M.C. Rayne M/M Author: July 2013

Wednesday 10 July 2013

Haunted Raine - Review

The final novella in the Summer Heat anthology is Haunted Raine by R.E Hargrave. I have to admit, that although I did love all three of the covers, this is the one that had me excited! Something about this called to me, and I am a sucker for covers!

Today I am reviewing the novella by R.E Hargrave , part of the anthology by Renaissance Romance Publishing. Her novella is called Haunted Raine.

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Summary;

Distracted by the everyday routine of raising children, being a wife, and keeping a home, Lorraine Morrissey let life pass her by. Her wakeup call comes when she realizes that with their children gone, her husband Richard is rarely home, and she’s filling her solitary days with trivial tasks. A crazy idea to save her marriage leads to a summer beach vacation unlike any she’s ever taken; one that involves unknowingly buying a haunted house.

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Excerpt;

The fast approaching ground disappeared, replaced by an old, worn, wooden floor.

I shook my head to try and clear it of the cobweb fuzziness I felt. Raising my hands in front of me, I didn’t recognize them. They were dark brown, dry, and the skin was cracked in places. They didn’t feel connected to my body either. My words got stuck in my throat when I tried to ask what was going on. Swallowing to clear the blockage, I surveyed the room. Before me burned a dwindling fire inside an old-fashioned stone hearth, and to my right, old shuttered windows were thrown open, letting the cooling night air in.

“Girl!”

The hoarse male voice startled me. I spun around, becoming aware of heavy skirts

tangling in my legs.

“Yes, sir.” The voice, thick with a low country accent, wasn’t mine either, but

the sound had passed through my lips. What the . . .

“How many sacks of cotton did you pick today?”

A tremor settled into my arms as panic tightened my chest. Tall and wide, the

white man advanced on me. I skittered back toward the hearth at the look of

hatred on his face.

“None, sir. I’s sorry, but my momma –”

“There are no excuses, Jesse. Rain or shine, y’alls task is at least two sacks a

day while the cotton’s a blooming.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Did your momma get her two sacks picked?”

Beyond my control, my head shook side to side, and I curled in on myself more

while taking another subtle step back. Warning sirens were going off, but it was

obvious, I had no say over my faculties, nor did I have any idea what was going

on. “She’s got the sick, sir.”

In slow motion, his hand rose, and I took in every detail: thinning, greasy

brown hair slicked back from a shiny forehead, a narrow beak of a nose stretched

down the length of his long face to a thin pair of pale pursed lips. His green

eyes were bloodshot with the drink that wafted from his mouth. The yellowing

linen shirt he wore was opened down to his mid-chest, exposing pale, untoned

flesh. Proof that he relied on others to get the work done.

“‘She’s got the sick, sir,’” he sing-songed, mocking me. “Not my problem, girl.

What is my problem is that you owe me four sacks’ worth of cotton, and have

nothing to pay with.”

At his words, an uneasy feeling settled in my stomach. I didn’t like where this

was going and took another step back, bringing me a little closer to the fire

and the iron tools I could see in my peripheral vision.

“But I can think of another way that you can start paying up.”

When he came at me, I spun to grab the poker. Before I could reach the tool,

arms enveloped me from behind, yanking me back until I collided with a hard

chest.

My Review

I never normally know what to say in reviews, other than if I liked it or not, yet somehow I don't think there are enough words I can get down for this instalment by R.E Hargrave. Ghost stories are a great interest of mine, so each page had me hooked, but this is more than just a typical ghost story.

With Haunted Raine you will be treated to far more than this, you will be taken on a journey through time, witness everything from voodoo to possession. Not just this, but there is the relationship between the couple.

This story is not about teens, or people in their twenties meeting and falling in love, not that there is anything wrong with that. Haunted Raine is about a couple who have been married for so long they have just become comfortable, and the things that happen on their holiday away from their children helps the couple begin to see one another again.

Do they fall in love? Well if I told you that then why would you read it?

GO PURCHASE!!!

About The Author;

R.E. Hargrave is a fledgling author who has always been a lover of books and now looks forward to the chance to give something back to the literary community. She lives on the outskirts of Dallas, TX with her husband and three children.

M. B. Feeney Guest Post

Its all rather exciting for me ATM because my good friend, M. B. Feeney, and some ladies from Renaissance Romance Publishing have a new anthology our called Summer Heat. I jumped at the chance to have them both on my blog for their tour, and first up is a guest post by M. B. Feeny, along with relevant links.

Authors as Readers:

Even before I was a published author, and even during my hiatus as a writer, I read, a lot. I was the kid at school who always had a book in her bag or in her blazer pocket. I wasn’t a loner, but I was a bookworm, still am, and this was something that my friends accepted about me.

Reading, I tell my kids this, helps us in so many different ways. Whether you’re an author or not. Not only does it provide us with an escape from real life, but it fuels our brains. Not only does it feed out imagination, but it helps build vocabulary and spelling. This is important to me as both an author and a parent.

I find that through reading all genres of books, that I am able to use words that not only enhance what I am trying to say, but also that aren’t repetitions of words I have already used or that are used by every other book out there. Authors who read a lot, do this and makes me smile as it cuts down on cliché in books.

I feel that it’s important for authors to read as it also helps them keep an eye on what kinds of novels and stories that are being published and read. Trends in publishing come and go and if an author wants to tap into them, they need understand what the readers are liking (or disliking).

Sites such as Goodreads are excellent for this as many of the users give brilliantly detailed and concise reviews of each book they read, even if they only read certain genres. These reviews, if they are fair and constructive, can help authors polish up their own writing. I have had pre readers tell me honestly when something in my writing doesn’t work. Reviews can do this too. I enjoy reading those that tell me not only what was enjoyed, but what didn’t work for that particular reader. I take these comments on board and *hopefully*, use them to make my next piece better.

I’ve often been heard to say that I don’t trust people who don’t listen to music as it’s such a huge part of my life, well, people who don’t read for enjoyment worry me even more. Authors who don’t read books or stories other than their own during the editing process… scare me.

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Check out the full anthology by such great authors, and below is the pictures for M. B. Feeney's Just Like In The Movies.

Summary;

Ava Jones has settled for a life that she’s not sure she wants anymore, but won’t admit it. Her best friend, Erica Davidson talks her into taking a break on the Isle of Wight. Her days on the island are spent thinking things through, and arguing with Morgan whom she hates on principal.

Is it so wrong for her to want a life that follows the script of a honest to God romance film?

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Excerpt;

I’d met Marcus Tripp not long after joining Wilson Insurance. Although I’d never really fancied him, he was persistent. Our friendship had grown, and we’d fallen into a routine that suited both of us. I was happy with the attention, and the sex . . . yeah, it was okay. As time passed, the earth rarely moved when we were intimate; more often than not, it was pretty much over before it began. Still, we stayed together, more out of habit and familiarity than anything else. We did love each other. I just wasn’t sure that it was enough.

In the evenings I spent alone, I would daydream about living the life of a lead in a Hollywood chick flick, but then reality would slap some sense into me. My life was as good as it was going to get. I wasn’t about to be swept off my feet any time soon. Marcus and I were comfortable, and that was enough — for me, at least. I was too scared to ask Marcus what he felt.

We tried for a couple of years to have children, but it never happened. After many serious discussions, we decided to give up on the idea altogether. That was when we bought our first fur baby: a beautiful Collie cross called Rhea. She was our little girl, and we both doted on her. We assuaged our guilt over our mutual neglect by caring for Rhea, devoting our attention to another living being rather than to each other. The puppies, Remus and Romulus, soon joined her, and our “family” was complete.

For as long as I’d known him, Marcus had played Sunday League football, which was followed by an afternoon with his teammates at the very pub I was now approaching. Coupled with training one evening a week, his evenings out gave me more than enough time to spend with Erica or at home with the dogs.

“Have you thought any more about that holiday I mentioned?” Erica asked while we claimed our usual table. Our customary bottle of red wine was already ready and waiting for us.

“I have . . .” My words drifted away when I thought back to her idea of a girlie getaway on the Isle of Wight. Just as its name suggested, the top-class Lakeside Hotel with attached spa was located right next to a beautiful lake. Bliss.

“And? Why the hesitation?” Erica pushed like she always did, her blue eyes flashing once more as she looked into my brown ones.

The idea of a real getaway made the blonde hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, but I tried to rein in my excitement. “I don’t know. It sounds amazing, and Lord knows I could do with some time away.”

“Do it, then.”

I knew I had enough holiday time available at work. Screw it.

“Let’s do it.”

Hope you all enjoy. Links to the books are below.

Author Bio;

M. B. Feeney is an army brat who finally settled down in Birmingham, UK with her other half, 2 kids and a dog. She's also a student teacher, a doodler and a chocoholic. Writing has been her one true love since she could spell, and publishing is the culmination of her hard work and ambition.

In My Mothers Footsteps - Review

I cannot promote this anthology enough, and I was so pleased to be able to have an advance readers copy so I can leave reviews and enjoy these stories.

Today I am reviewing the novella by Forbes Arnone, part of the anthology by Renaissance Romance Publishing. Her novella is called In My Mother's Footsteps.

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Summary;

Anela Alborn’s life is a lie. After growing up without the love of a father, her mother reveals his identity. Tragedy strikes and she sets off on an adventure that leads to more than she could ever imagine. Bumping into Christian Sivers distracts her from the real man of her dreams, her father. Will he live up to her dreams? And does she follow in her mother’s footsteps?

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Excerpt;

My brown, wooden, antiquated cottage sat on top of a hill in Sausalito. The shingles were bleached out from exposure to the sun’s rays. A beautiful, naturally-worn deck wound around the small chalet and gave me one of the best views in town. The bold, red peaks of the Golden Gate Bridge were visible through the light haze of fog over the ocean. With the hot sun working overtime to clear the sky, the fog always seemed to linger around the tops of the bridge. To my left, I could look down and see the rocky shore that the tourists often frequented. The slick brown and black seals liked to sunbathe on the boulders at the water’s edge. People would gather to take pictures or have lunch in one of the quaint restaurants that overlooked the choppy, aqua-blue ocean.

I had grown up in Sausalito my entire life. With the exception of when I went to Berkley, I hadn’t adventured into the city much. Sometimes, I'd take the ferry to Angel Island with my mountain bike and take leisurely rides or run the hills. I hadn't done that since I ran out of my mother's house, either.

Now that I had packed up all of her belongings — with the exception a few things I wanted to keep — I was exhausted. As I sat on the deck of my small cottage and stared out into the vast ocean, I felt anxious about the file that sat on my lap. Lennie had given it to me at his office three days before and I had yet to open it. The fear at what I'd find seeped in and turned my stomach.

Focusing my attention, I looked down at the folder and decided the time had come to face whatever was inside. My hands trembled as I lifted the two metal prongs and opened the flap. I tipped the folder upside down to empty the contents, finding the usual white sheets of paper that were full of legal jargon. How I wished I didn't know what they meant. Sifting through it all, I found a copy of the deed to the house, which stated that it had been transferred to my name. Also, there was the pink slip to my mother's car to be filled out and mailed to the Department of Motor Vehicles, and a small envelope with my mother's messy, artsy script on the front. One word had been written on it: Anela.

My review

I don't claim to be a quick reader. To be completely honest, unless something catches my attention, I do anything I can to avoid loading up my kindle; or feeling the weight of a book in my hand. With In My Mothers Footsteps my interest was captured very early on. The author has a great way of taking me on a journey with the use of her characters, and the way she is doing what her mother wished of her after she died.

After recently loosing my own mother, I thought I could relate to Anela (great name by the way) - even though I am not a girl! This character had to carry the pain of ignoring her mother in her final year, while going on this holiday which turned out to be something which she will never forget.

The one thing I would have liked from this, is for the novella to be a full novel, because although it does work as a short story, I found myself wanting to get more involved with the pairing. The author doesn't have anything lacking in this, please don't miss understand me, but this is the kind of book I would love to lay on a beach and devour on a larger scale.

I kind of want to pack up my things and take a holiday after this, and I am very much an English boy who doesn't think about sunning it up much.

I wish the author much success with this.

Author Bio;

Her lifelong love for reading and writing was put aside for many years while she made her way in the world and nurtured her young family. Even though she is older, and life never seems to settle, she’s finding her way while attending college full-time in pursuit of a B.A. in English Literature. She also runs a business, and is still caring for her family. Believing she can do it all, with the help of her family, she worked on her first novel during the late hours of the night while balancing the rest of her life during the day. Her hard work paid off, as her first novel, My Mr. Manny, will be published August 2013.

About Me

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Goodreads - Jennifer Garcia

Goodreads - Forbes Arnone

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Sunday 7 July 2013

My Mr. Manny - Cover Reveal

Hey everyone, below is the new cover reveal from Renaissance Romance Publishing author, Jennifer Garcia. Her new book is called, My Mr. Nanny. Please keep an eye out for this being released.

Summary;

Mia Balducci misses her childhood days and yearns for the big, Italian family that she left behind in small town Massachusetts. At the tender age of sixteen, Mia moves with her bachelor father to Los Angeles, but no matter how many years pass, it never becomes home to her. The years spent living with her father aren’t easy, especially since she can’t stop thinking about what she once had. Her enrollment in the University of Southern California promises to bring exciting changes to her life, but Mia winds up with big problems instead. When she runs into an old friend from her old hometown of Winthrop, she gets swept up in nostalgia, and she soon loses herself in a quickly-progressing romance. When the fantasy falls apart, she is left to raise her precious little girl, Lucia, on her own. The demands of Mia’s work schedule and Lucia’s needs increase, and their lives become increasingly hectic. It is soon clear to Mia that she needs help. Luckily, her life-saving cousin saves the day and brings the mother and daughter a male nanny – their new “manny.”

After losing his high-pressure job on Wall Street, Dominic Roberts wants to follow his dreams to have a family. He’s already one fiancée down, and there are no likely prospects for another. In order to find the family he so desperately wants, he finds himself getting into the manny business. Since he is fully qualified to provide child care and is eager to leave New York City behind, his sister-in-law is able to land him a job in California working for his first client – the beautiful and intriguing Mia Balducci.

Will Lucia like the new man in her mother's life? Will Mia? And will this new trio discover the happily ever after they all so desperately seek?

Author Bio;

Jennifer Garcia’s (aka Forbes Arnone) love of travel began when she traveled to the West Coast to visit her father at the age of three. Her home until she was sixteen was a small coastal town near Boston. She currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband, two sons, and two dogs.

Her lifelong love for reading and writing was put aside for many years while she made her way in the world and nurtured her young family. Even though she is older, and life never seems to settle, she’s finding her way while attending college full-time in pursuit of a B.A. in English Literature. She also runs a business, and is still caring for her family. Believing she can do it all, with the help of her family, she worked on her first novel during the late hours of the night while balancing the rest of her life during the day. Her hard work paid off, as her first novel, My Mr. Manny, will be published August 2013.

Find Jennifer on;

About Me

Facebook

Goodreads - Jennifer Garcia

Goodreads - Forbes Arnone

Twitter

Blog

Authorsdb

Saturday 6 July 2013

A Divine Life - Cover Reveal

For all of you who read To Serve Is Divine, here is the cover reveal along with a little info on the next instalment. Personally, I cannot read what I am about to post as I still have TSID to read on my kindle so I don't want to spoil anything hehe.

Summary;

Over the past year of being Jayden Masterson’s collared submissive, Catherine O’Chancey has worked through the mental terrors left behind by her old Dom — or at least she thinks she has. To celebrate their collaring anniversary, Jayden organizes a special day, during which her final fantasies will be realized and her limits tested. Will it prove to be more than she can handle? Can she endure the erotic onslaught her mind and body will experience and survive unscathed?

While Catherine faces these dark shadows and pleasurable highs, Jayden will find his own inner strength being tested, too. He has come to realize that, somewhere along the way, Catherine has taken possession of his heart, mind, and body. Now, he faces his biggest challenge ever; he must let go of all his submissives but one: his jewel, Catherine. Can he leave his philandering ways behind? Has he made the ultimate mistake by putting his jewel into the hands of others? Will his gift to Catherine wind up costing him the one thing that has ever meant something real to him?

Jayden has helped Catherine heal from past wrongs and chase away the nightmares. In return, Catherine has shown him what it means to care for someone beyond mere sexual gratification. Their strengthening bond as Master and submissive has paved the way for deeper emotions — if they can find the courage to open up to each other.

Join Catherine and Jayden for an emotion packed weekend that could forever change the future of their relationship. This could be their best chance at love, but first both Dom and sub must gain control over the one thing they can’t put in a collar: their deepest doubts and fears. For this kind of healing, the necessary treatment must be mutually given. Is it too late to erase some old scars?

Author Bio;

R.E. Hargrave is a fledgling author who has always been a lover of books and now looks forward to the chance to give something back to the literary community. She lives on the outskirts of Dallas, TX with her husband and three children.