Were You 'Smitten at First Sight'?

Today, I have the pleasure of hosting Marie Astor on her Excerpt tour for her Contemporary Romance, Smitten at First Sight. Marie will be awarding to five randomly drawn commenters at the end of the tour, one of the following five custom-designed jewelry prizes:

Prize 1: Blue quartz three strand necklace with sterling silver clasp
Prize 2: Jade and prehnite necklace
Prize 3: Green aventurine sterling silver earrings
Prize 4: Smoky quartz sterling silver earrings
Prize 5: Rose quartz sterling silver earrings

Blurb for Smitten at First Sight:

Maggie Robin has been dating the irresistibly good-looking, successful Jeffrey Preston for two years. But when Jeffrey proposes marriage a week after Maggie’s college graduation, she is no longer sure if she wants to marry a workaholic TV producer.

Maggie’s doubts culminate when during a ski trip to British Columbia, she meets Taylor Denton, a handsome, free-spirited big mountain skier who is the complete opposite of Jeffrey. It does not take Maggie long to realize that she has fallen in love with Taylor and she decides to break off her engagement with Jeffrey. But just when she thinks she has found the love of her life, an ill-fated misunderstanding tears Maggie and Taylor apart.

A week later, Maggie is told that Taylor has died in a tragic ski accident; yet, her heart refuses to believe in Taylor’s death. When Maggie returns to Taylor’s native town, she learns that Taylor is indeed alive, but has been seriously injured. Resolved to bring her lover back to life Maggie stands by Taylor’s side, convincing him to embrace life again.

Excerpt for Smitten at First Sight:

“I’m Taylor, Taylor Denton.” The younger man stepped forward without waiting for Jeffrey’s introduction.

I already know that, Maggie thought. For a moment, she was rendered speechless as her gaze remained glued to the dazzling green of Taylor’s eyes: there was something in his open, fearless gaze that unnerved her. “Very nice to meet you, Taylor,” Maggie struggled to keep her voice even, as she shook Taylor’s hand. His hand was warm, and his grip had just the right amount of pressure. He held her hand in his for a moment longer than necessary, or it might have been just her imagination, but the electrifying sensation she felt at the touch of Taylor’s hand filled her with guilt anyway: her fiancé was standing right there, and she had no business having these kinds of thoughts about some daredevil skier she had just met.

“Very nice to meet you, Taylor, I’m Bethany.” Bethany cut in, eyeing Taylor and Maggie in turn.

Maggie averted her eyes – nothing ever escaped Bethany’s attention.

“Maggie is my fiancée,” Jeffrey announced, his tone tightening. “Taylor is the star of our project,” Jeffrey completed the introduction.

Taylor let go of her hand and bowed. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Maggie.”

Well, he certainly is not shy. Maggie watched Taylor out of the corner of her eye: with his head cocked and his shoulders thrown back, he looked as though he owned the world. A pang of agitation seized her – imagine the embarrassment if this hotshot were ever to learn about being an unwitting subject of her photographs – no doubt, he would think that she were some kind of a crazy stalker; or worse, that she had the hots for him or something. Never mind that she had only admired him from the aesthetic perspective of an image composition – someone like Taylor would never understand that; well, fine, yes, she had been curious about what he might be like, but now that she met him in person, her curiosity was answered: he was undeniably handsome, but also incredibly smug and reckless to boot. She made a mental note to erase the photographs from her camera as soon as she would get back to the hotel.

“Yes, well, Taylor was just telling us about the wonders of off-piste skiing,” Jeffrey continued, breaking the awkward silence, “and he was gracious enough to agree to be our guide tomorrow.”

“I always wanted to try skiing off-piste,” Maggie blurted out before she could stop herself.

“Why don’t you join us tomorrow then?” Taylor suggested before Jeffrey had a chance to put in a word.

“I don’t think that’s such a good idea,” Jeffrey cut in, “it will be pretty rough out there.”

“There’s plenty of intermediate terrain,” Taylor assured him. “If Maggie can manage blues, she’ll be all right.”

