HAPPY (PERIOD) CHRISTMAS! DOWNTON ABBEY SPECIAL & DEATH COMES TO PEMBERLEY

Happy Christmas Time, everyone and all! It'll be a happy time, I'm sure, especially for  my fellow period drama fan friends. 

Aren't you as excited as I am to know we'll find these very precious gifts under our Christmas trees?

I'm thinking of Downton Abbey Christmas Special which airs on ITV 1 tonight, 25 December,  in the U.K.  (season 4 premieres in the U.S. Sunday, Jan. 5, 2014). Are you ready for the  two- hour special episode? 

Shirley MacLaine will be back as Cora's mother and Paul Giamatti will join the cast as her brother. The episode will also feature James Fox as Lord Aysgarth, Guy Williams as King George V (the grandfather to reigning Queen Elizabeth II) and Oliver Dimsdale as the Prince of Wales (Edward VIII, Queen Elizabeth's uncle).

ROMANCE THROUGH THE AGES - COVER REVEAL & GIVEAWAY

Coming February 1, 2014

Romance through the Ages brings you SEVEN NOVELS from 7 bestselling authors (including New York Times, USA Today, and Amazon bestsellers). Join us for a fabulous collection.

*7 Romance Novels, 7 Bestselling Authors, 1 Amazing Price*

DECEMBER KINDLE FIRE HDX GIVEAWAYS

 Win a Kindle Fire HDX, Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash ($229 value)   This is a joint AUTHOR & BLOGGER GIVEAWAY EVENT! Bloggers & Authors have joined together and each chipped in a little money towards a Kindle Fire HDX 7".

All New Kindle Fire HDX 7" Giveaway

The winner will have the option of receiving a 7" Kindle Fire HDX (US Only - $229 Value)

AUTHOR GUEST POST & GIVEAWAY: SALLY SMITH O'ROURKE, CHRISTMAS: A TIME FOR LOVE, A TIME FOR MEMORIES

My nephew and his family, the usual hosts for our family Christmas, will be winging their way to Europe this year and my niece who is always there with us is also going out of town. Since the death of my husband I have done very little decorating since all the festivities happen in the kids’ homes but this year an early Christmas dinner and gifts for the children will be in my home. So I pulled out some of the boxes containing Christmas past.

The crèche (navitity) my grandmother gave me over the course of several years was always the first thing to go up and this year is no exception. As I gently unwrap each piece the memories of how she gave me the lovelytableau flood my mind. I received Mary, Joseph and the baby the Christmas I was six and for every ‘giftable’ holiday after (birthdays, Christmas even tucked in my Easter basket), I received another figurine until the set was complete and consisted of the three original pieces, three wise men, three shepherds, three sheep, a ram, a cow, a donkey and an angel and I made a stable. Amo (my grandmother) died twenty-five years ago but every Christmas her memory fills my heart every time I look at the display.

The Swedish angel chimes my mother gave me for my first Christmas in my first apartment sit on the antique gate leg table. The gentle chimes as the angels turn from the heat of the four candles below remind me that my mother’s supportive love allowed me to venture out into the world with the strength and confidence she instilled in me.

KIRBY PUCKERNUT BLOG TOUR & GIVEAWAY - CHRISTMAS SURPRISE

Tour Schedule

Kirby Puckernut and the Christmas Surprise

Kirby Puckernut is Santa’s cleverest little elf. While dreaming up marvelous toys for good girls and boys, Kirby has his best idea yet – a real elf in every home, all through the holidays, spreading Christmas Magic Santa finds the perfect family and allows Kirby to serve as the test elf for the first momentous visit. Fun and adventure are at every turn, but not everything goes as planned… Will Kirby’s idea be a success.

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

BLOG TOUR & GIVEAWAY - SPARKS THE MATCHMAKER BY RUSSEL ELKINS

 

Tour Schedule

Sparks the Matchmaker by Russell Elkins

 Ollie just wants one thing. The girl. Things haven’t been going so well with Anne lately, though; their relationship has become a perpetual study date, and Ollie’s roommates are starting to worry about him. How to fix things? Why, with a marriage proposal, of course. Unfortunately for Ollie, his relationship with Anne has run out of gas. Life feels like it’s counting down to one. And that one is the only person in Ollie’s life he really cares about: Ollie. Perhaps, then, he should get over himself. But first he has to deal with Sparks, the irritating little Yankees fan who invades his life in order to “help” him. And while Keith, his best friend, is doing all he can to help, Ollie’s other friend Richie never fails to show up and threaten to ruin everything just by being himself. Never mind all the drama Sparks brings to the party by forcing Ollie to take a job actually helping people in need. Will Ollie meet the girl? Will it be in history class? On a road trip to Colorado? Can he get over Anne, or should he try to mend the relationship? Should he pursue the new girl Sparks is trying to set him up with? As the strings of the puppeteer tangle with the strings of the heart, only one person can sort out the mess Ollie has made. It seems that the harder he tries, the more Ollie messes things up. Is Sparks a cruel manipulator, or is he really going to help Ollie find his match?

THE CHRISTMAS TRAIN BLOG TOUR + GIVEAWAY

Tour Schedule

  The Christmas Train

In this children’s picture book, President Thomas S. Monson recounts a Christmas memory from his childhood. As a boy, he yearned for an electric train. To his delight, on Christmas morning he got exactly that a train that operated through the miracle of electricity. Then he noticed a second train that his mother had purchased for the boy down the street whose family was struggling. Although it was only a wind-up train, it had an beautiful oil tanker car, which little Tommy wanted for his own. Soon after, Tommy s mother invited him to accompany her to the neighbor s home to deliver the gift. Young Mark was thrilled with his new train and, of course, didn t notice the missing train car. However, a remorseful Tommy did. What happened next will bring the spirit of Christmas into every heart and home. Illustrated by renowned artist Dan Burr, The Christmas Train is sure to be a classic Christmas story and a beautiful addition to every Christmas library.

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Deseret Book

SPELL FIRE BLOG TOUR - MY FASCINATION WITH YA FICTION GUEST POST BY AUTHOR ARIELLA MOON

“You can tell what age an author got stuck in by what genre he or she writes.”

I think it was Lin Oliver who said the above quote, right after she had introduced an author who had skateboarded up to the podium at a Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators conference. I remember thinking at the time, Uh oh. Then I’m still reliving high school!

The Do-Over Aspect

Although my teen years are but tiny specs in the rearview mirror, I love reading and writing Young Adult fiction. Maybe it is the Do-Over fantasy aspect. YA stories allow readers to recapture the deep emotions they felt in high school. Friendships, betrayals, first love, peer pressure — the highs and lows play out on the page. Adding paranormal elements — angels, demons, witches, vampires, werewolves, gods and goddesses, amps up the stakes. Those who thought high school was tough, can read a paranormal YA and think, at least the Mean Girls at my school weren’t vampires.

Paranormal YA stories intoxicate with What if? I was well into adulthood before I became a shaman. But what if I could have commanded shamanic skills in high school? Would I have misused my magic? It would have been tempting to use spirit flight to spy on my secret crush. My high moral code might have justified my placing a binding spell on a bully, instead of placing a protection spell on myself. Then who would have had the karmic lesson to work on?

BOOK BLAST & GIVEAWAY - THE REAPING BY ANNIE OLDHAM

Book Blurb

The government is on the verge of perfecting its loyalty serum, and Terra knows exactly what that means—the agents will have absolute control. Terra has survived the labor camp, the agents, and the soldiers who hound her as she brings nomads to the water's edge. But now she faces her most daunting challenge yet: she must return to the colony to ask the council—and her father—to help her destroy the loyalty serum. With the aid of old friends and unexpected allies, Terra races toward a confrontation that will decide her fate on the Burn forever.

Buy the ebook: Amazon * Apple * B&N * Smashwords

Buy the paperback: Amazon * CreateSpace

Read an excerpt

The soldiers shrug and look around for a few seconds more before disappearing across the grove to cover more ground. The helicopter lifts into the air and flies above the forest. Our tree sways under its down draft. My foot loses its grip on the branch and I slip, my hands grappling the biting bark as my legs flail out from under me, and Jack catches my hand just in time to keep me from falling. We stay that way—me with one hand on the branch, Jack clinging to

CREATIVE STRATEGIES THAT WILL KICK-START YOUR BOOK WRITING PROJECT

(by guest blogger Candace Meyer) Writing a book is one of the goals of aspiring authors and bestseller writers. To be able to create a really good book is already an achievement how much more if you were given a book contract and somebody wants to publish your work. If you want to enter in the world of book writing business, you have to be prepared mentally, physically, emotionally, and psychologically. Why? It is because learning how to write a book effectively is already a daunting task. Keep moving, editing your writing, and working with editors and publishers are another big challenges.

Before you jump-start your book writing project you have to ask yourself first, "Why write a book?". As a writer, it is important that you know your purpose and objectives of why pursuing such big writing project. Most writers think that writing a book is a hard work. It requires a lot of time and it takes a really long time before you can see the final product. Aside from that, there's always risks and one of which is that there might be no one who will read it. But why would you think of those not-so-good things if your goal is focused to successfully finish a good book, right? Instead of being pessimist, why not get your creative juices flowing and start working on it.

BOOK BLAST & GIVEAWAY - ROOK BY MONICA MACDONALD

Could you be the monster to save who you love? Two women, separated by generations, must leave what they know to start a new life. Seventeen-year-old Kate's senior year is ruined when she's moved from the only home she's ever known. After an isolating month alone in her apartment, school starts, but neither her classmates nor her teacher are who they seem. Kali, a single mother living in the nineteenth century wilds of Montana, is stalked by a malicious past. She fights to keep her daughter safe while her freedom is threatened by her less than benevolent benefactor. Both find love, and with it hope, but that is quickly ripped away as one woman must learn the lessons of the other -- before it's too late to save either.   

                                       

Praise for Rook 

 "This book also drew me in. I couldn't let go of what was happening and when life intervened and forced me to close my computer I kept looking for a few moments to sit down and read some more.” Brookeworm, a Blog 4 Stars

 "Rook had me hooked from the first page. It all started so mysteriously that I just had to know what it was all about. “ Jannat Bhat, Obsessive Compulsive Reader 4 Stars

 “Rook is an amazing story that had me at the edge of my seat.” Tee Loves Kyle Jacobson Blog, 5 Stars  

SPOTLIGHT ON COMEDY! STUDIO C SEASON 1&2 NOW ON DVD + GIVEAWAY

 

Tour Schedule

   

Website * Facebook

HOMES OF CLASSIC LITERATURE

At many a time we can become lost between the pages of a good book. Immersed in its fantasy and mysterious tales, the captivating characters, scenes and a little imagination can easily take you there. This infographic delves into some classic stories from The Hobbit to the depths of The Secret Garden to show you nine of the famous homes found within these tales. Ready for the tour?

HOLIDAY KINDLE FIRE HDX GIVEAWAY

  Just in time for the HOLIDAYS - Win a Kindle Fire HDX, Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash ($229 value)   This is a joint AUTHOR & BLOGGER GIVEAWAY EVENT! Bloggers & Authors have joined together and each chipped in a little money towards a Kindle Fire HDX 7"

All New Kindle Fire HDX 7" Giveaway

BOOK BLAST & GIVEAWAY - MARY TING, THE CROSSROADS SAGA (FREE TODAY!)

The Crossroads Saga

 Crossroads (Book 1)

Can two worlds collide in dreams? Crossroads, Between, Beyond, Eternity, Halo City - novella

Protecting her from the fallen was his duty. Falling in love was never part of his plan. Loving her was forbidden. Being with her was all that mattered, even if it meant he would be exiled for all eternity. Claudia Emerson's life is about to change when her good friend, who coincidentally shares the same first and last name, dies in a tragic accident after the homecoming dance. Distraught at the loss of her friend, Claudia's dreams become tumultuous, and through them she mysteriously travels to another world called Crossroads. Unknown to her, Crossroads is like a second heaven, a place between heaven and earth, where the souls of humans in comas or near death experiences may wander. There, she unexpectedly meets Michael, a nephilim--half angel, half human. It turns out that this isn't her first visit, which is an enigma, for she has no recollection of being there, and is told that no human has crossed over...until Claudia. Now that she's been there, fallen and demons are after her, suspecting she must be special, and it is up to Michael and the other

WHILE WAITING FOR THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG, WHAT ABOUT A JOURNEY TO THE MIDDLE-EARTH?

Richard Armitage as Thorin in The Hobbit - The Desolation of Smaug

The Hobbit movie 2, The Desolation of Smaug,  is going to be released in less than a month and curiosity as well as excitement increase. I can't wait to see my best favourite, Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage),  again engaged in his adventurous quest,  in company of his bizarre mates.   Of course, I'm also looking forward to seeing dragon Smaug revealed and listening to Benedict Cumberbatch's voice (I want to see it in the original version... FX!)  

Anyway, this post is not just about The Hobbit movies, but more about the amazing natural settings Peter Jackson chose for their shootings. Just have a look at this awesome infographic: A Travel Guide to The Middle -Earth. Ready for the journey?

THE BACK-UP LIST - MEET AUTHORS MYRIAM BRADY & AMBER BEST + BOOK GIVEAWAY

How did you decide to co-write The Back-Up List?

We just started talking about the story and decided we liked the idea of a heroine who could be a Cinderella yet be reluctant about it! We had so much fun just making characters up. Then we decided since we both have a love of reading and writing why not put our mad skills together! LOL

Did you know that it would be a series, or were you planning on just one book?

At first our book- The Back-Up List was a joke.  We wrote it for fun! We wrote for us! It was never meant to go anywhere! Our friends got curious and wanted us to send them chapters and they were actually encouraging us to really finish it! Once we finished our first book, we started having ideas for the second book- The List of Possibilities, which was shocking! By the time we finished that book we walked away from writing for 2 years! During that time Amber finished school and Miriam had another baby! We never thought anymore about our characters or progressing with the stories anymore! The day we started our third book- The Bump List it took us completely by surprise; we wrote our “Paris” chapter and knew these characters were not done! Here we are now writing our fourth book- The List of Demands.

We love the friendship between Maddy and KInley, is the friendship in the book based off of your own?

We get this question all the time! Yes, the characters friendship is based on our friendship! We get asked all the time if we are sisters when we look NOTHING alike. We have thought a lot about this and asked a lady once why she thought that, she replied, “Because I would NEVER talk to my friend like that!” We found it funny, but we realized that we don’t talk like that to any other friend.We tell each other how it is and thought why not base Maddy and Kinley on us!

"TEACHERS CHANGE THE WORLD EVERY DAY" - INTERVIEW WITH JOLENE STOCKMAN + GIVEAWAY OF AN E-BOOK COPY OF THE JAWBREAKER

Being a teacher myself, Jolene Stockman's words I quoted in the title sound rather flattering, warming and rewarding. If only we teachers could really feel our work is actually making the difference! Because we hardly ever can. We are often depressed and disappointed by the results we get. Meeting Jolene, though only virtually as well as  reading her book, has been a very enriching and encouraging experience.
After reviewing Jolene Stockman's book, Jawbreaker, I felt I wanted to know about her experience with teenagers and how she came to write such an interesting and useful guide. That's why I asked her to be my guest and to answer a few questions.  

I read your book and found it very interesting (my review's HERE) and my first question is as a teacher to teenagers. In your opinion should a teacher be to them  more an educator, an instructor or a motivator?

Ooh, I have had some amazing teachers! In my opinion a teacher’s primary role is to educate – but teaching is a profession where you’re so much more than your job description. For students in general, and teenagers in particular teachers can also be powerful role models. My favourite teachers were always the passionate ones. No matter what subject they taught, when they loved it, I could feel it, and that made me want to learn and be better. Teachers show us how to learn, how to live, and (if we’re lucky!) how to access the best parts of ourselves. I was particularly inspired by my Latin teacher, who oozed and sparkled with her subject. Teachers change the world every day,  I’m in awe.

What were you like as a teenager?

As a teenager I was quiet, a straight-A student (PE doesn’t count, right?), and always writing. I was incredibly shy, often playing down what I knew so I wouldn’t have to speak up, and I would panic in social situations. But I knew I wanted to take over the world! So, I joined Toastmasters (an international public speaking and leadership training organisation)  and pushed through my comfort zone to complete their communication and leadership training. I achieved their highest award and started working with other teenagers.

GETTING READY TO CELEBRATE THE THANKSGIVING SEASON

(

by guest blogger Kendra Thornton)

The holiday season will soon be with us once again. Nights are getting colder, the brightly colored leaves are beginning to fall in the States, and everyone is getting out their winter wardrobes. The chilly weather reminds us that its time to begin planning the annual holiday visits and family get-togethers. Like many of you, I suspect, my spirits are always lifted as Thanksgiving Day approaches.

The spirit of gratitude and giving back that is the hallmark of the season helps to keep life in perspective and reminds me what is really important. I am particularly excited this year, as all of our relatives have confirmed that they will be visiting us here in Chicago. It’s going to be a great holiday here at the Thornton house!

AT THE CINEMA - ABOUT TIME

                     "To live is the rarest thing in life. Some people just exist" (Oscar Wilde)

I'd wanted to watch this film since I first heard about it but I wanted to see it even more when I discovered  it would be Richard Curtis 's last. 

Richard Curtis directed or wrote cult Brit comedies like "Four Weddings and a Funeral", "Notting Hill", "Bridget Jones's Diary", "Love Actually"  and, last but not least,  the irresistible BBC series The Vicar of Dibley.

Maybe his thinking about retiring and leaving his profession has made this new comedy, "About Time", more than a sweet romance, a poignant reflection about how precious our time is. Sweet, funny and poignant.

Though the movie is as careless and bizzarre, as light and hilarious as his previous works, in "About Time", Richard Curtis added deeper,  bit existentialist thoughts.

Tim (Domhnall Gleeson) is 21, clumsy and insecure, and  lives in a wonderful corner of Cornwall . Out of the blue, one day his father (Bill Nighy) reveals him their family's secret: the men in their family can time travel . They can't change History, but they can go back and change their own personal past history.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW - JAMIE BAYWOOD, GETTING ROOTED IN NEW ZEALAND + GIVEAWAY

First of all Jamie, welcome and thanks for finding the time to answer my questions. The first one for you is: What brought you from your home in California to New Zealand? 

I’m from California. In my mid-twenties, I had bad dating experiences in California and a dream to live abroad. I read in a tour book that New Zealand’s population had 100,000 fewer men than women. In an attempt to have some ‘me time’ I moved to New Zealand.

Why  New Zealand  as your destination?

As an American citizen there are actually very few places in the world you can get a work visa and just show up. If you are an American under thirty you can get a work visa in Australia and if you are an American under thirty-five you can get a work visa in New Zealand.

What was the hardest lesson your learnt starting a new life alone?

I really feel travel is the best teacher. I didn’t know a soul in New Zealand before I went there. Within two weeks of my plane landing in New Zealand, I found a place to live and a job. I don’t know anywhere else in the world you can do that. I’ve been living abroad since 2010. It’s made me resilient, self-reliant, fearless and adaptable.  I’ve really learned to trust my instincts and believe in myself.

It was shockingly easy to relocate to New Zealand literally a few weeks after I made the decision. It only took a couple of weeks for my work visa to go through. I was 26, single, I quit my job, I moved out of a little cottage I was renting and put the few things I had at my mom’s house and brought a suitcase with me to New Zealand.

BOOK BLAST & $100 AMAZON CARD GIVEAWAY: SIDING WITH PLATO BY MICHELLE MANNING

Siding with Plato: A Romantic Comedy Chick Lit About College Life, Love, and Chaos 

Siding With Plato is a romantic laugh-out-loud chick lit novel about Being Young, Beautiful, and a Seriously Hot Mess! Brooke Aarons can't get to college fast enough. Leaving behind her small town life, she intends to transform herself into a brilliant psychologist at the University of Texas, with no distractions to slow her down. But when a twist in her plans lands her on double date with the school's star jock - and worse, enjoying it - Brooke has to wonder if she's the one who needs her head examined. James Cartwright's easy life, endless bucks, and long line of willing girls should make him a non-starter for Brooke, but as she learns, the psychology behind a bad crush is a whole lot messier of a subject.  

 Praise for the Book

"This book hit home! Very funny and fast and fun read! I hope she makes this a series! LOVED IT!!!" 

 "I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an escape back into the best years of your life! A MUST READ."

"Buy 2 copies of this relatable book - one for yourself and one for your best friend." 

"Siding With Plato is a must read for every girl who has gone away to college! It reminded me of my college years and the relationships between different boys, but most importantly the amazing friendships that were created. I could relate to all of the characters at one time or another. Siding With Plato is well written, funny, witty, and full of emotion. I definitely recommend reading this book!!"   

BOOK BLAST & GIVEAWAY - FIGHTING FOR THE EDGE BY JENNIFER COMEAUX

Fighting for the Edge

Two friends. Two dreams. One night that changes everything… Ice dancer Aubrey London scoffs at romance. She’s focused on winning a medal at the upcoming Olympics and uses that as her excuse to avoid serious relationships. But when she and longtime friend Chris Grayden are thrown together by unforeseen circumstances, Aubrey finds herself questioning everything she's ever known about love, complicating her life both on and off the ice. Pairs skater Emily Petrov embraces romance. She and her husband Sergei still act like honeymooners two years after their wedding. As Emily’s coach, Sergei provides constant support while she prepares to challenge for gold at the Olympics. But Sergei’s support might not be enough to help Emily overcome the one challenge she never saw coming. With the Games only weeks away, Emily and Aubrey are on the verge of realizing their dreams. But one snowy, stormy night sets in motion a series of events that will test them in ways they never imagined, giving them more to fight for than Olympic medals.  

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Praise for Fighting for the Edge "Emily and Aubrey's final challenge is Jennifer Comeaux's greatest victory. Both touching and suspenseful, Fighting for the Edge is a game changer that will have fans of the series giving both the characters and the author a standing ovation once they've turned the last page. If I could pass out medals, Jennifer would earn gold for writing my favorite romance of all time." - Jenna at Jenna Does Books "Jennifer Comeaux puts you in the action, makes you smell the ice and hear the roar of the crowd during the nail-biting competitions, and she's a master at creating first love jitters in your stomach from the steamy scenes that are so hot without being explicit." - Christina Jean Michaels, author of Epiphany  

MAURIZIO MALAGNINI, AN ITALIAN IN PARADISE - INTERVIEW WITH THE COMPOSER OF "THE PARADISE" SOUNDTRACK

Are you enjoying The Paradise on BBC One or Masterpiece PBS? Have you noticed how beautiful its soundtrack is? My guest today is the composer of the wonderful music accompanying Denise and Moray's story. His name is Maurizio Malagnini. He  is an Italian composer based in London whose work spans drama, animation, documentaries. His music has been broadcast internationally on the main European networks BBC1, BBC2, ITV, MTV, SKY, RAI. He has produced his scores for the Hollywood Studio Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, L'Ensemble dell'Opera di Roma and his own ensemble, Cinema Paradiso. 

Maurizio has composed scores for popular BBC Series such as "The Body Farm" and The Paradise (Series 1 and 2). Could this lovely costume series be the same without his brilliant score?  I’m sure you have noticed how good the soundtrack for Denise and Moray’slove story is! Are you ready to meet its composer? Welcome Maurizio Malagnini at Fly High and enjoy our little chat below. By the way, don't forget that The Paradise series 2 goes on BBC1 every Sunday night and, if you live in the US,  season 1 is going to end soon on PBS Masterpiece. 

Maurizio Malagnini rehearsing with the BBC Concert Orchestra

What’s the life of an Italian living in London like? Hard? Very hard? Not hard at all? I mean, are there things you miss terribly or can you easily cope with the differences ?

SPOTLIGHT ON ... THE MARLOW INTRIGUES SERIES BY JANE LARK: THE PASSIONATE LOVE OF A RAKE & THE ILLICIT LOVE OF A COURTESAN

The Passionate Love of a Rake

Just released! This is book two in the Marlow Intrigues series from exciting new author, Jane Lark. If you love historical romance, you must have a look at this "Spotlight on ... " post. And, by the way, Jane Lark is my guest blogger at my other blog too, My Jane Austen Book Club.  Have a look at her piece about The Theatre Jane Austen attended in Bath. It's really interesting. 

Blurb

The only woman who had power over notorious rake Robert Marlow was now walking away from him, again. He'd heard Sutton had died, and known Jane was free, but he'd always thought his desire would only be for revenge, not her. Yet here he was, unable to deny what he felt for her… what he’d never felt for any other woman…

Read an excerpt  

“You are such a liar, Jane.”

His tone was no longer angry, but it held a cynical humor, and the pupils in his eyes had widened, large dark onyx circles darkening his gaze with long dark lashes defining it.

A warm ache settled somewhere in her chest then spiraled to her womb like a rolling penny when his lips lowered to hers, catching at them gently, a soft caress.

She echoed it without thought. Her eyes closed as he continued to kiss her, and she opened her mouth when his tongue touched her lips. Her very bones melting, her arms reached about his neck, and her bodypressed against him, and then he stopped and pulled away.

Her eyelids lifted. She faced a knowing smile and felt the chill of his desertion.

“As I thought, a lie, Your Grace, all of it. You do want me. Like it or not, Jane. Admit it or not. You want me. You are found out, my dear.” His eyes narrowed as he continued. “But why not admit it. I cannot make you out. And there I presume is the dilemma which has you so distracted and upset. Whatever it is that prevents you admitting it, I mean.”

BLOG TOUR & GIVEAWAY - HUDSON LIGHTS, POP MUSIC GETS CLASSY

Music instead of books this weekend.

Read about this new band, watch their video below and good luck in the giveaway!

Tour Schedule

BOOK BLAST, MY REVIEW AND $100 AMAZON GIFT CARD GIVEAWAY - JAWBREAKER BY JOLENE STOCKMAN

My review

Teenagers aren’t the easiest  people you can find yourself dealing with. It’s the word of an expert,  meaning someone with long-lasting experience not someone with an answer to any question.  As  a teacher to teenagers, I’m still and continuously looking for answers, tips and suggestions to help me cope with their complexity.  This is why I found this little book (17,000 words), which is  meant to help teenagers,  quite helpful to myself and my purpose. 

The Jawbreaker: Unlock the (U)niverse  by Jolene Stockman is a guide aimed at leading young adults to self –awareness and self-confidence with a step-by-step analysis of their most common attitudes to themselves, to others and to life in general (You, Change, Knowing, The Glow), which also includes a set  of practical exercises and activities (Mind Games) targeting single specific goals.

“You are a million moments. You have created yourself bit by bit and layer by layer, every day since you were born. You are a jawbreaker” … This is the starting point,   a really spot on  image chosen by the author. She  wants the readers to figure themselves out like jawbreakers.  And jawbreakers  are sweet, colourful but really hard to break.   I found it a brilliant metaphor.

Honestly,  I think this book might help any reader, not only demographic audience, to build up their strength and it might show them their own story in a whole new way. Try it yourself!

“You can help others in the world more by making the most of yourself than in any other way” (Earl Nightingale)  

NOVEMBER KINDLE FIRE GIVEAWAY - TWO WINNERS!

This is a joint AUTHOR & BLOGGER GIVEAWAY EVENT! Bloggers & Authors have joined together and each chipped in a little money towards a Kindle Fire HDX 7".

All New Kindle Fire HDX 7" Giveaway

The winner will have the option of receiving a 7" Kindle Fire HDX (US Only - $229 Value)

JENNY BARDEN, THE LOST DUCHESS - GUEST POST & GIVEAWAY

Jenny Barden

Another great guest at Fly High! today. I've invited awesome historical fiction writer,  Jenny Barden,  to present her upcoming great novel here (it'll be out in just 2 days in the UK - 7th November), because I know that you like me love and appreciate well-written,  thrilling historical fiction. Let's welcome Jenny and, please, take your chances to win a signed first edition copy of her The Lost Duchess. This amazing giveaway is open world wide and ends on 14th November. 

Thank you so much, Maria, for giving me an opportunity to say a little about my forthcoming release, The Lost Duchess, which was no more than a concept in outline when you interviewed me for this site in October last year. 

Several of your followers said then that they loved the idea of an Elizabethan romantic adventure, and that there was going to be a sequel to Mistress of the Sea, so I hope they'll be attracted to this next book, which features Kit Doonan (Will's brother in Mistress of the Sea), and Emme Fifield, a lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth, whose relationship deepens in the thick of an action-packed adventure when they join Sir Walter Raleigh's expedition to found the first permanent English colony in America. Here's what my publishers have to say about The Lost Duchess:

LOVE IN TOUCH BLOG TOUR - LOVE BEYOND BARRIERS: INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR LUCY MAY LENNOX + GIVEAWAY

I've had the opportunity to ask author Lucy May Lennox a few questions about her latest novel, Love in Touch. She's taken the time to answer and the result is the following interesting chat about love beyond the barriers of disability: a very beautiful,  unusual love story. Read the interview and don't forget there's a giveaway attached to this blog tour!  (see rafflecopter form below)

Your novel  "Love in Touch" presents an unusual love story,   told with great sensitivity . Were you inspired by real people and facts?

Thanks! The plot and main characters are not directly based on real events or people. But I have known a few people with vision loss and hearing loss. Some of the details and interactions are based on real conversations that I've had or heard about. For instance, years ago I knew a guy who worked at a TTY relay,  typing/reading phone conversations between hearing and Deaf people. He would regularly relay to the Deaf customer comments the hearing people made that they assumed were not to be passed on, like when a guy muttered "Oh, it's that deaf asshole." My friend dutifully typed it out, which caused a heated exchange. But later on he got a commendation. That story made me think a lot about what interpretation really is.

I should say also, I based a lot of the minor characters on people I know. It's so much easier that way to create real, rounded characters.

IT'S NEVER TOO EARLY FOR CHRISTMAS - MEET MELISSA MCCLONE & KATHERINE GARBERA + GIVEAWAY

Best selling authors Melissa McClone and Katherine Garbera have written and just released two lovely Christmas novellas. They are my guests today and have both answered my questions about the upcoming festivities. It's never to early to talk Christmas! Don't you think so? Read their answers and get your chances to win their books in the rafflecopter form below.  The giveaway is open internationally, there will be two winners ( 1 e-book each),  deadline November 12th. Good luck, everyone! 

My questions for both are: Christmas is coming soon! What are your favorite decorations? How do you decorate?

Melissa McClone: 

I love Nativity scenes. They are my favorite decoration. One that's pretty much dog and cat proof goes under the tree. A snow globe nativity goes on the shelf. We also have a nativity fountain. Small ornament sized ones hang in the tree. Medium and larger ones can be found all over the house. I'm always on the lookout for Nativities. I usually have at least one in each room.

I go all out decorating. Decking the halls, so to speak, usually takes me a day or two, not counting the tree. First, I take down pictures from the wall and pack away everything that's on our built-in shelves and windowsills. Then I pull out our Christmas decorations, books and DVDs. We have boxes and boxes of them. I start with the Advent wreath then hang garland on the banister and fireplace mantle and swags on all the windows. Dept. 56 villages used to go on the windowsills until we got a kitten that thought they were her play toys. Now she must content herself with the tree, which we leave up for a least a week with no garland (wood cranberry beads) or ornaments so she can climb and nap in the branches to her hearts content before we decorate it. Advent calendars are hung upstairs and downstairs. Besides a tree upstairs, the kids each have a small one in their bedrooms.  We have lots of shelf sitters, stuffed animals, snowmen, snow globes and other knickknacks. My kids also know if something isn't where it was the year before!  

FORGOTTEN BOOKS: DIGITAL LIBRARIES, OLD BOOKS & NEW TECHNOLOGIES

Like many of you I  initially  resisted the  invasion of e-books and e-readers  into our safe world made of shelves crammed with  printed books. I really didn’t accept such a dramatic  change and looked at the new strange objects with great suspicion. I couldn’t think of a book without its  reassuring smell of dusty paper or its smooth,  black- inked white pages. Anyway, again like many of you,  I had to surrender, to accept their presence in my life and even recognize their charms and practicality. I can now honestly say that I love e-books, though differently than my unforgettable first love, printed books.

Though I still treasure the hundreds of books I’ve been collecting all my life through on my shelves, I’ve recently discovered how easy and incredible is to have your favourite titles, all of them and even more, stored in your iPad or e-reader and be able to keep them  hidden  in your own handbag . That means you can always carry them with you and everywhere!  

What  I  want to share with you today is one of my latest  precious discoveries, related to my relatively new love for e-books. It’s a real treasure for someone like me with a high interest in classic literature and drama. It's ForgottenBooks,  an online digital library with thousands of books that can be of great interest to avid readers, students, academics and scholars of several different fields.

ARBITRATE BY MEGAN THOMASON - BOOK BLAST & GIVEAWAY

Arbitrate 

It's one year later. And everything has changed.

Remember The Second Chance Institute (SCI). Earth’s benevolent non-profit by day, Thera’s totalitarian regime by night. They’ve stepped up their game on Earth and on Thera—infiltrating political parties, preying on the downtrodden, and planning offensive maneuvers. The SCI’s abuse of their charter leads to Arbiter oversight and bitter consequences.

Remember Kira Donovan. Broken, burdened, and evading those who wish her harm, Kira enlists the Arbiters’ help when forced to return to the clutches of the SCI and her angry, estranged love.

Remember Blake Sundry. Exiled, determined, and packing an agenda, Blake seeks assistance on Earth and Thera to use his newfound knowledge to bring down the SCI.

Remember Ethan Darcton. Overworked, emotional, and holding a grudge, Ethan hunts down his stolen property, but finds himself in awkward territory, stuck between the Arbiters and the SCI.

Full of action, competing agendas, romantic entanglements, humor, twists and turns, arbitrate is Megan Thomason’s third installment in the award-winningdaynight series after daynight and clean slate complex (a daynight story).

 

Amazon

Praise for arbitrate: "There are a lot of books I finish and feel happy, this one I finished and my head is swirling, in a totally awesome way! Not only does it have a great story with characters that you like (and some you just hate as they are the enemy) but the book also gets you thinking, thinking about the implication of effects of different actions and courses in life. This story has action, fighting, plots and plans, romance, love triangles, family, betrayal - has it all." --Emily Barton, Emmy Mom One Day at a Time blog, 5 stars

A LIGHT IN DARK PLACES - BOOK BLAST & GIVEAWAY

A Light in Dark Places

In December, 2009, Susan Cox Powell was reported missing from her home in West Valley City, Utah. As law enforcement tried to piece together what had happened to Susan, her husband, Josh Powell, became the only person of interest in the case. For Jennifer Graves, Josh’s sister, the nightmare started long before Susan’s disappearance. From her experiences growing up in the Powell family to the terrifying moment when she first started to believe her brother was a killer, she relied on her faith to stay strong. She devoted herself to the safety of Susan’s boys, Charlie and Braden, whom she hoped to be able to raise as her own. When the boys were murdered by their father in February, 2012, Jennifer was more than devastated, but she had to believe there was a reason for it all—including the deaths of her beloved nephews. In A Light In Dark Places, Jennifer shares her struggles and her triumphs. In coming to terms with such tragedy she finally was able to embrace the truth that we all have the power to choose our own path—and there is always hope, no matter how dark things may seem.

EGYPT RISING BLOG TOUR - AUTHOR INTERVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

Tour Schedule

First of all, Mr Schatt,  welcome to FLY HIGH! How would you introduce your “Egypt Rising”  to our readers in, let’s say, about 50 words?

An American archeologist's teenaged daughter finds herself caught up in the Egyptian revolution of 2011 and the target of Islamic extremists. She discovers hidden passages under the Sphinx that lead her to a secret that has been buried for centuries. She also discovers a frightening weapon that makes her a target for people willing to do anything, including murder, to possess it.

 YA fiction is a very  popular genre with several interesting series out there who have sold and go on selling millions of copies. A few of them have female heroines, just like your “Egypt Rising”.  What is your personal approach to the genre?

I deliberately created a female heroine because I think young women can always benefit from them. I wanted to create a teen who considers herself very ordinary in an extraordinary situation that would force her to use the intelligence and courage she didn't know she had. Rather than fantasy, I wanted to have my heroine deal with some very real situations such as growing fundamentalism in Egypt.

THE BATTLE FOR ARCANON MAJOR BY ALEXANDRA MAY - BOOK BLAST & AMAZON GIFT CARD GIVEAWAY

The Battle for Arcanon Major

“As daughter of our ruler I grew up in the crossfire of an ongoing war... All I’d ever wanted to be was a great warrior and ultimately lead my people into victorious battles." With only a small army at her command Halíka Dacomé, a skilled warrior and daughter of the Elemental King, is ready to lead one final battle to save her planet. A battle against the savage, bloodthirsty Primords who want to extinguish the diminished race of Elementals once and for all. But before battle commences her father is given an ultimatum from the enemy leader, Arfron Uhnok. If the king agrees, Halíka Dacomé must marry Arfron Uhnok to prevent further bloodshed. If the king disagrees they, as a race, will all perish. Horrified by her fathers decision Halíka Dacomé leads her army onward regardless of the consequences. Because her heart belongs to another. A love that blossomed many years ago. A love that her father has forbidden. Halíka faces her toughest battle yet and learns that not all battles are those fought with a sword... The Battle for Arcanon Major is an epic love story set against the backdrop of war and is the first Prequel to Elemental: The First.