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Guest Blogger: SV Richard

I think print books will be to my grandkids what records are to me.  Our society is moving more and more toward technology.  Newspapers are circulating less and less as people read their news more and more on-line.  However, anyone can make their own ebook, so marketing it and separating your book from the many that are out there is hard.  I try to infuse a lot of humor into my writing, though, so readers are entertained and want to come back for more.
LOCKED was originally written as a low budget horror screenplay with one location (anyone’s house) and a small cast of (four) characters. However, it found a home at Wild Child as an eBook!
Sarah

Locked

by  SV Richard

Publisher: Wild Child Publishing    .

Length:   Novel

Sub-Genres:  YA Horror

  BUY LINKS:  HERE            

BLURB:

Tristan’s old home old home is not what it appears, and her friends have no idea what this visit will turn into. When the room Tristan’s mother always kept locked is opened, chaos breaks loose. One by one, they are locked away.
Will anyone survive?

 

EXCERPT:

“It doesn’t matter where we are. This house is just like any other house, right? Mice and all. So, there’s really nothing to worry about. Not the house and definitely not the little rodents.”

“Like that mouse?” Todd asked and looked at the floor.

Jen screamed. “Mouse!” She jumped again to the other side of the sofa. “Where? Oh, I can’t even stand the thought of them.”

Wes said, “There’s nothing to be paranoid about!”

“I suppose,” Jen said, staring at Wes. “Well, after thinking about it, I can’t imagine mice would stay away from this house now–since Todd is the biggest cheese.”

Something brushed against her leg. Clutching her bag, she jumped off the sofa and screamed again. Todd laughed. He tossed a pillow toward her. She, in turn, hurled the pillow back at him. Todd ducked as the pillow passed over him and hit the wall right under the clock.

Jen pointed her finger at Todd. “You’re always one to play a practical joke, and it’s not funny by the way.”

“You’re right,” Todd said. “It’s hilarious.”
***

Tiptoeing down the hall, Todd walked back to the locked room.

Jen followed. “What are you doing?”

“You know something good has to be in there if the door is locked, Jen.”

Turning to the locked room, Jen said, “Maybe.”

“I’m sure it’s just a typical kid’s room.” Todd paused and smiled. “With a big secret treasure. Maybe some stowed away cash.”

“I never really knew anyone who died except my grandpa when I was six. He didn’t leave us any cash, though.”

Jen touched the lock. Todd stood behind her.

Looking toward the back room, Jen didn’t see Tristan.

“Aren’t you the least bit curious to see what’s in here?”

“To go through all this trouble to lock the door, I bet there’s more than just a typical kid’s room.” Tapping the lock, Jen said, “For all we know, I guess the deed could be locked away in here.”

They glanced back at the master bedroom. Tristan was nowhere in sight. Todd looked down at the wire hanger in his hand. “Right, then there’s only one thing left to do.” Inserting the edge of the hanger into the lock, he held his hand steady. Pushing the hanger in as far as it would go, he moved it and wiggled it around.

He wiped the sweat accumulating on his forehead. He continued moving the wire around in the lock until it popped open.
***

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

After studying special education in graduate school, S. V. Richard became interested in writing for children and adults. She has published over 27 ebooks for children and teachers. LOCKED is her first young adult ebook. LOCKED was originally written as a low budget screenplay with four characters and one location, but it found a home as a short story through Wild Child Publishing. LOCKED II is coming soon and will pick up where LOCKED left off.

 

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Kelly’s review of Rogue Rider by Larissa Ione

Kelly’s ARC review of Rogue Rider

Lords of Deliverance #4
AUTHOR: Larissa Ione
PUBLICATION DATE: 11/20/12
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
They’re here.

They ride.

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

Born of a match between good and evil, four siblings stand between hell’s minions and everything they want to destroy. They are the Lords of Deliverance, and they have the power to ward off Doomsday . . . or let it ride . . .

Jillian Cardiff came to this remote mountain town to forget the demon attack that almost killed her. Instead, she rescues-and falls for-a gorgeous stranger who has no memory of anything other than his name. Handsome, charming, and protective, Reseph seems like the kind of man whom Jillian can trust. But with hints of a troubling history of his own, he’s also the kind of man who can be very dangerous . . .

