Monday, June 29, 2015

Dangerous Encounters


Washington state author, Cathy Perkins, is my guest this week on Book Blather. Cathy works in the financial industry and is well acquainted with the hide in plain sight skills employed by the villains in her books.  Her financial thriller, Cypher, is part of a fabulous new box set titled Dangerous Encounters. The set includes a wide variety of mystery, suspense and thrills by thirteen talented writers. Such a deal! Welcome, Cathy.

A Smorgasbord of Suspense 

Smorgasbord originally meant a Swedish buffet, but now the term refers to a wide range of options, a variety of styles. That variety is one of the things I love about the current offerings in multi-author boxed sets. The sets are a way to discover and “try out” new-to-me authors at a price that seem too good to be true. How can you beat $.99-$2.99 for groups of novels from your favorite authors? I’ve discovered really good books by picking up a friend’s box set—and discovering new favorites.

DANGEROUS ENCOUNTERS just released and is heating up more than the bestseller list! With a variety of heat levels, there’s a story to tempt everyone.




Get your heartbeat racing with 13 romantic-suspense novels from USA Today, bestselling, and award-winning authors. Nerve-wracking thrills and dangers, heart-melting romance and love--enjoy them all in this outstanding collection of DANGEROUS ENCOUNTERS....

Fallen Idol - USA Today Bestselling author Nikki Lynn Barrett
Sparks ignite between a single father and a singer making her musical comeback, but danger lurks in the distance, only getting closer as time goes on. For two people who want different things out of life, it's possible to find healing together...

Cross Examination - Bestselling Author Denise Moncrief
Tamara Slay moves to Louisiana to start a new life with her daughter, but her dreams of a peaceful existence are shattered when Lt. Martin Beck suspects her ex-husband is a serial killer.

Carnival Tricks - Award-Winning, Bestselling Author Jade Kerrion
A dying scientist propels a waitress into the shady world of corporate espionage. The unwilling carrier of the recipe for a lethal chemical weapon, can Sofia save the world when she can't even save herself?

Height of Danger - Nancy & Nolan Radke
How do you keep a woman safe who distrusts you, and won't stay where you hide her? CIA operative Owen Putman has to protect his employer's daughter while trying to find out who is killing construction workers at a Central American dam site.

Six Days of Memories - International Bestselling Author Stacy Eaton
Detective Natasha Foster comes across the crime scene of her career, and she will put everything on the line to find out the truth, including her heart. Jay's need to know if he's the victim or criminal pushes him to remember who he is and with the pull of a trigger, Jay's memory will suddenly return and with it, the terrible truth.

Broken Lies - Sharon Coady
Bodyguard Niall Kerrigan lets his guard down and falls for Abby Bailey, a beautiful woman with a secret past. When Abby goes missing Niall must face his ruthless father to fight for the woman he loves and choose between a life with her or keeping her safe without him.

Don't Know Jack - Amy Manemann
Undercover FBI agent Jack Hamlin meets his match in small town bakery owner, Kate Monroe, when they're swept into a dangerous game of lies, intrigue and desire.

Cypher - Award-Winning Bestselling Author Cathy Perkins
When a hit man kills the wrong person, a SC detective confronts hidden agendas and conflicting motives in a powerful local family, while trying to control his attraction to the intended victim--a woman who's hell-bent on saving the remnants of her family.

Murderous Lies - Bestselling Author Chantel Rhondeau
Max is exonerated for murder after eight years, returning to his home town and the fiancée he left there. Rose isn't so happy to see him...and then the murders start again.

Tidal Falls - Jacquie Biggar
When Nick fails to notice an IED and loses most of his teammates, he shuts down. It takes meeting and falling in love with a woman in danger to make him realize life's worth living.

Suspended Animation - Sylvie Grayson
Suspense, spicy romance and attempted murder erupt when hockey player Brett hires Katy to run the office of his ailing father's near-bankrupt trucking company. Can he protect her from her lethal friends and the chaos surrounding them?

Knowing Vera - Award-Winning, Bestselling Author Rachelle Ayala
Suspenseful romance, an unsolved murder, and love on the beach. A young woman seeks to prove her father innocent of murdering her boyfriend's mother.

Special Agent Francesca - New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Mimi Barbour
Violence, suspense and sizzling romance explode during Special Agent Francesca's humorous journey fighting off the mob! Dr. Sean Collins wants to tame her! Yeah-like that's gonna happen. Only one thing keeps Francesca motivated. Proving to her mother, the FBI "Snow Queen," that working undercover is where she belongs.


I hope you’ll take a moment to check out this amazing deal and if you give the stories a try, I hope you come back and share your experience with us.

Don’t forget, reviews are an author’s best friend :)

Nook: Pending
Google Play: http://bit.ly/1R4py8H


Watch our awesome trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smUfSr_NMNw

Monday, June 22, 2015

Alyssa's Story


Picture this: America’s monetary system fails, plunging the nation into chaos. Who will survive? Will anarchy prevail?  This is the premise of Alyssa’s Story by Mort Stump, a farmer and teacher from Southeastern Pennsylvania German country. His roots are firmly embedded in his family, his heritage, the land and his faith. He has made it his mission to educate others about what the future might hold, and how to prepare to weather the storms that lie ahead, including those on the national level as well as those in the hearts of the individual. Welcome to Book Blather, Mort.

An Essay of Questions
Who really is Mort Stump? Sure, you probably just read Mort Stump’s short Biography, but does it really give you a feel on who he is? Is he a young aspiring author full of new ideas . . . or is he just an old coot languishing in the old days? Could he be described as progressive or regressive?
Does he really have vision, or is he merely a dreamer? Does he really love people, care for his country, and want to save both, or did he just write a book with no cause in mind? Was there a noble purpose in writing Alyssa’s Story, or did he just do it for fame and fortune?

Are the truths in his book really truths and the values he purports in the book actually values that are vital to a healthy society, or are they simply fictional musings? Will you just enjoy reading the tale, or will it make you think and ponder?

Could his characters be real, down-to-Earth people, or are they Hollywood-type, created for the movies superheroes and heroines? Did some of the events in Alyssa’s Story actually occur, or were they all manufactured in his imaginative mind?

But most importantly, will some of the events in the book eventually come to pass down the road, and will you then be prepared for the consequences? Need answers? You’ll have to read the story to find them.

Follow the fascinating adventures of Alyssa as she and her family meet the challenges produced by the devastating failure of the US dollar. Learn how they overcome the upheaval in their lives through their remarkable ingenuity, dedicated hard work, unbridled compassion for others, and enduring faith, enabling them to survive the most catastrophic regression in their nation’s history.        
Excerpt from Alyssa’s Story
“I was curious about something else,” Jeremiah said. “How did the idea of using coins as a medium of exchange catch on?”
“Money is only good if the users have faith in it,” Titus said. “I understand the dollar failed because China switched its debt over to Euros or something like that; I’m not exactly sure. Euros are paper money too, but people still have faith in it, so they work as an accepted medium of exchange. Maybe not in this country, but at least around the rest of the world they do. For decades, the dollar was backed by gold or silver, so the holders of dollars knew they could exchange dollars for something with a known, universal value. Ever since the US government abandoned the gold standard, that faith has been waning.
"On the other hand, coins have been used in exchange for goods for centuries. They have an intrinsic value. The metals in them were worth something even if the government that issued them went sour. Several of our brothers are in the wrecking/reclamation business. Last year when copper prices skyrocketed, they became aware that pennies have a value of their own, well above one cent, which is all any bank would give you for them. We all started saving them. Then last year the feds pointed out that it was illegal to melt down coins. So what? We were only saving them. Around Christmas I read that a penny was only 5% copper and the rest mostly zinc; burst that theory. However, a nickel was 75% copper. So we started saving them too. In fact, it was revealed that the government was spending 1.2 cents to make every penny and 7.9 cents to make a nickel. Then they sold them for only one cent and five cents respectively. Boy, was that bad business. Bottom line is – we have faith in the value of the metals in coins, even if the government issuing them is bankrupt. Metal is metal, coins are coins. We have faith in them, so we honor them. Seems to be working so far.”
“But how did you come up with the low prices for everything?” Lois asked.
“Accidentally, I guess,” Titus responded.
“Maybe not,” Aaron said. “Coinage has an absolute value. But what do you base it on? Because it takes so many pennies to buy a Euro, a barrel of oil, or an ounce of gold? What does that matter to us? The value that our coins have is relative. How many pennies it takes to buy a ton of hay, a bushel of corn, a flashlight, or a watermelon?”
“I know that one,” I declared, “five.”
“Yes, you’re right, little cousin,” Aaron continued. “Think how people that had tens of thousands of dollars in the bank, now have some metal half dollars and quarters in their pockets. And those who had a few hundred dollars, now have about the same.”
“The collapse was an equalizer,” Dad said. “Like Dr. Fleming and Harvey said earlier today: ‘everyone’s in the same boat’.”

“Isn’t that funny,” Josh remarked. “What the Communists in other countries and Socialists in this country were trying to do for years – make us all equal – was accomplished by our own federal government’s poor fiscal policy.”

To read reviews and learn more about Mort's book, follow this link:  http://amzn.com/B00X602TFK



Monday, June 15, 2015

Sun Chara

Meet Sun Chara, a multi-published, JABBIC (Judge A Book By Its Cover)winner and author of Manhattan Millionaire's Cinderella. In her own words she loves sexy, hip 'n fun contemporary romance, high adventure historical romance, and any genre that knocks at her imagination. She loves the challenge of creating stories for book and screen as well as designer frappuccinos with whipping cream and sprinkles on top. Sun treats every day as a celebration! 
See more at:
http://www.harperimpulseromance.com/authors?title=s#sthash.JoJ6VbfL.dpuf
https://www.facebook.com/suncharaauthorpage
Twitter: @sunchara3
Welcome to Book Blather, Sun.



Thank you! Marilee for being so gracious and allowing me some chatting time on your cool blog.  As a writer I’ve always been interested in writers’ schedules, writing process, call stories…heck, everything! So, here’s a bit about my rollercoaster style writing process…

1) What am I working on?
Promotions!!! (I’m terrible at it, but gotta catch the social media wave) for Manhattan Millionaire’s Cinderella, and All Wrapped Up in You, sexy, hip ’n fun contemporary romances for fabulous Harper Impulse. J  Also, contracted for Gamblin’ Lady, a western historical romance with wonderful BPG. Then, back to finishing a regency era historical, To Marry a Rogue, in time for Christmas. Soon after, onto another whirlwind HI contemporary romance, The Italian’s Runaway Principessa! Oh, but this is fun!

2) How does my work differ from others of its genre?
Entertainment value! Total reality belongs to the newscasters.  Living life with a touch of glam ‘n excitement with unlimited possibilities that engage the imagination of not how it is but how it could be, belongs to everyone!

3) Why do I write what I do?
Because love is a many splendored thing…I believe in the real deal, the real McCoy…and what a fun-filled, angsty, exciting maize of a journey it is to find it…or for love to find you!

4) How does your writing process work?
All over the place, like the story at the start, but after several (12+) drafts, it sparkles, and…flyin’ off cybershelves! (This is said tongue-in-cheek…but one can hope?!))
Ideally, I like to set out four hours a day to write in my office/living room corner on my laptop, with a cup of hot chocolate, and a sofa to snooze on; often when I start to write I get sleepy, but after a nap, I’m whipping those pages out and can do sixteen pages (first draft) in that time frame. But with job, family, life…it’s write anytime, anywhere… everywhere.  Loving it!

That’s my writing process…but it can change like a chameleon!




  

Book Blurb:
Will their wedding night be a one-night stand or a merger for keeps?
Global real estate mogul, Cade Sloan should've listened to his own advice: trust no one, and never a woman…especially not his 24 hour bride gone AWOL with his millions. Nina, mousy secretary turned sexy vixen, will repay every penny with interest…
When Cade gears up for a takeover, there's sweet hell to pay. Nina owes him a wedding night and he’s hell bent on collecting… his way, his time, his pleasure.

 Amazon worldwide & all other e-retailers
 *Now available in paperback http://amzn.to/XLsjoy