Chronicles: The Library of Illumination - Release Blitz

Young Adult Fantasy

Date Published: April 29, 2014

   

Within the walls of a centuries-old building lies the magical Library of Illumination, a place where books literally come to life. 17-year-old Johanna Charette is the youngest curator ever chosen to oversee the day-to-day operation of the library and she knows, in case of trouble, having an assistant can be invaluable, so she hires 16-year-old Jackson Roth to give her a hand. Jackson gets off to a rocky start, but manages to prove his mettle. Besides, he’s kind of cute and a lot of fun.

Johanna is charming and brilliant—and a natural born leader. She keeps the library operating on an even keel. Jackson is clever and intrepid. He relies on his wits to keep them out of danger when trouble arises. Unfortunately, his derring-do is one of the reasons why they sometimes find themselves in awkward situations. So it shouldn’t be any surprise when his wanton curiosity sparks a journey to a distant realm, where they end up with front row seats in a battle against an ancient foe. 

EXCERPT

“What’s this? Jackson asked, picking up a book that sat by itself on a bottom shelf. A thick layer of dust obscured the cover. “Did you leave this book down here?”

“What book?”

He opened the book to a random page to see what it was about. Dracula suddenly loomed over him, blood dripping from his mouth. “Uhhh ...!” Jackson’s scream did not get past his throat.

Dracula moved in for the kill. The teen managed to slam the book shut just as the vampire’s teeth made contact with his skin.

“What are you doing?” Johanna poked her head around the corner of the shelf and spotted the blood on Jackson’s neck. She looked down and recognized the volume of Dracula by Bram Stoker and winced. “We must have missed that one. Are you all right?”

Jackson swiped at his neck.

“Come with me.” Johanna led him to the circulation desk. She took out a first-aid kit and cleaned away the blood with an antiseptic wipe.

“Am I ...?”

“It’s just a surface wound.” She wrapped the bloody wipe in a tissue and threw it in the wastebasket. “You’re going to live ... but not forever.”

Jackson sighed with relief. “You know, when my mother used to patch me up, she would kiss it to make it better.” He raised his eyebrows and grinned at her.

“If you got hurt working for Larry at Once A-Pawn A Time, would you ask him to kiss it to make it better?”

“You really know how to hurt me.”

Johanna laughed. She leaned in and lightly kissed Jackson’s neck.

He could feel the hairs along his nape tingle.

“All better?” she asked.

 Carol Pack

C. A. PACK, author of Code Name: Evangeline, Evangeline’s Ghost, and the Library of Illumination novelettes, is an award-winning journalist and former television news anchor/writer from Long Island, New York. 

Website: www.chroniclesthelibraryofillumination.com        

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/libraryofillumination

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JohannaCharette

Blog: www.carolpack.com/blog/index.php

Any Others: www.pinterest.com/carolpack/library-of-illumination/

BUY LINKS

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1hI4DWL

GIVEAWAY

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The Bodyguards of L.A. County are BACK....and Author Cate Beauman ROCKS IT!!!!!!

Cate Beauman is back with the sixth installment in her bestselling romantic suspense series, The Bodyguards of L.A. County.  Justice For Abby is on sale now through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iTunes! 

Nowhere to hide…

Fashion designer Abigail Harris has been rescued, but her nightmare is far from over. Determined to put her harrowing ordeal behind her and move on, she struggles to pick up the pieces of her life while eluding the men who want her dead.

The Mid-Atlantic Sex Ring is in ruins after Abby’s interviews with the police.  The organization is eager to exact their revenge before her testimony dismantles the multi-million dollar operation for good.

Abby’s safety rests in the hands of former US Marshal, Jerrod Quinn.  Serious-minded and obsessed with protocol, Ethan Cooke Security’s newest agent finds himself dealing with more than he bargains for when he agrees to take on his beautiful, free-spirited client.

As the trial date nears, Abby’s case takes a dangerous turn.  Abby and Jerrod soon discover themselves in a situation neither of them expect while Jerrod fights to stop the ring from silencing Abby once and for all.

Read an excerpt from Justice For Abby:

The black bag was ripped from her head, along with several strands of her hair. Abby blinked against the bold light of the naked bulbs hanging from the low ceiling. She glanced around the dingy space in shock as her gaze traveled from girl to girl—six young teens, dirty, bruised, and malnourished, staring up at her through bland eyes while they sat or lay on filthy mattresses on the dirt floor. “What—”

“In.” Victor shoved Abby into a small, windowless room, slamming the door, locking her in with a rusty scrape of something sliding against the heavy metal barrier.

