The Tour Stop
Check out these featured authors making their way around the blog scene!
The Forever Night Stand
by Bena Roberts
Genre: Romance
Sara's world shatters when she stabs her husband's lover at a party. The press has a field day, and Sara moves from Scotland and her life of riches back to her parent's modest home in West London. She ditches her married name of MacDonald and becomes Sara Sharma once more. With no friends and little money, her electronic prison anklet a constant reminder of what she left behind.
Living back at home with her eccentric Bollywood loving parents is a challenge. It gets worse when Sara realizes how badly she let them down. For the sake of her family, she considers having an arranged marriage. Could she be the perfect wife again?
Just as she thinks she might, her childhood love George Wright walks through the door. Memories of the past come flooding back, including how he betrayed her. Sara vows never to forgive him, however hard he mixes things up.
Unreliable Narrative Books
If you enjoy tarnished unreliable hero stories like those from Gillian Flynn, Chuck Palahniuk or Sara Lotz mixed up with romance, then you will enjoy Sara's story.
Sara’s wild energy and unique perspective of the world is engaging and endearing. She’s a very unusual person, confined in her parents’ home and a very ‘normal’ world.
The Forever Night Stand Delivers heavy hitting and thought-provoking fiction without diminishing the entertainment factor.
**Only .99 cents!**
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Bena Roberts was a journalist and analyst. Now she prefers the title novelist and romance adventurist. She graduated in England 1994 and then with a Masters in 1997.
Born in 1973, Bena lived in West London until she was 24. Then she lived and worked in Budapest, Bruges, Prague, Amsterdam, Vienna, Hamburg and Munich. She currently resides in Germany, between Heidelberg and Frankfurt. Although she still refers to London as 'home.'
Bena successfully created a technology blog which gained funding, had lunch with Steve Ballmer and was 'top 50 most influential woman in mobile.' Her blog also won several awards including Metro Best Blog.
Bena has two children, loves small dogs and always writes books with a cup of Earl Grey.
Bena's favorite literary style is black humor, and she hopes to offer a unique voice in this area. Her books aim to confront the darkest of life experiences, with levity. Most of her writing is heavy hitting yet also entertaining. The second novel out in 2018 offers thought-provoking fiction which embraces the absurd with reality.
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Chrysalis
The Gifted Series Book 1
by Maria MacDonald
Genre: YA Urban Fantasy
Emery never realized the kind of power she held.
Her whole life had been one long battle. Against other children, bullies, her abusers. Forever the outsider, living her days isolated and lonely. She didn't know that while waging her own battles, another kind of war was coming.
In just one night her whole life changed.
When she finds herself in danger, the power that was lying dormant inside of her suddenly releases, surprising everyone.
In the aftermath, a figure appears in the shadows – Elijah. With an air of mysteriousness and answers she had no idea she needed, Emery suddenly understands she’s not alone.
He's either here to save her or bury her. But with no time to ask questions, she takes the plunge, grabs his hand, and prepares herself for a whole new world. One where she will be reborn.
Maria is a full time working Mum, she has two beautiful daughters, both of whom love books as much as she does.
Maria has loved to write since she was a little girl.
Reading and loving books, as well as blogging, has inspired her to write and publish.
Maria, her husband and children now reside in Wiltshire, England.
Follow the tour HERE for exclusive excerpts and a giveaway!
