Back To You, by Natalie-Nicole Bates

Book Title: Back To You
Author: Natalie-Nicole Bates
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Bradley Publishing
Publication Date: January 30th, 2012
Ebook
Words: 26,000

Book Description:


"On the surface, Lynsey Reznor seems to have it all. She is beautiful, brilliant, and a successful true-crime writer who has been living the past decade in Miami. But what Lynsey lacks is what she needs the most—a family.

After the death of her mother, and yet another failed relationship, Lynsey makes an impulsive decision to return to her hometown of Unity. But Unity will present its own bittersweet memories, most notably, her first love, Nick Lincoln.

Twenty years ago, Nick broke teenager Lynsey’s heart when he decided to marry another. He had his own private reasons—reasons he never explained to Lynsey. Now she is back, along with a chance to reclaim her love. But Lynsey wants answers from him that he may never be able to give out of duty and guilt.”



Buy Link:
Bradley Publishing: http://shop.bradleypublishings.com/Back-to-You-9781938076022.htm?categoryId=4

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Excerpt:



When he heard her, he came to her, took her into his arms, and kissed her. It was a comfort that he wasn’t regretting their lovemaking. She didn’t think she could handle being rejected by him twice in her lifetime.

“Do you have to leave soon?” she asked.

“I’m sorry. I don’t want to, but I have to.” He went to the stove and prepared her a cup of coffee. “I think we should start planning our wedding. We could be married at Christmas.”

She was taken aback. Is this his proposal? This was supposed to be so romantic and memorable, not talk about planning a Christmas wedding while he stirred a cup of coffee.

“Do you even want to get married?” She took the coffee mug he offered. “I mean, it wasn’t that long ago that you told me you weren’t sure you ever wanted to be married again. You said you didn’t see fatherhood in your future, and Nick, I want a baby…more than one. I grew up as an only child and I was so alone. I don’t want my child to have to experience that.”

“Well, I didn’t use a condom last night. You could be pregnant right now,” was his reply.

Heaviness descended upon her heart. This was so not how she wanted this morning to be, and certainly not the marriage proposal she had dreamed of. “I’m on the Pill—I won’t get pregnant if that’s all you’re worried about.”

“I’m sorry, that’s not the only reason we should get married.”

“Then why?” she asked suspiciously.

He let out an exaggerated sigh. “Lynsey, I don’t have time to get into this with you right now. What do you want me to say in the five minutes I have before I leave for work?”

She couldn’t believe his glib attitude. “How about saying something to me like…‘I love you, Lynsey, and I made a tremendous mistake by not marrying you twenty years ago?’ That would take you less than thirty seconds to say, and you could have easily gotten to your precious job on time.”

Suddenly his jaw set and his eyes narrowed. “I didn’t make a mistake by not marrying you twenty years ago! I let you go to become a success in life—and you did. I can’t regret that!”

“So, what I thought all these years was correct. I was nothing to you but a quick and easy way to shed your virginity.” Just saying the words was devastating.

“That’s not it at all,” he vehemently insisted. “You were always so intelligent. I mean, you were a sixteen-year-old senior in high school! Just how many grades did you skip over, anyway?”

“Two,” she answered in a low voice.

“Do you know what would have happened if I hadn’t married Kelly?” He didn’t wait for her reply. “I’ll tell you what. You and I would have been ostracized by everyone in this town! We would have had to be married right away, and we would have had to live with your mother, because I had no money.”

“My mother loved you. She would have been happy to have us live with her,” she interjected.

“And we were so naïve, Lynsey. You would have graduated high school with either a big belly, or a baby in your arms…if you had graduated at all.”

She crossed her arms over her breasts and looked at the floor. She was too afraid that if she looked at him she would break down. “Some of the girls in school were married. A few of them had babies.”

He lifted her chin and forced her to make eye contact with him. “And you were too smart to be stuck in this town, and just another housewife. You would have become bored and resentful.”

“I wouldn’t have known the difference,” she countered.

“I had serious doubts then. I still have doubts now,” he admitted.

Her dark lashes flew upward. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“I believe that you will become bored and restless in Unity and will want to go back to Florida or maybe California. I have a job and a family here, Lynsey. I don’t ever want to give that up. I’m afraid that we’ll have a child, and you’ll take my baby and leave. I can not allow that to happen.”

She couldn’t believe what he was saying. Nothing was further from the truth. “Do you think I would have sunk so much of my savings into that house just to abandon it? I would never, ever do what you’re saying. But if circumstances changed, I would expect you to support what was best for our family. Couples who are committed make sacrifices for each other!”