She walked on shaky legs to the wooden chair in the corner and collapsed to the uncomfortable seat, clutching her arms around her waist, shivering as she bit hard on her bottom lip while tears rained down her cheeks. Where was she? What was this place? She shuddered, remembering six sets of listless eyes holding hers. Nothing good was happening here.

She covered her face with trembling hands and gave into her sobs, relieving the worst of her dread, wishing for nothing more than to be home with Lex and Livy. Thinking of her sister and niece, she forced away her tears, taking several deep breaths of stale air. If she wanted to see her family again she needed to pull herself together. She couldn’t get herself out of this—whatever this was—if she didn’t think. There had to be a way out. Her eyes darted around the barely lit space, searching for a weapon, another exit, anything.

The door opened, and she rushed to her feet as a tall, well-built man stood haloed in the beam of light from the room beyond. Abby blinked as he stepped forward. “Renzo?” She bolted from the corner and fell against her friend’s firm chest as a wave or relief flooded her. “Oh, thank god.”

His strong arms wrapped around her.

“I’m so glad you’re here. I don’t know what’s going on. I need help. Can you help me?”

“What happened?” He eased her back some, but she refused to release him from her grip.

“My family—we were on our way home from Virginia Beach. We stopped at a rest area, and two men grabbed me and brought me here.”

“You were with your sister and niece?”

“Yes, Alexa and Olivia. I think they’re okay, but I need to call and make sure. Will you get me out of here?”

“Of course.”

She could hardly believe she was leaving. “Thank you. Thank you.” She hugged Renzo again as tears of gratitude flowed free. “I knew this had to be some sort of mistake.”

“Come on, let’s get you home.” He wrapped his arm around her waist and walked with her to the door. “Oh, wait.” He stopped.

“What?”

“I can’t let you go.”

Did you enjoy the excerpt?  You can read the first chapter on my website, www.catebeauman.com, or you can finish the whole book here!

The Inspiration Behind Justice For Abby

Justice For Abby is one of my favorite stories in The Bodyguards of L.A. County series (Okay, they all are, but I really love Abby and Jerrod!). I truly enjoyed writing their adventure. Oftentimes I found myself caught up in Abby’s rollercoaster ride as she heals from her experiences as a survivor of the Mid-Atlantic Sex Ring. At times I cried with her, and at others, I laughed. She’s so strong and sweet, but she’s vulnerable and struggling. Enter Jerrod Quinn, the perfect man to provide her protection and help her overcome her ordeal in his own quiet way.

Although Abby’s story is one of fiction, sex trafficking is a very real crisis for millions of young women, men, and children all over the globe. My idea for this novel came after a night in front of the television watching crime television. A segment showcasing the mysterious disappearance of a young woman named Amy Bradley bothered me greatly. She vanished from a cruise ship in March of 1998 while vacationing with her family. Unfortunately, Amy has yet to be found, but she is believed to be alive, stuck in the horrific world of human sex trafficking. I immediately began my research into this very troubling epidemic and shortly after wrote Forever Alexa, the story of Abby’s sister dealing with the aftermath of Abby’s disappearance. My readers have requested Abby’s story, and I felt the need to share her experience.

I hope you enjoy getting to know Abby and Jerrod as much as I enjoyed writing these two fantastic characters.

~Cate

The Unofficial Justice For Abby Soundtrack

Music always plays a huge part in my writing process.  With two boys and two dogs in the house, music helps me “get lost” in my story.  I typically listen to Pandora or YouTube and put together a playlist of songs that I feel represent the characters or the situations they face as the novel unfolds.  Here are a few of the songs that I had on “repeat” while I created Jerrod and Abby’s story!  You can listen to them on my website www.catebeauman.com.

The soundtrack, of sorts, for Justice For Abby:

• Applause by Lady Gaga
• Safe and Sound by Capital Cities
• She Is by Ben Rector
• I Should Go by Levi Kreis
• The Other Side by Jason Derulo
• Why Don’t You Love Me? by Hot Chelle Rae ft. Demi Lovato
• We Owned The Night by Lady Antebellum
• Stars Go Blue by Tim McGraw
• Open Your Eyes by Snow Patrol
• Come Back by Pearl Jam
• By Your Side by Tenth Avenue North
• Everything Has Changed by Taylor Swift ft. Ed Sheeran 

About the author:

Cate currently lives in Tennessee with her husband, their two boys, and St. Bernards, Bear and Jack. She is the author of the best selling romantic suspense series, The Bodyguards of L.A. County.  Before her career as an author, Cate worked in special education for 12 years.

“I’m a pretty lucky girl; one day I woke up and my entire life changed. I saw the light, so to speak, and decided I was going to be a writer. Now, three years later, I’m working on my seventh novel, Saving Sophie, and I’m an Amazon best selling author.  I’m very grateful for the support and success I have had.  - Cate “

Contact Cate

Amazon Author Page

http://www.amazon.com/Cate-Beauman/e/B00A05KHVM/

Social links:

Twitter: @CateBeauman

www.catebeauman.com

www.facebook.com/CateBeauman

www.goodreads.com/catebeauman

The Bodyguards of L.A. County

When Blake Met Sorab (Love Blake!!!)

When Blake Met Sorab

I paused at the bathroom door, shocked.  

She was laughing, I mean really laughing, the way I had never seen her do while with me.  The laughter was like a fountain of fresh, sweet water bubbling up from deep inside her being.  I stared at her as if I was a man who had been wandering in a desert for days without food or water.  

I don’t know how long I stood there simply staring.  At the sight of water.  So near and yet so far away.  You’re no better than a heroin addict desperate for his next fix, a voice inside my head taunted.  But at that moment there was nothing, nothing I wanted more than to take her in my arms and never ever let her go again.  

What was it about this woman that made her impossible to resist even when it was patently clear I shouldn’t trust her further than I could throw her?  Slowly, as if in a dream, I was drawn to the centre of her attention—to the shrieking, splashing, lustily laughing baby.  It was obvious.  

She loved that little creature.   

Instantly, I was jealous of it, of the love she had for it.  The jealousy didn’t strike me like a bolt, more like weevils crawling all over me.  The feeling disgusted me.  I didn’t want to be jealous of a fucking baby.  I wanted to hate her guts.  A small sound came from my throat.  

I didn’t plan it: it was involuntary.

Her head whirled around, and right before my eyes, quite interesting really, I watched her withdraw, build a wall around herself.  And I had to stop myself from laughing in her face.  She knew me so little.  Did she really think I was going to hit that wall, and just stop?  No wall could keep me out.  I would scale it, brick by fucking brick.  Nothing, no one could keep me out.

Until I said so she was mine.  To do with as I pleased.

‘Hi,’ she fluttered, nervous, very nervous.  And so she should be.  A secret thrill fizzled in my veins.  I wanted to throttle her.  Little bitch.  How dare she love the kid and not me?

‘Who do we have here?’ I said softly, going into the room.  

I looked into the child’s big, blue eyes; solemn, curious, unafraid, and suddenly, that disassociated, unreal feeling I hadn’t felt since I was child drifted in.  My mind didn’t say, ‘who are you?’  It said, ‘who am I?’  I felt like one of those turtles in Asia that have had their throats slit while still alive and I was bleeding out to make a blood cocktail for some demented human.  

Something was wrong with the picture I was looking at.  My mind began to race.  The baby grinned toothlessly, and in that instant, I understood everything.  The slit in my throat healed itself.  The incessant feeling of being empty and lost receded.

That was my son in my tub.  And that was my woman standing beside him.  

In that same moment of illumination I felt the danger.  It was in the room standing beside me, like an invisible shadow.  But by the time I turned to look at her, my eyes were neutral, betraying nothing.  We looked at each other.  

I saw the fear, but I also saw the love in her eyes.  How could I have missed it?  I felt rage, murderous rage at what had been done to her, us, but also wild and leaping joy that she loved me.  That she was pure.  She had acted as a mother.  Only as a mother.  I wanted to grab her and kiss her.  

‘Does he cry a lot?’ I asked finally, my voice so even and normal even I was impressed.

‘No.  Most nights he will sleep right through,’ she assured quickly.  

I saw the relief in her face.  I marveled at that.  She must think me a fool.  It would work in my favor.  

‘Good,’ I said with a nod, and as if losing interest, I turned away and went out.

My legs took me to the dining room.  I closed the door, leaned back against it, and closed my eyes.  When I opened my eyes I knew what I must do.  I knew too that this apartment was no longer safe for my family, but moving them would alert him.  The only thing in my favor was stealth.  As long as he thought I didn’t know I could lay my plans.  Otherwise, he would win.  He had nothing to lose, and I everything.  I picked up the phone and called a business associate.  I talked business for twelve minutes.  My voice betrayed nothing.  

