Patricia Leavy is giving away copies of CINEMATIC DESTINIES, her upcoming romance from She Writes Press. How to get yours? It's easy... just complete the Rafflecopter below and you'll receive one from the author! Plus, one lucky entrant will receive a $150 Amazon gift card!
So, what's the book about? Here's the info:
For fans of Tessa Bailey and Hannah Grace, Cinematic Destinies is a feel-good, contemporary romance about a trio of adult children searching for love and beauty in the shadow of their parents’ legendary Hollywood fairy-tale romance.
Legendary actor Finn Forrester and his wife philosopher Ella Sinclair Forrester met on the location shoot for Jean Mercier’s film Celebration. The world has been captivated by their fairy-tale romance since Finn famously proposed on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival. As the couple now prepares to celebrate their thirtieth wedding anniversary, they wonder if their children will ever find love.
Eldest daughter Betty is excelling in a medical residency program in New York City—and has convinced herself that distancing herself from emotions is the path to success. Youngest son Albert, a recent college graduate, is trying to find his footing in Boston as he struggles with his identity. Free-spirited Georgia, her mother’s spitting image and an actress following in her father’s footsteps, has been cast in Jean Mercier’s final film, mysteriously titled Beauty. When she arrives on set in Iceland and meets her costar, sparks fly. Is history repeating itself? How has growing up in the shadow of the world’s most iconic love story affected each of the Forrester children?
Reviews
“If you’re a romantic with a brain and a heart, this is your jam . . . I closed the book with a full heart and a goofy grin.” Literary Titan, 5-star review
“Cinematic Destinies is a stunning and poignant celebration of romance, the magic of movies, and life itself. The exotic Icelandic film set, well-drawn characters, and smart writing make this book impossible to put down . . . This is a gorgeous novel.” —Laurel Richardson, author of Lone Twin
“Overall, the writing, the characters, the little nods of sizzle, and the brilliant family dynamic make this book a winner. Very highly recommended.”—Readers’ Favorite, 5-star review
“Leavy’s latest must-read novel features a trio of romantic storylines about the quest for love and identity in the shadow of a Hollywood fairy tale . . . Cinematic Destinies is a spellbinding ode to love, art, and what it means to live.” —Mary E. Weems, author of Blackeyed
About the Author:
Patricia Leavy is an award-winning, best-selling author. Formerly Associate Professor of Sociology and Founding Director of Gender Studies at Stonehill College, she has published more than fifty books; her work has been translated into many languages, and she has received more than one hundred book honors. Her most recent novel, Shooting Stars Above, was featured on People “10 Romance Books to Read After Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry.” She has also received career awards from the National Art Education Association, the American Creativity Association, the American Educational Research Association, and other organizations. In 2018, she was honored by the National Women’s Hall of Fame and SUNY-New Paltz established the “Patricia Leavy Award for Art and Social Justice.” In 2024 the London Arts-Based Research Centre established “The Patricia Leavy Award for Arts-Based Research.” Patricia lives in Maine. In addition to writing, she enjoys art, reading, and travel.
Patricia Leavy will award a free digital copy of her upcoming book CINEMATIC DESTINIES to the first 7500 people who enter the Rafflecopter and one lucky entrant will receive a $150 Amazon gift card.
SERPENTINA Faith Consiglio Publication date: June 27th 2024 Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult
Driven to find a cure for her brother’s illness, Emma embarks on a research trip to the island of Crete, a land brimming with tales of the gods. There, she is drawn to the myth of Medusa, a beautiful priestess turned monster, cursed at the hands of a jealous Athena.
Her exploration leads to a dangerous encounter with a mysterious serpent in the forest, and after the snake’s venom nearly kills her, Emma slips even deeper into the myth, her own fate intertwining with the woman at its heart.
She returns home, eyes set on attending Columbia University after graduation, but it isn’t long before she notices changes to her body and mind… changes that are nothing short of serpentine.
