Author: Kelly

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Interview with Kelly Gendron

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Kelly Gendron to the blog today. 

Q1)  Can you please share with us a little about yourself

Kelly: Something many people don’t know about me is that I’m a Snore Whisperer. Yes. In the wee hours of the night, when all is quiet and dark, I am able to silence one of the loudest Snorers known to mankind (my husband). My technique you ask? It starts with a sharp Shh… followed by a light tap, an elbow to the rib, and then in a stern whisper, I say, “Roll over!” I’m also a mom, a wife, and a nurse. Oh, and I’m an author too.

Q2) Have you always wanted to be an author?

Kelly:  Sure did. It explains all the daydreaming and role-playing that went on in my head as a child. It wasn’t until I hit my thirties that I realized my stories needed to be told.

Q3) What is your most interesting writing quirk?

Kelly:  As my story starts to flow, I tend to play a sort of musical chairs with my laptop. I pop it from the sofa, to my back room, to the dining room table, to outside, and yes, it’s even made an appearance in the bathroom a few times. I need change.

Q4) Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?

Kelly:  Satisfying the Curse is about a young woman, Juliana Pratt, who believes she’s cursed. Her entire life, her father’s warned her that she’s destined to be a wanton just like her adulteress mother. He’s hidden her away from his elite society because of it. When her father’s arrested for murder, he asks her to come into the spotlight to portray the doting daughter. Juliana agrees to the interviews and talk shows, but before she goes on the two-week tour of lies about her father, and with him behind bars and unable to stop her, she must first take care of her starving curse.

And Juliana picks the perfect man to get the job done. She secures him to a bed, but fails terribly at finishing the task. But later, Juliana discovers that the man she’d chosen to fulfill her every fantasy is also the agent assigned to protect her for the next two weeks!

NESA Agent T. Ryker prides himself on his discipline-that is, until his new assignment, the prim and proper Juliana Pratt, puts that discipline to the ultimate test! When Ryker finds out that Juliana was the masked woman who drugged and handcuffed him to the bed in his hotel room, he also discovers her true identity. Ryker agrees to satisfy Juliana’s ravenous curse, but he has his own reasons for doing it, and it’s not just to give Juliana’s body what it craves… for there is something else Agent T. Ryker wants from Juliana Pratt…

Q5)  How did you come with the idea for this story?

Kelly: Satisfying The Curseis my second NESA (National Elite Security Agency) Book. I had so much fun with my first one, The Risqué Target, I just had to write another one. The Character’s are new, the story is different, but the agency remains the same. NESA will do whatever it takes to get the job done. No one, not even the agent assigned to the case, is safe.

Q6)  Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?

Kelly: I’ve been playing around with a couple of different paranormal romances. One is a series. I’m currently working on a new contemporary erotic romance. And as far as my NESA Books go, I really like Josie Deetz from Satisfying The Curse— I think she might be getting her own story.

Q7) Who is the one author that you would love to meet someday and why?

Kelly:  JR Ward— I’d like to have a go at the files in her brain. She has great story lines, and I always fall in love with her characters.

Q8)  What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?

Kelly:  Ah… the answer to this question reminds me of a quote from my latest release.

“Janie was a wise woman. She also said that while we might not always get what we deserve or want, we had better fight like hell for whatever it is that we truly need. She’d say, ‘To want is to desire, but a need? Well, that is a requirement, something you can’t live without.’ So I ask you… do you want her? Or do you need her?” (Satisfying The Curse)

I guess first, you’d have to decide whether you want or need to be a writer.

Q9)  Can you share with us something off your bucket list.

Kelly:  Bucket List? Hmm… Yeah know what— I really don’t have one. I’m the type of person who sets a goal and trucks along until it’s completed. I’m so neurotic about it that I usually give myself a target date. So, to say I want to accomplish, or do something before I “kick it” well that kind of deadline is too unreliable for my neurotic self. Besides, I find most things that really excite me come from those spur of the moment experiences.

Q10)  What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for? 

Kelly:  Right now, I’m trying to get through Fifty Shades of Grey… TBR? J.R. Ward, I love her books all the way to Jessica Bird. I marvel over her description and she can really pull me into the story. She has a couple of new ones coming out that I can’t wait to get my eyes on.

Q11)  Is there anything else you would like to add?

Kelly: I have to say that you have one of the best blogs I’ve come across. It’s easy to maneuver around, it’s not too slow, and the blogs are interesting, fun, and easy to read. Thank you, Kelly, for having me here today!

You can find me in my little nook of the Web World at…

Website | Blog   | Goodreads | Twitter

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Interview & Giveaway with JK Beck

Books-n-Kisses is super excited to have JK Beck (aka Julie Kenner) on the blog today.  We are getting to know her a little better. Oh and today is release day for her. So please help me make JK feel welcome and wish her a happy release day.

Q1) Can you please share with us a little about yourself

Well, I was found as an infant when I hatched out of a golden egg that my parents had brought home from their travels in the …

Wait.  That’s not me.

Seriously, I’m a Texas girl, although I was born in California and lived in LA for six years back when I was practicing law.  I’m a terrible housekeeper, I drink way too much coffee, I have two kids who I homeschool (I need the coffee to keep up with them), and I saw Star Wars (the first one, the real one) in the theater 82 times.  No, that’s not a typo.

I practiced law before quitting to write full time.  My most interesting case arose out of the Rodney King riots.  I got to depose Darryl Gates, the Chief of Police at the time of the riots.  He had a radio show at the time of the deposition and referred to me in the show (not by name; he called me a “lady lawyer.” Ah, Darryl, Darryl, Darryl.)

I’ve been an extra in one movie, have an undergraduate degree in film, and have a couple of scripts floating around out there in Lala land.  Novels are where my heart is, though.  I love SCUBA diving, but hate diving in Texas, so haven’t been in years.  I get seasick, and am much happier once I’m under the water rather than on it.  I love to travel, and I went backpacking all over Europe the summer before I moved to LA to practice law.  I watch reruns of Buffy far too often, never got into Angel, and cry at the ending of The Cutting Edge.  Of course, I also cry at the ending of Independence Day.  Show me something like Sleepless in Seattle and I’m a blubbering fool.

I sound like a bit of a mess, don’t I?

Coming in June 2012

Q2) Have you always wanted to be an author?

Yes!  One of my earliest memories, actually, is sitting in my dad’s home office banging out a “book” on his typewriter (so fast the keys mushed together – if you don’t know what I’m talking about, please don’t tell me as I’ll just feel old).

I’ve always made up stories.  My parents were divorced when I was seven, and my dad moved 200 miles away.  That made for a lot of flights from Austin to Dallas in the years between 7 and 18 in my dad’s very noisy prop plane.  Since talking was difficult and reading impossible (motion sick), I would lean back, close my eyes and make up stories.  Weird, strange stories.  I recall at least one that involved Harrison Ford coming to my school because he’d fallen madly in love with me.  Did I mention I write fiction?

Q3) Can you share with us your typical writing day.  Is there anything you have to have while writing?

