Saturday Spotlight – The Courtesan of Constantinople

Alchemists of Archangel dropped on Tuesday December 29th, if you like Steampunk Romance you might like my Gaslamp Romance Series Archangel Revolution. Here is some more information about the first book.

Title: The Courtesan of Constantinople 

Series:  Archangel Revolution  Book 1

Genre: Gaslamp Romance 

Author: Tina Holland

Release Date:  November 10th, 2020

Publisher:  Book Boutiques 

Editor:  Misti Moyer

Cover Artist:  Valerie Tibbs, Tibbs Designs

Blurb:

Laurel Gunn’s freedom and body were traded for queen and country following her husband’s death on the battlefield.  Laurel Gunn is a courtesan, a spy, and a fae.  Like most Fae, she is not free. 

Doctor Benjamin Gunn is sent to investigate a body for clues as to the Cleaver’s identity.  Ben Gunn has been keeping secrets and is unsure if he can reveal what creature he is to Laurel, and why he is among the living.

Constantinople, also known as the Global City, is filled with politicians, espionage, and magic.  In a world of spies, not everyone is who they seem, but those seeking justice aren’t even human. Laurel must tread carefully as allies become foes and her very fate lies with England’s Queen. 

Excerpt: 

“Did you mean what you said about my being your only lover?” Ben asked.  He simply had to know. The thought of spending every night with her would be more than pleasurable. She had a way of chasing away his nightmares.

“You think I lie?” Laurel asked.

“No, I simply wonder why me? You could have any man here.” He leaned in and breathed against her ear.

“Don’t you understand, husband?” She pulled back. The hurt was evident in her liquid brown eyes.

“I believe I do, but I want to be clear.” Ben didn’t know why he risked her safety to satisfy his own heart. He seemed helpless around this woman. Ben wanted to believe he wouldn’t hurt her. Those damnable blackouts made him uncertain.

Laurel drew closer to him, her lips were close, brushing his ear as she cooed,“Ben, you must know, I still love you.” Without warning, she kissed him. In front of the table at large and her current lover, she kissed him.

Her kiss was a simple touch of the lips, but to him, the gesture conveyed much more. A pink stain spread over her cheeks. Was she embarrassed or did she feel the same longing in her soul?

The Courtesan of Constantinople is available for Pre-Order and LIVE 11/10

Title: The Courtesan of Constantinople 

Series:  Archangel Revolution  Book 1

Author: Tina Holland

Genre: Gaslamp Steampunk Romance 

Release Date:  November 10, 2020

Publisher:  Book Boutiques 

Editor:  Misti Moyer

Cover Artist:  Valerie Tibbs, Tibbs Designs

Blurb:

Laurel Gunn’s freedom and body were traded for queen and country following her husband’s death on the battlefield.  Laurel Gunn is a courtesan, a spy, and a fae.  Like most Fae, she is not free. 

Doctor Benjamin Gunn is sent to investigate a body for clues as to the Cleaver’s identity.  Ben Gunn has been keeping secrets and is unsure if he can reveal what creature he is to Laurel, and why he is among the living.

Constantinople, also known as the Global City, is filled with politicians, espionage, and magic.  In a world of spies, not everyone is who they seem, but those seeking justice aren’t even human. Laurel must tread carefully as allies become foes and her very fate lies with England’s Queen. 

Excerpt: 

“Did you mean what you said about my being your only lover?” Ben asked. He simply had to know. The thought of spending every night with her would be more than pleasurable. She had a way of chasing away his nightmares.

“You think I lie?” Laurel asked.

“No, I simply wonder why me? You could have any man here.” He leaned in and breathed against her ear.

“Don’t you understand, husband?” She pulled back. The hurt was evident in her liquid brown eyes.

“I believe I do, but I want to be clear.” Ben didn’t know why he risked her safety to satisfy his own heart. He seemed helpless around this woman. Ben wanted to believe he wouldn’t hurt her. Those damnable blackouts made him uncertain.

Laurel drew closer to him, her lips were close, brushing his ear as she cooed, “Ben, you must know, I still love you.” Without warning, she kissed him. In front of the table at large and her current lover, she kissed him.

Her kiss was a simple touch of the lips, but to him, the gesture conveyed much more. A pink stain spread over her cheeks. Was she embarrassed or did she feel the same longing in her soul?

Buy Links: 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MJQHYP3

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-courtesan-of-constantinople-tina-holland/1138010535

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-courtesan-of-constantinople

https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-courtesan-of-constantinople/id1538628214

First Friday Lunch – The Courtesan of Constantinople

This month I’m talking about the process of querying, rejections and why I chose a small press for this project.

Cover Reveal – Z and the Firewolf

Title: Z and the Firewolf 

Series:  Dealing with the Dead Book Three

Author: Tina Holland

Genre: SFFP, Post-Apocalyptic, Erotic Romance

Release Date: May 12, 2020

Publisher: Book Boutiques

Cover Design: Valerie Tibbs, Tibbs Design

Blurb:

When the Phoenix Lunar Coven hires Maximillian Z to retrieve their most valued treasure from an evil skin-walker, they expect results. As a hardened mercenary hunted by his own clan, Z expects trouble but not the feelings evoked by Princess Tierra. Tierra is no ordinary witch, she’s a werewolf and a phoenix.

Tierra has gone into heat as with every cycle of the Lunar Eclipse. Even though she’s mated, she must fulfill her duty. Z refuses to return Tierra and has every intention of keeping her for himself.

It’s a race against the moon – for whoever kills the Firewolf on the Lunar Eclipse will inherit the powers of the Coven. With the skin-walker searching for Tierra and Z’s clan chasing him, will they make it before the eclipse? Or will everything go up in flames for Z and the Firewolf?

Excerpt:

Maximilian Z gripped the binoculars tighter as the skin-walker caressed the beautiful and unconscious Tierra. 

Z had watched the deteriorating Casablanca hotel for two days before realizing his best bet was to grab the princess after a pain session with Limikkin. He was relieved Tierra healed at a rapid rate. When her coven hired him, he assumed she was a witch like her mother. He wondered if she was an immortal to heal so fast. The first time he saw her endure such torture, Z thought he’d be bringing a body back to the coven, but she returned unmarked the following morning, and again today. Z planned to move north toward the mountains outside of Sin Vegas as soon as Tierra was retrieved. They could make good time if he didn’t have to wait for her to recover from the damage inflicted during sessions with the skinwalker.

Soon Limikkin would call for her transfer. Z leaped toward the stairwell, rushing to the opposite building. He needed to arrive at the lobby before the coyotes took her to the lower level safe. Once she was locked in there, a significant amount of patience–or serious explosives–would be required to get her out. Z had neither, and he dared not risk a confrontation with Limikkin. The skin-walker had existed for at least a millennia, and his dark magic was best avoided. Z’s best course was to take on the three coyotes transferring her. Not the best odds, but he never liked good odds anyway; it seemed unfair.

Z continued down the stairs two at a time, knowing he wasn’t going to make it. He reached the eighth floor, then leaped down the abandoned elevator shaft.  Z barely noticed the impact on his aging joints as he hit the bottom and dashed across the desolate street. He arrived in the once-opulent lobby before the shifters reached the foyer. He heard them coming; the animals’ movements were noisier than hell.

“She smells good,” he heard one dog say.

Z had no idea. His sense of smell was severely damaged, and he could only register the most pungent odors. He took a double-edged boomerang out of his pocket and tossed it, slicing the cables to the cameras in the lobby before the sharp disc returned to his Kevlar-gloved hand. 

“Put her on the sofa, over here. Let’s have a taste,” another coyote suggested. 

“But Limikkin?” the third finally spoke. 

“He won’t know. She’ll be healed by tomorrow. We can’t eat her flesh. I’m sure he would notice.” The second voice was almost shaking in anticipation. 

Z watched as they moved the princess to the nearest leather couch. They stopped, dropping her on the cracked leather. Their inattention to the task assigned was the break he needed. He’d be able to sneak up on them. 

“Let’s take her!”It was the first who spoke, tufts of fur sticking out of his scalp in patches. 

Z didn’t like this at all. If they raped her, they could change, and full shifters were a lot harder to fight off. Damn it all to Hell.
Buy Links: Amazon| Google | KOBO | iBooks | Nook

Cover Reveal – Fireproof

Title: Fireproof 

Series:  Brave the Elements, Book One

Author: Tina Holland

Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance

Release Date:  May 8, 2020

Publisher: Book Boutiques

Cover Artist: Valerie Tibbs, Tibbs Design

 

Blurb:

Did you know all fairies are ruled by the elements? And they answer to a group known as the Veil–sort of a fairy secret council. There are rules that must be obeyed the first being never reveal what you are.

Jamie Waters broke the rules when she retrieved an anchor off the shores of California setting a new world-record for free-diving. She flees where the Veil will not find her, the town of Innocent, Minnesota. There she meets and falls hard for a human, Beau Collins. Beau Collins isn’t like most humans, he can’t catch fire and being a fireman is the perfect job for him. When he meets Jamie Waters it’s an instant attraction. Opposites attract but everyone knows, Fire and water don’t mix.

When Beau is burned after battling a warehouse fire, Jamie works to help him find the arsonist. Can they find out who it is before they lose control over the elements? Will Beau risk being with Jamie even if it means he can’t be Fireproof.

Excerpt:

Beau struggled all night to keep his emotions in check.  He rarely granted invitations to the opposite sex because women always seemed to set his blood on fire, especially if there was any level of attraction because the relationships eventually ended because of his secret.

This girl, Jamie, scared the hell out of him.  His barely concealed erection was a testament to the draw he felt towards her.  His usual heated senses were not there though and it really concerned him.  He felt cool, calm, and collected at least in the flesh.  His emotions were tearing all over the place.  Attraction towards this unbelievably attractive girl, confusion over what drew him to her specifically and concern his fail-safe standoff approach wasn’t working at all. 

Now her breath lingered against his skin.  What did she ask him?  He looked over at her with her long black hair and dark blue eyes. “What?”

“Chase said something about you needing lessons.” Her sensuous pink lips moved and all he heard was “lessons”.

“Lessons?” He asked unable to concentrate on the words emerging from those luscious lips.

“Yeah.  What kind do you need?”  She smiled.  

“What kind do you want to give me?”  Beau hoped he sounded flirtatious instead of the uncertainty rising within him.

Jamie leaned over and whispered against his lips. “I’d like to give you some very intimate lessons but I doubt you need them.”  Her lips barely touched his own.  Beau used all of his restraint not to pull her against him to taste her.

“So did you two figure something out?”  Damn Chase and his bad timing.

“I’m still trying to find out what he wants.”  Jamie turned and smiled at Chase.  Beau’s gut twisted. 

“He doesn’t know how to swim!” Chase fairly shouted it.

Jamie turned to look at him, “Is that all?”

“Yes,” Beau said in a clipped voice.

“I think I can help you out.  I’ve done adult lessons before.”

“I’m not sure I need to know how to swim.  Haven’t run across the need in a fire yet.”  He teased her.

“Nonsense.  It’s easy.  Besides, it’s not like you’ll need to rescue people right away.  Just a nice skill to have, especially living on the North shore.”  Her face lit up as she talked to him, “I need to use the little girl’s room.” Jamie rose from the table, “Don’t take my spot.”  She directed Chase.

Once she left Chase sat down opposite Beau, “What do you think?” he asked.

“About what?” Beau responded.

“Jamie.”

“She’s okay.”  Beau quipped.

“Just okay?  Dude, she’s like a walking goddess with her long black hair, perky tits, and a sweetheart shaped ass.  Didn’t you notice?”

Beau noticed and so did his pecker. He merely shrugged.  How could a man not notice dark denim jeans or the white t-shirt hugging her curves? Chase forgot to mention her captivating ocean blue eyes.  A man could drown in those big baby blues.

“Well if you’re not interested, I’ll—”

“Don’t even think about it.”  It was more of a command than a statement. 

Chase laughed, “So you do like her.”

“I didn’t say anything of the sort.” 

“But I can’t pursue her.” Chase clarified.

“Yep.”  Beau took a long sip off his beer.

“Okay, whatever man.  I’ll let you have this one, only because you’re showing a little bit of interest.  You need to get laid.  You can thank me later.”

Buy Links:| | KOBO || Nook |