Book Blitz Giveaway: Kindling Flames: Granting Wishes,NA Urban Paranormal Romance by Julie Wetzel

 Ready for more romantic, paranormal distraction?
Enjoy!

Title:  Kindling Flames: Granting Wishes

Series:  The Ancient Flame Series Novella

Author:  Julie Wetzel

Published:   May 26th, 2015

Publisher:  Crimson Tree Publishing

Genre:  NA Urban Paranormal Romance

Content Warning:  Violence, adult language

Recommended Age:  18+

Synopsis: Leprechauns don’t exist. Or that’s what Cathren has always believed, but a chance encounter changes everything. When she saves a handsome stranger from a nasty electrical shock, not only does he claim to be one, but he also insists on granting her wishes. Now she must decide— is he insane, or a magical creature of lore? Unsure which is true, she grabs at the first three wishes she can think of: true love, happiness, and waffles. A tall order for most men, but not for Patrick Brogan. With a little persistence and just a touch of magic, anything is possible.

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About the Author:

Originally from Ohio, Julie always dreamed of a job in science. Either shooting for the stars or delving into the mysteries of volcanoes. But, life never leads where you expect. In 2007, she moved to Mississippi to be with her significant other.

Now a mother of a hyperactive red headed boy, what time she’s not chasing down dirty socks and unsticking toys from the ceiling is spent crafting worlds readers can get lost it. Julie is a self-proclaimed bibliophile and lover of big words. She likes hiking, frogs, interesting earrings, and a plethora of other fun things.

Julie Wetzel is the author of her debut novel Kindling Flames. Kindling Flames was released through Crimson Tree Publishing in 2014.

Amazon Author Page | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

Excerpt  from Kindling Flames: Granting Wishes

 “What’s your name?” the man asked. His voice was pleasant and warm with a bit of an accent that Cathren could spend hours listening to under other circumstances.

“Cathren,” she informed him as she pulled on the smile she used for difficult customers.

“Cathren.” The man repeated her name with a bit of a roll in the ‘r’. “Such a fitting name.” His eyes twinkled with merriment before getting serious. “Well, Cathren, my name is Patrick, and I don’t know how you’ve done it, but you caught me. Now what do you want?” Patrick leaned his elbow on the counter. The corner of his mouth turned up in amusement.

“What?” Cathren asked, confused.

Patrick pushed the sleeve of his sweater up and showed her his forearm. A bloody fingerprint stained his skin. “What do you want?” he asked again, holding the toned arm out for her to see.

“I am so sorry.” Cathren gasped as she pulled out some paper towels from under the counter. Squirting some hand sanitizer on them, she wiped her blood off his arm. The blood had perfectly covered a small tattoo of a shamrock. It was an odd place to put the clover—seeing as he had no other tattoos—and she couldn’t have hit it more exactly if she tried.

“It’s fine, lass.” The man pushed her worrying hands away and glanced at the tattoo on his arm. “Looks like you get three.” He looked back up at her. “Now, what do you want?”

Cathren just shook her head, not understanding him. “What do you mean?”

Patrick let out a resigned breath. “Traditionally, when you catch a leprechaun, they have to barter for their release.” A wry smirk slipped across his face. “And since I couldn’t stop the magic from settling, it looks like I’m going to be held to that tradition. It’s just turned into your lucky day. You get three wishes. Now, what do you want?”

Crimson Tree Publishing Links:

(an adult division of Clean Teen)

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Giveaway Details:

There is a tour wide giveaway. Prizes include the following:

• A bookmark swag pack and winner’s choice of any Clean Teen Publishing eBook.

Giveaway is International.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Keep being distracted by reading,
Urania

Free read: Starting over, chapter 14, Gate Deadlock

A free read for my distracted readers today: Chapter 14 from my first time-travel story Gate Deadlock #1

Starting over

     ‘Free rope!’ I shouted after I had put my feet on the ground and released the ascender, unhooking it from my safety belt. I felt hot although it was only 14ºC inside the cave, and my cheeks were burning with excitement. Stratos was right. Ascending was much more difficult than descending, but the right equipment and guidance by an expert like him, had made things much easier. I had copied his every movement, followed his instructions step by step, and I finally made it through.

