To Facebook or not to Facebook

I've hit a stumbling block recently.

Those of you who are 'fans' of me on Facebook will know that I run a fairly busy page. I enjoy Facebook for the most part and never really looked at it as a chore. I've met some fantastically funny people whose comments genuinely perk me up via my fanpage as well as some amazing supporters. And I've worked hard to gain new fans by being picky about my content and running giveaways etc. I've even invested in a few paid promotions via Facebook in an effort to get more targeted fans. But is it really worth it? Recently, in spite of a nice influx of 'likes' following the success of one of my titles, interaction has plummeted. For the vast majority of my posts, approximately 5 - 15% of my fans see them. Essentially I'm barely reaching anyone in the vast wilderness that is Facebook.

 Now a lot of this is to do with changes to algorithms and the quantity of pages out there. People 'like' so many pages that its hard to get into their newsfeeds. But also you'll have noticed a rise in the amount of sponsored stories sneaking into your newsfeed. I check my Facebook page constantly. I mean, constantly, and there is always a sponsored story at the top and several cluttering up the rest of my feed. And if you run a fan page you will have noticed that they've replaced the area where you could see all your new fans with a nice big box pushing you to purchase further exposure. And it ain't cheap.

 So here's the thing - do I put my very minuscule advertising budget into Facebook and pray that those 10 likes I gain purchase all my books or do I go elsewhere? In general, Facebook is becoming more and more uncomfortable to use and I can feel my terrible addiction to it waning. Friends getting banned, ads just about everywhere, lack of visibility... I think Facebook need to get over their cocky assumption that they are that amazing that people won't give up and go elsewhere. I've always sworn Facebook was my best marketing tool up until recently. Well, sorry Facebook but I will not be piling money into you anymore. Knowing how easily you could pull the plug on my page and how cannily you hide everything, I am not pouring my money down that drain.

 Fellow authors, I urge you NOT to pay for sponsored stuff. As a consumer I am peeved with each ad and I am spamming them as well as blocking the content of that page. I know others who do the same and I suspect there are many more. Don't allow Facebook to be your only form of advertising and look elsewhere.

And finally - Googleplus sort yourselves out. We need some competition. You are a big, supposedly clever company and yet your 'social network' is the biggest, most confusing mess I've ever seen. You have the money and the power to do something amazing, so please do it. Bring social networking back to what it was originally intended for - making social connections. Oh yes, and with strangers if I want to, thanks very much. Some of my closest friends happen to be people I've never even met. So what's your experience with Facebook? Do the ads bother you? And if you run a fanpage how do you feel about its effectiveness?

Book Spotlight: Watershed by Cd Brennan

Please welcome Cd to my blog today. She's sharing her release, Watershed, with us today.

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She left home to find herself...and found love along the way.

Maggie isn’t looking for love on her backpacking trip through Australia. She’s got enough man troubles back in Ireland. Australia is her escape, a place of adventure where she can create memories to last a lifetime.

But some memories won’t be left behind.

Gray is ready to quit hiring backpackers to help with the work on his remote Queensland cattle station when Maggie turns up. She’s just passing through, but the connection they forge during the long nights herding cattle won’t be so easily cast aside.

CONTENT WARNING: A strong-willed Irish heroine, a stubborn Australian hero, and oceans of difference to bridge for love.

