Category: Sizzling PR

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Interview with Shanon Grey

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Shanon Grey to the blog.  
1. Can you please share with us a little about yourself?
I live in the very magical “low” mountains of Northern Georgia. Not too high up to get a nose bleed, but just enough to make for some great rolling pastures, fields, and forests. Having come out of Hurricane Katrina with pretty much what was on our backs, we relocated to Georgia. All my work, everything that wasn’t in my head, disappeared. Luckily, Georgia proved to be inspirational and the Gatekeeper Series poured right out of me. I discovered that the imagination is fairly disaster-proof.
2. Have you always wanted to be an author?
No. At age seven, I wanted to me a Faerie Princess. By ten, it was the female version of “The Phantom,” by twelve it was an airline stewardess, and by fifteen, it was a world-renowned cancer researcher. I came closest to the last when I took premed in college. It was there that I started writing, mostly journal articles. I stayed with technical writing most of my life, sneaking in fiction in the late night quiet hours when no one was up.
3. Can you share with us your typical writing day.  Is there anything you have to have while writing?
Coffee. Lots and lots of coffee. Then Splenda Diet Coke. Everything thing else is arbitrary. My family is very, very supportive. Fortunately for them, my son is a fabulous cook and makes sure we all eat sometime during the day. I have an incredibly inspiring office (which my husband and son created for me) and I spend a great deal of my waking hours in there, our dog nearby (in case I drop some tasty cookie crumb). I never seem to have any trouble with writer’s block—again, that overactive imagination to the rescue—so I am pretty much ensconced in one story or another from morning until the wee hours.
4. Most challenging or rewarding part of writing?
The most challenging part of writing is patience. There’s always something someone needs that has nothing to do with putting my story on paper. Bookkeeping, marketing, filing—the administrative end of having a business. I wish I were rich and could have a “team.” Alas, I am not, so the drudgework is still mine. I wonder if I’d ever give up the control anyway.
The most rewarding part of writing is when a reader sends me an email or posts a comment telling me they love my work. Writing is hard at best. We put ourselves out there every time we put words down. To get a positive word or review (we love positive reviews, as well) makes our day, our week, month…. I was stopped one day in Barnes & Noble and was asked to sign my book. I floated around for hours. Having readers like that is the most rewarding thing in the world.
5. Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?
The Shoppe of Spells is the first in the Gatekeepers Series. It isn’t a series per se, since all the books actually “stand-alone.” They do, however, center around the quaint small southern town of Ruthorford, GA and the special inhabitants or “descendants” from that town. In The Shoppe of Spells, Morgan Briscoe’s relatively normal life is turned on its ear when she learns not only that she is adopted, but her birth parents are dead and she now holds half-interest in a business with their ward, Dorian Drake, who, despite his riveting good looks, can barely conceal his hostility toward his new partner. Morgan discovers that she is more than she seems and together she and Dorian have the ability to control a portal to another dimension. Unable to contain their growing attraction, Morgan and Dorian dance around their desires and her burgeoning abilities, until danger forces them to face their destiny.
 6. How did you come with the idea for this story?
I had been driving around the area and stopped at Barnes & Noble for a coffee and scone. Standing in line, the story came to me. It was the longest wait of my life. I grabbed my order, found a table, pulled the scone out of the bag and started making notes on the bag. I have since framed the bag. I have learned when an idea hits, write SOMETHING down. Anything. You’d think I’d learn to carry a notepad around with me. Nope. I’m still writing down ideas on whatever happens to be in my purse at the time. Oh, and ideas never come at convenient times.
7. Can you share with us your current work in progress?
Meadow’s Keep is due out late spring or early summer. It is Jasmine Monroe’s story. She is introduced in The Shoppe of Spells. Here’s the teaser:
 Jasmine Monroe once felt like damaged goods. But, not anymore. Her latent abilities, although appearing too late to save her from a brutal attack, will keep her safe from anyone ever hurting her again. She’s made sure of that. Secure in that fact, she’s moved on. Until she meets her first love’s doppelganger.
Eryk Vreeland, a misfit and embarrassment to his upper-class/upper-crust family, is a magician. His shows are renowned, his contributions to charity astronomical, his illusions precise. Except, not everything is an illusion. Sometimes there is real magic.
Jasmine stumbles upon a secret that will change Eryk’s life forever, and in doing so, she must face her own destiny as well. When Jasmine and Eryk are forced together to rescue and protect a young woman, each must overcome the barrier that protects, yet hinders any personal attachments. The safeguards must come down to combine their abilities and, when that happens, their attraction strengthens—beyond their control—until they can barely tell where one person stops and the other begins.
Can their hearts take the toll? Will they surrender to one another or risk a disaster to stay apart?
8. Who are some of your favorite authors?
That’s not fair. I have so many. After a day of writing, I can’t go to sleep without being transported away into another author’s world. I tend to read genres and definitely many subgenres of romance. At the moment, I am reading Nora Roberts, Sharon Sala, Ted Dekker, and Sherrilyn Kenyon. Did I mention that I am always reading more than one book at a time? My husband is constantly warning me that someday my bedside table will give up the ghost and crumble from the weight of all the books.
9. Do you feel that any of your favorite authors have inspired your writing style? 
Unfortunately, no. I admire so many authors’ styles and, since I am still developing mine, I don’t want to embarrass those great writers by implying my style is anywhere near as good as theirs. My writing is definitely character driven, so my style varies by the characters that are in charge at the moment. I enjoy that. It keeps things fresh.
10. What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?
In about a week, Susan Mallery’s new book, Barefoot Season, comes out. I also want to read The Help, which I haven’t yet.
11. Is there anything else you would like to add?
I want to thank you for having me. There are many authors out there and you give readers a chance to get to know us a little better. I also wanted to thank you for reviewing The Shoppe of Spells on March 11, 2012 (click here to read review) . It is always wonderful to have a reviewer recommend your book.
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Guest Bloggers: Leia Shaw & Cari Silverwood talk about 31 Flavors

Writing the Perfect Romance
There are any number of reasons why us writers choose to pen a romance – fun, a desperate need to tell stories, a need for more alpha males in our lives, money…Leia and I had all those and one extra one. So many of the romances out there are well, romantic. The men are ten feet tall with ten inch dicks and pretty much always get it right. And we women like that don’t we? Having a man who can almost read our minds, who knows just the right spot to nibble, lick or smack?
In BDSM romances the Dom or dominant male seems to become even more idealized. He is often the experienced one who can take his woman to the height of a world-shuddering orgasm with the precision application of ropes, cuffs, floggers and maybe a few more exotic pieces of equipment like candles, feathers or pieces of ginger used in a very naughty way.
A lot of women have a desire for some aspect of BDSM. It’s a fact supported by many surveys over the years. And although we all pretty much know that fiction is fiction, there does seem to be an extra potent effect when women first realize their desires may have a real life possibility of being forfilled. That they may not be freaks. That there may be a man out there who shares their desires for something kinky. I’ve seen a lot of women ready to kneel at the feet of almost the first real man who answers to the dominant label.
The problem is, even Doms are human. They aren’t perfect. They do make mistakes, and they do have to start somewhere.
Both Leia and I saw the need for a real story and since one of our friends had the same idea, was ready to let us tell her story, and hell, she even had a silly side to her that made writing the story fun, we went with it.
So here it is. 31 Flavors is the story of one married couple’s first foray into the land of BDSM. It’s not perfect. Sid’s husband Nick, is not infallible, and some of their mistakes may make you chuckle out loud. The comedy in the book , as well as the steamy sex seems to be grabbing our readers, and that’s good. Because as one reviewer has said,
“Wow… just wow! This novel is brilliantly written, it is well balanced with humor (at some parts hilarious), saucy sex scenes and genuine life drama.
There were times while reading that I thought “OMG that’s so true”, and there were times that just wanted to jump into the novel and give Sidney a hug and say, “never ever doubt who you are”. I was captured from the get go…”
We hope you enjoy reading it as well as perhaps ending the novel with some new insights on what can make a marriage hum.
There are some things in life you have to try before you know how they will affect you.
After 5 years of awful sex, I was ready. Bondage and spanking had always featured in my fantasies, and one day, I convinced my husband to try them. That day was a turning point.
Ice cream comes in many flavors and that’s us too – not vanilla, maybe not Rocky Road either. We can be a combination or make up our own and no one has the right to judge us.
But there will always be one question that tears at my soul: Will my husband, Nick, ever be happy with what I crave?
About Us: 31 Flavors is a book that is heavily based on a true love story. Although the sex scenes are obviously fictionalized, much of it really happened. This isn’t just another erotic BDSM story. We both felt (Leia and Cari) there was a place for a novel where the readers might draw parallels with their own      lives — a story where idealistic, perfect people did not exist, where mistakes are made, and in particular, where the top or Dom is not some godlike creation and the submissive or bottom is just your average girl-next-door.
Cari Silverwood: Cari writes stories that leap from the page and blast you from your bed. Heroines who will come rescue you and    heroes who will drag you back to bed by your hair and ravish you endlessly. Did she mention there was sex and adventure in her stories? 
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Guest blogger: Blair McDowell


Show, Don’t Tell

Who among us has not seen those dreaded words in the margin of a manuscript?   It sounds so easy.  “Show, don’t tell. ”
Those of us who are, shall we say, of more mature years, are programmed to tell.  Our parents and grandparents told us stories.  Charles Dickens and Jane Austen and Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie and Dostoyevsky all told their stories.  And they were very good stories indeed.
But the times have changed.  The shift in reader expectations from passive to active involvement in stories began, I believe, with motion pictures in the early decades of the twentieth century.  Movies pulled people into their stories in a way print never had.  For the first time stories were made visual.  Of course, plays existed before.  But only a minute proportion of the population ever went to the theater.  With the advent of movies, suddenly drama was available to everyone.
Then came television.  Living other people’s stories was no longer a once-a-week movie experience, it became a nightly event.  Drama came into people’s living rooms and captured an audience far beyond that of most books. Plots moved fast.  They had to.  There was only a half hour or hour time slot in which to draw[L1]  the audience into the story.  The story was visual.  The actions observable.  Emotions were shown, not described.  No imagination was necessary on the part of the viewer.  It was all there to see and to hear and to identify with.  
Video games came next.  Action at the speed of light with the players in charge of the story.
A result of all this recent history is that we as writers must adapt to a very different set of reader expectations than our predecessors.  Today’s readers expect to see the story.  And a natural corollary of this is that they want their stories to move faster, to be shorter.  Where the 90,000 to 110,000 word novel used to be the norm, now shorter works are more in demand.
            Stories [L2] must pull readers quickly into the experiences of the characters.  From the first page they must feel what our characters feel, see what they see.  Hear, smell, taste, touch, vicariously what our characters see, hear, smell, taste, touch.  The use of all five senses is vital to helping readers live our stories.
I rely heavily on the five senses in my stories.  In The Memory of Roses, the scent of that flower is a connecting link between the two love stories and forms a continuous thread from the beginning to the end of the novel.  In Delighting In Your Company, the ghost hero sings and whistles the tune, Greensleeves from the first pages to the last.  Abigail’s Christmas is replete with the sights, sounds and scents of Christmas.  Using the five senses is one of the easier ways of showing.  
 We cannot simply say that a character is sad, happy, nervous, tense, anxious.  We must show what the character is doing that physically expresses the emotion he/she is feeling.  This is not always easy.  But this is what “Show, don’t tell” means.
Here are two ways to tell whether we’ve slipped into telling where we should be showing.  
The first and most obvious is the use of the words “feel” “feeling” and “felt”.  If any of these words is present in a sentence, we’re probably not showing, we’re telling.  A computer search of the manuscript for these words will let us know immediately where we need to revise.
Amy felt deeply saddened as she looked around her father’s empty study.  
Clearly, this is telling.  What actions could we have Amy do that would show the reader she is sad?  If she were an actress with no lines to speak in this scene, what could she do to let us know how she feels?
She could sigh.  She could brush her hand across his desk and shake her head.  If she is deeply distressed she could cry.  She put her head in her hands.  Her body might slump.  We need to tap into the physical actions, the behaviors that indicate sorrow.  
Another area where it is easy to fall into “telling” rather than “showing” is the point in the story at which we describe what our hero or heroine looks like.
Telling: Amy had short auburn hair that never looked quite combed.  
Showing: Amy ran a brush through her short auburn hair and shrugged.  She knew it never looked combed but she really didn’t care.  
Telling: Andy had well-muscled shoulders and a broad chest.
Showing: Amy leaned against Andy, taking comfort from his strong arms and the solidity of his chest.  
Telling: Amy set about cooking breakfast for the kids.
Showing:  The bacon began to sizzle.  Amy turned to the stove, cracked four farm-fresh eggs into the hot bacon fat and watched as the edges began to brown.  Three pajama clad boys tumbled into the kitchen.  Amy smiled.  Nothing like the smell of bacon and eggs to rouse the troops .
Hearing, seeing and smelling were all a part of the above example.  When we draw on the five senses in a scene we always come closer to showing.
Any time we name an emotion we are telling rather than showing.  Almost any time we use a word with an “ly” ending (gladly, sadly, grudgingly, happily, etc.  etc) we are telling, not showing.  I regularly do a computer search for ly.  Sometimes I leave the word.  But usually I try to find an observable action that will express the behavior indicated by the “ly”.
Show, don’t tell means that we must live inside our character’s minds and have them behave in ways that demonstrate their feelings and thoughts, their reactions to the situations in which we place them.  Above all we must make it possible for our readers to become involved in what’s happening in our stories, to be a part of our hero’s journey.



Blair McDowell wrote her first short story when she was eleven and hasn’t stopped writing
since. After many years producing non-fiction professional books in her field, Blair decided to
exercise her rich imagination and write novels of mystery and romance set in places she knows and loves, peopled with characters drawn from her experiences in those locales.
One of her favorite places in the world is Greece, the setting for ‘The Memory of Roses’, Blair McDowell’s latest novel. While in Greece Blair was inspired by the ancient culture, friendly people and the picturesque settings, and the plot for the ‘Memory of Roses’ was born.
Blair has a home on a remote island in the Caribbean where the local lore of the ‘Jumbie’ (‘the dead who walk’) formed the basis for her novel of that name.
The setting for Blair McDowell’s book, ‘Sonata’, is the spectacular city of Vancouver with its
vibrant multicultural population and its rich musical life. In ‘Sonata’, Blair McDowell’s love of
music comes into play, and is intricately woven into this story of mystery and romance.
Blair is a member of the Romance Writers of America, Romance Writers of America (Greater
Vancouver Chapter), and the Romance Writers of America (Women’s Fiction).
Website / Facebook
Buy Links: Amazon / Nook / All Romance / Ebookstrand

The Memory of Roses
The Greek island of Corfu unearths the enduring love stories of two generations of the
McQuaid family. First, renowned archaeologist Ian McQuaid meets the love of his life while
recuperating from an illness contracted during a dig in Crete. Even though he is married, his wife had not been a passionate partner for many years, and the appearance of the stunning Maria Calbrese was a miracle sent to him at the lowest point in his life.
Then a generation later, Ian’s daughter Brit travels to Corfu after his death. He left Brit a note
disclosing that he owned a villa on Corfu, and that when he was there he had fallen in love with a
woman named Maria while still married to Brit’s mother. He asked Brit to deliver a package to Maria, who he thought lived somewhere in Venice. Determined to fulfill her father’s requests and return quickly to the US, Brit’s plan is soon derailed. She meets archaeologist Dr. Andreas Leandros who looks like the Greek gods of ancient times, and her own damaged heart begins to come alive.
What does the mysterious package contain, and how will Brit find Maria as requested by her
father? Will finding her change Brit’s life? Will she manage to preserve her bond with Andreas, or will she return to the US to live out her life without him?
Excerpt:
It was on June eleventh that he met her. He had gone to Adriatika for his evening meal. It was a
week night and he had lingered over his late afternoon swim. By the time he arrived, the few other diners were well into their meals.
“What have you for me tonight, my friend?” he asked.
“Ah! You are in luck. We have Rabbit Steffado and I’ve kept a portion back for you.”
Ian settled into his chair at his regular table and opened his book. He’d long had the habit of
reading in restaurants until his food arrived. It kept him from feeling lonely.
He heard a commotion at the door and glanced up from his book to see a stunning young woman in conversation with Yiannis.
“Of course you are not too late, Signorina,” Yiannis was saying as he showed her to a table. “We
always look forward to your return in June. Did you have a pleasant journey from Venice?”
“Pleasant enough, Yiannis. I hope you have some of your Rabbit Steffado for me tonight. I’ve been looking forward to it for months.”
“Alas, I am afraid the last portion was just ordered by someone else,” he said, nodding in the
general direction of Ian’s table. “But I have a very nice fish if you’re interested.”
“Hmm. I’ll think about it. Meanwhile, if you could bring me a pitcher of your good house wine…”
“Of course.”
Ian went back to reading his book. Suddenly he sensed that he wasn’t alone. He looked up to see
the woman who’d just entered the restaurant standing at his table, a brimming pitcher of wine in her hand. She was tall and full breasted, her long ebony hair swung loosely to her shoulders and her eyes were dark and lively. Her face could have come from a Botticelli painting, beautifully oval, classically Italian. She wore a low necked blouse that seemed to fall off one shoulder and a full skirt that emphasized her small waist.
He realized with a shock that she was speaking to him in English and that he hadn’t heard a word
she had said.
“I beg your pardon?”
“I said I assume you speak English since you’re reading a book in that language. If you’d rather, we could speak in Italian. My Greek is a bit primitive.”
Confused, Ian managed to stutter, “English will be fine.”
“Good. I have a proposition for you.” She smiled.
Ian thought whatever it is the answer is yes. He merely nodded.
“You,” she resumed accusingly, “you have ordered the last portion of Rabbit Steffado. I’ve been
looking forward to Rabbit Steffado for months. I propose that we should enjoy that rabbit together. There is always enough for two in Yiannis’ portions. Meanwhile we can order some of Catarina’s eggplant and a salad to start and,” here she held up the pitcher, “I already have the wine.” She waited expectantly.
Ian threw back his head and laughed for the first time in months. “Please,” he said, getting up
quickly and pulling out a chair for her, “Be my guest. I’m Ian McQuaid.”
Over the eggplant she told him she was from Venice and that her name was Maria. “I always spend six weeks here at this time of the year. And this is my favorite restaurant on Corfu. I always came here on my first night back.”
They worked their way through the appetizers laughing and chatting about their experiences on
Corfu as if they were old friends.
The rabbit arrived at the table, steaming and aromatic in its rich sauce. Maria ladled it on to their
plates. “So what brings you to Corfu?”
Ian somehow didn’t want to admit his recent illness to this young woman who was the picture of
health and vitality. “I was working on Crete and I decided to take some time off. A friend suggested Corfu.”
“What do you do on Crete?”
“I’m an archaeologist. My special area is Bronze-Age societies, the Minoans in particular. Knossos, on Crete, is one of the best preserved Minoan sites in the world. I’ve been working there off and on for some years.”
“You’re an American aren’t you? Your accent isn’t British.”
“Yes. I’m a professor at Stanford University in California. But I spend half of every year in Greece.”
They continued to chat and laugh their way through the rest of meal.
Ian could hardly take his eyes off of her. She was so utterly alive. Her mobile face telegraphed her every thought and mood. When she laughed at his stories her whole face lit up. When she was serious,her eyes held the reflective calm of a mountain lake. He found her utterly entrancing. By the time they’d finished dessert he was wondering how he could prolong the evening, how he could arrange to see her again.
Then he reminded himself that he was still married, that he’d no right to become involved with
this young vibrant creature sitting at his table. And that surely she would have no interest in him, a middle-aged man graying at the temples and many years her senior. Regretfully, when Catarina began closing the shutters, he moved to pay the bill. “Please allow me,” he said. “You’ve given me so much pleasure tonight.”
She nodded and rose to leave.
Outside the restaurant, she paused confused, and looked around. “Where’s your car?”
“Actually, I don’t have one. I haven’t found much need for one here. I walk everyplace. The house I’m renting is just up the hill a mile or so.”
“Please let me drive you home,” she said. “I insist. It is small payment for that lovely dinner.”
Ten minutes longer with her, Ian thought. Ten minutes more of her lovely voice and beautiful
face. “Of course,” he responded.
She drove efficiently and competently. He watched the shadows and light fall on her face as she
navigated the curves of the narrow, winding country road.
“Turn here,” he instructed as they reached the open gates to the property. She came to a stop at
the circle in front of the villa. The fountain was splashing, its dolphins alive in the moonlight.
“What a beautiful spot.” She said. They sat in silence for a moment, neither quite willing to end the evening.
“You could come in for a brandy,” he suggested.
They got as far as the front door. Later they could neither of them remember who moved first.
They were in each other’s arms, tearing at their clothing, stumbling up the steps toward the bedroom. Frustrated with their slow progress Ian swept her up into his arms and carried her to his bed, covering her with his body. They made love wordlessly, frantically, as if their very lives depended on their being together in this way at this moment.
When the storm had passed, Ian tried to speak. “I had no right to do this,” he said. “I’m married.”
“Of course you are,” she replied. “No man as attractive as you could be single. Not at your age. I
came to you willingly, I asked for no commitment. We have here and now. We have tonight. Let’s not ask for more.”
He buried his face in her fragrant hair.
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Guest blogger: Elise Whyles

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to let Elise Whyles take over the blog today.

Finding a happy place with a writing partner.
When I came up with the idea of a series about mythical beings I never believed it would ever get as large as it did. I was thinking four books maybe, but I knew I couldn’t do it alone.
So I approached my writer friend Ciara Lake, who was interested. Together we sat down and brainstormed and worked out the details on the idea I’d given birth to. Was it all easy sailing, no. I wish it were.
When you have two distinct personalities and writing voices working together there are always going to be bumps in the road no matter how close the writers are.  Countless hours were spent discussing things like who was writing what? When were the books due in? Who would we submit them to? What exactly was each author responsible for?
Not all easy to answer questions. We’d discuss something, get it worked out and move on only to find ourselves having to revisit the topic because we’d missed the mark in some fashion. Communication in writing is a key element in my opinion. We’ve done a lot together, worked hard on this series and we’ve had a blast.
At the same time we missed the boat on several things – and found out after the fact there were things which didn’t sit well with one or both of us. Back to the drawing board lol, so we hashed it out. Debated, discussed, asked for outside input, and reach a decision we’re both happy with.
There are moments when I think an author needs to be aware of their motivations, their goals. In a single career there’s never any question about this because we’re all aware of where we want to go. When you have a partnership with a co-author then you have to rely on contracts, communication, and an open discussion to help guide you.
Our journey to the ‘happy-place’ has been long, with a few minor bumps, but over all we’ve had fun, and we’re both learning. Doesn’t mean we both always are happy – but that’s life and art. Sometimes you just have to compromise on the small stuff to keep the bigger picture in vivid Technicolor.


Among us walk immortal beings – cursed to hide within the shadows they live along side us as they have for centuries. Using, feeding, living off the mortals so reviled for their weakness – yet there are some who will be awakened and immortality will be given.
Now, an ancient evil stirs – rising to threaten not only the Immortal Realms but the mortal world. A cursed vampire General stirs, plotting his revenge on those who have forsaken him…but he’s forgotten about the innocent, who like him have been punished.
There are those who are Forsaken.
It could be anyone among us…

The first book, Forsaken Heart by Elise Whyles is set to release in April 2012. 

The second book Curse of a Dargon’s Claim  by Ciara Lake will release shortly after.

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Spotlight Feature & Giveaway of C791 by Eve Langlais


C791
by Eve Langlais

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

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


Continue reading “Spotlight Feature & Giveaway of C791 by Eve Langlais”

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Interview with Casea Major


Q1) Can you please share with us a little about yourself
I am Casea Major writer of Erotic Romantic Comedy. I’ve been writing a little over a year and love it.

Q2) Have you always wanted to be an author?
I think I have always wanted to write. I have not always wanted to be an author.

Q3) Can you share with us your typical writing day.  Is there anything you have to have while writing?
I get up and take my kids to school. I come back and sit at my laptop. The only thing I have to have to start is electricity and internet access. Everything else is on an ‘as needed’ basis.

Q4) Most challenging or rewarding part of writing?
Finishing a story. I am notorious for starting gung ho and never completing. I am always amazed and blessed when I can type “the end” because it’s so contrary to who I am. I’m not saying I don’t have a few unfinished stories – I do. But I have just as many finished ones and that’s a testament to how much I love what I do.

Q5) Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?
One Knight in Brooklyn is and Erotic Romantic Comedy with a little bit of fantasy time-travel.  It is a fun, fast-paced story with a lot of heart and some steamy lovemaking.

Q6) How did you come with the idea for this story?
Last summer I had finished my second full-length manuscript and had my first short story published. I was looking to write another shorty story but wasn’t sure which way to go. I saw a call for submissions on Facebook for Decadent’s new 1 night stand series. They were branching out into fantasy and paranormal. So the idea of Robin Hood came to me. But that seemed too serious. But then I wondered what would happen if the heroine expected Robin Hood but got Jersey Shore instead. How would she react? One Knight in Brooklyn was born.
What resulted was the funniest story I’ve ever written with two characters who have explosive chemistry. I am so proud of what they are able to accomplish in their short time and the genuine love and attraction they feel for each other.

Q7) Can you share with us your current work in progress?
My current WIP is something I’ve never written. In fact, it’s a brand new take on the genre. It’s a romance from the guy’s point of view. It’s like a paranormal Guys and Dolls meets Kindergarten Cop. I’m hoping it will live up to the hilarious scenes that are playing in my mind.

Q8) Who are some of your favorite authors?
My tastes in writing vary. I read a lot of YA and not as much romance oddly enough. Although I will say, my favorite authors are Lisa Kleypas, Karen Marie Moning, Suzanne Collins. They are class acts in writing and life.

Q9) What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?
Lisa Kleypas’ new book comes out 2/28. I am very much looking forward to it. Also I am looking forward to seeing the Hunger Games on the big screen.

Q10) Is there anything else you would like to add?
Kelly – thank you so much for having me. I hope everyone checks out Robert and Marianne in One Knight in Brooklyn. It’s a fun romp.

Learn more about Casea here: 
Website / Facebook / Twitter
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Guest blogger: Jane Isaac

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to let Jane Isaac take over the blog today….
Jane Isaac lives in rural Northamptonshire, UK with her husband, daughter and dog, Bollo. Jane studied creative writing, and later specialist fiction with the London School of Journalism.
Jane blogs about her writing experience, ‘Diary of a Newbie Novelist’ at www.newbiewriters.com. She is also co-author at the Pyjama Club.
Two of Jane’s short stories, Duplicity and Perilous Truths, will appear in Crime Anthologies released in 2012 by Rainstorm Press and Bridge House Publishing. An Unfamiliar Murder is her first novel, ‘due for release’ in 2012.
Website /Twitter / Facebook

The Music of Murder
My husband recently joked that I’ve lived with my characters for so long that they’ve become good friends. And he’s right (well, for most of them anyway). I want my readers to relate to them in this way too, so that they jump out and grab you, and when you finish the book, you miss them dearly. But to enable us to feel their journey we need to be acquainted with every aspect of them.  
Tunes like those used in a film, like the Intermezzo in Raging Bull, can provide a reference point, like a car or place that people know and relate to, that all important song that conjures images and memories in your mind. Your mind, just like theirs. You may not like the song, you may hate the film, but how many of your friends and partners have different musical tastes to you? And it still reveals a little of their personality, helping you to understand them.
Songs can be very useful in revealing something about a person’s character. Many of us have our music collated onto an iPod these days, a small tablet containing thousands of our favourite songs, tunes that we love, tunes that provide a window into our soul. Imagine a stranger picking up your iPod and listening to your ‘top 25’ playlist. What story would that tell them about you?
Music can also be very effective in creating the right atmosphere for a particular scene. In An Unfamiliar Murder, Anna is missing her boyfriend Ross when a song comes on the radio; it’s a band they were due to go and see together, a group they both loved. Listening to that song only served to increase the gravity of his loss.
Here is a list of the music mentioned in An Unfamiliar Murder:-
Snow Patrol – Eyes Open
Snow Patrol – Chasing Cars
Muse
The Intermezzo
And it led me to think. What music would I use in a film version? This is essentially the story of two women – Anna Cottrell who comes home from work to find the murdered body of a stranger in her flat and becomes suspect in a murder enquiry, fighting to show her innocence – and DCI Helen Lavery, leading her first murder investigation and forced into a race against time, as people close to Anna start to disappear. But there is also a menacing killer lurking in the background, stalking his prey. I think the classical piece would provide a wonderful backdrop for his snippets…
Jane Isaac is author of An Unfamiliar Murder – out now. You can contact Jane and read an excerpt of the book on her website at www.janeisaac.co.uk Sign up to her newsletter for updates on An Unfamiliar Murder and its sequel which should be out by the end of 2012. Alternatively, follow her on Twitter: @JaneIsaacAuthor or on Face Book: Jane Isaac Author.
Buy An Unfamiliar Murder here:
 Paperback US:

Paperback UK:

 Kindle US:
 Kindle UK:

What readers are saying:
  

“The characters are brilliantly crafted…. I can’t wait for the sequel!” 

 

“…as fast paced as it is full of twists and turns… “

 

“…compulsive reading. Brilliantly written, gripping plot.”

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Interview with Camryn Rhys

Books-n-Kisses is pleased as punch to welcome back Camryn Rhys to the blog.



Q1) Can you please share with us a little about yourself
I’m a sports fan, so this book was a lot of fun for me. I got to research it, at first, by going to Madison Square Garden, so how bad can that be? Plus, if you read the book, there’s… um… lots of research to do.
 
Q2) Have you always wanted to be an author?
Pretty much. I’ve always done a lot of things, but I’ve been writing from my early years. My very first “career” day, I wanted to be a romance author. Imagine that!
 
Q3) What is your most interesting writing quirk?
I almost always start writing without knowing what’s going to happen. I like to let my characters direct what happens, but that’s unpredictable, and sometimes unsafe. They get me into lots of trouble. 🙂
 
Q4) Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?
Every Time I Think of You is a contemporary erotic romance, the story of a girl with a fantasy. She’s had fantasies before, and they haven’t worked out so well. So she’s hoping that this time, her fantasy will survive the test.
 
Q5) How did you come with the idea for this story?
Honestly, I wrote the first scene and just went from there. It sort of wrote itself after that.
 
Q6) Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?
I’m currently editing my next release, a Steampunk Paranormal erotic romance novel for Ellora’s Cave. It’s the story of a woman who’s on the front lines of Victorian Europe’s war on magic. She falls for a lone alpha werewolf with a messiah complex. Hilarity and much sexxors ensue, and voila! You’ve got an Airship Seduction. 🙂
 
Q7) Who is the one author that you would love to meet someday and why?
I’ve always wanted to meet Diana Gabaldon. She was at RWA last year, but her booksigning line made the lines at Disney look abandoned. Between her and Julie Garwood (who I’d also like to meet), they’re the reason I got into romance in the first place. I would love to meet them someday.
 
Q8) What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?
Write. Honestly, too many people want to write and never finish a book. Can’t publish something that’s not done.
 
Q9) Can you share with us something off your bucket list.
I’ve always wanted to travel to Lisbon. I had a friend once tell me that city reminded him of me, and somewhere I would enjoy, so I’ve always thought I would go there and see if I could find myself there.
 
Q10) What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?
I don’t have anything right now that’s calling my name. I think once I get through these edits, I’ll have some time to get back into what I really want to read.
 
Q11) Is there anything else you would like to add?
Thanks so much for having me! Love Books’n’Kisses. 🙂 Thanks for having me back.
 
Facebook: @CamrynRhys
Twitter: @camrynrhys
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Book Feature of Moon over Alcatraz by Patricia Yager Delagrange

Following the death of their baby during a difficult birth, Brandy and Weston Chambers are grief-stricken and withdraw from each other, both seeking solace outside of their marriage; however, they vow to work through their painful disloyalty.  But when the man Brandy slept with moves back to their hometown, three lives are forever changed by his return.
Excerpt:
Three days later we were standing at the edge of a hole in the ground at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery in Hayward, the silence so thick, the insides of my ears buzzed like a distant swarm of angry bees.  Mr. Peralta and another gentleman stood off to the side while Weston and I held hands next to the tiny casket.
Weston had chosen a simple mahogany box with gold handles, a bouquet of white lilies graced the top of the small box.  I knelt down and laid a kiss on the smooth wood then wiped off the tears that had fallen on the wood.  Weston joined me and placed a single red rose in the middle of the lilies.
He helped me up and we stood side-by-side in silence, my guilt over her death like a stone in my empty belly.  I missed everything I’d dreamed would be happening right now, yearned for all that could have been.
Weston nodded at the man standing next to Mr. Peralta and our baby was slowly lowered into the gaping maw.  She reached the bottom, and a bird landed on the rich brown dirt piled next to the grave.  It pecked around, chirping a little song, then flew off – as if saying goodbye.  My heart squeezed inside my chest.
I picked up a small handful of soft dirt.  “Goodbye, Christine,” I whispered, throwing it on top of her casket.
Weston wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me in close to his side.  Why her?  Why my baby?  Was this supposed to make sense?  And, if so, to whom?
We drove home in silence.  No words existed to express my grief.
Fascinated by broken-hearted couples and atypical families, Patricia weaves engaging tales of men and women who create cohesive families where love reigns supreme.  She sprinkles her books with intriguing characters who struggle to find balance in life after tragedy.  Whether an unwed teenager, desperate widow, abandoned father, or a couple who stray from their marital vows, her characters form relationships impacted by their desire to create a family.
Aside from writing, her favorite things to do include riding her Friesian horse, Maximus, dot-to-dot for adults, and watching Russell Crowe and Denzel Washington movies.  She spends a majority of her days writing while her two very large Chocolate Labs lounge on the couch cuddled next to her and her MacBook.
She writes a blog every Wednesday, so if you’re interested, sign up to be on the mailing list and she’ll notify you after she posts her blog on this website.  Or just drop by Wednesday mornings and leave a comment.
Website / Facebook
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Interview with Cassandra Carr

Q1)  Can you please share with us a little about yourself
Cassandra:  I’m a mom of one daughter who’s three and a wife from the Western New York area. I started writing seriously in 2008 and sold my first novel in November 2010. Since then I’ve sold seven other works ranging from a short story to full-length novels.

Q2)  Have you always wanted to be an author?
Cassandra:  Not at all. I worked in corporate marketing for 15 years, but the job market for that is not great in this area, so I decided to try out something different. And here I am!

Q3)  Can you share with us your typical writing day.  Is there anything you have to have while writing?
Cassandra:  Heh. I wish I had a typical writing day. Since I stay home with my toddler (I only have part-time child care for her) there is no such thing. Basically, I write whenever I can. I’m not picky about where I write, what noise is around me, etc. If I was I’d never get anything done. I don’t listen to music while writing or watch TV – those two things do distract me.

Q4)  Most challenging or rewarding part of writing?
Cassandra:  The most challenging for me is simply finding the time. The most rewarding is hearing from a reader about how much they loved my book. Believe us, readers, when we say we love to hear from readers, we aren’t kidding. Writers, by the very nature of what we do, are oftentimes alone. Getting a friendly (or gushing if we’re lucky) email can make our entire week.

Q5)  Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?
Cassandra:  Well, let’s see…Impact came out Feb 1st and is book 1 of the Buckin’ Bull Riders series. It follows Conner, who is a professional bull rider and closet Dom, and Jessica, who works for the tour and is a submissive. She tries to convince Conner he can have it all- a career, true love, and the BDSM lifestyle he craves.
Cold As Ice, Buffalo Intimidators book 2, comes out March 7th. This one is a ménage a quatre, with Luc, Jake, and Carter, who seduce massage therapist Eva. Eva’s been lusting after the guys but didn’t want to do something unprofessional. Plus, how could she pick just one gorgeous hockey hunk? It turns out, she doesn’t have to.

Q6)  How did you come with the idea for this story?
Cassandra:  For the Buckin’ Bull Riders series, I watched some of the professional bull riders tour (PBR). Incidentally, it’s on the same channel that carries a lot of hockey games. When I saw the excitement of the sport and some of the hot guys who ride the bulls, I was hooked.
As far as the Buffalo Intimidators series, I fully admit to having an unhealthy obsession intense focus on hockey. So I thought – wouldn’t it be cool to do an entire series that centers around a hockey team that has permanent ménage relationships?

Q7)  Can you share with us your current work in progress?
Cassandra:  Currently I have two projects in the first draft stage, and then others that are in edits, etc. The first project is Buckin’ Bull Riders book 3, Momentum (book 2, Collision, releases in April or May 2012). I’m about 27k through about a 50k story.
The other project is the first full-length book I’ve written since 2008. It’s the first of a five-book series focusing on IT geeks. I married a geek and I don’t think they get enough love.

Q8)  Who are some of your favorite authors?
Cassandra:  Oh gosh. I always hesitate to name people because I don’t want to leave anyone out, but I’ll say Lisa Kleypas, Maya Banks, and LA Witt. Three totally different authors writing three totally genres.

Q9)  Do you feel that any of your favorite authors have inspired your writing style?
Cassandra:  Huh. I’ve never really thought of it. I’ve heard that although my sex scenes are graphic they’re a little more lyrical than some other authors, and I think that might be from reading Lisa Kleypas. But overall, probably not. I have my own voice.

Q10)  What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?
Cassandra:  *snort* I have, and I’m not joking here, well over 200 books in my TBR pile, and I keep buying more. Lately I’m on a m/m kick. There are far too many I’d love to start RIGHT NOW if I was able to.

Q11)  Is there anything else you would like to add?
Cassandra:   No, just that I had fun and I hope that if any of your readers do take a chance on one of my books and like it to please let me know! Here are all my links:
Website: http://www.booksbycassandracarr.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorCassandraCarr
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/CassandraCarr
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Cassandra_Carr
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Interview & Giveaway with Dana M Burnett

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Dana M Burnett to the blog today.  

Dana Michelle Burnett spent most of her life writing short stories and sharing them with family and friends. Over the years, her work was published in numerous commercial and literary magazines  including Just Labs, Mindprints: A Literary Journal, Foliate Oak, and many more.  Her short story John Lennon and the Chicken Holocaust was include in The Best of Foliate Oak 2006.  
In 2010, Burnett’s first novel, Ghost Country, was released.  Based on her own Cherokee heritage, the novel marked her return to the literary world after a four year hiatus.  She followed that with the release of her first romance novel,Two Out of Three in the summer of 2011.

Spiritus is the first novel in her new  paranormal romance series by the same name. The second book,Haunted,  is expected in the spring of 2012.

Website / Facebook / Twitter

  1. Dana can you please share with us a little about yourself  I am a paranormal romance writer and the proud dance mom to a beautiful eight year old daughter.  We live in Southern Indiana, not far from where my novel Spiritus is set.
  2. Have you always wanted to be an author?  I think I was in elementary school when I went from wanting to be an actress to wanting to be a writer.  Why just act out someone else’s stories when I could write my own?
  3. Who are some of your favorite writers? Who do you feel has influenced your writing?  I love Stephen King!  He has a way of describing things that put you right in the story.  I also love Anne Rice and her attention to detail.  My all-time favorite is Margaret Mitchell.
  4. How did you get into writing in this specific genre?  Have you ever thought about writing in a different genre?  I actually began my writing career as a literary author with some success, but then my daughter was born and life just got in the way of my work.  When I took over the family home décor business, I wrote a few decorating articles and those eventually became a book.  I went back to my roots of literary writing, but a few romantic story lines kept coming to me.  I started writing a contemporary romance and once it was finished, I moved on to Spiritus.  I think I have found my true calling in paranormal romance.
  5. What are some of your writing rituals? I tend to write all of my stories out of order.  I write whatever scene is strongest in my mind at that moment.  I also write everything out long hand first, then I do a rough edit when I type the story in the computer.
  6. Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?  Spiritus is a paranormal romance about a girl that is haunted by a ghost that loves her.  He believes that she is his dead wife reincarnated.  The problem?  His wife was the one that killed him.  So, is he back for love or revenge?
  7. How did you come with the idea for this story?  I live very close to where Spiritus is set.  I would drive past these old mansions and wonder about the people that lived there over the years.  Bit by bit, Spiritus began to take shape.
  8. Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?   I am currently working on Haunted, book #2 of the Spiritus series, and should have it ready for release late this Spring.
  9. What would you be if you were not an author?  I would probably go back to the home décor business.  I really enjoyed it, but writing was always my true calling.
  10. What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?  I have a few more Amanda Hocking novels to read and I’ve just recently discovered Amber Scott’s work.  Since the dance competition season has started, I’m hoping get some reading in during my daughter’s rehearsals.
  11. Is there anything else you would like to add? I would just like to thank you for having me.  Readers can keep in touch with me through:
http://DanaMichelleBurnett.com
http://www.Twitter.com/DanaMBurnett
http://www.Facebook.com/DanaMichelleBurnett
Spiritus (Book One)
A love that refuses to die…
Buy Links: Amazon / Nook / Smashwords
“As I watched him vanish into a soft mist that faded away, I knew that he was no ordinary spirit…I knew that he was a dangerous entity that could be in some corner of another realm planning his revenge, but I also knew that I was hopelessly in love with him.”
When Becca moves into her ancestral home in Corydon, Indiana, her life takes a puzzling and thrilling turn when she meets the ghost haunting the halls. As the seductive spirit lures her closer and closer, she learns about her own past and starts to understand that some mistakes are meant to last.
Becca McAllister has always been different from other girls her age. Never part of the “in crowd”, Becca never really fit in anywhere. When her mother dies and her father moves them to the small town of Corydon, Indiana, Becca didn’t expect things to change.
But things do change when Becca accidentally makes contact with a one hundred and sixty year old ghost, Alastor Sinclair, that haunts the halls of her new home.
To Becca, Alastor is a seductive spirit that seems to see straight into her soul. To Alastor, Becca is what he was waited a century for–A second chance.
But the closer they get, the more Becca realizes that this isn’t the first time she and Alastor have known each other. Worse still, is she the one responsible for his death so long ago? And if so, did he come back for love or revenge?

Continue reading “Interview & Giveaway with Dana M Burnett”

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Guest blogger: Lacey Wolf

Some writers consider their book their babies. And I never really understood how they felt that way, until More Than Useful. Both Amber’s Muse and Fool Me Once were stories I had a pretty easy time crafting.  And of course I was thrilled to share each of them with readers. So when I sat down to write More Than Useful, I expected it to be a breeze. I was wrong. I had a very hard time with Amy and Adam, capturing just the right emotion, and how exactly a person would react to situations. There were times I could only write 500 words before I was stumped and just had to walk away for the day.
For anyone who has read the book and reads dedications, they will notice that I dedicated the book to my dog Cocoa, which probably sounds a bit wacky. Cocoa took walks with me daily, sometimes two times until I got through this story. We would just go out and I would walk until I figured out just where this story needed to go. 
More Than Useful is also the very first story of mine that I had to outline. I have always been a panster, but if I hadn’t made an outline, I never would have finished it. Once I was finished with this one, I felt relieved. And even better, when my publisher read it she loved it and let me know she could see growth in my writing. So, as I look back at the journey of making More Than Useful, I realize maybe it was so tough because I was having growing pains. I was learning to get more in tune with my characters, especially Adam. I really had to understand him in order to write him.
More Than Useful is my baby and I am sending it out in the world. I’ve bitten all my nails down now that it’s released as I hope my readers enjoy this story as much as I did writing.
If you’d like to learn more about me and my books, check would my website: www.laceywolfe.com
To connect with me: Twitter / Facebook / Facebook Fan Page
I also wanted to share that without my reader’s I wouldn’t be here. So I am having a big thank-you giveaway that runs until March 20th. To learn more details, visit my blog HERE.
More Than Useful
Can she settle for just a little fun?
Every Tuesday and Thursday morning Adam stops by Amy’s bakery for one of her delicious muffins…and a little flirting. When he finally asks her out, Amy is thrilled.
Adam informs her from the beginning that he isn’t looking for anything serious. Just a little fun. Amy agrees, even though she isn’t entirely sure that’s what she wants.
She does her best to play it cool, but Adam is sending so many mixed signals he’s confusing her, which she finds incredibly frustrating.
Adam is terrified by the feelings he’s developing for Amy. It would be so much easier if he just backed away from her. Then there’s his sister, who is insisting that Amy is not the right girl for him.
Will Adam be able to figure out what his heart desires before it’s too late and he loses his chance at true happiness?
Content Warning: explicit sex