Cover Reveal: One More Christmas by A.M. Willard

Cover Design: MadHat Books

Release Date: December 7, 2016

Synopsis

One More Christmas - One Night Series Holiday Edition

In this companion to the One Night Series, we invite you to join Angela and Logan Black for a Tropical Christmas. This special holiday edition will get the heat turned up a few degrees, and we aren't just talking about the Island's sun. It might just get hot enough to melt the snow all the way back home in New York. Leaving the frigid winter weather and their hectic lives behind, Logan and Angela head to the Islands to celebrate Christmas with their son Graham. What do you give the man who has everything? Something money can't buy... Family. Love. Memories. Special guest appearances from Tabitha and Carter, because what's a Christmas without your favorite glitter girl?

Goodreads

http://bit.ly/2gj9zb9

iBooks

http://apple.co/2dFBaG7

About the Author

International Bestselling Author, A.M. Willard resides in Savannah, Georgia. She joined the Peach State many years ago after leaving the crystal blue waters and sugary white sand behind from the Panhandle of Florida. She's also known for being a wife, mother, and caretaker for her farm animals. A.M. loves anything sassy, glittery, and is a sucker for the Hallmark Channel. That last one might be the reason she believes in soulmates or it could be because she married her high school sweetheart almost twenty years ago.

Connect with A.M. Willard

Newsletter: http://amwillard.com/newsletter/

Facebook Author Page: http://bit.ly/2gHSCep

Facebook Reader Group: http://bit.ly/2cvozRF

Goodreads Author Page: http://bit.ly/2f4bsLD

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AMWillard1

Instagram: http://bit.ly/2gdDyA6

Website: http://amwillard.com/

Author Interview: Shatrujeet Nath

About the Author:

Door-to-door salesman, copywriter, business journalist and assistant editor at the Economic Times, Shatrujeet Nath was all this before he took to writing fiction full-time. He debuted with the Karachi Deception in 2013, followed by the Guardians of the Halahala and the Conspiracy at Meru, the first two books in the Vikramaditya series. At present, he is writing volume three of the series. Shatrujeet lives in Mumbai, but spends much of his time in the fantasy worlds of his stories. He can also be found at facebook.com/Shatrujeet Nath.

Interview:

Q. When did you first realize that you wanted to be a writer/ a storyteller?

A. The honest answer to this is, I never wanted to be a storyteller. Or let me say that in my growing years, I never dreamed of being a writer. Ever. As a child, I wanted to be many things… pilot, truck driver, actor… As I grew older, my ambition solidified at wanting to join the Indian Army and become a commando. But being a writer never crossed my mind.

I came to writing quite by accident, when a friend of mine who worked part-time as a copywriter with an ad agency in Cochin introduced me to writing. He read some stuff I had written and said it was good, so I could become a copywriter as well. I did that, and that is how, from copywriting to journalism to now writing fiction, I grew as a writer and storyteller. My growth as a storyteller and writer of long fiction has been evolutionary. I always say writing found me – left to myself, I would never have become a writer.

Q. How did you come up with the idea for your current story?

A. My current series of novels (the Vikramaditya Veergatha series) is the outcome of two unique and independent ideas that had been brewing in my mind for a considerable period of time. This was in 2011-12, just after the manuscript for The Karachi Deception had been accepted for publishing. I was exploring ideas for my next novel, and one of these was on how some of the Halahala (the mythical poison churned by the devas and asuras during the samudramanthan, which Shiva is supposed to have later destroyed) is still intact, and how it is a biological weapon that some evil characters want to possess for world domination, and how the good guys in the book have to stop the Halahala from falling into the wrong hands… It was for a thriller, something along the lines of Dan Brown’s works. However, I wasn’t happy with the plot – it was too gimmicky, too Dan Brown-ish to my liking.

At the same time, I was exploring the possibility of doing a story on the legendary king Vikramaditya and his navratnas as a band of superheroes. But I didn’t have a powerful enough story for them. Both ideas sat side by side in my mind for almost six-eight months before one day, by some inexplicable crossing of mental wires, it occurred to me that I could club these two ideas (or half-ideas) and create a good story. From the moment the thought first struck me, it took me all of 20 minutes to put the broad story arc of the entire series in place. This is the remarkable magic of the creative process.

Q. What question do you wish that someone would ask about your book(s), but nobody has?

A. The question I wish someone would ask is why I chose to make Indra the primary antagonist of the Vikramaditya Veergatha series, instead of someone from the side of the asuras. The answer is fairly simple: The story is about a three-cornered battle between the devas, the asuras and man for control of the Halahala. The story is told from the point of view of the humans, so they are the heroes. The asuras and devas, who want to take the Halahala from Vikramaditya, are the villains. While it would be natural to show the asuras as being evil (and they are), the idea of portraying the devas as being equally wicked and conniving appealed to me. After all, this is the crux of the story, as told to Vikramaditya by Shiva himself when Shiva comes to give the king custody of the Halahala. “…the tyranny of virtue is as unbearable as the stranglehold of vice. And as you will discover for yourself, the devas are not above deceit and viciousness when it comes to getting what they want. So, the question of good triumphing evil doesn’t arise.” From here, the decision to cast the lord of the devas as the chief antagonist was a hop, a skip and a jump away.

Q. What are your current/future projects?

A. I am writing the third book in the Vikramaditya Veergatha series. The Conspiracy at Meru, the second book in the series, came out only in late August this year, but readers have already begun clamoring for the next one. I hope I can bring Book 3 out by the end of 2017 – I don’t want irate readers carrying torches and pitchforks standing outside my drawing room window. After Book 3 is done, I will have to write Book 4, the last of the series. After that? Who knows… readers have been asking for a sequel to The Karachi Deception. Then there is another fantasy idea I am kicked about. There’s a historical fiction I’d like to do… Let us see.

Q. Why did you choose to write in your particular field or genre? If you write more than one, how do you balance them?

A. I am not partial to any genre when it comes to my writing – or my reading for that matter. I quite enjoy a variety of genres, though my recent reading has tilted towards fantasy on account of my writing fantasy. I am more interested in the story than in the genre. I wrote a spy thriller (The Karachi Deception) because that story appealed to me. I am writing a mythology-based fantasy (Vikramaditya Veergatha) because this story excites me. I want to write horror, historical fiction, satire… But what I will write after I am done with the four Vikramaditya books depends on which story idea excites me the most at that point in time.

Juggling between genres can be tricky, but I think the way can be negotiated if one has read enough material in the different genres. It is a question of plugging into the genre conventions of one genre, then plugging out and plugging into the conventions of the other genre. Beyond that, storytelling is ultimately about how much control and mastery you assert over the story and the craft.

Q. Are you traditional or self-published, and what process did you go through to get your book published?

A. I am traditionally published. My first book, The Karachi Deception, was originally published by Grey Oak-Westland (in 2013), and has since been republished by Rupa Publications (in 2016). The Vikramaditya books are being published by Jaico Books. The process that I went through to get originally published was to reach out to an agent. I got in touch with three agents – one never wrote back to me; one sent me a mail telling me what their “professional editing charges” were. I doubt the second one even looked at my one-page synopsis and three sample chapters. The third agent I got in touch with was Kanishka Gupta of Writers’ Side. He took me on within two hours of seeing my first email, and placed The Karachi Deception within 30 days of agreeing to represent me. He continues to be my agent.

I have heard that there are a lot of options available today to writers who want to self-publish. I have also heard nightmare stories of authors being sucked to the marrow by some so-called self-publishing houses. I have also heard – and hold your breath here! – that an established and respected traditional publisher asked an aspiring author to shell out some funds to get her manuscript published! I don’t know how far these stories are true, but I would urge great caution. I know how desperate first-time authors are to get their manuscripts and stories out – I had contemplated self-publishing when the first few rejections for The Karachi Deception came in. But please, please do be careful whom you give your manuscript (and rights) to. The desire to see your book on shelves is fine, but if you go with a publisher who won’t guarantee you visibility on as many bookshelves as possible, you are only killing your chances of being discovered by readers. And that is never going to help you become an established author with steady sales (forget bestseller status for the moment, please). So choose wisely.

Q. Do you believe there is value in a review? Do you believe they are under rated, over rated, or don’t matter at all?

A. The value of a review is proportional to the value you attach to the review. A reader might read a negative review and still go out and purchase the book because he or she is intrigued enough to read it. Inversely, a reader might read a glowing review, and might add the book to her wish-list, but never end up reading it. How many times has this happened to us – it’s happened to me quite often. Does this mean the review is useless? Not at all. The review served its purpose in helping the reader make a decision over whether the book interests her or not. And that is the function of a review: helping readers decide whether they want to read a book or not, watch a movie or not. The book reviewer or critic’s opinion of the book is not God’s voice.

I believe that creators of content (authors, filmmakers etc.) attach far more importance to reviews than the lay reader / movie-goer does. This is natural – for the creator, his creation is his life’s purpose; for the reader or movie-goer, that creation is entertainment, a short diversion from the cares of life. So we feel elated when we get great reviews, and despondent when we net bad ones. Reviews are like post-Trump era democracy for liberals – you can expect the best all you like, but be prepared to accept the worst as well.

Q. What is your biggest fear about having a book published?

A. Rejection. The fear that one-third of the way into the book, readers will frown and say ‘This is just trash’ and throw the book aside for another.

Q. What makes a good story, why?

A. I don’t think anyone has been able to deconstruct a story and see what makes it good, mediocre or bad. That is because there are just too many factors and variables at play in a story – language, pacing, drama, characterization, tempo, narrative structure, style, depth and perceptiveness, universality and resonance of theme… these are some of the broad ones. And then the most unfactorable factor of them all, the reader himself. Every reader comes to a book with his own unique set of experiences and expectations, so every reader reads a different book and takes away a different story. In fact, I sometimes wonder if stories are not in books at all, but instead are entirely inside readers’ minds, and books are merely keys to unlock these stories in their minds. How else can we explain this bizarre phenomenon where the same book is loved by one set of readers while being reviled by another. It is the same book – what is different is the reader.

