Spotlight Feature of Immortal Hunter by Kait Ballenger + a giveaway!!!

“Kait Ballenger is a treasure you don’t want to miss!” –New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Gena Showalter

Hunters of the supernatural, the Execution Underground are an elite group tasked with protecting humanity…but at what price?

As an exorcist, David Aronowitz grew up the target of demonic assassins. Now he’s a member of the Execution Underground and hellspawn everywhere fear his name. But when a demon slips into the seductive body of the only woman he’s ever loved, David must confront the heartbreak of their past to save her.

The piece of her heart Allsún O’Hare gave to David so long ago left her trapped between two worlds: the Fae and the human. And when David comes to her rescue, fate reunites her with her

greatest temptation–and her biggest mistake.

Now, as they’re swept together into a wicked game with the demon who controls her, David must decide if saving Allsún’s life is worth sacrificing his own–and the future of humanity itself.

Immortal Hunter on Amazon | Immortal Hunter on B&N | Immortal Hunter on Goodreads

Author Bio: Kait Ballenger is a full-time paranormal romance author, wife, professional bellydancer, and graduate student. She lives in Central Florida with her husband, their doggie-daughter Sookie (like Charlainne Harris’ character), and two kittens, Elliot and Olivia (like the SVU characters). Kait believes anything is possible, and one day, she hopes people name their pets after her characters, too.

Website | Facebook | Twitter: @kait_ballenger

“Special GIVEAWAY offer! Leave a comment today (the date this blurb was posted) with your email address in order to receive a free chapter sample of IMMORTAL HUNTER before the release date on April 1st!”

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March 11, 2014February 28, 2014

Spotlight Feature of Sasha Summer’s Cowboys & Kisses

Cowboys & Kisses(Teens of Black Falls Texas, #1)

By Sasha Summers

Blurb:

Allie had big plans for the future. Falling for a cowboy wasn’t part of it.

1. Get out of Black Falls Texas – aka Redneck Hell

(Graduation was eight months away. After that, she was out of there.)

2. Avoid Wyatt Holcomb at all costs.

(Except he was everywhere and kind of hard to ignore since he was hot-and a really nice guy.)

3. Avoid her parents.

(Shouldn’t be too hard to do since her father hated her and her mother pretended nothing was wrong.)

4. Stop thinking about Wyatt.

(Which would be a lot easier if he wasn’t so sweet… and he’d keep his shirt on.)

5. Decide what she really wants.

(Instead of holding onto the past and the guilt.)

Available for purchase at

Excerpt

“I don’t feel right leaving you here alone.” His voice had
an edge to it.

I paused, trying to think of the right words. “I’m not
your problem.”

He smiled, his brows going up. “You’re nobody’s problem.”

“My parents would argue with that, but that’s not what I
meant and you know—”

He stood up suddenly. “You’re not my problem.”
He crossed to me. “But…Allie, I want you to be.”

I really like the
sound of that. Which hurt. I’m the
last thing you need.

As hard as it was to
breathe, I managed to argue. “No, you really don’t.” I sidestepped him, needing
distance to keep fighting. “I’m one of those damaged goods on the quick-sale
table at the grocery store. Pretty packaging makes you curious, interested, but
then you get it home and open it up and realize you wasted your time and money
on trash.” I walked out of the kitchen as I spoke. More distance.

His hand caught my arm. “Jesus, Allie, that’s harsh.”

I very carefully pulled my arm out of his hold. “Sometimes the truth is.
My best friend taught me that.”

About the Author

Sasha is part gypsy. Her passions have always been storytelling, Hollywood, history, and travel. It’s no surprise that her books include a little of each. Her first play, ‘Greek Gods and Goddesses’ was written for her Girl Scout troupe. She’s been writing ever since. She loves getting lost in the worlds and characters she creates; even if she frequently forgets to run the dishwasher or wash socks when she’s doing so. Luckily, her four brilliant children and hero-inspiring hubby are super understanding and supportive.

You can stalk, I mean find Sasha here

Oh, Did you know that Sasha has a Street Team? She does! If you love/like her books and want to help support her join the Street Team. What would you have to do if you join? Let’s see…1.) Have Fun

2.) meet other people with common interest

3.) you get first dibs on info, snippets, excerpts and even get to review in advance!!

4.) your input! We might ask you to name her next cowboy! LOL

5.) there will be missions where we ask you to share links and information, but we provide you with all the info so it’s easy as pie. Or cake! What ever you prefer!

So if you want to support Sasha, ask to join her Street Team here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/456419371077920/

Giveaway

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March 10, 2014March 9, 2014

Release Day Blitz: Mine to Crave by Cynthia Eden

Mine to Crave

Mine Series, bk #4

Blurb:
New York Times best-selling author Cynthia Eden continues her dark and sexy “Mine” romantic suspense series with…MINE TO CRAVE.

HE TAKES WHAT HE WANTS.

From the moment that billionaire casino owner Drake Archer sees Jasmine Bennett, he’s obsessed. Consumed by desire for the mysterious redhead, Drake will do anything necessary to claim her. Yet as desire rages between them, danger is stalking ever closer. Drake’s past isn’t dead, and the ex-Special Forces agent will soon have to face the ghosts he left behind.

SHE’S HIDING SECRETS.

Jasmine isn’t who she pretends to be. She’s a woman on a mission—and she’s supposed to be stealing secrets from the mysterious Drake. Falling for him isn’t on her agenda, but when lust and love tangle together, all the rules get broken.

AN ENEMY IS CLOSING IN…

When Drake learns of Jasmine’s betrayal…all hell breaks loose. He knows that he should turn his back on her, but it’s too late for him. He can’t let her go, but he can teach her a lesson. No one betrays him…not without paying a heavy price. Drake will destroy all of the enemies on his trail, he’ll bury his past, and he’ll teach Jasmine to want only him…just as much as he craves her.

Available for purchase at

Excerpt

“Maybe you
shouldn’t kiss strangers…” His words came out as a growl. “That’s a real bad
habit, princess.”

She
nodded, but then said, “Desperate times can call for desperate actions.”

Those
sure weren’t the words he’d expected. He leaned toward her.

“You’re
Drake Archer.”

“Guilty.” He’d confessed to owning the casino, so her
knowing his identity wasn’t exactly a huge surprise. He’d made headlines in the Vegas press when
he opened the Archer’s Arrow Casino a month before. He owned four other
casinos, but three of them were in Biloxi, Mississippi, and his biggest place
was in New Orleans.

He
was already jonesing for a trip back to the Big Easy. That place had become
home for him.

And I’ll be heading home very soon.

She
smiled up at him. Her smile took him off-guard because he hadn’t anticipated
the woman’s dimples. Cute, curving dimples that winked on either side of her
mouth.

The
lady was sexy. She had deep, dark bedroom eyes. Curves that made him hard.

And…a
damn cute smile.

“Thanks
for being my hero tonight, Drake Archer.”

He
had to laugh at that. “Trust me, I’m not exactly hero material.” He was more
used to playing the villain of the piece.

About the Author

USA Today Best-selling author Cynthia Eden has written over twenty-five novels and novellas. She was named as a 2013 RITA^® finalist for her paranormal romance, ANGEL IN CHAINS, and, in 2011, Cynthia Eden was a RITA finalist for her romantic suspense, DEADLY FEAR.

Cynthia is a southern girl who loves horror movies, chocolate, and happy endings. She has always wanted to write (don’t most authors say that?), and particularly enjoys creating stories about monsters–vampires, werewolves, and even the real-life monsters that populate her romantic suspense stories.

Cynthia’s foreign sales for her books include translations to Japan, Germany, Thailand, Greece, and Brazil.

(Back in the day…) Cynthia graduated summa cum laude from the University of South Alabama where she studied Sociology (because people interest her) and Communication (because she likes to write about said people). Cynthia has worked as a college admissions counselor, a teacher, and as an editor. But now, Cynthia is thrilled to be spending her days making up stories.

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March 7, 2014March 5, 2014

Interview & Tour wide giveaway with Madhuri Blaylock

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome first time guess Madhuri Blaylock to the blog today.

