I’m happy to welcome B. R. Erlank. Today, Boris shares his new release,
Under the Cloud.

Blurb

They call themselves The Settlement Bureau. A faceless, soulless organization coercing individuals with threats to expose their improprieties and vulnerabilities. Inhumanely persistent, they’ve secretly driven hundreds of victims into bankruptcy, despair – and several even to suicide.

But when this organization tries to blackmail IT expert Terry Reynolds, they make a serious mistake. Terry is down on his luck. He is penniless, divorced and in a dead-end job. Yet, the abuse of his personal information stirs Terry out of his lethargy and he fights back. He embarks on a digital game of cat-and-mouse with the cold, calculating minds behind The Settlement Bureau – and in doing so, uncovers a sprawling criminal conspiracy.

Under the Cloud is a chillingly plausible new thriller by B.R. Erlank. With a plot ripped straight from the headlines, advance readers warn, “this book delivers a roller coaster ride right up to the final pages.”

Excerpt

Charlie’s canine senses were on high alert. He growled and stared across the street. There was a commotion in the shadows of a tree. Then Terry heard a frail, plaintive voice, “No, no, leave me. That’s mine. Let go!”

Terry knew that voice; it was Joe. What sort of low-life attacks an old homeless man? There was a thud and a howl of pain. Charlie was the first to react; the dog raced across the street with Terry behind him. Under the streetlamp, Terry could make out the old man’s face, bleeding and distorted with fear, as he shouted, “You imbecile, you don’t know…”

The attacker was dressed in black and was at least six inches taller than Joe. The assailant pushed Joe hard, then his fist smashed into the old man’s face. Joe slumped against the tree, and the thug pulled back his fist for another punch.

Terry shouted, “Hey! Leave him!”

The man briefly turned and hesitated. Then, before he could plant the fist again, Charlie lunged and sank his teeth into the man’s wrist. The attacker cursed, and a knife appeared in his other hand. The blade glinted in the streetlight, and Charlie’s bark turned into a surprised yelp, then a whimper. The attacker ran.

For a split second, Terry’s rage commanded him to follow, but the sight of Joe and Charlie, both crumpled and bleeding, stopped him in his tracks. He knelt by the old man, whose face was smeared with blood, one eye beginning to swell. His breath was coming in desperate rasps.

Author Bio and Links

Boris Erlank grew up in Southern Africa. He has lived and worked in places as diverse as Luanda, Cape Town, Singapore and San Francisco. Boris recently gave up his job as Global Privacy Manager with a Fortune 100 company to focus on writing full-time.
He has an extensive background in IT, data privacy and cybersecurity, and has drawn on that experience to craft his latest novel, Under the Cloud. His previous novel, Catch You Later, is a murder mystery set in Cape Town.

Boris lives with his family and two dogs in the foothills of Mount Diablo, east of San Francisco. He likes to cycle and hike. “Those solitary pursuits give me time to dream up the characters and plots for my novels,” he says. Boris also enjoys choir singing, travel, and listening to audiobooks.

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***The book will be $0.99 from November 15 to November 22***

Giveway

B.R. Erlank will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift card to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour. Find out more here.

Follow Boris on the rest of his Goddess Fish tour here.

I’m happy to welcome Wild Rose Press author Rachel Brimble. Today, Rachel shares details about her creative journey and her new release, Victoria & Violet.

Interview

What’s the best part of being an author? The worst?

Best part – For me, it’s the first draft where I can take my imagination where it leads me…or at least where the characters lead me. Once I have a story plotted, I am off and writing and (for the most part) enjoy writing the first draft because I see it through from beginning to end without looking back. The hard part comes in the following drafts!

Worst part – The plotting! I usually start out with a nugget of an idea and then have to find a way to stretch that idea to 90,000 words. People assume, because I have written 28 books, it must get easier. But it doesn’t! At least, it doesn’t for me – maybe for other writers they have cracked the elusive code and I’m missing the boat each time, haha!

Which authors have inspired you?

So many! My long-time favourite historical fiction authors are Philippa Gregory and Alison Weir and my favorite historical romance authors are Julia London and Julia Quinn. I also have a huge love of crime writers such as S J Sansom and Alex Grecian as well as women’s fiction author Jodi Picoult. Shall I stop now?

