ZOMG! I love, love, LOVE this cover!  I love all of the details in the bridge and the pillars, and those glasses – they rock!  The premise looks awesome, too.  In stores July 2013

KC Blake is visiting the virtual offices today to chat about her latest release, BAIT.  Check out what she has to say.

 [Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

[KC Blake] I am a YA-reading, church-going, chocolate-loving, shop-a-holic with two beautiful cats and a dog.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about BAIT?

[KC Blake] If you don’t believe monsters in the closet are real, ask Bay-Lee.

At sixteen, Bay-Lee is an average student. She never raises her hand in class and doesn’t put the right answers on tests even though she knows them. The other kids would be surprised to learn she’s living under an alias as she’s forced to move from state to state, hiding from The Order, a secret society of shifters bent on killing her before she can start to Van Helsing’s school. For some reason the monsters are afraid of her.

When a reaper steps out of her closet to issue a warning, she realizes her problems are only beginning. Even as her dream of following in her father’s footsteps to become a hunter draws closer, a dark threat looms over the school. Someone or some thing is killing hunters on their birthdays. If she doesn’t figure this mystery out fast, she won’t make it to seventeen. Her childhood was stolen from her. She’s determined not to lose anything else to the bloodthirsty beasts.

Bay-Lee developed a plan over the years. It’s a plan for vengeance, a plan for justice. The biggest obstacle in her way: jungle green eyes. Falling in love at this point could ruin everything. It’s the furthest thing from her mind. Then she meets a young hunter with a past as dark as her own and a bleak future. From the moment they meet he makes it clear he wants nothing to do with her.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[KC Blake] This has been brewing for a long time, so long that I don’t remember when or how it first started. The rock star slash vampire slayer in the story was actually an idea for another book. I decided he fit better in this story.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Bay-Lee?

[KC Blake] Driven, compassionate, and determined.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If Bay-Lee had a theme song, what would it be?

[KC Blake] Happy Ending by Avril Lavigne. “All this time you were pretending. So much for my happy ending.” I think it’s the perfect song for her.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing Bay-Lee is never without.

[KC Blake] Her dagger.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things will you never find in Bay-Lee’s purse?

[KC Blake] A credit card, her real I.D., or a romance book.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?

[KC Blake] Good books like City of Bones, music that moves me to strong emotions, and great movies.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?

[KC Blake] My computer, music, and a solitary place to work.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[KC Blake] The Demon’s Lexicon.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?

[KC Blake] The Outsiders was the book that made me fall in love with YA. I started writing shortly after reading it.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[KC Blake] I love to go shopping, hang out at the mall throughout the day, and eat lunch with friends.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[KC Blake] My blog: http://kasi-kcblake.blogspot.com

Vampires Rule fan page: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Vampires-Rule/184193604955442

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4809417.K_C_Blake

K.C. Blake Author page: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/K-C-Blakes-Author-Page/246146215412824

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

Amazon Purchase link:

About the book:

Smashwords link for Bait:  https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/252449

Bait on Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17858622-bait

K.C. Blake’s blog:  http://kasi-kcblake.blogspot.com

K.C. Blake Author Fan Page:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/K-C-Blakes-Author-Page/246146215412824

Twitter:  @kasiblake

Had fun a the show and we are heading home today.  I missed the puppers, so I’ll be happy to get back.  Elle was the Reserve Park Saddle Champion (the trainer rode her), and I need to figure Pixie out.  Our best finish was 5th, but the last class was our best, IMHO.  She hits the ring and gets so wound up the first direction, so I need to hold her back better.  We are better the second way of the ring, so I’m sure that after a few more shows, we’ll do better.  This was only our second show, and I already feel more comfortable with her than I ever did with Blondie, so I’m very optimistic that after a few more miles in the saddle, she (and me, by extension) will settle right down.  It’s so exciting having a horse that wants to show, so I’m looking forward to more.

I hope all of you are having a wonderful weekend!

Check out my current contests!  See the Contest Widget on the Sidebar to enter!

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga’s Reviews to share new additions to our library.  Click here to learn more about it.

New Arrivals at the Café:

Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson

The Eye of Minds by James Dashner

Teardrop by Lauren Kate

Scroll of Years by Chris Willrich

Ikigami Vol 9

Children of the Sea Vol 5

A great big thanks to the publishers for their continued support!

What did you get? Please leave links and share!

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Aimee Duffy has a special treat to share today.  She’s got a character introduction for Enrique Castillo, the hunky hero of her new release Sinfully Summer, and she’s got an excerpt for you to enjoy.

