Author: Kelly

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Kimberly’s review of The Unseen by Heather Graham

TITLE: The Unseen
AUTHOR: Heather Graham
PUBLICATION DATE:   03/27/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
1800s. San Antonio, Texas: In room 207 at the Longhorn Saloon, in the long shadow of the Alamo itself, a woman renowned for her beauty was brutally murdered. Her killer was never found. One year ago: In that same historic room, another woman vanished without a trace. Her blood was everywhere…but her body was never recovered. Now: In the last month, San Antonio has become a dumping ground for battered bodies. All young women, all long missing, almost all forgotten. Until now. Texas Ranger Logan Raintree cannot sit by and let his city’s most vulnerable citizens be slain. So when he is approached to lead a brand-new group of elite paranormal investigators working the case, he has no choice but to accept the challenge. And with it, his powerful ability to commune with the dead. Among Logan’s new team is Kelsey O’Brien, a U.S. marshal known for her razor-sharp intuition and a toughness that belies her delicate exterior. Kelsey has been waiting all her life to work with someone who can understand her ability to “see” the past unfolding in the present. Now she has her chance. Together, Kelsey and Logan follow their instincts to the Alamo and to the newly reopened Longhorn, which once tempted heroes with drink, cards and women. If the spirits of those long-dead Texans are really appearing to the victims before their deaths, only Kelsey and Logan have the skills to find out why. And if something more earthly is menacing the city’s oldest, darkest corners, only they can stop it – before more innocent women join the company of San Antonio’s restless ghosts…

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Kimberly Wise            NUMBER OF STARS: 3 Stars

REVIEW:
*3.5 Stars*  This is the first in the new Texas Krewe of Hunters. While most of Graham’s books have been set in Florida (mostly Key West) or some in New Orleans this is set in San Antonio, Texas. It is the start up of the new Krewe of Hunters. A new branch of the Harrison Investigation/Krewe of Hunters in New Orleans series.

Logan is a Texas Ranger who is coming back from losing his wife three years ago after a revenge killing for putting a man into prison. Kelsey is a US Marshal from Key West. Neither of them knows why they are being called to San Antonio except there is going to be a new job offer but neither has an idea of what kind of job or why them. When Jackson Crow (Krewe leader of the New Orleans branch) explains why they have been asked to help they learn women are being killed and left around the city. Jackson feels there is something going on and because The Alamo has such history maybe Logan and Kelsey with the “gifts” they have can get to the answers before another woman goes missing.

This is a very typical Graham ghost story. And ghost stories are where Graham should stay. She has a way of writing that draws the reader in. I guess you could say that Graham writes it all. Her books fall under “Paranormal Romantic Suspense”. Her books are not the same when she does not write about ghost. Thankfully we have three in this book to enjoy. The problem was I never felt a connection between Kelsey and Logan. Their relationship felt more like a working affair and when the case was over they would go their separate ways and be fine with it. What keeps this story going? The suspense of who-dunnit (which I am not sure I have ever figured out in one of Graham’s books and I read a lot of suspense books) and the history of the area she is writing about. The history that we find out through Graham’s writing is incredible and it makes you want to go visit. In this case it was The Alamo which of course was part of our history class growing up but Graham wraps a story around that history and brings the area to life. Is this one of her best ever? Maybe not. But I did enjoy it. And if you are a fan of Graham’s then you will as well. No one tells a ghost story like Graham!

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Kelly’s Review of Alpha Instinct by Katie Reus

TITLE: Alpha Instinct
Book #1 in the Moon Shifter Series
AUTHOR: Katie Reus
PUBLICATION DATE:   02/07/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Fear has a scent. So does desire…

Ana Cordona has been a strong leader for the lupine shifters who survived after all the males and most of the females in her pack were mysteriously poisoned. As tough as she is, with no Alpha male, the pack is vulnerable to the devious shifter Taggart, who wants to claim both their ranch and Ana as his own. When Connor Armstrong comes back into her life, promising protection, it’s almost enough to make Ana forget how he walked out on her before—and reluctantly accept his offer to mate.

The minute Connor sees Ana again, it reawakens a raw hunger. He must have her for his bondmate—his wolf cries out for it. But his human side knows he must proceed with caution because of their complicated past. If he is to truly have her body and soul, he must go beyond his burning desire and win back her heart. Whatever it takes, he is determined not to leave her side again.

But Taggart and his rival pack are not their only enemies. A human element in town is targeting shifters. Their plan not only threatens Ana and Connor’s future, but the lives of the entire pack…


REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Kelly            NUMBER OF STARS: 4 ½ Stars

REVIEW:
Connor is back and he wants Ana.  He has waited a very long time for her and now he won’t take no for an answer.  But sometimes strong handing the woman you love is not the best way to convince her you are the love of her life.  Sometimes you have to be an Alpha.  When Ana’s pack is under attack yet again by an unknown force, Connor will do anything and everything in his power to protect his woman and his new pack

Ana is now the leader of her pack, after someone poisoned and killed all the males and pregnant females of her pack.  Not only does Ana have to worry about who poisoned her pack coming back, the neighboring pack is trying to take over her pack.  Ana needs to find a way to prove to the other pack that just because she is a female doesn’t mean she is going to let them push her around.  But when a meeting with the rival pack leader goes wrong Ana finds herself in very big trouble with no way out.  That is until Connor, the love of her life, the man who left without a word steps in and saves her.   While Ana is thankful for Connor’s help, she can’t understand why he is back. But she promises herself that she will not fall for him again.

Connor and Ana are a great couple.  They both love each other so much, but don’t know the best way to show it and with so much history between them it is hard to know if this time is real.  Ana fears Connor will walk out on her again, while Connor fears that he will never be good enough for Ana.  When in all reality they are a great Alpha team and when they learn to work together their pack will be stronger than ever.

I really enjoyed this first book in Katie Reus new Moon Shifter series.  Katie does a great job of setting up the Moon Shifter world.  Rival packs, murders, kidnappings, lost loves, new loves, Alpha males vs Alpha females.   I am very much looking forward to Katie’s next installment in the Moon Shifter series an e-novella Lover’s Instinct (Aug 2012) and book 2 Primal Possession (Sept 2012)

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Kelly’s Review of Vampire Awakening by Eliza Gayle

TITLE: Vampire Awakening
AUTHOR: Eliza Gayle
PUBLICATION DATE:   03/26/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Abby Douglas has lived in the dark for six months. Until a mysterious package and a voice in a dream spark a chain of events she didn’t see coming. To futher complicate matters, a lethally stunning stranger walks into her life and awakens erotic needs inside her that run deep. Now she has to decide how much she’ll give up to unlock her memories.

Caleb Barrett, a vampire on a mission, pursues Abby while on the hunt for a homicidal vampire. Instead he’s captured by a silken voice and haunting eyes that stir an insatiable hunger. An instant connection is forged and Caleb marks her as his own with no intention of letting her go. When she runs from him all bets are off and this dead sexy cowboy will do whatever it takes to find out what secrets her mind harbors before it’s too late. Rules or no rules.

Suddenly being careful what you wish for is more than just another cliché, it’s life or death.

This books contains one sexy as sin, motorcycle riding, black leather wearing vampire with a two track mind. Sex and blood.

Please note: This book was previously published as Awaken and has been revised and re-edited for re-release.


REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Kelly          NUMBER OF STARS: 4 Stars

My summary of this book will be short.  As it was a short book and I don’t want to giveaway to much.  This was a great, hot, sexy quick read.  I think I knocked this book out in just little over an hour.  


I really enjoyed this story. I loved Caleb. He is smokin’ hot!! Totally bad-ass kind of hero that completely knocks the socks off Abby. From the moment these two meet not thing will ever be the same for either of them. If only Caleb can keep Abby safe.


Now, if you don’t like extremely hot, sexy vampires that wear leather, a cowboy hat and ride a motorcycle then this book is not for you.  But if you like all of those then you really need to pick up a copy of Vampire Awakening. 



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Flying Frog Fairy’s Review of Leather & Lace by Melody Snow Monroe

TITLE: Leather and Lace
AUTHOR: Melody Snow Monroe
PUBLICATION DATE:   Available Now
ORDER LINKS:   Siren Bookstrand

BOOK SYNOPSIS:

Wade and Heath Watson, two ranchers in Intrigue, Wyoming, have yearned to make Samantha Callen their own for years. When they find her bleeding to death by the side of the road after rustlers shoot her, they make a pledge to take care of her. Getting the feisty woman to let them help, however, is no small feat. Only when more cattle are stolen and her barn is set on fire does she turn to them for aid.
As their passions flare, they tell her she needs to get comfortable with her feminine side or chance losing them. She fears if she acts too sexy, she’ll lose the respect of her ranch hands and maybe even her ranch. How can she find a way to keep the men she loves and still be a successful rancher in an industry dominated by men?




REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Flying Frog Fairy           NUMBER OF STARS: 5 Stars

REVIEW:

This book is the first book in Ms. Snow Monroe’s new series: The Callens. In this first book we are introduced to Samantha Callen. The author does a good job of setting up the series with some backstory about the Callen family. However, this story focuses on the eldest daughter Samantha. The book starts off with a bang, literally. The main conflict is revealed immediately when Sam is shot by rustlers. I like that the author included a little intrigue in this story. Personally, I prefer my stories with a little mystery mixed into the romance, and Ms. Snow Monroe delivers. I figured out the mystery pretty quickly, but I’m getting ahead of myself.

When Sam is shot she is rescued by her neighbors, Wade and Heath. They see this as the perfect chance to convince her that she is meant for them, but Sam is stubborn. The character of Sam is that of a woman who is trying to succeed in a male dominated profession, and failing. With the added complication of the rustlers she begins to realize that ranching may not be for her. The book does a good job of detailing the problem and resolution of how she can maintain the ranch that she loves and still be a woman. This book is a fun and satisfying read that i recommend. I can’t wait to read more about the Callen family in the next book: Truth and Seduction.

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Kimberly’s review of Angel on Fire by Jacquie Johnson

TITLE: Angel On Fire
AUTHOR: Jacquie Johnson
PUBLICATION DATE:   03/31/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
All Angela wants is to understand why her father, security specialist Mac McKenzie, dropped dead on a sidewalk in Boston. Instead, she is thrust into the midst of an international conspiracy when she discovers that her father was working on a classified project at the time of his death. Now, the FBI, a terrorist and a killer have her in their sights.

Former Navy SEAL turned undercover operative, Chase Romero thinks his boss is overreacting when he orders Chase to small town America to protect Angela. But he changes his mind when her home is burglarized and “accidents” begin to happen. The real question becomes, how can he keep her safe if he keeps tripping over his own heart?

After shooting an intruder, Angela flees the scene, and the FBI issues a warrant for her arrest. On the run for her life and her freedom, she places her trust in Chase. As they travel from New England, to the nation’s capital, to the shores of Lake Michigan, the trail – and their attraction – grow hotter. Together, they team up to prevent a global financial market meltdown and face a killer who will stop at nothing to get his hands on the project Mac protected with his life.


REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Kimberly            NUMBER OF STARS: 3 Stars

REVIEW:
First let me say this is the first book written by Johnson and I can not wait until the next book to come out! I was surprised how much I enjoyed this book!

Angela’s father recently died of what they are saying is a heart attack but Angela does not believe that. So many things seem suspicious about what was going on and when she starts getting threatening phone calls and too close for comfort accidents she thinks she may be right that something is going on. And she is going to find out what come hell or high water. Chase is asked by his boss to keep an eye on his God-daughter Angela. Chase is not thrilled at first but when he sees all the incidents taking place he has to wonder if maybe his boss was right to worry. When Chase feels like he has to do more than watch from afar he and Angela begin a journey towards answers and love.

Angela is a strong woman in life but when her life turns upside down she is not sure where she can pull the strength she needs from until she meets Chase. Chase is a self-proclaimed “dominant, aggressive and possessive man” and a ex Navy SEAL. Both characters are written really well. It does not take long to get wrapped up in this book. The story line is really interesting and I enjoyed every moment of it. The only reason I gave it 3 stars instead of 4 is there was a couple of things that just did not get finished in the storyline or was forgotten. (example: one chapter Angela has bruised ribs that she is babying while just walking and the next chapter the ribs are never mentioned again and she is running and being thrown around.) Also the epilogue has a very abrupt ending. I wanted another page or at least a paragraph or two more. But really I enjoyed this book very much. I hope Johnson plans on writing more and really hope the next book is Sean and Emily’s story (hint hint)!

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Ilona Andrews’ Kate Daniels Series

Magic Bites
Kate Daniels #1
by Ilona Andrews  
When the magic is up, rogue mages cast their spells and monsters appear, while guns refuse to fire and cars fail to start. But then technology returns, and the magic recedes as unpredictably as it arose, leaving all kinds of paranormal problems in its wake.
Kate Daniels is a down-on-her-luck mercenary who makes her living cleaning up these magical problems. But when Kate’s guardian is murdered, her quest for justice draws her into a power struggle between two strong factions within Atlanta’s magic circles.
The Masters of the Dead, necromancers who can control vampires, and the Pack, a paramilitary clan of shapechangers, blame each other for a series of bizarre killings—and the death of Kate’s guardian may be part of the same mystery. Pressured by both sides to find the killer, Kate realizes she’s way out of her league—but she wouldn’t have it any other way…
Magic Burns
Kate Daniels #2
by Ilona Andrews
Down in Atlanta, tempers — and temperatures — are about to flare…
As a mercenary who cleans up after magic gone wrong, Kate Daniels has seen her share of occupational hazards. Normally, waves of paranormal energy ebb and flow across Atlanta like a tide. But once every seven years, a flare comes, a time when magic runs rampant. Now Kate’s going to have to deal with problems on a much bigger scale: a divine one.
When Kate sets out to retrieve a set of stolen maps for the Pack, Atlanta’s paramilitary clan of shapeshifters, she quickly realizes much more at stake. During a flare, gods and goddesses can manifest — and battle for power. The stolen maps are only the opening gambit in an epic tug-of-war between two gods hoping for rebirth. And if Kate can’t stop the cataclysmic showdown, the city may not survive
Magic Strikes
Kate Daniels #3
by Ilona Andrews
Drafted to work for the Order of Knights of Merciful Aid, mercenary Kate Daniels has more paranormal problems these days than she knows what to do with. And in Atlanta, where magic comes and goes like the tide, that’s saying a lot.
But when Kate’s werewolf friend Derek is discovered nearly dead, she must confront her greatest challenge yet. As her investigation leads her to the Midnight Games- an invitation only, no-holds-barred, ultimate preternatural fighting tournament- she and Curran, the Beast Lord, uncover a dark plot that may forever alter the face of Atlanta’s shapeshifting community.
Magic Bleeds
Kate Daniels #4
by Ilona Andrews
Atlanta would be a nice place to live, if it weren’t for the magic. When the magic is up, rogue mages cast their spells and monsters appear, while guns refuse to fire and cars fail to start. But then technology returns, and the magic recedes as unpredictably as it rose.
Kate Daniels works for the Order of the Knights of Merciful Aid, officially as a liaison with the mercenary guild. Unofficially, she cleans up the paranormal problems no one else wants to handle—especially if they involve Atlanta’s shapeshifting community.
When she’s called in to investigate a fight at the Steel Horse, a bar midway between the territories of the shapeshifters and the necromancers, Kate quickly discovers there’s a new player in town. One who’s been around for thousands of years—and rode to war at the side of Kate’s father.
This foe may be too much even for Kate and Curran, the Lord of the Beasts, to handle. Because this time, Kate will be taking on family…
Magic Slays
Kate Daniels #5
by Ilona Andrews
Plagued by a war between magic and technology, Atlanta has never been so deadly. Good thing Kate Daniels is on the job.
Kate Daniels may have quit the Order of Merciful Aid, but she’s still knee-deep in paranormal problems. Or she would be if she could get someone to hire her. Starting her own business has been more challenging than she thought it would be—now that the Order is disparaging her good name, and many potential clients are afraid of getting on the bad side of the Beast Lord, who just happens to be Kate’s mate.
So when Atlanta’s premier Master of the Dead calls to ask for help with a vampire on the loose, Kate leaps at the chance of some paying work. Turns out this is not an isolated incident, and Kate needs to get to the bottom of it—fast, or the city and everyone dear to her might pay the ultimate price . .
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Interview & Giveaway with Erin Kellison

Books-n-Kisses is super excited to welcome Erin Kellison to the blog today.  
We are chatting about her new novella Shadow Play and her next novel Fire Kissed. 




1.      Can you please share with us a little about yourself 
Hi everyone! I’m Erin Kellison. Nice to meet you all.  I write contemporary dark fantasy romance, with a twisted take on fairy tale.  I’m generally a little twisted myself, though in day-to-day life I appear to be a mild-mannered mom of two little ones. I share my office with Henry the hamster, who drives me insane when he runs on his wheel.

2.      Have you always wanted to be an author?
Yes! I asked for a typewriter for Christmas when I was in fourth grade, but never got much further than typing the title. I always have a story going on in my head, and have been known to make them up about strangers I see at stoplights or at adjacent tables in restaurants.
3.      Can you share with us your typical writing day.  Is there anything you have to have while writing?
My typical writing day begins with waving bye-bye to the little ones. I hit my email and social networking first, usually quickly, and then dive into the current work in progress. (Okay, that’s a lie. I also check blogs, celebrity gossip, read, debate shoes at zappos, snack, and nap.) I need snacks when I write. I’m pseudo-healthy in my selections, but after lunch usually break down and go for the chocolate.
4.      Most challenging or rewarding part of writing?
It’s a challenge to make myself stay focused on the WIP. Sometimes I’m restless with the words. Sometimes a plot point won’t cooperate. Sometimes I’m cheating on the story with the Shiny New Idea. But most often, I am lured to the time-suck of the Internet. I used to have my husband shut off all online access to the house (not kidding), but now I use a program called Freedom, which allows me to shut off my laptop’s access for a specified amount of time.

The best thing is getting lost in a scene, so excited that my fingers can’t keep up with what I want them to type. I love those scenes. I love to see the story unfold. I love the high moments and lows. I love the craft of it. I love working out my structure. I love the moment when a character becomes more than my initial construction. And I love when the story gives me ideas, what I think of as gifts, that I had not dreamed of upon setting out.

5.      Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?
My latest book, Fire Kissed, comes out July 1 and is book one in a new series based on my Shadow world. But my latest release is a novella, Shadow Play, which comes out April 24. It’s a stand alone, but the characters were introduced in Shadow Touch (the first novella). Here is the blurb:

Shadow
The world is growing dark with it as mysteries from antiquity and legend creep into our time, bringing a new world of danger, beauty and…
Magic
Dr. Cam Kalamos has dedicated his life to studying its strange properties, but nothing is more intriguing than a woman whose soul is split in half, one part under her control, one part bent on…
Seduction
How can he resist the lure of a lover with no inhibitions and an insatiable desire to possess him? Both Ellie and her shadow want Cam, but there is an innocent child to be rescued from the forest and the strange fae creatures of…
Twilight
Love, loyalty, betrayal – which will rule? As Ellie sends her other self into the darkness, there is only one certainty: Trusting in shadows is a dangerous game.

Fae Fire
It is Kaye Brand’s power to wield. But outcast from her kind, she’s been selling herself to the highest bidder—money for her survival in exchange for a magic glimpse into the flames of the future.
Angel Ice
One of the angelic Order, Jack Bastian has no use for a female like Kaye, as provocative and unexpected as her blazing beauty. Yet he has no choice but to hire her to uncover the secrets of his sworn enemy and her former fiancé, Ferrol Grey.
Magekind
War is inevitable between the defenders of the Order and the mage Houses who threaten to engulf the world in Shadow. For Jack, mage-born Kaye is off limits, no matter how hot the impossible attraction between them. But in the coming darkness, beset by danger and desire, everything is about to change.
6.      How did you come up with the idea for this story?
My Shadow series explores the idea that Shadow (capital S) is magic and that it is seeping back into the world. While I was writing those books, I thought a lot about shadow and its different permutations. I wondered what it would be like if a person’s shadow were able to move and act independently of their body. Eleanor Russo, my heroine, was born. Her shadow is the personification of her id—it acts on impulse and primal desires. Ellie has to contend with this deepest, darkest part of herself. Luckily, she’s found a man, Cameron Kalamos, who understands and is in awe of her split existence. They meet in ShadowTouch, the first novella in the series. And in Shadow Play, they team up to find a young boy who has been lost to the faery world.
7.      Can you share with us your current work in progress?
I’m working on Shadow Hunt, the third novella in the series, which follows the romance and development of Ellie and Cam as a kick-ass team. The third installment is shaping up to be a dark, sexy, dangerous ride. I’m having a lot of fun with it.
8.      Who are some of your favorite authors?
I have a million favorites, from Jane Austen to Lois McMaster Bujold to Karen Marie Moning to Patrick Rothfuss to Stephen King. I tend to lean toward genre fiction over the literary stuff (which I studied in college).  I love them all, and further, I am so grateful for their amazing characters and stories. I don’t know what my life would be like without them.

9.      Do you feel that any of your favorite authors have inspired your writing style? 
I like fast reads, propelled by strong characters. And I owe many authors a huge thank you for so many great examples of pacing and character arcs. Often I will stop in a book and curse at an author’s brilliant technique and then try to discover the building blocks of how that particular moment came together. Every book is different, so I don’t think that there is a direct transfer, but I know trying to get an idea of the inside of the construction and voice and power of a great book has made me a better writer.

10.  What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?
My TBR… Hmmm… Actually it’s full of YA. I have one of those Shiny New Ideas and I’m immersing myself in that subgenre for a while. I recently finished Jenna Black’s Glimmerglass and Dan Well’s Partials(both awesome). I’ve got Brenna Yavanoff’s The Replacement right here. I’m itching to start both Leanna Renee Hieber’s Darker Still series and Jaime Reed’s The Cambion Chronicles series. I’m currently reading Sean Cumming’s Poltergeeks.  I know my kindle is loaded as well (bwahahahaa). I eat books, buy a ton at once (I should own my local B&N), so this summer will be a blast of good reading.

11.  Is there anything else you would like to add?
Yes! I’ve got a freebie and a giveaway! I dipped my toes into SF romance this year with the Hotter on the Edge anthology.

It’s a 4 1/2 stars—Top Pick from Night Owl Reviews: “HOTTER ON THE EDGE is an exceptional trio of Sci-fi romance novellas… Creativity, strong characters and interesting plots make this one a winner.” My story is “All That Glitters,” and here is the blurb:

Cheated out of a fortune by the Sol royal family, lowborn Simon Miner will do anything to get his revenge, no matter how ruthless. When Princess Mica Sol, a terraforming expert, is shot out of the sky on the way to her sister’s lavish wedding, she fears the worst—scavengers—and flees into an alien jungle to avoid capture. But the man who pursues and captures her is none other than Simon, her former lover. Passions reignite as violence rocks Sol City, and Simon and Mica must fight for love, family, and their world… or lose everything.

It’s available free at Smashwords in all e-formats with promo code UW37U.

AND….

I’m offering a set of my Shadow series (Shadow Bound, Shadow Fall, and Shadowman) to one lucky commenter who tells me the title of their favorite book ever.
            
AND x2…
I’ll be giving away a Kindle Fire soon, so make sure to “like” me on FB for details. You can also find me at:
My website: www.erinkellison.com
Twitter (@ekellison): www.twitter.com/ekellison
Facebook: www.facebook.com/erinkellisonauthor

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Interview & Giveaway with RM Sotera

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome RM Sotera to the blog today. 

1.    Can you please share with us a little about yourself
Sure.  By day I’m a high school English teacher.  I have a husband and son that keep me busy, and at night, when the house is quiet I barricade myself in my office to spin my stories.  If I could have one wish – it would be to have a clone of myself so I could be everywhere I need to be! J
2.    Have you always wanted to be an author?
No, I haven’t.  I’ve always been a storyteller, and I’ve always wanted to be a teacher, but my desire to write my stories down came later in life.
3.    Who are some of your favorite writers? Who do you feel has influenced your writing?
I am very eclectic when it comes to favorite writers.  I love the classic writers, Poe, Plath, and Austen.  I also love writers like Anne Rice, Stephen King, and John Grisham.  And then of course, there is Jeannine Frost and Kenyon.
As for influence, they all did in their own way.
4.    How did you get into writing in this specific genre?  Have you ever thought about writing in a different genre? 

I write in three different genres, contemporary, cowboy and urban fantasy.
5.    What are some of your writing rituals?
My rituals are always the same depending on the scene I’m working on.  Music is always involved; however, the type depends on the seriousness of the scene.  Chocolate is another must have.  During erotic scenes…I have to have my wine!
6.    Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?
Sure.  My latest book, Cassadaga Moon, has quite the history.
How did this book come about:  I go through many different processes when I sit down to write, however, with Cassadaga Moon, I literally stepped into the world of ‘real vampires’, aka, sang and psy.  I began to research the lifestyle or as some say subculture seven years ago.  I was preparing to write my first romance novel, and wanted something different.  I needed a great hook.  I’d always heard about people, who’d believed they were vampiric, however, I thought it was a hoax that is until I started doing my research. I read every book I could get my hands on, specifically those written by Arlene Russo and Katherine Ramsland.  Then I started sniffing around online. The vampire community, specifically the Atlanta Vampire Alliance, helped me in understanding the subculture through several different interviews.  And then I was lucky enough to meet-up with a few sang vampires in the Las Vegas area who helped my understanding even further.  They are a very private group, which is totally understandable, so I let them choose the times and places of our meetings.
 So, I took what I knew about the subculture and decided that I wanted to push the envelope further by bringing the fetish of bloodplay into my story.  I learned through my research that there is a fine line between the two, and that many people confuse vampirism with bloodplay.  They are not the same.  However, many people who are vampires delve into that fetish on occasion.
However, for my story, I wanted my hero to like bloodplay too.  I wanted to up the ante as much as possible.  So with a storyline that encompassed a good Catholic girl and a real vampire with a much darker side, I wrote the book.  After several re-writes I felt it was finished and I was ready to find an agent.  Not so easy.
Stop the press.  I mean I knew that the subject matter of this book was dark, however, I didn’t realize how dark until the rejection letters began to pile up in my office.  And most of them said the same thing, that the material was to dark; to the point I would most likely scare readers.  But, I kept pushing because the story wasn’t about the vampirism (that just happened to be a really kick-ass conflict) it was about the love between a jaded and broken man with a different belief system and a Catholic girl.
So, 350 rejection letters later, Siren Publishing picked up Cassadaga Moon.  They felt the story was intriguing and very unique, and thus they took a chance on the book and my story came to fruition.  Here’s a funny…I’m still getting rejection letters on this book and it’s been published already.  Go figure.
In closing I would like to say:  If you have a story that you truly believe in, don’t stop until it finds a home.  How many well-known authors have been rejected on stories that have turned out to be best-selling books?  Do the research, you will find out that there are a ton of authors out there who just kept believing in their stories and pushing forward.
7.    How did you come with the idea for this story?
Fascination with a taboo world within our own society.
8.    Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?
Yes, I can.  I’m currently working on the second book in the Stiletto Sanction series, Vegas Moon.  I also have two other works in progress, one is a young adult and the other is another vampire series.
9.    What would you be if you were not an author?
I’m one of the lucky ones that have the dream job I’d want if I were not an author.  Teaching means the world to me, and I’ll never give it up!
10. What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?
I’m currently reading The Hunger Games, since I’m teaching it to my juniors.  And I’m reading The Client, the book I’m teaching to my seniors.  As for my own pleasure…I’m waiting patiently for the next Jeannine Frost book.
11. Is there anything else you would like to add?
Yes.  I would like to say thanks for this wonderful opportunity to chat.  I appreciate it.  Reading opens doors to wonderful worlds.  I hope my books can do that for others.
All the best.
RM Sotera

Website: www.rmsotera.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/rmsotera
Twitter: http://twitter.com/rmsotera
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/R.M.-Sotera/e/B004QSY9AO
Siren Bookstrand Author Page: http://www.bookstrand.com/r-m-sotera
Vice President – Las Vegas Romance Writers: http://lasvegasrwa.org/
Double D Ranch Tales Blogspot: http://doubledranchtales.blogspot.com/
RomCon Author 2012 –http://romconinc.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=27&Itemid=90
Want a chance to win an E-copy of Cassadaga Moon?  Please fill out the Rafflecopter from below 

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Interview & Giveaway with Jessica E Subject


Books-n-Kisses is excited to have Jessica Subject on the blog today to chat about her newest release. 

Jessica Subject started writing to encourage her daughter to read. Now she writes to keep herself grounded. Although she reads many genres, she enjoys writing Science Fiction Romance the most and believes everyone in the universe deserves a happily ever after. She lives Southwestern Ontario, Canada with her husband and two kids and loves to hear from anyone who has enjoyed her stories.


      

     


1.      Can you please share with us a little about yourself
Thank you so much, Kelly, for having me on your blog again. It’s always a pleasure to visit. Besides being an author, and a reader, I’m also a wife and a mother of two. I live in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, which is reflected in the settings of many of my books, especially The Zurian Child. Although I do have a contemporary romance published, and a paranormal romance coming soon, I mostly write science fiction romance, specifically alien romance. Because everyone in the universe deserves a happily ever after…
2.      Have you always wanted to be an author?
Although I’ve been writing various stories and producing newsletters most of my life, I didn’t write with the hopes of publication until three years ago. It’s hard to believe it took me this long to figure out what I wanted to be when I grew up. LOL
3.      Can you share with us your typical writing day.  Is there anything you have to have while writing?
I don’t have a typical writing day. LOL I have another at home job which keeps me pretty busy, so I fit in writing time while I can. Some days I have more luck than others.
4.      Most challenging or rewarding part of writing?
The most challenging is remembering all of my bad habits while I’m writing so that I can leave them out and save editing time later. I know some authors worry about that later, but I guess I’m a bit anal that way.
The rewarding part comes in three stages: the contract, the cover, and release day. But hearing that a reader enjoyed your story is the best of all.
5.      Can you please tell us about your latest book?
Sure. The Zurian Child is an alien romance novel, which takes place here on Earth, though it begins on another planet. It is the first book in the Mark of the Stars series. Here’s the blurb:
Lindsay Beckett longed to be reunited with her first love, Quinn Montgomery, until she learns the secret that sent him fleeing from her in the first place. He’s an alien, a Hemera, and she’s half-Hemera herself. As if that wasn’t enough to ruin her dreams of a perfect life, when their child is born, they discover she fulfills a prophesy told twenty light years away and many years ago. Lindsay wants to ignore it, until her husband is murdered and suddenly believing becomes a matter of survival.
Lindsay and her young daughter are forced to rely on another Hemera, her husband’s partner and best friend, Bryce Beuermann as more and more of the Hemera are slaughtered. Bryce will do anything to help his best friend’s widow—including suppressing his own deep feelings for her. But he must prove they can trust him, even pretending he doesn’t want her with all his heart.
6.      How did you come with the idea for this story?
Honestly, it started out as a superhero story for my 5 year old (at the time) daughter, but quickly morphed into something else. Thought nighttime and day dreams, and long showers (a great place to plot out a book) I worked out the story. But it is definitely not a story my daughter can read yet.
7.      Can you share with us your current work in progress?
Sure, I’m actually working on book two of the series, All Grown Up. In it, Katrina (The Zurian Child) is an adult. With a sexy military fire fighter—whom she’s had a crush on since she was a teenager—after her, she has a hard time focusing on her destiny.
8.      Who are some of your favorite authors?
Oh, gosh. I always feel like I’m excluding someone, but here are some of them: DL Jackson, Rebecca Royce, Lorna Suzuki, Zee Monodee, Gini Koch, Liz Crowe, JD Robb, Beth Revis…
9.      Do you feel that any of your favorite authors have inspired your writing style?
I think they all have. I can’t read for the sake of reading anymore. Instead, I enjoy a story, and pick out the aspects which made me enjoy the story. Then I try to incorporate them into my own writing.
10.  What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?
Um, you know there are over 200 books in my TBR pile, right? LOL I have at least one book from most of the above mentioned authors, and many more in various genres. I have a bunch of YA dystopian that I really want to get started on though, including Divergent, Under the Never Sky, Truth, and Ashes, Ashes. Plus, Flight For Control by Karlene Petitt who shared her knowledge of the airline industry with me for a story out on submission.
11.  Is there anything else you would like to add?
Thank you again for hosting me today, Kelly! And thank you to everyone who stops by to read the interview!
Links:
Website/Blog: http://jessicasubject.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/jsubject
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jessica-E-Subject-author/205759796126370
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4959083.Jessica_E_Subject
Google +: https://plus.google.com/100079570422204018357/posts
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/jessicasubject
THE ZURIAN CHILD BLOG TOUR GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment with your email address for your chance to WIN a $25 AllRomanceEbook/OmniLit Gift Certificate. Be sure to follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: http://sizzlingpr.com/2012/03/13/the-zurian-child-by-jessica-e-subject-tour/
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Spotlight Feature & Giveaway: Forbidden Magic by Jennifer Lyon

Forbidden Magic
E-novella 4.5 in the Wing Slayer Hunters Series
AUTHOR: Jennifer Lyon
PUBLICATION DATE:   04/15/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Wing Slayer Hunter, Ram Virtos, must find his soul mirror witch and convince her to mate with him before his Thunderbird tattoo kills him. But while that witch might be able to save Ram’s life, it is the mysterious Ginny Stone who inflames his passion.

Ginny has been deeply fascinated by Ram for months, but dared not act on it or she’d be torn from her mortal life on earth and thrust into her dreaded destiny as a half-breed angel. But when her beloved brother’s soul is at stake, she must do the one thing she both fears and desires…

Take Ram to her bed.


Excerpted from Forbidden Magic by Jennifer Lyon. Copyright © 2012 by Jennifer Apodaca.
The setting for excerpt: Ram and Ginny alone in the Axel of Evil Nightclub after closing.
Excerpt
He lifted her and settled her on the counter that ran beneath the bar. “You want to know what it’s really like to be kissed by trouble? Think hard before you answer.”
She put her hands on his shoulders. “I want to know what it’s like to be kissed by you. Really kissed.”
The contact blazed through his t-shirt right to his skin. Oh hell yeah. Ram slid his hands down her hips. Full and round, he savored the feel. Then he drew his palms down the tops of her thighs.
She shivered. More heat colored her skin, making her eyes nearly shimmer in contrast. She caught a deep breath. Her breasts strained against her shirt. Her scent filled his nose and throat.
This was what Ram loved, learning the sensuality of a woman as he held himself in rigid control. It was so fucking hot to get a woman’s trust to follow his orders and unleash as much pleasure as she could take.
But with Ginny?
Explosive.
Ram fought hard for control. For her. He’d show her a kiss that would sear her dreams. Fuck the warning flares going off deep in the jungles of his mind.
He wrapped his hands around her knees and pressed her legs open.
Wide.
Her fingers dug into his shoulders as she obeyed.
Ram stepped in. Tight. He gave her no escape. He wanted to fill her vision, fill her senses. “You’re going to kiss me again. A real kiss, Ginny.”
She tilted her head back, staring at him. “A dangerous kiss.”
“It’ll be wet, Ginny.” He leaned closer, until he knew she’d feel his words as well as hear them. “I’m going to take command of your mouth. All of it.”
Her eyes glazed. And her mouth, Christ. Her pink tongue darted out, sweeping over her lips then disappearing. “Exactly what I’ve dreamed of.”
Damn she was killing him. He lifted his hands, cupping her face. Then he brushed his lips over hers. Pure heat blazed through Ram. He gave her a second and then he angled her head back and touched his tongue to hers.
She tasted so damned good. So fresh and bright, like clean water in the desert. Ram flexed his thighs and fought to keep control of the kiss.
Of her.
Of the wild blazing lust snapping between them. Sliding an arm around her waist, he pushed her back until she lay on his arm and he consumed her. Tasted all of Ginny, learned every little shiver.
Felt her nipples tighten and bud against his chest.
Then he felt her slide her tongue into his mouth, at first tentative, but growing bolder.
And bolder. She reached up, burying her fingers into his hair, throwing herself into the kiss.
Damn, he wanted to strip off her clothes and keep tasting her.
Soul mirror! The words screamed in his mind.
He ripped his mouth from hers, lifting her upright. “Shit.” He reached out, grabbed the beer she’d opened for him, and drained half of it in a couple swallows.
It did nothing to cool his raging desire for her.
He drained the rest of the beer. Set it down, then looked over at her sitting to his left.
She met his gaze. “That was a hell of a kiss. Is it always like that for you? Are you that good?” Wonder tinged her tone, while desire thickened her voice.
Tearing his gaze from her swollen lips, he answered. “No. Never like that.” He wouldn’t lie to her. And he wanted the truth in return. “You’re a virgin.”
With her hands braced on the counter where she sat, she closed her eyes, dropping her head. “Yes, and I need to stay that way.”



GIVEAWAY TIME!!!!! 
The wonderful Jennifer Lyon has given me 3 wonderful prizes to share with you.  For a chance to win please fill out the Rafflecopter form below. 




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Tri-Destiny Spotlight

Tri Destiny Publishing – http://www.tridestinypublishing.com  –  A publishing company with a new concept: Help new authors hone their writing skills, build a better author platform to reach fans, and provide authors with the best resources possible in a warm and welcoming atmosphere.  We pride ourselves on giving authors the personalized attention they deserve, start to finish.  We believe in collaborative processes, from cover art to editing, working together to build the best book possible.  In an industry-first partnership with Autography, LLC, we provide authors a platform from which to personalize and sign their eBooks in the same way they sign their print copies. 
Tri Destiny Publishing has no “formula” or “mold” and we encourage thinking outside the bounds of the ordinary subjects and styles.  We have a continuous open call for submissions from authors who write what they love, not what we tell them to write; guidelines can be found on our website.   


SIzzlin’ Books – http://www.sizzlinbooks.com – Tri Destiny Publishing’s spicy romance line.  Unlike the mainstream romances offered through Tri Destiny Publishing’s website, Sizzlin’ Books offers readers a wider range of subjects (paranormal, supernatural, BDSM, ménages, LGBT, and anything else our authors can imagine) with varying heat levels.  We provide a “Sizzle Scale” so, as always, our readers know exactly what to expect when they buy from the Sizzlin’ Books line.    
Much like Tri Destiny, Sizzlin’ Books has a very open policy on submissions and content.  Our guidelines can be found on our website.  We encourage all authors who are unsure if their manuscript would be a good fit for the Sizzlin’ Books line to send a query letter to us.  
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Interview with Cassandra Carr

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome back the wonderful Cassandra Carr to the blog to talk about her new releases and upcoming releases. 



Q1) Can you please share with us a little about yourself
I’m a multi-published author with Loose Id, Siren, Ellora’s Cave, and Sybarite Seductions. I have only been writing since 2008 *dodges rotten tomatoes* and it appears I’m prolific, since Collision, my latest release, was the seventh in a little over a year of being published. I live in the Western New York area with my hubby, Inspiration, and daughter, Too Cute for Words. I’m a Sabres fanatic and hang out on Twitter far too much.
Q2) Have you always wanted to be an author?
No. I had no thought to being writing as a profession until my mother, Cynthia Racette, (who is an author – her debut came out in late March!), told me I should fictionalize a fan fiction story I was writing. Unfortunately, that book did NOT turn into 50 Shades of Grey.
I was in Corporate America for about 15 years. Most of that time was spent doing various things in marketing and public relations. But then I got laid off and couldn’t find another full-time position. Then we decided to have a baby. And, well, the rest is history!
Q3) What is your most interesting writing quirk?
Oh geez. I’m going to sound like the most boring writer ever. I really don’t have a lot of quirks. I don’t have much choice about when I work or where – it all depends on when I can get childcare. When my daughter is gone I need to hunker down and get the words on the page.
Q4) Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?
My last two releases are both book 2’s in my different series. On March 7thSiren released Cold As Ice, Buffalo Intimidators book 2. The Buffalo Intimidators series revolves around a hockey team that coincidentally (well, actually, not all coincidentally or I wouldn’t have a series!) has permanent ménage relationships. Book 1 of that series is Head Games, published last November.
On April 4th Ellora’s Cave released Collision, Buckin’ Bull Riders book 2. The Buckin’ Bull Riders series tells the stories of various bull riders on the professional tour. The first book of that series, Impact, published in February of 2012.
Q5) How did you come with the idea for this story?
For Cold As Ice, I wanted to use an entire forward line. Doing one of the first book featuring the captain made sense, so I started to work around those two things to develop the story.
For Collision, it’s kind of a funny story. I actually wrote Collision before Impact, but sold Impact first, so the order of the books got reversed and I had to make some changes to reflect that. I decided to write about bull riders after stumbling upon a professional bull riders (PBR) event one day. It was on the same channel as many hockey games. 😉 I had also read some great stories from people like Lorelei James and Cat Johnson.
Q6)  Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?
I’m currently writing two books – book 3 in the Buckin’ Bull Rider series, Momentum, is with my critique partners currently. One just got back to me and said it was her favorite so far so I’m pretty pumped about that! I’m also working in an 85k story to give to my agent to try to sell to a NY publisher. That’s a five-book series featuring IT geek heroes. I married an IT geek and I highly recommend them!
Q7)  Who is the one author that you would love to meet someday and why?
LOL – I already had my fangirl moment last year at the Romance Writers of America national conference. I adore Maya Banks and I met her there. The first time I met her that week she was really sweet, and then I saw her at another signing a few days later and made a joke about how I really wasn’t stalking her. I think that freaked her out. *blushing*
So see? Authors do really dumb fangirl stuff too!
Q8)  What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?
Write. If you’re going to do it, don’t take ten years to write your first book. Write the silly thing. Then polish it to within an inch of its life. Then, and only then, should you submit.
A note: if you sell that book it took you five or ten years to write, your publisher is not going to be amused if it takes another five or ten years to get another one written.
Q9)  Can you share with us something off your bucket list.
I’d love to spend about a month trolling around Europe with my husband. I’ve been to Italy and he’s been to France, but there’s so much to see!  And people are always flabbergasted when I say I don’t want to bring my daughter. She’s three. Even if she was older I’d like to take the time with my hubby and reconnect.
Q10)  What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?
*snort* My TBR list is, no joke, well over 200 books. Despite that, I can’t WAIT for the next book in Maya Banks’ Sweet series, Sweet Addiction. The hero is a guy I’ve loved as a minor character in some of the other books and I’m so excited to read his story.
Q11) Is there anything else you would like to add?
Just that I’ve got a big 2012 unfolding and if readers want to keep in touch with what’s happening, they can check out my website at http://www.booksbycassandracarr.com. I also have a FB fan page at http://www.facebook.com/AuthorCassandraCarr. And if you want to witness my Twitter addiction, you can do it at http://www.twitter.com/Cassandra_Carr. If you follow me be sure to tell how you found my name. At this point I don’t auto-follow but am always happy to connect with readers!