Q. Do you read your reviews? Do you respond to them, good or bad? Do you have any advice on how to deal with the bad?

A. Indeed, I do read all the reviews that my books fetch. Reviews from friends, reviews from bloggers… but the reviews that I care most about are the ones from readers who don’t know me, and hence own me nothing. They have invested their time and money on my book in the hope that I will keep them entertained and enthralled. The book is the only thing that links me to them – no shared past or present or future. The book is the only contract between us, so their opinion of it is paramount to me. As a rule, I do not respond to reviews unless they have been addressed to me by name. If the review is a good one, I usually click the ‘like’ button. If the review is poor, I ignore it. That is the only way of dealing with a bad review, I believe. What else can one do? You can’t take the criticism to heart, you can’t – mustn’t – rant a retort, you can’t sulk. So just ignore it. In a day or two, it won’t hurt that much. In a month, not at all.

Q. What is the easiest/hardest scene for you to write, why? (Love, action, fight, death, racy, controversial, etc.)

A. There are no easy scenes. Every scene is hard, especially if you want to make it stand out, especially when you want to steer clear of clichés. Doing anything that demands originality is hard and painful. The thing about writing is that when it looks easy to the eye, you can bet it took many rounds of patient crafting to achieve the ‘easiness’ that the eye perceives.

Q. What would you like to write about that you have never written about before?

A. Erotica. The fine line between erotica and pornography is an enchantment and a challenge. One day I hope to walk it.

Q. Were your characters based off real life people/events or did you make it all up?

A. In The Karachi Deception, all my characters were fictitious, whereas in the Vikramaditya series, Vikramaditya and his navratnas are supposed to have been real people. But the point really is whether the characters authors create are entirely fictitious, or whether they are clever facsimiles from the author’s life. I believe every character is a bit of someone the author knows or has met in passing. This could be a friend, a familiar stranger, a teacher from childhood, some distant cousin, a nodding acquaintance in office… This borrowing may not even be conscious, or it might just be one aspect of the character. Height, build, baldness, manner of speech, an idiosyncrasy… I admit that in my books, characters have bits and pieces of people I know.

Q. What are the most important elements of good writing? According to you, what tools are must-haves for writers?

A. A vivid imagination; a perceptive and sympathetic mind; a basic understanding of human nature; the ability to draw the reader into a make-believe world and suspend the reader’s disbelief; to my mind, these are the most important elements of good writing. Among the must-have tool are a good understanding of pacing and narrative structure, basic knowledge of grammar and punctuation, and a bag of happy surprises for the reader.

Q. What is your most/least favorite part of the writing process, why?

A. The part that I love the most is building the basic story, main sub-plots and primary characters around the core story idea / premise. This is in the very early stages of story development, where, once the story’s premise has been put in place, the challenge of spinning the whole thing into a cohesive storyline kicks in. Here is where the idea really starts taking wing as we see plotlines emerge, characters define themselves and conflicts rear up like rattlesnakes. This is the stage where we are at our most god-like, painting the big picture in broad and bold strokes. This is so much fun.

The least favourite part comes right after, when I have to sit down and start hammering it all out. I know that is going to drain me of everything that I have, so I keep dodging and delaying. As a result, the work doesn’t get done and that frustrates me. I really hate this part. This is the part between ideation and writing, that horrible no-man’s land of uncertainty and procrastination. There is only one way of overcoming this phase, and that is to sit down and start writing – it sounds easy said that way, but for me it is hard. Once I actually start writing though, I am back to being a child in Disneyland.

Q. Do you read? Who are your favourite authors and how have they influenced your writing style?

A. I have a long list of favourite authors, and that list keeps growing as I discover newer authors. Right now, in fact, I am in the midst of reading Promise of Blood by Brian McClellan. I had never heard of him till a few weeks ago, and I am already in love with his writing. Other relatively recent discoveries include Joe Abercrombie, Paolo Bacigalupi, Gillian Flynn, Scott Lynch, Robin Hobb, Peter James, Bernard Cornwell and Keigo Higashino. I think Suzanne Collins is amazing. Among those I discovered a few years ago, I rate China Mieville, Mario Vargas Llosa and Conn Iggulden highly. Old favourites include Frederick Forsyth, John le Carre, Stephen King, Tolkien, Bill Watterson, Alan Moore, Dan Simmons, Isaac Asimov, Jules Verne, Jack Vance… I am sure I am missing a dozen names here.

It is hard to say how they have influenced my writing style. While writing The Karachi Deception, I often wondered how Forsyth would write the scene I had in mind, and then I would try and write it the way I thought he would have written it. Very presumptuous of me to even pretend to have decoded Forsyth’s style, but that is how I moved from scene to scene, chapter to chapter, till I finished writing the book. The end product I had produced might be chalk to Forsyth’s cheese, but he inspired me to complete the book. I guess that was his influence.

Q. What is the best piece of advice you have received, as a writer, till date?

A. The best piece of writing advice I can think of comes from Kurt Vonnegut, who says: “Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water.” His point is that when characters want something, it means they have an agenda and will chase that agenda to the best of their abilities. When this happens, characters are bound to cross one another’s paths and step on one another’s toes, which will create conflict. Now conflict is the key to good drama – and good drama is the bedrock of good fiction.

Q. What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?

A. Choose the story you want to write wisely as it is something that you will be stuck with for the next one-to-three years. The story should be something that sustains your interest and your passion over long periods of time.

Q. Tell us three fun facts about yourself/ your book.

A. (a) In the first draft of The Karachi Deception, the last scene had Major Imtiaz Ahmed, the book’s hero, having breakfast with his wife at Wildflower Hall in Shimla. This was the only allusion to him having a wife, but as the scene never made it to the final draft, readers of the book never get to learn about Imtiaz’s marital status.

(b) The original title of The Karachi Deception was “Project Abhimanyu”. The name was changed at the last minute when a friend of mine pointed out that Project Abhimanyu didn’t suggest a spy thriller. I then used Robert Ludlum’s naming technique to pick The Karachi Deception.

(c) In The Guardians of the Halahala, the scene where Amara Simha beheads a corpse to force a confession out of a captured Huna scout is loosely inspired from a scene in Brian De Palma’s gangster epic, The Untouchables, which is one of my all-time favourite movies.

Books by the Author:

Thank you, Mr Nath for this amazing interview! I wish you success for all your future works. Keep writing!

Book Review: All Signs Lead Back To You by Aniesha Brahma

Title: All Signs Lead Back To You

Author: Aniesha Brahma

Publisher: Bee Books

Review:

When Diya and Ashwin part ways, Diya is understandably apprehensive — and doesn’t want to get hurt by Ashwin. Is she an emotionally constipated girl? Of course not! She’s just the opposite. She’s way too sensitive for her own good. No wonder then that she, like many of her real-life contemporaries, believes being hopeful is just a big setup for disappointment. So she does what anybody else in her shoes would have done. She becomes the queen of pushing people away, and leaves behind a budding high school romance. 

I like the way ‘All Signs Lead Back To You’ progresses. The narrative alternates between the past and present that includes compelling character histories. The characters are as interesting and fully formed as the premise. The language is simple yet full of warmth. Aniesha has dexterously woven a web of emotions into her novel. There’s love definitely, since it’s a romance, but we also come across a multitude of other emotions like jealousy, ego, etc. Then there are different kinds of love — love between couples and love between friends. The latter is what makes the book stand out among the others in a similar category. The ending is appropriate for life is never actually about perfectly tied endings, isn’t it?

Girls in need of emotional comfort should find this novel satisfying.

 Buy Link:

Amazon

About the Author:

Aniesha Brahma is an author who realized her passion for writing at the tender age of six. She also happens to be the social media manager for BEE Books. Her debut novel, The Secret Proposal (2012) was published by General Press and was followed by When Our Worlds Collide (2015) by the same. She blogs at: www.anieshabrahma.com and runs an online magazine, BUZZ Magazine (www.buzzmagazine.in). She can be contacted at: aniesha.brahma@gmail.com. She lives in Kolkata with her family and her five super adorable cats! 

I'd like to thank the author for letting me review the book. I do hope you end up liking the book when you read it. Thank you so much for stopping by, and happy reading! 

Blog Tour - Deceiving Bella by Cate Beauman

Ethan Cooke Security and their bodyguard team return to action in Deceiving Bella – book eleven in Cate Beauman’s Bodyguards of L.A. County series.

With over 7700 reviews and a 4.4 rating for the entire series, see why the Bodyguards of L.A. County is a multi-award winning series.

Buy It Now!

Amazon | Kobo | Nook | iBooks

New to the series? No problem! Each book in the “Bodyguards” series is a stand-alone title. Although reading the books in order is preferred, it is not necessary.  Each title features brand new primary characters and limited overlapping secondary characters.  Don’t hesitate to jump right in!

Isabella Colby has always yearned for normalcy. Now that she’s settled in LA, she finally has it. Good friends, a pretty home, and her thriving career as the Palisades’ top skincare specialist are a dream come true. Bella is content until she meets her hunky new neighbor, but her attraction to the blue-eyed cutie is the least of her worries when contacting her long-lost father threatens to destroy her happy life.

Reed McKinley is more than ready to forget the past. His seven-year stint as an NYPD detective nearly got him killed. His wounds have healed and he’s starting over as Ethan Cooke Security’s latest recruit. With sixty-hour workweeks and little time to himself, the last thing on his mind is a relationship. Then he bumps into the gorgeous woman next door.

Reed and Bella become fast friends. Before long, Reed discovers that Bella is keeping dangerous secrets. Bella may have the answers to decades-old questions he’s been searching for. Reed will risk it all to uncover the truth, but he soon realizes that the deeper he digs, the direr the consequences.

The Inspiration Behind Deceiving Bella:

I must admit that one of my most favorite parts of the writing process is figuring out who my characters are going to be. Typically, I have vague ideas but as I start the storytelling process, my heroes and heroines evolve and grow until I can visualize them as living, breathing people. I always begin with character sketches, giving each central figure in the story a life that starts with their birth and takes them to the present day. It’s vital to know who they are and how they tick (the experiences that make them exactly who they are when my readers meet them). For Deceiving Bella, I thought it would be fun to share an adventure where the hero and heroine have absolutely nothing in common (or so it seems). Despite Reed and Bella’s differences, they make a great team. I hope you enjoy their story.

Read an excerpt from Deceiving Bella:

They kept a slow pace, strolling in silence as the breeze plastered their clothes to their bodies and the constant sound of waves hypnotized, lulling Reed into relaxing by degrees.

“Thanks for coming with me tonight. It’s nice having company.”

He looked at Bella, staring at the fading light playing off her eyes. “The water smells better than a bunch of sweaty guys.”

“Your gym.” Her brow creased ever so slightly as she held his gaze. “What do you do for fun?”

“Work and box.”

“Sounds…like a good time.”

“I like it.”

“Do you smile?”

He frowned. “Huh?”

“I was wondering if you ever smile—or laugh. I haven’t seen you do either since we met.”

He sent her an exaggerated grin.

She laughed.

He smiled for real this time, finding her laughter infectious.

“You do smile. I wasn’t sure if you had some sort of facial paralysis we hadn’t discussed yet.”

He grinned.

“You should do that more often.” She hooked her arm through his.

He almost missed a step as the warmth of her skin met his, surprised by her casual gesture. He wasn’t used to people being so touchy-feely. “I do it plenty.”

“I’ll have to take your word for it.”

How was it possible she smelled even better now that they stood so close? It had to be her hair. “I don’t know what to say to that.”

She stopped abruptly. “Are you seeing anyone?”

He studied her, not sure that he liked where this was going. “No. You interested?”

She shook her head. “You’re not really my type.”

He tried to ignore the direct hit to his ego. “You’re not mine either.”

Another smile warmed her face. “I think we could be great friends, and I like projects—love them, actually.”

His frown returned. “And that means…”

“It means I like you. And I love that you don’t seem to have any interest in getting into my pants.”

Years of concealing any and all facial expressions kept his eyes from popping wide. “Wow.” He ran his hand through his hair, speechless once again. “Okay.”

She laughed. “I’m a big fan of honesty—putting it right out there.”

He chuckled as he settled his sunglasses on top of his head. “Clearly.”

They started walking again.

“There’s something about you that feels…safe.”

He raised his brow, taken aback. He’d been called many things, but this was a first. “Safe?”

She nodded. “Safe. It’s a good thing, but you’re pretty serious. We need to lighten you up. You need to play more.”

“I play plenty. I box.”

She scoffed, “Beating someone’s face in can’t lead you down the road to happiness.”

Her side brushed his with every step. He imagined he should ease away, break their connection, but he liked the way she felt, that she trusted him. “There’s more to boxing than beating someone’s face in.”

She looked at him as if she wasn’t so sure.

“I’ll have to show you—” He glanced over his shoulder when he realized they hadn’t seen Lucy for a while and laughed as the dog lay on her back in the sand with her front paws in the air. “What is she doing?”

“Sunbathing.”

He laughed again, shaking his head. “I’ve never seen anything like that.” His eyes met Bella’s as she stared at him. “What?”

“You have a great laugh.”

To his surprise, he was having a great time. It shocked him further that he liked Bella as much as she seemed to like him. Being here with her was exactly what he’d needed. “How long do you want to stay?”

“The sun sets soon. It’s the best part.”

The sand wasn’t bothering him much, and he couldn’t remember the last time his shoulders felt so loose. “I don’t have a blanket.”

“We can sit on our shoes.” She tossed hers down. “We can plunk ourselves right here.”

Lucy rolled to her side, stood, and ran their way.

He shrugged, dropping his flip-flops to the ground. “I guess this is as good a place as any.”

“It’ll be spectacular.” She took his hand, pulling him down next to her. “You won’t regret it.”

“We’ll have to remember a blanket next time.”

She smiled. “You want to come back?”

He stared ahead, petting Lucy when she curled up next to him, breathing in Bella with each inhalation. “I could see myself doing this again.”

She gave his shoulder a bump. “Good. You can be my beach buddy.”

He nodded, liking the idea. “Yeah, sure.”

“Great.”

“Great.” He crossed his ankles in the sand, his foot brushing Bella’s as they settled in to enjoy the show. It had been too damn long since he watched a sunset.

Did you enjoy the excerpt?  You can read the first chapter on my website, www.catebeauman.com, or you can finish the whole book with the links below!

Amazon | Kobo | Nook | iBooks

About the author:

International bestselling author Cate Beauman is known for her full-length, action-packed romantic suspense series, The Bodyguards of L.A. County. Her novels have been nominated for the National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award, National Indie Excellence Award, Golden Quill Award, Writers Touch Award, and have been named Readers Favorite Five Star books. In 2015, JUSTICE FOR ABBY was selected as the Readers' Favorite International Book Award Gold Medalist, while SAVING SOPHIE took the Silver Medal. SAVING SOPHIE was also selected as the 2015 Readers Crown Award winner for Romantic Suspense and FALLING FOR SARAH received the silver medal for the 2014 Readers' Favorite Awards.

Cate makes her home in North Carolina with her husband, two boys, and their St. Bernards, Bear and Jack. Currently Cate is working on her twelfth full length romantic suspense novel.

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Blog Tour: Winter Lites by Various

Winter Lites: A Collection of Seasoned Tales

Presented by Lavish Publishing

By Samantha Jacobey, Annie Rose Welch, R.A. Carter-Squire, Desiree L. Scott, M.L. Steinbrunn, A.J. Nicky Hjort, L.A. Remenicky, Anita Cox

This fall and winter season, Lavish Publishing is proud to bring together five of our new and established authors along with a few of their friends to present Winter Lites: A Collection of Seasoned Tales.

Inside this boxed set of novellas, eight special journeys await – all clean reads, ranging from love stories to paranormal thrillers. Each is told in the authors' unique voice, all are professionally edited and proofed, and only available in this special bundle for the 2016 holiday season.

❄

Buy Links:

US Amazon: http://amzn.to/2eUjvp8

Universal Link: https://books2read.com/u/m0zloW

❄

This set includes:

The Binding ~ Samantha Jacobey

One cursed diary will change two strangers forever...

Merideth Monroe was born to a wealthy politician; luxury was her middle name. The happiest childhood, the finest schools, and landing her dream career; her future couldn’t have been brighter. She didn’t care that her mother wanted a different path for her; but when her mother is murdered and she appears to be next, nothing in her flawless life will matter.

Rider Bradshaw lived a carefree existence. Ex-military, he only wanted out of his family’s shaded history and chose to leave the sins of their past behind. However, when a girl he’s never heard of is placed in his charge by his father, protecting her becomes his obsession and keeping her safe his only reality.

Can Meri and Rider use her mother’s old book to figure out why someone is after them? Or will the guilty party succeed, ripping the tome away before killing them and then slithering back into the darkness…

About the Author:

Anyone who knows me could tell you, I am a friendly kind of person, never met a stranger and take up conversations anywhere at any time. I work hard, and my mind never seems to shut down, as I wake up often in the middle of the night with ideas pouring out and demanding to be dealt with. Of course that means much of my books were written in the middle of the night.

I grew up and still live in the great state of Texas where everything is bigger, where we have warm weather and a central location. I love my state, my town, and my family, which includes my four sons, my significant other, and many friends as well.

I have thoroughly enjoyed writing the books that are currently available and hope you will enjoy reading them just as much. And of course, there will be many more stories to come.

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Hazel Darling: Sweetest Sister ~ Annie Rose Welch

A pinch of a sordid past.

A dash of vices.

A heaping handful of sisters.

A bit of faith.

And a lot of baking.

Stir it all together somewhere new, somewhere like Carmel, California.

Hazel Little Darling is hoping this is a recipe for a new start. Hazel is banking on a life full of flour, sugar, butter, and fairytales to make all her dreams come true. A life far removed from the one she had been living—a life of secrets with her infamous gang of sisters. She swears off excess food, drinks, pills, and, boys, all in hopes of living the “good life.”

California brings the mysterious Tobias Jameson, who seems to materialize in the still of the night. Their fated rendezvous under the stars is a short one, leaving Hazel to draw her own conclusions about what exactly transpired between two passing souls. After their meeting, Hazel’s sure that she’ll never again see the handsome man who seemed to understand her without truly knowing her. Tobias has other plans, though, and he fights for a place in Hazel’s life— something Hazel has never experienced before and that makes her trust him even less. So when Hazel’s history is brought to light, she’s not sure whether her past will steal her happily ever after, or become the foundation of her life’s greatest recipe.

Her sweetest remedy, or nothing but a bitter goodbye.

About the Author:

Born and raised in New Orleans, Annie has a habit of shortening her words and telling long stories. She speaks with a southern flair and cooks with it too. At the tender age of twenty- one, she hitched up her wagons (took her first plane ride) and moved out west to the big shake (California).

Her passion for writing began one sleepless night when she imagined a gorgeous woman and a man with maniacal hair floating above her like lightening bugs falling from the sky. Curious about them, their story, and why they were floating around in her head, she sat down and penned (typed) her first novel, Marigny Street. A dream come true for her, she hasn't stopped writing since. She loves a damn good love story, always has, no matter what the genre. She is particularly moved by imperfect love that in its own unique way is perfect, the notion of love at first sight, soulmates, and things that are generally out of the norm.

When she's not writing she enjoys dabbling in photography and finding new, inspirational music to add to her collection. Deciding on a whim to hitch up those same wagons, Annie currently resides in Texas (where everything is bigger) with her husband, daughter, and their two peculiar dogs, Boudreaux and Tabasco (who, call her crazy, bark with an accent).

For lagniappe (a little extra), a virtual cup of café au lait and beignets, please visit Annie's website:

www.annierosewelch.com

She can also be found on Facebook & Twitter.

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Dirty Old Man ~ R.A.Carter-Squire

Roy Corwin, a simple man, widower, retired. A long life lived with a purpose, but don’t ever call him a Dirty Old Man.

Roy loved Halloween. He treated it as the most special night of the year, next to Christmas Eve. Decorations, spooky stories, kids dressed as ghosts and goblins running from house to house collecting enough candy to satisfy any sweet tooth for a year. That’s what he thought until this year.

Roy, a decorated Vietnam veteran, lives alone in his childhood home in a neighborhood where the only other occupied house belongs to a drug lord.

Two foes united by differing memories of Halloween, a visit from a lost friend. Years, of savagery in the jungles of a foreign country, struggling with the loss of his wife, and living with the stigma of a slanderous dark story from his past, have pushed him to the brink on this All Hallows Eve. Roy is taking back his self-respect.

About the Author:

Mr. Carter-Squire likes to write what he enjoys reading...thriller/mystery/horror. He's had the pleasure of reading most authors in these genres, from Doyle to Grisham, from Poe to King and everyone in between. The story is what compels him to read and continue reading. That's his plan when he writes and continues to develop his abilities to give you the reader, the best possible story to entertain you. Mr. Carter-Squire has achieved a top ten placement in the Horror Fans Fiction Appreciation competition. Competed in the World's Best Fiction competition and received a top 200 placing. Rick's work is supported by his amazing wife and family, because they are his first audience.

Please be kind and leave a review for any books you read. They help an author improve and gives them a sense of accomplishment. We write for our readers.

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Stranded on Vail Mountain ~ Desiree L. Scott

Stranded on Vail Mountain blurb

It was supposed to be a vacation, a time to save her marriage, but what Joan Clayton hadn’t counted on was Murphy’s Law of Vail Mountain and the secrets that had damaged her marriage beyond repair. It was over. Depressed and angry, she decided to venture directly into an oncoming snowstorm, one that would be known as the blizzard of the century.

Stephen Brockheart received the call concerning a missing tourist after working 26 hours straight. A park ranger for the mountain resort, he set out on the routine mission, knowing he was running out of time as the blizzard hit with visibility zero. What he hadn’t counted on was saving a beautiful woman and falling for her, a city girl who knew nothing about the dangers of the mountain. He had been there before and vowed never to return.

As Mother Nature raged, Joan was soon overcome by the feelings a complete stranger evoked in her, causing her to reevaluate her own life. Through the blizzard and stranded at the resort, death was imminent for any who would try to leave. Despite loss and secrets, can two people find love and happiness again?

Can they be given a second chance to make it real and lasting, or will that chance die with them?

About the Author:

Desiree L. Scott has been writing since she was sixteen years old. There have been many influences within her life that has set her on the path that she cannot help but walk. A few of those influences consist of Karen Rose, Lisa Gardener, Nora Roberts, Cynthia Eden, Catherine Anderson, Laura Griffin, Andrea Kane, and Lisa Jackson, just to name a few. This list by no means defines my own writing but they have indeed influenced her desire to live outside of her own world and to create the thrill of her dreams.

Desiree lives on 40 + acres in the SHOW ME state with her ten-year old daughter, with the wonderful addition of four dogs. The weather is unpredictable, but the surrounding beauty of the country helps her creativity as she sits on her top deck with her laptop and coffee close by. There is one incident that will always remain with her that really affected her determination on writing and she would love to share it with her readers......

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When I was eighteen years old, I had written ten VERY well-known authors, a few being Julie Garwood and Nora Roberts, just to name a few. Now keep in mind, I wrote a very long letter, asking for advice on writing and so forth. My letter was more gushing than anything else but still, ONE author wrote me back! By hand no less.

Her name was Andrea Kane, a suspense writer who crafts the most amazing stories and plots. But because of that one small act of kindness, she not only has my respect as an author but as a wonderful person who took the time to let me know about a few organizations and to wish me luck in my goals and ambitions through life. It meant the world to an eighteen year old girl and still does, as I have gotten older and continued my dream.

I hope that I make one small impact in the world at large and to readers, even if it's small. I have so many reasons to be blessed in life and hope that I never take those for granted. The support has been amazing and for that, I will never forget where I have come from, the struggles I have endured, and the blessings that I have been gifted with. Thank you all so very much!!

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Revelations: A Redemption Series Novella ~ M.L. Steinbrunn

I’m the princess of spin, an up-and-coming star on my way to becoming the best in the advertising business. I can make your company, your product, you, irresistible. The suits bend to my will; I sip their insecurities with my morning latte.

But then one serendipitous moment, one perfect stranger, turned my world upside down.

Nash Phillips waltzed into my office and managed to twist me into a knotted mess. The job was all I needed, now he's all I crave. But having him isn't that simple.

The truth is supposed to be easy, pure, even refreshing. However, in our business of half-truths and twisted realities, will our attraction survive the revelations of our true reality?

About the Author:

My name is M.L. Steinbrunn and I am a young adult and contemporary romance author. My work includes the popular Redemption Series and a young adult series, which includes my new release, A Beholden Heart.

In addition to writing, I work full-time as a high school educator and coach in rural Colorado where my husband and I are raising our four young children. Through education I have enjoyed guiding others on their paths and helping students build their own stories. After countless evenings of discussing story ideas, it was my husband who encouraged me to follow my own path of self-publishing.

I want to send a huge thank you to those who have been overwhelmingly supportive of this journey.

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Where Tyndra Turns To Ardnyt ~ A. Nicky Hjort

In the center of a magical world there grows a beautiful and terrible chasm of climbing plants. On one side of the Ivy Wall we find the hell-of-Tyndra, on the other, the heaven-of-Ardnyt. But legend has it that in the middle…lives a preternatural beast that imprisons and tortures the children from both sides.

When the war against time begins, Azza will have to cross over the Ivy Wall, something that has never been done before by a living being. But if she does make it through, she just might discover who she really is and how she became trapped in this alternate reality.

A fairytale at heart, this is the first chapter in the epic saga of the youngest and most fickle of the four Norn Sisters. The same feisty immortal creature who must escape her inherent inner darkness to learn the meaning of love.

A veritable palindrome from start to finish, the narrative of Where Tyndra Turns to Ardnyt journeys through duality to discover what shocking truths emerge when up becomes down, life becomes death, suffering becomes release, and the most unexpected endings become the most surprising beginnings.

Welcome to a place where forwards and backwards are exactly the same direction. Here Where Tyndra Turns to Ardnyt.

About the Author:

A. Nicky Hjort is originally from Arlington, Texas- the second of five siblings, all of whom have strong creative talents. She currently lives in coastal central California where she practices medicine as an Ob/GYN. In between being a lovingly devoted mother and delivering babies, she writes stories that cross multiple genre lines- from Sci Fi to high fantasy, but all of her stories have thriller and strong romantic components. And for her clever reader, all of her manuscripts are subtly connected to each other, with their purpose to explore all facets of Love and Light. She likes to say that her stories write themselves, and in the process, often write her, or at least the next version of her hoping to emerge. A lover of all the arts, A. Nicky Hjort hopes her stories might inspire you to find your inner creative genius.

Connect with her on FB at https://m.facebook.com/Author.A.N.Hjort, Twitter at @A_NickyHjort, or Goodreads under A.Nicky Hjort

Her website is www.ANickyHjortBooks.com

She thanks you for your attention to her work.

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Love On The Double ~ Loving Jessie's Girl ~ L.A. Remenicky

Until AJ Monroe left Indiana after college he had always lived in his identical twin brother’s shadow. He had made a life for himself in Denver, Colorado, away from Jessie, away from Indiana. But when AJ feared for his brother's safety, he left everything behind to step back into the shadow he thought he had outgrown. Finding his brother was AJ's only concern...until he met Jessie's girl.

Fiercely independent, Rina Abbot hid her true situation from everyone, including her best friend, Jessie. Out of money and unable to care for her rescue dogs she had no choice but to accept the help of the handsome stranger with a familiar face. Afraid to trust him, she tried to ignore the feelings he stirred within her as they searched for his missing brother.

But secrets never stay secrets for long. Finally open about their feelings for each other, Rina’s secrets began to wreak havoc on their lives. Would Rina’s secrets force AJ to give up his dream of loving Jessie’s girl?

About the Author:

L.A. Remenicky ~ Love Stories With A Twist

L.A. Remenicky is a forty-something wife and mother of three fur kids. A payroll professional by day, she writes out the stories in her head by night.

An avid reader all her life, she finally put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) during NaNoWriMo in 2012 and has never looked back. When she’s not typing away on her latest story with music playing in the background, she can usually be found spending time with her family and friends.

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Unexpected Gift ~ Anita Cox

Jake Baker, Alpha of the new Special Forces unit of the Federation of Supernatural Entities, spends his time tracking down members of a diabolical group known as the Separatists. These members will stop at nothing to keep the species divided and embattled.

He finds himself constantly missing a human, Susan Sweeny. Knowing a relationship with her would be bad for the both of them, he tries to shake his feelings for her but finds he spends an inordinate amount of time staring at her photos on his laptop.

A call from the Lycan Queen brings him home for the holidays where he’s hit with the shocker of his life. The human is pregnant with his child. But what is he to do now?

Can he overcome his bias toward the humans and do what’s right by human and their half-breed child? Will she accept him as a mate, even though they cannot bond? Or will love and fate come together to give Jake what he’s yearned for ever since he could recall?

About the Author:

Anita Cox is a bestselling author of a growing number of novels. For over ten years, she's written contemporary, erotic, and paranormal, romances via traditional, independent, and audio publishers.

An only child born and raised in the Midwest, Anita enjoyed reading novels as a way to occupy herself and set her imagination free. That propensity blossomed into creations of her own as she began crafting novels of her own. As she matured, she began writing more adult tales and donned the pen name Anita Cox.

Anita resides in Indiana with the last teenager in her herd, a fluffy-not-fat cat named Tommy Chong, Titan the English Mastiff and the husband that helped create her creative pen name. In her free time, Anita enjoys fishing, gardening, and devouring equal portions of strong coffee and heart-stopping novels.

Find out how to get specials and behind the scenes info by visiting her website at www.authoranitacox.com

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