COVER REVEAL: The Way of the Wombat by AdriAnne Strickland

WotW QfGI Front CoverSynopsis:

Which Way would you follow?

When Laz, a young wombat, goes from playing a game with his friend Kita in their idyllic tribal village to witnessing the nightmare of a Tasmanian devil attack, he reacts in the only way he can: he fights back. He accidentally kills a devil while trying to save his sister, but his sister is still taken captive. To make matters worse, the tribal elders banish Laz, Kita and Zeeg—the three youths who fought back—for failing to follow the way of the wombat.

Frustrated and adrift, the three friends embark on a quest through red rocky deserts and deep eucalyptus jungles to discover their own way. With a cheerful koala warrior as a guide and a wise platypus as their trainer, they hope to survive long enough to find a legendary weapon that could save their tribe and Laz’s sister from the devils. But danger lurks around every tree…

Find your own Way at WhomBatz.com!

 

Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23615882-the-quest-for-gray-ironbark

Pre-Order Link:
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6993187About The Author:

AdriAnne Strickland was a bibliophile who wanted to be an author before she knew what either of those words meant. She shares a home base in Alaska with her husband, but has spent two cumulative years living abroad in Africa, Asia, and Europe. While writing occupies most of her time, she commercial fishes every summer in Bristol Bay, because she can’t seem to stop. Her debut YA sci-fi/fantasy, WORDLESS, launched in 2014 from Flux Books. THE WAY OF THE WOMBAT is her first foray into the world of middle grade fantasy adventure. Connect with her on Twitter, Facebook, or over at her website.

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The Devil’s Lair by A.M. Madden

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Synopsis

The Devil’s Lair ~ A Back-Up Series Novella

Devil’s Lair is on their first world-wide tour. Taking their antics across Europe, Asia, and Australia proves to be hilarious, exhausting, and very chaotic. Most of the time they feel completely out of their element, and they’re right. Tequila, groupies and a endless supply of condoms are replaced with…well, with a whole lot of different.

Join them on their ‘Blow Our Minds World Tour’ and accept this V.I.P. pass to a behind the scenes look at Devil’s Lair as they travel the globe wreaking rock star havoc

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Amazon Best Selling Author ~
A.M. Madden’s debut novel is Back-up, the first in The Back-Up Series. The series includes Back-Up, Front & Center, Encore and Backstage.

A.M. Madden is a wife, a mother, an avid reader of romance novels and now an author. In Back-up she aspired to create a fun, sexy, realistic romantic story. She wanted to create characters that the reader could relate to and feel as if they knew personally. A self-proclaimed hopeless romantic, she loves getting lost in a good book. She also uses every free moment of her time writing, while raising teenage boys.

A.M. Madden, Independent Author of the Back-up Series.

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Tuesday Tales – Dance – Luck of the Cowgirl

Beautiful young woman in straw hat and jeans shorts on the beachWelcome back to Tuesday Tales!  This weeks prompt is Dance.

My goodness I went on a “brief” break that ended up lasting almost two months!  So sorry about that, but words didn’t want to happen.  Nowadays I have a tight deadline, though. That means you get a peek into my first ever F/F story…that came about quite by accident because of two fascinating secondary characters from previous Holidays in Lake Point books that demanded their own stories.

Calli Ryley is the sister of Clay Ryley (from Stalled Independence).  She’s a real certified cowgirl from South Caroline that’s got plenty of charm, but a painful past.  Deanna “Dee” Parker first showed up in Deep-Fried Sweethearts as a friend of Michaela’s. She was the town manager then, but a family emergency called her out of Lake Point for a while.

In this scene Dee and Calli have been trying on old west clothes while trapped during a blizzard. It’s been a fun time and I’m super jealous of them. 😀  So onto the scene:

Three hours later, after they’d exhausted just about every outfit that caught their eye Calli tugged her boots back on with a bit of regret. The laughter from the afternoon kept her heart light enough that she wasn’t too sad. “I think at least three of those outfits are ones I’d like to take home. I don’t know how you expect to pick out just one at the shop when we’re able to get there.”

“Shush. I don’t want to think about it. I want to move here just so I have an excuse to wear all of those outfits again.” Dee chuckled as she pulled on her cardigan. “I look damn good in a corset, if I do say so myself.”

