S.B. Redstone’s A Sinister Obsession (+Giveaway)

It’s a pleasure to be participating in author S.B. Redstone’s Juniper Grove Book Solutions Virtual Book Tour for his recent release, A SINISTER OBSESSION.

S.B. joins us today to tell a bit about his book and share an excerpt. In addition, he is giving away a $25 electronic Amazon Gift Card as part of the tour. Please see the end of the post for details. Now, here’s more about S.B.’s book.


Title: A Sinister Obsession
Author: S. B. Redstone
Published: August 2013
Publisher: Black Opal Books
Word Count: approx. 94,000
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Content Warning: Violence and Sexual Content
Recommended Age: 21+

Here’s a brief synopsis: 

      A psychopathic killer on a quest leaves behind a string of brutal murders, and to find the Who, the police must first discover the Why…
        Detective Aubrey McKenzie has been assigned to investigate the murders. A lovely, fabulously wealthy, dark-haired Scot, whose iron will was forged in the inferno of human tragedy, Aubrey is stymied by the lack of solid clues. Now she must rely on her paranormal ability to apprehend the killer—an ability that has been invaluable in her police work but has made a disaster of her social life.
        Fate teams Aubrey with Detective Joshua Diamond, a handsome, talented, and compassionate man who is more than happy eating a greasy bacon-cheeseburger and wearing clothes that should have been thrown out with the trash. In a race against time, Aubrey and Joshua must overcome their vast differences—and their attraction for each other—and discover the identity of this elusive killer, and the quest this fiend is on, before more lives are destroyed.

A SINISTER OBSESSION can be found at the following sites:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | GoodReads

Excerpt from A SINISTER OBSESSION ……

      When Aubrey arrived home, she glanced at her answering machine. There was one message. Since she didn’t have friends, she knew who it was. She pressed the button and heard that cold, authoritative voice. “Aubrey. This is your mother. I am reminding you of Randal’s birthday party tomorrow night. He would be quite disappointed if you did not make an appearance. The time—”
      Aubrey quickly pushed the delete button. She hated being reminded of times and dates by her mother, as if she was a forgetful child. It pissed her off.
      After taking a hot shower, she slipped into green satin pajamas. Sitting in her entertainment room, watching the late evening news, she sipped 1981 Armagnac Cames Brandy and ate crackers with brie.
      Nearing three in the morning, Aubrey turned off the television, and went into bed. In the darkness, she obsessed about the murder case, feeling a rising anger toward this heinous criminal. Her last conscious thought before falling asleep brought a smile to her face. She knew the perp had failed to take one essential factor into consideration before deciding to perpetrate the crime. A factor that he didn’t predict, and in fact, couldn’t have predicted. And that factor would eventually lead her to discover his identity and get a conviction. He didn’t know I’d be assigned to the case!

About the Author:

I write under the name S. B. Redstone. I began my career, after graduating from Hunter College, as a caseworker for the New York City Department of Social Services, Protective Services, investigating the horrors of the abuse and neglect of children. After attaining master’s degrees in Social Work and School Psychology, and then completing a post-graduate education in Psychoanalytic Therapy, I became a School Psychologist in the New York City Department of Education and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in a private therapy practice on Long Island, treating adults, adolescents, children, and couples. Always striving to improve my understanding of human nature, I researched and then wrote a personal improvement book, Taming Your Inner & Outer Bullies: Confronting Life’s Stressors And Winning, which offers remarkable insights into behavior, societal institutions, and relationships. I have written articles on the web concerning human nature, relationships and the abuses of societal institutions, given lectures, and appeared on radio shows.

Always having a vivid imagination and a desire to write fiction, I developed my writing skills by becoming a successful writer of short stories, all of which have been published on the web and in print. As an expert in the field of human psychology, I have been able to develop realistic characters from the dark side of human nature where my villains don’t aspire for happiness through personal achievement, but rather from their demented narcissistic schemes. 

Many of my characters have been taken from my clinical experiences and interesting people I know. I love romance in my stories. It is an essential element in my mystery thriller A SINISTER OBSESSION and horror novel. Now that I am obsessed with writing “senior” romances, it has become further developed and heartfelt. I have two seeking publication at this time. I am a member of the International Thriller Writers Organization and Romance Writers of America.

For more on S.B. and his writing, connect with him on the following sites:
Amazon Author Page | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads | Website


Giveaway Details:
 
This is a tour-wide giveaway and is open internationally. Prizes include the following:

• A $25 electronic Amazon Gift Card
  
    
  Thanks so much for stopping by today. What do you enjoy most about mystery thrillers?

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Author Stephanie Constante On Tour With Pygmalia

I’m delighted today to be a part of author Stephanie Constante’s Juniper Grove Book Solutions Book Tour for her recent release, PYGMALIA.

A YA sci-fi romance novel, PYGMALIA is recommended for ages 15 and over. It contains scenes of a sexual nature, profanity, underage drinking and graphic violence. 

Here’s a brief synopsis: 
    Lily is the heir to her father’s family fortune, except she wants no part in it. Especially if it means having to spend months away from her loving mother, being ignored by her genius, yet reclusive father, and tormented by her domineering grandmother.
     Since her parent’s divorce, Lily has been forced to spend every summer, bored to death, at her father’s dilapidated estate in England. The one consolation is that this is the last summer she will have to visit before her eighteenth birthday frees her of this obligation. What Lily didn’t expect to find was someone who is just as lonely and out-of-place as she is. Someone that could make her actually want to stay at the rundown mansion.
    Deep in the basement of her father’s home, she finds Adam, who is half human, half machine. He is her father’s latest prototype: a creation built for war, but able to do so much more than just basic fighting tactics and artillery protocol. Lily cannot help but be drawn to her father’s experiment, though she’s certain nothing can come of it. When she realizes that Adam will eventually be taken from her and potentially destroyed, she must decide whether putting her family in jeopardy is worth the risk of helping him escape.
  
PYGMALIA is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and  GoodReads.

There an excerpt from PYGMALIA to entice your reading taste buds a bit more: 

     It was the guy from the laboratory; he managed to find me, and the panic coursing through my body is enough to send me curling up into a ball, just letting him drag me to whatever hell he came from. I can’t though; I can’t keep from fighting back. I struggle to get his hand loose from around my wrist, but there’s no use. I smack him, push at him, and even punch him in the face, which hurt me more than it appeared to affect him. He’s immovable. 
     “Please,” I finally resort to pleading with him, “Please don’t hurt me.” I feel more tears streaming down my face; I fall to my knees, covering my mouth to keep from weeping. I don’t even care about dirtying the dress further; it was ruined the second I stepped foot in these woods. 
     “I have no instructions to hurt you. I’m here to bring you back to your father.” He says plainly. I can barely see his face in the shadows, but I remember those haunting blue eyes. 
     “What does he want with me?” I say, drying my tears with the back of my hand. 
     “I don’t know. I have only been told to find you and bring you back.” 
     “Who are you?” 
      “I was instructed to keep all information regarding myself and your father classified. Please come with me, or I will have to use force.” 
      “I thought you said you weren’t supposed to hurt me,” I say. 
      “I do not need to hurt you to get you to come with me,” I can tell that he’s probably from the London area, based on his accent. 
      “If I go with you, back to the house, what will happen?” 
     “I don’t know.” 
      “Then I think I’ll stay here.” 
      “The likelihood of your survival out here is scarce. You will only injure yourself further.” I can feel him touching a cut on my arm I got from running into a branch when I first ventured into the woods. His hand is warm, the way a live human person’s would feel against my skin. 
      “Please come with me,” he says, and holds out something. I grab the objects, realizing they’re my heels. 
      “You brought my shoes?” 
      “I thought they might be of use to you.” 
      “Heels in the forest, in the dark? Not so much useful as they are an accident waiting to happen,” I grumble. “Alright, lead the way. But if you try and hurt me, I’m jabbing this Manolo Blahnik in your eye socket.” 
      “What is a Manolo Blahnik?” he asks. I can’t see his face, but I’m sure it looks extremely confused. Guys. 
      “Never mind,” I sigh, “just know that I will do some damage if you try anything.” 
      “I understand,” he says. As we begin our trek back to the house, I stumble a few times. He grabs my waist before I fall flat on my face, and takes my hand in his; it’s softer than I would have imagined it to be. 
      “This might help,” he says as he triggers something on his hand. A light emanates from beneath his skin, turning it an orangey pink. I pull away from him and point at his hand. 
      “How did you do that?” 
      “It’s one of my tools. I don’t need it really, but I suppose you do,” he says holding out his unlit hand to me, while stretching the other in front of him so he can light my way. 
      “What are you?” 
      “I am Prototype 78.” 
     “What does that even mean? That doesn’t tell me anything about you.” 
      “It’s not supposed to,” he keeps his gaze forward as we walk down the hillside towards the house. We moved silently through, and as we passed the lake, I couldn’t help but feel unnerved by him. 
      “Are you some kind of alien?” 
      “I can’t answer that,” his face barely shows any kind of emotion, but there’s something in there; I remember seeing it when I looked into his eyes. “You were dead,” I press on. 
      “You were dead on that table when I found you, and then you just woke up. So you’re obviously not human. You’re some kind of experiment he’s working on.” He doesn’t respond, so I keep deducing on my own.“You have scars, but they look nothing like what I’d imagine a zombie would look like. You’ve got that light coming out of your hand, and you were able to track me in this darkness. I’m guessing alien.” 
      “I’m not an alien,” he finally admits. 
      “Aha!” I jump and point at him. “So you’re an experiment. Like Frankenstein, just not as gross looking.”
      “Frankenstein is not the name of the monster; it’s the name of the doctor. The monster never had a name.” 
      “Are you saying you’re Frankenstein’s monster?” 
      “I’m not a monster,” he says, except for the first time, there’s sadness behind his words. He looks down at his hand, as if somehow disgusted with himself, but his movements are robotic. Even his affect is flat and unexpressive. 
     “Fair enough, you’re not a monster,” I say. He looks down at me and seems relieved; he’s not a monster, but he’s definitely not human.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Stephanie was born and raised in Miami where she currently works as a mental health counselor. In her spare time she loves to read, write, spend time with loved ones, travel, and watch anything made in the UK. Her other works include books one and two of The Draconi Series.

For more on Stephanie and her writing, visit her blog or Amazon Author Page or connect with her on Facebook and Goodreads. 

TOUR SITES:
For more on Stephanie’s tour, visit the following blogs:

July 22nd – From the Bootheel Cotton Patch (Spotlight)
July 23rd – Lunar Haven Reviews and Designs (Book Review)
July 24th – The Violet Hour Book Reviews (Interview)
July 25th – Cameo Renae (Spotlight)
July 26th – Indie Designz (Guest Post)
July 29th – The Reader’s Hollow (Spotlight)
July 30th – Pavarti K Tyler (Guest Post)
July 31st – Urania’s Distractions (Interview)
Aug. 1st – Book-Marks the Spot (Book Review)
Aug. 2nd – Deal Sharing Aunt (Spotlight)
Aug. 5th – Laurie’s Non-Paranormal Thoughts and Reviews (Tens List)
Aug. 7th – Sabrina’s Paranormal Palace (Book Review/Guest Post)
Aug. 8th – One More Chapter (Book Review)
Aug. 9th – Lady Amber’s Reviews (Spotlight)
Aug. 12th – Fallen Over Book Reviews (Spotlight)
Aug. 13th – Juniper Grove (Spotlight)
Aug. 14th – Books Forget Me Knot (Book Review)
Aug. 15th – YA Book Addict (Book Review)
Aug. 16th – She Writes Again (Spotlight)

Thanks for stopping by today. Do you read YA? Have you ever given it a try? Do excerpts help you when selecting a new book?

Author Melissa Turner Lee Talks About Writing

I’m delighted to welcome author Melissa Turner Lee back to Thoughts in Progress as part of her Juniper Grove Book Solutions Virtual Book Tour for her Christian paranormal romance release, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NIGHT AND DAY.

Melissa joins us today to talk about her writing, books, and to share an

excerpt from her book and a link to a tour wide giveaway she’s hosting with lots of fun prizes.

First here’s a brief synopsis of THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NIGHT AND DAY.
    Nathaniel Taylor was a Christian who thought believers were exempted from "dark times." That was until he entered his own long time in the dark. When he meets Lilly, a young woman in danger, it sends him on a journey to discover the difference between night and day and that during dark times, the Light is hidden, not gone.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NIGHT AND NIGHT is available at the following locations: Amazon Paperback | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | GoodReads

Before she share an excerpt from the book, Melissa has graciously answered some questions for me.

Mason: With the book’s release, as you look back what was the biggest surprise that occurred in writing the story?

Melissa:
That I made fans of people who were against me writing the book.

Mason: Have you always wanted to write or was there an event that led you to writing?

Melissa:
I have always wanted to write but forgot for a while when my boys were young. I got a free day from my husband to go spend the day to myself and ended up at a bookstore to read. I remembered that I used to want to write and decided to start.

Mason: Of all the authors (past and present) you enjoy reading, has any one (or more) been an influence in your writing?

Melissa:
Margaret Mitchell. She wrote such complex characters and story. The amoral people still had noble qualities that makes you still pulled for them. People criticize Gone With The Wind for it being a romance going on in the middle of war on slavery, but never really addresses that issue. Well of course not. The main character is self-absorbed. Do you think Paris Hilton thinks too deeply about social issues? But Margaret Mitchell created that kind of character and still makes you pull for her. That takes something special. Scarlett O’Hara is a horrible person but you keep pulling for her and Rhett.

Mason: Tell us how the cover art for THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NIGHT AND DAY came to be.

Melissa:
The wonderful Marcy Rachel made the cover. We found several pictures and she put them together to make a cover that conveys the story so well. I love it.

Mason: As a published author, has your perspective of authors changed?

Melissa:
Yes. I thought they all hung out in the author’s clubhouse wearing boas and having lofty thoughts. So far, I’ve not gotten my invite to the clubhouse so my life is pretty much the same of cooking dinner, washing clothes and also writing words.
 
Mason: What can readers look forward to next from you?


Melissa:
I’m writing a time travel romance set in the 90s called FOREVER LAYLA.
Melissa, thanks for joining us and answering my questions. I can understand how Margaret Mitchell would be an influence to a writer, she is to readers as well.

Now here’s an excerpt from THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NIGHT AND DAY for your reading pleasure and to entice you a bit more.

   

     The drumming of two additional heartbeats echoed in my ears. The smells of adrenaline and body odor combined with that of chemicals being cooked. Upon closer examination, I could see the padlock on the shack was not engaged; the latch was open. Immediately, I grabbed Lilly’s arm and swung her behind me. She did not resist.
    One of the brown wooden doors flew open, revealing two men pointing black 40-millimeter guns at us. The gaunt and filthy men were both in dirty jeans, too old and worn to be worth washing. One had on a black t-shirt with the name of a heavy metal band on it, while the other wore a filthy hole-infested blue shirt. Same sandy blond hair and hazel eyes. Related.
    “Look-a-here, a couple of trespassers,” the man in the black shirt announced. “What was it the boss said to do with trespassers?”
    An evil smile grew on the face of the other man. “Shoot ’em dead. But he never said we couldn’t have a little fun first.”
     “I like how you think, little brother,” he replied, never taking his eyes off of us. A disgusting glint appeared in his eye as he gave Lilly a head-to-toe look. He nodded into the direction of the trees just to the left. “The two of you are going to walk with us into those woods there. It will make it a little easier for us to shoot you and drag you to the lake without being seen.”
    I secured Lilly’s position behind me and drove ice into my tone as I answered, “I don’t believe we’ll be making things easy for you this evening.”
    “Tough guy huh?” the older one responded almost cheerfully. “That’ll only make it more fun when you start to beg.”
    “Oh, I won’t be the one begging.”
    “No, that’ll be your girlfriend’s job,” answered the one in blue with a chuckle.
    In less than a second, I shoved Lilly several feet away and lunged at the man in the blue shirt. A shot rang out at close range, followed by Lilly’s scream.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Melissa Turner Lee holds a BA in Communications with a concentration in Journalism from the University of South Carolina. She has studied fiction writing since 2008, attending various writing conferences and workshops, along with guidance from professional writing coaches.
She resides in Spartanburg, SC with her husband and 3 sons.

For more on Melissa and her writing, visit her at the following sites: Amazon Author Page | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads | Blog

GIVEAWAY DETAILS: Melissa is hosting a tour wide giveaway to celebrate her book. Prizes include the following:


    GRAND PRIZE: Gift basket that includes a signed print copy of THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NIGHT AND DAY, a prayer journal, and swag pack including book charm (not pictured). This prize giveaway is onl
y available to residents of the U.S.    
SECOND PLACE: $20 winner's choice of gift card to Amazon or Barnes and Noble (or even PayPal Cash). This prize giveaway is available internationally.

Just use the Rafflecopter form below to enter. To follow Melissa’s tour, visit her Juniper Grove Book Solutions Author’s Page for the tour schedule.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thanks so much for stopping by today. Is there an author that has influenced your writing or your reading?

On Tour: The Wishing Well Curse And Giveaway

I’m delighted today to be a part of author Lynn Donovan’s Juniper Grove Book Solutions Virtual Book Tour for her latest Christian Gothic/Paranormal release, THE WISHING WELL CURSE.

As part of the tour, Lynn has provided an excerpt from her book to entice your reading taste buds. In addition, there is a tour-wide giveaway being offered with some amazing prizes (more about at in a bit).

Here’s a brief synopsis of THE WISHING WELL CURSE:

    Zeke Clay is down on his luck. He’s lost everything—an apartment, an education, a girlfriend, his job…
    When a mysterious letter comes from a law firm in Colorado, he decides things just might be looking up. Now he stands to inherit a fortune, but it comes with a price. He must break a family curse and restore true love. What does he know about breaking a curse? And who is this Great Uncle Luther Clayton, who claims Zeke is the one? Can he piece together the clues left by his dearly departed?
    Who can he trust? The Apache Indian attorney? Her great nephew? The leather-clad, Harley riding Pastor? Least of all, himself?
    What about the Ghosts?
    …And why does his three-year-old tattoo bleed every time he gets near the wishing well?

THE WISHING WELL CURSE is available at these locations:
Amazon | Amazon Paperback | Barnes & Noble | GoodReads

EXCERPT:

     Zeke merged onto Hwy 71 East. He needed to find a truck stop and settle in for the night. He stared at the sedan in front of him. Suddenly, the car fish-tailed, it spun a full three-sixty and crossed two lanes. He slowed his car and eased over to the shoulder. As the sedan careened into the soft shoulder it began to flip end over end and skid on its side through the grass and weeds. It slid into a water-filled ditch and rolled over onto its top as it disappeared into the black, murky water. “Oh my God! 
     Oh my God!” Zeke shouted as he jumped from his car.
     Circular waves radiated from where the car had landed. He blinked against the acrid stench at the water’s edge and waited. Where was the driver? No bubbles. Nobody broke the surface. Nothing. 
     “OH MY GOD!” He had to go in that God-awful water. He had to help. He wasn’t licensed. He wasn’t legally obligated and yet—he was. He gingerly stepped into the water. His Doc Martens were fine for greasy floors. Not so great in slimy mud. He slipped and fell backward. Black mud oozed between his fingers as he fought for purchase. When he tried to stand up, he slid down to his thighs. Putrid water soaked into his clothes and splashed up toward his face. Nothing in clinicals had ever smelled this bad. Maneuvering himself best he could toward the center of the ditch, he reached for the car. When his hand touched metal, he took a deep breath and sunk underwater. 
     Submerged in the green-black water, he could not see. It was disorienting. He found a door handle and pulled it open. Reaching inside, he felt the steering wheel. He concentrated on finding the driver. When his hand reached a potential body, he dug into whatever material he could and pulled with all his might. Something held it tightly in place. The seat belt. 
     Zeke’s lungs felt ready to burst. He pushed back away from the car and rose to the surface. After he sucked in a deep breath, he returned to the open door. With his fingers, he found the seatbelt latch, and pushed and squeezed until it finally released. Once again, he dug fingers into a shirt and pulled with all his might. This time the guy came with him. The bottom of his shoes slipped against the slimy ditch wall. He fell back against the sedan. 
     Oh, Jesus. Please help me. He shoved himself away from the car. Somehow his shoes took hold and he pulled the limp body along with him. One step at a time, he dragged himself and the guy until they were both on the grass. 
     The man lay motionless. Zeke scanned the darkening highway. No cars. No headlights. He pressed two fingers on the guy’s carotid artery. No pulse. He put his ear on the guy’s chest. No heartbeat. And he definitely wasn’t breathing. 
     “I’ve only done this on Sim-Sam—but I know what I’m doing.” He intertwined his fingers, one hand over the other, and started pumping the chest while counting. “One-one thousand, Two-one thousand, Three-one thousand, Four-one thousand…” 
     Dusk faded to night. Where was everybody? Why wasn’t somebody coming? “God, please, help me.” 
     Why he was even saying that at all? Desperate times, desperate measures. Nonetheless, he kept counting and hoping. 
     Shimmering lights appeared on the horizon. He squinted and prayed they’d stop.

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lynn writes from her heart and five decades of experiences she has accumulated as daughter, wife, mother of four, and grandmother of seven when creating her stories. She categorizes herself as the “sandwich generation” because she is caring for her mother who has Alzheimer’s and is one child away from an empty nest.

Besides blogging, Lynn enjoys reading and writing mainstream fiction and speculative fiction, but you might find a historical romance among her collections as well. She currently lives in Southwest Kansas but looks forward to building a home in Colorado. She attends a Creative Writing class at the local college to sharpen her talents and increase her creative juices.

For more Lynn and her writing visit these sites:
Amazon Author Page | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads | Blog

GIVEAWAY DETAILS: There is a tour-wide giveaway. Prizes include the following: 

    GRAND PRIZE: Signed print copy of The Wishing Well Curse, a Bracelet and Bookmark inspired by the book. (US Only)
    SECOND PLACE: $20 Winner's Choice of Gift Card to Amazon or B&N (or even PayPal Cash) (International).
To enter the giveaway, please use the Rafflecopter form below. 

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To learn more about this intriguing book, you can also visit the other blogs on the tour:
May 27th – @ Bookworms Avenue (Guest Post)
May 28th – @ Kristy Centeno (Book Review)
May 29th – @ From the Bootheel Cotton Patch (Spotlight)
May 29th – @ Juniper Grove (Interview)
May 30th – @ Total Book Geek (Interview)
May 31st – @ Laurie’s Paranormal Thoughts and Reviews (Tens List)
June 3rd – @ Sabrina’s Paranormal Palace (Book Review/Guest Post)
June 3rd – @ Bianca2b (Guest Post)
June 4th – @ The Girl With Red Cape (Book Review)
June 4th – @ A Word Please (Interview)
June 5th – @ Just Me, Myself, and I (Spotlight)
June 6th – @ Mel’s Shelves (Book Review)
June 7th – @ Parenting 2.0 The Child’s Perspective (Spotlight)



Thanks so much for visiting today and I hope you’ll follow Lynn on her tour. Do you enjoy books where the genres are blended such as this Christian Gothic/Paranormal? Hope everyone is having a safe and wonderful MEMORIAL DAY!!!

The Earth Painter by Melissa Turner Lee On Tour

I’m delighted today to be a part of author Melissa Turner Lee’s Juniper Grove Virtual Book Tour for her latest release, THE EARTH PAINTER.

As part of the tour, Melissa is sharing an excerpt from her book. First a brief description of THE EARTH PAINTER:

    When a self-conscious young woman discovers the boy in drama class is actually the immortal who painted the world into being, she becomes the target of another painter who hates humanity.
    THE EARTH PAINTER is a Young Adult Supernatural Romance set in the small mill town of Chesnee, SC. It revolves around Holly Scruggs, whose family has just moved back to Chesnee after her dad lost his job along with pretty much everything they owned.
    Her image conscious parents correct her to the point of brokenness until she meets Theo. He is the artist responsible for all the beauty of the land and he thinks Holly is beautiful, too. Together they will fight against Fritz, the water painter, who hates humans and is hiding a secret under the high school.

THE EARTH PAINTER is available at Amazon Paperback | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | GoodReads



Here’s an excerpt from the book to spark your interest:

    My mouth fell open. Was he nuts? How was I supposed to answer a question like that?
    I balled my hands into fists and put them on my hips. “What’s the matter with you?”
    When he put his hands on his hips, I got upset for a moment before I realized he was still doing the mirroring exercise.
    Ms. Jones suddenly yelled and clapped. “I love this. Love it! Everybody look at Holly and her partner. They aren’t just moving, they are conveying emotion with it. Brilliant!”
    I went back to doing normal movements. And Theo continued to stare at me. “You look so familiar. I heard you say you just moved here, but did you move back? I mean, did you live here before…a long time ago maybe?”
    “No.” I half-smiled and then bit my lip.
    He was exceptionally good looking. I’d been too irritated to notice at first, but the more I looked at him the warmer my cheeks grew. The way he stared at me didn’t help. It was intense and inquisitive, and he was too close. We weren’t touchy-feely at my house so this invasion into my personal space was especially uncomfortable.
    “So you’ve never been here before?” His gray-blue eyes studied me even more.
    “Well…um…I’ve been to Chesnee before—to visit my grandmother before she died. Maybe you saw me around town then.”
    He shook his head. “No, that’s not it. I’ve seen you up close, like this. I remember your eyes. They’re the color of the sea—just inside a coral reef, and your freckles are the stones of a volcanic island scattered along the sand. Your hair is like the sun setting over the water, shooting out orange rays in all directions.” He stared into my eyes even deeper. “You’re very pretty.”
    The impact of his words slammed into me. I’d braced myself for an insult. That’s what I was used to. This was either the way he came onto girls for a hook-up, or more likely, some mean joke to get a good laugh going with the other kids. Anger bubbled up. I knew those kinds of tricks. Those were the kinds of things the kids I used to hang with did all the time. They played them on me too, when I no longer belonged in their circle.
    My hands trembled, and my lips drew up to hold in the anger, but I refused to cry in front of this boy. I wanted to call him on his prank. I knew better than to think it was a real compliment, but I couldn’t think of anything clever to say.
    The tears burned in my eyes despite my efforts.
    “Forget this!” I shouted as I ran off the stage. Everyone’s stares bore into my back as I grabbed my backpack and made for the door. My head throbbed from ear to ear. I was dropping the class, and that was final.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Melissa Turner Lee holds a BA in Communications with a concentration in Journalism from the University of South Carolina. She has studied fiction writing since 2008, attending various writing conferences and workshops, along with guidance from professional writing coaches. 

She resides in Spartanburg, SC with her husband and 3 sons. 

To learn more about Melissa and her writing, visit her Amazon Author Page | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads | Blog

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:
There is a tour-wide giveaway. Prizes include the following:
5 eBook Copies of both books in the Painter Series (each winner gets both); and a gift basket that contains: 1 Signed Paperback of both books in the Painter Series, Charm Necklace and Metal Bookmark inspired by The Earth Painter (US Only). The giveaway is open internationally for the eBooks and to US residents only for the gift basket. Enter below.

 rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway


Thanks so much for stopping by. Hope this excerpt sparked your interest in THE EARTH  PAINTER.

Solstice by Bryan W. Dull On Tour

I always enjoy showcasing a ‘new-to-me’ author and sharing their work with you. Today it’s my pleasure to be a part of author Bryan W. Dull’s Juniper Grove Book Solutions Tour for his latest release, Solstice.

Listed in the genre of horror, suspense and supernatural; Solstice was recently published by Crushing Hearts & Black Butterfly. Its word count is approximately 51,000.

Here’s a brief synopsis of Solstice:
    In Gavin Moxley's world, there is no thin line between right and wrong. In a personal crusade to help sever a line of disease carried by a clan of vampires; Gavin has no choice to be ruthless. The Vampires are purposely infecting the human population…waiting for humans to actively pass it on to each other. Gavin takes no chances and executes them one by one. Not strong or powerful, finding humans before they turn into full vampires is ideal and Gavin’s best bet.
    Yes, this is Gavin’s life…
    …And nothing ever changes it until a young half breed vampire with special abilities, Solstice, attaches and makes herself a fixture in his life when she asks for his help and protection and when a reluctant Gavin agrees he joins a dangerous game of cat and mouse. There is no safe place and the pair are constantly watching their backs. Torn between his hate and his love for Solstice Gavin is thrown into a moral dilemma that only he can figure out but two things are clear…
    His faith and Humanity are being tested and the past is not always forgotten.

Solstice is available through Amazon and GoodReads.

Here’s an excerpt to entice you a bit more.
      “You are going to be part of a very special science project,” he hissed. The woman continued to fondle for her little bat. “I don’t want you to think it was anything personal, but I need your child,” he continued. She quietly yelped at the thought of what this monster wanted with an unborn child. She wanted to say something. She wanted to plead with him and ask him to leave her alone, but she couldn’t…his teeth were already in her neck. She felt the quick but seductive bite but still managed to pull out her bat and with all of her might she struck the bat upon his head and broke it in half. This got his attention, enough to get him away from her neck.
      She knew what kind a creature this man was. After all the stories and all the tainted beliefs, she finally realized that her parents were wrong and there was such a thing as monsters. All of the monsters she thought that were under her bed and hiding in her closet when she was younger was just a dream in comparison to what she is witnessing now. However, she couldn’t think about that, she had seen enough movies and read enough books to know what this mysterious, sickly man in black was…A vampire.
     She turned around in her seat with blood trickling down her body and started to stab the monster in the chest with the broken bat. Trying to reach any heart she could find in the evil being. He was laughing at her, telling her that it tickled and how she was wasting her time. He was pushing her harder, and when she couldn’t stab harder she grabbed her side in pain. The vampire in black composed himself and asked, “When exactly did I lose your trust?” He was mocking her and laughing at his own wit. She writhed in pain. He opened the car door on the other side of her and floated slowly out of it. She reached for him, hoping that there was a glimmer of good in him and that he would help her. His eyes turned kind for a minute.
      “I am sorry,” he said to her, “I can’t help you now.” Then in a comedic gesture he continued, “But I can help you help yourself!” He reached into her bag, grabbed her cell phone, and placed it inside her hand. “He guided her pointer finger to the “9” on her phone and then to the “1” and pressed it twice. His cold finger was over hers like a person would help a blind person. “There,” he exclaimed,” you should get some help soon, but it may take a while for them to find you.” Our lady in distress thought to herself, “Why?” The creature in black looked down his long nose at her and said, “That’s easy, you can’t talk to tell them where you are.” He was right; the punctures in her neck were so bad that she could not form any words.
    “Relax,” he continued, “you’ll survive this.” He was right, in a way. 

