New Release, Excerpt and Giveaway - The Purse by Julie Burns

The Purse

by Julie A. Burns

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GENRE: Mystery Thriller

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BLURB:

When Lydia Blackwell visits her dying father for the last time, he reveals the deeply hidden truth about her mother. After the funeral, the stranger Derek Meade gifts her with a gorgeous antique purse. But before she has the chance to connect with the man who knew her father intimately, Lydia finds Derek murdered in his home.

Lieutenant Sonja MacIntosh is assigned to investigate Mr. Meade’s death, but her career on the force never prepared her for Lydia Blackwell. As Sonja works to solve the murder, Lydia takes the greatest risk of her life in leaving Chicago to search for clues to her mother’s past. Their instant attraction surprises them both, but even through the chaos Lydia can’t deny the intensity of her feelings for the strong willed Lieutenant.

Lydia’s possession of the antique purse throws her already chaotic life into a whirlwind of kidnapping, blackmail, vengeful mob bosses, and mind-numbing revelations. Through it all, Lydia must find the strength to accept herself – and those closest to her – despite their darkest secrets.

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EXCERPT:

As she walked into the bedroom, the smell of her father’s cologne lingered even through all the sickness that had been in the air. Stepping over to the deep walk-in closet, Lydia opened the double doors to reveal her father’s suits, ties, and shoes. She made a mental note to have Rosita donate her father’s clothes so they didn’t hang like a shrine. She stared at every inch of the closet until her eyes fell on a small shoebox buried on the top shelf. Lydia retrieved the step-ladder from within a hidden compartment in the closet’s wall and stood on it to pull down the shoebox. Without thinking, she strolled over to her father’s bed, sat down, and went through all the memories kept in the cardboard box.

Many were just baby pictures of Lydia, and then she discovered a picture of her mother when she was pregnant. How beautiful she was; she looked so happy and carefree. What in the world could have happened? More questions, no answers. Lydia decided to keep the picture with her. Digging deeper yet into the box, she also found pictures of her father and Derek together. They made a handsome couple, though it was still difficult to believe her father had been involved with a man. At least true love hadn’t escaped him as she’d previously thought.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Julie A. Burns is a native Iowan born in Marshalltown, Iowa and raised in Davenport, Iowa. After her parent’s divorce at age 7, she took to writing, whether it was her diary or poems about people she met or situations that bothered her. After graduating from high school in 1983, she spent time working as a Nurse’s Aide in different nursing homes in Iowa. In 1989, she gave birth to a daughter, Brittany and raised her as a single parent. In the same year, she enrolled at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. She graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology in 1994. Since then, Julie has spent time working with developmentally disabled adults and the mentally ill throughout Iowa and also in Wyoming, where she lived for 6 years. Julie currently lives in Waterloo, Iowa with her spouse. When she’s not writing, she enjoys being a grandmother to 3-year-old Sophie.

http://amzn.to/1RGUTRq

https://www.facebook.com/JulieABurnsAuthor

https://twitter.com/jadegally48

http://ramrampublishing.com/julie-a-burns.html

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/JulieABurns

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

Julie will be awarding 1 printed book of The Purse or 2 ebooks (The Purse and a second of their choice) from RRPI to a randomly drawn winner (international) via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

New Release: Finders Keepers by J.J. DiBenedetto & Giveaway

   1,400 miles. 3 countries 2 men she can't trust. What could go wrong?    FINDERS KEEPERS is the first book in the new Jane Barnaby Adventures series:

It should have been a simple job. All archaeology student Jane Barnaby had to do was pick up a box her professor needed and deliver it to him at his dig site, along with his new car. Yes, his office was in Oxfordshire, and his dig site was in Spain, a trip of 1,400 miles across three countries and two bodies of water. Still, it should have been simple. And it was, until Jane discovered she picked up the wrong box by mistake. Not the one with boring pottery samples, but instead the one with priceless ancient Egyptian artifacts. The one that a team of international art thieves is after. Now she’s chasing – and being chased by – the thieves. And she’s picked up a pair of passengers who claim they can help her outwit them, get her professor’s pottery back and return the artifacts to their rightful owner. If only she could figure out which one of them is working with the thieves and which one she can trust in this high-stakes game of finders keepers.

