Category: Giveaways

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The Entity Within Interview with Cat Devon and Giveaway

Entity Within, the

I am so excited to have Cat Devon here today to discuss her new release, The Entity Within.  I love vampires and witches, so if you love paranormal romance, this is definitely one to pick up.

1. Tell me a little bit about your new release.

SLEEPING WITH THE ENTITY came out June 4th and it’s the story of the cupcake maker and…the vampire! Daniella Delaney is ready to open her shop, Heavenly Cupcakes, in one of Chicago’s sleepier districts. But she’s having a hard time convincing the local business association—namely Nick St. George—that she’s a good addition to the neighborhood. Daniella hopes that her famous red velvet cupcakes will be enough to melt any man’s heart. But Nick is no ordinary man. He’s got fangs.

THE ENTITY WITHIN is out July 2nd. Zoe Adams and her grandmother Irma are witches who have been banished from Boston. With nowhere to go, they accept an invitation to come to Chicago…but what they don’t realize is that their new space puts them right in the heart of the most dangerous spot of all: Vamptown. The more vampire Damon Thornheart gets to know the stunning, spirited Zoe, the less he understands about his own true nature. Vamps and witches have always been archrivals in the entity world; surrendering to their passion could mean losing their immortal powers. Is their desire worth the risk?

2. Where did you come up with the idea for Sleeping with the Entity and The Entity Within?

It started with the hero and heroine.  In SLEEPING WITH THE ENTITY, I wanted the heroine to be the opposite of the dark and brooding vampire hero.  A cheerful and determined cupcake maker who is immune to vampire compelling seemed the answer.  Plus I enjoyed doing the research on cupcakes at the local cupcake shop in my area!  In THE ENTITY WITHIN, I wanted a heroine who had magic of her own, who knew what it’s like not to fit in the human world, and so I came up with a witch named Zoe.  Not only is she Damon’s opposite, but vampires and witches do not get along.

3.  Have you always wanted to write paranormal romance?

Yes, especially paranormal romance with heat and humor.  Readers have told me that my characters seem very real to them, which is wonderful!  I write a fast-paced book with a lot of dialogue.  The books have been getting great reviews so far.  SLEEPING WITH THE ENTITY was described as “Sinfully delicious! 4 Stars” by RT Book Reviews and received a highly-coveted Starred Review in Booklist.  Of THE ENTITY WITHIN, RT Book Reviews wrote, “Devon’s humor and offbeat scenarios give this paranormal pleaser a lighthearted feel that features just a touch of danger. Zoe and Damon’s sexy antagonism is pure delight!”

4.  What are you working on next?

I’m finishing up LOVE YOUR ENTITY which comes out Dec. 31st.  And a few days ago, I finished my Entity e-novella which is coming out this fall. It’s called THE ENTITY WHO CAME FOR CHRISTMAS.

5. How many books are you planning for the series? 

There are three so far, but there could be more.

6. What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

I have 3 steps for those who want to write.   1) Just Do It  2) Do It Anyway  3) Yes, I Mean Now.  Also if you are interested in writing romance, then join Romance Writers of America at rwanational.org, where you will find a lot of information for aspiring writers.

7. Do you have specific actors in mind for each of the characters in your book?

For all of the vampire heroes – yes!  Nick in SLEEPING WITH THE ENTITY was inspired by actor Alex O’Laughlin.  Damon in THE ENTITY WITHIN was inspired by Ian Somerhalder.  And Ronan in LOVE YOUR ENTITY by Joe Manganiello.

8. Favorite type of pizza? 

Giordano’s Chicago deep-dish style with extra mushrooms – yummm!!  Pizza seems to show up in several of my books! 

pizza

About the Author:

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Cat Devon is a pseudonym for an award-winning author. A former librarian and confessed bookaholic, she has a weakness for wickedly sexy vampires, imported dark chocolate and decadent cupcakes. She and her family live in the Chicago area.  For more info please visit my website www.catdevon.com or Like me on Facebook www.facebook.com/catdevonauthor or follow me on Twitter @catdevonauthor.

Jennifer’s Review of The Entity Within

TITLE: The Entity Within

CHARACTERS: Zoe Adams and Damon Thornheart

AUTHOR:  Cat Devon

PUBLICATION DATE: 07/02/13

ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: Is Love Something……

Zoe Adams and her grandmother Irma are witches who have been banished from Boston.  With nowhere to go, they accept an invitation to come to Chicago…but what they don’t realize is that their new space puts them right in the heart of the most dangerous spot of all: Vamptown.

You Can Sink Your Teeth Into?

Damon Thornheart is just that–virtually untouchable when it comes to love.  As Vamptown’s highest-ranking demon hunter, he sees red flags when he meets Zoe and Irma, who unwittingly unleashed a brutal evil upon the community. But the more Damon gets to know the stunning, spirited Zoe, the less he understands about his own true nature.  Vamps and witches have always been arch-rivals in the entity world; surrendering to their passion could mean losing their immortal powers.  Is their desire worth the risk?  Only one thing is for certain: Damon will make it his mission to find out…..

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Jennifer            NUMBER OF STARS: Five Stars

REVIEW: Zoe is a witch that is afraid of using her powers because her mother died while using black magic and Zoe believes that the same thing may happen to her.  When Zoe and her grandmother, Irma, relocate to Chicago, it is a chance for a fresh start but some of the local vampires are concerned that the witches may be in Vamptown to cause trouble.  Especially, the new vampire in town and resident demon hunter, Damon.  He is very skeptical of Zoe and isn’t about to trust this sexy witch to keep out of trouble, especially when Zoe accidentally unleashes sinister forces in Vamptown.  The two of them together seems like a disaster waiting to happen but they find that they just can’t keep their hands off each other.  So now, Damon must deal with sending these demons back to hell while fighting the sexual attraction he has for Zoe.

Zoe was so adorable in this book and I just loved her personality.  She was torn between living up to her magical heritage while trying to protect herself from any type of black magic.  She just wants to lead a normal life but that is hard to do when she accidentally helps to release demons into the city and she is one of the few people that can send them back where they belong.

Damon is one sexy vampire.  With his smoldering eyes and nonchalant attitude, I can understand why he is so popular with the ladies.  He has never gotten over his past betrayal at the hands of a witch and chooses to believe that all witches are evil. Both Damon and Zoe are strong-willed and opinionated and are the perfect match for each other, even though they fight it at every turn.  They also definitely know how to turn up the heat in the sexual chemistry department which makes this book fun to read.

One of the best things about this book is the humor.  Putting Zoe and Damon in the same room together brought out some of the best one-liners that I have read in a while. Cat Devon is an extremely talented author who has created a paranormal world that will not only have you laughing out loud but wanting a sexy vampire of your own. This is one of my favorite books at the moment and I can’t wait to get my hands on Love Your Entity which is out in December.

Giveaway

I have a copy of Cat’s new release, The Entity Within, to give one lucky reader. Please fill out the Rafflecopter below.

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Into The Fire Blog Tour with Amanda Usen

Into_the_Fire_TB

Today I am so excited to have Amanda Usen on Books-n-Kisses with us today.  I have absolutely loved her previous books Scrumptious and Luscious and she now has a brand new series that will definitely turn up the heat!

