Guest blogger: Lynnette Austin + a giveaway

Misty Bottoms Character Profiles
Full Name: James Donald Belcher
Nickname: Jimmy Don
Occupation: Sheriff
Physical description: Five-feet-eleven, brown hair and eyes, and a good twenty pounds too heavy. He dresses in full uniform and a wide-brimmed trooper’s hat.
Age: 42

Describe yourself in 100 words or less:

People tend to think of me as a donut-eatin’, coffee-drinkin’ stereotype of a small-town sheriff. They might add that I’m a little on the lazy side. Don’t let any of that fool you. I’ve got my finger on the pulse of both Misty Bottoms and its citizens.

Jenni Beth Beaumont’s moving back, intent on turning the town into some kind of fancy wedding destination. I don’t doubt that she can do it. That girl’s got more drive than a Chevy pickup. I can handle the change. A lot of the townsfolk forget I have a degree in criminal justice as well as my police academy training. I know my job, and I take it very seriously.

What is your favorite thing about living in Misty Bottoms? Where in Misty Bottoms can you most often be found?

The folks here are good, up-standing citizens. I don’t go to work in the morning worrying about bank robberies or hostage situations. Once in a while, one of the teens might paper somebody’s house or, on a Saturday night, someone has a little too much at Duffy’s Pub and I have to give him a ride home. For the most part, though, we have a quiet little town. Never boring, though. Big difference there.

I hang out at Dee-Ann’s Diner quite a bit. Not because I like to eat, although her pies are some of the best you’ll ever taste, but because it keeps me plugged in with what’s happening. I hear a heck of a lot more there than I do riding around in my cruiser.

When not working, how do you spend your time?

I enjoy woodworking, so I spend a lot of time in my shop with my pal Virgil. Right now, we’re crafting a coffee table for his son and daughter-in-law. When my wife replaced our fridge, I hauled the old one out there and bought a new flat screen TV. Virgil had a couple old chairs he dragged in. We’ve got ourselves a pretty good little place to catch the games.

If money was no object and you had 3 weeks of vacation, what would you do with your time?

I haven’t seen my older brother Owen in more years than I care to think about. He’s living up in Sitka, Alaska. If I had the time and money, that’s where I’d head. My wife’s been bugging me to do that ever since she watched Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock in that movie, The Proposal. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve told her they didn’t actually film the movie there, that they did it somewhere in Massachusetts. But will she listen? Heck, no. It would be nice, though, to see Owen again.

Describe your dream wedding:

Seriously? My dream wedding? To be honest, I’d let the flowers and all that up to my wife. I’ve learned that it’s easiest just to go along. You know what I would like, though? I saw a picture on the internet of a couple who had their cake made from Krispy Kreme donuts. Now that would be somethin’ I could get behind.

*****

The Best Laid Wedding Plans
Author: Lynnette Austin
Series: Magnolia Brides, Book 1
ISBN: 9781492617976
Release date: November 3, 2015
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Imprint: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Order here: Amazon | B&N | Indiebound |Apple

Summary:
SOME DREAMS ARE WORTH WHATEVER IT TAKES

Jenni Beth Beaumont left her broken heart behind when she took her dream job in Savannah. But after her brother’s death, Jenni Beth returns home to help mend her parents’ hearts as well as restore their beautiful but crumbling antebellum mansion. New dreams take shape as Jenni Beth sets to work replacing floors and fixing pipes to convert the family homestead into the perfect wedding destination. However, some folks in their small Southern town are determined to see her fail.

Cole Bryson was once the love of Jenni Beth’s life, but the charming architectural salvager has plans of his own for the Beaumont family home. As the two butt heads,

old turmoil is brought to the surface and Cole and Jenni Beth will have to work through some painful memories and tough realities before they can set their pasts aside and have a second chance at their own happily ever after.

Excerpt

Her experienced gaze scrutinized the scene, took in both the setting and the people, alert for any problems. The arbor, with its draping of wisteria, had turned out beautifully and smelled like heaven itself. The bride’s family, the groom’s family—both wore expressions of happiness mixed with a touch of relief.

Jenni Beth’s eyes drifted to the flower girl. Daniella was antsy, her little fingers busily plucking the lace from the basket that held rose petals. And what in the world was Ricky, the ring bearer, doing to his shoelaces? Her eyes narrowed. Had he tied them together? Oh, boy.

As the sun set, the minister announced the newly joined Mr. and Mrs. Talbot, and Jenni Beth clapped with the rest of the guests while checking to make sure the walkway remained clear. The music began on cue, and the happy couple started down the aisle, hands laced, smiles bright.

When the ring bearer tripped, the best man scooped him onto one shoulder, diverting a minor catastrophe. She’d have to remember to thank him for the quick thinking.

If the reception went as smoothly, she could congratulate herself on a job well done.

While the bride and groom funneled their guests through the receiving line, Jenni Beth bolted to a separate section of the garden to make sure the cake, the bubbly, and the band were in place. She did a last-minute check on table settings, place cards, candles—the list was never ending.

The music started, the bridal party wended their way to the area, and the celebration began.

As the evening wore on, Jenni Beth relaxed.

A familiar voice whispered in her ear. “Dance with me.”

Cole Bryson. She hadn’t seen his name on the guest list.

Shivers raced down her spine, and her heart stuttered. It had been too long, not long enough. “No.”

She wouldn’t turn around, wouldn’t meet those mesmerizing eyes.

His hands settled on her bare arms, and she nearly jumped. As the work-roughened hands moved over her skin, her stomach started a little dance of its own.

“I’m working, Cole.”

“Nothin’ needs doin’ right now. Come on, sugar.”

Knowing she shouldn’t, she turned to face him. Mistake. She always had found him irresistible, and that hadn’t changed. He’d perfected that slow Southern drawl, had the sound of a true gentleman. But the twinkle in his eyes gave him away. Revealed the bad boy tucked not far below the surface.

Right now, dressed in a dark suit and tie, the man looked like every woman’s dream. He appeared smooth and debonair, but beneath lay the wild.

He took her hand, and, God forgive her, she followed him, weak-kneed onto the portable dance floor, telling herself she didn’t want to, that she only did it to keep peace. Knowing she lied.

A full moon shone overhead and candlelight flickered. When he drew her into his arms and pulled her close, she sighed. One hand held hers, the other settled south of her waist.

“You smell good, Jenni Beth. You always do.”

His voice, low and husky, sent goosebumps racing up and down her arms. Despite herself, she rested her head against his chest, seduced by the strong, steady beat of his heart, the illusion he could make everything and anything all right.