Stratos looked at me concerned as he asked ‘Was it that bad?’

‘No. It was great!’ I replied, apparently excited but making an effort to control my voice, as I was still out of breath. Ascending wasn’t the best thing I could do to my still sensitive spine. My back was sending me warning signs. Stratos shook his head meditatively, obviously concerned about me.

‘You should take some rest until the others join us. I’ll check on Nick.’ he said, heading to the edge of the precipice.

I was leaning with my back against the cave wall. I let myself slide down slowly until I felt the hard bottom of the cave. I curled with my head on my knees, my arms embracing my legs. All we had to do now was walk for about five kilometers to the exit of the cave. It was a magnificent spectacle, a path among snow-white stalactites, carved by water flows in past geological periods, thousands of years ago.

I opened my backpack and took out the small box of painkillers that had been my permanent companions ever since the accident. I took a couple of them and swallowed them quickly with the help of the cool water I was carrying in my thermos. It was a good thing Stratos did not notice that. The last thing I needed now was to attract their attention, to look helpless and weak. The plan was to make them believe I was capable of taking care of myself, even a little edgy when they offered to help me, so that it would be easier to carry out Plato’s orders.

Nick looked really excited when his face popped out from the gap on the cave surface. For amateurs, we had both done really well. Stratos and Panos were experienced cavers and had been extremely eager to induce us to the thrill of cave exploration. This specific expedition was especially thrilling as the cave had been restricted area for the last ten years and its exploration required special permission by the authorities. But that was the point, to attract attention. Not the local authorities’ attention of course. We had decided to take our chances instead of waiting for months for permission to explore the cave. My companions had been highly enthusiastic about it from the very first moment.

Half an hour later, we started our journey back. We found the opening that had amazed me when we were looking for the precipice. A natural monument, a creation of time, water and rock. A magical, mystical place that had given birth to legends of gods, heroes, fairies and nymphs. The natural decoration was astounding. White stalactites were hanging from the ceiling and either united in magnificent pillars with their other half that was uplifting from the bottom, or struggling to meet each other’s sharp pick, drop by drop, inch by inch, patiently waiting throughout the ages, certain that it was inevitable for them to be united some day, to become one.

We were only a few meters from the exit. I could already see the blinding daylight at the end of the tunnel. Plato’s orders were to stay back a little before the exit so that he Crusaders had time to save Nick, Panos and Stratos from the Squad who would be on their way to get us, protecting another Gateway, extremely valuable to the League. I was sure that the Crusaders would already be waiting for us outside, disguised as local policemen, pretending to arrest the cavers for trespassing. Then, I would have to wait for no more than five minutes until the Squad would be here to get me.

I shivered at the thought of facing Tex’s cruel face, but this was the last thing I cared about. I hoped that Christopher would be among them, that he would have come for me despite his last

warning. It had been so long since I had last seen him. Plato had not neglected to warn me that I should control myself when I would see him again, otherwise the whole plan would go up in smoke.

       I stopped, pretending to be looking for something.

      ‘Damn!’ I said. Panos had stopped behind me.

      ‘What’s wrong?’ he asked.                                           

       ‘I left my backpack at the last bent where I stopped for water.’         

     ‘I’ll get it for you. You go ahead.’ he volunteered to help me.      

     ‘No!’ I replied, a little too abruptly. ‘I can do it myself. I can see it from here.’ I pointed to the red bag with my flashlight.    

      ‘You go ahead. I’ll meet you outside.’                         

Panos hesitated for a moment. Then he shrugged and walked past me. I was almost at the bent, when I heard voices arguing.

    ‘Stay here!’ Panos shouted at me as he ran to join the others. I was sure that the Crusaders outnumbered my friends. My ignorant companions would have to do what the “policemen” asked them. I knew the Crusaders were supposed to take them a few kilometers away, in a safe distance, until the Squad had finished with me. Plato had personally guaranteed that no harm would happen to the three cavers, sharing my persistence in keeping them safe at any cost. I did not want to be an accessory for another death. Somehow, Yannis’ blood still felt hot on my hands.

I ducked waiting, until the voices and the sound of the cars faded away. Then I stood up again and started walking towards the exit. Now it was a good time to start panicking. But, surprisingly enough, I was not panicked. I was extremely anxious to see Christopher, this was the only emotion that overwhelmed my whole existence at that moment and there was no room for fear and panic.

It was very silent outside. I looked around. I was all alone, or at least it seemed so, 340 meters above the sea.

I was not ignorant of the place.

My father had told me stories about this mountain where you’re surrounded by the fairies of the source of the immortal water. The ancient gods took their oaths on this mountain. It was here that the deity of Soul went through incredible ordeals when she was searching for her sweetheart, Cupid. The legend is that she still wanders on the frosty peak, leaving her elf-tracks on the soft snow. The dreadful queen Styx lived on this sacred mountain, Zeus’ally in his war with the Titans. She had the power to punish the Olympian gods if they broke their oaths. Her palace was in front of the Gate of Ades, the gate to the Underworld, to death. It’s no wonder why the locals had respected that place and considered the opening of roads and the intrusion of technology on the sacred slopes that had been protected by the millennium-lasting awe, a hubris, an abuse.

I wished my father’s stories had been true. I wished I could invoke the ancient spirits to protect Christopher and me. But reality was so uninspiring, so dramatic and terrible at the same time.

I walked to the jeep and got rid of the equipment I was carrying, aware of the fact that Tex might be hiding among the trees behind me, watching, waiting for the right moment to terrify me the most. My mouth felt dry and I looked for some water, as my thermos was empty. Stratos had left a spare thermos in the jeep but I could not find it. I bent down to look for it under the passenger seat. I stretched my arm to reach it.

Then I heard the cold voice behind me, the voice that had haunted my dreams for so long.

‘At last! We meet again!’ He spoke slowly, softly, and his voice was sarcastic as always, mocking me. My body stiffened at once but I tried to keep my temper. I did not care if he wanted to hurt me. I was dying to see the beautiful face I had been missing for so long. Was he standing there? Right behind me?

I turned around slowly, my face frozen, expressionless, but my heart was about to jump out of my chest.

Gate Deadlock is FREE on Smashwords 

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/510685

and only 0,99 Amazon

Book Bitz Giveaway: Burning Doors, Dystopian Thriller by Renee N. Meland

A dystopian thriller is going to distract us today!

Title:   Burning Doors

Series:  The Extraction List #2

Author:   Renee N. Meland

Published:  April 28th, 2015

Publisher:  Limitless Publishing

Genre:  Dystopian Thriller

Content Warning:  Violence, adult language, and minor sexual content

Recommended Age:  14+

Synopsis:

Cain Foley committed his first murder before he could even drive a car. Not that he would've had anywhere to drive to. When he was fifteen, America was one of the poorest countries in the world, and its’ citizens took their hatred of that fact out on each other through gangs and violence. Children barely tall enough for carnival rides peppered the streets selling drugs (or themselves) so they could buy their next meal.

Every night on the news, Cain watched as an angelic blonde woman who lost her own child swore she’d end it. She assaulted America’s televisions with praise for the Parental Morality Law: a set of rules that spells out exactly what it takes to be a parent in the eyes of the government, and the consequences of breaking those rules. He prayed every night that she’d come to rescue him before his father took off his belt again.

Before she could save him, Cain faced a fatal choice: fight back or die on the basement floor.

He chose life.

Now on the run, he finds himself being hunted by a police officer with his own special brand of torture. Before he can save even a handful of the children who have been swept up in the gang life, he must first cover up not one, but two murders: his father’s and one committed by a teenage madam who is either the love of his life, or his final undoing. As he feels himself being pushed further and further to the edge, he realizes that surviving his father was just the beginning.

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Excerpt from Burning Doors (The Extraction List #2) by Renee N. Meland:

The first time I killed someone, it was an accident. Though I guess it was the kind of accident that happens when you squeeze your hands around someone’s neck for too long, or when you shove someone who is standing too close to the edge of a building. In my case, I accidentally killed my father when I beat him to death with a pipe.

He had set me up that night, I’m sure of it. I was always careful to leave the TV volume down so I wouldn't be caught. But when I flipped the power on that night, the news roared. The woman I wanted to see was there, giving a speech like always, but her voice came out with the force of thunder. Sweat drenched my body when I heard the door to my parents’ upstairs bedroom fly open and hit the wall. The foundation shook and so did my limbs. I sat frozen in a seated position as I heard his footsteps. All I could focus on were his shiny patent leather shoes coming toward me. Even in the middle of the night, he took the time to slip them on.

I could smell him before I even saw his feet. He constantly stunk of mouthwash and old cologne; it was some putrid mix of sandalwood and beach vacations that we would never take. He cackled as he stepped toward me, so the minty air from his breath reached me before his hand did. I felt my head hit the floor before I felt the familiar sting in my cheek.

“You’re so stupid. You really think you’ll ever leave here? Where do you think you’re going to go, huh? You need me. She hasn't come for you and she never will!” He kicked me in the side with his foot.

My stomach clenched from the impact.

I usually kept quiet when he hit me. At most, I would agree with whatever he was saying to stop him before he did real damage.

It never worked.

No matter what I said, or didn't say, the blows would keep coming. My mother was always        conveniently upstairs, but no one can tell me she couldn't hear the snap of his belt or the furniture rattle as he shoved me into it.

That night was different. Maybe it was watching the woman from the television, or maybe it was the way his smile stretched across his face as he struck me, I don’t know. But when he was finished and heading back upstairs, I spat towards him.

My cheeks burned as I did it. In fact, my whole body felt like it was on fire. But I’d be lying if I said I wished I could take it back. Even when he turned, eyes wide when he noticed the wad of saliva glistening on the concrete floor, I didn't regret it one bit.

I may have even cracked a smile.

About the Author:

Renee N. Meland lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two dogs. Her favorite obsessions are Rome, learning new recipes, and exploring the world around her. She is an avid reader of speculative fiction, and believes that telling stories is the best job in the world.

Amazon Author Page | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads | Blog

Giveaway Details:

There is a tour wide giveaway. Prizes include the following:

• A print copy of The Extraction List

Giveaway is US only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Keep being distracted by reading,
Urania

Book Blast Giveaway: Protecting Cheyenne by Susan Stoker

Our distarctions today include Protecting Cheyenne! 
Enjoy!

Title:   Protecting Cheyenne

Series:  SEAL of Protection #5 (Stand-alone)

Author:  Susan Stoker

Published:  May 5th, 2015

Genre:  Romantic Suspense

Content Warning:  Mild adult sexual content

Synopsis:

Living in Southern California, Cheyenne was used to seeing hot military men as she went about her daily business. An anonymous encounter at the grocery store cemented her crush on one such man. He was big, built, and incredibly easy on the eyes, but it wasn’t as if he would ever really notice her.

Always in control of any situation, Faulkner “Dude” Cooper knows explosives. As a bomb expert, he’s lived through many high pressure situations. Disfigured by a bomb while on a mission, he’s used to being looked at with pity. When he’s called to a local supermarket to assist the local PD, the last thing he expects to find is a generous act of kindness performed by a beautiful, amazing woman. Enchanted by her selflessness in the face of danger and intrigued by her actions to save civilians she didn’t know, Dude’s hooked.

Dude was able to save Cheyenne from the group of thugs trying to take her life, but when the past comes back to haunt them both, sometimes having the knowledge and the desire isn’t enough to beat the countdown of the clock.

**Protecting Cheyenne is the 5th book in the SEAL of Protection Series. It can be read as a stand-alone, but it’s recommended you read the books in order to get maximum enjoyment out of the series.

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Title:   Protecting Jessyka

Series:  SEAL of Protection #6 (Stand-alone)

Author:  Susan Stoker

To be published:  July 7th, 2015

Genre:  Romantic Suspense

Synopsis:

Kason “Benny” Sawyer was the last single man on his Navy SEAL team. He loved his teammates like brothers and respected each and every one of their women. They’d all been through hell and they deserved their current happiness. But seeing the love between his friends and their women made it tough to be the odd man out all the time.

Jessyka Allen had a good life, until it wasn’t anymore.

Finding herself in an impossible situation, with no noticeable way out, her job was an escape. Working at the small Bar and Grill put her in contact with some wonderful people, who Jess figured couldn’t ever understand what she was going through.

Being a SEAL, Benny thought he knew the true meaning of teamwork and friendship. But Jess would show him that everything he thought he knew about sacrifice, trust, and love, paled in comparison to what she brought into his world.

 **Protecting Jessyka is the 6th book in the SEAL of Protection Series. It can be read as a stand-alone, but it’s recommended you read the books in order to get maximum enjoyment out of the series.

Pre-Order Links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo

About the Author:

Susan Stoker has a heart as big as the state of Texas where she lives, but this all American girl has also spent the last fourteen years living in Missouri, California, Colorado, and Indiana. She’s married to a retired Army man who now gets to follow her around the country.

As Mr. Stoker says, Susan has been training to become a romance author her entire life. She’s been reading romances since middle school and writes what she loves.

She debuted her first series in 2014 and quickly followed that up with the SEAL of Protection Series, which solidified her love of writing and creating stories readers can get lost in.

Amazon Author Page | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads | Website

Excerpt  from Protecting Cheyenne:

“You’re hot. I’m assuming you know this.” Cheyenne sounded like she was imparting some deep dark secret to him.

“Shy…” He didn’t disagree, but he didn’t agree either. She was extremely cute all drugged up. Dude shuddered to think about her actually driving in his condition.

“Seriously, you are. I don’t know why you’re here though. Did you lose a bet or something? Are your buddies around somewhere ready to bust out and laugh?”

“What?” Dude was getting pissed. Cheyenne couldn’t mean what it sounded like she meant.

“Yeah, no one who looks like you has ever taken a second look at me before. I’m just me. You’re….well…you’re sex on a stick.”

Dude didn’t even smile at her words. She had to be kidding him. “Hon…”

“No, really. I know I’m not a troll. I’m passable, I actually think I’ve got great calves, and I like my arms…at least I did before I had the hair completely ripped off of them. But I’m not the kind of woman you probably are with all the time. I bet chicks throw themselves at you. When you go out to the bar I bet you always leave with someone right? Oh shit! I bet you hang out with a gang of hotties don’t you? Jesus, I bet you leave a wake of devastation behind you wherever you go.”

Dude raised his right hand and covered Cheyenne’s mouth lightly. He didn’t know whether to be pissed at her assumptions, or to be flattered. “Cheyenne, first, there’s no fucking bet and I’m kinda pissed you’d even accuse me of something like that. I think you are exquisite. Funny. Cute. Interesting. And there’s nowhere I’d rather be than right here, right now, with you. Second, yes, I have a group of friends and we hang out, but almost all of them are either married or in a serious relationship. We don’t leave a wake of anything behind us, because we only have eyes for our women.” Dude didn’t even stop to think about what he was saying, that he was suddenly including Cheyenne in his thoughts and words.

“I hope like hell when you wake up in the morning and the pain pills have worn off you’ll remember this conversation and want to hang out with me and my friends. You’re like them more than you know.”

Dude smiled at the look on Cheyenne’s face. She hadn’t picked her head up off the head rest, but watched him with serious eyes.

“But you’re perfect…” She would have said more, but Dude interrupted her.

“I’m not even close to fucking perfect. I’m kinda a slob, I have a tendency to throw my shit on the floor until it annoys me too badly and I have to put it in the hamper. I have a temper, but I’d never raise my hand to you or any other woman. And…” Dude held up his left hand, reminding Cheyenne of his mangled hand. “Enough women have told me this is disgusting or just plain gross, for me to think I’m anything but perfect.”

Giveaway Details:

There is a tour wide giveaway. Prizes include the following:

• A $10 Amazon gift card

Giveaway is International

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Keep being distracted by reading,
Urania