Category: Goddess Fish Promotions

An #ExclusiveExcerpt fr #Contemporary #Romance ‘At Home With Andre’ @KathleenDuhamel @GoddessFish

On By Casey's CornerIn Authors & Books, Goddess Fish Promotions5 Comments

Today we have author Kathleen Duhamel visiting. Welcome!

What would you like to tell readers about yourself?

* Kathleen Duhamel is the author of Deep Blue, Deeper, and At Home With Andre. She wrote and illustrated her first short story at the age of eight, and has been a writer for most of her life. Her love of the written word continued throughout her varied career as a newspaper journalist and editor, public relations executive, freelance travel writer and owner/operator of two small businesses. A native of Texas, she spent most of her adult life in Colorado before relocating to Virginia in 2014, where she lives with her husband, a standard poodle and geriatric cat. She is a lifelong devotee of rock and soul music, contemporary art and pop culture.

Find Kathleen Duhamel here…
Facebook | Twitter | Website

A look into…

~ Blurb ~

* New York public relations consultant and self-proclaimed control freak Katie McDowell may have made the biggest career mistake of her life. She’s agreed to temporarily leave her beloved Manhattan to manage the company’s struggling New Orleans office, knowing her biggest client is television chef Andre Thibodeaux, whose massive masculine presence makes her feel hotter than the onset of menopause.
* Finding her way in a funky new city and earning the trust of her employees is tough enough without annoying hot flashes, night sweats and ugly mood swings, not to mention the lingering memory of one steamy night she shared with the big man she thinks she can’t have.
* Sexy, smart, and successful, Chef Andre has everything a man could want except the right woman, and he’s determined to learn why Katie rejected him. To convince her to stay in Louisiana, he’ll need to find a way to make her fall in love-with him, as well as the vibrant southern city he calls home.

~ Excerpt ~

* A doorbell rings insistently. It takes me a moment to realize it’s my doorbell, since I’ve never heard it chime before now. Looking through the peephole, I feel my stomach drop and my pulse race. Andre is standing on the other side of my front door, his massive arms laden with plastic bags. Stifling a curse, I open the door and let him in.
* “I thought ya might need some things, so I’ve been makin’ groceries,” he says.
* “You did what?”
* His smile beams. “Makin’ groceries is what we call food shoppin’.”
* He makes his way into my tiny kitchen like he owns it and sets the bags on a countertop. Several of them bear the logo of his namesake restaurant.
* “I also brought some take-out, since I have the impression you don’t do much cookin’.”
* “Why do the natives have their own language?” I ask, still trying to sort out why he’s here in the first place. It’s not like he was invited.
* “Because it’s Nawlins,” he says, which doesn’t answer my question.
* “Chawmin’ apartment.” Andre gazes into the living room. “In a great neighborhood.”
* He busies himself putting the groceries away before removing several cartons from the restaurant bags.
* “I got ya some soul food.”
* Andre opens the containers, which are full of things I never allow myself to eat—fried chicken, gooey mac and cheese, and cornbread, along with more deep-fried items and some cooked vegetable I don’t recognize. My mouth waters at the sight of all the off-limits delights.
* “Well, as long as you’re here, you might as well stay so you can explain to me what I’m eating.” As soon as the words leave my mouth, I regret them. I have invited Andre to dinner. Is insanity another side effect of the change?

Buy At Home With Andre here…
Amazon

Thank you for joining us here today, Kathleen Duhamel! It was a pleasure getting to know you and your story.

ANNOUNCEMENT! Kathleen Duhamel will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour! So be sure to leave a comment AND use this RAFFLECOPTER LINK to enter the drawing. Also, visit the other tour stops for a greater chance of winning!

Welcome to Karin Rita Gastreich w/ #Fantasy #book ‘Daughter of Aithne’ @EolynChronicles @GoddessFish

On By Casey's CornerIn Authors & Books, Goddess Fish Promotions4 Comments

Today we have author Karin Rita Gastreich visiting. Welcome!

What would you like to tell readers about yourself?

* Karin Rita Gastreich writes stories of ordinary women and the extraordinary paths they choose. She lives in Kansas City, Missouri, where she is part of the biology faculty at Avila University. An ecologist by vocation, Karin has wandered forests and wildlands all her life. Her pastimes include camping, hiking, music, and flamenco dance. In addition to THE SILVER WEB trilogy, Karin has published short stories in World Jumping, Zahir, Adventures for the Average Woman, and 69 Flavors of Paranoia. She is a recipient of the Spring 2011 Andrews Forest Writer’s Residency.

Find Karin Rita Gastreich here…
Facebook | Twitter | Website

A look into…

~ Blurb ~

* Betrayed by her own prodigy, Eolyn stands accused of treason. As power-hungry nobles dismantle her life’s work and honor, the desperate queen forges a risky alliance with the ruthless and cunning Mage Corey. Determined to defend her son’s claim to the throne of the Mage King, Eolyn prepares for her last and greatest battle, this time against her own sisters in magic.
* Across the Furma River, Taesara of Roenfyn is drawn out of seclusion and into an ever-more vicious game of intrigue and war. Subject to the schemes of a shrewd uncle and the mysterious ambitions of the wizards of Galia, Taesara struggles to assert her own destiny, even as she takes up arms to defend her daughter’s inheritance.
* In the climactic finale to The Silver Web trilogy, threads of love, honor, betrayal, and vengeance culminate in a violent conflict between powerful women, opposed to each other yet destined to shatter a thousand-year cycle of war.
* “A tale of female oppression, prejudice, and even deadly seduction, EOLYN touches on issues that are deeply relevant to our own society.” -Apex Reviews review of EOLYN, Book One of the Silver Web
* “The story’s greatest triumph is Gastreich’s prose, a consistent blend of lyrical verse and dark imageray….Lush, evocative descriptions carry readers through an unforgettable journey.” –Kirkus Reviews review of SWORD OF SHADOWS, Book Two of The Silver Web”

~ Excerpt ~

* Eolyn shifted in her seat. A thousand words stood poised upon her lips, of which only a handful could be chosen and delivered. Each conversation in the coming days had to be undertaken with great care, especially when it came to this mage.
* “Why did Thelyn come for us, and not you?” she asked.
* “I was needed to track down the magas still residing in the City,” Corey replied. “Besides, Thelyn was the better mage for that task.”
* Mariel, she thought. He would not have had the heart to bind Mariel.
* A small sign, perhaps, that Mage Corey could yet be counted among her friends.
* “I understand you are to oversee their interrogation,” Eolyn said.
* “It is true, my Lady Queen.”
* “I have expressed my concerns about this to the King. He assures me that you and your mages will not be permitted to—”
* “My Lady Queen, if there is one thing you have learned in the years of our friendship, it is that I will do whatever must be done in the moment at hand, and I will harden my heart to see it through.”
* “That may be the case, Mage Corey. Yet I also know that words are your most effective tool. You have never resorted to violence to obtain what you require.”
* Corey let her statement hang in the air.
* Eolyn averted her gaze, suddenly aware of the icy tension in her hands.
* I, too, am being interrogated.
* “You did not bring a scribe,” she said quietly.
* “What need have I for a scribe, my Lady Queen?” He softened his tone. “We are, as of yet, simply conversing.”

Buy books in the The Silver Web series here…
EOLYN, Book One of THE SILVER WEB | SWORD OF SHADOWS, Book Two of THE SILVER WEB | DAUGHTER OF AITHNE, Book Three of THE SILVER WEB

The first book of the series, EOLYN, will be a FREE download on Kindle only on May 1.

Thank you for joining us here today, Karin Rita Gastreich! It was a pleasure getting to know you and your story.

ANNOUNCEMENT! Karin Rita Gastreich will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour! So be sure to leave a comment AND use this RAFFLECOPTER LINK to enter the drawing. Also, visit the other tour stops for a greater chance of winning!

Welcome to Tawny Weber w/ #ContemporaryRomance ‘Call to Honor’ @TawnyWeber @GoddessFish

On By Casey's CornerIn Authors & Books, Goddess Fish Promotions5 Comments

tourbanner_calltohonor

Today we have author Tawny Weber visiting. Welcome!

What would you like to tell readers about yourself?
mediakit_authorphoto_calltohonor

* New York Times and USA TODAY Bestselling author of more than forty books, Tawny Weber loves writing about sexy heroes, most notably her popular Navy SEALs series. Her sassy, emotional romances are filled with men dedicated to being the best—and women determined to have the best. Tawny credits her ex-military alpha husband for inspiration in her writing, and in her life. The recipient of numerous writing accolades, including Romantic Times Reviewers Choice and in addition to the NY Times and USA Today bestseller lists, Tawny has also hit the number one spot on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
* A homeschooling mom, Tawny enjoys scrapbooking, gardening and spending time with her family and dogs in her Northern California home.
* You can find Tawny on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest.

Today we have an interview with Tawny Weber!
What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
* Ben & Jerry’s Toffee Bar Crunch is my absolute favorite, which is why we rarely have it in the house.
Which mythological creature are you most like?
* Ohh, that’s a great question. I wish I was like a dragon. I really do. There is so much intensity and power there. I don’t know which character I actually am like, but will go with a dragon as my goal. One day, I’ll breathe fire!
First book you remember making an indelible impression on you.
* Little Women. It’s the first book I remember hooking me so tight that I had to re-read it over and over. I read it until the binding broke, then I taped it together with electrical tape (all I had on hand). Little Women tugged at so many emotions and to this day makes me sigh and smile.
How do you develop your plot and characters?
* I usually start with a ‘what if’ type question that builds the plot. ‘What if a SEAL mission leaves one man dead. But what if he isn’t’ is the foundation of CALL TO HONOR and the Team Poseidon series. From that, the characters grow. The characters are more complex for me to develop. I usually start with a general idea of their challenge or the type of issues the plot will bring to light (if I discover the plot first, as I did with the Team Poseidon stories) and then layer from there. I always start a book thinking I know who my characters are, but it takes writing those first few chapters over and over and over until I feel that I know my characters. Its in the process of writing them that I discover their personality, their voice and their fears and issues. Once I have an handle on that, the rest of the story generally flies pretty quickly because for me, characters drive everything.
Describe your writing space.
* I’m in the middle of renovating my office since we’re pulling up carpet to put in hardwood floors through the entire house. So my office is that place I visit for maybe an hour or so each day to backup my cloud drive, do any graphic work and imagine what it’ll be like to work in here after everything is put back where I can find it LOL. Because of the renovations, my current writing space is the comfiest chair in the house, next to the fireplace where I craft my stories on my iPad Pro while cuddled up next to the dogs.

A look into…

mediakit_bookcover_calltohonor

~ Blurb ~

* “No man left behind” is inscribed in the DNA of every SEAL and Lieutenant Diego Torres is no exception. But with a team member killed—and the body missing— Diego’s honor is sorely tested. Now his career and reputation are on the line, and a traitor is hiding among them. Diego wants answers…and only one woman has them.
* Single mom Harper Maclean has two priorities—raising her son Nathan and starting a new life. Her mysterious new neighbor may be impossibly charming, but Diego asks too many questions about her past—and about the father of her child. Questions she fears will reveal her burning attraction for Diego, and ultimately put them all in danger’s path.

~ Excerpt ~

* Harper’s frown intensified. All of this dating and sex talk was stupid. All it did was stir up thoughts of Brandon, bad memories and hurt feelings. And like anything to do with Brandon Ramsey, the second one thought occurred, a million followed. He was the poster boy for taking a mile when an inch was all she’d offered.
* No more, she ordered herself. He wasn’t a part of her now, and her past was over.
* “Registered letter for one Mr. Nathan Ramsey, care of Harper Maclean,” Andi said, coming back waving a large envelope. “Who’d get his name wrong?”
* The bowl of cleaned berries suddenly shaking in her hands, Harper set it on the bar with care and stared. Her chest hurt. She couldn’t think for the buzzing in her ears.
* Ramsey.
* Harper’s heart raced so fast, it tripped over itself. How was that possible? Why would Brandon contact Nathan? As far as he knew, she’d followed his instructions to end the pregnancy. How did he know she’d had the baby? How did he know Nathan’s name? Had he always known?
* The air locked in Harper’s chest, vicious and tight, cutting off her breath, sending shards of pain knifing through her.
* Why was he contacting her? Contacting Nathan? Was he going to try to get custody?
* Or had his parents gotten wind of unaccounted Ramsey DNA and tracked down their heir apparent?
* Harper looked toward the stairs with a desperate gaze. She should get Nathan. They should go. Now.
* As soon as she thought that, Harper squared her shoulders.
* To hell with that. Nathan was her son. This was her home. She’d be damned if Brandon or his rich parents were going to screw with either.
* Still, her hand trembled so much as she took the letter that she dropped it onto the marble countertop as if it were on fire.
* “Harper,” Andi moaned. “You’re killing me. Open. Open. Open.”
* Knowing Andi would keep it up until she did, she huffed out a hot breath. Sliding her thumbnail under the flap, Harper reluctantly tugged the paper out.
* She noted the official-looking insignia and the fancy lettering denoting it to be from Admiral H. M. Cree, Special Ops commander.
* Her brow creased as she read.
* The room narrowed, and all the air disappeared. The words spun into a swirling blur of black on white. She needed to sit down. But she managed only a single step before her legs gave out and she sank to the floor, the letter clutched in her hands.
* “What is it?” Instead of pulling her back up, Andi dropped down next to her, gathering Harper into her arms. She tried to read the paper, but Harper couldn’t let it go. “Sweetie, what does it say?”
* “He’s dead,” Harper murmured, her voice sounding as if it were coming from the other end of a long tunnel. “Brandon is dead.”

Buy Call to Honor: A SEAL Brotherhood Novel, #1 here…
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Harlequin | iTunes | Kobo

Find Tawny Weber here…
Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest | Twitter | Website

Thank you for joining us here today, Tawny Weber! It was a pleasure getting to know you and your story.

ANNOUNCEMENT! Tawny Weber will be awarding a $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour! So be sure to leave a comment AND use this RAFFLECOPTER LINK to enter the drawing. Also, visit the other tour stops for a greater chance of winning!