the click of a button.

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| Tech Savvy Writer |

You are on your way! You can send follow-up messages on a schedule or broadcast messages on the fly to keep in touch with your audience. Some marketing notices you can send: • Release Notices • Book Signings • Special Offers • Excerpts of Your Work • And More! Check back next month when we will tackle your first marketing plan and reveal some simple strategies and techniques that you can use to turn visitors to your website into devoted followers.

Karen M. Gross A full-time affiliate marketer, she spends her time writing articles to help others when she’s not operating the home business. She is the editor of The Everyday Affiliate Newsletter. http://www.affiliateworkhome.com

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from the PAGE to the SCREEN

CINEMA

Column

TRAILERS and more

Second Chance Cinema Claire Gillian

Classics Go Contemporary Classics never die—they can be remade or they can be retold. This month’s films are all contemporary retellings of classics. Some are obvious homages to their literary parents, others are a little more distanced, but I think that’s more due to the nature of the story—plot heavy (the Shakespearean dramas) vs. character heavy (Jane Austen’s tales of manners). These films might encourage you to pick up the dusty originals.

O (2001) Imagine Shakespeare’s Othello in a high school setting. Basketball star Odin (Othello) is incited to jealous violence by a malicious and manipulative teammate, Hugo (Iago), and his friend, Roger (Roderigo). Odin’s girlfriend, Desi (Desdemona) pays the tragic price. Released in 2001, this film was shelved for two years prior to release because of the Columbine High School massacre. The story is quite grim, so I can see why they made this call. Mekhi Phifer plays Odin; Josh Harnett plays Hugo; and Julia Stiles plays Desi.

Scotland, PA (2001) Shakespeare’s MacBeth meets fast food! Set in the seventies, a man and his ambitious wife knock off their employer and the owner of a burger joint. They purchase the restaurant from the deceased owner’s children with the money they stole from his safe. A vegetarian detective, McDuff, is on the case, however. A group of hippies sub for the prophesying witches from the classic play. A fryer burn on her hand suffered during the murder leads Mrs. MacBeth to the infamous hand fixation/guilt manifestation. This dark comedy was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival.

West Side Story (1961) Romeo and Juliet is one of the most famous plays by William Shakespeare and has been portrayed and danced countless times. West Side Story, the movie, is based on the Broadway play by that name and cleverly pits street gangs—the Polish-American Jets and the Puerto Rican Sharks—against each other instead of the Montagues and Capulets. Lovers Tony and Maria break away from their “families” to be together, bringing the enmity to a head. Fantastic music and fantastic dancing made this a multiple Academy Award winner. Even if you’ve never seen the film or play, you’ll instantly recognize the songs: “Maria,” “America,” “Somewhere,” and “Tonight.” And no, that’s not Natalie Wood’s singing voice, but it’s still a great combo.

Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001) Imagine Elizabeth Bennet from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice as a modern Londoner who eats, drinks, smokes, spends too much, and has an affair with her womanizing boss. Her well-meaning mother wants to fix her up with the stodgy Mark Darcy who sees Bridget Jones as a bit of hot mess. You see where this is going, don’t you? Bridget is everywoman with a fantastically wry and self-deprecating attitude infused with a heaping dose of hopefulness. What’s not to love, especially with Colin Firth playing the role of Mark Darcy while Bridget Jones (played by Reneé Zellweger) fantasizes about Mr. Darcy in the BBC miniseries Pride and Prejudice as played by . . . Colin Firth? Best tongue-in-cheek casting ever.

Roxanne (1987) Most people know Cyrano De Bergerac as the long-nosed, multi-talented, and eloquent soldier in love with a woman he believes he is too ugly to have. Instead, he is pressed into secret service to help another more handsome man woo his beloved Roxanne. Selfless sacrifice for love is reborn with Steve Martin playing Charlie, the fire chief in a Pacific Northwestern town, to Darryl Hannah’s Roxanne. While Roxanne enjoys her easy friendship with Charlie, she’s attracted to one of his hunky firefighter employees, Chris. Eventually she realizes something doesn’t quite add up about either man. Unlike the original play, however, Martin’s Roxanne has a happy ending and is full of his clever wit with a dash of slapstick humor.

Clueless (1995) Jane Austen’s Emma is a high society matchmaking busybody. Now, take Emma and recast her as a spoiled and popular teenager, Cher from Beverly Hills, who decides to take an unpopular girl, Tai, under her wing and match her up with Elton. Only problem is Elton wants Cher, and Tai wants an unpopular skater boy, Travis. Commenting on all of Cher’s hijinks with good-natured disapproval is her stepbrother, Josh. Alicia Silverstone does an excellent job in the leading role of Cher. Paul Rudd costars as Josh, and the late Brittany Murphy plays Tai.

May your movie viewings be heart-pounding, thought-provoking, and sigh-inducing, and may the popcorn and candy not stick in your teeth or add to your waistline.

Claire Gillian is the pen name for a number-crunching executive by day. By nights and weekends, she writes smart, witty stories for smart, witty readers. Her debut novel, The P.U.R.E. released in April 2012 and its sequel, Purely Relative, is hot off the press as of April 30, 2013. She also writes fifty shades of naughtier stuff under the pen name of Lila Shaw, http://lilashaw.com, but please don’t tell her mother. No matter which name she uses, Claire is happiest penning romance drenched in humor with a dash of intrigue and loads of spice. She lives in the Portland, OR area with her family who are all avid movie fans - clairegillian.com

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Karenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Writing Detours Karen Albright Lin

Screenwriting: Would You Hesitate? I was a novelist and food writer. I never intended to write screenplays. The format and story formula seemed like foreign languages. The industry insiders were untouchable. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d watched The Player. The prospect of marketing intimidated me. Why would I, a mere land-locked Coloradan, consider taking a peek into big screen craft and that cliquey California world?

