Tuesday 28 April 2015

Tuesday Teaser Innocence!


 
Todays Teaser is taken from Innocence my upcoming release 14th May 2015
 
 
Innocence Blurb
 
Calvin Edwards has everything he could dream about— perfect lifestyle, running the family real-estate company back in London. He takes a holiday up north to visit his parents only to find a young pregnant woman attempting to take her life. Wishing to help, Calvin becomes a friend to her, only fears he’s out of his depth. Just when he thinks he can do this his past resurfaces, sending his life crashing.
Kacey is pregnant and her life is out of control with nowhere left to go. She descends on her mum for one last chance for help, only to have the door slammed in her face. At her wits end, she is alone, scared, and helpless until Calvin comes along. He becomes a dear friend giving her kindness, something she thought no longer existed in the world. Only she finds what she’d pushed to the back of her mind through selfish pain is back. Her past with all its mistakes has come back to life!

Teaser
 
“You okay Calvin,” he heard a female voice.

He looked up and saw the owner of the pub walking briskly toward him.

He sighed and felt the warm sun on his face, forcing him to squint his eyes needing to put his sunglasses on.

“Yeah.”
 
“You don’t look it?” Miranda said, being in her late forties and worked in every department in the pub, but today wearing her apron guessing that she was head chef.

“I’m fine, just trying to think what to do with my female friend.”

“What do you mean?”

“She has nowhere to stay, parents don’t want her and I daren’t take her to my folks’ home as otherwise they would kill me and then there are other reasons.”

“Is she the one who is expecting?”

“Yes, and no I’m not the father,” he said before she jumped to conclusions aware how gossip spread like wild fire in the village. The last thing he needed was becoming the village gossip and people were always quick to assume.

“Like I would dare think you were and anyway, I’m sure if you were about to become a father your mum would be headlining it, they often talk about when are you going to give them a grandchild.” She giggled.

“Yes, Mum does keep asking me when am I settling down and giving her grandchildren.” He laughed. “However, no, she’s a friend and, well needs somewhere to stay.”
 
 
Coming soon with Secret Cravings Publishing

Friday 24 April 2015

J.M. Maurer the Emerging from Darkness series

I am delighted to have dropping by today the great J.M. Maurer with her series 'Emerging from Darkness' I adore these covers and look forward to reading the them.
 

 
Interwiew: Quick and Quirky

 

1) If money were not an object, where would you most like to live?

Belgium; where I could over-indulge on the best chocolate—forever!

2) If you were a tool, what would people use you to do?

Since I tend to reserve the word "tool" for those with XY chromosomes (men), I'd be used to deliver a heavy intravenous infusion of common sense, chivalry, and romantic qualities into its recipient.

3) Tell us something crazy you’ve done and why you did it.

I juggled 3 tennis balls during an 8th grade health class, the 35 minutes of burning in my arms making me second-guess whether it was worth the 5 extra credit points that I needed to go from a B+ to an A. J

4) What’s your favorite line from Seeking Love?

“You know there’s been plenty of women. Crappy sex without any real connection. She’s not just another beautiful face, a piece of ass. She lights a spark within me I’ve never felt, and I’ve barely even touched her. I want that miracle of closeness. That real moment when two people become one. The real thing. I know what I want, and what I want is her.”

5) What is the one question you wish an interviewer would ask you?

If you were receiving a major literary award and you were about to go onstage with Chris Hemsworth but noticed his fly was down, would you let them know and how would you do it?

 
 
Title: Seeking Love (Emerging From Darkness Book 1)

By: J.M. Maurer

Publish Date: April 2, 2015

Categories: Contemporary Romance, Humor, Woman’s Fiction 


Blurb:

Every day, Jessica Winters does what she does best—bury herself in patient care within the walls of the neuro intensive care unit, keeping herself busy to escape the dark sadness that controls her life. But the day she sees Matthew Moi, the intriguing man seated at her new patient’s bedside, her shattered heart begins to frantically beat once again. 
As Matthew pins his mesmerizing gaze upon her, trying to distract her with his humorous and playful banter, she does her best to ignore him. Somehow he already knows a great deal about her, breaking down Jessica’s barriers and awakening her soul, drawing her out of the darkness and into his arms. 
When her painful past resurfaces, revealing truths that threaten her future, Jessica struggles through her issues and fights to stay on a healing path . . . seeking love.

 
Buy Links:

Amazon US: bit.ly/SeekingLove




Barnes & Noble: bit.ly/SeekingLoveBN



All Romance: bit.ly/SeekingLoveARe

 
Excerpt:

One thing I knew: I wasn’t that woman anymore. I wouldn’t be her anymore.
 
My heart was racing at the thought of being separated from Matthew by only the door, and I watched as it opened, knowing he stood mere feet away. I drew in a deep breath to calm my frantic nerves and steady my racing heart. It was the moment my eyes would see him again, and the same moment I knew all involuntary muscle movements would cease.
As Matthew stepped in and around the door, his alluring eyes captured me. The feeling was nothing new. I’d been imprisoned by his gaze before. And locked in it again, I watched as he drifted to me, the indisputable chemistry between us palpable and absolute. His mesmerizing eyes had hypnotized my burning soul, completely bewitching me.
“Hello, Jessica,” he murmured, pointing to an open area of the bed. “Mind if I sit?”
I gave a slight shake of my head, having difficulty forming the simple word “no,” and watched as he made himself comfortable facing me. His crisp charcoal-colored trousers bunched as he scooted on the bed. My sight roamed along his classic plum-colored dress shirt and stopped searching once I focused on his face.

 
 
 
Title: Seeking Redemption (Emerging From Darkness Book 2)
By: J.M. Maurer
Publish Date: May 2, 2015
 
Blurb:
 
After surviving a bitter divorce and emerging from a darkness that became all too familiar, Jessica finds herself on top of the world, her soulful awakening allowing her to feel again, trust again, and even love again. Her painful past, however, is relentless, both physically and emotionally, bombarding her daily and not allowing her to overcome the lingering demons that ultimately control her life.
As Matthew lovingly guides her toward a healthy future, his own secrets become known, threatening to destroy the trusting relationship that had quickly grown between them. But despite what life throws her way, Jessica pledges to put the past in the past, accepting that events are often out of her control. She fights for a future with the man who drew her out of the darkness, steering her onto a healing path . . . seeking redemption.
 
Buy Links:
Amazon US:  bit.ly/amznSkR
Amazon UK: bit.ly/SkRamznUK
Amazon CA:  bit.ly/SkRamznCA
arnes & Noble: bit.ly/SkReBN
 Smashwords: bit.ly/SkRSW
 
Excerpt:
Grandma O flipped the light switch to what she called my office and stood just inside the door, her soft features and gentle smile inviting me in. I shivered, poised one step away, with a strange yet familiar emotion rushing through me—an awareness that the instant I entered, my life would be forever changed. Again.
Was this Matthew’s plan all along? They all seemed in on it, the thought making me feel railroaded and agitated, yet oddly aroused and enchanted too. Unsure how to deal with such conflicting emotions, I moved forward, looking to Grandma O for answers as I walked through.
 The office was spacious, slightly smaller than Matthew’s, with a mahogany desk in the far corner and in front of an expansive bank of floor-to-ceiling windows. I ran my fingertips along the colorful wall of psychology books and periodicals as I walked along, passing a leather couch on my way to the desk, my desk, and paused in front of an empty nook within the bookcase.
It struck me as odd, the cold wooden surface needing something to spruce it up, make it mine. I had to think about that, my anxiety making it difficult to ponder the issue, my restlessness preventing me from staying in one place.
I moved to the windows and stared out the tiny cracks between the blinds, the world outside just as complicated as the one I had chosen to live in.
“We all read your master’s thesis,” Grandma O said, her voice pulling me out of my thoughts. “It’s obvious you have a natural gift for research and writing.”
I turned and looked at her, questioning how they’d gotten their hands on a copy.
Sedation in the ICU: Patient Accounts of Their Dreams, Their Pain, Their Fears; I hadn’t published it. As it was, after countless hours revisiting old charts and conducting hundreds of interviews, I’d never been more nervous or scared the instant it was pulled from my tight grip to be placed into the hands of someone who would actually read it. There was no way I’d ever publish it, opening myself up to a world filled with critics.
“If you’re wondering, Dr. Moi is a personal friend of Professor Marienetti. The sexual fantasies accounted for and described within your research were fascinating, probably more so than Dr. Marienetti could digest. We’re baffled as to why you chose not to publish. The results, Jess, are far reaching, from ICUs to dentists’ offices. You have a special gift; embrace it.”
She walked toward me and leaned her back against the wall, her gaze drinking in the room.
“This office has been vacant, just waiting for you. You could do great things here.” She patted my arm, her grandmotherly smile telling me it would all be okay. “I’m next door if you need anything.”
Embrace it, I thought, watching as she walked out the door. I’d heard that advice before—from Matthew. I sighed and looked down upon the desk, the one I knew would take me a while to start calling my own.
My desk, my office, my couch, it all sounded quite foreign. I wasn’t sure if I liked it or not.
 


About the Author:

 

JM Maurer lives with her family in Chicago. She makes it a point to never work on a full moon and cringes when a coworker uses the “Q” word—never, ever say, “It’s a quiet day today," at her day job.
Known for being overly superstitious, she can usually be found scraping at the remnants of a Nutella container, screaming at a hockey game, or putting pen to paper, allowing the “real” crazy voices in her head to come alive. And after all this, it’s no wonder she’s an incurable romantic and loves escaping the rat race of life to immerse herself inside the world of a really good romance book . . . because, after all, what’s better than a happily-ever-after?

 
Find J.M. Maurer Here:






Amazon Author Page: bit.ly/AmznJMMaurer

Tuesday 21 April 2015

Todays Special guest is Jean Joachim


GRIFF MONTGOMERY, QUARTERBACK

Blurb

He wanted a wife. She didn’t want to get married – ever.  Not exactly a match made in heaven. Ten years ago, Griff Montgomery, star quarterback of the Kings and womanizer, became a stand-in father for his widowed sister’s kids. After they moved away, Griff wanted his own family. But where does a “player” go to find his ideal mate?

Having sworn off marriage forever, Lauren Farraday barely kept her life together after her divorce. With her career shaky and depression closing in, the last thing she needed was a courtroom battle with a sexy athlete.

Wary of Griff’s reputation with women, and hiding a secret, Lauren holds on to her heart.  Can the quarterback handle the truth or will he walk away, like he has in the past?     

 

SNIPPETS
“Yeah. Forget it. Doesn’t matter what I think of you, anyway.” She opened the back door and bent over to fasten Spike’s leash into the seatbelt.

“Oh? Why?”

She squared her shoulders, put her hands on her hips, and faced him. “Let’s get this straight. We hate each other…”

“Hate is a strong word.”

“Dislike, then?”

“Well, yeah, maybe.”

“We’re in the middle of a custody battle. Don’t be a jerk. I know what you think of me.”

“Do you?”

“You telling me we’re best friends?”

“No, but we don’t have to be mortal enemies, either. We both like Spike. Can we be civil?”

“Civil? To a man who’s trying to take my dog away? He’s my life. And you want me to be happy about it?”

“Your life? That’s too bad.” He looked her over, his gaze taking in all her luscious curves. “A woman

"who looks like you should have more going for her than that.”

“I like having him around.” Griff increased his pace to a fast walk.

Trunk snickered. “In bed with a dog? You’re slipping.”

“He’s better looking than anything you’ve slept with.”

“Are you referring to my wife?” Trunk’s tone turned belligerent.

“Oh, you’re married? Gee, I didn’t think so when we were in Miami, San Francisco, and Dallas last year,” Griff shot back.

Buy Links
My website

http://jeanjoachimbooks.com/first-ten-series-2/griff-montgomery-quarterback/

SCP
http://store.secretcravingspublishing.com/index.php?main_page=book_info&cPath=4&products_id=1033&zenid=badpgk601vibsk70sfb390q4c5

Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Griff-Montgomery-Quarterback-First-Book-ebook/dp/B00T751A58/

BN
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/griff-montgomery-quarterback?store=allproducts&keyword=griff+montgomery+quarterback

iTunes/Apple Books
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/griff-montgomery-quarterback/id966737535?mt=11

KOBO
https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/griff-montgomery-quarterback

Tuesday Teaser from Innocence!




Todays teaser comes from my upcoming release Innocence due for release 14thy May
 
 
 
“What the heck has she been telling you? Honestly, that girl wouldn’t know the word truth if it hit her in the face. She is after money, no doubt to take back to her drug dealing boyfriend.”
Calvin stepped forward needing to correct the evil woman. “She finished it, and she isn’t with him. Instead, she is scared and looking for someone to love her, but clearly the word ‘love’ means nothing to you. What mother,” he said, marching forward pointing his finger in her face. “Would allow their daughter at her most vulnerable state to leave her to walk the streets, how can you not care? No shame? She is frightened and yet, she is the one holding the grudge with you…yet you have turned it onto her. She is broken, has no-one and nowhere to go and yet you…you.” He gritted his teeth.
“Calvin,” he heard his mother’s voice from behind as she touched his left shoulder. “Step back.”
“No,” he growled. “She,” he said, pointing to Rosalind, “What she has done. I saved your daughter. I,” he said, thumping his chest. “I stopped your daughter from jumping off the bridge. I saved her. I was the one who coaxed her down,” he screamed.
Tears ran down his cheeks and could feel his mum holding onto his shoulder for comfort. He had to do it. He had to make her see how weak her daughter was and her mental state.
Rosalind widened her eyes glaring at him.
“Yes, I saved her, I stopped her,” he said lowering his voice in heartache. “All she needed was someone to reach out to and help her take care of her. She has nothing…nothing. You imagine feeling that lonely,” he said, glaring deep into her eyes through the tears.
“I have spent a few days listening to your daughter trying to help her, guide her, get her the help she needs, but as my good friend keeps telling me! She isn’t my problem, but I have made her my problem. I want to help her, and no, it’s not just because she’s expecting your grandchild,” he snarled. Calvin didn’t want anyone assuming that, but they would, of course they would, and he’d be the first to admit when he saw her bump, he had to do what he could to get her down from the bridge.
“Calvin,” his mum muttered.
“No, Mum,” he said, turning his head to glare at her. He watched his mum gulp. “Even you would admit you were fooled into the real reason why she left the village.” He turned his head back to meet Rosalind’s eyes. “Wasn’t we?”
Rosalind still looked gormless, frowning like she had no idea what he was talking about.
"Don’t you care your daughter was about to jump into the river and take her and the baby's life?” he sneered.
She stared at him, shocked, like she had no idea what was going on with her daughter, the puzzlement across her face and her eyes roamed all over the room, like the walls would give her answers.
“I’m sorry.”
He shuddered.
“Sorry! Is that all you can say. Sorry,” he heightened his voice. “Well, you're saying it to the wrong person, but then why would you wish to waste your breath on your daughter, when she is the one who has disgraced you. I mean heaven forbid she would turn out to be the little angel you had wished for, but noooo, she had to get herself knocked up, didn’t she?” he roared.

Sunday 19 April 2015

Sunday Teasers!

Sunday Teasers!

Today I am going to share two banners from Innocence that is coming out soon 14th May with Secret Cravings Publishing


Calvin Edwards
 



Kacey Richards

 

Monday 13 April 2015

Party Time! Spring Releases by SCP




Hello and I hope you all have a great day!
 
What's happening in my world? Good question, I have a million and one things to be doing in preparation for the launch of Innocence and soon...I promise I will have the release date...what I will say is not long :)
 
Ok, for setting up for Innocence, Calvin and Kacey are about to hit the world and if you are looking for exclusive teasers, excerpts, the blurb, images of who the characters who inspired me for Calvin and Kacey...you will soon find out let alone....the front cover. Oh my goodness I totally love the cover and I'm pretty sure you will too. There is a story just behind the cover and I have to say I'm truly delighted to have the couple I do...
 
So therefore if you wish to be teased and tantalize your taste buds come and join myself and some more great releases from Secret Cravings Publishing. just click on the link 



Or for the night owls Night Owl session 2

We would love to see you all joining us, were playing games and giveaways, you cannot miss out!

Friday 10 April 2015

Where is Innocence?

Innocence News!!



 For any writer its an anxious time waiting for the editor, nervously waiting to see the dreaded damage and find out all the mistakes and mishaps you made, let alone using the wrong grammar, punctuation, sentences not making sense, and no end of notes from the editor to ask for more description, don't understand, does this mean this...but in my case for Innocence, yes I had a few of those questions, but not half as many as I suspected. In fact delighted my editor had mailed me saying how much my writing had improved and I've come a long way in my writing. That is music to an authors ears especially since in the first series when I wrote Desires series (see erotic Holly) I needed a great amount of help and guidance which I am eternally grateful to my co-authors for.

I guess being a writer it is paramount on your hunger to become a writer and enjoy writing that these failures I once had were corrected and I for one had the drive and passion to correct all the mistakes and get to where I am now. Yes, I still make mistakes, I'm only human, it's my desire that drives me.

Back to Innocence, I went of the track there! Where is Innocence?? It has made it's trip back over the pond to my wonderful editor for 2nd round of edits, correcting those all important  issues that came up in the first round and + my adding a little extra where needed. This is the stage where every author has to get the work right, and make sure everything is explained, to allow the reader to dive into the characters and engage in their journey.

I will confess I am so excited about the release of Innocence and it's coming your way, not long to wait...promise :)

Sunday 5 April 2015

M. S. Spencer stops by with Whirlwind Romance

Please Welcome M. S. Spencer a fellow Secret Cravings Publishing Author is stopping by on my blog to show us her latest release Whirlwind Romance. I totally adore this cover, one in which I wouldn't mind jumping into and walking the lengths of the sandy shores
 

WHIRLWIND ROMANCE

M. S. SPENCER

 

What do pirates, Puritans, and propaganda have in common? Find out in Whirlwind Romance, a romantic adventure set in the western Caribbean. My latest release begins during a tropical storm in Florida and ends on a lush, exotic, and remote Caribbean island. There be pirates there, and princes, and an intriguing assortment of characters in a setting that can only be described as unusual.

 


Whirlwind Romance

Secret Cravings (9/2/2014; print 12/24/14)

Ebook (89,000 words); Print (270 p.)

Romance Adventure, M/F, 3 flames
BLURB:
In the aftermath of a hurricane, Lacey Delahaye finds herself marooned on an island off the Florida coast with a mysterious man. Before he can confess his identity, they are kidnapped and taken to a tiny island in the western Caribbean. In a story laced with adventure and romance, Lacey encounters pirates, power-mad ideologues, and palace intrigue, not to mention the advances of three men, only one of whom she loves.


EXCERPT (PG): Tommy’s Tree House


She climbed quietly, hand over hand. As she reached the last board, a soft, but menacing voice purred, “Well, my sweet, you’ve found me.”
Okay, here’s where we find out if he’s a bad guy. “Give me a hand up, will you?”

Other than a slight intake of breath, he complied without a word. Lacey’s head rose up over the floor to find a cubicle lit by a small pencil torch and cluttered with toy guns, candy bar wrappers, and crushed Dr. Pepper cans. And Armand. Who took up most of the rest of the space. He still held her hand, but he had stopped pulling her. “Where did you plan to sit, on my lap?”

At least he’s toned down the threat level. “Or you could come down. I don’t think Tommy Forster allows uninvited guests in his palace.”

His jaw dropped. “Palace?” After a brief interval, he said, “Oh. I see. I can’t.”

“Can’t what?”

“Come down.”

“Why not?”

“I…I…think I reinjured the ankle. I can’t put any weight on it.”

Lacey toyed with the idea of leaving him there for little Tommy, but his mother would have been appalled. “All right, just a minute.” She climbed down and went back to her house, grabbed a coil of rope from the shed and sprinted back up the street. “Armand?”

“At your service.”

“I’m bringing up a rope. I want you to tie it to something, then you can shimmy down without using your feet.”

“Um, what about when I get to the ground?”

How much did he say he weighed? Twelve stone? Lacey calculated swiftly. Must be over a hundred sixty pounds. “I’ll try to ease you down.” She threw the coil into the darkness and backed down the tree.

A few minutes later the rope tumbled down and Armand emerged. “For the record, this was my worst event in public school.” He held on for dear life and inched down the rope.

Five minutes later he’d descended a foot. “Come on Armand—hurry it up.”

“I’m doing my best.” By dint of a lot of swearing and some wild swinging, Armand made it into Lacey’s waiting arms. He sat on the ground, legs splayed out in front, panting. “Now what?”

Lacey hadn’t really thought that far. If he’s a fugitive, I can’t trust him. And I have no way of contacting the police. Maybe this wasn’t such a great idea. “Er, I guess we’d better get you back home. Then you can tell me what this is all about.” He didn’t argue, but when he tried to stand, he fell over. She considered the situation. “What we need is some kind of transport. What was that thing the Indians used?” Lacey cast about for the word.

“Travois?”

“That’s it—aren’t you clever. A sort of triangular thingy to carry a wounded man. Made of logs and deerskins.” She stopped, not, as one might assume, due to the lack of readily available logs and skins, but because of the picture in her mind of an injured warrior lying spread-eagled—bare-chested, sexy, bravely enduring the pain. Wow.

Armand didn’t seem to notice her heightened color and pointed at the carport across the street. “Could we use that little red wagon?”

She followed his gaze. Story of my life—instead of Geronimo I get Ralphie. “That’ll do. Wait here.”

“Yes, I think I shall.” Armand kept a straight face. Lacey brought the little wagon to him, and he lay down in it, arms and legs hanging over the sides.

“You’ll have to lift up your extremities if this is going to work.”

And so, with Armand looking like an upside down turtle and Lacey with tears of laughter streaming down her face, they staggered along the road to her house.

****

BUY LINKS:



Barnes and Noble:











****


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Although she has lived or traveled in every continent except Antarctica and Australia (bucket list), M. S. Spencer has spent the last thirty years mostly in Washington, D.C. as a librarian, Congressional staff assistant, speechwriter, editor, birdwatcher, kayaker, policy wonk, non-profit director and parent. She has two fabulous grown children, and currently divides her time between the Gulf coast of Florida and a tiny village in Maine.

Ms. Spencer has published nine romance novels. The first two, Lost in His Arms and Lost and Found, were published by Red Rose Publishing. The other six—Losers Keepers, Triptych, Artful Dodging: The Torpedo Factory Murders, Mai Tais and Mayhem: Murder at Mote Marine (a Sarasota Romance, Lapses of Memory, and the Mason's Mark —were published by Secret Cravings. Whirlwind Romance, her ninth, was released September 2014. The Penhallow Train Incident will be released in June.

CONTACTS: 

 
Blog: http://msspencertalespinner.blogspot.com OR http://bit.ly/1aBzraT
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/msspencertalespinner
Twitter: www.twitter.com/msspencerauthor
GoodReads:http://www.goodreads.com/msspencer
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/msspencerauthor/

About.me: http://about.me/msspencerauthor

AUTHOR PAGES:



Amazon Author Page:

 
Thank you so much M. S. Spencer for stopping by :)

 

 

Friday 3 April 2015

Spring and Inspiration

Spring is coming!
 
So I've been working on banners and posts for Innocence, and now doing all I can to start getting the book signed up for interviews, blog posts, and managing very well. Thankfully I have some wonderful author friends who are happy to help and if I need extra help Secret Cravings are never far away
 
Spring is arriving, well kind off, the weather might be shocking with high winds, with rain and hailstones, but what I do like is the fact tress, shrubs, flowers are starting to blossom. Not only do I like seeing daffodils, snowdrops and bluebells, but blossom on the trees are budding, and it was this time of the year last year I started writing the Innocence series, so this time of the year for me is special, allowing me to have the real feel of the book. I am this Easter heading back to the exact location where I was inspired...watch out images coming soon, all owned by myself.
 
I will confess I'm looking forward to re-visiting where Innocence is based, and I'll make sure I have the tune that inspired me for the entire series Return To Innocence playing, the approach will no doubt give me  butterflies and Goosebumps, let's just hope I don't get caught taking pictures :)

 
Happy Spring...Happy Easter!