Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Release Day - Blood on the Bayou

Blood on the Bayou - RDL banner

 

We are so excited to bring you the Release Day Launch for BLOOD ON THE BAYOU by Heather Graham! BLOOD ON THE BAYOU is A Cafferty & Quinn Series Novella brought to you by 1001 Dark Nights. Grab your copy of this sexy novella today!

  Blood on the Bayou - cover

Amazon eBook ** Amazon Paperback

  Excerpt: Michael Quinn heard the hysterical crying the minute he entered the police station. The young woman creating the commotion was inside Detective Jake Larue’s office. Someone else was trying to soothe her while not becoming hysterical herself. “This one is right up your alley,” Larue told him as he approached. “My alley?” “That young woman is certain she saw a rougarou. She was on a bayou tour in Honey Swamp last night.” He smiled. No kid grew up in Southern Louisiana without hearing about the rougarou. Every region of the world had their own particular brand of monster. The rougarou belonged to the Cajun region of Southern Louisiana, stretching right into the city. “Honey Swamp?” he asked. “Doesn’t a problem in that area go to the Pearl River police?” “Yep,” Larue said. “But she’s here because she believes the rougarou followed her home, showing up in the window of her hotel last night.” He arched a brow at the ridiculousness of the statement. “I’m assuming there’s more.” “A dead man in the swamp. Head bashed in, throat ripped.” Which grabbed his attention. “I want you to talk to them,” Larue said. “I told them that you’re a rougarou expert and that you’ll get to the bottom of things. They were out on some night ghost tour in the bayou and their boat came upon the dead man. Right now, she’s so hysterical that she’s not making sense. But you rougarouexperts are used to dealing with that.” He shook his head at Larue’s sarcasm. He was no more a rougarou expert than someone was a ghost expert. Once upon a time, he’d worked with Larue as partners in the NYPD. Before that, Quinn’s life had been anything but normal. He’d actually been a pretty horrible person, not as in deadly or criminal, but as in vain and egotistical. His prowess in sports had led to excess, which eventually led to him being declared legally dead. Which changed everything.   Blood on the Bayou - RDL teaser 1   About BLOOD ON THE BAYOU: A Cafferty & Quinn Novella From New York Times bestseller Heather Graham... It's winter and a chill has settled over New Orleans, binding a stream of blood that leads a tourist to a dead man, face down in the bayou. The man has been done in by a vicious beating, so violent that his skull has been crashed in. It's barely a day before a second victim is found . . . once again so badly thrashed that the water runs red. The city becomes riddled with fear. An old family friend comes to Danni Cafferty, telling her that he's terrified, he's certain that he's received a message from the Blood Bayou killer--It's your turn to pay, blood on the bayou. The two quickly become involved, and--as they all begin to realize that a gruesome local history is being repeated--they find themselves in a fight to save not just a friend, but, perhaps, their very own lives.   Blood on the Bayou - RDL Teaser 2   Heather Graham HeadshotAbout Heather Graham: New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Heather Graham majored in theater arts at the University of South Florida. After a stint of several years in dinner theater, back-up vocals, and bartending, she stayed home after the birth of her third child and began to write, working on short horror stories and romances. After some trial and error, she sold her first book, WHEN NEXT WE LOVE, in 1982 and since then, she has written over one hundred novels and novellas including category, romantic suspense, historical romance, vampire fiction, time travel, occult, and Christmas holiday fare. She wrote the launch books for the Dell’s Ecstasy Supreme line, Silhouette’s Shadows, and for Harlequin’s mainstream fiction imprint, Mira Books. Heather was a founding member of the Florida Romance Writers chapter of RWA and, since 1999, has hosted the Romantic Times Vampire Ball, with all revenues going directly to children’s charity. She is pleased to have been published in approximately twenty languages, and to have been honored with awards from Waldenbooks. B. Dalton, Georgia Romance Writers, Affaire de Coeur, Romantic Times, and more. She has had books selected for the Doubleday Book Club and the Literary Guild, and has been quoted, interviewed, or featured in such publications as The Nation, Redbook, People, and USA Today and appeared on many newscasts including local television and Entertainment Tonight.  

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Newsletter Sign Up | BLOOD ON THE BAYOU on Goodreads

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Sunday, January 24, 2016

The Uprising - Playlist




The Uprising Synopsis:  Recovering from a near-fatal gunshot wound, eighteen-year-old Evan Taylor must find a way to stop the Uprising, an underground movement committed to destroying the Union, before her homeland is attacked. After spending the last four months in the Ruins trying to get back to the only girl he's ever loved, nineteen-year-old Cyrus needs to get past his jealousy over Evan's involvement with Bryce or risk losing her again. Together, Evan and Cyrus join with their friends to devise a plan to save both the Ruins and the Union, but when the pressure’s on, bickering and infighting threaten to undermine their goals. New information revealing a weakness in the Uprising is uncovered, forcing them to act quickly or risk losing everything. With the help of old friends and new allies they set out to make history, but it might just take a miracle for everyone to make it out alive. THE UPRISING is the third book in THE UNION series, a young adult romantic adventure set in the near future.

Buy Links: 

Catch up on the series: 
The Union: Goodreads | Amazon
 The Ruins: Goodreads | Amazon 

Playlist:



·       The One by Kodaline
·       Blue Moon by Beck
·       Come With Me Now by The Kongos
·       Pieces by Stereo Fuse
·       Trojans by Atlas Genius
·       Wherever You Will Go by The Calling
·       Fight Song by Rachel Platten
·       Uprising by Muse
·       Radioactive by Imagine Dragons
·       I Will Remember You by Sarah McLachlan
·       A Thousand Miles by Vanessa Carlton

·       Vindicated by Dashboard Confessional

T.H. Hernandez Bio: 

When not visiting the imaginary worlds inside my head, I live in San Diego, California, with one husband, three children, two cats, and one dog. In addition to my day job as a technical writer and editor, I write young adult fiction. I love the intensity of teen emotions and the way they're still figuring out life. When I'm not writing, you can find me with my nose in a book, hanging out with family and friends, hiking, or knitting. I'm obsessed with Facebook, young adult novels, bad lip reading videos, pumpkin spice lattes, microbrewed beers, and the San Diego Chargers.

Links: Goodreads | Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Author Amazon Page  




Giveaway:

Follow along with the blog tour:

Blog Tour Schedule:
January 20th
LuLo Fangirl Review
January 21st
Romeo & Roo Books Guest Post
January 22nd
I Read Indie Playlist
January 23rd
January 24th
January 25th
January 26th
Nerdy Soul Review
January 27th
Reading Addict Guest Post
January 28th
January 29th
Evermore Books Playlist
BookCrushin Review Only
January 30th
January 31st
February 1st
Ceres Books World Review Only
February 2nd
Cover2Cover Dreamcast
February 3rd
 

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

New Sister Site!

I've been running Fictional Reality on my own for about 3 years now.  Recently, my friend, Randi, and I decided to start a venture together called Romeo & Roo Books.

Don't worry, Fictional Reality isn't going anywhere. I will still be posting book reviews, promos, and news here regularly.  But that doesn't mean that you shouldn't follow Romeo & Roo Books. At times, the two blogs will feature the same book, but will typically share different information about it.

So what are you waiting for?  Head on over to Romeo & Roo Books and meet my new blog partner!

Monday, January 11, 2016

Passenger 19 - 4-Star Review

Confession... I'm kind of on this huge thriller kick right now.  Yes, you read that correctly.  I have set aside my dystopians and new adult contemporaries and picked up a slew of chiller thrillers instead.  So when I came across Passenger 19, it beaconed to me and I had to see how good it was. Let me tell you, Passenger 19 does not disappoint!

From the first chapter, Passenger 19 grabs your attention and refuses to let go until the very end.  One thing that ruins most thrillers for me is that I can predict the plot lines.  It's hard to get a chill from something that you saw coming.  Thank goodness that did not happen with this book!  It was fast-paced and full of unpredictable twists and turns.

Sale Alert!!!! For one more day, Passenger 19 is on sale for only 99 cents!!


Synopsis:

Jammer Davis has spent most of his life investigating aircraft accidents. When a small regional jet disappears over the jungles of Colombia, it is a tragedy like dozens of others he has seen…but for one terrible detail—his young daughter, who was enroute to a semester abroad in South America, is listed on the passenger manifest.  

A distraught Davis rushes to Bogotá and bulls his way into the inquiry. When the wreckage is located, it becomes clear the crash was unsurvivable. As the investigation gains momentum, the facts go astray. Two pilots had been shot before the crash, along with one passenger. The possibility of a hijacking looms large as the search begins to focus on two passengers who boarded the plane, yet their remains cannot be found.  

Davis uncovers an even more sinister plot behind the entire disaster—one that goes to the highest levels of the United States government. But how could it possibly involve his daughter?

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Coloring for grown ups? Yes, please!

I've recently discovered a new trend in the book world and have become intrigued by it.  It's this idea of Adult Coloring books.  Don't let your head go in the gutter there, I'm not talking about "adult themes" to color.  There is nothing dirty about it.  It is simply coloring books with more intricate designs that are designed for adults with better motor skills than kids.

The idea is that by focusing on the designs and color patterns that it can help you release stress, flex your brain muscles, keep you sharp, and keep your fine motor skills exercised.  Oh, yeah... and they are fun!  I've even seen where some bookstores are having adult coloring parties where you can do a page for free!!

After hearing a lot of buzz about this trend, I decided to go to the bookstore and buy myself a coloring book.  And yes, I felt like a 5-year old asking the associate where the coloring books where. But much to my surprise, the associate walked right past the kids section and took me to art and magazines where there was a bright and colorful sign welcoming me to the Adult Coloring section (I may have heard the angels singing just a bit as I saw it).  There are so many different types and themes that you can choose from.  There's traditional mandalas, celtic designs, city scapes, and even some with words (bonus!!).  After much deliberation, I finally decided on the Creative Coloring Inspirations: Art Activity Pages to Relax and Enjoy! book.

And of course, no coloring book is complete without something to color with, right?  Thankfully the store I went to had already thought of that and had coloring pencils and markers strategically placed near the coloring books and I got myself the Pro Art 36-Piece Artist Pencil Set set.  Yes, I spent a little more on the pencils than I did the actual coloring book, but they'll last longer than the book, right?

Once I got home with my coloring book and pencils, it was a flashback to childhood as I could not wait to get started on a page.  Now I will admit that I gave near painstaking consideration to every color choice at first, but then I finally just let go and had fun with it.  I liked how well it turned out that I went to the Dollar Store and picked up a cheap frame to put it in!



So check out the wonderful new world of adult coloring, and let yourself relax and have a little fun!

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Like All Things Beautiful - 5-Star Review

Like All Things Beautiful 
(Hearts of Haines Book 2)

By: Shannon McCrimmon
Released: May 2, 2015

Synopsis:
In this sequel to Kiss Me Hard Before You Go, Evie Barnes is living day-to-day, trying to keep her father's land and his cattle business afloat.  She is adjusting to his absence and to living with Finch and the rest of the carnies, which is creating quite a stir amongst the locals in Haines.  As Finch and the others learn a new way of life that doesn't involve the carnival, they're dealing with prejudice from almost everyone in town.  A string of suspicious incidents occur, prompting all fingers to point the blame at them.  Just when Evie and Finch learn to deal with the mountain of obstacles facing them, the unexpected happens, causing them to question if their relationship can survive it all.

Review:
Welcome back to Haines, South Carolina!  It's been a little over a year since I first met Evie, Finch, and the whole carnie crew and let me tell you... I have missed them!  To read my 5-Star review of Kiss Me Hard Before You Go (Hearts of Haines Book 1), click here.

If you thought that you loved Finch before, just wait until you see Farmer Finch who will do anything to make the love of his life happy.  He is an all-around good guy that exactly what every girl wants and needs.  

Where Evie was a strong woman in Kiss Me Hard Before You Go, she grows into an even stronger woman in Like All Things Beautiful and we really get to see the extent of her character.  She doesn't just make decisions for the heck of it or because they fit her whims.  She truly views Katie, Finch and the other carnies as her adopted family.  So she always tries to think of what is best for all of them.  

I am in love with the Hearts of Haines series for a couple of reasons.  First, while Evie and Katie are in their late teens, they don't act like stereotypical teenagers.  This means that while they face real life struggles, the story is not filled with annoying teen angst.  They face real problems that adults face and are looking for real love, not just a string of flings.  Second, it's a love story that you don't have to feel guilty about reading.  It's about life and love, not sex.  Third, the writing is fantastic!  You will be transported back in time to the 1970's with the perfect sprinkling of cultural references that will make you want to toss your skinny jeans and pull out your bellbottoms and platforms!

Stay tuned for my review of This is Where We Begin.  Book 3 in the Hearts of Haines series is Katie's story.  I'm reading it now, and I already feel so close to Katie.  

Buy Links:
Like All Things Beautiful:

This Is Where We Begin:

Kiss Me Hard Before You Go:


About the Author:
Shannon McCrimmon was born and raised in Central Florida.  She attended Rollins College and earned a Master's Degree in Counseling.  In 2008 she moved to the upstate of South Carolina.  It was the move that inspired her to write her first novel.  She currently lives in Greenville, South Carolina with her husband and toy poodle.  She'd love to hear from you!  Connect with her at shannonmccrimmon.com.

Connect with Shannon McCrimmon

Instagram: @writermccrimmon
Twitter: @smccrimmon1
Facebook: shannonmccrimmonauthor