It was becoming clearer and clearer that things were rapidly falling apart between them.

“Lynsey, didn’t what happened between us last night mean anything to you?” he asked.

She chuckled unpleasantly. “I suppose that with us living in such close proximity, last night was inevitable. But don’t worry about it happening again, Nick. When you get home this evening, I won’t be here.”

“Where are you going to be?”

She wanted to hurt Nick like she was now hurting. “I’m sure that Caleb wouldn’t mind me bunking down at his house for a week or two.”

“Over my dead body,” he seethed. “I will drag you away from him kicking and screaming if it comes to it. I’ll handcuff you to my bed if need be. Believe me, Lynsey, I’ll do it!” He flopped down into a kitchen chair and buried his face in his hands.

“I have to go now, Nick. I’m meeting your sister for breakfast. Listen to me. You need to pull yourself together. In your line of work, bad things happen when you lose your concentration.”

When he didn’t reply, she let out a sigh of resignation and headed for the door. At the last minute she turned to him. “Thanks for almost making it happen between us.”
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Book Trailer:

Link: http://youtu.be/moTRG6bfK8E



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Book Promo + Giveaway: The Last Arakad, by Guillaume Wolf "Prof. G"

THE LAST ARAKAD
by Guillaume Wolf “Prof. G”



Do you believe in destiny?

When sensitive Maya moves with her brother Thomas from Los Angeles to Paris hoping for a better life, she has no idea that everything is about to dramatically change.

What starts as an initiation into the age-old Arakad magical tradition takes an unexpected turn when a wave of brutal murders shatters her world. Caught up in an ancient prophecy, she finds herself at the center of a ruthless battle between good and evil in which humanity’s future is at stake.

When all hope is lost and she becomes the final target of a sinister clan, will Maya learn to trust herself and her own power? Or will her own fears prevail?

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GiveAWAY!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


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BIO

Born in Africa (Sénégal), raised in Paris, France, and currently living in Los Angeles, California, Guillaume Wolf “Prof G.” embodies the spirit of the 21st Century “global village.”

Guillaume has spent decades exploring the transformative power of symbols, archetypes, and creativity (and their relationship with the everyday world); and this passion inspires his writing.

Guillaume’s background includes among others: creative director; branding consultant; and teacher of communication design at the prestigious Art Center College of Design in Pasadena.

He is the author of reDESIGN: reCREATE, a book about reinvention and creativity. The Last Arakad is his first novel.
Guillaume lives with his wife and daughter in Los Angeles, California.

To learn more about Guillaume Wolf’s books and discover additional content, collectibles, and behind-the-scenes bonuses, visit www.Arakad.com

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Book Excerpt:

THE LAST ARAKAD
by Guillaume Wolf “Prof. G”

Excerpt from:

CHAPTER 10 — THE OLD ONE



Without saying a word, she stepped in.

It felt like being swallowed by a green monster. The wall of greenery had turned into a maze of tubes and tunnels. The sky above disappeared. As she walked deeper in, she felt as though she was leaving the world behind. She was growing distracted and tense, her legs getting scratched by the thorns. Like sharp blades, they cut through her clothes, making her bleed. The path was definitely not tourist-friendly.

After what seemed like an eternity, the narrow pathway led to an enclosure.

“Wow!” whispered Maya. “This is incredible.”

She’d finally found what she was looking for. There he was, eighteen feet tall, defying time. Looking magnificent and powerful, the Old One was standing in front of her. Maya was in awe.



“So . . . my friend was right,” said Thomas, as he arrived on the scene, “this is just an old stone!” His voice brought Maya out of her reverie.

Indeed, the Old One was a giant monolith, an ancient menhir, as they were called in Brittany. These mysterious giants abounded in this region of France and around England. No one knew who had erected them, why, or how. Some historians believed they had been set up in the Neolithic era around 9,500 B.C. Other scholars proposed they were even older, belonging to a forgotten time of legend.

“Thomas, isn’t he beautiful?” said Maya.

“Are you kidding me?” Thomas had had it. “No! This isn’t beautiful. And what do you mean ‘he’? You forced me to walk for hours in the rain and cold to see what? An old stone? And for what? Seriously, for what?” His face was flushed with anger, his eyes wide.

This wasn’t good. Maya knew that when Thomas threw tantrums, they could escalate very fast. She tried to calm him down.

