Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Blog Tour Stop - Absolution by Amanda Dick

Hey hey, kiddies! Today we're spending some time with author Amanda Dick! She's taking her latest masterpiece Absolution on tour - let's see what she's brought for us!



            A freak accident, a moment in time, and life changes forever. Stay or go - there's no such thing as the easy way out. The accident wasn't his fault but in the horrific aftermath, Jack's actions may have possibly caused consequences he could never have foreseen. Consumed with guilt and unable to listen to reason, he takes the only option he believes is open to him: he disappears. Living a quiet life away from everyone he loves, he drops off the grid but the memories continue to haunt him.  
            Four years later, a funeral signals a homecoming fraught with tension as he finally forces himself to face up to the consequences of his actions. Betrayed and angry, his former best friend Callum wants nothing more than to see him disappear once again - for good this time. Meanwhile his ex-girlfriend Ally has moved on and he can see that his return is anything but easy for her. People change, life goes on and things are never as simple as they seem. The past has a habit of catching up with you when you least expect it.  
            Living with regret and guilt almost tore him apart, but there is no guarantee that trying to make amends will soothe his soul or help the people he loves the most.  
            Courage has many faces. Fighting for what you believe in, no matter what. Showing strength of mind and body when the cards are stacked against you. Rising to the challenge and playing through the pain. 
            And yet sometimes, courage means simply standing your ground.






Excerpt




            “You want to know if I told her about what happened that night.”


            Callum glared at him, and Jack could tell he was on the right track.


            “The answer is no, I didn’t. But why the hell didn’t you? You were there, you knew.”


            “Because it wasn’t my place to tell her – it was yours.” Callum snapped.


            “Jesus, Callum! You just let her think God knows what, all this time?”


            “What the hell do you care what she thought! You weren’t here, remember? I didn’t tell her because what the hell would be the point?”


            “What would be the point?” Jack repeated indignantly. “She would have known!”


            “Known what? That you were a coward? She figured that one out for herself when she woke up and you were gone!”


            Jack opened his mouth to speak, but Callum cut him off.


            “Don’t you dare come back here and start blaming me or anyone else! No one told you to go – you made that choice yourself.” Callum hissed, eyes blazing. “You did the wrong thing then and by coming back now and stirring it all up again, all you’re doing is making it worse. You’re here for your own selfish reasons, not because of Tom or because of her!”


            “I’m trying to make it right!” Jack insisted, heart racing.


            “And how in the hell do you think you’re gonna do that?”


            Jack stared at him dumbfounded, knowing that he had asked himself that question a million times and come up empty.


            “She doesn’t need you anymore. The best thing you can do now is just crawl back into whatever hole you crawled out of and leave her be.”


            Jack shook his head determinedly, his heart pounding. “No. I’m not going anywhere, not this time.”


            Callum laughed scornfully. “That’s your master plan? Seriously?”


            Jack glared at him in silence, his anger mounting.


            “Oh come on – you gotta admit, that’s a reckless statement, especially for you.” Callum snorted derisively. “You disappear when the going gets tough, remember?”


            Jack clenched his teeth so tight his jaw ached. “That’s not what happened and you know it.”


            “Do I? Because that’s what it looked like from where I was standing!”


            “You know damn well why I left!” Jack blurted out, his voice thunderous and desperate. “You knew what I did – you were there!”


            “Yeah, I knew what you did - big deal! You were trying to save her life - she wouldn’t have blamed you!” he said hotly. “You did the wrong thing, Jack – you should’ve stayed.”


            Jack stared at him, his heart racing. He thought about the relationship they used to have – how close they were. Like brothers. And now this; strangers - worse than that; enemies.


            “I made a mistake.” he choked. “I won’t make that mistake again.”


            Callum shook his head. He stood up straight and took a step backwards, eyeballing Jack as he forced his hands back into his pockets.


            “Here’s the thing – you made your choice. Now you have to live with it, just like the rest of us. You can’t change what happened and if you stick around, you’re only gonna hurt her. Is that what you want?”


            Jack opened his mouth to reply but Callum didn’t give him a chance.


            “She was just starting to get her life back together, after everything she’s been through. Don’t rip it all apart again.” he pleaded quietly, clearly emotional. “Do the right thing this time - leave.”



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About Amanda






            Amanda Dick is a night-owl, coffee addict, movie buff and music lover.  She also writes.
           
            Born in Opotiki, New Zealand, she is rather partial to dark chocolate and believes in the power of a good vanilla latte.  She has a passion for the colour green (particularly in clothes and gemstones) and insists there is nothing sexier than a man in a kilt.
           
            She spent several months traveling around Europe in her late 20’s (there’s a story there – she’ll get around to writing it one day).  After ridding herself of her wanderlust, she met the love of her life (while working to pay off said wanderlust) in Edinburgh, Scotland.  They moved in together the week after their first date – so yes, she believes in love at first sight.  She also believes in Women's Intuition and following your heart.
           
            She writes on her trusty laptop, predominantly late at night, when it's quiet and interruptions are few.  Most of all, she enjoys writing about human behaviour - love, loss, joy, grief, friendship and relationships in general.  She loves to put normal, everyday people into situations that will test their boundaries.  She is passionately curious about how we, as human beings, react when pushed to the edge.
           
            After living in Scotland for five years, she has now settled back home in New Zealand, where she lives with her husband and two children.

Contact Amanda





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Monday, February 17, 2014

Blog Tour Stop - Fractured Steel by TJ Loveless

Fractured Steel Tour Banner

Fractured Steel ebook cover


Title: Fractured Steel

Author: T.J. Loveless

Release Date: February 15, 2014

Genre: Thriller/Contemporary Fiction



Synopsis

After a bloody tour in Iraq, all Karen Barnes wants is a simple life, surrounded by horses and the mountains of Wyoming. But when a stranger tries boarding a famous horse worth millions at her stable, Karen grows suspicious that the horse has been stolen.

