Sunday, November 22, 2015

For The Love Of Dixie by Shyla Colt


Title: For The Love of Dixie
Series: Kings of Chaos #3
Author: Shyla Colt
Genre: Contemp/NA Romance
Published: October 25, 2015


After having her heart broken by Echo, Dixie Dunn makes a new life for herself, away from the Kings Of Chaos. Now, she must return in order to get her stubborn father back to fighting shape after a heart attack. She knows she’ll have to face Echo, as he has made it clear over the years that she still belongs to him. But she refuses to give him any chance to crush her heart again. 

Echo, Joel Spencer knows that Dixie hates him, but he also knows she yearns for him. After being forced by his hateful father to practically leave her at the altar when they were teens, he realizes that he has his work cut out for him. One thing is on his side, he knows what she wants and needs. This time, he WILL make her his again, and to hell with whoever gets in his way.

 


“I was pulled right into this story. The story has laughs, pain, secrets, betrayal, racism, grief, and heartbreak.” ~ 4.5 Star Review from Renee Entress’ Book Blog
“Nice story and realistic characters. This was book three in the series and the storyline ended nice and neat. Good way to spend an afternoon.” ~ 4 Star Review from I Love to Read
“I loved Dixie as she so strong and sassy. I also loved her with Echo who is her soulmate. I give For the Love of Dixie 5 hearts!” ~ She Hearts Books





Echo 

My father was a proud example of what a King of Chaos should be: loyal, strong, and ready to take care of business, or defend his own. At one time, he was the apple of my damn eye. I didn’t realize till much later in life how fucked up his views were. 

We lost my grandfather in his prime to a fucking robbery of all things. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time and caught a bullet to the brain. They found the guy; a black man strung out on heroin. I think that’s where his bullshit beliefs about keeping races separate, and blacks being inferior started. 

Growing up, I thought he wanted to protect us from people who meant us harm. It was a familiar concept I could accept because it was an extension of us versus them. Civilians and the club. Then I saw how he treated Dixie Rose. Suddenly, I understood what he felt and taught was corrupt and wrong. A hate that knew no bounds. It wasn’t about him protecting those he loved from the outside world, or the people who’d hurt Grandpa. It was an uncontrollable hate for anyone with the wrong color of skin. It screwed with me, divided my loyalties. I’d always been drawn to Dixie Rose. She was a brilliant ray of sunshine, always laughing and smiling. I never understood why my father acted so gruff with her. I made a career of hiding our relationship. Maybe that’s why I thought I could have my cake and eat it too. 

I was dead fucking wrong. 

Parked in my car like a little bitch afraid to face the consequences of his actions, I try to form a plan. We’re welcoming Hoss back into the fold officially. It’s the perfect diversion to get her alone. With all the carrying on, I can get her back to my dorm. She’s angry and obstinate, the only way I can get her to sit still long enough to speak with me is by force. I can’t blame her really. I fucked us royally. I’d make good on it if she would let me. 

I need to prove to her I’ve changed. 

I wasn’t the man she needed me to be before. That’s changed. Ready to get things started, I step from the car and amble inside. 

I walk through the club, shaking off the questing hands of the blonde I’d been nailing on a regular basis. The years apart have only reinforced that. I spot her in the corner sipping on a bottle of beer as she watches Slick line up a shot. 

Her hair is pulled up on top of her head revealing her slender neck. The swell of her full breasts in the form fitting black tank top with the KOC emblem and the tight black pants have my dick twitching. She looks like royalty. Her face isn’t caked with makeup … there’s a delicate beauty to her. With her full lips painted red, and the fringe of eyelashes accentuating those brown orbs that never miss a thing, she is a goddess to me. 

She’s a part of it, but separate. I want to change that. She deserves to be immersed in the culture she was born to. I walk up on her blindside and lean against the wall beside her. 

“Here I thought you weren’t going to show,” she drawls. 

“Good to know you were looking for me,” I say. 

She scowls. “Don’t flatter yourself. I like to know where my enemies are.” 

“I’m many things, but your enemy has never been one of them.” 

“I don’t know, people who hurt me aren’t my friends.” 

Her words hit their target, but I refuse to let it show. “Not what you said the last time we had a run in.” 

“So, you make my pussy wet. You taught me all I know; it’s a matter of muscle memory.” 

I lean down and whisper in her ear, “Fucking bullshit.” 

“I’m sorry, did I hurt your feelings?” she retorts. 

“Takes more than that. I want to bring this shit out in the open.”

“What?” She blinks owlishly. “No, you can’t do that. I won’t let you do that.” 

“You think you control me?” 

“Fuck this.” I lift her up and toss her over my shoulder.
 


Shyla Colt grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, but has lived a variety of different places thanks to her wanderlust, interesting careers, and marriage to a United States Marine. She’s always loved books and wrote her very first novel at the age of fifteen. She keeps a copy of her first submission letter on her desk for inspiration. After a lifetime of traveling, she settled down and knew her time had come to write. Diving into her new career like she does everything else, with enthusiasm, research and a lot of prayers, she had her first book published in June of 2011. As a full-time writer, stay at home mother, and wife, there’s never a dull moment in her household. She weaves her tales in spare moments and the evenings with a cup of coffee or tea at her side and the characters in her head for company. A self-professed rebel with a pen. Her goal is to diversify romance as she continues to genre hop, and offer up strong female characters.






HOSTED BY:

Africa's "Big Five" Wild Animals by Anna Othitis

Mother Daughter Book Reviews is pleased to be coordinating a Book Blast for "Africa's 'Big Five' Wild Animals", the fourth book in the "My First Travel" book series by Anna Othitis.


front cover 2 [81358]  

About the Book


Title: Africa's "Big Five" Wild Animals ( My First Travel Book #4) 
Author: Anna Othitis 
Illustrator: Cecelia Morgan 
Publication Date: October 27, 2015 
Publisher: Independent 
Pages: 39 
Recommended Ages: 3 to 9

Amazon * Goodreads


ellie 8 (2)

Book Description:


Welcome to Angelic Airlines! Are you ready to take to the skies? Children come join us this time on a wild adventure with Captain Frankie on Angelic Airlines as we travel across the world to learn about, visit and see Africa's Big "5" Wildlife Animals. Captain Frankie is waiting for you to book y our ticket, safely stow your bags, and open your eyes to these amazing animals in the savannahs of Africa. Most of these beautiful animals are about to become Extinct. We have to save our Wildlife animals, this earth belongs to them as well.
My First Travel Books. This is another one of Anna Othitis’s trip with Captain Frankie. Originally from Zimbabwe, Africa, her travels have taken her a far across the world.
 

   

The Buzz About "My First Travel Books"


"This would make a great present to give a child at any time of the year and is sure to give them hours of entertainment and get those minds thinking and asking questions which can lead to further exploration!! " ~ MikiHope, Amazon

969159_10151641344217184_2105071370_n (2)

"I wish that I'd had books like this when I was little. I think it would have made me more interested in Geography. I would have paid more attention in class!" ~ Cinnamon Hollow, Amazon

"An amazing way to learn about the world beyond our own borders from the comfort of their own home, Anna has carefully composed the pages to make them fun and entertaining. It is books like these that children learn and may one day decide to travel abroad." ~ Sheryl, Amazon

"Very informative and easy for kids to understand! Really works their imagination and would recommend this book to all parents for their kids. Very well written." ~ Michael S., Amazon

"Adorable travel and coloring book for young children. It's never too early to spark a child's imagination for what is out in the world." ~ Jessica., Amazon
 



Anna Othitis


Anna Othitis lived and was raised in the beautiful land and country of Zimbabwe, Africa (home will always be home. She left all of her life long memories, endless charity work and good people behind vowing that she will continue supporting the needy children in her land Zimbabwe, Africa and beyond. After traveling long and short distances from the East coast to the West coast twice she and her family eventually found their sense of belonging and final settling destination in New Jersey, USA. Her husband George, sons Johnny, Elia and Frankie encouraged her to write her first children's book titled "My First Travel Book", inspired by Frankie (Captain Frankie), who is graduating from his Master’s degree in Aeronautical Science and beginning his career as a professional pilot. Anna's favorite saying is "Be Bold Be Brave". She was inspired to write her children's books with a vision to link up the children Africa and of the world on Angelic Airlines to so many beauti ful places of interest and popularity on our wonderful planet Earth with all its beautiful some natural and some man made creations and resources. One of the beautiful natural wonders featured in her books is in her birth land of Zimbabwe "The Mighty Victoria Falls" All of her books educate our children and widen their scope of interest in the amazing surroundings, creations and nature to appreciate and look after our environment for many generations still to come.


Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Google+ | LinkedIn | Pinterest

 

** Book Blast Giveaway **


Prize: One winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card or $25 PayPal cash prize, winner's choice
Giveaway ends: December 3, 11:59 pm, 2015
Open to: Internationally
How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.
Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by Anna Othitis and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send an email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com.



  MDBR Book Promotion Services

A Right To Love by Mark Frew



Title: A Right to Love
Author: Mark Frew
Genre: Gay Fiction / Religious / Psychological



The story is about a non-religious man, called Michael, who is a teacher in a modern college. He meets a student, Polycarp, who is a refugee from Rwanda and who has lost all of his family. Michael decides to travel to Africa to find out if any of Polycarp's family members are still alive. In the process, he meets a devout Muslim sub-Saharan African man, Ibrahim. Michael and Ibrahim fall in love and as their relationship develops, Michael and Ibrahim have to adjust to each other's outlooks on life. Throughout the process, the interpretation of both the Bible and the Koran, and how homosexuality can be accepted within this framework are discussed.




AMAZON KINDLE / PAPERBACK





“Bwana Michael,” Amani replied. “To be very honest with you, if I had not known about my father, I would have maintained the same belief as all other macho Tanzanian men that this relationship between him and you was wrong. But my father was a good father to us children and worthy of respect, not only because it is in our culture to respect our parents but because my father was a great man. Because of this, I have had to change my thoughts about the whole matter. Also, now that I have met you, and from what my father has said about you and all the good things you do, that you came all this way to help someone out, and now listening to what you have to say, I am forced to think differently about it. And I can see that you will make my father very happy.” 

   Amani stopped there which gave me a moment to reflect. Did you listen to yourself? I thought. Let’s substitute a few other hypothetical aspects of a person and see if you could say the same thing. “If I had known that my father was a murderer/rapist/thief/child molester, I would have had to change my thoughts about murderers/rapists/thieves/child molesters.” No, you would never say that. This just shows that your father’s sexuality is not in the same league. It wouldn’t matter how much you loved and respected your father in your childhood if one day you found out he made a practice of murdering people in cold blood, or raping people, or stealing things of great value, or molesting children. These would actually cause you to no longer respect your father, and in some ways fear him. The reason why you can continue to respect your father with this new knowledge of him is because deep down you know it is not inherently a bad thing. The only problem with it is that it makes people feel uncomfortable that people engage in such activities that others would never engage in themselves. 




Hardest Thing About Character Development

What I found difficult with character development was making my characters sound real throughout the trilogy, not just in A Right To Love. But even so, it is hard to be consistent throughout the entire story, especially in a long story like A Right To Love. For example, I had Ibrahim consistently call Michael, “Bwana Michael”, “Bwana” being the Swahili word for “Mister” and a sign of respect to a man. This use of “Bwana” is based on my own personal experience when I go to Tanzania as there are people there who call me “Bwana” even though I consider them as my friends. The problem was that in the earlier stages of writing the text, I forgot sometimes to get Ibrahim to call Michael “Bwana Michael”. I had to be consistent and get Ibrahim to call everyone “Bwana” and there is a time that Ibrahim talks about Gordon, the director of the Msingi wa Mungu project, and initially I had Ibrahim calling him “Gordon” when to be consistent I had to get him to call him “Bwana Gordon”.
Not only is it the consistency of the language but also the consistency of the personality. This was particularly difficult in A Right To Love because many of the characters are composite characters based on a number of people in real life and out of all the real people I used to make the character, I had to choose one of these people’s personality and then be consistent with this throughout the book.




Mark Frew is a teacher of English to speakers of other languages. He has a bachelor degree in chemistry and is an avid linguist who speaks several languages. Mark Frew is also the author of Mauritian Creole in Seven Easy Lessons, Michael and the Multicoloured Gospel and Farewell My Pashtun.

Author Links:





 







Clean Sweep by V.L. Locey

cleansweep

BOOK INFORMATION


TITLE – Clean Sweep
 SERIES – Venom Series
 AUTHOR – V.L. Locey
 GENRE – Erotic Hockey Romance
 PUBLICATION DATE – Sept.26, 2015
 LENGTH (Pages/# Words) - 155 pages/57,500
 PUBLISHER – Gone Writing Publishing
 COVER ARTIST – Reverie Design


BOOK SYNOPSIS


Clean Sweep - New Cover

Fiery, flame-haired Jane Bratkowski is catapulted from a small college town to Philadelphia to become head coach of a new women’s hockey team, The Venom. It’s a life-changing opportunity, a dream come true until – in a cruel twist of fate that could turn into a nightmare – she comes face to face with her ex-husband Tore Ahlberg, the Wildcats' head of European Scouting.

Suddenly, Jane’s faced with more challenges than she bargained for: Will she let him distract her -- and derail her big chance to coach pro hockey? Can she build a team of relatively inexperienced, irrepressible young women into champions? Can she and Tore triumph over the gut-wrenching tragedy that ripped them apart -- or will the shocking truth of their passionate past threaten to destroy them once again?


BUY & TBR LINKS



EXCERPT

It was on the tip of my tongue to ask him how, or why, he remembered so much from our years of wedded bliss. Instead, I marched into the bathroom, Pomeranians in hand, then shut the door on him, his tie, and those damned recollections of a time best left in the past. 
I washed my face then set to work on detangling. I accomplished this with snarling expletives aimed at long dead ancestors. The boys were restless. I laid down my hairbrush then snuck over to the door. I couldn`t hear my ex on the other side. I cracked the door just enough to peer through. Tore was standing at the sliding glass door. He still cut a fine figure from the back even though he was now in his early fifties. Wide shoulders, lean waist, long legs. The sun made his straw-colored blonde hair look like spun gold. It was time to stop, Jane. I had thought to ask him to walk the dogs but after that Rumpelstiltskin moment, perhaps a brisk walk would do me good. I closed the door quietly. Ten minutes later I stepped out, face freshly scrubbed, hair beaten into submission, and dogs in dire need. 
"I have to get dressed," I told Tore when he turned from the city to look at me. 
"You want me to leave?" I nodded. "We were married, Jane. Unless you have done some alterations, there is nothing I have not seen before." 
I felt a slight flush rushing up behind the freckles on my cheeks. "There have been no alterations. Go wait on the patio. I mean it, Tore. Don`t give me that stupid look. Go." 
"Stupid look? I have a stupid look?" he asked, a definite twinkle in his eye. A sharp comment was resting on my tongue. I swallowed it back to be nice. It was only seven am. Even ex-husbands deserve a small kindness from time to time.


AUTHOR BIO


Author Photo - VL Locey

V.L. Locey loves worn jeans, yoga, belly laughs, reading and writing lusty tales, Greek mythology, the New York Rangers, comic books, and coffee. (Not necessarily in that order.) She shares her life with her husband, her daughter, two dogs, two cats, a flock of assorted domestic fowl, and three Jersey steers.
When not writing spicy romances, she enjoys spending her day with her menagerie in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania with a cup of fresh java in hand. She can also be found online on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and GoodReads.


AUTHOR FOLLOW LINKS



GIVEAWAY PRIZES


$20.00 Amazon Gift Card


This Event has been Organized & Hosted by:
  33c16-mini2bbutton

The Phoenix Born by Kaitlyn Davis


From bestselling author Kaitlyn Davis comes the final book in the thrilling A Dance of Dragons series—perfect for fans of Throne of Glass, Graceling, and Game of Thrones!


The Phoenix Born (A Dance of Dragons #3)
Release Date: November 17th 2015



For the first time in a thousand years, the fire dragon has been awakened and Rhen is its rider. But after destroying the armies that threatened the city of Rayfort, Rhen is shown a vision in flames that changes everything. The shadow's phantom armies are coming and the dragons are the only things that might stop them.

High in the castle at the top of the Gates, Jinji has learned something of her own. Janu, her long lost twin, is alive. And just as the spirit shares her body, the shadow shares his. In the blink of an eye, her quest for vengeance against the evil that killed her family has changed to one of protection. Because she knows that if Rhen learns the truth he will do what she cannot—end the shadow, and end her brother in the process.

As the shadow grows more aggressive, Jinji and Rhen fight to find the rest of the dragon riders. But with time running out, they are forced to face the impossible decision between honor and love. Alliances are formed, promises are broken, and the fate of the world hangs in the balance… 





Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Smashwords | iBooks





Jinji stopped him by grabbing his cheeks and pulling his face against hers, kissing him urgently. Rhen tried to pull away, to understand why she wasn't thrilled by the news, but her hands traveled to the back of his neck, grip tight, and he couldn't break her hold. Her lips moved fast against his, pleading with him silently. Everything about her was desperately trying to hold on to the moment, to stop time, as though she were drowning and the air from his lungs was the only thing that might save her, as though he were her tether to life. 
Rhen wanted to give in. More than anything, he wanted to melt beneath her touch and forget the world, to kiss her until the sun rose the next morning, and even then maybe not stop. He could so easily get lost in the fire of her touch, the silkiness of her skin.
But he couldn't let himself. 
The woman he loved was in pain.
Her kiss wasn't full of passion. It was full of dread. Rhen sensed the dark taste on his tongue. 
"Jin," he mumbled against her lips. 
But she didn't stop. 
Rhen reached back, unlatching her fingers, pulling her forcibly away from him, finding her eyes. "Jin?"
And with that word, she couldn't avoid what was in her heart any longer. A tear rolled down her cheek, and she gave in, collapsing against him as her body racked with sobs. The moans came from a dark place within her, ripping their way up her throat, making him wince at the sound. 
Rhen wanted to demand answers. 
He wanted to force her to explain, to let him in, to tell him what had her so distraught. 
But he didn't. 
He just held her, kissing her forehead and rubbing her back. Not questioning. Not demanding. There would be time for answers later. Right now, Jinji needed a shoulder to cry on and nothing more. He gave that to her, embracing her until sleep claimed them both.




Inspiration Board for A Dance of Dragons!

A snapshot of my inspiration board for A Dance of Dragons—just a little taste of the characters, settings, and mood of the series! To see all of the images and for original sources, please check out the board on Pinterest! 






A Dance of Dragons: Series Starter Bundle!

A FREE ebook bundle which includes the prequel novella, The Golden Cage, and the first full-length novel, The Shadow Soul! 

An ancient evil awakens.
 Three unlikely heroes rise.
An age of myth is reborn.

Try the A DANCE OF DRAGONS Series Starter Bundle today! This bundle includes the prequel novella, The Golden Cage, as well as the first full-length novel, The Shadow Soul.

RAVE REVIEWS for The A Dance of Dragons Series!

"Gorgeous writing (spellbinding is a word that fits well here), creative and unique world and characters that steal your heart away, this is an unbelievably fantastic beginning to what is sure to be a new favorite series. I'm so eager for more!" - Candace's Book Blog

"The writing is flawless. The story and plot line, and plot twists, had me captivated and enamored for the first words. I couldn't put this book down for anything, and I absolutely cannot wait for book two...It's an amazing start to a new series that is going to have people of all ages wanting so much more." - Happy Tails and Tales

"One word to describe this book: intense! Everything from the battles, to the secrets, to the descriptions of the characters and scenery, are all incredibly intense. This book had me biting my nails, stomach tided in knots, and completely entranced til the last word." - Desert Rose Reviews

"Mind. BLOWN. Do you know that one book that made you love a certain genre again because it was so amazingly & beautifully written?? Well, The Golden Cage is the book that made me realize how good Fantasy can be." - Spiced Latte Reads

"The Shadow Soul was positively transportive, left me feeling refreshed, and renewed my faith in symbolism, imagery, and the importance of world building and cultural preservation...If you want to set out on a journey, read this." - We Do Write










Bestselling author Kaitlyn Davis writes young adult fantasy novels under the name Kaitlyn Davis and contemporary romance novels under the name Kay Marie. 

Always blessed with an overactive imagination, Kaitlyn has been writing ever since she picked up her first crayon and is overjoyed to share her work with the world. When she's not daydreaming, typing stories, or getting lost in fictional worlds, Kaitlyn can be found indulging in some puppy videos, watching a little too much television, or spending time with her family. If you have any questions for her--about her books, about scheduling an event, or just in general--you may contact her at: KaitlynDavisBooks@gmail.com

To stay up-to-date with all of Kaitlyn's new releases, sign up for her new release newsletter here: TinyLetter.com/KaitlynDavisBooks








Hosted by:


Choosy Bookworm Holiday Extravaganza: E.M. Kaplan ~ Roberta Kagan ~ Phoebe Matthews



Choosy Bookworm has partnered with eNovel Authors at Work to bring you a month long celebration with great books, great book deals, and let's not forget the great giveaways! 

Check out today's featured authors and books, then head on over to the event page and enter to win one of two $250 Amazon Gift Cards or Paypal Cash!

Be sure to check out the featured books and the awesome author sponsored giveaway below!



The Bride Wore Dead
by E.M. Kaplan
Series: Josie Tucker, #1
Genre: Mystery/Crime Thriller

Just days after cranky food critic, Josie Tucker, is the last-minute bridesmaid at a massive Boston wedding, the bride dies on her honeymoon at an Arizona resort. The mother of the bride thinks Josie, with her...unique people skills, can find out what happened. Josie discovers the dead bride may not have been the first to die. And to Josie's horror, the killer has set his sights on her next.


Meet E.M. Kaplan

Award-winning EM Kaplan writes snarky, fun Josie Tucker mysteries as well as epic fantasies. She's classically trained as a technical writer and as a world-class smart aleck. Currently in Illinois, she enjoys embarrassing her children and scratching her dog's belly.


All My Love, Detrick
by Roberta Kagan
Series: All My Love, Detrick, #1
Genre: Historical Fiction

"All My Love, Detrick," is the story of forbidden love in Nazi Germany. It is a tale of two families, one German, one Jewish and how Hitler's dark and terrible regime changed their lives forever.


Meet Roberta Kagan

HI, I am an American author of Historical Fiction and Holocaust novels. My mother was Jewish and her father was Romany and therefore I grew up with  memories of the Holocaust hovering over me.  I write in this genre in the hopes that maybe through recognizing past mistakes we can find a way to stop the genocides that are still going on today. Thank you for taking the time to read my work. Blessings to you. 


Tyrant Trouble
by Phoebe Matthews
Series: Mudflat Magic, #1
Genre: Urban fantasy

When a conman wants you as the patsy for a crime, you run, right? That’s what Claire decides. She makes it out of town and into an Otherworld situation that is filled with so much terror it makes the conman and his threats look easy. This novel won the Eppie for Best Fantasy of the Year.


Meet Phoebe Matthews


Urban fantasy is Phoebe Matthews's favorite reading. She likes a mixture of current events and fantasy and sets her stories in places where she has lived, from Scotland to Washington State.

Her Mudflat Magic series combines sword and sorcery with a neighborhood in Seattle where old magic runs amuck through the families. The first book, Tyrant Trouble, won the EPPIE for Best Fantasy of the year. Book seven, Jimmyed Coffin, is now available.

Head on over to the
Choosy Bookworm
Holiday Extravaganza
event page to learn more and enter to win one of two $250 Amazon Gift Cards or Paypal Cash!