Category: Guest Blogs

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Guest Blog S.Evan Townsend

Sex Scenes
I have a confession to make.  I have never written an explicit sex scene in any of my novels.  Not that I can’t (I have dabbled in writing erotica).  But like the starlet said when asked about nude scenes: “Only if it is necessary to the story.”   I have nothing against graphic sex in novels but I think one shouldn’t add graphic sex or violence just to sell books.
In writing my urban fantasy novel Agent of Artifice I tried to keep it PG (well, maybe PG-13 due to violence).   For one thing, I knew that my children would be reading it.  But if I needed a sex scene I would certainly have added it.  But it wasn’t needed.  Yes, people are in bed together but I didn’t feel the need to show what they had just done or were about to do.   For example, here is the “sex scene” (or as close as I get to one) from Chapter Two:
The girl was long-limbed and a bit on the thin side.  Her skin was the color of coffee con leche and her kisses were as sweet.  I know there are people who care about skin color; I’ve never understood that.  That she was brown made no difference to me.  She was striking, with lovely black eyes and she made love like a wild, beautiful animal.  She was the cigarette girl at the Sans Souci and her English was limited pretty much to “Cigars . . . cigarettes.”  I spoke some Spanish and could use translation spells in a pinch.  But we didn’t need much talking for what we had in mind.
Now she was snoring, though, lying in my arms. 
Are sex scenes ever needed?  Of course, if the genre or the story calls for it.  But to add a sex scene just to add titillation value (or sex appeal) is gratuitous.  It’s the same for graphic violence.  It is really needed?  Earlier this year I wrote a mainstream drama novel based partially on my own experiences.  In the novel the married protagonist starts an affair with a woman 10 years younger than he (this was the fiction part).  Again, there was no graphic sex.  I took the scene so far and then stopped and let the sex be implied.  There was, however, a lot of graphic necking.
I’m not trying to say there should never be sex scenes in novels.  That would be like saying there should never be violence in novels.  And that would make for some pretty tepid reading.  And I’m totally against censorship of any kind beyond the gatekeeping of publishers.  But why do people read books?  I believe it is to take them on an adventure that they couldn’t otherwise have.  And that adventure can be violent and it could be sexy.  Or both in some cases.  And those readers want to see violence and sex and writers should give it to them (after all, you write to be read).
As I wouldn’t add extra gory violence just for the shock value, I believe adding a sex scene for the titillation is unneeded.  But if it is necessary for the genre or the story I wouldn’t hesitate to put it in.  
Agent of Artifice
by S.Evan Townsend
Order Here
They live among us.  We know they are there.  No government can control them; no authority can stop them.  Some are evil.  Some are good.  All are powerful.  They inhabit our myths and fairy tales.  But what if they were real, the witches, wizards, and fairy godmothers?  What if they were called “adepts” and were organized into guilds for mutual protection and benefit?  And what if they started mucking around with the affairs of “lessers” (that is, those humans not able to match their powers)? 
During the height of the Cold War, Michael Vaughan is a rogue without a guild.  He survives by working for the CIA as NOC (Non-Official Cover).  Shortly after the funeral of President Joe Kennedy, Jr., he is sent to Cuba to assassinate Castro.  There he finds himself in a cat-and-mouse game with adepts working for Fidel. 
S. Evan Townsend is a writer living in central Washington State. After spending four years in the U.S. Army in the Military Intelligence branch, he returned to civilian life and college to earn a B.S. in Forest Resources from the University of Washington. In his spare time he enjoys reading, driving (sometimes on a racetrack), meeting people, and talking with friends. He is in a 12-step program for Starbucks addiction. Evan lives with his wife and two sons, aged 17 and 20, and has a 22-year old son attending the University of Washington in biology. He enjoys science fiction, fantasy, history, politics, cars, and travel.
Website / Facebook / Twitter / Trailer
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Guest Blog & Giveaway with Kathleen Allen

Greetings All!
My name is Kathleen S. Allen and I write books. I also write short stories, poetry, lyric essays and whatever else I can think of! I decided to try my hand at a romance. Although many of my books have romantic elements in them, I haven’t written one that has romance as the main story line. 
The name of my book is: THE CRAZY NURSE.
 Here’s the blurb:
Molly, a new nurse on the psychiatric unit, falls in love with her manager John Whitefeather. His heart has been broken and he resists his attraction to her…at first. Afraid of getting hurt again after letting his guard down John leaves without a word. Molly quits her job and moves to San Francisco to take care of her brother who has AIDS. When they run in to each other again can they make their relationship work or is it too late for them?
From the novel:
He came out of the bathroom looking clean, and shiny.  He had on a different pair of gray sweats, these were clean, and his chest was bare.  His hair still hung loose around his shoulders, but, at least it was clean now.  Molly hadn’t realized how beautiful long hair could be on a man.  Especially this man.  She looked quickly away before John could see her desire for him on her face.  But, she didn’t look away fast enough, he saw the passion in her eyes, and it thrilled him.
Available here:
https://www.xoxopublishing.com/shop-online/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=32&products_id=184
The story takes place in a large urban hospital in the Midwest but quickly progresses to San Francisco. I wanted to write what is known as a medical romance with medical elements in it so Molly’s—the main character—brother has AIDS. Both the main characters, Molly and her love interest, John are psychiatric nurses. I wrote this novel before I actually worked on a locked psychiatric unit as a nurse and my colleagues joked that I based the story on them! A couple of them even wanted to know which character they were! I told them I wrote it before I got the job—I have since left it—but I don’t think anyone believed me! Guesses were made about who the love interest could be, a resident? One of our physicians? Another nurse? Finally, I told them that the characters were more of a combination of staff I interacted with on the unit and that seemed to pacify them! Although I am no longer working on the psychiatric unit I am still friends with colleagues and they still ask me who the love interest is based on! Uh, he’s more of my ideal man, except for the whole I-can’t-be-in-love-so-I’m-going-to-take-off scenario. I adore long hair on a man so I had to make him have long hair. 
My experience with writing romance tells me two things. First of all, I can write a romance, especially a medical romance and second of all, writing a romance is hard! It’s hard to get the right nuances and it’s hard to not let the characters slide into stereotypical behavior.  I recently wrote and published a murder mystery and that was hard to write but the romance is right up there!
Will I write another romance? Perhaps. Right now I am in the process of editing a faerie vs. human young adult fantasy novel called LORE OF FEI that is being published in April, 2012 by Muse It Up Publishing. My literary agent is shopping around a contemporary young adult novel and is looking at my latest novel, a young adult historical novel. I am also getting ready to do NaNoWriMo beginning November 1st. This is the competition where you write a 50K novel in 30 days. Your daily word count is 1,667. I did it last year and “won” with LORE OF FEI. My novel this year is about a 19th Century woman who falls in love with a man who may or may not be vampire. I’ve written about faeries, werewolves, dragons, unicorns, witches, ghosts and one short story about a vampire but never an entire book. It should be fun!
I also just joined a local children’s lit/YA book critique group and we are meeting next month. I have a critique partner I value online but I feel that meeting and socializing with other authors is important.
I am trying to be a writer full time so I am looking for writing gigs along with doing my fiction writing. My dream job would be to teach creative writing at a college. I do have a Master’s in English with an emphasis in creative writing but most colleges want either a MFA (Master’s in Fine Arts in writing) or a Ph D in English/Creative Writing.  I am teaching an online workshop next year in March, 2012 for Novelists at Work on how to write a young adult novel. I hope to be able to do more of those.
Thanks for having me as a guest blogger today! You can find me here:
On Twitter: @kathleea
Email: gaelicfairie@gmail.com
Website: http://www.gaelicfairie.webs.com/
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Witch-Hunter/142372955812353
Guest blogger every Wednesday on http://www.downtownya.blogspot.com/

To Enter Giveaway please fill out the form below: 




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Guest Blog & Giveaway with my pal Laurie London ♥

Happy Birthday to Books N Kisses! Congratulations on one year of book blogging fun.
Thanks so much, Kelly, for having me on today. Hi, everyone! 

First of all, I need to brag. Last month, I met your fearless leader in person over lunch when she heard I was heading to her hometown to check out colleges with my son. She’s every bit as fun and cool in real life as she is online. Maybe even more so, if you can believe it. And we’re going to hang out again in a few weeks at the Emerald City Writers Conference. I can’t wait.

Okay, that was the “kisses” part of this post. Now for the “books.” Well, actually, my books have kisses in them, too…lots of them.
The short story I wrote in A VAMPIRE FOR CHRISTMAS is a reunion story when old lovers, Trace and Charlotte, reunite and the flames of their past romance are rekindled. The only problem is, just one of them remembers—the other one thinks it’s a new relationship.

But first, let me backtrack a minute.

Vampires in the Sweetblood world drink blood, have fangs, prefer the dark (sunlight doesn’t make them burst into flames, but it does drain their energy), and shadow-move at high speeds.

You may witness or experience an actual vampire attack and, at the time, you’ll know without a doubt that they’re real. However, you’ll never remember it, because they also have the ability to alter your memory.

After all, why do you think vampires have been able to keep their existence a secret for centuries? Sure, people have heard about them, but they’re not real. They’re just rumors, whisperings, the fodder of spooky stories.
Or are they?

This is an element of vampire mythology that I explore in the short story Enchanted By Blood, which is set in the same Sweetblood world as the novels.
Bonded by Blood (bk1), Embraced by Blood (bk2), 
Hidden by Blood (FREE novella)
Enchanted by Blood (novella in A Vampire for Christmas), 
Tempted by Blood (bk3 release Spring 2012)
If you’ve read book one and two (BONDED BY BLOOD and EMBRACED BY BLOOD), you’ll find out a little more about the political structure of the Governing Council, and you’ll recognize a few characters. But if you haven’t read the books, you won’t be lost. I wrote this story to stand on its own.

Former Guardian Trace Westfalen is poised to take over his father’s seat on the Council, but he won’t be voted in if he’s in a relationship with a human. Interior decorator/party planner Charlotte Grant feels an odd connection to the man who hired her to decorate his home for a big holiday bash, but she’s never met him before…or has she?
What if you fell in love with someone but your memories were taken…would a part of you remember that you had this deep connection once? Out of sight may mean out of mind, but what if you’re suddenly thrust back together again? Your brain may not remember, but what about your heart?

Having read the poignant book STILL ALICE last year, which is told from the point of view of a woman with early onset Alzheimer’s disease, I was struck with what a tragedy it would be to lose your memory, to forget your loved ones. Whereas Alice never regains hers, you’ll have to read Enchanted by Blood to find out what happens to Charlotte. 😉

I’ve got a special giveaway for one random Books-n-Kisses reader: A copy of A VAMPIRE FOR CHRISTMAS plus a vampire ornament made by WeirdPlush. When I saw them on Etsy, I knew it’d be a perfect match for the book.
And whoever wins the prize package, if you could tweet or facebook me a picture of the ornament on your tree, I’d totally love to see it!
www.LaurieLondonBooks.com www.facebook.com/LaurieLondonAuthor
www.twitter.com/LaurieBLondon
Thanks, everyone, for stopping by. Good luck! 






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Guest blog with Regan Hastings (& giveaway, 1 here and 1 over at Regan’s blog)

Regan Hastings’ Self-Indulgent Fantasy
Regan Hastings is the dark alter ego of USA TODAY bestselling author Maureen Child. VISIONS OF SKYFIRE, the second book of The Awakening series of dark paranormal romances, is available now.
I’m a writer, so by definition, I have a very active imagination. Lately, I have begun to fantasize about taking a bath. Is there anything more deliciously self-indulgent than a bubble bath? I’ve been forced to satisfy myself with quick showers for a couple months.

You see, my house is on the market, so I have a nightmare that the minute I step into a tub, a real estate agent will show up with a suburbanite couple and their 2.5 children. And of course, I will have forgotten to lock the bathroom door. Which means Realtor Bob, Mr. and Mrs. Straightlace, and their kids Billy, Sally, and Halfsie will hover in the doorway in open-mouthed shock at the lady in the fluffy towel who is frantically trying to distract them with the beautiful tile floor … which they would appreciate if only they would avert their eyes!
(I did mention I have an active imagination, didn’t I?)
In VISIONS OF SKYFIRE, the second book of The Awakening, Teresa Santiago is on the run with her Eternal mate, Rune, desperately fleeing the Bureau of Witchcraft. Teresa is a witch, and the BOW won’t rest until she’s dead.
The worst thing about being on the run, to me, would be not being able to take a bath. (Well, okay, the worst thing would be the gunfire … but not being able to take a bath is a close second.) Here’s a brief excerpt from VISIONS OF SKYFIRE, showing Rune’s wildly romantic surprise for his witch …
Taking her hand, Rune led her toward the far wall of the sumptuous cave and then behind yet another wall of crystal-studded rock. He lit the torch within to display even more wonderful secrets.
“A hot tub?” She bent over the rocky ledge of a pool of steaming water and dipped one hand into the froth. Heat pulsed through her and she nearly sighed with pleasure.
“It’s not a shower,” he told her with another smile, “but I think it’ll do.”
“Are you kidding?” she asked. “It’s great.”
“Glad you approve. It’s fed from an underground spring,” Rune told her, then showed her another alcove. “It drains through here . . .”
Teresa looked, realized what she was seeing and laughed, delighted. It wasn’t the Ritz, and in fact it looked more like what she assumed a medieval garderobe was like, but at least she wouldn’t have to run into the desert at night to relieve herself. “This is so great, Rune. I don’t even know what to say.”
She turned to smile up at him and found him watching her with amusement and something . . . else in his eyes. Those pale gray depths were awash with secrets and emotions. As if she could sense exactly what he was thinking and feeling, she shivered in response. That low curl of heat and expectation at the very core of her had returned and it was all she could do not to moan softly as need pulsed inside her along with the beat of her heart.
“You feel it, don’t you?” he whispered, even that faint hush of sound seeming to echo against the rocks.
“Yes,” she said, not bothering to pretend she didn’t know what he was talking about. What would have been the point?
“We begin the Mating tonight.”
She lifted her chin to meet his gaze squarely, so that he could see her own determination to accept their joined destiny. She only hoped he couldn’t read her trepidation as easily. “Yes, we will.”
What do you do that’s self-indulgent? What’s your pleasure – bubble baths or something else?
If you enjoyed the excerpt of VISIONS OF SKYFIRE, please visit www.reganhastings.com to read the first chapter. If you answer a simple question, you’ll be in the running for a $50 Amazon e-gift card. You can use it to buy a wicked cool Halloween costume, or you can use it to buy books. Up to you! The winner will be chosen at random from among all the correct answers on October 15.
Giveaway Time: 
Because I love Regan’s books so much I will be giving away an e-copy of Visions of SkyFire (purchased by me) to one commenter. 
To Enter: 
Go over to Regan’s Blog www.reganhastings.com
Read the 1st Chapter of Visions of Skyfire and
answer Regan’s question to enter her giveaway.
THEN come back here and tell me you entered. 
Please leave your email (NO email, NO Entry)
Being a blog follower is always good. 

Extra Entry for every place you share this post
Facebook, Twitter, Your Blog, Good reads
Please leave link. 

My giveaway will end Oct 14th. 
Winner will be announce Oct 17th

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Guest Blog & Giveaway with Naima Simone

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to let Naima take over the blog today and talk about Fairy Tales. 
Take it away Naima. 



Misfits: The Fairy Tales’ Misunderstood

So lately I’ve been kind of preoccupied with fairy tales. It’s almost as if I’m writing a series on them with some really cool, sexy name like Fairy Tales Unleashed. Or something like that. As I was saying, I’ve been reading a lot of fairy tales lately. You have your old favorites. Sleeping Beauty. Snow White. Beauty and the Beast. And then there are your lesser known tales. Brother and Sister. The Six Swans. The Bushy Bride. Seriously, I did not make that up. Reading these stories have brought back so many memories of my mother, sister and I sitting on the couch while she read The Boy Who Cried Wolf and Billy Goat Gruff to us. *sigh* Those were great times. Great stories. And some serious WTF moments. Listen, I know the great thing about fairy tales is the happily-ever-after but, man, some characters were stuck with really raw deals! I mean they were shafted! I know what you’re thinking. That’s crazy talk! Or get a grip! But follow me here for a moment…
The Six Swans. In this story the most obvious people wronged are the six brothers that were turned into swans by their evil stepmother. But the sister, who not only has to sew—sew?? For real??—six shirts for them is also struck mute and is unable to laugh for six years—the number of years she has to complete these shirts before the enchantment is permanent. Raw deal #1. Then a king sees her, is mesmerized by her beauty and marries her. All good, right? But no, another wicked stepmother steals all three babies she births and blames their disappearance on the sister/queen. Does king-y stand by his woman? Nooo. Instead she’s sentenced to burn at the stake. Shaft #2. Just as the match is ready to be set to kindle, the six swan brothers flock to her, she throws the shirts that she’s finally finished in the air and her brothers return to human. Yay! Except, here’s Shaft #3. She didn’t have time to finish the sleeve of the youngest brother’s shirt so he has to live life with one wing. *&^%$#!!!
Rumpelstiltskin. The princess was treated so wrong, right? Wrong! There was one character in this story crying out here. And that was Rumpelstiltskin! Rumpy—as we’re calling him because, hey, Rumpel-etc.-etc. is simply too much to type!—is used for his talents, lied to, cheated on and he’s the bad guy. Now the miller’s daughter is conscripted into doing the impossible—turning straw into gold—because of liar-dreams-of-grandeur father. She faced execution from the greedy king but Rumpy shows up and does the task for a small price. I mean really, what’s a ring and necklace compared to her life? Well when Rumpy requests her firstborn in exchange for the last ginormous pile of straw, the miller’s daughter agrees. I mean she never imagined the greedy-selfish-fill-my-coffers-with-gold-or-I’ll-decapitate-you king would offer his hand in marriage and she would actually have a baby. So of course that’s enough reason to renege! What did Rumpy do but hold up his end of the bargain? He didn’t throw his daughter to the wolves. The miller did that. He didn’t threaten an innocent woman with beheading over the idea of gold. No, the kind did that. And he didn’t go back on his word, not delivering on his end of the bargain. The queen did that. So what does Rumpy get for being a man of his word? One foot in hell. Literally. Now I know what you’re thinking. But he wanted her baby. Look, I have kids and let’s face it. After one week with the kid, he would’ve given it back!
 Sleeping Beauty. Just purge the Disney version of this tale out of your mind. Sleeping Beauty had her happily-ever-after but she went through straight Not-Heaven before she got it! First because Queen Mom neglected to invite one pissed-off fairy, Sleeping Beauty ended up with a curse over her head that they didn’t tell her about! Forget the fact that due to mom’s mistake—drink more ginkgo, lady!—a lot of people lost their livelihood with the banishment of the spindle! If they had only told Sleeping Beauty about the curse she wouldn’t have went anywhere near that spinning wheel, not to mention the creepy old lady locked up in a room she knew nothing about! That’s sooo not a red flag. So she pricks her finger and falls into a coma-like sleep for one hundred years. One hundred years! Do you know how many balls, parties and fashions she missed in a century? So she awakens to a kiss from a prince with no gum in sight. Que music. They all lived happily-ever…*screech* Nope, that’s so not the end of this story. The prince secretly weds Sleeping Beauty and keeps her his little secret from his stepmother. In the meantime he continues to make booty calls and she has two children. Where do these princesses in these tales find these men? Well when his father kicks the bucket, he ascends to the throne—and surprise!—springs his ready-made family on the stepmother, who happens to be wicked (No! Didn’t see that coming!) and of ogress lineage. Talk about the mother-in-law from hell! Her husband leaves on some kingly duty and abandons his wife and children to the tender care of his stepmother. Tender as in tender meat, because that’s what she tries to turn them into. Succulent tender meat on her dinner table. Long story short, Sleeping Beauty has to face the voracious appetite of her Shrek-like mother-in-law, save her kids from becoming rack of lamb and elude a pit of vipers. King shows up just in time and stepmother ends up in her own viper pit. All this because Sleeping Beauty’s mother forgot a name…this whole thing could have been avoided if her mother had just made an invite list to that doggone christening!
Did I make a believer out of you yet? Do you see what I mean about raw deals? Ooh! Speaking of raw deals…that was a smooth introduction, wasn’t it…in my most recent release, A Perfect Fit: Fairy Tales Unleashed, Book 2, you’ll read about another fairy tale character who was incredibly misunderstood. See what I mean in the blurb below:
by Naima Simone

Blurb:

Once upon a time, there was a young woman of beauty, grace, and good nature…
Blah. Blah. Blah.
Rowyn Jeong knows her no-nonsense, less than warm personality cannot compare to her stepsister Cindy’s bubbly charm and beauty. Hey, everyone has their niche, right? But being the plainer, wicked stepsister has never bothered her more than when Darius Fiore reappears in her life. Darius Fiore, the man she indulged in a one-night stand with six months ago, the businessman threatening her position within her stepfather’s company, and the man her sister has her eyes—and hands—on.
Rowyn has never forgotten the man who allowed her to be someone else for a few sex-filled hours. Now that Darius has turned up in her territory, will he see past the hard exterior to the woman beneath, the one hungry for love and acceptance?
Link to booktrailer on You Tube:
A Perfect Fit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ND6qyU8KO80
Buy link: http://www.breathlesspress.org/Book/365

GIVEAWAY TIME!
This is a winner’s choice giveaway of E-Book  
You get your choice of A Perfect Fit or Loving the Beast (to learn more about Loving the Beast check out Naima’s website HERE)
Tell me which book you would e-book you would like. 
Leave me your email address 
Be a follower of my blog. 
Extra points:
+1 for sharing this guest blog on Facebook, Twitter, or your blog (please leave link) 
+1 Follow by email–>> over to the right under followers. 
Giveaway will end on Oct 10th
Winner will be announce Oct 12th. 
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Guest blog with Minnette Meador

I am so glad to be here at Books N Kisses to celebrate the release of THE GLADIATOR PRINCE, the third book in the Centurion series. Unlike the first two books, this story is a completely standalone novel. I thought I’d share an excerpt, sort of the classic “marry me and I will save your love” moment! We’ve been having a blast on the tour and I was very excited to share one of the last days with my good friend Kelly! So, here we go…
THE GLADIATOR PRINCE
By Minnette Meador
CHAPTER XXXVIII
By the end, Phaedra found herself inside Hasani’s arms, sobbing against his shoulder.
Pulling in a shaking breath, she finally pushed herself away from him and gathered her arms around her chest. Moving deeper into the shadows, she leaned against the wall, fighting to get her emotions in check.
“Let me take you to the ship.”
“No,” she replied quietly. “I have to save them.”
The hand on her shoulder tightened, and he turned her around to face him. “How?” he asked harshly. “Do you expect to march into the arena and carry them away?” His face softened, and he tucked two fingers under her chin. “I am sorry, Phaedra, but you need to face facts. There is nothing you can do on your own.”
She pulled her shoulder out of his hand and turned away. “Maybe not.” Turning back, she laced her fingers together and stared up at him. “You could help me.”
Hasani’s eyes narrowed, but he gave her a half smile. “Perhaps.” He stroked his chin and searched her face. “What is there for me? Granted, even if we could come up with a plan to get them out of there, then what? You go back to your gladiator.”
“If you were a decent man…”
“I believe my decency has been well established,” he said. “Something else.”
Phaedra pushed down her disgust and swallowed. “I could pay you.”
“I do not need money,” he said coldly.
Phaedra licked her lips. “We can help you escape the Romans. You are wanted…”
He laughed out loud and it startled her. The sound echoed down the portico and came back to them in an eerie chorus.
“The Romans have always wanted me, little sparrow, and yet I still come and go as I please in this city.” His eyes twinkled in the torchlight. “No, something more.”
Stepping away from him, Phaedra hit the wall, afraid of what she saw in those eyes. “If it is my body you desire then take it!” she spat at him. “Just help me.”
Hasani circled to her right and leaned against the wall very close to her. She could feel his hot breath on her neck. “Trust me, if it were only your sweet body I wanted, I would have taken it before now.” She lifted her hand to strike him, but he caught it and kissed each finger. “No, little bird, I want only what is my due. You were promised to me in marriage. That is what I will take in exchange for their lives.”
She glared at him. “There was never any real promise of marriage. You know that.”
“Guarantees were made and an agreement signed by myself and your father.” He pulled her face toward him to look into her eyes. “Your dowry sits safe and sound in a chest on my ship and a handsome one at that.”
Pulling away from him, Phaedra stepped back in wonder. “You are not serious.”
“Quite serious.”
“You would let Bahar die, if I do not promise…”
“In a fleeting heartbeat, my love. You underestimate the power you have over my soul. I have loved you since I saw you flitter through the garden at your father’s home toward the ludus. Believe me, when I set my mind on something, I will not be denied. If I could not take you in slavery, then I will take you in marriage.”
Phaedra’s heart quickened and she turned away from him, trying to get her wits wrapped around what he was saying. “I do not love you. I love Thane,” she whispered more to the wall than to him.
A hot hand slid down her bare arm sending shivers through her. “I do not need your love. Only your obedience. Love will come when it may.”
“What if I refuse you?”
He wrapped his other arm around her waist and pulled her quickly to his chest. She could feel his bulging manhood against her back and his hot breath against her ear. “Then I leave Bahar and the gladiator to their fate and sail you to your father. I hope you do not have delusions that you could possibly escape me,” he added. “The voyage back would prove… interesting.” His lips touched the back of her neck, and she struggled to get out of his arms. His grip was as tangible as iron.
It was hard to push the words out of her throat. Her stomach twisted into knots making her nauseous. “If I agree,” she breathed, “you will promise to help me. On your word?”
“My word is fickle at best, little bird, but I will give you what assurances I can. I swear to you, if you promise to become my wife, I will use everything at my disposal to rescue Bahar and even Thane. Do I have that promise?”
She could not get the words out of her mouth. A rush of gall trapped in her throat that she had to swallow. In a quick rush, Hasani twirled her around until he pinioned her against the cold marble pillar. His dark eyes were stern, yet amused.
“Quickly, beauty, or I may change my mind. Do I have your promise?”
The late evening darkness fell like a veil over her eyes, and they shut over hot tears. Behind them Thane’s handsome honest face stared down at her, and those bright blue eyes pieced her heart.
“Yes,” she whispered. “I give you my promise.”
Pulling her close, Hasani crush her lips with his, and Phaedra’s world slipped away.
THE GLADIATOR PRINCE
a historical romance
by Minnette Meador
Book III of the Centurion Series
(a standalone novel)
RELEASE DATE: August 17, 2011
Resplendence Publishing

Prince Thane is the last surviving royalty of the Trinovantes Tribe in Roman Britannia, having surrendered to the Romans to save his two young daughters, whose identities he sacrifices his freedom to protect. He is condemned by Nero himself to become a gladiator, to fight until he dies in the arena. When his two daughters are taken in a slaver’s raid, Thane escapes to find them. 
Phaedra holds a terrible secret that would mean the death of her younger brother. Her only hope is to force the gladiator to protect them as they flee to Rome. He reluctantly agrees. Little does he know that the beautiful Syrian woman holds not only the key to his passion, but a secret that triggers a disaster that ignites the world. Will this spoiled willful girl betray him in the end or sacrifice herself to save them all? 

Minnette loves to hear from her readers.  Information about her work can be found at her website, and her blog is a bit less formal and a great place to interact with her!

Minnette’s Web Site ~ Amazon Author Page ~ Facebook ~Twitter ~ Blog
Minnette’s Other Books:
THE CENTURION SERIES:
THE GLADIATOR PRINCE ~ THE CENTURION & THE QUEEN ~ THE EDGE OF HONOR
PARANORMAL ROMANTIC COMEDY:
 A GHOST OF A CHANCE
EPIC FANTASY (YA APPROPRIATE):
STARSIGHT I ~ STARSIGHT II
URBAN FANTASY THRILLER – October 26th Release!
COMING OCTOBER 29TH!

THE BELL STALKER – Excerpt
an urban fantasy thriller
by Minnette Meador
RELEASE DATE: October 26, 2011
Resplendence Publishing

For a year, Belle Stark has struggled to conquer fears plaguing her since being attacked by a maniac who continues to roam free and the murder of her father. And she nearly succeeds, until she discovers her lover’s murdered body spread over the furniture, making Belle a prime suspect. Certain her attacker is to blame, she seeks help from her ex-husband, homicide detective Mike Cranston, the one person she swore she would never let back into her life, or heart. In their hunt for answers, the two uncover more than a lunatic: a supernatural underworld hidden beneath the tall skyscrapers of the city and a secret that could kill them both. Faced with a terrible choice, Belle surrenders herself to the hands of a monster and Mike must solve an ancient mystery before it’s too late to save her—
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thanks again, Kelly for putting up with all this frivolity. It has been an honor. M:o)

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Guest Blog & Giveaway with Casey Sheridan

Hi everyone!
I’m so happy to be here on Books-n-Kisses today because I have something exciting to tell you.
First, I want to thank Kelly for letting me take over her blog today so I could make my announcement. Thank you, Kelly (hug)
I’d like to let everyone know I SOLD my erotic novella, NUMBER 69, to Breathless Press! I think that calls for a group happy dance, don’t you?
To celebrate, I’m giving away some goodies to one lucky commenter (US only. Must be 21 yrs or older). My little gift package contains a $10 Amazon gift card, a RUBY RED METALLIC keychain, and a fun, little mini-bullet vibrator keychain. The mini-bullet does have something to do with my book, NUMBER 69 *grin*.
Since I’ve only just signed my contract, I don’t have a book cover or a release date yet, but I do have an unofficial blurb:
A matchmaking party was not Melodie’s idea of fun and wearing vibrating panties to boot was just plain weird. Or was it?
Should she go to the party? After all, she just might meet Mr. Right. And if he doesn’t show, she has the vibrating panties to keep things interesting.
I’m very exciting about NUMBER 69 and I can’t wait to see what the artists at Breathless Press come up with for a cover.
Now, be sure to leave a comment along with your email address in order to enter the drawing. I’ll be choosing a name later tonight using random.org and will contact the winner tomorrow.
Let’s have a bit of fun: have you ever been to an adult store? I’ve never been in an actual brick-and-mortar store, but I have looked around at various online adult stores. Some are female friendly (that’s important to me) and informative while others are not so much. What has been your experience, and do you prefer to shop online or do you prefer to shop at your local adult store?
xoxo,
Casey
Giveaway Time: 
If you want to be entered to win Casey’s prize pack. 
You need to answer Casey’s question:  
Have you ever been to an adult store?
Leave your email address: 
Casey will be picking the winner later tonight.
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Guest Blog & Giveaway with Virna DePaul

A few weeks ago, I attended a bridal shower for a friend of mine.  In the usual tradition, we played games, offered standard advice like “never go to bed angry,” and made the bride-to-be wear one of those ridiculous hats made out of ribbons, bows, and a paper plate.  The maid-of-honor even distributed a list of Good Housekeeping guidelines, originally published in the early 1950s, for being a “good wife.”
“Make sure your children are clean and quiet when their father gets home. They are his little treasures and you want him to see them as such.”
“Don’t ask questions if your husband is out late or even all night.  Remember he is the master of his domain.”
            Seriously, we had a great laugh over those little gems.
            As a modern woman and romance writer, it’s hard to imagine anyone ever coming up with that advice let alone believing it.  In half a century, things have certainly changed; in my opinion, definitely for the better.  Yet, beliefs and customs are different all over the world, within the United States, and even within neighborhoods.  I’m sure there are people who even today would sing the praises of the same guidelines I laugh at.  I would find it difficult to relate to such people, but I hope I’d be tolerant and open-minded enough to listen to their opinions while still keeping true to my own.
           
           In Chosen By Blood, Book 1 in the Para-Ops series, I deal with themes such as cultural differences, opposing beliefs, tolerance, and change.  The series opens in a post-war world and centers around a team comprised of different races that are trying to understand and accept one another.  Of course, these races have different beliefs, customs, religions, etc, but they must unite in order to help the nation heal as a whole.
            In my series, Otherborn are sick of hiding or taking second place.  As FBI Director Kyle Mahone recognizes:
“The times had changed.  The right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness no longer applied just to humans.  Wraiths had the right to vote.  A court had just ruled that a mage’s right to practice magic was akin to one’s right to worship. And vamps, both full vampires and dharmires alike, couldn’t be denied health coverage based on ‘malnourishment’ being a preexisting condition. The Others were demanding their due and making their presence known.”
In the midst of this complicated world, Book 1 opens with a controversial hero. In the world of this series, vampires are NOT monogamous and the males are duty bound to marry and procreate with vampires. Yet even though the hero, Knox Devereaux, feels genuine affection for his married-for-convenience wife, Knox loves a human, Special Agent Felicia Locke.  Because of her strong human morals, she tries her best to stay away from Knox, and he lets her, until that is, they both join the FBI’s first Para-Ops team.  At that time (which is Chapter 1 of the book), he’s widowed, but he still has plans to marry another vamp.  Felicia’s bound and determined not to be his mistress on the side, however.  So what will they do?  The issue is really about how soul mates fight hard to do the right thing despite a powerful and constant pull to be with one another.
  I didn’t set out to make Knox controversial; he simply developed that way.  The difficult decision was whether to keep him true to character or change him (or his marital status) in order to play it safe.  I kept him how he was.  First, because I don’t want to be known as a writer who plays it safe.  And second, because I like pushing boundaries, and exploring humanity and the complicated issues we face.  I don’t want to be controversial for its own sake, but in order to challenge myself and others to think about what they really believe.  Part of the reason I love writing is to create and explore worlds, characters, and issues that push the envelope.  All I can hope is that readers will be interested enough to take the ride with me!
Author Bio:
Virna DePaul is a former criminal prosecutor and now National Bestselling Author for Berkley (paranormal romantic suspense), HQN (single title romantic suspense) and HRS (category romantic suspense). Her recent and upcoming releases are Dangerous To Her (HRS, August 23, 2011) and Chosen By Fate (Para-Ops Novel 2, October 4, 2011). www.virnadepaul.com

United by fate. Bound by desire.
Five years after the Second Civil War ends, humans and Otherborn— humanlike creatures with superhuman DNA—still struggle for peace. To ensure the continued rights of both, the FBI forms a Para-Ops team with a unique set of skills.
CHOSEN BY BLOOD
Leader of an Otherborn clan, half-breed vampire Knox Devereaux would do anything to find a cure for the anti-vamp vaccine slowly starving his people into extinction. When the FBI contacts him about leading a team of hand-selected Others on a mission to reclaim the stolen antidote, Knox accepts. His new assignment places him in direct contact with Special Agent Felicia Locke, the beautiful human he’s craved since their very first meeting.
Giveaway Time: 
Virna is offering up a copy of Chosen by Blood (paperback) to one of my lucky followers. 
To Enter: 
Please leave a comment or questions for Virna. 
Please leave your email address (No email, No Entry!!)
Being a follower of my blog will get you an extra entry.
+1 if you share this post on Facebook, Twitter, your Blog or good reads, extra points.  
Giveaway will end on Oct 1
Winner will be announced Oct 3rd. 
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Guest Blogger David Hulegaard

A Thousand Words for Aspiring Authors
By: David K. Hulegaard
Technology is an amazing thing, right? It’s mind-numbing to think about what we can do today that wasn’t quite yet possible even ten years ago. Take the iPod for example. If a time traveler had gone back to 2001 and told me that in just a few more years I’d be able to hold my entire CD collection in the palm of my hand, my head would’ve exploded.
The advancements in technology have also greatly benefited wanna-be authors. The days of polishing up your query letter for “the big six” just to have your heart smashed into a million pieces by the rejection letters are long over. Thanks to the creation of self-publishing services, getting your masterpiece out into the world is now easier than ever.
Order Here
Note that I said “getting your masterpiece out into the world” was easier than ever, not getting your masterpiece read. That part still requires a lot of hard work, research, and most of all, luck. Did you know that over 27,000 new self-published books are released on Amazon each month? Multiply that by twelve and you’re starting to get the picture of what the competitive landscape looks like for your book.
Now, now, don’t get too discouraged. Most avid readers can chew through several books a week, so even if they don’t choose your book today, there’s always tomorrow. While retail books typically follow a traditional sales curve, that really only applies to known authors. If you’re an unknown, those same rules don’t apply. Take self-published author Michael Hicks for example. He’s published seven books over the past three years, but was only “discovered” this year. He just quit his day job a month ago and can now afford to live off of book royalties alone. How amazing is that?! It’s the goal that we all strive for as independent authors.
Getting to that point is a long road, however, and if you’re the instant gratification type then you’d best turn back around now. There are many mistakes you can make on that path that could be devastating to your dream, so it’s important to have a plan long before you even publish your first book. Believe me, I know that which of I speak.
When my company went bankrupt last year, I was laid off after fourteen years. I had no idea what to do next. The job market was atrocious and I had a lot of time on my hands. I decided to fill that time by writing, which was something that I’d always wanted to do. I had an idea for a story—a mixture of Lost, the video game BioShock, and a pinch of The Mothman Prophecies. I wrote the manuscript in under six months.
As a first time writer, I made literally every mistake that a person in that position could make. I was impatient and just wanted my book out for sale without fully understanding how to go about it. I had a friend draw the cover for free, which was great, but his style didn’t match my book’s content. A lot of people assumed my book was a graphic novel, or a comic book series. Being as that I didn’t have a lot of money, I skipped the professional editor route and had a group of friends proof my story for free. Even though they caught a lot of little mistakes, they weren’t able to catch some of the bigger ones—the type of errors that a professional editor is paid to find and help you fix. To top it all off, I paid a PR agency $5,000 to promote my brand, which resulted in accruing seven followers on Twitter. That is not a typo. I paid $5,000 for seven followers on Twitter.
Despite all of that, I was very lucky. My book received rave reviews and actually sold pretty well. However, in my mind, I still felt like I had cheated my readers. They were paying for something that was not the best representation of my writing ability. So, to rectify that, I am currently in the process of re-editing my book—with a professional editor this time—and will be releasing a second edition this holiday. I have learned much in the year since the original was published, and I am blessed with a second chance to make a first impression—one that I will not take lightly this time around.
Since that time last fall, I have published a new book called The Jumper. Every mistake that I’d made with my first book only served to help me create a much better second. I worked with an actual cover artist. I hired a professional editor. I have spent less than $100 in marketing and have had better success then I did after having thrown away $5,000 a year earlier. To be clear, I am nowhere near ready to retire and live off of book sales, but after a year of trying, I’m one step closer. They say that it can take an author as many as 4-7 books before they become noticed, so I will keep working to reach that goal. It’s not a guarantee that even then I’ll catch fire, but to me, I was satisfied after the day I sold book number one. Why? Because one sale was all the validation I needed to feel as though my time and creation was worth something to someone.
So, aspiring writers, please read my words and take them seriously. I have managed to escape from my mistakes without doing too much damage to my career, but every day is a reminder of how much worse it could have been. Take your time, do the research, and if nothing else, hire a professional editor. Even if cash is tight, the two areas of book publishing that you absolutely cannot afford to skimp out on are your cover and your editor. I promise you that there isn’t an author alive that would tell you any different.
Web: http://davidhulegaard.com
Twitter: @HulegaardBooks 
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Keri Ford Guest Blog & Giveaway

Keri has taken over the blog and we are talking about kissing… Great topic. Please make Keri feel welcome. 
Take it away Keri…. 
Kissing. And Smooching.
Thanks Kelly for having me out today! I can’t wait to talk to your readers about something most all romance readers love.
Since this is Books-N-Kisses what better topic is there than the act of smooching? Frenching. Locking lips. Tonsil Hockey. Dancing tongues…okay, I’ll stop. In my latest release, Satisfying Her Tastes Rebecca Gabel is after one kiss.
To start with. But to get more, she knows she needs to get that one first kiss. She creates a plan that doesn’t really work out, BUT with some courage to take action, she does get that kiss. That quick moment becomes everything she’d hoped it would be and surprisingly, a little bit more.
Writing Rebecca’s nerves and anxiousness to feel wrapped up in Grant’s arms took me back a little. Back to a kiss I’ll never forget. It was a fall night. Warm perhaps. Maybe cool. I couldn’t say because he was there. Eight inches taller than me. Chest broad. Strong shoulders. Much like Rebecca, I knew what I wanted. I was 17 and had no idea how to get it.
Let’s be honest here. Good little southern girls don’t go around asking boys for kisses on their first date. J I may wear those devil horns on twitter, but I was a good girl in high school.
While Rebecca is rumored to be that bad girl, images are not always as they appear. Rebecca may come across as confident and flirty, but inside, she’s insecure and is trying to navigate what she wants with how to get it. She’s no teenager either, but she’s had some complications in her life that’s left her struggling with taking action. You’ll have to read the book to see how this first kiss works out for her.
Lucky for me, I didn’t have to take much action to get my first kiss. The guy was 18. And well, you know how 18 year old boys are. He was so shy, but not much comes between a teenage boy getting his hands on girl when opportunity is there. J
 
Giveaway Time
 
Tell me about a kiss. Doesn’t have to be your first, but one with someone you’ll never forget. Or for reasons, a kiss you’ll never forget. That boy I kissed when I was 17? I married him. For the last 11years I’ve been kissing that same boy. I’m anxious to do it again.
 
Leave me a comment & email address and you’ll be entered for a chance to win an electronic copy of Satisfying Her Tastes! 
 
We will leave giveaway open until Sept 17th 
Winner will be announced on Sept 19th. 
 

Thanks for having me today!

I’ll check back in through the day for comments—if you have any questions about the series, ask away!
***
For more, check out Keri’s website http://keriford.com
Excerpt and Video reading http://keriford.com/2011/08/28/satisfying-her-tastes-now-available/
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Ava Riley Guest Post & Giveaway

Books-n-Kisses is very happy to let Ava Riley take over the blog today.   Please read Ava’s post and don’t forget to leave a comment to enter her giveaway…. Take it away Ava.
First let me start out by saying a big Thank You to Kelly for inviting me to spend some time with her and her wonderful followers.  It is truly an honor!
            As I contemplated what exactly I could talk about with you all a million (and then one) things ran through my feeble little mind.  I’ve been on blogs that have asked why I got into writing, how I got into writing, am I like any of my characters, etc. etc.  Those are nice little tidbits to have about Lil’ ‘ole me, but not really all that interesting or fun. 
            So, here is the one millionth and one thing I thought of (ok, I didn’t really think of that many *grins*).  When we pick up a book to read, before we even open the cover or turn on the e-reader, we want to like/fall in love with the characters.  As an author, it’s my job to make you fall in love with them.  For me, as a woman, I want to read about the independent, yet love hungry woman who can take care of herself, but really wants the gentle touch of a man.  The mental badass (or physical) woman who isn’t afraid to tell the man she loves what she wants, when she wants it.  She isn’t domineering when it comes to her man, but she takes what she wants, especially in the bedroom.  In A Lifetime to Find Love, Tessa is just this type of person.  Independent, hardworking, not afraid to take charge of a situation.  In Sacred Surrender, Madison comes into her own and owns the power that lies within her.  These are women that I want to surround myself with.  And let’s not forget what we want out of our men: Strong in body and mind, gentle when it comes to their women and definitely takes charge in the bedroom (and even in the kitchen).  I love a man who wakes with me in the morning and cooks me breakfast.  Both Cade and Rowan not only know how to treat their women, but are man enough to allow their women to see the softer side of the manliness. 
Characters don’t always have to have flaws (honestly we see that every day in our lives).  We want to get away from reality and that’s why we escape into the wonderful world of reading.  Sure we want the drama, but more than anything we want the “clear the table with the swipe of a hand and push me down on top of it, spreading my legs and burying yourself deep within me,” kind of escape.  And honestly, if I don’t absolutely LOVE the characters, I’d rather kick them in the balls and move on. 
            So, when I set out to write a book/story, I’m more concerned with the personality, wants, desires, and strengths of my characters than I am with the location or the weather.  All the rest falls into place after I’m totally convinced that I want to hang with the women or want to screw the hell of the guys. 
            Again, thank you to Kelly for allowing me to visit today.  It is also a privilege to giveaway a copy of A Lifetime to Find Love and Sacred Surrender (in pdf format) to one reader.  It’s simple, just leave a comment about what makes you fall in love with a character and Kelly will choose a winner.  Good luck all and thanks again! 
Happy Reading!
Ava Riley

Giveaway Rules: 
Please answer Ava’s Question: What makes you fall in love with a character ?
Please leave your email!!!  No Email, No Entry 
Giveaway will end on Sept 16th
Winner will be announced Sept 19th.

Want to learn more about Ava? 
Check out her website HERE
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Guest blog with Rebecca Royce

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to let Rebecca Royce take over the blog today. Take it away Rebecca.



Coming Up With Something New
All I hear about all the time is that vampires are over. Werewolves are over. Demons are over. Dragons are last year.  Really? They’re over?  As a writer, my heart starts to pound.  Oh god. What am I going to write about?
So, I come up with something new that I love writing about. Psychics being locked away in Institutions to keep everyone else safe.  I get excited and invested in these characters.
Then I am told that no one will want to read about psychics locked up behind bars.  Okay.  Once again, there I am sitting there with my heart pounding. What am I going to do? 
Well, thank goodness my publisher didn’t agree about the psychics and that readers continue to want to see werewolves.  I don’t know what is over and what isn’t. I’m not sure anything is over and fortunately people don’t seem to be against reading new things either.
What do you think? Is anything over? 

Eye Contact by Rebecca Royce

The Conditioned, Book one
Thirty years ago, after the breakdown of an oil negotiation, the President of the United States decided that all people born with unusual abilities, which he would now refer to as “the condition”, would be locked away from the general public where they couldn’t harm others. Parents and loved ones of these people, most of whom were children, were forced to turn them in upon penalty of death. Formed to keep the institutions secure, the Committee for the Protection of a Free Society now rules these institutions with an iron fist.


The granddaughter of one the Committee members, Addison Wade has lived her life wary of the institutions and all they represent. A woman of secrets, she is forced to turn to Safe Dawn, one of the facilities designed to hold conditioned people, when her nephew is kidnapped and, despite her best efforts, cannot be recovered. She knows the last thing anyone in ‘Safe Dawn’ will want to do is to help a Wade with any problems, but she is desperate and out of options.


Spencer Lewis is famous for being the premier conditioned ‘locator.’ There’s no one he can’t find and he has a soft spot for missing children. But, Spencer has been through a trauma and locating Jeremy Wade may be dangerous both to himself and to those around him. In addition, he takes one look at ice cold Addison Wade and wants nothing more than to knock her down a peg. Never having turned down an opportunity to help a child, he reluctantly agrees to help recover Jeremy.


In a world where nothing is as it seems and every person they encounter has his own agenda, Addison and Spencer will find that the only people they can trust are each other. But how can anyone fall in love living in a world that wants you dead just for being born?
About Rebecca: As a teenager, I would hide in my room to read my favorite romance novels when I was supposed to be doing my homework.  I hope, these days, that my parents think it was worth it.
I am the mother of three adorable boys and I am fortunate to be married to my best friend.  We live in northern New Jersey and try not to freeze too badly during the winter months.
I am in love with science fiction, fantasy, and the paranormal and try to use all of these elements in my writing.  I’ve been told I’m a little bloodthirsty so I hope that when you read my work you’ll enjoy the action packed ride that always ends in romance. I love to write series because I love to see characters develop over time and it always makes me happy to see my favorite characters make guest appearances in other books.
In my world anything is possible, anything can happen, and you should suspect that it will.
I’d love to hear from you!
LINKS:
Website
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