When her worse fears are confirmed and her life is threatened, her instinct for survival kicks in. But things are far worse than she could have even imagined when she discovers that the theft is just a coverup for espionage.

With the lives of those she cares for at stake, can she find the courage to fight one more battle, or will the violence and carnage tear her to pieces?


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Fractured Steel Teaser 5


Buy Links

Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IGI2BHS

Amazon UK - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fractured-Steel-T-J-Loveless-ebook/dp/B00IGI2BHS

Amazon CA - http://www.amazon.ca/Fractured-Steel-T-J-Loveless-ebook/dp/B00IGI2BHS

Amazon AU - http://www.amazon.com.au/Fractured-Steel-T-J-Loveless-ebook/dp/B00IGI2BHS


Excerpt

Johnny swung the M16 and pointed it at me, “Come here, honey.” He smiled, and I held back the waves of nausea. I knew the smile, what he wanted, knew if he got me out of here, I was going to hurt.

“Stop shooting and I will.” I kept my feet planted, hoping the fear didn’t show.

He turned and shot a man trying to crawl away. I flinched as blood and thicker things spread over the floor. “You don’t negotiate. Come here, Karen. We have unfinished business.”

I took a deep breath, the smell of copper pennies and released bowels covering my nose and throat. Don’t cry, show no weakness. There are others that might survive. I took a step, followed by several more. If I managed to get Johnny and Jake out of here, they could lock down and call for help. Peripheral vision said at least seven survived. The good of the many outweigh the good of the few, or the one, I repeated in my head, remembering the line from the eighties movie, Star Trek: Wrath of Khan. I wasn’t brave like Spock, I was a coward, and couldn’t live with myself.

Standing in front of Johnny, I released a punch, sending him reeling. I grabbed his M16 as he lurched to the left, and turned it on Jake. I hesitated, seeing his beautiful eyes, a dozen years of memories flashing in front of me. Shaking my head, I pulled the trigger. His body jumped and moved, eyes wide with pain and surprise.

I turned the muzzle to a hunched over Johnny, “Look at me. For once, don’t be a coward, and face the person who is going to take your life.”


Fractured Steel Teaser 3



About the Author


TJ LovelessT.J. Loveless has been reading and writing stories since the fourth grade. A former  copy/content editor at a medium sized pub house, she now spends her time writing and helping other authors reach for the stars through Cliffhanger Press, LLC.

She lives with The Writing Zoo, a Hubby who prefers her mood when writing, and a teenager who loves to tells stories of Mom on the floor trying to visualize "legs all akimbo" and the long, often yelling, conversations with the computer screen.



Purchase Her Other Books Today

Lucky Number Six cover


Going Thru Hell cover




Giveaway

Open Internationally

$100 Visa Gift Card, Signed Paperback of Fractured Steel and an ebook of Going Thru Hell/Odd Number Five


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20 Fun Facts

1. I used to race on dirt tracks at the I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Arkansas. I never won, but I’m damn good at crabbing around a corner.
2. English is technically my second language. I spoke Inupiat first.
3. I can shovel water like nobody’s business, and drive heavy equipment, learned while working for a construction company in Florida.
4. I’m obsessed with American classic cars – the muscle cars of the 1960’s, the curves of the 1940’s & 50’s, the roar of a gasoline guzzling engine.
5. I used to rescue Rottweilers, managed to retrain and place 172 dogs.
6. I can cuss up a storm, and make an inmate blush.
7. I love the show Supernatural. My favorite character? Baby. The boys are cute eye candy, but I squee over the Impala.
8. I have PTSD, and large cities/heavy traffic are my worst triggers. I have a teddy bear I carry with me, if Hubby isn’t available.
9. I love snakes … I’m terrified of spiders. I once jumped out of the second story window of our house and broke my leg to get away from a wolf spider.
10. I’m a USDA, card carrying, certified klutz. I trip over nothing, and proud of it.
11. I’m addicted to coffee. The real surprise is that I didn’t drink coffee until 2003. Raspberry Mocha Lattes with two extra shots from Paramount Café are my Kryptonite.
12. I adore Star Trek, Star Wars, and used to have a collection of X-Men comics from the late 80’s.
13. I’m a biologist at heart, and love anything science-y.
14. My fourth grade teacher still has the first short story I ever wrote. She has it hanging on her living room wall with pictures of her family. I don’t remember what the story was about.
15. I don’t like popcorn.
16. I love winter and the long nights.
17. I have no sense of fashion. Hence, I wear a lot of jeans, t-shirts and sneakers. For fashion advice, I go to Hubby, my teenager, or friends. I didn’t know what Jimmy Chu’s were until a writer friend explained them to me.
18. I don’t watch scary/gory/horror movies.
19. I can’t do anything craft-y to save my life. I can imagine it, but the execution looks like a hamster on crack tried to make it.
20. I had to have Hubby help me think of 20 interesting things to share.

