 THE DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES By Barbara Longley BLURB: Ryan Malloy has lost it all. After his fiancée dies in a tragic accident, he enlists in the army, only to lose his best friend in a roadside bombing. Wracked with guilt and grief, Ryan finds life unbearable—until a job offer from his former commander gives him a glimmer of hope. And in the tiny town of Perfect, Indiana, the man who thought he had nothing left to live for meets the only woman who can tempt him into risking his battered heart one last time... Paige Langford has it all: wealth, beauty, and ambition. But when her boyfriend’s betrayal leads to the loss of her job and her reputation, she retreats to her brother’s rural Indiana home to regroup. There she meets Ryan Malloy, a gruff, hard-drinking loner whose surly temper can’t hide the haunted misery in his eyes. He is everything Paige never wanted, yet he may be exactly what she needs—if only they can overcome their personal demons to forge a love strong enough to save them both. EXCERPT: Throwing her shoulders back, Paige knocked on Mr. Weil’s door. “Come in,” he barked from inside. Smoothing her face into a professional mien, she opened the door and strode in. One look at his expression, and she faltered. He looked serious. Seriously unhappy. What the hell? “Have a seat, Langford.” He moved a pile of folders aside. She took one of the chairs in front of his huge, imposing desk. “You wanted to see me?” “Hmmm.” He scowled her way. “Meyer Construction needed our bid five business days ago. They never got it. They’ve gone with another supplier.” An adrenaline shock hit her system, and her heart leaped to her throat. She gripped the arms of the chair. “That’s impossible! I sent that bid with a same-day courier two days before it was due.” “Like I said—they never got it.” He leaned back in his expensive leather chair and fixed her with a baleful scowl. “I’ve also had two other accounts you handled complain that their bids were late, holding them up and delaying their contractors. If it weren’t for Anthony Rutger’s intervention, we would’ve lost those accounts as well.” “Anthony’s…intervention?” Her mind spun with the implications. Anthony? Her mind flew back to the day the courier had come to the lobby for the Meyer bid. She’d been in the middle of a phone call, and Anthony had offered to take the envelope down to the lobby for her. At the time, she’d thought it was sweet. Come to think of it, he’d also offered to put a few of her bids into the office’s outgoing mail bin for her. No, he wouldn’t purposefully sabotage her. Would he? They were a couple. Heat filled her face. “I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.” “Damn straight it won’t. You’re fired.” “Oh, no. There’s been a mistake. I had somebody else put the bids in the mail for me. They must’ve forgotten, or…” Shit. Shit. Shit. She glanced around the office as the reality of Anthony’s betrayal sank in. “I won’t let it happen again, Mr. Weil. I’ll get the Meyer account back somehow.” She sucked in a breath. “From now on, I will personally put things in the out bin myself, and—” “Miss Langford, you’re done here.”  AUTHOR INFORMATION:
As a child, Barbara Longley moved frequently, learning early on how to entertain herself with stories. Adulthood didn’t tame her peripatetic ways: she has lived on an Appalachian commune, taught on an Indian reservation, and traveled the country from coast to coast. After having children of her own, she decided to try staying put, choosing Minnesota as her home. By day, she puts her master’s degree in special education to use teaching elementary school. By night, she explores all things mythical, paranormal, and newsworthy, channeling what she learns into her writing. LINKS: http://www.barbaralongley.com I'm very excited to share this book with you because I personally know this writer is amazing. I've read some of her other works and loved it! I hope you will help me make R. Brennan feel welcome!  Blurb: New submissive, Faith Daniels is completely infatuated with her amazing Dominant, Richard Halstead, so when he sends her a summons via text message a full day before they had plans to meet, she can barely contain her excitement. But, Richard didn’t just invite her over for a play date. Not this time. He has a proposition for Faith. One that could change the rest of her life. Buy Links: Evernight Publishing Amazon Excerpt (Mature Audiences Only): Strong hands grabbed hold of her kneecaps, startling her. Richard jerked her legs apart until she knelt in an exposed V position. His voice arrived close to her ear, sending a chill through her. “When I ask you to kneel for me, this is how you are to do it. I want you to display your desire. Show your need with the pride of a submissive. Do you understand me, Faith?” Her body ached for his touch. The brush of his hand, the caress of a breast. Anything. She’d even welcome the slap of his paddle if it meant he’d touch her again. “Yes, Sir.” Her voice was little more than a hoarse whisper. “That’s my girl.” He slid a finger along her wet opening. Half a breath later, she heard his lips smack together, as if he’d just finished eating barbeque ribs. “Sweet nectar.” His hand returned to probe her slit. A finger entered her. A gasp of pleasure tore from Faith’s throat, contorting into a whimper when he withdrew from her quivering pussy. He traced a fingertip over her mouth, coating her lips with the evidence of her arousal. The carnal scent of her juices surrounded her, pushing Faith toward the mindless black abyss of wanton need. Her nails dug into the flesh of her forearms as she willed herself to resist reaching for him again. Two fingers forced their way into her mouth. “Taste your desire.” Faith sucked them clean, her tongue swirling sensually around each offered digit. Richard abruptly withdrew his hand and moved away. Solitude rushed in to fill the space he left behind, leaving Faith breathless. He signaled his return a few pounding heartbeats later with the ‘snap’ of his leash on her collar. “Come, pet,” he commanded. Add it on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17894387-a-leap-of-faith  Author Bio: R. Brennan is a subbie brat with a bitch streak, an IT geek for the state of New York, and reformed gaming addict raising her daughters in the rolling hills of Upstate NY. (You know, where it takes a ten minute drive to buy a gallon of milk, and the smell of cows lingers on the breeze.) The brave are welcome to follow her blog: http://bexbooknook.wordpress.com or stalk her on twitter: @bexbrennan Often sarcastic, blunt, and NSFW, but usually entertaining.