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Join me as I enter into that screenplay world. As you read about my experiences, please keep in mind that the industry and format expectations constantly evolve.

produced. I’ve been honored with a dozen screenwriting awards and am now using many of the screenwriting skills to power-up my fourth novel. Have you ever seen one of my stories in a movie theater? No, but I hope you will in the future. The side-trip took quite a bit of time away from my novels and literary cookbooks. If I had the chance to go back in time, would I hesitate to make the same decision? Not for one beat.

FADE IN.

There’s power and excitement in learning a new skill.

I may never have explored screenwriting if it hadn’t been for a pitch practice session at a writer’s conference and a Hollywood producer intrigued by my log line for a novel in progress.

Would you hesitate?

Enter KEN BERK who offered to get my story into the right hands if I would write it as a feature-length script. There’s not enough room in this blog entry for the number of exclamation marks I felt at the offer. Did I hesitate? Not for one beat. I saw dollar signs and my character MATCH CUT with JULIA ROBERTS. I drove home— floated home—and crash-learned the industry expectations. I cut the story down to two hours, one page per minute. I made it more visual with pithier dialogue, vivid action, and grand reversals. About the time I was doing my fourth polish of ACT I, my screenwriting career was punctuated by its first dramatic reversal. I received word that ACT III had ended too soon for the young producer. Not exactly the climax I’d hoped for and not the one expected by any of us who know him. Ken Berk, my “inciting incident,” my connection to the industry, and, at the time, my muse, had died. I could have let the pursuit take a quiet FADE OUT. But I didn’t. Thanks to the inspiration of Ken, and another screenwriter I met through Pikes Peak Writers, Jan Jones, I continued writing in this new and dynamic form. I’ve had the absolute pleasure of writing (and co-writing) eight completed feature-length screenplays in six genres (several more in progress) and five short scripts. I’ve been represented by a Hollywood agent, an entertainment attorney, and NY agents who sell books to Hollywood. I’ve worked on short scripts with an indie producer and an indie director—one script was

If not, check in on my future posts in which I’ll discuss the basics of screenwriting format, the business, story expectations, representation as well as adapting your novel, short story, or memoir into a screenplay. Most importantly, I will encourage you to take a valuable detour, write a screenplay, and see how it will improve your storytelling and prose. Until next time, keep your dialogue snappy and your directions brief. Don’t step on the director. Avoid dusk and dawn.

Karen is an editor, ghostwriter, pitch coach, speaker, award-winning author of novels and cookbooks, and a produced screenwriter. She’s consulted on numerous projects and has written over a dozen solo and collaborative scripts (with Janet Fogg, Christian Lyons, and director Erich Toll); each has garnered international, national and regional recognition: Moondance Film Festival, BlueCat, All She Wrote, Lighthouse Writers, Boulder Asian Film Festival, SouthWest Writers Contest, and Pikes Peak Writers Contest. Find out more at www.karenalbrightlin.com

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get YOUR BLOG on

BLOG BEAT

Check out the new Everpress Media blog for book marketing tips, author website help, promotion opportunities and more from our BTS Executive Designer, Dawn Seewer and her team. everpressmedia.com/blog

News marketing and tips from authors from our own Tech-Savvy Writer, Karen M. Gross. affiliateworkhome.com/Blog

More information on building your writing platform with hints, tips and how-toâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. yourwriterplatform.com/category/blog

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the INSIDERS industry SCOOP CLOSE ENCOUNTERS Does your book have what it takes?

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Do you love to read? Do you love finding fresh new authors? Have you ever wanted to tell other people what you thought of a book? Are you unafraid of voicing your opinion?

The Diva is always looking for new books that pop, rock, and make it hot! If you think your book has what it takes, please submit it!! Send to viajeradelmar@aol.com

BTS VIRTUAL TOUR HOST Advantages of being a Tour Host:

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then why not consider becoming a reviewer for RomFan Reviews? We’re looking for a few good people to help us out with our ever-increasing backlog of review requests. We’re looking for people who are interested in reading: - Multi-genre Erotica - Multi-genre Romance - GLBT - Short stories (50,000 words or less) - Small press titles - New authors

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If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, please email annette@romfanreviews.com for more details. Writing experience is preferred, but not required. Serious inquiries only please. • Blog Exposure to Media Outlets such as Twitter, Facebook, & Google plus • Free Reads • Opportunities to Review, Interview, & do Giveaways • Seasoned and New Author Interviews • Interaction between you and authors • Review exposure in BTS Book Reviews is chosen as top review on a tour Fill out the form to become a Tour Host today: http://booktrailershowcase.com/virtual-tours-2/ virtual-tour-info/ For more information what is involved in becoming a tour host please email Nikki at ViajeradelMar@aol.com

BTS Book Reviews Wants You! We are looking for reviewers Do you have a love for reading? Can you read at least 2 books a month? If you answered yes, then why not consider becoming a BTS reviewer? We’re looking for good people to review books in a wide variety of genres. Become a part of a team that is all about sharing their thoughts on the books they read with their readers and let your voice be heard. Soon we will be a part of Barnes & Noble Virtual Newstand. Apply here: http://btsemag.com/bookreviews/review-team/

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