Category: Sizzling PR

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Spotlight of: Rebecca Royce Shifters and Bikers Series

Unwanted Mate:

 Gunther West’s eyes flew open. Something had awakened him, something still in the room with him. He’d gone to bed alone, but as he inhaled, his senses confirmed what his subconscious had known: a female stood in his bedroom. Not just any female either—Judy Bristol. His mate. Although she’d yet to admit it.

 The woman who filled his nights with erections he couldn’t find relief for. Maybe he dreamed still. If so, all he’d have to do is get up and shove himself in her sweet little pussy and warm up inside of her.

 “After two years, have you finally come to fuck me?”

 She quivered in the darkness, grief flowing from her. “Denise died and it’s my fault.”

 He sat up, the sheet falling. To his canine senses, her scent tasted sour and wrong, and her pulse beat too fast. Damn it, he’d been so fucking horny from the first moment he’d smelled her, he hadn’t noticed her sadness. He could not feel any illness, just distress. His inner wolf raged to make things better for her even as he calmed himself. It would do him no good to scare her off. She didn’t have a mean bone in her body, but years of learned bigotry against werewolves couldn’t be undone all at once. He had to act the gentleman, and not the wolf. Even if it killed him.

Bar Mate:

Yvette Nelson swung the door behind her, leaving the coarse jokes and steam of the back of the kitchen for the loud music and swearing in the dining room. She rolled her eyes. Men were men wherever she went and all of them bored her to death.

She set a plate of nachos in front of one of her regular customers, smiled, and moved on. There were drink orders to take and bus boys to hassle. No time to rest for the weary. Not that she felt tired, at least not physically. Wolf-shifters could go for days without sleeping. She bit her lip to keep from scowling as she narrowly avoided a collision with a drunk trying to get to the bathroom. Maybe the time has come to leave this job.

Tingles on her spine told her someone stared hard at her. Eyes bore into the back of her head and she turned, expecting to be yelled at by a customer feeling neglected. Instead, across the dimly lit room she saw the most intense green eyes on the hottest human she’d viewed in a longtime. Blond hair fell around his shoulders, green eyes—oh yes, she wanted to fuck him, rub against him, mark him with her scent.

Mate By The Music:

She ran her tongue over them as she regarded him silently.  As he watched the motion, his cock jumped in his pants.

             Holy Shit. He wanted her. 

             “You’re going to be a problem. Aren’t you?”

             Her accent sounded British, but not upper crust and stuffy.  No, the little woman spoke like she’d stepped right out the back alleys of London and she had no problem with that whatsoever. Her eyes dared him to argue that he wouldn’t be trouble. 

             He didn’t intend to.

             “I’m looking for my brother.” 

             She looked right and left.  “Doesn’t seem to be here. Sorry.” 

             Scott rolled his eyes.  “Obviously.”

             She stepped out from behind the bar and moved toward him.  “I’m Nancy Elwood.”

            “Nancy.” He didn’t know why he felt the need to repeat her name. Maybe because, for some weird reason, it felt good on his tongue. Like her pussy would.  He blinked at the though. Wow. He didn’t usually think like such a fucking horn-dog.  How long had it been since he’d gone to bed with a woman? His last encounter had been weeks early. Not fabulous either.  But not long enough to warrant his juvenile inner dialogue.

 Out of Place Mate:

 “What do you mean you both got married? To women I’ve never met? Did it even occur to you that these women could have targeted you for your wallets?”

 The man wearing a too-elegant-for-a-bar tuxedo slammed his fist down on the table in front of Stark and Scott Quaid. His brothers. Victoria Bensen took another swig of her dark lager as she sniffed the room one more time. There could be no question—the newcomer in Gunther’s biker bar dressed like he’d just come from the opera—smelled like the third Quaid brother.

 Only better than the other two combined. His scent suggested he’d spent time in the Middle East, or at least that had been what she’d scented all the time when she’d lived there for a year. His body radiated sandalwood, always her favorite. Her panties got wet as she took more of his essence into her veins. He didn’t look bad either. Taller than the other two by at least several inches, his dark brown hair contrasted with sharp blue eyes. His long face had a five o’clock shadow that stood out against his neat appearance. The facial hair told her he had hidden depths past the boring tux. If he truly behaved like the neat, organized person he portrayed to the world, he’d have taken the time to shave, no matter what.

 Yvette, recently mated to one of Sean’s brothers, walked up to Victoria, holding her drink tray. She’d be leaving to travel with her new husband shortly, and Gunther had dragged Victoria, kicking and screaming, to take over her job until he could find a permanent replacement for the other woman. This would be their only night working together before Yvette left.

 “Don’t get too interested in that one. He’s the third brother. Not as open-minded as his younger siblings. Stark says he’s a real hard ass and not necessarily shifter-friendly. He doesn’t even ride.”

 Victoria raised her eyebrows. She didn’t know which part of that story Yvette objected to the most, the fact that he could be an anti-shifter, or that he didn’t ride a motorcycle. As for the hard ass part, Victoria could agree with that part. He did, indeed, possess a tight derriere. She wanted to squeeze it.

 “Thanks for the warning. 
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Interview & Giveaway with Lisa Mondello

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Lisa Mondella to the blog today. 

1.      Can you please share with us a little about yourself?
Lisa: I’m the author of 13 published novels.  I’ve written for small presses as well as Avalon Books and most recently, Harlequin Love Inspired.  I love music, movies and books.  (Everyone has a passion, right?  Mine’s all three!) 

2.      Have you always wanted to be an author?
Lisa: I always say that I never chose to be an author.  Writing chose me somewhere along the line.   I’d always written short stories.  But I didn’t write my first novel until the year before I was married.  I credit getting my first PC for giving me the courage to try.  I don’t think I would have ever taken the leap to novel writing on a typewriter.  Carbon paper?  White out?  Not the way I write!  Of course, PCs back then were nothing like they are now.  My first PC had a floppy drive that held a total of 33 pages on it!  Yeah, we’ve come a long way in 20 years.

3.      Can you share with us your typical writing day.  Is there anything you have to have while writing?
Lisa: I need to have a cup of coffee on my desk.  My husband can’t understand this because my coffee goes cold.  I rarely ever finish a cup while it’s still hot.  But I have to have it handy.  My best writing time is 11AM – 2PM and then again at 11PM – 2AM.  Don’t ask me why.  I think it has to do with nap and bedtime when the kids were small and then school time when the kids got older.  I know I’ll have a chunk of time when I won’t be interrupted.  But when I’m on deadline, all bets are off.  I write when I can, as much as I can until the book is done.

