Category Archives: Blog Tour

BEFORE YOU by Kathryn Freeman #giveaway

Kathryn Freeman

Before You

by

Kathryn Freeman

 

Kathryn Freeman

Genre:  Contemporary Romance

Release Date: 7th June 2016

Publisher:  Choc Lit

When life in the fast lane threatens to implode …

Melanie Hunt’s job working for the Delta racing team means she is constantly rubbing shoulders with Formula One superstars in glamorous locations like Monte Carlo. But she has already learned that keeping a professional distance is crucial if she doesn’t want to get hurt.

New Delta team driver Aiden Foster lives his life like he drives his cars – fast and hard. But, no matter how successful he is, it seems he always falls short of his championship-winning father’s legacy. If he could just stay focused, he could finally make that win.

Resolve begins to slip as Melanie and Aiden find themselves drawn to each other –with nowhere to hide as racing season begins. But when a troubled young boy goes missing, everything is thrown into turmoil, including Aiden’s championship dream.

BUY LINKS

AMAZON UK

AMAZON US

ABOUT KATHRYN FREEMAN

Kathryn Freeman

I was born in Wallingford but have spent most of my life living in a village outside Windsor. A former pharmacist, I’m now a medical writer who also loves to write romance. Some days a racing heart is a medical condition, others it’s the reaction to a hunky hero…

I’ve two teenage boys and a husband who asks every Valentine’s Day whether he has to bother buying a card again this year (yes, he does) so the romance in my life is all in my head. Then again, my husband’s unstinting support of my career change goes to prove that love isn’t always about hearts and flowers – and heroes can come in many disguises.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kathrynfreeman

Twitter: @kathrynfreeman1

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7373990.Kathryn_Freeman

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathryn-freeman-2962209

Website: http://kathrynfreeman.co.uk

GIVEAWAY

A paperback copy of Search for the Truth (open internationally)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

5-star reviews for The Secret of Hillcrest House

5-star

The Secret of Hillcrest House

now has

3 5-star

reviews!

I know it’s not many but everyone has to start somewhere.

5-star advert

You can read this lovely reviews on goodreads at the following links…

First Review
Second Review
Third Review

Blurb:

Sometimes there’s more to a house than bricks and mortar.

Hillcrest House is one such place. Perched on a cliff in the picturesque town of Angel Falls, there is more to this Victorian mansion than meets the eye. When referring to the house, the locals use the word haunted on a regular basis. Strange visions appear in the windows, especially the second-floor ones over the side porch. Even stranger events take place within its four walls.

Rumour has it, the original owners, Asher and Maggie Hargrave, never left their beloved home. They claim the couple and their family are responsible for driving people away. Over the years, Hillcrest House has changed hands numerous times. No one stays long. Renovations begin then stop and the house is once more abandoned. The latest in this long line of owners is Jessica Maitland.

Will Jessica be the next one to succumb or will she unravel The Secret of Hillcrest House?

The Secret of Hillcrest House is available in paperback and kindle formats from

In paperback and for the nook from

barnes-and-noble-572-logo

for the Kobo


and in the iBookstore

Why not order your copy today and see for yourself?

But be forewarned… there are two ‘adult’ scenes in it.

Beginning June 20th, The Secret of Hillcrest House and I will be touring with Brook Cottage Books. I hope you’ll join us as we whisk our way through the blogisphere.

SUMMER MOVED ON by Joanna Lambert plus Guest Post

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SUMMER MOVED ON

BY JOANNA LAMBERT

 

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After a long-buried secret tears her family apart, Jess Hayden moves to the South Devon village of Lynbrook to live with her uncle.   Rufus owns the village pub, The Black Bull, and having visited before, Jess knows the villagers well…especially one of them.

Talún Hansen has a reputation, making him the kind of man no decent girl should get involved with. Jess, however, has been under his spell from the moment they first met. Although they always seem to bring out the worst in each other, there is no denying the attraction that simmers between them – an attraction Jess knows she needs to keep under control after repeated warnings from her uncle.

As she settles into village life she begins to learn more about this wild, dark-haired gypsy with the compelling eyes, and realises their lives hold many similarities. Despite her uncle’s warnings, she begins to spend time with him. For Jess, the coming summer holds passion; for Talún the hope that he has at last found someone who truly cares for him.

But as autumn approaches, a dark shadow from Jess’s past returns, bringing far-reaching and unwanted changes for both of them.

AMAZON.CO.UK

AMAZON.COM

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HEROES AND VILLAINS

Once you’ve worked out how you’re going to kick start your latest WIP the next important thing is to look at your cast in more detail: to put flesh on bones, give them personalities and a background. I usually create a bio for each character central to my story, giving them a real identity –physical features, education, and a personal history – so I’m able to write as if I actually know them.

As significant as all these details are, however, it’s what the individual will come to represent in the book that is as important. One of the central characters in many romance novels is the antagonist – the villain. This is the person who, for whatever reason, causes trouble and puts obstacles in the way of our two would-be lovers. If he/she weren’t around then life would be plain sailing and the story would be over before it had a chance to begin.

I’m a prolific reader as well as a writer with romance definitely one of my favourite categories. It’s a fairly broad genre which can cover many different aspects of relationships. It can be light-hearted or serious and the settings for the stories can be historical, futuristic or contemporary. For me, however, romance is only one side of the coin. I also enjoy exploring relationships and how peoples’ actions can impact on others and change things, either for good or bad. My books are therefore a blend of romance and drama and because of this I find the villain a very powerful character. They drive the conflict, keeping the reader constantly turning the page to find out what happens next.

In my trilogy – When Tomorrow Comes, Love Lies and Promises and The Ghost of You and Metrouble came in the form of central character Ella’s mother Melissa (Mel). She was glamorous, vain and totally self-absorbed. She made Ella’s life an absolute misery, constantly interfering in her love life in her search for the ‘right kind’ of husband for her daughter. None of this was for Ella’s benefit, of course, it was all about promoting Mel’s social ambitions.

Book four – Between Today and Yesterday – caught up with the same characters in the late 1980s. This time, Marcie Maguire, a famous American diva and someone from Ella’s husband Matt’s past returned. She was looking for revenge after losing him to Ella many years before. By the fifth and last book of the series – The Other Side of Morning – Matt and Ella had settled down to a peaceful life together and it was the turn of the next generation. This story focussed on their niece Charlotte. In love with handsome Italian restaurateur Marco D’Alessandro, she fell foul of his stepmother Thérèse who had plans to marry her stepson off to a young Chianti heiress in order to expand the family’s business empire.

In my latest book – Summer Moved On we meet Lily, the newest female to take on the role of the woman everyone loves to hate. She is twenty years old; much younger than her three contemporaries in my other books, but just as destructive. Her character was influenced by a novel I read back in 1998 called ‘Concerning Lily’ by Sally Brampton. In it, we are introduced to Lily Clifton, a young woman who manages to cause irreparable damage to the lives of three couples who befriend her. The Lily in Summer Moved On has a lot of similarities to her namesake. She lacks a conscience and is totally focussed on taking what she wants and causing trouble, especially for the main character, Jess.

Of course, we haven’t seen the last of Lily because I’ve a sequel to write. Watercolours in the Rain will see her back again as we take up the story six years after the first book ends. What sort of problems will she be causing? Well, that’s still very much under wraps at the moment. All I can say is her behaviour will be as controversial as it has been in Summer Moved On! Watch this space…

About Joanna Lambert

 

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Jo Lambert was born and brought up in rural Wiltshire in a small village on the edge of Salisbury Plain. She has spent most of her working life in Senior PA or Admin Management roles both in the private and public sectors. Her love of reading soon spilled over into writing and her first novel When Tomorrow Comes was published in 2009. Four other books – Love, Lies and Promises, The Ghost of You and Me, Between Today and Yesterday and The Other Side of Morning followed. They formed a series following the lives and loves of four Somerset families.

Jo lives on the eastern side of the Georgian city of Bath with her husband, one small grey feline called Mollie and a forty eight year old white MG Midget called Bridget. She loves travel, red wine, rock music and cooking for friends.

Summer Moved On, her sixth novel, is the first part of a two book love story set in South Devon.

email: taurusgirl185@gmail.com

googleplus: google.com/+JoLambert

twitter: @jolambertwriter

website:  http://jolambertbooks.com

blog:  http://jolambertwriter.wordpress.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jo-Lambert-Author-Page/288274811277692?fref=ts

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GIVEAWAY

2 E-COPIES OF THE BOOK

THE GIVEAWAY IS OPEN INTERNATIONALLY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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summer

BLOG TOUR ~ The Rest of My Life by Sheryl Browne

The Rest of My Life – When is it time to stop running?

Recommended to Choc Lit by the WH Smith Travel fiction buyer my contemporary romance novel, The Rest of My Life, is here!!

Fun, sassy and a tad naughty in places …

sheryl

Are we tempted?

sherylJust a little bit?

The Rest of My Life

“You can’t run away from commitment forever … “

Adam Hamilton-Shaw has more reason than most to avoid commitment. Living on a houseboat in the Severn Valley, his dream is to sail into the sunset – preferably with a woman waiting in every port. But lately, his life looks more like a road to destruction than an idyllic boat ride…

Would-be screenplay writer Sienna Meadows realises that everything about Adam spells trouble – but she can’t ignore the feeling that there is more to him than just his bad reputation. Nor can she ignore the intense physical attraction that exists between them.

And it just so happens that Adam sees Sienna as the kind of woman he could commit to. But can he change his damaging behaviour – or is the road to destruction a one-way street?

Fancy a peek at the video?

BUY LINKS

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Choc Lit

ABOUT SHERYL BROWNE

sheryl

Heartache, humour, love, loss & betrayal, bestselling author Sheryl Browne brings you edgy, sexy, poignant fiction. A member of the Crime Writers’ Association, Romantic Novelists’ Association and shortlisted for Innovation in Romantic Fiction, Sheryl has seven books published.

Sheryl’s new contemporary romance novel was recommended to the publisher by the WH Smith Travel fiction buyer.

THE REST OF MY Life comes to you from award winning Choc Lit.

sheryl

Author Links

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest

Loveahappyending Lifestyle

Choc Lit | Romantic Novelists’ Association

FLUENCE by Stephen Oram ~ Blog Tour

fluence

FLUENCE

Ten thousand minutes and counting

By Stephen Oram

 

fluence

Genre: Dystopian

Published by Silverwood Books

Amber is young and ambitious. Martin is burnt out by years of struggling. She cheats to get what she wants while he barely clings on to what he has. It’s the week before the annual Pay Day when strata positions are decided by the controlling corporations. The social media feed is frenetic with people trying to boost their influence rating while those above the strata and those who’ve opted out pursue their own manipulative goals.

Fluence is a story of aspiration and desperation and of power seen and unseen. It’s a story of control and consequence. It’s the story of the extremes to which Amber and Martin are prepared to go in these last ten thousand minutes before Pay Day.

BUY LINK

AMAZON

 ABOUT STEPHEN ORAM

fluence

Like each and every one of us, my perspective of the world has been affected by many people and experiences: as a teenager I was heavily influenced by the ethos of punk; in my early twenties I embraced the squatter scene and then joined a religious cult, briefly; I did some computer stuff in what became London’s silicon roundabout; and I’m now a civil servant with a gentle attraction to anarchism. I really enjoy taking a sideways look at our world and thinking, “what if,” and then writing about it through speculative fiction.

https://www.facebook.com/StephenOramAuthor

https://twitter.com/OramStephen

www.stephenoram.net

http://stephenoram.net/fluence/

GIVEAWAY

Ecopy of the book x 2

Open Internationally

a Rafflecopter giveaway

FLUENCE

PANDORA’S PROPHECY by Julie Ryan ~ Review

Pandora's

PANDORA’S PROPHECY

by

Julie Ryan

Pandora's

Pandora’s Prophecy is the third in the Greek Island mystery series but can be read as a standalone although some characters from the previous books do make an appearance.

Lisa and Mark are going through a rough patch, Vicky is seventeen and has just discovered that the man she thought was her father really isn’t, Ruth is getting over her husband’s betrayal after nearly twenty-five years of marriage. On the surface they have nothing in common except that they are all staying in the same hotel on a Greek Island. As they each come into contact with the mysterious Pandora, their lives will change forever. Bodies begin to pile up as a serial killer is on the loose who might just be targeting the hotel. The Island’s Police Chief, Christos Pavlides, tries to solve the puzzle but he has problems of his own to resolve. It seems that the local celebrity author is the one who holds the key.

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My review:

I received a copy of this book through Brook Cottage Books in exchange for an honest review. This is the third book in Julie Ryan’s Greek Island Mystery series.

Lisa, Mark, Ruth and Vicky have nothing in common except they’re staying at the same hotel. Before the end of the story, they all have an encounter with Pandora, sister of the local celebrity author, who has the ability to see the future. Add a killer to the mix and you have the recipe for an un-putdownable story.

I loved the way Julie brought each character to life and her descriptions of the scenery. After reading Pandora’s Prophecy, I’m anxious to read the first two books in the series – Jenna’s Journey and Sophia’s Secret.

☆☆☆☆☆

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The Greek Island Mystery Series is available at these links:

Jenna’s Journey www.amazon.com/dp/B00EXPDZD2

Sophia’s Secret www.amazon.com/dp/B00LFJGCWA

Pandora’s Prophecy http://amzn.to/1LeurJ7

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About Julie Ryan

Pandora's

Julie was born and brought up in a mining village near Barnsley in South Yorkshire. She graduated with a BA (hons) in French Language and Literature from Hull University. Since then she has lived and worked as a Teacher of English as a Foreign Language in France, Greece, Poland and Thailand. She now lives in rural Gloucestershire with her husband, son and two cats, a rescue cat and a dippy cat with half a tail. She is so passionate about books that her collection is now threatening to outgrow her house, much to her husband’s annoyance, as she can’t bear to get rid of any! They have been attempting to renovate their home for the last ten years.

She is the author of the Greek Island Mystery series, Jenna’s Journey, Sophia’s Secret and Pandora’s Prophecy, each of which can be read as a standalone. She considers Greece to be her spiritual home and visits as often as she can. This series was inspired by her desire to return to Crete although there is a strong pull to revisit the Cyclades too.

www.facebook.com/Julieryanauthor

Twitter @julieryan18

Blogsite www.allthingsbookie.com

www.juliesworldofbooks.blogspot.co.uk

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GIVEAWAY

Ecopy of the book (International)
£5 Amazon voucher (UK only)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Pandora's

 

PANDORA’S PROPHECY by Julie Ryan ~ Promo Post

Pandora's

PANDORA’S PROPHECY

by

Julie Ryan

Pandora's

Pandora’s Prophecy is the third in the Greek Island mystery series but can be read as a standalone although some characters from the previous books do make an appearance.

Lisa and Mark are going through a rough patch, Vicky is seventeen and has just discovered that the man she thought was her father really isn’t, Ruth is getting over her husband’s betrayal after nearly twenty-five years of marriage. On the surface they have nothing in common except that they are all staying in the same hotel on a Greek Island. As they each come into contact with the mysterious Pandora, their lives will change forever. Bodies begin to pile up as a serial killer is on the loose who might just be targeting the hotel. The Island’s Police Chief, Christos Pavlides, tries to solve the puzzle but he has problems of his own to resolve. It seems that the local celebrity author is the one who holds the key.

**********

The Greek Island Mystery Series is available at these links:

Jenna’s Journey www.amazon.com/dp/B00EXPDZD2

Sophia’s Secret www.amazon.com/dp/B00LFJGCWA

Pandora’s Prophecy http://amzn.to/1LeurJ7

**********

About Julie Ryan

Pandora's

Julie was born and brought up in a mining village near Barnsley in South Yorkshire. She graduated with a BA (hons) in French Language and Literature from Hull University. Since then she has lived and worked as a Teacher of English as a Foreign Language in France, Greece, Poland and Thailand. She now lives in rural Gloucestershire with her husband, son and two cats, a rescue cat and a dippy cat with half a tail. She is so passionate about books that her collection is now threatening to outgrow her house, much to her husband’s annoyance, as she can’t bear to get rid of any! They have been attempting to renovate their home for the last ten years.

She is the author of the Greek Island Mystery series, Jenna’s Journey, Sophia’s Secret and Pandora’s Prophecy, each of which can be read as a standalone. She considers Greece to be her spiritual home and visits as often as she can. This series was inspired by her desire to return to Crete although there is a strong pull to revisit the Cyclades too.

www.facebook.com/Julieryanauthor

Twitter @julieryan18

Blogsite www.allthingsbookie.com

www.juliesworldofbooks.blogspot.co.uk

**********

GIVEAWAY

Ecopy of the book (International)
£5 Amazon voucher (UK only)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Pandora's

 

 

Under the Stars by Linn B Halton

stars

UNDER THE STARS

BY LINN B HALTON

(formerly The Quintessential Gemini)

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For twenty-one years, the focus of Katherine Dale’s life has been her work. Love interests and hobbies came and went, but what has always been there for her—her only constant other than her cat delightfully named No. 4—was her nine to five habit. Until she’s replaced.

With her confidence dented, Katherine is angry at life and at herself.

She has ignored hints of “changes to come” in her horoscope forecasts, written by the wonderful and renowned astrologer, Mark Ainsley-Thomas.

Mark is now an “A” list celebrity in the UK and his new agent is determined to raise his profile in America. So, he has to take on the new, and very talented, astrologer James Kingman to help him run his web-site.

When Katherine discovers James has been writing the forecasts, rather than Mark, her life explodes in confusion as the three lives become inextricably tangled. Insecurity, self-doubt, guilt, stress, and frustration, coupled with village gossips and merciless reporters wanting eye-catching headlines leave Katherine feeling vulnerable and in need of guidance.

The stars might be telling her that love is going to feature in her life, but when Katherine finds herself implicated in the headlines ‘Mystic Love Triangle’ she’s just as surprised as everyone else! None of the men in her life are love interests – so what exactly does fate have in store?

BUY LINKS

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Under-Stars-Linn-B-Halton-ebook/dp/B00XYS8PDO

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ABOUT LINN B HALTON

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Bristol-born Linn B Halton lives in the small village of Lydbrook, which nestles on the edge of the Forest of Dean, in the UK. She resides there with her husband and feline with ‘catitude’- Mr Tiggs.

Linn began writing in March 2009 and her debut novel was published in February 2011. In a recent interview Linn was asked about genres:

“From a very young age I knew romantic fiction was always going to be my genre. I am, and will always be, madly in love with love! Whether that’s love of life, a partner, or the things I’m passionate about.

My stories are about love, life and real relationships – but romance is always the one thing that holds each story together. Often there’s a light, psychic touch and I never dreamed I would write drawing upon my personal psychic experiences. But as my interest and understanding in the subject has grown, it is now such a part of my life that it finds its way into my fictional tales. However, what is heartening is that most of my experiences have been uplifting and it’s wonderful to know loved ones are around me always. I hope it will make readers stop and wonder ‘What if?’

The result is that I get a lot of mail from readers who have had similar experiences and some are sharing theirs for the first time with me. I always feel that’s something rather special and for which I’m very grateful.”

Love, life and beyond… but it’s ALWAYS about the romance! Linn is published by HarperImpulse, Endeavour Press and Sapphire Star Publishing.

Linn is also the managing editor of Loveahappyending Lifestyle emagazine.

Website: http://linnbhalton.co.uk
Twitter: @LinnBHalton
Facebook: Linn B Halton and Linn B HaltonAuthor

Pinterest
Loveahappyending Lifestyle
Romantic Novelists’ Association page

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CONTEST!

No Purchase necessary!

1st Prize A surprise goody bag (UK only) Plus ecopy of book

2nd prize ecopy of Under the Stars (International)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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THE STARLET SERIES by Carla J Hanna BLOG TOUR #StarletTour

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Titles: Starlet’s Man / Starlet’s Web / Starlet’s Run / Starlet’s Light
Series: The Starlet Series #0.5–#3
Author: Carla J. Hanna
Publication Dates: 2012-2014
Genre: Young Adult Romance
Series LinksGoodreads | Amazon
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starlet
Synopsis–Starlet’s Man

Lights, Cameras, and Lies. High school student athlete, Manny Biro, is caught between the boy he should be and the man he wants to become.

Everyone around him accepts the Hollywood life. He doesn’t. Manny wants no part of acting. On the surface, his childhood best friends seem to have it all: money, power, success. Between the lines, they are all confused. Alan is a messed up want-to-be director focused on pushing scenes to their sexy potential. Beth is an athlete driven to escape from a dark past. Janet is Manny’s kid sister caught up in fashion and trends. And Marie is a lonely actress exhausted by the culture that makes everyone’s favorite stories.

What is the price of fame for all the characters? Conflicts and truths will unfold in this thought-provoking installment of Carla Hanna’s young adult Starlet Series, Starlet’s Man.

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starlet
Synopsis–Starlet’s Web

Love. Lies. Acting. A novel about celebrity influence & teens in Hollywood. What makes a star shine? Humility empowers the spirit. Sometimes.

Discover the Starlet Series for new adult & college readers and uncover the life of a talented actress caught in Hollywood’s web of lies.

I’m actress Liana Marie Michael. I won an Oscar at 17 but whatever. Celebrity is what it is: marketing a product. I’m part of a tight-knit group. I keep to myself and don’t complain about my life. I’ve been happy until lately.

Evan dumping me leveled me. Matthew shocked me. I knew he couldn’t hurt me with my bodyguard so near, but his eyes…so I have trust issues. Dating super-hot Byron didn’t help clear the confusion either. I’m torn between going to church on Sunday and making a living from pop culture.

But experience builds perspective. My days of shutting up needed to end. First, I told Manuel. Then I told my mom. It turned out awesome until I learned the truth.

Now I’m screwed. Totally. Let’s face it: Hollywood’s web entangles everyone.

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starlet
Synopsis–Starlet’s Run
Love. Intentions. Acting. Life is more complicated than a Hollywood story.Fictional actress Liana Marie Michael writes her second memoir, Starlet’s Run, as she suffers through the Five Stages of Grief. But when Lia’s scripts speak for her and drama becomes her life, can she find the strength to run her own lines and shape her new role?
~ – ~
I’m actress Liana Marie Michael. Hollywood’s obsession with beauty made my actress-mother stay competitive. Athletes use steroids. Actors use plastic surgery and anti-aging drugs. So now I’m a physical mess inside, dealing with it, and starring in a major motion picture.Of course I can’t quit. I have brain surgery, feel alive at Grandma’s Montana ranch, go back to Hollywood and act. My boyfriend, Manuel, and I want to get married. Everyone has an opinion. I ignore the millions of naysayers until consequences turn dire.I believe that dwelling on pain is a waste of time. Indecision is exhausting. I want to write my own future. But I’m only eighteen years old.In a world where an actress is a product and everyone is a critic, can our young love survive? Should it?
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starlet
Synopsis: Starlet’s Light

Love. Trust. Acting. Cancer survivor-actress gives up the fight until she sees the light. Liana Marie writes her third memoir as she struggles with trust and commitment and shapes the role she plays.

I’m actress Liana Marie Michael and am dying. In my last two memoirs, I show how I’m the ideal Hollywood product. In writing Starlet’s Web and Starlet’s Run, I realized that the drama in our stories affects the lies in our real lives. The thin, young ideal of beauty is as much of a lie as the plot twists and dialogue we create to hide our insecurities.

In this memoir, I make a mess of my love life while shooting a film in Great Britain. I dump Manuel for his own good. I love him with all my heart. So how could I not when he has a bright future? My dad visits and puts my past in perspective. I spend weekends in the hospital. I learn to rely on Franz, Evan and Amelie. Yes, I hook up with my Swiss billionaire-heir friend Pierre even though I miss Manuel every minute. But it all makes sense, especially since I am so done with acting.

We are all flies and spiders in a web of stories. If I live a more authentic life, can love prevail despite my many faults? Can truth alter Hollywood’s web?

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Character Interview:
Thank you for featuring the Starlet Series on your blog! I’m so excited to share my memoirs with you: Starlet’s Web, Starlet’s Run, and Starlet’s Light. I wrote them in the hospital while I recovered from surgery. A spiritual counselor suggested I work through The Five Stages of Grief to help me find my own voice. I’ve been acting for so long that I didn’t even know how to use my own words to describe my feelings. Now, I no longer speak in scripts all the time. I write my own story and am excited about my future.You won an Oscar at 17. What was the role that you won it for?I play Muse in the feature film Muse Series, an immortal destined to
ignite the passions of revolutionary artists and leaders throughout time.
My Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role was for my characterization of a mixed-race black woman, aka Sally Hemings, in the controversial hit historical-fiction Jefferson’s Muse.Before you started dating Manuel, how did he fit into your life?Manuel has always been my best friend since we were in diapers. I don’t have many friends. People don’t know what to say to me on the street, and I don’t talk to strangers. I’ve only connected with Manuel. Everyone else thinks I talk like a fool, especially Manuel’s friend Beth. She and I were friends once but she didn’t like Kate, my former BFF. Kate was a great BFF who turned into total nightmare. I’m so grateful she and Manuel broke up so I could date him. I love him so much.How did you react to finding out you had cancer?I was so mad at my mom, Mommy Dearest squared. I threw-up and trembled at first. Then I thought about why she snuck me anti-aging drugs and just totally understood somehow. The pursuit for perfection in Hollywood is so intense. I was born into the mentality that I have to be sweet and nice and cute and sexy. If you’re not young and smooth, you can’t work. So I “get” my mom but I don’t like her. She’s said she’s sorry so many times. I know she is but I also don’t want to hear it. I want to forgive and forget, move on and heal. I also want to change Hollywood so that more kids don’t have to get cut up or take anti-aging drugs to compete. I see it like steroid use for athletes to be competitive. If the entertainment industry doesn’t stop pushing the Barbie body, every teen acting-hopeful
will do what they have to do to compete.

Assuming you had some time to travel when you were in Great Britain filming, did you get to tour around some of the country? Was there any particular place you liked best?

I did. The set was in Wales, outside of Newport. My nurse was from
Aberdare so I visited it with Pierre, Evan, and Amelie. We all loved it. I connected with Wales, appreciating the harsh working conditions of a coal-mining people in the setting of peaceful, rolling hills. I bought a t-shirt there of the Celtic knot and think it is a perfect reflection of how we are all interconnected. I liked London, too, but a piece of my heart stayed in Wales.

If you had the chance to do it all over again, what if anything would you do differently?

I’d stick up for myself. I did what I was told to do. I didn’t have a
backbone. When you’re an actor, you mold to the will of writers and your director. Since there is so much pressure, you deal by staying focused and playing a role. We call it compartmentalizing. But the truth is I succeeded because I was a wimp. Evan dumping me wiped me out. Kissing Byron after I had Manuel didn’t make any sense and tore at me daily. How could I be such a loser? It was different when I was sure I was going to die. I thought my actions were unselfish. But I learned from being in Wales and studying the Celtic knot that we are all tied to each other and need to be honest and accept that we can’t control our future. We have free will and have to choose an authentic path based on trust and the best intentions.

Thank you for stopping by today, Liana. I know the part of Wales you mentioned having been there myself. It truly is a beautiful part of the country.
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starlet
Author Bio
Carla J. Hanna lived in Santa Monica, CA where her children played with the children of celebrities. She mingled with plenty of nannies and a few good celebrity moms. Her award winning books, The Starlet Series, include Starlet’s Man, Starlet’s Web, Starlet’s Run, & Starlet’s Light. Starlet’s End is scheduled to release September 2015, subject to change from publisher interest.
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starlet
Giveaway: There is a giveaway for this tour. $25 Amazon/Barnes & Noble Gift Card or Book Depository Spree; One (1) Necklace (Based on Cover Image). Ends 5/1. The code is provided below.

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EXCERPT, GIVEAWAY & AUTHOR INTERVIEW WITH BARBARA FREETHY

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BEAUTIFUL NEW PRINT COVERS!

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Check out this excerpt from #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Barbara Freethy’s first book in the Callaway family series… Then Read on for more information about this blog tour and all its great prizes!

Sara met the first firefighter as soon as his feet hit the sidewalk. “My father is trapped in the basement,” she said. “The door is off the laundry room by the kitchen. Aiden Callaway went to get him, but they haven’t come out yet.”

“Aiden?” the guy echoed.

She nodded, not really surprised that the firefighter seemed to know Aiden since so many of the Callaways worked in the department.

“Wait here,” he told her.

She crossed her arms in front of her waist as the firefighters entered the house. Everything would be okay, she told herself. Aiden was with her father, and they were both going to be fine.

Aiden must have seen the flames from next door and in typical Aiden fashion, he’d run straight into the house without waiting for backup. The Callaways had never been short on courage; sometimes on good sense, but not on guts. And Aiden didn’t just end up in trouble; he often went looking for it. At least, he had when he’d been younger.

It had been more than ten years since she’d seen the very attractive guy-next-door, who had been the object of the most intense crush she had ever had in her life. Aiden had been a bad boy and she’d been a very good girl. But one reckless night had taken their relationship to a new level. Then Aiden had brought it all crashing down.

Her gut clenched at the memory of what had been the best and worst night of her life. She’d put Aiden out of her mind for a long time, but now he was back, and so was she.

Only temporarily, she reminded herself. This wasn’t her home anymore and never would be.

“Sara?”

She turned to see Lynda Callaway, Aiden’s stepmother, crossing the lawn at a brisk pace. A tall, willowy blonde, Lynda Callaway moved gracefully, like the dancer she’d once been.

“Are you all right, Sara? I couldn’t believe my eyes when I drove around the corner and saw the fire engines and the smoke. What happened? Where’s your father?”

“He’s inside. So is Aiden,” she added.

Lynda paled at that piece of news, her gaze flying to the house. “Aiden? Aiden’s here?”

“Yes. I guess he saw the smoke. He broke down the front door.” She glanced back at the house. Smoke was pouring through the front door, flames still visible through the windows in the dining room. What was taking them so long? “Aiden went to get my father. He fell down the basement stairs. I didn’t want to leave him, but I couldn’t move him.”

Lynda put a reassuring hand on her arm. “You did the right thing.”

“I think he broke his leg.”

“Your father is a strong man. He’ll come through this.

She’d always thought he was strong, but when she’d seen him on the floor, he’d looked surprisingly fragile and suddenly very human.

“How did the fire start?” Lynda asked.

“He was cooking. I distracted him when I showed up. We were upstairs arguing, and we didn’t smell the smoke right away. What is taking them so long?”

“They’ll want to be careful moving him,” Lynda said, putting her arm around Sara’s shoulders.

It had been a long time since Sara had felt such a motherly touch, and the emotion of it brought tears to her eyes. She’d been a strong, independent woman for a long time, but right now she felt like an uncertain girl who was really, really happy not to be alone.

They stood in quiet for a few moments, watching firefighters attack the fire from both inside and outside of the house. She saw two men up on the roof, using axes to make some sort of a vent. Their work was efficient and apparently done without any sense of fear. She’d been inside that heat, and she couldn’t imagine volunteering to go back in.

“How do they do it?” she muttered. “How do you do it, Lynda? The fire was so terrifying, so out of control, and it was only in the kitchen. How do you not worry every time your husband or sons leave the house?”

Lynda smiled. “I’ve had a lot of practice. I trust in my husband, my children, their fellow firefighters and their training. That gets me through.” She paused, her smile fading away, her gaze turning back toward the house. “I can’t believe Aiden is here. He’s been impossible to reach the last few weeks. I wasn’t sure when or if we’d see him again.”

“Really? Why?”

“He’s had some trouble in his life.”

“Isn’t that usually the case with Aiden?”

“This time is different.”

Before Lynda could explain, Aiden came out on the porch, carrying her father over his shoulders. They crossed the lawn and then, with the help of another firefighter, her dad was placed on the gurney and attended to by the waiting paramedics.

Sara moved as close as she could get, relieved to see that her father was awake and able to answer questions, but it was clear he was in a lot of pain. Once they had him stabilized on the stretcher, he was loaded into an ambulance.

“I’ll meet you at the hospital,” she told him.

“No, I need you to stay here, Sara. Keep an eye on my house.”

“I’ll take care of everything,” she promised. “Then I’ll come to see you.”

The ambulance doors closed. A moment later, he was on his way to the hospital.

“Do you need a ride?” Lynda asked her.

“Uh, no,” she said, trying to pull herself together. Everything was happening so fast her head was spinning. “I have a car. I’ll wait until the fire is out, and then I’ll go.”

“You’ve grown up into a beautiful, capable woman, Sara,” Lynda said with an approving gleam in her eyes. “Your mom would be proud.”

“I hope so. I still miss her.”

“So do I. And so does your father.”

“That’s not easy to believe.”

Lynda gave her a knowing look. “Your father is a difficult, complicated man. I’ve lived next door to him for twenty years, and I don’t feel like I know him any better now than when he first moved in. Since your mom died, he’s become even more reclusive.”

She nodded, her attention distracted by Aiden’s approach. Now that they were outside, she could see him more clearly. As his gaze met hers, she felt a familiar rush of adrenaline. He’d always had the ability to unsettle her, to make her feel off balance, dizzy, her heart beating too fast, her words getting choked in her throat. It was silly to feel that way now. Her teenage crush had ended long ago. She certainly didn’t intend to go back there.

Unfortunately, Aiden was still a very good-looking man, even with ash in his brown hair, sweat on his brow, a three-day growth of beard on his face and tired blue eyes. Add in the faded jeans with a rip at the knee and a T-shirt that clung to his broad chest and strong shoulders, and Aiden was still as hot and sexy as ever, maybe more so.

Sara drew in a breath, trying to dampen down her physical response. She could handle it now. She didn’t need to get all worked up about a man who had only once seen her as more than his sister’s best friend and the girl next door, and that one time had ended in regret on his part.

Fortunately, Lynda broke the awkward tension between them.

“Aiden,” Lynda said. “I can’t believe you’re home. Why didn’t you call me back?”

“I figured you’d see me soon enough.” He paused. “Are you okay, Sara?”

“I’m fine. Thank you for saving my father.”

He shrugged, as if what he had done had been of little consequence.

“I’ve been leaving messages for you for three weeks, Aiden,” Lynda said.

“I needed some time to clear my head,” he replied.

“Well, I’m glad you’re finally home. I’ve been so worried about you since—”

“I’m fine,” Aiden said, cutting Lynda off. “I’ll be over to the house in a minute.”

“All right,” Lynda said, obviously sensing that this wasn’t the time to grill her son. “Sara, please stop by later and let me know how your father is doing. In fact, come for dinner. We eat around seven, but any time you get back is fine. I’ll save you a plate.”

“That isn’t necessary.”

“You won’t be cooking in that kitchen tonight. Just come by,” Lynda insisted. “There’s always room for one more at our house.”

“Okay, thanks.”

With Lynda gone, she shifted her weight, crossing her arms, then uncrossing them, wishing that Aiden would stop looking at her with those incredible blue eyes.

“So, is the fire almost out?” she asked.

“Looks that way, but you won’t be able to go inside until the fire inspector signs off.”

“When do you think that will be?”

“Depends,” he said. “Could be an hour or more.”

“I’m lucky my dad lives right next door to firefighters. Although it doesn’t sound like you live at home anymore.”

“Not in a long time,” he said shortly, his gaze drifting toward his childhood home.

She stared at his profile. In his early thirties now, Aiden’s features had become better defined, his jaw stronger, his blue eyes harder and more cynical than she remembered.

His gaze returned to hers, and she couldn’t help wishing she looked a little better. She knew she was more attractive than she’d been in high school, because once she’d left her father’s house, she’d discovered makeup and hair products, short skirts and high heels. Unfortunately, she’d dressed herself down to visit her father, pulling her hair back in a knot and wearing gray slacks and a button-down blouse that did little to show off her shape. The fire had made her sweat, and she could feel her hair falling out of her bun, so it wasn’t her best moment.

Not that she cared, she reminded herself. There had been plenty of men in her life since high school, since Aiden. She was no longer his adoring fan.

She searched for something to say, something smart, witty, casual, but nothing seemed right. There had been a time in her life when she’d lived to catch a glimpse of Aiden, and another time when she’d hoped never to see him again, but now here he was, here they were, and she couldn’t think of a damn thing to say.

She tucked her hair behind her ear. “So…”

“So,” he echoed. “It’s been a long time.”

“Yes,” she agreed, feeling irritated with her awkwardness.

“How did you set the kitchen on fire?”

“I wasn’t the one who was cooking,” she said.

Aiden gave her a doubtful look. “You’re saying your father did that? Your father who lives by a rulebook and never ever takes a misstep? The man who can do no wrong and cannot tolerate failure in others?”

“Yes. Apparently, he is human,” she replied, not surprised that Aiden’s assessment of her dad was so spot on. He’d grown up next door, and her father had yelled at the Callaway boys on more than a few occasions.

“Are you living here now?” Aiden asked.

“No, just visiting. What about you?”

A shadow crossed his eyes. “I’m not sure of my plans.”

Before she could press for more information, one of the firefighters joined them. “Callaway? What are you doing here?”

“Helping out,” Aiden said shortly.

Something sparked between the two men, something intense and angry. Sara felt like she’d just landed back in the middle of another fire. Aiden had always had a million friends and he’d been a guy’s guy. To see someone who obviously hated his guts was surprising.

“Quite the hero. You always land on your feet, don’t you?” the other man sneered.

“If you say so,” Aiden said evenly.

Fury burned in the other man’s eyes a split second before he pulled back his arm and punched Aiden in the face.

Aiden stumbled backward, his hand flying to his right eye.

Sara gasped in surprise, startled by the unexpected attack. “What’s happening?” she asked, but no one was listening to her.

“That was for Kyle,” the man said. “And this—”

Before he could finish his statement, one of the other firefighters intervened, grabbing his pal’s arm. “That’s enough, Hawkins. Get in the truck.”

Hawkins looked like he wanted to argue, but after giving Aiden another scathing look he reluctantly followed orders.

“What just happened?” Sara asked.

Neither man seemed inclined to answer her. After exchanging a long look with Aiden, the firefighter gave her his attention. “The inspector just arrived. He’ll let you know the damage and when you can go inside.”

“Thanks,” she said.

The firefighter gave Aiden a hard look and then headed to the truck.

“Okay, what was that all about?” she asked Aiden.

He rubbed his rapidly swelling cheekbone. “Nothing.”

“That man didn’t hit you for nothing, Aiden. He said it was for Kyle. Was he talking about Kyle Dunne?”

“Leave it alone, Sara.”

“What happened to Kyle?”

Aiden’s jaw tightened. “He died, and it’s my fault.”

His blunt words shook her to the core. Kyle Dunne was the same age as Aiden. They’d been friends since kindergarten. Now he was dead? Why? How?

It was clear Aiden had no interest in giving her more details; he was already moving down the sidewalk.

“Aiden, wait,” she called, but he didn’t turn his head.

As he walked toward his truck, she noticed a limp in his stride. He’d suffered an injury of some sort. At the same time that Kyle had died?

Why would anyone blame Aiden for his best friend’s death? There was no way Aiden would have let Kyle die without trying to save him. Aiden was a born protector. She’d just witnessed him in action when he’d rescued her father, a man he didn’t even like. Aiden would have put his own life on the line for Kyle.

Memories of Aiden and Kyle together flashed through her mind. She could see them playing catch in the street until well after dark, hosting poker games in the room over the garage for all their high school friends, getting dressed up in suits for their senior prom. Kyle was dead? He’d always been so much fun, a joker and a prankster. Kyle and Aiden had caused a lot of trouble together, and they’d been closer than brothers. Aiden had to be reeling. No wonder there had been so much worry in Lynda’s eyes when she’d mentioned Aiden.

As Aiden pulled his bags out of his truck, she was torn between wanting to ask him more questions and wanting to put some distance between them.

He was the one guy she’d never been able to forget, the one guy who still haunted her dreams. The last thing she needed to do was talk to him. She had enough problems to deal with. She turned her back on Aiden and headed across the lawn to talk to the fire inspector.

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#1 NY Times Bestselling Author Barbara Freethy talks writing, publishing, and finding balance, plus gives her advice for new authors… Check out what she has to say then Read on for more information about this blog tour and all its great prizes!

You’re an icon in—not just the indie publishing community—but the publishing community in general. Your success is something to which we all aspire. In your opinion, what has been the greatest contributing factor to the success of your novels?

There are so many factors that contribute to a successful writing career and it’s hard to say which ones are the most important, but I do believe that publishing frequently helps to build an audience and also momentum. I don’t write as quickly as some authors do or as slow as others; I think I’m somewhere in the middle. But I try to put out 3-4 books a year and I think that helps keep my books in front of the readers. I also write what I love to read. Sometimes that means my books are not part of the hot trend of the moment, but that’s okay. I think it’s a mistake to try to chase fads. They blow out as quickly as they blow in. And, finally, I look at writing as my career. I work hard at it. I spend a lot of vacations at my computer. But it’s a really rewarding career, so it’s all worth it!

When did you start writing your very first novel, and did it ever get published? How has the world of writing change since you started out?

I wrote my first book when I was pregnant with my second child, who is now a young adult. It was eventually published as a Silhouette romance titled Promise of Marriage under the pen name Kristina Logan. The writing world has gone completely upside down and spun around a dozen times since I wrote my first book, but it’s an amazing time to be a writer now. There are so many opportunities for writers to get their books to the reading public. I’m thrilled for the writers who are starting out now, whether they want to be traditionally published or publish themselves. There’s more work. There are more changes. But there are also many more opportunities.

Technology has brought many changes to the world of books, but readers continue to embrace new books, new formats, and—at the heart of every book—great stories. I don’t think great stories will ever go out of style.

What advice do you have for authors who are either aspiring to write their first book or are working overtime to try to get that book noticed?

For writers working on their first book, the most important thing you can do is write all the way to the end. Too many new writers get hung up in the middle or caught up in rewriting the beginning over and over again. To get over the hump, jump ahead in the story or just write something—anything—knowing you can fix it during the editing process. Until you write to the end, you don’t know what you don’t know. You have to experience the entire process of writing a novel. It takes dedication, determination and stamina to finish a book. But it’s hugely gratifying, and there’s no better experience than the actual writing.

For those writers who have published their first book and are working overtime to get it noticed, I would caution against spending all your time promoting that first book. What you really need to do is write the second book and then the third. You have to look at your writing as a career. More books will increase your audience faster than any amount of marketing you do. I urge an 80-20 split: 80% of your time should be spent writing and 20% on promotion.

Describe your writing process. Are you a plotter, a pantser, or something in between?

I am closer to being a pantser than a plotter, but I do always know at least the five main plot points of my story before I begin writing. But part of the fun for me as a writer is telling myself the story. I want to be inspired and surprised as I go along. It makes it more interesting to me. Of course, I would be able to write faster if I outlined, but it just isn’t the way my brain works. There’s no right way to write, just the right way for the individual author.

What was your reaction when you first found out you broke onto the New York Times and USA Today bestsellers’ lists? How did you celebrate?

Hitting #1 on the New York Times with my novel SUMMER SECRETS was an amazing moment, especially because it was my first self-published title. I celebrated with a lovely dinner out with my husband. What was even more astonishing was that the novel stayed on the NYT list for 5 weeks and since then I’ve had 19 more novels hit both USA Today and the New York Times. It never gets old!

How do you find balance between writing, publishing, and promoting your books and the rest of your life? Any tips for the rest of us?

I have no balance whatsoever at the moment! I do try to do something in the world of exercise—take a walk or play tennis at least 3-4 times a week. And I also try to refill the creative well by reading and watching movies and television. Inspiration comes from everywhere, sometimes a song on the radio, a person that walks by, a sign on the road… I think it’s important for writers to be out in the world, because all our experiences provide the fabric for our stories!

Congrats on your groundbreaking, new partnership with Ingram to get the paperback editions of the Callaways out to the world. What about this opportunity has you most excited?

I’m thrilled to be able to bring my bestselling digital titles into print and have the books sold at physical bookstores throughout the country. Partnering with Ingram Publisher Services has allowed me to use their national sales team and distribution system to sell my books into Target, Barnes and Noble, airport bookstores and supermarket chains. I know that some readers still love their print books, so I want my readers to be able to read my books in whatever format they prefer. Until very recently print has been under the control of large publishing houses, but now print readers will have an opportunity to get titles by an Indie author, and I think it’s a game changer for the publishing industry!

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About the Callaway Blog Tour & All Its Great Prizes!

This is the week you finally meet the Callaways! Not only are they all over the web as part of their extraordinary blog tour, but they are also out and about in your neighborhood. That’s right; we’re celebrating the print launch with Ingram by throwing a party all over the world! Make sure to follow this tour closely for your chance to win gift cards, swag, autographed books, and other incredible prizes.

All the info you need to join the fun and enter to win amazing prizes is RIGHT HERE. Remember, winning is as easy as clicking a button or leaving a blog comment—easy to enter; easy to win!

To Win the Prizes:

  1. Purchase any of the Callaway novels by Barbara Freethy (optional)
  2. Enter the Rafflecopter contest on Novel Publicity (go here)
  3. Visit today’s featured social media event (that’s where the HUGE prizes are)

About The Callaways: The Callaways were born to serve and protect! In Barbara’s new connected family series, each of the eight siblings in this blended Irish-American family find love, mystery and adventure, often where they least expect it! Each book stands alone, but for the full enjoyment of the series, you might want to start at the beginning with On A Night Like This! Get the eBooks via AmazonBarnes & NobleiBooks, or Kobo.

EXCERPTAbout the Author: Barbara Freethy has been making up stories most of her life. Growing up in a neighborhood with only boys and a big brother who was usually trying to ditch her, she spent a lot of time reading. When she wasn’t reading, she was imagining her own books. After college and several years in the P.R. field, she decided to try her hand at a novel. Now Barbara is a #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author loved by readers all over the world. Her novels range from contemporary romance to romantic suspense and women’s fiction. Learn more on her websiteFacebook page, or in her Street Team.

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