Meet Enrique Castillo… by Aimee Duffy

The delectable Spanish hunk runs an exclusive hotel on the beach in the city all the celebrities flock to, Marbella.

Enrique, or Ric, wasn’t born into the world with a silver spoon in his mouth like the notoriously wild heiress, Alexa Green. Ditched on the streets of Madrid as a child, he’s had to fight to survive. It wasn’t until his mid-teens when the billionaires, Maria and Antonio Castillo, adopted him.

But Ric was angry at the world, and refused their help. He almost went off the rails, chasing adrenaline highs and beautiful supermodels, but he managed to pull himself together and win over the respect of those in Spain’s high society circle.

Only trouble is, will teaming up with the renowned party girl, Alexa Green, turn the tables on him, or make his charity ball all the more successful?

Ric always liked a challenge…

Sinfully Summer Blurb

Sun, Sea and Scandal

Notorious heiress Alexa Green has certainly been enjoying her most recent girls-holiday in Marbella. Just as we thought, she’s been knocking back the cocktails and showing off her fabulous bikini body on the beach… but rumour has it she’s also been spotted sneaking out of Enrique Castillo’s penthouse in the early hours of this morning – in nothing but her underwear! Our question is, doesn’t this fiercely private billionaire know what he’s letting himself in for?

He’s got the millions… and she knows how to spend them! So lie back on your sun lounger and get comfortable, because this summer fling is going to be a sizzler!

Sinfully Summer Excerpt

Adrenaline roared through her veins. This was her only chance. Pushing away from the wall, she rounded the lift, desperately seeking an escape. She barely noticed the plush furnishings, soft-looking leather sofas and floor to ceiling window which showcased the most spectacular view she’d ever seen. Instead she focused on the walls surrounding the elevator.

‘Are you lost?’

The heavily accented voice froze her to the spot. She darted a glance toward the sound. Dark brows furrowed over the richest coloured eyes she’d seen. His gaze swept over the length of her body, then up, lingering on her rear for a beat too long. Her skin tingled under his scrutiny.

Turning her whole body to face him, she slapped a hand on her hip. ‘Had a good enough look?’

His lips quirked in a sexy, lopsided grin. The jitters were back and Alexa swore the temperature in the room shot up ten degrees. Her gaze dropped to his broad shoulders, covered in a thin white t-shirt, then down to a well filled chest. She could see a dark pattern beneath the t-shirt. She longed to find out what kind of tattoo he had. Usually, tats didn’t do it for her. But on that body…

‘I could ask you the same thing.’

She snapped her attention back to his face. He stepped toward her, his jaw set, his eyes dancing with humour and something darker…something that made her blood heat and her mouth water.

Alexa raised her arm, palm out. ‘Hold it there, Mr. Any closer and I’ll scream.’

He paused by the sofa. Propping his hip against the cream leather, he folded his arms across his chest, causing the muscles to bulge. The moisture drained from her mouth and flooded in her belly.

‘No one’s here to hear you.’ He cocked a brow. ‘You seem to be forgetting where you are and,’ his gaze dipped down to her breasts causing the nipples to peak against the lacy fabric ‘how underdressed.’

Alexa thought this moment would have topped the blush scale. She planted her other hand on her hip and glared at him, unwilling to show any weakness. ‘I’m just leaving.’

She turned and strode back to the lift, keeping her back straight and trying not to wiggle her hips too much. The predatory sheen in his eyes made her body more jittery than the idea of sprinting around the lower floor in her underwear. She reached out to hit the button, but a large hand circled her wrist before she made it.

Alexa squeaked and darted back a step. He was so close, and his chest was right in her face. She could see the dark outline of the tattoo beneath the thin cotton. The outline of a burning sun, she thought, or something that looked like a sun. Her hands itched to lift the material and see for herself.

‘I’m up here.’

She snapped her gaze back up to his smirking face and took another step back. His lips kicked up at the corners and his eyes darkened. She swallowed against the urge to step closer, to feel his hard body pressed against hers. But she realised she was in little more than her bra and knickers in a stranger’s home. Unease skittered down her spine.

Alexa squared her shoulders, trying to quash the fear turning her heated blood into cold sludge. ‘I’m leaving now.’

‘After you explain what you’re doing in my home in your undergarments.’

‘Undergarments?’ Alexa pressed her lips together to keep a giggle at bay. ‘Seriously?’

