**BLOG TOUR** 9 Letters by Blake Austin

Meet Luke Crawley in Blake Austin's debut novel of loss, redemption, and ever-enduring love!

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Blurb

Luke Cawley is a broken man. After his wife's tragic death, he lost everything that mattered in the world. Now, his life is filled with hard days, harder nights, and a steady stream of alcohol and the wrong kind of women. Nothing helps.

Until the letters arrive on Luke's doorstep.

Nine envelopes. Nine messages. Nine chances to find his way back.

Rae Goode is looking for the real thing. After fighting her way out of a string of bad relationships, she's ready for something different--something true.

She meets Luke while piecing her life together, and right away she can tell that he's different. Drawn together by fate and the desire to heal, Rae and Luke discover new ways to mend their broken hearts--one letter at a time.

Discover Blake Austin's debut novel of loss, redemption, and ever-enduring love.

Excerpt

I was about twenty minutes early for my shift, but I got up to the bar, grabbed a rag, started wiping it down, bussing some dishes.

"Damn, Luke," Jake said, watching me work. "You win the lotto or something? Royals win the pennant last night and I forgot to watch?"

"I'm just in a good mood, that's all," I said.

I thought about it a moment longer, decided I should tell him more. Impart some wisdom learned from my not-particularly-advanced years.

"When everything's dark for so damn long and your eyes get used to it," I said, "just a little glimmer of sunshine lights up the whole world."

He nodded, then grabbed a bus bin and headed back into the kitchen.

Warren though, Warren wasn't impressed. He was sitting by one of the daytime barflies, but he'd stopped talking and was just watching me. I was on thin ice, and I knew it. I couldn’t afford to lose my job. A heartbroken, drunk, angry widower is probably as unemployable as the average ex-con.

I came on at the end of the day shift. Warren liked tending bar during the day, because it meant just shooting the shit with the regulars. That day I had a smile for every customer, sparse words of wisdom like day drunks want to hear. Tending bar wasn't my dream. But to hell with letting that make me lazy. I kept the place clean, I poured drinks like I cared.

I was getting into the swing of it when happy hour kicked in and a few more people filtered through the door. Couple of middle-aged bikers, a retired couple that parked their RV out front.

The door swung open again, letting in a little bit of that early-evening cold, and I glanced up to see a crowd of three women, with two men. One of the women was a reddish blonde, radiant. Sort of stole the light out of the room. It was Rae. Our eyes met and her smile gave the room back its light.

She'd been in jeans at the shelter, but she was in a blue dress now and she looked damn fine in either. Took my mind right off Maggie, faster than I thought it would be possible. I met her eyes, and she gave out a little gasp and giggle. I was probably smiling in surprise myself.

The crowd came over to the bar. I'd thought the other four were two couples, but I realized pretty quick that the black girl with the afro was dating the quiet white guy in a beard and glasses and tattoos, and that the other guy was trying to impress Rae. He had a John Deere hat, but his clothes were way too clean for me to buy it that he worked on a farm. I hated him, right off. I probably would have hated him if he was the best guy in the world, though. The other girl, she was tall, latina, and for some indiscernible reason was interested in the poser farmer.

Most of the time, I'm awful at reading people. But for some reason, at work I can tell you everything about everyone who walks in the door. About who's into who, about who had a bad day at work. Who wants to get drunk and miserable, who wants to get drunk and happy, who wants to get drunk and start trouble. Maybe it's some magic of the job, maybe it's just how people carry themselves at a bar. Helps with tips, that's for certain. You wingman right, and the money flows in.

Warren, he likes to upsell them drinks when he's doing that. Get them excited about the top shelf. Not me.

"Hey, Rae," I said.

"Luke," she said.

John Deere looked at me like I was the scum of the earth. And maybe I was, but if I was the scum then he was... I don't know, something worse than scum. Wannabe scum.

She introduced me to her friends. Nicole had the afro, her boyfriend was Eric. The girl with bad taste was Irina, and John Deere had some name but honestly it went in one ear and out the other. He was John Deere to me. Yeah, maybe I'm an asshole.

"So, how do you know this guy?" Deere asked, tossing me a look that said I clearly wasn’t good enough to be friend with someone like Rae.

"Oh, he came in just the other day. Adopted the sweetest dog, a bloodhound." She turned to me, flashing that dimple high on her cheek. "How is he? You guys call a truce yet?"

"King's great," I said. "I mean, he's probably at home right now, eating everything I've ever owned, but I figure I was due for a purge anyway, right?"

It was a lame attempt at humor, but Rae laughed.

"What can I get you all? Friend of Rae's is a friend of mine."

About the Author

Blake Austin is a guitar playing father of one, who lives in Los Angeles. He's written music for as long as he can remember and was inspired to add book writing to his repertoire. 9 Letters is his debut novel.

For updates: Follow Blake Austin on Facebook here:  http://on.fb.me/1ZUj6sR

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**RELEASE BLITZ** Flawed (Blaze of Glory #2) by Cherry Shephard

Behind the brightest smile, can lay the darkest truth . . . 

KEETS:

I watched in horror the day the World Trade Centre collapsed, taking with it my fiancee and unborn child. As a firefighter on the scene, I blame myself for not rescuing them. Enlisting in the United States Army did nothing to dissuade my guilt, it only proved to me what I knew all along: The world is too cruel, too dark and twisted to live in any longer.

So I'm taking the easy way out. On the 14th anniversary of 9/11, on my 40th birthday, I will return to Ground Zero, where I will finally be reunited with my loved ones. Forever.

I have just three weeks left to live.

NATALIE:

It would destroy my sister if she ever found out why I really came back home. She thinks I'm just here to help out with Saddles, but the truth is I have a secret, one that tears me apart and threatens to consume me. It was just one night. One stupid, messed-up, drunken night.

The consequences will live with me forever.

When these flawed hearts collide, will they heal one another . . . or burn together in a blaze of glory?

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Imperfect (Blaze of Glory #1) :http://amzn.to/1PsHyqe

“Damien?” Liz’s voice in my ear is full of panic.

“It’s okay, baby, I’m here,” I pant as I climb the stairs. “I’m coming to get you.”

“No, Damien, I-"

A loud noise shakes the earth, and people all around me start to scream as the building sways. Instinct kicks in and I shout at the civilians who seem to be frozen in fear. “Get the fuck out of here!”

“Damien,” Liz screams in my ear.

“It’s okay, baby, hold on," I yell, grabbing a support beam as the windows in the lobby blow inwards. I stare in horror as the South Tower seems to implode and comes tumbling toward the ground, spraying a pile of debris through the shattered windows. 

“Oh, my God!" Liz screams, and my thoughts echo her fear. But after the storm comes the calm, and all is still as people slowly get to their feet, covered in dust as they cry helplessly. The entire South Tower is gone, decimated in a fraction of a second, reduced to nothing more than a pile of rubble.

“Are you okay?” I ask Liz, straightening myself and starting up the stairs. It’s slow work as a stampede of civilians come running down, anxious to get the fuck out of here before this tower falls. And it will, I know that now. 

“Keets!” I turn as the lieutenant grabs my arm and yanks me forcefully back down the stairs. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

“I’m going up,” I answer, wrenching my arm away from him. “I have to get up there. Liz is-"

“I’m afraid that’s a negative,” he says, shaking his head. “Orders are to evacuate the area immediately.”

“Evacuate?” I question, not quite sure I’ve heard him correctly. “You mean, leave these people to die?”

“Keets, now is not the time for your fucking morals. If you stay here, you will die. Do you understand that? This building is going to collapse at any moment.”

“I don’t care!” I yell, starting back up the stairs. “I can’t leave her.”

“Damien,” Liz’s quiet voice comes through the phone. “You need to get out of here.”

“Not a chance,” I answer, out of breath as I climb the stairs in my heavy gear. “What floor are you on right now?” 

“101,” she answers. “But Damien, I-"

“No, Liz,” I answer firmly, pressing my back against the wall as a group of people squeeze by me on the stairs. “Don’t you dare ask me to leave you.”

“Babe,” she says quietly. “I’m above the plane.”

I freeze on the balcony of the second floor, my heart thudding in my chest so hard I can hear it. Liz is above the impact zone; no matter how hard I try, there is no way I’ll be able to get to her in time... and she knows it. “Babe." My voice catches on a strangled cry. “I can’t leave you here. You’ll die.”

“If you stay, we’ll both die.”

I lean against the wall and slump down to the ground, all fight leaving my body. “Then we die together.”

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**RELEASE BLITZ** The Lies That Define Us (Us Series #2) by Micalea Smeltzer

Title: The Lies That Define Us

Series: Us Series #2 (standalone)

Author: Micalea Smeltzer

Genre: Romantic Suspense

 Release Date: February 9, 2016

Blurb

Ariella Geller is on the run from some very bad people and Liam Wade doesn’t know what he’s running from.

Freedom has been an elusive dream for Ari, but when her chance for escape comes, she takes it. She finds herself in California and forced to accept help from strangers in order to stay off the streets and avoid being found by those she ran from.

Liam Wade is sick of living in the shadow of his famous father. All he wants is to make a name for himself as a professional surfer, but it’s impossible when the media focuses on every other aspect of his life. All he wants is respect, a chance to prove himself, but when it never comes he finds himself running and hiding from the ones who love him the most.

When their paths collide Ari and Liam are forced to confront their demons, and in the process they just might find a reason to stop running.

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Excerpt

I laid my head against the cool glass of the bus window and watched the rain slick against it. The water beaded against the glass and then slid down in little rivulets that I traced with my finger.

I wouldn’t miss the rain.

I wouldn’t miss anything about Oregon.

That place wasn’t my home. Never had been, and never would be.

With a jolt, the bus roared to life, startling me, but I relaxed a moment later when we pulled out of the station.

Freedom was so close to being mine.

I watched the people on the street as the bus pulled away. I was searching for buzzed brown hair and eerie black eyes, but he wasn’t amongst them.

He didn’t know I’d left yet.

And hopefully, by the time he did, I’d be long gone.

I adjusted my hoodie so my face was hidden from the other people on the bus and wiggled around, settling myself in for the long ride to California.

Unlike the other people on the bus, I didn’t have a cellphone to keep me company. Cellphones were traceable so I’d ditched mine. I couldn’t risk him finding me, because if he had I was certain he’d kill me. He would’ve eventually killed me if I stayed, too. My only option had been to take the risk of running away. I would have rather died on my terms than his, but if everything went according to plan, I’d be free and he’d never find me.

He called me Scarlett, but Scarlett didn’t exist.

Scarlett was a lie.

My name was Ariella, and I was reclaiming my stolen life.

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Author Bio

Micalea Smeltzer is a bestselling Young and New Adult author from Winchester, Virginia. She’s always working on her next book, and when she has spare time she loves to read and spend time with her family.

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**RELEASE DAY BLITZ** Dirty Ride (Wind Dragon MC, #3.5) by Chantal Fernando

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DIRTY RIDE

(Wind Dragons MC, #3.5)

by Chantal Fernando

From USA TODAY bestselling author Chantal Fernando comes a brand new Wind Dragons Motorcycle Club e-novella, full of sexy bad-boy bikers, strong heroines, and steamy romance!

Even by Wind Dragon Motorcycle Club standards, Irish was always a bit of a dark horse. Not one to confide his secrets, such as where he got that mysterious scar across his neck, he’s quick with his fists and even quicker to jump to the defense of his MC. But is he nimble enough to handle the woman he never saw coming? Or will she leave him with a matching scar across his heart?

Featuring scorching hot chemistry and plenty of sass, Dirty Ride is sure to rev your engine and get you immediately hooked!

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DRAGON’S LAIR 
(Wind Dragons MC Series, #1)

Re-Released: April 21, 2015

When Faye discovers her boyfriend in bed with another woman, she does something incredibly stupid: she sleeps with his brother, Dexter Black. He’s the boy next door who grew up to be one sexy biker dude, pure alpha male to the core. A tattooed muscle-bound fantasy in the flesh, Dex is now vice president of the notorious Wind Dragons MC. And now Faye’s really screwed. . . . She’s a law student with a future. He’s a criminal with a past. She’s a good girl from a strict family. He’s a bad boy who breaks all the rules. But once Faye straddles the back of Dex’s bike—and experiences the thrill of the open road, the rush of pure adrenaline, and the roar of unbridled lust—there’s no turning back. This good girl and her hot-blooded biker are in for the ride of their lives. . .

*Note: this version is a revised and expanded edition of the indie version. It can be read as a stand alone.

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | AMAZON AUDIBLE

ARROW’S HELL 
(Wind Dragons MC Series, #2)

Release Date: June 16, 2015

 

Anna is a beautiful Ph.D. student whose older brother is a notorious badass in the Wind Dragons MC. Of course she loves Rake, who’s looked out for her since their troubled childhood. But he’s still protecting her—to the extreme. She can’t make a move without a Wind Dragons motorcycle escort. Potential boyfriends flee, for fear of her ass-kicking sibling. And Rake’s made it clear that his biker brothers are trouble of the worst kind, and strictly off-limits. But one of these tattooed bad boys has already pierced her heart: Arrow, the bearded, darkly brooding rider with the body of a Greek God and eyes that betray a wounded soul. He’s sent to whisk her off campus on his thundering steel stallion. And when Anna wraps her arms around his rock-hard torso, it’s too late for caution: she’ll ride as far as the road takes them—unless Rake stops Arrow in his flight. . . .

*Note: this can be read as a stand alone

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE

TRACKER'S END

(Wind Dragons MC Series, #3)

Release Date: August 11, 2015

Sweet, shy, and studious, Lana was the perfect student in high school—and the perfect target for a horny jock. After being seduced and humiliated, she swears she’ll never trust a man again. But when a friend draws her into the circle of the Wind Dragons MC, Lana’s steel-walled defenses are put to the test. The bikers are so sexy, so masculine and assured, they’re hard to resist—especially the gorgeous one called Tracker…

From the moment he meets Lana, Tracker feels the chemistry between them—and it’s highly explosive. A part of him wants to protect this angel on earth from the hell-on-wheels bikers’ world. But another part of him wants to take her in his arms, put her on his bike, and ride off into the sunset together. Lana wants the same thing—even though she knows it will set off a firestorm of trouble. She also knows that when a woman want something, she has to fight for it. And Tracker is definitely worth fighting for…

*Note: Can be read as a standalone.

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE

Chantal Fernando is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author whose novels include two books in the Maybe series—Maybe This Time and its follow up, This Time Around; and her latest releases, Toxic Girl and Saxon. When not reading, writing, or daydreaming, she can be found enjoying life with her three sons and family. She lives in Western Australia.



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