Posts

Posted on

Interview & giveaway with Victoria Roberts

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Victoria Roberts to the blog for the first time to chat about her newest release X Marks the Scot.

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

First, it’s great to be here with you today at Books-n-Kisses to celebrate the release of the second book in the Bad Boys of the Highlands series, X Marks the Scot.

I’m a hard-working mother of two. Home is in western Pennsylvania, but my heart is in the Highlands.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

Does it count when I didn’t even know it? Before picking up a single romance novel, I penned a young-adult novel at sixteen years old. I pounded out the words on an old typewriter with nothing but a stack of paper and a bottle of white out. I sat in that room for hours on end. I guess I’ve always had it in my blood, but I became serious several years ago and renewed that passion.

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

There are so many wonderful authors out there. Some of my personal favorites are Lynn Kurland, Brenda Joyce, Janet Chapman and Karen Marie Moning, but there are loads more. They’ve all influenced me in one way or another.

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

Would you believe I had never read a single romance novel until my thirties? A friend/co-worker of mine read with her nose in these books constantly. I was under a huge misconception about the genre as a whole and used to tease her relentlessly that she read nothing but porn. One day she got really ticked at me and slapped one of these books down on my desk.

“Read it. I don’t want to hear another word until you read it.”

Fair enough. It was a Scottish historical. Needless to say, I was hooked by the second page and didn’t stop there. I read every Scottish romance I could get my hands on. And that friend of mine? She’s my phenomenal critique partner. That woman has read my manuscripts so many times that she could probably recite most verbatim. Love her to death!

For right now, Scottish historical romance is where my heart lies. If I decide to try another genre, it would still be Scottish-based.

What are some of your writing rituals?

I strive to write 1k words/day or 5k words/week. Keep in mind that I still have a day job and have two kids under the age of twelve. I really push myself Monday-Friday so that I can spend time with the family. This also helps to prevent burn-out.

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

X Marks the Scot is the second book in the trilogy. Declan MacGregor was Laird Ciaran MacGregor’s bad boy brother from Temptation in a Kilt. I think the back cover blurb says it best.

He was a Highland Rogue—Wicked with a Bow and Just as Wicked with the Ladies.

Declan MacGregor hadn’t a care in the world beyond finding a soft bed and a willing woman…until he had to escort Lady Liadain Campbell to the English court. The woman needles him at every turn, but he can’t just abandon her to that vipers’ nest without protection.

She Never Asked for a Bodyguard…

Liadain wasn’t thrilled to be left in the care of her clan’s archrival. It was as if the man never had a lady tell him no before! And yet as whispers of treason swirl through the court and the threat of danger grows even sharper, her bitter enemy soon becomes the only one she can trust…

How did you come with the idea for this story?

My wicked muse does not rest. The story formed in my mind as I wrote the first book. Since the series depicts the time of the reign of King James, I used the Gunpowder Plot with Guy Fawkes as a sub-plot. I tweaked and tweaked and it just snowballed from there.

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

I’m currently working on a new series about a family of English spies. Nay worries. ʼTis still Scottish. You’ll have to wait and see.

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

Lady Liadain Campbell just became acquainted with Lord Dunnehl. I’m not giving away any spoilers, but if you remember… Lord Dunnehl was that dastardly man who Lady Rosalia Armstrong was supposed to wed in Temptation in a Kilt.

What would you be if you were not an author?

The wife of a Scottish laird. My husband laughs since he’s 100% German.

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

Maeve Greyson’s new one, A Highlander in Her Past and Lynn Kurland’s new one, Dreamspinner.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Thank you so much for having me today. I hope you enjoy the series as much as I loved writing it.

*****

Sourcebooks  |Amazon | B&N

He was a Highland Rogue—Wicked with a Bow and Just as Wicked with the Ladies.

Declan MacGregor hadn’t a care in the world beyond finding a soft bed and a willing woman…until he had to escort Lady Liadain Campbell to the English court. The woman needles him at every turn, but he can’t just abandon her to that vipers’ nest without protection.

She Never Asked for a Bodyguard…

Liadain wasn’t thrilled to be left in the care of her clan’s archrival. It was as if the man never had a lady tell him no before! And yet as whispers of treason swirl through the court and the threat of danger grows even sharper, her bitter enemy soon becomes the only one she can trust..

Praise for X Marks the Scot:

5/5 – Reviewer Top Pick
“Enthralling Highlander romance. One of the best Highlander stories I’ve ever read. This is one author who just keeps on getting better.”

―Night Owl Reviews

“For a complex story brimming over with pride and passion, betrayal, trust and most of all the power to make a bad boy a hero, pick up this read.”

―RT Book Reviews/4 ½ Star Review

Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1M27gsMb4Ro

A little more about Victoria Roberts:

Victoria Roberts writes sexy, Scottish historical romances about kilted heroes and warriors from the past. She was named by RT Book Reviews as “one of the most promising debut authors across the genres” and is also a 2012 Reviewers Choice Nominee for Best First Historical novel for her debut, Temptation in a Kilt.

Her second novel, X Marks the Scot, is available February 2013 and the third, To Wed a Wicked Highlander, September 2013.

Victoria is a member of Romance Writers of America®, Celtic Hearts Romance Writers, Western Pennsylvania Romance Writers, as well as a contributing author to the online magazine, Celtic Guide.

Victoria lives in western Pennsylvania with her husband of nineteen years and their two beautiful children—not to mention one spoiled dog. When she is not plotting her next Scottish romp, she enjoys reading, nature, and antiques.

Learn more about Victoria here:  Website | Facebook |  Celtic Guid

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Posted on

Book Blitz: Morrigan by Laura DeLuca

Morrigan

Laura DeLuca

  Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Smashwords

Shuffled from place to place in the foster system, Morrigan doesn’t know the meaning of home. Plus, she is different. She has power over fire, the ability to move objects with her mind, and glimpse into the future. Just when she believes her life can’t get any stranger, she discovers her true identity.

Filtiarn, a knight with a dark past and a surprising secret, has been tasked with guiding the heir of Tír Na NÓg through countless perils to be returned to her family. Once Morrigan has been reunited with her mother and grandmother, their triad can save the forgotten land of magic from being devoured by an ancient evil.

Excerpt:

“Guardians!” A low snarl emanated from the back of his throat. “What are you doing with Guardians?”

“Stop it! Sit down!”

Morrigan wasn’t sure who she was addressing, the man or the animals. Luckily, they both obeyed her command. She stepped in between them to avoid any further confrontations. The cats took a seat on either side her legs, but their posture hardly relaxed. They still glared warily at the newcomer, even though their hisses died down to an occasional soft growl.

“Dirty, filthy beasts!” Tiarn snarled as he climbed to his feet. “I hate Guardians.”

“They’re just little cats,” Morrigan told him. “What’s the big deal?”

“Just cats! Hah!” He was standing at a careful distance, even though they had started licking their paws nonchalantly. “They are much more than simple cats! Though even those I find distasteful.”

Morrigan narrowed her eyes. “What do you mean?”

“Never mind. It does not matter.” Tiarn dismissed her question with a wave of his hand. “They are not coming with us.

“They most certainly are coming!”

Tiarn growled again. “I beg to differ with you, Your Highness. They would only get in the way.  Possibly even get killed.”

Danu raised her head from her grooming to hiss at him again, as though she had taken that last statement as a personal threat. The strange reaction of her faithful sidekicks made Morrigan wonder again just how much Tiarn could be trusted. She also wondered why, when she wasn’t sure she could trust him, she still felt the undeniable urge to wrap her arms around his neck and kiss him.

“If they stay here alone, they’ll definitely get killed or at least sent to the pound,” Morrigan told him. “I can’t let that happen. So, they’re coming. End of story.”

Tiarn’s eyes flashed dangerously, and he looked like he wanted to argue, but thought better of it. “Very well, Princess. Bring your mongrel felines. Just keep in mind that Guardians and lycans do not mix well.”

“Lycans?” Morrigan repeated.

A sick feeling started to settle in her stomach, as the truth of his words sunk in. It all started to make sense—his hairy arms and chest, his reaction to the cats, even his earlier comment about smelling her out. Her dark knight had a much darker side than she had ever seen in her dreams.

“Why yes, Your Majesty. Did you not realize? You are a witch and a sorceress. And I, your faithful traveling companion, am a lycan—a werewolf.”

 

About the Author:

Laura “Luna” DeLuca lives at the beautiful Jersey shore with her husband and four children. She loves writing in the young adult genre because it keeps her young at heart.  In addition to writing fiction, Laura is also the sole author of a popular review blog called New Age Mama. She is an active member of her local pagan community, and has been studying Wicca for close to eight years.  Her current works include Destiny, Destiny Unveiled, Phantom, Morrigan and Player.

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

Posted on

Kimberly’s review of Countdown To First Night by Hart/Daley/Minton

TITLE: Countdown To First Night
AUTHOR: Hart/Daley/Minton
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/02/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Ten, nine, eight, seven…
Winter’s Heart by Jillian Hart
Shelby Craig comes to Snow Falls for a First Night job, but secretly hopes it will be a respite from her grief and a haven for her two young kids. A sympathetic cop becomes the determined widow’s staunchest ally—though helping her may break his heart.

Six, five, four…

Snowbound at New Year by Margaret Daley
This was supposed to be a done deal! Children’s book author Ellie Summers came to the festival to meet her new illustrator. She didn’t expect him to turn down her proposal. And then to find the obstinate man so charming… Is it wrong to hope his matchmaking twin daughters succeed?

Three, two, one…

A Kiss at Midnight by Brenda Minton
Pride is a hard thing to swallow, but Jolie Godwin does her best to ignore her grievances with Jake Wild this one time. The man is graciously letting her exhibit her artwork in his luxury resort for First Night. He seems like a good person and a devoted uncle. If only he’d always been so perfect. Because his kiss is something she can’t forget….

Cue the fireworks!

REVIEW:
3.5 Stars First let me say in general each story was sweet. I am not one who enjoys the whole “We meet, we aren’t meant to be together, we need to be together, we love each other” in a matter of a couple of chapters but these stories were sweet enough to keep me interested.

Winter’s Heart by Jillian Hart
This was a very cute story. I liked that the main couple already knew each other as children and had reconnected. I really enjoyed the main male character of Ronan when he interacted with the children. Very sweet story.

Snowbound at New Year by Margaret Daley
This was cute but not as cute as the first one. I was a little tired of the main male character Brody’s attitude. He should have been named Brooding because that is what it seemed he was doing the whole time. I enjoyed the children of the story too even though trust me no 6 year old speaks the way they do.

A Kiss at Midnight by Brenda Minton
Once again I enjoyed this story as much as the first story. I liked that the characters had a history and in this case a very long history. The characters are really interesting and I loved that little Anna spoke sign language. There is true romance in this story.

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

Posted on

Cover Reveal of Light in the Shadows by A. Meredith Walters

Release date is March 26th
How do you keep going when you feel like your life is over?Maggie never thought she’d see Clay again. So, she attempts to put her life back together after her heart has been shattered to pieces. Moving on and moving forward, just as Clay wanted her to.

Clay never stopped thinking of Maggie. Even after ripping their lives apart and leaving her behind to get the help he so desperately needed. He is healing…slowly. But his heart still belongs to the girl who tried to save him.

When a sudden tragedy brings Maggie and Clay face to face again, nothing is the same. Yet some things never change. Can the darkness that threatened to consume them be transformed into something else and finally give them what they always wanted? And can two people who fought so hard to be together, finally find their happiness? Or will their demons and fear drive them apart for good?

The thing about love, is even when it destroys you, it has a way of mending what is broken. And in the shadows, you can still see the light.

Posted on

Spotlight Feature of Love During Death by Rachel Olson & Jessica Humphrey

Amazon (paperback) | Kindle Version

After a series of strange and deadly events, Fia Dannii discovers what it is truly like to live after death. Stuck in the in-between, Fia sets out to discover what in life she missed that would be preventing her from passing on. When Dion walks into her life after death, Fia struggles to believe that he holds the key to her afterlife, and her heart. Fia has to choose between loving Dion or walking the earth forever as an entity, stuck in the in-between.

 Excerpt: 

“Good night, Fia Dannii. Thank you for a most enlightening evening. Can I give you a call later?” Dion gave her an amused smirk, his teeth barely releasing from his lips.

“I’d like that. Goodnight Dion.” Fia returned the smile and gave him a reluctant wave. Dion made to take his leave and turned away from her, pressing the elevator button. His hand began clenching into a fist, resisting the temptation that was flowing through his veins. As Fia unlocked her door, she curved her face in his direction immediately mesmerized by his burning gaze. Before she had any time to think, Dion had her body forced into the door. Taking her face in his hands, fingers tangling in the short hair at the base of her neck, Dion drew her lips into a sudden desperate kiss. Blood rushed to her skin as she wrapped her arms around him enveloping the space between them. They slowly searched each others’ mouths, the tension slowly building. As quickly it had begun, Dion leaned his head back searching her eyes, catching his breath.

“Good night. Until we meet again.” He placed another lingering kiss on her lips before backing away from her. Fia felt as if her body was dunked in cold water as he increased the distance between them. With perfect timing, the elevator doors opened and Dion moved inside, pressing the ground level button before he had a chance to change his mind.

 

A little bit about your authors: 

Rachel: 

I first discovered my passion for writing when I was in 4th grade. I wrote a children’s story for a school project about a man who created his own pet – a blob that ate everything. Little did I know that the entire school was participating in this project, not just my class. When deadline came, all books were sent to a group of college students, who then read and rated them. It became a big event at the school. Parents came to listen to students’ stories read aloud, some kids winning prizes for individuality, penmanship, grammar, the works. I sat patiently as they announced the winners, knowing in my heart of hearts that my book was nothing special. Then came the grand prize. The student who had the best book out of the entire elementary school. The top dog. My mind raced with name after name of who I thought should win. Never once did I ever think it would be me. They had to repeat my name three times. I heard them every time, but was in too much shock to make my legs work.

You can find out more about Rachel here:  

Website/Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads 

 

 

Jessica:

I first started writing when I was sixteen years old. I had a dream that sparked my imagination, I was practically forced to begin writing it down.  The protagonist opened the door to a whole other world inside my head. Before I knew it, I’d written an entire novel and I’ve never stopped since!

Reading and writing have always been a way of escaping for me.  Diving into words let’s me see and do things that only exist in my dreams. Some take twisted and painful passages, but I have even learned to embrace the light as well as the dark. As an author, my goal (near and far) is to share my worlds with others, letting them walk down a different path, experiencing things outside their own realities. Helping them grow and embrace this journey called life. Writing is my passion and I hope to provide others with the joy and wonder so many authors have given to me.

 

You can find out more about Jessica here:

Website/Blog | Twitter | Facebook | GoodReads 

 

Posted on

Kimberly’s review of For A Good Time Call by Trish Jensen

TITLE: For A Good Time Call
AUTHOR: Trish Jensen
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/31/12
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
“I’m just a nosy little ad exec who’s dying to see who invited me to meet you.”“Listen, Sherry Whoever-You-Are, I’m very, very busy,” Kit Fleming answered. “If you could just speed this up, I’d be wildly grateful.”Sherry became uncomfortably aware that he had a very sexy phone voice. “Well, you see, I got a delivery tonight, and I didn’t have anything smaller than a fifty, so the kid had to give me change.”“Uh-huh,” he said, the grunt tinged with annoyance. “Fascinating.”“The twenty he gave me had some writing on it.”“Writing?”“‘For a good time, call Kit.’ And of course, your phone number.”

REVIEW:
This was a adorable short read. I am a fan of Trish Jensen but had not read this story. This is a reprint and I am glad I found it. I enjoyed the characters very much.

I will be honest… As a fan of Fifty Shades of Grey this had all the makings of a PG rated version… He is a big time CEO with control and love issues and she is a woman who is looking for love and yet is independent when it comes to work. But keep in mind the original of this story was out long before Fifty Shades was…. I just could not let the similarities go without notice.

This is a enjoy quick read for an afternoon curled up on the couch (or in a sick bed in my case) that will having you smiling and wishing for Mr. Right to come along.

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

4 Hearts
Posted on

Guest Reviewer: Kathleen reviews Shades Of Gray by Maya Banks

TITLE: Shades Of Gray
SERIES #: KGI #6
CHARACTERS: PJ & Cole
AUTHOR: Maya Banks
PUBLICATION DATE: 12/31/12
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

KATHLEEN’S BOOK REVIEW WEBSITE

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
P.J. and Cole were sharpshooting rivals on the same KGI team and enjoyed a spirited, uncomplicated camaraderie. Until the night they gave in to their desires and suddenly took their relationship one step further. In the aftermath of their one night stand, they’re called up on a mission that goes terribly wrong, and P.J. walks away from KGI, determined not to drag her teammates into the murky shadows she’s poised to delve into.

Six months later, Cole hasn’t given up his search for P.J., and he’s determined to bring her back home where she belongs. Bent on vengeance, P.J. is on a mission that will plunge her into a serpentine game of payback and make her question everything she’s ever believed in. Cole—and the rest of their team—refuse to let her go it alone. Even if it means sacrificing their loyalty to KGI and their very lives…

REVIEW:
A close knit team used to running high risk missions together. A budding romance between to
members. A mission that goes terribly wrong. The need for vengeance to the exclusion of all others. Can they get through this? Will the Team remain intact? Can love truly overcome all? I thoroughly enjoyed this story and I applaud Maya Banks for tackling such a difficult and taboo subject matter. It is totally believable and plausible as something that would happen in a real life situation.

PJ’s character is well written and so realistic in her emotions and thought processes that I felt my own emotions on a roller coaster ride with her. She is such a strong character but believable as her situation proves that even the toughest aren’t infallible. I really empathized with Cole and his fight for love whilst dealing with his own emotions and guilt. The tell of a good story is when your own emotions are swept along with the tide of the story, and Shades of Gray does not disappoint. I found myself so entrenched in the story that I was actually getting angry at the Villain Brumley, who as villains go was quite well written.

Steele, Dolphin, Baker and Renshaw are steadfast in their support and they take their “We live as a
team, we die as a team” seriously and it endears you to them to see their solidarity with their team
mate. I could not put the book down, I needed to see the outcome and find out if there could be a happily ever after.

In all the KGI novels, Steele’s team and PJ and Cole in particular is a story I have been waiting for and it was most definitely worth the wait. I would recommend this and all the others in the KGI series as definite must reads.

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

Posted on

Guest blogger: Sara Walter Ellwood

Drugs, Sex and Abuse—The Life of a Runaway on the Streets

There are two very heavy social issues that affect the hero and heroine in my debut contemporary western release, Gambling On A Secret. The first one is the hero’s PTSD—posttraumatic stress disorder, the other is the heroine’s former life as a runaway.

Charli Monroe has it all. She’s the sole heir to a fortune almost equal to that of the Trumps. She’s beautiful and smart. But she harbors a terrible secret—she’s a former runaway who fell into the vicious cycle of drugs, sex and abuse.

At age fifteen, she leaves a verbally abusive grandfather for the unknown life on the streets of Las Vegas. While coming up with her back story, I had to do some research on the life of a runaway on the streets. And what I found made me sick. Here are a few of the stats that just totally staggered me. I’ll cite my sources at the end.

  • Of the 2.8 million children living on the streets, 1 out of every 3 will be lured into prostitution within 48 hours of leaving home. Most of these kids (85%) fall between the ages of 14 and 17, and approximately 75% are female.
  • Most runaways who become prostitutes ran away from home to escape their abuse, then become prostitutes to survive. Females are more likely than males to have abusive pimps.
  • A pimp typically has 6 girls in his “family” who call him “Daddy” and earn him approximately $500 per night. The selling of a child for sex is a felony that carries a maximum jail term of 15 years, but most prostitutes will not turn in their pimps even if they themselves face jail time.
  • Pimps often subject female prostitutes to beatings and force them into porn and strip dancing.
  • Boys enter into prostitution at age 14 and leave it around age 25.
  • Most prostitutes became addicted to drugs and/or alcohol on the streets. In a study of more than 400 homeless young adults (aged 13 to 23) in Hollywood, CA, more than 70% abused drugs (16%), alcohol (12%), or both (43%).
  • Domestic violence is cited as the number one reason a child runs away.
  • Most prostitutes have considered suicide.
  • A prostitute is raped 19 times, kidnapped 10 times, and beaten repeatedly every year.

I could go on and on, but these are some of the things I took into consideration when I created Charli’s story, and it is this life she wants to so desperately to protect other girls from when she buys a rundown ranch with the dream of opening it as a halfway house to teens like herself.

Sources:

http://www.runawaysthefilm.com/statistic.html

http://www.veronicasvoice.org/statistics.html

http://www.edrugrehab.com/substance-abuse-among-runaways

Lyrical Press | Amazon | B&N | BookStrand

When Charli bets everything on a secret, will she find the deck stacked against her?

Former runaway-turned heiress Charli Monroe is hiding her sordid past and planning a future in Colton, Texas. Attending the local college for a degree in social work, she intends to raise cattle on her newly purchased ranch, which she plans to open as a home for troubled teens. Only a few glitches—the Victorian mansion is crumbling, the barn needs a roof, and her oilman neighbor wants more than friendship. When she meets Dylan Quinn, Charli is willing to take a chance on the town drunk to help her rebuild the rundown ranch.

Dylan has his demons, too. The former Special Forces commander can’t get past his ex-wife’s betrayal and the botched mission that left him with much more than a bad limp. Certain the greedy oilman next door to Charli wants much more than just her heart, Dylan’s even willing to stop drinking in order to protect her.

 When things get dangerous and secrets of the past are revealed, is he only looking out for his new employer, or is she the new start he so desperately needs?

CONTENT WARNING: Details abuse of a minor, drug abuse, alcoholism, swearing, spicy sex, murder.

 

COVER QUOTE: “Full of intrigue, tangled pasts, and raw emotions, this one is guaranteed to keep you turning pages from start to finish and then wishing for one more chapter!”
Carolyn Brown, New York Times bestselling author of Just a Cowboy and His Baby.

Ms. Brown also named Gambling On A Secret as one of her favorite romance reads in 2012 in the Happy Ever After Blog on USA Today.

Excerpt:

“Ferguson, what are you doing here?” Dylan barked.

Leon ambled toward them on the stone path. “I’m saving a young maiden from torment. What are you doing here, playing the part of the devil?”

“I’m Miss Monroe’s new manager.” The deadly edge of his voice matched the flintiness of his eyes. “If there’s anyone to save the young maiden from, it’s you.”

“Mr. Quinn, please.” She turned to Leon. “Leon, is there something I can do for you?”

He smiled, showing off perfect white teeth in a face handsome enough to belong to an actor. “I was just passing by on my way home and decided to stop. How are the boys working out?”

Dylan’s stance widened and his hands flexed at his slides. “What boys?”

“Charli and I have entered into a business arrangement.”

She lost the battle with the urge to wrap her arms around herself. As much as she appreciated Leon’s kindness, respected him, and was even a little attracted to him, something about him didn’t sit right with her. He represented her peers in the community. According to Mrs. Pratt, besides the Cartwrights, she and Leon were undoubtedly the wealthiest residents in the county. No one in Colton could learn about her past. It would ruin her, and Leon, no doubt, had the means to dig up the dirt.

“Really?” Dylan stepped closer to her in a protective manner. Whiskey tainted his breath as the warmth of the exhalations tickled her cheek. “What kind of business arrangement?”

She could protect herself. Dylan Quinn wasn’t any safer than Leon Ferguson. Stepping away from him, she forced her arms to her sides. “Mr. Quinn, I can handle this.”

She faced Leon. “I’m amazed by how much the men got done since starting on Monday. The foreman told me last evening they’d be reseeding another fifty acres for hay this morning. And they have the corrals fixed and started on the fencing in the north pasture.”

“Good, good.” He glanced at Dylan. “I’ll be going, unless you need a more reliable exterminator. I couldn’t help but overhear about your snake infestation. I can give you the name of the company that has gotten rid of the snakes in our lakes over on Oak Springs for years.”

Although he presented the perfect solution, she didn’t the like way Leon had looked at Dylan as he said the word exterminator. “No, Mr. Quinn is quite capable of getting rid of the snake.”

“Oh, I’m sure he is.” Leon tipped his hat. “Let me know if there’s anything else I can do for you, Charli.” Dylan’s jaw tightened as his uncle glanced at him. “It’s good to see you up among the living again.”

Leon headed back to his Porsche. With no pretense of lowering his voice, Dylan said, “Now, there’s a snake no one wants in their garden.”

Upon hearing the jibe, Leon’s shoulders jerked in mid-stride.

Rattled by Leon’s attention and the snake fiasco, she turned on Dylan. “You aren’t off the hook. I want those snakes gone.”

“We’ll see.”

“I hate snakes.” She shuddered and put her hands on her hips. “Maybe I should have asked him who the exterminator is.”

 

A little about Sara:

Sara Walter Ellwood is an award winning author whose novel Gambling On A Secret was named by bestselling author Carolyn Brown in the Happy Ever After Blog on USA Today as one of her favorite romances of 2012. Although Sara has long ago left the farm for the glamour of the big town, she draws on her experiences growing up on a small hobby farm in West Central Pennsylvania to write her stories. She’s been married to her college sweetheart for nearly 20 years, and they have two teenagers and one very spoiled rescue cat named Penny. She longs to visit the places she writes about and jokes she’s a cowgirl at heart stuck in Pennsylvania suburbia.

She also writes paranormal romantic suspense under the pen name Cera duBois.

Author links:

Website | Blog | Facebook |  Twitter 

 

Giveaway:

**PLEASE LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE GIVEAWAY**

~One poster from every stop will win a Gambling On A Secret ebook

~One commenter from each stop will win a piece of custom jewelry.

(The winners of these two prizes will be announced the day after the tour stop.)

 

I also have 2 Grand Prizes!

 

~First Grand Prize is a SWAG PACK, including a signed copy of Carolyn Brown’s Just a Cowboy and His Baby. Also included is a copy of D’Ann Lindun’s Shot Through the Heart, a pen, a notebook, a horse themed mini calendar, a patriotic themed day planner, and more all tucked away in a reusable tote bag at the end of my blog tour.

~Second Grand Prize is a $10 Gift Card to either Amazon or Barnes and Noble. If you follow the tour and comment as often as possible, you increase your chances of winning!

(The winners of the Swag Pack and Gift Card will be announced on March 1, 2013.)

(Swag Pack is only eligible for US residents to win. The jewelry and gift card are eligible to US and Canada residents only. The ebook is eligible to anyone, unless prohibited by law.)

 For the GRAND PRIZES:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Posted on

THE PRINCE’S GAMBLE Hurricane Sandy Jersey Shore Campaign

Best-selling author Caridad Piñeiro is helping to rebuild the shore by donating proceeds of her latest romantic suspense release, THE PRINCE’S GAMBLE, from now until March 1, 2013. Caridad’s share of the proceeds from the sales of the book will be donated to the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief fund.

Here’s a note from Caridad about her Campaign:

When Hurricane Sandy came roaring onto the Jersey Shore, it left a path of destruction in her wake. I was blessed that my home and my daughter’s shop were unaffected by the storm, although our towns and those nearby suffered damage. I’ve shared some images of that damage on my Facebook fan page.

As you know from some of my recent books, I love the Jersey Shore and my heart aches to see the damage and the suffering of my fellow New Jerseyans. In light of that, I want to be a part of the solution to the problems caused by the hurricane.

To do that, I’m going to be donating my share of the proceeds from sales ofTHE PRINCE’S GAMBLE from now until March 1, 2013 to the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund.

So please help spread the word by posting this where you can:

Best-selling author Caridad Pineiro is helping to rebuild the shore by donating proceeds of her latest romantic suspense release, THE PRINCE’S GAMBLE, from now until March 1, 2013. Caridad’s share of the proceeds from the sales of the book will be donated to the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief fund. THE PRINCE’S GAMBLE is available for download at Amazon via this link: http://amzn.to/UFCKRO or at B&N via this link: http://bit.ly/WxipEv.

Please help spread the word by tweeting this to your friends:

THE PRINCE’S GAMBLE Proceeds to Benefit Hurricane #Sandy #NJ #kindle PLZ RT http://amzn.to/UFCKRO

THE PRINCE’S GAMBLE Proceeds to Benefit Hurricane #Sandy #NJ #nook PLZ RT http://bit.ly/WxipEv

THE PRINCE’S GAMBLE Proceeds to Benefit Hurricane #Sandy #NJ #Kobo ht.ly/fBKN0

Thank you so much for your support!

 

THE PRINCE’S GAMBLE

 

Available for download at Amazon or B&N.

Prince Alexander Ivanov is scrambling to save his reputation and his livelihood. One of the Russian Nights Casino’s hostesses has disappeared, and his business is suddenly under investigation by the FBI for associations with the mob and money laundering.

Special Agent Kathleen Martinez has no patience with rich, entitled aristocrats, especially one like Alexander Ivanov whom she believes is involved in the vicious human trafficking ring which she’d tried—and failed—to shut down two years earlier. With a second chance to bring him to justice, she goes undercover in the casino, but instead of facing the villain she expected, she finds herself battling a sizzling attraction to the man.

Now, forced to work together to trace the source of the illegal activities, the danger—and the passion between them—grows out of control, and they slowly begin to realize the biggest danger isn’t to the casino; it’s to their lives…and to their hearts.

 

Book Trailer:

Caridad Piñeiro® is a multi-published and award-winning author whose love of the written word developed when her fifth grade teacher assigned a project – to write a book that would be placed in a class lending library. She has been hooked on writing ever since.

From the start, Caridad’s novels have received acclaim and have helped redefine the landscape of modern romance novels. In 1999, Caridad was published by Kensington as part of Encanto, the first line of bilingual Latino romance novels. In 2000, Caridad was one of the first Latino authors featured at the launch of BookExpo America’s Spanish Pavillion. In December 2006, Caridad helped Silhouette launch its successful Nocturne paranormal line with DEATH CALLS, one of the novels in the award-winning THE CALLING Vampire series. In addition, Caridad has appeared at BookExpo America on numerous occasions and has captained both the multicultural and vampire genre panels at the RT BookClub Conventions.

When not writing, Caridad teaches workshops on various topics related to writing and heads a writing group. Caridad is also an attorney, wife and mother.

Check out Caridad’s entire backlist HERE.

Connect with Caridad:

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

GIVEAWAY

Help Caridad spread the word!

Caridad is offering up an eBook of THE FIFTH KINGDOM and some swag to one commenter who helps to spread the word about her Campaign.

To Enter:

Spread the word!  Share any of the above info on your Facebook and Twitter pages.

Then, come back here, leave a comment and leave a link to where you spread the word.

**Ends 2/6**


Posted on

Jennifer’s review of Strictly Forbidden by Shelley Bradley

TITLE: Strictly Forbidden
AUTHOR: Shelley Bradley
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/17/12
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: Miss Kira Melbourne is anything but a proper English rose. Her exotic beauty, courtesy of her foreign mother, has marked her as an outsider, and her ghastly reputation as a woman of loose virtue has only added to that status. The victim of a devious viscount’s horrible lies, Kira has the chance to redeem herself and become a member of polite society as the fiancee of a respected country clergyman. She’ll finally have a place to belong…even if it’s in the arms of a tepid man she doesn’t love.

Gavin Daggett, Duke of Cropthorne, isn’t about to let his naive country cousin marry a scandalous woman like Kira Melbourne. The solution is a simple one: Gavin will seduce the vixen and prove her unworthiness, thereby releasing his cousin from any obligation. But spending time with Kira is like awakening to a world of color and beauty, and it stirs the fiery desires that Gavin has fought to suppress his entire life. Caught in his own dangerous game, sharing forbidden pleasure with Kira, Gavin knows the price of loving her is high–and yet it is one that he will willingly pay..with every beat of his heart.

REVIEW: I have read other novels from Shelley Bradley that I have absolutely adored and I couldn’t wait to read another historical romance from this author. Kira Melbourne is a beautiful young woman that is trying desperately to escape the vicious rumors that she is a woman of loose morals by marrying James Howland, a country pastor. Gavin Daggett, James’ cousin, is instantly attracted to Kira because of her beauty and plans to seduce her to prove that she is unworthy of being his cousin’s wife. This plan ultimately backfires because he finds that Kira is a lovely woman that seems to be the perfect match for him instead of his cousin.

I enjoyed Kira’s character because she was very sweet and trusting but she seemed so naive at times about how things were going to turn out with Gavin. Gavin was a hero that I had a hard time connecting with due to the fact he wasn’t very nice to Kira for most of the novel. He acted like a complete jerk and didn’t really redeem himself until the last few pages of this book. I almost had the feeling that Kira could have found somebody better than Gavin just by the way that he acted toward her. I also wish that Kira’s brother, Darius, had more interaction in this story because he was a great character. I loved that he was so protective of Kira and I wanted him to find his little piece of happiness with someone.

I am going back to read Strictly Seduction which was Brock and Madeline’s love story, who played a minor role in this book. This book wasn’t a winner for me but I still love Shelley’s books and can’t wait to read the next one that she releases.

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