Author Links: Blog: http://bexbooknook.wordpress.com Website: http://rbrennan.weebly.com Facebook: http://facebook.com/bexbooknook Twitter: http://twitter.com/bexbrennan Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/rebelhart69 I'm excited to share a wonderful book with my readers today. The Low Notes is a heartwarming tale of two people who find love and have to decide just how much to fight for it. Kate Roth is an amazing author who blends exciting dialogue with her interesting characterization. I'm glad to have her back on my blog visiting!  It’s the one year anniversary of The Low Notes and I am so happy to be sharing the book all over again! Here is a little bit about the New Adult Romance all about forbidden love. When a chance meeting between high school teacher Kevin Reed and singer Nina Jordan ignites an instant spark, they must decide if it's more important to follow your heart or follow the rules. After caring for his dying father, Kevin Reed, returns to his hometown of Wexley Falls, bereaved, unemployed and exhausted at the thought of starting a new life. After a failed blind date, Kevin meets young singer Nina Jordan who takes his breath away with the sound of her voice. The connection is instantaneous and mutual on their first date, but both are crestfallen when they discover days later, to their horror, Nina is Kevin's student at the local high school. Deciphering between notions of love and lust, fate and coincidence, Kevin and Nina find themselves unable to turn their backs on what they can't deny is a once in a lifetime feeling. Told from both perspectives, The Low Notes explores a love that feels right even though it seems wrong. **** Excerpt: It was his job as her teacher to fix the issue of her skipping class but it was his guilt as a man that made him wary of approaching her. He hadn't seen her since she walked out of his room, silently crushed. He looked for her in the halls and even scanned the lunchroom a few times to try to get a glimpse of her. He wondered if she was skipping all of her classes. He wondered if something happened to her, if she wasn’t coming back. The thought made his stomach twist miserably. He flipped off the lights and closed the door behind him and headed towards the exit. The sky was still crystal clear and the breeze smelled of sweet summer scents just as it had the evening he and Nina spent together. The teacher’s lot was adjacent to the senior parking lot. It was a special privilege for twelfth graders to park closest to the school and avoid the trek underclassmen were forced to make every day from the far parking lot to the school. Kevin dug in his bag for his keys as he leaned against his car door, his impatience taking over as he slammed the bag on the hood of his trunk to get another angle for his search. Finally he saw the glint of silver inside the black abyss. He grabbed the keys and looked up just in time to see her walking out of the building. She was alone. She was beautiful. Nina. His breath caught in his chest seeing her stroll to her car. He noticed a thin white wire coming down around her slender neck. She was oblivious to her surroundings as she listened to a song Kevin could only imagine. He absently took a few brisk steps across the pavement in her direction. Nina glanced up from her purse and Kevin was in front of her in an instant. He watched as she pulled her earphones out and stared at him blankly. Kevin drew in a deep breath before he spoke. “Hello Nina.” It was all he could manage to think of at the moment. Just seeing her face made him dizzy. He cursed himself for still wanting her. He should be the one with the grimace, not her. He noticed Nina shut her eyes for a moment, maybe in effort to make him disappear. Buy Links: Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/The-Low-Notes-ebook/dp/B0083V285S/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1337209488&sr=1-1) Barnes & Noble (http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1110896148?ean=2940014427814) Bookstrand (http://www.bookstrand.com/the-low-notes) Are (http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thelownotes-792581-148.html)  Author Links:
www.katerothwrites.com www.facebook.com/authorkateroth www.twitter.com/katerothwrites Author Bio: For most of her youth Kate Roth spent hours thinking up stories about love and relationships. Her passion for writing was sparked in big way in 2008 when she took a chance and signed up for a class to try and hone some of her former ideas into something more. What started as a novel writing course turned into Kate's dream come true of becoming a published author. Kate Roth's debut novel, THE LOW NOTES, was released by Rebel Ink Press in 2012. She is currently working on a supernatural romance, RECKLESS RADIANCE, with hopes to publish in 2013. She is inspired by music, film, art and of course other authors as well as the wealth of stories she has heard through her years as a professional hairstylist. She lives in Indiana with her artist husband and rescue dog.   