Taking over the world, one book at a time
TITLE: With This Ring
SERIES #: The Wicked Worthingtons #3
CHARACTERS: Elektra Worthington and Lord Aaron Arbogast
AUTHOR: Celeste Bradley
PUBLICATION DATE: 7/1/14
ORDER LINKS: Amazon
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
THE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT
Elektra Worthington is the lovely middle daughter of the eccentric, impoverished Worthington family. Her beauty means nothing to her except as her currency to return the Worthington name to its former glory of status, riches, and dominance in the ballrooms of Regency England. To this end, she will stop at nothing—even if she must kidnap a rich lord in the process. If this lucky gentleman is just returning from a long absence and knows nothing of the Worthington reputation, well, a girl shouldn’t look a gift lord in the mouth…right?
THE PRICE OF PASSION
Lord Aaron Arbogast, returning to England after a decade-old scandal—of which he was not truly guilty, but instead took the blame out of loyalty to a good friend—is the last of his line. He will someday become the Earl of Arbodean and inherit the estate…if, that is, he can prove to his ailing grandfather that he is a reformed man. Falling for a woman like Miss Worthington could cost him everything. But his desire for her? Priceless…
REVIEW:
3.75 Hearts This is a new author to me and I thought that this was an enjoyable easy read. Elektra is trying to save her family from ruins and the only way that she can do that is to marry a wealthy man. By sheer chance, she finds herself staying at the same inn as Lord Aaron Arbogast and comes up with a plan to kidnap him and convince him that she is the right woman for him. What she finds instead, is that she kidnapped his man servant by mistake and the hilarity ensues from there as she tries to remedy this error.
Lord Aaron Arbogast is in town to see his ailing grandfather and to show him that he has changed his ways. He was involved in a scandal that has plagued him most of his life and wants nothing more than to put all that behind him. When his good friend and servant becomes ill, he exchanges identities with him so he can receive proper care from the employees of the inn. What he never expected, was that a beautiful young woman would kidnap him in hopes of helping save her family. He has to now keep up the charade that he isn’t Lord Arbogast or runs the risk of losing everything.
Elektra was such a fun character because she was this free spirit who took on the responsibility of helping her family. She had this huge burden on her shoulders and felt that the only way to save them all was to marry someone wealthy. She made sure that everything in her life was taken care even if it meant that she went without. Aaron needed someone like Ellie is his life because she wasn’t afraid of what people might say about them. She lived with the constant gossip about the Worthingtons and people gossiping about Aaron didn’t bother her in the slightest. She showed him what it was like to be a part of a loving and caring family and that was exactly what he needed in his life. Great story and I’m looking forward to reading more about this zany cast of characters in other books of the Worthington series.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.
Kimberly has claimed WORTH THE FALL to be her “favorite book of 2014” so she asked Claudia to visit Books-n-Kisses.
WORTH THE FALL releases tomorrow. Pre-order it today!
Welcome Claudia thank you so much for stopping by to answer of our questions. First I want to say that I loved this book and gave it 5+++ Hearts. I laughed, cried and smiled throughout the whole book.(The review will be posting tomorrow.)
Claudia: Thank you so so much!!! I can’t tell you how much I appreciate that!! Really.
BnK: Can you please share with us a little about yourself
Claudia: Hi. Thank you so much for having me. I majored in Early Childhood Education and taught kindergarten and first grade on and off for ten years. I married my first love and we have three daughters. Three teenage daughters, so, yes. Say a prayer for me.
BnK: Have you always wanted to be an author?
Claudia: No, I never considered myself a writer or even wanted to be a writer, BUT I’ve always had stories in my head. I see them in a flash like I’m watching a full color movie. I’ll catch myself staring out the window, smiling. Or even crying. One day I described the above to my friend, thinking everyone did that. She gave me a really strange look and said, “No. That’s not normal. Maybe you should try writing it down.” So I did.
BnK: Can you share with us your typical writing day. Is there anything you have to have while writing?
Claudia: I get my kids off to school and usually start working around seven, after I finish my tea. ~ I recently switched to black tea in my Keurig after a trip to Europe. LOVE it. ~ I take a short break for lunch, no more than ten minutes, then back at it until the kids get home at 2:15. They’re teenagers, so there isn’t much talk before they disappear to their rooms for homework and post-school decompression. I go back to work until I need to drive someone somewhere around 5. Most days I put in a few more hours after everyone’s asleep, until around midnight. If I don’t feel time crunched, or I’ve had a particularly good day, I’ll reward myself with a good book.
What do I absolutely HAVE to have? Other than pen and paper, and that paper can be a receipt or a napkin, a Diet Coke. There just comes a time a can not function without a Diet Coke and it is the one and only thing I will leave the house for when I’m on a deadline. And by leave the house, I mean drive two minutes to Walgreens in my pajama pants with a quick jacket over my pajama shirt.
BnK: Most challenging or rewarding part of writing?
Claudia: The most challenging thing for me so far is not having enough hours in the day. I’m just beginning to get the incredible reward of readers telling me they loved my book and that it meant something to them. That’s the absolute best.
BnK: Can you please tell us about your latest book?
Claudia: Sure. Worth The Fall is a love story, plain and simple, though love is never simple. Abby and Matt are two people with no other reason to be together and lots of reasons to be apart. Matt’s a Navy SEAL hero with skills, badassness, and an intense sense of responsibility, but he’s also a man with so much love to give. He’s just never found anyone he wanted to give it to. Until Abby. But Abby’s been left all her life and knows she can’t watch another person walk away.
So it’s about falling in love, making choices and taking chances. It’s also about believing you’re enough, believing you’re worthy of what’s being offered. I absolutely LOVE these characters. I spent three years with them before I ever considered writing their story, then almost three more years writing it. Any minute of any day I can pop into their lives, be a fly on the wall. It’s like watching your favorite movie that never ends! Hopefully when people read the book they’ll feel the same.
BnK: How did you come with the idea for this story?
Claudia: I honestly don’t feel like I come up with anything or create anyone, as odd as that may sound. I didn’t go into it wanting it to be a certain way, I just saw it playing out in my head like a movie. I watched and listened and hope I did them justice. I’m a constant thorn in the side of anyone who offers suggestions for changes because I always reply with, But that’s not how it happened!
BnK: Who are some of your favorite authors?
Claudia: I have TONS of favorite authors. Let’s see…Kristan Higgins, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Linda Howard, Sharon Sala, Catherine Anderson, J.D. Robb ( Nora Roberts), and Christine Feehan, just to name a few.
BnK: Do you feel that any of your favorite authors have inspired your writing style?
Claudia: Definitely. I’m sure they’ve all influenced me through osmosis. And just about everything I’ve learned about story telling and romance has come from reading, beginning with my first Sweet Valley High.
BnK: Open your book to a random page and please reads us a few lines.
Claudia: “I used my knife to cut off the damaged parachute so I wouldn’t get tangled in it, then I pulled—”
Their eyes met. His heated gaze slid from her face, over her chest and the V-neck sundress that tied around her neck. He continued his perusal slowly down the length of her legs and back up again.
“Hi.” That was all she could manage with his hot eyes melting her from across the room.
BnK: What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?
Claudia: I’m anxious to read Kristan Higgin’s new book, In Your Dreams. I’ve been waiting for Jack’s story.
BnK: Is there anything else you would like to add?
Claudia: Thank you so much for having me. I really appreciate it and hope readers will check out Worth The Fall and let me know what they think. I’m in all the usual social media places. In addition to the ones below, readers can find me on Pinterest. I have a special board for each book. Thank you again:)
http://claudiaconnor.com
https://www.facebook.com/ClaudiaConnor
https://www.goodreads.com/claudiaconnor
For those of you that don’t know me (and I won’t be so bold to say you all do), I write incredibly sexy historical romances. So sexy some have actually categorized me as writing erotica. I absolutely love erotica, but seeing as I know what it is, I also know I don’t write it. Although there is sex and graphic sex, I still see myself as writing romance. Because in the end, if you were to pull out all the sex scenes in my book, you’d still have a love story, not a sexy story. And in my opinion, sex is only as good as its love story.Seeing I write edgier and oftentimes humorous historical romances with sex, I find keeping up with what my readers want almost frightening. Because you can only keep upping yourself so much. The very idea makes me go flaccid (ehm..,). I swear, there are many, many times I sit in front of my computer and tell myself it’s too freakin’ HARD to keep writing sex that feels new.
So I started thinking of ways to keep this flame within me burning. Because if I’m not feeling it, my characters aren’t feeling it. And if my characters aren’t feeling it, my readers won’t want to feel it AT ALL…So for those of you writing sexy books, allow me to share six tips that keep me going (actually, I have more, but this post has to end sometime). And if you happen to only read sexy books, not write them, then this list will simply make you appreciate how much effort we writers put into being creative.
1.)I try being a sensualist. That is, I focus on pampering myself. Lighting candles, listening to music, watching romantic movies, and anything that will make me feel all girlie, girlie. It’s amazing how much it really works.
2.)I make out and get hot and heavy with my husband before I write a sex scene. Seriously. I don’t do it all the time, because frankly, it pisses him off when I make out with him, things get heavy and then I’m like, “Thanks! Now I have to write! Seeya!” But believe me, it really works when he does let me get away with it.
3.)I read very hot books that inspire me to write the scenes I know that will make my writing pop. Like Lisa Valdez’s Passion. Holy cow. I’m fanning myself just thinking about that book.
4.)I indulge in chocolate and whatever sinful foods I can get my hands on to heightens my senses and makes me happy. When your soul is happy, your sex scenes are too!
5.) Remember that sex is an emotional journey, not just a physical one. People focus on sex being physical, and it is, but reminding ourselves that sex is actually an emotional journey allows that depth to shine through.
A little about Delilah:Make sure to check out all of the other stops on this month long tour HERE and enter the grand prize giveaway.
Guess what? You’re not finished, and I guarantee it’s not ready for publication. But you’ve done the part that 95% of people who sit down to write a book couldn’t do. You finished and deserve a pat on the back and a big glass of wine.
Now it’s time for the next step: self-editing
This is a tough step if it’s the first time you’ve finished a book because you have no idea what to look for. Here are a few good references:
Fire Up Your Fiction Jodie Renner
Writing the Breakout Novel Donald Maass
Techniques of the Selling Writer Dwight Swain
Self-editing for Fiction Writers Renni Brown & Dave King
Take a few days and step away from your book. If changes occur to you during this time, write down the change on a master list to do later. There are two main parts to editing. There’s the editing the story and then there’s editing the words/sentences.
Editing the story
Is your first chapter awesome? Does it hook the reader and make them want to keep reading? These first pages are crucial. Agents, editors, and readers will give you about a page (or less!) to hook them.
Do your characters have strong internal and external motivations? Don’t know what I’m talking about? Then your story might be put-down-able. Read Debra Dixon’s Goal, Motivation and Conflict.
Ask yourself the purpose of every scene. Is the story strong without it? Or is it crucial to your characters and plot? You might be surprised how many scenes you’ve written that add nothing and will slow your pacing.
Does the end of every chapter inspire the reader to keep going? Readers think to themselves, “I’ll take a break when I finish this chapter.” Write the ending of the chapter so they’re compelled to go to the next chapter. Read a few of the reference books I list above to get a longer checklist for story edits.
Editing the words/sentences
When you’re ready, read your manuscript out loud. Are you stumbling over wording? Then your reader will too. Print it out to see how it looks on paper. Replace weak verbs, get rid of most of those adverbs, stagger your sentence length, get rid of excess words (very, really, just) Ask yourself, “How can I make this sentence laser focused and direct?” Look for passive sentences. Do actions happen to your subjects? That creates a passive sentence. Make your subject create the action.
The ball was hit by the bat. (passive)
The bat hit the ball. (active)
Give yourself a deadline or else you will never finish revising. A writer can go through a book a million times and still see things that need polish and change. When you’ve polished up your words to be the best they can be, it’s time to look to the outside world for some input.
Seeking outside help
Tread carefully and take every word of advice with a grain of salt. Most likely, your mother or spouse is not the right person to advise you on your story. Some writers have a network of critique partners and beta readers. The big question is how to find these valuable people and nurture the relationship.
Now is your book the best it can be? It’s time to decide which path to pursue: traditional publishing or self-publishing or both. And while you’re working on that decision, start writing your next book!