Friday, February 14, 2014

Book Blitz: Forever Doomed

It's not wise to wander the cruise ship Forever alone at night. You might not live to see daylight.
Detective Jack Harney agrees to do an old Army buddy a favor. Curt Noble had some personal business to attend to, he didn’t say what. What he did say was he needed someone to temporarily take over his duties as head of security on the struggling cruise ship Forever. Jack hesitates, but he owes Curt his life so agrees. He’s told the worst mischief he can expect to encounter will be the occasional shoplifter, or drunk. Instead, one week into the cruise, a beautiful red head and a member of the crew are ruthlessly murdered. Are the two murders connected? It’s up to Jack to find out. He must find the killer before the ship returns to Tampa’s port, or worse, before another dead body is found. This won't be easy. The ship is old, it's security systems outdated, and clues are few, or so it seems at first
 It’s not just a sense of obligation that motivates Jack to agree to Curt's request;
Jack moved thousands of miles, started over, and still can't get Amy O'Brian out of his heart or mind. When she shows up on the ship, as part of a large wedding party, Jack must fight to stay focused. To make matters worse, Amy isn't his only distraction; a sexy and mysterious woman has made it her mission to seduce Jack.
As the body count rises, and time slips away, Jack has to ask himself, “Did someone commit the perfect crime?”


forever doomed

maryann kempher 



purchase links


excerpt

Jack watched Marni leave, torn. Did he think she’d killed Pam? No, but she was keeping something from him, something to do with Pam’s murder. He looked down at his arm, seeing her small hand. His heart was still beating hard. It had taken real effort to hide his feelings when she’d touched him. After a few minutes, he started walking, and was soon standing outside Marni’s cabin door. He hesitated. He told himself he was just going there to talk to her, to try to make her tell him what he sensed she was holding back. But that was a lie. He reached up and knocked. She opened the door wearing a towel.
“I was about to take a shower,” she said.
Jack didn’t respond. He walked into her room, shoving the door shut behind him. He took hold of her towel and pulled her tightly against his body, his mouth covering hers, his tongue searching for hers, his hands yanking the towel off and tossing it to the floor. He easily picked up Marni and carried her to the bed. She pulled his shirt up over his head, her hands running themselves through his thick chest hair. She reached for his belt buckle, undoing it slowly, her eyes watching his. Then she pulled his pants down and gasped.
Oh my.

about the author

MaryAnn Kempher loves to write mystery with a dash of romance. She spent her teen years spent living in Reno NV where her first book, Mocha, Moonlight, and Murder is set. The setting for her second book, Forever Doomed, was inspired by her love of the ocean. Her writing influences include favorite authors Agatha Christie, Jane Austen and Janet Evanovich. Her guilty pleasures include any and all sweets, including a good cup of Mocha. She is married with two children.

contact maryann


previous books


goodreads

Instead of feeding her late-night appetite, a midnight food run nearly gets 28-year-old Katherine O’Brian killed. She’s the only person to see the man who brutally murdered a local woman, and the killer is hell-bent on making sure she doesn’t talk.

Scott Mitchell left a broken engagement behind when he moved to Reno, and the last thing he needs is more melodrama. But when he and Katherine are paired for a college project, that’s what he gets. It can be very distracting when someone is out to kill your lab partner. Together, they try to figure out what the police haven’t been able to—the identity of the murderer. Passion flares, but with Katherine’s life in danger, romance seems like more than a bad idea.

Scott and Katherine will face jealousy, misunderstandings, lust, and rivals, not to mention attempted murder—and all before their first real date

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Saturday, February 8, 2014

Checking In!




Holy monkeys! So, I started back to work this week for the first time in a year and a half.



I. Am. Exhausted.





But I'm SO grateful to be getting back out in the workforce (and out of my house, thus releasing me from the clutches of cabin fever!!) to help my hubby pay the bills. I don't complain a lot on here, so unless you follow my personal Facebook page you may not realize the long run of bad luck our family has been facing for the last 2 years. I had trouble finding a job for a while, but now that I'm working again at a job I absolutely LOVE thus far, there's finally a light at the end of the long dark tunnel. We're really hoping that this is the end of the horrific nightmare of being flat broke and the beginning of a new chapter in our lives.



That being said, I don't have any promo posts set up for next week just yet, and I may keep it that way so I don't miss any posts and have time to get acclimated to working again. I'll still try to pop in and post stuff as I have time, but I make no guarantees unless the post is already pre-arranged before Monday. :P

So, the blog might be a tad bit quiet this upcoming week, but I promise, neither the Penguin nor myself is abandoning the blog - you can't get rid of us that easily! So I hope you don't abandon us either!!

Till next time, have a happy weekend and stay safe in this crazy ass winter weather we've been having!!

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Blog Tour Stop - Intractable Souls by Tricia Daniels

We've got an extra surprise for you today! A blog tour stop with the lovely Tricia Daniels, who just happens to be taking her book Intractable Souls on tour. Sound fun? Let's see what we've got to share with you...



Excerpt

     “Lay down on the couch baby, the desk is too hard and cold. I want you to be comfortable.”
     Moving to the couch, she sits down feeling awkward, not entirely sure how he wants her. Although she was momentarily disappointed about not living out her fantasy of being ravaged on his desk she’s thankful for the soft, warm leather underneath her. When he walks toward her with that confident, commanding swagger her stomach bottoms out. Roller coasters were less exciting than being alone with this man. He grins. “Look at you. You’re so beautiful.” Sitting down beside her, Ethan studies her expression. “You look nervous. Like it’s the first time we’ve ever been intimate.” That seems to give him great pleasure. Running his hands along her leg, he makes her pulse quicken. Parting her lips to breathe through her mouth, Olivia tries to ease oxygen into her lungs.
     “I love the reactions I get from you.” Ethan says, twirling her hair around his fingers before brushing his thumb across her bottom lip. Holding her chin and tipping it up he claims her lips in one hell of a possessive kiss, adding to the intensity as he parts them to slip his tongue inside. When she trembles in anticipation of what's to come he pulls his lips away to look at her face. He’s intrigued by her reaction to him tonight. It’s driving him wild, feeding into his inner caveman. “Why do you look so nervous, baby? Tell me.”
     The words spill from her mouth unrestrained. “I never know what you’re going to do. One day you’re all love songs and twinkle lights… the next day you’re all about ripping panties and fucking. I never know what to expect.” His shoulders tense as he leans forward and rests his nose against her forehead, nuzzling for a moment, needing to know the answer but afraid to hear the truth. “Do you think I could ever hurt you?”
     “No, I’m not frightened.” She says confidently, not wanting to give him the wrong impression and have him pull back.
     “So you’re nervousness is from suspense then? You’re excited?” She can feel the relief roll through his body.
     “Yes.” Her body tenses and she squeezes her thighs together growing impatient for him to touch her.
     “I’m not gonna lie. I like that.” He brushes his cheek down hers moving his mouth to her ear. “Do you trust me to look after your needs?” He whispers before sucking her ear lobe into his mouth and nipping it with his teeth.
     “Yes.” She moans as he slides his hand between her thighs and gently pries them apart moving upwards towards her panties.
     “Good, because that’s my job now. Only mine.”



