Thursday, October 29, 2015

New Release!! (Perfect for Halloween!)



Hi Carolyn, and thanks so much for having me over to visit. It's Halloween season, which is probably my favourite holiday. I've always loved magic and the paranormal, I grew up devouring stories about witches, wizards, fairies, scary beasts and epic heroes. There's rather a fun quote that says we never grow out of fairytales – we just start reading dirtier ones ;) and that was definitely the case for me, as I moved onto paranormal romance with drool-worthy shifters, vampires, magic-users etc. I was more surprised than anyone though when zombies popped up in my head – after all we're moving away from the sexy and into the slightly icky realm now, right?

Thankfully for my brain, the romance part doesn't centre round the zombie (I know other people have done it, but just…) but rather my sassy witch and rather yummy necromancer. There's magic, action, some *ahem* steaminess and a zombie cat called Mittens – so hopefully something for everyone! I really hope you check it out.   


 
Blurb
For Emma Strachan, raising zombies is all in a day’s work. A girl has to pay the bills somehow! But when what should be a simple raising goes horribly wrong, Emma is forced to ask for help from the one man she swore never to see again.

Garret is used to being a loner, as a necromancer he works best that way and frankly, with the dangers he faces every day, it’s easier not to have to look out for anyone else. When Emma shows up on his doorstep desperate for help, he vows to ignore the raging attraction between them – after all a pretty, fun-loving witch has no place in his world.

Can Emma and Garret put aside old resentments in order to try and defeat a zombie unlike anything they have seen before? When the dust settles, can they count on any future between them?


Excerpt


Shocked gasps came from behind her, but the vibrations were already running through the ground. Quickly, she smeared the blood around the edges of the circle. The energy was rising now, waves spreading out as the hairs on her arms stood up, and tiny tremors ran through the soles of her shoes. She drew a final symbol in the blood on the gravestone itself, the rough stone grazing her fingers and making the lines awkward.
"Patrick Connell, rise. Come from your grave at my command. Rise from your sleep at my bidding."
The earth in front of her practically bubbled, then it parted, and a tall figure emerged. Neil let out a strangled shriek behind her, but her attention stayed focused on the corpse in front of her. He was newly dead and perfectly preserved. In fact, gazing at him, you would barely know the difference if you saw him walking down the street. She was quite proud. She didn't do this spell much, but this was a damn good raising!
"Patrick Connell, you have been raised at my command. You will do as I say and nothing more, bound to me by blood and magic. Do you understand and obey?"
The corpse looked at her, surprising clarity in his deep blue eyes. She didn't think she'd ever raised one this 'new' before, and it was actually a little disconcerting how alive he appeared. He'd obviously been a handsome man, tall with broad shoulders, thick dark hair, strong jaw, and quite startling eyes. Then he opened his mouth and said a single word.
"No."

Buy Links:

Amazon - getBook.at/LoveReawakened


I'd also love for you to stay in touch, you can find me on social media at the following links:
Twitter - @shellirosewarne



Wednesday, October 28, 2015

#WIPWeds and Other Fun Stuff

Work In Progress Wednesday...

   From here on out, every Wednesday I will be posting little snippets from whatever project I happen to be working on. This week's snippet comes from the book In The Shadow of The Shield, book two in my Secret Lives series (projected release date is December 15, 2015) Book one, Undercover in Six Inch Stilettos will be available again on November 10th.

So, here it is! #WIPWeds



“Do you know there are twelve pairs of red handcuffs hanging in the tree in your yard?”

“You actually took the time to count them, Mabel?”

“Well, yes. It's not every day one sees a crepe myrtle full of handcuffs.” Mabel Guthrie eyed Diana up and down. “Just what have you and your husband been up to?”

Diana turned and called out to her husband. “Hey, Donnie! Mrs. Guthrie wants to know why we have a dozen pairs of handcuffs in the tree out front!”

“And why are they red?” Mabel yelled through the doorway.

Donnie appeared in the door with a huge grin on his face. “You know that's all the rage now, right?”

“What? Cops having tree cuffs instead of garden gnomes?” Mabel snapped.

Instead of answering the other woman, Donnie turned to her and winked. “Come on, hot stuff, I've got an hour before my shift. Why don't we grab a pair of those things and put them to use?”

“What?” Mabel's face turned the color of the hot pink shirt she was wearing. “Well, I never!”

Donnie stepped past her and the neighbor and headed toward the tree. Diana watched as Mabel watched Donnie walk around the tree inspecting each pair of freshly painted handcuffs as though he were trying to pick the perfect one.

“What is he doing now?” Mabel demanded, her arms folded across her chest.

“Every pair has a specific—use— shall we say. The one he picks is important.”

“Oh, good lord! What is wrong with you people?” Mabel glared at her but made no move to leave. Obviously the old woman was intrigued. Diana wondered how long it had been since Mrs. Guthrie took a tumble through the sheets. The images that filled her mind brought on a smile.

“What are you smiling at?” Mrs. Guthrie snapped. “You're the one married to a deviant!”

The other change I plan to make is a big one. Starting in November, every Monday I am going to post a new chapter of currently unpublished novel. Be sure to stop by on Monday to catch the first installment!

I'll still be sharing new releases and on many Fridays you will find a Feature Friday post that aims to introduce you to some amazing new books.

Please feel free to share the links to the #WIPWeds snippets and Monday #FreeReads and enjoy!
 
 

Monday, October 26, 2015

COVER REVEAL for the re-release of Undercover in Six Inch Stilettos!

Most of you know I signed my Secret Lives series with Limitless Publishing this summer. This is the reworked cover!  I love the changes they have made!


 
We're excited to share with you all the COVER REVEAL of UNDERCOVER IN SIX INCH STILETTOS by Carolyn LaRoche! This first installment in the Secret Lives Series releases NOV. 10 through Limitless Publishing.


✦✦ SYNOPSIS ✦✦
Every woman has secrets, and Cyndi Mills is no exception…

Cyndi has a beautiful daughter, and her husband Jason is totally hot for her, but something is missing. As a cop, Jason is extremely vigilant about safety and security, and Cyndi longs for some time to herself, so she takes a Friday night job. 

Jason thinks she’s cleaning offices, when she’s actually dancing in a red bustier and six-inch stilettos at a club called Sugar Shakers, something only her three best friends, also police wives, know.

When club employees start disappearing, the truth comes out…

A young runaway, Jade, and a military widow, Lola, vanish, and Lola’s body is later found in the ocean. Cyndi begins investigating—with some help from her friends—but when anonymous threats put her daughter in jeopardy, she has no choice but to confess her lie to Jason, rocking their previously solid marriage.

Jason is furious, but Cyndi has to ask for even more if she hopes to solve the mystery…

Cyndi convinces Jason to sign her up as a confidential informant, and she officially goes undercover at the club, while Jason struggles to control his jealousy. As the evidence mounts and the danger becomes all too real, Jason fights to keep Cyndi safe. 

But no amount of security can protect someone when lies are more common
than the truth and no one is who they appear to be.


✦✦ ✦✦ CAROLYN LAROCHE ✦✦ ✦✦ 


Carolyn LaRoche grew up in snow country but fled the cold and ice several years ago. She now lives near the beach with her husband, their two boys, two finicky cats and one old dog. When she is not at the baseball field cheering on big hits and home runs, she is busy teaching science to unwilling teenagers.



Wednesday, October 21, 2015

COVER REVEAL

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KEEPING THE TARNISHED by Bradon Nave
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Publisher: Limitless Publishing
Release Date: Nov. 3, 2015
- SYNOPSIS -
Johnny Tregalis leaves home the minute he turns eighteen, but he’s the only one who knows why…

Arriving in Lake Charles, Louisiana, Johnny has nothing—not even a plan. Local veterinarian Jackson Everett notices the boy, who reminds him of his own teenage son, and offers him a bed for the night.

Meeting Jackson’s wife Graye, his son Jared, and four-year-old daughter Bryce, Johnny sees a family he could never imagine. He’d been raised by his abusive father after his mother disappeared with his younger brother, and he’s sure he’ll be packed off to a shelter in the morning. He can’t believe it when he’s invited to stay indefinitely.

