2015-03-24

Cover Reveal!


Duty and Desire

Book 2 of The Hearts of Honour Series

by Elise de Sallier

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Release Date: June 18 , 2015

Summary: Grace Daniels, the village of Hartley’s resident midwife and herbalist, would like nothing more than to ease the suffering of Jonathan Loring’s young son, Peter. But the widowed Blackthorn estate manager is as prejudiced against her illegitimacy as he is her “witchy” profession. When Peter’s physicians say they can do no more for the boy, Jonathan finds himself in the unenviable position of having to turn to the woman whose skills he has scorned.
     Drawn together out of duty, Jonathan and Grace’s relationship soon becomes characterised by a not-so-hidden desire. Having found a degree of independence unheard of for a lady, Grace has no intention of submitting to the bonds of matrimony. Not that Jonathan, who has lost his inheritance and has to work for a living, is in any position to propose.
     With marriage out of the question, their only option is both shocking and dangerous . . . to become lovers.

Read an Excerpt!

     Grace Daniels pulled her cloak tightly around her shoulders. The blustery wind tugged strands of her long, black hair free from her bun, intent on using them to whip her face. To add insult to injury, the misty rain—which she could have borne quite easily—was now falling in heavy splats. Several icy drips had worked their way through her worn, woollen wrap, sending shivers down her spine.     What joy.     As the midwife and herbalist for the village of Hartley, Grace traipsed around the countryside in all sorts of weather, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t a trial. She really should have taken up William, the viscount Blackthorn, on his offer to supply her with a horse-drawn chaise. How she would find time to care for a horse was beyond her. There were so few hours left in her day already, certainly not enough for a decent night’s sleep on the rare occasion she wasn’t called out to assist with a birth or an emergency.  If the viscount knew the reason for her reluctance, he would probably offer to pay for a stable boy to assist her. But Grace didn’t like to feel beholden—not even to her best friend’s husband—although it was somewhat unavoidable, considering he now funded her work.     Startled by a horse’s whinny, she looked over her shoulder to see—as if conjured from her imagination—just the sort of hooded chaise William had suggested would be suitable for her needs. Unfortunately, the driver was more likely to appear in her nightmares than her daydreams.     Jonathan Loring, retired military officer and the Blackthorn Viscountcy’s new estate manager.    “Get in. You can ride with me the rest of the way up to the manor.”    Grace bristled at her unwelcome rescuer’s tone even as the wind tugged at the ribbons of her bonnet. Personable in appearance, with golden hair and a close-trimmed beard, Mr Loring was already well-respected by the local populace, though he had a knack for rubbing Grace the wrong way. If she were a cat, she would have hissed.   “Don’t dawdle, Miss Daniels,” he added in his typically autocratic manner. “There’s no point getting any wetter than you already are, unless you enjoy impersonating a drowned rat?”    Grace narrowed her eyes. She would have given a great deal to be able to turn her back on the obnoxious man and keep walking, but a not-so-distant clap of thunder heralded a strengthening in the storm. If only she hadn’t misread the weather.    “Oh, very well,” she muttered, clambering aboard with little of the attribute for which she was named evident in either movement or demeanour. To make matters worse, the bench seat was barely wide enough to accommodate them both. Leaving a respectable distance between them simply wasn’t possible, as she was forced to squeeze into the narrow space between the sidewall and Mr Loring’s immovable thigh. Thankfully, he made no comment about her damp skirt pressing against him, merely jerked his chin towards the prancing bay gelding.    “I’m sorry I couldn’t climb down to assist you, but Ned’s hard to handle in this weather.”    After placing her bag next to her feet, Grace gave him a withering glance. “That would have been unnecessary, as I am quite capable of getting into a vehicle unaided. It also would have been unwise, as it’s plain to see you need to keep both hands on the reins lest your horse bolt. I’ve no desire to be bowled over and left facedown in the mud.”    “Neither do I, which is why I wasn’t fool enough to attempt the manoeuvre.” Mr Loring huffed a breath while urging his horse to trot up the steep, muddy road that led to Blackthorn Manor. “I was merely trying to explain my less-than-gentlemanly behaviour.”     “Since we both know I’m not a lady, the gesture would have been wasted. Unless you’re trying to convince me you would show the same courtesy to your average, run-of-the-mill servant?”     “If a woman needed my help, then I would render assistance regardless of her station,” he replied, biting off each word as if displaying the early signs of lockjaw.     While the man was as irritating as a prickle in one’s shoe, Grace couldn’t deny she received an inordinate amount of pleasure from goading him.

