Living on Books and Coffee: cover release

Showing posts with label cover release. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

WISH FOR IT WEDNESDAY ~ Concealing Torres by Sarah Jayne Carr

About the Story:

Quinn Torres is forced to keep secrets. He’s working on a confidential project for the local police department, volunteering for a suicide hotline, and he’s dating his best friend’s sister behind closed doors. The PD and the crisis center are manageable, but the stress of hiding his personal life is eating him alive.

On a chilly winter morning, Quinn and a few friends head out on a day hike to relax. When thick fog and a storm enter the picture, the group is forced to take shelter in an abandoned cabin.

Can Quinn and his friends keep calm in a dire situation while multiple skeletons threaten to tumble from their closets?

Buy Link:

www.smarturl.it/ConcealingTorres

Meet The Author

Sarah Jayne Carr is a novelist who can be found most evenings with a cup of tea in-hand and her her imagination tormenting many characters. When away from the computer, part of her mind is always brainstorming her next story, and she tries to keep writing utensils within reach. Watch out. If paper isn't nearby, she may scribble upon the nearest person's forehead.

She wrote stories as a child, but became more serious about her passion during her twenties. In her spare time, she likes to read, draw, splash in mud puddles, smell bookstores, and eat Honeycrisp apples.

Sarah Jayne has participated in eight NaNoWriMos and has mentored others through the program. Due to her dedication to National Novel Writing Month, she has made many friends through an amazing writing group.

Since August of 2012, Sarah Jayne has proudly been a part of Crushing Hearts and Butterfly Publishing. To date, she has multiple stories published within her flourishing JackRabbit7 series. Additionally, her budding Grim Reaper series was recently picked up by Vamptasy Publishing.

Monday, June 2, 2014

MUST READ MONDAYS ~ Incantation Paradox by annamaria bazzi

Novel: Incantation Paradox

Author: annamaria bazzi

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Cover Designer: Natasha Brown

Available: June 2

Synopsis

Magic is an illusion. It doesn’t really exist. Or does it?

A horrible car accident destroys Dolores Reynard’s life. But instead of waking up in a hospital bed, she awakens in a teenager’s body. Soon, she discovers she is at the heart of the murderous mystery surrounding the death of Mona, the young girl whose body she occupies. Caught between an evil greater than she ever imagined and a wizard who heals her tattered heart, she is forced to play a dangerous game of intrigue in the hopes of finding a way to return to her previous life.

Will magic be her ally, or will it lead to her demise once and for all.

Book Links:

Amazon / smashwords / B&N

Enjoy the second chapter of the novel. If you follow the tour you'll be able to read all three chapters. I hope you enjoy the read.

Excerpt

Chapter Two

In the dark recesses of the cavernous basement, flickering candlelight played with the shadows cast around the room. Eric moved through the motions he’d studied for the past year. He whispered an incantation. “Adah solicani dusio. Abrami solis verdana.” The words swirled around him like the smoke of an ancient Indian war signal. They spiraled, encircling his body, shooting up through a vent in the rocky ceiling. The sweet rose water scent oozing from the flaming candles tickled his nose. He scrunched it to relieve the discomfort. “Dulisio mordicani andahit.” He moved his body in harmony to the chant’s cadence. The expressions, strange and difficult, were alluring and hypnotizing even to him. Had an hour passed, a minute? He’d lost all sense of time, pursuing the arduous work he had studied hard to master. He wouldn’t know the result right away. Therefore he needed to keep alert. His “father” had used the same incantation once before, but had forbidden him to try because of its complexity and the need for precise details. Only one wrong syllable and the outcome would be uncertain...even disastrous. He smirked. Since the man wasn’t his real father, why should he follow his overly cautious advice? The room filled with thick fog, making it difficult to see. As the white smoke seeped into the ceiling and through the vent, black appendages snaked down toward him, slithering, curling. An acrid scent of burned wood replaced the annoying rose water aroma. Eric stopped moving while silky strands engulfed him, forming a tight, translucent cocoon. His heart beat faster, but he had no time for fear. “Adai columbarih andath doluri.” Though muffled, he continued, his chant rising to the ceiling before the cocoon exploded into a million pieces like a shattered mirror. Each shard puffed into dust as it hit the ground. Breathing heavily, his movements slowing, he doubled over, dropping to the cold floor. His mind drifted to the time when he pushed Mona down the stairs. Uncle Richard had rushed her to the hospital, but Eric knew she’d died. Cold and stiff, his body twitched a few times before slipping into what he thought must be a semi-catatonic state.

***

Eric limped into the dining room to find his fake father eating. “I see you’ve started without me.” Dragging out his usual chair, he sat then opened the crisp, white napkin, laying it across his lap. Still frazzled about his clandestine actions, Eric sucked in air as panic squeezed his lungs. He pulled at his shirt collar. His dad radiated anger, filling the air with a tension that blocked Eric’s windpipe. He squirmed in his chair and took a deep breath to calm himself. Whatever was up the man’s ass, he wanted nothing to do with it. “You’re late for dinner.” He glanced at Eric, his dark brows pinched. “What have you been doing?” He shrugged and picked up his fork. “Not much, really.” He focused on his plate, not trusting himself around the man, who was just too sharp to miss anything going on in the house. “Have you finished your school project?” “Yeah. Got that done a few days ago.” Jason nodded and took another bite. Eric wiped his mouth to hide the smirk spreading across his face. Reaching over, he grabbed the saltshaker and used it generously. “You eat too much salt. Put it down.” He stared at the man from the corner of his eye and, with deliberate movements, made it snow over his dish. Strong fingers wrapped around his wrist, causing him to drop the shaker. Clunk. It rolled a few inches, stopping against his water glass. “You have blood pressure problems. After all you’ve been through with your health, do you want to die of a heart attack?” He yanked his arm away. “If Uncle Richard says I can have some salt, then I can have some salt.” “When we attended medical school together, we studied the effects salt has on the body. I seriously doubt Richard ever said you could eat a mountain of salt.” “It’s my body and—” Grabbing his steak knife, he pointed it at Eric. “Be very careful with what you’re about to say.”

At the man’s dangerous inflection, he swallowed, deciding to keep quiet. He’d never won a battle with Jason and found it best to surrender before it got ugly. After a moment, the guy returned to his meal, slicing a bite of sirloin and stuffing it into his mouth. Relief shuddered through Eric. Deciding on safer topics, he asked, “How is Mona doing?” “I’m not aware of what went on between the two of you, but she’s home,” he rumbled. “She didn’t suffer a concussion, but despite the unusual circumstance, she’ll recover.” He sighed with satisfaction. So my hocus-pocus worked. “We agreed she should be well enough to attend school tomorrow, so be sure to pick her up. It’s always best to arrive with someone you know when starting a new school in the middle of the year.” “Will do.” “By the way....” Jason wiped his mouth, placed the napkin on the table, and stood. “Don’t think I don’t see what you’ve been up to. The consequences of your actions will catch up with you and cost dearly.” He walked out of the room, his posture as stiff as if he’d swallowed a croquet stick. Annoyed at the fact the man missed nothing, Eric jumped to his feet, knocking the chair to the floor. “Shit.” Grumbling under his breath, he righted his chair. “Can’t fart in this fucking house without him knowing.” Chucking his napkin at his half-empty plate, he took refuge in his bedroom. It would be a long evening in his little sanctuary, but he didn’t want to risk the questions that could arise. Sitting at his desk, he pounded his fist. Jason might be a powerful man, but that wasn’t the main problem. Too many people loved him, so getting rid of him would raise too much suspicion—all fingers pointing to him, the belligerent son. Although murderous thoughts circled his mind, he settled for no action. No, I have to work around him. Placing his elbows on the desk, he buried his face in his hands. But can I accomplish all my plans while dancing around that jackass? Annoyed at the situation—terrified to be exact—he lifted his head, examining the shadows around the room. Glancing at his cell phone, he rubbed his chin. Damn! I didn’t realize it was so late. Pushing to his feet, he took off his pants, adjusted the elastic of his boxers, and crawled between the covers.

He clicked off the bedside lamp, closing his eyes. Thoughts of Mona filled his mind. Tomorrow will be an interesting day.

~ABOUT THE AUTHOR~

Although born in the United States, Annamaria Bazzi spent a great deal of her childhood in Sicily, Italy, in a town called Sciacca. Italian was the language spoken at home. Therefore, she had no problems when she found herself growing up in a strange country. Upon returning to the states, she promised herself she would speak without an accent. She attended Wayne State University in Detroit Michigan, where she obtained her Bachelor of Science in Computers with a minor in Spanish. Annamaria spent twenty years programming systems for large corporations, creating innovative solution, and addressing customer problems. During those years, she raised four daughters and one husband. Annamaria lives in Richmond Virginia with her small family where she now dedicates a good part of her day writing. You can visit Annamaria at: blog / website / Facebook / annamariascorner@yahoo.com / twitter / goodreads

Monday, April 28, 2014

MUST READ MONDAYS ~ The Perfect Spirit by Traci Hayden

Synopsis

28 year old writer, Vanessa Fortney has travelled the world, living life to the fullest. When she comes home due to the unexpected death of her only blood relatives, she only has one regret; never finding love that triumphs all others.

In a beautiful valley in the Rocky Mountains, Nessa finds her wondering about a mysterious stranger who saved her after a nearly disastrous car accident. The mystery that surrounds Daniel is quickly replaced by the increasing addiction Nessa feels for him.

Will she find that love that transcendences all love or will tragedy keep them apart?

Excerpt

Nessa's body melted as his deep and lusty French accent washed over her, penetrating her deepest fantasies. “My name is...”

“Vanessa. I know.” He answered. He stepped forward, pulling a gloved hand out from within his coat. “My name's Daniel.”

Nessa assumed since the town on the edge of the valley had a small gathering, her presence had been known within a few hours of her arrival. She looked down at his extended hand and contemplated taking it. When they touched, it was be final. Her whispering dreams of him would become real. All her fleeting thoughts of him would be physical.

Her drive to be captivated by him drove her tiny hand into his. A chill travelled her arm as she realized how cold his hand was even through the leather glove. Her hospitality and caring nature won out over everything else she was feeling. “Come to the house. Sit by the fire and warm up. I'm sure Richard and Sylvia would like to thank you also.” Secretly, she wanted to keep him close to her.

“I'm sorry, but I must decline.” His voice held a layer of regret. “I'm not comfortable around people. I've been alone for a long time.”

Nessa bowed her head, hiding her disappointment. “Maybe we could just sit and talk for a bit then.”

Daniel's hand came to rest on her cheek. His thumb under her chin, pulled her face up till his beautiful eyes met hers again. “As much as I would love to...” He looked towards the horizon, the sun barely visible as it set, “I must leave.”

The pang of disappointment stabbed Nessa's heart. She nodded, holding herself together. The profound sadness tore through her. “I understand.”

Daniel leaned in, breathing in her scent. “I missed this.” Nessa's body reacted involuntarily. She reached up on her toes and brushed her cheek against his clean shaven face. The fragrance of jasmine and lavender imprinted in her mind.

“Missed what?” Nessa asked, already knowing the answer, but relishing in the sound of his deep voice.

“Your smell.” He whispered, leaning his face into hers. “I haven't smelled the incense of lilacs in far too long.”

The heat of her blush flamed bright against her skin. She needed to see him again. “Daniel...” His name tasted sweet on her lips, “...when can I see you again?”

“Very soon, ma belle.” He breathed into her ear. “For now, remember me in your dreams.”

About Author

Traci Hayden is a proud mother of four beautiful girls and one adorable granddaughter. She has always had a passion for reading, but recently the obsession for writing has taken over.