Thursday, 9 October 2014

Cover Reveal - Black Soul by Kiru Taye



Title: Black Soul
Author: +Kiru Taye, Author 
Series: Black Warriors, Prequel
Genre: Urban Fantasy / Paranormal Romance
Cover Artist: Love Bites and Silk
Publication date: October 30
Add to Goodreads



He will damn his soul to set hers free.


When workaholic high-flying career lawyer Tara Woji takes a well deserved break and meets up with old friends she doesn’t realise the danger lurking in the shadows for her. M’na is a chi, a gatekeeper whose duty is to protect the humans. Tara is his assignment. As the shadows deepen and darkness comes to claim her, he will do whatever it takes to protect her including doing the one thing that releases her powers – unbinding her heart.







Prologue

M'na lounged in the worn foam armchair, thighs apart, legs stretched out, right hand clutching a short tumbler of whisky. Lord of the Ring posters covered up blue paint peeling off the brick walls.
Ironic really, the first time he was going to have sex in a millennium and he'd chosen a demon with a love for fantasy movies, who lived in a part of the city that could've been Mordor.
Desperation flowed in his veins, making him feverish. Sweat dripped down his face. His t-shirt clung to his back, a second skin. He tightened his grip on the glass to stop his hand from shaking and lifted it to his lips.
The strong liquor burned his throat as he tossed the whole shot down. Thumped the glass back onto the small table and refilled it from the bottle.
One of the advantages, or disadvantages depending on how one chose to look at it, of being a super, alcohol had no effect in normal quantities.
But he liked the sting of whisky at the back of his throat and in his chest. It made him feel alive. Something he hadn't felt in a very long time.

Shame it couldn't numb the pain searing his soul, his constant companion.
Copyright Kiru Taye 2014


You can reach Kiru via
Twitter: @KiruTaye



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Thursday, 2 October 2014

Tara Andrews Character Interview

Today, Tara Andrews is interviewing her heroine, Rachel Turner.

Her 1Night Stand romance, Her Everything has just been released. Read the interview and then find out more about her book and the writer herself!


Shortly after Her Everything ends, I posed a few questions to its heroine, Rachel Turner. Note, she’s not very comfortable being in the spotlight, but I’ve assured her it’s just between friends. Girl talk.

So Rachel, you really never heard about Madame Eve and 1Night Stand before your book?

Lord, no. I never knew such an agency existed.

Now that you have, what do you think?

I think it’s great. I mean, if it weren’t for Madame Eve, I wouldn’t have had my happy ending, right? And now I’m starting to hear rumours that she’s quite adept at bringing the right people together. Apparently Mark and I weren’t a fluke success story.

No, you’re right about that, she has the knack for it. But let me ask you, would you have contacted 1Night Stand if you had a chance?  Before your book, of course.

Hmmm, I don’t know. I can picture my sister, Sasha, signing me up without telling me, though. But I don’t know if I would have on my own. I am the shy twin, you know.

Speaking of shy, you were actually quite outgoing in Her Everything. If you had the chance would you change anything?

Well, aside from the whole impersonating my sister thing? Well, I had been promised some playtime that I didn’t quite get.

Playtime?

Uh, well, we only had a night you see, or so we thought….  Never mind, let’s move on.

No, I think we’d all like to know about this playtime. (Rachel shakes her head, her cheeks a little red. Interesting.)  Alright, if you could have a night of no responsibility, all expenses paid, where would you go and how would you spend it? 

I hate to sound this way, but its more time than expenses that pose a problem. So, if I could have an entire night free and go anywhere right now, I’d surprise Mark with a visit while he’s on tour. And I’d make him very happy I did so, too. (Rachel clasps a hand over her mouth.)

That’s quite alright. I’d think you were crazy if you didn’t have that in mind. I guess I don’t need to ask you what memory keeps intruding on your thoughts, so we’ll skip that one. How about you tell us, what’s the most romantic thing Mark has done for you?

He wrote me a song called “My Everything.” (She does, indeed, look a little dreamy-eyed.)  Actually, it’s currently number one, isn’t that awesome?

Yes, it is.  Now last question, so we can let all these wonderful people read about your story. If you could ask your author anything, what would it be?

Well, for starters, about that playtime…that the whole press conference thing couldn’t have waited maybe another half hour?

Okay, well, thank you, Rachel. Oh, look here’s your blurb…


Blurb:

Rachel Turner made a mistake—a couple, in fact.  Ruining a surprise meeting with the front man to her favorite band is just the beginning.  But agreeing to switch places with her famous sister may spell the end of both of their careers. With rumors flying and an unexpected invitation from Madame Eve, Rachel hopes she can put the mistakes behind her.

Attending an event to support a charity close to his heart, Mark Travis wasn’t looking for love, or even company—and definitely not with a fan.  But when he puts in a hasty bid at a silent auction and wins the services of 1Night Stand, Madame Eve has something different in mind.  A single evening with a woman she claims can fulfill his needs.  But one night might not be enough.

Come morning, will Mark and Rachel’s unexpected one-night stand give them more than they bargained for?


Excerpt:

On the dance floor, Mark tugged her waist to pull her close. With one hand clasped in his and the other resting on his shoulder, she followed his lead. He danced with the same confidence and style as he walked—sure, commanding, and…so incredibly hot.
Thanks to the four-inch Louboutins Rachel had borrowed from her sister, the top of her head barely reached his chin, but high enough, if she dared, to rest her temple against his cheek. Though tempted to find out if the stubble along his jaw was as soft as it looked, she didn’t dare. But, oh, how she wanted to. At least they were close enough that the spicy scent of his cologne surrounded her.
A love song played, its lyrics about longing the perfect fit for her one-and-only dance with the man she’d admired so long from afar.
“You didn’t come back.” His voice, rough and low, vibrated against her cheek.
She tilted her head to meet his gaze. The intimate proximity allowed her an up-close-and-personal view of his brown eyes, their color reminding her of the amaretto she favored.
His hold on her shifted, bringing them closer, the difference slight, but welcome. The nerves at her waist sizzled under the weight of his palm, while his thumb rubbed the exposed skin of her back. She shivered again from the simple touch, and an answering heat flared in his eyes.
“I…I got called away to help my sister.” She stumbled on the near lie. But, truth be told, she never dreamed Mark would give her a second thought after she’d left, his disinterest so plain to see.
“Sasha?”
So he knew who she was then? “Yes, she’s my sister.”
“Your twin.”
Rachel allowed him to spin her before replying. “That’s correct.”
“I didn’t realize at first. The glasses threw me off, as did your hair.” He smiled then. “Even so, you two are not identical.”
Aside from her and Sasha’s obvious style differences and voices, very few people were able to tell them apart. A knot formed in Rachel’s throat. She didn’t like where his comment appeared to be leading or the way his movements slowed and his brow furrowed.
He met her eyes. “Was that you on stage tonight?”


Book Links:






Author Bio:

Tara Andrews divides her time between a full-time job as an office manager, an even more full-time job as a wife and mother, and her dream job as a romance author.  An avid reader and writer, Tara continuously seeks to hone her craft in order to provide readers with stories that are provocative yet romantic.

As she has learned from her own experiences, dreams do come true and women can live happily ever after. Tara strives to infuse a blend of fantasy and realism in her stories in order to connect with readers’ own experiences, hopes and emotions.

Tara lives in upstate New York with her wonderful husband and two fabulous children.

Author Links:

Twitter: @tara_andrews1


Website: http://www.taraandrews.net/

Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/tara.andrews.author

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/8578362.Tara_Andrews




Tuesday, 30 September 2014

Blog Tour Starts Tomorrow



Love Bites and Silk has kindly donated and arranged a blog tour for my debut erotic romance, At Second Glance.

The tour starts tomorrow. I’ll be giving away a $15 Amazon Gift Card and 3 x Swag Bags with some "pamper me" goodies inside.

Here’s the schedule:


Thank you so much to Love Bites and Silk and all the wonderful hosts!


You can enter below:


a Rafflecopter giveaway
The rafflecopter code may not work until the tour starts.

Monday, 29 September 2014

Cover Reveal for T. L. Reeve

Today, I'm taking part in a cover reveal for T. L. Reeve, a fellow Decadent Publishing author. Look at the gorgeous cover of her Beyond Fairytales book:



Blurb:

Sabine Babineaux, daughter to the mayor of New Orleans and waitress at The Three Princesses bar, has her life upended after a late night at work. Kidnapped, Sabine is determined to escape, but once she’s free her fight has only just begun.

Stuart Renwick and Kyle Novak, detectives with New Orleans police department, are assigned a kidnapping case with multiple victims. However, when one of the missing women, Sabine Babineaux, is practically dropped in their lap, everything they know about being detectives is tossed by the wayside.

Now, in a race against time to find out who the kidnapper is, and prevent anyone else being snatched, Sabine, Stuart, and Kyle must work together.

Sparks fly, between the three of them, but will it be their downfall?


With someone watching them, tragedy strikes when they least expect it. Will Sabine survive long enough to explore her feelings for both detectives? Or will Stuart and Kyle fall at the hand of her kidnapper?


Excerpt:

The cab came to a stop some time later and she sat up. The world spun on its axis. The sound of bees buzzing filled her ears as she broke out in a cold sweat and she began to shake violently. Sabine tried in vain to make her body cooperate with her, but it was a no go. Her brain was muddled and nothing made sense anymore. Not even her body would oblige her and move. “Where am I?” Sabine whispered, licking her lips.
“The lady is right here,” the cabbie said, opening the door. “She bleeding and wearing next to nothing.”
A thread of embarrassment slid through her, but as quickly as it was there, it was gone. “Help me,” she croaked. The world around her was slowly floating away. No matter how much she tried to keep her eyes open, she couldn’t gather the strength needed to do so. “I…can’t…go…back.” Unconsciousness, blissful yet scary, drifted around her, cradling her into a void of nothingness.
“No you don’t, sweetheart.” A gruff voice called to her, drawing her out of the darkness. “Come back to us.”
Sabine’s eyes fluttered open, then shut again. She didn’t want to open her eyes. The darkness was safe.  It was comfortable there. There was no pain. No cages. Freedom lurked in the darkness.
“Ambulance is on the way,” another male said. His voice was an octave higher than the penetrating baritone of the first man. “It’s our kidnapping victim.”
Congratulations, you win the booby prize.
“Yeah it is,” person one said. “When did you say that ambulance would be here?” In the distance she could hear the warble of noise. Finally she could sleep. “Hey now.” The man’s rough palm patted her cheek. “Wake up, sweetheart. Stay with us.”
Sabine groaned and turned away from him.
“They’re both through and throughs, Stuart, and she’s lost a good amount of blood.”
So man one did have a name. Stuart. His name was both sexy and bold, invoking delicious images of the man holding her hand. When did he take my hand? How come I can’t remember how I got here?
“Damn it,” he cursed. “If they don’t hurry their asses up, we’re going to lose our victim. Call them back Kyle and tell them to double time it.”
Kyle. His name was just as delectable as Stuart’s. I wonder what he looks like. A part of her was using anything she could think of to stay right there, even though she could feel the darkness surrounding her.
Sabine groaned as she was jostled around. The prick of a needle in her arm caused her to whimper. “Stop.” With a weak gesture she tried to push them away and a hand appeared in hers, squeezing it.
“You gave me a scare girl,” Stuart said close to her ear. “Stay with Kyle and I. Don’t try going anywhere again.” What was he talking about? “Is she ready?”
“Yes, we’re loading her up now. Are you following?”
Sabine half listened to the conversation around her, trying to stay with Stuart like he asked her to do.
“I’m riding with you. My partner will give you the escort.” The soft cushion she lay on lifted up momentarily, jostling her around, then slid into something. In no time they were rolling. “Sabine, we’re going to get you fixed up. I promise.”

She muttered something and a sharp burning sensation raced up her arm, then everything inside of her mellowed out, relaxing her completely. Oh hell yeah, that’s the good stuff. Instead of fighting the darkness she went with it. It was light and peaceful. The pain that radiated through her whole body relented and she could finally breathe without feeling as though her chest was being squeezed to death. Just a little nap and then I’ll tell them everything. The heavy darkness wrapped its tendrils around her and she fell into the deepest sleep she’d had in weeks.


Connect with T.L. Reeve online:




Monday, 15 September 2014

Spotlight and Ten Facts for Kiru Taye's Making Scandal


Making Scandal by +Kiru Taye, Author 
The Essien Trilogy, Book 2
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Multicultural

BLURB
Sassy, successful Faith Brown has earned her place in the boardroom through hard work and sheer ambition. Making family is not on her agenda when there are businesses to develop and competitors to outdo. So when a casual affair with smooth and irresistible tycoon Mark Essien leads to an unplanned pregnancy, she’s determined not to make the mistakes her mother made by living with a man just for the sake of her child.

For Mark, personal matters have no place in the boardroom. Spotting the perfect opportunity, he ruthlessly launches a takeover bid for Faith’s Investment Brokerage firm. Finding out he’ll soon be a father, he knows he can’t let the indomitable and sexy Faith go through with her plans of single parenthood. All gloves are off. He’ll seduce her by any tactic necessary if it means his child doesn’t suffer the same stigma he did as a child.

With the media dogging their affairs in the boardroom and the bedroom, they find that making family is harder than making scandal.

BUY LINKS


DREAMCAST


TEASERS



EXCERPT
Faith's cheeks heated and she half-laughed, half-coughed in a self-conscious manner. Her body still tingled as if it finally woke up from a long sleep. A really long sleep.
"Of course, I wasn’t expecting that finally getting you to loosen up will get me so out of control I was going to explode within seconds like a teenager."
How could he say that or even expect her to believe it? In the past year, he hadn’t exactly been lonely. Unlike her. He shouldn’t pretend this was more than it was. Sex. Lust. That’s all they had.
She rolled over, trying to cover herself up in a semblance of decency. The thought of him with other women had her heart clenching tightly.
"If I believe that, I’ll believe anything." She pulled herself up and away from him. "You forget that your pictures have been splashed over the papers with different women hanging on your arms this past year."
The mattress depressed as he sat on the edge. Tendrils of his heat curled around her. Breathing saturated her lungs with his spice. Need bubbled in her veins. She closed her eyes, hating the tightness in her chest.
Remember, this is just sex. It doesn’t matter how many women he’s been with this past year.
Bullshit. Her hands clenched into fists, tightening on the seams of her clothes.
"Yes, I’ve attended events with women all because you refuse to be seen publicly with me. I would rather have had you as my escort on those occasions."
Fingers, steel bands, wrapped around her ankles and tugged. Eyes flying open, she gulped in air and slid down the bed on her back until her legs straddled his hips. One by one, he removed her shoes and massaged her bare feet. His fingers worked blissful magic. She purred, to her dismay.
"But I haven’t had sex with another woman since I met you at that conference in Jo’burg."


CONNECT ON SOCIAL MEDIA
You reach Kiru via her blog, Facebook, Twitter, Google+ or Pinterest
Follow her blog for latest news and giveaways: http://kirutayewrites.blogspot.com
Read book excerpts and free short stories on her website: http://www.kirutaye.com
Link to her Amazon author page

GIVEAWAY
Kiru is running a contest during the book tour. She is giving away a $20 Gift card, one Making Scandal T-Shirt, one Essien Trilogy cap and a signed copy of A Valentine Challenge. For your chance to win, complete the rafflecopter entries. This contest is open internationally to eligible entrants over 18 years or as applicable in their country of residence.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

CATCH UP ON THE OTHER ESSIEN TRILOGY BOOK
Keeping Secrets is 99cents /77pence for a limited time only

Have you ever loved someone and didn’t even know it?
That’s the dilemma facing Felix Essien when he wakes from a coma to find he is married to the most beautiful and sensual woman he’s ever known. He cannot remember her or their wedding. He who had sworn never to get married or to give his heart to another. Yet he feels an intense bond with her that he intends to explore fully.

Ebony can’t believe her good fortune when her paper husband wakes not remembering the temporary marriage arrangement with no intimacies he’d proposed but is now the adoring husband she’s always dreamt of. She plans to make the most of the passion blossoming between them. However would he still feel that way when he regains his memory and realises she’s been keeping secrets and their marriage is not what he thinks it is.

BUY LINKS


Here are Kiru's Top Ten Facts about The Essien Trilogy:

1. The book series is set in Lagos, Nigeria. Although the characters get to visit other places like London, New York and Johannesburg.

2. The trilogy is focused on the Essien family and the three brothers, Felix, Mark and Tony.

3. Their father is Chief Aloysius Essien and he is chairman of Apex Group Holdings. His sons run the subsidiaries.

4. Felix's mother is different from Mark and Tonys' mother.

5. Kola Banks is the bodyguard but he grew up in the Essien family home.

6. I have been asked if Kola, the bodyguard will get his own story. The answer is yes. There will be a spin-off story at the end of the trilogy.

7. Ebony whom you meet in Keeping Secrets is best friends with Faith Brown who is a main character in Making Scandal.

8. There is an underlying mystery overarching the entire trilogy.

9. There is also a series villain. Although each book has its own villain too.

10. The brothers do have a female cousin, Tari, whom you will meet in Riding Rebel.

Monday, 8 September 2014

At Second Glance Blog Tour Starts

Right here, right now, is the first stop of my Release Blitz Blog Tour for At Second Glance.

I'm giving away a $20 Amazon gift voucher to one lucky participant, plus, thanks to Decadent Publishing, one of their ebook titles to one lucky blog host in appreciation for their efforts in promoting my book.


Blurb:

Four years after her divorce, Merryn decides she’s ready to find someone. Joining an online singles site, she connects with the perfect guy. Funny, sexy, sensitive. When he suggests they meet, excitement compels her to say yes.

Kirk pines for his ex-wife, but realizes he must move forward. After several stimulating online chats, he believes she might be the one for him. Smart, sexy, willing to experiment and learn. But when he happens across his ex, all his plans fly out the window.


Will Merryn learn to relax and have fun without giving her heart? Can Kirk forget the past and become the man he longs to be?

Excerpt - 18+

“Where did you meet this guy?”
“Online.”
“That’s not safe.”
“I trust him.” Fire spurted from her gaze.
She’d never trusted him when they’d been married. Never let him take the lead. How come time hadn’t healed the wounds? Instead, they’d festered inside him.
Online relationship? He felt the blood drain from his head.
“What?” Panic rose in her voice. “Are you Panda?”
He considered pretending otherwise. He could make his escape now and forget about the crazy mistake of meeting a strange woman in a restaurant because of an internet connection. Then he wouldn’t remember all those times he’d tried to reach out to her and she’d pushed him away and read her book or gone to sleep. The accusing words when she’d found out he’d been looking at porn. The hatred in her eyes when she’d asked him for a divorce.
“Are you?” She collapsed on the chair opposite him.
“I…I can’t do this.” He rose. “I’m sorry. You shouldn’t meet guys you don’t know.”
“It’s a public place.” There was a catch in her voice.
“I don’t remember you being so pale. Blonde doesn’t suit you.”
She wrapped her face in her hands and became as stiff as a corpse. A crack of sympathy passed through him for a moment, but he pushed it away. Yet, she was Hedge. The woman who wanted to experiment. Who hurt from a previous relationship.
He’d called himself a loser.
A laugh came out, sounding out of place, and then he laughed recklessly.
She jerked her head towards him, anger evident in the harshness of her features.
“I called myself a loser.”
“What?”
“It’s ironic, isn’t it? If we’d both gotten over all our baggage from our messed up marriage, maybe we wouldn’t be here, digging up all the past hurt.”
“I didn’t know who you were. I wouldn’t have said those things to you. It’s the first time I’ve told anyone how I feel.” She didn’t look good with her face screwed up.
He glanced at her body. Had that changed? Her breasts pressed tight against the black shirt she wore. He remembered the first moment she’d shown herself to him on their wedding night. Merryn had insisted upon waiting for that special night. Her reserve had made her all the more desirable to him. In the beginning.
What if he could have another chance to touch her body? She was still shaped to perfection. None of the other women he’d had compared to the beauty of Merryn’s body. The shape of her twins, those pink taut nipples, and the peaks contrasted against her narrow waist. The gentle dip from her slight stomach to her intimate area. He sighed.

“You still want to experiment?” He’d always been impulsive, but seriously, had he said that?

Here are my buy links:

Decadent Publishing
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Smashwords
All Romance Ebooks

Here's a list of the blog schedule:

Zee Monodee's blog
Elsa Winckler's blog
Tara Quan's blog
Jessica Subject's blog
April Vine's blog
Paisley's blog
Eva Lefoy's blog
Vanessa Morgan's blog
Libby Waterford's blog
Jennah Scott's blog
Last stop here again


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Friday, 5 September 2014

Release Day for At Second Glance








Woohoo!!

It's live. My erotic romance is now available for sale from all ebook outlets. I'm so excited and I'm blown away by the rating on Amazon already.

Here are my buy links:

Decadent Publishing
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Smashwords
All Romance Ebooks

I'll be starting a blog tour to promote my book on Monday next week. So keep your eyes pealed as this will be the first stop. I'm offering a $20 Amazon gift card to one lucky participant in the tour.

I'm guesting in three spots today:

Ylette Pearson's Blog
Gaeille Vanderspek's Blog
Decadent Publishing Blog