Category: Giveaway/Contest

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Guest blogger: Joan Swan (&giveaway)

Books-n-Kisses is so very, very excited to have my pal Joan Swan on the blog today to talk about her HOT hero in her debut novel FEVER.  And really who doesn’t like a super hot hero?   Will read on to find out how Joan builds just such a man….. Take it away Joan.
Building an unforgettable hero by Joan Swan
There is no formula, no right or wrong.  These are some of the elements I put into play when I built Teague, my hero in FEVER.  For those of you who haven’t read—or even heard the premise of—the book, here’s the elevator pitch:
FEVER is about a man with unusual powers whose been convicted of a murder he didn’t commit and imprisoned for life.  He has lost the daughter he lived for, the career as a firefighter he loved and been denied an appeal.  With no hope left, he plans an escape.  But his plan goes wrong when the woman he kidnaps as leverage to get his daughter back turns out to be someone else.  And this woman quickly clues into the abilities he tries to hide, creating a bond neither can afford while they’re on the run from both the cops and undercover operatives who want Teague silenced.  This time, permanently.
Step One:  Background
The base model of the hero.  The before in the before-and-after picture. 
Teague’s background prior to the warehouse fire was quite fulfilling.  His life as a firefighter was the most defining element in his life.  This is who he as a man, at his core, beneath the violent inmate façade he is forced to take on to stay alive in prison.
As a fireman, Teague was gregarious, confident and intelligent.  He is loyal to the bone; his fellow firefighters, his wife and unborn daughter come first—even before himself.  He’s dependable and steadfast.  After working for a decade with fire, every type of emergency and tragedy, Teague has learned how to persevere under the worst circumstances—physically and emotionally.  He has developed a myriad of skills in all areas of life encompassing everything from breaking into a car to saving a life. 
Step Two:  Torture
Ah, my favorite part.  Let’s take this seemingly awesome dude, and put him to the test!  A person’s true character comes out during times of stress.
Teague loses everything.  He’s falsely convicted of murder and imprisoned for life.  He loses the daughter he lived for, the career he loved and is denied all possibility of appeal. 
This is where boys are separated from the men… or in our case, the good guys are separated from the bad.   In the face of no hope, who does this man become?  This is the key element of a hero (or heroine).
In hardship, a person’s deepest traits intensify and rise to the surface.  For Teague, that was his loyalty to his daughter and his perseverance, his willingness to do anything to get back to her.
FEVER is, essentially, a story about that very journey and all Teague is willing to sacrifice to reach that goal.
Step Three:  Strength of Character
But sacrifice alone isn’t enough, for a hero wouldn’t be very hero-like if he lost sight of all his values while pursuing his goal.
Throughout FEVER, Teague’s values are tested.  He is constantly forced to choose between what he desires and what his conscience tells him is right—with Alyssa, with his accomplices, with the police, with other members of his team and ultimately, with his daughter.  And each time an obstacle forces him to choose, his internal landscape shifts, pushing him to become the best version of himself, even when that may mean losing everything he wants.  Everything he lives for.
Step Four:  Surrender
This is the heart-melting moment for the reader, when the hero actually becomes the hero.
Surrender for a hero (in a romance) means giving up his own needs and wants in the best interest of someone he loves. 
Because FEVER is a romantic suspense with paranormal elements, Teague must surrender on several levels.  He must surrender to love:  In the romance, he must choose between his freedom and his love for Alyssa.  He must surrender to power: In the suspense, he must choose between his need for vengeance and his need to get his daughter back.  He must surrender to fate:  In the paranormal, he must choose between accepting his powers, using them for good and ignoring them, continue hurting others.
A true hero must surrender in the end because the journey has changed him.  He is no longer the man he was when the story began and he cannot go back to wanting what he did then or acting the way he did then.
Step Five:  Make them hot.
Yes, hot, as in attractive. J  But men can be attractive in a variety of different ways, not just physically.  Or they can have one or two standout physically attractive features that really do it for the heroine – which in turn, usually do it for the reader.
With Teague, I used several elements of all the above to make him hot.
Physically:  His body is ripped.  But not randomly, because it’s convenient for a romance.  He’s ripped because 1) there’s not much else to do in prison but work out and 2) being ripped keeps other inmates at a distance, which in turn keeps him safe in the prison environment.  Being ripped fits with his character….and, yes, it’s an added benefit for the romance.
Emotionally:  Traits ingrained as a firefighter come out more and more as the story goes on—he’s protective, respectful, dependable.  Traits he’s developed as a father show up now and then—he’s sensitive, gentle, thoughtful.
Temperamentally: Teague is an intriguing mix between the harsh prisoner and the strong fireman.  He’s fierce when he needs to be, but has control over his emotions.  He is patient but firm, understanding yet direct. 
Other traits that don’t fit into these categories that make Teague attractive as a hero—confidence, intelligence, paternal instincts and, hell, he can cook!
How would you build the perfect hero?

Fever

By Joan Swan
Buy links:  Amazon| Barnes & Noble | Booksamillion
Dr. Alyssa Foster will admit to a bad boy fetish…
But when she finds herself face to face with a convicted murderer with determination for freedom and an eye on her as his get out of jail free card, Alyssa knows she’s in deep trouble…. Not just because Teague Creek is a prisoner desperate for freedom, but because his every touch makes her desperate for more.
A man with a life sentence has nothing to lose…
Teague Creek has one shot at freedom, but his plan to escape with a hostage develops a fatal flaw: Alyssa. On the run from both the law and deadly undercover operatives who know of his strange abilities, he needs to avoid trouble, but every heated kiss tells him the fire between them could be just as devastating as the flames that changed him forever.

Joan Swan is a triple RWA® Golden Heart finalist and writes sexy romantic suspense with a paranormal twist.  Her debut novel with Kensington Brava, FEVER, releases February 28, 2012.  Her second novel, BLAZE, follows in October, 2012.

In her day job, she works as a sonographer for one of the top ten medical facilities in the nation and lives on the California central coast in beautiful wine country with her husband and two daughters.
My links:  Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
Giveaway: 
·         A print copy of FEVER, US/Canada shipping.
Fill out Rafflecopter form below. 

·         All comments are eligible for tour grand prize of either a COLOR NOOK or KINDLE FIRE. Enter: http://joanswan.com/giveaways/blog-tour-ereader/


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Interview with Orpheus & Skyla from Elisabeth Naugthon’s Enraptured (& giveaway)

Kelly: “HI Orpheus & Skyla, Welcome to Books-n-Kisses.  Thank you so much for agreeing to sit down and answer a few questions.”
Orpheus: Crosses his arms over his chest and leans back in his seat. “Don’t thank me. I’m not here by choice.”
Skyla: Shooting Orpheus a look. “Hush up and be nice. You can put up with a few moments of pain for a lifetime of pleasure.”
Orpheus: Leaning toward Skyla with a sly smile. “What kind of pleasure do you have in mind, Siren?”
Skyla: Rolls her eyes. “You’re impossible.”
Orpheus: “Yeah, but that’s why you love me.”

Kelly:  Clears her throat. “Um, I hate to interrupt but we’re on a little bit of a time limit here. Can we get started?”
Orpheus: Frowning. “Fine by me. Sooner we get this over with, the sooner I can get the hell out of here.”
Skyla: Smiling Kelly’s way. “Ignore him. He’s in a mood. Gryphon had a bad day.”

Kelly:  “Oh, no. That was one of my questions. How’s he doing?”
Orpheus: Clenches his jaw and looks away.
Skyla: “It’s a touchy subject. He has good days and bad days.”
Kelly: “I can only imagine.”
Orpheus: “I can hear you both, you know.”
Skyla: Looking his way. “I know, demon. You hear everything.”
Orpheus: Snorts.
Skyla: Glancing back at Kelly. “Maybe we should change the subject.”
Orpheus: “Good idea.”
Kelly: Chuckles and grins at Skyla.  “You definitely have your hands full with that one.”
SKyla: Shaking her head. “You have no idea.”

Kelly: “Okay, question one. This is for ‘O’. Can you tell us your first impression of Skyla?
Orpheus: Glances Skyla’s way and studies her with heated eyes.
Skyla: “Uh oh. I know that look.”
Orpheus: Grinning. “This is my question, Siren. Not yours.” Looks to Kelly. “Very first impression in that concert crowd? Hot as sin. Second impression when she tried to kill me with her freakin’ arrow? Balls of steel.”
Skyla: Looking pleased. “I can live with hot balls of steel.”
Orpheus: Chuckling. “Wait ‘til I get you home, Siren.”

Kelly: Clearing her throat again. Question two:  Skyla, same questions.  First impression of Orpheus?
Skyla: Turning Orpheus’s assessing look back on him. “Dangerous. Good thing I have a bad boy fetish.”
Orpheus: Looking shocked. “You never told me that.”
Skyla: Rolls her eyes. “I’m with you, aren’t I, demon?”
Orpheus: “Yeah, you are. Don’t forget it, gorgeous.”

Kelly: Question three: You two make a really good team, well once you got over the ‘I don’t need anyone part.’  How do each of you feel about having someone in your corner?
Skyla: “Oh, he totally needs me more than I need him.”
Orpheus: Snorts. “Yeah, right. She lies. She was trained by the gods. That tells you a lot right there.”
Skyla: Grinning. “You know you can’t live without me, demon.”
Orpheus: “I’m not arguing that. See what I have to put up with?”

Kelly: Laughing. “Okay, okay. So not a whole lot has changed. Moving on to question four. Can you tell us a little about your latest adventure?”
Skyla: Shoots Orpheus a look before turning to Kelly. “What adventure? Mr. Argonaut over there doesn’t think I’m used to my new body yet.”
Orpheus: “You’re not. Your reflexes are still slow. You’re not going out on any adventures until you’re back to one hundred percent. And don’t call me an Argonaut.”
Skyla: “I can take you down anytime, demon.”
Orpheus: Grinning. “I don’t doubt that, Siren. And I’m ready, any time, any place. You just say when.”
Skyla: Exasperated. “Sometimes I wonder what the hell I got myself into.”

Kelly: Grinning again. “Question five.  Skyla, can you tell us a little something about ‘O’ that he wouldn’t share about himself?”
Skyla: “He hates old people and dogs.”
Orpheus: “Okay, that’s just not true at all.”
Skyla: “Correction. He used to eat old people and dogs.”
Orpheus: Rolling his eyes. “I give up.”

Kelly: Trying hard not to laugh. Question six. ‘O’, can you tell us a little something about Skyla that she wouldn’t share about herself?
Orpheus: “You bet. She snores.”
Skyla: “I do not.”
Orpheus: “LOUD. Like a chainsaw. Why do you think our room is in the tallest tower at the colony? Because she’d scare the crap out of the colonists if they heard her.”
Skyla: Crosses her arms over her chest and shakes her head.

Kelly: Question seven. How do you feel about Elisabeth telling your story?
Skyla: “She did a pretty good job.”
Orpheus: “She did a great job. I got a lot of sex.”
Skyla: “It always comes down to sex with you, doesn’t it?”
Orpheus: “Pretty much. I’m a guy.”

Kelly: Question eight. Do you think that she kept it true to the real story or did she fluff it or exaggerate it at all?
Orpheus: “Well, if we’re talking fluffers—”
Skyla: “Oh, good gods. Do not go there.”
Orpheus: Looking pleased and chuckling.
Skyla: “She stayed true to the story.”
Orpheus: “Personally, I could have done without the hell part.”
Skyla: “Yeah, me too. That sucked.”

Kelly: Question nine. Did Elisabeth leave out any parts you really, really, really wanted in?  Maybe more roof top scenes?
Orpheus: Grinning. “Yeah, another rooftop scene would have been great. Especially the snow part.”
Skyla: “Ignore him. I wish she would have let me take a crack at Athena.”
Orpheus: Sobering. “Don’t worry, Siren. Her day will come.”
Skyla: Looking his way with tender eyes. “And this is why I love you, demon.”

Kelly: Senses their focus is waning as they stare at each other like she’s not even in the room. “Question ten. ‘O’ have you finally come to the realization that you really are one of the good guys?
Orpheus: “No.”
Skyla: Smiling. “He’ll never admit it.”

Kelly: “Question eleven.  So, what do you two see in your future?  Maybe babies?
Orpheus: Chokes and nearly falls out of his chair.
Skyla: Looks around the room with a nervous expression like she didn’t hear the question.

Kelly: Waits several minutes. Then smiles. “Okay, I guess that answers the baby question. Can either of you give us any hint about Gryphon’s story?”
Orpheus: “All I know is I don’t like it.”
Skyla: “It’s awesome. Trust me.”
Orpheus: Looking Skyla’s way. “You’ve turned into one of those sappy romantics.”
Skyla: Brushing her hand over Orpheus’s jaw. “All thanks to you, demon.”

Kelly: “‘O’ & Skyla, Thank you so very much for taking time out of your busy life to talk 
with me.  I wanted to let you know that I loved your story and look forward to reading more about you in the future. “
Orpheus: “Great. Are we done?
Kelly: Smiling. “Yes, we’re done.”
Orpheus. Grasps Skyla’s hand and pulls her from her chair. “Awesome. The Siren promised to take me down.”
Skyla: Grinning over her shoulder as he drags her out the door. “Ah, the things I put up with.”

Kelly:  *Stares after Orpheus and Skyla*:  I think that went well.     

Elisabeth has giving me an ARC of Enraptured to give away to one of my followers.  

Enraptured

Eternal Guardians, Book 4
Sourcebooks Casablanca
Paranormal/Fantasy Romance
April 3, 2012
ISBN-13: 9781402262128
ISBN-10: 1402262124
Read an Excerpt »
Order Here:
Amazon |Barnes & Noble | B-A-M | Borders | Chapters |IndieBound | Powell’s
ORPHEUS—To most he’s an enigma, a devil-may-care rogue who does whatever he pleases whenever he wants. Now this loose cannon is part of the Eternal Guardians­—elite warriors assigned to protect the human realm—whether he likes it or not.
Orpheus has just one goal: to rescue his brother from the Underworld. He’s not expecting a woman to get in the way. Especially not a Siren as gorgeous as Skyla. He has no idea she’s an assassin sent by Zeus to seduce, entrap, then ultimately destroy him.
Yet Skyla herself might have the most to lose. There’s a reason Orpheus feels so familiar to her, a reason why her body seems to crave him. Perhaps he’s not the man everyone thinks… The truth could reveal a deadly secret as old as the Eternal Guardians themselves.


To enter please feel out the Rafflecopter form below. 



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Spotlight Feature & Giveaway of C791 by Eve Langlais


C791
by Eve Langlais

Machines aren’t supposed to feel, but this cyborg can’t help falling in love.
Assigned as a specimen collector for a captured cyborg, Chloe is intrigued by the machine disguised as a man. Kidnapped during his daring escape, he takes her on an erotic adventure and shows her that despite the chip in his brain, his humanity is not completely lost.
Formerly known as unit X109GI, Joe is on a quest to discover his origin. While he doesn’t find the answers he’s looking for, he does discover that affection and lust aren’t just for humans. But when it comes to a battle between logic and love, which side will the cybernetic organism–once a man–choose?
Evaluating his feelings will have to wait though, because the military isn’t done with Joe. When they threaten the one thing he wants above all else, he’ll discover something shocking that will rock the new cyborg nation—and fuel a desire for vengeance.      
Excerpt (Adult Content Ahead):
The sight of Chloe and Seth so at ease with each other, and worse, touching each other set something off inside Joe, a combination of irrational anger sprinkled with a covetousness he’d not experienced but had heard of. Jealousy.
Whatever the name for the emotion, he found himself unable to halt it as he ripped Seth away from Chloe’s side and sent his fist into the grinning face. He maintained enough control to not beat his friend to a pulp — barely — but he couldn’t stop himself from slinging Chloe over his shoulder and stomping off to their room.
“What the heck was that about?” she exclaimed as she dangled down his back.
“You seem to have forgotten who you belong to.”
She didn’t say anything for a moment. “Are you jealous?”
“No.” Yes!
“It’s normal to feel that way. It just never occurred to me you would.”
“I don’t. Jealousy is a human emotion. I am a cyborg. We are above such petty wastes of our time.”
“Really. Well then, someone should probably explain that to Seth’s face,” she drawled.
“This is not entertaining. You were practically inviting him to take ownership of your body.”
“I was not,” she exclaimed, and a small rational part of him knew she spoke truly, but he’d lost the ability to decipher logic from madness where she was concerned.
Arriving at their room, he tossed her onto the bed and quickly tore at his clothes.
“What are you doing?” she asked, her eyes wide, but not with trepidation if the protruding nipples through her shirt were any indication.
“Showing you who owns your body.”
“Me.”
“Wrong answer,” he growled. “I do. And it seems I must show you.”
He fell on her, and despite her previous defiant answer, she welcomed him with open arms and a fierce kiss. Her legs spread wide to accommodate his body, but while he’d denuded his frame, she remained dressed. Their hands met at the closing to her pants, their impatient battle to remove them more of a fumbling parody. When he finally managed to strip them from her, he was ready to sink himself into her. He retained enough wits though to realize she required preparation for his penetration. With sex bots, that never proved a concern as they arrived to service pre-lubed. Human females however, according to his studies, required stimulation to achieve the same state. He slid a hand between her thighs and, to his relief, found her already soaking wet. It pleased him, on a level he did not understand, that Chloe achieved this state around him without means of manipulation.
He wasted no more time. He propped himself above her and thrust into her sex. Oh, the exquisite, unexplainable feel of her channel clamping tightly around his cock. He would never tire of it. Never tire of her. But did she feel the same about him? He had to know.
“Tell me who you belong to.”
Her eyes opened part way, her lids heavy with arousal. “Why do you care?”
He rammed into her hard. She gasped.
A growl left him. “Do not toy with me. You are my female. Not Seth’s. Not anyone else’s. Say you belong to me.” He almost roared the words, desperate to hear her say it.
For a moment defiance flashed in her gaze. “And if I don’t?”

Giveaway:  To enter for a chance to win an e-copy of C791 please fill out the Rafflecopter below. 


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Interview & Giveaway with Larry Sweazy

Books-n-Kisses is super pleased to welcome Larry Sweazy to the blog today to talk about his upcoming release The Devil’s Bones

Q1) Can you please share with us a little about yourself?  
Larry : I grew in Indiana in a blue collar environment; most of my family worked for the local GM factory at one time or another.  My grandmother loved working crosswords.  My mother read paperbacks.  And my uncle was a sportswriter.  I was surrounded by people who loved words.   I was a geeky kid who sucked at athletics, and lacked discipline.  I escaped into books, TV, and theater, where I found sanctuary, a community, and the joy of stepping outside of myself.  I learned how to create characters at a reasonably young age. 

Q2) Have you always wanted to be an author? 
Larry: I probably flirted with the idea of being an actor for a little while in high school, but writing really caught hold in my late-teens, so I’d have to say yes, I’ve always wanted to be a writer.  Once I made that decision, I never wanted to be anything else.  I’ve been all in for a long time.

Q3) Can you share with us your typical writing day.  Is there anything you have to have while writing?   
Larry: I’m definitely a goal person now.  I write a thousand words a day, five days a week—on my novel in progress.  If I have articles, blogs, or short stories to write, that’s over and above my novel, so I don’t limit myself to a five day work week.  I’m also a freelance indexer (I write back of the book indexes for non-fiction books), and I share my day with those projects, too.  Really, my fingers just need to touch the keyboard every day.  Most of the time I have music on, one or both of my dogs, Rhodesian ridgebacks, are in the office snoozing, and a cup of coffee or tea is close by, but that’s about it.  I don’t have any other rituals other than sitting my butt in the chair, and going to work.

Q4) Most challenging or rewarding part of writing?  
Larry:  I love the physical and mental challenges of writing.  I don’t mind being alone, most of the time.  I like research.  I still enjoy reading, though it is different now than it was for me twenty, thirty years ago.  But the business annoys me sometimes.  Especially the last couple of years with the rise of ebooks, the fight with Amazon, the collapse of Borders.  The difficult task of getting a book into a reader’s hands seems to be getting more difficult.  It’s always been difficult.  But now a writer has to have a blog, get on Facebook, market themselves, and navigate a career while maintaining a high level of creativity.  The expectations from publishers seem higher, too.  I’ve always thought that getting published was the easy part (after collecting hundreds of rejection slips), and staying published is the hard part of being a writer.  It’s even truer today.  I would love to just write and leave the business worries aside, but sadly, I haven’t evolved to that level just yet.

Q5) Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?
Larry: The Devil’s Bones (Five Star) is my debut mystery novel, and a departure from the Josiah Wolfe western novels I’ve been writing for a few years.  This novel set in modern-day Indiana, and the story revolves around the disappearance of young boy from a small town, and the repercussions, over the years, that follow.  It’s been described as “a gritty and hard-hitting mystery,” and I kind of like that, but I also think it’s as much a family drama as it is a mystery. 

Q6)  How did you come with the idea for this story? 
Larry: I first created the main character, Jordan McManus,  in 1993 for a short story I was working on.  That short story was never published, but the character wouldn’t let go.  I expanded that story into a novel that bounced around New York, and didn’t sell.  While it was being shopped, I wrote another novel with Jordan in it, hoping to write a series.  That novel didn’t sell, either, but became the seed for The Devil’s Bones, so almost twenty years after getting the idea for a small town murder mystery, here it is…

Q7)  Can you share with us your current work in progress?  
Larry:  I’m working on The Gila Wars, the sixth book in the Josiah Wolfe, Texas Rangers series published by Berkley.  It’s due April 1st, so I’m at the very end of the process.  I usually have an eight or nine month schedule for the westerns, and they’re 80,000 words, so I have to be pretty disciplined to hit the deadlines.  I’ve learned a lot writing this series.      

Q8)  Who are some of your favorite authors?
Larry:  Loren D. Estleman, George R. R. Martin, Joe R. Lansdale, Elmore Leonard, and a new author I recently discovered, Laini Taylor, come to mind. 

Q9)  Do you feel that any of your favorite authors have inspired your writing style?
Larry:  Leonard’s style of dialogue has been an influence, and his drive to always be in the story and not pretty it up with too much description is an important lesson.  Estleman riffs on dialogue and description like a jazz artist, and Lansdale is a no holds barred kind of writer.  Anything goes.  Strap yourself and get ready for the ride.  I like that.   Taylor and Martin have vast, complicated imaginations, and I find their adventures all-consuming and intriguing.  All of these authors, and more, inspire to write on as big a palette as I can imagine. 

Q10) What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for? 
Larry:  Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Tyalor is one of the most interesting books I’ve read in a while, and the sequel, Days of Blood and Starlight, comes out in September.  I really can’t wait to see what happens next…

Q11) Is there anything else you would like to add?   
Larry: Thanks for having me on your blog.  I’ll also be giving away a signed copy of The Devil’s Bones on 03/14/2012.  All your readers need to do is go to my blog, and leave a comment on TheDevil’s Bones contest post, and I’ll pick a winner from there.  
Click HERE

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The Danger that is Damion by Lisa Renee Jones Tour & Giveaway

The Danger that is Damion
ZODIUS #3
By Lisa Renee Jones
Sourcebooks Casablanca (May 2012)
Read an EXCERPT
Zodius Series Page 
Pre-order at Amazon|Barnes and Noble
General Powell from book 1 has returned and he’s developed a way to create and control a new generation of female GTECHs. He plans to use these women to bring both, the Renegades and the Zodius soldiers, back under his command. The world will be his. Now, Damion, a Renegade, who readers met in book two, will be pitted against one of those soldiers, a woman destined to be both his Lifebond and his enemy. Damion will become her only hope of salvation and their trust in each other the only chance they have to save the world from a madman.
My thoughts:
Lara is a woman on a mission, a mission to kill those who have hurt her and her family.  But when Lara gets the chance she can’t pull the trigger.  Something about this mission doesn’t feel right.   Now Lara has drawn the attention of one of the Renegades.  Not just any Renegade, Damion Browne.
What Lara learns from Damion, will make her questions everything she thinks, knows and feels.  Lara now has to trust the people she has long hated.  But how can she trust them when she can’t trust herself. 
Damion never breaks the rules.  NEVER!!!  He is a by-the-book kind of guy, but the minute he sees Lara the rule book gets thrown out the window.  Damion doesn’t know why yet but he is drawn to Lara, and is willing to do anything, sacrifice anything, and most of all break any rules to keep her safe and with him.
I loved Damion & Lara together.  They are both so stubborn and hard headed but perfect for each other.  Both think that they can handle anything on their own, but soon learn they are much better as a team.  I so love this series.  I can’t wait to see where Lisa takes us next. 
Giveaway time…
For a chance to win an ecopy of either The Legend of Michael (my review) or The Storm that is Sterling (my review) .  Please fill out the Rafflecopter form below.  
But WAIT!!!! you want more chances to win?   I see you shaking your head yes.  Good.
  
Stop by Lisa’s blog —>> http://www.lisareneejones.com/blog-tour/
There are 17 different blogs offering e-copies of Micheal and Sterling.  Each blog you enter on also puts you in a drawing for a Grand prize of a $20 Amazon gift card.  
Good Luck!!! 


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Interview & Giveaway with Jaci Burton

Books-n-Kisses is so excited to have the wonderful Jaci Burton on the blog today.  We are talking about her upcoming release Taking a Shot.  If you love hot, sweaty sport stars, you will fall in love with Jaci’s Play-by –Play series. 

1.    Can you please share with us a little about yourself
Jaci: I’m an author of over 50 books, living in the wilds of Oklahoma with my husband and our dogs. I’ve been writing romance for ten years now, and love every day I get to roll out of bed in my pajamas, stumble to the coffee pot and start my day in my slippers and with bad hair. It’s a dream come true!
2.    Have you always wanted to be an author?      
Jaci: Not always. I wanted to be a teacher, then a nurse, but those were dreams that never quite made it to fruition. I ended up spending many years in corporate health care management while also juggling raising my kids. But I always loved to write, and dabbled here and there with nothing to show for it. It wasn’t until I divorced and married my totally awesome husband, who encouraged me to take my dreams of writing seriously, that it became the full time career I love so much now.
book 1
3.    Who are some of your favorite writers? Who do you feel has influenced your writing?
Jaci: Oh, I have so many favorite authors—Nora Roberts, Jill Shalvis, Maya Banks, Julie James, Shannon Stacey, just to name a few. But I’d have to say I was heavily influenced by the historical writers of the 70’s and 80’s who fostered my love of reading—Kathleen Woodiwiss, Rosemary Rogers, Johanna Lindsay, Elizabeth Lowell, and Jude Deveraux, who taught me what romances were all about. Without them I’d have never fallen in love with romances, and would have never wanted to write them.
4.    How did you get into writing in this specific genre?  Have you ever thought about writing in a different genre?
Jaci: When I first started writing, I released books in a multitude of genres, from contemporary to suspense to fantasy and paranormals, but always came back to contemporary romances, because it’s the genre I love to read the most. And while on occasion I will read in other genres, I plan to stick with writing contemporaries, because it’s the genre I’m the happiest writing.
book 2
5.    What are some of your writing rituals?
Jaci: I don’t really have any set rituals. I try to hit a certain word count per day, but sometimes life and other things get in the way and it doesn’t always work out. I generally fly by the seat of my pants, and as long as the book gets done on time, I’m happy.
6.    Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?
Jaci: Taking A Shot is my current release, and is the third book in my Play-by-Play sports series. It’s about hot sports players and the women they love. Taking A Shot is about Ty Anderson, hockey player for the fictional ST Louis Ice, and Jenna Riley, owner of Riley’s sports bar. Jenna wants nothing to do with sports players since her family is all about sports. But Ty’s determined to show her that they belong together, and his job shouldn’t matter.
7.    How did you come with the idea for this story?
book 3
Jaci: I had an idea to do a series about professional sports players, and thought it might be fun to make the books family-centric. So the Riley family was born, with Mick the football player in the first book, The Perfect Play, Gavin the baseball player in the second book, Changing The Game, and though Jenna doesn’t play professional sports, she runs the family sports bar and meets up with Ty the hockey player in Taking A Shot. We extend the Riley family with Cole, a Riley cousin, in Book 4, Playing to Win, which will release in September.
8.    Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?
Jaci: Right now I’m working on Book 5 of the Play-by-Play series, Thrown By A Curve, which is a baseball story and features Cole’s sister, Alicia.
9.    What would you be if you were not an author?
Jaci: Uh….I have no idea. I’d probably still be in corporate life, bored and dissatisfied. 😉
10. What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?
Jaci: Right now I have an ARC of Julie James upcoming book, About That Night. Lucky me!
11.  Is there anything else you would like to add?
book 4
Jaci: I’m most appreciative of this interview, and I want to thank everyone who has read and loved my Play-by-Play series!
I’d also like to offer up a copy of The Perfect Play, Book 1 in my Play by Play series, or Changing The Game, Book 2 in the Play by Play series. The winner can decide which book they’d like to receiver, and the book can be in either print or Kindle or Nook format, winner’s choice!
Website: http://www.jaciburton.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJaciBurton
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/jaciburton
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/jaciburton

GIVEAWAY TIME….. 
For a chance to win The Perfect Play or Changing the Game please fill out the Rafflecopter form below. 


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Interview & Giveaway with Katie Reus

Books-n-Kisses is super, duper excited to welcome the wonderful Katie Reus to the blog today.  So excited to learn more about you Katie and you new book Alpha Instinct.

Thank you so much Kelly for having me here today!

1. Can you please share with us a little about yourself?

Katie: If you want the really condensed bio: I write romantic suspense and paranormal romance, live in the South, love red wine, the beach, spending time with my family and visiting old cemeteries. I love reading (no surprise!), flip-flops and have a seven month old son who is incredibly adorable and takes up a lot of my time nowadays. If you want something more official, check out my website: http://katiereus.com/about/
2. Have you always wanted to be an author?
Katie: No! This need to write took me by surprise about six years ago and I haven’t looked back since.
3. Can you share with us your typical writing day.  Is there anything you have to have while writing?
Katie: I don’t really have any ‘typical’ writing days anymore. I used to have a very strict schedule but with a seven month old in the house, I write on my laptop anywhere in the house now instead of at my desk. I usually write during naptimes and once my little man has gone to bed. I’ve seriously turned into a vampire. In the past year I’ve become very adaptable so the only thing I really need is a cup of coffee for my morning hour writing sprint. Other than that, I just need my computer 😉
4. Most challenging or rewarding part of writing?
Katie: Most challenging: I loathe writing a synopsis of any book before writing the actual story. As in, I hate it so much I’d rather scrub my house from top to bottom and even iron, something that makes me shudder even thinking about. Rewarding: Reader mail! There’s nothing like receiving a sweet email from someone telling me how much they loved one of my books.

5. Can you please tell us about your latest book?

Katie: Alpha Instinctis the first book in a new paranormal series (Moon Shifter) now available from NAL/Signet Eclipse. This is the official back cover copy:
Fear has a scent. So does desire…
Ana Cordona has been a strong leader for the lupine shifters who survived after all the males and most of the females in her pack were mysteriously poisoned. As tough as she is, with no Alpha male, the pack is vulnerable to the devious shifter Taggart, who wants to claim both their ranch and Ana as his own. When Connor Armstrong comes back into her life, promising protection, it’s almost enough to make Ana forget how he walked out on her before—and reluctantly accept his offer to mate.
The minute Connor sees Ana again, it reawakens a raw hunger. He must have her for his bondmate—his wolf cries out for it. But his human side knows he must proceed with caution because of their complicated past. If he is to truly have her body and soul, he must go beyond his burning desire and win back her heart. Whatever it takes, he is determined not to leave her side again.
But Taggart and his rival pack are not their only enemies. A human element in town is targeting shifters. Their plan not only threatens Ana and Connor’s future, but the lives of the entire pack…
6. How did you come up with the idea for this story?
Katie: It sort of evolved from my original intent. What was supposed to have been a simple paranormal novella grew and I realized that a lot of the characters needed their story told. When I finally let my characters take over, everything flowed from there.
7. Can you share with us your current work in progress?
Katie: I’m working on a novella for my editor with Harlequin Nocturne for their Cravings line.
8. Who are some of your favorite authors?
Katie: Linda Howard, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Kaylea Cross, Laura Wright, Cynthia Eden, JR Ward, Lisa Marie Rice, Karen Marie Moning and Nalini Singh just to name a few.
9. Do you feel that any of your favorite authors have inspired your writing style? 
Katie: Most of my favorite authors write about alpha males so I think it’s only natural that I write about the type of men I enjoy reading about. As far as actual voice, I think that’s pretty specific for each writer.
10. What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?
Katie: I’m dying to read Angel’s Flight by Nalini Singh. I think I’ve actually read at least one of the novellas in the recently released anthology, but there’s a new story in it featuring Galen and I’ve been foaming at the mouth waiting for his story to release.
If you’d like to find me online, check out my website, blog, facebook page, Goodreads or find me on twitter @katiereus
One reader who comments on today’s blog will be randomly selected to win a print copy of Alpha Instinct (US eligible only). Contest will be open until noon Central time on Saturday, March 3, 2012. Please leave your email address in the comments section. Good luck and thanks so much for stopping by!
Thanks again for having me!

Bnk: Anytime Katie, I look forward to reading Alpha Instinct.  I have heard nothing but GREAT things.   Please come back again.  

To enter the giveaway please fill out the Rafflecopter from below.  


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Book Feature of Illusions by Kacey Hammell (& giveaway)

ILLUSIONS
By Kacey Hammell
Romantic Suspense/Erotic Romance
Available at Decadent Publishing
Blurb:
Protection. Adventure. Love.
It’s all found within The Arms of the Law…
Detective Isabella Knowles, a tough-as-nails cop, lives by the law, and knows what she wants out of life. And it doesn’t include marriage or all that comes with it. Everything Isabella has ever known seems like an illusion when a new relationship makes her feel more alive than ever before.  She isn’t happy about it and fights it every step of the way.
Burned by his fiancé years ago, seer and P.I., Brady Jacobs never wants another commitment in his life.  But his bachelorhood and heart are threatened when he has one of his visions and see a killer striking too close to the woman he has recently come to love.
Danger lurks close to home and neither Brady nor Isabella like that they can’t control every situation…especially matters of the heart.
Excerpt, Kacey Hammell, © 2012
Knowing she would soon run out of time before his arrival, and getting more aroused by the second, Isabella hurriedly reached for her bath sponge. Soaping it up, she cleansed her body with an eagerness she was growing accustomed to feeling whenever she had plans to see him.
Sponging all suds from her clean body, she pulled the plug in the drain, stepped out of the tub, and grabbed a thick, blue towel from the shelf.
She rubbed vigorously at her body, drying it, and reached for the strawberry body lotion that went with her bubble bath. She poured a generous amount into her palm, rubbing her hands together to coat them in the sweet smell. Then she smoothed it over her arms, her breasts, stomach, and legs. She smiled as the strawberry scent filled the room. She shivered, both from the cold and appreciation for the deep and rich aroma that she loved to apply all over her body.
Humming Destiny’s Child’s ancient hit Soldier to herself, Isabella wondered how many more minutes she’d have to wait before her soldier made an appearance.
She recapped the body lotion and tucked the towel loosely around her once again. Her heart skipped a beat when she heard the sound of the front door closing. She hazarded a glance in the mirror. With the mussed, damp tendrils of hair around her shoulders, the towel haphazardly wrapped around her, she looked like a woman eager for a man’s—her man’s—touch.
The sound of a boot hitting the floor with a thud caused her to smile, and she moved to the doorway of the bathroom.
Hearing another boot drop and the sound of heavy breathing, Isabella peered into the hallway. When he finally came into view, she was already breathless, even though she had been expecting him.
Dressed in his usual black denim, form-fitting jeans, and dark hair damp as if he too had taken a few moments to clean up, he was a sight to behold.
Isabella’s heart thudded rapidly and her legs threatened to give out. She noticed his leather jacket, undone, over a naked torso. Obviously, his zealousness to be with her had him forgetting a few things.
There they were. The abs, the washboard stomach, had her literally teetering on the edge of orgasm already—and he hadn’t even touched her. Finally lifting her gaze to his face, his smoldering silver-gray eyes captured hers. She had to lean against the doorjamb for support.
He always made her speechless. His beauty, his charm oozed from him with no effort at all. How she had gone so long, so many years as friends with him and never really noticed him in such a way before? Some detective she was, not seeing what was directly in front of her.
As he moved toward her, his pace slowed, as if he knew the effect he was having on her and wanted her to crave him more desperately than ever. His face broke into a sinful grin, telling her he knew exactly what he was playing at.
Never one to let anyone, least of all this man, have the upper hand, Isabella let go of the towel she was still holding around her. It slithered downed her body, pooling at her feet. Noting his small stumble mid-stride, she relished the power she had over him.
Naked and confident, she smiled at the man she needed to feel against her. Desperate to have his hands on her, she called to him.
“Brady….”
Readers can learn more about my books and contact me via …
Website/Blog
Facebook
Twitter
Amazon
Email
Goodreads
Giveaway: 
To win one of my backlist ebook titles (winner’s choice), please leave a comment, along with your name and email address. One lucky winner will be chosen on March 2nd.
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Interview & Giveaway with Dani Harper

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Dani Harper back to the blog!!!

Dani Harper is a newspaper editor turned paranormal author. There isn’t anything she likes better than exploring the supernatural — unless it’s writing sizzling and suspenseful romance. Of course, all of her stories have at least one foot in the netherworld.
Q1)  Can you please share a little about yourself?
Hi, I’m Dani and I absolutely LOVE all things paranormal. I used to have a tiny farm in northern Canada and now I live on an island in Alaska. My husband and I run a commercial salmon boat, and it’s been an adventure for me to learn about the ocean. I’m owned by two pugs, Fiona and Toby, and they’re snoring next to me as I type this. When I’m not writing, I love reading, painting, hiking, crafts, sewing and most of all, gardening.
Q2)  Have you always wanted to be an author?
Definitely! I’ve loved books from the time I could walk. And I knew that I wanted to be the one who made up the stories. When I grew up, I moved into newspaper and magazine writing, but as much as I enjoyed that, it still wasn’t my dream. I wanted to create, not report.
Q3)  What is your most interesting writing quirk?
I don’t know if it’s interesting, but I tend to talk out loud when I write. I also admit to making faces and assuming the expressions of the characters I’m writing about. This tends to make people look at me oddly when I’m writing at a coffee shop or at the airport.
Q4)  Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?
My new release, CHANGELING DAWN, is book 3 in my shapeshifter series, but the story can stand alone. “Never judge a man by his species. Love, danger and archeology combine as human Josh and werewolf Kenzie work to rescue a shapeshifter child.”
Q5)  How did you come up with the idea for this story?
 
I’m never certain where the ideas come from. Usually it’s a case of characters suddenly popping up in my head. I can “hear” them talking to each other, and I know immediately what they look like and sound like and even what their names are. As far as the plot goes, I’m afraid I have to rely on the characters to reveal it to me – this can be pretty frustrating at times if they’re not forthcoming!
As far as wolfen shapeshifters, I think that may have been inspired by a real life event when I lived on the farm. One bright sunny morning, an entire pack of wolves loped across my yard in front of me. They were beautiful animals but what I remember most is that they seemed happy. It remains one of the most incredible experiences of my life.
Q6)  Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?
I’m working on Book Four in my Macleod family Changeling series, and also beginning a new Changeling trilogy with brand new characters.
Q7)  Who is the one author that you would love to meet someday and why?
There are many authors whose work I adore, but I think if I only got to meet one, it would have to be Christine Feehan. Her Carpathian series introduced me to the paranormal romance genre. In fact, it was a short story “Dark Dream” in an anthology titled “After Twilight”. I was SO hooked by the Carpathian hero, Falcon, and the world that Feehan had created!  I would want to meet her just to be able to say “thank you”!
Q8)  What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?
I’m still learning myself, but if I was going to give advice, the first thing I’d say is to read, read, read. Plus, I created a page on my website with some resources that might be helpful to a beginning writer. http://www.daniharper.com/FOR_ASPIRING_AUTHORS.html  
Q9)  Can you share with us something off your bucket list?
I’d like to visit the countries that my family came from, especially Wales, Ireland and Scotland.
Q10)  What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?
I’m a big fan of Patricia Briggs’ shapeshifters, and I’m waiting for the release day of Fair Game, the next book in her Alpha and Omega series. What I’m really dying for, however, is the third installment in the Dorina Basarab series by Karen Chance!
Q11)  Is there anything else you would like to add?
It’s been said that “romance readers are the nicest people” and I’ve found that to be true. I’m so grateful for their support! The best part of being a writer is that magical co-creative relationship with the reader – their imaginations make the characters live as much as mine does. And I have to thank the many book bloggers and reviewers who have generously shared my work with their fans. I’d never get the word out without them! Thank YOU, Kelly, for inviting me over to Books-n-Kisses today!
CONTACT
Website – http://www.daniharper.com
Facebook  – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dani-Harper-Fan-Page/174878995877026
Twitter – @Dani_Harper or go to https://twitter.com/#!/Dani_Harper
Blog – Way Past Normal http://waypastnormal.blogspot.com/

GIVEAWAY

Leave Dani a comment answering the following: “What’s your favorite paranormal being?” Please include an email address so you can be contacted if you win. A winner will be chosen at random from the comments on Wednesday, March 7, 2012.  Prize is a signed copy of Dani’s latest shapeshifter novel, Changeling Dawn.  Giveaway is International.
Fill out the Rafflecopter form below.  


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Interview & Giveaway with Kristina McMorris

I am so excited to welcome Kristina McMorris to the blog today to talk about her upcoming  book Bridge of Scarlet Leaves.   I had the great pleasure of meeting Kristina this past summer and she is super fun and nice.  I am so glad that I have a chance to share her with you.  Enjoy. 

Q1) Can you please share with us a little about yourself
Kristina: Far from living a glamorous author’s life, I’m a married, minivan-driving soccer mom of two young boys who make me laugh on a daily basis. They are inseparable best friends and the most affectionate kids I’ve ever known. (Can you tell I’m a motherly gusher?) Before the insanity of my writing life, I was a PR Director for many years, owned a wedding/event-planning company, and hosted weekly TV shows and travel programs for most of my life, starting at age nine. (Please. no child actor/rehab jokes, people!)  J
Q2) Have you always wanted to be an author?
Kristina: I have to laugh at the question, only because my answer is a flat-out, resounding “No.” I had no plans whatsoever of becoming a creative writer. I was barely a reader. But then, high on pregnancy hormones, it suddenly occurred to me that my grandparents’ courtship story would make a great premise for a movie. Soon before that, I’d discovered a collection of their wartime iove letters and the romantic sentiment had remained with me. Instead of penning a screenplay, however, I decided to write a novel. Because hey, how hard could that be? Uh….yeah. A little harder than I had anticipated!
Q3) Who are some of your favorite writers? Who do you feel has influenced your writing?
Kristina: Some of my favorite authors are Markus Zusak (The Book Thief), Ruta Sepetys (Between Shades of Gray), Alma Katsu (The Taker), and Sara Gruen (Water for Elephants). The author who has probably most influenced my writing, and especially my in-depth research process, would have to be Jodi Picoult.
Q4) How did you get into writing in this specific genre?  Have you ever thought about writing in a different genre?
Kristina: It was really my desire to tell a story about my grandparents that propelled me to write my debut, Letters from Home. I had no inkling of specific genres, outside of the obvious few, before I finished writing the book. Now, though, I’ve learned that historicals are where I feel the most comfortable and find the most passion to write. Without that, it’s awfully tough to motivate yourself to sit down everyday and face that blank page and blinking, taunting cursor.
Q5) What are some of your writing rituals?
Kristina: Well, after I eat my oatmeal and stop myself from procrastinating (ahem, evil Facebook and Twitter), I make a cup of decaf coffee with way too much vanilla-caramel creamer, bundle up with a fuzzy blanket and warm ugly socks, and park myself on the couch with my laptop. I’ve tried just about everything to lure myself back into my home office—from buying a mega-fancy keyboard to a mega-fancy chair—but after essentially living in there through many, many drafts of my first novel, I just can’t get myself to go back in and write anything creative. Hmm…maybe for the next novel…

Q6) Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?

Kristina: Given that it’s my new shiny toy, I’d love to tell you about it!
Bridge of Scarlet Leaves is set in Los Angeles in 1941. The story features Maddie Kern, an aspiring violinist who secretly elopes with her brother’s best friend—a handsome, ambitious Japanese American named Lane Moritomo—the night before Pearl Harbor is bombed. When Lane is interned at a relocation camp, Maddie forgoes her career ambitions and dares to follow, despite disapproval from both families. But Maddie isn’t the only one stuck between worlds. To prove his allegiance to America, Lane enlists in a secret branch of the U.S. Army, responsible for code-breaking and interrogating against Japan. It’s through these searches for identity that every character, from tremendous sacrifice, will learn the true meaning of love and loyalty.
Q7) How did you come with the idea for this story?
Kristina: An old family friend once shared that he had fought for America while his brother served for Japan. I was captivated by the idea. But it wasn’t until years later, when I’d found my calling as a writer, that I recalled his story and realized what an amazing premise it would make for a novel. Combined with my undying love for the U.S. miniseries “North and the South” (perhaps more for Patrick Swayze in uniform than anything else), I set out to write my book. But in the midst of research, I happened across an obscure mention of roughly two hundred non-Japanese spouses who had chosen to live in the U.S. internment camps voluntarily. I called my agent that very day and said, “This is it. I have my story!”
Q8) Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?
Kristina: I’m happy to report that I just turned in a novella, titled The Christmas Collector, which will be published this coming October by Kensington Books in a holiday anthology headlined by #1 New York Times bestselling author Fern Michaels. After that, I’ll be working on my next two women’s fiction novels under contract with my publisher. So, hopefully I’ll be sharing stories for a long time to come!
Q9) What would you be if you were not an author?
Kristina: I would probably return to one of my two favorite former careers, either an event planner or a TV host. I thoroughly enjoyed both, although being an author offers the greatest benefit of setting my own hours so I can be there when the kids come home—which is an incredibly important perk.
Q10) What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?
Krsitina: Due to my last book deadline, I was never able to finish THE NIGHT CIRCUS by Erin Morgenstern, which I’d love to do. Also, my dear friend Sarah McCoy just released her latest novel, THE BAKER’S DAUGHTER, and I can’t wait to dive in. The premise is so intriguing that I would have run straight to the bookstore on launch day even if I didn’t already adore the author. 

Want to learn more about Kristina?   You can find her here: 

Web: www.KristinaMcMorris.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Kristina-McMorris/206963412668555
Twitter: www.twitter.com/#!/KrisMcmorris
GoodReads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/4384611.Kristina_McMorris

Kensington Books (U.S.), Avon/HarperCollins UK
Release date: February 28, 2012  (March 2012)
ISBN: 978-0-7582-4685-1
Original Trade Paperback, 420 pages
Price: $15 U.S./$16.95 Can.
Special features: Discussion Guide and Asian-fusion recipes in the book
Amazon | B&N | Powell’s | Indiebound | Books-a-million 
Los Angeles, 1941. Violinist Maddie Kern’s life seemed destined to unfold with the predictable elegance of a Bach concerto. Then she fell in love with Lane Moritomo. Her brother’s best friend, Lane is the handsome, ambitious son of Japanese immigrants. Maddie was prepared for disapproval from their families, but when Pearl Harbor is bombed the day after she and Lane elope, the full force of their decision becomes apparent. In the eyes of a fearful nation, Lane is no longer just an outsider, but an enemy.
When her husband is interned at a war relocation camp, Maddie follows, sacrificing her Juilliard ambitions. Behind barbed wire, tension simmers and the line between patriot and traitor blurs. As Maddie strives for the hard-won acceptance of her new family, Lane risks everything to prove his allegiance to America, at tremendous cost.
Skillfully capturing one of the most controversial episodes in recent American history, Kristina McMorris draws readers into a novel filled with triumphs and heartbreaking loss–an authentic, moving testament to love, forgiveness, and the enduring music of the human spirit.




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EPIC BOOK GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!!!!

Don’t Miss the “Indulge in Our Favorite Authors” Epic Book Giveaway Contest!
If you haven’t already heard, five romance authors are holding an epic book giveaway contest of *their* five favorite romance authors’ books. But they’re not just giving away a few books—they’re giving away complete, SIGNED backlists of the following authors:
Julia Quinn (sponsored by Shana Galen)
Lisa Kleypas (sponsored by Elise Rome)
Julie Garwood (sponsored by Heather Snow)
Elizabeth Hoyt (sponsored by Lila DiPasqua)
Cynthia Eden (sponsored by Vanessa Kelly)
Yes, it’s an epic contest, and it’s being held on Facebook right now. All you have to do is visit the Facebook pages of Shana Galen, Lila DiPasqua, Vanessa Kelly, Heather Snow, and Elise Rome, and enter the favorite book (the hint is given on the contest tab) for each of these authors.
At the end of February the contest will be over—so hurry!—and five lucky winners will win a backlist of one of the amazing authors mentioned above. Elise has said that Lisa is even signing her books after the winner is chosen for her backlist, so if you win Lisa Kleypas’ books, they’ll be personally made out to you. Also, the five authors are giving away books of their own, too.
Good luck to everyone who enters, and don’t forget to tell your friends!
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Happy Release Day Laurie London!!!!!!

A box of Jackson’s…. YUM!!!!

Thanks, Kelly, for inviting me to Books-n-Kisses! It’s a very special day for me and I’m excited to share it with you. Today’s the day my third book, TEMPTED BY BLOOD, book 3 in the Sweetblood series, comes out in print (Mar 1 for digital). Well, technically, it’s my fourth book, if you count the Christmas anthology, CHRISTMAS WITH A VAMPIRE. Or wait, the fifth, if you count the e-novella, HIDDEN BY BLOOD. This last year has been a serious whirlwind for a new author like me. It was just over 12 months ago that my first book hit store shelves.

TEMPTED BY BLOOD is Jackson and Arianna’s story. If you’ve read the first two books, you’ve met Jackson before. He’s the charmer, the playboy. Having dated a hairdresser once, he likes to change the highlights in his hair as often as he changes women.

Here’s what Arianna thinks of Jackson the first time she sees him:
She snapped her head up just in time to see another man emerge from the shadows.
Ten feet away.
The overhead streetlight illuminated bronze hair that reached to his chin, the top portion held back away from his face by a small ponytail. He was big—much bigger than the other two men. At well over six feet tall, he had linebacker shoulders underneath his leather coat and a formidable presence that seemed to suck the oxygen from the air.
His gaze burned into her before he made a noise that sounded like a growl. He covered the distance between them in two commanding steps.
She wanted to pinch her eyes shut, block out the nightmare, but for some reason, she didn’t. Up this close, she noticed that his hair was streaked with green-and-blue highlights. She was vaguely disturbed that she noticed this innocuous detail about him when the thing that should be first and foremost on her mind was that he’d stepped from the shadows.

He can be crude (from Lily’s point of view in BONDED BY BLOOD):
He pulled out a triangular sandwich half from somewhere. Wearing a black Extreme Couture ball cap, a ripped gym T-shirt, and a pair of black sweatpants rolled down at the waist, he adjusted his crotch and sauntered over. Streaks of pale gold and light brown highlights mingled with his hair, which curled onto his shoulders. For a gym rat, he sure spent a lot of time on it. When he turned, a flash of color on his arm caught her attention.
“Nice ink,” Lily said.
Jackson’s muscular biceps were the size of a human male’s quads and one sported a colorful new snake design that began on his forearm, wrapped around the inside of his elbow and ended with the head strategically placed on the largest part of his guns. Hell, he was looking pretty fine. Too bad he had the attention span of a gnat when it came to anything that didn’t involve sex.
Yet, he can be very caring and protective (from EMBRACED BY BLOOD):
Despite the loud music, he imagined hearing the girl’s sobs wafting up through the hole, and it stabbed at his heart. She was a teenager, just a kid (she’s Arianna’s cousin, Krystal). No one deserved to be treated like this. This girl’s luck was about to get much worse if they didn’t act fast.
Lily’s team was in place. Was Gibby’s?
When he shifted his weight to ask Tambra, his boot dislodged a tiny smattering of dust. The breath caught in his throat as he helplessly watched it float down into the room.
Shit.
If one of the Darkbloods saw—
The girl looked up, her wide eyes searching, and her gaze locked onto his.
His stomach tightened as if he’d just been punched, a roaring sound filled his head.
Although the eyes were much different, the emotion behind them was the same, reminding him of his little sister many years ago, when she pleaded silently for him to save her too.
That was it. Enough with the waiting.
He put a finger to his lips. Shhhh. I’m coming, he mouthed.
She sucked in her lower lip and nodded slightly.
Just like Betsy, she was putting her trust in him. This time, he wouldn’t fail her.
I hope you enjoy reading Jackson and Arianna’s story as much as I enjoyed writing about them. He surprised me many times and I’ll just leave it at that. When you read it, I think you’ll know what I’m talking about. J Right, Kelly?

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Tempted by Blood
AMAZON | Kindle | B&N | Nook 
Deep within the forests of the Pacific Northwest, the battle for supremacy rages on between two Vampire coalitions: Guardian enforcers sworn to protect humanity, and Darkbloods, rogues who kill like their ancient ancestors….
He might be known for his effortless charm, but Guardian Jackson Foss is hiding a terrible secret. For months, he has battled the emergence of his dark nature—deadly urges that threaten to consume him. And those cravings only intensify when he meets Arianna Wells, the human he’s been assigned to protect.
 Smart and perceptive, Arianna doesn’t seem like a dangerous temptress. Yet she awakens in Jackson an unstoppable need that, if left unchecked, will brand him a traitor…a crime punishable by death.
 But soon their bond may be Arianna’s only hope. For stalking her in the shadows is a merciless enemy—one who will stop at nothing to claim her completely….


I’m giving away a signed copy of TEMPTED BY BLOOD to one lucky commenter in the US or Canada. Good luck! And thanks again, Kelly, for having me on today.



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