4.      Most challenging or rewarding part of writing?
Lisa: The most challenging thing is writing about something you have no knowledge of.  It’s also the best thing.  I love learning new things.  But it’s a little nerve wracking trying to weave details into a story, making it sound authentic and compelling while getting all the details right.

5.      Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?
Lisa:  Mandy Morgan swore she’d never step foot in Texas again after Beau Gentry left her for life on the rodeo circuit eight years before. But now her uncle s heart is failing and she has to convince him that surgery will save his life. She never dreamed the first thing she’d see when she stepped off the plane would be her biggest nightmare…the one man she’d never stopped loving. Beau Gentry had the fever for two things: the rodeo and Mandy Morgan. But for Beau, loving Mandy was complicated by his father s vendetta against her uncle. This led him to make the hardest decision of his life and he can still see the bitterness and hurt on Mandy s face. All these years it has killed him to think Mandy had forgotten him and moved as far away as possible from him. But now they’re back in Texas, and he’s going to do all he can to win back her love.

6.      How did you come with the idea for this story?
Lisa: Her Heart for the Asking was the book that was never going to be written.  I’d written a blurb of the story as an example for an article on pitching to editors at conferences.  A reader read the pitch and asked me when the book was going to be published. So I quickly wrote a few chapters and sent them off to Avalon Books.  They bought the story a few months later.  I’ve just released the ebook of the story.  I’m thrilled that a new set of readers are being introduced to my Texas Hearts series.

7.      Can you share with us your current work in progress?
Lisa: I’m currently working on a screenplay with a producer and revising a romantic thriller called, Material Witness.  Material Witness is the story of crime author, Cassie Alvarez who goes from writing about crime to being in the middle of danger when she’s the only witness to an organized crime murder in Providence while researching her latest novel.  Officer Jake Santos was a target that night and he knows he needs to keep Cassie alive to testify or the killer will go free.  It will be released in June 2012.

8.      Who are some of your favorite authors?
Lisa: Honestly, there are way too many to name and I’d be afraid of leaving one out.  I have some auto-buy authors that I know I’ll enjoy.  It all depends on what I’m in the mood to read.  

9.      Do you feel that any of your favorite authors have inspired your writing style? 
Lisa:  When I’m deep into writing, I don’t read the same type of romance I’m writing.  For instance, I won’t read romantic suspense if I’m writing it.  I’ll read fantasy or shorter category books.  That way the writing voice doesn’t bleed into my own.

10.  What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?
Lisa: Under the Moon by Natalie Damschroder is high on my list as well as Miracle Under the Mistletoe by Tracy Madison.  I’m still getting through a C.L. Wilson series. 

Want to learn more about Lisa?  
Check her out here: 
Website: http://www.lisamondello.blogspot.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1242870703
Twitter: @LisaMondello


Lisa is giving away an e-copy of NOTHING BUT TROUBLE.
Melanie Summers, a feisty zoologist with big dreams, must spend a month in the Wyoming wilderness in order to satisfy a deal made with her father. 
Stoney Buxton is a hard-driving cowboy with simple values who needs to raise quick money to save the family ranch. Re-entering the rodeo circuit seems like the best way to get the money he needs until Melanie Summers shows up at his ranch flashing easy money. To everyone else, her offer seems like the answer to all his prayers. But one look at her long legs and pouting lips and Stoney know this high society gal is going to be nothing but trouble for his cowboy heart
To enter: Fill out the Rafflecopter form below. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Interview with WJ Craft

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome WJ Craft to the blog today.  To talk about her newest books. 


1.    Can you please share with us a little about yourself
WJ:  I’m a very sensual person, both in terms of erotic feelings and the five (or maybe six?) senses. I think it’s important to put as many of the senses in writing as possible, so that the reader can experience them too. I wish that sensuality was valued more than violence in our society. I’m also probably older than you might guess, and would be surprising to meet in person. I consider myself an intellectual hermaphrodite.
2.    Have you always wanted to be an author?
WJ: Yes! I’ve enjoyed mainstream sci-fi for many years, and erotica too, especially pin-up art. Now that the internet has made it possible for regular people to get published, I’m thrilled to be out there with the rest of us rejects. LOL The traditional publishing racket is so out of touch with everything at this point, and I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity.
3.    Who are some of your favorite writers? Who do you feel has influenced your writing?
WJ: I enjoy Robert Heinlein and Ray Bradbury very much, especially Bradbury’s short stories. He could take pretty much anything and turn it into a creepy short. I love short stories because sometimes all you want is a little snapshot into a situation, like an episode of the Twilight Zone. So I guess I should include Rod Serling among my influences too! In terms of erotica, definitely Dragonfly, who I first encountered on the internet way back in 1996. Some amazingly kinky sci-fi shorts there, and she’s releasing her stuff on Amazon now! I’m very tickled about that.
4.    How did you get into writing in this specific genre?  Have you ever thought about writing in a different genre?
WJ: I just went ahead and did it! I knew that if others could be successful at it, so could I, because I feel the quality of my writing is just as good, if not better, than most erotica out there. I am going to be doing another collection of what I call “light horror” shorts in the near future. More about that below.
5.    What are some of your writing rituals?
WJ:  Caffeine is essential. After I wake up, I like to surf my bookmarked adult sites to get me in the mood, then I decide if I’m going to finish a project or start a new one. I’m a lot like Neil Gaiman that way, in that I usually have a few things brewing at the same time. If I have only one thing, it quickly seems boring and like something I don’t want to work on. If I have several, I can flip through them and see what I’m most in the mood for that day.
6.    Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?
WJ:  My first short story collection is called Chicks In Charge, because every story has the woman benefiting or on top in some way. It’s all sci-fi and fantasy erotica, with something for everyone. If you don’t like one story, you’re sure to love another after a few pages. They’re all quite different.
7.    How did you come with the idea for this story?
WJ:  I’ve had a lot of story ideas rolling around, and I enjoy brainstorming them. I have pages and pages of story ideas, including outlines for three novels. Not enough hours in the day!
8.    Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?
WJ: I’ve just started work on a “light horror” short story collection that I’ve been wanting to do for a while. By “light,” I mean that there’s no zombies, minimal blood, and nothing that will keep you up all night and freak you out for a month. It’s mostly psychologically creepy as opposed to brains and guts everywhere. There will be body parts removed, but only because they deserve it.
9.    What would you be if you were not an author?
WJ:  I’d love to be a sex therapist, helping people have a healthy and loving relationship with the pleasurable parts of their bodies.
10. What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?
WJ:  I happen to know that Volume 3 of Dragonfly’s short stories is in the works, I’m dying to see that! A few other titles that look interesting are “Schmidt Steps Back,” “Religion for Atheists,” and the new Avengers movie. Note, I am not an atheist, I’m more of a Pagan or Agnostic, I haven’t decided really. I’m not particularly religious. Unless you count two hours of watching hot men and women in skin-tight clothing on a giant movie screen a religious experience. I know that kind of thing moves me in mysterious ways…
11. Is there anything else you would like to add?
WJ:  I’m helping to work on a new sci-fi erotica publishing collective called Deepest Regions Publishing (http://deepestregions.blogspot.com/) with Dragonfly, which I am very excited about! It’s new, and we’re both really busy working on new projects, so the blog is kind of… not as up to date as it should be, but I’m hoping to get on that in the next week or two. I also have a Twitter (https://twitter.com/WJCraft) where people can tweet with me. Come say hello!

An Erotic Short Story Collection

Over 20,000 words of intriguing and playful delights where women come out on top in a variety of ways!

Chainsaw Chicks of Chinese Camp: Are the legends true? Are four amazons lying in wait in this tiny rural town for their perfect boy toys to come along and play with them?

Zap: While researching a possible preventative for epileptic seizures, a scientist stumbles onto a very interesting use for her new app.

Take Me To Your Leader: In this 1940s retro tale, a military translator gets up close and personal with some newly-landed alien emissaries.

The Gnome World Order: Find out what really goes on underneath those seemingly innocent pointed red hats.

Little Shoppe of Enchantments: Augustus Pound takes a wrong turn with some rather questionable results. This version includes the longer alternate ending, not available anywhere else!

Cowboy: They seemed like ordinary women in the greasy spoon in town, but they had plans for Jack Barnes and his equipment.

Rosa Erotica: Lyrical and touching. A 500-word ode to the spirit of the rose goddess and a warrior’s epiphany.

Website / Twitter

Excerpt
The Zap App
The next day, she made a few alterations to her application, reversed
a few things, and then waited for Richard to make his morning
appearance. She didn’t have long to wait.

“Good morning,” he said, right behind her ear.

“Good morning, Richard,” said Veronica, then she tapped the button.

Instantly the sound of coffee splashing all over the floor met her
ears, and she turned to see her nemesis staggering backwards until he
crashed into the cubicle wall, which threatened to topple into the
next space over. His eyes were partly rolled up into his head and he
was moaning and gasping, his twitching body slowly sinking
horizontally onto a filing cabinet. With a grin that was triumphant,
surprised and slightly sadistic, she tapped the button again to see
what would happen when she turned the app off.

A noticeable wet stain at the front of a medium-sized pants tent
caught her attention. Had the poor man wet himself?

“Ohgod,” was all he could manage for at least five minutes as he
recovered. Veronica began to wonder if she should call a medic, and
coworkers started to crowd in her doorway to see what the hell had
happened.

“It’s all right,” she reassured them. “Still working on that epilepsy
app. Must have reversed something.”

“That was… that was…” Richard spit out, trying to regain the gift
of language. “Fucking incredible…”

Confused, Veronica stared at him.

“What?”

“Incredi… mind-blowing. Best orgasm ever…”

Now that, she hadn’t expected. But something about it sounded vaguely
familiar. She turned her back on her human lab rat as the embarrassed
coworkers made themselves useful elsewhere. A quick search on
“epilepsy” and “orgasm” brought up research on the phenomenon known as
the “orgasmic aura,” a state of spontaneous climax that some epilepsy
victims experienced at the onset of a seizure. She could hear Richard
slowly collecting himself behind her.

“Again,” he finally moaned.

“Fuck off.”

“Do it again!” His hand gripped her shoulder and she turned, finding
herself face-to-face with a pair of desperate, lust-filled eyes. His
other hand shot out and gripped her throat. Unable to cry out for
help, she did the only thing she could think of to incapacitate the
madman – she hit the button again.

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Spotlight Feature of The Memory of Roses by Blair McDowell


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.



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 ‘Delighting In Your Company’.
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


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Spotlight Feature of Crossfire of Love by Ella Jade

Crossfire Of Love
Can an arranged marriage lead to love?
Recent college graduate Gabriella has finally married the man of her dreams, the older, charismatic attorney Lorenzo Martinez. She’s had a crush on him for as long as she can remember and always imagined they’d one day find their happily ever after. Unfortunately, they enter into a union arranged by their fathers.
Lorenzo is charming, protective, and loyal to his crime lord father Carlo. When Carlo asks Lorenzo to marry Gabriella he jumps at the opportunity. He’s been drawn to her for many years and knows by marrying her he’s helping to protect her father.
Gabby is resentful and won’t be Lorenzo’s charity case. But sparks fly and the couple soon gives into their desire, realizing they were meant to be together.
What happens when Carlo’s enemies threaten their future? Will someone get caught in the crossfire?
Content Warning: graphic sex, some violence

Excerpt
Lorenzo walked up the porch steps, turning to stare at her. “Are you coming, Gabriella?” No one but Lorenzo and his father called her by her full name. She liked when Lorenzo said it. He’d always made it sound so formal and sexy.
These were the first words he had spoken to her since they left the courthouse. They were married in the chambers of the prestigious Judge John Cartwright. He’d been a family friend of the Martinezes for many years. He was their go-to man whenever they needed something done fast and legally. Well, legal in her new father-in-law’s eyes anyway.
She hurried up the steps and followed Lorenzo inside their new home. It was built within a matter of months after she’d agreed to marry him. Carlo wanted them to have their privacy, but he also wanted to keep them close. He didn’t trust she’d hold up her end of the bargain, and keeping her on the property was the best way to ensure she wouldn’t run.
It was silly, really. How could she run from a family like this? They had ties all over the world. There wasn’t any place she could escape to that they wouldn’t know about. She was a woman of her word. She said she would marry Lorenzo and she did. She’d find a way to cope. She always had.
Lorenzo pulled his jacket off, poured himself a scotch, and then loosened his tie. “Would you like a drink?”
“No, thank you,” she said.
Most brides would be dancing the night away and drinking champagne by this point in their wedding night. She didn’t think that was part of Lorenzo’s plan.
“I didn’t think you’d go through with it.” He sipped the amber colored liquid as he looked her over.
“I said I would.”
“I know, but when push actually came to shove, I thought you’d run.”
“You don’t know me that well,” she said. “I don’t run.”
“Good.” He smirked as he put the glass to his lips.
Gabby couldn’t take her eyes away from those lips. She’d never had the pleasure of having them on her own. Judge Cartwright hadn’t asked him to kiss his bride. She hated herself for thinking about him that way.
“You could’ve stopped this. Why didn’t you?” she asked.
As they stood in front of the judge, she kept hoping he’d put an end to the charade and stop the wedding. It didn’t make sense to her why he had agreed to marry her. She didn’t have a choice. Her father’s gambling debts made sure of that. But she didn’t understand why he’d allowed things to get as far as they had.
“I was just as trapped as you were.” He downed the rest of his scotch.
She didn’t believe that. She knew he respected his dad, but she didn’t get why he wouldn’t have put his foot down and said no to such a life-altering decision.
“You could’ve told your father no from the beginning. Why would you agree to marry someone if you didn’t have to?”
“Look.” He shook his head. “It’s done now. We’re going to have to make the best of it.”
“Make the best of it?” She plopped down on the leather sofa. “I’m twenty-two years old. I just graduated from college, and you want me to make the best of it?”
“I know this isn’t what you might have wanted, but it is what it is. You agreed, and now it’s done. You can’t go back on it now. My father won’t forgive that.”


Bio: Ella Jade has been writing for as long as she can remember. As a child, she often had a notebook and pen with her and now as an adult, the laptop is never far. The plots and dialogue have always played out in her head, but she never knew what to do with them. That all changed when she discovered the eBooks industry. She started penning novels at a rapid pace and now she can’t be stopped.
Ella resides in New Jersey with her husband and two young boys. When she’s not chasing after her kids, she’s busy writing, attending PTO meetings, kickboxing and scrapbooking. She hope’s you’ll get lost in her words.
Website / Facebook/ Twitter

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Spotlight Feature of Obsession by Tamaria Soana



Obsession
Is there anywhere safe when you’re the object of someone’s obsession?

Alexandria Stevens is a New York Times best-selling romance novelist. After she makes a guest appearance on a popular TV talk show, she creates a Twitter account. Within a few short weeks she meets a fan, and they become fast friends…or that’s what Alex thinks. When Alex finds herself being stalked, the person she least suspects is her new friend Jillian. What she doesn’t know is that Jillian has been obsessed with her for years. She wants everything Alex has, even her husband.
Content Warning: sexual situations, adult language, violence



Excerpt
Alex went into her study to answer some emails and go over the script for her movie again when the doorbell rang. Knowing Hudson was on a conference call, she went to answer it. She looked out the window to find a deliveryman with a long, white box. Her heart melted, Hudson had flowers delivered for her. He was always so romantic and thoughtful. God, she loved him.

Alex opened the door and signed for the flowers. As she took them to the kitchen to place them in a vase, her mind wandered to all the ways she could thank Hudson properly after his conference call was over. Her favorite one involved her being down on her knees. Alex couldn’t wait to see and smell the beautiful flowers. Giggling, she untied the ribbon and anxiously lifted the lid.
She screamed and dropped the box. It was filled with a dozen black roses, a purple plastic butterfly attached to one stem. Fear rocked through her body as she remembered the note left on her car. Like a butterfly, a wild butterfly. I will collect you and capture you.Alex fell to the floor and wrapped her arms around herself.
“Alex, oh my God. Are you okay? What happened?” Hudson asked as he placed his arms around her trembling body.
She pointed to the black roses. “I thought you sent me flowers,” she stuttered in between her sobs.
Hudson looked at the roses with confusion, then Alex pointed to the butterfly and told him about the note she’d found on her car and how Colleen said it was nothing, probably a sick prank.
“You should’ve told me, baby. I’m calling your father, this isn’t just a prank.” Hudson dialed Anthony, Alex’s father and a police detective. Hudson held her tight and assured her that he wouldn’t let anything happen to her and they would find out what was going on.
Anthony was at his daughter’s side within fifteen minutes with two policemen in tow. He asked a few questions and took the flowers for evidence. Alex just clung to Hudson as her father lectured her for not telling anyone about the note that had been left on her car. He was upset that the note had been destroyed, because there could’ve been forensic evidence on it that would help them figure out who was doing this.
Alex looked into her father’s eyes, he looked both angry and conflicted. She knew this had to be hard on him. He had to be both her father and the detective on the case. He assured them he would try and keep a lid on it for as long as possible. Alex let out a moan knowing what would happen if the media found out about it.
Hudson asked Anthony about the possibility of the police providing some sort of security for Alex. She objected, saying she didn’t want to be babysat. Her father quickly dismissed her objection, stating it was a good idea and he would arrange regular patrols of the street. He swore to her that he would catch the psycho who was stalking her. He hugged her before he left, which took Alex by surprise because he never showed emotion.
When everyone was finally gone, Hudson got Alex some water and two sleeping pills. Soon she was in bed wrapped in Hudson’s arms. Although she was both emotionally and physically exhausted, she felt safe next to him. She sighed and snuggled as close to his warm body as she could as she wiped away a tear and drifted off to sleep.
Alex woke to her cellphone ringing over and over again. Who the hell keeps calling? She moaned as she grabbed her phone from the bedside table. When she looked at the screen and saw who the caller was, she rolled her eyes.
“Mom?”
“Oh my God, Alexandria, are you okay? Why do I have to find out from the media that someone is stalking my daughter?”
Alex just let her mother rant—no good would come out of trying to stop her and explain things until she had it all out of her system.
“And a movie deal? Why am I the last to know everything? Well, I’m waiting.”
“I’m sorry, Mom. I was going to call you today. Things have been a bit crazy. What do you mean you heard it from the media?”
“It’s all over the entertainment news.”
“Christ!” Alex took a deep breath. She needed to focus and find out what was being said. “Mom, I have to go. I promise I’ll call you later and fill you in on everything. I need to find out exactly what has been leaked.”



Tamaria Soana is middle aged, but just feels like her life has begun. She resides in Western New York. Cuddling up with a good book under an electric throw has always been her way to escape the cold Buffalo nights. Growing up she always loved to write, mainly short stories and poetry. She’s married with two beautiful young girls and one very spoiled lab mix.

Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads / Beachwalk Press

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Spotlight Feature of Rock Killer by Evan Townsend

Rock Killer
by Evan Townsend
Space Resources, Inc. (SRI) mines asteroids for the riches a populated Earth needs without degrading the planet.  Yet there are those opposed to progress in whatever its form such as the Gaia Alliance, a front group for eco-terrorists.  During a violent attack on the Moon, the terrorists steal an exploration ship, arm it, and rename it the Rock Killer.
Charlene “Charlie” Jones of SRI security is trying to infiltrate the Gaia Alliance’s cabal to find evidence linking them to the murder of her fiancé.  But a run-in with the law threatens to reveal her identity to the dangerous men of the Alliance.
Simultaneously, SRI Director Alexander Chun is traveling to the asteroid belt to bring a kilometer-long nickel-iron rock back to Earth orbit to mine for its valuable metals.  Following him and his multi-national team is the Rock Killer.  Without armaments, millions of miles from help, Chun must stop those who threaten him and the lives of his crew.

S. Evan Townsend is a writer living in central Washington State. After spending four years in the U.S. Army in the Military Intelligence branch, he returned to civilian life and college to earn a B.S. in Forest Resources from the University of Washington. In his spare time he enjoys reading, driving (sometimes on a racetrack), meeting people, and talking with friends. He is in a 12-step program for Starbucks addiction. Evan lives with his wife and two sons, aged 17 and 20, and has a 22-year old son attending the University of Washington in biology. He enjoys science fiction, fantasy, history, politics, cars, and travel.
Website/ Facebook / Twitter / Trailer

Excerpt:
DeWite moved into the observation room and Prince followed.
The room looked almost exactly like a bar since it was a VIP lounge for watching ships land and take off. A large window looked over the shipyard, where various types of spacecraft were resting on the lunar dust. The window, made of Crysteel, invented by SRI’s orbital laboratories, began about half a meter from the floor and extended to the ceiling and was about five meters wide. Crysteel, made in a factory in Earth orbit one atom at a time, was almost as strong as aluminum. Its one weakness was a very high index of refraction due to tightly packed oxygen atoms. It made great lenses but was not good for use where a clear view was needed such as spaceship windows and pressure suit helmets. But the picture window in the lounge would have been impractical without the Crysteel.
Four pressure-suited figures were moving across the plain. The suits were not SRI issue and they were carrying submachine guns. DeWite recognized them as a South African made 9 millimeter caseless that were favored by criminals who bought them on the black market.
One, carrying a 40-millimeter recoilless rifle, knelt just a few meters from the window and aimed. Fire shot out of the rear of the weapon, dying almost immediately in the airless environment. A flame licked a small intra-lunar shuttle followed by an explosion. The ship’s skin crumpled and it folded in on itself in a slow, macabre death dance. An explosion marked the rupture of the fuel tanks. Fire burned until the oxygen ran out.
“Goddamnit!” DeWite exploded. “We need to get to the airlock.”
Just then one of the four figures outside noticed the two Security guards. He tapped the others on their shoulders and pointed. The other three turned and again the recoilless rifle spat a fleeting flame. DeWite dived behind the bar—an easy task in the low gravity. The window exploded inward. Prince was thrown against the rear wall, his body shattered by the impact. Then the window exploded outward as the room decompressed. Prince’s body was slammed against the bottom of the window and sucked out into the harsh sunlight.
DeWite heard the emergency door slam shut locking him in the room. He knew it would never open until the pressure in the room equalized with the pressure in the hall.
He stood, aimed his shotgun, braced his leg behind to compensate for the low gravity, and fired. He was surprised he heard it at all. Must still be a little air in the room, some part of him thought.
The figure with the recoilless rifle was thrown back and blood ejaculated from its torn body. It was freeze-dried before it hit the lunar plain. The remaining figures turned with their weapons firing. DeWite barely heard the bullets hitting the wall behind him. His ears felt as if they were going to explode. He screamed, not in fear, but to empty his lungs to prolong his already forfeit life a few more seconds.
Pump, FIRE, Pump, FIRE, Pump was DeWite’s whole existence. Another figure crumpled, spouting blood. Then the bullets ripped into DeWite. Blood flowed like a fire hose. FIRE—DeWite could no longer stand, even in one-sixth gravity. He sank to the floor and died in a puddle of his blood that was boiling and freezing simultaneously.
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Interview & Giveaway with JN Johnson

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to have JN Johnson on the blog today!!  
We are chatting about her new (debut) book Passionate Tides.


1.      Can you please share with us a little about yourself
 Living in her hometown of Charleston West Virginia Jennifer is the proud mom of two beautiful little girls, Rebecca and Josie and is married to her high school sweetheart Nathan who she considers the rock that keeps her grounded to reality. She was first introduced to the world of fantasy when she was seven years old reading The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe making her never want to read about the “real world” again. Her mom and grandmother’s love of romance novels gave her the opportunity to learn about book trading, taking all of their old books to the local flea market to trade for anything that sparked her interest. Those days are long gone; her books now stay safely on her book shelves at home and out of harm’s way.

2.      Have you always wanted to be an author? 
      No but for some odd reason I can’t remember what I wanted to be when I was little. Reviewing for Sizzling Hot Books is really what inspired me to write Passionate Tides, I became such a fan of the short romantic stories that were written by authors who are just like me and I thought “you know what I can do this” so I sat down one day and started writing and here we are.

3.      Can you share with us your typical writing day.  
      Is there anything you have to have while writing?  Hmm, my typical writing day changes all of the time. My favorite time to write is when I’m totally alone with no distractions, I know it’s weird but taking a long drive and then hiding in my car seems to be my favorite so far.

4.      Most challenging or rewarding part of writing? 
      When I got the call saying that “yes we want your book, Congrats your being published” that was pretty awesome but when my ten year old had her first book published through her school this year and she said “Mom we were published on the same day how cool is that ?” I knew that nothing in the world could beat that feeling.

5.      Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)? 
      My latest book happens to be my first book; Passionate Tides is a story about two people overcoming their past heartbreaks and find love again on Topsail Island, North Carolina.

6.      How did you come with the idea for this story? 
      It was one of those lazy Sundays where my husband, me and my two girls had curled up in bed to watch daddy beat the bad guys on the play station, I had pulled up my laptop to look at vacation destinations and the words that are now Passionate Tides hit me like a hammer and demanded to be written down. Two days late I sent a rough draft to Marissa and the rest is history. The setting came pretty easy to me, Topsail Island, NC is a tiny island in the Outer banks where my husband and I spent our honey moon and most of our family vacation.

7.      Can you share with us your current work in progress?
      I am currently working on two stories one is a paranormal series that has been beating at me to finish it for awhile now. The other is a story I hope to submit to Ruby Lioness Press for their Clearwater Series.

8.      Who are some of your favorite authors? 
      Oh there are so many to list but I will try. Kim Harrison is one of my favorites and I had the pleasure of meeting her last year. LKH, Jeanine Frost, Patricia Briggs, Lara Adrian, Kresley Cole and Chloe Neil are some of my favorite main stream authors but since I have been reviewing for Sizzling Hot Books I find that there are so many authors out there producing amazing books that are not on any Best Sellers list but definitely should be, I’m very thankful for sites like yours that give these authors a forum to share their works and extend their audience.

9.      Do you feel that any of your favorite authors have inspired your writing style? 
      I think being the avid reader that I am I have been influenced by a slew of authors. I think the more I read the better I write.

10.  What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for? 
      Right now I am reading Kim Harrisons A Perfect Blood, but the top of my TBR pile is the newest release in the Undead in Brown County series by S.J Wright, The Vampires Redemption.

11.  Is there anything else you would like to add?  
     Thank you for giving me the chance to introduce your followers to me and my story Passionate Tides. I hope that everyone that reads it likes it as much as I did writing it.  I love to hear from authors, reviewers and readers. Happy Reading.


Want a chance to win an E-copy of Passionate Tides?  
Please fill out the Rafflecopter form below. 


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Guest blogger: Sabrina Luna


My Love Affair with Charlotte …North Carolina, that is!
By Sabrina Luna, author of Crazy for You in the LOVE AGAIN anthology
When I first sat down at my computer to tell Erica and Shawn’s love story in Crazy for You, I knew I wanted it to take place in Charlotte, North Carolina.  I grew up just over the stateline in South Carolina and had visited the Queen City often with friends for special things, like shopping or to see a movie or concert. 
In 2006, I moved here and really got to know her better.  I say ‘her’ because Charlotte has become more familiar to me.  The more I cruise her streets and check out interesting places around the city, I feel a special connection to this city.  So, by starting my story off with my hero’s arrival at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport, I knew the Queen City and her smaller neighbor, Pineville NC, would be an ideal setting.
Now, I must confess, there are some fictional elements in the setting too.  All the names of the stores, restaurants and even the hotel that Shawn stays in are fictional.  However, those places are actually based on places in the city I’ve been.  While writing, I could see, in my creative mind’s eye, Shawn and Erica in these settings.  Not only did it make the scene more believable to me, but I sincerely hope it makes the scene more real to you, the reader, too!
Yes, I’ve been to places like Astro’s Lounge, the uptown club where Erica and the bridal party go for drinks and watch a stripper named Fabio.  And the alternation shop and Chinese restaurant in Pineville are loosely based on actual shops in the town just outside of Charlotte too. 
But my favorite location in Crazy for You is the hotel in uptown Charlotte where Shawn stays before the wedding.  It’s based on one of the city’s newer hotels and I actually attended a private pre-bridal shower party in a room very much like his too.  The building seemed to be created with all steel and glass, in which I didn’t personally find cozy, but the high-rise hotel did have a stunning view of the city.
Even though the names of some of the locations are fictionalized, I hope you’ll enjoy a glimpse of Charlotte, North Carolina –the city where I write and live!
Love, Again is a Valentine’s Day anthology from Ruby Lioness Press with a second chance theme. Love, Again releases February 14, 2012. 

Crazy for You by Sabrina Luna
Shawn Flint wants to rekindle the spark between him and Erica Kelly when he surprises her and his family by flying into Charlotte, North Carolina for his stepsister’s wedding, but Erica is still cautious, wanting to keep their affair a secret.  Can Shawn overcome Erica’s protests and convince her that he is totally crazy for her?
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Guest blogger: Cecilia Roberts


Searing Kisses, better than sex?

Thank you for hosting on Books–n-Kisses, Kelly.
A kiss can be either drugging, or well, disgusting. Depends on who is doing the kissing. I believe chemistry between the two people plays a big role. What about if it’s the first kiss between two people? Imagine the anticipation and anxiety wondering how it would be, or the first physical contact? Or if two people, two best friends, one has always had feelings for his best friend, while the other is unaware of his/her friends feelings. Every person has a different reaction. Myself, I love a kiss that makes my toes curl. Better than sex anytime, and the good thing is, kisses can happen anywhere. And can lead to much, much more. If the kiss is as scorching as it is intoxicating, the sex will be better.
In my contemporary romance, Frey and Liese share a kiss. I’d like to share an excerpt from Truly, Madly, Deeply, You.
“Like, say, a kiss. On my cheek, if my lips might be little bit overwhelming for you.”
He became aware of the change in her breathing, and her squirming on the seat.
“Is that a challenge, Frey? You know better than to dare me. I never walked away
from a dare, remember?”
Oh, yes. He remembered every detail of the dares they had had over the years, up until
she got married to Bastian. An idea began forming in his head. Maybe, just maybe this would
be the one way…. “Yes, Li. It’s a dare. Come on, show me what you have in you.”
He saw hesitation in her eyes, uncertainty. If he didn’t goad her, she wasn’t going to
kiss him. And right now, he wanted that more than the cold air he breathed. “Scared of an itsy
bitsy little challenge?”
Her eyes narrowed at the challenging tone. Her full lips tightened, and then stretched
into the amazing smile that always sent his heart to a full gallop inside his chest.
“As a matter of fact, no.” She leaned forward and brushed her lips over his, then
pulled back and stared at him.
He rolled his eyes. “That was purely for show.” He leaned his head back, and lifted a
brow at her. “Is that all you got for me, Miss Dare-Me-Anytime-of-the-Year?”
She inhaled sharply. Without warning, she slid her hands around his neck and yanked
him closer. Her lips crashed into his, soft yet demanding. Caught off guard, he braced his
hands behind her head on the car seat to keep his full weight from landing on her. This was
the most awkward position he had ever kissed anyone in, or been kissed in, for that matter.
Before he could adapt to the quality of the kiss, it changed. The demanding note was gone,
and was replaced by a kiss so sensual it wiped the painful stitch from his side, along with any
sense of coherent thought. He groaned and shifted his body. Without breaking the kiss, he
climbed into the car, knelt in front of her, and urged her knees apart to accommodate his
torso. And then it ended so fast he was left reeling and breathing heavily.
He leaned forward, touching his forehead to hers. He closed his eyes, trying to breathe
in and out normally. He was aware of her rapid breathing, just as fast as his, and he knew the
kiss affected her as it had affected him.
His eyes flew open at the soft chuckle, cutting through the charged-up air.
“So, what were you saying Mr Dare-To-Kiss-Me?” The hands dropped away from his
face, but the warmth of them, and the kiss, lingered on.
“Intoxicating,” he said, as he attempted to step out of the car.
I just love a well done butter me up scotching kiss. J
Book Title:  Truly, Madly, Deeply, You
Author: Cecilia Robert
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Publisher: InkSpell Publishing
Publication Date: March 21st  2012
Format: eBook, Kindle
Book Synopsis:
Four days before Valentine’s Day, Liese Hansfeld is determined to shut the door to her house, as well as her heart, for her annual four days of mourning her one true love. Little does she know her best friend Freytag Meier is just as determined to keep her from her ritual. He’s ready to pick the lock to her apartment door and camp in her living room if that’s what it takes.
What Freytag isn’t prepared for is the surge of deep-rooted emotions he feels for Liese, but two things stand in his way: the grief and guilt she still clutches close to her heart, and a man who threatens to snatch Liese from under Frey’s watchful eye. Frey is determined to distract her into forgetting her pain. But is that enough to ease her grief, or help her see he can be more than her best friend
Cecilia Robert enjoys the play and weave of words that make up a good story. She enjoys creating fantastical worlds and getting lost in them. She often meets a prince, a princess, a pirate, ordinary and badass boy or girl who take her through the wonderful world of dreaming and fantasy.
 She doesn’t have particular leanings to any kind of story as long as it captures her attention She reads and enjoys urban/dark fantasy romance,  paranormal, contemporary, sci-fi, mystery or horror as much as her children’s school books.
 Some nights, you can find her reading Puss in Boots for her daughter, or trying to understand how to read Manga comics from her son.
Important Links
Author Website:
http://cecereadandwrite.blogspot.com/
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/#!/CeCeMR
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/CeciliaMRobert
Publisher Website:
http://inkspellpublishing.com
Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13358709-truly-madly-deeply-you
Pre-order:
http://www.inkspellpublishing.com/4/post/2012/01/truly-madly-deeply-you.html
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Kimberly’s review of Decadent Seconds by W. Lynn Chantale

Decadent Second
W. Lynn Chantale
Buy Links: Whispers | Amazon

As a caterer, Darling gets to witness some of life’s happiest moments, but yearns for a marriage proposal of her own. After years of waiting on her beloved to pop the question, she gives up ever having a happy ending of her own and severs the relationship. When she learns she’s pregnant, she has no choice but to face her child’s father on a daily basis as well as the love and attraction she has for him.
Darryl Manning always believed Darling would be his forever. After all he didn’t need a piece of paper to show her how much he loved her, but when she leaves him to pursue her dream of owning a catering company and raising his son, he may have to rethink his views marriage. That is if he wants a second chance at family.

Review by Kimberly:  3 stars 
This is a cute short story. It is different from a lot of stories you read in the fact that the characters where already together recently. It is short but the perfect length. I am not sure if would make a great full length but it is great to have on the go…
Darryl and Darlene were together for 6 years. They just didn’t seem to be on the same page when it had to do with their future so Darlene moves out. She then finds out she is pregnant. They go through the pregnancy and birth as parents but not lovers. But now that the baby is around a year old the feelings are coming back… Should they act on them? Will they come together this time to get it right? Is it worth taking the chance?
As I said its a cute short love story. Sure pick it up to add to your e-books because it is good story to have ready to read if waiting at a appointment. It only takes an hour to read if that…. So why not have it ready?

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Guest Blogger: Donna Del Oro

WALK LIKE A MAN: How a Woman Writer Captures a Man’s POV
             How does “She tipped up her chin at the stranger, resisting the man’s attempt at intimidation” become “He shot the stranger a don’t-fuck-with-me look”?
            In order for a female fiction writer to avoid caricature and instead capture the sensibilities of a male, her mindset must change. As we all know, POV is vital in accurately portraying a male character (or any character, for that matter) and thus creating and sustaining verisimilitude. A story hinges on how believably the POV portrays/expresses the character in question, and that believability extends to gender. Even if you jump POVs from hero to heroine, the male POV scenes MUST BE MASCULINE, and therefore DIFFERENT in VOICE, ATTITUDE, and LANGUAGE.
            The two sexes are different. We have different world views, mindsets, expectations and preoccupations. For example, one psychologist’s study showed that men think about sex at least sixteen times per day; assuming sixteen hours of wakefulness, that’s a minimum of once per hour. Conversely, women contemplate sex one-third as often. Isn’t it a marvel how men find time to start and fight wars, when so much of their conscious mind is preoccupied with sex? Or find the time to fill a weekend as an armchair quarterback? Are sex, sports and war games their main preoccupations?
            Another preoccupation is their sense of “manhood”, their need to prove themselves “manly”. Watch a fence-enclosed playground of children some time. Little girls will reasonably enter and exit via the open gate. Not little boys. The five-foot high cyclone fence becomes a test of physical strength and agility—a challenge of manhood, if you will, and a string of little boys will dare each other to climb over. The little girls look on, some puzzled by the boys’ illogical behavior, others openly admiring the little daredevils who need to resist the lure of logic.
            Read the novels of male authors to learn the male mindset. From the cerebral, artistic but nonetheless lethal Mossad assassin, Gabriel, of Daniel Silva, to the military action heroes of Brad Thor; from the political thrillers of Vince Flynn to the police procedurals of Michael Connelly and John Lescroat, to the scientific adventurers of James Rollins and Steve Berry—the male gender has his own distinct Point of View. And that includes, of course, his VOICE, ATTITUDE and LANGUAGE.
            So, how to capture a man’s worldview, or—as the German philosophers call it—“weltanschauung”?  Sparingly.  A male fiction hero uses action more than speech to convey his worldview.  A female writer not only has to reflect his POV in inner dialogue and reflection (or narration), but also in his actions and his spoken words. Or lack of them.  For a male character, long silences are common. Daniel Silva’s Gabriel, the Mossad agent whose cover is Renaissance art restorer, spends days silently restoring his canvasses while simultaneously plotting his next mission.  When a male author writes men’s dialogue, he does so sparingly. When a female author writes men’s dialogue, there is almost no difference between the male and female characters. We don’t realize how little men really speak.
            Dialogue, of course, has to reflect the character. Men don’t talk as much as women. This is not stereotype or cliche. The same applies to little girls and boys. Several psychological studies have rated female speech as four to five times more frequent and denser than male speech. There’s more profanity, too, in male speech and many more sports metaphors.  How many times have you heard a man say, “Time to get the ball and run with it”? Or “The ball’s in your court”, “I’m going for broke”, and—one from the military—“It’s all FUBAR, man”.
            When FBI analyst, Jake Bernstein, in my sexy spy-thriller, A BODYGUARD OF LIES, gazes at the medieval-era Iron Maiden torture chamber in the dungeon at Cardiff Castle, he reflects on man’s inhumanity to man, and then thinks immediately of his German-Jewish grandfather’s survival guilt. He thinks outloud and, in a moment of spontaneous candor, shares his grandfather’s suffering with Meg, the grand-daughter of the woman he’s investigating. In the next moment, he covers his embarrassment by seizing and kissing her.  A moment of vulnerability takes a more aggressive, sexual turn. Men’s rule: Never show your weaknesses.
            In another scene, by-the-book Bernstein crosses the line and risks his career by becoming sexually involved with Meg, but only after confirming in his own mind Meg’s innocence. He rationalizes his involvement with the needs of his investigation, but soon assumes the role of protector for both the target—the grandmother—and the target’s grand-daughter. Jake shows, not by words of affection, but by action alone his feelings for Meg. That his investigation has been compromised creates a moral and practical dilemma for Jake, which he deals with in his own inimitable way. His lonely search for love supercedes the need for justice, but only temporarily. Ultimately, Jake turns things around. Justice does prevail in the end, but not in the way some might expect or hope.
            Surliness, cynicism and sarcasm are all accepted male attributes, especially in tough “alpha” males. From the lone gunslinger to the “Mission Impossible” stoical action hero, the alpha male feels, suffers, but never complains. Especially not to females. He might be flawed, drink or smoke too much, pick the wrong woman, or put himself in life-threatening situations, but HE NEVER COMPLAINS and NEVER CRIES. Remember an incredulous Tom Hanks exhorting his female baseball players, “There’s no crying in baseball!”?  There are unspoken mottos of machismo among men: NO CRYING EVER.  TAKE IT LIKE A MAN. WALK LIKE A MAN. TOUGHEN UP AND STAND TALL.  Those attitudes are deep-seated and intrinsic to a male’s psyche. My seven year-old grandson already has incorporated those mottos into his outlook and behavior, and the male role models in his life are sensitive, educated, verbally gifted men. Somehow, through osmosis of cultural mores, little boys learn what is necessary to WALK LIKE A MAN.
            “Defending the Caveman”, a one-man comedy show, reminded me recently of the male mindset and male speech. Men tend to get confused when women are verbose. Like their canine counterparts, they look for tone of voice and body language because they know that women don’t always say what they mean or mean what they say. Look at classic passive-aggressive power struggles between men and women. Men have difficulty arguing back, so they are more inclined to switch to passive-aggressive mode. They don’t like taking orders from a woman, and so if a woman nags a man to be home by five o’clock sharp, you can bet he’ll find something to do until five-thirty. Passive-aggression is a man’s stock in trade. Or he’ll take the opposite stance and just tell you to “fuck off”.
            As a rule, however, men tend to clean up their language when in mixed-gender company, and that’s one of the main appeals of men-only clubs and teams. In such an environment, they can blow off steam, scratch themselves, belch outloud, insult each other with “dickhead” and “butt-wipe” and laugh. And still remain good buddies.  Imagine women going up to their girlfriends with a greeting like “Hi, fatty” or “Still wearing that old, ratty shirt?” That’d be the end of that friendship. With men, such insults are just friendly talk, a sign of good-humored male-aggression and tolerance. Listen in on a men-only poker game. Or go see the musical, “Jersey Boys”.  There’s a reason why men loved that musical but hated “Mama Mia”.
            Listen to men when they don’t realize a woman is around. Very hard to do because their sexual antennae always lets them know when a female is nearby or within earshot. But if you can avoid being detected, just tune in to them and listen with an open mind to their speech. It’s hilarious and, for a woman writer, quite an education. Go ahead. Do it. You’ll see what I mean.
A BODYGUARD OF LIES
(release: Jan. 13th) 
Has a dual setting, a contemporary one and a WWII/London setting. It’s a blend of romance, mystery and WWII espionage. I researched it while in England, Ireland and Germany in 2009. The story involves a Jewish-American FBI analyst, who’s recruited by MI-5 to go undercover and investigate a naturalized American grandmother. The elderly woman is suspected by MI-5 of being a notorious Nazi spy never caught by the Allies during the war, who caused the deaths of thousands and is wanted for war crimes. Jake Bernstein runs into a series of unexpected obstacles and complications: This spy knows a secret that could endanger the royal family; the old woman has a beautiful granddaughter who threatens to derail his investigation; a neo-Nazi group in Ireland known as the Celtic Wolves; and a clever, cagey old woman who’s not as weak as she looks.
Donna Del Oro spent her childhood in two places, Silicon Valley, CA and the countryside of East Texas, as her father tried several job opportunities. Finally settling in Silicon Valley, she grew up in a bilingual, bicultural world–Spanish on her mother’s side and English on her father’s. Comfortable in both worlds, she decided upon retiring from teaching to write about her Hispanic side. Four women’s fiction books resulted and a series about professional singers, their careers and love lives. Retired and devoting much of her abundant free time to exercise, writing, singing and her grandson, Donna has finally reached a point in life that totally satisfies her. Life is good and she has no complaints, just a lot of gratitude for her many blessings.
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