Author: Kelly

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Nalini Singh’s Psy/Changeling Series

SLAVE TO SENSATION

Dive into a world torn apart by a powerful race with phenomenal powers of the mind—and none of the heart…
In a world that denies emotions, where the ruling Psy punish any sign of desire, Sascha Duncan must conceal the feelings that brand her as flawed. To reveal them would be to sentence herself to the horror of “rehabilitation”— the complete psychic erasure of everything she ever was….
Both human and animal, Lucas Hunter is a Changeling hungry for the very sensations the Psy disdain. After centuries of uneasy co-existence, these two races are now on the verge of war over the brutal murders of several Changeling women. Lucas is determined to find the Psy killer who butchered his packmate, and Sascha is his ticket into their closely guarded society. But he soon discovers that this ice-cold Psy is very capable of passion—and that the animal in him is fascinated by her. Caught between their conflicting worlds, Lucas and Sascha must remain bound to their identities—or sacrifice everything for a taste of darkest temptation…


1.5 “The Cannibal Princess” – free short story

VISIONS OF HEAT 

Go deeper into the world of the Psy and the changelings, where a gifted woman sees passion in her future-a passion that is absolutely forbidden by her kind…
Used to cold silence, Faith NightStar is suddenly being tormented by dark visions of blood and murder. A bad sign for anyone, but worse for Faith, an F-Psy with the highly sought after ability to predict the future. Then the visions show her something even more dangerous-aching need…exquisite pleasure. But so powerful is her sight, so fragile the state of her mind, that the very emotions she yearns to embrace could be the end of her.
Changeling Vaughn D’Angelo can take either man or jaguar form, but it is his animal side that is overwhelmingly drawn to Faith. The jaguar’s instinct is to claim this woman it finds so utterly fascinating and the man has no argument. But while Vaughn craves sensation and hungers to pleasure Faith in every way, desire is a danger that could snap the last threads of her sanity. And there are Psy who need Faith’s sight for their own purposes. They must keep her silenced-and keep her from Vaughn…

CARESSED BY ICE

Explore new heights of sensuality in this return to the world of the Psy—where two people who know evil intimately must unlock the good within their icy hearts…
As an Arrow, an elite soldier in the Psy Council ranks, Judd Lauren was forced to do terrible things in the name of his people. Now a defector, his dark abilities have made him the most deadly of assassins—cold, pitiless, unfeeling. Until he meets Brenna…
Brenna Shane Kincaid was an innocent before she was abducted—and had her mind violated—by a serial killer. Her sense of evil runs so deep, she fears she could become a killer herself. Then the first dead body is found, victim of a familiar madness. Judd is her only hope, yet her sensual changeling side rebels against the inhuman chill of his personality, even as desire explodes between them. Shocking and raw, their passion is a danger that threatens not only their hearts, but their very lives…

MINE TO POSSESS

Nalini Singh pulls away another dark layer of sheer desire, revealing passions unknown, in her latest novel about the world of the Psy. A ghost returns from a leopard changeling’s past, making him question everything—even his base animal instincts…
Clay Bennett is a powerful DarkRiver sentinel, but he grew up in the slums with his human mother, never knowing his changeling father. As a young boy without the bonds of Pack, he tried to stifle his animal nature. He failed…and committed the most extreme act of violence, killing a man and losing his best friend, Talin, in the bloody aftermath. Everything good in him died the day he was told that she, too, was dead.
Talin McKade barely survived a childhood drenched in bloodshed and terror. Now a new nightmare is stalking her life–the street children she works to protect are disappearing and turning up dead. Determined to keep them safe, she unlocks the darkest secret in her heart and returns to ask the help of the strongest man she knows…
Clay lost Talin once. He will not let her go again, his hunger to possess her, a clawing need born of the leopard within. As they race to save the innocent, Clay and Talin must face the violent truths of their past…or lose everything that ever mattered.

HOSTAGE TO PLEASURE

With her darkly seductive Psy/Changeling world, Nalini Singh has created “a sensual, dangerous adventure not to be missed” (New York Times bestselling author Lora Leigh). Now, as the deadly Psy Council tightens its grip, a rebel Psy scientist finds herself at the mercy of a changeling who has sworn vengeance against her kind…
Separated from her son and forced to create a neural implant that will mean the effective enslavement of her psychically gifted race, Ashaya Aleine is the perfect Psy–cool, calm, emotionless…at least on the surface. Inside, she’s fighting a desperate battle to save her son and escape the vicious cold of the PsyNet. Yet when escape comes, it leads not to safety, but to the lethal danger of a sniper’s embrace.
DarkRiver sniper Dorian Christensen lost his sister to a Psy killer. Though he lacks the changeling ability to shift into animal form, his leopard lives within. And that leopard’s rage at the brutal loss is a clawing darkness that hungers for vengeance. Falling for a Psy has never been on Dorian’s agenda. But charged with protecting Ashaya and her son, he discovers that passion has a way of changing the rules…
5.5 “A Gift for Kit” ~ free short story


BRANDED BY FIRE

Hailed by Christine Feehan as “a major new talent,” New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh now brings together two fierce changelings in her most explosive story yet.
Though DarkRiver sentinel Mercy is feeling the pressure to mate, she savagely resists when Riley Kincaid, a lieutenant from the SnowDancer pack, tries to possess her. The problem is not simply that he pushes her buttons; the problem is that he’s a wolf, she’s a cat, and they’re both used to being on top.
But when a brilliant changeling researcher is kidnapped from DarkRiver territory, Mercy and Riley must work together to track the young man—before his shadowy captors decide he’s no longer useful. Along the way, the two dominants may find that submitting to one another uncovers not just a deadly conspiracy, but a passion so raw that it’ll leave them both branded by fire…

BLAZE OF MEMORY 

Nalini Singh returns to the Psy/Changeling world and its “breathtaking blend of passion, adventure, and the paranormal”* as a woman without a past becomes the pawn of a man who controls her future…
Dev Santos discovers her unconscious and battered, with no memory of who she is. All she knows is that she’s dangerous. Charged with protecting his people’s most vulnerable secrets, Dev is duty-bound to eliminate all threats. It’s a task he’s never hesitated to complete…until he finds himself drawn to a woman who might yet prove the enemy’s most insidious weapon.
Stripped of her memories by a shadowy oppressor, and programmed to carry out cold-blooded murder, Katya Haas is fighting desperately for her sanity itself. Her only hope is Dev. But how can she expect to gain the trust of a man who could very well be her next target? For in this game, one must die…


BONDS OF JUSTICE

Return to the powerful, turbulent Psy/Changeling world created by the “amazingly talented”* Nalini Singh, as a human detective finds himself working the most unlikely of cases—in the dark heart of a Councilor’s domain…
Max Shannon is a good cop, one of the best in New York Enforcement. Born with a natural shield that protects him against Psy mental invasions, he knows he has little chance of advancement within the Psy-dominated power structure. The last case he expects to be assigned is that of a murderer targeting a Psy Councilor’s closest advisors. And the last woman he expects to compel him in the most sensual of ways is a Psy on the verge of a catastrophic mental fracture…
Sophia Russo is a Justice-Psy, cursed with the ability to retrieve memories from men and women so twisted even veteran cops keep their distance. Appointed as Max’s liaison with the Psy, she finds herself fascinated by this human, her frozen heart threatening to thaw with forbidden emotion. But, her mind filled with other people’s nightmares, other people’s evil, she’s standing on the border between sanity and a silken darkness that urges her to take justice into her own hands, to become judge, jury…and executioner…

PLAY OF PASSION

Passion and reason collide with explosive force in the newest installment of Nalini Singh’s “mesmerizing”* Psy/Changeling series. As a conflict with Pure Psy looms on the horizon, two powerful wolves fight a far more intimate war of their own… 

  

In his position as tracker for the SnowDancer pack, it’s up to Drew Kincaid to rein in rogue changelings who have lost control of their animal halves—even if it means killing those who have gone too far. But nothing in his life has prepared him for the battle he must now wage to win the heart of a woman who makes his body ignite…and who threatens to enslave his wolf. 

  

Lieutenant Indigo Riviere doesn’t easily allow skin privileges, especially of the sensual kind—and the last person she expects to find herself craving is the most wickedly playful male in the den. Everything she knows tells her to pull back before the flames burn them both to ash…but she hasn’t counted on Drew’s will. 

  

Now, two of SnowDancer’s most stubborn wolves find themselves playing a hot, sexy game even as lethal danger stalks the very place they call home…


KISS OF SNOW

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh’s exhilarating world of shapeshifters and psychics is “paranormal romance at its best” (Publishers Weekly). Now comes the story of an alpha wolf named Hawke used to getting exactly what he wants–and of the only woman who dares tangle with him.
Since the moment of her defection from the PsyNet and into the SnowDancer wolf pack, Sienna Lauren has had one weakness. Hawke. Alpha and dangerous, he compels her to madness.
Hawke is used to walking alone, having lost the woman who would’ve been his mate long ago. But Sienna fascinates the primal heart of him, even as he tells himself she is far too young to handle the wild fury of the wolf.
Then Sienna changes the rules and suddenly, there is no more distance, only the most intimate of battles between two people who were never meant to meet. Yet as they strip away each other’s secrets in a storm of raw emotion, they must also ready themselves for a far more vicious fight…
A deadly enemy is out to destroy SnowDancer, striking at everything they hold dear, but it is Sienna’s darkest secret that may yet savage the pack that is her home…and the alpha who is its heartbeat…

TANGLE OF NEED (2012)



Novellas

All the novellas were written to to stand alone, so you can pick them up at any stage in the series. However, if you’d like to read in strict chronological order,follow this link.
1. “Beat of Temptation” in An Enchanted Season
AN ENCHANTED SEASON

Excerpt http://www.nalinisingh.com/enchanted.php
It’s the time of year when dreams come true, miracles happen every day, and love is the greatest gift of all… 

  

The holidays always seem to bring out the best in everyone, with heartfelt hugs for long-missed friends, sincere smiles in the spirit of the season, and a feeling of magic in the air… 

  

Here, for the first time, is a collection of paranormal romances celebrating the holidays as never before. From a shape-shifting leopardess who wants a pack-mate to be her soulmate to a surprise snowstorm that brings a surprise gift, these all-new tales by Maggie Shayne, Erin McCarthy, Nalini Singh, and Jean Johnson will stir your spirit in all the right places.

Beat of Temptation

Young Tamsyn has always held a special place in her heart for her powerful fellow pack-member Nate. But as a dominant male leopard in the pack, the more experienced Nate doesn’t want to trap Tamsyn into the fierce demands of the mating bond—a bond driven by the animal within—when she’s hardly had the chance to grow into a woman. But Tamsyn knows what she wants for Christmas, and she’s going to get it…


THE MAGICAL CHRISTMAS CAT

Put a little meow in their stocking this year with these tales of Christmas and felines-from beloved bestselling authors!
New York Times bestselling author Lora Leigh and top-selling authors Nalini Singh, Erin McCarthy, and Linda Winstead Jones have a special gift for readers this year: heartwarming holiday stories featuring passionate romance, paranormal adventure, and a distinctly alluring feline touch. With four new stories-including one featuring Lora Leigh’s genetically altered Feline Breeds-this is a collection packed with more surprises than Christmas morning, and more chills than the snowiest winter night…
Excerpt http://www.nalinisingh.com/cat.php


“Whisper of Sin” features Ria, who, as Lucas’s executive assistant, has appeared in a number of previous books in the series including Slave to Sensation and Mine to Possess. This novella is set back in time, and tells the story of how Ria met her changeling mate, Emmett, and became part of DarkRiver. It also shows us another glimpse of DarkRiver’s past.

Excerpt http://www.nalinisingh.com/burningup.php

4. Psy/Changeling anthology – tentative release date 2013

Find Nalini here
Website http://www.nalinisingh.com/index.php
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/AuthorNaliniSingh
Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/NaliniSingh
Goodreads  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/71688
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Winter’s Favorite Giveaway Day~~17

Welcome to day 17 of Winter’s Favorite.
Today I have two totally Awesomely Rad ladies sharing their favorites.  Please welcome the Awesome Erin Quinn and the Rad Michele Hauf…

Erin Quinn’s favorite thing about winter:      
I live in Arizona where it’s always hot, so my favorite thing about winter is the cold.  I love sweaters and sweats, fires and hot chocolate.  I love to be all warm and toasty inside while it’s storming outside, put in a good movie and bake something while watching.  To me, paradise!
To learn more about Erin please find her here
Website http://www.erinquinn.info/
Facebook  http://www.facebook.com/ErinQuinnAuthur
Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/ErinQuinnAuthor
Michele please tell us your favorite thing about winter:
My favorite part of winter is snow.  Having lived in Minnesota all my life, I don’t have much choice.  Either embrace the stuff or move.  While you’ll never hear me claiming to love the cold (Florida, anyone?) I do love snowflakes.  I love to watch the snow flutter from the sky on big downy flakes and softly hit the ground without so much as a sound.  I have a magnifying glass I keep by the door in the winter to study snowflakes.  Seriously!  They are the most gorgeous creations.  Winter’s jewels.  I’m a huge fan of Kenneth Libbrecht’s snowflake photographs, and have this print framed in my living room.  Stop by his website and just get lost in the beauty of nature for a while!  snowcrystals.com

To Learn more about Michele please find her here

Website http://www.michelehauf.com/
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Michele-Hauf-Author/84169458804
Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/michelehauf

To enter for a chance to win an e-book of Erin’s Kissing Kris Kringle or a signed copy of Michele’s novella found in A Vampire for Christmas. Please tell Erin & Michele your favorite thing to do during winter. Then head over to the MAIN Winter’s Favorite page (<< — Click link) to enter the giveaway.
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Winter’s Favorite Giveaway Day~~16

Welcome to day 16 of Winter’s Favorites.
Today we have two wonderful authors sharing their favorites. So I will stop taking up your time and let W. Lynn Chantale & JM Kelly take over…..
Brrr, It’s Cold
by
W. Lynn Chantale
Oh what I wouldn’t give to be in the tropics or some place equally as warm. Let’s face it, Michigan is downright frigid in the winter. So far temps have hovered in the 20 to 30 degree range. Well no wonder Delia didn’t want to leave the sunshine. That hunk Jace wasn’t a bad reason to stay either.
Since I’m stuck in snow country and can’t get away to a tropical cruise, I have a hottie of my own who keeps me warm at night. Hmm, one out of two ain’t bad. 🙂 What can one do to chase away the cold winter’s blues?
Besides a steaming mug of hot chocolate, how about a loaf of fresh bread? Courtesy of my good friend Betty Crocker.
Until next time, Indulge Your Inner Romantic
Website: http://wlynnchantale.com
Blog: http://wlynnchantale-decadentdecisions.blogspot.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/wlynnchantale
Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/W.LynnChantaleAuthor


6 to 7 cups Gold Medal® all-purpose flour* or Better for Bread® bread flour
3 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon salt
2 tablespoons shortening
2 packages regular or quick active dry yeast (4 1/2 teaspoons)
2 1/4 cups very warm water (120° to 130°F)
2 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted, if desired
1.       In large bowl, stir 3 1/2 cups of the flour, the sugar, salt, shortening and yeast until well mixed. Add warm water. Beat with electric mixer on low speed 1 minute, scraping bowl frequently. Beat on medium speed 1 minute, scraping bowl frequently. Stir in enough remaining flour, 1 cup at a time, to make dough easy to handle.
2.       Place dough on lightly floured surface. Knead about 10 minutes or until dough is smooth and springy. Grease large bowl with shortening. Place dough in bowl, turning dough to grease all sides. Cover bowl loosely with plastic wrap and let rise in warm place 40 to 60 minutes or until dough has doubled in size. Dough is ready if indentation remains when touched.
3.       Grease bottoms and sides of two 8×4-inch or 9×5-inch loaf pans with shortening or spray with cooking spray.
4.       Gently push fist into dough to deflate. Divide dough in half. Flatten each half with hands or rolling pin into 18×9-inch rectangle on lightly floured surface. Roll dough up tightly, beginning at 9-inch side. Press with thumbs to seal after each turn. Pinch edge of dough into roll to seal. Pinch each end of roll to seal. Fold ends under loaf. Place seam side down in pan. Brush loaves lightly with butter. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rise in warm place 35 to 50 minutes or until dough has doubled in size.
5.       Move oven rack to low position so that tops of pans will be in center of oven. Heat oven to 425°F.
6.       Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until loaves are deep golden brown and sound hollow when tapped. Remove from pans to wire rack. Brush loaves with butter; cool.
Makes 2 loaves, 16 slices each

Please Welcome JM Kelley 

This December marks my one-year anniversary as a South Carolina resident. Living so far south of the Mason-Dixon line, I realize my winters will be vastly different. It saddens me, ever so slightly, to know that I have little-to-no use for the shovel collecting dust in my car’s trunk.
I grew up in Pennsylvania. The state in which, every five years or so, we have one of those cataclysmic snowstorms that dump multiple feet of snow on our delicate heads. But the snow has magical properties, the kinds that wipe out our memories mere days after the last dirty clump has melted away from the landscape. The minute that record snowfall is gone, we’re convinced it never happened. And the next time the weatherman excitedly declares the storm of the century has us in its sights, we’re wringing our mitten-clad hands, wondering how we will ever survive.
In Pennsylvania, survival comes in the following forms: Toilet paper, eggs, milk, and bread. Stores drag out displays of Wonder Bread and Charmin to pile up next to the shovels and ice melt. Which brings me to another Keystone State anomaly: How does a store in a small town manage to sell two hundred shovels every time it snows? The numbers simply don’t compute. If you do the math, you’d see that statistically, every person in a fifteen mile radius must own around eight shovels.
Snow makes Pennsylvanians crazy. I suppose, if you’ve grown up in a state where all four seasons can make an appearance in a twenty-four hour timeframe, there are good reasons.  I mean, as a child, I remember those mythical snowstorms that would close down the school district for a week. Snow would drift so high, I could craft a complicated and completely unsafe network of tunnels all over the front and back yard, and never disturb the snows surface. I’ve slogged through waist-deep snow. Done 360s in a car that would make Michele Kwan jealous. I’ve stood at the top of a sloping driveway and made it down to my car without taking a step because of conveniently smooth and even-layered ice.
Snow is a big deal in that state.
Pennsylvanians know that snow is hard work. But even so, in all the winters I’ve weathered there, I’ve never once eaten more than half a loaf of bread in any given snowstorm. Personally, I think winter storm warnings are a marketing ploy. The makers of the Big Four of Snowstorm Survival are giving the weathermen a cut of the profits if they adequately scare viewers into stocking up in anticipation of the next Snowmageddon. A bloody conspiracy. I guarantee it.
About two weeks after I arrived at my new home in South Carolina, wonder of wonders, we had a snowstorm. The place shut down for over a week. Literally. It was like the End Times had begun with a fanfare of trumpets and an terrifying four inches of snow.
I laughed. I mocked. I stayed home because I realized the only thing more dangerous than say, nuclear weapons in the control of madmen, was an untrained South Carolinian on unplowed roads. I valued my life. And while I waited for the nimrods in control to allow the sun to take control of cleanup efforts, I hauled my trusty little shovel out of my trunk and shoveled out my parking space.
The residents of the apartment complex were confused. They watched me shovel. I think some had popcorn. I was asked why I’d do such a thing. When replying that physically removing snow was an actual option, they laughed and shook their heads. And went back inside, like hibernating bears, waiting to reemerge once the snow had all melted away.
I kind of miss Pennsylvania winters now. Not in the sense of welcoming another chance to embrace the exhilaration of below-zero wind chills and exploding frozen water pipes. But it would be nice to walk down the street again, in freshly fallen snow, enjoying the soothing roar of plow-trucks as they mosey on by, burying every curbside car they pass. Then I’d go home and make some toast and scrambled eggs. Put those survival supplies to good use one more time.
Want to learn more about JM or her books?
Check her out here
Website http://www.jmkelleywrites.com/
Facebook  http://www.facebook.com/pages/JM-Kelley/108021242585994?sk=wall
Twitter https://twitter.com/#%21/AuthorJMKelley
To enter for a chance to win a Chrsitmas Stocking full of goodies from W. Lynn or an Ebook of Drew in Blue by JM Kelley. Please tell W. Lynn & JM your favorite holiday tradition.. Then head over to the MAIN Winter’s Favorite page (<< — Click link) to enter the giveaway.
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Interview with Melinda Leigh


Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Melinda Leigh to the blog today. We are going to be talking about her new book She Can Run.

Melinda: First of all, thanks to Books-n-Kisses for hosting a stop on my blog tour.  She Can Run is my debut romantic suspense, and I’m thrilled to celebrate its release with you.

Q1) Can you tell us a little about yourself?
Melinda: I’m a fully recovered banker and stay-at-home mom turned writer.  I love kids and dogs, so my house is usually chaotic. Housekeeping isn’t my forte.  When I’m not taxiing kids to the mall and guitar lessons, I write and practice martial arts.

Q2) Have you always wanted to be an author?
Melinda:  Yes, but writing is something I didn’t have time for until my kids went to school.  Once I started, I was hooked.  The process is challenging, fascinating, frustrating, and immensely rewarding all at the same time.

Q3) Who are some of your favorite writers? Who do you feel has influenced your writing?
Melinda:  I’ve always been drawn to murder, mystery, and mayhem in fiction. When other girls were reading Judy Blume, I was working my through my mom’s collection of Agatha Christie mysteries.  In high school, I discovered I preferred Stephen King to classic literature.  Lately, I’ve been reading Jim Butcher and Lisa Gardner. 

Q4) Can you tell us what a typical writing day for you is like. 
Melinda:  I try to write while the kids are at school.  I like quiet when I work.  I don’t listen to music.  The TV is off.  If I could only get my dogs to stop barking… Sometimes I work in the evenings and/or early weekend mornings. There are a lot of things writers have to do besides write. 

Q5) Can you tell us a little about you book She Can Run?
Melinda: The heroine is a young widow with two children. Beth makes the terrible mistake of marrying a powerful politician who isn’t what he seems. She accidentally learns a secret about her husband, and he tries to kill her to keep it. With luck, she escapes with her kids.  Months later, under a false identity, she takes a job as caretaker on a secluded estate. Unfortunately, the elderly man who hired her dies, leaving the estate to his nephew, a former homicide detective.  Jack isn’t buying Beth’s story, but his conscience won’t let him send her away. Instead, he begins to investigate. Her secrets, his suspicions, and their desire clash when a killer strikes nearby.

Q6) How did you come up with the idea for this story?
Melinda:  My stories evolve slowly.  News headlines often give me ideas.  I find that rooting characters in reality is a great way to make their stories plausible. I wanted to write an emotionally charged story, so I started by putting a character into a terrible situation. What could be worse than a threat to one’s children?  It’s the parent’s fault they’re in danger!   Once I established Beth’s situation, I moved forward into developing a worthy hero and villains. The plot built into its final complexity over five rewrites. That’s not a typo.

Q7) What is up next for you? 
Melinda: I’m currently working on a story that is loosely connected to SHE CAN RUN through secondary characters.  The book takes place in the same small town and focuses on the local police chief and a disturbing stalker case.

Q8) What is the next book on your To Read Pile that you are dying to jump into?   
Melinda: The Night Eternal by Chuck Hogan and Guillermo Del Toro, It’s the third book in The Strain horror trilogy. These aren’t poor, misunderstood vampires or sexy immortals. They’re pure evil, and they have a plan to take over the world.  There were lots of sleep-with-the-light-on moments in the first two books. I love monsters! 

Q9) Is there anything else you would like to add?
Melinda:  Readers can find more information about me and my book at my website, melindaleighauthor.com.  I love to hear from readers. So, please connect with me on Facebook & Twitter. 

Books-n-Kisses: Melinda, again thank you so very much for making Books-n-Kisses a stop on your book tour.  I have enjoyed learning more about you and your book.  I look forward to reading and see what you come up with next.
Melinda: Thanks so much for having on the blog.  
Want to learn more about Melinda?  Keep Reading…

She Can Run Book Summary
Elizabeth was a young widow with two small children when she met Congressman Richard Baker. Handsome and wealthy, with a sparkling public image, Richard seemed like the perfect man to provide the security that Beth and her kids were craving. But when she uncovers a dangerous secret about her new husband, Beth realizes he will go to any lengths—even murder—to keep it. After barely escaping with her life, she and her children flee. They eventually make their way to a secluded estate in the Pennsylvania countryside, where Beth dares to hope she has found a safe place at last…

Forced into retirement by an unexpected injury, Philadelphia homicide detective Jack O’Malley is mourning the loss of his career when his uncle abruptly dies, leaving Jack to dispose of his crumbling country house. Unbeknownst to him, his uncle engaged a caretaker just before his death, a mysterious woman with two children and a beautiful face that haunts his dreams. Determined to know her, Jack begins an investigation into Beth’s past. When he uncovers the shocking truth, and a local woman is viciously murdered, Jack puts his own life on the line to keep Beth and her children safe.

She Can Run is a sexy, satisfying debut from award-winning author Melinda Leigh, packed with enough suspense and romance to get even the tamest heart racing!


Melinda Leigh’s Bio:

More than a decade ago, Melinda Leigh left a career in banking to raise her children and never looked back. She started writing when her youngest child entered first grade as a way to preserve her sanity. Her paranormal romance and romantic suspense fiction has won writing awards across the country, including The Gateway to the Best Contest, The Marlene Award, Where the Magic Begins, Put Your Heart in a Book, and The Golden Gateway 1st Round Grand Prize.

Melinda is also an avid martial artist. She holds a 2nd degree belt in Kenpo Karate, studies Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and teaches women’s self-defense. She lives in a messy house in the suburbs with her husband, two teenagers, a couple of dogs and one neurotic cat with an inexplicable fear of ceiling fans. With such a pleasant life, she has no explanation for the sometimes dark and disturbing nature of her imagination.

Paperback
Price: $13.95
ISBN: 9781612181516
Pages: 326
Release: November 28, 2011

Amazon buy link | Barnes&Noble.com buy link

eBook
Price: $7.99
Kindle buy link

Publisher’s Weekly Review:
“In her debut romantic suspense, Leigh carefully weaves the subplot of a serial killer with the main plot of an abused wife on the run and successfully ties the threads in a thrilling conclusion… Leigh’s tight, consistent plotting marks her as an author to watch.” 


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Winter’s Favorite Giveaway Day~~15

Welcome to Day 15 of Winter’s Favorites Giveaway.
I am pleased to welcome the WONDERFUL Stephanie Julian to the blog to share her favorite thing about winter.
My favorite thing about winter… A lazy Sunday spent by the fire with my feet up and my Nook in my hand. A day where I have nothing to do and nowhere to be. I feel no guilt as I snuggle into my chair, a throw over my legs and my feet so close to the fire they’re almost too warm. If it were summer, I’d feel guilty sitting inside, especially if it were sunny and warm. But when the temperatures below freezing and the sky is a sullen gray and I don’t have anywhere to be, there’s nowhere I’d rather be.
Find Stephanie Here: Website| Facebook | Twitter 
To enter for a chance to win an ebook from Stephanie’s backlist. Please tell Stephanie your favorite thing to do during winter. Then head over to the MAIN Winter’s Favorite page (<< — Click link) to enter the giveaway.
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Interview with AL Kay

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome A.L. Kay to the blog today.  We are looking forward to learning a little more about A.L. and her story in the Red Wine Anthology.  

A.L. Kay was born, raised, and currently lives in Jacksonville, FL.  She is the daughter of a pilot and a stay at home mom.  A.L. Kay is married, has two precious daughters and three crazy cats.  She is a psychology major, owns her own editing business and still manages to writer her own stories.  A.L. Kay loves animals; including snakes, frogs and spiders. A.L. loves Alternative Rock and Country music. Stories with mythological and paranormal elements are her favorite to read and write.  If you ever run into her, there will be a book not far from her grasp.

Q1) Please tell us a little about yourself
AL:  My name is A.L. Kay, I am a born and raised Jacksonville FL resident, mother of two girls, wife for 6 years (December 10th), and a psychology student.

Q2)  Tell us a typical writing day for you
AL:  Oh, well….writing comes as a side thing that I do.  It is not my career or main focus.  I write when I have time to, and I love to do it.  If I get a chance to write, I sit down with my iced coffee, make sure I am comfortable and begin.  Having two kids (5 and under) does not make it easy to have a peaceful writing time.

Q3) Have you always wanted to be an author or what made you become an author?
AL: I just started writing one day at the age of twelve.  I had never thought of being a writer, it just sort of happened.

Q4) Tell us a little about your story that can be found in the Red Wine Anthology:
AL:  In my short, you dive into the mind of a psychotic lover’s dark revenge.

Q5) How did you come up with the idea for this story?
AL:  Well the anthology was written just to release for Halloween time… and I was mad.  So, you put Halloween anthology short together with me being mad…and Red Wine was born.

Q6)  What is your current work in progress?
AL:  Oh I have about five works in progress; one of them is called “Ordinary”. I will have a short or two in the anthology “Dark Light” being released by Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing in Spring 2012.

Q7) Who are some of your favorite authors?
AL:  I have so many I love.  A few are:  Veronica Blade, Carrie Jones, Richelle Mead, and so many more.

Q8) Have to ask because I am nosey.  What is in your to be read pile that you are dying to read next?
AL:  There are sooooooo many!!!   Okay… picking one…randomly….”Awake at Dawn” by C.C. Hunter because I have read the first and I just really want to know what is happening, lol.

Q9) Is there anything else you would to add?
AL:  I would love to say thank you to everyone reading this and thank you to Books-n-Kisses.  I hope everyone will check out “Red Wine” and the new publishing company that will have wonderful stories to come in the spring, Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing.

Books-n-Kisses: A.L., thank you for taking the time to stop by the blog today to chat about yourself and your books 
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Winter’s Favorite Giveaway Day~~14

Welcome to Day 14 of Winter’s Favorites Giveaway.
Today we have the Beyond Awesome Larissa Ione and the Super Sweet Leslie Dicken sharing their favorite thing about winter.   And now I give the ladies the floor… Ladies…

Larissa’s Favorite thing about Winter:
My favorite thing about winter: Snow! And hot toddies. And Christmas decorations. And did I mention the snow? I love winter so much that I even made Immortal Rider a Christmas book (okay, Christmas is mentioned, anyway!)
Find Larissa here: Website | Facebook | Twitter 


Leslie’s Favorite thing about Winter:
I’ve thought a lot about what would be my favorite thing about winter. It’s not the cold and most definitely not the shorter days. I’m not much on skiing, snowboarding, or other winter sports and activities. Yet, I do like living in a part of the world where we have a real winter. I think that’s because I love to watch the snow fall.  Not to be out in it where I will be cold and wet, but to be inside where it is toasty warm. I love to see the pretty white flakes, large or small, float gently or blow wildly through the trees. Whether it’s a dusting on the ground or a foot accumulation or more, being inside a warm house while the snow drifts around outside is my favorite part of winter. I’ve included a picture of our first snowfall this year which happened the last weekend of October.
Find Leslie here: Website | Facebook | Twitter
To enter for a chance to win a Tote-bag & Swag from Larissa and an ebook from Leslie’s backlist please tell Larissa & Leslie your favorite thing about the snow. Then head over to the MAIN Winter’s Favorite page (<< — Click link) to enter the giveaway
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Interview with Robin Perini


Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Robin Perini to the blog today. We are going to be talking about her new book In Her Sights
Robin: Thanks so much for inviting me to be here. I’m thrilled. It’s so exciting because this is my debut novel, and this is my very first blog tour. Please be gentle…

Q1) Can you tell us a little about yourself?
Robin: I lost my heart to storytelling when I was a child, sitting at the knee of my great-aunt. She mesmerized me with her tales of ‘The Little Match Girl’ and ‘How the Tiger Got its Tail.’ She wrenched my heart, made me laugh and cry. She fed my love of reading and learning. Perhaps it was inevitable that I followed in her footsteps.
I dreamed of others reading my stories and experienced a rainbow of emotions: fear, joy, love, pity, anguish, forgiveness, hope. Somehow my dream came true this year, but it wasn’t easy. I wrote. I studied. In fact, some might know me because of the writing workshops that I’ve given all across the country – on my own or with award-winning author Laura Baker in our standing-room-only workshop, Discovering Story Magic.
In 2011, I sold my first book to Amazon’s Montlake Romance. I’d finally harnessed my secret inner commando and created stories I loved that resonated with people other than my friends and family who love me. Books of suspense and peril. Of family relationships and poignant emotions. Books that bring to life my motto: when danger and romance collide, no heart is safe.
Within months I sold three more novels to Harlequin Intrigue. I’m still floating on the ceiling. My great-aunt has long since passed away, but I look up and smile sometimes. My inner fire for storytelling was her gift to me. I pray I do her justice.

Q2) Have you always wanted to be an author?
Robin: For me, there is no ‘want.’ There just is. I am a storyteller. There was a time where I stopped writing for a few months. It was so hard. I’d just received several rejections letters. I asked myself what I was doing. Then I started dreaming the stories again, and I realized that whether I wanted to be or not, I am a storyteller.

Q3) Who are some of your favorite writers? Who do you feel has influenced your writing?
Robin: I have so many authors who have brought me incredible joy since I was a child. In fact, on my website (http://www.robinperini.com) I have included a page listing many of my all-time favorite books and authors.
Those books typically evoke deep emotions within me. They are my window into pain, joy, insight, and wisdom. One of my favorite authors is Sharon Sala. This New York Times Bestselling Author has written novels that twist my heart through a painful journey, but end in hope. Her ability to touch my soul makes me go back to her stories again and again. That’s what I hope to do in my stories.
Even more than that, Sharon Sala is a mentor to me. She read In Her Sights several years ago. She believed in me and my book at a time when it was hard to believe in myself. I’m not sure I would be here today without her encouragement. She is an amazing writer, of course, but even a more amazing person.
I’d like to be her when I grow up.

Q4) Can you tell us what a typical writing day for you is like. 
Robin:  Okay, I must confess, I’m a bit of a nut. Just ask my friends and family. I’ve tried a million different ways to write over the years, and for now, this works for me. First, I should say that I have a day job, so I work writing around paying the mortgage, and of course the rest of my life—family, exercise, chores, and occasionally a little fun. 🙂
I’m actually one of those irritating morning people. I write from 5:30 am – 7:00 am weekdays. Mostly to get the adrenaline pumping because I thrive on deadlines—and being panicked! With only an hour and a half, I have to make the most of every second. Also, I write in ‘sprints’. 20 minutes of writing and a 10 minute break. This idea was introduced to me by fellow writer, Angi Morgan (www.angimorgan.com) and it really works for me. If nothing else my body doesn’t go numb from sitting in the chair.
On Saturday, I write for about 5 hours in the morning, and on Sunday, after church, I write for three hours.
I usually write new material on those shorter stretches on the weekdays and revise on the weekends. As for promotion—like working on my website, blogs, designing romance trading cards, Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads, I work on those in the evenings as needed—or as the deadlines loom.

Q5) Can you tell us a little about you book In Her Sights?
Robin: This is my debut novel, so it’s a real dream come true for me to even be here. For a long time, I had to wonder if it would happen. Jazz’s story has been with me a long time, and while I’ve written other manuscripts since she first came to life in my heart, this has always been a story I really wanted to tell. I’m so thankful that Jazz found a home at Montlake Romance.
Jasmine “Jazz” Parker is the only female sniper on Jefferson County’s SWAT team. Always at the ready with calm nerves and steady hands, she never misses a shot. Strong, dedicated, and dependable, Jazz has committed her life to defending the helpless by exacting swift and uncompromising justice, all the while harboring dark, devastating secrets from her past. Secrets she thought she’d buried for good as a teenager.
To keep her past hidden, Jazz keeps a low profile and avoids getting too close to anyone, including the one man she thought she could love—ex-Army Ranger turned reporter Luke Montgomery. So when Luke runs a front page story about Jazz, calling her a hero for her recent victory—saving the life of the governor’s daughter—she feels uncomfortable with the exposure, and rightly so. A vicious enemy from her past takes notice of the article and sets out on a mission to reveal Jazz’s secrets and ruin her life in the process. At the same time, a corrupt cop is out to take Jazz down at any cost.  As her world begins to unravel, Jazz is forced to rely on Luke for help—putting his life and the lives of those closest to him in danger.
You can view the In Her Sights book trailer, read excerpts, read reviews, sign up for my mailing list and even request trading cards or a Kindlegraph on my website at www.robinperini.com.

Q6) How did you come up with the idea for this story?
Robin:  I love learning, and one of the opportunities I try to take advantage of is a day-long research event hosted by the Kiss of Death chapter of Romance Writers of America®. One year, the group visited the Arvada Police Department in Denver, Colorado. And the SWAT Team was there. I stood back as others asked questions and studied the interplay between the elite members of this team. My mind started whirling. What kind of man would be a sniper? What would his relationship be with the other members of his team? Then I learned that a woman could be a SWAT team member as long as she could meet the physical requirements. I didn’t really put it all together until I was speaking to another writer friend. I told her that women could be members of SWAT. She asked, “What if your sniper IS your heroine?”
Lightening struck!
Jazz was born. In Her Sights was born. All the questions I’d been asking—including what does it take to be a sniper—crystallized, and the story was inevitable from that moment on.

Q7) What is up next for you?
Robin: November 29, 2011—the release date of In Her Sights—was the culmination of a lot of years of dreaming, and I hope the beginning of dreams I never imagined. So much has already happened since I sold In Her Sights. Within months I sold three more novels to Harlequin Intrigue.
So, in 2012, three romantic suspense novels will be released from Harlequin. Finding Her Son, which won the 2011 Romance Writers of America ® Golden Heart® Award in Contemporary Series Romance: Suspense/Adventure as Stolen Lullaby, will be released in March 2012. In the story, a woman determined to find her kidnapped son, and who is suspected in her husband’s death, reluctantly teams with the embattled SWAT cop assigned to prove her guilt. Cowboy in the Crossfire, in which a woman desperate to protect her young son after he witnesses a murder, is forced into an alliance with the disgraced Texas Sheriff who her family framed, will come out in July, 2012. A third book will hit the shelves, Christmas, 2012.
I truly hope there are many more stories to tell!

Q8) What is the next book on your To Read Pile that you are dying to jump into?
Robin: I can’t wait to read my friend Darynda Jones’ Second Grave on the Left. I loved First Grave on the Right, but my writing schedule hasn’t allowed me to read the second book. I just love her wit. She’s a special writer.

Q9) Is there anything else you would like to add?
Robin: Just a small note to the readers out there. Readers. What an amazing thought. Thank you for taking a chance each time you open a book in the hopes that the story will mean something to you. If I could ask something of you, it would be to keep reading and share your love of reading with others so that the world of stories and books expands and grows and remains strong.

Books-n-Kisses: Robin, again thank you so very much for making Books-n-Kisses a stop on your book tour. I have enjoyed learning more about you and your book. I look forward to reading and see what you come up with next.
Robin: Thanks so much for having me here. I’ve had a blast. And I do love to hear from readers. Please connect with me. You can get in touch via my website, www.robinperini.com where you can view the In Her Sights book trailer, read excerpts, read reviews, sign up for my mailing list and even request trading cards or a Kindlegraph. I’m also on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads. I’d love to hear from you.

In Her Sights Book Summary
Jasmine “Jazz” Parker, Jefferson County SWAT’s only female sniper, can thread the eye of a needle with a bullet. But she carries a secret from her past that she thought she buried for good at the age of fifteen. Two years ago she even drove away the one man she believed she could love—ex-Army Ranger turned reporter Luke Montgomery—to keep her past hidden. Now, in a fleeting second, the time it takes for one clean shot, one perfect hit, to save the life of the governor’s daughter, Jazz’s world begins to crumble around her.

Luke splashes her face and name across the front page of the newspaper, reawakening her past with a vengeance. A vicious enemy is now bent on destroying her life, forcing Jazz to turn to the one man she can never have in order to stop a killer before she and everyone she cares about pays the ultimate price. Full of explosive action and almost unbearable suspense, In Her Sights is a relentless, steamy thriller surprisingly infused with soul and poignancy.

Robin Perini Bio:

Award-winning author Robin Perini’s love of heart-stopping suspense and poignant romance, coupled with her adoration of high tech weaponry and covert ops, encouraged her secret inner commando to take on the challenge of writing romantic suspense novels. Her mission’s motto: “when danger and romance collide, no heart is safe.”

As a writer, Robin is devoted to giving her readers fast-paced, high stakes adventures with a love story sure to melt their hearts. Robin’s strong characters and tightly woven plots have garnered her seven prestigious Romance Writers of America Golden Heart® finals, and Golden Heart Winner in 2011. Stolen Lullaby, will be published by Harlequin Intrigue® in May, 2012 as Finding Her Son. Her other 2011 Golden Heart® Finalist, In Her Sights, will be published by Amazon’s Montlake Romance November 29, 2011.

By day, she works for an advanced technology corporation, and in her spare time, you might find her giving one of her many nationally acclaimed writing workshops or find her training in competitive small-bore rifle silhouette shooting. She’s a voracious reader and a die-hard fan of the T.V. series, BONES.

YouTube video book trailer embed code:
<iframe width=”350″ height=”208″ src=“http://www.youtube.com/embed/BDHzP2rewP0?rel=0” frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen></iframe>

Paperback
Price: $13.95
ISBN: 9781612181523
Pages: 262
Release: November 29, 2011

Amazon buy link
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/161218152X/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=tributebooks-20
Barnes&Noble.com buy link
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/in-her-sights-robin-perini/1106436852?ean=9781612181523&itm=1&usri=in%2bher%2bsights
 eBook
Price: $7.99
Kindle buy link
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0053TIBCM/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=tributebooks-20

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Winter’s Favorite Giveaway Day~~13

Welcome to day 13 of Winter’s Favorites. On the blog today I have JK Coi sharing her favorite thing about Winter.
My favourite thing about winter is the food. I know, sounds crazy, right? But there are certain foods that make me feel warm and protected, and they all come in winter.
1) Clementines. Have you had these tiny oranges before? They’re so sweet and juicy, and the citrus smell sticks to your fingers after you peel them. It’s cozy and invigorating at the same time, as impossible as that seems.
2) Specialty coffees. There are so many different coffees that come out just for the holiday season. After playing with my son outside, or when it’s snowing and I’m stuck at the computer, the flavoured coffees make me feel just a little bit happeier. Starbucks has an AMAZING egg nog latte that I cannot get enough of. When I bring my laptop and hunker down in one of their corner couches to try and write, it’s the perfect drink to keep me focused.
3) Turkey. Man, I love turkey. And in our family, we have turkey on Christmas day. When I make it at home (depending on who is hosting the family dinner that year) I always get an extra big bird because I love to have leftovers for making sandwiches with in the week after Christmas when you’ve gorged yourself for so long you can’t bear to make a real dinner until the new year.
4) Nuts. Why is it that nuts are a holiday snack, but it’s true. For some reason I only buy them at this time of year. Cashews and walnuts, and chestnuts. Oh, chestnuts. I like roasting them and serving them nice and hot.
5) Cookies. My grandmother makes the best cookies, and only at Christmas. Lemon cookies, almond half-moon shaped things, shortbreads, gingerbreads, sugar cookies in the shape of cute Christmas trees. I gain 10 pounds just because of these, but it’s completely worth it!
What are your favorite treats of the holiday season? Does your family have a recipe that only comes out at this time of year?
Thanks to Kelly for giving me the opportunity to be a guest today! To say thank you, I’d like to offer a copy of my holiday steampunk novella from Carina Press, FAR FROM BROKEN, and a set of romance trading cards featuring all of the novellas in A Clockwork Christmas.
Far From Broken 
Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 322 KB
Publisher: Carina Press (December 5, 2011)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
Language: English
ASIN: B005Z1CTZI
27,000 words
Order HERE
Blurb:
Soldier. Spymaster. Husband.
Colonel Jasper Carlisle was defined by his work until he met his wife. When the prima ballerina swept into his life with her affection, bright laughter and graceful movements, he knew that she was the reason for his existence, and that their love would be forever.
But their world is shattered when Callie is kidnapped and brutally tortured by the foes Jasper has been hunting. Mechanical parts have replaced her legs, her hand, her eye…and possibly her heart. Though she survived, her anger at Jasper consumes her, while Jasper’s guilt drives him from the woman he loves. He longs for the chance to show her their love can withstand anything…including her new clockwork parts.
As the holiday season approaches, Jasper realizes he must fight not just for his wife’s love and forgiveness…but also her life, as his enemy once again attempts to tear them apart.

To enter for a chance to win JK’s Steampunk novella & trading cards please tell JK your favorite holiday food. Then head over to the MAIN Winter’s Favorite page (<< — Click link) to enter the giveaway.
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Guest Blogger Kristen James

Romance Mini “The Look”
Kristen James
The pouring rain outside made it feel more like late evening than six in the morning. Annalisa stared out into it, her back to the office door. Sounds banged and clicked in from the busy shop outside as she tried to jumpstart herself.

The sound of the door swinging open did it. The outside noise jumped in volume, then dimmed again as it slammed shut. She spun around.

“We don’t need some change agent coming in here. We can handle this ourselves!” A very fit man with a long sleeve shirt and jeans threw a stack of papers onto her desk. Some slid across it and hung over the edge on her side. Spotting her, he stood mid gesture and blank faced, watching her push the papers back into a somewhat neat stack.

The day went from bleak to super charged in 2.3 seconds, and not because he’d burst into the office. This guy needed to be in a clothing ad, maybe for outdoor gear. He had a movie star, Brad Pitt type face, and she imagined running her hand along his jaw, checking for stubble.  

She sat and leaned back in her chair. “What kind of ideas do you have?”

“Who are you?”  

“Looks like I’m the person you’re looking for. Mr. Rici brought me in to see how we can improve the processes out there.” She glanced down at his papers to keep her eyes away from his tall and lean figure, the piercing blue eyes set in a firm face. Soon she realized he had thoughtfully written out several process improvement ideas with calculations on how much time each would save.

Sometime during her scanning, he asked, “Do you have a name?”

She finally looked up and realized he’d sat down and had been watching her for several minutes. Evaluating her. Memorizing her. His face had softened considerably and now he stared at her in wonder. She’d been about to compliment his ideas but got caught up in gazing back at him.

Oh, yeah, her name.

“I’m Annalisa Gildhart, and you?”

“Dan.” He extended his hand in a polite gesture that threw her. His shake was firm but not too hard…and they didn’t break the physical contact right away. He nodded toward the papers. “You know, people aren’t expecting you to listen to our ideas.”

She smiled, thankful for his honesty. “I’m here to help, believe it or not, and that means working with you to keep this place running. These are great ideas, Dan.”

A slow smile spread across his face, and the flirtatious tilt to it made her think he’d reacted more to her smile than her words. Still, he looked much more at ease.

It was her that was tingling inside.

 Dan leaned back and studied her. Change always made people nervous, but he almost looked like he’d be willing to drop the old us-against-you routine. Oh, she hoped he’d keep that attitude and prevent a hotbed of tension. Everyone would have to work together or this place would be closing within three months.

“So you might be around a while?” The smile lifted even more on one side.

“Yeah.” She was local too, but kept her answer short.

They were smiling across the desk at each other when someone else rapped on the door and cracked it. “Mrs. Gildhart, you’re on. Everyone’s gathered for the morning meeting.”

She pulled in a deep breath as she rose, then grabbed the papers. She’d like to show them she was on their side and wanted their ideas.

Dan gave her a reassuring smile. “This revamp is starting to look much better than I anticipated.” The gleam in his eye sent shivers up her back as she stepped out of the office.  Annalisa agreed. She just hoped she could concentrate on work with him around… but, wow, those jeans looked good on him.
About Kristen James
Kristen James is a bestselling Kindle author of romance, general fiction and Native American fiction. She lives on the river in Oregon enjoys travel, cycling, hiking, berry and mushroom picking, fishing and activities with her family. Her favorite fishing stories include hooking a sting ray in Costa Rica and fighting a few monster salmon in her home state. Learn more at about Kristen and her writing at  www.writerkristenjames.com.
More Titles by Kristen James
Kauai Spy Games – Co-Written with Jeff Ivanov
A Cowboy For Christmas
More Than Memories
The Enemy’s Son
The River People – Native American Fiction
A Miraculous Fate –  Co-Written with Tommy Garrison
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Eve Langlais Giveaway Blitz

How can she make him stop thinking of her as a freakn’ sister?
Jealous and Freakin’
Book 2 in Freakin’ Shifter series
by Eve Langlais
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace (November 17, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1467957526
ISBN-13: 978-1467957526
Order here:  Amazon | B&N

Blurb: Francine’s loved Mitchell, a wolf like herself, since she first set eyes on him back when they were just kids. However, Mitchell’s never seen her as more than another annoying sister. Determined to make him realize she’s all grown up, she enlists the aide of Alejandro, a gorgeous cat shifter. She never counted on wanting them both.
Alejandro knows Francine is special from the first moment he meets the fiery plump wolf, which is why he suggests she use him to make Mitchell jealous. A great plan, especially if it means getting to kiss those luscious lips. One taste though, and he’s addicted, but how does he make her see past the man she loves to realize she’s also meant to be his mate.
For a long time now Mitchell’s been running from Francine, certain she’s mistaken that their destiny’s lie together. However, the little girl he remembers is all grown up, and when he sees her in the arms of another, a need to claim her overrides all his common sense. But, he’s waited too long and fate has decided that he’s going to have to share. Can he bend enough to accept Francine and another man, or will his jealousy keep him freakn’?
Warning: Excessive amounts of heat may be generated when reading this story. Do not sit or stand near flammable objects unless they happen to be your partner. Please note, that while the heroes sustained injuries during the course of the story, Francine did eventually kiss them all better, naked of course. This is a ménage romance, with heavy emphasis on the romance. It does contain multi partner, sexual situations that some people may find titillating. Reader discretion is advised.




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Winter’s Favorite Giveaway Day 12

Welcome to day 12 of Winter’s Favorites.
Today I have 2 of my absolute favorite authors on the blog today.  I have had the great pleasure of meeting both of these wonderful ladies and spend a great deal of time with each of them.
So without further ado please welcome the Super Sweet Laurie London and the Scandal Queen Delilah Marvelle.

Please welcome Laurie London:
Thanks, Kelly, for having me on today!
I wanted to share with your readers a very special recipe I make for the holidays.
If you’ve read my books, you’ll notice there’s usually an important scene that revolves around food. It might be a sexy scene, one where secrets are revealed, or just two people getting to know each other. For instance, in Enchanted By Blood, my story in the anthology A VAMPIRE FOR CHRISTMAS, Trace and Charlotte first talk at an all-night diner over coffee and stale doughnuts.
Food connects us to our past and helps keep memories alive. My grandma used to make this wonderful Eggnog Pie for the holidays. I’m thankful she contributed her recipe to the Cedar Creek Grist Mill Cookbook, published in 1991, because otherwise, I wouldn’t have had it.

Several years after she passed away, I was missing her and made the pie for my grandpa at Thanksgiving, using my own chickens’ eggs. It made him so happy that I started making it for all the holidays.

Gommo’s original recipe calls for making a regular pastry crust. I did that at first but found we all preferred a graham cracker crust. Sorry, Gommo! (Even Poppo liked it this way too.) It’s even easier.

1 tsp. Knox gelatin
1 Tbsp. water
1 c. milk
1/2 c. sugar
2 Tbsp. cornstarch
Pinch of salt
3 egg yolks, beaten
1 Tbsp. butter
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. heavy cream, whipped
Nutmeg
1 graham cracker crust pie shell

1. Soak gelatin in the water to soften. Set aside.
2. Scald milk in top of double boiler.
3. Combine sugar, cornstarch and salt. Add to scalded milk and cook until smooth, stirring constantly.
4. Stir small amount of hot mixture into the eggs to temper them, then return to the double boiler and cook three to four minutes longer, stirring constantly with a whisk.
5. Remove from heat. Add gelatin mixture and butter. Whisk till smooth. Cool.
6. Add vanilla. Fold whipped cream into custard mixture. Pour into pie shell and sprinkle with nutmeg. Chill pie until ready to serve.

Enjoy!
You can find Laurie here: Website | Facebook | Twitter
Please welcome Delilah Marvelle:
12 Things I Love about Winter
Born and raised in Chicago where winter not only nips your nose but your ass straight through your jeans, you better believe a girl like me has to find joy in
winter or just altogether die from it.  I prefer to find joy in it and what better way than by sharing it with the world.  So in honor of what we know to be the 12 days of Christmas,
I’m doing my own version of 12 Things I Love about Winter.
1.)  I can stay in the house, remain dressed in flannel Pj’s, write and drink tons of hot chocolate spiked with hazelnut and vodka without coming across as a slob, a recluse and an alcoholic.
2.)  I can wear a warm, fuzzy hat on my head so I don’t need to spend time straightening my hair or messing with it.  I stay warm AND look good with no hassle.  Imagine that.
3.)  Boots, boots, boots!!!  I’m a boot girl and I get to pull out all 10 pairs of my boots that sit in my closet and wear them all (though not at the same time….obviously).
4.)  I get to bake.  Gingerbread girls with short skirts and gingerbread men with buff arms (you think I’m lying?!).  I loooooove baking.  As a culinary chef who worked with a top notch pastry chef before my writing swept me away from it, I learned how to do everything from ganache to apricot glazes sage cookies to glass windows for ginger breads houses made out of sugar.  I love how my house smells like cinnamon and sugar cookies naturally, instead of those plug in wall thingies that would kill you if you tried to lick it…
5.)  I get to buy sweaters!  Every winter, I buy two new sweaters to snuggle into.  Call it a winter tradition, but I love nestling into a sweater when the cold rolls in.
6.)  Sledding.  Omgosh, as a girl, I loved tugging up that sled and feel the rush at the cost of nothing but my sore legs going up and down the hill.  And I still love it!!  Only now, I get to do it with my kids (and realize I’m getting old when they beat ME up the hill…)  Sadly, in Portland, Oregon snow is rare, but we have mountains we can hunt down within an hour’s time.  AND it does snow on occasion.  When it does snow, I love running out with the kids and feeling like I’m in the movie Edward Scissorhands and seeing snow for the first time.  It feels new every year I see it, especially with me now living in Portland, seeing snow is rare.
7.)  I get to make stews and soups galore and no one complains about it (because they all want comfort food right along with me!).
8.)  Winter means my favorite holiday is coming: Christmas.
9.)  I get to ice skate, ski and snowboard!  Ice skating I’ve done in downtown Chicago since I was old enough to walk, but skiing?  The first time I ever hit the slopes was when I came to Oregon and hit up Mount Hood at the age of 23.  We don’t have mountains in Chicago and they don’t let you ski off the Sears Tower (Sigh.  I know.).  My first experience was…scary as hell.  My husband (Mr. Ski pro) bought me skis and together we took the lift up the mountain (because I’m like ‘Bring it.’  Heh).  That’s right…no ski experience whatsoever and I decided to take on Mount Freakin Hood like some city girl wearing heels on ice.  And I not only took on Mount Hood but I did the BLUE run instead of the easy Green.  Because I just had to impress my husband.  It took me over an hour to get down that mountain (it took my husband 15 minutes).  Every breath I thought I was going to die or that my legs were going to snap and when I saw a guy in front of me lose control and disappear off somewhere, that’s when I took off my skis and trudged down the mountain before I ended up like him.  But guess what?  I put those skis back on and went up again…and again…and again until I no longer took off my skis but actually went down the mountain.  I’ve been hooked ever since.
10.)  Seat warmers in the car go on.  It sounds totally stupid but having the seat warmer on in the car makes this girl HAPPY.  Who knew having a warm butt could bring so much joy?
11.)  The skies at night look so much crisper and cleaner.  I don’t know why, but I get this “I’m alive feeling” when I walk around at night and it makes me SO happy.
12.)   And my favorite…I get to bundle up in bed with my hubbie. I love bundling up with him in bed. The guy is like Jacob from Twilight, he’s always unusually warm at night (high metabolism). During the summer, it sucks, and I roll away from him because I’m trying to stay cool, but during the winter? You better believe I get in extra snuggle time. He keeps me warm alllllllll winter long and that alone is why I love winter 🙂
You can find Delilah here: Website | Facebook | Twitter

Laurie is offering a signed copy A Vampire for Christmas. 
Delilah is offering a signed copy of her upcoming release Forever & a Day. 
To enter please tell Laurie & Delilah your favorite thing about winter and then head over to the MAIN Winter’s Favorites page (<<—– click link) and enter on the main page.