Giveaway Interview TEMP TALES by JUDY CROUSE @judyc3880

Temp Tales by Judy Crouse

This book takes you through the life and struggles of a woman in search of the perfect job. From being a doormat for inconsiderate employers and temp agencies to working for less than peanuts; is it time wasted or just the cruel reality of the world in which we live? Promises of full time employment that never panned out or getting stuck in a dead-end job you wish you'd never taken to begin with. The concerns of life can be terrifying as you wonder if and when your next paycheck will come. How will you live and will that telephone ever ring? Temp Tales is a story of one woman's struggles and triumphs in the world of Temporary Employment. She shares with the reader the often ludicrous duties required of temp employees. Never one to shirk a job responsibility or say no, she always had a smile. Judy has never given up her pursuit of the dream job.

About the Author
Judy M. Crouse grew up in White Hall, Maryland. She has worked for twenty-five years as a temporary employee, and has collected many funny and strange tales along the way. Judy has written two books, A Cat’s Tale: Peanut’s Story and Temp Tales: An Exposé.

Judy hopes Temp Tales: An Exposé will encourage others who have struggled with temporary staffing companies to join her in a crusade to win fair and equal working conditions for temporary employees nationwide. She also hopes A Cat's Tale: Peanut's Story will help people understand why it's so important to spay and neuter your cats, and stop abusing our furry friends. Judy currently resides in the beautiful countryside of York County, Pennsylvania, along with her husband, whom she lovingly refers to as her Knight on a Harley, and her dear cats.

Website *  Facebook *  Twitter 


PLEASE WELCOME JUDY TO BOOKHOUNDS!

1. Do you have a secret talent?

Yes, I guess mine is making miniature gardens. I have them on Facebook.

2. Is there a song that really reminds you of your book?

“I Can’t Get No Satisfaction”, by the Rolling Stones”

3. What was the easiest thing about writing this book?

Developing the characters from each job assignment, they were just burned into my memory.

4. Is there a word you love to use?

Yes, YIKERS.

5. Any real or imaginary pets? 

Yes, I am caring for eight kitties, there in no room for imaginary ones.

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Giveaway Review IT'S JUST A DOG by RUSS RYAN @itsjustadog

Book Description

Publication Date: May 20, 2013

What if your dog died and then came back as a ghost…that could talk? Would you welcome him back with open arms, or run away scared to death?


This is the premise of IT’S JUST A DOG, a humorous, heartwarming new novel about love, pet loss, and one man’s ghost dog who rises up yapping from the grave as a talking dog.


Charlie Keefe is not just your typical dog lover –– he’s a world famous dog painter, a.k.a. “The Picasso of Pooch Portraits”. Unfortunately, Charlie’s beloved muse, Pete, his lovable Jack Russell terrier, has just died. And he’s totally grief-stricken by the loss of his furry best friend.


So, after months of suffering over his dearly departed soulmate and wondering if he ever made it to The Rainbow Bridge, Charlie reluctantly agrees to foster a new puppy –– a cute Cavalier King Charles named Brownie from the local animal shelter. Soon after, Charlie is surprised to find himself falling head over heels with this new puppy girl, his ‘Rebound Dog’, as he calls her –– as well as being romantically attracted to Janelle Jordan, the head hound at the dog rescue.


But then complications arise when the ghost of his old dog, Pete, mysteriously reappears one night and comes back to haunt him and the new puppy –– setting off a bizarre chain of events that throw Charlie’s life, career, and entire belief system into chaos!

About the Author
Aside from being a dog lover and a dog widower, Russ Ryan has written screenplays with the Hollywood producers of American Pie, Final Destination, and Fireflies in the Garden. He was also a writer on a really bad teen comedy, National Lampoon's Repli-kate, starring Eugene Levy. This is his first novel.
In addition, he is the creator of Meansheets.com, a vintage movie poster blog that focuses on the greatest movie poster artists and illustrators from the 1940s-1980s to present day.

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SOURCE:  AUTHOR

MY THOUGHTS
ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT

Charlie Keefe has made a good living keeping his Jack Russell terrier in the best of kibble.  So when Pete crosses the Rainbow Bridge and Charlie isn't there, he sinks into depression and find he can no longer paint without his muse.  Even though Pete wasn't quite the most friendly and personable dog, the two shared a connection but Charlie didn't realize how deep that connection was until Pete was gone.  As Charlie walks by the dog park, he meets Janelle, head of the local rescue group, who promptly signs him up as a foster parent to an adorable spaniel named Brownie.  Brownie is the complete opposite of Pete, charming and adorable instead of a grumbley curmudgeon.


Instead of making me cry like any book where a dog dies, I was actually laughing when Pete reappears as a ghost and the pair start arguing like an old married couple. Pete tells Charlie that Brownie is just a rebound dog and that he will always be first in his heart, there is major disagreement with Pete storming off and Charlie regretting his words once again.  Charlie realizing that he has been given a chance to properly say good bye starts to paint again.  The pictures of Pete alternating between heaven and hell aren't exactly a hit with his audience.

