Spotlight Feature of Hold On To Me by Elisabeth Naughton + a tour wide giveaway

Hold On To Me

Against All Odds Series, bk #2

By Elisabeth Naughton

Release Date:

Feb. 2014

Blurb:

He thinks he’s finally found the one.

Mitch Mathews never believed in love—at least not the happily ever after kind. Then he met Simone Conners. Just one night with the sexy lawyer made him reevaluate his priorities and look toward a future he never planned. The only hang up is making her see it too.

She’s almost ready for a second chance.

What started out as a casual hookup with a rugged geologist has turned into something a whole lot more. Simone’s on the verge of handing over her heart, but fear over what Mitch will say and do when he learns who she used to be holds her back.

The past could destroy their future…

Just when Simone is about to take a chance on forever with Mitch, the mistakes of her past catch up with her. Suddenly it’s not just her safety on the line anymore, it’s his too. Forced into hiding, Mitch demands answers, and Simone realizes the only way to protect everything she holds dear is to delve into a past she’s spent fourteen years trying to forget. As they search for the truth, they discover secrets, lies and a rekindled passion that burns hotter than before. But they also uncover a conspiracy that threatens the very fabric of society. One that could cost them more than just their future…it could cost them their lives.

Excerpt

Get out of my way.”

“Why?” Mitch’s eyes narrowed to
thin points, and a vehemence Simone had never seen before reflected in their
depths. “You came all the way over here in the middle of the night to tell me
something. Go ahead and say it.”

Emotions bubbled up inside
her—anger, heartache, disbelief—but the one that won out was betrayal, even if
a tiny voice in the back of her head said she had no right to feel that way.

She whirled on him. “You have no idea what I was willing to do for you.
You have no idea what I’ve been
through. I came here to explain, but there’s no point now.”

She ducked under his arm and rushed
down the hall toward the door and freedom. Somewhere deep inside she knew she
was being irrational. She’d broken
things off with him. Whatever and
whoever he’d done since had nothing to do with her, and yet even though her
head understood that, her heart was having a really hard time accepting it.
Because for her, things hadn’t been over. And she doubted they ever would be.

“Hold on. What you’ve done for me?” He grasped her by the arm and swung her
around to face him in the entry hall. Moonlight spilled in through the
sidelights by the front door, illuminating his enraged features and
disbelieving eyes, the t-shirt molding to his muscular chest, the loose-fitting
jeans and his gorgeous, bare feet against the hardwood floor. “You’re the one
who ended things. You’re the one who said you didn’t care. As I recall, your exact
words were, ‘I don’t love you.’ So why the fuck would I believe you’d do
anything for me when I already know you just don’t give a shit?”

She wanted to lash out, to make him
hurt the way she was hurting, to tell him he was right, that she really did no
longer give a shit. But before she could get the words out, the glass in the
far sidelight shattered, sending shards flying through the entryway.

Simone screamed. Mitch threw her to
the ground face first and covered her with his body. Pain echoed through her
hipbones and hands and anywhere she hit the hardwood. But the sound of
something small and hard digging into the siding, the door, shattering windows
and pinging off metal echoed all through the house, distracting her from the
pain.

She pushed against him, but he held
her firmly to the ground. “Stay down,” he growled. “Those are bullets.”

About the Author

I was never one of those people who knew they wanted to be an author at the age of six. I didn’t have imaginary friends. I didn’t write stories in my journal or entertain my relatives by firelight after Thanksgiving dinner. For the most part, I was just a normal, everyday kid. I liked to read, but I wasn’t exceptional at it. And when my teachers complimented me on my writing abilities, I brushed them off. I did, however, always have a penchant for the unique and absurd. And as my mother told me all throughout my childhood, I should have been an actress—I was a drama queen before my time.

Years ago, my husband bought me Scarlett: The Sequel to Gone With The Wind. If you ever saw the book, you know it’s a long one. I sat and read that thing from cover to cover, and dreamed of one day being a writer. But I didn’t actually try my hand at writing until years later when I quit my teaching job to stay home with my kids. And my husband? After that week of reading where I neglected him and everything else until I finished Scarlett, he vowed never to buy me another book again. Little did he know I’d one day end up sitting at a keyboard all day drafting my own stories.

To read her full bio, please visit her website.

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February 4, 2014February 4, 2014

Release Day Blitz for Cynthia Eden’s Scream for Me

Scream For Me

Montlake Suspense #3

They were only supposed to have a professional relationship, but FBI agent Kyle McKenzie has been fantasizing about his sexy partner, Cadence Hollow, from the moment they first moment. It takes the darkest case of their careers to finally bring their hidden desire bubbling to the surface. Once they’re in each other’s arms, though, they swear that nothing short of death will part them. The Night Hunter—a cunning stalker whose four-state, fifteen-year abduction spree began in Paradox, Alabama, with Kyle’s sister—may be only too happy to oblige.

In the small town, Kyle must confront the painful past he’s been hiding from Cadence. Kyle vows to put the Hunter behind bars…or in the ground. But the one thing that obsesses Kyle more than his sister’s grim fate—his furious love for Cadence—is the weapon the Hunter will use to lure his pursuers into the mouth of a murderous trap.

Available for purchase at

Excerpt

“We can’t do anything else out here,”
she said. “Not tonight.”

She was being so careful with him. Too
careful.

“Don’t,” he bit out as he stalked toward
her. The others weren’t close enough to overhear, so he could lower his guard
and let some of his fury out.

Cadence shook her head. “Don’t what?”

He wanted to wrap his hands around her.
To pull her close.

No,
I just want to touch her. To feel her.

“Don’t handle me with your damn kid
gloves, Cadence.” The words were snapped. “I’m not some victim you have to
coddle.”

He’d rolled up the sleeves of his dress
shirt—like that had done much good. He was covered with grime and sweat and
plenty of insect bites.

I
fucking hate summers in the South.

Insects were chirping all around them,
and he’d had to dodge snakes in the bushes for most of the evening.

“I never thought you were a victim.”
Cadence turned from him and headed for the car.

She knew he’d follow her. Wasn’t he
always trailing after her?

Wasn’t he the one who always kept the need in check? The
desire he damn well knew they both felt.

After today—after this hell—why couldn’t
they turn to each other for some comfort and release? Let that desire burst
free?

Replace death with pleasure.

About the Author

USA Today Best-selling author Cynthia Eden has written over twenty-five novels and novellas. She was named as a 2013 RITA^® finalist for her paranormal romance, ANGEL IN CHAINS, and, in 2011, Cynthia Eden was a RITA finalist for her romantic suspense, DEADLY FEAR.

