Coming up on TBR this week

TBR's hosting two authors and two book spotlights this week:

JANUARY
Wed - 28 - Book Blitz: Phantom by Laura DeLuca

Tu - 29 - Melanie Robertson-King

Th - 31 - Mackenzie Crowne

FEBRUARY

Fri - 1 - Book Spotlight: Frost by Taryn Kincaid

Thanks to the historical authors who shared their blurbs this weekend! TBR had 48 unique visitors, so I hope some new readers found your work. :)

Historical BlurbFest this weekend!

Authors of historical fiction, please share your book blurbs at TBR this weekend! New readers may find you and add your book to their TBR list. :)

It's easy to participate. In the comments section, post:

- your book title
- your name
- your book blurb
- buy links

One blurb per author, please. And please be sure to keep them suitable for readers of all ages.

I'm looking forward to reading some great blurbs this weekend.
Post away!
Cate

TBR welcomes Linda Engman

TBR: Welcome to TBR, Linda. Will you share a little bit about yourself?
Linda: I love to write about falling for someone when you least expect it.  My heroes are rugged, sexy and loaded with charm.  My heroines are career women with a taste for fashion.  Sometimes I’ll set the story in a small hometown and other times in a fast-paced big city.  For myself I live in NW Wisconsin with my family and have fun hanging out with my family, cooking, shopping, reading. 

TBR: Tell us about your latest release and where it's available.
Linda: My Sexiest Wedding, available at Amazon, B&N, The Wild Rose Press

http://www.amazon.com/My-Sexiest-Wedding-ebook/dp/B00B0H33UG/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1358960429&sr=1-1&keywords=my+sexiest+wedding

TBR: Please tantalize us with a story blurb or excerpt.
Linda:

Blurb:

          As a wedding planner, getting couples down the aisle is all part of the work week for Spring James.  But when it comes to her own love life—marriage is the last thing on her mind.  Until her one-night stand arrives in her hometown unannounced.  Tall, dark and handsome is only a start.  Nothing but lean, taut muscle, he’s ruggedly charismatic and good with kids, besides.  Prompting her to reconsider her no marriage rule.

          For the past month, Spanish cowboy Rafael Quintero, has been haunted by what happened between them in Miami while there on business.  He’s spent the time since on his ranch in Argentina, with a crushed ego, and his male pride keeping him from going after her.  Now a twist of fate has brought them back together and all bets are off.

          Set in the small town of Bernie, Ohio, Rafael and Spring’s romantic-steamy love story will capture your heart as they discover the secret to falling in love.

TBR: What inspired you to write about the theme?

Linda: The hero Rafael Quintero started out as a best friend in Manhattan Holiday and was so sexy besides heartbroken, that I felt he need his own story.  

TBR: Did any music inspire your book? Do you have a playlist?
Linda: Yes, definitely a playlist for each book.  Couldn’t write without music.

TBR: Which of your characters would you most/least like to invite to dinner, and why?
Linda: All my heroines, for sure.  I’d love to girl chat with them.  I’ve had readers say they’d love to be friends with my heroines.  Me too!

TBR: What's next for you?
Linda: I’m busy finishing a four part sexy-heartfelt Navy SEAL series and a romantic YA book that my teenage daughter and her friends can’t wait to read. 

TBR: Any other published works?
Linda: I have three other contemporary romances out right now- I’ve Got You, Falling For You, and Manhattan Holiday.  

TBR: What’s the most interesting comment you have received about your books?
Linda: I’ve had so many readers and reviewers say they love the drama and love the way I end my romances. 

TBR: Where can readers find you on the web?
Linda:  I’m on FB, Twitter, Goodreads, and Pinterest.  Links to all sites on my website.

TBR: Thanks for visiting TBR, Linda. Best of luck to you.

TBR welcomes Andrew Seaward

Some Are Sicker Than Others

Andrew Seaward

In A.A. they say to wait at least a year before entering into a relationship, the idea being before you can love someone else, you must first learn how to love yourself. But what if loving yourself just isn’t possible? What if in order to love yourself, you must first know that you can be loved? 

During a mandated recovery, Monty Miller, a young, suicidal alcoholic, falls deeply in love with a cocaine addict named Vicky, who offers him a reprieve from his life of self-sabotage. Against his sponsor’s warnings, Monty hinges his entire recovery on Vicky, believing he can stay sober for her rather than doing it for himself. But when Vicky is killed in a hit-and-run on their way home from a meeting, Monty is forced to confront the truth; he didn’t really love her. He was just using her as a way to cope without alcohol.  

Filled with the guilt of this revelation, Monty embarks on a mission to drink himself to death. But, his family intervenes and has him committed to Sanctuary, a rehabilitation facility high in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. There he meets Dave Bell, a former all-American track star turned narcissistic crack addict, and the driver responsible for Vicky’s death. 

Can Monty forgive Dave for his unspeakable atrocity and finally find the courage to forgive himself? Or will he follow his addiction to its inevitable conclusion, using self-pity and blame as excuses to give up on life?

Based on the author’s own personal experience with substance abuse and addictive relationships, SOME ARE SICKER THAN OTHERS transcends the clichés of the typical recovery story by exploring the incomprehensible demoralization of addiction and the thin, blurred line between codependence and true love.  

Excerpt

"Monty bent his head forward and started rubbing his eyelids, digging away the mucus that was crusted in the corners of his eyes. As he brought his hands down, he caught a whiff of something strong and chemical, fanning from his fingertips and out beneath his nose. He knew what it was. It was the acetaldehyde, a byproduct of the dehydrogenation of alcohol in the blood. For a normal drinker, it hung out for only a matter of minutes before being broken down by a substance in the liver called glutathione. But for alcoholics, the chemical hung around almost indefinitely, because there wasn’t enough glutathione to combat the massive amounts of alcohol entering the blood. The result was a stench not unlike that of vinegar or nail polish remover, emanating from the sweat pores like a bad case of B.O. It was so strong that people would often comment on it, but Monty usually just told them that he was trying out a new cologne. Funny. It had been such a long time since he’d smelled it that only now did he realize how much he missed it. Now, that it was back, it was almost reassuring, like the sweet, apple scent of his childhood home. He laid his right hand out flat in front of him then took a deep breath in, his knuckle pressed against his nose. Ahh. It was sharp, strong, pungent, and bitter…the smell of death like a spirit unfurling from his skin. He smiled as he sank back against the headrest, his eyes focused on the front entrance of the liquor store. Just then, he saw a hand move through the front store window and flip the Sorry, We’re Closed sign to Yes, We’re Open. Thank God. It was about time."

Author Bio

Name a hospital in Pennsylvania; I’ve been there. A rehab in Texas; I’ve stayed there. I’ve been strapped down to hospital beds, thrown into drunk tanks, and locked in padded rooms no bigger than a broom closet. I’ve woken up on railroad tracks, passed out on park benches, and even slept in a dumpster once because I was too drunk to realize what it was. And for what? A moment of numbness, a flicker of tranquility? No. I realize now, that the reason I drank was because I was too afraid to admit who I really was. I’m an artist. A storyteller. A writer. An author. It took me a long time to finally admit this, and now that I have, I can’t stop. 

My debut novel, SOME ARE SICKER THAN OTHERS, takes you on a hellish journey inside the diseased mind of the addict. From a codependent alcoholic wracked by an obsession to drink himself to death to a former all-American track star turned washed-up high school volleyball coach with a dependency on crack…the characters in my novel will haunt, taunt, and challenge your preconceived notions of what it means to be an addict or alcoholic. Some of you will laugh, some will cry, others will see themselves in the characters’ lives. Either way, I hope you enjoy the story, because, in the end, it’s not only my story…it’s everybody’s. 

Do you have a tag line: I used to think I was a pretty sick person. Then my parents sent me to drug & alcohol rehab in Anaheim, CA. There I learned a universal truth about addicts and alcoholics; though we may all be sick…Some Are Sicker Than Others. 

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Amazon

Coming up on TBR

Another light week here at TBR, with one author confirmed:

Tuesday - Andrew Seaward

Next weekend, TBR invites authors of historical fiction to share their blurbs. Yep, next weekend's already the last weekend in January - how did that happen?

TBR welcomes Kerry Dwyer

TBR: Welcome to TBR, Kerry. Will you share a little bit about yourself?
Kerry:  Thank you for having me here today. I am a teacher of English as a foreign language, a mother, a wife a rambler and a writer, not necessarily in that order. After working for twenty five years in finance I decided to quit my native Britain and settle in the South West of France. My husband is French and my daughter laughs at his English and my French. I love walking particularly around the sunflower fields and vineyards of my home but also in the mountains or Ireland, Italy and anywhere else I am able to go. I love good food, good wine, and good friends preferably all together.

TBR: Tell us about Ramblings in Ireland and where it's available.
Kerry: Certainly. Ramblings in Ireland is not a guide to walking in Ireland. There are no detailed routes or notes and pictures of fauna and flora. The walking holiday loosely threads together stories and memories of the near and distant past. Memories include reflections on culture both within one country and over different countries. Imagine sitting down for a chat in a pub with a good friend over a pint of Guinness.

Buy link - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008XJU98I?tag=kerdwy-20&creative=384349&linkCode=kin

TBR: Please tantalize us with a story blurb or excerpt.
Kerry: This is not a book about rambling in Ireland.

It tells the tale of one particular walking trip and the memories and musings it inspired.

Exploring the West of Ireland is a time for meditation, spiritual reflection and strengthening the bonds of life. More practically the ability to read a map might have proved helpful. The tourist office in Ireland has all their paths clearly marked. You can’t go wrong if you follow that little yellow man. Or can you?

As British ex-patriate Kerry Dwyer leads Bertrand, her trusting French husband, astray once more, they reminisce and reflect upon accents and accidents, family and friends, love and what it means to be alive. Bertrand doesn’t mind getting lost - he loves Kerry all the more for going off the beaten track.

This is a book about ramblings in Ireland. Walk with Kerry and Bertrand and follow where your thoughts lead you.

TBR: What inspired you to write about the theme?
Kerry: Ireland. For a small Island Ireland has a wealth of inspiration. The countryside can be neat and cultivated or wild and barren. The towns and villages have little stone cottages and huge castles. House fronts painted as if with a child’s coloring set. The people are colorful and welcoming. Everything about the country and its people was an inspiration for me.

TBR: Are you a plotter or pantser?
Kerry: Very much a pantser. I have the roughest of outlines before I start and even that is liable to change.

TBR: Do you have a favorite quote you’d like to share?
Kerry: ‘Be yourself, everyone else is already taken.’ Oscar Wilde

TBR: While creating your books, what was one of the most surprising things you learned?
Kerry: I learned that I cannot proofread my own work. Maybe that should not have been a surprise. I am an English teacher and often correct other people’s work.  I thought it would be easy. I even converted the whole book into a PDF and listened to that mechanical voice reading it out to me. My editor still found heaps of errors.

TBR: What's next for you?
Kerry: I am learning all I can about writing fiction. I have a work in progress with the working name of ‘The Book Exchange.’ It is about four women and their lives as ex-pats in France. They have a common link which is the English book exchange where they meet on a monthly basis. As I have never written a fiction novel before I am learning as I go. There is a wealth of information in books and on the internet about this skill. It is no easy task and I think the book will take some time to write and several edits.

TBR: What’s the most challenging aspect of writing? Most rewarding?
Kerry: For Ramblings In Ireland the most challenging thing was trying to keep to the point. Luckily I failed because that is the charm of the story. For fiction the challenge is making sure that all the characters are not versions of me. The most rewarding thing is being read and stirring feelings in people. It has been lovely getting so many positive reviews. I liked the reviews where people didn’t like parts of it as well, at least they felt something about it.

TBR: What’s the most interesting comment you have received about your books?
Kerry: I’m certain that anyone publishing their first book must be afraid that it is not up to scratch. I certainly was. Although family and friends had told me how much they liked it I was dreading my first review by a stranger. As I write this I have twenty-two reviews on various countries Amazon sites and several others on blogs. People like it. They say I am a good story teller. Even those who didn’t like some parts of it liked other bits and everyone says that it was well written.

TBR: Who are some of your favorite authors and books? What are you reading now?
Kerry: I like various authors in various genres. The problem I find is that you can read a lot of books by the same author and love them and then they write one book that disappoints and you don’t feel the same about them after that. The other reason I sometimes go off an author is that after a few books it feels like reading the same story. I felt like that with John Grisham which is a shame as I really enjoyed the first few.

I like Jasper Fford a lot. I have just been handed a copy of his latest book ‘The Woman who Died a Lot’ I hope to start that soon. I would really like to read the next book in his Shades of Grey series as I thoroughly enjoyed that.  

TBR: Where can readers find you on the web?
Kerry:  Blog: http://kerrydwyer.com/

Website: http://kerrydwyer.net/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KerryDwyerAuthor?ref=hl

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DwyerKerry

TBR: Is there anything you’d like to ask our readers?
Kerry: How do you feel about books that are tangential, do you like it or do you find it irritating?

TBR: Readers, Kerry Dwyer will give away a Smashwords voucher for an eBook to one lucky commenter. She'll pick a winner on Thursday, 31 January 2013 and announce the winner here. Be sure to leave your email address so she can contact you.

Thanks for visiting TBR, Kerry. All the best to you.

TBR welcomes Wendi Zwaduk

TBR: Welcome to TBR, Wendi. Will you share a little bit about yourself?
Wendi: Sure! I’m happy to be here. I love all things blue, including my blue hair. Yep. I have blue hair. I love to read and draw. I have more pets than I probably should as well as a soft spot in my heart for black cats. Grin. I’ve been writing for over seven years and published for three. I write in the contemporary and paranormal erotic romance genres. The hotter the better. I love to chatter with readers and always end up losing my voice at the end of conventions because I’ve talked so much!

TBR: Tell us about Play to Him and where it's available.
Wendi:  Play to Him is available from Total-E-Bound. It’s a hot and kinky take on the recording industry. Sebastian’s a sexy Dom who knows exactly who he wants as his permanent sub. But getting her into his arms isn’t as easy as he’d like. Rhiannon’s not sure of Sebastian. She’s more than a little in love with him, but she’s scared that getting her heart involved will end ruining the sex play romance she’s already built with him. You can get your copy here: http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=1905

TBR: Please tantalize us with a story blurb or excerpt.
Wendi: Sure!

The key to her freedom is accepting his bonds.

Rhiannon Dubois set out to find her own path in life—with her music, her career and what she wants in the bedroom. No more giving in to get what she wants. She’s making her own rules.

Except with the billionaire playboy she can’t get out of her mind.

Sebastian Chastain knows Rhiannon better than she knows herself. Despite her best efforts to hide her need for submission behind her independent streak, she blossoms when she relinquishes control. He’s got the tools to jumpstart her career and he’s not stopping until she regains her spot in the limelight.

She puts herself in his masterful hands, but can he also convince her to offer her heart?

Reader Advisory: This book contains scenes of bondage and submission, spanking, anal sex, use of toys for maximum pleasure, as well as a leash, collar and nipple clamps.

TBR: What inspired you to write about the theme?
Wendi: Rhiannon showed up in my ménage story, Savin’ Me. She wanted her own story and a chance to show how she’d grown up between the two books. I couldn’t tell her no. I’m glad I did let her run with the story as it’s so hot and fun. I also didn’t realize how far into the D/s lifestyle she was. Granted, she’s not in as deeply as some, but that’s how she expresses herself in the bedroom. Plus, the research for the toys was a lot of fun!

TBR: Are you a plotter or pantser?
Wendi: Depends on the story. I’ve had some that just flowed and I did my best to catch up. The characters will talk so fast and with details. I’ve got to keep up! There are other times when the characters will hold back. Then I tend to plot out what will happen. The funny thing is that once I’ve plotted the books out, there’s a good chance the characters will change things once we get rolling. So I guess I’m a plotser. Grin.

TBR: Any tips or tricks for world building you’d care to share?
Wendi: Hm. Tricks? I let the characters tell me about the world, but the biggest thing I do is I think about the story before I go to sleep. I tend to dream about the world and feel more immersed in it. I have an idea of where they are in the world and how they’re moving around it so it’s easier to describe.

TBR: Did any music inspire your book? Do you have a playlist?
Wendi:  Yes! I have to have some sort of noise running while I’m writing. I don’t know if it makes it easier to concentrate or what, but yes! For Play to Him, I listened to a lot of Lady Gaga, including Edge of Glory, a lot of Godsmack, including Straight Out of Line, and Jason Aldean. Tattoos on This Town inspired a lot of the story because Cleveland, Ohio makes a major appearance.

I didn’t have a specific playlist, as I let the iTunes run and shuffle, but yes, those songs were on it.

TBR: Tease us with one little thing about your fictional world that makes it different from others.
Wendi: To my knowledge, there isn’t a sex toy store with a billionaire CEO in downtown Cleveland. Grin.

TBR: What's next for you?
Wendi: I’d love to explore some of the secondary characters from Play to Him. I’m always running with the secondary characters. Probably because I can’t let them go so easily. It’s like a family and I don’t want anyone left out.

TBR: Any other published works?
Wendi: I’ve got lots! You can read the full backlist here:

http://wendizwaduk.com/bookshelf.htm

Some of my titles include, One More Night (a 1Night Stand story), Savin’ Me from the Treble Anthology, Still the One from the Switch Anthology, and Ever Fallen in Love (my NASCAR BDSM story).

TBR: Where can readers find you on the web?
Wendi:

Site: http://wendizwaduk.com/

Blog: http://wendizwaduk.blogspot.com/

Wordpress blog: http://wendizwaduk.wordpress.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WendiZwaduk

Fan page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wendi-Zwaduk/195277927167481?ref=tn_tnmn

Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/author/wendizwaduk

Goodreads:http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3495446.Wendi_Zwaduk

On Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/wendizwaduk/

On Google+ : https://plus.google.com/115637543946745656739/posts

On Romance Novel Center: http://www.romancenovelcenter.com/wendizwaduk

Newsletter sign up:  http://ymlp.com/xgjmjumygmgj 

Want to know more about Wendi Zwaduk? Here you go:

I always dreamt of writing the stories in my head. Tall, dark, and handsome heroes are my favorites, as long as he has an independent woman keeping him in line. I earned a BA in education at Kent State University and currently hold a Masters in Education with Nova Southeastern University.   

I love NASCAR, romance, books in general, Ohio farmland, dirt racing, and my menagerie of animals.  I also write under the pen name of Megan Slayer. I’m published with Total-E-Bound, Changeling Press, Liquid Silver Books, Turquoise Morning Press, Decadent Publishing and The Wild Rose Press. Come join me for this fantastic journey!  

If you like my work, tell your friends and email me. I love hearing from readers!

TBR: Thanks for visiting TBR, Wendi. All the best to you.