Demon by Laura DeLuca Demon, Book Two in the Dark Musicals Trilogy, inspired by Sweeney Todd is available now in both PRINT and eBook! When Justyn and Rebecca set off for the New York School of Performing Arts, they think their dreams are about to come true. To their dismay, they aren’t in high school anymore, and the competition is steep. Rebecca must compete against accomplished singers for a role in the production of Demon Barber, including a stunning Gothic diva with her sights set on Justyn. It doesn't help that things keep disappearing from their apartment or that Rebecca's father refuses to accept that Justyn is an essential part of her life. Yet, all this seems minimal in comparison to the serial rapist terrorizing the campus. Consumed by fear and obsessed with revenge, Rebecca and Justyn start living the story of Sweeney Todd—both on and off the stage. Excerpt: Rebecca unwound the silver ribbon. When she lifted the lid, she found two matching pendants, each laced to a long hemp chain. They were shaped sort of like seashells, with an endless spiral pattern that looped out from the center as the chambers grew larger. They were dark brown in color with a few hints of tan along the edges. The stones had been polished and smoothed on both sides, but when she lifted them, she could see that the two pieces fit together perfectly. She swore the halves fought to snap together, like magnets in her hand. There was an energy pulsing and vibrating within the stones that even a novice witch like Rebecca could feel. “They’re beautiful,” Rebecca whispered as she ran her hand along the intricate grooves. “It’s an ammonite.” Justyn lifted one of the pendants, brushed her hair to the side, and hooked the clasp around her neck. His breath tickled her skin as his hands moved with graceful dexterity, giving her goose bumps despite the humid August night. “They’re actually fossils that are millions of years old, named after Ammon, an ancient Egyptian deity. When they’re divided in half, they’re perfect mirrors of one another. Some cultures believe that if the two halves are given to lovers, it will bind them together forever. When made into necklaces, they’re often called soul mate pendants.” “Wo-wow,” Rebecca stuttered. As usual, the sentiment behind Justyn’s gift was even more beautiful than the gift itself. It left her a little flustered. “That’s amazing. How do you know all this stuff?” “You don’t spend eighteen years living with Darlene without learning a thing or two.” Rebecca laughed. Justyn’s mother Darlene was definitely something special. EMT, exotic belly dancer, and Wiccan High Priestess were only a few of the titles she claimed. Rebecca knew she was a fountain of earth-based knowledge after years of studying the Craft. As Darlene’s new apprentice, Rebecca greedily dipped into that knowledge herself as often as possible. “It’s beautiful,” Rebecca repeated, too overcome with emotion to think of anything more eloquent to say. “You certainly know how to make things interesting.” “Like I told you on our first date, I try not to be boring.” He winked at her. “So … are you going to put mine on for me?” “Oh yeah … sorry.” Rebecca giggled as she lifted the hemp chain. She wasn’t nearly as graceful as Justyn. She almost dropped the necklace in the sand three times before she managed to get the clasp locked. When she finally had it secured, he placed his hand over her heart, where the ammonite lay. He did the same with her hands, lifting them to his chest. His dark eyes had lost all glimmer of humor. He met her gaze with a stare filled with genuine emotion. Beneath her fingers, she could feel the gentle, steady rhythm of his heart beating in perfect tune with her own. “Our love will span both space and time. In this life and the next, you shall be mine. All eternity I will be by your side. For a love so strong cannot be denied. Spirit and flesh merged into one. So mote it be, for all days to come.” When he was done with the recitation, he kissed her. Not just a gentle brush, but a deep, passionate embrace that left her throat tight and her heart pounding with a familiar yearning. “I’ve never heard that poem before,” she said once she’d caught her breath. “Who are you quoting?” Even in the moonlight, she could see him blush. “I guess I was quoting myself. It was really more of an incantation than a poem though. These necklaces are meant to be a symbol of our love, and it seemed a little spell work could only add to the power of the stones. There is power in words, Becca. Just like there is power in nature.” “You mean, you wrote that?” He nodded, but his eyes twinkled, and the playfulness was back in his voice. “Well, actually, I just made it up as I went along.” “Wow. Actor, singer, and now an improv poet slash chant writer. Is there anything you can’t do, Lord Justyn?” He smiled and tilted her chin so he could look into her eyes. “I can’t stop loving you.” Demon Buy Links: Amazon Smashwords Barnes & Noble You can also add Demon to your shelf on goodreads.  Phantom, Dark Musicals Book #1 If you haven't read the first book in the series, now is a great time to get your copy. To celebrate the release of Demon, Phantom is now on sale for only $1.99 exclusively on Amazon! The “Phantom” was a musical phenomenon that Rebecca had always found enchanting. She had no idea that her life was about to mirror the play that was her obsession. When her high school drama club chooses “Phantom” as their annual production, Rebecca finds herself in the middle of an unlikely love triangle and the target of a sadistic stalker who uses the lines from the play as their calling card. Rebecca lands the lead role of Christine, the opera diva, and like her character, she is torn between her two co-stars—Tom the surfer and basketball star who plays the lovable hero, and Justyn, the strangely appealing Goth who is more than realistic in the role of the tortured artist. Almost immediately after casting, strange things start to happen both on and off the stage. Curtains fall. Mirrors are shattered. People are hurt in true phantom style. They all seem like accidents until Rebecca receives notes and phone calls that hint at something more sinister. Is Justyn bringing to life the twisted character of the phantom? Or in real life are the roles of the hero and the villain reversed? Rebecca doesn’t know who to trust, but she knows she’s running out of time as she gets closer and closer to opening night. Only when the mask is stripped away, will the twenty first century phantom finally be revealed. Buy Links: Amazon Smashwords Barnes & Noble  About the Author: Laura “Luna” DeLuca lives at the beautiful Jersey shore with her husband and four children. She loves writing in the young adult genre because it keeps her young at heart. In addition to writing fiction, Laura is also the editor of a popular review blog called New Age Mama. She is an active member of her local pagan community, and has been studying Wicca for close to eight years. Her current works include Destiny, Destiny Unveiled, Phantom, Morrigan, Player, and Demon. Author Links: Website Facebook Twitter GoodReads Pinterest ~~~~ Giveaway: Laura is giving away a Demon prize pack includes which includes a signed copy of Phantom, gothic key chain, incense gift set, mini Buddha figurine, lavender purification bath salts, geode, crystal point, natural stone pendant, and sage smudge stick with abalone shell. This giveaway is open to US Residents only.   This is a post that I wrote a couple of years ago for Mother's Day. It is perfect to share it again, especially because of the importance of the message. Happy Mother's Day Everyone! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It is fitting that I had this conversation with my son just recently since Mother’s Day is coming up. Often I hear other people tell me that being a parent means dealing with daily guilt and I suppose that is true. Since children don’t come with instruction manuals, we are on our own to know what we need to do to make them successful, happy, well-adjusted, and loved. “Did you give them enough attention? Did you listen to classical music while you were pregnant so that they will become the next Mozart?” “Were you too brisk with them when they brought you that snake as a gift?” Some of these things are easier than others and of course, there are times when all those things are very difficult. If you don’t believe me, just wait until your teenager tells you that they had a“small accident” in your new car! As a divorced parent, you face even more guilt. No matter how wonderful the divorce is, or how necessary, your children’s lives are changed for good. You begin to question every decision that you made and wonder if you have somehow “damaged”your babies! “Is this house good enough?” “Should I get mad if they act out or is it because of the divorce?” If you are lucky enough to find someone who you love and want to spend time with... and are even more lucky to find someone who wants to be with you (kids and all), you face guilt over juggling this fresh romance with the needs of your children. You might as well build a new garage to house your guilt! “Am I spending too much time with my new boyfriend?” “Do my children feel that they have been replaced?” Add to this mix, being a teacher and you have a treacherous situation! Teachers look at children all day long and question what the parents did or didn’t do to produce these little wonders or little terrors! We also worry about our progenies acting like some of our little challenges when our own children get to school! “Will my daughter act up in class?” “Will my son turn in his homework?” And with the worry comes the conviction that if the child is a tribulation, it must be because of the parents! Just shovel the guilt on our shoulders! Finally, I decided to call my almost 17 year old son to ask him this one question that had been on my mind all day - “With all that you had gone through in life, how did you turn out so trustworthy?” I think he was a little shocked that I thought he was such a dependable and honorable young man because it isn’t something that we have talked about before. He was probably also a little stunned that I wanted to hear his thoughts. But I thought for sure he had the answer that would help me be a better teacher and give me some perfect insight into what I must have done right!  Ty at age 13 Let me tell you a little about my son. He has a wonderful sarcastic sense of humor which hides a very caring nature. He used to cry if he thought that you were upset or sad as a child. He faced his share of childhood illnesses and accidents, yet came away not too scared to keep trying. He looks up to his older sister and admits a little competitiveness to be better than her! Nonetheless, she was his closest confidant and staunchest supporter when he faced bullies in middle school. Finally my son has the nature of a miser and will not spend money on things if he feels that they are too expensive. He would rather give up certain items (or now that he is older-get his own job) because he doesn’t want to hurt us (his parents) financially. So this was the guy that I went to for some help. One of the biggest things that he felt was important was the nagging that we did as parents. He said that he did hear it. So don’t give up on the million reminders to do your homework or to just walk away when you are being picked on!! They do hear you!! Another factor was his personal determination to be a success. He doesn’t have an exact day or event that caused this but around 8th or 9thgrade; he realized that good grades were important to him and his future goals, career, and successes. And while the time and effort that he sometimes has to put into his school work is vast and the work that he has to do is tedious, the final outcome is worthwhile. My son’s final piece of advice was to have a good sense of humor, using this to be true to yourself and not let the world get you down. With humor, he has found that it is easier to stand up for yourself, avoid conflicts, and surround yourself with people who accept you as you are. So after about an enjoyable hour on the phone, I thought, “Seems simple! Seems like something that we all can do!!” And I also was very glad that I had done something right throughout those almost 17 years! I have some pretty magnificent children! Even with all the things that we worry about and feel guilty over; our children really do appreciate what we have given them, the foundation that they need to become breathtaking adults. Happy Mother’s Day! Laugh a lot, live well, and love unconditionally! 
My son at his high school graduation, along with my daughter and husband.
 Still at the VFW hall, TJ and Syn are enjoying the music and the sight of her father and his mother dancing. But like any hot-blooded man, TJ can't keep his hands to himself. Better yet, TJ has a sense of humor that is very sexy! :)
~~~~~~ “You had me convinced many years ago, but then you blew it. Now you’ll have to really impress me with your dance skills. Do you remember that high school dance we went to when we were dating? I can’t believe we slow danced to Stairway to Heaven! What a bad choice.” “Hey, it wasn’t a bad choice as long as I got to hold you tight. But I’ll warn you, I have learned a few things about dancing—and other things—since then, and I can’t wait to show you,” he said, wiggling his eyebrows. Check out more of an excerpt on my website :)  Lacey is one of my favorite authors. Her Brookfield Series is dynamic and features a wonderful group of characters who will be sure to capture your imagination and heart. Take a break from ordinary and read a Lacey Wolfe book today!  Bed, Breakfast, and You by Lacey Wolfe The Brookfield Series Prequel Claire holds the keys to her future, in more than one way. As if the recent death of Claire Stevens’ parents isn’t enough, someone wants to steal Honeycreek Bed and Breakfast right out from under her. But Claire isn’t about to roll over and let them. She’s prepared to fight. Jace Brown is Brookfield’s main attorney, and after delivering the bad news to Claire about her property, he knows all about being on her bad side. As Claire gets to the bottom of this scandal, she’s surprised to have Jace by her side, fighting along with her. The attraction is instant, but can it last after the dust settles? Excerpt: Claire walked around the inside of Honeycreek Bed and Breakfast and made notes on things she wanted to do before the grand reopening. She’d planned on opening it almost right away, but with this tax crap, she knew she needed to wait. Which meant she had no money coming into her pocket. She remembered Jace needed a receptionist. Maybe she could temporarily work for him—the enemy. Then she’d be on the inside and she’d have access to files. She was brilliant. Why hadn’t she thought of this before? But would Jace hire her? The chances were pretty slim, but it never hurt to ask. She headed back to her cabin to find the card he’d given her with his info on it. She’d much rather be shot down for the job over the phone than in person. The papers were now in her bedroom on her nightstand. She sifted through them until she found the small rectangular business card. She pulled her cell phone from her back pocket and dialed the number. “Jace Brown speaking,” he answered. “Jace, it’s Claire.” “What can I do for you?” She smiled, now wishing she could see his face. “I’m calling about the assistant job. Do you still need someone?” “Yeah, but—” “With this mess going on, I could temporarily fill that position. I have no money coming in since I can’t reopen Honeycreek at the moment. And it would be a win-win for us both,” she explained. “Yeah, but—” “I just can’t see how it would be bad. You have someone to answer your phones and I’ll be able to make some money. And if I’m being honest, it might help me find the bad guy. Unless you’re the bad guy.” “Can I speak now?” he asked. She giggled. “Sure.” “I’d love to hire you, but that would look odd, wouldn’t it?” “What’s so odd about it? I need a job and you’re desperate to hire.” “I’m not—” “Yes, you are. So how about it? I’ll be there in the morning at eight sharp,” Claire said. He sighed. “I’m not going to get a word in, am I?” “The sooner you give me what I want, the sooner I’ll be out of your hair. And I have a feeling you’d like my case to get solved quickly. So, if you let me help, we can solve this together.” “What about the sheriff? Isn’t he working on it?” “He is. But I’ve never been one to sit around and wait. I like to take control.” She grinned. “If you know what I mean,” she added the last part for the laugh. She was sure Jace’s eyes were wide at the moment. “I’m only agreeing to this because I do need the help. I have no idea how this is going to work. But I guess I’ll see you at eight tomorrow.” “Great. See you then.” She ended the call. That had worked out better than she’d expected. Then again, she hadn’t even given the poor man a chance to speak. She plopped down on her bed. Tomorrow she was going to begin getting to the bottom of this. Buy Links: Amazon Nook All Romance Kobo Shades of Rose Tour: http://sormarketing.blogspot.com/2013/04/bed-breakfast-and-you-by-lacey-wolfe.html ~~~~ Watch the Trailer: Youtube Link Other books available in the Brookfield Series:
Finding Home Bare Necessities Not Just Friends ~~~~ About the Author: Lacey Wolfe has always had a passion for words, whether it’s getting lost in a book or writing her own. From the time she was a child she would slip away to write short stories about people she knew and fantasies she wished would happen. It has always been her dream to be a published author and with her two children now of school age, she finally has the time to work on making her dream come true. Lacey lives in Georgia with her husband, son and daughter, their six cats and one black lab who rules the house. Author Links: Her Site Twitter Facebook Today I'm very excited to share with you a new author, Lacie Nation. She's a wonderful friend and writer with Secret Cravings Publishing. Her books are known for their strong characters and tough decisions that they face. I've put Lacie in the hot seat. Here's what she had to say when I grilled her on writing, her life and her book. Interview Questions for Lacie Hello and welcome to my blog. I’m so excited to have you here today. I know that the readers are looking forward to learning more about you. Please tell us a little about yourself. I live in Columbus, Ga with my fiancée and our dog, Libby. I spend most of my time reading and writing. I write from a very personal place and find that creating a story based off of things I have been through is very cleansing. I am extremely close to my family so I tend to use little quirks that I love from my family members to create characters that are realistic. Now onto some fun questions! If you could change one thing about our world, what would it be and why? I would change the fact that people are so cruel to each other. You can’t turn on the news without there being something about an act of violence. I will never understand how one human can hurt another so badly. My brain just doesn't work like that. That was a very deep question by the way…lol. If you knew the exact date of your death down to the minute, what would you change about your life starting tomorrow? Honestly, I wouldn’t change anything. The pain I’ve been through in my life and the mistakes I’ve made have made me who I am now, and I am happy with who I am and where my life is. When was the last time you felt alive? I mean really alive! Christmas day when my BF of seven years purposed to me. It was a really amazing moment. When was the last time you helped someone that was desperately in need? What did you do? Was this person grateful? My fiancée and I were out to lunch one day and a man approached us. He said he was here to see his son graduate from his Army training (we live near a really big military base). He said his truck had broken down and he didn’t have any money to fix it. He said he just needed $20.00 for the belt that broke. We went to the ATM and gave him the $20.00. He was extremely grateful. What television sitcom is most like your family? Why? I honestly don’t know. We could be compared to the show Friends. Mostly because it’s rare that there isn’t total hilarity going on. What’s your favorite thing to do to relax? I’m pretty lame because just chilling out with my fiancée is the best. Sometimes we’ll rent movies and just lay around and do nothing. Let’s find out a little bit about you as an author. Did you always want to be an author? Considering I worked in in emergency medicine for 10 years, I would say no. I have, however, always written down my feelings and stuff. I wrote a story about things I had been through just to simply get it off my chest. A friend of mine read it and said if I didn’t submit it to a publisher, she was going to it for me. So, I did and that’s how my writing career began. What authors had an impact on you growing up and as an adult? I didn’t read much when I was younger. As an adult there are so many authors that have had an impact, I could’t begin to list them all. Do you have any “must haves” with you while you’re writing? Normally, I have to have a favorite movie I have seen about a billion times, some coffee, and if I’m writing a really emotional scene, a bunch of tissues. What have you learned the most from being in the writing business? You have to have a tough skin. As a writer, you can’t please everyone and those who may not like your writing are really mean about it. A bad review, especially the first one, can really be a slap in the face. I hear you about that one. We've all been there! Tell us about your latest release: (blurb, excerpt, cover):  Blurb: Jolie Baker had it all, amazing friends, a college degree, and a man she planned to spend the rest of her life with. When her love is killed in action, Jolie has to learn to live again. Three years after Ethan’s death, she moves to Gravity Beach to start a new life. At her new teaching job, one of her students is surprised when her father returns home from war. Jolie never imagined how important the returning solider and his daughter would become. David Stokes wants nothing more than to raise his daughter, Madison, and give her the best life he can. Because Madison’s mother abandoned them, David is all she has. When he meets his little girl’s teacher on the beach, he is surprised by how much he wants to know her. David sees the pain in Jolie’s eyes, but will his love be enough to ease her tattered soul? Excerpt: Jolie wanted to say something profound to him. She wanted to tell him how much she loved him. How important he was to her very being. But, when she pressed her hand against his chest every single word left her brain. There was not a single trace of his normal warmth. His chest, normally firm, because he was a muscular man, now was hard to the touch and she could feel the coldness radiating through the thick layers of his uniform. Jolie jerked her hand away and stumbled back. She couldn’t catch her breath. Her heart beat so fast it was painful. She needed air, so she rushed back through the mourning people and crashed through the front doors of the funeral home. The fingers she’s pressed to his chest still felt cold and the chill seemed to be spreading throughout her entire body. Jolie wanted her love back. She wanted her life back. She wanted Ethan. How did you decide on your story plot?
This is the second book in a series. It’s the story of a secondary character from book one, Courageous Dare. I never intended on making this a series, but several people begged for Jolie to get her moment to shine. How did you choose your characters names and location for your story? I’m a true southern lady, so the setting, names, and actions are all very southern. Do you have a favorite scene? Why? The first kiss between the hero and heroine in, Gravity Beach. I absolutely loved that scene. Do you have a character that you identify with? Who and why? I identify with the main character, Jolie. She’s been through hell, but she’s still kicking. She’s strong and while she wants to curl up in a ball and let the pain of her loss crush her, she fights through and ultimately finds happiness. Let our readers know how they can get a hold of you… Blog: http://soulshakinromance.blogspot.com/ Website: http://soulshakingromance.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLacieNation Twitter: @lacie_nation Is there anything else that you want to share… feel free!! Thank you so much for having me. I hope you’ll check out the Courage Series. Thanks again! Lacie's book comes out soon and can be purchased at Secret Cravings Store: and then at ebook retailers everywhere. {Killion Group} A Slice of Life During the Roaring Twenties by Stevanie Draven #erotic #historical5/7/2013
What a time! Women were in the clubs drinking alongside the men and enjoying some new found freedom. They had faced the Great Depression and wanted to celebrate life. Check out this book by Stevanie Draven about three women's life changing explorations.  A Slice of Life During the Roaring Twenties
by Stephanie Draven It’s my mission to write very smart books for very bad girls. And because flappers were the original bad girls of American history, I can’t wait to tell you about my new collection, It Stings So Sweet. Set in the Roaring Twenties--a notoriously naughty decade known for its gorgeous short dresses, seductive silent films, and liquor-soaked excesses--this erotic romance explores alternate sexuality in a time before the words or community for it existed. The book is told from the perspective of three very different women, each of whom experiences a sexual awakening. But in order to get into their heads, I had to ask myself what life would have been like for each of them on a daily basis. Nora Richardson is a society girl, born into a great deal of wealth. When she wakes up in the morning her girl, Dolly, is on hand to deliver her tea and scones on a beautiful gilded tray before she even has to roll out of her silken bedsheets. (Think the latest episode of Downton Abbey, here, where all the ladies start their days in bed with a lady’s maid at the ready.) Silent screen star Clara Cartwright, by contrast, spends her morning at her vanity, making sure to paint a cupid’s bow of lipstick on her glamorous lips before she braves the crowds that beg for her autograph. Her doorman calls for a car to be brought around to bring her to the studio where she works hard in rehearsals, which, she complains, sap her pep! It’s different for Sophie O’Brien, who wakes up at the crack of dawn in the one-bedroom flat she shares with her roommates, then rushes to catch the trolley so that she can start work bright and early as a shop girl in the famous Aster Hotel. There, Sophie is secretly organizing porters and elevator operators and maids to form a labor union, so she doesn’t want her fabulously wealthy boss to get wind of fact that she spends her nights at the Civics League listening to agitators and revolutionaries. Through these women, I was able to get a slice of life in the era during which women had just won the vote, and it made me appreciate how hard it was for them to define themselves in and out of the bedroom. There’s a lot we can learn from flappers, and I hope to start the revival with my new book! ~~~ Bio STEPHANIE DRAVEN is a bestselling, award-winning and RITA-nominated author of historical, paranormal, and contemporary romance. Her newest project, IT STINGS SO SWEET is a collection of 1920s historical erotic romances that celebrate sex, women, and the Jazz Age. Her most recent novel with Entangled Publishing, IN BED WITH THE OPPOSITION, is a mix of humor and sex-appeal set against the backdrop of a zany political campaign inspired by the career of Baltimore legend William Donald Schaefer. Both novels are fun departures from her more serious Greek mythology-inspired series for Harlequin's Nocturne line, the debut novel of which was nominated by Romantic Times for Best First Series. The series has earned critical praise for its originality and awareness of social issues and garnered the 2012 SWIRL award for excellence in multi-cultural romance literature as well as the CataRomance's Reviewers Choice Award. Writing historical fiction about Cleopatra’s daughter as Stephanie Dray, she won the Golden Leaf Award for SONG OF THE NILE. Stephanie is currently a denizen of Baltimore, that city of ravens and purple night skies. She lives there with her favorite nocturnal creatures–three scheming cats and a deliciously wicked husband. And when she is not busy with dark domestic rituals, she writes her books. StephanieDraven.com ~~~ Blurb They vibrated with incendiary Jazz. They teemed with sexual abandon. The Twenties were roaring and the women–young, open, rebellious, and willing–set the pace and pushed the limits with every man they met… In the aftermath of a wild, liquor-soaked party, three women from very different social classes are about to live out their forbidden desires. Society girl, Nora Richardson’s passionate nature has always been a challenge to her ever-patient husband. Now he wants out of the marriage and she has just this one night to win him back. The catch? He wants to punish her for her bad behavior. Nora is offended by her husband’s increasingly depraved demands, but as the night unfolds, she discovers her own true nature and that the line between pain and pleasure is very thin indeed. Meanwhile, Clara Cartwright, sultry siren of the silent screen, is introduced to a mysterious WWI Flying Ace. If Clara, darling of the scandal sheets, knows anything, it’s men. And she’s known plenty. But none of them push her boundaries like the aviator, who lures her into a ménage with a stranger in a darkened cinema then steals her jaded heart. Working class girl Sophie O’Brien has more important things on her mind than pleasures of the flesh. But when her playboy boss, the wealthy heir to the Aster family fortune, confronts her with her diary of secret sex fantasies, she could die of shame. To her surprise, he doesn’t fire her; instead, he dares her to re-enact her boldest fantasies and Sophie is utterly seduced. One party serves as a catalyst of sexual awakening. And in an age when anything goes, three women discover that anything is possible… ~~~ Purchase Info Amazon: BN:  I love when a story comes together but I don't feel that things are done until I have a video of the book. The book trailer is such a fun piece to add for my readers. It shows them my vision for the story. Tamaria Soana does an amazing job on the trailers and has done most of mine. I love how Three's a Crowd's book trailer shows many of the same images from Second Time's the Charm, the previous story. Now you can check it out for yourself. Leave some love and let me know what you think! 
Last Saturday I shared some sexy sentences from Forever Love. Today I'll share some more. These are from a scene where TJ and Syn are on a double date with Syn's dad and TJ's mom at the local VFW hall. ~~~ T.J. pulled me off my chair and out the door, a wild look in his eyes. He walked me outside by the parking lot, then pushed me up against the wall and put his hands next to my face. He leaned into me and in an angry tone said, “I’m not lying about my love. I want your body, but I also want you to love me. I’m fighting myself every day to not take you to bed like I want to and prove that I love you.” With that, he kissed me, pressing his body against mine, pinning me to the wall. His rock hard body touching mine made me dizzy with passion. I couldn’t think straight. At that moment, I wanted him more than I wanted anything else in the world. A car door slammed, pulling us from our sexual haze. Will these two high school sweethearts be able to find the forever love that they both deserve?
