Book Blitz: Secret Lady by Beth Trissel

Secret Lady
Beth Trissel
(Ladies in Time, #3)
Published by: The Wild Rose Press
Publication date: January 9th 2019
Genres: Fantasy, New Adult, Time-Travel

At Lavender House, Evie McIntyre is haunted by the whispers from her bedroom closet. Before she can make sense of their murmurs, the house “warbles” between times and transports her to the Civil War. Past and present have blended, and Evie wishes she’d paid more attention to history. Especially since former Confederate officer, Jack Ramsey, could use a heads up.

Torn between opposing forces, Jack struggles to defend the valley and people he loves. Meeting Evie turns his already tumultuous world upside down. Will solving the mystery of the whispers return her home, and will the handsome scout be by her side?

Against the background of Sheridan’s Burning of the Shenandoah Valley, Jack and Evie fight to save their friends and themselves – or is history carved in stone?

Goodreads / Amazon

—

EXCERPT:

“They brought the draft back?” This was it. She had officially lost her mind.
“It never went away. Where have you been, miss? More to the point, who are you?” His gruff demand
stirred the hair at her cheek.
She tilted her face at him. Only the barest outline of his strong features was visible, and yet… Man, was he hot. Focus Evie. “I told you. I’m Evie McIntyre. I live here with my grandmother. Didn’t you realize?”
“That so? I don’t suppose you would be a spy in a Mennonite house. Still. Never know. I best get a good look at you.”
“Who would I be spying for?”
“Rebs. Neither side wishes me well. I’m in no man’s land.”
Her heart drummed wildly. “Where does that leave me?”
“That’s the question, isn’t it?” He steadied Evie on her feet.
Was it? She had no idea what was going on and watched dazedly as he took something from the leather
pouch hanging over his shoulder. “What’s that?”
“Lucifers.”
He’d lost her again. There must be a powerful resistance movement at work. She didn’t fol-low
politics. Maybe she should. Had matters come to an explosive head tonight? Why hadn’t her grandmother said something?
He drew what resembled matches from a small metal container and struck one. Sulphurous sparks
added pungency to the room. He lit the stubby candle in a tin lantern on an end table. Shad-ows danced from the pale taper glowing through the punches in the metal. Pretty, how the light made patterns on the ceiling.
Wait. Where had that lantern come from?
The stained-glass lamp Grandma G. treasured was just there before she went to bed. Dear God in heaven. What had happened to the room?

Author Bio:
Married to my high school sweetheart, I live on a farm in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia with my people and furbabies. An avid gardener, I grow herbs and heirloom flowers and use them in my stories. The rich history of Virginia, the Native Americans, and the Scots-Irish are at the heart of my inspiration. My English/Scots-Irish ancestors were among the earliest settlers in America and the valley. I write historical romance set in the colonial frontier (The Native American Warrior Series), and the American Revolution (The Traitor's Legacy Series). Some of my historicals include ghosts and other paranormal elements. I also write Young Adult shapeshifter/ fantasy romance (The Secret Warrior Series), and New Adult time travel/time slip romance, Somewhere in Time, and my latest ongoing series, Ladies in Time. I also write single titles and nonfiction.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

GIVEAWAY!
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Book Blitz: Wings of the Wicked collection

Wings of the Wicked: A Limited Edition Urban Fantasy Collection
Publication date: January 8th 2019
Genres: Adult, Urban Fantasy

Wickedly Dangerous and Sinfully Seductive.
Indulge in 25 breathtaking adventures of dangerous worlds where the lines blur between saints and sinners.
Come meet the creatures that fuel your every lust filled nightmare, where angels are not always encased in a light of righteousness and demons are not always dealing in all manner of debauchery. Where you might just end up rooting for the bad guy…
If you like demonic games, angelic interventions, and thrilling temptations, you’ll love this urban fantasy and paranormal romance collection of twisted proportions in Wings of the Wicked.
Scroll up and secure your copy today!
With stories from:
Rebecca Hamilton
Charlene A. Wilson
Dariel Raye
Muffy Wilson
Carolyn Reilly
Kim Carmichael
J.R. Thorn
Lynda Kaye Frazier
Lexi C. Foss
Ravenna Tate
Maddie Wade
LaVerne Thompson
Shereen Vedam
Colleen S. Myers
Ditter Kellen
RS McCoy
K.B. Everyly
Amara Kent
Erin Lee
Erica Gerald Mason
Zachary Paul Chopchinski
Drea Shane
Nichole Riley
N.K. Stackhouse
Amy Cissell
Leona Bushman
Betty Shreffler
Khardine Gray
Anita Hunter

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

—

SNEAK PEEKS:

Devil’s Claim
by
Dariel Raye and Muffy Wilson
USA Today Bestselling Authors
@pendarielraye and @SexyMuffyWilson

David hit the button to start his playlist, then turned to face Katala. His speech was halting, but deliberate. “What do you need me to do before we move forward with this agreement?”
“Where did that come from all of a sudden? A moment ago, we were talking about work.”
Following the wedding, they used most of their extra time moving into a new free-standing flat. Katala had actually taken a six-week leave from work, but cried the night before she had to return. Now, she sat barefoot on the sofa in a long pink cotton gown.
“David, I don’t want to talk about that right now. I hate the way you change the subject in midstream like that. I – I’d just like to know you better. You know, feel more comfortable with you. I don’t want to just have sex because we’re supposed to.”
David’s gaze followed her as she moved closer to him. “What do you need to know?” he asked.
She gave a short laugh. She had to admit, she liked his straightforward manner. Despite her initial distrust, she was beginning to change her mind. One thing she realized she did not have to worry about with him was lies. He was so used to getting his way there was absolutely no guile in him. He simply said ‘I want this or that’, and people did whatever he wanted. She never doubted she would be any different. Honestly, he lit a fire inside her she’d never felt before, but she refused to give in just yet.
“David, I want to know how you feel, what you think, what’s important to you. You know – things that I’m sure most married couples know about each other. Nothing out of the ordinary.”
He smiled. “How about I don’t like waiting. Is that enough about how I feel and what I think?”

—

Forbidden Hallow
by
Carolyn Reilly
@CReillyBooks

Dry-mouthed, Ana woke to the chirping of birds outside her windowsill. Heat flared across her cheeks as she thought back on how thoroughly Jesse had loved her only hours ago. Unfortunately, he’d received a phone call soon after and had to return to his room to use the notebook he’d left there. She’d let him go reluctantly.
Padding barefoot across the cold tiles of her kitchen, she rolled his name around her mouth. Jesse Hannover. She couldn’t wait until she saw him again later that day. But the longer she repeated his name, the more it started to ring a bell, and a sudden coldness crept through her veins, dampening her good mood.
Where had she heard the name Hannover before?
Hesitating only for the briefest of moments, she called her brother, Alessio, the only one of her family she could really trust. How she wished he wasn’t half a world away in China.
He answered on the first ring. “Hey, little Adriana.”
She rolled her eyes. He knew exactly how she hated to be called by her full name. “Hey, yourself. I know you’re busy, but do you have a moment for me?”
“Always. Shoot.”
“Does the name Jesse Hannover ring a bell for you?”
“Good question. It sounds familiar, but I don’t know why. Why are you asking?”
Telling her brother that she just slept with a Jesse Hannover was out of the question. “I came across the name on social media and couldn’t stop thinking about it.”
“Wait a sec. I’ll check the database.”
Pacing the floor, Ana held on. Alessio had access to a database that listed anybody associated with supernatural activities.
Her brother cursed through the line. “You were right. Hannover is one of the Hallows fake identities. The youngest Hallow’s name is Jesse.” He groaned over the line. “Whatever you do, stay the hell away from him. As far as you possibly can. I don’t have to tell you what the Hallows are capable of, right?”
Her head started spinning, and cold sweat covered her forearms. “No. Thanks for checking. I need to go.”
Ana ended the call and sank down on her bed. The Hallows were rumored to be merciless, brutal slayers who eliminated everything supernatural and anyone associated with it, no matter if they were good or evil.
She cradled her head in her hands. She’d just exposed Darren to Jesse, before inviting the Hallow into her home and spending the night with him. The best night of her life.
If he found out to what extent she was involved with supernaturals, he’d go after her, too. And she wouldn’t be the first of her family to die by the hand of a Hallow.