Madhuri, can you please share with us a little about yourself: My parents are from south India, I was born in Vancouver, Canada, lived in Seattle, Washington until I was five and then moved to a small town called Snellville, Georgia, where I lived until I left for New York City to attend Barnard College. I have a younger brother and sister, a sister-in-law and a brother-in-law.
I’ve been married for fifteen years, have a son and a step daughter. These three are my crew and I love them fiercly. We have loads of fun together, laugh constantly, bicker a bit, and Wii bowl like it’s no one’s business. Holla.Some randoms about me: As much as I love Do The Right Thing and Malcolm X, 2fth Hour might be my favorite Spike Lee joint, I used to have a nose ring, during law school my hair was dyed platinum blonde, Nightmare on Elm Street gave me nightmares for months on end, I’m a stubborn taurus, I have six tattoos with two more in the works, I drive a convertible Mini, I had guinea pigs named Fran and Fred, I love Coach and Tami, Thelma and Louise is one of my top five favorite films, New Orleans is my favorite US city, I’m totally superstitious, Glenlivet is my poison after 5pm, my dad pierced my ears and my girl crushes are Beatrix Kiddo, Zoe Saldana and Rashida Jones.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

Nope. When I was little, after devouring Gerald Durrell’s books, I wanted to be a zoologist, then this dream morphed into being a veterinarian for large farm animals. Later, I wanted to be a lounge singer in some dimly lit bar in Manhattan and next, I wanted to be an Oscar-winning actress (in fact, my entrance essay on my NYU college application is my Best Actress Oscar winning speech); after that I wanted to own a magazine, which led to writing for a magazine and finally culminized in simply wanting to write.
What is your most interesting writing quirk?

Probably my incessant need to perfectly edit my work. I think I get this quirk from my dad and it is intense – I will pour over my drafts, again and again, trying to find each and every spelling and grammatical error. Hearing that I’ve missed something drives me bananas. Hearing that my book is well-edited, which quite a few readers have noted, makes my heart happy.
Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?

Sure thing. My current book is THE GIRL, which is the first book in the trilogy I am developing called The Sanctum. I think the best way to sum up THE GIRL is as follows:

The Sanctum, an all-powerful governing body founded by ten families, entrusted to maintain the peace amongst Magicals and ensure the ignorance of humans, has been corrupted by greed and savagery for generations, but is all Wyatt Clayworth has ever known.
Dev, the hybrid demon prophesied to bring an end to The Sanctum and destroy the world for Magicals and humans alike, is not what Wyatt expected to find when sent out on his latest mission. Believed to be hunting a killing machine, Wyatt finds little more than a broken girl with haunted eyes and a bit of a death wish. Drawn to one another for reasons they cannot begin to explain to themselves, much less anyone else, Wyatt is determined to protect Dev and help her realize her mission to avenge the deaths of her family at the hands of The Sanctum.Set against the backdrop of New York City, THE GIRL is described as “outstanding, original, complex, deep and intoxicating”, a “well written, unique…fast-paced read” that begins as one girl’s simple quest for revenge and evolves into a complicated tale of trust, friendship, honor and love.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

I had been reading a lot of paranormal fiction and feeling rather unsatisfied with the lead female characters in many of the stories, so decided to create my own, badass, take-no-prisoners type of girl. I started taking notes on this girl, her personality and her backstory and before I knew it, Dev was born. From there, came the rest of the characters and the general idea for The Sanctum trilogy and the more detailed story of THE GIRL.
Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?

Right now I’m finishing up book two in The Sanctum trilogy, called THE BOY. It picks up right where THE GIRL left off but is difficult to discuss without giving away some key points of the story line. I can tell readers that you’ll meet Ryker’s parents, learn more about Qi and his sect of Magicals called the Ramyan and meet my shape-shifter, Jedda.
Who is the one author that you would love to meet someday and why?

Living author, I would love to meet JK Rowling simply because I can only assume the brains behind Harry Potter must be fabulous fun. She’d probably be loads of laughs, have great stories to tell and invaluable advice to share. Dead, hand’s down, my choice is Zora Neale Hurston. She was my introduction to women writers of color and has always held a special place in my heart. Plus, she’s the first Black woman to attend my alma mater, proving she is strong, determined and brilliant. An evening with her would be simply divine.
What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – write, write and write some more. Then get a little sleep, wake up and keep on writing.
Can you share with us something off your bucket list.

I want to walk the Great Wall of China, I want to go to Sao Paolo, Brazil and see if I can feel some of the magic Jorge Amado conjures in his work, I want to yell across the Grand Canyon and I want to get drunk with George Clooney
What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?

Veronica Roth’s Allegiant, Hugh Howey’s Wool and Kayti Nika Raet’s Harm. I’m also dying to get my hands on George RR Martin’s, Laini Taylor’s and Cassandra Clare’s upcoming releases, but who isn’t?!!

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I’d like to say thank you so, so much for letting me stop by and talk about THE GIRL. Folks have either emailed me or messaged me or written a review on Amazon or Goodreads that is so full of excitement and enthusiasm for the trilogy and Book One that I’m rather speechless. It’s been quite a ride. Of course, there will always be those who don’t like something I’ve done or don’t like the story or my writing, but for the most part, the feedback has been incredibly positive and encouraging and for that I am so thankful. It makes me excited to keep working at this and I look forward to meeting more of you as this journey continues.
Please feel free to reach out to me about The Sanctum trilogy or writing or our shared love of all things tequila or lyric suggestions for me to use on a blog post or your favorite four inch heels or how hot Coach is (if you have to ask “who is Coach?”, I am so sad for you). Seriously, hit me up; I’m always down for a good chat.You can find me on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/thesanctumtrilogy or on Twitter at @madhuriblaylock or my blog at http://madhuriblaylock.wordpress.com.

Rock on.

*****

Book One: The Girl

(The Sanctum)

Dev, the hybrid demon prophesied to bring an end to The Sanctum and destroy the world for Magicals and humans alike, is not what Wyatt expected to find when sent out on his latest mission. Believed to be hunting a killing machine, Wyatt finds little more than a broken girl with haunted eyes and a bit of a death wish. Drawn to one another for reasons they cannot begin to explain to themselves, much less anyone else, Wyatt is determined to protect Dev and help her realize her mission to avenge the deaths of her family at the hands of The Sanctum.

Set against the backdrop of New York City, THE GIRL is described as “outstanding, original, complex, deep and intoxicating”, a “well written, unique…fast-paced read” that begins as one girl’s simple quest for revenge and evolves into a complicated tale of trust, friendship, honor and love.

Available for purchase at

Excerpt

Without making a sound, Wyatt quickly found the exact place he was seeking. Ducking under some low-hanging tree branches, he ventured into the dark, partially-hidden lair only to be met with a less-than-welcoming blade at his throat. Dev had moved slightly from the hiding place Wyatt left her and although the lower half of her body remained immobile, her arms were functioning just fine, as evidenced by the blade drawing a thin trickle of blood from Wyatt’s neck. One wrong move and she would certainly kill him.

Wyatt slowly brought his hands up to Dev’s, wrapped his fingers around hers and painstakingly maneuvered the blade away from his neck. Only then did he dare make eye contact with her.

“You didn’t really think I was just going to leave you here, did you?” Wyatt asked as he moved to retrieve his blade from Dev.

She wasn’t quite ready to give it up and slashed at Wyatt’s outstretched hand, managing to nick his wrist.

“Crap!” Wyatt sat back on his heels, holding his wrist, and laughed, “fair enough. I deserved that. I should have told you I was coming back, but I couldn’t risk Ryker overhearing or suspecting anything. Trust me, if he thought I was coming back for you he would have spent all night watching me like a hawk. So I left you and walked away and it worked. Now get over it and give me back my blade.”

Despite the laughter in his voice, Wyatt wasn’t playing. He wanted his blade. Her name was Odara and she had been handed down the Clayworth line since the witnessing of The Code of Ten. She was sharper than any Raven blade and fit his hand like a glove. Many had fought and died at his hand thanks to Odara. She was his protector and he wanted her back where she belonged, safely strapped to his hip.

“Kill me,” Dev offered the blade at a price.

