Sunday, September 30, 2018

#Halloween Spooktacular Tour & #Giveaway: HAVEN + DIAMOND MOON

Hi Everyone!

I love Halloween, and we're getting the spooky season started a little early this year, with two book tours for my Tranquilli Bloodline vampires and Black Hills werewolves! My tours are part of Bewitching Book Tour's Halloween Spooktacular, running through Halloween. Over a dozen authors are participating in this fab event, so be sure to visit some tour stops for articles, stories, recipes, book spotlights, and more. There's a great prize package too: enter the event's rafflecopter giveaway for a chance at e-gift cards and books galore!

Plus, join us at the live Halloween Spooktacular Facebook event on October 24, 2018. Chat with me and the other participating authors (Laura Bickle, Carolyn Walker, London Clarke, and many more!), play games, win prizes! I'll be there from 1pm-2pm, EST.

Happy reading, happy blog hopping, and happy (early) Halloween!


 September - HAVEN
 28 The Creatively Green Write at Home Mom
 October - HAVEN
 1 Authors' Secrets
 2 The Tired Buyer (Review)
 3 Gail’s Gory Details
 4 T's Stuff
 5 Saph’s Books
 8 The Book Junkie Reads
 9 I Smell Sheep
 10 Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer
 11 3PartnersinShoppingNanaMommy&SissyToo!
 12 Simply Kelina
 15 Full Reads Review
 16 Ogitchida Kwe's Book Blog
 17 Urban Fantasy Investigations
 18 Supernatural Central
 19 Jazzy Book Reviews
 22 Teaser Addicts Book Blog
 23 Sapphyria’s Book Reviews
 24 JB's Bookworms with Brandy Mulder
 25 fundinmental
 25 Triple A Book Blog
 26 A Bewitching Guide to All Things Halloween
 29 Fang-tastic Books
 30 Don't Judge, Read
 31 Stormy Vixen's Book Reviews
 
Halloween Spooktacular, Haven tour, September 17 to October 31, 2018
 September - DIAMOND MOON
 28 Teaser Addicts Book Blog
 October - DIAMOND MOON
 1 Lisa’s World of Books
 2 Ramblings of a Book Nerd
 3 Fang-tastic Books
 4 Paranormalists
 5 Roxanne’s Realm
 8 T's Stuff
 9 The Creatively Green Write at Home Mom
 10 Simply Kelina
 11 Authors' Secrets
 12 Gail’s Gory Details
 15 Saph’s Books
 16 The Book Junkie Reads
 17 Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer
 18 3PartnersinShopping-Nana,Mommy,&Sissy,Too!
 19 A Bewitching Guide to All Things Halloween
 22 fundinmental
 23 Triple A
 24 Infinite House of Books
 25 Fang-tastic Books
 26 Paranormalists
 29 Roxanne’s Realm
 30 I Smell Sheep (Review)
 31 Urban Fantasy Investigations
 

Have a great October, Dear Readers, and I'll see you back here on October 30th with more Halloween fun!

xo,
Celia


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Wednesday, September 26, 2018

Three’s Not a Crowd if Done Right!


Whether you consider a threesome a ménage à trois or a polyamorous relationship the sexy romps, once taboo, have become commonplace in both books and movies over the past half dozen years.


Recently, I stumbled across a 2017 movie titled, Professor Marston and the Wonder Women. The movie is a biographical sketch of William Moulton Marston, professor of psychology at Harvard University, inventor of the lie detector, and ... most notably ... creator of Wonder Woman!

Professor Marston spent the majority of his adult life in a polyamorous relationship with his legal wife, Elizabeth (also an academic), and their lover Olive Byrne. Their relationship began in the classroom, when Olive took a position as Dr. Marston’s teaching assistant, with both Elizabeth and Olive assisting in the design of the lie detector. Once news of their unusual relationship got out, Professor and Mrs. Marston were fired from Harvard. The story is told in flashbacks beginning in the late 1920s and ending in the mid-1940s just prior to Marston’s death.

What I never realized until I watched the movie was that the original Wonder Woman comic was filled with overtly sexual, sadomasochistic, and lesbian imagery. It was this content that initiated a hearing before a “decency” panel who would decide if the comic would be pulled from the shelves.


After Marston’s death, Wonder Woman was re-tooled with the sexual imagery removed along with the character’s super powers. It wasn’t until 1972 when Gloria Steinem put Wonder Woman on the cover of the first issue of Ms. Magazine as the perfect example of female empowerment that the comic book heroine would regain her super powers. Just a note: Marston used his invention of the lie detector as inspiration for Wonder Woman’s lasso of truth!


This movie was artistically stunning. The acting superb. The period clothing and scenery were spot on. Despite the theme of the movie, there was very little nudity. The swear words were minimal as well and, when used, fit perfectly into the context of the story.

I would definitely recommend the movie to anyone who enjoys a great story with a wonderful tease of sexuality!
~ ~ ~
Another reason the movie appealed to me so much is because of the time period. I love the decadence, the imagery of the 1920s and 30s. My 1920’s novella, The Muse, is also a ménage à trois. Rather than being set in academia, the story is set in the world of art and music.



Decadence, freedom and illegal activities
Everything a sheltered debutante in the mid-1920s could want. When Hyde Park socialite Susan Leland meets up with Evan Forrester for the second time, she makes no excuses for their first meeting—an auto accident in which she broke the young artist’s wrist. She finds the handsome Evan both infuriating and intriguing, yet not quite as intriguing as sultry torch singer Holly Winters, a performer at Susan’s favorite supper club.

A chance to make amends
By posing nude for Evan to paint. When Susan balks, Evan, not wanting to deal with an innocent, sends her away but not before the arrival of his next model, Holly Winters. As Susan’s preparing to leave, the beautiful and talented singer convinces her to come back the next day—so they can pose together.

Will Susan find happiness in the arms of Evan Forrester—or another?
~ ~ ~
Priced at 99¢ and also available in paperback and audio format. Click on the title above to be taken to Amazon!
~ ~ ~
Until next month ... enjoy the change of seasons with a warm drink and a good book.
Nancy

Tuesday, September 25, 2018

Eye Surgery Part 1 by Jennifer Kacey

Today I'm having surgery on my right eye. And in a week I'll be having surgery on my left eye. My neuro-opthamologist is one of the top guys in the country and he's incredibly well qualified to perform my tarsoconjunctival grafts. But I'm freaking the fuck out a bit. These are my eyes. And I love them. And I need them to do all the things. And screwing them up in any way is a HUGE RED!!!

Long story short is I've had dry eyes for as long as I can remember. Dry eyes. No big deal. Some drops will fix me right up. BAM! But then that turned into 8 bazillion drops a day of 4 different kinds and highly medicated and nothing getting better. And then vision changes and then optical neuropathy set in for both eyes and then blah blah blah. I'm also horrid light sensitive which ties into all of this as well as my migraines.

Long story short - we've done everything we can before surgery so now we do surgery.
I go in this afternoon and am going to be pretty looped out for a couple days. SOOOO if you see any totally crazy shit on social media you'll know why! :P

Cross some fingers for me or say a prayer or do a little dance that all will come out alright and I'll be uber better on the other side of all this!

PS - BUT THEY SAID THEY'D GIVE ME AN EYE PATCH SO I CAN BE A PIRATE!!!! SCORE!!!

Decadently Yours,
Jennifer Kacey


http://www.jenniferkacey.com/books.html


Jennifer Kacey is a writer, mother, and business owner living with her miniman in Texas and New York. She sings in the shower, plays piano in her dreams, and has to have a different color of nail polish every week. The best advice she’s ever been given? Find the real you and never settle for anything less.

Friday, September 21, 2018

Welcome to Fall


Tomorrow is the Autumnal Equinox signalling the end of summer and the start of fall. As much as I dislike cold weather, I do love this time of year.
 
 It’s time to pull out the cozy sweaters and wool socks and pull them on to stay warm. The heat comes on and the flannel sheets go back on the bed. (Did I mention I really dislike being cold.)

 The air is crisp and the leaves are a variety of gorgeous and vibrant colors. I may be an adult, but I love kicking the dry leaves when I go on a walk.

 The fall shows come back on television and hockey season begins. (I’m Canadian so it’s hockey for me, not football.)

It also starts the holiday season, which begins in October with Thanksgiving (Canadian), Halloween, Thanksgiving (American), and Christmas.


For me, fall is also a time of new beginnings, even more so than January 1st. So it’s time to take a deep breath and embrace the new season.

 
And if you’re looking for a book to read, you might want to check out my latest release.
 





Drakon Unchained
Blood of the Drakon, Book 5

Victoria Marshall is living a lie. She works for a member of the Knights of the Dragon, a secret society that traps and uses dragons for their own gain. As a child, she made an unlikely friend—a drakon. He went missing, and she’s spent the past twenty years searching for him. The only thing distracting her from her mission is Luther Henderson, her boss’s new head of security.

Luther is also living a lie. One, if discovered, could lead to a fate worse than death. He’s attracted to Victoria, but can’t fully trust her, doesn’t know if she’s truly innocent or a true member of the Knights. It’s not only his life at stake, but those of the people he loves.

As they’re thrust deeper into the dangerous dealings of the Knights, they each have to share their secrets in order to survive.


Buy Links:


Entangled: https://entangledpublishing.com/drakon-unchained.html
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/drakon-unchained-n-j-walters/1129098413
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/drakon-unchained/id1412732920
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/drakon-unchained
 

N.J. Walters is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who has always been a voracious reader, and now she spends her days writing novels of her own. Vampires, werewolves, dragons, time-travelers, seductive handymen, and next-door neighbors with smoldering good looks—all vie for her attention. It’s a tough life, but someone’s got to live it.
                  

Visit me at:
Website: http://www.njwalters.com
Blog: http://www.njwalters.blogspot.com
Newsletter Group: https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/awakeningdesires/info
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/N.J.WaltersAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/njwaltersauthor
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/NJWalters
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/njwalters
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/n-j-walters

 

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

A Delicate Subject




Sometimes there’s a story that’s simply screaming to be written. 

Characters weep and wail making it impossible to concentrate on anything else until their tale is done. Shari is that kind of character. If Just One Person (The Suicide of Shari Jensen) is that kind of story.

I started working on this several years ago and played with it off and on. I had no real intention of finishing it. I had no real intention of publishing it. It was raw, ugly, depressing. I didn’t think anyone would want to read it. It’s not pretty and there’s no happy ending. But earlier this year I met a young woman in her 20s. We’ll call her Lisa. Lisa is beautiful. Smart. Talented. She’s got a loving family and a devoted, supportive boyfriend. Her entire life is ahead of her. And yet, she’s already damaged. Bruised. Battered. Depressed. See, Lisa suffered a trauma that’s scarred her. The nightmare will never go away, but she’s learning to deal with it. She’s learning to live her life in spite of these battle wounds. She’s moving forward a little more every day. Her story isn’t unique. It’s a story far too many women could tell. I’ve heard it before. Hell, I’ve lived it myself. So, why did it touch me?

I don’t know the answer to that question. Perhaps it’s Lisa’s spirit, her determination. Maybe it’s the optimism of twenty-somethings. Or maybe, just maybe, it was simply time for me to give Shari her platform. All I can say for sure is I was absolutely compelled to finish this book. My muse stood behind me every day until I got it done. My muse didn’t care that the story made me cry. It didn’t care that I began to question everything I thought I knew about my friends. Were they feeling this way? How many of my friends felt this hopeless? How many had thought about ending their lives? Was I a good friend or was I guilty of letting my friendships go stale?

Suicide isn’t a romantic topic. It’s not fun. It’s not comfortable. It’s not something that people want to sit around and discuss. Yet, it’s the fourth leading cause of death among 35-54 year olds in the U.S. Shouldn’t we talk about it? Shouldn’t we at least take a good hard look at our friends and family? Social media is becoming the main form of communication for many lonely people, but it can’t replace human interaction. It can’t replace a hug or a warm arm around a drooping shoulder. If this sounds personal, it is. I know too many women who struggle with depression and I’ve heard too many sad stories to count. Being a good friend can’t prevent every suicide or make depression go away. However, it’s my hope that by writing this book I can shed some light on this terrible disease. I hope I can get people talking. If people are talking about it, maybe they’ll see the signs before it’s too late.

What can you do?

Show your friends they matter to you.  Sometimes, it’s only an extra phone call or a promise kept that makes the difference. Listen when they need to talk. Urge them to get help from a counselor or other mental health professional. If they’re threatening to kill themselves imminently, don’t leave them alone. Take them to an emergency room or clinic and stay until they’re safe. Contact the resources listed below for information on risk factors, warning signs, and avenues for support and assistance.

It takes just one person to make a difference.
Just one person to save a life.
Just one person to heal a wounded spirit.
Will you be that one person?


Resources:

If you’re a veteran, or know one who’s considering suicide, please call the Veteran’s Crisis Line at 1-800-272-8255 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Press 1 to talk to someone. You can also chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat or send a text to 838255. Help is out there! Please take that final step to reach it.

If you or someone you know needs help, call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. You can also text HOME to 741-741 for free, 24-hour support from the Crisis Text Line. Outside of the U.S., please visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention for a database of resources.

There are too many online sites to list here. A quick internet search will bring up pages of forums, support groups, and other sites dedicated to preventing suicide and supporting both victims and family members.

If you’re concerned about someone, get educated and take action NOW!

Here's the blurb and content warning. Please heed the content warning. This book isn’t for everyone.

It didn’t happen overnight. My downward spiral started years ago. Once upon a time, I was happy and young and pretty. I had my whole life ahead of me and a heart full of bouncing optimism that kept me smiling and cheerful. That was 20 years ago though. Things have changed. Now?


I’m pissed off at everything and everyone.

The anger’s building and I can’t turn it off.

It’s only a matter of time before I unleash it on someone who doesn’t deserve it.

So lately, I’m thinking more and more about cashing out before I get any more twisted and bitter. I really want my friends and family to remember me with some love in their hearts. If I open my mouth and say what I feel, they’ll never look at me the same way again.

My suicide will be hard for them to understand, though I’m not convinced it will bother them for too long.

And at this point in my depression, I don’t care.

I’m going through the motions. Trying to get through each day with my sanity and liver intact. Money’s tight so the liver’s got a good chance of staying healthy since I can’t afford scotch anymore. Sanity? Well, now. That’s another thing entirely.

So, this is me. Shari Jensen.


Shari Jensen could be your sister, your mother, or your best friend. She’s everyone and no one. She’s an ordinary woman suffering from depression. She’s middle-aged and divorced. She has a dysfunctional family and forgetful friends. She appears strong, but deep down inside, she’s screaming for help.

Her story is hard to read, but it’s a reminder that even apparently strong, successful women can feel lost and alone behind the mask they wear for the world. It’s a reminder that just one person can make the difference between life and death.

Content warning: This story contains a first person, brutally honest expression of depression and despair, as well as a graphic depiction of a suicide.


Laurie Olerich is an ex-military, adopted Texan, bourbon swilling romantic fantasy novelist. Her action packed urban fantasy and paranormal romance novels are inspired by her thirst for exploration of the metaphysical and occult. She is an avid world traveler, always delving deeper into her research of demonology, old cemeteries, and otherwise creepy places. 

Laurie's Website        Laurie's Facebook Page       Laurie's Pinterest           Laurie's Twitter







Thursday, September 13, 2018

Together in Cyn by Jennifer Kacey


After finding their best friend’s diary two brothers find the submissive they’ve been waiting for.

She knows it’s wrong. Cyn shouldn’t have feelings for fraternal twins Jared and Chris, her best friends. She shouldn’t want the kinds of dirty and delicious sex she craves with one of them much less both of them. The only way to control her taboo desires is to write them down and lock them away in her diary. Guys like Jared and Chris could never be interested in someone like her, or in the kind of sex she dreams of.

But Jared and Chris have read her diary, and sweet little Cyn is in for the shock of her life. The brothers not only own a members only BDSM club called The Library, but they want her. Need her. And now, with their unlimited funds and an entire establishment devoted to fulfilling her darkest pleasures, they’re going to claim Cyn for their own.

With the key to her every need in the palm of her hand will she finally be brave enough to reach for what she’s always wanted? Or will past mistakes tear them apart forever?  

The Members Only Series
Within the walls of The Library, a members only BDSM club, anything goes. It’s a dark oasis for every Dom and sub to discover their happily ever after. Screams of pleasure and pain echo through the walls every night, but beneath each cry lies a confession. Unrequited love, cravings of domination by more than just one, even the desire for someone of the same sex. Each member learns, to find their forever, they must unearth the strength to reveal…everything.




Buy Links – Together in Cyn
Amazon Print - https://goo.gl/n317In
Smashwords – https://goo.gl/lWmAzM
Create Space - https://goo.gl/RrgiHn



Decadently Yours,
Jennifer Kacey


http://www.jenniferkacey.com/books.html


Jennifer Kacey is a writer, mother, and business owner living with her miniman in Texas and New York. She sings in the shower, plays piano in her dreams, and has to have a different color of nail polish every week. The best advice she’s ever been given? Find the real you and never settle for anything less.