Spotlight Teaser of Marie Harte’s Ruining Mr. Perfect (+ a tourwide giveaway)

Ruining Mr. Perfect

The McCauley Brothers #3

IT’S NOT EASY BEING RIGHT

Vanessa Campbell is a CPA by day and a perfectionist by night. She’s fit, successful…and decidedly lonely. She can’t stop thinking about the youngest McCauley brother, Cameron. He’s just like her: smart, attractive, and usually right—except when dealing with her.

…BUT SOMEONE’S GOT TO DO IT

Cameron McCauley likes Vanessa a little too much. She’s a blond goddess with a razor-sharp tongue. She hates to be wrong, just like him. But she can hold a grudge and is stubborn to a fault—also like him.

A past disagreement has them rubbing each other the wrong way. Cam is dying to shake Vanessa up—get her to let loose. But if he succeeds, can his heart handle it?

Caffeine addict, boy referee, and romance aficionado, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Marie Harte is a confessed bibliophile and devotee of action movies. Whether hiking in Central Oregon, biking around town, or hanging at the local tea shop, she’s constantly plotting to give everyone a happily ever after. Visit www.marieharte.com and fall in love.

Teaser #4:

“Men are stupid.” Vanessa shrugged.

“Is Cam stupid?” Maddie asked in that smarmy voice that always drove Vanessa nuts. Even as a kid, her cousin would get that smug tone in her voice and use it with unerring precision, landing on Vanessa’s last nerve.

“He’s a man, therefore he’s flawed. However, he’s not as idiotic as Brody or Flynn, and that’s something to be proud of.” She gave Maddie an overly wide grin.

“Witch.” Maddie stuck her tongue out.

“Oh. That hurts. Not the tongue.” Vanessa laughed at her. “You know, I still think you should have majored in theater in college, not interior design.”

“Thanks so much for your unasked-for opinion.”

Abby sighed. “Ding ding. Okay. Back to your corners.” She ran a hand through her long black hair. “And to think I missed our girlie chats.”

Vanessa smirked. “You missed me, you mean.”

“The ego. It never quits.” But Maddie smiled as she said it.

“So tell us about Cameron.” Abby drew out his name. “Come on. You have to give us something.”

Vanessa thought about his smiling eyes, his deep laugh, the hands that sent her soaring. And the keen intelligence and dry wit. She glanced up to catch a look between her roommates. “What?”

“Oh, nothing.” Abby cut off whatever Maddie had been about to say. “So the Four Seasons, huh? I bet the room was nice.”

“Oh yeah. A suite overlooking the water. Really classy.”

Maddie perked up. “Hmm. Maybe I should have Flynn take me there for Valentine’s Day.”

“Speaking of that,” Abby segued, “Brody and I have been talking about Bitsy. I mean, Beth.” Only Brody called Beth McCauley by the cute nickname, the same name he’d been calling her since she’d pseudo-adopted him so many years ago. “This is her first Valentine’s Day in over thirty years where she’ll be alone. We were thinking of spending it with her.”

After a pause, Vanessa said, “You know, you two probably have plans. Mike will be with Colin, I’m sure. Why don’t I spend the night with her?”

“But what about you and Cam?” Abby asked.

She shrugged. “We’re pretty new. Besides, we’re keeping this casual. Low key. So I’ll spend the night with her, and Cameron too, if he’s not busy, and you guys go out like you were planning to.”

“You sure?” Maddie asked.

“Yeah.” Besides, this way she wouldn’t be so nervous about her relationship progressing too quickly.

*****

A little about Marie:

I’ve been writing as far back as I can remember. Interest in the written word, no doubt spawned by my English teacher father, continues to this day. I’m a voracious reader, gobbling everything from romance to horror to fantasy and more. I’m in love with the art of putting pen to paper…so to speak.

I majored in English from Penn State University, earning a B.A. in Liberal Arts, as well as a commission in the United States Marine Corps. Five years later, after serving as a communications officer, I left the service to focus more on family. After going through an assortment of jobs–the Marine Corps Reserve, an IT representative, a middle manager for a Fortune 500 transportation company–I stopped working to raise two new additions to the family–my youngest sons. During this period, I decided to stop dreaming and start seriously writing.

In December of 2004 my first story was published, and I haven’t looked back since. I currently have over a hundred titles (yeah, shocked me too!) with Carina, Ellora’s Cave, Fated Desires, Loose Id, Samhain, Sourcebooks, and Totally Bound.

I’ve received several awards to include: the 2005 Passionate Plume for Scifi/fantasy romance, the 2006 Amber Quill Heat Wave contest winner, 1st Place in Steamy Erotic romance for the 2006 Lories, finalist in the 2007 Linda Howard Award of Excellence, finalist in the 2008 Reveal Your Inner Vixen MRWA contest, and finalist in the 2012 Reveal Your Inner Vixen MRWA contest.

Learn more about Marie and her books here: Website | Facebook | Twitter @MHarte_Author | Goodreads

Check out the whole tour here:

9/22- Manga Maniac Café

9/23- From the TBR Pile

9/24- The Bookish Babe

9/25- Books-n-Kisses

9/26- The Bumble Girl

9/29- The Good, the Bad, and the Unread

9/30- SOS Aloha

10/1- Ramblings from this Chick

10/2- Talk Supe

10/3- Bitten by Romance

a Rafflecopter giveaway

August 19, 2014August 15, 2014

Spotlight & Excerpt from My Highland Spy by Victoria Roberts

I’m happy to be here at Books-n-Kisses, the second stop on the My Highland Spy Teaser Tour! Thanks for having me.

My Highland Spy is the first book in my new Highland Spies’ series, and I hope you enjoy the story as much as I enjoyed writing it. We left off yesterday with Ravenna being in The Devil’s Tavern. Let’s see what other trouble she can get herself into.

My Highland Spy

This Highland Laird won’t bow to the Crown
Laird Ruairi Sutherland refuses to send his only son away to be educated by the English. And he most definitely will not appear in Edinburgh to pay homage to a liege who has no respect for Scotland. So he does what any laird would do-he lies to the king. The last thing Ruairi expects is a beautiful English governess to appear on his doorstep.

But this lady spy might make him…
Lady Ravenna Walsingham is a seasoned spy who is sent to the savage Highlands to uncover a nefarious plot against the Crown. Playing the part of an English governess—a job easier said than done—she infiltrates the home of Laird Sutherland, a suspected conspirator.

If she doesn’t betray him first
Ravenna soon discovers that the only real threat Sutherland poses is to her heart. But will the proud Highland laird ever forgive her when he discovers the woman he loves in an English spy?

Chapter One (excerpt 2):

The establishment was notorious for housing smugglers, cutthroats, thieves, and pirates. If Lord Cobham was meeting anyone here to further promote his illicit behavior, she was going to find out.

Without warning, Ravenna was roughly pulled down onto a lap. The man’s breath reeked of ale and he smiled, fingering her locks.

“This place keeps getting better and better. I haven’t seen you here before.” He lowered his head and sniffed down her body. “Mmm…you smell of lavender.”

She didn’t think it wise to tell the man what he smelled like so she politely nodded. When she tried to stand, he pulled her back down and held her with a firm grip.

“Let me tell you a little secret.” He lowered his voice and leaned forward. “I think you are by far my favorite.” His hand encircled her breast, and it took all of Ravenna’s might not to slap him. And that’s when she looked up and noticed the men.

Dear God.

Lord Cobham was walking straight toward her. She hastily glanced to Cobham’s right and saw Charles Paget. What was he doing here? She couldn’t risk being spotted, so she did the first thing that came to mind. She turned in the lap of the man who held her and brought his lips to hers.

