Blog Tour Stop: The Island by Jen Minkman

Book Info-

Title-The Island

By- Jen Minkman

Publication Date-June 1, 2013

*Novella* (80 pages)

Genre- YA Dystopian

Blurb-

‘I walk toward the sea. The endless surface of the water extends to the horizon, whichever way I look.

Our world is small. We are on our own, and we only have ourselves to depend on. We rely on the Force deep within us, as taught to us by our forefathers.

If I were to walk westward from here, I would come across a barrier – the Wall.

Behind it, there are Fools. At least, that’s what everyone says.

I have never seen one.’

Leia lives on the Island, a world in which children leave their parents to take care of themselves when they are ten years old. Across this Island runs a wall that no one has ever crossed. The Fools living behind it are not amenable to reason – they believe in illusions. That’s what The Book says, the only thing left to the Eastern Islanders by their ancestors.

But when a strange man washes ashore and Leia meets a Fool face to face, her life will never be the same. Is what she and her friends believe about the Island really true?

Or is everyone in their world, in fact, a Fool?

Blog Tour Stop and Guest Post: Blind Allegiance by Violetta Rand

Please welcome Violetta as she shares her release, Blind Allegiance, with us. Do be sure to comment as she is giving away a $25 Amazon GC! Now read on to find out more behind why she wrote Blind Allegiance and its setting.

Why Blind Allegiance?

I admit Norway isn’t the typical setting for a romance novel. I hear it all the time. I smile. That’s what made writing Blind Allegiance so much fun. Prior to the resurgence of interest in Vikings, I finished my novel. Sure, we saw the occasional Viking tale (Sandra Hill always makes me laugh). Why not more? Why aren’t these monolithic warriors met with the same enthusiasm as Highlanders or Vampires? I’ve never been able to figure it out. Then the History Channel made a bold move, their new series Vikings premiered this year. Everyone loved it. I considered it a good omen. 
Timing is everything. 
Although my story primarily focuses on Norse culture, snapshots of the stunning Norwegian landscape are described in my book. I see similar sights in Alaska (my home). Mountains, rivers, glaciers, fjords, boreal forests, the northern lights, and abundant wildlife are all within walking or short driving distance of my home. Although I haven’t had the opportunity to visit Norway yet, I’m surrounded by similar beauty. I’m fascinated with Scandinavia. I often fantasize that Vikings skimmed the Arctic coast of Alaska. Why not? There’s much we don’t know. 
I don’t want to write about civilized or cultivated places at this point in my career. Endless possibilities exist with Vikings. Eleventh century politics and religion was vitally important to the Norse. Christianity infiltrated Odin’s lands. Thor’s hammer versus the cross—a conflict of epic proportions ensued. I want to capture these moments. By 1066 (years after my tale), the Norse loss of the Battle of Stamford Bridge (England) which altered Norway’s and England’s futures forever. Officially, it’s considered the end of the Viking Age. 
I couldn’t disagree more. These fierce men didn’t go quietly into the night. I believe they started over.

It’s a risk of a lifetime loving a man you’re supposed to hate…

Betrayed by a brother she hardly trusted before the bloodthirsty Viking, Jarl Randvior Sigurdsson, attacks her home, Noelle Sinclair is conveniently bartered as a means to save her cowardly sibling’s skin. Forced to leave her homeland and accompany the petulant Viking to the untamed wilderness of central Norway, Noelle is ever-aware of the burgeoning dangers around her—including her weakening resolve to resist Randvior. 

Should Noelle surrender to his resplendent charms and seduction, or fight with every ounce of strength she possesses to get home?

     Dark clouds always gathered in Noelle Sinclair’s dreams. Hundreds of nightmares had played out in her mind since childhood. Why should tonight be any different? 

The smell of burning wood invaded her sleep. Smoke snatched her breath and she tried to purge her lungs by taking deep breaths. She ran for the great hall and all she could see were scorched rafters and floorboards. Guards scrambled to the battlements, while women and children fled the castle. She searched for her sisters among the people migrating outside ...

“Fire!” 

Noelle’s eyes snapped open at the sound of dire warning. By God, this was no dream! She flung blankets aside and rolled over, shook her older sister awake, and jumped out of bed. 

“What’s wrong?” Margaret asked sleepily.

“The castle’s on fire. Get up, now!” 

 Margaret scurried from bed and ran with Noelle to the windows overlooking the eastern edge of the castle. Through the swirling fog, Noelle could make out a tangle of men with torches and weapons in the courtyard below. She further scanned the shoreline where the North Sea pounded against the rocks and dunes. The castle was under siege and poorly defended. Most of the soldiers and her father were in Ireland, leaving only her brother and a skeleton army behind. 

Her gaze still locked on the beach, Noelle caught sight of three, silvery-white longships anchored beyond the walls. Their blood-red sails snapped in the wind. She stared in horror as the pattern on the sails came into focus—the shape of a dragon. 

Violetta Rand holds a bachelor's degree in Environmental Policy and a master's degree in Environmental Management. Serving as an environmental scientist in the state of Alaska for over seven years, she enjoys the privilege of traveling to remote places few people have the opportunity to see. 

Violetta has been "in love" with writing since childhood. Struck with an entrepreneurial spirit at a young age, at five, she wrote short stories illustrated by her best friend and sold them in her neighborhood. The only thing she loves more than writing is her wonderful relationship with her husband, Jeff. She enjoys outdoor activities, reading whatever she can get her hands on, music, and losing herself in the ancient worlds she enjoys bringing to life in the pages of her stories.

http://www.violettarand.com/

Blog Tour Stop: The Art of Temptation by Genella deGrey

Please welcome Genella on her blog tour as she shares her release, The Art of Temptation with us. Be sure to comment as she's giving away a large goodie grab bag comprised of 'author swag' gathered from the Romance Novel Convention in August 2013 to three randomly drawn commenters during the tour. 

What is your name and where do you live now?

Hi! I am Genella deGrey and I live in Southern California.

First off, how has your week been?

My week has been a frenzy of activity! I'm gearing up for the first annual Romance Novel Convention - http://romancenovelconvention.com/ - that will take place in Las Vegas at the Golden Nugget Hotel, August 7 – 11th. It's all-inclusive 5 days/4 nights of classes, events and meals. I'll not only be teaching a workshop, but I'll be participating in the book fair on Saturday (8/10) where myself and over 350 (check that number because it may have gone up) romance authors will be signing our books, giving away goodies and meeting readers from around the world. There will be a costume ball and a Mr Casanova contest... Can you tell I'm excited? :D

Oh wow sounds fun! So did you always want to be a writer? If not what did you want to be?

Honestly, I had no idea what I wanted to be when I grew up. Looking back, I'd say I was made aware of  things I couldn't do, and places I shouldn't go, rather than shown the path to things that were available to a young woman back then. I have a 9 year-old son and we talk all the time about different careers and what's out there – and that he will be able to choose to go to any university, and that he can be anything he wants. I want the world to be his oyster rather than the scary place that was presented to me.

Please tell us about your current release.

The Art of Temptation is a fictional tale about the opening of the Moulin Rouge. It's about a secondary character, Valerie Hempstead, from my book, Remember Me. However, the book she came from was a paranormal/supernatural/historical, angels, demons and vampires in Victorian England. Valerie's book is strictly a historical romance without any sub-genres.

She is told by the heroine of the first book that she's about to go on a journey that will change her life. Well, I just couldn't let her go all by herself, I had to follow her! ;) So that's where the idea came from for my current release.

The book's blurb: With proper motivation, even the innocent can learn The Art of Temptation.

Sounds great! Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?

In The Art of Temptation, Valerie goes on a tour of the continent. They begin in Venice, Italy, and I have to admit, I couldn't help but incorporate Venice into their travel plans! Back in 2001 I went to Venice to help film a documentary on Carnival. Well, as everyone does when they visit that city, I fell in love with it. So much so that this is the second time I've written about it. The first was in my book, Unmasked. I feel I left a part of my soul there, and someday I'd like to go back and visit – perhaps not during Carnival this time so that I can really feel the heartbeat of the city and immerse myself in the history that literally surrounds you there.