I opened my briefcase.  Took some papers out.  Looked them over carefully.  Made notes on them.  Left messages for Laura to action on in the morning.  But all the time the best and most efficient part of me was coldly, meticulously planning the future.  Hours later, I went into the bedroom.  I knew he was listening and watching.  Let him listen.  Let him watch.  He would hear and see nothing different.   I closed the door softly.  She was already in bed, and by the sound of her even breathing, asleep.  

Quietly, I stepped through the connecting door that had been left ajar.  A sliver of light came in from the door leading into the corridor.  I walked up to the cot and stood over him.   I was surprised at the rush of pride that coursed through my body at the sight of his sleeping body.  I stood in the dark and fought the intense longing to feel the texture of his skin.  I clenched my fists.

Soon, soon I would claim him as mine, but not now.  

Tomorrow, when it wouldn’t appear ‘strange’ I would touch him.  I listened to my body, to the whisper of the purest emotion I had ever experienced.  To love without expecting anything in return.  With it came the instinct to protect what was mine.  They will not do to him what they did me and Marcus.   Without another glance at him l left as quietly as I had entered.

I sat next to her and she opened her eyes sleepily.  My beauty.  I loved her more than life itself.  I would kill with my bare hands for her.  I bent my head and kissed her.  The kiss was gentle and soft.  She came awake and opened her mouth.  The kiss deepened.  That raw hunger between us throbbed into life.  

So: he wanted to watch me with my woman.  Let him.  Watch while you can, Daddy.  I know what you are capable of, but you don’t know what I am capable of.  I slid my hand down her silky body and tugged at the rim of her knickers.  I laid my fingers flat between her legs.  Dampness seeped out from under the material.

‘You are so wet,’ I whispered, and inserted a finger into her.

She tensed.

Immediately I stilled.  ‘What’s the matter?’

‘Nothing,’ she mumbled.  I put my hand out and flicked on the light switch.  She blinked and squinted.  

I lifted her gown up and turned her over.  What I saw cut me to shreds.  I wanted to cry.  I did that to her!  

(#2 The Billionaire Banker series) 

AN EROTIC ROMANCE 

Recommended for 18+ due to mature themes and sexual content 

***** 

Beyond the seductive power of immense wealth lies... Dark Secrets 

Devastatingly handsome billionaire, Blake Law Barrington was Lana Blooms first and only love. From the moment they touched his power was overwhelming. Their arrangement quickly developed into a passionate romance that captivated her heart and took her on an incredible sexual journey she never wanted to end. 

The future together looked bright until Lana made a terrible mistake. So, she did the only thing she could... she ran. 

Away from her incredible life, away from the man of her dreams, but she should have known a man such as Blake Law Barrington was impossible to escape. Now, he’s back in her life and determined that she should taste the bitterness of his pain. 

Shocked at how rough the sex has become and humiliated that she is actually participating so willingly in her punishment, she despairs if she will ever feel the warmth of his touch—the solidity of his trust again? And even if she can win his trust, loyalties are yet to be decided, and secrets to be revealed—secrets that will test them both to their limits. 

Will Lana be able to tear down the walls that surround Blake’s heart, and break him free of the brutal power of immense wealth? 

Can Blake hold on to Lana’s heart when she discovers the enormity of the dark secrets that inhabit the Barrington family? 

Lana has always believed that love conquers all. She is about to test that belief… 

Buy Your Copy

****Besotted  book 3 is set to be out 4/29/2014****

About the Author

Georgia Le Carre writes contemporary and adult romance.

She lives in a little old 19th century romantic cottage, surrounded by the most magical garden, filled with fruit and walnut trees and teeming with wildlife.

Her diet includes all things chocolate and a voracious appetite for Romance reads, particularly new authors with a fresh voice.

When she is not feeding words into Amy, her precious laptop, she can be found lost in a long walk in the woods, particularly on moonlit nights; and often with the man of her dreams.

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Orange Blossom By Sarah Daltry ~Release Blitz~

Orange Blossom - Release Blitz

By Sarah Daltry

New Adult Contemporary

Date Published: April 4, 2014

“I’ve never understood a year. A year was always a measurement of something bad for me. A year in my father’s prison sentence, a year since my mom’s death, a year left of school before I could get far, far away from here. Now, as I look down the end of my college career, with only a little more than a semester to go, a year seems like something magical. It has been a year since Lily chose me, since she sat with me on the old swing set and made a decision that I was worthy of her. And every minute of the entire year has been better than the last.”

You already know their stories: Lily, the perfect princess, always living someone else’s life. And Jack, the broken boy, who had stopped believing in hope. Somehow, though, they found each other and what was one night blossomed into a love story.

Now, a year later, Jack and Lily are dreaming of the future. Despite all of his promises to himself that he would never be indebted to anyone, Jack makes a new promise – this time to Lily – that he will be there for her forever. But when life unravels for them, he starts to pull away, and Lily worries he’s out of reach for good.

When Jack does the unthinkable, Lily is left destroyed. Is it possible to have a happily ever after? Does love ever really save anyone?

EXCERPT

He’s smiling. Not that smirk he gets when he’s bitter but also pleased about something. It’s not the smile that says that he knows happiness is temporary. When he lines up his Skee-ball shot, there is a smile on his face that is pure. Genuine. It’s like taking a step back and seeing Jack in a photograph. One from years before his life went crazy. He is just a dorky kid playing Skee-ball and he’s so happy when he nails the shot. He does an awkward little dance and it’s the kind of thing about Jack that makes me love him. He’s gorgeous and sexy and aggressive yet sweet. He’s kind and considerate of me, both sexually and in general. But I don’t love Jack for that. I love him because there is light in the world in the space he takes up. I know he doesn’t see it, but he’s inside himself. From the outside, all I see is the absolute electricity and fire that fills the air around him.

“That’s how it’s done,” he tells me when he finishes his game, wrapping up his ridiculous stack of tickets. I’m so going to lose, but I don’t care. He’s happy. I just almost wish I were better at this, so we could stay here longer, so that Jack could be this part of himself for as long as he needs.

“I think you’re perfect,” I say.

“Because I’m good at Skee-ball? Shit, that’s all it takes?”

I shake my head. “No, but you tell me all the time. I don’t think I ever say it to you. I don’t like the idea of perfection. It’s too much of a standard to live up to, but I don’t think you even understand. It’s cheesy and probably cliché, but I just can’t imagine how I could breathe without you. How did I exist before this?”

He looks down, uncomfortable because it is one thing to tell Jack he’s hot or sexy; he can handle that and he gets arrogant and ridiculous when I tell him that. However, this part of him, this vulnerability, he buries it so deep that drawing attention to it makes him want to disappear. But I don’t want that. I want him to embrace it, because it’s beautiful.

“Don’t look down,” I say and I lift his face to look at me. His eyes explode with light, the way fireworks do on New Year’s when the sky is like ink and then it’s suddenly on fire. I lean in and kiss him, feeling his hands tighten on my arms and his lips opening against mine. He’s scared. I can feel it in the way he kisses me today; he feels himself falling and he is trying to hold on and I need to figure out how to be steady enough to hold him. “Trust me,” I plead. “Let me take some of what you’re feeling. I can handle it, Jack.”

He nods. “Another day. Today, I just want to stay here, to be here with you, where it’s safe and comfortable and my entire world is this. Where strawberries and popcorn and Skee-ball and shitty plastic toys are the entirety of what exists.” He pauses. “I promise, Lily. I will. Soon. But let me hide from it. Just for a little longer?”

“Okay, but don’t hide from me, okay?” I ask.

About the Author

Sarah Daltry writes about the regular people who populate our lives. She’s written works in various genres – romance, erotica, fantasy, horror. Genre isn’t as important as telling a story about people and how their lives unfold. Sarah tends to focus on YA/NA characters but she’s been known to shake it up. Most of her stories are about relationships – romantic, familial, friendly – because love and empathy are the foundation of life. It doesn’t matter if the story is set in contemporary NY, historical Britain, or a fantasy world in the future – human beings are most interesting in the ways they interact with others. This is the principle behind all of Sarah’s stories.

Sarah has spent most of her life in school, from her BA and MA in English and writing to teaching both at the high school and college level. She also loves studying art history and really anything because learning is fun.

When Sarah isn’t writing, she tends to waste a lot of time checking Facebook for pictures of cats, shooting virtual zombies, and simply staring out the window.

The other titles in the Flowering series are Forget Me Not, Lily of the Valley, Blue Rose, and Star of Bethlehem. The final book, Ambrosia, will be out in June.

Sarah has also written Bitter Fruits, an urban fantasy romance, and Backward Compatible, a gamer geek romantic comedy.

Authors Links

Website | Facebook | Twitter

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Signed paperback of Blue Rose and some swag

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