Champagne Musings

Monday, June 29, 2020

See What's Coming in July!

Champagne Books Group is excited to announce the latest arrivals that will be available in July. Check out these new releases!

July 6 2020

Sophie’s Key

By Jodi Jensen

Time Travel Romance

90,000 words

242 pages

$ 3.99

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Sophies-Key-Jodi-Jensen-ebook/dp/B089RTZQ47/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=sophie%27s+key+jensen&qid=1592972044&sr=8-1

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/search?query=sophie%27s+key

Champagne Book Group: http://champagnebooks.com/store/coming-soon/810-sophie-s-key-9781927454756.html?search_query=sophie%27s+key&results=1

Blurb: After inheriting a long-abandoned farm, Sophie Sanders trades her empty existence for a fresh start in Utah. Moments into her new life, she uncovers a wooden screen door that sends her spiraling into 1901 where she meets Texas Ranger and widower, Jacob Warren. When an injury leaves Sophie reliant on Jacob and his hospitality, she resolves to keep her time-traveling secret. Before long, she finds herself falling for the rugged Texas Ranger despite her modern sensibilities constantly being at odds with his old-fashioned values.

When the only thing that keeps her anchored in the past, a silver skeleton key given to her by a Romani woman, is taken during an attack, Sophie must depend on Jacob to help her get it back. The strength of their newly formed bond is tested as they race to discover who’s behind a string of accidents and recover Sophie’s key before time runs out.

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July 13 2020

Kiss of Shadows

The Knight Light Series, 1

By Gwen Bright

Paranormal Romance

83,805 words

214 pages

$ 3.99

Amazon:

Kobo:

Champagne Book Group: http://champagnebooks.com/store/coming-soon/768-kiss-of-shadows-9781927454657.html?search_query=kiss+of+shadows&results=1

Blurb: Kiss of Shadows follows two bent, but never broken, characters on their journey through love and redemption. Ian the Black Hearted is a Knight Shade: a warrior whose deeds were so dark while he dwelt on Earth that he is condemned to centuries of combat in the Shadow World.

Ian has earned a second chance at life with his Verum Lux: his True Light. Ian is sent to the Land of the Living when the Demon High Court launches an attack that threatens all True Lights in general and his True Light in particular. Together, Ian and his Light must learn to trust one another enough to reveal their true selves before their second chance vanishes.

Maria de Jesus is a young woman with a carefully guarded secret. Her isolated life is turned upside down when a “chance” encounter with Ian sends her reeling down a path of self-discovery and sensual awakening. When Ian is accused of murdering the man who nearly destroyed her life, Maria must choose to confront the scars of the past or risk losing the man she loves forever.

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July 13th

Hammer Across the Stars

By R. J. Hore

Science Fiction

102,000 words

155 pages

$ 3.99

Amazon:

Kobo:

Champagne Book Group: http://champagnebooks.com/store/science-fiction/820-hammer-across-the-stars-978189726130.html?search_query=hammer+across+the+stars+r.+j.+hore&results=1

Blurb: After leaving Earth to join the Rygeillian Navy and see the universe, Lucy Thorncroft finds herself hurtling from one adventure to another. Not much chance she’d ever settle down and miss out on spaceships, alien monsters, evil empires and exotic planets?

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July 20 2020

Taste of Passion

By D.K. Marie

Contemporary Romance

77,400 words

221 pages

$ 3.99

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Taste-Passion-Opposites-Attract-Book-ebook/dp/B088C4VPB1/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=taste+of+passion+dk+marie&qid=1592027633&sr=8-1

Kobo:

Champagne Book Group: http://champagnebooks.com/store/coming-soon/811-taste-of-passion-ebook-9781771552790.html?search_query=taste+of+passion&results=9

Blurb: I have a million reasons for staying away from Cindy Meier. Let’s start with the top three.

One, she’s hot and knows it. She lives in a fantasy world where everyone bows to her wishes and wants.

Two, she’s the sister of my brother’s fiancée. Enough said. We have to organize our sibling’s wedding party weekend. Nothing but planning will happen between us, no matter how much her seductive glances curl around my desires.

Three, I’ve finally crawled out of the hell I created. I’m not about to risk returning to it for a pretty smile and a smart mouth.

No matter how sexy those lips, or how much she makes me laugh.

See, I used to be just like her. All about the good times, chasing my next party, diving into any and all pleasures.

I’d realized too late I couldn’t afford the cost. The price was too high, and those closest to me ended up paying my tab.

I won’t make that mistake again. So, I’m going to ignore her smile that lights me up. Turn from her exuberant laughter that brightens the dead corners of my soul. We’ll do our part for our sibling’s wedding then go our separate ways.

In opposite directions, because that’s what we will always be: opposites.

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July 20 2020

Divorcing Mr. Right

The Charm City Hearts Series, 3

By M.C. Vaughan

Contemporary Romance

98,000 words

170 pages

$ 3.99

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/M-C-Vaughan/e/B0052YXHR2?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1592027994&sr=8-1

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/divorcing-mr-right

Champagne Book Group: http://champagnebooks.com/store/coming-soon/812-divorcing-mr-right-ebook-9781771552813.html?search_query=divorcing+mr.+right&results=1

Blurb: When free-spirited violinist, BROOKE BURAS, touches down in Las Vegas for her military brother’s shotgun wedding, the last thing she expected was temptation in the shape of her brother’s exceptionally hot best friend. This weekend was about supporting her brother, not about embracing her vices. Even if he’s the most perfect man she’s ever seen…

The two things that matter most to intelligence analyst LUKE WARREN are brotherhood and security. Much as he hesitates to step away from his job, when his best friend asks him to be his best man, how can Luke say no? Seems like a simple enough gig. Then he encounters his buddy’s flirtatious little sister, and all bets are off.

They get under each other’s skin in all the best ways. After the reception, wired on romance and a couple of shots, they hit the Strip. Casinos, cocktails, and a hilarious visit to an infamous Sin City chapels lead to a hot night in Brooke’s hotel room. After all, whatever happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, right?

Weeks later, Luke’s government agency performs a routine background check and uncovers that he’s married. They need a divorce, quick. An accidental wife looks suspicious on Luke’s personnel file, and Brooke’s auditioning for a spot in a touring symphony. As they wait for their court date, they can’t deny they’re falling hard for their soon-to-be-exes. How will that work when Brooke is on the cusp of exploring the world, and Luke only wants Brooke to stay?

Don't miss out on these new releases! Download your copy today!

Saturday, June 27, 2020

K.M. Tolan on His Latest Book KNIGHT OF THE OPEN ROAD

Champagne Books Group is happy to announce the release of K. M. Tolan's Knight of the Open Road, the third book in his Hobohemia series.

CBG interviewed Tolan about his new book. This is what he had to say.

Knight of the Open Road is book 3 in your Hobohemia series. Can you tell readers a little bit about the first two books?

I wanted to write a fantasy without the usual tropes, so I went to the railroads and hobos of the 1930’s and found plenty of untapped potential in the old tales and history around steam locomotives and those who worked or rode them. “Tracks” looks at a man trying to restore his family and “Storm Child” concerns itself with a young girl who, as a transformed steam child, must confront and conquer her own hurtful past. All of this is told using the railroad lexicon, though you don’t have to be a rail fan to both understand and enjoy both books. I can truly say that most people will never have read a fantasy quite like these.

How does Knight of the Open Road continue the series?

There are several story arcs through the other two books that deal with the conflict between steam locomotives and diesel engines. We also have the Blue Goose, a Hudson engine playing a part in the first two novels, as well as some characters whose resolution hasn’t been completely fulfilled. These stories are continued in “Knight” while exploring what it means to inherit a legacy that’s both good and bad. You can read “Knight” as a stand-alone, but having read the first two stories will enrich the experience.

What character was the most fun to write for Knight of the Open Road?

As much as I liked Alex, the protagonist, the one who got put through the hero’s journey ended up being his aunt, Chessie Hamilton. Why a villain might spare her opponent time and again opened up a whole new perspective into what drives a person to seemingly do evil. In the end, it is a matter of perspective.

What is a major theme in this book and how is it developed?

Coming to grips with guilt and a family legacy is a big part of my story. I also wanted a final showdown between steam locomotives and diesels that touched on what actually took place – a comparison between the best of both classes. For me, that meant more than analyzing charts and graphs. I wanted a race – one with a winner-take-all consequence.

For fans of your first two books, what growth or changes in the characters can they expect to see?

Knight takes place sixty years after Storm Child, so while you won’t meet too many of the previous series characters, you will get to see a few familiar steam children in a different light. Some are darker. Others less so. A love story in Tracks ends up laying the foundation of tragedy in Knight. Alex Kiefer is saddled with an unsavory history due to what followed in Storm Child.

Was there anything particularly difficult to write when working on Knight of the Open Road? If so, how did you overcome it?

In one word. Chessie. My heavy for Knight. Conflicted doesn’t even begin to describe her sometimes erratic behavior. She wasn’t meant to be the demon she’s become, and I had to get deep into her head to see what she was or wasn’t going to do next. Sometimes you have to sit down and have a long talk with your characters, but when you see the villain seeing themselves as a hero, well things get complicated. Especially when she’s got good reason to think so.

Do you plan on continuing the series? If so, what are some things fans can expect to see in upcoming books?

Lucky for me, the books are designed as stand-alone tales for the most part, with a unique universe to play in. I’ve touched on gandy dancers, steam children, and hobo knights. There’s always room for, say, the rail barons and even the yegg. I’ve put the series aside with a satisfying closure in Knight while I work on my other Dancer universe. It doesn’t mean I can’t come back again.

Do you have any other news to share with us?

Speaking of the Dancer universe, for those who’ve read my SF series there’s some good news. I’m currently writing Dark Suria, addressing the successor to Mikial, the series protagonist from Dancer. I hope to get three books out. Here, I explore the idea of how Mikial’s species selects their rulers – and what happens when they get it wrong.

Do you have a sample of your current work you could share with us?

Here’s a familiar face from Storm Child making her re-introduction in Knight of the Open Road. We start with Cecilia Baldwin and Alex preparing to face off with her. Cecilia has the first line followed by Alex:

Her lips thinned. “This one’s very real. And very powerful, so watch what you say.”

“Good or bad?”

“Depends.”

He caught the other word formed on her lips. Bitch.

She stepped forward, her hands clenched. “Lady Midtown?”

The steam mother continued to coalesce until he could make out the purple in her blouse beneath a white lace vest. The curve of her dungarees suggested this Midtown wasn’t bothering with the little kid act, either. Her brunette hair was pulled back by a green bandanna, though the impossibly long ponytail still lent a measure of quirkiness. Either the steam mother couldn’t decide who to be or didn’t care. Alex suspected the latter.

Her fluttering voice rolled across the floor with the distant rumble of a summer storm. “Cecilia Baldwin, what are you up to?” Those baleful eyes fixed on him next. “And let me guess. Another Kiefer.” Midtown glanced at the black steel frame beneath her boots. “You dare pursue your family’s work?”

Do you have anything you want to share with the readers?

I wish I could meet more of them, but this year being, well, this year, I haven’t any conventions to rely on. So please, make yourselves comfortable at the Champagne Books website and visit my own site at www.kmtolan.com to check out my worlds.

Thank you for your time! And congratulations again on Knight of the Open Road. The book releases on Monday, June 29th. You can find it on Amazon here.

Thursday, January 23, 2020

Get to Know Michell Plested, Author of Jack Kane

Get to Know Michell Plested, One of the Authors of Jack Kane

1. When and why did you begin writing?

I really started writing in about 2001. I’d always wanted to write a book but prior to that I never thought I had enough life experience to really have anything interesting to write about. What kicked me into gear then was my job. I was feeling a bit trapped and decided to finally learn how to write a book and maybe build myself a new career.

Once I figured out I could actually write a book I started to have fun with it. I’ve now written more than a dozen novels. Jack Kane and the Kaiser is the ninth one to be published.

2. Tell us your latest news.

Jack Kane and the Kaiser, which I co-wrote with JR Murdock, is now available! It is book two in the Jack Kane steampunk series and was a LOT of fun to write. I expect it will be fun to read too.

I also have the first novel in a brand-new series coming out soon from Champagne Books – The Goddess Renewed. That book is a classic fantasy novel that I am VERY excited to have coming out.

3. When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I started to consider myself a writer when I typed “The End” on my first book after seven years of working on it (while I took a correspondence writing course). Like many writers, I still felt like I was a fraud as I told myself I was a writer. There are still moments of doubt in that dark tea-time of the soul. J

4. Do you have a specific writing style?

My writing is very character-centric. I love developing characters readers can identify with. I also like to include elements of humor in my writing – even serious books can use smatterings of humor.

5. How did you come up with the title?

The first book in the series is Jack Kane and the Statue of Liberty. We wanted to continue the series titles in a similar fashion and, since our hero Jack comes up against Kaiser Wilhelm, it was a natural fit. The question you need to ask yourself is, will the Kaiser be the bad guy or just a guy?

6. Is there a message in your novel you want readers to grasp?

Jack Kane and the Kaiser is intended to be a fun steampunk novel with elements of romance, superheroes and of course, detective work. Not really a message except to encourage the reader to be entertained and, of course, come back for more. The one thing that I DO put in most of my books is a sense of wonder and hope. I

7. Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Finding the time to write everything I want is probably the biggest challenge. I probably have a dozen books demanding to be written. There is also my interest in trying new things. That has led me to write several different series in different genres. At last count I was writing five different series ranging from horror to YA adventure to steampunk to fantasy to science fiction.

8. What was the hardest part of writing your book?

JR and I wrote this book as a team. The toughest part was bringing everything together and ensuring continuity. We did the writing in a slightly different way from some collaborations: he wrote the protagonist (hero-side) and I wrote the antagonist (villains). That makes our slightly different writing styles work quite well.

9. Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

The writing stems from my love of reading. I was always reading books and comic books. I’ve had stories percolating in my mind for…well, a very long time. To name how long would be dating myself.

10. Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?

I learned we have a couple more in the story arc. I was also reminded how much fun this series is to write and read.

11. Do you have any advice for other writers?

I started writing novels late in life because I didn’t believe I had enough life experience to be interesting. The truth is, we are all unique and have things to write about that others will want to read. So, don’t wait. Just write, express yourself and keep trying to get better.

12. Do you have anything specific you want to say to your readers?

This was one of the most fun books I’ve ever written (Jack Kane and the Statue of Liberty was the other one). Give the books a chance – you won’t regret it. Oh, and keep watch for the next one. Things will just keep getting more and more exciting!

13. What inspired you to write your first book?

I was a reader from the time I was five-years-old digging through my parent’s science fiction novels. I drove them crazy asking what various words meant. But that reading gave me a deep love of books that I wanted to carry on with my own writing.

14. Can you share a little of your current work with us?

The explosion caught him half a step short of safety. The initial detonation was relatively small but the tunnel was filled with sewer gas which immediately ignited. The small burst of fire from the bomb swelled and struck Lenny’s back with the force of a freight train, lifting him off his feet.

He slammed into the oak door that Squiggy held in front of himself like a shield and pushed the door, his partner and his passenger down the tunnel like wind-swept paper.

They finally came to a rest against the glazed brick wall of a junction in the tunnel almost a hundred yards away from where they started and lay in the calf-deep filthy water trying to regain their senses.

Lenny’s ears rang from the deafening sound. At that moment he know what an anvil must experience whenever a blacksmith hammered it. He shook it to ensure it was still connected. It didn’t fall off which was a good thing. Not so good? There was something loose flapping on the left side of his head.

He reached up to locate the flapping. His hand came away bloody.

Squiggy stumbled to his feet and seemed to be trying to say something. At least, that’s what it looked like. His lips moved, but Lenny couldn’t quite make out the sounds.

“What? What are you saying, Squiggy?”

This is a scene where the book’s villain is experimenting with explosive elements. It features his henchmen, Lenny and Squiggy who provide some of the comedy elements in their actions. Their boss, Felonious Fenduke Filtcher the Fourth is a crazed Dr. Evil sort of character who was enormous fun to write.

15. Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

I do write from personal experiences, but also from what I see. People tend to react to situations in several predictable ways that often are reflected in my writing. Since I haven’t ever been to a steampunk world, I extrapolate from what I know to what I imagine. It’s fun and makes for a more relatable.