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?

All of my books are available on Amazon in e format, however I have a few that you can purchase in paperback.

Remember Me and The Art of Temptation are my independent releases, all my other books are through small presses.

I read e and paper. I like them both. :)

Do you have plans for a new book?

I just finished edits on my next release, Cat and Mouse, another sexy historical. Book blurb: A proper lady would never steel or lie; nor would she enjoy the sting of her lover’s hand upon her posterior.

As you can imagine, this one is going to be one of my naughtier ones. ;)

And I'm working on the related novel currently titled: The Best Kind of Scoundrel, that features a secondary character from Cat and Mouse. I'm hoping it matches the heat level of the first book, but we'll see. I tend to write my love scenes as the plots/storylines dictate and not just all hot, all the time.

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

Each writer's process is different. With my process, usually a character comes to mind that is so interesting, I HAVE to write their story. Every once in a while it will be a puzzling situation that prompts me to investigate and eventually write.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I'm not sure if this is considered a quirk or not, but...my heroines aspire to be proper, truly, but they inevitability end up entangled in a scandalous situation or two. Now, I don't know about you, but I wouldn't be able to read about a fictional heroine who just sits there like a lump because it wouldn't be proper to get involved or do something about a dire circumstance. So my girls get out there – they're clever, they get their hands dirty and do all sorts of things that society would deem 'improper.'

If you look at history, it's filled with people who broke the molds and breached barriers. Laurel Thatcher Ulrich is credited with comeing up with one of my very favorite sayings: “Well behaved women seldom make history.” Word, sisters!

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

I get a few readers saying that my fictional characters aren't period-correct. Well, the same could be said about Scarlett O'Hera and Lizzy Bennet. That puts me in pretty good company if you ask me. Would there even have been a story if Scarlett sat at home embroydering hankies or if Miss Bennet married Mr Collins? YUCK! I'm board just writing that sentence! LOL

If there is one thing I learned from submitting my early stories to the big New York publishers, it's that today's reader HAS to be able to identify with, at the very least, your heroine. So I ran with that information and here I am today. I have fun, interesting plots and characters who can handle anything I throw at them.

My favorite thing as an author is when I get readers from all over the world telling me that the love my books. No ammount of sales would touch my heart like that kind of compliment does.

Do you think ebooks will ever totally replace printed books?

No. But I have to admit, the older I get I really appriciate the fact that I can make the font bigger when my book is in electronic format. <grin>

Thanks so much – this was a lot of fun! Please feel free to pop by my website www.genelladegrey.com and look around. I have extras and bonus stuff about my books, and I have a place for you to register for my 'Terribly Infrequent Newsletter' and a place to sign-up for blog alerts. AND you can find me on Facebook: 'Genella deGrey Books' and Twitter: @GenelladeGrey

After seven failed seasons, Valerie Hempstead decides to take her fate into her own hands, and a tour of the continent is just the thing. Accompanied by a female cousin, and the girl’s childhood companions--all of whom live fast and for the moment, Valerie is about to discover more about life than she anticipated.

Travis Elijah Colin Wade, the son of no one in particular, has just been handed a vast amount of money and a large country estate and, of all things, a bloody title. However, he's not at all pleased about leaving his care-free bachelor days behind. Determined to spend some of his money and relax before assuming his duties for Queen and country, Travis goes abroad. Little does he know that he is about to be utterly swept away by the seduction of innocent surrender. 

“Come here, my sweet kitten. Let me hear you purr.” He moved closer, now loosely holding her masked face between his hands.

Praying to God that he would be dissuaded from whatever it was he was about to do to her, Valerie swallowed and half-succeeded in twisting away from him again, but his hands wouldn’t permit a complete rotation. “You mistake me, sir. I am here with some friends. I had no idea what this party was about,” she said, her voice higher than normal and her pounding heart nearly audible. Much to her embarrassment, he seemed to snuggle his body even closer to hers and her head turned back to him of its own volition.

“So, you’ve never attended a Shadow Party before?” he whispered.

Valerie shook her head almost imperceptibly as his face inched nearer to hers.

Her senses heightened, whether by the champagne or the heady sensation the man’s proximity was causing, she didn’t know. Nevertheless, he did smell wonderfully masculine. His gentle touch had been quite foreign to her, and yet she welcomed it; hand to elbow, finger to chin, palm to cheek, body to body, whatever the combination, it was wonderful.

And very dangerous.

“I’m on holiday,” she whispered, the tone of her voice rose, hoping she didn’t sound too flustered.

“Are you?” Without letting her answer, he continued speaking softly. “I’ve stolen away to the Continent for a holiday as well.”

“I—I’ve never been abroad before,” she said in a shaky voice trying to continue with the new direction of the conversation.

“No?” was his response, his face perilously close.

Valerie took a breath. It wasn’t working. He was still inching towards her.

“Nor have I been kissed be—,” her whisper was cut off when his lips touched hers.

Her first kiss was nothing like she’d expected. He was gentle with her. His mouth softly brushed hers—like warm champagne-scented feathers. Her lips pursed, pliant against his and he pressed in to meld with her. With her mouth occupied, she inhaled through her nose. God, he did smell good; a manly cologne, clean and leather, cedar and soap, faintly done, not in the way the French used perfume. Valerie sighed, she didn’t mean to, but it was too late to call it back.

“Are you enjoying our kiss?” he murmured against her lips.

“Yes.” She sighed the word.

Born and reared in Southern California, Genella deGrey longed to be your typical blonde, tanned, surfer girl

but failed miserably. Unable to sit idle without falling asleep, she embarked upon several artistic endeavors. Makeup and set dressing for the entertainment industry, Resort Enhancement for The Walt Disney Company and writing sexy historical romance top the list of her favorite activities.

Genella has a keen interest in the spirit world. She loves wandering around in graveyards, traveling to battle fields and other haunted destinations, the older the better. New Orleans is one of her favorite places to encounter the supernatural, as is Tombstone, AZ.

Purchase The Art of Temptation on Amazon.

Release Day Spotlight: Highland Beauty by Krystal Brookes

Happy release day to fellow Jupiter Garden's Press author, Krystal Brookes. I am really fond of the Kilrigh Heat Series so am looking forward to reading this. Hot Scottish men...yes please! Be sure to enter the rafflecopter below to win a copy and check out Krystal's guest post to find out a little more about a few of the problems Krystal faced when writing the story..

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Hello. First I'd like to thank Samantha for hosting me today, which is release day for my new novella. “Highland Beauty” is the fourth book in the Kilrigh Heat series, set on the fictional Scottish island of Kilrigh. For those who have read the other three, you will get to find out how Fiona and Brodie are getting on. Baby George Alexander Louis has nothing on this kid's birth. But you'll also find out what the problem was between Sadie and her boyfriend In Highland Hogmanay.

For those who have not read the books, then don't worry. The books are all stand alone stories. You don't have to have read the others to get all hot and flustered over the sexy hero in his kilt.

Yes, I said kilt!

As I have already allude to, Fiona has her baby in the opening chapters of the story.  Sadie, her sister-in-law, is the only midwife on the island. I needed to make it realistic. I don't think I'm being sexist to suggest most readers of this book will be female, many of whom will have been through childbirth and some who may even be midwives.

Now I need to point out that my mother always told me that childbirth is not painful... just uncomfortable. I think she wanted grandchildren and didn't want to put us off. Luckily, not only does my sister have three of her own children but she is a trained midwife. My sister explained it thusly.  At some point during labour, most women will yell at their husband, threaten his little baby-making machine and promise never to let him near her again. She explained how all the paraphernalia worked... and having been a student nurse for a short while, I had been in the delivery room to see a few women in labour.

So I made my sister read it when it was finished and the only time she said, “Oh no no no NO! That would never happen,” was when Brodie sat on the bed. For a woman who has never given birth and only seen a baby born by c-section, I think I did not bad. But I'm not going to tell you what gender the baby was or what it was called.  Like Catherine and William, I'm keeping that a royal secret until you've bought the book.

Everyone knows about Sadie MacNeil's secret apart from her ex-boyfriend Calum. It was her secret that drove them apart. Having decided that the single life was the best thing for her, Sadie has returned to Kilrigh to restart her life. She doesn't bank on Calum following her up to the small Hebridean island.

Try as she may, Sadie can't convince either Calum or herself that she's over him. She begins to find ways to continue their relationship while keeping her secret—ways that require her to be inventive in the bedroom. 

But will the consequences of an irresponsible night on the beach be the thing that pulls them together or destroys their relationship forever?

It was a lovely dream. She and Calum were walking along the beach at the north end of the island. He'd thrown her into the water and she'd pulled him in alongside her. They were kissing slowly and passionately in shallow waters until Calum broke the kiss and stood up, helping her to her feet. As he removed her T-shirt, she felt no shame. There was nothing to be seen. He pressed his hand against her swollen belly, telling her how beautiful their daughter would be.

“Sadie.” Someone was calling her, but it wasn't Calum. He was still rubbing her belly. “Sadie.” The voice was more urgent. Why couldn’t the voice go away and leave them in peace? They were going to make love on the beach—she was sure of it. “Sadie, wake up.”

Oh—dream, no. Wake up.

She dragged herself away from the beautiful image and opened her eyes. It was dark, but she could just make out her sister-in-law.

“Fiona, are you OK?”

“I think it's started.”

“Are the pains regular?”

“Every ten minutes—like clockwork.”

“For how long?”

“About an hour. They were farther apart before.” At that moment, Fiona groaned and clutched her stomach with one hand and leaned over the bed, holding herself up on the other. She breathed through her teeth—a low moan accompanying each exhalation.

“OK. Let's get you to the hospital. I'll go and get Brodie.”

“No. I'll get him and my bag. You meet us down at the front door.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah. He's grumpy when he wakes up. He might be horrible to you. Besides, I want to pack a few more things. If the baby falls out between your suite and ours, I'll scream loudly.”

“Okay, it's a deal. Five minutes and I want you downstairs.”

Fiona nodded and left the room.

Sadie's insides did a little flip as the door clicked shut. This was it. Her first delivery on Kilrigh, and it was going to be her own niece or nephew. She had delivered babies before, but always in a hospital or within an easy ambulance ride of the hospital if something went wrong. It was a huge responsibility.

She scrambled out of bed, threw on a clean uniform, grabbed her stethoscope and other nurse’s tools, and picked up her blue cardigan as she left the room. She arrived downstairs to find Fiona scowling at the open door and whatever was happening outside. Her parents were hurrying down the stairs at the other side of the large hallway.

“Is it coming?” Kentigern asked. What little hair he had was sticking up in the air, and he had clearly just thrown on a dressing gown, given the way the collar was half tucked in.

“Not imminently, but soon,” Sadie replied.

“If your bloody stupid son doesn't kill us all in his attempt to get us to the hospital.” Fiona's words were punctuated with the screech of tyres and the revving of the Land Rover engine.

“Can I help?” Finlay MacNeil appeared on the steps of the Big House, pulling on a hooded top over his pyjamas. Erin followed him, pushing her hands through her short blonde bob.

“Maybe you could drive, Finlay. Much though I love you, I have no desire for you to be heir to the lairdship.”

“Message received and understood. I'll get shit-for-brains out of the driving seat,” chuckled Finlay.

“I'll drive my car down to the hospital so I can bring Finlay home again,” suggested Erin.

“Thanks, that's a good idea.” Sadie was relieved that her family was working together. Brodie wasn't normally a prize chump. In fact, he was normally the most rational one out of the three of them.

As they all trooped outside, Sadie's arm around Fiona, the smell of pine trees mingled with the pungent sea smell assailed Sadie's nostrils. The night was clear and thousands of stars twinkled above them. Please God, let this birth go smoothly.

Brodie grumbled as he walked round the front of the Land Rover to the passenger seat. Sadie was about to help Fiona into the Land Rover when her sister-in-law clutched her belly and groaned.

“Fiona, just breathe through it. Exactly like they taught you in prenatal classes.”

Fiona turned her face towards Sadie and grimaced. The interior car light made her look desperately pale and gaunt. She may have seen many women in labour, but the apprehension in her Fiona's eyes reminded her that this was not just any baby—at least, not to her family.

It will be fine.

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Find Krystal on her website and Facebook and purchase Highland Beauty from Jupiter Gardens Press or look out for it on Amazon very soon You can sign up to updated on Krystal's page on Amazon to be sure you don't miss out! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author Interview: Lisa Murphy

Please welcome Lisa to my blog today. She's talking about her newly published novel and what she may have been if she wasn't a writer!

What is your name and where do you live now?

Lisa Poston Murphy. Hendersonville, Tennessee.

First off, how has your week been?

Amazing! Not only have I successfully published my first novel, but I got a full request for my second one today . . . and it’s summer time!

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

No, I wanted to be a Mafia Princess when I was little. I know, weird. High School Latin brought forth dreams of becoming a surgeon, and falling in love in college made me realize a nursing degree was more easily achieved. I’ve dabbled with the idea of opening a tea room, going to culinary school to become a chef . . . you get the picture. I’ve got too many personalities to settle into a career, but writing allows me to be any of those things.

Where did you come up with the idea to write your book?

I’ve been vacationing on Sanibel Island at least once a year since infancy. Last summer I looked for a romance novel that took place on the island, but there wasn’t anything like it out there. Instead of choosing something else, I decided to write what I wanted to read. Honestly, I had no intention of turning it into a book—it was just my way of relaxing. 85,000-words later—I had something I was proud of and wanted to share.

Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?

I’d say most of the book is “imaginative reality.” I’ve always been a dreamer, preferred living in fiction, and tend to exaggerate. All of the memories with Nana are true. Lighthouse Point is a real place—my favorite. However, most everything else in the story is fictitious.

What was your favourite chapter to write and why?

The crime scene. It surprised me how thrilling it was to research and interview specialists about the details.

Do you have plans for a new book?

’m in the editing process of TORN, and have begun writing CRUEL. These two books are starkly different from LIGHTHOUSE POINT—darker with a higher level of heat.

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

Movie credits! It’s how we chose our children’s names, too. We have always stayed for all of the credits, searching for our own names. Now I find myself jotting down future character names.

Can you describe the feeling you had when you saw your published book for the first time?

Tears, goose bumps, shaking . . . it was the equivalent of a 5-hour energy drink mixed with overwhelming emotion. My kids watched with wide eyes as I did my own version of a freak-out!

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

The toughest criticism is an unworthy compliment. The best compliment I’ve gotten is blunt, sometimes cruel, honesty. “Tear out this chapter and redo it.” or “Your sex scenes are dull . . . drink two glasses of wine and try again.” I really prefer constructive criticism as I want to put my best work out there. Although compliments are necessary for motivation, a great critique partner/editor/friend will tell you the truth and help you fix it.

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Lighthouse Point is a sweet, tension-filled island romance novel. Here is the blurb on the back of the book:

Twenty-four-year-old Emma Peroni has never been a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants kind of girl, traveling fourteen hours away from her neatly organized life to an island that promises sanctuary and a fresh start . . . until today.

With the weight of the world on her shoulders, and no family to catch her when she crumbles, Emma finds solace on Sanibel Island.

Falling into the arms of Sheldon Barringer, a handsome local real estate investor, was not part of the plan. Emma manages to resist his charms for a time and focus on the reason she came here—to be alone and escape the night terrors. However Sheldon’s intoxicating sense of humor and easy personality eventually captivate Emma, sweeping her into the delightful experience of falling in love for the first time.

As Emma and Sheldon begin to plan a future together, trouble lurks in the shadows, waiting and watching.

You can look inside of the book, and purchase on Amazon. For more information, please check out the links below.

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