|
Covers are what draw readers to the books. A good cover can make the difference between a sale or no sale. Today I have Jason Aaron Baca in the hot seat. He's definitely easy to look at and has the physique to grace many hot romance covers. But let's find out what makes the man. CONTEST! Leave your email and a comment for a chance to win a signed head shot of this cover hunk. 
Thank you Jason for stopping by today. Tell my readers a little bit about you. Jason – Well I’m a romance novel cover model. Before that I was a fitness and underwear model for various clothing lines. What inspired you to become a cover model? Jason – Well a long time ago I walked into a book store in search of something interesting to read when I’d approached a cool looking book cover of what appeared to be a romance novel. It featured a guy in his mid 30s, in good shape and holding a sword. It was at that moment that I knew I had wanted to be a romance novel cover model. It was like a light bulb went off at that moment. What has been the hardest part of this career? the easiest part? Jason – The hardest part has been when you do all sorts of work to yourself to look good and then they go and crop off your head on the cover. Makes me feel like I’m not using the right anti-aging crème’s or something. Hey if you like my body…. You better like my face! If you could go back in time to when you were seven years old, what wisdom or advice would you pass on to yourself? Jason – Oh this would be a long response so I’ll briefly summerize to keep it understandable. I’ve been humbled quite a bit through all this. Back when I was young, I didn’t want to listen to what any one had to say. It was my way only… I’d tell myself to stop and pay attention to detail. That will get you far.. And listen to everything your Grandpa says. He knows best!  For what are you grateful? Jason – I’m grateful to have this body of mine, the good looks, and the money. All this is rare to have all together. I owe it all the Mr.Big Guns upstairs… Name one person outside of family members that you feel supported you. Jason – I never had a support group outside OR inside my family circle. It worked in my favor though. My one friend that I was close to didn’t think I had what it took to be a model. He said I was dreaming back then. But now, he can’t recall saying those words to me. Funny how we forget. But now that I’m doing all this, he claims that I’ve always been good at it or had that natural ability. Tell us one thing that would surprise us to know about you? Jason – Well I like using an avocado & oatmeal masque at least once per week and enjoy following that up with a hot spring water, mineral rich spa treatment where I endulge in the ammenities Burke Williams has to offer. I believe this is something everyone should have a chance to enjoy once per month. When was the last time you felt alive? I mean really alive! Jason – Right this second! I mean it doesn’t get much more alive then it is right now for me. I feel fresh, energized, ready to face things. I see a lot of my friends taking pills or smoking to feel good. I don’t need that stuff to escape reality. I got it all in my head if I want to escape to a better place. I have had so many wonderful experiences now I can just go back to this moment or that moment and just hang out in that part of my memory for a while and love it. After a difficult day what do you do to recuperate? Does it work? Jason – I stretch out my body for 5 minutes and then head to the local gym where I perform a rigerous workout. I really cut it loose and eliminate any tension or kinks in my limbs. When I’ve completed my streneous workout I come back to my house where I’ll blend a recovery mix protein shake which will feed my thirsty muscles. If you could choose your favorite cover to be on or character to become, who would it be and why? Jason – I’d choose Superman… Come on… Do I really have to explain why? Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest? Jason – Yes absolutely… MANY.. I’m a fan of Gena Schowalters covers. If you could change one thing about our world, what would it be and why? Jason – Yes the one thing would be to not crop the heads off the models for the covers. I want to reveal the mystery. Tell us some of your favorite must have’s around your home. Jason – Sure… Anti Aging Eye Balm for Men, Exfoliating Gel Scrub, Moisturizer, Oil Of Olay’s Blue Ribbon’s Moisturizing Body Wash Scrub + , Gilette’s Triple Action Razor with Gel Crème. Anti-Aging Night Crème that contains Green Tea. Anti-Aging Night Crème Moisturizer with Vitamin C. How can my readers get a hold of you? Jason- I can be found at: http://jasonaaronbaca.deviantart.com. All my contact information is here along with ways to purchase my stock photos. 
Don't forget to leave your email address for a chance to win a signed headshot of Jason. I'm sure it will be a collector's item!
As an elementary teacher, I love finding books that will interest my students and The Adventures of Austin Girl and the Legend of Diablo is such a book. I'm excited to have Carrie Crain stop by to guest blog today. I hope you will enjoy the book as much as I do! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Guest Author: CARRIE CRAIN I am excited to welcome author Carrie Crain as she celebrates the release of her zany and just plum silly tween novel THE ADVENTURES OF AUSTIN GIRL AND THE LEGEND OF DIABLO Austin Girl is adorable, smart and feisty. She is thirteen going on twenty and she is thrown into a dystopian world where disco rules and the air reeks of polyester. Grandpa Lucky has been kidnapped by Diablo’s bumbling First Lieutenant, Tabby, and is being held on Planet Disco. It is up to Austin Girl to find and rescue him without becoming a permanent guest. *VERY* Important Dictionary of Terms Used in Novel Taken from either The Merrian–Webster Dictionary or Wikipedia.com or just made up in Carrie’s noggin Chevy Pie Wagon: Noun. Classic car. Sometimes, men will collect vintage cars and show them off at classic car shows. I saw my first one in Austin, Texas back in 2004, and I knew my character, Diablo, had to own this hot rod. Disco: Noun. 1. A nightclub for dancing to live or recorded music. 2. Popular dance music characterized by hypnotic rhythm, repetitive lyrics, and electronically produced sounds. I still listen to disco. DON’T JUDGE ME. Disco Ball: Noun. Also known as Disco Mirrored Ball or Glitter Ball. Novelty item. It’s a round mirror ball that reflects light. Pink Floyd used a disco ball on their 1987 and 1994 world tours. I can’t confirm this because I never went to see them live, but it sounds like something they’d do. Go-Go Boots: Noun. See: Nancy Sinatra CD entitled Boots. Hula-Hoop: Noun. A colorful plastic toy that is used to twirl around the waist, neck, arm, or leg. Great exercise and fun. Hyphenated. Don’t mess with me on this rule. I have confirmation. Lava Lamp: Noun. Invented in 1963 by some dude. A novelty item that contains blobs of colored wax inside a glass vessel, which is filled with clear liquid. My older brother used to have one, I think. You can buy these at Bed, Bath and Beyond unless they don’t sell them anymore. Magic 8 Ball: Noun. Novelty toy. A hollow plastic sphere resembling an oversized, black and white 8-ball. Inside is a cylindrical reservoir containing a white, plastic, icosahedral die floating in alcohol with dissolved dark blue dye. Each of the 20 faces of the die has an affirmative, negative, or non-committal statement printed on it in raised letters. There is a transparent window on the bottom of the Magic 8 Ball through which these messages can be read. I still have mine from the 1970s. DON’T JUDGE ME. Tarot Cards: Noun. Picture cards originally for playing, later would be associated with magic and the devil. Tarot cards may have been around as early as the 1227. Some guy with bad hair named Antoine Court de Gébelin from the 1700s claimed that the name "tarot" came from the Egyptian words tar, meaning "royal,” and ro, meaning "road,” and that the Tarot therefore represented a "royal road" to wisdom. I’ve had my cards read. I should be dead by now. Make sure you stick around and comment. Follow @CarrieCrain and @LegendofDiablo for double the chances. We’ll be giving away a copy of THE ADVENTURES OF AUSTIN GIRL AND THE LEGEND OF DIABLO either in paperback or e-book (winner’s choice) Meet Carrie Crain! Carrie Crain is an author of quirky comedies, adventurous romance and erotic horror including her Nov 2012 tween novel debut, THE ADVENTURES OF AUSTIN GIRL AND THE LEGEND OF DIABLO, and her 2013 erotic horror release, THE CONTRACT. Carrie received her bachelor of arts in Sociology from the University of Oklahoma and studied graduate-level screenwriting and creative writing in fiction at UCLA. When she is not writing, she is either painting, picking up dog poo, playing golf or writing lame jokes while drinking red wine. Contact Info: www.carriecrain.