Lily Everett Interview and Giveaway

I’m so excited to have one of my favorite authors, Lily Everett aka Louisa Edwards, with us on Books-n-Kisses today. I have been waiting for her new series since I finished The Rising Star Chef series and I’m proud to introduce her new book, Sanctuary Island, as well as interview this fabulous author.

1. Tell me about your new release Sanctuary Island.

Sanctuary Island introduces readers to this beautiful, windswept small town off the coast of Virginia, where the close-knit community grew up in and around a wild horse sanctuary. In the first book, Ella Preston escorts her flighty, pregnant younger sister to Sanctuary Island to reconnect with the mother they haven’t seen in more than a decade–even though Ella’s not sure that’s a good idea. But when she gets to the island, she begins to see that the only way to move forward in her life is to let go of the past, and if she can do that…she’ll have a chance at true love and lasting happiness with Grady Wilkes, a local handyman with scars of his own.

2. Where did you come up with the idea?

I’ve loved horses since I was a little girl, and I grew up not far from Assateague Island, one of several real-life East Coast islands that are home to bands of wild horses. Assateague is a nature preserve, kept completely for the horses, but I thought…what if there were a cute, quirky town there, full of sexy men and smart women who all need to find love?

3. Do you plan to make this into a series?

Sanctuary Island is the first full-length novel of the series, but we’ve already released a trilogy of digital-only novellas set on the island, to welcome readers to the series! The novellas are not prequels to the book, they’re a self-contained trio of short romances with only a few cameos here and there. The next full-length book in the series will be Shoreline Drive, and it will be the story of Ella’s younger sister, new mom Merry Preston and the local veterinarian (and resident grump) Ben Fairfax. Shoreline Drive will be out on January 28, 2014, and it’ll be followed by Heartbreak Cove next summer!

4. Were there any challenges in writing a small-town romance compared to writing your Recipe for Love series? What kind of research did you have to do for Sanctuary Island?

I actually grew up in a small town in Virginia, so in some ways, there was even less research for me to get that setting, the pace and feel of it, to be authentic! And for the horse details, I have my sister and mother-in-law to thank. Both are dedicated, talented horsewomen, and were a great source of information and fun facts. My mother-in-law is an active volunteer with the Jackson Hole Therapeutic Riding Center, and I was very inspired by taking tours, watching classes, and interviewing the other volunteers, clients, and employees there.

5. Did you have any particular actors in mind when writing your characters?

I always have actors in mind! If anyone made a movie of Sanctuary Island, I’d love for Emily Blunt to play Ella. And for Grady Wilkes, my rough and tumble handyman with the troubled past, I pictured a scruffy Chris Hemsworth every single day as I wrote. I know, poor little me, right?

6. What is the one thing that you have to when you are writing (food, drink, work space)?

I’ve actually tried to cultivate an ability to work anywhere, anytime, even if I only have a twenty minutes or so–but what that requires is focus. When all else fails, I use Write or Die, an amazing program that keeps track of time and how fast you produce words, and if you pause for too long, the screen flashes red and jerks you back into line! It sounds scary, but it’s been amazing to me how productive I can be if I just focus.

7. What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

My biggest advice is to write through to The End without a ton of self-editing along the way, at least until you get a couple of completed manuscripts under your belt. What I wish I’d known when I first started is that every single book (at least for me) hits a snag somewhere in the middle where I hate it, am convinced it’s terrible, and want to throw it aside and start something else. But whatever new thing you start will have its own problems! So push through the hard part and get to The End. The first time you finish a manuscript is a huge accomplishment and a major step forward. I don’t want to lie and say every manuscript after that first one will be easier (that hasn’t been true for me!) but you’ll have more tools and skills at your disposal.

8. What are you working on next?

The follow-up to Sanctuary Island, Shoreline Drive, is already revised, so now I’m writing Heartbreak Cove! It’s early days so I don’t want to say too much about it yet, but I know the hero is Sam Brennan, a man who empathizes with, rescues, and rehabilitates abused and neglected horses. I’m already crushing on him pretty hard!

Thank you so much for being here on Books-n-Kisses today and I just want to say how much I love your books!!!

Thank you for having me! I loved doing this interview.

About the Author:

Lily Everett grew up in a small town in central Virginia, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Although she’s lived many other places since, from college in Philadelphia to her first publishing job in New York City and her current home in Austin, Texas, she never forgot the beauty and warmth of her little hometown. She is thrilled to be writing the Sanctuary Island series full time because it allows her to combine her longstanding love of romance with the memories of her childhood home.

Lily’s alter ego is Louisa Edwards. Under that name, she is the author of the Recipe for Love series, sexy contemporary romances with hot chef heroes set in the high-stakes, fast-paced world of professional restaurants.

Giveaway

I’m excited to give away a signed copy of Sanctuary Island. This giveaway is for US Residents only. To be entered in the drawing by August 1st, answer me this question in the comments:

If you could visit any island in the world, where would you travel to?

Jennifer’s Review of Sanctuary Island

TITLE: Sanctuary Island

CHARACTERS: Ella Preston and Grady Wilkes

AUTHOR: Lily Everett

PUBLICATION DATE: 07/30/13

ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: When Ella’s sister decides to reunite with their estranged mother, Ella goes along for the ride–it’s always been the two Preston girls against the world. But Sanctuary Island, a tiny refuge for wild horses tucked off the Atlantic coast, is more inviting than she ever imagined. And it holds more than one last opportunity to repair her broken family–if Ella can open her carefully guarded heart, there is also the chance for new beginnings.

Grady Wilkes is a handyman who can fix anything…except the scars of his own past. When he accepts the task of showing Ella the simple beauties of the island that healed him, he discovers a deep sense of comfort he thought he’d lost. But now he must convince the woman who never intended to stay that on Sanctuary Island, anything is possible–forgiving past mistakes, rediscovering the simple joys of life, and maybe even falling in love.

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Jennifer NUMBER OF STARS: Four Stars

REVIEW: I thought Sanctuary Island was a tender-hearted love story between two people that were plagued with emotional baggage and heartbreak, that worked together to slowly repair the emotional damage in their lives. Ella was such a strong character in this book, who came to Sanctuary Island with her sister, Merry, for emotional support to visit their estranged mother. She hid behind an personal wall to protect herself from feeling anything in regards to her mother after she abandoned them due to alcoholism when they were young. This emotional wall also protected her from romantic relationships and as a result, she became a workaholic on the verge of a nervous breakdown before arriving to Sanctuary Island.

Grady Wilkes was a handyman on Sanctuary Island who did odd jobs around the island and met Ella on her mother’s ranch. Grady had seen how much Jo Ellen had changed after battling alcoholism years ago and was afraid that Ella was only here to get Jo’s money. Grady was once a hot shot member of a search and rescue team that was hiding out after a mission left him physically and emotionally scarred. Meeting Ella was the first light of hope that had entered his dark world in a long time and he approached his relationship with her carefully, afraid that she would be frightened away from his physical scars. Ella wasn’t afraid of anything and being with Grady made her finally realize that she needed to try to make amends with her mother and start to build a relationship based on the present and not the mistakes of the past.

I loved Lily’s style of writing and I couldn’t help but fall in love with Sanctuary Island and want to move there myself. This was a enchanting romance that swept me away with its story and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series, Shoreline Drive.

July 26, 2013July 24, 2013

Cathy Ace Blog Tour and Interview

I’m excited today for Books-n-Kisses to be having the wonderful Cathy Ace with us, promoting her new mystery, The Corpse With The Golden Nose. I hope that everyone will check out this great mystery series.

1. Tell me about your new release The Corpse With The Golden Nose.

Cait’s a bit of a foodie, so she cannot resist the chance to attend an exclusive, invitation only, event she’s heard about, in Kelowna, BC – the heart of BC’s biggest wine region. The fact that there’s a possible murder to investigate doesn’t worry her – she’s used to dealing with “academic” cases, because she’s a professor of criminology. The titular corpse is that of a vintner whose “nose” has won many gold awards, and Cait finds out she needs to apply her skills to a greater level than she’d thought to solve the mystery surrounding the woman’s death. A closed circle of suspects, some of them with slightly whacky lifestyles, plenty of delectable food, and a fair few glasses of local wines to wash it all down – Cait’s in heaven…until there’s a hellish turn of events. This book is very much in the traditional vein – as all Cait’s mysteries will be. We also meet the corpse in question on the first page – something I’ll be doing in every one of Cait’s books…I like my corpses to be up front!

2. Where did you come up with the idea for this book and how did this series come about?

Cait appeared in three short stories and a novella before her debut novel appeared, and, by then, her trademark eidetic memory, her ability to read people, and her background in criminal psychology had all been put to the test. In general terms the series (always THE CORPSE WITH THE….something precious and some body part) will see Cait solve closed-circle mysteries using her Mensan brain, and her determination. She has a deeply engrained sense of justice – even if that ends up being delivered in unusual ways. Cait’s always on the move: I decided to have her travel to some of my favorite destinations, so I could, more reasonably, introduce new characters in each book. Having read my earlier two volumes (of short stories and novella) my publisher asked for a novel-length manuscript featuring Cait, as well as a proposal for a series. That proposal was for nine books in total – the third will be published in spring 2014, the fourth in the fall of the same year, and two more are planned for 2015…of course I’m hoping that Cait proves popular enough for her to continue to her ninth mystery – and maybe beyond!

3. This is the second book in the series and has there been any challenges that you’ve had to overcome when writing this series?

Because I’d planned the series before I started the first novel, THE CORPSE WITH THE SILVER TONGUE, I had already plotted Cait’s “arc”. The first four books take place over about eighteen months in Cait’s life, so she won’t be changing a great deal within that time…but she’s already facing a challenge she didn’t expect – a relationship that’s grown from respect to love…and responsibility. She might be middle-aged, but she’s had a previous relationship go bad on her, so she’s buried herself in her work. She’ll be developing, aging, dieting, and gaining it all back again, as the books come out, but she’ll still remain the feisty, bossy little Welsh Canadian that she is!

4. What are you working on right now?

I’m currently working with the copy editor at my publishing house on the final copy edits for Cait’s third adventure, THE CORPSE WITH THE EMERALD THUMB, which sees her on holiday, with her significant other, at a tequila-making resort on the Pacific coast of Mexico – it’s being published next spring, in 2014. I’m also writing Cait’s fourth mystery, the title of which is a bit of a secret for now, though, if people check out my Cathy Ace – Author page on Facebook, they’ll find some clues to its location. The manuscript needs to be finished by mid-August to be sent off to my publisher, and will see the light of day in the fall of 2014. Then she’s off to two other, very different parts of the world, for her fifth and sixth mysteries.

5. What advice do you have for aspiring writers?

Read the genre you want to write, and write! Seriously. I know it’s tempting to read about writing, and to talk about writing, but reading what you’ll be up against in the marketplace (because that’s what it is) will help you hear the voices of others, and writing will help you find your own. If you’re taking the self-publishing route, or if you’re sending your work for consideration, if there’s any way you can afford to have your work professionally edited, by someone who has a wealth of experience that you can check out in your genre, then it will be the best investment you can make.

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions and it has been a pleasure having you on Books-n-Kisses.

You’re very welcome – thank you so much for having me.

About the Author:

Welsh Canadian mystery author Cathy Ace is the creator of the Cait Morgan Mysteries, which include The Corpse with the Silver Tongue and The Corpse with the Golden Nose. Born, raised, and educated in Wales, Cathy enjoyed a successful career in marketing and training across Europe, before immigrating to Vancouver, Canada, where she taught on MBA and undergraduate marketing programs at various universities. Her eclectic tastes in art, music, food, and drink have been developed during her decades of extensive travel, which she continues whenever possible. Now a full-time author, Cathy’s short stories have appeared in multiple anthologies, as well as on BBC Radio 4. She and her husband are keen gardeners, who enjoy being helped out around their acreage by their green-pawed Labradors.

Website: cathyace.com

Cathy Reads From Corpse With The Golden Nose.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cathy.ace.author?fref=ts

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AceCathy

GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3913679.Cathy_Ace

Purchase From Amazon B&N Book World Powell’s Books Book Depository

Jennifer’s Review of The Corpse With The Golden Nose

TITLE: The Corpse With The Golden Nose

SERIES #: Cait Morgan Series #2

CHARACTERS: Cait Morgan and Bud Anderson

AUTHOR: Cathy Ace

PUBLICATION DATE: 03/12/13

ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: A heartfelt plea to look into the death of a world-famous vintner goes hand in hand with the opportunity to attend an exclusive gourmet event in British Columbia’s stunning wine country. How can overindulgent foodie and criminologist Cait Morgan resist?

Sure that the award-winning owner of a family-run vineyard was murdered, Cait shares her findings with Bud Anderson, a retired homicide cop. But he is convinced that the woman took her own life, whatever her grief-stricken sister might say. That is, until death strikes once again, in the neat rows of grapevines that clamber up the banks of magnificent Lake Okanagan. Uncovering obsessions that might have fueled murderous thoughts among the victim’s wacky neighbors is a start, but as Cait unravels the clues. She realizes that more lives are at stake. Can she think, and act, quickly enough to thwart the killer?

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Jennifer NUMBER OF STARS: Four Stars

REVIEW: This was my first mystery from Cathy Ace and I have to say that I really enjoyed it. Cait Morgan is a criminal psychologist that is invited to spend the weekend with her boyfriend, Bud Anderson, at a prestigious culinary event in British Columbia. Besides enjoying the wonderful food and atmosphere, they are on a mission to determine if a vintner’s untimely death is the result of suicide or murder. What she finds there is not what she expected and each one of the invited guests are capable of murder.

I liked this book with its quirky characters and great descriptions of food and wine at the Moveable Feast that Cait was invited to. Cait Morgan was a very interesting character and I’m looking forward to learning more about her in future books. The murder mystery was intriguing and I had a difficult time putting together all the pieces of the murder before the great reveal of the true killer. I can’t wait to read the first book in the series, The Corpse With The Silver Tongue, because I have a difficult time reading books out of order and I want to experience another great mystery with Cait Morgan.

July 19, 2013July 19, 2013

Interview & Giveaway with Roni Loren

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome 1st time guest Roni Loren to the blog today.

Roni, can you please share with us a little about yourself.

I’m terrible at doing this part, lol, so here’s my bio:

Roni wrote her first romance novel at age fifteen when she discovered writing about boys was way easier than actually talking to them. Since then, her flirting skills haven’t improved, but she likes to think her storytelling ability has. Though she’ll forever be a New Orleans girl at heart, she now lives in Dallas with her husband and son.

If she’s not working on her latest sexy story, you can find her reading, watching reality television, or indulging in her unhealthy addiction to rockstars, er, rock concerts. Yeah, that’s it. She is the National Bestselling Author of The Loving on the Edge series from Berkley Heat.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

I remember by 5^th grade teacher reading Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle In Time to us and falling in love with the story. That’s when I decided I wanted to be a writer. But I put that dream on hold while I went to school to get a “real” job, lol. I did social work and HR for a while. But when I had my son and started staying home with him, the old desire to write resurfaced and I haven’t looked back. : )

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

Hmm, interesting, let’s see…probably that I’m obsessed with plotting techniques and books, yet no matter what I do, I always end up writing by the seat of my pants. I guess I’m still holding onto the hope that one day I’ll be one of those organized, planning writers. A girl can dream, right? ; )

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

My current book, NOT UNTIL YOU, is actually a serial novel, which is the first time I’ve written anything in that format. Each part is roughly 50-65 pages and a new part releases each week for 8 weeks. The best way to think about it is like a TV series where each show moves the big story forward but there’s usually a cliffhanger at the end and you have to wait until next week to see what happens.

So this serial starts with NOT UNTIL YOU DARE, and here’s the blurb for that because it says it better than I could. ; )

From the author of the Loving on the Edge novels comes a story of a good girl who discovers that once you dare to cross some lines, it’s hard to turn back…

On the night of her graduation, innocent veterinary student Cela decides to play a game of Never Have I Ever with the two hot neighbors she’s been quietly crushing on for the last year. Always the prim and proper student, Cela thinks she’s earned a wild night before she has to move back home under the watchful gaze of her family. But what starts out as a simple game is about to take a very sensual turn…

Ian Foster is tired of playing games. With his membership to The Ranch, an exclusive BDSM resort, and a musician roommate who brings home groupies with a taste for ménage, Foster has a life most guys would kill for. But lately, his need for dominance is no longer satisfied via one-night stands. He craves the full surrender a woman—a submissive of his own.

But when his quiet, sweet-as-sugar neighbor shows up at their door with a bottle of tequila and an invitation, Foster decides he and Pike may have time for one more fling…

How did you come with the idea for this story?

I wanted to write something with a younger heroine and give it a New Adult twist because I love reading stories about that time in our lives when we’re transitioning to adulthood. So I wanted to see what would happen if a heroine who’d dedicated all her college years to studying instead of having fun/experimenting/etc. decided to act on a wild whim before she had to return home to be around her uber protective family.

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

Currently, I’m working on NEED YOU TONIGHT, which will be the fifth book in my series. This one is about Kade, who has made an appearance in previous books. I’m having a lot of fun with this one because the heroine is a recovering trophy wife, who is recently divorced after finding her husband cheating and trying to live her life on her own terms for the first time. But, of course, when she runs into Kade, the guy who she was too popular to hang with in high school, everything changes. : )

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

The cool thing about the romance-writing world is that it’s pretty small, so I’ve gotten to meet a lot of my romance favorites in person at conferences. But I think it’d be cool to meet Stephen King just because I always love what he has to say about writing.

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

READ. I’m amazed at how many people have approached me and told me they want to write a book but then declare that they’re not really readers. Um, that’s like saying you want to be a chef but you really aren’t into food. Reading ingrains story structure in your head in a way reading a book on writing craft can never do. Also, I recommend that everyone get tough critique partners who will give you honest feedback (anyone related to you or sleeping with you doesn’t count, lol.) And just FYI, I have an entire page dedicated to articles for beginning writers on my website. There’s over a hundred articles there organized by topic, so you can check that out if you’re interested.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.

Sure, I’ve actually been blogging a little bit about bucket lists lately. I’ve decided to try to tackle realistic items on my list since so many times things we put on there are near impossible due to cost, time, or lack of skill. : ) So one of my items was to learn photography. I recently bought a fancy camera and took an intro class. It was so much fun and now I’m slightly obsessed with taking photos. So I’m really glad I made myself stop saying, “One day…” and actually made it happen. J

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

Lord, my TBR pile is so epic right now because I’ve been under deadline and my reading time has been cut woefully short. DOWN LONDON ROAD by Samantha Young is my current read. As for upcoming releases, I’m really looking forward to Tiffany Reisz’s THE MISTRESS.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

If any of you decide to start reading the serial, join me and other readers on Twitter using #NotUntilYou as the hashtag. One of the most fun things about the serial format is reading it all together as group and discussing.

CONTEST: Answer the question (What’s in your TBR pile?) or leave a comment and get a chance to win a signed copy of FALL INTO YOU! (U.S./Canada Only) ***Ends 7/25 @ Midnight

Thanks for having me!

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Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | Sony

From the author of the Loving on the Edge novels comes a story of a good girl who discovers that once you dare to cross some lines, it’s hard to turn back…

But when his quiet, sweet-as-sugar neighbor shows up at their door with a bottle of tequila and an invitation, Foster decides he and Pike may have time for one more fling…

July 16, 2013July 12, 2013

Interview with Kait Ballenger

Books-n-Kisses is excited to have debut author Kait Ballenger on the blog today to chat about her new novella Shadow Hunter. Which can be found in the book After Dark along with a novella from Gena Showalter.

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

I’m a 22 (almost 23! lol) year-old graduate student living in central FL. My hometown is Detroit, Michigan (Taylor, specifically). I’m a wife, paranormal romance author, and professional bellydancer. I’m really close to my family and they mean the world to me. I’m also a lover of all animals—owner of 3 fur babies, 1 dog and 2 cats—and I’m now the enthusiastic owner of a 2008 VW Beetle Convertible in green!

Have you always wanted to be an author?

Not always. When I was a kid I wanted to be loads of different things. Some include: actress, model, musician, linguist, doctor, a Spanish teacher, and probably loads of other things in between. It wasn’t until I graduated high school that I realized I wanted to be an author, but I’ve had an interest in writing a long time.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

Maybe the fact that I have trouble starting a manuscript if my office isn’t clean. When I sit down to write, everything around me has to be spotless. Usually, that’s at the start of a deadline. By the time I’m finished with the book it’s a huge mess lol.

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

My newest release is After Dark, which is an anthology featuring my novella, a prequel to my Execution Underground series, called Shadow Hunter, alongside a novella by NYT Bestselling author Gena Showalter. My upcoming release is Twilight Hunter, which is the first full length book in the Execution Underground series. The Execution Underground is an international network of supernatural hunters who fight to protect humanity. Twilight Hunter tells the story of Jace McCannon a werewolf hunter who must partner with a female alpha wolf in order to catch a sexual sadist. Shadow Hunter in the After Dark anthology tells the origin of the Rochester division of the Execution Underground, the hunters which the series focuses on, and focuses on vampire hunter Damon Brocks journey into establishing the division.

How did you come with the idea for this story

The idea of the Execution Underground series came from all my favorite components of a paranormal romance series. Male focused, super sexy, strong kickass heroines, and unique paranormal world. Since so many paranormal books are focused on the paranormal creatures, I thought “why not focus a series on humans who hunt the paranormal?” The idea just evolved from there.

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

My current work in progress—which on the date you’re reading this at is hopefully now a finished work if I met my deadline lol—is the second full length book in the E.U series, Immortal Hunter, which releases in late January 2014. I’m also working on polishing up a YA urban fantasy/paranormal manuscript written under my maiden name, Kaitlyn Schulz, for submission.

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

I would love to meet Gena Showalter in person. We’ve spoken online, but haven’t met face to face and I absolutely adore her, so it would be great to meet her. Also, Kate SeRine, who despite being one of my closest friends, I’ve never met in the flesh. One of these days I’m going to track these ladies down at a conference or something lol.

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

Don’t give up. The difference between a published author and an unpublished one is time spent persevering and studying craft. I firmly believe that if you want to be an author and keep working at it long enough, it WILL happen. Also, don’t take into account how long it took other people. For some people, it happens really fast. For most, it takes years of writing before you ever secure an agent, let alone a major publishing deal.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.

Seems pretty simple, but I’d like for my husband and I to have a house full of kids in the future. As much as I want to be a NYT bestseller, and travel to the far ends of the Earth, the one thing I want to do more before I die is be a mom. Preferably, one as great as my own mom.

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

I have Cecy Robson’s A Cursed Embrace sitting on my bedside table and I can’t wait to dig into it. I also can’t wait for Kate SeRine’s Along Came a Spider.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I just want to say thank you to everyone who has read my books so far or plans to read them. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought I’d be where I am now, but these sorts of things can’t happen without readers who really love the series. So I give my thanks to all of them.
A little more about Kait:
Kait Ballenger is a full-time paranormal romance author, wife, bellydancer, graduate student, and soon-to-be-professor. She is the multi-published, award-winning author of the Execution Underground paranormal romance series. With a B.A in English from Stetson University, Kait is currently earning an M.F.A in Writing. Kait believes anything is possible with hard work and dedication. One day, she hopes to be a bestseller and to see her novels on the big screen. Look for the next two books in her page-turning Execution Underground series: Twilight Hunter, book one (August 2013) and Immortal Hunter, book two (January 2014). For more information, please visit www.kaitballenger.com or follow her on Twitter @kait_ballenger.

Website |Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Here is a look at Shadow Hunter

After Dark on Amazon | After Dark on Barnes&Noble

Vampire hunter Damon Brock’s newest assignment with the Execution Underground is Rochester, New York, a city crawling with the undead. But he isn’t the only hunter in town gunning for vamp blood. Tiffany Solow is fierce and ruthless when it comes to slaying the monsters that destroyed her family-and she works solo. But being alone is no longer an option when she meets the mysterious hunter who wants more than just her turf. Forced to unite against the local covens, the line between good and evil blurs when they must decide between their lifelong beliefs…and their newfound desires.

July 11, 2013July 11, 2013

The Entity Within Interview with Cat Devon and Giveaway

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!

About the Author:

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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July 5, 2013July 4, 2013

Laced With Poison Interview with Meg London

Today I have the lovely Meg London here to discuss her new release, Laced With Poison, the second title in her Sweet Nothings Lingerie series. If you love mysteries, then you definitely need to pick up this great series.

1. Tell me about your new release Laced With Poison.
Laced with Poison is the second in my Sweet Nothings Lingerie Series writing as Meg London (I write the Gourmet De-Lite series under my own name, Peg Cochran.) Once again we follow the adventures of Emma Taylor, her aunt Arabella, their friend Sylvia Brodsky and, of course, Pierre Louis Auguste, Arabella’s French bulldog. Sweet Nothings is holding a trunk show at the home of socialite Deirdre Porter when one of the women takes ill and subsequently dies. Tests reveal she was killed by a poison flower used to decorate cupcakes served at the event. It’s a mystery where the past ends up affecting the present! I’ve always wanted to write a story like that.

2. Where did you come up with the idea for this series?
I can’t take the credit. The idea comes from my brilliant editor at Berkley Prime Crime. I was hired to write the series based on her concept. She had a big hand in plotting the first book in the series, but this one is all my own as are a lot of the characters.

3. Have you always loved mysteries?
Yes! Ever since I discovered Nancy Drew as a kid. I started plotting out my first mystery when I was seven years old. I even found the perfect place to bury a body.

4. Are any of your characters based on people that you know?

No. Although my mother is convinced she’s in every book I write!

5. What are you working on now?
I’m taking a bit of a break after writing six books in less than three years! I’m waiting for revisions for books #3 in the Gourmet series and the Lingerie series. I’m also waiting to find out if either series is going to be continued. Meanwhile, I have another proposal in the works, and I’m thinking about a short story to bridge the gap between Gourmet books #2 and #3.

6. What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Don’t give up! If you really, really want it, don’t quit! I had 400 rejections on three projects that I was circulating within a two year period (mostly agents) and then finally I go a break. But I had two other agents before this, and I’ve been really serious about getting published (as opposed to “dreaming” about it) for 15 years.

Thank you so much for being here on Books-n-Kisses. 🙂
Thank you for having me here today at Books-n-Kisses! I love hearing from readers so stop by my web site www.pegcochran.com and/or www.meglondon.com.

About the Author:

Peg grew up in a New Jersey suburb about 25 miles outside of New York City. After college, she moved to the city where she managed an art gallery owned by the son of the artist Henri Matisse. When her first daughter, Francesca, arrive, the new family moved back to the New Jersey suburbs where her second daughter, Annabelle, was born.

After her husband died, Peg remarried and her new husband took a job in Grand Rapids, Michigan where they now live (on exile from New Jersey, she likes to joke). Peg managed to segue from the art world to marketing and is now the manager of marketing communications for a company that provides services to seniors.

Her greatest love though as always been writing – particularly mysteries! She has two cozy mystery series from Berkley Prime Crime: The Gourmet De-Lite series set in Connecticut and featuring Gigi Fitzgerald, who provides gourmet diet meals to a select group of clients, and the Sweet Nothings Vintage Lingerie series, written as Meg London, set in Paris, Tennessee with Emma Taylor who finds murder and mayhem in this quiet country town.

As for pets – she has a schizophrenic cat (really!) named Frazzle and a Westhighland White Terrier, Reggie, who is desperately in need of losing a few pounds. But you know what they say: If your dog is overweight, it means YOU aren’t getting enough exercise!

When she’s not writing, Peg can usually be found cooking, which she loves. When asked to bring a dish to a potluck she invariably opts to bring dessert – partly because she loves making sweet dishes and partly because she and her husband always manage to be late so there’s no point in putting them in charge of appetizers.

Jennifer’s Review of Laced With Poison

TITLE: Laced With Poison

SERIES #: Sweet Nothings Lingerie #2

CHARACTERS: Emma Taylor, Arabella & Sylvia Brodsky

AUTHOR: Meg London

PUBLICATION DATE: 07/02/13

ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: You’re invited to the Sweet Nothings trunk show. See what the shop has to offer, taste some wonderful food, catch up with friends, and solve a murder….

Emma Taylor is happy to be drawing in customers at her aunt Arabella’s lingerie shop, Sweet Nothings, but replacing the store’s broken window is going to cost a small fortune. Hoping to hoist up their sagging profits, Arabella arranges to have a trunk show at the home of a local socialite who will invite all of her friends and take care of the catering. All Emma and Arabella have to do is show up and show off their wares. Seems simple enough….

A gorgeous spread is prepared for the event, including delicious cupcakes topped with edible flowers. But after one of the partygoers takes a bite and winds up dead, the guest list becomes a suspect list. Now Emma must separate facts from idle gossip before the killer gives the cops the slip.

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Jennifer NUMBER OF STARS: Five Stars

REVIEW: Laced With Poison is the second novel in the Sweet Nothings Lingerie series and this was a very enjoyable mystery for me. Things are starting to look up for Emma Taylor when Sweet Nothings is scheduled to present a trunk lingerie show at Deirdre Porter’s house, which could open up more opportunities for the store. During the festivities, a prominent guest, Jessica Scott, is killed after eating a delicious cupcake that was brought to help cater the event. Now, Emma must use her sleuthing skills to help clear her friend’s name or her cupcake business will be destroyed because of the accusations.

I’m happy to say that this book was a fast-paced mystery with a quirky cast of characters and the right amount of suspense that is bound to entertain any mystery lover. I really enjoyed learning more about Emma and her aunt Arabella, who each have love interests in this story. But my favorite character has to be the snarky yet lovable Sylvia Brodsky, who has more spunk than any other character that I have seen before. The mystery was intriguing and well-written and I had a difficult time figuring out the murderer until their identity was revealed at the very end. I think that this is a great series and I can’t wait to read the next one in the Sweet Nothings series.

July 5, 2013July 2, 2013

Interview with Diane Escalera

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Diane Escalera to the blog today.

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

First, thank you so much for hosting me. I’m very excited to be here! Born and raised in the Bronx, NY, I now make my home in sunny South Florida. The sultry paradise is a steady source of inspiration for my hot love stories. I’m married, have two children and a super cute dachshund I can’t get enough of. I write contemporary romance, and I’m published with Kensington Publishing and Lyrical Press.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

Unlike most authors, I didn’t know I was destined to write. In fact, I worked in banking for many years, but deep down knew that it wasn’t my dream job.

At the young age of thirty-five, my sister died of an illness. I realized the same thing could happen to me. There are no guarantees. I couldn’t waste another moment doing something I didn’t love.

Writing was one of my greatest joys when I was growing up. While still working at the bank, I decided to enroll in an intensive course where I learned everything I could about the craft. It didn’t take long before I left the bank to pursue a writing career.

Who are some of your favorite writers? Who do you feel has influenced your writing?

Linda Howard, Lori Foster and Jill Shalvis are my go-to authors. I think all three have influenced me in some way because they each have a unique style. But the one thing they all have in common is the ability to create a super hot hero. We all know how important that is!

How did you get into writing in this specific genre? Have you ever thought about writing in a different genre?

I started reading romance novels many years ago and became an instant fan. The books provided an escape from my not-so-romantic life of raising two young kids, working full-time, and all those other demands. Love stories brought me joy. I’d fantasize that if I could do anything else, I’d be a romance writer. I wanted other women to experience that rush of falling in love, the power of a happily ever after.

What are some of your writing rituals?

I need to have a few things in place before I start a new book such as a working title, my main characters, and the premise of the story. I like to have an idea where I’m going, but I’m never sure how I’m going to get there until I start writing.

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

The Right Temptation is story two of my Latin Heat Trilogy published by Lyrical Press. Here’s a blurb:

Kayla Martinez has recently landed an RN position at a prestigious hospital in her hometown. The new job is everything she’s hoped for, especially when one hot specimen shows up in the ER. She hasn’t seen her childhood crush in years, and considering how much hotter he’s gotten over time, she almost ends up needing resuscitation.

The last thing Nico LaCosta needs is a broken arm. Now his pal’s kid sister wants to soothe his pain, but he’d rather keep his distance so her big brother doesn’t break his other arm. Kayla’s no child anymore, though. She’s one hot-blooded woman, determined to remind him of a mind-blowing kiss back when they were teenagers. Leave it to Kayla to drop by his house unannounced and play Nurse Seductive. A guy has to follow the buddy code, or face the consequences. Still, sometimes giving in to temptation is worth it…

How did you come up with the idea for this story?

I had been wanting to feature a Latin hero in a mainstream book because there aren’t too many out there. The character ended up exceeding my expectations, so I figured, why not throw an equally sexy brother and a cousin into the mix? The idea evolved into a Latin Heat Trilogy featuring hunky men, sizzling sex, and happy endings!

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

I’m in the process of completing story three, Playing with Destiny.

Matchmaker, matchmaker, bring me a babe. That’s all Christian expected from an online dating service. He gets a lot more when, unwittingly, he’s hooked up with a luscious neighbor named Destiny. Christian doesn’t believe in fate. But one look at Destiny and he’s seeing a whole new future.

Open your book to a random page and tell us what’s happening.

The heroine is giving the hero a hard time. She’s pretending she doesn’t need him to guide her out of the woods, even though she stepped off the hiking trail and is clearly lost. Ha! Women can be so stubborn and independent.

What would you be if you were not an author?

I’d probably be working with animals, especially dogs. My little dachshund keeps a permanent smile on my face!

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

I’m really into the Lucky Harbor series by Jill Shalvis. Just started reading At Last. Loving the sinfully sexy hero!

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Thank you readers. You make it all worthwhile!

The Right Temptation is available July 1st at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes and digital bookstores everywhere.

You might also enjoy Still Hot for You, the kick-off story to my Latin Heat Trilogy. It brings the sexy back to marriage!

Diane Escalera.com

Facebook.com/DianeEscaleraOfficial

Twitter.com/DianeEscalera

Amazon.com

July 1, 2013June 30, 2013

Into The Fire Blog Tour with Amanda Usen

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:

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

TITLE: 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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July 1, 2013July 1, 2013

Interview with Lindsey Piper

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Lindsey Piper to the blog for her 1st visit. We are talking about her cats, her new series and bucket list.

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

I love television from Say Yes to the Dress and Hannibal, I’m a huge fan of Indian food, I have three cats who are currently in a turf war, and I married an Englishman when I spent my junior year of college at the University of East Anglia.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

Of course! But I’ve also wanted to breed Siamese cats, be an EMT, draw comic books professionally, and become a rodeo barrel racer. All of them are rather far-fetched, but “author” stuck with me the longest.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

I need music. Need it. I feed off the energy and tone of a set of songs, and I have a playlist for every book I’ve written. When I’m writing, I hate to hear the click of keys, so Bose-style noise-canceling headphones are essential.

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

CAGED WARRIOR is the first of the “Dragon Kings” series, about a demon race on the brink of extinction. Some of these extraordinary individuals fight in Cage matches at the behest of human cartels in order to pay off debts or to earn the ultimate prize: conception. One particular cartel has developed a means of giving the Dragon Kings a fighting chance at perpetuating their bloodlines, but the price is steep. This debut tells the story of Leto, a warrior raised from birth in the Cages, who is forced to partner with an untrained woman fighting to rescue her abducted son. But change is on the horizon—a prophecy that says the Great Dragon, their deity, is preparing to return.

As a note, the series has a .$99 prequel novella called “SILENT WARRIOR.” The pair of lovers from that novella play a significant role in CAGED WARRIOR.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

I saw the movie Warrior with Tom Hardy and became fascinated with UFC-style cage fighting. That seemed the ultimate arena for macho guys to square off, and for women to take them by surprise. The inclusion of paranormal powers probably stems from my long-term love affair with the X-Men comic book series (long live Gambit!) and my children’s current fascination with all things dragon.

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

I’m currently in the middle of the series’ third installment, HUNTED WARRIOR, which features the head of the Five Clans and an a (hopefully) surprising partner. It’s due out from Pocket in summer of 2014. Whereas CAGED WARRIOR takes place almost entirely within the underground world of the Cages, its sequel BLOOD WARRIOR (due out July 30), travels from the Himalayas to the Highlands of Scotland, and HUNTED WARRIOR jaunts from Crete to the banks of the Thames in London—with all characters compelled by the prophecy “the chasm isn’t fixed.”

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

I’ve been very lucky that in my involvement within the romance genre, I’ve met a number of my romance favorites including Kresley Cole, CS Harris, Laura Kinsale, and Susan Wiggs. That leaves literary fiction, where I’d be flabbergasted to meet Ian McEwan, who wrote Atonement, which was adapted into a film starring Keira Knightley and James McAvoy.

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

You have a story worth telling. Tell it to yourself first. Leave all other considerations aside. Believe in yourself, but don’t become so arrogant or bitter that you start to think you have nothing else to learn. I’m still learning, after twenty-some published novels.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.

Walking the see-through walkway that juts out from the Grand Canyon, and visiting Sorrento, Italy (where I set a short story) and Salzburg, Austria (where I set my first novel). That’s about it, for now. I am at a point in my life where my “bucket list” is more like a “career ambitions list,” with the rest of it very content.

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

I’m currently reading the Game of Thrones massive-ology, which will take me another six years to finish. By then I’ll be so far behind on my favorite authors that I’ll have to have drinks with them at the RWA National conference and have them summarize for me!

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Thanks so much for inviting me to stop by! And if you enjoy CAGED WARRIOR, be on the lookout for BLOOD WARRIOR on July 30. Should you be attending RWA Nationals, I’ll be signing. Please stop by and say hi!

*****

SILENT WARRIOR

The Dragon Kings, Prequel Novella

Add to your Goodreads Shelf

A silent woman ashamed of her criminal background becomes a Cage warrior to seek redemption. An unrepentant fortune hunter will do anything to escape his mounting debts. Although rivals on the streets of Hong Kong, they find common ground when seeking their clan’s stolen idol, but for vastly different reasons. Neither one suspects that love will begin when he becomes the first man in five years to hear her speak.

*****

CAGED WARRIOR

The Dragon Kings, Book 1

Publication Date: June 25, 2013
Publisher: Pocket Star
Print ISBN: 978-1451695915
Available Now: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Books-a-Million | Powell’s

Ten years ago, Audrey MacLaren chose to marry her human lover, making her an exile from the Dragon Kings, an ancient race of demons once worshiped as earthly gods. Audrey and her husband managed to conceive, and their son is the first natural-born Dragon King in a generation–which makes him irresistible to the sadistic scientist whose mafia-funded technology allows demon procreation. In the year since her husband was murdered, Audrey and her little boy have endured hideous experiments.

Shackled with a collar and bound for life, Leto Garnis is a Cage warrior. Only through combat can Dragon Kings earn the privilege of conceiving children. Leto uses his superhuman speed and reflexes to secure the right for his two sisters to start families. After torture reveals Audrey’s astonishing pyrokenesis, she is sent to fight in the Cages. If she survives a year, she will be reunited with her son. Leto is charged with her training. Initially, he has no sympathy for her plight. But if natural conception is possible, what has he been fighting for? As enemies, sparring partners, lovers, and eventual allies, Leto and Audrey learn that in a violent underground world, love is the only prize worth winning.

*****

BLOOD WARRIOR

The Dragon Kings, Book 2

Publication Date: July 30, 2013
Publisher: Pocket Star
Print ISBN: 978-1451695922
Pre-Order: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Books-a-Million | Powell’s

Digital ISBN: 978-1451695953
Pre-Order: Amazon | Apple | B&N | Books-a-Million | Google

As a young man, sarcastic, violent Tallis Pendray believed the Dragon Kings’ survival depended on a prophecy delivered in dreams by a woman named “the Sun.” His role has been to complete inexplicable, even reprehensible tasks. First, by murdering a priest, he united his fragmented clan in their hatred of him. Dubbed “the Heretic,” Tallis fled his family’s Highland estate. Now disillusioned, he seeks revenge on the woman he holds responsible for two decades of exile.

Telepath Kavya Indranan is a charismatic, seductive cult leader born to a prominent family. However, she grew up terrorized by the ominous threat of her powerful, insane twin brother. On the run and hiding among the poor, she witnessed the destruction wrought by her clan’s centuries-old civil war. Maturity nurtures Kavya’s determination to end the cycle of bloodshed. Those who follow her call for peace have nicknamed her “the Sun.”

Bent on revenge, and without knowledge of Kavya’s noble intentions, Tallis kidnaps her on the eve of her groundbreaking announcement. The two watch in horror as her twin brutally smashes the tentative truce…and hunts the sister whose death would make him invincible.

Kavya is the Sun–revered, untouched, and bound by a lonely destiny that promises a deadly showdown against the last of her family. Tallis is the Heretic–despised and exiled because of actions that seem random, heartless, and contrary to the safety of the clans he protects. She’s not a goddess, and he’s not a natural born killer. A desperate trek from the Himalayan foothills to the Scottish Highlands reveals two secluded souls hidden by bloody reputations. Will their trust be strong enough to avert an all-out war that could destroy them, and their kind, forever?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lindsey Piper is the alter ego of an award-winning historical and contemporary romance author. Her hotly anticipated DRAGON KINGS series is her first foray into paranormal fiction. She lives and writes in Chicago.

You can find more info on Lindsey’s Website, Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads pages.

GIVEWAY DETAILS:

Lindsey is giving away the following prizes when the tour ends:

GRAND PRIZE: $25.00 Gift card to Amazon, an eBook of SILENT WARRIOR and a paperback of CAGED WARRIOR

2ND PLACE: 5 winners will each receive a paperback of CAGED WARRIOR and SWAG

3RD PLACE: 5 winners will receive an eBook of SILENT WARRIOR

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Lindsey Piper’s CAGED WARRIOR Blog Tour Schedule

June 24 – July 8

6/24 – Book Monster Reviews

http://www.bookmonsterreviews.com/

6/25 – Sassy Book Lovers

http://sassybooklovers.blogspot.com/

6/26 – Book Pages & Dripping Ink

http://bookpagesanddrippingink.blogspot.com/

6/26 – The Jeep Diva

http://thejeepdiva.com/

6/27 – Ramblings From This Chick

http://ramblingsfromthischick.blogspot.com/

6/28 – Close Encounters with the Night Kind

http://closeencounterswiththenightkind.blogspot.com/

6/29 -Mad Hatter Reads

http://madhatterreads.blogspot.com/

6/29 – Fandom Fanatic

http://fandomfanatic.blogspot.com/

6/30 – Crazy Four Books

http://crazyfourbooks.blogspot.com/

7/01 – Books-n-Kisses

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

7/01 – Wicked Readings by Tawania

http://www.wickedreadingsbytawania.blogspot.com/

7/02 – Book Lovin’ Mamas

http://booklovinmamas.blogspot.com/

7/03 – Books, Books & More Books

http://booksbooksmorebooks.blogspot.com/

7/03 – Paranormal Romance Fans For Life

http://paranormalromancefanforlife.blogspot.com/

7/03 – You Gotta Read Reviews

http://yougottaread.com/

7/04 – Scorching Book Reviews

http://scorchingbookreviews.blogspot.com/

7/05 – My Secret Romance

http://www.mysecretromancebookreviews.com/

7/06 – Page Flipperz

http://pageflipperz.blogspot.com/

7/08 – Offbeat Vagabond

http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/

June 27, 2013June 19, 2013

Interview & Giveaway with Jayne Fresina

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome back Jayne Fresina to the blog.

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

JF: I’ve lived half my life in England and half in America. It’s great to have that experience, but I often feel as if I don’t really belong in either place anymore! I work for a large, international company and divide my day between them and my writing. I write every day – yes, as my sister recently said to me in a shocked voice “even weekends and holidays???”! I’m the mother of three Sussex spaniels and usually one of them is always sitting on the chair behind me, battling for space when I write. I’m shorter than I wish I was and I have no willpower when it comes to cake. Sewing machines scare me and I don’t like seafood.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

JF: Yes, but I’ve also wanted to be a lot of things over the years (including Prima Ballerina) and so far author is the only one that’s come to fruition! I think it is what I was meant to do.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

JF: I’m not sure I have any that are original to me. I hold conversations in the shower with my characters, but I have feeling other writers do that too. I can’t sit at my computer every morning until I’ve brushed my teeth. I might not have a spotless house, but I have clean teeth!

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

JF: Lady Mercy Danforthe Flirts with Scandal is book three in the series about the fictional village of Sydney Dovedale. It’s not necessary to have read the first two books, but Lady Mercy does make an appearance in book two as a very naughty ten year-old. People who have read that book will doubtless remember her! Book three takes place twelve years later and she’s trying to keep her life as structured and on schedule as she thinks it should be. She’s also busy managing the lives of other people – whether they want her to or not. When she arrives in Sydney Dovedale for the wedding of her best friend Molly Robbins, she discovers that Molly has got cold feet. Mercy tries to help bring about a resolution to the problem, but she already has some history with the groom, Rafe Hartley. A history that she’s kept secret for years. And he’s just waiting for the chance to accuse “Lady Bossy Drawers Danforthe” of ruining his life a second time. While Molly runs off to London to follow her dreams, Lady Mercy remains in Sydney Dovedale to repair the situation as best she can and put Mr. Rafe Hartley firmly in his place once and for all.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

JF: Well, the principal characters all met in book two when they were children. Rafe and Mercy instantly annoyed one another, as did Molly and Mercy’s brother, Carver. It seemed to me as if I had to write their stories next. I have actually had readers email me about Molly and Carver, asking when they get their story. That’s coming in book four, folks!

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

JF: I just started working on my second series for Sourcebooks Casablanca, which is set earlier in the Regency period and follows the romantic misadventures of five young ladies from the village book society.

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

JF: I would love to have met Jane Austen, of course! Too late. I’m sure Anne Rice would be a fascinating person to meet. I do love to meet authors so we can chat about the things other people – like family members – don’t really “get”.

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

JF: Write as much as you can, every day, and learn to self-edit. The first manuscript I wrote and started querying was over 500,000 words! I had no idea there was such a thing as a word count restriction. I really had to learn to say more with fewer words. And I had to be ruthless and stop my characters nattering away too much, even if they thought they were tremendously witty, smart and indispensible to the plot.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.

JF: I’d love to take a trip on the Orient Express!

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

JF: I don’t have a lot of time to read these days, but I’m looking forward to Grace Burrows’ next book, Ethan. I believe it’s out around the same time as mine, so I can take a little break to read! Also Connie Mason and Mia Marlowe’s One Night with a Rake.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

JF: I hope readers enjoy my characters and watching them fall in love. It took me a long time to get up the courage to share my work with strangers, so now that it’s happened I love to hear from people who’ve read something I wrote. It still amazes me to think that someone I’ve never met, in a faraway country, can pluck my book off a shelf, or a website, and read about characters from my tiny mind.

Please feel free to contact me through my website www.jaynefresina.com

I also have a blog http://jaynefresinaromanceauthor.blogspot.com

And I tweet occasionally. @jaynefresina.

LADY MERCY DANFORTHE FLIRTS WITH SCANDAL

by JAYNE FRESINA

IN STORES JUNE 2013

When a Perfectly Proper Lady…

Lady Mercy Danforthe always has a plan. It’s what makes her such a successful matchmaker, and why she’s obligated to spend a great deal of time generously organizing the lives of her friends and family. But there’s one man beyond her help. One man whose recklessness she can’t rein in; whose chaos she can’t contain. Her ex-husband, Rafe Hartley. Her one—and only!—mistake.

Flirts with a Reckless Rogue…

Rafe has never forgiven Mercy for running out on him. Their hastily annulled marriage may have one lasted three hours, but that doesn’t mean he needs her help finding a proper wife. Someone needs to teach little Miss Know-It-All a lesson about keeping her adorably freckled nose out of other people’s business. And it just so happens that Mercy “Silky Drawers” Danforthe still owes him a wedding night…

A Scandal’s Never Far Behind!

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June 25, 2013June 25, 2013

Interview & Awesome giveaway (+2) with Kevin Hearne

Books-n-Kisses is super excited to welcome Kevin Hearne to the blog today. We are talking to Kevin about his Iron Druid Choricles series. Today is release day for book #6 Hunted. Please give a warm welcome to Kevin.

Hi Kevin, please excuse me while I go a little, okay a lot, fan girl on you **EEKKKK**.

Kevin: Virtual Fist Bump! (But that special secret one I will teach you when we meet in Salem.)

BnK: Okay I think I am good!! Where was I? Oh yes, Welcome to Books-n-Kisses.

Kevin: Thank you! Very kind of you to invite me.

BnK: Kevin for those who don’t know you can you please tell us a little about yourself?

Kevin: I taught high school English for seventeen years until I unexpectedly sold a few books and became a full time writer. I’ve always been a turbonerd and somehow I’ve managed to get paid for it, so I count myself very fortunate.

BnK: I have to say that I am totally in love with your Iron Druid Chronicles series. For those who have been living under a rock, please tell us about the IDC series.

Kevin: It’s an urban fantasy featuring the last of the Druids who has been hiding out from Irish gods for 2,100 years. He’s hidden himself in multiple places throughout the centuries, but when the series begins he’s in Arizona. Once the Irish gods find him there, he decides to fight instead of run, and the consequences of that decision snowball from there.

BnK: On your website (will put link in) you state that there will be 9 IDC books (which I am sad to know there is an end). What do you plan to do after you are done with Atticus and crew?

Kevin: I have an epic coming from Del Rey, and there might be all kinds of different stuff after that. I might return to the Iron Druid world after a while, but after writing nine books in six years I imagine I’ll need a wee break.

BnK: One of the best things about your books, I mean besides the totally awesomely rad story, are all the great insults. How do you come up with some of these? Can you share a few of your favorites?

Kevin: I kind of feel it’s my duty to put some unusual insults into print and remind everyone of what is possible with the language. People fall into such a rut otherwise with the same few words and I think we need to realize the potential English has to truly rock someone back with a well-crafted phrase. I wouldn’t want to commit to a favorite insult here, though, because it’ll probably be a different one tomorrow.

BnK: I have been listening to the IDC series on Audible (IDC Audible page). Luke Daniels is an amazing narrator. I know you recently interviewed Luke on your blog (Check out the interview HERE). Have you listened to the audio books? Did you give Luke any advice as to how you thought your characters would sound?

Kevin: I have listened to them, and it’s a testament to Luke’s talent that he can make me laugh at my own jokes because his delivery is so amusing. I’ve only given him advice on a few characters here and there, and that’s all beginning with book 4. I had no contact with him at all for the first three.

BnK: So I have to thank the amazing Laurie London for suggesting Hounded on Audible to me. Laurie and I have been on a bit of a bender listening to the IDC books. It has been fun we have been texting each other quotes. So I asked Laurie if she had any questions she wanted you to answer. Take it away Laurie…

LL: Hi Kevin! Thanks for coming onto Kelly’s blog. She and I have been having such fun texting each other various quotes as we listen to the series. I’ve become adept at hitting the bookmark button while driving so that I can text her later. Your knowledge of Irish Folklore and various mythologies seems really extensive. Was this an interest of yours prior to writing the IDC series?

Kevin: Absolutely. I used to teach more mythology than was strictly necessary in my English classes, and the students always enjoyed it because many of those old stories are truly messed up. The ancient Greco-Romans had some ideas I couldn’t come up with on my most batshit crazy day.

LL: Why did you pick Arizona for the main setting of this series? Was there something in the existing folklore that made you chose it or did you pick Arizona and build the IDC world around it?

Kevin: I chose it because I live here and I’m familiar with it, and to be honest I was a bit tired of reading stories set in NY, LA, and Chicago all the time. It’s also about as far away from Ireland as you can get, and I figured the desert would be a good place for a Druid to hide from the Fae.

LL: Do you have a phobia of beards? Or maybe it’s a fetish. There seems to be a lot of characters, particularly the dastardly ones, who have really interesting facial hair.

Kevin: I think it’s a bit of both. I find truly epic beards to be simultaneously fascinating and horrifying and more than a little funny. I want to grow one to learn more about the care and feeding of such personal topiary, but I can’t because my wife won’t let me. The thing is, any sort of facial hair display is a conscious decision on the part of a dude, and I suppose I’m interested by the psychology behind all the different ways that manifests itself. They’re getting in your face with their face, know what I mean?

Bnk: Thanks Laurie!! Please feel free to hang out for the rest of the interview and throughout more questions if you wish

LL: Okay, I’m an expert stalker. J

Bnk: Okay Kevin, now the hard questions. Between your witty, smart ass writing and Luke’s awesome narrating Oberon has to be my favorite character in the IDC series. Who is yours and why?

Kevin: Oberon’s a good time for me, no doubt, but as a writer I have the most fun with Leif and more recently with Granuaile. Granuaile gets her own POV chapters in books 6 and 7 and her voice is so different from Atticus that I find her challenging and refreshing.

BnK: I want to know will Atticus & Granuaile have any kind of romantic HEA by book 9?

Kevin: Please see book five. J

Bnk: Why on earth did you kill off you know who in book 3?

Kevin: One does not simply walk into Asgard. Someone had to pay the price…and many did.

BnK: June 25^th is the release date for Hunted (#6 in the IDC series). Can you tell us a little about the adventure that Atticus, Granualie & Oberon embark on in Hunted?

Kevin: It’s pretty much nonstop action. They’re on the run from two immortal goddesses of the hunt, Artemis and Diana, and a host of other enemies besides, and they have to find a way to survive and defuse tension with the Olympians.

BnK: Kevin, it has been such a pleasure to have you on the blog. I am looking forward to meeting you in person at the end of June. And I believe that Laurie is going to stalk you up in the Seattle area in July.

LL: Yes, I’m going to try to drag my dad with me. I think he’d dig your books.

Kevin: I’m looking forward to meeting you as well! I’ve never been to Oregon and I can’t wait to visit! Thanks for having me!

BnK: Is there anything you would like to add before we let you go?

Kevin: I’m very grateful to everyone who’s read the books and told someone else about them. Word of mouth is the best! Thank you!

BnK: Thank you again Kevin.

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!!!

Want to know what the plus 2 is????

The most Awesome Laurie London & Karina Cooper have teamed up with me to give you 2 more chances to win awesome prizes.

Stop by all three blogs for a chance to win.

I am giving away an Audio copy of Hounded, Book one in the Iron Druid Chronicles

Laurie London is giving away an audio copy of Hexed, Book two in the Iron Druid Chronicles on her blog HERE

& Karina Cooper is going to be giving away an audio copy of Hammered, Book three in the Iron Druid Chronicles on her blog HERE

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June 25, 2013June 24, 2013

Interview & Tour Wide Giveaway with Eleri Stone

Please welcome Eleri Stone to the blog today

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

Sure! I grew up in NJ, but now live in Iowa with my husband and our three children. I love the Midwest but I do miss being near my family and the ocean. I’ll have my yearly fix here soon when we go to visit my sister in Florida.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

I’ve always loved to write but the idea of publishing came later. I had a bad habit of starting a story, getting distracted by life, putting it aside and never getting back to it. When my youngest started preschool, I set it as a challenge to myself to finish something. That was Mercy which was picked up and published by Carina Press in 2010.

Who are some of your favorite writers? Who do you feel has influenced your writing?

Oh, wow, that’s a long list! I grew up reading a lot of fantasy and horror- Stephen King, Mercedes Lackey, David Eddings, Anne McAffrey, Lois Duncan. The first romances I picked up were historical romances by Judith McNaught, Lisa Kleypas and Julie Garwood. Then came paranormal romance which is sort of a combination of all of those genres. Recent favorites are Patricia Briggs’ Mercy Thompson series and Karen Marie Moning’s Fever series.

How did you get into writing in this specific genre? Have you ever thought about writing in a different genre?

I do also write fantasy romance. Paranormal Romance is a combination of all of my favorite genres—fantasy, romance and horror. I can’t seem to write a story without an element of the supernatural in one form or another.

What are some of your writing rituals?

Gah. I wish I had a more stable routine. During the winter, I write in the mornings after the kids are off to school and then take care of the business end of things in the afternoons. During the summer, I switch so that I work primarily at night after everyone is in bed.

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

Witch Bound is a paranormal romance based on Norse mythology. The premise is that Asgard was destroyed centuries ago at Ragnarök. Some of the Æsir managed to escape to earth where they settled in spots where the wall between worlds is the thinnest. The descendants of those refugees still guard the portals to prevent the demons who destroyed their world from coming here. Witch Bound tells the story of a witch named Raquel who is joining a new clan through an arranged marriage. Everyone is counting on her to replace the failing wards that protect the town, but she has trouble controlling her power. While she’s dealing with that, she falls in love with the best man-Fen, a wolf shifter who’s sworn to never take a mate.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

I’ve always had a fascination with Norse mythology, but the series was also inspired by a place where we go camping every year. It’s in the driftless area of Iowa, called that because it wasn’t glacierized during the last glacial period, leaving it hillier and more wooded than the rest of the state. It’s an isolated and beautiful spot that was settled by Norse immigrants who still maintain a strong connection to their heritage. Put the two together and you have Norse demigods living in Iowa.

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

Of course! Right now I’m working on a historical paranormal romance called Reaper’s Touch. I call it my zombies vs. cowboys story because it’s set in a sort of post-apocalyptic version of the Wild West. The first book is scheduled to release February 3 and the second a few months after that.

Open your book to a random page and tell us what’s happening.

Pg. 114 – Raquel is about to cross into Asgard with the wild hunt on a rescue mission…or possibly an assassination attempt. At this point in the story, it could go either way.

What would you be if you were not an author?

Journalist. That’s what I studied in college. I guess I’d be writing either way.

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

I just bought Heart of Iron by Bec McMaster and I’m looking forward to getting started on it. I really liked the first book in the series.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Thank you so much for having me here today! It’s been such a pleasure.

Website • Facebook • Twitter • Goodreads

TOUR GIVEAWAY DETAILS

Eleri is giving away a $50.00 gift card to Amazon or B&N (winners choice)
OPEN INTERNATIONALLY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*****

SERIES SPOTLIGHT INFO

Demon Crossings

Twilight of the Gods, Book 1

Private investigator Grace tracks a kidnapped child to middle-of-nowhere Iowa. Encountering a strange creature she knows can’t be a local animal, she doesn’t need her psychic abilities to figure out the sleepy town is not what it seems. When she meets the intriguing Aiden, she’s plunged into a world of Norse gods and fire demons where the Wild Hunt still rides the night.

Aiden needs Grace’s help to cross the portal between worlds and rescue his daughter. Grace is unlike any woman he’s ever met. He’s drawn to her courage, distressed by her vulnerability and doubtful of her motives. But he knows that her visions are the key to defeating the enemy and bringing everyone home alive.

Grace wants a future with Aiden, even if it means she’ll never have a normal life. When a test run to the portal takes a terrifying turn, they must learn to finally trust each other or Aiden’s daughter, and their chance at love, will be lost forever…

*****

Witch Bound

Twilight of the Gods, Book 2

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | All Romance | iTunes

Raquel Lindgren knows what her future holds. An arranged marriage. A new home in Ragnarok, Iowa, with another clan of refugees from Asgard. She should be happy. But there’s a mental block preventing her from tapping in to her true abilities as a witch. And she’s more attracted to the best man than she is to the groom…

Fen can’t believe he’s falling for his best friend’s future wife. As a hound, a wolf shifter, his duty lies with the pack. He’s seen too many hounds destroyed by love, and he’s sworn never to take a mate, never to have children of his own. He can’t deny his desire for Raquel, but she deserves more than he can offer her.

Raquel’s been raised to trust in magic, her clan and her destiny. But when a vengeful demon threatens to break out of Asgard and destroy the clan, Raquel learns she must trust in love if she is to take the future into her own hands.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Eleri Stone was born and raised in New Jersey. She graduated from the University of Iowa, married her college sweetheart, and settled in the Midwest where she still lives with her husband and their three children. A lifelong fan of fantasy, she started reading romance as an adult and was instantly captivated by the strong female protagonists, character-driven storylines and guarantee of a happy-ever-after. Writing fantasy and paranormal romance, she is the author of the Lost City Shifters series (shapeshifter paranormal romance), the Twilight of the Gods series (paranormal romance) and the Spellcraft series (fantasy romance).

You can find Eleri at:
Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Eleri Stone’s WITCH BOUND Tour Schedule: June 19- July 3