Thursday, October 16, 2014

Release party and book tour giveaway: Seaville, byJim Reilly


We're back with a Sci-Fi / Fantasy story:



Title: Seaville
Author Name:  Jim Reilly



Book Genre: Sci-Fi / Fantasy
Publisher: Sayville Books
Release Date: September 30th
Buy Links: Amazon

Book Description:

When new neighbors, Mike and Ann Wells along with their children CJ and Patricia, move into the southern part of town along the Great South Bay of Long Island, they discover the true identity of their neighbors. 

Each of their new neighbors hosts a being from an alien race hiding from the cruelty of enslavement. This mysterious race needs the Wells family to help them navigate the complicated human experience while being concealed from a nosy but well-meaning old priest. But most of all, they must help them from being captured by a corrupt individual looking to make a profit off a race hoping to peacefully secure fuel to stay one step ahead of their former masters. 

As the town of Seaville erupts into chaos, Mike and Ann try to keep their new friends concealed and safe. However, time is running out as their former masters search the universe for their lost property and inch closer to Earth.




Author Bio:

Jim Reilly is a new science fiction / fantasy novelist. He is a married father of four, born and raised in Long Island. After going back to college and finishing with an MBA, some of his professors gave accolades to his writing prowess. With that and encouragement from his wife, he wrote his first novel, Evolution.
The success of Evolution has inspired Jim to continue his writing efforts and finish his next science fiction / fantasy novel, Seaville. 
From an early age, Jim always had a fascination with science, science fiction, and fantasy to a point that it became a passion of his. Now he enjoys putting that passion to paper. He has already penned his next book and is working on another.




Author Links -




Excerpt One 
Chapter 1
Toward the end then back to the beginning.

As I sprinted out of my home heading to my neighbor’s house across the street to look for my daughter, I glanced toward town down the row of beautiful old Victorian homes on my block. On the church roof visible to most of the area, there was a man standing with his arms raised toward the south side of town. As I focused in a little, it looked like old Father McNeal, the priest who of late seemed to be out of touch in his waning years. He was wearing his Sunday Mass vestments and was standing on the highest point of the church. Still, as out of the ordinary as that was, it was the least odd sight I would see that early summer evening as dusk approached.
When I reached my neighbor’s house, I ran around to the back just as town Police Officer Rothman sped through the neighborhood flashing his lights and sounding his siren as he headed in the direction of the Great South Bay. As relieved as I was that he went by without stopping, I was apprehensive and nervous about what was about to happen.
Behind my neighbor’s house were old metal cellar doors, and after I opened them, I quickly went down into his basement where I found a large cabinet moved away from the cement wall showing an entrance to a tunnel burrowed deep into the ground. When I made my way through the passageway to the lower levels, I noticed that the sediment holding the underground water from pouring into the tunnels and cavities under this end of the town started slowly to disintegrate as planned and that meant time was running out.
I ran through the extensive tunnels I had been through many times this past year, barely noticing the smell of rotting seafood that was so prevalent my first time in the tunnels. The maze was quite enormous, but I had an idea where to find my daughter. She was supposedly not too far away beneath Henry’s parent’s house. To get there, I needed to pass by the staging area where the craft was preparing to leave. Just as I reached the ship, I saw my neighbors, Ray Bannister and Earl Watson, run up to close the cargo hatch on the right side of the craft and lock it shut. It was then that we heard the banging and yelling coming from inside the ship.
A voice behind the door was saying, “Ray, we negotiated!  I came here in good faith and you lock us in a room?  I will not stand for this!  You better let me out, or I will crush you! You can’t do this to me! I demand you let me out at once!  You’re making a big mistake!”




Excerpt Two 

Chapter 1
Toward the end then back to the beginning.

As I sprinted out of my home heading to my neighbor’s house across the street to look for my daughter, I glanced toward town down the row of beautiful old Victorian homes on my block. On the church roof visible to most of the area, there was a man standing with his arms raised toward the south side of town. As I focused in a little, it looked like old Father McNeal, the priest who of late seemed to be out of touch in his waning years. He was wearing his Sunday Mass vestments and was standing on the highest point of the church. Still, as out of the ordinary as that was, it was the least odd sight I would see that early summer evening as dusk approached.
When I reached my neighbor’s house, I ran around to the back just as town Police Officer Rothman sped through the neighborhood flashing his lights and sounding his siren as he headed in the direction of the Great South Bay. As relieved as I was that he went by without stopping, I was apprehensive and nervous about what was about to happen.
Behind my neighbor’s house were old metal cellar doors, and after I opened them, I quickly went down into his basement where I found a large cabinet moved away from the cement wall showing an entrance to a tunnel burrowed deep into the ground. When I made my way through the passageway to the lower levels, I noticed that the sediment holding the underground water from pouring into the tunnels and cavities under this end of the town started slowly to disintegrate as planned and that meant time was running out.
I ran through the extensive tunnels I had been through many times this past year, barely noticing the smell of rotting seafood that was so prevalent my first time in the tunnels. The maze was quite enormous, but I had an idea where to find my daughter. She was supposedly not too far away beneath Henry’s parent’s house. To get there, I needed to pass by the staging area where the craft was preparing to leave. Just as I reached the ship, I saw my neighbors, Ray Bannister and Earl Watson, run up to close the cargo hatch on the right side of the craft and lock it shut. It was then that we heard the banging and yelling coming from inside the ship.
A voice behind the door was saying, “Ray, we negotiated!  I came here in good faith and you lock us in a room?  I will not stand for this!  You better let me out, or I will crush you! You can’t do this to me! I demand you let me out at once!  You’re making a big mistake!”
I knew that voice because it belonged to a conniving and powerful individual. He had more money than he knew what to do with and still craved more. Yet, as successful as he was and as wealthy as he was, he still liked to micromanage his subordinates and rule whomever he dealt with using fear. The voice paused, and then continued, “All right Ray, if you’re doing this to renegotiate our deal, good strategy. It’s what I would’ve done, if I were in your shoes. So I suspect you want a deal that is more profitable now that you have the upper hand. Come on now, open the door and let’s renegotiate.”
As it would happen, this evening, instead of doling out fear, he would have fear run through his body. Because, behind that door, the powerful man and his two unscrupulous associates started to hear a strange sound entering the room from the rear of the dark cargo area. It sounded like fingers tapping on a table-- not just one, but hundreds. As it got closer and louder, an agitated man yelled, “What the hell are those?”  The long legged spider-like creatures were making their way toward him and his henchman.
We heard banging on the large metallic door. As we started to walk away, I, along with Ray and Earl could hear the screaming become louder. Then it faded. When we got around to the front of the ship, I turned to Ray and Earl as if to say goodbye, but it was hard to say goodbye to people I would still be seeing. However, knowing part of them would be gone forever gave me a sense of loss and I knew I would miss the part of them I had gotten close to. Unfortunately, this was not the time for long goodbyes; time was running out, and we knew it. Instead we just bowed our heads toward each other, and Ray and Earl headed into one direction toward the main entrance to the craft, while I turned to head through the tunnel maze toward Henry’s house.



Keep being distracted by reading,
Urania

Book tour giveway: Kindling Flames: Gathering Tinder byJulie Wetzel


How about a hot, paranormal story today?
Have a look at Kindling Flames

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Title:  Kindling Flames: Gathering Tinder

Series:   The Ancient Fire Series Book One, Part 1

Author:  Julie Wetzel

Published:  September 19th, 2014

Publisher: Crimson Tree Publishing

Page Count:  260

Genre:  Paranormal Romance

Content Warning:  Minor Violence

Recommended Age:  13+


Synopsis: Fresh from college and with no real work experience, Victoria Westernly considers herself lucky to land the coveted position of personal assistant to Darien Ritter, the CEO and owner of a multibillion-dollar company. His busy schedule and eccentric ways are enough to keep her on her toes. But, all is not what it seems when she discovers the handsome man employing her just happens to be the most powerful vampire in the area.


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Title:  Kindling Flames: Flying Sparks

Series:   The Ancient Fire Series Book One, Part 2

Author:  Julie Wetzel

Published:  October 3rd, 2014

Publisher: Crimson Tree Publishing

Page Count:  260

Genre:  Paranormal Romance

Content Warning:  Minor Violence

Recommended Age:  13+


Synopsis: When Vicky becomes the target of a serial arsonist plaguing the city, Darien calls on the supernatural community to help. Pulling the creatures of the night together to cooperate on any project is troublesome at the best of times. The fact that the one responsible for the city’s woes is a being of fire and magic leads the reluctant groups to a truce that makes Vicky start to think that her job might be a bit more than one normal human can handle.



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About the Author:

Originally from Ohio, Julie always dreamed of a job in science. Either shooting for the stars or delving into the mysteries of volcanoes. But, life never leads where you expect. In 2007, she moved to Mississippi to be with her significant other.

Now a mother of a hyperactive red headed boy, what time she’s not chasing down dirty socks and unsticking toys from the ceiling is spent crafting worlds readers can get lost it. Julie is a self-proclaimed bibliophile and lover of big words. She likes hiking, frogs, interesting earrings, and a plethora of other fun things.

Julie Wetzel is the author of Kindling Flames, Book 1 in The Ancient Fire Series. Kindling Flames is scheduled to release through Crimson Tree Publishing in the Fall of 2014.



  
Kindling Flames: Gathering Tinder Excerpt 


Leaning against the side of the car, Vicky waited for Darien to arrive. She watched as the ground crew guided the plane into the building and cracked the hull open. She smiled as her tall boss emerged and looked around. There was a bit of a bounce in his step as he climbed from the plane and moved towards her.
“The café au lait is probably cold, but the beignets should be okay.” Darien held out a brown bag and a cup of coffee for Vicky to take.
She gave him a confused look as she relieved him of the gift. Expecting him to get into the driver seat, he surprised her again by heading around and hopping into the passenger’s side. Vicky took a sip of the chicory coffee laced with milk as she stowed the bag of beignets in the back with her satchel. The coffee had cooled off, but it was still tasty.
She slid into the driver’s seat and looked over at the man who had relaxed back into his seat as if he were going to take a nap. “Are we going straight over to your meeting, or do you need to stop someplace first?” Vicky was unsure if this was the same suit her boss had worn yesterday or not.
Darien rolled his head a little and cracked an eye to look at her. “Straight over.”
Vicky gave him a hearty “Yes, Mr. Ritter,” and started the car.
Darien made a pained noise as soon as they pulled out of the hanger into the sunshine. “Could you please put the top up?”
She looked over in concern. Figuring he must have a hangover, Vicky quickly located the button that worked the roof.
He let out a relieved sigh as the top closed overhead, blocking out the sun. He hadn’t realized it had gotten that late in the morning. Once more protected from the strong rays of the noonday sun, Darien relaxed back into the seat to enjoy the ride.
“Where’d you get the café au lait and beignets?” Vicky asked, sipping at her coffee.
“Café Du Monde.” Darien smiled as if he was remembering something good.
Her brow furrowed, and she turned the cup to read the green logo on it. “You mean the one in New Orleans?” Vicky had heard of the famous shop but had never had a chance to see it.
“That’s the one.”
What were you doing in New Orleans?” Vicky was too shocked that he had flown down there to stop the question from slipping from her mouth.
A mischievous grin curled the corners of her boss’s mouth, and the tip of his tongue darted out to wet his lips. “I had a late night meeting with a Cajun.”
Vicky’s eyes widened at his answer, and she turned her mind to not wrecking the car. What her boss did on his own time was his own business, and she was not about to ask any more questions. She decided she should just do her job and shut the hell up.



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Crimson Tree Publishing Links:

(an adult division of Clean Teen)



Giveaway Details:

There is an International tour wide giveaway. Prizes include the following:

  • Reader's choice of Clean Teen Publishing eBook, bookmark swag pack, and a $15 Amazon Gift Card. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway



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Keep being distracted by reading,
Urania

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Book tour giveaway: Protecting Caroline by Susan Stoker

How about a contemporary romance today?


    About the Book
Title: Protecting Caroline


Series: SEAL of Protection #1



Author: Susan Stoker



Published: September 8th, 2014



Word Count: 62,000



Genre: Contemporary Romance



Content Warning: Violence



Age Recommendation: 18+



Synopsis: **Protecting Caroline is a stand-alone love story. It is Book 1 in the SEAL of Protection Series**



Matthew “Wolf” Steel hated flying commercial. Luckily his job as a Navy SEAL meant he didn’t have to do it very often. He’d been unlucky enough to be assigned a middle seat on the cramped jet, but fortunately for him, the woman next to him was willing to switch seats with him. Hoping for a relaxing flight, Wolf was pleasantly surprised at the good conversation and sense of humor the woman had as they flew 36,000 feet over the countryside.



When Caroline boarded the plane to Virginia to move across the country for her new job she never expected to be seated next to the hottest guy she’d ever seen. She also never expected he’d be so easy to talk to. She knew he’d never be interested in talking to her if he hadn’t been trapped in the seat next to her, but it was a nice way to spend a long plane ride.



Neither Wolf nor Caroline were prepared for a terrorist hijacking of their plane, but if Caroline thought that would be the last time she’d see, or need, Wolf, she’d be sorely mistaken.



Start the SEAL of Protection Series with Caroline and Wolf’s story.


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 is quite the romantic and even met the love of her life on “Hotmail classified” before online dating and sites like match.com even existed!


Susan has been reading romance novels since middle school and once crossed out the names of the main characters in a book and changed them to her own and to the name of her crush. She’s been writing scenes for years, developing her unique writing style.



Susan loves writing but her true passion is adopting dogs from rescue groups and shelters. Susan and her husband have had a total of nine “rescued” dogs since 2000 including a variety of basset hounds and bloodhounds. She has recently branched out and adopted a basset/terrier mix who acts more like a terrier than a basset (i.e. digging, eating a couch and being hyper).




Excerpt
Wolf didn’t say anything, just did what he’d desired to do the first time he saw her in the room. He reached over and gathered her into his arms. She was stiff at first, then she melted into him. She smelled of some sort of flowers. Maybe it was her shampoo, maybe it was a lotion she used, but it went straight to his head. He tightened his arms around her and Caroline lost it. She cried. She cried for being scared on the plane, she cried for being hurt, she cried remembering how alone and scared she felt in her apartment when only a thin piece of plastic kept a killer from knowing she was in the bathroom, she cried in relief that Matthew was back from his mission. Matthew rocked her and held her tight. He wasn’t used to a woman’s tears, but there was no way he was letting her go.

Finally her tears dried up and she only sniffed here and there. Wolf drew back a bit and looked at her face. She wasn’t a “cute crier”—her face was red and blotchy. She refused to raise her eyes. Wolf rubbed her cheeks with his thumbs and then lifted her chin up so Caroline had to look at him. He didn’t say anything just leaned down and touched her lips with his. It wasn’t a passionate kiss, but it felt right. It was a comforting kiss. It was exactly what she needed from him at that moment.

He pulled back and looked into her eyes. “You’re safe now. I’ll do everything in my power to make sure you stay that way.”

Caroline believed him. He was an honest to God hero. And for the moment, he was her hero. She tipped her chin up, reaching again for his lips with hers.

The second she moved, he was there. Wolf had tried to hold back with her. She was feeling vulnerable and he didn’t want to take advantage of her. But with the first touch of her lips against him, he was lost.
Giveaway

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a Rafflecopter giveaway


Keep being distracted by reading,

Urania

Thursday, October 9, 2014

Book Tour Giveaway: A Place to Call Home, by G.A. Whitmore



Urania's Distractions are back after taking some time off during summer.
As always you can contact me and I can post about your giveaways, book releases and contests.
Are you looking forward to meeting all those fantastic authors out there and their amazing stories?
So, here we go!

This one is not the genre I don't  usually post about because when it comes to animals, especially dogs, I'm unbearably sensitive.
But this first entry is dedicated to a sweet friend who passed last Christmas and I miss so much
Jack.
He gave us fifteen wonderful years.

So scroll down to read about Toby's tale.

               A Place to Call Home: Toby’s Tale

G. A. Whitmore

Book Genre: Middle-grade/Young Adult
Publisher: Outskirts Press
Release Date: February 19, 2014
Buy Link(s):    Amazon:                http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IX32I2Y



 Book Description:

Every rescue dog has a tale to tell, a story uniquely their own. A Place to Call Home is Toby’s tale. His story takes you on a journey across the country from California to Connecticut and across the spectrum of life’s emotional and spiritual experience.

Born on a small farm in northern California, Toby narrowly escapes the death sentence imposed on him by his breeder. Through a series of events driven by good intentions, he finds himself in a Connecticut suburb where life with his new family soon collapses on him, and his newfound happiness is brutally destroyed.

On his quest to find a place to call home, Toby encounters and endures the best and worst of humanity as he comes face to face with sorrow and joy, fear and courage, and ultimately, with the power of love.



Based on a true story, A Place to Call Home is a young adult novel for dog lovers of all ages.


Author Bio:

Ms. Whitmore’s passion for writing and her love of dogs come together in her series The Rescue Dog Tales. The first book in the series, A Place to Call Home, is based on the true story of Toby, an abused dog she adopted from the Connecticut Humane Society. Ms. Whitmore currently lives in Connecticut with her rescue dog Kadee.

Author Links 
Twitter: @gawhitmore


 Book Description:

Every rescue dog has a tale to tell, a story uniquely their own. A Place to Call Home is Toby’s tale. His story takes you on a journey across the country from California to Connecticut and across the spectrum of life’s emotional and spiritual experience.

Born on a small farm in northern California, Toby narrowly escapes the death sentence imposed on him by his breeder. Through a series of events driven by good intentions, he finds himself in a Connecticut suburb where life with his new family soon collapses on him, and his newfound happiness is brutally destroyed.

On his quest to find a place to call home, Toby encounters and endures the best and worst of humanity as he comes face to face with sorrow and joy, fear and courage, and ultimately, with the power of love.

Based on a true story, A Place to Call Home is a young adult novel for dog lovers of all ages.




Excerpt One 
 This excerpt is a scene from one of Toby’s dream sequences:

Was this another dream? Who would visit him in this dream?
As if in answer to his question, a large pack of wolves and dogs slowly materialized out of the enshrouding gray and one-by-one encircled him.
The snow stopped falling. All was still and quiet.
A long, wailing howl pierced the silence.
Followed by another.
Then another.
After a few moments, a chorus of howls erupted from the group that now surrounded Toby. A primordial urge rose within him. He stood up and shook off the light layer of snow that had accumulated on his fur. The urge grew stronger, more compelling, until he realized his own voice had joined the others. The multitude of voices became one as they howled on and on, until the cry reached its crescendo and abruptly ended, leaving an echoing silence around them once again.
A large, white figure approached Toby.
“Welcome to our pack, Toby.” The figure turned, and with a nod of his head, indicated the others. He turned back to Toby. “How did you come to be here?”
          Toby tried to find his voice, but the howl still reverberated in his throat. When he finally spoke, his reply was weak and raspy. “I don’t know. I don’t even know where here is.” He hesitated, and then asked, “How do you know my name?”
“My name is Strider, Toby. I am your grandfather.”
Strider! The memory of lying with Tara next to his mother as she told them the story of Sadie and Strider came flooding back to him and he felt a warmth of emotion flow through his body.
“Where is this place? How did I get here?” Toby asked.
Strider paused in thought for a moment, and then replied, “This land is a different place for different creatures, yet it is the same place for all creatures. For us,” Strider swept his large head around him, “this is the place we call home.”

Giveaway

Until I fix the giveaway link problem ckick here and you will find the original post in Virtual Book Tour Cafe where you can join the Giveaway.


Keep being distracted by reading,

Urania

Friday, August 1, 2014

Book tour giveaway:Operation Angelica by Juliene Lloyd



Juliene Lloyd is a writer andentrepreneur living near Ann Arbor, Michigan. She enjoys living lifeto the fullest with her husband, three children, dog, cat and severalgoldfish.
Author Links:www.julienelloyd.com
www.twitter.com/ljulienelloyd
www.darkswordpress.com







Genre: Suspense
Publisher: Dark Sword Press
Release Date: July 2014
Buy: Coming Soon



Book Description:
FBI sniper Elizabeth Ashton's ideallife shatters with the murder of her fiancée in Honduras, CentralAmerica. Let down by the government she serves, Ashton takes justiceinto her own hands. However, after crossing paths with a shadowyWashington D.C. consulting firm, Vormund/Ames, she decides to jointhe company.

Partnered with former soldier and CIA operative Brandon Casey, Ashtonlearns that sometimes governments and law enforcement agencies needan ace up the sleeve. Her first assignment: to aid in the rescue oftwelve people held hostage by rebels in Colombia, South America.


 With the help of three very different men in her new life, Ashtonleaves her FBI life behind while the Vormund/Ames team prepares fortheir mission. But can they rescue a dying woman held prisoner forfive years in time? Can Ashton be the ace?



Schedule:
July 31 - Introduction at VBT Café Blog
July 31 - Guest Blogging at Coffee, Books, Art
July 31 - Spotlight at Cherry Mischievous
August 1 - Reviewed at Storyteller SK Gregory
August 1 - Spotlight at 4 Covert 2 Overt A Place In The Spotlight
August 1 - Spotlight at Urania's Distractions
August 2 - Spotlight at Deal Sharing Aunt
August 3 - Spotlight at Debbie Jeans
August 3 - Guest Blogging at Mythical Books
August 4 - Review & Interview at That's What She Read
August 5 - Spotlight at Musings of a Book Maven
August 6 - Spotlight at A. Literary Mafia
August 7 - Guest Blogging at Lori's Reading Corner
August 7 - Guest Blogging at Sun Mountain Reviews