Jill Shalvis’ Animal Magnetism series gets a Makeover

Who doesn’t love a fabulous makeover? –Especially when it involves romance, adventure, hot guys and cute animals! Check out the brand new cover images for Jill Shalvis’ Animal Magnetism series…

Book one, ANIMAL MAGNETISM, which originally went on sale in February 2011, is back and better than ever with a brand new look. The reissue of book two, ANIMAL ATTRACTION, which originally went on sale October 2011, is not far behind with a new cover as well. Breathing new life into Jill’s charming contemporary romance series, these new covers demand another look at the fun stories they hold…

And don’t miss Jill’s newest Animal Magnetism release–book four, RUMOR HAS IT, coming out this November!

*****

Animal Magnetism

(Berkley Sensation Mass Market; $7.99; 978-0-425-26836-0; July 2, 2013)

Co-owner of the town’s only kennel, Lilah Young has lived in Sunshine, Idaho, all her life. Pilot-for-hire Brady Miller is just passing through. But he soon has Lilah abandoning her instincts and giving in to a primal desire. It’s Brady’s nature to resist being tied down, but there’s something about Lilah and her menagerie that keeps him coming back for more.

*****

ANIMAL ATTRACTION

(Animal Magnetism, book two)

(Berkley Sensation Mass Market; $7.99;978-0-425-26837-7; August 6, 2013)

Jade Bennett couldn’t be happier to escape her past for the quiet ranching town of Sunshine, Idaho. Plus, there’s nothing like working for veterinarian Dell Connelly. And though Dell has no intention of settling down, Jade’s strength and sass are enticements no red-blooded male can resist.

*****

RESCUE MY HEART

(Animal Magnetism, book three)

(Berkley Sensation Mass Market; $7.99; 978-0-425-25581-0; November 6, 2012)

After a tragic stint in the National Guards, Adam Connelly returns to Idaho and to Belle Haven, the animal shelter he owns with his brothers. Holly learned the hard way to never depend on a man for anything. Now, of all men, Adam is the last one she wants to see, and the only one she needs. Her father has gone missing in the Bitterroot Mountains and she could use someone with tracking skills to help find him.

*****

RUMOR HAS IT

(Animal Magnetism, book four)

(Berkley Sensation Mass Market; $7.99; 978-0-425-25582-7; November 5, 2013)

Coming: November 5, 2013

Special Ops soldier Griffin Reid doesn’t exactly have happy memories of growing up in Sunshine, Idaho. He’s only come back to recover from a war injury, and while he refuses to admit he’s in a weakened state, he finds comfort in the last person he’d expect.

Kate Evans teaches fourth grade science in Sunshine, the place she’s always called home. Dreaming of graduate school and a happily-ever-after, she’s desperate to break out of the monotony of Sunshine. Luckily, a certain sexy man has just come back into her life.

To Griffin, Kate as always been his little sister’s friend, but now he’s finding her to be so much more. As both attempt to forge their paths, they must decide if their passionate connection can turn into something lasting…

About the Author:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jill Shalvis has written over four dozen romance novels, including Rescue My Heart, Animal Attraction, Animal Magnetism, and Slow Heat. The RITA and three-time National Readers’ Choice winner makes her home near Lake Tahoe. Visit her website at www.jillshalvis.com for a complete book list and daily blog.

July 15, 2013July 12, 2013

Spotlight feature of The Last Execution by Jerrie Alexander

The Last Execution

by Jerrie Alexander

Release Date: June 7th, 2013

To survive, she must put the past behind her. To love, she must learn to trust.

Homicide detective Leigh McBride’s first assignment with the FBI brings her face-to-face with a past she’s tried hard to forget. And when her temporary partner, a cynical ex-marine, lights a fire in her she thought long-extinguished, her darkest secret is threatened.

Scarred both physically and emotionally, Special Agent J. T. Noble is a man of few words. He prefers to keep people at a distance—until he meets Leigh. He’s attracted to her strength and drawn in by her secrecy. But in their line of work, secrets can be deadly.

When the killer they are hunting aims his vigilante justice at Leigh’s past assailant, the fine line between right and wrong blurs. To heal the past—and find their future together—Leigh and J. T. must learn that only through trust and forgiveness can love grow.

Excerpt :

The six-year-old missile launched himself into the air, giving J.T. two choices. Catch the kid, or let him fall to the ground like a deflated football. J.T. grabbed him and held Ethan out in front, as he would a wet, smelly dog.

Leigh jogged down the sidewalk, sparks flashing from her eyes. She pulled her son out of J.T.’s grasp and plopped the kid down at her feet. She knelt and got right in his face. J.T. made a mental note to not piss her off.

“What have I told you about running out the door?”

Ethan’s head bowed. “Don’t even think about it.” He stared at the tops of his bare feet.

“Obviously, you didn’t listen.” She tugged the knot at the back of her head tighter before she looked up. “Sorry about the attack.”

“Kid’s a natural born high jumper.” J.T. stuffed his hands in his pockets. She’d wadded her hair in the old-lady-school-teacher-bun-thing she wore at work. Probably just as well. If she’d left all that blond silk loose and sexy, he might’ve thought this was a date or something, which it wasn’t. Him being here was entirely the fault of his own big mouth.

“Please.” She waved a hand toward the wide-open front door. “We were about to come and get you.”

“You knew I was here?”

“A black Corvette rumbling around in our neighborhood doesn’t go unnoticed.”

Dressed in blue jean shorts and a thin-strapped top exactly the same blue as her eyes, Leigh looked more like a model than a mom. J.T. was glad he’d worn a T-shirt and Wranglers.

His chest double-clutched and pulled a weird stutter step when a small hand gripped two of his fingers and two small feet shuffled hurriedly to keep up with him. Tonight was a mistake.

Giveaway

Win one of two copies of The Green-Eyed Doll by Jerrie Alexander

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author the Author: A student of creative writing in her youth, Jerrie set aside her passion when life presented her with a John Wayne husband, and two wonderful children. A career in logistics offered her the opportunity to travel to many beautiful locations in America, and she revisits them in her romantic suspense novels.

But the characters went with her, talked to her, and insisted she share their dark, sexy stories with others. She writes alpha males and kick-ass women who weave their way through death and fear to emerge stronger because of, and on occasion in spite of, their love for each other. She likes to torture people, make them suffer, and if they’re strong enough, they live happily ever after.

The author of THE GREEN-EYED DOLL, and THE LAST EXECUTION, Jerrie and her husband live in Texas. She loves sunshine, children’s laughter, sugar (human and granulated), and researching for her heroes and heroines.

Website Blog Twitter Facebook Goodreads Pinterest

July 12, 2013July 2, 2013

Interview with Heather Hiestand

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Heather Hiestand to the blog for the first time to talk about her newest release The Marquess of Cake.

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

I’m 43 and live in south Washington State with my husband and four-year-old son. Both of them keep me on my toes. Technically I’m a full-time writer, which means I mostly get to work when my son is at preschool. I first sold in 2004, a mystery short story, then sold my first novel in 2006. Marquess of Cake is my 9^th novel (I think). I’ve written many novellas and shorts too, under two names, Heather Hiestand and Anh Leod.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

It started early for me. I wrote my first story at the age of seven. I never stopped dreaming about being a writer, though I was in my mid-twenties before I buckled down and took my dream seriously. I took classes, researched by reading, and put in the hours to do the actual writing.

Can you share with us your typical writing day. Is there anything you have to have while writing?

If I can get organized before my son wakes up, I can carve out a couple of pages in the morning. He’s unpredictable, though. Then I have a couple precious hours to work in peace while he is at school. I read while he’s entertained at home, especially while he’s in the bathtub. He loves to splash around so I get some solid time then with my Kindle or a paper book for fun or research.

Most challenging or rewarding part of writing?

The most challenging part for me these days is the distraction I feel while waiting to hear if contracts are going to be offered. I’ve had a lot of that lately. I also have trouble powering through scenes if I don’t have enough handle on my setting. Otherwise, I’m not much of a procrastinator and I write fast, when I know what I’m doing. I love when my plot spreadsheet comes together and I know the basic shape of my story, subplots and all.

Can you please tell us about your latest book?

The Marquess of Cake is the first in the Redcakes series from Kensington. It is a “Victorian” historical romance, set in 1886 London.

Here’s the blurb:

Coffee. . .tea. . .or a pastry chef sweeter than any confection. . .

Scotch trifle fit for Queen Victoria, scones with clotted cream. . .Alys Redcake knows the way to a man’s heart. Yet she is unaware that with each morsel–and flash of ankle–she is seducing the handsome marquess frequenting her father’s tea shop. Unmarried at twenty-six, Alys’s first love is the family business. But thoughts of the gentleman’s touch are driving her to distraction. . .

With his weakness for sugar, the Marquess of Hatbrook can imagine no more desirable woman than one scented with cake and spice. Mistaking Alys for a mere waitress, he has no doubt she would make a most delicious mistress. And when he finds himself in need of an heir, he plans to make her his convenient bride. Yet as they satisfy their craving for one another, business and pleasure suddenly collide. Will Hatbrook’s passion for sweets–and for Alys–be his heart’s undoing?

How did you come with the idea for this story?

My son had lots of health issues as a baby, and we spent too much time in front of the TV. I became hooked on cooking shows, like the cake decorating ones on The Food Network. The 1880s time period I was working in for steampunk stories and the cake decorating bubbled together in my brain until The Marquess of Cake mixed into a novel, thanks to my idea about the people surrounding a tea shop in Victorian London.

Can you share with us your current work in progress?

I’m busy working on my Redcakes Victorian romance series for Kensington. Book 2, One Taste of Scandal, Judah’s story, is at the copyedit stage, and Book 2, His Wicked Smile, Gawain’s story, is with beta readers. I’m writing a novella, Redcakes 3.5, right now.

Who are some of your favorite authors?

I’ve been reading romance since the mid 1990s, so I’ve read a lot of stories. Some of my favorite historical authors, regardless of genre, are Delle Jacobs, Sherry Thomas, Connie Willis, Elizabeth Peters, Rhys Bowen, Karen Ranney, Carla Kelly, Sabrina Jeffries, Mary Jo Putney and Courtney Milan, to name just a few of my current auto-buys.

Do you feel that any of your favorite authors have inspired your writing style?

I can think of a few. Connie Willis for her questing characters, always trying to figure out where they are and how they are going to fit in. Nora Roberts. Her love of detail about careers and businesses has made me less worried about reader acceptance on these topics. Recently, I have to thank Sherry Thomas, Courtney Milan and Julie Ann Long for expanding the nineteenth century-set historical romance novel due to fresh ideas about plots and characters.

Open your book to a random page and please reads us a few lines.

Michael leapt up, his thigh slamming the edge of his table as he caught her by the apron, then found purchase for his hands around her hips. The tin tray clattered to the floor as he pulled her curvy hips flush against his legs. Her body pressed against him. He scented that delectable perfume of hers. Eau de Redcake’s.

The ladies at the table shrieked and another employee ran toward them, a cloth in her hand. Michael glanced down and saw the cakie’s large brown eyes staring into his, confusion evident.

He blinked at the girl. “How beautiful you look today.” He peered at the black embroidery on her apron. “Alys.”

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

I’m a sucker for Anne Boleyn books, and I just bought The Boleyn King by Laura Andersen. That’s one I can’t wait to read though I don’t know much about it. I’m writing this on May 14^th, the day it was released. Also released today was His Majesty’s Hope by Susan Elia MacNeal. I preordered that one months ago!

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I’ve had so much fun creating my Redcakes world. I love how strong my female characters are, and how unconventional my male characters are, within the framework of the historical romances I love so dearly.

To read about Marquess of Cake go to http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/book.aspx/22722 You can purchase there or find all the links to your favorite etailer.

To learn more about Heather Hiestand and the stories she creates go to: http://www.heatherhiestand.com or http://blog.heatherhiestand.com or http://www.twitter.com/hahiestand

Heather is on a blog tour during the month of July. Check her blog to find out where she is. Many of the blog spots have prizes!

July 9, 2013July 2, 2013

Guest blog & giveaway with Shona Husk

The Truth About Fairies

Fairies are real, but because they don’t live in our world, they live in Annwyn, we don’t see them very often. And when we do see them we can convince ourselves that it was just a person and the magic was track of the light. However, since they are real and can be dangerous here are a few essential things to keep in mind should you find yourself face to face with most beautiful person you’ve ever met.

Check their eyes. Fairies have pale eyes, ice pale and they come in all different colors including odd ones like orange and pink, as well as the greens and blues. Even changelings have pale eyes.
Changelings are mortal, but they are fairy. They have a tendency to love deals and gambling and they always have some psychic ability like psychometry or seeing the future.
Never make a deal with a fairy. It might seem like a really good idea at the time, but it will unravel and you will be left worse off.
Never accept a gift from a fairy. First, that gift will not remain shiny and beautiful. Things made in Annwyn change in our world. Gems will become coal, fine clothes will become course. Second, accepting a gift puts you in their debt. It’s never a good thing to owe a fairy.
Not all fairies live in Annwyn. Plenty live among us. Some by choice, some are exiled and some are banished.
Exiled fairies are the least dangerous. Exile is a social death. They are not allowed to return to Annwyn and lose all social standing but they are still connected to the power, however they don’t want to occur an extra penalty so they are on their best behavior. They often work as Brownies or other roles helping mortals.
Banished fairies are the most dangerous. Banishment is a slow wasting death cut off from the magic that once sustained them. They will do anything to get home, lying, cheating, stealing and generally making trouble. Sometimes they’ll make trouble for fun, after all if they are suffering so should everyone. They are the imps, boggarts and monsters in the closet. Children can often see them (and all fairies), so next time your child says there’s something under the bed they may not be lying.
Fairies need humans. Without a human partner they can’t have children. A child born in Annwyn is fairy, but a child born in our world is changeling.
Fairies are not immortal. But compared to our lifespan they may as well be. Can you imagine what it would be like to live for centuries? To live so long you lost track of time? To have so much time you can literally waste a year playing dice or creating elaborate schemes to bring down your enemy?
Because of their long lives and the way the Court of Annwyn works, they have different morals than us. They aren’t beautiful humans, or harmless beings. They are dangerous and deserve to be treated with caution and respect. That said they are capable of caring and falling in love—which they happen to consider very foolish and one of the most dangerous things a fairy can do.

THE OUTCAST PRINCE

by SHONA HUSK

JULY 2013

Amazon | B&N

Just One Taste Is All It Takes…

This is no ordinary mirror. Caspian caught a hint of color, a whirl of a waltz just past his reflection—a glimpse into the decadent Fairy Court of Annwyn. The home he could never have. It called to him, whispering temptation after temptation…if he could only reclaim his rightful heritage.

To Be Forever Lost…

Caspian has an even stronger reason to stay in the world of humans. He’s just met a woman who captivates him like no other. But loving him has proven to be dangerous. And he will do whatever it takes to protect Lydia from the vicious, seductive world of Court—even if doing so requires the ultimate sacrifice: his soul.

Praise for The Outcast Prince:

“Brilliantly unique, beautifully sensual, The Outcast Prince had me spellbound from the first page! Shona Husk’s engaging voice and vivid, creative world-building make every one of her books a must-read!” — Larissa Ione, New York Times bestselling author

“Innovative fantasy… An emotional and engaging tale.” —RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A civil designer by day and an author by night, Shona Husk lives in Western Australia at the edge of the Indian Ocean. Drawing on history, myth and imagination, she writes about heroes who are armed and dangerous but have a heart of gold—sometimes literally. Look for the next book in the Annwyn Series, Lord of the Hunt in January 2014. You can find out more information about Shona and her edgy romances at http://www.shonahusk.com/ or follow her on Twitter, @ShonaHusk.

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!!!!!

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July 8, 2013July 7, 2013

Guest Post with Daryl Wood Gerber & Giveaway

Daryl Wood Gerber is here today to talk about her new release, Final Sentence, and share one of her yummy recipes. I can’t wait to try this myself.

In all my culinary mysteries, I include recipes. I had no idea when I started writing mysteries that I would have to be a cook, too. Luckily, I was. I catered during college. I worked at restaurants. I even subbed for the chef at one restaurant. Now I offer up recipes every week on Mystery Lovers Kitchen with other author pals. All of us like to cook up crime.

In the Cookbook Nook Mysteries, I’ve included cookie recipes. Jenna, the protagonist in the series, loves her sweets. I’ll be sharing some of those recipes on Mystery Lovers Kitchen after the book’s release.

This Five-Cheese Mac and Cheese recipe is from the Cheese Shop Mysteries. It wasn’t included in the recipes at the back of the book, but a fan wrote me and begged for it. Sure, why not? Then a friend of hers posted the link (it’s on my website) and it went viral!

There is a tavern in town that Charlotte and her pals go to for girls’ night out. Tim, the fun-loving Irish owner, makes some of the best appetizers and sides. I don’t know about you, but there’s nothing quite as satisfying as a macaroni and cheese to me. [This can be made gluten-free and it’s amazing.]

Five-Cheese Mac and Cheese

Ingredients:

2 cups dried macaroni, cooked to tender (about 4-5 cups cooked) [You can use gluten-free macaroni]
3 cloves garlic chopped
8 tablespoons butter [a cube]
1 1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup white wine
3 Tbs. rice flour
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. paprika
2 cups grated cheese (equal parts Cheddars, Smoked Gouda, Parmessan, Monterey Jack, Havarti)

Directions:

Cook macaroni according to package directions. Drain and set aside. May be made a day ahead. Note: Do not forget to drain and set aside. You do not want the pasta to be “wet.”

In a large sauce pan, melt butter over medium heat. Add garlic and cook about 2 minutes. Add rice flour and stir. Cook 1 minute, let boil and thicken, stirring constantly.

Add milk and wine, stir and let boil to thicken.

Remove from heat and add cheeses and seasonings.

Pour sauce over drained macaroni.

Serve with a crisp salad.

QUESTION: Have you ever shared a recipe via twitter or the Internet or even via email with friends?

About the Author:

DARYL WOOD GERBER aka AVERY AAMES pens the Agatha Award-winning, nationally bestselling Cheese Shop Mystery series. As DARYL, she writes A Cookbook Nook Mystery series, featuring a culinary bookshop and café owner. Daryl’s short stories have been nominated for the Agatha, Anthony, and other awards. As an actress, Daryl has appeared in “Murder, She Wrote” and more. Visit Daryl & Avery at www.darylwoodgerber.com. Check out her recipes on her blog www.mysteryloverskitchen.com And friend her on Facebook

Jennifer’s Review of Final Sentence

TITLE: Final Sentence

SERIES #: A Cookbook Nook Mystery #1

CHARACTERS: Jenna Hart & Aunt Vera

AUTHOR: Daryl Wood Gerber

PUBLICATION DATE: 07/02/13

ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: In need of a change, Jenna Hart leaves the high-pressure world of advertising to help her aunt Vera open a culinary bookshop and cafe. Back with her family in Crystal Cove, California, Jenna seems to have all the right ingredients for a fresh start–until someone adds a dash of murder.

As a marketing expert, Jenna wants to make sure the grand opening of the Cookbook Nook draws a crowd, and no one is better at getting attention than her old college roommate, celebrity chef Desiree Devine. But when Desiree arrives in quiet Crystal Cove to do a cookbook signing, the diva stirs up more trouble than business…especially when she turns up dead.

Known for stealing husbands and burning bridges, Desiree left behind plenty of suspects–including Jenna. Though the celebrity’s life always appeared to be an open book, Jenna will have to read between the lines in order to clear her name, and catch a killer before another body is served cold.

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Jennifer NUMBER OF STARS: Four Stars

REVIEW: This is the first book in a new series and I believe that this series is off to a great start. Jenna Hart has returned home to Crystal Cove after the death of her husband to start a new life and help her Aunt Vera open a culinary bookstore and cafe. For the opening festivities, Jenna has asked her friend and famous chef, Desiree Devine, to hold a book-signing event to help bring in customers for their new store. Instead of a book-signing, Desiree ends up dead on the beach and Jenna is the prime suspect in her murder. Jenna is now out to clear her name before it is too late and the entire town believes she is responsible for the murder.

Daryl Wood Gerber creates a delightful cast of characters set in an inviting little coastal town that will charm anyone. I liked Jenna because she was trying to get back on her feet after the death of her husband and was hoping that returning home would help her start a new life. She was very smart and even though she wasn’t a great cook, she never let her short-comings get her down. I liked how her family and friends helped rally around her and it will be interesting to learn more about them in other books in the series. The mystery in Final Sentence will keep you guessing and I definitely enjoyed visiting Crystal Cove. I’m looking forward to reading more about Jenna and her adventures in the next installment of this delightful mystery series.

Giveaway

I have one copy of Daryl’s new release, Final Sentence, to give one lucky reader. Please leave a comment answering Daryl’s question or let us know your favorite recipe. A winner will be chosen on July 10th.

July 8, 2013July 2, 2013

Spotlight feature of A Gift of Fate by Layna Pimentel

A Gift From Fate

by Layna Pimentel

After colliding with a stunning vision in white, retired Staff Sergeant Brent Daniels offers to drive the beautiful stranger to a hotel for the night, but instead discovers he’s with one very lost creature. He’s bewitched by her sinful curves, her dark and mesmerizing eyes, and the pull at his soul with each minute passing. Nevertheless, he can’t shake the feeling she’s hiding something.

Melpomene, daughter of Zeus, finds her handsome rescuer resembles the man who has continuously haunted her dreams. Before long, she’s in his arms, wanting more. Knowing their days are numbered, desperation leads her to reach out for help by an unlikely ally.

Just how far will these two lovers go, and what will they sacrifice to be together?

EXCERPT

“My name is Melp—Mel Pomene.” She’d nearly given herself away. Zeus, her father, would have heard had she whispered her name. Her father. Heavens, he’d turn the mortal realm upside down if he suspected she was here. And right now, she desired nothing more than to stay a little longer. With any lucky, I’ll return before he notices.

“Well, Mel, it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Your last name is rather unusual. I assume you’re not from these parts?”

His question silenced any thoughts drifting through her mind at that moment. A new kind of tension rose within her. She couldn’t disclose her origins or who she was. Guilt settled in her stomach for leaving her sisters behind, but she wasn’t given a choice. The Fates dropped her here, only mentioning an experience for three days…provided Zeus didn’t find out. Only the Gods knew what he’d do if he found her cavorting around without a proper escort.

“Earth to Mel? Are you all right?”

“Yes, I am. I’m just thinking of home, which is Greece. I’ve come to the United States for an adventure, it would seem.”

He chuckled before she’d finished speaking.

“What is so amusing?”

“The mere mention of seeking adventure after getting lost is rather comical, nothing else, sweetheart.” He removed his right hand from the wheel and petted her knee. The warmth of his hand stirred an unfamiliar emotion within. This was the man from her dream. Those hands had touched parts of her body no mortal would have dared, and here she sat, wishing he’d do more than pat her.

WHERE TO BUY

www.secretcravingspublishing.com

www.amazon.com

www.allromanceebooks.com

www.barnesandnoble.com

www.bookstrand.com

WHAT AM I WORKING ON NEXT

I’m working on the second installment of my Pleasure Garden Follies series, and something super sexy, I hope to announce soon. Make sure to stop by my site for latest updates.

BIOGRAPHY

Born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, Layna discovered her love of reading at an early age. When she isn’t devouring salacious romance novels or writing, she enjoys losing herself in researching ancient history and mythology, weaponry, and hiking. She lives in Northern Ontario, with her husband and two daughters.

Layna is a member of the Romance Writers of America, and is a monthly contributor at 69 Shades of Smut. For updates on her upcoming releases, or to leave her a comment, you can find at:

www.laynapimentel.com | Twitter | Facebook | Google+

July 5, 2013July 4, 2013

Laced With Poison Interview with Meg London

Today I have the lovely Meg London here to discuss her new release, Laced With Poison, the second title in her Sweet Nothings Lingerie series. If you love mysteries, then you definitely need to pick up this great series.

1. Tell me about your new release Laced With Poison.
Laced with Poison is the second in my Sweet Nothings Lingerie Series writing as Meg London (I write the Gourmet De-Lite series under my own name, Peg Cochran.) Once again we follow the adventures of Emma Taylor, her aunt Arabella, their friend Sylvia Brodsky and, of course, Pierre Louis Auguste, Arabella’s French bulldog. Sweet Nothings is holding a trunk show at the home of socialite Deirdre Porter when one of the women takes ill and subsequently dies. Tests reveal she was killed by a poison flower used to decorate cupcakes served at the event. It’s a mystery where the past ends up affecting the present! I’ve always wanted to write a story like that.

2. Where did you come up with the idea for this series?
I can’t take the credit. The idea comes from my brilliant editor at Berkley Prime Crime. I was hired to write the series based on her concept. She had a big hand in plotting the first book in the series, but this one is all my own as are a lot of the characters.

3. Have you always loved mysteries?
Yes! Ever since I discovered Nancy Drew as a kid. I started plotting out my first mystery when I was seven years old. I even found the perfect place to bury a body.

4. Are any of your characters based on people that you know?

No. Although my mother is convinced she’s in every book I write!

5. What are you working on now?
I’m taking a bit of a break after writing six books in less than three years! I’m waiting for revisions for books #3 in the Gourmet series and the Lingerie series. I’m also waiting to find out if either series is going to be continued. Meanwhile, I have another proposal in the works, and I’m thinking about a short story to bridge the gap between Gourmet books #2 and #3.

6. What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Don’t give up! If you really, really want it, don’t quit! I had 400 rejections on three projects that I was circulating within a two year period (mostly agents) and then finally I go a break. But I had two other agents before this, and I’ve been really serious about getting published (as opposed to “dreaming” about it) for 15 years.

Thank you so much for being here on Books-n-Kisses. 🙂
Thank you for having me here today at Books-n-Kisses! I love hearing from readers so stop by my web site www.pegcochran.com and/or www.meglondon.com.

About the Author:

Peg grew up in a New Jersey suburb about 25 miles outside of New York City. After college, she moved to the city where she managed an art gallery owned by the son of the artist Henri Matisse. When her first daughter, Francesca, arrive, the new family moved back to the New Jersey suburbs where her second daughter, Annabelle, was born.

After her husband died, Peg remarried and her new husband took a job in Grand Rapids, Michigan where they now live (on exile from New Jersey, she likes to joke). Peg managed to segue from the art world to marketing and is now the manager of marketing communications for a company that provides services to seniors.

Her greatest love though as always been writing – particularly mysteries! She has two cozy mystery series from Berkley Prime Crime: The Gourmet De-Lite series set in Connecticut and featuring Gigi Fitzgerald, who provides gourmet diet meals to a select group of clients, and the Sweet Nothings Vintage Lingerie series, written as Meg London, set in Paris, Tennessee with Emma Taylor who finds murder and mayhem in this quiet country town.

As for pets – she has a schizophrenic cat (really!) named Frazzle and a Westhighland White Terrier, Reggie, who is desperately in need of losing a few pounds. But you know what they say: If your dog is overweight, it means YOU aren’t getting enough exercise!

When she’s not writing, Peg can usually be found cooking, which she loves. When asked to bring a dish to a potluck she invariably opts to bring dessert – partly because she loves making sweet dishes and partly because she and her husband always manage to be late so there’s no point in putting them in charge of appetizers.

Jennifer’s Review of Laced With Poison

TITLE: Laced With Poison

SERIES #: Sweet Nothings Lingerie #2

CHARACTERS: Emma Taylor, Arabella & Sylvia Brodsky

AUTHOR: Meg London

PUBLICATION DATE: 07/02/13

ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: You’re invited to the Sweet Nothings trunk show. See what the shop has to offer, taste some wonderful food, catch up with friends, and solve a murder….

Emma Taylor is happy to be drawing in customers at her aunt Arabella’s lingerie shop, Sweet Nothings, but replacing the store’s broken window is going to cost a small fortune. Hoping to hoist up their sagging profits, Arabella arranges to have a trunk show at the home of a local socialite who will invite all of her friends and take care of the catering. All Emma and Arabella have to do is show up and show off their wares. Seems simple enough….

A gorgeous spread is prepared for the event, including delicious cupcakes topped with edible flowers. But after one of the partygoers takes a bite and winds up dead, the guest list becomes a suspect list. Now Emma must separate facts from idle gossip before the killer gives the cops the slip.

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Jennifer NUMBER OF STARS: Five Stars

REVIEW: Laced With Poison is the second novel in the Sweet Nothings Lingerie series and this was a very enjoyable mystery for me. Things are starting to look up for Emma Taylor when Sweet Nothings is scheduled to present a trunk lingerie show at Deirdre Porter’s house, which could open up more opportunities for the store. During the festivities, a prominent guest, Jessica Scott, is killed after eating a delicious cupcake that was brought to help cater the event. Now, Emma must use her sleuthing skills to help clear her friend’s name or her cupcake business will be destroyed because of the accusations.

I’m happy to say that this book was a fast-paced mystery with a quirky cast of characters and the right amount of suspense that is bound to entertain any mystery lover. I really enjoyed learning more about Emma and her aunt Arabella, who each have love interests in this story. But my favorite character has to be the snarky yet lovable Sylvia Brodsky, who has more spunk than any other character that I have seen before. The mystery was intriguing and well-written and I had a difficult time figuring out the murderer until their identity was revealed at the very end. I think that this is a great series and I can’t wait to read the next one in the Sweet Nothings series.

July 3, 2013July 3, 2013

The Meet Me at the Cupcake Café Sugary Sweet Spotlight & Giveaway Tour

The Meet Me at the Cupcake Café Sugary Sweet Spotlight!

It is no wonder that the flirty and frothy food-themed novel, Meet Me at the Cupcake Café by Jenny Colgan is an international success: with relatable characters and scrumptious recipes at the start of each chapter, Meet Me at the Cupcake Café is pure delight to women’s fiction readers everywhere. This summer, Colgan is bringing her hilarious and heartfelt stories—with a dash of deliciousness—to the United States! To celebrate, Sourcebooks is giving away copies of this book ALL MONTH LONG!

Each day this month, look for opportunities to win a print copy of Meet Me at the Cupcake Café with bloggers all over the book blogging community. Additionally, there will be a few guest blogs and interviews with Jenny sprinkled throughout—a great way to get to know a new author!

Meet Me at the Cupcake Café

by Jenny Cogan

July 2013

Baking is in Issy Randall’s blood. Growing up above her grandfather’s bakery taught Issy that a delicious pastry could make any day better. So when she’s laid off from her desk job—by the man she thought was her boyfriend, no less—Issy knows now is the time to start her own little café.

Armed with her grandfather’s tried and true recipes, as well as her own new dishes, Issy’s new dream job should be a piece-of-cake, right? But managing a café, delivering products on time and trying to have a new love life aren’t exactly going as Issy planned. And when her ex comes back into the picture, perhaps with his own motives, Issy’s search for the perfect pastry and a groundbreaking idea to save her café are much more than she bargained for…

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jenny Colgan was a fussy eater as a child and didn’t even begin to learn to cook until she was 21, when her then boyfriend tried to teach her a few basics purely out of exasperation. While she is now able to make a variety of good, wholesome food for her family, she still can’t make scones. A former columnist for The Guardian, Jenny contributes regularly to national BBC radio and is the bestselling author of more than eleven novels, including The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris (coming out in the US in early 2014). She is married with three children and lives in London and France. For more information, please visit http://www.jennycolgan.com/ and follow her on Twitter, @JennyColgan.

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Follow along all month long for a chance to win a copy of this highly-anticipated and deliciously delightful new novel!

7/1 Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell

7/2 Celtic Lady’s Reviews

7/3 Books-N-Kisses

7/3 Chick Lit Central INTERVIEW

7/4 A Bookworm’s World

7/5 Delighted Reader

7/8 Beth Fish Reads

7/9 Booking Mama

7/9 The Bookish Dame INTERVIEW

7/10 The Book Binge

7/11 Simply Ali

7/12 Debbie’s Book Bag

7/15 The Bookish Babe

7/16 The Reading Café

7/17 Book Hounds

7/17 Cocktails and Books INTERVIEW

7/18 Peeking Between the Pages

7/18 Fresh Fiction GUEST BLOG

7/19 Jenny Loves to Read

7/19 Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers

7/22 Anna’s Book Blog

7/23 Ramblings from This Chick

7/24 Books and Quilts

7/24 A Bookish Affair

7/25 Broken TeePee

7/26 Thoughts in Progress

7/29 Books and Needlepoint

7/30 The Reading Reviewer

7/31 Reading Between the Wines

BONUS GIVEAWAYS IN AUGUST!!!

8/1 Book of Secrets

8/2 Luxury Reading

8/5 Radiant Light

8/6 Ruby’s Reads

8/7 Caffeinated Book Review

8/8 The Romance Dish

8/9 My Book Addiction and More

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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July 1, 2013July 1, 2013

Interview with Lindsey Piper

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Lindsey Piper to the blog for her 1st visit. We are talking about her cats, her new series and bucket list.

Lindsey, can you please share with us a little about yourself?

I love television from Say Yes to the Dress and Hannibal, I’m a huge fan of Indian food, I have three cats who are currently in a turf war, and I married an Englishman when I spent my junior year of college at the University of East Anglia.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

Of course! But I’ve also wanted to breed Siamese cats, be an EMT, draw comic books professionally, and become a rodeo barrel racer. All of them are rather far-fetched, but “author” stuck with me the longest.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

I need music. Need it. I feed off the energy and tone of a set of songs, and I have a playlist for every book I’ve written. When I’m writing, I hate to hear the click of keys, so Bose-style noise-canceling headphones are essential.

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

CAGED WARRIOR is the first of the “Dragon Kings” series, about a demon race on the brink of extinction. Some of these extraordinary individuals fight in Cage matches at the behest of human cartels in order to pay off debts or to earn the ultimate prize: conception. One particular cartel has developed a means of giving the Dragon Kings a fighting chance at perpetuating their bloodlines, but the price is steep. This debut tells the story of Leto, a warrior raised from birth in the Cages, who is forced to partner with an untrained woman fighting to rescue her abducted son. But change is on the horizon—a prophecy that says the Great Dragon, their deity, is preparing to return.

As a note, the series has a .$99 prequel novella called “SILENT WARRIOR.” The pair of lovers from that novella play a significant role in CAGED WARRIOR.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

I saw the movie Warrior with Tom Hardy and became fascinated with UFC-style cage fighting. That seemed the ultimate arena for macho guys to square off, and for women to take them by surprise. The inclusion of paranormal powers probably stems from my long-term love affair with the X-Men comic book series (long live Gambit!) and my children’s current fascination with all things dragon.

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

I’m currently in the middle of the series’ third installment, HUNTED WARRIOR, which features the head of the Five Clans and an a (hopefully) surprising partner. It’s due out from Pocket in summer of 2014. Whereas CAGED WARRIOR takes place almost entirely within the underground world of the Cages, its sequel BLOOD WARRIOR (due out July 30), travels from the Himalayas to the Highlands of Scotland, and HUNTED WARRIOR jaunts from Crete to the banks of the Thames in London—with all characters compelled by the prophecy “the chasm isn’t fixed.”

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

I’ve been very lucky that in my involvement within the romance genre, I’ve met a number of my romance favorites including Kresley Cole, CS Harris, Laura Kinsale, and Susan Wiggs. That leaves literary fiction, where I’d be flabbergasted to meet Ian McEwan, who wrote Atonement, which was adapted into a film starring Keira Knightley and James McAvoy.

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

You have a story worth telling. Tell it to yourself first. Leave all other considerations aside. Believe in yourself, but don’t become so arrogant or bitter that you start to think you have nothing else to learn. I’m still learning, after twenty-some published novels.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.

Walking the see-through walkway that juts out from the Grand Canyon, and visiting Sorrento, Italy (where I set a short story) and Salzburg, Austria (where I set my first novel). That’s about it, for now. I am at a point in my life where my “bucket list” is more like a “career ambitions list,” with the rest of it very content.

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

I’m currently reading the Game of Thrones massive-ology, which will take me another six years to finish. By then I’ll be so far behind on my favorite authors that I’ll have to have drinks with them at the RWA National conference and have them summarize for me!

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Thanks so much for inviting me to stop by! And if you enjoy CAGED WARRIOR, be on the lookout for BLOOD WARRIOR on July 30. Should you be attending RWA Nationals, I’ll be signing. Please stop by and say hi!

*****

SILENT WARRIOR

The Dragon Kings, Prequel Novella

Add to your Goodreads Shelf

A silent woman ashamed of her criminal background becomes a Cage warrior to seek redemption. An unrepentant fortune hunter will do anything to escape his mounting debts. Although rivals on the streets of Hong Kong, they find common ground when seeking their clan’s stolen idol, but for vastly different reasons. Neither one suspects that love will begin when he becomes the first man in five years to hear her speak.

*****

CAGED WARRIOR

The Dragon Kings, Book 1

Publication Date: June 25, 2013
Publisher: Pocket Star
Print ISBN: 978-1451695915
Available Now: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Books-a-Million | Powell’s

Ten years ago, Audrey MacLaren chose to marry her human lover, making her an exile from the Dragon Kings, an ancient race of demons once worshiped as earthly gods. Audrey and her husband managed to conceive, and their son is the first natural-born Dragon King in a generation–which makes him irresistible to the sadistic scientist whose mafia-funded technology allows demon procreation. In the year since her husband was murdered, Audrey and her little boy have endured hideous experiments.

Shackled with a collar and bound for life, Leto Garnis is a Cage warrior. Only through combat can Dragon Kings earn the privilege of conceiving children. Leto uses his superhuman speed and reflexes to secure the right for his two sisters to start families. After torture reveals Audrey’s astonishing pyrokenesis, she is sent to fight in the Cages. If she survives a year, she will be reunited with her son. Leto is charged with her training. Initially, he has no sympathy for her plight. But if natural conception is possible, what has he been fighting for? As enemies, sparring partners, lovers, and eventual allies, Leto and Audrey learn that in a violent underground world, love is the only prize worth winning.

*****

BLOOD WARRIOR

The Dragon Kings, Book 2

Publication Date: July 30, 2013
Publisher: Pocket Star
Print ISBN: 978-1451695922
Pre-Order: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Books-a-Million | Powell’s

Digital ISBN: 978-1451695953
Pre-Order: Amazon | Apple | B&N | Books-a-Million | Google

As a young man, sarcastic, violent Tallis Pendray believed the Dragon Kings’ survival depended on a prophecy delivered in dreams by a woman named “the Sun.” His role has been to complete inexplicable, even reprehensible tasks. First, by murdering a priest, he united his fragmented clan in their hatred of him. Dubbed “the Heretic,” Tallis fled his family’s Highland estate. Now disillusioned, he seeks revenge on the woman he holds responsible for two decades of exile.

Telepath Kavya Indranan is a charismatic, seductive cult leader born to a prominent family. However, she grew up terrorized by the ominous threat of her powerful, insane twin brother. On the run and hiding among the poor, she witnessed the destruction wrought by her clan’s centuries-old civil war. Maturity nurtures Kavya’s determination to end the cycle of bloodshed. Those who follow her call for peace have nicknamed her “the Sun.”

Bent on revenge, and without knowledge of Kavya’s noble intentions, Tallis kidnaps her on the eve of her groundbreaking announcement. The two watch in horror as her twin brutally smashes the tentative truce…and hunts the sister whose death would make him invincible.

Kavya is the Sun–revered, untouched, and bound by a lonely destiny that promises a deadly showdown against the last of her family. Tallis is the Heretic–despised and exiled because of actions that seem random, heartless, and contrary to the safety of the clans he protects. She’s not a goddess, and he’s not a natural born killer. A desperate trek from the Himalayan foothills to the Scottish Highlands reveals two secluded souls hidden by bloody reputations. Will their trust be strong enough to avert an all-out war that could destroy them, and their kind, forever?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lindsey Piper is the alter ego of an award-winning historical and contemporary romance author. Her hotly anticipated DRAGON KINGS series is her first foray into paranormal fiction. She lives and writes in Chicago.

You can find more info on Lindsey’s Website, Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads pages.

GIVEWAY DETAILS:

Lindsey is giving away the following prizes when the tour ends:

GRAND PRIZE: $25.00 Gift card to Amazon, an eBook of SILENT WARRIOR and a paperback of CAGED WARRIOR

2ND PLACE: 5 winners will each receive a paperback of CAGED WARRIOR and SWAG

3RD PLACE: 5 winners will receive an eBook of SILENT WARRIOR

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Lindsey Piper’s CAGED WARRIOR Blog Tour Schedule

June 24 – July 8

6/24 – Book Monster Reviews

http://www.bookmonsterreviews.com/

6/25 – Sassy Book Lovers

http://sassybooklovers.blogspot.com/

6/26 – Book Pages & Dripping Ink

http://bookpagesanddrippingink.blogspot.com/

6/26 – The Jeep Diva

http://thejeepdiva.com/

6/27 – Ramblings From This Chick

http://ramblingsfromthischick.blogspot.com/

6/28 – Close Encounters with the Night Kind

http://closeencounterswiththenightkind.blogspot.com/

6/29 -Mad Hatter Reads

http://madhatterreads.blogspot.com/

6/29 – Fandom Fanatic

http://fandomfanatic.blogspot.com/

6/30 – Crazy Four Books

http://crazyfourbooks.blogspot.com/

7/01 – Books-n-Kisses

http://www.books-n-kisses.com/

7/01 – Wicked Readings by Tawania

http://www.wickedreadingsbytawania.blogspot.com/

7/02 – Book Lovin’ Mamas

http://booklovinmamas.blogspot.com/

7/03 – Books, Books & More Books

http://booksbooksmorebooks.blogspot.com/

7/03 – Paranormal Romance Fans For Life

http://paranormalromancefanforlife.blogspot.com/

7/03 – You Gotta Read Reviews

http://yougottaread.com/

7/04 – Scorching Book Reviews

http://scorchingbookreviews.blogspot.com/

7/05 – My Secret Romance

http://www.mysecretromancebookreviews.com/

7/06 – Page Flipperz

http://pageflipperz.blogspot.com/

7/08 – Offbeat Vagabond

http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/

June 27, 2013June 19, 2013

Interview & Giveaway with Jayne Fresina

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome back Jayne Fresina to the blog.

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

JF: I’ve lived half my life in England and half in America. It’s great to have that experience, but I often feel as if I don’t really belong in either place anymore! I work for a large, international company and divide my day between them and my writing. I write every day – yes, as my sister recently said to me in a shocked voice “even weekends and holidays???”! I’m the mother of three Sussex spaniels and usually one of them is always sitting on the chair behind me, battling for space when I write. I’m shorter than I wish I was and I have no willpower when it comes to cake. Sewing machines scare me and I don’t like seafood.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

JF: Yes, but I’ve also wanted to be a lot of things over the years (including Prima Ballerina) and so far author is the only one that’s come to fruition! I think it is what I was meant to do.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

JF: I’m not sure I have any that are original to me. I hold conversations in the shower with my characters, but I have feeling other writers do that too. I can’t sit at my computer every morning until I’ve brushed my teeth. I might not have a spotless house, but I have clean teeth!

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

JF: Lady Mercy Danforthe Flirts with Scandal is book three in the series about the fictional village of Sydney Dovedale. It’s not necessary to have read the first two books, but Lady Mercy does make an appearance in book two as a very naughty ten year-old. People who have read that book will doubtless remember her! Book three takes place twelve years later and she’s trying to keep her life as structured and on schedule as she thinks it should be. She’s also busy managing the lives of other people – whether they want her to or not. When she arrives in Sydney Dovedale for the wedding of her best friend Molly Robbins, she discovers that Molly has got cold feet. Mercy tries to help bring about a resolution to the problem, but she already has some history with the groom, Rafe Hartley. A history that she’s kept secret for years. And he’s just waiting for the chance to accuse “Lady Bossy Drawers Danforthe” of ruining his life a second time. While Molly runs off to London to follow her dreams, Lady Mercy remains in Sydney Dovedale to repair the situation as best she can and put Mr. Rafe Hartley firmly in his place once and for all.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

JF: Well, the principal characters all met in book two when they were children. Rafe and Mercy instantly annoyed one another, as did Molly and Mercy’s brother, Carver. It seemed to me as if I had to write their stories next. I have actually had readers email me about Molly and Carver, asking when they get their story. That’s coming in book four, folks!

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

JF: I just started working on my second series for Sourcebooks Casablanca, which is set earlier in the Regency period and follows the romantic misadventures of five young ladies from the village book society.

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

JF: I would love to have met Jane Austen, of course! Too late. I’m sure Anne Rice would be a fascinating person to meet. I do love to meet authors so we can chat about the things other people – like family members – don’t really “get”.

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

JF: Write as much as you can, every day, and learn to self-edit. The first manuscript I wrote and started querying was over 500,000 words! I had no idea there was such a thing as a word count restriction. I really had to learn to say more with fewer words. And I had to be ruthless and stop my characters nattering away too much, even if they thought they were tremendously witty, smart and indispensible to the plot.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.

JF: I’d love to take a trip on the Orient Express!

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

JF: I don’t have a lot of time to read these days, but I’m looking forward to Grace Burrows’ next book, Ethan. I believe it’s out around the same time as mine, so I can take a little break to read! Also Connie Mason and Mia Marlowe’s One Night with a Rake.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

JF: I hope readers enjoy my characters and watching them fall in love. It took me a long time to get up the courage to share my work with strangers, so now that it’s happened I love to hear from people who’ve read something I wrote. It still amazes me to think that someone I’ve never met, in a faraway country, can pluck my book off a shelf, or a website, and read about characters from my tiny mind.

Please feel free to contact me through my website www.jaynefresina.com

I also have a blog http://jaynefresinaromanceauthor.blogspot.com

And I tweet occasionally. @jaynefresina.

LADY MERCY DANFORTHE FLIRTS WITH SCANDAL

by JAYNE FRESINA

IN STORES JUNE 2013

When a Perfectly Proper Lady…

Lady Mercy Danforthe always has a plan. It’s what makes her such a successful matchmaker, and why she’s obligated to spend a great deal of time generously organizing the lives of her friends and family. But there’s one man beyond her help. One man whose recklessness she can’t rein in; whose chaos she can’t contain. Her ex-husband, Rafe Hartley. Her one—and only!—mistake.

Flirts with a Reckless Rogue…

Rafe has never forgiven Mercy for running out on him. Their hastily annulled marriage may have one lasted three hours, but that doesn’t mean he needs her help finding a proper wife. Someone needs to teach little Miss Know-It-All a lesson about keeping her adorably freckled nose out of other people’s business. And it just so happens that Mercy “Silky Drawers” Danforthe still owes him a wedding night…

A Scandal’s Never Far Behind!

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June 26, 2013June 20, 2013

Guest blog & Giveaway with Kelly Jamieson

Blurb

Relationship, no…but threesome, hell yes!Ever since Jules’s new neighbor moved in, she’s been undressing him in her mind. Mike is the fresh inspiration she needs to make her erotic photography studio a success, if she can convince him and his equally buff roommate, Carlos, to strip for her lens. And maybe indulge in a little off-camera fun as well.But Jules isn’t too worried. She doesn’t do relationships, but she loves men and sex—and in her experience, most men are okay with that.

Judging from the raw emotions leaping from the images in Jules’s gallery, Mike senses there’s a lot going on beneath her flirtatious, slightly cynical exterior. He and Carlos are happy in their committed relationship, but they’ve always felt there’s a piece missing. They want a woman. Jules could be that woman.

A threesome with two committed men? Sounds like an emotionally risk-free dream come true for Jules. But when they make it clear they want more, her deepest fears push to the surface, straining bonds forged in incredible heat to the breaking point…

Warning: The book features two hot men brave enough to climb cliffs, strip naked for erotic photographs, have sex in a portrait studio and on a cliff, and who have the courage to teach a commitment-phobic woman how to love.

Explicit Excerpt:

“Okay, Jules?” Mike moved up behind her and his body heat radiated through her T-shirt. He set his hands on her waist and rubbed his face on her hair. She nodded.
Carlos stepped in front of her, now wearing only a snug pair of black boxer briefs, and started to unbutton her jeans. Mike slid her T-shirt up over her ribcage, nudging her arms, and she raised them so he could lift the T-shirt over her head. A delicious warmth filled her, her limbs going heavy, her eyes falling closed as their hands brushed over her body, removing her clothes. Mike’s chest pressed up against her back, hot and hard, his hands sliding around over her stomach, holding her, so carefully.
Carlos helped her step out of her jeans, then stood before her. He lifted her chin with one hand and kissed her mouth, and she sank into the dream, into sensation, heat and touch, whispered sighs and soft breaths, the taste of Carlos on her tongue, her lips. His lips were fuller than Mike’s, his kisses different but both so sexy.
Mike’s hand slid lower down her belly, resting just above her panties, right where she ached deep inside, his mouth finding the side of her neck and laying hot, open-mouthed kisses there.
“Too much,” she moaned, almost overwhelmed by their two big bodies, all heat and muscle, their hands, their mouths.
“Oh baby,” whispered Carlos. “You ain’t seen nothin’ yet.”
“I think that’s a song.”
He smiled. “It is. A great song.”
Mike snorted behind her. “Bachman Turner Overdrive? Seriously? That is not a seductive bedroom song.”
“Sure it is. I’d sing it for you, but…”
“Christ, no.”
Jules let her head fall back on Mike’s shoulder, amusement filtering through her once again.
“I’m a good singer,” Carlos continued, bending to kiss her throat, then drag his tongue down her chest.
“I’m sure you are,” she murmured. Her breasts tightened and sensation cascaded over her.
“No, he isn’t.” Mike nibbled her ear lobe. “He’s a terrible singer. That never stops him, though.”
“Sssh,” Carlos said, nuzzling the inner curve of one breast, making her breath catch in her throat. “This is not the time to discuss my vocal abilities.” Her nipples tingled in anticipation of his touch, and she lifted heavy arms to slide her fingers into his short hair. “This is about Jules.”
“Oh.” That was so nice. So, so nice.
Between the two of them, every nerve ending in her body buzzed, Mike’s fingers playing with the edge of her panties, Carlos rubbing his beard against the skin between her breasts. She let her fingers slide through the roughness of Carlos’s short hair. He nibbled at the upper curves of her breasts above the edge of her bra and she arched her back in response. Mike lifted a hand to cup her chin, pulling her head back even farther so he could kiss her mouth, deeply, hungrily. She moaned.
So much sensation, everywhere, surrounding her, consuming her with almost unbearable sweetness, pressure and need building low inside her. Her knees were weakening again.
Carlos reached around behind her to unfasten her bra, releasing her swelling breasts from the cups. She dropped her arms to let it slide off, still leaning back into Mike’s embrace, her nipples tightening even more at the air brushing over them. “Oh, Jules,” Carlos whispered, cupping her breasts, rubbing his thumbs over her nipples. “You’re so beautiful.”
She couldn’t respond, blood pulsing hotly though her veins, her head spinning from it all. His gentle touches on her nipples, brushing his palms across them, had pleasure rippling through her, nipples so tight and aching she couldn’t stand it. She drifted in an erotic haze of mindless sensation. Her entire body quivered and she made a needy little sound into Mike’s mouth.

Kelly Bio:

Kelly Jamieson is a best-selling author of over twenty-five romance novels and novellas. Her writing has been described as “emotionally complex”, “sweet and satisfying” and “blisteringly sexy”.

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