Thursday, 3 May 2012

Deadly Addiction by Kristine Cayne

A proud people. A nation divided.

Rémi Whitedeer, police officer turned substance-abuse counselor, dreams of restoring order to his tribe. Violence and crime are rampant throughout the unpoliced Iroquois reserve, and a civil war is brewing between the Guardians, a militant traditionalist group, and other tribal factions. As the mixed-race cousin of the Guardians’ leader, Rémi is caught in a no-man’s land—several groups lay claim to him, but all want him to deny his white blood.

A maverick cop on an anti-drug crusade.

When she infiltrated the Vipers to take down the leader of the outlaw biker gang responsible for her brother’s death, police sergeant Alyssa Morgan got her man. But her superiors think she went too far. Her disregard for protocol and her ends-justify-the-means ethics have branded her an unreliable maverick. To salvage her career, she accepts an assignment to set up a squad of native provincial officers on a reserve.

A radical sovereigntist bent on freeing a nation.

Decades of government oppression threaten the existence of the Iroquois Nation. But one man, Chaz Whitedeer, is determined to save his people no matter what the price, even if it means delving into the shadowy world of organized crime.

When Rémi and Alyssa uncover the Guardians’ drug-fueled scheme to fund their fight for true autonomy—a scheme involving the Vipers—Rémi must choose between loyalty to family and tribe or his growing love for Alyssa.

Can Rémi and Alyssa leave everything behind—even their very identities—for a future together?


___________________________________________________

When an Oscar-winning movie star meets a department-store photographer…

Movie star Nic Lamoureux appears to have a playboy’s perfect life. But it’s a part he plays, an act designed to conceal a dark secret he carries on his shoulders. His empty days and nights are a meaningless blur until he meets the woman who fulfills all his dreams. She and her son are the family he’s always wanted—if she can forgive a horrible mistake from his past.

A Hollywood dream…

Lauren James, a widowed single mother, earns barely enough money to support herself and her son. When she wins a photography contest and meets Nic, the man who stars in all her fantasies, her dreams, both professional and personal, are on the verge of becoming real. The attraction between Lauren and Nic is instant—and mutual. Their chemistry burns out of control during a photo shoot that could put Lauren on the fast track to a lucrative career.

Becomes a Hollywood nightmare

But an ill-advised kiss makes front-page news, and the lurid headlines threaten everything Nic and Lauren have hoped for. Before they know what’s happening, their relationship is further rocked by an obsessed and cunning stalker who’ll stop at nothing—not even murder—to have Nic to herself. When Nic falls for Lauren, the stalker zeroes in on her as the competition.

And the competition must be eliminated.



About the Author:
Kristine Cayne is fascinated by the mysteries of human psychology—twisted secrets, deep-seated beliefs, out-of-control desires. Add in high-stakes scenarios and real-world villains, and you have a story worth writing, and reading.
The heroes and heroines of her Deadly Vices series are pitted against each other by their radically opposing life experiences. By overcoming their differences and finding common ground, they triumph over their enemies and find true happiness in each other’s arms.
Today she lives in the Pacific Northwest, thriving on the mix of cultures, languages, religions and ideologies. When she’s not writing, she’s people-watching, imagining entire life stories, and inventing all sorts of danger for the unsuspecting heroes and heroines who cross her path.


Interview:
When did you first consider yourself an author?
I first considered myself a writer when I completed my first book. Then when I sold my first copy, I considered myself an author.

What is your favorite part about being an author?
My favorite part about being an author is that writing gives me an opportunity to learn both about the craft of writing and about the subject of my writing. I like to explore new settings, careers, cultures, and languages in my stories. And before I write about something, I research it thoroughly. I’m learning about so many different things and having a blast doing it!

What is your work schedule like when you're writing?
Because I work full-time, I usually write in the evenings and on weekends. I also meet with my critique partner twice a week, more when we are approaching a release. So between my day job, writing, and my family, I have an 18-hour workday!

How has your environment/upbringing colored your writing?
Many of the settings and character backgrounds I use in my writing are related to places I’ve been or people I’ve met. For example, I’m from Montréal and in Deadly Obsession, my hero is also from Montréal.

Growing up in the Montréal area, I was around during a big conflict between the government and the local native population. I always wanted to know more about the source of this conflict and how it continued to affect the native communities. So to write Deadly Addiction, I delved deep into the history of the native communities in the Montréal area and learned about both their past and their present. It was a fabulous experience. So much so, that I’ll probably write a spin-off series about the native community introduced in Deadly Addiction.

How would you describe yourself?
I find people fascinating. I love meeting new people and talking about what interests them, where they come from, things they’ve done. But because I’m somewhat of an introvert, the Internet has been a huge boon for me. I get to talk with hundreds of people each day without having to worry about how witty and spontaneous I can be. Writing and the Internet, give me that 7-second delay the networks use to think of a good response.

What is the most creative way you have promoted any of your books?
I’m not sure if this is the most creative way to promote, but it’s one I greatly enjoyed. I was asked to participate in a live chat with a group of ladies from a blog. Some had read my first book while others hadn’t. They asked questions about my books, my characters, and me. We had a great time, and I found a fantastic group of new readers.

Where do you hope to see yourself in the next five years?
I hope to see myself with several completed and on-going series, and with a happy, loyal fan base. I hope to see myself writing full-time. Buh-bye day job!

Is there a place you’d like to visit, but haven’t yet?
Too many to name! I love travelling, meeting new people, exploring new cultures and places. Someday, I hope to visit Europe and the Middle East. I’d also love to go to Russia. There is so much history and diversity in that part of the world that I’m sure I’d come home with ideas for a dozen new stories!


Where You Can Find Kristine Cayne:

Tuesday, 1 May 2012

Black Oil, Red Blood by Diane Castle

Enter below for your chance to win an ebook of
Black Oil, Red Blood!

BLACK OIL, RED BLOOD
The thing about cancer is it’s hard to prove somebody gave it to you on purpose—but Chloe Taylor can prove it. In fact, she proves it for a living. She sues oil refineries that would rather save a buck than comply with safety regulations designed to do important things like, you know, keep people alive.

Chloe had a successful career until circumstances forced her to move to the bass-ackwards town of Kettle, Texas (human population: 4,000; gun population: 34,356). Big Oil industry giant PetroPlex employs half of Kettle’s population, and there’s no question the judge in the town’s got oil stains on his hands. It’s no wonder she’s been on a losing streak lately. She suspects she’s been litigating on an uneven playing field, but when her star expert witness turns up dead less than 48 hours before a make-or break hearing, she knows.

What she doesn’t know is the key piece of information that got her expert killed. It turns out PetroPlex is harboring a shocking secret—one that has the potential to skyrocket gasoline prices, spark an energy market meltdown, and trigger riots, chaos, death, and destruction on a global scale. Chloe must discover the secret and expose the villains before she is permanently silenced, all while juggling a troublesome ex-fiancé and a tantalizing new flame along the way.  

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Diane Castle is the pseudonym of a Texas attorney whose practice experience includes assisting plaintiffs with wrongful death and personal injury cases against Big Oil giants such as ExxonMobil, ChevronTexaco, BP, and ConocoPhillips. Ms. Castle has published short fiction under a different name, and she has also written a stage play that was translated into German, produced in a castle near Munich, and sold out three seasons. Prior to her career as an attorney, Ms. Castle was a staff writer for The Dallas Morning News. She also feels privileged to have been honored with two awards for humor and satire and one award for literary criticism. She lives in Dallas with her husband and three dogs: Gracie, Lucy, and Mouse.

MY REVIEW
5 of 5 stars false
Chloe Taylor is a small-town lawyer who is in the middle of a lawsuit with Big Oil. When her expert witness turns up dead a day before the trial, Chloe begins to realize there may be more to the case than she originally thought. Enlisting the help of detective Nash and her paralegal, Miles, to help her with the case, Chloe quickly realizes that is in over her head.

The first thing that drew me into this book right away was the author's writing style. It is neat and clean, and the story flows smoothly. The second thing that drew me in was the characters. I loved Chloe's sarcastically funny personality, which made it really fun to be in her head. I also enjoyed Nash (the strong and silent type, *swoon*) and Chloe's reactions to him and Miles…Oh, how I love Miles!

Though this book was about a serious topic, the author did such a great job at making it fun to read. There was, of course, a lot of legal information in the story, but the author did an excellent job of making it understandable to the average person. I also liked that we got some inside information on the case in the form of other key player's points of view once in a while. It made the plot that much more interesting.

This book was an edge-of-your-seat type of read, and it had everything you could want from a great mystery/thriller, including greed, corruption, murder, conspiracy, coverups, and of course the sexy good-guy detective and a heroine who fights for justice, all sprinkled with wit and humor.

See my review on Goodreads!


INTERVIEW
What was your main source of inspiration for the story behind Black Oil, Red Blood?
I'm an attorney, and I worked for a while at a law firm that sues big oil companies for wrongful death. There's an ingredient in crude oil and gasoline called benzene that causes a certain type of leukemia, and it's very common for oil refinery workers or other people in the industry to die from it. This is outrageous. These are completely preventable deaths if the right kind of safety equipment and procedures are employed. So when I created Chloe Taylor, I wanted her to have the same job I had as a plaintiff's attorney, going after the big guys who often get caught prioritizing profit over lives. Chloe, however, is not me, and I haven't actually had the same kind of experiences she's had. For example, I've never fallen in love with a detective or blackmailed a judge, and also, no one is trying to kill me. (That I know of.)


How much and what kind of research was necessary to write your book?
Well, if you count law school. . .


How has your environment/upbringing colored your writing?
In a lot of ways. My family is made up of good 'ol Texas folks, and I've lived in Texas my whole life. But I'm a city girl, and I live in Dallas. If you're watching GCB, then you have a pretty good idea about what that's like. All that background definitely shows up in the book.


What is your work schedule like when you're writing?
I really admire people who can write in ten and fifteen minute increments. This blows my mind, and I wish I had that kind of focus. For me, it really takes me about 20 minutes to get into the creative zone, so I schedule huge blocks of time where I know I can sit and write without being interrupted.


Who is your favorite author and why?
Oooh, this is a good one. I LOVE Carole Nelson Douglas. I discovered her Irene Adler series (the only woman to outwit Sherlock Holmes, recently played by Rachel McAdams on the silver screen) when I was working at a bookstore in high school. Back in those days, I was obsessed with Sherlock Holmes, and he was not as cool then as he is now, believe me. I devoured the books, which were my favorite ever. And THEN, get this, I found out she lived in Dallas-Fort Worth. So one day she was judging a poetry-writing contest at a local bookstore and I totally stalked her (in a friendly, non-creepy kind of way, I promise!). I told her I was available if she needed an assistant, and she flippin HIRED me! We've been close friends ever since, and she is still, of course, my favorite author.


What do you do to unwind and relax?
Read, of course! I also really like to cuddle up with my dogs by the fireplace in the winter or lay by my dad's pool in the summer.


Where do you hope to see yourself in the next five years?
You know, I've been approached by a film studio and a scriptwriter asking about film rights to the book. Nothing has been negotiated as of right now, but I would be over the moon if a movie were made. (Gosh, I'm almost afraid to say that out loud. I might jinx it.) That would be the ultimate dream come true.


What three words would you use to describe Black Oil, Red Blood?
Quirky, Adventurous, Thrilling


What tools do you feel are must-haves for writers?
I just started using Scrivener, and honestly, I don't know how I ever lived without it. Other necessary tools include a big comforter to hide under when bad reviews come your way, and tequila for when you get the good ones. (Although I suppose tequila works for the bad ones, too.)


WHERE TO BUY THE BOOK
Amazon (Print):
http://www.amazon.com/Black-Oil-Blood-Diane-Castle/dp/0974474223/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1332956708&sr=8-2

Barnes & Noble (Print):
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/black-oil-red-blood-diane-castle/1038900640?ean=9780974474229&itm=2&usri=black+oil+red+blood

Amazon (Kindle):
http://www.amazon.com/Black-Oil-Red-Blood-ebook/dp/B00759NLLO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1332956708&sr=8-2

Barnes & Noble (NOOK):
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/black-oil-red-blood-diane-castle/1108931187?ean=2940013906297&itm=1&usri=black+oil+red+blood
IBooks:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/black-oil-red-blood/id505452351?mt=11

WHERE TO VISIT THE AUTHOR
Website:
http://blackoilredblood.com/ 
http://dianecastle.com/blog/

Blog:
http://blackoilredblood.com/blog

Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5753041.Diane_Castle

Twitter: 
https://twitter.com/#!/Dianecastle10

Facebook book page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Black-Oil-Red-Blood/151731328271797

Facebook personal page:
http://www.facebook.com/dianecastle10


GIVEAWAY
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Don't forget to check out tomorrow's stop on the blog tour!
http://books-alltheway.blogspot.com/

Thursday, 26 April 2012

Child of Destiny by George H. Elder



 ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Dr. George H. Elder has a Ph.D. from Penn State in Speech Communication and a Masters Degree in Writing from UNH. He also has a very eclectic work and personal history. He has been a college teacher, custodian, scholar, drug addict, weight lifting coach, bouncer, writer, retail merchant, and much more. He has authored numerous articles in the popular press and even a scientific text book that examines the neuropsychological basis of human communication. He has also addressed subjects such as philosophy, free speech, military history, weight training, drug use, nutrient effects, street life, and a wide range of other issues.

His varied life experiences and education give him a unique and interesting perspective, and he often weaves philosophical insights and pathos into his texts. His books are action-oriented, but they do not have simplistic plots wherein good vs. evil or some other hackneyed approach is used. Instead, Elder employs plot shifts that allow the characters and readers to question the relationships we often take for granted. For example, a hero may do great wrongs while a species once perceived as malicious can be revealed to be honorable and wise. This offers refreshing and exciting perspectives for readers as they delve into Elder's texts, for one never knows what to expect.

 
ABOUT THE BOOKS:
Child of Destiny (The Genesis Continuum #1)
The universe’s expansion is nearing its inevitable end and everything is being devoured by entropy. The key to having a future is a missing energy source, a legendary metaphysical being known only through ancient tales. The last hope of a dying universe is to awaken this dormant Seeker who possesses the capacity to link the entire universe in thought and deed. He alone may be able to rekindle the sparks of a new universal cycle.

The remaining advanced species desperately want existence to continue, and send for missions to search for the Seeker. One such mission unexpectedly and inexplicably materializes on a primitive world that is inhabited by the Labateen, a Stone-Age warrior culture. Here they encounter Kara, an outcast Labateen noble woman and fierce warrior. Kara knows details about the Seeker’s litany that go well beyond coincidence, although to Kara they are simply the ways of God.

Is Kara the key to locating the long lost Seeker? And what of the races who believe that existence should end in an entropic whimper and who will not sit by while others attempt to alter the end of the universe. Lofty ideals give way to brutal pragmatism as a confederation of races struggles to survive and save existence.
BUY ME: 
AMAZON



Pursuing a Legend (The Genesis Continuum #2)
The Alcara have destabilized the universe via the use of a titanic Mass Transfer Device. The positions of galaxies and star systems have been shifted. Tthe Confederation seeks to mobilize the long dormant Fulcan battle fleet in a bid to destroy the Mass Transfer Device. Thousands of ships are gathering to confront the most powerful weapon ever created. Will the fleet get through?

Kara also meets the Ancient One, the lone surviving member of the universe’s oldest species. She is a telepath of incomprehensible power who can help to develop Kara’s latent abilities. Will Kara’s enhanced abilities help during the greatest battle of all time? And most important, will the Kara and the crew be able to make the jump to Terra to awaken the legendary Seeker?
BUY ME: 
AMAZON



Forging A Future (The Genesis Continuum #3)
COMING SOON!



















 

Monday, 23 April 2012

Black Oil, Red Blood Cover Reveal

Title: Black Oil, Red Blood
Author: Diane Castle
Genre(s): Murder Mystery, Legal Thriller
Published: 2012 by Wishlist Publishing

The thing about cancer is it’s hard to prove somebody gave it to you on purpose—but Chloe Taylor can prove it. In fact, she proves it for a living. She sues oil refineries that would rather save a buck than comply with safety regulations designed to do important things like, you know, keep people alive.
Chloe had a successful career until circumstances forced her to move to the bass-ackwards town of Kettle, Texas (human population: 4,000; gun population: 34,356). Big Oil industry giant PetroPlex employs half of Kettle’s population, and there’s no question the judge in the town’s got oil stains on his hands. It’s no wonder she’s been on a losing streak lately. She suspects she’s been litigating on an uneven playing field, but when her star expert witness turns up dead less than 48 hours before a make-or break hearing, she knows.


What she doesn’t know is the key piece of information that got her expert killed. It turns out PetroPlex is harboring a shocking secret—one that has the potential to skyrocket gasoline prices, spark an energy market meltdown, and trigger riots, chaos, death, and destruction on a global scale. Chloe must discover the secret and expose the villains before she is permanently silenced, all while juggling a troublesome ex-fiancé and a tantalizing new flame along the way. 
Excerpt:
I didn’t even know how to use a gun before yesterday, and I certainly hadn’t become a

crack shot overnight. That didn’t bode well for my chances of survival at the moment —

especially since I was currently staring down the wrong end of somebody else’s barrel.

What was I supposed to do? Duck? Shoot first? Run?

Maybe the decision would have been easier if I hadn’t loved the guy pointing the gun at

me. I watched his trigger finger tense as the smoky, toxic air around us seemed to grow

even thicker. Walls shook and the floor rolled beneath me as an explosion thundered

through the building. The PetroPlex flagship oil refinery was fast on its way to becoming

nothing but a memory.

The doorframe buckled before my eyes—my only means of escape. Sharp orange

tongues of flame lapped at me from above, sending down a rain of fiery particles as

acoustic ceiling tiles disintegrated overhead.

That’s when I knew that gun or no gun, I was going to die.

  Author Bio:
Diane Castle is the pseudonym of a Texas attorney whose practice experience includes assisting plaintiffs with wrongful death and personal injury cases against Big Oil giants such as ExxonMobil, ChevronTexaco, BP, and ConocoPhillips. Ms. Castle has published short fiction under a different name, and she has also written a stage play that was translated into German, produced in a castle near Munich, and sold out three seasons. Prior to her career as an attorney, Ms. Castle was a staff writer for The Dallas Morning News. She also feels privileged to have been honored with two awards for humor and satire and one award for literary criticism. She lives in Dallas with her husband and three dogs: Gracie, Lucy, and Mouse.

Where to buy the book:

Where to visit the author:
Website 
Diane Castle Blog
Black Oil, Red Blood Blog
Goodreads
Twitter
Facebook Book Page
Facebook Personal Page


Black Oil Red Blood Blog Tour Schedule

May 1st- Shadow Kisses Book Reviews- Interview, Giveaway


May 2nd- Making Connections- Review, Interview, Giveaway


May 3rd- Books With Marshmallows- Review, Giveaway


May 4th- A Bit Of Dash- Review


May 7th- Makayla's Book Reviews- Review, Giveaway


May 8th- The Bookworm- Guest Post, Giveaway


May 9th- Writing From the Dark Places- Guest Post, Giveaway


May 10th- The Wormhole- Review, Giveaway


May 11th- Booktacular- Interview, Giveaway


May 12th- Bookishly Devoted- Review, Giveaway


Enter below for a chance to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card and free Black Oil, Red Blood eBook! Giveaway is US and International.
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Saturday, 21 April 2012

Indie Giveaway Hop!




Thanks to so many generous authors, this is a HUGE giveaway! 

Be sure to check out ALL the stops of the tour for even MORE chances to win!

Click Here to go to to Indie Giveaway Hop Page at BookedUpReviews for the entire list of stops!
Hosted by A Daydreamer’s Thoughts and Booked Up Reviews, and supported by Blogger Loving, Making Connections, and Shut Up & Read, the Indie blog hop is a giveaway hop to support all things indie. 

THE BOOKS:
(Click on a title to go to that book's Goodreads page)
2 - Covert Dreams by Mike Meyer (PDF & AZW)
2 - Deady Eyes by Mike Meyer (PDF & AZW)
1 - Ink by Holly Hood (Mobi & ePub)

ENTER HERE TO WIN:
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