Interview with Diane Escalera

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Diane Escalera to the blog today.

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

First, thank you so much for hosting me. I’m very excited to be here! Born and raised in the Bronx, NY, I now make my home in sunny South Florida. The sultry paradise is a steady source of inspiration for my hot love stories. I’m married, have two children and a super cute dachshund I can’t get enough of. I write contemporary romance, and I’m published with Kensington Publishing and Lyrical Press.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

Unlike most authors, I didn’t know I was destined to write. In fact, I worked in banking for many years, but deep down knew that it wasn’t my dream job.

At the young age of thirty-five, my sister died of an illness. I realized the same thing could happen to me. There are no guarantees. I couldn’t waste another moment doing something I didn’t love.

Writing was one of my greatest joys when I was growing up. While still working at the bank, I decided to enroll in an intensive course where I learned everything I could about the craft. It didn’t take long before I left the bank to pursue a writing career.

Who are some of your favorite writers? Who do you feel has influenced your writing?

Linda Howard, Lori Foster and Jill Shalvis are my go-to authors. I think all three have influenced me in some way because they each have a unique style. But the one thing they all have in common is the ability to create a super hot hero. We all know how important that is!

How did you get into writing in this specific genre? Have you ever thought about writing in a different genre?

I started reading romance novels many years ago and became an instant fan. The books provided an escape from my not-so-romantic life of raising two young kids, working full-time, and all those other demands. Love stories brought me joy. I’d fantasize that if I could do anything else, I’d be a romance writer. I wanted other women to experience that rush of falling in love, the power of a happily ever after.

What are some of your writing rituals?

I need to have a few things in place before I start a new book such as a working title, my main characters, and the premise of the story. I like to have an idea where I’m going, but I’m never sure how I’m going to get there until I start writing.

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

The Right Temptation is story two of my Latin Heat Trilogy published by Lyrical Press. Here’s a blurb:

Kayla Martinez has recently landed an RN position at a prestigious hospital in her hometown. The new job is everything she’s hoped for, especially when one hot specimen shows up in the ER. She hasn’t seen her childhood crush in years, and considering how much hotter he’s gotten over time, she almost ends up needing resuscitation.

The last thing Nico LaCosta needs is a broken arm. Now his pal’s kid sister wants to soothe his pain, but he’d rather keep his distance so her big brother doesn’t break his other arm. Kayla’s no child anymore, though. She’s one hot-blooded woman, determined to remind him of a mind-blowing kiss back when they were teenagers. Leave it to Kayla to drop by his house unannounced and play Nurse Seductive. A guy has to follow the buddy code, or face the consequences. Still, sometimes giving in to temptation is worth it…

How did you come up with the idea for this story?

I had been wanting to feature a Latin hero in a mainstream book because there aren’t too many out there. The character ended up exceeding my expectations, so I figured, why not throw an equally sexy brother and a cousin into the mix? The idea evolved into a Latin Heat Trilogy featuring hunky men, sizzling sex, and happy endings!

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

I’m in the process of completing story three, Playing with Destiny.

Matchmaker, matchmaker, bring me a babe. That’s all Christian expected from an online dating service. He gets a lot more when, unwittingly, he’s hooked up with a luscious neighbor named Destiny. Christian doesn’t believe in fate. But one look at Destiny and he’s seeing a whole new future.

Open your book to a random page and tell us what’s happening.

The heroine is giving the hero a hard time. She’s pretending she doesn’t need him to guide her out of the woods, even though she stepped off the hiking trail and is clearly lost. Ha! Women can be so stubborn and independent.

What would you be if you were not an author?

I’d probably be working with animals, especially dogs. My little dachshund keeps a permanent smile on my face!

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

I’m really into the Lucky Harbor series by Jill Shalvis. Just started reading At Last. Loving the sinfully sexy hero!

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Thank you readers. You make it all worthwhile!

The Right Temptation is available July 1st at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes and digital bookstores everywhere.

You might also enjoy Still Hot for You, the kick-off story to my Latin Heat Trilogy. It brings the sexy back to marriage!

Diane Escalera.com

Facebook.com/DianeEscaleraOfficial

Twitter.com/DianeEscalera

Amazon.com

July 3, 2013July 3, 2013

Review of Shadow Hunter by Kait Ballenger

TITLE: Shadow Hunter (a novella found in After Dark )

SERIES #: .5 in the Execution Underground

CHARACTERS: Damon Brock & Tiffany Solow

AUTHOR: Kait Ballenger

PUBLICATION DATE: June 25, 2013

ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:

Shadow Hunter:

Vampire hunter Damon Brock’s first assignment with the Execution Underground is Rochester, New York, a city crawling with the undead. But he isn’t the only hunter in town gunning for vamp blood. Tiffany Solow is fierce and ruthless when it comes to slaying the monsters that destroyed her family-and she works solo. But being alone is no longer so desirable when she meets the mysterious hunter who wants more than just her turf. As they work to massacre the local covens, the line between good and evil blurs when they are forced to decide between their lifelong beliefs… and their newfound hearts.

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Kelly

NUMBER OF STARS: 4

REVIEW:

**WARNING**

This novella is a prequel to the Execution Underground series and it does not contain a Happily Ever After. But instead leaves you with a major cliffhanger

You have been warned, be even with that I have see some pretty mean reviews which I do NOT think are fair. Kait does explain at the beginning of her story that this will be a cliffhanger that there is not HEA in this story. Because Damon & Tiffany will be getting a full length book.