Interview

DSP: For starters, tell us a bit about you, we like to get to know our authors as a person!

Tricia: I live in a small town in Southern Ontario, Canada where I raised 3 sons as a single parent. The simple truth is... I'm just a normal woman,  struggling to pay the bills and trying to raise my kids in a home where they feel empowered, supported and loved. They have all grown up to be fine young men and I couldn’t be any prouder of them.


DSP: Nice to meet you! So tell us, where did you find the inspiration for your most recent book?

Tricia:  Love.... love inspired me to write this story. The same way you all feel when you connect with a fictional character and you feel their emotions, their angst... when you're body gets all warm and squeezy at the good parts. An author experiences those things too when they are writing. I loved when I was writing and the characters took over the story. I loved the plot twists that developed that I hadn't planned. I loved the start of the journey to the HEA, even though sometimes that road had a lot of bends in it. I love how two imperfect characters can love each other perfectly. My reward, my inspiration is experiencing through them, a love so deep that I feel it in my own heart.


DSP: So, do you have any kind of ritual for writing? Such as, you have to write with music on, or you can only write when you’re completely alone, etc.

Tricia: I need complete and utter quiet. Nobody around. I do my best writing up at the lake.


DSP: Who is your favorite character in your book, and why? How about the character you had the most trouble with?

Tricia: I love them all for different reasons. I hate them all for different reasons. It’s a complex cast of characters and I don’t think I could chose. Of course Ethan O’Connell the smoking hot, alpha, Irish man with a killer romantic side is kind of dreamy ~sighs~


DSP: Now, when you sit down to write a book, a paragraph, or whatever you‘re working on at the moment, do you just sit down in front of the computer, or do you need an outline of some sort? Is there any other prep you need in order to organize your thoughts either before you write or in the process of writing?

Tricia: I always have a story line, but the characters often do what they want. At times they get so far away from my intended story I scratch my head and wonder how I’m ever going to get it back on track. Sometimes that’s the fun part about being the author… Not even I know what’s actually going to happen until it’s down in ink.


DSP: Do you foresee any more books to continue this story? If so, do you think we can get a taste of what’s to come?

Tricia: Yes, and to avoid any confusion on the part of your followers please let me clarify… Intractable Souls is the first book in what’s planned to be a trilogy, telling the story and journey to love for Ethan O’Connell and Olivia James. The trilogy is part of the “Bound for Ireland” series. There will also be spin off books in this series telling the stories of some of the secondary characters. There seems to be some confusion among some of the readers who were unaware that Intractable Souls was not a stand alone. For that I apologize and chalk it up to a rookie author error.


DSP: Other than this most recent story, do you have any ideas for different books that might be published in the future? Care to give us a teaser?

Tricia: After all three books in Olivia and Ethan’s trilogy are done I will work on the secondary characters from this series. Just for you…  A sneak peak into Carter Brant’s Story. But don’t tell my friend Trisha because she’ll faint. She’s team Carter all the way. Who doesn’t love a rugged Australian man?

Carter Brant - Impulsive    (planned for release November 2014)

Carter puts his beer down and turns in his seat. “Because I’m going back to Australia in a week and she’s not the kind of girl you mess around with once and leave behind. I can tell.”
“You can tell? How can you tell?” Ethan asks curiously as he glances back at Kate, taking in her warm smile when she catches him looking.
“I just can.” He pauses trying to think of a way to explain it to him. “Ok, listen… remember how you felt about Olivia the first time you saw her? The way you said she had gotten under your skin just by the way she looked at you. You said it was as if she saw right through you and past all your bullshit. That was all it took for you right? The look in her eyes…You’ll never forget it.  What if that was her. Could you could take her home and make love to her and then just leave her behind a week from now?
“Not a chance. But there’s no harm in just being friends right?”
“Yes there is Ethan. When I look at Kate I feel obsessed, like I have to have her. If I spend time with her, and see just how sweet she really is… I won’t be able to hold back. Once I’ve had a taste of her it will kill me to leave her behind.  You must understand that. ”
“Wow, how the mighty have fallen.” Ethan teases.
“You’re one to talk Mate.”
Carter glances over to the other side of the bar where Kate is surrounded by several guys trying hard to capture her attention. He can hear the charming and flirty conversations taking place and suddenly feels like he’s capable of murder.  He’s still staring when she looks past her current admirers and locks onto his gaze.  When a smile forms on her beautiful lips, a spark ignites a flash fire deep in his belly,  giving him the urge to walk across the room and knock all those assholes out of the way. Yes, let’s start with that.  Pulling her to her feet, he’ll back her up against the wall and kiss her. The way a girl needs to be kissed. Holding her hands over her head; his lips roughly against her like he means it, and with no intentions of stopping


DSP: Have you named the computer you use for writing?