This story is for anyone who has loved and lost a dog.  It will give you those warm fuzzies that you feel when poked by a cold nose and hit with a wagging tail.  Fans of Enzo, Chet, and Jimmy (you know who you are) are going to love adding Pete to your family.  This is also the first time that there is a happy ending to losing a beloved pet.  It is a quick read and perfect dialogue, one I can't recommend highly enough for dog lovers.

Disclosure  I received this book from the publisher / author at no charge and in no way did it influenced my review.  If you are considering purchasing this book or anything else from Amazon, please use my link above since I earn a very small percentage of the sale which helps pay for shipping my giveaways!  

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Giveaway AFTER ALEX DIED by DAKOTA MADISON #NerdBlast @karenmbryson

“Don’t be someone who defines her life by someone else’s death.”
Dee Dee DeMarco’s brother, Alex, was funny, free-spirited and creative. He was also gay. Tormented by bullies, Alex killed himself on his 15th birthday.
Two years later, and now in college, Dee Dee believes getting a summer job working with a college-prep program for disadvantaged high school students is a stroke of luck, until she discovers that the guy assigned to co-lead her group is Cameron Connelly, a star basketball player and one of the bullies who tormented her brother to death. How can Dee Dee possibly spend the entire summer working so closely with one of the boys she blames for her brother’s death?

Dakota Madison has been writing since she learned to read and fell in love with books. When she’s not at her computer creating spicy new romances, Dakota is traveling to exotic locales or spending time with her husband and their bloodhounds.

About Dakota Madison:

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1 Winner will receive a Signed Copy of After Alex Died.
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Giveaway Review Welcome Home Mama and Boris by Carey Neesley @FSBAssociates

Book Description
Publication Date: August 29, 2013
Growing up in the well-heeled Detroit suburb of Grosse Pointe, Michigan, Carey Neesley always thought she and her younger brother, Peter, would never be separated. The children of divorced parents and outcasts in their neighborhood, Carey and Peter supported, loved, and encouraged each other when it seemed no one else cared.
It was a bond that grew through the years, and one that made Peter’s eventual decision to enlist in the Army all the more difficult for Carey. With Peter having stepped up to help her raise her young son, Carey was closer than ever to her brother, and the thought of him serving far from home was painful.
While stationed in Iraq, Peter befriended a stray dog and her four puppies, only to watch three of the young pups die in the warzone. With only two surviving dogs—Mama and Boris—Peter became determined to save the strays. Carey helped her brother with his mission, but everything changed on Christmas Day in 2007 when word arrived at the Neesley household that Peter had been killed.
Amidst the grief of coming to terms with her brother’s death and the turmoil of trying to plan his funeral, Carey devoted herself to bringing Peter’s dogs home to the U.S. It was the final honor she could pay to her brother and a way of keeping a piece of him with her. With the help of an unlikely network of heroes, including an animal rescue organization in Utah, a civilian airline, an Iraqi family, and a private security contractor with military connections, Mama and Boris mad the journey form the streets of Baghdad to Carey’s suburban house.
Carey’s mission garnered widespread attention and requests from other soldiers for help in bringing home dogs they had become attached to on deployment, and she continues to work with organizations dedicated to bringing home wartime strays.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Carey Neesley
A hospice social worker with a Master’s Degree from Wayne State University, Carey Neesley has a very rewarding career in which she sees both the best and the worst of human nature.
Her story has been covered on television (ABC World News, NBC Nightly News, Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, and the Associated Press), in print (The Washington Post, USA Today, AKC Gazette, MSNBC Field Notes, and many other local and national publications), on the internet, (Examiner.com, Detroit Regional News Hub, Hyer Standard, The E & P Publishers, Animal Planet star “Good Dog U” Joel Silverman- Companions For Life, and Greg Mitchell’s website), and on NPR for Melissa Block’s “All Things Considered.”

Raising her son, Patrick, in the same home where she grew up in Grosse Pointe, MI, Carey still mourns her brother but hopes that through her work with animals in warzones she can help give his memory the honor it so greatly deserves.

ABOUT THE COAUTHOR

Michael Levin
New York Times best-selling author Michael Levin has written, co-written or ghostwritten 90+ books, of which eight are national best sellers. He is the nationally acknowledged thought leader in the delivery of the next generation of business books. He has cowritten with Baseball Hall of Famer Dave Winfield, football broadcasting legend Pat Summerall, NBA star Doug Christie, Hollywood publicist Howard Bragman, three-time Super Bowl winner Chad Hennings of the Dallas Cowboys, and FBI undercover agent Joaquin Garcia. He has also contributed to the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, the Los Angeles Times, the Boston Globe, the Jerusalem Post, Writers Digest, and CBS News. He lives with his wife and four children in Orange County, California.

ABOUT READER’S DIGEST
RDA is a global media and direct marketing company that educates, entertains and connects more than 130 million consumers around the world with products and services from trusted brands. With offices in 43 countries, the company reaches customers in 78 countries, publishes 91 magazines, including 50 editions of Reader’s Digest, the world's largest-circulation magazine, operates 78 branded websites and sells 40 million books, music and video products across the world each year. Further information about the company can be found at www.rda.com.

SOURCE:  PUBLISHER

MY THOUGHTS
LOVED IT

Carey and Peter grew up in Grosse Point, MI, in a working class neighborhood and when their parents divorced, they became outcasts.. The bond between brother and sister grows even deeper after this and the pair always stick together.  Peter helps Carey raise her son and helps her complete college.  Peter decides that he wants to serve his country and enlists in the Army.  Once in Iraq, he finds a dog with four puppies but only two of this family survive. leaving just Mama and a pup he names Boris.  By this point in the book, tears are streaming down my face.  I adore books like this even when they make me cry.

It gets worse when Carey gets word that Peter has died in his sleep on Christmas Day --- more tears for me.  They have shared the bond he had with these two wonderful pups by keeping in touch by Internet and in order to find closure for herself over his death, she starts a trek to bring them back to the US.  With the help of local rescue groups, a US Senator, the Michigan Governor along with many others help Carey bring these dogs home.  It is with much relief for me that she actually accomplishes this mission impossible






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ARC Review THE BEAUTIFUL AND THE DAMNED by JESSICA VERDAY

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2013

Cyn’s blackouts have deadly consequences in this sexy, suspenseful spinoff to the New York Times bestselling Hollow series.

Cyn Hargrave is on the run, but she can’t escape her dark past. The brother of her murdered boyfriend is convinced she’s the killer—and now he’s tracked her down. Cyn has only one person to turn to, and she can’t stand him.

Avian knows the evil that lives inside of Cyn, but he’s still compelled to help her. As the thirteenth Revenant he’s scorned by heaven and unwanted by hell, so he understands what it’s like to be a part of two worlds and not fit into either.

Together they will need to deal with the danger that follows her—and the danger inside of her—before one of them destroys her.

Jessica Verday brings readers on a sexy, suspenseful adventure in this companion novel to the bestselling Hollow trilogy.

Product Details Grade Level: 7 and up Hardcover: 272 pages Publisher: Simon Pulse (October 1, 2013) Language: English ISBN-10: 1442488352 ISBN-13: 978-1442488359

About the Author
Jessica Verday writes the first drafts of her novels by hand, using spiral-bound notebooks and black pens. She lives with her husband in Goodlettsville, Tennessee. Find out more at JessicaVerday.com and follow her on Twitter at @JessVerday.

SOURCE:  AROUND THE WORLD ARC TOURS

MY THOUGHTS
LOVED IT


Growing up, Cyn has always seen faces in the mirror other than her own.  Now sixteen, she has started blacking out, not remembering anything about her lost time.  When she wakes up covered in her boyfriend's blood and convinced she murdered him, she panics and runs from Sleepy Hallow to a small town in New York.  Cyn finds that she can make people bend to her wishes and make them do anything for her without them remembering.  She coerces people to "loan" her cars, give her larger tips at her waitress job and supply her with alcohol and cigarettes when she needs.  Then she wanders into a bar and has no luck at all with the staff.  She also sees that the some of the guys there are not at all human.  And these guys recognize her for what she is:  an Echo, someone who has souls of those not ready to pass on using her body much like a parasite.

At the bar, she meets Avian, a Revenant, born of a demon and angel and wanted by neither heaven nor hell.  He lives with a priest, who sees the good in him and gives him support as he seeks to take care of those the angels and demons won't go against like vampires.  Avian doesn't actually like her since he knows that she is trouble, but is drawn to Cyn anyway and wants to protect her.  He knows she is possessed by an evil spirit named Vincent and their goal is to get the guy to leave her alone.  In the meantime, her dead boyfriend's brother comes looking for her to settle the score, thinking she did indeed murder him.  The ex-cop soon becomes her worst nightmare.


As the story progresses, you really feel Cyn's pain and you will find yourself cheering for her as she tries to rid herself of this demon and have some peace.  I stayed up super late since I was so intrigued by this story.  It was very suspenseful and creepy at the same along with enough mystery about Cyn's actually participation in her boyfriend's murder and her "lost time".  Having read the Hollows ages ago, I have forgotten the characters, so I read this one with no remembrance of Cyn.  Parents: this one is best suited for teens since there is alcohol and some violence involved.

This song pretty much sums up this book:  Monsters by The Filthy Souls 

https://soundcloud.com/thefilthysouls/monsters

ARC Review DOUBLE DIGIT by ANNABEL MONAGHAN

To say eighteen-year-old Farrah Higgins—or Digit—is good at math is a laughable understatement. She’s been cracking codes since childhood, and is finally at home with “her people” at MIT in Cambridge. Her talents are so off the charts that her laptop is under surveillance by both the CIA and an ecoterrorist named Jonas Furnis. So when she thoughtlessly hacks into the Department of Defense’s database, she lands in serious hot water inside and outside the law. Readers will be sad to turn the last page of this suspenseful, sassy, super smart thriller, the sequel to A Girl Named Digit

Double Digit (Digit #2)

Product Details Age Range: 12 and up  Grade Level: 7 and up Hardcover: 192 pages Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers (January 7, 2014) Language: English ISBN-10: 054410577X ISBN-13: 978-0544105775

About the Author
Annabel Monaghan is also the author of A Girl Named Digit and the co-author of Click! A Girl’s Guide to Getting What She Wants. She lives with her family in Rye, New York. Visit her website at www.annabelmonaghan.com.
SOURCE:  AROUND THE WORLD ARC TOURS

MY THOUGHTS
LOVE, LOVED IT


Digit is nearly recovered from her near-death experience at the hands of eco-terrorists and is madly, deeply in love with her special FBI guy, John.  She also gets to finally attend her dream school, MIT, where she can "be with her people".  Her once-hope to lose her nickname is quickly forgotten when she realizes that she is truly is "Digit" and her fellow students embrace her and her gift for numbers.  She just doesn't realize that she is still the terrorist target of Jonas Furnis.  John decides that the pair need to take a break while she explores this new universe of school.   Of course, she is heartbroken but accepts it.

As Digit feels her way around this place, she accepts a job as an assistant compiling reports for a professor.  When she want to go to a toga party, she doesn't want to wait for a report from the military, so she figures out how to hack into their system.  What Digit doesn't realize is that everyone from the CIA, FBI and her enemy, Jonas are all watching her every keystroke.  Her first call is to John so he can rescue her.

Digit is just one smart character and that is why I adore her.  The fact that she can outsmart even the brainiest people without using any thing else but her mind is such a positive force in young adult stories these days.  She doesn't need super powers.  I hope there are many more installments of Digit to come and will cover her time at MIT.

Giveaway THE JULIETTE SOCIETY by SASHA GREY @SashaGrey @GrandCentralPub

In her debut erotic novel, Sasha Grey takes us inside a private, high-profile, sex society where anything and everything can happen.
Catherine, a blossoming film student whose sexuality has been recently stirred, finds herself drawn into a secret club where the world's most powerful people meet to explore their deepest, often darkest sexual fantasies. Even as it opens up new avenues to pleasure, it also threatens to destroy everything that Catherine holds dear.
From bathroom stalls in dive bars, to private jets over St. Tropez, Catherine takes the reader with her through a sexual awakening and psychological development, unparalleled in contemporary erotica.

Sasha Grey (born Marina Ann Hantzis) is an American actress, model and musician, and former pornographic actress. Later in her adult film career, she was profiled by several popular culture magazines and television programs. She won several AVN Awards between 2007 and 2010, and has also been featured in music videos and advertising campaigns.
After her feature film debut as the lead in Steven Soderbergh's The Girlfriend Experience, she shifted her focus to acting, starring in the black comedy/horror film Smash Cut as April Carson, as well as having a supporting role in season 7 of HBO's Entourage. She has also appeared in independent films Quit, The Girl from the Naked Eye, Life, and Mark Pellington's I Melt With You. She is a member of aTelecine, an industrial music band.

Website * Facebook  * Twitter  * Tumblr 

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Giveaway Interview LOVE GONE MAD by MARK RUBINSTEIN @mrubinsteinCT

When heart surgeon Adrian Douglas and Megan Haggarty, RN, meet at the hospital where they work, neither has any idea of the scorpion's nest into which they've stumbled. Strange and frightening events begin happening to each of them; someone is after them both--and the stalker is not only brilliant and crafty, but vows to exact revenge for the ultimate betrayal. As things spin out of control, Megan and Adrian fight for their lives.

MARK RUBINSTEIN grew up in Brooklyn, NY, near Sheepshead Bay. After earning a degree in Business Administration at NYU, he served in the U.S. Army as a field medic tending to paratroopers of the Eighty-Second Airborne Division. After his discharge, he went to medical school, became a physician, and then a psychiatrist. As a forensic psychiatrist, he was an expert witness in many trials. As an attending psychiatrist at New York Presbyterian Hospital and a Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Cornell, he taught psychiatric residents, psychologists, and social workers while practicing psychiatry. His first thriller, MAD DOG HOUSE was released in the fall of 2012. Before turning to fiction, he coauthored five books on psychological and medical topics. He also is a contributing blogger to Huffington Post and Psychology Today. He lives in Connecticut with as many dogs as his wife will allow in the house. He is currently working on his next novel.

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PLEASE WELCOME MARK TO BOOKHOUNDS

 What is the first book you remember reading by yourself as a child?

The first book I clearly recall reading as a child was a beautifully illustrated version of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi. A magical and frightening story. I was completely enchanted by it.

 What are you reading right now?

Right now, I'm reading Killer Instinct by Joseph Finder. Just finished Never Look Away by Linwood Barclay.


 How does your garden grow?


My garden grows with plenty of organic fertilizer--Plant Tone and Holly Tone with the latter being used on three gorgeous Colorado blue spruce I planted a few months ago. I love evergreens of all kinds and have planted over 150 trees on my land.


What is the last thing you Googled?

The last thing I Googled was the correct spelling of "Collodi" so I could answer # 1. Just before that, I looked up the correct terminology for the common police barrier used to close off crime scenes in addition to yellow tape. It's called a "sawhorse." (Didn't know the right word for it).


What makes you cringe?

