Author: Kelly

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Interview & giveaway with Mina Khan

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Mina Khan to the blog today..

Mina Khan is a Texas-based writer and food enthusiast. She grew up in Bangladesh on stories of djinns (pronounced “gins”), ghosts and monsters. These childhood fancies now color her fiction. She daydreams of hunky paranormal heroes, magic, mayhem and mischief and writes them down as tales of romance and adventure.

Her first published work, The Djinn’s Dilemma, won the novella category of the 2012 Romance Through The Ages (published) contest.

Fifty percent of the proceeds from her second novella, A Tale of Two Djinns, is donated to UNICEF for education.

Her newest release, DEAD: A Ghost story, is NOT a romance. It’s a multicultural ghost-story that highlights a little known aspect of the immigrant experience.

For more information check out her:

Amazon Author Page | Blog : Stories by Mina Khan | Facebook Author Page | Twitter: @SpiceBites

Have you always wanted to be an author?

Mina: Yes. I have written since I was a child and always wanted to be an author.

Are you a plotter or a punster or combo of both?

Mina: I consider myself an organic writer. I get an image or idea stuck in my head and start writing. About four chapters into the book, I’ll stop and write a synopsis, which helps figure out the rest of the story.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

I have to have nuts to snack on when I’m writing.

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

Mina: A Tale of Two Djinns, which is celebrating its first book birthday, is an exotic Romeo & Juliet tale with warring genies, feminists, kick-ass action and sexy adult fun.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

Lol, I always hated Romeo & Juliet’s ending, and I wanted to give them a happily-ever-after. Of course, first I had to make sure the hero & heroine earned the HEA! 😀

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

The Djinn in the Mirror, which is scheduled for a late spring release, plays on question: What if Cinderella had to deal with a wicked sexy genie instead of a fairy godmother? Lol, yes writing it has been a lot of fun…now I’m in the middle of edits.

I’m also working on an erotic contemporary about an emotionally damaged artist who falls for his model.

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

Mina: Lois McMaster Bujold because I love her Vorkosigan saga. The entire series is awesome. Patricia Briggs because I love her werewolves! Sorry, I just couldn’t limit myself to one.

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

Believe in yourself, work on your craft and never give up on your stories.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.

Taking a hot air balloon ride in Africa.

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

Stephanie Draven’s “Love Me Or Leave Me.” It’s got history and passion, two things I adore.  Also, Laurell K. Hamilton’s next Merry book whenever it’s coming out.

What is one book everyone should read before they die?

The Life of Pi. The movie version is awesome too.

What is your favorite time of year & why?

Fall. I just love the colors, smells, chill in the air, and ingredients in season…um, yes, I love to cook. J

Who is your Celebrity crush?  And what would you do if you ever meet them?

Nathan Fillion. I know I’d SQUEE, but then I hope I’d charm him with my wit and grace…a girl can hope!

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Mina: Thank you so much for having me over Kelly and for the fun interview. I would love to give away digital copies of my first genie romance, THE DJINN’S DILEMMA, to two of your readers.

 

Amazon /  B&N / Kobo

Akshay, warrior prince of the earth djinns, earns the title of Crown Prince at a high cost when he loses his best friend in a battle against ancient enemies, the water djinns. Heartsick, he escapes to Earth to mourn and lose himself in drink

Nothing gets the biological clock ticking (and elders lecturing) like almost dying in battle, so Maya, princess of the water djinns, travels to Earth for some no-strings-attached sex to fulfill her duty and produce an heir. But the beautiful and tough warrior gets more than she bargained for when she meets Shay.

Their not-so-simple one-night stand is interrupted by assassins and the world, as they know it, is changed forever. As Maya and Shay pull together to survive, both are determined to have their happily-ever-after and bring peace to their worlds — warring families, shadow assassins, and nosy busybodies be damned.

 Fifty percent of the proceeds are being donated to UNICEF.

Also check out : 

Mina’ quarterly newsletter with release updates and inside information on the stories, HERE

And see the rest of Mina’ Tour stops here

TALE OF TWO DJINN

Anniversary Blog Tour

3/08 – 3/22

 

3/11 – Alexx Mom Cats Gateway

3/12 – Scorching Book Reviews

3/13 – I Smell Sheep

3/14 – Books-n-Kisses

3/15 – Wicked Readings by Tawania

3/16 – Book Lovin’ Mamas

3/16 – My Reading Obsession

3/17 – Book Monster Reviews / Literal Addiction

3/18 – Victoria Danann’s Blog

3/19 – Salacious Reads

3/20 – Riverina Romantics

3/21 – Froggarita’s Bookcase

3/22 – Ramblings From This Chick

 

Ready for a giveaway??????

Mina has given me a copy of TALE OF TWO DJINN to givaway, winners choice of either paperback or ebook. 

So to enter please leave Mina a comment or questions.

Along with your EMAIL (so I can contact the winner)

giveaway will end 3/21.

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Interview & Giveaway with Catherine Mann

Books-n-Kisses is super excited to have Catherine Mann on the blog today.  We are chatting about life, hot military men and her newest release Free Fall 

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

CM: I’m a military wife, mom of four stellar young adults, grandmother of one PERFECT grandchild, pet mom to four rascally critters, foster mom to Humane Society puppies … and I write.  A lot.  I’m lucky to have a very full life I enjoy!

Have you always wanted to be an author?
CM: I’ve loved books for as long as I can remember.  The dream to be a writer has always lurked in my mind.  It just took the supportive encouragement of my husband for me to make the leap and try my hand at penning my own novels.

Can you share with us your typical writing day.  Is there anything you have to have while writing?

CM: I set weekly work goals for myself keeping in mind the target date needed to finish my next book.  If I complete all my work by Friday, I get to take the weekend off.  If I don’t accomplish my goal, then I work weekends to catch up and stay on track.  It’s a hefty motivator for me to stay on pace during the week – and a motivator for my family to honor my work hours.  As for something I need while writing – I always have a Diet Coke within reach!

Most challenging or rewarding part of writing?
CM: Working at home presents a challenge in that folks tend to think I’m always available to chat or play, yet working from home also means I can stay in my PJs all day long if I choose – with a Diet Coke nearby, of course!

Can you please tell us about your latest book?
CM:  FREE FALL is book 4 in my “Elite Force” series about Air Force pararescuemen.  If you haven’t read the other three books, don’t worry.  FREE FALL can be read as a standalone.  However, if you would like to catch up with the other three, they are still available.  Book 1: COVER ME.  Book 2: HOT ZONE (a RITA Award finalist!)  Book 3: UNDER FIRE.

How did you come with the idea for this story?
CM: I’ve always been fascinated by the different job tasks of our military service members.  And the pararescumen are truly the elite of the elite –  with less than 400 of them in the world.  I had woven a pararescueman into an earlier book of mine – FULLY ENGAGED.  So when the opportunity came to write a series featuring the profession, I couldn’t resist!  It’s an honor to get to showcase their heroics.

Can you share with us your current work in progress?
CM: I’m currently working on book 5 in my “Alpha Brotherhood” series for Harlequin Desire – featuring a Formula 1 race car driver who also happens to do some freelance work for Interpol.

Open your book to a random page and tell us what’s happening.
CM: FREE FALL, page 122.  Jose is explaining to Stella about how he become an alcoholic, how he sobered up, and yet how he still fears what he future hold for him. (Yes, you read that right.  The hero in this book is a recovering alcoholic.  I am curious about what reader feedback on Jose will be.)

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

CM:  Lisa Gardner’s TOUCH AND GO is on my Kindle now – I just have to find an evening I can stay up late, though, because I can never put her books down once I start reading.

Is there anything else you would like to add?
CM: I adore visiting with folks online.  I can be found almost daily at one of the following sites:

 

 

 

FREE FALL

BY CATHERINE MANN 

IN STORES MARCH 2013

Amazon  | Barnes and Noble |  Books-a-Million | IndieBound  | Chapters/Indigo | Discover a New Love | Sourcebooks

On This Mission, There Are No Accidents…

Pararescueman Jose “Cuervo” James is the guy they call for the most dangerous assignments. He lives for his job.

On a high-risk rescue deep in the African jungle, Jose encounters sexy, smart Interpol agent Stella Carson. They’d once had an affair that burned hot and fast, but family is everything to Stella, and Jose just can’t go there.

Fate has thrown them into the deadly hot zone together, and sparks will fly…but only if they can live to tell about it.

 *****

Praise for Free Fall:

“Catherine Mann writes an amazing combination of keen suspense, unique characters, and heart-stopping romance. I’m a fan!” —Lori Foster, New York Times bestselling author of Savor the Danger

“Tense and dramatic… the chemistry is strong, the prose is tight, and the story never stops moving.” —Publishers Weekly

“Mann sweeps readers along with pulse-pounding suspense, passion and a full-out frontal assault of the senses that will keep readers gripping their seats…” —RT Book Reviews, 4 ½ Stars

A little bit more about Catherine: 

USA Today bestselling author Catherine Mann pens steamy military romances, with over two million books in print. She has won the prestigious RWA RITA Award and a Bookseller’s Best Award, and has finaled in the RT Book Reviews Reviewers Choice and Maggie awards. Catherine resides with her husband, a retired Air Force colonel, in Florida. For more information for her entire series, please visit www.catherinemann.com.

Catherine and Sourcebooks are giving away a great prize for readers: a prize pack of the first three books in the Elite Force: That Others May Live Series (Cover Me, Hot Zone and Under Fire). Good luck!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

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Book Blast: The Stillness of You by Julie Bale (& a giveaway too)

 The Stillness of You

Series: Beautifully Damaged, #1

Author: Julie Bale

Format: ebook

Length: 250 pages

Publication: March 13th 2013

ISBN: 13 9780988138544

Genre: New Adult- Contains mature situations and sexual content (17+)

BLURB:

“Ben Lancaster had just tattooed himself onto my soul and the thing about tattoos? They’re painful to remove.”–Georgia King.

Georgia King is trying to survive after spiraling into a darkness that nearly took her life. In therapy and with her college dreams on hold,she’s trying to get healthy. Trying to still the craziness inside her. She has no room for someone like Ben Lancaster,and if he was smart he’d stay away. Because everyone knows Georgia is bad news. Everyone knows she ruins people. And if Ben isn’t careful, he’ll be next in line.

Ben Lancaster is a young, hot shot hockey player on his way to the top. Newly signed to the Philadelphia Flyers, he’s living the dream. The girls. The money. The fame. He thought he had everything he wanted until he met her. Suddenly he wants more–he wants her. He’ll do whatever it takes to get her and Ben Lancaster always gets what he wants.

But the girl who’s different from anyone he’s ever known is hiding secrets. And as the dog days of summer pass, only time will tell if Georgia’s secrets can be healed. Or if her bruised soul is strong enough to resist Ben Lancaster…

LINKS: *Buy links won’t be available until the book loads on retail sites sometime on 3/12, I will send them then if you would like to include them in or update your post.*

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17306186-the-stillness-of-you

 

EXCERPT:

“Do you feel this?” he whispered hoarsely.  “You have to feel this. It can’t just be me.  There’s no fucking way it can just be me.”

            My mouth was open but nothing came out.  I felt all of it. Every. Single. Bit of it.

And then his hand slid behind my neck, cradling me just above my shoulders, his long fingers moving over my body with a hunger and an urgency that I matched. I might have moaned, in fact, I’m sure I did because his eyes widened, and his lips parted.

I felt…I felt crazy but without the crazy.

It was the anticipation.  It was all the moments and seconds and minutes that had passed between us over the last few days.  It was that first time I’d glanced over my shoulder and spied him in Matt’s loft.  It was his breath at my cheek the night before.  It was want.

It was all of that and so much more.

“I feel you,” I whispered.

And then his hot, demanding mouth was on mine, and that so much more, became suddenly clear.

It was everything.

 

AUTHOR BIO:

Julie Bale fell in love with book boyfriends when she was twelve.  She decided that when she was a grownup she would write her own book boyfriends. So that’s what she does.

When Julie isn’t writing she’s busy looking after a family that includes a couple of kids, her husband and a dog who is prettier than some people she knows, and a cat who thinks he’s human.

She loves The Walking Dead, Pretty Little Liars, The Foo Fighters, Vampire Diaries, The Fray, and The Gilmore Girls. And when she has time, she loves to kick back and read yummy romances with hot guys and girls who are cool enough to hang out with.

Website | Facebook | Twitter |  Goodreads  

 

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

We are giving away one digital copy of THE STILLNESS OF YOU to one reader.

Please leave a comment along with our email address to enter.

giveaway ends 03/13

 

THE STILLNESS OF YOU BY JULIE BALE

TOUR SCHEDULE:

Random Jendsmit – http://randomjendsmit.blogspot.com/

Book Devotee Reviews – http://bookdevoteereviews.blogspot.com/

Talk Supe – http://www.talkingsupe.com/

Toot’s Book Reviews – http://tootsbookreviews.blogspot.com/

Cocktails and Books – http://www.cocktailsandbooks.com/

Unwrapping Romance – http://unwrappingromance.blogspot.com

Angie’s Dreamy Reads – http://www.angiesdreamyreads.com/

Reality Bites – http://realitybites-letsgetlost.blogspot.com/

United By Books – http://unitedbybooks.blogspot.com/

Good Choice Reading – http://www.goodchoicereading.com/

I Read Indie – http://twimom101bookblog.blogspot.com/

Viviana, Enchantress of Books – http://www.vivianaenchantressofbooks.com/

Book Nerds Anonymous – http://avasmith.org/

RhiReading – http://rhireading.blogspot.com/

Rather Barefoot than Bookless – http://ratherbarefoot.blogspot.com/

Books N Kisses – https://books-n-kisses.com/

Got fiction – http://www.gotfiction.com/

Curse of the Bibliophile – http://curseofthebibliophile.blogspot.com/

Reading Between the Wines – http://readingbetweenthewinesbookclub.blogspot.com/

Book Savvy Babe – http://www.booksavvybabe.com/

Urban Reader Girl – http://www.urbangirlreader.com/

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Interview & giveaway with Maggie Morton

Welcome to Books-n-Kisses Maggie, can you please share with us a little about yourself

My favorite pastime is reading, and I can’t think of a better way to spend a day, other than adding in the outdoors and a sunny, cloud-flecked sky. One of my main dreams is one of a future world where your orientation isn’t something that can be used against you, and I hope to live to see that world (things seem to be changing at a much faster pace in that arena). I also am a semi-Buddhist.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

Pretty much – I’ve loved reading every since I learned how to do it, and I started making up stories as soon as my brain could manage it. I did want to be a ballerina at one point too, but that only lasted through pre-school.

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

Some of my favorite writers are Kurt Vonnegut, Carlos Ruiz Zafon, Mike Carey (especially the novel he, his wife, and daughter just wrote, The Steel Seraglio), and Susanna Clarke. I’m not sure if any of them have influenced my writing directly, but I’m pretty sure that I’ve picked up bits and pieces of writing help from each of them.

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

I started writing in the erotica genre because a friend of mine suggested I try it, and I write about LGBT  characters because I feel that there isn’t enough fiction out there about us. I might someday write something without the erotic element, but for now I’m still enjoying it, and it’s great to be able to give all the characters I care about some fun under the sheets.

What are some of your writing rituals?

If I really, really can’t get myself to write, I’ll either meditate first or listen to some Buddhism advice. I find getting more centered gives me more hope in my ability to write. I also definitely get a lot of help from caffeine!

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

Dreaming of Her is my first published novel, and it’s a lesbian, erotic romance with fantasy elements. My two main characters , Isa and Lilith, meet in the dream world and begin to become interested in one another within that world.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

I’m not really sure – my bigger ideas just pop into my head, usually, and then over time, I work on fleshing them out.

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

My second novel, Under Her Spell, is in the works – it’s also lesbian, erotic fantasy, and includes lots of magic both outside of the bedroom and in it, too (of course!).

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

My character Isa has just walked into a bathroom, where she sees an image appearing in the bathroom mirror – she gets ready to scream, and then she realizes the image in the mirror is her dream-woman, Lilith, who seems to be bringing her another lovely dream (a dream Isa hopes will include some sexual content).

What would you be if you were not an author?

I can’t imagine being anything else, actually – it’s such an important part of my personality that I wouldn’t be me without it.

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

I’m really looking forward to reading this year’s Best Lesbian Erotica (and no, not because it has a story by me in it!) and also Sexual Fluidity by Lisa M. Diamond.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Nope, other than a thank you for interviewing me!

Learn more about Maggie here:

Author Twitter: https://twitter.com/maggielmorton

Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authormaggiemorton

Author Website: http://maggielmorton.blogspot.com/

Author GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3365845.Maggie_Morton

Giveaway

1 eBook copy of Dreaming of Her

To enter: Leave a comment or questions for Maggie

Make sure to leave your email address too

giveaway ends 03/17/13

 

 

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Kissin’ the Week of March 4th-9th Goodbye

3.4.13

Kelly’s review of Death, Doom & Detention by Darynda Jones

Kimberly’s review of Jade’s Gamble by Patricia Olney

Kimberly’s review of The Best Man by Kristan Higgins

3.5.13

Release Day Madness

Interview & Giveaway with Macy Beckett

Interview with Lindy S. Hudis

Kelly & Kimberly’s review of A Shot of Sultry by Macy Beckett

3.6.13

Kelly’s review of Mating Instinct by Katie Reus

Interview & Giveaway with Laura Lee Nutt

3.7.13

Seeing is Believing by Erin McCarthy

Book Blitz: Bound by Seduction 

Interview & Giveaway with Victoria Danann

Thursday’s Thought…

3.8.13

Holiday Montana Series Spotlight

Interview with LJ Garland & Debbie Gould

Kimberly’s review of Falling for the Lawyer by Anna Clifton

Kelly’s review of Free Fall by Catherine Mann

3.9.13

SINsational Saturday Series

Keri Arthur

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Keri Arthur’s Riley Jenson Guardian Series

Keri Arthur’s Amazon Page | Keri Arthur’s B&N Page

*****

Full Moon Rising

Riley Jenson Guardian #1

 

A rare hybrid of vampire and werewolf, Riley Jenson and her twin brother, Rhoan, work for Melbourne’s Directorate of Other Races, an organization created to police the supernatural races–and protect humans from their depredations. While Rhoan is an exalted guardian, a.k.a. assassin, Riley is merely an office worker–until her brother goes missing on one of his missions. The timing couldn’t be worse. More werewolf than vampire, Riley is vulnerable to the moon heat, the weeklong period before the full moon, when her need to mate becomes all-consuming.

Luckily Riley has two willing partners to satisfy her every need. But she will have to control her urges if she’s going to find her brother….Easier said than done as the city pulses with frenzied desire, and Riley is confronted with a very powerful–and delectably naked–vamp who raises her temperature like never before.

In matters carnal, Riley has met her match. But in matters criminal, she must follow her instincts not only to find her brother but to stop an unholy harvest. For someone is doing some shifty cloning in an attempt to produce the ultimate warrior–by tapping into the genome of nonhumans like Rhoan. Now Riley knows just how dangerous the world is for her kind–and just how much it needs her.

*****

Kissing Sin

Riley Jenson Guardian #2

From Melbourne’s gleaming skyscrapers to its throbbing nightclubs, Riley Jenson’s world is raging with danger and desire. A drop-dead-gorgeous werewolf–with a touch of vamp coursing in her blood–Riley works for an organization created to police the supernatural races. But when she wakes up naked and bruised in a barren alley, she knows only that she must run for her life.

Within moments Riley collides with the sexiest man she’s ever seen: steely, seductive Kade, who is fighting a life-and-death battle of his own. With old lovers and enemies gathering around her, Riley knows she is being pursued by a new kind of criminal. Because in Riley’s blood is a secret that could create the ultimate warrior–if only she can survive her own dangerous desires

*****

Tempting Evil

Riley Jenson Guardian #3

In a world of sorcery and seduction, the nights bring out the beautiful, the damned, and the desired. Here, Riley Jenson is on her own–half werewolf, half vampire, working for an organization created to police the supernatural races. Trusting her superiors and lovers barely more than she trusts her worst enemies, Riley plays by her own set of rules. Her latest mission: to enter the heavily guarded pleasure palace of a criminal named Deshon Starr–a madman-scientist who’s been messing around in the gene pool for decades.

With two sexy men–a cool, seductive vampire and an irresistibly hot wolf–vying for her attention, Riley must keep focused. Because saving the world from Deshon Starr will mean saving herself–from the trap that’s closing in around her.

*****

Dangerous Games

Riley Jenson Guardian #4

In Melbourne’s urban underworld, there’s a nightclub for every fantasy and desire. But for Riley Jenson, one such club has become an obsession. Riley, a rare hybrid of vampire and werewolf, hasn’t come in pursuit of pleasure but of an unknown killer who’s been using the steamy nightspot as his hunting grounds.

Leave it to Riley to find the only ticket into the heavily guarded club: Jin, a deliciously hot-bodied bartender who might just provide the key to unmasking a killer unlike any other in the Directorate’s experience. Taunted by a former colleague turned rogue, distracted by an ex-lover’s attentions, Riley follows Jin into a realm of pleasure she could never have imagined. And as danger and passion ignite, a shocking mystery begins to unravel—one where Riley herself becomes the ultimate object of desire.

*****

Embraced By Darkness

Riley Jenson Guardian #5

She’s hunting a killer—
and shattering every boundary—
she’s ever known.…

Part vamp, part werewolf, Riley Jenson plays by her own rules, whether it’s her stormy love life or her job as a guardian. But when her family’s alpha male demands that she solve the mystery of a vanished girl, Riley can feel a trap closing in around her. Because the job comes with a catch: if Riley fails, her own mother will die.

Now the stakes are raised, the hunt is on…and when more women vanish, Riley is caught between a lover who demands that she give up her work, a serial killer who knows no boundaries, and a club where humans and supernaturals mix—at their own peril. Thrust into a realm of seduction and violence unlike any she could have imagined, Riley has to battle to save everything she holds dear. But the ultimate hunt has only just begun.

*****

The Darkest Kiss

Riley Jenson Guardian #6

Danger turns her on.
Desire turns her dangerous…

Riley Jenson hunts evildoers—and does it with a style all her own. With vamp blood coursing her through her veins, and a werewolf’s uncanny instinct for danger, Riley wears snakeskin stilettos and pure, in-your-face attitude when she plunges into her latest case: hunting down a killer whose victims are high-society strumpets—and the rich and powerful men they’ve dated.

But for Riley, the case takes a chilling turn when a second killer starts trailing mutilated bodies of his own: a crazed young vamp choosing victims from a past marked by tragedy. Riley knows she’s got the skill and cunning to catch two serial killers at once…until one of them strikes inside her own tight-knit clan—and a sexy beast of a vampire reenters her life to aid in the hunt. His name is Quinn. He’s lived forever, shed blood, and shared pleasure…and he’s the only man over whom Riley has absolutely no control

*****

Deadly Desire

Riley Jenson Guardian #7

Seduction that kills. Pleasure to die for. She just can’t resist…. Guardian Riley Jensen always seems to face the worst villains. And this time’s no different. For it’s no ordinary sorceress who can raise the dead to do her killing. But that’s exactly what Riley expects to find at the end of a trail of female corpses used – and discarded – in a bizarre ritual of evil. With pressure mounting to catch one fiend, another series of brutal slayings shocks the vampire world of her lover, Quinn. So the last thing Riley needs is the heat of the upcoming full moon bringing her werewolf hormones to a boil—or the reappearance of a sexy bounty hunter, the rogue wolf Kye Murphy.

Riley has threatened Murphy with arrest if he doesn’t back off the investigation, but it’s Riley who feels handcuffed by Kye’s lupine charm. Torn between her vamp and wolf natures, between her love for Quinn and her hots for Kye, Riley knows she’s courting danger and indulging the deadliest desires. For her hunt through the supernatural underworld will bring her face-to-face with what lurks in a darkness – where even monsters fear to tread.

*****

Bound to Shadows

Riley Jenson Guardian #8

In the darkness, demons come out to play . . .
and someone must bring their sins to light.

Part vampire, part werewolf, Riley Jenson knows what can happen when vamps don’t play well with others. But she’s never seen anything like this: a series of brutal murders surrounding the latest hot spot for vampire-human hookups—and the victims aren’t just killed, they’re beheaded. Now Riley is launching into action, toying with a seductive—and highly suspicious—club owner, and finding herself in the middle of another mystery: women being killed one by one, without a trace of violence.

For Riley, solving multiple cases—in a world going mad with human and vampire passions—would have been tough enough. Instead she has two jealous lovers on her hands: Kye Murphy, the amber-eyed werewolf who makes Riley’s wolf blood howl—and Quinn, the cool, elegant vamp who has over a thousand years’ experience at fulfilling women’s desires. While she’s busy juggling these two sexy beasts, Riley’s detective work takes a stunningly violent turn. Finding a murderer is now a matter of life and death. Especially since the killer has long since found her .

*****

Moon Sworn

Riley Jenson Guardian #9

Some nights never end.

Some desires never die. . . .

She ventures where no one else dares—into realms of peril and pleasure. But will this next journey be her last?

Shape-shifting werewolf and vampire Riley Jenson is through with death–causing it, solving it, surviving it. Her soul mate, Kye Murphy, is dead–and at Riley’s own hands. Not even the seductive embrace of her vampire lover, Quinn, can fully ease her mind, for she has begun questioning everything that makes her Riley–including her job at the Directorate.

Now, the ritualistically slain bodies of ex-cons have started turning up. Reluctantly, Riley takes the case, but something even worse is waiting in the wings. For a vicious enemy from her past is determined to strip Riley of everything that gives her life any meaning: her lover, her brother–and even her own identity. Can Riley survive this ultimate assault? All she knows is, she must fight one last time to find answers, before everything goes dark forever.

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Holiday Montana Series Spotlight

What is Holiday, Montana?

So what is Holiday, Montana and why do I keep going on and on about it? Well, that’s easy, this the name of my new series and the small town where my sexy Cooper brothers live. But it’s not just that, not by far.

Holiday, Montana is where make believe is real. Every myth you heard as a child about holidays and the characters that made it fun aren’t myths…but real. Santa, the tooth fairy, Cupid, witches, ghosts…they’re all real.

But the world doesn’t know it.

Holiday is the mecca of holiday paranormals and the Cooper brothers are in the middle of them all. Each Cooper brother will find out that the holidays aren’t as boring as they thought they were, no, they’re filled with magic.

And What About Those Cooper Brothers?

Oh, this is one of my favorite topics. I love the Cooper brothers. Five sexy, competent men who each have a story to be told. Each of them has a career, an attitude, a personality, and something sexy about them. You’ll meet each of them in their own books in the Holiday, Montana series. Plus, they’re in each book to make sure you don’t forget them.

Ha, like I could ever do that.

I love starting a new series and finding a new family to love—particularly when that family includes five hunky, independent, swoon-worthy men. Uh huh, I’m talking about the Cooper brothers. You’ll meet each of these boys—no, men—in my Holiday, Montana series.

But what I really want to do here is let y’all know about the Cooper brothers. These handsome men are as tight a crew as any brethren and only have themselves to depend on. I thought I’d introduce you to them now and you can meet them more in their own books in the Holiday, Montana series.

Matt Cooper is the hero of Charmed Spirits and is the youngest of them all at thirty. He owns the hardware store in town and as a teenager was in love with Jordan Cross—the town witch and outcast. He’s loved her all this time, yet he thought he’d long lost that. He’s a laid back guy, always there for those who need him. Some may even call him a Beta, but only where it counts. Because believe me, and Jordan, he’s Alpha when it’s needed. He also has a secret or two, but I’m not telling.

Justin Cooper is school principal and ex-bad boy of the Cooper clan and the hero of my current release, Santa’s Executive. He’s always been the one that did what he wanted, when he wanted. But after an accident as a teen, he changed gears a bit and now cares more about others than himself. He may just need to meet someone else to help him realize that he’s more than just the ex-bad boy and has something more to give than just his time.

Tyler Cooper is the town sheriff and ladies’ man as well as the hero of my upcoming Finding Abigail. He may be the love ‘em and leave ‘em type, but he’s up front about it. He’s not callous in his attentions, but the ladies that may fall for him knew the score to begin with. Though there may be a woman in town that could change all that, he’s sworn to protect the town rather than his heart.

Brayden Cooper is the town mechanic and the quiet one of the family as well as the hero of the upcoming Her Lucky Love. Though he’ll laugh and joke with his brothers, no one really knows quite who he is. He is, however, the man who will always be there for anyone. Especially a certain single-mother who is in desperate need of help.

Jackson Cooper is the town dentist and has the worst temper of the bunch and will get his story in Dreams of Ivory. No one really knows why he’s so angry, but there has to be a reason. Plus, even though the evidence is mounting in the town that magic exists, it still seems like nonsense to him. Magic can’t exist in his opinion, because if it did….things would have been different.

Well, those are my Cooper men. What do y’all think? I hope you guys get a chance to meet these men in their own books. Each book will be coming out for each holiday from now until July. So not only will the magic happen, you’ll get to meet the Coopers quickly. I hope you get a chance to read my latest release, FINDING ABIGAIL! Thank you so much!!

*****

Charmed Spirits

Holiday, Montana Book 1

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ARe  | eStore 

Jordan Cross has returned to Holiday, Montana after eleven long years to clear out her late aunt’s house, put it on the market, and figure out what she wants to do with the rest of her life. Soon, she finds herself facing the town that turned its back on her because she was different. Because being labeled a witch in a small town didn’t earn her many friends…especially when it wasn’t a lie.

Matt Cooper has lived in Holiday his whole life. He’s perfectly content being a bachelor alongside his four single brothers in a very small town. After all, the only woman he’d ever loved ran out on him without a goodbye. But now Jordan’s back and just as bewitching as ever. Can they rekindle their romance with a town set against them?

Warning: Contains an intelligent, sexy witch with an attitude and drop-dead gorgeous man who likes to work with his hands, holds a secret that might scare someone, and really, really, likes table tops for certain activities. Enough said.

 

*****

Santa’s Executive

Holiday, Montana Book 2

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Justin Cooper wasn’t always the straight-laced Holiday Elementary School principal. In his youth, he broke all the rules and enjoyed being the bad Cooper brother.  One Christmas Eve night he got a little too rowdy and things changed forever. Now the consequences of that fateful night have come back in full force and the myths of Christmas might be more real than he thought.

Rina Brewer is one of Santa’s elves. Not the tiny cute little toy maker, but the sexy, petite, energy filled bombshell kind. She’s come to Holiday to aid Justin in his new role as Santa’s executive, but as soon as she sees the sexy ex-bad boy, she realizes the job may be more than she bargained for.

As they work together to make this Christmas one to remember, an old foe has come to town to make sure that his holiday is the coldest yet.

Warning: Contains a perky elf who dreams of something more, a Christmas myth who may be a baddie, and a sexy ex-bad boy who craves Christmas cookies…and a certain perky blonde.

Interested to learn more about the characters? Check out the Holiday Montana Character Profile Page. There are character inspirations, special sneak peaks into their lives, and trivia facts!

***** 

Finding Abigail

Holiday, Montana Book 3

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ARe | Kobo | eStore | 

Tyler Cooper is the town sheriff and, in the past, had been the only person keeping Holiday steady. Though the community is now finding out that it’s town is magical, Tyler has always known it—it’s in his blood.  He has always known his fate of becoming a cupid, striking love into the hearts others, but an enemy from his past is set on keeping him from finding his own destiny—and love.

Abigail Clarke is leaving Holiday for good. She has to. After years of trying to fit in and make Tyler notice her, she’s giving up. She’s watched her friends fall in love and it’s  heartbreaking. Acknowledging that the one man she’s always loved doesn’t want her,  it’s time to move on and find her own future.

Right when the stars align and Tyler opens his eyes, his enemy is back and has his sights on Abigail. Abigail is in danger and Tyler  may be the only one to stand up to him and save her.

Warning: Contains one sexy sheriff who turns into cupid, complete with bow and arrow, the sweetest teacher you’ll ever meet who needs to find her bad girl side, and a love of candy hearts that’s sure to bring them together.

*****

Her Lucky Love

Holiday, Montana book 4

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ARe | Kobo | eStore 

Brayden Cooper has always been lucky. It’s in his blood and in the coin that he has hanging on a leather tie around his neck. He has everything in the world he could ever want: money, a job, brothers he loves, and the luck that comes with his powers. Yet he’s empty. Everyone but him knows  he loves Allison, yet it’s going to take something stronger than luck to bring them together.

Allison Malone is exhausted. After the death of her abusive husband, her hell of a marriage is finally over and now she’s alone with her three children that are the center of her world. Long hours at work, plus mommy duty at home are taking its toll on her and that’s not the worst of it. Her late husband’s family is in town and they want her children.

The outsiders have secrets of their own and it’s going to take all of the Coopers, especially Brayden’s, help to save them. When trouble attacks, Allison will have to remember that she’s also a woman who needs love, and Brayden might be the one to give that to her.

Warning: Contains one sexy mechanic with a lucky streak, a waitress who needs to give into her temptations, and a love so fierce it’s bound to set the sheets on fire. Again.

 

Dreams of Ivory

Holiday, Montana book 5 – Coming July 16th, 2013

Jackson’s Story

Interested to learn more about the characters? Check out the Holiday Montana Character Profile Page? There are character inspirations, special sneak peaks into their lives, and trivia facts!

 

A little about Carrie Ann:

Carrie Ann Ryan is a bestselling paranormal and contemporary romance author. After spending too much time behind a lab bench, she decided to dive into the romance world and find her werewolf mate – even if it’s just in her books. Happy endings are always near – even if you have to get over the challenges of falling in love first.

Carrie Ann’s Redwood Pack series is an bestselling series that has made the shifter world even more real to her and has allowed the Dante’s Circle and Holiday, Montana series to be born. She’s also an avid reader and lover of romance and fiction novels. She loves meeting new authors and new worlds. Any recommendations you have are appreciated. Carrie Ann lives in New England with her husband and two kittens.

Carrie Ann loves hearing from readers. You can find her at:

Website | Facebook  | Goodreads | Twitter: @CarrieAnnRyan

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Interview with LJ Garland & Debbie Gould

Welcome to the blog LJ & Debbie.  Can you please share with us a little about yourself

Debbie: I work full time as a nurse at a small rural Vermont family practice, have three awesome kids and have recently discovered caffeinated hot cocoa! Amazing stuff that!

Laura: LOL Yep. And coffee is even better…wait, café mocha is even better. J

Debbie: Shut up about the coffee and just answer the question.

Laura: Okey dokie. I have three boys who keep me hopping 24/7 as I home school them all (hence the coffee addiction – LOL). I love animals, cheesecake, any type weapon, and anything that goes boom! Um, but not all at one time.

Debbie: (sigh)

Laura: What? I didn’t want any misunderstandings.

Debbie: (smacks Laura upside the head)

Have you always wanted to be an author?

Debbie: Not until my mid-thirties. Up till then I was to busy reading as many books as I could get my hands on.

Laura: Yep…same here. Not until my mid-thirties.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

Debbie: Hmmm, I don’t think I’m all that interesting. Now Laura, she’s a quac- uh, I mean her interesting quirk is her OCDness. It comes in very handy when I forget everything we’ve brainstormed and she’s got it all categorized by date, time, book, series, character, genre. Etc. My boyfriend thinks I’m slightly nuts because I gave him shi…heck one night when he left the basement door open as we went to bed. He thought he was going to let some warm air in there. Ummm, HELLO!!!! You can’t leave the basement door open at night. The bogeyman will get out. Men! Sheesh!

Laura: (High-fives Deb) You got that right. My most interesting writing quirk? Probably overusing certain words…like my latest is ‘soft’. No clue why.

Debbie: I don’t think soft is a very good word for writers of romance. You need to get over that one.

Laura: I’m working on it. Not like there’s anything ‘soft’ about the suspense stories we write.

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

Debbie: In My Sights is part of the 1 Night Stand series over at Decadent Publishing. It’s the second in a sub series Laura and I are writing about an Air Force Pararescuemen Team.

Laura: It’s sooo much fun. Each guy on the team will meet his perfect mate and have hot sex. They go into the date thinking it’s just for one night, but something happens (doesn’t it always?), and they fall in love. (sigh)

How did you come with the idea for this story?

Debbie: My daughter is in the Air Force, so I love Military themes. Then once Laura and I start talking, the ideas just flow.

Laura: LOL Yes they do. And they take us in some surprising directions sometimes. Well, like this sub-series did. Instead of just being about the romance of each team member, there’s an underlying thread throughout the books. My husband was in the Air Force, too, so I guess that might be why Debbie and I clicked on this theme.

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

Debbie: Right now we are working on Explosive Conditions, which is the next story in our Pararescumen series. We are also working on the sequel to Sins Of The Mind also from Decadent Publishing.

Laura: They’re both romantic suspense. But we also have delved into paranormal romance…with a heavy dose of suspense as well.

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

Debbie: Stephen King pops to mind, but I’ve met some really great authors and just love picking their brains!

Laura: Suzanne Brockmann. Seems like she would be great to chat with about military mixing with romance.

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

Debbie: Keep writing, keep learning, and take everything with a grain of salt.

Laura: Hang tough. Sometimes it’s hard to believe in yourself in an industry that is so darn subjective. But if you study the craft and keep writing, you’ll get there. Look at Stephen King…he was rejected lots of times before someone finally really looked at his work and saw how good he is.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.

Debbie: Go to Alaska, sky dive, bungee jump, write a NYT bestseller, drive a Nascar Sprint cup…. Are among a few.

Laura: Go to Machu Pichu, see the Great Barrier Reef, ride in a gondola in Venice, go on a dinosaur dig…the list is loooong.

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

Debbie: Just got Karen Rose’s latest release, Did You Miss Me? Can’t wait to dive into that one.

Laura: Headed for Trouble by Suzanne Brockmann. Mmm, the title is enticing!

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Debbie: Thank You so much for having us here today!!

Laura: Yes, thanks so much! We had a great time!

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Interview & Giveaway with Victoria Danann

 

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

I own 7th House Publishing. I’ve been authoring and illustrating Seasons of the Witch calendars and planners for the past fourteen years. I’m married and have four grown children. I play Classic Rock music (keys, rhythm guitar, vocals) and manage Houston’s premier variety and R&B band.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

Yes, but I waited until I was old and had something to say before I started writing.

Who are some of your favorite writers? Kresley Cole, Laurann Dohner, Olivia Cunning. Who do you feel has influenced your writing? Anne Rice, Isaac Asimov, Shakespeare

How did you get into writing in this specific genre?  I read A Hunger Like No Other and was hooked. Have you ever thought about writing in a different genre? I may do rock star romance at some point because I have the perspective of having actually been in a rock band.

What are some of your writing rituals?

I need quiet, time, and a keyboard.

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

A Summoner’s Tale is the third installment in the Black Swan saga and reads like the third act in a play. It’s a complicated story that centers on my beautiful, tortured vampire. Readers who like stripped down, “Dick and Jane” plots will not enjoy it. Readers who like multi-layered, non-formulaic presentation will love it.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

No idea.

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

The fourth installment – Moonlight: The Big Bad Wolf, BLACK SWAN 4 will release sometime in late Spring.  There are at least seven books in the series, but there may be more. We’ll see.

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

Trust me. That would not be helpful.

What would you be if you were not an author?

I have worked for airlines and managed travel agencies. I have been an evening wear designer with a showroom in New York and a clientele following from South America, Europe and New England. I’ve been a stay-at-home mom. I’ve owned and run a dance theater. I’ve been the utility player in a Classic Rock band (keys, rhythm guitar, some vocals). For the past fourteen years I have illustrated and authored Seasons of the Witch for 7th House Publishing, which I own. I have taught magickal arts through Seasons in Avalon. I was all of those things when I was not an author. What would I be if I wasn’t writing now? Lazy.

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for? This is almost painful to say, but my old standbys are no longer exciting me. I’m shopping for new stimulation.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Yes. Thank you to all of you who took a chance on the first book of an unknown author. It was the thrill of my lifetime for my first book to be nominated for best paranormal romance of 2012 by the Reviewers’ Choice awards. I hope to continue to please readers and inspire them to tell their friends.

A SUMMONER’S TALE TOUR WIDE GIVEAWAY

Victoria is giving away 7 copies of  The Order of the Black Swan COLLECTED TALES, Books 1-3.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ORDER OF THE BLACK SWAN SERIES

 My Familiar Stranger: romancing the vampire hunters

(Black Swan #1)

Download for FREE: Amazon / Barnes & Noble  / iTunes / Smashwords

  A SECRET SOCIETY, MODERN DAY KNIGHTS, AND VAMPIRE LIKE NO OTHER come together in a dimension where chance intersects romance for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure proving that true love can find you in the strangest places, even far, far from home. 

Minutes ahead of inevitable assassination, Elora Laiken is forcibly transported to an alternate dimension similar, but not identical, to her own. She is stranded. Alone. Far from home. A stranger in a “strangish” land. Of course a girl could suffer worse problems than having gorgeous suitors. Perhaps more importantly, in the midst of an epidemic of vampire related abductions, can she stay alive long enough to choose between an honor debt, true love, or the breathlessness of single-minded passion?

My Familiar Stranger is a full length, stand-alone, Paranormal/Fantasy Romance novel that also sets up the foundation for the Black Swan series. It is loved by fans of paranormal romance, fantasy romance, and urban fantasy.

The Witch’s Dream: A love letter to paranormal romance

(Black Swan #2)

Purchase from: Amazon

From New York to Ireland to Edinburgh to Siena to the Texas Hill Country to Napa Valley, a secret society, a witch, a demon, a psychic, a berserker, an ex-vampire, modern day knights, heroes, werewolves, elves and fae come together where emotions intersect. The story maps a trail from rages to hunts to epiphanies, but, in the end, proves that true love can find you in the strangest places, when you’re least expecting it, even when you’re far, far from home.

He was left behind when Elora Laiken made her choice. Now he’s had it with love, but a transplanted witch who happens to be the world’s best tracker hopes she can change his mind.

The Witch’s Dream begins with B Team on temporary assignment to Black Swan headquarters in Edinburgh where they are supposed to fill in for stretched-thin resources and assist with a werewolf issue. They’ve been given permission to stop in Ireland for a few days and celebrate a handfasting at the palace in Derry.

When they reach Edinburgh, the afterglow of an elftale wedding quickly turns all business. A missing person report turns into a demon abduction. A simple werewolf sanction becomes a diplomatic issue requiring the one thing Elora is no longer willing to give – finesse.

Erotic quotient: 18+ Some steamy scenes. No menage. No BDSM.

 

A Summoner’s Tale: The vampire’s confessor

(Black Swan #3)

Just released on February 14, 2013

Purchase From: Amazon

THIS IS THE THIRD INSTALLMENT IN A SERIAL SAGA. Please read Book 1, My Familiar Stranger and Book 2, The Witch’s Dream FIRST!!

A secret society, a witch, a psychic, vampires, modern day knights, heroes, elves, fae, assassins from another dimension, and fairytales come together where emotions intersect.

Two souls, joined by a mystical bond, separated by distance, must simultaneously struggle through pain and darkness in an ultimate confrontation with character and an ultimate struggle for life proving that true love waits patiently through lifetimes and finds courage to survive.

Even in the strangest places. Even when you’re least expecting it. Even when you’re far, far from home.

*(Erotic quotient: A little steam. No menage. No BDSM.*

The Order of the Black Swan

COLLECTED TALES

Books 1-3

Just released February 14, 2013

Purchase from:

Amazon / B&N / Smashwords

These are single titles presented in a bundle, the first three installments of the serial saga presented in anthology form. There is no new content.

Discover a world of adult fantasy where modern day knights of a secret society interact with an alien, a witch, a demon, a psychic, a berserker, a most unusual vampire, werewolves, elves, and fae. Fairytales intersect adventure, romance, and emotion proving that true love can find you in the strangest places, even when you’re least expecting it, even when you’re far, far from home.

Included are:

Book 1, My Familiar Stranger: Romancing the Vampire Hunters. (Nominated for best paranormal romance of 2012 by the Reviewers’ Choice Awards.)

Book 2, The Witch’s Dream: A Love Letter to Paranormal Romance

Book 3, A Summoner’s Tale: The Vampire’s Confessor.

Erotic Quotient: 18+ Some steamy scenes. No BDSM. No menage.

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Book Blitz: Bound by Seduction

 

BOUND BY SEDUCTION

Amazon  | Barnes & Noble

Standing in the middle of the room, Jacob let the whip crack. He loved how it sounded hitting the tile floor, the hiss it made as it flew through the air, the crack it made when it hit its target. Feeling himself get hard, he adjusted his cock, cursing his uncomfortable jeans. Could he get Isa to feel the same way he did about the whip? He’d know soon enough since she was on her way over and he’d already decided tonight was the night he was going to be honest. He’d hidden this part of himself from her for a year already. He liked her, maybe even loved her, but if she couldn’t accept everything, it was time for them to both move on. Would she accept what he was about to tell her?

 

 Website |  Blog

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Interview & Giveaway with Laura Lee Nutt

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Laura Lee Nutt to the blog for her first visit.  

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

Sure, but first, let me say thank you, Kelly, for having me today. I really appreciate the opportunity to be here. Now, let me give a few interesting details you won’t find in my bio. I am 4 feet 8 inches tall and love being short except for the need to hem pants and skirts. I have two rambunctious boys and am about to try for a third or, if I’m lucky, a little girl to spoil with pretty things. I was born under a crescent moon but not so secretly wish it had been a full moon. It seems a full moon would have been more romantic and haunting. And finally, the evening my husband first told me he loved me and we shared our first kiss, the sun was setting beside us, further feeding my affection for special moments in life that hold true romance.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

I have always wanted to write stories, but no, it was not always my goal to be an author. For several years, I thought of other occupations such as paleontology or chiropractic, seeing them at the time as both fascinating and more financially practical. However, deep down, I think I always wanted to write. Eventually, I accepted the fact rather than fighting it. I’m much happier I went into storytelling.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

My characters, at least most of them, literally develop minds of their own. If they are not leading the story off in one unexpected direction or another, I’m not listening to them hard enough. Sometimes, my husband will inform me of something a character feels, thinks, desires, or is planning that I consciously had not realized. A few years ago, he flat out told me that a villain, Emile Benderique, in one of my books was lying to me about his motivations because he was uncomfortable with anyone knowing his true desires. I started to argue, then stopped and gaped because my husband was absolutely correct. This may sound a bit schizophrenic, but rather, I think it’s the mark of characters well and truly developed.

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

Red and the Wolf is about Little Red Riding Hood grown up and how she overcomes the terrors the childhood “wolf” attack inflicted on her. She must accept herself, including the curse left on her from the attack, and the love of the huntsman who rescued her long ago. But she has to manage all this before the local nix, a German-style freshwater merman, takes over her village and before a heroic hunter of all things monstrous and unnatural executes her and the huntsman. Only then can she truly gain her real happily ever after.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

In January of 2011, I was sick for about two weeks. To keep myself from going stir-crazy, I wrote the first draft of Red and the Wolf. I no longer recall what the initial idea that started the whole story was, but I’ve always loved fairy tales, which frequently influence my writing. This time, though, I did not want to just retell the story. Plus, it made no sense to me how a child of ten or twelve could undergo such horrors and not come out emotionally scarred. Thus, I sought to tell a story that had a touch more realism for all I included werewolves in this one. I was in the mood for romance and wanted the wonder of fairy tales and fantasy.

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

Right now, I’m working on the sequel to Red and the Wolf. Currently, it’s titled Gretel and Her Ghost. Like Red and the Wolf, I took a well-known fairy tale and extrapolated into the future, asking what would happen if there had not really been a happily ever after? How would these characters deal with the logical difficulties they faced from their childhood fairy tale encounters, and how might they find happiness in the end? In this case, Gretel is desperate to marry and have a normal life, but Hansel, who never truly recovered from nearly getting eaten by the witch, sabotages her every attempt. When a mysterious man comes to town to seek her aid in rescuing other children trapped in the candy house, she must make some of the hardest choices of her life, but ones that have the possibility to at last set her free.

I also recently finished a novel starring Karl Kaismann, one of the antagonists from Red and the Wolf. It’s a historical urban fantasy that I will soon start shopping around among editors and agents. In this novel, I drew upon the haunting legends of the Lorelei Rock on the Rhine River in Germany about a beautiful maiden deprived of her true love and a nixie, a sort of nymph-like creature, who causes ships to crash beneath the rock’s deadly foot. Karl naturally gets caught up in the legend and must save a town that despises him, choose between his heart’s desire and the lives of thousands, and come to terms with his destiny.

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

Peter S. Beagle. His book The Last Unicorn is my favorite of all time. Each time I reread it, it recaptures my heart with its beautiful language, fantasy, heroism, tragic love, and contrasts of light and dark. It encapsulates so much of what I love most in stories.

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

Beyond the obvious “write and keep writing,” there is no right way to write or get published. There are some ways that are less effective and some that are dangerous–check out Predators and Editors for some of those–but don’t let anyone tell you that you have to get into the business or write one specific way. Educate yourself about the industry and craft, and always keep learning. Be humble. Take chances. Be patient and persistent. Don’t let opportunities slip by. But above all, do your best and be true to yourself, whatever that is.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list?

Tour Europe, and I don’t mean one of those two or three week tours. I mean I want to take at last three months, maybe a year, and really experience it. I want to visit all sorts of historical sites, soak in the culture and the countryside, and perhaps find a ghost or two as long as they’re not too frightening. I want to see where my ancestors came from, and there’s a castle in Scotland that used to belong to my clan, MacNaughton, that I’d like to see in person.

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

Oh, wow, that’s a big list. Let me name a few off the top of my head. Both my critique partners, Jessi Gage and Mae Clair, have books coming out this year that I’m looking forward to. I can’t wait to see how Jessi’s Road Rage has changed since those first initial idea talks we had, and I have not yet had the pleasure of reading Mae’s Twelfth Sun. Stina Leicht should have a new book soon, though I don’t know exactly when. I’ve been reading her The Fey and the Fallen series and enjoying it immensely. Peter S. Beagle’s stort story collection Sleight of Hand is also on my list as well as anything by Patricia Briggs or Jim Butcher. Amy Raby’s Bronze Age fantasy Assassin’s Gambit, which comes out in April will soon join that pile of to-reads. Cecilia Grant’s A Lady Awakened was absolutely superb, probably one of the best romances I’ve ever read, so I have high hopes for its sequel, A Gentleman Undone.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Yes. First, thank you so much for hosting me today, and thank you to all your readers who stopped by and stayed to learn a bit about me and my new release, Red and the Wolf. Second, everyone make sure to stop by my blog to get the full details of my Release Week Giveaway.

Learn more about Laura here: website  | Blog | Twitter | Facebook

Amazon Kindle | Barnes and Noble Nook |   I-Tunes |  Lyrical Store

They said Little Red Riding Hood lived happily ever after. They lied.

Six years after the attack at her grandmother’s cottage, Blanchette still wilts at the sound of a wolf’s howl. The scent of pine rising from the Black Forest surrounding her home is a constant reminder of the beast’s assault and the injury it left on her finger. After years spent hiding away, Blanchette’s world tilts when she wakes–naked and without memory of the previous night–in the forest, instead of behind the safety of her closed shutters.

Since rescuing Blanchette and her grandmother, huntsman Heinrich has befriended her family by day, and keeps watch as a powerful wolf over his territory by night. Sinister otherworldly creatures constantly threaten his domain and the human village he protects.

When the emperor sends a hunter to investigate the attack and slay any inhuman beings, Heinrich must tread carefully and protect not only himself, but his newly-discovered mate, who prowls the moonlit nights alongside him. He must also determine who is responsible for a string of murdered villagers, proving he can control his lupine nature and offer protection to the village, rather than danger.

CONTENT WARNING: Vengeful fae, dark magic, vicious murder, moral quandaries, explicit sex, and tragic honor.

Giveaway 

For Red and the Wolf’s release week, Laura is  hosting a giveaway.

There are several ways to earn chances to win one of two prizes, an e-copy of Red and the Wolf and an adorable Annette Funicello Collectable Bear Co. Little Red Riding Hood valued at $105.

You have from Monday, March 4th, 12 AM central time through Sunday, March 10th, 11:59 PM central time to get as many points as you can.

Each point equals an additional time your name gets entered in the drawing for these prizes. Laura will announce the winners on her blog Monday, March 11th.

To begin with, you will earn your first point for the drawing by commenting on today’s post.

For more ways to earn points see Laura’s blog. Good luck!