What is your favorite quote?

“Set it up the way you want it to be.” Iyanla Vanzant

I love this quote because of its simplicity. In other words, don’t moan or look at other people’s lives and wish they were yours. Go out and get what you want, work toward it, only allow people into your life who love and/or respect you. Set it up the way you want it to be…

Besides writing and reading, what are some of your hobbies?

I am an avid knitter – I just love it! I knit so much and so often that I can’t sit and watch a TV show without my knitting anymore. It amazes me that for years watched TV with my hands doing absolutely nothing. Those days are long gone! Knitting and watching TV is one of my favourite things to do.

What are you working on next?

I have almost finished the final draft of the sequel to Victoria & Violet, which is set in the court of the Prince and Princess of Wales who go on to become King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra. Once I have submitted that book to my editor, I will either dive straight into book 3 of the Royal Maids series or I might start work on a new Edwardian series I have in mind. Watch this space…

Blurb

When Violet Parker is told she will be Queen Victoria’s personal housemaid, she cannot believe her good fortune. She finally has the chance to escape her overbearing mother, a servant to the Duchess of Kent. Violet hopes to explore who she is and what the world has to offer without her mother’s schemes overshadowing her every thought and action.

Then she meets James Greene, assistant to the queen’s chief political adviser, Lord Melbourne. From entirely different backgrounds and social class, Violet and James should have neither need nor desire to speak to one another, yet through their service, their paths cross and their lives merge—as do their feelings.

Only Victoria’s court is not always the place for romance, but rather secrets, scandals, and conspiracies…

Excerpt

“What awaits me is marriage,” he said. “But I am not a man any woman should want for a husband so it’s something I will avoid for as long as possible.”

The curiosity in her eyes made his confidence falter, and James lifted his fingers from her arm. No doubt she thought him pathetic for fearing something that so many longed for. But Violet did not know him or what he might be capable of. Of the nasty, volatile temperament passed down through the men in his family for generations.

“Better marriage than imprisonment with a mother who has controlled and belittled you your entire life.” She smiled wryly, her gaze sad. “Better a son who will one day marry than a daughter shackled to a mother who wishes her to scheme and spy upon the only person who has made her feel human, liked, and worthy of a modicum of respect for the first time in months.”

He stilled. “Do you speak of the queen?”

Mistress Parker swallowed before looking at Victoria where she stood a few feet away. “What would you like to do if not marry?” she asked quietly.

James stared at her profile, unsure of her thoughts or disposition. “Stay at court where I am happy. Work hard. Rise within the hierarchy as a single man.”

“I want to paint.”

Had he heard her correctly? “Paint?”

She softly smiled as she faced him. “Yes. I dream of my landscapes hanging in every gallery and every grand house in the country. If you think yourself an oddity in this mercenary world, whatever must you think of me? Good evening, Mr. Greene.”

James stared after her as Violet disappeared amongst the mass of finery, his heart heavy for the sadness that emanated from her, yet his inquisitiveness about her had only deepened. He looked at Victoria as she laughed with Melbourne and others in her circle. Could it be that the queen saw the same spark of something special in Violet Parker that he did?

Author Bio and Links

Rachel lives in a small town near Bath, England. She is the author of 29 novels including the Ladies of Carson Street trilogy, the Shop Girl series (Aria Fiction) and the Templeton Cove Stories (Harlequin). Her latest novel, Victoria & Violet is the first book in her new Royal Maids series with the Wild Rose Press and releases 17th October 2022.

Rachel is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association as well as the Historical Novel Society and has thousands of social media followers all over the world.

To sign up for her newsletter (a guaranteed giveaway every month!), click here: https://bit.ly/3zyH7dt

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Amazon Buy Link

Giveaway

Rachel Brimble will be awarding a $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift card to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour. Find out more here.

Follow Rachel on the rest of her Goddess Fish tour here.

I’m happy to welcome Wild Rose Press author Ana Diamond. Today, Ana shares her new release, Body Snatched.

Blurb

What’s worse than losing a body from a funeral home? Losing two. But mortician and amatuer sleuth, Lily Reynolds has a hunch. The new visitor in town, Rick Drakon, may have charmed his way into her life but she’s not fooled by his smooth talking ways. Problem is, Rick is a long-time friend of Lily’s new husband, Detective James Rivers. While James is busy convincing her to look elsewhere, Lily embarks on a dangerous path toward uncovering the truth. Will this case come between the couple or will Lily find herself closer to evil than ever before?

Excerpt

She sprinted toward the ambulance with James inside. Her heart leaped into her throat. She didn’t want to alarm the others, but she didn’t really know if he was going to make it. Antonio had not. And what would she do if he didn’t? Images of her life with James flashed before her eyes.

From the moment when she’d first laid eyes on his silky black hair and tattooed biceps in the basement of her funeral home to their wedding day when he told her they would be together forever, this could not be the end. She would not want to go on. Tears flooded her eyes, clouding her vision as she ran toward the ambulance James had been loaded into. Yanking the back door open wide, she propelled herself inside.

His eyes were closed but his body had been hooked up to monitors that beeped incessantly. Intravenous fluids ran down the tubing and into James’s arms. And there was blood—lots of blood on the floor of the truck and on the linens of the stretcher. She willed herself into tunnel vision to avoid seeing nothing but red. The paramedics sat on opposite sides of the ambulance monitoring the machines hooked up to him.

She stood at the foot of the stretcher watching for any movement. Was he unconscious? Had he slipped into a coma? Was he only minutes from death? She’d stopped breathing altogether until she touched his leg and his eyes popped open.

“You know, this is the first time I’ve ever been shot.” His eyes sparkled with mischief.

She released the air from her lungs and chuckled at him. Her heart could beat again. “Congratulations. I’ll tell you what you’ve won later. Now work on not dying.”

He smiled and laid his head back on the pillow. “Yes, ma’am.”

Author Bio and Links

When Ana Diamond isn’t writing about tough gals finding love in unexpected places, she’s at work by day in the medical field. She writes romantic cozy mystery novels with feisty strong women and alluring men who can’t resist them. Her books are fast paced, entertaining and heartfelt all at once.

Ana is a 2020 Tara Contest Finalist for Body Conscious and 2015 Melody of Love contest finalist. She lives in New York with her husband, two children and two needy but wildly entertaining kitty cats.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | BookBub | Tiktok | Amazon Buy Link

Giveaway

Ana Diamond will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N gift card to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour. Find out more here.

Follow Ana on the rest of her Goddess Fish tour here.

I’m happy to welcome multi-published author Amber Daulton. Today, Amber shares the ten best moments of her protagonist, Benji Starwell, and her new release, Arresting Benjamin.

I’m Benji Starwell, the hero from Amber Daulton’s latest romantic suspense novel, Arresting Benjamin. When Amber first told me she’d scheduled me to appear on yet another romance blog, I rolled my eyes. I mean, c’mon, she knows I’m busy at the garage. The engines aren’t going to fix themselves. But after she told me about all the guest topic options, I relented and dropped the wrench (I was in the middle of a client’s tune-up and not threatening her—I promise!).

Anyway, I’m excited to be featured here today on Joanne Guidoccio’s blog. It didn’t take me long to come up with my 10 Best Moments post, so what life memories made the cut? Read on…

1. The first time I met Belle Hamlin. I saw her at a restaurant with some of her girlfriends, and though I’m not shy and more than capable of approaching a sexy woman, I knew one of her friends. By using Mia as my in, I got to know Belle pretty well that night. Too bad I acted like an idiot the following morning and fled her bed.

2. Learning Belle was pregnant. At first, I was shocked our one-night stand had resulted in a baby. I even contemplated that she was trying to pass off some other man’s baby on me. I know, that line of thinking isn’t flattering on my part, but I’m nothing if not honest. Belle’s a good person, so I quickly trashed that idea. Getting her pregnant, though it was an accident, was the best thing I’ve ever done.

3. Getting hit with flowers. Belle was a hormonal mess during her first trimester, so when I gave her a bouquet of roses to apologize for skipping out on her months earlier, she took the flowers and whacked me over the head with them. Maybe I shouldn’t have added that to this post. It’s not one of my shining moments, but in hindsight, it’s hilarious.

4. When Belle popped the question. I’d asked her to marry so many times I lost count, so when she asked me to marry her, how could I refuse?

5. Lindy’s birth. My nerves were through the roof when Belle went into labor. I was with her every step of the way, and after all the screaming and her cursing me to the moon, our daughter was finally born.

6. The first time my sister, Meghan, brought her future husband home to meet the family. She’d always dated losers when she was a teenager and young adult, so I expected more of the same. Her new guy, Alan Harding, proved me wrong. He was kind, respectful, and a decent person. We quickly became good friends. Heck, he’s my best friend, the brother I never had.

7. Loving my nephew, Danny. Alan and Meghan’s brief marriage ended after their son’s birth, so I stepped in and helped Alan raise the baby. I don’t have a particular best moment when it comes to Danny—every moment I spend with him is special—but if I really had to choose, I’d say it was the first time he crawled into my lap and fell asleep. I’d always wondered if I’d make a good father, and Danny’s love and trust proved that I could.

8. Working with my father at the garage when I was a teen. At age sixteen, I replaced a distributor cap and a couple of sensors by myself. Dad was overseeing, but he didn’t tell me what to do. I did everything right on my own and even handled the business transaction with the customer. The pride in Dad’s eyes meant everything to me.

9. Taking over the garage when Dad went into semi-retirement. I learned everything I know about fixing vehicles and running a business from my dad. Instead of watching cartoons after school as a kid, I was running errands for the guys in his shop. So when Dad was ready to retire, I was prepped to take over. My first day as boss was both thrilling and nerve-wracking, but I loved it.

10. Having the chance to tell my story. Belle and I have had our ups and downs, but we made it through each obstacle and came out stronger for it. Against the odds, we survived. We’re happy and in love. I have no complaints.

Blurb

A one-night stand, a surprise baby, and a mysterious stalker.

Mechanic Benjamin Starwell can’t stop thinking about Belle Hamlin, the ballsy musician he slept with and skipped out on months earlier. He never meant to get her pregnant, but he’ll do whatever it takes to win back her trust and be a part of his child’s life. His desire for Belle drives him to be a better man, but he’s worn thin with a garage to run and his estranged sister dumping her troubles on him.

Belle’s juggling impending motherhood, her indie rock career, and a stalker who’s determined to see her fail. Even though she’s desperate to get her priorities straight, she pushes aside her past hurt and welcomes Benji back into her bed. She never expects him to slip into her heart.

When the danger escalates, they face the greatest challenge of all—protecting their unborn child.

Tagline – With enemies at every turn, how will they survive with their lives and love intact?

Excerpt

An eerie chill crept down her spine as he pulled into the parking lot. Her heart slammed. “What the hell? Benji, stop the truck.”

He parked in a vacant spot near her little green bug. “What is it?”

“My car. Someone trashed my damn car.” She jumped from the cab and hurried across the shadowy lot. Air puffed white from her mouth as she heaved.

A streetlight cast a dim glow across the shattered back windshield, four slashed tires, and broken taillight casings of her car. Someone had even keyed the doors.

Benji grabbed her arm. “Careful.”

Fear clutched her in a stranglehold. “The guy who left the photos did this. I’m sure of it.” She walked from one side of the vehicle to the other, stepping over glass and plastic shards. Nausea swam in her stomach. “What does he want?”

“That’s pretty obvious.” He nodded toward the driver’s side front and rear doors. “He wants you to stop singing, or so he scrawled here.”

Belle snatched her cell from her purse, smashed a button on the screen, and lifted the glowing phone to the passenger side doors. As the light lit up the keyed letters, she shuddered. “The word bitch is on this side. I can’t believe this is happening.”

He stomped around the car and scowled at the nasty word.

She gazed around the lot. No one was there from what she could see, but were they really alone? Was someone lurking behind a vehicle? Perhaps watching them from a window or rooftop with a high-powered assault rifle?

Don’t panic. The cold breeze raked her skin as she dialed for help.

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Download Links

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About the Author

Amber Daulton is the author of the romantic-suspense series Arresting Onyx and several standalone novellas. Her books are published through Daulton Publishing, The Wild Rose Press, and Books to Go Now, and are available in ebook, print on demand, audio, and foreign language formats.

She lives in North Carolina with her husband and demanding cats.

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