Reseph may not know why he mysteriously appeared in Jillian’s life, but he knows he wants to stay. Yet when Jillian’s neighbors are killed, and demon hunters arrive on the scene, Reseph fears that he’s putting Jillian in danger. And once it’s revealed that Reseph is also Pestilence, the Horseman responsible for ravaging the world, he and Jillian must face the greatest challenge of all: Can they forget the horrors of a chilling past to save the future they both desire?

REVIEW:
OMG!!! LOVED!!!
Okay I have to start by saying Larissa, you are the BOMB!! I love your books.  Can you do any wrong?  In my eyes that is a big NO!!!
2nd I am so excited that I got a chance to read Reseph’s book early.  The waiting has been killing me.  I have been in love with Reseph since Sin’s book (so long ago).   I just love the heck out this him.  Even when he was that bastard Pestilence I still has mad love for his crazy butt.  But boy howdy Reseph has a lot to make up for.  Some of which he may never be forgiven for by his friends and family.  That being said I am not sure how to tell you how much I enjoyed this book without giving away too much or spoilers .

So I will say this:
Reseph’s love interest is someone from his past.
These two are perfect for each other and the only thing that will save them both is each other.
We get to see each of the horseman and how they deal with Reseph being alive and not all of them are happy about it.
We get to see a lot of Reaver (think Fall 2013)

Someone Dies

Secrets are revealed

Mysteries are solved

And not everyone is who you think they are.

How is that for a review?  Yes, I know mean..  But if you are a Demonica/Horseman fan you will LOVE Rouge Rider.  I think that you will be surprised too by a few things in this book.

I am super excited to see where Larissa takes us in Reavers’ story.  It is going to be EPIC *No pressure Larissa*

If you have not read Larissa Ione’s books I would highly recommend you start at the beginning with the
Demonica Series:
#1 Pleasure Unbound
#2 Desire Unchained
#3 Passion Unleashed
#4 Ecstasy Unveiled
#5 Sin Undone

Then move on to the Lords of Deliverance series:
#1 Eternal Rider
#2 Immortal Rider
#3 Lethal Rider
#4 Rouge Rider

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. The following review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

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Kimberly’s review of Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James

TITLE: Fifty Shades of Grey
AUTHOR: E.L. James
PUBLICATION DATE: 05/26/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
When literature student Anastasia Steele is drafted to interview the successful young entrepreneur Christian Grey for her campus magazine, she finds him attractive, enigmatic and intimidating. Convinced their meeting went badly, she tries to put Grey out of her mind – until he happens to turn up at the out-of-town hardware store where she works part-time.

The unworldly, innocent Ana is shocked to realize she wants this man, and when he warns her to keep her distance it only makes her more desperate to get close to him. Unable to resist Ana’s quiet beauty, wit, and independent spirit, Grey admits he wants her – but on his own terms.

Shocked yet thrilled by Grey’s singular erotic tastes, Ana hesitates. For all the trappings of success – his multinational businesses, his vast wealth, his loving adoptive family – Grey is a man tormented by demons and consumed by the need to control. When the couple embarks on a passionate, physical and daring affair, Ana learns more about her own dark desires, as well as the Christian Grey hidden away from public scrutiny.

Can their relationship transcend physical passion? Will Ana find it in herself to submit to the self-indulgent Master? And if she does, will she still love what she finds?

REVIEW:
I can understand why readers would either love or hate this book and I have to say I fall into the love. I was not sure what to expect exactly from this book (except a bunch of kinky sex) but this book is not only about sex and considering how much I heard about it there was not as much sex as I originally thought. I am going to break this book down into a few sections for my review.

First the erotic sex: As I said there was not as much as I expected. All the hoopla made it sound like every other page had a erotic scene written but that is far from the truth. Yes there are erotic scenes but that is not what this book is about. This is about the underlying emotions of the characters and how they feel about changing to accommodate the person they are with and the person they are within. If you have read any erotica this book will not have anything that you have not already read. Yes there was BDSM, spankings, and control issues but it is not overwhelming in the story. I doubt there is anything in this first book the will surprise the reader unless you have been living under a rock. Even if you do not live the life I am sure you have heard of it.

