10 Things I'd Want on an Island: A Visit from Author Cynthia Woolf and "Capital Bride"

Cynthia Woolf's  CAPITAL BRIDE

Unexpectedly homeless, un-wed mother Sarah Johnson has few options.  They could go live with her cousin William, but Sara believes there’s something untoward about his offer and it leaves her feeling uncomfortable.  She's qualified to be a governess, but no one will have her because she wasn't married when she had her precious MaryAnn.  Matchmaker & Co could be her salvation as mail-order-bride to Mr. John Atwood.

Single father, John Atwood, is raising his daughter the best he can in the wilds of the Colorado Territory but knows he needs help.  No woman he knows wants to take on the raising of his daughter who hasn't spoken since she saw her mother brutally murdered during a bank robbery.  Can Sarah, John and their two daughters overcome their pasts and find happiness together?

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Ten Things I’d want if Stranded on an Island

from Cynthia Woolf

My husband

A knife

A mirror

A change of clothes

Good walking shoes

 Extra glasses

 Soap

Canteen

Magnifying glass

Rope

Giveaway

Cynthia is giving away  a $5 giftcard and an ebook of Capital Bride at each stop of the tour.  Comment for a chance to win!

Excerpt from Capital Bride

New York City    April 10, 1867

Introducing Laurel O'Donnell's "Angel's Assassin"

Introducing Laurel O’Donnell 's

ANGEL'S ASSASSIN

Damien is an assassin, a man with no home and a tortured past. Sold into slavery as a young boy, he is trained to kill with cold calculation, without remorse. As a reward for his ruthless success, he is given a chance to earn his freedom from his cruel master. One last mission. One final person to slay…

Lady Aurora of Acquitaine is the epitome of purity and goodness, beloved by all her people. She lives her life trying to atone for her mother’s cruelty by being a fair and just ruler. Secretly she fears that one day her mother’s murderer will return for her.

When Damien enters Aurora’s life, tempting her with promises of dark passion and forbidden lust, he threatens to tear her peaceful world apart.

Can Aurora’s light heal Damien’s dark spirit or will his evil consume her? The eternal battle of good versus evil, love versus hate, dark versus light, all come to a shattering climax in this historical romance set in medieval England.

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Enjoy an excerpt from Angel's Assassin

Sound of the Heart: Romantic Historical Novel by Genevieve Graham

From Genevieve Graham, author of Under the Same Sky, comes a sweeping romantic historical novel of one man’s strange gift and dangerous battles . . .

Dougal MacDonnell, a fierce warrior from the Highlands of Scotland, is able to hear the thoughts of other men and dream how the future will unfold. Devastated by the loss of his family during the Battle of Culloden in 1746, he fosters a deep hatred for the English. But when Glenna, the love of his life and a Scottish outlaw, is captured and shipped overseas, Dougal is forced to join an English army made of vanquished Scots. Now fighting on the side of his sworn enemies, he embarks on a journey that will take him across the seas to the colonies. There he will risk everything for the chance to find his true love.

"Graham's sweeping tale unfolds with the kind of luscious, unrushed prose that feels rapturously close to epic."- Shana Abé, New York Times bestselling author of The Time Weaver

"Beautifully written, riveting novel. Graham is a remarkable talent."- Madeline Hunter, New York Times bestselling author of Dangerous in Diamonds

 

An Interview with Genevieve Graham

On Tour with Nicholas A. White: Forever in Carolina Review, Interview, and Giveaway!

Jason Wyatt vowed that he would fulfill his deceased brother's collegiate-football dreams. 

Jason Wyatt vowed that he would fulfill his deceased brother's collegiate-football dreams. Despite a growing number of injuries, he is willing to risk anything, even his health, to uphold that promise. With recruiting underway and a football future imminent, he meets Riley, a green-eyed beauty, with a haunting and unforgettable past and an overprotective father. Jason tries to balance young love with football, and as he nears high school graduation, he is confronted with a new set of life-altering obstacles to both.

A Reader's Opinion

Let me preface this review by saying I have never read a football book in my life. I know nothing about football except that I left halfway through the last game I watched . . . ten years ago. That means I didn't understand any of the football speak (except huddles), so this review is on the book as a whole, not that bit of it. Having said that, the author writes a compelling real-life story about young adults. The prologue ended in a way that I thought perhaps this book was going to be something a bit more than I originally thought--and it was. The characters are real and the author doesn't hold back in showing what many young adults likely go through in their environments--real enough for me to remember why I didn't get along with most teenagers when I was a teenager. The characters brought that time and world back to life. Jason has a lot to prove, but mostly to himself. He goes through his dark times when more than one something he loves is no longer there, but still a part of who he is--cryptic? I know, but you'll have to read the book to know what I mean. The book is filled with sadness, joy, anger, struggles, and triumphs. What I liked best about this book was that it meant something--there's a message to be found.

Content note: There is some language use that readers should be aware of, but it's not out of context and in fact alternative word usage would have seemed out of place. 

From the author . . . 

Tell us a little about yourself.

I am a very blessed person with a great family and a life that I should never complain about. I’m twenty years old and am a student at Clemson University; I’m originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, and still live there when I’m not at school.

Did you plan to be a writer or did it just happen?

Five years ago, I would never have guessed that I’d publish a book in the future. I never particularly enjoyed English classes (please don’t shun me from this industry), but I did like to write papers. As a high school senior, with some newfound free time, I began writing paragraphs that described the trials, joys, and heartaches of growing up. Eventually I started putting them together into a fictitious plot, and two years later I am publishing a book.

What is your favorite non-writing pastime?

I like to fish for largemouth bass. To me, it is the most rewarding way to relax.

Is writing a full-time career for you? If not, how else do you spend your work day?

I am studying civil engineering at Clemson University and am the president of my fraternity. I spend most of my time studying or running the fraternity, and try to finagle some time into my schedule to write at the end of the day.

If you had to sum up Forever in Carolina in 30 or less words, what would you say?

Jason Wyatt is a good football player and promised his deceased brother that he would play collegiate football, but his health and first love may get in the way.

Do you have a favorite character in Forever in Carolina? Who and why?

Jason’s best friend, Dallas Rogers, is a feisty, passionate, and often comical character, but his loyalty and dedication to those that he loves shines when it matters. He reminds me of a few of my friends that I grew up with.

What three words would best describe Jason?

Athletic, young, and determined.

Do you have to be alone or have quiet to write?

My thoughts are more defined and flow easier when I am alone with a pen and notebook.

Who or what has most influenced your writing?

Without my mother, Forever in Carolina wouldn’t exist. She is the largest admirer of books in our family, and her experience and passion for literature inspires me.

Do you have a favorite author? Who and why?

During my junior year in high school, we had to read The Great Gatsby, and I have been praising F. Scott Fitzgerald’s literary control and clean, descriptive writing for the past four years.

What are you reading now? Why did you choose that book?

I’m currently reading two books: On Writing by Stephen King and The Demon in the Freezer by Richard Preston. I chose both of them in preparation for a potential second book.

Favorite quote?  

"Sometimes, the truth isn't good enough, sometimes people deserve more. Sometimes people deserve to have their faith rewarded."  - The Dark Knight

An Excerpt

“I didn’t say that.” Mr. Wyatt possessed a rare and undervalued ability to maintain his composure even in the most stressful situations; a patience, whether or not the reasoning held validity, that he attributed to years of fishing. “All I’m saying,” he continued, “is that he will be miserable if he doesn’t play this year. It’s not just a sport for him. It’s how he connects with Allen, and you know that. Look at him out there,” he motioned to the back window. “It’s who he is.”
     Mrs. Wyatt sat in silence on their bed. A photograph of an eleven-year-old Allen rested on the dresser by the bathroom. She had taken it before his first football practice in sixth grade—his helmet draped over his eyebrows, the shoulder pads extended too far past his shoulders, and his little body hid beneath the enormity of the leg pads. The first two years after Allen had passed, Mrs. Wyatt cried every time she saw the picture, but she refused to hide it. She calmed much quicker than her husband had anticipated. “I just don’t want him to get hurt. Permanently hurt,” she said. 

 

 Get the Book

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Tour Giveaway! 
The author will give away 4 eBooks to 4 randomly drawn commenters from the tour. 

http://www.nicholasawhite.com

Follow the tour! 
(Visit the official tour page)

Q&A with Rachel Carter of The Order with a Giveaway!

We're joined today by Rachel Carter of Marsha Megan Stokes', The Order. We're talking about what it's like to be Gifted and the men in her life. Welcome Rachel!

Interviewer: Can you tell us a little about your life?

Rachel: Until recently, I don’t think I would have understood why anyone would be interested in my life. I was born and raised in Florida, and I lived there my entire life with my mom. My dad died when I was about twelve, but otherwise I just lived a happy normal life. After I graduated from high school, I just couldn’t stand the thought of leaving my mother alone, so I attended a local college for two years.

This year was supposed to be my junior year, but the local college didn’t have the classes I needed to finish my degree, so I moved to Golden, Colorado to attend Grayson College. Mom was doing much better, and I knew I couldn’t stay in Florida forever, so I figured it would be okay to leave.

I was really not prepared for how much my life could change in just a few short weeks.

Interviewer: Have you made many friends at Grayson?

Rachel: My first day I met Stu. I didn’t know it at the time, but he ended up being one of my very best friends. I also had a massive headache that day and figured it was another typical migraine for me. It wasn’t until that evening when I heard a voice speaking in my head that I knew I was in trouble.

I actually figured that I might be going crazy.

I was having terrible nightmares, horrible headaches, and life was simply miserable. This continued for about two weeks, until I had a massive breakdown in front of Stu. That was the night that I first learned that I was different. I was special. That was the night that I not only learned about the Order—my new family—and that I was Gifted, but that was also the night that I met Donavon…”

Interviewer: (chuckling) Donavon. I’ve heard a little about him. 

Rachel: (blushes)

Interviewer: Can you tell us about Donavon? Is he your boyfriend?

Rachel: Oh, I wish! (laughing) Although, it seems like he might already be involved with someone.

Donavon is the most powerfully Gifted in our Order. He can manipulate the energy in your body that controls your sense of touch. One time, Nancy burned her hand and Donavon took the pain away for her.

(Pauses) He is also very cautious and deliberate. I have never known anyone so serious and careful.

Interviewer: Can you tell us a little bit about the Order?

Rachel: Well, the Order is a group of college students who are all Gifted and all live together. It is very common for Gifted to find each other and live in groups called Orders. In our Order, there is Donavon, Peter, Robert, Blake, Nancy, Amy, Beth and myself.

Interviewer: And what does it mean, exactly, to be Gifted?

Rachel: I am still pretty new at this myself, but my understanding is that people who are Gifted can take the energy that surrounds them and manipulate it. Usually, it is just one kind of energy. Like Robert. He can work with electricity and make it do just about anything that he wants. Or Nancy. She can manipulate sound waves.

Interviewer: And what about yourself? What's your Gift?

Rachel: (smiling) I am still figuring that one out.

Interviewer: You mentioned hearing voices. Why does being Gifted mean that you hear voices?

Rachel: I have been told that is only temporary.

Being Gifted means you are sensitive to both good and evil forces, and in our case, the evil gets so strong that it becomes a presence that can talk to you. You basically have two choices. Either you get help from an Order and are Cleansed… or you die.

Interviewer: Oh dear!

Rachel: (looking nervous) I know. Let’s hope it isn’t the latter for me.

The Giveaway

Comment for a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card and a copy of The Order! Winner will be drawn at the end of the tour. 

http://theordersaga.blogspot.com/ 

Join the Tour!