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TITLE: Fury of Desire
SERIES #: Dragonfury #4
CHARACTERS: Wick & J.J. Solares
AUTHOR: Coreene Callahan
PUBLICATION DATE: October 15, 2013
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
No warrior of the Nightfury pack is more complicated or damaged than Wick.
Scarred from a childhood of slavery and torture, Wick cannot bear the touch of another person. But all bets are off when he meets J.J. Solares. When she is unjustly imprisoned, Wick agrees to help rescue and keep her from harm. But Wick lives a life of self-imposed isolation and venturing into the world to seek justice for J.J. may be more than he can bear.
Brutalized by the harsh reality of prison, J.J thinks she is hallucinating when a majestic dark-haired god sweeps in to save her—and Wick is shaken to his core by the attraction he feels for J.J. But neither is out of harm’s way yet. When they find themselves at the center of a Dragonkind war, they are forced to make the ultimate choice—surrender to their fears or accept each other’s love.
REVIEW:
4.25 Hearts I love Wick. He is a man of very few words but shows his loyalty with his actions. So when he wants to payback Mac ,his fellow Nightfury, for saving Venom’s life he decided to rescue Tania’s little sister Jamison (aka J.J.). Not everything goes quite according to plan while getting Jamison out of the hospital . And thing get even worse the moment Wick touches her.
This was a great Nightfury story. Wick and Jamison are perfect for each other. Both have a past that allows them to understand the others pain. Wick really does try to do what he thinks is the right thing. He tries to stay away from Jamison, he really wants to let her go because she deserves better. Or what Wick thinks is better. But Jamison has other plans. 🙂
If you have read the other Nightfury books you will really like Wick’s book. A lot of things happen. And I have a new soft spot for Venom. All I will say is poor Venom, this boy needs some serious love. I can’t wait to see what is in store for the Nightfury’s and I really wish the bad guys would get their just desserts very soon.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.
Nina, Welcome to Books-n-Kisses. Can you please share with us a little about yourself
I’m actually English, but I now live on an almond farm in the mountains of southern Spain. I share the farm with my husband and a whole load of animals (four dogs, two cats, a horse, four chickens, two goats, and a three-legged Vietnamese pot-bellied pig called Piggles!) and I spend my time, reading, writing and picking the occasional almond.
Have you always wanted to be an author?
No, but I’ve always been a voracious reader and I actually started writing out of desperation when I ran out of books to read. I was working as a volunteer in Africa at the time, with no electricity, no TV, no internet, and hardly any books (this was way before ebooks!) So writing my own stories seemed like a good idea.
What is your most interesting writing quirk?
I can’t actually begin writing a story until my characters start talking to me. I’m a total plotter and one of the reasons is that plotting gives me the time to get to know my characters before I start. At some point in the process, they will start chatting in my head—that’s when I know I’m ready to go.
Can you please tell us about your latest book
The Descartes Legacy is something new for me. I write across a number of sub-genres but so far, always romance. While The Descartes Legacy has a romance at its heart, it’s essentially a high action thriller with a touch of science fiction. It’s also darker and edgier than my usual style.
It’s about a man who is essentially good, but is driven to do things that are maybe outside his ethical code…because someone has to do them. Luke Grafton has spent the last ten years hunting the shadowy organization responsible for the death of his wife and baby. Now he has discovered that they are about to embark on a terrorist attack which could kill millions and change the world forever. Luke will do anything to stop the attack. Or so he believes, until he meets Jenna.
How did you come with the idea for this story?
Actually, it was down to my husband, who sort of asked me to write a ‘good’ book for him; one without romance, vampires, werewolves or science fiction (all my favorite things). I like a challenge and decided I wanted to write a high action thriller (I’m a big 24 fan!) And I loved it. But while I succeeded on the no vampires and no werewolves rule, I failed totally on the no romance and no science fiction.
Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?
I’ve spent the day putting the finishing touches to Temporal Shift, a sci-fi/paranormal romance and book 4 in my Blood Hunter series and I’ve just sent it to my editor. Next is a contemporary romance, Taking Control, book 3 in my Babysitting a Billionaire series, which I will start writing tomorrow. It’s about a tough, female bodyguard and the man she has to protect (whether he likes it or not!)
Who is the one author that you would love to meet someday and why?
It’s more than one, but I would love to meet all of my wonderful crit partners at Passionate Critters, as I’ve spent so much time talking to them online and it would be great to meet them in person one day.
What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?
Aim to write the sort of things you love. It’s the one thing that will sustain you when the going gets hard—which it will.
Can you share with us something off your bucket list.
I want to ride up the Inca trails in Peru.
What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?
I’ve had A Clash of Kings, book 2 in George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Fire and Ice series on my kindle for ages. I absolutely loved the first book, but I want time to sit down and read the whole series straight through before I start on the next. And right now, I just don’t have it.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I love making up stories, and I hope there are people out there who will love reading them just as much.
Bio
Nina Croft grew up in the north of England. After training as an accountant, she spent four years working as a volunteer in Zambia, which left her with a love of the sun and a dislike of 9-5 work. She then spent a number of years mixing travel (whenever possible) with work (whenever necessary) but has now settled down to a life of writing and picking almonds on a remote farm in the mountains of southern Spain.
Nina writes all sorts of romance often mixing in elements of the paranormal and science fiction.
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Lucas Grafton has spent the last ten years hunting the Conclave, a secret organization who took everything from him: his wife, his child, his very identity. Now he has a lead—an imminent terrorist attack on London—code-named Descartes.
Born with a genetic illness, Jenna Young has always known she was different. But the unexpected death of her father catapults her into a world of murder and terrorism she never expected. In order to stay alive, she must solve a twenty-five year old mystery—and her only ally a hard bitter man in search or retribution, her only clue the Descartes Highlands, an area on the near side of the moon.
Luke’s need for revenge collides with Jenna’s hunt for the past, and together they must stand against the Conclave. All the while uncovering the truth behind Jenna’s illness, a truth that will make Jenna question her very humanity.
Excerpt
“Jenna, there’s someone to see you.”
Her first thought was the police, and David’s memory flooded over her again, followed swiftly by a dull ache in her chest.
But for some reason, the stranger who stood in the doorway didn’t make her think “police.” He was tall, at least six three, with a lean body beneath black pants and a black shirt open at the throat. His face was pale, his hair short and black.
When he saw she’d noticed him, he stepped into the room and came toward her, moving with the grace of an athlete, each step controlled, giving Jenna the impression of leashed power.
Halting in front of her, he held out his hand. This close, Jenna could see his eyes were a beautiful hazel, green-brown flecked with gold. As she slid her palm against his, a frisson ran through her arm, along her nerves, settling low in her belly. She glanced at him sharply, but if he felt anything, he wasn’t giving it away. She pulled her hand free and edged back.
“How can I help you?” she asked.
He studied her, head tilted to one side. “My name is Luke Grafton. I’m David’s cousin.”
Shock locked her muscles. “I don’t understand. Have you heard—” She broke off as he nodded, his expression somber. “I’m sorry. I didn’t even know David had a cousin.”
“We were close when we were younger, but we’d lost touch over the last few years.” He glanced around the lab, his eyebrows rising as he took in the half-formed skeleton on the table beside her. “Is there somewhere we can talk?”
“Of course.” Visitors were often uncomfortable around her work, though she had the impression very little would bother this man. “We can go to my office.”
She led him out of the lab and along the corridor to her tiny cubicle, leaving the door open behind them. With this man beside her, she realized how minute the space really was. He was big, not only tall, but also broad at the shoulders, and she couldn’t help but be conscious of his closeness. Her body felt twitchy, on edge, and the strangeness of the emotions disconcerted her.
She shook off the feeling as she cleared a box of bones from one of the two chairs. Skirting the desk, she sank into her own seat and indicated the one she had cleared. He sat on the too small chair, his long legs stretched out in front of him, arms folded across his chest, studying her intently, as though he could pierce her mind. Find her secrets.
Almost squirming under the concentrated stare, she picked up a pencil from the desk, twiddled it between her finger and thumb, then put it down again and focused somewhere over his left shoulder. “I’m sorry about David. He was a good friend, but I’m not sure how I can help you.”
“David called me last night.”
Her gaze flashed to his face. “He did?”
“I hadn’t heard from him in a while—I was surprised. He told me he thought he was being followed. He was frightened.”
“Oh.” A tremor of unease skittered down her spine. She frowned as she thought about his words. “Why did he go to you and not the police?”
“I run a security firm, and he asked me to investigate something for him. I also provide protection for prominent people.”
“You mean like bodyguards?”
He nodded.
“David wanted you to provide him with a bodyguard?”
“Not exactly. He wanted me to provide you with a bodyguard.”
Authors Bio:
Nina Croft grew up in the north of England. After training as an accountant, she spent four years working as a volunteer in Zambia which left her with a love of the sun and a dislike of 9-5 work. She then spent a number of years mixing travel (whenever possible) with work (whenever necessary) but has now settled down to a life of writing and picking almonds on a remote farm in the mountains of southern Spain.
Anytime, anyplace, anyone…love finds a way.
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Nina Croft is giving away a $25 Gift Card to one winner tour-wide
TITLE: For Love Of Lacey
SERIES #: Holland-Winter #2
CHARACTERS: Lacey & Tyler
AUTHOR: Sandra Chastain
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/14/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
The last time Lacey Lee Wilcox saw straight-laced corporate type Tyler Winter, he was wearing a permanent scowl with his perfectly tailored suit. So when he shows up at her best friend’s bohemian wedding, Lacey takes it upon herself to keep the cynical exec out of the way. But underneath the pinstripes, Lacey finds an old soul—not to mention an incredible body—and what was supposed to be a vexing day turns into a wild time that leaves Lacey wanting more.
Lacey’s taste for adventure stirs something in Tyler he wasn’t sure he still possessed. It’s something that worries him just a little—after all, he hasn’t become Atlanta’s most successful real-estate mogul by letting loose. But maybe, just maybe, there is such a thing as working too hard . . . and there’s no one Tyler would rather play hooky with than lovely Lacey.
REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts This is a re-release from 1988 and while there are a few things things that are dated it is worth the read. Tyler is so adorably cute. He made me smile a number of times. Lacey cracks me up too. They are quite the pair.
The mood does change some about half way through the story and turns a little more serious but it is still a really good read…. it just looses some of the fun element of it.
This is a quick read and worth having around for the in between books pick up.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
I am very excited to have Jessica Shirvington here today to discuss her new book, Endless, which is the fourth book in the Embrace Series. I finished this series in a week and I am happy to have her here today.
1. Tell me about your new release Endless
Endless is the 4th book in the series and it is one I really enjoyed writing. Violet has accepted her life as a Grigori warrior but now she must face not only a great evil, but the consequences for her past choices. Violet finds herself with the weight of the world on her shoulders as hell unleashes its worst.
To save the people she loves the most, Violet faces the ultimate sacrifice. And she is not the only one.
2. Where did you come up with the idea for the series?
It was an idea that evolved in its own way. First the names, Violet and Lincoln, then the idea of the supernatural, then angels, then biblical folklore and it went from there.
3. What kind of research did you have to do for this series?
The research was huge and was ultimately the driving force behind the storyline. I let the research take me in new directions and I loved that. I’m not sure I will ever write another series that will lend itself so well to mythology, folklore, and ancient history so well.
As for what kind of research – it was an all and everything kind of thing. I love research and it can be simple as following a thread on the internet, going to the library, or talking with historians, teachers, doctors, theologians, and my next door neighbor. Though I will admit, in the very beginning there was one story of Lilith by Ben Sira and an account of the Great Flood in the Book of Enoch that very much led the way.
4. Have you always wanted to write YA or have there been other genres that you have been interested in?
Definitely YA was the obvious choice for me. In fact, I never even stopped to think about it, I just started writing knowing it was YA. That said, I do have a picture book on the way and whilst I will continue to predominantly write YA, I am also toying with the idea of an adult trilogy at the moment.
5. What are you working on now?
Right now I’m working on the edits for the final book of the series, EMPOWER and on the American edits for my first stand alone – ONE PAST MIDNIGHT which will be out in the US in June 2014. On top of that I have a duology on the way and I am just about to start working on the early edits for the first book.
6. Which authors have inspired you?
C.S. Lewis…And every other author out there! Every book I read whether good or average gives me something or teaches me something about the kind of author I want to be.
About the Author:
Jessica Shirvington lives in Sydney with her husband of ten years, FOXTEL presenter and former Olympic sprinter Matt Shirvington, and their two daughters. She has previously founded and run a coffee distribution company, Stella Imports, in London, and been involved in managing the restaurants Fuel Bistro, Tow Bar and MG Garage in Sydney.
She is currently a full-time mum, author and co-director in the company MPS Investments Pty Ltd.
One day, instead of picking up a new book, I started to write. The first name that came to mind was Violet. From there the rest naturally followed. I can honestly say, once Violet was discovered – she really did write the rest of the book!
Writing this book has drawn on my life experience – in my travels around the world and the different people I have met. It draws on love and loss and the overall confusion that comes with growing up. It also looks to many of my friends and their experiences.
I have always loved ancient history – tales and stories of the best kind.
Love will kill us all.
Angels are real. They aren’t always kind. Violet Eden is certain of all this because she is Grigori – part angel, part human. She has felt the influence of both light and dark.
When Hell unleashes its worst, Violet must embrace every facet of her angel self to save the people she cares about and the world as she knows it. But death is not the worst thing that Violet will face. For her, the endless question ‘Can love conquer all?’ will finally be answered.
10.7.13
Molly Harper takes over the blog to interview Bonnie from Rhythm & Bluegrass
Kelly reviews Rhythm and Bluegrass by Molly Harper
10.8.13
Kelly’s review of Death & The Girl He Loves by Darynda Jones
Guest blog & giveaway with Lia Davis
10.9.13
Spotlight Feature of Dehumanized by Michael Loring
Spotlight Feature of Shadowed by Rebecca Zanetti
Winter Romance Wednesday! Kimberly reviews A Nantucket Christmas by Nancy Thayer
10.10.13
Spotlight Feature of Ranae Rose’s Hell Without You
Series Spotlight of Lolita Lopez’s Dragon Heat series
Kelly reviews An Unlucky Moon by Carrie Ann Ryan
10.11.13
Interview & giveaway with Pamela Sherwood
Kimberly reviews The Devil’s In The Details by Kimberly Raye
10.12.13
SINsational Saturday Series
The Fallen Angels #1
Seven deadly sins. Seven souls to save. This is the first battle between a savior who doesn’t believe and a demon with nothing to lose!
Redemption isn’t a word Jim Heron knows much about-his specialty is revenge, and to him, sin is all relative. But everything changes when he becomes a fallen angel and is charge with saving the souls of seven people from the seven deadly sins. And failure is not an option. Vin DiPietro long ago sold his soul to his business, and he’s good with that-until fate intervenes in the form of a tough- talking, Harley-riding, self-professed savior. But then he meets a woman who will make him question his destiny, his sanity, and his heart-and he has to work with a fallen angel to win her over and redeem his own soul.
The Fallen Angels #2
Seven deadly sins. Seven souls that must be saved. One more no-holds- barred battle between a fallen angel with a hardened heart and a demon with everything to lose.
Isaac Rothe is a black ops soldier with a dark past and a grim future. The target of an assassin, he finds himself behind bars, his fate in the hands of his gorgeous public defender Grier Childe. His hot attraction to her can only lead to trouble-and that’s before Jim Heron tells him his soul is in danger. Caught up in a wicked game with the demon who shadows Jim, Isaac must decide whether the soldier in him can believe that true love is the ultimate weapon against evil.
The Fallen Angels #3
Seven deadly sins. Seven souls to save. And a man and a woman treading the lines of danger, desire and deliverance …
As the son of a serial killer, homicide detective Thomas DelVecchio Jr grew up in the shadow of evil. Now, on the knife-edge between civic duty and blind retribution, he atones for the sins of his father. Hired to monitor Veck is Internal Affairs officer Sophia Reilly, whose interest in Veck is both professional and arousingly personal. But Veck and Sophia have a common interest. He’s Jim Herron, a mysterious stranger enlisted to save the soul of a killer’s latest victim, one precariously hovering between heaven and hell. Before Herron’s job is done, Veck and Sophia will be inexorably drawn into a battle of good against evil, where the risk is nothing less than total damnation.
The Fallen Angels #4
Mels Carmichael, reporter for the Caldwell Courier Journal, gets the shock of her life when a man stumbles in front of her car outside the local cemetery. After the accident, his amnesia is just the kind of mystery she likes to solve, but she soon discovers they’re over their heads with his past. Over their heads with passion, too …As shadows walk the line between reality and another realm, and her lover’s memory begins to come back, the two of them learn that nothing is truly dead and buried. Especially when you’re trapped in a no-holds-barred war between angels and demons. With a soul on the line, and Mels’s heart at risk, what in heaven – or in hell – will it take to save them both?
After reporter Mels Carmichael hits a disheveled man with her car
outside the local cemetery, she pays a visit to the stranger in the hospital. The only thing he remembers of his past is seeing a name written on a headstone: that of Jim Heron—a fallen angel charged with rescuing souls from the seven deadly sins. Now, as Mels struggles to help this mysterious stranger rediscover himself, Heron himself returns to prepare for a battle between good and evil.
Fallen Angels #5
#1 New York Times bestselling author J.R. Ward explores what really happens when good and evil toy with humanity in her new novel of the Fallen Angels, as the salvation of a doomed soul depends once again on a crossroads…
When Cait Douglass resolves to get over her broken heart, throw off her inhibitions, and start really living, she’s unprepared for the two sensual men who cross her path. Torn between them, she doesn’t know which to choose–or what kind of dire consequences could follow.
Jim Heron, fallen angel and reluctant savior, is ahead in the war, but he puts everything at risk when he seeks to make a deal with the devil–literally. As yet another soul is unwittingly caught in the battle between him and the demon Devina, his fixation on an innocent trapped in Hell threatens to sidetrack him from his sacred duty…
Can good still prevail if true love makes a savior weak? And will a woman’s future be the key, or the curse, for all of humanity? Only time, and hearts, will tell.
Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Heidi Cullinan to the blog today. Heidi can you please share with us a little about yourself
I’m an author of gay romance, I’m an Iowan, a wife and a mother, and I’m very tall. I’ve battled chronic pain and mysterious health ailments over the years, a journey which has led me to many interesting things, at this moment including being a gluten-free vegan eating a stupid amount of kale. I tweet too much and post pictures of my cats and what I’m eating on social media. I can’t remember the names of the characters I create (sometimes losing/changing them within the same book), so you can imagine what I do with real people.
Have you always wanted to be an author?
I think yes, probably before I even understood what that was. Mostly I have always told and played with stories. I scripted Barbies and Weebles until I realized I was holding plastic, and then I started writing things down. I wrote my first novel at twelve and published it in the school anthology. It was a romance, and it was also half of the anthology.
What is your most interesting writing quirk?
I auto-write with my characters. I have no idea if this is creative insanity or a parceling-out of my consciousness or if I’m actually communicating with a character void. All I know is I talk, they answer, and I sort things out. They answer with stuff I didn’t know a lot. LIke in the drafting of Family Man I asked Vinnie what his favorite music was and he said Coltrane. Somehow I had it in my head this was an alternative singer, but I ended up with John Coltrane, the jazz singer, and Vinnie all but hummed. So who knows how it works. I honestly don’t care so long as it continues.
Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?
My current release is Love Lessons, a new adult gay romance set in a fictional university. It’s standard virgin reforms rake…except there’s a lot of role reversal once we get going, and it doesn’t stay that simple very long. Here’s the official teaser blub: When Kelly arrives at Hope University, he realizes finding his Prince Charming isn’t easy. Worst of all, he’s landed the charming, handsome, gay campus Casanova as a roommate, whose bed might as well be equipped with a revolving door. Walter thinks everyone is better off having as much fun as possible…except his shy, sad little roommate is seriously screwing up his worldview. As Walter sets out to lure Kelly out of his shell, he discovers love is a crash course. To make the grade, he’ll have to overcome his own private fear that love was never meant to last.
My next release is in November, a Christmas romance called Let It Snow. It started because I was seriously in the mood for a snowed-in story (LOVE those) but couldn’t find one I wanted to read. It’s also a little golidlocks and the three bears, but mostly it’s a snuggly snowed-in story with a grumpy bear and a hairdresser who knows how to tame him. The lightning blurb: Frankie’s malfunctioning GPS sent him to Logan, and a blizzard ensures he won’t be leaving anytime soon. Being rescued by three sexy lumberjacks is a nice fantasy, but the biggest of the bears seems cranky…and ready to gobble Frankie right up. Once a high-powered lawyer, Marcus has no interest in a sassy city twink who might as well have stepped directly out of his past. Yet as the snow falls, the deeper they fall in love. Though all they want for Christmas is each other, the gift of forever may be too much to ask.
How did you come with the idea for this story?
I wanted to write about college romance because I’d been reading it and it made me feel good. I had this idea Love Lessons would be 50-60k, sugar-sweet and simple and take me a few months to write. It took me six, I routed about thirty demons from my college years, and at one point I had a three foot-stack of philosophy books on my reading stand and twice as many on my kindle. So the sweet and simple thing didn’t work out quite so well. The other irony is I intended it to be a series initially, but it became a stand alone…and now it’s a series again.
Kelly and Walter started out as a rake/ingenue dichotomy, a pretty standard trope. It didn’t take long for them to do the character equivalent of, “No, listen to me,” and they ended up tangling themselves, switching roles, and in general making a mess. As soon as I took my expectations and rigid schedule out of the way, though, everything lined right up.
Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?
I’m writing a second book in the Love Lessons series, Fever Pitch. Walter and Kelly are secondary characters, but mostly this book will be the story of Aaron and Giles, whom I’m confident every fan of Love Lessons will be happy with. Next I’m due to write a second book in the Minnesota Christmas series, which will feature recurring characters from Let It Snow. I’m pretty sure Arthur will hook up with the librarian.
Who is the one author that you would love to meet someday and why?
I’d like to shake Terry Pratchett’s hand. I don’t think I could manage coherent conversation. But I’d like to tell him thank you in person. Then I’d go off quietly and sob until I couldn’t breathe.
What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?
I forget who said it first, but I stand by the adage, “If you can stop writing, you should.” If it’s about money, there are a million easier, more reliable ways to get it. If it’s about fame or attention, ditto. If you imagine yourself not writing and you feel happiness and relief, stop writing immediately. If thinking of writing makes you angry or exhausted, if it’s a drain on your system, at least take a break and let ceasing be an option. Everything else? Everything from loving the challenge to gritty determination to climb this mountain to a sense of soul-sucking darkness if you stop? Come on in. The water’s abysmal, but you don’t have much choice so you might as well.
Can you share with us something off your bucket list.
I’d like to get back to Prague, to rent an apartment and stay there for the summer. Write, cook, soak up the city. There’s nowhere else like it in the world.
What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?
I seriously require more Vlad from Jeaniene Frost. As soon as possible.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Thank you very much for having me!
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Love doesn’t come with a syllabus.
Kelly Davidson has waited what seems like forever to graduate high school and get out of his small-minded, small town. But when he arrives at Hope University, he quickly realizes finding his Prince Charming isn’t so easy. Everyone here is already out. In fact, Kelly could be the only virgin on campus.
Worst of all, he’s landed the charming, handsome, gay campus Casanova as a roommate, whose bed might as well be equipped with a revolving door.
Walter Lucas doesn’t believe in storybook love. Everyone is better off having as much fun as possible with as many people as possible…except his shy, sad little sack of a roommate is seriously screwing up his world view.
As Walter sets out to lure Kelly out of his shell, staying just friends is harder than he anticipated. He discovers love is a crash course in determination. To make the grade, he’ll have to finally show up for class…and overcome his own private fear that love was never meant to last.
Warning: This story contains lingering glances, milder than usual sexual content for this author, and a steamy dance-floor kiss. Story has no dairy or egg content, but may contain almonds.
Expected publication: October 1st 2013 by Samhain
A little about Heidi:
Heidi Cullinan has always loved a good love story, provided it has a happy ending. She enjoys writing across many genres but loves above all to write happy, romantic endings for LGBT characters because there just aren’t enough of those stories out there. When Heidi isn’t writing, she enjoys cooking, reading, knitting, listening to music, and watching television with her husband and ten-year-old daughter. Heidi also volunteers frequently for her state’s LGBT rights group, One Iowa, and is proud to be from the first midwestern state to legalize same-sex marriage. Find out more about Heidi, including her social networks, at www.heidicullinan.com.
Author Links:
Website | Blog | FB Author Page | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest
Welcome to the blog Pamela, can you please share with us a little about yourself
I am a native Southern Californian and a third-generation Chinese American, who grew up in a family of teachers. For a time, I considered a career in academia as well. I studied English literature and history, specializing in the Romantic and Victorian periods, and eventually earned a doctorate. I worked for several years in reference and academic publishing, before turning to fiction writing full time.
Have you always wanted to be an author?
Pretty much. I was an avid reader from the time I was a small child, which led inevitably to making up my own stories and entertaining myself with them during the boring classes, on long car trips, and on the walk to and from school. I think I was in third or fourth grade when I sensed I’d begun something that was going to be a permanent part of my life!
What is your most interesting writing quirk?
I don’t think of myself as being particularly quirky as a writer, although I’ve been known to stay up really late or get up really early when inspiration happens to strike. The most recent example of that was a couple of months ago, when I suddenly woke up knowing how a song my characters were writing together just had to go. It was still dark outside, everyone else in the house was still asleep, but I got up, grabbed pen and paper, and wrote it all down within five minutes. Fired it off by email to my writing partner, as this was a collaborative effort, and then–being too wired to sleep–fixed myself an early breakfast, and went about in a satisfied haze for the next few hours!
Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?
A Song at Twilight is a second chance at love story, set in late Victorian England. The heroine, Sophie Tresilian, is a musical sensation, a rising star of the opera and concert stage. The hero, Robin Pendarvis, is the man she fell in love when she was only seventeen, and whom she’s never been able to forget. Four years before the story begins, they seemed headed for a happy ending, only to have their hopes for the future dashed by the revelation of a huge secret from his past. Sophie has tried to put that disappointment behind her and focus on her career. And then one night, Robin walks back into her life . . .
How did you come with the idea for this story?
Robin and Sophie were supporting characters in my first novel, Waltz with a Stranger. Their relationship was depicted in its earliest stages, and at the end of the book, they were kind of at a crossroads. Initially, I assumed that, in due time, they’d overcome whatever obstacles were and fall into each other’s arms. Then I asked myself, what if it wasn’t that simple? What if something happened to derail that, and sent them both off in different directions? And Sophie’s different direction ended up being a musical career, which was a fascinating path to explore. Professional singers like Jennie Lind and Nellie Melba were making their mark in the 19th century, redefining what it was to be an entertainer, and making the profession as a whole more respectable.
Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?
I’m working on several projects right now, and waiting to hear which will get the “green light” first. One is a novella about Thomas Sheridan and Amy Newbold, supporting characters in both of my novels, who are now getting a story of their own. He’s an artist–sophisticated, suave, and a bit of a reformed rake. She’s a forthright, pragmatic American heiress who’s not afraid to go after what she wants. Engaged when the story begins, they become embroiled in a dangerous adventure when they travel to Newport, Rhode Island, for the summer season. Then there’s the story of Sophie’s brother, Harry, who falls hard for a woman of mystery, and another novel featuring all-new characters: a dysfunctional ducal family in Yorkshire who come together–contentiously–for Christmas.
Who is the one author that you would love to meet someday and why?
I had the chance to meet several authors I admire at the most recent RWA conference in Atlanta, chief among them Mary Jo Putney, whose work I’ve enjoyed since I was in graduate school. She graciously provided a lovely blurb for A Song at Twilight. Other authors I’d enjoy meeting include Lois McMaster Bujold, who rides rocking good space opera with a one-of-a-kind hero in Miles Vorkosigan, and Elizabeth Peters, whose Amelia Peabody mysteries effortlessly blend intrigue, romance, and an irresistible period “voice.”
What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?
Find what you love to write about. Do it regularly. Give yourself the time to develop, grow, and mature as a writer. Never give up.
Can you share with us something off your bucket list?
I would love to visit Italy, especially Venice! The idea of a city with canals instead of sidewalks fascinates me no end. There’s actually a set of canals at Venice Beach in Southern California. I’ve walked along them, stood on bridges above them, dreamed about what it might be like to live in a house beside them. I can only imagine how powerful a spell the original Venetian canals must evoke on travelers.
What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?
I’m eagerly anticipating Laura Lee Guhrke’s When the Marquess Met His Match, and Sherry Thomas’s The Luckiest Lady in London. Both authors write in the late Victorian/Edwardian period, as I do, and it’s such a fascinating time! I’m also looking forward to Elizabeth Chadwick’s trilogy about Eleanor of Aquitaine. And on the contemporary end of things, I’m impatiently waiting for Deborah Grabien’s Comfortably Numb, the latest in her rock ‘n’ roll mysteries featuring guitarist JP Kinkaid.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Just the following quote attributed to Emily Dickinson: “There is no frigate like a book to take you far away.” I hope readers will like where A Song at Twilight takes them. And thank you for hosting me today on Books-N-Kisses!
Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. If you could please make sure to include links to your Website, Facebook page, Twitter account or Goodread’s page I will make sure to include them in the post. Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
Aspiring singer Sophie Tresilian had the world at her feet—fame, fortune, and true love—until the man of her dreams broke her heart. Four years later, Sophie is the toast of Europe, desired and pursued by countless men. And then Robin Pendarvis walks back into her life . . .
A Man with a Past
Four years ago, Robin hoped to make Sophie his bride, but secrets from his past forced him to let her go. Seeing her again revives all the old pain—and all the old passion. Unable to deny the love that still burns between them, they risk everything to be together once more. But will the things that tore them apart in the past endanger their future as well?
TITLE: The Devil’s In The Details
SERIES #: Devil #1
CHARACTERS: Jess & Cutter
AUTHOR: Kimberly Raye
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/08/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Jess Damon’s life is…complicated. Not only is she a man-eating succubus (albeit recently reformed), but she has the mother from hell—literally. Yep, Houston’s hottest wedding planner is the daughter of the devil. Though as far as her mother knows, Jess is only in the business to hook up with hunky groomsmen, not to find true love.
But when demon hunter Cutter Owens rolls into town, turning her back on her evil birthright proves harder than Jess thought. Cutter is out to take down the devil once and for all—and he wants Jess’s help to do it. There’s no denying Cutter is gorgeous, in that sexy “a demon stole my soul” sort of way. And, sure, Lillian Damon is the queen of evil. But she’s still Jess’s mom. Now Jess must outfox the world’s greatest demon hunter without revealing her true identity or—devil forbid!—falling in love. Sexy, funny, and fiendishly clever, this bewitching paranormal romance is one hell of a read.
REVIEW:
I have read a couple of Raye’s books but never a paranormal one by her and I am just not sure I enjoyed it. The story is interesting but a little common. And while Raye’s sense of humor is usually enjoyable to me this one just seemed silly.
There is also too many characters. I know that is odd but Raye seems to have needed to add every Hellish character she has ever heard of. I also didn’t realize this is a continuous story which I didn’t enjoy. I will probably pick up the next book hoping it is better.
There are good points to this book. The story is funny in and of itself and some of the background characters are fun to read about too. This one just didn’t make me impressed.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Dragon Heat series, #1
Publisher: Forever Yours
Publication Date: 8/6/13
Genre: Paranormal Romance
AVAILABE AT: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
The last thing dragon shifter Stig Wyvern needs is his dead friend’s kid sister showing up on his doorstep. He’s just minutes away from entering a mating phase. Sharing his isolated house with the young woman he’s desperately lusted after for quite some time is a recipe for disaster.
But Cora Cardenas has nowhere else to go. She’s in deep trouble with some really nasty people and Stig is the only one who can protect her. That he’s deliciously sexy and makes her tingle with the simplest of smiles is just a bonus.
Cora quickly realizes Stig is hiding something from her. To make matters worse, she’s plagued with breathtakingly naughty dreams starring a shadowed lover who bears a startling resemblance to her host. And just what the hell is going on down in the basement at night?
Stig needs to get Cora out of his house but his inner beast has other ideas. He’s found his mate and she’s not going anywhere…
Dragon Heat Series, #2
Publisher: Forever Yours
Publication Date: October 1st, 2013
Genre: Paranormal Romance
AVAILABE AT: Amazon | Are | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
Griffin Cadogan is shocked to see Avani Monroe, sworn enemy of his dragon family, walk into his gym. With his mating phase soon approaching, Griffin is curious as to why she has to come enemy territory knowing the risks. Not only does she surprise Griffin and his cousin, Mad, by coming to enemy territory, but what she wants is borderline insane-Griffin must help her have a baby.
After her mother’s line was annihilated by the Knights, Avani accepted her duty to ensure the continuation of their unique dragon breed. She’s searched the dragon registries and Griffin is the most likely candidate for her crazy plan. Working up the courage to approach a man who considers her an enemy wasn’t easy but she manages to calmly lay out her carefully orchestrated plan.
But Griffin isn’t about to agree to her harsh terms. If she wants him to father her child, he intends to play an active role in his offspring’s life, not simply walk away as she requires. Shocked by her instant attraction to him, she agrees to his terms. Once together, they realize their connection is about more than creating a child, but that happiness is short-lived when Mad suddenly disappears. Knowing the dragon slayers are behind it, Griffin must risk it all to save the ones he loves.
A little about Lolita Lopez:
While browsing bookstore shelves as a teenager, Lo discovered the erotic writings of Anaïs Nin and A.N. Roquelaure. Certain her mother would not approve, Lo smuggled the books home and squirreled them away in the most likely of places: under her bed. Late at night, she delved into the sensual worlds both writers created.
As a co-ed studying biochemistry and genetics at Texas A&M University, Lo dabbled in creating naughty tales to entertain her friends. Study for a midterm or pen a deliciously dirty story to delight her small band of fans? Not surprisingly, Lo is now on an extended sabbatical from college.
Luckily, Lo stumbled onto the world of erotic romance publishers. She realized there were other readers and writers who loved and craved breathtaking romance with the spiciest of love scenes. She took a chance and submitted her first novella. The rest is history.
Lo lives in Texas with her family and beloved Great Dane, Bosley.
Learn more about Lolita Lopez here: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
GRAND PRIZE: Because the heroine of RED HOT DRAGON is a jewelry designer, Lo is giving away a pair of earrings (see here ) and a $25 gift card to Amazon/B&N to one luck winner for the Grand Prize.
RUNNER UP: One runner-up will get a $25 gift card to Amazon/B&N
Lolita Lopez’s RED HOT DRAGON Book Blast – 10/7 – 10/19
10/9 Mythical Books
10/9 Romancing Rakes For The Love of Romance
10/10 Book Lovin’ Mamas
10/10 Books-n-Kisses
10/10 Fandom Fanatic
10/10 We Love Kink
10/12 A_TiffyFit’s Reading Corner
10/12 Celestial Reviews
10/13 Rumpled Sheets Blog
10/14 Book Monster Reviews
10/16 #Book Nerd
10/16 Imagine a World
10/16 Scorching Book Reviews
10/16 Why I Can’t Stop Reading
10/17 Babbling About Books and More
10/17 Salacious Reads
10/17 Taking It One Book at a Time
10/17 Two Sassy Chicks
10/17 Wicked Readings by Tawania
10/18 For the Love of Bookends
10/18 Manga Maniac Cafe
10/18 Mythical Books
10/19 Dalene’s Book Reviews
10/19 Darkest Addictions Reviews
10/19 Literal Hotties Naughty Book Reviews
10/19 Riverina Romantics
by Ranae Rose
Released September 5, 2013
Amazon| B&N | AllRomance | Kobo
Time changes everything, except what’s meant to be.
Seven years is a long time – long enough to transform Clementine from a small-town teenager with a broken heart into a woman ready to take on the world, but not long enough to make her forget about the man she was never supposed to see again. A temporary return to tiny Willow Heights thrusts her back into Donovan’s life and home, unearthing heartbreak and obsession that have stood the test of time.
He left seven years ago too, for war and other things Clementine can only imagine. Coming back to the town where he grew up in the shadow of poverty and drug addiction makes no sense, and neither do Clementine’s feelings for him. He could never forgive her for leaving, could he? Even if she had no choice.
Now, she has the freedom to choose … and so does he. Every day in Willow Heights makes it clearer: all he ever really wanted was her, and nothing will change that. Not even a taste of the hell that drove them apart in the first place.
About the author:
Ranae Rose is the best-selling author of over a dozen adult romances and counting. She calls the US East Coast home, and resides there with her husband, child, German Shepherd dogs and overflowing bookshelves. Writing and reading are lifelong passions that consume most of her time, and she’s always working on bringing her latest love story idea to life for readers.
Find more about Ranae Rose here: Website | Twitter | Goodreads
$10.00 gift card to Amazon
Ranae Rose HELL WITHOUT YOU Tour Schedule:
10/7 Darker Passions (spotlight) https://darkerpassions.net
10/9 Rookie Romance (Spotlight) http://rookieromance.blogspot.co.uk/
10/9 The Snarkology (Interview) www.melissasnark.blogspot.com
10/9 Where the Night Kind Roam (Guest Post) http://paranormalromancenovel.com/
10/10 Books-n-Kisses (Spotlight) http://www.books-n-kisses.com
10/11 We Love Kink (Spotlight) http://www.welovekink.com
10/12 Dalene’s Book Reviews (Interview) http://dalenesbookreviews.blogspot.com/
10/12 Kristina’s Books and More (Interview) http://kristinasbooksandmore.blogspot.com
10/12 Literal Hotties Naughty Book Reviews (Guest Post) http://literalhottiesnaughtybookreviews.blogspot.com/
10/12 Mad Hatter Reads (Spotlight) http://madhatterreads.com
10/12 Mythical Books (Spotlight) http://mythicalbooks.blogspot.ro/
10/13 Book Lovin’ Mamas (Interview) http://booklovinmamas.com
10/13 Offbeat Vagabond (Spotlight) http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/
10/14 Coffee Talk (Guest Post) http://coffeetalkwriters.com/
10/14 Musings From An Addicted Reader (Spotlight) http://musingsfromanaddictedreader.blogspot.com/
10/14 Wicked Readings by Tawania (Spotlight) http://wickedreadingsbytawania.blogspot.com/
10/14 You Gotta Read Reviews (Spotlight) http://yougottaread.com
10/15 – Book Monster Reviews http://www.bookmonsterreviews.com/
10/16 Inner Goddess (Guest Post) http://www.InnerGoddessForum.com
10/17 Romance Junkies (Interview) http://www.romancejunkies.com/rjblog/
10/18 Babbling about Books and more (Spotlight) http:// kbgbabbles.com
10/18 Bookin’ It Reviews (Guest Post) http://www.bookinitreviews.com/
10/18 Crazy Four Books (Spotlight) http://crazyfourbooks.blogspot.com
10/18 Rockn’ the Muses (Spotlight/Review) http://rocknthemuses.blogspot.com
10/19 Sassy Book Lovers (Guest Post) http://sassybooklovers.blogspot.com/
10/19 True Story Book Blog (Spotlight with Excerpt) http://www.truestorybookblog.com/
10/20 Books Books and more Books (Spotlight) http://booksbooksmorebooks.blogspot.com/
10/20 For the Love of Bookends (Spotlight) http://loveofbookends.blogspot.com/
10/20 Rumpled Sheets Blog (Spotlight/Review) http://rumpledsheetsblog.wordpress.com/
10/22 Scorching Book Reviews (guest post) http://scorchingbookreviews.blogspot.com