Category Archives: Blog Tours
Happy Book Birthday to BRAVING THE ELEMENTS #Fantasy #anthology #RoaneBooks
HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY TO
BRAVING THE ELEMENTS!
Blog Tour Schedule
Two List
– Review
~~~oOo~~~
GIVEAWAY!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use a RoanePublishing.com Gift Code. No purchase necessary, but you must be 18 or older to enter. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter, and announced on the widget. Winner well be notified by emailed and have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. The number of entries received determines the odds of winning. This giveaway was organized by Roane Publishing’s marketing department.
Happy Book Birthday to CALL OF THE SEA by Rebecca Hart (@Rebelhart69) – Hey, that’s me! #romance #pirate #irishLore
Im over the moon excited to announce that CALL OF THE SEA, my debut romance novel, is available from Roane Publishing starting today.
The novel has a snazzy new cover and an expanded ending, so if you read it when it first came out, it may be time to check it out again. I also have some review copies available, so if you would like one, just drop me a note.
Here are all the release details:
Genre: Historical Paranormal Romance
Release Date: September 21, 2015
Keywords: Historical Romance, Paranormal Romance, shapeshifter, selkie, Pirates, Irish Lore, 17th Century Romance, Sea Stories
Description: Elysandra Winters has always yearned for a life of adventure on the rolling seas and is willing to do whatever it takes to fulfill her dream. When her Privateer father continually refuses to allow his only daughter to sail, Ellie defies him, disguises herself as a boy, and goes in search of a captain who will give her a chance to prove her worth.
Thanks to the cursed selkie blood coursing through his veins, Daniel O’Rourke needs the sea to survive. After giving up on his humanity and spending three years in seal form, he decides to give his human side another chance. Daniel goes in search of a job and a sense of normalcy, earning himself a position aboard Captain Winter’s ship, The Siren’s Call. However, his new captain’s first assignment has nothing at all to do with sailing, and everything to do with his headstrong young daughter.
Years later, when the leader of a band of bloodthirsty pirates murders Captain Winters, Daniel and Elysandra’s lives come crashing back together with the force of a hurricane. Both experts in deception, they must find a way to trust each other in order to quell the raging storm between them, and have any hope of hunting down the captain’s killer.
Get Your Copy Here:
Roane Publishing (Print and Digital)
Also available at these fine retailers:
Print
Createspace (Best Option)
Amazon
Digital
Amazon
Amazon (UK)
Barnes and Noble (Coming Soon)
Smashwords
All Romance eBooks
Bookstrand
Kobo (Coming Soon)
Sign Up for the BAD BOYS WANTED Release Blitz: Please and Thank you! #erotic #romance #BadBoys #BDSM
Roane Publishing is looking for Hosts for the upcoming release blitz for BAD BOYS WANTED, which will include a story from me (R. Brennan), as well as some fantastic erotic author friends of mine. If you like my stories, you are going to LOVE theirs. Just click the image above to be brought to the tour sign-up page.
Here are the story descriptions… a little something to tease you with, my dear.
Unrepentant – Lila Shaw
Lucky Lotto winner, Amy Burns has had enough of family members begging for handouts. With her millions safely hidden from the general public’s knowledge by way of an anonymous trust fund, she’s moved west to find a new beginning. She’s also found Jazz, a taciturn employee at her gym she can’t seem to stay away from.Only problem? He’s an ex-convict. Can Amy trust the former thief with her heart, especially after her relentless step-brother discovers her whereabouts and threatens to expose her secret, or might an unrepentant bad boy be the real winning ticket?
Over the Edge – Stella Berkley
Nothing short of a lobotomy could make Roman King forget Sloane Holliwell—part angel, part devil, and all his. If only she wasn’t the love of his best friend’s life. Even though they’re broken up, Roman would never hurt his brother from another mother that way.
Sloane has been self-destructing since her darkest fantasy, Roman, cut her out of his life. When he finds her bruised at a bar, he saves her from yet another boyfriend disaster. But he still won’t claim her despite their obvious attraction.