Tricia: I think it’s name must be “ARE YOU KIDDING ME?” because that seems to be what I yell at it a lot.

DSP: What is your greatest fear about being an author?

Tricia: Oh definitely that everyone is going to hate my story. I want everyone to like the story. Even if you’re not a fan of one of the main characters I hoped to write it so that there is someone everyone can connect with. It wasn’t easy… but it was the reason for the 3rd person pov. I wanted you all to know each character personally, as they are such a huge part of Ethan and Olivia’s lives.


DSP: Which of the characters in your book do you feel is the most like yourself, and in what way?

Tricia: Well, I deny it a lot and it makes my friends laugh. I’m very much like Olivia James. Always throwing up walls and keeping people at a distance. Afraid to let them get to close.


And now, for something completely different… some slightly off-the-wall and possibly irrelevant questions, just to get to know this author a little better!


DSP: Are you planning to bring sexy back?

Tricia: I was planning on it but I heard there were no refunds or exchanges.


DSP: If you could be any cartoon character for 24 hours, who would you pick and why?

Tricia: Road Runner, just to annoy the hell of out of Wile E. Coyote.


DSP: How many ridges are there around a quarter?

Tricia: Cdn or US? What exactly is the exchange rate on ridges?


DSP: Do you believe in fate or destiny?

Tricia: Yes, but I also believe that one can change their stars. One of my favorite parts from the movie A Knight’s Tale  in 2001


DSP: How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

Tricia: None, because the Canadian beaver hid it all.


DSP: What are your thoughts on string?

Tricia: Yo  Yo’s would be no fun without it.


DSP: Boxers or briefs?

Tricia: Boxers… or MMA fighters… and a couple of wrestlers…


DSP: Thong, G-string/v-string, or other? If other, please explain.

Tricia: Cringing.  None of the above


DSP: What is your favorite song?

Tricia: Ice Ice Baby - Vanilla Ice


DSP: Do you have any tattoos? If so, how many, what are they, and where are they on your body? (PG-13)

Tricia: No, But I’m considering getting my celtic knot tattoed on my shoulder.


DSP: What’s your favorite candy? Ice cream?

Tricia: Mike and Ikes


DSP: If you had to pick a CB handle, what would it be?

Tricia: Celtic Soul


DSP Would the 8-year-old version of yourself kick your ass or praise you for what you’ve done with your life?

Tricia: I think the 8 year old me would be proud of me.


DSP: What is the last song you listened to?

Tricia: Say Something - Christina Aguilera and Great Big World. and yes… it made me cry


DSP: Do you have any talents you haven’t shared with us?

Tricia: Only those rated 18+

DSP: Imagine you’re the sole survivor of a plane crash at sea, and you awake stranded on a deserted and uncharted island in the Bermuda Triangle. Nobody knows you’re there, and you have nothing but the clothes on your back. You’re all alone, and there’s terrifying sounds coming from deep within the jungle. Late that night as you’re starving, a large suitcase washes up on the shore. You open it up. What’s in the suitcase?

Tricia: Dear Lord, I’m praying it’s Jason Statham! 


You are NOT the first person to want a Jason Statham, and I have to admit, I wouldn't be upset to find him either!! 



20 Fun Facts

1. The word sausage, always makes me giggle
2. I’m extremely competitive at sports
3. Schmirnoff Ice makes me lose the whereabouts of my shoes and my bra
4. I’m currently single because no man will ever be as good as my book boyfriend
5. I taught your boyfriend that thing that you like.  
6. I’m a huge Eminem fan
7. I have some kind of kinky thing for elves and men who use a bow and arrow.
8. I love line dancing and sometimes I dance just a little askew of the line… cuz that’s how I roll!
9. I DESPISE sock and shoes. I’d walk around barefoot 24/7 if I could
10. One of my favorite times of the day is when I get to take my bra off.
11. I’m a slow waker. I hit the snooze button several times before I actually get out of bed.
12. I currently work in an office as the assistant to management team. It’s like having 7 husbands. ugh
13. Granny panties - yeah, I went there.
14. I deal with stress by laughing. It’s really awkward at funerals.
15. I often get in my van… point it in any direction and GO !!!
16. I blush when I edit the sexy parts of my books.
17. I just recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of my 29th Birthday! Go ahead and do the math.
18. Pumpkin Pie makes me gag.
19. I have a huge obsession with Classic Muscle Cars.
20. I don’t float.


Well, there ya have it folks! Hope you enjoyed this stellar interview and go get this book!!


Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Blog Tour Stop - Daring the Wild Sparks by Ren Alexander

We're on a roll with blog tours and promotions!!

Today brings us a new blog tour stop - Daring the Wild Sparks, by Ren Alexander. As the second book in the series, it's got everything in a book you could ask for. Seriously, check it out and read the interview at the bottom of the post!!

            In the follow up to “Chasing the Wild Sparks,” Hadley Beckett’s quest for wedded bliss perseveres…
           
            What would you do if the love of your life were closer to making your dreams come true?
           
            Riding high in her relationship with her sportscaster/local daredevil boyfriend, Finn Wilder, Hadley Beckett makes plans concerning her future with Finn. Big plans.
           
            Spending time with Finn at his parents’ house for Easter, Hadley can’t wait to share some of her ideas with him, hoping he will go along. She knows she has an uphill climb ahead of her, but she’s optimistic that after what they recently went through, Finn will be receptive to what she has to say.
           
            Infamously anti-marriage, Finn promised Hadley he’d consider taking her to the altar if she gives him more time. Diving headfirst and with encouragement from her best friend Morgan, Hadley devises a backup plan if Finn can’t make a decision soon. However, her other close friend, Rod, disagrees with Morgan’s advice, partly to just oppose her in spite, but also having actual valid points of his own. Feeling conflicted, Hadley takes both of their suggestions and blends them together, formulating her own way to handle Finn.
           
