#EXCERPT and #GIVEAWAY: Speak Now Or Forever Hold Your Peace by Becky Monson

 

If there’s one thing that Bridgette Reynolds has learned recently, it’s that the perfect shoes, the perfect hair, and the perfect dress do not make for the perfect proposal. In fact, sometimes they make for the not-so-perfect breakup. Now, Bridgette must do everything in her power to win Adam back. She knows they are meant to be. And nothing will stand in her way—not her friends, not her grandmother, not even the fact that Adam is now engaged to Serene after a whirlwind romance. Focused on her plan to win Adam back, Bridgette isn’t expecting Ian—her college best friend, her love, her big regret—to come back into her life. They sink back into their comfortable friendship as if no time has passed at all, making Bridgette start to question her feelings for Adam. But Ian has a few secrets of his own . . . secrets that could shatter their friendship once and for all. Bridgette has to make some major decisions—should she speak now? Or forever hold her peace?

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 Excerpt: 

“Oh! Speaking of Ian,” I interrupt, remembering I haven’t told Gram about seeing Ian last night.

“Sorry to cut you off, but you’re never going to believe who I ran into last night,” I smile, thinking about seeing those beautiful, green eyes again.

“Well, don’t leave me wondering. Who?”

“Ian Davies! Remember from college?”

“Well, isn’t that interesting,” she says, cocking her head thoughtfully to the side.

“You don’t have a clue who I’m talking about, do you Gram,” I know the look on her face well.

“I think I just need a little reminder. The mind isn’t so stable these days.” She taps the side of her head with her index finger.

I guess I shouldn’t find it incredibly disconcerting that she doesn’t remember. She only met him once or twice. Although, all I talked about for the first year I lived with her was Ian. But then Adam came along, and he’s pretty much all I was able to talk about after that. Poor Gram. Who wouldn’t want to repress all this boy crap I spew? I need to work on finding other things to discuss besides men. But not now.

“Ian was the guy who was my best friend in college.” I look to see if her memory has been jogged. Apparently not sufficiently.

“Remember, we were friends freshman through junior year, and then it turned into something more when we were seniors? I brought him to Goshen a few times.”

“Okay, yes, yes I do remember now. Handsome fellow, with the green eyes.” Her face lights up as she remembers. I think as you get older, your mind starts to pick and choose what information can stay in and what needs to go to make room for more. For her, Ian was just a blip in my life, a memory that could be easily replaced. For me, Ian is one of those people who will be burned in my brain forever. Just like Adam. You never forget the people you love. Especially the ones you give your heart to.

About the author:
By day, Becky Monson is a mother to three young children, and a wife. By night, she escapes with reading books and writing. In her debut novel, Becky uses humor and true-life experiences to bring her characters to life. She loves all things chick-lit (movies, books, etc.), and wishes she had a British accent. She has recently given up Diet Coke for the fiftieth time and is hopeful this time will last... but it probably won't.  

Follow Becky:

Website: http://www.beckymonson.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorBeckyMonson

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bmonsonauthor

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Becky-Monson/e/B00DMB4HYY

Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/BeckyMonson

Literary Addicts: http://literaryaddicts.ning.com/profile/BeckyMonson

     

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#GIVEAWAY and # EXCERPT: Burning Doors by Renee N Meland

Title:   Burning Doors

Series:  The Extraction List #2

Author:   Renee N. Meland

Published:  April 28th, 2015

Publisher:  Limitless Publishing

Genre:  Dystopian Thriller

Content Warning:  Violence, adult language, and minor sexual content

Recommended Age:  14+

Synopsis:

Cain Foley committed his first murder before he could even drive a car. Not that he would've had anywhere to drive to. When he was fifteen, America was one of the poorest countries in the world, and its’ citizens took their hatred of that fact out on each other through gangs and violence. Children barely tall enough for carnival rides peppered the streets selling drugs (or themselves) so they could buy their next meal.

Every night on the news, Cain watched as an angelic blonde woman who lost her own child swore she’d end it. She assaulted America’s televisions with praise for the Parental Morality Law: a set of rules that spells out exactly what it takes to be a parent in the eyes of the government, and the consequences of breaking those rules. He prayed every night that she’d come to rescue him before his father took off his belt again.

Before she could save him, Cain faced a fatal choice: fight back or die on the basement floor.

He chose life.

Now on the run, he finds himself being hunted by a police officer with his own special brand of torture. Before he can save even a handful of the children who have been swept up in the gang life, he must first cover up not one, but two murders: his father’s and one committed by a teenage madam who is either the love of his life, or his final undoing. As he feels himself being pushed further and further to the edge, he realizes that surviving his father was just the beginning.

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Excerpt from Burning Doors (The Extraction List #2) by Renee N. Meland:

The first time I killed someone, it was an accident. Though I guess it was the kind of accident that happens when you squeeze your hands around someone’s neck for too long, or when you shove someone who is standing too close to the edge of a building. In my case, I accidentally killed my father when I beat him to death with a pipe.

He had set me up that night, I’m sure of it. I was always careful to leave the TV volume down so I wouldn't be caught. But when I flipped the power on that night, the news roared. The woman I wanted to see was there, giving a speech like always, but her voice came out with the force of thunder. Sweat drenched my body when I heard the door to my parents’ upstairs bedroom fly open and hit the wall. The foundation shook and so did my limbs. I sat frozen in a seated position as I heard his footsteps. All I could focus on were his shiny patent leather shoes coming toward me. Even in the middle of the night, he took the time to slip them on.

I could smell him before I even saw his feet. He constantly stunk of mouthwash and old cologne; it was some putrid mix of sandalwood and beach vacations that we would never take. He cackled as he stepped toward me, so the minty air from his breath reached me before his hand did. I felt my head hit the floor before I felt the familiar sting in my cheek.

“You’re so stupid. You really think you’ll ever leave here? Where do you think you’re going to go, huh? You need me. She hasn't come for you and she never will!” He kicked me in the side with his foot.

My stomach clenched from the impact.

I usually kept quiet when he hit me. At most, I would agree with whatever he was saying to stop him before he did real damage.

It never worked.

No matter what I said, or didn't say, the blows would keep coming. My mother was always        conveniently upstairs, but no one can tell me she couldn't hear the snap of his belt or the furniture rattle as he shoved me into it.

That night was different. Maybe it was watching the woman from the television, or maybe it was the way his smile stretched across his face as he struck me, I don’t know. But when he was finished and heading back upstairs, I spat towards him.

My cheeks burned as I did it. In fact, my whole body felt like it was on fire. But I’d be lying if I said I wished I could take it back. Even when he turned, eyes wide when he noticed the wad of saliva glistening on the concrete floor, I didn't regret it one bit.

I may have even cracked a smile.

About the Author:

Renee N. Meland lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two dogs. Her favorite obsessions are Rome, learning new recipes, and exploring the world around her. She is an avid reader of speculative fiction, and believes that telling stories is the best job in the world.

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Giveaway Details:

There is a tour wide giveaway. Prizes include the following:

• A print copy of The Extraction List

Giveaway is US only.

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#REVIEW: The Crimson Cord by Jill Eileen Smith

Title: The Crimson Cord

Series: Daughters of the Promised Land #1

Author:  Jill Eileen Smith

Published Date: February 17, 2015

Publisher: Revell Publishers

Format: ebook

Pages: 368

ISBN: 9780800720346

Genre: Biblical Fiction

Add to: Goodreads

Purchase: Amazon

Rating: 4 1/2 stars

Synopsis: Wife to a gambler who took one too many risks, Rahab finds herself sold as a slave to cover her husband's debt. Forced into prostitution by Dabir, counselor to the Syrian king, Rahab despairs of ever regaining her freedom and her self-respect. But when Israelite spies enter Jericho and come to lodge at her house, Rahab sees a glimmer of hope and the opportunity of a lifetime. In one risky moment, she takes a leap of faith, puts her trust in a God she does not know, and vows to protect the spies from the authorities. When the armies of Israel arrive weeks later, Rahab hopes they will keep their promise, but she has no idea what kind of challenges await her outside Jericho's walls--or if she will ever know the meaning of love.

My Review: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have completely fallen in love with Jill Eileen Smith as an author of Biblical fiction. It started with Sarai, the story of Sarah, and from there I was hooked. She does such an incredible job of bringing each of the characters to life and introducing them to the reader. After finishing one of her books, the readers truly feels as if they know the character personally and have walked beside them. Her characters stay with you long after the book is put away.

From the first page I was transported into biblical Jericho, the famed, walled city that no one could get past. The story of the spies and Rahab is dry, as is most of the Bible. The author brings these rather boring stories into beautiful color and life, giving each character depth and beauty, even the ugliest of characters. 

If you have never read Jill Eileen Smith before, this is an author you really should add to your bookshelf.

#REVIEW: The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest by Melanie Dickerson

Title: The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest

Series: A Medieval Fairytale

Author:  Melanie Dickerson

Published Date: May 12, 2015

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Format: paperback

Pages: 320

ISBN: 9780718026240

Genre: Christian fiction

Add to: Goodreads

Purchase: Amazon | Thomas Nelson

Rating: 4 stars

Synopsis: Swan Lake meets Robin Hood when the beautiful daughter of a wealthy merchant by day becomes the region's most notorious poacher by night, and falls in love with the gamekeeper.

Jorgen is the gamekeeper for the wealthy margrave, and he is in pursuit of the poacher who has been killing and stealing the margrave's game. When he meets the lovely and refined Odette at the festival and shares a connection during a dance, he has no idea that at night she is the one who has been poaching the margrave's game.

Odette is caught up in a ring of black market sellers of poached animals. She thinks the game is going to feed the poor, who are all but starving, both in the city and just outside its walls. However, most of the animals are being sold by the greedy leader of the ring-her stepfather. When Odette discovers what he is doing, she threatens to expose him, putting herself in great danger.

The gamekeeper finds her poaching one night and shoots her, wounding her. When he realizes who she is, he hides her to keep her from being executed by the margrave and also to protect her from her stepfather. Jorgen and Odette will band together to stop the black market poaching ring . . . as they fall in love. But what will the margrave do when he discovers his gamekeeper is protecting a notorious poacher?

My Review: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this retelling of Swan Lake. I have never read the actual fairy tale, only watched the animated movie with my children many, many, many times. I enjoyed the story itself, though I could have put it down a few times and walked away. It didn’t capture me so wholly that I couldn’t put it down.

As like the previous books from this collection, just because the protagonist happens to like to read the Bible, and calls on God a lot, I don’t see how this makes it into a Christian fiction book. It’s just part of the character make-up. I didn’t see a lot of inner character development of Odette or Jorgen. That disappointed me.

Overall, it was a nice book to read as a loose retelling of a fairytale, but it could have been better.

#SALE: Winter's Magic by Cynthia Gail

 

Owner of La Bella Vita, a five-star day spa nestled in the affluent suburbs of Nashville, Tennessee, Beth Sergeant knows her elite clientele first hand. She attended their private schools. She was even engaged, although briefly, to one of their most recognized bachelors. But she never fit in to their social-elite world. After losing his parents to a car accident at a young age, Nick Chester was raised by his grandfather, the wealthiest man in Nashville. When he chooses to socialize, he has a never-ending list of exclusive events and beautiful women vying for his attention. Yet he never lets himself forget that everyone has an agenda. Beth can’t resist Nick’s charm and accepts an invitation to dinner, despite her deep-seated insecurities. She proves she’s nothing like other women Nick's dated and learns to trust him in return. But just as the last of their resistance crumbles and true love is within reach, challenges from Nick's past threaten to destroy everything and force Beth to reveal her most guarded secret. Winter's Magic will be $.99 starting May 6th on Amazon for one week!

About the author:

My husband and I live in the suburbs of Nashville, Tennessee with our three dogs. When I'm not working or writing, I can be found with family and friends. I love to bake in the winter, grill in the summer, and on occasion, I sneak away from everyone and curl up with a good book. Website: http://cynthiagail.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CynthiaGailRomance Twitter: https://twitter.com/CynthiaGailBook Goodreads - Amazon Author Central

#BLAST and #GIVEAWAY: Protecting Cheyenne by Susan Stoker

Title:   Protecting Cheyenne

Series:  SEAL of Protection #5 (Stand-alone)

Author:  Susan Stoker

Published:  May 5th, 2015

Genre:  Romantic Suspense

Content Warning:  Mild adult sexual content

Synopsis:

Living in Southern California, Cheyenne was used to seeing hot military men as she went about her daily business. An anonymous encounter at the grocery store cemented her crush on one such man. He was big, built, and incredibly easy on the eyes, but it wasn’t as if he would ever really notice her.

Always in control of any situation, Faulkner “Dude” Cooper knows explosives. As a bomb expert, he’s lived through many high pressure situations. Disfigured by a bomb while on a mission, he’s used to being looked at with pity. When he’s called to a local supermarket to assist the local PD, the last thing he expects to find is a generous act of kindness performed by a beautiful, amazing woman. Enchanted by her selflessness in the face of danger and intrigued by her actions to save civilians she didn’t know, Dude’s hooked.

Dude was able to save Cheyenne from the group of thugs trying to take her life, but when the past comes back to haunt them both, sometimes having the knowledge and the desire isn’t enough to beat the countdown of the clock.

**Protecting Cheyenne is the 5th book in the SEAL of Protection Series. It can be read as a stand-alone, but it’s recommended you read the books in order to get maximum enjoyment out of the series.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | GoodReads | iTunes

Title:   Protecting Jessyka

Series:  SEAL of Protection #6 (Stand-alone)

Author:  Susan Stoker

To be published:  July 7th, 2015

Genre:  Romantic Suspense

Synopsis:

Kason “Benny” Sawyer was the last single man on his Navy SEAL team. He loved his teammates like brothers and respected each and every one of their women. They’d all been through hell and they deserved their current happiness. But seeing the love between his friends and their women made it tough to be the odd man out all the time. Jessyka Allen had a good life, until it wasn’t anymore.

Finding herself in an impossible situation, with no noticeable way out, her job was an escape. Working at the small Bar and Grill put her in contact with some wonderful people, who Jess figured couldn’t ever understand what she was going through. Being a SEAL, Benny thought he knew the true meaning of teamwork and friendship. But Jess would show him that everything he thought he knew about sacrifice, trust, and love, paled in comparison to what she brought into his world.



 **Protecting Jessyka is the 6th book in the SEAL of Protection Series. It can be read as a stand-alone, but it’s recommended you read the books in order to get maximum enjoyment out of the series.

Pre-Order Links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo

About the Author:

Susan Stoker has a heart as big as the state of Texas where she lives, but this all American girl has also spent the last fourteen years living in Missouri, California, Colorado, and Indiana. She’s married to a retired Army man who now gets to follow her around the country.

As Mr. Stoker says, Susan has been training to become a romance author her entire life. She’s been reading romances since middle school and writes what she loves.

She debuted her first series in 2014 and quickly followed that up with the SEAL of Protection Series, which solidified her love of writing and creating stories readers can get lost in.

Amazon Author Page | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads | Website

Giveaway Details:

There is a tour wide giveaway. Prizes include the following:

• A $10 Amazon gift card

Giveaway is International

a Rafflecopter giveaway

#RELEASE DAY: Henry Gallant and the Warrior by H Peter Alesso

In the 22th Century, the people of the Solar System have banded together against an alien invasion. Unfortunately, they’re losing—badly. As the only Natural remaining in the genetically engineered officer corps of the United Planet’s fleet, Henry Gallant has unique mental abilities that have proven essential to the defense against the Titan invaders. Nevertheless his fellow officers lack faith in him, and worse, he has angered prominent men by speaking truth to power. Despite this, Admiral Collingsworth has given him command of the Warrior, the most advanced stealth warship in the UP arsenal and ordered him to the alien’s main base to spy, intrigue, and disrupt their war capacity. Gallant’s mission leads to risky battles and painful choices, but no choice is more personal, or intimate, than the choice to face your own death. And for Henry Gallant—a flawed young man, in a hopeless situation, against overwhelming odds—a dreadful decision looms before him. He has only one saving grace—he is unafraid. Purchase link: AMAZON

About the author:

As a scientist and author specializing in technology innovation, H. Peter Alesso has over twenty years research experience at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). As Engineering Group Leader at LLNL he led a team of computer scientists and engineers in innovative applications across a wide range of supercomputers, workstations and networks. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a B.S. and served in the U.S. Navy on nuclear submarines before completing an M.S. and an advanced Engineering Degree at M.I.T. He has published several software titles and numerous scientific journal and conference articles, and he is the author/co-author of seven books. (Website www.hpeteralesso.com) Facebook | Goodreads | Website | Literary Addicts