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Kimberly’s review of Covert Seduction by Callie Croix

TITLE: Covert Seduction
CHARACTERS: Reid & Becca
AUTHOR: Callie Croix
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/14/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Navy SEAL Reid Galvin is back from hell and eager to find comfort in Becca Anderson’s arms. He knows he hurt her when he cut contact during his deployment, so when his call interrupts her date with another man, he has only himself to blame. But he can’t forget what she means to him—or the sexy email she sent him—and he won’t miss this chance to claim her as his own.

It’s been weeks since Becca heard from the man she thought she was involved with. So when Reid wants to take up where they left off as if nothing happened, she refuses. Then he rescues her from a first date gone very wrong, and she realizes she’s not quite ready to let him go.

Reid and Becca have a lot to talk about, but since she’s not listening, he’s going to have to regain her trust another way—by bringing her most erotic fantasies to life. Making her surrender to pleasure just might be his most important mission.

REVIEW:
3.5 Stars This is an enjoyable short story. Reid is a SEAL (aren’t they all?) who was in a relationship with Becca until he was sent on a mission. She did not hear from him for 6 weeks and while they both missed the other there was no communication which caused a problem for Becca. Reid comes home and wants to rekindle the fire. Becca had sent him a erotic love letter and Reid wants to fulfill her desires if Becca will give him the chance.

There is a bit of a romantic suspense in this story but not much. A little bit more would have been nice. I did not consider this erotica. Yes there was some sex scenes showing Reid in control but this is not D/s sex scenes.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

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Spotlight Series of The Hope Falls Chronicles

The Hope Falls Chronicles Series Spotlight

 

Sweet Reunion

Amazon  |  Barnes and Noble

Justin Barnes and Amanda Jacobs haven’t seen each other for ten years.  The last time they did?  Well, let’s just say it wasn’t pretty.  There was a huge misunderstanding, Justin left Hope Falls, and Amanda’s been missing the tall, hunky love of her life pretty much every day since then.

Now, to make matters even more complicated, her beloved Dad has passed away suddenly, which leaves her to grieve alone.  Alone, that is, until the reappearance of her best friends from high school – Karina, Samantha, and Lauren.  With the rest of the Fabulous Four at her side, Amanda knows she can get through this.  And she’s going to need the support, too – because guess who else is back in Hope Falls?

*****

Sweet Harmonies

 Amazon |  Barnes and Noble

Life as a hugely famous pop star isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, and no one knows this better than Karina Blackstone – or Karina Black, as her record label insisted she shorten her name to.  The more generic she could make herself, the better – that was their motto.  Well, Karina’s done with that.  Done with all the complicated mind games.  She’s moving back to Hope Falls to concentrate on songwriting, spend time with her friends, get back in touch with her Washoe heritage.  To simplify her life.

That’s the plan, anyway.  Until the moment she lays eyes on Ryan Perkins, the gorgeous blonde grandson of the local cafe owner.  His stunning good looks make her start to suspect that the “simple” life she has been planning may not be in the cards.  When she hears him sing, she knows it for sure.

 *****

 Sweet Victory

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

For ten years, Samantha Holt has thought about nothing but her career as a professional snowboarder.  There hasn’t been room for anything else.  She hasn’t had time for fun, for friends…certainly not for a boyfriend.  At 27 years old, she’s never experienced much beyond a kiss when it comes to guys.  She knows she’s ready to remedy that situation, but should she trust the sexy playboy who comes back into her life – especially considering that he’s the only guy she’s ever had feelings for?

 Luke Reynolds has moved back to the Sierra Nevadas to be close to his family.  After ten years of living on the road, first as a competitive snowboarder and then as ski pro, he knows his family needs him now.  A big bonus to that arrangement, in his eyes, is the chance to spend time with Samantha Holt, the red-headed firebrand he’s been carrying a torch for for nearly a decade.  Can he get her to let down her walls enough to see he truly cares?

*****

Home Sweet Home

Coming soon

Lauren Harrison is used to being the top dog.  A high-powered real estate agent dealing exclusively in high-end homes, she is at the top of a very competitive field.  That’s why she doesn’t appreciate being talked down to by Ben Stevens, even if he does do it in the most maddeningly charming way ever!  Lauren has had about enough of his nonsense, that’s for sure.  She wishes he’d just pack up and go right back where he came from.  But a small, niggling question in the back of her mind keeps asking her – if that’s all true, why is your stomach full of butterflies every time you see him?  And why do you look forward to the days when you know that you will?

Ben Stevens grew up in circumstances that could most kindly be called “humble.”  He hasn’t been handed a thing in life, he’s had to fight and scrape for every single bit of success he’s been granted.  Not like Lauren Harrison.  He recognizes her type, he saw women like her all the time growing up.  Graceful, beautiful, elegant – it was easy to pull off when you had money.  Lauren only sees him now as the successful and polished real estate reality show host that he has turned himself into.  What would this regal beauty say if she knew the truth about where he came from?

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Interview with Melanie Shawn

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Melanie Shawn to the blog today….

Melanie & Shawn, can you please share with us a little about yourself

We’re a writing team of two sisters, which is a bit unconventional.   Our pen name (Melanie Shawn) is a combination of our two first names, Melanie and Shawna.

Melanie’s the one answering these questions (hey, y’all! :D), but I did ask Shawna for her input on some of the topics where we diverge in taste and opinion.  I guess you could say that she’s a little bit country, and I’m a little bit rock n’ roll when it comes to our literary sensibilities.   My taste in reading materials runs to the grittier side than hers does. 😀

We grew up in a small town in Northern California, about an hour east of San Francisco.   We live in Southern California now, and we are avid collectors of small dogs! 😀

Can you share with us your typical writing day.   Is there anything you have to have while writing?

Well, since Shawna and I are a writing team, it works a little differently. We have perfected a system that really plays to each of our strengths, and works well for us.

We come up with the setting, overarching plot, and characters together.  Shawna then fleshes out the plot, creating the timeline and the individual scenes that take place within the plot.  She writes an incredibly detailed accounting of each scene – what happens,  what people are thinking about, what their motivation is, what they’re saying to each other.

I then take that and write the scenes into prose.

Finally, we edit the book jointly!

Have you always wanted to be an author?

Yes, I’ve always wanted to be an author, from the time I was a kid.  However, life got in the way, and it took me until I was in my late thirties to put out my first book.

I was very inspired by author Marc Acito, whose debut novel How I Paid for College: A Novel of Sex, Theft, Friendship and Musical Theater is one of my favorite books of all time.  He wrote the early draft longhand, in his car, in moments that he was able to steal between sales calls at his day job. When I found that out, it really sunk in to me that it DOES NOT MATTER what else you have going on in your life – if you can even steal five minutes to write a couple of sentences, then you can move your book along a couple of sentences at a time!

The real magic came, though, when Shawna and I started working together.  It would NEVER have happened without her!  I’m a super artsy type – I sort of float along in my creative process, starting new things when ideas occur  to me and excite me, abandoning old starts when I’m not excited about them anymore.  That’s no way to finish a novel!

Shawna keeps us on track, keeps me upbeat and motivated, and – most importantly – comes up with all the super-awesome, romantic, beautiful scenarios that people love in our stories.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

Aside from our unconventional writer-team process, I’d say that my other quirk is that sometimes I record my writing into a digital voice recorder and then transcribe/clean up the prose afterward.  It just depends on what feels right for the scene.  Sometimes I think better with my fingers, and sometimes with my voice!

Most challenging or rewarding part of writing?

The most challenging part is sticking to the punishing book-per-month schedule we’ve set out for ourselves.  There are a lot of reasons we decided to come out of the gate strong that way, but the most compelling one is that we have SO MANY stories to tell, ones that we are incredibly passionate about, that we really want to get them out into the world as quickly as possible.  Still,  it takes both of us writing for 8-10 hours per day to meet that deadline, which can be exhausting.

The most rewarding part is definitely the fan reaction to our books.   We are big social media users, and we get such a huge thrill from interacting with readers  who enjoy what we put out!  It’s incredibly satisfying.

Can you please tell us about your latest book?

Our latest book, being released at the end of March, is called Home Sweet Home, and it is the story of Lauren and Ben.  Both of these characters are high-powered real estate professionals, and they both have extremely strong personalities – in fact, they clash at the outset of the story.

They’re both high achievers in a competitive profession, so they are each used to being on top. Their journey brings them to see past the barriers which hold them at arm’s length, and to find out that they really are meant for each other, despite a rocky start.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

Well, first off, even though Lauren and Ben are somewhat antagonistic to one another at the start of the novel, we didn’t want the relationship to be truly hostile.  Shawna and I like our stories to be upbeat and funny.   Even when characters face difficult realities, we don’t want the reader to feel angry and depressed themselves as they move through the story.

Because of that, we were inspired to shape the evolution of their relationship in the direction of a Tracy-and-Hepburn dynamic.  They are a bicker-y and annoyed with one another initially, but in more of a banter-y way than an overtly hostile one.

It’s a departure from the first three books in The Hope Falls Chronicles, where the hero and heroine – while they did each have obstacles to overcome – genuinely liked one another from the start.

Can you share with us your current work in progress?

We are VERY excited to be moving on to a new series after Home Sweet Home!  Don’t worry, though, it’s not the end of The Hope Falls Chronicles. We’ll be returning to Hope Falls in a few months! 😀

The next four books we are putting out are part of our Crossroads series, which is based around the theme of big life changes.  Every character in the series is facing a major decision, a significant crossroads in their life – a move, a career change, etc.

Look for the first four in this series (My First, My Last, My Only, My Everything) to begin being released in April.

Who are some of your favorite authors?

My reading tastes and Shawna’s could not diverge more! 😀

Shawna is the big romance fan between the two of us.  She loves all the contemporary romance greats, people like Carly Phillips, Jill Shalvis, Kristan Higgins, Victoria Dahl, Susan Mallery, Susan Anderson, Lori Foster, Rachel Gibson, Deirdre Martin, Susan Donovan, and Christie Craig.  Her two newest faves are Macy Beckett and Kendall Ryan!

I do enjoy romance, as well – in fact, one of my favorite books of all time is Dancing at the Harvest Moon by KC McKinnon.  The language and the sense of place are so beautiful, and the connection between the characters is quite lovely and delicate.  For the majority of my pleasure reading, though, I will admit to being drawn to mysteries and thrillers. My favorite authors are folks like Michael Connelly, John Sandford, Lee Child, Robert Crais, Harlan Coben, Kathy Reichs, Chelsea Cain, Stephen White, Dean Koontz, Stephen King, Jonathan Kellerman, and two authors whose passings I deeply mourned, Robert B. Parker and Stephen J. Cannell.

Do you feel that any of your favorite authors have inspired your writing style?

Here are some of the things that I try to incorporate from writers that I love.  My level of success will be up to the readers to judge! 😀

Michael Connelly: His prose is so spare, yet affecting.  He chooses his words carefully for maximum impact.  He tells a story in the prologue of his book Crime Beat about a homicide detective he was writing about as a reporter.  He noticed that the cop hooked his glasses into his mouth and bit down when he examined the victim, and that his teeth had worn a groove there.  Connelly uses that detail to express the connection that the detective felt with the souls for whom he must get justice – how omnipresent that responsibility was, and how seriously he took it.

I try to look for small character moments like that when I write – chances to have the character do small things that tell a much larger story about who they are.  Letting the reader infer things about a character based on their tiny, seemingly insignificant actions is so much more emotionally impactful, and it’s a skill that I’m sure I will be working to improve until I die!

Elizabeth Berg and Anne Rice: Although very different stylistically, the thing I admire about both women is the lushness of the way they write.  Their descriptions and internal character monologues are delicious.  Diving into one of their books feels like lowering yourself into a warm bubble bath – luxurious, indulgent.  I dream of being able to command language that way!

Caryl Rivers: If you haven’t read her novel Virgins, you are doing yourself a huge disservice! 🙂  What I try to emulate about her writing is her use of humor to move characters forward.  Her books are raucously funny, but the jokes are never there just to get a cheap laugh.  Every funny thing a character says reveals something deeper about who they are, and what they feel about the other characters and the world at large.

Stephen King: I think horror writers and romance writers have this in common – they don’t get taken seriously as true geniuses of contemporary literature, no matter their brilliance, and this is true of Stephen King.  He is utterly mesmerizing.  The thing I try to emulate most about his writing is how he connects the character and the reader nearly instantaneously.   A character may exist in the story for less than a page, but as a reader, you still feel that you know them. They’re memorable.  They’re relatable.  You know who they are.  If they are in danger, you feel the stakes.

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

Here’s another answer for which I’ll separate out my response from Shawna’s. 🙂

Shawna is keen to read Rush by Maya Banks, and Gone Girl by GIllian Flynn.  (Which I’ve been pushing on her since summer! LOL.  But she’s gonna love it!  IT’S SO GOOD!)

As for me, I’ve been (im)patiently waiting for almost two years for the fourth book in Greg Iles’ Penn Cage/Natchez series, The Bone Tree, to be released.  The author was in a car accident (Thank God he’s OK!) and it has delayed the release of the book.  It’s being released, I believe, this December and I’m so excited to read it, I can barely stand it. COME ON, DECEMBER!!!

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

I know the common wisdom is “Just write,” and that’s true, but I will go even beyond that.  I would tell them that being a writer is amazing.   It’s better than I ever dreamt it would be.  Are there challenges?  Of course.  But the rewards are worth it.   Sending your writing out into the world, hoping it connects with people, is terrifying.  But scary as it may be, it’s the best feeling in the world when someone reads your book and gets it.  You’ll never experience that if you don’t take the risk.

Lastly, if what is holding you back is the feeling that your voice and your art don’t have a place in the world because they aren’t yet perfect, let me leave you with the wonderful, wise words of This American Life’s Ira Glass:

“Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you. A lot of people never get past this phase, they quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know its normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. Put yourself on a deadline so that every week you will finish one story. It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions. And I took longer to figure out how to do this than anyone I’ve ever met. It’s gonna take awhile. It’s normal to take a while. You’ve just gotta fight your way through.”

 

Learn more about the ladies here: 

Website: http://melanieshawn.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/melanieshawnbooks
Twitter: https://twitter.com/melanieshawn

Learn more about the The Hope Falls Series HERE

 

 

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Interview & giveaway with Mina Khan

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Mina Khan to the blog today..

Mina Khan is a Texas-based writer and food enthusiast. She grew up in Bangladesh on stories of djinns (pronounced “gins”), ghosts and monsters. These childhood fancies now color her fiction. She daydreams of hunky paranormal heroes, magic, mayhem and mischief and writes them down as tales of romance and adventure.

Her first published work, The Djinn’s Dilemma, won the novella category of the 2012 Romance Through The Ages (published) contest.

Fifty percent of the proceeds from her second novella, A Tale of Two Djinns, is donated to UNICEF for education.

Her newest release, DEAD: A Ghost story, is NOT a romance. It’s a multicultural ghost-story that highlights a little known aspect of the immigrant experience.

For more information check out her:

Amazon Author Page | Blog : Stories by Mina Khan | Facebook Author Page | Twitter: @SpiceBites

Have you always wanted to be an author?

Mina: Yes. I have written since I was a child and always wanted to be an author.

Are you a plotter or a punster or combo of both?

Mina: I consider myself an organic writer. I get an image or idea stuck in my head and start writing. About four chapters into the book, I’ll stop and write a synopsis, which helps figure out the rest of the story.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

I have to have nuts to snack on when I’m writing.

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

Mina: A Tale of Two Djinns, which is celebrating its first book birthday, is an exotic Romeo & Juliet tale with warring genies, feminists, kick-ass action and sexy adult fun.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

Lol, I always hated Romeo & Juliet’s ending, and I wanted to give them a happily-ever-after. Of course, first I had to make sure the hero & heroine earned the HEA! 😀

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

The Djinn in the Mirror, which is scheduled for a late spring release, plays on question: What if Cinderella had to deal with a wicked sexy genie instead of a fairy godmother? Lol, yes writing it has been a lot of fun…now I’m in the middle of edits.

I’m also working on an erotic contemporary about an emotionally damaged artist who falls for his model.

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

Mina: Lois McMaster Bujold because I love her Vorkosigan saga. The entire series is awesome. Patricia Briggs because I love her werewolves! Sorry, I just couldn’t limit myself to one.

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

Believe in yourself, work on your craft and never give up on your stories.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.

Taking a hot air balloon ride in Africa.

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

Stephanie Draven’s “Love Me Or Leave Me.” It’s got history and passion, two things I adore.  Also, Laurell K. Hamilton’s next Merry book whenever it’s coming out.

What is one book everyone should read before they die?

The Life of Pi. The movie version is awesome too.

What is your favorite time of year & why?

Fall. I just love the colors, smells, chill in the air, and ingredients in season…um, yes, I love to cook. J

Who is your Celebrity crush?  And what would you do if you ever meet them?

Nathan Fillion. I know I’d SQUEE, but then I hope I’d charm him with my wit and grace…a girl can hope!

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Mina: Thank you so much for having me over Kelly and for the fun interview. I would love to give away digital copies of my first genie romance, THE DJINN’S DILEMMA, to two of your readers.

 

Amazon /  B&N / Kobo

Akshay, warrior prince of the earth djinns, earns the title of Crown Prince at a high cost when he loses his best friend in a battle against ancient enemies, the water djinns. Heartsick, he escapes to Earth to mourn and lose himself in drink

Nothing gets the biological clock ticking (and elders lecturing) like almost dying in battle, so Maya, princess of the water djinns, travels to Earth for some no-strings-attached sex to fulfill her duty and produce an heir. But the beautiful and tough warrior gets more than she bargained for when she meets Shay.

Their not-so-simple one-night stand is interrupted by assassins and the world, as they know it, is changed forever. As Maya and Shay pull together to survive, both are determined to have their happily-ever-after and bring peace to their worlds — warring families, shadow assassins, and nosy busybodies be damned.

 Fifty percent of the proceeds are being donated to UNICEF.

Also check out : 

Mina’ quarterly newsletter with release updates and inside information on the stories, HERE

And see the rest of Mina’ Tour stops here

TALE OF TWO DJINN

Anniversary Blog Tour

3/08 – 3/22

 

3/11 – Alexx Mom Cats Gateway

3/12 – Scorching Book Reviews

3/13 – I Smell Sheep

3/14 – Books-n-Kisses

3/15 – Wicked Readings by Tawania

3/16 – Book Lovin’ Mamas

3/16 – My Reading Obsession

3/17 – Book Monster Reviews / Literal Addiction

3/18 – Victoria Danann’s Blog

3/19 – Salacious Reads

3/20 – Riverina Romantics

3/21 – Froggarita’s Bookcase

3/22 – Ramblings From This Chick

 

Ready for a giveaway??????

Mina has given me a copy of TALE OF TWO DJINN to givaway, winners choice of either paperback or ebook. 

So to enter please leave Mina a comment or questions.

Along with your EMAIL (so I can contact the winner)

giveaway will end 3/21.

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Kimberly’s review of The Valentine’s Arrangement by Kelsie Leverich

TITLE: The Valentine’s Arrangement
SERIES #: Heroes For The Holidays #1
CHARACTERS: Ronnie & Kale
AUTHOR: Kelsie Leverich
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/01/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Ronnie Clark, an edgy tattoo artist with hopes of high tailing it out of the forsaken Military town she followed her now ex-fiancé to, is counting down the days until Valentine’s Day is over. Ronnie doesn’t do romance. She doesn’t do flowers or dates, and she sure as hell doesn’t do love—not anymore. After her fiancé slept with a female soldier while deployed, she has vowed never to fall in love again, especially with a soldier.

Sergeant First Class Kale Emerson is home on his mid-tour leave from Iraq, but he only has one thing on his mind—returning to his deployment to finish leading his soldiers on their mission. The last thing he wants is a relationship, but casual sex, that’s a different story. And when he meets the renowned tattoo artist Ronnie Clark, a snarky, blunt, takes no prisoners kind of woman, that seems to be all he can think about.

But when Kale realizes he has met his match with a bombshell woman who is hell bent against love, will just sex be enough? And if it’s not, will he be able to convince Ronnie that the proverbial hearts and flowers aren’t so bad after all, even if he is a soldier?

REVIEW:
Did I like this book? I am 50/50 on that answer. I liked the storyline. I thought that Kale was adorable. I couldn’t stand Ronnie. And the language just went overboard.

I am not exactly sure why Kale would be attracted to Ronnie at all. I am not talking about the fact she is tough and independent but the fact that she is rude and crass. She has nothing that makes you want to like her. I just wanted to wash her mouth out with soap. There is not one page that does not have crude language over and over. And while I realize she is trying to prove she is strong she really just proves she is just unappealing.

Now Kale is worth reading about. And the story as I said was really good… well the storyline. It had a lot of potential and Kale would have been a great hero for a story with a woman that the reader actually cared about.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

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Guest Reviewer Misty reviews The Dark Lady by Maire Claremont

TITLE: The Dark Lady
SERIES #: Mad Passion #1
CHARACTERS: Eva & Ian
AUTHOR: Máire Claremont
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/16/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
The Victorian era was full of majestic beauty and scandalous secrets—a time when corsets were the least of a woman’s restrictions, and men could kill or be killed in the name of honor…

Lord Ian Blake has returned from India a broken man. Years ago, he pledged to Lady Eva Carin—his childhood companion and first love—that he would bring her husband back alive. His failure haunts him. But even his jaded soul can’t anticipate the shocking sight of beautiful, independent Eva confined in a madhouse.

Locked in an asylum, forgotten by society, Eva is adrift in both body and mind. For Ian to break her free, they must cross a powerful enemy—and prove her sanity to England’s unforgiving aristocracy. But the biggest danger of all may come when the secrets of Eva’s tragic past are finally unlocked.

REVIEW:
A Beautifully Dark Delight
I have been anxiously awaiting Máire Claremont’s debut from the moment I first spied the cover. The lush art work led me to believe that the contents inside would certainly be even better. The Dark lady had me from page one and kept me entranced right through the final pages. The writing is solid. The Dark Lady’s hero and heroine are equally matched in strengths and tragedies. The story weaves its way through the dark side of Victorian England, a side which is often forgotten. Claremont draws readers into the dark recesses of an often cruel era where those who have power often abused such power. From a country side madhouse to the beautiful ballrooms of London this book takes readers on ride that so few historical romances do.
They had been friends since early childhood but destiny and duty fell in their paths. Lady Eva Carin has not only lost her husband but soon after suffers a much greater loss than that, the loss of her infant son in an accident of her own making. Her brother-in-law Thomas, the new Lord Carin sees fit to commit Eva to an asylum of which she has endured many cruelties including a regular dosing of laudanum and many pain filled beatings. Lord Ian Blake has returned from India haunted by the events that led to the former Lord’s death and dreads coming face to face with Eva, but he knows he owes her the truth about what really happened to her husband. Ian is stunned to learn that she’s been committed, but upon entering the halls of the asylum that she has been placed in, he becomes livid and enraged. The only thing that stops him from committing murder is the thought of never being able to see Eva again. This sets off a chain of events that puts them both in danger as they each try to overcome the torments that life has thrown at them.
I was drawn into the story from beginning and my heart went out to Eva and Ian. The story telling is lush and simply draws you into the period. There are many strong secondary characters that will make you want to come back for a second helping. Beautifully crafted, and has been written in a fashion that believable for its time period. For a novel that has an overall darkness to it, the light soon begins to filter in.
Easily a Five Star

Disclaimer: The above review was written by a guest reviewer, is the opinion of that reviewer and not a paid review.


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Interview & Giveaway with Catherine Mann

Books-n-Kisses is super excited to have Catherine Mann on the blog today.  We are chatting about life, hot military men and her newest release Free Fall 

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

CM: I’m a military wife, mom of four stellar young adults, grandmother of one PERFECT grandchild, pet mom to four rascally critters, foster mom to Humane Society puppies … and I write.  A lot.  I’m lucky to have a very full life I enjoy!

Have you always wanted to be an author?
CM: I’ve loved books for as long as I can remember.  The dream to be a writer has always lurked in my mind.  It just took the supportive encouragement of my husband for me to make the leap and try my hand at penning my own novels.

Can you share with us your typical writing day.  Is there anything you have to have while writing?

CM: I set weekly work goals for myself keeping in mind the target date needed to finish my next book.  If I complete all my work by Friday, I get to take the weekend off.  If I don’t accomplish my goal, then I work weekends to catch up and stay on track.  It’s a hefty motivator for me to stay on pace during the week – and a motivator for my family to honor my work hours.  As for something I need while writing – I always have a Diet Coke within reach!

Most challenging or rewarding part of writing?
CM: Working at home presents a challenge in that folks tend to think I’m always available to chat or play, yet working from home also means I can stay in my PJs all day long if I choose – with a Diet Coke nearby, of course!

Can you please tell us about your latest book?
CM:  FREE FALL is book 4 in my “Elite Force” series about Air Force pararescuemen.  If you haven’t read the other three books, don’t worry.  FREE FALL can be read as a standalone.  However, if you would like to catch up with the other three, they are still available.  Book 1: COVER ME.  Book 2: HOT ZONE (a RITA Award finalist!)  Book 3: UNDER FIRE.

How did you come with the idea for this story?
CM: I’ve always been fascinated by the different job tasks of our military service members.  And the pararescumen are truly the elite of the elite –  with less than 400 of them in the world.  I had woven a pararescueman into an earlier book of mine – FULLY ENGAGED.  So when the opportunity came to write a series featuring the profession, I couldn’t resist!  It’s an honor to get to showcase their heroics.

Can you share with us your current work in progress?
CM: I’m currently working on book 5 in my “Alpha Brotherhood” series for Harlequin Desire – featuring a Formula 1 race car driver who also happens to do some freelance work for Interpol.

Open your book to a random page and tell us what’s happening.
CM: FREE FALL, page 122.  Jose is explaining to Stella about how he become an alcoholic, how he sobered up, and yet how he still fears what he future hold for him. (Yes, you read that right.  The hero in this book is a recovering alcoholic.  I am curious about what reader feedback on Jose will be.)

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

CM:  Lisa Gardner’s TOUCH AND GO is on my Kindle now – I just have to find an evening I can stay up late, though, because I can never put her books down once I start reading.

Is there anything else you would like to add?
CM: I adore visiting with folks online.  I can be found almost daily at one of the following sites:

 

 

 

FREE FALL

BY CATHERINE MANN 

IN STORES MARCH 2013

Amazon  | Barnes and Noble |  Books-a-Million | IndieBound  | Chapters/Indigo | Discover a New Love | Sourcebooks

On This Mission, There Are No Accidents…

Pararescueman Jose “Cuervo” James is the guy they call for the most dangerous assignments. He lives for his job.

On a high-risk rescue deep in the African jungle, Jose encounters sexy, smart Interpol agent Stella Carson. They’d once had an affair that burned hot and fast, but family is everything to Stella, and Jose just can’t go there.

Fate has thrown them into the deadly hot zone together, and sparks will fly…but only if they can live to tell about it.

 *****

Praise for Free Fall:

“Catherine Mann writes an amazing combination of keen suspense, unique characters, and heart-stopping romance. I’m a fan!” —Lori Foster, New York Times bestselling author of Savor the Danger

“Tense and dramatic… the chemistry is strong, the prose is tight, and the story never stops moving.” —Publishers Weekly

“Mann sweeps readers along with pulse-pounding suspense, passion and a full-out frontal assault of the senses that will keep readers gripping their seats…” —RT Book Reviews, 4 ½ Stars

A little bit more about Catherine: 

USA Today bestselling author Catherine Mann pens steamy military romances, with over two million books in print. She has won the prestigious RWA RITA Award and a Bookseller’s Best Award, and has finaled in the RT Book Reviews Reviewers Choice and Maggie awards. Catherine resides with her husband, a retired Air Force colonel, in Florida. For more information for her entire series, please visit www.catherinemann.com.

Catherine and Sourcebooks are giving away a great prize for readers: a prize pack of the first three books in the Elite Force: That Others May Live Series (Cover Me, Hot Zone and Under Fire). Good luck!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

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Kimberly’s review of The Importance Of Being Wicked by Victoria Alexander

TITLE: The Importance Of Being Wicked
SERIES #: Millworth Manor #2
CHARACTERS: Miranda & Win
AUTHOR: Victoria Alexander
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/26/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
In this dazzling new novel, #1 New York Times bestselling author Victoria Alexander welcomes you to Millworth Manor, a delightful English country estate where love is always perfectly at home…
For Winfield Elliott, Viscount Stillwell, finding a prospective bride always seemed easy. Perhaps too easy. With three broken engagements to his name, Win is the subject of endless gossip. Yet his current mission is quite noble: to hire a company to repair his family’s fire-damaged country house. Nothing disreputable in that—until the firm’s representative turns out to be a very desirable widow.

Lady Miranda Garrett expected a man of Win’s reputation to be flirtatious, even charming. But the awkward truth is that she finds him thoroughly irresistible. While Miranda resides at Millworth to oversee the work, Win occupies her days, her dreams…and soon, her bed. For the first time, the wicked Win has fallen in love. And what began as a scandalous proposition may yet become a very different proposal…

REVIEW:
I have been a fan of Victoria Alexander’s for a while now but I don’t think this will be one of my favorites which is weird because I enjoyed the first book and the novella about Win’s engagements so much. The problem was I didn’t feel a connection between Win and Miranda. Win did not seem to be light-hearted man he was in the first 1 ½ books.

While the story was good in general and I think would have been better if we had not met Win before in the previous books. He was such a great background that I was thrilled his story was coming out but maybe I just had my hopes too high for his story.

I didn’t like the way Miranda deceived Win so much either. I know the times were different and women did not work back then but it just seemed there were so many opportunities for her to fess up and she didn’t.

With all that being said no Alexander book is bad. She is a phenomenal author who adds humor to the straight laced historical times. You can never go wrong reading a Alexander novel.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

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Book Blast: The Stillness of You by Julie Bale (& a giveaway too)

 The Stillness of You

Series: Beautifully Damaged, #1

Author: Julie Bale

Format: ebook

Length: 250 pages

Publication: March 13th 2013

ISBN: 13 9780988138544

Genre: New Adult- Contains mature situations and sexual content (17+)

BLURB:

“Ben Lancaster had just tattooed himself onto my soul and the thing about tattoos? They’re painful to remove.”–Georgia King.

Georgia King is trying to survive after spiraling into a darkness that nearly took her life. In therapy and with her college dreams on hold,she’s trying to get healthy. Trying to still the craziness inside her. She has no room for someone like Ben Lancaster,and if he was smart he’d stay away. Because everyone knows Georgia is bad news. Everyone knows she ruins people. And if Ben isn’t careful, he’ll be next in line.

Ben Lancaster is a young, hot shot hockey player on his way to the top. Newly signed to the Philadelphia Flyers, he’s living the dream. The girls. The money. The fame. He thought he had everything he wanted until he met her. Suddenly he wants more–he wants her. He’ll do whatever it takes to get her and Ben Lancaster always gets what he wants.

But the girl who’s different from anyone he’s ever known is hiding secrets. And as the dog days of summer pass, only time will tell if Georgia’s secrets can be healed. Or if her bruised soul is strong enough to resist Ben Lancaster…

LINKS: *Buy links won’t be available until the book loads on retail sites sometime on 3/12, I will send them then if you would like to include them in or update your post.*

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17306186-the-stillness-of-you

 

EXCERPT:

“Do you feel this?” he whispered hoarsely.  “You have to feel this. It can’t just be me.  There’s no fucking way it can just be me.”

            My mouth was open but nothing came out.  I felt all of it. Every. Single. Bit of it.

And then his hand slid behind my neck, cradling me just above my shoulders, his long fingers moving over my body with a hunger and an urgency that I matched. I might have moaned, in fact, I’m sure I did because his eyes widened, and his lips parted.

I felt…I felt crazy but without the crazy.

It was the anticipation.  It was all the moments and seconds and minutes that had passed between us over the last few days.  It was that first time I’d glanced over my shoulder and spied him in Matt’s loft.  It was his breath at my cheek the night before.  It was want.

It was all of that and so much more.

“I feel you,” I whispered.

And then his hot, demanding mouth was on mine, and that so much more, became suddenly clear.

It was everything.

 

AUTHOR BIO:

Julie Bale fell in love with book boyfriends when she was twelve.  She decided that when she was a grownup she would write her own book boyfriends. So that’s what she does.

When Julie isn’t writing she’s busy looking after a family that includes a couple of kids, her husband and a dog who is prettier than some people she knows, and a cat who thinks he’s human.

She loves The Walking Dead, Pretty Little Liars, The Foo Fighters, Vampire Diaries, The Fray, and The Gilmore Girls. And when she has time, she loves to kick back and read yummy romances with hot guys and girls who are cool enough to hang out with.

Website | Facebook | Twitter |  Goodreads  

 

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

We are giving away one digital copy of THE STILLNESS OF YOU to one reader.

Please leave a comment along with our email address to enter.

giveaway ends 03/13

 

THE STILLNESS OF YOU BY JULIE BALE

TOUR SCHEDULE:

Random Jendsmit – http://randomjendsmit.blogspot.com/

Book Devotee Reviews – http://bookdevoteereviews.blogspot.com/

Talk Supe – http://www.talkingsupe.com/

Toot’s Book Reviews – http://tootsbookreviews.blogspot.com/

Cocktails and Books – http://www.cocktailsandbooks.com/

Unwrapping Romance – http://unwrappingromance.blogspot.com

Angie’s Dreamy Reads – http://www.angiesdreamyreads.com/

Reality Bites – http://realitybites-letsgetlost.blogspot.com/

United By Books – http://unitedbybooks.blogspot.com/

Good Choice Reading – http://www.goodchoicereading.com/

I Read Indie – http://twimom101bookblog.blogspot.com/

Viviana, Enchantress of Books – http://www.vivianaenchantressofbooks.com/

Book Nerds Anonymous – http://avasmith.org/

RhiReading – http://rhireading.blogspot.com/

Rather Barefoot than Bookless – http://ratherbarefoot.blogspot.com/

Books N Kisses – https://books-n-kisses.com/

Got fiction – http://www.gotfiction.com/

Curse of the Bibliophile – http://curseofthebibliophile.blogspot.com/

Reading Between the Wines – http://readingbetweenthewinesbookclub.blogspot.com/

Book Savvy Babe – http://www.booksavvybabe.com/

Urban Reader Girl – http://www.urbangirlreader.com/

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Interview & giveaway with Maggie Morton

Welcome to Books-n-Kisses Maggie, can you please share with us a little about yourself

My favorite pastime is reading, and I can’t think of a better way to spend a day, other than adding in the outdoors and a sunny, cloud-flecked sky. One of my main dreams is one of a future world where your orientation isn’t something that can be used against you, and I hope to live to see that world (things seem to be changing at a much faster pace in that arena). I also am a semi-Buddhist.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

Pretty much – I’ve loved reading every since I learned how to do it, and I started making up stories as soon as my brain could manage it. I did want to be a ballerina at one point too, but that only lasted through pre-school.

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

Some of my favorite writers are Kurt Vonnegut, Carlos Ruiz Zafon, Mike Carey (especially the novel he, his wife, and daughter just wrote, The Steel Seraglio), and Susanna Clarke. I’m not sure if any of them have influenced my writing directly, but I’m pretty sure that I’ve picked up bits and pieces of writing help from each of them.

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

I started writing in the erotica genre because a friend of mine suggested I try it, and I write about LGBT  characters because I feel that there isn’t enough fiction out there about us. I might someday write something without the erotic element, but for now I’m still enjoying it, and it’s great to be able to give all the characters I care about some fun under the sheets.

What are some of your writing rituals?

If I really, really can’t get myself to write, I’ll either meditate first or listen to some Buddhism advice. I find getting more centered gives me more hope in my ability to write. I also definitely get a lot of help from caffeine!

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

Dreaming of Her is my first published novel, and it’s a lesbian, erotic romance with fantasy elements. My two main characters , Isa and Lilith, meet in the dream world and begin to become interested in one another within that world.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

I’m not really sure – my bigger ideas just pop into my head, usually, and then over time, I work on fleshing them out.

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

My second novel, Under Her Spell, is in the works – it’s also lesbian, erotic fantasy, and includes lots of magic both outside of the bedroom and in it, too (of course!).

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

My character Isa has just walked into a bathroom, where she sees an image appearing in the bathroom mirror – she gets ready to scream, and then she realizes the image in the mirror is her dream-woman, Lilith, who seems to be bringing her another lovely dream (a dream Isa hopes will include some sexual content).

What would you be if you were not an author?

I can’t imagine being anything else, actually – it’s such an important part of my personality that I wouldn’t be me without it.

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

I’m really looking forward to reading this year’s Best Lesbian Erotica (and no, not because it has a story by me in it!) and also Sexual Fluidity by Lisa M. Diamond.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Nope, other than a thank you for interviewing me!

Learn more about Maggie here:

Author Twitter: https://twitter.com/maggielmorton

Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authormaggiemorton

Author Website: http://maggielmorton.blogspot.com/

Author GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3365845.Maggie_Morton

Giveaway

1 eBook copy of Dreaming of Her

To enter: Leave a comment or questions for Maggie

Make sure to leave your email address too

giveaway ends 03/17/13