            On the other hand, unbeknownst to Hadley, Finn has plans of his own as well.
           
            Hadley is determined to succeed, yet is she unwittingly destined to fail?

             


           


            Wild Sparks Blog Tour


            Hosted by Everything Marie


             


           


             


            Daring the wild sparks


            ren alexander


             


            goodreads


             


            purchase links


             


            amazon us | amazon uk  | smashwords


             


Excerpt


             He buries his lips against my neck and purrs, “I’m sorry, baby. How can I make it up to you?”


                 “I don’t know. I’ll think of something.”


                 “I can think of something.”


                 “No way. I get to decide, not you.”


                 He drags his lips up and down my skin, and closing my eyes, I swallow when he asks, “Are you going to tease me all day?”


                 I squeak, “I might.” He lifts his head from me and tries to turn me around, but I grab onto the fence, preventing him from doing so.


                 “Is this how you’re going to be?” I hear the ambiguous grin in his voice, causing me to smile more.


                 “Maybe.”


                 I eye him from over my shoulder, his lips dangerously close to mine as he asks, “What am I going to have to do to get my kiss?” His eyes are marginally pleading and he rolls his lower lip under his teeth, surely tempting me. Gripping the fence tighter, I viciously resist those full, glistening lips of his, and kissing him with wild unrestraint.


                 Wickedly smirking at him, I whisper, “Work for it, Wilder.”


                 Turning, I walk along the fence and around the corner, finding another sign to distract me. Stopping, I glance at Finn through the white metal as a few women walk past him, furtively checking him out and giggling as they walk by. Unless they watch him online, I doubt they’re Finnatics since we’re far from Richmond. No, they were staring at my boyfriend because of how scrumptious he is.


                 It’s positively the mood-ring hair.


                 Wait. On second thought, it has to be his scorchingly carnal, dark-chocolate eyes that melt your soul with just one look.


                 Still in the same spot I left him, Finn transiently angles his head to see where the laughter is coming from. Not being able to help himself, he gives the women a polite nod accompanied by a crooked, shameless grin. Instantly, their mouths drop and they stop blinking as they bump into each other, caught in his magical allure. He must be recruiting new Finnatics.


                 It’s definitely his sexy smile.


                 I should be pissed at his flirting, like I was at the race, but I’m used to seeing him flash that smile on TV to his Finnatics, making them hot and bothered. I trust him. I’m okay with him innocently acknowledging other women—it’s part of his public persona. However, when they’re all over him, touching him in places that only I should be, that’s when I can’t take it.


                 Finn Wilder is mine.


                 Finished with his apparent networking, he looks back at me and I give him a flirty smile, obviously gawking at him myself. He rolls his eyes and looks away from me. Is he chagrined that I caught him checking out other women or is he proud of himself checking out other women in front of me? Putting his hands on his hips, he laughs and shakes his head.


                 Finn embarrassed? Never.


                 He languidly starts walking to me, looking thoughtfully around him, as if he’s formulating a plan. I watch him approaching as he passes by the metal rails, the view of him alternatingly obscured by the vertical bars. He turns the corner and I shift my stare to the sign in front of me. Every molecule of my being is on high alert, eagerly anticipating his closeness.


                 With the hair on the back of my neck on end, he’s once again behind me, and for a second time, he puts his arms around my waist and his lips against my neck. My body is singing for his touch. He discreetly flicks his tongue as his lips close over my skin, doing this up to my ear. He then nips at my earlobe, causing me to harshly inhale. He repeats biting my ear several times, driving me crazy. As I continue to stare at the sign in front of me, I strive to not be too affected, since we’re openly in public. Unexpectedly, he tersely breathes into my ear, huffing in short bursts, simulating his panting during sex. I gasp and reach up to hold onto the fence.


                 Grasping the fence on either side of me, his lips graze my ear as he brusquely whispers, “Do you want to kiss me now, Becks?”


                 I swallow and wheeze, “Nope.” Be strong.


                 I feel his smile against me. Finn Wilder lives for one thing in life: a challenge he refuses to lose.


                 He pants and groans into my ear. “Oh, Hadley, baby, you’re so sexy. I want you. I don’t care who watches. I’m going to come so hard inside you.” My knees nearly buckle. I quietly whimper and close my eyes.


                 I’m supposed to be showing him other ways than sex to be close to me. My plan is backfiring, big time. Damn it!


                 He whispers, “What about now?”


                 I nod and hoarsely say, “Yes.”


                 He whispers, “Good.” He slides his teeth over my ear. “Because two can play at this game.”


             


        


            Playlist via spotify | playlist via youtube

             


                        


           


            Chasing the wild sparks 


            Book #1

             


            goodreads


             


            What would you do if the love of your life doesn’t want the same life you do?
            Hadley Beckett has failed in not only her career, but as a daughter, friend, and girlfriend.
           
            Hadley’s longtime boyfriend, Finn Wilder, who is Richmond, Virginia’s local daredevil and favorite sportscaster, isn’t afraid of anything…except for LASIK surgery, dancing, marriage, and kids—the last two being what Hadley desperately wants with him. Finn leads a very public life; however, he leaves Hadley in the dark about most of it. Despite his public persona, Finn is viciously protective of his private life. Excluding their families, his best friend and Hadley’s friends, nobody knows he has been dating her for three years. Finn loves Hadley and he knows she wants to get married. Nevertheless, he has his own reasons for not wanting to marry her.
           
            Fearing at 33 that she will soon be too old to have kids, Hadley wants Finn to change his mind and marry her, yet her insecurities about his seemingly charismatic personality and his constant rebuffs have her questioning her aspirations. With conflicting advice from her friends, Hadley concludes she should take things into her own hands.
            Would he change his mind then?
           
            Finn pressures Hadley into moving in with him, but being traditional, she wants to be married first and she wants to stick to her beliefs, just as he clings to his own. Finn has tolerated Hadley’s stubbornness long enough and he’s reaching his breaking point.
            Finn Wilder has his own story to tell.

             


            Purchase links


            amazon us | amazon uk | Barnes & noble | smashwords


             


            Playlist via spotify | playlist via youtube


             


                       


            about the author


           


            Ren Alexander was born in Wheeling, West Virginia, but grew up in a nearby tiny, historical, college town in the Northern Panhandle of the state. She graduated from West Liberty University, where she received a B.S. in criminal justice. Although interested in that field, her true passion was reading and writing.
           
            She currently lives in Detroit, Michigan with her husband, two daughters and two cats.
           
            "Chasing the Wild Sparks" is Ren's first novel.


             


            contact ren


            facebook | goodreads | website | twitter | amazon author page


             


            giveaway


            a Rafflecopter giveaway 


             


           


             



             

How about that interview? Let's learn about Ren!!


DSP: For starters, tell us a bit about you, we like to get to know our authors as a person!

Ren: I’m a married mother of two little girls and am originally from Wheeling, West Virginia, but currently live in Detroit, Michigan. I’ll just include that list of 14 things I was hit with this week on Facebook:

1. My favorite ice cream is chocolate/peanut butter, but I don't do the kind with the cups in it.
2. The smell of peaches and cucumbers make me viciously gag. I can't even walk through a produce aisle without breathing out of my mouth or holding my breath when I'm around them. Peaches are especially smelly there.
3. Watermelon, banana, and peach candy flavors are GROSS.
4. I LOVE lighthouses!
5. I'm a huge history buff. I could watch the History Channel all day when they're showing actual shows about history.
6. I'm right-handed, but can only drive with my left hand. If I drove with my right, I would drive into a tree or off a cliff.
7. I've only owned two cars, both Toyotas. The first, I had for 10 years.
8. I can type 65-70 WPM.
9. I'm addicted to Diet Mt. Dew ever since they changed the flavor about five years ago.
10. I can't stomp on bugs. I will hurl.
11. Mushrooms are the devil.
12. I developed asthma when I was 27.
13. I have a B.S. in criminal justice.
14. When I write, I can't write scenes out of order. It drives me insane. I have to be driven to that point in order to express the characters' emotions to my full capacity. It's not organic to me.


DSP: Nice to meet you! So tell us, where did you find the inspiration for your most recent book?

Ren: It was weird. I was dabbling in fan fiction with my best friend just for fun. I’d write and send her each chapter as I finished it. One day she told me I should write my own story, but I was absolutely stumped for what to write about. The harder I thought, the more blank my mind became. So, I returned to the fan fiction and focused on that again. When I wasn’t trying too hard is when the ideas started flooding my mind, so I stopped writing the fan fic and started listing all the new ideas and went from there.


DSP: So, do you have any kind of ritual for writing? Such as, you have to write with music on, or you can only write when you’re completely alone, etc

Ren: I do my best writing alone in my dark living room with my laptop, iPad and earbuds. I can only listen to certain music. For example, I ADORE the Beastie Boys, but I can’t write to them because they’re too distracting for me. When I write, I usually have a song on repeat because it helps set a mood for scenes. Therefore, I will listen to a song endlessly until the scene is finished. If I listen to something else, it ruins my flow, so I will essentially beat a song to death to get the story right.


DSP: Who is your favorite character in your book, and why? How about the character you had the most trouble with?

Ren: My favorite character, hands down, is Greg Rodwell. He is so fun and the easiest to write, which is weird because he’s the most ironic. Everything about him is unexpected and contradictory, yet he’s the one yelling the loudest in my head. He’s extremely sharp-tongued and quick-witted, but I don’t think I’m either of those. I don’t know where he comes from. I probably need therapy to figure that one out. Then again, I’d rather not know.

The character I’ve had the most trouble writing is definitely Finn Wilder. He doesn’t open up as much as my other characters. I write the story from both Hadley’s and Finn’s POV’s, and Finn’s definitely take longer; therefore, are fewer in the books. He’s still a puzzle to me because I understand his stance on issues, yet I don’t.


DSP: Now, when you sit down to write a book, a paragraph, or whatever you‘re working on at the moment, do you just sit down in front of the computer, or do you need an outline of some sort? Is there any other prep you need in order to organize your thoughts either before you write or in the process of writing?

Ren: I do plot an outline, but most of the time the story dictates itself, no matter the elaborate outline I have made for it, unfortunately. However, that sometimes works out better than I had originally planned. Honestly, if it’s not planned, then I just write what enters my head and rework it later if it doesn’t seem to fit.
Other than not having my kids jumping all over me, the only prep I do is to listen to music to inspire me. I pick up little pieces from all kinds of songs.


DSP: Do you foresee any more books to continue this story? If so, do you think we can get a taste of what’s to come?

Ren: Yes. I actually wrote all three at the same time, but it amounted to over 300,000 words. When I was looking into finding an agent or publisher, I found from my research that nobody would touch that kind of word count, so I had to split my story into three books. I am planning a fourth for my “Wild Sparks” series. Beyond that, I don’t know at present.


DSP: Other than this most recent story, do you have any ideas for different books that might be published in the future? Care to give us a teaser?

Ren: No. I just want to finish this series before I get more ideas in my head. Though, some people have asked for a spin-off involving Greg Rodwell from my “Wild Sparks” books. We’ll see.


DSP: Who is your greatest inspiration to write? What person makes you believe in yourself, and how?

Ren: I don’t really have an inspiration to write, per se. I just write for myself, but I love it when I find people who love my characters as much as I do. You could say that definitely inspires me to keep writing. My dad has always been a huge champion for my writing ever since I was a kid. He even bought me a diary and told me to write in it every day. I would fill up pages and pages of just the happenings of a single day. When I went to college and chose criminal justice as a major, he questioned why I would pick that when I always wanted to be a writer. When I confessed to him about my revived affair with writing recently, he was elated.


DSP: Do you have any aspirations to be similar or comparable to another author? Why?

Ren: I strive to be the best writer I can be and always look for ways to improve, but no. I have my own writing style and personality in which I try to convey through my books. I don’t want to be like anyone else, though any comparisons would be flattering.


DSP: What has been the biggest high since becoming a published author?

Ren: When someone sent me a message to tell me how much they enjoyed my books and are now a fan of my work. That’s the absolute best feeling and is the most rewarding experience thus far.


DSP: Have you named the computer you use for writing?

Ren: Oh, my laptop. We have such a tempestuous relationship. Although I’ve decorated it with stickers and fortunes from cookies, I didn’t give it a specific name. However, I do yell things at it. Does that count?


DSP: Has becoming an author changed you, or the way you think about certain things? If so, how?

Ren: I don’t think it has, except for having to be more social online. I’ve made so many great friends through this experience. That definitely would be my second most rewarding experience. My friends are awesome.


DSP: What is your greatest fear about being an author?

Ren: I could just say “failure,” but I don’t think I’ve failed because I’ve already accomplished my dream. I’ve written a book that has at least touched one person. That’s all I ever set out to do. I suppose I could say my biggest fear is not staying true to myself. I never want to stray away from that. Ever.


DSP: Which of the characters in your book do you feel is the most like yourself, and in what way?

Ren: One of my friends says I’m a mix of Rod and Hadley. Maybe a little, but not as much as she thinks I am.

I think…


DSP: From the first word to the moment it became available for purchase, how long did it take you to write and publish this most recent novel?

Ren: I actually started writing my book back in March of last year, but when I realized it was over 300,000 words, I had to split it up into three. It took almost six months to write them and I’m currently editing the third.


And now, for something completely different…some slightly off-the-wall and possibly irrelevant questions to help us get to know you on a more personal level!


DSP: Are you planning to bring sexy back?

Ren: Definitely, but why did he leave in the first place? I may need to reexamine my tactics.


DSP: If you could be any cartoon character for 24 hours, who would you pick and why?

Ren: The Roadrunner for obvious reasons. Or maybe Garfield, again, for obvious reasons.


DSP: How many ridges are there around a quarter?

Ren: There are 119, which coincidentally is the same number of times I question my sanity on a daily basis.


DSP: Do you believe in fate or destiny?

Ren: Do you watch The Bold and the Beautiful because I’ve been asked about Ridge, fate, and destiny? If a Logan question comes up, I’ll definitely peg you as a B&B fan.


DSP: How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

Ren: 119


DSP: What are your thoughts on string?

Ren: A quartet, bean, a-long, bikini, cheese? You have to be more specific.


DSP: Boxers or briefs?

Ren: Boxer briefs


DSP: Thong, g-string/v-string, or other? If other, please explain.

Ren: None of the above. I’d be picking things and that’s not a pretty picture.


DSP: What is your favorite song?

Ren: Out of all the questions I can be asked, that’s always one I can’t give a definitive answer because I love so many songs! One of my faves is The Neighbourhood’s “Let It Go.” That band is utterly brilliant, from their profound lyrics to their complex, but unique, sound. They are tragically underrated.


DSP: Do you have any tattoos? If so, how many, what are they, and where are they on your body? (PG-13)

Ren: I have one on the inside of my right wrist, a skeleton key with an “R” worked into the top.


DSP: What’s your favorite candy? Ice cream?

Ren: Anything peanut butter and chocolate.


DSP: If you had to pick a CB handle, what would it be?

Ren: Little Sparkler


DSP: Would the 8-year-old version of yourself kick your ass or praise you for what you’ve done with your life?

Ren: She’d first kick my ass for taking so long, but then praise me for finally doing it. On the other hand, I’d be crying and devastated I had my ass kicked by my own self, an eight-year-old me, no less.


DSP: What is the last song you listened to?

Ren: The Neighbourhood’s “Sweater Weather”


DSP: Do you have any talents you haven’t shared with us?

Ren: I have somewhat mad photoshop skills.


DSP: If you could meet one person (real or fictional, alive or deceased), who would it be, and what one question would you ask?

Ren: Lizzie Borden.

In college, I did a 30-page term paper on the murders of her father and stepmother.
I’d ask her, “Because a woman of your size could not have slung that heavy axe as many times as it took to kill your parents, who helped you?”

DSP: Imagine you’re the sole survivor of a plane crash at sea, and you awake stranded on a deserted and uncharted island in the Bermuda Triangle. Nobody knows you’re there, and you have nothing but the clothes on your back. You’re all alone, and there’s terrifying sounds coming from deep within the jungle. Late that night as you’re starving, a large suitcase washes up on the shore. You open it up. What’s in the suitcase?

Ren: I pray it’d be my sanity or Reese Cups.


To answer your question, Ren, I am not a B&B fan, but I was named after a character on The Young & the Restless...hehe! This has been very entertaining and enlightening, and  I'm sure I can speak for the readers when I say it's been fun. Ren, you are welcome here at DSP any time - even if it's just to pop in and say hi or to scare the readers on Halloween. 
(Sorry readers!! She knows too much about Lizzie Borden, I can't pass on it!)

Thanks again, Ren, and best of luck!!