Category: Blog Tour

Posted on

Interview with Carla Caruso

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Carla Caruso to the blog today to chat about her new book CITY GLITTER.

 

Carla, can you please share with us a little about yourself.
Hello, I’m an Australian-based writer (with Italian ancestry!). My background is in journalism, but writing novels has always been a little pipedream for me, which has finally come true. I’m married, a star-sign junkie, running fanatic, sometimes vegetarian – and have a tabby with ‘tood called Luca.

Have you always wanted to be an author?
Yes! I used to annoy my kindergarten teachers by dictating long, detailed stories to them. As a teen, I used to hand-write 100-page stories (for fun) in my school holidays. And Mum always kindly took me to the library to sate my bookworm tendencies. It just took me a while to realize my childhood dream – journalism seemed a more practical course!

What is your most interesting writing quirk?
I have a mini notepad that I carry around in my handbag and scrawl notes in constantly. Everything goes in there, from hearing an actor’s name I like to throwaway lines I hear. It all inspires my writing. My family thinks I’m mad!

Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?
Cityglitter (Destiny Romance) is about a gorgeous fairy living a glam life in the big city who does the one thing she promised herself she’d never do: fall in love with a human! The fairies in the story all look like Victoria’s Secret Angels – with actual wings. http://www.destinyromance.com/

How did you come with the idea for this story?
The book is based in the big city of Sydney, Australia, where I worked for three years in the magazine world (now back in my smaller hometown of Adelaide). The idea came about because I got to attend a ton of fabulous media parties through my work there and never felt so frumpy in my life! Night after night, manicured socialites and celebs would be on parade and I used to joke to my hubby that maybe they used magic to look so polished all the time. The idea was born! Oh, and we used to go cycling in the Centennial Parklands a lot on the weekend, which had a fairy-like feel – at least to my mind!

Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?
I’ve just had a ‘90s time-warp novel accepted – another romantic comedy. A friend called it “Hot Tub Time Machine for girls”! I’m also working on a suspense-style one involving zodiacs and another that’s a rural romance in a coastal setting – featuring a ghost. Plus, I have a short story out with AlfieDog.com. It’s about young illustrator Frankie who accidentally discovers an ‘alter’ version of herself when she follows her wandering cat through a hedge hole. Her alter-ego seems to have the perfect life, including a big house and a gorgeous husband… but does she really?

Who is the one author that you would love to meet someday and why?
Definitely Sophie Kinsella behind the Shopaholic series (and the resulting Confessions of a Shopaholic film starring Isla Fisher). I’m such a fan of her work – and am hanging out for her new book, Wedding Night! I think I’d be a tad terrified if I met her, though, and would clam up, not knowing what to say.

What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?
It will happen when the time is right. Just keep at it, enjoy it, learn from the critiques, keep polishing your work and learning – and join a writers’ group (or two) to hone your skills, keep you motivated and abreast of the industry.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.
I’ve always wanted to (properly) learn Italian – that’s my family’s background. I know a few words here and there – and plenty of swear words – but I’d love to be fluent one day! It would definitely help when I’m travelling over there.

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?
I’m looking forward to the new book from the very funny Lisa Walker, Sex, Lies and Bonsai, and Maggie Alderson’s latest, Everything Changes But You. Can’t wait!

Is there anything else you would like to add?
Please find me at www.carlacaruso.com.au, @CarlaCaruso79, and http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6541142. And thanks kindly for your time!

Christelle is like any other 20-something living in Sydney, Australia – except for one huge secret. She enjoys cocktails with girlfriends, luxury brand launches, gossip and shopping. For an added touch of spice, there’s also the sizzling connection with her new boss, the gorgeous Jasper.

Then Christelle’s younger sister, the hapless and naïve Trixie Fifi Panache, arrives unannounced, and things begin to fall apart. Not only does Christelle have to deal with her sister’s exploits and embarrassing mistakes, but she also has to live with the fear that her escapades will reveal the truth: Christelle and Trixie are half fairy, half human, and hidden beneath their clothes are a pair of gorgeous wings. To make matters worse, Christelle has fallen for Jasper, but knows that taking the relationship any further threatens exposure. And no love could survive that, could it?

Cityglitter is a charming, magical romance that leaves in its wake a glitter of fairy dust. With inner-city fabulousness and sophistication, this fun celebration of love will add more than a touch of sparkle to your life.

 

 Buy Link

Christelle is like any other 20-something living in Sydney, Australia – except for one huge secret. She enjoys cocktails with girlfriends, luxury brand launches, gossip and shopping. For an added touch of spice, there’s also the sizzling connection with her new boss, the gorgeous Jasper.

Then Christelle’s younger sister, the hapless and naïve Trixie Fifi Panache, arrives unannounced, and things begin to fall apart. Not only does Christelle have to deal with her sister’s exploits and embarrassing mistakes, but she also has to live with the fear that her escapades will reveal the truth: Christelle and Trixie are half fairy, half human, and hidden beneath their clothes are a pair of gorgeous wings. To make matters worse, Christelle has fallen for Jasper, but knows that taking the relationship any further threatens exposure. And no love could survive that, could it?

Cityglitter is a charming, magical romance that leaves in its wake a glitter of fairy dust. With inner-city fabulousness and sophistication, this fun celebration of love will add more than a touch of sparkle to your life.

Excerpt:

I look back at Mr Butterscotch Eyes, who looks a little bemused. Perhaps it’s my seven-second delay to his greeting. I think fast.

‘Hello again!’ I gush, like we’re long-lost friends, not virtual strangers.

Without thinking, I stand up on tippy-toe, leaning forward, intending to air kiss his cheek. Somehow, like a paperclip drawn to a magnet, I’m pulled askew, my lips brushing his.

The effect on my body is like switching on an electrical grid, as every pore starts to buzz. His lips, so soft, moist, kissable; his musky scent, spinning a web around me; my body, pinging like a microwave with his strong physique mere centimetres away.

Suddenly, though, the sensual warmth, the heavenly breath, has been pried away and my lips are cold, bare. I flutter my eyelids open, honing in on his gaze, detecting a flicker of something in those liquid gold-like orbs before it dies.

He clears his throat, playing with a tortoiseshell cufflink. ‘That’s certainly not the kind of greeting I’m used to – especially from someone I barely know.’

Posted on

Guest blogger & a giveaway with Moira Rogers

THE BACKSTORY

From the time we announced the final Red Rock ebook in 2009, people have been asking us when we’d go back to the Sanctuary world and write more about werewolves and their witch rivals.  In the beginning we didn’t want to return–we had our four books and our two prequel novellas, and those were the stories we had to tell.  But people kept asking, and we kept saying, “Well, what if…okay, no, but maybe if…”

A watched pot never boils, and I’m starting to think a watched plot is the same way.  The harder we tried to force ourselves to come up with the right story, the more they slipped away.  Finally we set the idea aside for a while, reluctantly admitting that maybe it had been too long in any case.  We’d missed our window.  It was time to work on other–

BOOM!  That was our idea, knocking us head over heels.  It hit us so hard we sat down and wrote Haunted Sanctuary instead of the book we were supposed to be writing.   It wasn’t the story we’d originally imagined.  It takes place in a new town, with a new cast of characters, and is set several years after the end of Red Rock Pass.  You don’t have to be familiar with any of the previous books to pick up Haunted Sanctuary…

…but hey.  Any excuse to give away books is good for us!

 

THE BLOG TOUR

 

Thanks to the generosity of Samhain Publishing–and with the assistance of many awesome bloggers–we get to spend the next twenty days giving away 80 ebooks!  Those of you who haven’t read the Red Rock Pass books will have twenty different chances to win the entire set in the ebook format of your choice.

In honor of that, we’re going to be revisiting some of our favorite scenes from each of the four books…and maybe showing a few sneaky peeks at the next chapter in the Sanctuary Universe!