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/CarrieCrainBooks and www.facebook.com/LegendofDiablo Twitter: @CarrieCrain and @LegendofDiablo  THE ADVENTURES OF AUSTIN GIRL AND THE LEGEND OF DIABLO by Carrie Crain - The Kidnapping Austin Girl, a dispirited teenager, discovers a magic Samurai sword, leading her on a journey to Planet Disco to save her kidnapped Grandpa from the nefarious Diablo, and return to Earth before she becomes a permanent guest. Excerpt: The sound of a backfire rattled store windows on the downtown street as Lucky Stevens parked his piece of hippy junk on the East side of Lucky’s Antiques located at 13 Concho Avenue. He drove a flower power Volkswagen bus. The bus was one of those rare 23 windowed jobs with curtains—a residence on wheels. Straightening his suspenders, he stepped out into the dusty landscape, newspaper in hand. He moseyed past a 1960 black Chevy Pie Wagon parked up ahead, admiring the car. The hot rod was decked out custom style with red and orange flames painted horizontally across the sides and hood. He tipped his beaver Stetson hat to the female driver and grinned handsomely. The pink-haired woman was preoccupied with talking to a Magic 8 Ball and didn’t notice the fifty-year-old cowboy. Scratching his chin, he leisurely strolled up to a period oak and stained glass door. He reached in his Wrangler jeans front pocket and extracted a set of keys. He put the key in the lock and opened the door to a familiar sight. His antique store was housed in a red brick building in Checkered Past, Texas. He could sniff out valuable antiques just by employing his sixth sense. Lucky adjusted his string tie that matched his belt that matched his ostrich quill boots. He was in love with ‘vintage everything’ including his clothes and gentleman accouterments. Ambling through the door, he removed his Panama Jack sunglasses. His gait was deliberate, like a sore racehorse. Bells jingled like rowels on a spur letting out the sounds of commerce. Lucky may have been a little deaf, but he wasn’t so deaf that he couldn’t hear money jingle in the pockets of those who entered into his world. Lucky flipped on the lights and made a silly face at the store’s security camera. Lucky laid his morning Austin American-Statesman newspaper down on the cracked countertop beside the turn of the century cash register, and looked at the time on his 40 year-old Rolex he’d won in a bidding war at an estate sale of one of Lyndon Johnson’s cousins so many years ago. It was still early for shoppers, just a little half past seven a.m. on Friday. A set of white pine plank stairs off to the side began to creak. They led to the attic. Lucky housed antiques there that were part of his private collection, including one secret item in particular that oddly wasn't for sale. He ditched his attention to the paper and walked over to the bottom of the stairs, looking up into the darkness. “Skinny, you up there?” Lucky hollered sharply. His young stock boy didn’t answer. Shrugging, he turned around to walk off. A thump on his noggin sent Lucky crashing to the hardwood floor. His Stetson flew off of his gray haired head and skidded across the floor like ice on marble. Staggering to his feet, he rubbed the back of his head. “What the—?” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Download the FREE desktop image from "The Adventures of Austin Girl and the Legend of Diablo" from Carrie's Website under FUN AND FREE STUFF! 
 Carrie Crain
Website Goodreads Author Bio: Carrie Crain received her bachelor of arts in Sociology from the University of Oklahoma and studied graduate-level screenwriting and creative writing in fiction at UCLA. She is a housewife and writer who is challenged by bipolar, anticipatory stress, and generalized anxiety. Her debut tween novel, The Adventures of Austin Girl and the Legend of Diablo will be published by Two Crain Teen, an imprint of Two Crain Publishing, LLC in October 2012 and available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Sony Reader Store, and iTunes for ebook readers, Kindle, iPad, and Nook. Also available as a paperback online and at select indie bookstores. If you’re on Goodreads, follow her there, now. She plans on doing some kind of #LegendofDiabloBookClub. Crain wrapped up her first independent short she wrote and produced called Sould, which was filmed in Oklahoma last summer and included local talent as well as a Hollywood comedian and LA director. The story is about a zany film director desperate to enter a film competition and reluctantly picks a screenplay about a woman who sells her soul. The short will be entered in film competitions both in the States as well as abroad. For more information about her short, visit the Facebook Fan Page at ww.facebook.com/souldshort and follow along on Twitter @SouldShort. Crain is currently penning her memoir, a collection of humorous essays, Sould: Memoir of Bipolar to be published in 2014, and is the story of a middle-aged housewife’s adventures with bipolar as she struggles to write the next Great American Novel. She has been a freelance writer for Austin Monthly Magazine and was a contributing writer at Crazytownblog. She lives in Oklahoma with her husband and three dogs. For speaking engagements or book inquiries, please e-mail: [email protected] or tweet her @CarrieCrain. Creative Influences: Tarantino, Robert Rodriguez, Tim Burton, and Wes Anderson ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Want to purchase Carrie’s novel, The Adventures of Austin Girl and the Legend of Diablo? Here are the buy links: *Amazon (ebook) http://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Austin-Legend-Diablo-ebook/dp/B00A7CEYGM/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1353002022&sr=8-3&keywords=carrie+crain Amazon (paperback) - http://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Austin-Legend-Diablo-Volume/dp/061563530X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1353002061&sr=8-2&keywords=carrie+crain B&N.com – http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-adventures-of-austin-girl-and-the-legend-of-diablo-carrie-crain/1113508801?ean=2940015504682 Smashwords – http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/251062 *Amazon is experiencing some formatting issues with kindle. Please check back in a couple of weeks! ************************************************ CONTEST: Carrie is giving away a copy of her ebook or print book along with some swag to one lucky person who leaves a comment on this blog. Don't forget to leave your email address so we can contact you!! Do you love a smoking hot story filled with sexy characters and spell-binding love? You are going to adore Louisa Bacio's Wolfe Pack series. Just look at the cover! Isn't it amazing!  