GIVEAWAY & Cover Reveal: The Destiny Series by Laura DeLuca

Gabriella is a witch. The problem is, she doesn't remember.

She repressed the memories of her powers years ago when her mother was

murdered. Now, the warlock who was responsible for her mother's death has set

his sights on Gabriella. He is determined to use her fear to turn her to the

dark side of magick…even if it kills her. Her mother's spirit is reaching out

to warn her, but even that she pushes away. Desperate to save her daughter, the

spirit finds a male witch–one that just happens to be in love with Gabriella.

Darron is more than willing to help but the two young witches will have way

more to battle than just an evil warlock. There are overbearing jocks and petty

rich girls who get tempers flaring and often set Gabriella and Darron at odds. 

There is more to the story than Gabriella and Darron could even

imagine. There are terrible secrets to be revealed, battles to be waged, and

lives will be lost. Only after Gabriella and Darron both come to terms with who

they really are, and open themselves up to the true meaning of magick, can they

have any hope of fulfilling their destiny.

Available on Amazon, Smashwords and Barnes & Noble. 

Gabriella and Darron thought their magickal battle was over

when they defeated the evil warlock, Richard. When her Aunt Donna seeks

Gabriella's help in rescuing her catatonic daughter from the Dark Coven, Gabriella

discovers that her cousin holds a power within her that would be catastrophic

in the hands of the evil witches. Gabriella's coven sets out on a journey that

may be their last. Along the way, they meet new allies, face devastating

treachery, and battle not only the Dark Coven, but the darkness within

themselves. When Gabriella finally comes face to face with the cousin she never

knew existed, her true destiny is unveiled, and the fate of the mortal world is

in her hands.

Available on Amazon, Smashwords and Barnes & Noble. 

About the Author

Laura 
“Luna” DeLuca lives at the beautiful Jersey shore with her husband and 
four children. She loves writing in the young adult genre because it 
keeps her young at heart. In addition to writing fiction, Laura is 
also the editor of a popular review blog called New Age Mama. Her current works include Destiny, 
Destiny Unveiled, Phantom, Morrigan, Demon and Player.

Website
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The Giveaway

To celebrate the release of the new covers, Author Laura DeLuca is giving away a prize pack that includes a oil diffuser, incense and burner, decorative wooden keepsake box, lavender scented drawer liners, a crystal point, stone pendant, and signed copies of Destiny & Destiny Unveiled with the original covers.

The Whimsical Pixie Etsy

Shop is also donating a beautiful altar set inspired by the original 

cover of Destiny Unveiled. 

The book's cover was recreated on the altar box lid; the design was 

first set in pyrography, painted, stain and given a protective coating 

of high gloss polycrylic. The flower Celtic knot pentagram is worn by 

Gabby and her friends as a symbol of unity and has been pyrographed on 

the altar tile. Red paint was floated around the perimeter to 

coordinate with the Blood Moon of the cover. A red rose in full bloom 

was used on both millefiori* pieces; the censor and charcoal tongs. It 

symbolizes the Gabby's destiny being unveiled. 

A scene in the 

book tells of the young hero doing spell work on the beach using a drift

wood wand to cast a circle and sea shells to form a pentagram. Both of 

these have been included as well as censor sand and a roll of charcoal 

disks so you can perform your own ritual. Whether you're just starting 

to walk the path or have for years, this kit makes an attractive 

addition to your ritual tools.

One lucky winner is going to receive both these fabulous prize packs. To enter, just fill in the Rafflecopter 

form 

below. This giveaway will end on 3/28/13. Open to 

the US only. The 

winner will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to reply. 

Thanks again to The Whimsical Pixie and the author for offering this fantastic prize.

*I cannot get the Rafflecopter to work. Please head on over to the author's blog to enter.*

Betty & Coretta

I'm probably talking about a movie you've already watched or recorded, but just in case...and because there's still time (supposed to be showing on Lifetime the entire month of February), I'm going to post about it anyway.


You've heard that saying...behind every great man, there's a great woman...and this movie is about the great women behind Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr.

We never hear much about them. After all, these women were trailblazers in a time when women "belonged at home."

Betty was pregnant, with no home and no money when Malcolm was murdered--in front of her and her daughters. Most women would whither up into a ball and cry. You know what she did? Raised 6 daughters, bought a family home with the money from her husband's autobiography, got her college degree (phD), began teaching, spoke against people using her husband's name to commit violence. And oh, she had a radio show too, the first in the area that was "black-owned." Not trying to be un-politically correct, but quoting the movie.

Coretta spent the rest of her life fighting to get her husband his national holiday and speaking to empower WOMEN, not just African Americans. She was by Betty's side often. She had her home and her privacy invaded, her marriage mocked.

Had their men joined forces while alive, history may have been different. As it was, these women had no choice but to do it for them--unite under the same cause, with the same mission.

The real Martin & Coretta

They were very different...Betty thought protecting her children from Malcolm's death was the answer. She fought to shield them in every way--possibly leaving them somewhat unprepared for the real world and who they were, as we see in Malcolm's daughter throughout the movie. Coretta gathered all her children a mere four days after Martin's death and marched with thousands in the very city he was killed.

Loved this movie. Bout time the women got some recognition. Superb performances from all actresses. I also liked how the movie showed us the aftermath of death for the children--Malcolm's daughter. I appreciated that twist. My only quibble: I'd have left out the Martin messing around bit. No need to defile the man's reputation.

HUGE OMG moment: Betty's death. Very sad. I did not know that happened.

Lifetime. Set your DVRs.

Strong is Sexy Heroine of the Week: P.J. Stone

Book: Hidden Gates

Author: D.T. Dyllin

Heroine: P.J. Stone

I’m super excited to have been invited by Tara aka Book Babe, to do a guest post for her Strong is Sexy meme. Lets take a moment while I do a little happy dance…again. lol Okay moving along…

I want to take this opportunity to introduce you to my strong, sexy heroine P.J. Stone. She is an eighteen-year-old Seer, who is obviously still a teenager. Now, you’re probably scratching your head and wondering what does a teenager know about being strong, or sexy for that matter? First of all, I’m going to look past all of the supernatural aspects of P.J.’s world and talk about why I think she’s strong character wise. P.J. is young, sure. She has a lot of room for emotional growth, but that’s just the thing, she’s the type of person who knows that about herself.

Being strong doesn’t mean always making the right decision the first time around or even knowing what the right decision is. Being strong is holding yourself accountable for your own actions, and knowing when to admit that you’re wrong. Being strong is knowing your own flaws, and knowing that it’s okay to not be perfect. P.J. is far from perfect, and she knows it. She makes a lot of bad choices and knows she has to live with them. P.J. is strong and therefore sexy because even though she keeps screwing up, she always picks herself up and tries again. She stands up for what she believes in, goes after what she thinks she wants, and gets knocked down time and time again…but she won’t stay down. Emotional growth and strength comes from how you deal with failures, not having things handed to you on a silver platter. P.J. only begins to grow emotionally after hardships begin to happen in her life.

Yes, P.J. is a teenager, but she’s still strong, and as my series continues she will become more so. Although we might need to be patient with her for a while because she’s still learning what strength is and well…you know how teenagers can be. Lol

To get to know P.J. and her world check out Hidden Gates, Book One in The P.J. Stone Gates Trilogy. Thanks again for having me Tara!

Blurb:

For P.J. Stone, being a “Seer” who has never seen anything is less than fun. And P.J. isn’t known for her patience.

To make matters worse, she must choose a suitable mate to continue the Seer bloodline. Duty always comes before her heart…at least that’s what her parents taught her. When she finds herself wanting someone who is considered off-limits, P.J. is forced to question everything she believes.

As if navigating her love life isn’t complicated enough, P.J. finally receives a vision—of a threat to her world that only she can perceive. But no one will believe a fledgling Seer’s warnings. With nowhere else to turn, she may decide to trust a stranger with her life, her world, and maybe even her heart.

Are you an author with a strong heroine in your book? Want to see her featured? Find out how here.

Tip From Tara: Breathing and Barking

This is going to be short and simple. Unless you're some magical being who has no lungs or is pumped full of some gas requiring no circulation or renewal, I think it's safe to say you breathe.

You breathe 24/7. So what kind of dialogue tag is this?

"I think you're sexy," he breathed.

When did he stop breathing? Did anyone do CPR on the poor guy?

I hate it. Get it out of your MS. Unless the character is a magical being pumped full of gas who hardly ever breathes. LOL

And while I'm on the subject of irritating dialogue tags...

"Go to your room!" she barked.

Always, without fail, I visualize the character falling to his/her hands and knees and yapping like a dog. If you don't want me picturing that, you may want to revise it.

And that's all. Have a great day and don't forget to breathe. ;)

Blog Winner!

First of all, a HUGE thank you to all who posted my Feb 12th mega announcement. You are all so very appreciated. It has been a tremendous success, and it's not over yet! The contest and the freebie go for days more.

I owe each and every one of the blog posters/hosters.

If I can return the favor, in the future, you know where to find me.

Tonight, I did the promised drawing for the $5 Amazon gift card. I wrote down every single hoster/poster and put their names in a dog bowl. Lola picked a piece of paper from it.  On the paper it says Megan D. Martin.

Megan, I'll be contacting you shortly. Thank you.

Book Release, Kindle Freebie, & Grand Giveaway!

I’m pleased to share with you my latest release, Love Request. This one is special to me because it’s not only the first romance I penned, but it features a “hearing-impaired” heroine, like myself.

I say “hearing –impaired” because really, there’s nothing wrong with Ciara. She’s not damaged or in need of repair. She just can’t hear as well as others.

As a reader, I grew tired of all the women in romance novels being perfect. In real life, many of us have disabilities—and they are disabilities others can’t see. And worse, they are disabilities others can’t understand, and a lot of times what people don’t understand becomes something they fear…and belittle.

This is where the bullying comes in. You see, this is more than just a romance novel. Open its pages, hit that Kindle “next page” button, and find out for yourself. Learn. Be enlightened. Relate.

Want to sample it first? No problem. Available on Kindle and FREE for the next five days, is a humorous Valentine short story, Mating Instinct.

You’ll find the first chapter of Love Request at the end.

Thank you, readers, for celebrating this special time with me. Happy Valentine’s Day! In honor of you, I’m giving away a print copy of Love Request, a plush dog, a lipstick for that special date, and 5 pheromone-soaked chocolate incense sticks! WARNING: Be careful if dogs are in the vicinity.

Blurb:

When Ciara Littleton finally joins Facebook to socialize without the limits her hearing impairment gives her, she looks up a childhood friend on a whim. In sending him that first message, she ignites the memories of a crush from twenty years ago. Can a simple friend request fix all that stands between them and maybe even lead to something more?

Hunter's plate is full. A recent divorce, a pregnant sister, and now, he realizes he's in love with a woman who lives states away. Can he overcome the boundaries of Internet romance to make this desire turn into something real, or will adversity and distance be their undoing?

This book was formerly titled A Facebook Affair and has been revised with a new ending.

Love Request has been named a LASR Best Book and is now up for vote on Best Book of 2012 Poll. You can cast a vote here. I’m so excited and so grateful!

Blurb for Mating Instinct:

This is exactly what you need!

It’s Valentine’s Day and when Ariel receives a package of incense in the mail from her Pagan friend and mentor, she isn’t sure what to make of the enclosed note. Sure, she has some issues, but who doesn’t?

When the smoke releases its magic, Ariel gets an evening of surprise humor and romance, and it is indeed exactly what she needs.

Links:

Love Request on Amazon

Mating Instinct FREE

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The House Girl by Tara Conklin

You'd think that with all the historical stories out there about the evils of slavery, about slaves trying to be free, of the plight of the early African Americans, you'd think you'd read it all by now. What could one more author add to it?


A lot.

This one touched me in a way that many others haven't. Looking back now that I've turned the last page, I am trying to pinpoint what it exactly what it was that really hit me hard, and I'm not sure. Josephine...has lived a live of heartache. She's an item, slapped when the "master" feels like slapping her, used sexually on another's whim, not given a choice or say in anything. The one joy in her life, art, is even stolen from her by her "mistress" who despite her claims to be sorry, stands there and takes credit for the paintings and drawings done by her slave, Josephine. And this continues long after her death.

The story doesn't reveal a whole lot about her, really, even though we follow her at times. Some of Josephine's tale is told by others, people who didn't even know her, yet her story kept continuing in my mind long after I turned the Kindle off. I cried for her. I so badly wanted her to find joy, but the story ends realistically. It doesn't throw a tied up with a bow happy ending at us. It's life. Somehow the ending the author chose resonated with me even more.

The tale goes back and forth btw modern day Lina and the slave Josephine, with added bits of letters and journals from an underground railroad helper and a doctor. Through all these narratives, we slowly piece whether or not Josephine escaped, whether she was the true artist behind the famous masterpieces, whether she had any descendants who can now claim them.

The present day story revolves around Lina, a lawyer on a reparations case, her artist father, her dead mother. Truthfully, I didn't see why the deal with her mother was in the book. I kept wondering if it was going to turn out that Lina herself was a descendant of Josephine or something. I was left feeling unsatisfied with this line. Why was it here? What was significant about her mother and her artist father's stuff? Something...slipped by me. I wasn't interested at all in that and as the book ended, I was wondering why it was there.

In the end though, I cried, and the characters are still in my mind, like I've known them, each one of them, personally. That's a sign of solid writing, of incredible talent. This book doesn't sugarcoat the slavery issue. It brings what happened into a glaring perspective. Even the ones working on the reparations case in the end...it was eye opening.. "You're too white." I was just thrown for a loop, and yet, that's how people are.

Four bikes. I received a digital galley of this from the publisher.