About the Author

All my life I’ve been dreaming up stories. My mum said when I was little I used to make all the My Little Pony figurines talk to each other, and even fall in love. Later, it was Barbie and Ken. In my teens, I played matchmaker with my friends at school.

When I wasn’t creating imaginary scenarios, I had my nose stuck in books, reading across genres and there was one thing I loved more than the escapism—the fact a story can touch me so deeply, like I was experiencing everything along with my characters. I knew from early on this was something I wanted to do for others.

Fast forward a few years, and the dream almost got lost in real life, but I still couldn’t shake it completely. Now I write sizzling romance with the hope of making my readers’ hearts race like they are falling in love for the first time.

You can find me here:

Website/Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads / Pinterest / Google +

Title: Georgetown Academy Book 4 Author: Alyssa Embree Schwartz and Jessica Koosed Etting

May Contain Spoilers

From Amazon:

Review:

Oh, my gosh, I don’t even know where to start with this one!  I really like this series, and while I didn’t feel that Book Four was as strong a read as Book Three, it still kept me turning the pages at a frantic pace.  Ellie and Taryn get some big, big news – Either of them could potentially be the Second Daughter of the good old U S of A!  Yup, Ellie’s mom and Taryn’s dad are in the running to be the next VP of the US, after the current Vice President had to resign due to an illness.  Nice!  That means moving to bigger digs, and living life under even closer scrutiny.  Yay! Sign me up!  Not!

In additional to all of that competition to see who will be the next Vice President, Evan is finally living her dream.  She and Hunter are an item, even though she is assailed with self-doubts.  He is so far out of her social circle that it’s not even funny.  She keeps wondering what he sees in her, and the stress of trying to live up to her expectations of what she thinks he thinks she should be like is exhausting.  That sentence exhausted me, and I hope it made sense!  Yes, here’s Evan of the humble background dating Hunter, he of the golden spoon in mouth.  When Evan mistakes someone else’s jacket for hers, she opens the door to more grief than she ever expected.  Who knew those innocent looking mints were anything but?  And now she has a scoop that could change the outcome of the VP race, but she’s not going to spill the beans, because she’s so afraid nobody will believe a nobody like her!  Oh!!  Poor Evan!  While the set up for this disaster was more than obvious, I still got caught up in Evan’s downfall.  Just one mistake in this series and you. Are. Toast!  Your social standing is GONE!  At least until the next sap gets caught up in the next breaking headline.

Ellie’s got a lot of stress to deal with, too.  Her mom is in a war with Gabe’s dad, not like that’s anything new, but with the stakes so high, her mom finally takes off the kid gloves.  She verbally strikes out at Gabe’s mother, which he just does not appreciate.  With the press sniffing around for a sensational story, Ellie has to be careful, too.  She can’t let on that she and Gabe might be an item.  Everything has be kept on the lowdown.  Worse, their parents feuding is starting to needle into their relationship, confusing things even more.  I like this pairing!  It’s hard enough to be an couple when the whole world is watching your every move, but mix in your parents and their complete and utter dislike for each other?  Ugh! That is one ugly time bomb waiting to explode!  Will Gabe and Ellie be able to keep the love alive?  Maybe we’ll find out in Book Five whether they have any chance at all of having a happy ever after.  I don’t think I’m going to count on it.  Sad face.

Taryn makes several major blunders here, and while I wanted to feel sorry for her, I could not.  She throws one of her friends under the bus to keep her father’s chances of being the VP alive, and she starts thinking that she is just too cool for school.  After her father hires Brinley’s dad to manage his PR campaign, Taryn finds herself on the receiving end of all kinds of advice she isn’t sure she needs.  Brinley has been tasked to groom Taryn so that she always gives the best possible impression to the press, but Taryn chafes at being forced to act like someone she isn’t.  With Brooks assuring  her that she should just be herself, she makes a major misstep.  It’s like she took her eyes off the pathway, tripped over her fuzzy boots, and face-planted.  It’s so not good!  I was disappointed that Taryn would treat a friend as poorly as she did, because of all of the girls, Taryn seemed the most level headed to me, but after suffering some major embarrassment, I didn’t want to see her meet any other disasters.  Even if she deserved them and brought them on herself. 

I have so much fun watching Brinley squirm!  When she learns that Taryn’s dad has retained her father’s services, she is disdainful.  At first.  Until Brooks points out that another major loss for their father is going to have a direct reflection on how they are treated by the DC public.  Ha!  Then she’s like a chameleon.  She is all about coaching Taryn on how not to embarrass her family and, as a direct result, reduce her father’s chance of being elected to Vice President.  She is even forced to “fluff” Tayrn’s dress at a major party.  Score!  This horrible girl, who only thinks of herself, finally gets a taste of humble pie.  Sadly, it wasn’t much of a taste, and I doubt that she has anything to take away from the experience, but it sure was fun while it lasted.

