Sunday, December 29, 2013

1.99 Christmas Contemporary Romance: The Faberge Secret #snippetsunday

Hi all, I'm participating in the Weekend Warriors Snippet Sunday. This month, I'll be taking snippets from my contemporary romance: The Faberge Secret









This snippet:  Elise just knocked Mr. Handsome over on a cold winter day. 
*****

"You'll forgive me, miss, but you seem to have me at a disadvantage." The man's voice was deep, yet resonant with the lilt of a foreign accent.

Elise bit her lower lip, pausing momentarily to drink in his handsome, angular features. His lips were firm and sensual, parting into a broad smile to reveal straight white teeth. He possessed thick, tawny-gold hair, and massive shoulders filled his coat. God, he felt wonderful. She gave in to the moment, savoring the contact with him.

"I'm sorry," she said again, softly. 


****
The Faberge Secret takes place during Christmas between Brattleboro, Vermont and St. Petersburg, Russia. 


5 Hearts, Sizzling Hot Book Reviews
As the love story thicken, the suspense heightens and it won't let your eyes leave the page. I recommend The Faberge Secret to all of the romance readers. Even if you have never read romance, The Faberge Secret would be a great place to start.

4 Stars, Manic Readers
"A satisifying read."

4 Stars, Night Owl Book Reviews

The Faberge Secret is a fast paced, delightful adventure with plenty of love and adventure sprinkled in for spice.

****
BUY LINKS:


AMAZON KINDLE:
B&N NOOK:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-faberge-secret-stephanie-burkhart/1105070465?ean=2940013874596&itm=1&usri=the+faberge+secret
ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS:
PUBLISHER'S LINK:

FIND ME ON THE WEB AT:
WEBSITE:

TWITTER:

FACEBOOK: 
https://www.facebook.com/StephanieBurkhartAuthor

GOOD READS:

YOU TUBE CHANNEL:
http://www.youtube.com/user/botrina?feature=mhee
PINTEREST:

http://pinterest.com/sgburkhart/

Friday, December 27, 2013

Book Review Friday - One for the Money by Janet Evanovich #bookreview #janetevanovich



Book Review for: One for the Money
Written by: Janet Evanovich
St. Martin Press
ISBN: 978-0-312-99045-9
Avail in ebook and print

5 Stars
Catchy, witty, and clever, Evanovich shines with "One for the Money." Set in the mid-1990's in New Jersey, Stephanie Plum is unemployed and up to her neck in debt. She needs money fast so she goes to her cousin, Vinnie, and elects to do some bounty hunting, but can she haul in a $10,000 prize without losing her head?

Stephanie's main target is Joe Morelli, a boy she grew up with who is now a cop accused of killing someone in cold blood. As Stephanie snoops around looking for her "FTA" she opens up a can of worms with the real killers who begin to target her. Can Morelli keep her safe while clearing her name? Is Stephanie "up" for bounty hunter work? Can she make it a profession? Or will her jeep blow up with her in it?

Evanovich's writing style engages the reader with witty quips and clever word choices. The novel is an easy read that completely envelops the reader in Stephanie's world. The supporting cast is colorful and crazy, grounding Stephanie and giving her the appearance that she's the sanest of the bunch.


The novel is a murder mystery with a dash of suspense, a pinch of romance, and a helping of comedy. "One for the Money" is one book you can't put down. It's great, light fun reading that will have you chuckling as you sit on the edge of your seat.

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Christmas around the World 2013 #christmas

Enjoy these pictures of Christmas taken from around the world.



Pope  Francis as he prepares to deliever is Christmas message.


Watching the lighting of the main Christmas tree in Bethleham.


Santas in downtown Seoul, South Korea


Going to church, Richev, Belarus


Watzmann Mountain near Berchesgarten, Germany


Christmas in Dubai


Christians celebrating in Iraq


Strassburg, France


Celebrating with a dip in Berlin, Germany


Soldiers in Afghanistan


Celebrating the Navity in Poland 


In Syndey, Australia 

I hope everyone has a blessed and merry Christmas this year.  Peace to all.
Smiles
Steph














Sunday, December 22, 2013

1.99 Christmas Contemporary Romance: The Faberge Secret #snippetsunday

Hi all, I'm participating in the Weekend Warriors Snippet Sunday. This month, I'll be taking snippets from my contemporary romance: The Faberge Secret









This snippet:  Elise is on the hunt for some Colonial valuables...
*****


She looked overhead. Gray snow clouds were rolling in from the west. What she wouldn't do for a vintage colonial flag, a wax vat, blacksmith anvil, or a loom. Elise took another step and walked into someone hard and masculine.

She lost her balance, lunged out, and grabbed the man's coat. He caught her, but the momentum of her fall drove them both to the ground. He slammed into the cold pavement, taking the brunt of the fall.

"I'm so sorry..." Elise placed her hand on his rock-hard chest and lifted her head only to discover the most stunning pair of cerulean eyes she'd ever seen.  

****
The Faberge Secret takes place during Christmas between Brattleboro, Vermont and St. Petersburg, Russia. 


5 Hearts, Sizzling Hot Book Reviews
As the love story thicken, the suspense heightens and it won't let your eyes leave the page. I recommend The Faberge Secret to all of the romance readers. Even if you have never read romance, The Faberge Secret would be a great place to start.

4 Stars, Manic Readers
"A satisifying read."

4 Stars, Night Owl Book Reviews

The Faberge Secret is a fast paced, delightful adventure with plenty of love and adventure sprinkled in for spice.

****
BUY LINKS:


AMAZON KINDLE:
B&N NOOK:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-faberge-secret-stephanie-burkhart/1105070465?ean=2940013874596&itm=1&usri=the+faberge+secret
ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS:
PUBLISHER'S LINK:

FIND ME ON THE WEB AT:
WEBSITE:

TWITTER:

FACEBOOK: 
https://www.facebook.com/StephanieBurkhartAuthor

GOOD READS:

YOU TUBE CHANNEL:
http://www.youtube.com/user/botrina?feature=mhee
PINTEREST:

http://pinterest.com/sgburkhart/

Saturday, December 21, 2013

99 cent contemporary Christmas Romance: Feast of Candles #christmasromance



Enjoy this 99 cents Christmas Contemporary Romance that takes you to California Wine Country:  Feast of Candles 


BLURB: Drake takes the biggest chance of his life all because of a bottle of wine. Can he breakthrough the battlements surrounding Lily's lonely heart?

ENJOY THIS EXCERPT:

Collecting her purse, she walked into the lobby as Drake descended the stairs. He presented her with a manila envelope.

"I'll look it over and give it to my lawyers to examine."

"When might you make a decision?"

"Give me a week."

He escorted her to her car and paused near the door. Lily unlocked it with her remote and leaned over, placing her purse along with the folder in the passenger seat. When she stood back up, Drake was directly in front of her. He cupped her cheek, his hand warm and encouraging. "When can I see you again?"

Her abdomen ached for more as waves of desire washed over her. Lily craved closer contact, but she tried to think rationally. "I'm, ah, not sure of my schedule."

"Tomorrow?"

"Yes – tomorrow. Come to the winery after it closes."

His lips brushed against hers, then gently covered her mouth. Lily welcomed him, his spicy scent sending her senses reeling. She placed her hands on his chest and moaned when his lips left hers, blazing kisses over her jaw, and searing a path of pleasure over her neck. 

"So sweet," he whispered. His hands left a trail of heat from her waist to her breasts. 

"Oh, Drake…" She arched closer to him. His mouth left her neck and he kissed her again, running his tongue over her bottom lip before mingling with hers.

Her head spun in a vortex of excitement. This man knew how to kiss. 
An owl hooted. Startled, Lily broke away from him, but kept her hands firmly on his chest. She searched out Drake's eyes for a hint at what he was feeling. There was no hiding his raw attraction. 


"Don't go tonight," he whispered. 



5 Stars, Loves Romance Reviews:
The ending with the feast of candles is so romantic, you'll want your own. 
http://amzn.com/B008NXELPG

4 Stars: Billie Houston, Amazon Reader:
"Great story."

5 Stars: On the Mark, Amazon Reader:
"It's a heartwarming, sensual romance." 

*******

BUY LINKS:

AMAZON:
http://amzn.com/B008NXELPG

SMASHWORDS: 2011 Spicy Christmas Anthology Collection:
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/99059

Friday, December 20, 2013

99 cent contemporary Christmas Romance: Christmas in Bayeux #christmasromance





Enjoy this 99 cent contemporary Christmas romance and travel to Bayeux, France for the Holidays:

Seeking peace, Aiden travels to Bayeux, France and meets with an old friend, Noel. Can she help mend his wounded heart? 
7 Five Star reviews: "A tender romance sure to warm your heart anytime of year." Karen Michelle Nutt, 5 Stars, Amazon Reviewer
"Christmas in Bayeux" is the perfect short romance to enjoy during the holiday season or any time during the year, and I highly recommend it." – Diane Craver, Author, A Joyful Heart, Amazon Review
Opening Line: A light dusting of snow covered the Renault's window.

Buy Link: 
AMAZON:

BARNES & NOBLE:

SMASHWORDS

SONY EREADER:
https://ebookstore.sony.com/ebook/stephanie-burkhart/christmas-in-bayeux/_/R-400000000000000451442


99 cent contemporary Christmas Romance: Gifts #christmasromance



Enjoy this 99 cent sweet Christmas Romance and travel to Amsterdam, The Netherlands this holiday season.

BLURB:

Figure skating is in Christian Jansen's blood. When he trips on uneven ice and drops his partner, Chris breaks his arm. Now he's looking for a second chance.

Famke deVries lost her skating coach four months ago. Needing to connect with her roots, she returns to Amsterdam and agrees to be Christian's new skating partner. 

Christian and Famke connect on a deep level, understanding each other's losses, but will their chemistry off the ice interfere with their goal to go to the Olympics?



Short Excerpt:

Stephen turned onto a street in the Noord district of Amsterdam where he lived. The apartment buildings were about five stories tall, but weren't very wide. Stephen drove his compact car into a parking structure near his building. "We're here." 

"I need a nice long bath and a bite to eat." Famke stepped out and shut her door. 

"Chris, can you take her to the apartment? I'll run to the store for some food." 

"Sure." Chris opened the trunk and grabbed her bag.

"I can take it." She gestured for the bag, but Chris waved her off.

"I've got it." He paused. "I always insist on carrying a lady's bags." "But, Chris—"

"And you are a lady," he said.

Smiling, Famke nodded, discovering a small dimple in his cheek when he smiled so warmly.

Reviews:
5 Stars, Delores Goodrick Beggs, Amazon Reader:
The touches of Old World Christmas combined with Olympic ice skating
make this well-written story a special read I couldn't put down.

5 Stars, Joy Cagil, Amazon Reader:
"This story is a joy to read."

5 Stars, Reader Forever, Amazon Reader:
"I enjoyed the story." 

BUY LINKS:





IND ME ON THE WEB AT:
WEBSITE:

TWITTER:

FACEBOOK: 
https://www.facebook.com/StephanieBurkhartAuthor

GOOD READS:

YOU TUBE CHANNEL:
http://www.youtube.com/user/botrina?feature=mhee

PINTEREST:
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Thursday, December 19, 2013

Vote for Romance of the Year at Deep in the Heart of Romance: A Gentleman and a Rogue



It's that time of year and A Gentleman and a Rogue, Book 2 in my Winsdor Diaries Steampunk series is up for Romance of the Year for 2013. I'd really appreciate your vote. If you have a second, click on the link and vote for A Gentleman and a Rogue. 


Here's a link:http://www.deepintheheartromance.com/p/vote-for-your-favorite-romance-of-year.html


GOLD Winner - 2013 Reader's Favorite Contest in Romance: Historical

Reviews: 

5 Stars, Trudi LoPreto, Reader's Favorites:
"I was hooked in it and did not want it to end. All of you romantic historical fans don’t miss this one – it is a winner." 


5 Stars, BTS Magazine, Gaele,
"With several plot twists and a romance far advanced for the time, a fast paced plot and a writing style that cleverly introduces literary scions of time travel and fantasy, this is a read that will leave you anxious for the next installment."

"I've read many steampunk romances and I have to say Burkhart got it right!" - Reviewer, Denise Alicea, Pen & Muse Reviews

5 Stars, Crown Heart Winner, InD'Tale Mag JUL/AUG 2013 - "Stephanie Burkhart has reached through time to tell a fabulous story of love and hope. Elegantly written." 

4 Stars, Snapdragon, Long and Short Reviews:  "A must read, whether you are a particular fan of the genre or not…because real heartfelt romance is still at the heart of the story." 

BLURB: 
Lady Keira Russell is destined to bring compressed natural gas to Britain. Her inner courage and mental toughness rarely falter – except when Prince Edmund Windsor is involved.
Edmund of Wales is from the future. His last jaunt through history muffed up the time line. Now, he's here to set it straight and win Keira's heart.
For Keira, if it isn't one obstacle, it's another. Queen Victoria has sponsored a competition to find a cleaner fuel source than coal. Keira's father is trying to build a windmill and the Ridgecrofts are working with gasoline. Then there's Edmund, whose sensual kisses and heated stares distract her down to her bones.
Keira has a choice: trust Edmund's notorious mischief-making or put her faith in Queen Victoria to make the right decision, but if Keira makes the wrong choice, the future of Great Britain will be changed forever.


ENJOY THIS EXCERPT:
The song ended and Edmund grabbed her hand, tugging her toward the nearest hallway. At first, she wanted to protest; call out for her father and defy Edmund's wishes, but then reason kicked in. She wanted -- no, needed -- answers. And, she had plenty of questions. 

They entered the main wing, and passed two rooms before Edmund opened a door and dragged her inside. Books littered the shelves. The library. A beam of light from a full moon shined through the window, casting Edmund's features in sharp, contrasting shadows. He leaned against the door and crossed his arms. His eyes narrowed, giving his expression a dark, hard edge. He looked like a devil in this moment. She steeled her shoulders, ready to do battle with him. 

Silence grew between them as they both set their postures. Damn Edmund. She wanted to kiss the devil senseless. Thankfully, she still had her wits. 

"What are you doing with Jonas Byron?" Edmund's voice was cold and exact. 

"Dancing." She surprised herself with the ease of her retort. 

"Looked more like flirting to me." 

"Jealous?" 

A muscle twitched in his jaw. "No." 

"You are a horrible liar." 

"Keira, you can't trust him." 

She placed her hands on her hips. "Curious, you're the second man tonight to tell me that." 

"Grayson has your best interests at heart. You need to listen to him." 

"He's been missing for four years." She paused, glaring at him. "Like you have. And I thought you weren't coming back." 

"I'm here now, and I'm not leaving you again." 

She tilted her head and laughed. Oh, yes, he'd leave her again, and she had no intention of letting her heart get broken. 

Edmund lunged forward, placed his hands on her waist, and pulled her against the length of his hard, muscled body, trapping her arms between them so her hands rested on his chest. His emerald eyes flamed with desire. Her heart turned over in response. His unique scent, spice and currants, weakened her resolve. As her memories flooded through her mind, her lips ached for his. 

"God, Keira, don't test me like this." 


PUBLISHER'S BUY LINK:
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-366/The-Windsor-Diaries-Book/Detail.bok

ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS:
https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thewindsordiariesbookthreeagentlemanandarogue-996194-141.html

BARNES & NOBLE (NOOK)
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-windsor-diaries-book-two-stephanie-burkhart/1113777499?ean=2940015869538

AMAZON (KINDLE:)
http://amzn.com/B00A5CF24C

FIND ME ON THE WEB AT:

WEBSITE:

TWITTER:

FACEBOOK: 
https://www.facebook.com/StephanieBurkhartAuthor

GOOD READS:

YOU TUBE CHANNEL:
http://www.youtube.com/user/botrina?feature=mhee

PINTEREST:
http://pinterest.com/sgburkhart/



Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Welcome the Christine Amsden & the Cassie Scot Mystery Series! Goddess Fish Blog Tour Stop




Cassie Scot Mystery Series
by Christine Amsden

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

BLURB:

Book One
Cassie Scot: Paranormal Detective


Cassie Scot is the ungifted daughter of powerful sorcerers, born between worlds but belonging to neither. At 21, all she wants is to find a place for herself, but earning a living as a private investigator in the shadow of her family’s reputation isn’t easy. When she is pulled into a paranormal investigation, and tempted by a powerful and handsome sorcerer, she will have to decide where she truly belongs.












Book Two
Secrets and Lies

Cassie Scot, still stinging from her parents’ betrayal, wants out of the magical world. But it isn’t letting her go. Her family is falling apart and despite everything, it looks like she may be the only one who can save them.

To complicate matters, Cassie owes Evan her life, making it difficult for her to deny him anything he really wants. And he wants her. Sparks fly when they team up to find two girls missing from summer camp, but long-buried secrets may ruin their hopes for happiness.

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

EXCERPT

From: Cassie Scot, Paranormal Detective:


My parents think the longer the name, the more powerful the sorcerer, so they named me Cassandra Morgan Ursula Margaret Scot. You can call me Cassie.

I've been called a lot of things in my life: normal, ordinary, and even a disappointment. After the Harry Potter books came out, a couple of people called me a squib. Since I haven't read them, I have to assume it's a compliment.

Personally, I prefer normal, which is why the sign on my office door reads: Cassie Scot, Normal Detective.

You have to understand that around here, when your last name is Scot, people are easily confused. Not only are my parents powerful practitioners, but I have six talented brothers and sisters. Plus, my family hasn't always been known for its subtlety. When weird stuff happens around here, the people who are willing to believe in magic are prone to suspect the Scots.

The day I opened for business I got a call from an old woman who swore her cat was possessed by the devil. She also swore she'd read my web site, which clearly stated the types of work I did and did not do. Exorcisms were on the No list, and while I hadn't specified pet exorcisms, I would have thought it was implicit.

Author Interview:

Questions: If we were to come to your house for a meal, what would you give us to eat?

Fresh home made bread, lasagna, tossed salad, and home made chocolate mousse for dessert.

Question: Are you a romantic?

Oh yes! Although I think that word means something a little different to all of us. To me the most romantic thing a person can do is to want to make someone else happy, even if it means sacrificing their own happiness.

Question: Do you listen to music when you're writing?

Sometimes. I go through moods.

Question: Do you ever read your stories out loud?

I always read my stories out loud during the wordsmithing phase. That's the only way to know if it sounds right. (It's not a foolproof method or anything, but it's the best I have for self-editing.)

Question: What are your future ambitions?

I would love for writing to become a self-supporting career for me so I have more time to do it.


AUTHOR Bio and Links:



Award-winning author Christine Amsden has written stories since she was eight, always with a touch of the strange or unusual. She became a “serious” writer in 2003, after attending a boot camp with Orson Scott Card. She finished Touch of Fate shortly afterward, then penned The Immortality Virus, which won two awards. Expect many more titles by this up-and-coming author.







Google+ https://plus.google.com/u/0/117845642477854934607/posts

GIVEAWAY: Christine will be awarding a $50 Amazon or BN GC to one randomly selected commenter. 

If you have a second, please leave a comment. Let Christine know what caught your attention and what intrigues you. 

Visit here to enter: (the rafflecopter code is acting up on my blog)  http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e43430