Book Giveaway; Sins And Virues, Cynthia Vespia

A unique hostage situation is about to turn ugly unless author Ben Haskins can use his gift of words to befriend his captor.

 

Fantasy novelist Ben Haskins has taken a remote cabin in the wilderness to revive his shaky marriage and failing career. Within the peaceful surroundings he runs into real trouble when convicted murderer Sam Mitchell breaks into the cabin after she escapes from prison. Marked by a dark past of abuse Sam is volatile and ready to snap. It is up to Ben to use his writer’s gift of words to diffuse the situation before time runs out for them both.

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Excerpt

Ben brought up his hands to signify he was not hostile, but before he could speak the woman made a surprising move.  She dashed backwards and slipped a long knife from the wood block that stood on the counter.  By chance or choice she’d yielded the butcher knife.  Its large, flat edge gleamed from a spot of yellow sunlight breaking through the kitchen window as its master twisted it in her grip. 

Now Ben was certain there was trouble.  She could be unstable from a mental disorder, or drug abuse.  Either way, she was now armed and double the threat. 

Ben wasn’t about to take any chances with his life, woman or man.  He had a family to support, a son to watch grow into a man. 

His most logical decision now would be to bring the odds decidedly back to his favor.  The mental image of the .12 gauge shotgun, flawlessly polished and resting inside the tomb of the foyer closet, sprung to mind.

The woman was about five feet in front of him, clutching the knife tightly in her right hand.  Her eyes were steely and locked onto Ben’s every move.  The lines of her body were contoured into an athletic looking frame, poised and ready to strike.  She could be on him like a jungle cat, stealthy and quick, that he was well aware of. 

The pulsing of his heart grew rapid and his adrenaline surmounted once again.  But unlike the level attained in the weight room, it was now at a pace he could not voluntarily control.  His shirt was pasted to his skin, clinging and delivering a feeling of constriction to his chest.

He wondered if he should speak, say something to let her know he wasn’t a threat to her. But in the back of his mind he wanted nothing more than to be out of harm’s way. Hoping to gain positive ground by using an obstacle as interference, Ben knocked over one of the chairs from the wicker dining set.  Turning on heel he made a swift vault for the closet where the shotgun was located.

As he reached the handle to the door he looked back just in time to see the woman hurdle the chair with ease.  Stunned at her athleticism he fumbled for the shotgun, unable and unwilling to take his eyes off of her.

Rather than pursue him, she stopped at her landing with a soft pad of her feet and marked him in her sights.  She flipped the knife around to grasp its steel edge and launched it through the air with precision.

Ben tipped back just in time to narrowly avoid being struck in the face by the airborne blade.  Instead, it grazed his left ear and temple as he fell ass backwards to the hardwood floor.  His hand instinctively shot up to attend to the sudden coarse burning that spread out over his damaged flesh.

In mere seconds the woman was across the room and upon him.  Ben had been on target about her cat-like quickness.  A solid, brutal heel strike landed squarely upon his groin.  Before he could even wail out in pain another kick caught him flush under the chin, gnashing his teeth together, almost severing his tongue.

Sparks of blackness rattled his vision.  His body was overloaded with pain and dizziness soon followed.  Regaining his bearings Ben thought for a moment he was dreaming.  As his vision cleared he realized he was in a very real and waking nightmare. The woman stood above him, the barrel of the shotgun aimed at his chest.

  

Purchase Sins & Virtues 
On Amazon 
 

Authors Website: www.CynthiaVespia.com

Cynthia is giving away a copy of Sins And Virtues to one lucky reader. Comment on this blog post to be in the chance to win.  

Book Feature: Painted Skies, Sue Simonich

Book Jacket Blurb for Painted Skies:

Accustomed to predicting the future and seeing the past, ethnobotanist and adventurer Nova Denver suffers a serious emotional blow at the sudden death of her mother.  The scenario worsens when amid a clutch of legal paperwork found in her mother’s filing cabinet; Nova is shocked to find adoption papers and a posthumous letter of explanation.  Shortly afterward, an evasive stranger begins phoning, offering cryptic, unsettling information.   When a homicide is uncovered in the foothills behind her home, motives of the persistent caller put her on edge and heightened alert.  Her prescience leads her to Great Britain, where four decades of secrets are finally revealed and Nova truly discovers, “Love is the final end of the world’s history, the Amen of the Universe.” 

Painted Skies is currently available in all electronic formats at: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/131090

Visit the website for Painted Skies

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It's Bikram Progress Check-In Time!

As you may or may not know, realize or even care, I launched into a fresh new Bikram Yoga fitness program a while ago. In 2009 I lost 45 pounds doing this nearly every day, plus walking and dieting.  
NEWS FLASH: it is "fewer calories in and more calories out" for most of us. I know it is for me. It's all about the self control....


And in the interest of full disclosure I thought I'd let you know how it's going.


Not well.


I've been so busy writing, and with my brewery expansion plans plus various home-based disasters and a house renovation...oh hell, these are all excuses and I know it.


BUT on the "fewer calories in" front I am happy to report I've gone back to my "NO BREAD DAMN IT" program. Not Adkins mind you. I can't eat that much meat and cheese. But just a marked reduction in the number of calories I take in via enriched flour products.  It sucks, generally. Every night I could make my meal of a good beer, a hunk of sourdough bread and some sharp cheese.  Alas, no more.


I have a good Yoga Buddy now, a woman of my age and general fitness level who is also determined to get herself under more control by use of Hot Yoga Room Torture.


I love it and absolutely despise it at the same time. Kind of like marriage.


Anyway, I have lost 5 pounds but I'm pretty sure that's from sweat just walking around outside in Michigan this summer.


Stay the course!
Man Up.
Mat Down.
Hot Yoga.
Liz

Book Feature: Fantasy Time Inc, Sherri Rabinowitz

Blurb

In the future we as a people will be going through many strange and conflicting changes. We will be traveling and living in Space and under water. We will have an even better network of communications and transportations but we will still need to have a vacation and to relax from this antiseptic new environment. People will need an escape and most people dream of the future and the past, because no one romanticizes about their own time.

 Visit the Authors website; 

 Visit the Authors blog;

Buy the book at Amazon or Barnes & Noble

Book Giveaway: Sonia's Song, Sonia Korn-Grimani

Blurb  

      “I stand three feet six inches tall when I am declared an enemy of the German State. I would feel prouder of this distinction if I’d actually done something to earn it: like sabotaging a train by laying dynamite on the tracks, or willfully exposing my neighbors to a dread disease à la Typhoid Mary. But at the age of seven, my options for wreaking havoc are limited. In fact, my family and I have been spending more and more time by ourselves, in the shadows...”

            In 1939, little Sonia Korn and her family were given a grim option; either they must disappear, or they will be rounded up and sent to certain death. After a perilous escape to the Belgian border, after getting caught in the chaos and carnage of war-torn France and Belgium, Sonia lived with her family in the shadows, fleeing and hiding from persecution until she was placed in an orphanage in 1942. There she lived with more than 20 other Jewish children, disguised as Catholic orphans, and all kept near starvation by the corrupt proprietress.

            Sonia forged triumph from these tragedies with unshakable tenacity and beguiling charm, a life chronicled in the new book Sonia’s Song.  From her humble beginnings of singing daily mass in the orphan choir, after the war Sonia became an international sensation of radio and television, singing to the delight of audiences throughout the world. Sonia became a champion of women’s rights, a French tutor to a Queen, and was named Chevalier and Officier by the French Government for her contributions to French culture. This is the complex true story of one girl, who rises from war's ashes to sing the songs of hope and love world-wide.

Visit the Website

The publisher is giving away a gift bag which includes a copy of Sonia's Song and a download of the album Chansons de ma Vie on itunes/e-music. In order to win you need to comment on this blog post and share, tweet, or pin the link. Email a copy of the social share link to omni@claygrouse.com

For a second chance to win, enter the Amazon giveaway as well.

Women+Beer=Success

To celebrate the announcement of a release date for my first Ellora's Cave book: Lust On Tap

 I am gonna do a quick and dirty lesson on beer.  (Trust me I am a professional. That is to say not only do I very much enjoy beer I own a brewery in Ann Arbor.) so *cracks knuckles* here we go:
WOMEN IN BEER (and no, I mean "in" as in "in the business of" and to be fair this is paraphrased from a talk  I gave to about 150 people, mostly women. In Beer.)

The History of Women in Beer

A Wench’s Take

I.              1800-1700 BC  Beer as Food

We were GODDESSES!  Well, Ninkasi was. And her place in the Sumerian pantheon required her to brew. And she did it well. There was a Hymn about her fermentation magic. And now there’s a brewery in Oregon named after her and a Home brewer’s Association award, lucky gal.

Was she a goddess? Or just the personal Brewster to the gods? Who knows?

Later, a Babylonian king invented contract law, which is another story but this guy, Hammurabi felt so strongly about the role of women’s roles as brewers and tavernkeepers that he encoded a little law about throwing women in the river if they cheated their customers.  I think this guy was a Budweiser drinker. But you did not hear that from me.

The Egyptians, those crazy pyramid builders and eyeshadow wearing folks also had women brewing beer. And they can prove it too, with lots of pretty pictures on the walls.  In short, beer brewing was viewed as a domestic task. Who did the domestic stuff? Women. Even women who were classified as “goddesses” still probably had to clear out the mash tun when they were finished.

II.            Beer in Transition: Beer is Not Wine

Skipping ahead (because this is my talk and I can) we approach the rise of the Classical societies of Greece and Rome. Those guys were winos, period. And “beer” became seen as effeminate and down market. So beer production in those powerful empires had what we call in the business a “downturn.”

But beer production by women continued into the Medieval period, with the lady “brewsters” popping up in literature and song and likely naughty limericks.

The image of the “ALE WIFE” is a common one. And there is no such thing as the ALE HUSAND…get over it.  

Of course, many of these fine, hardworking  women were ultimately accused of being witches by 15^th century Rush Limbaughs but I digress.  They had cats around to eat the mice that would get into the grain.  Their ale-stakes (poles to which twigs or greenery were attached at one end, and stuck over the door of the ale-house by law)—brooms.  And pointed hat—no left home with out at that time. Plus…the bubbling cauldron of….ALE. Sheesh.  No brainer.

III.         Beer as a product.

       Once beer was deemed a “product” by dudes in charge of deeming stuff, then things started changing.  Hops were introduced to England, added to souring ales, giving the stuff a decent shelf life.  Increased shelf life meant it could be transported (or as we like to say “distributed”) all around, and profits increased. Men smelled the profit and came running, bless them, accused who knows how many ale wives of witch craft and…well, at the risk of sounding stridently feminist, invented the Bud Girls (but yeah, they do some kick ass advertising)

Of course, there was the New World, and in Colonial America women were still in charge of the taverns. The “brew pub” concept stayed with women although most of the “brewsters” had disappeared.

As we hit the 19^th century that wonderful thing that’s brought millions of dollars to many a macro brewer’s pocket was invented: advertising.  Women were back in the business, depicted as well-meaning wives and mothers.  That’s right. Early beer ads focused on the stuff’s wholesome, family-oriented image. 

Not sure what happened there…well I am. But again, I get all whiney sounding and the men stop listening.

yeah. no great loss I'm thinking...

IV.        1919-1933

Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution

Volstead Act

There are some who blame women for this dark period of American history. I blame politicians. But it’s an election year so….

“prohibition makes you want to cry into your beer and denies you the beer to cry into”

V.            Beer as a Woman’s Product

A few names:

Carol Stoudt

Sara Barton She took back the “Brewster” name, which was the female equivalent of “brewer” in the 15^th and 16^th centuries. And her website kicks Ass. http://brewstersbrewery.wordpress.com

Emma Gillland

Hildegard van  Ostaden

Dominque Firart

Teri Fahrendorf (Pink Boots Society founder)

Kim Jordan

And of course:

Kristy Smith

Rene Greff

Laura Bell

Erin Cottongem

Angie Williams

Stacey Block

And all the great new groups that are educating more women about the craft  beer movement in the U.S.

So...drink up ladies. Not only were we the Goddesses of beer, we perfected and made it into a product, which was then taken from us...never mind.
LUST ON TAP RELEASES AUGUST 10 FROM ELLORA'S CAVE! 
blurb:

When wealthy brewery owner Dustin Prufrock meets sexy saleswoman Helena Turner, sparks fly—angry sparks. They seem destined to do nothing but clash, until a hot hook-up in a cold beer cooler changes everything.

For Dustin, it’s a life-changing moment and one that sets him on a path away from his birthright. Helena is forced to face her fears about committing to a man considered the playboy of the micro brewing world. The power of pre-conceived notions nearly tears them apart, until they meet up with Erik, Dustin’s old friend from the brewing institute in Munich, who provides them with an erotic and emotional connection that completes them all.

But fate has different plans, and Dustin is forced to take responsibility for his old life as heir to a large business. While he slips back into his expected role, Helena and Erik are thrown together in an attempt to run Dustin’s brewery without him. But the strength and trust of their once-balanced threesome has been shattered, and mutual lust might not be enough to keep them all together.

Book Feature: The Sky: The World, Jessica McHugh

Who is Doctor Azaz? 

It is the 19th Century, and Azazian England is at it's pinnacle. Aeroplanes rule the sky, and crystalline technology has transformed life itself. But for stunt pilot Jack Racine, life is little more than an endless tailspin into liquor, laudanum, and loose women. But all that is about to change, for Jack Racine is about to have an audience with the architect of the age: the mysterious Doctor Azaz...

Jessica McHugh is an author of speculative fiction that spans the genre from horror and alternate history to epic fantasy. A prolific writer, she has devoted herself to novels, short stories, poetry, and play writing. She has had ten books published in three years, including "Rabbits in the Garden", "The Sky: The World" and the first three installments in her "Tales of Dominhydor" series. More info on Jessica's speculations and publications can be found at JessicaMcHughBooks.com.

Visit the Authors Website 

 .

Buy the The Sky: The World in print 

 for kindle, for nook.

A sexy comeback

I’m back!

I’ve had a really rough month and a half that unfortunately took me away from all my on-line duties. But things have seemed to settle down now **Knock on wood** and I hope to get back into the swing of things.

To start off my return I’m going to share with you my upcoming release, The Naughty Angel. It will be released on July 27^th and I am so excited and want to share my joy with all of you. It’s another 1 Night Stand book from Decadent Publishing. Haven’t heard about 1 Night Stand? Where have you been? LOL Here is a link to the 1 Night Stand where you can see all the wonderful 1 Night Stories. http://decadent1nightstand.blogspot.ca/
In the mean time, here is a look at The Naughty Angel. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did creating it.

 Blurb:

Even the good turn bad sometimes.

A life of servitude to God has made Ariel Raine feeling worn out. Being an Angel isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be. Day in and day out of the same routine tends to get tedious. Wanting some spice in her life, she sets her mind on discovering the allure of a sexual encounter. With the help of Madam Eve and her 1 Night Stand dating services, Ariel is about to have her world rocked.

Only problem is…her match is a demon.

Edison Grey has relied on dating services to claim minions for not only him, but for his master Satan as well. 1 Night Stand just happens to be this weeks preference. No use wasting a good service, Edison decides to have a little fun while he’s at it.

Stripping an angel of her purity is an added bonus.

What happens between Ariel and Edison is a surprise to both. Even with the threat of punishment looming over top of them.

Excerpt:

“You’re a demon!”

“And you are and angel.”

“There’s no need to say it with such disdain.”

He leaned one arm on the door, resting his body against it and lifted one eyebrow as he responded. “It’s fitting for how I feel for your kind.”

“My kind? You are the scourge of the earth.”

“Right. And your kind is perfect. I think not.”

“We do not claim what is not ours to take.”

“No, you just possess the bodies of innocent souls to do your bidding.”

“They offer their service to the Lord.”

“Yes, ‘offer’.” He made quotations with his index fingers. “I think we should discuss this in privacy.” He motioned to the couple standing by the door across the hall.

Reluctantly, she stepped inside and he closed the door behind her. “This is a mistake. Surely the woman in charge, this Madame Evangeline, has made a mistake. I couldn’t possibly be fitted with such a detestable creature.”

“Pot calling the kettle black there, sweet cheeks.” She touched her face, confused. “Not those ones.” He motioned to her backside and instantly her face flush with warmth.

“How dare you!”

“What? You came here for sex, right?”

She was aghast at his candor. “Must you be so vulgar?”

“It’s how I roll, sugar. Did you expect your date not to admire your body?”

 “I did…well, I assumed he would. That’s not the point.” She stiffened her shoulders. “Keep your eyes to yourself.”

“Happy to.” He let out a long breath. “So…now what?”

“I leave.”

“Good luck with that. Storms brewing and they’ve shut the roads down until it clears. I hear it could be several days.”

“I have other ways of leaving.” All she had to do was wish herself elsewhere. No storm could prevent her from returning to heaven.

“Huh, that’s a new one. A cowardly angel.”

She stiffened in response. “I am not a coward!”

Check out my website: www.shielasbooks.ca

To purchase The Naughty Angel and many more go to Decadent Publishing www.decadentpublishing.com and Breathless Press at www.breathlesspress.com

Book Giveaway: A Stiff Kiss, Avery Olive

Avery Olive is hosting a scavenger hunt to giveaway some great prizes related to her book, A Stiff Kiss.

There are three prize packages up for grabs. For those of you who manage to get all fifteen answers correct you will be entered to win:

The Grand Prize Package including an A Stiff Kiss Canvas Tote bag and a Signed Print Copy of A Stiff Kiss as well as some signed Swag.
For the close but not all correct answers you will be entered to win:
The second Place Prize Package including an A Stiff Kiss T-shirt, signed swag and one E-Copy of A Stiff Kiss.
Because I believe everyone should have a chance to win a prize... For the rest of you who took the time to answer the questions whether you got them all right or not will be entered to win:
The Third Place Prize Package of an A Stiff Kiss Mouse-pad and some signed swag.

Head over to Avery's Olive's Blog to enter the scavenger hunt. But hurry entries close midnight July 14th!

Wednesday Chuckles

I'm deep into a new project, the Stewart Realty 6th book--Escalation Clause which is sort of morphing nicely into something that will be the perfect follow up to Books 4 (Essence of Time) and 5 (Conditional Offer, a novella releasing mid-August).  This part of the process is a little lonely and I get cranky during it so thought I would turn to Me Mum (one of my toughest line editors so "yes my mother reads my fiction") who is notorious for sending me funny stuff like these: 

"WHERE is my SUNDAY paper?!"

The irate customer calling the newspaper office, loudly demanded to know where her Sunday edition was.
"Madam",  said the newspaper employee, "today is Saturday.  The Sunday paper is not delivered until  tomorrow, on SUNDAY".

There was quite a long pause on the other end of the phone, followed by  a ray of recognition as she was heard to mutter ...

"Well, shit, that explains why no one was at church either".

Two businessmen in the centre of St Pete  were sitting down for a break, in their soon-to-be new shop... As  yet, the shop wasn't ready, with only a few shelves set up.  One said to the other,  "I bet any minute now some pensioner  is going to walk by,  put their face to the window,  and ask what we're selling." No sooner were the words out of his mouth  when, sure enough,  a curious old woman walked to the window,  had a peek,  and in a soft voice asked,   "What are you selling here?"  One of the men replied sarcastically,  "We're selling  ass-holes." Without  skipping a beat, the old dear said,  "Must be doing well... Only two left." Three women go down to Mexico one night to celebrate college graduation.       They get drunk, and wake up in jail, only to discover that they are to be executed in the morning, though none of them can remember what they did the night before. The first one, a redhead, is strapped in the electric chair and is asked if she has any last words. She says: "I just graduated from Trinity Bible College and believe in the almighty power of God to intervene on the behalf of the innocent.." They throw the switch and nothing happens. They all immediately fall to the floor on their knees, beg for forgiveness and release her. The second one, a brunette, is strapped in and gives her last words. "I just graduated from the University of Illinois School of Law, and I believe in the power of Justice to intervene on the behalf of the innocent." They throw the switch and again, nothing happens. Again, they all immediately fall to their knees, beg for forgiveness, and release her.       The last one, a blonde (you knew it), is strapped in and says: "Well, I'm from Ann Arbor and just graduated from The University of Michigan with a degree in Electrical Engineering, and I'll tell ya right now, you are not gonna electrocute anybody if you don't plug this thing in." And a great article me mum found and sent to me: "First Comes Sex, Then Comes Marriage?" Who knew?  Well, those of us who WRITE this sh*t do, duh. And finally, I'm hosting a giant giveaway on the Brewing Passion Blog to celebrate the release of CHEEKY BLONDE--check it out! make it a lovely hump day Liz