Into the Woods with The Wolfe Pack Thanks so much for hosting me today, Melissa. The erotic paranormal series The Vampire, The Witch & The Werewolf takes place in New Orleans, specifically the French Quarter. Book 4, The Wolfe Pack, ventures into the woods. When thinking about where a pack of werewolves would live, all that came up was a forest. “We don’t have any forests in Louisiana,” a friend who lives locally said. “What about the national forest?” I asked. “Oh, yeah, that one.” The Kitsatchie National Forest spreads across seven parishes, and covers more than 600,000 acres. Plenty of room for a pack of werewolves to hide out from humanity, and run wild. Here’s a look at the action: The Vampire, The Witch & The Werewolf 4: The Wolfe Pack Silver Ashe can’t let go of the desire to find her birth father and the urge to join a pack. Against the wishes of her brother, Trevor, and her vampire-lover, Nick, Silver leaves New Orleans for the woods of Louisiana. As the guard and a dominant member of the Wolfe Pack, Viktor isn’t too sure of the city-dwelling stranger who comes trespassing. With the lack of female werewolves, Viktor soon sees Silver as a potential mate. Too bad she’s already spoken for by a bloodsucker. Trapped between worlds, Silver’s faced with choosing between the lover she’s known most of her life, and the budding relationship with Viktor, where her future may lay. It’ll take some sweet talking and a whole lot of loving for Silver to find her place within the pack. Available now via Ravenous Romance, Amazon, Barnes&Noble and other eRetailers. In celebration of my release, I’m giving away a New Orleans-themed giveaway. Here’s the information: Hurricane Gift Basket By Pat O’Briens 2 hurricane glasses and a drink mix, directly from the world famous Pat O’Briens in New Orleans. Shipping to the U.S. Value is worth $14.50 + the cost of shipping. I reserve the right to substitute the prize in case product is not available. If the winner is international, they can choose a $15 gift card to either Amazon or Barnes & Noble.  About the Author
Louisa Bacio is the author of six erotic novels, including the paranormal series The Vampire, The Witch & The Werewolf, and numerous steamy short stories. Bacio enjoys soaking up the sun in Southern California, and spending time with her family. In addition to writing and editing, Bacio teaches college courses in English, journalism, film studies and popular culture. Drop in for a visit: http://www.facebook.com/louisabacio http://www.twitter.com/louisabacio http://louisabacio.blogspot.com http://louisabacio.com Hopefully, you will fall in love with Nick and Viktor as much as I did. Enjoy! Louisa Bacio Do you love steamy stories that will leave you breathless? Mary Wehr will become your new favorite author!  A Heart's Endeavor by Mary Wehr There are times when it's best to allow your heart to overrule your head. Being diagnosed with depression not only messed up Melanie Manning's life, but her marriage as well. Her husband made it very clear that he considered her "damaged goods" and he didn't have time to coddle a mentally ill wife. After his sudden death, Melanie knew she was destined to be alone. Loneliness sounded a hell of a lot better than exposing her illness to another man. Her self-esteem couldn't survive another blow. When state trooper Jack Horan meets Melanie, the attraction is immediate. Her deep blue eyes make him weak in the knees, but those eyes also hold a hint of sadness. Jack is determined to wipe away her pain, but how can he do that when Melanie refuses to let him get close to her? Can Melanie learn to face her fears and trust her heart in the hands of another man? Content Warning: some strong language, spanking, and sex play with a piece of fruit wielded by a hot guy in uniform. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Excerpt: Melanie poked her head under the table piled high with Kaiser rolls, paper plates, and plastic utensils. She swept the candy into a neat pile. There. That should be the last of them. She rested on her heels and arched her back. Geez, I'm getting too old for this. A low hiss sounded from above and she twisted at the waist. The first thing she saw was a pair of black shoes spit-polished to a shine. Dark, charcoal gray slacks covered a pair of long legs. Her gaze continued upward and a gun came into view. Great, a state trooper. It would be her luck to meet one in this undignified position. If the poor guy had been standing there the entire time the upper half of her body was underneath the table then he sure as hell didn't get a view of her best side. Not that she had one. Melanie recognized a flashlight and radio tucked in the utility belt hugging his lean waist. Other unfamiliar items were strapped to it too. The belt looked heavy enough to weigh a pound or more. How in the world did his pants stay in place if he had to hit the ground at a run? Her cheeks warmed. Of all the things that could've popped into her head, why did she always think of the most inane? She purposely avoided looking at the impressive bulge peeking between his fingers. Oh, and what a bulge it was. Stop it, Mel. You're here to work and get your mind off your problems. She tilted her head. Her heart skipped a beat. The man was gorgeous. Square jaw, firm lips, hawk-like nose, and forest green eyes framed by ridiculously long lashes mixed well with his short, black hair. A touch of gray at his temples sexed him up all the more. Powerful shoulders stretched the seams of a meticulously pressed light gray uniform shirt. The name tag pinned to the right of his broad chest read Horan. Her eyes rested on his face. Stone face. The noise she heard hadn't come from this guy. Embarrassed to be caught in such an awkward position, and by a state trooper no less, Melanie scrambled to her feet. She hurried to the sink and washed her hands. She did her best to act the professional employee, but the pulse hammering at the base of her throat threatened to cut off her air supply. Her lips trembled and the palms of her hands grew moist with sweat. "W-what can I get you, officer?" Way to go, now you're stuttering. A dark brow arched, but he remained silent. She bit her bottom lip in consternation. Okay, not a talker. But how was she supposed to know what he wanted? After a second or two had passed he said, "I'd like something hot." Melanie blinked and her breath hitched. She wouldn't have minded being on the menu. He means food, you dolt. No way can you be considered hot. She tossed a dish towel over her shoulder and gestured toward the two crockpots on the table behind her. "Um, we have homemade chili and pulled pork barbecue, plus hoagies made to order." Her voice rose to a nervous pitch. Her first impulse was to run, but she stood there and waited for him to decide. She shuffled her feet. Men in uniform always made her pulse leap. A leaping pulse she could deal with, but the throbbing between her legs threw her for a loop. As far as she was concerned that pulse just didn't…pulse anymore. Beachwalk Press Buy Link Watch the Trailer: Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mifL-5a3jYU&feature=youtu.be About the Author:
Mary Wehr has always been an avid reader of romance novels and dreamed of someday writing one of her own. After years of dreaming about it, she finally did it. She lives in northeastern Pennsylvania with her husband, pet dove, and guinea pig. She has one grown daughter. Mary has a soft spot for animals and works part time at a doggie bakery, making treats for our four-legged friends. She’s a nature lover and when the weather is warm she can most often be found outdoors. She'd love to hear from you. You can e-mail her at [email protected] Today we are celebrating our second Thanksgiving dinner with my in-laws. *Gosh I'm going to be fat from all this yummy food.* I have been fortunate that my in-laws have always accommodated my need to be in Ohio for Thanksgiving dinner (or brunch as the case may be) with my dad and sisters. I even got to visit the cemetery with the strains of Amazing Grace blasting from the speakers (DH and son decided that was fitting). 
I'm feeling really reflective today as we continue into the holiday season. I love the warmth from everyone this time of year. It seems like old mistakes are forgiven and forgotten. Families come together and friends celebrate joyously.
I have a lot to be thankful for this year. It has almost been a year since I found out that I was going to be published. With the first contract signed, my dreams became a reality. I've found some wonderful supporters who help me keep my feet grounded yet allow me to reach for the stars. I'm also very thankful for the many opportunities I've had this year as I took classes to improve my writing or interview some of my favorite authors! Yes, we are also fans and even *squee* on occasion. I'm thankful for the people (*hint-hubby and kids) in my life who show me the love that they do and allow me to do what I love- write! But this is also a time of reflection for me as I remember my mom and miss her more than ever this year. I know she'd be proud of my accomplishments- with the loudest rally cry! I hope that you and your family have a wonderful holiday season, no matter what celebrations you have. The most important part of life is being happy and being loved. :) 
Over 300 authors and bloggers are participating in The Romance Reviews blog hop and contest. There are literally hundreds of prizes including my ebook- Protecting His Wolfe and a grand prize of $100 gift card. Just in time for the holidays, these prizes are a perfect gift! Don't forget to enter to win as well as enjoy some of the fun games on the site. I am hosting a chat on December 1st on the Romance Reviews site. I hope you will join me for some talk about books, writing and romance.  Protecting His Wolfe:Betsie Wolfe was a small town girl who left her cozy little life for a job in the big city, but she never expected to become a witness to a murder or face vicious threats. Detective Jonah Pigg was immediately attracted to Betsie’s lavender eyes and small frame huddled in the gray wool blanket when he arrived on the scene of the murder. When threats on her life begin, he takes her into his home under the protection of the three Pigg’s who own the Pigg Agency. It will take all his detective work to keep her safe from the killer. Passion has a way of igniting when people are under stressful situations and lust leads Betsie and Jonah into each other’s arms. But is their relationship only a matter of desire or is it something more?
Don't forget to visit http://www.theromancereviews.com/event.php to play along. 
Ella Jade is one of my favorite authors. I can't wait to share another of her wonderful stories with you!  Something More by Ella Jade An affair and a shocking secret threaten to tear apart a rich and powerful family. Claudia Samson, housekeeper to the privileged Callahan family, finds herself alone and pregnant after a brief fling with Gavin, the youngest Callahan son. When she informed him of the pregnancy he accused her of running a scam and made it clear that she was on her own. Brody Callahan, Gavin's older half-brother, has devoted his entire life to running the family business. He doesn't realize what he's been missing by throwing himself into his work until he finds Claudia asleep in the family guest bedroom. He has discovered his very own Sleeping Beauty. Intrigued by the young woman, he vows to get to know her better. Although Claudia is instantly attracted to the charismatic businessman, she knows her secret will destroy any chance they have for a future together, but Brody's awfully hard to resist. Meanwhile, as Gavin watches Brody and Claudia's relationship develop, he begins to devise a plan to use the secret to his advantage. He wants full partnership in the business—something he was denied by both his brother and their deceased father—and maybe now he can finally obtain it. Can Brody and Claudia survive the storm, or will the secrets and blackmail destroy both them and their love? Content Warning: graphic sex and some explicit language Beachwalk Press Buy Link Excerpt As Claudia placed the last throw pillow on the bed, she couldn’t help but think how inviting it looked. It was a little after three o’clock, and she still had an hour to work, but she was so tired, and her back was sore. She just needed to sit for a moment. She knew Angela was down at the stables and wasn’t due back for a bit, so she sat on the edge of the bed and closed her eyes. She was only eleven weeks pregnant, but that little baby was sucking every last ounce of energy from her body. The afternoons were the worst. All she wanted to do was cuddle on the couch in her tiny apartment and sleep for an hour or two. She leaned back and sunk deep into the soft mattress. Her bed at home was nowhere near this comfortable. Everything was spotless and pretty in the guest bedroom. The sunlit room smelled like fresh-cut roses. The soft pink tones adorning the walls and curtains lulled her into a deep state of relaxation. The last thing she remembered was the white of the ceiling before she heard a voice pull her from her unintentional slumber. She felt a warm hand on her arm. As soon as she opened her eyes she realized what had happened. She’d fallen asleep, on the job, in a guest bedroom of a home she was hired to clean. As she gazed into his stunning blue eyes she tried to recover from her nap. She’d never noticed how clear his eyes were. Then again, she’d never been this close to Brody Callahan before. “Is everything okay, Ms. Samson?” He pushed a strand of his thick, dark hair from his forehead. He and Gavin had almost the same messy kind of haircut, but Brody’s hair was darker and tamer. Claudia stood from the bed much too quickly. The room swirled around her and then she lost her balance, falling against his hard, muscular chest. “Whoa.” He caught her by the forearm, staring down at her with concern. “Are you okay?” “I’m sorry, Mr. Callahan.” Could my day get any worse? Beachwalk Press Buy Link ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Watch the Trailer: Link - http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=4o6F0ibHyGw About the Author:
Ella Jade has been writing for as long as she can remember. As a child, she often had a notebook and pen with her, and now as an adult, the laptop is never far. The plots and dialogue have always played out in her head, but she never knew what to do with them. That all changed when she discovered the eBook industry. She started penning novels at a rapid pace and now she can't be stopped. Ella resides in New Jersey with her husband and two young boys. When she's not chasing after her kids, she's busy writing, attending PTO meetings, kickboxing, and scrapbooking. She hopes you'll get lost in her words. Site Facebook Author Page Twitter ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Giveaway: Ella is giving away a digital copy of her book. To enter for a chance to win please fill out the Rafflecopter!  There is something about the holidays that bring families together. My family celebrates the holidays in a unique way.
Ever since my mom died, Dad hasn't wanted to host the big Thanksgiving dinner. With the five daughters and their expanding families, the table could be filled with upwards of twenty people. Cooking and cleaning for such a large number is a huge event. My dad purposefully got rid of his dining room table so that there wouldn't be room for all of us to come over for dinner. He also doesn't want my sisters to take on this huge event, so he plans a Thanksgiving brunch at a local hotel instead. Our family meets there and enjoys a traditional turkey dinner without all the hassle-- or leftovers! We still enjoy a warm and delicious holiday meal together and even head back to my dad's house to have cake for my one sister's birthday but it isn't your traditional holiday. But then again, who says that traditions can't be what your family makes them to be? And really isn't the best part of the holiday, the time spent with your family? What is your Thanksgiving like? Do you do the traditional route or something different! I'd love to hear from you! I'm so geeked to share with you the latest by the amazing author Lila Munro. Her work is smoking hot and in a class by itself. Her Identity Crisis Series is a fan favorite and will leave you breathless!  Assumed Calling by Lila Munro Book Five, Identity Crisis Series Publisher: Rebel Ink Press Genre: Erotic/BDSM Romance Novel Length Like the beat of a primal drum whispering the rhythm of an ancient dance, the lifestyle calls… At the seasoned age of fifty-six, Allen Bourke has resigned himself to the fact he’ll probably never find someone to top he can also love. While he’s had wives and lovers, none of them endured and he’s come to the conclusion the clock’s ticking and age is working against him. Then a very intriguing Nicki Cartwright pings on his radar at what Allen determines will be his last house party. He can’t help but notice while he and his friends are getting older, the players emerging on the scene are forever getting younger. Nicki's no exception. Determined to resist the vibes humming between them, he only agrees to service her after his old friend, Kyle Montgomery, convinces him it's entirely feasible. Then it’s brought to Allen’s attention who Nicki really is. Knowing their pasts are forever intertwined, as hard as he tries to ignore his heart, he finds himself yielding to the tides of fate. Born to senatorial royalty, Nicki Cartwright has spent her entire life trying to shield her mother from her father’s wrath while drifting further and further into a world where panic is normal and anxiety is always on the edge of her reality. Tired of burning the candle at both ends and forever trying to live up to the picture of All-American perfection her father James Cartwright touts as his ace in the hole during election cycles, Nicki finds herself on the path of self-discovery in search of relief from the stressors continually swamping her mind. What she doesn’t expect is to find who she thought she was is truly just a shadow of the person she really is. And what scares her most is the fact Allen, the only person she thought she could trust, has been holding a secret since before she was born which could destroy her entire family. Excerpt: When her breath caught at the realization of just exactly what he had planned, Allen leaned in and kissed her again, then leisurely made his way down. He kissed her chin then nipped the underside of it before flicking a trail with his tongue down the side of her throat where he sank his teeth into the hollow of her shoulder. Coming to accept what was going to happen, Nicki seemed to let go and leaned back on her palms, affording him access to her breasts. So pretty, leaned back, offering herself to him, handful sized breasts jutting in the air, her nipples already shrinking into hard nubs. Allen took the left one between his teeth and razed it. He looked up to see her eyes drifting shut and her lips parted, staggered breaths whispering across them. She was so responsive to his treatment of her breasts, so completely receptive to the small amount of pain he used, bringing him to question if she’d be equally responsive to different kinds of pain, pain more severe than a spanking. For some reason, the image of her splayed atop the piano on her belly, spread-eagled and strapped down came to his mind’s eye. Her back was striped in his fantasy from the caress of his short-tail. Allen couldn’t deny he wanted more with her than to appease her daddy fantasy. He wanted much, much more and he wondered how far he’d go to get exactly what he desired. Now available at: Amazon ARe Nook Bookstrand About the Author: Lila Munro currently resides on the coast of North Carolina with her husband and their two four-legged kids. She’s a military wife with an empty nest and takes much of her inspiration for her heroes from the marines she’s lived around for the past fifteen years. Coining the term realmantica, she strives to produce quality romance in a realistic setting. Her genre of choice is contemporary romance that spans everything from the sensual to BDSM and ménage. When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading everything she can get her hands on, trips to the museum and aquarium, taking field research trips, and soaking up the sun on the nearby beaches. Her works include The Executive Officer’s Wife, Bound By Trust, Destiny’s Fire, Salvation, Three for Keeps, the Force Recon series, the Slower Lower series, and the Identity series. She’s a member in good standing of RWA and Passionate Ink. Currently she’s working on sequels to several series to be released throughout 2012-2013 and has a brand new line scheduled for winter 2012-13. Ms. Munro loves to hear from her readers and can be found at Realmantic Moments Facebook Goodreads Twitter You can also contact her via email at [email protected] and you can find all her works at: Amazon ARe Nook Bookstrand 
It's always an exciting day when a new book is released. New releases are even more exciting when they are a part of a wonderful series like Foresaken Norse Wind is. I hope you will make sure to enter the contest to win a digital copy of this book!  Forsaken Norse Wind by Ciara Lake Book 4 in the Forsaken Series A troll, a mortal, and a love hot enough to melt ice. Trapped in a vicious life, Breanna Devion survives only by the strength of her heart. Determined to have more than what her abusive stepfather has planned for her, she's willing to risk everything to be free. Axel Venrick is a troll who has spent centuries alone, isolated in his castle in Iceland. At the insistence of others, Axel crafts the ultimate tool to find his soul mate. He creates a beautiful ring which is bespelled, blessed by a god, and sent forth to locate Axel's other half. The ring finds Breanna just in time to prevent her stepfather's disastrous plan from taking place. But angry gods, vengeful parents, and an evil lurking in the immortal world all conspire to destroy the love of the jaded troll and his innocent mortal. Can their love free them or will the evil spreading from the bowels of the earth destroy them first? Content Warning: graphic sex, some violence ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Excerpt: "How can you be a troll? They don't really exist." Breanna shook her head. "You're too handsome. At least now you're handsome. You're like a warrior and very clever. That's not a troll." "So you've heard stories of trolls, and you believe these stories are true? Yet you think trolls are fiction?" He chuckled. "That's not consistent logic." "Yes." She nodded. "I mean, no." She shook her head, confused. "I don't know. Sometimes, it's hard to know what's real." "Well, there are trolls. I'm testament to that. I am a master craftsman, an artisan among the troll peoples. Axel Venrick at your service." He bowed, then took her hand. She did not resist. He kissed the back of it, and heat rushed to her face. From where his lips touched her hand, a powerful sensation traveled through her, much like the ring's effect. "Good day, Axel Venrick." She curtsied, her heart pounding in her chest. She was not afraid. Instead, she felt enamored. "It's been an experience meeting you." She'd never been close to a handsome man. Not only was he handsome, he was powerful. She liked his power. She knew she should be fearful of him, but she yearned for the excitement he brought. Waves of reassurance seemed to vibrate from her ring, relaxing her, helping her trust him. "I'm not always as you just witnessed, it's only when I allow myself to transform to frighten others or to serve whatever purpose I need. But most think trolls to be ugly and monstrous. It's what they remember. Plus, I'm hardly dim-witted." He grinned. "I like to think I'm rather clever. Those tales you've heard are only tales. All tales have bits of truth mixed with fiction. They've been made and spread by humans. Humans are often inaccurate." "Trolls are mean," she challenged. "Right?" "Yes, at times. Humans are as well. All beings can be mean. Look at Hugh. He's a monster, just not a very powerful one." "Yes, he is." She played with the rose Axel had given her. It smelled wonderful on this winter's day. "I don't deny trolls are selfish, territorial, predatory, and scheming, or at least we can be. Doesn't it sound like Hugh?" "Yes." She nodded. "You admit those things about trolls?" "Would you wish me to lie? I'm not a saint or even close. As I said, the tales are mixed with truth and fiction. Trolls do have a reputation for being unpleasant at times. I can be unpleasant if need be." "You can be unpleasant? I don’t believe it," she teased him, grinning. "What's your name, lass? I like your quick wit." He smiled down at her. "Breanna Devion." "Lovely name. It's a great pleasure to have found you, Breanna Devion." Again, he bowed at the waist. "You're lovely beyond words. I can tell you have a tender heart. May I come in to visit more with you? Will you serve me a drink at your table? I wish to know you, and I want to answer all questions you may have." She studied him for several moments. "I don't know." She backed further into the house, the door still open, just looking at him. "Breanna, if I intended to harm you, I would have done it by now. This door cannot stop me. You've seen my power. I intend you no harm. I wish only to bring you pleasure, to keep you safe. I've looked for you especially. My heart as well as my body has been lonely." At his words, her heart raced more. "Go wait out there." She pointed out into the yard a distance from the house. "I need to think. You make me…nervous." "Out there?" He nodded to where she'd pointed. "Yes, I'll think about it. Your closeness confuses me." She stepped forward and closed the door. "Breanna. Breanna Devion, open your door to me." "I said I want to think about it," she yelled through the door. "If you are as you say, you will wait." Beachwalk Press Buy Link About the Author:
Reading and writing is a wonderful diversion from an often-difficult world. I love to create my own stories and have control over how things will end. It's exciting to create brand new worlds and characters. My imagination can come alive. In sci-fi, fantasy, and paranormal stories, I can invent wonderful places and people. Anything is possible in these genres, it's limitless. I'm able to create an escape into a special world filled with unique and fantastic things and there is always a happy ending. A high school teacher inspired me to write. However, instead of initially pursuing my writing career I became a lawyer. I work in divorce court, so erotic romance is a great escape. There can be true love and happy-endings, at least on my pages. My two children and I have two good-humored dogs that share our home and ease our stress. I have traveled and lived all over the world, and these experiences have given me great creative ideas. I look forward to creating many more adventures in romance. Site Twitter Facebook ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ciara is giving away a digital copy of her book. To enter to win please fill out the Rafflecopter form below. When you find a wonderful series, you can't wait for the next installment. Gracen's books are like that and here is the latest in her Road to Hell series. Check out her hot new cover and enter for a chance to win!! 
Genesis Queen Blurb (book 3 Road to Hell series): Victory is hollow when fate maneuvers one as a pawn. Madison’s mission is complete. Nix is rescued from Hell and her son safe from his dark destiny. But in the safe harbor of Nix’s love, her demonic husband warns of a murderous plot. Can she trust that it’s the truth and not another scheme to claim her for Hell’s throne? Sometimes internal struggles can house our biggest demons. With allies divided and prophecy heralding defeat, Madison gambles on Micah’s tenuous honor to keep their son protected. Torn between her heart’s desires and her dark requirements, Madison worries her hellish fate cannot be avoided. When betrayal comes from an unlikely direction, all their futures may be damned. In the darkest hour of Madison’s life, an undeniable providence will transpire. Who can she trust? And how far will she fall to defeat her foes? Amid the rubble of defeat will Hell’s Genesis Queen dawn?  Previous books in the Road to Hell Series:
"Pandora's Box" Book 1 in ROAD TO HELL series (MUST BE READ BEFORE READING HELL’S PHOENIX) BUY LINKS Decadent Publishing / Amazon / Barnes & Noble Print - Amazon / Print – Barnes & Noble Praise for Pandora’s Box “Gracen Miller has definitely added spice and intrigue in to a genre that can somewhat be monotonous with the same story lines about demons, angels, succubi, and other paranormal creatures.” ~ Kathryn Grimes, Tsk Tsk What to Read "Hell's Phoenix" Book 2 in ROAD TO HELL series BUY LINKS Decadent Publishing / Amazon / Barnes & Noble Print – Amazon / Print – Barnes & Noble Praise for Hell’s Phoenix “It blows J.R. Ward out of the water!” ~ Dawn Hagan, I Love Books ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ About the Author Gracen is a small town girl who was transplanted to the big city almost ten years ago. She describes herself as a hopeless daydreamer masquerading as a “normal” person in Southern society. When not writing, she’s a full-time basketball/football/guitar mom for her two sons and a devoted wife to her real-life hero-husband. She’s addicted to writing, paranormal romance novels and movies, Alabama football and coffee…addictions are not necessarily in order of priority. She is convinced coffee is nectar from the gods and blending coffee and writing generates the perfect creative merger. Many of her stories are spawned from these coffee highs. To learn more about Gracen and her writing or to leave her a comment, visit her website at www.gracen-miller.com. Where you can stalk me--not really!—but I would love to meet and interact with you: Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/gracen.miller Road to Hell series FB Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Road-to-Hell-series/112564408814796?ref=ts Website: www.gracen-miller.com Blog: http://madisonroadtohell.blogspot.com/ My Publisher: www.decadentpublishing.com 
I'm excited to have Laura DeLuca visiting today. She has a wonderful new book out and I'm so happy to share it with you along with the great contest she's throwing!  Morrigan by Laura DeLuca Shuffled from place to place in the foster system, Morrigan doesn't know the meaning of home. Plus, she is different. She has power over fire, the ability to move objects with her mind, and glimpse into the future. Just when she believes her life can’t get any stranger, she discovers her true identity. Filtiarn, a knight with a dark past and a surprising secret, has been tasked with guiding the heir of Tír Na NÓg through countless perils to be returned to her family. Once Morrigan has been reunited with her mother and grandmother, their triad can save the forgotten land of magic from being devoured by an ancient evil. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Excerpt: Morrigan took out a white candle and a stick of dragon blood incense, and set them up in the corner of the room. She sat cross-legged, and leaned forward to light them. No matches were necessary. No lighter either. She simply touched her finger to the end of the wick, and with an iridescent spark, the candle flickered to life. It shone at first with a bright blue flame that gradually settled into a more normal orange. It was the same with the incense—another reason why she preferred not to have an audience. She stared into the candle for a moment, and took a few deep breaths to clear her mind of all thoughts but those of the magic she intended to perform. Danu and Dagda sat on either side of her, instantly falling into silence, as though they knew she needed her complete concentration. Their energy beside her only seemed to add to the growing sense of power that charged the room. Morrigan closed her eyes and began to shuffle the cards. As she did, she allowed her breathing to become more even. A silence filled the room as the rest of the mortal world fell away. Soon the only sound she heard was the light thump of her own heartbeat, echoed by the quicker, fast paced beat of the cats’ hearts. She wasn’t sure how much time passed as the cards slipped through her fingers. It might have been minutes. It might have been hours. When she allowed herself to fall into a trance, time became insubstantial, irrelevant. The tarot cards were so old; the designs on the back were almost completely worn away. She had to shuffle gently to keep them from crumbling to pieces in her hands. Yet they held a power that she knew no newer cards could offer her. As she shuffled them, she focused her energy into them, silently requesting to be given the answers she was seeking. She allowed the image of her mother to fill her mind. When she finally felt the cards had fallen into the order they were meant to be in, she placed the deck face down on the floor, and cut them with her right hand. Then, taking one last, calming breath, she lifted the top card from the pile. With a trembling hand, she laid it down and read it. “Wheel of Fortune,” she said aloud. In the center of card was a wheel. As she stared at the picture, that wheel seemed to turn clockwise. The movements made her feel slightly dizzy. The bedroom around her became more and more surreal. The scene on the card became her reality. The figure of the sphinx that sat on top of the turning wheel looked so very real. It might have turned its head to look at her. Its lips may or may not have moved. Morrigan swore she heard a deep, resonating voice whispering the meaning of the card into her ear. Destiny approaching. An unexpected and sudden change was coming—change that could lead to good fortune. It was the card of fate and karma returned. It meant that she needed to be prepared—to expect the unexpected. Morrigan knew the cards were telling her something was going to happen—and soon. Her destiny, whatever it was, was about to be realized. Even if it did bring fortune, it still scared her to death. She considered packing up the cards right then and there. Her rational mind had every intention of doing just that. Her hands didn’t get the message her brain was sending. Before she knew what she was doing, she had already flipped over the second card. “The Empress,” she whispered. She exhaled deeply. “My mother.” It was the only interpretation imaginable. Even as she said it, the pregnant woman, crowned with stars and adorned in a gown decorated with pomegranates, turned to her and smiled. She was no longer a vague featureless stranger, but the same woman Morrigan had sketched earlier that day—a face that mirrored her own. It was an older version of herself, which she saw in the reflection in the nearby full length mirror, had turned chalk white. The Empress was a symbol of maternal power—of strong feminine influence. But could it mean that her mother was returning? She had never allowed herself to consider such a possibility. To dwell on something so unlikely would have been too painful. But now, with just the flip of a card, she found herself daring to dream. There was only one way to find out for sure. She had to keep going with the reading. “Six of Cups.” The third card in the spread represented her past, and even her immediate present. The six of cups specifically symbolized childhood, and she was, technically, still a child. But she had a feeling that her childhood was about to end quite abruptly. The cups in the picture were lined up across a high stone wall, each cup holding the memories of her past. Her past. It was nothing but a childhood filled with longing—longings which were perhaps about to be fulfilled. She visualized herself taking each cup down from the wall, and pouring the troubling memories away. It was time to start fresh. A new world was about to open up for her. She had known it as soon as she had seen the image of her mother’s face. But what would that world be like? What was waiting for her in the future? Morrigan turned over the fourth card. “The Knight of Wands.” The man on the horse carrying the staff had her baffled. Not because she didn’t know its normal meaning, but because as she stared at the card, it began to take on the physical attributes of the knight in her drawings. He had the same long dreadlocks, the same bewitching stare, even the same cocky smile. The familiarity did not cancel out the meaning of the card. The knight of wands was representative of a dark man filled with a kind of honey-tongued charm. He was also fiery and arrogant, a man with a definite possibility of a dark side. If the knight of wands was coming into her life, she knew she needed to proceed with caution. She thought she was done with the fourth card, and was preparing to move on to the next, when once again, she found she had lost control of her body. This time, her hands refused to move, while her eyes forced their way back to the knight in the card. She watched as the long haired stranger began to move forward—wandering over various landscapes, some high mountains, some meadows and fields ripe for the harvest. He kept looking back over his shoulder, as though he were speaking to someone. He was on a journey, and he wasn’t alone. Morrigan didn’t need to see his companion to know who it must be. So, her journey would soon begin, and she wouldn’t be traveling alone. She would have a guide. Whether or not that would be a good thing was another question best left to the cards to answer. The next card told her nothing she didn’t already know. “The Moon,” she said. “Caution.” It was a scary card. It warned of tricks and illusions. The two howling wolves that stood under the moon looked back at her menacingly, growling, showing their pointed fangs in a snarl. For the first time since she began the reading, Danu and Dagda made their presence known by lifting their heads and hissing threateningly in the direction of the beasts. Even the cats sensed it. The journey she was about to embark on wouldn’t be all fun and family reunions. There would be obstacles and deceit, most likely from people she thought could be trusted. The moon was a sign that danger was certainly awaiting her. In was an ominous omen. “Shhhh.” She hushed the hissing cats, and gave them each a gentle stroke to try to settle them down, though she was far from settled herself. Again she felt the urge to stop the spread. Her instincts were telling her that no good was going to come out of this reading. She was only going to scare herself. She should never have done it in the first place. When would she learn that sometimes it was best to let life play out without interference or prophetic warnings? Then again, she knew that to be forewarned might be her only advantage. So with more bravery than she felt, Morrigan flipped over the final card. “No . . . .” she gasped when she looked down at the terrible, skeletal face. “Oh no.” She should have known. She thought a part of her did know even before she glanced down at the gruesome scene—a skeleton with a scythe in a field of body parts. With the divination going in the direction it was, what else could be the final outcome? “Death,” she whispered. “Death.” She knew that in most cases, the death card was a symbol of personal transformation rather than literal death. But a deeper sense of understanding told her that this time the card was meant to be taken literally. She saw only glimpses and shadows in her mind. Brief flashes of faces, some familiar, like her mother and the knight—some still strangers, like a beautiful, almost angelic blonde woman in a flowing white gown. But around them all, including herself, she saw the shadows of death. Morrigan felt decidedly shaky as she gathered up her tarot cards. She placed them securely in the bottom of her bag just as she heard the door downstairs slam shut. The reading hadn’t made everything as crystal clear as she had hoped, but one thing was certain. Her whole life was about to change. BUY LINKS: Amazon Barnes & Noble Smashwords  About the Author: Laura "Luna" DeLuca lives at the beautiful Jersey shore with her husband and three children. She has been writing stories for as long as she can remember. Old high school friends would tell you she was always scratching in her notebook instead of paying attention in class and the children she used to babysit for always loved to hear her scary stories at bedtime. In addition to writing fiction, Laura is also the sole author 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. She loves writing young adult novels, because it keeps her young at heart. She is the author of three published works including Destiny, Destiny Unveiled, and Phantom, and has several more projects in the works. Author Links: Site Twitter Facebook Goodreads  Giveaway
One Morrigan Prize Pack, It includes a signed copy of the book, a pendant, sage pack, two crystals. Death doesn't have to keep two soul mates apart. A miracle happens and Ivy and Michael find a way to reunite. If you love a steamy story with a positive message, A Ghost on Two Wheels is for you!  “A Ghost on Two Wheels” An accident tore us apart, but I can’t live without Michael. I’ll find a way to love him, even if it’s the death of me... Ivy and Michael, her tattoo artist boyfriend, share a timeless, passionate love. Both work from home, so their breaks are spent together, making love and going for erotically-charged motorcycle rides through the countryside. They plan to make their bond official with name tattoos over each other’s hearts, but fate and a reckless driver bring their world to a crashing halt. At first, Ivy is devastated by grief, but she finds that she can make contact with Michael once more. She can touch him in his phantom form and feel his ghostly caresses. Across the veil of death, their lovemaking is different, but every bit as heated. Their after-death journey is mysterious, romantic, and undeniably erotic. Ivy and Michael learn that sexual pleasure remains after life ends, and that death doesn't stand in the way of true love. Total-E-Bound link: http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?P_ID=1812 Amazon buy link: http://www.amazon.com/A-Ghost-Two-Wheels-ebook/dp/B009UX2T8Y/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1352408896&sr=8-2&keywords=A+Ghost+on+Two+Wheels ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Excerpt: Barney looks up from the grass and hisses at the back door. The fur on his back stands up like a brush and he darts through the grass to the safety of the old barn. Startled, I look through the door, but see nothing. I stop swinging and feel dread tickle down my spine like an ice cube on my skin. “Is someone there?” I whisper. I squint into the bright afternoon glare. It’s almost like I can make out an outline in the light… A tall form, moving over the lawn towards me. It moves in front of the swing, just a couple of feet from me, and stops. My breath catches in my throat. The form—just a slight dimness in the shape of a body, really—eases onto the swing beside me. The swing starts to move. I feel panic start to bubble inside me and rise to my throat. I want to scream, but who will hear me? The swing glides gently, to and fro, and I remain frozen, my pulse racing. Around me, the yard is idyllic and peaceful. A monarch butterfly alights on a spiky purple thistle and a bluebird warbles up in the tulip poplar. I lean towards the shape beside me. It shimmers darkly in the bright light, like a shadow moving beneath the surface of sparkling water. Long seconds pass, and my curiosity overcomes my fear. I reach out and touch its head with my fingertips. It feels cool and just—barely—resistant, as though I were dipping my fingers into a bowl of frothy whipped cream. The swing stops moving. The form leans back from my touch suddenly and then stands abruptly from the seat. It moves towards me slowly, as though it were trying to see me, and then hurries into the house. Barney comes barrelling out of the barn and leaps onto the swing beside me, purring like a motorboat. I stroke his powerful back, enjoying his warm solidity after the weird, otherworldly coolness of my previous swing companion. Realisation dawns on me, slowly but surely. For the first time since the accident, I feel hope. I believe that dim form was Michael’s ghost. I think that he was barely able to see and feel me, just as I was barely able to see and touch him. The little spark of hope fans quickly, fed by my desperation and longing, into a blaze of optimism. Maybe he’s not gone forever! Maybe I can reach him, somehow, wherever he is now. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  About Bebe: I live in a teeny-tiny town in the southeastern United States, surrounded by rolling hills and lots of cows. My house is brimming with my rowdy sons, hot husband, and more pets than I can shake a stick at. When I close my eyes, though, I’m in a white stucco villa on the Mediterranean, sipping an icy Beefeater martini and watching the turquoise waves crash at my feet. Next to my hot husband, naturally.
I love to read and write erotic romance, fantasy, and sci-fi because of the escape factor: I want to leave the ordinary and travel somewhere exotic, unusual, and sexually-charged in a book. My characters are thrust into unpredictable situations, and they respond with humor, open-mindedness, and loads of scorching passion. I hope you enjoy escaping with me into the sultry world of erotic romance. I'm so very excited to share with you an interview with a fabulous author! Sherry's books are thrilling and will leave you with a need for more! Let's get started and find out more about Sherry and her writing style! What’s your favorite thing to do to relax? I enjoy working with selinte crystal and make various gift and jewelry items. It’s a bit like writing and gardening for me, when you ‘are in the zone’ everything flows. If you could go back in time to when you were seven years old, what wisdom or advice would you pass on to yourself? Fight to visit a the local library. Looking back I find it hard to understand why a prolific reader like my mother never allowed me to enter a library. I even became afraid of them. For what are you grateful? For the beauty around me and the gift of sight to see it. For the wonderful bird songs and other beautiful sounds and the gift of hearing – restored to me in childhood. What authors had an impact on you growing up and as an adult? Georgette Heyer’s Regency romances to the extent I have just written too. Did anyone in your life influence you or encouraged you to be a writer? (teacher, family member, friend) DH always joked about how I should ‘sit down and write a book’. No one was more surprised than he was when I took him seriously. What is your favorite aspect or writing? Your least favorite? Running with an idea that consumes you and you know you have to get it written down, is my favorite I’m not a naturally fast writer, so if I don’t hijack myself by leaving things to the last minute I enjoy ‘ savoring’ the writing process. I least enjoy the promotion side, simply because I don’t trust my ability to succeed with it. It is a challenge to overcome. I’ve had advice and no end of help but there’s something holding me back. When I get a handle on it, I may even enjoy the experience. I can live in hope, anyway :) What aspect of writing would you most like to improve on? I have been blessed to work with some wonderful editors who accept me and that I am grammatically challenged. Do you have any “must haves” with you while you’re writing? I prefer quiet to noise. Sometimes I do listen to music but it has to be set low. Do you have a common theme or item that appears in each of your books? There are two themes that run through many of my books and yet I don’t know how or why they keep creeping in! There is often a connection to a charity in some way, even if it’s just a mention in passing. And horses! Don’t even begin to ask me why these turn up so often in my books because, although I think they are beautiful animals, I know next to nothing about them, and have to badge ‘horsey’ friends for information to the point where they start running the other way when they see me coming! What have you learned the most from being in the writing business? What a wonderful community the writing community is. People have gone out of their way to explain, share their knowledge and celebrate success. To be honest I can’t pick out one thing because I have learned so much from so many people. Tell us about your latest release:  Blurb: Will whispers of treason be enough to see Honor dispatched to Tyburn or can Vidal save her again?
~ ~ ~ ~ When plunged into a world of spies, agents and espionage during the Peninsula wars, Honor, Lady Beaumont, flees for her life when the French capture her husband at Salamanca, and relies on his batman to arrange her safe passage back to England. Viscount Charles Vidal is ordered by Robert Dumas, the First Lord of the Admiralty, to travel to Spain and escort the only woman he’s ever loved, Lord Devlin Beaumont’s widow back home before the French discover her whereabouts. Their journey is fraught by danger, least of all knowing whether they are surrounded by friends or foe. Will they survive long enough to explore the possibility of a future together or will whispers of treason be enough to see Honor dispatched to Tyburn first? Excerpt: While Vidal joked with his cousin, the viscount scanned the room. The smell of fine wine, whiskey and cigar smoke blended into a rich aroma that was as much a part of Whites as the card games, the background chatter, and outbreaks of lewd laughter from the younger members of the club. One member in particular interested Vidal tonight, and he watched Robert Dundas, second Viscount Melville, and First Lord of the Admiralty, take leave of his friends and head in his direction. He wondered why the man spent the best part of the night watching his every move, and paused in the act of fobbing his snuff box while he waited for the viscount to join him. “Take a walk with me?” Although couched as a question, Vidal noted the quiet steel of command in the other man’s voice. Dundas laid a hand on his arm; a companionable gesture for anyone interested enough to observe the two men leaving the club together. “I believe I live not far beyond your own house. I’d appreciate your company, and this is not the place for such a discussion. ” With an indolent twist of the wrist Vidal returned the modish lacquered box, unopened, to his pocket and nodded agreement. A man’s club was no setting for private conversation, and it was plain the man wanted to talk about something away from flapping ears. Together they strolled across the room stopping to take leave of several mutual friends. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ How did you decide on your story plot? With this particular story I had several false starts. Then suddenly this one was ‘just there’ and I convinced me to run with it. How did you choose your characters names and location for your story? My hero came first, and he gave me the heroine’s name and the book title – Vidal’s Honor. Do you have a favorite scene? Why? There are few scenes in this story I don’t like but the final scene gave me a great sense of satisfaction when it unfolded. There are several ‘real people’ mentioned iin Vidal’s Honor and it was a challenge to blend fiction with fact seemlessly. I just hope the final scene does this successfully. Do you have a character that you identify with? Who and why? The whole plot in Vidal’s Honor revolves around the mysterious death of one of the characters, and I connected with this character very quickly and felt very guilty when I had to bump-him-off. Thank you for inviting me to join you today. :) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Links for Sherry Gloag and her latest regency Vidal’s Honor, released by Astraea Press November 1st 2012. Web: http://www.sherrygloag.com Blog: http://sherrygloagtheheartofromance.blogspot.co.uk/ FB: http://www.facebook.com/sherry.gloag twitter: https://twitter.com/SherryGloag ~~~~ To buy links -- Amazon.com http://tinyurl.com/bpu7o75 Amazon.co.uk http://tinyurl.com/cgonnnk smashworlds http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/250882 B&N http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/vidals-honor/1113726614?ean=2940015900422 Book Strand http://www.bookstrand.com/vidals-honor Kobo http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Vidals-Honor/book-pGNWcYHNukSsEwGrXE4TnA/page1.html?s=_AyuW9PrgUe6i8iafiHdSw&r=9 Kobo http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Duty-Calls/book-xKbd85N-i0GAyS_3boUQRQ/page1.html?s=6QB2_jmGp0C8JZqlrsuqVQ&r=4 All Romance https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-vidal039shonor-987501-152.html Each time I go to the movies, I have to arrive early to see the trailers for the upcoming movies. They make my heart beat faster and I climb to the edge of my seat to watch some of my favorite stars on the big screen. I believe that book trailers are a lot like that! I've been fortunate to have some wonderful trailers made of my books, which I will share with you! But I'm always in awe of how the creators of my trailers can capture my stories so wonderfully. These women are very talented and help readers see the essence of my characters in under two minutes! I also believe that they also leave you wanting to read the stories and get to know the characters more! A Big THANKS to the wonderful friends who've made these trailers. They really are amazing and talented! Beach DesiresA Christmas AccidentSecond Time's the CharmProtecting His Wolfe |
Melissa KeirGator Girl Extraordinaire Archives
October 2023
|
RSS Feed