Book Spotlight: Poisoned Web by Crista McHugh

The fate of the empire hangs on one slave breaking her silence…

As the Deizian Empire prepares for the upcoming wedding of Emperor Titus Sergius Flavus and Azruha, one mystery remains unsolved—the sudden and unexplained death of the former emperor. And as her wedding gift to Titus, Azurha wants to give him answers. She suspects an unknown poison was involved, and her search for the truth enlists two unlikely allies.

Modius Varro’s thirst for knowledge caused an uproar in Emona three years ago and exiled him to the border town of Madrena. But when Titus falls victim to the same poison, his expertise in medicine becomes essential in solving both the riddle of the former emperor’s death and finding a cure to save the current one. His search leads him to far reaches of the Alpirion realm, to an ancient culture shrouded in secrets, and into the arms of one slave who must break her silence to save the empire.

Amazon/B&N/Goodreads

About the Author:

Growing up in small town Alabama, I relied on story-telling as a natural way for me to pass the time and keep my two younger sisters entertained.

I currently live in the Audi-filled suburbs of Seattle with my husband and two children, maintaining my alter ego of mild-mannered physician by day while I continue to pursue writing on nights and weekends.

I am an active member of the Romance Writers of America (including the FF&P , Greater Seattle Chapter, and the Seattle Eastside Chapters).

Just for laughs, here are some of the jobs I’ve had in the past to pay the bills: barista, bartender, sommelier, stagehand, actress, morgue attendant, and autopsy assistant.

And I’m also a recovering LARPer. (I blame it on my crazy college days)

For the latest updates and answers to any burning questions you have, please check out my blog.

Jennifer’s Review of Poisoned Web

Review (5 Stars): I loved Tangled Web and this book picks up right after the events of the first one. Azruha has settled into life as Emperor Titus’s future bride and knows that his father did not die from natural causes. Because of her experiences as “The Rabbit,” she believes that the Emperor’s father was killed by poison and decides to enlist her trusted slave, Izana to help solve the mystery. Izana joins forces with Modius, a gifted scholar and son of the mysterious Varro, to determine who poisoned the previous emperor and stop them from trying to kill Titus. Besides finding answers to this dangerous mystery, the two find that they can’t help being attracted to one another and the dangers that their love may face in the Deizian empire.

I really enjoyed Poisoned Web and Ms. McHugh was able to weave such a thrilling story of action, suspense and romance that will have you wanting more. I loved Izana’s character and sympathized with her struggles of being a slave and falling in love with a man that was considered above her station. The fact that she was able to read and write were punishable offenses in the Deizian empire and being a royal slave was better than the life she lived before working for the Emperor. Modius was a mysterious character for me because he was once a soldier but now a scholar and I was curious as to what secrets he was hiding from everyone, including Izana. They just fit well as a couple and their search for the deadly poison captivated me until the end.

Poisoned Web is an great sequel to Tangled Web and you should definitely read them in order. I love Crista McHugh’s stories and I look forward to each book when it is released. I can’t wait to read more about the Deizian empire in Deception’s Web and see what happens to the characters in the next installment of this great series.

November 29, 2013November 20, 2013

Book Blast Tour & Giveaway with Kim Harrison

EVER AFTER

The Hollows, #11

Publisher: Harper Voyager

Publication Date: October 29, 2013

Formats: eBook, Mass Market paperback

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books A Million | Indie Bound | HarperCollins Publishers

Witch-turned-daywalking-demon Rachel Morgan needs to save the demonic realm of the Ever After in the eleventh entry in the New York Times bestselling Hollows series from supernatural adventure master Kim Harrison.

When Rachel sets off a chain of events that could lead to the end of the world—demonic and human—she must use her gifts to save those closest to her while preventing an apocalypse.

Satisfying and sexy, a visit to the Hollows will take readers on a wild journey that will capture their imagination. Fans of Charlaine Harris and Stephenie Meyer won’t be able to resist Kim Harrison’s alternative universe—urban fantasy Cincinnati complete with vampires, witches, and other enchanting creatures—where spine-tingling adventures and fast-paced action are the norm.

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

The ever after, the demonic realm that parallels our own, is shrinking, and if it disappears, so does all magic in our own. It’s up to witch-turned-daywalking-demon Rachel Morgan to fix this, before life utterly changes for the worse.

Of course, there’s also the small fact that she caused the ley line to rip in the first place, and her life is forfeit unless she can fix it. And that the most powerful demon in the ever after–one who eats souls–has vowed to destroy Rachel, and kidnapped her friend and goddaughter as leverage. If Rachel doesn’t give herself up, they will die.

Rachel must team up with elven tycoon Trent Kalamack–a prospect both thrilling and dismaying–to return to the ever after and rescue the hostages, then keep both worlds from being destroyed.

Excerpt (uses with permission from Kim Harrison)

Twisting, Nick shoved me off, a nasty snarl on his face. “You could have loved me, too.”

He jumped at me, and I rolled, my back crashing into one of the machines. I shook my head to get the hair from my eyes. Nick was still coming right at me, and I braced myself. We went sprawling again. Nick hauled me into a sitting position, slamming my back up against the machine. “This is for bringing that putrid witch of yours into my apartment.”

My eyes widened and I gasped in pain as his open hand met my cheek in a slap that sent stars through my vision. Trent was yelling, the babies were crying, and my eye felt like it was going to explode.

“And this is for the hell of it!” Nick whispered.

I put a hand up to stop him, and he grabbed it. His other hand was coming at me, and I struggled, trying to get him off!

But before his hand could connect, he was yanked backward and up. Knees going to my chest, I tossed the hair from my eyes at the sodden thunk of fist meeting flesh. Nick reeled into the counter, his feet slipping on the tile floor until he went down. Trent stood between us, his back hunched and shaking the pain from a bleeding hand.

“Son of a bitch.”

Author Bio:

New York Times bestselling author Kim Harrison was born and raised in the upper Midwest. Her bestselling Hollows novels include Dead Witch Walking, The Good, The Bad, and The Undead, Every Which Way But Dead, A Fistful of Charms, For a Few Demons More, The Outlaw Demon Wails, White Witch, Black Curse, Black Magic Sanction, Pale Demon, A Perfect Blood, plus the short story collection Into the Woods and The Hollows Insider. She also writes the bestselling Madison Avery YA series.

Contact Links:

Twitter: @BurningBunnies | Facebook | Website | Blog

TOUR GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

Kim’s publisher is giving away FIVE paperbacks of EVER AFTER (US RESIDENTS ONLY)

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November 27, 2013November 27, 2013

Wild Card Book Spotlight and Review

It was bad enough that gods gambled with human souls, but Catherine Sharp’s soul just had to be won by the Greek goddess of Discord, Eris. As if working a dead-end tech support job didn’t suck the life out of her as it was. Now, Cat finds herself performing random tasks for the goddess in her free time.

But when Coyote, the Native American trickster himself, claims to have won her own soul in Mayhem’s weekly poker game, Cat wants in on the action. With five sneaky gods upping the ante, Cat needs to find a way to collect the winning chips that could save her soul.

Marius, a handsome yet irritating satyr with his own debt to Eris, might finally come in handy for something. If they play their cards right and work together, Cat and Marius may just get their freedom back. If they don’t kill each other—or fall in love—first.

Amazon/B&N/Goodreads

About the Author:

After a misspent adulthood pursuing a Music Education degree, JAMIE WYMAN fostered several interests before discovering that being an author means never having to get out of pajamas. (However, she can eat/spin fire, tell you a lot about auditioning to be a Blue Man, and read/write in Circular Gallifreyan.) As an author, Jamie’s favorite playgrounds are urban fantasy, horror and creepy carnival settings. When she’s not traipsing about with her imaginary friends, she lives in Phoenix with two hobbits and two cats. She is proud to say she has a deeply disturbed following at her blog.

Website/Twitter/Facebook

Jennifer’s Review of Wild Card

Review (4 Stars): After years of service for Eris, Catherine Sharp finally gets the opportunity to get her soul back by attending a prestigious party with the handsome satyr, Marius. What Catherine finds is that her soul has become a pawn in a weekly card game of the Greek gods and it is up to her to get all the bargaining chips back from the players to win back her soul. Each of them have their own agenda for trying to win Catherine’s soul and hopefully she can get the chips back before everyone tries to kill each other.

I wasn’t sure what to make of this book when I first started reading it but I am happy to say that I really enjoyed it by the end. I liked Catherine from the beginning and she just seemed to have the bad luck of losing her soul to the Greek goddess, Eris. She had a talent with fixing computers and was able to fix any hard drive or network in a matter of minutes when the problem had her co-workers stumped for hours. I knew there had to be something special about her because the gods were literally fighting over her and it was amazing when she finally figured out what that gift was.

Marius was an interesting character even though he was a jerk most of the time. He had quite a few secrets that he was keeping from Cat and through most of the book, you kept wondering what his real intentions were. I loved the scenes that he had with Cat because they were the exact polar opposites and some of the things that Cat did to him was absolutely hilarious.

Wild Card was a fun action-packed thrill ride set amidst the decadent Las Vegas nightlife. I loved how Jamie mixed Greek Mythology throughout this book which added to its atmosphere and made it more enjoyable for me. I am looking forward to reading more from Ms. Wyman in the future.

November 26, 2013November 22, 2013

Interview with Laura Kaye

Happy Release Day to Laura Kaye!!

HARD AS IT GETS is one steamy read! How did you first get into writing?

Thanks so much! And thanks for having me here! I’ve been a writer all my life. I’m a historian by training, so writing non-fiction was a part of my job for the fifteen years I worked as a college professor. But I started writing fiction in 2008 in kind of an unusual way. I hit my head on July 4, 2008. I didn’t think much of it that day, but soon after I realized I’d really hurt myself, and it turned out I had a minor traumatic brain injury. As I recovered, I was filled with an amazing urge to be creative, so I started taking guitar lessons (still not very good at that!) and wrote my first novel in 12 weeks (fortunately, I’m better at that LOL!). The experience of writing that first book was truly transformative. It was what I was supposed to be doing, so I revised that book until it sold and kept writing new ones. And I haven’t looked back since!

Why did you choose to write romance?

I had been an avid reader of paranormal romance for years at that point, so I wrote what I loved. But I also picked romance—unconsciously, I think—because to me it’s an incredibly hopeful genre. Romance stories are inherently stories about people who can’t find love or think they don’t deserve it who overcome the odds and find it in the end. In the years leading up to starting writing, I experienced a number of very hard personal losses, so writing in this genre was one way I worked through those issues.

What does “Hard Ink” refer to? What importance do tattoos play in your story?

Hard Ink is the name of the Rixey brothers’ tattoo shop in the Hard Ink series. Nick and Jeremy Rixey are co-owners, though Nick (the hero of book one, Hard As It Gets) prefers to be more of a silent partner, despite Jeremy’s efforts to put Nick’s artistic talents to work. In this series, tattoos are a way people remember, pay penance, or highlight what’s important to them. The act of creating permanent marks on skin has deep meaning to them. And the shop creates a gritty setting where diverse kinds of people meet and interact in the series. I really love it!

Describe Becca—what do you love most about her? And Nick?

I’d love to! Because I really loved writing these characters!

Becca Merritt is smart and strong and honest and protective. I really loved the way she was willing to stand up for those she loves, even against people and forces who might be stronger and even a little scary. There’s a scene in particular when she dresses down Nick’s Special Forces teammates after a fist fight where I was particularly cheering for her! LOL

Nick Rixey is, omg, so freaking hot, you guys! He’s brooding and tortured and honorable and when he falls he falls so hard. I especially loved Nick’s mix of hard, alpha edges with his artistic side. When Nick shows Becca what her idea for a tattoo might look like on her skin, it’s just scorching!

What significance does the military play in the book?

Military themes are central to the whole Hard Ink series. The military isn’t just sexy window dressing nor is it just there to provide an intriguing backstory. The prior SF guys are this series are entirely defined by their military experience good and bad. It informs their identity, their sense of honor and duty, their view of the world, and of course gives them the skill set required to fight the battles they face in the series. The overall series mystery the characters are working to solve revolves around a military conspiracy in Afghanistan, so even though they’re out of the Army, the military themes are central.

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

In #HardAsItGets, an ex-soldier joins forces w/his dead commander’s daughter to regain his tarnished honor & save her brother from a gang

Is there a particular author or book that has influenced your writing?

There are a number of authors that have influenced me, but if I had to pick one it would be J.R. Ward. A lot of what I know about how to write sexy, authentic male point of view comes from reading her books. And I definitely learned the importance of a good bromance to a romance novel from her Black Dagger Brotherhood series, too. Given my ginormous fangirling, you can only imagine how flipping excited I was when this happened:

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

~J.R. Ward on Hard As It Gets

You guys, I bawled like a baby in the middle of a huge workshop put on by my publisher. For real. LOL

What advice would you give aspiring writers looking to get into the publishing industry?

Here’s my advice:

1) Write, write, write. You can’t revise what you haven’t written and you can’t sell what you haven’t written. And the psychological and emotional boost you’ll get from writing “The End” for the first time cannot be overestimated.

2) Revise, revise, revise. That first time you type “The End”? Yeah, you’re nowhere near done. Your book will need to be edited, by you, several times before you ever put it in front of an agent or editor. You get one shot with them, so don’t waste it by not showing them your very best and most polished work.

3) Find critique partners. And your mom, siblings, and best friend do not count (unless you’re really lucky, like me, and your best friend happens t also be a professional author). You need other aspiring writers in your genre who will give you honest but constructive feedback about how to improve your manuscript. Let them catch all the embarrassing goofs and plot holes you thought you caught before it gets to an agent or editor.

4) Want to be a professional, then act it. And by that I mean join the professional organization(s) of the genre in which you write. Through them you will find classes to help hone your craft, critique partner match-ups, networking opportunities, calls for submission, and other opportunities invaluable to breaking into publishing.

5) Don’t give up. You will hear way more no’s than yeses, particularly early in your writing career. Stick with it. Believe in yourself. Give yourself one day to wallow in the rejection and eat a bunch of chocolate and then get right back on the horse. If your first book doesn’t sell, chalk that up to learning and write a second.

What can fans of HARD AS IT GETS look forward to next?

I’m currently writing four series: two contemporary (Hard Ink, Heroes) and two paranormal (Hearts of the Anemoi, Vampire Warrior Kings). I’ll have books from all four of those releasing in 2014. My next release is Hard As You Can (Hard Ink #2) coming 2/25/14!

Introducing Nick and Becca from Hard As It Gets

I am absolutely thrilled to be celebrating the release of my sexy contemporary romance, Hard As It Gets, the first book in my new Hard Ink series. If you like sexy, gritty contemporaries, military heroes and themes, and even a little suspense, Hard As It Gets is the perfect book for you! *grins*

Today, I’d like to introduce you to Nick Rixey and Becca Merritt, the hero and heroine of Hard As It Gets. They just sizzled together on the page and I really enjoyed writing them. I hope you love them, too! So, without further ado, please meet Hard As It Gets’s Nick and Becca:

MEET HERO NICK RIXEY:

Becca’s first impression of Nick:

“I’m Nick Rixey. Who wants to know?”

Becca jumped at the deep sound of the man’s voice. Geez. How long had he been standing there? And, big as he was, how had she not heard him approach? It was like he’d materialized out of thin air.

The surprise of his appearance pounded adrenaline through her system. Her racing pulse had absolutely nothing to do with the bulge of his impressive biceps straining the sleeves of his black T-shirt, the hints of ink just visible on his upper arms, nor with his harsh yet darkly handsome face. And definitely not with the way his jeans hung on those lean hips. Right. Definitely not.

Given who her father was, or had been, this was the type of man she’d expected to find at the end of Charlie’s cryptic note. His dark hair was a little on the long side, but the hard edges and leashed strength of his body clearly read ex-military.

Nick’s Job: Process Server, Part-time Tattoo Artist

3 Words that Describe Nick: Tortured, Alpha, Heroic

3 Things he Loves about Heroine Becca Merritt: Her courage, her compassion, the way she takes away his hurt

Who could play Nick if the book was made into a movie? Tyler Hoechlin hung above my desk for months (in fact, he just may still be there!), so he’s got the look for sure!

MEET HEROINE BECCA MERRITT:

Nick’s first impression of Becca:

Becca Merritt was the all-American girl personified, with her fierce blue eyes and wavy hair the rich color of honey. Bet she tastes as sweet, too. And, damn, that body. It was all he’d been able to do not to gawk at the curves her fitted T-shirt hugged, or trace his eyes over the lace just visible through the thin cotton. It was like the sun had strolled through their front door, casting heat and light all over him. Only the haunted dark circles under her eyes ruined the analogy.

Becca’s Job: ER nurse

3 Words that Describe Becca: Loyal, Compassionate, Strong

3 Things she Loves about Hero Nick Rixey: His intensity (in everything), his strength, his willingness to help her and her brother

Who could play Becca if the book was made into a movie? With her wholesome prettiness, Blake Lively would make a good Becca Merritt!

Do you have a question for either of the characters or their author lady? Ask away and we’d all be happy to chat!

Thanks for reading!

Laura

*****

Hard As It Gets

Hard Ink #1

Nov. 26, 2013
Amazon | B&N

Tall, dark, and lethal…

Trouble just walked into Nicholas Rixey’s tattoo parlor. Becca Merritt is warm, sexy, wholesome — pure temptation to a very jaded Nick. He’s left his military life behind to become co-owner of Hard Ink Tattoo, but Becca is his ex-commander’s daughter. Loyalty won’t let him turn her away. Lust has plenty to do with it too.

With her brother presumed kidnapped, Becca needs Nick. She just wasn’t expecting to want him so much. As their investigation turns into all-out war with an organized crime ring, only Nick can protect her. And only Becca can heal the scars no one else sees.

Desire is the easy part. Love is as hard as it gets. Good thing Nick is always up for a challenge.

Read Chapter 1 of Hard As It Gets

Check out Kelly’s review HERE

About Laura Kaye:

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

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Newsletter SignUp

Follow the whole tour HERE:

November 25, 2013November 22, 2013

Edge Release Day Blast

Edge, a digital-first single-title romance line from Entangled Publishing, takes its lead from our popular Select imprint but gives its novels an edge in the marketplace by bringing great stories to readers at reasonable prices in a quick-and-easy way. Whether sexy or sweet, traditional romance or love and lust with a women’s fiction bent, at the center of every Edge book is heart. From Urban Fantasy to Contemporary Romance to Science Fiction Romance, Edge has a book for all romance readers—and right at their fingertips! As they say, all’s fair in love and war. To find out more about our titles, chat with authors, participate in special events, and to find out what books are coming next, visit the Entangled website, follow us on Twitter, and like our Facebook page.

Today I’m happy to be featuring Edge’s November releases!!

Some Like it Sinful by Robbie Terman

Perfect Recipe #2

Their attraction is sinfully delicious…

A struggling business and one act of vandalism may have brought them together, but bakery owner Chloe Nelson and professional hockey player Griffin Lange get along like chocolate and pickles. Chloe needs the famous (and famously unattached) Griffin to attract people to her pastries, and Griffin needs the curvaceous and fiery Chloe to keep him out of trouble. A fake relationship to keep the media interested seems like the perfect plan.

But when temptation throws them into bed together, a new plan arises. Why not make the fake real? Griffin’s winning every home game, and Chloe’s business has never been better. Both know it’s only physical—and only temporary. But can they drop their defenses for love, even if it means getting a little bit sinful?

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Goodreads

Wild Card by Jamie Wyman

It was bad enough that gods gambled with human souls, but Catherine Sharp’s soul just had to be won by the Greek goddess of Discord, Eris. As if working a dead-end tech support job didn’t suck the life out of her as it was. Now, Cat finds herself performing random tasks for the goddess in her free time.

But when Coyote, the Native American trickster himself, claims to have won her own soul in Mayhem’s weekly poker game, Cat wants in on the action. With five sneaky gods upping the ante, Cat needs to find a way to collect the winning chips that could save her soul.

Marius, a handsome yet irritating satyr with his own debt to Eris, might finally come in handy for something. If they play their cards right and work together, Cat and Marius may just get their freedom back. If they don’t kill each other or fall in love first.

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Goodreads

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November 11, 2013November 11, 2013

Release Day Blitz for Cynthia Eden

A Vampire’s Christmas Carol

Cynthia Eden

Blurb

This holiday season has bite.

Ben Prescott hates Christmas—he’s a vampire, and to him, there’s certainly nothing jolly about the holiday season. While the humans are running around being merry, he’s hunting in the shadows. Ben plans to spend the holidays his way…by stalking deadly prey.

Continue reading “Release Day Blitz for Cynthia Eden”

November 6, 2013October 4, 2013

Interview & Awesome Giveaway with Julie Ann Walker

Welcome back to Books-n-Kisses Julie Ann.

For those who missed your prior visits can you please share with us a little about yourself
Julie: Hello! *waves* My name is Julie Ann Walker. I write the bestselling Black Knights Inc. romantic suspense series. I’m addicted to three things: coffee, handbags, and shoes. I adore travelling and hope to visit 100 countries before I die – so far I’ve been to 43, which means I still have a lot of plane rides ahead of me. LOL! I’ve been married fifteen years to the love of my life. And I ride my bicycle everyday when the weather is nice.

Have you always wanted to be an author?
Julie: Well, I got my degree in mathematics, so I suppose the answer to this question in no. 😉 On the other hand, I’ve always written. It’s just that I treated it more like a hobby because I figured the dream of actually becoming a published author was too big, unattainable for the likes of little ol’ me. Imagine my surprise, then, when first a literary agent, and then a publisher actually wanted to print my books. LOL!

Are you a plotter or a pantser or combo of both? And can you explain the difference?
Julie: I’m a pantser all the way – meaning I write by the seat of my pants. A plotter is someone who outlines their books beforehand, thinking through all the ins and outs, devising all the plot twists and character arcs. Sometimes I wish I could do that. It certainly seems more efficient. But, alas, my method it to just sit down at the keyboard and go… letting the story take me where it will. Yeehaw! *wink*

What is your most interesting writing quirk?
Julie: I don’t know how interesting it is, but I’m obsessed with post-it notes. If I have an idea about what should happen 20 pages further along in the book, I use a post-it note. If something has occurred to me that should be added to a scene I’ve already written, I use a post-it note. If I have an upcoming book reading or signing, I use a post-it note. If I have a payment due for, say, a conference or something, I use a post-it note. My office looks like total mayhem, but it’s actually quite organized. Just DON’T TOUCH MY POST-ITS! Or I might have to murder you… *gives the evil eye*

Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?
Julie: I’d love to! So, Born Wild is sort of the book BKI fans have been waiting for. The hero and heroine, Wild Bill Reichert and Eve Edens, have been dancing around each other since the beginning of the series. We know there’s history between them… deep, dark, delicious history. And in this book we finally find out what all the hot fuss is about. Plus, in standard BKI form, there’s a devious villain, some flying bullets, kick butt motorcycles, and, of course, smokin’ hot sexy times. 😉

How did you come with the idea for this story?
Julie: Like most of my books, I pulled this one straight out of my… ahem… you know. *shakes head* I never know where exactly the story will take me until I’m actually finished with it.

Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?
Julie: Absolutely! I’ve just started working on the seventh book in the series. It’s hero is BKI’s crazy cool Latin lover, Carlos “Steady” Santos. And the heroine is the President’s daughter, Abigail Thompson. There’s a kidnapping, ransom demands, a race through Southeast Asia, and some sweet lovin’ that’s guaranteed to set the pages on fire. I’m having a blast writing it!

Who is the one author that you would love to meet someday and why?
Julie: I would kill to meet Suzanne Brockmann. She is the reigning queen of romantic suspense, and she’s the entire reason I started writing in the genre. If I ever get the opportunity to meet her, I’ll likely prostrate myself at her feet. So if you see me on the floor of a hotel lobby, kissing some woman’s toes, you’ll know it’s Suz Brockmann standing before me. *snicker*

What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?
Julie: Read, write, read, write, rinse, and repeat until you’ve got something that’s ready to be put out into the world!

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.
Julie: I would love to live abroad in Ireland for a year. It’s one of my most favorite spots on the planet. The pubs, the Guinness, the soda bread, the fields of heather, the blarney… *sigh* Heaven.

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?
Julie: My friend, Amanda Carlson, writes some of the best Urban Fantasy out there. The third book in her series, Cold Blooded, debuted about a month ago, and I can’t wait to dig in!

What is one book everyone should read before they die?
Julie: Gone With The Wind… without a doubt. I’ve read it at least a dozen times. And every time, I find something new and wonderful about the story. Scarlett is such a difficult heroine. She’s so complicated and easy to hate, yet she’s amazingly strong and resilient. I love characters that are deeply three-dimensional.

What is your favorite time of year & why?
Julie: Summer! I’m outdoorsy. And when I can’t go out and play, I get – as my husband so delicately puts it – cranky. 😉

Who is your Celebrity crush? And what would you do if you ever meet them?
Julie: Currently, I’m a bit enamored of Tom Hardy. I mean, those lips. Hubba, hubba. If I ever met him? Well, I’ll probably try to steal a kiss. Just a quick one. Nothing to get me in trouble with Mr. Walker. LOL!

Is there anything else you would like to add?
Julie: Just a giant cyber hug and my heartfelt thanks for having me back on Books-N-Kisses. This is always such a treat!

BORN WILD

IN STORES NOVEMBER 2013

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Julie Ann Walker dives back into action with the red-hot romantic suspense Black Knights Inc. series! They claim they’re bad-boy bikers who own custom motorcycle shop, but these special-ops guys–a mix of Navy SEALs, Army Rangers, Marines, FBI and more–handle the jobs too tough for the government to tackle.

TICK…TICK…

“Wild” Bill Reichert knows a thing or two about explosives. The ex-Navy SEAL can practically rig a bomb blindfolded. But there’s no way to diffuse the inevitable fireworks the day Eve Edens walks back into his life, asking for help…

BOOM!

Eve doesn’t know what to do when the Chicago police won’t believe someone is out to hurt her. The only place to turn is Black Knights Inc—after all, no one is better at protection than the covert special-ops team. Yet there’s also no one better at getting her all turned on than Billy Reichert. She has a feeling this is one blast from the past that could backfire big time…

PRAISE FOR BORN WILD:

“One heck of a riveting plotline… Born Wild is definitely not to be missed!” —RT Book Reviews, 4 ½ Stars

“A wild roller coaster ride of a story… Nonstop action.” —Fresh Fiction

“Drama, danger and sexual tension… Romantic suspense at its best.” —Night Owl Reviews, 5/5 Stars, Reviewer Top Pick

A little about Julie Ann:

Julie Ann Walker is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Black Knights Inc. romantic suspense series. She is prone to spouting movie quotes and song lyrics, and prefers impromptu travel over the scheduled kind. You can find her on her bicycle along the lake shore in Chicago or blasting away at her keyboard, trying to wrangle her capricious imagination into submission. For more information, please visit www.julieannwalker.com or follow her on Facebook, www.facebook.com/jawalkerauthor, and Twitter, @JAWalkerAuthor.

You ready for an awesome giveaway?????

Check out the rafflecopter below for details.

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November 4, 2013November 1, 2013

Cover Reveal of Christmas in July by Debbie Mason

Thanks for taking part in our cover reveal! I’m so excited to share the cover for CHRISTMAS IN JULY with you. I love Grace and Jack’s second-chance story and art director Diane Luger and her talented team have created the perfect cover. I’m not sure they even realize just how perfect it is.

Every detail, big and small, reveals something about the story. The house is similar to the old Victorian on Sugar Plum Lane that Grace has dreamed of buying since she moved to town. Although Grace’s dream home is pink, yellow was the perfect choice. The bright, cheerful color makes me think of sunshine and light; our wounded hero and heroine’s journey to joy and happiness. The old Victorian plays an integral role in Jack and Grace’s story as it’s part of their conflict and their happy ending.

A blue door symbolizes refuge, calm, and loyalty. And a white picket fence represents home sweet home. Red roses in full bloom mean “I still love you.” Something Grace struggles with. While she’s in love with her husband, she has legitimate reasons for doubting his love for her. The yellow ribbons show support for the military. Jack is a Black Hawk pilot who has been MIA for seventeen months. They’re a symbol of hope, of waiting for a loved one to come home, and forgiveness. Jack returns to a town he never thought of as home, a wife and son he doesn’t remember. By the end of the book, with the help of his family and the citizens of Christmas, Jack realizes that home is where the heart is.

I hope Jack, Grace, and little Jack will capture your heart as they have captured mine. You can meet Grace in the first book in the series, THE TROUBLE WITH CHRISTMAS, as she struggles to raise her son, keep her bakery afloat, and hold on to the hope her husband will come home. The first chapter of CHRISTMAS IN JULY is also included in the book.

CHRISTMAS IN JULY (Forever Mass Market; June 24, 2014; 9781455527694; $8.00)

Amazon |B&N

Grace Flaherty had given up hope of ever seeing her husband again. After all, it’s been over a year since he went missing in combat. So when he strides through the door of her bakery in downtown Christmas one sunny afternoon, she can hardly believe her eyes. But her happily-ever-after is going to take some effort – because Jack has no memory of his family.

All Jack Flaherty remembers about Christmas is that he couldn’t wait to leave town. Now he’s a local hero with a wife and son he doesn’t know. Even as he struggles to rekindle the romance with his wife, he knows in his heart what he wants: a second chance at love.

About Debbie Mason:

Praised as a “writer to watch” by RT Book Reviews, Debbie Mason also writes Scottish-set historical paranormals as Debbie Mazzuca. Her MacLeod series debuted in April 2010 and is said to “combine the passion of Hannah Howell’s Highand romances with the seductive fantasy of Karen Marie Moning’s bestsellers.”

Connect with Debbie here: Author’s Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

October 30, 2013September 30, 2013

Spotlight feature of Logan’s Acadian Wolves by Kym Grosso

Logan’s Acadian Wolves

(Immortals of New Orleans, Book 4)

Genre: Erotic Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Independent

Date of Publication: September 15, 2013

AMAZON US | AMAZON UK | AMAZON CA | Smashwords

Deep in the heart of New Orleans, Acadian Wolves’ Alpha, Logan Reynaud, rescues a beautiful woman in the dead of night. Intrigued by the mysterious human, the commanding Alpha is determined to elicit all of her secrets, including her deepest fantasies. After tragedy strikes, Logan discovers dangerous adversaries are planning an attack in his city. Driven by responsibility and honor, Logan must protect both his pack and the woman who’s captivated his attention.

Dr. Wynter Ryan, a leading virologist, is fascinated with her charismatic protector. As the chemistry ignites between her and the dominant Alpha, she relinquishes her ties to the past, embracing ecstasy and submission within his arms and intrepidly acquiescing to her own adventurous instincts. Succumbing to desire, she learns to trust her Alpha, discovering what it means to be wolf.

Passion and mystery on the bayou stirs Logan’s wolf, demanding he claim his mate. Yet Wynter’s a distraction he can’t afford when his priority is to lead his new pack. Will Logan surrender to the uncontrollable need to claim Wynter as his mate? And will he be able to keep her alive, finding the killer who threatens the Acadian Wolves?

Warning: This book contains several erotic love scenes, including m/f/m menage, and is intended for adult readers only.

Excerpt:

Wynter barely saw him coming. Logan leapt across the room, and as his body touched hers, she gasped. His hands pressed hard against the glass on either side of her head. The masculine scent of him wafted into her nose and she fought the instinct to rub her face against his chest. Oh God, what had she done? How could she be so stupid as to challenge an Alpha? She really must be sick. Unable to speak, she held still. Initially charged with fear, she realized very quickly that he wasn’t hurting her. The tension between them escalated with every minute of silence that passed. And then she felt him, his nose grazing along the side of her neck. A small moan escaped her lips.

At the challenge, Logan strode across the room, pinning her against the wall. He had to smell her, taste her. Why would she deny her wolf? Why play games? Logan didn’t want to hurt her. Oh no. If anything, he’d like to give her pleasure like she’d never known. But she kept insisting she was human. If she wanted to play, play he would. She was wolf, and he’d prove it to her. But as her sweet scent engulfed his senses, he began to lose control. His wolf clawed at his psyche, begging to take the woman. Like freshly cut roses, the heavenly aroma was familiar yet altogether unique and desirable, although her wolf lingered on the edge; she was there, he could scent her.

In an effort to prevent himself from ravishing her right there in his office, Logan plastered his hands so hard against the window, he thought it’d crack. At the sound of her moan, he darted his tongue out against her silky skin. He had to taste her. Just once. Ah fuck, no; his wolf wanted more. Eyes feral, he locked them with hers, taking her arm. He placed a small kiss to her palm before dragging his tongue along her wrist all the way to the crook of her elbow, releasing a growl of satisfaction.

Wynter’s heart pounded as he gently took her arm into his hands. She shivered as he pushed up her sleeve and brought her delicate wrist to his lips. Wet with arousal, she couldn’t break their connection as she stared deep into his mesmerizing eyes. Oh my God. Wolf. Human. I’ll be whatever you want me to be…just please, just take me. Wynter thought her knees would give out, except he had her pressed up against the window. Lost in his spell, she responded by nudging her own hips against his hard arousal as he tasted her skin.

Logan groaned as the territorial need to take her consumed him. He needed to get things under control. Jax. Fucking, goddamned Jax. His name alone should have killed his raging hard on, but it wasn’t helping one damn bit. No, he needed to separate himself from her before he tore her clothes off. He closed his eyes and blew out a breath, but didn’t release her.

“Wolf,” he breathed into her hair.

*****

Kade’s Dark Embrace (Immortals of New Orleans, Book 1)

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Smashwords | Barnes&Noble

*****

Luca’s Magic Embrace (Immortals of New Orleans, Book 2)

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA |Smashwords | Barnes&Noble

*****

Tristan’s Lyceum Wolves (Immortals of New Orleans, Book 3)

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Smashwords | Barnes&Noble

Author Bio:

Kym Grosso is the author of the erotic paranormal romance series, The Immortals of New Orleans. The series currently includes Kade’ s Dark Embrace (Immortals of New Orleans, Book 1), Luca’ s Magic Embrace (Immortals of New Orleans, Book 2), Tristan’s Lyceum Wolves (Immortals of New Orleans, Book 3) and Logan’s Acadian Wolves (Immortals of New Orleans, Book 4).

In addition to romance, Kym has written and published several articles about autism, and is passionate about autism advocacy. She writes about autism at PsychologyToday.com and AutismInRealLife.com. She also is a contributing essay author in the book Chicken Soup for the Soul: Raising Kids on the Spectrum.

Kym lives with her husband, two children, dog and cat. Her hobbies include autism advocacy, reading, tennis, zumba, traveling and spending time with her husband and children. New Orleans, with its rich culture, history and unique cuisine, is one of her favorite places to visit. Also, she loves traveling just about anywhere that has a beach or snow-covered mountains. On any given night, when not writing her own books, Kym can be found reading her Kindle, which is filled with hundreds of romances.

Connect with Kym:

Website| Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Email: Kym.Grosso@AutismInRealLife.com

TOUR GIVEAWAY DETAILS:
Kym is giving away the following prizes at the end of the tour:

GRAND PRIZE: Kindle Paperwhite (or $100 Amazon gift certificate, a Logan’s mug and tote bag.

5 RUNNERS-UP: will receive an eBook of their choice from one of the first three books in the series, either KADE’S DARK EMBRACE , LUCA’S MAGIC EMBRACE or TRISTAN’S LYCEUM WOLVES.

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Kym Grosso Logan’s Acadian Wolves Book Blast – 10/01 – 10/31

10/1 Coffee Talk Writers

http://coffeetalkwriters.com/blog/

10/2 Toot’s Book Reviews

www.tootsbookreviews.com

10/2 United By Books

http://unitedbybooks.blogspot.com/

10/3 Books And Their Seven Deadly Sins

http://booksandtheirsevendeadlysins.blogspot.co.uk/

10/5 Talk Supe

http://www.talkingsupe.com

10/6 Diane’s Book Blog

http://dianelynchbookreviews.blogspot.com/

10/7 Crazy Four Books

http://crazyfourbooks.blogspot.com

10/8 Book Monster Reviews

http://www.bookmonsterreviews.com/

10/10 Inner Goddess

http://www.InnerGoddessForum.com

10/11 Book Lovin’ Mamas

http://booklovinmamas.com

10/12 Mythical Books

http://www.mythicalbooks.blogspot.ro/

10/13 Rumpled Sheets Blog

http://rumpledsheetsblog.wordpress.com/

10/13 Snarky Mom Reads…

http://www.snarkymomreads.com

10/14 Romance Junkies

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

10/15 For the Love of Bookends

http://loveofbookends.blogspot.com/

10/15 Salacious Reads

http://www.salaciousreads.com

10/15 Vampires, Werewolves & Fairies, Oh My!

http://vampireswerewolvesfairiesohmy.blogspot.com/

10/16 Bookin’ It Reviews

http://www.bookinitreviews.com/

10/17 Musings From An Addicted Reader

http://musingsfromanaddictedreader.blogspot.com/

10/19 Just Paranormal Romance

http://www.JustParanormalRomance.com

10/19 Mad Hatter Reads

http://madhatterreads.blogspot.com

10/21 Romancing the Book

http://romancing-the-book.com

10/21 Sun Mountain Reviews

http://sunmountainreviews.wordpress.com

10/23 Book Pages and Dripping Ink

http://bookpagesanddrippingink.blogspot.com

10/23 Where the Night Kind Roam

http://paranormalromancenovel.com

10/23 LITERAL ADDICTION

http://www.literaladdiction.com

10/23 My Secret Romance Book Reviews

http://www.mysecretromancebookreviews.com/

10/25 Miscellaneous Thoughts of a Bookaholic

http://miscellaneousthoughtsofabookaholic.blogspot.com/

10/26 I Smell Sheep

http://www.ismellsheep.com/

10/27 Ramblings From This Chick

http://ramblingsfromthischick.blogspot.com

10/27 Words of Wisdom from The Scarf Princess

http://wowfromthescarfprincess.blogspot.com

10/28 Victoria’s Gossip

http://victoriasgossip.com/blog/

10/29 Wicked Readings by Tawania

http://wickedreadingsytawnia.blogspot.com

10/30 Books-n-Kisses

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

10/31 Dalene’s Book Reviews

http://dalenesbookreviews.blogspot.com

10/31 Darker Passions

https://darkerpassions.net

10/31 Regina May Ross’s

http://reginamayross.net

10/31 Two Sassy Chicks

http://www.twosassychicks.wordpress.com

October 28, 2013October 28, 2013

Cover Reveal of Black Widow by Marlene Sanchez

BLACK WIDOW

by Marlene Sanchez

RELEASE DATE: APRIL 22, 2014

Cover Model: Coleen Breslin

Reyna Montoya, a.k.a. Black Widow, is a top assassin. She’s good at what she does and gets the job done with precision. However, the recurring nightmare of seeing her parents murdered when she was sixteen in Cuba is a constant reminder of her ultimate plan… to find the killer and avenge her parents.

Nicolas Vargas fled Cuba with her after the murder, vowing to take care of her and help keep her safe. He is a self-taught computer genius and chemist and her best friend. After more than fifteen years of working closely together, the unrequited sexual tension between them is getting harder and harder to ignore. Would it ruin their friendship or make their bond stronger? However, Reyna is torn. Viper, Black Widow’s handler, is hot as hell and the sparks between them could burn them both.

As Reyna gets closer to her parents’ killer the distraction of two men is dangerous, and the true identity of the murderer could destroy them all.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Marlene Sanchez was born in New York and raised in Miami. Her family and friends are an important part of her life, a constant inspiration, and keep her motivated to succeed in pursuing her dream. She has had a passion for writing since her ninth grade English teacher put it all into perspective for her. “Write how you speak and write what you know.” She credits her teacher every chance she gets for giving her a love of writing!

Marlene writes mystery/suspense with a sprinkle of romance. Her love of crime and legal dramas, and of course The Godfather, has opened her eyes to the wonderful world of mystery/suspense. The action and thrill is what keeps her fingers gliding across the keyboard, as her brain explodes with ideas about the next unfortunate victim.

She is a strong, independent woman because her Cuban mother raised her right. Her main characters embrace that same attitude; strong Cuban American women that take no “caca” from anyone.

Marlene has a couple of books under her belt, with several in the works to release in 2014. She hopes to someday be a household name, at least in her own home if nowhere else. She just wants her sons to be proud of her, that’s reward enough… Yeah right, she wants the fame and fortune too.

FOLLOW MARLENE:

October 28, 2013October 28, 2013

Cover Blast from Entangled

Covets have all the sexiness, emotion, and happily ever after that readers have come to expect and love from Entangled. They are firmly grounded in the contemporary world, but each novel brings in supernatural twists, breaking the contemporary and paranormal rules, alike. To find out more about their titles, chat with authors, participate in special events, and to find out what books you’ll be coveting next, visit the Entangled website, follow them on Twitter, LIKE their Facebook page, and join the Book Club.

Today I’m happy to be featuring Covet’s October releases!!

Bad Cop by Angela McCallister

Bad Mouth Sequel

A cop who tosses the rulebooks to get his way…Vampire Ian McCready doesn’t care for Alice Capshaw’s opinions about his version of justice. Her humanity makes her off-limits, but that does nothing to lessen his overwhelming desire for her. To Alice, Ian is just another bad cop as detestable as the one who destroyed her family. She’s attracted to him, yes, but he threatened his way into her agency’s murder case and has too many secrets.When a new case resurrects ghosts Ian believed long dead and buried, his law-bending ways might result in his execution. The second Alice becomes a target, his cold heart flares into blinding existence. But following the law for her sake may end with devastating results.

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Goodreads

Four Weddings and a Werewolf

Seattle Wolf Pack #2

To have and to howl…

Logan Black, former Marine and bodyguard for the Seattle Wolf Pack, hates weddings and has no plan to walk the path to matrimonial misery. But when he’s hired to protect a hot-to-trot wedding planner with a werewolf stalker, he’s forced to put his feelings aside. Not such an easy task when the damsel can turn him on with a single smoldering glance.

Wedding planner Veronica Vale knows werewolves exist, but hates them. One bit her sister, changing their lives forever. When a sexy Marine shows his gorgeous face at one of her wedding appointments, Veronica finds it hard to focus on the task at hand.

The chemistry drawing Logan and Veronica together seems fated, but with Logan’s playboy attitude, Veronica’s hatred for werewolves, and a stalker lurking in the shadows, these two need more than passion to keep them together.

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Goodreads

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October 25, 2013October 15, 2013

Cover Reveal of Passionate Addiction by Eden Summers

Coming on November 15th, the second book in the Reckless Beat rock star series.

He’s been her ultimate untouchable desire.

Nothing says happy birthday like a rock god flying thousands of miles to surprise a woman he’s never met. But that’s exactly what happens to Gabi Smith when she gives her long distance best friend a flippant invitation to her laid back girl’s night out. She never expected to turn on the dance floor and find Blake Kennedy’s gaze holding her body captive.

She’s his everything and he’s never laid eyes on her.

Gabi means more to Blake than life itself. She’s his strength, his savior, and the only person who helped to vanquish his demons. No one means more to him than his angel. So when things between them start to sizzle, he’s ready to fight for the future he never thought he would deserve.

Skeletons from his past will threaten his only chance at love…

Blake has come a long way—with Gabi’s help—to leave the hell of his youth behind him, but sometimes memories don’t want to stay buried. Determined to stand on his own for once, Blake is willing to stretch the truth to keep his troubles from burdening the woman he adores.

Little white lies can create black holes in any relationship. Only time will tell if an Aussie with a heart of gold will forgive her bad-boy boyfriend or if the deceit will end his passionate addiction.

***Make sure you follow the Eden Summers Facebook page to participate in all the fun leading up to the release of Passionate Addiction. There will be giveaways, live chats, teaser quotes, and much more.***

A little about Eden:

Eden Summers is a true blue Aussie, living in regional New South Wales with her two energetic young boys and a quick witted husband.

In late 2010, Eden’s romance obsession could no longer be sated by reading alone, so she decided to give voice to the sexy men and sassy women in her mind.
Eden can’t resist alpha dominance, dark features and sarcasm in her fictional heroes and loves a strong heroine who knows when to bite her tongue but also serves retribution with a feminine smile on her face.

Find out more about Eden Summers here Passionate Addiction page on Goodreads | Eden Summers Website | Eden Summers Facebook Page | Twitter

*****

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