Cynthia is a southern girl who loves horror movies, chocolate, and happy endings. She has always wanted to write (don’t most authors say that?), and particularly enjoys creating stories about monsters–vampires, werewolves, and even the real-life monsters that populate her romantic suspense stories.

Cynthia’s foreign sales for her books include translations to Japan, Germany, Thailand, Greece, and Brazil.

(Back in the day…) Cynthia graduated summa cum laude from the University of South Alabama where she studied Sociology (because people interest her) and Communication (because she likes to write about said people). Cynthia has worked as a college admissions counselor, a teacher, and as an editor. But now, Cynthia is thrilled to be spending her days making up stories.

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February 3, 2014January 31, 2014

Spotlight Feature & Excerpt of Elisabeth Staab’s One Week

One Week

(HaleStorm Series, bk #1)

HE HAS A LEGACY TO SAVE…

Michael Hale’s company is in jeopardy. In the wake of his father’s death and transitioning to CEO, projects are circling the drain and that may cost him everything. Come to find out, the consultant hired to fix things is the “one who got away” many years ago. This time he’s playing for keeps, and he intends to win.

SHE SHOULD NEVER SAY NEVER…

Elise Jackson swore she wouldn’t come near Michael Hale again. He sucker punched her professionally, and he broke her heart. Still, a job’s a job, and they can both be adults. But high emotion and late nights working lead to passion neither of them can deny.

They have one week. Can the two of them pull Michael’s company out of the fire and heal their old wounds?

Available for purchase at

Excerpt

“I should have looked for you.” He wrapped his arms
around her and groaned aloud at the warmth and softness of her skin against
his. The rough texture of her nipples against his chest, the dampness of her
hair on his shoulder. “Just touching you makes me crazy. My God, Elise. I
should have known. Fuck, I did know, and I ignored it. I’m so goddamned
stupid.”

“You’re not stupid.”

“I am stupid.” Michael
gripped her hips—fucking luscious, curvy hips—and ran his hands up that amazing
hourglass arc in her waist and over her shoulders, reveling in the magic of
Elise’s hands giving him the same treatment. “I’m stupid because I thought I
could push you away all those years ago and I’d forget and find someone else
who turned me on as much as your hand bumping my knee under a cubicle desk.
Christ, I tried to tell myself it was all innocent, but I lived for every
second.”

“Oh my God.” Elise’s eyes flew wide, her cheeks flushed
in the low light of her bedroom. “I had no idea.”

“You must have, if you
gathered up the nerve to kiss me.” He bent her back, one hand braced between
her shoulders, the other gripping her ass, trailing kisses along her jaw. Their
only-for-tonight agreement be damned, already he didn’t want to let her go.

“I hoped.” She gripped his
shoulders, smiling. “If I’m being honest, all that accidentally bumping your
knee wasn’t so much an accident.”

About the Author

Elisabeth Staab still lives with her nose in a book and at least one foot in an imaginary world. She believes that all kinds of safe and sane love should be celebrated but she adores the fantasy-filled realm of paranormal romance the best. She lives in the Washington DC area with her family and one big scaredy cat, where she loves to spend time with good friends, go dancing, collect wacky coffee mugs from which to drink her favorite beverage, and sing off-key in her kitchen (when she isn’t making characters fall in love, that is).

You can stalk her, I mean find her at

Giveaway

One winner will receive a signed paperback, a tote bag, some swag, and a Starbucks gift card

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January 31, 2014January 30, 2014

Spotlight feature of Six Months by Dannika Dark

Six Months

(Seven Series, bk #2)

By Dannika Dark

Blurb:

April Frost is a compassionate young woman with a steady job and ambitious goals. But the harder she runs away from her past, the more it threatens to destroy her. When three strangers enter her life, April is forced to face her demons and it’s a battle she may not win.

Private investigators in the Breed world are men who take risks, and Reno Cole is no exception. As a Shifter, he’s expected to control his inner animal. But lately his wolf has been venturing dangerously close to the city, and he’s about to discover why. When Reno is reintroduced to a family friend, the attraction is immediate. April captivates him with her secretive eyes and resilient spirit. She’s also in trouble, and despite the fact she’s a human, Reno can’t turn his back on her.

April is caught between two worlds: One that threatens to bury her dreams and another that could fulfill them. Can she trust the wolf at her door and find the courage to overcome her demons?

Release Date:March 25, 2014

Excerpt

There’s a buzzing sensation when
you have chemistry with someone. It’s like there are invisible threads
connecting your bodies and igniting into sparks, and the residual pulse bounces
back in shock waves, growing stronger with each second.

I felt that with Reno. He stepped
so close to me that I remembered how good it felt when he’d held me in his
arms. The animalistic look in his eyes captured me like he was a predator and I
was prey. He felt it too. I could tell by soft breath he took before he spoke.

“I’ve always liked hazel eyes,” he
said. “Yours look like a sunset over sea-green waters.”

I hit pause. This was a scene I’d
be replaying in my head for weeks to come, and I didn’t want to ruin the moment
by saying something inane. I let him graze his thumb across my mouth. He pulled
my lower lip down just enough that his thumb glided across the fleshy inside.
Then he rolled his wet thumb across my lip, making what seemed like a casual
gesture become the most intimate moment I’d experienced with a man outside of
sex.

Staring into Reno’s chocolate eyes
up close was like riding on that motorcycle. Intense, sexy, and addictive. When
I felt his hand leisurely traveling down the curve of my back, my icy walls
began to melt and I warmed to his touch.

I waited for him to make another
move, but it never came. He looked at me like something unattainable—the same
way I coveted the expensive perfume bottles behind the display counter, or the
chocolate macadamia nut cookies at the gourmet shop.

I whirled around and he captured my
wrist, gently tugging me back. “Something wrong with the way I touched you?”

“It’s nothing,” I breathed.

But Reno didn’t let go. He stepped
closer and lifted my chin. “Did you want me to kiss you?”

“No.”

Reno grinned. “Liar.”

About the Author

This is the segment where you learn a little more about who I am, so here’s what I can tell you: I drink copious amounts of vitamin water placed precariously close to my laptop while writing. These are two healthy habits I have no intention of breaking. I’m a transplant living in the south, but I was born in the 70’s to a military dad who moved us around the world.

When I’m not writing (which is all the time), I’m hunting down Indie music, watching movies, reading, eating Tex-Mex, discovering new ways to humiliate myself bowling, and burning up my laptop battery on the Internet. I have a relaxed, easy-going personality and don’t like drama. I live with a cat who thinks she is a dog, or a goat (she eats plastic, so I’m not sure which).

Throughout my life, I’ve had insomnia. Counting sheep never worked and eventually I would imagine those sheep were the sole source of food after an apocalyptic battle where only thousands survived. I made up stories in a futile attempt to bore myself to sleep. The problem was, I got so wrapped up in my “head stories” that I would continue them through the following nights, changing it up each time to make it more exciting. Eventually, I started writing my ideas down – creating short stories, and then I discovered my love for poetry.

It’s almost embarrassing how many spiral notebooks and stacks of paper I have of poetry and lyrics.

Another passion: digital art. I design all my book covers, marketing, and series art. I’m a very visual person and pursued photography as an avid hobby for many years.

I am not a YA author (I feel like I have to state this only because I’ve had a few people ask), but I think it’s wonderful there are so many books available to teens in Urban Fantasy and Paranormal.

I am finally doing what I have always wanted to do: giving my characters a pulse through writing full time. I focus on adult urban fantasy romance, but I don’t like labels and I enjoy blending genres to break out of the confines of predictability.

But it’s what I love to do.

Danni

You can stalk, I mean find Dannika here:

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January 28, 2014January 18, 2014

Interview & tour wide giveaway with ZA Maxfield

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome ZA Maxfield to the blog for her first visit

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

I’m a wife and a mother of four, and a native of sunny Southern California. I grew up with the television on. I Love Lucy and Bonanza and The Brady Bunch and The Partidge Family. Charlies Angels and The Six Million Dollar Man.

I’m afraid I’ve let my kids grow up in the middle of pop culture too, with the television on. (Although we’re no longer restricted to what three or four television networks want us to watch.) We all love story, whether it’s books, comics or graphic novels, film, or television. We’ve even become so engrossed in the Podcasts for Welcome To Nighvale we all got Nightvale presents from Santa last year.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

Yes! Always. Since the first book I read, probably, although I don’t remember that far back. Of course I thought it would all staring moodily out to see and setting up an iv drip of cheap booze with a dirty needle. I thought there’d be more random filthy sexual encounters. Only on the pages, I’m afraid.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

I WISH I had an interesting writing quirk. Does writing in my pajamas count? I’m so pedestrian. I’m linear. I now make outlines. Nothing quirky. I like to use a photo calendar to mark my current word count every day. It’s usually something meditative. Does that count?

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

I have a few things on the burner. I’ve got a mystery coming from Riptide later this year, and I’m working on another romantic comedy. Plus I’m writing more J-Bar Cowboy stories. I really enjoy small town settings, I like nature, and getting people to open up to one another. There are a lot of reasons for me to write these stories.

The latest is, of course My Heartache Cowboy, about Jimmy Rafferty and Eddie Molina, a couple of middle aged cowboys who have to redefine their friendship when Eddie reveals he’s gay.

Jimmy drinks too much, and things are changing at the J-Bar. They might not have jobs when the dust settles. Eddie takes it upon himself to straighten Jimmy out and get him sober, with some pretty interesting consequences.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

It came naturally as the two main characters are secondary characters in book one, My Cowboy Heart, and had unfinished business.

My current work in progress is a total change of pace from the heartfelt cowboy stories in that it’s an opposites attract romantic comedy set against the backdrop of a small town dealing with the invasion of a film crew on location shooting a popular television series. There will be strong emotion but lots of situational comedy. I hope. (Crossing my fingers.)

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

I HAD the immense pleasure of meeting my IDOL of all time, Laura Kinsale, at RT last year. I was so delighted. WOW. Perfect moment. Got a piccie and everything. I’m such a fangirl at heart.

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

Oh, wow. I’d say it’s just write. Keep writing. Never stop writing, even though you might get something published and it’s in edits and it could be the next big thing.

No matter what you’re getting published and no matter what anyone says about it, what you’ve written is past. It’s prologue. Always be working on the Next Thing, and believe that Next Thing going to be EVEN better, because it will be. I guarantee it.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.

Riding a Harley Davidson. Firing a Glock. All the stuff my hot characters do that I only imagine doing.

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

This is so hard. I am currently drooling for Dirty Deeds by Rhys Ford.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Well, of course I’d like to add that if readers go right now and buy every one of my backlist books they’ll reach oneness with the universe or lose 50 pounds overnight or something, but of course that’s not true, so I can’t say that… But I will say if they want to drop me a line and tell me what they think about me or my books, I LOVE to hear from readers. You can reach me through my website or contact me directly at zamaxfield (at) zamaxfield (dot) com. Thanks so much for having me here!!!

Thanks so much for having me here, you’re awesome.

ZAM

My Heartache Cowboy

(Cowboy Series, Bk #2)
By Z.A. Maxfield

Blurb:

Can love conquer all?

Jimmy Rafferty and Eddie Molina go way back at the J-Bar ranch. They’ve worked together, bunked together, camped out, and drank together. So how has Jimmy failed to notice that Eddie is gay? Eddie has not failed to notice that his friend has a serious drinking problem, and he’s determined to help Jimmy kick the booze cold turkey.

Taking him up to a snowbound cabin to detox, Eddie is confronted with Jimmy’s fierce denial. But the pains of withdrawal are nothing for Jimmy compared with the heartache of denying his true feelings and his deep longing…for the one man who cares for him more than anyone else on earth.

Available for purchase at

Excerpt

When I woke, I was alone and the truck wasn’t moving.

Who the hell did Eddie think he was, leaving me asleep by
myself in a truck outside in the freezing cold? My pa and my older brother,
Jonas, used to do that. We’d be on the road, and when I fell asleep, they’d
leave me in the parking lot of some dive bar or motel—just leave me asleep
outside in the dark. I’d wake up with no clue where I was, no idea if they were
coming back or if I should go in and try to find them.

My first useful thought was to look for the keys, because I
hadn’t forgotten what Eddie said. I hadn’t forgotten the plans him and boss
Malloy made for me behind my back. It would serve them right if I up and
hightailed it back to the J-Bar with Eddie’s truck and no Eddie.

No keys.

Not like that was going to stop me. Where the hell did
Eddie get the idea I’d go quietly? I slid over and tore the wiring out from
under the dash. Found what I needed without hardly even looking.

I hated waking up alone like that. Unwanted. Abandoned.

One twist. Two. Touch the wires together and the engine
should . . .

Fuck.

Nothing.

What the hell? I checked I got the proper color-coated
strands and tried again. I was frowning down at the mess of tangled wire when
someone tapped on the window behind me.

I glanced up and saw Eddie frowning down, no doubt pissed
at what I’d done to his truck. Serves you right for leaving me
like that, you prick.

“You need a working engine for that,” he told me as he
opened the door. “One that has a battery.”

“Fuck you.” I spilled out of the car ready for a fistfight.

“What?” Eddie jumped back.

“Why did you have to leave me like that? What did I ever do to you?”

Eddie shook his head at me. “I don’t have a clue what
you’re talking about. You were sound asleep and I thought maybe you needed it.”

I took a swing at him. “I hate waking up alone in a car
like that.”

Ed plucked my fist from the air and peered at me like he
was trying to see through my skin. “I didn’t know.”

“I hate that. Left behind in the car like a damn dog. Like
a fucking duffel bag. You can’t be bothered to even wake me up and take me in
out of the fucking snow.”

Now Eddie frowned like he was thinking about it. Now, after
the fact. “I’m sorry, Jimmy. I didn’t think how you’d feel waking up alone like
that. I won’t do it again.”

“Would have served you right if I took your truck and left
you up here to walk back to civilization, wherever the hell that is. Would have
served you right if I’d died out here.”

“All right, all right. Simmer down now.”

I glared at him. “Fuck you.”

“It’s pretty civilized inside. How about you come in with
me.”

“How about you suck my fucking—”

“That’s enough.” He turned and headed toward the cabin’s
welcoming front door. “I almost didn’t bother to disable the damn thing, but I
thought on the off chance you knew what you were doing and could—”

“Which I did,” I pointed out.

“Come inside.” He jerked his chin toward the cabin like I
was a dog and I was supposed to just follow along and yip around at his heels.

I debated making a run at him, but frankly, Eddie was a
tough buzzard. He wasn’t too much older than me, just forty-two compared to my
thirty-eight. But I was a lover, not a fighter, or at least that’s how I
thought of myself. Back there on the road, Eddie had proved he wasn’t above
using violence to get his way in this, so I went along.

You’re going to have to sleep sometime.

Eddie led me into a rustic-looking cabin that seemed awful
nice for the middle of nowhere. There was a place for us to hang our hats just
inside the door, over a table with a passel of pictures on it. There were old
time black-and-whites of families and framed pictures of a good-looking man, a
pretty woman, and some kids. There were some of the kids alone, and holy cow, there were probably a dozen pictures of Ed. He
looked so young in a couple of them, they must have been from before we met.

One of Ed and the unknown man caught my eye. Something
about the difference in height, the casual way they leaned together, the way
they looked at each other, made me think this was Ed’s friend from the road,
Don. Even though they’d both aged some since it was taken, I was almost sure of
it.

No knobby hands, no weathered angel, this Don was good
looking, without a doubt. He was lanky and chiseled. He had an intelligent face
and a smile that drew the eye. He seemed sure of himself and charming. Whatever
I’d seen in the darkness outside the car had to be a trick of the light.

Ed looked so young and earnest next to him it took my
breath away. Brawny and tan, he wore a yoked Western shirt with the sleeves
rolled up past well-muscled forearms and he eyed Don like he would follow him anywhere.

And that Don, he looked like he could appreciate a guy like
Ed, as well.

Hadn’t I seen firsthand how much he did appreciate him?

About the Author

Z. A. Maxfield started writing in 2007 on a dare from her children and never looked back. Pathologically disorganized, and perennially optimistic, she writes as much as she can, reads as much as she dares, and enjoys her time with family and friends. Three things reverberate throughout all her stories: Unconditional love, redemption, and the belief that miracles happen when we least expect them.If anyone asks her how a wife and mother of four can find time for a writing career, she’ll answer, “It’s amazing what you can accomplish if you give up housework.”

You can find ZA Maxfield at

Giveaway

$50 Gift Card

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November 21, 2013November 14, 2013

Guest Blogger: Cynthia Eden

The Troubles with writing a Christmas story in the fall

Hi, everyone! Thanks so much for coming by today! I’m excited to be talking about my new book, A VAMPIRE’S CHRISTMAS CAROL…or rather, the writing process for that book. 😉

A few months ago, I realized that I had time in my schedule to write an extra novella, and I let my fans vote on that novella–did they want a holiday romantic suspense tale or a holiday paranormal? The votes can in, and it was decided that I’d write a holiday tale about vampires.

I was super excited! I love vampires! And, hey, it was early October then. A great time to write about vampires.

But…this particular story needed to take place on Christmas Eve, not Halloween. So while all my Halloween decorations definitely helped to get me in a paranormal frame of mind, they didn’t exactly inspire the Christmas spirit.

So…I had to improvise a wee bit. Before I started writing each day, I listened to some holiday tunes. I watched clips of old Saturday Night Live holiday specials on YouTube. I found myself humming Frosty the Snowman as I stood in the check-out line to get my Halloween candy.

I might have been exercising some extreme Christmas Creep, but I was getting my holiday mojo on!

The problem with that mojo? I found myself actually wanting to put up my Christmas tree…ahem, on October 15. My son and husband talked me down, but it was a very near thing.

Ah, Christmas stories…they can sure put you in the holiday mood. Even if that mood strikes a wee bit early…

What about you, though? When does the holiday mood strike you? Is it when you see the decorations in the stores? When you buy the first present of the season?

Thanks, again, for checking out the post!

Best,

Cynthia Eden

A Vampire’s Christmas Carol (Novella)

by Cynthia Eden

Amazon| B&N |KOBO

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.But fate has other plans for Ben.

Three visitors are coming Ben’s way…A demon who will force Ben to face his past, a ghost who will show Ben the present he could have, and a shifter who will reveal the darkness that waits in Ben’s future. Unless Ben can change his ways, he may just turn into a real monster, one who can’t be saved by anyone or anything.

‘Tis the season…to be undead.

Ben’s redemption rests in the hands of the one woman he loved and lost—Simone Laurent. If Ben is going to have a chance at being more than just the beast in the darkness, he has to prove himself to the lovely Simone. A very hard task, considering that, once upon a Christmas Eve, Simone died in Ben’s arms…

Warning:
This book features one very tortured vampire, a sexy ghost from his past, and hot scenes designed to melt the winter snow. Plenty of action, adult situations, and steamy times are ahead. Happy holidays!

Available for purchase at

Excerpt

Lust clawed through him. The need, the red-hot desire, seemed to
burn Ben from the inside. He grabbed
Simone, yanked her flush against him. His mouth locked on hers. He’d always
tried to be so careful with her in the past. Played the gentleman because she mattered.

He wasn’t
a gentleman any longer. Ben wasn’t even sure what he was. He just knew he
needed Simone naked, and he had to be in her.

He carried her back to his
bedroom. He ignored the glittering New York skyline. She was the only thing he
could see. Desire pounded through him. His cock was so swollen that he hurt
and—

His teeth were extending.
Stretching in his mouth.

Ben dropped Simone on the bed
and stepped back, horrified.

“Ben?” Simone sat up on the bed and pushed back the
blonde hair that had tumbled forward. “What’s wrong?”
She was so gorgeous and
sexy staring up at him. Looking at him
with those wide, dark eyes.

I’m going to hurt her. He grabbed for the control that he’d always
held so easily in the past. Only that control was broken. Shattered. “You need
to leave.”

About the Author

Cynthia’s foreign sales for her books include translations to Japan, Germany, Thailand, Greece, and Brazil.

Giveaway

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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”

October 21, 2013October 14, 2013

Interview & Tour Wide Giveaway with Monica Burns

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Monica Burns to the blog today.

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

Okay, when people ask me a question like that, the door is wide open, but I won’t bore you with tons of nonsense. The long and short of it is, I’m a bestselling author of sexy historical romance and paranormal romance.

A bestselling author of spicy erotic romance, Monica Burns penned her first short romance story at the age of nine when she selected the pseudonym she uses today. From the days when she hid her stories from her sisters to her first completed full-length manuscript, she always believed in her dream despite rejections and setbacks. A workaholic wife and mother, Monica believes it’s possible for the good guy to win if they work hard enough.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

Yep. I was writing romance at the age of nine, when I selected my pseudonym. Seriously. I’m a born marketer, and I picked Monica because it sounded exotic and Burns because it starts with a B and would be eyelevel to book customers. Of course, that was back when there weren’t as many books available. But it still puts me close to the front of the line. I think in my next life, I’m going to use the pseudonym, Abby Normal

Are you a plotter or a punster or combo of both? And you explain the difference?

I’m more a pantser than plotter. My plotting is basically done in a synopsis, and I write the barebones of the story. For example, my current WIP had loosely laid out plot line. I know that the hero is blackmailed into marrying the heroine. The heroine has recently found freedom in the BDSM lifestyle as a Domme. The hero is a Submissive. The two have different things going on with their inner conflicts. She’s pretty much had it with people telling her what to do all her life, so the Domme aspect is pretty self-explanatory. The hero is more complex. The hero’s father beat the hero’s mother while the hero was forced to watch as he was too young to protect his mother. Being a Submissive is in a way his penitence. So I’ve got these two characters who are forced into a marriage, they both have issues, the hero works in the seedy East End of London as a solicitor helping a barrister find evidence to defend people. There’s a bad guy who’s revealing names within the BDSM club (we all know that’s a BIG no no), and this bad guy winds up getting involved with one of the hero’s seedy enemies from the East End and something bad happens that may/may not put the heroine or the hero in danger. THAT is the extent of my plotting. The rest of it is putting words on paper as the scenes come to me. I already have three scenes in my head that I’ve yet to key in, but they’re rock solid. As a pantser, I just sit down and let the story flow out on the page. At least that’s how it’s *supposed* to work! It’s rarely that easy. In fact, I’ve only ever had one book in my career that just rolled off my fingers.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

Hmm…I don’t really have one. I need to have my iced tea first thing in the morning when I start writing, and that’s about as quirky as I get. I don’t have any rabbit’s foot or any kind of crutch.

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

A Bluestocking Christmas is one of my favorite stories because it has a ghost, the hero is hot as hell, and the entire story has an intense focus on literary works. Essentially, the hero uses words to seduce the heroine, well that and other seductive powers.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

A Bluestocking Christmas is a back list book from when I was first published by an ePub. I love books (go figure LOL), and I wanted to see what I could do with a ghost and a hero who uses words to make the heroine submit to him. It’s a romantic tip of the hat to Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol.

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

His Mistress is my current work, which I outlined above, and I’m about half way done with it. After that book is completed, I’ll be working on another Order of the Sicari series, which started out at Berkley, but they decided not to contract more books. But there are a lot of people who’ve asked for the series, and I love the world of the Sicari, so I’m going back.

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

Well, I can’t meet that author because she’s dead. Charlotte Bronte wrote the most amazing hero in Jane Eyre, and I would love to sit down and have a private, confidential girl chat with her about how she came up with Rochester, and whether she knew someone that she based the character on. Rochester was just so *real* to me, and it makes me think Charlotte modeled after someone, despite her brilliance as an author.

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

Learn the rules of writing. Actually, they’re just guidelines, but you have to learn them to hone your craft. Once you know the “rules,” toss them out the window and break the rules left and right. Finally, write for yourself first, your readers second, and NEVER ever write to a trend. Unless you’re a fast writer, you’ll miss the wave. And yes, point the finger, I’m writing my first BDSM. However, I’m writing a male Sub, that’s not an easy type of hero to find, but thanks to my pal Joey Hill, I’m feeling pretty good about making Tobias an alpha type of Sub.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.

I have several things on my bucket list.

1) I want to ride the top 10 roller coasters in the world. I have nine to go.

2) I want to drive a race car of Lamborghini (preferably the Lamborghini) on a straightway at 120mph.

3) Visit Rome, Italy

4) Visit the Pyramids at Giza and the Temple of Karnak in Luxor

5) Visit England (that might happen March 2014) and Scotland.

6) I want to learn how to speak Italian and Klingon. Actually the Italian piece I’m learning now via Rosetta Stone.

7) I want to learn fencing

8) I want to learn martial arts (I doubt this will happen thanks to a bad back)

9) I intend to sky dive at 82. If I live that long going splat won’t matter. The other option is to bungee jump with a Bowie knife because I refuse to go to a nursing home.

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

I have tons of books in my TBR pile, but I don’t have any one single book that sticks out in my mind as a must read. I don’t get to read very often, which makes it difficult to find a series I can immerse myself in. If I had to pick one, I’d say Dan Brown’s Inferno. I’ve been wanting to read it since I first heard he was writing it. The book has been out since mid-May and I’ve *yet* to even come close to getting to it. I must have about 200 books on my Kindle, Nook combined, but time is so limited.

What is one book everyone should read before they die?

Jane Eyre – It’s characterization is exquisite in my opinion

What is your favorite time of year & why?

The fall, hands down. Why? The air is crisp with a bite in the morning, while the evening still holds the softness of the day’s sun yet the cool nip that hints the temperature is about to drop. Then there’s the sound of leaves cracking beneath your feet or the sound of laughter as a kid jumps into a pile of leaves behind their dad’s back. I love how apple cider and cinnamon fills the air on a pumpkin farm, or the whiff of sweet smoke from a neighbor’s fire. Fall means back-to-school, Halloween, the quiet that follows summer, and the coming holidays. It’s just an awesome time of year. Pretty much the calm before the storm (the holidays).

Who is your Celebrity crush? And what would you do if you ever meet them?

Well, if we’re talking eye candy, then that would be Vin Diesel, Matt Bomer (who my associate film producer nephew worked with on a film recently. Le sigh) and Scott Eastwood (Clint Eastwood’s son). I imagine I’d just say hi while inside I’d be thinking, oh God, I wish I was skinnier, prettier and a hell of a lot younger.

If we’re talking just “interesting” celebrity then it would be Anthony Hopkins. He’s a brilliant actor, and there’s only been one movie of his I didn’t like. That was Magic, which was a very creepy film. Obviously he did an exceptional job in it, because I still remember it (70s film), but I didn’t enjoy it. So I supposed I’d have to ask him how/why he started and questions like that.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Thank you for the great questions. Writing a blog post is difficult for me, but answering questions is like taking an essay test. It’s much easier. LOL

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*****

A Bluestocking Christmas

Goodreads

Sinful words, wicked pleasures and a ghost all add up to A Bluestocking Christmas with a Dickens of a twist.

As a young man, Simon, Viscount Wycombe learned the painful truth that a tradesman’s daughter is suitable only for liaisons and nothing more. But Ivy Beecham is a far cry from his preconceived notions, and he’s determined to have her. But when she rejects him, it only increases his determination to seduce her into a world of sin and pleasure.

Ivy Beecham knows first-hand that handsome aristocrats like Simon can’t be trusted. But the intellectual scoundrel is hellbent on making her his mistress, using every means at his seductive disposal. When she refuses to give away her heart on Christmas Eve, a ghostly specter shows her in one night why her surrender can be the greatest gift of all.

A little about Monica:

A bestselling author of spicy historical and paranormal romance, Monica Burns penned her first short romance story at the age of nine when she selected the pseudonym she uses today. Her historical book awards include the 2011 RT BookReviews Reviewers Choice Award and the 2012 Gayle Wilson Heart of Excellence Award for Pleasure Me. She is also the recipient of the prestigious paranormal romance award, the 2011 PRISM Best of the Best award for Assassin’s Heart. From the days when she hid her stories from her sisters to her first completed full-length manuscript, she always believed in her dream despite rejections and setbacks. A workaholic wife and mother, Monica believes it’s possible for the good guy to win if they work hard enough.

Author Links:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads |Pinterest

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October 15, 2013October 4, 2013

Interview & Tour wide giveaway with Hildie McQueen

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

I’m a transplant to the south who became passionate about writing about five years ago. After almost thirty years working in and with the US Army I left the government to pursue writing full time. I am addicted to reading romance, everything about it makes me happy, so it was a natural transition to writing. I love shopping, traveling and wine. My favorite thing to do besides everything above is to hang out with my husband and friends.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

Growing up I wanted to be a soldier/mercenary. Isn’t that what every little girl wants to be? (Laughs) It was during High School that I began to write. Short stories at first. I think it wasn’t until my forties that I developed a hunger for writing

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

I can’t write and drink. So when writing, no alcohol for me. It’s too bad, sometimes I really want a glass of wine. But my writing turns to crap really fast when I drink.

Can you please tell us about your latest book?

Westbound Awakening is a sequel to Where The Four Winds Collide. I use the term ‘sequel’ loosely since it is a complete standalone story. Westbound Awakening is the story of a young woman, Mae Hawkins, who was raised in a brothel. She is now the madam and has been in love with a cavalry captain, John McClain, for years. When he escorts her west to see her dying father, the attraction for each other is hampered by preconceived notions and the hero’s pride. It’s not an easy love story for these two. I cried several times while writing it, but in the end I think it’s a great tale of how two people come together and work through adversity.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

When they appear in How The Four Winds collide, they spoke volumes to me. In the moments of awkward silence and few words they exchanged, I knew there was a story to be told.

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

I am in the midst of writing another Western HIstorical series. “Shades of Blue”, for which the prequel novella Big Sky Blue, has already been published. It is my hope the series will be published on December 1, 2013.

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

I want to meet Linda Lael Miller. I love her westerns, both historical and contemporary. She’s my muse!

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

Write what you love and never give up. The more you write the better you and your stories become.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.

I have a group of friends and we’re working on our bucket lists together. I’ve traveled extensively, it’s my hobby. But I’ve yet to visit New York City. I want to go thee so bad!

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

The next JR Ward novel, Possession. I’m hooked on her books!

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Thank you so much for allowing me the privilege of visiting. Its great to reach new readers! One commenter on this blog will win a prize pack from me!

Westbound Awakening buy link

Captain John McClain finds himself on the wrong end of a shotgun when attempting to find his child. Heading west to find the mother of his son and the outlaw who shot him, John is forced to escort an enticing woman whose lifestyle goes against every one of his moral standards, yet she calls to every part of him.

Heading west to meet the dying father she never knew, and possibly starting a new life, Mae Hawkins didn’t expect the added complication of traveling with the one man she always loved.

When they’re joined along the road by a minister and his wife, things get beyond complicated for John and Mae who awaken to the lesson that sometimes differences are more imagined than real in this unforgettable journey.

A little about Hildie

Hildie McQueen loves storytelling and unusual settings, pair that with humor and you’ve got an idea of what her writing is like.

She makes sure action, intrigue, and sizzling romance add up to a story, her readers won’t soon forget. Her favorite past-times are traveling, shopping and reading. She resides in beautiful small town Georgia with her super-hero husband Kurt and two unruly Chihuahuas.

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

Giveaway:

Coach wristlet (Stagecoach days and all) and an e-copy of Westbound Awakening

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October 11, 2013October 9, 2013

Interview with Heidi Cullinan

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Heidi Cullinan to the blog today. Heidi can you please share with us a little about yourself

I’m an author of gay romance, I’m an Iowan, a wife and a mother, and I’m very tall. I’ve battled chronic pain and mysterious health ailments over the years, a journey which has led me to many interesting things, at this moment including being a gluten-free vegan eating a stupid amount of kale. I tweet too much and post pictures of my cats and what I’m eating on social media. I can’t remember the names of the characters I create (sometimes losing/changing them within the same book), so you can imagine what I do with real people.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

I think yes, probably before I even understood what that was. Mostly I have always told and played with stories. I scripted Barbies and Weebles until I realized I was holding plastic, and then I started writing things down. I wrote my first novel at twelve and published it in the school anthology. It was a romance, and it was also half of the anthology.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

I auto-write with my characters. I have no idea if this is creative insanity or a parceling-out of my consciousness or if I’m actually communicating with a character void. All I know is I talk, they answer, and I sort things out. They answer with stuff I didn’t know a lot. LIke in the drafting of Family Man I asked Vinnie what his favorite music was and he said Coltrane. Somehow I had it in my head this was an alternative singer, but I ended up with John Coltrane, the jazz singer, and Vinnie all but hummed. So who knows how it works. I honestly don’t care so long as it continues.

