You've found the home on the net for romance writer, LaVerne Clark. Thanks for visiting! :)

I write suspense and light fantasy/paranormal set in the beautiful country of New Zealand. A land of myths and magic, Aotearoa (Maori for Long White Cloud) has always been a storytelling nation and it is my pleasure to share mine with you.

Make yourself your drink of choice, stay a while and feel free to leave comments. I love to meet new friends.



Heartpounding suspense and fantasy Downunder



Showing posts with label gift certificate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gift certificate. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Book Tour and Giveaway - Ron Doades

Today, I'm taking part in a virtual book tour for one of the most unique and interesting books I've ever heard of. What I thought was a straight self-help book actually isn't. Its more clever than that - and by far more entertaining! I've got an excerpt after the end of this interview so you can judge for yourself. Enjoy!

And don't forget to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway to be in to win this fabulous prize:
One randomly chosen commenter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card

To increase your chances of winning, follow the rest of the tour. Dates and sites are listed here:


Tell us about your latest release.
 I am working on two ideas, neither of which I am able to reveal. All I can reveal is the I intend to continue the new genre for self-help fiction books, all with the subtitle theme, “a novel approach to changing your life.” I can say that I trying to figure out how to establish a still different genre for this type of book, something along the lines of “self-discovery adventure.” All I have to do is to get Amazon to think outside of its conventional box on this one. I am at least trying. Wish me luck.

Good luck! :) What have you got coming soon for us to look out for?
 Nothing yet. I’m still in the early stages of development of my next book project. This much I can promise: It will not take three years to write/produce, as it did Realizing You. I need to reduce that time to one year.

What song would you choose for Karaoke?
 In staying with the Theme of Realizing You, I would try “I Can See Clearly Now” by Johnny Nash. It may be a little too slow for Karaoke, but I’m willing to risk it for something I can really have my heart lead my body in dancing to. I feel like I’m dancing toward the stars when I hear, “It's gonna be a bright bright bright bright sun shiny day.

Which Star Trek or Star Wars character are you most like?
 I’m going to take a pass on this question. I could never get my head into sci-fi.

Who would you most like to be stranded on a desert island with?  Least?  Why?
 For a long period of time, I would choose Sandra Bullock. She seems like a very interesting, adventuresome and self-sufficient woman. And, I don’t want to forget, sexy and alluring. The person I would least like to be stuck with would be Jay Leno. I don’t like his style or humor. And, I have doubts about his depth of character. By the way, I never got over the retirement of Johnny Carson, so I may be “little” closed minded in my opinion of Jay Leno.



BLURB:  


Meet Robby Aihn, the newest star in the self-help universe and author of the runaway bestseller, Realizing You, now struggling with his first taste of fame. Though his five principles for good living are changing other people’s lives, his own life is starting to fall apart. When Robby stages a lavish self-help conference in Dallas, he attracts others with their own secrets: his estranged wife and unhappy teenage daughter; the businessman pursuing his own agenda; the all-star pitcher facing the end of his career; and the shy co-author Robby never acknowledged, who is searching for meaning in her own life. Join Robby and the others on their journey toward understanding and fulfillment, in this truly novel approach to changing YOUR life.



Excerpt

Sophie was the last one awake. She lay tensely in the queen-size bed next to her mother’s until she heard Marie’s soft, even breathing. Certain that her mother was deeply asleep, she slipped out of bed, tiptoed to her suitcase, and took out the little pink and red bag. Inside nestled a print scarf and a multi-colored beaded bracelet. Both items still bore their price tags. She’d snipped the tag off only the tortoiseshell hair comb so she could wear it today. She took it from the nightstand, looked at all three items, shook out and stroked the glossy material of the scarf, then quietly tucked all of them back in the bag, which she pushed deep into her suitcase. She wouldn’t take them out again until she left Dallas. She’d never wear that stupid hair comb again. She told herself it wasn’t as pretty as she’d thought when she first saw it in the store. The stern little voice inside her head told her that wasn’t the reason.

Sophie refused to allow herself to know what the real reason was.

She hadn’t left Colorado with those items in her suitcase. Her mother didn’t know she had them. She couldn’t explain where she’d gotten them.

But taking them had made her feel better. Everybody did it, at least once or twice. No big deal. She took a deep relaxing breath, thinking about how the act of lifting them from the counter made her feel, and realized she was finally getting drowsy. She crawled into bed, turned over, and was deeply asleep in three minutes.


RON DOADES is president of Ronald Doades & Company, a consulting firm that, since 1977, has helped the people of large and mid-size energy companies improve their individual and corporate performance results by learning from the best-practice experiences of others. A popular speaker on the topic of managing change for optimal results, he holds an MBA from Columbia University and an MS in Psychology from The New School in New York City. Visit him at www.realizingyoubook.com


SUSAN SLOATE is the author of twenty published books, including STEALING FIRE, a #2 Amazon bestseller and Quarter-Finalist in the 2012 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Contest, and FORWARD TO CAMELOT (authored with Kevin Finn), which in its first edition was a #6 Amazon bestseller, took honors in 3 literary competitions and was optioned for film by a Hollywood production company. She lives in Mount Pleasant, SC. Visit her online at http://susansloate.com


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Super Book Blast - Maggie Jaimeson


Welcome to another awesome Book Blast Tour. I love hearing about these great new books, don't you?! Get a gander at Maggie Jaimeson's second book in her Sweetwater Canyon series. Sounds like a great read doesn't it?! And just look at that cover...beautiful...

Maggie is also giving away goodies on this tour. Check it out:

One autographed cover flat will be awarded to a randomly drawn commenter at each blog stop. In addition, Maggie will award a $25 gift card to either Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner's choice) as a grand prize to one randomly selected commenter on this tour, and a $25 gift certificate to either Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner's choice) to a randomly drawn host. Good luck!
You must leave an email address to be entered into any of the drawings.

To add to your chances of winning, visit some of the other stops which you will find here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2012/09/super-book-blast-healing-notes-by.html

BLURB
Forgiving yourself is the first step, but helping others forgive may be just too hard.  

Rachel Cullen grew up in Scotland with a fiddle in her hand from the age of four. She couldn't imagine life as anything but a musician. When her husband brought her to America she was immediately embraced by the Celtic and Bluegrass communities. But after her divorce, Rachel's life is a mess.  

A year of trying to prove to herself that she's woman enough for any man, and then a vicious rape while on tour with the band, leaves Rachel reeling. When she meets Noel Kershaw, an English teacher who is poetry in motion, she is definitely attracted. But he has a young child and he's suffering from his own divorce. The last thing Rachel needs in life is more baggage.  

First, Rachel must reconcile who she is, what she wants, and how to get there. Maybe then she'll know how to be a part of the family she's always wanted. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Excerpt

Claire crawled onto a stool on the other side of the island and smiled.  Neither of them talked for several minutes as they listened to the water in the pot heat.

“When I grow up, I’m going to play with Sweetwater Canyon all the time.”

“Are you sure you want to hang out with all us old folks?”

“You’re not all old. Well maybe a little old. But Kat isn’t old.”

Rachel smiled. “That’s true. She’s only seventeen.” And going on twenty-five it seemed sometimes.

“Oh, seventeen? That is old.” Claire put a finger to her lips and furrowed her brow. “How old do I have to be to play in the band all the time?”

“Probably at least eighteen.”

“But, you just said Kat—”

“Kat is different, because her mother plays in the band and can watch her all the time.”

“Well, you can watch me all the time. You can be my mother.”

Rachel gulped.

“Well, can’t you?”

“Can’t she what?” Noel walked in the room and lifted Claire off the chair in a big hug, swinging her around the room. “Can’t she what? She can do anything she wants.”

“See,” Claire leaned forward and looked at Rachel over Noel’s shoulder. “See, even Daddy thinks you can be my mother.”

“Whoa.” Noel set Claire back on the stool. “I’m not sure what I walked in on here.” He sent an accusing glance to Rachel. “You already have a mother, Claire.”

“I know. Not my real mother. My second mother. You know, like my friend, Megan. Her mommy and daddy got divorced and her daddy married a new mommy. So, Megan has two mommies now.  See?  Rachel can be my second mommy. Okay?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The cool signed cover flat ONE lucky commenter from Novel Natterings will win!
GOOD LUCK!

 
AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Maggie Jaimeson writes romantic women’s fiction and romantic suspense with a near future twist. She describes herself as a wife, a step-mother, a sister, a daughter, a teacher and an IT administrator. By day she is “geek girl” – helping colleges to keep up with 21st century technology and provide distance learning options for students in rural areas. By night Maggie turns her thoughts to worlds she can control – worlds where bad guys get their comeuppance, women triumph over tragedy, and love can conquer all.

HEALING NOTES is the second book in the Sweetwater Canyon Series of four books.  The final two books will be available in 2013.



Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Maggie-Jaimeson/118916694787820

Twitter: @maggiejaimeson
 
Don't forget to leave a comment for Maggie to be in the draw to win those great prizes!

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Release for hot, new "Vegas" Series – Are you feeling lucky?

Today, I have the wonderfully funny and innovative Mimi Barbour on my blog. If you've read any of her Vicarage Bench series stories, you'll know why I say innovative. What a great take on time-travel is all I'll say for fear of spoiling it for anyone :) Go check them out!

Mimi has a wonderful new series release and a great contest going which sounds like a lot of fun. I'll let her tell you all about them :)



Thank you LaVerne for letting me visit your blog today and for your support in helping me spread the news about my new series called "Vegas"

 
 
This is release day for the new romantic suspense
Vegas Series by Mimi Barbour


"Partners" Book One in the new Romantic Suspense Vegas Series. 
Riveting and fast-paced, this short blockbuster will introduce you to Aurora Morelli and Kai Lawson, the characters who are the stars of the Vegas Series.
In this novel, Aurora is forced to accept one very difficult fact—she's lonesome for her partner Debbie. An attack by a maniac put paid to their working together and Aurora is pissed. She's out to get the madman who hurt her friend and God help anyone who gets in her way.  Therefore when a new partner is forced on her, a bloody hotshot no less, the kind of dude she always stays as far away from as possible, she's even more pissed.
This action–packed short is humorous and will sweep you into the lives of these Las Vegas Detectives.

 
Short Excerpt – Chapter One
 
So this is what missing someone feels like. Kind of sad and lonely mashed together, eating away at you all day long. Aurora had never felt this way before; wouldn’t have given herself permission. This time the annoying ache refused to stop
She seldom allowed gloomy thoughts to grab hold and mess with her head. But looking around the small office assigned to her and another, seeing the empty desk, sorrow gnawed away until she gave in. Her old partner Deb left behind a hollow emptiness, a sensation she wouldn’t ever admit to anyone else. What did you expect? She chastised herself. Not having the person you trust more than anyone else in the world backing you up sucked big time.
Two weeks ago, life had been normal. She’d gone to get a cup of the sludge they called coffee and left Debbie working on their backlog of case files. Returning to their office, Lieutenant Cory Ashton had caught up with her and they’d stepped into the room together, both coming to a dead stop. Debbie, who’d lately taken to the layered look with sloppy clothes, had bent over to pick something up from the floor and everything had draped open— her pregnant belly had been revealed for all to see.
 

"Roll the Dice" Book Two in the romantic suspense Vegas Series.

“You shot me!” Aurora is incensed. Her new partner shrugs and answers. “I saved your life.” From the very first page of this riveting story, these two battle for supremacy in trying to catch the serial rapist who ripped both their lives apart. With all her might, she fights the attraction to his baby blues that tease and start her internal warning devices humming. After all, her job is her life and determination has always been her lifeline.
Kai has a mission of honor to undertake. The man who’d raped his sister can’t be allowed to live. After all, she hadn’t! Revenge fills his soul while visions of his new partner fills his heart. The sassy woman rattles his calm, and he can’t keep his hands to himself. Doesn’t mean she has the power to stop him from doing what has to be done.

 
Short Excerpt – Chapter One
 
“You shot me!"
“You told me to.”
“Dumb shit!” Aurora pushed her new partner from hovering over her so she could sit up. “I didn't mean it. I just wanted you to scare Rhondo.” She felt blood poring from the wound on her arm and purposely kept her head turned away.
“Shooting you did scare him. He let you go, didn't he?”
Aurora frowned at him. Why did his voice have to sound so damn reasonable?
“What-ever!” She hoped her scorn would get to him.
“Hey! I saw his eyes, you didn’t.  He had every intention of using that knife. You know, the sharp one he had pressed against your throat. If I’d shot him instead of you…” He shrugged.
Aurora shuddered, fighting off nausea. She didn’t want to listen to reason. Being angry made the situation a whole lot easier to deal with. Sarcasm, the best weapon she had in a macho man's environment, replaced whining.
She glared at him and saw his shapely eyebrows rise. The light of the bulb hanging from the ceiling of the cruddy apartment haloed his head making the bare skin shine.  “Just my frigging luck to end up with a partner who thinks and looks like Bruce Willis."
Kai chuckled. Her glower put a quick end to his merriment. He tried changing the subject with sweet talk. "I've been told I have a nicely shaped head for being bald."
"Sure and it goes swell with your baby-blue eyes." She sneered on purpose. No way would she admit he did look good.
His response was a grunt of displeasure. “Are you always this crabby?”
Disbelief shone in her amazed expression. “Not at all…” She said, disdain evident. “…only when I’ve been shot.”


"Vegas" Contest Rules

(Sept 15 – Sept 30th)

1. Read the book called "Roll the Dice".
2. Write an honest review for Amazon.
3. Send a copy of Amazon's notice to

mimibarbour@hotmail.com
 
Then…

you'll have a chance at being the lucky winner of a
$50 Amazon Gift Certificate
 
I've purposely set the price of the book down to $.99 for this contest and on Sept 19 & 20 it will be promoted in the

 
and will be …
 
…you guessed it!

FREE!!!
 
Good Luck!!!

You can find Mimi on the web here:
Website, Twitter, Blog, Facebook

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

The Wild Rose Press turn 6!!


Pressies anyone? Stop by any of these links and be in to win!

Today is a Birthday Celebration!
It's our birthday and you get presents! Happy 6th Birthday to the Wild Rose Press. Spend the day with us on the Wild Rose Press blog, the Wilder Blog, the Editor's blog, the Black Rose Blog, on facebook, and Twitter.
You could win a Gift Certificate to
The Wild Rose Press stores or the grand prize- a Kindle Fire!
Winners today will be drawn from those at our party stops. So follow us, leave a comment, share our tweets, be our friend on FB and celebrate with us.
Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/WildRosePress
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TheWildRosePress
The Wild Rose Press Blog http://thewildrosepress.blogspot.com/
The Wilder Blog http://wilderroses.blogspot.com/
Behind the Garden Gate Editor's blog http://behindthegardengate.blogspot.com/
Black Rose Blog http://twrpblackrose.blogspot.com/