Category: Blog Tour

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Interview & Giveaway with Sara Walters Ellwood

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Sara Walter Ellwood to the blog today

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

Thank you so much for having me today! I was raised on a small farm in West Central Pennsylvania and now live about 25 miles north of Gettysburg. After deciding teaching high school social studies wasn’t for me, I went back to school and became a medical assistant. I’ve worked for a large hospital in Harrisburg and currently work for the US Army as a medical secretary. I’ve been writing forever. For years I wrote Star Wars fan fiction until 2008 when I decided to write my first published novel—A Hunter’s Angel. Heartstrings (then titled “The Long Road Home”) is my second written novel, but my fourth one published.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

If someone would have told the pre-teen me that I’d grow up and become a published author, I probably would’ve told you to stop smoking crack. The first book I read on my own was in eighth grade. Shortly after that, I couldn’t stop thinking about a story that was circling around in my head. I eventually wrote that story in eleventh grade for a journal-keeping assignment in English. That’s when I caught the bug and decided I wanted to become an author.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

I’m not really sure I have any. At least nothing interesting.

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

Heartstrings is a contemporary western romance. The hero is a superstar country singer and the heroine is half Native American.  Here’s the blurb:

He’s determined to set things right, no matter the cost.

The last person Abby Crawford wants to face down is country music superstar Seth Kendall. Last time she did, she flat-out lied so he’d go to Nashville without her. She’s never understood why their mutual best friend proposed, but she went with it so her baby wouldn’t be fatherless. Now she’s a divorced mother of a teenager, and secretly Seth’s biggest fan.

Seth is home in McAllister, Texas for his father’s funeral…and a chance to meet the daughter he’s never known. He’s willing to face the music of his own making and admit he’s known about his little girl all along. For fifteen years he’s kept his distance because Abby told him to follow his dreams without her, insisting she didn’t love him. But now he won’t leave until he knows his daughter and she knows him, even if it means facing the woman who broke his heart for good.

Confessing she’s lied about her daughter’s paternity all these years won’t be easy for Abby, especially with her ex blackmailing her to keep the secret. And Seth doesn’t know the hardest truth of all: Every love song he plays on his guitar still plucks her heartstrings.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

Well, this is a long and complicated answer. Let’s just say it has very convoluted beginnings. I got the original idea from a Star Wars fan fiction that I wrote about five years ago, which in turn got its inspiration from the Rascal Flatts song “God Blessed the Broken Road.”

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

Sure. I only have three of them. The first one is a contemporary western romantic suspense I’m hoping to finish by June 1st called Saving the Lonestar Princess, which is targeting Entangled’s new suspense line. I also am working on another country singer suspense, A Family for Jesse, which I may also pitch to Entangled, especially if they take Princess. The last book I’m hoping to finish this summer is Gambling On A Dream, book three of my Colton Gamblers series, which is with Lyrical Press.

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

Linda Lael Miller. I’d love to meet her because she’s been called the queen of the western romance genre and because I love her stories. The other author I’ve always wanted to meet and got the chance two years ago at the New Jersey Romance Writers “Put Your Heart in a Book” conference was Rachel Gibson. She and I have a lot in common such as we both hated to read when we were younger and were both in special education for learning disabilities.

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

Learn all that you can, not only about writing, but also about the business of publishing. Don’t think you can start networking after you get the contract. Start immediately by joining writer’s groups. As hard as it is, try to see a rejection from the editor’s POV, especially when your rejections go from form letters to helpful. If an editor tells you why they rejected the book, take that into consideration—particularly if you start getting more than one similar rejection. And finally the most important thing is to NEVER EVER GIVE UP!!

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.

I’d love to take a road trip through every state. Yeah, I’m one of those people who’d love to give up my house for a RV in my retirement years… But the problem would be convincing my homebody hubby….LOL

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

I have so many books on my TBR pile, I don’t even know how to answer this question. I’m really looking forward to JR Ward’s next Black Dagger Brotherhood novel, which comes out at the end of March. And the next book from Rachel Gibson, which I think comes out in May. But I can’t wait to read some of my friends’ books either.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Thank you for having me here!

 

Lyrical Press | Amazon |  B&N |  iTunes

He’s determined to set things right, no matter the cost.

The last person Abby Crawford wants to face down is country music superstar Seth Kendall. Last time she did, she flat-out lied so he’d go to Nashville without her. She’s never understood why their mutual best friend proposed, but she went with it so her baby wouldn’t be fatherless. Now she’s a divorced mother of a teenager, and secretly Seth’s biggest fan.

Seth is home in McAllister, Texas for his father’s funeral…and a chance to meet the daughter he’s never known. He’s willing to face the music of his own making and admit he’s known about his little girl all along. For fifteen years he’s kept his distance because Abby told him to follow his dreams without her, insisting she didn’t love him. But now he won’t leave until he knows his daughter and she knows him, even if it means facing the woman who broke his heart for good.

Confessing she’s lied about her daughter’s paternity all these years won’t be easy for Abby, especially with her ex blackmailing her to keep the secret. And Seth doesn’t know the hardest truth of all: Every love song he plays on his guitar still plucks her heartstrings.

CONTENT WARNING: Spicy sex.

Excerpt:

Seth leaned in. His lips were close enough to kiss, and his scent of sandalwood and something exotic enveloped her, taking her back to that night on the beach. His eyes flashed with the dangerous fire of his temper. It was similar to the flame of the passion she’d once seen in the green depths. Abby didn’t expect or want the heat curling in her belly, and shivered with a sudden and fierce desire.

“I’m her father, Abigail. I wanted to be her father after she was born. It was you and Mike who insisted I had no business messing things up.”

“I never said any such thing. You never tried. You just left.”

He pounded a fist on the counter top so hard she jumped. “Yes, I left! I wasn’t welcome at home. Dad ran me off with a shotgun. Mike wouldn’t even let me see my daughter. He made it quite clear you and he were happily married, and I had no place in your life. I was under contract to be in Nashville to start recording my first album.”

What did he mean, Mike wouldn’t let him see Emily?

Before she had a chance to voice her question, his eyes darkened as the pupils dilated, obscuring the stormy green. “But I’m no longer nineteen and scared shitless. I could make things very rough for you and this fantasy you’ve got working.”

A cold lump quickly replaced the tangle of heat in her belly. “What-what do you mean?”

He backed off and tapped the countertop. “I’m talking a custody battle. I could have a judge order a paternity test. I think we both know the media hoopla the results would cause.”

Her heart slammed into her chest wall. “You wouldn’t do that.”

“Try me. Now that I’ve met Emily, I want to get to know her.” He walked over to look out the kitchen window. The hard line of his jaw melted, and he swallowed so hard his throat moved up and down. “I was a fool when I let Mike talk me out of being in her life after she was born.”

“What do you mean?”

He glanced at her. “Don’t pretend you don’t know.”

The strings of guitar music provided a soft counterpoint to the hard tension in the kitchen. Emily was outside on the patio playing around with her guitar, waiting for them to finish with the dishes she and Seth had insisted on doing.

“All I want is to have some time with my daughter. That’s all I’m asking for.” When he looked over his shoulder at her, sadness replaced the anger in his eyes. “I’ll keep your little secret. I’ll just be her favorite singer. The family friend who made it big in Nashville. I don’t want to hurt her. As much as it galls the hell out of me, I see what Mike means to her.”