That being said. I really enjoyed Shadow Hunter. I had the great pleasure of reading Twilight Hunter (book 1) first and then reading Shadow Hunter (book .5) and I will let you know that you do not have to read them in order. Although Shadow Hunter does give you a good insight as to why Damon is such an ass in Twilight Hunter. But with the ending of Shadow Hunter and the long wait we have until Damon & Tiffany get their book (which I will let you know is the last book in the series) left me yelling at my kindle. “No, No, NO!!!!” I will admit I tried turning pages that weren’t there. But at last Kait leaves us with a HUGE cliffhanger at the end of this book. It left me with a million questions and like any evil good author she told me to just keep reading. I am really looking forward to the next 6 books in this series. I hope that we get to see glimpses of Tiffany and Damon during the journey.

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.

July 3, 2013July 3, 2013

The Meet Me at the Cupcake Café Sugary Sweet Spotlight & Giveaway Tour

The Meet Me at the Cupcake Café Sugary Sweet Spotlight!

It is no wonder that the flirty and frothy food-themed novel, Meet Me at the Cupcake Café by Jenny Colgan is an international success: with relatable characters and scrumptious recipes at the start of each chapter, Meet Me at the Cupcake Café is pure delight to women’s fiction readers everywhere. This summer, Colgan is bringing her hilarious and heartfelt stories—with a dash of deliciousness—to the United States! To celebrate, Sourcebooks is giving away copies of this book ALL MONTH LONG!

Each day this month, look for opportunities to win a print copy of Meet Me at the Cupcake Café with bloggers all over the book blogging community. Additionally, there will be a few guest blogs and interviews with Jenny sprinkled throughout—a great way to get to know a new author!

Meet Me at the Cupcake Café

by Jenny Cogan

July 2013

Baking is in Issy Randall’s blood. Growing up above her grandfather’s bakery taught Issy that a delicious pastry could make any day better. So when she’s laid off from her desk job—by the man she thought was her boyfriend, no less—Issy knows now is the time to start her own little café.

Armed with her grandfather’s tried and true recipes, as well as her own new dishes, Issy’s new dream job should be a piece-of-cake, right? But managing a café, delivering products on time and trying to have a new love life aren’t exactly going as Issy planned. And when her ex comes back into the picture, perhaps with his own motives, Issy’s search for the perfect pastry and a groundbreaking idea to save her café are much more than she bargained for…

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jenny Colgan was a fussy eater as a child and didn’t even begin to learn to cook until she was 21, when her then boyfriend tried to teach her a few basics purely out of exasperation. While she is now able to make a variety of good, wholesome food for her family, she still can’t make scones. A former columnist for The Guardian, Jenny contributes regularly to national BBC radio and is the bestselling author of more than eleven novels, including The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris (coming out in the US in early 2014). She is married with three children and lives in London and France. For more information, please visit http://www.jennycolgan.com/ and follow her on Twitter, @JennyColgan.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow along all month long for a chance to win a copy of this highly-anticipated and deliciously delightful new novel!

7/1 Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell

7/2 Celtic Lady’s Reviews

7/3 Books-N-Kisses

7/3 Chick Lit Central INTERVIEW

7/4 A Bookworm’s World

7/5 Delighted Reader

7/8 Beth Fish Reads

7/9 Booking Mama

7/9 The Bookish Dame INTERVIEW

7/10 The Book Binge

7/11 Simply Ali

7/12 Debbie’s Book Bag

7/15 The Bookish Babe

7/16 The Reading Café

7/17 Book Hounds

7/17 Cocktails and Books INTERVIEW

7/18 Peeking Between the Pages

7/18 Fresh Fiction GUEST BLOG

7/19 Jenny Loves to Read

7/19 Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers

7/22 Anna’s Book Blog

7/23 Ramblings from This Chick

7/24 Books and Quilts

7/24 A Bookish Affair

7/25 Broken TeePee

7/26 Thoughts in Progress

7/29 Books and Needlepoint

7/30 The Reading Reviewer

7/31 Reading Between the Wines

BONUS GIVEAWAYS IN AUGUST!!!

8/1 Book of Secrets

8/2 Luxury Reading

8/5 Radiant Light

8/6 Ruby’s Reads

8/7 Caffeinated Book Review

8/8 The Romance Dish

8/9 My Book Addiction and More

July 2, 2013July 1, 2013

Release Day Madness 7.2.13

Happy Release Day!!!!

What are you getting this week?

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Did I miss your favorite?

Send me an email and let me know of any upcoming releases you want featured on Tuesday’s Release Day Madness.

July 2, 2013July 2, 2013

Happy Release Day To my girl Rebecca Zanetti

FORGOTTEN SINS

Sin Brothers, Book 1

ePublication Date: July 2, 2013

Kindle | Nook | Kobo | iTunes

His Secrets Can Destroy Her

From the moment Josie laid eyes on sexy, mysterious Shane Dean, she was in love. Their desire ignited a passionate affair, and within weeks, Shane had slipped a ring on her finger. It seemed her every fantasy was coming true . . . until her new husband disappeared without a trace. Now, two years and one broken heart later, Josie is shocked when the hospital calls: Shane has been found . . . at a crime scene with no memory of how he got there.

Her Love Can Save Him

Shane can’t remember the blue-eyed angel at his bedside-or who he even is-but he knows something isn’t right. His hearing is razor sharp, his physical strength incredible, and the urge to protect Josie overwhelming. For powerful enemies are hunting him, and Josie is the key to discovering why. As Shane struggles to
unravel his past, dangerous new truths come to light. Can he protect the only woman he’s ever loved? And can Josie trust a man she thought she knew-one who
carries such a deadly secret?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

USA Today Bestselling Author Rebecca Zanetti has worked as an art curator, Senate aide, lawyer, college professor, and a hearing examiner – only to culminate it all in stories about Alpha males and the women who claim them. She writes dark paranormals, romantic suspense, and sexy contemporary romances.