A Lyrical Press Contemporary Romance

~~~~~~~~~~~~Excerpt~~~~~~~~~~~

“In Ireland we have the Banshee.” Maggie broke Gray’s daydreaming with a start. “She is the omen of death and the messenger from the Otherworld.”

She continued in a whisper. “Often she appears an old hag. Folklore says she may also appear as a stunningly beautiful woman.” Maggie raised her brow at him, her eyes twinkling with fun.

Gray threw his head back and laughed, and she joined him. There was no shaking her. He decided he wasn’t going to best Maggie, and for the first time in a long time he was content with that.

He shifted so she had to settle against him. He heard her sigh as he wrapped his arm around her. They sat watching the fire, listening to the sounds of the bush settle for the night. It was peaceful and, Gray had to admit, romantic. He smiled, fulfilled after a long day’s hard work, some good bush tucker and a beautiful woman by his side. He had almost worked up enough courage to kiss her when she shivered, wrapping her arms around herself.

“I’m going to sleep.” Pulling off her trainers, she climbed into her swag. “Goodnight.”

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Find Cd on Facebook and purchase Watershed on Amazon and B&N

Author Interview: Susan Preston

What are you working on right now?
Hold the Faith has been published recently, the next book in the series is in draft form. Between the blogs and the website I am 'time poor' on the next book, although I started and my editor 'passed' the draft. Still a long way to go though.

What inspired you to create this book?
An incredible Bible study series on the Apostle John. (Credited in the Thanks section.)

How much research do you do?
One of my complaints... the research takes much, much longer than writing. Because the setting of the book is the first century AD, discovering weather patterns, diet, clothing, homes, how long it took to walk... all these questions took so much time, and sometimes a lot of frustration to discover.

Are you a plotter / planner or do you prefer to dive right in?
Basically, dive right in. In Hold the Faith I had a time frame to fit within... the Holy Days they kept, so I ended up with charts. When they were and what the characters had to do between. I also had diagrams of some of the places in the book... the farm layout where the book commenced and the home of the Apostle John and his family.

How much dialogue do you have with your readers? 
An early reader did me a huge favour. He noticed a typo and wrote to me. That was the best favour anyone had done and I ended up with a total revision from deciding I had better re-read it.

What kind of support groups do you have to help get the book across the line?
We are pretty isolated here. I have a couple of 'beta' readers but my husband is my main support.

Do you work with an editor? If so, how much input do they have?
Again my husband is my editor. He has a lot of input. I have the entire story - three and a half books, in my mind. He reminds me where I have forgotten to put it on the pages.

How are you publishing this book? (e.g. Indie, traditional) And why did you chose to go this way?
I chose Indie because my niche (Early Christian fiction) is very narrow.

What advice would you give to your younger self?
Trust. Life takes you there. (Hard to believe when you are in the midst of some trauma but it is true.)

Favourite book or film / why?
Favourite book... probably Lord of the Rings because it is very well written and there are no loose ends.

What are you working on now?
The second book of the series is currently in draft form. However, I am taking some time to publicize the book at the moment. Like most authors I find this hard and would rather write the book.

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Susan was born in Peebles, a town in the Scottish borders, but moved to Australia in 1975. She lives in Perth, Western Australia with my husband of twenty-five event filled years. 



She has worked as a shop assistant, double loom weaver, trained as a Psychiatric nurse and worked as an After-care Nursing Sister in an outpatient clinic and in the community.

​

She recently published Hold the Faith and have book two in the series 'Grow in Faith' ready to edit. Book three is only a draft and book four an idea that hasn't made it to her computer pages yet.



Christian history fascinates Susan and a Bible Study on the Apostle John inspired her to set this history down.

Find Susan on Facebook and purchase Holt the Faith on Amazon and Smashwords.

Book Tour Stop: Kidnapped Cowboy by Lindsey Brookes

Please welcome Lindsey on her book tour for Kidnapped Cowboy. Be sure to comment! She is giving away a $10 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter.

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After countless attempts to speak with the owner of the retreat for troubled teens she runs on the outskirts of Lone Tree, Montana, Caitlin Myers resorts to kidnapping Brandon ‘The Ogre of Lone Tree’ Barnes in a desperate attempt to change his mind about turning Stoney Brook into a vacation resort for the wealthy.

Retired rodeo star, Dalton Barnes, gets the surprise of his life when he’s abducted by a soft-spoken female with a ‘gun’ and taken to the retreat his family owns. He soon learns she’s kidnapped the wrong cowboy by mistake. She wanted his brother. Things go from bad to worse when a late spring snowstorm strands them together at the cabin. But it’s during their snow-in that Dalton learns why Caitlin has gone to such lengths to save Stoney Brook. Having had issues with his older brother himself and a not so happy past, Dalton promises to do what he can to help her.

When confronted Brandon tells Dalton he’ll hold off on his plans for the retreat, but only if Dalton agrees to stick around and help run it. Keeping his promise to Caitlin, Dalton agrees and what starts out as a common goal to turn the troubled teens’ lives around that summer ends up turning theirs around as well. Can a man who has always avoided putting down roots and a woman with a deep-seated fear of abandonment hang on to the happiness they’ve found together? Or will the past return to threaten their newfound love?