The man’s comrades cheered him on, and his hands roamed all over Ravenna in places they shouldn’t. She had to endure quite a repulsive kiss and felt as though she needed a cloth to wipe away the slobber that had escaped the man’s lips. How she despised this part of the masquerade! Only when she was confident that the two men had departed did she dare pull back, attempting not to think about the bile that rose in the back of her throat.

She placed her finger to the man’s lips. “I have something for you. I’ll be right back.” When the man nodded, as she knew he would, she made her escape to the back room. She didn’t want to spend another moment in that place. Grabbing her cloak from the corner, she bolted out the door.

She did not look back.

What was Lord Cobham doing with Charles Paget? She thought Paget was still in Paris. No matter, she would simply give the information to her uncle. She wrapped her cloak tighter around herself as the cool breeze whipped her cheeks. She walked with long, purposeful strides, clutching the dagger in her pocket. She didn’t like walking the streets of London by herself, let alone by the docks in the darkened hours of the night. One of these days her luck was going to run out. She prayed it was not at this moment.

Her uncle’s carriage waiting at the end of the dimly lit street was a welcome sight. George climbed down upon her approach and extended his hand. He was a large man with graying hair at the temples and stood well over six feet tall. He always aided her when she needed protection from places like the Devil’s Tavern.

“Lady Walsingham, did you find what you were looking for?”

“Thankfully, yes.”

“Home, my lady?”

“Yes, please.”

Ravenna climbed into the coach and breathed a sigh of relief. She sat back, closed her tired eyes, and fell asleep to the gentle, rhythmic movement of the carriage and the sound of clomping hoofbeats. When the carriage suddenly stopped, she was jolted awake.

“My lady, we have arrived.”

She took George’s hand and climbed down. “Thank you. Could you please ask my uncle to pay me a visit on the morrow?”

He nodded. “Of course. Have a pleasant evening, Lady Walsingham.”

*****

What the people are saying:

“An exciting Highland tale of intrigue, betrayal, and love.” —Hannah Howell, New York Times bestselling author of Highland Master

“Roberts’ newest features a surprise-laden, quick-paced plot, replete with unconventional and fiercely independent characters. Her lyrical prose grabs readers’ attention, and the high level of emotional tension simply adds to the depth of the story. This book begs to be read and reread.” —RT Book Reviews

A little about Victoria:

Victoria Roberts writes sexy, award-winning Scottish historical romances about kilted heroes and warriors from the past. Prior to ever picking up a single romance novel, she penned her first young adult novella at 16 years old. Who knew her leather-studded motorcycle hero would trade in his ride and emerge as a kilt wearing Highlander wielding a broadsword? Victoria lives with her husband and their two beautiful children in western Pennsylvania. Visit her at Website | Facebook| Goodreads|

*****

Sourcebooks will give away one copy of My Highland Spy to a lucky commenter (US and Canada only, please.)

To enter please tell Victoria the name your favorite spy movie.

Follow the whole tour here:

8/18 – The Reading Café

8/19 – Books-n-Kisses

8/20 – Fiction Vixen Book Reviews

8/21 – Long and Short Reviews

8/22 – From The TBR Pile

8/25 – SOS Aloha Book Blog

8/26 – The Bookish Babe

8/27 – Fresh Fiction

8/28 – Harlequin Junkie

8/29 – Urban Girl Reader

August 19, 2014August 15, 2014

Yasmine Galenorn’s Flight From Hell Release Day Blast

“Yasmine Galenorn creates a world I never want to leave” – Sherrilyn Kenyon

Yasmine Galenorn’s Otherworld series is long running, best selling, and has unique, well developed world building. This rich environment has more than one story to tell… and it’s time for a new one to begin.

FLIGHT FROM HELL IS OUT TODAY!!!

FLIGHT FROM HELL is the novella bridge-piece that loosely links Yasmine’s existing Otherworld series with her upcoming Fly By Night series. To help celebrate the release of the novella, Yasmine has a contest happening on her site, and today is the LAST DAY to enter!!! Click HERE for prize details and instructions for entering.

When Carter, half demon, comes to Menolly and her sisters, asking for their help, they think he’s just had a tiff with Shimmer, his blue dragon girlfriend.

But after talking to Alex Radcliffe, the owner of the Fly By Night Magical Investigations Agency where Shimmer works, they suspect that she has been kidnapped by an old enemy of Alex’s.

Now, Alex joins forces with the D’Artigo sisters in a desperate race to find Shimmer before Julian, a powerful vampire from Alex’s past with a grudge to settle, can use the dragon to wreak havoc on Seattle as revenge.

Next summer, in the Fly By Night series, we’ll meet new characters and have new adventures, but each book will have Yasmine’s signature depth and edge. Answering questions about the similarities and differences between the two series, Yasmine recently posted this on her blog:

They ARE both set in the same universe/same city/same time.
The Fly By Night Series is NOT just another venue for the D’Artigo Sisters. The focus will be on Alex and Shimmer—there will be crossover of minor characters, but the two series are definitely their own and Fly By Night belongs to Alex and Shimmer.
The Fly By Night Series will be from Shimmer’s viewpoint, and she and Alex hang out in vastly different circles than the D’Artigo sisters overall.
FLIGHT FROM HELL is an OTHERWORLD novella that introduces Alex and Shimmer to you—here, the characters do interact but the Fly By Night Series will be focused on the Fly By Night world.
Fly By Night is more of a mystery/thriller series. I’ll give you these spoilers:

Alex and Shimmer are not privy to the demonic war going on.
The FBN books will be more standalone. While the characters will evolve, there’s not all that much of an overwhelming series arc.
The FBN gang is a little more humorous, though the series is not really ‘lighter’ than Otherworld.

You can read the rest of this post on Yasmine’s blog HERE.

Click on the FLIGHT FROM HELL cover above to see its info page on Yasmine’s site (with excerpt and playlist). And each of the covers below will take you to their individual pages. Now is a perfect time to get to know the Otherworld series, or catch up where you left off!!

Witchling Book 1	Changeling Book 2	Darkling Book 3	Dragon Wytch Book 4	Night Huntress Book 5	Demon Mistress Book 6
Bone Magic Book 7	Harvest Hunting Book 8	Blood Wyne Book 9	Courting Darkness Book 10	Shaded Vision Book 11	Shadow Rising Book 12
Haunted Moon Book 13	Autumn Whispers Book 14	Crimson Veil Book 15	Priestess Dreaming Book 16

Here is a little peek into Flight from Hell.

June 11, 2014June 7, 2014

Interview & Giveaway with Dennis Willis author of Barca’s Jackpot

Books-n-Kisses would like to welcome new author Dennis Willis. Dennis is the author of Barca’s Jackpot.

Welcome Dennis. Thanks for stopping by BnK.
Have you always wanted to be an author?

I suppose. When I was younger, I thought I would author the great American screenplay! But I suppose every 20-year-old thinks they’re going to conquer the world. I backed into being a film critic, which I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to continue doing for over 20 years. The byproduct of that, is that I get to watch a lot of films and when you absorb that much content, you begin to not only spot trends, but get a pretty clear sense of what speaks to you creatively. I wrote or co-wrote a good 12 to 15 scripts over the years, some that are terrible, some that continued to poke around in my brain. One of those was Barca’s Jackpot, so after publishing a few books of movie reviews and commentary, I tried my hand at adapting my own screenplay into a novel.

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

I don’t have a typical writing day. Much of what I do concerns radio production or editing (I produce a weekly radio show and am in pre-production on a film). So when I do sit down to write, it’s generally because I can’t stop thinking about what I’d like to work on. And also, having run my own business with a storefront in the past, I became adept at getting up to help a customer, holding on to my thought, and resuming once the customer left! I have an 8-year-old son, and believe me, that muscle comes in handy!

