Saturday, August 17, 2013

Book Spotlight and a Giveaway! Hollywood Hills by Joseph Wambaugh


Hollywood Hills
(Hollywood Station Series #4)


The legendary Hollywood Hills are home to wealth, fame, and power--passing through the neighborhood, it's hard not to get a little greedy.

LAPD veteran "Hollywood Nate" Weiss could take or leave the opulence, but he wouldn't say no to onscreen fame. He may get his shot when he catches the appreciative eye of B-list director Rudy Ressler, and his troublemaking fiancée, Leona Brueger, the older-but-still-foxy widow of a processed-meat tycoon. Nate tries to elude her crafty seductions, but consents to keep an eye on their estate in the Hollywood Hills while they're away.

Also minding the mansion is Raleigh Dibble, a hapless ex-con trying to put the past behind him. Raleigh is all too happy to be set up for the job--as butler-cum-watchdog--by Nigel Wickland, Leona's impeccably dressed art dealer. What Raleigh doesn't realize is that under the natty clothes and posh accent, Nigel has a nefarious plan: two paintings hanging on the mansion's walls will guarantee them more money than they've ever seen.

Everyone's dreams are just within reach--the only problem is, this is Hollywood. A circle of teenage burglars that the media has dubbed The Bling Ring has taken to pillaging the homes of Hollywood celebutants like Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan, and when a pair of drug-addled young copycats stumbles upon Nigel's heist, that's just the beginning of the disaster to come. Soon Hollywood Nate, surfer cops Flotsam and Jetsam, and the rest of the team at Hollywood Station have a deadly situation on their hands.

Hollywood Hills is a raucous and dangerous roller coaster ride that showcases Joseph Wambaugh in vintage form.

About the author


Joseph Wambaugh, a former LAPD detective sergeant (1960-1974), is the bestselling author of twenty-one prior works of fiction and nonfiction, including The Choirboys and The Onion Field. Wambaugh joined the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) in 1960. He served 14 years, rising to detective sergeant. He also attended California State University, Los Angeles, where he earned Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees.

In 2004, he was named Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America. He lives in southern California.

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Saturday, August 10, 2013

Book Spotlight and a Giveaway! Dragons of the Valley by Donita K. Paul


Dragons of the Valley
(Valley of the Dragons #2)


War threatens the peaceful land of Chiril… can one painter-turned-reluctant-swordsman really help?

With an invasion of her country imminent, Tipper Schope is drawn into a mission to keep three important statues from falling into the enemy’s clutches. Her friend, the artist Bealomondore, helps her execute the plan, and along the way he learns to brandish a sword rather than a paintbrush.

As odd disappearances and a rash of volatile behavior sweep Chiril, no one is safe. A terrible danger has made his vicious presence known: The Grawl, a hunter unlike any creature encountered before.

To restore their country, Tipper, Bealomondore, and their party must hide the statues in the Valley of the Dragons and find a way to defeat the invading army. When it falls to the artistic Bealomondore to wield his sword as powerfully and naturally as a paintbrush, will he answer Wulder’s call for a champion?

About the author


I am an author of Christian Fantasy. My first 7 books were Christian Romance, but I came over to the Dark Side when I heard there were cookies.

Connect with Donita

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Friday, August 9, 2013

Cover Reveal: Lying to Meet You by Anna Garner


Title: Lying to Meet You
Author: Anna Garner
Expected release date: September 5, 2013
Genre: Women’s Fiction/Chick Lit
Age Group: Adult – but it might appeal to YA/NA readers
Cover designed by: Sue Traynor

Does being in a relationship make you a hot commodity in the eyes of would-be suitors?

Chloe Lane is about to find out. When her childhood pal, Ethan Webster, asks her to play the part of his girlfriend in order to test this theory, she reluctantly agrees. As a work-crazed fashion designer, boutique owner and soon-to-be reality show judge, Chloe has no time for a real boyfriend, but being part of a faux pair will do just fine. Not that she has any intention of trying to attract someone else.

However…

Opportunity unexpectedly knocks when Chloe meets fellow reality judge, William Shannon. Super successful and super sexy, this high-powered entrepreneur inspires Chloe to test Ethan’s theory herself. Now, on top of keeping her fashion business productive, carving out a new role as a television personality, maintaining a fake relationship and attempting to lay the groundwork for a future relationship, she’s lying to William, lying to her friends, lying to her family and quite possibly lying to herself. Will Chloe be able to keep it all together, or are things about to explode?

 photo goodreads-badge-add-38px11_zps1ae6e47f.jpg



About the Author Anna Garner


Born and raised in the Midwest, Anna Garner's adventurous spirit kicked in after graduating from high school, and she's since lived in Boston, NYC and London. For several years, Anna worked in fashion--first as a journalist and then as a shopkeeper, and for a while she dabbled in design.

Although chick lit was her first love, Anna started writing quirky romances, and her first one, Fashioning a Romance, was published in May 2012 under the name of Libby Mercer. This was followed by two more quirky romances: Unmasking Maya and The Karmic Connection. Since Lying to Meet You is written in old school chick lit style and isn't a clear cut love story, Anna decided to publish it under her real name. She currently lives in San Francisco and spends most of her time cranking out more stories.

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Monday, August 5, 2013

On Tour, an Excerpt and a Giveaway: True Love's First Kiss by Heidi Garrett



In the Enchanted World, true love’s first kiss is magic.

Nandana’s Mark, Book 1: When two half-faeries—Melia and her younger sister—are cursed under dreadful circumstances, true love’s first kiss is the remedy.

The Flower of Isbelline, Book 2: Nothing but true love’s first kiss can save Melia’s younger sister from blind ambition and ruin.

The Dragon Carnivale, Book 3: Melia must choose the freedom she cherishes or true love’s first kiss—and a relationship that promises to secure her place in the Whole.

The Queen of the Realm of Faerie is a fantasy fairy tale series that bridges the Mortal and Enchanted worlds. The main character, Melia, is an eighteen-year-old half-faerie, half-mortal. She lives in Illialei, a country in the Enchanted World, with her two sisters and their mother. Melia’s father has been exiled to the Mortal World, and her best friend is a pixie.

When the story opens in the first book, Melia is troubled by her dark moon visions, gossip she overhears about her parents at the local market, and the trauma of living among full-blooded faeries with wings—she doesn’t have any.

As the series unfolds, the historic and mystical forces that shape Melia’s life are revealed. Each step of her journey—to find the place where she belongs—alters her perceptions about herself, deepens her relationships with others, and enlarges her world view.

True Love’s First Kiss is a compilation of the first three books in this ongoing series.

Release date: July 8th 2013
Self-published
Purchase: Amazon

My thoughts about True Love's First Kiss ~~

Ahhh.... another enchanted world to get lost in for a time. Faerie books (I hope that's the right term) are a genre that I am just beginning to discover. (So many books, so little time.... again.) And I loved the journey I just took into this Enchanted World.

It took me a little bit to wrap my head around all the magical happenings and ideas floating and flying around but once I just let my imagination flow with the words, I was totally swept up in the adventure and magic of the story.

The main character, Melia, was immediately likable and I loved following her path to make things right in the World. She has some great friends and supporters along the way who add so much to the adventure. I love the idea of pixies, trolls, and men morphing into tigers. I feel like I am rediscovering my imagination again.

Heidi writes a wonderful story with a lot twists and turn, obstacles that have to be overcome, and exciting adventures. I loved getting lost in these three stories and read them back to back. I am super excited to see what comes next. Like I said, I am just discovering the fae world, and these were a great introduction to that world.

And aren't the covers of the three books just beautiful?


Excerpt
"The stronghold is an extension of Elenda herself, it embodies her consciousness," he said.
Melia pressed her fingers to her lip as she again compared the stronghold to the Cathedral Palace in Illialei.
"Then she's different from the Albiana queens. To appear so plain from a distance yet, have such a remarkable interior..."
"Elenda's story is fascinating." Sinjiin said. "Do you know it?"
"No."
"She was a fondling, adrift in the Great White Sea. A seagull rescued her and carried her here to Faerie. An old woman no one had ever seen in these parts before cared for her. When Elenda was nineteen, her caregiver vanished. She was left alone, the sole grey faerie in these lands."
"How sad." Melia said.
"For years, she wandered the barren shores of Tyrannis and the Ruadian Mountains. When she climbed this mountain - the highest one - she fell in love with the closeness to the sea. Over time, the stronghold built itself around her, brick by brick, stone by stones."
Melia's eyes stretched wide.
"There's not a stonecutter, bricklayer, or mason in the entire Whole that will lay claim to the work.: Sinjiin said.
"I didn't realize her magic was so powerful." Melia said.
"Not magic." Sinjiin tapped his chest. "Desire."
"The magic of powerful desire doesn't require props, or potions, or even spells - rabbit's tails, turtle's feet, a raven's beak - all are unnecessary. When the power that eminates from within us is strong enough, it flows outward. The ability to manifest what is inside of us into the exterior world is the greatest magic of all."
About the Author


Heidi Garrett is the author of The Queen of the Realm of Faerie series. Her personal message to all her readers is:

Once upon a time, you lived in an enchanted world, too…
May you always see the magic in your life.

The Queen of the Realm of Faerie includes many strong female characters within an intricate fantasy land. It is also a fairy tale fantasy.

The first book, Nandana’s Mark, is one of those free ebooks; the second book, The Flower of Isbelline, has been published, and the third book, The Dragon Carnivale, was released in June 2013.

Heidi's hope is that when you read her books, you will rediscover the enchantment in your own life.

She currently resides in Eastern Washington State with her husband and their two cats. So far, she loves the snow. Being from the South, she finds it very magical.

Connect with Heidi

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Saturday, August 3, 2013

Book Spotlight and a Giveaway! Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver


Before I Fall 


What if you only had one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life?

Samantha Kingston has it all: looks, popularity, the perfect boyfriend. Friday, February 12, should be just another day in her charmed life. Instead, it turns out to be her last.

The catch: Samantha still wakes up the next morning. Living the last day of her life seven times during one miraculous week, she will untangle the mystery surrounding her death—and discover the true value of everything she is in danger of losing. ~~ synopsis from Goodreads

I read this book when it first came out - LOVED IT! 

About the author


Lauren Oliver comes from a family of writers and so has always (mistakenly) believed that spending hours in front of the computer every day, mulling over the difference between “chortling” and “chuckling,” is normal. She has always been an avid reader. 

She attended the University of Chicago, where she continued to be as impractical as possible by majoring in philosophy and literature. After college, she attended the MFA program at NYU and worked briefly as the world’s worst editorial assistant, and only marginally better assistant editor, at a major publishing house in New York. Her major career contributions during this time were flouting the corporate dress code at every possible turn and repeatedly breaking the printer. Before I Fall is...more

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