Flying FREE! Take Me Now ...

Hello everyone!

It's the end of the month again and FREEbie time!  In honour of my recent 39th Wedding Anniversary (29th March) I'm offering an ecopy of my fun, sensual romance - TAKE ME NOW - to one lucky commenter. 

Aela Cameron flies Nairn Malcolm to many exciting places in the world during the course of the story, in floatplane and jet. From Nairn's Scottish island base she transports him to London, Paris, Barcelona, Tallinn... Oman... even the Caribbean -  and along the way finds the saboteur who is causing him and his Adventure Sports businesses havoc.

Where would you like her to fly him to?  

To enter the draw for a *FREE* copy of this fun romance all you need to do, after you read the rest of the post, is leave me a comment in the comments box telling me where you would like Aela to fly Nairn to. 

Here's the jist of the story:

Nairn Malcolm’s looking for the impossible. He needs a highly skilled, enterprising aide who’ll be at his beck and call 24/7. No ordinary Jane Doe will do. He doesn’t expect the only candidate who drops in at his Scottish castle for an interview to be so competent…or so stunning.

Aela Cameron’s got exactly the right mix of talents to satisfy all Nairn Malcolm’s needs, and more. She loves the jobs he needs done, adores his castle, and finds his frenetic lifestyle energising. But she’s only looking for temporary: not to fall in love with the man.

Can Nairn convince Aela she’s tailor-made for him in every way…and not a passing fancy?
 

****  A few days ago TAKE ME NOW received this great review on amazon.com 

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun and Funny--a great romance set in Scotland March 27, 2013

By Miss_Snark Format:Paperback

"Take Me Now" is a fun contemporary romance set in Scotland, a swift-paced story with humorous moments that will leave the reader laughing and sighing. All in all, the story has an amazing setting. Nancy Jardine does a wonderful job of transporting the audience to Scotland with breathtaking descriptions of the landscape. The author does a great job with dialogue, bringing the brogue of our hero to life within the reader's imagination.

Nairn Malcolm is a wounded hero. Literally. The story kicks off following a motorcycle accident that left the poor man with broken limbs and ribs, not to mention a concussion rendering him almost nonsensical. His mental incapacity leads to some of the funniest moments in the book, right in the opening chapters. Nairn starts off cagey, an "ogre" in Aela's words, and the reader proceeds with a mental image of Shrek that proves rather apt. (Except, our handsome Scotsman is not, in fact, green.) However, his disposition improves as the story progresses and he gradually demonstrates that he has a sense of humor and a caring nature, in addition to being an absolute hunk......"Take Me Now" is an enjoyable read for those who like contemporary romances with swift pacing and entertaining storytelling.

(Full review on amazon and Goodreads.) 

So...
which world destination do you think Aela should fly Nairn to next, and leave me a little reason why you think so. Good luck!

( Please leave me a way of contacting you (email address) in case you are my winner!)

Slainthe!

Familiarise Friday interviews Amber Buckley

Familiarise Friday's guest is Amber Buckley from Embrace The Darkness written by my Wild Rose Press friend Lily Gayle. 

Amber is a girl with a whole of of secrets and has some very  nice... colleagues....

(Love the cover-Lilly!)


I asked Amber some questions:

Describe yourself using only 6 words.

Tough, practical, determined, loyal, tenacious, and just a bit jaded.

Well, jaded doesn't sound so great. I'm sure that'll improve soon, though. Where are you from?

NC coast near Jacksonville (L. Gayle)

Jacksonville, NC. My dad was in the marines, stationed at Camp Lejune. Mom and I lived with his mom off post. Mom died when I was five and I stayed with  my grandmother until I joined the army. 

The photo you're sharing looks wonderful! 

I don't imagine you stay in Jacksonville any longer if you joined the army. Where are you currently living?

Asheville, NC. I'm a homicide detective. 

Mountains just outside of Ashville ( L. Gayle)

I've not visited North Carolina, yet, Amber but maybe someday I'll get to go there. This riverside/ lakeside photo of the mountains is spectacular. Very much to my taste! 

What would be your most favourite place in the whole world.

The beach. It holds bitter-sweet memories. The day my mother died, we'd just spent the day on the beach. My father had been injured in the Beirut bombing attack and was healing at a hospital in Germany. I got to talk to him on the phone that day. Then mom and I had a picnic on the beach. We were on our way home when the car broke down and…she…my mom was murdered.

Oh, heavens! That sounds awful. Sorry to hear about your mum. If not with her, who would be your ideal holiday companion if you took off on a sudden unplanned trip?