He moved toward her and shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “Besides, I don’t want to hurt Carolann or Frank any more than you do.” He glanced outside again, his voice husky as he spoke. “But I’ll sue you if I have to.”

A part of her wanted to give in to him, but a larger part wanted to punish him. Let him take her to court; she’d make sure the world knew what kind of jerk Seth Kendall really was.

She gritted her teeth and fisted her hands by her sides. “I’ll let you have tonight, Seth. But don’t ask for more.”

She turned away and strode through the French doors.

 

Bio:

Sara Walter Ellwood is an award winning author whose novel Gambling On A Secret was named by bestselling author Carolyn Brown in the Happy Ever After Blog on USA Today as one of her favorite romances of 2012. Although Sara has long ago left the farm for the glamour of the big town, she draws on her experiences growing up on a small hobby farm in West Central Pennsylvania to write her stories. She’s been married to her college sweetheart for nearly 20 years, and they have two teenagers and one very spoiled rescue cat named Penny. She longs to visit the places she writes about and jokes she’s a cowgirl at heart stuck in Pennsylvania suburbia.

She also writes paranormal romantic suspense under the pen name of Cera duBois.

Author Links:

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter |  Goodreads

 

 

Giveaway:

***Please leave your email address to be eligible***

~~Sara is giving away two ebook copies of Heartstrings at the end of each week of the tour, so make sure you leave your email address.

~Tour Grand Prize is a swag pack full of goodies! A signed copy of Carolyn Brown’s Just a Cowboy and His Baby, an ebook copy of my last release Gambling On A Secret, a notebook, a pen, custom jewelry set, $5 Starbuck’s gift card—all tucked into a keepsake box.

(Sorry, only US residents are eligible. Comparable International Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card.)

*Swag pack(gift card) is for the entire two-month tour. Winner will be announced on June 1, 2013

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Interview & Giveaway with Stephanie Rowe

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Stephanie Rowe back to the blog today to chat about her newest release.

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

On the writing side, I’m a lifelong reader who, as a child, won a blue ribbon at my town library for reading the most books over the summer. My love for books never faded, and I started telling stories to kids while I worked at day camp during college. Eventually that turned into writing the stories down, and everything evolved from there. I love to write, I love to read, and I love the magic that can happen when an author lets her passion and imagination run free. When I’m not writing, I’m a mom, I play tennis with my pals, and I am working hard training my new rescue dog, who is just the sweetest boy ever.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

I was always a reader and a storyteller, but it didn’t occur to be to be an author until I was in my thirties. I had been working at Nike for a while, and although I loved my job, it wasn’t what I wanted to do with my life. I had been investigating assorted career opportunities for a while, and then I received an alumni magazine in the mail from my college. The cover article was about two graduates who had written a thriller that had been optioned into a movie. As I read that article, I suddenly knew that was what I wanted to do. I didn’t have a computer at home, so I would go into work at four in the morning and write until the day began, and then stay late to write, and come in on weekends. Everyone thought I was being a rockstar employee, but little did they know… After I finished my first book, I was hooked and I bought a computer for myself. 18 books later, I sold my first book!

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

There is no typical writing day, but one of the “more” typical ones involves dropping my daughter off at school, going for a walk/training session (the training never ends when you adopt a young-adult rescue dog) with my dog, and then parking myself at the computer either until pick up, or until workout time, or until the dog demands an outing. I like to get my word count done first, and then do other things like email, FB, taxes etc afterwards. I often work at night, but usually it’s not actual writing, because my brain is just too tired.

Most challenging or rewarding part of writing?

The best feeling is when a book gets published and you feel the triumph of all that agony and hard work come to life. With the advent of self-publishing, when you can track your sales minute-to-minute, I love seeing that very first sale on a new book. It’s really an amazing feeling! It’s also really good when I’m editing or writing a book and I get so caught up in the story that I literally lose track of real life and I become completely immersed in that imaginary world. I always set my alarm for when I have to leave to pick up my daughter, because if a book is going well, I will have no idea what time it is. Other days are arduous torture to get the words written, but I am learning not to get as stressed out and panicked by those days.

Can you please tell us about your latest book?

Darkness Arisen (Order of the Blade, Book Six) is the story of Ian Fitzgerald, a warrior we met in the first book. His story was introduced in more depth in his novella, FOREVER IN DARKNESS, and we finally get his full story in DARKNESS ARISEN.  It’s sexy, passionate, dangerous and wickedly intense. Readers will meet new characters and explore an entirely new world from what they’ve seen in previous Order of the Blade books, but will still get plenty of their hot, tormented warriors. Here is the official blurb for the book:

Darkness Hunts Him.

Calydon warrior Ian Fitzgerald refuses to die. Cursed by black magic, he has stayed alive through sheer force of will and unyielding commitment to a mission he is sworn to complete. There is only one thing that can defeat him…and she has just found him.

Desire Torments Her.
Ravaged by her own passions, tarnished angel Alice Shaw is fighting desperately for salvation before all she cares about is lost forever. Her sensual allure, and the forbidden power buried inside her, are outshone only by the burning need she awakens in Ian.

Fierce Passion Ignites.
Raging desire explodes between Ian and Alice, pushing them to the brink of destruction. They cannot afford to succumb, but the cord that binds them will never let them go…not until their most dreaded nightmares come true. Together, they are destined to fail. Together, they will fight to survive the impossible.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

From earlier books, I knew that Ian had really suffered when his soulmate had died, so I decided that the worst possible thing for him to face would be a soulmate who would die repeatedly on him, forcing him to face his worst nightmare until he figured out how to handle it. The angel of life seemed to be the perfect foil for him: a woman who could come back to life after being killed, so she could keep sending them both through that same hell until they found a way to break the cycle. Sometimes, the only way to heal is to face your nightmares until you defeat them.

Can you share with us your current work in progress?

Now that Darkness Arisen is finished, I will be starting on three projects (as soon as I finish my taxes!):

PRINCE CHARMING CAN WAIT, which is the next EVER AFTER book,

GUARDIAN OF THE HIDDEN, which is the launch book for my new dark paranormal series, THE RUINED LORDS, and

DARKNESS UNLEASED, which is Ryland’s book, the seventh in the Order of the Blade series.

I am currently brainstorming all three of them, and whichever one comes together first will be the next one that I start writing. All three of them will be coming out in 2013.  Also, in a very strange turn of events, I was just taking a nap (completely exhausted from the push of getting Darkness Arisen to market!) and I had a dream that my daughter and I found a DVD on the grass. We started to watch it (no DVD player, just watching it in our hands) and it was this most intense, incredible movie. It played out scene by scene and I was so into it, and then it ended right in the middle. We were both like, “WHAT?” and then, in my dream, I realized that the movie hadn’t been written yet, and that I was supposed to write that story. It was so incredible vivid that, after I finish this interview, I am going to go write down what happened, and I think I might take a couple days and write up the part of the movie that played out in my dream. Totally bizarre, but I think I’m going to go with it…

Who are some of your favorite authors?

Marie Force, because she is absolutely brilliant with what she has done with her career, and I would love to pick her brain.

J.K. Rowling, because she is the quintessential example of someone who hit rock bottom and emerged into brilliance.

J.R. Martinez, because he is so inspiring.

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

There are a few authors who have really affected my writing style. A long time ago, when I was still unpublished, I was readying a Harlequin Flipside (remember those books?) by Cathy Linz. I was reading the most entertaining bit of dialogue between two parties, and all of a sudden, I realized what she was doing to make that story so compelling. I almost fell off my chair with excitement  because that was the moment I finally understood the concept of “voice.” That changed my writing forever, and was the first step to getting published. The other author who affected me was Lisa Kleypas. I was going through a really difficult personal time in my life when I picked up Mine ‘Til Midnight. It was such a beautiful romance that touched me deeply, and it was what helped me realize the importance of emotional depth and truth in a story. Prior to that, I had spent a lot of time on plot and character when writing, but I had not opened myself emotionally to the experiences of the characters. Once I started doing that, my writing finally started to come alive. Now, when I write an emotional scene, I will often be crying so hard that I can barely see the screen, because I am literally living every emotion my characters feel. That has been a real area of growth for me.

Open your book to a random page and tell us what’s happening.

I just opened Darkness Arisen, and the heroine and hero on an algae-covered dingy being towed by dolphins across the open ocean. They are on their way to a battle which could kill them both, and they’re trying to figure out how to increase the odds of their survival.

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

I have Marie Force’s newest book, Waiting for Love, on my kindle. I’m psyched for J.R. Ward’s new book, Lover at Last, and I saw a new Lisa Kleypas in the grocery store which I MUST get my hands on. But first, I have to finish my taxes and write up the dream I had earlier. Oh, and Wait for Me by Elisabeth Naughton, which caught on fire recently with sales, and I’m dying to read and see what magic she has woven.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Thank you so much for having me! This was a great interview! I do have a question for readers: have you ever had a dream that impacted you in some way? If so, what happened?

My website is www.stephanierowe.com; my Twitter handle is @stephanierowe2, and my Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/StephanieRoweAuthor

 

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

Stephanie is giving away winners choice of an eBook from either the ORDER OF THE BLADE, EVER AFTER or ALASKA HEAT series.

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Book Blitz: Violet Dawn by Lynn Rush

Violet Dawn (Violet Night #2)

Author: Lynn Rush

Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Crescent Moon Press

Release Date: April 1st, 2013

Amazon | Goodreads |  Website 

In the darkest place, the Light shines brightest.

Emma’s love saved Jake from life as a vampire. But their happily ever after is threatened by a savage Vamp seeking retribution for destroying the Avenos Trinity of Evil.

A mysterious stranger enters the mix, coinciding with the first Vamp attack in months. Emma’s new friendship, and the suspicion and deceit surrounding it, further drives a wedge between her and Jake.

To complicate things, Emma is bitten by a Vamp with abilities no one has ever seen before, and that bite has left its mark.

A mark that might tear Jake and Emma apart forever…

 

Rafflecopter Giveaway

(Kindle is the prize) Giveaway ends at Midnight (EST) April 23rd, 2013.

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Author Bio.

Driven to write, Lynn Rush often sees her characters by closing her eyes watching their story unfold in her mind. Lynn Rush is a pen name that is a combination of two sources – Lynn, the first name of her mother-in-law, who passed away and Rush – since the author is a former inline speed skater and mountain biker. All of Rush’s books are dedicated to Lynn, her namesake, and a portion of the proceeds benefits cancer research and awareness.

Author Amazon Page | Facebook | Twitter |  Pinterest 

What others are already saying about Violet Dawn:

“Violet Dawn is powerful, enthralling, and refreshingly complex.” ~Carrie Butler, author of Strength



“I’ve fallen head over boots for Emma and Jake as a couple—and as an elite vampire-hunting team…” ~Kristie Cook, author of the best-selling Soul Savers Series

“Fast-paced, action-packed, Violet Dawn is basically everything you’d want from a vampire hunter novel and then some. Emma has kick-ass written all over her.” ~Kate Evangelista, author of Taste

Violet Dawn Book trailer: http://youtu.be/MZE8Yyv2ZGM

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Guest Blogger Gabrielle Bisset

Thanks so much for having me here today at Books-n-Kisses! This is my first time here, so it’s always exciting to find a new place to visit.

I’m touring blogs all month with Book Monster Promotions talking about my Sons of Navarus series in preparation for the 4th novel in the series, Blood Prophecy, which is coming May 14, 2013. For readers who’ve followed the Sons from the beginning, it will be a real turning point.

I’ve had a number of people ask why I write erotic paranormal romance, especially with the new fads like 50 Shades like books and 1st person POV being so popular now. I always say the same thing: fads come and go, but vampires will always be popular. Years from now, 1st person POV is very likely going to be discouraged once again, as it has for a long time in most genres, and BDSM will lose its wow factor, but the sensuality of vampires will be around. Need proof? Name one other type of character that has been around for over a century and still enchants readers.

Vampires are sexy, partly because they’re always young and gorgeous, but also because they’re animalistic without being animals. They’re fixated on one of the sexiest areas of the body—the neck—and have a style unlike any other paranormal character. I love other types of paranormals (in fact, I introduce weres and dragon shifters into the Sons series in Blood Prophecy), but there’s no denying the classic seducer, the vampire.

They aren’t for everyone, but time has shown that readers love vampires as much today as they did when they first became popular. Who wouldn’t want a sexy male who’s forever young but has the experience of the ages seducing them?

Thanks for having me here today! Readers can grab the first five chapters of Blood Prophecy for FREE as they wait for the May 14th release of the full book. Find links and details at my website at www.gabriellebisset.com For more information on the Sons of Navarus series, readers can visit my website for excerpts, buy links, character profiles, swag (romance trading cards), and free desktop wallpapers to bring those delicious Sons to your computer. And look for Blood Prophecy coming soon!

LINKS:  Website|Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Like the Sons of Navarus Facebook Page

 

Sons of Navarus Series Blurb:

Eight vampire warriors descended from the gods and chosen to defend their world against the Archon takeover, each dedicated to the war they must win. But there’s another side to these Sons of Navarus—one that only the women they love know. Behind the strength they need to defeat their enemies lies a passion different in each one of the Sons. Their war will take them around the world and even involve the gods themselves, but they must unlock the secrets of the Prophecy of Idolas to defeat the Archons or perish in trying for none of their kind can be safe if the Archons win this battle.

*****

Blood Avenged

Sons of Navarus #1

Amazon | Kobo | Smashwords | iTunes | Audible

 I am everything you desire. I am vampire. 

Powerful and manipulative, Vasilije does as he pleases. A vampire beholden to no one, he takes what he desires, drinking deeply the pleasures this life has to offer.

When one of his own is staked, Vasilije must travel to New Orleans to exact his revenge. There he meets Sasa, a beautiful woman who arouses him like no other has for centuries. Vasilije’s need for vengeance is equaled only by his passion for her, but what he finds in his revenge is just the beginning…

*****

Blood Betrayed

Sons of Navarus #2


Amazon | Kobo | Smashwords | iTunes

I am everything forbidden.  I am vampire.

Haunted by betrayal, Saint hides in the human world, giving his heart to no one and finding the only solace from his past in the arms of human women. Now as the Archons begin their takeover of the vampire world, this Son of Navarus has been marked for death.

Summoned to defeat the Archons by the world that shunned him, Saint must face his past and Solenne, the woman he loved and lost a century ago, for only in accepting her will his body and soul finally find salvation.

*****

Blood Spirit

Sons of Navarus #3


Amazon | Kobo | Smashwords | iTunes

I am everything you seek. I am vampire.

Blessed with the gift of telepathy, Terek always knows what a woman wants. His gift has afforded him nightly sensual pleasures and exotic treats for centuries, but beneath the surface he yearns for much more.

Ilona can give him what his soul craves, but only if he trusts his heart. One fateful choice made out of desire puts all he cares for in danger. With a civil war and the threat of Archon hunters at every turn, this Son may lose everything if he can’t find the balance between heart and mind.

*****

Blood Prophecy

Sons of Navarus #4

COMING MAY 14!

I am everything you fear. I am vampire.

As the two Sons chosen to decipher the Prophecy of Idolas, Ramiel and Thane journey to find the key to defeating the Archons. Together with Noele, a born vampire, they confront their fates as they fulfill their duty to their world. Along the way, they’ll find love, but death and betrayal lurk in the shadows, threatening everything dear to them.

Descended from the gods and warriors all, each Son’s loyalty will be tested. Every action has consequences, and the choices they make now seal their fates. Alliances as old as the vampire world itself are reforged, and the Sons’ duty is clear. Stop the Archons. Or die trying.

Download the FREE 5 Chapter Preview below!

 Kobo | Amazon or download epub format on Gabrielle’s website (scroll down to bottom of page)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I’m a UF/PNR author and my newest releases are Blood Spirit, the third book in my new series Sons of Navarus, and the Sons short stories Longing and The Deepest Cut.

For me, a book does more than just tell a story. It transports readers away from their daily lives to another place where they can be a part of something different than the common and everyday. I’m always so touched when readers tell me they felt like they were a part of the story when they read my books.

When I’m not writing, I can be found reading romance novels but often mysteries, cookbooks, and anything dealing with ancient and medieval history and European history, in general. I also love the outdoors, so I enjoy the wonderful weather Pennsylvania has to offer. I live there with my son and a herd of pets.

Connect with Gabrielle:

Website | Facebook | S.O.N. FB Page | Twitter | Goodreads

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

Gabrielle is offering up the following prizes. This is a tour wide giveaway.

Grand Prize:
Autographed copies of the first three books in the series (Blood Avenged, Blood Betrayed, Blood Spirit) and SWAG (bookmarks, trading cards, cover flat, etc.) to ONE lucky winner.

Runners-Up:
THREE runners up will receive a SWAG pack

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Interview & giveaway with Kendra Elliot

Books-n-Kisses is SUPER excited to have our pal Kendra Elliot on the blog again to help celebrate her 3rd book BURIED!!!!

Kendra, can you please share with us a little about yourself.

Thanks for having me, Kelly! Last spring, I became a full time author, leaving behind the dental industry and late night writing sessions. My debut romantic suspense, HIDDEN, was published last summer along with my second book, CHILLED.  I have three daughters, 11, 13, 15, and an insufficient hot water tank.  I live in the Pacific Northwest with my husband and the state’s cutest Pomeranian.

Can you please tell us about your newest book?

BURIED is Michael Brody’s story. Michael had a large role in HIDDEN. Now I’ve found a woman who can put up with his level of cockiness and confidence. Michael’s younger brother vanished with a group of children twenty years ago and today a group of children’s remains have been found. But why isn’t Michael’s brother with them?

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

Jamie’s stress level floated somewhere close to the ceiling. A night alone in a room with Michael Brody. Hormones had bounced between them since they met, and now they were going to be trapped in a small space with a bed?

Can you share with us your current work in progress?

I just turned in the fourth book in the Bone Secrets series. It’s Victoria Peres’s story.  While editing BURIED, my editor, Charlotte, said this was the character I had to write about next, because she made her curious. I said, “No. She scares me.” And I already had a loose plan for the next book. Turns out I couldn’t get my editor’s words out of my head. Three chapters in, Victoria took over the book.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.

I’ve never been to the UK. I want to go with a small group of people who already know all the awesomest places to go.

What would you do if I gave you a box that had marshmallow cream, duct tape and binder clips?

Slip the binder clips in my pocket…I love all office supplies and then trade you the duct tape for a spoon.

What do you say we do a little Fact or Crap our home state?

Oh, crap. I’m fourth generation Oregonian. I’ll  be embarrassed if I bomb.

A little Oregon Fact or Crap Time:

#1 Oregon is one of only 3 states without self-serve gas stations

I’ll say crap. I think it’s two states? Or am I thinking of states with no sales tax?

#2 Oregon’s state colors are baby blue and yellow

Crap. I think it’s dark blue and yellow.

#3 The Chinook salmon is the state fish

Fact.

#4 Oregon’s birthday is February 14th

Fact.

#5 Oregon’s Mt Hood is over 13,000 feet tall

Crap. It’s closer to 11K, I believe.

#6 Eugene Oregon was the first city to have a one-way street

Hmmm. Nothing about Eugene surprises me.  I’ll guess Fact.

#7 The Oregon State Flag only has a beaver on it

Crap…I think there are gold stars, too?

#8 The Oregon Sea lion caves are the largest in the world

No idea. Fact.

#9 Oregon has more ghost towns than any other state

No idea. Crap.

#10 Crater Lake is not the deepest lake in Oregon

Crap. Isn’t it one of the deepest in the world?

What to know how well Kendra did?

Here are the answers:

#1 Crap-It only Two.  Oregon and New Jersey are the only states without self-serve gas stations.

#2 Crap- Navy blue and gold are Oregon’s official state colors.

#3 Fact- The Chinook salmon is Oregon’s official state fish.

#4 Fact- Oregon’s state birthday is on February 14, Valentine’s Day.

#5 Crap- At 11,239 feet Mount Hood stands as the tallest peak in Oregon. Mount Hood is a dormant volcano.

#6 Fact- Eugene was the first city to have one-way streets.

#7 Crap-Oregon’s state flag pictures a beaver on its reverse side. It is the only state flag to carry two separate designs.

#8 Fact- In 1880 a sea cave was discovered near what is now known as Florence. Sea Lion Caves is known to be the largest sea cave in the world.

#9 Fact- Oregon has more ghost towns than any other state.

#10 Crap – Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States It was formed more than 6,500 years ago. Its crystal-blue waters are world renowned.

*****

Buried

A Bone Secrets Novel #3

Release Date:   3/26/2013

Order here:  Amazon | B&N | Powell’s

Twenty years ago, a small private-school bus of children and their driver completely vanished on the way home from touring the state capital building of Oregon.   No clues were ever found. Two years later, a boy near death, Chris Jacobs, walked out of the Cascade Forest as the sole survivor.   Brain and physical trauma left him unable to help police find the other children and the investigation went cold. Today, multiple gravesites of children have been uncovered at an abandoned dairy farm and investigators determine they are the remains of the vanished children from the bus.

Investigative reporter Michael Brody anxiously awaits news of his missing brother’s body. All the lost children’s remains, except for Michael’s brother’s, are recovered. Desperate for answers, Michael reaches out to Chris Jacobs to see if Chris has recovered any memory to create leads for the investigation. Unable to locate Chris, Michael goes to Chris’s only relative, his younger sister Jamie. Attraction is instantaneous between Michael and Jamie. But so is utter frustration with each other’s attitude and opposing positions on Chris’s whereabouts and his inability to help the police. Michael and Jamie hunt for Chris, racing against a tattooed stranger who wants to find Chris and silence him permanently this time.

Learn more about the Bone Secret Series HERE

A little about Kendra: 

As a kid, I read and read and read. Laura Ingalls, Nancy Drew, and Trixie Belden were my close companions, and I was never without a book in hand. Today, mysteries are my primary reading genre. I enjoy Lee Child, Karen Rose, Robert Crais, and Tami Hoag. But I also love a sweeping historical novel by Diana Gabaldon or a contemporary romance by Rachel Gibson.

