August 3, 2017

Guest Promo Valerie Ullmer and Unexpected



Please, welcome today fellow author and member of Marketing for Romance Writers group Valerie Ullmer. She shares with us one of her latest released books:
Unexpected  
(A Unexpected Novel Book One)


Genre:  Contemporary M/M Romance


BUY LINK






BLURB

A chance meeting will change their lives forever…

From the moment he entered the dark taproom, Caleb Hunt found himself drawn to the handsome man who sat alone at the end of the bar, away from the crowd. His interest in the dark-haired, muscled adonis took him by surprise, not remembering when he’d felt such hunger from a simple glimpse. Unable to stay away, he quickly found an open seat next to him and slid into it. When Ronan turned his ice-blue eyes to Caleb and introduced himself, his warm hand sent shivers of desire through his body and he was enthralled.

Ronan Scott’s boring Friday night had taken a turn for the better when Caleb took the seat next to him. Over the next few hours, he found Caleb easy to talk to and at the same time, he found that he couldn’t tear his gaze away from the beautiful man. Caleb captured his attention in a way that no other had for as long as he could remember. Taking a chance, he leaned forward and captured Caleb’s lips with his. And with the simple kiss, Ronan understood that Caleb would become an essential part of his life.

As Ronan and Caleb explore their new relationship and integrate their lives together, they realize that not everything will be so seamless…


EXCERPT

That’s when he spotted him and everything stopped.
His breathing hitched in his chest and his heart thudded once, hard, and even the music seemed to fade as his gaze landed on a dark-haired man who sat by himself at the bar.  As Caleb’s eyes slid down the man’s body of their own accord, he noted the fitted black tee that emphasized the muscles of his arms, back, and shoulders, before his gaze dropped lower to his legs encased in denim.
When he lifted a beer to his mouth and swallowed, Caleb felt his own throat tighten.  A shiver of desire passed over him.  Never had he felt this way about a man or woman in his life.
Before he could analyze his actions or talk himself out of his stupid plan, he walked toward the man.  Part of him wanted to see if the man was as stunning as he believed from across the bar or if he’d been alone for so long that his mind had conjured the perfect man.
Before Caleb could reach the stool next to him, a beautiful blonde glided up to him, running her hand down his chest.  Her smile flirty and sensual.  Although Caleb had never been propositioned in any way close to resembling what he witnessed, he knew that she offered the man a brazen invitation to get to know her better.
Disappointment flooded Caleb’s chest.
In the next moment, however, she frowned and backed away from him as quickly as she arrived, leaving an empty chair.
Not questioning his good luck, Caleb hurried over and shed his coat, dropping it over the back.  He flagged down the bartender and indicated the beer he wanted.
He sensed the man’s eyes on him, but for the moment, he wasn’t brave enough to turn and catch his gaze.  Not when his breath had stuck in his throat, and he didn’t know if he could speak without sounding choked.
As soon as the bartender handed him his mug, the man turned his body toward him and leaned over to speak, close to his ear.
“Are you here alone?”
Caleb had to bite the inside of his lip in order not to moan out loud at the sexy, deep voice.  Remembering the question, he shook his head and pointed toward Dylan and Garrett across the room.  Dylan, of course, had a woman on his lap and was tracing a finger down her neck, before he leaned toward her and his mouth followed the same trail.
Garrett was looking down at his phone.  The shy woman he’d been talking to had disappeared, much to Caleb’s disappointment, and another was trying, unsuccessfully, to get his attention.  She looked drunk and very loud by the way he flinched every time she spoke.
“Dylan, the one on the right with a woman on his lap, is the biggest flirt in the world.  He’s never serious about any woman he takes home.  Garrett is his best friend, the complete opposite of Dylan, but he’s loyal.”
The man laughed and Caleb couldn’t help the lift of his lips at the sound.  It was deep, rich, and addictive.  But when the man turned his ice-blue eyes on him, something unidentifiable swelled in his chest.  He could sense that he should speak, to keep this gorgeous man talking for as long as possible.  “Are you here alone?”
Smart, Caleb.  Just parrot the same question back.
The man smiled before he nodded over to his group of friends.  Some were flirting, but others were enjoying the company of their friends on a Friday night.
“The ginger is Hawk; he’s a divorce lawyer who is handling Ryan’s divorce.  That’s why they’re hunched over their beers.  Ryan’s wife apparently hadn’t been faithful during their entire four-year marriage, and he found out when he came home early from a business trip.  Jack is the one who is flirting with the group of women; he’s like Dylan in that way, never serious.  He’s a CEO of a tech company and he could have any woman with his looks and the power he exudes, but he’s never been in a serious relationship.  Sam is my second-in-command, the one who looks faintly sick, because Adam is a forensic scientist who loves talking about his work.”
Caleb found himself smiling at the group of friends.  When he glanced at the man, who had turned back to Caleb after pointing out his friends, he snagged Caleb’s gaze.  “So, do you have a girlfriend at home?”
“No.  I can’t remember the last time I had a date, much less a successful one.  You?”
Caleb breathed a sigh of relief when he shook his head.
“I’m Ronan Scott.”  He held his hand out. 
Shit, even the man’s name is sexy.
He had to clear his throat before he reached out and grasped Ronan’s large, warm hand in his.  “Caleb Hunt.”
Something inside Caleb warmed in increments until fireworks exploded behind his skin, all from a simple touch.

ABOUT AUTHOR
Valerie writes paranormal and contemporary romances with strong alpha males and brilliant beautiful heroines, She lives in Denver, Colorado, with her wonderfully supportive husband and their funny and wise black lab. She's addicted to coffee, crime shows, and reading and writing character driven romances.

SOCIAL MEDIA




July 6, 2017

Visiting today

Hi everyone!
I know I've seldom posted these days. As the saying goes - Man proposes, God disposes.
You can all find me today, over the seas with an interview and promo. Here is the link if you want to check it:


http://www.valerieullmer.com/2017/07/book-spotlight-draculas-mistress-and-author-interview-with-connie-stefanescu/

 Thank you!

July 3, 2017

Book Review - Bleeding Heart by Staci Troilo



In the heart of Pittsburgh awaits a secret half a millennium in the making.
After her father’s brutal murder, Franki discovers she and her three sisters are the only surviving, secret legacy of the Medici. The same people who brutally murdered her father now target her and her family for assassination. Unprepared to battle an unknown enemy, she finds her safety depends on the Medici Protectorate, the warriors who guarded her bloodline for centuries, but who failed to protect her father.
Gianni, Franki’s protector, blows his first meeting with her, but knows he must garner the trust of not only Franki, but also her sisters. Without that, he fails too, and that is unacceptable—not only to him but also to the Medici Protectorate. His troubles grow larger, for as he assumes his new role, he also undergoes inexplicable, explosive physical changes… transformations he can’t control. One of those is his uncontainable desire for Franki.
Their worlds collide in passion and violence, and Franki struggles to trust Gianni. When her life is on the line, Gianni will have to conquer both her fears and his own personal demons to rescue her in time.
 My Review


Bleeding Heart blends in an exquisite way  mythology, mystery, romance and traditions. It’s a bit for everyone's tastes – steamy romance, history or intrigue.
 I loved Giani DeSantos and Francesca Notaro. The chemistry between them is palpable from the very first moment they meet, even if there’s a bit of misunderstanding shadowing it. Giani thinks he is about to meet the four sons of the recently deceased patriarch, when in fact the heirs are four daughters. His first perception of Francesca he is mesmerized by her waved, flowing brown hair reminding him of espresso and amaretto.
From the moment Giani and Franki  meet all is a lesson on how to build a lasting friendship, loyalty, and how to love someone completely and without judgement. The author builds gradually the suspense. The plot keeps the reader’s attention due to the twists and turns spanning the pages. Staci Troilo  has a gift with the written word and she has shared it with us in writing Bleeding Heart.
This is a story packed full of action and emotion; the story of  four sisters , descendants of the Medici, though they aren’t aware of it at first and  of four brothers the Brotherhood of Medici Protectorate.
Bleeding Heart is suspenseful, thought provoking, and above all extremely entertaining. It is somewhat of a complex story, not a light read so you need to be in the mood, but it is so worth it. I found Bleeding Heart a fanciful tale of secret societies, secret codes, and romance that kept my interest until the end. The plot twists are abundant throughout the book and will keep you on your toes.
A beautifully written story that brought out many emotions. Congratulations Stacijob well done!

June 28, 2017

Book Review - Power Stones by Sandra Cox



Blurb
Our love affair with stones, and crystals, is deep and long abiding. We lust for them, we use them daily in our lives and often we turn to them for guidance and surcease.
Crystals have been used through the ages for all facets of life. In olden times, Britons wore agates to protect their skin. Frogs carved from amber were worn by the ancients for fertility. During the renaissance an amethyst was commonly engraved with a bear and worn as a protective amulet. Bloodstone was used in the distant past by Egyptians to break bonds and crumble stone walls. They used carnelian to dissipate hatred and ground malachite for eye shadow. Rubies were known as carbuncles in former times and were deemed the perfect gift for Buddha. Ground turquoise was used by the Navajo in sand paintings to attract rain. And the list goes on...


Buy link: Amazon
 
My Review


I recommend Powers Stones  to everyone who owns a piece of jewelry or wants to offer such a thing as a gift to someone dear.
Either rough gemstones, or polished ones, or set in jewelry pieces, gemstones and crystals have been used for enhancing our lives in a variety of different ways since ancient times.
Mother Earth generously offers us a wide range of stones, crystals and semi-precious gemstones speaking  to us through form and color and maintaining correspondence with the human body. Gone through a geologic process of heating, cooling and displacement on their way to their present form, the energy field of different gemstones is influenced by their geometrical form, color and subtle vibration.   I learned, reading Power Stones, which each stone is made up of minute crystals which are in constant motion thus emitting an energy signature or frequency. The gemstone's color also plays a dynamic role in the stone's healing energy. The play of light and color can stimulate or calm; purify or heal.
Sandra Cox, the author, presents in her book how such stones can enhance our opportunities in choosing a career, in improving our health or the best ones for bringing prosperity, protection, love and tranquility.
         A very practical book that gives good advice on how  we can choose the best stone for us. I was actually impressed by how much useful information is squeezed in such a short book. Highly recommended.