Most challenging or rewarding part of writing?

Well, I don’t have an ego in this fight. I know what I know, and it’s a little more than most, but I’m also acutely aware of what I don’t know, and that is where my thirst for knowledge comes in. The very first thing I did as soon as I was done with a first draft was to hand it off to colleagues who I knew would be honest with me about the work. I told them to tear it apart! The rewarding part, I suppose, is finding out that the work is decent.

Can you please tell us about your first book?

It’s about a guy who gets himself into a little bit of trouble! I love this character because he was a police officer who stuck around for one too many hands of poker with a gangster and ended up owing the bad guy money. So he’s a guy who has friends on both sides of the law, and is in a bit of a tight spot. I love that dichotomy of the character, & am thrilled about moving forward with future adventures.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

Believe it or not, it was in a dream and the first time and only time I ever woke up and wrote the idea down. It’s a scene in which one person is staking out a ballroom with a sniper rifle to do some damage, and realizing somebody else is there to do the same thing. I immediately found that idea intriguing, and the story took off after that.

Can you share with us your current work in progress?

I had so much fun with the first book that I immediately started thinking about second. But having seen so many horrible sequels as a film critic, and comparing those against the few that actually work, it’s more about starting with that list then an actual story. I’m big into theme and structure, and of course a list of don’ts. So it’s a question of continuing the forward path of the character without repeating yourself, changing the elements that the character has to navigate without altering things too much, but also about dramatically shaking things up. My favorite stories in a continuing series whether it be James Bond, Star Trek, or anything else is when something completely different or shocking gets my attention and makes me lean forward as a viewer or reader.

Who are some of your favorite authors?

I was a huge fan of Elmore Leonard, and still am. My dad was a big crime fiction fan so there was an all there was always a copy of a John D. MacDonald novel, or Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler, etc. around the house. I also appreciate strong writing in films and have found myself more attracted to who wrote the screenplay than the actors in some cases!

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

I’d be lying if I didn’t say Leonard. I’m also a huge fan of his book “10 Rules of Writing.” It’s a very handy guidebook to whittling away the fat to get to the actual story. He was fond of cautioning other writers about getting in the way of the story with their prose and I agree completely. Anything more than “He said” is too much.

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

Thanks to the movie Cold in July, I just discovered Joe R. Lansdale and I’m reading that book. I’ll probably move on to the next five or six Lansdale novels after that.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Only that I think the 21st century is an amazing time for content creators. We have heard much about the demise of the printed book, and the retail bookstore. And to a degree, as there is evolution with everything else, walking into a bookstore is getting to be a rarefied thing. But I don’t believe that love of the written word will go away anytime soon, and I have always been a fan of removing the gatekeepers that keep the little guy out of the system. Now everybody has a chance to make an impression, and that is very exciting!

Bio:
Dennis Willis is an award-winning producer, editor, writer and film critic. He produced and co-hosted the TV programs Soundwaves, and Reel Life (later called FilmTrip) and anchors the weekly Flick Nation Radio show. In addition, he hosts the weekly radio features At the Movies and Home Media Guide.

He is a member of the San Francisco Film Critics Circle and the Broadcast Film Critics Association; and the director of All You Need is Myth: The Beatles and Gods of Rock.

ONLINE:
twitter.com/denniswillis
flicknation.net
thebarcafiles.com

If you didn’t see it on Monday check out Kimberly’s review of Barca’s Jackpot HERE

GIVEAWAY:
For a chance to win a signed copy of Barca’s Jackpot by Dennis Willis comment below or on the BnK Facebook page. Winner will be selected one week from today, Wednesday the 18th. Good Luck!

March 25, 2014March 24, 2014

Interview with Robyn Carr

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Robyn Carr to the blog for her first visit! We are chatting about her newest book Four Friends. You can learn more about Robyn on her website.

Q: This is a novel about relationships. Romantic relationships. Friendships. Relationships with family. Is it hard to write the ins and outs of important and sometimes painful relationships? How do you do it?

A: Oh, this is what I love. Frankly I have a harder time writing romance than women’s fiction like Four Friends. For whatever reason, I’m acutely aware of the complexities of relationships. Life can be so messy and grievous sometimes, but it doesn’t have to spell doom. I read a book many years ago about the study of happiness or the psychology of the optimal experience. The question that drove the study was something like this: What is it that makes a woman who has suffered a divorce unable to get off the couch for ten years yet a woman of the same age who has survived Auschwitz goes on to live a fulfilling and satisfying life? I know these people—they’re all over my life and their stories are told constantly. Some people collapse and some rise to the occasion. I love creating new characters who face complicated human problems and through diligence and struggle find a way to make their lives well worth living.

But do I get a stiff neck as I’m marching them through the minefields of their difficult situations? Absolutely. Do I get tears in my eyes as they grieve and struggle? Yes! I also get tears when they approach the resolution that makes their lives a positive force, a joy. Getting from sometimes monumental problems to realistic and intelligent solutions is the greatest fun in my life.

Q: It’s often said that choosing whom you’ll marry is the most important decision of your life. Do you believe that? Do you think your characters believe that?

A: Oh, this is tough. I think choosing who to marry is powerfully important, but I’ve seen many, many women redefine their goals, reinvent themselves after making the wrong decision or the wrong choice. People make mistakes every day of their lives. The goal isn’t to never choose wrong or never to make a mistake, the healthiest life goal is to learn from those mistakes and emerge stronger and better and wiser.

I married at the age of twenty. It turned out to be the right choice; that turned out to be a miracle. A gift. Certainly a twenty-year-old girl doesn’t know what she’s doing when choosing a husband. And my husband was no smarter! We were very lucky we could make that work. In every marriage on record there will come a time (if not many times!) when you’ll rethink that decision and ask yourself just what you were thinking! Sometimes, you’ll say, I was damn lucky. In some marriages the question will linger and refuse to go away and ultimately it can be time to admit it was all wrong and move on to form stronger and healthier relationships.

In Four Friends some of the characters must admit they had chosen wrong, some will be so grateful for their choice. All of them will emerge stronger and wiser. And happier.

Q: Of the four women in this novel, which is the most like you? And which of them would you most like to be real friends with?

A: I’m not like any of them! There are characteristics in each of them I admire, but that’s the beauty of being a storyteller. If I’m in an argument with my husband, we’ll stumble and fumble, say the dumbest things, the cruelest things, botch everything or even have a brilliant moment or two. But in a story, I have days to write the dialogue between characters and in the end they say things I wish I had been smart enough to say, intuitive enough to conclude. The characters are smarter and quicker than I am! And they live such great lives—turning their foibles into victories.

I loved Gerri’s righteous anger. I loved Andy’s openness and willingness to take a closer look at who she has been in relationships. I loved Sonja’s tireless quest to keep her life meaningful and her generous spirit. I loved BJ’s courage. I loved the honesty of the psychiatrist and the wisdom of Murial, Gerri’s mother-in-law.

But if I wrote a character who resembled me, she would be so much more flawed! So dull!

Q: Without giving anything away, we will say that infidelity is a topic that comes up in the book. What made you decide to include this? Is it because a lot of women deal with this?

A: Every woman will deal with it on some level! If it doesn’t happen to us it has happened to someone we know, often someone we only know about. We have very strong opinions about it—very strong! I’ve heard many women say, “I’d kill him.” Or, “That’s a deal breaker!” And yet the percentage of marriages in which this has been a problem at one time or another is huge. I went into this book asking, “What would this character do? Is this pathology an opportunity for this character? Or is it the straw that breaks the camel’s back? Are there components in this problem that can make them stronger as a couple or is it the end of the line, turning everything she believed into a lie?”

