~BOOK SPOTLIGHT~ RUSH BY MAYA BANKS….
MBA&M SPOTLIGHTS…
*from the author's website*
Breathless Trilogy
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Gabe, Jace, and Ash: three of the wealthiest, most powerful men in the country. They're accustomed to getting anything they want. Anything at all. For Gabe, it's making one particular fantasy come true with a woman who was forbidden fruit. Now she's ripe for the picking…
When Gabe Hamilton saw Mia Crestwell walk into the ballroom for his hotel's grand opening, he knew he was going to hell for what he had planned. After all, Mia is his best friend's little sister. Except she's not so little anymore. And Gabe has waited a long time to act on his desires.
Gabe has starred in Mia's fantasies more than once, ever since she was a teenager with a huge crush on her brother's best friend. So what if Gabe's fourteen years older? Mia knows he's way out of her league, but her attraction has only grown stronger with time. She's an adult now, and there's no reason not to act on her most secret desires.
As Gabe pulls her into his provocative world, she realizes there's a lot she doesn't know about him or how exacting his demands can be. Their relationship is intense and obsessive, but as they cross the line from secret sexual odyssey to something deeper, their affair runs the risk of being exposed—and vulnerable to a betrayal far more intimate than either expected.
For more information on this title and on her future titles,please visit her website at:
Check out "My Thoughts" on "Rush"….
http://mybookaddictionreviews.com/2013/03/19/rush-by-maya-banks/
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From our house to yours….HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY EASTER!!
#GIVEAWAY AND #FEATURE OF LORD OF DARKNESS BY ELIZABETH HOYT…
MBA&M AND HACHETTE BOOK GROUP PROUDLY PRESENTS….
MAIDEN LANE SERIES #4
Coming February 2013
WHEN STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT
He lives in the shadows. The mysterious masked avenger known as the Ghost of St. Giles, his only goal is to protect the innocent of London. Until the night he confronts a fearless lady pointing a pistol at his head—and realizes she is his wife . . .
BECOME LOVERS…
Lady Margaret Reading has vowed to kill the Ghost of St. Giles—the man who murdered her one true love. Returning to London, and the man she hasn't seen since their wedding day, Margaret does not recognize the man behind the mask. Fierce, commanding, and dangerous, the notorious Ghost of St. Giles is everything she feared he would be—and so much more . . .
DESIRE IS THE ULTIMATE DANGER
When passion flares these two intimate strangers can't keep from revealing more of themselves than they had ever planned. But when Margaret learns the truth—that the Ghost is her husband, Godric St. John—the game is up and the players must surrender . . . to the temptation that could destroy them both.
· Barnes & Noble
· Blackwell's (UK)
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· Chapters (Canada)
· IndieBound Ebook
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· Nook
VISIT THE AUTHOR'S WEBSITE:
http://www.elizabethhoyt.com/books/darkness
EXCERPT from LORD OF DARKNESS
The night Godric St. John saw his wife for the first time since their marriage two years previously, she was aiming a pistol at his head. Lady Margaret stood beside her carriage in the filthy St. Giles street, her glossy, dark curls tumbling from the velvet hood of her cloak. Her shoulders were square, both hands firmly grasped the pistol, and a murderous gleam shone in her pretty eyes. For a split second, Godric caught his breath in admiration.
In the next moment, Lady Margaret pulled the trigger.
The report was deafening but fortunately not fatal, as his wife was apparently an execrable shot. This did not reassure Godric as much as it should have, because Lady Margaret immediately turned and pulled a second pistol from her carriage.
Even the worst shots could get lucky on occasion.
But Godric hadn't the time to meditate on the odds of his wife actually murdering him tonight. He was too busy saving her ungrateful hide from the half-dozen footpads who had stopped her carriage here, in the most dangerous part of London.
Godric ducked the enormous fist coming at his head and kicked the footpad in the stomach. The man grunted but didn't go down, probably because he was as big as a draft horse. Instead, the robber began a counterclockwise circle of Godric as his compatriots—four of them, and every one quite as well fed—closed in on him.
Godric narrowed his eyes and raised his swords, a long one in his right hand, a short one in his left for defense and close fighting, and—
God's balls—Lady Margaret fired her second pistol at him.
The gunshot shattered the night, echoing off the decrepit buildings lining the narrow street. Godric felt a tug on his short cape as the lead ball went through the wool.
Lady Margaret swore with a startling breadth of vocabulary.
The footpad nearest Godric grinned, revealing teeth the color of week-old piss. "Don't like 'e much, now, do she?"
Not precisely true. Lady Margaret was trying to kill the Ghost of St. Giles. Unfortunately, she had no way of knowing that the Ghost of St. Giles happened to be her husband. The carved black mask on Godric's face hid his identity quite effectively.
For a moment, all of St. Giles seemed to hold its breath. The sixth robber still stood, both of his pistols aimed at Lady Margaret's coachman and two footmen. A female spoke in low, urgent tones from inside the carriage, no doubt trying to lure Lady Margaret back to safety. The lady herself glared from her stance beside the carriage, apparently oblivious to the fact that she might be murdered—or worse—if Godric failed to save her from the robbers. High overhead, the wan moon looked down dispassionately on the crumbling brick buildings, the broken cobblestones underfoot, and a single chandler's shop sign creaking wearily in the wind.
Godric leaped at the still-grinning footpad.
Lady Margaret might be a foolish chit for being here, and the footpad might be merely following the instincts of any feral predator who runs down the careless prey that ventures into his path, but it mattered not. Godric was the Ghost of St. Giles, protector of the weak, a predator to be feared himself, lord of St. Giles and the night, and, damn it, Lady Margaret's husband.
So Godric stabbed fast and low, impaling the footpad before his grin had time to disappear. The man grunted and began to fall as Godric elbowed another footpad advancing behind him. The man's nose shattered with a crunching sound.
Godric pulled his sword free in a splatter of scarlet and whirled, slashing at a third man. His sword opened a swath of blood diagonally across the man's cheek, and the footpad stumbled back, screaming, his hands to his face.
The remaining two attackers hesitated, which in a street fight was nearly always fatal.
Godric charged them, the sword in his right hand whistling as it swept toward one of the footpads. His strike missed, but he stabbed the short sword in his left hand deep into the thigh of the fifth footpad. The man shrieked. Both robbers backed away and then turned to flee.
Godric straightened, his chest heaving as he caught his breath and looked around. The only robber still standing was the one with the pistols.
The coachman—a thickset man of middling years with a tough, reddened face—narrowed his eyes at the robber and pulled a pistol out from under his seat.
The last footpad turned and fled without a sound.
"Shoot him," Lady Margaret snapped. Her voice trembled but Godric had the feeling it was from rage rather than fear.
"M'lady?" The coachman looked at his mistress, confused, since the footpads were now out of sight.
But Godric knew quite well that she wasn't ordering the murder of a footpad, and suddenly something inside of him—something he'd thought dead for years—woke.
His nostrils flared as he stepped over the body of the man he'd killed for her. "No need to thank me."
He spoke in a whisper to disguise his voice, but she seemed to have no trouble hearing him.
The bloodthirsty wench actually clenched her teeth, hissing, "I wasn't about to."
"No?" He cocked his head, his smile grim. "Not even a kiss for good luck?"
Her eyes dropped to his mouth, left uncovered by the half-mask, and her upper lip curled in disgust. "I'd rather embrace an adder."
Oh, that's lovely. His smile widened. "Frightened of me, sweeting?"
He watched, fascinated, as she opened her mouth, no doubt to scorch his hide with her retort, but she was interrupted before she could speak.
"Thank you!" cried a feminine voice from inside the carriage.
Lady Margaret scowled and turned. Apparently she was close enough to see the speaker in the dark even if he couldn't. "Don't thank him! He's a murderer."
"He hasn't murdered us," the woman in the carriage pointed out. "Besides, it's too late. I've thanked him for both of us, so climb in the carriage and let's leave this awful place before he changes his mind."
The set of Lady Margaret's jaw reminded Godric of a little girl denied a sweet.
"She's right, you know," he whispered to her. "Believe it or not, toffs have been known to be accosted by footpads in this very spot."
"Megs!" hissed the female in the carriage.
Lady Margaret's glare could've scorched wood. "I shall find you again, and when I do, I intend to kill you."
She was completely in earnest, her stubborn little chin set.
He took off his large floppy hat and swept her a mocking bow. "I look forward to dying in your arms, sweeting."
Her eyes narrowed on his wicked double entendre, but her companion was muttering urgently now. Lady Margaret gave him one last look of disdain before ducking inside her carriage.
The coachman shouted to the horses, and the vehicle rumbled away.
And Godric St. John realized two things: His lady wife was apparently over her mourning—and he'd better make it back to his town house before her carriage arrived. He paused for a second, glancing at the body of the man he'd killed. Black blood wound in a sluggish trail to the channel in the middle of the lane. The man's eyes starred glassily at the indifferent heavens. Godric searched within himself, looking for some emotion…and found what he always did.
He whirled and darted down a narrow alley. Only now that he was moving did he notice that his right shoulder ached. He'd either damaged something in the brawl or one of the footpads had succeeded in landing a blow. No matter. Saint House was on the river, not terribly far in the usual way, but he'd get there faster by rooftop.
He was already swinging himself up onto the top of a shed when he heard it: shrill, girlish screams, coming from around the bend in the alley up ahead.
Damn it. He hadn't the time for this. Godric dropped back down to the alley and drew both his swords.
Another terrified cry.
He darted around the corner.
There were two of them, which accounted for all the noise. One was not more than five. She stood, shaking, in the middle of the reeking alley, screaming with all of her might. She could do little else because the second child had already been caught. That one was a bit older and fought with the desperate ferocity of a cornered rat, but to no avail.
The man who held the older child was three times her size and cuffed her easily on the side of the head.
The older girl crumpled to the ground while the smaller one ran to her still form.
The man bent toward the children.
"Oi!" Godric growled.
The man looked up. "What th—"
Godric laid him flat with a right haymaker to the side of the head.
He placed his sword at the man's bared throat and leaned down to whisper, "Doesn't feel very good when you're on the receiving end, does it?"
The oaf scowled, his hand rubbing the side of his head. "Now see 'ere. I 'as a right to do as I please wif me own girls."
"We're not your girls!"
Godric saw out of the corner of his eye that the elder chit had sat up.
"'E's not our da!"
Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, making his blood boil.
"Get on to your home," he urged in a low voice to the girls. "I'll deal with this ruffian."
"We don't 'ave a 'ome," the smaller child whimpered.
She'd barely got the words out when the elder nudged her and hissed, "Shut it!"
Godric was tired and the news that the children were homeless distracted him. That was what he told himself anyway when the rogue on the ground swept his legs out from under him.
Godric hit the ground rolling. He surged to his feet, but the man was already rounding the corner at the far end of the alley.
He sighed, wincing as he straightened. He'd landed on his injured shoulder and it was not thanking him for the treat.
He glanced at the girls. "Best come with me, then."
The smaller child obediently began to rise, but the elder pulled her back down. "Don't be daft, Moll. 'E's as like to be a lassie snatcher as th' other one."
Godric raised his eyebrows at the words lassie snatcher. He hadn't heard that name for a while. He shook his head. He hadn't time to dig into these matters now. Lady Margaret would reach his home soon, and if he wasn't there, awkward questions might arise.
"Come," he said, holding out his hand to the girls. "I'm not a lassie snatcher, and I know a nice, warm place where you can spend the night." And many nights hereafter.
He thought his tone gentle enough, but the elder girl's face wrinkled mutinously. "We're not going wif you."
Godric smiled pleasantly—before swooping down and scooping one child over his shoulder and the other under his arm. "Oh, yes, you are."
It wasn't that simple, of course. The elder cursed quite shockingly for a female child of such tender years, while the younger burst into tears, and they both fought like wildcats.
Five minutes later he was within sight of the Home for Unfortunate Infants and Foundling Children when he nearly dropped them both.
"Ow!" He swallowed stronger language and took a firmer grip on the elder child who had come perilously close to unmanning him.
Grimly, Godric stalked to the back door of the St. Giles orphanage and kicked at it until a light came on in the kitchen window.
The door swung open to reveal a tall man in rumpled shirtsleeves and breeches.
Winter Makepeace, the manager of the home, arched an eyebrow at the sight of the Ghost of St. Giles, holding two struggling, weeping girls on his doorstep.
Godric hadn't time for explanations.
"Here." He unceremoniously dumped the children on the kitchen tiles and glanced at the bemused manager. "I'd advise a firm hold—they're slipperier than greased eels."
With that, he swung shut the home's door, turned, and sprinted toward his town house.
WARNING: Lord of Darkness book blurb and excerpts contain SPOILERS for the Maiden Lane series.*
~GIVEAWAY ALERT~
(Sponsored by the publisher)
*Prize mailed directly to the winner from the publisher*
Thanks to Marissa at Hachette Publishing we are offering 1 lucky winner all five books in the "Maiden Lane" series. Yes, commenters. 1 lucky winner will win all 5 "Maiden Lane" books.
GOOD LUCK EVERYONE AND PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD!!
Check out "My Thoughts" on "Lord of Darkness"…
http://mybookaddictionreviews.com/2013/03/12/reviewlord-of-darkness-by-elizabeth-hoyt/
We hope you have enjoyed our feature/excerpt on "Lord of Darkness" by Elizabeth Hoyt today!
~Thank you for spending a moment of your time with us~
Posted on March 28, 2013 March 6, 2013
#INTERVIEW WITH EVA MARQUEZ, TAINTED LOVE, AUTHOR….
~~MBA&M IS HAPPY TO HAVE EVA MARQUEZ WITH US TODAY~~
SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO…
WELCOME EVA!
First, however, a bit about The Sweetest Taboo Series:
The Sweetest Taboo Series is a controversial and edgy contemporary *mature* YA romance series appropriate for readers 16 and over. Sweetest Taboo is Book One of the series and was released on October 1, 2012. Book Two, Tainted Love, is scheduled to be released on March 5, 2013!
Now the very interesting, Eva Marquez!
Again, Welcome Eva!
MBA&M: Hi, Eva, welcome to My Book Addiction and More! Please give our readers who may not know you a little insight into the mind of Eva Marquez?
EVA: Because my novels deal with controversial topics, cross and intersect genres and do not fit into neat little boxes, I ask my readers to be prepared for the journey. My novels are not for everyone, and those who are disturbed and bothered by stories that push the envelope or challenge societal norms would likely not find my literary work appealing. So in essence, this is a bit of a warning to potential readers and/or followers. I do not intend on writing for all audiences, as that is almost impossible to do. What I can and have committed myself to doing is writing about what I know, writing about my own contexts, environments and experiences and pushing those to the limits to create controversial stories that inspire people to perhaps think out of the box.
MBA&M: TAINTED LOVE, is a complex issue, why write a story where a teenager has an affair with her swim coach?
EVA: Although 'Tainted Love' has some elements of the controversial nature of a relationship between a high school swim coach and a student, Book One of the 'Sweetest Taboo Series' covered that development of that affair. 'Tainted Love' takes off where 'Sweetest Taboo' left off and delves into more complex issues about love, deceit, mistrust, and emotional weakness/strength. Why write this story? Because it happens more than we care to acknowledge. When I was in Junior High one of my teachers had married his student (after she graduated) and they had been married for fifteen years and were a happy family with children. What intrigued me most about these stories was that the only perspective we really see is that of the media, which usually tarnishes such relationships. My objective in writing this lengthy and complex story was to portray what may be a hidden side of these relationships, a loving side, a neutral side that does not judge, throw stones, or vilify those involved in such love affairs.
MBA&M: What was your inspiration behind writing TAINTED LOVE?
EVA: I grew up as an immigrant in a lower-to-middle class Southern California suburb. So I tapped into that experience in the 'Sweetest Taboo Series', which chronicle the love affair between a young Hispanic schoolgirl and her much older, married teacher. I drew from my experiences growing up to develop several plot ideas. Romantic experiences are universal. Provocative, illicit and risqué contexts do not take away from the experience of love, and that's what this debut book sets out to communicate.
I was also intrigued by the news of one of my former teachers being convicted of [sexual] misconduct with a minor. Since I can remember, I have always been fascinated by similar stories making the news, but like many people, wondered about how these relationships originate and how they flourish under the radar. In Sweetest Taboo, I got to unravel one of these clandestine relationships, one exciting page at a time. I also delved into the mind of the adult male in this relationship in 'Tainted Love', which was an enlightening experience.
MBA&M: Which character(s) was the hardest to write about and why?
EVA: Probably Tom's character for two reasons: 1) I'm not a man and have difficulty putting myself in a man's shoes and being able to dialogue and feel like a man, and 2) I can not imagine how it would feel to be in Tom's shoes, vilified by colleagues and community members for simply loving a girl who clearly pursued him and loves him with great intensity.
MBA&M: What was the hardest scene to write in TAINTED LOVE?
EVA: The romantic/sex scenes between Isabel and Professor Wellings. Although this is a book series for mature young adults and new adults, I always want to ensure that sex scenes are written in a delicate and respectful manner. In 'Sweetest Taboo' it was important to me to be descriptive of the very first sex experience between Tom and Isabel, mainly because it's the moment that Isabel loses her virginity (a very important experience in a young ladies life and development). In 'Tainted Love', Isabel is more experience in love and sex and so I decided to leave more to the imagination this time, which I am hoping readers appreciate.
MBA&M: If you could have dinner with one of your characters which one and why?
Eva: Definitely Tom! He is a sensitive, kind and introspective man. He seems to be completely, head over heals in love with Isabel, dedicated to her and willing to jeopardize much of what he's accomplished in life just be with her. Isabel is not always as loving, gentle, or caring so my questions to Tom would be around why he wants to maintain a relationship with a young woman who gives him the runaround, who isn't always honest with him, and who doesn't seem to know what she wants. Of course, if he were as attractive as I've described him, then I'd probably also be somewhat flirtatious!