TODAY’S SNIPPET

Sanctuary Lost: Power Games Revisited

aka Revenge of the Underdogs
(or wolves, as the case may be)

Alphas have all the advantages, or so it can seem sometimes.  In the Sanctuary world, they’re tougher, stronger and more dangerous.  They heal  faster, move faster and when they want to, they can put weaker wolves in their place with just a few words–or a little bit of magic.

There doesn’t seem like much that can balance that, but everything has its downsides.  For the wolves who follow the older traditions, that power comes with a price.  The weight of responsibility can weigh heavy, and when protective urges are more instinct than thought, you can paralyze a strong wolf by threatening someone they care about.

Brynn is just as protective as anyone in Red Rock, but she has a different set of instincts driving her. And sometimes freedom from responsibility is as good as a secret weapon…

* * *

They made it two more steps before she stopped him again. “He’s an alpha, Dylan. What if I can’t fight him? The instincts are so damn strong and I don’t know how to control them. What if he tells me to do something and I just do it?”

He grasped her upper arms, bent to meet her eyes, and whispered hoarsely, “You try like hell, Brynn. That’s all either of us can do.”

She stared at him for an endless moment, and her terror gave way under the fierce determination in his eyes. Dylan was like her, and he’d risked everything to defy Alan Matthews and keep Abby safe. “Okay. Okay. Let’s do it.”

The front door creaked, and so did the stairs. Halfway up, mocking laughter rang out. “Come on up. We’ve been expecting you.”

Dylan hesitated, but only for a moment. Then he dragged Brynn up the rest of the stairs and ran for the sound of Alan’s voice, his gun at the ready.

Sam’s voice cut through a second before they hit the door, a pained, muffled scream that sounded like a denial. Then a sound Brynn recognized all too well—a fist hitting flesh.

They spilled through the door into a nightmare. Alan sat on the bed with Sasha at his feet, his hand wrapped tightly in her hair. On the other side of the room, three men were attempting to restrain Sam. Someone had bound her hands behind her back with brutal efficiency, but judging from the awkward angle of one of their arms and the blood and rising bruises on their faces, getting her under control had cost them.

A pleased grin spread over Alan’s face. “This is my best day ever,” he murmured, jerking Sasha’s hair a little as he watched Dylan and Brynn. “If Abigail dropped out of the sky and landed in my lap right now, life would truly be complete.” He winked at Brynn. “You made that happen once. Surely you can do it again.”

“No.” One word, but she put everything she had into it, everything she could summon up with the wolf howling a warning inside her, screaming at her to run.

Dylan twitched and raised his gun, ignoring the warning snarls from the men in the corner. “Let her go.”

“The witch?” Alan questioned with a laugh. “No. No, I don’t think so. They can do such interesting things.” He picked up a knife from the bed beside him. “Like this, for instance. If she tries, I’ll bet Samantha over there will recognize it. This”—he thumbed the blade lovingly—“will hurt even the strongest wolf. But the magic fades eventually. You have to…recharge them.” He tossed the knife behind him, and one of the three men with Sam caught it.

Alan turned his attention to Sasha. “So beautiful.” He pulled her head back and hit her across the mouth, chuckling when she recoiled with a cry. “I forgot how beautiful some humans can be.” His thumb traced her split lower lip. “So wounded.” Then he shrugged and licked his thumb clean. “And useful.”

Sam’s snarl of rage filled the room, and the ropes holding her arms snapped as she surged to her feet—

—and stopped again when Alan’s fingers closed around Sasha’s throat. “I can tear it out with my bare fingers,” he whispered, his eyes fixed on Sam’s face. “You remember, don’t you?”

Furious, helpless power raged through the room as the werewolves forced Sam to her knees again, and Brynn recognized the horrifying truth of Sam’s existence in one moment of insight. Left to her own devices, she could tear every man in this room apart—but the protective instincts that came with her power left her trapped in the face of someone else’s pain.

* * *
THE CONTEST


Leave a comment to if you’d like to be entered to win a set of the Red Rock Pass ebooks!  And keep an eye open for the new book, Haunted Sanctuary, on sale January 22nd from Samhain Publishing and available to pre-order at Samhain, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Amazon UK, Amazon DE, iTunes & Books on Board!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
/center>

Posted on

Guest blog & giveaway with Jayne Fresina


Researching the Living Past

I’ve always been fascinated with history. Growing up in England, in the historical market town of Huntingdon, I was surrounded by it. Huntingdon was the birthplace of Oliver Cromwell (who became Lord Protector in England after the civil war and execution of Charles I) and it was also once home to families like the Montagus – the Earls of Sandwich. Chartered by King John in 1205, the town has been around for a while! It’s just a short meander over a medieval bridge to the village of Godmanchester, where one of my sisters still lives with her family. There are 17th century half-timbered houses along the ancient causeway in Godmanchester. My sisters and I used to walk along to see if we could fit under the beams supporting the second floor of one house that hung over the pavement. I remember fitting under it until I was eleven and then I was too tall already and had to stoop unless I wanted to bang my head. Made me realize how much shorter people were once!

So I suppose, as a child, a lot of that historical detail seeped in without me actually realizing it and long before I ever thought I might use it to write historical romance. Later, living in Cambridge for a while and also in Nottingham and York, I spent a lot of time dawdling through my favorite museums, revisiting them whenever I could and had pennies to spare. I was very fortunate to live in those wonderful cities where history is preserved and celebrated. With a mind like a sponge I gleefully absorbed every drop.

Devouring books all my life has also helped stockpile quite a mass of historical detail in my little mind. I love biographies and recently read a wonderful one about Jane Austen. Whenever I read, I take notes. Tons of notes.

For me, these glimpses into the past —whether they came by reading a book, touring a castle ruin, or simply strolling down an amazing street like ‘The Shambles’ in York, where fourteenth century houses lean in as if a strong gust of wind might blow them down—have all contributed toward the treasure chest of research I open when I sit down to write. Once that knowledge is there it can pop out at me in the oddest moments and suddenly cause a jolt of inspiration.

Of course, when I’m in the midst of a story, I also research certain facts, phrases and details to make certain they are accurate for the period. For this purpose I’ve accumulated stacks of material and dog-eared books. There is one thing every writer has in common—they’re all voracious readers. They have to be.

At my bedside, while I was working on Miss Ellie Vyne’s story, I had the following pile of books: The Regency Underworld; Everyday Life in Regency and Victorian England; National Gallery of Art; The Mirror of Graces; Harriette Wilson’s Memoirs; A History of Food; An Elegant Madness – High Society in Regency England; Jane Austen Her Life; Six Centuries of Verse; Secrets of the Gypsies (hmm not sure why that’s there) and Change Your Underwear Twice a Week (hilarious book, nothing to do with Miss Ellie Vyne! Or is it?) I never know where I might find something that sparks an idea and with my eclectic tastes in reading…well…

Researching the period in which we write is incredibly important, not only so the reader can fully immerse themselves in the story without jarring anachronisms, but to bring our characters to life in a world of three-dimensional detail. Like an artist creating an oil painting, or a watercolor, a writer creates their world in layers and shades of light. It can’t be done without an enjoyment of history and that comes not just from books, but from breathing it in, from touching and tasting the past. In a sense, we have to walk that world and live with our characters in order to know them.

Most of all, I think, research has to be fun. If it isn’t, writing becomes a chore and I have enough of those to do already!

I’d like to leave you with a small excerpt from THE WICKED WEDDING OF MISS ELLIE VYNE. Ellie Vyne also has a love of books and wants nothing more than to retire to a room full of them, as she tells her childhood nemesis James Hartley in this scene. Naturally, she wouldn’t usually bother to tell the rake about her dreams for the future, but they’re both wearing masks and disguises tonight. And James is pickled. Since he doesn’t appear to recognize her, she feels free to spill her true thoughts for once.

 

           “I don’t really want a husband,” she said. “If I wanted one, I could have had one by now.”

           She had a heart-shaped face with a very determined chin. Her lips reminded him of sweet, fancy little sugar cakes served on fine china and handed around by silent butlers at very exclusive hotel teas. Delicate confections he would get a slap ’round the cheek for swallowing three at a time when his grandmother caught him in the act.

