Showing posts with label CMP. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CMP. Show all posts

01 October 2013

Book Release: Dakota Captive

Today is a very exciting day for author Alythia Brown. Her new book, Dakota Captive, is being released. I had the pleasure (although she may tell a different story, ha) of working with her as her editor for this book. In other words, yes. I am totally biased about how awesome this book is. (Hey, at least I'm honest about it!)

Dakota Captive is the first book in a trilogy. To give you an idea about the storyline, read the blurb below. In the meantime, allow me to explain to you why this is such an awesome story and why you need to go buy it as soon as you're done reading this blog. The story line is rich with vivid descriptions of both people and places. From the moment you first meet the Earth Spirits, you're captivated by who they are - their distinct personalities find a place within your heart quickly. Charli is thrown one curve after another and she handles each one with the combination of vulnerability and strength that comes from being a strong-willed and independent teenager. When she finds herself falling for the one man she shouldn't after trying to nurse a broken heart from the ex-boyfriend who just won't quite give up the fight for her, she does the only thing she can: survive all the chaos and find her way.

The process of working with Alythia to uncover the polish and shine of this amazing gem was truly enjoyable. She was enthusiastic, receptive to observations and suggestions, and most importantly, determined to present this book in the greatest shape she could. Go. Buy. This. Book.

Book Blurb
When the evil spirit of Jumlin returns with his army of Offspring, the Earth Spirits are summoned to protect the Lakota. Unbeknownst to Charli, these Earth Spirits are a sacred secret. So she probably shouldn’t have spied from behind a rock when they shifted from their animal forms, she shouldn’t have taken pictures, and she definitely shouldn’t have gotten caught. Now a hostile prisoner, Charli is forced to walk a long journey to reach the one man who can erase the knowledge of the Earth Spirits' existence from her mind.


Naturally, Charli thinks all she needs to do is keep her big mouth shut, get her memory erased, and go home. But Jumlin’s Offspring are stalking her. Since no one can explain this unusual behavior, it becomes imperative to enter the Other World--a place where the Lakota have lived traditionally and without foreign oppression (but not without menacing dragons). Aside from being kidnapped, whisked away to a foreign world, hunted, and forced to live amongst strangers, Charli must come to terms with a new nuisance: she's falling for one of her abductors.

Meet the Author
Alythia Brown was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she now lives with her husband and their three small children. She found her inspiration to write Dakota Captive after traveling to North Dakota to return an authentic peace pipe to the Lakota Natives. The artifact had been picked up after the Massacre of Wounded Knee in 1890, and eventually ended up in the hands of one of her ancestors—who, in turn, told everyone it was a wagon spoke. Alythia is the author of two short stories, published in the Mertales anthology, and she aspires to publish many more books for children, teens, and young adults.


You can find Alythia at her website, on Facebook, and on Twitter (@alyconnorbrown). If you'd like to learn more about her other books, you can go here.

Finally, here is the link to the first stop in her book release blog tour. Go check it out!

06 May 2013

Book Birthday Bash: Medusa, A Love Story

Welcome to today's stop on the Birthday Bash Blog Extravaganza! We're celebrating the birthday of the first book in Sasha Summers' Loves of Olympus series Medusa, A Love Story.


About the Book
It's said love can change a person. Medusa wasn't always a monster…

Medusa is ruled by duty, to her Titan father and the Goddess Athena. She's no room for the tenderness her warrior guard, Ariston, stirs. When Olympus frees her from service, her heart leads her into the arms of the guard she loves... and curses her as the creature with serpent locks.

Ariston goes to war with a full heart... and dreadful foreboding. He learns too late of the danger Medusa faces, alone, and a Persian blade sends him into the Underworld. But death, curses, nor the wrath of the Gods will keep him from returning to her.

Poseidon will use Greece's war to get what he wants: Medusa. He does not care that she belongs to another. He does not care that she will be damned. He is a God, an Olympian, and she will be his.

Review
Holy moly, people. If you have any love for, interest in, or curiosity about the Greek pantheon at all, GET. THIS. BOOK. There are multiple links below to help you acquire this gem of a story.

First, what a unique and truly beautiful slant on the story of Medusa. We have this character who we all more or less know - or so we think. Ms. Summers has opened a door to a whole new view of Medusa as a woman and as a pawn of the gods. There are moments where you ache with her and for her as she tries to find her way, when so many others have laid claim to her future.

Ariston - could someone please deliver me my own? I'd like one posthaste. He is the epitome of honor, valor, and what a man should be. The depth of his love, the lengths he will go… I am not one to swoon, but allow me this once, m'kay?

As for Poseidon, well. Capricious, arrogant, wild as the seas that he rules. Ms. Summers has brought to life the very turbulent and demanding god of the ocean in a way that makes him so very real. I definitely caught a little tug on my heart strings for him at one point.

I didn't see the ending coming and it was beautifully done. This was a novel that not only kept a good pace, I couldn't put it down. I read it during an overnight shift because I just couldn't stop! This is one that I could read over and over, and never tire of it. I can't wait to read the next one!

About the Author

Sasha is part gypsy. Born June 9, 1974, stories have always played an important role in her life. Her passions have always been storytelling, Hollywood, history, and travel. It’s no surprise that her books include a little of each. Her first play, ‘Greek Gods and Goddesses’ was written for her Girl Scout troupe. She’s been writing ever since. She loves getting lost in the worlds and characters she creates; even if she frequently forgets to run the dishwasher or wash socks when she’s doing so. Luckily, her four brilliant children and hero-inspiring hubby are super understanding and supportive.

Here are some of the places you can find Sasha!
Website/Blog                               Twitter                           FB Author Page
Goodreads                                   Pinterest                         YouTube

Ready to get your own copy of Medusa, A Love Story? Here are a few places you can find it.
B&N                         Amazon                      Kobo                            All romance ebooks


Giveaway!
You can enter the Rafflecopter giveaway here. Make sure you hit all the stops along the way to increase your chances of winning the following prizes: 


  • Autographed copy of Medusa, A Love Story (Loves of Olympus Series, Bk #1)
  • Autographed copy of For the Love of Hades (Loves of Olympus Series, Bk #2
  • Thea (owl) Necklace
  • "Medusa" car charm
  • Series Swag

15 April 2013

Book Release: Queen of Jastain


Today, as an extra special treat, I would like you to join me in celebrating the release of a fantastic book by an amazing and talented author.  Keep reading through and you'll be rewarded after the excerpt for a chance to win a $10 Gift Card and a charm. (Scroll down to see pictures of the prizes)

Queen of Jastain has a special place in my library because not only is it OH SO GOOD, I was the editor for it. I was privileged to work with Kary in polishing her shining gem and I'm beyond excited that it's (finally) available for the rest of the world!


The Light brought her to him, but does he have the faith to make her his queen?
For twenty years, Avant plotted revenge against the dark king, but when a mysterious woman suddenly appears, everything changes. Although his prophetic Gift reveals she's the Seed of Light chosen to restore the Crown, his overwhelming attraction to the women threatens his long-held plan for revenge and two decades of fidelity.

Abby Randall is inexplicably transported from Dallas to the medieval land of Jastain. There she meets Avant, who claims she's the foretold champion of his people. While the hot guy has her hormones pumping, his crazy talk of defeating an evil king leaves questions to his sanity. Through his supernatural Gift, Avant transplants his memories into her, but neither are prepared for how their hearts intertwine.

Together they embark on their quest, but when Abby and Avant come face to face with destiny, will they sacrifice what matters most to provide a happily-ever-after for the people of Jastain?


About the Author
Kary Rader is a part-time Twitter sage, stay-at-home mother of three, and slave to the characters and worlds inside her head. Always creative, she's drawn to stories with fantastical worlds and creatures. With a little bit of magic and divine guidance, there isn't anything that can't be accomplished with words. It's the power of words that creates and destroys. Vanquishing evil and injustice while finding eternal love in the process is all in a day's work. With the help of her critique partners and master cartographer imaginary places come to life.

Some of the fun places you can find the intrepid Kary (who, by the way, deserves a medal for surviving having me as her editor) are as follows:
Twitter: @KaryRader
Facebook: Kary Rader, Author
Want a taste of just how good this book is? Keep reading for an excerpt!

Excerpt
     When Avant climbed back to the cave, his hair was wet. He'd slicked it back from his face and tied it into a little ponytail with a leather string. The sexy shadow of a light beard softened his angular jaw, and the thick waves of his hair shined with chestnut highlights in the morning sun. It was a good look for him, but then again, what wasn’t? Abby ran her fingers through her own tangled tresses and pulled her hair back. What she wouldn't give for a hairclip.
     “Would you like a thong for your hair?”
     She giggled at the word thong, certain that what she pictured was not what he referenced. “Do you have an extra one? I’d like to get it out of my face, and I don’t have anything.” Actually she had her own thong, but she sure as hell wasn't putting it in her hair.
     He immediately unlaced the tie at the neck of his shirt and handed it to her.
     She gasped and put a hand to her face to hide the heat in her cheeks as his shirt fell open below his breast bone. “You don’t have to do that.”
     Her blood coursed wildly at the sight of the smooth muscles of his chest. A soft sprinkling of dark hair beckoned her fingers. She swallowed hard.
     “It’s all right. Please use it. It will be a hard day’s journey with hair in your face.” His words rang in her mind so sincerely she forgot her embarrassment, but her eyes kept flitting to his heavenly chest.
     “Thank you, Avant, and not only for the lace but for everything you're doing to help me.
     Holding her gaze, he nodded once, and her heart fluttered. Was it getting warm in the cave? She wiped the beads of sweat from her forehead.
      “It is time to be off if we are to make it to the next shelter before nightfall.” He picked up his pack and walked to the mouth of the cave. She grabbed her bag and followed.
     Climbing down proved to be more difficult than going up. The muscles required to lower herself from one level to the next worked her thighs and butt like no gym equipment she'd ever experienced. It was like doing hours of squats. She trudged down the mountain with the previous day's tumult weighting her down like the “freshman ten.” Avant helped her along on the steeper steps, but, for the most part, she made them on her own, clippity-clopping in those damned Docinis all the way.
     When he reached the bottom, he disappeared around an outcropping. Abby took the last little step to the base and hurried after him. As she turned the corner, Avant grabbed her arm and spun her around. Driving her back against the rock, he pressed the length of his rigid body against her. His face, barely three inches from hers, clenched in thin lines of stress. Her heart raced…with fear.
     She was pretty sure it was fear.

Giveaway
   Now, for your reward! Your opportunity to enter the giveaway to win a prize! Here are pictures of your prize:

Avant's Sword charm

                                                                                                   and the charm bracelet:
 









<a id="rc-b4c00018" class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b4c00018/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>

<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script>
 

Don't forget to check the other stops on this blog tour!