Release Day: Sheri Velarde – Stealing Hearts

Stealing Hearts: Gods Behaving Badly Book 3
Who doesn’t like some misbehaving Gods?
By Sheri Velarde

Blurb:
Sophia had fled New York and the feelings that a certain detective had stirred within her. Now she found herself alone in LA on New Year’s Eve, the former goddess of love reduced to having to look for a date. Hitting the Sunset Strip she finds the last thing she was looking for, but exactly who she was yearning for, Detective Bruce Stoker in the flesh. A night of passion leaves her with high hopes for the future, until an art heist threatens everything.

Bruce had followed Sophia across the country in order to rekindle the passion he felt during their one night together and to get some much needed answers from her about who he really was, what her really was. Just when he thought he would get his answers, Bruce begins to wonder if he can truly trust Sophia at all. Only time and a mystery will tell.
Buy Links:
Looted: smarturl.it/c1rs3m
Lost Souls: smarturl.it/puu78m
Stealing Hearts: smarturl.it/tl3f7k

Guest Post:
Why Greek gods in modern times?
When I decided to try my hand at an actual book series, the first idea that popped into my mind was that it should be about Greek gods. That is where the idea for the Gods Behaving Badly series started. People since then have asked me why Greek gods? Why not? Not only are there plenty of gods to choose from, which means lots of potential characters for a book series, but they are fascinating to me. I believe that you should write what you know and love, so ancient gods from mythology just made me want to write them. Plus let’s face it, all those overgrown personalities make for some pretty good fiction! Talk about drama! For my own personal deities of lore stories I chose to place them in modern times with diminished powers. Same egos, but more challenges. So far I am liking the results. Looted, the first in the series was pretty well received and I am hoping Stealing Hearts does just as well. I am loving writing this series and in the latest book have already brought in more gods and that means more stories to tell. Here is a little sneak peak from Stealing Hearts.
Author Bio:
Sheri Velarde lives in New Mexico with her husband and their two dogs.
Being an avid reader since an early age, she has wanted to be a writer for as long as she can remember. She has been writing all her life, but only recently started to actually try to pursue her dream of writing for a living. She specializes in all things paranormal and that go bump in the night. Her heart truly lies in exploring unknown worlds or adding the supernatural to our world. If it goes bump in the night or has magical connotations, Sheri writes about it.
She is constantly putting out new material with various publishers, so it is best to keep up with her on her website http://www.sherivelarde.weebly.com.
In her spare time Sheri is an artist, jewelry designer, independent comic writer/artist and freelance non-fiction writer. Hiking in the mountains, going to live concerts, art openings, museums, and hosting intimate dinner parties.
Links:
Website/Blog: http://sherivelarde.weebly.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sheri-VelardeKelly-Ryan/632892500084202
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Sher_V

Excerpt:
The next morning Bruce awoke feeling happier than he could ever recall feeling. Suddenly he snapped open his eyes to make sure that Sophia still lay beside him. Sure enough, she slept peacefully next to him, a slight smile played on her beautiful features, her long auburn hair mussed, making her even sexier. Thank god, or goddess in this case. He had been afraid she’d disappear despite her promise the night before. Now that his need for her had been abated ever so slightly, maybe he could get her to answer some questions that had been eating him alive since their first meeting. His stomach growled; he forgot when his last meal had been and he had certainly worked up an appetite the previous evening. Quietly, he slipped out of bed, praying that goddesses kept a fully stocked kitchen. Maybe a little breakfast in bed would make her more talkative about the magic she seemed to have awakened within him. He still needed to know what an empath truly was, what he truly was, and what he was capable of doing. It seemed too farfetched to believe he was anything but human. However, he certainly felt different when with Sophia.
Making it to the kitchen, he was thrilled to see Sophia had all the makings for a fine breakfast. He turned on the small television on the counter as he began to get the eggs and bacon ready to cook. Mostly, he just wanted a little noise as he got to work, but something suddenly caught his attention.
“This is the highest profile art heist to hit Los Angeles in history. What is even more puzzling, there is no evidence as to who could have stolen the painting. All cameras and security systems are working properly, and the guards on duty didn’t see or hear anything. No alarms sounded, and the Getty’s systems show that no one entered or exited the premises last night. Van Gogh’s Irises is valued at over fifty-five million dollars, but many consider it priceless. If you have any information please contact the police. This is certainly not how we wanted to start off the New Year…”
Bruce’s heart sank. As he lay asleep last night, exhausted by lovemaking, it appeared Sophia may have been up to her old tricks. How could he ever learn to truly trust a creature such as her? She seemed to be getting bolder too, now she wasn’t just stealing from nefarious rich men, but from the Getty Center, and a high profile piece as well. He must not have provided her with enough excitement last night after all.

#YA Excerpt

I’m working on a YA r&r. Here’s a snippet.

“Hey.”
I jump even though I recognize his voice. Somebody’s answered my silent prayer and turned on the lights. He’s standing on the window ledge, shirtless. A gentle breeze ruffles his hair. He’s beautiful and muscled. My heart skips a beat when he smiles.
“Hey,” I whisper afraid the girls or Dad will hear me.
He waves. “How are you feeling?”
I’m grinning so hard it’s hard to answer him. “Great.”
“Come on down,” he says.
I shake my head. Dad’s still up and his study’s downstairs. He’ll definitely notice if I leave the house. Dad is pretty strict with us regarding to boys and stuff. That’s why I’m amazed my sisters have been brave enough to start kissing.
“Skye?” Claude’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts.
“You coming or not?”
I shake my head.
He shakes his head and disappears inside his house. I’m on a high as I prepare to shut the sliding door and call it a night. Claude actually spoke to me. Every cell in my body sings in ecstasy.
“Early bird?”
I jump at the sound of his voice behind me. “H…how…” My voice trails off.
“…did I get up here?” He leans against the balcony railing, still shirtless. “I have skills.” He grins.
It’s hard to keep my eyes of his wide shoulders, broad chest and abs. “Okay.” I don’t know what else to say. My face heats up because of his closeness and naked muscled torso.
He holds out a bunch of red roses. “Hope you’re feeling better.”
“I am and thanks.” The scent of the roses are unlike I’ve ever smelt before. “They’re beautiful.”
“Grown especially for you.” He grins revealing sparkling, white teeth.
My insides melt when he grins. Shit. I had no idea he’d affect me like this once I finally saw him and spoke to him.
“Thanks.”
“You should put them in some water before they die,” he says.
“Yeah.” There’s a vase with fresh water on my outside table with two yellow roses – from Nina and Dawn. I pop the fresh bunch of roses inside the vase and wonder what to say next. He’s still leaning against the balcony railing the minute I turn around.
“Don’t you think it’s ironic?”
“What?”
He straightens himself and I realize he’s much taller than I imagined. “That I turned out to be such an amazing singer after all and you got your eyesight back.”
My heart beats harder. “Yes, you are an extraordinary singer…”
He laughs again. “I’m kidding. Are you always this serious?”
I shrug. “I guess…”
“So have you written any songs since you got your eyesight back?”
“Dozens. Would you like to hear one?”
His smile vanishes. “We had a deal, remember?”

Guest Post : Author Sheri Velarde Coming Soon

Fab guest post coming soon.

Vengeful Cover Reveal

Please welcome Chantel Fourie on my blog today. Chantel has a brand new YA book out with Lycaon Press.

 

In a world where vengeful creatures battle humans, knowing who to trust could be the difference between losing his brother and saving the human race.

When Zack ends up in an alternate dimension and loses his brother to the Vengeful, the last thing he expects is that one of the soul-seeking creatures would save his life.
Vale, a Vengeful with human capabilities, needs his help to retrieve an orb from the last remaining human settlement. In return, he promises to help Zack save his brother and take them back to their own world.

In the settlement, he learns the truth about the Vengeful and the orb’s power. But it is only when he meets Shiro, the human leader, that Zack begins to have doubts. Can he trust Vale to keep his promise, or should he believe Shiro instead?

The fate of the human race rests on his choice.

Hmmmm. Sounds like Zack is the next Book Boyfriend.

About the author:

Chantel Fourie is a YA author, specializing in Fantasy and Paranormal fiction. She lives in Despatch, a quiet town in South Africa.
Since a young age, she has treasured books and spent many afternoons at the local library. Even after the librarians suggested the adult section, she kept loyal to the Young Adult shelves.
Her first novella, The Vengeful, is published with Lycaon Press. She is currently working on various short stories and novellas, including the sequel of The Vengeful. When she is not writing, she is most likely absorbed in a world of fiction or playing online computer games with her friends.
You can find her on Twitter @darkwrld1021

Lost Souls Guest Blog by Sheri Velarde

First let me say a huge thank you to Sheritha for letting me stop by again! Thanks doll, you are the best!
Writing is a pretty tough though rewarding job and sometimes you need someone supportive there in your corner to keep you going when things start to look too tough. For me that someone is my fiancé William. During those time when self-doubt seeps into my thoughts, he is there to tell me that I am a good writer and that I need to keep at it. When a rejection letter comes, and yes they sometimes still do, he tells me to just move on and find a better fit for my story. When life becomes overwhelming and I just feel like giving up writing all together and quitting, he is there to encourage me to make more time and keep at it.
This year was a tough one. I lost my grandmother whom I was a caretaker for, I had major health issues, I was forced to leave my day job for various reasons and that led to financial stress. If there was a year I thought about giving up writing, well it was this year. But William, well he just wouldn’t hear of that. He insisted I keep writing no matter what. He gave me gentle pushes when I needed to get back to writing and encouraged me to keep submitting. I did indeed keep writing and Lost Souls marks my sixth release coming out this year and most of those are all thanks to my fiancé and his constant support. For that all I can say is thank you William and that I hope all authors out there are as lucky as I am to have someone in their corner that believe in them and their talent so much.

Blurb:
Amy is a fallen angel living life on earth as a rock star, embracing her bad behavior and becoming a heavy metal goddess. With the excesses of her new career she almost feels happy. Almost. However something her old friend Aphrodite once promised her is still missing, love.
Jade is a sweet and sexy woman, trying to make a place for herself in this lonely world. Lost in Los Angeles and just looking for a somewhere she belongs. As the holidays approach she only realizes how alone she truly is in the unforgiving city of Lost Souls.
One night these two meet seemingly out of the blue and sparks fly. It is as if something is drawing them towards each other. Now they both are learning what true happiness can feel like, if only some secrets don’t rip them apart before their love even has a chance to bloom.
Buy Links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Lost-Souls-Weekend-Getaway-Book-ebook/dp/B00PYZ0ZD8/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1416788916&sr=1-1&keywords=sheri+velarde
Secret Cravings Publishing: http://store.secretcravingspublishing.com/index.php?main_page=book_info&cPath=4&products_id=990&zenid=fiineuhckm3phjtinmqh6dj1p7
Author Links:
Website/blog: http://sherivelarde.weebly.com/books-and-more-blog
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Sher_V
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sheri-VelardeKelly-Ryan/632892500084202
Excerpt:
Suddenly she felt a warming sensation shooting through her body, something she had never felt before in her long life. She turned to see what had caused it, or she should say who. A beautiful woman with piercing green eyes and waist-length auburn hair stood in the doorway, casual jeans and black T-shirt hugging her body’s generous curves. She was the most alluring creature Amy had ever seen, and she was staring right at her with a look of intensity in her eyes, as if she had been searching for Amy all along and had finally found her. They stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity before the connection was broken, the pale beauty shaking her head and heading towards an empty seat on the other end of the bar and returning Amy’s senses to her.
With the spell suddenly broken, Amy once again could hear Len finishing up his story as if nothing special had just happened. What the hell was that? Was the woman at the other end of the bar some sort of demon? She had to be magical and otherworldly to cause such a reaction. She certainly had otherworldly looks. Even though her hips and breasts were more ample than most angels and the like, she had the body of a goddess that begged to be touched. Amy shook her head. Len had finished, so she ordered them another round of drinks. As soon as her martini arrived she downed it and immediately signaled for another. If only alcohol affected her like it did most humans she would probably be calming down by now and not worrying about the mystery woman. Instead she still felt strange, like something had come alive inside her for the first time. She risked a glance at the red-headed siren down the way. The subtle temptress was sipping a beer, chatting with a bartender on that side of the bar. Suddenly she laughed and her whole face lit up, causing Amy to at once be jealous of the bartender and to want to be next to this woman and be the one making her laugh.
She must have been staring, for Len interrupted her inner turmoil. “She’s a looker, all right. A woman with curves too, not one of those too-skinny Hollywood types. They’re a rarity out here nowadays. If I were younger I might try to fight you for her.” He laughed. “Of course, if she picks you I would be out of the running anyways; you know, that pesky penis and all.”
It was Amy’s turn to laugh. “You know some women like both men and women.”
Len winked knowingly at her. “So I have been told. But I’ve never taken you to be the sharing sort of gal. Now get over there and let one of us live the fantasy tonight. After all, we are rock stars, go act like one!”

Fun with Names – I Wish Blog Tour #WISHSHP

Please welcome super fabulous multi published author, Elizabeth Langston on my blog tour.

Today Elizabeth is going to tell us how she comes up with names for her characters.

Fun With Names

Picking names for characters in a book is a tough thing to do, especially since I try to avoid the names of people I know. I don’t want them to think that I’m basing a character on them.

I Wish, however, is full of characters named for specific people. (I doubt I ever do that again.) Here are the names and why I chose them.

Grant – Originally, I named my genie Grant for a weird reason. Genies “grant” wishes. It was just a place-holder until I learned him better and figured out what his name should be. But a couple of things convinced me to keep it. A friend of mine has a son named Grant, and he is really cute and nice. (I hope neither of them read this. 🙂 Then I looked up the meaning of the name and discovered that Grant means “great”. It was a perfect fit for the hero of I WISH.

Lacey – In my first draft of the book, the heroine’s name was Molly. But it never quite felt right. My heroine was determined, fiercely independent, and intensely loyal to the people she loved. That profile described my grandmother. So I renamed my heroine after Grandmother Lacey, and that felt exactly right.

Henry – I named Lacey’s brother after Prince Henry of Wales. Just because.

Eli – Lacey’s friend (and Henry’s soccer coach) is named after Eli Manning, the quarterback for the New York Giants. I received my undergraduate degree from the University of Mississippi. The Manning family is practically royalty for Ole Miss alumni. (And, yes, I use the name Peyton in another book.)

Kimberley – Lacey’s best friend started life as Adriana. But I ended up not liking the character, so I completely rewrote her. When I did, I needed a new name. About this same time, the receptionist at my family physician’s office asked me to name a character after her, and there you go. We had our Kimberley.

Crystal – On the Social Security Administration’s “popular baby names” website (http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames/ ), I asked it to give me the Top 25 names for the year 1977 (approximately when Lacey’s mom would’ve been born.) Name #25 is Crystal.

Sara & Sean – the twins are named after my great-grandmother Sarah (but I dropped the “h”) and my nephew-in-law Sean (but an entirely different spelling.)

Finally, I’ll mention two very minor characters, Charlie and Norah. Those names will appear somewhere in every book series that I will ever write. Charlie was my nephew. Norah was my boss’s daughter. Both left us way too young. Charlie died at age 4; Norah, age 6. It’s just my little effort to honor their memories.

Watch out for a follow up post on I Wish and more info on Elizabeth.

Teaser from My #NA MS on query

Crew waves his beer bottle at me. “I know you better than that. You took her license plate. Spill it.”
“Read my brain, Crew.” I half close my eyes and lean as far back into the couch as I can. I’m not in the mood for beer. Mine lies untouched on the coffee table.
“You’ll have to tell us everything sooner or later, bro.” Crew takes off his t shirt. “One thing I’ll bet my life on is you’re into her.”
“Into her? When are you going to grow up?” I ask.
“You’ve never rescued a girl twice,” Connor points out. “Neither one of us has.”
“You guys are making a big deal out of a stupid co-incidence,” I tell them.
“Co-incidence, my ass,” Hayden half screams.
“Our line of work doesn’t allow for co-incidences,” I remind them, “we’re in the business of saving lives — we’re not living in some fantasy.”
“Meeting hot chicks isn’t a fantasy,” Crew says, “It’s a reality.”
“You can meet hot chicks in a club,” I tell Crew.
He shakes his head. “Where in our contracts does it state that we can’t fall for our rescues?” He asks me.
I shake my head. “It doesn’t. It’s just the way I feel — Business and pleasure aren’t meant to mix.”

Cover Reveal – His Cemetery Doll

A fabulous Hello to Everyone,

I have a cover reveal by Breathless Press Author, Brantwijn Serrah.

Before we have a look at the cover, let’s take a look at what the book is about.

His Cemetery Doll

There’s a woman in the graveyard.

Conall Mackay never put stock in ghost stories. Not even after thirteen years serving as the cemetery keeper in the village of Whitetail Knoll. But things change. Now, his daughter is dreaming of a figure among the tombstones. The grounds are overrun by dark thorns almost faster than Con can clear them. White fog and gray ribbons creep up on him in the night, and a voiceless beauty beckons him from the darkest corners of the graves.

When the world he knows starts to unravel, Conall might finally be forced to believe.

Excerpt:

He hadn’t slept long before he heard sounds from down in the kitchen below.
“Shyla!” he called gruffly. “Weren’t you heading into town?”
No answer came from below, but the sounds of pots clanging told him his daughter toyed about down there. Perhaps she’d decided not to leave him after all and taken it into her head to now re-organize the house, since he’d so clearly wanted her to stay out of the cemetery. With a low groan, Conall rolled out of bed and stepped out into the hall.
“Shyla!” he called again, coming to the head of the stairs. If she had stayed home, she could at least do it without making a lot of noise.
“Shyla, I—”
He staggered then, as the hallway dimmed. Afternoon light flickered strangely, lightning cracking a dismal sky outside, and in the space of time afterward everything else darkened. Conall darted a glance around him as the house fell into shadow.
From the top of the stairwell, he saw the first whispering tendrils of white fog.
The heat of adrenaline shot through his limbs. Conall stumbled back into his bedroom, even as the fog pursued. His gaze shot to the window as the last gray light of day faded away and eerie darkness replaced it, like an eclipse sliding over the sun.
More cold mists veiled the glass, dancing and floating. Trembling overtook him as he spun to find another escape.
He froze, finding himself face-to-face with the broken mask of the cemetery doll.
“You—” he gasped. His breath came out white as the fog enveloped them both, leaving a space of mere inches between them, so he could still see her expressionless face. Gray ribbons wound and curled through the air around him.
“Who are you?” he asked.
The doll stared up at him. He sensed her searching, looking into his eyes even though hers remained covered. She held him there with her unseen gaze, until her cool, cold hand came up to touch his bare chest.
Conall let out a low breath. He closed his eyes, and a shudder of strange ease rippled through his body. The cool pads of her fingers ran down his sternum, to his navel. The silky ribbons brushed along his side.
Then he noticed her other hand. She lifted it up, to her own chest, and she held something tightly in her fingers: Shyla’s stuffed dog.
“I made that…for my daughter,” he whispered. The woman with the broken mask tilted her head down toward the small toy, studying it. For a fraction of a second, her fingers appeared to tighten around it. She returned her gaze to him, then, and the toy fell from her grip into the fog, forgotten.
“Wait—” he said, but she brought her other hand up to his chest to join the first, and he recognized eagerness in the way she pressed her icy skin against his. Her face tilted to him, and then came her lips again, ivory and flawless.
“I—” Conall breathed. “I…don’t understand…”
Her fingers slid up, around his neck, but he pulled away.
“No, this…this can’t real. I’m asleep. I must be.”
Gray ribbons danced, pulling him back to her, and she stroked his face. He sucked in a breath at her touch and found his own hand coming up to brush hers.
“You’re so cold,” he said. “Like stone…but…”
Her cool touch thrilled him; it made his skin tingle and the heat of his own body sing. Her perfect flesh did, in fact, prove soft under his hands, as if the contact with his worn calluses infused cold ivory with yearning. She caressed his cheek, and Conall leaned into it. Before he could stop himself, he bowed his head to her and kissed her frozen lips.

Coming October 24th
From Breathless Press
Pre-Order at http://tinyurl.com/llm3f26

Visit Brantwijn Serrah and Foreplay and Fangs Supernatural Romance:

http://tinyurl.com/q2cmnep

Friday Freebie – Snippet from Cherish

“I skip breakfast and leave for school before Ida’s even up. I’m rushing down the hall, anxious to catch a glimpse of Marcus when I run into someone.
“Sorry.”
“I’ll survive,” a husky male voice replies.
My gaze travels past the solid muscle I rushed into and into a classically beautiful face that could have been ripped right off the pages of Teen. He’s hot, and he knows it.
“Armando Perez.” He holds out his right hand and smiles, expecting me to shake it and swoon.
He’s gorgeous, but I’m not going to show him I think so. “Sarah Parker.”
“Pleasure’s all mine.” He takes my hand, raises it to his lips, and kisses it.”

Excerpt From: Singh, Sheritha. “Cherish.” Lycaon Press, 2014. iBooks.
This material is protected by copyright.

Rachel Valentine is Back

Thanks for having me on your blog today to talk about my first release under the name Samantha Allard. The Dark of the Moon started life as a short story series under the name Ella Grey. When I got the rights back the story was expanded and heavily revised. I believe it’s stronger for it. Rachel Valentine has always been one of my favourite characters, a snarky teenager who is willing to go above and beyond to save her brother and bring her family back together. Throw in wolves and a boy who annoys and intrigues her in equal measures and you get a story of accepting your past and growing as a person.
I’ll be taking part in a bigger blog tour next month, so keep an eye out for that to be in for a chance to win eBooks. Join my page on Facebook to keep updated. https://www.facebook.com/samanthaallard83

Here’s what the book is about. . .

A missing brother, werewolves at war, and she’s stuck in the middle. Rachel might not be your average girl, but even she has her limits. Three years ago her brother disappeared, and Rachel went off the rails quite spectacularly. Now she is trapped in a nunnery because she accidently blew up half the science department at her old school. One night she sees her long-lost brother in the crowd behind a reporter on television. There’s no mistaking who he is, but getting her parents to believe her is a different matter. It leaves her one option: break out of the nunnery and travel to London to track him down.
She’s about to find out that things are never that simple and there are some secrets that are impossible to believe.

Excerpt
I drop the box at my feet, then rummage through it. The book I need is wedged in deep.
Thank God the nuns hadn’t searched through any of the books I brought. I specifically chose the Stephen King, figuring it was the safest one. It took me ages to hollow it out. There’s enough money in here that no one would notice the slight difference in weight. I flick through the wad of money, stopping when I catch sight of the fake ID, which adds a few years to my age. I use the blue rucksack stuffed into the box. I add the things I need inside. First the book, the money and ID still hidden away. A few items of clothes follow them, a skirt, a dress, T-shirts, and jeans. I’m looking forward to getting out of this stupid uniform. Hell, I’d burn it if I had time.
Just leaving the cupboard, I notice a name on one of the boxes. Susan Towers. What had she told me about herself? Pausing at the door, I think. Come on, Rachel, think. She said something about makeup. She’s a makeup student. There might be something I can use in her box. I slide the box down. One quick search through it and then I’ll go. I nearly jump when I brush my hand against something soft and brown.
What the hell is that?
A smile unfolds on my face when I realize what it is, hair. A wig. I fight against the urge to break out in a dance.
This is perfect. I can definitely use this.

A little about me. . .

Once upon a time, in a galaxy far away, passed the farthest star in the sky and where the horizon meets for its kiss with the land, Samantha battled evil drones. The drones were six feet tall, had three sets of hands, and it was best if you didn’t mention the third eye. (They don’t like it when you bring it up.) She wields words like a sword in her hand and cuts down her foes with the skill of a ballerina wearing flip-flops and juggling chainsaws. (She knows how to multitask.)
Take a trip into her worlds (yep, plural) as she writes young adult with a touch of wolves and anything else that takes her fancy.
Buy Links
http://www.lycaonpress.com/index.php?main_page=product_free_shipping_info&cPath=1&products_id=42&zenid=7b1d01e72a9cd74973f16cf48ed8bcbd
http://www.bookstrand.com/the-dark-of-the-moon
https://www.omnilit.com/product-thedarkofthemoon-1634024-140.html