Blog Tour: Review and Giveaway of Delayed Flight by John J. Smith

Giveaway Details:
Mr. Smith has generously offered 1 copy of Delayed Flighted for us to giveaway.  This is open internationally. (US winner gets a PB copy or international get e-book). Just leave a comment with a valid e-mail address below.  This will run until 12/26. Good Luck!!

Author:John J. Smith
Publisher: Dark Red Press
Date of Publication: January 2011

Veronica, a widow from an abusive marriage, is looking forward to having a wonderful visit with her daughter, Jeri. It had been a year since Jeri moved away to college and Veronica cannot think of anywhere else she would rather be than spend a peaceful Christmas with Jeri.

Jared thought his day had already gone badly when his hiring proposal for consultants was put on hold. Now he finds himself stranded in a blizzard and discovers his rental car has a flat.To add insult upon injury, the keys are locked in the trunk!

When Veronica sees Jared walk into the airport terminal and takes a seat across from her, she can feel her emotions run amok bouncing somewhere between loathing and love. He was the man, whom she had loved and yet he had walked out on her. Jared on the other hand wants to do everything in his power to heal her wounds. In the deepest region of his heart, he wants to start over.

On icy roads, and deep in thought, Jeri is suddenly involved in a serious accident, and as Veronica rushes through the halls of the hospital, in search to find answers, she stumbles upon Jared. It is then Veronica realizes at that their present has brought them together shrouded in the events of their past while the doctors feverishly work to save her daughter’s life.

Delayed Flight is a very sweet story. I have to admit that when I started the book, I wasn't sure I was going to like it.  The beginning was a bit slow for me, but after the second chapter, I found that I couldn't put it down.  I devoured this book.  I loved the characters, especially Jared.  He is just such a nice guy that you can't help but root for him.  Imagine carrying a torch for one woman for so long.  I was hoping he would get his HEA! 


While Delayed Flight is a love story, it is so much more. This book is about the past and forgiveness. It's about finding the strength to allow yourself to move beyond past hurts and mistakes and move toward a brighter future.  There are a few twists in the story that I thought made it so much more enjoyable. While the end was a little predictable, I still ate it up.  If you don't walk away from this book with a smile, I will be surprised.  

Mr. Smith is a talented writer and I look forward to his next book!

About the author:

John writes under two names John J. Smith and pen name Jonathan Black. Why does he do this?  He has been told when a reader sees his work they have an expectation, hence the two names. He has won several awards under each name.

He has been called a prolific Fiction writer. He enjoys writing romance and mainstream as John and paranormal and paranormal romance as Jonathan.

Several of his novels have been converted or rewritten into screenplays; for which he has also have won several awards.

John J. Smith resides in Plano, a suburb of Dallas, Texas.  John's website

Code Blood by Kurt Kamm

Author: Kurt Kamm
Publisher: MCM Publishing
Date of publication: November 2011

Colt Lewis, a rookie fire paramedic, is obsessed with finding the severed foot of his first victim after she dies in his arms. His search takes him into the connected lives of a graduate research student, with the rarest blood in the world and the vampire fetishist who is stalking her. Within the corridors of high-stakes medical research laboratories, the shadow world of body parts dealers, and the underground Goth clubs of Los Angeles, Lewis uncovers a tangled maze of needles, drugs and maniacal ritual, all of which lead to death. But whose death? An unusual and fast-paced LA Noir thriller.

When I read the synopsis for this book, I was very intrigued.  After reading the book, I can say that I wasn't disappointed.  Code Blood is a pretty dark, yet well written book.  It was a definite change from what I have read lately. It is hard to describe without giving away the plot, so I'll let the synopsis speak for itself.

 The story waffles between 3 main characters and at first I wasn't sure how they all fit together.  The author did an excellent job of keeping up the suspense, yet allowed the story to unfold in a way that made sense. There were a few moments where I was cringing as I read them, talk about gross! I loved the ending and was very happy with  it. Let's just say that everyone got what they rightly deserved!

I definitely recommend this book.  If you are in the mood for something different and edgy, this is the book for you.  Mr. Kamm has a bright future as an author and I look forward to reading more of his books.

Guest Post: Melinda Leigh

Today, we have a guest post from author, Melinda Leigh, who is promoting her book, She Can Run.