Wyatt stood up tall and glared down at Dev, clenching his jaw in irritation.

“Kill me,” Dev challenged him again, taunting him with her smug stare and grim request.

With blinding speed, Wyatt landed on Dev, knocking her to the ground. Before she even realized what was happening, he locked down her arms and liberated his blade from her grasp. Wyatt hovered above Dev, inches from her face, momentarily tempted to slice her throat and end all of this drama. She couldn’t move a muscle.

“You are in no position to bargain with me,” Wyatt angrily whispered, never taking his eyes off of hers. “I am faster and stronger than you. So don’t even think about toying with me like that again.”

Wyatt pushed himself off of her, replaced Odara at his hip and grinned mischievously. “For the record, my blade isn’t worth your life. I just want it back. And I asked nicely the first time.”

Dev remained in her prone position, staring up at Wyatt, uncertain of her next move. She didn’t have the strength necessary to pull herself into a seated position and she definitely was not going to ask for help.

“What?” Wyatt stared down at Dev, knowing she needed help to get up but determined to make her ask for it.

Even in the darkness, Dev could see Wyatt’s eyes sparkling with amusement. He was thoroughly enjoying this little moment between the two of them. His pleasure made her wish she had slit his throat when she had the chance. Rather than requesting his assistance, Dev focused every ounce of her energy on rolling over onto her stomach. If she could do that, she could easily pull herself into a sitting position, Wyatt be damned. She closed her eyes and focused every fiber of her being on the task at hand but nothing happened. Her body failed to react. It didn’t even twitch. The body that had so beautifully saved her from certain death at the hands of those Sanctum fools just hours earlier now couldn’t even roll over. She shook with frustration, wanting to scream to the heavens in rage, knowing such action was futile and beneath her. So she took a calming breath, opened her eyes and glared at Wyatt.

“Ahhhh, you’re back. I was starting to miss your charming scowl,” Wyatt bent low and absentmindedly pushed some of Dev’s hair out of her eyes, “was getting worried there for a second.”

Dev grabbed his hand in her vice-like grip. She hated him and his snarky comments.

“I realize you don’t like me,” Wyatt pulled his hand out of her grasp and gently placed his arms around Dev, helping her to sit, unable to look at her lying helplessly on the ground for another second, “but I’m all you’ve got so by all means, continue simmering in your hatred for me but do so with the understanding that I’m on your side.

“All this stabbing and cutting nonsense has got to end. If you want to hurt me, just imagine it, okay? Pretend. Don’t actually do it. I heal quickly but it still hurts like hell.”

“Now we’ve got to get out of here fast,” Wyatt checked his watch, alarmed at how much time had passed since he jumped out of his window, “and you still can’t walk, which means I’m going to have to pick you up again. Whether you’re okay with it or not.”

He leaned back on his heels and waited, for some reason hoping Dev would respond, all the while knowing she would not. Dev listened with keen interest to every word coming out of Wyatt’s mouth. She most certainly didn’t like him, but she had to respect his determination. He fully intended to get her out of this park and to somewhere safe and against her better judgment, a tiny part of her was relieved. It was the same, small part of her that was fiercely drawn to him, like a sickness almost. And it was the part of her she most wanted to destroy.

Dev hardened her resolve, focused on her intense hatred for all things Sanctum and shut down.

For an instant, Wyatt thought he saw a spark in Dev’s eyes and just as quickly, it was gone. At that moment, for reasons unknown to himself, Wyatt resigned himself to a one-sided relationship with her, one completely based upon his will to help her. He stood up and reached for her, praying she didn’t have a blade hidden somewhere, knowing that if she did, this time she would definitely kill him. To his surprise, Dev wrapped her arms around his neck and allowed Wyatt to scoop her up and into his arms, but he thought nothing more of it, knowing full well she was merely using him to further her agenda.

And that was all right.

About the Author

Madhuri Blaylock is a lawyer by day, writer and avid shoe and dress buyer at all other times. She lives in Jersey City, but her heart remains firmly planted in Brooklyn via Snellville, Georgia. Her husband, Henry, is also a lawyer, and only a lawyer because he actually likes being a lawyer (go figure), probably always wanted to be a lawyer and is really, really good at all things lawyerly. He’s also pretty hot.

She’s got a big kid, Miss Sydney, and a little kid, the one and only Dash. They’re awesome and fierce and supremely cool and able to make her laugh at the strangest things. She would love to add a dog, some chickens, a goat and a burro to this crew. Everyone needs a burro.

Some of her favorites, in no particular order: ice cream, Kill Bill, four-inch heels, Matt Damon, tattoos, Laini Taylor, scotch on the rocks, The Sanctum trilogy, Martha’s Vineyard, “The Girl” aka her Mini, Rihanna, Doc Martens, tulips, Coach and Tami, photo booths and dancing like a fool.

One day she plans to grow up. Right now, she’s enjoying the adventure.

You can find Madhuri here

Giveaway

e-book of “Book One: The Girl (The Sanctum)”

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March 4, 2014March 3, 2014

Blog Tour Giveaway & Review: Must Love Otters by Eliza Gordon

Welcome to my tour stop for Must Love Otters by Eliza Gordon. This is an adult romantic comedy and the tour runs February 24th- March 7th and will consist of reviews, guest posts, interviews and more. You can find the full schedule on the tour page.

Hollie Porter is the chairwoman of Generation Disillusioned: at twenty-five years old, she’s saddled with a job she hates, a boyfriend who’s all wrong for her, and a vexing inability to say no. She’s already near her breaking point, so when one caller too many kicks the bucket during Hollie’s 911 shift, she cashes in the Sweethearts’ Spa & Stay gift certificate from her dad and heads to Revelation Cove, British Columbia. One caveat: she’s going solo. Any sweethearts will have to be found on site.

Hollie hopes to find her beloved otters in the wilds of the Great White North, but instead she’s providing comic relief for staff and guests alike. Even Concierge Ryan, a former NHL star with bad knees and broken dreams, can’t stop her from stumbling from one (mis)adventure to another. Just when Hollie starts to think that a change of venue doesn’t mean a change in circumstances, the island works its charm and she starts to think she might have found the rejuvenation she so desperately desires. But then an uninvited guest crashes the party, forcing her to step out of the discomfort zone where she dwells and save the day … and maybe even herself in the process.

Amazon/B&N/Goodreads

About the Author:

Eliza Gordon is a husband-and-wife team of controlled chaos who writes stories to help you believe in the Happily Ever After.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Jennifer’s Review of Must Love Otters

Review (4 Stars): Must Love Otters was a very sweet and charming read that had me laughing at the things that kept going wrong in Hollie’s life. She has a dead-end boyfriend, a job that she hates and wishes that her life was vastly different than it is. When her dad gives her a gift certificate for a weekend getaway, she decides that this is what she needs to get her life in order. What she finds on this trip of self-discovery is more than she bargained for and is exactly what she needed.

I liked Hollie because she was honest, fun and reminded me of what life was like when we were in our twenties. She was trying to find her place in the world, but everything she did ended with hilarious results. Must Love Otters is a delightful and enchanting read that will keep you entertained and wanting more from this great author.

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March 1, 2014March 1, 2014

Blog Tour Giveaway & Review: Midsummer Sweetheart by Katy Regnery

BLURB:

During the annual Montana festival of Midsommardagen, a law enforcement official must protect a beautiful nurse from her past, thereby breaking his own vow to never risk his heart.

SYNOPSIS:

Erik Lindstrom never had much faith in love. He saw his parents’ marriage collapse and vowed to avoid the same anguish himself. His fiercely protective nature drew him to a career in law enforcement, where he’s managed to keep himself and his heart safe…until now.

Katrin Svenson is in danger. After leaving her home in secret, her only hope for safety seems to lie in the hands of a man who has steeled himself against her deep blue eyes and sunny smile. But sparks fly between the nurse and her handsome protector, and those sparks become fire as Katrin melts the ice
surrounding Erik’s heart. That fire will ward off the dark force determined to keep their sweet midsummer nights from being an impossibly perfect forever.

Amazon/B&N

Author Bio:

Katy is a 2013 NECRWA First Kiss and 2013 NTRWA Great Expectations contest finalist who has always loved telling a good story and credits her mother with making funny, heartwarming tales come alive throughout her childhood. A lifelong devotee of all Romance writing, from Edwardian to present-day, it was just a matter of time before Katy tried her hand at writing a love story of her own. Katy lives in the relative-wilds of northern Fairfield County, Connecticut where her writing room looks out at the woods, and her husband, two young children and two dogs create just enough cheerful chaos to remind her that the very best love stories of all can often be the messy or unexpected ones. Katy has a Paranormal alter-ego: KP Kelley – https://twitter.com/KPKelleyAuthor

Her Paranormal It’s You is scheduled for a Winter 2014 release.

Goodreads:

Katy Regnery – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7211470.Katy_Regnery

By Proxy – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18299829-by-proxy?ac=1

Midsummer Sweetheart – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20613919-midsummer-sweetheart?ac=1

Midsummer Sweetheart Blog Tour

Hosted by:

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Jennifer’s Review of Midsummer Sweetheart

Review (5 Stars): This was a great story for me. Katrin was trying to get away from an abusive relationship when the opportunity to become a nurse in Skidoo Bay opened up for her. To get to this rural town several hours away, Katrin agrees to accept a ride with Erik Lindstrom, who just happens to be a friend of the family. He is on his way to a new job in law enforcement and is surprised when he meets Katrin for the first time. She isn’t at all what he expected and they are both caught off guard by the physical chemistry that they have with one another. Katrin will need someone to look out for her because her past relationship isn’t quite ready to let go of her yet.

Ms. Regnery is a new author for me but she is definitely one to watch. Katrin and Erik’s story was very romantic and I loved that they seemed to bring out the best in each other. Katrin had been through so much already with her abusive ex-boyfriend and I liked that she tried so hard to stay strong and fight for her independence. She was determined to make a fresh start in this new town and she never planned on caring about Erik. I believe that people come into your life for a reason and Erik was definitely someone that she needed by her side.

Erik was definitely a strong alpha male who would do anything to protect Katrin and you could see that whenever they were together. He originally had the attitude that he would keep things casual and wouldn’t let anyone get to him until he met Katrin. He wanted to experience love but was afraid to give his heart away and I’m glad that Katrin was the one woman who could show him what it meant to be truly loved by someone. Midsummer Sweetheart was a very touching romance and I would love to read more from Ms. Regnery.

March 1, 2014February 28, 2014

Spotlight Feature of Cruisin’ For A SEAL (SEAL Brotherhood #5)” by Sharon Hamilton

Cruisin’ For A Seal

(SEAL Brotherhood #5)
By Sharon Hamilton

Blurb:

Marc Beale and several of his brothers from SEAL Team 3 board a cruise ship to bury a fallen buddy’s aches at sea. A risky affair with a beautiful Italian the night before they leave begins to ease his survivor’s guilt.

Sophia Negri, suffering jitters over her engagement, falls for the handsome SEAL and pretends she speaks no English, letting their bodies do the talking. When Marc finds her on the ship and learns Sophia is half American, he is angry at first, but falls for her all over again as they set sail.

Terrorists take over the ship and hold the passengers for ransom, Marc and the other SEALs are the only ones who can stop the plot. Will Marc’s actions be enough to save Sophia or will he have to sacrifice himself to save the woman he loves?

Available for purchase at

Excerpt

Marc started to
stand, but she stopped him with her hand on his forearm. He did sit back down, but he crossed his
massive arms in front of his chest, leaning back into the couch and looking the
opposite direction, away from her.

“I
know none of this makes sense. Not sure I do either. I thought that—well I just
thought a little night of anonymous sex with no strings would be something—and
this is a totally selfish thing here, I admit it—I thought I could just have…”
This was going to be much more difficult than she’d planned. Everything she
wanted to say wasn’t right. “I just wanted one more night being single, being
free to choose, being with someone without it being complicated. And I’m sorry.
I realize now that that was a huge mistake.”

His
passive, hulking frame and dispassionate stare into the distance broke her
heart.

“Please
Marc, look at me.” He did, but his eyebrows were raised, his eyes contained the
look of someone who thought she was full of crap. She mustered her courage and
added, looking into his sky blue eyes, those eyes she’d gotten lost in, eyes
she would remember forever, “I am truly sorry. I am not a good person at all. I
did this without any regard for your feelings.”

Their
eyes did connect, and for a second she could see the hurt there, a little dream
in his heart that was dying too, just as hers was. Instinct told her to reach
over and kiss him, hug him, tell him how sorry she was for her behavior, but
she knew that was the wrong way to handle it. As much as she wanted to touch
him and let him know how awful she felt, she needed to keep her distance.

Just tell him the truth and get out.

Marc hadn’t dropped his eyes. He
was searching for something in her face she hoped didn’t show up. He was
looking for evidence she cared for him. Wouldn’t it be wiser to show coldness?
Let him understand there was no future between them?

But was that the truth? Really the truth? Did
all this happen because of her niggling doubts about Ricardo and the life she
would have with him in Brazil? If she were certain of her decision to marry
him, would the night with Marc have happened? She honestly didn’t know the
answer to that.

“It
was the most beautiful afternoon I’ve spent in my entire life. I will never
forget it. Never, Marc,” she said.

His crooked smile
with the dimple on the right side of his full lips was sexy as hell, and
changed the mask of his face.

“It
was a pretty incredible afternoon, but hey, no worries, Sophia. I’m not looking
to get hooked up with anyone. I’m getting ready to deploy. This is just a
little R and R before we go. It kind of worked, in a sick sense of the word.”
He looked at his palms.

She
hadn’t expected that.

“You
aren’t angry?”

“For
an afternoon of the best sex of my life? Fuck no.”

It
was a nice thing to say, but she felt the blunt force of a verbal slap. “I
think it was more than that, is what I’m trying to say,” she said, her voice
low and husky.

Marc
shot up, put his hands in his cargo shorts. “I’m glad. While you’re working
your way through the cruise ship males, I’ll be having beers with my buds and
probably swearing off Italian girls for awhile.” He began to walk out of the
bar.

She
had to do something. She ran and stood in front of him, to stop him.

“Wait
a minute. What I want to say is that it wasn’t just a hookup. I mean it started
that way, but it became more, I guess is what I’m saying.”

“Well,
that’s fine, honey. And if you get that itch again, I’ll scratch it. No
worries. I’m not going to get pissed off and ruin another good time.” His
brilliant white teeth and blue eyes melted her bones.

“So
it wasn’t—“

“You
don’t have the right to that privileged information, honey. You’re engaged to
someone else. I don’t gotta tell you anything about me or how I feel about
anything, remember? But if you want another anonymous hookup, I’m not going
anywhere. We’ve got like twenty days together. We’ve already proven we can let
our bodies do the talking since the words seem to get in the way.”

He
left the bar. She felt her stomach drop to her ankles.

It
wasn’t easy to put it out of her mind, the look on his face as he turned, bowed
slightly and walked out of her life. She’d already cried for him once as she
was walking away from him in the Piazza. She’d left a part of her with him that
day, and now today he took away another piece as he walked down the marble
foyer, pushed the up button and left in the elevator.

Book Trailer:

Audio Book Narration Sample:

About the Author

NYT and USA/Today Bestselling Author Sharon Hamilton’s SEAL Brotherhood series have earned her Amazon author rankings of #1 in Romantic Suspense, Military Romance and Contemporary Romance. Her characters follow a sometimes rocky road to redemption through passion and true love. Her Golden Vampires of Tuscany earned her a #1 Amazon author ranking in Gothic Romance.

A lifelong organic vegetable and flower gardener, Sharon and her husband live in the Wine Country of Northern California, where most of her stories take place.

You can find Sharon at

Presented by

February 27, 2014February 26, 2014

Guest blogger: Abigail Gibbs + a tour wide giveaway

Five Things You Didn’t Know About Autumn Rose

1. Sage can develop the skill to take energy from the earth, which is where their magic originates (as does all energy), though it has the unfortunate side effect of killing any living thing if too much is taken. Autumn Rose is the youngest known Sage to have mastered the skill.

2. Autumn isn’t known for abiding the law or her veganism and drank her first ‘human blood shooter’ aged thirteen. Taken for its non-alcoholic intoxicating effects, it isn’t particularly dangerous to a dark being, but the humans aren’t too keen…

3. When Autumn’s grandmother named her, Autumn’s parents objected to the choice, thinking their daughter would be bullied for having seasons as a first and last name (Autumn and Al-Summers), and even tried calling her ‘Rose’ for a time… until the grandmother threatened to cut them off financially.

4. As a young girl, Autumn Rose attended human nursery and was best friends with two girls called Tammy and Christy. Ten years later and after attending a Sagean school, the three girls were re-united after Autumn returned to the area, and were once again friends. Such a friendship meant Tammy and Christy were able to have some very unusual experiences with Sagean royalty…

5. If Autumn’s grandmother and parents were to die at any point, and having no other family left alive, it was decided before her birth that Autumn’s guardian would be Eaglen, a seer and vampire greatly admired by the Al-Summer family.

*****

THE DARK HEROINE:

DINNER WITH A VAMPIRE

The Dark Heroine, Book 1

The addictive, enthralling debut by online sensation Abigail Gibbs. The sexiest romance you’ll read this year.

One moment can change your life forever…

For Violet Lee, a chance encounter on a darkened street draws her into a world beyond her wildest imaginings, a timeless place of vast elegance and immeasurable wealth – of beautiful mansions and lavish parties – where a decadent group of friends live for pleasure alone. A place from which there is no escape… no matter how hard Violet tries.

Yet all the riches in the world can’t mask the darkness that lies beneath the gilded surface, embodied in the charismatic but dangerous Kaspar Varn.

Violet and Kaspar surrender to a passion that transcends their separate worlds – but it’s a passion that comes at a price.

As featured on BBC Breakfast, Sky News, Sunday Times, Guardian, Mail Online, Huffington Post and Sugarscape.

http://harpercollins.com/book/buy.aspx?isbn13=9780062248732

*****

AUTUMN ROSE

The Dark Heroine, Book 2

International sensation Abigail Gibbs draws us even further into the dangerous and romantic world of the Dark Heroines with AUTUMN ROSE, book two of her breathtakingly magical paranormal series.

Somewhere in a sleepy seaside town in England, Autumn Rose is living a seemingly quite life. But, buried deep under the surface are dark secrets. Autumn’s been dealing with a lot — her grandmother is dead and the whirling social scene of London in which she was brought up is a world away. To make matters worse, she’s shunned and condemned at her new school, all because of the swirling marks on her skin that prevent her from blending in.

At school, the appearance of a handsome young man sends her world in turmoil. He shares the same markings as Autumn, and knows many of the secrets she’s tried to keep hidden. His arrival at school thrusts her into the limelight, with the unexpected popularity bringing danger as her secrets threaten to come to light. And, Autumn keeps dreaming of a human girl who is about to be seduced by a very dark Prince. Time is her enemy, and she must figure out how to save the human before it is too late.

AUTUMN ROSE continues Abigail Gibbs phenomenal Dark Heroine series with an alluring story of romance, hidden secrets, and captivating magic.

http://harpercollins.com/book/pre-order.aspx?isbn13=9780062248756

AUTHOR BIO:

Abigail Gibbs was born and raised in deepest, darkest Devon, England. She is studying for a B.A. in English at the University of Oxford and considers herself a professional student, as the real world has yet to catch up with her. Her greatest fear is blood and she is a great advocate of vegetarianism, which logically led to the writing of her first novel, The Dark Heroine: Dinner with a Vampire. She splits her time between her studies, stories, and family, and uses coffee to survive all three.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAbigailGibbs

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorAbigailG

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6518554.Abigail_Gibbs

HarperCollins: http://harpercollins.com/authors/40144/Abigail_Gibbs/index.aspx

TOUR GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

GRAND PRIZE:
$30 gift card to Starbucks, paperback of “The Dark Heroine: Dinner With a Vampire” (book 1) and some surprise Avon paranormal romance titles.

RUNNER UP: one runner up will receive a $20 gift card to Amazon

a Rafflecopter giveaway

1/28 – 2/28 Abigail Gibbs AUTUMN ROSE Blog Tour

1/28 darkest cravings (spotlight)

http://darkestcravings.blogspot.com

1/28 Monlatable Book Reviews (Guest Post)

http://www.monlatablereviews.com/

1/28 Paranormal Romance Author Honor James (Series Spotlight)

http://honor-james.blogspot.com/2014/01/abigail-gibbs-autumn-rose-blog-tour.html

1/29 C&F (Spotlight)

http://contests-freebies.blogspot.co.uk/

1/29 Eclipse Reviews (Spotlight)

http://totaleclipsereviews.blogspt.com

1/29 Nicky Peacock Author (spotlight)

http://nickypeacockauthor.wordpress.com

1/29 Romance Junkies (Guest Post)

http://www.romancejunkies.com/rjblog/

1/30 author Karen swart (Spotlight)

http://authorkarenswart.blogspot.com

2/2 For the Love of Bookends (Series Spotlight)

http://loveofbookends.blogspot.com/

2/4 ParaYourNormal (Guest Post)

http://parayournormal.wordpress.com/

2/5 Mad Hatter Reads (spotlight)

http://madhatterreads.com

2/5 Paranormal Romance and Beyond (Spotlight)

http://www.ashlynnelaynne.blogspot.com/

2/6 Because reading is better than real life (Interview)

http://love2readalways.blogspot.com/

2/7 Paranormal Haven (Guest Post)

http://paranormalhaven.com

2/11 Sofia Loves Reading (Series Spotlight)

http://sofialovesreading.blogspot.gr/

2/11 Toot’s Book Reviews (spotlight)

http://tootsbookreviews.blogspot.com

2/12 Inner Goddess (Spotlight)

http://www.InnerGoddessForum.com

2/12 Lia’s Book Haven (Guest Post)

http://liasbookhaven.wordpress.com

2/13 KT BOOK REVIEWS (Series Spotlight)

http://ktbookreviews.blogspot.com/

2/13 Literary Meanderings (Interview)

http://www.literaryme.net/

2/14 Manga Maniac Café (Interview)

http://mangamaniaccafe.com

2/15 The Boyfriend Bookmark (Review)

http://theboyfriendbookmark.com

2/17 Fang Freakin’ Tastic Reviews (Guest Post)

http://fangfreakintasticreviews.com

2/17 Wicked Readings by Tawania (Series Spotlight)

http://wickedreadingsbytawania.blogspot.com

2/19 Binding Addiction (Series Spotlight)

http://bindingaddiction.blogspot.com/

2/19 Bitten by Books (Guest Post)

http://bittenbybooks.com

2/19 Coffee Talk (Review)

http://coffeetalkwriters.com/

2/20 deal sharing aunt (Spotlight)

www.dealsharingaunt.blogspot.com

2/20 I Smell Sheep (Interview)

http://www.ismellsheep.com/

2/20 My Book Chatter (Guest Post)

http://mybookchatterchat.blogspot.com

2/21 Book Monster Reviews (guest post)

http://bookmonsterreviews.co

2/24 Lily Pond Reads (Review)

http://lilypondreads.blogspot.com/

2/26 Reader Girls (Series Spotlight)

http://www.readergirlsblog.com

2/27 A_TiffyFit’s Reading Corner (Spotlight/Review)

http://tiffyfit.blogspot.com

2/27 Books à la Mode (Review)

http://thestephanieloves.blogspot.com

2/27 Books-n-Kisses (Guest Post)

https://books-n-kisses.com

2/27 Painted Words (Review)

http://www.tipsyink.blospot.com

2/28 Dalene’s Book Reviews (Review)

http://dalenesbookreviews.blogspot.com/

2/28 paranormal book club ( PBC) (Spotlight)

http://paranormal-bookclub.com

2/28 The La La Land of Books (Guest Post)

http://saaratis.wordpress.com/

February 26, 2014February 19, 2014

Cover Reveal of Stacey Kennedy’s Desired

Hot Dang!!!!!

This cover is smoking!!

*

You ready to see?????

Publisher: Loveswept

(Random House Publishing Group)

ISBN: 9780553391183

Release date: July 22, 2014

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Readers of Fifty Shades of Grey are sure to love Desired, Stacey Kennedy’s latest seductive, electrifying novel of Club Sin, where fantasy becomes reality.

Kyler Morgan, Master at the legendary Club Sin in Las Vegas, knows how to give women what they want—too well. He hasn’t had a real challenge in a long time. Then Ella Snow enters his life. Beautiful, inhibited, and innocent in the ways of submission and domination, Ella is the new blood he’s been lusting after. Soon, the thrill of training her to embrace his world brings forth desires Kyler cannot control.

After ending an abusive relationship, Ella makes a promise to herself to start living life to the fullest. It’s one of the reasons she seeks out Club Sin. Here, Kyler’s every touch is a lesson in liberation, stirring passions that have no bounds. But as she falls under Kyler’s command, Ella discovers that some secrets are so dark they must come to light. Submission alone may not be enough to save her, leaving her Master with only one question: How can he help Ella heal while unlocking the deep pleasures she craves?

Desired is an erotic romance intended for mature audiences.

About the Author:

USA Today Bestselling Author, Stacey Kennedy is an urban fantasy lover at heart, but she also enjoys losing herself in dark and sensual worlds. She lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, who gave her a happily-ever-after. Together, they have two small children who can always make her smile, and who will never be allowed to read Mommy’s books. If she’s not plugging away at a new story, you’ll find her camping, curling up with the latest flick, or obsessing over Supernatural, True Blood, Lost Girl, and Sons of Anarchy.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Loveswept website

*****

Check out the latest release in the CLUB SIN series…

Publisher: Loveswept

(Random House Publishing Group)

ISBN: 9780804178884

Release date: February 10, 2014

Amazon| B&N | More buying options

“Bared is a seductively haunting tale of control and surrender that will tantalize existing fans of the series, while enticing new readers into the passionate world of Club Sin.” ~Eliza Gayle, New York Times bestselling author of SUBMISSIVE BEAUTY

In a novel that’s perfect for fans of Fifty Shades of Grey, Stacey Kennedy returns to Club Sin with another wicked and wild tale of submission, seduction, and love.

At Las Vegas’s exclusive Club Sin, Aidan Knight is the Master, unleashing the erotic yearnings of his submissive lovers. But his dominant façade conceals a devastating loss—something he instantly recognizes in his personally trained submissive Cora Adams. Sworn to unearth her secrets, Aidan uses his seductive skills to ignite her wildest desires until Cora yields to the pleasure she can find only with him.

Cora came to the BDSM club to act out her sub-and-dom fantasies without ever revealing the heartbreak that haunts her. But Aidan’s masterful touch is bringing her closer to the edge . . . and deeper into a world of control and surrender. He refuses to allow her to submit to any other man—nor does she want to. It’s a dangerous game they’re playing. For as they give in to passion, they must lay bare their souls for a love that could heal—and free—them both.

Bared is an erotic romance intended for mature audiences.

February 25, 2014February 24, 2014

Interview with Laura Kaye + tour wide giveaway

HARD AS YOU CAN is your second book in the “Hard Ink” series (after USA Today bestseller, HARD AS IT GETS). What can readers look forward to?

Readers can look forward to tons of sexy alpha male goodness, awesome bromance between the Hard Ink men, more antics from the Hard Ink puppy, and another great love story between Shane and Crystal. But readers should also be ready for a book that is darker, more intense, and more emotional. This book pushed me to emotional places that were tough as a writer, and might be tough for readers, too. But I think that just makes the payoff at the end so much sweeter!

Describe Shane and Crystal. What are their best traits? What are their weaknesses?

Shane and Crystal are such an amazing couple to me. They’re each exactly what the other needs. Shane’s best traits are his protectiveness, his fundamental kindness, and his soul-deep loyalty (his southern accent and humor are also right up there!). His biggest weakness for sure is a tragedy from the past for which he blames himself—and it’s something that continues to motivate him in Hard As You Can. Crystal’s best traits are her courage, protectiveness, and selflessness—she’s willing to do anything to keep her younger sister safe. Her biggest weakness is also that selflessness, because the sacrifices she’s required to make are getting bigger and bigger and bigger.

If you could describe your book in a 140 character tweet, what would it be?

When a woman in trouble assists an ex-soldier’s covert mission to regain his team’s stolen honor, he finds a new mission to save her, too

What are you most excited about with this second book release?

I’m really excited to take readers deeper into these awesome characters and into the mystery behind the Hard Ink team’s ambush and discharge!

What books are you reading right now?

I’m almost done with Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander (yes, I’m very late to the party but OMG JAMIE FRASER!!!). And I’ve recently devoured and loved Juliana Stone’s Offsides and Shelly Thacker’s time-travel historical romance, Forever His.

What can fans of your “Hard Ink” series look forward to next?

There will be two more Hard Ink books in 2014!

Hard to Hold on To – August 2014

Hard to Come By – November 2014

*****

HARD AS YOU CAN

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Five dishonored soldiers.

Former Special Forces.

One last mission.

These are the men of Hard Ink.

Ever since hard-bodied, drop-dead-charming Shane McCallan strolled into the dance club where Crystal Dean works, he’s shown a knack for getting beneath her defenses. For her little sister’s sake, Crystal can’t get too close. Until her job and Shane’s mission intersect, and he reveals talents that go deeper than she could have guessed.

Shane would never turn his back on a friend in need, especially a former Special Forces teammate running a dangerous, off-the-books operation. Nor can he walk away from Crystal. The gorgeous waitress is hiding secrets she doesn’t want him to uncover. Too bad. He’s exactly the man she needs to protect her sister, her life, and her heart. All he has to do is convince her that when something feels this good, you hold on as hard as you can–and never let go.

Excerpt:

It’s release day! And I’m thrilled to share Hard As You Can, the second book in the Hard Ink series, with all of you here today! Hard As You Can follows the surviving members of a disgraced Army Special Forces team as they fight to regain their stolen honor, and finds their investigation crossing paths with a waitress willing to do whatever it takes to stay alive and protect her younger sister. For Shane McCallan, saving Crystal Dean is a mission he refuses to turn down.

Today, I’m excited to share Shane and Crystal’s first kiss! Don’t you love first kiss scenes? Gah! I so do. *grins* Here we go:

“Tell me not to,” Shane said, his voice a raw scrape.

“I can’t,” Crystal whispered in a shaky voice. “I don’t want to.”

Shane’s body took over then, all urgent need and basic instinct. The rest of the world be damned. He pulled her in and kissed her, his lips devouring, his tongue exploring deep. Nothing held back. Nothing denied. Not even as her lips reawakened the sting from the cut on his lip. Totally worth it.

Crystal’s arms came up around him. She trembled against him, and Shane wasn’t sure if it was caused by adrenaline or fear. Unable to tolerate the thought that she might feel forced, he eased off.

She moaned and held him tighter, like his retreat had made something snap within her. Their kisses deepened, and her body moved against his, sinuously, maddeningly, desperately.

They tasted one another again and again, giving in to the heat that had sparked between them from the moment Crystal had collided with him at Confessions. Little nips and bites of lips and teeth warred with long, sensual strokes of tongue that stole his breath and made him instantly hard. The sting in his lip, the throb of his GSW, the aches from Nick’s asskicking, every bit of it faded away—no, her touch made it all go away.

The few times they’d spoken, Crystal had most often been guarded, tentative, fearful. Just as she’d been when he first kissed her. But, now, she was revealing a passionate woman who could be fearless, giving and receiving openly and without hesitation. Christ, the thought that this fierceness was the real Crystal slayed him because it meant she was burying and denying her true self, not because she wanted to, but because she had to.

No, because someone forced her to.

The thought reminded him of the bruises on her arm. Shane had known this woman for three days, and twice in that time she’d been hurt by another man. And both as a consequence for things Shane had done.

A crack of thunder echoed from the heavens, making Crystal jump and gasp into his mouth.

“I’ve got you,” he rasped around a kiss.

Part of him wanted to say more, to tell her he had her and he’d keep her safe. But he couldn’t make himself give up her heat, her sweetness, her obvious hunger—for him.

So he made her a silent promise instead.

Never again, Crystal. He’ll never hurt you again. Not on my watch.

Because Shane McCallan had made a mistake like that once. And, as bad as his sister’s disappearance had been, something’s happening to Crystal would actually be worse because Shane knew it was coming. The one break he’d ever given himself over Molly was that he’d had no way to know she’d be abducted. Didn’t excuse the role he played in allowing it to happen, but he couldn’t have known. But with Crystal, while he might not know when or how this Bruno asshole would strike out to do the ultimate damage, it was all but a done deal at this point. Always was with guys like him. And Shane would go to the grave before he let it happen, before he failed another female for whom he cared.

Because he did care. Made no damn sense given how long he’d known her. And the timing was beyond piss-poor. But there it was all the same.

So that’s Shane and Crystal starting to give in to what they feel for one another – I hope you enjoyed! Did you have a favorite line? Thanks for reading!

~Laura

“Edgy, sexy, and full of suspense! A great read from a great new author!”

~J.R. Ward on Hard As It Gets

Read an Extended Excerpt of Book 1, Hard As It Gets

About Laura Kaye:

Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over a dozen books in contemporary and paranormal romance. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

Giveaway Time!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

February 25, 2014February 16, 2014

Spotlight feature of Hot Shots!! 3 Hot stories!

ISBN-13: 9780758288950

Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corporation

Publication date: 2/25/2014

Amazon | B&N | More buying options

Sexy as sin and hot as hell, these firefighters smolder with passion and burn with desire. . .

“Fired Up” by Anne Marsh

Hannah Green watches for wildfires from an isolated fire tower in Sequoia National Park by day and radios Cajun firefighter Cole Henry at night to share carnal fantasies hot enough to start a forest fire. . .

“Sizzle” by Lynn LaFleur

When photojournalist Maysen Halliday arrives in Lanville to take calendar pictures of the sexiest firefighters in Texas, red hot Fire Chief Clay Spencer makes her want him for her own personal centerfold…

“Five-Alarm Masquerade” by Stacey Kennedy

With her home destroyed in a fire, Abby has only the muscular arms of a rock hard firefighter to hold her up and the dream of blazing hot nights of pure erotic pleasure to keep her going. . .

This book contains adult content

EXCERPT from Fire-Alarm Masquerade by Stacey Kennedy:

On her tulip-lined pathway, Abby Hill stood, unable to move, barely able to breathe. She stared in horror as harsh smoke drifted through the air and fire licked out of the bedroom window of her Federal-style row house.

Firefighters passed by in a blur, portraying a sense of calm in the chaos. Though she’d heard things like possible electrical fire discussed among the men, the voices around her were distant. She wrapped her arms around herself, tears dampening her cheeks.

“Miss, you need to back up,” a low, smooth voice said.

“This can’t be happening,” Abby managed through her tight throat.

Firm hands gripped her arms and turned her to face warm green eyes with hints of brown around the irises. The firefighter, decked out in full work uniform with a 4 on his black hat, had dark soot on the right side of his squared jaw. His brows drew together with his frown. “Is this your house?”

Abby never thought of herself as a person who showed emotions to a stranger. Now, she could hide nothing. “Oh, God . . .” Hot sickness rolled through her and the world got dizzy, real fast.

His grip on her arms tightened. “I’m taking that as a yes.”

Before she could drop to the cement below, she found those firm hands belonged to strong arms as the fireman tugged her into his powerful body. He lowered her to the ground, settling her between his legs.

Abby pressed her head against his rough coat, which smelled richer with smoke than what lingered in the air. She held on tight to the coarse material, unable to let go.

Quick minutes passed, and soon the wooziness faded. All but sitting in his lap, she noticed the smoke wasn’t nearly as thick. When her spun around thoughts centered, that’s when she realized something didn’t make sense. “Why is my bedroom window broken?”

The firefighter’s thick thighs pressed against her, as did his arms. “We needed to break the window to evacuate the heat and smoke before we put out the fire.”

Somehow, being in his arms made facing what happened easier, or maybe the shock had worn off and she could process better. She noticed that no other windows were broken in her house. “Was the fire only in my bedroom?”

“Yes, you got lucky.” He shifted on his knees, yet didn’t move away. “The fire was contained to the master bedroom.”

She gulped. “Lucky?”

He hesitated, and all the pressure around her faded before he squeezed his arms. “I’m afraid you can’t enter your house until the chief gives you the all clear. Do you have someone you can stay with?”

She gripped his coat, resting her head against his arm, tears trailing over her hot face. Though she noticed the firefighters coming in and out of house, and heard the loud conversations going on around her, she didn’t care she sobbed in front of strangers. “It’s gone.”

He leaned away and his gentle eyes held hers. “Abby Hill? Is that what I heard the police say?” She nodded and he waited for the car with the loud muffler to pass before he added, “What you have is a partial loss, Abby. Yes, your bedroom is gone. The rest of your upstairs might have smoke and water damage, but your insurance will cover it.”

She understood why he looked to her as if she was overreacting. In the scheme of things, this didn’t seem all that bad. “I don’t care about the rest of the house.” Her voice cracked. “The photos of my family were in my bedroom.” Ten years ago, a car accident had stolen away her parents, younger brother, and older sister. “It’s all I had of them. There’s nothing left.”

He rubbed her back, giving an understanding nod. “I’m sorry.”

Somehow, his response was better than, “At least you weren’t hurt, or it could’ve been worse.” Though there were positives in her current hell, it didn’t change the fact that every picture she had of her family was likely destroyed. Nothing else remained that proved they’d ever existed, except for their gravestones.

A moment passed as his eyes searched hers. “You have no other family that would have some photos?” “Both my parents didn’t have siblings. There are a few friends of the family . . .” Her chest ached. “Possibly they have some, but it’s not . . .”

“Not the special pictures of you and your family,” he offered.

Her chin quivered. “Exactly.”

His lips pinched with his regard of her. The firefighter excelled at serving the public, she actually believed he felt bad for her. While she knew she should let him go, being a complete stranger and all, she couldn’t find it in herself to tear herself away.

Staring into his piercing eyes, she had the oddest sense that he didn’t want her to either. Something so sweet and pure passed in the air between them. A sensation of understanding that at this moment she needed more than anything. And how did that make any sense?

Why was being in a stranger’s arms providing her with such warmth and familiarity, and more than anything making her feel this safe?

“Where is she?” a familiar feminine voice snapped. “And if you dare tell me again that I can’t see Abby, I’ll remove your manly bits, you giant ass!”

Abby glanced over her shoulder, catching sight of Sierra, dressed in her typical black skirt and red blouse. Abby didn’t know how Sierra found out about the fire, but she didn’t care; she needed her best friend.

Sierra’s blue eyes were narrowed and her bright red lipstick covered her frown as she gave the firefighter a glare promising a painful death. After a good stare down, the man gestured in Abby’s direction, then Sierra rushed forward. She yanked Abby into her arms. “Jesus, sweetie. Can you believe they wouldn’t let me through to see you?”

“It’s all gone.” Abby rested her head against Sierra’s shoulder, hugging her tight. “They’re gone.”

Sierra paused, then heaved a sigh. “Shit, this is awful. I’m so sorry, Abby.”

Of course, Sierra understood the depth of Abby’s despair. Sierra had been there the night they worked on their high-school assignment together. That fateful night Abby didn’t go for her brother’s special dinner to celebrate his touchdown at the football game, and the night where the car carrying her entire family collided with the transport truck.

Leaning away from Sierra, Abby looked into her best friend’s teary eyes. “That’s all I had of them.”

Sierra gathered Abby’s hands. “You don’t have any pictures in your attic or storage?”

Abby shook her head. “I kept everything in my bedroom in a memory box. I wanted to scan them all, keep them safe, but—”

“Don’t do that to yourself,” Sierra interjected with a soft voice. “You’re not to blame for this. It’s a horrible accident.”

Abby remembered hearing something similar from her therapist. Not that she thought she could’ve prevented the car accident that killed her family, but her guilt for not being with them that night had stayed with her for a long time.

With her therapist’s voice in her head reminding her she couldn’t stay in the past and mourn things she couldn’t change, she pushed off the cement pathway. She glanced around, seeing that the entire neighborhood was watching from the other side of the street, and she didn’t want to process the loss of photos under the scrutiny of onlookers.

Sierra must’ve read Abby’s thoughts, since she reached up and fixed Abby’s hair. There wasn’t a day that Sierra had let Abby walk out the door with a strand of hair out of place. She ran her fingers under Abby’s eyes, clearing away her mascara. “Let’s get out of here.” She gave a small smile, wiggling her eyebrows. “Unless you’d rather stay in the arms of that sexy firefighter.”

Abby blinked. “Who’s sexy?”

Sierra snorted. “Seriously?” She grasped Abby’s shoulders. “When I found you, you were in the arms of that.”

Abby spun to face the house and she discovered a man whom she suspected was the fire marshal, dressed in a blue uniform. “Am I missing something, or are you suddenly digging older guys?”

“Older guys?” Sierra stepped in next to Abby, then she frowned. “Ew, not that guy.” She gestured to the garden off to the right. “That guy.”

Abby followed Sierra’s direction and her mouth dropped open. Though the firefighter’s attire made the man look bulky, she wondered how much of that was the gear, or if his thickness was due to a muscular body.

Standing near her front window, he chatted to another firefighter, who was slightly shorter than him. The height difference made the taller firefighter look masculine. He’d clearly noticed them ogling, since he caught her gaze.

Under his direct stare, funny things happened low in her belly. Odd, strange happenings, considering seconds ago, a soul-crippling despair had overwhelmed her. The fireman’s features portrayed more than confidence, more than strength, but she thought that came from the sexy, arrogant twinkle in his eye.

The firefighter broke the connection, and Abby exhaled. He turned to the other man and exchanged words. Then hotness packaged in firefighter gear approached. Similar to when she watched her bedroom burn, she froze.

She knew, with total certainty, her reaction was absurd. Her bedroom was destroyed, along with precious pictures, but her body flared with a heat so addictive and intoxicating.

Over Abby’s shoulder, Sierra whistled. “Holy hell—all he needs is the fire burning behind him and we’d have one of those perfect calendar shots.”

“No kidding,” Abby agreed.

On his way down the pathway, Abby scanned over his black boots, to the thick pants she knew had suspenders, and images of a shirtless man filled her mind. She swallowed, forced herself to stop thinking in the gutter, and focused on appropriate places, like his face.

That didn’t help much—he had a chiseled face with masculine features, all making him way too noticeable. Lifting her gaze, she looked past his kissable lips that held a slight arch in the corners, and when his piercing eyes captured hers, she finally released the breath she’d be holding.

Whoa . . .

He was drop-dead gorgeous.

Once the firefighter reached her, he smiled. “You look like you’re feeling better.”

Abby blinked.

Sierra elbowed her in the side. “She’s much better, thank you.”

“Glad to hear it.” His voice wasn’t too deep, but low enough to sound smooth. “Do you have somewhere to stay, Abby?”

Her mind stuttered under how he said her name. As if he wasn’t stating a name, but the one word held powers making her feel like he noticed her, too. A hot shiver slid right down to her toes. “Um . . .”

“She can stay with me,” Sierra interjected with a laugh. “Unless you’re offering—”

Abby jabbed Sierra hard in the side and Sierra cursed.

The firefighter chuckled, focusing on Abby. “Please give the chief the address and telephone number where you’ll be staying so he can get in touch with you. You’ll also want to contact your insurance company right away.”

She parted her lips to respond, yet closed them a second later.

Eyes squinting, lit with a twinkle of mischief, he said, “All right, Abby, you’re good to go.” His eyebrows creased. “Again, I’m sorry about your home.” He hesitated. “And your pictures.”

He turned, walking down her pathway.

Abby stared after him, her mind snapping into focus. On a gasp, she hurried to reach him. Just as he neared her front door, she grasped his bicep, giving his coat a tug. “Wait!”

Glancing over his shoulder, he looked at her hand before his gaze lifted. She nearly melted into a puddle of goo right there on her front porch. “Thank you for holding me like that. I know it’s not in the job description.”

He tipped his hat, giving a soft smile. “Maybe it should be.”

*****

About the Authors

A professional technical writer, Anne discovered that getting laid off was actually A Very Good Thing. While looking for her next writing gig, she picked up her pen (well, okay, she used her writing as an excuse to buy a new Apple laptop) and started writing. She soon discovered that writing was uncomfortably similar to sit-ups: add a few more crunches each day, wake up sore, but, by God, you will fit into that bikini. Or finish the book (she’s still working on the bikini). Now she cranks out software manuals during the daylight hours– and writes about alpha shapeshifters the rest of the time.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

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Lynn LaFleur was born and raised in a small town in Texas close to the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Writing has been in her blood since she was eight years old and wrote her first story for an English assignment.

As well as writing at every possible moment, Lynn enjoys reading, scrapbooking, photography, and learning new things on the computer. She’s a software junky and loves to try out new programs, especially anything to do with graphics.

After living on the West Coast for 21 years, Lynn now lives 17 miles from her hometown in Texas. She’s a romantic at heart and can’t imagine ever writing anything but romances. A full-time writer, she spends her days creating stories of people who find their happily-ever-after, sometimes with the help of an alien or psychic or vampire.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

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Website | Facebook | Twitter

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February 24, 2014February 23, 2014

Blog Tour & Review: The Sinister Sitcom Caper by Sally Carpenter

Sandy Fairfax, former teen idol and star of the ‘70s hit TV show “Buddy Brave, Boy Sleuth,” is now a middle-aged recovering alcoholic who realizes that making a comeback can be murder. He’s the guest star on “Off-Kelter,” a corny family situation comedy, and the lowest rated TV show of the 1993 fall season. Before rehearsals barely begin one of the actors drops dead at Sandy’s feet. He investigates, enlisting the aid of two of his new cast mates: a dwarf and an animal actor. During his snooping, we meet Sandy’s ex, his parents and his teenage son, all with their own “situations” going on. During rehearsals Sandy also encounters a beautiful choreographer—could this be love? Will Sandy solve the murder before the Friday night taping of “Off-Kelter” or will the elusive killer cancel our hero before the final credits? This book was inspired by the author’s experience working as a tour guide/page at Paramount Pictures in Hollywood.

Amazon/Goodreads

About the Author:

Sally Carpenter is native Hoosier now living in Moorpark, Calif.

She has a master’s degree in theater from Indiana State University. While in school her plays “Star Collector” and “Common Ground” were finalists in the American College Theater Festival One-Act Playwrighting Competition. “Common Ground” also earned a college creative writing award and “Star Collector” was produced in New York City.

Carpenter also has a master’s degree in theology and a black belt in tae kwon do.

She’s worked as an actress, freelance writer, college writing instructor, theater critic, jail chaplain, and tour guide/page for a major movie studio. She’s now employed at a community newspaper.

Website/Facebook

Jennifer’s Review of The Sinister Sitcom Caper

Review (4 Stars): The thing that I liked about this book was its sense of humor. The story was very entertaining, light-hearted with a crazy cast of characters. Sandy Fairfax, 70’s sitcom teen hearthrob, is making his comeback by doing a guest appearance on the soon to be cancelled TV show, Off-Kelter. On the first day of rehearsal, he finds a misfit group of actors that all seem to be at each others throats instead of trying to learn their lines. In the middle of all this drama, an actress falls over dead and Sandy is the only witness to the crime. Now, he is involved in solving a murder while trying to reinvent his career.

This was a very quick read for me. I liked Sandy who had a great acting career when he was younger but lost it all and is now a recovering alcoholic. He had a lot of character flaws and that is what endeared him to me. He knew he made a bunch of mistakes in his life and now he was trying to make a comeback. This was an entertaining mystery with lots of humor that takes you inside the fascinating world of sitcom television. I liked The Sinister Sitcom Caper and I would love to read more about this character.