Monday, September 19, 2016

No Known Address by Jo A. Hiestand (spotlight, excerpt, review and GIVEAWAY) GFT



by Jo A Hiestand




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GENRE: British mystery

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BLURB:

The man seemed not to hear the continuous whine of the phone receiver lying on his lap. He sat upright, stiff-backed, in a wooden kitchen chair that, like the house, had seen better days. As he had also seen better days, he reminded himself, glancing at the calendar on the wall. A date circled in black ink smirked at him, the remaining days of the month X-ed out. As though he was counting down to something. But the dates were three years old.

The discrepancy didn’t bother him. He had never flipped over the rest of the months. They didn’t intrigue him; it didn’t upset him that he had stared at January for more than a thousand days. If he flipped over the page it would signal that the search needed to continue into another month. And possibly another. And another. The consequence was too terrible to comprehend.

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EXCERPT

The impact of the assault knocked the breath from his lungs, and he fell to the ground without time to brace himself. He slammed into the asphalt as his attacker grabbed his legs. McLaren shook his head, determined to remain conscious, yet the pain from his ribs washed over him. He could see nothing but the dark figure, hear nothing but the scrape of his feet as he fought to right himself, and the labored breathing of his opponent.

As his assailant reached for McLaren’s arms, McLaren seized the man’s wrist and pivoted the hand backward. A satisfying ‘crack’ shot into the night, followed by a yelp. The man released his grip of McLaren’s forearm and rolled over, taking McLaren with him. McLaren felt the man’s chest on top of him, felt the firm muscles and the warm breath against his face. Determined to gain the advantage, McLaren pulled up his strength from somewhere within him and rolled to his side while pushing the man off. McLaren grabbed the car door handle and pulled himself to his feet. But his assailant regained his balance quicker, and he lurched at McLaren. In the darkness he misjudged the distance; he recoiled off the side of the car and staggered around to its rear, his hand groping the slick metal surface for support.


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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Books, Girl Scouts and music filled Jo A. Hiestand’s childhood. She discovered the magic of words and the worlds they create: mysteries, English medieval history, the natural world. She explored the joys of the outdoors through Girl Scout camping trips and summers as a canoeing instructor and camp counselor. Brought up on classical, big band and baroque music, she was groomed as a concert pianist until forsaking the piano for the harpsichord. She also plays a Martin guitar and has sung in a semi-professional folkgroup in the US and as a soloist in England.

This mixture formed the foundation for her writing. A true Anglophile, Jo wanted to create a mystery series that featured a British police detective who left the Force over an injustice and now investigates cold cases on his own. The result is the McLaren Mysteries, featuring ex-police detective Michael McLaren.

Jo’s insistence for accuracy -- from police methods and location layout to the general “feel” of the area -- has driven her innumerable times to Derbyshire. These explorations and conferences with police friends provide the detail filling the books.

In 1999 Jo returned to Webster University to major in English. She graduated in 2001 with a BA degree and departmental honors.

She has employed her love of writing, board games and music in other ways by co-inventing a mystery-solving game, P.I.R.A.T.E.S., which uses maps, graphics, song lyrics, and other clues to lead the players to the lost treasure.

Jo founded the Greater St. Louis Chapter of Sisters in Crime, serving as its first president. Besides her love of mysteries and early music, she also enjoys photography, reading, crewel embroidery, and her backyard wildlife.

Her cat, Tennyson, shares her St. Louis-area home.

LINKS:

Goodreads
Facebook
Website


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GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The tour dates can be found here


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Review: 
I inadvertently signed up to review this title before realizing it is being published by The Wild Rose Press. To avoid any bashing due to my connection to the company (as an editor), I respectfully declined to review even though it sounds like a wonderfully exciting tale. I am fortunate that my fellow blogger, Crystal, from Reviews by Crystal, has graciously agreed to read and review for me.