It's available everywhere eBooks are sold: Amazon (Kindle or Paperback) Smashwords Barnes & Noble (Nook or Paperback) Apple iBookstore Kobo  

About the author J.J. (James) Dibenedetto's fans would swear he's got a sixth sense when it comes to seeing into the minds of others and often wonder if his stories could possibly be fiction. He enjoys suspending disbelief with suspenseful paranormal tales that are a perfect blend of reality meets fantasy. His popular Dream Series continues to delight readers with each and every exciting installment. Born in Yonkers, New York, he currently resides in Arlington Virginia with his beautiful wife and a cat he is sure has taken full advantage of its nine lives. When it comes to the cat, he often wonders, but then again it might just be his imagination. You can follow him at his website, on Facebook and on Twitter. And you can find all his books (including the complete Dream Series) on Amazon and on audiobook at Audible.com   Here's an excerpt from Finders Keepers:

The thieves simply made a mistake. Whether Tom had put his box in the wrong room, or whether the thieves had gotten their wires crossed, who knew? She’d had trouble reading Professor Welldon’s writing; she hadn’t been sure if she was meant to go to Room 16 or Room 18 herself. It hadn’t mattered because the thieves had already gotten there and made the choice for her. “When they finally got where they were going, they opened it up, and you can imagine their surprise.” Jane noted the vagueness there; she assumed Alex knew exactly where that was and, for whatever reason, didn’t want to say. She didn’t challenge him; she kept up her happy façade instead, and he went on. “They knew they couldn’t go back and steal the right box, but they had the label on your pottery, they knew where it was supposed to go.” “They’re headed to Mallorca!” Jane couldn’t help herself; the words just poured out. “They’re going to wait there until I show up and try to trade, the pottery for the artifacts!” She knew she’d said too much. Alex’s eyes lit up, just for an instant, when she mentioned Mallorca. That was something, obviously, he hadn’t known. But he caught himself almost immediately, and so did she. She wondered if he knew that she knew he was putting on an act. She wondered if he knew that she knew that he knew she was, too. And she wondered if she had any aspirin in her purse, because that train of thought was giving her a headache.

Last, but not least, to celebrate the launch of FINDERS KEEPERS, I'm giving away a signed paperback copy of either this new book, or any one of my Dream Series novels (winner's choice). For your chance to win, just click HERE to enter!)        

Trad Tuesday: The Lonesome Boatman by Finbar & Eddie Furey

The Lonesome Boatman was written by Finbar Furey around 1963 when he was nineteen years old. It has no words, but the tune poignantly conveys the idea of a solitary man on the seas.

Regency Romance Book Giveaway and Free Short Story!

Welcome and good luck! Abandon is a sweet but spicy Regency Romance  that I hope you will enjoy! See this #AmazonGiveaway for a chance to win: Abandon (Kindle Edition). https://giveaway.amazon.com/p/d1ae7d3bf87f6b7e NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Ends the earlier of Apr 17, 2016 11:59 PM PDT, or when all prizes are claimed. See Official Rules http://amzn.to/GArules.

Amazon Giveaway        

New Free Short Story

Spinster Anne Grey is in London to help her younger sister, Cecily, find a husband.

Richard Blount, Earl of Wakefield is looking for a wife. 

Can Anne win the stern Earl for herself?

Free Short Story Link

                            

Book Review: Her Imaginary Husband by Lia London

Nikki Fallon has just gotten her dream job: teaching high school English and literature. It's a big change from the deli counter where she's been working and fending off advances from Flip-Flop Man (you'll see when you read it).  Nikki has been in a dating slump, pretty much since high school, so when she meets Will, Coach of the football team, she's pretty impressed by his strong pecs and alluring cologne. Problem is that Will is coming off a bad divorce and is a bit of a womanizer. Nikki panics when Will comes on to her and her imaginary husband is born.
This is a sweet and funny romance about a shy woman sticking her toe into the relationship pool. It doesn't help that the campus cop, Officer Ross, is also attractive and genuinely nice.  There's a nice subset of characters: her best friend, Janna, the other teachers at the school, and above all her students. This is a funny book, but it has its moments of seriousness as Nikki wends her way through the new and often bewildering maze of teaching high school students.
If you're looking for a quick read, pick up a copy of Her Imaginary Husband. You won't regret it.

Link to Amazon

New Release: A Madman's Lectures on Humanity by Nicholas Powell

"When I was younger, I tended to stay quiet about my own problems or romanticized the problems so people wouldn’t worry. Feeling worthless and the only people you know enforcing those thoughts didn’t help much to be honest. I tried once to tell people about when I was hurt and broken. I gave them my shattered heart, told them I was broken, showed them my bleeding wings, and gave them every chance to help me like I helped others. Instead of helping they shattered the remains of my crystal heart, held me against the ground, poured Vaseline on my bleeding wings, and they lit them ablaze until the very feathers were nothing more than crimson ashes and splintered bone. Tell me madmen, where were you then? "

'A Madman's Lectures On Humanity' is a poetry anthology consisting of over 120 poems along a wide range of topics including depression, humanitarianism, anarchy, regret, love, hopelessness, and loss.


Release Date is March 22nd, but you can pre-order here: Amazon

Check out his website where you can order a limited print Handbound Hardcover version!

Nicholas Powell's website

About Nicholas Powell:

Nicholas was born in Attleboro, Massachusetts. He's since moved to Gardner Massachusetts and currently is attending Mount Wachusett Community College towards his associates degree. 

Nicholas Powell first began writing at the young age of thirteen. Eager to learn from the world that surrounded him, he was often the 'voicebox'; the one who people came to when they needed to talk to someone. Even at a young age, he would often give advice to the people who came to talk to him about their problems, while having no one to talk to about his own. This, combined with his writing talents drove him to become more acute about his surroundings, often figuring things out far before his peers. After being hurt by people close to him, he decided to turn the fun hobby of writing into something more formal and serious. He was often ignored when he spoke about the people who abused him or hurt him, so he took to the writing as an escape. By the age of 16, he compiled over 150 poems. By the age of 18, he had compiled over 250.

In 2015, some his poetry was put in a compilation along with other poets into a book entitled 'Soul Stains'. His love for literature went later into submitting poems to multiple magazines he found "Intriguing". Eventually, one of his works was accepted by PearTree Press for their 13th issue of 'The Literacy Hatchet' later in 2015 with the poem 'A Youthful Old Soul'. Despite his attachments into literature and writing, he considers himself a "...Man of many hats...".

He has delved his hands into different careers, from boutique computer construction to carpentry, and encourages others to "explore the interests around you. Not necessarily to master them, but to understand them."

Sneak Peek: Playing with Fire by Emily Robertson

Title: Playing With Fire

Series: Portwood Brothers, #2

Author: Emily Robertson

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: March 22, 2016

Jackson wants the one thing he can’t have, his brother’s girlfriend. He tried to forget her, but even spending nine months Afghanistan didn’t make him want her any less. Now he was heading home, a home he shares with his brother and the woman they both want.

Emma believed that you should never follow your heart. She tried that once, and she ended up alone and broken. After she put the pieces back together, she decided she’d rather forget about love and just have fun. Who needed someone special anyway? Certainly not her.

When both of them realize they are on the same page, they embark in a hot, no-strings arrangement that satisfies their needs without getting their hearts involved. But when you play with fire, someone always gets burned.

  

 

Pulling open the door to the local bar Jackson was hit with a wall of sound.  Josh hadn’t told them they were going to a karaoke bar, but he was cool with that.  He loved karaoke bars.  While Josh had a voice that would make grown men cringe and have babies crying, he had been lucky enough to end up with a pretty decent voice.  Get a few beers in his system and his inhibition usually went out the window.
He couldn’t see who was on stage at the moment, but they were tearing it up.  The duo was damn good.  When he finally got to a place where he could see the stage, he was shocked to see that it was Emma and some guy singing with her.  He never would have guessed a voice that powerful could come out of such a petite woman.  And just like that, the awe he had for her was replaced by annoyance when he saw how touchy she was with the jack off she was singing with.  Sure they were singing about needing each other, but it didn’t mean they had to touch each other like that.  In fact, she was so into the song, she didn’t even see him come in and take a seat at their table.
When the waitress came over, he ordered a beer and listened as Josh introduced the people at the table.  Then he found out that it was Blake, the same Blake who asked Emma out a billion times, on stage with her, and he was just irritated.  He shouldn’t care.  He knew that, but he did.  He didn’t care if they weren’t really in a relationship or not.  The guy looked like a weasel.
Blowing out the breath he was holding when the song ended, Jackson finally sat back in his seat and tried to relax.  Seeing the stunned look on Emma’s face was all he needed to put his mind at ease and be ready to enjoy the rest of the evening.  He could tell as they walked off stage and as they walked to the table that while they may have been chummy on stage, they didn’t look like anything more than friends off.
Emma took her seat, and thankfully it was next to him.  He wouldn’t have wanted to spend his evening next to Blake the Snake.  Payton had just finished telling a horrible joke when Jackson saw Emma’s hand up on the table.  The urge to touch her came on strong so he reached up and laced their fingers together, loving the way their hands fit.  Emma tensed up and when she gave him a dirty look, he dropped her hand like an electric current had just run through it.  He wasn’t sure what had just happened.  A few seconds later his phone buzzed in his pocket.
 What the hell are you doing?
Jackson smiled as he read the text.  She was getting worked up over nothing.   Uh, why are we texting?  You’re sitting right next to me.
 Because I don’t want to have this conversation with others listening.
 Sorry, I didn’t realize we were secret friends.  What’s it matter if I hold your hand?  You’re damn sexy, and I just couldn’t help myself.
When he saw her crack a smile, he knew all was forgiven.   Just didn’t think it’d be a good idea to present ourselves as a couple when we aren’t.
That made him laugh.   Too late.
 ??
 Josh and Payton think we’re dating.
Emma choked on her drink and Jackson patted her back until she caught her breath.  After she had recovered from her coughing fit, she went back to her phone.  This was stupid, but he’d let her do things her way.  They were, at least, getting somewhere.
 I didn’t know that.  Well, guess you can hold my hand since we both know what’s really going on here.
That was more like it.  Jackson reached over and grabbed her hand and this time, Emma laced their fingers.  A smile spread on his face when he saw Blake’s eyes widen and the smirk on Josh’s face.  Smug bastard.

The story flow is perfect and really highlights the effect of how true love can literally knock you on your ass when you least expect it!!!

~Tracy (Ladies of Love Blog)

Emily Robertson (evil genius and author of this gem) starts off letting us know that Jax is in love with Payton, his twin brother's girlfriend.

~Becky (Reviews from The Heart)

  

Payton always had one rule she lived by, no boyfriends until after college. No one seemed to agree with her, even her own mother who had her at age sixteen. Returning to school after an accident that flipped Payton’s world upside down left her feeling out of control. Holding on to her rule seemed to be her only lifeline.

Josh had been letting the past rule his life for too long. Finally being at school, he’d become his own man, and he’d been putting all that behind him. Just when he thought he had it all put together, life got crazy. Not only did his ex show back up, but Josh also found he couldn’t get Payton Whitmore out of his head.

Once Josh convinces Payton to give him a shot, she’s so closed off that he wonders if it’s even worth it. Josh can tell there’s something special about Payton though, and as soon as he goes all in, he’s ready to show her that some rules are made to be broken.

        

Emily Robertson graduated from Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas with a degree in Theatre.  She is an avid reader and enjoys reading New Adult and Romance as much as she does writing them.  She currently resides in the Washington D.C. area with her husband and two children.  She loves connecting with and talking to other readers by e-mail, or on Facebook or Twitter.  You can get information on her upcoming works by signing up for her newsletter.