#Romance #Excerpt #AmReading - Ever Hopeful by Lori Ryan

Laura smiled but Cade’s comment sent her thoughts in a completely different direction. She was suddenly painfully aware that she wanted him to see her as a woman. How totally inappropriate was that? She was pregnant with her dead husband’s child and running from his family. She might be a grown woman but the fact was, she’d never been independent. She’d always been tied to a man—first her father and then her husband. This was the time in her life when she needed to take charge, learn to support herself, and be independent. Yet, here she was thinking about how gorgeous the man sitting across from her was and wondering if he liked what he saw when he looked at her.

Cade frowned at her. “What are you thinking? You seem like you took a little trip in your head for a minute.”

If only you knew.

Laura shook her head. She needed to figure out how she was going to take care of her baby when it came, how she would support them both. How she was going to get away from the Kensingtons and their powerful, seemingly endless reach. How she’d fight them if they tracked her down and tried to take the baby from her. The last thing she should be thinking was what it would be like to be in Cade’s arms, to touch him and feel his mouth on her skin....

“I was just thinking that I need to find a way to support myself and the baby. I can’t live off you guys forever.”

“Try telling that to Mama. I think she’s planning to adopt you,” said Cade.

Laura felt a sharp pain at his joke and had a feeling she probably grimaced. What would it have been like to be born to May Bishop? To have been raised in a place like this by someone who loved her? To receive the unconditional love that a parent is supposed to have for their child?

Fairy tales…. She’d given up on things like that a long time ago. It wasn’t useful to sit and pity herself and cry about her circumstances. But, being so close to a family like the Bishops...made her want to go back in time and rewrite her story. If not rewrite who she was born to, at least change her decision to marry Patrick.

“Well, I’ll have to come up with something,” Laura said, but in all honesty waiting tables was about the only thing she was qualified to do.

She forced a smile. She may not have ever had a mother like May Bishop, but she’d make damn sure her child did. Her baby would know she was loved no matter what. That nothing could ever take her mother’s love away. If Laura was sure of one thing in her life, she was sure of that. She would love this child with all her heart and all that she was.

Combining heart-soaring contemporary romance with heart-pounding suspense is a trademark of New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lori Ryan—and in her novel Ever Hopeful she delivers spectacularly on both counts.  Two-months pregnant and trapped in a violent marriage, Laura Kensington realizes that her ruthless and powerful in-laws will never let her go, even after the strange sudden death of her abusive husband.  Fleeing far away to the Texas ranch of Cade Bishop, a strong yet tender man who believes in second chances, Laura finds herself irresistibly drawn to Cade’s gentle passion and giving heart. But there is no escaping the shadows of her past and soon danger re-enters her world, pulling Laura into a deadly web of lies, betrayals, and murder.  And only Cade Bishop’s quiet strength and unwavering love can set her free.

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Genre - Romance

Rating –  R

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 Connect with Lori Ryan on Facebook & Twitter

Website www.loriryanromance.com

Giveaway

Contest for readers, authors, bloggers (open to all)

Lori says - am giving away one Kindle Paperwhite (or gift card of equivalent amount if outside the US or UK) to one entrant in the two week long contest.

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The In the Biz Contest

Lori says - am giving away one Kindle Paperwhite to one blogger or author who helps promote her book during the first two weeks through blogging, Facebook, Twitter or your newsletter (whether through a tour or on your own): To enter this contest, please email her at loriryanauthor@gmail.com and she will send you a link to let you enter. You’ll be able to enter multiple times!

The Christmas Cowboy by Shanna Hatfield @ShannaHatfield #thechristmascowboy

Tate surprises Kenzie by showing up on her doorstep late one afternoon… Standing on her front step, he rang the bell and listened to her footsteps hurrying toward the door. The smile on her face forced him to catch his breath.

“Hey! What are you doing here?” Kenzie asked, kissing his cheek then stepping aside so he could come in out of the cold.

Curiosity got the best of her when he stood staring at her, his good hand still behind his back. Trying to look around him, he turned so she couldn’t.

“What are you hiding?” she asked, her eyes warm and inviting when he stepped inside and nudged the door shut behind him with his boot.

“I couldn’t help but notice you’re missing a very important component of proper Christmas décor,” Tate said, sounding all knowing and official.

“What could I possibly be missing?” Kenzie asked, looking behind her and sweeping her arm toward the living room that did look particularly festive, thanks in part to Tate. “I’ve got a poinsettia, a beautiful Christmas tree, garlands, pine boughs, sugary treats, and a blazing fire. Did you bring me some chestnuts to roast? If you did, I’ve got no clue what to do with them, so you’re out of luck.”

Laughing, Tate raised his arm and held a bunch of mistletoe over their heads. “It seems to me this is the most important decoration of all.”

“Possibly,” Kenzie said, reaching out and looping her arms around Tate’s neck, pulling his head down to hers. Teasing and gentle at first, their kiss soon gained momentum until he dropped the mistletoe on the table near the door and she pressed as close against him as his thick coat would allow.

Taking a breath, she quickly unfastened the snaps on his coat and slid it off his shoulders, carefully over his injured arm, until it dropped to the floor. He tossed his hat on the little chair Kenzie kept by the door while a groan escaped his throat. He took in every feature of her face, the mouth-watering summery fragrance surrounding her, and the softness of the hot pink sweater she wore. Her favorite color currently matched the shade of her flushed cheeks.

Lowering his head to hers again, Tate wrapped his good arm around her waist and slowly backed her toward the living room without breaking the connection of their lips.

“I missed you,” he whispered against her mouth as he carefully guided her to the couch. When her knees connected with the edge, she sank down on the soft cushions, still holding onto Tate. He went down with her, ravishing her neck with sizzling kisses that made her whisper his name in a throaty tone, sending blood surging through his veins.

"10% of the net proceeds from all my book sales December 1-24 will be donated to the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund®"

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Genre – Romance (contemporary western)

Rating – PG

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Connect with Shanna Hatfield on Facebook and Twitter

Website http://shannahatfield.com

#Author Joshua Silverman on Self-Doubt & Writing @jg_silverman #AmWriting #AmReading

How do you work through self-doubts and fear?

Usually I tell myself to shut up. But in all seriousness, every artist, whether you’re a painter, sculptor, illustrator, or writer has self-doubt and fear. We’re putting ourselves and emotions on display when we present our work to the public. As a life-long reader of science fiction and fantasy books, I know that I don’t love every author I come across so it’s unrealistic of me to expect everyone to love my writing and books. I just try to shrug it off because for every naysayer or harsh criticism, there’s always that one email I always go back to that a reader wrote me about how much my work means to her. That makes it all worth it.

Have you always enjoyed writing?

I started writing poetry when I was sixteen. Then song lyrics while I was learning to play the guitar. From there I progressed to short stories and finally, at 29 years old, novels.

What motivates you to write?

Belief in my story and my characters. Knowing that they have something to say.

What are you most proud of in your personal life?

Getting married to my awesome wife.

What books did you love growing up?

When I was in high school, I would stay up all night reading Terry Goodkind and the Sword of Truth series or John Sanford’s murder mysteries, the “Prey” novels.

What book genre of books do you adore?

Although I love fantasy and science-fiction for an escape as much as anybody, I read far more non-fiction historical work than I do fiction.

Is there any books you really don’t enjoy?

Bad YA romance about a girl who can’t decide between two guys, who, cliché as the genre can be, are dark and brooding characters but have sensitive soft spots for the damsel in distress.

Location and life experiences can really influence writing, tell us where you grew up and where you now live?

I was born in Washington DC but moved to southern California when I was very young. Like most kids, I grew up with a huge helping of comic books, loving Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, just about any hero I could get my hands on. I collected their cards, played the fantasy games, Magic: The Gathering and Diablo. But at the same time, I also played sports, starting baseball when I was four and continuing up until my sophomore year of college. My grandfather was heavily into history, which influenced my father, who was also heavily influenced in history, who subsequently tucked me into bed at night recounting stories of Julius Ceaser or Augustus of the Roman Empire.

How did you develop your writing?

As uncomplicated as it sounds, I read a lot and I wrote a lot. That’s the only real way to do it.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

Mostly historical events or myths.

What is hardest – getting published, writing or marketing?

I kind of joke that if you can’t write a novel, then you shouldn’t be an author (assuming you want to write for a profession and not a hobby). To me, the writing is the easiest part – it only gets more difficult from there. Getting a publisher is ten times harder than writing your manuscript. Selling your book is ten times harder still. One only needs to go to a used bookstore to see how many authors got published but failed to sell. You don’t see the best books on used bookshelves.

What marketing works for you?

Facebook and conventions. I meet so many people at shows that the face-to-face interaction is invaluable.

What else do you do to make money, other than write? It is rare today for writers to be full time…

I work in the legal services industry. A typical 9-5 desk job.

What other jobs have you had in your life?

My very first job was an umpire for little league baseball. I’ve worked at Subway, in-house sales, telemarketing, door-to-door sales, real estate investment firms, law firms, and accounting firms.

If you could study any subject at university what would you pick?

I’d go back and get a degree in history or philosophy, even though they have little application to the job market (so says a Yahoo! Article I just read on the worst degrees for job opportunities).

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?

In the mountains. It’s far enough from civilization where I’m not stressed about traffic or the day-to-day craziness of our lives, but close enough where I wouldn’t feel so disconnected that I’m fifty miles from the nearest grocery store (because I despise cooking).

How do you write – lap top, pen, paper, in bed, at a desk?

Laptop mostly. I do have an audio recorder for ideas I get while I’m driving.

Where do you get support from? Do you have friends in the industry?

I have a few friends in the industry, but the most support I get is from my wife as she has to deal with me talking to my characters in my head or locking myself in a room for 8 hours, refusing to come out because I’m working. It takes a special kind of someone to be married to an author.

How much sleep do you need to be your best?

A full 8 hours, as the doctors recommend. Anything less and I’m a monster.

Every writer has their own idea of what a successful career in writing is, what does success in writing look like to you?

Wait, you mean not every author dreams of having their books made into movies and being shuttled around by private jet? Honestly, sometimes, as cliché as it sounds, I love being able to talk to my fans about our shared passion of this world I’ve created.

The ancient powers lost to Potara have returned. The Brotherhood of the Black Rose rises to bring Thoth into disorder. And, while the Brotherhood reclaims their power, chaos reigns among the survivors. Six individuals have emerged from the aftermath struggling for control over their lives and a divided land. Kem and Shirin, who abolished the five thousand year reign of the Amun Priests, rule from the golden throne of the Oracle’s Chair in the Hall of the Nine. Dio and Axios struggle to piece together a resistance worthy to challenge the ancient magic which resides in the Great Temple of Amun, and Leoros and Atlantia try to remain true to their hearts and their cause despite tragedy.

But when the Book of Breathings is discovered, the path to immortality is revealed. Leoros and Kem race to capture the Soul of the World unaware of the challenges awaiting them. This time, the gods themselves will intervene. 

In a tale where boys become men and girls become women, where treachery and deception are around every corner, and where primeval mysticism finds its way back from the grave, victory is reserved for neither the good nor the evil, but the powerful. 

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Genre – Science fiction, Fantasy

Rating – PG-13+

More details about the author and the book

Connect with Joshua Silverman on Facebook & Twitter

Website www.legendsofamunra.com; www.joshuagsilverman.com