Ana: She is such an interesting character. She seems to be living in the shadow of everyone around her (her roommate, mother, etc) yet Christian is attracted to her and she can not understand why. She is inexperienced when it comes to sex and when she is thrown into the world of Christian her mind, heart and body all have a different idea of what she wants and needs. While so many women, if given the real opportunity, who live a life with a rich man would take everything he gave her and expect more Ana does not want anything. She wants to be the woman she knows she can be and yet wants to make Christian happy. She so desperately wants to run and stay at the same time and her heart is torn at every turn. I found myself thinking so much of the woman Ana is and how complicated her heart must be. The one problem with Ana is she sees her inner self as different characters (a goddess, her subconscious, etc) all have a different face (no she is not schizophrenic) and that gets a little old.

Christian: Wow what a wounded soul this character has. You hurt for him and yet he makes you smile, laugh and want to cry. He really shows his lighter side in the emails he sends to Ana and they are a delight to read. But at the same time he has such a dark side that he is the one that claims to have the “fifty shades of f*ucked up” that gives the book its name. Christian not only wants to be in control but he needs it. We do not learn enough of his background yet in this book to understand why he has become this way but we know something has happened and it leaves the reader wanting to know not only more but everything about this man. If you love reading about a strong, generous yet possessive man than Christian is the one to read about.

Honestly, I can not recommend this book to you or not because this is a book that can be one you want to throw away or one you want to keep forever. If you are not into reading the romance genre do not jump on the bandwagon and pick up this book because this is a book of romance and sex and you will not enjoy it. If you enjoy reading romance then you will probably enjoy this book unless you are not comfortable with sexuality than, again, you will have a hard time with this book. If you are comfortable with the romance genre and your own sexuality then you will be able to get into the depth of this book and what is behind the words. This book is addictive and makes you want to finish one and pick up the next one before you even close the cover of this one (even if it is 3:30 in the morning).

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Interview with Jessica E Subject

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome back Jessica Subject to the blog to talk about her newest book “Sudden Breakway”

Jessica, can you please share with us a little about yourself.

I’m a wife, mother of two, a reader of many genres, and an author of romance. I love to walk fast, listen to music, and dance.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

Yes and no. Growing up, there were so many things I wanted to be, including a writer. But I went to university for Business Administration. It wasn’t until I was on maternity leave with my second child that I considered writing for publication.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

I usually have to chew gum while writing. Otherwise, I grind my teeth and end up with a sore jaw at the end of the day.

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

Sudden Breakaway is about a woman whose life is dedicated to her job, and a man whose life revolves around his niece and nephew who live with him. Both believe they don’t have time to date. Here’s the blurb:

Dressed in her black designer suit, Paige Brown recruits men and women for the Space Service. After the end of her marriage, and several failed recruiting missions, she yearns to find a way out of her lifelong contract to live a normal life. To find love again.

Jared Barnes’s life had been flipped upside down by two little kids. When his former Commander’s wife shows up to give him a reprieve, he jumps at the chance for a break, and to visit his former squad. But it is not his buddies he meets in the private suite at a hockey game, instead a woman who has been the star of all of his recent fantasies, fulfills his wildest dreams except the one that binds his heart.

Has Madame Eve made a mistake or can two lonely hearts overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles?

How did you come with the idea for this story?

I wanted to write another 1Night Stand story about an agent for the Space Service which I talk about in many of my other 1NS stories. I had originally planned to include the agent mentioned in Unknown Futures who recruited Flavia, but Paige made her way into the story.

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

Honestly, I would love to meet all of my critique partners and my editors. They have been so paramount in the publishing of my books, and I really want to thank them all personally.

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

Read a lot, and find a hard critique partner or critique group. If the only feedback you get is that they love your work, you won’t learn anything.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.

Oh! I just did one of the things that was on my bucket list. I got a tattoo! It’s an open book with stars around it. There are many places I want to visit, but I have to fly in an airplane to get there, something I’ve never done. But I plan to.

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

Oh gosh! There are so many. Girl Under Glass by Monica Enderle Pierce is one of them. Also, Awakenings by Kacey Hammell. As for upcoming releases, I’m looking forward to Opal by Jennifer L. Armentrout and Shades of Earth by Beth Revis. And one of my critique partners, Layna Pimentel, has her debut release coming out next year, which I’m looking forward to.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Thank you so much, Kelly for hosting me on your blog during the Sudden Breakaway tour!