Love, laughter and a heartwarming read…

You can purchase Kidnapped Cowboy on Amazon and B&N.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Excerpt~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“D...don’t move or else.”

Dalton Barnes froze, one leg hiked up on the chrome running board of his brother’s truck, one hand curled snugly about the open door.  Being held up on the main street of Lone Tree, Montana, where crime was virtually nonexistent, was the last thing he expected to happen when he’d driven into town that evening for a couple of drinks.

No, make that being held up by a woman on the main street of Lone Tree.

“All right,” he said in the same calming tone he used when working with horses, “I won’t.”

If his assailant were a man he might have attempted to wrestle the gun away.  Instead, it was a female jabbing the barrel of her weapon into his back.  A nervous female at that if the trembling of her hand was any indication.  Not a good combination.

“Good.”  Her voice shook as much as her hand.

“If you’re after money, there’s about fifty bucks in my wallet.”

She let out what could only be described as an unladylike snort.  “That’s all?”

“Look,” he said, his patience slipping, “I can get more.  There’s an ATM machine across the street.  We can just take a walk on over there and I’ll get you whatever you need.”  He started to turn.

“D...don’t turn around,” she gasped, sounding panicked.

The barrel felt like a tree trunk pressing into his back. “I won’t,” he said, throwing up his hands.  “Just take it easy.”

“I don’t want your money,” she replied, sounding more shaken than he felt and that was saying a lot, considering he was the one with a gun barrel rammed into the center of his back.  “I want you.”

Okay, now that was unexpected.

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Romance author Lindsey Brookes grew up reading romance novels. She penned her first romance, a historical, at the age of seventeen. From there she went on to join Romance Writers of America where she learned the ins and outs of the publishing business and ways to hone her craft. She switched to writing contemporary romance and has finalled in/or won more than 75 RWA chapter sponsored contests with over a dozen different manuscripts. She is also a four time RWA Golden Heart finalist as well as a past American Title III finalist and winner of Harlequin's Great American Romance Novel contest. She's married to her childhood sweetheart, her hero, with whom she has two beautiful daughters.

Check out her websites:

www.lindseybrookes.com

www.possumhollowseries.com 

You can also find her on Facebook and Twitter.

Book Tour Stop: One Good Man by Marie McGaha

Please welcome Marie on her book tour. She is sharing with us a great excerpt from her new release, 'One Good Man'. Be sure to enter the giveaway. The prize is 1 signed paperback copy of "One Good Man." Contest is tour-wide and ends June 12. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

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Allison Hamstead thought it was love. Finally, after all the years alone, someone loved her in spite of the fact she was fat! Not that her size had ever kept her from being successful, but it had kept her far from personal relationships. She’d heard all of the fat jokes ever told, all of the things people in her office said behind her back, and she didn’t miss not having a boyfriend, or dates, every weekend. Did she? But now she was in love and she couldn’t wait to introduce him to her best friend, Sarah. And what a mistake that had turned out to be! It wasn’t long before the love of her life and her best friend were living together, and Allison was humiliated.

Starting over is never easy, but Allison is determined to do just that and moves far from Chicago to the warm waters of Biloxi, Mississippi where she accepts a position at one of the floating casinos. For the first time in her life Allison feels like she’s truly at home. She loves her job, she loves her boss, who is like a father to her, and she loves being a part of all the excitement going on around her. Except for one little thing…

Her boss’s eldest son, Stephen is probably the most handsome, gorgeous, and sexy man she’s ever laid eyes on… and he knows it! And for some reason he acts interested in her. Then her mother comes to visit and winds up dating her boss. Her accounts start showing large amounts of money missing. And her ex shows up unannounced and says he wants her back. Can anything else possibly go wrong?

Absolutely!

About the Author

Marie McGaha is an author, editor and publisher at Dancing With Bear Publishing, a Christian publishing company. While most of her time is spent editing manuscripts, she does try to find time for her passions. First, the love of the rest of her life, Nathan, whom she has been married to for almost thirteen years, and loves to spend time with riding motorcycles. They are both members of The Patriot Guard Riders. Second, Marie’s passion for shoes has filled several closets, so she decided to start her own shoe line, Girls Got Grit. She and Nathan also like to spend time spoiling grandchildren, traveling, and just being together. “Nathan is my best friend, and I am very blessed to have him as my husband too,” Marie says. And everyone who knows them says it’s quite obvious these two are living out their own romance novel.

Website: http://www.mariemcgaha.com

Blog: http://thelightofjesus.blogspot.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DWB_Publishing

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/dwbpublishing

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/marie-mcgaha/37/76b/2a0/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Excerpt~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As she lay back on her towel, a shadow fell across her. She opened one eye to see Stephen standing over her, grinning. “You’re blocking my sun,” she said and shut her eye.

“Mind if I join you?”

“Yes, I do mind.”

“Thanks.”

Turning toward him, she again opened one eye and frowned as she discovered he had removed his shirt and spread his towel beside her.

