STOLEN OBSESSION BLOG TOUR - INTERVIEW WITH MARLENE M. BELL + GIVEAWAY

Interview with author Marlene M. Bell

What do you hope readers take with them after they’ve read Stolen Obsession? 

There are many morals in this book. Here are the top three: First, you are stronger than you think you are. Shown by Annalisse’s trials with personal loss and helping those around her. Secondly, keep those around you close to your heart because you never know when they can be taken away. Annalisse experiences a great deal of personal loss. Third, judge people not by what others say about them, but by how they truly are. Give people a chance to redeem any negative qualities that come from hearsay. Annalisse learns this with Alec Zavos, her love interest in Stolen Obsession. The tabloids paint him with a broad womanizer brush, and Annalisse takes her time deciding for herself who Alec is and if he can be trusted.  

How long does it take you to write a book?

Stolen Obsession took 8 years from start to finish due to the learning process. I’m working toward publishing the 2nd book, Spent Identity in 2019. I’m at 70,000 words so far!

Where did the idea for Stolen Obsession come from? What was the inspiration? 

The main character, Annalisse is a lot like me. Through 8 drafts of the story, the focus changed dramatically. The genre moved from Women’s Fiction to Romantic Mystery. I wouldn’t say the story came from one inspiration because of the long learning process. It has naturally morphed into the final version through plot changes and tons of edits.

Describe Stolen Obsession using seven words.

Ancient Curse Collides With Three Jewelry Pieces

What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

I write every day, even if it’s a few hundred words. First thing in the morning after the sheep are fed. By 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on a good day. On very good days, I can knock out a single chapter in 4-5 hours of work. 1-2 chapters each week with editing along the way. I’m a constant editor, especially since using the Hemmingway App.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

When I can, I stop and read other authors to keep the creative juices flowing. Spending time with the lambs in their pastures with a camera along is also worthwhile as a pick-me-up when words clog my mind and are disjointed on the page. If my writing stinks, there’s no sense in staying at the keyboard. It’s nice to have options like photography, drawing, painting and of course, sheep.

What do you think makes a good story?

It’s all about the reader turning pages. Whether I write mystery, suspense or the occasional love scene, it’s important to leave a scene to hang with an important question in the reader’s mind. The goal is to create a page-turner by whatever means possible.

Book Details

Book Title: Stolen Obsession by Marlene M. Bell
Category: Adult Fiction; 284 pages
Genre: Romantic Mystery / Thriller
Publisher: Ewephoric Publishing
Release date: March 20, 2018
Tour dates: Sept 10 to 28, 2018
Content Rating: R (Small bit of language and one detailed sex scene)

BOOKS & MORE BOOKS - LUKE BY KIMBERLY LEWIS

Looking for a spicy summer romance? Here's one you will not regret reading.

Luke, an all-new friends-to-lovers standalone in the McKades of Texas series from Kimberly Lewis is available NOW!

SPOTLIGHT ON ... A FRIENDLY ENGAGEMENT BY CHRISTINE WARNER + GIVEAWAY

About the Book

A Friendly Engagement (Friends First - Book 1)

by Christine Warner
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo Books
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published by: Entangled Publishing
Release Date: June 23, 2015
Length: 298 Pages

What's a little engagement between friends?

Omar Esterly is married to his job. But when Omar sets his sights on a potential, family-oriented client, his confirmed bachelorhood becomes a problem. Fortunately, his friend and employee, Devi Boss, has the perfect plan...

Okay, so it wasn't exactly Devi's plan to become her friend's fake fiancée. Lies aren't her style. However, Omar offers her a big, beautiful raise - enough to track down the missing father she's never known - and Devi reluctantly agrees to the whole engagement hoax...

This was supposed to be a no-strings-attached win-win for both Devi and Omar, but when they cross the line between friendship and...well, something more, Devi realizes she's made a huge mistake that just might cost her both job and friend - falling for her fiancé.

UNEVEN EXCHANGE BLOG TOUR - 7 QUESTIONS FOR AUTHOR S.K. DERBAN + GREAT GIVEAWAY

About the book

Like fire and ice, Alexandra Callet's life runs hot and cold. At the age of thirty-three, Alexandra owns a stunning home and a successful interior design company. But she is in love with her business partner, Jake Taylor, and he doesn't even seem to realize she's a woman. She should be on top of the world, but instead she feels dragged down by the void in her heart. Hoping for answers, she decides a trip to Mexico might soothe her soul.