The devil is in the details. Not knowing how it would all turn out, my job was to explore the details of this particular challenge.

Q: These women seem like people you would know from work or your neighborhood. And it’s because they all have problems like the rest of us. And yet, you help them deal with these problems so the book still has a message of hope. Do you think that’s something most women can have in their lives—hope that they can deal with hard things?

A: Yes I do, but hope comes in all shapes and sizes, doesn’t it? Hope for one woman is getting to the bottom of the flaw in the marriage that predisposes the cheating, hope for another is understanding, with great disappointment, the marriage cannot work. Ultimately hope lies in knowing yourself, knowing your limits and potential, knowing what really drives you toward a fulfilling and satisfying life, knowing and believing in your personal values. In this game, everyone gets a life! Not just the boys or the kids or the boss! Everyone deserves quality of life; everyone deserves the chance to live a full, rewarding life. And that’s a very individual thing.

*****

Four Friends

Amazon | B&N

Gerri can’t decide what’s more devastating: learning her rock-solid marriage has big cracks, or the anger she feels as she tries to repair the damage. Always the anchor for friends and her three angst-ridden teenagers, it’s time to look carefully at herself. The journey for Gerri and her family is more than revealin—it’s transforming.

Andy doesn’t have a great track record with men, and she’s come to believe that for her a lasting love is out of reach. When she finds herself attracted to her down-to-earth, ordinary contractor—a man without any of the qualities that usually appeal to her—she questions everything she thought she wanted in life.

Sonja’s lifelong pursuit of balance is shattered when her husband declares he’s through with her New Age nonsense and walks out. There’s no herbal tonic or cleansing ritual that can restore her serenity—or her sanity.

Miraculously, it’s BJ, the reserved newcomer to Mill Valley, who steps into their circle and changes everything. The woman with dark secrets opens up to her neighbors, and together they get each other back on track, stronger as individuals and unfaltering as friends.

Don’t miss Kimberly’s review of Four Friends HERE

February 27, 2014February 26, 2014

Guest blogger: Abigail Gibbs + a tour wide giveaway

Five Things You Didn’t Know About Autumn Rose

1. Sage can develop the skill to take energy from the earth, which is where their magic originates (as does all energy), though it has the unfortunate side effect of killing any living thing if too much is taken. Autumn Rose is the youngest known Sage to have mastered the skill.

2. Autumn isn’t known for abiding the law or her veganism and drank her first ‘human blood shooter’ aged thirteen. Taken for its non-alcoholic intoxicating effects, it isn’t particularly dangerous to a dark being, but the humans aren’t too keen…

3. When Autumn’s grandmother named her, Autumn’s parents objected to the choice, thinking their daughter would be bullied for having seasons as a first and last name (Autumn and Al-Summers), and even tried calling her ‘Rose’ for a time… until the grandmother threatened to cut them off financially.

4. As a young girl, Autumn Rose attended human nursery and was best friends with two girls called Tammy and Christy. Ten years later and after attending a Sagean school, the three girls were re-united after Autumn returned to the area, and were once again friends. Such a friendship meant Tammy and Christy were able to have some very unusual experiences with Sagean royalty…

5. If Autumn’s grandmother and parents were to die at any point, and having no other family left alive, it was decided before her birth that Autumn’s guardian would be Eaglen, a seer and vampire greatly admired by the Al-Summer family.

*****

THE DARK HEROINE:

DINNER WITH A VAMPIRE

The Dark Heroine, Book 1

The addictive, enthralling debut by online sensation Abigail Gibbs. The sexiest romance you’ll read this year.

One moment can change your life forever…

For Violet Lee, a chance encounter on a darkened street draws her into a world beyond her wildest imaginings, a timeless place of vast elegance and immeasurable wealth – of beautiful mansions and lavish parties – where a decadent group of friends live for pleasure alone. A place from which there is no escape… no matter how hard Violet tries.

Yet all the riches in the world can’t mask the darkness that lies beneath the gilded surface, embodied in the charismatic but dangerous Kaspar Varn.

Violet and Kaspar surrender to a passion that transcends their separate worlds – but it’s a passion that comes at a price.

As featured on BBC Breakfast, Sky News, Sunday Times, Guardian, Mail Online, Huffington Post and Sugarscape.

http://harpercollins.com/book/buy.aspx?isbn13=9780062248732

*****

AUTUMN ROSE

The Dark Heroine, Book 2

International sensation Abigail Gibbs draws us even further into the dangerous and romantic world of the Dark Heroines with AUTUMN ROSE, book two of her breathtakingly magical paranormal series.

Somewhere in a sleepy seaside town in England, Autumn Rose is living a seemingly quite life. But, buried deep under the surface are dark secrets. Autumn’s been dealing with a lot — her grandmother is dead and the whirling social scene of London in which she was brought up is a world away. To make matters worse, she’s shunned and condemned at her new school, all because of the swirling marks on her skin that prevent her from blending in.

At school, the appearance of a handsome young man sends her world in turmoil. He shares the same markings as Autumn, and knows many of the secrets she’s tried to keep hidden. His arrival at school thrusts her into the limelight, with the unexpected popularity bringing danger as her secrets threaten to come to light. And, Autumn keeps dreaming of a human girl who is about to be seduced by a very dark Prince. Time is her enemy, and she must figure out how to save the human before it is too late.

AUTUMN ROSE continues Abigail Gibbs phenomenal Dark Heroine series with an alluring story of romance, hidden secrets, and captivating magic.

http://harpercollins.com/book/pre-order.aspx?isbn13=9780062248756

AUTHOR BIO:

Abigail Gibbs was born and raised in deepest, darkest Devon, England. She is studying for a B.A. in English at the University of Oxford and considers herself a professional student, as the real world has yet to catch up with her. Her greatest fear is blood and she is a great advocate of vegetarianism, which logically led to the writing of her first novel, The Dark Heroine: Dinner with a Vampire. She splits her time between her studies, stories, and family, and uses coffee to survive all three.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAbigailGibbs

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorAbigailG

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6518554.Abigail_Gibbs

HarperCollins: http://harpercollins.com/authors/40144/Abigail_Gibbs/index.aspx

TOUR GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

GRAND PRIZE:
$30 gift card to Starbucks, paperback of “The Dark Heroine: Dinner With a Vampire” (book 1) and some surprise Avon paranormal romance titles.

RUNNER UP: one runner up will receive a $20 gift card to Amazon

a Rafflecopter giveaway

1/28 – 2/28 Abigail Gibbs AUTUMN ROSE Blog Tour

1/28 darkest cravings (spotlight)

http://darkestcravings.blogspot.com

1/28 Monlatable Book Reviews (Guest Post)

http://www.monlatablereviews.com/

1/28 Paranormal Romance Author Honor James (Series Spotlight)

http://honor-james.blogspot.com/2014/01/abigail-gibbs-autumn-rose-blog-tour.html

1/29 C&F (Spotlight)

http://contests-freebies.blogspot.co.uk/

1/29 Eclipse Reviews (Spotlight)

http://totaleclipsereviews.blogspt.com

1/29 Nicky Peacock Author (spotlight)

http://nickypeacockauthor.wordpress.com

1/29 Romance Junkies (Guest Post)

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

1/30 author Karen swart (Spotlight)

http://authorkarenswart.blogspot.com

2/2 For the Love of Bookends (Series Spotlight)

http://loveofbookends.blogspot.com/

2/4 ParaYourNormal (Guest Post)

http://parayournormal.wordpress.com/

2/5 Mad Hatter Reads (spotlight)

http://madhatterreads.com

2/5 Paranormal Romance and Beyond (Spotlight)

http://www.ashlynnelaynne.blogspot.com/

2/6 Because reading is better than real life (Interview)

http://love2readalways.blogspot.com/

2/7 Paranormal Haven (Guest Post)

http://paranormalhaven.com

2/11 Sofia Loves Reading (Series Spotlight)

http://sofialovesreading.blogspot.gr/

2/11 Toot’s Book Reviews (spotlight)

http://tootsbookreviews.blogspot.com

2/12 Inner Goddess (Spotlight)

http://www.InnerGoddessForum.com

2/12 Lia’s Book Haven (Guest Post)

http://liasbookhaven.wordpress.com

2/13 KT BOOK REVIEWS (Series Spotlight)

http://ktbookreviews.blogspot.com/

2/13 Literary Meanderings (Interview)

http://www.literaryme.net/

2/14 Manga Maniac Café (Interview)

http://mangamaniaccafe.com

2/15 The Boyfriend Bookmark (Review)

http://theboyfriendbookmark.com

2/17 Fang Freakin’ Tastic Reviews (Guest Post)

http://fangfreakintasticreviews.com

2/17 Wicked Readings by Tawania (Series Spotlight)

http://wickedreadingsbytawania.blogspot.com

2/19 Binding Addiction (Series Spotlight)

http://bindingaddiction.blogspot.com/

2/19 Bitten by Books (Guest Post)

http://bittenbybooks.com

2/19 Coffee Talk (Review)

http://coffeetalkwriters.com/

2/20 deal sharing aunt (Spotlight)

www.dealsharingaunt.blogspot.com

2/20 I Smell Sheep (Interview)

http://www.ismellsheep.com/

2/20 My Book Chatter (Guest Post)

http://mybookchatterchat.blogspot.com

2/21 Book Monster Reviews (guest post)

http://bookmonsterreviews.co

2/24 Lily Pond Reads (Review)

http://lilypondreads.blogspot.com/

2/26 Reader Girls (Series Spotlight)

http://www.readergirlsblog.com

2/27 A_TiffyFit’s Reading Corner (Spotlight/Review)

http://tiffyfit.blogspot.com

2/27 Books à la Mode (Review)

http://thestephanieloves.blogspot.com

2/27 Books-n-Kisses (Guest Post)

https://books-n-kisses.com

2/27 Painted Words (Review)

http://www.tipsyink.blospot.com

2/28 Dalene’s Book Reviews (Review)

http://dalenesbookreviews.blogspot.com/

2/28 paranormal book club ( PBC) (Spotlight)

http://paranormal-bookclub.com

2/28 The La La Land of Books (Guest Post)

http://saaratis.wordpress.com/

January 30, 2014January 29, 2014

Guest Blogger: Jessica Stone & Tour Wide Giveaway

Aloha! Now that I’ve told you all a little bit about my home of Hawaii, I thought maybe you’d like to know something about me.

I was actually born in France though I’m American. My family moved to California when I was still a baby. I grew up in San Francisco, but I’ve been living in Hawaii for years now and consider Honolulu my home.
My best friend Kim is like a sister to me. She’s the reason I ended up here in Honolulu.
I used to be a bit of an adrenalin junkie. I’ve been skydiving and bungee jumping and I owned a motorcycle until I crashed it, breaking several of my bones in the process.
I have a cat named Eli. I named him after Eli Whitney, inventor of the cotton gin. I named him that as a joke because Kim had a cat named Whitney.
My favorite author is Sir Conan Doyle. I love a good mystery.
Speaking of favorites, I love to travel. My favorite trip was a recent trip to Iceland. In some ways it’s very similar to Hawaii, since it’s a volcanic island. We don’t eat puffin in Hawaii, though!
I have a small scar on my eyebrow. I got it when I was 10 from a skateboarding accident. The hill didn’t seem that steep at the time….
I’m an excellent tennis player. I played competitively through college and considered going pro, but decided against it. I love the game, but probably not enough to play at that level.
I’m secretly afraid of spiders. I don’t like telling people that because it seems a bit silly.
I think I mentioned in the last post that I don’t have a green thumb. Plants look at me and die. I hire someone to come take care of the yard once a week, for fear that I’ll kill everything green.

That’s it for today, but I’ve still got several posts coming up this week. Aloha!

Jessica Stone is an American writer currently living in Shanghai, China with her family. A lover of travel, she writes contemporary romance set in exotic locations around the globe. Her interests include classical history and literature, live music, and craft brewing.

Connect with Jessica: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

*****

TROPICAL NIGHTS

Author: Jessica Stone

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publication Date: January 17, 2014

Format: eBook

AMAZON | AMAZON UK | AMAZON CA

Lucas Kent didn’t expect trouble to follow him to Honolulu. But danger, like love, is often where you least expect it.

Alicia Baker is a directionless diamond heiress nursing an obsession with detective novels when a real life investigation falls in her lap.

When Alicia finds out Lucas is a murder suspect, she tries to fight her growing attraction to him to solve this mystery. With the enemy hot on their trail, Lucas struggles to find his friend’s killer before the killer finds them.

AVAILABLE NOW:

*****

TOUR GIVEAWAY:

$25.00 Amazon card

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Jessica Stone’s TROPICAL NIGHTS Blog Tour Schedule – 1/20 – 2/02

1/17 – Book Monster Reviews (guest post)

http://bookmonsterreviews.com

1/18 – Elle James’ Blog (Guest Post)

http://www.ellejames.com/

1/20 – Night Owl Reviews (Spotlight & Excerpt)

http://www.nightowlreviews.com/v5/Blog/Articles/Tropical-Nights-by-Jessica-Stone

1/20 – Nette’s Bookshelf Reviews (Spotlight & Excerpt)

http://nettesbookshelf.blogspot.com

1/20 – Toot’s Book Reviews (guest post)

http://tootsbookreviews.blogspot.com

1/20 – Rage, Sex and Teddy Bears (Spotlight & Excerpt)

http://ragesexandteddybears.blogspot.com

1/21 – Charlene Blogs (Spotlight & Excerpt)

http://charleneawilsonblog.blogspot.com/

1/23 – C&F (spotlight)

http://contests-freebies.blogspot.co.uk

1/24 – More Than a Review (guest post)

http://www.morethanareview.com

1/26 – For the Love of Bookends (Spotlight & Excerpt)

http://loveofbookends.blogspot.com

1/27 – Why I Can’t Stop Reading (Spotlight & Excerpt)

http://whyicantstopreading.wordpress.com

1/28 – Romance Junkies (interview)

http://www.romancejunkies.com/rjblog

1/29 – Mythical Books (guest post)

http://mythicalbooks.blogspot.ro

1/29 – Paranormal Romance and Beyond (spotlight)

http://www.ashlynnelaynne.blogspot.com

1/30 – The Lusty Literate (Spotlight & Excerpt)

http://thelustyliterate.com

1/30 – Books-n-Kisses (Guest Blog)

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

1/31 – Booker Like a Hooker (Spotlight & Excerpt)

http://bookerlikeahooker.blogspot.com

2/02 – Wicked Readings by Tawania (Spotlight & Excerpt)

http://wickedreadingsbytawania.blogspot.com

2/02 – Vampires, Werewolves, & Fairies, Oh My (guest post)

http://vampireswerewolvesfairiesohmy.blogspot.com

2/02 – Two Sassy Chicks Book Blog (Spotlight & Excerpt)

http://twosassychicks.wordpress.com

January 27, 2014January 25, 2014

Interview & Giveaway with Maya Banks

Books-n-Kisses is super excited to welcome Maya Banks back on the blog to chat about her new book Letting Go (The Surrender Trilogy).

Maya, can you please tell us about Letting Go (The Surrender Trilogy)?

Letting Go has some of my favorite tropes (as do all my books) But essentially it’s a second chance at love story. Typically when a heroine has lost or divorced her husband he’s cast as “bad” in order to make the new hero better. In this case Joss was very much in love with her husband and mourns his loss deeply and she feels as though she’ll never find that kind of love again. Except her husband’s best friend has secretly been in love with Joss for years and he’s been waiting for her to be “ready” to move on because he’s determined that he’ll be that man for her when she’s ready. (Check out Kelly’s review of Letting Go HERE)

How did you come with the idea for this story?

I’m often asked where or how I come up with the ideas for my stories and I can never truly answer it because they literally just pop into my head. Characters start talking to me and telling me their story and I just write it down.

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

I’m just finishing up When Day Breaks, the 9^th book in the KGI series and then I’ll be working on the final book in the SURRENDER trilogy, TAKING IT ALL.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

I wouldn’t say “Interesting” but I’m very linear in my work. I can NOT write out of order and I can NOT work on more than one story at a time. Every story that I write gets my complete and utter focus and I write one story at a time. I’m very rigid that way!

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

I actually already got to meet the one author I’d go completely fan girl over. Julie Garwood. She’s always been my inspiration and I’ve often said that everything I’ve learned about writing no matter what genre, I learned from her.

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

To be patient. Not give up. Keep writing and don’t get discouraged. It takes a lot of hard work and PERSISTENCE to make a career out of writing. And never let others change your voice or your style. Protect both fiercely.

Would you share with us something off your bucket list?

I’ve always wanted to go to Colorado when the Aspens are in color. Colorado is one of my favorite places on earth and I’ve been there MANY times but never when the Aspens are in color. So ONE DAY I’m going to do that 🙂

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

Oded Fehr and The Rock. And I’d just stand stupidly and stare and probably never utter a word lol

*****

Letting Go

PUBLICATION DATE: February 4, 2014
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

Josslyn found perfection once, and she knows she’ll never find it again. Now widowed, she seeks the one thing her beloved husband couldn’t give her. Dominance. Lonely and searching for an outlet for her grief and wanting only a brief taste of the perfection she once enjoyed, she seeks what she’s looking for at an exclusive club that caters to people indulging in their most hedonistic fantasies. She never imagined that what she’d find is the one man who’s long been a source of comfort—and secret longing. Her husband’s best friend.

Dash has lived in an untenable position for years. In love with his best friend’s wife and unwilling to act on that attraction. He’d never betray his best friend. And so he’s waited in the wings, offering Joss unconditional support and comfort as she works past her grief, hoping for the day when he can offer her more.

When he finds her in a club devoted to the darker edges of desire, he’s furious because he thinks she has no idea what she’s getting herself into. Until she explains in detail what it is she wants. What she needs. As realization sets in, he is gripped by fierce, unwavering determination. If she wants dominance, he is the only man who will introduce her to that world. He is the only man who will touch her, cherish her…love her. And the only man she’ll ever submit to.

(Check out Kelly’s review of Letting Go HERE)

Maya Banks is a #1 New York Times bestselling author whose chart toppers have included erotic romance, romantic suspense, contemporary romance, and Scottish historical romance. She lives in the South with her husband, three children and a variety of pets. Visit her online at www.mayabanks.com, www.facebook.com/AuthorMayaBanks, and twitter.com/maya_banks.

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

January 8, 2014January 7, 2014

Interview with Alexis Morgan

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Alexis Morgan to the blog today .

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

I live in the Pacific Northwest, but I grew up in Missouri where I graduated from the University of Missouri–St. Louis with a degree in English. I love the romance genre both as a reader and as a writer. I’ve published American West historicals, paranormal and fantasy romance, and now contemporary romances.

Learn more about Alexis here: Website | Twitter: @Alexis_Morgan | Facebook | GoodReads

Have you always wanted to be an author?

Although I’ve always loved writing, it never occurred to me that I could have a career as a writer until I met my very first author, Janice Kay Johnson. As we became friends, I found myself fascinated by what she was doing. She finally pointed out that I was an English major, read constantly, and that I could write my own books. She then helped me do exactly that. Very few people can point out that one person who changed their whole life, but Janice did that for me. We’re still best friends and brainstorm ideas together.

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

I started out as a panster, but over the years I’ve had to learned to think through the plot before I start writing because I usually sell from either three chapters and a short synopsis or just a synopsis. I see being a pure panster as someone who sets off on a journey without a map. A plotter studies a map and makes reservations ahead of time because she knows the exact route she’s going to follow to reach her destination. A combo writer knows where she’s headed and has some definite stops planned ahead of time. However, she builds in extra time in case she wanders off track along the way, knowing sometimes those unplanned stops can lead to unexpected twists but interesting places.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

I can’t start writing a book on the computer until I’ve worked out the opening paragraph with pencil and paper. For some reason, a blank screen is much more intimidating to me than a blank piece of paper.

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

MORE THAN A TOUCH is the second full-length book in my Snowberry Creek series. The hero, Leif Brevik, is recovering from a wound received during his last deployment that could end his career. Zoe Phillips is overseeing his medical care, but she finds herself falling in love with her patient. Leif is drawn to Zoe’s caring heart, but he realizes that she also carries her own emotional wounds from her time as an army nurse.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

I wanted to tell the stories of three soldiers returning to civilian life. They are all different men, but closer than brothers. I could just *see* Leif, a hero who doesn’t realize how amazing he is.

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

I’ve been working on edits on A REASON TO LOVE, the next Snowberry Creek book, which will be out next May. It’s the story of the third soldier, who returns to Snowberry Creek but isn’t sure it can ever be home again.

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

I’d love to meet Patricia Briggs. Her books are always on my ‘MUST BUY THE DAY THEY COME OUT” list. I love the world she’s created with her Mercy Thompson series, but also I’ve enjoyed her earlier fantasies.

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

Surround yourself with people who will support you in the down times and also applaud your every success, no matter how small.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.

I want to visit the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Albert, B.C. It’s a paleontology museum with an amazing collection of dinosaur fossils. I love that kind of stuff

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

I’m really looking forward to NIGHT BROKEN by Patricia Briggs, which will be out in March

What is one book everyone should read before they die?

WEST WITH THE NIGHT by Beryl Markham, an autobiography of a pioneering woman aviator. She was amazing!

What is your favorite time of year & why?

I love the fall when the trees turn–all those vivid reds, golds, and oranges are just gorgeous.

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

Lately, I’d have to say it would be Karl Urban. There’s just something about his smile and those dark eyes, not to mention his wonderful accent. I love his new television series, ALMOST HUMAN. If I actually got to meet him, I’d probably just babble. <g>

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Just that I’d like to thank you for having me stop by for a visit. And I’d love to have you pick someone who leaves a comment to receive an autographed copy of MORE THAN A TOUCH.

To Enter to win a copy of More Than A Touch please fill out the rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

December 20, 2013December 16, 2013

Spotlight feature & excerpt of Dragon Awakened by Jamie Rush + Tour Wide Giveaway

DRAGON AWAKENED

by Jaime Rush

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound | Bookish

December 17, 2013

Ruby Salazaar wants answers . . . and revenge. Her uncle has just been murdered before her eyes and the name he utters with his final breath – Cyntag – leads Ruby into a world beyond her wildest imaginings. She soon learns that the dark, sexy Cyntag Valeron knows more about her than she does herself.

Ruby changed Cyn’s life before she even knew who he was. Now she charges into his life, a beautiful woman full of fire and questions. Cyn knew this day would come, yet he couldn’t foresee the danger – and desires – Ruby would bring with her. He can teach her how to harness her newly awakened powers. But there is one force neither of them can control . . .