All I have to have is a keyboard.  I’m the opposite of a Luddite; pencil and paper don’t do it for me.

There is no typical day, alas, but a day might look something like this:

5:00 alarm goes off.

5:15 alarm goes off.

5:30 alarm goes off, husband calls from the bathroom for me to get out of bed, already.

5:30-6 breakfast with husband

6-7:30 write and/or take care of emails, tweet, blog, etc.

7:30 wake kids up

7:30-8 while they watch something (these days, Meerkat Manor), I write

8-9 – feed kids, instruct them to eat, clean dishes, get dressed, do piano.  I sneak off to write.  Instead, I screw around on the Internet.

9-12:30 – school with the kids. Schlep MacBook Air around house; do emails, other stuff, and maybe a scene while they’re doing independent work

12:30-1:30 – lunch.  I write.  Or not.

1:30-3 – more school

3-6 – I write. Kids in my office are verboten.  Doesn’t matter; they come in anyway.

6-7:30 – chat with husband, fix dinner, eat.

7:30-9 – family time (often involving a computer on my lap and me writing)

9-10 (or later if I’m crunched) – write

That’s a “perfect” day.  More often, I get phone calls, have to take the kids to speech or Latin or violin or some other something.  So the 10pm often creeps back later and later.  Bad, as I’m a much less cranky mommy when I’ve had decent sleep!  (And in case you can’t guess, I do a lot of my writing on weekends.  That’s when I can get in the really big chunks of blissful writing time.)

Q4) Most challenging or rewarding part of writing?

Lately, the biggest challenge is finding blocks of time.  I can write in spurts.  I prefer a huge chunk. The most rewarding is the feedback from fans!

Happy Release Day Today

Sure!  WHEN PASSION LIES is the fourth in the Shadow Keepers series, which centers around a paranormal world with its own government hidden within ours.  In this book, I got to spend time with Caris (a really kick-ass female character who’s a vampire/werewolf hybrid) and her estranged love, Tiberius (who’s a very alpha vamp with a hatred of werewolves).  Theirs was an epic love, but something horrible happened and they were ripped apart.  The book is the story of how they get back together…set against the backdrop of a mission to save the world!

Q6) How did you come with the idea for this story?

Oh, goodness…I don’t know if I can recall the details!  I do know that it started with Caris.  She didn’t actually exist in the world at first.  But then she appeared on the page in the very first book, When Blood Calls, and she was such a cool character that she kept elbowing her way into stories until, finally, she demanded a book of her own!

Q7) Can you share with us your current work in progress?

I can’t!!!!!!  I’m weirdly superstitious that way.  I will say that I’m in the process of finalizing (editing, formatting, etc.) the sixth Demon Hunting Soccer Mom book (a series I write as Julie Kenner) and that it’ll be available in mid-June as an indie release.  I’m super excited because I love that series and have missed writing Kate!  (The book is PAX DEMONICA.  Folks who aren’t yet familiar with the series can get a sense of Kate and the world in the short story, The Demon You Know, which is available in e-format for only 99 cents!  You can read about all the Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom stories at http://www.demonhuntingsoccermom.com

Q8) Who are some of your favorite authors?

There are waaaaaay too many to list.  My “get it the second it comes out on my Kindle” author is J.D. Robb.  LOVE the In Death books.  I’ve glommed all of Sue Grafton, adore Scalzi, think Lee Child is fabulous, could sit all day reading Jill Churchill, recently started re-reading Anne Perry’s Pitt series, think Stephen King writes the most amazing characters, and on and on.  Frankly, I rarely find an author I don’t enjoy.  I. Read. Everything.

Q9) Do you feel that any of your favorite authors have inspired your writing style? 

Sure!  I’ll notice bits and pieces of tone coming into my work.  So I try not to read dark and depressing if I’m writing light fiction.  (The other way, though, works.  Even dark books need lighter moments!)

Coming in July 2012

Q10) What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?

Divergent!  I’ve heard such great things about it, and I haven’t yet had the chance to dive in.  But our neighborhood book club picked it, so I’ve got it and I’m starting it tonight.  (fingers crossed!)

Q11) Is there anything else you would like to add?

Just thanks for having me!  It’s been fun!  And I hope readers find me on Twitter and Facebook and visit me on the blog, where I share slices of both my writing and my personal life and thoughts on various gadgets I love!

http://www.twitter.com/juliekenner

http://www.twitter.com/jkbeck (the Julie Kenner twitter account is more active; I tend to mostly tweet release-related stuff as J.K. Beck)

http://www.facebook.com/juliekennerbooks (be sure to “like” the page for exclusive content; for example, I just ended one contest and another will come soon!)

http://www.facebook.com/jkbeckbooks (ditto!)

And I’m ramping up to offer exclusive content to my newsletter subscribers, too, so I hope folks sign up.  The link is on the banner of my website, http://www.juliekenner.com or http://www.jkbeck.com

Oh, and I recently discovered Pinterest.  I’m “juliekenner” over there.

(I’m not yet active on Goodreads, but I’m working on it.  I’ve had an account for years, but it’s sitting there stagnant.  Once I’ve got it down, I’ll add links to my webpage.  And if any readers have tips for navigating Goodreads, feel free to drop me a line or just comment on the blog!)

Thanks, Kelly!!

JK, is offering up a $25 Amazon gift card to one lucky commenter.  To enter please fill out the Rafflecopter form below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Beg For It by Stacey Kennedy

Beg For It

Pact of Seduction Book Two

BDSM Erotic Romance

Publisher: Loose Id

Length: Novella

Release date: May 29, 2012

BUY LINK

The Pact of Seduction has one rule—fulfill your ultimate fantasy. Bella’s problem, she can’t live up to her vow. But her failure spins events that lead her into unknown territory. Kole, a Dom at the sex club Castle Dolce Vita, wasn’t part of her fantasy, but he’s about to show her he should have been.

Kole is more than willing to introduce Bella to BDSM since he’s held an interest in her for some time. But the feisty woman isn’t easily tamed and her strong personality proves to be difficult. While she might be determined to keep him at a distance, Kole has other ideas. He won’t allow her to shut him out.

A pact between best friends brought them together, emotional barriers tear them apart. Kole skillfully reminds Bella through pleasure and punishment that she is now his submissive, and her place is under his command.

Publisher’s Note: This book contains explicit sexual situations, graphic language, and material that some readers may find objectionable: BDSM theme and elements, including spanking.

Teaser:

Copyright © STACEY KENNEDY, 2012

All Rights Reserved, Loose Id

Only one thing would save Bella now—a stiff drink. Reed and Kole’s parties were always fun, and it was nice to see new friends she’d made over the past month. But her mood was right in the toilet. It’d been that way all day and had only gotten worse since she joined the party. She shouldn’t have come.

She cursed on a low breath. How in the hell was she going to get out of her current predicament? Originally, it’d been she who offered the idea of the pact of seduction, and she couldn’t even commit. Pathetic.

Marley’s giggle drew her attention, and Reed had pulled her onto his lap, nibbling at her neck. As horrible as it was, jealously surged. Maybe she had hoped that her fantasy would fill that empty void in her soul. Sure, it was meant as something sexually fun, but Bella craved something…

A part of her remained unfulfilled, even if she didn’t understand exactly what was missing. All she knew, her life at this moment was boring with a side of totally sucks.

She glanced over at Kyra, who laughed with Sadie, and nudged her arm. “I’ll be back. I need some air.”

“Sure.” Kyra’s green eyes were a little glassy. The wine clearly had gotten to her. “Want some company?”

“Nah.” She plastered on a fake smile. “I won’t be long.”

Kyra gave a nod, then turned her attention back at Sadie as the two chuckled about something Sadie had said. If only Bella had something to laugh about. She rose from the couch and made her way through the crowd.

As she passed, she noticed a man sitting on the ottoman and a woman knelt at his feet with her arms over his legs. The position appeared casual enough, but it also looked…different. As if the woman enjoyed being at his feet. Another spurt of jealously soared, and she gave her head a good hard shake. She was apparently envious of everyone who had a relationship. And since when had she been jealous of a BDSM relationship?

What’s gotten into you?

She made her way through the living room and stepped out onto the balcony. The cool air brushed against her skin, and she shivered. Winter still hung on in Baltimore, but what a strange winter it’d been—snow one day, mild the next. Tonight was brisk, but that only seemed to help cool off the annoyance burning her blood.

With her glass in her hands, she leaned on the railing and glanced over the city. Reed and Kole’s condo had an amazing view and the lights twinkled below.

She sipped at her drink and pondered her situation. How could she plan another fantasy when the only one she wanted she had yet to fully accept herself? And why was she acting like a bitter idiot?

After a long gulp that had her cringing from the aftertaste, a deep voice interrupted her useless thoughts. “I heard last night didn’t go well.”

She lowered the glass, licked the moisture on her lips, and looked next to her to find Kole. Like always in his presence, butterflies fluttered in her stomach, but she squashed them and kept her voice controlled. “That’s putting it lightly.”

His blond stylish hair framed a face worth a second look, and his dark blue eyes shone with a power that made her melt. He leaned against the railing beside her, cocked his head, and she felt the weight of his stare right down to her toes. “Tell me about it.”

She sipped her drink, mortified to her bones that she had to admit this to Kole. “It wasn’t Raven’s fault. I”—she drew in a deep breath and said quickly—“I always thought my fantasy was to be with a woman, but clearly it’s not.”

“Ah, I see.” He took a gulp of his beer before he lowered it. “You didn’t get off, I’m assuming?”

She snorted. “If laughing in her face means that I didn’t get off, then yes, I didn’t get off.”

He chuckled, the sound so seductive Bella quivered. In response to that odd reaction, she examined him and couldn’t stop from admiring the view.

He was dressed in a pair of dark jeans that no doubt hugged his fine ass, and a black T-shirt that was snug around the muscles beneath. Good God. She licked her lips for reasons that had nothing to do with her drink.

“You didn’t follow through with your part of the pact, then?”

Her gaze lifted to his face. The glint in his eyes declared he’d been quite aware of her admiring him. Hell, she’d lusted after him since the day they met. A strong sexual attraction existed between them that she hadn’t experienced before with any man, especially a Dom.

She blinked and focused away from the warmth that formed between her thighs. “That’s right. I bailed on the pact.”

His gaze became penetrating as his tone dipped lower. “Why don’t you arrange another night with someone else for your fantasy?”

“Because”—her muscles stiffened, and after a long sigh, she grimaced—“I have no idea what that fantasy is now.”

“Such a problem for a woman to have,” he mused.

She gulped at the way his voice seemed to carry into her soul; then she lowered her head to avoid eye contact with him. He raised his bottle to his mouth, and his arm brushed against hers. Tingles zinged through her, and she squeezed her thighs together to ease the throb of her clit.

How did he make her body do that? Every time he was near, she all but sizzled, and when he touched her, everything was amplified.

“I see that you need help, then, in finding what you’re looking for.”

It hadn’t sounded like a question, which she was glad for since her tight throat made it impossible to answer. He slid his finger along her arm, slowly and with clear intent to unravel her.

She bit her bottom lip. “W-what does that mean?”

He tucked his finger under her chin and lifted her head. “I think we both know what I mean.” Those eyes of his burned with the lust that he had obviously contained. “You enjoy my attention, and I’d enjoy you under my command.”

Then he pressed a finger on the back of her hand and danced his touch up her arm. His gaze followed his caresses every step of the way. And damn him if she didn’t close her eyes and shudder.

A scrape of his nail along her skin drew her eyes open, and he grinned with sin. “Look how beautifully you react to me.” He finally reached her shoulder, and she trembled under the softness of his touch that seemed to contradict that power oozing from him. He tucked his fingers back under her chin, drew her head up, and stared intently into her eyes.

Searching for what, she had no idea.

His hold tensed, a shift in his gaze appeared that made her stomach flip-flop, and her panties were now soaked. He leaned in, pressed his lips against hers, and the world froze. His luscious and damn well perfect mouth molded with hers as his silky tongue swept her away. When had anyone ever kissed her like this?

Oh, right—never.

He kissed her thoroughly, leaving no part of her mouth untouched; then he backed away but kept hold of her chin. “It’s time to stop ignoring what your body needs and accept that you want to be dominated.”

Hell, how right was he? Maybe BDSM wasn’t her fantasy when she made the pact of seduction with her friends, but after hearing about it from Marley, her interest had grown. She lifted a lazy shoulder to appear nonchalant. “I suppose if I set up a scene with you, that would be a solution to my problem.”

“Not good enough.” His gaze hardened. “Do you want me to take you into a scene, Bella?”

At his pause, she realized she needed to give a better answer, and she nodded. “I do.”

He examined her for a long moment before he finally said, “Now what are your interests in BDSM?”

She melted at the way he stared at her now. So intense. So wicked. Was this a hint of what he’d look like in a scene? Her body flushed, yet she held her focus and lifted her chin. She had always prided herself on staying strong around powerful men.

Her job as a stockbroker in Baltimore’s top lending investment firm meant she swam with the sharks. Most of her coworkers were authoritative men. If she’d showed weakness, she wouldn’t be where she was today, and she’d worked hard for her position.

“I’m interested in”—her throat went dry. All these fantasies she hadn’t admitted to anyone. Was she really going through with this? Her soaking panties declared it so—“ropes, sex toys, floggers, to be controlled, pleasure, and pain.” She raised her glass to her mouth and tried to ignore the way her hands shook.

Before the rim could reach her lips, Kole snatched the glass from her hands and set it on the ground next to him. “If we’re discussing this and you are serious, you will stop drinking.”

A flare of irritation rose up that he’d be so bold to take her drink right out of her hands, yet Marley had said that Castle Dolce Vita Doms never allowed submissives to drink alcohol in a scene to ensure they were clearheaded. And since they were discussing what would happen between them, she let it go. “Okay.”

He gave a short nod. “Now I want to make sure you’re well aware of what will happen and what I expect of you.” His gaze searched hers, seemingly looking right through her. “And I need to be sure that I’m the correct Dom for you.”

“I don’t want anyone else,” she blurted out before she could stop herself.

His eyebrows rose. “I don’t mind your answer, Bella.” A small grin turned up the corners of his mouth. “But do tell—have you put more thought into this than you’re letting on?”

Her cheeks had never burned so hot, but she wouldn’t be that woman who’d stumble around a man. She stuffed her nervousness away, clasped her hands, and demanded her voice to be strong. “Maybe once or twice.”

She’d been aware of the mutual attraction between them, so two could play his game. “Are you trying to deny you haven’t thought about it too?”

He winked. “Maybe once or twice.”

A flutter whipped around inside her, her palms grew clammy, and she squeezed her fingers. Why did he make her act so…knocked off her axis?

“One thing that needs to be discussed is my expectations.” He glanced at her hands for a moment as if he took in her reaction before he looked back into her eyes. “From what I know of you as you are now, you’d struggle to meet them. And I want to make that clear so you know what you’re getting yourself into.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” she snapped. “Why would I struggle to meet your demands?”

He gave his head a slow shake. “I’m not saying it to insult you, but to give you a stern warning. I don’t play lightly.”

“Well, I…” Her entire face burned hot as if she had a high-grade fever. Marley had told her all about Kole. How he enjoyed pain play. How strict he was in how a submissive behaved. And all it’d done was increase the throb between her thighs. Solidified the fantasy. “I think I might like that.”

He gave a delicious smile. “I have no doubt you would.”

And then his lips were back on hers as he swept her away in another leg-wobbling kiss before those plush lips tore away from hers.

“You’ll arrive at the castle next Friday at seven o’clock. I’ll have a room reserved.” He dropped his head, his eyes in the direct line of hers. “When you arrive, remove your clothes, kneel in the center of the room, and wait for me. Clear?”

Heat spread across her body at the images playing in her head. Nude? Kneeling? Oh God! She quivered in anticipation.

At his expectant expression, she nodded instead of offering him a breathy response.

“Good.” He took her mouth again playfully, nibbled on the corners of her lips, and flicked her lips with his tongue. And when he had her body ramped up to a fever pitch, he backed away to trail his thumb over her lips. “Can you be honest and open with me?”

Drool, honest-to-God drool, formed in her mouth. Everyday Kole was sexy. Dom Kole was to die for. The sheer power that exuded from him, intensity in his features, it all captivated her. He’d asked her to be honest with him—how hard could that be? “I can do that.”

He nodded in approval, skimmed her mouth again with his thumb, while his gaze stayed focused there. The smile he gave, the possessiveness held in the depths of his eyes, liquefied her insides.

Something sparked through his touch, only increasing with his kiss, and even more so by the way he looked at her now. One of those duh moments. Had what she wanted—desired—been standing right in front of her this entire time?

In less than a week, she’d have the answer.

 

~*~

 

 

Website | Blog | Facebook |Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page

 Stacey Kennedy’s erotic romance novels are just that…erotic. There is nothing better than taking the dominant men she loves and watching them do wicked things to their women. But she just can’t write without a little humor added into the mix so that’s always a must have in her stories. And of course what’s a story without a big dose of emotional characters, too. Her urban fantasy/paranormal and erotic romance series have hit Amazon Kindle and All Romance eBooks bestseller lists. Stacey welcomes comments from readers. You can find her at www.staceykennedy.com.

 

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Spotlight Feature of Donya Lynne’s All The Kings Men Series & giveaway

 “Rise of the Fallen”, Book 1

BUY NOW:   Amazon / B&N / Smashwords

In the streets of Chicago exists an uneasy, centuries-old truce between vampires and their distant cousins, a race of shifters called drecks.  Vampire enforcement agency, All the King’s Men (AKM), is charged with maintaining the truce, but when volatile enforcer Micah Black loses his mate and falls into the biological agony that results from the broken bond, he tests the boundaries of the truce by seeking out Apostle, a leader in the dreck community.  Micah wants Apostle to kill him, a request Apostle is more than happy to fulfill. 

 When ex-Army medic Samantha Garrett inadvertently disrupts the plot and saves Micah’s life, a chain reaction sets Micah’s heart on a collision course with Sam’s, but he will have to protect her from Apostle and her obsessive ex-husband, Steve, if they will have a chance at forever.  Can Micah hold his emotions together to keep Sam alive? 

  

“Heart of the Warrior”, Book 2

BUY NOW:  Amazon / B&N / Smashwords 

Severin was born to be a warrior. Conceived as a mixed-blood when his vampire father raped his dreck mother over two centuries ago, Severin retained the power of iron skin inherent to newborn drecks. However, Sev keeps this secret closely guarded. If it’s discovered that inferior dreck blood flows in his vampire veins, it could destroy his life. And to make matters worse, his father suddenly wants to make amends for his transgressions. Sev wants nothing of his father’s apology, especially now, as he contends with both an assassin who has marked Sev for blood vengeance and his obsessive attraction to his teammate, Arion.

Arion is the son of King Bain’s liaison, Gregos Savakis, who had Ari’s course plotted before he was even born. But what Ari’s overbearing parents wanted for him wasn’t what Arion wanted for himself, and a lifetime spent fighting through one relationship after another with females from all walks of life has left him weary in his search for a mate. After a startling and erotic encounter with Sev, Ari has begun to realize why. He’s gay. And now he can’t stop thinking about Sev. Arion suddenly realizes he’s been forcing himself to be with females because that’s what his parents expected. But what he wants is a male, and not just any male. Arion wants Severin.

Can the two overcome the secrets, prejudice, plotting, and the threat on Severin’s life to find happily ever after with each other?

 

Donya Lynne’s Bio:

Donya resides in Indianapolis, Indiana, with her husband and a small zoo of cats and dogs. In fact, her writing buddy, Lucky, serves as her writing assistant most days, staying right by her side and distracting Donya with her adorable-ness when needed. Because, hey, every author needs a distraction once in a while.

As a little girl, Donya always had a book in her hand. As she got older, the books became pens and notebooks, which she filled with stories and poetry. For as long as she remembers, she has been writing and studying the writing craft with the goal of being published one day. She is passionate about providing readers with what she calls an experience. She wants readers to be able to sink into her stories and escape reality for just a little while, and every word is written, and every sentence structured, with that goal in mind.

Donya loves music and often finds inspiration for her stories in the wide range of music she listens to. But occasionally it’s a movie, a book, or just a drive around town that inspires her work. She constantly reads new material, new authors, and different styles of writing as a means to improve her own, and believes the writing process is one an author should always strive to perfect, even though perfecting it is an impossible feat. It’s the thrill of the chase and the challenge that keeps her from getting stagnant in her own work.

She has several projects planned and in progress, including eight more novels and two novellas in the All the King’s Men series, as well as several stand-alone novels, another series, and several short stories and novellas. She would love to share her journey with you in this exciting venture.

 

Don’t forget to check out the rest of Donya’s Tour Stops:

Donya Lynne’s

HEART OF THE WARRIOR Blog Tour

May 29 – June 14

May 29 – Book n Kisses

May 30 – Delicate Simplicity

May 31 – Page Flipperz

June 1 – I Smell Sheep

June 4 – Lori’s Book Blog

June 5 – W Lynn Chantale – Decadent Decisions

June 9 – Book Lovin’ Mamas

June 12 –  Paranormal Addicts

June 14 –  The Reading Cafe

 GIVEAWAY TIME:

Donya is giving an eBook of winners choice, wither Rise of the Fallen OR Heart of the Warrior

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

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I think we are up!!

It looks like we are up and running.  Please note the we are still working on arranging everything so please be patient with us.

 

Going to grab a cup of coffee and start working on the organization. 

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Shayla Blacks Doomsday Brethren Series

Tempt Me with Darkness
Doomsday Brethren #1

He’s an immortal knight hungering for satisfaction….
As soon as Marrok sees Olivia Gray’s dark windswept hair and burning violet eyes, he’s sure they’ve met in eons past. He’s felt her soft gentle curves writhing in pleasure beneath his own hard powerful body…Morganna! For centuries, towering Marrok, once the mightiest of King Arthur’s warriors, has endured a terrible curse cast upon him when he spurned the witch.

She’s a modern woman about to discover ancient magic….
Olivia shares a mystical – and irresistible – connection with brooding Marrok. Soon after the sexy warrior appears in her erotic dreams, he abducts her, demanding she uncurse him. Their intense passion is more powerful – and intimate – than either of them has ever known. Olivia may be the key to unlocking the diary that will break Morganna’s hold on his life. But in the wrong hands, the book also holds the power to destroy all magickind. As they search for answers, a ruthless wizard returned from exile is building an army of evil. When he discovers Marrok and Olivia have the diary, only their love – with the help of a powerful group of magical Brethren – can save them.

Fated
Doomsday Brethren #1.5
Kari Keswick and Ronan Wolvesey burned for one another, but a deadly family curse targets their love with destruction. Will magic tear them apart?
Seduce Me in Shadow
Doomsday Brethren #2
When a villainous wizard escapes from exile, the devastatingly sexy Doomsday Brethren must defend all magickind in the spellbinding second book in bestselling author Shayla Black’s seductive new paranormal series.

Ex-marine Caden MacTavish has shunned his magical heritage all his life, but he will do anything to heal his desperately ill brother, a Doomsday Brethren warrior in mourning for his missing mate. Posing as a photographer, Caden must convince firecracker tabloid reporter Sydney Blair to reveal the source of her recent exposé on a supernatural power clash. Unfortunately, keeping his hands off the sizzling redhead proves as hard as getting them onto the potent and mystical Doomsday Diary he discovers at her bedside. A bloody rebellion led by an evil, power-hungry wizard is imminent. If Sydney divulges the book’s existence, she will jeopardize magickind’s most deeply guarded secrets and become the ruthless wizard’s number one target. Caden has never trusted magic’s cruel and dangerous powers, but he will protect Sydney with his life and magic — even if it means risking his heart.

Possess Me at Midnight
Doomsday Brethren #3
The sexy warrior Ice Rykard finds himself craving beautiful Sabelle Rion

As a mysterious dark cloud drains the life of her beloved brother, Doomsday Brethren leader Bram, Sabelle Rion can think of little else. Still, every time she meets Ice Rykard’s intense green gaze, her body aches with need for the sexy warrior. Their attraction is explosive, incredible—and forbidden. As dangerous as he is unpredictable, Ice is her brother’s sworn enemy. But as Bram weakens, a more sinister force is gaining power. Evil Mathias and his ruthless Anarki army are on a bloodthirsty hunt for the Doomsday Diary. Sabelle must guard the potent book with her life—and Ice vows to protect the beautiful witch with his. Duty demands that Sabelle deny her lover’s fiery call of possession and mate with a man who can sway the magical Council against the impending rebellion. With the fate of magickind hanging in the balance, will she forsake the burning desires she can’t ignore or turn her back on her people for the courageous man she can’t resist?

Haunted by Your Touch
Doomsday Brethren #3.5
“USA Today “and “New York Times “bestselling author Jeaniene Frost seduces readers into a forbidden new world as she teams up with romance stars Shayla Black and Sharie Kohler for a sizzling collection of original novellas featuring fallen angels, anarchistic demons, warrior wizards, and irresistibly dangerous creatures of the night.Enter the dark realm of Nocturna in Jeaniene Frost’s redhot tale, where blisteringly sexy Raphael dominates the demons of a lawless dimension and tries to help a beautiful young woman avenge her cousin’s disappearance. In the shadowy world of Shayla Black’s Doomsday Brethren, magical warrior Raiden vows to protect his woman and their unborn youngling from evil–and deliver her safely to another man. But once he’s saved her, can he let her go? Lycans rule the night in Sharie Kohler’s suspenseful story, as a fiery woman stalks mysterious Luc, the undeniably hypnotic being she believes can save her from turning . . . “if “she kills him. Danger beckons in these captivating paranormal tales that will tempt readers to the edge and leave them begging for more
Entice Me at Twilight
Doomsday Brethren #4
In national bestselling author Shayla Black’s electrifying new novel, the Doomsday Brethren fight their mortal enemy for the newest weapon in a bloody magical war: the one woman a warrior shouldn’t claim . . . yet can’t resist.
Dangerously handsome Simon Northam, Duke of Hurstgrove, and his uptight brother Mason are hardly close, but crashing Mason’s wedding and stealing his fiancee further aggravate their sibling rivalry. Duke’s family has no notion he’s a wizard, so how can he explain that magickind’s fate lies with the beautiful, tenacious bride he longs to seduce? Felicia is an Untouchable, a rare human whose presence disables magic–even the impenetrable forces surrounding Morganna le Fay’s tomb. The evil witch’s malicious powers could propel nefarious wizard Mathias to ultimate world domination . . . “if “he can resurrect her. To conceal herself, Felicia must succumb to her smoldering desire for Duke, but he risks binding his life–and sanity– to a lover whose loyalties are forever torn. He faces a choice: betray his brother for ultimate survival . . . or lose the woman who tempts him beyond control.
Embrace Me at Dawn
Doomsday Brethren #5
No man will ever define her again.
Anka MacTavish lost everything when Mathias D’Arc captured her, shattered her bond with her mate, and broke both her body and spirit. Determined to heal her bleeding soul, she joins the Doomsday Brethren’s fight to vanquish the evil wizard and seize her revenge. But becoming a magical warrior will require close contact with her former mate, the love who’s never left her heart, Lucan. And she’ll have to explain why she left him and fled to the arms of another lover…

No woman can ever take her place.
Lucan’s world crumbled when Anka escaped Mathias and sought protection from his long-time rival, Shock. Now she has returned, and Lucan must train her to confront a new and terrible danger that threatens magickind. With every punch, blow, and parry, Lucan discovers that Anka isn’t the demure wife he once knew, and his growing desire for this woman is a need he can’t control. He vows to do whatever it takes to reclaim her heart and make her his once more. But when the Doomsday Brethren are forced to make an unlikely alliance, it will test Anka’s resolve like never before. To survive, she and Lucan must rely on one another, face their deepest fears…and expose the dark secrets that threaten to destroy everything, including their love

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Guest Blog & giveaway with Carrie Lofty

A How-To on Hot Kisses
By Carrie Lofty
To me, the most important thing about writing a kiss that’ll curl toes is to get deep down into a character’s point of view. The last thing you want is to make the reader feel as if she’s looking at a lovely painting. Be the paint! Be the harshness and need and sweat! Think of it more as an experiment in how much sensation you can describe in one sitting, rather than who touched what where. Sensation is the key to seducing the reader with a kiss.
Let’s take the example of William and Catrin from my $.99 novella from Pocket, “A Little More Scandal.” They’ve just had an argument, and argument kisses are a lot different from other, sweeter, more measured or intentional kisses. These can be the most powerful and demanding physical scenes to write, outside of describing a fully intimate encounter, because they can also reveal tumultuous thoughts that a more logical, measured mind might not dare think.
Here’s William:
Their mouths did not meld; they dueled. She fought back as much as she acquiesced, with her tongue a weapon at turns defending and assaulting. He pushed deeper into her wet warmth, where her maddening ideas—she was so bloody quick of mind—found voice. Those lips. God, he could kiss them for the rest of time. She felt that good, that right.
Ooops. He had thoughts about her specialness! Let’s do continue, shall we?
“You silly, stupid girl,” he rasped against her throat. Her hands slipped up his forearms, his biceps, to the sharp tension between his shoulders and his neck. A brief squeeze. He nearly groaned. Then her clever fingers untied his cravat and slid down his nape, as if searching for even more of him—more forbidden places. “You have no idea what it is to be married to me.”
If you like, add in a dash of humor to keep the reader smiling as she’s melting into a puddle of romance goo.
“Surely it involves more of this,” Catrin said.
But of course, a hero bested by such a quick wit may feel the need to retaliate—in the best, tastiest sense.
William growled into her mouth. He kissed her with the abandon he rarely felt, always constrained by his ambitions and concern about how he should appear and behave to achieve them. Catrin upended those expectations. He dragged a huge breath into his chest. The burn of holding it in while he plunged his tongue between her lips was a quiet torture and a means of staying sane. He wanted to take her, to rip her clothes, tug her hair, make her scream.
Bloody hell. How dare she be so contrary to what he had planned?
Another ooops. All those pesky plans suddenly in disarray—probably like her hair and their clothes will be once they finally come up for air.
So remember. Lots of sensation. Thoughts that move the romantic plot along. A sprinkle of humor. And a hero and heroine who aren’t above demanding what they really crave. More, more, more…
“A Little More Scandal”
http://www.carrielofty.com/LittleScandal.html

Flawless
The Christies #1
A passion this seductive is more precious than diamonds…Sir William Christie, ruthless tycoon and notorious ladies’ man, is dead. Now his four grown children have gathered for the reading of his will. What lies in store for stepsiblings Vivienne, Alexander, and twins Gareth and Gwyneth? Stunning challenges that will test their fortitude across a royal empire…and lead them to the marvelously passionate adventures of their lives.

Lady Vivienne Bancroft fled England for New York, hoping to shed the confines of her arranged marriage to unrepentant rogue Miles Durham, Viscount Bancroft—though she never forgot the fiery desire he unleashed with his slightest touch. And when the gambling man arrives on her doorstep for a little sensual revenge for her desertion, he is met with Vivienne’s dilemma: She must earn her father’s inheritance by profitably running a diamond business worth millions in colonial South Africa. 

Swept together in an exotic undertaking filled with heated passion and hungry temptation, will Vivienne and Miles discover that the marriage vows they once made are the greatest snare—or the most treasured reward?


A Little More Scandal
The Christies #1.5
May 29, 2012
Digital Novella
  
Welsh minister’s daughter Catrin Jones is the talk of Britain. Many women served as nurses in the Crimean War, skirting the edge of propriety to tend lonely soldiers’ wounds, but only Catrin survived a shipwreck on her return voyage. Suddenly, like a circus curiosity, everyone wants a glimpse of the scandalous Miss Jones. Scarred, opinionated, and adjusting to a rush of fame so very different from far-away battlefields, she’s not the sort of woman Scottish robber baron William Christie aspires to marry. 
Following a decade of brilliant business maneuvers, William is on the verge of securing a key railroad contract. But his aristocratic wife’s death during childbirth meant the loss of considerable influence. Few in Society have forgiven his up-from-the-gutters youth. With respectability, wealth, and his two-year-old son finally his to claim, William must decide whether an extraordinary nurse is worth embracing just a little more scandal….

Starlight
The Christies #2
June 26th 2012
Passion sparkles forever . . . in the shining eyes of a true love.An esteemed astronomer, Alex Christie, the eldest and most steadfast of the Christie siblings, has never possessed his late father’s ruthless business drive. But to protect his frail infant son from his cruel father-in-law’s bid for custody, the young widower must undertake Sir William Christie’s posthumous million-dollar challenge: to make a Glasgow cotton mill profitable. At sea in an industrial world of sabotage and union agitation, Alex meets Polly Gowan, daughter of a famed union leader, who hopes to seize a mysterious saboteur without involving the police.

Because a sympathetic mill master would aid her cause, Polly becomes Alex’s guide to urban Scotland. From soccer games to pub brawls, Alex sees another side of life, and feels free for the first time to reveal the man—vital and strong—behind his intellectual exterior. Polly is utterly seduced. Their ambitions, however, remain at odds: Alex vows to earn the mill bonus to save his child, while Polly fights for the needs of her people. Is there strength enough in their sparkling passion to bind them together in their quests—and in a lasting love that conquers all?

GIVEAWAY TIME

I’d love to give away a print copy of FLAWLESS, the first of the Christies series from Pocket. (“A Little More Scandal” is a tie-in novella.) I’ll ship anywhere.  
To enter for a chance to win Carrie’s book Flawless please fill out the Rafflecopter from below.  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Interview with Laura Deluca

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Laura Deluca to the blog today to talk about her new book Phantom.  



Laura “Luna” DeLuca lives at the beautiful Jersey shore with her husband and four children.  She loves writing in the young adult genre because it keeps her young at heart. In addition to writing fiction, Laura is also the sole author of a popular review blog called New Age Mama. She is an active member of her local pagan community, and has been studying Wicca for close to eight years. 
Website / Facebook / Twitter

 

Can you please share with us a little about yourself. 

In addition to being a young adult author, I am also a mom to four great kids, own a restaurant, and run a product review blog called New Age Mama. I live at the Jersey Shore (no, I don’t know Snooki), and I love spending the summer on the beach. It’s the best place to write.

Have you always wanted to be an author? I knew I was a writer for as long as I can remember. When I was in kindergarten, I wrote a book about bunnies getting married. When I was thirteen, I completed my first novel. I think writing is definitely in my blood, and I’ll probably die with a pen in my hand.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?
I write like I’m still in the 90’s, when I was a teenager myself. I want to hang Guns N Roses posters on the wall, I have people talking on touch tone phones, and I never think to add in cell phones or computers on my first draft. Those are normally things I edit in on the second or third draft when I realize that I forgot what decade it is…

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

Phantom is a modern day version of the Phantom of the Opera.  The high school drama club is performing the play, and like the musical, my heroine, Rebecca, finds herself torn between her two co-stars, the Gothic Phantom, Justyn, and the surfing hero, Tom.  When real life begins to mimic the play, and people start to get hurt, Rebecca needs to figure out who is bringing the twisted character of the Phantom to life before it’s too late.

How did you come with the idea for this story?
I went with a shorter version of the book and play that were inspiration for the story.

Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?
I am currently working on a fantasy novel calledMorrigan. Morrigan is a teenage witch who has been shuffled from one foster home to another all her life.  Now she is about to discover she is a princess from the mystical land of Tír Na NÓg. The handsome werewolf Filtiarn guides her through countless perils to find her mother, Ceridwyn, and grandmother, Hecate. Only together can they complete the magical triad and save their world. 

I am also considering a sequel to Phantom based on the musical “Sweeney Todd”.

Who is the one author that you would love to meet someday and why?
I would love to meet Christopher Pike. He was my favorite young adult author when I was a teenager, and he remains my idol to this day. His stories were unique and original. He is still writing today, but has moved on to adult novels.

What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?
Learn to take criticism and use it to improve your work. This is a harsh business at times, and I have gotten some rejections that made me want to cry. But when I really listened to what they were saying, I could see where my work needed improvement, and it’s made me a better writer, which has subsequently led to me getting published.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list? I want to see Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids before I die. I think it would be great inspiration for future novels.
What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?
I am dying to read Taking 1960 by Rosa Sophia. She is my editor and her time travelling book sounds amazing. I actually have a copy already, and plan to start it shortly.

Is there anything else you would like to add?
Thanks so much for including me on your blog! It’s been an honor to visit with you.




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Interview with Christine Warner



Can you please share with us a little about yourself
I am living my dream in rural Michigan along with my husband, three children, one laptop and a much loved assortment of furry friends. 
Besides laughing until my sides hurt, I enjoy spending time with my family, cooking, reading, writing—but no arithmitic.  I am a confessed people watcher.  You’d be surprised how many times this activity has given me inspiration for stories.  I love to read and write about strong heroes and determined, sometimes sassy, heroines.
I also have a new addiction.  I’m a girl gone wild, at least where social media is concerned.  I enjoy meeting other avid readers and writers on facebook, twitter and my website at christine-warner.com.
Have you always wanted to be an author?
From the time I won a few essay competitions I was bitten with the writing bug.  But I think what really threw me across the line and made me think about writing books was when I was in middle school and won a writing contest.   My story was printed and bound then placed on a shelf in the library.  It was a huge moment for me.
Can you share with us your typical writing day.  Is there anything you have to have while writing?
It’s not very glamorous J  I normally wake up about 5am and start writing.  If I’m being good and the words are flowing on my WIP, I will generally write for several hours.  Sometimes I have to think through a scene and I find that it usually helps to get up and do housework…can you believe that?  Lol.  I have to admit that when I’m washing dishes, folding laundry, vacuuming or whatever, I can usually solve any plot dilemma I come across. 
If I’m not working on a story, or not feeling like working on my WIP, I will spend time outlining a new story, filling out character sketches or reading a book about craft.  I also enjoy socializing on my blog, facebook and twitter.  (which I think I mentioned above…it’s a fun addiction.)
The main thing I have to have while writing is quiet.  I don’t like to have music on or even the tv.  The only sounds I have in the background are the snores of my two dogs.  lol
Most challenging or rewarding part of writing?
The most rewarding part of writing is to start out with just a simple idea and watch it grow into a complete story.  I love the challenge of developing my characters and my plots and having them all fall into place.  And of course when you write “THE END”, there’s no better feeling of accomplishment.
Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?
I’d be happy to.  
Here’s my blurb for Some Like it in Handcuffs:
Some Like it in Handcuffs is available in print and digital format at:
http://thewildrosepress.com/
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/
http://www.amazon.com/

Sunny Kennedy, the only female in a family of blue blood male detectives, is determined to prove testosterone isn’t the only qualification required to solve a cold case. Handcuffed while undercover then taken to the precinct by an attractive detective, her domineering family demands she work with Detective Judson Blackwolf, or she’s off the case.
Judson Blackwolf thinks women in law enforcement should work behind the scenes. The prospect of working with his Captain’s sexy daughter doesn’t thrill him. He only agrees in hopes of solving the murder of his one time mentor’s daughter. Once the case is over, he’s moving to Montana to heal his wounds from the loss of his last partner.
But when their investigation takes a dangerous turn, Sunny and Jud soon realize their feelings for each other cannot be denied.
And here’s a small excerpt:
The sharp rap on the front door echoed through
her apartment and Sunny jumped. One of the
photographs slipped from her hand and fell to the
rug which covered the worn wooden floor. Chocolate
meowed, jumped from the edge of the yellow leather
sofa then took off for the safety of the bedroom.
Sunny hadn’t realized how quiet the room had
become. The crime scene photos absorbed all of her
attention.
On her way to the door, she looked over the top
of her reading glasses to check the clock on the far
wall. Relieved, she smiled, and pushed her glasses
up the ridge of her nose. There was plenty of time
before she needed to get ready for work.
Pulling the door open as far as the chain
allowed, her eyes widened when she recognized her
visitor. Pleasure welled up inside of her at the sight
of Judson standing on the doorstep. At the same
time, a cold grip of dread climbed her spine. She’d
avoided his calls the last couple of days in hopes he’d
forget about her. Apparently he was as persistent as
she.
“Detective Blackwolf, how can I help you?” She
sounded breathless, excited even, and it annoyed
her. Just because he sent her pulse into hyper-speed
didn’t mean she had to let him know.
“I stopped by to make sure you’re okay.”
“Yes, I’m fine. Thanks. Have a good night.” She
started to close the door, but he slapped his palm
against the wood.
“I’ve called and left several messages.” He raised
one eyebrow a fraction and continued, “How about
letting me in for a chat?”
“About what?”
“You can figure it out.” He stared at her through
the narrow slit in the door, his expression devoid of
humor.
“Hmm, you’re full of intrigue, hang on a sec.”
Sunny closed the door to release the chain and
paused chewing on her lower lip. If only she had
pretended not to be at home. She needed to invest in
a peep hole so she could screen her visitors. Taking a
deep breath, she released the lock and gestured him
inside with a defeated wave of her hand. “Come on
in. Let’s talk.”
As he sauntered past her, hands tucked inside
the front pockets of his trousers, her gaze drifted to
the taut fabric stretched over his behind. Heat flared
on her cheeks, and she looked away, but not before
her glasses slid down to the tip of her nose.
How did you come with the idea for this story?
This might sound silly, but I actually came up with the title first.  Some Like it in Handcuffs popped into my head and from that 5 word title a story developed.  Characters were formed, a setting was built and conflicts and plots were worked out.  That seems to be how most of my stories start, I come up with a title and work from that.
Can you share with us your current work in progress?
I’m actually finishing up edits before submitting the sequel to Some Like it in Handcuffs.  This next book is titled Some Like it on the Run and features Sunny’s brother Derek.  This is fast paced and full of action and I’ve loved writing it.  I’m also tweaking a contemporary romance that I’m planning to submit to Entangled Publishing.  They contracted another book of mine recently for their Indulgence Line with Lori Wilde and I’m hoping they’ll consider this next book as well
Who are some of your favorite authors?
If only it were that simple.  Unfortunately I can’t really pick just one.  There are so many authors and so may wonderful books.  I made a vow to myself this year to try new genres and I have several books loaded on my Nook ready to help me expand my reading world.  And in the process I’m excited that I’ll be adding more authors to my “must read” list.
Do you feel that any of your favorite authors have inspired your writing style?
Since I don’t really have a favorite author I can’t pinpoint an answer to any certain person in particular.  I would have to say each book I’ve read over the years has influenced me and taught me what I like and don’t like about certain styles.  Of course all of that reading molded me and I’m sure I’ve incorporated several of those likes into my own writing.
 
What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?
Besides reading romance, I love reading true crime.  Ann Rule is one of the authors I enjoy the most in that genre.  I’m hoping she’ll have something coming out soon.  As for a book I have in my tbr, unfortunately that pile grows quicker than I can whittle it down.  Time is limited lately.  I have several books I’d like to get started on.  One for sure is from an author friend Brenda Dyer and her book is titled Love’s Prophecy.  I made a promise to myself that I would go outside my comfort zone in regards to different genres and I’ve never read much paranormal.  Brenda’s book is about a vampire and I’m curious to check out her story.  I’ve read several short blurps and I’m way intrigued.
And you can find me at:
My blog/website:  http://christine-warner.com/
Twitter under ChristinesWords: https://twitter.com/#!/ChristinesWords
My Facebook page…stop by and give it a LIKE to keep up on what I have coming up: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Christine-Warner/143430882396013
I love to hear from readers and other authors J  
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Interview & Giveaway with Shona Husk

Books-n-Kisses is SUPER excited to have Shona Husk on the blog today.  

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
A civil designer by day and an author by night, Shona Husk lives in Western Australia at the edge of the Indian Ocean. Drawing on history, myth and imagination, she writes about heroes who are armed and dangerous but have a heart of gold—sometimes literally. You can find out more information about Shona and her edgy romances at http://www.shonahusk.com/ or follow her on Twitter, @ShonaHusk. 

Can you please share with us a little about yourself
SH: My twitter bio sums me up very succinctly: I design roads, write paranormal romance, read books and eat chocolate—not all at the same time.
In my day job I’m a civil designer which is road and drainage design; I often joke that working in an office of technically minded guys is the reason why I write romance. It’s the perfect escape, and the men are always heroes in romance—unlike in real life. I also buy too many books and I probably eat too much chocolate, but dark chocolate is almost a health food, right?
Have you always wanted to be an author?
SH: Even though I wrote as a child, I pursued a more usual career path before returning to writing as an adult. I have always been a reader though and that has never stopped and even when I wasn’t actually writing I was still making up stories for my own amusement—they just never made it onto paper.
What is your most interesting writing quirk?
SH: I use pen and paper a lot. To plot, to brainstorm and to write. I’ve written a whole book longhand sitting by the side of the pool at my kids swimming lessons (Dark Vow) and plotted another while sitting in an airport.
Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?
SH: Kiss of the Goblin Prince is book 2 in the Shadowlands series, which is a trilogy about cursed Celtic heroes and their struggle to be free of the Shadowlands—a place where goblins roam and nightmares are born. Dai was once a prince but now he is human again in a world that has changed even if he hasn’t, and all the misdeeds he’s committed over the years catch up with him. There’s magic, and danger, and romance as Dai and Amanda help each other heal and move forward. There’s also a visit back to the Shadowlands to save an old friend…
How did you come with the idea for this story?
SH: Dai had a supporting role in The Goblin King. He was Roan’s younger brother. Incredibly clever and well versed in all kinds of magical lore, but he also harbored a few secrets of his own. I knew I had to write about him next, so I actually spent some time fleshing out his character while I was writing The Goblin King. I didn’t realize he was going to be interested in Amanda until I wrote the last scene of The Goblin King, but from there Dai’s story unraveled.
Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?
SH: I’m doing edits on the last Shadowlands book, For the Love of a Goblin Warrior, and also Enchanting Absinthe. But I’ve also been working on a new erotic fantasy romance for Ellora’s Cave (magic and demi-gods) and a new trilogy in a totally new world for Sourcebooks which has been a lot of fun.
Who is the one author that you would love to meet someday and why?
SH: I love Katharine Kerr’s Deverry series, so to meet her would be great. Another author whose work I like is Jim Butcher.
What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?
SH: Read a lot and read widely, and write. Write everyday even if it is only a paragraph and don’t be afraid to try different things—you never know where it will take you.
Can you share with us something off your bucket list?
SH: I’ve just done something off my bucket list which was take the kids to Disney and see some of America. It was a great holiday—my credit card doesn’t agree. Most of my bucket list involves travel, although I’d love to take a spin in a race car. There’s a place a few hours from where I live that does hot laps, but I just haven’t gotten around to doing it. I should, maybe I could call it research…
What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?
SH: I’ve been working my way through my TBR pile while I was on holiday. The Hawk of May is on my ereader, it’s an Arthurian re-telling (love them!) and Hounded by Kevin Hearne which I have in print, he had me at “tattooed Irish dude”. After reading Mariana by Susanna Kearsley, and loving it, I’m looking forward to reading Shadowy Horses.
Want to learn more about Shona or her books?  You can find her here.  
Website~~http://www.shonahusk.com 
Twitter~~www.twitter.com/ShonaHusk
Facbook~~www.facebook.com/shonahusk
Goodreads~~ http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3464665.Shona_Husk

KISS OF THE GOBLIN PRINCE BY SHONA HUSK – IN STORES MAY 2012

The Man of Her Dreams…
He is like a prince in a fairy tale: tall, outrageously handsome, and way too dark for her own good. Amanda has been hurt before, though. And with her daughter’s illness, the last thing she needs right now is a man. But the power of Dai King is hard to resist. And when he threads his hands through her hair and pulls her in for a kiss, there is no denying it feels achingly right.

In a Land of Nightmares…
After being trapped in the Shadowlands for centuries with the goblin horde a constant threat, Dai revels in his newfound freedom back in the human realm. But even with the centuries of magic he’s accumulated, he still doesn’t know how to heal Amanda’s daughter—and it breaks his heart. Yet for the woman he loves, he’d risk anything…including a return to the Shadowlands.


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