           The ice queen’s neck was slender and long, accen­tuated by that ridiculously tall wig. She most definitely had all her parts in their place, he thought, slowly admiring every inch of her swanlike neck and the jutting swell of bosom below it. Hoisted inward and upward by a tight corset, her shapely flesh was almost bursting out of its lace.

           A moment ago he’d been running away from women and conversation. In just a few short minutes he’d changed his mind about both. Could be the drink, he reasoned. Things often seemed most awe inspiring when under the influence of brandy.

           So, if she didn’t really want a husband…

           “Then what do you want?”

           “Isn’t it strange no one has ever asked me that before?” She looked down at her lap. “You’ll laugh.”

           “I most certainly will not.” He slammed a hand to his heart, hiccupping again. Inwardly he cursed himself for prompting her to tell. Now he’d hear all about a man who wouldn’t or couldn’t marry her. Or some such nonsense. And he’d listen patiently then reassure her that the fool didn’t know what a mistake he’d made. Finally, after spilling a few tears and borrowing his kerchief, or his sleeve, she’d run off back to the ball.

                Why couldn’t he have told her he didn’t care about her problems? No. He had to open his stupid mouth and ask, didn’t he?

                Softly she said, “I want a little room filled with books. There should be a fireplace and an old dog sleeping in a basket beside it. A few comfortable chairs with lots of pillows. All of it overlooking a pretty garden. A little place of my own, where no one ever bothers me. That’s all.”

                The pearls hanging from her ears were still now, her words forced out as if shy to be heard. Moonlight touched the smooth orbs of her bosom above the bodice of that elaborate ball gown, and James wistfully followed the rapid lift and fall with his woozy gaze.

                “Is that too much to ask?” she added.

                He hastily quelled another hiccup. “No. Not at all. Not at all.” That was all she wanted? He’d give her a house full of such rooms, he mused. Anything she wanted. “It seems you’d be a vast deal more economical to keep than most women I know.”

                “Do you mock me, sir?”

                “No!” he replied, wounded.

                “Kindly stop staring at my bosom.”

                He felt his face heat up. It was unusual for James Hartley to be flustered by a woman, and he didn’t like the sensation. “You chose to wear that style gown, I assumed you wanted them to be looked at.”

                Expecting a slapped face, he was surprised when she laughed. It was a delightful, smoky sound, deep and more than a trifle lusty. He didn’t know any women who laughed like that, unguarded and naughty. Or did he? He squinted hard at her lips, trying again to think coherently.

           “I suppose you’re right,” she conceded eventu­ally, her eyes two warm beacons of reflected starlight through her mask. “I wouldn’t have dressed this way if I didn’t want to be noticed.” Again he sensed she would never normally admit this. Because they were both hiding behind masks, it was permissible to speak with honesty.

           “And you wanted to be admired,” he pressed.

           “And…yes”—she inclined her head—“I wanted to be admired.”

           Leaning closer, he crushed her silk skirt with his thigh. “What’s your dog’s name?”

           “My dog?”

           “Old fellow. In the basket. By the fire.”

           “Oh.” She flushed prettily under the edges of her mask, and he got the sense she was surprised he’d paid attention. It ruffled her proud feathers to be proven wrong about him. “I haven’t got one yet.”

           “Why not?”

           “I haven’t got a home to keep him in.”

           He frowned, grasping her lacy sleeve tighter in his fist. “Where do you live then?”

           “Nowhere,” she said. “I wander.”

 

 

THE WICKED WEDDING OF MISS ELLIE VYNE

BY JAYNE FRESINA – IN STORES JANUARY 2013

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

When a Scandalous Lady…

By night Ellie Vyne fleeces unsuspecting aristocrats as the dashing Count de Bonneville. By day she avoids her sisters’ matchmaking schemes and dreams up torments for her childhood nemesis—the arrogant, far-too-handsome-for-his-own-good James Hartley. Her latest prank: “winning” the Hartley diamonds in a card game from James’s mistress.

Steals from a Notorious Rake…

James finally has a lead on the thieving Count de Bonneville, tracking him to a disreputable inn. He bursts in on none other than the brazen, irritating, nearly naked Ellie Vyne. Convinced she is the count’s mistress, James decides it’s best to keep his enemies close. Very close. He must get those diamonds back, and seducing Ellie will be the perfect bait.

It Can Only End in a Wicked Wedding…

 

Praise for The Wicked Wedding of Miss Ellie Vyne:

“[The characters] banter and quibble with comic perfection…” —Publishers Weekly

“Readers who adore wickedly funny, fast and sassy romances will delight in Fresina’s latest. The naughty desire-in-disguise theme, coupled with sharp, hilarious repartee, steals the reader’s heart…” —RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars

“Fresina brings a unique voice and perspective to the 1820s romance novel. Fans of Grace Burrowes and Amanda Quick will especially appreciate Fresina’s intriguing characters and humor.” —Booklist

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jayne Fresina sprouted up in England, the youngest in a family of four girls.  Entertained by her father’s colorful tales of growing up in the countryside, and surrounded by opinionated sisters— all with far more exciting lives than hers— she’s always had inspiration for her beleaguered heroes and unstoppable heroines. Her next novel in the Sydney Dovedale regency romance series, Lady Mercy Danforthe Flirts with Scandal, will be in stores in June 2013. For more information, please visit www.jaynefresina.com and check out her blog: http://jaynefresinaromanceauthor.blogspot.com/.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Posted on

Book Blitz: The Vendetta by E. Jamie

Blood Vows Book One- The Vendetta

E. Jamie

 Buy Links: No Boundaries Press / All Romance Ebooks / Amazon / Barnes And Noble

The O’Reiley’s and the Dardano families have always despised each other, turning New York City into a war zone and dividing the loyalties of the biggest families in organized crime. When mob princess Brianna O’Reiley’s husband is murdered under the patriarch Bernardo Dardano’s orders, she vows vengeance on the family that has destroyed hers.

Trying to regroup after her loss, Brianna leaves her young son William with her family and leaves the city to spend some time alone. A snow storm blows in and she crashes into another car on the road. Both she and the other driver are unharmed and take shelter from the storm where Brianna allows herself for just one night, to forget her tragedy in this stranger’s arms.

They part, neither knowing the other’s identity only to discover in a cruel twist of fate that the passionate stranger who helped her through her grief is none other than Alessandro Dardano, the eldest son of Bernardo, returned to New York from running his father’s business overseas to now take his place as Bernardo’s successor.

And Brianna is now pregnant with his child.

Excerpt:

Oh, come on! Her body whimpered. He stood there in black boxer briefs that hugged the tight cheeks of that ass she knew so well. In a tickling fit, she had bitten the right cheek playfully and the noise he had made was so hilarious that it had sent her into a fit of giggles. His lean waist grew into a broad, muscled back. She remembered feeling the shift and bunch of those muscles beneath her fingers, digging into the skin with her nails as he thrust powerfully above her.

He turned and went still when he saw her. His brown eyes held hers for what felt like a breathless eternity. She couldn’t speak, couldn’t look away.

Alessandro took a step towards her, and Bree jerked backwards, coming up painfully against the refrigerator door handle. He winced and moved to her side.

“Are you all right?” He asked, his fingers rubbing the sore spot in the center of her back.

Bree moaned in reply and shifted her body without thought so that his fingers lowered to the small of her back. He pressed there, bringing her body closer to him as a result.

“There?” he asked pressing in firm slow circles.

She nodded silently, feeling too good to ruin it with pesky things like arguing with him and remembering that she didn’t want him to touch her.

“I imagine carrying a baby is hard on your spine, eh?” He whispered, his breath caressing the top of her head.

“Mmm,” she said.

“Here,” he turned her around so that she was facing the wall and moved both hands to her hips, using his thumbs to massage his way upwards along the small bones of her spine.

She practically purred at the luxurious feeling, swaying a little bit so that she fell against him. She felt a very hard bulge against the cheeks of her ass and the memory of his hips snapping with relentless speed against her filled her pussy with wetness and her heart with want.

And her head with panic.

Bree pulled herself away from his fingers and jerked away from his body. Her blood raced and if her face was as flushed as Alessandro’s was, he knew what she had been remembering because he’d been recalling it too.

He lowered his head and shook it from side to side, giving her a rueful smile. “I find it so ironic that someone I think of as sometimes so brave to the point of stupidity could be so terrified of her own happiness,”

Bree felt the shot hit home, and she couldn’t look at him. She ran her finger along the marble topped of the island. “That’s ridiculous. Who in their right mind is afraid of being happy?”

“Someone who has lost too much,” he moved slowly towards her in gentle careful strides as if he was afraid of startling her.

Fair enough, she did tend to attack him when he tried to corner her, but for some reason, Bree just couldn’t tonight. The much too relaxing bubble bath must be making her sluggish.

“Someone who is so used to being told she caused too much pain to others to ever be worthy of happiness herself,”

Bree closed her eyes. “Shut up. Please, Alessandro.”

“No, darling,” A hand came up to cup her face. “I don’t dare shut up because you’re too important to me. What we feel is too important.” He tilted her head up to look at him. “My God, but you are the most exquisite thing I’ve ever seen. Don’t you know I would give up everything for you? Anything you wanted would be yours. Even my life, Brianna. I would willingly give up my life for yours. I love you that much,” he ran a thumb along her bottom lip. He lowered his head to hers. “We could be so happy, darling,” he gingerly kissed her, testing her.

Bree’s heart was too full of his words to stop him.

“I never feel half as alive as I do when I’m with you.”

He deepened the kiss for a moment, just enough to make her whimper when he withdrew. His hand moved to her breast, cupping it, running his palm against the too-sensitive nipple.

Bree felt heavy, drugged, open and wet…so wet.

“Let me make you happy, Brianna,” he sighed into her mouth, caressing the seam of her lips with his tongue.

Bree shook with the force of her need for him. Oh God, resisting him was so hard. He was so beautiful, so much stronger than she was, so determined.

And she didn’t feel half as alive when she wasn’t with him either.

She lowered her hand to the bulge in the tight material of his boxers, feeling the warm heat of his cock through the fabric.

Alessandro growled into her mouth and pinched her nipple with his thumb and forefinger.

“Yes…” she sighed arching backwards against the island, cold and hard compared to the warm solid body in front of her.

The only sound in the dark room was their breathing and the low hum of the refrigerator.

Alessandro gave a soft grunt of triumph before capturing her mouth for a thorough, devastating kiss that shook Bree all the way to her toes. His hands dug into her hips and he lifted her onto the island, pushing the robe up her thighs. Her breasts were closer to his mouth at this height, and he watched her eyes as he lowered the material of her robe off her shoulders, waiting for her to stop him. To say no.

Bree didn’t say no. She’d lived in a miserable fog for too long. It was as if Alessandro’s hands on her, his body on hers was the only thing that sent her blood pumping.

She bit back a cry when his mouth took her nipple with delicious, sinful determination. Her sleeping son briefly tickled the edges of her lust hazed mind, and Bree pressed her lips tightly to keep quiet. Her pussy opened greedily, waiting, demanding. Her legs locked around Alessandro’s waist, drawing him closer. He angled his hips so that his cock could rub against her center.

“Brianna,” he groaned against the damp skin of her breast as his hand moved down her swollen belly, caressing it for a moment. They both stopped when a soft flutter responded to his touch. Alessandro met her gaze. “How beautiful to feel one’s own child,” He dropped a kiss to her belly. “I can’t wait to meet you, my baby,”

Oh, God, he was killing her. Her pussy actually gushed a little at the sweet passion in his voice.

Bree wrapped herself in the warmth of his words and the love in his eyes.

At the considerable impediment, he had to pull back. His fingers caressed the soaked petals of her pussy, and he looked up at her hesitantly. “I’m not…sure…If I…well, is it gonna hurt the baby?”

“No. No it won’t. Please…” Bree sighed greedily for his finger to push into her.

He slid a finger into her, and Bree arched backwards so that she was practically laying on the island. He moved slowly, rubbing her clitoris in slow circles.

“Alessandro,” she sighed, putting all of her love and desire into that one name.

He gave a short chuckle as he pumped his finger. “It feels like I’m saying hello to him,”

Bree’s burst of laughter was choked off by the tight hiss of her approaching orgasm. “Oh…” she moaned then bit her fist to keep from crying out when his mouth joined his thrusting finger. He pulled his finger out right before she went over the edge, leaving her panting and desperate. His hands cupped her bottom, lifting her slightly to his mouth.

“Let me know if I’m hurting you,” he whispered before thrusting his tongue into her pussy.

She wished she could reach down and grab his head and keep him there forever, but then she was spinning and falling over the edge and using all her willpower not to scream.

His tongue fucked her with growing speed and his lips sucked at her as he pumped her with his mouth, making her nerves scream in delight.

You love him, you love him. Let yourself love him. Nothing else matters. Tell him you love him. Her heartbeat pounded out the words in quick relentless beat. Let the two of you fight your obstacles together.

“Alessandro, I…I…,” she shivered as panic warred with her soul.

He stepped back and gathered her up against him.

Still, Bree couldn’t say the words. So she did the next best thing, she eased her hand past the waistband of his boxers and ran her mouth along his jaw as she cupped his thick cock. “Your turn,” she whispered in his ear before motioning for him to help her off the island.

Reviews:

“The foreplay between Alessandro and Bree is ongoing with each argument, glance across a room, or thought and the sex between the two boils over as soon as they make physical contact.” –Just Erotic Romance 5/5 stars http://www.justeroticromancereviews.com/book-review.cfm?bookID=988436381&reviewID=8967&sNav=nav03-06&CFID=64317832&CFTOKEN=98067190

“How can these two heal the blood feud and have a normal life together when Bree knows Alessandro’s family killed her husband, the father of her son Will? How can Alessandro keep his somewhat psychotic brother from harming Bree and Will? This is the background for this unconventional love story…”-Manic Readers Reviews 4.5/5 stars http://www.manicreaders.com/index.cfm?disp=reviews&bookid=25291

 

 

About The Author:

E. Jamie lives in Toronto Canada and loves roaming the streets of her vibrant city to feed her muse. She loves penning passionate tales across all erotic sub genres from contemporary to historicals that leave the bedroom door wide open! She’s always thrilled to hear from her readers at her website www.authorejamie.wordpress.com

Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Amazon

Posted on

Spotlight Feature of Protect Me by Lila Hart

Protect Me

Lila Hart

Buy Link

Danielle meets handsome African American soldier Kevin and they have an instant attraction to each other.  Kevin discovers that Danielle is a shy woman, and he is determined to pull out her sexy side.

A hurricane strikes their town, and he uses that as his chance to protect her and use his handcuffs to show her how much fun being trapped inside during a hurricane can really be.

 Excerpt:

“I’ll be right here all night”, he reassured her.

They kissed for a moment before he felt her hands slip under his shirt.  He took that cue to take his shirt off, and he loved when she stared appreciatively at his muscular chest and abs.  She ran her hand over his chest and he groaned softly.  She stepped back for a moment and slipped out of her robe.  Underneath she wore black lacy boy shorts and a black bra, which her creamy white breasts spilled out of.  His cock was already hard, but everything she did seemed to make him even more aroused.

“Wow”, he said softly.

“Is this ok?” She asked shyly, “I didn’t know what you liked.”

“I love it”, he replied honestly, “You’re beautiful.”

He walked behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.   He leaned down and began to kiss the back of her neck.  She moaned softly, and his hands moved over her stomach to caress her breasts.  He nibbled her ear as he whispered in it.

“You must know how sexy you are”, he whispered, “Can you feel me?”

She moved her hand back to stroke his cock, and he sighed with relief.  He’d been waiting for her to touch him all night.   He turned her towards the bed gently.

“Lie on your stomach”, he said.

He knew that she was confused by his request, but she listened to it. As she lay down, he unhooked the back of her bra and rubbed her back gently. She was so sexy that he planned on taking his time exploring her body.  Thunder rumbled through the house, and he felt her body tremble. He wasn’t sure if it was fear or his touch making her tremble, but the thought of her being aroused excited him further.

“It’s ok baby”, he said soothingly.

He moved from rubbing her back to kissing it gently.  He ran his tongue slowly from the base of her spine to the back of her neck, and she surprised him by moaning loudly.  He licked her earlobe as he heard her voice.

 

About the Author:

I live in Connecticut, but was born and raised a New Yorker.  Writing is both a passion and a way to express myself.  Another passion of mine is fitness, and I am a part time fitness instructor.  Guilty pleasures are wine tours, dining out, and getting up late when I’m not teaching class.  I’m really looking forward to interacting with other writers and readers about my work.

Posted on

Spotlight Feature: Blurred Expectation by Carrie Ann Ryan

*****

****

***

**

*

Blurred Expectations

Amazon |  B&N |  ARe |  Kobo 

Blurb:

Hannah Jamenson has babies on the brain. It seems that her sisters-in-law are expanding their family in the blink of an eye, but Hannah  feels left behind. Every time that little test reads negative a little part of her dies and she feels like her Healing powers are failing her. Her mates, Josh and Reed, are doing everything they can to help her deal with their trials and losses, but they too feel like there is nothing they can do.

Just when the lines of what they mean to each other go out of focus, an enemy from Josh’s past is back to prove the things that go bump in the night are real and everything they had held dear is now in jeopardy. In order to fight back and find their way, they’ll need to put everything on the line before they lose it all.

Author’s Note: This is a novella set between books 4 and 5 to give you a taste of Reed, Josh, and Hannah. It is best that you have already immersed yourselves in the Redwood Pack world, however even new readers will enjoy a glimpse of the Redwood’s favorite triad.

 

 

 

A little 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

Posted on

Interview & giveaway with Cindy Gerard

Books-n-Kisses is super excited to have Cindy Gerard on the blog today to chat about life, her new book KILLING TIME and a bonus to the One-Eyed Jacks series.

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

As I’ve told other interviewers. I’m pretty boring and lead a fairly uneventful life.  I’m a home body.  Nothing makes me happier than being with family and friends.  I love the water and treasure our family trips to our cabin in northern Minnesota where I’m generally either on the water or on the dock or in the water every day.  I love to read but rarely have time for it any more .  Adore our 2 cats and our dog who usually keep me company in my office when I work and I’ve recently added a 90 gallon fresh water aquarium to my office for those times when I need some really zen moments LOL

Have you always wanted to be an author?

No.  I was a reader.  I love to read but one day the bug to write hit me and I’ve been going full steam ever since.

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

I write best in my office or our screened porch.  So winter finds me inside and at my desk around 8:00 every morning until after 5:00 every day.  Weekends too if a deadline is looming.  And if I’m on a crash deadline, I’ll work 16 – 17 hours a day for several weeks and live basically on chocolate and cheetos LOL to get the job done.

Most challenging or rewarding part of writing?

Always coming up with something fresh and exciting is the most challenging.  I feel I owe it to my readers to make each book as good as or better than the last one.  And I worry, all that time, that, for whatever reason, I won’t make that happen.

Can you please tell us about your latest book, KILLING TIME?

For the seven years after Operation Slam Dunk went south, Mike Brown got drunk on each anniversary. The eighth year was no different-until he was drugged by a woman and woke up to her questions about what had happened eight years ago in Afghanistan. CIA attorney Eva Salinas has her own theory behind what happened to Mike’s team-which included her husband-in Afghanistan eight years ago, and she’s determined to prove foul play. Though she doesn’t trust him, Mike is the only person she can turn to for help. Under an assumed name, Eva convinces Mike to assemble a new team and go after the traitor who screwed up both their lives. As they track down the rogue who started it all, Eva and Mike discover they can’t live without each other. But can they stay alive while an enemy is still on the loose?  KILLING TIME is a redemption story for both the hero and the heroine.  I had so much fun writing this book  While the subject matter is grave and of a serious nature, the by play between Mike and Eva had me grinning.  I hope everyone enjoys it.

Check out Kelly’s review of Killing Time HERE

How did you come with the idea for this story?

As always, it was a process. I thought I wanted Mike to have his own story when he showed up in WITH NO REMORSE, Book 6 of my Black Ops series.  When he wheedled his way into Book 7 – LAST MAN STANDING –  too, I knew he had to have a book.  So it was all about building a story around him.  He was so irreverent and funny … and, I suspected, wounded.  And boy, was he.

Can you share with us your current work in progress?

Gladly!  I had initially planned 2 more books in the series – RUNNING BLIND and TAKING FIRE.  I’ve since been given the opportunity to write a 4th book, one that will come out next December (just in time for Christmas!!) that’s a bonus book in the series.  I’m so excited about THE WAY HOME, which is what I’m working on now.  It’s a homecoming story featuring Tyler Brown (Mike’s brother) and is a little different book than I usually write.  Still romance, still suspense, still features our black ops warriors, but THE WAY HOME has a little something extra … something that  is leading me on  a very special journey as I write it.

 Who are some of your favorite authors?

That’s an impossible question to answer as I have so many, some in the romance genre, some not.  I cut my teeth on LaVryle Spencer and Sandra Brown and they remain among my favorites.

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

Absolutely.  I’ve read and reread many of my favorites so many times both for pleasure and to study how they did what they did so beautifully.

Open your book to a random page and tell us what’s happening.  KILLING TIME: Mike Brown (HERO) and Eva Salinas (Heroine) are racing away from a hotel where there had been an attempt to assassinate them and heading for the airport in Lima Peru to, hopefully out run the bad guys and catch a flight for the US where they hope they can figure out who is after them and why.

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

I’m always waiting for the next Debra Webb FACES OF EVIL book!

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I really appreciate the invitation to visit today and hope everyone will give this book a try.  Of all the books I’ve written (almost 50) this might possibly be my personal favorite.  Of course, I say that (and mean it) every time I finish a book LOL

Killing Time

 (One Eyed Jacks #1)

Publisher:  Pocket Books
Publication date:  January 22, 2013

Amazon | B&N | Simon & Shuster

An exciting new series featuring Mike “Primetown” Brown, a character from her popular

“Black Ops, Inc.” series.

For the seven years after Operation Slam Dunk went south, Mike Brown got drunk on each anniversary. The eighth year was no different–until he was drugged by a woman and woke up to her questions about what had happened eight years ago in Afghanistan. CIA attorney Eva Salinas has her own theory behind what happened to Mike’s team–which included her husband–in Afghanistan eight years ago, and she’s determined to prove foul play. Though she doesn’t trust him, Mike is the only person she can turn to for help. Under an assumed name, Eva convinces Mike to assemble a new team and go after the traitor who screwed up both their lives. As they track down the rogue who started it all, Eva and Mike discover they can’t live without each other. But can they stay alive while an enemy is still on the loose?

Read an Excerpt

Giveaway Time: 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Grand Prize: 

There is also a Grand Prize drawing of a $25.00 Gift Card (Amazon or B&N) and an autographed copy of KILLING TIME for one lucky winner that follows the tour and leaves a comment at every stop.

To enter the Grand Prize drawing CLICK HERE!

Want more chances to win?  
Check out the other stops on Cindy’s book tour here

KILLING TIME Blog Tour Schedule

 1/14 – Books-n-Kisses

1/15 –  Under the Covers

1/16 –  Just Romantic Suspense

1/17 –  United by Books

1/18  – Reading Between the Wines

1/19 –  – Book Monster Reviews / Literal Addiction

1/20 –  Book Lovin Mamas

1/21 – The Reading Café

1/22 – Cocktails and Books

1/23 – Romancing the Book

1/24 – Ramblings From This Chick

1/25 – Sizzling Hot Books

1/26 – Bookworm 2 Bookworm (Review)

1/27 – Bookworm 2 Bookworm (Interview)

1/28 – All Things Books

1/29 – RR@H Novel Thoughts

1/30 – Romance Crush Junkies

1/31 –  Pimpin’ Reads

2/01 –  The Book Nympho

Posted on

Interview with Hanna Martine

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Hanna Marine to the blog today to chat about her newest release A TASTE OF ICE.

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

Sure! Some random tidbits … I do not like practical jokes or pranks. I was on a competitive college dance team. I can’t stand mixing crunchy foods with soft (granola in yogurt and chocolate chips in ice cream are the worst offenders). I think Before Sunrise and Before Sunset are two of the most romantic movies ever made. I met my husband in a bar.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

Always! I remember writing stories and plays in grade school–as early as third grade–and thinking that the only career that would ever make me happy would be a writer. I thought it would be so easy to accomplish. How little did I know! But the sweat and (literal) tears have been worth it.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

Hmmm. I edit on paper and I have to use a really, really sharp pencil to do it. It’s labor intensive and takes a long time, but it’s the best way for me to really examine the structure of the story, to see where I’ve made all my changes, and to concentrate best on the prose.

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

My newest book is A Taste of Ice, the second in my paranormal romance series, The Elementals. Xavier is the last of his race left on Earth. He wants nothing more than to fit into the human world, and to do that he has sworn off magic and women. Enter Cat, a gorgeous artist, who tests his resolve and ignites a desire he never thought he would feel. Only he suspects her of being a water elemental, the very race that held him in slavery before he escaped. Just when they begin to trust each other, a new threat emerges, one that hunts them both and puts their entire secret world at risk.

It’s an emotionally intense story that, at times, wrung me out while writing it. I’m very proud of it.

You can read more about it here (including the first two chapters): http://www.hannamartine.com/taste-of-ice.php

How did you come with the idea for this story?

The world of the Elementals is based on classic elemental magic (earth, air, fire, water), which has always fascinated me. I wanted to write about subversive cultures and hidden worlds mixed in with our own. With Xavier, I challenged myself to write a paranormal hero who wasn’t all muscled out and whose biggest battles were not fought with his fists. For A Taste of Ice, my goal was to heal a man who seemed impossible to reach. I love when opposites attract, find common ground, and lift each other up, so I knew I had to make Xavier’s true love wear the face of his former enemy.

For each Elementals novel, I switch locales and make the story self-contained. A Taste of Ice is set in a snowy mountain town during a big film festival. The setting (ice, snow, etc.) really helped push the plot into areas I might not have considered before.

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

I am writing my first contemporary romance, Long Shot, which is set against the backdrop of the Scottish Highland Games in the mountains of New Hampshire. It releases October 2013 and I’m really excited about it! It’s about Jen, a big-time event planner in New York City who is called back to the New Hampshire town of her youth to save the local Highland Games. When she returns, she finds Leith, the boy she left ten years earlier to chase her dreams, is still there. A local hero and former athletic champion of the games (throwing giant stones and hammers and long tree trunks carved into cabers), he is finally leaving his hometown to start a new life elsewhere, until the love of his life suddenly reappears, begging him to compete again and kickstarting his heart.

I know I’m not supposed to play favorites with my fictional men, but Leith MacDougall might be up at the top of my list of heroes. It’s all about the kilt, baby.

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

This is actually a funny story. I did, sort of, meet my favorite author. I adore Jacqueline Carey–her Kushiel series pretty much changed my life–so when I learned she was going to be at WorldCon this past Labor Day (as was I), I got giddy. The day I was set to sign my first book, Liquid Lies, I was approaching the table where the previous signing authors were vacating their spots. Ms. Carey was getting up from her chair right in front of me. She looked right at me, smiled and said hi … and I just said hi back, ducked my head, and shuffled on. Completely starstruck. Completely humiliating. My one good chance and I squandered it. I can laugh about it now. Sort of.

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

Find amazing critique partners. This can take some time, but it is so, so worth it to find those precious few fellow writers who not only get you and what you want to do with your writing, but who aren’t petty, who genuinely want to help you, and who are smart as hell. It is important you learn how to take constructive criticism, how to step back and apply it to your writing, and not automatically get defensive.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.

Go on an African safari! It just seems so incredibly exotic.

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

I can’t believe I haven’t yet read Endgame, the final Sirantha Jax book, by Ann Aguirre. It downloaded on my Kindle the day it came out and I have yet to read it. I think I’m scared to finish the series. I don’t want it to end. I want to savor it.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I also dabble in erotic romance, and I have a short story out next week in the Cleis Press anthology Only You: Erotic Romance for Women.

Thank you so much for having me! I love hearing from readers.

Website | Facebook |  Twitter |   Goodreads

 


Amazon | B&N

There is an untapped world of magic that any man would covet… 

Five years ago, Xavier escaped from the Ofarian Plant. Today he calls a Colorado mountain town home. It’s there he buries himself in his work, swearing off magic and relationships—until a woman threatens every promise he’s made to himself.

Cat has always known she is different. Water speaks to her on an uncanny level, and she channels this gift into beautiful painted waterscapes. Now, a gallery is debuting her work in Colorado—and it’ll reveal far more about her than she imagined.

The spark between Cat and Xavier is enough to throw both of them off balance. Every tantalizing moment sends them dangerously close to a rising flood of desire. Dangerous because Xavier comes to suspect that Cat is an Ofarian—his people’s enemy. But they’re both about to discover a far greater, more malicious power at play.

Posted on

Bayou Heat Tour Stop with Laura Wright & Alexandra Ivy

COVER LOVER

Alexandra and I commissioned the amazingly talented, Tricia ‘Pickyme’ Schmitt to create our Bayou Heat covers. We wanted them to be incredible, sexy, evocative, and have that special something extra that draws readers. And as always Trish produced that and more. I actually told her recently to please start thinking about the next 3 covers in the series because I just love seeing her work J

Cover art, to me anyway, is priority #1 (after a great book, of course) when putting out a novel. It’s the very first thing we see as readers, and it must tell us about what is inside. The very best of what is inside J

So, what do you think?

Does the cover sway you one way or another?

And while we’re at it and for a BAYOU HEAT SWAG BAG

Which Bayou Heat cover is your favorite?

New Year. New World. New Species.

LEGEND OF THE PANTERA

Hidden in the depths of the Louisiana bayous, the Pantera,  have become little more than a legend to most humans. It’s rumored that in the ancient past twin sisters, born of magic, had created a sacred land and claimed it as their own. From that land was born creatures who were neither human or animal, but a mixture of the two. Faster and stronger than humans, they have hyper acute senses, and when surrounded by the magic of the Wildlands they’re capable of shifting into pumas. It was also whispered that they possess other gifts. Telepathy, witchcraft, immortality, and the ability to produce a musk that could enthrall mere mortals. Mothers warned young girls never to roam alone near the swamps, convinced that they would be snatched by the Pantera, while young men were trained to avoid hunting anywhere near the protected Wildlands. Not that the warnings were always successful. What girl didn’t dream of being seduced by a gorgeous, mysterious stranger? And what young man didn’t want to try his skill against the most lethal predators?

As the years passed, however, the sightings of the Pantera became so rare that the rumors faded to myths. Most believed the entire species had become extinct. Sadly they weren’t entirely mistaken…

A little about your authors:

About Laura:

Author of the Bestselling Mark of the Vampire series, Laura Wright spent the early years of her life immersed in the worlds of singing, acting and competitive ballroom dancing. But when she started writing, she knew she’d found her true calling. Laura lives in Los Angeles, California with her husband, two children, three dogs, two frogs and two fish. She’s been thrice nominated for a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award, and loves hearing from her readers.

 

Connect with Laura:

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

About Alexandra:

Alexandra Ivy is the New York Times bestselling author of the Guardians of Eternity series, the Immortal Rogues series and the Sentinels.

Alexandra graduated from Truman University with a degree in theatre before deciding she preferred to bring her characters to life on paper rather than stage. She currently lives in Missouri with her extraordinarily patient husband and teenage sons.

Connect with Alexandra:

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

Posted on

Book Blitz: The Unicorn and the Serpent by Ellie Potts

The Unicorn and The Serpent

Ellie Potts

Buy Links: Publisher / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Princess Morgan, wild and fiery, heir to her father’s throne, can best any man with a sword. Now a woman she is fearful of being Queen and marriage. But when visitors from a different kingdom show up Morgan is faced with big changes. Faced with loss, love and some touches of magic Morgan has to become the Queen she is meant to be or succumb to a life worse than death.

 

Excerpt:

“Out here is the training area,” Cormack said, opening the old wooden door and walking onto a small wooden platform. They all looked down, watching the two fighting in the ring.

“King Cormack, your man is fighting in a dress,” Prince Philip said, stunned.

“Watch,” he said, as Morgan threw the helmet from her head.

“I will make you wear it, Ryan,” she said, angrily. She spun in a blur, sword hitting against Coyle’s.

The women gasped and the men stared in shocked silence. The guards and Morgan all went still, looking up. Ryan took her sword, and they all bowed, except for Morgan; she gave a slight nod of her head.

“Hello, Father, will you join us?”

“No. You know I do not fancy the sword as much as you do. And do not let us stop you,” he said.

“You let her play with the men?” King Henry asked, not holding the shock from his voice.

“She is my second,” he said.

“Because she is your heir?”

“Because she is the best sword fighter ever seen,” he said, smiling down at his daughter. She gave him a small salute with the sword, to thank him for his praise.

“But she is a woman,” Henry said.

“A girl? And you say she is the best of all your men? That does not make them seem very good, does it? I mean, a woman cannot be better than a man at many things, other than music and sewing,” Philip said.

“You can ask all my men. They are all very good with a sword, but they will tell you she can beat any of them. She has been fighting since she was a child.”

“You let your daughter fight?” Queen Jaylene said, stunned.

“I gave her a wooden sword. It was carved by my great-grandfather and passed down from father to child since.”

“I have never been beaten by a girl. And will never, for the sake of our sex, let it be said that a girl can beat a man,” Philip said.

“I should have died if I were to have a girl and find her fighting,”

Jaylene said.

“She does carry herself very well,” Cormack said.

Prince Philip looked down at the woman with curly, auburn hair. She watched them with dark emerald eyes that sparkled like jewels. He saw a fire in those eyes he did not agree with. He felt a need to tame her like a horse. She would make a wonderful trophy; even if, perhaps, she was not as beautiful as some of the other women in his circle. It would mean more land to add to his Father’s, one that produced very well.

“I challenge the princess,” he said. “I wish to see if she is really as good as the praise.”

The guards all murmured below. Coyle nudged her. “You have been challenged,” he whispered. “Will you accept?”

“Have I ever turned down a challenge?”

“Not once.”

“I accept your challenge, Prince Philip.”

 

About the Author:

Somebody told Ellie Potts you had to be rich to be eccentric otherwise you were just crazy. She set out to prove them wrong doing things she was told she couldn’t do like dressing like a pirate, get her books published, playing video games, planning to survive a zombie apocalypse, and other antics most women stay away from. Her love of books motivate her and movies captivate her. She loves almost everything from Disney to George Romero. She lives in California’s Central Valley where most of her stories and books take place. Her and her husband are owned by their attack Bugg, and her two red eared slider turtle minions who live in the backyard.

Blog / Facebook

Posted on

Interview & Giveaway with Carly Phillips

Books-n-Kisses is super excited to have first time guest Carly Phillips on the blog today…  We are chatting about life, her new book PERFECT FIT and page 89!!!!

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

I’m a stay at home mom who used to be a lawyer, who turned into a romance writer and never looked back! I have 2 daughters, age (almost) 21 and 16, a husband, and two dogs (Wheaten Terrier and Havanese).  I love love love to read, I’m always online, I occasionally knit, and enjoy shopping and being with close friends!

Have you always wanted to be an author?

Not always.  I was a lawyer for a (short) time, and always a huge reader.  Once I found the Romance genre as a reader, I knew what was missing from my life, somehow I decided to try my hand at writing, and from that day forward, I KNEW that was what I was meant to do! Looking back, I did make up stories in my head when I was younger, so the tendencies were there all along.  I just didn’t know it!

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

I wake up at 6 and my youngest leaves for high school at 7.  I try to get on the treadmill for 30 minutes, then shower and sit down to write … errands after 11/11:30, a boring lunch at home, usually peanut butter and jelly on whole wheat, unless I go out with a friend for lunch, then home to try and write some more.  My schedule has been really messed up lately because my dad passed away and I’m having trouble getting my mind back on work.  But my daughter drives now, so I don’t have to run around for school pickup, so dinner, and hanging out w/my husband …we watch TV, DVR’s of shows we missed, then when he falls asleep I like to hang out with my daughter for a little before she goes to bed.  I need to be asleep between 10 and 11 or I’m nasty the next day.  All that’s an ideal schedule for me but like I said, life can get in the way and all bets are off.  I’m looking to find my routine and mojo again.

I’m usually on the computer all the time, so always working in one way or another!    I love my Macbook Air and I really can only write on that but luckily that means I can work anywhere!

Most challenging or rewarding part of writing?

When a story clicks and I finally nail something I’ve been struggling with, then all the angst is worth it! That’s really rewarding.  The most challenging for me is usually the first half of the book.  I find getting all the elements together the hardest.

Can you please tell us about your latest book?

Perfect Fit is a part of the town of Serendipity.  It’s the first book where you meet Mike, but you’ve met his brother Sam in Karma, along with Mike’s heroine, Cara Hartley.  Cara spoke to me and needed a hero.  In Perfect Fit, you’re introduced to the entire Marsden Clan, the “cops of Serendipity” hence the subtitle Serendipity’s Finest.  Mike feels like the odd man in his family, the only one who doesn’t fit in because he’s been adopted by the man who raised him and never felt good enough because his own dad abandoned him.  Despite his feelings, he’s close with his parents and siblings and though he left home to make his own way as a cop, he returns when his adoptive father needs him, never expecting to stay long.  But Mike didn’t count on Cara.  She’s a Serendipity cop with whom he had a one night stand, and she’s his brother’s best friend. She’s also a small town girl and Mike’s a wanderer, or so he thinks.  But when they can’t ignore the sexual tension between them, they figure an affair is the answer – until an unexpected emotional connection continues to grow.  Then Mike’s real father’s secrets come back to haunt him and he has to confront who he really is – and wants to be – or lose Cara for good.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

Luckily for me, readers really seemed to like the town of Serendipity, where I set the first three books about the Barron Brothers in Serendipity, Destiny and Karma, so I got to write Mike and Cara’s story! Next we’ll get Mike and Sam’s sister Erin in Perfect Fling (8/2013) and then Sam himself in Perfect Together (2/2014).

Can you share with us your current work in progress?

I’m currently writing Perfect Fling, which is the story of Erin Marsden and her hero, Cole Sanders.  There’s an excerpt in the back of Perfect Fit for this story which is out in August 2013 and I can say it’s another one night stand, this one with far reaching consequences!  Then I write Perfect Together, Sam’s story.  After that, we’ll see! I’m as curious as you 🙂

Who are some of your favorite authors?

My current fav author is Kristen Ashley – I’ve read everything she’s written and would devour anything she writes in the future!  I also have my staple authors, my plotmonkey partners – Janelle Denison, Leslie Kelly, Julie Leto.  And I’ve been on an erotic romance kick – so Raine Miller and Cheri Lynn.

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

Wow. Good question! “Growing up” I really aspired to write along the lines of authors I admired in the contemporary romance genre.  These days, I think I’ve found my voice and do what I do – however I do find my heroes like to be a little more dominating lately … could be my reading influencing things? J

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

I opened to page 89 –

Cara was coming out of her skin, every exposed body part needing something more.  But the further she writhed beneath him, the harder he held her down in one place, pressing into her with his taut, hard body.  The man did like his control, she thought, twisting her hips against him in search of relief.

Ummm … I think the passage speaks for itself 🙂

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

Hmmmm …. I have to say you stumped me.  I’m currently not finding much to read, waiting (im)patiently for something I’ve preordered and probably forgotten to pop onto my iPad Kindle app! LOL.  I have a bad memory J  But on Saturdays on my Facebook Fan Page, I ask people what they’re reading and we share books – I can get upwards of 200 ideas that way! So I urge people who love to read romance to join us there! www.facebook.com/carlyphillipsfanpage

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Thank you for having me! I really enjoyed your questions!

 

A little about Carly:

Carly Phillips has written over 35 romance novels with contemporary characters and small town settings that today’s readers identify with and enjoy.  She’s currently focused on the New York Times bestselling Serendipity series set in the small fictional town in upstate, New York.  Carly is a writer, a knitter of sorts, a wife, and a mom to two daughters (16 and 20!) and two crazy dogs (a 1 year old Havanese named Brady and a 5 year old wheaten terrier named Bailey).  In addition, she’s a Twitter, Facebook and Internet junkie and is always around to interact with her readers.   Carly lives in Purchase, New York and would love for you to like and follow her on the web.

Where to find Carly:

Carly’s Website |  Carly on Twitter |  Carly on Facebook 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Posted on

Interview & Giveaway with Stacey Kennedy

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to have our pal Stacey Kennedy on the blog today to chat about her newest release The Cat’s Meow.  

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

I live in Southwestern Ontario with my husband who gave me my happily ever after. We have two small children who keep me on my toes and can always make me smile. But we also have basically a zoo at our house with one dog and three cats. I love the outdoors, camping, curling up with the latest flick, and Sons of Anarchy, Games of Thrones, Supernatural and Dexter.

My urban fantasy romance novels are lighthearted fantasy with heart squeezing, thigh-clenching romance, and even give a good chuckle every now and again. But within the stories you’ll find fast paced action, emotions we can all relate to, life threatening moments and a big bad villain that needs to be destroyed.

My erotic romance novels are just that…erotic. There is nothing better than taking the dominant men I love and watching them do wicked things to their women. I make the stories as hot as I possibly can and usually the characters take it a step further to even make my cheeks blush. But I just can’t write without a little humor added into the mix so that’s always a must have in my stories. And of course, what’s a story without a big dose of emotional characters, too.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

Nope. My journey as a writer all began as a way to keep my brain alive since being a stay at home mom can be a little let’s say―numbing. It was an escape from screaming kids, dirty diapers and plain old mom duty.  It started as a hobby, but as the stories progressed it became a passion, especially when it comes down to the juicy bits. Every mom needs a good thrill!

Who are some of your favorite writers? Who do you feel has influenced your writing?

I adore Katie MacAlister’s dragon series and Sylvia Day’s Crossfire novels. I love Jennifer L. Armentrout’s Lux series. Jeaniene Frost is an auto-buy for me and I adore the Night Huntress world, especially Vlad. But Keri Arthur is, by far, my favorite author and who inspires me the most. I love everything about her books; the mystery, the sexual tension and the fantasy elements. Her Riley Jenson Guardian novels were the books that made me fall in love with the genre. Now, I’m totally obsessed with her Dark Angels novels and just can’t get enough!

How did you get into writing in this specific genre?  Have you ever thought about writing in a different genre?

I write in the urban fantasy romance genre, because I adore it. It’s my favorite genre to read and I honestly have a total blast writing it. I’m totally one of those authors who write because I have fun doing it. All of my books are written for my own personal enjoyment and it just makes me so happy that other people enjoy them, too.

The other genre I write in is BDSM erotic romance. What can I say, I have a thing for the Alpha male!  I wouldn’t even attempt to write in any other genre…right now. Who knows what will happen down the road and if my interests will change, but right now, these genres are my addiction.

What are some of your writing rituals?

Coffee. That’s it, that’s all. I always need either a plain old coffee, or a yummy treat from Starbucks, before I can even think of writing a word. Once I have a coffee, I’m ready to get those words written.

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

My newest release is The Cat’s Meow. It’s an urban fantasy romance, which means it has a mystery at the core of the book and lots of those fun twists and turns. Of course, I need a little romance in there, too.

Here’s a peek at it:

Libby is an Enchantress—a witch gifted by the Goddess to conjure spells. When a magical presence is detected around a recent string of feline slayings, Libby takes the case to uncover the reasons behind the odd deaths. Much to her displeasure, the coven also sends a sexy warlock, Kale, to assist her.

While having the muscle around proves to be useful, fighting the attraction between them is worse than a hex, especially considering Kale is keeping secrets. But soon, Libby has bigger problems than the elusive warlock when her spells turn up clues that point to something far more sinister than slaughtered cats.

Now Libby has landed herself in the midst of an uprising. She trusts no one and isn’t safe—not from the warlocks stirring up trouble. Not from the worrisome rebellion she can’t escape. And certainly not from Kale, who is weaving a very dangerous spell over her heart.

Check out BnK’s review of The Cat’s Meow HERE

How did you come with the idea for this story?

Libby came to me first. To be honest, I thought the idea of having a witch, who uses magical spells and hunts the bad guys would just be a really fun book to write. And I was right—I had a total blast writing Libby and Kale.

After I figured Libby out, Kale came to me…and then he took over! The plot, all the little twists to the story, just fell into place after Kale’s first appearance in the book.

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

I have an insanely busy schedule over the next few months. I’m nearly finished the third book in The Pact of Seduction series (Loose Id). Once I get that off to my editor, I plan to write the second book in Witch’s Brew series (Entangled), then I’ll get down to starting the second book in the Club Sin series (Random House/Loveswept). So, yes, busy times ahead, but oh so fun!

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

 

“Why do you keep looking at me like…that?”

His eyebrow arched. “Like what?”

“All curious like.”

He smiled. “Because I am curious why we are walking around a cemetery with a dead cat in your hand.”

Libby has been hurt…and hurt badly, this leaves her very cautious and judgmental. In this part of the book, Libby begins to realize that Kale isn’t who he says he is and she’s trying to figure out his game. Only problem? He’s very good at keeping secrets!

What would you be if you were not an author?

I would continue to do the other job I love, being a stay-at-home-mom, who would likely read a lot. Maybe I’d even be a book blogger, since when it comes right down to it, I simply love books.

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

Right now, I have Keri Arthur’s, Darkness Hunts and Beneath a Rising Moon, and Jennifer L. Armentrout’s, Opal.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

As always, a big thank you to all my readers—you guys always know how to make a girl feel good! And thank you to Books-n-Kisses for letting me spend some time with you all today!

 

THE CAT’S MEOW

Entangled Publishing  |  Amazon  |   B&N  |   Books on Board  |  iTunes

 EXCERPT LINK: http://www.staceykennedy.com/the-cats-meow/

 

BIO:

Stacey Kennedy’s novels are lighthearted fantasy with heart-squeezing, thigh-clenching romance, and even give a good chuckle every now and again. But within the stories you’ll also find fast-paced action, life-threatening moments, and a big bad villain who needs to be destroyed. She lives in Southwestern Ontario with her husband and two children. If she’s not plugging away at a new story—which is rare because her muse is annoying—you’ll find her camping, curling up with the latest flick, or obsessing over Sons of Anarchy, Games of Thrones, Supernatural and Dexter.

Stacey welcomes comments from readers. You can find her at:

Website | Blog | Facebook  |  Facebook Fan Page |  Twitter  |  Goodreads  | Amazon Author Page

Want to see more of Stacey?
Check out her book tour HERE

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway