Interview with Tara Sue Me

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome back Tara Sue Me to the blog.

Tara for those who missed you the first time around, can you please share with us a little about yourself

I’m the average mom next door. I’m married with two children, two dogs, and a cat. I like dark chocolate and drink too much caffeine. I’m quiet until you get to know me or cut me off on the interstate.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

Yes. Writing is something I’ve always enjoyed and wanted to do. Though I read a lot of genres, my writing always has a romance.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

I have to have Pepsi One and Sweettarts handy. And the Sweettarts have to be eaten in a certain order: green first (because whoever decided to change green from lime to green apple should be fired), blue, red, purple, then orange (the best).

Can you please tell us about The Submissive Trilogy and THE TRAINING?

The trilogy follows Nathaniel and Abby as they work their way from a sex only agreement to something more. In THE TRAINING, we see them attempting to mesh their BDSM needs and lifestyle with their everyday lives.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

I knew I wanted to try writing an erotic romance, but I didn’t know what it should be about. Then one night, I saw this scene in my mind. It was a woman standing in a man’s office. She was excited and nervous about being there, but he was ignoring her. There was so much happening in that room, yet he was just typing and she was only standing. I had to know more, so I got my laptop out and starting writing.

Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?

I have a new series starting in March 2014. It’s also BDSM, but each book reads as a standalone. The couples I’m writing are so much fun and there’s a lot of diversity between them. It’s a blast writing.

Who is the one author that you would love to meet someday and why?

It’s an impossibility, but I’d really like to have a conversation with Margaret Mitchell about why she ended GONE WITH THE WIND the way she did. Would love to know, in her mind, if Rhett and Scarlett ever got back together.

What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?

Read, read, read and write, write, write. Everyday. Even if it’s just a little. Even if it sucks. Especially if it sucks.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.

I’d love to travel to Alaska.

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?

I’m (not so) patiently waiting for WRITEN IN MY OWN HEART’S BLOOD by Diana Gabaldon. I discovered the series when OUTLANDER first came out and I’ve been hooked ever since.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Thanks for having me today! I love nothing more than to talk about books and writing.

Tara Sue Me lives in the southeastern United States with her family, two dogs, and a cat. Visit her online at www.tarasueme.com, www.facebook.com/TaraSueMeBooks or www.twitter.com/tarasueme.

*****

The Training

The Submissive Trilogy #3

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It started with a hidden desire.

Millionaire CEO Nathaniel West has always played by his own strict set of rules, ones he expects everyone to follow—especially the women he’s dominated in his bedroom. But his newest lover is breaking down all his boundaries and rewriting his rule book.

Abby King never imagined that she would capture the heart of Nathaniel West, one of New York City’s most eligible bachelors—and its most desirable dominant. What began as a weekend arrangement of pleasure has become a passionate romance with a man who knows every inch of her body and her soul – yet remains an enigmatic lover. Though he is tender and caring, his painful past remains a wall between them.

Abby knows the only way to truly earn his trust is to submit to him fully and let go of all of her lingering inhibitions. Because to lead Nathaniel on a path to greater intimacy, she must first let him deeper into her world than anyone has ever gone before…

October 4, 2013October 3, 2013

Strangled by Silk Blog Tour and Review

Darlings! Here’s the scoop on my latest mystery STRANGLED BY SILK. It’s all about Daphne and Margot––two independent young California women in 1957––own their own dress shop called Poppy Cove.

When one of their top clients––Constance Stearns-Montgomery––is strangled to death with her own silk scarf at the opening ceremonies for her new girls’ academy, Daphne and Margot are shocked. They can’t believe that such a horrid crime could take place in their sleepy little oceanside village of Santa Lucia. Worse, they’ve lost one of their best clients. The two women quickly become embroiled in solving the crime. After all, if anyone can track down the killer, it should be them. Margot’s long-time beau is the town’s top cop, and Daphne is a master at using her flirtatious wiles to extract information from unsuspecting men.

Of course, neither girl will let their snooping get in the way of more urgent tasks such as choosing new textiles and accessories for Poppy Cove or planning their fall fashion show or––most important––selecting the appropriate ensemble to wear for each and every occasion. But these two fashion detectives are on the case, and the murderer––and the poorly attired––had better watch out!

Amazon/B&N

About the Authors:

Barbara Jean Coast is the pen name of authors Andrea Taylor and Heather Shkuratoff, both of whom reside in Kelowna, BC, Canada. Barbara Jean, however, is a resident of Santa Lucia, California (eerily similar to Santa Barbara), where she enjoys long lunches, cocktail parties, fancy dinner dates with attractive and attentive gentlemen. Her interests include Alfred Hitchcock movies, reading Carolyn Keene, music by popular musicians, such Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett, shopping for new dresses, attending society events and always looking fabulous in kitten heels. STRANGLED BY SILK is her first novel in the Poppy Cove Mystery Series.

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Jennifer’s Review of Strangled By Silk

NUMBER OF STARS: 4 Stars

Review: This was a very cute mystery for me. I loved the characters, Margot and Daphne, two women who run a clothing shop in the 195o’s and it was such a delight to read about that time period. I enjoyed the descriptions in regards to the clothing that were popular at the time and it just reminded me how things have changed over the years. The mystery was very interesting because the ladies knew the victim and were trying to piece together who could have possibly wanted her dead. So many suspects and I liked trying to figure out the clues with Margot and Daphne. Strangled by Silk was an enjoyable read and I would love to read more in the Poppy Cove Mystery series.

October 4, 2013September 24, 2013

Interview & Giveaway with Julia London

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Julia London to the blog for the first time.

