26 September 2013

{Blog Barrage} Promot + Giveaway: Caught In The Crosshairs Barb Han




Description
Lauren James had ignored the recent spate of calls from her brother. After all, he was a big player linked to a major cartel, and he’d been dead to her for nearly a decade. Then she receives the one call she can’t ignore—her brother’s been kidnapped and will be killed if she doesn’t bring money. No matter how far gone her brother is, Lauren can’t turn her back on him completely. Deep down she’s always wanted to save him. Now, she’s forced into action because he’ll die otherwise.

Ex-Special Forces sniper Jaden Dean owns a private security firm and after losing his older brother to gang violence, needs to take down as many scum bags as he can—single-handedly if need be. And he was the best. Until he trusted the wrong woman on his last assignment and ended up nearly dead in the street.

On a tropical island with a hurricane brewing and dangerous men closing in, Lauren and Jaden will need to work together to survive and find her brother. The cartel seems to be one step ahead, and Jaden’s operatives are being killed one-by-one. He will have to use all his specialized training and risk everything, including his heart, to outwit the deadly group and keep Lauren safe. Their magnetic attraction isn't helping matters...because even a slight distraction might just get them both killed.

Warning: This title is intended for readers over the age of 18 as it contains adult sexual situations and/or adult language, and may be considered offensive to some readers.


Caught in the Crosshair
by Barb Han
Romantic Suspense
Categories: Action/Adventure
Publisher: Self/Indie
Release Date: June 17, 2013
Heat Level: Steamy
Word Count/Length: 60,000 words/244 pages

Available at:



Excerpt

The Texas sun beating down on the white canopy over the fresh grave created a greenhouse effect, intensifying the triple-digit temperature. Jaden Dean loosened his tie. At five o’clock the heat had peaked. A half hour into the inferno, his shirt threatened to melt into his skin. He’d barely noticed.  

His focus was Helena. Long after the attendees had gone home, she sat there, broken, looking lost and alone. A stark contrast to the deadly field operative she was.

Jaden couldn’t walk away, so he moved to the chair next to her. “There anyone I can call?”

She didn’t look at him. Only shook her head.

Jaden sighed sharply. “Talk to someone, then. A priest?”

Her gaze focused forward. She didn’t respond.

“Then take some time off. Hell, take as much time as you need. Your job will be waiting for you. ManTech can survive for a while without you.”

She glanced at him.

Damn, it was hard to look her in the eyes, see the pain there. Pain that was his fault. 

She shook her head again. “I need to keep busy. Work is all I have now.”

Right. She’d been orphaned as a child. A wrench tightened inside Jaden’s gut at remembering the details of her abusive past. There was no family to surround her. Tim had been everything to her. He was her love. Her redemption. Her life.

And now he was dead.

Freakin’ South American cartels.

Her chin came up. “And those bastards have to pay.”

The hollow look in her eyes was a knife to his chest. Something inside her was broken. Would she ever be the same?

Would he ever be the same after sending her fiancé on the mission he should’ve taken himself?

Jaden knew all about losing someone close. The unspeakable pain. The darkness and anger that settled in the soul. The hopelessness. Everyone that had been close to him was dead. His operatives were all the family he had. And they were being killed. He was beginning to think he was cursed.

If she insisted on working, he’d keep a close eye on her.

About the Author
Barb Han is the author of romance novels and romantic suspense. Her debut romantic thriller, GONE, was released January, 2013, and features a desperate woman who wakes in a mental institution determined to find the son she's told never existed.

Her novella, Seducing Avery, was released early this year, and has received much acclaim due to her unique storyline that features an Asian hero. Another Asian hero romance, The Billionaire Bargain, released early this summer exclusively for Kindle. The wide release is scheduled for late August. Her romantic suspense, Caught in the Crosshair, features a determined sister and an ex-military sniper on a tropical island with a hurricane brewing and dangerous men closing in. This story is now available exclusively for Kindle.

Barb is under contract with Harlequin Intrigue. Her first book featuring a rancher from North Texas will be published in early 2014.

Barb belongs to Romance Writers of America, DARA, KOD, and NTRWA where she volunteers as often as she can. She graduated from The University of North Texas with a bachelor degree in journalism.

She lives in North Texas with her own Asian-hero husband, has three beautiful children, a spunky Golden Retriever/Standard Poodle mix, and too many books in her 'to read' pile. In her down time, she plays video games and spends much of her time on or around a basketball court. She's passionate about travel, and many of the places she visits end up in her books.
 
Connect with Barb Han

GIVEAWAY INFO:
Prize is 3 eBook copies (1 each to 3 winners) of “Caught in the Crosshair”. Contest is tour-wide, open internationally and ends Sept 28. Must be 18 years of age of older to enter.


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25 September 2013

{Blog Tour} Baby Series Anniversary Tour by Andrea Smith



 Hello my lovelies!!

It's going to be an exciting day for us today. We're hosting Andrea Smith's Baby Series Anniversary Tour. As part of this tour, Andrea will be giving away exciting prices. And also, check out my interview with Ms. Andrea Smith about book, as well as my review for the first book in the series Maybe Baby Lite.

Enjoy!!

Geri

Interview with Andrea Smith


When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I've always loved to read and when I was in my early twenties I was reading the heck out of gothic (we now refer to them as 'historical') romances. So I started one way back then but it was long before self-publishing e-books had appeared on the horizon. Having babies and ultimately my career took precedent over writing.

What inspired you to write this series?

I'd lost my job which turned out to be a blessing in disguise! After a week or so of moping around I simply decided one day to get on my laptop and start a story! Six and a half weeks later I'd finished a nearly 900 page (original) version of Maybe Baby!

I love Tylar and Trey. What's your favorite Tylar and Trey scene from the series?

Hmm - there are so many it's hard to choose! As far as "sexy" scenes it's in Book 1; the one in the barn on Trey's birthday when he's partying with Jack Daniels and Preston is conceived (unbeknownst to him!) Playful/funny scenes, probably New Year's Eve (Book 2) when Tylar imbibes too many 'Adios M-F'r's' and tosses her cookies on Caroline and Landon, then on poor Trey! Poignant scenes would be Book #3 when Tylar climbs into Trey's hospital bed on Christmas Eve and pours her heart and soul out to him.

How much of the book is based on your own personal experience? Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

Really, none of the content is based on my personal experience, but there are bits and pieces loosely based on people and events in my life. For example, I actually had a girlfriend back in high school who discovered her mom was doing her boyfriend!!  (Ewww!!)

When you are not writing, whose books do you like to read? Any fave authors or books that come to mind?

I love "Tangled" - it's probably my favorite book this year. I also love Surviving Raine, Rule and C.C. Gibbs is awesome with Knight's Mistress and Knight's Games.

What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

It's pretty much an all day thing! I sprawl out on the living room floor with my laptop and keep pecking away - of course, I have to continue moving my cat off of the keyboard. (He likes the warmth!)

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I have to mix in humor with my characters - in their spoken communication, inner dialogue and sub-plot situations, there is always dry humor embedded.  Also, each title in both the 'Baby Lite' Series and the 'G-Man' series is also the title of a song.

What's in store for your readers after this series?

I also have the 'G-Man' Series which was released earlier this year. These are stand-alone books involving alpha males in the FBI. Book #1 is 'Diamond Girl.' Book #2 is titled 'Love Plus One.' I'm currently working on Book #3 of that series, titled, 'Night Moves,' which will be released late November/early December.  There's a new alpha in town!!  (And he's a gorgeous Brit!)


Blurb


When college student Tylar Preston goes to work for the wealthy Sinclair family stables the summer of her senior year, she quickly meets with unexpected events and the disturbing unraveling of her past.  Is her past destined to taint her future?

Pulling Tylar from unspeakable danger, Trey Sinclair, an arrogant high-powered attorney makes it his mission to protect the innocent and unworldly young woman from the dreams that haunt her. Spirited and independent, Tylar proves to be a challenge to the stubborn and unyielding young lawyer. Together their often bumpy journey weaves itself mysteriously, comically, passionately and erotically down a path that promises to engage and move the reader in this emotionally stirring story.

For anyone who has ever been in love or in lust, Maybe Baby will stir those forgotten feelings of  passion and emotion within you; making you ageless as you travel the romantic and erotic journey with Tylar and Trey unraveling the secrets of their past.

This book is intended for mature audiences.

My Review

4 stars!!


Maybe Baby Lite is the first installment from Andrea Smith's Baby Series. If the title sounds familiar to you, it's maybe because this has been released before. But just as the title suggest, this is the Lite version.

How did this happen, you ask? Well, one of the main criticism of the original Maybe Baby is its length, clocking in at 700 plus pages. So this one is the condensed version. I've read both books and I have to say, you don't have to worry about it being watered down or the plot being chopped it. The whole story is intact. Trey is still hot and Tylar is still adorably crazy.

That said, I definitely enjoyed this one better than the first. It's more polished and yes, to the point. Honestly, if not for my Kindle telling me I have 470 pages, I wouldn't have noticed. And that's a good thing.


Tylar Preston is a college student who went to work for the Sinclair family stables. There she meets Trey Sinclair, the handsome, enigmatic and arrogant son of the owners. Their chemistry was instantaneous but their road to happily ever after is a rocky one.

My Thoughts...

I really enjoyed reading Maybe Baby. It was fun, a little crazy, yes but I enjoyed myself. I laughed, cried, got angry, and sympathized with the characters. Though Tylar might come off as annoying but I've always felt like her reactions come from an honest place. I love that she says what's on her mind, no matter how crazy. If she's mad, she's mad. If she's happy then you'd know it. Even when she kept things from Trey, I found myself actually understanding her motives.

Trey was a little hard to figure out at first. Poor guy! He doesn't quite know how to deal with Tylar. His usual methods didn't work and the bossier he becomes, the more he pushes Tylar away. I for one, enjoyed seeing Trey squirmed.

Speaking of craziness, I have to stay, Tylar's mom is still a psycho bitch. Gawd, no wonder Tylar had so many hang-ups. I can't wait to see her in future books. Oohh, the trouble she brings. I'm rooting for Tylar to finally put her mother in place.


Overall, Maybe Baby is a fun, enjoyable read filled with drama, intrigue and of course, hot sex. I'm definitely looking forward to reading the other books from this series.

Baby Series Reading Order and Purchase Links

Maybe Baby: Amazon / B&N / Smashwords
Baby Love: Amazon / B&N / Smashwords
Be My Baby: AmazonB&NSmashwords 
Baby Come Back: AmazonSmashwords

About the Author
Andrea Smith is an Ohio native, currently residing in southern Ohio.  Ms. Smith is the mother of two grown sons; grandmother of four.  The 'Baby Series' trilogy is Ms. Smith's first self-published work.  Having previously been employed as an executive for a global corporation, Ms. Smith decided to leave the corporate world and pursue her life-long dream of writing fiction.


Favorite Quote:
"You'll have to forgive me for speaking my mind, but I happen to believe that's what it's for."
~Lauren Bacall
Favorite Author(s):
Harper Lee, Kathleen Woodiwiss, E.L. James, Daphne du Maurier, Emily Bronte, Betty Smith, William Inge
Favorite Classics:
To Kill a Mockingbird; A Tree Grows in Brooklyn; My Cousin Rachel; Wuthering Heights, Splendor in the Grass
Favorite Historical Romances:
The Flame and the Flower; The Wolf and the Dove; Shanna; Ashes in the Wind. [Woodiwiss]
Favorite Current Day Fiction:
The Twilight Series, Fifty Shades Trilogy, Tangled, Surviving Raine
All Time Favorite HR Hero:
Ruark Beauchamp in 'Shanna' (Kathleen Woodiwiss)
All Time Favorite Alpha Male:
Wulfgar of Normandy in 'The Wolf and the Dove' (Kathleen Woodiwiss)

Favorite Books without a 'HEA':
Gone with the Wind; The Way we Were; Splendor in the Grass


Author Links
Facebook  / Goodreads / Amazon
 
Tour-Wide Giveaway
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