Johnny refuses to discuss his traumatic past as he attempts to fit in…

The Everetts try to help the profoundly troubled teen, but he seems to be at the mercy of his own mind. He’s held captive by flashbacks, excruciating night terrors, and a mounting inability to distinguish delusion from reality. How can he possibly recover, go to school, have friends…have a life?

Physical scars only hint at deeper psychological devastation…

As the shocking truth comes to light, Johnny struggles to overcome years of abuse, poverty, and despicable horrors to become part of a real family, but is he strong enough to defeat his demons? The Everetts realize Johnny’s journey is now their own, but they face a daunting task.

How much sacrifice is too much when all you can hope for is keeping the tarnished?


- COVER DESIGNER -
Redbird Designs

JOIN THE RELEASE EVENT ON FACEBOOK!

 - ABOUT THE AUTHOR -
BRADON NAVE
Bradon Nave was born and raised in rural Oklahoma. He attended a small country school during junior high and high school, and graduated with only three people in his class. After graduate school, he decided to devote his spare time to his passion of writing.Bradon currently lives in Piedmont, Oklahoma, with his wife and two young children. 

When he’s not writing, he loves running, being with friends and family, and being outdoors.




Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Looking For Something New To Read? Check This Out

   
 
 
FIREBIRD by Jennifer Loring
“When love is not madness, it is not love.”

 
 

 

Stephanie Hartwell is a journalist chasing the story of her career...
When superstar hockey player and notorious bad boy Aleksandr Volynsky is traded to the Seattle Earthquakes in a blockbuster deal, Stephanie demands the opportunity to prove herself by scoring an exclusive interview with a man with no love for the media...the same man she once though, as a naive teenager, she'd someday marry.
An Olympian and Stanley Cup Champion, Aleksandr has achieved every goal he's ever set...
Now expected to carry a failing team on his shoulders, Aleksandr's troubles deepen when he encounters Stephanie after a season-opening loss. His lifestyle of drinking and random hookups has been a futile attempt to forget the beautiful tomboy who stole his heart nine years ago. And worse, fame and fortune have made it impossible for him to trust anyone--especially Stephanie, who is engaged to another man.
 Romance rekindles, but tragedy reveals Aleksandr's dark side...
 Being with Aleksandr in the first place jeopardizes Stephanie's journalistic integrity and threatens her career, and when he spirals out of control, it reawakens fears from her own history, making her unable to commit to a future with him.
When Aleksandr discovers the truth behind his self-destructive behavior, will his newfound self-awareness be enough to convince Stephanie to give him one last chance...
 
About the Author: Jennifer Loring’s short fiction has appeared in numerous magazines, webzines, and anthologies. In 2013, she won Crystal Lake Publishing's inaugural Tales from the Lake horror writing competition; in 2014, DarkFuse published her novella Conduits, and in May 2015, Omnium Gatherum released her debut novel, Those of My Kind. She is a member of the Horror Writers Association and the International Thriller Writers. Jennifer lives in Philadelphia, PA, with her husband, a turtle, and two basset hounds. She is currently at work on the second book in the Firebird Trilogy.
 
                                 Website                 Facebook                    Twitter
Excerpt: Stephanie Hartwell marched into her editor-in-chief’s office, flung the door shut, and slammed her stained coffee mug on his desk.
“No. Give me that story, Dave. Those assholes out there have had the chance to prove themselves. A million chances. I didn’t go to USC to write theater reviews.”

Dave failed to suppress a smile. “Nothing personal, Steph. The Volynsky trade is a big deal, and I need someone familiar with Seattle sports to cover it.”
 
The veins in her neck throbbed, and a flush burned her face. She’d never been good at controlling her emotions, especially anger. Especially when he was underestimating her because she had tits. “I’ve been here three years. You want ‘familiar’? Volynsky has played all eighty-two games for the past four seasons. Eighty points or higher in each of those seasons. Leads the league in shots on goal and is top ten in assists. He’s a plus-three, plays at least twenty-one minutes a game, and averages forty-eight goals per season. Shall I go on?”

Dave’s eyebrows inched toward his receding hairline.

“You know what they call me behind my back, Dave? ‘Puck bunny.’ I played hockey most of my life. I know the game. You show me a puck bunny that does.” She stabbed her finger at him. “Give me the story.”

“All right, all right, Jesus.” Dave waved his palms at her like two white flags. He clacked out what she presumed was a follow-up email relieving Shawn of his Volynsky duties. Stephanie tensed in a preemptive, involuntary defensive posture for the verbal assault she expected as soon as she left Dave’s office.
“How do you know all this, anyway?”
 
“Would you ask any of the guys that?”
 
“Not everything is an attack on you, Steph. I’m on your side. I know you feel like you have to be better than everyone just to be considered average.”
 
Stephanie let her shoulders sink and her fingers uncurl. The muscles in her neck ached. She expelled a long breath and shifted her gaze to the  view of Puget Sound out the window. The past had compromised her objectivity, but it would not compromise her job.
“Steph? You still with me?”
"Yeah. Sorry. Just thinking of the right lead.”
 
“That’s why you’re the best. Okay, the season opener is tomorrow night. You’re on it. Get him to agree to an exclusive story. I’ll see what I can do on my end. Rumor has it he’s difficult.”
 
She’d heard all the stories. Everyone had. The hard-drinking, womanizing bad boy. A modern-day Derek Sanderson and stereotypical star athlete, whose behavior fed rising public disgust with pro-sports salaries and Seattle’s own taxpayer-funded, three hundred fifty million-dollar Amazon Arena. The Seattle Earthquakes had struggled from day one two years ago in a market with an inexplicable lack of hockey fans, fewer than even Arizona or Florida. Giving away the farm for Volynsky—eight years, ninety-two million dollars, and two top prospects—volatile as he was, became a last-ditch effort to avoid the fates of the Predators, Coyotes, and Panthers, all relocated to Canada.
 
"I deal with bullshit from entitled man-children every day. I can handle him.” She’d done it before. In another life, when he’d been someone else.
 
Dave chuckled and shook his head. “I almost feel sorry for him. Now go. Do me proud.”
 
“You got it.” Stephanie plucked her mug from his desk and left the office. Her spine stiffened when she saw Shawn glaring at her over the long table, lined with computers on either side, at which the staff worked. She’d have no privacy unless she earned her coveted promotion and an office.
 
“We all know why you wanted that story.” His gaze landed on her chest, which wasn’t large, and she crossed her arms. The mug dangled from her fingertips. She stifled the urge to smash it over his head. But that would be all the ammo he’d need to prove he’d been right all along—that she was too irrational, too emotional, to handle the job.
 
Too female.
 
“Oh? Do tell me, Shawn. I mean, we’ve had so many deep, meaningful conversations. It couldn’t possibly be because I played hockey from age five until I graduated from college and still play adult league.” She lifted her chin and drilled her stare into him, hoping his head would explode Scanners style. “Why don’t you spend less time worrying about me and more time figuring out why you’re such a whiny, self-absorbed, spoiled little shit?”
 
A chorus of chuckles and “oohs” rose from the table. Shawn’s jaw muscles tightened, and his eyes were like an overcast day on the lake, reflecting her hatred back at her.
 
“Bitch,” he muttered as she walked away. With her back to him, she pretended to let the word roll off her like a raindrop, unimportant and unworthy of her attention. She slid into her chair, furious when tears pricked her eyes. She distracted herself with the mail left beside her monitor during her meeting. The latest People, their “One Hundred Most Beautiful” issue. Mindless eye candy. Just what she needed. She opened the magazine and skimmed the list.

Her heart stopped, skipped, restarted.
 
Number ninety-eight.
 
Aleksandr Volynsky: With his GQ looks and killer body, this twenty-five-year-old power forward has been setting the NHL on fire for seven seasons already. The six-foot-five Russian stud, as notorious for his off-ice antics as for his puck-handling skills, is surprisingly coy about his love life. “There is someone, yes,” he says. “We’re just not in the same place right now.”
 
He was naked from the waist up and clad in his hockey gear from the waist down, holding his stick in his right hand. They’d Photoshopped the scar on his right cheek, where four years ago an errant puck had split his face open, broken his jaw, and shattered several of his teeth.
God, he was beautiful.