Wednesday, April 27, 2022

Book Blast/Giveaway - Midnight Highlander by Anya Summers



This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Anya Summers will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Xavier Campbell needs a miracle. If he doesn’t want to lose the life he’s worked so hard to build, he must get married, and quickly. Trouble is, there is no woman in his life. Not even a friend with benefits. As a regular Dom at Eternal Eros, he gets what he needs and goes home. And a wife? Hell, no. This Highlander is single for a reason. So when his entire existence threatens to come crashing down, he realizes he might have to make some adjustments…or a bargain with the she-devil who beguiles him, body and mind, from the first moment he touches her.

Emma Morton wants a man. To play with. Watch television with. Cuddle with. And yes, God help her, she wants him hard, naked, and in her bed. More than once. What she doesn’t want is complications. Expectations. She is dedicated to her work, to building her business. She’s worked too long and too hard to change her plans for something as fleeting as love. No matter how much she wishes otherwise, life has repeatedly proven that romance is a myth. Pure fairytale.

But passion? Yes. She could definitely go for a ‘Single’s Night’ of play—and release—at the infamous Eternal Eros.

After one scorching night of pleasure, a reckless bargain is made. Marriage with an expiration date. A business arrangement. Nothing more.

But what starts as a farce becomes a bit too real and Xavier realizes this is no game. Telling Emma the truth would be dangerous…especially when he realizes he is playing for keeps.


Read an Excerpt

She was in no mood to trade barbs with the beast. Xavier narrowed his gaze. She hated that the authoritarian glare on his chiseled face made flutters erupt in her belly.

“Don’t mind him, lass, my brother has always had a stick up his bum.”

She glanced at the man sitting on the barstool beside her. Jasper Campbell was the evil bartender’s younger brother. Where Xavier was stern and broody, his brother was a charmer with a winning smile. They looked alike. Both tall, brawny men with dark hair, Scottish accents, and gorgeous bodies.

She leaned toward Jasper and asked, “Did you put it there, or is the stick self-inflicted?”

Jasper barked a laugh, his cobalt gaze twinkling with mirth. “Oh, you are a spunky one. Why haven’t we ever scened together?”

“I don’t know but be careful, one scene with me, and I’d ruin you for all other submissives,” she unabashedly teased him.

“Is that a fact?” Jasper studied her with avid interest. “Perhaps you’ll pull my marker tonight, and we’ll find out.”

“Maybe.” She flirted, liking the easygoing Scot. He was dressed in a kilt like his brother, although he wasn’t as broad through the chest. “Now, I have always wondered, anything underneath the kilt?”

Jasper cast her a lopsided smirk chock-full of innuendo. “If you want to find out, just say the word, lass. We can escape now before the event begins and I would be more than happy to show you mine—that is, if you’d show me yours.”

“Macallan, double, neat.” Her drink was thunked onto the bar.

She shot a glance at Xavier. Pasting a smile on her face, she made sure her voice dripped with derision. “Thank you, Sir.”

Xavier’s face darkened, and his full lips flattened into a thin line. If only he weren’t so damn handsome. The strong, blunt lines of his face were partially shrouded by his black beard. His thick, inky brows were currently scowling at her.

Her brain seemed to be disconnected from her mouth tonight as she asked Jasper, “Is he always this grumpy?”

Thunderclouds darkened Xavier’s expression. He appeared like he wanted to throttle her at the question. She didn’t know why she was pushing the onery bartender’s buttons. She knew she was dancing a fine line, and one wrong step would give the big brute just cause to discipline her. Except, she was having fun for a change, and didn’t want to stop needling the guy. He seemed to bring it out of her with his scowls and muttered oaths. And, truth be told, she would never be a simpering, docile submissive. Emma liked challenging them because it pruned the Doms who couldn’t handle her.

About the Author:
Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Anya grew up listening to Cardinals baseball and reading anything she could get her hands on. She remembers her mother saying if only she would read the right type of books instead binging her way through the romance aisles at the bookstore, she’d have been a doctor. While Anya never did get that doctorate, she graduated cum laude from the University of Missouri-St. Louis with an M.A. in History.

Anya is a bestselling and award-winning author published in multiple fiction genres. She also writes urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and contemporary romance under the name Maggie Mae Gallagher. A total geek at her core, when she is not writing, she adores attending the latest comic con or spending time with her family. She currently lives in the Midwest with her two furry felines.

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Friday, April 22, 2022

Blurb Blast/Giveaway - Brazen by Bobbi Smith

 


Brazen

by Bobbi Smith

 


GENRE: Western Historical Romance

 

 

BLURB:

Casey Turner could rope and ride like any man, and she scandalized folks by wearing boys’ clothes, but when she strode down the streets of Hark Luck, Texas, nobody took her for anything but a beautiful woman. Working alongside her pa to keep the bank from foreclosing on the Bar T, she had no time for the frivolous things of life, no time for romance. But all that was about to change…

 

Michael Donovan had had a burr under his saddle about Casey for years. Ever since she caught him skinny-dipping and stole his clothes, making him the laughingstock of the whole Circle D. The last thing he wanted was to be forced into marrying her, but it looked like he had no choice if he wanted to safeguard the future of the Donovan ranch. Their families had been bitter enemies for years, but now his parents were urging Michael to court Casey, to treat her like a lady. He’d do his darndest, but he could never let on that underneath her pretty new dresses Casey was as wild as ever, and in his arms she was positively…BRAZEN.

 

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Excerpt:

A wild plan began to form in Casey’s mind as she stared at Michael’s clothes. She drew her rifle and then urged her mount closer to the water’s edge, keeping far enough back to be out of Michael’s reach in case he tried to come after her.

“Hey, Donovan!” she cried out.

Michael was startled when he turned to find himself staring up at Casey Turner.

“What are you doing here?” he demanded, moving into deeper water to keep himself shielded from her view.

“I’m checking for strays—but I found you.” She was enjoying his discomfort.

“Just keep on riding,” he ordered, wanting her gone, the sooner the better. He knew she was trouble.

“I don’t have to do anything you tell me to do.”

His scowl deepened. He wasn’t sure what she was up to, but he didn’t trust her.

A sense of power filled Casey. She had him right where she wanted him. “So, how’s the water?”

“Fine.”

“Good. I’ll be going now.”

“Good. Good-bye.”

She urged her mount across the low-running river.

“Why are you heading for Donovan land?” he called. “There aren’t any strays around here.”

Casey didn’t answer. She just rode to the tree where his clothes were hanging and yanked them down, then held them up for him to see. “I didn’t find any strays, but I found these. I think I’ll take them with me!”

“You can’t take my clothes!”

“Oh, yes, I can. You said I needed new clothes when we were in town, so I’ll just take yours!”

“You do and you’ll regret it.” He started to charge through the water toward her.

Casey lifted her rifle for him to see. “Stay right there, Donovan. Enjoy your swim.”

Casey was still laughing as she rode to where his horse was tied up. She freed his mount, then slapped it on the rump to chase it off. She crossed back to the Turner side and galloped away. She did not look back.

Michael climbed out of the water and swore loudly in humiliation and frustration. He wanted to chase her down and teach her a lesson, but it wasn’t going to happen right now. Silently, he vowed that one day she would pay for what she’d done.

But first, he had to figure out how he was going to get home. He spotted his boots nearby and was grateful for that much. What he was going to do next, he wasn’t sure. He only hoped his horse would return to him on his own. If not…

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

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

After working as a department manager for Famous-Barr, and briefly as a clerk at a bookstore, Bobbi gave up on career security and began writing. She sold her first book to Zebra in 1982.

Since then, Bobbi has written over 40 books and 6 novellas. To date, there are more than five million copies of her novels in print. She has been awarded the prestigious Romantic Times Storyteller Award and two Career Achievement Awards. Her books have appeared on the New York Times Best Seller List, the USA Today Best Seller List and the Wal-Mart Best Seller List.

The rights to Ms. Smith’s books have been sold to China, France, Germany, India, Israel, Russia and Sweden. Bobbi has also written two faith-based contemporary novels – Haven and Miracles – using the pseudonym Julie Marshall.


Bobbismithauthor.com

 

https://www.amazon.com/Brazen-Bobbi-Smith-ebook/dp/B00FAY1HEY/ref=la_B001JSBQMS_1_13

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Bobbi Smith will be awarding $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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Thursday, April 21, 2022

Book EXcerpt/Giveaway - The Art of Self-Supervision by Laurie Ponsford-Hill

The Art of Self-Supervision

Studying the link between self-reflection and self-care

by Laurie Ponsford-Hill

 

 

GENRE: Self-help, Non-fiction

 

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

 

BLURB:

 

At last, the field of relational therapy has a technique for the art of self-supervision. Everyone agrees that supervision is essential, however the ultimate goal of supervision is to provide a tool beyond supervision for self-supervision. This book captures the primary ingredients of self-supervision and proves the link between self-reflection and self-care. No matter where you are on your journey as a professional, The Art of Self-Supervision: Studying the link between self-reflection and self-care will lead you to a process to tune into your own expert guidance and a greater capacity to help yourself.

 

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EXCERPTS:

This section offers an overview of the previous research using self-portraits as a method, and the different elements that comprise the self-portrait.

 

Recent literature reveals an increasing amount of evidence concerning art therapy research. Allen (1992), Brown (2008), and B. L. Moon (1997) discuss the strengths and stressors of art therapists, and Glaister (1996), Hanes (2007), and Smith (2008) suggest the usefulness of self-portraiture in helping clients connect with past and present aspects of themselves. Bryce-Smith (1992) offers an historical view of the self-portrait in western culture. Chilvers (2003), Platzman (2001), and Schilkraut (1999) suggest that the self-portrait offers the opportunity to: heighten self-awareness; construct identity; and discover different aspects of self. Carr and Hancock (2016) explored the role portrait therapy plays in helping people living with life-threatening and chronic illnesses to explore and heal childhood trauma. Carr (2015) explored resolving self-identity disruption using portrait therapy as an art therapy intervention in her doctoral dissertation and book Portrait Therapy (2017) on the subject. Becerra (2018) studied the emotional and physiological impact of creating self-portraits using mandalas and human figure drawings and found that the process of drawing generally reduced state anxiety and pulse rate.

Kenworthy (1995) suggests that the act of creating the self-portrait and reflecting on the image are an expression of self; revealing internal and external hidden entities and interrelatedness. Morin, Pradat-Diehl, Robain, Bensalah, and Perrigot (2003) examine the physical body of the self-portrait indicating that erect self-portraits with the absence of facial features, lack of clothes, and/or hands could indicate a sudden handicap such as a brain lesion or speech disorder. Backos (1997) studies the use of self-portraits with rape survivors, and finds self-portraits are an effective modality for improving body image. Further, several articles have been written concerning the use of the self-portrait with health conditions, such as: chemotherapy (Koufer, Arbel, & Barak, 2004); head and neck cancer (Gilbert, Lydiatt, Aita, Robbins, McNeilly, & Desmarais, 2016); transitioning in motherhood (Scotti, 2016); narcissism (Thompson, 2013); personality disorder (Thorne, 2016); stroke (Morin et al., 2003); and memory dysfunction (Hendrixson, 1986). The general conclusion of these studies is that the self-portrait provides deep insight into self-image, physical and emotional issues that were previously hidden or difficult to express verbally.

Several studies (Craddick, 1963; Nasinovskaya, 2008; Welkener & Magolda, 2014) have been conducted with students engaged in the creation of a self-portrait. For example, Welkener and Magolda (2014) conducted a study using self-portraits, free writing and interviews to identify student’s meaning-making, self, relationships and knowledge. The authors surmise that “Perhaps it is the element of freedom afforded students in the self-portrait creation process that enables deep insight into their developmental journeys” (p. 580) and suggest that additional research is needed.

 

 


 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Like many therapists, Laurie Ponsford-Hill began as a newly graduated therapist feeling like she could provide her services all day, every day. She realized at a certain point in her career that this was simply not true, and this fueled her determination to understand everything about the need to maintain balance in her life.

Laurie earned a Master of Divinity degree, and directed her work towards pastoral care, later earning a Master of Counselling Psychology degree and furthering her Registrations to that of Psychotherapist, Marriage and Family Therapist, Social Worker, and Art Therapist. Her career led her to a greater understanding about herself and her relationships. Laurie continued to broaden her education and went on to complete a doctoral program in Human Relationships at Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo Lutheran Seminary.

 

Laurie feels fortunate to have attained balance in her work and home life and empathizes with many others engaged in their own personal struggles to attain balance. She has dedicated her career towards helping others on that journey, designing the Self-Supervision program, which was meticulously tested in this clinical research study. The Art of Self-Supervision: Studying the link between self-supervision and self-care chronicles the remarkable findings of this study: that professionals can overcome burnout and improve their health and life balance by focusing on their self-portrait.

Laurie is currently the Clinical Director and Supervisor at The Counselling House, in both London and Woodstock, Ontario, an agency that focuses on the supervision of counselling interns and newly graduated therapists, and their development of self-supervision. Laurie maintains a private consulting practice specializing in the development of maintaining healthy relationships with self, work, home, others, God, and the world.

 

Connect with Laurie Ponsford-Hill

 

WEBSITE http://www.thecounsellinghouse.ca/

 

GOODREADS https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18861141.Laurie_Ponsford_Hill

 

Get your copy of The Art of Self-Supervision                       

 

AMAZON.COM https://amazon.com/dp/0228806283

 

AMAZON.CA https://amazon.ca/dp/0228806283

 

INDIGO CHAPTERS https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/the-art-of-self-supervision/9780228806301-item.html

 

BARNES & NOBLE https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-art-of-self-supervision-laurie-ponsford-hill/1130528139

 

BOOK DEPOSITORY https://www.bookdepository.com/The-Art-of-Self-Supervision-Laurie-Ponsford-Hill/9780228806288

 


Laurie Ponsford-Hill will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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