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Saturday, May 27, 2017

Savvy Saturday: Sneak Peek at Children of Neptune, Book 1


Coming June 21st, 2017

“Get me out of here,” she whispered. Jet crept slowly along the ancient stone passage and waited for instructions. Inky blackness closed in as her heart hammered in her chest.

“Come on,” she whispered again, impatience rising. She had no choice but to wait; if she took a wrong turn, she’d be discovered and her plans ruined. Finally, a voice reached her.

“Take the next left and you’re free all the way to Sofana Park.”

There was no audible sound with his words, only what Jet could hear in her own mind. She followed the dark tunnel until she reached a wall with iron rungs forming a ladder. Jet climbed to the top and pushed away the large stone blocking her exit. Blinking against the harsh sunlight, she emerged from the tunnel, then returned the stone and hurried along the path leading away from her prison.

Coquina shells crunched under her sandals, and the wind whipped her long, dark hair around her head. The promise of the sea hinted the air, and Jet walked faster, her heart skipping with excitement. At last, her coconspirator’s sleek, black body emerged from the forest, and Jet smiled.

“Peppercorn, now isn’t the time to hunt. You have to help me get back so I’m not late.” She spoke aloud.

Her pet sable stared at her with his brown eyes and snorted. Peppercorn’s entire body was covered in luxurious, black fur, save for a tuft of white on his head. He was beautiful, Jet thought. And he knew it.

~~~

Sixteen-year-old Jet can talk to animals with her mind, but she gets tongue-tied with someone her own age. She can use her ancient powers to hydroshift, but she's still figuring out how to be smooth out of the water.

Sheltered behind the palace walls, Jet trains to become queen of a secret island. All that changes when she's forced to accept a mission she isn't prepared for—fitting in at high school. Her powers, never before tested, are pushed to their limits.

She learns that handling high school life is just as complicated and dangerous as the mystery that brought her there. Her journey leads her to friendship, romance, and her first taste of freedom. But betrayal threatens to take all that away.

Jet faces an enemy that could cost her everything she loves. She must succeed…or die trying.

~~~

Children of Neptune is the first in a series about a teenager’s intertwining journey of magical abilities and self-discovery. Preorder for $3.99 at champagnebooks.com.

Monday, May 22, 2017

Sneak Peek at Love on Longboat Key

~Coming June 2017~
Julie stretched out her long pale legs and flexed her even paler bare toes. She could hardly believe her good luck. Just yesterday she’d been bundled in a down coat and fur-lined boots, yet now she wore white cargo pants, a thin cotton T-shirt, and red rubber flip-flops. Basking in the warmth of the Florida sun took some of the sting off spending the holidays with her quarrelsome mother and father.

Sitting under the Bodhi fig tree on the outermost edge of the park was her favorite thing to do. Years ago, the Bodhi tree had been toppled in a hurricane, but thanks to conservation efforts, it had been replanted, taken root again, and thrived. Julie loved the idea of sitting beneath a tree that had overcome the odds. She thought of this bench under the Bodhi as her personal refuge, the spot where she always found all the peace and quiet she craved.

Until today.

The longer Julie sat there in delicious silence, the more she became aware of a voice. A male voice. A louder-than-necessary voice. She turned and glared at the tall, sandy-haired guy crunching down the shell-lined path. He was so busy half-shouting on his cell phone he didn’t even give her a glance as he walked to the edge of the railing that hemmed the water.

For all Julie knew he was yet another self-absorbed thirty-something guy, the kind she often saw in the hallways at work, who gathered his sense of self-importance from how tightly he was tethered to his iPhone. He sure was dressed the part of an insurance executive on casual Friday, in a crisp blue Oxford shirt, khaki pants, and leather deck shoes. He only lacked the socks. And he was taller than normal. In the halls of Pilgrim Mutual, his head probably would have grazed the tiles of the low ceiling.

In any case, he was disturbing the peace. Julie felt annoyance surge within her until she heard him say, “No, Mom, I don’t think that’s what Dad meant...it doesn’t matter, so give it a rest...come on, it’s Christmas, I’m here for all of a week, is it too much to ask for you to just get along with each other?”

His conversation came to an abrupt end. He pressed his thumb down on the phone and cussed the F-word under his breath. When he turned back, his forehead wrinkled and his jaw clenched, Julie recognized all too well his look of frustration, since whenever she had to deal with her mom and dad, she felt her own face tighten in exactly the same way.

He let out an exasperated breath when he saw her. “Sorry.”

“For what?” she said.

“Swearing. Arguing. And otherwise interrupting your Zen.” He gazed over his shoulder at the calm water of the bay. “I’ve been here less than twenty-four hours and already my parents are driving me crazy.”

“Join the club,” Julie said.

“You here for the holidays, too?”

Julie nodded. “It’s like being a teenager all over again.”

“Exactly. Only they’re the ones who crack up the car and need to be grounded for misbehaving.” He looked down the shell-lined path. “Are your parents here with you?”

“No, they’re home arguing about graham crackers.”

“Graham crackers?”

“Don’t ask and I won’t tell.”

“Fair enough.” He smiled. “Mind if I sit for a sec?”

Julie scooted over on the bench. Ordinarily she wasn’t drawn to guys who looked like they could have been college basketball players. And she wasn’t overly fond of the preppy look, but there was something endearing about the rolled sleeves on his pressed Oxford shirt, his creased khaki pants, and his boat shoes. He needed only to put on a navy blazer, a striped tie, and a pair of socks to look like an overgrown schoolboy.

Bench where Julie meets Joseph
Love on Longboat Key
Julie Joseph dreads spending Christmas in Florida with her cranky elderly parents. Yet that changes when she arrives at Sun Tower and meets the eligible bachelor whose equally quarrelsome parents have just moved into the penthouse.

Thomas Briggs IV is hardly the type Julie has dated in the past: he's tall, handsome, and out-of-this-world wealthy. He's also the son of the CEO of Pilgrim Mutual Insurance, where Julie works as a copywriter.

She has just a few days to date Thomas before they both have to return to the ice and snow blanketing the Northeast. There's one big problem: Julie's rival for Thomas's affection happens to be her gorgeous, but mean-spirited, CEO boss at Pilgrim Mutual.

Can Julie overcome the odds to win Thomas's heart?

Love on Longboat Key is a sweet holiday tale about finding romance on the beach. Preorder at the Champagne Bookstore soon!

Saturday, May 20, 2017

Savvy Saturday: Author's Picks


Last week, we saw some of the editor's choices for summer. This week, we asked our authors what books they would pick for a day at the beach, and this is what they had to say.

"I would choose to read Jan Romes' Kiss Me--because I am a sucker for pink covers and anything to do with bachelorette parties!"
- Meg West

Kiss Me

Running late for her spoiled stepsister’s bachelorette party, Lacy Goodlow is forced to speed—snagging a hefty traffic ticket and the interest of Officer Jared Kelly. Their paths collide again in the middle of the bachelorette party when Lacy plays an embarrassing game of Fact or Fun and she hands him a napkin that simply says Kiss Me. A full-blown attraction takes off, but so does conflict once it’s revealed that Jared and Lacy’s stepsister, Angela, had a tumultuous fling and she still claims territorial rights.

Available for $3.99 on Amazon, Kobo, and at the Champagne Bookstore.


My pick for a perfect beach read would be Makenna Snow's forthcoming Young Adult Children of Neptune. Because what better to read beside the ocean than a story about the daughter of the God of the Sea? Mystery, romance, adventure, and hydroshifting? Awesome! Plus the ability to go Dr. Doolittle? Sweet! Take my money! I can't wait for this to come out, and in fact have already pre-ordered my copy. Now if I can only make it to the beach...

Children of Neptune

Sixteen-year-old Jet can talk to animals with her mind, but she gets tongue-tied with someone her own age. She can use her ancient powers to hydroshift, but she's still figuring out how to be smooth out of the water.

Sheltered behind the palace walls, Jet trains to become queen of a secret island. All that changes when she's forced to accept a mission she isn't prepared for—fitting in at high school. Her powers, never before tested, are pushed to their limits.

She learns that handling high school life is just as complicated and dangerous as the mystery that brought her there. Her journey leads her to friendship, romance, and her first taste of freedom. But betrayal threatens to take all that away.

Jet faces an enemy that could cost her everything she loves. She must succeed…or die trying.

Available for $3.99 on AmazonKobo, and at the Champagne Bookstore.

I love mythology and when I read that Ada can manipulate electricity, I was intrigued. After all, which side will she gravitate to with power literally at her fingertips?

Daughter of Zeus

The future can be a terrifying prospect, especially when Ada Freyr discovers she can manipulate electricity. Ada is grief-stricken when her abilities result in the death of her husband. and terrified of being discovered by the Prominent-run State. Unusual citizens are labeled Undesirable, and are never seen again.

Ada drives to Atlanta, intent on finding her father. She blames everything that’s happened on him, and vows to kill him for ruining her life. However, once Ada meets her father, she realizes he’s no longer the alcoholic she remembers: he’s now a Congressman with a family and a new name, ready for a Senator’s seat.

Ada’s scheme lands her on the Undesirable list, leads a stranger to stalk her, and stunts her relationship with her siblings. Soon, she has to decide which is more important: a vendetta, or forgiveness.

Available for $3.99 on AmazonKobo, and at the Champagne Bookstore.

[I picked Cold Sweat for] Two reasons. I love a great romantic suspense and I love a strong heroine.

Cold Sweat

Seventeen-year-old Hope Craig is deaf and training hard to make the biathlon Olympic Team. But when she is kidnapped from the groomed trails and taken to a remote cabin in the mountains, she must battle more than the elements to survive.

On the hunt for her daughter's abductor, Colonel Amelia Matheson enlists the help of Richmond Morgan, a local Sheriff who once hurt her. To find Hope, Sheriff Morgan and Colonel Matheson must untangle a web of secrets, including their own.

Using her wits and skills, Hope sets out to escape the mountains and save the man her mother had sent to rescue her – a man who is not who he appears to be.

Available for $0.99 on AmazonKobo, and at the Champagne Bookstore.

Safari Stew by Veronica H. Hart. I hate the word "craft", but she knows how to structure a sentence and a story properly. It takes the burden off the reader when they aren't compensating for a writer blundering around and knocking things over. She also has a wry take on things; her humor is genuine and uncontrived. I can definitely get one of her books sandy, and read it with sunglasses on.

Safari Stew

Doll Reynolds receives word that her missing husband, Barclay, has been discovered teaching in a South African university. Rather than call the school, she arranges a trip to confirm the information for herself. Six of her Blender friends join her for support. Old Howard arranges a luxurious safari as a side trip to either celebrate finding Barclay or to console Doll if she doesn’t. Either way, the trip leads to murder.

Available for $4.95 on AmazonKobo, and at the Champagne Bookstore.

I tend to like Sci-fi like Keith Willis.

Traitor Knight

When Morgan McRobbie rescues a damsel-in-distress from a dragon, he expects she’ll swoon, murmuring “My hero!” Instead, Marissa has only loathing for the man everyone believes will betray Kilbourne. That’s fine with Morgan. A woman in his life would just complicate things.

A high-level informer threatens the kingdom’s security, and Morgan is out to stop him. Posing as a turncoat himself, he walks a fine line between honor and betrayal. A single misstep could result in disaster, and his mission is fraught with distractions: the pesky dragon, a pair of conniving courtiers, and the disillusioned damsel who’s certain Morgan can’t be trusted.

If Morgan’s going to save the kingdom, win the girl, and manage to stay alive, he’ll need to step up his game. Because the traitor is lurking in the shadows, and his scheme calls not just for the betrayal of Kilbourne, but also the destruction of Morgan McRobbie.

Available for $4.99 on AmazonKobo, and at the Champagne Bookstore.

Elfin Nights. Lush, vivid setting descriptions. Author uses all five senses to bring her world alive.
Superior worldbuilding, gripping conflict, and excellent pace. Basically Brantwijn rocks. Plus, the sex is hot.
- Celia Breslin

Elfin Nights

A fae Knight’s life belongs to the monarchies, but for Finn of the Morrigan, his life comes second to his heart. And his heart belongs to his ladies.

The changeling princesses of the Springtime elves share a unique bond with their Knight—a bond that must remain perfectly secret. When the Queen of the Elves discovers their passionate love, she curses and exiles Finn from the elfin lands forever. With their guardian sent away to a lifeless wasteland, the royal changelings have no defense when the unseen enemies of the Four Courts attack, and the House of Elves falls.

To save his loves, Finn will need to break out of prison, undertake a perilous journey across the lands of Thairy, face wicked creatures, rogue Knights, and one of the most dangerous monsters in the fae world.

The enemy will soon learn what it means to provoke a true Son of War.

Available for $1.99 on AmazonKobo, and at the Champagne Bookstore.

Monday, May 15, 2017

Sneak Peek at Children of Neptune

~Coming June 19th, 2017~


It was on the way to Aurea Regia for the Springtide ball two weeks later when Jet and Will were alone again. Will had arranged a hike of one of the old passages into the palace compound. They waved off Harrie and Chace and made their way to Indigo Beach and the ancient ruins there. 

As they walked, Will asked, “Why don’t you have any guards?” 

Jet stifled a laugh. Even now someone was following them, and she had no idea where or who they were. She had to notify Bevan ahead of time of what she was doing. But she didn’t always tell him everything, yet he always found her. She didn’t want any of her friends to be uncomfortable with the idea of being spied on. It was weird even for her—and she’d had someone watching her for her entire life. She pictured Bevan. He was just doing his job, but she still wasn’t going to volunteer that she had hidden guards following her. She chose her words with care. 

“There hasn’t been a threat against the royal family in thousands of years. Humans don’t know we exist, and even though I’m the heir, I’m not threatening anyone’s way of life, so why would anyone bother?” Jet shrugged, and Will grinned. 

“So it’s been discussed, then. And here I am thinking I just brought it up.” 

“My security has been discussed, believe me.” Jet laughed. “They have me covered. Plus, my parents wanted me to try and have somewhat of a normal existence here.” Jet looked at Will through her lashes. “Why do you ask?” 

“It just seemed weird to me that the next in line for the throne would be allowed to wander free whenever she wanted. I didn’t think to ask about it until this point because, up to now, we haven’t been off grounds except that once in Indigo City.” He took her hand in his warm grip. “I just want to make sure you’re safe.” 

She offered a smile. “That’s sweet, Will.” Jet delighted in his flushed cheeks at her praise. “But the worry isn’t necessary. I’m not really allowed to ‘wander free,’ as you say. I made my parents a deal when they allowed me to come to Quadrivium. I promised I wouldn’t do anything stupid.” The shell path leading to the ruins of the old passage crunched under their sandals. 

“I have to wonder, though, if taking the ancient passage down alone with you could be labeled as ‘stupid.’” Jet raised an eyebrow in mock uncertainty. “You do know what you’re doing, don’t you?” 

“Trust me. I’ve got this.” Will said. 

He and Jet continued along the path in companionable silence until a thought occurred to her. 

“I’ve got a question for you.” 

“I’m all yours, Princess.” Will said the words without his usual joking tone. 

For a moment it flustered Jet. She tripped a bit on the walkway, but Will held her steady. 

“What’s the question?” he prodded, and Jet forced herself to recover. 

“You told me you wanted us to go this way for a reason. I just wondered what the reason was.” 

Will looked chagrined. “I had a couple of reasons really, but the main one was to get you alone. We haven’t had a chance to talk about anything important since Family Faire.” He shrugged. “I want to make sure you’re doing okay.” 

Jet wasn’t sure she liked the direction this conversation was headed. “I’m great, Will. I appreciate you looking out for me. You’re kind of like a big brother or one of the guards you seem to think I need.” Will’s slate eyes turned stormy, and he stopped and spun her toward him. “I don’t have brotherly feelings toward you, Jet,” Will growled.

“That’s quite a relief.” Fury built in the pit of her stomach. “Because I can take care of myself.”

“It isn’t a crime to care about a friend,” Will protested.

“No crime at all, as long as you don’t patronize that friend,” Jet argued.

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“It means that since Morwenna handed me my backside last term, you’ve been different. If we really are friends, you’ll respect the fact that I don’t need looking after any more than you do.” Jet, panting with anger now, continued. “I had an off day or I trusted the wrong person, or whatever we want to call it. It doesn’t make me weak or stupid. It makes me just like everyone else, including you. Or have you forgotten that Morwenna was your ‘best friend’ before all of this happened?”

“I haven’t forgotten anything!” Will shouted. “I blame myself for what she did to you. I pushed you into being friends with her,” Will admitted.

Jet’s peal of laughter echoed in the tree-lined pathway. “Oh, my goodness, whatever would I have done before I met you?” She placed her hands on her cheeks in mock uncertainty. “I never made a decision on my own or even made a mistake.” Jet shook her head. “You’re making my point for me. You didn’t push me into anything. I chose to ask Morwenna to help me with Movement. I chose to befriend her. You continue to insult my intelligence by suggesting you had anything at all to do with it.” Jet thought she explained this with great patience, given how exasperating he was behaving.

Will’s jaw clenched, and Jet observed this display of anger with wonder.

“Fine. You can take care of yourself. I got it.” Will turned back to the path and strode forward.

Jet rolled her eyes behind his back. “This is shaping up to be a lovely afternoon. Whatever will we do on our third date to top this one?” Jet asked.

Will couldn’t seem to help himself. His large muscular frame shook with laughter, and he stopped on the path to wait for Jet. “I got to hand it to you, Jet. You sure don’t need lessons in diplomacy. Your witty comebacks will have them lying at your feet.”

Jet beamed at his dry tone. “I’ll take the compliment and suggest a subject change,” she offered.



“I’ll grab that subject change like a lifeline,” Will answered, his frown relaxed into a smile.
Children of Neptune

Sixteen-year-old Jet can talk to animals with her mind, but she gets tongue-tied with someone her own age. She can use her ancient powers to hydroshift, but she's still figuring out how to be smooth out of the water.

Sheltered behind the palace walls, Jet trains to become queen of a secret island. All that changes when she's forced to accept a mission she isn't prepared for—fitting in at high school. Her powers, never before tested, are pushed to their limits.

She learns that handling high school life is just as complicated and dangerous as the mystery that brought her there. Her journey leads her to friendship, romance, and her first taste of freedom. But betrayal threatens to take all that away.

Jet faces an enemy that could cost her everything she loves. She must succeed…or die trying.

Preorder now at the Champagne Bookstore, Amazon, and Kobo.

Saturday, May 13, 2017

Savvy Saturday: Editor's Picks

Welcome to Savvy Saturday! This week we will be doing Editor's Picks. Sit back, relax, and take a peek at some of our editors' favorite books.

The P-Town Queen

Nikki Silva thinks she’s blown up her life. Divorced, funding for her shark research cut off, she’s moved back to Provincetown to live with her father. Nikki’s written a grant proposal funded by a commission run by her ex-husband Ned, who would rather not give money to his ex-wife.

Marco Tornetti wants to turn a Newark spaghetti joint into a trendy bistro. His silent partner, Fat Phil Lagosa, wants to use the place to solicit questionable business deals. When Fat Phil turns on Marco and has him marked for a hit, Marco knows he’s in too deep.

Marco escapes the hit man and takes the first bus out of the city. Marco figures that Phil would never look for him in Provincetown‘s gay community. But when he meets Nikki, he finds that pretending to be gay isn’t as easy as it would seem.

Available for $3.99 on Amazon, Kobo, and at the Champagne Bookstore.

Waxing Deadly

As the 10th Annual Million Dollar Malibu Tequila Surf Off nears, Malibu is in a state of panic and it’s up to Dr. Jennifer Ferguson, head of the privately-funded Shark Understanding and Awareness Center (SUAC) to put their minds at ease. With a NAVY Seal’s background, a Ph.D. and a life spent studying the feeding behavior of sharks, Jennifer struggles to prove the attacks are isolated – and unrelated.

Surf shop owner and local legend Slade Kane isn’t so sure. He’s been surfing for four decades and knows a pattern when he sees one, even without all of Jennifer’s fancy credentials. When he’s approached by the paparazzo who took the shark-attack picture, the two agree. Something’s fishy in Malibu. And it’s twice as big, twice as aggressive, and twice as deadly as anything they’ve ever seen before.

Available for $4.95 on AmazonKobo, and at the Champagne Bookstore.

Caves in the Rain


Mike Latta can’t forgive himself for the death of his daughter. It was a freak accident, but fathers should protect little girls from the bad things that can hurt them. He didn’t, and a descent into divorce and the bottle has gotten rid of every happy ending he ever hoped for.

A year of solitude on an island in northern Hollow Lake, away from the booze and the reminders of grief, may be the last chance he has. There’s more than peace and quiet on the lake though, because the ghosts of a long-ago murder haunt Echo Island. If Mike can’t figure out what the ghosts want from him, it may cost another little girl her life.

Available for $4.99 on AmazonKobo, and at the Champagne Bookstore.

Siren's Song


Humans call the crystalline creatures Sirens. They can kill with a scream. Decapitate with a single slash of their cutting fins. The aliens are the most vicious life form Earth has ever encountered, and Scott has one trapped in his mind. Her name is Water, and her hatred for Scott’s species is only matched by her desire to be free of him.

Scott couldn’t agree more, but neither of them understand the cost of letting her out. In order to save their sanity, Scott and Water have to save her people.

Available for $4.99 on AmazonKobo, and at the Champagne Bookstore.




Traitor Knight

When Morgan McRobbie rescues a damsel-in-distress from a dragon, he expects she’ll swoon, murmuring “My hero!” Instead, Marissa has only loathing for the man everyone believes will betray Kilbourne. That’s fine with Morgan. A woman in his life would just complicate things.

A high-level informer threatens the kingdom’s security, and Morgan is out to stop him. Posing as a turncoat himself, he walks a fine line between honor and betrayal. A single misstep could result in disaster, and his mission is fraught with distractions: the pesky dragon, a pair of conniving courtiers, and the disillusioned damsel who’s certain Morgan can’t be trusted.

If Morgan’s going to save the kingdom, win the girl, and manage to stay alive, he’ll need to step up his game. Because the traitor is lurking in the shadows, and his scheme calls not just for the betrayal of Kilbourne, but also the destruction of Morgan McRobbie.

Available for $4.99 on AmazonKobo, and at the Champagne Bookstore.

Monday, May 8, 2017

Desperate Knight Cover Reveal!


DESPERATE KNIGHT
Book 2 in the Knights of Kilbourne series
by award-winning fantasy/romance author
Keith W. Willis

Coming summer 2017 from Champagne Books

No time… No plan… No options…
No one said saving the world would be easy.
 

Morgan McRobbie and Lady Marissa duBerry swing back into swashbuckling action, facing old enemies, new threats, and a diabolical conspiracy. Not to mention a more personal battle, one with hearts and pride at stake.

As the pair escorts Prince Robert to the dwarf king’s court, a fiendish scheme is unfolding, intended to hurl men and dwarves into a devastating war. Morgan ends up sidetracked by a kidnapped dwarf and a centuries-old feud, while a mysterious wizard’s revelations shake Marissa to her core, throwing into question everything she thought she knew about her past and future. And the advent of a rival for Marissa’s affections threatens any hope of a happy ending—if they survive.

Once again the desperate knight and indomitable damsel must hazard everything on a single throw of the dice, gambling on untested allies and unimagined weapons to save their world. And the odds have never been worse.  

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Praise for TRAITOR KNIGHT (Book 1 of Knights of Kilbourne)

“…well-told story with a witty heroine, a noble-yet-flawed hero, and a colorful set of secondary characters. And a dragon! Let's not forget the dragon!” –Tegan Wren, author of Inconceivable

“…a witty and action-packed page-turner that takes the classic fantasy land and adds depth, character, romance and political intrigue to brilliant effect.”  -- SFF World

“I recommend Traitor Knight to anyone looking for a good fantasy with just a dash of romance.” – Long & Short Reviews


                                         








BIO:

Keith W. Willis graduated (long ago) with a degree in English Lit from Berry College, Georgia. He now lives in the scenic Hudson Valley/Adirondack region of NY with his wife Patty. Keith is certain those rumbling noises attributed to Henry Hudson's crew are really just the dragons grumbling. He began writing seriously in 2008, when the voices in his head got too annoying to ignore. When he’s not making up stories he manages a group of database content editors at a global information technology firm. TRAITOR KNIGHT (Champagne Books) is his first published novel, and has won awards for both fantasy and romance. The second book in the Knights of Kilbourne series, DESPERATE KNIGHT, is slated for a summer 2017 release.

You can find Keith:


                          https://www.facebook.com/TRAITOR-KNIGHT-191368320972613/ (books)




And last but not least:

THE GIVEAWAY:

Go to http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/6f03957e2/?  to enter to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card!