“You sure as shittin’ do.” Calli would have been embarrassed by her statement a few days ago, but she felt they’d become friends in the past couple of days. Sure, the physical attraction was still there and stronger than ever after this afternoon, but she’d proven she could be an adult despite the attraction.

“I’m not the only one. Not that you needed one. What were you taken down, a whole inch? I had some extra to take off.” Dee was grinning despite her self-deprecation. “But now that my stomach is free, I’m starving. I swear I could eat five venison steaks right now.”

Calli’s stomach growled at the suggestion. “I am too. Wonder what they’ll have on the menu tonight. I’m in the mood for some mashed potatoes.”

Dee hooked her arm through Calli’s and led her from the large costume room. Within seconds they were out in the casino, which remained hopping despite the blizzard still raging outside. “I swear, half of these people weren’t here last night, how did they get here in this storm? This is crazy.”

“I have no idea,” Calli admitted. “How about we grab some Hammy’s and order some food. We still have a few hours before the show tonight. Are you up for another round of song and dance?”

“Another burlesque or an early bedtime listening to the blizzard? Gee, what a tough call.” Dee’s sarcasm was tempered by the laughter under her breath. “Women dressed in skimpy, corseted fashion, bawdy jokes and that amazing singer for the win, please.”

Calli dropped into the chair across from Dee and nodded. “Sounds like a win to me. In the mean time I want to spend a few hours looking through that coffee table book. Now that Colton has told us the history of the town I want to take a closer look at those photos.”

“Oh, me too.” Dee’s enthusiasm was interrupted by their waiter. Once their orders were placed, Dee leaned closer. “Did you see the picture in the lobby of the big bald guy with the Asian woman? Do you think that was the original owners first partner?”

“Sounds like it, but I didn’t see that one yet. I did see the woman in pants.” Calli grinned at the idea of a woman back then in pants. “Bet that would’ve been me.”

“Oh, easy. We have to ask Colton more about her. I think he said something about being Jane’s best friend, but he focused a lot on Jane and Cole.”

“Wonder how long it will take them to clear the streets. I’d love to see more of the town itself. This hotel is fascinating, but after the stories I want to see more.” Calli sighed. “Then again, to do that I might just have to come back in summer when the chance of snow is far smaller.”

“You couldn’t live here, you couldn’t handle all the snow, you poor delicate belle.”

Calli blew a raspberry and tried not to bristle under the challenge. “I can handle anything. Doesn’t mean I have to like it.”

Dee giggled, a bright delicate sound that soothed away any of Calli’s rising tension. The arrival of their beer and salads kept her from any further comments on Calli’s ability to handle winter or snow.
After she’d made it halfway through her salad, Calli glanced over at Dee. “Would you really move here just for the clothes?”

“I’d really move here, but not for the clothes. What I’ve seen of this town I like it. It’s scrappy. Life kicks it in the teeth, but it comes back fighting.” Dee quirked a brow at Calli. “You should be able to relate. You’re scrappy, too.”

“Scrappy?” By the tone of her voice, Calli guessed she meant it as a compliment, but it sort of stung. Sure she was strong, but she wanted to be seen as more than that.

“Either way, I could see myself living here. I know you could, despite the snow.”

“Well sure I could. It’s a gorgeous area and there’s just so much land.” Calli let her gaze drift toward the wall, beyond which she knew was a fantastic view of the mountains. The extended winter would be a bitter price to pay, but she’d been in love since they had crossed the mountain pass into the valley.

“I suppose with the right person, the winter wouldn’t seem so bad.”

 

*~*

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The Winner Takes It All by Jennifer Dawson

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The Winner Takes It AllBuy Links: Amazon | Barnes | iBooks | Kobo

Blurb

For two stubborn people… 

Corporate mogul Shane Donovan sees the ultra-cool, collected Cecilia Riley as an ice queen—even if he can’t deny that, on the surface, she’s a work of perfection his body can’t ignore. Forced to spend two weeks in the same house for his sister’s upcoming wedding, Shane senses that deep down Cecilia mirrors his need. And he’s determined to draw her into a sexy game that will melt away her reserve…

Losing is not an option… 

Career-driven Cecilia Riley has just enough free time in her schedule to head out of town for her brother’s wedding. But her agenda is thrown for a loop by the presence of Shane. Though his over-confident attitude leaves a lot to be desired, his insanely hot body has kept Cecilia up nights. Unsure what game Shane is playing, Cecilia takes the bait, bent on resisting him at all costs.   

Link to Follow Tour:  http://www.tastybooktours.com/2014/09/the-winner-takes-it-all-something-new-2.html

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20949511-the-winner-takes-it-all?from_search=true

Goodreads Series Link:  https://www.goodreads.com/series/112840-something-new

 

JenDawson_Author PhotoAuthor Info

Jennifer Dawson grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and graduated from DePaul University with a degree in psychology. She met her husband at the public library while they were studying. To this day she still maintains she was NOT checking him out. Now, over twenty years later, they’re married and living in a suburb right outside of Chicago with two awesome kids and a crazy dog.

Despite going through a light FM, poem writing phase in high school, Jennifer never grew up wanting to be a writer (she had more practical aspirations of being an international super spy). Then one day, suffering from boredom and disgruntled with a book she’d been reading, she decided to put pen to paper. The rest, as they say, is history.

These days Jennifer can be found sitting behind her computer, writing her next novel, chasing after her kids, keeping an ever watchful eye on her ever growing to-do list, and NOT checking out her husband.

Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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EXCERPT

A cotton cloud.

That’s what Cecilia felt like. A wonderful, fluffy, white cloud where nothing could hurt her. With the help of something called a Jägerbomb she forgot about her future, her lack of motivation, and her campaign. Forgot her father’s betrayal and her engagement to a man she didn’t love.

Blissful relief.

Nothing mattered except the country music pounding through her head, these women who’d taken her into their fold, and Jägerbombs.

Fabulous Jägerbombs.

When they’d arrived, she’d ordered her normal white wine, but Maddie and Gracie insisted this was better. Cecilia had to agree. The drink’s contents were a mystery, but she felt divine. Alert and alive. Ready for anything.

She swung her arms around Maddie and Gracie, hugging them close. “Thank you so much. I never get to have any fun.”

Gracie laughed. “There she is, the Ce-ce I know and love.”

Maddie raised her glass. “Damn, I’m having a good time.”

Sophie whooped, some of her margarita slopping over the sides as she took another gulp.

Penelope shook her head, pressing a finger to her temple as though she was getting a headache. Since she’d volunteered to be designated driver she was dead sober while the rest of them were on the drunk side of buzzed.

A song blared over the loudspeakers, the bass vibrating through her body as a country song came on. The dance floor shifted, the patrons moved into lines as they began an organized dance. Cecilia narrowed her eyes, watching the steps. “What’s this song called?”

“‘Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy),’” Gracie said.

“I like it,” Cecilia said.

Sophie grabbed her hand. “Let’s go dance!”

She was so cute and small, Cecilia couldn’t help grinning and patting her on the head.

Sophie scowled, batting her away. “I’m not a puppy!”

“But you’re soooo cute,” Cecilia said in a voice that sounded nothing at all like her.

Penelope grimaced. “Yikes, don’t say that.”

Little Sophie balled her hands into fists. “I am not cute. I’m fierce.”

Maddie gave her a smacking kiss on the cheek. “You are.” She winked at Cecilia. “She used to get me into so much trouble.”

Cecilia was about to answer, but the dancers on the floor turned and clapped, then walked forward two steps before kicking out their heels, distracting her. How long had it been since she danced? Years of lessons perfected her technique as she’d worked relentlessly to obtain an acceptable level of poise. She’d danced at functions all the time, a nice waltz, gliding effortlessly around the room with some random partner, subtly leading when her companion didn’t know what he was doing.

But had she ever just cut loose? Danced for the fun of it?

The dancers took another turn, repeating the steps from before.

The speakers blared the country song.

She studied the dancer’s feet. She could do that. It was easy. Cecilia downed the rest of her drink, slamming the glass on the bar. “Let’s go.”

Sophie, Gracie, and Cecilia made their way to the floor, leaving Maddie behind with Penelope to keep her company.

Freedom sang in Cecilia’s heart in time with the music and alcohol streaming through her blood. For tonight, she had no responsibility. Nobody to approve or disapprove of her. Nobody to please.

Tonight she could be whoever she wanted.

People parted, making room for them as they fell into line. Cecilia studied the dancer’s feet stomping on the wood floor. It took four beats to figure out the pattern and two more to catch the beat of the song, and then she was off.

All the years of practice paid off, because she took to the dance like she’d been born to it. Next to her, Gracie and Sophie stumbled, laughing as they missed steps. Sophie yelled over the song, clutching her hand. “Damn girl, how do you do that?”

Cecilia laughed. “Twelve years of ballet and five years of ballroom dancing.”

She spun, her head going deliciously dizzy, before she clapped.

One song turned into another and the steps modified, but she’d always been a quick study and caught right up. The music washed over her, filled her up with the kind of happiness she hadn’t felt in so long she almost didn’t recognize it.

She let go. Sweated. Laughed.

And in that moment she was free.

The song changed, slowing down in tempo, but before she could be too disappointed, a tall guy in a black Stetson grabbed hold of her waist and swung her into his arms.

He fell into a quick tempo waltz that Cecilia glided into as though they’d been dance partners for years. Under the rim of his hat, he was quite good-looking with his tanned skin, high cheekbones, and full, masculine mouth. He didn’t make her heart beat fast like Shane, but his brown eyes were warm instead of cold, looking at her with interest instead of distrust. Big hands pressed into the small of her back. Lazy in his charm, he smiled at her. “Name’s Levi.”

She thought about protesting. But why should she? It was just a dance. She relaxed into his embrace. “Cecilia.”

He leaned down. Close enough the brim of his hat touched her forehead. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. You’re not from around here, are you?”

She shook her head. “I’m from Chicago.”

His hand slid tighter around her waist. “Well, Cecilia, you sure don’t move like a city girl.”

It might be the best compliment she’d ever received in her life and she beamed at him. “Why, thank you.”

“Hands. Off,” a deep, unmistakable voice said from behind her. “Now.”

Heart lurching into a frantic beat, she craned her neck. It wasn’t the drinks making her delusional. Shane was really there. Big and mean, as though he was ready to pound the first person that crossed him.

She shivered. “What are you doing here?”

“Yeah,” Levi said, pulling her closer. “Back off, buddy.”

Shane crossed his arms, his biceps rippling, pumping up before her very eyes to strain the fabric of his black T-shirt. “I’m going to give you to the count of three before I break every one of your fucking fingers.”

She tried her best to work up some proper indignation over his behavior but couldn’t make it stick. Not with that twisted sense of female satisfaction warming her, going straight to her head and making her dizzy. He was jealous.

Like, super jealous. Dangerously jealous.

A giggle bubbled in her throat and she repressed it. That was wrong. Very wrong. The correct response was outrage, but damned if her body cared about that. Deep down, in that secret part of her, she was thrilled. Nobody had ever been jealous over her before.

She looked at the guy, what was his name again? She searched her memory and finally remembered. “Levi, can you excuse us?”

Levi let her go. “Is he your boyfriend?”

She started to say no but Shane grabbed her arm. “Yes, don’t touch her again. Got it, buddy?”

In surrender, Levi held up his hands. “Sorry, dude, we were just dancing. Maybe she shouldn’t move like that if you don’t want people to get the wrong idea.”

Move like what?

Shane grunted, gripping her arm tighter. “I’ll take it under advisement.”

Cecilia blinked, finally coming back from her ego-drunk daze enough to allow feminism to take its hold. “Hey!”

“Don’t test me, Cecilia,” Shane said, his voice hard. And then he had her on the move, practically dragging her toward the door.

“Shane!” she yelled over the loud music, but he didn’t seem to hear her. He bulldozed past anyone in his way, striding with single-minded focus toward the exit.

He pushed through the heavy barn doors and dragged her outside. Mild spring air hit her cheeks and the Jägerbombs rushed in her head. Danger and lust spiked the air as he stalked through the parking lot and around the corner to the side of the building.

A couple was already there, locked in a hot embrace. He cursed, veered around them, and walked straight into the woods that lined the property.

“Shane, what’s wrong with you? What are you doing?” Branches crunched under her feet as he pounded through the forest.

When he came to a large oak, he pushed her against it, his expression thunderous. “What am I doing? What are you doing, Cecilia?”

His gaze was predatory, exciting and scaring her at the same time. A strange and delicious cocktail of emotions that made her pulse beat fast and wild. “I was dancing!”

“No shit,” Shane said, his stance aggressive. “Quite a show you were putting on there.”

“I wasn’t putting on a show.”

“The hell you weren’t.” He raked his hand through his hair. “Fuck, Cecilia, half the men in the place stopped what they were doing to watch you.”

She waved a hand. “Don’t be absurd. You’re just jealous.”

He stalked toward her, crowding her against the tree. “You’re damn right I’m jealous.”

She blinked. “You admit it.”

Big hands gripped her hips, holding her still. “It’s pretty obvious, isn’t it?”

Her breath quickened. He was so close. Closer than she’d ever thought he’d be again and she couldn’t resist the temptation of him. She ran her hands up his arms, bowing her back in offering. “Yes.”

 

Sunday Snippets 56 – Masked Hearts


Welcome back to the Weekend Writing Warriors!

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Sorry for my long absence, but not sorry. My family and I had a wonderful vacation, and I’m just now back in working order again. I never wanted to return, but real life beckoned and we couldn’t ignore it.

So now I’m back with my travelling wild west show story, Masked Hearts. I will most likely only be doing another week or two with this book. I have to leave you wanting more and I have a bunch more books to cover.

The group has set up camp and Minnie is trying to return to life as normal as she can knowing that soon her life will drastically change…worse, she worries she made a mistake by lying with Roy before it happened, because she already misses him. When the Cheyenne go hunting, Roy hangs around, and Minnie lashes out at him:

She grabbed a carrot and started to chop with far more ferocity than the poor vegetable deserved. “I don’t fib, Mr. Ornum, I don’t need the meat to prepare the vegetables. Why don’t you go help the old man hunt for pretty plants? Maybe you’ll find a poisonous one to choke on.”

He clasped a hand over his heart and pouted. “You wound me. But that’s exactly why Max won’t let me go. Since Rawlins is asleep and I’ve had no company but the Cheyenne, I really enjoy the sound of your female shrieking tones.”

 

*Tiny bit of creative editing was used to get the 8

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If you want more of these wonderfully damaged pair…pick up a copy!

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Minnie Woodward lives a lie. After barely surviving the Bear River Massacre she’s lived in the white world of her guardian Mister Rawlins, her life debt keeping her tied there. The last thing she needs is Roy’s attempts to gain her favor. Her fate’s sealed. She’s never believed in hope, and not even Roy can make her start.

Roy Ornum saves Minnie every night in the traveling Wild West show. The job he took to break his gambling habit brought him a new addiction – her. He knows she doesn’t want to be rescued, but maybe he does. She’s the key to a past he lost, one he wants to find again.

As the two grow closer old wounds are reopened and their burgeoning trust is shattered. When lives hang in the balance of their choices they’ll need to work together. Otherwise everything will be lost before hope can be found.

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Face to Face by Susan Ward

FacetoFaceBTBanner FacetoFaceCover f404f-addtogoodreads Synopsis Lady Meredith Ann Merrick must not weaken against the temptation of Varian. He will be her ruin. Varian Morgan cannot indulge his yearning for his beautiful hostage. This wayward sprite can only become his destruction. Captive of desire, Meredith is swept away to America and into the arms of a man she cannot resist. Will love be enough to overcome her doubts, as Varian’s mystery only becomes more mysterious? Can passion bind two people trapped by secrets and the past? When unexpected events send Meredith and Varian back to England, they are forced to share with each other the secrets each have been desperate to keep in hiding. Reeling in shock, their histories linked in ways neither could have ever imagined, Varian forces Meredith into a marriage of necessity instead of a union of love. Unable to resist Varian’s seductive hold over her, is it possible that their unrelenting and fiery passion can bring Meredith to forgive the man who shattered her heart? Teaser facetofacetease2 facetofacetease Buy Links

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About Author I’m addicted to writing. I’ve written 26 romance novels in 25 years, but I just started releasing them in May 2014 because frankly there are some things inside them I wasn’t sure I wanted my daughters to read. The nest is empty, my girls all grown, so now I’m letting loose. I believe in the adage; Don’t judge a book by it’s cover! Definitely the case with The Girl on the Half Shell. Perfect looking lives are not perfect. We all have our own challenges to overcome! It’s a theme in the books I’ve written and I cover a wide range of contemporary issues in stories ranging from raw and steamy, to gut wrenching, to happy happily ever after. My first release The Girl on the Half Shell is my most intense novel, the first in the Half Shell Series and the one I had to wait until I had no kids at home to release. My Perfect Forever Series is definitely happy happily ever after! The first in this line of books was released June 2014 with The Signature. Author Links

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