It's complicated. I should answer with something like, my partner, Reid. He's a great guy, when he's not being a smart-ass. But I find myself inappropriately attracted to Gerard Delaroche. He's witty, compassionate, and sexy as hell. He's also hiding a dark secret I'm determined to uncover. And, he's part of an on-going murder investigation. So, it'd be a conflict of interest.  Can we move on to another question? Please?

You have got a problem there! What’s your main occupation just now, if you're a detective?

I'm a former MP in the army and I'm currently working as a homicide detective for the Asheville PD.

Are you a gadget freak, or a technophobe?

I guess I fall somewhere in the middle. I love my smartphone and police issue laptop. But in my opinion, nothing will ever replace good, old-fashioned police work.

If I said I'm granting you a whole week where you can choose every single thing you want to do. What would that be? (I know you just said Gerard is a pretty hot but...Ahem...answers within reason for the average blog visitor please!)  

Solve this damn case and discover Gerard's secrets. I promised I'd find out who killed his employees and what happened to his other employee, Axle Travers. If Axle is a victim, I need to find him before the killer does. If he's part of this, then I need to bring him to justice. But this case is complicated, you know? I mean, Richard Baxter's body was completely drained of blood. What kind of sick freak would do that?

Who, or what, are you trying to avoid most just now?

My growing attraction to Gerard. Damn him! Why does he have to be so appealing? He's either a witness or a suspect and being around him clouds my judgement. But man, do I feel safe in his arms.

Mmmm...in his arms, you say? That  sounds pretty close. Okay, though, we'll change the subject. What new cuisine would you like to try?

Anything that doesn't come in  a fast food bag. I've devoted so much time to this case, I can't remember the last time I sat down at a restaurant and had steak or seafood—my favorites by the way.

Steak and seafoods rank high up in my favourites, too, Amber. It's been great having you answer my nosey questions. Thanks for doing that, and best of luck with that case of yours.

Thanks for having me today. And thanks for not asking any questions about the Lifeblood of America murders. It's an on-going investigation, and I appreciate you not asking personal details about the case.

No problem but we'll just share a few details about  - Embrace The Darkness:

An experimental vaccine gives vampire Gerard Delaroache hope for the first time in two centuries--until two people are brutally murdered, and he suspects a conspiracy between vampires and mortals. To solve the crime, he must put his trust in a beautiful detective. But is former soldier and MP turned detective, Amber Buckley, a threat to his existence? Or the answer to his prayers?

Amber Buckley and her partner are assigned to do follow up interviews in the Lifeblood of America slayings. Amber believes she and Reid are just new eyes on a cold case.  That is until she meets Gerard Delaroache. Something about him teases long-buried memories Amber would rather not chase. However, the two join together, falling into more than resolution of a murder case. It seems Amber has some dark secrets of her own.

 To find their way into the light, Amber and Gerard must first EMBRACE THE DARKNESS

Excerpt:

He rolled his eyes and huffed. “Stop pretending ignorance. You know what I am.”

“A vampire. Really?” She wanted to scoff, but a chill shivered over her skin. He wasn’t dead. And she’d shot him.

Maybe he was wearing Kevlar. But wouldn’t Kevlar show through that tight-fitting shirt?

Perhaps not. Still, there had to be a logical explanation.

Ignoring the warning bells clanging inside her skull, she shoved the Glock back in its holster and reached for the beer she’d deposited on the counter. She took another long, hard pull on the bottle, hoping to douse irrational thoughts.

Gerard inhaled sharply. His eyes devoured her.

Despite renewed fear, she managed to set the bottle back on the counter without dropping it.

He’s not a vampire. He’s not a vampire. He’s not a vampire.

“I’d give anything to drink beer again,” he said in a reverent voice.

Amber nearly laughed aloud. Her shoulders sagged. Gerard Delaroche wasn’t a vampire, and he didn’t want to drink her blood. He wanted a beer. Like a normal guy.

Hell, he probably was normal. She was the one off her rocker.

“Want one?” She forced herself to meet his intense stare.

He smiled. “Can’t. Vampire. Remember?”

Like that was something a girl could forget. It wasn’t every day a hot guy claimed to be a vampire.

Hell, maybe he was a vampire. The man could stop bullets with his chest.

He took a hesitant step closer. She stiffened and took another cautious swallow of beer. He stopped three feet away. Good. Sexy and crazy was a dangerous combination.

Lilly Gayle writes paranormal and historical romance. You can find her at:

Web Links:

Blog

Amazon Author Page

Website:

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/lilly.gayle

https://www.facebook.com/lillygaylebooks

Twitter:

@lillygromwriter

Book Trailer(s):

http://www.lillygayle.com/Photo-Gallery.html

Buy Links for Lilly's books:

amazon .com

The Wild Rose Press

Lilly! It's great to have you and your friend Amber here today. Thank you so much for coming all the way to visit Familiarise Friday and my best wishes to you for tremendous books sales! 

Slainthe!

Welcome Wednesday says hello to Erin Thorne

Welcome Wednesday says a big hello again to Erin Thorne - whose character, Flora, popped in to 'Familiarise Friday' at the beginning of March. Today it's Erin herself who is answering my interview questions!

Erin Thorne is a lifelong resident of Massachusetts, where she lives with her family. She writes primarily paranormal fiction, and is the author of Diane’s Descent, a supernatural novella set in upstate New York, as well as Deals Diabolical, a collection of eight spine-tingling short stories. In addition, she’s written a book of short stories encompassing science fiction, fantasy, and horror, titled Behind The Wheel. Her work has also been featured in Adventures for the Average Woman (now IdeaGems Magazine).

Find Erin at: 

 www.amazon.com/author/erinthorne
www.facebook.com/authorerinthorne

Hi, Erin. How long have you been a published writer?

I was first published in the October 2010 edition of Adventures for the Average Woman (now IdeaGems Magazine). I went on hiatus for a while when I had my son, but now I’m back up to speed.

What genre is your preference to write in?

I’ve generally written in the horror and paranormal genres, but my new book, “Behind The Wheel”, contains dystopian science fiction and fantasy as well. My next project is a fantasy trilogy; I like exploring different types of fiction, especially ones that have wilder elements.

I was fortuntate, yesterday, to feature an author who writes Dystopian YA/NA novels - though I personally haven't read much of that genre, yet. Do you also tend to read books that vere towards your own writing choices?

I read almost everything, from the classics to modern fiction. Growing up, I was a big fan of Stephen King and Ray Bradbury. I still am; however, I now enjoy a wide variety of literature, and even the occasional biography.

Tell us about your latest release, please.

My third release, “Behind The Wheel”, is a collection of nine short stories, one of which is in two parts. The tales range from science fiction to fantasy, with a little horror. It’s much more appropriate for an adolescent audience than my second book, “Deals Diabolical”, and enjoyable for adults as well. The story that gives the collection its title explores the phenomenon of self-driving cars; when you surrender control, who’s really in charge, and what might they do with you?

How much research did you have to do for it?

I always have questions that arise when I write a story, and for the stories in “Behind The Wheel”, I researched everything from Caesarean birth procedures, to the life cycle of frogs, to how many litres of water a human needs daily.

Sounds like me. I'm so easily distracted when doing research and I always do far more than I need to! Were there any triggers which led to the plotlines for the stories?

Yes; one of the stories, Spoiled Pets, was based on an actual event, up to a point. We took in some tadpoles, and something unexpected happened. This prompted me to wonder, what if it had gone far worse? “What if” tends to be my point of departure, beginning the whole process.

Who are the main characters in some of your stories?

There’s a family named the Cranes in Behind The Wheel, whose adventures span the storyline. After The End features a troll family consisting of a matriarch, Froska, and her sons. High Maintenance highlights the unique life of a girl named Amy, from her difficult birth to her teens.

Do the names for characters just pop into your head as soon as you start a book?

They usually don’t. Sometimes, I’ll use actual names, but with the first and last switched around. If it’s in a foreign setting, I look up traditional names for that country. Flora’s Tale takes place in Germany, and that’s what I had to do when writing it.

What about settings? Do you tend to write about places you’ve been to…or just ones you would like to visit?

Both! Shades of Lupine was set in my nine-year-old self’s backyard, the protagonist’s rural drives in The Gathering were based on my jaunts in Connecticut, and of course, the abovementioned story is in Germany, where I’ve never been, but would love to visit.

What’s the biggest challenge your characters have to face?

I’d say Amy from High Maintenance has a big one. She has to come to terms with what she is, what that means for the people around her, and the impact it’s going to have on her future. She’s strong and smart; if she wasn’t, she’d succumb to despair at her discovery. She has some huge decisions to make, and they’re going to take some creative problem solving.

Who is your favorite character/s in the book? Why?

I like the girls in Shades of Lupine; they’re based on myself and a friend, and writing this story allowed me to recapture some of the fun we had, and the way we used to see the world at the ages of nine and ten, respectively.

What are you working on right now?

I’m currently working on a fantasy trilogy. The main character, Balen, starts out as a carefree young man, with no real direction. He discovers a secret about his family; the manner of discovery puts his foster-family in danger, forcing him to seriously think about his future. It also attracts the attention of a corrupt network that’s been gaining control of the land one town at a time. He begins to understand the importance of his decisions, and also what could happen if he fails to realize his potential.

What is your favourite time of year?

I love the Spring and Autumn; they’re usually not too cold in Massachusetts, and they have the most appealing smells.

Where would be your most ideal location to write about?

I don’t think I’ve discovered it yet!

What’s your favourite place to write?

A quiet room, where I can work without distraction or interruption, is the best place for me to write. It doesn’t matter where it is, as long as it’s peaceful. This doesn’t happen often, so I usually write whenever and wherever I can.

Great answers, Erin.  Below is the  blurb and a short extract from 'Behind the Wheel'. Thank you for sharing that with us, today.

Behind The Wheel:

A family discovers who's really in charge when they buy a car that drives itself... The characters from a well known fairy tale live on after their story is over... A docile species of farm animal transforms into a pack of ruthless creatures, bent on the destruction of humankind... A werewolf stalks a young girl's backyard... Tiny pets, rescued from certain destruction, are not what they seem... Enter a land of fantasy, and learn more about the hidden side of the world you take for granted.

Excerpt, from the book's title story, Behind The Wheel:

Jason slouched into the passenger seat, pulling his hood up and keeping his eyes on his phone. His mother got in; he responded by looking out of the window. Halfway to the supermarket, she attempted to engage him in conversation.

“So, is there anything special you want at the store?”

“No.”

“You sure? What about those spicy nacho chips you like, we could grab some of those.”

“Fine.”

“It’s kind of neat, being driven around like this. There’s even a little map where you can see your progress. Cool, huh?”

“S’alright.”

Denise played the last card she could think of. “Maybe you can drive it sometime. Take it to a friend’s house or something. What do you think?”

He liked that idea, yet stifled his approval as much as possible. “Sure.” Denise saw the tiny spark of interest and smiled. Her grin straightened, as they sailed right past the grocery store.

“What the heck?” She double-checked the map. Sure enough, the little checkered flag that marked their goal corresponded to the store’s location, but it was now receding into the distance behind them. Tapping the AutoDrive’s off switch was useless; the car was driving itself, and wasn’t yielding control. Feeling a small jolt of anxiety, Denise tried maneuvering the steering wheel. It was loose, spinning around without any connection to the tires. Was this a programming glitch, or was the wheel just there for show? The salesman had said it was functional in emergency situations, and this was starting to feel like one.

A loud click, broadcast in stereo from all doors at once, signaled the AutoLock’s activation. Denise yanked on her handle, to no avail. “Jason, see if your door’s locked.” He pulled, gently at first, then harder as it continued to resist him.

“What’s going on?”

“I don’t know, honey.” She was desperately endeavoring to maintain her composure. Not wishing to alarm her son, she said, “I’m sure it’s just a bug, nothing to worry about. I’ll call Dad and let him know where we are; maybe he can get us some help.” She tapped her phone’s screen. Nothing happened. The power button wasn’t responding either. Removing the battery and replacing it usually did the trick when it froze up, but it didn’t work this time. “Jason, is your phone working?”

He was already tapping and shaking it. “This thing sucks. It’s two years old, I need a new one.”

“Mine’s not working either.” They locked eyes momentarily, then Denise dropped her gaze. “I don’t want you to panic, but we might have a problem here. We need to find a way to stop the car, or at least signal for help.”

“Maybe we can make a sign.”

“Great idea! I have a pen in my purse.” She dug the black ballpoint out, and pawed through the pocketbook’s contents looking for paper. “You don’t have a notebook or anything, do you?”

“No.” The boy was showing some initiative now; he checked out the back seats, which were still immaculate. The family’s efforts to keep the new vehicle clean had succeeded all too well.

“Hang on, the driver’s manual is still in here!” Denise grabbed it from the glove compartment, and tore the cover off. “You make the sign, while I look through this. There might be something about an emergency shut-off or something.” She pored through the thin book, discovering nothing useful. During her second perusal, her son handed her the cover, which now bore “HELP” in thick black letters. It would do.

She waited for someone going the opposite way to pass her. There wasn’t much traffic headed in that direction. In fact, there seemed to be none. It was starting to become more congested on their side, though, so she held the sign to the windshield. The car in front was too far away for them to see if they’d been noticed. She went to the back of the minivan, shoving the paper against the wide window. The occupants of the AutoDrive following them looked terrified; could they be having the same issue?

She put the sign down and was in the act of waving her arms, when everything went dark. Denise froze.

“MOM?”

That got her moving. She bolted to the front, laying a hand on her son’s shoulder. “I’m here.” He looked pale and sickly in the green light of the dashboard. It was the only illumination; all of the windows, including the windshield, had AutoTinted themselves completely black, shutting out the view of the outside world. The pair could feel their metallic prison gliding down the road, rocking them gingerly around corners. They had no choice but to trust that the satellite responsible for AutoDrive’s guidance was still operational.

Buy links for "Behind The Wheel":
amazon.com
B & N

 

Best wishes to you for success in your writing career, Erin.

 

Slainthe!