Author Bio

The luxury of staying home when the weather turns nasty, of working in PJs and bare feet, and the fact that daydreaming is not only permissible but encouraged, are a few of the reasons middle school teacher Lynnette Austin gave up the classroom to write full-time. Lynnette grew up in Pennsylvania’s Alleghany Mountains, moved to Upstate New York, then to the Rockies in Wyoming. Presently she and her husband divide their time between Southwest Florida’s beaches and Georgia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. A finalist in RWA’s Golden Heart Contest, PASIC’s Book of Your Heart Contest, and Georgia Romance Writers’ Maggie Contest, she’s published five books as Lynnette Hallberg. She’s currently writing as Lynnette Austin. Having grown up in a small town, that’s where her heart takes her—to those quirky small towns where everybody knows everybody…and all their business, for better or worse.

Learn more about Lynette here: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads

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October 26, 2015October 23, 2015

Kelly’s interview with Molly Harper & Amanda Ronconi

Books-n-Kisses is excited to have one of my favorite authors Molly Harper and her amazing narrator Amanda Ronconi on the blog to talk about Molly’s new release The Single Undead Mom’s Club

When Molly Harper was eight years old, she set up a “writing office” in her parents’ living room, complete with an old manual typewriter and a toy phone. And she (very slowly) pecked out the story of her third-grade class taking a trip around the world and losing a kid in each city. She had a dark sense of humor even then.

When Molly was considerably older, she headed for Western Kentucky University, where she majored in print journalism. After graduation, she landed a job with The Paducah Sun and married her high school sweetheart, David, a local police officer. After six years at the newspaper, Molly took a more family-friendly secretarial position at a local church office.

Her husband worked nights and Molly was alone with their small child in the “The Apartment of Lost Souls.” A big fan of vampire movies and TV shows, she decided to write a vampire romance novel. Molly created Jane Jameson, a bit of an accidental loser. Jane is single, almost 30, and a librarian working in Half-Moon Hollow, Ky. She has become a permanent fixture on her Mama’s prayer list. And despite the fact that she’s pretty good at her job, she just got canned so her boss could replace her with someone who occasionally starts workplace fires. Jane drowns her sorrows at the local faux nostalgia-themed sports bar. On her way home, she’s mistaken for a deer and shot by a drunk hunter. And then she wakes up as a vampire. The three-book Jane Jameson series–which includes Nice Girls Don’t Have Fangs,Nice Girls Don’t Date Dead Men and Nice Girls Don’t Live Forever—was released in 2009. A fourth and final installment, Nice Girls Don’t Bite Their Neighbors, was released in 2012.

Molly continues stories in the Jane Jameson universe through her Half-Moon Hollow series,Driving Mr. Dead, The Care and Feeding of Stray Vampires, Undead Sublet, and The Dangers of Dating a Rebound Vampire. The next title, The Single Undead Mom’s Club will be released in October 2015. Molly updated her popular Naked Werewolf romance series in 2013. How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf, was released in February 2011, quickly followed by The Art of Seducing a Naked Werewolf. A third installment, How to Run With a Naked Werewolf, was released in December 2013. Her first-ever “haunted house story,” Better Homes and Hauntings, was released in June 2014.

Molly’s books are published by Pocket Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. They are available in print, as e-books and audio books at major book stores and on Amazon. Molly is a native of Kentucky. She lives in Paducah with her husband and children.

*****

Amanda Ronconi: Amanda is an actress, narrator and writer who divides my time between New York City and Upstate New York. She has a BFA from NYU where she studied at the Stella Adler Conservatory. Amanda has performed in theaters around New York City as well as regionally at The Alley, Capital Rep and many productions at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey.

Amanda’s Off-Broadway solo comedy, Shirley at the Tropicana, received critical acclaim and was subsequently featured in The New York Times. Film and TV credits include Daydream Believer (Slamdance 2001’s Best Dramatic Feature winner), The Understudy, Deadly Sins (ID Discovery), IFC’s Get Hit and Chasing Paradise. National network and regional commercials include Chase Bank, Sony and Blue Cross/Blue Shield. Her voiceover work encompasses over 70 audiobooks available on Audible.com.

Amanda’s newest solo show, Kempner, will debut in 2015. You can learn more about Amanda and her awesomeness here: Website| Facebook | Goodreads | Audible Page

Now that you have met the ladies lets get started.

Hi Molly and Amanda,

I am super excited to have you both on the blog again. I love you both dearly!!! I want to thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to sit down and talk with me about Molly’s newest release The Single Undead Moms Club and of course the amazing Amanda will be narrating this book.

Ladies, for my follower who missed how much I love you too or for my new followers can you each tell me a little about yourselves.

Molly: I’m a former newspaper-reporter-turned-church secretary-turned-romance-writer. (That’s the normal career trajectory, right?) I’m the author of the Nice Girls vampire series and the Naked Werewolf series, plus several contemporary romances. I live in western Kentucky with my high school sweetheart/husband and our children.

Amanda: I grew up in the country in upstate New York without a TV, so reading Molly’s books (with her references to the deep cuts of American pop culture) has forced me into many searches of the internet-machine to look up TV of the 20^th century that I missed growing up. Thank you, Molly. I am an actor who ended up getting to do audiobooks, which is a great pleasure of mine. Early on in my audiobook career I got my first Molly Harper book to narrate. And I knew immediately that it was special.

Molly, can you tell us what we can expect from Single Undead Moms Club.

Molly: Adorable and preciously snarky children! Hot tattooed single dads! Mean girls in the PTA!

Oh, and our hero and heroine have sex in an abandoned tobacco cult barn. I always forget that one.

Amanda, I heard a rumor that this story may or may not have made you cry a time or two. Can you confirm these rumors?

Amanda: Wow. There are no secrets around here! I get teary when people overcome adversity in a more supernatural and less whiny way than I would.

*looks around* Is that Molly’s evil laugh in the back ground?

Molly: MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

Amanda, what is your favorite thing about narrating Molly’s stories?

Amanda: The characters are great. The humor, of course, is fun and the writing is just so smooth and emotionally true, which makes it a joy to read.

Molly, what is your favorite things about having Amanda narrator your books and bring your characters to life for your readers?

Molly: She totally gets the inflection and the timing needed to get the humor right. I swear, you would think that she’d spent hours talking to me to get that tone down, but she did it without even contacting me once.

Can you share a snippet of The Single Undead Moms Club?

Suddenly, the door popped open and smacked me in the forehead, knocking me back on my heels.

“Oof!” I cried, clutching my face. Thank goodness I had rapid healing powers, because I was pretty sure I’d just sustained a concussion.

“Are you OK?” a gruff voice demanded. “What the hell— Who are you?” I demanded. “I’m the guy with the keys to this closet. Who are you?” My eyes went wide. This was the school janitor?