As she pulses through Medusa’s memory, she unlocks an unexpected truth that alters her world. She discovers the scope of her new abilities, including her blood’s power to cure illness, but with a cost. When Emma is betrayed by those closest to her, she finds herself hunted by an enemy hungry for her blood. And she is not the only one in danger; a horrifying plan unfurls as young girls disappear from the streets.
Emma must embrace what she has become to fight an enemy more ancient and evil than she imagined, for the chance to heal her brother, save the girls, and avenge the mythical source of her power.
“Dark leaves rustled in the forest, their dried tips rubbing against each other like the slow rattle of a snake. Emma paused, a warning echoing in her mind. Since her arrival to the reptile research base on Crete, she had ventured into the palm forest alone each afternoon, wandering deeper each time.
Never enter the forest alone. It was the rule her research mentor emphasized most during orientation. But there was nothing truly dangerous on the island. Hercules had cleared away all the deadly creatures to honor Zeus’s birthplace. She smiled, recounting the myth the airport taxi driver had told them. Emma knew, out of all the snakes there, only the cat snake had venom, and it was too mild to hurt a human.
Still, if Dr. Belken discovered her sneaking out at dusk, she might as well kiss a Columbia University recommendation letter goodbye. Yet the forest called her in, beckoning her to explore its ancient grounds.
She stepped over sandy soil, glancing over her shoulder at the wooden stairs and scanning to see if anyone was watching before turning into the trees. She savored a breath. The air was dry and the heat tame, with an endless breeze carrying wisps of sea salt and the spice of wild herbs through the dancing shadows of leaves.
A rustling halted her steps.
Her eyes darted to catch a beige, reptilian tail slipping into the nearby shrubs.
She held her breath and crept toward it, afraid to scare it off. It would sense the vibration of even her lightest step.
She peered through a thicket of narrow, glossy leaves and clustered pink flowers. Her heart pounded, instincts heightened, but she reminded herself that even a bite couldn’t kill her.
At first, she didn’t see anything. Then scales materialized among the leaves on a thick, coiled body. Only now they were green and pink. She squinted. Was it a different snake, or had it changed?
Its serpentine head emerged through the leaves, forked tongue flickering. She froze.
This was not a cat snake.”
Author Bio:
Faith grew up in Sloatsburg, NY, and finished medical school in Stony Brook to become a psychiatrist, with a passion for storytelling. When she's not writing or seeing patients, Faith enjoys traveling, taking her cat for walks, trying different types of green tea, and seeing how many plants she can fit in her apartment.
Centuries-old
Mara is dying a slow death when she meets Lee, a young man whose life
has never belonged to him. Thrown together, they're forced to fight
those who would destroy them and survive a slew of enemies they never
expected, even as Mara falls into a downward spiral of delusion and
obsession. Will she make a devil's deal to save both their souls?
With pasts like theirs, can they ever have a future?
Myth
and magic collide in this story about choices, transformation, and
retribution.
On
the run from both vampires and hunters, Mara and Lee are forced to
confront the bleak reality of their future together. But an
unexpected turn of events offers Mara the chance to shift things in
her favor--at a cost. Will she walk away or will she embrace the
magic?
Blood
Magic is a standalone short story that takes place within the novel
Love Lies Bleeding by Aspasía S. Bissas. You don't need to read Love
Lies Bleeding to enjoy Blood Magic (but it doesn't hurt).
Aspasia
wrote her first short story at the age of six and illustrated it with
a pink highlighter. She no longer does illustrations but she's been
writing stories ever since. She lives in Toronto with her partner in
crime, three cats, a plethora of plants, and a Disney movie's worth
of wildlife in the yard. Her dark fantasy novel Love Lies Bleeding is
now available in paperback and on Kindle. She is currently working on
the next book.
Rising
Tide will sink its fangs into you, keeping you awake into the wee
hours of the night
Could
Maura's life get any worse? ...turns out it most certainly can.
Isolated
and sheltered by her lonely mother, Maura's never been able to make
friends. She seems to drive her classmates away—except for the odd
times they pay enough attention to torture her—but she doesn’t
understand why. Maura considers herself to be a freak of nature, with
her unusually pale skin and an aversion to the sun that renders her
violently nauseous. Her belief is only worsened by the fact that
almost everyone around her keeps their distance.
Even
her own father deserted her before she was born, leaving Maura alone
with her emotionally distant mother, Caelyn. Even though Maura is
desperate for answers about her unknown parent, Caelyn remains
heartbroken and her daughter can’t bring herself to reopen her
mother’s wounds. Or is there a more sinister reason Caelyn refuses
to utter a word about her long-lost love?
When
a cruel prank nearly claims Maura’s life, one of her classmates,
Ron, rushes to her rescue. Darkly handsome & mysteriously
accepting, Ron doesn’t seem to want to stay away, but Maura is
reluctant to get too close, since her mother has announced she’s
moving the two of them to Vancouver…nearly 3,000 miles away from
their hometown of Indiana, Pennsylvania.
If
life wasn’t already challenging enough, Maura begins to experience
bizarre, physical changes her mother seems hell bent on ignoring,
compelling Maura to fear for her own life. Vicious nightmares, blood
cravings, failing health and the heart-shattering loss of Ron—as
well as the discovery of a tangled web of her own mother's
lies—become obstacles in Maura's desperate quest for the
unfathomable truth she was never prepared to uncover.
2015
Readers' Favorite Gold Medal Winner for YA Mystery
2015
RONE Award Finalist for YA Paranormal
2015
New Apple Top Medalist for Young Adult Ebook
Chosen
as one of 400 for the second round of the Amazon Breakthrough Novel
Award for 2014!!!
Praise
for Rising Tide:
"This
captivating and commendable work had me immersed from the beginning.
The story flows from scene to scene with ease, and the author shows
exceptional skill when it comes to storytelling."
"Mrs.
Melanson’s writing is so descriptive and talented. Throughout the
entire story, I felt like I was watching a movie."
"Melanson
grabs you from page 1 and doesn't let you go until the very bitter
end, only bitter because the book is finished."
"I
found pure delight in this book and will recommend it to other
readers."
"The
writing by Claudette Melanson in this novel is top notch and I can
see the movie rights for this being grabbed in no time."
˃˃˃
Sure to become one of the Books to Read of the year, Rising
Tide: Dark Innocence isn’t the usual YA tale of vampires.
Full of Mystery and Suspense, this Vampire Mystery Thriller packs
just enough Romance & Humor, while delivering plenty of Dark
Fantasy served with a side of the Supernatural. Maura, in the midst
of her vampire awakenings is unarguably a vampire in denial. It is a
novel that is certain to become one of the classic paranormal and
fantasy books of its time--the series is not only for Teen &
Young Adult readers, but has been well-received by many adult
readers, as well. Maura doesn't live in Castle Dracula in
Transylvania, but she must still discover the bloodlines constructing
the creature she is destined to become, while overcoming social
issues, such as bullying, that rock her world while coming of age.
She is an strong Urban Scienece Fiction & Fantasy female
protagonist readers love.
Maura
finally found the truth she was always seeking…or has she?
After
being left in the dark for all of her life, Maura’s father,
Maxwell, has finally returned to reveal sinister family secrets Maura
could never have dreamed possible—including his revelation that she
is one of The Born. But his daughter soon discovers both he and her
mother are keeping pieces of her reality hidden, still. As Maura
struggles to unravel the mysteries surrounding her new existence and
discover every piece of the cryptic puzzle, life appears intent on
casting stumbling blocks across her path with every step forward.
Tragedy
seems to stalk Maura, and those around her, as she stumbles along,
altering the young changeling’s family, just when they have all
come back together. The changes left in its wake could be for the
better, or may threaten their existence, entirely.
With
the arrival of Christmas comes the opportunity for Maura to draw
close to everyone she loves—and finally reunite with Ron, the man
she loves. But permanence has always eluded her, and in her current
state of flux this pattern endures, as fate seems intent on snapping
the threads that bind her to those she holds most dear. Maxwell’s
good intentions pave a road for Maura, littered with misery, while
her mother, Caelyn’s, desire to shield her family from pain may
tear her away from them, altogether. The perfect happiness in the
young vampire’s grasp is so easily swept away and dragged under,
out of reach. Can Maura erupt from the darkness and confusion to
break the surface and find the life she’s always dreamed of?
In
the midst of chaos, assistance materializes in the form of another of
her kind—ephemerally beautiful, yet explosively volatile, this new
vampire may prove capable of unlocking the puzzle-box Maxwell seems
intent on securing from her sight. Maura will discover the darkest
parts of herself in her quest to understand the being she is destined
to become. Her newfound friend has some shady intentions of his
own—such as thwarting the love that has grown between Maura and
Ron. Following in the wake of the impulsive vampire’s misguided
instruction may further pull a naive Maura down into the depths of
ultimate despair, heartbreak…and even destruction.
2015
Readers' Favorite Honorable Mention for YA Horror
2016
New Apple Summer eBook Solo Medalist for YA Horror
Praise
for Undertow:
"This
series offers so much: the heartwarming family moments, the comedic
back and forth banter between characters, life lessons tragically
instilled."
"I
actually cried during a few parts of the story."
"The
story is well written and gripping until the very end."
"If
it’s written by Claudette Melanson, you’re guaranteed to have an
amazing piece of literature that anyone can enjoy."
Maura
has never felt so alone in her life…nor has her existence ever been
so overshadowed by peril…
Not
only do both her parents—her distant but loving mother and
recently- returned father—remain absent from her life, but due to
the hideous error in judgement executed in collusion with her best
friend, Valdamir, and adoptive sister, Susie, Maura has been cut off
from the pair’s friendship and support, forbidden by both her
father and the fallout from the dire outcome to see either of them.
The heartbreak she suffers, brought on by the weight of these
estrangements, is only intensified by the continued mysterious
absence of her supernaturally-destined mate, Ron…whose
disappearance delivers grave consequences Maura would have never
dreamed possible…
Despised
by her vampire cousin, Aldiva, for reasons Maura cannot yet
comprehend, the young changeling will be forced to guard her back
with every step, as she comes to realize this member of her vampire
family would love nothing more than to bring about her demise.
Aldiva’s wrath calls forth other members from both Vancouver
covens, forcing them to rush to Maura’s aid—even though her
father, their king, has expressly forbidden the other vampires to
initiate contact with his daughter. Will her extended family on
Vancouver Island obey, abandoning Maura to her doom, or will they
instead rebel against Maxwell’s wishes in order to save her
life?
In
addition to the menace personified in her unsolicited enemy, the
unlikely vampire princess will find herself drowning as she is pulled
down into the depths of a far more devastating crisis…one which may
condemn her to a fate she considers much more undesirable than death.
But in order to tear herself free from the deadly pull which is
drawing her under, Maura must enlist the help of her preternatural
family, exposing her newfound friends to a danger none of them have
ever had the misfortune to face before. Can she be saved or will the
riptide drag Maura under…along with those she loves the most…
2017
New Apple Solo Medalist for Summer eBook - Young Adult General
Fiction
Praise
for Riptide:
"I will
scream it from the rooftops how much I love this series."
"I
can only say that Riptide is one of the best modern vampire stories I
have ever read, and I read them all from Stephen King to Ann Rice to
Stephenie Meyer."
"Riptide
was action packed and the fight scenes were well written but more
than that it was the story of family and love, of taking
responsibility, and dealing with hate when all sane avenues
fail."
"The
lore is superb, as is the writing. I can't wait to catch up with
Maura again!"
Claudette
Melanson writes dark fantasy, horror and children’s books in
Kitchener, Ontario with seven bun babies at her side: Tegan, Pepper,
Butters, Beckett, Sansa, Daenerys & Caramel. She graduated from
Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a BA in English, BS in
English Education and an MA in Literature. Harboring a deep
admiration of vampires since the age of five left her with the desire
to eventually become one, and now fuels the creation of her favorite
paranormal characters. She hopes to one day work full time as an
author, since there are many, many stories playing out inside her
head.
In
her very scant spare time, she enjoys watching Japanese Anime and
reading vampire stories...along with other genres of great fiction,
as well as riding every roller coaster she encounters in both her
hometown and away at signings. An advocate for good health and
ketogenic eating, her favorite foods are bulletproof coffee,
cashew-flour crust pizza and treats made with xylitol and almond,
coconut or cashew flours.
Future
dreams include a cabin boasting a roaring fire, isolated inside a
snow-filled wood in the Yukon—the perfect writing spot—and the
completion of dozens of future novels and stories. A Rabbit Rescue
fanatic and loving bunmom, she also hopes to help rescues all over
the world save many innocent lives.
Genre:
Contemporary Romance with Comedy, Suspense and Mystery
A
man on a mission....
Mackenzie
Coalson was determined to rebuild his hometown after a devastating
flood left it in ruins. He has no time for a relationship and all the
romantic junk that goes with it. He has a vandal to catch and no
sweet smelling bundle of femininity is going to sway him.
A
woman protecting her family.....
Dixie
Harris charged into the county sheriff's office with a sassy sway and
a smart mouth, eager to give the sheriff, and anyone else, a piece of
her mind. When she locks horns with the devil himself, in the form of
Mac Coalson, she quickly learns he has a temper to rival hers, even
if he's the living epitome of her sexual fantasies.
When
the two unite to catch a potential murderer, it's in everyone's best
interest to keep it, "business only". But that's hard to do
when their combined attraction is volatile enough to burn down the
town.
Sam
Coalson, ex-Navy Seal, has returned to Grafton for the wedding of his
brother. After being run out of town fifteen years ago for a crime he
didn’t commit, he’s determined to claim what is rightfully his
and take on anyone crazy enough to try and stop him.
Angel
Devereaux is smart, sexy and definitely on Sam’s blacklist. After
siding with Sam’s enemy fifteen years ago, Angel can’t help but
wonder what if….what if Sam had never left? What if he could
forgive her now? She had her reasons, but he won’t listen. So
enough with words, sometimes action is exactly what’s called for.
Chance
Coalson loves women. And they love him. Young or old, no woman is
immune to his charm.
Except
one.
Georgia
Haines is the only female volunteer firefighter in Grafton. She’s
had a crush on Chance Coalson since he offered her his handkerchief
at her momma’s funeral. But she’s smart enough to know that it
takes a special woman to tame a charmer like Chance, and there’s
nothing particularly special about her.
When
fire breaks out at the Coalson’s construction business and Chance
is trapped inside, Georgia braves the flames to save him, only to
discover her “crush” has morphed into love. And she’s helpless
to hide her desire.
Chance
awakens to find an angel breathing life into his lungs with a kiss.
The woman he wanted more than any other was the one who paid the
“Casanova of the County” no mind.
So
how does a man with a bad reputation convince a shy firefighter that
he’s worth taking a chance on love?
Lawrence
“Lucky” Coalson is on the track of the arsonist that torched his
older brother’s construction company. The clues have led him to the
Mississippi Flame Casino, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Taking
a job as a bouncer there, he hopes to find a connection to the
vandalism or even the arsonist. What he finds is a blonde bombshell
in a bit of trouble, so like the alpha male he is, Lucky comes to the
rescue. But like a magician’s trick, not everything is as it
appears.
Can
Lucky discern the difference between lust and love when what happens
in Vegas doesn’t stay in Vegas? And is the Coalson family prepared
to face the consequences of his actions?
His
brothers tease that he's the "Sensitive" one... Brandon
Coalson has a huge heart and a tender touch with those that need
saving. He thought it a weakness. He will see it as a gift when he
meets shy and frightened Anna Meeks.
Anna
has a secret that keeps her from encouraging Brandon's thoughtful
advances. He lifts her to heaven during the day, but she goes home to
hell at night. Can she trust this gentle giant with her life and the
lives of those she loves?
When
tragedy strikes the Coalson family, can Brandon and his brothers save
the company they’ve worked so hard to build? Or will he be forced
to sacrifice Anna when she’s caught in the crosshairs of a
psychopath’s revenge?
“Lady,
if I were you, I’d get the hell away from here ‘cause when I make
it up this hill, I’m gonna be looking for you.” Lucky Coalson’s
luck has run out. His ex-wife turned out to be a con artist; his
business is in a shambles, and he’s been tossed into a muddy river
by a smart assed feminist with a chip on her shoulder. Things
couldn’t get much worse…or so he thought.
When
Lucky’s accused of murdering his ex-wife, the Coalson family
enlists the help of a private investigator to gather the clues
necessary to prove his innocence. Little did they know that Renee
Morgan is the same woman that sent Lucky scrambling up a sodden river
bank at the height of a storm.
The
two square off immediately, but Renee’s admiration of the Coalson
family, despite her dislike of Lucky, is the deciding factor in her
acceptance of the job. And although Lucky bristles every time she
speaks, he grudgingly respects her intelligence and savvy skills as a
private investigator.
As
the hunt for the killer escalates, the two find they are not the only
ones looking for the mysterious assassin. And the other people are
more than willing to take out anyone that gets in their way,
including those that Lucky and Renee hold dear to their hearts.
In
a moment of passion that rocks them to the core, they realize their
love may be forged in fire, but both have been badly burned by past
lovers, and too stubborn to admit the truth. Can they find a way
around their fears, or will Lucky’s ex-wife continue to plague him
from the grave?
Nick
Coalson is abrasive, arrogant, and an absolute dynamo in the bedroom.
Problem is, he knows it…
Rebecca
Morgan is sweet, shy, and immensely attracted to Nick, but he's
trouble in tight jeans and she knows it.
After
saving Rebecca and her feisty sister, Renee, from an assassin’s
bullet, Nick sets his sites on the quiet private detective. But he
mistakes her kindness for weakness, and learns the hard way that
although she may seem submissive, she’s a voluptuous bundle of
intelligence and determination.
Rebecca
tries to hide her feelings for Nick because he’s the kind of man
that makes a smart girl do stupid things. After a sensual encounter
in a pressured situation, Rebecca knows she’s going to need to keep
her wits about her or lose herself to Nick’s dominant
personality.
When
Rebecca is kidnapped and sold to a sex slave ring, Nick goes out of
his mind trying to rescue her, but finds his lone wolf ways won't
work. He must enlist the aid of the mysterious Jonas Blackshire, who
seems to know way too much about the slave ring he rescues Rebecca
from.
Is
Jonas friend or foe, and what is his connection to the man sworn to
destroy the Coalson family? Nick must find out before he loses
Rebecca and his family to the killer's nefarious plans.
Maggie
Adams is an Amazon Best Selling romance author. Her first book in the
Tempered Steel Series, Whistlin’ Dixie, debuted in Amazon’s Top
100 for Women’s Fiction, humor, on November 2014. Since then, she
has consistently made the Amazon best seller 5-star list with her
Tempered Steel Series. Her series has launched the tiny town of
Grafton, Illinois, into international recognition with sales in
Mexico, Ireland, Scotland, Australia and the UK. She is the recipient
of various awards for excellence including Dayreader Reviews Best of
2015, the Readers Favorite Award 2016, the Indie Romance Convention
Romantic Comedy Award 2017 and the 2017 New Apple Awards -Suspense
She
also writes erotica, paranormal romance, young adult romance and
women’s fiction. Maggie’s books can be found on eBook and
paperback on her website and all book sites.
When
she’s not writing, she can be found dancing, singing and cooking
(usually all at the same time), and spending time with her family and
friends.