Excerpt:

Cyntag slowly waved his hand in front of her face, his eyes staring straight into hers between his long fingers. “Crescents can identify one another by our eyes. Some are icy glitter, some swirling mist, and others burning embers.”

Her heart hitched. Hadn’t she seen a glow in his eyes?

He lowered his hand. “Moncrief cast an illusion spell to hide the magick in your eyes. You looked like a Mundane, a regular human. Now that he’s gone, the spell is wearing off. Soon it will be obvious to every Crescent who sees you.”

She walked over to a gilt-framed mirror on the side wall and stared at herself. No glow. He was full of it. “I don’t see anything like what you described.”

“Because you cannot see.” He came up behind her. “You have not been Awakened. Crescents are initiated in a ceremony at thirteen, when their powers begin to appear. It’s similar to those of many native tribes to celebrate a coming of age. But much more comes with being an Awakened Crescent.”

Thirteen. She remembered a gnawing hunger deep in her belly and vivid dreams filled with colors and longing and…dragons.

Cyntag brushed her bangs from her forehead, his thumb grazing the skin near her burn. “The orb did this?” She nodded, and anger shimmered over his face. “Unacceptable.”

“I thought so.”

He’d said it as though the attack on her was a personal affront to him. Like he owns you.

“Right now you’re like a baby chick fallen prematurely from the nest, without feathers developed enough to fly from danger or any way to fight enemies. Unable to even see them. You might get a glimpse now and then, but that won’t be enough.”

“You’re saying I have powers?” Could her disbelief be more clear? “Can I make one of those orb-lightning-bolt things?”

Another twitch of a smile. “Sorry, no. However, you are much more magnificent than mere magick.”

“I’m magnificent. Yeah.” She couldn’t help but glance down at herself. “Fine, how do I get…what’d you call it? Awakened?” Let’s play along.

“Considering the circumstances, only I can awaken your powers.”

Did his arrogance know no bounds? Dumb question, Ruby. “What do I have to give you for that?”

“You assume there’s a price?”

“There’s always a price.” She could see that he had one too.

He stepped closer, again breaching boundaries. She wouldn’t move away. If only she didn’t have to look up at him. Even being five-foot-eight, he was way taller. His heat reached out, beckoning her. She stiffened her stance. The dragon tattoo eyed her, but no, she did not see it move.

He waited until she drew her gaze back to his face. “The price is that once you see, you can never go back to being blind. Once you know, you can never forget. Once you experience your true nature, you can never ignore it.”

“Ignore what?”

He released a breath. “We’d better start with the small stuff.”

A little about Jamie:

Things that go bump in the night have always fascinated Jaime Rush. Sometimes those things are human; other times, not so much. Now she has twisted them all together in the Hidden, a trilogy about humans with the essence of gods who walk the knife’s edge between the glamour of Miami and a place filled with dark magick and dangerous beauty.
Jaime is the author of the Offspring series and also writes under the name Tina Wainscott. She is the bestselling author of eighteen romance novels. She lives in Southwest Florida with her husband, daughter, and cat.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Giveaway Time!!!

15 winners will receive our Hidden prize pack, featuring a bound flip book of the first two novellas DRAGON MINE and DRAGON AWAKENED, a print copy of DRAGON AWAKENED, advanced copies of the next two books in the series, MAGIC POSSESSED and ANGEL SEDUCED, plus a series bookmark and a special Jaime Rush dog tag!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

December 17, 2013December 16, 2013

Spotlight Feature & Exceprt of REAVER by Larissa Ione + Tour Wide giveaway

REAVER

by Larissa Ione

Amazon | Barnes & Noble IndieBound

December 17, 2013; Grand Central Publishing Mass Market; $8.00; 978-1-4555-2697-0

Reaver is an angel with a past, a record, and a less-than-heavenly attitude. Powerful enough to fight alongside the fiercest battle angels-and crazy enough to risk his wings on a one-way mission to hell-he’s agreed to go where no angel has ever gone before . . . to steal the most seductive and dangerous prize of Satan himself.

Harvester is one of the Fallen, a once-heroic angel who sacrificed her wings to work as an undercover agent in hell. But now her cover has been blown, and she’s doomed to an eternity of agonizing torture. Even if Reaver can snatch her away from Satan’s lair, even if they can fight their way out of the underworld’s darkest depths, there is one thing Harvester can never escape-her newfound thirst for an angel’s blood. . .

Don’t miss Kelly’s review of Reaver HERE

Excerpt:

“R-Reaver?”

Reaver held Harvester’s frail body tight against his as he navigated the final steps of a winding ledge that dropped them into a world of weird. “It’s me. It’s okay. We’re safe.”

Relatively safe, anyway. Relative meaning that they weren’t dead. Yet. He just hoped the same could be said for Tavin, Matt, and Calder. When he’d left them to sneak into Satan’s realm, they’d been engaged in a battle they’d initiated as a diversion. It had been a risky move, and Reaver could only pray they’d make it to the rendezvous point.

A hunter’s horn sounded in the distance and was answered by another, closer horn signal. Satan’s minions hadn’t gained ground, but they were spreading out. Damn.

He scanned the landscape of thorny plants, hills of blackened earth and trees, and twisted, abandoned structures. Nothing moved.

He looked down at Harvester, and as before when he first saw her hanging over a pit of acid, he felt sick to his stomach. He didn’t like Harvester even though he was grateful for the things she’d done, but she didn’t deserve this; her naked body too thin and mottled with bruises and ligature marks, her once silken black hair tangled and dull, and worst of all, missing her gorgeous green eyes.

Under ideal circumstances, an angel could heal from even the most heinous injuries within hours. But these were far from ideal circumstances, and Harvester’s source of power, her wings, had been severed. Without wings or medical assistance, it could take weeks, even months, for an angel’s body to fully heal.

“I can’t risk healing you more than I did,” he said. “My power isn’t reliable right now, and I could do more harm than good.”

“Reaver,” she croaked, as if he hadn’t spoken. “Why…how…”

“Shh.” He tucked her face into his chest, quieting her. “We’re going to meet up with some friends, and then I’ll answer all your questions.”

Reaver and the assassins had worked out a plan A and a plan B. Plan A had been shot to hell when iron gates had prevented Reaver from getting out of Satan’s realm to the south, where his companions would have been waiting. Now, with demons in pursuit, they were on their way to plan B. Hopefully Tav, Matt, and Calder had realized quickly that Reaver’s escape route had gone bad.

Inhaling the stench of rotten vegetation that permeated this section of Sheoul, he started away from the skeletons of some burned-out buildings and toward a mountain range as expansive as the Rockies. He moved swiftly, outrunning the sounds of pursuit and pausing once to blast a group of imps with a ball of lightning. The sphere struck the leader, and from there sent electrical strikes at each of the surrounding imps, frying them all in a handy eight-for-one.

Harvester slept in his arms, barely stirring when he stopped to listen for anyone following them. By the time they neared the plan B meeting site, Reaver was sure they’d lost the demons—temporarily. Reaver wasn’t naive enough to think they were off the hook. The demons chasing them were only the first wave, the security detail unlucky enough to be guarding the dungeon Harvester was kept in.

Once Satan got wind of this, if he hadn’t already, Reaver and Harvester were going to have legions of minions on their heels.

A little about Larissa:

A former meteorologist and EMT, Air Force veteran Larissa Ione now gets her daily dose of excitement from vampires, werewolves, demons, and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. She lives in wintery Wisconsin with her U.S. Coast Guard husband, her teenage son, a rescue cat, and her hellhound, a King Shepherd named Hexe.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Giveaway Time!!!

1 winner will get our grand prize of a Kindle Fire

4 winners will get a signed set of Larissa Ione’s Lords of Deliverance Series: Eternal Rider, Immortal Rider, Lethal Rider & Rogue Rider!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

October 3, 2013October 2, 2013

Lauren Dane Interview and Giveaway

The Brown series has a special place in my heart because when I read about Erin, I was hooked. We had a child about the same age and I remember being in tears when I read what had happened to her. Now, her best friend, Raven, has her own book and I am so excited that Raven finally gets her chance for a happy ending. Lauren is here today to discuss her new book, Drawn Together, and I am very excited to have this fabulous author here on Books-n-Kisses.

1. Tell me about your new release Drawn Together.

Drawn Together is the story of Raven Smith and Jonah Warner. Over the Brown Family series we’ve seen lots of prickly behavior from her and had a few glimpses of her softer side but she’s always had this backstory– this reason she acts the way she does and I didn’t want to tell her story until I had the right match for her.

As it happens, Jonah Warner, uber alpha, came along at just the right time and I was so excited to write this book and give her the HEA she needed.

She doesn’t totally change because of love. She’s still Raven. But Jonah gets her and he’s worth opening up for. And he’s sort of pushy and bossy and so totally patient she can’t resist. She finds herself breaking all her personal rules for him and sort of liking it too.

It’s a love story on a few levels, not just between Raven and Jonah, but also between these characters and their friends and family too, which is the heart of this series. Oh and smoking hot sexytimes too 😉

2. Where did you come up with the idea for the Brown Family series?

Erin was the heart of it from the very start. I had this scene come to me and it ended up being the opening scene for Laid Bare – a woman on stage, boots, dreds, tats and piercings. I wanted her to be bold and strong and vivid but also to have this darkness. Laid Bare was born and at the start it was just a one book sale to fill a slot in the Berkley schedule. I knew I wanted to do books for Brody and Adrian but as I was about halfway through Coming Undone, I realized I wanted a book for Cope and that he needed to be with Ella.

Eventually, I wanted to write Raven’s book but she needed a few years to be ready for her HEA. She’s a fitting close for this generation of Brown/Keenan/Copelands and friends.

I love this tight knit group of friends and intentional family. I love how colorful and artistic they are. I love how much they love and support each other while retaining their edges. I’m happy I wrote them all!

3. What kind of research did you have to do for this series?

Mostly fun stuff. I watched a lot of videos of people playing instruments – Erin is a bass player, Adrian a guitarist so lots of that. Concert videos. Tattooing stuff for Brody and Raven (piercings too).

The criminal justice stuff I knew (I’ve got a law degree). I did domestic violence advocacy work post law school so I knew all the protection order stuff really well (for Ella’s situation in Laid Bare and Inside Out). I did ask my dad some stuff about sentencing in California (he was a parole office before he retired several years back).

I live in the Northwest so many of the places they go are my favorites (Zeek’s Pizza, Red Mill, The Dahlia Lounge, etc.) and I know the neighborhoods I set parts of the story in. Written On the Body doesn’t exist, but that neighborhood does, for instance.

Other stuff is made up totally like Happy Bend – although I hear there is an actual town in Arkansas called Happy Bend, it’s not the one from the book! I promise you real citizens of Happy Bend I would not insult your town that way, LOL.

4. I love the Browns, especially Erin, and I was wondering if you are planning any more books for them?

This part of the series is over. I’ve written books for everyone and I don’t want to drag it out and have readers thinking, “She should have ended this three books ago.” But there’s a whole new generation of Brown/Keenan/Copelands coming up as well as Jonah’s brothers so we haven’t seen the last of these characters.

5. What are you working on now?

I just finished a novella called All That Remains that will be in the Marked anthology out in February. It’s an earth set futuristic erotic romance menage (say that ten times fast!) and the start of a new self published series I’ll be doing.

Now I’m working on Fool’s Gold, which is book one in my HURLEY BOYS series and features Paddy Hurley (Damien’s brother from LUSH).

6. Any advice for aspiring writers?

The only real takeaway that I think applies to everyone is that you can’t be a writer unless you write. Don’t talk about it. Do it. If that’s 100 words a day, or 45 minutes a night or at your lunch break, or every other day or weekend, whatever. Put your butt in that chair (or wherever you work) and get working. You can fix whatever you get on the page, but it has to be there to fix.

Thank you so much for answering my questions and I just want to say that I love all your book and am looking forward to everyone learning more about Raven.

Thank you and thank you so much for having me. 🙂

About the Author:

The story goes like this: While on pregnancy bed rest, Lauren Dane had plenty of down time so her husband took her comments about “giving that writing thing a serious go” to heart and brought home a secondhand laptop. She wrote her first book on it before it gave up the ghost. Even better, she sold that book and never looked back.

Today Lauren is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over forty novels and novellas across several genres. Though she no longer has to deal with Polly Pocket and getting those tiny outfits on and off, she still has trouble blocking out the sound of iCarly so she can write a love scene.

Website/ Twitter/ Facebook

Jennifer’s Review of Drawn Together

TITLE: Drawn Together

SERIES #: Brown Family Series #6

CHARACTERS: Raven Smith and Jonah Warner

AUTHOR: Lauren Dane

PUBLICATION DATE: 10/1/13

ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: Beauty is more than skin-deep…..Tattoo artist Raven Smith is blunt and hard, broken and jaded, dark and beautiful. While she doesn’t hide her painful past, she does keep a wall around her heart. She’s free sexually–but no one gets to the real Raven beneath the prickly exterior.

With a voice like smoke, Jonah Warner is a smooth-talking, highly successful attorney, with a body that should never be hidden by a suit. He’s the kind of man who never takes no for an answer and always gets what he wants. And what he wants is Raven. She’s a survivor, and he finds that incredibly alluring.

Jonah gets under her skin in a way Raven has never experienced. He makes her break all the rules–including her no-monogamy rule. But when a figure from Raven’s past shows up at the tattoo parlor and drops a bomb into her life, their relationship will face the ultimate challenge…

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Jennifer NUMBER OF STARS: 4.5 Stars

REVIEW: Raven has always been such a mystery to me throughout the series. A tough free-spirit, who lived by her own rules and at first, I didn’t like her because she just seemed like a mean person. Slowly, she started to grow on me, especially because of her interactions with Erin and Erin’s son, Alexander. I had loved Erin from the very beginning and if Erin loved Raven with such an intensity and protectiveness, I knew there had to be more to her than meets the eye and I was glad that we got to see that side of her in Drawn Together.

Raven is a beautiful, smart, artistic and strong woman that most people don’t cross because of the image that she portrays. She had such a hard life growing up and that life has made her who she was an adult. Jonah was exactly what she needed. He was an alpha in his own world and he was able to break down her walls with his love and devotion and at points in this story, those walls are made up of pretty strong raw emotion. She needed someone that she could finally trust to help her lose a little bit of the tight control in her life and the fact that she was able to do that with Jonah was a huge step for her. She didn’t feel the need to run like she had in the past, she just felt that being with him was the right thing and he proved to her that he was in it for the long haul. The sex scenes were very hot and steamy and I will warn people that Raven and Jonah’s sexual relationship was perfect for them but may not be for everyone.

Everyone knows that Lauren Dane is one of my absolute favorite authors and I purchase every book that she has ever written. The Brown Family series is one of the best series out there and Drawn Together is a perfect addition to these great books. I am so happy for Raven to finally get her happy ending and I can’t wait to read what happens to the next generation of these great characters.

Giveaway

I’m excited to give away a ARC copy of Drawn Together. This giveaway is for US Residents only. To be entered in the drawing by October 6th, leave a meaningful comment for Lauren below: