Monday, July 30, 2018

Northern Circle Coven secret brewing


I'm busy enjoying summer here in Vermont. I've turned in THING'S SHE'S SEEN (Northern Circle Coven book 2) to my editor at Kensington and am now drafting book 3. 

Also, I'm picking herbs, garden and wild flowers, and drying them in preparation for a very special treat I'm going to be making for the release of HIS DARK MAGIC (Northern Circle Coven 1) in December. Be sure to sign up for my newsletter if you'd like to be the first to know what I'm up to. Don't worry, I only send out the occasional update and never sell or give your information to anyone.  NEWSLETTER SIGNUP. 



Sunday, July 22, 2018

New Adult Christmas in July!

Welcome to the New Adult Christmas in July Promo! This week you'll find all these wonderful New Adult titles for $2.99 or less out on Amazon. Be sure to read up on each title and check them out. <3

Death Island

Author: Kelsey Ketch Her family name tainted by her great-grandfather’s crimes of piracy, Meriden Cummings is far from the typical 18th century woman. A social outcast, she works in a carpentry shop in a small village, where the people barely tolerate unconventional behavior. However, her life takes a turn after a gang of pirates attack her village and her blood reveals an ancient map adorned with Mayan glyphs leading to Death Island. An island legends say is ruled by the Mayan god of the underworld, Ah Puch. Her great-grandfather had sought after the island before he vanished without a trace. Now, Meriden is about to journey across the sea to understand her family history. There are only a few problems: her growing feelings toward a mysterious stranger linked to her great-grandfather’s past; a greedy band of pirates after her great-grandfather’s legendary treasure; and a contract she has unwittingly signed in blood with Ah Puch himself.

Amazon

Blocked

Author: Jennifer Lane Blocked is a New Adult sports romance. College freshman Lucia Ramirez has a secret crush on Dane Monroe. He’s a tall drink of water — blond, brash, and one hell of a volleyball player. ¡Híjole! Lucia hopes her volleyball scholarship to his school will make him notice her. Too bad what’s noticeable is Dane’s obvious hatred for Lucia. Her family’s politics contradict everything he stands for. And politics are front and center in both their families. Dane’s mother is about to face Lucia’s father in the race for US President. When Secret Service throws them together, Dane can’t deny his frustrating attraction to Lucia’s athletic curves and sweet faith in the world. Amid the intense pressure of college athletics and presidential politics, can opposites not just attract, but overcome overwhelming odds to be together? Or do their differences block their match from the start?

Amazon

Olympian Passion

Author: Andrya Bailey Olympian Passion is the first book in the Olympian trilogy, by romance author Andrya Bailey. It is the recipient of Readers' Favorite 5-star seal and 2016 New Apple Literary Medalist Winner in Contemporary Romance. Sabrina loves everything about Greek mythology and can't believe when she's accepted for an internship at the Fine Arts Museum in Houston. There, she meets the handsome Greek archaeologist Nikos Soulis, who will spend two months at the museum, and she falls head over heels for him. But the sexy professor seems too busy and already spoken for... so why does he insist on helping her with her project? Can Sabrina avoid heartbreak when she is seduced by the hot Olympian-looking god of her dreams? "A great romance that does justice to the mythological theme."

Amazon

Tin Man's Dance

Author: MK Schiller The one time Lilly Franklin rewards herself with a front-row concert ticket is turning into an epic fail. Not to mention the tall, cocky boy who claims her front-row seat is all wicked smiles, long legs and tug-worthy hair. Well, he's messing with the wrong girl. But as the night wears on, Lily starts to see a softer side of former marine, James “Hutch” Hutchinson. A side that makes her shed her loner inhibitions along with her clothes. There is a difference between trouble and troubled. In Hutch, she has found both. Hutch lost more than a leg in the Iraqi desert. Returning to school on the GI Bill wasn’t exactly in the plans…but plans change. Now he only wants to meet the mysterious dancer, but he’s forgotten how to talk to women, especially one as graceful as Lilly. So armed with a plan that even a twelve-year-old would laugh at, he steals Lilly’s seat. Only fair since she stole his heart first. But Lilly has plans, too. As if Hutch’s life wasn’t already a sh*t storm of sacrifice. How can he give up the one thing that’s made him feel real?

Amazon

If We Had No Winter

Author: D.L. Pitchford Does a father who abandoned his family deserve a second chance? Can an unwanted daughter restore her faith in men? Or has Billie already sabotaged her chance at first love? After her parents' divorce, introverted Billie Dixon buries herself in her studies. Her plan? To stay out of sight, out of mind, and out of trouble. But that plan fails when she starts at Bradford College. While hopeful to renew her relationship with her estranged father, she struggles to resist the advances of her persuasive tutoring student. But no one gets under her skin like her best friend's playboy roommate, whose snarky smirk drives her up a wall...and into his bed. But is Billie too broken to open her heart again? If she can't find closure with her father, she'll close the door on love. But a huge fight with her father threatens to ruin any hope of healing her past and securing her future. If you enjoyed Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson or Looking for Alaska by John Green, you’re sure to love IF WE HAD NO WINTER.

Amazon

His Dark Magic Author: Pat Esden Its power is legendary. It can fulfill every impossible magical desire. But for one young witch seeking redemption, the Northern Circle coven will challenge her skills—and her heart—beyond measure. One tragic impulsive mistake made Chloe Winslow an outcast to her influential magic family. As a medical student, she wants to combine science with sorcery to heal those she hurt and right her wrongs. But brilliant, charismatic Devlin Marsh re-routes her plans with a once-in-eternity offer: membership in the exclusive Northern Circle, a mysterious Vermont coven known for pushing the limits. Enthralled by Devlin and their mesmerizing mutual attraction, Chloe makes a dangerous sacrifice to help the Circle’s high priestess awaken Merlin himself—and learn his timeless cures. But a foreshadowing soon causes Chloe to doubt the Circle's real motives, as well as Devlin’s . . . Now Merlin's demonic shade is loose in the human world, while Chloe and Devlin's uneasy alliance will pit them against ancient enemies, malevolent illusions, and shattering betrayal. And with the fate of two realms in the balance, Chloe must risk her untried power against a force she can't defeat—and a passion that could destroy her.

Amazon

House of Goths

Author: Maria Bernard House of Goths - Not Your Average Fraternity House Becky Sparks is a sweet, average girl who refuses to spend her college years in a lonely, soul destroying dorm, surrounded by people who don't care enough to ask her name. Bassist Kelley Keele is a Goth with a dark past. He resides at what he and his equally eccentric bandmates, Crispin, and Dorian, like to refer to as the House of Goths. On the first day of class, these two polar opposites literally crash into each other. Mesmerized by his overwhelming persona, Becky forms an instant bond with the scary Goth with red streaks in his hair. So much so that when she spies him putting up an ad for a fourth housemate, Becky jumps at the chance to move in, away from her dreary life at the unfriendly dorm. The problem is, well, she's a girl and a mundane one at that.

Amazon

Reckless Treasure

Author: Cecily Wolfe When her mother is sleeping with the man she loves, what's a girl to do? Francesca is weeks away from high school graduation and the hope of escaping her self-centered, grasping family - her trashy mother and hustling twin brother. While her crush on their older neighbor holds her attention, she is blind to what everyone else can clearly see, the love her best friend Mitch carries in his heart for her. When her dead grandmother's high school boyfriend returns to town for his class reunion, his immediate attraction to Francesca is a game changer. Can Mr. Long - and his wealth - open up undreamed of opportunities for Francesca's future, and at what price?

Amazon

Calling California

Author: J.P. Grider A modern day story about pride and prejudice... Cali Parker is poor. She has a lot on her plate - her father is dying, she's working to help pay the rent, and she's two-years behind in college. Griffin Brooks is rich. He has not a care in the world - he's acing his engineering courses, his hobby is restoring his fifty-thousand dollar classic car, and he has a different girl on his arm every week. When Cali sees Griffin on her first day of class, she's immediately smitten and thinks she's found the perfect guy. When Griffin sees Cali at the bank, he immediately forgets the blonde he was with that morning. Then they meet, and their worlds collide. Cali doesn't belong in Griffin’s world, and he doesn't understand hers. But just when Griffin convinces Cali that their two different worlds can blend, a secret is revealed that tears them apart. Is their love strong enough to bring them back together, or will their worlds drift further apart?

Amazon

Just One Summer

Author: Lynn Stevens One summer, no regrets Carly Reynolds does not want to work at her father’s Branson theater over the summer, but she has no choice. After wrecking his prized Mercedes on Prom night, she’s got to pay him back somehow before she leaves for college. Now she’s stuck working as the personal assistant to twenty-year-old Gracin Ford, former member of one-hit-wonder boy band Accentuate. Gracin is demanding, condescending, and an all-around jerk. Carly would rather eat glass than deal with a male diva who’s more famous for his stint in rehab than his music. Until she realizes that Gracin’s lonely. Once she welcomes him into her life, she starts to let him into her heart. Even though she knows it will end when she leaves for school, Carly doesn’t want to look back on her life and wonder what if. Even if it means a broken heart.

Amazon

Wednesday, July 18, 2018

Northern Circle Coven



From HIS DARK MAGIC (Northern Circle Coven #1). 
Today's BookQuote word: Perfect. 


Wednesday, July 4, 2018




A HOLD ON ME (Dark Heart series #1)


She never wanted to return.
He wants nothing more than for her to leave.
But the fire between them is as strong as the past that haunts them.

Annie Freemont grew up on the road, immersed in the romance of rare things, cultivating an eye for artifacts and a spirit for bargaining. It’s a freewheeling life she loves and plans to continue—until her dad is diagnosed with dementia. His illness forces them to return to Moonhill, their ancestral home on the coast of Maine—and to the family they left behind fifteen years ago, after Annie’s mother died in a suspicious accident.

Once at Moonhill, Annie is shocked when her aunt separates her from her father. The next time Annie sees him, he’s a bizarre, violent shadow of his former self. Confused, she turns to an unlikely ally for support—Chase, the dangerously seductive young groundskeeper. With his dark good looks and powerful presence, Chase has an air of mystery that Annie is irresistibly drawn to. But she also senses that behind his penetrating eyes are secrets she can’t even begin to imagine. Secrets that hold the key to the past, to Annie’s own longings—and to all of their futures. Now, to unlock them, she’ll have to face her greatest fears and embrace her legacy…

Order Today!

Monday, July 2, 2018

June Recap!


Hi everyone! First, if you’re looking for the winner of my NA Scavenger Hunt giveaway, it will be announced on the main Scavenger Hunt page July 4th. Also, if you’d like chance to win e-ARCs of HIS DARK MAGIC, then be sure to sign up for my newsletter. Here.




Next, I wanted to give a shout out to the three authors who took part in last month’s Two Question . . . mini author blog tour: Janet Walden, Ken Schrader, and Anne Raven. It was fantastic to learn more about you. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I love getting an inside look at other authors, their hopes, fears, and writing process. It bolsters me and gives me new insights, and ideas. Hope you all enjoyed the Two Questions interviews as much as I did.

If you missed the tour, check out their blogs for their recap interviews! Janet. Ken. Anne

Just for fun, I’ve gather together all my answers to the same questions and shared them below in one longer interview. 

"Two Questions with... Pat Esden


Why do you write?

Publishing can be a very stressful industry. But when I’m in the zone writing and lost in my stories, it’s quite the opposite. It’s energizing and a more immersive form of stress relief than watching TV or reading. It’s a way to step into another person’s shoes and get lost in as wild of adventure as I can dream up. Perhaps most of all, I can write stories I would like to read with endings of my making. 


What is the hardest part about writing?

The hardest part for me (other than the first draft) is when I reach the point in revision where my instincts tell me something isn’t working quite right, but I can’t put my finger on it. Usually my instincts give me a general message like—something is off in the last quarter of this book or something about this character is off kilter. Luckily honest, strong critique partners is the remedy for this. Sometimes it’s a larger issue. Or it can be a small mistake I’m making.


If you could give Past You one piece of advice, what would it be?

I’ve always loved writing and dreamed of having a career as an author. However I also loved my previous career as a florist. I feel like I began my transition from one career to the other about five years later than I should have. I had been warned, but didn’t truly understand that years can pass between getting an agent, selling a book, and when the novel actually appears on the shelf at a bookstore. Self-publishing has changed this on one side of the coin, but traditional publication still takes ages. 



Where do you derive the most satisfaction from your writing?

I’m a devious author at heart. I love adding or tinkering foreshadowing. It’s such a trill to know that a tiny hint or detail will be vital, and then slip it into the story so only the most careful reader will suspect it is a clue. I also like to add information that isn’t vital, but will deepen the story for readers who take their time. These details often relate to past history of the character or the world. 



What attracted you to your genre(s)?

I write fantasy set in the contemporary world because I love the idea of magic being within our grasp. What if . . . the things we dream or imagine of are real, dangers or wonderful things. I also like how fantasy can empower the average person to make a huge difference, something I believe we are capable of doing with or without magic. 



Do you see any issues in your genre and how are you addressing them?

I wouldn’t say as much issues as the importance of keeping up with the fast sweeping changes in my chosen genres. I straddle the line between romance and fantasy. My books feature some open door sex, so things like consent, safe sex, as well as gender and sexual identity need to be considered at length when I develop my stories and characters. Today’s romance novels are not the same as the bodice rippers from the distant past, but they also are different from the romance of even five years ago. Reading newly published books and being aware of changes is beyond important. 


What is your "Go-to" thing that you treat yourself to when you finish a first draft?

I don’t celebrate until the novel is revised for months and finally sent into my editor. First, I take a few days off and celebrate with lobster. It’s one of my favorite splurges. Then I go on a reading binge. The best way to clear my head and get ready for the next project is to make a dent in my to-be-read pile. Right now, I’m taking one such break. Currently, I’m reading THE DARKLING BRIDE by Laura Andersen, THE RULES OF MAGIC by Alice Hoffman, and PRICELESS by Robert K. Wittman. 



HIS DARK MAGIC (Northern Circle Coven series book 1)


Its power is legendary. It can fulfill every impossible magical desire. But for one young witch seeking redemption, the Northern Circle coven will challenge her skills—and her heart—beyond measure.
 
One tragic impulsive mistake made Chloe Winslow an outcast to her influential magic family. As a medical student, she wants to combine science with sorcery to heal those she hurt and right her wrongs. But brilliant, charismatic Devlin Marsh re-routes her plans with a once-in-eternity offer: membership in the exclusive Northern Circle, a mysterious Vermont coven known for pushing the limits.

Enthralled by Devlin and their mesmerizing mutual attraction, Chloe makes a dangerous sacrifice to help the Circle’s high priestess awaken Merlin himself—and learn his timeless cures. But a foreshadowing soon causes Chloe to doubt the Circle's real motives, as well as Devlin’s . . .
 
Now Merlin's demonic shade is loose in the human world, while Chloe and Devlin's uneasy alliance will pit them against ancient enemies, malevolent illusions, and shattering betrayal. And with the fate of two realms in the balance, Chloe must risk her untried power against a force she can't defeat—and a passion that could destroy her.





BIO:
Pat Esdenwould love to say she spent her childhood in intellectual pursuits. The truth is she was fonder of exploring abandoned houses and old cemeteries.When not out on her own adventures, she can be found in her northern Vermont home writing stories about brave, smart women and the men who capture their hearts. 
Sheis the author of the contemporary paranormal Dark Heartseries from Kensington Books, and the upcoming Northern Circle Covenseries. Her short fiction has appeared in a number of publications, including Orson Scott Card’s Intergalactic Medicine Show,the Mythopoeic Society’s Mythic Circle, George Scither’s Cat Tales Anthology, and the Fragments of Darknessanthology.