Crystal's Review:
4 out of 5 Stars 

 

No Known Address is the first work I have read by  Jo A Hiestand. She has written an interesting story with plenty of twists and turns that kept me turning the pages. 


Michael McLaren is asked by his old friend to take on a cold case three years old. McLaren starts investigating the disappearance of Luke Barber and discovers all kinds of suspects that might know something. McLaren finds himself in many dangerous situations with all these people who can't quite seem to get their story straight. Luke's disappearance is a huge mystery to all involved, or so it seems. 

Jamie (McLaren's copper friend) helps with the investigation along the way. He's known the Barber family for years and just wants to help an old friend find his son. He doesn't expect McLaren to discover so many suspects or questions along the way.
 
I enjoyed the mystery, the suspense, and the drama. Jo Hiestand has a nice writing voice that was easy to read. This is the sixth book in the McLaren Mystery series but it stood alone just fine. I didn't feel like I was missing any information to take away from the story line. 

I liked McLaren and found his investigative techniques interesting. I have to say the ending was completely unexpected. I did not see that coming at all. I honestly thought that it was going to lead in another direction. I won't tell you what happens because I would not want to spoil the story for anyone. I will say there are going to be times you might need to reach for your Kleenex box. 

I was given the opportunity to read this book so that I may share my thoughts with you. As always it has been my great pleasure to share my thoughts with you on No Known Address. 

 


Saturday, September 17, 2016

Unintentional: North American Edition by Gabbi Grey et al. (spotlight and GIVEAWAY)

Congrats to Gabbi Grey on her first published story and to all of the authors on a great collection of stories!


Those of you on Facebook...Don't forget the celebration going on this weekend until 10 p.m. EST at this link




Their eyes had met a thousand times, their smiles always easy and honest. All it takes is that one moment for everything to change. When their eyes are opened, no longer does "just friends" seem good enough.



8 NORTH AMERICAN AUTHORS
8 FRIENDS-TO-LOVERS TALES

Amy K. McClung -Vanessa Morse - Gabbi Grey - S. Hartley
Dahlia Donovan - Lindsay Detwiler - Randi Perrin - Gen Ryan





All buy links

http://books2read.com/unintentionalna





THE TUES-DATE - Vanessa Morse
Through the years, Adam and Tara have grown to depend on each other and share a love deeper than either is willing to admit. Roommates, best friends, unmistakable soulmates... until one day, one date everything changes.


WHERE SHE BELONGS- Lindsay Detwiler

When Emeline Jackson's life plans crumble, her best friend Brent helps her rediscover herself in their hometown. She didn't come home to find love, but a lot can change in a summer.


JUST WHAT I NEED - Randi Perrin

It started out innocent enough, one friend lending a shoulder for the other to cry on. But when Brad wakes up next to Jules the following morning, it stirs an awakening in him, and he’ll go to great lengths to prove she’s everything he needs.


CARESSA'S HOMECOMING - Gabbi Grey 

When Caressa comes home from volunteering as a nurse in Africa, she knows she will reunite with her friend Michael. What she doesn't expect is just how much he missed her and how glad he is that she's finally home.



PATIENCE - S. Hartley 

Patience is more than just a song to Madison—it's what her rocker best friend has given her for years. Finally ready to be more than friends, will Cale have any left give?



BENEFITS WITH FRIENDS - Amy K McClung

Zoey makes the ultimate request of her best friend Rex. Though she never imagined the impact it would have on their relationship.



ALWAYS AND FOREVER - Gen Ryan
Hadley and Todd have always been there for each other, especially through their countless dead-end relationships. Will they both finally accept they are destined to be each other's always and forever?



ALL LATHERED UP - Dahlia Donovan
Vi has known her best friend, Geoff, since childhood, though growing up meant being separated by distance and decisions. Neither realizes the impact exchanging postcards will have on their growing feelings. Could it be love?





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Friday, September 16, 2016

Petite Madeleine by Eva Charles (VBB, excerpt, and GIVEAWAY) GFT



by Eva Charles



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GENRE: Contemporary Romance

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BLURB:

The Claytons and Harringtons are back!

Drew Harrington loves baseball, drumming and Cassie Anteros, although not necessarily in that order. After his parents die, Drew finds comfort in all the wrong places, until Cassie discovers him passed out, facedown, in his own vomit. 


Cassie Anteros is a big-hearted, sheltered princess who Drew abandons when he leaves school to get himself together. After graduation, with an Ivy League degree in hand and years of grooming behind her, Cassie is well-positioned to take over her father’s Wall Street firm, but a lump in her left breast sets her life on a different path.


Now eight years later, he’s the very sexy general manager of the Boston Blues baseball team, and she’s an award-winning baker in Baltimore. When the two come face-to-face, the earth trembles under their feet, threatening to swallow them whole. She still owns a piece of his soul, and he lives-on in her heart, but is that enough for Drew and Cassie to get a second chance at love, or has time and suffering already sealed their fate?

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EXCERPT


He gazed longingly at the case. Expertly shaped pastry, lounging on silver pedestals enclosed in a counter-height antique glass case, the kind where a society maven might have displayed her treasures a century ago. Jam-filled cookies, one-bite pecan tarts, and heart-shaped fudge brownies dusted with white powder. They were tantalizing, but nothing tempted him as much as the shell-shaped cakes, food for mermaids, the ones Proust made famous, and Cassie perfected.

After handing him his tea, the clerk began to ring up the purchase.

He reached for his wallet, struggling to ignore the allure of the pastry case. But the madeleines were beckoning, crooning softly, daring him to take a taste.

Just one little taste.

He knew better, he’d played this game before and it never ended well. But he couldn’t help himself. “Sorry to do this, but those madeleines are calling to me. Would you mind throwing a couple in a bag to go?”

“I’d be happy to. They’re seductive little creatures, awfully hard to resist.”

Don’t have to tell me. He paid the clerk, shoved a bill into the Mason jar on the counter, and took a big swig of tea before sticking his hand into the white bag.

And one bite, that’s all it took to whisk him back to another time, to another medium-sized East Coast city, where life had been full of promise. It’s all it took for the anger to swirl with the pain until they were almost unrecognizable as separate emotions. He couldn’t bear it, and dumped the bag along with its contents in the trashcan near the exit.



Buy links: 

Amazon


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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Eva Charles is the author of the multi-titled Meadows Shore Series chronicling the lives and loves of the Clayton-Harrington family. She invites you to visit their beloved Meadows Shore, nestled in the charming seaside town of Fair Harbor, where you’ll enjoy love, laughter, loyalty, and an abundance of mouth-watering food, Portuguese style.

After being a confirmed city-girl for more than thirty-five years, Eva moved to beautiful western Massachusetts in 2014. There, she found herself living in the woods with no job, no friends (unless you count the turkeys, deer, and coyotes roaming the backyard), and no children underfoot, wondering what on earth she’d been thinking. But as it turned out, it was the perfect setting to take all those yarns spinning in her head and weave them into a romantic tale.

When she’s not writing, trying to squeeze information out of her tight-lipped sons or playing with the two cutest dogs you’ve ever seen, Eva’s creating chapters in her own love story.


Website
Amazon author page
Facebook
Goodreads


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GIVEAWAY


a Rafflecopter giveaway

 
The tour dates can be found here


Safe In His Sight by Regan Black (VBB, excerpt, review, and GIVEAWAY) GFT



Safe In His Sight
by Regan Black


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GENRE: Romantic Suspense

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BLURB:

The stalker shadowing lawyer Julia Cooper's every move is vowing to ruin her life—unless she discloses information about a major criminal case. For discreet help, she turns to the shadowy Escape Club, where investigative brainpower and brawn are for hire. Mitch Galway, a firefighter on leave, becomes Julia's round-the-clock bodyguard. All sculpted biceps, sexy bravado and conflicted past, Mitch works overtime to uncover the identity of the person hunting her. But as they track the creep getting way too close, Julia must share more of herself with the intriguing man protecting her…which puts them both high on a lunatic's hit list.

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EXCERPT

The chime sounded for a text message and Julia Cooper swiped her screen to check it. The number wasn’t familiar, though the area code was local. Her assumption about a wrong number evaporated instantly.

Hello, Julia. Are you having vinaigrette or ranch on today’s salad?

More than a little uncomfortable, Julia returned her fork to the bowl, glancing around for the person messing with her. None of her fellow associates at the firm cared how she dressed a salad enough to find out even for the sake of a prank. They all thought she was odd for leaving the building most days to eat outside. The true benefit of taking her lunch break in the park was the daily boost of sunshine, another rare commodity for a new hire at Marburg.

Ignoring the juvenile stunt, she resumed her lunch and headline search.

You look better in blue. And I prefer the skirt.

This text message arrived with a picture of her in yesterday’s charcoal skirt and white sweater.

A rush of nerves skated over her skin. Who had been watching her and how had she missed it? She forced herself to chew and swallow the peppery greens that had turned to tasteless mush in her mouth. Quickly she packed the remainder of her salad and prepared to head back to the office.

Don’t go. I’d like us to be friends.


Buy links:

BN


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AUTHOR Bio and Links:


Regan Black, a USA Today bestselling author, writes award-winning, action-packed romantic suspense and paranormal romance novels featuring kick-butt heroines and the sexy heroes who fall in love with them. Raised in the Midwest and California, she and her family, along with their adopted greyhound and two arrogant cats reside in the South Carolina Lowcountry where the rich blend of legend, romance, and history fuels her imagination.










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GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway


The tour dates can be found here

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My review:

-->
4.25 out of 5 stars

Safe In His Sight by Regan Black is part of the ‘EscapeClub Heroes' series from Harlequin Romantic Suspense. Lawyer Julia Cooper is being threatened and stalked, which prompts her to seek the aid of the special services provide by those at the Escape Club. Firefighter Mitch Galway is moonlighting while awaiting the resolution of the complaint against him and becomes Julia’s bodyguard and protector. Danger escalates, but their growing connection to each other changes the assignment to something far more personal but they may not live long enough to explore their growing feelings for one another.

This exciting adult contemporary romantic suspense tale has a great combination of danger and sensuality and establishes the groundwork for an intriguing series. There are great elements, including the complex obligations of defending suspected criminals and the challenges of following the proper channels when your foe has no such constraints. I admire the accomplishments that Julia has achieved despite her background but I thought the characters were sometimes a little too obtuse about the threats against them or the dangers looming and I thought the brief forays into another character’s point of view were a little frustrating.  Nonetheless, the tension ramps up throughout the story…both from the threats and violence that escalate and from the heat that flares between the main characters. This was a fun and breath-stealing adventure, and I have no doubt that there will be plenty of other challenges faced by those who comprise the heroes of the Escape Club.

A copy of this title was provided to me for review

Thursday, September 15, 2016

Deadly Deceit by Karen Randau (VBT, guest post, excerpt, and GIVEAWAY) GFT


I have a very informative and eye-opening guest post by author Karen Randau about her publishing journey.




The Hard Part About Getting Published

By Karen Randau



The most difficult thing about getting Deadly Deceit published through Short on Time Books was the part leading up to writing it.

I’ve been writing ever since an elementary school teacher showed me how to print my name and a few short sentences. I processed life events by writing about them. If my older sister hurt my feelings, I wrote about it. When my first boyfriend kissed another girl, I wrote about it. When my mom divorced my dad, well … you get the picture.

I’m a writer.

English was my favorite subject in school. I got a degree in journalism, and it only took one newspaper assignment to realize that journalistic writing wasn’t my cup of tea. I got a job in marketing communications and found my life’s purpose through an international relief and development organization that helps the world’s most vulnerable people to overcome extreme poverty. Better yet, they let me write about it!

I know all about sentence structure, and I always answer the questions of who, what, where, why, and how. I avoid passive sentences like the plague, use power words in my sales copy, and try to understand what motivates my reader.

Novel writing draws on those skills, but writing a mystery novel is different.

When you write a mystery novel, you have to think about structure, plot, character development, character arc, and that most troubling of novel writing techniques called point of view. You have to have conflict (and oh how I hate conflict!), major plot twists, clues that don’t give away the story, and red herrings that don’t lie to your reader. And all of those things have to be placed at just the right spot.

My first attempt at writing a novel was a disaster. I, of course, thought it was a masterpiece and submitted it to a publisher after spending a whole two months writing it – a lifetime compared to what I was used to.

After I read the book on point of view that the publisher recommended, I chose a main character, and rewrote the manuscript. Then I sent it to a professional editor, who sent me her class notes on mystery structure. So I rewrote the manuscript again. I sent it to a different editor, who showed me how to avoid bogging down the action. So I rewrote the manuscript again. I went to novel writing seminars and conventions, pitched my manuscript, listened to constructive feedback from absolutely everyone who read the manuscript, changed my characters, and rewrote the manuscript again.

By the time I had rewritten the manuscript five times, it was destroyed.

I started over on a new story that incorporated everything I had learned with my practice novel. It took three years to learn how to write a novel, followed by six months to write to a publishable manuscript. I only asked subject experts to read the Deadly Deceit manuscript. I already knew I had learned how to write.

When my subject experts offered advice, I considered it but made wise decisions about what to change and what not to change. When I was happy with it, I sent it to a small publisher of books like mine, who accepted it.

To me, the hardest part about getting a novel published was the discipline it takes to learn how to do it right, research publishers that might be interested in my kind of story, and find the courage to put myself out there by submitting it for publication. Conquering those challenges required determination, commitment, and the stamina to keep trying. 



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Deadly Deceit
by Karen Randau

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GENRE: Mystery/Thriller

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BLURB:

A cocoon of naiveté shatters on Rita Warren’s thirtieth wedding anniversary, when a terrorist murders her ex-Marine husband Jared and thirteen other movie goers. Ensnarled in a cover-up that puts her in an assassin’s crosshairs, Rita must unravel a web of lies and connections that date back to Jared’s service in the Iraq war – before a mysterious kidnapper returns Rita’s daughter Zoe one body part at a time. This fast-paced story is one you won’t want to put down from beginning to end.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT

Through a stunned haze, I saw him look down at me and disappear. He returned with Zoe over his shoulder and rushed down the hill toward a black pickup parked on a narrow side road.

At last, I gulped in air and jumped to my feet. I remembered my gun, and pulled it from my purse. While running toward him, I forced a bullet into the chamber and fired. Missed. I continued running until he turned Zoe toward me, and I lowered my gun. He dropped her into the bed of the truck, slipped a gun from under his shirt and pointed it at me.

“Take the antiquities certificates to the same park bench. No tricks this time. You have until noon tomorrow.”

“I’ll do whatever you want, but please don’t take my daughter. She needs a doctor. Take me instead if you think you need a hostage.”

Gunfire cracked behind me, and the man grabbed his left arm. Blood oozed from between his fingers. “If I see any cops, I’ll kill her. Then come after you.” He slid behind the steering wheel, and I turned to see Cliff at the top of the hill, his gun by his side.

I ran toward the dust stirred up by the truck as it sped away and shouted into the wind. “This is about my necklace?”

Amazon link

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

A native of the southwestern U.S., Karen Randau has been writing and telling stories since elementary school. She holds a degree in journalism/public relations from The University of Texas at Austin and has enjoyed a long career in marketing communications. In her work with an international non-profit, she has traveled to numerous developing countries, witnessing famines, violence, and hopeful people working to overcome abject poverty. She loves fast-paced mysteries and thrillers, especially those with intricate plots, lots of action, and rollercoaster-like twists and turns.

Blog
Facebook Author Page
Twitter
Goodreads Author Page
Amazon Author Page

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GIVEAWAY

 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

The tour dates can be found here



Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Under a Purple Moon by Beverly Stowe McClure (VBB, excerpt, and GIVEAWAY) GFT




by Beverly Stowe McClure


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GENRE: YA contemporary

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BLURB:

Eden Rose has learned to deal with her mother's criticism that she can do nothing right. What she can't deal with are the arguments between her parents. To escape their angry words, she finds refuge in an old abandoned house. She always returns home, hoping her mother will love her one day, even though Eden's not sure what the word love means.

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EXCERPT

“Done.” A lighter, happier tune floated around us. Humming along, Murphy thumped his fingers on his knee. With the warm room, the music, and Murphy close by, my body relaxed. My mind could not relax, however. I remembered every little detail of the past hour. Nora my mother insisted I call her by her name told me I put too much salt in the meatloaf. She said I also set the table wrong. According to her, I couldn’t do anything right. The argument started when Dad defended me. So here I am, for the second or third time this week.

“Eden, Eden. You okay?”

Murphy shook my shoulder gently, dragging me from my thoughts. “I’m okay.”

“You sure.? Why are you crying?’

“Crying?” I touched my cheek. Dampness chilled my fingers.

He handed me a napkin. “You want to talk about it?”

I wiped my eyes and drippy nose. “No.”

“All right. You want to play a game?”

“What do you have in mind?”

A light tapping noise from the direction of the front door interrupted Murphy’s answer. I scooted closer to him and whispered, “Murph, did you hear that?”

“What?”

I clicked off the CD player.

The tapping repeated itself.

“That. Listen. Someone’s at the door.” I snuffed out the candles.

A muffled voice called, “Murph, it’s me.”

I eyed Murphy. “Whoever’s out there knows your name.”

“Yeah, I better let him in.”




Under a Purple Moon can be purchased at

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
and other places where books are sold.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:



For twenty-two years Beverly Stowe McClure taught children to read and to write. Her students taught her patience. Most of the time these days, you’ll find Beverly at her computer writing stories young voices whisper in her ears. When she’s not writing, she takes long walks with her Tiger cat and snaps pictures of clouds, flowers, and wildlife. She’s affectionately known as the “Bug Lady.” She’s not telling why. To relax, she also enjoys playing the piano. Her cats don’t appreciate good music and hide when she tickles the ivories.

Beverly is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. She has fifteen books published for children and teens, along with short stories in three Chicken Soup for the Soul books. She also teaches a women’s Sunday school class at her church.

You can learn more about Beverly and her books here:
Website
Blog
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads


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GIVEAWAY
 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

The tour dates can be found here



Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Flawless Danger by Rachel Woods (VNBtM, guest post, excerpt and GIVEAWAY) GFT



It is my pleasure to share a guest post by author Rachel Woods, who shares with us some of her journey.


ELF:  What was the most difficult thing to overcome on your path to becoming a published author and how did you conquer it?

RW:  The most difficult thing I have had to overcome on my path to becoming a published author would have to be my own hesitations, reservations, apprehensions and lack of confidence. For most of my life, writing had mainly been a hobby that I kept to myself and shared with no one, except for my sister, and occasionally, a close friend. I was plagued with lots of self-doubt. I doubted that I could really write as good as I thought I could. I doubted that people would even want to read anything that I’d written. I doubted that I could actually finish a novel—for years, I would start projects with the best intentions of completing them, but then my interest would wane. I’d put the project aside and start on something new. But, soon, I’d grow frustrated and disinterested in the new project. I realize now that I never finished anything because if I did, I would feel obligated to try to get it published and that would bring about a whole new set of fears I didn’t want to face.

But, in late 2013, I decided to take a chance on my dreams of publishing my books. As a personal injury legal assistant, I have been witness to situations where people have been devastated and lost everything because of horrific accidents. Many of the clients have had their lives changed, irrevocably, in the blink of an eye. Part of personal injury representation involves telling the jury about things a client will never be able to do again because of life-altering injuries sustained in the accident. I realized that I didn’t want to have any regrets, or get to the end of my life and wonder, what could have happened if I had tried to publish one of my books. And so, I pushed aside all the fears and self-doubt, and stepped on the path of becoming a self-published author. I can say that I’m so glad I did, and that I have no regrets because what could have happened actually did happen.



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by Rachel Woods

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GENRE: Romance Suspense

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BLURB:

Trying to rectify the mistake that unleashed his dark past, Sione runs to the rescue of a beautiful woman staying at his resort, saving her from a brutal attack … The sly beauty who doesn’t want a hero is no damsel in distress, considering the suspicious circumstances she seems involved in. He should stay away from the beautiful liar, but something about her makes him want to forget his doubts and do anything—even if it means relying on his violent instincts—for a chance to be with her.

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EXCERPT

“Ms. Edwards.”

Spencer froze, still bent at the waist, staring at the floor, trying to ignore the prickly heat rising up her neck and the sound of Sione’s voice, which gave her a warm shiver.

Standing, struggling to cover herself with the sarong, Spencer took a step back as Sione walked into the dressing room, filling it with his size and strength, crowding her, and a sudden attack of claustrophobia battled with a warm sensation starting deep below her navel and snaking southward toward the center of her thighs.

“Where is the sales lady?”

“I think she’s helping another customer,” he said.

“Another customer,” Spencer mumbled, still trying to cover herself with the swatch of pink fabric. “That figures.”

“You need a different size or something?”

“I don’t know how to tie this thing.” Spencer shook her head. “I’ve tried and tried.”

“Let me help you,” Sione said.

“No, no,” She said. “You don’t have to do that, just … I think you should leave.”

Smiling, Sione grabbed the sarong from her.

A strange sound erupted from her, something between a squeal and a shriek, as she stood there in her lace bra and matching panties.

“It’s actually very easy.” He moved behind her.

Flabbergasted by his blatant audacity, she shook her head.

Sione maneuvered Spencer’s arms and then wrapped the sarong around her. Shell-shocked, she stood stiff as a board as he worked with the sarong, twisting the ends, bringing them up and behind her neck, and tying them together.

“Okay, there you go.” He turned her toward the mirror.

“Hmm,” Spencer mumbled, turning to the side, admiring his handiwork, vaguely wondering how he did it and how he knew how to do it.

“You really know how to put one of these things on.”

“I know how to take one off, too.”

Buy links:

Amazon
Barnes and Noble

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

As a pre-teen, a young Rachel quickly tired of the Sweet Valley High Series and moved on to works by Sidney Sheldon, Jackie Collins and Dominick Dunne, which was just the spark necessary to fuel her love of writing. Her first stories were written on a Brother typewriter during long summer days in Texas, where she always had an extra typewriter ribbon and correction tape handy.

Rachel later studied journalism and graduated from the University of Houston where she published articles in the Daily Cougar. She is a freelance writer and blogger with a penchant for melodrama and a frequent traveler to beach locales. Many of her stories take place on the islands, which she has visited around the world.

Rachel writes complex, multicultural stories centered on strong women in jeopardy, fighting for love and their own lives. When not writing, this read-a-holic can be found listening to audiobooks, reading the Book of Jeremiah, or scouring soap opera blogs. Rachel resides in Houston with her three sock monkeys.



Media Links:

Website
Facebook





Buy Links for prequel novella, Flawless Mistake:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble


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GIVEAWAY



a Rafflecopter giveaway

The tour dates can be found here