Author Alicia Dean

Happy Friday and welcome to my weekly contest –

Below you will find three different books, by three different authors, and beneath each, you will find three different short excerpts. Only one excerpt is from the listed book. Using the form at the bottom of the post, enter your guesses as to which excerpt is correct for each book. Once a month, I will draw a name from all those who attempt a guess on this game, AND on my Facebook SpotaLie game (check it out here: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAliciaDean/) The winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card.

Each week, the first person to guess all 3 correctly receives an additional entry. (TIP: Click on each link and read the blurbs for a better chance at guessing correctly) – Remember, you get an entry just for guessing!

In addition to filling out the contact form, we’d also love it if you would comment, whether it is about your guesses, the books, the authors, etc. (when we offer extra giveaways, commenting is usually the only way to enter.) 

Have fun!

Terms and Conditions: No purchase necessary to win. There is no limit on how many times one entrant can win. You do not have to guess correctly to be entered in the monthly drawing.

*** The game runs from the day it’s posted through the following Friday morning when the next post goes up, so feel free to send your guesses in and comment any time during that week. In order to stay up to date on each post, follow my blog by signing up in the column to the right. 

Extra Giveaways!!! (Last week’s winners are: Mary Anne Landers won Stephanie Berget’s E-copy of Sweet Cowboy Kisses and Elf won a $5 Amazon gift card from  Colleen L Donnelly. Congrats, ladies!)

This week, lucky winners will be drawn from all commenters for the following prizes:

From Gemma Juliana – Free copy of The Amulet

From Cailin Briste – Free copy of Shane: Marshal of Tallav Book #1 in the Sons of Tallav series.

From Suzanne Stengl  – Free copy of ANGEL WINGS

Book 1:

Raven of Blackthorn Manor by Gemma Juliana

Buy link: http://a.co/gPeLwHY

Find Gemma here: http://www.amazon.com/author/gemmajuliana

Snippet A:

“No!” Olympia’s heart thudded. “I can’t, won’t go with you. I’m working on a project with a tight deadline.” “That’s too bad, because you are now mine. I won you in our high stakes private poker tournament until I’m paid.” The sheikh’s mouth disappeared into a cruel thin line as his eyes lingered on her breasts, then her hips. He snapped his fingers, and the four henchmen standing behind him came forward and encircled Olympia. “Rick—,” sheer terror blazed in Olympia’s eyes. “Don’t let this happen.” This couldn’t be happening. Rick watched in horror as the scene played out before his eyes.

Snippet B:

The promise of a bitter cold winter hung in the air as Oonagh carried wood inside and placed it at the grate of her fireplace. She stoked the fire, pleased as flames leapt with vibrant life. “Come my child, I’ve prepared a very special gift for you.” Oonagh wrapped her burgundy shawl tightly around her to repel the ice that would surely claim her veins. She pulled her emerald green cape closer and ignored the shiver that wracked her tired body. Emerald eyes blazed with pride as she watched Zoe, her most stunning magical creation ever, rise to her feet to follow. “A gift! You know I love gifts, Ma.”

Snippet C:

I fairly trotted back to the house, so angry I looked neither right nor left. As I cleared the entrance steps and threw open the front doors, I spotted Ronan walking toward the kitchen at the back of the house. Too outraged to talk with him now, I ran straight upstairs to my room. Was I losing it, or had I been in a small cottage with some unseen person who’d managed to remove two books from the desk while I was in the bathroom or the closet? I hadn’t heard a sound. This place had me questioning my sanity—something that had never happened before.

Book 2:

Maon: Marshal of Tallav by Cailin Briste

Buy link: https://www.amazon.com/Maon-Marshal-Tallav-Cailin-Briste-ebook/dp/B01MRUND2U/

Snippet A:

Frau Heinrich continued, her voice a steady acidic drip. “Since you are a true submissive with mild masochistic tendencies, you are fortunate a Tallavan marshal holds your contract. We are always pleased to place our students with a marshal from Tallav. They’re such an exclusive club of men.”

Snippet B:

She was on her way to the Whip Hand to meet the owner and notorious sadist Randolph Meryon. The drawings she carried in her portfolio were the first installment of a trade she’d made. He would become her mentor while she explored sexual domination, and she would design exclusive apparel for his staff.

Snippet C:

Kolya was an artist. A sculptor focused on what he termed brutal beauty. He’d tried but failed to convince Tyen to model for him, claiming he’d make it worth her while with a naughty wiggle of his eyebrows. She’d refused, not willing to experience the pain that went along with being the focus of his creative genius.

Book 3:

The Thurston Heirloom by Suzanne Stengl

Buy link: http://amzn.to/2lP7hoK

Snippet A:

Not wanting to join the hikers yet, he found a seat at the bar. Jason delivered a Rickard’s Red as soon as Teague sat down. “How’s it going?” Jason opened the beer. “Good,” Teague answered. “Have you seen the new maid?” A slight pause from Jason. “Mariah?” “Yes.” “About five foot seven? Long reddish brown hair? Blue eyes? Pleasant expression?” “Yes.” “No, I haven’t seen her,” Jason said. “I haven’t even met her.” Something was up. “Then how come you know what she looks like?” “Because everybody’s looking for Mariah.”

Snippet B:

“She’s an ex-girlfriend. They went out last summer when Gaven was home.” Christie felt her chest tighten, and then she let go of her breath, and looked up from the neat rows of hash browns. Ethel Hamilton sat across the table from her, sitting in the place where Gaven had been. Ethel, in her brown dress and her brown hat with all the feathers. “You’re still here,” Christie said, setting down her fork and vaguely wondering if Lucy had added something to the coffee. “Yes, I am.” “You’re a figment of my imagination.”

Snippet C:

The large living room window gaped open with a ragged hole letting in the sea breeze. Shards of glass scattered over her couch and chair and coffee table. Even more astonishing, a man dressed in black jeans and a black T-shirt knelt in the middle of a heap of broken glass in front of the couch. A window washer? His arms, bare and muscled, braced in front of him, gripping the bottom of the couch. Glass flakes sparkled in his hair. Like his clothes, his hair was dark. Dark brown, almost black.

Happy Friday and welcome to my weekly contest –

Below you will find three different books, by three different authors, and beneath each, you will find three different short excerpts. Only one excerpt is from the listed book. Using the form at the bottom of the post, enter your guesses as to which excerpt is correct for each book. Once a month, I will draw a name from all those who attempt a guess on this game, AND on my Facebook SpotaLie game (check it out here: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAliciaDean/) The winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card.

Each week, the first person to guess all 3 correctly receives an additional entry. (TIP: Click on each link and read the blurbs for a better chance at guessing correctly) – Remember, you get an entry just for guessing!

In addition to filling out the contact form, we’d also love it if you would comment, whether it is about your guesses, the books, the authors, etc. (when we offer extra giveaways, commenting is usually the only way to enter.) Last week’s Giveaway winners: Mary Anne Landers won a $5 Amazon Gift Card and Elf won an Ebook or audiobook set of all three Jane Barnaby Adventures books by J.J. DiBenedetto. Congrats, ladies!

Have fun!

Terms and Conditions: No purchase necessary to win. There is no limit on how many times one entrant can win. You do not have to guess correctly to be entered in the monthly drawing.

*** The game runs from the day it’s posted through the following Friday morning when the next post goes up, so feel free to send your guesses in and comment any time during that week. In order to stay up to date on each post, follow my blog by signing up in the column to the right. 

Extra Giveaways!!! (Last week’s winner is Elf…I think she’s owed a few gifts from the week before. I’ll be in touch soon, Elf, my apologies!)

Stephanie Berget is offering an E-copy of Sweet Cowboy Kisses

Colleen L Donnelly is offering a $5 Amazon gift card

(Must be ‘Cowboy’ week :))

Book 1:

Sweet Cowboy Kisses by Stephanie Berget

Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Sweet-Cowboy-Kisses-Coated-Cowboys-ebook/dp/B01N39F0F2/ref=la_B00CJYM8KK_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1487940775&sr=1-4

Find Stephanie Here: http://www.stephanieberget.com

Snippet A:

When she cleared her throat, he jerked his eyes up to her face. “It won’t do you any good to talk to my breasts. Like most women, it’s my brain that answers questions.” A smart ass and she’d caught him red-handed. His cheeks warmed. Damn it, he was blushing. This woman was not at all what he needed. Time to end this. “I have a ranch, the Circle W. We need a camp cook. A man.” Her eyes narrowed, and her body tensed. “It looks like you need any kind of cook you can get.” She held her hand out, indicating the empty café. “Not a lot of takers.”

Snippet B:

Mother of all things holy! The doorway to the café was filled with Wranglers and muscles and cool gray eyes. He’d had aged well, if she could call twenty-eight aging. The lines of his face had thinned and his muscles were more defined. She found it hard to look away. What was wrong with her brain? She was hardworking, smart and knew enough to take care of herself. Why did the mere sight of this man turn her into a five year old coveting a candy bar?

Snippet C:

Holy neutrons! The heat coming from his gaze nearly set her heart on fire and she leaned toward him. He jerked away like she had Spotted Fever. To cover her embarrassment, she went on the offensive. “I’m a pretty good horseback rider already, right? Maybe even a prodigy.” When he only grunted, she continued. “I might even win the Grand Prix like National Velvet. And I’ll give you all the credit as my trainer.” “National Velvet rode in the Grand National. The Grand Prix is a dressage competition. I don’t do either of those.”

Book 2:

The Cowboy’s Triple Surprise by Barbara White Daille

Buy Link: https://www.amzn.com/dp/B01HB74HZ8

Find Barbara Here: http://www.barbarawhitedaille.com

Snippet A:

He came to a stop beside her, not too near, but close enough to see the long sweep of her lashes as she kept her eyes down, her gaze focused on her work. Close enough to smell the same flowery perfume she had worn last summer when he’d danced with her at the wedding and, a few nights later, when he had slept with her in her bed. He gulped another mouthful of sweet tea and nearly choked on it. She never looked his way. That only made him more determined to get her attention.

Snippet B:

“I appreciate all you’ve done,” she told him, “but I’m fine now. Really. And I won’t be alone. I told you, I have a friend dropping by.” She had called that friend deliberately to give herself an out. Maybe it was the coward’s way out. She couldn’t help that now. Ordinarily, she would stand up for herself and her kids and send this man packing. But somehow, she couldn’t seem to gather the strength to do that. Or to face another argument with him and all the memories that would surface along with it.

Snippet C:

Things could have been different, too, if he hadn’t left. But he had left—without giving her time to find a way to tell him about her pregnancy. Yet in all honesty, how could she put one hundred percent of the blame on him? *Suppose you’d given me the news a long time ago?* he had asked. *How do you know I wouldn’t have stayed in town then?* He’d said nothing about staying with her. She was the one with the long-held dreams of settling down with him someday. Dreams it seemed she couldn’t forget even now.

Book 3:

Mine to Tell by Colleen L Donnelly

Buy link: http://www.amazon.com/Mine-Tell-Colleen-L-Donnelly/dp/1628300027/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1454378481&sr=8-1&keywords=mine+to+tell

Find Colleen here: http://www.colleenldonnelly.com/

Snippet A:

He’d come to feel optimistic about us again, hopeful I’d give in so things could return to his kind of normal. I smiled on the outside while he visited. I smiled for him, smiled for my parents, and even smiled to placate my brother. But I cried when he left, sad that he was so happy over what was nothing more than a weak pretense on my part, and sadder yet because I missed him so. Missed him on the inside, in the places where he’d never, ever, been and where I feared he never would be.

Snippet B:

“I can tell you one thing, she’s your mama’s daughter, and your mama sure doesn’t need any makeup. I know.” James looked for his mama again in Mr. Morgan’s dark eyes. Did Mr. Morgan see her the same way Pop did, and that’s why makeup was forbidden? Mama would probably laugh at all this talk about beauty, she with her faded dresses and unpinned hair. James wanted to laugh like she would, but something in Mr. Morgan’s eyes stopped him. “Your mama’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known,” Mr. Morgan said.

Snippet C:

Hearing his voice and seeing his expression ignited tiny flames inside me. Flames that had flickered quietly far too long, done little more than lick the surface of my imagination. Until that day. Each time he spoke after that, something in me flared to life and heated me up from within, bringing what Mama called an unladylike glimmer to my eye. A glimmer that was identical to the one I saw in his eyes, but she never knew that. I never talked about Raymond to her. I didn’t dare.