Thursday, February 13, 2014

Super Book Blast Tour for Summertime Dream by Babette James



 
Summertime Dream
by Babette James
BLURB:

The Fourth of July is over, but for these summer lovers the fireworks have just begun.

An unexpected inheritance brings business consultant Christopher Gordon from Los Angeles to quaint Falk’s Bend. He’s carved a week from his demanding schedule to list his great-grandparents’ house for sale and explore his roots. However, disturbing family secrets and the sweet temptation of writer Margie Olsson derail his plans, challenging him to seize the elusive dream missing from his hectic life — love.

A recent brush with death shook Margie’s life, but not her dreams and she’s ready to move forward. Only, standing up to her loving, over-protective family isn’t easy. Helping Christopher explore the derelict mansion and unravel his grandmother’s mysterious past should be a harmless fun taste of independence. But when her experimental summer fling ignites into unexpected love, how can her small town dreams work with his big city life?

EXCERPT

Margie laughed. “Of course, in my dreams it was a bit less rundown.”

“I’d imagine so. Interested in buying?”

“Oh, if only I could, I would in an instant. I’m sure the property alone is worth far more than I can afford.  It’s a huge piece of land. And the repairs and restoration...” Longing swelled. She sighed. Someone else would buy and live in her dream home.

Quiet fell between them for a while. Bees buzzed in the clover. Birds sang, chirped, and flitted. A hummingbird whizzed past. Two more ducks joined the first amid quiet bickering quacks. Dandelion fluff drifted by on an unfelt breeze.

A truck rattled down the lane, breaking the moment.

“Suppose we ought to head back...” Christopher turned, so close their arms brushed, but instead of retreating, he hesitated. Their eyes locked. Where dismay and frustration had filled his green eyes, want simmered. The heavy air electrified.

You need a change.

On a surge of bewildering crazy courage, she stretched up and kissed him. The brief brush of lips to lips left her shaken and her heart pounding, like she had  just come up for air.

His eyes widened in his serious, craggy face.

No, oh, no. Blowing out an unsteady breath, she pressed a hand to her stomach. She’d carried her day’s adventure one impetuous step too far. Her heroines were the daring part of her. She’d never even kissed on a first date before, and this wasn’t even a date.

Before the apology fluttering in her mind could break free, he cupped her cheek and touched his mouth down on hers.

AUTHOR Bio and Links

Babette James writes sweetly scorching contemporary romance and loves reading nail-biting tales with a satisfying happily ever after. When not dreaming up stories, she enjoys playing with new bread recipes and dabbling with paints. A teacher, she loves encouraging new readers and writers as they discover their growing abilities. Her class cheers when it’s time for their spelling test! Born in New Jersey and raised in Southern California, she’s had a life-long love of the desert and going down the shore. Babette now lives in New Jersey with her wonderfully patient husband and extremely spoiled cats.

Summertime Dream on Amazon.com Kindle: http://amzn.com/B00HJDS3E6
Summertime Dream on all other Amazon venues: http://viewbook.at/SummertimeDream
Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.com/e/B007KDJWV8

GIVEAWAY
Babette will award a $10 Amazon GC to two (2) randomly drawn commenters during the tour. Please follow the tour HERE and comment to increase your chances of winning.

NOTE: THE BOOK IS FREE ON AMAZON FOR THE DURATION OF THIS TOUR.



Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Books-a-Fire FEB Sales Event

The Books-a-Fire authors are back with a Valentine’s Week promotion.  We have fabulous deals and NEW books on the page. There are no gimmicks or hoops to jump, just incredible prices on every single book.  Point, click, and buy books in every genre for just 99 cents or FREE!

YES!  Every book on the page is priced at 99 cents or FREE to make your shopping easy and affordable.  For less than the price of a dinner out, you could buy every single book!

To make it really easy, we've also created categories.  Click your favorite category at the top of the page and see all the books listed in that category.  Treat yourself to a Valentine’s Week gift, good books for everyone!  Go to http://bit.ly/15u8DGF today!

Sunday, February 2, 2014

Virtual Book Tour: BANISHED LOVE by Ramona Flightner ($50 GC Giveaway)



Hi everyone,

I have a great book recommendation for you (with a gorgeous cover). Banished Love by Ramona Flightner, is a historical women’s fiction novel. But before you can know more about the novel, get to know the author a little by reading the interview.

Don’t forget to comment for a chance to win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card. Click HERE to follow the tour and comment to increase your chances of winning. Good luck.

INTERVIEW

What is the sweetest thing someone has done for you?

I am fortunate that I have a lot of sweet memories. One that comes to mind is when I went to a writer’s conference in San Francisco a few years ago. I felt overwhelmed and terrified to be there amongst so many wonderful writers while I felt like such a novice. After the first afternoon, I entered my hotel room and I had two gorgeous bouquets of flowers waiting for me. There was one from my parents and another from a dear friend. Both cards told me how much they cared for me and of their faith in me and my abilities. Their support was invaluable.

What kind of music do you like?

I like folk music, classic rock, classical music, Latin (especially Juanes), and traditional Irish music. I love Mumford and Sons and was fortunate enough to see them in concert last year.

Do you like to dance?

I enjoy dancing and I often dance at home. I have a little boogie I do to some of my favorite songs and when I am washing the dishes. I don’t dance all that well, so I tend to stand on the perimeter of the dance floor at parties. But, I always have a good time.

Can you describe your dream home?

For me, it’s not about what the home looks like or how big it is, it’s the essence of the place. It’s about how I feel when I walk in the door. The feeling that my friends, family and I would always feel welcomed as we entered. I envision shelves covered in things I have brought home from my travels and photos of said places. A pot of tea always at the ready, an eagerness to hear the latest story, be it about recent travels or the day’s work. That’s home to me.

 
If you could be any character, from any literary work, who would you choose to be? Why?

I know this is most likely a cliché amongst women, but I would come back as Elizabeth Bennet. She was a strong woman who spoke her mind, supported her family and still married the man she loved. In a completely different, more modern vein, I wouldn’t mind being Hermione Granger.
 
BANISHED LOVE
by Ramona Flightner


BLURB
Free-Spirited…

Clarissa Sullivan dreams for more from life than sipping tepid tea in stifling parlors in Victorian Boston. She defies her family’s wishes, continuing to teach poor immigrant children in Boston’s West End, finding a much-needed purpose to her life.

Radical…

As a suffragette, Clarissa is considered a firebrand radical no man would desire. For why should women want the vote when men have sheltered women from the distasteful aspects of politics and law?

Determined…

When love blossoms between Clarissa and Gabriel McLeod, a struggling cabinetmaker, her family objects. Clarissa’s love and determination will be tested as she faces class prejudices, manipulative family members and social convention in order to live the life she desires with the man she loves.

Will she succeed? Or will she yield to expectations?

BANISHED LOVE follows Clarissa Sullivan on her journey of self-discovery as she learns what she cannot live without.

EXCERPT

“Colin, anything in that paper interesting enough to share? You read it like you are hoping to find some long-lost treasure,” Lucas cajoled.

“Hmm…no, nothing uplifting like that song. Just more tales of death and woe around the world. The Boxers are getting more powerful and dangerous.” Colin sighed, setting aside the Boston Evening Transcript.

“And why should we care about a bunch of pugilists?” Mrs. Smythe demanded, her thin face even longer with her disapproval.

I giggled; Lucas snorted before acting as though he were sneezing to hide his amusement, but Colin stared at Mrs. Smythe with frank fascination.

“Do you read the papers, Mrs. Sm…Sullivan? Talk with your friends?” At her cold stare, he continued. “The Boxers are discontented Chinese on the verge of rebellion who are indiscriminately killing Christians in China. Including American Christians,” Colin said helpfully. “I thought it was the topic of conversation these days.” He glanced toward Lucas and me, and we both nodded our agreement.

“A genteel woman,” Mrs. Smythe began, with a sniff in my direction to indicate I must be lacking in that regard, “would not know of such vulgar goings-on halfway around the world with a bunch of savages, my dear Colin. I do read the papers but only the parts that pertain to my world and me. The parts about running a good home, a good kitchen. About decoration.” With this, she waved her hand around the room to indicate its frightful state. “Decorum.” Yet another censorious glare was sent in my direction. “These are the important matters of my life,” she stated with one more sniff, showing her displeasure at the topic.

AUTHOR Bio AND LINKS

Ramona Flightner is a native of Missoula, Montana. After graduating from Tufts University with a B.A. in Spanish, she earned a Masters degree in Spanish Literature from the University of Montana. Her Master’s thesis, Chilean Testimonial Literature: the collective suffering of a people, highlighted her continued interest in the stories of those who were at risk of being forgotten or silenced.
           
She studied nursing at the University of Pennsylvania and graduated with a Master’s in Nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner. She has worked for ten years as a family nurse practitioner providing care to the poor and under insured at two community health centers, first in Wilmington, Delaware and now in Boston, Massachusetts.
           
An avid reader, she began writing three years ago. She enjoys the demands of research and relishes the small discoveries that give historical detail to her books.
           
Ramona is an avid flyfisher and hiker who enjoys nothing better than spending a day on a remote Montana river, far from a city. She enjoys research, travel, storytelling, learning about new cultures and discovering new ways of looking at the world. Though she resides in Boston, Massachusetts, Ramona remains a Montanan at heart.
          
 Her dreams are to see the plains of East Africa, marvel at the wonder of Petra in Jordan, soak in the seas of the South Pacific, and to continue to spend as much time as possible with her family.
           
Banished Love is her first novel and is the first in the forthcoming Banished Saga.

AUTHOR WEB PAGE: http://www.ramonaflightner.com
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