Instead, he offers to teacher her how to be a submissive, so he can find her a master that will take care of her. Once he gets her in the playroom, though, he discovers Sloane is playing games of her own.
Death’s Angel – Kastil Eavenshade
Four years ago, Constantine lost the only woman he ever loved. Now the incubus is culling the responsible vampire brood’s food source. One by one he steals the souls of the blood sucker’s familiars to turn the human population against his enemy. Blinded by vengeance, he makes the one mistake that could cost him the retribution he seeks.
Half-werewolf, Indira is thrust in the hands of the vampires to maintain peace amongst the clans. Instead of being an ambassador, she becomes a prisoner and forgotten by her pack. When the vampires bring a mysterious man trussed into their dungeons, he stirs something inside long since buried. Sexy and beyond anything she’s dealt with, her beating heart yearns to sacrifice her soul for one taste of Constantine.
In the throes of revenge, can the light of one angel tame a beast bred in hell?
Finding Forever – Lynn Burke
Samantha likes to bang a guy’s headboard and take off long before he bangs up her heart. Temptation returns in the form of a Zeus-like, tattooed hunk, the man whose first kiss roused her teenage hormones. His arrival carries the promise for more, but Sam’s determination to enjoy a taste–or two–without risking her heart could cost her the chance at finding forever.
Temptations of the Cage – R. Brennan
While she’s never considered herself a submissive, Katrina Norton has always had a bit of a pain fetish, so when the opportunity to work at one of the city’s most popular BDSM clubs presents itself, she decides it’s the perfect way to indulge her darker desires and earn enough money to pay for the expensive medications her ailing grandmother requires.
But when she meets handsome club owner, Damien Michaels, Trina has to remind herself he’s a potential boss, and off limits. Certainly not someone she should be imagining kneeling before and begging for just a taste of what’s hiding beneath his expensive tailored suit.
If she could just get her traitorous body to stick to the plan.
Without Words by Lolly Tova
Ivy McPhee dreads attending her high school reunion, but she’s willing to brave her childhood tormentors to see the bad boy she sat beside everyday on the school bus. Though they never exchanged a word, a decade later, he still owns her heart, and she’s determined to find out if the connection she felt to him all those years ago was a shared experience.
Ollie Ashwood, lead singer of the successful indie band Infraction, is still every inch a trouble maker, but his days of partying and womanizing are over. He’s finally ready to claim the only girl he ever cared enough about not to sweet talk into his arms. Playing a set at his school reunion seems the perfect ploy to draw Ivy out and tell her she’s the woman of his dreams.
Any chance of the two alumni discovering the depths of their feelings for one another is shattered by a scheming ex-student. Only revelations about the past can get Ollie and Ivy back on the right track, but Ollie must first persuade Ivy to bear her bully’s teasing long enough to listen.
* * * *
ARCs should be out around September 25th, so if you are interested in a copy for review, please drop me a note, or mention it when you sign up for the Release Blitz.
Thank you all for your continued support. I can’t tell you all how much I appreciate it.
~Bex
Happy Book Birthday to Lolly Tova and SECRET YEARNING #Erotic #Romance #Menage
Consider stumbling upon your best friends making love, and from that moment onward being consumed by a frightening new attraction for them that drives you to distraction. That’s what happens to my heroine, Sasha Mooney, and during the course of the story she’s forced to decide whether she’s the third wheel or third lover.
While the story is packed with plenty of hot sex, there’s also romance. Secret Yearning pays homage to the friends to lovers troupe, but spices up this old chestnut with a menage relationship.
Blurb:
After Sasha Mooney’s latest doomed relationship fails, her best friends, Kate and Justin, drag her off for a long weekend in a remote cottage to celebrate her thirtieth birthday. Only, the new romance between Kate and Justin highlights Sasha’s loneliness—and jealousy—and she can’t help but crave the return of their cozy, platonic threesome.