1. Tell me a little bit about your new release?
It’s a story about a hot, unforgettable one-night-stand that ends in double betrayal. The story picks up six months later with Jack opening a restaurant and needing Lila’s help to make it the best menu in New York. Add in revenge, passion, more betrayal, and a whole lot of Jack fantasizing about Lila naked and Lila dreaming about Jack…naked…lots of mouthwatering food and a twist at the end, and you’ve got it in a nutshell. I had a ton of fun writing this book, and readers seem to be enjoying it. They also want to shake some sense into Jack and Lila, but that makes for fun reading, too!

2. Where did you come up with the idea for this series?
A couple of years ago, I jotted down this line: “Personal Chef, at your service. What are you hungry for?” I intended to write an erotic romance, because, seriously, how could anyone say that line without irony? When I started brainstorming ideas for an Indulgence series, I used it as a jumping off point. Since I wanted to write three books, I gave Lila two culinary schools BFFs with whom she keeps in touch. They chat via cell phone and texting, and their stories began to develop as I wrote INTO THE FIRE.

3. Since your books are usually set in a culinary world, what attracted you to writing these books and do you have a culinary background?
Since I’m a pastry chef and I met my husband in culinary school at the CIA, food and romance go hand-in-hand for me. I love setting my stories in the restaurant world because that is where I spent my wildest years. *giggle* And writing about food certainly cuts down on the research for me!

4. What are you working on now?
Book 3 of the Hot Nights series, Betsy’s story! It’s set in New Orleans, where my husband and I lived after culinary school. I’m still working out the details, but I have a feeling the three culinary school BFFs will find themselves staggering through the French Quarter together at some point. I’ve been looking for an excuse to develop a chargrilled oyster recipe, a beignet recipe, and, of course, a perfect hurricane! Maybe a mango daiquiri, too…

5. What book from another author are you looking forward to reading?
I’m currently in the middle of Macy Beckett’s second Sultry Springs book, A Shot of Sultry, and loving it. I want to write sexy, funny, and quirky like Macy when I grow up! I’m also looking forward to reading Darynda Jones’s Fifth Grave Past The Light. I got to hang out with Darynda at Lori Foster’s Reader & Author Get Together a few weeks ago, and she’s such a doll. I loved her books before, but now I love them more! And I can’t wait for Turn Up The Heat, Kimberly Kincaid’s first Pine Mountain novel, coming out from Kensington in March. She writes sweet foodie heat! Oh, and I’m also impatient for Robin Covington’s third The Boys Are Back In Town novel. Bring on Teague! RAWR! Sorry, that’s four, but I was a reader long before I learned to write, and nothing makes me happier than a pile of new books.

6. What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Finish the darn book! If you’ve got the moxie to get all the way through a story then you’ve got the resilience to keep learning until you figure out how to sell it. That’s the first step. I have different advice for the next stage of the journey, but finishing the book always comes first.

7. What food or drink do you absolutely have to have while writing?
Coffee. Then water. Then coffee. Then water…

8. Favorite type of pizza?
The kind with cheese! 😉 Lately I’ve been craving a Greek pizza from LaPorta’s. It’s covered in spinach, feta, and tomatoes. Soaked with herbs and garlic butter. Great bubbly crust! I also wouldn’t turn down a spinach-pesto pizza from Just Pizza…but I also saw this intriguing fresh fig pizza on a blog the other day. I have to make that…can you tell I LOVE pizza?! Nom, nom, nom…

Thank you so much for taking the time out to answer my questions.  I can’t wait to read more from the series.
Thanks so much for having me. I’m dying for pizza now!

Readers, what is your favorite pizza combo?

About the Author:

AmandaUsen

Amanda Usen knows two things for certain: chocolate cheesecake is good for breakfast, and a hot chef can steal your heart. Her husband stole hers the first day of class at the Culinary Institute of America. She married him after graduation in a lovely French Quarter restaurant in New Orleans, and they spent a few years enjoying the food and the fun in the Big Easy. Now they live in Western New York with their three children, one hamster, two guinea pigs, a tortoise, and a new-to-them beagle. Amanda spends her days teaching pastry arts classes and her nights writing romance. If she isn’t baking or writing, she can usually be found chasing the kids around the yard with her very own hot chef husband.

Want chimichurri, chocolate cake or Chicken Alighieri? Visit Amanda at http://www.amandausen.com, where you can find recipes for many of the yummy dishes in her books. She can also be found on Facebook  and  Twitter,  if you want to chat about romance, writing, or recipes.

Jennifer’s Review of Into The Fire

Into-the-Fire-AU-500TITLE: Into the Fire

SERIES #: Hot Nights #1

CHARACTERS: Lila Grant and Jackson Calabrese

AUTHOR: Amanda Usen

PUBLICATION DATE: 06/10/13

ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: Jackson Calabrese has a lot of nerve.  He beat Lila Grant in the Culinary Academy competition using her recipes.  Now, he’s opening a restaurant and wants her help? Fine, she’ll fix his menu, but it’s going to cost him.

Heir to the Calabrese restaurant empire, Jackson can buy anything he wants, except creativity, so he buys Lila’s instead.  He can craft perfect paella, but to take New York by storm he needs her innovative spark.

Skillets aren’t the only things hot in the kitchen, and an uneasy truce ignites into passion.  They’re great in bed, but Jackson doesn’t trust her, and Lila is contemplating revenge.  The restaurant opening approaches, the menu is completed, and the tables are set for one final act of betrayal.  How can love bloom in the midst of such a hot mess?

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Jennifer             NUMBER OF STARS: Five Stars

REVIEW: I absolutely loved this book and I was so disappointed when this charming book came to an end.  I have enjoyed every single one of Amanda’s books and Into the Fire is a fabulous start to her brand new series about three best friends who just happen to be chefs.  Romances in the culinary world are my absolute favorite and Amanda’s style of writing is flawless and will keep you entertained until the very end of Lila’s and Jackson’s story.

We first meet Lila and Jack just before their Culinary Academy competition and the sparks definitely fly between these two.  After a night of passion and sharing intimate details of their lives with one another, they enter the competition second-guessing their dishes and are under the distinct impression that the other will ultimately win the competition.  Lila changes her strategy right before the competition and Jack changes his dish believing that Lila had originally lied to him about what she would be cooking. Both parties are wrong in their assumptions but the damage is done and Jackson wins the competition using Lila’s special menu.

I loved both of these characters and the interesting thing about them was that they were both plagued by their own self-doubt. These two smart, extremely talented chefs, believed that they couldn’t succeed on their own and that is what brought Jack back to Lila after the Culinary Academy competition. He was trying to find out what went wrong that day and to enlist her help to revitalize his menu for his new restaurant opening.  Lila was the type of person who was afraid that she couldn’t finish what she started and then ran away when things got too tough.  Jack was also living in his father’s shadow because he felt that he couldn’t live up to the great Calabrese name and receive the approval from his father that he desperately wanted.

The relationship between Lila and Jack could have went so much smoother if they both just communicated with each other.  I understand that they both believed that the other person was out to sabotage them but a lot of the misunderstandings could have been prevented by being honest with each other.  They would have found out a little bit earlier that they were perfect for each other and made a culinary team that no one could match.  Lila’s creativity in regards to food and Jack’s culinary skills were magical and there was absolutely no way that Jack’s restaurant could fail.

The sex scenes were very hot and steamy and I’m not surprised that Lila and Jack couldn’t keep their hands off one another in this book.  The ending was perfect for these two characters to show them that they just needed a little trust and love to make things right between them to fix their jaded relationship.  Into the Fire was a wonderful book and I am definitely looking forward to Amanda’s next book in the Hot Nights series.

