Kat de Falla's Blog

 

With the impending release of my latest book, THIRD WHEEL, I decided to make a Top 5 list of my favorite paranormal books:

1. Salem's Lot by Stephen King - this is the book I read under the covers with a flashlight as a kid. My parents were remodeling and I was sleeping upstairs alone. Whenever a tree branch scratched at the window, I completely freaked out thinking there was a vampire floating outside the window, asking to be let in. This book started my love and fascination with the paranormal!  

 2. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley - I am a big fan of The Folio Society - their books are gorgeous collectibles and for a few years I collected as many as I could. While living in my extremely haunted house in Wisconsin, I remember night after night reading Frankenstein and devouring the beautiful language and haunting story. It's one of my all-time favorite books! 

3. Tales by Edgar Allen Poe - The Fall of the House of Usher, The Tell-Tale Heart, The Purloined Letter, The Pit and the Pendulum - shall I go on? His words have a cadence and a heaviness of heart that never leave your soul.

4. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens - I remember when we took the kids to see this on stage in Chicago - an amazing experience and the kids were spellbound. But when I saw James Ridge portray Charles Dickens in the Touchstone Theater at the American Players Theater in Spring Green, Wisconsin in 2013, I received a reeducation of sorts. He brought to life the man behind the words and offered up a depth of clarity to what Dickens was really trying to portray in his stories. Plus, who isn't terrified by the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come?

5. Dark Lover by J.R. Ward - Ahhh - the Black Dagger Brotherhood. Another book I stayed up late to read until everyone was in bed because I wanted to savor every moment. If you haven't heard of this series, go check it out. Sensual and dark and pure magic. 

So without further ado, I'd love for you to take a look at my new release with my partner-in-crime Rachel Green (together we write as KAT GREEN) - book three in our Haunts for Sale Series now available for pre-order...

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Will Rise from AshesContemporary Women’s Fiction Release date: April 17, 2019 by Jean M. Grant


Social Media links:

Website~ Twitter  ~ Facebook ~  Goodreads~ Bookbub ~ Amazon Author Page ~  The Wild Rose Press




Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble ~ iTunes



Available at other venues starting April 17th:

Kobo ~GooglePlay ~ Walmart






Bio:

Jean’s background is in science and she draws from her interests in history, nature, and her family for inspiration. She writes historical and contemporary romances and women’s fiction. She also writes articles for family-oriented travel magazines. When she’s not writing or chasing children, she enjoys tending to her flower gardens, hiking, and doing just about anything in the outdoors.



Tagline: Living is more than mere survival.




Blurb:

Young widow AJ Sinclair has persevered through much heartache. Has she met her match when the Yellowstone supervolcano erupts, leaving her separated from her youngest son and her brother? Tens of thousands are dead or missing in a swath of massive destruction. She and her nine-year-old autistic son, Will, embark on a risky road trip from Maine to the epicenter to find her family. She can't lose another loved one.
Along the way, they meet Reid Gregory, who travels his own road to perdition looking for his sister. Drawn together by AJ's fear of driving and Reid's military and local expertise, their journey to Colorado is fraught with the chaotic aftermath of the eruption. AJ's anxiety and faith in humanity are put to the test as she heals her past, accepts her family's present, and embraces uncertainty as Will and Reid show her a world she had almost forgotten.


How did I do my research for Will Rise from Ashes?
Simply put, heaps of reading, exploring, and travel. My background is in science (microbiology, immunology, biology, and marine science—I spent a lot of time fine-tuning my interests in college and graduate school), and I love traveling and hiking. The idea of Will Rise from Ashes came from a bit of my own life (as a parent with an autistic child) and my love of nature…I asked myself what would happen if the Yellowstone supervolcano erupted? Volcanoes are a constant topic in our household. Bam! My story came.
Then, road trip time! I’d already visited the lovely national park in the corner of Wyoming as a child and took another trip this time with my family, 4 years ago. This highlight of our national park system did not let me down. I was walking on ground zero—research moments were everywhere! We also toured other geothermal wonders throughout the Pacific Northwest on that trip. The bright sapphire-blue Crater Lake was one of my favorites and meandering through the observation areas of Mount St. Helens gave me shivers. I returned home with piles of books and dug into the story. Along the way, I’d stop to dig deeper with research. And up front, I take careful character development into consideration. My stories tend to have journeys of the body and heart, and this one takes my characters from Maine to Colorado. Talk about a road trip. The experts say “write what you know” and for me that was science, journeys, and parenting. I hope my readers enjoy AJ and Will’s journey in Will Rise from Ashes as much as I do.


Excerpt:

He slid closer and placed a hand on mine and squeezed. “I see a strong woman who has been hurt deeply. I see a resilient mother who would journey through hell for her children. I see somebody who has become jaded and has trouble trusting, unable to sort through friend and enemy. I see a woman with hope.” He held my gaze. “And I’d like to be your friend,
Audrey Jane.”

My jaw may have dropped. I wasn’t sure. I recovered quickly. Or at least I tried. “You’ve been talking with my therapist, haven’t you?” God, I was teasing him. I was joking. I was like Will. Will always got goofy with his peers in social situations when he didn’t know the expectations, or how to behave.
Either way, Reid didn’t laugh. Thin lips pressed into a frown that I couldn’t decipher.
I didn’t prod any further. I broke the gaze and released my hand from his, then stoked the fire for the tenth time, sleep luring me with sweet abandon. I tossed the stick into the fire. “I should turn in.”

“I’ll stay awake,” he offered. “Until the fire goes.” “Okay.” I nodded, though the fire could have been quickly snuffed.
I paused in my opening of the tent flap, turned around, and peered at him. My arms dropped to my side, my hands still. “I’m sorry about the hotel. I was sick and wasn’t thinking straight. Thank you for your help today.” A part of me couldn’t disclose the unvarnished truth. Part of it had been crazy withdrawal symptoms AJ. The other part—I’d been paranoid he’d been drinking. Harrison’s death remained a ghostly echo in my mind, perhaps clouding my judgment. The scent had been on his clothes though. I was sure of it. The more I pondered, I believed his story. Perhaps I had been triggered. Perhaps I really did have trauma or PTSD. I shook my head. I didn’t know.
Firelight glistened off the growing beard hairs on Reid’s chin and spots of amber danced in his dark, round eyes. Speaking of soulful eyes… “You were looking out for Will. I understand. I had been gone far too long.”
“You had a legitimate reason. Shit happens,” I countered.
His lips curved into a resigned smile. “Yeah. Rest, Audrey Jane.”
“You, too, Reid,” I whispered. I added in a deep exhalation, “And yes, yes, I’d like to be your friend.”
As I stepped into my tent, I observed Reid’s normally straight shoulders slouch a hair. Perhaps he, like all of us, was on his own road of atonement. Searching for meaning, searching for answers…searching for absolution.
I had treated him poorly. I didn’t know what the hell had just happened between us, but I tucked it away into a corner of my brain to contemplate upon another time when I was lucid. My remorse had lifted somewhat.
Ignoring my exhaustion for at least a few minutes, I clicked on my headlamp and pulled out my journal. It was time to unburden my heart.




Also available:

Soul of the Storm

by Jean M. Grant




Buy links:

Amazon~ Barnes and Noble ~ iTunes~ Kobo ~ GooglePlay~Walmart





Tagline: Will love help her summit one more peak?



Blurb:

Charlotte MacGregor lost the thrill of conquering mountains five years ago when her sister disappeared on a hiking adventure without her. Still guilt-ridden, Charlotte heads for a vacation to rustic Vermont with a friend—where she's surrounded by reminders of her devastating loss and plagued with unanswered questions.
Matiu Christiansen is an outdoors buff. He works multiple jobs to save for his dream of owning an outfitter in New Zealand. He's never quite felt at home in the United States and he yearns for his Maori roots, but his attraction to Charlotte puts a kink in his plans to move home later this year.



Thrown together by coincidence, Charlotte and Matiu form a kindred bond through their shared love of the outdoors. Can Charlotte surmount her demons to assist Matiu on a rescue when a late-season snowstorm hits? And can Matiu help Charlotte heal from the pain of the past?


Feel free to follow me on my BLOG TOUR, April 18-June 6. Don’t forget to enter the giveaway!
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I'm super duper excited to say that NOT FOR ME is now available in all formats including audio!








Let's hear it from both sides...
Harry, you go first!




Okay, you know there's always TWO sides to a story....what say you Manda?



Want to listen?



https://www.audible.com/pd/B07KQM3G4Y/?source_code=AUDFPWS0223189MWT-BK-ACX0-134445&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_134445_rh_us



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As an author myself, I find myself thankful for other authors who are doing the same thing. If it weren't for my own love of books, I may never have sat down to write my first word.
In that vein, I'd love to introduce you to Starra Andrews a newly contracted author at The Wild Rose Press! She read Rachel Green and my paranormal suspense series, Haunts for Sale and contacted us as she was going through the process to sell her first book. Read her scary story here and CONGRATULATION on your first sale...welcome to the family!


The Breathing Door




On a sunny Southern California day in the summer of 1973, my friends and I decided to conduct a séance.  Being all of thirteen years old, we thought we knew everything about the paranormal.  We’d formed a Mystery Club a few months earlier, which had yet to solve any mysteries.  Most of our focus centered on séances.  Nothing much had happened when we held them, but all of that was about to change.


We rushed into my friend’s house and her father told us we couldn’t occupy her bedroom, because they were preparing to paint the walls.  So, we settled on sitting on her bathroom floor.  Since it was a small room, all five of us were crammed against each other seated cross legged.  Usually, we turned off all lights, and pulled curtains over the windows, but this time we dwelled in sunlight.


The leader of our group led us off by making a bold statement.  “If anything is here, make a terrible noise!” 


Personally, I didn’t expect anything to happen, but within thirty seconds we heard a cracking sound.  Then, we noticed the door moving.  Upon closer inspection, we actually saw the bathroom door breathing.  The wood came out about six inches and went back down, only to rise again.  Just like a person breathing. 


The girl who’s back was to the door climbed over me and jumped into the bathtub.  My back was against the bathtub, and I was the farthest away from the door; yet I sat frozen.  I didn’t know what to do, and I remained silent in my inertia, while the other girls screamed.  Every one of us saw the exact same thing, and after about twenty seconds (it seemed like an hour) our leader stood up and screamed, “Stop it!”


Luckily, the door stopped all movement.  We still sat in shock, but then someone had the bravery to open the door, and we all rushed out and down the stairs.  Continuing out the front door to the street, my friend’s mother shouted after us, “What is wrong with you silly girls!”


Returning after a while, we checked out the bathroom door, and it was solid wood again.  Nothing out of place.


Was it a poltergeist?  With five thirteen year old girls in one spot, all focused on the same thing at the same time, it’s a possibility.  Or, was it something much more sinister that we accidentally tapped into? 


We will never truly know.  But, that summer was one I’d never forget!


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Right now, my new release NOT FOR ME is on a blog tour with Rockstar Book Tours and I'm having an amazing time! 


Here is the tour schedule for you to check out and there's a GIVEAWAY!!!

6/11/2018- Cindy's Love of Books- Review6/11/2018- To Be Read- Review6/12/2018- Don't Judge, Read- Review6/12/2018- Eating Between the Lines Inc- Review6/13/2018- The BookWorm Drinketh- Review6/13/2018- Mythical Books- Guest Post6/14/2018- The Layaway Dragon- Spotlight6/14/2018- FUONLYKNEW- Spotlight6/15/2018- The Book Girl- Review6/15/2018- Lisa Loves Literature- Interview

6/18/2018- TheHufflepuffNerdette- Review6/18/2018- Love in a time of Feminism- Excerpt6/19/2018- BookHounds YA- Review6/19/2018- Confessions of a YA Reader- Excerpt6/20/2018- Wonder Struck- Spotlight6/20/2018- A Gingerly Review- Excerpt6/21/2018- Sweet Southern Home- Excerpt6/21/2018- Two Chicks on Books- Interview6/22/2018- Books a Plenty Book Reviews- Spotlight6/22/2018- Parajunkee- Excerpt
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Disclosure:
MamatheFox and all participating blogs are not held responsible for sponsors who fail to fulfill their prize obligations. 

Welcome to the "Thanks a Latte" Giveaway hosted by Mama the Fox! So much to win - so much fun to be had! 

Leave a comment on my blog for a chance to win a SIGNED copy of my middle grade action/adventure fantasy! (US Entries only)



Tell me what your favorite thing is about FALL...mine is the crunch of leaves under my feet! 


Disclosure:
MamatheFox and all participating blogs are not held responsible for sponsors who fail to fulfill their prize obligations.

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I had the honor of meeting Margaret at MADTOWN AUTHOR DAZE in Madison this Spring and was so happy to snag a copy of her novel. This is not one to be missed!
Josephine Reilly is a typical young mother, striving to do what is best for her family in the suburbs of St. Paul, Minnesota. Declan, her ambitious and talented husband, has a thriving career as a corporate lawyer. On the surface, life could not appear more perfect.

Yet, Josie has an unrealized gift, one that has haunted her since the drowning death of a childhood friend. Josie is a messenger, as was her mother and grandmother before her, carrying messages from the dead to the living through dreams, visions and telepathy. For years, Josie suppresses her gift but when mother dies, she is unable to ignore it any longer.

Upon exploring her ability, she finds she’s underestimated the dangers in channeling the dead when those she loves become targets of an invisible evil. Her sanity comes into question and she’s at risk of losing everything she holds dear. Then fate places Dr. Andrew Chase in Josie’s path, a healer of supernatural capabilities. Only he hasn’t come to prevent her fall . . .

The Uncommitted is a compelling tale of the spiritual struggle within us and of the realities beyond our physical sight.


 



 This was a great debut novel from Ms. Goss. The story follows Josie Reilly who is in a slump in her marriage and her life. After a family tragedy, she takes a huge chance that goes against her husband's wishes and pursues a path of following her "abilities" to talk with the dead.

With surprises along with way, we follow Josie's positive and negative encounters with undead and learn about the person she is, was, and may become.

Goss is engrossing and her words are like liquid images that unfold in strange and unusual ways. I look forward to the next book in this series!
 
 Margaret M. Goss was born in Oswego, New York, to first-generation Italian-American parents, studied nursing at Arizona State University and public policy and administration at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her mother, an art teacher and painter, and her father, an English teacher, musician and writer, passed on their love of reading, art and music to her at a early age. However, it wasn't until after her children were born that she was able to indulge her creative passion, writing.

Margaret has always been fascinated by the biographies of Catholic saints and mystics as well as mysteries of all things unseen. The Uncommitted explores these mystical Christian traditions and ideals--Heaven and Hell, the resurrection, apparitions, saints, angels, bilocation, exorcism, the presence of lost souls, spiritual warfare, the concept of forgiveness--and places them in the context of a modern family.

Other interests Margaret has is youth hockey (as all of her children play) and food allergy. Her Facebook blog, Wisconsin Hockey Moms, has followers from all over the U.S. and Canada. She currently lives with her husband and three children in Madison, Wisconsin.
 Photo courtesy of SunDial Photography
Here is Meg and fellow author Nick Chiarkas at Madtown Author Daze
 

Get it from your favorite retailer at this universal link:books2read.com/u/3GYdV8 It's also FREE on KU for you kindle junkies:AMAZON

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Heroes by Day...Sinful Bad Boys by Night

Fantasized about being rescued by a red-hot hunk? Indulge in this box set of alpha rescuers with a delicious talent for romance. 18 stand-alone novellas from New York Times & USA Today bestselling and award-winning authors will steam up your nights and leave you begging for more.

Whether the hunk you lust for is military, a firefighter, first responder, FBI agent, cowboy, bad boy mafioso, or that sexy, everyday guy who plucks you from danger only to kiss you senseless, this bundle has your hero.

18 hunks. 18 heart-pounding rescues. Brand-new stories. Get ready for a passionate and thrilling ride!
Saving Necessity by Margo Bond Collins. For this cowboy, risking his life to save a movie star from a fire is easier than risking his heart.

Tempting Conner by Victoria Pinder. Prince Conner Udine promised his best friend he'd protect his sister, Olivia, from an assassin's bullet, but he needs to marry fast to save his country and Olivia is far too tempting.

An Unexpected Twist by Krista Ames. Used to fighting wildfires, Boone Michaels isn't prepared for the sexy stranger who blows into town fighting battles of her own.

Bad Medicine by Deb Christie. An emergency room nurse and an ex-Army ranger with PTSD. One lives day in and day out with grief, the other with guilt. Can he forget? Can she forgive? A single dark secret holds the key.

Destiny's Secret by Raine English. Eden Wright's fixer of a Savannah mansion comes with two unexpected extras, a not so friendly ghost, and a hunky paranormal investigator whose agenda includes seducing her.

That Unexpected Kiss by Tamara Ferguson. Can an undercover FBI Agent rescue the woman he loves, when she's targeted by his father's killer?

A Silent Heart by Eli Grace. Laurie doesn't have a voice to tell Tanner how she feels, but she can show him.

Unreachable Heart by Aileen Harkwood. When mountain rescue expert Hart Renker pulls a stunning survivor from a plane crash in the middle of a blizzard, the heat between them could melt the bitterest cold.

Dark Current by Lynda Haviland. Ben Kane hitches up to the dock at Willow's troubled marina, with a murky past and a body hotter than the Florida sun, Is he destined to be her savior or her downfall?

Unwrapping Treasure (A Granite Lake Romance Novella) by Jody A. Kessler. Two paramedics, one disastrous night shift, and a sexy holiday vacation that changes everything.

Breaking the Rules by Katie O'Sullivan. Undercover at a 5-star resort, police detective and rule-breaker Jake Campbell finds the prime suspect impossible to resist.

Falling for Captain Hunk by Stephanie Queen. Captain Colin "Hunk" Lynch worries his attraction to a fellow law-enforcement professional could be the mistake of his life...if it prevents him from saving hers.

Fire and Ice (A Sunnydale Days Novella) by Constance Phillips. If only someone warned firefighter Brian his old flame, Charlene, would walk into his life. He should be angry. Instead, he wants to rekindle the flames of passion.

Two More Miles by Jan Romes. Keith rescues Ava after she falls at the gym, and the chemistry between them is undeniable.

The Bad in Each Other by Janice Ross. Caleb and Layla choose the worst possible time to hook up, as tragedy strikes and Layla puts everything on the line to enact revenge over the most heinous of crimes.

Come Hell or High Water by Nancy Segovia. Stranded on a rooftop with Dwight during a hurricane, Maisie's resolve to swear off men weakens as she finds some promises are meant to be broken.

Coaching the Sub by Debbie White. Substitute teacher Shannon has her hands full with bullies in her classroom until Coach "Brock" Andrews gives an assist, while teaching Shannon a thing or two about love.

Path to Grace by Wilder and Quinn. Daughter of a mob boss, Carina wants nothing to do with the family business until she's in need of a rescue by the family's "cleaner," Matteo.

 
I do love Katie O'Sullivan's writing! She never fails to disappoint and I bought this series so I could get my paws on another juicy story. And once again, she did not fail to deliver. Undercover cop falls for his suspect on a sting operation on Cape Cod. The hero is sexy, the heroine is tough and the romance is hot. I look forward to the other stories in this anthology, but don't miss  BREAKING THE RULES!

 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XNQ583Yhttp://quillorpill.blogspot.com/

Blake Caster has been in an emotionally abusive relationship with Justin for so long, she can’t tell what is normal anymore, and so she clings to the one thing that is solidly hers—her passion for extreme weather.

Three years into her Meteorology degree, Blake meets professional storm chaser, Dash Lexington, who is as gorgeous as he is daring. Instantly recognizing her passion and skills in analyzing weather data, he makes a spot for her on his tight-knit storm chasing team. Dash and Blake form a fast friendship and it forces her to realize just how toxic her relationship with Justin is. She can’t deny the lightning-worthy chemistry she has with Dash or how her heart stalls every time he gets too close to a tornado.

With each chase and the cherished moments with Dash, Blake discovers her own self-worth and gains the strength to end things with Justin for good. But he won’t go easily. As Blake tries to sever ties with one man, she fears she’ll lose the other to his dangerous obsession—and she doesn't know if she’ll be enough to save him from the impending storm that could end them all.

 ADD TO GOODREADS!
 
UNIVERSAL BUY LINKS! 
 


I LOVED this book - I can't thank fellow blogger Jenn LaMarr enough for turning me on to this author. Molly Lee calls her genre action romance and I LOVE THAT! There is so much going on in this book. I found it to be like the YA version of the movie Twister and found myself eagerly anticipating the next storm chase scene. Blake and Dash were perfect together and I loved watching the love triangle unfold. I can't wait to read more from this author.  
 
www.mollyelee.com

Molly E. Lee is an author best known for her debut novel EDGE OF CHAOS, and as a fourth year mentor at Pitch Wars - a program which connects promising writers to established authors in the community. Molly writes New Adult and Young Adult Contemporary featuring strong female heroines who are unafraid to challenge their male counterparts, yet still vulnerable enough to have love sneak up on them. In addition to being a military spouse and mother of two + one stubborn English Bulldog, Molly loves watching storms from her back porch at her Midwest home, and digging for treasures in antique stores.



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