Whichever way Sasha turns, she stumbles across Kate and Justin making love, and soon she’s consumed by a frightening desire for both of them that isolates her further.
When a morning alone with Kate leads to a romantic encounter, Sasha’s guilt and self-loathing spiral out of control. She’s crossed a line and quickly hurdles another when Justin walks in on her in the shower and sparks fly. With hopes of salvaging her friendships fading fast, Sasha’s options don’t look pretty. Either she risks Kate and Justin’s contempt by admitting her feelings for them both, or she respects their new relationship and walks out of their lives for good.
Purchase Links:
To celebrate release day, I have a fantastic competition for you.
Giveaway Information:
- One (1) digital copy of Secret Yearning by Lolly Tova
- One (1) bespoke pendent by Joanne Gailbraith
- Winner will be drawn on Tuesday 19th May 2015
Author Picture & Bio:
Lolly Tova writes contemporary and fantasy erotic romance.
Lolly is a West Country girl living in London, England, who regularly breaks the cardinal rules of city life by making eye contact with strangers and wishing passers-by a good morning.
By day, Lolly helps to shape the next generation of art masters. By night, she crafts her erotic flights of fancy, which are slightly kooky, a lot quirky, and a smidgen dark and disturbing when the wind blows in the right direction.
Social Media Links: Facebook | Twitter | Website/Blog | Goodreads
New Release News: Skydreamer by Sheryl Winters (@WintersSheryl) #fantasy #romance #dragons #twins
Welcome to my stop on the Skydreamer blog tour. Always happy to have visitors, especially when I’ve got good news to share. I’ve managed to snag the first of a series of EXCLUSIVE excerpts from Ms. Winters’ just released New Adult Fantasy Romance, SKYDREAMER.
Before I get to the teaser, let me give you all the details about the novel, which released yesterday.
Title: Skydreamer
Author: Sheryl Winters
Publisher: Roane Publishing
Release Date: March 30, 2015
Keywords: New Adult, Urban Fantasy, Romance, Dragons, Twins
Blurb: For fire talent, Jaden Zarie, life is far from a fairy tale. Blisters from any contact with water, check. Sleeping in a shed behind your greedy Uncle’s house, check. Ex-boyfriend scouting the bar where you work for one-night stands every night, double check.
When Jaden sets off to secure a new life with her two sisters, winning a contest with a huge pile of gold on the line seems like a quick fix. Getting hitched to Draven Winterbourne, King of the Dragon-changers, and finding true love, was beyond anything she could have hoped for.
But a friend turned enemy threatens to take it all away. Jaden is thrust into an alternate universe and separated from her new husband and her sisters, she must summon up the courage to start over, alone, knowing she may never see any of them again.
Now, without further ado, here is your exclusive excerpt from SKYDREAMER…
Excerpt:
“…The Contest is open to all women between the ages of twenty-one and thirty. Contestants are required to bring their own reagents. The use of Alchemy is strictly prohibited. Chance of winning twelve hundred gold per round is one in…”
Voices press in on me from every side. The week of constant traveling has done me in. All I want to do is hide in the vego and sleep. I don’t even care if we have enough for dinner tonight. I feel trapped by the chattering voices of the crowd mashed up with the officials on the Dais.
“I heard the King’s mother set up this contest herself. Talk about the ultimate mama’s boy. He has to be uglier than a troll if his mother has to marry him off this way,” someone suggested.
“… high possibility of death,” came a skeptical voice, “but with twelve hundred gold per round, everyone should enter.”
“Which one is Draven?” a shrill voice demands.
“Are you blind?” Came the reply. “He’s the one good looking one with the light brown hair. The one standing next to King Evrid.”
“You said he was ugly!”
It doesn’t matter who this Draven is. We are only here for Adania. If we win, every silver goes to her schooling. She’ll have a roof over her head and decent clothes. Nothing else matters.
My fingers sink back into the dark blue Legal Sphere I received earlier. The tiny ball settles into my palms with only a light sizzle and its message sounds inside my head.
All contestants will enter into an exclusive competition. The winner will win a one-year marriage with Draven Winterbourn, King of the Dragon-Changers. Iyardar Stone to choose the winner. In the event Draven Winterbourn does not agree with the Iyardar Stone, he has the right to veto said contestant and select one of his choosing from the remaining contestants. As stipulated, marriage duration will be one year, unless both parties—
“Is the Iyardar Stone a diamond, or a ruby?” I whisper to Isla. “And how does it choose a winner if it’s a rock?”
* * * *
Here’s where you can get your copy of SKYDREAMER (available in both Print and eBook formats)
BUY LINKS
Roane Publishing (Print and eBook)
Print
Createspace (Best Option)
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Digital (eBook)
Amazon
Amazon UK
Barnes and Noble
Smashwords
Bookstrand
All Romance eBooks
Kobo
About Sheryl Winters:
I never set out to be an author. Only a story teller. Some days I succeed better than others.
Ms. Winters Links:
Website: http://sherylwinters.weebly.com/
Blog: http://sherylwinters.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sheryl-Winters/684816784908158
Twitter: https://twitter.com/WintersSheryl
Spooktacular Seductions Blog Tour: An Excerpt from Do You Believe in Ghosts by Anne Higa #Romance #Paranormal #Halloween
Hey, everyone! It’s me again. I said I would try to be a good girl and post more often, and LOOK!! Here I am again. Go me!
Enough about me… Today I have a nice little treat for you all — a lovely teaser excerpt from Roane Publishing’s most recent anthology release, SPOOKTACULAR SEDUCTIONS. The anthology features stories from eight authors, and today I get to share Anne Higa’s story, Do you Believe in Ghosts. But, we’ll get to that in just a minute. We must start at the beginning, yes?
Here are all the juicy tidbits on the anthology…
Spooktacular Seductions
A Halloween Anthology
Author: Various Authors
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Roane Publishing
Keywords: Paranormal, Romance, Ghosts, Witches, Hags, Cemetary, Short Stories
Blurb: Falling in love can be terrifying.
Eight tales of spooky romance brought to you just in time for Halloween.
- Bewitching Gypsy by Linda Carroll-Bradd
- Garden of Souls by Michelle Ziegler
- If This Be Madness by Echo Shea
- Encantado by Havva Murat
- Do You Believe in Ghosts by Anne Higa
- Ghost of a Chance by Lily Carlyle
- Where Angels Tread by Christy Thomas
- Spooky Hollow Café by Lisa A. Adams
Now, that you know a bit more about the anthology, let’s take a peek into one of the fantastic sounding stories, Do You Believe in Ghosts by Anne Higa.
Do You Believe in Ghosts? – Anne Higa
Blurb: Jeff Austin-LeGrange has been fleeing from the remnants of his dark and haunted childhood his entire life. The past always catches up to us, and his is no exception.
Alice Hopkins, Jeff’s high school sweetheart, has tried to forget him and tried to move on. You never forget your first love.
When Jeff’s mother dies and Alice’s father falls ill, the two are forced to confront their mutual history and their deepest desires. One thing is sure: neither of their lives will ever be the same again. Perhaps, the past can be overcome. Perhaps, it is not too late to believe in miracles. Perhaps, more than one couple will be reunited this Fall.
Who can say? With a little magic, anything is possible.
Excerpt:
The Whitecourt Diner had a row of tables against the windows overlooking the park across the street. He scanned the string of seats, searching for the perfect evening view, and suddenly there she was, seated alone at one of the tables. She sipped a mug of coffee, maybe tea, her eyes focused out the window.
A glimmer of pleasure tingled across the back of his neck.
Alice looked at him and a warm smile lit her face.
The years had been kind to her. She still had the same dark hair, like the ocean at night, and her firm body sat upright in the chair. He could still remember the sweetness of having her in his arms. They had been one another’s first time, and he had never forgotten her, never really gotten over her.
* * * *
At first, Alice thought she might dreaming. Everyone knew Jeff had left town, and she knew better than most. He still looked good, was still the man she had once loved. There were a few more lines around his mouth, and he wore business casual as opposed to t-shirt and jeans she was used to, but otherwise it was definitely him. The starched white shirt and dark blue slacks gave him a neat and professional appearance.
He had gone to Columbia University, while she went to Penn State. After that, they had slowly drifted apart. She graduated with her Art History degree, and he earned his CPA. That was the last she heard of him.
His eyes met hers with a flicker of recognition, and she smiled uncertainly as he walked over to her. “Jeff? I didn’t know you were back in town.”
“Alice.”
For a brief awkward moment they gaped at each other, and Alice wasn’t sure if they should shake hands, or just nod politely.
The anthology is available NOW, so swing by any of the below retailers to pick up your copy. Paperback and eBook versions are both available.
BUY LINKS:
Print or Digital Edition
Print
Createspace
Amazon
Digital Edition
Amazon
Amazon UK
Barnes and Noble
Smashwords
Bookstrand
Author Bio: Anne has been writing fantasy fiction since she was ten years old.
Currently, she lives in Harrisburg, PA where she works from home as a ghostwriter and occasional haunter of neighbor’s houses. She has three cats, and a lot of dreams.
Anne’s Links:
Website/Blog: http://annehiga.wordpress.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8293030.Anne_Higa
Amazon Author Profile: http://www.amazon.com/Anne-Higa/e/B00MD5HEZY
Purr-fect Mating Blog Tour: A Visit from Author, Sheryl Winters (@WintersSheryl) #PNR #Shifters #Romance
As always, welcome back to the blog. I am always so happy to have you stop by. Today, I have a special treat for you all… a short visit by the author of Roane Publishing’s latest release, Sheryl Winters.
She has stopped by to answer a question I had for her about her Lil’ Genie series, the first of which is Purr-fect Mating, a Contemporary Paranormal Romance featuring shifters.
Mmmm…shifters.
Before I get to my question, let’s have a closer look at the first story, Purr-fect Mating.
Title: Purr-fect Mating
(A Lil Genie Series Novella)
Author: Sheryl Winters
Publisher: Roane Publishing
Release Date: June 23, 2014
Keywords: Paranormal, Romance, Shifters
Blurb: Fhina and Wulfar have a little problem.
On their wedding night, at the stroke of midnight, Wulfar changes into his shifted wolf form and cannot shift back. Not even to communicate with the woman he loves.
Fhina, upon waking the day after their mating, no longer recognizes her mate. Pregnant and confused, she’s convinced herself her mate has run away and left her to live alone. With his dog.
Can the cursed pair find a counter charm before Fhina gives birth? Will Wulfar be able to curb his inclination to run?
Or will their mutual curses break up their love affair before it’s really even started.
Buy Links:
Roane Publishing
Amazon
Amazon UK
Bookstrand
Smashwords
Barnes and Noble
Google Play Books
Now that you have all the juicy details, lets get to the question I had for Ms. Winters.
What does the Lil’ Genie series have in store for its readers? What sorts of cats can you let out of the proverbial bag for us?
Sheryl: I am currently writing a short story about Fhina’s cousin, Tessa. While I can’t comment on the plot, I can tell you the earrings Fhina kitty-napped will come back to haunt her. This time it will affect not only Fhina, but Tessa and her bakery as well.
Nice! Looking forward to checking that one out. A huge thanks to you for stopping by for a visit.
If you are interested in learning more about Sheryl Winters or her writing, you can stop by and visit with her at the links listed below her BIO.
About the Author: I never set out to be an author. Only a story teller. Some days I succeed better than others.
Links:
Portals Blog Tour: Top Two Fantasy Movies #Fantasy #NewRelease
Welcome back to the blog.
Today, I have a treat for you all. In getting ready for the Portals tour, the authors and I talked about our favorite fantasy movies and compared notes. Today, I get to share their favorites with you all.
Before I get to their responses, think for a minute about what two fantasy movies you would pick if you have to choose only two favorites.
I’ll share mine once we hear from the amazing Portals authors and I’ve had a chance to share their new release with you all.
Here is what the Portals authors had to say:
Michael Siciliano:
1. The Princess Bride
Vizzini: You fell victim to one of the classic blunders—the most famous of which is, “Never get involved in a land war in Asia”—but only slightly less well-known is this: “Never go against a Sicilian when death is on the line”!
2. Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Minstrel: And Saint Attila raised the hand grenade up on high, saying, ‘O Lord, bless this thy hand grenade, that with it thou mayst blow thine enemies to tiny bits, in thy mercy.’ And the Lord did grin. And the people did feast upon the lambs and sloths, and carp and anchovies, and orangutans and breakfast cereals, and fruit-bats and large chu…
Maynard: Skip a bit, brother…
Minstrel: And the Lord spake, saying, First shalt thou take out the Holy Pin. Then shalt thou count to three, no more, no less. Three shall be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be three. Four shalt thou not count, neither count thou two, excepting that thou then proceed to three. Five is right out! Once the number three, being the third number, be reached, then lobbest thou thy Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch towards thy foe, who, being naughty in my sight, shall snuff it.
Havva Murat:
Pan’s Labyrinth and Stardust
Echo Shea:
“Green Mile” and “From Dusk till Dawn”
Anna Simpson:
Willow (1988) – The only character I saw was Val Kilmer. I had to watch it a few more times before I noticed all the magic, brownies the size of Barbie dolls, a two headed dragon, and a crazy crew of heroes that had no chance of success. Then and now, they are the only kind of heroes worth watching; all facing enormous odds for sake of a child’s life.
DragonHeart (1996) – Sean Connery’s voice did more than a voice-over in this film. I’ve never seen betrayal played better than when David Thewlis. Oh, how I hated him as he broke free from the goodie goodie prince role and became king. What brought them together and what kept them a part made for an outstanding story that still makes me look to the sky with a quivering chin. I do believe in dragons and always will.
Christy Thomas:
My number one Fantasy movie is definitely John Carpenter’s ‘They Live’. Aliens are frightening, but the idea that they could so easily control the world is creepy.
Another favorite is Matrix. Neo had been given the ultimate choice, to see the truth, or remain in the illusion. I would hope I would be courageous enough to take the red pill, but I think there are many people that would be happy to take the blue one because it’s easy to ignore the truth, especially when it’s hard to swallow. (Pun intended)
Laurie Treacy:
Lord of the Rings series and Labyrinth.
* * * *
There are a few listed above I hadn’t even thought of until this came up — two of which I consider on my tops lists… The Princess Bride and Labyrinth
My top two picks (before checking out the others) are:
THE NEVERENDING STORY and THE DARK CRYSTAL — Yes, I did (and still do) have a slight obsession with Muppets and muppet type creatures 🙂
Would love to hear some of your favorites… do you have some that aren’t on the list?
* * * *
Now that you have a bit of an idea of the authors’ taste in fantasy flicks, as well as my own, let’s take a closer look at their new release, PORTALS.
Genre: Fantasy Anthology (mixed sub genres)
Publisher: Roane Publishing
Release Date: June 5, 2014
Keywords: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Sword and Sorcery, Urban Fantasy, Steampunk, Short Stories, Picture Prompt
Description: No matter what world you call home, or what your station in life, there are just some paths that weren’t meant to be tread.
Maronda’s Quest by Christy Thomas
Mexmur, the Huntress by Anna Simpson
Entrance of Lost Souls by Echo Shea
Where Once were Hearts by Havva Murat
Ordinary World by Laurie Treacy
The Lunatic Queen by Michael Siciliano
BUY LINKS:
ROANE PUBLISHING (Print or Digital)
PRINT
Createspace
Amazon
Digital
Amazon
Amazon (UK)
Barnes and Noble
Kobo
Smashwords
Bookstrand
Group Giveaway:
$10 Amazon Gift Card & paperback copy of Portals
Rafflecopter Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/fe3b508/
Or you can click here: a Rafflecopter giveaway
Unholy Matrimony #Blog Tour and #Giveaway – Plus an exclusive #excerpt!
Welcome to my stop on the Unholy Matrimony Blog Tour. 🙂
I’ll be sharing a short excerpt from the story with you, as soon as I give you all the details on Sonny Zae’s latest release.
Unholy Matrimony
The Adventures of Sonny the Scoundrel
by Sonny Zae
Genre: Fantasy Adventure/Romance; Humor
Keywords: Fantasy, Romantic Comedy, Adventure, Fairy Tale
Publisher: Roane Publishing
Description: Sonny is so handsome, he doesn’t need magic to get what he wants, except when he gets into trouble. And, he’ll do anything for love or money, except work. So, the thought of marriage represents the worst of all possible worlds, a danger he avoids at all costs.
His plans for getting rich the easy way—by stealing—go awry when he meets Ariella. She is not only lovely to look at, but just may be as slippery and greedy as he. Better still, she becomes highly stimulated at the prospect of helping him hijack a treasure.
But, in addition to helping him steal “goald”, the cunning Ariella might just steal his scoundrel heart.
Buy Links:
Roane Publishing
Amazon
Amazon UK
Barnes and Noble
KOBO
Smashwords
Bookstrand
Excerpt (#4)
“Why do you hate me?” I gasped.
“Hate you? Why, Sonny, dear, what makes you think I have anything in my heart for you except love—lust and love?” She leaned over my bare back and traced a fingernail up and over the curve of my rump, with her nail slicing open my skin, stretched tight as it was by the knotting of my leg muscles. “Is this not what you secretly desired? I shall hurt you in the most delicious ways, cause you to ache and throb all over, then give you the release you so fervently desire. Your cries of pleasure shall rip the very leaves off the trees, leaving a vast circle of barren branches around us, as if autumn had arrived very, very early.”
“Oh, yes, go on,” I urged, having difficulty in getting out the words. “Defoliate me!”
But Ariella paused, with one hand squeezing my right butt cheek like a great owl seizing a plump woodchuck, with only the tips of her sleek talons piercing my tender flesh. “What could I have done to give you even the slightest thought that I might dislike you?”
“What do you mean?” I hissed through clenched teeth, a string of drool stretching from my lips to the ground. “You drugged me and had me thrown into the stocks! You slipped enough potion into my ale to kill a wild stallion.”
“You have it wrong,” Ariella declared. “The only thing I added to your ale was a handful of crushed ever-ready leaf. It gives a man extraordinary … potency.” She gave me another squeeze as she talked, admiring the effect of the medicine. “I have long known of its power.”
“Do you have any more?”
“More?” She snorted in amusement. “I have a whole garden of ever-ready leaf.”
* * *
To help celebrate the release and blog tour, Roane Publishing is offering a giveaway of a $10 Amazon gift card and and e-Copy of Unholy Matrimony. To enter for your chance to win, click the link below.
Love’s Sorrow Blog Tour and Exclusive Excerpt! Oh, and a #giveaway. #HistoricalRomance #NewRelease #MeansofMercy @TerriRochenski
Welcome to my stop on the Love’s Sorrow blog tour. Always glad to have visitors. *grins* Today, not only do I have an exclusive excerpt for you from the first chapter of Love’s Sorrow, I also have a great giveaway to tell you about when I’m done, so make sure to stay tuned for that.
For the moment, let’s get you acquainted with the first story in Terri Rochenski’s historical romance “Means of Mercy” series.
Title: Love’s Sorrow (Means of Mercy #1)
Author: Terri Rochenski
Publisher: Roane Publishing
Release Date: April 21, 2014
Keywords: Sweet, Historical Romance
Blurb: Hired as a nanny for her cousin’s children, Anne Tearle finds security and a loving family. The children are a dream, but London society is a world of its own, one where a displaced farm girl has no business being. But, wealthy rake, Gavin MacKay, helps her to see associating with the upper class might not be as horrid as she first assumed.