I decided to try my hand at novel writing after I read a newspaper article about NaNoWriMo. Heck, I can do that. I sat down and wrote a contemporary romance but kept tripping over dead bodies in each chapter. I got the hint and my stories evolved into romantic suspense.

I joined my local Romance Writers of America chapter, the Rose City Romance Writers, and found a fabulous community dedicated to educating its members about writing and publishing. Book purchases are tax deductable?? I also belong to International Thriller Writers and the Kiss of Death Chapter of RWA.

In 2010, my manuscript, Stronger Than Bone, was a finalist in RWA’s prestigious Golden Heart® contest. This same manuscript caught the attention of Jennifer Schober of Spencerhill Literary Agency and she became my agent. The book is now published as HIDDEN.

I grew up in the lush Pacific Northwest and still live there with my husband, three daughters, two cats, and a Pomeranian. In the real world, I’m a dental hygienist who is fascinated with forensics, refuses to eat anything green, and loves a good Mai Tai on the beach on Kauai.

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!!! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

GRAND PRIZE:

Kendra is offering up a $40.00 Amazon Gift Card.

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Guest Blogger: Lindy S. Hudis

Weekends by Lindy S. Hudis

Guest blog – A Fantasy Come True!

Ahhh…..romance. I must confess, I am hopelessly addicted to it. There is no feeling as exciting, no rush more exhilarating, and nothing I can name that gives an energy boost like that of a romantic and hot encounter. I seem to get quite a bit of inspiration from that, the real and the imaginary.

Want to know about one of my romantic fantasies? I am sitting on a beach at an exclusive California beach resort, listening to the sound of the waves and sea gulls, all while sipping a Pina Colada. I am sitting in the warm sand, covered with coconut scented lotion, watching the palm trees sway in the cool ocean breeze, and lusting as the smoking hot, scantily clad men walk by. Living in California, I have participated in similar activities, but more along the lines of the Santa Monica Pier than at the Bel-Air Bay Club.  However, we all have fantasies, I know I do….and mine get pretty vivid and sensual. Being a fiction author I find that the more fantasies I have, the more material I have to share with you! So, here is the deal – “Weekends” was inspired by a sexual fantasy that caught on fire. One day, many years ago, I met this gorgeous, hot, sexy, blonde dude named Joe. He was a struggling actor living in Los Angeles (like I myself was at the time) so we met up and had a brief fling. He turned out to be nuttier than a can of Planters, but that is beside the point. (A nutty person in LA???? What????)

So, Joe and I didn’t fall in love and run away together. He was just a “man from my past” who I still think about on occasion. However, his looks were the inspiration for the character “Joe” in “Weekends”. Joe is a fantasy, as is most of the romantic and sexy fiction that I write.  I took the crazy, hot man and, instead of being in a relationship with him in real life, and the fruitless task of trying to change him, I just made who I wanted him to be a character in my romance-suspense novel.  I fell madly in love with Joe, the one I created, not the real one.

So, what was the real inspiration behind “Weekends”? I must confess, I live in a fantasy world, however, I take a very spiritual approach to my daydreams and fantasies.  On some level, I believe that a person’s idle thoughts and daydreams are actual realities in another dimension.  Vivid imagination have I? You bet!

As a fiction author, I tend to live in my imagination. I become very emotionally close with my characters (I cried one time writing a scene where one of my characters gets fired), I live vicariously through all of their circumstances, and I tend to see parts of myself in every one of their situations. No, I’m not a nutcase- just a fiction author. Because of this, I create little worlds in my imagination. That is what I do, I create, and sometimes live in, these little worlds. Sometimes these little worlds become published works of fiction for different readers to enjoy, sometimes they just live in my crazy noodle. However, what if there is some truth to this theory? What if, as Mark Twain once said, truth is stranger than fiction?

What does this have to do with writing? Plenty! Fiction is my forte, my strong point. I was not destined to write anything else. ( I don’t have the knowledge or experience to write non-fiction. I can’t compete with all the doctors out there.) My stories come from the little people who live in my head. They come from my imagination. That is what fiction is, plain and simple. To invite a reader into my story, and to keep them there, I have to create another world for them to enter into. As the risk of repeating myself, I create worlds – and perhaps those worlds exist somewhere else? Somewhere far, far away?  As a creative person, (that is the kind of mind I was blessed with. Anything technical would confuse the hell out of me…) I feel at my best and most fulfilled when I am doing just that – creating. What am I creating exactly? Only my higher power seems to know for sure, but I have a hunch!

Perhaps I am writing my next life as I am thinking this? Maybe I’m just a hopeless romantic? Both? I just happen to love what I do, and I hope that many readers feel the same.

Buy Links

An innocent-sounding family reunion at an exclusive California beach resort turns into a weekend of murder, deceit, exposed secrets and unexpected intimate encounters. John Peterson has it all: He’s a respected, successful Beverly Hills entertainment lawyer with a loving wife and grown son, the strikingly handsome young film director Joe Peterson. John also has a secret and he decides to gather his disparate family members at the elegant Hotel Del Moor in picturesque Linda Bella, California for some luxurious fun, togetherness and re-connecting before revealing his secret. Unbeknownst to the family, a brutal serial killer is lurking in the midst of all the wondrous festivities.

 

About the Author:

Lindy S.Hudis is a graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, where she studied drama. She is a former actress, having appeared on such television shows as “Sunset Beach” and “Married with Children”. Her romantic murder mystery, Weekends, is currently available from Lachesis Publishing. She is also a filmmaker, her independent short film “The Lesson”, which she wrote, produced and directed, screened at the Seattle Underground Film Festival. She is co-owner of an independent production company called Impact Motion Pictures. She and her husband Steve, a Hollywood stuntman, have just completed the screenplay adaptation of Charmaine Hammond’s best selling book, “On Toby’s Terms.”  She lives in California with her family.

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Book Blitz: Jessica by Laura DeLuca

Website|  Free buy Link

Wilbur was used to going to his college formals alone. He thought the Halloween Ball would be no different. He’s amazed when a beautiful girl in a Victorian costume displays an interest in him and even more amazed to find himself alone with her on one of the campus nature trails. What Wilbur doesn’t realize is that another woman has her eye on him too. The White Lady returns every Halloween to take revenge on the men of the campus for her brutal murder. She has chosen Wilbur as her next victim.

Excerpt:

Wilbur thought he was going to collapse when Jessica wrapped one arm around his waist. He could feel her fingers, soft as silk, touching the nape of his neck with her other hand, and it made his flesh tingle. She even went so far as to lay her head on his shoulder. Her hair brushed against his cheek and the fresh, flowery scent made his vision blur. At first he thought it was just his allergies, but then the whole room and all the people in it seemed to change. The woman all wore full lacy gowns with their hair piled up in fancy up dos, while the men waltzed beside them in tailored suits with long tails and top hats. Even the music had changed from the typical sappy love song to a classical ballad played by a string quartet. He swore he saw the musicians in the corner; their bows sliding effortlessly over the strings of their instruments while their fingers pulsated in perfect vibrato. Even the floor under their feet had changed from the faded gymnasium floor, marked with the lines and circles of the basketball court, to hand laid tile in intricate patterns reminiscent of a Victorian ballroom.

As they circled the dance floor in an oddly quickened pace, the faces of the dancers started to transform even more. The beautiful nineteenth century ballroom aged and decayed, as did the men and women that surrounded him. Grotesque monsters with bloated skin and empty eyes dragged their decaying limbs in slow motion. Wilbur watched them with growing horror, almost forgetting about the girl in his arms. The monsters noticed the stranger among them. They reached for him with fingers green from rot. Catching his breath in fear, Wilbur pulled away from Jessica and very nearly stumbled to the ground.

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Interview & giveaway with Elle James

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Elle James to the blog today

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

Elle James spent twenty years in South Central Texas, ranching horses, cattle, goats, ostriches and emus. A former IT professional, retired Army and Air Force Reservist, she’s proud to be writing full-time, penning intrigues and paranormal adventures that keep her readers on the edge of their seats or laughing out loud. Now, living in northwest Arkansas, she’s given up wrangling cattle and exotic birds to wrangle her muses, a malti-poo and a yorkie. When she’s not at her computer, she’s traveling, out snow skiing, boating, or riding her four-wheeler, dreaming up new stories.

ELLE JAMES

….escape with elle

VOODOO ON THE BAYOU (Cajun Magic) – Entangled Suspense

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

Have you always wanted to be an author?

I don’t think I really considered being an author as a full-time job or lifestyle until I turned forty. All my life, I dabbled at poetry, wrote some short stories for fun and plays for fun at work as an IT Professional. I grew up with a pretty strong work ethic and knew I would work to support my family no matter what I did, thus the IT profession. When I about had my children grown, I started thinking about what made me happy. My sister and I joined forces and started on the path to becoming published authors and there’s been no turning back.

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

I start my day with a good breakfast, feed my dogs, grab my Diet Dr. Pepper and the mini Milk Bones (for the dogs) and head to my office. I go through emails and social media for about an hour then get started writing and go until 5:00. Sometimes it’s more, sometimes less. Depends on how well the story is coming along. And there are lots of interruptions—dogs need to go out, dogs need to play, dogs need more treats—you get the picture.

Most challenging or rewarding part of writing?

Challenging – writing when the story isn’t gelling.  Usually because I don’t know enough about my characters. I go back and dig a little deeper into who they are.

Rewarding: When my readers feel the same emotions I do when I’m writing the story. I love it when my readers laugh when I laugh, cry when I cry, or sit on the edge of their seats when the action is crazy intense.

Can you please tell us about your latest book?

Voodoo On The Bayou (CAJUN MAGIC Series Book #1)

A frog by day, man by night, a cursed, cynical lawyer hopes to break a voodoo spell by making a lovelorn scientist fall in love with him before the next full moon while helping her unravel the mystery of swamp pollutants.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

I’m sure you recognize the fairytale in the story. It’s the Frog Prince told with a different setting, a different magic (Voodoo) and a suspense twist.

Can you share with us your current work in progress?

The Cajun Magic Series continues with VOODOO FOR TWO, Lucie Le Bieu and Benjamin Franklin Boyette’s story of a love potion gone wrong. Then DEJA VOODOO Alexander Belle Boyette and Ed Marceau’s story where Voodoo goes to the dogs.

Who are some of your favorite authors?

Michael Crichton, James Patterson, Stephanie Bond, Jennifer Cruisie, Sandra Hill, Jane Anne Krantz and Delilah Devlin

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

I think they’ve inspired me to write what I love writing. My favorite author, Delilah Devlin (my sister) inspired me to reach for this dream. Without her love and continued support, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

Open your book to a random page and tell us what’s happening.

My heroine scientist, Elaine Smith, entered the marina’s bait shop and encountered a naked man behind the counter (Craig Thibodeaux). She’s a bit flustered…

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

The Athena Project by Brad Thor

Looking forward the action!

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I loved writing the Cajun Magic Series and hope to write more in the series soon. Look for the three books in the series:

VOODOO ON THE BAYOU (Feb 2013)

VOODOO FOR TWO (April 2013)

DEJA VOODOO (Jun 2013)

Any ideas title ideas for the next Voodoo book?

Leave a title suggestion for a chance to win a copy of THE WITCH’S INITIATION

Make sure to leave your email address too.  We have to be able to contact you.

Giveaway ends March 29

Amazon |  B&N |  Kobo |  Ibookstore

About Voodoo on the Bayou:

“By day a frog, by night a man, ‘til de next full moon…”

At first, lawyer and ladies’ man Craig Thibodeaux thought Madame LeBieu’s chant was a strange bayou joke. But the voodoo worked and Craig is spending his days as…well, a small green frog. Now he has only two weeks to find love, or his new froggy transformation becomes permanent.

When she receives the anonymous toxic water sample from Bayou Miste, research scientist Elaine Smith decides a trip to the bayou is the perfect excuse to escape the lab, and forget about her cheating ex-fiancé. Then she accidentally stumbles upon Craig’s oh-so-fine naked form, and her science-nerd brain is overrun with naughty thoughts about her new gorgeous night-time bayou guide.

But there’s more to Bayou Miste than voodoo curses and sexy late-night trysts. Dark secrets threaten the delicate ecosystem, and there are those who would do anything to keep those secrets hidden. Even murder…

Tour Stops:
3/12 – The Romanceaholic
3/14 – Book Lovers Inc
3/19 – Feeling Fictional
3/21 – Paranormal Haven
3/26 – Books-N-Kisses
3/29 – Cocktails & Books
4/3 – Just Romantic Suspense
4/4 – Froggarita’s Bookcase

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Carrie Ann Ryan is interviewing Brayden & Allison

Carrie Ann: Hi everyone! Thank you so much for having me here today! I’m sitting with Brayden and Allison, my characters from HER LUCKY LOVE and we’re going to talk about the fun things in life. As you might know, I’ve already sat them down to have a serious interview so of course, this one is all but the not so serious.

Brayden: Thanks for having us, Carrie Ann, but I’m a little worried about what you have planned.

Carrie Ann: *grins* Oh, I love Kelly and Kimberly, so I wouldn’t do anything to scary. Well…not too much.

Allison: Yes, I’m definitely worried now.

Carrie Ann: You’ll just have to wait and see. So, let’s get started. What did you think of your first kiss?

Brayden: With each other?

Allison: *rolls eyes* I would hope she was asking that since I really don’t want to know who you kissed before me.

Brayden: *leans to kiss her nose* Of course, darling, though if anyone has to be annoyed with past kisses, it’s me.

Allison: *narrows eyes but kisses him softly* Fine. We’ll forget that part and just go onto our first kiss. And really? It was…magical.

Brayden: Good word choice. And I agree…it was…perfect.

Carrie Ann: *sighs* Well, I was going for heat with that question, but y’all made me all swoony. Okay, now, Brayden this one’s for you. Some readers have mentioned to me that you seem to be more…dominant than your brothers. Would you say that’s true?

Brayden: *throws his head back and laughs* How on earth would I know what my brothers do? As for me? Well, I like what I like.

Allison: That’s for sure. *sighs* But he likes what I like to so…

Carrie Ann: See? I knew you’d be perfect for each other. Okay, now the quick questions. Chocolate or Vanilla?

Brayden & Allison: Chocolate.

Brayden: Chocolate on Allison is even better.

Allison: *blushes* Brayden…

Carrie Ann: See? This is what I was hoping for. Soft or Hard?

Allison: Hard then soft.

Brayden: Ditto.

Carrie Ann: *swoons* Well then, I think we get the picture. I’m so glad that after so many years, y’all are happy and you have your own family. It was a long time coming.

Brayden: Tell me about it.

Allison: Totally.

Carrie Ann: Well, thank you so much for having us here and Brayden, Allison, and I will be here to answer questions to fire away!

 

About Carrie Ann:

Carrie Ann Ryan is a bestselling paranormal and contemporary romance author. After spending too much time behind a lab bench, she decided to dive into the romance world and find her werewolf mate – even if it’s just in her books. Happy endings are always near – even if you have to get over the challenges of falling in love first.

Carrie Ann’s Redwood Pack series is an bestselling series that has made the shifter world even more real to her and has allowed the Dante’s Circle and Holiday, Montana series to be born. She’s also an avid reader and lover of romance and fiction novels. She loves meeting new authors and new worlds. Any recommendations you have are appreciated. Carrie Ann lives in New England with her husband and two kittens.

Carrie Ann loves hearing from readers. You can find her at:

Website | Facebook  | Goodreads | Twitter: @CarrieAnnRyan |

******

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ARe | Kobo

Brayden Cooper has always been lucky. It’s in his blood and in the coin that he has hanging on a leather tie around his neck. He has everything in the world he could ever want, money: a job, brothers he loves, and the luck that comes with his powers. Yet he’s empty. Everyone but him knows  he loves Allison, yet it’s going to take something stronger than luck to bring them together.

Allison Malone is exhausted. After the death of her abusive husband, her hell of a marriage is finally over and now she’s alone with her three children that are the center of her world. Long hours at work, plus mommy duty at home are taking its toll on her and that’s not the worst of it. Her late husband’s family is in town and they want her children.

The outsiders have secrets of their own and it’s going to take all of the Coopers, especially Brayden’s, help to save them. When trouble attacks, Allison will have to remember that she’s also a woman who needs love, and Brayden might be the one to give that to her.

Warning: Contains one sexy mechanic with a lucky streak, a waitress who needs to give into her temptations, and a love so fierce it’s bound to set the sheets on fire. Again.

Excerpt:

He loved her too much to be with her and take away her independence.

Brayden wasn’t lucky enough to be with someone like her.

He snorted at that last thought.

Well, he was damn lucky at everything else he did. It was just too freaking ironic that he couldn’t be lucky at the one thing he most desperately needed. But, that was the life he’d chosen for himself, and he’d have to learn to live with it. No, he hadn’t chosen who he fell in love with—that was Ally’s doing. But, he had chosen to let her be the best mom she could and stand aside throughout the years. He’d chosen to watch her with another man and watch those kids grow up without him other than just a friend.

 

***Giveaway***

 Carrie Ann is giving away a special swag pack to a lucky commenter.

Be sure to leave your email address so you can win!

giveaway ends 3/27 @ Midnight

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Guest blog & giveaway with Donya Lynne

Rise of the Fallen, book one in the All The King’s Men series, is celebrating its one year anniversary. I’m so proud of my little book that could for earning the following accolades in its first year:

  • USA Today Recommended Read
  • Runner up for GraveTells’ Readers Choice for favorite story in January
  • GraveTells’ Reviewer’s Choice in January
  • A finalist in Parajunkee’s Best Adult Story 2012, which I’m particularly proud of because I was up against at least one NY Times bestselling author, and the other two finalists were with big publishing houses.

To celebrate one year, as well as these wonderful achievements, I’m hosting a huge giveaway.

 

GIVEAWAY FOR EVERY BLOG:

 

One winner from each blog will receive:

A set of all the AKM eBooks (if they don’t already have them) and one entry into both the Grand Prize drawing, as well as the drawing I’m holding just for blog participants (details are included in the above-mentioned posts I’ve written).

 

GRAND  PRIZE GIVEAWAY:

Two prizes will be given away, as follows:

Grand prize

A prize back worth the envy of all your friends to include:

  • Autographed copies of Lover At Last and Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward
  • Autographed copy of Edge of Dawn by Lara Adrian
  • Autographed copy of Last Chance to Run by Diana Love (she co-writes with Sherrilyn Kenyon, as well)
  • If I Were You by Lisa Renee Jones (my favorite book from 2012)
  • Primal Bonds by Jennifer Ashley
  • Covet by J.R. Ward
  • Bookmarks from me, Lara Adrian, Louisa Bacia, and Jeaniene Frost
  • Confessions of a Naughty Nurse by Lily Harlem
  • The Art of Love by Michelle Graham
  • Year of Acheron ceramic travel mug from Sherrilyn Kenyon (I want this! LOL)
  • And from me:

—     An AKM fleece blanket

—     AKM Bookmarks

—     AKM keychain

—     A Rebel Obsession canvas tote bag

—     A Rebel Obsession notebook

—     2013 AKM desk calendar

—     A set of all my AKM books in ebook format

 

There are two ways to enter the Grand Prize drawing: The first will guarantee you an entry. Just email a screen shot or link to a review or rating you’ve written for any of my AKM books (Rise of the Fallen, Heart of the Warrior, Micah’s Calling, or Rebel Obsession) on Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Noble (or any other site) to me at donya@donyalynne.com. Details can be found on my fan page on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DonyaLynne. The second way to enter is to leave a comment here.  This does NOT guarantee you an entry, but gives you a chance, because one person who comments on this blog will gain one entry in the drawing, which will take place on April 15.

Blog Prize

I will be giving away a smaller prize just for those who comment on the blogs I’ll be guesting on during my blog tour from March 18-April 6. Details about the tour can be found on my fan page, as well. This prize package includes:

—     An AKM fleece blanket

—     A set of all my AKM books in ebook format

—     An AKM keychain

—     A set of bookmarks from me, Lara Adrian, Louisa Bacia, and Jeaniene Frost

One person who posts a comment on each blog during my tour will be entered into the drawing, which will take place after I draw for my grand prize.

Good luck and happy reading!

Donya

 

RISE OF THE FALLEN

All The Kings Men, #1

 

 

BUY NOW:

For a limited time, ROTF is FREE at:

Amazon

Also available for $2.99 at:

B&N / Smashwords

In the streets of Chicago exists an uneasy, centuries-old truce between vampires and their distant cousins, a race of shifters called drecks.  Vampire enforcement agency, All the King’s Men (AKM), is charged with maintaining the truce, but when volatile enforcer Micah Black loses his mate and falls into the biological agony that results from the broken bond, he tests the boundaries of the truce by seeking out Apostle, a leader in the dreck community.  Micah wants Apostle to kill him, a request Apostle is more than happy to fulfill.

When ex-Army medic Samantha Garrett inadvertently disrupts the plot and saves Micah’s life, a chain reaction sets Micah’s heart on a collision course with Sam’s, but he will have to protect her from Apostle and her obsessive ex-husband, Steve, if they will have a chance at forever.  Can Micah hold his emotions together to keep Sam alive?

About Donya:

 Donya resides in Indiana, with her husband and a small zoo of cats and dogs. In fact, her writing buddy, Lucky, might become more famous than she is, based on the feedback the ever-present feline receives on her Facebook page.

As a little girl, Donya always had a book in her hand. As she got older, the books became pens and notebooks, which she filled with stories and poetry. For as long as she remembers, she has been writing and dreaming up stories. Seems writing was her destiny.

Donya loves music and often finds inspiration for her stories in the wide range of music she listens to. Nothing like a little Korn to propel the angst in a scene, or Enya to evoke softer and more romantic storylines.