The Trouble with Unicorns
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Nobody’s Baby But Mine
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo -- READ CHAPTER 1:
March The March rain pelting the kitchen windows made Rachel think of tears. And there were indeed tears in her eyes as she told JT that their best friends’ marriage was over. The inseparable love birds, Tina and Andy, were the last couple they thought would lose in the marriage roulette. Rachel had also thought that their two young children were another unbreakable bond. Her husband frowned as he looked up from his poached salmon and asparagus laden plate. “I didn’t even know they were having problems.” Her temples throbbed. She had been too self-absorbed with her own life and yearning for a baby that she hadn’t noticed any signs or cracks in Tina’s marriage. Some friend you are, Rachel. “He was having an affair with a friend of theirs since Justin was born. Tina didn’t suspect a thing…It’s so sad how everything can change so suddenly. Why would a man jeopardize his whole family life like that?” How fragile life and relationships seemed. Nervous for all marriages she thanked God for her own strong bond with JT. Despite their issues of unexplained infertility, their marriage was blessed even after seven-and-a-half years. “I’m sorry to hear this. I’m shocked…but maybe he wasn’t getting what he needed from her—” “What? Tina’s been a great wife and very patient with him all these years.” She felt her anger rise thinking of Tina’s meddling mother-in-law—so much like her own—and Andy’s fledgling music production business, which had ostensibly kept him away from home for days at a time. “It’s disgusting what he’s done.” “I agree, but no one knows what really goes on behind closed doors.” He sighed, “But there’s never any excuse to screw up a marriage.” Rachel shook her head. “No, and especially with Emily and Justin….” How would Tina manage with her five-year-old daughter and almost three-year-old son on her own? He shook his head. “He’s a fool. I’m disappointed for them all.” He glanced at her, his fork half way to his lips, “Don’t worry, Rachel, I know how much you care for her. All you can do is be there for them.” He then put a salmon morsel in his mouth. “Communication is the most important thing in any marriage, right?” She felt JT’s eyes bore into hers as he watched her across the narrow mahogany kitchen table. Putting down his cutlery he reached for her hand nearest to him. She adored that sparkle in his gunmetal-grey eyes and that slow smile. “We’re not like the rest, to do anything stupid and ruin everything.” With a quirked brow his thumb massaged the top of her hand. Her heart skittered at JT’s deep knowing expression the way it had when they met at a mutual friend’s wedding in London nine-and-a-half years ago. He seemed to always know how to brighten her moods, make her smile, feel safe and whole. He kept her grounded, focussing on what mattered most; them: them, together. Rachel would concentrate on her part-time job with Gareth Robinson-Brown’s real estate agency and not drive herself crazy about why she was still not pregnant after five years of trying. She remembered JT’s wise words after their last specialist appointment a couple of months ago to stay patient and positive and not let anyone stress her out. That was why she had given up running her own team in a Central London agency three years ago. Neither did she get too involved in her younger sister’s private life. Emotionally supporting the twenty-five year-old Abby without getting sucked into the turmoil of her sister’s love life was proving wise and healthier for both sisters. She pushed aside the uneasiness she had felt seven months ago when she had met Rick, the new boyfriend. Abby had seemed happy with a bright ‘I’m in love’ smile at her trendy restaurant in Islington, but the phone calls had petered out over the last couple of months. Rachel resolved to call and see how she was doing. In the meantime, she would be truly present for Tina. She took in a breath and slowly exhaled and felt a smile play on her lips. “I know you’d never dare stray, because I’d just have to kill you.” She threw him an arch look. JT grinned. “I’d never want to be with another woman but you, and you know it. And it can work both ways. I’d strangle any guy who even looks at you in that way.” His eyes darkened, his passionate lips thinning into a resolute line on that handsome rugged face, making her smile broaden. “Like your old boyfriend we bumped into… where was that? The French restaurant soon after we met.” “Brandon.” Her pulse raced for a few seconds and then settled. “It was our second date.” “Ah, so you still remember the name of that pretty-boy, no-good gigolo.” The twinkling glint in his eyes was warm and inviting. “You’ll have to make up for that, wench.” “I truly love you, JT. How did I get so lucky?” He smiled again. “You’re going in the right direction.” He let go of her hand for the moment it took to push his chair back and come and stand beside her. Holding both her hands he raised her left one to his lips. His touch was always simultaneously calming and arousing. He leaned towards her. “Am I reading those sexy brown eyes right? There’s more than one choice for dessert to make up for…” She licked the corner of her lower lip while he stared at her mouth as if it was a luscious strawberry, his favourite fruit. Especially when served with melted semi-sweet dark chocolate. “Devil’s food cake and chocolate dipped strawberries.” His lips slowly gravitated towards her mouth. Even after all these years together, Sundays were their full day and night for each other and no one else. Their routine became a variation of sharing a long shower or an indulgent hot soak in the tub before dinner. Before long they lay in each other’s arms against the soft cushions on the large Persian rug. The large fire in the regal fireplace shed heat and golden light over their naked skin and the plush cream throw. The intermittent crackling of the flames accompanied Nora Jones in the background. The light banter between them changed as JT gently placed Rachel’s empty wine glass on the sofa table beside the plate with the single remaining chocolate-dipped strawberry. He leaned closer. “I’ll make you forget everything and everyone tonight.” JT murmured low, nuzzling his lips against her ear and migrating to her other sensitive erogenous zones. Almost purring, she lay back welcoming his explorations. Her arms encompassed his broad shoulders. She closed her eyes and counted her lucky stars. Everything would work out, even filling the nursery with their gorgeous, healthy baby. Pushing the thought out by letting the languid feelings of their intimacy flood her mind, she gave herself over completely to the bliss. “I’ll always adore you.” He groaned, inhaling into her throat. Her pulse and heart beats quickened as he explored her skin and his lips hovered so close to hers. “Don’t ever doubt it.” “I know. I—I love you, too.” Shivers of anticipation made her voice shake. Then they were kissing, hungry and sated at the same time. As always, his touch and sure kisses covering her tingling skin melted her insides. Lightly, her shaking fingertips traced a butterfly-light line from his neck to his shoulders. His hard biceps stiffened at her caress. She loved his strong physique. Running impatient fingers through his thick silky hair she directed his head lower and kissed him deeper. She was home, warm and stimulated, marvelling how neither tired of making love with each other despite their pressures. His work and her constant hopes for a baby. Almost of their own volition, her hands roved down his straining back muscles, as her legs tightened around his taut buttocks and hips to meld even closer into each other. Everything outside their circle vanished. Well, almost everything.