Kendra Elliot won a 2014 Daphne du Maurier award for BURIED, which was also a 2014 International Thriller Writers’ finalist and a Romantic Times finalist for best Romantic Suspense of 2013. She’s published five novels and has three more on the way. She grew up in the lush Pacific Northwest and still lives there with her husband, three daughters, two cats, and a Pomeranian. She left the dental world after sixteen years to write full time in 2012. She’s always been fascinated with forensics, refuses to eat anything green, and loves a strong Mai Tai on the beach on Kauai.
Learn more about Kendra and her books here Website| Facebook | Twitter @KendraElliot | Goodreads
Make sure to check out all of the other stops on this month long tour HERE and enter the grand prize giveaway.
TITLE: Burning Desire, Part I
SERIES #: Dark Kings #3
CHARACTERS: Kiril & Shara
AUTHOR: Donna Grant
PUBLICATION DATE: September 9, 2014
ORDER LINKS: Amazon
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
The Dark Kings have fought for centuries to preserve their dragon magic. But can one warrior resist the greatest temptation of all. . .?
A DESIRE THIS POWERFUL
In his quest to destroy the Dark Fae—his nemesis—the Dragon King known as Kiril goes to Ireland as a spy. When a gorgeous, mysterious woman tries to seduce him, Kiril instantly sees through her glamour to the Dark Fae beneath. Shara isn’t just any Dark; she’s from one of the most powerful bloodlines—and despite the dangers, Kiril can’t stay away from her. He’s enthralled by her smile, enslaved by the undeniable passion…
IS A WAR WORTH FIGHTING FOR
Shara has one chance to make things right with her family—and to prove her worth. It seemed like such an easy mission…until she actually meets Kiril. His charm, his sexual magnetism is too much for her to ignore. Shara knows that falling into Kiril’s arms can bring her nothing but trouble. Yet she discovers an inner strength she didn’t know she had…and an attraction that knows no bounds. But is her desire for Kiril worth the risk of eternal doom for them both?
REVIEW:
Read this in four parts but here is the overview of all for
Part I
A great start to book 3 of Donna Grant’s Dark King’s series.
Kiril is still in Ireland trying to do what he can to help all the Dragon Kings and try to find Rhi. And while he knows the Dark Fae’s are going to try something (because they always do) he just never expected Shara to be that something. Or how easily she would get under his skin.
On to Part II
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley, St Martin’s Press & Donna Grant in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.
TITLE: Born of Fury
SERIES #: The League #7
CHARACTERS: Hauk & Sumi
AUTHOR: Sherrilyn Kenyon
PUBLICATION DATE:7/1/14
ORDER LINKS:Amazon
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
The war is on…
Counted among the fiercest Andarion warriors ever born, Hauk is one of the five founding members of the Sentella- an organization that has declared war on the League that rules the Ichidian universe with an iron fist and terrifies it with an army of well-trained assassins. Hauk’s enemies are legion, but he fears nothing and no one. He will do whatever it takes to survive and protect his Sentella brethren.
Sumi Antaxas is one of the best assassins the League has ever trained. In her world, failure is not an option and she has never met a target she couldn’t execute. So when she’s assigned Hauk, she believes it’ll be a quick and easy mission.
But nothing is ever as simple as it seems, and Hauk is far better trained and skilled than his dossier shows. More than that, as she pursues him, she stumbles upon the key that will bring down not only Hauk, but the entire Sentella organization.
In the race to report her information, she is overtaken by enemies out to end her as effectively as she intends to end Hauk. Now her only key to survival is the one man she’s been sent to kill. And Hauk doesn’t trust her at all.
The only question is, will he help her to live… or send her to her grave.(less)
REVIEW:
Wow, I don’t even know where to start! I’m a huge fan of the League series and have been looking forward to Hauk’s story for years. Sherrilyn really gave us a lot of alone time with Hauk to get to know who he really is, something we’ve only caught glimpses of before in the previous books. He is such a tortured hero, I fell in love with him instantly. Sumi is a great match for him. She’s a strong female lead and really gave the story depth and feeling. Their story was a tad bit drawn out, we actually saw every piece of their courting, falling in love and building a life together. I can’t say that I was bored, because I could read about all the League characters forever, but it did seem kind of repetitive. I loved seeing all of the League characters – I mean, Nykyrian never gets old! However, the honky-dory, we love everybody thing kind of gets old. Everyone can’t just love everyone all the time! But I get it’s a story and I’ll happily play along. I’m curious who the next book will be about, I’m hoping either Fain or Bastien!
Disclaimer:
I purchased this book on my own. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.
9.1.14
Kimberly reviews Beauty’s Beast by Amanda Ashley
Kelly reviews In His Sights by Jo Davis
Blog Tour & Review: Death is Like A Box of Chocolates by Kathy Aarons
9.2.14
Natasha reviews Beyond Love by Barbara J Duell
Kimberly reviews Longing by Jamie K Schmidt
What releases the week of September 1st? Check here!
Blog Tour & Giveaway: Groomed For Murder by Annie Knox
9.3.14
Natasha reviews Pure by Julianna Baggott
Natasha reviews My Highland Spy by Victoria Roberts
Blog Tour & Review: Nightmares Can Be Murder by Mary Kennedy
9.4.14
Kimberly reviews Blaze Of Winter by Elisabeth Barrett
Kelly reviews Midnight Betrayal by Melinda Leigh
Blog Tour & Review: Fat Cat At Large by Janet Cantrell
9.5.14
Kelly reviews Under His Protection by Katie Reus
Kimberly reviews Take Down by Mallery Malone
9.6.14
SINsational Saturday Series
Fall has arrived and school is back in session, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still find new exciting reads from Entangled Publishing! Today we are excited to announce the release of Rebekah L. Purdy’s, The Winter People, which readers are already raving about!
About The Winter People:
Salome Montgomery fears winter—the cold, the snow, the ice, but most of all, the frozen pond she fell through as a child. Haunted by the voices and images of the strange beings that pulled her to safety, she hasn’t forgotten their warning to “stay away.” For eleven years, she has avoided the winter woods, the pond, and the darkness that lurks nearby. But when failing health takes her grandparents to Arizona, she is left in charge of maintaining their estate. This includes the “special gifts” that must be left at the back of the property.
Salome discovers she’s a key player in a world she’s tried for years to avoid. At the center of this world is the strange and beautiful Nevin, who she finds trespassing on her family’s property. Cursed with dark secrets and knowledge of the creatures in the woods, he takes Salome’s life in a new direction. A direction where she’ll have to decide between her longtime crush, Colton, who could cure her fear of winter. Or Nevin, who, along with an appointed bodyguard, Gareth, protects her from the darkness that swirls in the snowy backdrop.
An evil that, given the chance, will kill her.
Find The Winter People Online:
Amazon:/B&N/Goodreads
About Rebekah L. Purdy
I was born and raised in Michigan (just look for the mitten-shaped state on the map). I’ve lived here most of my life other than the few years I spent in the U.S. Army. At which time I got a chance to experience MO, KS, SC, and CA.
I work full time for the court system and in my free time I write YA stories. Pretty much any genre within the YA realm is game for me, but my favorites are fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal romance, thrillers, light sci-fi, and some time travel.
I also have a big family–I like to consider us the modern day Brady Bunch. When my hubby and I met and got married, he had 3 children from a previous marriage, I had 2 and we have 1 together. It’s a lot of fun though.
And I can’t forget my other family members–yep, we’ve got some pets: 4 dogs, 3 cats, and 1 turtle. Everyone in the family has one…I won’t bore you all with their names (unless you really want to know). Okay, you talked me into it! Jack, Pearl, Grr…(yes that’s my dog’s name), Callie, Shadow, Mooshoo, Grouchy, and Sorbert. Other than writing some of my other hobbies include: reading (mostly YA of course), singing, swimming, football, soccer, running, camping, sledding, church, hanging with my kids, and traveling.
I belong to a fabulous writing group called YA Fiction Fantatics (YAFF) and you guessed it we all write YA!
Find Rebekah L. Purdy Online:
Website: http://rebekahlpurdy.wordpress.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RebekahLPurdy
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebekahlpurdyauthor
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4615084.Rebekah_L_Purdy
In this dazzling, sensual novel, Dianne Duvall beckons readers into a world of vampires, immortals, and humans with extraordinary gifts…where passion can last forever, if you’re willing to pay the price…
Once, Sarah Bingham’s biggest challenge was making her students pay attention in class. Now, after rescuing a wounded stranger, she’s landed in the middle of a battle between corrupt vampires and powerful immortals who also need blood to survive. Roland Warbrook is the most compelling man Sarah has ever laid hands on. But his desire for her is mingled with a hunger he can barely control…
In his nine centuries of immortal existence, no woman has tempted Roland as much as Sarah. But asking her to love him is impossible—when it means forfeiting the world she’s always known, and the life he would do anything to protect.
Ami isn’t much for trusting strangers. She has a hard time trusting anyone. But she’s no coward, and she’s no pushover in the protection department either. So when she comes across a mysterious warrior taking on eight deranged vampires on his own, she doesn’t hesitate to save his bacon. Of course, that was before she realized what one little rescue would get her into . . .
Marcus Grayden has been an immortal protector of humanity for eight hundred years, and at the moment he’s not interested in backup. From the moment Ami arrives in his life, he can’t deny that she’s strong, smart, and extremely skilled at watching his back. But she’s also destroying his protective solitude and stirring desires he can’t bear to awaken. After all, whatever her secrets — how can she defeat death itself?
Dr. Melanie Lipton is no stranger to the supernatural. She knows immortals better than they know themselves, right down to their stubborn little genes. So although a handsome rogue immortal seems suspicious to her colleagues, Sebastien Newcombe intrigues Melanie. His history is checkered, his scars are impressive, and his ideas are daring. But it’s not his ideas that have Melanie fighting off surges of desire . . .
Bastien is used to being the bad guy. In fact, he can’t remember the last time he had an ally he could trust. But Melanie is different — and under her calm, professional exterior he senses a passion beyond anything in his centuries of experience. Giving in to temptation is out of the question — he can’t put her in danger. But she isn’t asking him .
Immortal Guardians #3.5 Originally published in “Predatory”
“In Dianne Duvall s world of Immortal Guardians, the stakes for mortals are high, but the cost especially to the heart might be higher ”
It s not the first time Immortal Guardian Richart d Alencon has saved a human life from eternal damnation. Usually, he moves on, a nameless savior like a ghost in the night. But this time he can t seem to forget the woman who rewarded him with a sensuous kiss after he rescued her from a trio of vampires. While Richart knows that loving a human can only bring trouble, the taste of forbidden lust is too great to resist
Jenna never imagined she d end up a single mom working overtime to put her son through school. But she might have daydreamed once that a devastatingly gorgeous Frenchman would sweep her off her feet. Now that a package of tall, dark, and handsome seems intent on doing just that, doctors are telling her she may not have long to live. But Richart is telling her just the opposite. All she has to do is abandon her humanity
Krysta is used to getting the drop on vampires. Her “special abilities” aren’t much, but the plan is simple–she plays helpless pretty young thing to lure them in. Then her shoto swords come out and it’s bye-bye, bloodsucker. Until one night she finds herself with an unexpected ally. He’s a vampire, all right, but different. Mysterious. Handsome. And more interested in saving her skin than draining it.
Etienne has been an Immortal Guardian for two hundred years–long enough to know that Krysta is special. He can’t stop thinking about her long legs, even more than her short swords. Then he discovers the vamps she’s exterminating have friends in high places, and the Guardians are in danger too. He’ll have to accept Krysta’s help to save them. The stakes for a mortal are high. But the cost to his heart might be higher.
“Duvall is a major player.” —RT Book Reviews
Dianne Duvall’s Immortal Guardians protect humanity from unspeakable horrors–but their hearts are as fragile as any mortal’s. . .
For centuries, Lisette d’Alençon has been a warrior against the dark. She fights alongside her brothers and comrades. But when the dreams start coming, she can’t bear to confess them to the Immortal Guardians’ command. Dreams of a dark-haired man with soft eyes and brutal wounds, a man her heart aches for–and a man she knows has been declared a traitor.
Zach is an exile, a loner. He won’t defend himself against false accusations or grovel to those who should have faith in him. But he’ll damn sure defend the woman who kept him sane against a plague of super-vamps that seems to have appeared from nowhere. The Guardians will blame him, and that will make Lisette suspect, too. With life, death and eternity on the line, who can they really trust?
1. An awesome story trumps phenomenal writing any day of the week. Readers care more about what happens in a story than how you tell it. I’ve seen mediocre writers hit it big with a great story and amazing writers struggle because they’re more worried about how a sentence sounds than what it says.
2. In a romance, if your hero isn’t drool-worthy, readers won’t fall in love with your book. Yes, the female lead matters. And yes, you still need to have a great story to hook a reader, but if the hero isn’t compelling, the romance will lack luster and your readers will quickly become bored. Women read romance for the fantasy element. Make your heroes to-die-for and they’ll continue to come back for more.
3. Characters ARE story. Most newbie writers spend more time trying to come up with an intricate plot than creating memorable characters. Keep your plots simple. Spend your time crafting incredible characters your readers can’t help but fall in love with. The urge to see how a character will react to a situation or how they grow though a story is what keeps a reader turning pages, not the twists and turns of the plot.
4. Pacing takes practice. Pacing is probably the hardest element of writing to grasp. It was for me. The pace of your story is how fast readers turn pages. You don’t want the pace so slow your reader stops at the end of a chapter, puts the book down and forgets all about it. On the flip side, you don’t want the pace so fast she becomes exhausted while reading. Learning the right pace for your genre takes practice. I wish I had a magic potion for this, but in my experience, the best way to figure out pace is to read a lot in your genre, then practice, practice, practice.
And finally, the most important point of all…
5. Don’t ever think you’re too good to need a critique partner. A good critique partner is worth her weight in gold. When you’re a newbie writer, a critique partner will help you figure out things like pacing and character development and how many internals to include and dialogue tags and all the elements that are important to the act of writing. But as the years go on and you become a better writer, she will STILL be the very best secret in your box of writer tools. Why? Because an awesome critique partner knows your voice. She understands what you’re trying to say even when you don’t. She knows how your brain works so she can help you plot a book even if she doesn’t understand the subject. And she’ll be the first one to tell you if that sparkly new idea you came up with is pure brilliance or a giant pile of crap. And you know what? Because you’ve grown together as writers over the years, even if she tells you your idea is a load of horse dung, you’ll still love her. Because odds are, she’s completely right. (Just don’t tell my CP, Joan Swan, I ever admitted she was right!)
*****
Let’s take a look at Elisabeth’s upcoming release:
A little about Elisabeth:
Before topping multiple bestseller lists—including those of the New York Times, USA Today, and the Wall Street Journal—Elisabeth Naughton taught middle school science. A rabid reader, she soon discovered she had a knack for creating stories with a chemistry of their own. The spark turned to a flame, and Naughton now writes full-time. Besides topping bestseller lists, her books have been nominated for some of the industry’s most prestigious awards, such as the RITA® and Golden Heart Awards from Romance Writers of America, the Australian Romance Reader Awards, and the Golden Leaf Award. When not dreaming up new stories, Naughton can be found spending time with her husband and three children in their western Oregon home. Visit her website at
http://www.ElisabethNaughton.com.
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Make sure to check out all of the other stops on this month long tour HERE and enter the grand prize giveaway.
All winner’s will be picked at the end of the month and announce the 1st week of October.
TITLE: Take Down
SERIES #: Billionaire’s Club #3
CHARACTERS: Karina & Gabriel
AUTHOR: Mallery Malone
PUBLICATION DATE: 09/02/14
ORDER LINKS: Amazon
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Powerful. Dominant, Unforgettable. He commands submission at all costs.
Cage fighter, Gabriel Devereaux, a man of barely leashed power, is known as the Bayou Beast.
There is one woman he will do anything , pay any amount to possess.
Karina Armistead, has come a long way from the innocent girl Gabriel used to know. An internationally known singer, she can have anything she wants. But everything tells her that getting involved with the Bayou Beast may leave her wrecked beyond repair.
Little does Karina Armistead know, but Gabriel has decided that she will be his.
He will destroy anything or anyone who stands in his way.
REVIEW:
This is the third in the series but can most certainly be read as a stand alone. It is a short story of less than 90 pages so it is a quick read but yet a sweet read. Gabriel is a fighter and has a vendetta against Karina and her father. Karina doesn’t understand why Gabriel left her without a word a decade before.
This story as well as the rest of the series is well written and an enjoyable quick read. Great stories to have between novels for a little romance.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