Tour-Wide Giveaway

Amanda Usen is offering winners a chance to at some wonderful prizes during the Into the Fire Blog Tour.

Grand prize: $25 gift card (Amazon, B&N, or The Book Despository) and gets to name Betsy’s hero in Book 3 of the Hot Nights series & give him 1 author-approved trait”.

Runner Up: $15 gift card (Amazon, B&N, or The Book Despository) and the chance to pick a dish to go into book three of the Hot Night series (Amanda will also share the recipe on her website).

Consolation Prizes: 5 random winners will get Amanda’s favorite kitchen tool: a mini offset spatula

Simply fill out the rafflecopter form provided below for your chance to be entered.

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Guest Blog Review and Giveaway with Kate Carlisle

I am so excited for Kate Carlisle to be here today to promote her new book, A Cookbook Conspiracy, and to talk a little bit about history which fits perfectly with her wonderful new release.

Fascinating Small Stories of History

By Kate Carlisle, Author of A COOKBOOK CONSPIRACY

I remember dreading History class in high school. Okay, yes, the teacher had greasy hair and a belly that hung out beneath the bottom of his shirt, but I could’ve gotten past that.  Ew, but yeah, I could’ve dealt with the belly-bottom.  No, what I dreaded was the subject matter–memorizing dates and names which, to my unformed teenage mind, had no context in my life.

What I didn’t get then is that history is collection of infinite stories – and I love stories!  Seriously, I’m a writer. I’m all about stories.

Don’t blame history teachers.  They have an impossible job – condense a thousand years into nine months of study – minus Spring Break, Christmas, sick days…They’re trying desperately to imbue students with a big picture view of the world.  They do what they can to make it real, but kids that age have a tough time connecting with their parents, much less ancestors ten generations removed.

But when history becomes one person’s story, when it becomes personal, our collective imagination is engaged.  And for me, while kings and presidents, pharaohs and fuehrers, are interesting in a train-wreck kind of way, I’m much more fascinated by a glimpse into the life of an ordinary person.

 

Some of the Most Fascinating Ordinary People in History

 Lucy – Lucy lived over three million years ago, and her bones were discovered in 1974. That alone makes her fascinating. I include Lucy in the category of “people” because although she wasn’t human, scientists believe she’s an ancestor of humans. How freaking cool is that?!


Anne Frank – I don’t know if boys had this experience, but every girl I know connected deeply with Anne Frank, the young Jewish girl in hiding from the Nazis during World War II. At one time or another, we’ve all kept diaries. We’ve all had a crush on the cute neighbor boy. Until I read the end of the book, I had no idea that Anne didn’t survive the war. I cried as though I’d lost a dear friend. Anne brought the horrors of war and prejudice home to me in a way that no textbook ever could.

Obedience Green – Oh, you’ve never heard of Obedience Green? That’s because I made her up as a way to bring history to life in A COOKBOOK CONSPIRACY, my latest Bibliophile Mystery. Bookbinder Brooklyn Wainwright has been asked to restore the handwritten cookbook-cum-diary of Obedience, an indentured servant who lived in America during the Revolutionary War. Obedience kept painstaking notes about her life in the New World, the British general she served, and the recipes she learned.

When Brooklyn is asked to restore the 230-year-old book, she immediately recognizes it as a priceless treasure.  Valuable enough to kill for? Or could its owner’s murder have something to do with the Revolutionary War secret code buried in the text?

If your body and present surroundings were frozen in time, what would the future archaeologists who discover you learn about the life of an ordinary person in 2013?

About the Author:

Award winning author Kate Carlisle spent over twenty years working in television production as an Associate Director for game and variety shows, including The Midnight Special, Solid Gold and The Gong Show. She traveled the world as a Dating Game chaperone and performed strange acts of silliness on The Gong Show. She also studied acting and singing, toiled in vineyards, collected books, joined a commune, sold fried chicken, modeled spring fashions and worked for a cruise ship line, but it was the year she spent in law school that finally drove her to begin writing fiction. It seemed the safest way to kill off her professors. Those professors are breathing easier now that Kate spends most of her time writing near the beach in Southern California where she lives with her perfect husband.

A lifelong love of old books and an appreciation of the art of bookbinding led Kate to create the Bibliophile Mysteries, featuring rare book expert Brooklyn Wainwright, whose bookbinding and restoration skills invariably uncover old secrets, treachery and murder. Find Kate online at www.katecarlisle.com.

Jennifer’s Review of A Cookbook Conspiracy

 

TITLE:  A Cookbook Conspiracy

SERIES #: Bibliophile Mysteries #7

CHARACTERS: Brooklyn Wainwright, Savannah & Derek

AUTHOR:  Kate Carlisle

PUBLICATION DATE:  06/04/13

ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

 

BOOK SYNOPSIS: It’s a recipe for disaster when bookbinder Brooklyn Wainwright is asked to restore an antique cookbook…..

Brooklyn has always been a little obsessed with food, but it was her sister Savannah who became a chef, graduating from the prestigious Cordon Bleu school in Paris.  She and her classmates all went on to successful careers, but none of them achieved culinary superstardom like Savannah’s ex-boyfriend Baxter Cromwell.

 When Baxter invites the old gang to participate in his new restaurant’s gala opening in San Francisco, Savannah looks forward to seeing her friends, and even asks Brooklyn to restore a tattered cookbook–an old gift from Baxter–as a present for him.  But Brooklyn immediately recognizes that the book, which has strange notes and symbols scrawled in the margins, is at least two hundred years old.  She thinks that it probably belongs in a museum, but Savannah insists on returning it to Baxter.

 Shortly after receiving the gift, Baxter is found dead, with Savannah kneeling over him, bloody knife in hand, and the rare cookbook has disappeared.  Brooklyn knows her sister didn’t kill him, and she suspects the missing cookbook might lead to the real villain. Now Brooklyn will have to turn up the head on the investigation before Chef Savannah finds herself slinging hash in a prison cafeteria.

 REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Jennifer             NUMBER OF STARS: Five Stars

 REVIEW: A Cookbook Conspiracy is the seventh book in the Bibliophile mysteries and I enjoyed every minute of this story.  Brooklyn’s sister, Savannah, is in town to celebrate the opening of a new restaurant by her ex-boyfriend, Baxter Cromwell, where the opening festivities include the cuisine of her old Cordon Bleu classmates. When Baxter is found dead later that evening and Savannah is holding the murder weapon, Brooklyn will do everything she can to find the real killer and possibly put herself in the killer’s path to prevent her sister from going to jail.

 I love Kate Carlisle’s mysteries because they are always fast-paced with smart dialogue and a heroine that you can’t help but adore.  I think this book is one of my favorites in the series because I love books that deal with the culinary world as well as learning a little bit about history. I enjoyed seeing more of Brooklyn and Derek’s relationship as well as learning more about Savannah and Derek’s brother, Dalton, who has come to decipher the code embedded in Obedience Green’s cookbook. The mystery will have you guessing up until the very end of the book and I had a hard time trying to figure out who the actual killer was.  Kate Carlisle’s Bibliophile mysteries are wonderfully well-written with vibrant characters and engaging mysteries that will have you wondering where the time went once you start reading one of her books.

 

  GIVEAWAY

Kate has been gracious enough to offer one of our readers a hardback copy of her fabulous new release, A Cookbook Conspiracy.
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Interview & Giveaway with Laura Moore

Books-n-Kisses is super excited to have first time guest Laura Moore on the blog today to chat about life and her new book Once Tempted.

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

LM: I’m a contemporary romance author, an animal lover, an avid gardener, and I love to cook. I’ll take any opportunity I can find to steal away and curl up with a book. I cry at movies embarrassingly easily, much to the amusement of my husband and two children. My dog is very understanding. Our cat stares at me as if I’m an alien. I like to work out and I have an astonishing ability to consume vast quantities of chocolate and coffee.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

LM: No. I bet I surprised you with that answer! But it’s true. I didn’t fill notebooks in third grade with juvenilia. I wanted to be a professional rider and trainer. Then I wanted to be a racecar driver. My next ambition was to be Jacques Cousteau–this was before I knew about Sylvia Earle. Then I dreamed of being a photographer and after that, an art restorer. I could go on for quite a while. You see, I have a fair number of writers in my family, so I knew what an unglamorous life it could be. Of course now I’m pretty happy that I one day did sit down and start filling up a notebook with an idea I had for a story. Now I have a job where I can daydream for hours and call it work.

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

LM: I get up at 6:30 am, have breakfast, and walk Hardy, our dog. Upon my return I throw a load of laundry into the wash and run around straightening up the house. I’m kind of weird. There’s no way I can sit down to write if things aren’t basically organized around me. By 9:00 I’m at my computer. I try to work for three or four hours without wasting too much time checking and replying to emails, surfing the net in the name of ‘research’, or surfing the net simply because it’s there.

After lunch I’ll try to get a few more paragraphs onto the screen. If I’m lucky, another page or two. But my prime writing time is really that morning block of hours.

The one thing I can’t do without while writing is caffeine. It’s my drug of choice.

Most challenging or rewarding part of writing?

LM: Writing for me is always a challenge. The delete button is my favorite key. But without hesitation I can say the most rewarding aspect of writing is having a reader tell me that one of my books is on her keeper shelf, its spine broken, its pages dog-eared.

Can you please tell us about your latest book?

It’s called Once Tempted and it’s about a woman named Tess Casari. To escape the painful memories of a failed marriage, Tess leaves her life in New York City and the world she knows and sets out for California. A city girl, Tess would prefer to make a new life for herself in a place like L.A. or San Francisco, but Fate decrees otherwise, and Tess finds herself working at a guest ranch. Silver Creek Ranch is a sprawling operation that covers three thousand acres is home to more four-legged animals than she’s ever seen. But it’s a certain two-legged creature–a proud cowboy named Ward Knowles–that is the most worrisome thing about her new life…worrisome in the most delicious and distracting way.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

I really wanted to write about a woman who has to leave her life behind and make a fresh start in a foreign place where she knows not a soul. That’s how Tess Casari came into my life. Then I had to find her a white knight–or my version of it–to come to her rescue and heal her wounds. Ward Knowles, though he bears his own heartbreak, seemed ready and willing. I really like how Tess and Ward come together in this book and have to deal with their fears as they find love again.

Can you share with us your current work in progress?

LM: Once Tempted is the first book in my Silver Creek series. Now I’m working on the second story. It’s called Once Tasted and will be about Reid Knowles, Ward’s younger brother. Everybody loves Reid. He’s a handsome, blue-eyed cowboy who can charm just about any woman. Any woman but Mia Bodell, whose family owns the vineyard next to Silver Creek Ranch. Her youthful infatuation for Reid was killed years ago. For his part, Reid would as steer clear of Mia. Unfortunately, he’s made a promise to Mia’s uncle to watch out for her…I think it’s safe to say the sparks will fly between Mia and Reid.

Who are some of your favorite authors?

LM: The list is far too long. Why don’t I list my early favorites, the writers who made me fall in love with the romance genre? Those would be writers like Georgette Heyer, Nora Roberts, Lavryle Spencer, Jude Deveraux, Judith McNaught, Catherine Coulter, Julie Garwood, Linda Howard, Anne Stuart, and Susan Elizabeth Phillips. And that was just my early years. I’ve kept my love of those writers and added on.

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

LM: Absolutely. I only wish I wrote as well they do!

Open your book to a random page and please reads us a few lines.

LM: Oh, I like this idea! It’s kind of how I had my heroine, Tess Casari, choose her destination in California. Okay, so here goes:

“Can I have it back?” She held out her hand imperiously. The effect, however, was spoiled by the fine trembling that seized it.

“Certainly.” His free hand slipped beneath the chair and snagged a delicate ankle. He tugged a resisting limb up and toward him. It was no contest. He’d had a lifetime experience wrestling cattle and sheep. One feisty, squirming Italian beauty wasn’t going to deter him.

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

LM: Robyn Carr’s The Wanderer; Julie James’s Love Irresistibly; Nora Roberts’s Whiskey Beach. Jesse Hayworth’s Summer at Mustang Ridge

Is there anything else you would like to add?

LM: Nothing but a huge thank you for inviting me to come and talk about my books and my writing. This has been such fun.

Oh, and one more thing! I’d like to offer a copy of Once Tempted to three readers who leave comments (U.S. and Canada only, please). Can you tell me what’s on your To-Be-Read Pile?

Happy Reading!

~Laura

Laura loves to hear from readers. You can contact her at: www.lauramoorebooks.com or follow her on Facebook

You can also find her on Goodreads

 

Once Tempted

Amazon  | B&N

Sweeping passions, family drama, and searing scandal play out at the magnificent Silver Creek Ranch as the heirs to a powerful dynasty seize their legacy of love.
 
Oldest son Ward Knowles feels the sprawling California ranch in his blood. And now that the family business has expanded to include a popular resort, he’s working harder than ever. Silver Creek is his legacy and his life, which is fine for the ruggedly sexy ladies’ man and committed bachelor. Love and trust don’t come easily for Ward since he lost his heart to a gold digger—until he meets a shy, unpretentious beauty whose sweet grace is about to turn his jaded heart into a hungry one.

Tess Casari has found sanctuary at Silver Creek, working as an assistant to Ward’s mother, Adele. Grateful for her busy new life running the ranch’s spa and resort, Tess can escape the heartbreak, humiliation, and secret shame of her failed marriage. The last thing she needs is temptation—especially from a man who reminds her so much of the husband who shattered her faith in love. But passion and destiny are about to change the rules for two people who have stopped believing in the healing power of love.

Praise for Once Tempted
 
“[Laura] Moore’s first in her new Silver Creek series is packed with plenty of great, realistic dialogue and features two main characters whose actions and choices are easy to sympathize with. The glimpses of the hero’s two siblings will leave readers eager for their stories.”—RT Book Reviews
 
“When I read [Moore’s] books, I’m transported to the peaceful countryside with ranch homes and barns dotting the landscape. Once Tempted has all that and more.”—USA Today
 
“Ward is the perfect cowboy hero for a twenty-first century romance.”—Heroes and Heartbreakers

“Moore is a fantastic storyteller ensnaring your interest from the first page.”—Fresh Fiction

To Enter for a chance to win fill out the Rafflecopter form below…

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Dead Silence Blog Tour Review & Giveaway

I’m so excited for Books-n-Kisses to be a part of this fabulous blog tour for the wonderful Kimberly Derting.  Thank you so much Candace at CBB Productions for hosting this great tour.  The Body Finder series is a great YA series filled with mystery, suspense and a dash of romance.  If you haven’t read this series, I suggest that you try the first book, The Body Finder, but don’t blame me if you leave all the lights on.  🙂

Author Bio:

Kimberly Derting is the author of the BODY FINDER series (HarperCollins) and THE PLEDGE trilogy (Simon & Schuster). She lives in the Seattle area, with her husband and three children, who often find the outrageous things they say either in the pages of her books or posted on Twitter or Facebook for the entire world to see.

You can visit her website at www.kimberlyderting.com.

 

 

Jennifer’s Review of Dead Silence

SERIES #: Body Finder #4

CHARACTERS: Violet Ambrose

AUTHOR:  Kimberly Derting

PUBLICATION DATE:  04/16/13

ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: Violet thought she’d made peace with her unique ability to sense the echoes of the dead and the imprints that cling to their killers…that is, until she acquired an imprint of her own. Now she’s more determined than ever to lead a normal life.  However, the people who run the special investigative team Violet works for have no intention of letting her go.

When someone close to her becomes a suspect in a horrific murder, Violet finds herself pulled into a hunt for a vicious madman with an army of devoted followers–and quickly discovers that protecting those closest to her is far more difficult than protecting herself.

 REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Jennifer             NUMBER OF STARS: Four Stars

 REVIEW: Kimberly Derting has written a pulse-pounding story full of suspense with Dead Silence and the stakes are much higher for Violet and her special investigative team. In this installment, Violet is dealing with the recent events that have left her with an imprint of her own. I just want to say that Violet has come so far in her journey from the first novel in the series and finally seems to be coming to terms with her unusual gift.  She seems stronger, more grown-up and I was impressed by how well she was handling everything in her life. She is still in limbo in regards to her feelings toward Rafe while having a romantic relationship with her longtime boyfriend, Jay.  All this changes when she accidentally finds the bodies of a family and is thrown into a murder investigation where someone she knows becomes the prime suspect.

I really enjoyed this story and I liked how Violet was able to understand more about her gift by finding journals that belonged to her grandmother, who also had Violet’s ability. It helped to provide some answers that she had always wondered about, yet provided more questions as to what her future holds with her fellow team members of the special investigative unit.  I was also impressed by her boyfriend, Jay, because all through this series, he has been a great guy that has stood beside her and would do anything to protect her.  He doesn’t particularly care for Rafe and knows that Rafe has feelings for Violet but is able to put those emotions aside because they ultimately have to work together.  I felt sorry for Rafe throughout this book because of his unrequited romantic feelings toward Violet but I was also glad to see there could possibly be a new love entering his life soon.

 The killer in this book was absolutely creepy and I had a hard time with some of the scenes just because of the gore content.  Makes you want to double check your locks and get home before it gets dark after reading this.

 Kimberly Derting is such a talented writer and I have enjoyed every one of her books in the Body Finder series.  I have loved Violet’s transition from being just this young girl with a bizarre talent to a young woman who now wants to help people with her “gift.”  I’m hoping that there will be more books in this series because Kimberly has done a wonderful job creating these characters and I can’t wait to see what is next for Violet and her friends.

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Interview & giveaway with Mina Khan

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Mina Khan to the blog today..

Mina Khan is a Texas-based writer and food enthusiast. She grew up in Bangladesh on stories of djinns (pronounced “gins”), ghosts and monsters. These childhood fancies now color her fiction. She daydreams of hunky paranormal heroes, magic, mayhem and mischief and writes them down as tales of romance and adventure.

Her first published work, The Djinn’s Dilemma, won the novella category of the 2012 Romance Through The Ages (published) contest.

Fifty percent of the proceeds from her second novella, A Tale of Two Djinns, is donated to UNICEF for education.

Her newest release, DEAD: A Ghost story, is NOT a romance. It’s a multicultural ghost-story that highlights a little known aspect of the immigrant experience.

For more information check out her:

Amazon Author Page | Blog : Stories by Mina Khan | Facebook Author Page | Twitter: @SpiceBites

Have you always wanted to be an author?

Mina: Yes. I have written since I was a child and always wanted to be an author.

Are you a plotter or a punster or combo of both?

Mina: I consider myself an organic writer. I get an image or idea stuck in my head and start writing. About four chapters into the book, I’ll stop and write a synopsis, which helps figure out the rest of the story.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

I have to have nuts to snack on when I’m writing.

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

Mina: A Tale of Two Djinns, which is celebrating its first book birthday, is an exotic Romeo & Juliet tale with warring genies, feminists, kick-ass action and sexy adult fun.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

Lol, I always hated Romeo & Juliet’s ending, and I wanted to give them a happily-ever-after. Of course, first I had to make sure the hero & heroine earned the HEA! 😀

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

The Djinn in the Mirror, which is scheduled for a late spring release, plays on question: What if Cinderella had to deal with a wicked sexy genie instead of a fairy godmother? Lol, yes writing it has been a lot of fun…now I’m in the middle of edits.

I’m also working on an erotic contemporary about an emotionally damaged artist who falls for his model.

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

Mina: Lois McMaster Bujold because I love her Vorkosigan saga. The entire series is awesome. Patricia Briggs because I love her werewolves! Sorry, I just couldn’t limit myself to one.

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

Believe in yourself, work on your craft and never give up on your stories.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.

Taking a hot air balloon ride in Africa.

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

Stephanie Draven’s “Love Me Or Leave Me.” It’s got history and passion, two things I adore.  Also, Laurell K. Hamilton’s next Merry book whenever it’s coming out.

What is one book everyone should read before they die?

The Life of Pi. The movie version is awesome too.

What is your favorite time of year & why?

Fall. I just love the colors, smells, chill in the air, and ingredients in season…um, yes, I love to cook. J

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

Nathan Fillion. I know I’d SQUEE, but then I hope I’d charm him with my wit and grace…a girl can hope!

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Mina: Thank you so much for having me over Kelly and for the fun interview. I would love to give away digital copies of my first genie romance, THE DJINN’S DILEMMA, to two of your readers.

 

Amazon /  B&N / Kobo

Akshay, warrior prince of the earth djinns, earns the title of Crown Prince at a high cost when he loses his best friend in a battle against ancient enemies, the water djinns. Heartsick, he escapes to Earth to mourn and lose himself in drink

Nothing gets the biological clock ticking (and elders lecturing) like almost dying in battle, so Maya, princess of the water djinns, travels to Earth for some no-strings-attached sex to fulfill her duty and produce an heir. But the beautiful and tough warrior gets more than she bargained for when she meets Shay.

Their not-so-simple one-night stand is interrupted by assassins and the world, as they know it, is changed forever. As Maya and Shay pull together to survive, both are determined to have their happily-ever-after and bring peace to their worlds — warring families, shadow assassins, and nosy busybodies be damned.

 Fifty percent of the proceeds are being donated to UNICEF.

Also check out : 

Mina’ quarterly newsletter with release updates and inside information on the stories, HERE

And see the rest of Mina’ Tour stops here

TALE OF TWO DJINN

Anniversary Blog Tour

3/08 – 3/22

 

3/11 – Alexx Mom Cats Gateway

3/12 – Scorching Book Reviews

3/13 – I Smell Sheep

3/14 – Books-n-Kisses

3/15 – Wicked Readings by Tawania

3/16 – Book Lovin’ Mamas

3/16 – My Reading Obsession

3/17 – Book Monster Reviews / Literal Addiction

3/18 – Victoria Danann’s Blog

3/19 – Salacious Reads

3/20 – Riverina Romantics

3/21 – Froggarita’s Bookcase

3/22 – Ramblings From This Chick

 

Ready for a giveaway??????

Mina has given me a copy of TALE OF TWO DJINN to givaway, winners choice of either paperback or ebook. 

So to enter please leave Mina a comment or questions.

Along with your EMAIL (so I can contact the winner)

giveaway will end 3/21.

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Interview & giveaway with Laura Kaye

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to have our pal Laura Kaye back on the blog today to chat about her newest book “One Night with a Hero”.  One Night with a Hero is Laura’s second book in her Heroes’ series.  

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

I’d love to! And thanks for hosting me here today! I write contemporary and paranormal romance and am celebrating the release of my ninth book, a contemporary romance called One Night with a Hero (Heroes #2). I am also a wife, mom to two young girls (ages 8 and 6), college history professor, total vampire addict, and Marylander.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

Not exactly. When I chose college teaching as a career, I knew I’d publish because it’s an expected part of the job. I have published two non-fiction books in history as a result. However, I wasn’t interested in becoming published in fiction until about four and a half years ago. I had a head injury that, once it healed, left me interested in all sorts of creative pursuits. I began my first novel, what became my vampire romance, Forever Freed, shortly thereafter.

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

Plotters are writers who outline a story (to varying degrees of detail) before they begin writing. Pantsers are writers who write “by the seat of their pants”—that is, they tend not to outline or do much pre-writing preparation before they start a story. They figure it out as they go along. I lean toward being a pantser, but once your progress in a writing career to the point where you can sell books on proposal (rather than having to have the entire manuscript completed), you’re forced to do more plotting/outlining because publishers have to have an idea of what the story will be to buy it on proposal. So now I plot some and pants some, too.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

Hmm… The last couple of books I’ve written, I’ve written while listening to the same song on repeat over and over. For One Night with a Hero, that song was Coldplay’s Yellow. For Her Forbidden Hero, that song was Switchfoot’s Your Love is a Song. Currently, I’m writing South of Surrender, the third book in my Greek-mythology-inspired Hearts of the Anemoi series, and the song is Blurry by Puddle of Mudd.

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

Yes! One Night with a Hero is the story of a one-night stand that turns into a lifetime love for two lonely people struggling to overcome difficult pasts. Here’s the blurb:

He wants just one night…

After growing up with an abusive, alcoholic father, Army Special Forces Sgt. Brady Scott vowed never to marry or have kids. Sent stateside to get his head on straight—and his anger in check—Brady’s looking for a distraction. He finds it in his beautiful new neighbor’s one-night-only offer for hot sex, but her ability to make him forget is addictive. Suddenly, Brady’s not so sure he can stay away.

…what they need is each other.

Orphaned as a child, community center director Joss Daniels swore she’d never put herself in a position to be left behind again, but she can’t deny herself one sizzling night with the sexy soldier who makes her laugh and kisses her senseless. When Joss discovers she’s pregnant, Brady’s rejection leaves her feeling abandoned. Now, they must overcome their fears before they lose the love and security they’ve found in each other, but can they let go of the past to create a future together?

One Night with a Hero is also the first book I’ve ever had to hit the USA Today and New York Times bestseller lists. It was thrilling and amazing and a dream come true.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

The idea for One Night with a Hero grew out of the first book in the series, Her Forbidden Hero. From the moment the first images of Marco Vieri, the hero from the first book, came into my mind, I knew he would have a best friend who had gone through everything with him, and that that friend would have his own story. That was Brady Scott.

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

I’m currently writing South of Surrender, the third book in my Hearts of the Anemoi series that comes out in late May 2013. And I’m also about to start writing the third book in my Vampire Warrior Kings series, which will also release summer 2013.

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

I have had the chance to meet several authors who have greatly influenced me, including Anne Rice, Sherrilyn Kenyon, and J.R. Ward. I’d also love to meet Stephen King because I grew up reading his books and he more than anyone helped foster my interest in all things supernatural.

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

Number one would be to write. You can’t revise or sell what you haven’t written. And finishing your first manuscript is hugely confidence-inspiring. Number two would be to do everything you can to perfect your writing—read books on writing, take workshops on writing, get other writers to critique your writing, join professional organizations of writers, etc.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.

A lot of my bucket list is travel related. I want to go to Russia, Ireland, Egypt, and somewhere I could see the Northern Lights, for starters.

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

The book I am most salivating for is J.R. Ward’s Lover at Last, which doesn’t come out until March 26. I am a diehard Black Dagger Brotherhood fan and have been yearning for Blay and Qhuinn to get their happily ever after! Right now I am reading Kate Avelynn’s Flawed, and it’s just so dark and compelling.

What is your favorite time of year & why?

My favorite time of year has always been summer. I love the sun and the warmth and the beach. Always have.

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

Oh, geez. Just one??? LOL Chris Hemsworth, Channing Tatum, Hugh Jackman, et cetera, et cetera!!! If I ever met any of them, I would be totally freaking out inside. For real!

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Just thank you so much to my readers who make it possible for me to do what I love!

 Also, how ‘bout a giveaway? Her Forbidden Hero has recently released in paperback with the new cover that coordinates with One Night with a Hero. To celebrate, I’m giving away a signed print copy of Her Forbidden Hero to one commenter.

What to comment?:

Who is YOUR celebrity crush???

Open to international!

DON’T FORGET TO LEAVE YOUR EMAIL!!!!

NO EMAIL???  NO ENTRY!!!!

Good luck!

See the whole One Night with a Hero Tour here and enter Laura’s Pandora Bracelet Giveaway (ends 11/30) here!

 

Buy One Night with a Hero at Amazon | B&N | Kobo

He wants just one night…

After growing up with an abusive, alcoholic father, Army Special Forces Sgt. Brady Scott vowed never to marry or have kids. Sent stateside to get his head on straight—and his anger in check—Brady’s looking for a distraction. He finds it in his beautiful new neighbor’s one-night-only offer for hot sex, but her ability to make him forget is addictive. Suddenly, Brady’s not so sure he can stay away.

…what they need is each other.

Orphaned as a child, community center director Joss Daniels swore she’d never put herself in a position to be left behind again, but she can’t deny herself one sizzling night with the sexy soldier who makes her laugh and kisses her senseless. When Joss discovers she’s pregnant, Brady’s rejection leaves her feeling abandoned. Now, they must overcome their fears before they lose the love and security they’ve found in each other, but can they let go of the past to create a future together?

 “Laura Kaye is synonymous with great, sexy romance.”

~NYT Bestselling Author Jennifer Probst

 

About Laura Kaye:

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

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Newsletter SignUp

 

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Impulse by Dannika Dark Blog Tour~~~ Guest blog & giveaway with Dannika Dark

A day in the Life of Dannika Dark

4:30 am: Alarm clock begins to beep. I slam my hand down on it.

4:50 am: Alarm clock begins to beep. Sigh. I submit, and crawl out of bed.

5:00 am: I sit in the dark living room and begin writing or editing. I seem to have the most creative ideas early in the morning.

6:00 am: I glance at the clock and wonder if I should go to work early so I can get home early.

7:30 am: After writing for two and a half hours, I realize that I’m late for work.

During the drive to work, that’s when ideas start to happen. I’m in the middle of rush hour traffic, or some mad hatter just cut me off, and I get an idea. I carry a notebook in my car and in my purse at all times to scribble down those ideas.

8:00 am – 5:00 pm: These are the hours when I use the left half of my brain to earn my rent. I’m providing technical support to a team of people, developing procedure documents, training, and other duties that make me want to slam my head against a wall.

5:00 – 5:30 pm: I’m usually singing “Born Free” in the car while blasting down the road at 50mph. Well, that’s my Friday song, but when the whistle blows, I cannot get home fast enough.

5:30 pm – Midnight-ish: I have no structured writing schedule because when I truly sit down to write, I do it when I’m feeling inspired. I don’t force myself to adhere to a schedule. That’s something I retain for editing and other tasks. There are a number of things that have to be done: Marketing, editing, writing; while on the other hand, I like to be socially active, dabble in digital art, and look up random things on the internet like “what is a Ding Dong made out of?”

I’d love to give the answer that I sit by a window, staring at a rolling green meadow with jackrabbits feasting on tufts of grass, while I work out in my head the most poetic scene that has ever been penned in a book. But the truth is—I live in chaos. I hold down a regular job, and manage to fit writing somewhere in all that. Before I began publishing my novels, my schedule was manageable, and there were no deadlines. Now I’m finding there are so many more tasks that need to be done, and currently I’m working on my full book cover for “Sterling” to get it paperback ready. I outsourced the interior formatting to a company that specializes in this, because I’m slowly realizing that I need to give up control and stop convincing myself that “I can do it all.”

There are hours in my day I need to claim as my own, so I can retain my social life and not become a hermit. However, writing is a passion, and even if I’m in the movie theater, I get ideas about my stories, and have to write them down. My brain is always working like that.

I had a really interesting conversation with someone yesterday who was of the opinion that writing was just a hobby, and not something that a person should seriously pursue as a career. It’s a pastime, it’s a “filler”, and you shouldn’t waste time focusing on that part of your life when you could be building your career and making more money.

Without imaginative thinkers and artists, we would have no museums.

No libraries.

No radio.

No television.

No movie theaters.

No variety of department stores.

No theaters with dance shows and plays.

If that were the case, then what would we be doing on our weekends? How enriched would our lives be without artists?

So a typical day in my writing life is simply taking advantage of any free time I have to do what I love to do, and hope that others will benefit from it.

Monday, November 12, 2012 – Blog Launch:
Tuesday, November 13, 2012:
Wednesday, November 14, 2012:
Thursday, November 15, 2012:
Friday, November 16, 2012:
Saturday, November 17, 2012:
Sunday, November 18, 2012:
Monday, November 19, 2012:
Wednesday, November 21, 2012:
Thursday, November 22, 2012:
Saturday, November 24, 2012:
Monday, November 26, 2012:
Tuesday, November 27, 2012:
Wednesday, November 28, 2012:
Thursday, November 29, 2012:
Friday, November 30, 2012:
Saturday, December 1, 2012:
Sunday, December 2, 2012:
Monday, December 3, 2012:
Tuesday, December 4, 2012:
Wednesday, December 5, 2012:
Thursday, December 6, 2012:
Friday, December 7, 2012:
Saturday, December 8, 2012:
Sunday, December 9, 2012:
Monday, December 10, 2012:
Tuesday, December 11, 2012 – Blog Tour Closing –

Almost one year ago, a Mage attacked Silver and changed the course of her destiny.

Immortals exist, and now she is one of them.

 Within the dark and supernatural city of Cognito, Silver is living under the watchful eye of her Ghuardian and dating her mortal enemy. Neither man can protect her from a dark secret, one buried within the content of a box. As rival factions struggle to gain control, she finds herself in the middle of a centuries –old feud that threatens to drive a wedge between her and Logan Cross, the man who intends to seduce her.

In an explosive turn of events, one life is saved and another is forever altered. Can Silver trust those around her, or are they hiding a dark secret of their own? 

EXCERPT

IMPULSE (MAGERI SERIES: BOOK 3)

Both hands cupped my face and his forehead touched mine.

“I was made to protect you, female. I’ve claimed you, whether you accept it or not, and it’s an honor that I take very seriously. If any male lays an unwanted finger on you, I will break it. If you hunger, I will feed you. If you’re cold, then I will warm you with my body. If you’re taken from me, then I’ll track you. Never doubt my devotion to you.” He gripped my head firmly. “I once gave a woman my heart, because that’s all I had to give. But you, Silver, you’re the pulse that keeps me alive. I was a soft man once, but no more. I don’t know if you can accept the man that I’ve become, because all I have to offer you is my life.

 

Learn more about Dannika here: 

Want a chance to win one of the following prizes? 

1 Box Set of The Mageri Series (Sterling, Twist, & Impulse)
Book Cover Cards (4×6) (Sterling & Twist)
1 Set of Key chain
1 Car Charm
1 Surprise Gift from Justus himself.

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Seduced by Blood Pre-Order Contest

As most of you know Laurie London’s 4th book in her Sweetblood  series will be released later this month (7-24).  Seduced by Blood is Tristan Santiago’s story.  The fearless, stubborn, rules with a iron fist and doesn’t need anyone leader of the Northwest Guardian Divison.  I loved this book.  I loved reading about Santiago’s demons and how he learns to love and be loved.

So because I loved Santiago’s story so much I want to see who loves the Sweetblood Series as much as me.

So here is what I am going to do.

I have a set of the first three books in the Sweetblood series, Bonded by Blood, Embraced by Blood, & Tempted by Blood, all 3 signed by the wonderful Laurie London that I am going to giveaway.  Also I have a custom made bookthong by the wonderful Mandy from Shiny Stupid Designs.    So one lucky person will get all three books, the bookthong and there might be a little something extra too *wink, wink*.

So how do you enter?

Pretty simple:

1st: Pre-order Seduced by Blood (you can pre-order from any of your favorite book retailers) Between now and July 23rd.

2nd:  Send me an email that shows you ordered.  Please send email to books.n.kisses(at)gmail(dot)com . Please put “Seduced by Blood” in the title area.

3rd:   Gain an extra point for sharing on Facebook, twitter or your own blog.  Please make sure to let me know where you shared in your email (please include links)

4th: Now you wait.

Contest will run until July 23rd.  Winner will be drawn & announced on July 25th.

 Seduced by Blood

7/24/2012

Amazon | B&N | Powells | Books a Million

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… Hot-blooded and hard-edged, Tristan Santiago has an uncanny ability to see beneath the surface-a power that serves him well as the Guardians’ region commander. But when a deadly plot against his fellow vampires is uncovered, he must turn to the one woman he can’t read: the beautiful yet mysterious Roxanne Reynolds, whose sensual presence soothes his tormented memories. Roxy had put love before duty once before, with devastating results. But to root out a dangerous traitor in their midst, she must put her faith in Santiago, the one man skilled enough to break through her defenses. Posing as lovers, Santiago and Roxy work side by side-and discover a powerful craving that threatens to consume them both

 

Giveaway Details:  Giveaway is Sponsored by Books-n-Kisses Blog.  Giveaway is open to everyone.  No shipping restrictions.  Winner will be chosen with the help of Random.org.  Winner will have 72 hours after email notification to contact me with required information to claim prize.

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Interview & Giveaway with JK Beck

Books-n-Kisses is super excited to have JK Beck (aka Julie Kenner) on the blog today.  We are getting to know her a little better. Oh and today is release day for her. So please help me make JK feel welcome and wish her a happy release day.

Q1) Can you please share with us a little about yourself

Well, I was found as an infant when I hatched out of a golden egg that my parents had brought home from their travels in the …

Wait.  That’s not me.

Seriously, I’m a Texas girl, although I was born in California and lived in LA for six years back when I was practicing law.  I’m a terrible housekeeper, I drink way too much coffee, I have two kids who I homeschool (I need the coffee to keep up with them), and I saw Star Wars (the first one, the real one) in the theater 82 times.  No, that’s not a typo.

I practiced law before quitting to write full time.  My most interesting case arose out of the Rodney King riots.  I got to depose Darryl Gates, the Chief of Police at the time of the riots.  He had a radio show at the time of the deposition and referred to me in the show (not by name; he called me a “lady lawyer.” Ah, Darryl, Darryl, Darryl.)

I’ve been an extra in one movie, have an undergraduate degree in film, and have a couple of scripts floating around out there in Lala land.  Novels are where my heart is, though.  I love SCUBA diving, but hate diving in Texas, so haven’t been in years.  I get seasick, and am much happier once I’m under the water rather than on it.  I love to travel, and I went backpacking all over Europe the summer before I moved to LA to practice law.  I watch reruns of Buffy far too often, never got into Angel, and cry at the ending of The Cutting Edge.  Of course, I also cry at the ending of Independence Day.  Show me something like Sleepless in Seattle and I’m a blubbering fool.

I sound like a bit of a mess, don’t I?

Coming in June 2012

Q2) Have you always wanted to be an author?

Yes!  One of my earliest memories, actually, is sitting in my dad’s home office banging out a “book” on his typewriter (so fast the keys mushed together – if you don’t know what I’m talking about, please don’t tell me as I’ll just feel old).

I’ve always made up stories.  My parents were divorced when I was seven, and my dad moved 200 miles away.  That made for a lot of flights from Austin to Dallas in the years between 7 and 18 in my dad’s very noisy prop plane.  Since talking was difficult and reading impossible (motion sick), I would lean back, close my eyes and make up stories.  Weird, strange stories.  I recall at least one that involved Harrison Ford coming to my school because he’d fallen madly in love with me.  Did I mention I write fiction?

Q3) Can you share with us your typical writing day.  Is there anything you have to have while writing?

All I have to have is a keyboard.  I’m the opposite of a Luddite; pencil and paper don’t do it for me.

There is no typical day, alas, but a day might look something like this:

5:00 alarm goes off.

5:15 alarm goes off.

5:30 alarm goes off, husband calls from the bathroom for me to get out of bed, already.

5:30-6 breakfast with husband

6-7:30 write and/or take care of emails, tweet, blog, etc.

7:30 wake kids up

7:30-8 while they watch something (these days, Meerkat Manor), I write

8-9 – feed kids, instruct them to eat, clean dishes, get dressed, do piano.  I sneak off to write.  Instead, I screw around on the Internet.

9-12:30 – school with the kids. Schlep MacBook Air around house; do emails, other stuff, and maybe a scene while they’re doing independent work

12:30-1:30 – lunch.  I write.  Or not.

1:30-3 – more school

3-6 – I write. Kids in my office are verboten.  Doesn’t matter; they come in anyway.

6-7:30 – chat with husband, fix dinner, eat.

7:30-9 – family time (often involving a computer on my lap and me writing)

9-10 (or later if I’m crunched) – write

That’s a “perfect” day.  More often, I get phone calls, have to take the kids to speech or Latin or violin or some other something.  So the 10pm often creeps back later and later.  Bad, as I’m a much less cranky mommy when I’ve had decent sleep!  (And in case you can’t guess, I do a lot of my writing on weekends.  That’s when I can get in the really big chunks of blissful writing time.)

Q4) Most challenging or rewarding part of writing?

Lately, the biggest challenge is finding blocks of time.  I can write in spurts.  I prefer a huge chunk. The most rewarding is the feedback from fans!

Happy Release Day Today

Sure!  WHEN PASSION LIES is the fourth in the Shadow Keepers series, which centers around a paranormal world with its own government hidden within ours.  In this book, I got to spend time with Caris (a really kick-ass female character who’s a vampire/werewolf hybrid) and her estranged love, Tiberius (who’s a very alpha vamp with a hatred of werewolves).  Theirs was an epic love, but something horrible happened and they were ripped apart.  The book is the story of how they get back together…set against the backdrop of a mission to save the world!

Q6) How did you come with the idea for this story?

Oh, goodness…I don’t know if I can recall the details!  I do know that it started with Caris.  She didn’t actually exist in the world at first.  But then she appeared on the page in the very first book, When Blood Calls, and she was such a cool character that she kept elbowing her way into stories until, finally, she demanded a book of her own!

Q7) Can you share with us your current work in progress?

I can’t!!!!!!  I’m weirdly superstitious that way.  I will say that I’m in the process of finalizing (editing, formatting, etc.) the sixth Demon Hunting Soccer Mom book (a series I write as Julie Kenner) and that it’ll be available in mid-June as an indie release.  I’m super excited because I love that series and have missed writing Kate!  (The book is PAX DEMONICA.  Folks who aren’t yet familiar with the series can get a sense of Kate and the world in the short story, The Demon You Know, which is available in e-format for only 99 cents!  You can read about all the Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom stories at http://www.demonhuntingsoccermom.com

Q8) Who are some of your favorite authors?

There are waaaaaay too many to list.  My “get it the second it comes out on my Kindle” author is J.D. Robb.  LOVE the In Death books.  I’ve glommed all of Sue Grafton, adore Scalzi, think Lee Child is fabulous, could sit all day reading Jill Churchill, recently started re-reading Anne Perry’s Pitt series, think Stephen King writes the most amazing characters, and on and on.  Frankly, I rarely find an author I don’t enjoy.  I. Read. Everything.

Q9) Do you feel that any of your favorite authors have inspired your writing style? 

Sure!  I’ll notice bits and pieces of tone coming into my work.  So I try not to read dark and depressing if I’m writing light fiction.  (The other way, though, works.  Even dark books need lighter moments!)

Coming in July 2012

Q10) What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?

Divergent!  I’ve heard such great things about it, and I haven’t yet had the chance to dive in.  But our neighborhood book club picked it, so I’ve got it and I’m starting it tonight.  (fingers crossed!)

Q11) Is there anything else you would like to add?

Just thanks for having me!  It’s been fun!  And I hope readers find me on Twitter and Facebook and visit me on the blog, where I share slices of both my writing and my personal life and thoughts on various gadgets I love!

http://www.twitter.com/juliekenner

http://www.twitter.com/jkbeck (the Julie Kenner twitter account is more active; I tend to mostly tweet release-related stuff as J.K. Beck)

http://www.facebook.com/juliekennerbooks (be sure to “like” the page for exclusive content; for example, I just ended one contest and another will come soon!)

http://www.facebook.com/jkbeckbooks (ditto!)

And I’m ramping up to offer exclusive content to my newsletter subscribers, too, so I hope folks sign up.  The link is on the banner of my website, http://www.juliekenner.com or http://www.jkbeck.com

Oh, and I recently discovered Pinterest.  I’m “juliekenner” over there.

(I’m not yet active on Goodreads, but I’m working on it.  I’ve had an account for years, but it’s sitting there stagnant.  Once I’ve got it down, I’ll add links to my webpage.  And if any readers have tips for navigating Goodreads, feel free to drop me a line or just comment on the blog!)

Thanks, Kelly!!

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