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8 YEARS! Happy Golden Birthday!

Now I could be me and be SUPER Cheesy. I could thank the academy. But we all know there is no academy for book reviewers. Heck most of us (book reviewers) get a lot of hate for what we do. Not from authors or publishers of course! But from other people. But I'm not going to go there. What today is, is a CELEBRATION!! 

I've been here running with this fantastic blog for EIGHT YEARS! We went through one name change. Hopefully I will soon be buying my own URL and finally updating my header. We have had a few people come on and help us review and most of them left. Mo is in College now, I can't believe it she was about 13 when she started with us. I was sad to see her go. But High School is a busy time. Maybe sometime she can come back. Ethan shows up occasionally and comments. Hi, Ethan! We have my friend, Victoria reviewing every once in a while. She will be a bit busy soon as she is due in May with a little baby boy! 

Now the whole reason you are all here! Today through my dads birthday (January 31st) we are giving away the Pepper Jones ebook series, a physical (signed) copy of Hot Piece of Sass by Melanie James, a physical (signed) copy of phoenix by Madison Sevier. Also, a physical copy of Words We Didn't Say by K.J. Riley and the entire ebook collection by H.Q. Frost! All of the ebooks can be sent internationally and the physical books will only be sent in the United States.

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Excerpt: Words We Don't Say by K.J. Reilly

I got to pick one out of about six excerpts and this one was among one of the shorter ones. It seems rather unfortunate to me. However this one really spoke to me and I absolutely love it. It makes me even more excited to read the book and I hope it does the same for you too, if you haven't already read the book. Words We Don't Say by K.J. Reilly will by included in the giveaway coming up on 1/8. Don't forget to come back and check it out!

Title: Words We Don't Say
Author: K.J Reilly
Publisher: Hyperion
Publication date: October 2018

Excerpt:
.  .  . I was thinking a lot about what Mr. Morgan was saying about free speech being something we should protect even if that meant that sometimes we had to hear stuff that made us uncomfortable and how lucky we were to be able to read whatever we wanted to read whenever we wanted to read it even if that only meant sitting on the curb and reading a book out loud to a man who has a Purple Heart that came with delusions and a heartbreak of an illness that nobody could fix.
When the cop car pulled up I was at the part where Christopher Robin is explaining to Pooh that you don’t get honey with balloons. The cops came over and Mrs. T came out to talk to them. Then the Colonel and Spindini came outside and sat down next to us on the curb. I was reading the part where Pooh Goes Visiting and Gets Into a Tight Place when the ambulance pulled up with its lights on but no siren. The paramedics were really cool and they asked Rooster’s permission to look at the cut on his face and I kept reading as they cleaned up the wound and they kept asking Rooster if they could do this or do that without me even pausing to let them talk. I was at the part where Pooh gets stuck in Rabbit’s hole when Eli came outside and I kept reading as one of the paramedics told Rooster that the cut didn’t need stitches, so they were going to put a big butterfly bandage across it and they told him that they used antibiotic cream so it would heal better and I was at the part where all Rabbit’s friends and relations went head-over-heels backward to pull Pooh free from the entrance to Rabbit’s house and Eli was sitting on the curb next to Spindini at this point and when the paramedics were done one of them, a big guy with a shaved head, told Rooster he did two tours of duty in the “sandbox,” which he said, for those of us who didn’t know, was Iraq. He said he was a Navy hospital corpsman, which is a medic in the Marines. Then he said he never read Winnie-the-Pooh and one of the cops said, “Are you fucking kidding me, man?” And then the cop said his favorite part was near the end when Piglet Does a Very Grand Thing and I said that my favorite part was the beginning because it’s as far as it can be from being over. And then he asked Rooster if he could do anything for him like give him a ride to a shelter and I was wondering why things like this weren’t in the police blotter. I mean, come on.
Rooster didn’t say anything, he just got up and took his cart, and all of us, me and Eli, and the cops and the paramedics, and Spindini and the Colonel, and Mrs. T just stood there watching as he walked away with the butterfly bandage and antibacterial cream figuring that we all did what we could even though we were all wishing like hell that we could have done more. Maybe even a Very Grand Thing, like heroically pulling someone who was stuck out of a very tight place.

Guest Post: His Wife, Her Answer by Danielle Yosere

About the book: "His Wife, Her Answer" is the first book in the “Choices and Answers” Series. Set in modern-day Paris, France, Tyler and Lucy Shadder get hitched. A spur of the moment let’s try this together quick marriage ceremony. They go on a journey of figuring out if getting married really was the best solution to both of their problems. Tyler Shadder as the bad boy of Paris with the reputation to follow, needed a wife to patch up business relations. Not to mention he needs her to help keep his secret. Lucy needed a solution to her problem. A problem she doesn’t want to discuss with anyone, let alone her ego filled new husband. They both have pasts and secrets they’d rather forget. Marriage was the solution gifted to them both, but they’re not thrilled with each other as times goes on. Tyler will have to move past his ego and issues in order to keep Lucy around. But… will Lucy think it’s worth sticking around to find out? Or will she leave his bad boy butt behind?

Excerpt: “I had flown in from Paris for this meeting. Devan had guaranteed me that this was the one. I sigh, flopping onto the couch in the hotel room where I had met my best friend.

"She's ambitious. She has a family. She has everything she could ever want or need. She even has a church! Although, that brings me to wonder, is she really in church? Or is it for her parent's benefit? Either way, why would she want to marry me?" I ask him exasperated. He had told me he found me a wife. Oh man, did he. She's everything a man could want to have as a wife. I watch her on the other couch as she begins to stir in her drug-induced sleep. Devan shouldn't have drugged her, to begin with.

"Do you want a wife or not?" Devan questions me with a smirk on his face because he already knows my answer.

I groan loudly. I need a wife. I'm desperate, but I didn't think I was desperate enough to have my drug dealing friend kidnap and drug a woman he met at a coffee shop. Although I honestly doubt how much of a drug dealer he really is, he helps too many people, he’s too nice… he’s probably using it as a cover identity. He’s not doing a good job at it though. I shake my head.

Devan had told me all about her over text message as I was on the way here. She’s amazing. She’s worked with kids. She has a spotless record. She helps around in the community. She takes care of her parents and is working on her business degree. Devan already dropped her from the college before he called me. He has friends who are hackers, so he had them do that. I don’t understand hacking.  He wanted to give me the time to convince her to stay with me before people started asking too many questions. The whole situation would cause suspicion. I wasn’t worried about people. I was worried about the media. The attention she would get in Paris for being my wife. I was worried her family would come and take her back home. I was worried I would get in too deep emotionally and then she would leave. That was the last thing I needed. I needed a forever solution. By the look on my friend’s smug face, he believes he found just that for me. I don’t understand how. I hear her moving on the couch.

"She's waking up, Devan. I'm going to leave and get something to eat. Let me know when you need me to come back," I mutter getting up and leaving the plain hotel room he had reserved this morning.

Earlier today, I was thinking that my life couldn't get any worse. Now, my life has been flipped, spun, turned backward, and dropped to the floor. I mean, if I get caught with Devan and all this I'm going to have a kidnapping on my record. I can't believe I let Devan talk me into letting him handle my personal life. I should have just went to an online dating site. I'm such an idiot. I pinch the bridge of my nose and drive to the city.”

Words from the author: Hello readers! Honestly, I’ve always found book summaries or synopsis’ hard to do. How do you put into words all the passion you poured into the book you wrote? That’s something I’m still struggling to learn. I hope to hear from you about your thoughts on this and what you hope for in the books to come!

I enjoyed writing about Tyler and Lucy as they grew and became the people they ended up being by the end of the book. By no means was their story perfect or predictable, even for me. All throughout the book, Tyler struggles as being a man who always got what he wanted. Lucy wasn’t just going to go with the flow as he wants. At the end of the story whether or not they stayed together I won’t say, you’ll have to read it to find out, but they both will be back in future books for this series.

As a self-published author, I’ve just begun my journey in trying to reach readers and connect with them. It’s not an easy process, as I’m learning, to market and get my book out to the world. I’ve tried publishing before and wasn’t thrilled with how my book turned out so I’m excited to see how this book goes. I’m happy with how I’ve grown personally as I’ve finished this book and started the next.

Informally, I’m from a small town and recently moved to another small town. Nothing much happens except for my own writing and the worlds within. I’m an avid coffee drinker, working part-time while being a full-time college student. When I’m not writing or working, I’m socializing with friends and family. I’m excited to see where this year, 2019, will take me.

Thank you to the gracious host of this site for letting me stop by! I hope to be back soon with a character interview.

~ Danielle Yosere

Author’s Website: https://journey777lifeauth.wixsite.com/yosere 

Interview with Carlos Harleaux

I just wanted to thank Carlos Harleaux for being here today with us on Jagged Edge Reviews. 

Would you like to tell us a little about yourself?
Sure, of course. First, thank you for having me. I’m really honored. My name is Carlos Harleaux. I am a poet, author, blogger and publisher (CEO of 7th Sign Publishing). I’m a native of Houston, TX but I currently reside in the North Dallas area. I love to express myself creatively with writing and help others fulfill their own writing/author aspirations.

What inspired you to write?
I have always had a love for poetry, as far back as middle school. That’s the genre I initially started in. I started writing my own poems in high school as a stress reliever and a way to release some creative thoughts. I started taking it more seriously around 2006 and from there, kept writing poetry over the years. It’s one of the purest forms of writing to me, because poetry usually has no pretense. It’s raw, honest and many times healing for others to read. I stacked up hundreds of poems over time and eventually self-published my first book, Blurred Vision, in 2011. Then I branched off into fiction novels about 4 years ago, with my first novel, Fortune Cookie.

Tell us about your latest book.
My new book is Eleven: Things We Never Said. The title is a bit of a double entendre. I recently went through a divorce and this book is a collection of poems and essays detailing my feelings. Eleven represents the total time that we were together. Things We Never Said represents how often, we sugar coat our feelings in relationships to sacrifice the other person’s feelings. In the long run, it creates tension in a relationship. Had we been more direct about our fears, dislikes, etc, in the beginning, I think things would have turned out differently. 
I almost didn’t release this book, because I thought I would be putting too much of my personal business out for everyone to see. However, I went through a period of depression at the beginning of 2018 as a result of my pending divorce. Mental health is a real issue that so many people deal with in silence. Plus, there really aren’t any books out there about a male’s perspective on divorce, especially through poetry. We typically hear the woman’s side. Although my book isn’t about pointing fingers, I know it will help men (and women) who may be going through or have gone through a divorce or painful breakup. 

Did you learn anything from writing your book that was unexpected?
Yes. My biggest lesson was that the end of a relationship is much like the grieving process of the death of a loved one. There are feelings of anger, disappointment, depression, etc. All those feelings may come one at a time or all at once. I learned that I can’t rush that process. When you’ve been with someone for 11 years, you can’t just move on from that overnight.
Where can a reader purchase your book?         
Eleven: Things We Never Said is available at www.peauxeticexpressions.com, in the Shop section. All my other books and the complete 7th Sign Publishing catalog are available there as well. Plus, my books can also be purchased on Amazon and Barnes and Noble online.                                           

What is at least one thing that every writer needs to have or do?
I think it’s more important now than ever for authors to have their own sense of vision. Almost anyone can put a book out now, which is great in one sense. The other side is it floods the market and can be discouraging for new authors trying to break through and find their target audience. Develop a plan for your writing, stay the course (despite what naysayers may say) and execute it at all costs. That’s my advice. You must know your lane as a writer too. Recognize the genre and writing style that works for you. A style that is successful for one author may not be successful for another.

Are your books different than your personal favorite books by other authors?
I would say yes, in some ways. I love autobiographies from people that I admire. My latest book is probably the closest thing I’ve ever done to an autobiography, but it not about my whole life. I also enjoy other non-fiction books about psychology, such as Malcom Gladwell’s books. I rarely get to read for leisure, but I don’t typically read much fiction when I do have time. Especially when I’m writing my novels, I don’t like to read other fiction books because I don’t want to subliminally bleed other author’s ideas into my own.

What are your thoughts on self-publishing verses traditional publishing?
Self-publishing can be a great avenue for authors to see the return on their investment quicker than a traditional publisher. Traditional publishers often take large percentages of each sale and the marketing burden still lies with the author, unless they already have their own celebrity status or solid platform. Personally, I prefer the self-publishing route. I get to retain all creative control (with publishing through my own company) and keep 100% of the sales from each book. Self-publishing puts more work in the author’s court; but in the end, it’s worth it to me. My publishing company, 7th Sign Publishing, also allows all its authors to retain the creative rights and copyright to their own work, which is something traditional publishers don’t offer.

Who inspires you?
God above everyone gives me guidance on ideas for what to write, which is inspirational on its own. My family and close friends inspire me with their support and encouragement to keep going. I am also deeply inspired by people who have experienced some type of great pain, but still persevere. There’s something to be admired for resilience.

What is your biggest pet peeve?
I have a few, but one big one is when people are inconsiderate of another person’s time. Time is not just empty space. Time represents money, health and so many other facets of our life. Also, it’s something we can never get back. I can’t stand to see people be purposely disrespectful of another person’s time.

What are you currently working on?
I’m promoting the official release of Eleven: Things We Never Said. Then, I’m rounding out my novel trilogy series this April, with When The Cookie Crumbles. I recently finished my first novella, which will be released in 2020. I am also in talks with another great author for a collaborative effort. There are several exciting things going on right now. I’m blessed to have books in queue waiting to be released and still have fresh ideas coming.
Also, I have two authors with new books available now for presale (The Single Mother’s Path To Wealth by JaCoi James and Signs: What To Do Whenever You Think You Are Being Cheated On by J. Gibson). 7th Sign Publishing will be very visible in 2019.

What are you currently reading?
I am reading two books right now. One is Open Invite, by my pastor, Stephen Hayes. The other is Sharp Objects (which is now an HBO series) by Gillian Flynn.

Where readers can find you?
My social media handle is @Peauxetic for Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat. I am also available on Facebook, listed under Peauxetic Expressions. Readers can also reach me through my website, www.peauxeticexpressions.com.

I've had the honor of having authors come on my blog for almost eight years now. Don't miss the blogiversery on the 8th we will be have a giveaway in celebration of the Blog's golden birthday. I appreciate every single author that has already blessed my blog and that will bless my blog in the future. You have made my dreams come true in more ways than one. Not only by your gracious presence on my blog but also by being fantastic wordsmiths.

New year

To make sure I started the year off right I went out and spent the Barnes and Noble gift card my cousin got me. Now I may have went a bit overboard as the gift card was really only $10. But come on no one should really let a Bibliophile roam a book store unattended. It is like letting a child go around a candy store by themselves. I should know a few years ago I worked in a chocolate factory... Pure heaven! I have no idea how long I spent in Barnes and Noble but I left when I literally couldn't carry anymore.

There is one book missing from my stack. I bought Point Blank by Anthony Horowitz for my boyfriends nephew. There is absolutely nothing like meeting your boyfriends extended family for the first time and bonding over your shared love of books. So I am now friends with all of the kids in that group. xD Normally I would be the grumpy adult saying the future doesn't look bright but I was so excited to see them so excited over books! Yes, I realize I am only 25 and I said grumpy adult. But I have old age to look forward to. 

My book pile: (top row): Words We Don't Say by K.J. Riley (hint: Giveaway coming up!) Confess by Colleen Hoover, All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover. (bottom row): In Your Dreams by Kristan Higgins, Lick & Play by Kylie Scott, Tough Love by Lori Foster (I finally purchased the last book I needed from An Ultimate series)

Has anyone got any great books or are there any good books I should make sure to check out soon?!

Happy New Years everyone!! -Kati