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Assassin’s Soul
-- Q&A with Noella Royce What was your inspiration for Assassin’s Soul? I started to think about how that could be an original story, and somehow psychics and demon killing assassins was where my brain went. Then the idea sat for a couple of years while I changed careers and moved. Then the story of Dante and Andie knocked on my mental door again, and from there came the creation of the whole of the Angel Crusades series. What did you learn while writing this book, your first M/F novel length PNR romance? In your world, Angels and Demons are neither inherently good or inherently evil – what led to that decision? I approached each as different cultures with diametrically opposed values and beliefs, and built out their ancient conflict from there. And, of course, it’s super fun to figure out what pairings to do, mixes to create! I can do angel/demon, human/angel, human/demon, half-demons, half-angels – so many fun options! What romance authors are your inspiration? 
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Flipped
-- EXCERPT: Dean reached for a plate from the stack Stefano had brought out and cleared his throat loudly. “I was just asking Hazel to take a break tomorrow after all of this stress today and join me for a picnic. You wouldn’t mind, would you, Indigo?” Indigo’s head popped up like a meerkat, her gaze sweeping back and forth between them. Hazel shot Dean a dirty look. Getting Indigo involved? That was cheating. “Mind? Of course I wouldn’t mind! I can’t imagine Hazel on a picnic, though. You should go, Hay. It will chill you out a bit. Get you grounded with Mother Nature. And don’t wear any shoes. Earthing increases the circulation of your neutrophils.” Dean gave Hazel a confused look, and she shrugged. Indigo was beyond explanation. They sat down to eat. Stefano took the seat opposite Indigo, and Dean slid in opposite Hazel. Their knees banged together under the table and he gave her another of his vertigo-inducing smiles. Oh, God. She was in trouble. “Well?” he asked again. “Oh for goodness’ sake, Hazel, go on a picnic!” Indigo said. “Think about your neutrophils.” Stefano was nodding vigorously. “Yes, your neutrophils,” he said, having no idea what he was saying. “Honestly, Hazel,” Dean said, grinning mischievously, “how could you even contemplate neglecting your neutrophils. You need this picnic.” She might regret it but she took a deep breath and plunged. “Okay, I’ll go on the picnic. Now can we shut up about neutrophils and eat this amazing meal?” 
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All The Right Moves
-- MEET THE CHARACTERS!
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Only the Beginning
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo -- EXCERPT: They were in her bed and he was breaking off a piece of toaster pastry for her. The pillows and sheets were strewn around them. Earlier, he’d left the rehearsal party to pour out his heart to her. That confession had led to an encounter in her hallway, which then carried on into her bedroom. Melissa looked at her phone and smiled. She’d told him she’d found the Proust questionnaire online. Taking the last bite of toaster pastry from him she asked, “What is your perfect idea of happiness?” He put the foil wrapper on the bedside table, then brushed his hands together. He had an answer, but he kept it to himself and instead said, “Easy, cooking for someone else.” She frowned. “Not yourself?” “No, too boring. There’s no surprise.” She’d laughed, then handed the phone to him. “Ask me the next one.” Craig cradled the phone in his hand going down the questions. “What is your greatest fear?” Melissa pulled the sheet up to her chin, then tucked into his side. “Losing Gran or having something bad happen to her.” She was quiet for a moment then pinched his arm. “Ask another one, it’s supposed to be without too much thought.” “Why?” “Because people take too long, trying to come up with an answer that sounds grand and important. The truth gets lost…or at least the most interesting bits.” He read, “What is your greatest extravagance?” “My Pink Kitty toaster. It makes great meals.” “God.” He moaned. “Okay, moving on. What is your current state of mind?” “Mmm.” She curved one leg around his. “Bliss,” she said, taking the phone from him. The glow from the phone illuminated her features in the dark room. He could tell she was scrolling through the questions. “Oh! This is a good one. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?” Craig leaned his head back on the pillow and blew the air out of his cheeks. He thought of phrases like more successful, business savvy, lucky… “Hurry up!” She pinched him again. “That’s cheating. Quick, one thing you’d like to change about yourself.” “I want to be more determined,” he blurted. She raised up on her elbow and studied him. “How so?” He glanced up at the ceiling almost too shy to look her straight in the eye. “I want to be the man who knows what he wants and won’t let anything stand in his way.” “I’ve met those guys. I consider them rude.” Craig chuckled and hugged her closer. “Maybe I meant more decisive. There always seems to be a scale in my head, constantly weighing options.” Her head rested on his chest. “Maybe that’s why I started to leave the pub, I wasn’t sure I wanted to meet you.” His fingers moved up and down her bare back, tracing her spine.
GIVEAWAY!
The Same Time
Are you a book blogger? -- EXCERPT:
This time travel dilemma means that Stella meets David a long time before she ever tells anyone in book one! Let’s take a look here! Chapter 1 Twenty-two years ago Pain runs through my core, and I grab my stomach. ‘This insurance card has expired,’ the receptionist says. I steady my breathing and nod. ‘My new employer, Cici’s Boutique, picked up the payments. Maternity is on it. Call and check.’ She studies the card and smiles like she feels sorry for me. ‘Take a seat, and I’ll get you when the paperwork is sorted.’ Hell, even I feel sorry for me. I thought I’d be resting in a private hospital with nurses to pass me crushed ice and a husband to hold my hand. The man attempts to make eye contact with me, so I keep my gaze on the swirly-yellow linoleum floor and fiddle with my T-shirt. ‘You in labour?’ His British accent instantly makes him sound trustworthy. Ha, a trustworthy man. I bite back a smile and nod but don’t raise my head. He leans toward me. He’s older than me, well over the age of thirty, perhaps approaching forty. Heck, everyone in a labour and delivery ward feels older than me, but lots of people have kids at twenty-one. I just hope he won’t look down on me. I would have judged me. People with money hide their age well. His brown chequered shirt and jeans are designer. They might even be next season, but I don’t recognise who. I’ve fallen behind on keeping up with the European designers these past few months. An expensive watch catches the light as he rests his arms on his knees. I check out his shoes. Must be next season’s. Despite being a little ragged around the eyes and sporting a few days of stubble—which of course he manages to make attractive—he’s totally hot for an older man. He’s the type to have a hot wife who only gained ten pounds during her pregnancy and is probably off labouring in a glamorous way. ‘You alone?’ he asks. One loud sob bursts from my throat, and the tears follow. I throw my hand over my mouth to stop any more weeping from escaping and calm my breathing before the next contraction comes. The man rises from his seat and timidly sits next to me. It takes two attempts for him to one-handedly pull a stubborn tissue free from the box on the magazine table. ‘I didn’t mean to pry. I meant while you waited on someone. Not alone in the bigger-world sense of things.’ He hands me the tissue and leans back. ‘I can’t reach my mom,’ I confess. ‘Someone’s trying to find her for me. She’s probably been thrown out of her favourite martini bar.’ I check my watch and tuck the faded leather strap back under the clasp. ‘Pamela should be en route to a much cheaper and more tolerant-of-drunk-people place by now.’ He nods. There’s not much you can say to that. I twist in the plastic, screwed down seat and give him my full attention. How is it people who have everything in life seem to have a sparkle in their eyes? I used to have that shine, until Nathan knocked it out of me. Literally. ‘Sorry for the tears. Must be the hormones.’ Or fear of the enormous task ahead of me. Another contraction rips through me. I bite my tongue and hold my breath to stop from screaming. I throw my hand out and he catches it, allowing me to squeeze his fingers until they turn white. ‘Don’t hold your breath. You’ll pass out.’
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Chick Lit Adventure
Date Published: 19 April 2018
Maya and Una are two best friends from Croatia, living life a bit more recklessly than they should. This time, they embark on a new adventure along with some friends. Soon their friendship, which seemed tight in Zagreb, becomes challenged on their trip to Barcelona.
The two girls and their friends experience some misfortunes that shape their voyage in a completely different way from what they were expecting. Luckily, they meet new and interesting people who help them to forget their problems and focus on love, fun, and the beauty of the landscape and places they visit.
About the Author
Maya Berger is the author of Luna Tree, a memoir focusing on personal growth and its sequel, In the Pursuit of Change. She took a break from writing about life and personal growth to write two chick lit adventure stories, Girls with No Plan and its stand-alone sequel, Zagreb, Milan, Nice, Barcelona, a second story about Maya and Una who, this time, voyage through Italy and France to visit Maya’s boyfriend in Barcelona, Spain.
Maya is a 43-year-old living in Zagreb, Croatia, with her husband and their four-year-old daughter. She is a passionate traveler who spends every free minute either planning a trip or traveling with her family.
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