Julia, can you please share with us a little about yourself

First, let me thank you for inviting me! I live in Austin, Texas. When I’m not writing, I like to get out of my cave and run or ride my bike or get Zen with yoga. I recently returned from a bike ride across Ireland and now I can’t wait to plan my next bike vacation. My running partner is my dog, Moose, a big yellow lab who never met a piece of garbage he wouldn’t eat.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

I’ve always written, but I never thought I’d be a writer—I was a public administrator. But one day I picked up an older Iris Johansen book at a garage sale and became hooked on the romance genre. I started dreaming up stories of my own. Thank goodness I didn’t know how difficult it was supposed to be to get published otherwise I probably wouldn’t have submitted my first manuscript, which I was lucky enough to sell. I haven’t looked back since.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

Some people think it is interesting that I work on two books at once. I don’t find it hard to do at all. Usually one is historical and one is contemporary, and they are generally in different stages of production. But I guess in all those years of public administration work, and having to juggle more than one complex project at a time, helped train my brain to be able to turn off one story and turn on another when necessary.

Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?

THE BRIDESMAID features Joe and Kate, two strangers forced to travel together in order to get from New York to Seattle during a super storm. Kate is traveling for her best friend’s wedding and Joe is rushing to attend a make-or-break meeting in order to secure a dream job. It’s my version of a romance set against the story of Trains, Planes and Automobiles.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

I travel a lot. This idea was born when I was stranded for 8 hours in Chicago’s O’Hare airport one stormy afternoon. Talk about agony! Travel delays bring out the worst in people (myself included).

Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?

Currently I’m finishing up the second book in my Pine River Trilogy, RETURN TO HOMECOMING RANCH, which follows HOMECOMING RANCH and is slated for publication next summer (and then again by THE LAST HOMECOMING in late 2014). This series is about three sisters who didn’t know each other existed until they inherited a rundown ranch from their deadbeat father. They have to make the ranch work against their private issues and those that come when you are thrust into an instant family.

I also just completed edits on my new historical, THE TROUBLE WITH HONOR, the first in a new series about four privileged sisters who try and direct the course of their fate in unconventional ways J. It will be out in late February of next year, and will be followed by THE FALL OF GRACE next autumn.

I’m also writing another novella for Sourcebooks, tentatively titled ONE MAD NIGHT. Rival ad execs, Chelsea and Ian are stranded in their office overnight (thanks to the same storm that forced Joe and Kate together in THE BRIDESMAID).

Who is the one author that you would love to meet someday and why?

I would love to meet the Irish author, Marian Keyes, because I find her so interesting. She has publicly battled debilitating depression, and I admire her for that. And she is a very funny writer. I would also love, love, love to meet George R. R. Martin. This man fascinates me because as a writer he never ever pulls a punch. I find myself thinking about what the reader wants in a book, but I think he could care less (which, if you’ve read or seen the series, you know what I am talking about). His writing is very powerful because of it and I would love to talk to him about it. It would be a huge fan girl moment.

What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?

It’s like anything you want to do well—you have to learn it and practice it, day in and day out. You learn by writing one novel after the next. You practice it by writing something every day.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list?

I have this fantasy of living in different parts of the world long enough to understand the culture and people. I would start in Scotland or Ireland and probably never leave!

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?

Lianne Moriarity’s The Husband’s Secret is the book I am saving for myself when I meet my deadline.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I hope everyone enjoys my latest novella, THE BRIDESMAID, and if so they might pick up one of my other titles. I love hearing from my readers and they can let me know what they think of my books either on Facebook: www.facebook.com/JuliaLondon, Twitter: www.twitter.com/JuliaFLondon or my website and blog: http://www.julialondon.com

Amazon| B&N

Kate Preston just moved to New York, but she has to get back to Seattle in time for her best friend’s wedding. Joe Firretti is moving to Seattle, and has to get there in time or risk losing his new job. But fate’s got a sense of humor.

Kate goes from rubbing elbows on a plane with a gorgeous but irritating strange (doggone armrest hog) to sharing one travel disaster after another with him on four wheels. Joe thought he had his future figured out, but sometimes fates has to knock you over the head pretty hard before you see what opportunity is standing in front of you…in a really god-awful poufy bridesmaid dress

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October 4, 2013September 30, 2013

Spotlight feature of The Zubis Chronicles by KellyAnn Zuzulo

THE GENIE IGNITES

The Zubris Chronicles, Book 1

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Boroughs Publishing Group

Enter a captivating world where a genie dares to love a human and will let nothing come between them. This paranormal romance from award-winning author Kellyann Zuzulo combines the modern world with the mystery and intrigue of the world of the jinn. Zubis is a jinni born of flame. Feared and outcast, ferocious and vengeful, he has loved only once. In the time of Solomon, one woman tamed him. He has never forgotten her. Bethany O’Brien is that woman, reborn as a smart and somewhat sassy journalist. She never imagined that her dreams of hot encounters with the imposing and gorgeous Zubis are actually memories from her past. Once she meets him again, however, she doesn’t need convincing that they belong together. She will travel across three continents to a world of magic and treachery, of seduction and devotion to break the curse that keeps them apart.

*****

THE GENIE SMOLDERS

The Zubris Chronicles, Book 2

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Boroughs Publishing Group

Bethany O’Brien must find her enslaved genie lover in order to save her daughter, her broken heart, and the world. Zubis. A jinni. A creature of fire. A lover who touched her body and soul like no man ever could. Such forbidden passion might sear the very insides of a human woman, but Bethany O’Brien is not just any woman. She is a reincarnated priestess from the days of Solomon who found Zubis again after three thousand years. He swore to love her forever. Then they were torn apart. Two years later, the only token of their love is the child she carried and Bethany’s broken heart. Still, she is determined to find him. To be a family. Against the forces that now threaten both of their worlds, the only answer is her genie. He knows the same. Reunited in a storm of desire and a web of intrigue, Zubis and Bethany will soon set each other ablaze—and try to protect the rest of humanity. Author Bio: A Philadelphia native, Kellyann Zuzulo received a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Temple University and has lived in London, Ireland, Boston and Washington, D.C. She has worked as a reporter for local newspapers and as a writer for Yankee Magazine and national consumer and health magazines; as a book development editor; as a media relations representative; and as a director of communications for nonprofits. Her interest in Middle Eastern mythology and legend stems from her stint as a Managing Editor of Publications for the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Washington, D.C. She is a published author of several genie romance novellas. One book, Angels & Genies, was included in a collection for which Charlaine Harris wrote the foreword. Kellyann lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, three children, and a jaunty terrier named Djin-Djin. – See more at: http://boroughspublishinggroup.com/authors/kellyann-zuzulo#sthash.iLrVU4Yc.dpuf Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

TOUR GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

GRAND PRIZE: A five-book subscription to our Boroughs Publishing Group’s Lunchbox Romance line plus the first book in the series, The Genie Ignites.

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Kellyann Zuzulo’s THE GENIE SMOLDERS Tour – 9/30 – 10/13

9/30 – Coffee Talk (Spotlight) http://coffeetalkwriters.com/

10/1 – Fandom Fanatic (Spotlight) http://fandomfanatic.blogspot.com/

10/2 – Books Books and More Books (Spotlight) http://booksbooksmorebooks.blogspot.com/

10/2 – Diane’s Book Blog (Spotlight) http://dianelynchbookreviews.blogspot.com/

10/2- Offbeat Vagabond http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/

10/2 – Salacious Reads (Spotlight) http://www.salaciousreads@gmail.com

10/3 – Book Pages and Dripping Ink (Spotlight) http://bookpagesanddrippingink.blogspot.com

10/3 – Curse of the Bibliophile (Spotlight) http://curseofthebibliophile.blogspot.com/

10/4 – Books-n-Kisses (Spotlight) http://www.books-n-kisses.com

10/4 – I Smell Sheep (Spotlight) http://www.ismellsheep.com/

10/4 – Paranormal Romance Fans for Life (Spotlight) www.paranormalromancefanforlife.blogspot.com

10/5 – Book Lovin’ Mamas (Interview) http://booklovinmamas.com

10/6 – Romance Junkies (Interview) http://www.romancejunkies.com/rjblog/

10/6 – Eclipse Reviews (Spotlight) http://totaleclipsereviews.blogspot.com

10/7 – Books And Their Seven Deadly Sins (Spotlight) http://booksandtheirsevendeadlysins.blogspot.co.uk/

10/7 – Mad Hatter Reads (Spotlight) http://madhatterreads.blogspot.com

10/8 – Crazy Four Books (Spotlight) http://crazyfourbooks.blogspot.com

10/8 – Snarky Mom Reads… (Spotlight) http://www.snarkymomreads.com

10/8 – Wicked readings by Tawania (Spotlight) http://wickedreadingsbytawania.blogspot.com

10/9 – Nicky Peacock Author (Spotlight) http://nickypeacockauthor.wordpress.com

10/10 – Literal Hotties Naughty Book Reviews (Spotlight) http://literalhottiesnaughtybookreviews.blogspot.com/

10/11 – Book Monster Reviews (guest post) http://www.bookmonsterreviews.com/

10/11 – My Secret Romance Book Reviews (Spotlight) http://www.mysecretromancebookreviews.com/

10/12 – Mythical Books (spotlight) http://mythicalbooks.blogspot.ro/

10/13 – Book bliss (interview) Http://lbookbliss.wordpress.com 1

0/13 – Dalene’s Book Reviews (Interview) http://dalenesbookreviews.blogspot.com/

October 3, 2013October 1, 2013

Cover Reveal of BARED by Stacey Kennedy

BARED

Club Sin, Book Two

Stacey Kennedy

Publisher: Loveswept

(Random House Publishing Group)

ISBN: 9780804178884

Release date: February 2014

Goodreads

PRE-ORDER BUTTONS: Amazon | B&N

In a novel that’s perfect for fans of Fifty Shades of Grey, Stacey Kennedy returns to Club Sin with another wicked and wild tale of submission, seduction, and love.

At Las Vegas’s exclusive Club Sin, Aidan Knight is the Master, unleashing the erotic yearnings of his submissive lovers. But his dominant façade conceals a devastating loss—something he instantly recognizes in his personally trained submissive Cora Adams. Sworn to unearth her secrets, Aidan uses his seductive skills to ignite her wildest desires until Cora yields to the pleasure she can find only with him.

Cora came to the BDSM club to act out her sub-and-dom fantasies without ever revealing the heartbreak that haunts her. But Aidan’s masterful touch is bringing her closer to the edge . . . and deeper into a world of control and surrender. He refuses to allow her to submit to any other man—nor does she want to. It’s a dangerous game they’re playing. For as they give in to passion, they must lay bare their souls for a love that could heal—and free—them both.

Bared is an erotic romance intended for mature audiences.

Praise for Stacey Kennedy’s Claimed

“Claimed sucked me in! Stacey Kennedy weaves together the intense BDSM lifestyle with the soft touch of a sweeter, more traditional love story in a novel with an engaging heroine at its heart.”—J. Kenner, New York Times bestselling author of Release Me

“Deliciously sexy, Claimed will captivate you at once, leading you on an erotic journey that you won’t want to end. A fabulous talent, Kennedy shines in this fast-paced and exciting novel.”—New York Times bestselling author Cheyenne McCray

“Tender, emotional—and smoking hot!”—Savanna Fox, author of the Dirty Girls Book Club series

About the Author:

Stacey Kennedy is an urban fantasy lover at heart, but she also enjoys losing herself in dark and sensual worlds. She lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, who gave her a happily-ever-after. Together, they have two small children who can always make her smile, and who will never be allowed to read Mommy’s books. If she’s not plugging away at a new story, you’ll find her camping, curling up with the latest flick, or obsessing over Sons of Anarchy and Game of Thrones.

Website – http://www.staceykennedy.com/

Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/AuthorStaceyKennedy

Facebook Fan Page – www.facebook.com/StaceyKennedyFanPage

Twitter – https://twitter.com/#!/Stacey_Kennedy

Goodreads – http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3473046.Stacey_Kennedy

Loveswept website – http://www.readloveswept.com

CHECK OUT THE FIRST BOOK IN THE CLUB SIN SERIES:

“Claimed sucked me in! Stacey Kennedy weaves together the intense BDSM lifestyle with the soft touch of a sweeter, more traditional love story in a novel with an engaging heroine at its heart.”—J. Kenner, New York Times bestselling author of Release Me

A novel of erotic discovery and forbidden desire that goes beyond Fifty Shades of Grey.

Presley Flynn is ripe to experience her secret fantasies . . . and Dmitri Pratt wants nothing more than to fulfill them. Once inside the elite Club Sin in Las Vegas, Presley is nervous but excited—and determined to surrender to her every desire. Dmitri is her Master, and his touch is like fire. With each careful, calculated caress, he unleashes her wildest inhibitions, giving her unimagined pleasure.

Presley is different than the other submissives Dmitri has mastered. The BDSM lifestyle is new to her, and so are the games they play at Club Sin. From the start, Presley stirs emotions in Dmitri far beyond the raw purity between a dom and the perfect sub. For the ecstasy they share goes beyond the dungeon, igniting a passion that claims the very depths of the heart.

Claimed is an erotic romance intended for mature audiences.

BUY LINK – http://www.randomhouse.com/book/229124/claimed-by-stacey-kennedy

October 3, 2013September 20, 2013

Cover Reissue Spotlight for Shayla Black

Have you heard of Shayla Black? If not, then now’s the perfect time to get better acquainted…

USA Today bestselling author, Shayla Black is taking over the erotica scene, with brand new repackaging for her steamy novels… and we couldn’t be more excited for her new look, taking hot and sexy to another level with these sleek new covers. If you hadn’t heard of Shayla Black before, now you have. And we are confident that she won’t be easily forgotten.

Don’t miss Shayla’s “Wicked All Night” Novella in her new WICKED AND DANGEROUS anthology with Rhyannon Byrd (Berkley Sensation Trade Paperback; October 1, 2013; 9780425263754; $15.00).

MINE TO HOLD

(Heat Trade Paperback; September 3, 2013; 9780425268193; $16.00),

Tyler Murphy was an LAPD detective, single and happy—until a near-fatal tragedy crippled his friend, fellow detective Eric Catalano. While Tyler supported Eric, he also became a shoulder for Eric’s wife, Delaney, to lean on. But with one naughty suggestion from Eric, a drunken night with Delaney spilled into erotic abandon. Before it was over, Tyler saw his best friend’s wife as a woman and yearned for more. When Eric struggled to deal with the aftermath, Delaney begged Tyler to leave. Crushed, he fled to Louisiana, hoping to escape his longing for the one woman he could never have again…and unaware of what he’d left behind.

After two years of living with regret, Tyler finds Delaney on his doorstep, her husband having abandoned her long ago. She’s protecting a shocking secret and desperately needs refuge from a stalker determined to see her dead. As they fight to stay alive and catch the killer, they struggle to resolve the guilt of their past pleasures. But they can’t deny that what was once a spark is now a flame burning out of control. To possess Delaney—body and soul—Tyler must heal her pain and thwart the evil that’s a mere breath behind her…

*****

BOUND AND DETERMINED

(Heat Trade Paperback; October 1, 2013; 9780425268216; $16.00)

Wanted for Kidnapping: a beautiful blonde with a penchant for trouble. May be armed (with bad intentions) and dangerously seductive…

Kerry Sullivan is running out of time—and patience. With her brother wrongfully accused of embezzling millions, she can’t face one more humiliating hang up from the man she’s begging for help. Rafael Dawson may be one of the top electronic security experts in the country—and the only man who can prove her brother’s innocence—but his phone manners are appalling. Damn Yankee. Too bad kidnapping the man isn’t an option. Or is it?

There’s nothing Kerry wouldn’t do for her brother. There are lots of things she longs to do to Rafe Dawson when he’s lying tied up and naked in Kerry’s secret hideaway. Rafe is certainly something to look at, but her brother’s life is riding on her pulling off the impossible: getting this man who’s always in control to lose it. But when the tables are turned, Kerry finds herself at Rafe’s mercy. And the only way to get her way is to let him have his way—with her.

(Heat Trade Paperback; November 5, 2013; 9780425268223; $16.00).

The best way to go undercover… is to take it all off. If the Feds want to nail a Mafia kingpin, they need a slick trap to catch him. Enter Mark Sullivan, who’s totally built for the job—to go undercover as a male stripper in the Vegas club where the mobster works. The perk? The club’s owner. Sure she’s got some unsavory connections, but how can anyone with those legs be all bad?

When it comes to business, Nicola DiStefano’s a pro. As for pleasure, she’s been out of commission too long to care. If anyone can strip her of her inhibitions it’s the new guy who’s stirring her wildest G-string fantasies. But Mark and Nicki have more in common than sizzling sexual chemistry. They each have their share of secrets and motives, and with the mob closing in, what gets exposed is as irresistible as it is dangerous.

About the Author:

Shayla Black (aka Shelley Bradley) is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over 30 sizzling contemporary, erotic, paranormal, and historical romances for multiple print, electronic, and audio publishers. She lives in Texas with her husband, munchkin, and one very spoiled cat. In her “free” time, she enjoys reality TV, reading and listening to an eclectic blend of music.

Shayla’s work has been translated in about a dozen languages. She has also received or been nominated for The Passionate Plume, The Holt Medallion, Colorado Romance Writers Award of Excellence, and the National Reader’s Choice Awards. RT Bookclub has twice nominated her for Best Erotic Romance of the year, as well as awarded her several Top Picks, and a KISS Hero Award.

A writing risk-taker, Shayla enjoys tackling writing challenges with every book.

Find Shayla here:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

October 3, 2013October 2, 2013

Lauren Dane Interview and Giveaway

The Brown series has a special place in my heart because when I read about Erin, I was hooked. We had a child about the same age and I remember being in tears when I read what had happened to her. Now, her best friend, Raven, has her own book and I am so excited that Raven finally gets her chance for a happy ending. Lauren is here today to discuss her new book, Drawn Together, and I am very excited to have this fabulous author here on Books-n-Kisses.

1. Tell me about your new release Drawn Together.

Drawn Together is the story of Raven Smith and Jonah Warner. Over the Brown Family series we’ve seen lots of prickly behavior from her and had a few glimpses of her softer side but she’s always had this backstory– this reason she acts the way she does and I didn’t want to tell her story until I had the right match for her.

As it happens, Jonah Warner, uber alpha, came along at just the right time and I was so excited to write this book and give her the HEA she needed.

She doesn’t totally change because of love. She’s still Raven. But Jonah gets her and he’s worth opening up for. And he’s sort of pushy and bossy and so totally patient she can’t resist. She finds herself breaking all her personal rules for him and sort of liking it too.

It’s a love story on a few levels, not just between Raven and Jonah, but also between these characters and their friends and family too, which is the heart of this series. Oh and smoking hot sexytimes too 😉

2. Where did you come up with the idea for the Brown Family series?

Erin was the heart of it from the very start. I had this scene come to me and it ended up being the opening scene for Laid Bare – a woman on stage, boots, dreds, tats and piercings. I wanted her to be bold and strong and vivid but also to have this darkness. Laid Bare was born and at the start it was just a one book sale to fill a slot in the Berkley schedule. I knew I wanted to do books for Brody and Adrian but as I was about halfway through Coming Undone, I realized I wanted a book for Cope and that he needed to be with Ella.

Eventually, I wanted to write Raven’s book but she needed a few years to be ready for her HEA. She’s a fitting close for this generation of Brown/Keenan/Copelands and friends.

I love this tight knit group of friends and intentional family. I love how colorful and artistic they are. I love how much they love and support each other while retaining their edges. I’m happy I wrote them all!

3. What kind of research did you have to do for this series?

Mostly fun stuff. I watched a lot of videos of people playing instruments – Erin is a bass player, Adrian a guitarist so lots of that. Concert videos. Tattooing stuff for Brody and Raven (piercings too).

The criminal justice stuff I knew (I’ve got a law degree). I did domestic violence advocacy work post law school so I knew all the protection order stuff really well (for Ella’s situation in Laid Bare and Inside Out). I did ask my dad some stuff about sentencing in California (he was a parole office before he retired several years back).

I live in the Northwest so many of the places they go are my favorites (Zeek’s Pizza, Red Mill, The Dahlia Lounge, etc.) and I know the neighborhoods I set parts of the story in. Written On the Body doesn’t exist, but that neighborhood does, for instance.

Other stuff is made up totally like Happy Bend – although I hear there is an actual town in Arkansas called Happy Bend, it’s not the one from the book! I promise you real citizens of Happy Bend I would not insult your town that way, LOL.

4. I love the Browns, especially Erin, and I was wondering if you are planning any more books for them?

This part of the series is over. I’ve written books for everyone and I don’t want to drag it out and have readers thinking, “She should have ended this three books ago.” But there’s a whole new generation of Brown/Keenan/Copelands coming up as well as Jonah’s brothers so we haven’t seen the last of these characters.

5. What are you working on now?

I just finished a novella called All That Remains that will be in the Marked anthology out in February. It’s an earth set futuristic erotic romance menage (say that ten times fast!) and the start of a new self published series I’ll be doing.

Now I’m working on Fool’s Gold, which is book one in my HURLEY BOYS series and features Paddy Hurley (Damien’s brother from LUSH).

6. Any advice for aspiring writers?

The only real takeaway that I think applies to everyone is that you can’t be a writer unless you write. Don’t talk about it. Do it. If that’s 100 words a day, or 45 minutes a night or at your lunch break, or every other day or weekend, whatever. Put your butt in that chair (or wherever you work) and get working. You can fix whatever you get on the page, but it has to be there to fix.

Thank you so much for answering my questions and I just want to say that I love all your book and am looking forward to everyone learning more about Raven.

Thank you and thank you so much for having me. 🙂

About the Author:

The story goes like this: While on pregnancy bed rest, Lauren Dane had plenty of down time so her husband took her comments about “giving that writing thing a serious go” to heart and brought home a secondhand laptop. She wrote her first book on it before it gave up the ghost. Even better, she sold that book and never looked back.

Today Lauren is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over forty novels and novellas across several genres. Though she no longer has to deal with Polly Pocket and getting those tiny outfits on and off, she still has trouble blocking out the sound of iCarly so she can write a love scene.

Website/ Twitter/ Facebook

Jennifer’s Review of Drawn Together

TITLE: Drawn Together

SERIES #: Brown Family Series #6

CHARACTERS: Raven Smith and Jonah Warner

AUTHOR: Lauren Dane

PUBLICATION DATE: 10/1/13

ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: Beauty is more than skin-deep…..Tattoo artist Raven Smith is blunt and hard, broken and jaded, dark and beautiful. While she doesn’t hide her painful past, she does keep a wall around her heart. She’s free sexually–but no one gets to the real Raven beneath the prickly exterior.

With a voice like smoke, Jonah Warner is a smooth-talking, highly successful attorney, with a body that should never be hidden by a suit. He’s the kind of man who never takes no for an answer and always gets what he wants. And what he wants is Raven. She’s a survivor, and he finds that incredibly alluring.

Jonah gets under her skin in a way Raven has never experienced. He makes her break all the rules–including her no-monogamy rule. But when a figure from Raven’s past shows up at the tattoo parlor and drops a bomb into her life, their relationship will face the ultimate challenge…

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Jennifer NUMBER OF STARS: 4.5 Stars

REVIEW: Raven has always been such a mystery to me throughout the series. A tough free-spirit, who lived by her own rules and at first, I didn’t like her because she just seemed like a mean person. Slowly, she started to grow on me, especially because of her interactions with Erin and Erin’s son, Alexander. I had loved Erin from the very beginning and if Erin loved Raven with such an intensity and protectiveness, I knew there had to be more to her than meets the eye and I was glad that we got to see that side of her in Drawn Together.

Raven is a beautiful, smart, artistic and strong woman that most people don’t cross because of the image that she portrays. She had such a hard life growing up and that life has made her who she was an adult. Jonah was exactly what she needed. He was an alpha in his own world and he was able to break down her walls with his love and devotion and at points in this story, those walls are made up of pretty strong raw emotion. She needed someone that she could finally trust to help her lose a little bit of the tight control in her life and the fact that she was able to do that with Jonah was a huge step for her. She didn’t feel the need to run like she had in the past, she just felt that being with him was the right thing and he proved to her that he was in it for the long haul. The sex scenes were very hot and steamy and I will warn people that Raven and Jonah’s sexual relationship was perfect for them but may not be for everyone.

Everyone knows that Lauren Dane is one of my absolute favorite authors and I purchase every book that she has ever written. The Brown Family series is one of the best series out there and Drawn Together is a perfect addition to these great books. I am so happy for Raven to finally get her happy ending and I can’t wait to read what happens to the next generation of these great characters.

Giveaway

I’m excited to give away a ARC copy of Drawn Together. This giveaway is for US Residents only. To be entered in the drawing by October 6th, leave a meaningful comment for Lauren below:

October 2, 2013September 23, 2013

Read Pink In Support of Breast Cancer Awareness

Read Pink® in Support of Breast Cancer Awareness

What’s black and white and pink all over? The initiative by the Penguin Group (USA) called Read Pink® in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October)!

This literary embrace of a life-saving cause last year resulted in more than 400,000 best-selling romances shipped with Read Pink seals and information about the charity it supports – The Breast Cancer Research Foundation® (BCRF). Penguin is thrilled to partner once again this year with BCRF, as 91 cents of every dollar spent by BCRF is directed towards breast cancer research and awareness programs.

The $25,000 donation that Penguin Group USA contributes, regardless of sales, provides vital funds to support the mission of BCRF.

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Penguin Group (USA)’s Read Pink® editions, we are featuring a few participating authors and what Read Pink® means to them…

Karen White (2013 Read Pink® Spokesperson), The Beach Tree

“To all of those who have fought the fight, or are in the middle of the battle, here’s a two-thumbs up for you. You are not alone. We are all in this together.”

Erika Robuck, Hemingway’s Girl

“As one whose life has felt the shadow of breast cancer through two friends’ illnesses this year, it is an honor to be included in Penguin’s READ PINK campaign. It is my greatest hope that this contribution may be a part of raising awareness and finding a cure.” ~Erika Robuck”

Jodi Thomas, Just Down the Road

“Breast Cancer is something all women fear. I’ve walked with two dear friends through the battlefield and both survived. We all must fight until the day comes when no one knows anyone who has had breast cancer.”

Carly Phillips, Perfect Fit

“So many of us have been touched by cancer, either personally, or through a family member or a friend’s diagnosis. I’m honored to be part of the Read Pink! program. Purchasing a Pink book donates money to the The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Buy and Read Pink! and together we can do our part to eliminate this dreaded disease.”

Catherine Anderson, Lucky Penny

“Breast cancer is a killer that robbed me of one friend and threatened the life of another. One out of four women may get this dreaded disease. I am honored that this is my fourth title to be featured in the READ PINK campaign, and I am proud to be writing for a publishing house willing to engage, year after year, in the battle to save the lives of women.”

LuAnn McLane, Pitch Perfect

“Shortly after my mother’s diagnosis with breast cancer, I found out I was pregnant with my fourth child, a risky pregnancy that wasn’t supposed to happen. I believe that during the treatments my mother drew strength from the determination to see her granddaughter born. That was twenty-two years ago and my mother still refers to Cara as ‘her gift’. Cara’s birthday is a lovely reminder that my mother is cancer free. I am thrilled to have Pitch Perfect as part of the Read Pink program. Any small part I can play in the fight against cancer is a huge honor for me.”

Liane Moriarty, What Alice Forgot

“The last three generations of my family have been affected by breast cancer. We, like so many other families, understand all too well the importance of research.

So I feel very moved and privileged to be a part of such a wonderful initiative as Read Pink.”

Alyson Richman, The Lost Wife

“My own life changed dramatically when I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer just before the publication of “The Lost Wife” in 2011, so it is incredibly meaningful that the book is now helping to find a cure for other women who have been afflicted with breast cancer. Read Pink is helping to unite readers and authors for an extremely important cause. Please buy a book for a mother, a daughter, or a friend to show your support for this disease that takes too many lives. My children lost their grandmother to breast cancer, so I know I’ll be buying the other books included in the program, to honor this woman we all loved.”

Sarah Jio, The Last Camellia

“Breast cancer is a villain more sinister than any shadowy figure in my stories. I know someone with an advanced case of the disease, a woman who is bravely fighting, but who has been given a short time to live. She will leave behind three children, a husband and a truly beautiful life. All I can says is that if there is hope to end this horrific disease, to bring this villain to justice, I want to be part of it. And I’m so very honored that The Last Camellia was chosen to be a part of Penguin’s Read Pink campaign. Together, we can help write a new story for breast cancer and hopefully give more women the happy endings they deserve.”

Full List of 2013 Participating Authors:

Karen White, The Beach Trees

Nora Roberts, Chasing Fire

Erika Robuck, Hemingway’s Girl

Jodi Thomas, Just Down the Road

Carly Phillips, Perfect Fit

JoAnn Ross, Sea Glass Winter

Karen Rose, Did You Miss Me?

Catherine Anderson, Lucky Penny

Kate Jacobs, The Friday Night Knitting Club

LuAnn McLane, Pitch Perfect

Liane Moriarty, What Alice Forgot

Alyson Richman, The Lost Wife

Sarah Jio, The Last Camellia

Penelope Lively, How It All Began

Mark your calendars and remember to join in the conversation with @BerkleyRomance and @PenguinGroupUSA on Twitter in October. Make sure to use the hashtag #ReadPink!

For more information follow @BerkleyRomance and @PenguinGroupUSA, and visit www.us.penguingroup.com/readpink.

Read Pink® Blog Tour Schedule

Please support the blogs taking part in this special, Read Pink® Spotlight Tour!

October 1 – Guest post and entire Read Pink 2013 collection giveaway by spokesperson Karen White on Chick Lit Is Not Dead

“Spotlight” Blog Tour

September 23 Bridger Bitches Book Blog; Wicked Little Pixie

September 24 A Tasty Read Reviews; My Daily Romance

September 25 The Allure of Books; Ticket to Anywhere

September 26 Bookish Babe; Swoon Worthy Books

September 27 A Southern Girl’s Bookshelf; Christine’s Blog (“She Book Blogs”)

September 30 Sunshine and Mountains Book Reviews; Winding Stairs Book Blog

October 1 Eye on Romance; Books, Books, and More Books

October 2 Books-N-Kisses; Reviews By Tammy and Kim

October 3 Urban Fantasy Investigations; The Book Cellar

October 4 Supernatural Snark; Got Fiction? Books

October 7 Theresa’s Reading Corner; Romantic Book Affairs

October 8 Book Addicts Not So Anonymous; The Romance Dish;

Live Read and Breathe

October 9 Bitten By Love Reviews; Kindles & Wine

October 10 The Book Bellas; Stuck in Books

October 11 Thoughts in Progress; That’s What I’m Talking About

October 14 Boekie’s Book Reviews; The Romance Studio

October 15 Paranormal Book Club; Ruby’s Reads

October 16 Stuck in YA Books; Caffeinated Book Reviewer

October 17 Always YA at Heart; Fiction Vixen; The Reading Café

October 18 Fiction Fare; My Book Addiction and More

October 21 Adria’s Romance Reviews; Cocktails & Books

October 22 Reality Bites! Let’s get Lost!; Literal Addiction

October 23 G Reads Books!; Reading Between the Wines

October 24 The Book Binge; SheReads.org

October 25 The Irish Banana Reviews; Harlequin Junkie

October 28 Readers Live A Thousand Lives; The Delighted Reader

October 29 Reviewing Wonderland;

October 30 Smexy Books; Hesperia Loves Books

October 2, 2013October 1, 2013

Spotlight & Tour Wide Giveaway with Lea Griffith

*****

BULLET TO THE HEART

Series: No Mercy, Book 1

Publication Date: 10/3/2013

Publisher: Taliesin Publishing

She was born to love then taught to kill. She has become everything but is no one.

Known only as Bullet she was long ago forced to shed the name her parents gave her. Changed, molded and trained to kill with sharp-shooting efficiency she is one of The Collective’s most valuable assets. In a cadre of killers, Bullet is death waiting but her time for vengeance has come.

He was loved and then he lost. He has become a hunter in search of revenge.

Everything was taken from Rand the day a bullet ended the lives of his beloved wife and daughter. He has searched for their killer seven long years and may have her in his hands. Rand has suffered but now the time has come to make The Collective pay or die trying.

Joy and sorrow are two sides of the same coin. Retribution draws them together but before all is said and done they will learn love can either break you or make you stronger.

A little about Lea:

Lea Griffith began sneaking to read her mother’s romance novels at a young age. She cut her teeth on the greats: McNaught, Woodiwiss, and Garwood. A firm believer that love makes the world go round, she still consumes every romance book she can put her hands on, but now she writes her own.

Lea lives with her husband and three teenage daughters in rural Georgia. Two dogs, a cat, and a Betta fish named Coddy George complete a family always in motion. When not working at the EDJ, she’s usually at her keyboard, using every spare second to write. Science fiction, paranormal and contemporary romance, oh my! Nothing is off-limits when it comes to her writing.

Website | Facebook Profile | Facebook page | Twitter | Goodreads

TOUR GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

Lea is giving away the following prizes at the end of her tour:

GRAND PRIZE: $25 Amazon gift card

RUNNERS-UP: Three (3) runners-up will each receive an eBook of BULLET TO THE HEART.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Lea Griffith’s BULLET TO THE HEART Tour Schedule – 9/27 – 10/12

9/27 – Notebook of Books (Spotlight & Review)

http://www.bookishlover.blogspot.com

9/28 – Book Monster Reviews (review & Guest Post)

http://www.bookmonsterreviews.com/

9/30 – Coffee and Characters (spotlight)

http://www.daniellecromero.blogspot.com/

10/01/2013 – Where the Night Kind Roam (spotlight)

http://paranormalromancenovel.com/

10/01 – Tome Tender Book Blog (spotlight)

http://tometender.blogspot.com

10/02 – Kristina’s Books & More (spotlight)

http://kristinasbooksandmore.blogspot.com/

10/02 – Books-N-Kisses

http://www.books-n-kisses.com/

10/03 – Just Romantic Suspense (Book of the Day post)

http://www.justromanticsuspense.com/p/book-of-day.html

10/03 – Mad Hatter Reads (guest post)

http://madhatterreads.blogspot.com/

10/04 – Vampires, Werewolves & Fairies, Oh My! (spotlight & review)

http://vampireswerewolvesfairiesohmy.blogspot.com/

10/05 – Mythical Books (spotlight & review)

http://mythicalbooks.blogspot.ro/

10/05 – Literary Nook (spotlight)

http://literarynook.com

10/06 – Inner Goddess (spotlight & review)

Http://www.InnerGoddessforum.com

10/07 – Books, Books & More Books (interview)

http://booksbooksmorebooks.blogspot.com/

10/08 – Romance Junkies (interview)

http://www.romancejunkies.com/rjblog/

10/09 – Romancing the Book (interview)

http://romancing-the-book.com/

10/09 – Victoria’s Gossip (spotlight)

http://victoriasgossip.com/blog/

10/10 – Book Pages and Dripping Ink (spotlight & review)

bookpagesanddrippingink.blogspot.com

10/11 – Sun Mountain Reviews (spotlight)

http://sunmountainreviews.wordpress.com

10/12 – Dalene’s Book Reviews (interview)

http://www.dalenesbookreviews.blogspot.com/

10/12 – Coffee Talk (interview)

http://coffeetalkwriters.com/blog/

10/12 – Tiffy-Fit’s Reading Corner (spotlight)

http://tiffyfit.blogspot.com/

October 1, 2013September 30, 2013

Kelly’s review of Command Performance by Sarah Jane Stone

TITLE: Command Performance
CHARACTERS: Hunter Cross & Maggie Barlow
AUTHOR: Sarah Jane Stone
PUBLICATION DATE:
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Subject: Chief Warrant Officer Hunter Cross;
Mission: Keep Margaret Barlow distracted;using any means necessary!
Ranger Hunter Cross is the army poster child—excitement, danger and no strings in sight. And he’s been in town exactly three hours before a curvy blonde named Maggie flashes him a look that says “You belong in my bed.” It’s a night of wicked satisfaction. And it’s a night they can never repeat….
All Professor Maggie Barlow wanted was an orgasm—or three— from the dead-sexy Ranger. Having him as her official army liaison while she works on her new book? That wasn’t in the plan. Especially when she learns that Hunter has orders to “control” her. Little does the army know that when it comes to their deliciously naughty nighttime activities, Hunter is at Maggie’s complete command….
Uniformly Hot! The Few. The Proud. The Sexy as Hell

REVIEW:
3.75 Stars Maggie is on the rebound from finding her fiance cheating on her. So what is a girl to do. Go pick the hottest guy she can find, sounds like a good plan to her. It is just for one night. One night to live a fantasy, to feel, to live, to let go of control and to be who she would really like to be.
Hunter is in town because of his job. He really wants to get the job done and move on. He has obligations that he needs to attend too. But when he spots Maggie he is drawn to her like a moth to a flame. One night. That is all either of them want. That is until morning comes and Maggie walks out of his hotel room leaving Hunter wanting another night with her.
This was a good story. It started off with a bang, then slowed down just a bit, then picked up again. I was overall happy with this book. I don’t know what happened to the formatting as I put it on my kindle but the font wigged out on me. If you are looking for a good book I would suggest picking up a copy of Command Performance.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

October 1, 2013September 26, 2013

Release Day Madness 10.01.13

Happy Release Day!!!!

What are you getting this week?

Did I miss your favorite?

Send me an email at kelly(at)books-n-kisses.com and let me know of any upcoming releases you want featured on Tuesday’s Release Day Madness.

October 1, 2013September 30, 2013

Entangled Teen October Release Party

Today we’re celebrating the release of Entangled Teen’s October books! Read all about them and enter to win the giveaway below!

Allure by Lea Nolan

Worst. Summer. Ever.

Emma Guthrie races to learn the hoodoo magic needed to break The Beaumont Curse before her marked boyfriend Cooper’s sixteenth birthday. But deep in the South Carolina Lowcountry, dark, mysterious forces encroach, conspiring to separate Emma and Cooper forever. When Cooper starts to change, turning cold and indifferent, Emma discovers that both his heart and body are marked for possession by competing but equally powerful adversaries.

Desperate to save him, Emma and her twin brother, Jack, risk their lives to uncover the source of the black magic that has allured Cooper and holds him in its grip. Faced with the horror of a soul-eating boohag, Emma and Jack must fight to resist its fiendish power to free Cooper long enough to join their strengths and face it together, before it destroys them all.

Amazon | B&N | Indiebound

Made of Stars by Kelley York

When eighteen-year-old Hunter Jackson and his half sister, Ashlin, return to their dad’s for the first winter in years, they expect everything to be just like the warmer months they’d spent there as kids. And it is—at first. But Chance, the charismatic and adventurous boy who made their summers epic, is harboring deep secrets. Secrets that are quickly spiraling into something else entirely.

The reason they’ve never met Chance’s parents or seen his home is becoming clearer. And what the siblings used to think of as Chance’s quirks—the outrageous stories, his clinginess, his dangerous impulsiveness—are now warning signs that something is seriously off.

Then someone turns up with a bullet to the head, and all eyes shift to Chance’s family. Hunter and Ashlin know Chance is innocent…they just have to prove it. But how can they protect the boy they both love when they can’t trust a word Chance says?

Amazon | B&N | Indiebound | Kobo

Evanescent by Andria Buchanan

Trapped in the deadly land of Nerissette, Allie has all but given up on any return to the mortal realm. Unless she can find the two elusive artifacts that have the power to get her and her friends back home.

But she’s got even bigger problems as the newly crowned queen of Nerissette: she must unite her people in the midst of a civil war and capture the Fate Maker—the evil puppet master responsible for the conflict—before he can find another army willing to return him to power.

On top of it all, Allie is just a normal teenager. Her feelings are growing for the guy she’s certain is her true love, and balancing her personal life while being the queen isn’t as easy as it sounds. Allie must learn the true meaning of bravery, love, and kinship, regardless of the world—and danger—around her.

Amazon | B&N | Indiebound | Kobo

Sidelined by Kendra Highley

After being pushed to excel her entire life, high school basketball star Genna Pierce is finally where she wants to be. University scouts are taking notice, her team is on its way to the state tourney, and Jake Butler, the hot boy she’s daydreamed about since ninth grade, is showing some definite interest. When he asks her out and their relationship takes off, Genna believes things can’t get better.

Then, it’s over.

A freak accident ends her career before it’s even begun. Her parents are fighting more than ever, her friends don’t understand what she’s going through, and she’s not sure who she is without basketball. And while he tries to be there for her, Genna doesn’t understand how Jake could ever want the broken version of the girl he fell for.

Her life in a tailspin, Genna turns to the only solace that eases her pain: Vicodin.

Amazon | B&N | Kobo
To celebrate the launch of these books, Entangled Teen is giving away three ebooks. Check out the Rafflecopter for more information!

a Rafflecopter giveaway