The contemporary school janitor was made from a slightly different mold. Tall, lean, almost wiry, with respectable cords of muscles rippling over arms covered in a swirling cloud of colorful tattoos. His face was long and lean, with sharp features only softened by a scruff of white-blond beard and longish darker blond hair that brushed against the collar of his T-shirt. If Thor had a pissed-off, tattooed younger brother, he would be the guy blocking my exit from the supply closet.

“I came in here for a fresh shirt,” he said, nodding toward the flannel shirts hanging neatly from hooks on the closet wall. “The air conditioner was on the fritz . . .” He stared down at the ruined doorknob. “What the hell did you do to the door?”

“Nothing!” I exclaimed, but I hid my hands behind my back as if it would keep me from being caught red-handed.

“What are you even doing in here?” he demanded. “You don’t have any good reason to be in here, damaging school property. What the hell is wrong with you parents? Ya know, just ’cause you pay taxes doesn’t mean you own the school!”

“I got turned around.”

“Well, turn back around and get out.” He jerked his thumb toward the open door behind him as he shrugged out of his sweat-stained gray Half-Moon Hol- low Howlers T-shirt and into a blue cotton uniform workshirt with “Wade” stitched on the breast pocket.

My jaw dropped. Who the hell was this guy, and who did he think he was, bossing me around? Nobody had talked to me like this in . . . well, I couldn’t remember the last time someone talked to me with such an irritated tone, certainly not since I became a tragic terminally ill widow. I’d been treated with kid gloves lined with cotton balls for the past two years.

And holy Hades, he had even more tattoos underneath the shirt. Even with my super-vision, I couldn’t take in the details in the brief glimpse I got. Still, I got a good look at the big picture, and the picture was pretty damn nice. Long, sinewy arms, a broad chest, and a flat stomach tapering to hip bones that jutted out just a few inches above the waistline of his worn jeans.

How perverse was it that between the pretty face, the tattoos, and the surliness, I was actually beginning to feel the faint stirrings of attraction? Fine, they weren’t so much faint stirrings as a deep, reverberating echo between my thighs, like a super-dirty version of those Tibetan meditation bells.

“Just as an FYI, in case the policy manual is outside your reading-comprehension level, most school employees don’t strip in front of parents.”

As soon as the words left my mouth, I regretted them. Why had I said that? That was mean. But my insult hadn’t even fazed “Wade,” who was waving me toward the door. “Keep walking, Bree.”

“My name isn’t Bree.”

He scoffed. “Your names are always ‘Bree’ or ‘Krissy’ or ‘Elizabeth.’ And then you slap it on everythin’ you own, including those stupid little stick figures you stick on the backs of your minivans.”

“It’s Libby,” I shot back.

“Which is short for Elizabeth. Thanks for proving my point.”

“Do us all a favor and try to develop a nicer attitude before the kids come back to school.”

“I don’t need to. The kids know better than to go where they’re not wanted!” he shot back as I walked out to find a bemused Jane Jameson standing outside the closet.

Molly: When writing a Jane or Half Moon Hollow story do you ever think “Oh, poor Amanda is going to kill me for that”?

Only while writing sex scenes. I know that humorous stuff, she will throw her voice into whole-heartedly. But there are times when I’ll use a certain word or describe an act and think of poor Amanda trying to make eye contact with the sound engineer after recording it.

Amanda, Is there ever a time when you are narrating and you think “What the heck Molly?” or “Do I really have to read that part out loud?”

Amanda: Nah. I used to get all blushy about the sexy stuff, but I am mature now. And I can handle it.

Molly, what is the best or hardest part of writing The Single Undead Moms Club?

Molly: Getting Danny (the son’s) voice right. Because he’s based on my own 7-year-old, Carter, and while Carter has this wonderful dry and creative sense of humor, I realize that not all kids sound like him when he speaks. Also, I wanted to balance those heartwarming moments of parenthood without coming across as too schmaltzy.

Molly, what is next in the Half-Moon Hollow Series?

Molly: FANGS FOR THE MEMORIES, a flashback story featuring Dick and Andrea, comes out in print, ebook and audio in November.

Molly: What other secret projects are you working on?

Molly: I’m working on something for a younger audience. That’s all I can say.

Molly, because I love hearing all about your kids. Please ask them: My mom is the best mom ever except when she…….

Darcy: Does the “I told you so” dance. She even does jazz hands.

Carter: Tells me I can only have one dessert.

Let’s take a look at The Single Undead Mom’s Club

In the next book in Molly Harper’s Half Moon Hollow paranormal romance series, Libby (a widow-turned-vampire) struggles with her transition, and finds out it sucks to be the only vampire member of the PTA…

Widow Libby Stratton arranged to be turned into a vampire after she was diagnosed with late-stage cancer. It wasn’t the best idea she’s ever had, but she was desperate—she’s not about to leave her seven-year-old son to be raised by her rigid, overbearing in-laws.

On top of post-turning transition issues, like being ignored at PTA meetings and other mothers rejecting her son’s invitations for sleepovers, Libby must deal with her father-in-law’s attempts to declare her an unfit mother, her growing feelings for Wade—a tattooed redneck single dad she met while hiding in a closet at Back to School Night—and the return of her sire, who hasn’t stopped thinking about brave, snarky Libby since he turned her.

With the help of her new vampire circle, Libby negotiates this unfamiliar quagmire of legal troubles, parental duties, relationships, and, as always in Harper’s distinct, comedic novels, “characters you can’t help but fall in love with” (RT Book Reviews).

Here is an audio sample from The Single Undead Mom’s Club

October 6, 2015October 6, 2015

Kelly’s Review of Brighter Than the Sun by Darynda Jones

BTTS Book Blast .jpg

A little about Darynda,

NYTimes and USA Today Bestselling Author Darynda Jones has won numerous awards for her work, including a prestigious Golden Heart®, a Rebecca, two Hold Medallions, a RITA ®, and a Daphne du Maurier, and she has received stellar reviews from dozens of publications including starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly, Booklist, and the Library Journal. As a born storyteller, Darynda grew up spinning tales of dashing damsels and heroes in distress for any unfortunate soul who happened by, annoying man and beast alike, and she is ever so grateful for the opportunity to carry on that tradition. She currently has two series with St. Martin’s Press: The Charley Davidson Series and the Darklight Trilogy. She lives in the Land of Enchantment, also known as New Mexico, with her husband of almost 30 years and two beautiful sons, the Mighty, Mighty Jones Boys. She can be found at www.daryndajones.com.

Here is a FREE READ for you pleasure.

*****Kelly’s audio review of Brighter Than The Sun*****

TITLE: BRIGHTER THAN THE SUN
SERIES #: Charley Davidson #8.5
CHARACTERS: Reyes Farrow
AUTHOR: Darynda Jones
NARRATOR: Lorelei King
RUN TIME: 3 Hours & Minutes
PUBLICATION DATE: October 06, 2015
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| Audible | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:

All his life, Reyes Alexander Farrow has suffered the torments of the damned. Only one thing has given him hope: the woman who radiates a light that no mortals can see; a light that only the departed can see…

Told from his point of view, BRIGHTER THAN THE SUN chronicles the first time Reyes ever encountered Charley, and how their relationship has been the one thing that can either save him or doom him.

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Kelly
NUMBER OF HEARTS: 5

I have to start the review by telling you that BRIGHTER THAN THE SUN is not your typically Charley Davidson book. This is not the light hearted fun full of Charley antics story. When I received this book to review I was given a warning that this book was dark. Very dark!!! If you read the excerpt below you will get a glimpse of how dark, sad and heartbreaking this story is. Fans of Charley’s series already know some of what happened to Reyes as a kid but in Brighter Than the Sun we unfortunately get an upclose and personal view of his world as a kid.

After reading BRIGHTER THAN THE SUN, I can safely say that I love Reyes even more than I did before. Reyes lived through hell in his childhood. It was beyond heartbreaking to read/listen to his back story. It was heartbreaking to read/listen to him when he first meets Charley. It is heartbreaking to read/listen to the things that happen to Charley.

It was great to see just how much Reyes loves Charley. How much from the first moment of Charley’s life that Reyes was there. This story was beyond heartbreaking to suffer with Reyes, but seeing Charley though his eyes and to learn just how important she is to him was wonderful.

Ms. King does an amazing job of reading this story to us as always. I am looking forward to the next installment of this series.

Charley & Reyes fans will enjoy this story even if they need to make sure to have a good supply of tissues close by.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from MacMillan Audio in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

Excerpt

I’m curled in a corner of the basement, shivering like a little bitch and licking my wounds from the latest encounter, when I hear my sister crying at the door. I try to assure her I’m okay, but the edges of my vision darken and a beckoning light appears in the distance. I collapse and drift toward it. Weightless. Ethereal.

I always drift toward it.

Not literally. I’ve been locked in the basement by a psychopath. I don’t get out much. But mentally.

You should probably know that even though I’m twelve, the circumstances of my existence are not normal. The things that happen to me are not normal. The things in my head are not normal. And the light that I’m drifting toward, the warmth I feel from it, the . . . forgiveness for all my abnormalities, is as abnormal as I am.

I’m three the first time I see it, and in a very similar state. I follow it. I close my eyes, take a deep breath, and drift toward the white-hot pinprick of light burning the back of my eyes. The closer I get, the brighter it becomes until, just when I think I’ll never see again . . .

. . . she appears.

This tiny being peeking out from between a lady’s legs. I don’t know what to think at first, besides I shouldn’t be looking between a lady’s legs. But she is dying, the lady, so I figure it’s okay. I wouldn’t look at her bad anyway. My head doesn’t always work right, but even at three, it knows not to look at a lady bad.

Anyway, she’s shaking. The lady. Not shivers like if she’s cold, but deep shakes like if something’s wrong. Her head is thrown back and her body is stiff. The nurses hold her down as a doctor pulls at the light. At the thing. The tiny being that was in the lady’s belly, and suddenly it all makes sense.

Not the light, but that whole “Where do babies come from?” thing.

It’s disturbing, but not so disturbing as the lady. One of the reasons my head doesn’t work right is because I feel what others feel. Could ever since I was a kid. A littler kid. I can feel other people when they’re mad or pissed or in pain. That’s how I know when to stay away from Earl. When to run and hide. It doesn’t always work, but it’s damned sure worth a shot.

But right now, I feel the lady’s pain and it hurts and I almost leave if not for the light. I try to catch my breath once more. To be near it. Near her. Just a little longer.

She comes out in a whoosh of baby and liquid and a light so bright, I can hardly see—and I’m mesmerized. Then the pain stops and I can breathe normally again. The lady is still. A solid, constant note sounds in the room, and people gather around her and the baby. Everyone except the man holding the lady’s hand. He is doubled over. His shoulders shake, and I realize the people around the baby—most of them, anyway—are dead. They’re people from the past come to see the light. Ghosts. Whispers.

Their faces are full of wonder, but they are blocking my view, so I push them aside and drift closer. She is wailing like babies do. Then she sees the lady. Her mother. The woman standing beside the doctor, looking down at her. I’d never seen anything like the emotion in the mom’s expression, and I think how it must be love, because it’s soft and caring and tender.

I’m glad for the baby and sad at the same time. The mother touches her face. The baby’s. Tells her to be strong. Stronger than she was. Then she kisses the man’s bowed head, and I think about how I didn’t know ghosts could cry. Then she does the impossible: She steps into the baby’s light and is gone.

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Coming Soon!

January 6, 2016

THE DIRT ON NINTH GRAVE

Charley Davidson #9

Preorder here: Amazon | B&N

In a small village in New York lives Jane Doe, a girl with no memory of who she is or where she came from. So when she is working at a diner and slowly begins to realize she can see dead people, she’s more than a little taken aback. Stranger still are the people entering her life. They seem to know things about her. Things they hide with lies and half-truths. Soon, she senses something far darker. A force that wants to cause her harm, she is sure of it. Her saving grace comes in the form of a new friend she feels she can confide in and the fry cook, a devastatingly handsome man whose smile is breathtaking and touch is scalding. He stays close, and she almost feels safe with him around.

But no one can outrun their past, and the more lies that swirl around her—even from her new and trusted friends—the more disoriented she becomes, until she is confronted by a man who claims to have been sent to kill her. Sent by the darkest force in the universe. A force that absolutely will not stop until she is dead. Thankfully, she has a Rottweiler. But that doesn’t help in her quest to find her identity and recover what she’s lost. That will take all her courage and a touch of the power she feels flowing like electricity through her veins. She almost feels sorry for him. The devil in blue jeans. The disarming fry cook who lies with every breath he takes. She will get to the bottom of what he knows if it kills her. Or him. Either way.

September 8, 2015September 7, 2015

Cover reveal of Nalini Singh’s Rock Redemption!!!!

ARE YOU READY????

For the cover reveal of ROCK REDEMPTION????

Book #3 in Nalini’s Rock Kiss Series???

Kit and Noah’s rock star romance is finally here in the newest addition to Nalini Singh’s Rock Kiss Series!!

PRE-ORDER AVAILABLE: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Nook | iBooks | Kobo

Releasing: October 6th

From New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh comes the next contemporary romance in the Rock Kiss series…

Kit Devigny could have loved rock guitarist Noah St. John. Their friendship burned with the promise of intense passion and searing tenderness…until the night Noah deliberately shattered her heart.