Growing up amid the glorious backdrops and winter wonderlands of the Pacific Northwest has given Rebecca fantastic scenery and adventures to weave into her stories. She resides in the wild north with her husband, children, and extended family who inspire her every day–or at the very least give her plenty of characters to write about.

Connect with Rebecca:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

July 1, 2013June 30, 2013

Cover Reveal of Origin by Jennifer Armentrout

Daemon will do anything to get Katy back.

After the successful but disastrous raid on Mount Weather, he’s facing the impossible. Katy is gone. Taken. Everything becomes about finding her. Taking out anyone who stands in his way? Done. Burning down the whole world to save her? Gladly. Exposing his alien race to the world? With pleasure.

All Katy can do is survive.

Surrounded by enemies, the only way she can come out of this is to adapt. After all, there are sides of Daedalus that don’t seem entirely crazy, but the group’s goals are frightening and the truths they speak even more disturbing. Who are the real bad guys? Daedalus? Mankind? Or the Luxen?

Together, they can face anything.

But the most dangerous foe has been there all along, and when the truths are exposed and the lies come crumbling down, which side will Daemon and Katy be standing on? And will they even be together?

Goodreads/Amazon /B&N

About the Author:

# 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer Armentrout lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell, Loki.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen.

She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

Twitter /Facebook /Website

July 1, 2013June 30, 2013

Into The Fire Blog Tour with Amanda Usen

Today I am so excited to have Amanda Usen on Books-n-Kisses with us today. I have absolutely loved her previous books Scrumptious and Luscious and she now has a brand new series that will definitely turn up the heat!

1. Tell me a little bit about your new release?
It’s a story about a hot, unforgettable one-night-stand that ends in double betrayal. The story picks up six months later with Jack opening a restaurant and needing Lila’s help to make it the best menu in New York. Add in revenge, passion, more betrayal, and a whole lot of Jack fantasizing about Lila naked and Lila dreaming about Jack…naked…lots of mouthwatering food and a twist at the end, and you’ve got it in a nutshell. I had a ton of fun writing this book, and readers seem to be enjoying it. They also want to shake some sense into Jack and Lila, but that makes for fun reading, too!

2. Where did you come up with the idea for this series?
A couple of years ago, I jotted down this line: “Personal Chef, at your service. What are you hungry for?” I intended to write an erotic romance, because, seriously, how could anyone say that line without irony? When I started brainstorming ideas for an Indulgence series, I used it as a jumping off point. Since I wanted to write three books, I gave Lila two culinary schools BFFs with whom she keeps in touch. They chat via cell phone and texting, and their stories began to develop as I wrote INTO THE FIRE.

3. Since your books are usually set in a culinary world, what attracted you to writing these books and do you have a culinary background?
Since I’m a pastry chef and I met my husband in culinary school at the CIA, food and romance go hand-in-hand for me. I love setting my stories in the restaurant world because that is where I spent my wildest years. *giggle* And writing about food certainly cuts down on the research for me!

4. What are you working on now?
Book 3 of the Hot Nights series, Betsy’s story! It’s set in New Orleans, where my husband and I lived after culinary school. I’m still working out the details, but I have a feeling the three culinary school BFFs will find themselves staggering through the French Quarter together at some point. I’ve been looking for an excuse to develop a chargrilled oyster recipe, a beignet recipe, and, of course, a perfect hurricane! Maybe a mango daiquiri, too…

5. What book from another author are you looking forward to reading?
I’m currently in the middle of Macy Beckett’s second Sultry Springs book, A Shot of Sultry, and loving it. I want to write sexy, funny, and quirky like Macy when I grow up! I’m also looking forward to reading Darynda Jones’s Fifth Grave Past The Light. I got to hang out with Darynda at Lori Foster’s Reader & Author Get Together a few weeks ago, and she’s such a doll. I loved her books before, but now I love them more! And I can’t wait for Turn Up The Heat, Kimberly Kincaid’s first Pine Mountain novel, coming out from Kensington in March. She writes sweet foodie heat! Oh, and I’m also impatient for Robin Covington’s third The Boys Are Back In Town novel. Bring on Teague! RAWR! Sorry, that’s four, but I was a reader long before I learned to write, and nothing makes me happier than a pile of new books.

6. What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Finish the darn book! If you’ve got the moxie to get all the way through a story then you’ve got the resilience to keep learning until you figure out how to sell it. That’s the first step. I have different advice for the next stage of the journey, but finishing the book always comes first.

7. What food or drink do you absolutely have to have while writing?
Coffee. Then water. Then coffee. Then water…

8. Favorite type of pizza?
The kind with cheese! 😉 Lately I’ve been craving a Greek pizza from LaPorta’s. It’s covered in spinach, feta, and tomatoes. Soaked with herbs and garlic butter. Great bubbly crust! I also wouldn’t turn down a spinach-pesto pizza from Just Pizza…but I also saw this intriguing fresh fig pizza on a blog the other day. I have to make that…can you tell I LOVE pizza?! Nom, nom, nom…

Thank you so much for taking the time out to answer my questions. I can’t wait to read more from the series.
Thanks so much for having me. I’m dying for pizza now!

Readers, what is your favorite pizza combo?