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

My current release is Love Lessons, a new adult gay romance set in a fictional university. It’s standard virgin reforms rake…except there’s a lot of role reversal once we get going, and it doesn’t stay that simple very long. Here’s the official teaser blub: When Kelly arrives at Hope University, he realizes finding his Prince Charming isn’t easy. Worst of all, he’s landed the charming, handsome, gay campus Casanova as a roommate, whose bed might as well be equipped with a revolving door. Walter thinks everyone is better off having as much fun as possible…except his shy, sad little roommate is seriously screwing up his worldview. As Walter sets out to lure Kelly out of his shell, he discovers love is a crash course. To make the grade, he’ll have to overcome his own private fear that love was never meant to last.

My next release is in November, a Christmas romance called Let It Snow. It started because I was seriously in the mood for a snowed-in story (LOVE those) but couldn’t find one I wanted to read. It’s also a little golidlocks and the three bears, but mostly it’s a snuggly snowed-in story with a grumpy bear and a hairdresser who knows how to tame him. The lightning blurb: Frankie’s malfunctioning GPS sent him to Logan, and a blizzard ensures he won’t be leaving anytime soon. Being rescued by three sexy lumberjacks is a nice fantasy, but the biggest of the bears seems cranky…and ready to gobble Frankie right up. Once a high-powered lawyer, Marcus has no interest in a sassy city twink who might as well have stepped directly out of his past. Yet as the snow falls, the deeper they fall in love. Though all they want for Christmas is each other, the gift of forever may be too much to ask.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

I wanted to write about college romance because I’d been reading it and it made me feel good. I had this idea Love Lessons would be 50-60k, sugar-sweet and simple and take me a few months to write. It took me six, I routed about thirty demons from my college years, and at one point I had a three foot-stack of philosophy books on my reading stand and twice as many on my kindle. So the sweet and simple thing didn’t work out quite so well. The other irony is I intended it to be a series initially, but it became a stand alone…and now it’s a series again.

Kelly and Walter started out as a rake/ingenue dichotomy, a pretty standard trope. It didn’t take long for them to do the character equivalent of, “No, listen to me,” and they ended up tangling themselves, switching roles, and in general making a mess. As soon as I took my expectations and rigid schedule out of the way, though, everything lined right up.

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

I’m writing a second book in the Love Lessons series, Fever Pitch. Walter and Kelly are secondary characters, but mostly this book will be the story of Aaron and Giles, whom I’m confident every fan of Love Lessons will be happy with. Next I’m due to write a second book in the Minnesota Christmas series, which will feature recurring characters from Let It Snow. I’m pretty sure Arthur will hook up with the librarian.

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

I’d like to shake Terry Pratchett’s hand. I don’t think I could manage coherent conversation. But I’d like to tell him thank you in person. Then I’d go off quietly and sob until I couldn’t breathe.

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

I forget who said it first, but I stand by the adage, “If you can stop writing, you should.” If it’s about money, there are a million easier, more reliable ways to get it. If it’s about fame or attention, ditto. If you imagine yourself not writing and you feel happiness and relief, stop writing immediately. If thinking of writing makes you angry or exhausted, if it’s a drain on your system, at least take a break and let ceasing be an option. Everything else? Everything from loving the challenge to gritty determination to climb this mountain to a sense of soul-sucking darkness if you stop? Come on in. The water’s abysmal, but you don’t have much choice so you might as well.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.

I’d like to get back to Prague, to rent an apartment and stay there for the summer. Write, cook, soak up the city. There’s nowhere else like it in the world.

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

I seriously require more Vlad from Jeaniene Frost. As soon as possible.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Thank you very much for having me!

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Love doesn’t come with a syllabus.

Kelly Davidson has waited what seems like forever to graduate high school and get out of his small-minded, small town. But when he arrives at Hope University, he quickly realizes finding his Prince Charming isn’t so easy. Everyone here is already out. In fact, Kelly could be the only virgin on campus.

Worst of all, he’s landed the charming, handsome, gay campus Casanova as a roommate, whose bed might as well be equipped with a revolving door.

Walter Lucas doesn’t believe in storybook love. Everyone is better off having as much fun as possible with as many people as possible…except his shy, sad little sack of a roommate is seriously screwing up his world view.

As Walter sets out to lure Kelly out of his shell, staying just friends is harder than he anticipated. He discovers love is a crash course in determination. To make the grade, he’ll have to finally show up for class…and overcome his own private fear that love was never meant to last.

Warning: This story contains lingering glances, milder than usual sexual content for this author, and a steamy dance-floor kiss. Story has no dairy or egg content, but may contain almonds.

Expected publication: October 1st 2013 by Samhain

A little about Heidi:

Heidi Cullinan has always loved a good love story, provided it has a happy ending. She enjoys writing across many genres but loves above all to write happy, romantic endings for LGBT characters because there just aren’t enough of those stories out there. When Heidi isn’t writing, she enjoys cooking, reading, knitting, listening to music, and watching television with her husband and ten-year-old daughter. Heidi also volunteers frequently for her state’s LGBT rights group, One Iowa, and is proud to be from the first midwestern state to legalize same-sex marriage. Find out more about Heidi, including her social networks, at www.heidicullinan.com.

Author Links:

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September 9, 2013September 9, 2013

Spotlight feature of Elisabeth Naughton’s Stolen Chances

Pre-order HERE

Nine years ago, Archaeologist Maren Hudson lost everything when a member of her team was killed during a routine dive. Now she’s been drawn back to Mexico and the career she walked away from in order to protect the most precious thing in the world: her daughter.

One desperate phone call brings salvage expert Thad Leighton back to Mexico. For his murdered brother, he’s ready to settle the score, but one look at Maren and everything changes. Years may have passed, but she’s still as mesmerizing as she once was, and a few days on site together have him questioning his priorities and why the hell he walked away from her so long ago.

Sparks between them reignite, but Thad knows Maren is holding something back. Thrust together in the middle of the sweltering Yucatan, Thad is more than willing to strip away her layers. But while the truth might offer the second chance he’s been searching for, forgiveness may be as elusive as the relic they’re both hunting. Because when Thad unearths Maren’s biggest secret and discovers who she’s really working for, suddenly it’s not just about a life that was stolen from both of them, it’s about staying alive and outwitting a madman who will stop at nothing to get what he wants.