“I just skied a double diamond this morning,” Maggie exaggerated her prowess – she had skied double diamonds before, just not this morning. She bit her lip, wondering just what exactly possessed her to show off in front of this green-eyed daredevil.

“I thought we were going to a more advanced terrain.” Jeffrey frowned.

“Err, well, actually, I would not mind starting with intermediate slopes,” Charlie interjected.

“I think I know just the perfect place,” Taylor brought the argument to a halt. “There are several very nice, wide runs just off the air tram - that’ll be the perfect place to warm up, and after that, we could always go onto steeper runs.”

“Yeah, sure, sounds like a plan.” Jeffrey shrugged, clearly annoyed by being outnumbered.

Maggie had to bite her lip in order to hide the smile on her face: whether on plain ground or in the mountains, men never tired of fighting for dominance.

“Well, looks like it’s settled then,” Jeffrey announced, clearly eager to seize back control of the conversation. “Bethany, do you want to come along? Maggie will need someone to keep her company.”

Maggie felt the blood flow to her face: as usual, Jeffrey Preston was assigning roles, as though life were a TV script.

Marie Astor is the author of contemporary romance novels Lucky Charm, Smitten at First Sight, This Tangled Thing Called Love, romantic suspense novel, To Catch a Bad Guy, and a short story collection, A Dress in a Window.

If you would like to find out more about Marie’s books, please visit Marie at her website: www.marieastor.com.

Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Marie-Astor/e/B004EBDX9Q/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Website: www.marieastor.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/marieastorcollection

Good Reads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4665230.Marie_Astor

Books by Marie Astor:

To Catch a Bad Guy: http://www.amazon.com/To-Catch-Bad-Guy-ebook/dp/B008W1L5IA/ref=la_B004EBDX9Q_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1344820115&sr=1-5

This Tangled Thing Called Love: http://www.amazon.com/This-Tangled-Thing-Called-ebook/dp/B0078IPNCW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1344820073&sr=8-1&keywords=marie+astor

Lucky Charm: http://www.amazon.com/Lucky-Charm-Contemporary-Romance-ebook/dp/B005BZL3L4/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1

Smitten at First Sight: http://www.amazon.com/Smitten-First-Sight-Contemporary-ebook/dp/B005TOWI7K/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1357427954&sr=8-4&keywords=marie+astor

A Dress in a Window – a collection of short stories about love, coincidences, and fate.

http://www.amazon.com/A-Dress-Window-ebook/dp/B004E112TO/ref=pd_sim_kstore_3?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2

Over the Mountain and Back – young adult fantasy adventure novel about a boy who takes his snowboard for a ride and finds himself in a magical, hidden world he never knew existed.

http://www.amazon.com/Over-Mountain-Back-Adventure-ebook/dp/B008WF1Y78/ref=la_B004EBDX9Q_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1350684616&sr=1-6

I want to thank Mary for bringing this to my attention-got to add this to the wish list now. Here are the rest of the stops on Mary's tour, stop by to increase your chances of winning one of her lovely prizes.

January 14: Happily Ever After
January 15: Vintage Vonnie
January 16: Book Reviews By Dee
January 17: Ramblings From This Chick
January 18: My Odd Little World
January 21: Wickedly Sexy Writers
January 21: STOP 2 Brenda Maxfield's Blog
January 22: JM Stewart
January 23: Christy McKee Writes About Women in the "Sweet Spot" of Life
January 24: Krystal Shannan - Where Love and Destiny Collide
January 25: BadBarbsPlace
January 28: Words of Wisdom from The Scarf Princess
January 29: Queen of all She Reads
January 30: Christine Young Romance Writer
January 31: Snifferwalk
February 1: Andi's Book Reviews
February 4: Sugarbeat's Books
February 5: Reading with Anacrasia
February 6: Regina May Ross's Blog
February 7: Sharing Links and Wisdom
February 8: Welcome to My World of Dreams

Inherited Damnation Tour

Welcome to My Odd Little World, today's stop on Claire Ashgrove's Inherited Damnation Tour. Claire was nice enough to answer a few questions for me, and I thank her for her time and consideration. My contribution is Claire's book, Destined To Die. I will post links to the different stops below the blurb, so you can get a taste of all the books on Claire's tour.

Tour Prizes - Each blog will give away a digital copy of the book featured on that stop. The tour grand prize will be all 8 books in the series. The Grand Prize winner will be selected and announced on 1/26.

What is the best thing about being a writer? The worst?

The best – I have an outlet for all these crazy people in my head!  No, seriously, I get to build worlds, bring people to life, and if I’ve done a really good job, impact a reader’s emotions.  For someone who’s creative, writing is the end-all be-all outlet.  There’s no real limit; it never comes to an end. 

The worst – To be a career author there’s a significant amount of focus that must be put toward the business itself, which is 180 degrees opposite the creative process.  I can do business, I can track accounting, but I don’t like it.  I’m much happier in my little cave putting fresh words on paper.  I’d even rather do edits for days on end, than turn on the left side of my brain.

When you get a chance to read, what books do you love to read?

Hands down I go to the non-fiction part of a bookstore before I ever go to the fiction side.  Give me Ancient Rome, anything Medieval, or really any ancient society and I’m over-the-moon.  I can’t grab them up fast enough, and I’ve been known to do ridiculous things like read text books cover-to-cover because I’m enthralled in a particular era. 

When I do finally pull myself away from biographies and historical accounts, because so much of my writing is based on world building and/or sub-plotting, I prefer to read fantasy.  There’s a lot to learn from the complicated works, and I love seeing how new authors handle tried-and-true tropes. Which naturally then leads me to urban fantasy and paranormal works.

Tell us about your favorite character from your books.

Between my two pen names, I have twenty-three published books, so that’s really hard to answer.  When I finish a book, until I finish the next, I tend to feel like “That’s my favorite character set of all.”

But there are a few exceptions, some that stay with me longer than others.  I love darker characters and you’re featuring one of my favorite character sets with Belen and Faith.  Belen struggles with his dark calling and what he’s perceived he’s done to the one person who matters.  That inner conflict gets me.  Resolving it all, bringing he and Faith together as they should be, still stays with me.

In this particular series, however, Taran (Marked for Death), the darkest sibling, is the one I love the most.  His journey really tugs at my heart, and if I put myself in his shoes, I end up in tears every time.  I can’t imagine surviving what he lived through.

Do you plan all your characters out before you start a story or do they develop as you write?

I’m a plotter.  Everything is in a spreadsheet somewhere, with a specific role to play, long before the first words of the first book take shape.  Sometimes I have to set particular characters aside and deal with them immediately before I begin their specific book, but I have only pantsed one novel in my career.  It worked.  But I also had to backtrack repeatedly—a journey in frustration I’m not willing to experience again.

Why Scottish as opposed to Irish?

This is the easiest question of the whole batch!  And it’s ridiculously simple.  The Selgovae Celt tribe lived in Scotland, not Ireland. 

If I could transplant them to Ireland…oh, lordy, I would in a heartbeat.  I am Irish at heart, and will live there at some point in my life.  Even if just for a summer or so.

Thanks for having me here today!  If there’s anything else anyone would like to know, please feel free to ask.  I’ll be dropping in periodically throughout the day.

~Claire

Award-Winning Author, Claire Ashgrove

www.claireashgrove.com

National Bestselling Author, Tori St. Claire

www.toristclaire.com

Blurb for Destined to Die:

Haunted by his mother’s betrayal, Belen McLaine surrendered to his demonic half long ago. For centuries, he’s roamed, doing all he can to corrupt those he encounters. But Belen’s life changes when a little Yuletide fun goes wrong, and the one woman he can’t stay away from is suddenly in need of his protection. Unable to cast her aside, he finds himself on a deadly path to love.

The one date Faith Winters shared with Belen was laden with fireworks, but he stayed away until the night of her brutal attack. As danger escalates, he becomes her only safety and shared passion gives way to something deeper, hotter, than she’s ever known before. Yet Faith has no idea her greatest threat is the very man who holds her heart.