Buy Link:Secret Cravings Store: Amazon B&N 
Do you love a story that will touch your heart? Check out Nameless by Claire Kent. Claire will be awarding a $50 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chance of winning. The tour dates can be found here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/04/super-book-blast-nameless-by-claire-kent.html  Nameless by Claire Kent ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ BLURB: They named it anything but love. After a failed marriage to a domineering man, Erin refuses to be controlled by anything or anyone. That includes Seth, the father of her baby—a man who was supposed to be only a one-night-stand, a man who’s used to always getting his way. There’s a reason that Seth Thomas, a successful defense attorney, is often referred to as the Bulldozer. If something needs to happen, he makes it happen. That includes being part of his baby’s life—even if he never expected to be a father, even if Erin doesn’t really trust him. They’ll work out an arrangement in the best interest of their baby—and if they occasionally have sex, well, that’s just an added perk—but they both agree on one thing. What they have will never be love. EXCERPT:
Erin frowned. “Don’t start with that again. It was just a fluke. Not evidence of any particular talent of yours in bed.” “If you say so,” he said with a little smile. “You want to stay the night?” Erin thought about it for a minute. “Nah. It’s not late yet, so I think I’ll head back to my dad’s. I’m twenty-six, but he still worries sometimes.” Seth’s face changed, and a haunted expression replaced the casual amusement. Swallowing, Erin remembered the funeral he’d attended that day. She felt a surprising swell of tenderness rise up in her chest. He glanced over at her and seemed to notice her expression. Their eyes met, and they shared something in the silent gaze. Something abstract. Indescribable. Powerful. Then it was gone. Seth arched his eyebrows. “Then you’d better go assuage his worries.” Erin snorted and rolled out of the bed to collect her scattered clothes. “I can’t believe you can use the word ‘assuage’ after the night we’ve just had.” He grunted. Giggling, she started pulling on her clothes. “That’s more like it.” When she was fully dressed, she turned back to him. He sat on the side of the bed watching her—his expression thoughtful and guarded again, despite their light banter just moments before. She knew what this encounter had been for him: a temporary reprieve, an escape, an interlude not connected in any way to his real world. Exactly as it had been for her. “Take care, Seth,” she said softly. “Thanks. You too.” There was nothing else to say. She felt a tiny clench in her belly. But she and Seth shared nothing but a night of great sex, and there was no use in pretending that they did. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ AUTHOR Bio and Links: Bio: Claire has been writing romance novels since she was twelve years old. She has a PhD in British literature and, when she's not writing, she teaches English at the university level. She also writes contemporary romance under the penname Noelle Adams. Links: Website: http://clairekent.com/ Facebook (under my other penname Noelle Adams): https://www.facebook.com/NoelleAdamsAuthor Twitter (under my other penname Noelle Adams): https://twitter.com/NoelleAdams3 Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/wTMd2TBKXVA Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Claire-Kent/e/B00AY1M0F8/ B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/claire-kent Don't forget to leave a comment with your email address to enter the contest for the Gift Card! 
The 1NS series from Decadent Publishing is one of my all time favorites. You can find a story from any genre from Science Fiction to Contemporary. The underlying connection is that Madame Eve and her dating service, One Night Stand will find you a perfect match. Each story is sizzling hot and always sets the pages on fire!  Curve My Appetite by Melissa Kendall
Part of the Decadent Publishing 1Night Stand Series Sally Austens’ sexual experience is limited and unsatisfactory at best. Now, as she turns thirty, it looks like the relationship train has missed her stop. When a friend tells her about 1Night Stand and suggests it might just change her life, she’s skeptical but shoots for the stars when asking for her perfect date. Go big or go home, right? Dean Martorino lives in the public eye. Surrounded on a daily basis by society’s idea of stunning beauty, he longs for a woman with curves he can get lost in. At the suggestion of his long-time friend and manager, Dean shares his secret with Madame Eve hoping she can find him a match to fill his arms and satisfy his desires. Can Sally accept the beauty Dean sees in her long enough to curve his appetite or will they both go home hungry? Excerpt: For the umpteenth time, Dean checked his phone. Still no text. He sighed in frustration. Thirty minutes after they’d agreed to meet, and no sign of his date. His misgivings about the 1Night Stand concept weren’t eased by the fact she hadn’t arrived yet. He longed for something different, but one-night stands were not his usual idea of fun. He preferred long-term relationships. Jerry, his best friend had assured him Madame Eve’s services were more love matches than sex. He’d laughed, at first, finding the whole idea ridiculous. He doubted even the mystical Madame Eve could find his perfect woman. Jerry had laughed, too, but then he got serious and asked, “What do you have to lose?” Dean’s regular fitness regime kept him in shape and looking good for thirty-five. The women he met were stick-thin, self-obsessed, and semi-plastic, typical of the industry he worked in. Most of them were pretty, and though he’d dated a few, they weren’t what he fantasized about. No, in his dreams, the ladies all had natural and much curvier figures. Big, curvy women had always fascinated him. Because he lived his life in the public eye, he’d been reluctant to go after what he wanted. At his age, though, with his career on the downhill slide, he realized he didn’t care anymore. He’d had his time in the spotlight. He wanted to settle down and have a family. Hence, he’d decided to find someone who loved him, not his public persona. He’d spent too long denying his true identity. A knock made his heart skip a beat. She’s here. After a quick check in the mirror, he steeled himself and opened the door. His mouth went dry and all coherent thought fled. Even if he had the words to express how she blew him away, he didn’t think he could find his voice. He ogled the gorgeous, buxom brunette standing in the doorway. His admiration cut short, as her face paled. “You’re—” She stopped talking mid-sentence, her eyes rolled back into her skull. Reacting on instinct, he reached out and wrapped his hands around her waist, trying to catch her before she hit the ground. However, instead of stopping her from falling, he was pulled to the carpet, too, both of them crashing in a heap. Women fainted around him all the time. It no longer freaked him out. It was, however, the first time he’d fallen to the floor with one. Her pulse thumped strongly under his fingers. Relief washed over him; she was okay. The ridiculousness of it all hit him and a deep belly laugh escaped his lips. Even with the less than successful start to his date, the feel of her in his arms had parts of him standing to attention. His curiosity dictated he find out more. Madame Eve had made an excellent choice. She might have found the perfect woman after all. Buy Links: Decadent Publishing Amazon Barnes & Noble ARe About The Author: Melissa is a 37 year-old stay at home mum and part-time Software Support Consultant. She lives in Perth Western Australia the most isolated capital city in the world. She’s always loved to read and write and spent most of her teens scribbling poetry and short stories on any scrap of paper she could get her hands on. Over the years as daily life pressures got in the way she lost the passion for it. After her son was born, she discovered online books and her interest in writing was rekindled. It has been a large part of her life ever since. Author Links: Site Twitter Facebook |
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