Author: Kelly

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Interview with Jenna Jaxon

Please help us welcome Jenna Jaxon to the blog today. 



Can you please share with us a little about yourself
I am a multi-published author of historical and erotic contemporary romance, a wife and mother of two teen-aged girls, a working theatre director and a college instructor.  I have a penchant for the darker side of romance—any way I can make things dark and twisty for you the reader, the better I feel I’ve done my job.
Have you always wanted to be an author? 
Yes.  I wrote my first story when I was in third grade about a woman who finds a kitten.  I distributed copies to the first grade class, so I suppose I can consider myself published at the age of 9. J
What is your most interesting writing quirk?
 When I write scholarly/academic papers, I have to have the TV on or music or music videos so I can tune them out.  When I write romance, I have to have dead silence to write quickly and efficiently.  I think I need to hear my muse and my characters whispering in my ear.
Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)? 
My most recent publication was Almost Perfect, an erotic contemporary novella.  It’s part of Decadent Publishing’s 1Night Stand series and this month’s Read For A Cure Book.  It’s the story of two people stranded on a deserted island who have to come to terms with how they’ve changed in the two years they’ve been divorced.  And what happens when their passion for each other flares again.
How did you come with the idea for this story? 
I was toying with the idea of writing for the 1Night Stand line, thinking about what two people I could bring together who would initially make each other miserable and the idea of a divorced couple suddenly popped into my head.  I was on the Metro in DC.  My muse has such a sense of humor.
Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?
My next release (at this point still technically a WIP) is a full length historical romance, Only Scandal WillDo, set in Georgian London.  It’s set to release later this summer.  Then I’m querying another historical, a late-Victorian romance between an English lady and an American architect called As Long As You’re Mine. And this summer I’m working on revising the second book in the Scandal series, Only Marriage Will Do, and my medieval trilogy, Time Enough to Love.
Who is the one author that you would love to meet someday and why?
 Jo Beverley, my favorite romance author.  I’ve loved all her works, especially her Malloren series.  She gave me my love for the Georgian period and my Georgian series is in large part due to her inspiration.
What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?   Keep writing no matter what.  A dear friend , romance author Judi McCoy, once told me  “You can fix crap, you can’t fix nothing.”  She’s absolutely right.
Can you share with us something off your bucket list.
 I want to take a hot air balloon ride.  I’m deathly afraid of heights, but the romance of a balloon ride still calls to me.  I’ll just have to have had a lot of pina coladas before I go. J
What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?
 I actually just started one I’d been wanting to read—Stephen King’s 11/22/63.  But one I haven’t started but really want to is Diana Gabaldon’s  Drums of Autumn.  I love me some Jamie Fraser!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I mentioned that Almost Perfect is May’s Read For A Cure book and just wanted to let you know that all publisher proceeds from the book during May go to Relay for Life.  Please Read  For A Cure and help close the book on cancer.
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Interview with Cynthia Racette

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Cynthia Racette to the blog today.  We are looking forward to learning more about her and her new book Windswept. 



Can you please share with us a little about yourself?
I’m kind of a Renaissance woman. Another way of saying I didn’t know what I wanted to do. J My degree is in chemistry and I worked in that field for quite a while, then got a job as a newspaper reporter because I missed writing, then worked as a chemist again and started writing more then. I’m a professional photographer, water color artist, scrapbooker and now, an author.
Have you always wanted to be an author?
Not always, but from my mid-20’s on, yes. My college roommate was the acclaimed science fiction writer Nancy Kress and that was my turning point, I think. Now, I am a writer, and my daughter is also the multi-published erotic romance writer, Cassandra Carr.
What is your most interesting writing quirk?
I like quiet and hate having music on when I’m writing, but don’t mind background noise at all. My daughter and I write at a café in our area food market and the whole town could wander by and I wouldn’t know it.
Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?
My new release is called Windswept. It’s about a family that is torn apart when the husband is unfaithful. The wife, Caroline, must learn to cope on her own after David moves out. Her friendly neighbor tries to take advantage of the couple’s split to make a move for Caroline. She wants to reconcile with her husband but David is guilt-ridden and not sure they should get together. It all revolves around Windswept, the family’s beloved sailboat.
How did you come with the idea for this story?
My hubby and I are both sailors and had a sailboat for years that we adored. I wanted to write something about sailing but also show that in a broken relationship, both parties are hurting.
Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?
I am doing my final editing before submission on a book where the husband is suddenly killed in an accident, leaving the wife alone with huge debts and no experience running a household alone. Both of her children grieve in different ways with her older daughter getting into trouble with the police. The detective that arrests her daughter finds himself drawn into the family and particularly to wife Anna.
Who is the one author that you would love to meet someday and why?
Jo Rowling—I think she’s an amazing writer and I read her Harry Potter books over and over just to enjoy her writing.
What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?
Read, read, read and then write, write, write. Include in the reading some books on the craft of writing.
Can you share with us something off your bucket list.
Take my husband to Rome. I went there with my daughter ten years ago and I want him to experience it. St. Peters and the Sistine Chapel are incredible. Also would like to spend winters in the South.
What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?
I’m anxious to read 50 Shades of Gray just to see what the furor is about, although I’ve heard it’s not well written. I want to read all the books written by our RWA members and some of ones my publisher has released.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I love writing and the whole publishing scene. There’s a camaraderie among authors and editors and agents, etc. that it’s nice to be a part of.  
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Guest Blogger: Sophie Barnes

Introducing Lady Alexandra and Lord Trenton:

After writing How Miss Rutherford Got Her Groove Back, I was struck with a sudden urge for adventure. I wanted a plot with an action heroine who could hold her own in a sword-fight, and immediately began piecing together a character that’s not only strong and willful, but also quite vulnerable beneath her tough exterior.
Following her mother’s death, her father fell apart for a number of years, shirking the responsibility of turning his daughter into a fashionable young lady of the ton. Instead, Alexandra was allowed to run rampant on the family estate together with her brothers Ryan and William. Her hoydenish character flourished, and during this time, she honed her skills as a soldier, becoming an excellent shot, swords woman and equestrian. She is stubborn to a fault – a trait that lands her in trouble on more than one occasion, but she is also incredibly loyal. When it comes to family, there is nothing that she will not do in order to keep them safe. She fears only one thing, and that is love, for having seen the way in which it tore her family apart, she has come to believe that nothing good can come of it. Consequently, she has decided never to marry.
Enter Lord Trenton =)
His name is Michael Ashford (son of the Duke and Dutches of Willowbrook), and he’s not only an earl, but also a secret agent employed by The Foreign Office. He’s honorable, believes that before all else comes duty, and is also far more level headed than Alexandra, who tends to act a bit more on impulse. He’s incredibly handsome of course (see picture below =)) and can charm the most resistant of women into his bed! After all, rumor has it that he has no fewer than nine mistresses – one for each day of the week, with a couple to spare for variety’s sake. Like Alexandra, he has no intention of marrying either, for he’s quite content with his life as it is. However, the more time he spends in the company of the trouble-making blonde, the more he starts to wonder what a life with her by his side might be like – unpredictable and full of adventure, no doubt – and decides to make her his wife, only to discover that getting her to agree, is a whole other matter entirely.
I always find it difficult to put an actual person’s face to the characters I’ve created, for I see them a certain way inside my head, and nobody can ever quite fit that image perfectly. However, if a movie were to be made and I was allowed to decide who should play the part of Alexandra and Michael, based on appearance alone, then I’d probably choose Gabriella Wilde and Henry Cavill.
Image of Gabriella Wilde
Image of Henry Cavill
I’d like to thank Books-n-Kisses for hosting me today. I’ll be popping in throughout the day to chat with you and to answer any questions that you might have. So feel free to leave a comment or two – let me know what sort of characters youenjoy reading about.
If you’d like to follow the rest of my tour, I’ll be back again tomorrow at www.romrevtoday.com to take you on a tour of some of the locations mentioned in my novel =)
To find out more about me, Lady Alexandra’s Excellent Adventure, or my upcoming releases, please visit my website at: www.sophiebarnes.com
You can also follow me on twitter at: @BarnesSophie
or on Facebookat: www.facebook.com/AuthorSophieBarnes
To see the book trailer, please visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2PbyzMfmiA
I have one e-copy of Lady Alexandra’s Excellent Adventure up for grabs.
To enter to win please fill out the Rafflecopter form below.  Good Luck.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Kelly’s ARC review of Lethal Rider by the FABULOUS Larissa Ione

Lords of Deliverance #3
AUTHOR: Larissa Ione
PUBLICATION DATE:   05/22/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
They’re here. They ride. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

Born of a match between good and evil, four siblings stand between hell’s minions and everything they want to destroy. They are the Lords of Deliverance, and they have the power to ward off Doomsday…or let it ride…

LETHAL RIDER

Thanatos, the most deadly Horseman of the Apocalypse, has endured thousands of years of celibacy to prevent the end of days. But just one night with the wickedly sexy Aegis Guardian, Regan Cooper, shatters centuries of resolve. Yet their passion comes with a price. And Thanatos must face a truth more terrifying than an apocalypse-he’s about to become a father.

Demon-slayer Regan Cooper never imagined herself the maternal type, but with the fate of the world hanging in the balance she had no choice but to seduce Thanatos and bear his child. Now, as the final battle draws closer and his rage at being betrayed is overshadowed by an undeniable passion for the mother of his child, Thanatos has a life-shattering realization: To save the world, he must sacrifice the only thing he’s ever wanted-a family.

REVIEWED BY: Kelly             
NUMBER OF STARS: 5+ Stars

REVIEW:  
Thanantos, aka Death, is not a very happy camper.  He has been a prisoner for the last 8 months, thanks to the his loving big brother and sister. So it is no wonder when feeling starts to return to his body the first thing on Than’s mind is revenge.   Revenge for the woman that betrayed him. Revenged towards his brother and sister, for imprisoning him.  Revenge for Pestilence, for not being Reseph anymore.  So Than comes up with a plan: step one get to the woman that betrayed him and make her pay.  Step two….. Well Than is not ready for step two because this involves something he never planned on.  Becoming a father.

Regan knows that she must protect the baby by any means necessary, but she keeps having nightmares of Thanantos killing her, taking the baby and not being able to stop the Apocalypse.  All because she betrayed him.  Betrayed him in such a horrible way, that no amount of sorry can explain away the hurt.   But there is one thing that Regan never counted on.  Than’s protectiveness over her and the baby.

What can you say about an author and a book that just totally blows you out of the water.  I am totally convinced that Larissa can’t write a bad book.   Lethal Rider gives us everything: love and lust, laughter and tears, betrayal, revenge, sacrifice, trust, redemption and forgiveness.   We get to see many characters for Larissa’s other wickedly good Demonica series.  And it is so nice to see the Horseman and the Demon kind working so well together.  🙂    I am SO in love with this series and am on pins and needle for Rogue Rider, Reseph’s book and the last of the Lords of Deliverance series.  But never fear!!!!!!!!!!!!   Reaver’s will be getting a book…..  SO can’t wait to see what Larissa has in store for the angel.  How she is going to redeem Reseph and where she is going to take us next…

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Kelly’s review of Kiss of the Goblin Prince by Shona Husk

Kiss of the Goblin Prince
Book 2 in the Shadowland
AUTHOR: Shona Husk
PUBLICATION DATE:   05/01/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Trapped for centuries in the bleak Shadowlands, Dai clings to his humanity with a thirst for knowledge. But now he’s free of the goblin curse, and some would say he knows too much—he can make nature bend to his will, influence the minds of others, and command magic. Yet love eludes him. Then he meets Amanda, a single mother with a sick daughter whom he feels compelled to protect. But could she possibly place her trust in the kiss of a goblin prince?

REVIEWED BY: Kelly            
NUMBER OF STARS: 3 1/2 Stars

REVIEW:
I do have to start by saying that I should have read Kiss of the Goblin King first, just so that I had a better understanding of the Shadowland world that Dai & Roan have lived in for so long.  

That being said. I really enjoyed this book. Dai is a man that may be freed of a long held curse, but he is not free.  Dai has to learn to function in the Fixed Realm and deal with the magic that is calling to him.  On top of all of that Dai finds that he is drawn to Amanda in a way he doesn’t totally understand.

Amanda feels an instant connection to Dai when she sees him at the wedding of one of her dear friend. But Amanda is confused by her feelings.  I has been a long 8 years since her husband passed away and Dai is the first man to stir those feelings in her again.   

I enjoyed reading the struggle that Dai & Amanda have to come to the realization that they can’t fight the attraction to each other.  But first they have to learn to trust blindly.

I liked the world that Shona created with the Shadowlands and the Fixed Realms.  There are so many threads weaved together to make up these worlds. I never really thought of Goblins as appealing but Dai & Roan make the idea very appealing.  I look forward to the next book in the Shadowland series For the Love a Goblin Warrior.

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Kelly’s ARC review of Shades of Desire by Virna DePaul

Shades of Desire
AUTHOR: Virna DePaul
PUBLICATION DATE:   05/22/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N


BOOK SYNOPSIS:
WHAT SHE CAN’T SEE COULD KILL HER. Natalie Jones is the lucky survivor of an elusive killer who preys on young women and then disappears from view. And since her harrowing ordeal, the once gutsy photojournalist has remained isolated in her home, paralyzed by fear and her failing vision. Special Agent Liam “Mac” McKenzie has scars of his own. But despite his efforts to ignore the attraction that simmers between him and Natalie, he needs her help to catch a predator. Soon, they will forge a tentative alliance-charged with desire. Through a soft-focus lens, Natalie dares to envision a future with Mac beyond the investigation…never guessing that the clues hidden within her photographs are drawing them into an explosive confrontation with a madman

REVIEWED BY: Kelly            
NUMBER OF STARS 4 ½ Stars

REVIEW:

Natalie has been racing the hands of time and her time has finally run out.  Her vision is now gone.  Natalie is trying to learn how to best cope with her new life, which is not easy.  But Natalie is a fighter.  She may lock herself away from the world, but she will not give up.  She will not be like her mom.   Natalie needs that fighting spirit when she is attacked in her own home and almost killed by a mad man.  

Liam “Mac” McKenzie, has seen many thing in his long career as a cop.  So this murder case was nothing new to him until he see a picture of the mad man’s latest victim.  A victim that survived.   A victim that could have seen something that will help them.  Only problem is that Natalie is blind.  

Natalie and Mac are a great team.  Both are stubborn, independent and very protective.   This was a good romantic suspense books with so many layers of who done.    If you like romantic suspenses you need to pick up a copy of Shades of Desire.

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Kelly’s (arc) review of The Taming of a Scottish Princess by Karen Hawkins

The Taming of a Scottish Princess
AUTHOR: Karen Hawkins
PUBLICATION DATE:   05/22/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:

A DETERMINED EXPLORER

When famed Egyptologist Michael Hurst discovers that the infamous Hurst Amulet is hidden in Scotland, he insists his trusted assistant, Miss Jane Smythe-Haughton, accompany him north. Strangely, the usually unflappable Jane seems perturbed by their destination—the mysterious Isle of Barra. A fascinated Michael watches as his staid assistant transforms, revealing intriguing layers of mystery and vulnerability. Could he be about to uncover not one, but two, precious treasures?

A DAUNTLESS PRINCESS

Once her clan’s princess, Jane fled Barra years ago to avoid a forced marriage. Since then, she has made her living as efficient Miss Smythe-Haughton—the perfect (and highly paid) assistant. Now she must confront her secrets . . . including her feelings for her irascible employer, too-handsome-for-his-own-good Michael Hurst.

A PERILOUS PLEASURE

Others are also searching for the missing amulet, however. Can Jane and Michael learn to trust each other in time to solve two riddles: the location of the Hurst Amulet, and the meaning of the vivid passion flaring between them?



REVIEWED BY: Kelly            
NUMBER OF STARS: 4 Stars

REVIEW:
This was my first Karen Hawkins book.  I have to say I really enjoyed this book.  The Taming of a Scottish Princess started out a little slow and Michael came off as a pompous ass, but as the story goes on I grew to love Michael’s character.  Michael may still be single minded but by the end of the book what he has his mind set on has changed.  He finally learns what is truly important to him.  
Jane. 


While you might think she a mouse type of character you would be very wrong.  Jane is a very strong, determined and can put her boss in his place any time kind of girl.  But when their latest adventure takes them back to Jane’s birth place, her future will forever be changed.

Michael & Jane were a fun, witty and determined couple to read about.  I loved their batter.  The sassy mouths that both have. The name calling, oh the name calling.  But their adventure to a small island in Scotland will make them realize that the ultimate treasure has been in front of them the whole time.

If you are a fan of Karen Hawkins’ books you will enjoy The Taming of a Scottish Princess.  If you are new to Karen, I believe you will enjoy the adventure and trouble the Michael and Jane get them self into.

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Kelly’s review of Black Magic by JD Tyler

Black Magic
#1.5 Alpha Pack series
AUTHOR: JD Tyler
PUBLICATION DATE:   03/06/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N


BOOK SYNOPSIS:
A terrible storm is coming, and Alpha Pack’s newest man will face not only a battle within himself, but a war on the horizon that could end them all…

Sorcerer/Necromancer/black panther shifter Kalen Black and Dr. Mackenzie Grant battle a lethal enemy and come together in an explosion of passion. One night will set in motion dire consequences not only for the couple, but for the entire Pack…

This novella is the beginning of Kalen and Mackenzie’s story, to be concluded in December 2012 with their full-length book, BLACK MOON.


REVIEWED BY: Kelly         NUMBER OF STARS: 5 Stars

REVIEW:
I was so excited for this novella.  It seems so long ago that I opened Primal Law and fell in love with JD Tyler and the Alpha Pack.  In Primal Law we got to met the very dark and disturbing Kalen Black.  From the moment we meet Kalen I was totally interest in his story.  Where did he come from, was he good or evil, how did he have the power to shift into a black panther (which is my favorite type of shifter)  What role is he going to play within the Alpha Pack.

Black Magic gives us a little sample of who Kalen really might be.  I say “might be” because the guys has been through so much in his life and it seems he has a heck of a battle coming his way.  But we do get to see a much softer side of Kalen, when he is with Mackenzie.  With Mackenzie he opens up and shares thing he would never share with anyone else.

JD Tyler, I love and hate you right now. Love Kalen & Mackenzie together. But darn you for writing this novella and leave me hanging at the end…… I am not a very patient person and now I have to wait for the follow up story  Black Moon to see what happens to Kalen & Mackenzie.  

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JK Beck’s Shadow Keeper Series

When Blood Calls 

The Shadow Keepers #1

by J.K. Beck

Attorney Sara Constantine is thrilled with her promotion—until she finds out that she must now prosecute vampires and werewolves. The first defendant she’ll be trying to put away? Lucius Dragos, the sexy stranger with whom she recently shared an explosive night of ecstasy.

When Lucius kisses a beautiful woman sitting next to him at the bar, he’s hoping only to avoid the perceptive gaze of the man he’s planning to kill. But what starts as a simple kiss ignites into an all-consuming passion. Charged with murder, Luke knows that Sara is determined to see him locked away—unless he can convince her that he’s not a monster. And that might mean making the ultimate sacrifice

When Pleasure Rules 

The Shadow Keepers #2

by J.K. Beck

Seven innocents have been brutally murdered in Los Angeles, yet the Shadow Alliance has no suspects and no leads. As the body count mounts, the age-old feud between vampires and werewolves threatens to explode.

Lissa Monroe—a strong-willed, ravishing succubus who entices men to surrender their souls—agrees to go undercover for the Alliance. Her mission: infiltrate the mind of werewolf leader Vincent Rand, a ferociously alluring enemy who exerts a powerful hold over her. As the City of Angels teeters on the brink of apocalypse, these two adversaries must join together in order to survive an even more lethal enemy hidden in plain sight.

When Wicked Craves 

The Shadow Keepers #3

by J.K. Beck

Petra Lang is cursed never to love. One touch of her skin unleashes the vilest demons. Sentenced to death by the Shadow authorities, who fear she’ll turn her curse against them, Petra is rescued by vampire advocate Nicholas Montegue. As their bodies merge and transform into mist, Petra feels an erotic longing.

Nicholas risked his own life to save Petra, yet he knows he can never give in to the explosive attraction he feels for her. But the deep yearning they share tempts them. Together, they must find a way to lift the curse. For only a love this strong has the power to overcome such monstrous evil.

Midnight 

The Shadow Keepers #3.5

by J.K. Beck

Enter J. K. Beck’s thrilling, seductive world of the Shadow Keepers, which New York Times bestselling author Lara Adrian calls “exciting paranormal romance with a sharp, suspenseful edge.”

Carissa de Soranzo will not rest until her kidnapped younger brother has been freed from the nobleman Baloch de Fioro, a fiendish werewolf who means to turn the boy at the next full moon. Against her father’s wishes, Carissa secretly seeks help from the mysterious werewolf hunter Tiberius. Desperate, she promises to do anything if he’ll save her brother—and she can see in his eyes what that will mean.

Dark, strong, and virile, Tiberius cannot resist ravishing the most beautiful woman he’s seen in centuries. But he can never truly have his fill of her, for Tiberius is a vampire. On a quest to trap the werewolf in his den, Tiberius realizes that the only way to rescue Carissa’s brother is to reveal what he truly is. But he risks losing Carissa forever—especially when she discovers that she has given her heart to a vampire.

When Passion Lies 

The Shadow Keepers #4

by J.K. Beck

Available: May 29, 2012
Tiberius is a vampire dedicated to protecting his kind—and the secrets of the shadow world. Now, as his quest to become head of the Alliance draws within reach, a shattering new threat puts him to the ultimate test. It’s a nightmare of grim proportions: a dark plot to bring about the mass extermination of human and shadow alike. And it forces Tiberius to turn to the woman he loved and lost, the lover he still desires but doesn’t trust.

Caris was Tiberius’s mate for centuries—until a fateful mission changed her forever. Her tortured secrets drove her into the arms of his rival, but desperation has brought her back. As a horrifying new weapon of mass destruction is about to be unleashed, Tiberius and Caris harness the power of their immortal and passionate love. But will it be enough to battle devastating odds and a ruthless enemy with the ambition to destroy them all?

When Darkness Hungers 

The Shadow Keepers #5

by J.K. Beck

Available: June 26, 2012
FBI agent Alexis Martin knows that vampires exist—because one of them killed her sister. Assigned to investigate a series of bizarre homicides in Los Angeles, Alexis believes the murders are the work of rogue vampires—perhaps even the monster responsible for her sister’s death. Now she finally has a chance for retribution. Even better, Alexis receives unexpected help from a sexy stranger as hungry for rogue blood as she is.

Serge is a centuries-old bad boy who stays off the grid—keeping his secrets, his hunger, and his heart safe from exposure. A new breed of vampire that feeds off other shadowers, Serge finds sweet torture in Alexis’s arms. Loving her is a chance to be free from the hiding, the loneliness, the secrecy. But the truth about what he is, and what he’s done, may banish him to the dark confines of his own private hell—and destroy the beginnings of their love

When Temptation Burns 

The Shadow Keepers #6

by J.K. Beck

Available: July 31, 2012

Half human, half daemon, Ryan Doyle is a driving force for justice. As an agent for the Preternatural Enforcement Coalition, he’s investigating murders linked to a Los Angeles fringe group bent on exposing the shadow world to humanity. He is a master of self-control, keeping his deepest hungers hidden beneath a veneer of cool professionalism. Until he crosses paths with sinfully sweet Andy Tarrent, a gutsy reporter who makes him crave all the pleasures he’s denied himself for centuries.
 
Tracking a band of conspiracy theorists eager to spill blood, Andy has uncovered the story of her career. Brooding, mysterious Ryan is an enigma—but their dance of seduction is hotter than any fantasy. As they race to stop mass murder on the streets, Andy knows that Ryan is holding back, keeping secrets. But getting close to Ryan means opening the door to a world that will challenge her deepest beliefs—including what it means to truly surrender to love.
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Interview with Xandra James

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to have Xandar James to the blog today. 

1.    Can you please share with us a little about yourself

I’m a married, British author, and have had a serious love affair with romance books, since I was very young and sneaking looks at my Mum’s large stash. If I say to some of your readers I’m a June baby (so a Cancer crab) I’m sure they’ll figure me out i.e. stubborn and moody 😉

2.    Have you always wanted to be an author?

Since I was about ten years old. I was always obsessed with books though. I was one of those kids who were completely happy when alone with multiple tomes – whatever the genre. It was a natural progression to start writing as my parents always said I had a very vivid imagination (although I think that was their way of telling me I could lie through my teeth with the most amazing excuses…lol)

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

I have lots of favourites and am always finding new authors to check out (just have to find the time to read ’em!!).

There are certain points, however, I can pinpoint and say a certain author influenced my own personal journey/writing. Johanna Lindsey was the first full length novel I read (Hearts Aflame) and so lead me to thinking there is (slightly) more out there than category ;). Sidney Sheldon gave me a love of suspense wrapped around a hot romance.  Janet Evanovich for making me laugh and realizing that this sort of book is what I would ultimately like to write. And Kerrelyn Sparks for making me love paranormal books again (with a little humour thrown in). All have been favourites and will probably proceed to be.

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

As I said, Kerrelyn Sparks gave me my love of paranormals back. It was before the whole obsession with vampires in tv and movies came out that I actually starting writing one, though. It started off as a suspense and morphed into a paranormal suspense, which eventually became (over a few years), Reluctant Revenge – my debut book.

And yes, I would consider writing in another genre. I’m not limiting myself – I’m only writing the story that comes out on the page, not trying to make it fit into one certain line.

5.    What are some of your writing rituals?

Well, at the moment, I’m loving taking my laptop and my trusty notebook into my dining room and sitting so I can look out onto the garden with the birds and trees. It’s good for my creativity, it seems. Other things I need are caffeine and little munchies. Apart from that, I don’t have any particular routines or rituals.

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

There’s my debut which is Reluctant Revenge. It’s an erotic, paranormal action/adventure and I love the hero – Nash – completely! 😉


Nash was bound to Sienna completely – by a blood connection and a deep desire. An Enforcer for the Supranormal community, he was obligated to protect his sexy assignment, despite her family devastating his world.

After being betrayed, Sienna falls into the arms of her surly protector; a demon with a secret of his own. But can she face her destiny knowing she’s more dangerous than those Nash was protecting her from?

My second is Shadow Justice – another erotic, paranormal romance with suspense and fantasy thrown in! Another hero I love, Luka, because he’s just so hot 😉

Luka was a bounty hunter who just wanted to do his job and get paid. Being a banished Shadow, he’d learnt the bitter lesson long ago that he was alone, after he was expelled from his home world by his own blood. Now, he needed to understand why he was wanted dead whilst his desire for the fiery haired witch erupted, out of control.   

As a rare moon-witch, all she’d ever known was a life of misery under the oppressive Fae-Guard. Nine years ago Cerys escaped the Meta-World after regretting the forced banishment of a Shadow. Now, she leads a normal life without her abilities and all she wants is to blend in. When a bounty hunter wants to take her back for a crime she didn’t commit, she’s willing to take a chance on her future by trusting the man who had no idea she’d wronged him years before.

7.    How did you come with the idea for these stories?

As I said earlier, the idea for Reluctant Revenge was definitely a work in progress for quite a while. It was actually after a rejection of the first chapter in New Voices 2010 (from mills and boon) that I made it darker and found that Nash had a past (who knew?! Lol). From there, the story just poured out and I wrote it in double quick time.

With Shadow Justice, I’d already written three chapters when I had the idea to make Cerys a moon-witch (probably because I’d spent a lot of time gazing at the night sky, figuring out the plot for my story!). I changed my characters some and then their story came pouring out too and I could barely keep up.

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

I’ve just finished a short story for an anthology called Her Demon Charms. It’s about a succubus who makes a deal with the devil to turn herself mortal. Problems arise when her deal terms state that she must make a man fall in love with her via a dating site and without using her natural, sexy charms to make him bend to her will!

I had a lot of fun writing that one and it’ll hopefully be out around June with Evernight Publishing, in an anthology called Keyboards and Kink.

Currently I’m scribbling down a general outline for a fairy tale. Not sure of the details as yet but I’m sure I’ll give it a good shot at making it fun and sensual 😉

9.    What would you be if you were not an author?

In the publishing/book selling business. I wish I’d have had more guidance at school, when I was choosing my college courses and taking classes etc. It never even crossed my mind that I could work towards something that I loved and be involved in the writing industry (I guess I was too busy hiding at the back of the class, pretending to be listening! Lol).

If I couldn’t be anything to do with the writing industry, I’d probably run a bar or a nightclub. 😉

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

I’ve just started reading the latest Kerrelyn Sparks book in her Love At Stake series. I’ve been waiting for some free time to actually appreciate it and not fall asleep with the book stuck to my face!

I’ve also got the next in the Chicagoland Vampire series from Chloe Neill which I can’t wait to find time to read. Oh and Immortal Love by Danica Avet. Oh and… err… loads actually!

11. Is there anything else you would like to add?

Thank so much, Kelly, for inviting me here today! I enjoyed answering your questions and checking out your blog.

Oh and I’m always around on the web, so if you see me, please say hi!

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Interview with Judy Powell

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to have Judy Powell back on the blog today to chat about her newest book Hot Summer 


Can you please share with us a little about yourself.
Thanks so much for having me on your blog today, Kelly.  I live in Ontario, Canada, and I write primarily romance novels although I have one literary fiction novel as well.  I love to read (as do most writers) and I love to study.  I have 5 degrees (a Bachelor’s and 4 Master’s) and am applying to schools to enroll in a sixth degree program.  My brothers think I’m crazy but I love going to school.
Have you always wanted to be an author?
I’ve always loved reading.  I remember joining the library when I was five.  I checked out ‘Ramona the Pest’, my first library book.  I’ve been devouring books ever since, and that stirred in me an interest in writing.  I started to take this seriously about seven years ago and since then I’ve written seven novels and a memoir and have had my essays and short pieces featured in journals.

Who are some of your favorite writers? Who do you feel has influenced your writing?  I love the late Kathleen Woodiwiss who wrote the historical romance novel, ‘The Wolf and the Dove’.  As we speak I have three copies on my bookshelf.  Every year or two I read the novel all over again, all five hundred pages.  I love the strong sexual tension, the conflict between the characters and their development as the novel progresses.  Of all writers I believe Kathleen Woodiwiss has influenced my writing the most because I try to give my readers the same thrill that she has given me with her expert writing style.  In another genre (memoir) my greatest influence has been Frank McCourt, author of ‘Angela’s Ashes’.  I absolutely enjoy his writer’s voice and, when writing memoir, I try to be as true to my writing voice as he is in his work.
How did you get into writing in this specific genre?  Have you ever thought about writing in a different genre?  When it comes to reading material the romance genre is my first love.  I enjoy reading about arrogant alpha males and the feisty heroines who challenge them.  Because of this, when it came to writing I chose that genre because it is the one I most enjoy reading.  I do write in other genres, however.  I have a literary fiction novel which starts in the fifteenth century and I’ve also written in the memoir category, both long and short pieces.  Another area I would like to branch into is nonfiction (self-help).  I already have the outline for a self-help book for children.
What are some of your writing rituals?
I get up at 4:00 a.m. every day to write, even on weekends.  During the week I write until 7:00 a.m. then break to get ready for my day job and to prepare my son for school.  Usually, by the time the day ends and I’ve made dinner and helped my son with homework I’m too exhausted to write more than a paragraph or two.  The mornings are my favorite writing time – greater focus and clarity at that time of day.
Although many writers type their story directly onto the computer I flow better when I write long hand.  Then a friend helps me out by typing the manuscript.  That way, I can usually get a novel done in a couple of months.
How did you come up with the idea for this story?
I’ve lived and worked in both Chicago and Jamaica (for the same multinational corporation) and so I decided to use both locations as settings in my romance novel, ‘Hot Summer’.  ‘Hot Summer’ was born when a good friend of mine, a record producer, was working on an album.  I was inspired to create the character, Lance, a record producer in Chicago, the typical arrogant alpha male found in lots of romance novels.  I pit him against feisty grad student, Summer Jones.  Both characters have strong personalities and when they butt heads you can imagine the result.  I love stories with characters who challenge each other so that’s what I created in ‘Hot Summer’.

What would you be if you were not an author?
If I were not an author I would be a perpetual student.  As I said before, I love to study because I love to learn new things.  Now, being realistic, I know most people don’t earn money from being a student so it is likely I would become a teacher as that would ensure my constant presence at an institute of learning.  I would be learning each time I interact with my students.
What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?  My ‘To Read’ pile keeps growing as I add writing projects and run out of reading time.  I’ve resorted to reading a lot of my favorite books on audio CD while driving or doing housework.  Right now my list includes ‘Teacher Man’ by Frank McCourt, ‘The Way to Wealth’ by Brian Tracy and ‘Pleasure, Pregnancy and a Proposition’ by Heidi Rice.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I love to hear from my readers.  Readers can reach me through my website at www.judypowell.com.  Stop by for a chat!