Blog Tour: Dangerous Deception by Cindy McDonald (giveaway too)

Welcome to The Wormhole and my day on the tour!

It is with great pleasure that I feature Cindy McDonald and her book, Dangerous Deception from the Unbridled Series.

About the author:

Author Bio: For twenty-six years my life whirled around a song and a dance: I was a professional dancer/choreographer for most of my adult life and never gave much thought to a writing career until 2005. Don’t ask me what happened, but suddenly I felt drawn to my computer to write about things I have experienced (greatly exaggerated upon of course) with my husband’s Thoroughbreds and the happenings at the racetrack. Surprised? Why didn’t I write about my experiences with dance? Eh, believe it or not life at the racetrack is more…racy. The drama is outrageous—not that dancers don’t know how to create drama, believe me, they do but race trackers just seem to get more down and dirty with it which makes great story telling—great fiction. I didn’t start out writing books, The Unbridled Series started out as a TV drama, and the Hollywood readers loved the show. The problem was we just couldn’t sell it. So one of the readers said to me, “Cindy, don’t be stupid. Turn your scripts into a book series.” and so I did! In May of 2011 I took the big leap and exchanged my dancin’ shoes for a lap top—I retired from dance. It was a scary proposition, I was terrified, but I had the full support of my husband, Saint Bill. It has been a huge change for me. I went from dancing hard five hours a night to sitting in front of a computer. I still work-out and I take my dog, Harvey, for a daily run. I have to or I’d be as big as a house. Do I miss dance? Sometimes I do. I miss my students. I miss choreographing musicals, but I love my books and I love sharing them with you. Websites & Links: www.cindymcwriter.com facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/THE-UNBRIDLED-SERIES/234151313271418 twitter: @cindymcdonald7 linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=69379662&trk=tab_pro goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5264796.Cindy_McDonald

The Unbridled Series #3: Dangerous Deception

Old Age Ain’t for Sissies!

Vic Deveaux’s glory days as a winning jockey have ended, but he refuses to accept that pile of horse hockey! 
When the West family asks Vic to take an easier position at their horse farm Westwood, he becomes enraged and teams up with two greedy stable hands in a scheme to kidnap the West’s younger son Shane. 
When Vic discovers that his new-found friends have murder on their minds, things turn ugly. 
Suddenly, Vic finds himself between the rock and the hard place. . He has betrayed his good friend, Eric West, but will he participate in his son’s murder as well? 
Not content to sit and wait for her men to bring her brother home, Kate West convinces homicide detective Carl Lugowski to check out a hunch at an old abandoned mansion. Soon, they’re trapped in a hornet’s nest of a notorious biker gang. 
Oh yeah, Vic’s deception has placed the West family in more danger than they know what to do with!

My Thoughts:

This was my first Cindy McDonald read.  I am so glad I was able to participate in this tour and find a new author to add to my favorites list!  Incredible book.  Although it is book three in the series, it is fully able to stand alone.  I had not read the first two books, I have since gone out and bought them, and I was not lost nor did I ever get the feeling that I had missed something vital. 

About the book:  It is well written and engaging.  It was fast paced, but didn't leave anything out so I never felt like it was running away without me.  The plot is multifaceted and each piece is carefully created and intricately woven together.  The characters are great.  I usually find myself choosing one favorite character in each book I read, but I would be hard pressed to pick just one in this book.  I love the relationships between the West family members, everyone should be able to feel that much respect for their father and that much devotion to their siblings.  The characters are constructed with just enough flaws to make them real and believable, but also enough amazing attributes to leave you searching for such a person in your own life. 

You get to see the characters deal with, be confronted by and experience a wide range of emotions and undercurrents that are found running through this story.  I found myself experiencing it all with them, I was so into the story that it all felt personal.

I was glued to the pages as the tale unfolded to culminate at a fulfilling, yet leave you looking for the next book, ending. 

Cindy has joined us with a guest post:

Hey, remember the TV show, Batman, starring Adam West? I know, it’s a really old show, but I’m sure it’s on some cable network somewhere—they all are. Anyway, in the TV series, Cat Woman was always trying to take Batman down. She was evil. She was beautiful—in a scary kind of way. But c’mon, admit it, didn’t you always secretly want Batman and Cat Woman to hook-up?

No matter how we deny it, everyone (especially women) loves to hate a good female antagonist. They are so good at … antagonizing! As authors we love to write about our antagonists, male or female. In my first book Deadly.Com, George Smuts was my antagonist. He was creepy; he was mentally deranged. He made my reader’s skin crawl—they told me so via emails, reviews on amazon, and blog sites. I loved George and I loved the freaked-out reaction that he extracted from people. That said, my Unbridled series has a full-time antagonist within its pages who seems to really rile women. Her name is Ava West. She is a gorgeous, green eyed, redheaded, manipulative witch. She is Mike’s ex, but she still clutches a corner of his soul. When she’s not tormenting her ex, she’s got Lugowski wrapped tautly around her manicured pinky, except unbeknownst to Ava, she’d better keep him in closer check.

Oh yes, I’ve had women state that they would like to see Ava die … slowly. What? Are you kidding me? Ava is terrific! She is causing my readers to fidget in their seats while they read. In Deadly.Com she did things that made women’s eyes narrow and their brows pinch together. Well, wait to you see what she has in store for you in DANGEROUS DECEPTION. I love all of my Unbridled characters, although Ava holds a special place in my heart, or is that my modem? Truth be told, I’m most relieved that she lives inside my computer and I don’t have to deal with her in reality. Or do I? Surely there must be someone that I know who is very much like Ava West. Hmmm…I’ll have to think on that.

Now here’s the tough question about the hate that we feel for female antagonists: is it really hate that we are experiencing or is it…envy? Ouch! Ava is able to manipulate even the most alpha males in my stories. She has the power to make them see things her way, or else—or else…what? You know what—they’re not going to get to see her naked. Female antagonists are usually beautiful, as is Ava, and they make me wish that I had the manipulative might that they possess…or not.

Sorry readers, Ava West is going to be around to poke at you patience for quite some time—you loathed her in Deadly.Com,  she didn’t win any popularity contests in HOT COCO, and she’s still at it in DANGEROUS DECEPTION. However, at some point in my Unbridled Series you may find yourself rooting for her. Hey, it could happen!

Who is your favorite female antagonist? The one that really irritates you—is she from a movie, book, or TV series? Okay now, be honest—do you really hate her, or do you secretly envy her? ;}

Giveaway!

The author has allowed me to offer one (1) EBook of Deadly.com, the first book in The Unbridled Series, to a follower.  Please fill out the form to enter.  Thanks for stopping by - following and entering!

Happy Reading!

Winner!

Congrats to Mikki D!

She was the winner of The Cat's Meow by Stacey Kennedy!

The winner and the tour presenter have been notified.

Thanks to all who entered and all my great followers.

Happy Reading!

Release Day Party! The Promise by Kim Carmichael (giveaway too)

Release Day Party The Promise

We’re happy to celebrate the release day party for “The Promise” today, a steamy paranormal romance novel by author Kim Carmichael.

Read an Excerpt!

He tilted his head. "You look older."

She forced herself to blink and to remember her goal. "Then I assume I am at last old enough to be a fit for a demon." She stepped forward, stopping less than a foot away from him. The back of her throat dried out, and she swallowed.

He put his hand to his chin, his gaze taking her in. "This old song and dance. When will you use the brains you have and leave it alone?"

His words hit her, but rather than retreating, she moved closer. The energy, the tingle, the wafts of spice encompassed her and lured her toward him. "Never."

"You were smart last time. Why don't you release me so I can do what I came here for." He glanced down at her and then shifted his focus beyond her. "I have needs as well."

"Tonight I am the one you came here for." The mention of his last visit stung, but she willed herself to keep going. She ran her fingers up the buttons of his shirt. "You always told me to take control."

He shook his head. "A lesson you learned well."

She reached up and clenched his collar in her fist. "I let you go last time, but tonight I am the one you need."

He grabbed her wrist. "I spared you before. Never forget that."

She stared right into his eyes. No weakness was allowed tonight. "It's me, Dolan. Me, or you can be celibate until the decade I do you the favor of dying. I don't care about your pain." She tensed, preparing herself for his retaliation.

"I thought I taught you better than to make demands of a demon." He pressed his palm to the side of her face.

Heat radiated through her body, sending a warning to every one of her nerve endings. "A demon who comforts a child is a failure of a demon in my book."

His jaw tightened. "That was a mistake. An oversight."

About The Promise

Title: The Promise

Author: Kim Carmichael

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Demon Dolan Ciar exists on three simple words: desire, denial, and destruction. Every four years, he is allowed one night of earthly passion to punish a deserving female. By the time he is finished, his victims are left as willing receptacles for demons yet to come.

Since she was four, a demon has been the only constant in Leora Desmond's life. He taught her how to seize control, to never give up, and to take whatever she wanted. At twenty-four, her self-centered existence is focused on one thing. She wants Dolan, and she won't be dissuaded.

A mistake brought Dolan to Leora. A promise bound him to her. Returning once again to ask for his freedom, he is faced with Leora demanding to be his next conquest. The ultimate retribution would be to take from her the ultimate symbol of her selfishness.

Now, Dolan must decide if he can doom her to life in living hell or face his own set of unearthly consequences, while Leora must choose between her pleasure and her heart.

The Promise blurs the line between good and evil, desire and love, and promises and commitment.

Author Bio

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.

 Visit Kim’s Amazon page!

Giveaway

The author is giving away a globe necklace. The giveaway is US only!



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour: Against My Will by Benjamin Berkley

Welcome to The Wormhole and my day on the tour.
Presented by Teddy Rose at Virtual Author Book Tours. 

It is my pleasure to feature Benjamin Berkley and his book

Against My Will.

Publisher: Frederick Fell Publishers, Inc., September 1, 2012
Category: Fiction- Relationships, Abuse, Romance, Holocaust, Suspense
Tour Dates: February, 2013
Available in: Print and PDF, 247 pages

AGAINST MY WILL is the life changing novel about Danielle, a victim of marital abuse, who finds the strength to leave her husband and pursue a career in law.

Danielle Landau knows she should feel lucky, but she can’t feel anything but dread. Not only did she pass the New York Bar, but she married the man her father says is just right for her and lives in a fashionable new loft in Queens. But the man who seems like the perfect catch is a perfect nightmare at home. Jacob tries to control her career, her daily routine, and even what she eats. He ignores her desires and belittles her every chance he gets. Soon, Danielle doesn’t recognize her husband or herself, and she struggles to find a way out.

Danielle tries to talk to her father but he dismisses her marital problems.  But she can confide in her Nana Rose, a Holocaust survivor who lost her entire family at the hands of the Nazis. Rose helped raise Danielle and her brother when their mother died when Danielle was only three.  Having faced death, Rose is Danielle’s source of security.  But while Danielle holds on to the fragile belief that her father’s prince charming will change, she is raped by her husband on the night of their one year wedding anniversary.

Now, Danielle has to escape.  And with the help of her beloved Nana, Danielle moves across the country and starts to rebuild her life. But will she be able to escape her past? And when one of her clients finds herself in the same terrible situation, will Danielle have the strength to help her?

As we follow Danielle on her journey of terror and recovery, we see her story intersect with the diary entries of her Nana as a young girl held captive in a concentration camp.  The entries begin with Rose waking up in a hospital after the liberation of the Mauthausen Concentration Camp.    Graphically she recounts the train ride to the camp and the emotional separation of her from her family upon arrival.    And the full weight of the family’s secrets becomes clear. This is a story of survival, self-discovery, justice, and ultimately, it’s about love.

About Benjamin Berkley:

“Against My Will” is Benjamin Berkley’s fifth book and debut novel.  He is also the author of four self-help books:       “My Wishes, Your Plan for Organizing Your Family’s Needs” (Sourcebooks, June, 2006)   “The Complete Executor’s Guide” (Sourcebooks, June 2007)   “Winning Your Social Security Disability Case” (Sourcebooks, February, 2008) and “Before You Say I Do Again, A Buyer’s Beware Guide to Remarriage.” (Frederick Fell Publishers, September, 2009).

And though writing is his passion, for over 34 years he has conducted a busy law practice in which he has seen many interesting clients come through his door.  One in particular, an older woman with white hair, the kindest smile, and an amazing story became the inspiration for one of his characters for “Against My Will.”   Berkley lives in southern California with his wife Phyllis and their cat Riley.   He has two grown children and is always bragging about his most beautiful grandson and granddaughter.

Benjamin Berkley’s Website
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenjaminBerkley 
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Benjamin-Berkley/365105946878419

Ben has joined us for an interview:

? When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? 

For fun, I started writing short stories in third grade.  And I always had the bug to write but not the time.

? How many jobs did you have before you became a writer?

Though writing is my passion, I am a full time attorney.

? How long does it take you to write a book?

I have written four self-help books before my novel.  And that process is a lot faster.  Likewise, Against My Will took well over a year.

? What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk? 

I jog every morning and race home with ideas that came into my mind.

? Where do you get your ideas or inspiration for your characters?

The character of Irene is based on my client, Irene Opdyke whom I represented.  The other characters all come from persons I met sometime in my life.

? How do you decide what you want to write about?

I look for a theme that includes social issues.  And then I bounce it off my adult children for their knee jerk reaction.

? What books have most influenced your life?

Memoirs and autobiographies.

? What are you reading right now?

 I am not reading right now as I am too busy writing.

? What do you like to do when you are not writing?

 Tennis and playing with my grandkids but not necessarily in that order.

? What is your favorite comfort food?

Licorice if that can be considered a comfort food.

? What do you think makes a good story?

If the story reads like a play or movie.  That is, I like my characters to seem so real that the reader feels that they are in the room with him.

? Who would you consider your favorite author and why?

 Warren Adler, author of War of the Roses and many more.  I had the pleasure of spending time with him and his advice was so meaningful.

Fun random questions: 

·        dogs or cats? Our precious cat Riley

·        Coffee or tea? Only coffee ice cream, otherwise tea.

·        Dark or milk chocolate? If I had to choose, it would be dark.

·        Rocks or flowers? Flowers

·        Night or day? Night

·        Favorite color? Blue

·        Crayons or markers? Markers

·        Pens or pencils? Pens

Buy Against My Will at:  Amazon.com ~ Barnes and Noble ~ Book Depository 

Review: Against My Will by Benjamin Berkley

Against My Will by Benjamin Berkley

Amazon Product Description:
Danielle Landau knows she should feel lucky, but she can't feel anything but dread. Not only did she pass the New York Bar, but she married the man her father says is just right for her and lives in a fashionable new loft in Queens. But the man who seems like the perfect catch is a perfect nightmare at home. Jacob tries to control her career, her daily routine, and even what she eats. He ignores her desires and belittles her every chance he gets. Soon, Danielle doesn't recognize her husband or herself, and she struggles to find a way out.

As we follow Danielle on her journey of terror and recovery, we see her story intersect with the diary entries of a young girl from more than fifty years ago, and the full weight of the family's sectrets becomes clear. This is a story of survival, self-discovery, justice, and ultimately about love.

My thoughts:
I wasn't sure what to expect from this story; a story written by a man about control, love, self-discovery and survival.  I was pleased by the story that unfolded on the pages as I turned them.  I was impressed with the author's desire to write a story about a topic that is somewhat taboo and his ability to write such a story with such a profound understanding.

I understand the desire to do what you feel your parent(s) want and what "seems" like the right thing for your life.  So I was not surprised by the fact that Danielle gets married, even with the reservations that she had.  

It took me a bit to get the nature of the interspersed diary entries and put together that they belonged to her grandmother.  I would have liked a bit more clarification about time frames in the diary, I felt that I was missing out on the rest of the story.  It seemed as if there should have been something about getting out of the hospital and moving on with her life.  That being said, the similarities in the situations was an interesting twist.  

I loved the insight about love that Rose gives and how that comes through as Danielle moves on with her life.  I liked that she was able to find closure to her own situation through the court case that she takes.  

The relationship between Cliff and his job and Danielle and her grandmother's past is a great addition and truly makes the story.  That the author introduces them on her flight from her present and then re-introduces Cliff into her future by helping her sort out the past is brilliant.

The story is filled with emotion, growth, courage and the insurmountable ability of the spirit to survive.  My favorite part of the entire book is when Danielle gets to meet Irene and her phrase, "Save one life, seed a generation."  In her saving Rose, one life, she seeded many a generation to come. 

Inspiring and insightful, this was a wonderful story.

Review: The Witch's Dream by Victoria Danann

This virtual book tour is presented by Bewitching Book Tours.

Click HERE for more tour information.

Welcome to The Wormhole and my second day on the tour.

It is my pleasure to feature book two of Victoria Danann's series, Order of the Black Swan, The Witch's Dream.

The Witch’s Dream 

By Victoria Danann

The Order of the Black Swan

Book Two

Genre: Paranormal Romance / Paranormal Adult Fantasy / Urban Fantasy

Amazon  Smashwords

BOOK TRAILER: http://youtu.be/BGKm-A1JqbI

Book Description:

Amazon BEST SELLER Fantasy Romance.

READING THE SERIES IN ORDER HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

SMART.  SEXY.  MAGICAL.

From New York to Ireland to Edinburgh to Siena to the Texas Hill Country to Napa Valley, a secret society, a witch, a demon, a psychic, a berserker, an ex-vampire, modern day knights, heroes, werewolves, elves and fae come together where emotions intersect. The story maps a trail from rages to hunts to epiphanies, but, in the end, proves that true love can find you in the strangest places, when you're least expecting it, even when you're far, far from home.

He was left behind when Elora Laiken made her choice. Now he’s had it with love, but a transplanted witch who happens to be the world’s best tracker hopes she can change his mind.

The Witch’s Dream begins with B Team on temporary assignment to Black Swan headquarters in Edinburgh where they are supposed to fill in for stretched-thin resources and assist with a werewolf issue. They’ve been given permission to stop in Ireland for a few days and help celebrate a handfasting at the palace in Derry.

When they reach Edinburgh, the afterglow of an elftale wedding quickly turns all business. A missing person report turns into a demon abduction. A simple werewolf sanction becomes a diplomatic issue requiring the one thing Elora is no longer willing to give - finesse.

Erotic quotient: A few steamy scenes. No menage. No BDSM.

My thoughts:
I truly enjoyed My Familiar Stranger (book one) and was looking forward to getting back to the series and the characters that I fell in love with.  I was a little worried, because of how much I liked book one, but needn't have - book two is as good as book one.  
We meet new characters and they are as well done as expected - carefully created with all those things you look and fall for, making you feel like you know them and are right there with them.  The story line is wonderful, intriguing and entertaining with just enough romance and action.  I love Victoria Dannann's writing style and her use of language, a bonafide wordsmith!  I can't wait to get started on book three!