“I see you’re upset and I know, I haven’t enjoyed walking around all day,” she said in a slightly contrived, positive tone of voice. “But we finally found what we’re looking for! We can stop walking. Valerie’s going to be impressed when we—”

“That’s my whole point!” cut in Thomas, “Valerie? Uncle D.? Why are you always so eager to please them? We’re not even related. They just keep pushing us around, telling us we ‘have’ to do this,” and we ‘have’ to do that. When does it stop? And why do we have to do what they tell us? The way I see it, they’re using us as distractions because they’re bored with their lives!”

“Thomas, please. You’re being unfair, it’s not—”

“Don’t you get it? I want to direct my own life!” yelled Thomas. He was in a frenzy. “I want to control my own destiny! I hate all this! I’m out of here!” He picked up a rock from the ground and threw it at the ancient monolith.

Pock! The rock hit the menhir. Thomas turned his back on Maya and left, still ranting.

Maya stood alone in silence. A cold, dark feeling began to rush up inside her, moving from her belly to her chest. Her eyes filled with tears. She held her breath, trying desperately not to cry.

As she finally opened her mouth to breathe, she burst into tears. She held her face in her hands, then looked into her pockets to see if she had a tissue. Of course, she didn’t.

“This is such a mess!” cried Maya. “I’m such a mess!” With her arms crossed around her chest, she was rocking back and forth. She sat down with her back against the monolith.

Her tears fell hot and fast down her face. Falling down . . . down . . . down . . . As they hit the ground, they splashed on impact like tiny, bursting water balloons. On a microscopic level, millions of water and salt molecules were rebounding into the air. And not far where Maya sat, at that exact moment, a dark wave broke onto the shore of the beach, itself splitting into billions of water particles. Water, salt, and earth—big and small—dancing together in one eternal dance.

The tears. The ocean. All was in perfect harmony. All was one despite the pain.

Suddenly, Maya felt a tremor in the earth. She stood up, fearing it might be an earthquake, a common occurrence back home in Los Angeles.

Nothing.

Next, she heard a humming. Everything started vibrating around her.

“Who is the little one crying next to me?” said a very deep voice.

Startled, Maya look around. No one.

“Who are you, little one?” insisted the voice.

As she slowly turned around, she saw that the giant monolith was glowing with what seemed to be an electric blue light, slowly pulsating.

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Morbid Seraphic, by S.K. Whiteside and other awesome authors...

Even the divine have a dark side...

Take a journey into a world where the forgotten reign as King and Queen. Explore a “reality” where the divine give meaning and substance to the concept of IMMORTALITY.
These menacing tales feature beings of divinity from angels, demons, gods, goddesses, to personifications of divine principals. No other worldly being is safe. The sparkly undead and wild shaggy dogs have no place in this anthology of dark proportions.

Can you handle it?

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Edited by S.K. Whiteside

Fallen From Grace ~ SK Whiteside

S(a)TAN ~ Nathan Squiers

Assassin's Rose ~ KaSonndra Leigh

The Demon's Playground ~Amanda R. Browning

Better the Devil You Know ~ Stephen B. Pearl

From Hell ~ Dominique Goodall

I Could Not Stop For Death ~ Jana Boskey

Illusions ~ Lisa Goldman

Haunted ~ S.K. Whiteside
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Teaser Excerpt

Malachi landed gracefully in the alleyway next to the coffee shop. He enfolded his wings and put on his white knee length wool duster. It wasn’t particularly cold outside but a continuous cool breeze did warrant some coverage. He was growing bored. It had been a while since he was assigned to watch over anyone and the lack of occupation was beginning to aggravate him. To combat the growing feelings of loneliness, Malachi had taken to spending afternoons in a pub in lower Scotland reading books. It didn’t squelch the loneliness but it did give him some sort of comfort being near his home of birth. At least what was left of what he considered his “home.” It had been centuries since he had actually lived here, or lived at all for that matter and the last of his living relatives were long deceased…just like him.

Well not completely like him…



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Morbid Seraphic is an anthology of stories edited by S.K. Whiteside of dark paranormal and/or supernatural tales of all things “Divine.” Seraphic means Angelic or Divine and that is the premise of each story included in the work. The Anthology is written for a crossover YA fan base.

Angels, Gods, Goddesses, Demons, Mythology, Divine locations, and personifications of Divine principals all serve as setting and characters in this group of stories. The stories will range from chilling to dark to terrifying and contain haunting, murder, kidnapping, ritual.
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About S.K. Whiteside

S.K. Whiteside is a writer of Paranormal/Fantasy, Horror, and Suspense. As a full time Mental Health Counselor, she started writing in Academia but decided writing about things on the “other side of the veil” was a lot more interesting. Living in the Paranormal capital of the world makes it fairly easy for her to come up with characters, many of which are based off of real personas in her life that are so vibrant they can’t help but carry over into her writing.

S.K. Whiteside is a Fiction Weaver and World Creator. It just so happens that the worlds she creates are often filled with things that go bump in the night. A New Orleanian at heart, the Deep South often serves as the setting for her Paranormal Tales of the unknown. Her Charismatic characters and snarky banter often derive from the various personas of those she loves and the voices in her head. When not writing she spends her time telling everyone else in the world that they are completely bonkers but yet she often channels Napoleon Bonaparte. During her down time she pokes at the massive giant whom holds her captive and runs from two monsters that she swears are out to kill her. Some people call them her husband and children but she knows the truth...

For more information on S.K. Whiteside, please visit her website at www.skwhiteside.com or visit her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-S-K-Whiteside/178263688937446

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My Review:


Morbid Seraphic, was an amazing read! I really enjoyed it. I loved the whole Good vs. Evil, Good turned Bad scenerio found in the book. Although I found myself scanning through 1 or 2 stories in the book, due to lack of interest, either due to the story feeling rushed, or I just couldn't get into it, there were a few I really did enjoy and that is why I recommend this book.
Each story is written by a different author and each story unique and dark. Some maybe not for the faint of heart, so reader beware...unless you enjoy dark tales involving Angels, demons, witches, etc...
I know I enjoyed the dark tales! ^-^

I look forward to seeing more books like this one...

Echo Falls, by Jaime McDougall

Echo Falls
By Jaime McDougall
Genre: Urban Fantasy

Book Blurb:
Running from a nightmare stalking her every move, Phoebe Martin arrives in Echo Falls hoping she has finally found a safe place to stop. But trouble has a way of catching up and soon the signs are there.

After a vicious attack in an alley, policeman Aidan O'Bryan is left with Phoebe as his only path to understanding why the Echo Falls werewolf pack - his pack - is being attacked. When another pack member is killed, Phoebe is forced to confront her past before she loses Aidan and everything she has come to love.

Love and duty become one as Aidan strives to prevent Phoebe from becoming the next victim. But with Phoebe just as determined to protect Aidan and her new home, secrets from her past threaten to tear them apart. Will love give Phoebe the strength to trust Aidan and face her fears, or will her past destroy her future?

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Book Available at: Amazon


Excerpt (Chapter One):

Keep running, keep running, keep running. Phoebe’s lungs burned as her mind screamed the mantra. Keep running, keep running.

How many steps can there be?

She should know. She lived in this apartment building.
Tears ran down her cheeks and her lungs burned for air. Only the random irrational thought broke through the panic keeping her feet moving down the steps. Keep running. Keep running. The light of the emergency exit came into view. Almost there…

The door to the stairwell slammed open with a hollow boom. She tripped and clung to the railing to steady herself.
Keep running.
The shock of the cool night air sent a shiver of relief through her body. She’d come out a side exit into an alley. If she could just get to the front –

Suddenly she was thrown to the ground from behind. She hit the concrete, what little breath she had knocked from her lungs. Blood began flowing from where her head hit the ground, and small sparks of light floated into her vision.

How did he catch up so fast?

Desperately she tried to gulp down as much air as she could, willing her lungs to cooperate. Instinct kicked in as the attacker slashed at her, and she curled into fetal position.

A dog. He’d turned into a dog. A big dog with vicious claws and teeth he used to tear into her exposed back, thigh and shoulder. She slowly regained her breath but could only use it to scream her throat raw.

Her vision faded, taking the small sparks of light with it. Searing pain ripped through her shoulder as a claw dug down against her bone. One last, long scream tore from her lungs before she was left gasping and sobbing, her fear slowly smoldering into rage.
Things can’t end like this.

She opened her eyes as the dog stood over her, trying to get to her throat. A paw came into her line of vision and she saw her chance. She reached out, grabbed it and squeezed with all the strength she had.

The dog yelped and tried to twist away, but she held on with all the strength she had. She knew she’d only bought herself time. She couldn’t move the dog off her and she couldn’t squeeze his paw all night. He tried uselessly to bite her, his jaws having no strength so long as she squeezed his paw. But she could already feel her strength waning.

Suddenly the weight of the dog flew off her, taking the paw out of her grip. Without thinking, she used her one cooperating arm to drag herself toward the front of the building.

She shivered, her arm giving out, and caught a glimpse of a second dog. No. A wolf… Squeezing her eyes tightly shut, she listened to the dogs fighting, the battle just a few steps away. She tried her best to curl up against the building wall and willed the growling and snapping to go away. They sounded like they were tearing each other to pieces.

The universe granted her wish, the battle ending with the sound of two bodies hitting each other and a sharp whine. She shivered and softly whined as well, dreading the approach of the winner as one of the dogs yelped and ran away.

A few moments later warm, human hand brushed the back of her head and she screamed again. If it could be called a scream. Her throat burned and rebelled at her abuse of it.

“Ssh. You’re safe now.”

She tried to scream again and move away, but her body wouldn’t obey her commands. She groaned as the full force of the pain washed over her.

He murmured and she relaxed her desperate grip on staying conscious. Sleep seemed so tempting, the black abyss singing a sirensong to her. Her rescuer – or captor – tried to soothe her, but something dark and dangerous in his voice betrayed him. He was different. She tried to bat away his hands but gave up after a few attempts, not sure if her good hand was actually moving.

As she slipped into the darkness, she wondered if death had merely granted her a short reprieve from the inevitable.

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I would like to welcome Jaime McDougall to my blog. Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
My name is Jaime McDougall and I am a US expat happily living life in regional Australia. Telling stories has always been in my blood, and I have wandered through a variety of genres through my life. Romance has been a common theme over the years, and I am loving exploring all its subgenres. When I’m not writing, I’m usually baking or playing with my dogs.

Who or what inspired you to become a writer?
It is hard for me to name any specific person or event because I told stories before I knew how to write them. I was born daydreaming, I think.
That being said, I do remember reading The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley about half a dozen times and being so inspired by the story I loved so much. I knew that I wanted to create stories like that where people would love them so much they would be on the ‘keep’ shelf.

How long did it take you to write Echo Falls?
Completing the first draft of Echo Falls took me about three months. However, the second draft – what I like to call the ‘overhaul draft’ – took me another three months and a lot of rewriting.

While writing how many times do you go back and rewrite a plot?
I’m a plantser or a plotser. Whatever you would like to call it. What that means for me is that I outline at least a few scenes ahead of where I’m actually writing. Because of that style, I tend to not go back and rewrite an entire plot. Sometimes subplots are added or axed – the same with characters – but the plot itself usually stays the same.
In my mind, however, is a different story. The overarching plot can change up to half a dozen times when it’s still in the chaotic mass that is my imagination.

You run into a bookstore, where do you go first?
To a doctor to get something for the headache… Kidding, of course.
I head straight toward the speculative fiction section. Sci-fi, paranormal, so on and so forth. That is the section where I feel most at home as a reader and a writer.
I have been known to stray into the non-fiction sections where a lot of inspiration can be found.

How many books in a month do you tend to read?
I’m a slow reader, so I would say an average month is one to three books. It depends on what I’m writing, how much I’m writing… I never read in the genre I’m writing in while I’m working on something because I don’t want influences to drip in. They usually do anyway – the whole ‘there are no original plots anymore’ saying comes to mind – but I try not to encourage it.
My reading also depends on my mood, which influences the number. I take much more time with books I’m reading to teach myself something than I do with the fluffy books I read for comfort.

In all the books you've read. Who is your most favorite character and why?
Oh, very tough question!

State 5 random facts about yourself.
1. I need to be warm while I’m writing. Whether I’m at my desk, curled up in the recliner or at a cafe, if I’m not warm, I’m not writing.
2. I have a huge desk. My desk is where I do my scrapbooking, card making, write and send letters, keep up with blogging and a lot of other things besides writing – and I have room for it all! I love my desk.
3. On my desk, I have a ‘shelf of lost toys’ where I keep all the strange and curious things I pick up here and there. I have everything from a moonstone to a stuffed owl to a tiny music box.
4. When I moved to Australia, I decided to have an open mind and try everything I could, so I have had a lot of strange (to me, from Midwest USA) foods. Some of the list: shark, kangaroo, smoked eel, chicken feet, duck tongues and jellyfish salad.
5. I love my tattoos. They are very important to me and are art interpretations of important parts in my life. I am currently about halfway through my biggest project ever that covers my entire back.

Your favorite Genre?
My favourite genre would have to be paranormal romance – especially with the urban fantasy setting involved. I love reading about blossoming romance and I love the unlimited possibilities for the paranormal. Put them together and… I’m hooked!

What are you currently reading?
Right now I’m reading some non-fiction: Way of the Cheetah by Lynn Viehl. I’m not far into it, but it’s quite interesting. I enjoy reading books on writing when I feel like I’m having trouble focusing.

What is the best book you've read?
I absolutely adored Abarat by Clive Barker. The amazing depth of the world and characters blew me away the first time I read it. I was so impressed by that book that I will never forget it.

Any new projects coming up?
Definitely! I am currently working on the sequel to Echo Falls, tentatively named Fading Echoes. I hesitate to call it a sequel because it takes place twenty years after Echo Falls, but readers will see a lot of familiar characters.

Here’s your chance to market your book. Describe it. And why readers should pick it up?

Echo Falls is the story of a woman finding the courage to stand against her worst nightmare to fight for what she loves. Readers will fall in love with the characters as well as this town in the mountains, rich with history and legend.



Where you can find author Jaime McDougall:

Facebook

Twitter: @JMScribe

Goodreads


Website/ Blog

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About the Author:

Jaime McDougall is a citizen of the world, currently loving life in beautiful country Victoria in Australia. She loves eating sushi, kidnapping her husband and naming her pets in honour of science fiction authors.

A love of fiction has always coursed through her veins and she told stories as a child even before she knew how to write them. Settling into one genre was never her style and she has plans for novels in women’s fiction, urban fantasy and more – all with a touch of romance.

She has been published in Chicken Soup for the Soul: High School: The Real Deal and Chicken Soup for the Soul: Campus Chronicles. She has also enjoyed writing the So You Want ebook series for authors looking to establish their names online.

You can connect with her at her website: http://www.inkyblots.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/#!/JMScribe
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorjaimemcdougall

Review for Indian Maidens Bust Loose by Vidya Samson

Indian Maidens Bust Loose
by Vidya Samson

Book Blurb:

Nisha Desai is a young Indian woman who pines for romance in a country where love is in the same class as malaria, and where mates are selected using a calculator.

Normally deluged with ghastly suitors of her father's choosing, she suddenly finds herself on the short list for a bride-seeing tour by a rich and handsome nephew of a neighbor. This is the stuff of which dreams are made.

A nightmare materializes when a very un-Indian ruffian moves in next door, complete with beard and obnoxious Harley motorcycle. He might play the bad boy in one of Nisha's beloved romance novels, but in real life, he terrifies her.

So she tries to ignore the thundering engine of the bike while anxiously awaiting the arrival of Prince Charming--or at least, Prince Rich.

But arriving first are a long-lost black-sheep American aunt and her trouble-magnet teenage daughters. The aunt proves to be a New Age space case, while the cousins’ appetite for disasters threatens to level the city of Ahmedabad. In short order, the demented cousins instigate an elopement, a public protest, and a riot that gets Nisha thrown in jail.

Nisha’s family comes to the conclusion that while East and West may meet, sometimes they shouldn't. The guests are seen as an invading force, equipped with weapons of mass corruption.

While Nisha wonders how she can hide her now corroded reputation from the dream suitor's family, insanity marches on. Nisha's father adopts a pet cow and convinces half the city it's the reincarnation of a Hindu deity. The two families are finally united in a common goal: to bilk thousands. The result is Madison Avenue's idea of a religious experience, which is not a controllable situation.

Indian Maidens Bust Loose is a hilarious romantic comedy set in the land of cows, curry, and the Kama Sutra.

Book is Available at: Amazon

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My review:



Indian Maidens Bust Loose, is as it says it is- A hilarious romantic comedy. I can easily see this book become a next Bollywood hit! ^-^

The story follows Nisha Desai and her family as her father tries to find her and her sister Vinita prospective husbands. Which of course they are not happy about and sabotage each meeting.
Nisha's hope of leaving her family's home and coming to America to pursue her love of journalism comes to light when her long, detached aunt comes to visit, along with her too VERY Americanized, trouble seeking cousins.
That's when her life and future begins to spiral....

Samson did an awesome job in writing this book with humor and entertainment in mind. Even the titles of the chapters are catchy. I really enjoyed reading this book. It is different from the kind of books I normally read, but it hooked me from the begining and long after the end. I highly recommend this book for anyone looking to read a book full of culture, humor, and some romance in the mix!

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About the Author: (Taken from her website)

I was born in India, but my parents soon moved to a conservative Middle Eastern country (is there another kind?) where boys and girls were segregated in school. When we moved back to India years later, I thought I would find myself in a more enlightened setting. I quickly discovered that people can get arrested for holding hands in public. Unless they’re of the same sex. I considered getting a male monkey and holding its hand, just to drive the rule-makers mad.

I’m very enthusiastic about physical fitness. Nothing like a good brisk walk–except when it’s too hot or too cold or when its rainy. Or dangerous. You never know when you might encounter a nut. So I just get a flashlight and chase roaches around my place at night. I call it roachercize. Just kidding. They’re too fast for me, anyway.


I’m very concerned about the environment. It bothers me that people buy things they don’t really need, then toss them in the dump. Especially when the dump is next door. I swear that dog hasn’t moved in three days. Maybe it’s not sleeping.

I went to the doctor the other day about a stomach infection and brought up the subject of germs. The doctor said, “Don’t worry. Indians get all the germs they need, every day. The danger is in being too clean and falling short.” That must be common advice here.

In some parts of the Middle East, traffic is so well regulated that no drunk, imbecile, or woman can drive a car. In India, all you need to get a license is the ability to steer clear of cattle.

I’m finally taking driving lessons. The name of the course is actually “Cow Avoidance 101.” It’s not so bad if you run over a human being. They were probably jaywalking anyway. In fact, since there are no crosswalks, everyone jaywalks. But there’s hell to pay if you bump a cow. So forget about traffic signals–all five of them–and just keep your eyes peeled for cows.

Visit Author, Vidya Samson at her website: www.vidyasamson.wordpress.com

Book Promos: Something Strange and Deadly, by Susan Dennard & Velvetten by Daniel Marks

Something Strange and Deadly
by Susan Dennard
Release Date: July 24, 2012
Published by: Harper Teen

Book Blurb:

The year is 1876, and there’s something strange and deadly loose in Philadelphia…

Eleanor Fitt has a lot to worry about. Her brother has gone missing, her family has fallen on hard times, and her mother is determined to marry her off to any rich young man who walks by. But this is nothing compared to what she’s just read in the newspaper—

The Dead are rising in Philadelphia.

And then, in a frightening attack, a zombie delivers a letter to Eleanor…from her brother.

Whoever is controlling the Dead army has taken her brother as well. If Eleanor is going to find him, she’ll have to venture into the lab of the notorious Spirit-Hunters, who protect the city from supernatural forces. But as Eleanor spends more time with the Spirit-Hunters, including their maddeningly stubborn yet handsome inventor, Daniel, the situation becomes dire. And now, not only is her reputation on the line, but her very life may hang in the balance.

*Tell me this book doesn't sound good??? I can't wait to get my hands on it! ^-^* ~Nilsa

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Velveteen, by Daniel Marks
Release Date: October 9, 2012
Published by: Random House Children's Book

Book Blurb:

Velveteen Monroe is dead. At 16, she was kidnapped and murdered by a madman named Bonesaw. But that's not the problem.

The problem is she landed in purgatory. And while it's not a fiery inferno, it's certainly no heaven. It's gray, ashen, and crumbling more and more by the day, and everyone has a job to do. Which doesn't leave Velveteen much time to do anything about what's really on her mind.

Bonesaw.

Velveteen aches to deliver the bloody punishment her killer deserves. And she's figured out just how to do it. She'll haunt him for the rest of his days.

It'll be brutal . . . and awesome.

But crossing the divide between the living and the dead has devastating consequences. Velveteen's obsessive haunting cracks the foundations of purgatory and jeopardizes her very soul. A risk she's willing to take—except fate has just given her reason to stick around: an unreasonably hot and completely off-limits coworker.

Velveteen can't help herself when it comes to breaking rules . . . or getting revenge. And she just might be angry enough to take everyone down with her.

*Awesome! Have to wait awhile, but I know I will be adding this to my "to read" list! ~Nilsa

Hope you enjoyed these two previews to Two up and coming books!

Destiny Unveiled by Laura DeLuca

Destiny
Book One
By Laura DeLuca

Blurb:

Gabriella is a witch. The problem is, she doesn’t remember. She repressed the memories of her powers years ago when her mother was murdered. Now, the warlock who was responsible for her mother’s death has set his sights on Gabriella. He is determined to use her fear to turn her to the dark side of magick…even if it kills her. Her mother’s spirit is reaching out to warn her, but even that she pushes away. Desperate to save her daughter, the spirit finds another witch--one that just happens to be in love with Gabriella. Darron is more than willing to help but the two young witches will have way more to battle than just an evil warlock. There are overbearing jocks and petty rich girls who get tempers flaring and often set Gabrielle and Darron at odds.

There is more to the story than Gabrielle and Darron could even imagine. There are terrible secrets to be revealed, battles to be waged, and lives will be lost. Only after Gabrielle and Darron both come to terms with who they really are, and open themselves up to the true meaning of magick, can they have any hope of fulfilling their destiny.

Excerpt from Destiny- click HERE

You tube trailer for Destiny

Available at: Amazon

Destiny Unveiled
Book Two

Book Blurb:

Gabriella and Darron thought their magickal battle was over when they defeated the evil warlock, Richard. When her Aunt Donna seeks Gabriella’s help in rescuing her catatonic daughter from the Dark Coven, Gabriella discovers that her cousin holds a power within her that would be catastrophic in the hands of the evil witches.

Gabriella’s coven sets out on a journey that may be their last. Along the way, they meet new allies, face devastating treachery, and battle not only the Dark Coven, but the darkness within themselves. When Gabriella finally comes face to face with the cousin she never knew existed, her true destiny is unveiled, and the fate of the mortal world is in her hands.

Excerpt of Destiny Unveiled click HERE


Available at:
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/160138

Amazon:

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Little Blurb about Laura DeLuca...
In addition to being a young adult author, I am also a mom to four great kids, own a restaurant, and run a product review blog called New Age Mama. I live at the Jersey Shore (no, I don’t know Snooki), and I love spending the summer on the beach. It’s the best place to write.

Who or what inspired you to become a writer?
I have always wanted to be a writer. I think it runs in the family. A have aunts, cousins, and uncles who were reporters and authors. Even my mom is writing a book, it’s just taking her thirty years to finish it 

How long did it take you to write Destiny Unveiled?
I feel like the Destiny series has been part of my life forever. The first book I started my senior year of high school (1994). Then I put it down for about ten years. Once I started to practice Wicca, I finally knew how to finish the first book in the series. When that was done, it only took three months to write the sequel, Destiny Unveiled.

While writing how many times do you go back and rewrite a plot?
I don’t think I’ve never changed the basis of the plot, but I do proof read and add/change smaller details at least eight times before I submit to publishers and agents.

You run into a bookstore, where do you go first? The metaphysical section.

How many books in a month do you tend to read? Right now I have an infant, so I’m lucky if I can get through one or two. But normally, at least ten to twenty, depending on the length.

In all the books you've read. Who is your most favorite character and why? I love Morgana from the Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley. She is a strong, independent woman. I especially loved reading about her life as a priestess in Avalon. It was reading this book which helped me to discover my own spiritual calling in this life.

State 5 random facts about yourself.
1) I play the violin
2) I have over 5000 crystals of varying sizes and shapes
3) I’m extremely claustrophobic.
4) I have lived at the shore all my life, but I can’t swim.
5) I have had four kids, but I can still rock my bikini.

Your favorite Genre? Historical Fantasy

What are you currently reading? Taking 1960 by my editor, Rosa Sophia. It’s an exciting tale of murder and time travel. I am about half way through and she’s already shocked me at least three times.

What is the best book you've read? The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley.

Any new projects coming up? I am currently working on a fantasy novel called Morrigan. Morrigan is a teenage witch who has been shuffled from one foster home to another all her life. Now she is about to discover she is a princess from the mystical land of Tír Na NÓg. The handsome werewolf Filtiarn guides her through countless perils to find her mother, Ceridwyn, and grandmother, Hecate. Only together can they complete the magical triad and save their world.

Here’s your chance to market your book. Describe it. And why readers should pick it up?
Destiny & Destiny Unveiled are fantasy novels. The magic and danger in them make them exciting, but the characters are very real, every day people. Gabby struggles with accepting her powers, while her friend Monte has to come to terms with his sexuality. The action is tempered by real relationships and characters you’ll want to get to know better. For those who practice Wicca, even though some elements of magic are exaggerated to make the story exciting, you’ll find many elements of the book have a firm basis in reality.


About the Author:
Laura “Luna” DeLuca lives at the beautiful Jersey shore with her husband and four children.

She loves writing in the young adult genre because it keeps her young at heart. In addition to writing fiction, Laura is also the sole author of a popular review blog called New Age Mama.

She is an active member of her local pagan community, and has been studying Wicca for close to eight years.


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