Author’s Bio
I was never one of those people who knew they wanted to be an author at the age of six. I didn’t have imaginary friends. I didn’t write stories in my journal or entertain my relatives by firelight after Thanksgiving dinner. For the most part, I was just a normal, everyday kid. I liked to read, but I wasn’t exceptional at it. And when my teachers complimented me on my writing abilities, I brushed them off. I did, however, always have a penchant for the unique and absurd. And as my mother told me all throughout my childhood, I should have been an actress—I was a drama queen before my time.

Years ago, my husband bought me Scarlett: The Sequel to Gone With The Wind. If you ever saw the book, you know it’s a long one. I sat and read that thing from cover to cover, and dreamed of one day being a writer. But I didn’t actually try my hand at writing until years later when I quit my teaching job to stay home with my kids. And my husband? After that week of reading where I neglected him and everything else until I finished Scarlett, he vowed never to buy me another book again. Little did he know I’d one day end up sitting at a keyboard all day drafting my own stories.

My writing journey has not been easy. I didn’t just sit down one day, decide I was going to write a book and voila! sell my very first attempt. As most authors will probably agree, the path to publication is filled with hours of work, pulling all-nighters I thought I’d given up in college, sacrifices, rejections, but a love I discovered along the way I just can’t live without. Instead of a big, thick book to read by lamplight (I do read much smaller ones when I get the chance), I’ve traded in my reading obsession for a laptop. And I’ve never been happier.

I’m one of the lucky ones. I have a wonderful family and fabulous husband who put up with my writing—and obsessive personality—even when life is chaotic. More than once my kids have been late to swimming or baseball because I needed just five more minutes to finish a scene. Their support and encouragement mean the world to me. I also have amazing friends and a support network I couldn’t survive without. So to all of you out there who have encouraged me along the way, sent me emails and fan letters, phone calls and congratulations, I just want to say, thank you. You make this whole writing gig that much more enjoyable. I truly wouldn’t be here without you.

Author Links:

Website/Blog: http://www.elisabethnaughton.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ElisNaughton

FB Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/elisabeth.naughton1

Eternal Guardians FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/EternalGuardians

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2002988.Elisabeth_Naughton

August 27, 2013August 22, 2013

Interview with JL Vallance

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome JL Vallance to the blog for the 1st time

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

I was born and raised in northeast Ohio. I’ve lived here my entire life, except for the three years I gave San Antonio, Texas a go while my husband was in the USAF. I love fairy tales and anything supernatural in nature. I’ve always been plagued with an overactive imagination, and would always create fantastic stories at night to combat insomnia. A little over a year ago, I decided to start putting those stories down on paper. I still have insomnia, but my stories keep getting bigger and bigger.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

I can honestly say that writing is a newer dream of mine. I’ve always had a very vivid imagination, and I’ve also always been overly dramatic. One day I decided that I should take all of these stories that I entertained myself with at night during bouts of insomnia, and put them into something useful. In turn, I found that I really enjoyed writing. It was a therapeutic outlet.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

That is an interesting question…I’m not sure that I have one! I like to sit down with some coffee and good music and just type away. I don’t write in any specific order, just what feels right at the time.

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

In Destruction of the Soul, Vivienne Drake continues on her quest for answers to her heritage. She continues trying to figure out fact from fiction, who is friend and who is foe. She figures out a little more about who she is and who she wants to be–not just as a Guardian but as a living, breathing creature in the world. There’s continued action, suspense, romance, pain, despair. It’s an intense and insane rollercoaster.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

Deep Into the Soul began as a simple love story, and it quickly changed and grew to the paranormal beast that it is now. It was a simple case of the story evolving on its own. I had been sitting at my desk, writing, and Vivienne had one of her nightmares…and the story just took off from there. Aedan entered into her world and everything changed.

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

I’m currently working on a novella for the Guild Series. The novella is kind of Aedan’s story. It’s his story of his love, his lost love…it will give readers a little bit of an idea of how he came to be where he is when we meet him in Deep Into the Soul–cold, heartless, ruthless. I love it because it shows a different side to him. I do love my bad guys, especially ones with many complex layers.

I’m also working on a contemporary romance. It’s a diverse love story about a boy and a girl and a love that has many, many challenges. That one is in the early stages still, but I hope that readers will love those characters just as much as they love The Guild Series crew.

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

I think I’d have to go with Stephen King. He seems so neat and genuine, and like he would have a wealth of knowledge and advice. I’ve read some interviews that he’s given, and he seems like he’d be great to sit and have a talk with.

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

Write what you feel and what you love. And whatever you do, trust what the story tells you…because sometimes, it just writes itself.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.

I can tell you it won’t be anything involving me getting on a doggone airplane. I hate even the idea of flying. (Yep, that’s where Vivienne gets it from.) I would really love to travel to England and Scotland. I have heard there are cruise lines that go that-a way… Maybe?

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

I’m currently reading Sins and Needles by Karina Halle.

I cannot wait for the next Mageri Series book, by Dannika Dark, to come out later this year. I have really enjoyed this series and am looking forward to the next book while I’m also bummed that it will be the final one.

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I thank each and every one of my readers for reading, reviewing, sharing, and following! Thank you so much for having me!

Released Date: August 20th
“There is more at stake in Aedan’s war than any of you realize.”

Vivienne Drake is lost.

She’d let every one of her walls down, finally allowing others into her guarded circle, and all it brought her was pain and devastation. Now, out of fear and desperation, she’s turning to the one being she believes will be truthful with her; the only being that’s dared to give her anything resembling an honest answer–Linux, The Cruciatum.

The Daemonium is dangerous and mysterious, and offering Vivienne things that she’s been begging for. He offers her a chance at discovering what lies just beyond her reach. Though his motives remain far from clear, there is something within him that Vivienne is drawn to. And she wants nothing more than to believe in him, to believe in the things he tells her.

Together, they uncover details of Aedan’s plans, and discover what he intends to use his daughter for. Vivienne learns that she carries within her a destructive darkness, that if she allows, will consume her, and destroy the goodness she contains.

Fighting an endless battle against lies and deception, Vivienne must find the strength within herself to remain on a virtuous path. She’ll be forced to overcome pain and obstacles in order to discover the truth of just how deep the deceit runs within The Guild.

Can she remain above the darkness for the sake of Humanity and herself, or will she allow it to devour her light and destroy her soul?

Author’s Bio & Picture:
J. L. Vallance is a wife, mom, and nurse by day, while posing as a writer by night. Plagued with an overactive imagination, a lover of all things supernatural in nature, she has an extraordinary flair for the dramatic that adds flavor to life. There’s little in her world that Otis Redding and buttercream icing can’t fix. And of course, coffee always helps too. True story.

Author Links:

Website/Blog: http://www.jlvallance.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jlvallance

FB Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/jlvallanceguild

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6548856.J_L_Vallance

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