So!  Did I enjoy GTA Book Four?  You bet!  This is such a fun read, with a varied cast of characters that I both love and HATE.  Often at the same time! Everyone gets a kick in the face to keep them all honest, but they also achieve little victories to keep them, and me, coming back for more.  Bring on Book 5!!

Grade:  B/B+

Review copy provided by publisher

Please welcome Robin Bielman to the virtual offices today!  Robin is having the biggest bridal party of the year, and everyone is invited!  Make sure you follow the other stops on the blog tour to learn more about Robin’s new release Kissing the Maid of Honor.  Don’t forget to enter the giveaway, too!  Five lucky readers will be chosen to be Robin’s bride’s maids and will receive a Kissing bridal gift pack! (limited to US and Canada)  But that’s not all, one international winner will be selected to receive the coveted position of Maid of Honor which includes the Kissing bridal pack and a gift card of her (or his) choice from Etsy, Amazon, or Barnes and Noble!

[Manga Maniac Café] Good morning, Robin!  Thanks for dropping in!

[Robin Bielman] Hi everyone! Julie, thanks so much for having me today! I’m really happy to be here to answer your great questions.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

[Robin Bielman] Except this first question. LOL I’m not very good at talking about myself. Should I use first person? Third person? Ack! Okay, here goes… I’m a wife and mom, drink too many café mochas, and when I’m not attached to my laptop, I can almost always be found with my nose in a book. I write contemporary romance.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about Kissing the Maid of Honor?

[Robin Bielman] Sure. This is the first book in my Secret Wishes series. It takes place in a small fictional seaside town in Oregon and focuses on Sela Sullivan and Luke Watters. Sela is the maid of honor in her best friend’s wedding and the best man is Luke. Luke also happens to be her best friend’s brother and the boy who left her humiliated—and heartbroken—in high school. Sela wants to keep her distance from Luke, but with all the wedding festivities that’s impossible. Soon the teasing that’s always taken place between them turns much more flirtatious and feelings Sela fought to avoid come flooding back. Can Sela trust Luke not to break her heart again? Is kissing him worth the risk? He thinks so.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Robin Bielman] My editor had mentioned that she’d love a story centered on a big family wedding and I loved that idea so I ran with it. Sela came to me first—the small town sweetheart, loved by everyone. Luke followed—the small town boy who couldn’t wait to leave and see the world.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Sela?

[Robin Bielman] Loyal, generous, friendly

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If Luke had a theme song, what would it be?

[Robin Bielman] Fly Away, by Lenny Kravitz (Totally have this song in my head now!)

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing Sela is never without.

[Robin Bielman] Sela always wears the three tiny silver bands with different-colored birthstones on her middle finger. They hold special meaning to her.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things will you never find in Luke’s bedroom?

[Robin Bielman] Ha! I love this question. You’ll never find a mess since Luke is very neat. You’ll never find a plant. He travels a great deal for his job as an extreme-sports photographer so he’s gone a lot and wouldn’t be around to water it. And you’ll never find candles. The only thing Luke wants to smell is the great outdoors. And Sela.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is Sela’s greatest regret?

[Robin Bielman] Sela’s greatest regret is that she didn’t stand up to Luke back in high school and she kept the hurt he caused her bottled up inside. Being with him again, and discovering he’s not the same person, helps her to let the past go.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?

[Robin Bielman] I love to read so that’s probably my greatest creative influence. Romance—in all genres—is my favorite, but I also love YA and New Adult, mysteries, urban fantasy and women’s fiction. I’m a big TV watcher, too, and sometimes when I’m watching a show something a character says or does will spark an idea in my mind and I quickly write it down—otherwise I’ll forget!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?

[Robin Bielman] My laptop, my gazillion notes (I’m a pantser, but I do jot down little things about my characters or the plot in a notebook and on sticky notes so I don’t forget them), and silence.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Robin Bielman] I’ve got to say Second Chance Boyfriend, by Monica Murphy. She also knocked my socks off with the first book in the series, One Week Girlfriend. They’re New Adult books and rarely do I read books a second time, but these I most definitely will. I loved them.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?