Very little makes me cringe since I was in the army, went through medical school, became a physician and then a psychiatrist. I think I've seen the most cringe-worthy things you can see in this life. That being said, I cringe when confronted with the ubiquitous displays in humanity of greed, hatred, jealousy, and the unquenchable need of people (nation states) to make war with each. It makes me fear for our future and that of our children on this increasingly stressed-out planet.

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Giveaway Excerpt A RAKE'S MIDNIGHT KISS by ANNA CAMPBELL + THE KNIGHT'S TEMPTRESS by AMANDA SCOTT @ForeverRomance

It Takes A Lady
Brilliant scholar Genevieve Barrett knows how to keep a secret. Her identity as the author of her father's academic articles has always been her greatest deception—until a charming housebreaker tries to steal the mysterious Harmsworth Jewel from her. She doesn't reveal that she recognizes her father's devastatingly handsome new student as the thief himself. For Genevieve, this will be the most seductive secret of all...
To Catch A Thief
Sir Richard Harmsworth has been living a lie, maintaining a rakish façade to show society that he doesn't care about his status as a bastard. Yet long haunted by his unknown father's identity, Richard believes the Harmsworth Jewel will confirm his claim as the rightful heir. But when Richard sets out to seduce the bookworm who possesses the stone, he instead falls for its beautiful owner. But even as she steals Richard's heart, Genevieve will be in greater danger than her coveted treasure...

About the Author
I've always been a voracious reader! I write Regency historical romance for Grand Central Publishing and Avon. My multi award-winning books include CLAIMING THE COURTESAN, UNTOUCHED, TEMPT THE DEVIL, CAPTIVE OF SIN, MY RECKLESS SURRENDER and MIDNIGHT'S WILD PASSION.
My latest release is SEVEN NIGHTS IN A ROGUE'S BED from Grand Central. It's a gothic take on Beauty and the Beast and the beginning of my very first series, "Sons of Sin".

In late 2012, I've got an e-novella hitting the digital shelves, THE WINTER WIFE: A CHRISTMAS NOVELLA.

In 2013, there's another e-novella THESE HAUNTED HEARTS: A REGENCY GHOST ROMANCE in March. Followed by another e-novella as part of the "Sons of Sin" series, DAYS OF RAKES AND ROSES, in August. My next full-length release is A RAKE'S MIDNIGHT KISS, book 2 in the series, in September. This is Sir Richard Harmsworth's story.

WEBSITE *  TWITTER  * FACEBOOK  * RomanceBandits * GOODREADS 

EXCERPT:

The newcomer’s voice was smooth, educated and oddly familiar. Genevieve frowned as her mind winnowed where they’d met. Unlike her father, her life was not awash with new acquaintances. The only stranger she’d encountered recently was her mysterious burglar.

Half-formed thoughts hurtling through her mind, she studied the stranger. Mr. Evans shared the burglar’s height but not his bright gold hair. This man’s hair was dull brown. His hair was the only dull thing about him. His face was lean and distinguished. His jaw was firm and determined. His clothing was remarkably elegant, for all that he dressed for the country.

What a fool she was to imagine a fleeting similarity. The Duke of Sedgemoor would hardly play host to a sneak thief. Her nerves were still on edge after the break-in.

“He didn’t mention your call,” Genevieve said steadily.

Mr. Evans turned to Genevieve and dark blue eyes, guileless as the sky, surveyed her top to toe. Lord Neville inspected her in a similar manner at every meeting. This time instead of aversion, she felt a frisson of feminine awareness. Every nerve tightened with warning. This man had predator stamped all over him.

“Is this an inconvenient time? I can come another day.” A quizzical expression lit Mr. Evans’s face and Genevieve realized he’d misunderstood her scowl.

A storm of screeching and hissing drowned her answer. Hecuba, her aged black cat, leaped onto Genevieve’s shoulder, dug her claws in, then launched herself at the high shelf lined with china plates. The dog barked once, then settled at his master’s heel.

 “I’ll put Sirius outside,” he said calmly. “But first I’ll rescue your cat.” Mr. Evans reached up and Hecuba dived into his arms as fast as a gannet plunged into the sea after a herring.

With a gentleness that made Genevieve’s foolish heart skip a beat, Mr. Evans passed Hecuba across. The man snapped his fingers at the dog. “Come, Sirius. Outside.”

Genevieve still recovered from her odd reaction to the sight of those capable, deft hands handling her cat. She bent over Hecuba, hoping that nobody noticed that the usually unruffled Genevieve Barrett was indisputably ruffled.

Who was this fellow? Gentlemen of such address never came within her orbit. Or her father’s.

“Let Sirius stay.” She cursed her breathless tone. What on earth was wrong with her? At twenty-five, she was well past the giggly stage. Yet Mr. Evans had an extraordinary effect on her. He made her feel as though her world span out of control. And he’d done it with an ease that she couldn’t help resenting.

The man glanced at her and the laughter in his eyes stirred another shiver of awareness. She straightened against unwelcome giddiness. Mr. Christopher Evans was far too charming for his own good.

Or for hers.

When Lady Lachina "Lina" MacFarlan of Tùr Meiloach and her new sister-in-law, Elizabeth, are captured by seditious villains who have seized the royal burgh, harbor, and castle of Dumbarton, the two young women unknowingly throw a hitch into the plans of Sir Ian Colquhoun, the daredevil knight of the realm who is on his own secret mission to recapture Dumbarton for the King of Scots.

Instead of securing Dumbaton, Ian must first rescue the women and return them to Tur Meiloach. Their journey will be perilous—especially because Ian has long admired the lovely Lady Lachina, and for the first time she seems to show signs of returning his attentions. But for Ian duty must come before desire. The fate of the King of Scots and Lina's own father rests in his hands. He cannot afford to be tempted by anything—even the promise of Lina's love

About the Author
Amanda Scott is the author of over 50 romance novels and the recipient of the Romance Writers of America's prestigious RITA Award. She lives in Folsom, California, outside of Sacramento. She is a fourth-generation Californian.

WEBSITE *  FACEBOOK 

EXCERPT

“I haven’t kissed you properly yet,” Ian said, taking Lina by the shoulders and drawing her slowly nearer, tantalizing himself with lusty images as he did.

Someone had lit a cresset on a corner table and several branches of candles, so he had light enough to see her eyes widen and her pupils enlarge.

Her dusky eyelashes fluttered lower.

The bed—invitingly large—stood behind her, its dark red curtains tied back to show that someone had turned down the covers for them.

Putting two fingers beneath her chin, Ian tilted her head up and touched her lips gently with his as he had earlier. Feeling her tremble, he pressed harder and eased his free hand from her warm shoulder down her back. Then, he urged her closer, wanting her to feel the length of his body against hers for the first time.

“I think I’ve dreamed this,” she murmured against his lips.

“Have you?” he murmured back. “I hope not all of this. That would be most unseemly for a maiden, lass. Did you dream this part?” he added, sliding his tongue into her mouth. Then, moving the hand at her chin to cup the back of her head, he held her so that she would not pull it back.

As he explored her mouth with his tongue, he deftly removed her veil. Then, casting it aside, he wove his fingers into the thick, silky coils of her hair. His tongue continued working busily, tantalizingly, in the velvety confines of her mouth.

He felt her soft breasts swell against him.

When she moaned softly, he eased his fingers through her hair, finding pins and loosening the coil and then her golden plaits. His free hand drifted from the small of her back to the curve of her bottom.

“You taste like honey,” he murmured against her lips. He savored the taste and tasted again.

She was silent but wonderfully submissive as if she were willing to learn as he explored her, and once again, he marveled at her calm. But it stirred him, too, as it had in the past, when it had stirred him to mischief. Now, it stirred other senses.

He wanted her even more than he had anticipated. But, his father had often said that a marriage was a long and often thorny relationship. One did well to remember that and not proceed as if one had just received a new plaything.

“I see that you have set me a new challenge,” he whispered in her ear.

“What?” Her breath touched his neck, sending blood coursing through him.

“To make you want me just half as much as I want you.”

With a little gasp, she pulled back enough to look at him, her rosy lips softly, sensuously parted. Her eyes warmly reflected the golden glow of the candlelit room.

Sure of himself now, he reached for her kirtle laces.

WANT TO WIN A COPY OF THESE TWO BOOKS?
US ONLY

Ends 9/6/13
 Open only to those who can legally enter
Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary.
You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you.
The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.
This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified.
The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning.
Giveaway was organized by BookHounds and sponsored by the publisher.
VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Giveaway Back to School NEW ADULT Blog Hop! WIN Isn't She Lovely by Lauren Layne @_LaurenLayne AND Swag! @SueGrimshaw

Full Tour Information HERE

Welcome to Flirt University's  Back to School celebration! It's time for the Three R's, Flirt style—Reading, (W)Riting, and Romancing! In the spirit of getting to know one another on the first day of school, Flirt, Random House's New Adult imprint, has set up a New Adult blog hop so you can discover other blogs  that love the hottest new romance genre.

As part of the hop, Flirt is giving away its signature I HEART NEW ADULT coffee mug and a flirt tote bag!


Head back to Romance at Random on Tuesday,  September 3 to find out if you won (we'll email winners, too!), and don't  miss your first Flirt University "lecture" from one of Flirt's esteemed New  Adult Author Professors! They'll be sharing their thoughts on everything New
Adult!

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Be sure to stop by all of the blogs on this hop for more chances to win!

Hop away!

1. Cocktails and Books
2. Evie Knight
3. Bookhounds
4. Manga Maniac Café
5. What I'm Reading
6. The Book Tart
7. Acting Balanced
8. The Jeep Diva
9. Reading Under the Willow Tree
10. Stuck in Books
11. Books of Love
12. Book Lovin Mamas
13. From the TBR Pile
14. Book Flame Reviews
15. Romance Crush Junkies
16. My Book and My Coffee
17. Bout a Book Blog
18. Mackable Book Babes
19. Tonya's Bookshelf
20. Book Mom's Reviews
21. The Revolving Bookcase
22. Victoria's Gossip
23. Dr. Pepper Diva
24. Mad Book Reader
25. Rose's Book Blog
26. Renee Entress's Blog
27. Book Addicts Not-So-Anonymous
28. Go and Read Now
29. Whirlwind Books
30. Live. Laugh. Romance
31. Brenda's Book Beat
32. Crafty Momma
33. Stories and Swag
34. Book-A-Holic Anon
35. Foxylutely Book Reviews
36. Fictionators
37. Zakirrah's Books Blog
38. Feeling Fictional

Book Description

Publication Date: October 28, 2013
The rules are clear—until they’re broken. Lauren Layne puts a New Adult spin on Pygmalion, also the inspiration for Pretty Woman, and gives the classic love story its edgiest twist yet.
Stephanie Kendrick gave up her whole summer to ace her NYU film school screenwriting course, so she’s pissed to be stuck with a preppy, spoiled frat boy as her writing partner. Then again, with her piercings, black-rimmed eyes, and Goth wardrobe, Stephanie isn’t exactly Ethan Price’s type, either. He’s probably got his eye on some leggy blonde with a trust fund . . . or does he?
As the summer scene kicks off in the Hamptons, Ethan is desperate to make his snobbish mother forget the pedigreed girl who broke his heart. While Stephanie’s a stretch as a decoy, the right makeover and a pastel cardigan just might do the trick. She may not love the idea of playing Ethan’s brainless Barbie girlfriend, but the free rent and luxurious digs make a tempting offer. So does the promise of a ready-made screenplay idea inspired by their charade.
But when Stephanie steps into Ethan’s privileged world, the “acting” begins to feel all too real. The kissing and touching that were intended to fool the Hamptons crowd wind up manipulating them. And Stephanie faces a question she’s too afraid to ask: Is Ethan falling for the real her or for the dolled-up princess he wants to see?

“Who knew that pretending you’re not falling for someone would be so much more difficult than pretending that you are?”

About the Author
Lauren Layne writes contemporary romance for Grand Central Publishing (Forever Yours) and Random House (Loveswept).
After dabbling in an e-commerce career in Seattle and Southern California, Lauren moved to New York City where she now writes full time.
Lauren graduated from Santa Clara University with B.S. in Political Science that she has yet to put to good use. She lives with her husband and plus-sized pomeranian in a tiny Manhattan studio.

Connect with Lauren: Facebook | Twitter | Website

Want to win an eBook copy of this book?  This will be sent through NetGalley, so you must sign up for the service or be willing to open an account.  (EASY-PEASY! )

Just leave a comment here about your favorite New Adult book! 

Ends 9/5/13

BOOKS TO MOVIES GIVEAWAY HOP ! Win Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist

Welcome to the BOOKS TO MOVIES 2013 Giveaway Hop

This hop is hosted by 

I Am A Reader (HERE)
and ME!

There are almost 100 blogs participating and each has their own entry rules and geographic limits, so be sure to read the rules for each one.  This hop starts August 27th and ends on September 3rd,  midnight. 

HERE IS WHAT I HAVE FOR ONE LUCKY WINNER:

Want to win this DVD & BOOK ? 

Contest is open to anyone over 13 years old with a US mailing address, 
PO Boxes are OK!  

Contest ends on 9.3.13 Winner will be chosen by Random.org 
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN THE COMMENTS OF THIS POST

Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email or a new winner will be chosen.
Duplicate entries will be deleted.  Void where prohibited.

This giveaway is sponsored by me and ONE set is available.

Complete the below form 

+1 Follow me on Twitter HERE 

+1 Like BookHounds on Facebook HERE 

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SIGN UPS NOW OPEN Banned Book Week Giveaway Hop!

(your choice of buttons!)

Announcing the 3rd Annual Banned Books Week Giveaway Hop

Hosted by Kathy at I AM A READER

and BookHounds

September 22nd to September 28th

This will run similar to the hops I usually host but will have a requirement that you give away a banned or challenged book or include information about Banned Book Week as part of your giveaway post.

The dates for the hop are September 22nd to September 28th

RULES:

1. The Banned Books Week Giveaway Hop Images needs to be part of your post.

2. Include the linky list with all the participating blogs at the end of your post OR link to this blog &; IAmAReader.com

3. You giveaway must be related to Banned Book Week – You can giveaway a book that has been banned or challenged or if you are giving away a gift card you must post some information about Banned Book Week.

4. Keep It Simple!! Keep the way to enter your giveaway as simple as possible. 1 Mandatory entry and no more than 5 optional extra entries. All entries must be able to be done on one visit to your blog – Entries such as tweet once a day are NOT allowed (tweeting once is fine).
You must turn off word verification/CAPTCHA if you are requiring more than one comment for entries – If you are concerned about spam then enable comment moderation. If you are using Rafflecopter you can only have 6 possible entries per person.

5. This must be a giveaway specifically for this hop and must run only the 7 days this hop is scheduled.

6. Keep your giveaway easy to find for the entire 7 days this hop is open.

7. Your blog needs to be “family friendly”.

To sign up to host a banned books week giveaway just add your blog or website to the linky below. Please include your shipping information after your blog name.

Giveaway Feature & Excerpt RAISING REDEMPTION by R A RUSSELL

Family Saga Traces Hardships & Triumphs of Four Generations

Recalling such epic novels as Roots and The Joy Luck Club, R. A. Russell’s sweeping drama chronicles four generations of the Tilman family as they search for the things that will relieve the pain of the past. With its roots in 1975, Raising Redemption is a stirring and provocative story of the shame, secrets, sacrifice and struggle of an African American family who has worked to establish a name synonymous with respect, honor and dignity.



To the Tilman women Ben Tilman was a symbol of redemption: a revered doctor, a loving father and husband; a man who defied all preconceived notions of what a bastard son of a hated man would become. When his teenage daughter Alicia, headed for the Ivies to continue the family’s upward rise, defies her father’s rule to stay away from Dickey Samson, she is unprepared for the consequences that rain down on her: a baby, a near shooting and estrangement. When Alicia discovers that her actions link the Tilmans and Samsons to a dark secret that will now live on through another generation, she runs away. On her own and truly alone, Alicia realizes that success is the only solution to shame, and she struggles to become worthy among the noble Tilman women.



Raising Redemption brings readers on a journey to discover the ultimate gift of love and the true legacy left for the Tilman women to embrace. Chronicling the hardships and triumphs of four generations, Raising Redemption is a sweeping tribute to the salvation we can only find from within.

Praise for Raising Redemption

“… The story of Raising Redemption achieves an epic sweep yet retains an intimate, personal address, with a lively, direct style that will keep you turning the pages. By turns suspenseful and moving, this tale of adversity and triumph — and above all the indomitable power of familial bonds — will inspire many readers.”

—    James Morrison, author of Said and Done and Everyday Ghosts

“Read Raising Redemption and find out the true meaning of what forgiveness, dignity and respect really means. Author R. A. Russell has penned a powerful novel; powerful story and one that will help readers understand the power of words, love and family. 

-- Fran Lewis, book reviewer and host of Red River Radio’s Writers Live

Excerpt

PROLOGUE

The Taste of Soil

1930

Mabel Tilman stooped over a wood-burning stove, stirring simmering rice. Shadows crept around her. She lit a kerosene lamp and hobbled to the front door of her three-room shanty, then peered outside as dusk settled on Chesapeake. “Marjorie?” she yelled, searching for her daughter. “Marge?”

Should have been home by now, thought Mabel. Maybe she helping out one of them teachers of hers. She gone be somebody, doing all that homework I can’t help her with no more, all them crazy numbers and letters she got going this way and that in the math she taking. She just like her daddy was, smart as a whip. She grown up, too, already fifteen, and the men done started eyeing her.

Mabel moved back to the stove and eased the pot off the fire. I better get to the outhouse ’fore it get too dark. She grabbed a walking stick and ambled outside, crunching over dried dirt and windblown leaves.

When she returned to her doorstep, Mabel scanned the nearby woods, but she saw only emptiness amongst the trees. Where is that girl? she wondered, stomping off debris. Then she stepped inside and felt the presence of another. She brandished her stick, searching across the room until she found the outline of her daughter cowering in a corner.

“Marge, where you been? I been worried about you, girl. What you doing over there? Come out so I can see you. Come give your mama a hug.”

Marjorie staggered out of the shadows, her eyes cast downward. Mabel squinted at features once clean and sharp, now bloodied and swollen. She bolted for her daughter.

“What happened to you? Your face! Look at these clothes! That blood on this skirt? Oh, my God, no. Oh, no. Oh, Lordy, no! Who did this? Who did it! I said who?”

Mabel waited for an answer, but Marjorie remained mute.

“You ain’t saying, I see. Then I know who. I’m right, ain’t I? It was him, wadn’t it? Tell your mama, or give me a sign.”

Marjorie glanced at her mother and issued a sob.

“I knew it,” screamed Mabel. “That evil, low-down fucker! Lord Almighty, strike the bastard down! Strike him down, Lord. If there’s a God in heaven, strike the good-for-nothing bastard down, down, down, down, down!”

Mabel’s mournful cry pierced the walls and filled the air. The only response: sympathetic howls from neighboring dogs.

Marjorie remained silent as she dried her tears. Gone was the lively spark, the joyful smile, the trademark laughter; now, an expression of shame, regret, and helplessness.

Mabel gathered Marjorie into her arms, attempting to stroke away the pain. She had the horrible feeling that just as she had when pregnant with Marjorie, her baby girl would soon crave the taste of soil.

About the Author

R. A. Russell is a practicing business-law attorney in Los Angeles and holds degrees from Claremont McKenna College and Harvard Law School. Raising Redemption is Russell’s debut novel.

www.raisingredemption.com

Langdon Street Press              
Paperback: $15.95

526 pages, softcover

ISBN: 978-1-62652-041-1

.ePub and .mobi formats: $4.99

May 2013

Available from Amazon.

Genres: Fiction, Family Saga, Multicultural, Women’s Fiction, African-American

WANT TO WIN A COPY OF THIS BOOK?
US/CANADA PRINT or DIGITAL, all other, Digital only

Ends 9/1/13
 Open only to those who can legally enter
Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary.
You must be 13 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you.
The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.
This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified.
The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning.
Giveaway was organized by BookHounds and sponsored by the author.
VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway