Saturday, October 31, 2015

The Marshall Plan by Olivia Folmar Ard




The Highly Anticipated Next Chapter of the Bennett Series is Here!

Presenting 
The Marshall Plan by Olivia Folmar Ard



Summary

Molly Marshall is fresh out of graduate school, armed with a shiny new degree in journalism and ready to take over the world. There’s just one little problem: no one seems to care. Six months have passed since graduation and no matter how hard she tries, she can’t find a paying job in the field she’s spent years preparing to dominate. Stuck in a menial job she hates, plagued with memories of an abusive childhood, and engaged to a man she may no longer love, she’s running out of options and fast. When she stumbles across a long-kept secret, though, everything changes and she’s forced to make a choice. What will it be, her ambition or her heart? This standalone sequel to THE PARTITION OF AFRICA invites you to examine your thoughts on family, desire, and the nature of love itself.


***


Excerpt

Guilt pulled me from my musings and back to the kitchen, where Gavin was still in the

middle of a long-winded presentation of the broken down pieces in front of me. Despite

my good intentions, I hadn’t heard a single word.

“So basically, all that to say, I’m not really sure what the problem is yet.” He backed

away from the table and crossed his arms. “I thought the accelerator pump might need

to replaced, but it looks fine now that I have it here, so now I’m back to square one.

Maybe I need to replace the jets?” He sighed and brought his hand up to his forehead,

swiping at the sheen of sweat gathered there. “I just don’t know.”

I frowned, wondering exactly how a mechanical engineer couldn’t figure out such a

seemingly simple problem, and before I could think better of it, I asked him just that. As

soon as the words left my mouth, I worried that my question would offend him, but he

was quick to offer an answer.

“My knowledge on this subject is strictly theoretical,” he said. “Practical application is

still. . .challenging for me. I’m gonna go wash my hands, all right?”

I furrowed my eyebrows and followed him as he made his way back to the bathroom.

“But didn’t you take classes in this stuff?”

“Yeah. On the theories.” He chuckled as he lathered up the soap on his hands. “I know

what makes an internal combustion engine possible, but I’ve never worked on one

outside of a classroom before, without guidance. It’s completely different experience.

It’s like. . .” He walked out of the bathroom, drying his hands on his shirt. “Here you go.

You studied press release writing and public speaking in college, but you’re not exactly

ready to start writing speeches for presidential candidates.”

I hurled a throw pillow at him. “Geez, point taken.”

“You did ask,” he said, grinning at me as he dodged the pillow.

“True.”

Suddenly, he lunged across the room and landed on the sofa beside me, grabbing me

around the middle and tickling me as he peppered my face with kisses.

“Stop it!” I shrieked, giggling as I tried to escape his grasp.

He laughed, and the tickling gradually began to subside. “I love you, you know.”

“I know,” I said. “I love–” My breath hitched in my throat as he brushed his lips against

my nose, my cheek, my jaw. With each sequential kiss, his touch grew firmer, more

resolute, and when his lips found mine, all desire to laugh escaped me.

The sheer force of the kiss caught me off guard. I faltered for a moment before leaning

into him, abandoning myself to this wild connection sparking between us. We’d been so

distant lately that his touch felt foreign to me, even as I reveled in its familiarity.

Then, without warning, he pulled back, leaving me twisted at an awkward angle. My

stomach lurched, desire stirring within me like a sleeping monster, dormant but lethal. I

swallowed hard and looked down at my hands, pretending nothing had happened.

There was no use doing otherwise, because Gavin, while flexible on most things, had

one rule he would never, ever budge on. We couldn’t sleep together until we were

married.

Wondering where it all began?


The Partition of Africa tells the story of Hattie Greene, a serious-minded sophomore who always follows the rules. She earned her place at the prestigious Howard Knox College & University, and she intends to keep it. Much to the chagrin of her socialite roommate Claire, Hattie ignores the usual college activities in favor of focusing on her academic career. Hattie’s status as a perpetual good girl comes into question when Samson Campbell, a married professor with rugged good looks, enters the picture. He’s wrong for her on every level, but she can’t stay away. They enter an affair that threatens everything Hattie holds dear, causing her to question her very identity. All actions have consequences, and this is no exception. The heart wants what it wants. . .but what if the heart is wrong? 



***





Goodreads Book Giveaway

The Marshall Plan by Olivia Folmar Ard

 The Marshall Plan

 by Olivia Folmar Ard


Giveaway ends November 07, 2015.


 See the giveaway details
 at Goodreads.
      




About the Author

Olivia began writing creatively at eight years old. During middle and high school, she attended several writing conferences and submitted poems and short stories to various writing contests. She finished her first long work of fiction, a novella entitled Heaven’s Song, in the tenth grade. Her short story “By Its Cover” placed first in its division in the 2008 District III Alabama Penman Creative Writing Contest. She took a reprieve from writing during her years at the University of Montevallo, where she earned a degree in history in 2012. She finished and published her first novel, The Partition of Africa, in 2014. 

Olivia currently lives in central Alabama with her husband, to whom she’s been wed since the age of twenty-two, and their cat, Buddy. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys watching quality television—The Office (US), Parks & Recreation, 30 Rock, and Friends are her favorites—and cooking without recipes. Along with working full-time at her alma mater and studying English at the graduate level, she is busy working on her next literary adventure.

                                      


                                      Author Interview

 

When did you decide to become a writer?

I read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe when I was five years old. It was the first

book with chapters I managed to conquer alone, and through that experience I fell in love

with the written word. It didn’t take long to realize I wanted not only to enjoy the stories of

others, but to create my own as well. 



Who encouraged you to pursue your dream?

When I started writing poems in the fourth grade, my teacher read them and recognized

my potential. She encouraged me to keep writing several times over the years, and when

The Partition of Africa was published, she bought a copy immediately. She, along with

other teachers, family members, mentors, and friends, are the reason I am here today.


 

What inspires you?

This will probably seem like a cop-out answer, but almost everything inspires me! My mind

tends to turn everyday happenings into crazy scenarios. For example, once at a previous

job, a strange man who seemed nervous asked me to point him in the direction of the

company’s credit union. Before I’d reached the end of the hall, my mind was already

reeling—what if he was robbing the credit union, and thanks to giving him directions, I was

now an accomplice? The plots for both of my books emerged from several long, drawn-out

“what-if” sessions.

 

Which authors have influenced you as a writer?

All of them! I jest only in part; almost every author I read has influenced me in one way or

another. Most notably, though, I would have to say C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, J.K.

Rowling, K.B. Hoyle, Leo Tolstoy, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Audrey Niffenegger, Jodi

Picoult, Jane Austen, and Sarah Dessen have been the most influential.

 

How do you deal with writer’s block?

When I started writing seriously again, I asked a friend and fellow author this very

question. Her answer was simple: “Writer’s block is a myth.” Initially, I didn’t believe

her—after all, I’d been writing off and on for nearly ten years, and I had never managed to

finish anything longer than an unpolished novella. When she explained her answer,

though, I realized she was correct. More than anything, writer’s block is usually a

manifestation of a larger issue: lack of planning and/or organization. Writers will always go

through periods in which they feel stuck or uninspired; in order to face these times head-

on, stories must be planned out. It isn’t necessary to know every single detail of the plot,

but having a general concept of the destination is paramount to success.

 

Where did you get the idea for your most recent book?

This may come as a surprise, but I’m not really a big fan of romance. I think—generally

speaking, of course—romance novels tend to sugarcoat the truth, justify bad behavior, and

encourage readers to foster unrealistic expectations. That being said, there’s still a part of

me that longs to curl up with a good love story. My goal with both The Partition of Africa

and The Marshall Plan was to craft intriguing, well-rounded romances for people like me,

who usually don’t care for the genre.

 

What are you currently working on?

I’m in the early stages of a third book in the Bennett series entitled This Dread Road.

Claire James, who plays a major role in The Partition of Africa, will return as a protagonist

alongside Hank and Annemarie, two brand new characters. This Dread Road has two

intersecting plots which will please fans of both contemporary fiction and historical

romance.

 

If you could read only one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?

War & Peace by Leo Tolstoy, translated by Pevear and Volokhonsky. People usually laugh

when I tell them it’s the best novel I’ve ever read, but it’s the truth!

 

I would like to review your book. Can I get a copy from you?

Absolutely! Please send a review request with your name, website/blog name, social

media information, and URL to ofa.author@gmail.com.

 

I’m an author, too! Will you read and review my book?

I do occasionally read books for review for the blog Read Yourself to Sleep

(http://readyourselftosleep.wordpress.com). I accept all genres, with the exceptions of

horror and erotica. Please send all queries by email to ofa.author@gmail.com.



Is there a particular message you would like readers of The Marshall Plan to come away with?

One of the hardest times in my life was the six months or so after I graduated college.

My wedding was a lone bright spot in what seemed like an endless stretch of

disappointment. After graduating summa cum laude from a great school, I was still

working at a fast food restaurant with no end in sight. The only jobs in my field I could

find either didn’t pay enough or required additional education; those outside my field I

qualified for were no better than the job I already had. During those months I felt like my

life was falling apart. Watching other people my age begin their dream careers, start

families, and buy houses made me incredibly depressed. Some days I felt like I was the

only person on the planet who didn’t already have life figured out.

Luckily, a few months later, things started sorting themselves out. I found a better job

and my husband and I started to get our finances in order. Looking back nearly three

years later, I see that period of time as a tiny dark blotch, barely significant in the grand

scheme of things. While I was going through it, though, I really could have used some

kind of encouragement, some confirmation that I wasn’t the first person to go through

this, and I wouldn’t be the last.

When people who are transitioning from one stage of life to the next read The Marshall

Plan, I want them to know this: What you’re doing is brave. Going from college life to the

“real” world is stressful and sloppy and disorganized. Next to no one has everything

figured out. It’s like experiencing a second birth. You don’t know what’s going on, and

that’s okay.

You may have to work a job you hate for a while, or one you’re overqualified for, or one

that pays next to nothing. That’s okay. Your job in no way determines your value as a

human being.

I promise this madness doesn’t last forever. It feels like it will, I know, but it doesn’t. It

will soon enough be replaced by another madness, hopefully one more manageable,

and you will gradually stop worrying over whether you will fall apart. But while that

feeling does last, know you’re not alone. You never will be. And I promise, everything

will be okay.






         Molly Marshall’s Top 10 Journalistic Ethical Dilemmas

I’ve wanted to be a journalist for years now, but I never realized how hard it would be to

do the job the right way. As it turns out, journalism is so much more than writing

interesting stories, and it takes more than a good person to be ethical. Whether you

dream of having a community column or penning a dramatic exposé, there are rules to

follow when you’re responsible for disseminating information to the public. I break more

than one of those rules on my quest for glory in The Marshall Plan. Here are my picks

for the top ten ethical dilemmas facing young journalists today.

 

1) Truth should be your guiding principle.

This might seem like a no-brainer—it certainly did to me at first—but it’s harder

than it seems. It’s one thing to be honest about the facts you present; it’s another

to have anything other than the truth motivate your search for a great story.

Pesky little things like jealousy and desire for revenge like to sneak in when

you’re not looking. No matter how tempting it is to follow them, don’t! They’ll only

hurt you in the long run.


 

2) Stories should be completely, 100% unbiased.

There’s a reason jury selection is such a long, drawn-out process—the courtroom

process only works if the jurors come to a decision based on the evidence

presented them, not on any prejudices they may have. This is why I should have

never tried to write that exposé—I had entirely too many personal connections

and biases.

 

3) Journalists should respect the individual’s right to privacy.

While snooping is sometimes required when looking for the truth, there’s a right

way to do it. When I was trying to gather information for the exposé, I did some

bad things. Not only were some of my actions unethical, they were highly illegal

and violated more than one person’s right to privacy. Thank goodness I had

some sense knocked into me before I kept going down that road!

 

4) Accuracy of stories should be confirmed early on.

Like #1 this seems a bit obvious, but I still managed to slip up here. In journalism,

as in a courtroom, circumstantial evidence alone isn’t enough. Before I started

investigating such a he said, she said story—especially one so scandalous—I

should have gone straight to the people involved to get their accounts. I didn’t

have confirmation that my story was correct until after I dropped the story. If I’d

published it without knowing for sure it was accurate, I might have ruined

someone’s life for no reason!

 

5) Concern for the public does not justify distorting the facts.

Despite my personal biases that played into my investigation, there really was a

part of me that thought I was doing the right thing for the Bennett community.

Unfortunately, wanting to help others doesn’t justify unethical practices. Putting

an intentional slant on a story for any reason is not okay!

 

6) Avoid conflicts of interest like the plague.

If a story has the potential to cause you benefit or harm, you’re probably more

interested than anyone else in seeing to its outcome, but trust me—drop it on

someone else’s desk. The moment your primary concern becomes personal

welfare, it’s impossible for you to follow guideline #1. This is one of the few rules I

didn’t violate while trying to write the exposé. Ethics: 5, Molly: 1.

 

7) Don’t insert opinion into a piece being presented as news.

Editorials have their own sections of the paper for a reason—opinions have no

place in a news story. This is a crucial mistake I made over and over again.

Instead of gathering all the evidence I could, I cherry-picked so the story would

match up with my opinion of the people involved. It seemed like a good idea at

the time. . .



 

8) Stories shouldn’t be written expressly for accolades.

Once again, in case you’ve been snoozing—in journalism, the TRUTH should be

your primary motivation at all times. Technically I didn’t violate this during my

investigation, since I wasn’t trying to win an award. Even so, the hope that the

story would launch me into a successful career was a major factor in why I

pursued it in the first place.

 

9) Make promises only if you can keep them.

This goes back to #4. Accuracy matters! I almost turned in a story proposal to my

editor without even getting firsthand accounts from the people involved. What if

I’d written the initial article and then hadn’t been able to follow through? Not only

would my credibility (rightly) be damaged, the reputations of others would be

called into question without resolution. Bad all the way around.

 

10) Don’t use your position to manipulate outside business interests.

Writing stories encouraging people to invest in or patronize your business is

wrong, for obvious reasons. They didn’t pick up a newspaper to read an

advertisement in disguise? Unfortunately, I did this to an extent with my

community column. Since I wasn’t manipulating a news story, I suppose it wasn’t

so bad, but still a little sketchy.

You’re probably thinking, “Hey Molly, maybe you shouldn’t be a journalist after all!” I

thought that for a while myself, but honestly I think I’ve learned my lesson. Don’t judge

me until you’ve read my story!


************

Items on this post were based on the Associated Press Media Editors’ Statement of Ethical Principles. Thanks to all

the ethical journalists and correspondents who keep us informed!



Halloweek Reading to SEIZE THE NIGHT!!!

Halloweek Reading to SEIZE THE NIGHT!
Enjoying a great treat is not just for kids on Halloween. Indulge yourself this week and read SEIZE THE NIGHT: NEW TALES OF VAMPIRIC TERROR, the new “stellar anthology of tales” (Publishers Weekly Starred Review), sure to quench your thirst for a Horrific Halloween read! Conjuring reactions such as “Going back to the heydays of Bram Stoker’s Dracula and Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot” and “For anyone who likes tales of the creepy sort like Stephen King’s short stories in Everything’s Eventual or Nightmares & Dreamscapes,”  how can one resist?


SEIZE THE NIGHT
Edited by Christopher Golden
Gallery Books
October 6, 2015
ISBN: 9781476783093
Trade Paperback
$18.00
Once upon a time, vampires were figures of terror…and they can be again. Legends of these dark creatures sprang from every corner of the world and infinite variations throughout history—with even more of them waiting in the farthest corners of the imagination. SEIZE THE NIGHT takes hold of a popular culture environment where the vampire has largely lost its ability to inspire fear, and now brings out the dread, showcasing twenty all-new tales of horrifying evil from an extraordinary lineup of twenty contributors:
 
John Ajvide Lindqvist
Kelley Armstrong
Laird Barron
Gary A. Braunbeck
Dana Cameron
Dan Chaon and Lynda Barry
Charlaine Harris
Brian Keene
Sherrilyn Kenyon
Michael Koryta
John Langan
Tim Lebbon
Seanan McGuire
Joe McKinney
Leigh Perry
Robert Shearman
Scott Smith
Lucy A. Snyder
David Wellington
Rio Youers
The dusk is upon you, and your fright-filled journey to the shadows of the hereafter is about to begin with SEIZE THE NIGHT—old-school vampire fiction at its finest.  
“The notion of the romantic vampire is transcended to chilling and even heartbreaking effect in this stellar anthology of talesThese stories move smoothly from the subtle to the horrifying…”
Publishers Weekly Starred Review Description: Description: Description: Description:              120px-Black_star 

“Twenty stories of varying lengths offer quick bites of otherworldly entertainment. Edited by Christopher Golden, this collection takes vampire fiction back to its bloody, frightful roots. Readers looking for old-school horror laden with darkness will appreciate these diverse stories from some of the best writers in the genre…all are entertaining…With new spins on classic traditions and inventive, unexpected twists, it’s the perfect spooky read for Halloween — or any night that calls for a touch of terror.”
RT Book Reviews

“The twenty-one authors collected in this volume have…succeeded in returning vampires and their ilk back into our nightmares where they belong…each tale delivered the goods. And by goods, I mean terror…These are not your Count Dracula vampire stories, but thankfully they’re not of the friendly variety either. What they all have in common is that each and every story is a cut above the ordinary. My highest recommendation.”
—Cemetery Dance

Seize the Night: New Tales of Vampiric Terror is a highly successful anthology, one that puts vampires back into the shadowy, hidden corners where they belong and makes them creepy, chilling, at times downright frighteningwe’re getting back to the old-school roots of vampiric lore, going back to the heydays of Bram Stoker’s Dracula and Stephen King’s Salem’s Lotthis is a vital return to form for these stoic, and historic, universal baddies…Seize the Night has the singular aim of making vampires terrifying again, and it heartily succeeds in its mission. Golden and the contributors deserve a fair amount of applause for their work here, and this anthology is a wonderful reminder of what made vampires such a popular horror staple, and why they continue to endure across the ages.”
Michael Patrick Hicks
               
“Anthologies have always been one of my favorite things. A chance to read old favorite authors and a chance to also find some new favorites as well, all based on some short stories. Which is, of course, why I chose to read Seize the Night – New Tales of Vampiric Terror Seize The Night –New Tales of Vampiric Terror is slated to be released on October 6, 2015. Be sure to get your copy before they disappear! Anyone who likes tales of the creepy sort like Stephen King’s short stories in Everything’s Eventual or Nightmares & Dreamscapes should check out Seize the Night.”
—The Goth Girl Reads

“…a diverse and high quality collection of new stories from some great names within the horror and paranormal sub-genres…Quite simply, if you are a fan of vampires, do not miss this one. 4 Throbbing Carotid Arteries for Seize The Night.”
—Horror After Dark

“Sink your teeth into this collection with caution, it'll bite back.”
—Hardboiled Wonderland
 
“I would really recommend this wonderful book to anyone who wants to read a vampire anthology that harks back to the heyday of quality horror fiction.”
Book Nutter’s Reviews
 
“I thoroughly enjoyed reading Seize The Night…well-written with plenty of frights to keep any horror fan awake at night.”
—Coffee Addicted Writer
“I really prefer my vampires evil, so this anthology was just what I was looking for. It opens with a novelette by Scott Smith, and that one story is worth the price of the book. The victims are suitably disgusting and deserve their fate, which is rapid and brutal. Michael Koryta suggests a rather different cause for vampirism. Charlaine Harris has a very nice story about an energy vampire rather than a blood drinking one. Kelley Armstrong suggests there is a genetic marker for vampirism. Tim Lebbon takes us back to a particularly brutal period of history for his story. John Langan presents a time traveling vampire that can duplicate bodies to ensure it has a steady source of prey…well above average.”
—Don A’mmassa On Horror
“…Brings out the dead and dread, showcasing 20 all-new tales of horrifying evil from a coffin full of different writers who dabble in the undead from various angles, from horrific to heart-wrenching, romantic to rough. We especially feasted on Rio Youers’ “Separator”, set in a typhoon-devastated Philippines where a land developer gets a brutal taste of local legend. Ouch!”
—Examiner.com – A Tricky Treat for Fright Night
“I honestly had nightmares reading this anthology, which is a first for me, and found the writing samples to be strong and powerful tales that twisted an already frightening lore. I definitely recommended reading Seize The Night as a Halloween novel. This book will appeal to readers who enjoy horror, frightening tales, anthologies and short stories, gruesome and violent vampires. I would wholeheartedly recommend reading Seize The Night if you are a horror fan or a supporter of real, gritty vampire novels without the romanticism and moral questions.”
—Silk & Serif
 
Now, from some of the biggest names in horror and dark fiction, comes this collection of short stories that make vampires frightening once again.”
Bookgasm – Halloween-Ready New Release Awaiting You to Treat Yourself
 
About the Editor:
Christopher Golden is the #1 New York Times bestselling and Bram Stoker Award-winning author of such novels as Snowblind, Tin Men, Of Saints and Shadows, and The Boys Are Back in Town. His novel with Mike Mignola, Baltimore; or, the Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire, was the launching pad for the Eisner Award-nominated comic book series Baltimore. As an editor, he has compiled the short story anthologies The New Dead, The Monster’s Corner, and Dark Duets, among others, and has also written and co-written numerous comic books, video games, and screenplays. Golden was born and raised in Massachusetts, where he still lives with his family. His original novels have been published in more than fourteen languages in countries around the world. Please visit him at christophergolden.com.
 
Buy Seize the Night:
B&N
BAM
IBOOKSTORE (ebook)
KINDLE (ebook)
NOOK (ebook)
GOOGLE PLAY (ebook)

Friday, October 30, 2015

Distracted by Bianca Dean

Distracted Tour Banner


Distracted
by Bianca Dean
Distractions #2
Publication Date: October 13, 2015
Also in this series: Distractions
Genres: Contemporary, Interracial, Romance

Distracted Cover

Buy (FREE for Kindle Unlimited Subscribers!): Amazon

Synopsis: Acceptance letter to med school…check.
Bags packed…check.
Plane ticket…check.
Red finally feels like she's moving forward in life. She's got everything she ever wanted. She snagged the man of her dreams, her best friend Gavin, and her acceptance to medical school, all in the same summer.

Smiling brightly as she steps onto the plane to California, Jersey girl Red, knows it will be hard to be away from everyone she knows and loves, especially Gavin. But that’s okay, because they’re young and in love, and that’s enough…until it isn’t.

Three thousand miles from home, with no friends or family around her, she has to figure it out. With distractions around her at every turn, she has to decide what’s best for her. Will she stay the course, or will she be Distracted?

*Author Note* Distracted is not a standalone. Distractions, book #1 must be read first.

Add to Goodreads

Other Books in the Distractions Series...

Distractions Cover

Buy: Amazon

Synopsis: Red has been trying to move on with her life. She really has. Her first real relationship ended in disaster and she can’t muster the energy to leave the house. Her brother Brenden and their best friend, Gavin, are sick of it. Guilting her into a night out, Red reluctantly agrees only to see her ex having the time of his life with another girl. Small town living would have it no other way. On the verge of a full blown panic attack, Gavin steps in to provide Red the distraction she needs to forget all about her ex. But as things quickly spiral out of control, will Red be able to keep her feelings for her best friend a secret in order to save their friendship?

*This book contains sexual situations and explicit language. This is Book 1 of the Distractions Series.

Add to Goodreads

 

About Bianca Dean

Bianca Dean
Bianca Dean, author of Quarterback Sneak and Wanna Play? is a native of New Jersey now living in NYC. Working on her PhD, Bianca loves good food, great movies and stimulating conversation. She's a huge sports fan, and can be found, during the appropriate season, screaming at the television, beer in hand, trying to make people that can't hear her run faster. In the off-season she can be spotted walking her dog or grabbing dinner with friends.

Reclaim Me by Ann Marie Walker & Amy K. Rogers




RECLAIM ME
Chasing Fire #3
Ann Marie Walker & Amy K. Rogers
Releasing October 20th, 2015
Berkley Intermix



As the heart-pounding Chasing Fire
trilogy concludes, a dangerous entanglement leaves Hudson and Allie wondering
how much they're willing to risk for the love they can't live without...

There's
almost nothing Alessandra Sinclair wouldn't do for Hudson Chase. He was her
first love, and she's determined that he'll be her last. But when the terrible
truth Hudson has been hiding comes to light, Allie finds herself caught in a
deadly game of cat and mouse with a man from her past who's determined to use
what he knows to ruin Hudson. Now, the only way to save the man she loves may
be to lose him forever...

Hudson
has always known that the secrets he keeps could be his downfall, but he never
expected them to put Allie's life in danger as well. It's time for him to come
clean--before everything he's ever wanted is destroyed...

Includes previews of REMIND ME and
RELEASE ME, the first two books of the Chasing Fire trilogy.


Praise for the Chasing Fire trilogy



"Exceptional...Seriously sexy and
sinfully steamy. Can't wait for more from this writing duo!"--New York
Times bestselling author Tara Sue Me


"Walker and Rogers strike the
perfect balance between blistering physical desire and heartfelt
connections..."--RT Book Review  


Pre-Order Now




Hudson stood with his back to her, his phone pressed to his ear as he stared out across the river to the lake, barely visible through the gray January fog. His tall, muscular frame filled the window of the small office, dominating the space just as he did the world below them. Nearly all of Chicago seemed his for the taking, and yet he’d made it clear that the only thing he wanted was her. And the attraction was more than just physical. It was an inexplicable pull they’d both felt from the very start, a yearning so strong it not only defied the odds, but logic and reason as well. With everything that hung in the balance, the two of them needed to keep their distance. Yet no matter what new development had brought him there, and what risk he was taking, there was no denying the thrill that shot through her just from being in the same room with him


Check out the Complete First Chapter Exclusively at


Though thousands of miles apart, Ann
Marie Walker and Amy K. Rogers are in constant contact, plotting story lines
and chatting about their love of alpha males, lemon drop martinis and British
supermodel, David Gandy. You can find them on twitter as @AnnMarie_Walker and
@Amy_KRogers. 



Amy K. Rogers



Ann Marie Walker



Start the Chasing Fire Series Now


Available Now



Available Now
Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo | GooglePlay

Link to Tour Page & Giveaway:


Best Worst Mistake by Lia Riley


Enter to Win a
Digital Download of RIGHT WRONG GUY
Brightwater Book Two


BEST WORST MISTAKE
Brightwater #3
Lia Riley
Releasing Oct 20th, 2015
Avon Impulse


The
third sexy and emotional novel in debut Avon author Lia Riley’s Brightwater
series set in the mountains of Northern California

Sometimes
the worst mistakes turn out to be the best…

Smoke jumper Wilder Kane once
reveled in the rush from putting out dangerous wildfires. But after a tragic
accident, he’s cut himself off from the world, refusing to leave his isolated
cabin. When a headstrong beauty bursts in, Wilder finds himself craving the
fire she ignites in him, but letting anyone near his darkness would be a
mistake.

After her Hollywood life went up in
smoke, Quinn Higsby decided to leave Tinseltown behind and returned to
Brightwater to care for her ailing father. Spending her days in a small
bookstore, her peaceful existence is up-ended by a fascinating but damaged man.
Quinn is determined to not to be scared off by Wilder, not once she’s
experienced the heat of his passions.

But when an arsonist targets the
community and Wilder is accused, he must confront the ghosts of his past. Will
his desire for Quinn flameout or will he be able to tame the wildness inside
and rekindle a hope for their future?



Excerpt:  

It had been a while since he’d been in the company of any woman who wasn’t a medical professional or intimately involved with his brothers. Also, as much as he didn’t want to admit it, he had a type and this forward, strong-looking woman fit it right down to that thick wavy brown hair pulled back at the nape of her long sexy neck.

Necks were underrated female geography. He loved how they tasted when he kissed them there, how they smelled as he nuzzled.

Equally fascinating was her lush mouth, how the corner remained quirked on one side despite the natural pout, as if in perpetual secret amusement.

This woman was bright, spunky, and happy, despite her father’s miserable situation. His heart sank. He had nothing to offer someone like her, not when his whole world had burned to a cinder.

He shook himself inwardly, not moving a muscle. No point succumbing to the ugly truth, however true. 

Maybe he could pretend to be a normal guy for the night. Normal except for the scars, the missing leg, and the fact he hadn’t spoken to a living soul since Sawyer dropped off his groceries six days ago, and was tongue-tied around strangers at the best of times.

Shit.

What would Archer do? His younger brother was good with people, especially the ladies. He’d navigate this situation like a pro.

She gave him a tentative smile, probably because he was staring at her like a loon.
Compliments. Women like compliments.

“Your teeth are real white,” Wilder blurted. Goddamn it, the words hung over them like a comic strip balloon. He wished for a string to grab on to, so he could stuff the idiocy back into his mouth, swallow it down.

“Excuse me?” Her shoulders jerked as her lips clamped, clearly not anticipating the awkward flattery.
At least he hadn’t said how much he liked her neck. Yet.

Damn, this was a mistake. He wasn’t good with people. Didn’t like people. Didn’t need people. 


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Lia Riley writes offbeat New Adult and Contemporary Adult romance. After studying at the University of
Montana-Missoula, she scoured the world armed only with a backpack, overconfidence and a terrible sense of direction. She counts shooting vodka with a Ukranian mechanic in Antarctica, sipping yerba mate with gauchos in Chile and swilling XXXX with stationhands in Outback Australia among her accomplishments. A British literature fanatic at heart, Lia considers Mr. Darcy and Edward Rochester as her fictional boyfriends. Her very patient husband doesn't mind. Much. When not torturing heroes (because c'mon, who doesn't love a good tortured hero?), Lia herds unruly chickens, camps, beach combs, daydreams about future books, wades through a mile-high TBR pile and schemes yet another trip. Right now, Icelandic hot springs and Scottish castles sound mighty fine.



Check out the other books in the Brightwater Series


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