For Belen, even if it means hurting Faith, he must not succumb to love. If he fails, his father’s curse promises he’ll take Faith’s life.

Tour Links

1/15 Guilty Pleasures

1/16 Harlie's Books 

1/17 Scorching Book Reviews 

1/18 My Odd Little World 

1/21 Mrs. Condit & Friends Read Books 

1/22 Under the Covers

1/23 Ezrabet's Enchancements  

1/24 Herding Cats & Burning Soup 

1/25 Heart Breaking Reviews

Purchase Claire's books from THE WILD ROSE PRESS

http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&search_in_description=1&keyword=Claire%20Ashgrove

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Get "Breathless" today

My readers all know that I love to read romance stories. I say it all the time. Today, I am hosting Breathless Press, and the focus for today is the GLBT Romance line. I have the firm belief that romance has no gender, and enjoy reading the happily ever afters for everyone. Breathless Press will be awarding a $20 Breathless Press GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Please leave your e-mail address when you comment.

First, a bit about Breathless Press, then a peek at a few of their books currently available.

About Breathless Press:

http://www.breathlesspress.com/

Breathless Press is an e-book publisher specializing in Romance and Erotic(a) stories.

Our mission statement is simple: To provide the opportunity for readers to connect with romance authors through the purchasing of quality e-books at a low price.

Starting in the summer of 2009, Breathless Press came into existence. Since then, we have been producing top end romance and erotic stories for valued readers to enjoy.

Our Goal?

Breathless Press is an electronic publisher of paranormal, erotic, and mainstream romance, releasing one to three e-books a week in a variety of downloadable formats. It is Breathless Press' mission to provide readers with quality romance books in electronic formats and to raise the standard in e-publishing.

Joan Hall Hovey Keeps You In Suspense

Today I bring you two suspense books from Joan Hall Hovey, The Abduction of Mary Rose and Night Corridor, from BooksWeLoveLtd. This is a Blurb Blitz and will include the blurbs from both books, but I will only be posting one excerpt with this tour. Joan will be awarding a piece of Micmac jewelry - a pair of silver dream catcher earrings (one of her heroines discovers she has Micmac ancestry) to one random commenter on the tour (US only). Please be sure to leave your e-mail address when you post.

The Prize

First, a bit about Joan Hall Hovey. 

In addition to her critically acclaimed novels, Joan Hall Hovey's articles and short stories have appeared in such diverse publications as The Toronto Star, Atlantic Advocate, Seek, Home Life Magazine, Mystery Scene, The New Brunswick Reader, Fredericton Gleaner, New Freeman and Kings County Record. Her short story Dark Reunion was selected for the anthology investigating Women, Published by Simon & Pierre.

Ms. Hovey has held workshops and given talks at various schools and libraries in her area, including New Brunswick Community College, and taught a course in creative writing at the University of New Brunswick. For a number of years, she has been a tutor with Winghill School, a distance education school in Ottawa for aspiring writers.

She is a member of the Writer's Federation of New Brunswick, past regional Vice-President of Crime Writers of Canada, Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime.

Website: http://www.joanhallhovey.com/

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Joan+Hall+Hovey

Blurb from The Abduction of Mary Rose:

A suspense novel interwoven with threads of romance and paranormal.

Imagine discovering everything you believe about yourself to be a lie. And that the truth could stir a killer from his lair.

Following the death of the woman she believed to be her mother, 28-year-old Naomi Waters learns from a malicious aunt that she is not only adopted, but the product of a brutal rape that left her birth mother, Mary Rose Francis, a teenager of Micmac ancestry, in a coma for 8 months.

Dealing with a sense of betrayal and loss, but with new purpose in her life, Naomi vows to track down Mary Rose's attackers and bring them to justice. She places her story in the local paper, asking for information from residents who might remember something of the case that has been cold for nearly three decades.

She is about to lose hope that her efforts will bear fruit, when she gets an anonymous phone call. Naomi has attracted the attention of one who remembers the case well.

But someone else has also read the article in the paper. The man whose DNA she carries.

And he has Naomi in his sights.

Review quotes:

"…Ms. Hovey's talent in creating characters is so real, you feel their emotions and their fears. You want to yell at them to warn of the danger . . . and you do! Your shouts fall on deaf ears . . . and you cry! The best suspense writer I've ever read!

Beth Anderson, Author of Raven Talks back

"...Alfred Hitchcock and Stephen King come to mind, but JOAN HALL HOVEY is in a Class by herself!…"

J.D. Michael Phelps, Author of My Fugitive, David Janssen

"…CANADIAN MISTRESS OF SUSPENSE…The author has a remarkable ability to turn up the heat on the suspense… great characterizations and dialogue…" James Anderson, author of Deadline

Blurb from NIGHT CORRIDOR:

At 17, Caroline Hill was torn from the boy she loved by her tyranical father. Then they took her child. Finally, her grasp on reality.

Now, after nine years in Bayshore mental institution, once called The Lunatic Asylum, Caroline is being released.

There will be no one to meet her. Her parents who brought her here are dead.

They have found her a room in a rooming house, a job washing dishes in a restaurant. She will do fine, they said. But no one told her that women in St. Simeon are already dying at the hands of a vicious predator. One, an actress who lived previously in her building.

Others.

And now, as Caroline struggles to survive on the outside, she realizes someone is stalking her.

But who will believe her? She's a crazy woman after all.

Then, one cold winter's night on her way home from her job, a man follows and is about to assault her when a stranger intercedes.

A stranger who hides his face and whispers her name.

Review Quotes:

"…another winner. I highly recommend it to any lover of suspense, mystery, romance, or thriller. You’ll not only race through this book, but clamor for more works by this talented and polished author. Aaron Paul Lazar, author of Healey's Cave

"...The mystery and suspense in this novel is outstanding, truly top notch, in the vein of Mary Higgins Clark, but—dare I say—even better? - In the Library

"…intricately plotted and the ending will surprise even the most devoted mystery and susense reader. Gripping suspense. – Sandy Heptinstall - Whispering Winds Reviews

Excerpt: NIGHT CORRIDOR:

October 1973

He noticed her as soon as he walked into the bar. She was sitting with another girl, a blond; pretty, he supposed, but his attention was riveted on the dark-haired one. He ordered a beer and took a table in the far corner where he had a good view, while he himself was safe from watchful eyes. She had satiny hair to her shoulders, high cheekbones, was slender in a silk print top, black slacks, like a woman on the cover of a magazine. She was laughing at something the blond said, flashing perfect white teeth and his heart tripped. She's the one, the voice told him. Excitement surged through him as he recast her in the movie that for years now, replayed endlessly on the screen of his mind.

When the two women rose to leave, he left his unfinished beer on the table and casually, so as not to draw attention to himself, followed them outside. She had put on a jacket and it shone bright white in the lights from the parking lot.

After chatting briefly, the two girls gave each other a quick hug, then parted and went to their respective cars, parked a good distance from one another. There was a rightness to it. They might just as easily have come in one car, or parked closer to one another. But they did not. The stars were finally lining up in his favor.

He came up behind her as she was fitting the key in the lock of the red Corvair. "I'm Buddy," he said softly, so as not to frighten her. Despite his best intention, she whirled around, eyes wide. "Jesus, you scared the shit out of me. What do you want?"

He felt the smile on his face falter. A mask, crumbling. "I just want to talk to you."

"Fuck off, okay? I'm not interested."

With those words, her beauty vanished, as if he'd imagined it. Her mouth was twisted and ugly. Disappointment weighed heavy on him. Anger boiled up from his depths.

"That was wrong of you to say that to me," he said, still speaking quietly.

Belying the softness of his voice, she saw something in his eyes then and he saw that she did, and when she opened her mouth to scream, he stuck her full in the face with his fist.

She slid down the side of the car as if boneless. He caught her before she hit the ground, then dragged her around to the other side of the car, blocking her with his own body in case someone saw them. Not that he was too concerned. If anyone did see them they would just figure she was his girlfriend and that she'd had one too many. But there was no one in the lot. Even her friend had already driven off.

He lowered her limp form to the ground while he hurried round to the driver's side and got the key out of the door. He put on his gloves, and opened the passenger door. After propping her up in the seat, he went back around and slid into the driver's side. Then he turned on the ignition and the car hummed to life.

Shifting the car into reverse, he backed out of the parking spot. He gave the wheel a hard turn and she fell against him, her hair brushing his face and filling his senses with her shampoo, something with a hint of raspberry. He pushed her off him and her head thunked against the passenger window. A soft moan escaped her, but she didn't wake.

He drove several miles out of the city, then turned left onto a rutted dirt road and stayed on it for a good ten minutes. Spotting a clearing leading into the woods, an old logging road no longer used, he eased the car in, bumping over dips and tangled roots. He went in just far enough not to be seen from the road on the off-chance someone drove by, but also taking care he wouldn't get stuck in here. The headlights picked out the white trunks of spruce trees, spot-lighting the leaves that seconds later receded into blackness, as if this were merely a stage set.

Beside him, the woman moaned again then whimpered, her hand moving to her face where he had struck her. Blood trickled darkly down one corner of her mouth and her eyes fluttered open. He knew the instant she sensed him there beside her, like the bogeyman in a nightmare.

Except she was awake now. When she turned to look at him he felt her stiffen, could see in her eyes that she knew she was in big trouble. He almost felt sorry for her. Almost.

"Who are you?" she croaked, more blood leaking from the corner of her mouth, eyes wet with tears.

"What does it matter?"

"Please…please don't hurt me. I'm—I'm sorry for what I said to you. I shouldn't have. If you want to… I mean, it's okay. You don't have to hurt…"

His fury was like lava from a volcano and his hand shot out, the back of it shutting off her words in mid-sentence. "Shut up, whore."

She was crying hard now, heavy, hiccupy sobs, helpless, terrified. But her tears meant nothing to him. She was right to be afraid. He slid the knife from its sheath that hung on his belt and let her see it.

"Oh, God, no please…" She was choking on her tears, wriggling away from him, trapped, like a butterfly on the head of a pin. He smiled when she reached for the door handle on her side, and then drove the knife into her upper arm. She screamed and he wound his fingers into her hair. "Be quiet," he said, while she held her arm with her other hand and wept like a child.

As he had wept. As he wept still.

"You can't get away," he said. "There's no place to go."

These both sound really good, and I have added both to my wish list for the new year. Hope you all enjoyed today's suspenseful post, and leave your e-mail address when you comment. hanks to Joan Hall Hovey for her visit today.

Kim Carmichael Offers 'Eternity'

First of my 'Double Header' post, this is a Book Blast for Kim Carmichael's Eternity, a Paranormal Romance that will be available beginning today from Keith Publications. 

Kim will be awarding a variety of prizes to randomly drawn commenters during the tour and this contest is open internationally. So please be sure to leave your e-mail address when you comment.

There are necklaces and e-books of Hands on Me, a Kim Carmichael Tote Bag, a set of vintage Harlequin romance books, as well as 3 pieces of Kim Carmichael Skin Care. Also, autographed cover flats will be awarded at every stop.

The Prizes

Now for a brief bio and then, on with the show...er post, that is.

Kim Carmichael began writing eight years ago when her need for graphic sex scenes and love of happy endings inspired her to create her own.  She has a weakness for bad boys and techno geeks, and married her own computer whiz after he proved he could keep her all her gadgets running.  When not writing, she can usually be found slathered in sunscreen trolling Los Angeles and helping top doctors build their practices.

Website   http://www.kimcarmichaelnovels.com/

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

Twitter  https://twitter.com/KimCarmichael4

www.kimcarmichaelnovels.com

@kimcarmichael4

https://www.facebook.com/kimcarmichaelnovels

BLURB from Eternity:

Therin Athan faces a choice…eternal salvation or eternal damnation.

After centuries of pining away for a love never realized, Therin's last assignment as a Cupid depends on helping the lonely, shy Lucy Carlton.  The mission's success or failure will determine where he is transferred.  He can study the heavens or be condemned to hell.

Lucy Carlton spent her life searching the stars for answers, but finds them in the form of a gorgeous man who comes in her dreams.  Therin shows her the joys of physical pleasure and encourages her to try to find love.  She wakes with a new found confidence, but soon her timid nature takes over and she retreats back to the comfort of her home…alone.

With only a week to decide his fate, Therin breaks every rule.  What starts as a job to save himself, becomes a love that can never be…except maybe in eternity.

Excerpt from Eternity:

"What makes her so special?" He snatched the crystal away and peered inside.

He sat back, clearing his mind to allow the vision to take over. A woman lay on an unimpressive bed in an equally bland bedroom.

She appeared to be sleeping, but squirmed restlessly. In the few moments he observed, she twisted and writhed as if trying to find a comfortable position.  He couldn’t make out much of her. A think blanket covered her body and she turned her face into her pillow much as he had done earlier.

He was ready to throw the crystal into oblivion, but she thrashed about once more, this time turning over and the covering fell off.

Instead of tossing the crystal, he held it closer.

The naked human's body rivaled any of the immortals, even those of the goddesses. Luscious but lithe, she was a bounty one could spend hours exploring. Her long brown hair tumbled down, almost hitting the floor, and her face dainty, sweet, could have been on a sculpture.

"I see no problem here." Any human or immortal would be pleased to have what was presented to him. His breath hitched as his body stirred. It had been far too long since he indulged.

"Those on earth don't have the same reaction to her you do. She's an outcast and needs you." Horatio moved closer.

"Go on." He didn't take his focus off the image.

"She needs love, but it eludes her. Wants desire, but can't attain it." Horatio's voice became low, scholarly. "She craves satisfaction, but is left wanting."

Therin glanced at him. "What do you mean?"

"You need no explanation. Your mission is clear." Horatio stood. "You have a week to help her. If you are as good as you claim, it's all you will need. Upon your success you will be given your new assignment." 

"Wait." He looked up. After eons of demanding to be set free from his position, the gods were smiling upon him.

He peered into the crystal once more. The woman's disturbed sleep continued, misery radiating from her.

"Either way, this is your last job. Your passion is gone and you have broken the rules too many times. It's your choice where you go." Horatio stopped. "She is dreaming now, the timing is perfect."

He clutched the crystal in his fist. Eternal damnation or eternal salvation. As was their way, he would go to her while she slept. She would think he was part of her dreams…or in his case, nightmares. "Horatio."

The old man took a breath. "Don't fall in love, remember what you truly are."

"I'm a Facilitator." He tilted his head.

Horatio shook his head. "A new title doesn’t change what you are."

Therin stood. "I'm a Cupid."

Oh, my, this one does sound delicious...I will have to pick up a copy of this one to read, that is definite. Thanks to Kim Carmichael for bringing this one to my attention with this tour. Below are the blogs for today's tour, increase you chances by visiting them too.

1. Wicked Readings by Tawania
2. Nightstand Novels
3. Andi's Book Reviews
4. It's Raining Books
5. Long and Short Reviews
6. Christine Young Romance Writer
7. Delighted Reader
8. The Heart of Romance
9. House Millar
10. Crazy Four Books
11. Linda Nightingale-Wordsmith
12. Bunny's Review
13. Desiree Holt Tells All
14. Novel Moments
15. Tory Richards
16. Jodie Pierce's Ink Slinger's Blog
17. Happily Ever After
18. Melissa Kendall Author
19. Margay Leah Justice
20. MK McClintock Blog
21. Nickie's Views and Interviews
22. Of Ink And Quille
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Welcome to The Last Diner Standing

Hello, everyone, and welcome to my first tour stop of the New Year! Hope you all have a great year, and that you had a wonderful holiday season. Today we are taking a look at Terri Austin's Last Diner Standing, a Humorous Mystery/Amateur Sleuth book currently available from Henery Press. One commenter from each stop will win a signed bookmark and cover postcard (US/Canada only) and one randomly drawn commenter over the tour will win a $25 GC to Amazon or Barnes and Noble, winner's choice. There is no interview or blog post, just the blurb and excerpt for you to enjoy. But first, a bit about Terri.

Terri L. Austin lives in Missouri with her funny, handsome husband and a high maintenance peekapoo.  She’s the author of Diners, Dives and Dead Ends—a Rose Strickland Mystery.  “Austin’s debut kicks off her planned series by introducing a quirky, feisty heroine and a great supporting cast of characters and putting them through quite a number of interesting twists.” Kirkus Reviews

  

http://terrilaustin.com/

http://www.facebook.com/AuthorAustin

http://www.twitter.com/TerriLAustin

http://www.goodreads.com/TerriLAustin

http://www.linkedin.com/in/TerriLAustin

https://plus.google.com/114753055559800020620

https://pinterest.com/terrilaustin

Last Diner Standing Blurb:

Rose Strickland is having a blue Christmas. Her friend is arrested for attempted murder, her sexy bad guy crush is marked by a hit man, and her boss is locked in an epic smackdown with a rival diner. Determined to save those she loves, Rose embarks on an investigation more tangled than a box of last year's tree lights. With her eclectic gang at the ready, Rose stumbles across dead bodies, ex-cons, chop shops, jealous girlfriends, jilted lovers, and a gaggle of strippers in a battle for freedom she might not survive.

Last Diner Standing Excerpt:

     The Bottom Dollar lived down to its hype. A shithole on the wrong side of town with painted windows and a silhouette of a naked woman on the sign. In its former life it had probably been an Italian restaurant, judging from the terra cotta tile floor and the fake stucco walls now painted bright purple.

     The bouncer at the door sized us up, his glance lingering on Roxy. “Like the outfit. You here to audition for Freddy?”

     “Yeah, where can we find him?” I asked.

     He hiked a thumb over his shoulder. After we walked past him, Roxy glared in my direction.

     “Audition?”

     “Your stripper name could be Sailor Moon.”

     She scowled. “We don’t joke about Sailor Moon, Rose. That’s sacred.”

     “Sorry.”

     We moved farther into the darkened club. Loud hip hop beat at us from all sides, pulsing its way into my head as a DJ near the stage yelled incoherently into a microphone. Blue and purple glow-in-the-dark swirls covered the carpet, and the place reeked of booze and stale sweat.

     The room was two-thirds full of men, all staring at the woman on stage like dieters watching a burger commercial.

     I was a little spellbound myself. I nudged Roxy’s arm. “Look at her abs. You could bounce a quarter off that six- pack.”

     “It’s takes a lot of muscle to work a pole.”

     Before I could question her further, a man with a faux hawk stepped out of nowhere. “Hey, I’m Freddy Libra.” He wiped a finger under his nose. “You here to audition?” He wore a long-sleeved shiny shirt, the kind I thought they stopped making in the eighties.

     “I’m looking for Destiny.”

     He placed his hand on my shoulder. I stared at it until he removed it. “Why you looking for Des?”

     “I’m her cousin. Our aunt’s in the hospital. Thought she’d like to know.” 

Buy Links for Last Diner Standing

Amazon Paper - http://www.amazon.com/Last-Diner-Standing-Terri-Austin/dp/1938383087/ref=la_B008EFCWM2_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1355232040&sr=1-1
Amazon Kindle - http://www.amazon.com/Standing-Strickland-Mystery-Series-ebook/dp/B00AGLOFOK/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1
B&N Paper - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/last-diner-standing-terri-l-austin/1113507546?ean=9781938383083
B&N Nook - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/last-diner-standing-terri-l-austin/1113507546?ean=9781938383083

Sounds good to me...and I love supporting authors from my home state, too. I like to think all of us Show Me folks stick together, so I think everyone should go out and get this one.

Remember to leave your e-mail address when you comment. Thanks to Terri for stopping by.

Wishing everyone the Happiest of New Years - may all of your wishes come true, and all your resolutions be successful! May you have love, peace and chocolate....and lots of books to read. This year will bring many more tours, authors, and fun. 

Nancy G.