5 Star – Page 21 – Books-n-Kisses

September 9, 2013September 8, 2013

Book Spotlight: Scorched by Mari Mancusi

Scorched is the first book in the amazing new trilogy by Mari Mancusi and I made the mistake of starting this book right before bedtime. I got so wrapped up in its storyline that I couldn’t wait to see what happened next.

Sixteen-year-old Trinity Foxx is used to her grandfather’s crazy stories, so she never believed the latest treasure he brought home was a real dragon’s egg. Not until their home is invaded by soldiers trying to steal it and a strange boy who tells her the world as she knows it will be wiped out in a fiery dragon war—unless they work together to stop it.

Meantime, there’s a different voice whispering to Trinity, calling to her, telling her what to do…the dragon inside her egg is not ready to give up without a fight.

About the Author:

Mari Mancusi always wanted a dragon as a pet. Unfortunately the fire insurance premiums proved a bit too large and her house a bit too small–so she chose to write about them instead. Today she works as an award-winning young adult author and freelance television producer, for which she has won two Emmys.

When not writing about fanciful creatures of myth and legend, Mari enjoys goth clubbing, cosplay, watching cheesy (and scary) horror movies, and her favorite guilty pleasure—playing videogames. A graduate of Boston University, she lives in Austin, Texas with her husband Jacob, daughter Avalon, and their dog Mesquite.

Website/ Twitter/Facebook

Jennifer’s Review of Scorched

TITLE: Scorched

CHARACTERS: Trinity Foxx, Connor and Caleb

AUTHOR: Mari Mancusi

PUBLICATION DATE: 09/03/13

ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:

Trinity–Don’t leave me here… It starts with a whisper. At first Trinity thinks she’s going crazy. It wouldn’t be a big surprise—her grandpa firmly believes there’s a genuine dragon egg in their dusty little West Texas town. But this voice is real, and it’s begging for her protection. Even if no one else can hear it…

Connor
He’s come from a future scorched by dragonfire. His mission: Find the girl. Destroy the egg. Save the world.

Caleb
He’s everything his twin brother Connor hates: cocky, undisciplined, and obsessed with saving dragons.

Trinity has no idea which brother to believe. All she has to go by is the voice in her head—a dragon that won’t be tamed.

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Jennifer NUMBER OF STARS: Five Stars

REVIEW: Scorched was an amazing thrill-ride in an exciting new world where dragons are the way of the future. Trinity Foxx is trying to hold everything together since her mother’s death two years ago and has been living with her grandfather while working at his roadside museum. Money is tight and Trinity can’t wait until Christmas when she can open her beloved video game that is sitting under the tree. Her grandfather comes home on Christmas Eve with a new exhibit for the failing museum. A beautiful dragon egg from Antarctica that her grandfather had purchased with the last remaining money that was supposed to pay the property taxes on their house. Trinity’s life is about to change with this beautiful new object, a destiny that will change the world and only she and a handsome young man from the future can stop the end of days.

I loved this book and I can’t tell you how much I loved this story! I made the mistake of starting this book right before bed and I couldn’t stop reading until midnight. The story is action-packed with enough twists and turns that will make you read one more chapter to see what happens next. Trinity was a great character who seemed so much older than her teenage years. She was trying desperately to hold everything together by managing the money for her flighty grandfather and being one step away from being homeless. When Connor came into her life, I liked that even though she was presented with all this information about the future, HER future, she didn’t freak out. It showed what a strong person she was and she would do anything to prevent this destructive future from happening.

I really liked Connor. He came from the future to the past to prevent Trinity and her new dragon from creating an apocalyptic future. He reminded me a lot of Kyle from Terminator. A man coming from the future to change the past and falling in love with the girl with the power to make it right. That was what endeared me to this book because of some of the similarities and the fantasy aspect of a world with dragons. This was a great read for me and I can’t wait to read Shattered, the second book in the trilogy, out next year.

August 30, 2013August 29, 2013

Interview with Victoria Scott

I have been raving about The Collector to anyone who will listen and I recently got the opportunity to interview the fantastic author, Victoria Scott. I finished The Liberator in about a day and I have to say I will always be a fan of the bad boys. 🙂

1. Tell me a little bit about your new release The Liberator.

THE LIBERATOR focuses on Dante’s journey as someone who now works for the good guys, and how hard that is for someone who believes they’re bone-deep bad. It also introduces a new character that will force Dante to confront his past.

2. Was it difficult writing about Dante and Charlie or did their characters come easy for you?

Dante was much easier to write than Charlie, oddly enough. Sometimes I’d lose Dante’s voice, but then I’d think of a guy I once knew and it would snap back.

3. Are you planning to write more in the series or just have these two books?

There will be one final book after THE LIBERATOR.

4. Which actors do you see playing your characters and has there been any talk from Hollywood about making this into a movie or series?

Oh, definitely Zac Efron for Dante and Emma Watson as Charlie. No talk from Hollywood yet, but my agent is busy shopping it to studios.

5. What are you working on next?

Right now I’m working on my newest series, FIRE & FLOOD, coming out from Scholastic next February. It’s kind of Hunger Games (brutal competition) meets the Golden Compass (animal companions) set in today’s world.

6. What advice would you give aspiring writers?

I’d say to ask yourself four questions before you begin any book: 1) Am I passionate about the story? 2) Would the general public find it appealing? 3) Is it truly original? 4) Is there a ton of opportunity for conflict? I hadn’t asked myself these questions before beginning the Dante Walker series, but I did for Fire & Flood, and what a world of difference it made.

About the Author:

I’m a teen fiction writer with a die-hard affection for dark and humorous books. My work is represented by Sara Crowe of Harvey Klinger literary agency. I have a master’s degree in marketing, and currently live in Dallas with my husband, Ryan.

My first series started with THE COLLECTOR, and was published by Entangled Teen in April 2013. The second book in the trilogy, THE LIBERATOR, will release August 2013. My next series kicks off with FIRE & FLOOD and is being published by Scholastic, February 2014.

Website/Twitter /Facebook

Jennifer’s Review of The Liberator

TITLE: The Liberator

SERIES #: Dante Walker #2

CHARACTERS: Dante Walker, Charlie Cooper

AUTHOR: Victoria Scott

PUBLICATION DATE: 08/27/13

ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: Dante has a shiny new cuff wrapped around his ankle, and he doesn’t like that mess one bit. His new accessory comes straight from Big Guy himself and marks the former demon as a liberator. Despite his gritty past and bad boy ways, Dante Walker has been granted a second chance.

When Dante is given his first mission as a liberator to save the soul of seventeen-year-old Aspen, he knows he’s got this. But Aspen reminds him of the rebellious life he used to live and is making it difficult to resist sinful temptations. Though Dante is committed to living clean for his girlfriend Charlie, this dude’s been a playboy for far too long…and old demons die hard.

With Charlie becoming the girl she was never able to be pre-makeover and Aspen showing him how delicious it feels to embrace his inner beast, Dante will have to go somewhere he never thought he’d return to in order to accomplish the impossible: save the girl he’s been assigned to, and keep the girl he loves.

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Jennifer NUMBER OF STARS: Five Stars

REVIEW: I absolutely loved The Collector and I was thrilled to learn that I didn’t have to wait a year before The Liberator was released. In this book, Dante is now working for the good guys and has a new assignment to liberate a young girl’s soul while trying to protect Charlie from the clutches of the evil collectors. He quickly finds that his new assignment is more difficult than he imagined because Aspen reminds him so much of himself and he becomes tempted to fall back into his old bad habits. On top of this, Dante learns that being a liberator holds its share of secrets and one of these secrets may put Charlie directly into harm’s way.

I love Dante because he is such a bad boy that has a heart of gold, especially when it comes to the adorable Charlie Cooper. He made a deal to save Charlie’s life in The Collector and he is now coming to terms with those actions. I was happy to see Dante start to grow emotionally because of his past decisions but it isn’t an easy road that he has to follow. His new assignment challenges him to go back to his old ways and he doesn’t want to disappoint Charlie or ruin his new gig. I liked seeing that internal moral struggle with Dante because it showed that everything wasn’t going to be easy for him even though he had changed and his love for Charlie helped him to do the right thing.

Charlie is still the sweet, lovable girl that wants to change the world and you can see why Dante has fallen head over heels for her. My other favorite character is Aspen, the kick-ass, no-holds barred assignment that puts Dante’s world into a little bit of tailspin. She doesn’t care about anything and just seems to live for the moment until she meets Dante. Together, they are able to learn how to put their past mistakes behind them and I just liked their interaction with one another.

Victoria has created another wonderful installment in this series that is filled with non-stop action and great character-building that will keep you guessing. I loved The Liberator and I am looking forward to reading more about Dante and Charlie in the next book.

August 20, 2013August 3, 2013

Jennifer reviews All Out Of Love by Lori Wilde

TITLE: All Out of Love
SERIES #: A Cupid, Texas Novel #2
CHARACTERS: Lace Bettingfield and Pierce Hollister
AUTHOR: Lori Wilde
PUBLICATION DATE: 06/25/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Millie Greenway and her friends have tried for years to keep the Cupid legend alive in their hometown, but she’s not getting much help from her granddaughters. Lace Bettingfield knows the legend is bogus. As a teen, she left a letter at the Cupid statue and got nothing in return but humiliation. But now the guy she dreamed of is back in town, Lace begins to wonder if the tale might just prove to be true.

REVIEW:
This was the first book that I’ve read in the Cupid, Texas series and I enjoyed this book immensely. Lace Bettingfield was humiliated as a teenager because she left a letter at the Cupid Statue about Pierce Hollister, which was then broadcasted to her entire high school. Several years later, Lace has returned to Cupid after finishing her PhD and is working for the Cupid Botanical Gardens with the intent of putting her past behind her. At the same time, Pierce has returned home to recuperate after a football injury and help his ailing father. The two accidentally meet at the hospital and Pierce can’t believe that Lace is now this beautiful woman that used to follow him around as a teenager. Lace is determined to prove that she has gotten Pierce out of her system but every time he touches her, those old feelings come back, stronger than before. Pierce wants to prove to Lace that he has changed and that Lace is the only woman for him. But, Lace is afraid that she will be the laughing stock of Cupid all over again and her heart wants to believe that her and Pierce were meant to be together all along.

I absolutely loved Lace’s character in this book because I completely understood what she was going through. She took a chance by sending that letter out to Cupid and it backfired, but it made her a stronger person because of it. She was smart, sassy and I loved that she had curves compared to the other heroines that I’ve read. She wanted to prove that Pierce couldn’t get to her after all these years and he tried very hard to get her attention and make up for his past mistakes. I also liked the interactions between Lace and Pierce, because she had such a wicked sense of humor and she wouldn’t let Pierce be taken advantage of by others either. They were a very cute couple together and I’m glad to see that Pierce got his act together to prove that Lace was meant to be with him.

All Out of Love is a tender-hearted romance about second chances at love and I was impressed with the residents of Cupid, Texas. Lori Wilde has created a wonderful series that will pull at your heart-strings and will make you want to visit Cupid over and over again. I can’t read the next book in the series, Somebody to Love.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

August 15, 2013August 15, 2013

Do or Diner Blog Tour Review & Giveaway

I am very excited to introduce everyone to a new mystery series by Christine Wenger. I recently finished Do or Diner and loved the characters of this cozy little mystery. I hope everyone has a chance to check out this new series.

About the Author:

I have worked in the criminal justice field for more years than I care to remember! It seems like I was forever going to school while I was working full time, but in the end, I received a dual master’s degree in Probation and Parole Studies and Sociology from Fordham University.

Unfortunately, the knowledge gained from way too many years in night school, didn’t prepare me for what I love to do the most – writing romances and cozy mysteries.

MY FIRST BOOK My very first book, THE LADY AND THE COWBOY, a short, western historical, was written for beginning adult readers, and I sold it to Laubach Literacy. In 1998, it was chosen by the Publishers Liaison Committee of the Public Library Association’s Adult Lifelong Learning Section as one of the “Top Titles for Adult New Readers.” Yes!

“THE CALL FROM HARLEQUIN” One of my biggest thrills in life was receiving “the call” from Susan Litman at Harlequin (then Silhouette) Special Edition in January of 2004. She wanted to publish THE COWBOY WAY. Yeee-haw!

THE COWBOY WAY was released in January of 2005—a year later. Such a looong time to wait. Since then, I’ve written eight books (and counting!) for Harlequin. I love writing about cowboys out west and the southwest, far away from New York State where I live! These are my GOLD BUCKLE COWBOYS (You’ll fall in love with them in eight seconds!) I’ve also written two books set in the Adirondack Mountains of New York, The Hawkins Legacy.

COZY MYSTERIES A new venture for me (in 2013) is a series of “comfort food” cozy mysteries which I set in a small-town 1950’s diner, THE SILVER BULLET.

The first book, DO OR DINER, from Penguin/Obsidian books is scheduled for release on August 6, 2013. A second book will follow, A SECOND HELPING OF MURDER, in 2014, and a third, yet untitled, book will be scheduled after that.

JUST FOR FUN I enjoy watching professional bull riding and rodeo with my favorite cowboy, my husband Jim. We put on our cowboy regalia (I look horrible in a cowboy hat!) and have traveled to events in Las Vegas, Florida, Connecticut, and other states. As a result of our travels, I have met many genuine, personable and polite cowboys, and that’s how I get my inspiration for my westerns! Of course I have to do research for my comfort food diner series. That takes me to diners all over the U.S. and Canada (and maybe Europe and Asia!) for meals. It’s a tough job, but I just have to do it!

Online links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christinewengerauthor?fref=ts

Website: www.christinewenger.com

Jennifer’s Review of Do or Diner

TITLE: Do or Diner

SERIES #: A Comfort Food Mystery #1

CHARACTERS: Trixie Matkowski and Ty Brisco

AUTHOR: Christine Wenger

PUBLICATION DATE: 08/06/13

ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: When Trixie Matkowski agrees to take over her aunt’s diner, she pictures lakeside views and delicious comfort food in the small town where she spent summers as a child. But the sweet scene turns sour when someone puts murder on the menu….

Trixie is in need of a fresh start away from her cheating ex-husband, but she may be biting off more than she can chew when she moves up to upstate New York to run her family’s famed Silver Bullet Diner. Not only is she caught off guard by the small town’s resident heartthrob, Deputy Ty Brisco, but her first health inspection turns into a nightmare…when the inspector keels over into his blue plate special.

Someone made a deadly addition to an old family recipe, and Trixie is determined to find out whodunit. But between serving up orders and sniffing out clues, she’d better watch her back–or her next meal might be her last.

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Jennifer NUMBER OF STARS: Five Stars

REVIEW: I am a huge fan of culinary mysteries and I was absolutely delighted to have the opportunity to read this book. I liked Trixie right from the very beginning because she came home to run her aunt’s restaurant after divorcing her cheating husband. She was smart, hard-working and wasn’t afraid to jump into the middle of a crazy dinner shift. As soon as she arrives in Sandy Harbor, Trixie finds herself involved in the murder of a health inspector who just happened to be found dead at her new restaurant. Everyone believes that Trixie is to blame and her dream of a successful diner may go up in smoke if the real murderer isn’t found.

I loved the characters and the little picturesque town of Sandy Harbor. Christine Wenger created a humorous and delightful mystery that was very entertaining and a great start to a new series. I loved the recipes in the back of the book which reminded me of sitting in my grandmother’s kitchen while she cooked on a Sunday afternoon. I’m looking forward to reading A Second Helping of Murder which is the second book in the series that is due out sometime next year.

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August 12, 2013August 11, 2013

Interview and Giveaway with Heather Lyons

I recently read Heather’s books, A Matter of Fate and A Matter of Heart, in just a few days. I was so fascinated with her characters and story line that I couldn’t stop reading until I devoured them both. I am very lucky to have her here today to discuss her new book, A Matter of Heart, which just recently came out.

1. Tell me about your new release, A Matter of Heart.

I recently released the second book in my Fate series, A Matter of Heart (the first is A Matter of Fate). The series, which starts as Young Adult and transitions to New Adult in this second book, follows the journey of Chloe Lilywhite, a powerful Creator who is not only partially responsible for all of the worlds she and the rest of the Magicals oversee, but is also entrenched in a truly messy love triangle between twin brothers. In A Matter of Heart, Chloe settles into her role on the Council while having to deal with all of the complicated emotions stemming from being in love with two people.

2. Where did you come up with the idea for this series?

Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve been fascinated with various mythologies from around the world. It was always fun to wonder what it would be like if there WERE people who oversaw our world, from the crops we grow to the weather to how people acquire knowledge. So when I sat down to write the Fate series, I knew I wanted to explore what these beings would be like and how they work; having one of the most powerful (and conflicted) being a teenage girl seemed almost too fun to pass up.

3. Do you have any actors that you envision when you are writing your characters?

For some, right away yes, for some no. There are a lot of characters that I have trouble matching up to actors/models/etc. But for the three main characters in my Fate series, I do have a pair of actors that I feel look fairly close to how they do in my head. For Chloe Lilywhite, Imogene Poots is pretty spot on. For Jonah and Kellan, who are identical twins, I see Ben Barnes (when he was younger) in the role.

4. What are you currently working on ?

I am currently wrapping up a story that has its roots in Greek mythology. See? I love me some mythologies!

5. What is your favorite book that you’ve read at the moment?

Oh, wow. This is like picking a favorite child. Hmm….I’m going to have to go with Persuasion by Jane Austen. I’ve only read it a zillion times! If we’re talking recent releases, I absolutely adored Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. Ooh-la-la!

6. What advice would you give aspiring writers?

Write. Write some more. And then keep on writing!

Thank you so much for answering my questions. It is a pleasure to have you here today.

Thank you so much for having me!

About the Author:

Heather Lyons has always had a thing for words—She’s been writing stories since she was a kid. In addition to writing, she’s also been an archaeologist and a teacher. Heather is a rabid music fan, as evidenced by her (mostly) music-centric blog, and she’s married to an even larger music snob. They’re happily raising three kids who are mini music fiends who love to read and be read to.

Links:

Website /Author Goodreads / Twitter /Facebook

Chloe Lilywhite struggles with all the normal problems of a typical seventeen-year-old high school student. Only, Chloe isn’t a normal teenage girl. She’s a Magical, part of a secret race of beings who influence the universe. More importantly, she’s a Creator, which means Fate mapped out her destiny long ago, from her college choice, to where she will live, to even her job. While her friends and relatives relish their future roles, Chloe resents the lack of say in her life, especially when she learns she’s to be guarded against a vengeful group of beings bent on wiping out her kind. Their number one target? Chloe, of course.

That’s nothing compared to the boy trouble she’s gotten herself into. Because a guy she’s literally dreamed of and loved her entire life, one she never knew truly existed, shows up in her math class, and with him comes a twin brother she finds herself inexplicably drawn to.

Chloe’s once unyielding path now has a lot more choices than she ever thought possible.

Amazon / Barnes & Noble /Goodreads

Jennifer’s Review of A Matter of Heart

TITLE: A Matter of Heart

SERIES #: Fate Series #2

CHARACTERS: Chloe Lilywhite, Jonah and Kellan Whitecomb

AUTHOR: Heather Lyons

PUBLICATION DATE: 06/25/13

ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: No longer in high school, Chloe Lilywhite is now living and working in Annar, the Magicals city-state plane of existence. Since moving, she’s joined the Council, gone on missions with the Guard, moved into her own apartment, and enrolled at the University of Annar. Plus, she’s happily engaged to be married to Jonah Whitecomb, the literal man of her dreams, not to mention her Connection. While she still struggles with aspects of her craft, Chloe feels like she’s finally coming into her own, especially after a difficult year that had her questioning nearly everything in her life.

After a brutal attack by the Elders, her life is turned upside down once more. Accusations fly throughout the Council and Guard, forcing Chloe to confront her worst fears about what she’s capable of as a Creator. And then there’s the matter of Kellan Whitecomb, Jonah’s twin brother and Chloe’s ex, who resurfaces after disappearing months before. Although Chloe chose Jonah, and despite their best efforts, the two find it hard to stay away from another.

But no matter what Fate throws at her, Chloe is determined to take charge of her life, even as it begins to spiral out of control.

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Jennifer NUMBER OF STARS: Five Stars

REVIEW: I devoured A Matter of Fate in a couple of days and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on A Matter of Heart. Chloe Lilywhite has taken her place as Creator on the council and is immediately assigned challenging missions right out of the gate. Being put in a powerful yet stressful position at such a young age provides Chloe with so many conflicted emotions that it was hard to watch at times as she struggled with these difficult decisions. She has a terrible burden placed on her shoulders and I was impressed with her character because I know that I never would have been able to handle that level of stress at her age. With these changes, Chloe also has to deal with the fact that the threat from the Elders is escalating and is now putting everyone that she loves in harm’s way.

Her relationship with Jonah has taken a more serious turn now that they have moved to Annar and live next to each other. They are engaged to be married but Chloe still feels conflicted because of her feelings for his twin, Kellan. In the first book, I absolutely adored Kellan because I just felt that he was a better match for Chloe, even though she was Connected and destined to be with Jonah. In this book, she still has to work with Kellan, which is awkward and confusing at times because they are both unsure about what to say to each other. The feelings are still there and I just find myself liking Kellan more and more. The love triangle between the three intensifies in this book and it was such an gut-wrenching emotional roller-coaster from beginning to end.

I loved A Matter of Heart and Heather’s writing captured my attention from the very start. I can’t wait to read A Matter of Truth which is due out in December because I can’t wait to see what happens to Chloe next after the events in A Matter of Heart.

Giveaway

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August 9, 2013August 7, 2013

Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea Interview with April Genevieve Tucholke

I am so excited to have April Genevieve Tucholke here today to discuss her new novel, Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea. This book has been on my radar for quite some time and I definitely enjoyed this Gothic thriller.

1. Tell me about your new release Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea.

It comes out Aug. 15 from Penguin/Dial. It’s a Gothic horror. It’s 368 pages. The characters cook a lot of good food, in between scenes of dread and terror. There is some kissing, and some blood. It’s rated PG-13 for violence and some sexuality.

2. Where did you come up with the idea for this?

I read this article while living in Scotland: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/8574484.stm The entire book spun off from this truth-is-stranger-than-fiction news story. I wondered about the kid who started the rumor about the vampire in the cemetery–no doubt it all came down to one charismatic little liar of a kid. This is where I got the idea for River…

3. What attracted you to the YA genre?

I like writing teenage characters. I remember being a teen. Vividly. I think it’s a complex, fascinating, action-packed stretch of time. Or at least I can make it seem that way, fictionally.

4. Did you have any actors in mind when you were writing your characters?

You know, I didn’t. I was worried I would unconsciously alter the original characters, if I imagined actors playing the role. I still haven’t thought about it, I guess. Maybe I’ll have to leave it up to the readers 🙂

5. What are you working on now?

I’m doing the final revisions on the DEVIL sequel, BETWEEN THE SPARK AND THE BURN. Then I go back to working on my post-apocalypse book THE SCARECROW.

6. Are there any authors that you feel influence you?

Completely. Meg Rosoff. Susanna Clarke. The Brontes. Daphne du Maurier. Stephen King. Lovecraft.

7. Any advice for aspiring writers?

Read. Write, sure, that’s important…but also read. Read, read, read. All genres. Not just the one you’re writing in. Read the classics and read poetry and read science fiction and travel memoirs. Read it all.

Thank you so much for being here today and I hope that everyone reads your book because I know they will love it.

Thanks for this opportunity.

About the Author:

April Genevieve Tucholke digs classic movies, red-headed villains, big kitchens, and discussing murder at the dinner table. She and her husband Nate Pedersen live in Oregon at the edge of a forest.

Jennifer’s Review of Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea

TITLE: Between The Devil and The Deep Blue Sea

CHARACTERS: Violet White and River West

AUTHOR: April Genevieve Tucholke

PUBLICATION DATE: 08/15/13

ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: You stop fearing the Devil when you’re holding his hand………..

Nothing much exciting rolls through Violet White’s sleepy, seaside town…until River West comes along. River rents the guesthouse behind Violet’s crumbling estate, and as eerie, grim things start to happen, Violet begins to wonder about the boy living in her backyard. Is River just a crooked-smiling liar with pretty eyes and a mysterious past? Or could he be something more?

Violet’s grandmother always warned her about the Devil, but she never said he could be a dark-haired boy who takes naps in the sun, who likes coffee, who kisses you in a cemetery…who makes you want to kiss back. Violet’s already so knee-deep in love, she can’t see straight. And that’s just how River likes it.

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Jennifer NUMBER OF STARS: Five Stars

This was a hauntingly romantic story with dramatic characters and a rich atmosphere that just adds to its Gothic storyline. Violet and her brother, Luke, are living on their own ever since their parents left to study art in Paris. To make ends meet, Violet rents out the cottage behind their home to the mysterious and charming River West. Violet and River start spending a lot of time with one another and Violet soon begins to develop feelings for this handsome young man. Around the time of River’s arrival in town, strange events occur around Violet and her friends, which leads her to believe that River may have ulterior motives for being there. Is River a victim of circumstance or is he behind all the mysterious occurrences?

River was definitely a bad boy, someone who you know will break your heart but you can’t help falling in love with him anyways. He was so charming, smart and everyone automatically liked him on sight. But that was his downfall. If someone seems to be too good to be true, they usually are and I always felt that River was hiding something from Violet throughout the course of the book.

Violet was such a sweet girl and I connected with her from the very beginning. She was trying to keep everything together with her parents and her beloved grandmother gone, and she had this inner strength that you usually don’t see with girls that age. Even though she was a smart young girl, she still had this innocence about her, especially when it came to boys and relationships. Watching Violet fall in love for the first time brought back memories because that first love is always bittersweet and even though she believes that River may be responsible for the mysterious events plaguing the town, she can’t help falling for him.

Between The Devil and The Deep Blue Sea is a great novel that is bound to become a classic. With its timeless characters and darkly rich scenery, April Genevieve Tucholke is a master storyteller and I can’t wait to see what she creates next.

August 1, 2013July 31, 2013

Moonlight Blog Tour Interview & Giveaway with Lisa Kessler

Today we have the amazingly talented Lisa Kessler with us to discuss her new book, Moonlight. It has sexy werewolves, jaguar shifters, and a hot steamy romance that definitely shouldn’t be missed.

1. Tell me about your new release.
Moonlight is the first book in the Moon Series. I have 8 books planned for the series, so I sure hope readers jump on board so I can get them all out… 🙂

2. I absolutely love werewolves. Where did you come with the idea for this book?

Moonlight actually started from a short story I wrote when I was taking up Ray Bradbury’s challenge to write 52 stories in 52 weeks. I wrote a story very similar to the first chapter of the book and couldn’t let it rest. It felt like West Side Story with werewolves and jaguars, like a very deadly Romeo and Juliet kind of thing and I couldn’t stop wondering about what would happen to them. The book was done about six months later!

3. Do you have any actors that you envision when writing your characters?

Often I do… And then I load up Pinterest boards so I can pull it up while I’m writing to help inspire me… Here’s the board for Moonlight: http://pinterest.com/ldydisney/scenes-from-moonlight/

4. How many books do you plan to write in this series?

Hee! I answered it above, but there will be 8 books… I hope! My publisher has contracted the first 3 so far. Hunter’s Moon will be out in October and Blood Moon is coming in July 2014. Woot!

5. What is your favorite book at the moment?

Oh that’s like choosing my favorite child! Yikes! LOL It’s usually whichever book I’m currently working on at the moment… Right now I’m writing the final book in my Night Series and the hero and heroine have lots of chemistry so I’m really enjoying writing it! 🙂

6. What advice would you give aspiring writers?

Write short stories and lots of them. Ray Bradbury knew what he was talking about when he told me it was the best way to improve your writing. Learn to feel a story arc of beginning-middle-end and then use it with your book chapters and you’ll finish your novel… Never stop writing!

Thank you so much for answering my questions. I am so excited for this series!

I hope you enjoy the book! Moonlight was a thrill to write! Thanks for the blog spot and all your support for my books!

About the Author:

Lisa Kessler is an award winning author of dark paranormal fiction. Her debut novel, Night Walker, won a San Diego Book Award for Best Published Fantasy-Sci-fi-Horror as well as the Romance Through the Ages Award for Best Paranormal and Best First Book.

Her short stories have been published in print anthologies and magazines, and her vampire story, Immortal Beloved, was a finalist for a Bram Stoker award.

When she’s not writing, Lisa is a professional vocalist, performing with the San Diego Opera as well as other musical theater companies in San Diego. You can learn more at http://Lisa-Kessler.com

Jennifer’s Review of Moonlight

TITLE: Moonlight

SERIES #: The Moon Series #1

CHARACTERS: Lana Turpin and Adam Sloan

AUTHOR: Lisa Kessler

PUBLICATION DATE: 07/15/13

ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: Rancher Adam Sloan is more than meets the eye. As the heir to his Pack, the sexy werewolf’s biggest challenge is keeping his kin’s true nature under wraps. But a group of jaguar shifters threatens to reveal the pack, blasting into town killing humans in plain sight. And when he smells one at the local diner, his standing orders are to take her out.

Lana Turpin doesn’t realize she’s a moving target. Raised in the foster system, she only knows that she blacks out during the new moon and wakes up without remembering a thing. But now she’s being tracked by some strange organization that wants her back–even though she’s never stepped foot inside their compound. And the stranger across the diner is watching her like an enemy.

It should be simple mission for Adam, but when he touches the frustratingly beautiful Lana, his inner wolf howls…mate. Now, the two must find and stop the people who hunt her…and Adam must keep his own family from killing the only woman he will ever love.

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Jennifer NUMBER OF STARS: Five Stars

REVIEW: I absolutely loved everything about this book! Lana was such a great character because she was a very tough lady who was smart enough to take care of herself when she didn’t understand why she was a target for this strange group. She had always stayed under the radar as a writer but was trying to get to the bottom of why she was having these mysterious blackouts once a month. Because of these blackouts, she finds herself on the run and directly into the path of Adam Sloan.

Adam is a werewolf who is destined to be the alpha of his pack and is on a mission to hunt down the jaguar shifters that are killing people in his town. When he meets Lana, at the local diner, his whole world turns upside down with one touch of her hand. Now, he will do whatever is necessary to protect Lana from the clutches of the Nero corporation and the members of his own pack. Adam was such a sexy werewolf with his black boots, dark hair and green eyes, that I couldn’t help but envy Lana for getting together with him. Their relationship wasn’t the easiest but I could definitely see how much they cared about each other and how they did their best to protect one another from harm. I enjoyed their scenes together because they had this great romantic chemistry and the sex scenes were definitely hot and steamy.

Moonlight is an exciting thrill ride that will have you on the edge of your seat and Lisa Kessler has created such an engaging story with characters that literally jump off the page. I am so excited for her next novel in the series, Hunter’s Moon, which is out later this year so I can meet up with these characters once again.

Giveaway

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August 1, 2013July 7, 2013

Kimberly reviews The Pleasures Of Summer by Evie Hunter

TITLE: The Pleasures of Summer
SERIES #: Pleasure #3
CHARACTERS: Summer & Flynn
AUTHOR: Evie Hunter
PUBLICATION DATE: 05/30/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Summer O’Sullivan is rich, beautiful and in mortal danger. Her father has made powerful enemies who are targeting his precious daughter. Until the threat passes, Summer needs a bodyguard – someone to protect her and, she expects, to treat her with the reverence she’s used to.

Into Summer’s gilded cage comes former ranger, Flynn Grant. As far as Flynn is concerned, this is the assignment from hell, minding the spoilt daughter of a multi-millionaire. Summer and Flynn are poised to hate each other on sight. Even his devastating looks do not make up for how Flynn’s rules cramp Summer’s style. Unsurprisingly, the sparks fly between them. But when Summer breaks the rules one time too often, Flynn teaches her a lesson that leaves them shattered – and bound
together in a way that astonishes them both.

In their remote hideout, the two start a battle over who is the tamer, and who is the tamed. It’s a duel that stretches their minds and bodies beyond every limit. And in time their hearts begin to surrender too. But when the dark forces that
have been stalking Summer finally track them down, the battle is no longer a game, but a matter of life and death …

REVIEW:
I have to say I really enjoy this series. While this is another in the erotica BDSM D/s series this story is so much more. It honestly is engrossing. The sex scenes are good do not get me wrong but there is just so much more that makes this story so interesting.

The characters of Summer and Flynn have an immediate connection. She seems to be the spoiled rich girl but Flynn sees more in her. And while I can say there was a very good chance that the character of Summer could have been written to be obnoxious she really wasn’t. And Flynn is an interesting in his own right. He knows what he is doing by seducing his client is wrong but there is just something that he can not turn away from.

If you are a fan of the genre then this series is certainly for you. I would say to read the first in the series first but it does not matter as this book can most definitely stand alone. However I will say to read the first one because you do not want to miss it as a fan of the genre.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

July 30, 2013July 7, 2013

Kelly & Kimberly review Three Litte Words by Susan Mallery

TITLE: Three Little Words
SERIES: Fools Gold #13
CHARACTERS: Ford Hendrix & Isabel Carlisle
AUTHOR: Susan Mallery
PUBLICATION DATE: July 30, 2013
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Can first love turn into the real deal in a sizzling new Fool’s Gold story from New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery? Isabel Carlisle thinks she’s cursed in the romance department. Her teenage crush, Ford Hendrix, ignored all her letters. Her husband left her for another…man. So Isabel has come home to dust off her passion for fashion and run the family bridal shop until her parents are ready to sell it. Then she’ll pursue her real dreams. At least, that’s the plan, until sexy, charming Ford returns and leaves her feeling fourteen all over again….

Seeing Isabel all grown up hits bodyguard trainer Ford like a sucker punch. Back when heartbreak made him join the military, her sweet letters kept him sane. Now he can’t take his eyes-or his lips-off her. The man who gave up on love has a reason to stay in Fool’s Gold forever-if three little words can convince Isabel to do the same.

KELLY’S REVIEW:
4.5 Stars Loved this story, even if at times I wanted to shake the tar out of Ford. That boy is so beyond stubborn. He can’t see that the best thing he will ever have in his life has been staring him in the face for years.

Isabel has loved Ford for years. She loved him even when he was engaged to her sister. Even when Ford left town and joined the military, that didn’t stop her love for him. No, Isabel wrote to Ford almost the whole time he was gone. Telling him all about the trials and tribulations going on in her life. But not once in all of those years did Ford ever write back. But Isabel could never have guessed the impact that those letter made on Ford.

Now both are back in Fool’s Gold. While Isabel is not planning to stick around for long, she is willing to spend time with Ford. Even if that means she is willing to risk another broken heart. But that is a risk she is willing to take.
Another wonderful Fool’s Gold story. I can’t wait to see what Susan has in store next for the inhabitants of Fool’s Gold. I did love the sub-storyline in the book too with Ford’s brother. I hope that we get to see more of his love story soon.

KIMBERLY’S REVIEW:
5 Stars I have waited a long time for Ford… ok for Ford’s story at least. And I was not disappointed.

Visiting Fool’s Gold is like coming home. We know so much about the town and its people that it is hard not to become a huge fan of the town. Ford was introduced so long ago that I wondered if we would ever get his story so when this year the bodyguards came to town I was thrilled. But then I had to wait until the last of the three story arc but it was worth the wait. And as a extra bonus we get Kent’s story too!!!

Navy SEALs are everywhere in the book world now a days but what was different was Mallery did not write Ford with injuries either physical or mental. Yes he has been through a lot but he is not suffering as so many SEALs are written today. And I appreciated that. I loved Ford’s sense of humor and how jovial he could be especially around Isabel. I could go on and on about what I loved about Ford but why spoil this story for others? Isabel is so sweet. I enjoyed her story. I loved that these two have a past that doesn’t involve an old affair or something like that. Isabel was a young girl with a crush and while she has been through a lot over the last decade she never really lost the feelings for Ford.

I was happy to see Kent’s story in this book too. It was enjoyable to watch the two brothers falling at the same time and how different the process is for both of them and yet it is enjoyable to see how similar they can be.

I am never disappointed when I visit Fool’s Gold but this might be my favorite book of the series (and that is saying something) in a while. Maybe I was just like Isabel and had a crush on Ford even before he came back to town but having spent time with him I fell in love! Bring on the football players!

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

July 11, 2013July 11, 2013

The Entity Within Interview with Cat Devon and Giveaway

I am so excited to have Cat Devon here today to discuss her new release, The Entity Within. I love vampires and witches, so if you love paranormal romance, this is definitely one to pick up.

1. Tell me a little bit about your new release.

SLEEPING WITH THE ENTITY came out June 4th and it’s the story of the cupcake maker and…the vampire! Daniella Delaney is ready to open her shop, Heavenly Cupcakes, in one of Chicago’s sleepier districts. But she’s having a hard time convincing the local business association—namely Nick St. George—that she’s a good addition to the neighborhood. Daniella hopes that her famous red velvet cupcakes will be enough to melt any man’s heart. But Nick is no ordinary man. He’s got fangs.

THE ENTITY WITHIN is out July 2nd. Zoe Adams and her grandmother Irma are witches who have been banished from Boston. With nowhere to go, they accept an invitation to come to Chicago…but what they don’t realize is that their new space puts them right in the heart of the most dangerous spot of all: Vamptown. The more vampire Damon Thornheart gets to know the stunning, spirited Zoe, the less he understands about his own true nature. Vamps and witches have always been archrivals in the entity world; surrendering to their passion could mean losing their immortal powers. Is their desire worth the risk?

2. Where did you come up with the idea for Sleeping with the Entity and The Entity Within?

It started with the hero and heroine. In SLEEPING WITH THE ENTITY, I wanted the heroine to be the opposite of the dark and brooding vampire hero. A cheerful and determined cupcake maker who is immune to vampire compelling seemed the answer. Plus I enjoyed doing the research on cupcakes at the local cupcake shop in my area! In THE ENTITY WITHIN, I wanted a heroine who had magic of her own, who knew what it’s like not to fit in the human world, and so I came up with a witch named Zoe. Not only is she Damon’s opposite, but vampires and witches do not get along.

3. Have you always wanted to write paranormal romance?

Yes, especially paranormal romance with heat and humor. Readers have told me that my characters seem very real to them, which is wonderful! I write a fast-paced book with a lot of dialogue. The books have been getting great reviews so far. SLEEPING WITH THE ENTITY was described as “Sinfully delicious! 4 Stars” by RT Book Reviews and received a highly-coveted Starred Review in Booklist. Of THE ENTITY WITHIN, RT Book Reviews wrote, “Devon’s humor and offbeat scenarios give this paranormal pleaser a lighthearted feel that features just a touch of danger. Zoe and Damon’s sexy antagonism is pure delight!”

4. What are you working on next?

I’m finishing up LOVE YOUR ENTITY which comes out Dec. 31st. And a few days ago, I finished my Entity e-novella which is coming out this fall. It’s called THE ENTITY WHO CAME FOR CHRISTMAS.

5. How many books are you planning for the series?

There are three so far, but there could be more.

6. What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

I have 3 steps for those who want to write. 1) Just Do It 2) Do It Anyway 3) Yes, I Mean Now. Also if you are interested in writing romance, then join Romance Writers of America at rwanational.org, where you will find a lot of information for aspiring writers.

7. Do you have specific actors in mind for each of the characters in your book?

For all of the vampire heroes – yes! Nick in SLEEPING WITH THE ENTITY was inspired by actor Alex O’Laughlin. Damon in THE ENTITY WITHIN was inspired by Ian Somerhalder. And Ronan in LOVE YOUR ENTITY by Joe Manganiello.

8. Favorite type of pizza?

Giordano’s Chicago deep-dish style with extra mushrooms – yummm!! Pizza seems to show up in several of my books!

About the Author:

Cat Devon is a pseudonym for an award-winning author. A former librarian and confessed bookaholic, she has a weakness for wickedly sexy vampires, imported dark chocolate and decadent cupcakes. She and her family live in the Chicago area. For more info please visit my website www.catdevon.com or Like me on Facebook www.facebook.com/catdevonauthor or follow me on Twitter @catdevonauthor.

Jennifer’s Review of The Entity Within

TITLE: The Entity Within

CHARACTERS: Zoe Adams and Damon Thornheart

AUTHOR: Cat Devon

PUBLICATION DATE: 07/02/13

ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: Is Love Something……

Zoe Adams and her grandmother Irma are witches who have been banished from Boston. With nowhere to go, they accept an invitation to come to Chicago…but what they don’t realize is that their new space puts them right in the heart of the most dangerous spot of all: Vamptown.

You Can Sink Your Teeth Into?

Damon Thornheart is just that–virtually untouchable when it comes to love. As Vamptown’s highest-ranking demon hunter, he sees red flags when he meets Zoe and Irma, who unwittingly unleashed a brutal evil upon the community. But the more Damon gets to know the stunning, spirited Zoe, the less he understands about his own true nature. Vamps and witches have always been arch-rivals in the entity world; surrendering to their passion could mean losing their immortal powers. Is their desire worth the risk? Only one thing is for certain: Damon will make it his mission to find out…..

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Jennifer NUMBER OF STARS: Five Stars

REVIEW: Zoe is a witch that is afraid of using her powers because her mother died while using black magic and Zoe believes that the same thing may happen to her. When Zoe and her grandmother, Irma, relocate to Chicago, it is a chance for a fresh start but some of the local vampires are concerned that the witches may be in Vamptown to cause trouble. Especially, the new vampire in town and resident demon hunter, Damon. He is very skeptical of Zoe and isn’t about to trust this sexy witch to keep out of trouble, especially when Zoe accidentally unleashes sinister forces in Vamptown. The two of them together seems like a disaster waiting to happen but they find that they just can’t keep their hands off each other. So now, Damon must deal with sending these demons back to hell while fighting the sexual attraction he has for Zoe.

Zoe was so adorable in this book and I just loved her personality. She was torn between living up to her magical heritage while trying to protect herself from any type of black magic. She just wants to lead a normal life but that is hard to do when she accidentally helps to release demons into the city and she is one of the few people that can send them back where they belong.

Damon is one sexy vampire. With his smoldering eyes and nonchalant attitude, I can understand why he is so popular with the ladies. He has never gotten over his past betrayal at the hands of a witch and chooses to believe that all witches are evil. Both Damon and Zoe are strong-willed and opinionated and are the perfect match for each other, even though they fight it at every turn. They also definitely know how to turn up the heat in the sexual chemistry department which makes this book fun to read.

One of the best things about this book is the humor. Putting Zoe and Damon in the same room together brought out some of the best one-liners that I have read in a while. Cat Devon is an extremely talented author who has created a paranormal world that will not only have you laughing out loud but wanting a sexy vampire of your own. This is one of my favorite books at the moment and I can’t wait to get my hands on Love Your Entity which is out in December.

Giveaway

I have a copy of Cat’s new release, The Entity Within, to give one lucky reader. Please fill out the Rafflecopter below.

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July 5, 2013July 5, 2013

Jennifer reviews Unbuttoned by Maisey Yates

TITLE: Unbuttoned
SERIES #: A Silver Creek Novella
CHARACTERS: Carly Denton & Lucas Miller
AUTHOR: Maisey Yates
PUBLICATION DATE: 06/18/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Carly Denton has learned to keep her buttons and emotions firmly fastened. Her parents’ constant drama, and an unrequited crush on her brother’s best friend, taught her to keep her passion beneath the surface. But she can no longer avoid the one man with the ability to bring that passion to a boil…

Lucas remembers Carly as a freckle-faced tomboy–not a frosty woman who treats him like a burr under her saddle. But when they must work together on a charity project, Lucas is shocked to find their bickering melt into some serious mutual attraction. He’s determined to show Carly that he’s the man for her, if only she’d learn to let loose.

Lucas is the last man on earth Carly should give in to. The freedom she finds in his arms has her feeling happier than ever, but is it enough to make her realize that the greatest risk isn’t losing your heart, but losing the chance at happiness?

REVIEW:
I love small town romances and I was very excited to read one that was based here in Oregon. Carly Denton has her life completely mapped out when she becomes Councilwoman for Silver Creek and placed in charge of a charity project which forces her to work with her brother’s best friend, Lucas Miller. Carly has always had a crush on Lucas but can’t get past his philandering ways and Lucas can’t figure out why Carly is so temperamental whenever he is around. So one day, she decides to throw caution to the wind and experience one night of passion with the man she has always known to be off-limits.

I liked Carly because she was smart and didn’t want to get romantically involved with someone who she knew would eventually break her heart. Even though she had feelings for Lucas, she was basing her opinions on his past behavior without realizing that Lucas was finally becoming the man that he always wanted to be. Carly was also so determined to hold on to her “respectable” image in the eyes of the townspeople after the history of her parent’s notorious public fights in front of the entire town. She never wanted to be the type of person that would lose control when it came to love and her feelings for Lucas were so strong that she thought she would blow everything that she worked for if she pursued a relationship with him. Lucas, on the other hand, was tired of his love ‘em and leave ‘em ways of the past and wanted to finally have a true relationship with a woman and his heart was set on Carly.

When these two finally got together, they realized they had more in common than they originally thought and with a little trust, could have a great life together. The sexual chemistry between them was explosive and the sex scenes in this book were very hot and steamy. The book was also filled with humorous one-liners between Carly and Lucas that had me laughing out loud.

Maisey Yates is a very talented author and has created the perfect small-town romance about two people that found love once they learned to take a leap of faith. I was pleasantly surprised with this novella and I can’t wait to see what is in store for the residents of Silver Creek in the next book, Unexpected.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

July 1, 2013June 30, 2013

Into The Fire Blog Tour with Amanda Usen

Today I am so excited to have Amanda Usen on Books-n-Kisses with us today. I have absolutely loved her previous books Scrumptious and Luscious and she now has a brand new series that will definitely turn up the heat!

1. Tell me a little bit about your new release?
It’s a story about a hot, unforgettable one-night-stand that ends in double betrayal. The story picks up six months later with Jack opening a restaurant and needing Lila’s help to make it the best menu in New York. Add in revenge, passion, more betrayal, and a whole lot of Jack fantasizing about Lila naked and Lila dreaming about Jack…naked…lots of mouthwatering food and a twist at the end, and you’ve got it in a nutshell. I had a ton of fun writing this book, and readers seem to be enjoying it. They also want to shake some sense into Jack and Lila, but that makes for fun reading, too!

2. Where did you come up with the idea for this series?
A couple of years ago, I jotted down this line: “Personal Chef, at your service. What are you hungry for?” I intended to write an erotic romance, because, seriously, how could anyone say that line without irony? When I started brainstorming ideas for an Indulgence series, I used it as a jumping off point. Since I wanted to write three books, I gave Lila two culinary schools BFFs with whom she keeps in touch. They chat via cell phone and texting, and their stories began to develop as I wrote INTO THE FIRE.

3. Since your books are usually set in a culinary world, what attracted you to writing these books and do you have a culinary background?
Since I’m a pastry chef and I met my husband in culinary school at the CIA, food and romance go hand-in-hand for me. I love setting my stories in the restaurant world because that is where I spent my wildest years. *giggle* And writing about food certainly cuts down on the research for me!

4. What are you working on now?
Book 3 of the Hot Nights series, Betsy’s story! It’s set in New Orleans, where my husband and I lived after culinary school. I’m still working out the details, but I have a feeling the three culinary school BFFs will find themselves staggering through the French Quarter together at some point. I’ve been looking for an excuse to develop a chargrilled oyster recipe, a beignet recipe, and, of course, a perfect hurricane! Maybe a mango daiquiri, too…

5. What book from another author are you looking forward to reading?
I’m currently in the middle of Macy Beckett’s second Sultry Springs book, A Shot of Sultry, and loving it. I want to write sexy, funny, and quirky like Macy when I grow up! I’m also looking forward to reading Darynda Jones’s Fifth Grave Past The Light. I got to hang out with Darynda at Lori Foster’s Reader & Author Get Together a few weeks ago, and she’s such a doll. I loved her books before, but now I love them more! And I can’t wait for Turn Up The Heat, Kimberly Kincaid’s first Pine Mountain novel, coming out from Kensington in March. She writes sweet foodie heat! Oh, and I’m also impatient for Robin Covington’s third The Boys Are Back In Town novel. Bring on Teague! RAWR! Sorry, that’s four, but I was a reader long before I learned to write, and nothing makes me happier than a pile of new books.

6. What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Finish the darn book! If you’ve got the moxie to get all the way through a story then you’ve got the resilience to keep learning until you figure out how to sell it. That’s the first step. I have different advice for the next stage of the journey, but finishing the book always comes first.

7. What food or drink do you absolutely have to have while writing?
Coffee. Then water. Then coffee. Then water…

8. Favorite type of pizza?
The kind with cheese! 😉 Lately I’ve been craving a Greek pizza from LaPorta’s. It’s covered in spinach, feta, and tomatoes. Soaked with herbs and garlic butter. Great bubbly crust! I also wouldn’t turn down a spinach-pesto pizza from Just Pizza…but I also saw this intriguing fresh fig pizza on a blog the other day. I have to make that…can you tell I LOVE pizza?! Nom, nom, nom…

Thank you so much for taking the time out to answer my questions. I can’t wait to read more from the series.
Thanks so much for having me. I’m dying for pizza now!

Readers, what is your favorite pizza combo?

About the Author:

Amanda Usen knows two things for certain: chocolate cheesecake is good for breakfast, and a hot chef can steal your heart. Her husband stole hers the first day of class at the Culinary Institute of America. She married him after graduation in a lovely French Quarter restaurant in New Orleans, and they spent a few years enjoying the food and the fun in the Big Easy. Now they live in Western New York with their three children, one hamster, two guinea pigs, a tortoise, and a new-to-them beagle. Amanda spends her days teaching pastry arts classes and her nights writing romance. If she isn’t baking or writing, she can usually be found chasing the kids around the yard with her very own hot chef husband.

Want chimichurri, chocolate cake or Chicken Alighieri? Visit Amanda at http://www.amandausen.com, where you can find recipes for many of the yummy dishes in her books. She can also be found on Facebook and Twitter, if you want to chat about romance, writing, or recipes.

Jennifer’s Review of Into The Fire

TITLE: Into the Fire

SERIES #: Hot Nights #1

CHARACTERS: Lila Grant and Jackson Calabrese

AUTHOR: Amanda Usen

PUBLICATION DATE: 06/10/13

ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: Jackson Calabrese has a lot of nerve. He beat Lila Grant in the Culinary Academy competition using her recipes. Now, he’s opening a restaurant and wants her help? Fine, she’ll fix his menu, but it’s going to cost him.

Heir to the Calabrese restaurant empire, Jackson can buy anything he wants, except creativity, so he buys Lila’s instead. He can craft perfect paella, but to take New York by storm he needs her innovative spark.

Skillets aren’t the only things hot in the kitchen, and an uneasy truce ignites into passion. They’re great in bed, but Jackson doesn’t trust her, and Lila is contemplating revenge. The restaurant opening approaches, the menu is completed, and the tables are set for one final act of betrayal. How can love bloom in the midst of such a hot mess?

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Jennifer NUMBER OF STARS: Five Stars

REVIEW: I absolutely loved this book and I was so disappointed when this charming book came to an end. I have enjoyed every single one of Amanda’s books and Into the Fire is a fabulous start to her brand new series about three best friends who just happen to be chefs. Romances in the culinary world are my absolute favorite and Amanda’s style of writing is flawless and will keep you entertained until the very end of Lila’s and Jackson’s story.

We first meet Lila and Jack just before their Culinary Academy competition and the sparks definitely fly between these two. After a night of passion and sharing intimate details of their lives with one another, they enter the competition second-guessing their dishes and are under the distinct impression that the other will ultimately win the competition. Lila changes her strategy right before the competition and Jack changes his dish believing that Lila had originally lied to him about what she would be cooking. Both parties are wrong in their assumptions but the damage is done and Jackson wins the competition using Lila’s special menu.

I loved both of these characters and the interesting thing about them was that they were both plagued by their own self-doubt. These two smart, extremely talented chefs, believed that they couldn’t succeed on their own and that is what brought Jack back to Lila after the Culinary Academy competition. He was trying to find out what went wrong that day and to enlist her help to revitalize his menu for his new restaurant opening. Lila was the type of person who was afraid that she couldn’t finish what she started and then ran away when things got too tough. Jack was also living in his father’s shadow because he felt that he couldn’t live up to the great Calabrese name and receive the approval from his father that he desperately wanted.

The relationship between Lila and Jack could have went so much smoother if they both just communicated with each other. I understand that they both believed that the other person was out to sabotage them but a lot of the misunderstandings could have been prevented by being honest with each other. They would have found out a little bit earlier that they were perfect for each other and made a culinary team that no one could match. Lila’s creativity in regards to food and Jack’s culinary skills were magical and there was absolutely no way that Jack’s restaurant could fail.

The sex scenes were very hot and steamy and I’m not surprised that Lila and Jack couldn’t keep their hands off one another in this book. The ending was perfect for these two characters to show them that they just needed a little trust and love to make things right between them to fix their jaded relationship. Into the Fire was a wonderful book and I am definitely looking forward to Amanda’s next book in the Hot Nights series.

Tour-Wide Giveaway

Amanda Usen is offering winners a chance to at some wonderful prizes during the Into the Fire Blog Tour.

Grand prize: $25 gift card (Amazon, B&N, or The Book Despository) and gets to name Betsy’s hero in Book 3 of the Hot Nights series & give him 1 author-approved trait”.

Runner Up: $15 gift card (Amazon, B&N, or The Book Despository) and the chance to pick a dish to go into book three of the Hot Night series (Amanda will also share the recipe on her website).

Consolation Prizes: 5 random winners will get Amanda’s favorite kitchen tool: a mini offset spatula

Simply fill out the rafflecopter form provided below for your chance to be entered.

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