Blog Tour: Snow in July

 

TITLE – Snow in July 

AUTHOR – Kim Iverson Headlee 

GENRE – Young Adult Paranormal Historical Romance 

PUBLICATION DATE – July 2014 

LENTH (Pages/# Words) – 386 pages/94K words 

PUBLISHER – Pendragon Cove Press 

COVER DESIGNER – Natasha Brown

   

BOOK SYNOPSIS

Sir Robert Alain de Bellencombre has been granted what every man wants: a rich English estate in exchange for his valiant service at the Battle of Hastings. To claim this reward, the Norman knight must wed the estate's Saxon heiress. Most men would leap at such an opportunity, but for Alain, who broke his vow to his dying mother by failing to protect his youngest brother in battle, it means facing more easily broken vows. But when rumors of rampant thievery, dangerous beasts, and sorcery plaguing a neighboring estate reach his ears, nothing will make him shirk duty to king and country when people's lives stand at risk. He assumes the guise of a squire to scout the land, its problems, and its lady.

Lady Kendra of Edgarburh has been granted what no woman wants: a forced marriage to an enemy who may be kith or kin to the man who murdered her beloved brother. Compounding her anguish is her failure to awaken the miraculous healing gift bequeathed by their late mother in time to save his life. Although with his dying breath, he made her promise to seek happiness above all, Kendra vows that she shall find neither comfort nor love in the arms of a Norman…unless it snows in July.

Alain is smitten by Lady Kendra from the first moment of their meeting; Kendra feels the forbidden allure of the handsome and courtly Norman "squire." But a growing evil overshadows everyone, invoking dark forces and ensnaring Kendra in a plot to overthrow the king Alain is oath-bound to serve. Kendra and Alain face a battle unlike any other as their honor, their love, their lives, and even their very souls lie in the balance.

 

BUY & TBR LINKS

AMAZON KINDLE US – AMAZON KINDLE CA – AMAZON KINDLE UK AMAZON PAPERBACK – BARNES & NOBLES NOOK – BARNES & NOBLES PAPERBACK SMASHWORDS – ITUNES – GOODREADS SHELFARI

   

EXCERPT

FIFTEEN THOUSAND MEN and horses writhed across the valley below, appearing as toys in a children’s game.

Many might consider war a game, but Sir Robert Alain de Bellencombre, knight of Normandy bound to the service of Duke William and commander of a unit in the cavalry reserves, did not number among their ranks.

Edward the Confessor, King of England via his Saxon father but Norman by his mother, was dead. This battle, raging near the coastal hamlet called Hastings, would decide the right of one man to wear the English crown: William the Norman, acknowledged by Pope Alexander to be Edward’s lawful successor; or Harold the Saxon, brother of Edward’s wife, the man alleged to be Edward’s deathbed choice.

Stroking his war horse’s glossy charcoal neck to calm her, Alain pondered Harold’s claim. It had to be true. This many men would not sacrifice their lives for a lie. Yet the vast majority of Harold’s supporters were Saxons harboring no wish to bear the Norman yoke. Perhaps such men might be desperate enough to fight for a lie that promised to restore Saxon rule.

A trumpet blared. He signaled his men forward, couched his lance, and spurred Chou to send her careening into the melee.

Harold’s shield wall, which had seemed impregnable, began to crumble under the onslaught of Alain’s unit, hastened by the desertion of men who no doubt decided they weren’t quite so willing to die. Their lord stood exposed just long enough for a Norman archer to sight his mark. Harold fell, screaming and clutching an arrow that protruded from one eye.

Harold’s supporters closed ranks around him, blocking Alain’s view and giving him more than enough to do as the Saxons redoubled their efforts to guard their lord’s body.

A familiar whirl of colors caught Alain’s attention. The saffron leopard prowling on a green field—Étienne! A Saxon knight, with a blue arm and fist blazing defiance across his gray shield, bore down upon Étienne with leveled lance. Étienne tumbled from his horse. He scrambled to his feet and retrieved his sword, putting it to good use on the Saxons surrounding him, although the knight who’d unhorsed him had already ridden in search of other targets.

Lance long since discarded and sword now rising and falling with fatal precision, Alain surged to reach his brother’s side. Protection of her youngest son had been their dying mother’s wish, and he had sworn on his own life to keep Étienne safe.

Before he could close the distance, another Saxon knight fought past Étienne’s guard to thrust a war-knife into his throat. Through the visor the knight’s eyes gleamed with startling, fathomless malice. Alain could only watch in stunned disbelief as he laid his hand upon Étienne’s chest for a few moments. Uttering a soul-freezing howl, the Saxon yanked out his seax and disappeared into the press with Étienne’s shield, denying Alain vengeance.