[Robin Bielman] Oh gosh, let’s see, I don’t think I can pick just one! When I was young, I loved the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books. Then as I got a little older I loved Stephen King and Ray Bradbury. I only started reading romance a few years ago and the first book I read was The Bachelor, by Carly Philips. I loved it and was hooked.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Robin Bielman] I love to read. If I can read while sitting on the beach, even better! During the school year, I enjoy my younger son’s cross country and track and field meets. He’s also in drama and I love his productions. I also like to run, hike and hang out with my hubby. Oh, and play with my dog Harry.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[Robin Bielman] My website/blog: http://robinbielman.com

On Facebook: http://facebook.com/RobinBielman or http://facebook.com/RobinBielmanWriter

On Twitter: http://twitter.com/robinbielman

Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/robinbielman

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

Giveaway!

Five lucky readers will be chosen to be Robin’s bride’s maids and will receive a Kissing bridal gift pack! (limited to US and Canada)  But that’s not all, one international winner will be selected to receive the coveted position of Maid of Honor which includes the Kissing bridal pack and a gift card of her (or his) choice from Etsy, Amazon, or Barnes and Noble!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A bit about Kissing the Maid of Honor:

A bit about Robin:

Robin Bielman lives in Southern California with her high school sweetheart husband, two sons, and crazy-cute mini Labradoodle, Harry Dresden. When not attached to her laptop, she can almost always be found with her nose in a book. She also loves to run, hike, and dip her toes in the ocean. Writing is a dream come true, and she still pinches herself to be sure it’s real.

She is also the author of Worth the Risk and Yours At Midnight from Entangled’s Ever After line. She loves to connect with readers.

Visit her online:

Website: http://www.robinbielman.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/RobinBielmanWriter

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/#!/RobinBielman

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/robinbielman

Buy Links:

Amazon: 

Barnes and Noble:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/kissing-the-maid-of-honor-robin-bielman/1115213931?ean=9781622660889

ITunes:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/kissing-the-maid-of-honor/id642292859?mt=11

Patti Shenberger and Nancy Fraser are visiting the virtual offices to talk about their new release Gambling on Love.  After the interview, there is a cool tour-wide giveaway, so be sure to enter!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

Patti – I’m a wife, mom, mother-in-law, soon to be grandma, pet mommy and full time writer. Love to read, travel, eat!

Nancy – I’m a coffee-holic writer as well as a mother and mother-in-law x2, and a grandma of 4 with a 5^th due in July.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about Gambling on Love?

Gambling on Love is set in 1867 along the Mississippi River and is the story of Felicity Beaumont, a rich man’s willful daughter, who believes in President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation so much that she’s willing to face her father’s wrath to help free his wrongfully indentured slaves. To do this, she disguises herself as a boy, sells off family heirlooms and secures passage for herself and her friends on Jake McCade’s gambling boat, the River Maiden. Unfortunately, her plan unravels fairly quickly, and Jake is arrested for theft and kidnapping. He’s saved from jail when Felicity’s father, wanting to save face for the sake of propriety, agrees to drop the charges as long as Felicity and Jake are married. Initially, they plan to separate after an appropriate amount of time. However, the fates intervene and true love blossoms through mutual respect and a very strong emotional/sexual chemistry. Just as you’re certain they’re destined for a happy-ever-after, a woman from Jake’s past threatens the very foundation of their relationship and puts Jake’s life in jeopardy.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

Nancy, this one’s for you (G)

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far … no wait … that’s someone else’s blockbuster! A number of years ago, we were attending a conference in Washington, DC. Patti had an editor pitch for a book about a Mississippi Riverboat gambler (think Maverick-a young and not-so-controversial Mel Gibson) and asked for some input (a request she’s probably regretted ever since). Nancy kept saying, “Jake needs a book, Jake needs a book”. Patti’s pitch for a single book, turned into an idea for two books. Then, as the characters came alive in our heads (Can you say, “too much caffeine”?) we thought ‘why not three books’. From that craziness, came the idea of writing it as a team!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Felicity?

Determined, compassionate, generous

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If Jake had a theme song, what would it be?

Patti: This is a great question and one that makes us think. Hm, let’s see. Nancy, what do you think?

Nancy: If I were keeping to the time period, Champagne Charlie (which we actually used in a McCade Interview trailer) – it sounds like music you’d hear on a riverboat or in an 1860s saloon! If I’m thinking more modern/character driven: You Sexy Thing by Hot Chocolate!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing Felicity is never without.

Patti: hope

Nancy: compassion

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things will you never find in Jake’s bedroom?

Patti: I’m leaving this question for Nancy (G).

Nancy: His gun (he only uses it when he’s on the River Maiden); condoms (McCade men believe in carrying on the Legacy – with the right woman of course); and once married, never another woman! (Ok, so we get caught on that one a little bit – however, the “other woman” isn’t in his bedroom, she’s in a stateroom on the boat.)

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is Felicity’s greatest regret?

Patti: That her father wasn’t more compassionate about his indentured workers.

Nancy: That despite the fact she wants to see her friends (the slaves) have a better life in the north, she knows she will miss them and regrets having to send them away.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?

Patti: I have read every book that Jude Deveraux has written. Her work has been a huge influence on my writing. I love how she created strong, honorable, loving families that lasted throughout time. To me, there is nothing better than reading a series that can span centuries and still hold your interest.

Nancy: Real life and good music. I recently opened an old shoe box that belonged to late my mother. In it I found everything from a card of buttons that cost 10 cents to a book of WW2 ration stamps. And, the ultimate prize … old love letters! I’m also inspired by song lyrics, especially those from the 50s and 60s – when you could actually understand what they were saying.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?

Patti: Pepsi, Ritz crackers, a good office chair with excellent lumbar support

Nancy: Coffee, chocolate and a good idea!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

Patti: My Life Uncovered by Lynn Isenberg – it’s a keeper.

Nancy: Don’t Know Much About the Civil War by Kenneth C. Davis. It’s an older book (1997) but it’s comprised of actual diary entries of citizens in and around the war-torn areas. Some of the accounts are heartbreaking, some uplifting.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?

Patti: The first books I really remember reading was about the Bobbsey Twins – The Secret at the Sea Shore, and Cherry Ames – Army Nurse.

Nancy: Nancy Drew mysteries. The bummer is, I’m old enough to remember when they first came out and waited somewhat patiently for the next in the series!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

Patti: I love to read, travel, eat out. And doing all three at once is even better.

Nancy: Promo, Twitter, FB. Totally away from writing … spending time with my grandchildren.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

Patti: They can find me at www.pattishenberger.com

Facebook – www.facebook.com/AuthorPattiShenberger

Twitter – @pattishenberger

And of course pattishenberger@comcast.net

Nancy: www.nancyfraser.ca

Facebook – www.facebook.com/nancyfraserauthor

Twitter – @nfraserauthor

Blog – www.nancyfraser.ca/wordpress/

Email – romwriter96@gmail.com

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

GIVEAWAY TIME!!

Name the Hotel!

As part of a tour-wide giveaway the authors are offering one lucky winner the chance to not only name the hotel which will appear in the second McCade Legacy novel, but will also have their name used as a character in the book as well! The winner will also receive a copy of Gambling on Love and a copy of the second book when it becomes available.

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Purchase Links:

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Book Description:

Check out the rest of the tour! http://www.entangledinromance.com/2013/05/29/gambling-on-love-blog-tour/

Title:  Black Helicopters

Author:  Blythe Woolston

May Contain Spoilers

From Amazon:

Review:

Wow – this is a powerful read, despite the short length, but I don’t know how I feel about it.  I don’t know if this is a book that you can like.  It’s certainly compelling, and I could not put it down, but ultimately, there are so many questions that were never answered to my satisfaction.  I guess I hated that Valley was nothing more than a pawn, and even when she had the chance to leave her past behind her, she choose to hold steadfast to her father’s survivalist training and strike out at Those People.  Whoever the heck Those People were!   Argh!

Black Helicopters is told through Valley’s present day adventures and flashbacks to her childhood.  Her mother was killed by black helicopters when she was in the garden picking beans, leaving her father to raise her and her brother, Bo.  They live somewhere and somewhen in Montana.  Valley and Bo are expected to keep themselves hidden from Those People while their father is away from the family’s rustic cabin, so they aren’t shot and killed like coyotes.  They are trained in survival skills; drop Valley on the side of mountain with a knife, and she’ll get by without much else.  They have caches of supplies hidden in case the government comes for them, and they have been taught how to hide and how to fight.

