Live: The Burnside Series - Book Tour & Giveaway

Live: The Burnside Series by Mary Ann Rivers

Loveswept

January 21, 2014

Blurb

Mary Ann Rivers kicks off a new contemporary romance series—sure to please readers of Ruthie Knox, Kristan Higgins, and Jill Shalvis—where love can be found unexpectedly.

If there’s an upside to unemployment, Destiny Burnside may have found it. Job searching at her local library in Lakefield, Ohio, gives her plenty of time to ogle the hottest man she has ever laid eyes on: the sexy wood-carver who’s restoring the building. But as the rejection letters pile up, Destiny finds an unexpected shoulder to cry on. With his rich Welsh accent, Hefin Thomas stirs Destiny so completely that, even though he’s leaving soon, she lets herself believe the memory of his scorching kisses will be enough.

Hefin can’t help but notice the slender, confident woman with ginger hair who returns each day, so hopeful and determined. So when the tears start to fall, his silence—penance for a failed marriage—finally cracks. Once he’s touched her, what Hefin wants is to take her back to Wales and hold her forever. But Destiny’s roots run too deep. What they both need is each other—to learn how to live and love again.

Buy Links

Amazon * B&N * iTunes

Ten Things About Live: The Burnsides Series #1

*I originally started writing the story as a screenplay called POS LIMO.

*Then I rewrote the first part as a YA, and there were many more YA characters. 

*My son shares Destiny's (Des) and Sam's coloring.

*I have been to the village where Hefin lives, and had tea at the Hotel where his mom likes to get sticky toffee pudding, and looking at many, many carvings. 

*Hefin is a very common name for his generation. It's comparable to Owen/Evan/Ethan. 

*My name was Destiny for the first few days of my life, then changed to Mary Ann. 

*Lakefield, OH is a fictional recreation of a Columbus/Cleveland hybrid.

*The library in LIVE is the same library where Carrie West, from THE STORY GUY works, and she has a brief appearance. 

*My holiday novella SNOWFALL, in an earlier version, included a now deleted scene in Potato Mountain, Hefin's favorite restaurant in Lakefield (SNOWFALL is also set in Lakefield).

*Andy Goldsworthy, Hefin and Des's favorite artist, is an actual artist and you can watch the movie Des loves about him Rivers and Tides, and you should, it's lovely. 

Author Info

Mary Ann Rivers was an English and music major and went on to earn her MFA in creative writing, publishing poetry in journals and leading creative-writing workshops for at-risk youth. While training for her day job as a nurse practitioner, she rediscovered romance on the bedside tables of her favorite patients. Now she writes smart and emotional contemporary romance, imagining stories featuring the heroes and heroines just ahead of her in the coffee line. Mary Ann Rivers lives in the Midwest with her handsome professor husband and their imaginative school-aged son.

Connect with Mary Ann Rivers: Facebook | Twitter | Website

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Winds of Wyoming & Winds of Freedom (A Kate Neilson Novel) - Blurbs, Q&A and Giveaway!

Blurb:

Fresh out of a Pennsylvania penitentiary armed with a marketing degree, Kate Neilson heads to Wyoming anticipating an anonymous new beginning as a guest-ranch employee. A typical twenty-five-year-old woman might be looking to lasso a cowboy, but her only desire is to get on with life on the outside—despite her growing interest in the ranch owner. When she discovers a violent ex-lover followed her west, she fears the past she hoped to hide will trail as close as a shadow and imprison her once again.

Purchase link:

Amazon

Blurb:

Winter storms blast across the Whispering Pines Guest Ranch, and a cold wind blows through Kate Neilson’s soul. Despite her pain, Kate’s well-being takes a backseat to the needs of loved ones: her best friend, who’s been ensnared by evil; her failing great-aunt, whose dementia care keeps Kate guessing; and Laura and Mike Duncan, whose ranch and livelihood are threatened by a land-grabbing neighbor.

Purchase book at:

Amazon 

Q&A with the Author

Where did you come up with the premise for your books?

Thanks, Marlene, for letting me talk about my Kate Neilson series. Although the novels are related, the story prompts originated from different sources. My inspiration for writing the first book, Winds of Wyoming, came one evening as I drove home from participating in a chapel service at a women’s prison. Each time I visited the prison, I was struck by the similarities between the residents and myself. In the same way I loved my absent children, they loved theirs and longed to see and hold them. Other commonalities included our everyday struggles with relationships, forgiveness, transparency, health, finances, faith, and so much more. In some ways, those issues are compounded when incarcerated individuals are released from prison.

                                         

I’d been working on a book about a woman who left Pennsylvania to start a new life in Wyoming, but I hadn’t come up with a strong enough motive for the move to create a plausible plotline. The ah-ha moment I experienced driving across the Arizona desert that dark night sparked my creative juices and lit up my brain. The challenges ex-offenders face when they return to society would provide a reason for the relocation and the basis for my heroine’s conflicts.

The idea “seed” for Winds of Freedom, the second book in the series, was planted when my neighbor told me of a relative who walked into an airport restroom and never came out—as far as her husband and children knew. Although they didn’t see her exit the restroom, she must have snuck past them wearing a disguise, because they later learned she’d slipped away to start a new life. Several weeks after her disappearance, she returned to pick up her clothing and other personal items. She didn’t tell her husband where she was living or what she was doing, only that she no longer had to clean house or take care of children. To add to the mystery, she was wearing a collar around her neck.

When did you know that you wanted to become an author?

Many, many years ago, my high-school English teacher encouraged me to go into journalism; instead, I earned a Church Education degree from a Bible college. But before I had a chance to use the degree, I married my college sweetheart and we started having babies. When our first child was just beginning to walk around furniture, I saw a notice in the local paper for a community education writing class. Intrigued, I registered for the class, found a babysitter and ended up writing a couple feature articles for the newspaper, thanks to the reporter who taught the class. I’ve written articles and stories for a variety of publications over the years and published two fiction books and two nonfiction books. I also edit fiction and nonfiction for authors and publishers.

Describe your latest book in three words.

I could say “Winds of Freedom,” ha. Facing Evil Head-on.

What can readers expect from you next?

“Winds of Change,” book 3 in the Kate Neilson Series, will pick up where book 2 left off, back at the ranch, and feature most of the characters from the previous two books. The Whispering Pines gang will tackle even tougher challenges than they encountered in the past and discover that sometimes love is not enough. I’m also editing a fun short story collection that will feature several of my short stories along with those of other authors.

                                                                                            

Thank you for stopping by Book Mama Blog.  These books sound amazing and the premise behind them make me want to run out and get them!  

About the Author:

Rebecca Carey Lyles writes nonfiction as well as fiction and serves as an editor and mentor for aspiring authors. Her second novel, Winds of Freedom is the sequel to the award-winning first book in the Kate Neilson series, Winds of Wyoming.

Connect with the author at:

Website * Blog * Facebook * Twitter

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Sea of Love - Review & Giveaway

Sea of Love

The Bradens Series Book Four

By: Melissa Foster

Blurb

Lacy Snow wasn’t looking for love when she met strikingly handsome and seductive Dane Braden. But how could she ignore the six-foot-three darkly handsome god who tagged and researched sharks for a living—and made every nerve in her body tangle into an overly sensitive knot? Even her fear of sharks could not suppress their intense attraction.

As founder of the Brave Foundation, Dane Braden travels from port to port, educating and advocating on behalf of the mammals he adores—and spends his nights finding solace in the arms of strangers. The last thing Dane was looking for when he met Lacy Snow was a relationship, and the last thing he expected was to fall in love.

Fifteen months—and hundreds of flirty emails, steamy phone calls, and sensual video chats—later, they reunite and take passion to a whole new level. But as Lacy’s phobia meets Dane’s past love life, their steamy romance is upended, and when tragedy strikes, Dane and Lacy are forced to face their deepest fears head-on as they try to navigate their own sea of love.

Review by Marlene Engel

As the founder of the Brave Foundation, Dane Braden is passionate about sharks and properly educating people about them.  He wants to take away the negative stigma and open people’s eyes to the important role that sharks play on this planet.   As you can imagine, a job like this doesn’t allow the luxury of staying in one place for long.  Dane is used to traveling the world, not staying in one place or spending time with one woman enough to form any deep, meaningful relationship.  But all that changed when he met Lacy Snow.  For the past fifteen months, their friendship has developed through e-mails, video chats and text messages.  When they finally reconnect, the feelings that they shared intensifies and their passion ignites.  But Lacy has an incident from her past that she’s afraid will affect their relationship. 

When Lacy was younger, she was attacked by a shark.  She has a scar on her leg that is a constant reminder of that day.  Her first-hand experience with these deadly creatures puts fear in her heart when she thinks about Dane’s career.  Her heart tells her to work through the fear, but her head tells her that the stress of knowing that something horrible can happen to Dane will leave her an emotional wreck.  Can Lacy get past the paralyzing fear that is making her question the future of their relationship?  Or can she put the past and fears behind her and sail the Sea of Love with Dane?

Sea of Love is the seventh book in the Love in Bloom series and fourth book in The Bradens.  It is an amazing book if you’d like to read it as a stand-alone, but I would recommend reading the series (in order) to get full enjoyment!  The story grabs hold of you from the first page and keeps your attention throughout the book.  I can’t say enough good things about this book and series.  It’s a must read and will have you falling in love with The Bradens! 

Buy Links

Amazon * B&N * iTunes

Author Info

"Melissa Foster is a wonderful connector of readers and books, a friend of authors, and a tireless advocate for women. She is the real deal"-- Bestselling Author Jennie Shortridge

"What sets Melissa Foster apart are her compelling characters who you care about... desperately. This  is psychological suspense at its most chilling. I dare you to read the first chapter and not be hooked."  International bestseller, M.J. Rose 

Melissa Foster is an award-winning, International bestselling author. Her books have been recommended by USA Today's book blog, Hagerstown Magazine, The Patriot, and several other print venues. She is the founder of the Women’s Nest, a social and support community for women, the World Literary Café. When she's not writing, Melissa helps authors navigate the publishing industry through her author training programs on  Fostering Success. Melissa is also a community builder for the Alliance for Independent Authors. She has been published in Calgary’s Child Magazine, the Huffington Post, and Women Business Owners magazine. 

Author Links

Website * Facebook * Twitter * My social network for women * World Literary Café * Fostering Success * Facebook (Fanpage) * Goodreads 

Link to Follow Tour * Goodreads Link to Series

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Rock Radio - Review & Giveaway

Review by Darcey Pickett

Rock Radio gives you an inside view into what goes on behind the mic and on-air sign at a Florida radio station.  The characters are well developed and each has a story in their own right.  This is not your typical love story…

Dana is a sweet on-air personality that finds it difficult to be in a relationship because she wants men to love her for who she is off the air.  After a failed relationship, she wonders if she will ever find her true love.

Jonny is a DJ at the radio station with Dana, he has it all, great job, loving wife and a taste for young interns.  But that sweet taste can turn bitter very quickly.  He is a good friend to Dana, but can’t be faithful to his own wife.  Will he learn the errors of his ways?

Cody is a sexy young rocker, who had a tough childhood.  There were parts of his past that were difficult to read, but you will find yourself rooting for him all throughout the story.  There is love and happiness in this heart throbs future!

This book was fun and sexy.  There are characters you will plain love, love to hate and those that will get exactly what is coming to them.  I believe that Ms. Wainland captured a great view of the lives of these main characters.  If you are curious as to the life and world of a radio DJ, you will be satisfied when you are done reading Rock Radio!

Rock Radio is currently on sale for $.99 for Kindle.  Click HERE to order your copy!

About the Author:

I love rock. The music, the bands, the excitement. Working in radio I lived behind the scenes. It was the '90s and Florida was a hotbed of new rock bands. Creed. Limp Bizkit. Matchbox Twenty. Sister Hazel. Such a great time to be in radio as music evolved from neon to plaid and beyond.

Rock Radio was inspired by this amazing time.  Writing the book was a fun journey back.  I wanted to take readers behind the scenes of a radio station, give a feel for the highs and lows of a new band struggling for stardom and tell the story of the passion and scandal that goes with it all.

Romance with a rock star edge.

With the best music of the nineties as a soundtrack, the story unfolded.  Jonny, Dana and Cody were born and the rest, as they say, is...Rock Radio.

Lisa Wainland has spent over twenty years in the world of radio. When she’s not writing, she does voiceovers for radio and television.  Career highlights include interviewing Billy Joel and writing commercials for Howard Stern.

Connect with the author at:

Facebook

Giveaway!  Relive the music of the 90s with the DVD, Show a Night in the Life of Matchbox Twenty, and a signed copy of Rock Radio!  All you have to do is comment below with your favorite 90s hair band or heavy metal band.  (Mine were Motley Crue, Poison, and all of the “pretty boy” bands!  Guilty as charged!)  Giveaway ends Tuesday, January 21 at 6 a.m.  Open to U.S residents only (sorry!)  Enter as many times as you’d like!

The Girls' Guide To Love and Supper Clubs

Review by Darcie Czajkowski

From the outside, Hannah Sugarman appears to have it all: a successful boyfriend and an enviable job at a Washington D.C. think tank. But on the inside, Hannah feels like she’s living a lie. Her dream is to run her own catering company, an ambition not supported by her parents, prominent economics professors, and her boyfriend, Adam. To them, cooking is a hobby, not a career, especially for someone with Hannah’s intelligence. It’s not that Hannah doesn’t want to pursue her goals and forge her own path, but the pressure to follow in her parents’ footsteps makes her wonder if what she harbors is merely a pipedream.

But when Adam suddenly breaks up with her, claiming that she’s too unpredictable and volatile and that he needs someone more “gracious…subdued…serious,” Hannah decides, with a boost of confidence and assistance from her co-worker Rachel, to launch an underground supper club out of her landlord’s house. Without his consent. To Hannah’s surprise and delight, her secret, small-scale restaurant is a thriving success, not only regarding her culinary creations, but with men as well. Jacob Reaser, one of the attendees, turns on the charm with her, and Hannah lets herself fantasize that her life is finally turning around. 

Unfortunately, her fantasy remains…a fantasy. While certainly thrilling, the whole supper club venture isn’t exactly legal, which creates levels of anxiety high enough to induce a heart attack for Hannah, when she and Rachel, time and time again, host their parties while her landlord is out of town. Further complicating matters, her landlord, a man with a penchant for pirate-speak, works in politics and is currently running for a local position in which he would work to shut down operations such as hers. And the cherry on top: Jacob has issues following through on his promises to call her and notably fails to confirm her Facebook friend request.

Will Hannah get caught red-handed? Will her dream of being able to cook full-time remain a dream, a mere hobby? Will she find love again or will she just churn about, searching but perpetually getting slapped with the brunt of Murphy’s law?

The Girls’ Guide to Love and Supper Clubs is a can’t-put-it-down book that will have you laughing until your stomach aches, but will also teach you life lessons about pursuing your dreams, no matter what stands in your way. Dana Bate adeptly mixes relatable problems of a twentysomething girl with rich, vivid descriptions and witty, quick-paced humor. Oh, and she throws in a wonderful bonus at the end: a handful of Hannah’s super-club recipes. Whether or not you’re a foodie, this book is yummy from the first bite all the way until the very end.

Purchase book at:

Amazon * Barnes&Noble * Target

About the author:

Dana Bate is an award-winning journalist and author of the novel THE GIRLS’ GUIDE TO LOVE AND SUPPER CLUBS (published as THE SECRET SUPPER CLUB in the UK). Her writing has appeared in numerous outlets, including McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, Culinate, Table Matters, and Smithsonian.com.

These days, when she isn’t writing, she can usually be found in her kitchen, whipping up a new recipe from her extensive cookbook collection. She currently lives outside Philadelphia.

Connect with the author at:

Website * Facebook * Twitter

Reburn & Hot Zone - Blurb Tour & Giveaway

Reburn & Hot Zone

Hot Shots Series #1&2

By: Anne Marsh

Blurb- REBURN (Hot Shots #1)

Not every man knows how to put out a fire. Fewer know when to keep it burning…

HE BATTLES THE FLAMES…

Nobody messes with Sam Clayton—or his territory. The big bruising ranger is the last line of defense in forest infernos and he’ll go up against anyone who gets in the way of putting them out. Even the FBI tracking a terrorist through the heart of a blaze. But when Sam discovers the agent is ex-lover Olivia Albert, saving himself will be more dangerous than any fire he’s faced before…

SHE LIVES FOR THE HEAT…

Olivia needs Sam’s help to survive the heat, but when it comes to keeping her quarry from detonating a major strike, this Bureau agent is calling the shots. Except when Sam’s hard body and expert hands are reigniting a second chance that could be hot enough to burn forever

Buy Links

Amazon * ARE * B&N * Kobo

Blurb- HOT ZONE (Hot Shots #2)

FIGHTING FIRE IS HIS NATURE

To Dade Johnson, fire is a danger he can handle. But the blaze he feels from the moment he lays eyes—and hands, and mouth—on Sarah Jo is too hot to handle.  Something about the free-spirited camp cook has him throwing caution to the wind. Little does the hotshots’ second-in-command know he’s cozying up with a suspected arsonist….

SHE CAN’T HELP FANNING THE FLAMES

Sarah Jo knows she should steer clear of Dade.  A bona fide hero who battles wildland fires every day deserves better than a woman on the run.  But their five-alarm attraction has Sarah Jo too weak in the knees to resist playing with fire—until her past catches up with her. Soon, she’ll have to choose between surrendering her secrets—or taking them both down in flames….

Buy Links

Amazon * B&N

I live in Northern California with my husband, two kids and four cats. After ten years of graduate school and too many degrees, I escaped to become a technical writer. When not planted firmly in front of the laptop translating Engineer into English, I enjoy gardening, running (even if it’s just to the 7-11 for slurpees), and reading books curled up with my kids. The best part of writing romance, however, is finally being able to answer the question: “So… what do you do with a PhD in Slavic Languages and Literatures?” You can visit me online at www.anne-marsh.com.

Author Links

Website * Facebook * Twitter

Follow Tour HERE

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Friendship on Fire - Review & Giveaway

Friendship on Fire

The Bradens Series Book Three

By: Melissa Foster

Blurb

Small-town overachiever Riley Banks has finally scored her big break—working in Manhattan as a fashion design assistant for her childhood crush, Josh Braden. She enters her new job hoping to make a name for herself and—just maybe—explore the romance that slipped through her fingers way back when.

Josh Braden has models at his beck and call, a staff that never says never, and an elegant clothing line for the holiday season. When he hires Riley Banks, he expects her to learn the business from the ground up. But the girl next door turns out to be much more than he remembered.

Josh and Riley’s friendship heats up. Every steamy kiss and every erotic caress stirs a love they cannot deny. But when Riley designs a wedding gown that would cause even the most jaded fashion editors to swoon, Riley’s mentor accuses her of stealing the design.  

Facing indisputable proof and the mistrust of her lover, Riley is not sure she can take the heat of life in the fast lane of the fashion industry—and Josh is forced to choose between the woman he loves and the career he adores.

Buy Links

Amazon  * B&N * iTunes

Review by Marlene Engel

As Riley makes her way through the hustle and bustle of New York City, she realizes she’s a far cry from her hometown of Weston, Colorado.  Dressed in her discounted designer clothes, she heads to JBD for her first day as Josh Braden’s assistant.  It doesn’t take her long to see how cutthroat this industry is and that she’s going to have to develop thick skin if she hopes to become a designer one day.

As if working for sexy Josh Braden isn’t stressful enough, Riley finds herself under the watchful eye of Claudia who is dubbed, Cruella de Vil, by her co-workers.  Claudia doesn’t make Riley’s time at JBD easy.  She is determined to do everything in her power to drive Riley out of NYC and back to the small town she came from.  But as Riley and Josh start to become close, they know that they have to keep their relationship a secret from the rest of their co-workers.  Not wanting others to think that she slept her way to the top, Riley feels it’s best that they keep their personal life … well, personal. 

                

But when Riley gets accused of stealing Claudia’s designs and not only her job, but her relationship with Josh are on the line, will the pressure be too much for her to handle?  And will Josh believe her when she says that she’s being falsely accused?  Relationships will be at stake as integrity will be tested as Josh and Riley deal with their Friendship On Fire.

Author Info

"Melissa Foster is a wonderful connector of readers and books, a friend of authors, and a tireless advocate for women. She is the real deal"-- Bestselling Author Jennie Shortridge

"What sets Melissa Foster apart are her compelling characters who you care about... desperately. This is psychological suspense at its most chilling. I dare you to read the first chapter and not be hooked."  International bestseller, M.J. Rose 

Melissa Foster is an award-winning, International bestselling author. Her books have been recommended by USA Today's book blog, Hagerstown Magazine, The Patriot, and several other print venues. She is the founder of the Women’s Nest, a social and support community for women, the World Literary Café. When she's not writing, Melissa helps authors navigate the publishing industry through her author training programs on Fostering Success. Melissa is also a community builder for the Alliance for Independent Authors. She has been published in Calgary’s Child Magazine, the Huffington Post, and Women Business Owners magazine. 

Author Links

Website * Facebook * Twitter * My social network for women * World Literary Café * Fostering Success * Facebook (Fanpage) * Goodreads 

Link to Follow Tour HERE

Goodreads Link to Series HERE

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