Shame and grief rent his heart asunder.

He had failed the two he loved most; failed them so utterly that he could never beg their forgiveness in this lifetime.

Pain slammed into his shoulder, toppling him from the saddle. Étienne’s body broke his fall. He tried to roll clear, but a spear through his chest pinned him to Étienne. His gut convulsed, and bile burned his throat. Blinding agony killed his struggle to free himself. Death’s stench invaded his nostrils.

He closed his eyes and waited for his final journey to begin.

Character Bio

Robert Alain de Bellencombre. Preferring the name Alain for use by close family and friends, he is a Norman knight in the service of William the Conqueror and a court favorite. Being the second son of Count Hugh FitzWalter and Countess Margaret has prevented Alain from inheriting his father’s title and lands, which caused his first fiancée to jilt him in favor of Alain’s older half brother Philippe. Alain is the older brother of Étienne de Bellencombre, and Alain’s failure to protect Étienne at the Battle of Hastings becomes a major source of grief that Alain must learn to vanquish. The device on Alain’s shield represents the Norman town Bellencombre, his birthplace: a white rose nestled in tangle of greenery, on saffron yellow.

Kendra Waldronsdotter. Lady Kendra is the heiress to her father’s estate of Edgarburh, near London. King William the Bastard has decreed that she marry one of his knights...perhaps even the very man who had ambushed her brother and dealt him his mortal wound. Though Kendra cannot bear to imagine what the king will do to her father or her people if she disobeys this command, she vows that she will never marry a Norman unless it snows in July. The name Kendra is the female form of Kendrick, meaning “keen power,” and in fact the Lady Kendra is heiress, through her mother, to a powerful healing gift that she must learn how to wield in order to save those she loves.

AUTHOR BIO

Kim Headlee lives on a farm in southwestern Virginia with her family, cats, goats, and assorted wildlife. People & creatures come and go, but the cave and the 250-year-old house ruins -- the latter having been occupied as recently as the mid-20th century -- seem to be sticking around for a while yet.

Kim is a Seattle native (when she used to live in the Metro DC area, she loved telling people she was from "the other Washington") and a direct descendent of 20th-century Russian nobility. Her grandmother was a childhood friend of the doomed Grand Duchess Anastasia, and the romantic yet tragic story of how Lydia escaped Communist Russia with the aid of her American husband will most certainly one day fuel one of Kim's novels. Another novel in the queue will involve her husband's ancestor, the 7th-century proto-Viking king of the Swedish colony in Russia.

For the time being, however, Kim has plenty of work to do in creating her projected 8-book Arthurian series, The Dragon's Dove Chronicles, and other novels under her new imprint, Pendragon Cove Press. She also writes romantic historical fiction under the pseudonym "Kimberly Iverson."

AUTHOR FOLLOW LINKS

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE – WEBSITE / BLOG – FACEBOOK TWITTER – GOOGLE+ - PINTEREST GOODREADS – SHELFARI – LINKEDIN – YOUTUBE CHANNEL  

GIVEAWAY PRIZES

• 10 eBook Copies of Snow in July • 10 Snow in July Notecards from the Author

a Rafflecopter giveaway

GOODREADS GIVEAWAY

• 10 Autographed copies (US residents only) of the print edition via Goodreads (scheduled to run October 1-October 30)

CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE GOODREADS GIVEAWAY

   Tour Hosted & Organized By

-Brenda Franklin, author of The Pulse Trilogy and Guardian, A Fated Pairing.

Blog Tour: A Desperate Wager

 

BOOK INFORMATION

TITLE – A Desperate Wager

AUTHOR – Em Taylor

GENRE – Historical Regency Romance

PUBLICATION DATE – 25 August 2014

LENGTH – 71,000 words

COVER ARTIST – Samantha Holt

   

BOOK BLURB / SYNOPSIS

Nathaniel Spencer, the Fourteenth Duke of Kirkbourne wakes up with an almighty hangover and a wager note in his pocket stating he has agreed to marry the Earl of Brackingham’s daughter. And he can’t even remember ever meeting the chit. Clearly his drinking has got out of hand.

Lady Sarah Steele is horrified when her father announces that the Duke of Kirkbourne has agreed to marry her and even more horrified that her father wagered her hand in a game of cards. Not only that, but the earl has not told the duke of the riding accident that left Sarah paralysed when she was sixteen. But he’s dying and she knows he wants to see her settled before the inevitable happens.

Despite Nate’s drinking and Sarah’s possible complicity in the earl’s plan, they agree to marry. But when accidents start to happen, the newly-weds must deal not only with the fact they are practically strangers, but they must find out who is trying to kill one or both of them. Nate’s drink problem and Sarah’s disability are only a couple of the hurdles they must face to find lasting love.

BUY & TBR LINKS

AMAZON KINDLE – GOODREADS

 

EXCERPT

Nathaniel Spencer, fourteenth Duke of Kirkbourne groaned and rolled over in bed. A tattoo beat a steady rhythm inside his skull, his stomach was bilious and the world spun at an alarming rate. Last night he had been in his cups—again. He knew he should take a more moderate attitude to alcohol but recently, staying sober had seemed somewhat pointless. Why stay sober if you were just going to end up dead at the side of the road—another silly young buck who had killed himself in a curricle race? Damn Crosby! Why had he made the damned challenge? Nathaniel, or Nate as he preferred to be called, would never forget Crosby’s lifeless eyes staring up at him, or the crack of the pistol as a bystander put his horses out of their misery. And he would never forgive himself for being the man whom Crosby was racing. Nate closed his eyes and willed his stomach to stop churning as he tried to recall the events of the night before. He had been at White’s for dinner and had moved to the card room. The brandy had been flowing, and Ormsby had suggested moving on to a less reputable gaming hell. He remembered the Earl of Brackingham tagging along for some reason that defied Nate. He had no issue with Brackingham, but the earl was at least twenty years the senior of everyone else in their party. He had been coughing somewhat alarmingly, Nate recalled. He hoped the old man was not spreading disease around. The last thing Nate needed was to be laid up in bed—his mother fussing around him and pouring vile-tasting concoctions down his throat. There was another thing that took many young, seemingly healthy lives—fever. Curricles and fever—good reasons to get absolutely foxed if ever he needed any. Brackingham! The name seemed to be prodding his tired and very painful brain—waiting for him to remember something significant from last night. He had a vague memory of playing vingt et un with him. There had been a ludicrous bet. Brackingham wagered his daughter’s hand and if Nate lost, he would have to marry the girl. Nate had been on a winning streak. Bravado and alcohol made him foolish. He had a three and a queen. He sat up as the king of diamonds flashed before his eyes. God, damn it. The king of diamonds took him to twenty-three. His head swum and he tamped down the urge to cast up his accounts. Twenty-three. But surely a wager like that was a joke. It had to be. Brackingham did not expect him to marry his chit of a daughter, did he? Had he even set eyes on the girl before? Again, some piece of information about the girl needled his brain. He had no recollection of dancing with her at balls. But then he hardly ever danced at balls. He had no plans to seek a leg-shackle on the marriage mart, so he steered clear and spent most of the evening in the card room. God, he hoped she was at least old enough to have had her come out and this was not some medieval plan to marry a thirteen-year-old off to him. Eighteen was quite young enough—too young in his rather jaded opinion. But no. He had no recollection of ever having set eyes on Lady… Lady what? He had no idea. He fished in the pocket of his waistcoat, which he still wore, having obviously been so foxed when he had returned that he had either shooed his valet away or he had arrived so late the valet had been asleep. There was a note. A wager. He hoped he owed the man a vast fortune instead. Marry Lady Sarah Steele. Dowry - £10,000. Meet Brackingham on 5th day of March to make arrangements. Today must be the fifth of March. Yesterday had definitely been the fourth. Christ, he had to see if this was a big joke or, if not, was there any way he could inveigle his way out of it. He had no plans to marry. None at all. And that was that.

Character Bios

Nate:

Nathaniel Spencer, 14th Duke of Kirkbourne, is the only son of the late Duke of Kirkbourne and his now widow. Nathaniel had a younger sister who died of a fever around the time Nate’s father died.

Nate is a typical member of the early 19^th century aristocracy, dividing his time between London during the Season and his country estate near Bath. He enjoys the usual pursuits of young gentlemen including fencing, drinking and gambling.

A few years ago, Nate also enjoyed racing his curricle but all that ended with the tragic death of his friend Crosby in a curricle race which Nate was winning. Nate is unable to put the tragedy behind him and it is through the haze of alcohol which he uses to numb the pain that he wagers for the hand of Lady Sarah Steele, the daughter of the dying Earl of Brackingham.

Sarah:

Lady Sarah Steele is the only daughter of the Earl of Brackingham and his late wife.

When Sarah was sixteen years old, she fell from a horse when it refused a jump and broke her spine. Since then she has had little movement below her waist and no feeling from mid-thigh. Sarah has accepted her lot in life and understands why she could never have had a season like other young ladies. Stuck at home, Sarah is reliant on her father for company and for her care. But the Earl is dying and won’t be able to care for her much longer.

When the Earl wagers her hand in a card game with a drunken Duke, Sarah knows her life can never be the same again. 

AUTHOR BIO

Em was born and brought up in the Central Belt of Scotland and still lives there. She was told as a child she had an over active imagination--as if that is a bad thing. She's traded her dreams of owning her own island, just like George in the Famous Five to hoping to meet her own Mr Darcy one day. But her imagination remains the same.

AUTHOR FOLLOW LINKS

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE – WEBSITE / BLOG – FACEBOOK TWITTER – TUMBLR

 

GIVEAWAY PRIZES

$20 Amazon Gift Certificate

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour organized & hosted by:

Blog Tour: Her Men

BOOK INFORMATION

TITLE – Her Men

SERIES – N/A AUTHOR – Ashley Ladd

GENRE – Contemporary Erotic Romance 

PUBLICATION DATE – LENTH (Pages/# Words) – 24, 200 

PUBLISHER – Totally Bound 

COVER ARTIST – Emmy Ellis

 

BOOK BLURB / SYNOPSIS

Forty-four year old Julie Weston has loved Timmy and James since her college days twenty something years ago. She's fantasized about both all these long years, never able to choose between them.

Hoping Tim and James will attend, she attends their college marching band reunion. When both men show up her dreams are answered. They're sexier than she imagined and she hopes they won't be disappointed by her older self.

It turns out both men came just to see her again and neither is happy about the other’s presence. They fight over her, confusing her more than ever. It takes a hot ménage…or two…for her heart to decide which one she’s in love with.

BUY & TBR LINKS

AMAZON KINDLE – Coming Soon KOBO – ITUNES – GOODREADS – PUBLISHER

EXCERPT

A shadow fell across Julie, waking her up from her nap and a husky voice washed over her. “You’re going to be sorry falling asleep out here. This sun is brutal.” Groggy, she shaded her eyes and looked up at the shadowy figure in awe. “Timmy, is that you? You’re early.” He leaned down, his body still sinewy and strong, and held out his hand to her. Nary a wrinkle marred his matured face. Only a few laugh lines fanned out from his eyes which added to his attractiveness. “You, too. Is that a sign?” She couldn’t help but chuckle. Since when did Tim believe in signs? “A sign?” “That you want to see me, be with me in private, as I want to see you and be with you in private.” She swallowed hard and put her hand in his, her heart somersaulting when they touched for the first time in more than thirty years. A maelstrom of emotion washed over her and she didn’t want to mess up what was probably her last chance to be with him, so she wasn’t about to play coy. Slowly, seductively, she licked her lips. “You read my mind.” As he helped her up his gaze smoldered into her eyes. He dragged her against him and his hard cock rubbed against her. He nipped her ear, then whispered huskily, “Your nipples are puckering against your suit. I’d call that a sign.” Standing on her tip toes, she replied hoarsely, “Your very hard, very hot cock is pressing into my stomach. That’s another sign.” He pressed his lips to hers, not plundering but light enough he was able to speak against them, “Then we should do something about all these signs.”

CHARACTER BIO

Julie Alexander Weston is the sheriff of her small Indiana town. She’s also an ex-FBI agent with degree in Russian literature. Disenchanted with her current career since she shot and killed a young man in error, she has a new hobby which she hopes to make into a new career—she’s writing and photographing copy table books that she hopes to publish. As accomplished as she is, she’s never stopped loving or dreaming about her college boyfriend and her college best friend. Now that she’s divorced and there’s a college reunion, she attends in the hopes of seeing if any sparks are left with either of them.

BOOK SOUNDTRACK

If Your Book Were Made Into A Movie – What Songs Would Best Fit The Story On The Big Screen?

Got My Mind Set On You – George Harrison

Father Figure – George Michaels 

Hungry Eyes – Eric Carmen 

Where Do Broken Hearts Go – Whitney Houston 

She’s Like The Wind – Patrick Swayze

Kokomo – Beach Boys 

Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now – Starship 

Be My Baby – The Ronettes 

Stay – Maurice and the Zodiacs

AUTHOR BIO

Ashley Ladd lives in South Florida with her husband, five children, and beloved pets. She loves the water, animals (especially cats), and playing on the computer.

She's been told she has a wicked sense of humour and often incorporates humour and adventure into her books. She also adores very spicy romance, which she weaves into her stories.

AUTHOR FOLLOW LINKS

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE – WEBSITE / BLOG – FACEBOOK – TWITTER – GOODREADS

GIVEAWAY PRIZES

1 pdf copy of the book “Her Men” $15 Amazon gift card – rafflecopter giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Tour Hosted & Organized By My Family's Heart