“There’s a lot of beach here you know, you could pick another spot.”

“Yeah, but I like this one.”

“You’re just trying to make me mad.”

“Now why would I do that?”

“Because you act like a twelve year old and teasing girls is what twelve year olds do.”

“Yeah, but my toys are much bigger and go a lot faster," he smirked.

She rolled her eyes and went back to sunning herself in silence. Stephen didn’t speak for a long time either, which she thought was a blessing and prob-ably too good to last very long. She was right.

“Have dinner with me.”

“Why?”

“Why not?”

“Because it’s fraternizing and your father doesn’t allow it.”

“Not true. We’re just two colleagues having dinner together. The fraternizing rule only applies between management and underlings. He’s afraid an employee would feel their position would be threatened if they refused a date with management.”

“Or perhaps he just didn’t want you dating the entire staff.”

He laughed. “That’s a possibility.”

“You’re shameless.”

“So I’ve been told.”

“I’m not having dinner with you.”

“I’ll pick you up at seven.”

“Look, Stephen, you don’t have to do this." She sat up and looked at him squarely.

“Do what?" He asked, almost managing to look innocent.

“All of this…” she waved one arm, “this flirting you seem to be doing with me. I’m not exactly your type.”

“What do you mean my type? That’s pretty judgmental and shallow of you.” He grinned at her again.

“And if anyone would know about shallow, it would be you, now wouldn’t it?” She said rather tersely. “Just stop it.”

“Allison…” he watched as she picked up her things and began making her way toward the casino. He blew out a breath and shook his head.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Purchase One Good Man on Amazon and B&N. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author Interview: Eve Rabi

What is your name and where do you live now?

My name is Eve Rabi and I reside in the land of Crocodile Dundee (You call that a knife? No, this is a knife), and Russell Crowe (the phone-throwing dude), Sydney Australia.
However, I was born in beautiful South Africa, land of Nelson Mandela, where I owned my very own firearm which I carried around twenty-four-seven. (I was a lousy shot I must quickly add, in case you want to challenge me to a duel and stuff.)

First off, how has your week been?

My week has been good. Just getting back on the dating scene, so I’m skipping bread, chocolate, wine, fat, hot chocolate with marshmallows, dairy and … well, all that tastes good, actually. (Sad face)
But, oh, I started running again. Body is now banging – looking toned and sculptured and ...well, not quite banging, but it may be by 2015. Hey, a girl can hope, can’t she?
Btw, I was asked out by my gynaecologist. After a routine examination of my reproductive organs.  Yeah, I know, it’s kinda weird. But that’s another story.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and how long you’ve been writing?

Been writing for about 8 years. Had about five almost-complete manuscripts lying around. So now all I’m doing is final edits and slapping them onto Amazon.com. Not interested in publishers.

I am known for my kick-ass heroines with potty mouths. When I was about 9, I read Valley of the Dolls and that book inspired me.

I grew up in the hood so my stories are about girls/ guys from that background. I’m also into bi-racial romances.

I like sparkling white in a long stemmed glass, Lindt chocolate and glorious sunsets.

I’m a former registered nurse/real estate business owner/magazine editor/make-up artist.

I’m nurturing by nature and a bit of a cry baby. (I cried when Simba’s father died in Lion King. There, I’ve confessed. )

I’m really into music – got over 12 000 songs on my iPod, all downloaded illegally so don’t tell anyone.

I like all kinds of music, even rap and country (it’s the song, not the genre). Music plays constantly in my home.

I have two daughters, Skye and Raine who share my love for music and my perverted sense of humour. 

Did you always want to be a writer? If not what did you want to be?

Even though I wrote articles for a newspaper and I ran a glossy, upmarket magazine with my ex, I had no idea I could write novels. But once I started writing, I couldn’t stop. I write at the expense of everything and sometimes I even forget to eat!

What is the name of your latest book, and if you had to summarise it what would you say?

My latest book is called (working title) Victim No More – Revenge of the Ex.

It's about an abusive and controlling husband who, when his wife breaks away from him, engineers revenge that almost destroys her.   

But as with all my female characters who are kick-ass and spunky, the wife decides to fight back. Even though I promised myself I won’t write another book till June 2013, (as I need to set my linen closet, among other things), it's a story that just won’t let me go, and I find that I just have to write it. :)

Please tell us about your current release.

My last release was Deception - A Palace Full of Liars

A beautiful, but wicked queen, a poor village girl, a gay prince and an unsuspecting New Yorker. 
Thirteen-year-old Henna Day was living in poverty when she was hand-picked by Queen Karisma of Asokastan, (a North West State of India) to be a bride for Crown Prince Vijay.
Shortly after her wedding, Henna learned that Prince Vijay was gay and that he had the mentality of a child. 
As the years go by, she is expected to produce an heir. But Vijay will not consummate the marriage. Out of desperation, Henna seduces Rusty Carrington, Prince Vijay's fencing instructor, who is on contract in Asokastan, and who has no idea who Henna is. 
The moment she falls pregnant, Henna disappears from Rusty life. 
Rusty is devastated as he is madly in love with Henna. Since his contract is over, he goes back to New York. 
However, things get complicated when Queen Karisma becomes obsessed with Rusty Carrington and tries to woo him back into the palace. 
Out of the lies and deception emerges a beautiful story about forbidden love. 

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

You don’t have to be a striking beauty to capture a wonderful man.  There are many doors to a man’s heart, not just through his eyes. (I have to remember to tell myself that when I see a good looking man and think I don’t stand a chance with him.) And if all that doesn’t work, do what Henna did, kick his ass. Hard. When he recovers from his concussion, he will think you are a nut-job, yes, but after that, he will become somewhat fascinated by you.  (And wear hooker heels when you kick his ass.)

What genre would you place your books into?

Modern romance with violence, strong language, sexual violence, sexual reference, racial slurs …I’m nuts, I tell you! But you will laugh and be entertained or your money back.

What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What has been the best compliment?

I’ve had a few criticisms but a ton of compliments. As you can imagine, I don’t worry about too much about criticism. My best compliment is as a reader put it:

“As I raced through the two volumes of this book at breakneck speed, I kept wishing I was an editor at a big publishing house. No, not because of the typos, though there were a few; but because I'd love to 'discover' Eve Rabi and hand her a million dollar advance. Because I feel in my gut that this could be the next big thing, the funny, female, 3rd millennium version of M*A*S*H.
Eve Rabi is an honest, natural story teller with an amazingly strong voice. Her characters are real people, so alive that the externals of setting and historical events seem unimportant. Her style is so natural, she seems unaware of the risks she's taking.”  Amazon Reviewer.

What are you currently reading? Are you enjoying it? What format is it?(eBook, hardback or paperback)

Currently reading a dating manual. What to say to men to bag yourself a husband. ie.;

I love Playboy magazine, it has greeaaat articles.

You like cricket? I love cricket too. I could watch it all day.

Oh yes, beer is way better than chardonnay.

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Eve Rabi is the author of 14 novellas and is known for her kick-ass leading ladies.

Her books include:

GRINGA -In the hands of a Ruthless Drug Lord (Which has reached No 1 on Amazon)

CAPTURED - My Sworn Enemy, my Secret Lover

THE CHEAT - A tale of lies and Infidelity

ROYAL DECEPTION - A Palace full of Liars

BURN'S WORLD - A love Triangle

Books that, like GRINGA, are sure to offend, entertain and amuse readers in various parts of the globe. She is currently working on her 5th novel, which she hopes to release in the next couple of months.
Please direct all hate mail and death threats to everabi2012@hotmail.com as she would really love to hear from you, good and not so good and please ...write a review.

Find Eve's books on Amazon and follow her on Facebook or stop by her blog.

Why I write romance

I often get asked why I write romance. And usually it's asked with a sort of sneering tone. And why medieval? As if there's something utterly bizarre about that. Like a love of history, something solid and intellectual, is something that shouldn't be mixed with something fanciful and fluffy.

Fluffy be damned, I love romance. The fluffier the better.

Actually I'm doing romance a dishonour there. Those familiar with the genre and many sub-genres know well that romance can be gritty, heart-wrenching and devastating at times as we explore every aspect of a character's psyche  Yes, it's punctuated with moments of beautiful human connection but how far removed is that from real life? My daughter hugged me and told me how much she loved me today as I dealt with the inevitable moment of self-doubt that writers are so frequently swamped with. Ok, so its not very dramatic but do you get my point? The whole art imitates life thing. A friend of mine recently told me about how she met her husband. I swear to God, if you wrote it down you would probably get told off for being cliche. But it was a prime example of true love. Yes, people it does exist.

Anyway, where am I going with this? Why do I write romance? Because it shaped who I am today. My 'education' (as my dad likes to call it) in romance started in my teens, reading pretty steamy stuff. But it taught me (amongst many) two things. It helped me understand sex between two loving partners and it taught me to fight for what I want and believe in, be it a man or a cause or a career.

Romance is so much more than boy meets girl, happily ever after. It takes us on great journeys of self-discovery and sacrifice. Each character grows and learns. Criticism of this genre came about when men feared the empowerment of women. They recognised what romance could teach us and were scared by it. That fear should no longer exist, so neither should criticism of romance. Hell, I bet there are a lot of husbands out there who are thankful for the romance and erotica genres for putting some sexy ideas into their partner's heads. I know my hubby doesn't complain ;)

So there we have it. I write romance for my love of the journey. For my love of character growth. For my love of love. As for why I write medieval stuff...well, you tell me what's sexier than a rugged knight. If you find anything, then you've not met the guys in my imagination... :)

Blog Tour Stop: Kill Shot by Anne Patrick

Please welcome Anne who is sharing her latest release with us. Be sure to comment as Anne is giving away a $50 Amazon gift card to one randomly drawn commenter.

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Former combat medic Kory Wagner survived four war zones. Now she’s home and out of the Army for good and someone is trying to kill her in her own backyard. Just as disturbing is the handsome sheriff who’s on the case. Sheriff Sean Harding doesn’t quite know what to think of the decorated veteran that managed to outsmart an entire search party. What bothers him more is the body of a PI, whom she hired, was found dead in a building she owns. And Kory isn’t being very cooperative with helping him find the answers as to why someone would kill her sister and want her dead. Will he be able to keep her alive along enough to discover the truth?

Purchase Kill shot on Amazon, B&N and CBD

~~~~~~~~~~~~~EXCERPT~~~~~~~~~~~

Kory heard a sound a few yards in front of her. She quickly scanned the area. Three rows of huge metal shelves lined the interior. She inched forward, peering around the corner of the second row. Mr. Urlik lay on his side, facing her, clutching his chest. His eyes were opened and his mouth moved, but no sound came out. A heart attack? She ran to him, knelt down on the cement floor, and took his hand. It was wet, slimy. She looked down and saw his hand covered in blood. Her eyes shifted to his chest. A large crimson stain spread across the width of his white shirt from a small hole near the center. He was breathing erratically. Experience told her a bullet had pierced at least one lung and he didn't have much time. She immediately pressed the heel of her right hand against the wound.

"I'm sorry," he murmured.

"Where's your cell phone?" Hers was in her backpack but she didn't want to waste valuable time digging it out.

"No time. Get out."

"Who did this, Mr. Urlik?"

He grabbed her right hand and squeezed it tightly. "You were right -- no accident."

His hand went limp.

Kory felt something in the palm of her hand, looked down and saw it was a key. She shoved it into her jeans pocket. A whizzing sound buzzed past her, followed by the unmistakable clink of a bullet ricocheting off metal. She instinctively threw herself over his body as another bullet struck metal. Kory felt for a pulse. There was none. She lowered her hand to his chest and felt under both arms and along his waist. I thought all PIs carried guns. Just my luck this one didn't.

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Anne Patrick is the author of more than a dozen novels of Romance, Mayhem & Faith, including the award winning and bestselling WOUNDED HEROES SERIES, FIRE AND ASH, and TIES THAT BIND. Her books have garnered four-star reviews from Romantic Times, 'Top Pick' and 'Best Book' honors from Night Owl Reviews and Long and Short of It Reviews, and Five-Heart reviews from The Romance Studio. When she isn't working on her next novel she enjoys spending time with family and friends, and traveling to foreign countries to experience new cultures and adventures. Born and raised in Oklahoma, she now makes her home in Kansas.

You can find Anne on her website and Facebook.

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Book Spotlight: The Stepbrothers by Lisa Day

I'm spotlighting the lovely Lisa Day's book, The Stepbrothers, today. Read on to find out more.

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Childhood for Clint Hawks was wonderful until the day his mother remarried. His new stepbrother George was pure evil. George's only goal was to make sure Clint's life was a living hell. It never occurred to him Clint would grow up. Clint never forgot the misery and pain he suffered at his stepbrother's hand and his every thought focused on revenge. Along comes Georges fiancée Samantha Culpepper a sweet, young, innocent, bride to be. Inexperienced Samantha becomes the pawn in Clint's game of revenge. When the score is finally settled she'll have enough experiences with the stepbrothers to last a life time.

Purchase The Stepbrothers on Amazon

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Lisa Day hails from New Jersey before 'Jersey Girls' became famous. Since living in the south for so long she now thinks of herself as a southern bell, just born in the wrong century. So, what else is a girl to do but write those pesky stories that live within her head. Find Lisa on her website.

Book Tour Stop: The Difference a Day Makes by Barbara Longley

Please welcome Barbara to my blog today. She's sharing her new release with us and also giving away a $10 Amazon Gift Card to two randomly drawn commenters so be sure to comment below!

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Ryan Malloy has lost it all. After his fiancée dies in a tragic accident, he enlists in the army, only to lose his best friend in a roadside bombing. Wracked with guilt and grief, Ryan finds life unbearable—until a job offer from his former commander gives him a glimmer of hope. And in the tiny town of Perfect, Indiana, the man who thought he had nothing left to live for meets the only woman who can tempt him into risking his battered heart one last time...

Paige Langford has it all: wealth, beauty, and ambition. But when her boyfriend’s betrayal leads to the loss of her job and her reputation, she retreats to her brother’s rural Indiana home to regroup. There she meets Ryan Malloy, a gruff, hard-drinking loner whose surly temper can’t hide the haunted misery in his eyes. He is everything Paige never wanted, yet he may be exactly what she needs—if only they can overcome their personal demons to forge a love strong enough to save them both.

Purchase The Difference a Day Makes on Amazon.

~~~~Excerpt~~~~~~

Throwing her shoulders back, Paige knocked on Mr. Weil’s door.

“Come in,” he barked from inside.

Smoothing her face into a professional mien, she opened the door and strode in. One look at his expression, and she faltered. He looked serious. Seriously unhappy. What the hell?

“Have a seat, Langford.” He moved a pile of folders aside.

She took one of the chairs in front of his huge, imposing desk. “You wanted to see me?”

“Hmmm.” He scowled her way. “Meyer Construction needed our bid five business days ago. They never got it. They’ve gone with another supplier.”

An adrenaline shock hit her system, and her heart leaped to her throat. She gripped the arms of the chair. “That’s impossible! I sent that bid with a same-day courier two days before it was due.”

“Like I said—they never got it.” He leaned back in his expensive leather chair and fixed her with a baleful scowl. “I’ve also had two other accounts you handled complain that their bids were late, holding them up and delaying their contractors. If it weren’t for Anthony Rutger’s intervention, we would’ve lost those accounts as well.”

“Anthony’s…intervention?” Her mind spun with the implications. Anthony? 

Her mind flew back to the day the courier had come to the lobby for the Meyer bid. She’d been in the middle of a phone call, and Anthony had offered to take the envelope down to the lobby for her. At the time, she’d thought it was sweet. Come to think of it, he’d also offered to put a few of her bids into the office’s outgoing mail bin for her. No, he wouldn’t purposefully sabotage her. Would he? They were a couple. 

Heat filled her face. “I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”

“Damn straight it won’t. You’re fired.” 

“Oh, no. There’s been a mistake. I had somebody else put the bids in the mail for me. They must’ve forgotten, or…” Shit. Shit. Shit. She glanced around the office as the reality of Anthony’s betrayal sank in. “I won’t let it happen again, Mr. Weil. I’ll get the Meyer account back somehow.” She sucked in a breath. “From now on, I will personally put things in the out bin myself, and—”

“Miss Langford, you’re done here.”

About Barbara

As a child, Barbara Longley moved frequently, learning early on how to entertain herself with stories.

Adulthood didn’t tame her peripatetic ways: she has lived on an Appalachian commune, taught on an Indian reservation, and traveled the country from coast to coast. After having children of her own, she decided to try staying put, choosing Minnesota as her home. By day, she puts her master’s degree in special education to use teaching elementary school. By night, she explores all things mythical, paranormal, and newsworthy, channeling what she learns into her writing.

Find out more about Barbara and her books on her website.

Author Interview: Elodie Parks

Please welcome Elodie to my blog today who is sharing with us some inside info on her latest relase, The Last Time. Be sure to check out the rafflecopter giveawway at the bottom as Elodie is giving away a £25/$25 Amazon gift card and a bundle of all her titles in ebook format.

What is your name and where do you live now?

My name is Elodie Parkes and I live in rural United Kingdom presently. Close to a city but just far enough away to feel very countrified.

First off, how has your week been?

It’s been up and down. I’m really busy and sometimes this week I’ve wondered how I’m going to get through everything. More annoying for me is that I haven’t done any writing.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and how long you’ve been writing?

I started writing when I was seventeen, but gave up for a number of years. I had a few things published back then in teenage magazines. Then a few years ago I had so many stories in my head that I started writing again.

Did you always want to be a writer? If not what did you want to be?

I never knew what direction I wanted to take to be honest and life has pushed me around a little. I remember wanting to be a Vet at one point in time and then I stayed with the Arts.

What is the name of your latest book, and if you had to summarise it what would you say?

My latest release is from Eternal Press, titled The Last Time

She thought it was just another stalker case until she met Seth Carbery.

Please tell us about your current release.

Actor Seth Carbery swears he will never fall in love again, that is until he meets private detective Bethany Snow.

Something strange is going on. Seth and other members of the movie cast and crew are receiving threatening letters, but no threat has ever been carried out... yet. Bethany Snow is sent on location by the Black Agency to investigate, and guard Seth Carbery against danger.

The case is not what it first seems and even when Bethany thinks it could be over, a new twist means she becomes a target.

Seth and Bethany find they can’t keep their hands off each other.

Who is sending the letters and why? Does Seth have a secret admirer or stalker?

With steamy romance, graphic love scenes, and a quirky story of what people do for love this erotic romance is for adults only.

What was your favourite chapter to write and why?

I did enjoy writing the love scenes where my two lovers meet and fall for each other. So it’s over three chapters actually.

Are your books available as eBooks? Were you involved in that process at all? Do you read eBooks or is it paper all the way?

My books are mostly in eBook form. I only ever read eBooks now too.

Did you have any say in the title / cover of your book?

I titled the book. U had a huge say in the cover too. The artist was very good at negotiating.

Are there certain characters you would like to go back to, or is there a theme or idea you’d love to work with?

Across all my books so far I’d like to write Jake Snow’s story. He’s a character from The Last Time and it feels as if he has a story that needs telling.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

I always have some little quirk in my stories that are not exactly message for readers but they highlight something I’ve noticed in real life. In The Last Time it’s about just what people do for and when in love. It can really knock a person around.

How long does it usually take you to write a book, from the original idea to finishing writing it?

That really does vary. If the story is strong in my mind it can be four to six weeks. If I have an idea that I want to develop more then 10-12 weeks. That’s just the first writing not editing and re-writing, that takes more time.

Do you have plans for a new book?

I’ve just had a manuscript contracted by Hot Ink Press called The Winter Girl, set for a summer 2013 release. I’ve just finished a story that will go into editing for a time and is not submitted anywhere yet. A new story is bubbling in my mind right now but I might hijack it for Jake Snow’s story. (smiles)

What genre would you place your books into?

Erotic Contemporary romance, with a twist.

What made you decide to write that genre of book?

It just happened LOL

Do you have a favourite out of the books you have written? If so why is it your favourite?

I do love The Horoscope Writer but I do love The Winter Girl too. I think authors fall in love with some of their work more than other works.

Do you have a favourite character from your books? Why are they your favourite?

I can never pick. I change too. Right now it’s Starr Forrester from The Winter Girl. He’s so cool.

Where do you get your book plot ideas from? What/Who is your inspiration?

People I meet or just see I the street sometimes inspire me. Road signs, buildings, places I drive through. Ideas just drop into my head.

Do you choose a title first, or write the book then choose the title?

I’m generally into the story for a few days and then the title becomes clear.

How do you come up with characters names and place names in your books?

Names are weird for me. I have to know my characters’ names or they don’t gel properly. funnily enough I don’t always pick the names, the characters suddenly tell me as I think about the story.

Do you decide on character traits (ie shy, quiet, tomboy girl) before writing the whole book or as you go along?

No it just unfolds.

How do you go about creating the perfect "Swoon" worthy man?

He just unfolds too. LOL

Has anything surprised you about your writing life?

How much I miss my characters when the story is finished.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Marketing is the blight of my life and I bet most authors these days.

Is there a word, phrase or quote you like?

From someone else?

I like James Redfield,

“I don't think that anything happens by coincidence... No one is here by accident... Everyone who crosses our path has a message for us. Otherwise they would have taken another path, or left earlier or later. The fact that these people are here means that they are here for some reason...”

If you couldn’t be an author, what would your ideal career be?

To run a plant nursery, a garden shop, market  type place.

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Elodie Parkes lives near Canterbury, United Kingdom. It’s famous for the Cathedral, Chaucer, and there is a UNESCO world heritage site, which includes the ancient ruins of St Augustine's Abbey and St Martin's Church. There is also a ruined castle. It’s a pretty place too and the coast nearby is great.

She work in an antiques shop and writes. She has two dogs that keep her fit with their need for walks.

Elodie writes romance, contemporary and erotic with a twist of magic, paranormal, mystery or suspense. She likes to make the story unusual in some way, by a quirk in the tale.

Find Elodie online,

http://elodieparkes.blogspot.com where you can read lots of snippets from my erotic romance novels, meet other authors and read snippets from their books. Become a fan on Facebook.

Purchase The Last Time from Eternal Press.

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