Noah knows he destroyed something precious the night he chose to betray Kit, but he’d rather she hate him than learn his darkest secret. All he has left is his music. It’s his saving grace, but it doesn’t silence the voices that keep him up at night. Chasing oblivion through endless one-night-stands, he earns a few hours’ sleep and his bad boy reputation.

When a media error sees Noah and Kit dubbed the new “it” couple, Kit discovers her chance at the role of a lifetime hinges on riding the media wave. Wanting–needing–to give Kit this, even if he can’t give her everything, Noah agrees to play the adoring boyfriend. Only the illusion is suddenly too real, too painful, too beautiful…and it may be too late for the redemption of Noah St. John.

Series Reading Order:

Rock Addiction (Book One) Rock Kiss Series

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Nook | iTunes | Kobo

*****

Rock Courtship (bk 1.5) A Rock Kiss Novel

Amazon US | Amazon UK | iBooks | Nook | Kobo

*****

Rock Hard (Book Two) Rock Kiss Series

Amazon US | Amazon UK | iBooks | Nook | Kobo

NEW YORK TIMES AND USA Today bestselling author of the Psy-Changeling and Guild Hunter series Nalini Singh usually writes about hot shapeshifters and dangerous angels. This time around, she decided to write about hot and wickedly tempting rock stars – and one sinfully sexy rugby god turned brilliant CEO. If you’re seeing a theme here, you’re not wrong.

Nalini lives and works in beautiful New Zealand, and is passionate about writing. If you’d like to explore her other books, you can find lots of excerpts on her website. Slave to Sensation is the first book in the Psy-Changeling series, while Angels’ Blood is the first book in the Guild Hunter series. Also, don’t forget to swing by the site to check out the special behind-the-scenes page for the Rock Kiss series, complete with photos of many of the locations used in the books.
STALK HER: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

September 4, 2015September 4, 2015

Kelly’s review of Shadows Strike by Dianne Duvall

TITLE: Shadows Strike

SERIES #: Immortal Guardians #6

CHARACTERS: Ethan & Heather Lane

AUTHOR: Dianne Duvall

NARRATOR: Kirsten Potter

PUBLICATION DATE: August 25, 2015

BOOK SYNOPSIS:

The Immortal Guardians protect the innocent in secret. Sometimes the secret gets out…

U.S. law enforcement agent Heather Lane can read minds. But not the future. The dream of battle and blood that recurs every night must be a fluke, some obscure terror from her own mind. What its significance might be, she can’t guess: an attack from seven psychotic vampires at once, only separated from nightmare by an eighth very different immortal. A handsome, brave man fighting at her side, a man she misses when she wakes.

Then the dream comes true. Heather is flung into a war between predators and protectors of humanity, the man from her dreams beside her again. Except now that she’s awake, she isn’t sure she can trust Ethan, or the shadow organization he represents. The U.S. military doesn’t trust either of them. But against an onslaught of evil like the one that’s coming, it will take everything they have just to survive…

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Kelly

NUMBER OF HEARTS: 4 1/2

Oh man, I am so sad to be done with this book. I just love love love the Immortal Guardians world. Ethan and Heather are so sweet together. There is so much that happens in Shadows Strike I am not sure where to begin. But here is goes.

The Immortal Guardians face an old foe that will test them like never before. A new ally comes into the picture, but is this person truly trustworthy? or just a distraction to harm the Immortals more? Ethan and Heather’s relationship will be tested at every turn. Seth, David and Zach all learn that they may not be enough to save the world. Zach will get a few revengeshots. Of course is his sweet totally loveable self in this book 🙂 (I love this Immortal). We get a glimpse at some of the other Immortals and their seconds and learn that they are all willing to do anything to save Seth, David and the world as a whole. And that is good because it might just come down to that.

As I said before I am really sad to be done with this book. I love this series and never want the story to end. I do hope that Aidan’s book is next this poor 3000+ year old Immortal is willing to do anything to find his lady love. Please let Aidan be next!!!!!

As always I let the wonderfully talented Kirsten Potter read this story to me. I am amazed and awed every time I pick up this series. The talent that Kirsten has blows my mind!! I don’t think I would need Dianne to tell me who is speaking because Kirsten is just that good and making each and every character stand out and be totally different than the others. And of course I am totally in love with Zach (sigh), Kirsten does an amazing job!!!! If you are not an audio lover yet, I would suggest listening to a sample of this series!! I think that you will love it!! For my audio lovers if you have not started this series I would HIGHLY suggest doing so on audio!!!

Until next time we meet my wonderful Immortals, keep calm, keep your ears open, your blade sharp and kiss the ones you love.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley, Kensington Books & an Audio version from Tantor Media in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

Here is a sample of Shadows Strike by Dianne Duvall, narrated by Kirsten Potter

Dianne Duvall is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of the Immortal Guardians paranormal romance series and The Gifted Ones series. Her books have twice been nominated for the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award for Best Vampire Romance and are routinely deemed Top Picks by RT Book Reviews, The Romance Reviews, and/or Night Owl Reviews. Reviewers have called Dianne’s books “utterly addictive” (RT Book Reviews), “fast-paced and humorous” (Publishers Weekly), “extraordinary” (Long and Short Reviews), and “wonderfully imaginative” (The Romance Reviews).

Dianne loves all things creative. When she isn’t writing, Dianne is active in the independent film industry and has even appeared on-screen, crawling out of a moonlit grave and wielding a machete like some of the vampires she has created in her books.

For the latest news on upcoming releases, contests, and more, please visit www.DianneDuvall.com.

June 5, 2015May 28, 2015

To celebrate the upcoming release of Shards of Hope here is another look at Kelly’s review of Slave to Sensation (book 1)

Berkley has repackaged Slave to Sensation to help celebrate the upcoming release of Ms. Signh’s 14th book in the Psy-Changeling series SHARDS OF HOPE (Berkley Hardcover; June 2, 2015). So to help I am re-posting my review of Slave to Sensation along with the new cover. Enjoy. And keep reading to the end Berkley is doing an awesome giveaway.

TITLE: Slave to Sensation
SERIES #: Psy-Changeling #1
CHARACTERS: Lucas Hunter & Sascha Duncan
AUTHOR: Nalini Singh
NARRATOR: Angela Dawe
PUBLICATION DATE: September 5, 2006
AUDIO RELEASE DATE: April 26, 2011
RUN TIME: 9 hours & 39 minutes

ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N | Audible

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Dive into a world torn apart by a powerful race with phenomenal powers of the mind—and none of the heart…

In a world that denies emotions, where the ruling Psy punish any sign of desire, Sascha Duncan must conceal the feelings that brand her as flawed. To reveal them would be to sentence herself to the horror of “rehabilitation”— the complete psychic erasure of everything she ever was….

Both human and animal, Lucas Hunter is a Changeling hungry for the very sensations the Psy disdain. After centuries of uneasy co-existence, these two races are now on the verge of war over the brutal murders of several Changeling women. Lucas is determined to find the Psy killer who butchered his packmate, and Sascha is his ticket into their closely guarded society. But he soon discovers that this ice-cold Psy is very capable of passion—and that the animal in him is fascinated by her. Caught between their conflicting worlds, Lucas and Sascha must remain bound to their identities—or sacrifice everything for a taste of darkest temptation

REVIEW: 4 Hearts
This was my second read/listen to this book. But I decided that I really wanted to tackle Nalini’s Psy-Changeling series. This first book was really good. Lots of world building, history and foundation that needs to be laid for us to understand this world. But the story between Lucas & Sascha really heats up the pages. Anyone that can have those types of dreams is okay in my book 🙂
I really loved Lucas’ character. As Alpha of his pack he has to be strong. But Lucas was strong even before he was alpha. Although he was a little broken too. I hope that we get to see glimpses of these two in future books.
I loved Sascha, even if at times I wanted to shake the Psy out of her. But if she was not Psy and struggling with her emotions the story would not be as good.

The narrator Angela Dawe did a really good job with the reading of this book. This was my first book I have listened to narrated by Angela. My only complaint was that the splicing between chapters was way too fast. But I do plan on listening to the second book in this series on audible too.

Disclaimer:
This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

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May 29, 2015May 28, 2015

Cover Reveal: Fighting For It by Jennifer Fusco

We are please to show you for the first time Jennifer Fusco’s new cover FIGHTING FOR IT.

So with out further ado.

Hang on.

Lace up.

And get ready…….

Release date: September 15, 2015

The first in a sexy new series where the hard-hitters of Las Vegas’s Stamina boxing gym are K.O.-ed by the women they never saw coming…

After suffering a devastating loss during his last fight, heavyweight boxer Jack Brady’s whole career went down for the count. Now, his late manager’s daughter has inherited his contract and Jack is pleased to discover that the girl he fell in love with as a kid has grown into a strong, sexy woman—until she makes it clear that Jack has no choice but to get in the ring.

Daniella Chambers is determined to get her father’s failing gym back on track with Jack’s upcoming fight. She knows Jack’s got the talent to become champion and decides to force the unmotivated fighter away from the neon lights of Vegas to train in the seclusion of her lake house. But when they take a time out from their sessions to steam up the bedroom, the urge to win gets all tangled up with their desires.

Now, Jack’s fight is swiftly approaching, and the fate of the gym isn’t the only thing on the ropes.

Find FIGHTING FOR IT here Amazon | B&N | Goodreads.

A little about Jennifer:

Jennifer Fusco began writing romance in 2010 as a way to expend the excess creative energy which wasn’t exhausted by her day job. A fan of all genres, Jennifer enjoys reading and writing contemporary romance. She loves creating incredibly flawed characters because, well, nobody’s perfect. She received her B.A in English from North Carolina State University, and today, lives in southwest Florida with her husband and school-aged son.

Learn more about Jennifer here: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon Page

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April 8, 2015April 8, 2015

Spotlight & Excerpt of Jill Shalvis’ Still the One + a giveaway

*****

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Books a Million

Darcy Stone is game for anything—except sexy Navy vet and physical therapist AJ Colten, the guy who’d rejected her when she’d needed him most. Now the shoe is on the other foot and he needs her to play nice and help him secure grants for his patients. Unfortunately Darcy can’t refuse. She needs the money to fund her passion project: rescuing S&R dogs and placing them with emotionally wounded soldiers.

AJ admits it—Darcy is irresistible. But he’s already been battle-scarred by a strong-willed, vivacious, adventurous woman like Darcy, and he’s not making the same mistake twice—until he and Darcy are forced to fake a relationship. Growing closer than they’d ever imagined possible, Darcy and AJ have to ask themselves: how much between them is pretend? What’s the real thing? And where does it go from here?

Excerpt #2

AJ held the door open for Darcy, doing his best to keep his tongue in his mouth, but he wasn’t sure he quite managed.

“Thanks,” she said, brushing up against his arm and shoulder as she stepped into the elevator.

His free hand came out to stabilize her, a purely instinctual move. He didn’t give a thought to the fact that she hated to be helped because he couldn’t give a thought to anything.

Holy. Shit. Hotness.

Her little black dress—emphasis on little—just about killed him.. The bodice was short, snug, and, at first glance, modest.

Second glance, not so much.

She bent over and fiddled with her heels, which had a strap around her ankle and screamed SEX. So did the way the hem of her dress rose up on her thighs, high enough that his eyes nearly popped right out of his head. “What are you doing?” he managed.

“Nothing.” Still bent at the waist, she shifted to her other heel, during which time he pressed his fingers into his eye sockets to keep his eyes in his head.

She was all leg and silken skin and crazy gorgeous hair, and he attempted to steel himself against her but he failed. He’d been wrong, oh so very wrong when he said he’d be able to handle her. He couldn’t, not in her yoga pants, not in a sexy little black dress, not at work, not in his truck, not in an elevator, not in anything anywhere—he couldn’t do it, Sam I Am.

She straightened and sent him a searching look. She’d piled all that long curly hair on top of her head but several silky strands had escaped, brushing her temples and shoulders, giving her a just-got-laid look. Her lips were siren red and he knew it made him a pig, but all he could think about was her mouth and how her lips would looked stretched around his—

“We’re on time still, right?” she asked.

He had to clear his throat to answer. “Yeah.” Jesus.

The door slid shut and silence filled the elevator while they stared at each other. To keep his hands to himself, he backed to the wall.

“So,” she said, looking like she was mentally cracking her knuckles. “What are the rules here? Kiss ass? Sit, shake, and roll over on command? Tell everyone how you saved my life? Obey your every order?”

Her sarcasm helped him roll his tongue back into his mouth. “I will ask you to kiss someone’s ass never,” he said. “Same for sit and shake and roll over. And you know damn well I didn’t save your life. But as for the obeying me? That. Lots of that would be great.”

Make sure to check out Kelly, Kimberly & Jennifer’s reviews HERE

A little about Jill:

New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill’s bestselling, award-winning books wherever romances are sold and visit her website for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.

Website/Twitter/Facebook

*****

GIVEAWAY TIME

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March 16, 2015February 26, 2015

Spotlight feature of The Closer You Come by Gena Showalter

The Closer You Come

The Original Heartbreakers #1

March 31, 2015

Kindle| Nook | iTunes/iBooks | GooglePlay | Kobo

New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter introduces the Original Heartbreakers, where three not-quite-reformed bad boys are about to meet the women who will bring them to their knees.

