In Safe Hands {+ Giveaway}

It’s a pleasure to be taking part in the tour for author Katie Ruggle’s new release, IN SAFE HANDS, the fourth installment in her Search and Rescue Series.

Katie has graciously answered some questions about her writing. In addition, you have the opportunity to win a copy of HOLD YOUR BREATH, the first book in the Search and Rescue Series. Please see the end of the post for more details.

He was her hero,

But one wrong move ended their future before it could begin.

Now he'll do whatever it takes to keep her safe,

Even if that means turning against one of his own.

As a member of the Field County Sheriff's Department, Chris Jennings is used to having it rough. The Colorado Rockies aren't for the weak-of-spirit, but he's devoted his life to upholding the law—and to protecting the one woman he knows he can never have. He'll do whatever it takes to keep her safe.

          Daisy Little has lived in agoraphobic terror for over eight years. Trapped within a prison of her own making, she watches time pass through her bedroom window. Daisy knows she'll never be a part of the world...until the day she becomes the sole witness of a terrible crime that may finally tear the Search & Rescue brotherhood apart for good.

IN SAFE HANDS is available at the following sites:

Amazon

iBooks

Barnes and Noble

Please join me in giving a warm welcome to Katie as she answers some questions. Welcome, Katie.

What was the hardest thing about writing this series?

Katie:

The hardest thing about writing the Search and Rescue series was the crazy schedule. Although I loved that the books came out so close together (only two months apart), it made the editing schedule insane. At one point, I was working on three books at one time. Gah…just remembering that makes me tired.

How did you go about doing research for this book and the series?

Katie:

Most of my research for this series had been done unknowingly months or even years before I started to write it. I received my law enforcement degree while working for a police department. My favorite part of the job was collecting and analyzing forensic evidence as part of the Crime Scene Team. Also, while doing volunteer work with a fire department in Colorado, I was certified in cold-water rescue, which helped a lot with the first book in the series, Hold Your Breath.

For In Safe Hands, most of my research was on agoraphobia, gas leaks, explosions, and panic rooms. Yeah, I’m pretty sure my internet search history has put me on a few government watch lists.

If this book was turned into a movie, who would you like to see playing the two main characters?

Katie:

So, this is a tough question for me to answer, because I’m terrible at names, especially when talking about actors. I’m that annoying person who says, “You know that guy, who was in that movie, the one with the killer?” Yeah, I’d like that guy to play Chris.

What can readers look forward to next from you?

Katie:

The first book in my Rocky Mountain K-9 Unit series will be out in June 2017. There are hot cops and heroic dogs and scary villains and explosions and women on the run… What more could anyone ask for?

Katie, thanks for joining us today and sharing this background. I can understand when it comes to not remembering actors’ names. lol

Now for those who aren’t familiar with Katie, here’s a bit of background on her.

Author Katie Ruggle

When she’s not writing, Katie Ruggle rides horses, shoots guns, and travels to warm places where she can scuba dive. A graduate of the police academy, Katie received her ice-rescue certification and can attest that the reservoirs in the Colorado mountains really are that cold.

While she still misses her off-grid, solar-and-wind-powered house in the Rocky Mountains, she now lives in Rochester, Minnesota, near her family.

This giveaway is for one print copy of HOLD YOUR BREATH by Katie Ruggle, the first book in her Search and Rescue Series. The giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only and will end at 12 a.m. (EST) on Tuesday, Oct. 18.

To enter the giveaway, just click on the Rafflecopter widget below and follow the instructions. The widget may take a few seconds to load so please be patient. A winner will be selected by the Rafflecopter widget and I’ll send an email with the subject line “Thoughts in Progress Giveaway.” The winner will have 72 hours to reply to the email or another winner will be selected. PLEASE be sure to check your spam folder from time to time after the giveaway ends to make sure the notification email doesn’t end up there. If you win and you’ve already won the book somewhere else or you just decided for whatever reason you don’t want to win (which is fine), once again PLEASE let me know.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Have you or do you know someone who has ever been involved in a search and rescue team?

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A Cowboy Christmas Miracle {+ Giveaway}

It’s always a pleasure to welcome author Carolyn Brown back to Thoughts in Progress because it means she has a new exciting book featuring a sexy cowboy and a feisty cowgirl.

Carolyn’s latest release is A COWBOY CHRISTMAS MIRACLE, the fourth and final installment in her Burnt Boot Series. As part of her tour-wide tour for this release, Carolyn is sharing an excerpt from her new book. In addition, you can win a copy of ONE TEXAS COWBOY TOO MANY, the third book in the Burnt Boot Series. Please see the end of the post for more details on the giveaway.

It will take a miracle bigger than the state of Texas for these two feuding families to survive the holidays!

          Opposites might attract…

The Brennans and the Gallaghers put aside their one-hundred-year feud every Tuesday for their weekly poker game. This week, the stakes are sky-high. Goaded to recklessness, Declan Brennan bets one thousand dollars that he can woo the next woman to walk into the saloon. A minute later, fiery-haired Betsy Gallagher pushes through the doors. If Declan can tame this wild Gallagher, he’ll have earned every penny.

          If they don’t kill each other first…

Betsy can outshoot anybody in Burnt Boot and loves ranching more than anything—until she falls for Declan. He’s fallen for her too. But when she discovers what sparked their courtship, Declan will need a Christmas miracle to save his hide—and his heart.

A COWBOY CHRISTMAS MIRACLE is available at the following sites:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Books-A-Million

Now here’s an excerpt from A COWBOY CHRISTMAS MIRACLE for your reading pleasure.

      “You cowboys are free to play poker here, but you’d best remember my rules. This is neutral territory, and by damn, I can—and will—drag that shotgun out from under the counter to enforce them. So keep it civil. Understand?” Rosalie shook her finger at the lot of them.

      She hadn’t owned the bar very long, but she didn’t take crap off anyone. The wrinkles around her eyes testified that she was somewhere in her fifties. The strawberry-blond hair worn in a ponytail sticking out the back of her Dallas Cowboys ball cap didn’t have a single gray strand shining in it. Neither Brennans nor Gallaghers wanted to face off with those cold, gray eyes when she was angry.

      “Yes, ma’am,” Quaid said respectfully.

      “Then play cards or gather up your poker chips and get on out of here.” Rosalie turned back toward the poker table. “Where’s your O’Donnell buddies? I thought this crappy feud might be on its way out when Leah Brennan married Rhett O’Donnell a few weeks ago.”

      “Never!” Eli said. “As long as a Gallagher is alive, we’ll keep the feud alive to show these Brennans who’s boss.”

      “That’s crazy. Why do you play poker with them?” Rosalie headed toward the jukebox. “It’s all insane anyway. Y’all go to the same church, and nowadays, your kids go to the same school. You’re all ranchers, and both families have a granny who runs things. Sounds to me like you are more alike than different.”

      “It’s so sweet to beat them.” Quaid laughed. “They whine like little girls when they lose to us Brennans.”

      “Y’all need to end the feud. A hundred years is long enough for folks to carry a grudge.” Rosie plugged the money into the jukebox and chose a few country tunes.

      Eli chuckled. “Like that’s gonna happen in my lifetime.”

      Declan glanced over at Eli. “Lay out the rules if there are any. If not, let’s finish this game and wait for some old gal to come through the door so Tanner can get on with the business of falling in love with her.”

      Eli nodded. “Rule number one: you have a month to make her fall in love with you and get her into bed. It can’t be a one-night stand. I’ll even give you a few extra days since Thanksgiving is next week and you’ll be busy on the ranch.”

      Declan held up a palm. “Whoa, hoss! You’re already talking like I’ve lost this game. The rules are supposed to be for both of us.”

      Eli flashed a go-to-hell look across the table. “You have until the week before Christmas. Tanner will want to take his winnings and do some shopping with them. And I’m the one making the rules, so don’t be yelling at me. Rule number two: it has to be a woman you’ve never dated before. Rule number three: just to make it interesting, it really does have to be the next woman who walks into this bar so that all four of us know who it is, and you can’t lie to us about having never dated her.”

      “So.” Declan checked the calendar on his phone. “Friday, December 18, one of us has to be dating, have slept with, and made the next woman who comes through the doors fall in love with him. And how does Tanner prove to you that he did all that? He could just lie and take my money. After all, that’s what a Gallagher would do.”

      “She has to tell it all over town,” Tanner said.

      “What if she doesn’t kiss and tell?” Declan asked.

      “If you are that irresistible, she’ll be bragging all over town that she’s snagged you,” Tanner said through clenched teeth.

      “Okay, you’re on. If you win this hand, I’ll take that bet. And not a one of us around this table can tell anyone about the bet. It has to be a secret, and if it gets out, then all bets are off.”

      Quaid threw up his palms. “You’re all crazy. What if the woman who comes through those doors is fifty years old and chews tobacco?”

      Tanner shrugged. “A bet is a bet. Hope you like older women, Declan. Thursday night’s pickin’s are pretty slim here.”

      There was no way a Gallagher was going to beat a Brennan in poker. “I’ll be glad to take your money tonight and at Christmas. I heard the crunch of wheels out there in the parking lot, so get ready to meet your woman, Gallagher.”

      Tanner fanned out a royal flush. “I reckon at Christmas you’ll have to shell out more, but this pot is right fine for now. And I just heard that truck door slam out there in the parking lot, so get ready to meet your date, Declan Brennan. Remember, it’s a secret, Eli and Quaid. Anyone tells, and this town will see the feud fire up hotter than it’s been since your family started it.”

      “We didn’t start anything. Y’all did.” Declan said a prayer as he glanced toward the door.

      Tanner’s cocky little grin faded, and his face looked like someone had smeared ashes all over it when the door opened. Eli’s eyes came close to popping out of his head and rolling across the floor, and Quaid sucked all the oxygen out of the air in one big gulp. Declan felt as if he’d just been struck by lightning straight from God’s hand.

      “You are a dead man, Tanner,” Eli whispered.

      Quaid exhaled so hard that it whistled through his teeth. “And so are you, Declan. Granny Mavis will kill you if you go after her.”

      “A bet is a bet. And a Brennan does not run from a fight,” Declan said.

      Sweet Jesus in heaven. Declan had been in love with Betsy since they were kids in the same Sunday school class. He might have lost the poker match, but here was his chance, and the Gallaghers couldn’t do jack shit about it. Poor old Tanner had just set the whole thing up on a silver platter and handed him the rights to the whole thing. Talk about luck—Declan had lost the money on the table, but he’d been given the rights to Betsy Gallagher.

      “Let’s call it off,” Eli said. “Just pretend it never happened and walk out of here.”

      All eyes went to Tanner.

      “Gallaghers don’t run either,” he murmured.

Author Carolyn Brown

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author and RITA Finalist, Carolyn Brown, has published more than seventy books. These days she is concentrating on her two loves: women’s fiction and contemporary cowboy romance.

She and her husband, a retired English teacher, make their home in southern Oklahoma.

For more on Carolyn and her writing, visit her website.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

This tour-wide giveaway is for a copy of ONE TEXAS COWBOY TOO MANY by Carolyn Brown. To enter, just click on the Rafflecopter widget below and follow the instructions. The widget may take a few seconds to load so please be patient.

Thanks so much for dropping by today during Carolyn’s tour stop. Why do you think cowboys and cowgirls are such popular themes for books? Do you have a favorite cowboy hero?

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The Protector {+ Giveaway}

Summer may be nearing its end but the silver lining is that THE PROTECTOR by Jodi Ellen Malpas is being released today and I’m excited to be a part of her virtual tour.

Jodi is the New York Times and Sunday Times (UK) bestselling author of two romantic trilogies: This Man and One Night.  Now, she is back with her long-awaited next novel—and her first stand-alone story—THE PROTECTOR. To celebrate the release, there’s a tour-wide giveaway. You could win one of 10 signed paperback copies of the book.

◊THE PROTECTOR

◊By Jodi Ellen Malpas

◊On Sale September 6, 2016

◊Forever

◊Trade Paperback: 9781455568192 / $15.99 ($20.99 Can.)

◊eBook: 9781455568208 / $7.99 ($7.99 Can.)

◊Downloadable Audiobook: 9781478938521 / $24.98 ($32.48 Can.)

          People think they have Camille Logan nailed: daddy's girl; beautiful, spoiled young woman with her father's bank balance to fund her lifestyle. But Camille is determined to have a life free from his strings. Out on her own, she's made mistakes, including one that found her clawing her way back after a stint in rehab and plenty of bad press. Now, after fighting so hard to be independent and happy, she finds her life threatened as a result of her father's ruthless business dealings. Caught between resentment and fear, Camille prepares herself for the measures her father will take to protect her. But nothing could prepare her for the ex-SAS sniper who crashes into her life.

          Jake Sharp resides in his own personal hell. He was distracted from duty once before, and the consequences were devastating--both personally and professionally. He vowed never to let that happen again. Accepting the job of bodyguard to Camille Logan isn't the kind of distraction from his demons he should take. Women and Jake don't mix well, yet protecting the heiress seems the lesser of two evils. But Jake soon discovers that she isn't the woman she's perceived to be. She's warm, compassionate, her presence settling, and his duty to protect her soon goes deeper than a well-paid job, no matter how hard he fights it. He needs absolution. He comes to need Camille. But he knows he can't have both.

THE PROTECTOR is available at the following sites in the US:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1X0pskX

B&N: http://bit.ly/1WqRB4l

iBooks: http://apple.co/1VcNEBR

Google: http://bit.ly/235yfph

Kobo: http://bit.ly/22kI3Pe

IndieBound: http://bit.ly/1QXVTQq

And at the following sites in the UK:

Waterstones: http://bit.ly/22ScpZQ

Amazon PB: http://amzn.to/1RA5l9w

Amazon Kindle: http://amzn.to/1VVE46C

Foyles: http://bit.ly/1MWnAUA

Apple: http://bit.ly/1Vb3EE6

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1X08Rhd

Here’s a book trailer for THE PROTECTOR for your viewing pleasure:

British talent Jodi Ellen Malpas sold hundreds of thousands of e-books of her passionately erotic trilogy This Man before landing a major US publishing deal and sailing straight to the top of the New York Times bestsellers chart in a few short months. Success quickly followed in the UK, with thousands of readers falling head-over-heels for the devastatingly handsome Lord of the Manor Jesse Ward and his feisty counterpart, Ava O’Shea, as all three books became major Sunday Times bestsellers. This was followed by further success with her second series One Night, which introduced the irresistibly enigmatic M.

Jodi was born and raised in the Midlands town of Northampton, England, where she lives with her two boys and a beagle. She is a self-professed daydreamer, a Converse and, mojito addict, and has a terrible weak spot for Alpha Males. 

Writing powerful love stories and creating addictive characters has become her passion – a passion she now shares with her devoted readers. She’s now a proud #1 New York Times bestselling author – all six of her published novels having hit the New York Times bestsellers list – as well as a Sunday Times bestseller and international bestseller. Her work is published in over 20 languages across the world.

For more on Jodi and her writing, visit her website and connect with her on Facebook and Twitter. You can also add THE PROTECTOR to your shelf on Goodreads.

This tour-wide giveaway is for ten (10) signed paperback copies of THE PROTECTOR by Jodi Ellen Malpas. To enter, just click on the Rafflecopter widget below and follow the instructions. The widget may take a few seconds to load so please be patient.

Thanks for dropping by today during Ellen’s visit. Have you ever had or wanted a bodyguard? What do you think it would be like?

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Piper Morgan On Tour {+ Giveaway}

I’m thrilled to be taking part in author Stephanie Faris’ virtual book tour for her Piper Morgan releases.

Stephanie is joining us to talk about the ‘5 Things You’ll Need Before Your First Book Comes Out.’ In addition, Stephanie is hosting a tour-wide giveaway for a $25 Amazon Gift Card and autographed copies of both of her books. Please see the end of the post for more details about the giveaway.

Stephanie’s books are a delight. Here’s a brief description about them.

When Piper Morgan has to move to a new town, she is sad to leave behind her friends, but excited for a new adventure. She is determined to have fun, be brave and find new friends.

In Piper Morgan Joins the Circus, Piper learns her mom’s new job will be with the Big Top Circus. She can’t wait to learn all about life under the big top, see all the cool animals, and meet the Little Explorers, the other kids who travel with the show. She’s even more excited to learn that she gets to be a part of the Little Explorers and help them end each show with a routine to get the audience on their feet and dancing along!

In Piper Morgan in Charge, Piper’s mom takes a job in the local elementary school principal’s office. Piper is excited for a new school and new friends—and is thrilled when she is made an “office helper.” But there is one girl who seems determined to prove she is a better helper—and she just so happens to be the principal’s daughter. Can Piper figure out how to handle being the new girl in town once more?

Please join me in giving Stephanie a warm welcome as she talks about those five things you’ll need before your first book comes out. Welcome, Stephanie.

Piper Morgan Joins the Circus is my third book and by now I have a routine. There are certain things I do in the weeks leading up to launch day. Okay, so the list seems to get longer the more I learn, but at least I have a list now.

When my first book came out, I had no such list. I knew I needed a Twitter presence, since that’s where all the writers, editors, and agents are. I also knew I needed a blog, but I wasn’t sure what to do with it. After three launches, I’ve found the below five things should be the focus of any first-time author with a book coming out.

A Facebook Account

Facebook is where you’ll find your friends and relatives. You’ll also find your fourth-grade teacher, your kindergarten best friend, and pretty much everyone who has ever mattered in your life. These are the people who are most likely to buy your book and tell everyone they meet about it. All you have to do is post a picture of your book and your real supporters will ask where they can get a copy.

A Twitter Account

As I mentioned above, Twitter is where you’ll find your editor, agent, book cover designer, and every other writer who writes for your publisher. Plus, there are a ton of bookstores and libraries with a presence on the site. They’ll re-tweet your posts to all of their followers once they meet you.

A Blog

Many authors say a blog is useless, but even if you don’t post to it regularly, it can be great for getting search engines to rank your site. It’s also very helpful when you’re ready to do a blog tour. I tried one of those blog tour companies and found most of the blogs they place you on have exactly zero readers. For best results, make your own bloggy friends and form a network of people who support you and (this is important) make sure support them in return!

Bookmarks

For kids authors, bookmarks are a key promotional tool. Yes, kids still read paper-based books. A lot of adult readers do, too. Everyone who reads on paper needs a bookmark. You don’t have to spend a fortune on a bookmark, either. If you’re crafty, you can even design your own.

Local Connections

Yes, the real-life stuff matters, too. You can’t market to every bookstore and library in the country. Instead, you need to focus on your own community. Bookstores and libraries love local authors. Introduce yourself and support your library by sending bookmarks and hosting workshops if you’re comfortable with public speaking. 

Any book launch is terrifying, but it’s also exciting. If you have the right tools in place beforehand, you’ll find you have nothing to be afraid of.

Stephanie, thanks for stopping by on your tour. These are great tips.

Now for those who aren’t familiar with Stephanie, here’s some background on her.

Author Stephanie Faris

Stephanie Faris knew she wanted to be an author from a very young age. In fact, her mother often told her to stop reading so much and go outside and play with the other kids. After graduating from Middle Tennessee State University with a Bachelor of Science in broadcast journalism, she somehow found herself working in information technology. But she never stopped writing.

Stephanie is the Simon & Schuster author of 30 Days of No Gossip and 25 Roses. When she isn’t crafting fiction, she writes for a variety of online websites on the topics of business, technology, and her favorite subject of all—fashion. She lives in Nashville with her husband, a sales executive. 

For more on Stephanie and her writing, visit her website and blog as well as connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Amazon.

This is a tour-wide giveaway for a $25 Amazon Gift Card and Autographed Books.

To enter the giveaway, just click on the Rafflecopter widget below and follow the instructions. The widget may take a few seconds to load so please be patient.

Thanks so much for stopping by during Stephanie’s visit. Isn’t there just something heartwarming about looking at a child’s book cover? If you’re an author, do you have any suggestions for things you’ll need before your first book comes out?

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Roman’s Holiday {+ Giveaway}

I’m pleased to be participating in author Susan Aylworth’s I Am A Reader Virtual Blog Tour for her release, ROMAN’S HOLIDAY, a Rainbow Rock Romance.

 

As part of the blog tour, readers have the opportunity to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card or $25 in PayPal Cash. Please see the end of the post for more details on the giveaway.

Here’s a brief synopsis of ROMAN’S HOLIDAY:

Four years after Roman Kincaid was catapulted into stardom as a country-western singer and A-list movie star, he is burned out: exhausted by a grueling schedule, drained by the ceaseless demands of producers and managers, weary of meeting the needs of others at the expense of his own. Leaving a sold-out show in Phoenix, he rents a car and drives north and east, landing in the Painted Desert town of Rainbow Rock.

Nearly three years after leaving her old life behind, Lottie Beale is feeding people and baking pies, managing the Kachina Café and tending secrets of her own. When circumstances conspire to give two attractive people some time alone together amid the world-class vistas of the Four Corners, they discover more than either had bargained for.

ROMAN’S HOLIDAY is available at Amazon * Barnes& Noble

Read an excerpt ...

          Lottie broke in. “So? What now? You know my secret identity and I know yours. Shall we just go our own ways—no harm, no foul?”

He considered that. “I’m not sure. I mean, what did Batman and Catwoman do when they discovered each other’s secret identities?”

Lottie wrinkled her nose. “Try to kill each other?”

“Um, you’re right. Bad example. So whaddya think we should do?” A few interesting ideas had already occurred to Roman, but, for the moment at least, he chose to keep those to himself. “Are you thinking of mutually assured destruction? You tell my secret, I tell yours?”

“I don’t know,” Lottie said, “I think we can do better than that.”

“What then?”

“Hmmm…” She was giving him a different look now—speculative, perhaps, even conspiratorial. “It depends.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Author Susan Aylworth

Susan Aylworth started her first book when she was nine. "It was called Buff, The Proud Stallion. I wrote eight whole pages." For her fifth grade career day, she stated her ambition to become "a rich and famous author." Decades later, she is pleased to have achieved the 'author' part of that goal.

A former university professor, she enjoys researching backgrounds and careers for her novels. "It's one way to live many lives at once." She lives in northern California with her husband of 45 years and two spoiled cats.

For more on Susan and her writing, visit her website and blog, plus connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.

You can also find out more about Susan by visiting the other blogs participating in her tour. Here’s the Blog Tour Schedule.

 

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

This giveaway is for a $25 Amazon Gift Card or $25 in PayPal Cash. The giveaway ends Jan. 21 (2016). It is open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or PayPal Cash. Winning entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary.

You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. Wishing luck to those entering the giveaway.

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