In the present day narrative, Valley is a suicide bomber. She is angry and tired of not being able to strike back at the people who have taken so much from her.  She decides to make the ultimate statement and make the ultimate sacrifice to wake people up.  The government, with their secrets and their black helicopters, are out to get everyone!  Surrounded by like minded individuals, Valley and her brother have been training for something big like this for their whole lives.  After seeking refuge with Wolf and his family, Valley is dismayed at the changes in Bo.  He isn’t acting like her brother anymore, and she makes up her mind then, as he changes before her eyes, that she’s going to make people sit up and take notice.  What I found depressing was that I don’t think Valley ever really knew Bo; he was allowed freedoms denied to her, as he worked with their father, going into the outside world while Valley was left at home in the den, keeping herself hidden and secret.  Bo was able to see and do so many things, and the world outside of the den wasn’t such a mystery to him. 

Parts of this book just bothered me.  Valley is powerless virtually the entire book.  Her own father only values her for the help she gives him during his acts of domestic terrorism.  She and Bo have been thoroughly brainwashed, and she would never ever even dream of going against his orders.  Her entire purpose is to be a good little soldier and follow her mission to the end.  When  Valley is molested by the man who is supposed to offer them a safe haven, she doesn’t tell Bo.  She is forced to keep this terrible secret and endure this awful man’s abuse because she’s afraid he’ll kill her brother.  Valley doesn’t have much power over her own life until she and Bo escape to Wolf’s; there, she makes the decision to don a vest and make the loudest, most violent statement possible.

Another problem that I had is that it is so hard to like or be sympathetic for Valley and her family.  They see threats everywhere, and they must be constantly on guard.  They believe that the deadly black helicopters are just a horizon away, that they will eventually come for them and kill them dead.  Deadly conspiracies abound, and every one will end with their deaths.  With her constant vigilance, it’s hard to get to know her, and that ever present wariness kept an emotional distance from Valley and the reader.

All of that out of the way, this is an impossible book to put down.  I wanted to know what happened next, and I gobbled this book up.  I’m just not sure how much I actually liked it.  I certainly hated the ending, because it seemed so pointless to me.  I guess I don’t agree that any cause is worth dying for, and I was angry that Valley thought that hers was.  I just saw her as gullible and brainwashed, which made her come across as pathetic.  She wasn’t heroic or brave; she was a puppet, and that made this book even more depressing.  The adults who should have been teaching, mentoring, and inspiring her all failed her.  They were so caught up by their own agenda, by their own need to cause civil chaos, that they didn’t leave any other path for Valley.  My own mind set and world view is too firmly established to accept that any cause is worth the life of a teenager.  So, I recommend this book, with the many reservations listed above.

Grade:  C+/B-

Review copy provided by publisher

Thanks to Entangled Publishing, I have a digital copy of Rebecca Zanetti’s steamy new release, Under The Covers, to give to one of you!  Open Internationally!  Just fill out the widget for your chance to win!

About the book:

Opposites don’t attract. They ignite.

The small Montana town near the Kooskia reserve seemed like the perfect place for Juliet Montgomery to hide from her not-so-law-abiding family. But when her peace is shattered by a break-in and threatening phone calls, it’s clear someone back in New York knows where she is. It’s time to plan her getaway, and fast—but first, she needs to tie up a few loose ends and find out exactly what the town’s sexy cowboy sheriff is hiding.

Sheriff Quinn Lodge has enough demons of his own to know when someone’s hiding something, and he’s determined to uncover what’s beneath Juliet’s uptight, city-girl exterior—preferably one piece of clothing at a time. But when their chemistry goes from fizzy to full-on explosive, things start getting complicated.

How can Juliet stay beneath the covers with Quinn, when doing so means blowing her cover?

About Rebecca:

Rebecca Zanetti wrote her first story when she was six – a romance between a princess and neighboring prince.  The princess fell out of her castle and the prince rescued her. A happily ever after was had by all.

This theme of romance has been carried through Rebecca’s works until present time.  While today’s heroine may have a medical degree, black belt in Karate and her own 401K, she’s still after that happy ending.  And today’s prince may have fangs and wear a black hat, but hey, a modern princess likes a guy who bites.

Rebecca attended Pepperdine University, earning a bachelor’s degree in Journalism with a Political Science emphasis.  While there she worked as the Editor-in-Chief of The Graphic newspaper, a member of the Pi Phi Sorority and an intern for President Reagan, who still gave 3-5 speeches a week, even though he was no longer president.

After college, Rebecca worked as an art curator and a Senate aide before heading to law school, where she received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Idaho.  She married Tony Zanetti in the middle of her second year of law school and became pregnant with their first child during the third year.  She graduated law school, gave birth three weeks later, and took the Bar Exam three weeks after that.  All she remembers about the bar exam is that it was so quiet in the testing room, she thought about taking a quick nap.  But she continued on, passed the bar and became a lawyer.   She worked for a large firm, then a small firm, then the county while also teaching legal classes at her local community college.  Now she writes about vampires.

Growing up amid the glorious backdrops and winter wonderlands of the Pacific Northwest has given Rebecca fantastic scenery and adventures to weave into her stories.  She resides there with her husband, children and extended family who inspire her every day.  Rebecca has completed several manuscripts, winning award throughout the writing industry for her work.  She is currently working on the Dark Protector’s Series published by Kensington Brava.

Connect with Rebecca Online

Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads | Website

Title: Under the Covers (Maverick Montana, #2)
Author: Rebecca Zanetti
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 279 pages
Release Date: May 2013
ISBN: 978-1-62266-781-9
Imprint: Brazen

Purchase links:

Amazon

B&N http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/under-the-covers-rebecca-zanetti/1114954605

Kobo http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Under-the-Covers/book-MciczsgC4ky9LO-Y0QQLHA/page1.html

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Please welcome dashing Rafe Hartley to the virtual offices today!  Rafe is the intrepid hero of Jayne Fresina’s Lady Mercy Danforthe Flirts with Scandal, and he dropped in for a chat. 

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in five words or less.

[Rafe Hartley] Always left at the altar!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you share a typical day in the life of Rafe Hartley?

[Rafe Hartley] I work hard from first light to dusk, managing my small farm in Sydney Dovedale. But I don’t mind the long hours; it’s all worthwhile. In the evenings I sit by my fire and read – yes, I can read, thank you very much, despite what some folk think! – the daily newspaper to keep up with current affairs (in case I have the chance to impress Lady Frosty Bottom) and catch up with any boxing news. I also read the weekly Norwich and Morecroft Farmer’s Gazette. Occasionally, I am invited to Morecroft to dine with my father and step-mother. Since that means having to dress up like a dandy and put up with my great-grandmother’s snide comments, I don’t often accept, but I do like to visit my half sisters when I can and tease them unmercifully. If the mood takes me, I might enjoy a jug of cider and a game of cards at Merryweather’s Tavern of an evening.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words come to mind when you think of Mercy?

[Rafe Hartley] Bossy, Stubborn, Buttercup!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you find most exasperating about her?

[Rafe Hartley] She always thinks she’s in the right, even though I am.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you could change one thing you’ve done in your life, what would it be?

[Rafe Hartley] Let her get away from me once before. I was a young fool and should have stood up to her brother when he had our marriage annulled.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What’s one thing you won’t leave home without?

[Rafe Hartley] My wits! Nobody gets one over on me. Not even Lady Bossy Drawers Danforthe.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t being jilted at the alter?

[Rafe Hartley] I’m a bit of a daydreamer. I know you wouldn’t think it to look at me, would you? I daresay you look at me and think – handsome charmer, all brawn and balls – but no, I have brains too and quite an imagination. I’m not merely pretty to look at, as I keep telling Mercy Danforthe. I’m not here just to be her plaything! Sometimes I catch myself daydreaming about that woman and what I’d like to….

Well, sometimes I make serious plans for the future. A man has to have plans. Of course, I haven’t always been this way. I used to be quite a reckless boy, aimless, enjoying life with no real path. I’ve grown up though. At least, I’m trying. A few folks might be surprised by that, but I mean to make something of my life and now I know what I want for myself. So look out!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you share your dreams for the future in five words or less.

[Rafe Hartley] To kiss Mercy every day.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

[Rafe Hartley] Thank you, my lady! It’s been a pleasure.

Giveaway Time!!!

Ready for your chance to win a copy of The Wicked Wedding of Miss Ellie Vyne (the book directly preceding Lady Mercy Danforthe Flirts with Scandal in the Sydney Dovedale Series).  Just fill out the widget below. earn extra entries for following.  US and Canadian addresses only, please.

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You can purchase LADY MERCY DANFORTHE FLIRTS WITH SCANDAL, or any of the books in the Sydney Dovedale series, from the links below:

Barnes and Noble

Books-A-Million

IndieBound

Chapters/Indigo

Discover a New Love

Sourcebooks

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jayne Fresina sprouted up in England, the youngest in a family of four girls. Entertained by her father’s colorful tales of growing up in the countryside, and surrounded by opinionated sisters— all with far more exciting lives than hers— she’s always had inspiration for her beleaguered heroes and unstoppable heroines. Look for the fourth book in the Sydney Dovedale Series, Miss Molly Robbins Designs a Seduction in March 2014. For more information, please visit www.jaynefresina.com.