MBA&M: Where is your favorite place to write, your favorite book and why do you go when the stress gets to be too much?
EVA: My favorite place to write is in a café…I love the buzz and energy of people chatting and working on laptops, and I love coffee! My favorite book of all time is 'Half of a Yellow Sun' by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. One must remember that I worked in Nigeria for over two years so I have a special interest in novels about Nigeria and West Africa, which is why my second favorite book is 'Poisonwood Bible'. Regarding stress, I can usually manage and deflect stress quite well, but when you add a whiney toddler into the mix, it can be far too much. What I usually do is take my little over to a friend's house so she can play and expend energy and then return home for a brief nap. That usually does the trick.
MBA&M: What is on your horizon with your writing career?
EVA: The last book of the 'Sweetest Taboo Series' is currently in production (i.e. I'm working on that novel as we speak). After that novel is launched in December 2013, I will be working on a second series that touches on another forbidden romance, a half-brother/sister affair that turns into a long-term romantic coupling (to include off spring that are both part of that union and one that isn't!). I envision that also being a three-book series.
MBA&M: Last, Eva, but not least. Please tell our readers where to connect to you and where they may purchase TAINTED LOVE?
EVA: I love connecting with readers or just anyone who has an opinion about my literary work. I am also quite easy to reach through my author website: Eva-Marquez.com where my social media profiles are available.
Tainted Love is now on sale through Amazon.com (http://amzn.to/Z0fLGR) and all Amazon Prime members can borrow the book at no cost and with no due date during the next 90 days only!
Author website: www.eva-marquez.com
Book Website: www.SweetestTabooBook.com
FaceBook Fan Page: www.FaceBook.com/EvaMarquezBooks
Twitter: www.Twitter.com/EvaAuthor
Thank you Eva, for taking the time to share a little about yourself and your work!
About Eva Márquez
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, daughter of European immigrants, Eva Márquez has spent most of her life outside of her home country. At the age of five, Eva accompanied her parents to the United States, where the family settled permanently. After graduating from university, she went on to complete graduate studies in International Relations in Spain. Eva received her Master of International Studies degree from the University of Sydney and went on to work in the global health field in Sub Saharan Africa and South East Asia. Eva currently resides in Southern Africa with her young daughter.
EVA MARQUEZ
*Image and description from the author's website*
Tainted Love , Book 2
Isabel thought her life was on track – she was doing well in college, moving quickly toward her future, and deciding who she wanted to be. Best of all, she'd reunited with Tom, the swim coach she had a secret affair with in high school. But it doesn't take long for her history – and his – to start catching up with them.
When Isabel goes back to her college life, after spending a blissful summer reuniting with Tom, things take a dangerous turn. Isabel gets swept up in a relationship with a dark, mysterious professor, with whom she begins a covert love affair that could ruin everything she has rebuilt with Tom. Worse, she starts to hear rumors from friends back home – rumors about a teacher having affairs with students. And Tom seems to be at the center of the controversy. Will Isabel's instincts about what Tom's been up to during their time apart drive her farther away, or will she forgo her new romance to run to Tom's defense?
Remember to check out "My Thoughts" on this title!
~#Q&A AND #GIVEAWAY WITH LISA GYLLENHAAL AND "A PLACE FOR US"….
MBA&M AND BERKLEY/NAL, PENGUIN GROUP USA PROUDLY PRESENTS…..
A PLACE FOR US
LISA GYLLENHAAL
MBA&M: Please give our readers some insight into Liza Gyllenhaal?
LISA: I was raised in a small town in Pennsylvania. After college, some of which was spent at the University of Iowa Writing Workshop where I studied poetry, I moved to New York City and began a career in publishing and advertising. In the late 1980s, I founded an advertising agency that specialized in book publishing accounts and watched it grow over the next couple of decades. About the same time I started the agency, my husband and I began to spend weekends in the Berkshire Hills of Massachusetts, eventually buying a small cottage there. Like so many weekenders, we found ourselves drawn more and more to the serenity and natural beauty of the area—the corn fields, dairy farms, and rolling hills. When I was able to sell the agency several years ago to devote myself to writing, we also decided to spend more time in this part of the world.
I'd long been struck by the differences between the small, close-knit rural communities in the Berkshires and the upscale urban weekenders who live their part-time. All three of my novels for NAL — Local Knowledge, So Near, and now A Place for Us — are set in this area. They're mostly about family life, the tensions and joys of living in a small town, and the longing for acceptance and a sense of community.
MBA&M: What inspired you to write "A Place For Us"?
LISA: A few years ago I heard a news story on our local public radio station in Massachusetts about a married couple who were being arraigned under the Social Host Liability law. Two teenagers had been seriously injured in a car crash after drinking with the couple's son at a party in the family's basement. Though the parents had been asleep upstairs and unaware of the underage drinking, one of the injured teenager's family was bringing a law suit against the couple. Understandably, the rural community where the accident occurred was upset about the incident — but also divided about where the responsibility rested. As someone who loves writing about families and small towns, the story couldn't help but capture my imagination.
It also brought back to me a tragedy from my girlhood — two teenagers from my town who were killed in a car accident on their prom night; a bottle of whiskey was found in the front seat. As I began writing the novel, a very similar incident took place in a town not far from us in the Berkshires. In this case, tragically, one of the teenagers involved in it was killed. This senseless death brought home to me how serious and pertinent — and ongoing — the problem of underage drinking remains.
MBA&M: We see this is a story of a post 9/11 family, sexual assault, drama, secrets and lies, how hard was it to write this particular story?
LISA: Wow, that description does make it sound pretty dark! But it's also the story of a loving family and a happy marriage that is tested to the limits. This book was actually much easier to write than my last novel So Near which began with a toddler being killed in a car accident when a safety seat may have malfunctioned.