Just released from prison, Jase Hollister has a dark and twisted past. And now, he has only one goal: stay out of trouble. Strawberry Valley, Oklahoma, sounds like the perfect place for him and his two brothers-by-circumstance to settle down and live a nice, simple life. But model citizen isn’t exactly this rugged bachelor’s default setting—especially when it comes to a certain hot-blooded Southern beauty…

Brook Lynn Dillon has always been responsible. Not that it’s done her much good. The down-on-her-luck waitress is broke, single and fun-deprived. Until Jase comes along. He is dangerous, stunningly protective, breathtakingly sexy and as tempting as sin, and the passion sizzling between them is undeniable. But can it melt her resistance? After all, the right kind of trouble might be just what they both need.

Goodreads

About Author

Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over thirty books in paranormal and contemporary romances, as well as young adult novels. Her series include White Rabbit Chronicles, Angels of the Dark, Otherworld Assassins, Lords of the Underworld, Alien Huntress and Intertwined.

Her novels have appeared in Cosmopolitan Magazine, and Seventeen Magazine, and have been translated all over the world. The critics have called her books “sizzling page-turners” and “utterly spellbinding stories”, while Showalter herself has been called “a star on the rise”.

Website | Twitter | Goodreads

March 11, 2015March 8, 2015

Spotlight feature of Nalini Singh’s Rock Hard + a giveaway

Meet Gabriel (sexy rugby player turned CEO) & Charlotte in this fantastic addition to the Rock Kiss Series!

NOW AVAILABLE!

Amazon US| Amazon UK | iBooks | Nook | Kobo

In New York Times Bestselling author Nalini Singh’s newest contemporary romance, passion ignites between a gorgeous, sinfully sexy man who built himself up from nothing and a shy woman who has a terrible secret in her past…

Wealthy businessman Gabriel Bishop rules the boardroom with the same determination and ruthlessness that made him a rock star on the rugby field. He knows what he wants, and he’ll go after it no-holds-barred.

And what he wants is Charlotte Baird.

Charlotte knows she’s a mouse. Emotionally scarred and painfully shy, she just wants to do her job and remain as invisible as possible. But the new CEO—a brilliant, broad-shouldered T-Rex of a man who growls and storms through the office, leaving carnage in his wake—clearly has other plans. Plans that may be equal parts business and bedroom.

If Charlotte intends to survive this battle of wits and hearts, the mouse will have to learn to wrangle the T-Rex. Game on.

EXCERPT

Charlotte arrived at work at seven thirty the next morning to find Gabriel Bishop’s office door open, but no carnivorous predator inside. A fresh suit was hanging on the back of his door, however, which meant he’d been in already.

Deciding to catch up on e-mails that had come in overnight from international suppliers as well as stores involved in a stock take, she was typing a reply when a sweaty Gabriel arrived fifteen minutes later. He was dressed in black running shorts and a faded University of Auckland T-shirt that was currently sticking to his body.

She’d known he was in shape, but now she realized none of it was an illusion created by his well-cut suits. Okay, she’d already known that, but seeing his muscled body in the flesh was a whole different ball game. He was built like a tank, hard and powerful.

Each of his thighs was thicker than both of hers put together, his biceps toned, his shoulders appearing even wider than usual. Everything about him was big. Civilized clothing didn’t make him look better, she realized—it toned down his intense masculinity. Out of his suits, with the ink on the upper part of his left arm exposed, as well as that on his opposing thigh and…

Her skin hot and lower body clenching, she just nodded in response to his “Good morning.”

Disappearing into his office, he returned with his suit pants and a fresh shirt slung over his arm, along with a sports bag. “Push the meeting with Sales to nine, will you, Ms. Baird? I need to talk to HR about something before then.”

“Yes, sir,” Charlotte said almost soundlessly, but he was already gone, heading toward the employee shower one floor down.

The thigh tattoo went all the way around, the design intricate.

Heart rate a rapid stutter, Charlotte got up after he disappeared and decided to go grab him a coffee. He’d bought her one yesterday after all. She was just being nice. “Oh, shut up, Charlotte,” she muttered once she was in the elevator, and slumped her face into an upraised hand.

The truth was she was running away. Only for a few minutes, but that’s what this was: strategic retreat. Gabriel Bishop was overwhelming. Once, before she’d ever met him and under the influence of cocktails, she’d told Molly she wanted to rip off his shirt and sink her teeth into his pecs.

That desire hadn’t waned even now that she knew he was a T-Rex. Of course, the desire was all strictly in her imagination. The idea of actually handling him in real life? So impossible as to be laughable. Charlie-mouse was not about to play with a predator who could eat her alive and not even notice the bones. The good news was that she could admire him in relative safety—there was no chance in hell he’d ever notice her as a woman.

Getting the coffee from a nearby café, she took it back upstairs. He was in his office when she entered, the striped dark gray of his tie hanging around his neck and his damp hair roughly combed. The scent of clean, fresh soap over warm skin permeated the office. Shooting her a smile that turned him from gorgeous to flat-out devastating, he flipped up the collar of his white shirt to get the tie in place. “Thank you, Ms. Baird.”

Nodding, Charlotte escaped, though she really wanted to stay. She’d never realized how erotic it was to watch a man dress until this precise moment. And she shouldn’t be having these thoughts about her boss—especially since she couldn’t keep from quivering like a rabbit in his presence. Sometimes she just annoyed herself.

“Get to work,” she muttered and knuckled down.

Gabriel was fine for the first hour, but then he began barking orders even a six-armed woman with a split personality would have had trouble handling.

Finally, pushed to the edge, Charlotte snapped. “I’m going as fast as I can!” she yelled when he asked her for something a minute after he’d asked her to complete another task.

He scowled and held out a file. “This is a priority.”

Grabbing it from his hand, she said, “Fine,” and slapped it down on her desk.

It was over an hour later that he disappeared for ten minutes. When he returned, it was to put a small bakery box on her desk. “I think you need something to sweeten your mood today, Ms. Baird.”

What she needed was for the T-Rex who was her boss to stop snarling and growling, she thought as he returned to his office. Not opening the box until her curiosity had almost killed her, she found it held a slice of decadent chocolate cake with a white-chocolate ganache topped with curls of both white and milk chocolate. “I cannot be bribed with cake,” she muttered, eating a bite nonetheless.

Full two-chapter excerpt available on Nalini’s Website: http://nalinisingh.com/rockhard.php

Make sure to check out Kelly & Natasha’s reviews of Rock Hard HERE

The Rock Kiss Series

Rock Addiction (Book One) Rock Kiss Series

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/WqA2rj
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1G9piir
Nook: http://bit.ly/1t5T7Zt
iTunes: http://bit.ly/1ng9zE9
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1lPqB19

Rock Courtship (bk 1.5) A Rock Kiss Novel:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/XXjjxG
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1G9pmhZ

iBooks: http://bit.ly/1lzgNIi

Nook: http://bit.ly/1COgaC6
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1pEeCy6

Rock Hard (Book Two) Rock Kiss Series

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1BXhHWB

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1G9oslz

iBooks: http://bit.ly/1utQDee

Nook: http://bit.ly/1KEyBIx

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1APyqnU

Author Information

NEW YORK TIMES AND USA Today bestselling author of the Psy-Changeling and Guild Hunter series Nalini Singh usually writes about hot shapeshifters and dangerous angels. This time around, she decided to write about hot and wickedly tempting rock stars (and one gorgeous ex-rugby player). If you’re seeing a theme here, you’re not wrong.

STALK Nalini here: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

*****

GIVEAWAY

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February 23, 2015February 22, 2015

Spotlight feature, Excerpt & a giveaway of Vicky Dreiling’s What a Devilish Duke Desires

WHAT A DEVILISH DUKE DESIRES

by Vicky Dreiling

(February 24, 2015; Forever Mass Market; $8.00)

WILL A FEW FLIRTATIOUS STEPS
Harry Norcliffe never wanted to inherit his beloved uncle’s title. The rigidity of the ton, the incessant reminders from his marriage-minded mama that he must settle down with a highborn lady and produce an heir and a spare: it’s all such a dreadful bore. So when his mother asks him to take part in a dancing competition, he patently refuses. The last thing he needs is another chore . . . until a beautiful, brilliant, delightfully tempting maid makes him rethink his position.

LEAD TO A SCANDALOUS SEDUCTION?
Most women would be over the moon to be pursued by a wickedly handsome-not to mention wealthy-duke like Norcliffe. But Lucy will not be any man’s trophy. She could use a friend, though, and what begins innocently soon ignites into desire. As Lucy tries to resist Harry’s scorching kisses, he makes an utterly irresistible offer. Enter the dance contest with him, and win a prize that could change her life forever . . . if falling in love doesn’t change it first.

An excerpt from What a Devilish Duke Desires.

He took off his coat and went to tend the fire. His wide shoulders needed no padding. When he rose and dusted his hands, she noted his superior height once again. In his waistcoat and shirtsleeves, she could discern the way his waist tapered.

He joined her on the sofa and laid his arm across the top of it. “Tired?” he asked.

“No.” She was too aware of him. In the shadowy room, she could not see his bright blue eyes, but the soft sound of his breathing mingled with hers. The tension between them crackled all around her. A long moment suspended. Her senses were heightened, and her breasts felt heavier for some odd reason. She discerned the scent of wintergreen soap and something else—something masculine and irresistible. Something unique to him.

He leaned closer, and she could feel the whisper of his breath on her lips. “From the first moment we met, I could not get you out of my head.”

His words made her feel giddy, but she held back, because she was still a little wary. “I am undoubtedly the first woman to threaten you with a knife.”

He grinned. “Indeed you are. Now that you are unarmed, perhaps we could be friends.”

“We will shake on it,” she said, offering her hand.

He took her hand and turned her wrist, palm up. He looked up at her beneath his dark lashes, and then he kissed the tender underside of her wrist. When he touched his tongue to the pulse point, her breath shuddered out of her. She thought she might melt from the heat in his seductive gaze.

“I’d better go,” he said. There was a knowing look in his eyes, as if he was aware of exactly how he’d affected her.

When she inhaled on a shaky breath, he helped her to rise. She walked with him to the door as if she were enveloped in a fog.

He halted and gazed into her eyes. Then he drew her in his arms and kissed her gently on the lips. His mouth moved over hers and his hand slipped down the curve of her spine. Heat and longing surged inside her. He wrapped his arms around her, and she could feel the hard, unyielding muscles of his arms, chest, and thighs as he pressed her against him.

“Forgive me in advance,” he said.

“For what?” she whispered.

He kissed her gently once more, and then he drew his tongue along the seam of her mouth. Her lips parted and then his tongue was in her mouth, tasting her while his hands slid down her spine and to her bottom. He pulled her flush against him, and she could feel his hard body. She was breathing faster and everything inside of her was on fire for him. God help her, she wanted his hands all over her.

He broke the kiss, and she was aware that his breathing had quickened as well.

When he released her, he said, “Good night, sweet Lucy.”

Her limbs trembled a little as he strode out into the night, leaving her to wonder if he knew it was her first kiss.

About the author:

Vicky Dreiling is a confirmed historical romance junkie and Anglophile. Frequent business trips to the United Kingdom allowed her to indulge her passion for all things Regency England. Bath, Stonehenge, and Spencer House are among her favorite places. She is, however, truly sorry for accidentally setting off a security alarm in Windsor Castle. That unfortunate incident led her British colleagues to nickname her Trouble. When she’s not writing, Vicky enjoys reading, films, concerts, and, most of all, long lunches with friends. A native Texan, she holds degrees in English literature and marketing.

Social Media Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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February 10, 2015February 9, 2015

Cover reveal of Nalini Singh’s Rock Hard!!!! + a giveaway

We are so excited to be apart of this cover reveal for one of Kelly’s favorite authors Nalini Singh!!!

*****

ROCK HARD

Rock Kiss Series #2

Releasing: March 10th, 2015

PRE-ORDER AVAILABLE:

Amazon preorder: http://amzn.to/1LMSNLJ

iBooks preorder: http://bit.ly/1utQDee

Nook preorder: http://bit.ly/1KEyBIx

Kobo preorder: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/rock-hard-22

In New York Times Bestselling author Nalini Singh’s newest contemporary romance, passion ignites between a gorgeous, sinfully sexy man who built himself up from nothing and a shy woman who has a terrible secret in her past…

And what he wants is Charlotte Baird.

If Charlotte intends to survive this battle of wits and hearts, the mouse will have to learn to wrangle the T-Rex. Game on.

Series Reading Order

Rock Addiction (Book One)

Amazon | iTunes | Kobo

*****

Rock Courtship (Book 1.5)

Amazon | iTunes | Kobo

Meet the Author

NEW YORK TIMES AND USA Today bestselling author of the Psy-Changeling and Guild Hunter series Nalini Singh usually writes about hot shapeshifters and dangerous angels. This time around, she decided to write about hot and wickedly tempting rock stars. If you’re seeing a theme here, you’re not wrong.

Nalini lives and works in beautiful New Zealand, and is passionate about writing. If you’d like to explore her other books, you can find lots of excerpts on her website. Slave to Sensation is the first book in the Psy-Changeling series, whileAngels’ Blood is the first book in the Guild Hunter series. Also, don’t forget to swing by the site to check out the special behind-the-scenes page for the Rock Kiss series, complete with photos of many of the locations used in the books.

STALK HER: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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