Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Shadows Blog Tour! (+$50 Amazon GC Giveaway!)

Title: Shadows
Author: Stella Barcelona
Series: Black Raven #1
Pages: 396
Date Published: 2015
Publisher: N/A
Format: Kindle
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Source: Goddess Fish Blog Tours
Buy Me!

Synopsis:
Cataclysm. Now. Run.

A cryptic, urgent text message turns the peaceful life Skye Barrows has created for herself and her sister into chaos. She must follow her father’s instructions to the letter, but Sebastian Connelly is blocking her way. Telling Sebastian what she must do is not an option.

What He Doesn’t Know Will Get Them All Killed

When a prison break in the midst of a security system upgrade threatens to destroy the reputation of Sebastian’s company, Black Raven Private Security Contractors, he goes on the hunt for escaped prisoner Richard Barrows – a delusional and paranoid computer software genius.

Sebastian’s mission: find Richard Barrows and return him to prison, but stonewalled by Skye, who refuses to give him answers, and with the added complication of her special needs sister, Sebastian finds himself always a step or two behind vicious killers.

Nothing About This Case is Normal

For Sebastian, it should be simple, but this case will test him in ways he never imagined. As probing interrogation becomes urgent protection, the search for Barrows forces Sebastian and Skye into a murky world of shadows and illusions.

~Try an Excerpt!~
Chloe deleted the coded text and took the phone apart, breaking it into as many pieces as she could. With the heel of one of the cowboy boots she planned to wear, she then smashed the pieces. Three toilet flushes later, the phone was gone.

She allowed herself a few minutes to shower. Hot water soothed her and helped her plan how the morning would unfold, once she awakened her sister. Colbie, of course, had no knowledge of the cataclysm scenario and wouldn’t grasp what it meant, even if she was told every detail. With serious coaxing, Chloe would be able to get Colbie out of the house a few minutes earlier than normal. There was no way, though, that she’d be able to get Colbie on the road without stopping at their new bakery and coffee shop, Creative Confections, picking up the cake that Colbie had decorated the evening before, and delivering it to the customer. Bingo. She’d focus on the cake as a reason to hurry. Once they delivered the cake, they’d be able to run. She combed her wet hair and wound it into a twist, so that it would dry without wetting her sweater. No make-up. No time.

She slipped on the clothes that had been reserved for this day that was never supposed to happen, put on jewelry that she could use for barter later, if needed, and slipped into her sister’s lamp-lit bedroom. The barrage of color that filled bowls on Colbie’s oversized desk and apothecary jars on every bookshelf sent a chill through Chloe. Colbie’s current project at home involved organizing marbles by swirl and color. Lots of them.


Please God. Not marbles. When she finally has her meltdown, don’t let her want marbles.
~Meet Stella!~  
Stella Barcelona has always had an active imagination, a tendency to daydream, and a passion for reading romance, mysteries, and thrillers. She has found an outlet for all of these aspects of herself by writing romantic thrillers.

In her day-to-day life, Stella is a lawyer and works for a court in New Orleans. She lives minutes from the French Quarter, with her husband of seventeen years and two adorable papillons who believe they are princesses. She is a member of Romance Writers of America and the Southern Louisiana Chapter of the Romance Writers of America. Her first novel, DECEIVED, was inspired by New Orleans, its unique citizens, and the city’s World War II-era history.

Her third novel, JIGSAW, a Black Raven novel, will be released in 2016.

Stella will be awarding a $50 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

31 comments:

  1. What would you say are the main advantages and disadvantages of self-publishing against being published or the other way around?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mai T. - I think there are advantages and disadvantages to both traditional and independent publishing. I strongly believe that the most important thing a writer can do is to get their work in the hands of readers- then write the next book. I'm grateful that I'm writing in an era where independent publishing provides the possibility of getting my stories in the hands of readers. Thanks for asking! Stella

      Delete
  2. You seem like such a busy lady. When do you have time to write? Have you ever written about any court cases?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Misty -

      Regarding time: I am busy, but I'm also acutely aware of the passage of time, so I manage most hours of each day. I make time to write early in the morning, then I do everything else that needs to be done that day - whether it's go to work, exercise, or any of the other things that crop up in my life.

      Regarding cases: I haven't written about any of the cases that I've handled. My legal training has informed my writing, however. For example, Shadows is a techno-thriller, involving cyber-security issues, which raises Fourth Amendment concerns. My protagonists, like Sebastian in Shadows, and the characters in my first novel, Deceived, often have legal training, which guides their problem-solving approach.

      Thanks for your interest - have a nice day!
      Stella

      Delete
  3. Andra- thank you for hosting! Stella

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love the last line of the excerpt. Makes me think your book, while being of the mystery/thriller genre, there is some humor there too.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Karen - There is humor, where it fits in the story. There is also a bit of sweetness to the story, as well. Overall, the story is very dark - I used humor and sweetness to break some of the tension. I'm glad you caught that in the last line of the excerpt- thank you for the comment! Stella

    ReplyDelete
  6. It's an intense excerpt!

    --Trix

    ReplyDelete
  7. Congratulations on your book's release, it sounds like a great adventure and I'd love to read it! And thanks for the awesome giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Judy - You're welcome! Good luck in the giveaway, and I hope you do read Shadows one day. Let me know if you like the adventure! Stella

      Delete
  8. Thank you for the excerpt, I enjoyed it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rita- You're welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed the Shadows excerpt - Stella

      Delete
  9. Loved the excerpt, this book sounds really good, thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love the cover of this book and I've enjoyed reading the excerpt! Thanks for the great post :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Victoria - I love to hear that you love the Shadows cover! Thank you! Stella

      Delete
  11. Sneaky :) Getting Chloe to hurry because of the cake was a good idea I think. It'll make everything go more smoothly and quicker.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Amber - Well, Chloe sure tried to make things go smoothly. Sebastian gets in her way - FAST! Stella

      Delete
  12. I really enjoyed reading the excerpt. Can't wait to read this book!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ally - Thank you! I hope you enjoy Shadows when you get to read it. Stella

      Delete
  13. Wow. I got tired just reading between the lines as to how busy a schedule Stella has. Way to go, Girlfriend, but don't burn yourself out!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Laney - Don't worry! I won't get burned out anytime soon. I work hard and play hard, and writing each morning makes me thrive. I hope all is well with you - thanks for the concern! Stella

      Delete
  14. The book sounds really interesting! thanks for the excerpt too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Glenda-I'm glad you enjoyed reading about Shadows, and I've loved being on Andra's blog today. Stella

      Delete
  15. Love the title! This book sounds very intense and I can't wait to read it! Great excerpt~thank you for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Betty - I hope you do read Shadows, and I certainly hope you find it intense and exciting! Let me know what you think of it-on Facebook or through my website. In the meantime, thank you for commenting here. It's great to meet new readers. Stella

    ReplyDelete
  17. Andra- Thank you again for hosting Shadows today - you have wonderful readers on your blog- I've loved responding to their comments. Stella

    ReplyDelete
  18. This does look like a book I would really enjoy. Thanks for sharing. I like the inclusion of a special needs person and what looks like humor which is always a plus for me. Sounds like everything, suspense, mystery, probably romance I'm sure!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Really enjoyed reading the excerpt, thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Great post! I enjoyed the excerpt and really like the cover :)
    Thanks,
    Lori

    ReplyDelete