Like all things worthwhile, love comes at a price, and the cost soon bestows more anguish than joy. Lost, but not undone, Anne must find the courage to begin life anew, or succumb to sorrow’s unrelenting waves of grief.
BUY LINKS
Print
Roane Publishing | Createspace | Amazon
eBook
Roane Publishing | Amazon | Barnes and Noble
Kobo | Bookstrand | Smashwords
Apple (iTunes/iBooks)
Now, I believe I promise you all an excerpt. I think I’ve teased you long enough.
Excerpt #5 – Love’ Sorrow
Joanna poured the steaming liquid into fragile teacups. “So Anne—” she passed me one of the cups “—Uncle Edward told me a little about you, but I would be delighted to hear your story from your own lips, if you don’t mind indulging my curiosity.”
I hesitated before taking a sip of the hot tea. The delicate china felt foreign in my ungainly and hardened grip. “Where shall I begin?”
“Wherever you like.” Joanna sat back in her chair, her smooth, white hands holding the cup and saucer with dainty ease.
“Would you care to know about how I came to live with Uncle?”
She nodded and swallowed a sip of tea. “Yes, please.”
I was thankful the story I began with was not a memory of my own, but one shared with me when I was old enough to understand. Both my parents perished in the fire that destroyed their bakery near Wolverhampton. My mother dropped me from the first floor window to a man below moments before the burning floor fell from beneath her. It was her brother, Uncle Edward, who caught me.
I accounted for sixteen of the eighteen years I lived on Uncle Edward’s farm in the Black Country—of my small pallet in the loft above the pantry, the kitchen I spent most of my time in, and the various chores expected of me. For love of Uncle, I made sure to keep my degrading thoughts of Aunt Martha to myself.
I described my studies and the tuition I had with Mrs. Littleton for eight years. I finished my story with the arrival of Joanna’s letter which brought so much joy to my life.
Uncle Edward had handed the parchment to me saying his wife didn’t know of the correspondence and instructed me to keep the contents a secret as well. I couldn’t imagine the misery I would have experienced if Aunt Martha hadknown I was leaving for London two weeks later.
She always reminded me I was an unwanted, bloody useless orphan—she should have been happy to see me gone, but I could hoe more rows of potatoes and cabbage in a day than either Mary or her two lazy brothers could in a week. I expected poor Uncle Edward heard a fair share of profanity when his wife woke and found me absent from their home.
“It really is a shame that I am just now making your acquaintance.” Joanna poured herself another cup. “I’m not sure if you knew, but my late father and Aunt Martha had a falling out of sorts while they were still children, and stopped speaking to each other not long after.”
I swallowed a sip of tepid tea. “I hadn’t known.”
“Well, their story is lengthy and sad, but if you’d like to hear it?”
“Please.”
“I’ll see if I can shorten it a bit.” She pursed her lips and frowned before launching into the tale explaining how Aunt Martha obtained such an offensive disposition.
Good, right? I honestly loved this novel and can’t wait for November and the release of the next novel in the series, Love’s revenge *wiggle*
As I mentioned at the top of the post, Terri Rochenski and Roane Publishing are offering a sweet giveaway as part of the blog tour – a signed paperback copy of Love’s Sorrow, a swag pack, and a $10 Amazon gift card. Since this is a WordPress blog, I can’t host the rafflecopter code here, so instead, I’ve provided a link to the giveaway below.
Love’s Sorrow Rafflecopter Giveaway
Bio: Terri started writing stories in the 8th grade, when a little gnome whispered in her brain. Gundi’s Great Adventure never hit the best seller list, but it started a long love affair with storytelling.
Today she enjoys an escape to Middle Earth during the rare ‘me’ moments her three young children allow. When not playing toys, picking them back up, or kissing boo-boos, she can be found sprawled on the couch with a book or pencil in hand, and toothpicks propping her eyelids open.
Ms. Rochenski’s Links:
Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads
Bex Book Nook 