About the Author:

Amanda Usen knows two things for certain: chocolate cheesecake is good for breakfast, and a hot chef can steal your heart. Her husband stole hers the first day of class at the Culinary Institute of America. She married him after graduation in a lovely French Quarter restaurant in New Orleans, and they spent a few years enjoying the food and the fun in the Big Easy. Now they live in Western New York with their three children, one hamster, two guinea pigs, a tortoise, and a new-to-them beagle. Amanda spends her days teaching pastry arts classes and her nights writing romance. If she isn’t baking or writing, she can usually be found chasing the kids around the yard with her very own hot chef husband.

Want chimichurri, chocolate cake or Chicken Alighieri? Visit Amanda at http://www.amandausen.com, where you can find recipes for many of the yummy dishes in her books. She can also be found on Facebook and Twitter, if you want to chat about romance, writing, or recipes.

Jennifer’s Review of Into The Fire

TITLE: Into the Fire

SERIES #: Hot Nights #1

CHARACTERS: Lila Grant and Jackson Calabrese

AUTHOR: Amanda Usen

PUBLICATION DATE: 06/10/13

ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: Jackson Calabrese has a lot of nerve. He beat Lila Grant in the Culinary Academy competition using her recipes. Now, he’s opening a restaurant and wants her help? Fine, she’ll fix his menu, but it’s going to cost him.

Heir to the Calabrese restaurant empire, Jackson can buy anything he wants, except creativity, so he buys Lila’s instead. He can craft perfect paella, but to take New York by storm he needs her innovative spark.

Skillets aren’t the only things hot in the kitchen, and an uneasy truce ignites into passion. They’re great in bed, but Jackson doesn’t trust her, and Lila is contemplating revenge. The restaurant opening approaches, the menu is completed, and the tables are set for one final act of betrayal. How can love bloom in the midst of such a hot mess?

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Jennifer NUMBER OF STARS: Five Stars

REVIEW: I absolutely loved this book and I was so disappointed when this charming book came to an end. I have enjoyed every single one of Amanda’s books and Into the Fire is a fabulous start to her brand new series about three best friends who just happen to be chefs. Romances in the culinary world are my absolute favorite and Amanda’s style of writing is flawless and will keep you entertained until the very end of Lila’s and Jackson’s story.

We first meet Lila and Jack just before their Culinary Academy competition and the sparks definitely fly between these two. After a night of passion and sharing intimate details of their lives with one another, they enter the competition second-guessing their dishes and are under the distinct impression that the other will ultimately win the competition. Lila changes her strategy right before the competition and Jack changes his dish believing that Lila had originally lied to him about what she would be cooking. Both parties are wrong in their assumptions but the damage is done and Jackson wins the competition using Lila’s special menu.

I loved both of these characters and the interesting thing about them was that they were both plagued by their own self-doubt. These two smart, extremely talented chefs, believed that they couldn’t succeed on their own and that is what brought Jack back to Lila after the Culinary Academy competition. He was trying to find out what went wrong that day and to enlist her help to revitalize his menu for his new restaurant opening. Lila was the type of person who was afraid that she couldn’t finish what she started and then ran away when things got too tough. Jack was also living in his father’s shadow because he felt that he couldn’t live up to the great Calabrese name and receive the approval from his father that he desperately wanted.

The relationship between Lila and Jack could have went so much smoother if they both just communicated with each other. I understand that they both believed that the other person was out to sabotage them but a lot of the misunderstandings could have been prevented by being honest with each other. They would have found out a little bit earlier that they were perfect for each other and made a culinary team that no one could match. Lila’s creativity in regards to food and Jack’s culinary skills were magical and there was absolutely no way that Jack’s restaurant could fail.

The sex scenes were very hot and steamy and I’m not surprised that Lila and Jack couldn’t keep their hands off one another in this book. The ending was perfect for these two characters to show them that they just needed a little trust and love to make things right between them to fix their jaded relationship. Into the Fire was a wonderful book and I am definitely looking forward to Amanda’s next book in the Hot Nights series.

Tour-Wide Giveaway

Amanda Usen is offering winners a chance to at some wonderful prizes during the Into the Fire Blog Tour.

Grand prize: $25 gift card (Amazon, B&N, or The Book Despository) and gets to name Betsy’s hero in Book 3 of the Hot Nights series & give him 1 author-approved trait”.

Runner Up: $15 gift card (Amazon, B&N, or The Book Despository) and the chance to pick a dish to go into book three of the Hot Night series (Amanda will also share the recipe on her website).

Consolation Prizes: 5 random winners will get Amanda’s favorite kitchen tool: a mini offset spatula

Simply fill out the rafflecopter form provided below for your chance to be entered.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

July 1, 2013July 1, 2013

Interview with Lindsey Piper

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Lindsey Piper to the blog for her 1st visit. We are talking about her cats, her new series and bucket list.

Lindsey, can you please share with us a little about yourself?

I love television from Say Yes to the Dress and Hannibal, I’m a huge fan of Indian food, I have three cats who are currently in a turf war, and I married an Englishman when I spent my junior year of college at the University of East Anglia.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

Of course! But I’ve also wanted to breed Siamese cats, be an EMT, draw comic books professionally, and become a rodeo barrel racer. All of them are rather far-fetched, but “author” stuck with me the longest.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

I need music. Need it. I feed off the energy and tone of a set of songs, and I have a playlist for every book I’ve written. When I’m writing, I hate to hear the click of keys, so Bose-style noise-canceling headphones are essential.

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

CAGED WARRIOR is the first of the “Dragon Kings” series, about a demon race on the brink of extinction. Some of these extraordinary individuals fight in Cage matches at the behest of human cartels in order to pay off debts or to earn the ultimate prize: conception. One particular cartel has developed a means of giving the Dragon Kings a fighting chance at perpetuating their bloodlines, but the price is steep. This debut tells the story of Leto, a warrior raised from birth in the Cages, who is forced to partner with an untrained woman fighting to rescue her abducted son. But change is on the horizon—a prophecy that says the Great Dragon, their deity, is preparing to return.

As a note, the series has a .$99 prequel novella called “SILENT WARRIOR.” The pair of lovers from that novella play a significant role in CAGED WARRIOR.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

I saw the movie Warrior with Tom Hardy and became fascinated with UFC-style cage fighting. That seemed the ultimate arena for macho guys to square off, and for women to take them by surprise. The inclusion of paranormal powers probably stems from my long-term love affair with the X-Men comic book series (long live Gambit!) and my children’s current fascination with all things dragon.

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

I’m currently in the middle of the series’ third installment, HUNTED WARRIOR, which features the head of the Five Clans and an a (hopefully) surprising partner. It’s due out from Pocket in summer of 2014. Whereas CAGED WARRIOR takes place almost entirely within the underground world of the Cages, its sequel BLOOD WARRIOR (due out July 30), travels from the Himalayas to the Highlands of Scotland, and HUNTED WARRIOR jaunts from Crete to the banks of the Thames in London—with all characters compelled by the prophecy “the chasm isn’t fixed.”

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

I’ve been very lucky that in my involvement within the romance genre, I’ve met a number of my romance favorites including Kresley Cole, CS Harris, Laura Kinsale, and Susan Wiggs. That leaves literary fiction, where I’d be flabbergasted to meet Ian McEwan, who wrote Atonement, which was adapted into a film starring Keira Knightley and James McAvoy.

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

You have a story worth telling. Tell it to yourself first. Leave all other considerations aside. Believe in yourself, but don’t become so arrogant or bitter that you start to think you have nothing else to learn. I’m still learning, after twenty-some published novels.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.

Walking the see-through walkway that juts out from the Grand Canyon, and visiting Sorrento, Italy (where I set a short story) and Salzburg, Austria (where I set my first novel). That’s about it, for now. I am at a point in my life where my “bucket list” is more like a “career ambitions list,” with the rest of it very content.

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

I’m currently reading the Game of Thrones massive-ology, which will take me another six years to finish. By then I’ll be so far behind on my favorite authors that I’ll have to have drinks with them at the RWA National conference and have them summarize for me!

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Thanks so much for inviting me to stop by! And if you enjoy CAGED WARRIOR, be on the lookout for BLOOD WARRIOR on July 30. Should you be attending RWA Nationals, I’ll be signing. Please stop by and say hi!

*****

SILENT WARRIOR

The Dragon Kings, Prequel Novella

Add to your Goodreads Shelf

A silent woman ashamed of her criminal background becomes a Cage warrior to seek redemption. An unrepentant fortune hunter will do anything to escape his mounting debts. Although rivals on the streets of Hong Kong, they find common ground when seeking their clan’s stolen idol, but for vastly different reasons. Neither one suspects that love will begin when he becomes the first man in five years to hear her speak.

*****

CAGED WARRIOR

The Dragon Kings, Book 1

Publication Date: June 25, 2013
Publisher: Pocket Star
Print ISBN: 978-1451695915
Available Now: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Books-a-Million | Powell’s

Ten years ago, Audrey MacLaren chose to marry her human lover, making her an exile from the Dragon Kings, an ancient race of demons once worshiped as earthly gods. Audrey and her husband managed to conceive, and their son is the first natural-born Dragon King in a generation–which makes him irresistible to the sadistic scientist whose mafia-funded technology allows demon procreation. In the year since her husband was murdered, Audrey and her little boy have endured hideous experiments.

Shackled with a collar and bound for life, Leto Garnis is a Cage warrior. Only through combat can Dragon Kings earn the privilege of conceiving children. Leto uses his superhuman speed and reflexes to secure the right for his two sisters to start families. After torture reveals Audrey’s astonishing pyrokenesis, she is sent to fight in the Cages. If she survives a year, she will be reunited with her son. Leto is charged with her training. Initially, he has no sympathy for her plight. But if natural conception is possible, what has he been fighting for? As enemies, sparring partners, lovers, and eventual allies, Leto and Audrey learn that in a violent underground world, love is the only prize worth winning.

*****

BLOOD WARRIOR

The Dragon Kings, Book 2

Publication Date: July 30, 2013
Publisher: Pocket Star
Print ISBN: 978-1451695922
Pre-Order: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Books-a-Million | Powell’s

Digital ISBN: 978-1451695953
Pre-Order: Amazon | Apple | B&N | Books-a-Million | Google

As a young man, sarcastic, violent Tallis Pendray believed the Dragon Kings’ survival depended on a prophecy delivered in dreams by a woman named “the Sun.” His role has been to complete inexplicable, even reprehensible tasks. First, by murdering a priest, he united his fragmented clan in their hatred of him. Dubbed “the Heretic,” Tallis fled his family’s Highland estate. Now disillusioned, he seeks revenge on the woman he holds responsible for two decades of exile.

Telepath Kavya Indranan is a charismatic, seductive cult leader born to a prominent family. However, she grew up terrorized by the ominous threat of her powerful, insane twin brother. On the run and hiding among the poor, she witnessed the destruction wrought by her clan’s centuries-old civil war. Maturity nurtures Kavya’s determination to end the cycle of bloodshed. Those who follow her call for peace have nicknamed her “the Sun.”