Now it’s time to learn more about the author…Bryan W. Dull.

Currently living in Cincinnati, OH with his wife and daughter, Bryan goes leaps and bounds to get away from the norm and be his own person; with himself and his writing. Since middle school he has always known what he was good at; entertaining and telling stories. 

He has been consistently writing and coming up with plots for the last twenty years, but just recently decided to share one with the world. His first novel, “Solstice” is a vampire book inspired by his daughter and noir literature. Born in Anderson, IN, Bryan has also lived in Ohio, Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina (where “Solstice” is based). 

Being a lover of all things art and pop culture “nerdism”; his interests lie in film, television, comics, games, anime, and books. For a short while, Bryan dabbled in voice acting work only to shift his focus to his family and writing. His favorite authors include; Chuck Palahniuk, Robert Kirkman, Clive Barker, Ernest Cline, and Neil Gaiman.

For more on Bryan and his writing, visit his website, find him on Facebook and Twitter, and visit him on GoodReads.

Thanks to Bryan, there is a tour wide international giveaway being offered. Enter below for the chance to win some great prizes.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Thanks so much for stopping by. It’s always fun when I can introduce ya’ll to new authors. Have you discovered a ‘new-to-you’ author lately?

The Stager Cover Reveal

It’s my pleasure today to be a part of the cover reveal for author Jaidis Shaw’s paranormal thriller, THE STAGER. 

I first became acquainted with Jaidis through a book tour promotion earlier in my blogging. She currently resides in a small town located in South Carolina with her husband and a beautiful daughter. With a passion for reading, Jaidis can always be found surrounded by books and dreaming of new stories. She enjoys challenging herself by writing in different genres and currently has several projects in the works.

When not reading or writing, Jaidis maintains her blog Juniper Grove and helps promote her fellow authors. In addition to her free promotion services, she uses her experience in publicity to offer freelance author services through Juniper Grove Book Solutions.

Jaidis released her debut novel DESTINY AWAITS in April 2011. In addition to her novel, she currently has two short stories published with Wicked East Press. You can read her latest story ‘Blind Justice’ in the Wicked Bag of Suspense Tales anthology – now available on Kindle!

For more on Jaidis and her writing, check out her Amazon Author Page, find her on Facebook and Twitter, visit with her at GoodReads and on her blog, as well as AuthorGraph and YouTube.

Jaidis’ latest novel, THE STAGER, is expected to be released in April. Here’s a brief synopsis:
     Life is good for assassin Amelia Jay. With a supernatural gift that allows her to appear as anyone she chooses, Amelia views the world as her stage. Distracted by an unexpected pregnancy while on a job, Amelia’s world comes crashing down around her when she is forced to reveal her powers to the only man she has ever
cared for.
     Kingsley O’Hare may not be in a legal position of power, but under the surface he has the city at his disposal. From drugs to human trafficking, he has gained his fair share of enemies. When he learns about Amelia’s talents as an assassin, he knows he must have her on his team. So when Amelia walks out on his job offer, he thinks she is gone for good. That is, until she is faced with a dilemma and is forced to ask him for a favor. 
     Fulfilling her agreement with Kingsley, Amelia must decide if she is willing to give up the only lifestyle she has known in order to provide for her unborn child. When the decision is made for Amelia, she must stand up for those who are unable to fight for themselves, even if that means losing herself in the process. Will Amelia’s power be enough to save her?

Excerpt from the prologue:
     Victory was mine the day I saw my mother’s essence leave her body and wrap itself around me like a cloak. I had her memories, her skills, and her looks. I could be her forever – if I wanted. I sometimes find myself wondering if there is anything left between us that is redeemable but feeling the extent of her fear and disgust towards me now as it coursed through my veins, I knew there was nothing salvageable left. Instead, I shrugged her essence off of me and watched it return to the motionless body on the floor. The world became my stage and I was determined to play the lead role.
     Now, I am anything and anyone I want, because I am a Stager.
     I am you.

You can read the complete prologue to THE STAGER on Jaidis’ blog, Juniper Grove.

Thanks so much for joining me today and helping Jaidis celebrate her cover reveal.  Do you pick up a book sometimes based solely on the book cover?