Book Crazy Gals Book Blog: New Releases ~ Evelyn & Jolted

Title: Evelyn

Author: Tracie Podger

Release Date: July 28, 2014

Tour Hosted by: Passionate Promotions

~ The Background ~

Evelyn is a pivotal character in books 1 and 2 of the Fallen Angel Series. In books 1 and 2, readers learn a little of her background, how she met principal characters Robert Stone and his best friend Travis, and how she became such an integral part of their lives. But that is far from all there is to know about this wonderful character. She has her own story to tell, and it's a powerful one.

If you've read the Fallen Angel series, you know that every character has secrets ~ sometimes bittersweet, sometimes utterly devastating, even tragic; and as their secrets unfold, the story deepens with a passionate intensity, weaving the characters' lives together with bonds that cannot be broken. In every character's life, choices must be made, and very often the past not only determines the choice, but produces its outcome, especially given the complexities of "family culture" explored in the Fallen Angel series.

In this novella, Evelyn tells her story, ultimately connecting it to the sequence of events as they unfold in Fallen Angel 1 and Fallen Angel 2. As you read it, it is easy to imagine sitting across a table in a quiet cafe', sharing a bottle of chianti, listening as Evelyn tells her story, her way.

Contemporary romance for readers over the age 18. Although part of the 5* Fallen Angel Series, this novella can be read as a standalone.

~ The Synopsis ~

Evelyn was sixteen years old when she fell in love. She fell in love with a murderer.

Rocco has been sent from Italy to live with the Morietti family in Washington, DC, for his safety, for his protection. He hadn’t banked on meeting the beautiful, but young, Evelyn, the daughter of the man who has given him refuge. He hadn’t banked on falling in love.

How hard is it to love the daughter of the man who holds your fate in his hands? And once you fall, how hard is it to keep your love a secret? Which is the greater threat to them both, to keep their secret, or to admit and fight for each other?

Evelyn and Rocco are forced to accept a life of secret meetings, lies, love and loss. Few relationships can survive it, and not every romance has a happy ending. But if there is a chance....... is it not worth a try?

This is the story of young love, of dreams and hopes for a future not possible. This is the story of Evelyn.

~ ASHLEY'S REVIEW~

5 STARS!

As a reader, I often have mixed views on a release of a novella. I sometimes feel cheated out of a full story, or disappointed it wasn't included in the regular novel. Tracie Podger's release of Evelyn is a wonderful supplement to the Fallen Angel series. Evelyn is the big sister, motherly figure in Brooke and Robert's story. I loved her as a secondary character and was intrigued to read her story. We find out about her late teens, growing up in "the family". We discover as a young girl, Evelyn did find her one true love. And she loved fiercely. Evelyn's story is bittersweet. With an unexpected ending, we learning that the happily ever after for Evelyn is not what readers will expect.

If you are a fan of the Fallen Series, you will want to read about Evelyn and how she came to be a part of Robert and Travis's life. She is an exceptional character Tracie Podger has developed fully to be a fan favorite in the series.

~ A Teaser ~

“I need to get you home, Evelyn, it’s getting late,” he said, softly.

“I don’t have a curfew, Rocco,” I protested.

“No, but if we stay here any longer, I’m going to do something we both might regret.”

He might as well have just stabbed me in the heart. I closed my eyes and let my forehead fall to his chest. Why would he regret this? I moved away from him, pulled my hand free of his and turned to walk back the way we came. He didn’t follow me immediately but it wasn’t long before I heard his footsteps. I arrived back at the car and waited for him to unlock the door, open it and I climbed in without looking at him. We drove the short distance home without speaking. As the car pulled to a stop I reached for the door handle. I felt his hand on my thigh and I stilled.

“Wait, you misunderstand me,” he said.

“What do I misunderstand, Rocco? You kiss me like you mean it. You tell me ‘soon’ and leave me for days on end. You play me like I have no feelings,” I replied, my voice rising in anger.

“Oh, I mean it, Evelyn. Every second your mouth is mine don’t you think I want more, don’t you think I want to throw you down and take you there and then? I want your body, I want every inch of you. I want to taste you, to fuck you. I want to own you. I want to be your first.”

“Then why don’t you?” I whispered.

“Because your father would kill me.”

~ Reviewer Comments ~

Add Evelyn to Goodreads

~ About Tracie Podger ~

Tracie Podger currently lives in Kent, UK with her husband and a rather obnoxious cat called George. She’s a Padi Scuba Diving Instructor with a passion for writing. Tracie has been fortunate to have dived some of the wonderful oceans of the world where she can indulge in another hobby, underwater photography. She likes getting up close and personal with sharks.

Tracie wishes to thank you for giving your time to read her books and hopes you enjoy them as much as she loves writing them. If you would like to know more, please feel free to contact her, she would love to hear from you.

~ Connect with Tracie and Fallen Angel Fans on Social Media ~

Twitter (@Tracie Podger)

Facebook (Tracie Podger, Author)

FallenAngelsFanPage (Facebook Fallen Angel Series Fan Page)

Website (www.TraciePodger.com)

~ Discover The Fallen Angel Series ~

Available in ebook and paperback....

Fallen Angel, Part I

On the first day of her holiday to Washington, DC, Brooke Stiles meets Robert Stone.

Dark eyed, damaged and dangerous - Stone has never had a normal relationship for fear of his past being exposed. Not knowing how to respect nor love, he struggles with his feelings for a woman who makes him question everything that he is.

Brooke falls in love with him and as their relationship grows she learns who he really is. Her future is set. She is to heal her man and mend his broken soul. But can she do the one thing that he asks?

This is a story of an ordinary woman who falls in love with an extraordinary man and has to discover whether she is strong enough to forgive him his past.

Fallen Angel, Part II

When Brooke Stiles had said, “It was in a small room in an office block in Washington, DC, that my life changed, forever,” she had no idea of the enormity of that statement. Just a few short months ago, Brooke, had lived a quiet suburban life in the UK. She now owns a closet of clothes she could only dream about and has been swept off her feet by trouble with a capital T. Once Robert Stone came to terms with the fact that he was in love with Brooke, he knew he could never let her go. Not letting her go means introducing her to his life, past and present. However, when Robert’s past and present collide, Brooke does the one thing that Robert begs her not to. Does it change her? Has that light that he sees in her eyes been extinguished? This is a story of an ordinary girl who finds the strength to become the extraordinary woman, and keeps her promise to the man she owes her existence to.

~ Buying Links ~

Evelyn

{insert buying link here}

Fallen Angel 1

AmazonUS
AmazonUK
AmazonCA

Fallen Angel II

AmazonUS
AmazonUK
AmazonCA

~ The Fallen Angel Series Continues With...~

Robert ~ Fallen Angel, Part III ~ and later, A Virtual Affair

~GIVEAWAY~

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/f8ab205313/

>FUN WITH TRACIE PODGER<

Random facts about me

I have a Y shaped scar on my right palm. I fell over a dog and skidded, palms first, into a pile of broken bottles. I think I was 6 or 7 years old at the time.

I’m a Padi Scuba Diving Instructor and have been diving for years. Although I don’t teach so much nowadays, I still enjoy that thrill of seeing someone’s face when they get in the sea for the first time and see some of the most amazing things.

I have two tattoos with another one in the planning. As a birthday present to myself some years ago, I had a dragon tattooed on my lower back. I chose a dragon because they symbolise strength and courage and at that time in my life I really needed to find both. On my stomach, and this one was a mistake, I have a whaleshark. It’s the first whaleshark I was able to photograph whilst diving in the Maldives. I took the photo to the tattoo parlour and had it inked onto my skin. It’s not a great tattoo and will soon be covered over! I don’t regret the tattoo, I just wish I’d thought about placing it somewhere else.

I’m really into underwater photography, not that I’m an expert at it. Sharks are one of my most favourite things to snap. I just wish fish would learn to pose, it’s hard work chasing them around to get a good shot!

I love Italian food. In fact I love all things Italy. I’ve been fortunate to visit many times and love nothing better than renting a house in the middle of nowhere and soaking up the culture, the food and importantly, the wine.

My mother’s family are Maltese. They left Malta and settled in Gibraltar a couple of generations ago. My father’s family are Irish. Hubby calls me Tazmanian after the devil because I have a bit of a fiery temper, I think it’s just the mix of genes.

Authors take on main characters

Evelyn is a wonderful woman. She lost her mother in her teens and stepped up to care for her family. She has such strength and courage, she gave up her life to care for others. When she met Robert and Travis she was in a rough place, mentally, yet she put her emotions, her feelings to one side to care for these two street kids. She understands exactly who her father is, and his chosen line of business, yet she doesn’t exploit that. She wants to give something back to the community, volunteering at the church.

Rocco is a bit of an enigma, in some ways he reminds me a lot of Robert (Fallen Angel Parts I & II). He comes from a remote village in Naples, Italy where his family owned an olive grove, producing olive oil. He is a very loyal man and conflicted between his feelings for Evelyn and that loyalty he owes to her father. But, he has to follow his heart. He has two very distinct sides to him. The side Evelyn sees is softly spoken, is thoughtful and kind but the side his enemies see, is ruthless, a man able to take revenge on his father’s killer.

Questions & Answers

How did the Novella, Evelyn, come about?

Evelyn is a character in the Fallen Angel series that plays such an important supporting role and has an interesting background. I wanted to explore why she never married, had her own family and I felt that she would be someone who would have that one great love and never settled for anything less. This novella covers a time when Evelyn is sixteen to twenty. At twenty she meets Robert and Travis. It’s a novella, instead of a novel, because I wanted to concentrate on that one relationship, her one true love, Rocco.

Where does it fit in with The Fallen Angel Series?

Evelyn can be read as a standalone or alongside Fallen Angel Parts I, II & III. I slotted it in after Part II for two reasons. First, it was written, I love it and I’m impatient! I’m excited for people to read it. Second, it leads us nicely onto Robert’s Story which is the next book out - scheduled for end of August/beginning of September.

Tell us a bit about The Fallen Angel Series.

Fallen Angel, Parts I & II started life as one book but it became too large to realistically publish. The cost for a paperback would have been too high for a debut novel and the book would have been twice the length of a standard romance. However, I really don’t like cliff hangers, so decided to split the book at what seemed a natural point. There was never a Part III but once I had finished Robert’s Story there seemed to be a few loose ends that niggled me and a plot begging to be followed that centres around Travis. Fallen Angel, all three parts, are told from Brooke Stiles point of view. She was just a normal, thirty year old woman on holiday in America when she met, and fell in love, with the dark eyed, damaged and dangerous Robert Stone. She embarked on a life she had only ever seen in the movies.

I like to write about slightly older characters. Robert is thirty seven and Brooke thirty when they meet. To have them at this age meant the timeline was more realistic. Robert has done an awful lot in his life, it wouldn’t have made sense for him to be any younger. I also wanted to explore how, someone slightly older, deals with falling in love for the very first time. The results were surprising!

Why set the book in America?

You have to read to know who Robert Stone is and although his lifestyle, his chosen line of business is around in the UK, I didn’t feel it worked as well. I have family and friends in America so was fortunate to use their knowledge on locations. I have Italian friends. Like Robert, I am an honour Italian, so was able, in addition to research, to tap into a source of information. I also wanted Brooke to be taken out of her life and placed into another. If that had been in the UK, there was the temptation for her to slip back into her own world. She is far away, in a different country, she can’t run (not that they would), she has to overcome her problems and fears in a foreign country.

Can you list your books and where can they be found?

All my books can be purchased from Amazon, just search for my name. In addition, some bloggers will have a buying link on their site, should they review. I urge readers interested in buying the book, to use these links as this helps support the blogger who give their time freely to help promote indie authors.

Fallen Angel, Part I was the first book released, followed by Fallen Angel, Part II. Evelyn is the next and in August/September Robert’s Story will be released. Fallen Angel, Part III will be November. That will complete the Fallen Angel Series (I think!). Spring of next year will see the release of A Virtual Affair, the very first book I ever wrote and then I have a work in progress, yet to be named.

Pimp your support team.

I have a great team of people who support me. Tom Ericson, a wonderful author helps with the cover design. I have two beta readers, Janet Hughes and Romy Lazzari, whose input has been invaluable.

Most of all, Paula Radell, my publicist, has been a godsend! She is the one responsible for organising blog tours and getting my name out and about, leaving me the time to concentrate on writing. Without her input, I would have struggled with my schedule for releases. She also beta reads and being American herself, I can rely on her to pull me up if the dialect is wrong. I’m very thankful to have her on my team.

Lastly, my family. My mum is my biggest fan - sometimes embarrassingly so. She collected me from hospital after a minor op and made sure to tell all the patients on the ward that I was an author and urged me to give out leaflets! My husband has been my rock. I couldn’t have done any of this without his support.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Expected publication: July 22nd 2014

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22236281-jolted?ac=1

“Sometimes, something jolts you out of everything you have ever known, and it isn’t possible to go back to the way things were.”

Kallie Adam’s life is turned upside down when she loses her first love. When she can’t handle the pressure of her overbearing life anymore, she runs away. Kallie has always been forced to live up to everyone’s expectations. When Kallie meets Ryder, she sees an opportunity to break out of the good girl life she always led.

Ryder Brooks has his own secrets and knows he is no good for the girl that showed up out of nowhere. He will only ruin her, like he ruins everything, but he can’t help wondering what she is running from. Ryder makes Kallie feel things she thought she would never feel again. Will he help Kallie heal or be her undoing? They will soon realize they have more in common than they knew, enough to keep them apart.

ASHLEY'S REVIEW

~ ~ ~ 3.5 STARS ~ ~ ~ ~

Kallie has lived a life of privilege with her future mapped out for her after graduation. But when tragedy strikes, Kallie is lost. Running from the security of home, she finds herself in a small town and alone. A chance meeting with Ryder in a bar and Kallie quickly becomes humbled by the help of strangers. While becoming fast friends with Ryder's twin sister, Scarlett, Kallie learns to be herself.

I have very conflicted feelings for this book. While I thought it was good, it didn't stand out as great. At times I felt I was reading scenes from different books all smashed together into one story. While it doesn't leave a huge cliffhanger, I am intrigued to find where Kallie and Ryder's story ends up in book 2. I do like the characters, especially Scarlett, who gives Kallie a true friend she has never experienced before.

I hope book #2 gives us more realistic situations and in deep emotions between the main characters. I would also like to see a story with Logan and Scarlett.

Amazon ~ iBooks ~ Barnes and Noble ~ Kobo ~ Smashwords

Jolted-He-Kissed-Me-Like-It-Was-His-Last-Wish

Jolted-Carter-Was-a-Huge-Part-of-Who-I-Was

The one story building was brick and had no windows. A neon open sign hung in the glass door. This must be a bar, but I had no other options and was not about to start driving aimlessly looking for a more family-friendly place to eat alone. I parked and entered the building.

The smell of smoke and beer met me. A long bar lined the wall with bottles of liquor filling the shelves behind it. Low hung lights with green shades gave the place little lighting. Several guys played pool in the back corner. Several other men stopped to look at me from the tables scattered around the room.

I took a deep breath and made my way to the bartender, who was watching me from the bar. The older man had graying hair and looked slightly overweight. I tried to ignore the fact that I looked like an alien in here, with my stark white dress, expensive purse, jewelry and high heels clicking on the weathered tile. I took the barstool directly in front of the bartender, feeling eyes watch me the whole way there.

“Lost?” he asked bluntly.

“And very hungry sir,” I said meekly and embarrassed.

He gave me a sad smile and handed me a sheet of laminated paper they called a menu. After quickly scanning through, I ordered a burger and fries. I anxiously played with the charms of my bracelet while waiting for my food to come. I could feel the eyes burning into my back, but the voices picked back up as I no longer was the center of attention.

I couldn’t tell if it was dark out yet from inside the dark and dingy bar. I almost laughed when I thought of my mother’s reaction if she knew where I was, instead of her well-planned party. I never went out to bars and partied like my classmates did. I stayed in, concentrated on my studies and watched as Chloe and the girls got ready to head out for nights of fun and drinking. I didn’t imagine this would be the kind of bar they would go to, though.

My food arrived and I slowly ate the burger to stall from having to start the drive home. Driving in the dark on the winding country roads was the last thing I wanted to do. After all, I know how dangerous that could be. Maybe Carter would be sitting on my patio with me right now if it had been daylight for his drive home. Maybe I wouldn’t be in this smokey bar alone.

I slid my card to the bartender when he took my empty plate. “Do you want to start a tab?” he asked me.

“For drinks?” I asked, like I have never been in a bar before. “Yes,” I answered quickly to cover my embarrassment. I could at least try to look like I know what I am doing and remotely blend in. I grabbed my ID from my purse and slid it across the bar.

“What can I get you then, sweetie?” He tucked my card under the register.

“Scotch. On the rocks,” rolled off my tongue before even thinking. I had no idea what I was thinking. I saw it in so many movies and commercials, it seemed like the right thing to say.

The bartender tried to hide his laugh and shook his head. Taking a bottle from the shelves behind him, he filled a glass and slid it in front of me. The smell burned my nose as I lifted it to my lips. He watched me curiously as I inhaled a deep breath. I took a long drink from the glass to keep up my rouse.

The liquid burned my throat like I swallowed flames. I instantly started coughing and shaking my head to clear the burn. I kept my eyes down on the ice cubes in my glass to avoid looking at the bartender. Surely, he must know how deep over my head I am by now.

“Hey, Hank,” came from a voice from next to me, drawing the worried man away from me.

“Ryder,” he said back to the voice while popping the top off a beer bottle and sliding it across the bar. I didn’t even hear him ask for one.

I rolled the glass around in my hands and kept my gaze down. I just wanted to crawl up in a hole and hide from here, this bar, and home and my family. But, I currently have no where to hide that’s not any of those places.

“You’re not from around here, are you?” I heard in a deep voice near my ear.

I looked up quickly to see the guy, named Ryder, sliding over to the stool next to me. His eyes traveled from my high heels, up my bare legs and the rest of my body before landing on my face. I wanted to cringe away from his look, but my body made no moves. I could almost feel his eyes moving up my skin.

Even with an empty and broken heart, my mind could not ignore that the face in front of mine was striking. Black hair spiked in every direction. His pointed jaw and high cheekbones brought all your attention to piercing, dark brown eyes. Some stubble on his chin made him look older, but his broad shoulders and wide chest showed a body of someone younger. He raised one eyebrow at me, reminding me he asked a question.

“Um…no. I’m not,” I stuttered, turning away from his handsome face. He was opposite of Carter in almost every way. I could see him still watching me from the corner of my eye, so I took another drink to break the tension. My body shuddered as the Scotch burned it’s way down.

“Hank, Mojito,” he called out, slamming his hand on the bar.

Hank slid a tall glass with mint leaves and a clear liquid inside. I turned to look at Ryder in shock as he slid the Scotch away from me and downed the rest.

“This is better. Trust me,” he said, sliding the glass closer to me.

In utter curiosity, I took a small sniff. The smell of citrus and mint was a delightful contrast to the previous drink.

“Thank you,” I said, bringing the drink to my lips. The drink burned when swallowed, but then was washed away with the freshness of mint, lime and bubbles.

“Ryder,” the stranger said, sticking out his hand. His eyes shined bright with amusement and something that looked almost daring, like he was challenging me.

“Kallie,” I answered, putting my hand in his. His large hand covered mine. It was rough and instantly warmed my whole body.I have an obsession with owls.

I make homemade wine, and drink it.
I love watermelon and anything flavored or scented watermelon.
I have a dog and a cat. They are my kids.
I have 5 tattoos and need more.
I’m a Mac person, I have no idea how to use anything Windows.
If I could live in any state it would be Georgia.
I am scared of spiders and big fish.
On the first day of sixth grade, I walked into the boys bathroom. Most embarrassing moment.
My favorite candy is skittles.
I never eat breakfast in the morning, but can eat if for dinner everyday of the week.
I have ridiculously naturally long nails.
I collected clowns when I was a kid. I have over 100 in my bedroom. No one wanted to come over for sleepovers.
My sister and my husband are my best friends.
If I won the lottery, I would own every Mustang model ever made.
I have never had stiches or broken a bone in my life [knock on wood]
Unless you count the time I knocked out both my front teeth. [They are fixed now]
I am a famous singer, in my shower.
I used to have a motorcycle until I dropped it. I traded it in for a 4-wheeler. I guess I’m too small to hold up a bike.
I choose Coke over Pepsi and Miller Light over Bud Light.

Alyne lives in Ohio with her husband, dog and cat. Working full time in an office all day, she spends her nights reading, writing or watching TV marathons. She loves coffee, animals and country music.