Welcome Melinda!

Publisher: Montlake Romance
Publishing date: November 28, 2011

Elizabeth was a young widow with two small children when she met Congressman Richard Baker. Handsome and wealthy, with a sparkling public image, Richard seemed like the perfect man to provide the security that Beth and her kids were craving. But when she uncovers a dangerous secret about her new husband, Beth realizes he will go to any lengths—even murder—to keep it. After barely escaping with her life, she and her children flee. They eventually make their way to a secluded estate in the Pennsylvania countryside, where Beth dares to hope she has found a safe place at last…


Forced into retirement by an unexpected injury, Philadelphia homicide detective Jack O’Malley is mourning the loss of his career when his uncle abruptly dies, leaving Jack to dispose of his crumbling country house. Unbeknownst to him, his uncle engaged a caretaker just before his death, a mysterious woman with two children and a beautiful face that haunts his dreams. Determined to know her, Jack begins an investigation into Beth’s past. When he uncovers the shocking truth, and a local woman is viciously murdered, Jack puts his own life on the line to keep Beth and her children safe. 


She Can Run is a sexy, satisfying debut from award-winning author Melinda Leigh, packed with enough suspense and romance to get even the tamest heart racing! 

Melinda writes:

What inspired me to write my book?

I want to thank my hosts at From the TBR Pile for having me on their blog today to celebrate the recent release of my debut novel, SHE CAN RUN.  It’s so exciting to share this experience with readers.

How much impact can words have?  How can mere words on a page transport a reader into a whole new world? 

Questions like these fascinated me.  I’ve always been a rabid reader, devouring horror stories, mysteries, thrillers and romances by the scores. 

When my children were small, I didn’t have enough time to think about producing a story. I could barely stay awake long enough to read someone else’s book.

I’m not much of a TV person. Watching is too passive for me.  TV doesn’t hold my attention.  So I read.  A lot.  Reading kept me sane through 6 months of colic, though years of diapers and laundry, entire weeks when the most intelligent thing I did all day was identify a mystery stain on the carpet. 

But those years passed in a blur.  My kids went to school. As much as I love them, having a few hours to myself every day was bliss, especially on the heels of seven years of not being able to so much as shower without a small person in tow.  About 3 months into my youngest child’s first grade year, though I started getting antsy.  Again, it takes a lot to hold my attention.

So I turned all that energy and time into writing a book. For a long time, it was my secret and strange hobby.  For inspiration, I turned to the news.  A headline about how common it is for abusive husbands and boyfriends to defy protection orders gave me my heroine.  The fact that Beth could easily in real life suffer this same fate provided her motivation.  The dangerous nature of her situation is clear from the beginning. Her fear is real from the first sentence on page one.

I started this book as a mom with young children. The fact that it was easy to identify with Beth’s instinctive need to protect her children helped me infuse it with emotions as real as the tragic events that inspired her character.  

Want to know more about me or my debut book, SHE CAN RUN?  Check out my website, MelindaLeighAuthor.com. Readers can also connect with me on Facebook & Twitter.    

Thanks for reading!

About the Author:

More than a decade ago, Melinda Leigh left a career in banking to raise her children and never looked back.  She started writing when her youngest child entered first grade as a way to preserve her sanity. Her paranormal romance and romantic suspense fiction has won writing awards across the country, including The Gateway to the Best Contest, The Marlene Award, Where the Magic Begins, Put Your Heart in a Book, and The Golden Gateway 1st Round Grand Prize.

Melinda is also an avid martial artist. She holds a 2nd degree belt in Kenpo Karate, studies Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and teaches women’s self-defense. She lives in a messy house in the suburbs with her husband, two teenagers, a couple of dogs and one neurotic cat with an inexplicable fear of ceiling fans.  With such a pleasant life, she has no explanation for the sometimes dark and disturbing nature of her imagination.

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Hater by David Moody

by:  David Moody
published by:  St. Martin's Griffin
publish date:  April 13, 2010

REMAIN CALM DO NOT PANIC TAKE SHELTER WAIT FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS THE SITUATION IS UNDER CONTROL Society is rocked by a sudden increase in the number of violent assaults on individuals. Christened 'Haters' by the media, the attackers strike without warning, killing all who cross their path. The assaults are brutal, remorseless and extreme: within seconds, normally rational, self-controlled people become frenzied, vicious killers. There are no apparent links as a hundred random attacks become a thousand, then hundreds of thousands. Everyone, irrespective of gender, age, race or any other difference, has the potential to become a victim - or a Hater. People are afraid to go to work, afraid to leave their homes and, increasingly, afraid that at any moment their friends, even their closest family, could turn on them with ultra violent intent. Waking up each morning, no matter how well defended, everyone must now consider the fact that by the end of the day, they might be dead. Or perhaps worse, become a killer themselves. As the status quo shifts, ATTACK FIRST, ASK QUESTIONS LATER becomes the order of the day... only, the answers might be much different than what you expect....

My first experience with David Moody was Autumn, the zombie book that never uses the Z word.  That book made me realize that zombie books aren't bad, they aren't all for the "Dungeons & Dragons" set.  Don't be distracted by that, Hater isn't a zombie book.  The people in Hater are infected with rage and violence.

My initial reaction to this book was that I hated Danny.   The reader sees everything through Danny's eyes and he is the most miserable human being I've ever encountered.  He hates his job, he hates his life, he hates where he lives, and at times he hates his family.  After awhile though, it works!  The whole mood of misery and unhappiness gets worse and worse until it explodes.

Hater is the first book in a Trilogy.  The second book is Dog Blood and the third is Them or Us.  I will eventually get to the other two.  I listened to this one on audiobook and it was pretty good, so I'll probably seek out the other ones on audiobook as well.

Review and Giveaway Jealous And Freakn' by Eve Langlais

Giveaway Details:  
As part of Eve'a Giveaway Blitz blog tour, I have 1 e-copy of Jealous and Freakin' to giveaway.  This is international since it is an eBook.  Just leave a comment with your e-mail to enter.  For extra entries, post on Twitter or Facebook and leave the link.  I'll leave this open until December 19.  Good Luck!

Author: Eve Langlais
Publisher: Self
Date of Publication: November 2011


Francine's loved Mitchell, a wolf like herself, since she first set eyes on him back when they were just kids. However, Mitchell's never seen her as more than another annoying sister. Determined to make him realize she's all grown up, she enlists the aide of Alejandro, a gorgeous cat shifter. She never counted on wanting them both.

Alejandro knows Francine is special from the first moment he meets the fiery plump wolf, which is why he suggests she use him to make Mitchell jealous. A great plan, especially if it means he gets to kiss those luscious lips. One taste, though, and he's addicted, but how does he make her see past the man she loves to realize she's also meant to be his mate?

For a long time now, Mitchell's been avoiding Francine, his bratty sister's friend. However, the little girl he remembers is all grown up, and when he sees her in the arms of another, a need to claim her overrides all his common sense. But, he's waited too long and fate has decided that he's going to have to share. Can he bend enough to accept Francine with her other man, or will his freakn' jealousy send him running? 

Jealous and Freakin' is the second book in the Freakin' Shifters series by  Ms. Langlais.  Having read the first one, Delicate Freakin' Flower, I would say that both can be read as a stand alone novel.  As you can see from the synopsis, this book does involve some menage scenes.  They were beautifully and tastefully written.  I liked the characters, especially Alejandro. Once he figured out what he wanted, he went all in to get it for himself.  I like that in a man. Mitchell, I will admit, had to grow on me.  I'm also not sure I am convinced of the harmony between the trio in the end.  I liked the trio's relationship in the first book, more. 

The shifter world that Ms. Langlais has set up is a great one.  I like the sense of community among the shifters and how they set up their environments.  I like the idea that they pretty much know instantly who their mate is that fate has set them up with, whether they chose to accept it or not.  I would like to know more about the shifters and how they become who they are.  Like, what kind of animal would a wolf and a bear make?  Can a human be transformed? Maybe in later books...

This is a great addition to the series and I look forward to the next book, Already Freakin'  Mated, coming in spring of 2012.

About the author:

I'm writing romance the way I like it--hot with a touch of paranormal fun. I enjoy reading and writing stories that push the envelope of what we consider normal, and I love to push boundaries--and in some cases totally smash them. I tend to have a lot of sexual tension in my tales as I think all torrid love affairs start with a tingle in our tummies. My heroes are very male, you could even say border line chest thumping at times. So if you want a truly sensitive man, I am not for you. But that said, my men will do almost anything for the one they love. Even babysit. 

For more on me and my work please see my website 
http://www.evelanglais.com 

Blog Tour - Cold River by Liz Adair

Author: Liz Adair
Publisher: Brigham Distributing
Date of Publication: September 2011


Mandy Steenburg thinks her doctorate in education has prepared her to run any school district - until she tangles with the moonshine-making, coon-dog-owning denizens of a tiny district in Pacific Northwest timber country. She's determined to make a difference, but the local populace still looks to the former superintendent for leadership. When Mandy lands in the middle of an old feud and someone keeps trying to kill her, instinct tells her to run. And though she has to literally swim through perilous waters, she finds a reason to stay and chance the odds.

Cold River is an enjoyable story.  Mandy Steenburg makes a move to a small town to take over as superintendent, but nothing has prepared her for the opposition she meets.  At first I wasn't sure I liked Mandy all that much.  She did come off very strong in the beginning, as if she was going to come in and save everyone.  But, as I read the book, I began to like her more.  She wasn't afraid to stand up for her beliefs, but she was also able to allow people to change her attitude about the town.

I was under the impression going into this book that it was a romantic suspense.    I would have said it was more of a suspense novel.  The romance in the book is almost non-existent.  I'm not even sure when Mandy and Grange were supposed to have fallen in love.  So the HEA in the end of the book seemed off and forced to me.   I did have a hard time figuring out who the bad guy was and was surprised in the end.

Cold River is worth picking up.  Give it a shot.

About the Author:

Born in southern New Mexico, Liz attended school in small towns in New Mexico, Wyoming, Alaska, Utah, and Arizona where she graduated from Fredonia High and NAU (then Arizona State College).

Books by Liz Adair include the Spider Latham Mystery Series, consisting of The Lodger, After Goliath and Snakewater Affair and Mist of Quarry Harbor. Liz is also the co-editor (with her daughters Terry Gifford and Ruth Lavine) of Lucy Shook's Letters from Afghanistan. Her book Counting the Cost, a novel based on family history, won the 2009 Whitney Award and was a finalist for the Willa Award and Arizona Publisher Association’s Glyph Award. Her newest book, a romantic suspense set in Pacific Northwest timber country and titled Cold River, is out in October 2011.

Liz and husband, Derrill, live in Sedro Woolley, Washington. Besides writing, Liz works as a forensic scheduler doing project delay analyses.

Liz is active in American Night Writers Association and LDStorymakers and belongs to the Skagit Valley Writer’s League.

Guest Post: Robin Perini

Today we have a guest post from author, Robin Perini, who is promoting her book, In Her Sights. Welcome Robin!

Publisher: Montlake Romance
Date of Publication: November 2011

Jasmine “Jazz” Parker, Jefferson County SWAT's only female sniper, can thread the eye of a needle with a bullet. But she carries a secret from her past that she thought she buried for good at the age of fifteen. Two years ago she even drove away the one man she believed she could love—ex-Army Ranger turned reporter Luke Montgomery—to keep her past hidden. Now, in a fleeting second, the time it takes for one clean shot, one perfect hit, to save the life of the governor's daughter, Jazz's world begins to crumble around her.  Luke splashes her face and name across the front page of the newspaper, reawakening her past with a vengeance. A vicious enemy is now bent on destroying her life, forcing Jazz to turn to the one man she can never have in order to stop a killer before she and everyone she cares about pays the ultimate price. Full of explosive action and almost unbearable suspense, In Her Sights is a relentless, steamy thriller surprisingly infused with soul and poignancy. 

Robin writes:

Thanks so much for allow me to join you today. It's quite an honor. As this is my debut novel, I wondered what to talk about, so today it thought I might discuss my strange and unusual interests and how they resulted in my novel, In Her Sights.

I love romantic suspense. I love to read it. I love to write it. I love it in all its forms: contemporary, historical, paranormal, fantasy, science fiction, young adult. If you have urgent danger that brings two people together, who help each other catch the bad guys, I'm there!

As I began writing romantic suspense, I realized I needed to educate myself. So, if there was an opportunity to learn about ways to cause murder and mayhem, I was there. In fact, my best friend and I met over a series of workshops at a writing conference. Even though there were a dozen workshops going on, we kept bumping into each other at classes including coroner reports and autopsy photos, serial killers, weapons, cops, crime scene investigators…you get my drift. After the third class or so, we realized we had to meet. We began sitting together, and the rest, as they say, is history. Not many people can say they met their best friend over a serial killer.

So, it shouldn't come as a surprise that the idea for In Her Sights grew from another one of my interesting field trips. One of the fantastic opportunities I try to take advantage of each year is a day-long research event hosted by the Kiss of Death chapter of Romance Writers of America®. One year, the group visited the Arvada Police Department in Denver, Colorado. We visited with the 911 operators, the K-9 unit, narc investigators. And the SWAT Team was there.

SWAT cops are a different breed. There's an edge to them that intrigued me from the moment I walked up to the display of gadgets and weapons. The techy in me eagerly soaked in the equipment, but I found something much more interesting as I watched these amazing men describe their responsibilities and jobs. I studied the interplay between the elite members of this team. With each gesture and statement, from the way the sniper held his weapon, to his description of hand-sewing his ghillie suit (sort of a camouflage cloak that looks like the terrain) by hand, and the precision with which he completed the construction, I was hooked. 

My mind started whirling. What kind of man would be a sniper? What would his relationship be with the other members of his team as he stands above and apart from the entry team that rushes into the building? Then I learned that a woman could be a SWAT team member as long as she met the physical requirements. I didn't really put it all together until I was speaking to another writer friend. I told her that women could be members of SWAT. She asked, "What if your sniper IS your heroine?" 

Lightening struck!

Jazz was born. In Her Sights was born. All the questions I'd been asking—including what does it take to be a sniper—crystallized, and the story was inevitable from that moment on. I hope you enjoy learning about Jazz and what it takes to be a female sniper. In my eyes, she's a hero and she gets to catch the bad guys!

I love to hear from readers. Please connect with me. You can get in touch via my website, www.robinperini.com where you can view the In Her Sights book trailer, read excerpts, read reviews, sign up for my mailing list and even request trading cards or a Kindlegraph. I'm also on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads. I'd love to hear from you.

  
About the author:

Award-winning author Robin Perini’s love of heart-stopping suspense and poignant romance, coupled with her adoration of high tech weaponry and covert ops, encouraged her secret inner commando to take on the challenge of writing romantic suspense novels.  Her mission's motto: "when danger and romance collide, no heart is safe."

As a writer, Robin is devoted to giving her readers fast-paced, high stakes adventures with a love story sure to melt their hearts. Robin’s strong characters and tightly woven plots have garnered her seven prestigious Romance Writers of America Golden Heart® finals, and Golden Heart Winner in 2011. Stolen Lullaby, will be published by Harlequin Intrigue® in May, 2012 as Finding Her Son. Her other 2011 Golden Heart® Finalist, In Her Sights, will be published by Amazon's Montlake Romance November 29, 2011.

By day, she works for an advanced technology corporation, and in her spare time, you might find her giving one of her many nationally acclaimed writing workshops or find her training in competitive small-bore rifle silhouette shooting.  She's a voracious reader and a die-hard fan of the T.V. series, BONES.

Robin loves to interact with readers.  You can catch her by sending a comment on this website, writing her at P.O. Box 50472, Albuquerque, NM 87181-0472, or interacting with her via Amazon, Facebook, Goodreads, Google+ or Twitter.

Throwback Thursday - Tender Loving Cure by Gaye Kasper

Author: Gayle Kasper
First published in 1994 by Loveswept

Dr. Joel Benedict is a proper Bostonian, more likely to be caught daydreaming about sailboats than supermodels. He insists he doesn’t need to take the hospital’s Sex Talk seminar. Then he sees the temptress leading the class. Instantly enamored of the so-called sexpert, Joel soon feels a stirring passion he thought was long dead. Could she teach him to take the only chance that matters?

Maggie Springer’s provocative seminars are all the rage, except with the prudish problem student who dismisses her course as psychobabble. She sets out to free Joel’s inhibitions, to break through his cool facade—but Maggie finds that Dr. Benedict’s bedside manner could make a lady blush. And if Maggie gets too close, her private lessons may ignite a desire she never expected in her wildest fantasies.

Tender Loving Cure was not what I was expecting.  I thought that there would be more about Maggie's seminar titled "Sex Talk".  Which, actually, would make a great seminar for doctors since a lot of them need to learn to communicate better with their patients.  In any case, this book has the handsome and sexy doctor who falls for the sensual and brilliant psychologist/teacher.  Both who are unwilling to let their guard down to love one another, each for their own reasons.  Throw in a teenager and a big misunderstanding and you have all of the elements for a great romance. 

While I liked the book, it did feel a bit dated to me. The clothing descriptions and some of the references aged the story a bit.  Despite that, I do recommend this throwback.  It is the first by Ms. Kasper that I have read.  I know that Loveswept has reissued it as an e-book.  It is a very quick read...give it a try!

Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to Danielle G.!  You were chosen as the winner of the Night Reigns Giveaway.   

Danielle, I have sent you an e-mail.  Thanks to everyone who stopped by!

Blog Tour - Outlawed Love by Jason Krumbine

Author: Jason Krumbine
Publisher: One Stray Word
Date of publication: January 2011

Kate Sharpe, US Marshal, is a woman on a mission with no time for love or romance. Her prisoner, the handcuffed hottie, Kyle Archer, just turned State's evidence on notorious mobster Jonathon Bragan. Kate's responsible for getting him from the courthouse to the jailhouse, but can she do it without losing her heart?

This is a very different story from the one I reviewed last month by Mr. Krumbine. Outlawed Love is a romantic suspense novella.  The action takes off right away and doesn't let up until the end.  It was a wild ride.  

Kate and Kyle are from 2 very different sides of the law, yet the attraction is instant and mutual, much to Kate's chagrin.  I liked Kate and Kyle. Their attraction was believable.   My only regret with this one is that the story was a little too short.  I would have liked to see more relationship development between the couple.  


Whatever type of story Mr. Krumbine is writing, it is well written and thought out.  He has a talent for writing and I know he is an author I will be following.

About the author:

Jason Krumbine is the author behind the pulse pounding, wisecracking Alex Cheradon Series, the high concept Christian fantasy “Heaven’s Superhero”, and the tongue-in-cheek paranormal romance “A Graveyard Romance.” He can be reached at www.jasonkrumbine.com, onestrayword@gmail.com or on twitter @jasonkrumbine.

Original Sin by Beth McMullen

by:  Beth McMullen
published by:  Hyperion
publish date:  July 12, 2011

On the surface, Lucy Hamilton looks just like all the other stay-at-home San Francisco moms. She takes her three-year-old son, Theo, to the beach, to the playground and to the zoo. She feeds him organic applesauce and free-range chicken. She folds laundry and plays on the floor with Matchbox cars until her knees ache. What no one knows about Lucy, not even her adoring husband, is that for nine years Lucy was Sally Sin, a spy for the United States Agency for Weapons of Mass Destruction. And that's just the way she wants to keep it - a secret. But when Lucy's nemesis Ian Blackford, a notorious illegal arms dealer, hits the USAWMD's radar, the Agency calls Sally Sin back to action to lure Blackford out into the open. Racing against time, Lucy must fight to save herself, her loving family - and, oh right - the world. Hilarious and resonant, ORIGINAL SIN is the story of one woman’s quest to find that most elusive work-life balance in the face of danger, intrigue, and proper recycling habits.

Stephanie Plum fans heads up, Sally Sin will be your new BFF.  Hands down the funniest book I've read this year. I've been telling everybody about this one.  It was so much fun.

Lucy AKA Sally Sin is desperately trying to fit into her "normal" life as a stay at home mom in San Francisco.  I think my favorite part was how she drops him off at daycare and then watches him from the coffee shop across the street for the entire time.  Not reading or doing puzzles or anything else to occupy her time, just watching him, the whole time, to make sure no unauthorized personnel enters the building. 

The characters in this book are great.  This is the first book in a series and I can't wait to read more from Beth McMullen.  I think this is the start of fantastic new journey and I can't see what kind of hijinks Sally Sin gets up to next.