Connect with Donya:

Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

Donya Lynne’s

RISE OF THE FALLEN

1 year Anniversary Blog Tour

 3/18 – Pimpin’ Reads

3/19 – I Smell Sheep

3/20 – Close Encounters With The Night Kind

3/21 – Books-n-Kisses

3/22 – Urban Girl Reader

3/23 – Ramblings From This Chick

3/24 – Jeep Diva

3/25 – Book Lovin’ Mamas

3/26 – The Reading Cafe

3/27 – Mad Hatter Reads

3/28 – Cocktails and Books

3/29 – My Secret Romance

3/30 – All The Fun Starts After Dark

3/31 – Riverina Romantics

4/01 – GraveTells

4/02 – Reading Between The Wines

4/03 – Alexx Mom Cat’s Gateway

4/04 – Paranormal Book Club

4/05 – Book Monster Reviews / Literal Addiction

4/06 – Page Flipperz

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Guest Blogger+ a giveaway with Shana Galen

Writing Historicals that Appeal to the Modern Reader

By Shana Galen

For the past decade, I have heard the same refrain: the historical romance is dead. The assumption is that the modern reader doesn’t want to read about a world where there was no internet or cell service and where indoor plumbing was still a relatively new concept.

But I’m still writing historical romances, and readers are still reading them. In fact, I’ve been surprised at my last few signings to see so many young, meaning early twenties, readers. The genre is gaining new readers!

What is it about books like my Jewels of the Ton series that appeal to modern readers? I think it’s a combination of three factors—the hero, the heroine, and the plot.

The Hero

Although it seems counter-intuitive, modern readers like traditional heroes. Take the hero from If You Give a Rake a Ruby. Warrick is an alpha male. He’s the son of an earl, so he’s also wealthy and powerful. Oh, and he’s also an elite spy for the Crown. Cliché? Sure. But clichés are cliché because readers love them. What woman fantasizes about meeting a nice middle class shop owner? Not me! It’s fun to dream about a strong, powerful hero who thinks he knows everything, only to realize that the woman he falls in love with knows a few things too. Modern readers want an alpha traditional male who also comes to respect and admire the woman he loves. Male chauvinism is fine when a hero is introduced, but he should have evolved by the end of the book.

The Heroine

In contrast to the hero, heroines really should be modern women in historical clothing. Make that gorgeous historical clothing. My readers like a heroine who can stand on her own. Fallon from If You Give a Rake a Ruby is such a woman. She’s strong and independent. She’s had a tough life, but she’s a survivor. She doesn’t need to be saved, but she does need to be loved. We all need to be loved and cherished and valued, and those needs cross all genres and time periods.

Modern readers certainly appreciate a kick-ass heroine (and Fallon kicks more than a few in this book), but readers like their glamour too. I loved dressing Fallon in silks and rubies, having her attend all the most fashionable events, and giving her servants and other luxuries. But I’m well aware there was a darker side, a seedier side of London, and my characters step foot in that world as well.

The Plot

I can’t speak for all readers, but modern readers are used to fast-paced lives and fast-paced media. I think we often enjoy fast-paced reads as well. I love drawing room historicals, but there’s nothing like a good adventure story with spies or pirates or highway men. If You Give a Rake a Ruby is full of intrigue—spies, secret identities, valuable diamonds, priceless rubies, carriage chases, fist fights, and a love story right in the middle. That’s the kind of historical a modern reader likes. I hope.

What are your thoughts? Do you enjoy historicals? Why or why not?

 

IF YOU GIVE A RAKE A RUBY

BY SHANA GALEN – IN STORES MARCH 2013

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Books-a-Million | IndieBound | Chapters/Indigo | Discover a New Love | Sourcebooks

Her Mysterious Past is the Best Revenge…

Fallon, the Marchioness of Mystery, is a celebrated courtesan with her finger on the pulse of high society. She’s adored by men, hated by their wives. No one knows anything about her past, and she plans to keep it that way.

Only He Can Offer Her a Dazzling Future…

Warrick Fitzhugh will do anything to protect his compatriots in the Foreign Office, including seduce Fallon, who he thinks can lead him to the deadliest crime lord in London. He knows he’s putting his life on the line…

To Warrick’s shock, Fallon is not who he thinks she is, and the secrets she’s keeping are exactly what makes her his heart’s desire…

 

Praise for If You Give a Rake  a Ruby

“Galen is at the top of her game… Galen is a grand mistress of the action/adventure subgenre.” —RT Book Reviews, 4 ½ Stars, Top Pick of the Month

“The writing is excellent and the characters are captivating. Ms. Galen delivers a steamy romance between a determined hero and a reluctant heroine.” — Night Owl Reviews, 5/5 Stars, Reviewer Top Pick

 

A little about Shana: 

Shana Galen is the bestselling author of fast-paced adventurous Regency historicals, including the RT Reviewers’ Choice Winner The Making of a Gentleman and the RT-nominated When You Give a Duke a Diamond. Her books are published all over the world and have been featured in the Rhapsody and Doubleday Book Clubs. She taught English at the middle and high school level off and on for eleven years. Most of those years were spent working in Houston’s inner city. Now she writes full time. She’s happily married and has a daughter who is most definitely a romance heroine in the making. Shana loves to hear from readers: visit her website at www.shanagalen.com or see what she’s up to daily on Facebook and Twitter.

 

 

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Spotlight Feature of Her Passionate Protector by Dilys J Carnie

Her Passionate Protector

By Dilys J. Carnie

Secret Cravings Publishing / Barnes & Noble / Amazon UK / Amazon US /  BookStrand

Erotic Romance

Secret Cravings Publishing

November 12, 2012

When Lucy meets Alex the owner of the new company her cleaning business has just picked up a contract for, her hard won self-preservation and quiet life flies out the window.

Smoldering heat ignites every time Alex comes near her.

He is confused by this independent, yet vulnerable woman and when her ex-husband returns, determined to hurt her, Alex fights for her life and their love.

Excerpt

“Give her time, Alex. She’s been through a lot.” The pressure of his friend’s hand was reassuring on his shoulder and he just nodded. It would take more than time. It was going to be one hell of an uphill battle.

At that point, Jack came wandering into the kitchen, rubbing himself around Alex’s legs.

“And what do you want, little one?” Alex picked up the cat, its purring hum showing he had settled down quite easily.

“Do you want some cream, buddy?” He poured some into a saucer and put it down, watching as the cat lapped greedily.

“Let’s take the coffee out now.” Alex picked up the try and followed Simon.

After they went out on to the balcony, and he set the tray of cups and coffee on the table, Nic got up from where she had been sitting with Lucy on the wicker sofa and put her arms around Simon.

Alex looked over at Lucy, her body hunched, the pain and sadness evident in her chocolate brown eyes.

More excerpts can be found at Dilys WattPad

 

A little about Dilys J. Carnie:

I’m just an everyday kinda girl and I have lived on the Island of Anglesey in North Wales for thirty nine years. I have two grown up children Emma is a teacher and Christopher is involved in the family commercial business. I have three sisters; two of them live close by as does my mum.

I am an avid health freak, a vegetarian who is manic about working out in the gym and doing Pilates classes. I love clothes, makeup, having my nails and hair done. I’m just a girl’s girl.

If I am not in my office pounding the keys I’m sitting in my favourite chair reading on my new Kindle.

Author Links

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