Every novel is hard to write in some way. The real challenge for me in A Place for Us was getting inside the hearts and minds of my four main characters. I thought it would be important to try several points of view with this novel — two adults and two teenagers — but I also realized that using four different first person voices would probably drive me — and readers — crazy. So I decided to write the novel in what is sometimes called the close third person which means that the story is being told by "he" or "she" rather than "I" but, hopefully, from pretty deep inside the head of the character in question.
In the first person, you can write "I did this" or "I felt that" which gives the story an automatic believability. For me, the third person —which puts readers a little more at a distance — is more of a challenge. I think that to write convincing fiction you have to be able to empathize with your characters. You need to know them deep down. You have to believe in them. But you also need to step back and give them breathing room to be themselves and make their own choices. It's very tempting when you're writing in the third person to manipulate your characters and force them to do what the story line dictates. But I think readers can always tell when a character is acting and talking — well … out of character. The most important thing I learned from writing this novel in the third person is that if something doesn't seem to be working, it probably isn't the fault of the character — instead, there's something wrong with the plot.
MBA&M: What was your hardest scene to write?
LISA: It's the scene that explains a secret that's haunted one of my main characters throughout the book — and that's effected everyone involved. I rewrote it more times than I can remember. I think you'll know which one I mean when you read the novel — if not, please let me know!
MBA&M: Which character do you admire the most and which was your least favorite?
LISA: I admired Wanda — the mother of the teenage girl who is assaulted. She's not a main character, but she is a wonderful, intuitively fair, and unfailingly loving parent. I disliked the headmaster of Moorehouse, the fictional prep school that features in the story, because he puts the reputation of the school above anything else.
MBA&M: Three words to describe A Place For Us?
LISA:Family. Regret. Acceptance.
MBA&M: What do you have in mind next?
LISA: I'm starting to write a new novel with a mystery at its heart which, I'm delighted to report, NAL will be publishing. It won't be a traditional police procedural, though someone will be murdered and the story will explore the reasons why — and probably end with the discovery of who did it. But I'm hoping the novel will be more about the characters and the small New England community where they live. I'm an avid amateur gardener and I loved writing about gardening in So Near and talking about my garden on my blog, so I'm pretty sure I want my main character to be a landscape architect/professional gardener. I also know who gets killed — and when. But I still have a lot of things I need to figure out. A lot of the joy of writing — just as it is in reading — is discovering what's going to happen next.
MBA&M: How do you spend your days?
LISA: Writing, reading, gardening. I devote a lot of time to nonprofit board work, including serving on the boards of the Academy of American Poets and the West Stockbridge Historical Society.
MBA&M: Liza, thank you for spending a moments of your day with us and our readers! Please tell our readers where they may connect with you and where they may purchase A Place For Us.
LISA: Thanks so much — it's been my pleasure! A Place for Us is available in bookstores on March 5th and through all the usual on-line sites. You can read more about it on my website http://www.lizagyllenhaal.com
Thanks for spending time with us and our readers!
Publisher: NAL Trade (March 5, 2013)
*From the publisher*
Brook and Michael Bostock abandoned their fast-paced lives in Manhattan after 9/11, trading in the city for the more relaxed atmosphere of Michael's small hometown in western Massachusetts . Brook, the daughter of an extremely prominent and wealthy New York family, is able to continue operating her event planning business, while Michael is finally able to build his own business making high-end furniture. But their seemingly peaceful lives are turned upside down when a teenager is sexually assaulted at a party their son throws while they are away.
The scandal receives national attention—not only because of Brook's family name, but also because of the lawsuit looming against Brook and her husband, that alleges they are responsible for what happened that night. Suddenly, the small Massachusetts town they call home seems to turn against them, revealing the simmering jealousies and resentments that have been lurking under the surface all along.
With their once-perfect family in danger of falling apart, Brook and Michael must find a way to get through this together—or risk losing everything they love.
GIVEAWAY ALERT!
*To be mailed directly to the winner*
Thanks to Jessica,at Berkley,we are offering 1 lucky commenter a print copy of "A PLACE FOR US". Sorry,open to U.S. residents,only. No P.O. Boxes,please.Giveaway will run from today March 27 until April 3,2013. All you have to do is leave a comment. Please remember to leave a valid email address with your comment for notification purposes only! *We will not save or share e-mail address except where notification of prize is concerned*
GOOD LUCK EVERYONE AND HAPPY READING!
Please stop by and read "Our Thoughts" on this title.
http://mybookaddictionreviews.com/2013/03/22/review-a-place-for-us-by-liza-gyllenhaal/
~SPOTLIGHT AND REVIEW~ RING AROUND THE ROSY BY JACKIE FULLERTON…
MBA&M AND THE CADENCE GROUP SPOTLIGHT TODAY IS ON…..
JACKIE FULLERTON
Jackie Fullerton is a successful businesswoman and attorney who grew up in rural Ohio.
A mother of five, Fullerton returned to college when her last child was in grade school. She graduated summa cum laude from both Franklin University, where she earned her BS degree in business, and Dayton University, where she earned her MBA. Fullerton later attended Capital Law School, where she graduated cum laude. She was admitted to the Ohio Bar in 1993, the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio, in 1995, and the Supreme Court of the United States in 1996. Although she is not in active practice, Fullerton volunteers her legal services at a local homeless shelter.
While she lived in Ohio, she was an active member of the Columbus, Ohio, community, Fullerton served on several boards and commissions, including the Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Abuse; Franklin County ADAMH (Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health) Board; Community Shelter Board; Habitat for Humanity Board; and Court Appointed Special Advocates of Franklin County, Ohio (CASA).
Fullerton now lives in Florida, with her husband, Tom, and their dog, Flash.
Jackie Fullerton is the author of Ring Around the Rosy, Revenge Served Cold and Piercing the Veil.
Author's website: http://www.jackiefullerton.com/index.php
Genre: Contemporary Romantic Suspense/Murder Mysteries/Women Sleuths
Series: Murder Mysteries
Source: Received for an honest review from The Cadence Group
Publisher: Thomas House Publishing (December 14, 2012)
Book Description(Amazon)
Law student and amateur sleuth Anne Marshall and her attorney fiance Jason Perry leave their Midwestern town for a Florida vacation at the home of Jason's parents. When they land in Florida, they find that Jason's father has discovered the murdered body of his wife's best friend, Maude. The only clue left behind is a note pinned to her that is the second verse of the nursery rhyme Ring Around the Rosy. Unable to pass up the opportunity to investigate a juicy murder, Anne soon discovers that Maude's brother was killed in a hit-and run accident several months before. The first verse of Ring Around the Rosy was pinned to his chest. Anne thinks the perp is a serial killer who will strike again. When Maude's son, Ron, is brutally attacked and left for dead, Anne knows his work is just beginning. Racing against the clock, Anne soon finds herself in a serial killer's crosshairs while battling an untimely attraction to homicide detective Don Reynolds. Ring Around the Rosy takes you on an adventure from present to past and back again as Anne and her crime-solving partners shift in to high gear to stop a killer before he strikes again!
RING AROUND THE ROSY by Jackie Fullerton is an exciting inspirational romantic suspense/murder mysteries/women sleuths with a ghost. While, "Ring Around The Rosy" may not be considered a series,it is the third in a "Murder Mystery" series,where amateur Anne Marshall and her ghostly investigating father,Tim Sherman fight crime and solve mysteries. Anne hears and sees her father,who has passed away. He helps try to keep her out of trouble,which just doesn't happen.
In "Ring Around The Rosy", Anne and her friends are after a possible serial killer. Who by the way, just happens to see and hear an evil ghostly apparition. He leaves the nursery rhyme Ring Around the Rosy pinned on the victims bodies. Fast faced story of misunderstandings,murder,ghosts,an unlikely attraction,adventure,and true love can cross the heavenly divide. A mystery that any mystery,crime solving readers are sure to enjoy. Ms. Fullerton has written a story that is full of engaging characters,ghostly apparitions,an intriguing plot and a great mystery that crosses time. Although, a misguided attempt at revenge is present,"Ring Around The Rosy" will keep you guessing right to the end. A well written story,that held my attention from beginning to end. A must read! Received for an honest review from The Cadence Group.
HEAT RATING: SWEET
REVIEWED BY: AprilR, My Book Addiction Reviews
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FROM INTRIGUE PUBLISHING…
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT….
~FROM INTRIGUE PUBLISHING~
FREE PDF's:
Girl Z: My life as a teenage zombie and Chain of Evidence a police thriller…
Girl Z and Chain of Evidence will be free to the first 10 (total of 20) people to send their email address…
The publisher (Intrigue Publishing) has graciously offered, the first 10 bloggers(That is a total of 20 copies) who send an email to the following address [email protected] a copy free PDF in exchange, for an honest review posted to all major retailers,especially Amazon.
*Please state where you seen the announcement(the blog/web site) and place "FREE PDF for review" in the subject line*
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**Thursday thru Sunday only**
ICE WOMAN ASSIGNMENT
AUSTIN S. CAMACHO
The Ice Woman Assignment: This is the 4th novel in the Stark & O Brien adventure series. Morgan Stark & Felicity O Brien battle Anaconda, female leader of a Colombian drug cartel with a secret weapon: psychic slaves who can predict their every move. Anaconda is importing a new drug known simply as ice. Federal agencies hope Stark & O Brien s street connections can help them trace the source of the new drug before it becomes too popular to stop. The action becomes more intense when Stark and O Brien go to Colombia to face the killers on their own turf.
Thanks everyone and enjoy!
Go by Amazon and pick up your copy!
#GIVEAWAY AND #GUEST POST WITH MARYLU TYNDALL,"FORSAKEN DREAMS"…
MBA&M AND BARBOUR PROUDLY PRESENTS….
~~MARYLU TYNDALL~~
"FORSAKEN DREAMS"
So without further ado, welcome back, MaryLu……
MBA&M: For those who may not know you, MaryLu, please give them a few tidbits about yourself?
MLT: I was raised on the shores of South Florida, where I grew to love the sea and the tropics and where I spent many hours on the beach dreaming of tall ships and swashbuckling heroes. But life and my own foolishness stole me away from those childhood dreams and sent me on a path spiraling away from God. I ended up living in California and working as a software engineer, of all things, but I was miserable. One day I heard God tell me to write a pirate story. Yes.. I thought I had gone crazy, too. LOL. But I wrote it and now 12 novels later, I'm still going strong. Today, I manage a home, husband, and six kids while battling three cats who have decided that my keyboard is the best place to sleep! I believe that without popcorn and chocolate, life would not be worth living, and my sole motivation in life is to bring others closer to God.
MBA&M: "FORSAKEN DREAMS" is different from you other titles, what made you decide to write this title? What was your inspiration behind this title.
MLT: Several things inspired this series. First the history is so fascinating. I never knew that so many (tens of thousands) Southerners fled the South after the Civil War for greener pastures. Many went to Mexico, some out west, but several thousand went to Brazil. Their descendants still celebrate there today. Secondly I'm a big fan of the TV show LOST, in particular the jungle setting and the spiritual themes that ran through the show. I love the supernatural and I saw an opportunity to write a story about a group of settlers who are in a sense, running away from their problems and from God, but who end up being part of an eternal plan that involves a battle between good and evil. Forsaken Dreams is the account of their voyage to Brazil, during which the reader meets all the characters and discovers their individual reasons for running away. Themes of forgiveness, bitterness, hatred, guilt, rebellion and even Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome are addressed as the colonists face several disasters that threaten their mission and their lives. During the trip, hints are given here and there that something much larger is at stake waiting for them in Brazil, something that originated behind the curtain of the natural world.
MBA&M: We all, or most of us anyway, love sea faring adventures with handsome,tough, sea faring men,and their lovely ladies,but you love anything sea faring,what is the appeal to you?Why?
MLT: I'm always shocked to meet people who actually don't care for the sea and tall ships! Okay, pirates I can understand a tiny bit. I mean, some of them were pretty nasty. (Not the pirates I write about, of course) But I love the ocean! I could spend hours on the beach (or on a ship) staring at its beauty. It's never the same. Restless and wild and beautiful with all its swirling colors and foam-capped waves. It reminds me of how powerful and great God is and how small I am, yet how much He loves me. The tall ships of old, to me, are the epitome of romance and adventure. The men who sailed them were the adventurers and explorers of their day, untamed men who craved freedom and life! Who can resist a man like that?
MBA&M: Why Brazil for the setting of "FORSAKEN DREAMS"?
MLT: The entire series, Escape to Paradise, is based on actual historic fact. Some historians estimate that close to 20,000 Southerners sailed to Brazil after the Civil War. Battle-weary, in mourning, and disillusioned, they wanted to escape the punishment of the North and recreate their Southern way of life in Brazil. Though many ended up returning, several thousand remained and started new lives. Some moved to cities such as Rio de Janeiro, while others started colonies. One such colony became the city of Americana where today descendants of these Southerners still celebrate their ancestry.
MBA&M: How many books will be in the "Escape to Paradise" series"?
MLT: Three. Forsaken Dreams follows the colonists as they sail from Charleston, SC to Rio de Janeiro. Along the way they encounter several disasters that threaten not only their voyage but their lives. Elusive Hope and Abandoned Memories follow their struggles as they set up a colony in the jungle. Each book is a romance wherein two of the colonists fall in love. (Of course!) Yet, each book offers a great adventure and an unveiling of the real purpose (God's purpose) they are in Brazil as they discover there is more in the jungle than just flora and fauna!
MBA&M: How hard is it to write sea faring adventures, and where do you find your research for your titles?
MLT: Writing is hard work, no matter what you're writing, but it is definitely easier when you write about something you love. That's why I always tell new writers to follow their hearts, write their passions. For me I have three passions: Tall ships and the sea, romance, and God. Yet, even with things you love, you still must do research. I have a library of books about tall ships and sailing and the history of sailing, pirates, general history, culture, etc… I also do some of my research online, though you must be careful to verify your sources. It takes a lot of work and focus to do the research required to write each story. Every plot is different and every location and time period are different, so it's like starting over with each new book!
MBA&M: What motivates you to write?
MLT: I love to write! I don't really need motivation. It is who I am and who God made me to be. Even if I wasn't going to be published, I would still write.
MBA&M: What was your favorite scene and which was your hardest scene to write in "FORSAKEN DREAMS"?
MLT: Hmm. That will be hard to say without giving away too much of the plot! Let's just say that the heroine, Eliza, harbors a secret that could not only ruin her life, but cause her death, and there's a scene where that secret comes to light. I know this makes me sound sadistic, but I really enjoyed writing that scene! There were so many emotions flying around between the characters! Jealousy, Shock, Hatred, Love, Pain. Ah.. so much fun to write! The most difficult scene came toward the end when the hero and heroine are about to get together but another secret is revealed that causes the hero much pain. By that time, you see, I've fallen in love with my characters and I actually hate to hurt them!
MBA&M: Who is your favorite secondary character and why?
MLT: Definitely Hayden Gale, who is the hero in book 2. Hayden is confidence man (con-man) who stowed away on the ship. He's the charming bad boy with a wounded heart that drives him on a lifelong search for the man whom he blames for his mother's death. He wears his anger as a shield to protect what turns out to be a very sensitive, kind heart.
MBA&M: Let's look forward: "FORSAKEN DREAMS" is to become a movie, who would you want as your hero/heroine and your secondary characters?
MLT: I'll attach pictures of how I see the Eliza and Grant (hero and heroine in Forsaken Dreams) They aren't really actors that I know of. At least not famous ones. However, if you'd like to see how I picture all the characters in the series, I encourage you to go view my Pinterest page There's some great pictures of Brazil too! http://pinterest.com/mltyndall/escape-to-paradise-trilogy/
MBA&M: Thank you, MaryLu, for visiting with us and our readers today. We always enjoy your visits. Please tell our readers where to connect with you and where they can purchase their copy of "FORSAKEN DREAMS"?
Thank you, April!! This was fun. 🙂
Website: http://www.marylutyndall.com
Blog: http://crossandcutlass.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/MaryLu-Tyndall-Swashbuckling-Romance/175344859169475
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaryLuTyndall
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/mltyndall/
Thank you, for taking the time to spend a few moments with us and our readers. What a joy to have you with us today!
MARYLU TYNDALL
Publisher: Barbour Books (March 1, 2013)
Publication Date: March 1, 2013 | Series: Escape to Paradise (Book 1)
Embark on a seafaring adventure in a brand-new series from bestselling author MaryLu Tyndall. After witnessing the death and destruction caused by the Civil War, Colonel Blake Wallace is eager to leave his once precious Southern homeland for the pristine shores of Brazil and the prospect of a new utopian community. Widow Eliza Crawford seeks passage on Wallace's ship harboring a dirty secret—and a blossoming hope for a fresh start. But will dangers from the sea and from man keep them from the peace and love they long for?
First in a brand-new series from bestselling author MaryLu Tyndall, Forsaken Dreams launches readers on a romantic adventure as Colonel Blake Wallace leaves the war-torn South behind to build a utopian society in Brazil. But will unexpected dangers on the ship and the secret of one captivating lady keep him from beginning anew?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9mAzFEFRxc&feature=share&list=UUPPGbVOwgIgLekJkwUkHHgw
Readers can purchase Forsaken Dreams at:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Forsaken-Dreams-Escape-Paradise-Tyndall/dp/1616265965/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1360619657&sr=8-1&keywords=marylu+tyndall
BarnesAndNoble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/forsaken-dreams-marylu-tyndall/1112492329?ean=9781616265960
ChristianBook.com: http://www.christianbook.com/forsaken-dreams-escape-to-paradise/marylu-tyndall/9781616265960/pd/265960?product_redirect=1&Ntt=265960&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP
Check out "My Thoughts" on this title!
http://mybookaddictionreviews.com/2013/03/15/review-forsaken-dreams-by-marylu-tyndall/
~~GIVEAWAY ALERT~~
Thanks to Kelsey at Barbour, we have 5,yes 5 print copies to giveaway to 5 lucky commenters. Giveaway open to U.S. residents only,sorry.
*For this giveaway we will accept P.O. Boxes,BUT recipent MUST let us know rather received or not,AND know,if not received we are not responsible for replacement.*
We realize some readers only have P.O. Boxes.
*Please remember to leave a valid email address in your comment for notification purposes only* We do not save or share emails,except when needed for prize information*
Giveaway will run from today March 25 until April 1,2012.
THANKS EVERYONE AND HAPPY READING!
FYI: READY FOR PRETIREMENT….
FOR YOUR READING PLEASURE AND A BIT OF INFORMATION!
5 Steps to Ensure Your Retirement Financing Until Age 100
No one knows how long he or she will live. Death is a mystery. The hardest part of retirement planning is calculating how many years we are going to live after we retire. As human beings, we don't know when we are going to die. It might be tomorrow or it might be more than 100 years. Still, we want to ensure that we will have enough money to last throughout our retirement.
Most people who plan their retirement assume that they were going to live until they are 100 years old. So when you plan to retire at the retirement age of 65, you must raise enough money to provide for your needs for 35 years. Some Americans between the ages of 45 to 70 are preparing for their retirement period, but many of them haven't thought about the circumstances when their savings run out and they are still alive. Or more simply said: they don't have a plan B. This is according to an online survey of the Society of Actuaries.
Though, it is not easy to save and to raise money that will provide your needs all throughout your life, there are ways to make your finances last. One way to ensure that you can have finances for your lifetime is through Social Security. The Social Security System will provide you income for your lifetime, but the amount of the money you can get depends on the year you claim it. The longer you delay claiming it, the more you will receive. It's been advised to wait as long as you can, claiming your money only when you really need it.
A second guaranteed way you can have source of income for your lifetime is through a traditional pension. But only a few people are lucky enough to have this. If your company is offering you a traditional pension, take advantage of it. You will benefit from it for the rest of your life. Another way you can secure financing for your retirement period is through annuities. These are designed to meet your retirement goals. Some workers invest 20% of their income and others invest huge amounts to get a higher security payment.
Medicare supplemental policies or MediCaid are helpful for your medical expenses. These are insurance policies that will pay your health expenses that your savings can't cover. Let's face it when we grow old, there's a fat chance that we will become sickly. Better invest in medical insurance than spend all your retirement savings on your medical expenses.
It is also better to secure yourself with Long Term Care insurance because we don't know how long you would need a medical attention. Medicare would only cover 100 days of your medical expenses and after that you have to pay on your own.
Secure yourself for the long run. Be prepared and take action now!
So are you Ready for PREtirement? Kris Miller, Estate Planning Expert and Safe Money Strategist, will guide you on how you can successfully PREpare for your retirement plan.
Visit http://ReadyForPREtirement.com, and learn more about the Secrets of Protecting your assets from Long Term care, probate and the great recession and grab her article now "The Top 3 Myths of Financial Planning", [email protected], 951 926-4158.
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~~MAC FALLOWS GUEST POST AND BLOG TOUR~~
MBA&M WELCOMES….
MAC FALLOWS
The Economics of Change
Some economic models just don't work. Lots of products that make sense for the consumerare derailed by the associated costs- the cost of production, the cost of delivery, even the cost of building awareness- in which case, the product simply never gets made. But sometimes, when demand is sufficient, the broken economics can actually lead to a change in the way things are done.
As it turns out, there was sufficient demand for books that didn't make economic sense for traditional publishers and agents to spark a change in the publishing industry, for example. New genres and art forms, not to mention new voices, have found ways around the upside down economics of the traditional publishing world to the reader. These days, more and more authorsare shouldering the risk and reaping the rewards without the usual business partners. And perhaps even more importantly, they're evolving their art form much more quickly than traditional publishing ever could- or even wanted to.
Musical stories are just one example of a genre that traditional publishers have been unable to seriously consider, given the economics, and would likely never develop on their own. Publishers have long since acknowledged that interest for a musical book by J.K Rowling and Adele, for example, would no doubt be sky high; however, on the whole, the risk attached to such a book would outweigh the potential rewards. Traditional publishers don't know anything about music, and there are a lot more costs involved in producing a musical book than there are producing the regular kind. Add to the mix that we're talking about a market that is completely unproven and you end up with a genre that will never see the light of day… unless artists themselves develop it.
Fortunately for the reading public, that's exactly what's happening in this case- and many others. Where this takes us is anybody's guess but one thing is for sure: readers are going to play more of a role than ever before in the evolution of the book industry.
And that's a good thing.
Reclusive writer and composer Mac Fallows first began pitching the idea of a musical book for teens and adults to music and book publishers in the late eighties. But without the technology to support his vision, he didn't get far.
So instead, he set out to travel the world in search of new challenges . . . and stories. He went on to write and produce over 100 songs in a dozen languages in places including Dakar, Mumbai, Prague, and Santiago for singers including Youssou N'dour, Shankar Mahadevan, Pape and Cheikh, and Kavita Krishnamoorthy.
Wondertown is the first true musical story he's published. It includes a full-length fantasy novel, 12 related songs and 17 illustrations.
Visit his website at www.wonderlandproject.com.
Wondertown
App. 300 Pages
Wondertown is a full-length fantasy novel from Mac Fallows that includes twelve original songs-each one an extension of the story sung by the characters themselves- and seventeen illustrations from acclaimed illustrator, Emrah Elmasli.
The story centres around Neil Abbott, an undersized, introverted eleven-year old boy with the ability to tell about people by touching their possessions. He doesn't fit in either at home or at school and rarely speaks to anyone, with the exception of his grandmother, who has a secret talent of her own.
One day, after a particularly difficult week, Neil asks his grandmother if she thinks he's normal, and she responds by telling him the remarkable story of an unlikely hero, who long ago crossed the five parts of the world to free his only friend from a demon lord. Filled with hidden meaning, vivid images, and songs that bring the characters to life, Wondertown is an unforgettable journey to a place inside each of us few of us dare to go.
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: The Musical Press (August 31, 2012)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
ASIN: B0094UT68Y
Check out Pump Up Your Book for more information on the tour:
http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/
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