Molly Harper’s Bluegrass series

My Bluegrass Baby

A brand-new novel in an original eBook series from popular romance author Molly Harper! When Sadie & Josh compete for the same Kentucky Tourism Commission job, sparks fly—turns out Kentucky really is for lovers.

Sadie Hutchins loves her job at the Kentucky Tourism Commission. Not only could her co-workers double as the cast of Parks & Recreation, but she loves finding the unusual sites, hidden gems, and just-plain-odd tourist attractions of her home state. She’s a shoo-in for the director’s job when her boss retires at the end of the year…until hotshot Josh Vaughn shows up to challenge her for the position.

Josh is all sophisticated polish while Sadie’s country comfort, and the two have very different ideas of what makes a good campaign. So when their boss pits them against each other in a winner-takes-all contest, they’re both willing to fight dirty if it means getting what they want. But it turns out, what Josh and Sadie want could be each other—and Josh’s kisses are the best Kentucky attraction Sadie’s found yet!

*****

Rhythm and Bluegrass

Bluegrass #2

Bonnie Turkle, multimedia historian for the Kentucky Commission of Tourism, is dispatched to Mud Creek, a tiny eastern Kentucky town, with few prospects but many oddballs, to rescue important artifacts from McBride’s Music Hall. Now fallen beyond disrepair, McBride’s was once a jewel of the early American music scene, an intersection of the country-western and rhythm and blues circuits. The former owner’s grandson, Will McBride, who also happens to be Mud Creek’s esteemed mayor, would like nothing more than to see the place bull-dozed in favor of a factory that will provide much-needed jobs to his citizens. But Bonnie finds evidence of a legendary musical event at the music hall and her plans to turn it into a museum put Mud Creek’s economic future at risk – not to mention the growing flirtation between the two of them. If Will and Bonnie can’t find common ground, the town’s past and future will be lost.

*****

Snow Falling on Bluegrass

Bluegrass #3

Parks & Recreation meets The Blue Collar Comedy Tour in this third ebook in Molly Harper’s Bluegrass series of contemporary romances: A love triangle of colleagues heats up the winter lodge where they get snowed in for a week.

Kentucky Tourism Commission employee and executive assistant extraordinaire Kelsey is known around the office for having everything under control. So it’s not surprising that she and her boss, Sadie, have everything planned to the second for the office winter retreat. But there are things even Kelsey can’t micromanage.

An unprecedented snowstorm smothers half of Kentucky and knocks out the power, closes the roads, and generally shuts down the state. Luckily, the lodge has working fireplaces and enough food to keep the staff from turning on each other like something out of The Shining. Kelsey wouldn’t mind being stuck inside if it wasn’t for the tension with her not-so-secret crush, Charlie, the office’s statistician. But handsome Ranger Luke, the lodge’s only employee on hand, is there to take Kelsey’s mind off her discomfort.

Even though this weekend is supposed to be a planning session for KTC, Kelsey can’t help her mind from wandering and finds herself conflicted over Luke and Charlie. Someone’s love will keep her warm, but whose will it be?

On Audible:

August 21, 2014August 18, 2014

Spotlight Feature of Darcy Burke’s The de Valery Code + tour wide giveaway

The de Valery Code

Regency Treasure Hunters, Book 1

by Darcy Burke

August 18, 2014

Miss Margery Derrington and her dear aunts are in dire straits. Their discovery of a rare medieval manuscript will hopefully stave off their creditors—if it’s worth what they hope. Margery reluctantly allies with a reclusive scholar to use the book to pursue a treasure that could exceed her expectations. Amidst danger, secrets, and an insatiable attraction, is Margery gambling just her financial future . . . or her heart?

Academic Rhys Bowen can’t believe he has his hands on the elusive de Valery text. Solving its hidden code and unearthing its legendary treasure would establish him as one of Britain’s leading antiquarians, finally casting him out of his brilliant late father’s shadow. But when a centuries-old organization convinces Rhys of the perils of disturbing the past, he must choose between his conscience…and the captivating woman he’s sworn to help.

Blog Excerpt Three:

“I can’t quite figure you out, Miss Derrington. You work as my partner and yet you try to deceive me.”

“You deceived me first.”

He inclined his head. “So I did. You also return my kisses and then act as though I’m anathema.”

She tried to ignore his use of the word kisses. “That’s a bit hyperbolic, isn’t it?”

He cracked a half-smile that did ridiculously lovely things to her insides. “It is. I’m poking fun. I like having fun in your company.” He leaned toward her and lowered his voice. “Admit it, you like me.”

Far too much. “Why wouldn’t I?”

His smile broadened, making him seem insufferably confident. “I can’t think of a reason.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “On second thought, there’s that vexing streak of arrogance.”

He lowered his voice even further, as if he were imparting a secret. “I actually think you like that too.”

About Darcy:

Darcy Burke wrote her first book at age 11, a happily ever after about a swan addicted to magic and the female swan who loved him, with exceedingly poor illustrations. Darcy writes hot, action-packed historical and sexy, emotional contemporary romance.

A native Oregonian, Darcy lives on the edge of wine country with her devoted husband, their two great kids, and two Bengal cats. In her “spare” time Darcy is a serial volunteer enrolled in a 12-step program where one learns to say “no,” but she keeps having to start over. She’s also a fair-weather runner, and her happy places are Disneyland and Labor Day weekend at the Gorge.

Learn more about Darcy and her books here : Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Newsletter

*****

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

Grand prize: a travel toiletry bag from Thirty-one filled with goodies

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The tour schedule can also be found here:

August 17 – Rookie Romance (Excerpt/Interview)

August 18 – Romance Reader Girl (Excerpt)

August 19 – For The Love of Bookends (Excerpt, Review)

August 20 – Books Like Breathing (Review)

August 21 – SOS Aloha (Excerpt)

Books-n-Kisses (Excerpt)

August 22 – Romancing Rakes For The Love of Romance (Excerpt)

August 23 – The Lusty Literate (Excerpt)

Historical Romance Lover (Interview)

August 24 – Underneath The Covers Blog (Excerpt)

August 25 – TBQ’s Book Palace

August 26 – What I’m Reading (Excerpt/Review)

August 28 – Romantic Historical Reviews (Spotlight/Review)

August 29 – Adria’s Book Reviews (Interview/Review)

Forever Book Lover (Excerpt)

August 31 – Eskimo Princess Book Review (Excerpt)

The Reading Wench (Interview/Review)

August 20, 2014August 13, 2014

Interview with Shana Galen

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome back Shana Galen to the blog. We are chatting about her best piece of advice and her newest release Love and Let Spy (Lord and Lady Spy)

Shana it is always good to have you on the blog. For those who don’t know you can you please share with us a little about yourself

I’m a wife, a mom, and a former English teacher. I’ve been writing fulltime for the last 5 years, and I’ve published almost twenty books.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

Not at all. I used to want to be an opera singer. I never really thought about authors or where books came from. It didn’t occur to me until after I’d been teaching English for a couple of years, that people wrote these novels and that was their job. Seemed like a good job to me!

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

I have to walk around a lot in order to think while I’m writing.

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

Love and Let Spy is basically James Bond, except James is Jane. She’s the best spy the Crown has to offer, and she’s single-minded when it comes to completing missions. But she doesn’t count on meeting Dominic Griffyn. He’s not the typical Bond love interest. He’s dark and complex, and I think he’s as interesting a character as Jane.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

All of the books in this series are based on iconic spy movies—Mr. and Mrs. Smith, True Lies, and of course I had to include James Bond. He’s the spy we all know and love. But I wanted to make my Bond different, so I made James a Jane and explored what Bond might be like as a woman in the Regency era.

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

I have a new series coming out in January, and it follows a group of thieves and their intersection with a noble family in London. The first is a novella titled The Viscount of Vice, and it’s about a viscount with a bad reputation who has the chance to redeem himself. The first book is out in February, and it’s Earls Just Want to Have Fun. It’s about the head of the Derring family, the Earl of Dane, and what happens when he meets a female thief who challenges everything he thinks and knows.

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

Honestly, I’ve met every author I really wanted to meet at this point. I’ve been writing seriously since 2000, so I’ve had the chance to go to many conferences and conventions. The only author I hadn’t met that I wanted to meet was Julie Garwood, and I finally met her in Kansas City at the RT 2013 convention.

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

I always give the same advice, the advice of the indomitable Winston Chruchill: “Never, never, never give up.”

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.

I want to spend a month living, touring, and working in the UK when my daughter is a bit older and can come with me.

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

I want to read Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo and The One by Kiera Cass. They are waiting for me to get ahead on my work, so I have time to read.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I just want to thank my readers for embracing this series. It was originally intended to be one book, but due to reader support, I’ve written three books and a novella in the series. Thank you!

A little more about Shana:

Shana Galen is the bestselling author of fast-paced adventurous Regency historicals. She taught English at the middle and high school level off and on for eleven years. Most of those years were spent working in Houston’s inner city. Now she writes full-time. She lives in Houston, Texas .

Want to learn more about Shana and her books? Check her out here Website | Facebook | Twitter @shanagalen | Goodreads

*****

Her name is Bonde, Jane Bonde…

A beautiful and eligible member of the ton, Jane has more than a few secrets: she’s one of the Crown’s most elite agents. She may be deadly, but she doesn’t know a thing about fashion, flirtation, or love…until Dominic Griffyn shakes up her carefully stirred world and asks her to be his bride. He’s exactly the kind of man she’s not looking for. And he’s dangerous, because falling into his arms is so much more satisfying than saving England from her enemies.

He’s an improper gentleman who needs a wife…

Talk, dark, and tortured, Dominic Griffyn is haunted by demons from his past. When his stepfather insists that he marry, Dominic allows himself to hope that the beautiful but mysterious Miss Bonde might help him forget his troubles. As they grow closer, it’s clear that there’s more to Jane than danger. She might be just what his neglected heart needs.

August 19, 2014August 15, 2014

Spotlight & Excerpt from My Highland Spy by Victoria Roberts

I’m happy to be here at Books-n-Kisses, the second stop on the My Highland Spy Teaser Tour! Thanks for having me.

My Highland Spy is the first book in my new Highland Spies’ series, and I hope you enjoy the story as much as I enjoyed writing it. We left off yesterday with Ravenna being in The Devil’s Tavern. Let’s see what other trouble she can get herself into.

My Highland Spy

This Highland Laird won’t bow to the Crown
Laird Ruairi Sutherland refuses to send his only son away to be educated by the English. And he most definitely will not appear in Edinburgh to pay homage to a liege who has no respect for Scotland. So he does what any laird would do-he lies to the king. The last thing Ruairi expects is a beautiful English governess to appear on his doorstep.

But this lady spy might make him…
Lady Ravenna Walsingham is a seasoned spy who is sent to the savage Highlands to uncover a nefarious plot against the Crown. Playing the part of an English governess—a job easier said than done—she infiltrates the home of Laird Sutherland, a suspected conspirator.

If she doesn’t betray him first
Ravenna soon discovers that the only real threat Sutherland poses is to her heart. But will the proud Highland laird ever forgive her when he discovers the woman he loves in an English spy?

Chapter One (excerpt 2):

The establishment was notorious for housing smugglers, cutthroats, thieves, and pirates. If Lord Cobham was meeting anyone here to further promote his illicit behavior, she was going to find out.

Without warning, Ravenna was roughly pulled down onto a lap. The man’s breath reeked of ale and he smiled, fingering her locks.

“This place keeps getting better and better. I haven’t seen you here before.” He lowered his head and sniffed down her body. “Mmm…you smell of lavender.”

She didn’t think it wise to tell the man what he smelled like so she politely nodded. When she tried to stand, he pulled her back down and held her with a firm grip.

“Let me tell you a little secret.” He lowered his voice and leaned forward. “I think you are by far my favorite.” His hand encircled her breast, and it took all of Ravenna’s might not to slap him. And that’s when she looked up and noticed the men.

Dear God.

Lord Cobham was walking straight toward her. She hastily glanced to Cobham’s right and saw Charles Paget. What was he doing here? She couldn’t risk being spotted, so she did the first thing that came to mind. She turned in the lap of the man who held her and brought his lips to hers.

The man’s comrades cheered him on, and his hands roamed all over Ravenna in places they shouldn’t. She had to endure quite a repulsive kiss and felt as though she needed a cloth to wipe away the slobber that had escaped the man’s lips. How she despised this part of the masquerade! Only when she was confident that the two men had departed did she dare pull back, attempting not to think about the bile that rose in the back of her throat.

She placed her finger to the man’s lips. “I have something for you. I’ll be right back.” When the man nodded, as she knew he would, she made her escape to the back room. She didn’t want to spend another moment in that place. Grabbing her cloak from the corner, she bolted out the door.

She did not look back.

What was Lord Cobham doing with Charles Paget? She thought Paget was still in Paris. No matter, she would simply give the information to her uncle. She wrapped her cloak tighter around herself as the cool breeze whipped her cheeks. She walked with long, purposeful strides, clutching the dagger in her pocket. She didn’t like walking the streets of London by herself, let alone by the docks in the darkened hours of the night. One of these days her luck was going to run out. She prayed it was not at this moment.

Her uncle’s carriage waiting at the end of the dimly lit street was a welcome sight. George climbed down upon her approach and extended his hand. He was a large man with graying hair at the temples and stood well over six feet tall. He always aided her when she needed protection from places like the Devil’s Tavern.

“Lady Walsingham, did you find what you were looking for?”

“Thankfully, yes.”

“Home, my lady?”

“Yes, please.”

Ravenna climbed into the coach and breathed a sigh of relief. She sat back, closed her tired eyes, and fell asleep to the gentle, rhythmic movement of the carriage and the sound of clomping hoofbeats. When the carriage suddenly stopped, she was jolted awake.

“My lady, we have arrived.”

She took George’s hand and climbed down. “Thank you. Could you please ask my uncle to pay me a visit on the morrow?”

He nodded. “Of course. Have a pleasant evening, Lady Walsingham.”

*****

What the people are saying:

“An exciting Highland tale of intrigue, betrayal, and love.” —Hannah Howell, New York Times bestselling author of Highland Master

“Roberts’ newest features a surprise-laden, quick-paced plot, replete with unconventional and fiercely independent characters. Her lyrical prose grabs readers’ attention, and the high level of emotional tension simply adds to the depth of the story. This book begs to be read and reread.” —RT Book Reviews

A little about Victoria:

Victoria Roberts writes sexy, award-winning Scottish historical romances about kilted heroes and warriors from the past. Prior to ever picking up a single romance novel, she penned her first young adult novella at 16 years old. Who knew her leather-studded motorcycle hero would trade in his ride and emerge as a kilt wearing Highlander wielding a broadsword? Victoria lives with her husband and their two beautiful children in western Pennsylvania. Visit her at Website | Facebook| Goodreads|

*****

Sourcebooks will give away one copy of My Highland Spy to a lucky commenter (US and Canada only, please.)

To enter please tell Victoria the name your favorite spy movie.

Follow the whole tour here:

8/18 – The Reading Café

8/19 – Books-n-Kisses

8/20 – Fiction Vixen Book Reviews

8/21 – Long and Short Reviews

8/22 – From The TBR Pile

8/25 – SOS Aloha Book Blog

8/26 – The Bookish Babe

8/27 – Fresh Fiction

8/28 – Harlequin Junkie

8/29 – Urban Girl Reader

August 19, 2014August 15, 2014

Yasmine Galenorn’s Flight From Hell Release Day Blast

“Yasmine Galenorn creates a world I never want to leave” – Sherrilyn Kenyon

Yasmine Galenorn’s Otherworld series is long running, best selling, and has unique, well developed world building. This rich environment has more than one story to tell… and it’s time for a new one to begin.

FLIGHT FROM HELL IS OUT TODAY!!!

FLIGHT FROM HELL is the novella bridge-piece that loosely links Yasmine’s existing Otherworld series with her upcoming Fly By Night series. To help celebrate the release of the novella, Yasmine has a contest happening on her site, and today is the LAST DAY to enter!!! Click HERE for prize details and instructions for entering.

When Carter, half demon, comes to Menolly and her sisters, asking for their help, they think he’s just had a tiff with Shimmer, his blue dragon girlfriend.

But after talking to Alex Radcliffe, the owner of the Fly By Night Magical Investigations Agency where Shimmer works, they suspect that she has been kidnapped by an old enemy of Alex’s.

Now, Alex joins forces with the D’Artigo sisters in a desperate race to find Shimmer before Julian, a powerful vampire from Alex’s past with a grudge to settle, can use the dragon to wreak havoc on Seattle as revenge.

Next summer, in the Fly By Night series, we’ll meet new characters and have new adventures, but each book will have Yasmine’s signature depth and edge. Answering questions about the similarities and differences between the two series, Yasmine recently posted this on her blog:

They ARE both set in the same universe/same city/same time.
The Fly By Night Series is NOT just another venue for the D’Artigo Sisters. The focus will be on Alex and Shimmer—there will be crossover of minor characters, but the two series are definitely their own and Fly By Night belongs to Alex and Shimmer.
The Fly By Night Series will be from Shimmer’s viewpoint, and she and Alex hang out in vastly different circles than the D’Artigo sisters overall.
FLIGHT FROM HELL is an OTHERWORLD novella that introduces Alex and Shimmer to you—here, the characters do interact but the Fly By Night Series will be focused on the Fly By Night world.
Fly By Night is more of a mystery/thriller series. I’ll give you these spoilers:

Alex and Shimmer are not privy to the demonic war going on.
The FBN books will be more standalone. While the characters will evolve, there’s not all that much of an overwhelming series arc.
The FBN gang is a little more humorous, though the series is not really ‘lighter’ than Otherworld.

You can read the rest of this post on Yasmine’s blog HERE.

Click on the FLIGHT FROM HELL cover above to see its info page on Yasmine’s site (with excerpt and playlist). And each of the covers below will take you to their individual pages. Now is a perfect time to get to know the Otherworld series, or catch up where you left off!!

Witchling Book 1	Changeling Book 2	Darkling Book 3	Dragon Wytch Book 4	Night Huntress Book 5	Demon Mistress Book 6
Bone Magic Book 7	Harvest Hunting Book 8	Blood Wyne Book 9	Courting Darkness Book 10	Shaded Vision Book 11	Shadow Rising Book 12
Haunted Moon Book 13	Autumn Whispers Book 14	Crimson Veil Book 15	Priestess Dreaming Book 16

Here is a little peek into Flight from Hell.

August 18, 2014August 18, 2014

Interview with Marie Harte

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome fellow Oregonian Marie Harte to the blog for her first visit. We are talking about Luke Evans, bucket lists and her new release How to Handle a Heartbreaker (The McCauley Brothers). So please make Marie’s visit wonderful.

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

Hi. I’m Marie Harte. I’m a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author with over a hundred books to my name, and I have no intention of slowing down. I’ve had a varied career. After majoring in English from Penn State, I served in the Unites States Marine Corps, then worked in the IT field before moving on to supervise about sixty truck drivers during my time working for a trucking company. (Talk about stories!) I finally segued into writing fulltime after quitting the trucking company to raise my children. I now live in Central Oregon with two young boys who are threatening to eat me out of house and home. My days are spent writing, staring at snow-capped mountains, and imbibing ludicrously large amounts of coffee.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

YES.

Are you a plotter or a punster or combo of both? And you explain the difference?

I do a bit of both. Typically I flesh out my characters, have a basic premise of plot, and go—a pantster (writing by the seat of my pants). But when writing proposals for my publishers, I have to submit a synopsis. Surprisingly, I find I follow the synopsis, though minor points in the story may change—hence the plotter path. But I have to admit I usually write fastest when the story has been percolating in my brain for a few days/weeks before simply writing. So in a sense, I plot mentally, then just let the words flow.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

I’m a fast writer. I can’t think about it; I just have to write. When I think too hard, I mess myself up.

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

How to Handle a Heartbreaker is such a funny, sexy, and emotional book. I made myself cry (in a few spots) while writing this, and I’m not a crier. Most of the time, though, I was laughing or fanning myself. Here’s a short blurb that describes How to Handle a Heartbreaker best:

It’s lust at first sight when Brody Singer first lays eyes on Abby Dunn. The dark-haired beauty looks a lot like a woman he once knew, who died years ago. At first Brody fears his attraction is a holdover from that secret crush, but Abby’s definitely different. She’s a lot shyer, a lot sexier and, despite her attempts to dissuade his interest, absolutely mesmerizing.

Abby isn’t having it. She’s still trying to put her last disastrous relationship behind her and overcome the flaws her ex wouldn’t let her forget. But somehow Brody isn’t getting the hint. It doesn’t help that when writing her steamy novels, she keeps casting Brody as the hero.

Brody is more than happy to serve as her muse and eager to help make sure her “research” is authentic. But when their research turns into something real…will she choose her own happily ever after?

How did you come with the idea for this story?

I wrote The Troublemaker Next Door and Sourcebooks accepted it. Hurray! But Flynn had three brothers, two by blood, one of the heart. Brody—Flynn’s “twin”—had to have his story told, and he had hidden depths I was eager to explore. After writing this book, his behavior in the first story made much more sense. Abby too made me love her all the more when I met her family and saw what she’d gone through to get so far. Man, I can’t STAND that Kevin jerk.

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

I’m currently working on a military romance novella for inclusion in a military bundle with some extraordinary authors. The project hasn’t been announced yet (and it’s KILLING me) but it should release soon.

I’m also working on edits for Served Hot, the second in my Best Revenge trilogy for Samhain Publishing. Three friends decide to get back at the men that did them wrong with some unintended, steaming hot results. Served Cold, book one, releases September 16^th.

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

Johanna Lindsey, because her book, A Gentle Feuding, was the very first romance I read and the book that got me hooked on the genre. So to Ms. Lindsey, thank you.

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

To believe in yourself and never give up. There are enough people in the world ready to tell you no. Only you can make yourself believe in yes.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list?

Well, first on my list was one day going to Europe. Check. Then it was hitting the New York Times list. Check. (And super big surprise/thrill just a few short weeks ago!) Now I think it’s a toss-up between learning to play the piano and learning martial arts.

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

I’m on tenterhooks waiting for the next Guild Hunter book from Nalini Singh and Thea Harrison’s next Elder Races novel. I love those series!

What is one book everyone should read before they die?

A Wrinkle In Time. I loved that book as a kid and love it even more now. Talk about writing outside the box. Madeleine L’ Engle was one of the greats.

What is your favorite time of year & why?

I absolutely love fall. Halloween is my favorite holiday, and the weather is just perfect. Jeans and sweatshirt weather, hot cocoa and football. Plus school is in session, and I’ve always loved academics. What’s not to love when the leaves change color and float to the ground?

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

Hmm. Lately I’m on a Luke Evans kick. He’s hot, pretty dark and broody in his roles, and hell, he plays a human hero in the next Hobbit movie as well as the title character in Dracula Untold. What’s not to love? If I met him? I’d ask for a signed autograph. That’s about it. I’m not uber-impressed by fame. I would drool while staring at him, though. LOL

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Thanks so much for having me! I have releases ongoing through the rest of the year, as well as a Facebook reader group. Make sure to sign up for my newsletter (scroll to the bottom of my website to subscribe) to keep up to date on releases and contests. 🙂 I enjoyed my time at Books-n-Kisses. Great questions. Thank you!

A little more about Marie:

Caffeine addict, boy referee, and romance aficionado, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Marie Harte has over 100 books published with more constantly on the way. She’s a confessed bibliophile and devotee of action movies. Whether hiking in Central Oregon, biking around town, or hanging at the local tea shop, she’s constantly plotting to give everyone a happily ever after.

Visit http://marieharte.com and fall in love.

*****

HE CAN’T GET HER OUT OF HIS HEAD

It’s lust at first sight when Brody Singer first lays eyes on Abby Dunn. The dark-haired beauty looks a lot like a woman he once knew, who died years ago. At first, Brody fears his attraction is a holdover from that secret crush, but Abby’s definitely different. She’s a lot shyer, a lot sexier, and despite her attempts to dissuade his interest, absolutely mesmerizing.

SHE CAN’T GET HIM OUT OF HER BOOKS

August 17, 2014August 15, 2014

Kissin the week of August 11th -16th Goodbye

8.11.14

Kelly’s interview with Maya Banks

Kelly reviews Wild Dream by Donna Grant

Kelly reviews Wild Need by Donna Grant

8.12.14

Blitz Day for Dark Fates Release

Kimberly reviews What A Lady Craves by Ashlyn Macnamara

What releases the week of August 11th? Check here!

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Billionaire Blend by Cleo Coyle

8.13.14

Jennifer reviews Better Homes and Hauntings by Molly Harper

Jennifer reviews Return To Homecoming Ranch by Julia London

8.14.14

Kimberly reviews In Your Corner by Sarah Castille

Thursday’s Thought…

Blog Tour & Giveaway: A Cursed Awakened by Cecy Robson

8.15.14

Kelly reviews Shield of Winter by Nalini Singh

Kelly review Cop Town by Karin Slaughter

8.16.14

SINsational Saturday Series

Shana Galen’s Lord and Lady Spy Series

August 16, 2014July 30, 2014

Shana Galen’s Lord and Lady Spy series

Lord and Lady Spy

Lord and Lady Spy #1

Let the games begin…

No Man Can Outsmart Him…

Lord Adrian Smythe may appear a perfectly boring gentleman, but he leads a thrilling life as one of England’s most preeminent spies, an identity so clandestine even his wife is unaware of it. But he isn’t the only one with secrets…

She’s Been Outsmarting Him For Years…

Now that the Napoleonic wars have come to an end, daring secret agent Lady Sophia Smythe can hardly bear the thought of returning home to her tedious husband. Until she discovers in the dark of night that he’s not who she thinks he is after all.

*****

The Spy Wore Blue

Lord and Lady Spy #1.5

An exciting new novella in the popular Lord and Lady Spy series. Blue, an elite spy, tracks an assassin to Naples and the theater where his estranged wife performs. As he falls in love with his Helena again, Blue races to apprehend the assassin before he destroys them both.

*****

True Spies

Lord and Lady Spy #2

He’s Getting Tired of Deception…

Baron Winslow Keating is honor-bound to finish one last mission as an elite spy for the Barbican group even though he just wants to go home and be with his family. But after years of secrecy and absence, his daughters hardly know him, and his wife has given up on him.

She Wants to Try a Little Intrigue…

Lady Elinor has had enough of domestic boredom. She contemplates an affair with a rakish spy, only to discover a world of intrigue and treachery that she never knew existed. Even more shocking, her neglectful husband is suddenly very attentive—quite the jealous type—and apparently there is much more to him than she ever knew.

*****

Love and Let Spy

Lord and Lady Spy #3

Her name is Bonde, Jane Bonde . . .

A beautiful and eligible member of the ton, Jane has more than a few secrets: she’s one of the Crown’s most elite agents. She may be deadly, but she doesn’t know a thing about fashion, flirtation, or love . . . until Dominic Griffyn shakes up her carefully stirred world and asks her to be his bride. He’s exactly the kind of man she’s not looking for. And he’s dangerous, because falling into his arms is so much more satisfying than saving England from her enemies.

He’s an improper gentleman who needs a wife. . .

Tall, dark, and tortured, Dominic Griffyn is haunted by demons from his past. When his stepfather insists that he marry, Dominic allows himself to hope that the beautiful but mysterious Miss Bonde might help him forget his troubles. As they grow closer, it’s clear that there’s more to Jane than danger. She might be just what his neglected heart needs.

August 14, 2014August 13, 2014

Blog Tour & Giveaway: A Curse Awakened by Cecy Robson

I am so excited to be a part of the blog tour for A Curse Awakened and spotlight this great title. Cecy Robson is an amazing talented writer and I have had the pleasure of spending time with her at the Romantic Times Convention earlier this year. If you haven’t read her Weird Girls series, you are missing out because I believe that Ms. Robson will be a big name in the literary world before too long.

A CURSE AWAKENED
Excerpt

(From Chapter One)

Shayna meant well. But her optimistic attitude didn’t adequately describe my state of being. “If that were true, she’d never come out to play without my permission.” I turned to face them. “I―we—could never hurt you. I hope you know that. But sometimes, when she wants to break free, it is to do harm. Except there’s no one around to send her after . . . at least not anymore.” Not since I had killed the men who’d killed our parents. We hadn’t had much, but the gang members who’d broken into our home had robbed us of our most precious asset—our beloved mother and father.

Taran huffed and squared her shoulders when my voice trailed and she caught traces of my guilt. “You need to get over that, Ceel. Those bastards deserved everything that beast of yours unleashed.”

It was easy for Taran to say. She hadn’t heard the men begging for their lives. She hadn’t slashed their throats or watched them bleed, listening for their hearts to stop beating so she could finally walk away. Their voices stayed with me, screaming for mercy during my worst nightmares. And those nightmares were brought on by stress. So between the strain of selling the house and our decision to become traveling nurses, my prey had visited me every night that month.

I shoved my feet into the old pair of sneakers by the sliding glass door, not wanting to dwell on those I couldn’t bring back. “I’d better go meet Danny. He should be at the field soon.”

Taran rolled her eyes and adjusted her tiny cropped shirt. “Fine, but not without us. The last thing I want is you straddling his skinny ass and making skinny-ass babies.” She swore again since, well, that’s how she rolled.

“I’m not straddling Danny,” I insisted. “What we had was sweet, but it’s very over.” I grabbed the house keys and marched out with my sisters behind me. I held open the door, waiting for everyone to scamper out. As I jiggled the old lock to the door, Emme tugged on the edge of my wolf T-shirt I’d purchased on a recent trip to the Bronx Zoo. I had a soft spot for wolves.

Discover Cecy Robson’s sensational Weird Girls series—or return to where the magic first began—with this eBook original prequel novella about four sisters coming to grips with their unique supernatural powers.

Celia Wird shouldn’t possess the ability to transform into a tigress. Her three sisters should never be able to burst into flames, heal wounds, or transform common objects into deadly weapons. And yet they do.

Before they were born, the Wird Sisters were cursed by a spell that was intended to destroy them, not endow them with extraordinary powers. The sisters’ magic is untamed and explosive at best, and time is running out for them to take command.

Vampires have targeted Celia’s sweet, tragically human ex-boyfriend Danny. The sisters rush to his aid, but in order to take down the vamps, first they must face their dark past and break a spell that’s screwing up their powers. Except this curse wasn’t meant to be broken . . . and the witch who cast it isn’t done toying with them yet.

Amazon/B&N

About the Author:

Cecy Robson is the New Adult author of Once Perfect, Once Loved, and Once Pure and the award-winning author of the Weird Girls urban fantasy romance series. A self-proclaimed professional napper, Robson counts among her talents a jaw-dropping knowledge of useless trivia, the ability to make her hair big, and a knack for breaking into song despite her family’s vehement protests. A full-time writer, registered nurse, wife, and mother living in the Great Northwest, she enjoys spending time with her family and silencing the yappy characters in her head by telling their stories.

Website/Twitter/Facebook

Jennifer’s Review of A Curse Awakened

Review (5 Stars): I have been a huge fan of Ms. Robson’s writing since reading Sealed With a Curse last year and I was so excited to have the opportunity to read more about the Wird sisters. A Curse Awakened is a prequel to this amazing paranormal series which provides the much needed answers about the girl’s powers and the beginnings of the back-fired curse that turned their lives upside down. In this story, Danny calls the sisters for help when he finds that his family is being hunted by vampires and his father is now missing. Determined to help Danny in his quest to find his missing father, Celia discovers that the only way to truly help him is to break the curse that is binding their powers. To do that, they have to face a dark evil that wants nothing more than to see the girls dead and will stop at nothing to make that prophecy come true.

A Curse Awakened is a fast-paced thrill ride that will have you on the edge of your seat. I love Ms. Robson’s style of writing because she not only creates a vivid paranormal world that will surely entertain readers but provides the perfect amount of humor that will have you laughing out loud when you least expect it. I can’t get enough of the Weird Girls series and I desperately want to get my hands on her next book, A Cursed Bloodline.

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August 12, 2014August 12, 2014

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Billionaire Blend by Cleo Coyle

BREWING UP MURDER

by Cleo Coyle

“Pluck” is a word I usually associate with chickens. On the other hand, Booklist was kind enough to describe my amateur sleuth as having pluck, a valid observation because Clare Cosi may be many things, but she is no chicken.

A divorced, single mom in her forties, Clare is like many of the women I grew up admiring in my big Italian-American family. Smart and determined with a sturdy backbone, Clare also has a generous spirit and enough ingenuity to cook mouth-watering feasts (and raise a daughter) on a shoestring budget.

By day, Clare manages a charming landmark coffeehouse in New York’s Greenwich Village. By night, she is a relentless snoop, who displays quite a bit of pluck in BILLIONAIRE BLEND, the latest entry in my Coffeehouse Mystery series.

When a car bomb goes off outside Clare’s charming shop, she comes to the aid of an anonymous customer, an intense young man who turns out to be billionaire tech whiz Eric Thorner. Eric is so grateful to Clare for saving his life that he hires her to create the most expensive coffee blend on the planet. But as Clare is pulled deeper into Eric’s world of cutting-edge luxuries and cutthroat rivalries, she begins to wonder: Is this brilliant CEO marked for termination? Or is he the one making a killing?

To solve this case, Clare will have to bribe an NYPD bomb squad lieutenant; conjure up a menu for a “billionaire’s potluck”; fix her daughter’s love life; stop a Slayer while working with one; and stay alive while doing it.

By the end of BILLIONAIRE BLEND, you’ll have taken a trip with Clare to an exclusive millionaire’s club, flown with her to a bohemian Paris neighborhood, visited some of the most intriguing coffee growing regions of the world—and uncovered the dark motives behind several murders.

Because this is a “culinary” mystery, you will also have over 20 fantastic recipes to try in your own kitchen, including a list of Clare’s secret off-the-menu coffeehouse drinks, as well as tasty foods enjoyed by the characters in the book, namely:

Clare’s Billionaire Bars
Baileys Irish Cream and Caramel Nut Fudge
Perfect Pumpkin Spice Muffins
Chocolate-Bottom Banana Bars
French Apple Cake Squares
Italian Beignets
Copycat Twinkie Cupcakes
Make your own Kahlua
Skillet Lasagna
“Coffee Hunter” Ugandan Stew
Crunchy Almond Biscotti (easy food processor method)
Quesa Fundido (Mexican Hot Cheese Dip) and more…

One last note for new readers: Although BILLIONAIRE BLEND is the 13th book in my Coffeehouse Mystery series—now celebrating ten years in print—you can read it as a stand-alone novel. If you enjoy the characters, you can read more about them in the previous books.

To download a free title checklist of all 13 Coffeehouse Mysteries, in order, including brief story summaries, click here

And please feel free to friend me on facebook at www.Facebook.com/CleoCoyle or sign up for my newsletter by writing an email that says “sign me up” and sending it to CoffeehouseMystery(at)gmail(dot)com.

May you read with joy!

~ Cleo

About the Author:

CLEO COYLE is the pseudonym for Alice Alfonsi, writing in collaboration with her husband, Marc Cerasini. Their latest mystery, BILLIONAIRE BLEND, earned a starred review from Kirkus, a “Top Pick” honor from RT Book Reviews, and this month Berkley is releasing the book in mass market paperback. When not haunting coffeehouses, hunting ghosts, or rescuing stray cats, Alice and Marc are New York Times bestselling media tie-in writers who have penned properties for NBC, Lucasfilm, Disney, Fox, Imagine, Marvel, and MGM. They live and work in New York City, where they not only write the bestselling Coffeehouse Mysteries but also the popular Haunted Bookshop Mysteries. To learn more, and sign up for Cleo’s newsletter, visit her website: www.CoffeehouseMystery.com

In this 13th entry of the Coffeehouse Mystery series, we return to the Village Blend, a charming coffeehouse in the heart of New York’s picturesque Greenwich Village. When a car bomb goes off outside this landmark shop, single-mom and manager Clare Cosi comes to the aid of an anonymous customer, one who turns out to be billionaire tech whiz Eric Thorner. In gratitude for saving his life, Eric hires Clare to create the most expensive coffee blend on the planet. But as Clare is pulled deeper into Eric’s world–a mesmerizing circle of cutting-edge luxuries and cutthroat rivalries–she begins to wonder: Is this charming young CEO marked for termination? Or is he the one making a killing?

To solve this case, Clare will have to bribe a bomb squad lieutenant; conjure up a menu for a “billionaire’s potluck”; fix her daughter’s love life; stop a Slayer while working with one; and stay alive while doing it. Coffee: it can get a girl killed.

Amazon/B&N

Jennifer’s Review of Billionaire Blend

Review (5 Stars): Cleo Coyle is one of my favorite mystery writers and I absolutely love the Coffeehouse Mystery series. Billionaire Blend is the 13th book in this impressive series and shows no signs of stopping for its dedicated readers. In this novel, Clare’s staff has been quizzed on a daily basis by an eccentric young man about unusual coffee drinks to the point where they dread his appearance at the coffee house. He has met his match when he starts a conversation with Clare, that is short-lived when an explosion rips apart the Village Blend and severely injures the young entrepreneur. Clare soon learns that the Village Blend was not the intended target and must quickly find out who wanted him dead before more lives are lost.

The Coffeehouse Mystery series is one of my favorites with its complex mysteries, a strong-minded heroine and delicious coffee creations. Billionaire Blend is a perfect addition to this series and I was impressed with the amount of research that was involved in bringing this particular mystery to life. I had a very difficult time figuring out the killer and that is one of the reasons I like these mysteries. So many plot twists and turns that will have you guessing for hours. I enjoyed every minute of this delightful mystery and I can’t wait to read more of this series for many years to come.

Giveaway

I’m excited to give away a copy of Billionaire Blend. This giveaway is for US Residents only. To be entered in the drawing by August 19th, answer me this question in the comments:

What is your favorite coffee (or other caffeinated) drink?

August 12, 2014August 12, 2014

Dark Fates Blitz

Dark Fates: An All New Paranormal Romance Boxed Set

Amazon | B&N | ARe | Kobo | iTunes

Six brand new, hot paranormal romance stories from USA Today and bestselling authors. Alpha heroes and heroines with dark pasts and the need to find their own happy ever after will draw you in and make you turn to the next page.

THE HUNTED HEART by USA Today Bestselling Author Carrie Ann Ryan

Emeline might have been alive hundreds of years, but she’s never really lived. Noah has known Emeline was his mate since he first saw her, only he doesn’t know if she feels the same. When he finally takes that final step, he’ll have to pray she finds the connection and overcomes the past she thought she’d lost years ago.

JACKAL’S MEASURE by USA Today Bestselling Author Marie Harte

Tortured by the god of chaos for centuries, Tariq knows only duty to numb the pain. When he’s sent to collect Eden, a sexy human accused of interfering in the Games of the Gods, his missing heart beats again. But love may not be enough to save them.

ALPHA’S SACRIFICE by Rebecca Royce

Hayden Chaucer is determined to make the best life possible for his pack and is ill-prepared to discover his true mate waiting for him in his home. Worse, his mate, Chelsea, has fled the True Believers, and her ability to see the future may cost them their present.

TOUCH OF DESIRE by Lia Davis

A submissive wolf who lost it all finds herself in a mating dance with the very dominant senior enforcer who will stop at nothing to claim her.

SANGUE FEVER by Ann Mayburn

Drifting without a purpose, vampire Lisabetta finds herself yearning for something more. She finds it while hunting for her next donor. Things are not quite as they seem when she seduces an older mortal man and finds herself in danger of falling in love for the first time in centuries.

FORBIDDEN RESCUE by Heather Long

All Jubilee Spector wants is to save her brother. The last thing she expects is to stumble into a dark world and another’s war. But Fox Arada is so much more than a man, and her secret threatens to change the Watchers’ world forever.

http://carrieannryan.com/dark-fates/

A little about Carrie Ann Ryan :

USA Today Bestselling Author Carrie Ann Ryan never thought she’d be a writer. Not really. No, she loved math and science and even went on to graduate school in chemistry. Yes, she read as a kid and devoured teen fiction and Harry Potter, but it wasn’t until someone handed her a romance book in her late teens that she realized that there was something out there just for her. When another author suggested she use the voices in her head for good and not evil, The Redwood Pack and all her other stories were born.

Carrie Ann is a bestselling author of over twenty novels and novellas and has so much more on her mind (and on her spreadsheets *grins*) that she isn’t planning on giving up her dream anytime soon.

Get in touch with Carrie Ann Ryan!

*****

This giveaway will be a Carrie Ann Ryan signed paperback and a $15 Amazon gift card

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August 11, 2014August 8, 2014

Kelly’s interview with Maya Banks

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome back Maya Banks to the blog. We are chatting a little about life, not working well with others and her newest release Taking it All.

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

I’m a wife and mother of three teenagers and we live in SE Texas. We’re very active in sports, hunting and fishing and we love traveling! But my favorite place on earth is home with my family and just being together.

2. Have you always wanted to be an author? If not what did you want to be?

Well yes and no actually. I was writing full length novels in five subject notebooks using front and back of the pages and cramming as many words onto a page as possible from a very early age (6^thgrade) And I wrote purely for the love of being able to create a story I knew I would love. Being an actual author was a total pipe dream and I never even gave it a passing THOUGHT that I was good enough or lucky enough to actually BECOME an author.

It wasn’t until after my third child was born that I even gave thought to pursuing a career in publishing. I began writing with that intent in 2002 and contracted my first book in 2006 so it took me four years or very hard work, a lot of persistence and a lot of patience to finally achieve the goal of becoming a published author.

3. What is your most interesting writing quirk?

I wouldn’t say it was “interesting” but I’m not an anal person as a rule. I’m very laid back and disorganized and don’t have a “system” for writing. The only thing I am super anal about is HOW I format my manuscripts as I write them. I’ve done it for every single book I’ve ever written and I’ve written over 60! And I just refuse to change my “system” lol

I create a folder for the series. Then a subfolder for the book IN the series I’m writing and then within that subfolder I then have a separate document for every single chapter and I also have a file called “Working Full”

As I complete a chapter I save the individual file but then I also copy and paste it to the “Working Full” document so I have the entire book in one file and then individual chapters in the folders as well.

Now I sound crazy! Lol

4. Can you please tell us about Taking It All?

Taking it All is about one of my absolute favorite tropes. Marriage in jeopardy. The hero and heroine have been married for 5 years and I focus on the bumps in the road that couples encounter after the HEA. I love the idea of a couple having to work to KEEP the HEA and not just having it come easy.

5. How did you come with the idea for this story?

A scene literally just popped into my head of a husband who in one moment of inattention put his wife at great risk and she came to harm and is the breaking point for her and he realizes that he’s going to have the fight of his life to get her back.

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

I’m currently working on a book from my upcoming SLOW BURN series which debuts this October. The first book is KEEP ME SAFE. The 2^nd book is IN HIS KEEPING and releases in January. The third will release in March.

7. Who is one author that you would love to co-write with and why?

I honestly don’t play well with others lol. I’m a control freak so I don’t think I COULD do it even if I desperately wanted to. I’m very stubborn. I would be a nightmare to work with I’m sure and I can’t imagine ANY author signing up for that gig haha

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

Be patient and vigilante. Stay true to your voice. Never let others change who you are as a writer. And be persistent. Writing is HARD WORK. It’s a job and one that requires a LOT of hours. So treat it like a job and work accordingly.

9. Can you share with us something off your bucket list.

I want to one day go to Finland and stay in their igloos with the glass dome ceilings where you can see the Northern Lights in the sky 🙂

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

I literally have thousands of books in my ginormous TBR pile! A book I can’t WAIT for is the next wolf story from Kresley Cole that was excerpted in MACRIEVE. I thought it was next and was crushed that a different story was next!

Learn more about Maya and her books here Website | Facebook | Twitter @maya_banks| Goodreads

Here is a look at

Taking it All

Amazon|B&N

Chessy and Tate have been married for several years. In the beginning, their relationship was everything she wanted. Passionate. All consuming. She offered her submission freely and Tate cherished her gift with a tenderness that made her feel safe. Content. Wanted. And loved beyond all measure. But as the years have gone by, Tate has become more immersed in making his business the success it has become, and Chessy has taken a back seat to his business obligations. Growing unhappier with the status of their once blissful marriage, Chessy knows that something has to give. Or they stand to lose it all

Tate loves his wife. Has always loved her. Providing for her has always been his number one priority. But lately she’s seemed unhappy, and he’s worried. Worried enough that he arranges for a night together that he hopes will reignite the fire that once burned like an inferno between them.

But a business call at the wrong time threatens everything. Chessy’s safety, his concentration, his wife’s faith in him as her husband, a man sworn to love and protect her above all else. Gutted with the realization that he’s going to lose her—has already lost her—he readies for the fight of his life. Whatever it takes, he’ll get her back. And prove to her that nothing is more important than her love. And that if she’ll allow him to prove himself one more time, he’ll take it all. Everything. But he’ll give far more back. Himself. His undying love.

Don’t forget to check out my review HERE