EliseA great believer in living happily ever after, Elise de Sallier began her lifelong obsession with the romance and paranormal genres when she was far too young to be reading either. After more than thirty years of marriage to her very own romantic hero, she now knows great relationships don't just happen, they take work . . . which doesn't mean writing about them can't be a whole lot of fun!

While raising a family, Elise established a career as a counsellor and family therapist. Seeking an escape from the stresses of her work, she discovered the world of fan fiction, and her timid writer's muse made its voice heard. After 2.3 million hits, 20,000 reviews, and an e-mail from an acquisitions editor at The Writer's Coffee Shop Publishing House, her life found a new and fascinating direction.

 Elise likes to see her characters grow, experience passion and adventure, tackle some difficult issues, and find lasting love . . . eventually.

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Praise for Passion and Propriety, Hearts of Honour, Book 1
     “I cannot recommend this author, or her book, highly enough to anyone who is a fan of Regency romance or who would like to dabble in the genre to see if it’s for them, because believe me, after reading this you would definitely be a convert!” Lily Loves Indie
     “This is probably one of my favorite historical romances I have read this year.” Jen, Red Hot Books
     “I’ll definitely be picking up more books by this author and can't wait for the next instalment of this series which stars Hannah’s friend, Grace.”Amy Alvis, Historical Romance Lover
     “I loved it. That could be my entire review, right there. But I need to gush a bit more. A wounded hero. A woman with a backbone and caring heart. A bit of angst as I wonder if they will overcome the obstacles that stand in their way of true love.... The flow of the story was natural, not rushed, and I enjoyed every page. I’m very happy to hear that there will be more in Ms. de Sallier’s Hearts of Honour series. I want the next one now!” Kathie, First Page to the Last Book Reviews
     “This is the third book I’ve read by this author and I couldn’t help falling in love with de Sallier’s characters once again. I was completely taken into the story not just by Hannah and William, but by the secondary characters at the same time... If you enjoy Regency Romance, you will love Passion & Propriety.” Lindsey Gray, Author on Author Book Reviews

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2015-03-20

Lissa Bryan is the author of Shadows Have Gone (and of many other fabulous stories!)



Experience Writing Shadows Have Gone (Lissa Bryan)

My experience in writing this novel was one of pure adventure. I had a lot of fun with it, because it was basically re-imagining the world we live in if everything stopped. All technology, all modern convenience, all of the things we take for granted. But I wanted the novel to be grounded in reality, so it meant a lot of research

My premise with this novel was to explore what would happen to an ordinary girl in these extraordinary circumstances. How would she cope? What would she become when faced with these incredible challenges? But I also needed to think about the little, ordinary tasks of daily living. How would she cook? Bathe? How would her community sustain itself on a daily basis?

The internet is an amazing resource for writers. Using Google Maps, I was able to trace the entire route my hero and heroine travel. I was even able to see the inside of the buildings they visited. On one occasion, I was able to find what I needed from the online travel diary of a teenaged girl who snapped photos of her friends inside one of the buildings I wanted to describe, but couldn’t find pictures of anywhere else.

In this latest novel, I needed to use online resources from midwives, and ham radio operators. I was able to correspond with some experts who patiently answered my questions and helped me make those aspects of the novel realistic.

My advice to writers is to take full advantage of this resource. Explore all of the possibilities. It may lead you in directions you never expected.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

Thank you, Lissa!

Shadows Have Gone
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Book 3 of End of All Things Series
by Lissa Bryan

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Release Date: March 26 , 2015
Genre: FICTION / Dystopian/ Romance / General  ISBN e-book:    978-1-61213-375-1
Available from: Amazon, Kobo, Barnes and Noble, and TWCS PH

Summary - Carly Daniels knows what it is to suffer loss. She knows what it is to sacrifice. In the two years since a pandemic virus—known only as the Infection—decimated humanity, she’s made choices she never could have imagined. She’s condoned violence in the name of peace and done the unthinkable in the name of mercy. But with Justin at her side, she’s also learned there’s nothing she can’t face and nothing she wouldn’t do to protect those she loves.
But now another threat has arrived in the form of a uniformed man driving an army truck, claiming to represent the remnant of the United States military. Someone has set their sights on their community . . . and on Justin. The struggle to defend their little homeland is far from over, and the visitors may have brought more danger with them than just their weapons.
The shadows are closing in. Carly has to find out whether she has the strength to stand on her own when all of her support has fallen away. What remains when the shadows have gone?

Read an Excerpt!


“There’s other news,” Justin said. “We made contact with a man driving an army truck.”“The army?”“Someone with the army?”“There’s an army?”“Whose army?” Pete’s voice rang above the excited babble.“That’s the right question,” Justin said. “Whose army? He might have been wearing a uniform and claiming affiliation, but I have my doubts.”“He claimed to be from the US Army?”Claimed,” Justin said, stressing the word hard. “And his claim had a few inconsistencies. I was in the Army, and I know. Whatever this guy is a part of, it’s not the army as we knew it.”“What did he want?”“Said he was out scouting and saw the smoke. He agreed to leave a message outside of Clayton if his people want to get in contact with us again. And I would imagine they will.”“Last thing we need is another fight,” Grady said. He took off his hat and wiped the sweat from his forehead. “You think they know where we are?”“General area. We wouldn’t be that hard to find if someone was really searching for us. If they’re really army, then yes, they know exactly where we are as we speak. But as I said, I have my doubts.”“Think it will come to a fight?” Pete asked.Justin scratched his chin. “I really can’t say. What I can say is that we always need to be prepared for it, prepared to defend what is ours.”“What if they really are the army? Would we be America again?”“Wait. When did we stop being America?”“America is dead.” This came from David, his voice as blunt as a dropped stone. “We all saw it die two years ago. I don’t know what we are now, but the Constitution sure ain’t in effect anymore. There’s no government. There’s no social contract holding us together. That’s what America was, you know—a collective agreement of the people. Now we’re just—” He sliced a hand through the air.“If the army is still active, that would mean there is a government, which would make this still America,” Grady said. “They’d be the government’s representatives, establishing order.”Justin shook his head. “You’re thinking way too far ahead. Even if they are US Army—and that’s a very big if—they don’t have control of the whole country. There is no centralized government, no law enforcement. They’re not coming to rescue us.”

Lissa Bryan is an astronaut, renowned Kabuki actress, Olympic pole vault gold medalist, Iron Chef champion, and scientist who recently discovered the cure for athlete's foot...though only in her head. Real life isn't so interesting, which is why she spends most of her time writing.
She is the author of four other novels, Ghostwriter, The End of All Things, its sequel, The Land of the Shadows, and Under These Restless Skies.

GIVEAWAY!


Praise for Shadows Have Gone
"I laughed, I cried, I was gently amused, but what could I expect? Times are tough, no one is trustworthy and yet there is a sweet innocence about some characters that hit you right between the eyes; they are always so positive and wanting to see the best in others. Once again, Lissa Bryan has taken the handoff from a previous book and run with it at breakneck speeds with barely a misstep in sight!"  - Dianne

After a terrible virus ravages the planet, Carly Daniels, one of the few survivors, hides in her apartment in Juneau trying to survive the best she can with only occasional forays to gather food. With her is Sam, a wolf puppy she found starving on the streets. He becomes her companion and a reason to continue when giving up sometimes seems like the more attractive option. Still dazed with shock and grief, she hopes for the world to go back to normal soon.
She is discovered by Justin, an ex-soldier who is intent on making his way to Florida before the winter sets in. Justin coaxes her out of her hiding place and convinces her to join him on his journey, because a warmer climate will be their best chance against the extremes of Mother Nature.
Together, they begin a perilous journey through a nation laid to waste by the disaster. Challenges abound along the way. The weather, injury, and shortage of supplies all help to slow them down. In time, they discover that they aren’t the only survivors. Some are friendly but some have had their minds destroyed by the high fever. Then there are those who simply take what they want, leaving Carly and Justin with no choice but to defend what is theirs.
But their journey is not without joy and love. Together, they face every struggle, including an unplanned pregnancy. Despite the perils of bringing a child into a world of chaos, their baby is a new beginning for themselves and a symbol of hope for the other survivors they find along the way.
This is the story of their journey to find a place to begin a new life, and a home in each other.


The Horsemen

L.A.'s mayor has declared quarantine to try to halt the spread of the Infection. Pearl sets off across the city to buy supplies, but already the world is changing. Something strange is in the air. The Horsemen are coming ...
Veronica
When Veronica's mother doesn't come home from work and no one answers the phone when she calls for help, a nine-year-old girl is thrown into the chaos of a world coming to an end. Veronica decides it's up to her to find her family. "Veronica" is the story of a little girl's courage in the face of the end of all things.
"I Wandered Lonely As A Cloud"
They called her Shadowfax-- the mare Carly and Justin found on their travels. But before she was found by Carly, the retired dressage horse was known as Cloud. An unusual tale of the end, told through the eyes of a confused and lonely horse, left in her pasture. 
Birthday
(A previously-published bonus story.) Carly knows Justin has never celebrated his birthday, and after society crumbled, no one knows what date it is, anyway. But she wants to do something special for him. Celebrating the little things helps them keep hope alive, and as a blizzard rages outside, a small gesture of love warms their home.
Tales of courage, tales of survival... Tales from the End.

After surviving the Infection and a perilous journey through the wasteland that was once the United States, Carly and Justin have found a safe home in the isolated town of Colby. Even so, balancing the duties of survival and a growing family isn’t easy. As they emerge as leaders, they face difficult questions about justice in a lawless land, basic human rights, and freedom in a world where strength defines worth. More than ever, they have to rely on one another for strength and support during the darkest of times.
The Crisis is far from over. Their fences won’t keep the world out forever, and a new threat is emerging—a gang of predators who see the town as easy pickings. When danger looms over Colby, Carly must decide how far she’ll go to protect those she loves.
It’s a journey down the long and broken road through The Land of the Shadow.

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2015-03-17

cool TWCS logo

A Cover Reveal for
Reckoning
Book 4 of The Gates Legacy Series
by Lorenz Font

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Release Date: June 4 , 2015

Summary - The vampires of New York City are breathing easier after the demise of the tyrannical former head of the Vampire Council, Goran. Under Rohnert, the revered and newly ascended leader, their future looks promising. However, an unknown enemy is manipulating events, killing humans and vampires alike, and exposing their secrets to the human world.
This is bad news for new vampire Cyrus and his band of fighters at Tack Enterprises. Events derail his plans to find Zane, the sadistic vampire who tortured Cyrus and forced immortality on him. Armed with hatred deep in his bones, all Cyrus cares about is getting even, and Zane has it coming. Cyrus soon finds himself torn between the crippling desire for revenge and his responsibility to his friends. When he begins to spend time in the company of the beautiful and pureblooded vampire, Isidora, her presence in his life makes him rethink his priorities.
Isidora is able to read minds. The thoughts she hears from the respected and irresistible vampire, Cyrus, are filled with both anger towards Zane and a deep admiration for her. Being closeted all her life, Issy has no idea what to do in the face of the outside world’s war, death, and challenges. One thing is clear. She craves Cyrus, but his need for vengeance is clouding his mind. After discovering a previously hidden family member and being called to serve the Council, Issy is at a crossroads in her life and struggles to find the right path.
Both vampires face tough choices. Should Issy pursue her feelings for Cyrus or wait until he can return her affection? Will Cyrus deny his attraction to Isidora so he can kill the man who made his life a living hell on earth? Every decision leads to a reckoning.
 
Read an Excerpt!
With Isidora in his arms, Cyrus found comfort from the torture of his nightmares and his past. The warmth of her touch and the sweetness of her kisses made him think of nothing but the present and the desire he had long denied.Cyrus had no idea how to take things between them. He had given her rough sex because he had been a jealous ass. If he’d been thinking clearly, he wouldn’t have done it. Yet he had given in to the intense need to possess her. Maybe, if he took things slow and started from the beginning, he could make do with the little kisses and touching. However, the tenting inside his pants was a cause for concern. It didn’t take long for her to notice.Issy broke their kiss and smiled up at him. She had that gleam in her eyes, the kind that told him she knew what he was thinking. He rotated his hips, trying to create room between their bodies, but she refused to let him go.“This is a good time to see if we can work things out.”“Damn it,” Cyrus muttered. Was he ready? The answer was out of his hands. With the massive wood he was sporting, even a long dip in an icebox wouldn’t chill him out. His body needed Issy, and there was no doubt she wanted him, too.“Cy, you can take charge of everything. We’ll go at your pace and on your terms. I’m here to enjoy the ride.”This made him smile. “Even if the ride is bumpy?”“As long as I’m with you.” She tightened her arms around his waist. “I don’t care how rough, how easy—just take me with you.”
 

LORENZ_PROFILE_PIC
Lorenz Font discovered her love of writing after reading a celebrated novel that inspired one idea after another. She is currently enjoying the buzz from her vampire novels Hunted, Tormented and Ascension, Books 1-3 of The Gates Legacy Series, Feather Light, an erotic romance, Indivisble Line, a romance thriller and Pieces of Broken Time, a military romance.
Lorenz’s perfect day consists of writing and lounging on her garage couch, aka the office, with a glass of her favorite cabernet while listening to her ever-growing music collection. She enjoys dabbling in different genres, with an intense focus on angst and the redemption of flawed characters. Her fascination with romantic twists is a mainstay in all her stories.
Lorenz lives in California with her husband, children, and two demanding dogs. She divides her time between her full-time job and her busy writing schedule.
 

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2015-03-16

Camilla is back with a new story!



My writing partner in crime, prereader, beta, and fabulous friend is back with a new one-shot!

This story is meant to be a chapter of Vampirism for Dummies, by Jessica314 (I highly recommend this story!) and it has been written with the full consent and encouragement of that author. 

The main character is Carlisle...but other beloved vampires are waiting for you.

Go read it!

Vampires' Sexual Drive, by Camilla10 



2015-03-09

A new story by Savage, USA Today bestselling author!



Summary
Improvise, Adapt, and Overcome. The mantra is good enough for the Marines; it’s good enough for me.  Improvise . . . Near the top of the world, I fight for my life against my opponent, Sebastian Stark.  He has the upper hand in strength, but I have the cunning to turn the tables on him.  I battle the elements, my demons, and him until Stark and I manage to strike a deal to ensure freedom for us both—and the women we love.
Adapt . . . Being alone comes naturally to me.  I’ve spent most of my life alone.  Sharing my experiences, opening up to another human being, developing a relationship—all these things are foreign to me. Sometimes I wonder if it’s even meant to be.
Overcome . . . I’ve been away from Lia for far too long, yet I still have commitments I must keep. When I make my way home, I will tell her I have decided to end the life I have led and move on to become the man she needs.  I can overcome my demons; I must.  But will Lia be willing to wait?



Read an excerpt

    I sigh as I look down the side of the snowy ridge and swing my legs over to start my own descent.  I need to find a good hiding spot until anyone who might be looking for me is gone.  As I make my way slowly down the rocks, I wonder how long it will take for them to decide I’m buried in the snow.
    There aren’t a lot of options for hiding, but as I hear the whir of helicopter blades, I duck behind a ridge and press my back against the rock.  The movement jars my dislocated shoulder, and I have to grit my teeth against the pain.  All things considered, I’m lucky to be alive.  I know it, but I don’t feel it.  Just an hour ago, I was ready to die.  It would have been a relief.  Giving up, even briefly, had felt good.
    I probably just need a decent night’s sleep.
    A vision moves beside me, and as much as I want to ignore the specter, he stays in my sights, looking over at me with dark hair hanging in his innocent eyes.
    He’s not there.  I know he’s not really there.
    Even with the intense cold, his presence makes my palms sweat.  I let myself look in his direction even though I don’t want to.  The kid looks the same as he always does—disheveled, dressed in a simple cloth shirt and trousers, no shoes.  There is fear in his eyes as if he knows exactly what is about to happen to him.
    “Don’t you have some other poor asshole to harass?” I ask aloud.
    The kid tilts his head but doesn’t speak.  He rarely does.
    I use the back of my glove to rub at my eyes.  The snow melts on my skin, causing a chill as the wind hits my face.  I need to stay dry, so I use the strip of cloth covering my mouth to wipe the melted snow away and then yank up my gloves.
    The helicopter passes over my head and out of sight.  I glance over my shoulder at the icy mountain behind me.  Mt. Windsor is the only actual land formation that makes up tiny Buckingham Island in Canada’s unorganized Nunavut territory.  On a good day, the temperature might reach zero, but it’s not a good day.
    Soon, it’s going to be a really shitty night.  I don’t think I’ll live through it.
    Shuffling away from the rock, I rub at my sore shoulder and start down the side of the mountain again.  It’s slow going.  Balancing with one arm basically out of commission isn’t easy, and the terrain is rough.  The wind is at my back, trying to push me over, but I manage to stay on my feet.
    The vision of the kid, occasionally kicking at rocks that don’t move, follows me all the way down.
    My head pounds along with my heart.  I close my eyes and shake my head, but he’s still there.  It doesn’t seem to matter what I do anymore.  I can’t get rid of him.  When I first started seeing him, before I realized what he was, he would disappear soon after I first saw him.  Now he lingers, taunting me with the memories of the boy I killed overseas.
    He doesn’t bother to hide when the helicopter passes over again, but I have to duck underneath a rocky outcropping.  When I drag myself back out, he still stands there, staring at me.  Maybe he’s feeling bolder since I told Stark about him.
    “Fuck you,” I mutter.

 Shay Savage lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with her family and a variety of household pets.  She is an accomplished public speaker, and holds the rank of Distinguished Toastmaster from Toastmasters International.  When not writing, she enjoys science fiction movies, masquerading as a zombie, is a HUGE Star Wars fan, and member of the 501st Legion of Stormtroopers.  When the geek fun runs out, she loves soccer in any and all forms - especially the Columbus Crew, Arsenal and Bayern Munich.  Savage holds a degree in psychology, and she brings a lot of that knowledge into the characters within her stories.



2015-03-08

Happy Women's Day!


To a very special woman...

YOU!



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