Accept This Dandelion

By Brooke Williams

Release Date: February 4, 2015 from Prism Book Group

Release Date: February 4, 2015

Pre-Order HERE

Join the Feb. 4th Release Day Party on Facebook HERE

Enjoy giveaways with a dozen different authors!

Renee Lockhart has her eye on a lofty goal…to fill the open position of morning radio show host at the radio station where she works.  When her co-workers sign her up for a local TV version of “the Bachelor,” Renee goes along with it in order to raise her public profile.  Ben McConnell, the most eligible bachelor in town, insists that Renee be placed on the show, despite her bumbling audition.  Ben gets much more than he expected in Renee.  He gets a girl who doesn’t bow to his every whim…and a girl who opens his eyes to true, unexpected love. When nothing goes right on the local program called “Accept this Dandelion”…hilarity ensues. Imagine your worst possible dates happening…on TV!

Add “Accept this Dandelion” to your Goodreads list HERE

About the Author

Brooke Williams writes in a sleep-deprived state while her daughters nap. Her romantic comedy is best read in the same state. Brooke has twelve years of radio in her background, both behind the scenes and on the air. She was also a television traffic reporter for a short time despite the fact that she could care less about hair and make-up. Today, Brooke stays at home with her daughters and works as a freelance writer for a variety of companies. When she isn’t working for paying clients, she makes things up, which results in books like “Accept this Dandelion.”  Brooke is also the author of “Wrong Place, Right Time,” “Someone Always Loved You,” and “Beyond the Bars.” And she looks forward to the upcoming released of “Mamarazzi” and “Baby Sheep Gets a Haircut.” Brooke and her husband Sean have been married since 2002 and have two beautiful daughters, Kaelyn (5) and Sadie (nearly 2).

Connect with Brooke:

Facebook

Website

Blog

Check out the book trailer for my Edge of Darkness series!

To help celebrate the imminent release of the third and final book in the Edge of Darkness series, Bloodlines, the first book in the series, The Enemy Inside, is only 99c from January 8-29! Ebook only.

Get it at: on Amazon, Kobo, and TWCS now!

Bloodlines will be released on January 15!

Today we have a guest post from Sherri Hayes, who is celebrating the release of her latest bestseller ‘Welcome to Serpent’s Kiss’.

Check out all of Sherri Hayes’ releases:

Sensual Romance With Heart

http://www.sherrihayesauthor.com/

How do you stand out in the Kindle age?

Word of mouth is still as important in the age of eBooks as it was before—maybe even more so. The great thing about eBooks and self-publishing is that it has expanded the market and brought more books to readers. The downside of that is that, as an author, you have way more competition vying for reader’s attention. Getting the word out about your book is as important as writing and editing it.

Good covers are also essential. Not only do they need to stand out and make a statement when looking at the cover in full size, but also as a thumbnail picture on e-retail sites such as Amazon. One of the reasons I decided to have a custom cover made for my first self-published novel is because I know how important it is when it comes to drawing attention to the book. Anything that can make you and your book stand out in a good way is a plus.

-Sherri

Release Day Blitz December 4th

The one thing Katrina didn’t expect when she’d decided to
open a club was the human drama that came with it. Learning to balance her life
as the club mistress has taken some getting used to, but she wouldn’t change a
thing.

Sherri spent most
of her childhood detesting English class. It was one of her least favorite
subjects because she never seemed to fit into the standard mold. She wasn’t
good at spelling, or following grammar rules, and outlines made her head spin.
For that reason, Sherri never imagined becoming an author.

Beth Davenport has no interest in getting involved with
another man for the foreseeable future. To say her last relationship ended in
disaster would be a colossal understatement. The only reason she agrees to put
in an appearance at Serpent’s Kiss, a private kink club in downtown St. Louis, is
because her best friend, Nicole, won’t quit nagging her. When she walks in the
door that night, the last thing she expects to do is meet a man who will have
her reconsidering her ban on men.

Can’t wait for Bloodlines? Only two months to go!

Following the acclaimed debut of The Enemy Inside and its sequel, Broken, comes the stunning conclusion to the ‘Edge of Darkness’ series by investigative journalist Vanessa Skye, Bloodlines.

Detective Alicia “Berg” Raymond is lying. She’s lying to the Chicago Police Department, to her boyfriend, Captain Jay O’Loughlin, but most of all, she is lying to herself—about her past, her future, and her addiction.

As Berg investigates a series of brutal rapes, she juggles finding justice for the victims, keeping her own sordid past buried, and wrapping her damaged head around living in a state of domestic bliss she’s certain she doesn’t deserve.

But when enemies from the past threaten her present, she is once again vulnerable to the demons that have plagued her. It’s only a matter of time before the lies unravel and destroy the fairy tale she’s finally started believing.

Can she save anyone from the lurking darkness or will her own bloodlines drag her under—this time for good?

Bloodlines will be released January 15, 2015.

Can’t wait? Read the first chapter here!

Read the other books in the Edge of Darkness series:

The Enemy Inside (Get it on Amazon)

Broken (Get it on Amazon)

Stay tuned for Bloodlines cover reveal on November 12!

Praise for The Enemy Inside:

‘THE ENEMY INSIDE is dark, raw and not for the faint of heart or stomach. As fascinating as the whodunnit is, Berg and Jay are equally interesting. While THE ENEMY INSIDE is a dark read there’s a strong undercurrent of hope as it showcases the strength of kindness, caring, and resilience of the human spirit.’

‘The Enemy Inside had me shaking in my pajamas and I loved every bit of it.’

‘It was a mind blowing experience to see how the whole thing came together. If you want to try your hand at a serial killer cop drama, pick up The Enemy Inside today! You won’t regret it.’

Praise for Broken: 

‘I  loved this so much. The pacing was great, the twists very clever, and the characterization made you unsure of motives, which added to the suspense.’

‘Vanessa Skye has done it again with another amazing novel. ‘

‘This book .. whoah.. THIS Book!.’

Six months is a loooong time to wait, but it’s finally here! The cover for the third and final book in the Edge of Darkness series, Bloodlines!

Following the acclaimed debut of The Enemy Inside and its sequel, Broken, comes the stunning conclusion to the ‘Edge of Darkness’ series by investigative journalist Vanessa Skye, Bloodlines.

Detective Alicia “Berg” Raymond is lying. She’s lying to the Chicago Police Department, to her boyfriend, Captain Jay O’Loughlin, but most of all, she is lying to herself—about her past, her future, and her addiction.

As Berg investigates a series of brutal rapes, she juggles finding justice for the victims, keeping her own sordid past buried, and wrapping her damaged head around living in a state of domestic bliss she’s certain she doesn’t deserve.

But when enemies from the past threaten her present, she is once again vulnerable to the demons that have plagued her. It’s only a matter of time before the lies unravel and destroy the fairy tale she’s finally started believing.

Can she save anyone from the lurking darkness or will her own bloodlines drag her under—this time for good?

Bloodlines will be released January 15, 2015.

Can’t wait? Read the first chapter here!

Read the other books in the Edge of Darkness series:

The Enemy Inside (Get it on Amazon)

Broken (Get it on Amazon)

A second old friend that I had regretfully lost touch with has taken their own life just THIS YEAR.

This is so unacceptable that two lovely, kind, necessary people in this world felt like they had no other option but to end their own lives.

This year has been challenging. It is a transforming year, meaning many people are being confronted by things they don’t want to be confronted by. This happens so that we are forced to take a look at our lives and change what’s not working. It’s happened to me, and many, many other friends this year. 2014 is kicking some asses and it’s been hard, for everyone.

I have no idea what happened with each of these friends and it’s not my business, but I know because of the tough year that I’ve had dealing with depression following the death of my beloved Mum that sometimes you can go to a bad place where you think that the world would be better off without you. That you honestly believe that nobody would miss you or mourn your passing. That you think your family would be better off because you ruin everything you touch.

No matter how low you get, I can say with 100% certainty that this is categorically NOT the case.

As the lovely Michael Wheeler posted today: ‘YOU are a source of joy to others. You are here on the planet at this time for very special reasons and a real purpose. You are a source of joy to others and your life is important.’

The world would not be better off without you. Your family would definitely not be better off without you. We would miss you, the world would miss you. You are here for a reason and you are important.

For all of those lucky enough to not be feeling this way, maybe now is the time to take stock of those around you. Even someone you haven’t had contact with for a while. Even somebody who you think is surrounded by enough love and support that they could never feel that way.

We as human beings have an instinct for this kind of thing but we stop ourselves from reaching out for fear that we are wrong, or that we’ll be embarrassed. Well, better we’re wrong than we lose even one more person to suicide. You could be the difference between a life lost and a life saved. Your reaching out could turn the tide for the better.

Depression is not just a low mood or feeling a ‘bit down’. It is not something that will pass on its own. In fact, left alone, it gets worse, because the feelings of being alone are reaffirmed. It is not something that people can just ‘get over’. It is not a case of just ‘sucking it up’. Depression is living a life without hope or joy. Ever. It is where everything you do feels pointless and you can’t imagine ever feeling happy or excited about anything ever again. It is an all-encompassing blackness that becomes so consuming that sometimes you just want it to end, one way or another.

So take a moment and ask someone if they’re ok. It means so much to someone who is questioning why they are here or feeling alone.

As for the friends who felt that had no other choice but to end their own lives: I’m so sorry you felt this way and I had no idea. I’m sorry that I didn’t get in touch or reach out when I could have. I am sorry for you and so sorry for your families, because your loss is massive and will never be okay.

There are also some great services on offer here, which are free and confidential, details below. It is not a sign of weakness to admit you need help, it is an act of strength. We all need help sometimes. But these feelings pass and with help you can find joy in life again. It is there just waiting to be rediscovered.

*Lifeline. Lifeline.org.au 13 11 14.

*Beyond Blue. Beyondblue.org.au. Loads of good support services listed on there, for depression sufferers, as well as their friends and family. Or call 1300 22 46 36

* blackdoginstitute.org.au

BLOODLINES

(Edge of darkness #3)

By Vanessa Skye

Prologue

Fifteen years earlier…

Young police cadet, Alicia Raymond, watched as her mother, Mary Raymond, raged hysterically at the funeral home attendant.

“What do you mean, he was cremated?” she shrieked, almost losing her balance. “Those are not the instructions I gave!”

“I’m sorry, ma’am, but your husband was cremated yesterday, under your instructions. I spoke to you on the phone myself,” he said, his hands outstretched towards Mrs. Raymond as if trying not to inflame the obviously drunken woman in front of him. “Don’t you remember?”

Alicia felt sorry for the poor guy. Trying to calm her mother down now was pointless. She had been trying in vain to do the same since thing she could talk. By speaking, the attendant only made the situation worse.

Mary tried to focus on his face. “No, I do not! I have come here to pick up my husband’s body today. I have a plot all picked out at Greenhills cemetery, right next to mine!”

The attendant blanched as Mary’s breath hit his face, then sighed and crossed his arms. “I can release his cremains to you today, ma’am, and you can still bury him,” he said and glanced in Alicia’s direction.

She watched as he eyed her appreciatively and she returned the favor. He was a tall man, maybe in his early forties, with thick brown hair and deep brown eyes, much like Alicia’s own, punctuated with heavy brows. His last name was Rollings, but he definitely had the dark coloring of a man of Italian or Greek descent. She caught the smirk and raised eyebrow as he stared at her long legs encased in tight blue jeans.

She waited until he finally made his way back to her face and she nodded.

Maybe later, as a reward for doing such a good job.

Mary raged on, oblivious to her daughter and the attendant’s mutual attraction. “He was Jewish! He didn’t want to be cremated, it was against his beliefs!” she shrieked.

Alicia smiled slightly at the revelation that the bastard would rest uncomfortably for eternity.

An added bonus.

“Ma’am,” the man said and ice creeped into his inflection. “I cannot un-cremate a man. What’s done is done.”

“Well, you can guarantee I’ll be suing this funeral home, not to mention you personally,” Mary replied, trying to shove her index finger into the man’s chest, but missing and poking his shoulder instead. “This is a gross injustice! How dare you cremate my husband against his wishes!”

The attendant produced a folded piece of paper from his inner suit pocket and held it under Mary’s nose. “Is this your fax number?” He pointed to the digits at the top of the page.

Mary lost her balance for a moment as she tried to squint at the numerals.

Alicia caught her and held her arm until she steadied herself again.

Mary’s eyes widened. Even in her drunken state, she clearly recognized the number of her new fax machine, the machine she was so proud of as she was the first of her rich friends to get the latest, smaller model. “Yes. But—”

“And is this your signature at the bottom of the cremation order?” he asked, as if he were addressing a small child.

“It looks like it. But I did not sign that! I would never—”

“Ma’am, I hate to point out the obvious, but yes, you did. I distinctly remember speaking to you yesterday and you ordering his cremation immediately. You paid with your credit card over the phone—here’s the receipt!” He showed her the yellow credit card docket.

“I do not remember doing any such thing!” Mary cried. She covered her mouth to stifle a sob.

The man arched one dark brow. “Well, madam, you wouldn’t, would you? If you smelled anything like you do today, yesterday!” He turned on his heel and left them alone.

This time, Berg’s smile was impossible to stifle.

Oh, yeah. Definitely later.

Mary sagged against her daughter as she cried.

Alicia gently steered her towards the door, smirking to herself.

You don’t get though three years of foster care without learning how to forge a signature or two.

Blood Lines is the third and final book in the Edge of Darkness series. Get the first book, The Enemy Inside, and the second book, Broken. 

Praise for The Enemy Inside:

‘THE ENEMY INSIDE is dark, raw and not for the faint of heart or stomach. As fascinating as the whodunnit is, Berg and Jay are equally interesting. While THE ENEMY INSIDE is a dark read there’s a strong undercurrent of hope as it showcases the strength of kindness, caring, and resilience of the human spirit.’

‘The Enemy Inside had me shaking in my pajamas and I loved every bit of it.’

‘It was a mind blowing experience to see how the whole thing came together. If you want to try your hand at a serial killer cop drama, pick up The Enemy Inside today! You won’t regret it.’

Praise for Broken: 

‘I  loved this so much. The pacing was great, the twists very clever, and the characterization made you unsure of motives, which added to the suspense.’

‘Vanessa Skye has done it again with another amazing novel. ‘

‘This book .. whoah.. THIS Book!.’