Fall Blog Tour and Author Spotlights Come to an End #FallingInLove

So in case you've been wondering if there was a limit to the blog tours as of late... this is it.  At least for now.  I'd like to thank all of the authors that participated.  Hopefully this exposure will help all of us.  Thanks especially to Tina Gayle for setting most of this up and giving me the info to get into contact with the other authors.  I hope to do this again in the near future.

Fall 2014 #BPG Blog Tour

Fall 2014 #FallingInLove Author Spotlights

Author Spotlight: Linda McLaughlin / Lindi Lamont

Linda McLaughlin / Lyndi Lamont 

USA Today Bestselling Author

HowTo Woo... A Reluctant Bride

4 Angels...”a scintillating mix of lust and sexual exploration... Ms. Lamont has done a very nice job of bringing a bit of the exotic into her writing.” - Dawnie, Fallen Angel Reviews 

A marriage contract, nothing more...until darkly handsome Evan Channing and demure Lydia Blatchford meet. Yet the rules are simple for an arrangement such as theirs. There should be no misunderstanding, no illusions of anything more. But the rules are about to change. 

Lydia wants the kind of love and romance she reads about in books. Fortunately, she hasn't specified which book, and Evan has a copy of Richard Burton's new translation of the Kama Sutra, with its ancient wisdom on love and courtship. Evan sets out to win his high-born bride, blending seductive heat with exotic lessons in love-making. 

Lydia is prepared to tolerate this man she’s been sold to, but his scorching kisses send her pulses racing. Can an arranged marriage lead to love? 

(Previously published under the title Love… By the Book) 

** Includes an excerpt from A Marquess for Christmas by Vivienne Westlake. 

Disclaimer: This is a short 30 page romantic short story with bonus material** It is not a full-length novel. Contains scenes of Victorians breaking society's rules, marital sex and ancient wisdom from the Kama Sutra.

Excerpt:

All through dinner, she was aware of his presence at her side. His quick smile, pleasant manners, his long, long fingers that occasionally brushed her hand. Then there was his deep voice murmuring in her ear during the meal. It mattered not what he said, the very sound of his voice sent alternate waves of heat and cold through her. She was barely been able to eat a bite, though she’d drained her wineglass more than once before the champagne toast was served. She drank that as well.

Now, feeling a bit woolly-headed, she walked out onto the balcony for some fresh air where a slight breeze cooled her heated face. The men were still having their port in the dining room while her mother and Phoebe sat and visited with Mrs. Channing. Lydia knew she should go back inside and converse with her future mother-in-law.

Lydia was eager to learn more about Evan’s childhood. She knew his father had died when he was a babe in arms, murdered during the Sepoy Uprising, and that Mrs. Channing’s Indian in-laws had protected her and the infant Evan from a similar fate. She must have loved her husband greatly, for she had never remarried.

It was a tale worthy of one of her favorite romance novels, but she wasn’t in the mood to be sociable. Thank heavens it was a small gathering, just her immediate family, Evan, his mother and his uncle Frederick. She’d never have been able to deal with a crowd tonight.

When the men entered the room, her gaze flew to Evan. He looked around the room, frowning, until he spotted her standing by the open door. A smile creased his face as he headed straight for her. She clutched the doorjamb as her heart started pounding.

“There you are,” he said, stopping in front of her. “I feared you’d left.”

“I just needed some fresh air,” she explained.

“Are you well?” he asked, taking her hand solicitously. Heat radiated from him, shooting up her arm.

“I’m fine, just a bit warm.”

“I am, too,” he said, guiding her to the railing looking over the small garden at the back of the house. The scent of roses and honeysuckle wafted up.

“Since our engagement is official, I’ll send the announcement to the Times tomorrow, and then speak to the vicar about having the banns read. Shall we set a date now?”

She stiffened, staring straight ahead. Official. The word pounded in her head. Once the announcement was published, there would be no backing out. She closed her eyes, not knowing what to say.

“Lydia?”

Gently, he grasped her chin and turned her head toward his.

When she looked up, his expression was concerned.

“What’s wrong, my dear?”

Everything. But she could not say so. In truth, she was afraid of the weeks to come. Of what this marriage would mean.

How it would change her life.

He moved his hand to her shoulder. “Are you apprehensive?”

She managed a jerky nod.

“So am I,” he whispered.

She stared at him in astonishment. “Truly?”

“Truly. This is a big step for both of us. I realize we don’t know each other very well. If you’d like a long engagement—”

“No. Waiting will just make things worse.”

He quirked a dark brow. “How so?”

Taking a step back, she spread her hands. “It will just give me more time to dread—”

She broke off at the injured look on his face. “Forgive me, but surely you understand this marriage was never my preference.”

He turned away from her and ran a hand through his hair.

“Yes, I know, but I hoped you had become resigned to it.”

“I have. At least I have tried to be,” she said, the words tumbling out of her mouth. “That’s why I think it best just to plunge ahead. Once the banns have been read thrice, we can wed almost immediately.”

He turned back, a frown still marring his forehead. “Will that give your mother enough time to plan?”

She shrugged. “All I need is a new gown.”

“But won’t society think it odd we married in such haste?”

She looked him in the eye. “Let me make one thing clear. I do not give a fig for what society thinks. If you supposed you were marrying a social butterfly, let me banish that notion right now.”

He smiled at her. “Harry said you were sensible, but this surprises me. I’m happy to agree to a short engagement.” He stepped closer, towering over her. “The sooner I can make you mine, the better.”

Her heart pounded and her breath caught as he lowered his head and touched his lips to hers for but a second before backing away. She drew in a deep breath. Her first kiss and it had been over almost before it was begun. She didn’t know whether to be relieved or disappointed.

“Shall we go inside and discuss the wedding plans with your parents?”

“Not yet. There is something else I’d like to say.” It was now or never.

“Yes, my dear, what is it?”

She licked her lips then plunged ahead. “I know how these things work. Arranged marriages, that is. I won’t expect fidelity from you.”

His shocked expression surprised her. “Is that what you think, Lydia? That I’m marrying you with the intention of cheating on you?”

“Perhaps not now,” she said. “But in a few years… It’s not as if ours is a love match. I won’t cut up a fuss if you decide to take a mistress. As long as you are discreet.”

“How very… sophisticated of you,” he said, his tone dry enough to parch a desert.

She took a deep breath before continuing. “And once I’ve produced the requisite heir and spare, I assume I’ll be free to seek my pleasure elsewhere.”

The thunderous look on his face startled her and she stepped back.

“You will do no such thing,” he said fiercely, reaching for her.

“Ours may not be a love match now, but I fully intend to see it turns into one.”

With that, he pulled her into his embrace, trapping her arms between them as his encircled her shoulders and waist.

Covering her mouth with his, he kissed her with a heady combination of passion and anger. Her resistance crumbled in the face of his onslaught. She clutched at his lapels and returned his kiss, even parting her lips when his tongue probed them. Overwhelmed by the sensations his lips provoked, she let her eyes drift shut as she clung to him.

When he let her go, he was still visibly upset. “There will be no more talk of infidelity. Have I made myself clear, Lydia?”

Also Check Out: Second Chances 

Romance Super Bundle II

USA Today bestseller!

Eleven romances from New York Times, USA Today and bestselling, award-winning authors.

The blockbuster box set with more than 100,000 copies sold is back for more! We've got a lonesome cowboy, a spurned bride-to-be, a heartbroken widower and an unexpected pregnancy, along with a tasty smattering of intrigue, murder and suspense. Almost half a million words and two thousand pages of strong heroes and daring heroines who'll do anything for a second chance at love.

Lindi Lamont

Lyndi Lamont is the racy alter ego of romance author Linda McLaughlin. Writing sexier stories gives her a license to be a little naughty, at least between the pages of her books! She has written several full-length novels plus numerous short stories and novellas, ranging from historical to futuristic. She believes that love is unending and universal, and enjoys transporting her readers into a different world where her characters learn that, in the journey of life, love is the sweetest reward. 

Website: http://www.lyndilamont.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LyndiLamont @LyndiLamont

Author Spotlight: Paloma Beck

Today's Author Spotlight is Paloma Beck!

Title: Never Coming Home

Series: Home, Book 1.5

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Author: Paloma Beck

Publisher: Secret Cravings Publishing

Cover Artist: Dawné Dominique

ISBN: 978-1-63105-314-6

Page Count: 58

BLURB

I have a story to tell, a story I promised never to tell. Hell, it isn't even one I wanted to live through. I just can't keep it 

inside anymore... now that they're both gone. I have to tell My Story.

Rachel Porter tells her sons about the love of her life, about their father and about their life together. This novella tells 

the story of the beginning of the Porter family through the Vietnam War, too many losses and a new beginning. It's a 

tale her sons won't forget, and one that could change them for all time.

BUY LINKS

SECRET CRAVINGS

http://store.secretcravingspublishing.com/index.php?main_page=book_info&cPath=4&products_id=936

 AMAZON

http://www.amazon.com/Never-Coming-Home-Paloma-Beck-

ebook/dp/B00N3GZDS2/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1410264888&sr=1-

1&keywords=never+coming+home

EXCERPT

Rachel sat at the table, her fingers hugging the hot mug of coffee as she surveyed her children. Her three 

sons were grown now. They were magnificent men. She shook the tears off as she thought of their dad. The 

credit for her sons went to Robert, a good man and a solid father. How she missed his friendship. It hadn’t been 

that long since he passed, but she felt the absence of his constant strength. Now, it was just her with her boys.

Rachel took a cleansing breath and spoke, “I have a story to tell. I know you all have wondered. It’s a story 

I promised never to tell. It isn’t one I wanted to live through, but it’s my story. I can’t keep it inside anymore. 

Now that they’re both gone, I have to share my story.”

She saw her sons’ confused and doubting looks, but it was Tyra, Ryan’s wife, who squeezed her hand in 

encouragement. “We’d love to listen to your story.”

Rachel looked past her sons, out the large window and beyond the lake. She’d underestimated how difficult 

the actual telling would be. It was much more difficult than the decision to do it had been. But she had to. She 

had to rise to the challenge of being the strength for their family now. Her sons must understand the true 

character of their father. They deserved that much at least.

She began her story…

AUTHOR BIO & LINKS

Paloma Beck is a Romance Author living a life of contradiction... she's a happily married carpooling 

mom writing steamy romance. It's almost naughty! Paloma writes both contemporary and 

paranormal romances that are anything but PG.

Paloma published her first book in 2012 with Secret Cravings Publishing. Since then, she has 

released eight books with SCP, and has moved on to self-publish an additional two books. She has 

no plans to slow down.

With her husband and three sons, the Blue Ridge mountains have been her home for nearly twenty 

years. There's still a special place in her heart though for New England where she spent her 

childhood. The lakes of Maine call her name and someday she hopes to find her way back there.

Paloma is a proud supporter of Starbucks. She believes a daily dose of espresso and a good book make any day better. So, go on, 

Romance Beckons. Grab a cup of coffee and book and get reading!

BLOG: http://RomanceBeckons.blogspot.com

WEBSITE: http://RomanceBeckons.net

TWITTER:                 https://twitter.com/PalomaBeck

FACEBOOK:             http://www.facebook.com/RomanceBeckons

GOODREADS:         http://goodreads.com/PalomaBeck

AMAZON:     http://www.amazon.com/Paloma-Beck

PINTEREST: http://pinterest.com/PalomaBeck

Fall 2014 BulletProof Blog Tour

The BulletProof Ghost is on the road... if the internet were a road, which it's not.  BPG is on the virtual road that is other author's blogs!  BPG has been featured on several blogs as of late and I thought is was high time to put them all in one place... which is here.  Check out the links below.  The posts have info that is posted all over this blog, but the author's blogs themselves may interest you.  Enjoy!

Tina Gayle's Unique Flavors

This blog refers to BPG: Prototypes as a Mystery, which it is to some extent.  I'll allow it!  Joking aside I've seen Prototypes called a mystery, horror and young adult, so however you interpret it is fine with me as long as you liked it.

Melanie Robertson-King Celtic Connexions

And no, that is not a typo... so don't fill up the comments with, 

"Jake's at it again with his goddamn typos."

Andrea R Cooper Author Blog

Andrea is a nice lady with a neat looking blog.  Check it out as she welcomes me to the indie author scene.  Hopefully it isn't like the hard core punk and metal scenes I used to be into... mosh pits are hard on a little guy like me.  Screw it, time to throw some 'bows! (double bass pedals)

There will be more stops on the tour in the coming weeks.  As this page is updated, I'll let you know on the Twitter machine and teh Book of Face.  Laters.

Romance Beckons
Yes, BPG is not a romance series, but the author of this blog does write romance AND she was nice enough to feature me.  Check out the Author Spotlights section to see her book series featured on this page!

Ann Everett Talkin' Twang

Five on Friday Interview
This is a bit different, because it is an actual interview with yours truly (Jake dh!).  Check it out to get an insight into my slightly disturbed psyche.

Lindi Lamont (LindaLindi.com)

Suz DeMello's Velvet Lair
If you couldn't tell from the blog's title, Suz's writing can get a bit steamy. I'm glad she had room for a bullied 13 year old who is turned into an adult cybernetic killing machine.

Author Spotlights

These are the highlighted authors who are part of my current blog tour.  They're genres are many and to see what they're about, you'll have to just check them out.  Their various links and sites are listed in the posts. This page will be updated as more authors join in the tour.  Enjoy.

Suz deMello

Andrea R. Cooper

Tina Gayle #FallinginLove

Melanie Robertson-King

Ann Everett

Paloma Beck

Lindi Lamont

Author Spotlight: Ann Everett

Today's Author Spotlight is Ann Everett!!

Blurb:

Jace Sloan has it all. He's smoking hot, a college football star with a storybook family, and he's 

never met a woman he couldn't charm. He's also never met one who makes him want to be a 

better man...until he meets Maggie. Now, this self-proclaimed geek with wild red hair and the 

greenest eyes he's ever seen has him thinking all kinds of crazy thoughts. Like settling down and 

being a one-woman man.

Maggie Fielding is anything but Jace's type. For starters, her IQ is bigger than her chest size. But 

Jace is panty melting hot, and she's having a hard time remembering that he’s bad news. If only 

she could stop telling him her secrets, because her answers to his questions just might have both 

of them falling in love for the first time.

Excerpt:

“Why do you do it?”

“Do what?”

“Go from girl to girl. My mother was promiscuous because she tried to make up for 

everything wrong in her life—no relationship with her family, a kid she didn’t want. But 

you have the most wonderful family in the world. And you have friends—and talent. I don’t 

understand what you’re trying to compensate for.”

He didn’t say anything, so she said, “You don’t have to answer. I shouldn’t have asked. I 

just finished telling you to stay out of my business and now I’m butting into yours.”

“It isn’t that I don’t want to answer. It’s—I don’t know the answer. Maybe it’s 

evolutionary psychology. You know, spill your seeds and all that crap.”

“You’re kidding, right? That theory has to do with finding the best candidate for breeding 

to produce the best offspring. It isn’t an excuse to screw every female in Texas. Unless you’re 

saying you want to impregnate women to create a bunch of little football All-American’s?”

“Hell, no. My policy is no glove, no love. I’m saying, could be, men aren’t supposed to 

be monogamous.”

“You’re speaking for your entire gender?”

“Yeah.”

“So—your dad could have women on the side and that would be okay.”

“No! All right, you’ve made your point. Some men can be happy with one woman.”

“But not you.”

He rolled up on his elbow and rested his face in his hand. “I don’t know how to say this 

without sounding like a complete jerk. I guess I do it because I can. From the time I was in junior 

high, girls have thrown themselves at me and all I’ve done is take advantage of it. I’ve never lied 

to get a girl to sleep with me. I’ve never told one I loved her or promised forever. I don’t even 

spend the night. They know what to expect from me.” He flopped back down. “Maybe I’ve slept 

with more than my share, but I don’t consider myself a bad guy. Do you?”

“Does it matter what I think?”

“Yeah.”

“Well then, I think you’re just as emotionally unavailable as I am. I avoid men because 

I’m afraid I’ll lose my heart, and you go from girl to girl to keep from giving yours away.”

Author Bio:

Ann Everett embraces her small town upbringing and thinks Texans are some of the funniest 

people on earth. When speaking to writing groups, businesses, book clubs, and non-profit 

organizations, she incorporates her special brand of wit, making her programs on marketing, self-

publishing, and the benefits of laughter, informative and fun. 

An award winning author, she’s also a member of Northeast Texas Writers’ Organization and a 

top twenty reviewer on thenextbigwriter.com

When Ann’s not writing, she spends her days listening in on people’s conversations at the local 

Wal-Mart, beauty shop, Goodwill, and numerous other gathering spots. She draws from that 

research to pen her romantic suspense novels full of southern sass and Texas twang. For her new 

adult romance stories, she blends her dramatic writing style with a kick of humor.

Five things you won’t know about Ann by reading her bio.

1. She’s been married to the same man since dirt.

2. She loves shopping at thrift stores.

3. A really sharp pencil makes her happy.

4. She hates talking on the telephone.

5. She’s thankful wrinkles aren’t painful.

Links:

Ann Everett’s Amazon page: http://amzn.to/11D7bQ7 

Ann’s Website: http://www.anneverett.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/TalkinTwang

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LOACL

Tell Me a Secret Link: http://www.amazon.com/Tell-Me-Secret-Ann-Everett-ebook/dp/B00N0VUNGC/

ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1410887193&sr=1-1&keywords=ann+everett

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22069651-tell-me-a-secret

What's Jake Listening To?

Until the Blog Tour starts later this week, there isn't a lot going on in BPG land.  We're still on track for Geek Galaxy.  There are several things that need to be done, but they're moving along nicely.  I donated some copies of Prototypes to Boonville's and Evansville's Public Libraries.  Evansville seemed really happy about, but Boonville, though enthusiastic on the phone, just didn't seem to care when I got there.  Well, that's cool, here's your free books?

Anyway, I thought I'd put up a list of songs I've been listening to while writing.  So here we go!

I haven't listened to Seether a lot a lot for years.  I've been familiar with what they've been putting out, but since Disclaimer, which is one of my favorite albums ever, I hadn't felt like I should run out of my house and buy their most current album.  Well until this song, Words as Weapons, I really like this song and will pick up the CD (yeah I still buy those) as soon as I can.

I'm not that familar with Hands like Houses, but I've heard this song here and there over the last several months.   I only looked up the name of the song and band two weeks ago.  The music video is okay, but I've been listening to a lot more of their stuff on Spotify.

Full Disclosure, this is my sister's band, Osiella, their ad is over to the right if you want to check out their EP.  Miss You More is a good song, but the song named after my son, Xander, isn't on YouTube, so this will have to do for the internets.  Now only if I can convince her to put up a BPG ad on here site/blog.  Can't have everything I guess.

Rise Against is fucking awesome.  I've loved them for 6+ years.  Make It Stop is about the epidemic of teen suicide (with a specific focus on gay teens).  There is a huge problem in the Southwest with families kicking their teens out in the streets once they come out.  That's a fucking tragedy.  I guess I know what it's like when a parent's love is conditional like that (won't go into specifics, but a family member said they would kill them self if I was gay, kill them self, wow).  This song is sad and the music video is just as heart breaking.

I love Legend of Zelda.  I was always curious about the series and played the original here and there, but in 2006, I picked up Twilight Princess and was hooked.  I beat Link to the Past and Link between Worlds in the last couple of months and am working on Hyrule Warriors (beat Legend Mode, working on Adventure).  I feel like I need to beat more games in the series, but Wind Waker is my favorite, but in a series like this, it is hard to choose.  Twilight Princess is the first one I beat and Midna's Lament is my favorite tune from any of the games.  If you have ever been curious about the Zelda series, TP is a good starting point.

Modest Mouse is one of the those bands that made up the soundtrack to my college experience.  Jet, Franz Ferdinand, The Killers, Tool, The White Stripes, A Perfect Circle, I could go on, but MM is a band that used to be on the radio nonstop while I was driving to USI/ITT.  This is a newer song and it's awesome.  The video is crazy and funny (it's about fisherman).

That's about it for the time being.  I'll be writing a ton next week as I've been busy this week with promotional stuff, so writing in BPG: In Spades has taken a back seat.  I'm done with the first chapter and I'm pretty happy with it.  There's action, character development as well as the ever difficult exposition.  I hope to make it halfway through Chapter 2 next weekend, but with my wife's 10 year reunion and Fall Fest in Eville, we'll see.  I'm more concerned about quality than the speed it's written.  

Thanks for the support and pick up Prototypes if you haven't yet.

http://www.amazon.com/The-BulletProof-Ghost-Prototypes-Jake-ebook/dp/B00MK30EC4

-Jake dh 

Book Ninja Review of The BulletProof Ghost: Prototypes

So this review was the best yet.  I have had a few more pop up on Amazon.  BPGP was getting 4 stars, but now I've started to get hit with 5 out of 5 star reviews.  Book Ninja's review falls into this category.  Book Ninja is another site that does not put their reviews on their actual site.  They post directly to Amazon, so I'll post the review here.

The BulletProof Ghost: Prototypes

Jake dh has written an action-packed sci-fi adventure with an imaginative storyline. Kyle is brought back slowly from a sure death – half human half machine and trained to be a fighter in a war he never enlisted in. His creator has big plans to change the world. Kyle retains his humaneness and may have plans of his own. This story is exceptionally well-written and draws the reader in immediately. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and look forward to the next book in this series.

 Highly recommended!

5 out of 5 Stars

I'm glad I'm getting more positive feedback.  Full disclosure, I did pay to have the review done expediently, but not for content.  They give negative reviews, I'm just glad I wasn't one of them.

I'll be doing a blog tour soon enough, keep an eye on my twitter for more updates on the tour. @Thebproofghost

-Jake dh

Updates: BPG: In Spades, Geek Galaxy and Feedback on Prototypes

So, the link on the right for the physical copy has been converted into the Amazon version.  I've given several  copies of Prototypes away to friends, family and co-workers.  The feedback has been really positive.  One of my friends said he didn't know what to expect, but not what was happening in the first chunk of the book.  I guess he expected a normal super hero origin, but I tried to buck a lot of those conventions.  Origin stories are normally a little clunky and I wanted to avoid that.

I'm trying to figure out the marketing side of the self publishing biz, but I'm still stabbing in the dark without the funds I need.  I may end up doing an IndyGoGo in order to afford Geek Galaxy.  I also need more reviews for Amazon.  In order to use the newletter-type promotions, I need more reviews with a 4 star or higher average rating.  BPG Prototypes is at 3.8 due to a goddamned troll giving it a one star rating.

 I suspect it might a some one I knew in college.  His name is Crazy Face, but if you look at his public wishlist it's under the name Davi and it is full of computer and camera equipment.  There is only one person I know/knew that is named David and has those specific interest (he opened up a video service for weddings or something, so that fits even more).  I shouldn't be fretting over this so much, but it's making things hard for me, but I'll overcome.  Haters gonna hate, but it still pisses me off. Once you read the book, please put up review.

*I did get a good 4 star review from a stranger that picked up the book.  This pleases my Kinetic Blade!

The BulletProof Ghost: In Spades is coming along nicely.  I have the Prologue and part of the first chapter finished.  I have a lot of scenes in mind, but I'm tempted to write them out of order.  That's not a good idea... but I may do it anyway.  I'm going to try to complete a preview in the next few weeks, since I don't have to work at my job-job next weekend like I thought I might.

Once the preview is done, I'll post it up on here.  I'm also thinking about making a 2nd Edition of Prototypes with a preview to In Spades in the back.  This would be great for Geek Galaxy.

Speaking of, Geek Galaxy has my profile up.  I'm working on a few swag designs.  I'll have pics up on the twitter and instagram.  I'm looking forward to the convention on November 15 and 16, but being the  only straight up author there is going to be a little awkward.

I'll post more updates as they come.  Thanks for the support so far!

-Jake dh