Bent on revenge, and without knowledge of Kavya’s noble intentions, Tallis kidnaps her on the eve of her groundbreaking announcement. The two watch in horror as her twin brutally smashes the tentative truce…and hunts the sister whose death would make him invincible.

Kavya is the Sun–revered, untouched, and bound by a lonely destiny that promises a deadly showdown against the last of her family. Tallis is the Heretic–despised and exiled because of actions that seem random, heartless, and contrary to the safety of the clans he protects. She’s not a goddess, and he’s not a natural born killer. A desperate trek from the Himalayan foothills to the Scottish Highlands reveals two secluded souls hidden by bloody reputations. Will their trust be strong enough to avert an all-out war that could destroy them, and their kind, forever?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lindsey Piper is the alter ego of an award-winning historical and contemporary romance author. Her hotly anticipated DRAGON KINGS series is her first foray into paranormal fiction. She lives and writes in Chicago.

You can find more info on Lindsey’s Website, Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads pages.

GIVEWAY DETAILS:

Lindsey is giving away the following prizes when the tour ends:

GRAND PRIZE: $25.00 Gift card to Amazon, an eBook of SILENT WARRIOR and a paperback of CAGED WARRIOR

2ND PLACE: 5 winners will each receive a paperback of CAGED WARRIOR and SWAG

3RD PLACE: 5 winners will receive an eBook of SILENT WARRIOR

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Lindsey Piper’s CAGED WARRIOR Blog Tour Schedule

June 24 – July 8

6/24 – Book Monster Reviews

http://www.bookmonsterreviews.com/

6/25 – Sassy Book Lovers

http://sassybooklovers.blogspot.com/

6/26 – Book Pages & Dripping Ink

http://bookpagesanddrippingink.blogspot.com/

6/26 – The Jeep Diva

http://thejeepdiva.com/

6/27 – Ramblings From This Chick

http://ramblingsfromthischick.blogspot.com/

6/28 – Close Encounters with the Night Kind

http://closeencounterswiththenightkind.blogspot.com/

6/29 -Mad Hatter Reads

http://madhatterreads.blogspot.com/

6/29 – Fandom Fanatic

http://fandomfanatic.blogspot.com/

6/30 – Crazy Four Books

http://crazyfourbooks.blogspot.com/

7/01 – Books-n-Kisses

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

7/01 – Wicked Readings by Tawania

http://www.wickedreadingsbytawania.blogspot.com/

7/02 – Book Lovin’ Mamas

http://booklovinmamas.blogspot.com/

7/03 – Books, Books & More Books

http://booksbooksmorebooks.blogspot.com/

7/03 – Paranormal Romance Fans For Life

http://paranormalromancefanforlife.blogspot.com/

7/03 – You Gotta Read Reviews

http://yougottaread.com/

7/04 – Scorching Book Reviews

http://scorchingbookreviews.blogspot.com/

7/05 – My Secret Romance

http://www.mysecretromancebookreviews.com/

7/06 – Page Flipperz

http://pageflipperz.blogspot.com/

7/08 – Offbeat Vagabond

http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/

July 1, 2013June 30, 2013

Cover Reveal: Ravenous by Eden Summer

Category: Romance Adult

Word Count: 24,000

She’s a small town caterer, he’s a big city chef, but they don’t need a kitchen to make things sizzle…

Erin McDonald likes her simple life in her small town: no drama, no fuss, no uncertainty…until Jesse Hackett breezes back into town. Erin never quite got over how he left for the bright lights of the big city, and took her heart with him.

Jesse never regretted his decision to leave small town life behind and chase his big city dreams, but he’s always regretted leaving Erin behind. No woman has ever compared, and once he convinces Erin to let him touch her again, he’s never going to let her go.

Sparks fly and fires are rekindled, but the basic divide still remains: what really matters in life — location or love?

Add it to your Goodreads TBR

Excerpt:

“What do you want?” She tried to appear nonchalant, even though her body already started to betray her. Her breasts tightened and her knees grew weak.

“What’s on offer?” His lips parted in a full smile.

Erin let out a sigh. She didn’t have time for this, and after eight years she still didn’t have the strength for it. Jesse was her downfall, her Achilles heel and the reason for every single relationship failure since he left town, taking her broken heart with him.

“You’re licking your lips as if you still want me.”

She opened her mouth to protest and closed it again. He was right. She had been licking her lips.

Bastard.

“And you’re dripping,” he added.

“Now that’s enough!” There may have been heat between her thighs but she sure as hell wasn’t “dripping”. Jesse had been the first to touch her, the first to teach her the ways of lovemaking and dominant desire, but he sure as shit wouldn’t be able to tell that her panties were damp.

“I meant your spoon,” he chuckled, indicating the piece of silver hanging from her hand, “it’s dripping on the floor.”

About Eden Summers

Eden Summers is a true blue Aussie, living in regional New South Wales with her two energetic young boys and husband. She has published five other titles both contemporary romance and erotic romance genres.

You can get in touch with Eden by clicking on the following links:

Eden Summers Website
Facebook Page
Twitte

June 30, 2013June 27, 2013

Kissin the week of June 24th-29th Goodbye

6.24.13

Book Blitz: Twisted by Rebecca Zanetti

Exclusive Excerpt from Gena Showalter’s The Darkest Angel & Kait Ballenger’s Shadow Hunter

Kimberly reviews Snowy Fate by Marissa Dobson

Kelly reviews Dragon Mine by Jamie Rush

6.25.13

Interview & Giveaway with Kevin Heanre

Interview with Eleri Stone

Release Day Madness

Kelly and Kimberly review Two Of A Kind by Susan Mallery

Kimberly reviews Sleeping With The Entity by Cat Devon

6.26.13

Guest blog: Sherry Soule

Guest blog & giveaway with Kelly Jamieson

Kimberly reviews On Dublin Street by Samantha Young

Kelly reviews One Sweet Ride by Jaci Burton

6.27.13

Interview & giveaway with Jayne Fresia

Warriors Revenge by Coreene Callahan (a Kindle Seriel)

Kelly reviews Midnight Exposure by Melinda Leigh

Kelly reviews Fire Inside by Kristen Ashley

Thursday’s Thought

6.28.13

Guest blog & Giveaway with Michele Hauf

Savor Me Spotlight

Ursula reviews Game Misconduct by Bianca Sommerland

Ursula reviews Defensive Zone by Bianca Sommerland

6.29.13

SINsational Saturday Series

Kevin Hearne’s Iron Druid Chronicles

June 29, 2013June 20, 2013

Kevin Hearne’s Iron Druid Chronicles

The Grimoire of the Lamb

The Iron Druid Chronicles 0.4

There’s nothing like an impromptu holiday to explore the birthplace of modern civilisation, but when Atticus and Oberon pursue a book-stealing Egyptian wizard – with a penchant for lamb – to the land of the pharaohs, they find themselves in hot, crocodile-infested water.

The trip takes an even nastier turn when they discover the true nature of the nefarious plot they’ve been drawn into. On the wrong side of the vengeful cat goddess Bast and chased by an unfathomable number of her yowling four-legged disciples, Atticus must find a way to appease or defeat Egypt’s deadliest gods – before his grimoire-grabbing quarry uses them to turn him into mincemeat.

*****

Clan Rathskeller

The Iron Druid Chronicles 0.5

This is a free short story that takes place ten months before the events of “Hounded”, the first book in the Iron Druid Chronicles, coming 2011 from Del Rey.

http://www.kevinhearne.com/wp-content..

*****

Kaibab Unbound

The Iron Druid Chronicles 0.6

A short story in The Iron Druid series that occurs two weeks before the events of the first book

*****

Hounded

The Iron Druid Chronicles #1

The first novel in the original, six-book Iron Druid Chronicles—introducing a cool, new, funny urban fantasy hero

Atticus O’Sullivan, last of the Druids, lives peacefully in Arizona, running an occult bookshop and shape-shifting in his spare time to hunt with his Irish wolfhound. His neighbors and customers think that this handsome, tattooed Irish dude is about twenty-one years old—when in actuality, he’s twenty-one centuries old. Not to mention: He draws his power from the earth, possesses a sharp wit, and wields an even sharper magical sword known as Fragarach, the Answerer.

Unfortunately, a very angry Celtic god wants that sword, and he’s hounded Atticus for centuries. Now the determined deity has tracked him down, and Atticus will need all his power—plus the help of a seductive goddess of death, his vampire and werewolf team of attorneys, a sexy bartender possessed by a Hindu witch, and some good old-fashioned luck of the Irish—to kick some Celtic arse and deliver himself from evil.

*****

Hexed

The Iron Druid Chronicles #2

Atticus O’Sullivan, last of the Druids, doesn’t care much for witches. Still, he’s about to “make nice” with the local coven by signing a mutually beneficial non-aggression treaty—when suddenly the witch population in modern day Tempe, Arizona, quadruples overnight. The new girls are not just bad, they’re badasses with a dark history on the German side of WWII.

With a fallen angel feasting on local high school students, a horde of Bacchants blowing in from Vegas with their special brand of deadly decadence, and a dangerously sexy Celtic goddess of fire vying for his attention, Atticus is having trouble scheduling the witch-hunt. But aided by his magical sword, his neighbor’s rocket-propelled grenade launcher, and his vampire attorney, Atticus is ready to sweep the town and show the witchy women they picked the wrong Druid to hex.

*****

Hammered

The Iron Druid Chronicles #3

Thor, the Norse god of thunder, is worse than a blowhard and a bully—he’s ruined countless lives and killed scores of innocents. After centuries, Viking vampire Leif Helgarson is ready to get his vengeance, and he’s asked his friend Atticus O’Sullivan, the last of the Druids, to help take down this Norse nightmare.

One survival strategy has worked for Atticus for more than two thousand years: stay away from the guy with the lightning bolts. But things are heating up in Atticus’s home base of Tempe, Arizona. There’s a vampire turf war brewing, and Russian demon hunters who call themselves the Hammers of God are running rampant. Despite multiple warnings and portents of dire consequences, Atticus and Leif journey to the Norse plain of Asgard, where they team up with a werewolf, a sorcerer, and an army of frost giants for an epic showdown against vicious Valkyries, angry gods, and the hammer-wielding Thunder Thug himself

*****

A Test of Mettle

The Iron Druid Chronicles #3.5

This wee story, told from Granuaile’s point of view, takes place concurrently with the events of HAMMERED, book three of The Iron Druid Chronicles. It is available for free on the author’s website.

http://www.kevinhearne.com/wp-content…

*****

Tricked

The Iron Druid Chronicles #4

Druid Atticus O’Sullivan hasn’t stayed alive for more than two millennia without a fair bit of Celtic cunning. So when vengeful thunder gods come Norse by Southwest looking for payback, Atticus, with a little help from the Navajo trickster god Coyote, lets them think that they’ve chopped up his body in the Arizona desert.

But the mischievous Coyote is not above a little sleight of paw, and Atticus soon finds that he’s been duped into battling bloodthirsty desert shapeshifters called skinwalkers. Just when the Druid thinks he’s got a handle on all the duplicity, betrayal comes from an unlikely source. If Atticus survives this time, he vows he won’t be fooled again. Famous last words.

*****

Two Ravens and One Crow

The Iron Druid Chronicles #4.5

Atticus O’Sullivan is back in an all-new, action-packed, laugh-out-loud novella from the author of The Iron Druid Chronicles. Two-thousand-year-old Atticus may have outwitted and outfought everyone from Odin to Bacchus, but in this eBook original, he’s about to discover what comes around when you go around messing with gods.

Six years into the training of his beautiful apprentice, Granuaile, a large crow swoops down and transforms into none other than the Morrigan, a goddess who insists that Atticus come with her at once. He must leave his apprentice behind, along with his Irish wolfhound, Oberon—and he must also leave his sword. The Morrigan has always taken extreme pleasure in pronouncing the Druid’s mortal danger and imminent doom, so the fact that she won’t reveal the purpose of their journey makes him very nervous. Of course, any time the Celtic Chooser of the Slain drops in unannounced, it’s never good. When she does let slip that she’ll be saving his life in the near future, Atticus is left to wonder . . . will he soon be giving his legions of enemies something to crow about?

*****

Trapped

The Iron Druid Chronicles #5

After twelve years of secret training, Atticus O’Sullivan is finally ready to bind his apprentice, Granuaile, to the earth and double the number of Druids in the world. But on the eve of the ritual, the world that thought he was dead abruptly discovers that he’s still alive, and they would much rather he return to the grave.

Having no other choice, Atticus, his trusted Irish wolfhound, Oberon, and Granuaile travel to the base of Mount Olympus, where the Roman god Bacchus is anxious to take his sworn revenge—but he’ll have to get in line behind an ancient vampire, a band of dark elves, and an old god of mischief, who all seem to have KILL THE DRUID at the top of their to-do lists.

*****

Hunted

The Iron Druid Chronicles #6

For a two-thousand-year-old Druid, Atticus O’Sullivan is a pretty fast runner. Good thing, because he’s being chased by not one but two goddesses of the hunt—Artemis and Diana—for messing with one of their own. Dodging their slings and arrows, Atticus, Granuaile, and his wolfhound Oberon are making a mad dash across modern-day Europe to seek help from a friend of the Tuatha Dé Danann. His usual magical option of shifting planes is blocked, so instead of playing hide-and-seek, the game plan is . . . run like hell.

Crashing the pantheon marathon is the Norse god Loki. Killing Atticus is the only loose end he needs to tie up before unleashing Ragnarok—AKA the Apocalypse. Atticus and Granuaile have to outfox the Olympians and contain the god of mischief if they want to go on living—and still have a world to live in.

Coming soon:

Shattered (The Iron Druid Chronicles #7)

(The Iron Druid Chronicles #8)

(The Iron Druid Chronicles #9)

June 28, 2013June 27, 2013

COVER LOVE!!! Immortal Hunter by Kait Ballenger

Immortal Hunter

Book #2 in the Execution Underground series

Release date: late January 2014

As an exorcist, David Aronowitz grew up the target of demonic assassins. Now he’s a member of the Execution Underground and hellspawn everywhere fear his name. But when a demon slips into the seductive body of the only woman he’s ever loved, David must confront the heartbreak of their past to save her.

The piece of her heart Allsún O’Hare gave to David so long ago left her trapped between two worlds: the Fae and the human. And when David comes to her rescue, fate reunites her with her greatest temptation—and her biggest mistake.

Now, as they’re swept together into a wicked game with the demon who controls her, David must decide if saving Allsún’s life is worth sacrificing his own—and the future of humanity itself.

*This is just the official proof of the cover. The actual cover will have silver paint on the title and back cover that will really make it pop!*

Contact with Kait here website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Don’t forget to check out Kait’s Novella Shadow Hunter

(out now) found in After Dark

Amazon | B&N

A Timeless Seduction

A Unique Temptation

And a Whole World of Dark Desires

From New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter : The Darkest Angel

Winged warrior Lysander has been alive for centuries, and yet he’s never known desire—until he meets Bianka. Spawned from the bloodline of his enemy, the beautiful but deadly Harpy is determined to lead the untouched Lysander into temptation. He may try to evade her attempts, but even the most iron-willed demon assassin can resist for only so long.

And from debut author Kait Ballenger : Shadow Hunter

Vampire hunter Damon Brock’s newest assignment with the Execution Underground is Rochester, New York, a city crawling with the undead. But he isn’t the only hunter in town gunning for vamp blood. Tiffany Solow is fierce and ruthless when it comes to slaying the monsters that destroyed her family—and she works solo. But being alone is no longer an option when she meets the mysterious hunter who wants more than just her turf. Forced to unite against the local covens, the line between good and evil blurs when they must decide between their lifelong beliefsand their newfound desires.

And watch for Twilight Hunter

Book 1 in the Execution Underground series

Release date: August 27, 2013

Amazon | B&N

Hunters of the supernatural, the Execution Underground are an elite group tasked with protecting humanity…but what happens when danger collides with desire?

Jace McCannon has one loyalty: the Execution Underground. Despite his mixed blood, his hatred for the werewolves he hunts is legendary. But in his search for a sadistic killer, Jace finds himself face to face with a stunningly seductive packmaster…and longing for a night with his mortal enemy.

Nothing can stop Frankie Amato from defending her kind–or catching the rogue responsible for killing women in her territory. For that, this alpha female needs Jace’s skills more than she wants to admit. But as their investigation exposes evil truths, need burns into a passion that dare not be fulfilled. For to do so will have deadly consequences for them both…

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway