Count Down to Christmas Blitz: Christmas with the Black Sheep by Natalie-Nicole Bates

-->Christmas with the Black Sheep by Natalie-Nicole Bates

--> Let's get to know the author.
Natalie-Nicole Bates is a book reviewer and author.
Her passions in life include books and hockey along with Victorian and Edwardian era photography and antique poison bottles. Natalie contributes her uncharacteristic love of hockey to being born in Russia.
She currently resides in the UK where she is working on her next book and adding to her collection of 19th century post-mortem photos.

Follow Natalie-Nicole on her Social Media Pages!


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Amazon Author Central Page
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0071MP0DC 

It’s Christmas time, and Eriah Jameson has returned home to restart his family’s business. Due to his wild child past, no one is friendly or welcoming to Barrow Haven’s black sheep.
Aylin Myers lost her job when Eriah’s father took ill. She knows Eriah needs her help getting his business up and running again, but she doesn’t trust him. If he fails, she knows it will dishonor his father’s memory. And Aylin knows that at Christmas, it’s the right thing to help your fellow man—no matter how wretched he might be.
As Aylin gets to know Eriah, she sees a side of him Barrow Haven never saw. That perhaps the black sheep has changed for the better. Still, can she be sure this side of Eriah is real, and not just a facade he’s perfected over time to get his own way?

It’s time for a Snippet!

When she turned around, his lips came down upon hers. Soft, searching, her hand went to his cold cheek. Almost instantly, she reminded herself of what transpired between them the day before. But her heart…her heart…overrode her mind’s stern warnings.

     Then her mind won out over her heart. She broke the kiss, and turned away from him. “I’m not starting this all over again with you. I’m not getting hurt.”

And a great Author Q&A!

1.          What is your favorite part of writing?

Watching the story unfold as I write it, watching the characters grow and change.

2.          Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

That no matter what is thrown at you, there is always a way out there to defeat it. It might not be how you originally envisioned, but nothing is hopeless.

3.          Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

I’ve always had a keen interest in writing. When I made the decision to actually write, is after I had been a reviewer for an extended period of time, and I thought to myself, ‘I can do this’.

4.          Give us an insight into how your writing day/time is structured?

Generally, I try to get done any promotion, email, and all writing related things that are not actual writing done during the day. I do my actual writing at night.

5.          Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?

Just that everyone’s situation in life is different, we all have a story to tell whether in life or through our characters.

6.          What is the thing you struggle with the most while writing? And how do you defeat it?

Balance. I’ve been published now for four years, and I find it a struggle sometimes to balance life, writing and promotion.

To view our blog schedule and follow along with this event visit our Official Event page 

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Book Tour: The Ring of Remaliha by Melanie Mason

When Egyptologist April Tanner is asked to translate the hieroglyphs on an ancient ring, she is unwittingly drawn into a world of danger and intrigue. Her colleague, Dr. Peter Scherril, believes the glyphs will lead to a treasure hidden nearly two thousand years ago by an Egyptian named Remaliha. The problem is the glyphs don’t make sense. 

A week after Peter is killed in a suspicious car crash, the ring shows up in April’s mail. She vows to decipher the artifact’s code and figure out why someone wanted Peter dead. Her inquisitions put her in the path of dashing archaeologist Nathan Hayes and his mysterious friend James Reddingham. Nathan invites April to join his expedition near Luxor. 

Once she arrives in Egypt, April aggressively pursues her investigation of the ring. But soon she suspects the motives of both Nathan and James and finds herself dodging thieves and assassins at every turn. In the end, uncovering the secrets of the ring could lead to Remaliha’s treasure . . . or April’s own tomb.

Purchase your Copy here:

          

Melanie is an author, designer, and flight attendant all rolled into one. She graduated from Utah State University with a degree in communications.

Melanie has told stories all her life and finds her passion in sharing the plots that spin through her head. She hopes to be on an airplane one day and see someone reading one of her books.

Melanie now lives in Portland, Oregon—with her two dachshund Chihuahua dogs—where the beauty of the Pacific Northwest feeds her imagination and the rainy winter evenings encourage her to curl up with hot chocolate and a good book.

Connect with the Author Here:

                    

Excerpt

When April finished writing, she reviewed the lines. “Got it!” she exclaimed out loud and then clamped her hand over her mouth. She slipped the ring onto her finger and turned back to her notes, rereading the passages until the sound of footsteps outside the wall brought her head up. She dashed behind the first row of columns into the shadows, cursing herself for being so foolish as to come here alone at night.

Scanning the shadowed ruins, April saw her notebook lying next to the column. Her heart sank. It fell out of my pocket!

The footsteps moved closer, accompanied by hushed voices.

“I saw her, Efendi. I watched her room like you asked, and I know she came this way.” The speaker moved out of the shadows and April could see it was the man who had attacked her at Nathan’s villa.

Efendi, an old-fashioned term for “master” or “sir,” April thought with a scowl.

“Search the hall. If she came this way she’ll have to come back. And remember, Sayid, if you fail me this time I will keep my promise to you. Every bruise she received at your incompetent hands will be returned with a twist of my knife in your heart.”

April’s breath caught in her throat as she recognized the voice.

To view our blog schedule and follow along with this tour visit our Official Event page 

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Count Down to Christmas Blitz: The Unknown Elf by Karlie Lucas

Marie never expected to wake up in North Pole City, let alone become Santa’s Emergency Replacement. It was a job she never wanted but couldn’t turn down, thanks to Clarence, Santa’s right hand man. Now, Marie has to work with Clarence, who believes she is some kind of criminal who will cause the destruction of everything he holds dear. Trying to prove that he’s wrong, Marie keeps making mistakes that push them even further apart. It doesn’t help that she has a past she’d rather keep hidden. However, trying to keep her past where it should belong isn’t easy. Just when Marie starts to feel like things are coming together, a madman with a bone to pick, and Christmas to ruin, threatens the whole of the North Pole Organization. Marie must rely on Clarence and her new friends to help her face her past before Christmas is gone forever. But does she have the courage to truly be herself when it could mean losing everything?

            

Karlie Lucas is a preschool teacher by day and a writer/artist by night.

A graduate of Southern Utah University, Karlie received a B.A. in Creative Writing, with a minor in art. She is a member of Sigma Tau Delta, The International English Honor Society, as well as ANWA, the American Night Writers Association.

Karlie is interested in all things magical and mysterious, especially elves and dragons. She is an avid fan of J.R.R. Tolkien and J.K. Rowling.

When not writing, Karlie can often be found drawing, baking, watching her favorite old school shows, or just spending time with her family.

She currently resides in Dallas, Texas with her husband and a cat named Kally.

Q and A with the Author:

1.      What is your favorite part of writing?

 I love it when the characters talk to me and tell me their story, because it really is their story.

2.      Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

I want all of my readers to get a sense of being able to achieve the seemingly impossible. Too many people feel trapped by circumstances, weak, unloved, or any number of negative things. I want to show them that no matter how bad life is, they can do something to make it better.

Connect with the Author Here:

 

Ten things about me:

1. I almost double-majored in college, Creative Writing, and almost General Art.

2. I'm not a fan of seafood, though I will eat breaded fish, like fish sticks and fish patties for sandwiches.

3. I am also the director/producer of an amateur radio drama.

4. I am proudly owned by a ginger tabby.

5. Back in college, I took Kenpo karate.

6. My husband thinks that I was an "East European cab driver in a past life", which is apparently why I'm such an adventurous driver.

7. I really like dragons. And elves. And Christmas.

8. I know a lot of voice actors who work for FUNimation, the anime voice over company in Texas.

9. I've never gotten a speeding ticket.

10. I really like to be creative in the kitchen.

To view our blog schedule and follow along with this tour visit our Official Event page 

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Blitz: Touched to the Depths by Elsa Winckler

He was the photographer, she the model and on a sunny beach on Mahé, she stole his heart. But Darryn isn't ready for the powerful feelings Hannah elicits, so when another photographer implies he's also slept with Hannah, Darryn uses it as the perfect excuse to walk away.

But when they meet again, he can't ignore his instincts—Hannah is in danger. Lies and threats make targets of them both, and faced with a situation of pure terror, Darryn is forced to realize he'll do anything to protect her. And to keep her with him, always...

Grab your copy of the book today!

Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Touched-Depths-Elsa-Winckler-ebook/dp/B018WRITHI/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1449202677&sr=8-10&keywords=elsa+winckler
Amazon.uk: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Touched-Depths-Elsa-Winckler-ebook/dp/B018WRITHI/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1449202765&sr=1-1&keywords=elsa+winckler

I have been reading love stories for as long as I can remember and when I ‘met’ the classic authors like Jane Austen, Elizabeth Gaskell, Henry James The Brontë sisters, etc. during my studies, I was hooked for life.
I married my college boyfriend and soul mate and after 38 years, 3 beautiful children and three grandchildren, he still makes me weak in the knees. We are fortunate to live in the picturesque little seaside village of Betty’s Bay, South Africa with the ocean a block away and a beautiful mountain right behind us.
And although life so far has not always been an easy ride, it has always been an exiting and interesting one!
I like the heroines in my stories to be beautiful, feisty, independent and headstrong.  And the heroes must be strong but possess a generous amount of sensitivity. They are of course, also gorgeous!  My stories typically incorporate the family background of the characters to better understand where they come from and who they are when we meet them in the story.
I was fortunate to win the best romance award for an Afrikaans story  in 2010 and again in 2014.

Follow Elsa's Pages!

Social media links:

Webpage: www.elsawinckler.com

Personal Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/elsa.winckler

Author Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ElsaWincklerRomanceAuthor?ref_type=bookmark

Twitter: https://twitter.com/elsawinckler @elsawinckler

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6557709.Elsa_Winckler

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/elsawinckler/

Wattpad: http://www.wattpad.com/user/elsaw1

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/111046023755042052612/posts

Snippet Time!

So where are all the Cavallos now?” His laugh was high, near hysterical. Stephen yanked her against his body with his one arm. “You’re all alone. Not even Darryn Cavallo is in sight!”

The guy probably hadn’t had a shower in days, and he also had too much to drink; the stench wafting from him, was overwhelming. She swallowed against the nausea that rose in her throat, but she kept still.

“No, it’s only you and me, Stephen. Isn’t that what you’ve always wanted?” she said sweetly.

His arm stilled around her body. “That’s right,” he said. “You and me, I like the sound of that.” And again his high-pitched laughter followed.

They reached the car. She would have one chance. That was it.

Stephen’s one arm dropped from her body as he fiddled in his pocket, probably looking for his car keys.

“I—”

“Stand still!” he ordered, yanking her back again. He unlocked the passenger door of the car.

“I only want to take my shoes off, they’re hurting me. Surely you won’t mind that?” Hannah asked meekly and moved so she leaned against the car.

Stephen came closer, still wielding the gun.

She bent forward and took off one shoe. “Put away the gun. I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere,” she said, not looking at him.

Slowly, she bent down to take off the other shoe while looking at Stephen from the corner of her eye. He played with the gun for a few seconds, but then put it in his pocket.

“Just don’t try anything,” he said and turned slightly to scan the area.

This would be her only chance. Hannah grabbed her shoe and clutched it tightly in both her hands. Stephen moved his feet so his back was turned in her direction. This was it. With all the built-up anger inside of her, she brought down the sharp heel, aiming it straight at the back of his head.

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