Romance Author Hotspot

Get ready, get set…Boo! From paranormal to sweet historical romance, this Halloween is going to be fun! Join Kate Richards and E.D. Walker in celebrating their hot new releases! Would you like a yummy demon or a werewolf?

Demons Loves Cinnamon

Blurb:

Archaic and powerful demon, Alessandro knew never to disappoint his overlord. On the night of Samhain, when veils thin and worlds collide, he enters Earth in deadly search of one thing: a soul—until the scent of cinnamon leads him to…a Halloween party?

Sweet and passionate, Gwenny, who spends her Halloween performing a ritual with her coven,  will do whatever it takes to protect those she loves. Thrown in Alessandro’s company, she doesn’t realize the danger until their night of passion ends, and she has to choose whether to go along with the night’s evil mission or fight the Lords of Hell themselves to save herself and her cinnamon-loving demon.

Excerpt:

He muttered something, and she tilted her head, unable to make it out.

“Louder please?”

“I said I’m like candy.”

“Like…candy?” Gwenny was getting more confused by the moment and she pulled away from him. “Why are you like candy?”

He tucked an arm under his head and smiled slightly. “Well, like heroin maybe. I mean I’m addictive. Not just me,” he qualified. “All of us. Once you’ve been with me, I’m afraid you won’t be satisfied by a mortal man. And I don’t want to do that to you.”

“Oh, right,” she said. “So if I…if we…go to bed together tonight, then you leave, my sex life will never make me happy, again. Have I got that right?”

“Yes, that’s about it.”

“I see. Hmmm.” She tapped her finger on her knee and looked at the demon again. He was damn cute. And she hadn’t had sex for quite some time anyway, since she didn’t make a practice of sleeping around. But something about this man, this demon, touched her in a way she hadn’t felt in a long time. Maybe never.

He was incredibly handsome, and totally built. But there were a lot of guys out there who looked good. He was strong; she could feel his muscles flexing when he held her. And he smelled so good, spicy in a way that she found incredibly appealing. But the real truth was, he had an air of vulnerability about him that she would never have expected to find in a demon—even if she had known they existed. It made her want to protect him, to use her power to save him from the punishment he was facing just to spend a little time with her—a human he met only a couple of hours before.

In honor of the release of Demons Love Cinnamon, I am currently running a Halloween Recipe Contest on my blog: http:katerichards.wordpress.com. Come by to check it out and get details!  In addition, I will pick one lucky winner from the visitors who leave a comment here today to receive a copy of my Halloween tale… Demons Love Cinnamon to warm their All Hallows Eve.

The Beauty’s Beast

Blurb:

Lady Kathryn’s father has sent her to court to find a husband, but being penniless and disinterested doesn’t bode well for her success. Bored by the petty intrigues of court, she finds her loneliness is eased when the king charges her with the care of his newest acquisition: an uncanny black wolf. What the king doesn’t realize is his remarkable pet was once Gabriel, his favorite knight, cursed into wolf form by an unfaithful wife.

The beast’s too-knowing eyes and the way he seems to understand her every utterance convinces Kathryn the wolf is more than what he seems. Resolving to restore him, she doesn’t count on the greatest obstacle being Gabriel himself. The longer he stays in wolf form as a captive of the court, the harder it becomes for him to remember his humanity. And to fight his wolfish urges to maim and kill.

Only Kathryn’s affection and determination stand between Gabriel the wolf and Gabriel the man. But when the one who betrayed Gabriel returns to court, will Kathryn’s love be enough to keep Gabriel from exacting a brutish revenge that will condemn the wolf to death?

Excerpt:

Chapter One

Lady Kathryn de Réméré understood where her duty lay. She did—truly. The hitch, though, the tricky part, the really twisty trouble was . . . . Well, she was actually having a difficult time convincing herself that her duty was to do her duty.

The royal court had not taken part in a hunt since the marriage of the Princess Aliénor to their king a month previous. Kathryn had only been one of the queen’s ladies since Aliénor’s marriage, but in one short month Kathryn had grown very fond of her queen. She would do almost anything for her, but . . . did it have to be hunting?

Riding had never been one of Kathryn’s favorite pastimes either, and when her father had gambled away the funds necessary to keep their horses, the loss of her late mother’s bay mare had caused Kathryn only a small touch of regret.

Kathryn certainly liked horses, and riding could be pleasant, but this—this neck-or-nothing tear through the woods, the bouncing and jostling and branches hitting her in the face, and all the while the great brute below her ignoring all her most urgent instructions.

The horse recognized who was master, and it certainly was not the featherweight astride his back pulling ineffectually, and rather irritatingly, at his reins. He had his head now and would not have slowed for a rider twice as skillful as Kathryn.

Her horse broke from the group of hunters and went careening wildly off into the brush. A bare moment later, Kathryn heaved forward off her horse’s neck, the ground rising up to meet her. She lay stunned in the damp leaves, the musty smell of the dirt thick in her nostrils, while the careless beast gleefully galloped his way back to his home stable for some oats and a good brushing down.

The chase was on, though, and Kathryn would not be missed by her companions for some time yet.

Only slightly dazed, when her wits recovered sufficiently and the world stopped spinning, she stood with the aid of an obliging tree trunk to take in her surroundings. The lush forest possessed a heavy covering of brush on the ground, clustering around the roots of the tall trees. Kathryn put a hand to her chest, trying to calm her still-hammering heart. “Help. Anyone? Hello?” The forest swallowed her cries, and the only sounds around her now were the gentle rustlings of the trees. She swallowed sudden fear, stifling it, and started walking, hoping someone had noticed her difficulties and come looking.

She would be having a long day if they had not.

Kathryn gulped in a deep breath, then tilted her head to listen as a strange noise caught her attention. She froze and held her breath.

Barking, horses and—the high-pitched howl of a wolf?

I thought we hunted the hart this day. This thought was swiftly chased away by another and rather more alarming one: They’re coming this way. The crashing of hooves through the underbrush filled her ears, along with the bloodthirsty cries of the hunting dogs and the triumphant shouts of the men.

She stood at the edge of a small clearing. A hoyden in her youth, Kathryn had little difficulty maneuvering even with her hampering skirts. Quickly, she swung herself up onto the first branch of the nearest tree. Just in time too. The king and his entourage, having trapped their quarry at last, came thundering into the clearing, trampling over the place where she had been standing.

The wolf smelled the dogs before he heard the sounds of the hunt echoing in his forest. The hounds scented him before they gave chase, howling and baying while they tracked his progress through the woods. The werewolf’s scent would drive the dogs mad, as the stench of magic always did the trick on poor beasts.

Ah, well. The wolf believed himself to be rather smarter than even the wiliest hunting dog and had tricks enough to bring himself safely home. He stretched his muscles and broke into a run, shoulders flexing, muscles singing at the exercise.

He caught a hint of smell then—the merest breath to fill his nostrils. But this was enough. A spasm of grief choked him, and a whine broke from his throat. The wolf stopped. He could not have moved if he’d wanted to—and he did not want to.

My king, he thought, just before the hounds caught up to him.

Readers, if you would like an ebook (PDF) copy of The Beauty’s Beast, leave a comment or question. Do you dig werewolves? Are you fond of medieval settings? What’s your favorite fairytale? Leave a comment or question for your chance to win.

Today, our guests of honor are Celia Sweet and Shirin Dubbin. It’s so nice to have you here, and I’m sure you’re ready for a good time! Let the party begin!

First Questions:

(Eyeing the two of ya) I should check ID, but I won’t..yet. Wine or beer? (If you want a club soda, I’ll have to send you to the corner.)

SD: I’ll have a glass of Tokaji. Celia?

CS: I’d say pass the bourbon, please. May I smoke my cigar?

SD: Showoff. [shakes head]

I can see where this party is headed…Cake or chips? Are you a sugar or salt person?

SD: I’m a big snack person but I usually go healthy. Got any vegan cupcakes? If not break out the salt and pepper Popchips and I won’t say a word until I see the bottom of the bag.

CS: I’ll take the cake.

SD: She usually does. =tee hee=

CS: [laughing] Look, junior, don’t cut up while we’re visiting.

Never heard of vegan cupcakes but I definitely want to try. Are you both old enough to drink? LOL.

SD: Yup.

CS: Three times over.

Before I let you both loose in this room, show me the goods.

Dusk Takes Dawn

Blurb:

Paranormal peacekeepers, Dawn Maza, the witch with a capital ‘B’, and Duskan Entreri, one helluva beast, are partners and lovers… Actually, they are in love. They’re not lovers yet. Stone separates them, making her a statue at night while he turns to granite by day, and the two have never consummated their love. Instead, they communicate via video and voice mail. That travesty will change tonight.

Under the advisement of a crone—who may or may not have ulterior motives—the pair must freeze time for a single chance at igniting the All Hallows sky with the fires of their passion.’

Dusk and Dawn are up for the task. Halloween is about to get sexy.

Have I told you both I love the cover? Somehow I never noticed how ripped Dusk is….Hmmm…All right, I guess you can come in now…

So, what do you guys write? And why?

SD: I write urban fantasy romance with popcorn-crunching action. I’ve always been fascinated by fantasy, action, and romance. It made sense for me to blend them all together and tell the stories I’d been imagining since childhood.

Very nice. I love popcorn-crunching action. Why did you want to become an author?

CS: Shirin proposed the challenge and I couldn’t resist teaming up with her to write great sex and our stars, Dusk and Dawn.

What would your characters say about you?

SD: They’d call us cruel and capricious creators, and shake their fists at us.

Hm…I guess I can agree with that considering I know Dusk and Dawn’s secret. What are you passionate about?

CS: As a sex therapist, I am most passionate about helping my clients shed their inhibitions, or mental blocks to sexual fulfillment. (I also enjoy good literature while partaking of a cocktail…shhh.)

LOL. I’m just learning new things about you girls all the time! What else are you working on right now?

SD: I’m working on an urban fantasy fairytale romp. I don’t know why I enjoy playing with genre so much but I do, and this story is fun to write. Imagine a chaos inducing Goldilocks teamed up with a gorgeous shape-shifting Russian bear for a one-night caper… I’d like to tell you more but I can’t. I think you’re going to luv it, though!

LOL. Oh, that sounds too funny. I can’t wait to see it! Before I let you both loose to the bar, let’s talk about your release for a bit. You know how in love I am with Dusk…okay, and Dawn. What makes them special?

We both fell a little in luv with Dusk, our hero, while writing Dusk Takes Dawn. He’s definitely an alpha male but he’s also sweet and considerate. Recently we talked about how the little things Dusk does endear him to us most. He finds loving ways to let Dawn, our heroine, know she is prime in his life.

Here’s an example:

Best of all, once they’d moved in together he’d started recording himself reading aloud from whatever book she was engrossed in. Nothing compared to curling up on her favorite chaise and watching him read chapter after chapter to her, his reading glasses perched on the tip of his nose, giving him the look of some great fanged scholar. A half-naked, blue-gray gargoyle in spectacles, his wings folded neatly behind him, was about as comical as a grizzly in an ascot.

That was one of my fave parts too! Love Dusk. Where can our partygoers find you and your work?

Celia is a Luddite, but I’m always ready to chat. Catch up with me, and maybe Celia too, on the web at www.fan-fatale.com, on twitter http://twitter.com/Shirin_Dubbin, and on facebook http://www.facebook.com/shirin.dubbin.

Great! I’m so glad you girls came! I know you girls are dying to give out a copy of Dusk Takes Dawn, so I better let you both find those drinks!

SD: Thanks, Clarissa! I’ll be checking in—even if I’m traveling.

CS: I so appreciate you hosting us, Clarissa. I’ll stay abreast of any comments or replies via Shirin (she’s makes a valiant valet). =snicker=

You both better behave! Have fun! Party! Come meet Dusk and Dawn! One lucky winner will go home with the fabulous hunk and all his alpha sweetness! *sigh*

Today, our guest of honor is Valerie Mann. It’s so nice to have you here, and I’m sure you’re ready for a good time! Let the party begin!

First Questions:

Wine or beer? (If you want a club soda, I’ll have to send you to the corner.)

Neither – I’m dangerous when I drink

For some reason, I believe you….LOL. Cake or chips? Are you a sugar or salt person?

Salt all the way. Except for cinnamon red hots. I make an exception for those!

Love those! Are you old enough to drink? LOL.

Yep. And vote. I’m old enough to drink AND vote.

Alright, now show us the goodies…(<–don’t edit me! *grins*)

Blurb:

Drew Driscoll never knew what hit him when he met Emma for the first time. Mr. Type-A personality doesn’t allow relationships to interfere with his business success. But something about Emma strikes a deep chord hard and fast. So, in typical Drew fashion, he rationalizes the situation and hires her as his administrative assistant to keep her close but without any emotional entanglements. Or so he thought.

Emma never dreams how difficult working for Drew will be when she’d accepts his offer. Sure, she does her job well, he pays her even better and she enjoys the jet-set lifestyle as his assistant while he deals his way through every major boardroom in the country. What she doesn’t have is Drew. The immediate attraction sizzles between them but he always keeps his eyes forward and hands off, which makes doing her job easier but her nights lonely. When she accompanies him to a formal business event and he gets immersed in an unexpected and lengthy call from Asia, a frustrated Emma accepts an offer for a ride home from his former business partner. The next day, on a cross-country corporate flight, Drew fires her.

Once she gets past the initial shock of unemployment, Emma realizes nothing is standing in the way of pursuing the affair she knows they both want. And where better to pursue her ex-boss than at a private, thirty-thousand feet?

Love the cover! And it so sounds like an awesome read. Let’s grab and drink and talk about you….

What was your first sale as an author? Anything special about it?

My first sale was to Cobblestone Press. Their turnaround time at that point was 180 days. Nine days later, I was lying in bed with my laptop and got an email from them.  I didn’t want to open the email because I knew they’d rejected my submission. Naturally, I opened it anyway and hallelujah! they’d accepted it. And I couldn’t say anything because my DH was lying in bed next to me, sound asleep and he’s a total grouch when he’s woken up unexpectedly. So, I had to keep the news to myself until morning, LOL.

Awww. That must have been tough holding it in all night. lol. Do you have a favorite of your own books and why?

Hide & Seek is my favorite. It’s my second book and I loved the voyeur twist it took, which I hadn’t anticipated when I first started writing it.

What is the hardest part of writing your books?

Finding the time. There’s never enough time.

Very true. I know how you feel. How would you describe your writing style?

Definitely urban and contemporary. I adore Regency and historical romances but I know I could never write them.

I think I’d find the research hard for historicals. Who is your favorite author and why? Do you write what you read?

I love JR Ward and her Black Dagger Brotherhood series. Her heroes are flawed but think their mates walk on water and that’s pretty much how I write the men in my books. Not because I want them to be like her heroes but that’s why I love her heroes so much – I can completely relate to them!

Awww, I love JR Ward. I knew I liked you for some reason. (*wink*) Do you like more Alpha or Beta heroes?

Alpha all the way. No compromising on that issue.

LOL. Definitely alphas! What else are you working on right now?

I’ve got an anthology in the works and another in the planning stages, both of which are being written with my writing buddies. I’m also working on a demon story that started out as a ménage but one of the men in the story decided he didn’t like to share the heroine with the other man.

Sounds like a lot going on! I know how busy you are. Thanks so much for coming! Now let’s get this party rolling!

Today, our guest of honor is Nicole Zoltack. It’s so nice to have you here, and I’m sure you’re ready for a good time! Let the party begin!

(Holds arm out at door, blocking Nicole’s entrance)

First Questions:

You look a little on the young side…

Wine or beer? Wine. I can’t stand beer.

Cake or chips? Are you a sugar or salt person?

Definitely cake although I’m trying to lose some baby fat so only in moderation right now. *sigh*

*giggle* You’re not really convincing me to let you in, you know that, right, especially when you say BABY fat? But I do love cake. Are you old enough to drink? LOL.

LOL Yes. I just turned 26 last month.

*gasp* That’s still baby years! All right, I guess you can come in. Show me the good first!

Blurb:

“Beauty is Only Fin Deep”: The sea has taken so much from Varun – his uncle, his parents. One day, he sings a song while looking out of the water and sees a beautiful lady in the water. But Brenna is no ordinary girl, not even an ordinary mermaid. Can Varun find love from the sea that condemned him to years of solitude?

I love mermaids! The cover looks awesome too. Now off to the roast….

So, what do you write? And why? I write lots of genres – fantasy/paranormal, romance, YA, horror, historical. I like to say that I don’t like to be boxed into a certain genre – I might get claustrophobic!

I’ve always loved fantasy novels. Growing up, I adored The Neverending Story. I’m a helpless romantic, I married the first boy I kissed. I’m drawn to YA because although the stories are coming-of-age, they do relate to us all. As for horror, it’s not that much of a stretch from fantasy, not when you write about evil, dark creatures. And historical, I’m obsessed with the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Just look at the wedding photos on my website. Even my wedding was Renaissance-themed!

I don’t just write novels. I also write short stories (have sold many for anthologies) and also flash pieces.

You’re a busy girl! What would your characters say about you?

Either I work them to the bone and force them into unpleasant circumstances or I tend to leave them for long periods of time. I tend to work in chunks of time, get a lot of writing in a couple of weeks, then take some time off. I wish I could work more consistently, and I’m working on that.

What do you like doing besides writing and reading? Is it dangerous?

I already mentioned my love of the Renaissance. One of my favorite activities is to go to the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire (dressed in garb of course!). They have a pirate ship there, with pirates selling medieval weaponry. Hubby and I collect swords. Most are movie replicas, especially from LOTR.

I also love to go horseback riding although it’s been a little while since I last went.

And finally, I love to spend time with hubby and by two precious sons. Oh, and this list is definitely not in order of most important to least. J

Aww, that does sound like a lot of fun. Where do you dream of traveling to and why?

I would love to travel to Europe. Italy, England, Ireland. If I could spend a month or two in a country to do research for a book, it would be Spain. The inspiration for Woman of Honor was from the Order of the Hatchet, an order of female knights in Spain. I would love to write a historical book about one of the knights in the Order.

Cool! Love Europe. Never been, but one day…What is the hardest part of writing your books?

Definitely the beginnings. I start to pick up speed when I reach the middle and cruise through the endings. But for some reason, I tend to write and erase and rewrite my beginnings many times before I’m satisfied.

LOL. Sounds normal for an author. What do you think makes a good story?

Characters. I want the characters to be believable, relatable, and to grow. I hate flat, static characters. I also think the dialogue has to be real. Nothing is worse than stilted dialogue.

Are you a pantser or plotter?

Definitely a panster. Although lately I’ve been making skeletons of outlines. Even though it’s very bare bones, it keeps me grounded and helps to guide my writing. Because it’s so wide open, I don’t feel constricted or tied down.

Now that we’ve picked your brain enough, tell us about your new release. Mertales look awesome! What makes your character and story so special?

This short paranormal romance is a sweet story. I love the characters. There’s something mysterious about Brenna. She’s a hybrid. You’ll have to read the story to find out the other half besides mermaid, though. (I know, I’m such a tease!) As for Varun, despite all the hardship in his life, he still has room for so much love in his heart. He loves his cousins, and his depressed aunt. When he meets Brenna, he’s immediately drawn to her. Their love is the most important factor in the story.

Where can our partygoers find you and your work?

Website: http://www.NicoleZoltack.com

Blog: http://NicoleZoltack.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Nicole.Zoltack

Facebook fan page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nicole-Zoltack/93384618347

Twitter: http://twitter.com/NicoleZoltack

Myspace: http://myspace.com/scarlett9284

Thanks for coming! I guess you can go in and have that wine. We’ll see if the bartender let’s you have it. I see you have more to show and tell. Yay!

More Gorgeous books!

Everyone party! Leave a comment and one winner will get a fabulous copy of one of these books!

It’s Kate Richards! Let’s talk witches and Halloween!

As a witch, I feel particularly qualified to share my opinions of Halloween. It is not only our new year, but my favorite holiday of the entire calendar year. After all, it involves candy, costumes and a huge party with crazy decorations, including my coffin table.

This table was handmade for me, and could be a working coffin should one be needed. It was very handy for about a year in the living room until its authentically sharp corners bonked so many ankles it was voted into storage except on Halloween…and a week or two before.

Our house is haunted. It was built by my uncle in 1958 and my great uncle, great-grandparents, aunt, and my grandfather all died here. Most of them were quite advanced in age, my great-grandmother was 101. And apparently they all liked it here, and are seen from time to time by all manner of visitors. My grandmother likes to go bump in the night when my dear husband is less than appropriately kind and respectful to her favorite granddaughter. It gets a little crazy, but breaks up any argument she contributes to.

Halloween is especially haunted around here, we had a guest last year swear he saw a couple in Victorian clothing sitting on the couch. No idea who they were, but it’s a party so the more the merrier! Anyway, if you’re in the Los Angeles area this Halloween, keep an eye out for our house. It’s the one lit up like a Christmas…err…Halloween tree? Maybe a jack-o-lantern.

Happy Halloween!

Kate

Blurb:

Archaic and powerful demon, Alessandro knew never to disappoint his overlord. On the night of Samhain, when veils thin and worlds collide, he enters Earth in deadly search of one thing: a soul—until the scent of cinnamon leads him to…a Halloween party?

Sweet and passionate, Gwenny, who spends her Halloween performing a ritual with her coven,  will do whatever it takes to protect those she loves. Thrown in Alessandro’s company, she doesn’t realize the danger until their night of passion ends, and she has to choose whether to go along with the night’s evil mission or fight the Lords of Hell themselves to save herself and her cinnamon-loving demon.

Leave a comment for this wonderful witch and win a copy of Demon Loves Cinnamon, released Oct. 29th! Great read, great fun, great demon!

Today, our guest of honor is Rebecca Rose. It’s so nice to have you here, and I’m sure you’re ready for a good time! Let the party begin!

First Questions:

Wine or beer? (If you want a club soda, you’ll have to do a handstand.)

Beer! I started drinking this new stuff from Smirnoff. It’s Blueberry Lemonade and highly recommend it. DELICIOUSJ

Hmmmm…You don’t look like a beer drinker. And Smirnoff? That’s weak! lol. Cake or chips? Are you a sugar or salt person?

Love a good chip! Potato skins are the best. And I’m more a salt person because I’ve had low blood sugar since an early age. I’ve had to convince myself that I don’t like sweets. LOL It doesn’t work all that well!

Omg. Sorry about your blood pressure. Guess I’ll just slip you more chips. lol. Are you old enough to drink? LOL.

Oh, yeah! I’ve been married for 16 years and one of my 3 kids is in high school. Why? Do I look young? LOL

You do look young, especially if that’s you on that cover! Have I told you how pretty your cover is? Well, don’t be shy. Take it out!

Just Gorgeous!

Divine Redemption

Blurb:

Sometimes Redemption Is The Only Salvation Needed To Forgive Yourself.

In his first ever selfless act Donald Write takes a bullet for a man he just met, Daniel Allen. Now he’s changed his name and moved across the country to live with Daniel’s family whose welcoming home reception wasn’t very warm.

Jacqueline is Daniel’s daughter. This soft spoken, well dressed lady soon teaches Donald that looks can be deceiving and her heart can be his if he’s willing to open up and except her gift of love.

Donald hadn’t counted on the intense and immediate attraction to Jacqueline. She’s the boss’s daughter and off limits; that is until he finds himself with an irresistible primal need to be with her. She shows him love in a way he’s never felt before and gives him the strength to become the better man he’s always wanted to be. But how can Donald touch and care for someone so pure of heart when their future can be destroyed by his past? A future built on redemption and second chances.

It’s Monday. I’ll take it easy on you….

So, what do you write? And why?

I write contemporary romance and love every minute of it. You can find romance anywhere, if you’re looking hard enough. Most people want quick and in your face, but true romance is felt and not seen.

Very true. It is all about the feelings especially from fabulous books. Why did you want to become an author? Actually, I didn’t. LOL I wrote Divine Turmoil, the first in the Divine Series, with no intention of getting it published. But, my muse and friend Lorettajo, kept at me until I sent it in. I owe a lot to the both of them.

Aww, that’s sweet. Do you have a name for your muse? ah hem, I mean, where do you dream of traveling to and why?

I’d love to go to Greece. There is something about it that calls me. Someday… after the children are grown, the time will be right.

Greece sounds fabulous! I’d love to go there too. What is the hardest part of writing your books?

Working with my children and sharing my office with them. LOL Plus, when they look over my shoulder and then ask if they can read what I wrote. ‘NO! You have to be at least 18.’I tell them. Time is something that you don’t have a lot of when it comes to having children.

LOL. No comment there….What do you think makes a good story?

Great characters. It takes a lot of time and detail work to make ‘real’ characters. But, once you have them, the rest of your story will follow.

Totally agree. Every book needs great characters. Do you have any suggestions for beginning writers?

Research. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve reviewed a novel and the author had their research wrong. You can’t get a ‘wicked cool’, something or other, in the mid-west. ‘Wicked’ is a Northeastern slang. For Divine Turmoil I did 6 months of research on uterine cancer. For Divine Redemption I needed to learn the language of a biker and where to get a Ducati Multistrada 1100S. Does that particular one come in red and with saddle bags? Not something you really want to get wrong.

Wow, very impressive. What else are you working on right now?

I’ll be starting NaNo-WriMo in November where I’m going to be finishing up the third installment of The Divine Series, Divine Valor.

That sounds exciting! So I’m eyeing your cover up top. What makes your characters and your story so special?

There are many people in this world that have come from terrible home lives and despite it, have made a better life for themselves. This novel shows the struggles it takes to leave the past where it is and how it impacts your life and ability to open yourself up to love.

Very nice. Before you run off to the bar or go look for one of those Smirnoffy things, where can our partygoers find you and your work?

I’m at my website www.authorrebeccarose.com and would love to see everyone there. I also have Review Wednesday on my blog, http://authorrebeccarose.blogspot.com, where I review romance novels from Sweet to Erotic Romance.

Now can I have your book? I mean, are you going to share your book? lol. Come party! Come play! Hang around. Have a Blueberry Lemonade Smirnoff and win a copy of Rebecca Rose‘s Divine Redemption!

Come on in! Get comfy and put those party shoes on! It’s a release party!

Check out Rachel Leigh‘s Explicity English!

Blurb:

Laura Markham needs to forget – just for awhile.  Be someone else for change – live as her parents will never have the chance to.  And for Laura, that means leaving the City for the English countryside and doing just what the hell she feels like…wherever she feels like doing it…

British stockbroker, Stephen Cambridge knows by going home to his country retreat two days early, he’s likely to surprise his contracted interior designer.  And when he finds out she’s the woman who performed the solo masterbation show for him on the inward bound journey, Stephen will do anything to further convince her to miss outward bound train and stay with him forever…

Excerpt:

His gaze locked with hers for a long moment before he tipped her a wink, completely disarming her once more.  Absurdly attracted to him, Laura didn’t even feel nervous—just unbelievably turned on.  It was like she knew him, trusted him.  Attraction grew and burst into flame behind her ribcage when he levered himself up on the arms on his chair with the ease of a gymnast on the parallel bars.  Her gaze hungrily fed on the tendons and muscles of his bare forearms as they tensed.  Strong, capable, and incredibly sexy.

He took his time, looked first in front and then behind.  No hurry.  Calm personified.  Laura smiled.  You’d think this kind of thing happened to him every day.  But the telltale flash of color high on his cheeks and the way his hands tightly gripped the chair’s arms showed he was as anxious for the party to start as she was.

He eased back into his seat.  “It appears to be just you and me.”

Laura smiled.  “Great.”

Excitement pumped blood a little faster through her veins, her pussy twitched, and her nipples tightened.  Revelling in the feel of her damp panties against moist lips, Laura slid two fingers into her mouth and wet them with her tongue.  Round and round, in and out.  A faint smile played at his mouth but his eyes belied his feral interest.  They watched her with just the right amount of sexy anger.  As though he’d like to slam her up against the window and ram his rock-hard cock deep inside her.

Rachel has a special contest! She’s giving out a copy of Explicity English to one winner who can tell her what her next tentative title of her novella is! Who has the answer?

And it gets hotter!

Check out Jocelyn Modo’s First Heat!

Blurb:

Shifter lion Kissa Alassane has finally gone into heat and she has never been consumed by such raging lust. Too bad her lioness is demanding she mate with Venor Brun, a tortured and deadly male with a dark past.

Too bad she can’t keep her hands, lips or any other part of herself off him. They must mate three times to complete their bond. Just once can’t hurt, she figures, just once to soothe her aching need and clear her head.

When once becomes twice, Kissa flees to Austin, Texas, hoping to lose Venor and others tracking her in the big city. But a pride of rogue shifters is killing and turning humans in Austin, and Kissa finds herself thrust into a full-scale battle for survival. And while Venor may be the only male who can save her, he might be the biggest threat of all…especially to her heart.

Excerpt:

Kissa skinny-dipped in the large blue lily pond outside the temple, trying desperately to soothe the burning fire of her first heat. Miun, or shifter lions, loved the water, and right now appeasing her cat was her top priority. Normally her human and cat sides stayed well-balanced. All miun learned how to stabilize their dual natures by the time they hit puberty, but in times of high stress or when emotions raged too high, they had to fight to keep their cats in check. And Kissa’s heat had unstrung her emotions and tangled them into knots.

Her muscles were in knots too. She breathed deep and dove down to the bottom, letting the cool water soothe her overheated skin. Being in the water reminded her of the many days she and Venor had spent swimming in the lake a couple miles away. She squeezed her eyes shut and kicked up to the surface. The moment her thoughts veered toward Venor, her eyes filled with tears.

She didn’t know if the rumors held truth, didn’t know if Venor had been disloyal. Cheating didn’t fit what she thought she saw in him or what her heart told her, but in the last two weeks since he had supposedly left to visit his home pride in France, he had not answered one of the ten calls she’d made while cloistered in the temple. Why avoid her if he’d done nothing wrong? And why lie about where he was going?

He was not in France. Worse, she’d discovered this wasn’t the first—or even the tenth—time he’d lied about his whereabouts. If he was going to lie, avoid her phone calls, then she simply could not trust him. She’d made up her mind, closed the door on Venor.

Letting the water wash away her tears, Kissa swam to the stone lip of the pond and pushed herself up out of the water.

Thank the Goddess for Tan. A friend since childhood, Kissa trusted him with her body, if not her heart. He is a good choice in a bonded mate, she reassured herself, letting the hot August sun dry her human body even while her mie—her cat—paced restlessly inside her, yowling her impatience.

As if he sensed her readiness, her sire, Latif, approached, her list of potential bonded mates rolled into a narrow tube in his right hand.

“I’m ready,” she told him, even while shaking her head at the irony of her statement. Up until five hours ago, the last word she would have used to describe herself was ready. But that was before her first heat had wrenched her from fitful sleep. Now her mie clawed at her insides. Ready or not, she had to choose her bonded mate.

With a nod of his balding head, Latif left to usher in the group of single shifter males who waited in the nearby parking lot. Unable to sit still, she rose on trembling legs and began to pace. Head down, eyes closed, breaths short, she pressed one hand over the pit of fire that burned low in her stomach, the other hand balled into a fist at her side. Her body screamed for release. Cursing, she clenched her pelvic muscles, trying and failing to clamp down on the relentless ache. The deep moan that escaped her lips was loud enough to cover the grass-muffled footsteps of the approaching males, but she could smell the group of twenty, smell their thick, almost suffocating sexual excitement as they circled her.

One male’s scent called to her over the others, drawing her in, triggering visions of what they would be like together. Him thrusting into her as her body clamped down around him, milking him, drawing his seed into her ready womb. Feral heat spread through her already enflamed body, pulsing through her veins, contracting her muscles, taking her breath from her lungs, making her choke and gasp for air.

Venor.

What was he doing in the courtyard? His name was not on her list of potential mates. Kissa glared at her sire, though she knew he wasn’t the only manipulator of this event. Her dam, Genet, had to have helped. Together they betrayed their only child. Latif faced her with unflinching certainty in his clouded, hazel eyes, unrepentant. She hissed, feeling her parents’ manipulation stab through the walls of her heart. They didn’t believe she could make the correct choice in selecting her bonded mate and the Oakview Pride’s next mane miu, the next ruling male. Obviously, her parents had decided that they knew best.

Typical.

Refusing the tears that fought to film her eyes, Kissa searched the ring of males. They were all attractive—sleek-muscled, tanned skin, erect cocks—but none was as beautiful as Venor, who stood proudly before her, light brown hair skimming his strong shoulders, pale golden eyes stunning in their contrast to his rich coloring, a soft smile easing the hard angles of his face. Beautiful and heartbreaking.

She forced herself to look away.

Tan was notably absent. Fury built and broke past the haze of heat that clenched her muscles. Her parents had replaced Tan with Venor. She was left with the choice of nineteen males her mie would never accept or the one male she loved but no longer trusted.

Another wave of desire crashed through her. Doubling over, a yowl ripped from her throat. The harsh vocalization rang through the outer court, eliciting growls from the males as they drew closer until their body heat joined with hers to create a firestorm of lust. Oh Goddess, she wanted to drop to her hands and knees and be mounted.

The only thing she wanted more was retribution for her parents’ betrayal, and she used that desire to conquer the other. She would not be manipulated. Slamming her eyes shut, she stamped down the flames of desire, then worked to regulate her heartbeat. Minutes passed, a lifetime elapsed before she could force her eyes open and face Latif.

“You have left me no choice,” she said in a low, hate-filled voice.

Latif smiled as if confident in his control of her, certain that he had won.

Kissa raised her eyebrows and said, “I choose to let my heat pass without mating.”

His face blanked then buckled under the weight of his anger. Eyes flashing, muscles jumping, he lifted his all but bald head to the sky and roared. His voice echoed through the outer courtyard, ringing in Kissa’s ears.

She twisted her lips into a grim smile that exposed her teeth. A refusal to mate was unheard of, but she had the right. Now she needed to seclude herself in the temple for the next four to seven days so that the temptation to mate could not overwhelm her.

Please be four days. Please be four.

Lifting her chin, she turned to force her way out of the circle. One of the males ran his hand down her arm, an invitation. Her nails instinctively shifted to claws. She pivoted and ripped through his face. The male, Devon, stumbled out of the circle, clutching his torn cheek, hissing and spitting. She had a moment of regret—he was her friend—before her claws shifted back to human nails and the circle of males tightened, closing Devon out. Her sire stepped forward, one wild, bushy eyebrow lifting, a smile twisting his face. Whatever he was about to say, Kissa didn’t want to hear it. She took a step back and ran right into the wall of Venor’s immovable body.

“What is it, Kiss?” he whispered against her ear. “Are you frightened because it is your first time?”

His thick arms locked her against him as he gently cupped her breasts. Where Devon’s touch repulsed her, Venor’s felt completely natural, as if she belonged there in his arms. She gasped as memories flooded her mind and drowned her senses. Venor holding her hand on the way to a pride meeting. Venor pressing her against a broad tree trunk and feasting on her inexperienced mouth. Venor promising his life and love to her. No. Tears filled her eyes, making them burn. Her lower lip trembled and she had to bite down on it to prevent a sob from breaking free.

“Release me,” she said, trying to keep her voice firm when what she wanted to say was, Mate with me.

“Please don’t be afraid, ma chaton,” he whispered.

She used to love it when he called her “his kitten”, but he had no right to claim her. Not anymore.

“I cannot promise there will be no pain in our first joining, but I will take care to please you.”

He rubbed his body against hers, marking her with his scent, claiming her, warning all other males away. She hissed at the feel of his hard body sliding against her slick, overheated flesh. When he pinched and rolled her nipples, her resolve weakened and broke. Instinct overtook her and she pressed herself against him, undulating with need, purring at the feel of his arms around her, the dense scent of his miu—his lion.

No. Stop. Don’t do this. Don’t.

But she didn’t stop, and he hummed his satisfaction when she rolled her hips and went up on her toes so that the length of his erection filled the seam of her ass. The heat of his breath stirred her hair, sending pinpricks of pleasure over her scalp. Oh Goddess, she needed this, needed him. She’d never last four days. She couldn’t last another four minutes. And if she were honest with herself, she would admit her need for Venor did not come only from her mie, but also from her all-too-human heart. She wanted him. Loved him. Despite her decision to reject him, no other male would do. Her little rebellion—telling Latif she wished to let her cycle pass without mating—had turned into nothing more than posturing.

Venor buried his face against the side of her neck and nipped her. The sharp sting made her mewl as if she were the kitten he’d called her. He released an arrogant chuckle. Obviously, he sensed the change in her, knew what she refused to say—she accepted him. Angry at his self-assurance, angry with herself for being unable to resist him, she jerked away…and got nowhere. But if he thought she would simply roll over for him, he had another thought coming. Wrapping her hands around his wrist, she raked him with her long nails, breaking the skin. Thick and hot, his blood coated her fingers and she immediately regretted her actions. She was acting like her dam, vindictive, violent.

He didn’t flinch.

With a deep chuffing sound, he nuzzled aside her long hair, bit down at the base of her neck, then flicked his tongue over the tender skin he held firmly in his mouth. Lightning exploded behind her eyelids. Her hair stood on end as she shivered uncontrollably. Her world narrowed to Venor’s mouth, his hands kneading her flesh. She drooped in his arms, her mind folding in on itself. Desire ruled her. Nothing mattered but this. Nothing mattered but him. She couldn’t fight him and her mie at the same time. She was lost to her lust.

Enter to win a free copy of First Heat by emailing Jocelyn at jocelyn@jocelynmodo.com. She will choose a winner at random on Friday, October 22^nd.

Leave a comment! Come play! Get the party going!

Guess who’s here? It’s Decadent Publishing’s Ellen Keener! It’s blog Wednesday and Ellen’s here to talk fairytales and Halloween. Pull up a chair, grab a drink, and leave the hot guy alone in the corner!

Let’s go!

So I thought long and hard about what I wanted to blog about. This blog thing is harder than I thought it would be! I finally decided on talking about fairytales. It’s a good season for it. Halloween is fast approaching and the Barzakis Manor is breaking out all the decorations to be put up as soon as my feet hit the door on Friday. (I have more Halloween decorations than Christmas at this point, I think)

I love fairy tales. Always have. But I love the originals. Not the watered down versions that we have now. The real deal. I once wrote an entire paper in college about the censorship of fairy tales and legends and the reasons why we’ve done it. They were originally meant to say something. About growing up, how to mature, how to behave, and what would happen if you didn’t. There were a lot of themes, some of them darker and more adult than you might think. I’ve always collected version of fairytales. Beauty and the Beast is my favorite. But I also love the obscure ones. The Goose Girl, Thousandfurs, East of the Sun and West of the Moon. I’ll give you an example – Thousandfurs. In the beginning of the story, the princess leaves because her father intends to marry her because he’s widowed and she’s the most beautiful maiden in the land. Issues? I think so.

Thank goodness I have a mother who not only encouraged me to read, but let me read things like that. Love you Mom!

I have plans for those originals. I think every little girl eventually at some point rewrites the tale to suit themselves. There are lots of examples in bookstores. Pick up a few. Even some stories are versions of fairytales without realizing it. They address the same issue, or they deal with similar plotlines. Everything is recycled, after all. The Key is in how well you do the recycling.  Lol.

Halloween is a good time to think about it. To think about legends and the things that go bump in the night. I think it’s a time when more of us are open to listening to stories about stormy nights and the flash of fang in the darkness. Read a few fairy tales. They’re darker than you think.

I don’t think Blood Moon has as much to do with any of those stories, (now that I’ve said there are lots that do) although the theme of running away and disobeying your family is popular. But it’s another good read for the season (if I do say so myself) because it’s got Werewolves and Celtic mythology and romance.  Everyone loves a good Celtic god of the Hunt. If you’re interested in reading more, here’s the blurb:

Fugitive shifter, Aria Legreve, is always on the run. With her own life at risk, she helps a badly beaten shifter to his Pack, knowing the danger her meddling entails. Hoping to use her status as an Outcast and be set free, her world changes when she meets head on with no other than her Mate—who is dead.

Alpha Lukas MacLeod has been searching for his wife for the past year, until Aria walks straight into his lair. Fate intervenes and gives them a second chance. Caught up in an intricate web of lies and prophecies in the making for generations, Aria and Lukas must discover a way to balance the darkness in their world, but will their love be strong enough to save their pack and each other?

So, tell me, what are your favorite fairy tales? The original ones or the new versions?

Thanks for having me, and I hope you all enjoy the stories!

Blood Moon? It’s a great story! I’ve read it and I know you all want to, too! Post a comment, come party! Are you Beauty & the Beast or Cinderella fan? What other fairy tales am I missing? (Wow, now I want to go watch one…) Ellen’s giving away a copy of Blood Moon! Talk it up!

Guess who’s here? Yup! It’s Nina Croft! Fabulous Harlequin, The Wild Rose Press, Shadowfire and….I forget where else she’s pubbed. Can’t keep track of this girl. Let’s play!

*clears throat* Admittance pass please. No pass? Alright, fine. Answer these questions and we’ll talk about it.

First Questions:

Wine or beer? (If you want a club soda, I’ll have to send you to the corner.)

Wine, preferably red wine, but I’m quite partial to cava (Spanish champagne).

Hmm….never had spanish champagne. We’ll have to barter something. *eyeing the book in your hand*

Cake or chips? Are you a sugar or salt person? Chips!

Blah! Salt… Are you at least old enough to drink? LOL. Probably too old – I should have given up years ago!.

*chuckle* Still not good enough. Can’t come in. Show me some thing first!

Oooooooo, pretty!

The Darkness

Blurb:

Twenty-two years ago, vampire Darius Cole abducted and seduced witch Gina, forging an emotional bond between them and leaving Gina with a daughter. Then Gina’s sister witches tore them apart and the bond faded—until she feels the Darkness within Darius threatening to take control and calls him to her instead.

Darius had wanted Gina from the moment he laid eyes on her—and he can still sense her arousal around him. Though he’s bitter about her betrayal, he cannot deny their rekindled passion. But with the Darkness and Gina’s fellow witches threatening them once again, will this be the last time they make love for eternity?

All right, I guess you can come in. Now off to the roast….*gesturing reluctantly* But I might need more surprises later…

Let’s start!

So, what do you write? And why? I write mainly paranormal romance, but also love to write Science Fiction and there are masses of other genre’s I’d like to try. I write the sort of things I like to read, and as I read most things, it doesn’t narrow the field much.

What do you like doing besides writing and reading? Is it dangerous? I have a horse, Gencianna, and I ride. My husband thinks she’s dangerous, and she is big – but I don’t plan to fall off so…

OOoooo, horsey! I like her name. Sounds Italian!  So, where do you dream of traveling to and why? We used to travel a lot, whenever we got the chance, and we’ve seen some great places: Africa, India, South East Asia. Now I have a whole load of dogs and goats and other animals, which makes getting away difficult, so I try not to dream about travel too much.

(blinking then turns to another)  Did she say goats? ( turns back with smile) Do you have a favorite of your own books and why? My favorite right now, is the last one I wrote. I suspect (and I sort of hope) that’s always going to be the way of things. Anyway – it’s a space opera with a vampire hero. I had great fun writing it and have just started subbing the manuscript, so hopefully it will find a home, and then I can write a follow up or two.

Cool! Space Opera and Vampire! Awesome mix! Do you like more Alpha or Beta heroes? Alpha!

Love alphas! They’re the best heroes! How much do you write in a day? Day or Night? Everyday? The most I’ve ever written in a day was 10000 words. It was a personal challenge – I did it but it’s certainly not something I’d want to do very often. If I’m working on a first draft, I tend to aim for about 1500 to 2000 words per day, and try to keep to that every day.

Wow. We got a writing machine in the room… *grins* Are you a pantser or plotter? Plotter. I’ve tried both, but I’m much happier really getting to know my characters beforehand, and so I know how they will behave and can plot the whole story before I start, including a scene by scene break down.

I totally agree. Now, do you have any suggestions for beginner writers? Keep writing! It’s easy to be discouraged when things don’t happen as and when (especially ‘when’ – the waiting can be so hard) you want them to, but if you love writing then you need to keep going and always strive to get better.

Awwww, good advice! Is there anything you’d want your readers and friends to know about you? There’s a few things I don’t want them to know!

*chuckles* Too late! We all know! Bwahhahahah. *clears throat* Sorry. What else are you working on right now?

A Christmas anthology story with my ace crit group – Passionate Critters. The stories all revolve around the same small town. My hero is a vampire – of course!

Woohoo! Sounds awesome! Now before I let you wander around this party, I think we deserve to see what else you’re hiding. No wine until you hand it over!

Tiger of Talmare

Blurb:

Melissa Stark will take on just about any job as long as the price is right. But this particular job she would gladly take on for free because Captain Zachary Knight has been a thorn in her side ever since she stole his starship ten years ago.

Back then he was a genuine hero and poster boy for the army’s hybrid breeding program. Now things have changed. Zach has been accused of a massacre on the planet of Talmare and is being shipped home to stand trial.  But certain influential people want to make sure Zach never reaches Earth and Mel and her crew on The Revenge have been hired to intercept him and return him to Talmare.

It should have been easy money. The problem is, Zach is impossible to resist and once Mel gets her hands on him she’s doesn’t want to let him go. Now those same people are also after Mel.

Cool! This Captain Zachary Knight sounds hot! LOL. *clears throat* You hiding anything else?

(Shakes head innocently)

Pfft. Fine. Go drink. Go socialize. I know you’ve been eyeing the bar. We’re all glad you’re here!

Ready to party, guys? Nina’s giving away a copy of her books! Now put those dance shoes on and show her your moves! Comment, comment, comment! Pick her mind, pick her brain! (Don’t hurt her. I want her to come back).

Thank you all for coming!

Check this out! Sharon Donovan has a new release, Her Biggest Fan! From The Wild Rose Press.

Blurb:

From the shadows of the woods, he keeps vigil. The stage is set to drive the pretty little princess insane. He’s coming for her. And when he catches her, he’ll pounce on her like the big bad wolf.
After receiving a disturbing fan letter, New York Times best-selling author Tess Kincaid flees to the New England home she’s inherited following her father’s death. The manor has been tainted, every room staged to resemble the way it was in its glory days. However when Tess calls the police, the chilling props vanish into thin air.

Ruggedly handsome Sheriff Mike Andretti is called to investigate the reported burning candles, dancing gargoyles and otherworldly events. When he discovers no trace of the eerie setting, he finds himself caught between duty and desire. Is the woman with the bewitching green eyes delusional or is this a trap of twisted wit set by a demented fan?
Excerpt:

Cool air drifted out of the ballroom, carrying the scent of burning candles and cigarettes.
Music floated through the corridor, the seductive undertone hauntingly familiar. The music was hypnotic, mesmerizing. Tess could barely think over the loud beat of her heart. Every sense screamed to beware. She was about to come face-to-face with her stalker, her biggest fan. But over the hammering of her heart and accelerated senses, her will to put an end to this deadly game prevailed. She had to face him, find out who was behind this bizarre masquerade. Anticipation mounting, she made the turn at the end of the corridor and came to a riveting halt.

A female wax gargoyle stood in the doorway, long blonde hair billowing in the breeze. Her glass eyes shimmered with madness, an eerie smile on her face. In one hand, she held a mission bell, the other reaching out for a candle.

Music played from the old phonograph, the plucking of guitar strings laced with seduction. A breeze blew in through open terrace doors, stirring the sweet scent of jasmine from the candelabras.
Two wax nymphs stood at the bar, glass eyes shining bright in the candlelight, pliable fingers wrapped around flutes of pink champagne. Lit cigarettes burned in ashtrays. From behind the bar, a winged monster served drinks.

In the center of the ballroom, two gargoyles held a pose as if they were dancing, their waxy bodies closely pressed together, their reflections glowing in the mirrored ceiling. From the old phonograph in the corner, the hypnotic music played.

Tess gasped, her hand clasping her mouth. “Oh, my God!”

Mike raised his gun, circled the room. “Come out with your hands up. Hancock County Sheriff. Put your hands where I can see them.”

Intrigued? Leave a comment! Come play and we’ll talk! Enter to win a copy of Her Biggest Fan!