Jake Taylor only pretends to be a confirmed bachelor. Jake has been entranced by Alexandra's determination and exotic beauty since the moment they met, but she has no idea how he feels. He considers confessing his love, but fears jeopardizing their friendship and business. He's caught in a web of pretending he doesn't care, and doesn't see a way out of it. Alexandra is recruited for a dangerous mission. Following her trip to Mexico, her resemblance to a member of an assassin's family leads Alexandra to be recruited by the DEA. Her training leaves her distracted, and her business begins to suffer. Jake notices her sudden change, and feels her slipping both personally and professionally beyond his reach.

Should he finally take the chance...before it's too late? After all, he has nothing to lose. However, when Alexandra returns to Mexico for her mission, things go terribly wrong. Will she be able to find the strength to fight and escape the peaceful haven that has now become her prison?

Or will Jake lose Alexandra forever...

BOOK REVIEW - A RIP IN THE VEIL BY ANNA BELFRAGE (THE GRAHAM SAGA, BOOK 1)

Hooked from page one. There’s so much I love in this book that once I got started, I couldn’t stop and read it in a few days:  Scotland in the 17^th century, at the time of the Civil War, romance and time travel, fantasy and magic, adventure and irony.  A Rip in the Veil is book one in Anna Belfrage’s “The Graham Saga” and is a thrilling ride between two different time lines, through the adventurous lives of Alexandra Lind, a 21st century computer engineer still coping with a trauma from her past, and Matthew Graham,  a runaway 17th century convict on his way home to Scotland.

The heroine & the hero: Alex & Matthew

Here are heroine and hero as presented by the author herself in the section bonus material at her website:

Alexandra Lind

Date of Birth: August 24, 1976

Astrological sign: Virgo (“Virgo? How boring is that,” she says with a laugh)

Education: Degrees in Computer Engineering and Programming. Most useful in her new environment she says sarcastically. A karate practitioner since childhood, she holds a black belt 4th dan and has also dabbled in jujitsu. Never got beyond “Smoke on the water” on guitar, but knows the lyrics to all her favourite rock songs – although she’s not quite sure this qualifies as education. Is a proficient user of the staple gun – has used it for everything from upholstery to fixing Halloween disguises. Sadly, staple guns do not exist in the seventeenth century. Good at drawing, crap at sewing and knitting. Used to consider herself a good chess player – until she met Matthew.

NEW BOOK FROM PAMELA AARES: THE HEART OF THE GAME + GIVEAWAY

The Heart of the Game

by Pamela Aares

The Tavonesi Series #6

Publication Date: March 13, 2015

Also in this series: Thrown by Love, Fielder's Choice, Love on the Line, Aim For Love, Game for Romance

Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Sports

Amazon • Nook • Kobo • iBooks

From USA Today bestselling author Pamela Aares comes THE HEART OF THE GAME, the sixth book in the Tavonesi family series featuring passion, mystery, and well-won love!

When Cody Bond, the Giants’ hot new catcher, agrees to ride in a benefit polo match to help heiress Zoe Tavonesi, he falls hard for the Italian beauty.

Cody’s determined not to screw up his career with relationships, especially when Zoe and the loving, tight-knit, aristocratic Tavonesis remind him of everything his dysfunctional American family isn’t. But while he may be a master of control on the baseball field, Cody’s iron will can’t shield him from the desire Zoe awakens.

Zoe wants nothing to do with her family's new home and vineyard in the California wine country. Every day spent in exile from the world she loves in Rome feels like an eternity. Her heart's set on returning to Italy and opening the art gallery her late mother always wanted. But the passion Cody fires has her second-guessing her plan and her dreams.

BLOG TOUR - JEREMY'S PROMISE BY A.R.TALLEY

Jeremy's Promise by A.R. Talley

The trip that was meant to save Annie and Jeremy’s marriage brought it to near ruin. Now Annie has returned home, frightened and confused. Jeremy, too, is frightened—and angry. What will it take to save their marriage? It’s clear. Jeremy needs to forgive—Annie needs to forget. A promise is made. A tragedy occurs. A second honeymoon is disrupted. A chance encounter brings David Andrews back into Annie’s life. Annie is determined to remain faithful. She’s made a promise she intends to keep—Jeremy’s Promise.

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Praise for Jeremy's Promise

 A.R. Talley, gives you a believable look at the struggle of one couple to reconnect and heal their marriage, with dialog which sweeps you into the moment as if you were there with them, experiencing both their pain and recovery. Kudos to the author who has once again produced a book I couldn't put down, as well as one I felt compelled to read multiple times. ~Donna Dech 

Jeremy's Promise second book in a trilogy by A.R. Talley is an awesome, emotional, romantic, highly recommended, well written story with captivating and engaging characters. ~Debbie Ballard 

COVER REVEAL WITH A BONUS! DISCOVER MORE ABOUT CLIMAX BY CHRISTINA GEORGE (THE PUBLICIST BOOK 3) AND WIN AN AMAZON GIFT CARD

It's finally here, the long-awaited sequel to The Publicist! CLIMAX by Christina George is the final installment in the series. It comes in two parts:

SPOTLIGHT ON ... LACING SHADOWS: ANTHOLOGY

Lose yourself in the Shadows…

Five young women each encounter a different supernatural force: seductive werewolves, shadowy vampires, dangerous fae, mysterious ghosts, and nightmare creatures.

Asia, a young college student, struggles between two seductive temptations. Farren is desperate to escape her heart-wrenching grief when she encounters vampires. Holly finds herself home alone on winter break when she rescues a handsome Fae. Lena has always been aware of a world beyond our own when she attempts to help a mysterious ghost. Ruby is entranced by a creature made of nightmares...

Lace yourself in scintillating tales of fated meetings, undying love, and eternal life.

Lacing Shadows features New Adult paranormal tales from five talented authors.

Spirit of the Wolf

Asia, a young college student, struggles between two seductive temptations—her boyfriend, Jesse, and a new friend, Nati. Meanwhile, hidden forces strive to draw out the wolf spirit inside her. Will she embrace her nature…or have it driven out against her will? In the end, the spirit of the wolf may be the only thing that can save her and those she holds dear.

WHY EARLS FALL IN LOVE - INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR MANDA COLLINS

Hello and welcome at FLY HIGH,  Manda. It’s a great pleasure to have the chance to present you and your new spellbinding novel,   “Why Earls Fall in Love” to my readers, since they are always so interested in historical fiction!  Could you tell us something about your heroine,  Georgina?

Georgina Mowbray is the daughter of an Army officer. She’s also the widow of an Army officer. As such, she has been used to living a very structured lifestyle. And she is very firmly ensconced in the middle class. But, when she becomes friends with Isabella and Perdita—both wealthy aristocrats—she is thrust into the world of the ton. She still, however, must earn a living, so at the beginning of the book we see her in her new position as companion to the wealthy Lady Russell. Who just so happens to be the aunt of our hero—Dominic, Earl of Coniston.

Georgie is disciplined, level-headed, and above all resilient. She will bounce back no matter what befalls her.

Is she inspired to any other literary heroine you admire?

Not any one heroine in particular, no. But while I was writing, I kept thinking of her as being very similar to the real-life character of Florence Nightingale, who was also very disciplined and resilent. Though she had a very unhappy love life,  and I was happy to be able to improve on that.

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?

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.”

BOOK BLITZ TOUR - LAST CHANCE REUNION BY LINDA CONRAD + GIVEAWAY

About Linda Conrad

Best selling author Linda Conrad writes for Harlequin-Silhouette Books. Her novels have been translated into sixteen languages and are sold in over twenty-two countries!

Linda’s sensual characters and passionate stories have brought her numerous awards and raves! Over the years her workshops for RWA chapters and conferences have helped many writers learn new skills and techniques.

Growing up in south Florida, Linda made up stories and read everything she could get her hands on. After college, she taught first grade in Miami and tried to give the children as much love for the written word as she’d always felt. When her own true-life hero came along and whisked her away to five cities in seven years, Linda became a sales assistant, a quality control supervisor, a ninety-unit apartment manager and finally a stockbroker and Certified Financial Planner in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas.

"I DO LIVE IN THE BOOKS I WRITE!" - MEET PATRICIA ROSEMOOR, CO-AUTHOR OF WRITTEN IN THE STARS

My interview with Sherril Bodine was up on blog on 12th August. She wrote "Written in the Stars" with Patricia Rosemoor, who is my guest today to answer some questions about herself and their book. Meet her and enjoy our little chat.

Hello Patricia! It’s a great pleasure to have you as my guest at FLY HIGH! I’ve already discussed  “Written in the Stars” with Sherrill a couple of weeks ago and now it’s your turn.   Could  you briefly present yourself to our readers?

Written in the Stars is my fourth project with Entangled Suspense – my next is Animal Instincts, to be released in November. I cut my teeth on romantic suspense writing for Harlequin Intrigue, Blaze and Bombshell. I also co-wrote a couple of urban fantasy romantic thrillers for Del Rey with another author.  Sherrill Bodine and I have been part of the same critique group for twenty-some years and have long been good friends.

CLEAR YOUR SHELF GIVEWAY HOP - WIN JULIA QUINN'S HISTORICAL ROMANCES! 2 WINNERS - 4 BOOKS

Welcome to another great event! I must have already told you about this and I hope you don't mind if I repeat myself. I just want to explain the reason of my taking part in this kind of giveaway hops.

I'm sure you know how much I love reading and collecting books. I know many people who are jealous of their books and, actually, I am quite jealous of  mine, too. However, what I love much more than to keep them on my shelves and dust them - I've got several hundreds of them kept in every room of my house and go on receiving new ones every day-   is to spread the love for books and reading. So, to that purpose, I'm always glad to lend them to family and friends or give them away. Hence, more than"operation clean your shelf", which sounds something like "let's get rid of bad stuff", my contribution to this giveaway hop is more "let's spread the love"!

Many thanks to Inspired Kathy at  I Am A Reader, not A Writer  and Mary at BookHounds for hosting this Giveaway Hop.

BOOK BLAST - WORKING IT OUT BY RACHEL ANDERSON

Tour Schedule

Author Rachael Renee Anderson Rachael Anderson is the author of five novels (Working It Out, The Reluctant Bachelorette, Minor Adjustments, Luck of the Draw, and Divinely Designed) and two novellas (Twist of Fate, from the All I Want anthology and The Meltdown Match from The Timeless Romance Anthology: Summer Wedding Collection). She's the mother of four and is pretty good at breaking up fights, or at least sending guilty parties to their rooms. She can't sing, doesn't dance, and despises tragedies. But she recently figured out how yeast works and can now make homemade bread, which she is really good at eating.

Blog * Facebook * Twitter

AUTHOR'S SPOTLIGHT TOUR: MEET SHERRILL BODINE, AUTHOR OF "WRITTEN IN THE STARS"

Hello Sherrill and welcome to FLY HIGH! I’m glad to talk about your  “Written in the Stars” as well as writing and reading with you. Could  you briefly present yourself to our readers?

Thank you so much for asking me here!  I’m thrilled to talk about Written in the Stars, my 19th book.  After writing three contemporaries for Grand Central Publishing and co-authoring a comic book series (an ongoing project) I loved the change back to a historical period ( I did 6 Regency novels for Fawcett).

Romance and black magic, past and present,  suspence and adventure. “Written in the Stars” promises to be a real  gripping page- turner. Where did you take inspiration for such an intriguing blend?

The subject of Reincarnation has always fascinated me and I loved writing Intrigues for Harlequin so to combine both – plus history into this epic love story was too yummy to resist!

AUTHOR GUEST POST - ANA FAWKES, ALMOST TAKEN

When writing Almost Taken, I first started with the series title.

Two Weddings, One Funeral, & One Baby

It’s something very different than the erotic romance I had been writing for so long. I wanted something that would be catchy and straight to the point. The fun after that is how to connect all these stories and topics. For example, in Almost Taken, the two lead characters – Jared and Becky – aren’t the ones getting married! In fact, it’s a mutual friend’s wedding that brings them together, again, after they encounter one another before.

The story was fun to write because it’s fast, flirty, and packed with romance. There’s no jumping straight to bed here. Mainly that’s because Becky has a relationship. Something Jared respects but pains him to see.

So, just how do they end up together? That’ll be your job to find out when you read the book!

Here’s an excerpt from Almost Taken (Two Weddings, One Funeral, & One Baby)…

Two Weddings, One Funeral, & One Baby

Book 1: ALMOST TAKEN

Jared Crowley was supposed to sell the apartment to the rich, powerful Harry Pitt and his beautiful girlfriend, Becky... not fall in love with Becky.

JANE LARK, ILLICIT LOVE BLOG TOUR + HUGE GIVEAWAY!

Welcome to Stop Eleven on the Illicit Love blog tour! Jane Lark is celebrating her first instalment in the Marlow Intrigues series with a HUGE giveaway - including a one night stay in London's Regency Hotel, Amazon gift voucher, signed copies of Illicit Love and plenty of swag!

AUTHOR GUEST POST - LONDON CASEY, THE BOYS OF DOWNCRASH

Writing a series isn’t quite like writing just a book.  And when you throw in connecting characters, story lines, and a band… it’s like creating everything.  At the end of it though, it’s quite amazing to see what’s been created. 

When I first started writing The Boys of DownCrash, I envisioned the series as something fast, even novella-like.  But the second I finished the first couple chapters and really got to meet the guys in the band (Tripp, Tatum, and Logan), I knew this wasn’t going to be short.  Or fast.  Or even easy to write.

These guys were cute, sexy, hot, and complicated.  They were together as one of the most popular bands going but individually they were so very different.  And maybe that’s what makes the series so fun… to write and read.  I didn’t want to have the same stories appearing in each book and I didn’t want the guys in the band to be the same either.