Find me here: Website/Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads / Amazon

 

Amazon | B&N  | Decadent Publishing |Amazon.co.uk  | Amazon.de | Amazon.es | Amazon.it |  Amazon.fr  |  All Romance ebooks  | Coffee Time Romance | Smashwords  |BookStrand
Dressed in her black designer suit, Paige Brown recruits men and women for the Space Service. After the end of her marriage, and several failed recruiting missions, she yearns to find a way out of her lifelong contract to live a normal life. To find love again.

Jared Barnes’s life had been flipped upside down by two little kids. When his former Commander’s wife shows up to give him a reprieve, he jumps at the chance for a break, and to visit his former squad. But it is not his buddies he meets in the private suite at the Washington Capitals game, instead a woman who has been the star of all of his recent fantasies, fulfills his wildest dreams except the one that binds his heart.

Has Madame Eve made a mistake or can two lonely hearts overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles?

Excerpt:

Jared shucked his towel and stroked his rigid cock. That woman made him hard every time she came to the door, trying to persuade him to sign up for the Space Service. Her claims had seemed far-fetched when she’d first approached him, yet his commander had confirmed her credentials, having been approached to join by another many years ago. While Jared would never add his thumbprint to the contract he’d read, he wouldn’t mind if she stopped by to try and convince him again.

Ms. Brown, with her black blazer revealing a hint of cleavage and a skirt that showed the perfect curvature of her ass. When he’d answered the door fresh out of the shower and seen her on his porch, he’d gripped the door handle to hold himself back from yanking her inside and tearing off her fine-pressed suit.

He squeezed his balls; no time to jack-off. Dylan and Madison would arrive in an hour, and he had to take one last run through his house to get rid of any lingering dust bunnies before Children’s Services appeared. No obvious dirt in the living room, he headed toward the kitchen, but his mind kept flying back to Ms. Brown.

She had the whole librarian thing going on, with her dark hair tied up in a bun and glasses resting on the end of her nose. Though, none of the women who worked at the local branch made his cock throb. Perhaps there was some truth to the naughty librarian tale. He wished.

Most women’s version of naughty did not come close to his. While the whole BDSM club scene didn’t appeal to him, he enjoyed a little bondage during foreplay. He’d spent months at a time deployed in the Middle East. While home, he appreciated the opportunity to date the pretty women who found a guy in uniform sexy. But once he fetched the cuffs, they bolted. They hadn’t even wanted to use them on him.

Ms. Brown was no girl, though. No more than a couple years his senior, she exuded experience with her seductive glances, her posture that plunged her cleavage into his line of sight, and that damn wiggle of her ass as she sashayed back to her car. She could teach him a thing or two. He yearned for the chance to find out.

No, his next lay could no longer be at the forefront of his mind. In less than an hour, he would become the father-figure to two impressionable young children. His sexual urges would have to take leave for the foreseeable future.

He’d been in his last month of deployment to Afghanistan when the call came in. And it took another day for his commander to reach him with the news. His brother-in-law had been killed in a car accident, leaving his niece and nephew orphans. And as much as he loved the Marine Corps—Semper Fi—he couldn’t let the kids be raised by strangers. They had no other family left.

So, after he returned to the States, he contacted his lawyer and spent a couple of weeks obtaining guardianship of the children. He’d received his discharge papers, found a civilian position working as a desk jockey for the CIA through his contacts with the Marines, and bought a house suitable to raise two growing youngsters. After months of preparation, they were coming to live with him.

He glanced at his watch. Ten minutes until they arrived.

Shit! He’d wasted precious time thinking about Ms. Brown and his new life.

Grabbing a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, he yanked them on. Screw the boxers; his niece and nephew wouldn’t notice. He peeked into their rooms to ensure they looked somewhat presentable. Would Children’s Services take them back to California if his new living space didn’t meet their standards?

He groaned. They weren’t even at his house yet, and he’d been distracted. No more. Nothing would come before them. The children would be his priority. Everything he did would be for them, for the rest of his life.

 

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Cover Reveal of Hidden Gates by D.T. Dyllin

HIDDEN GATES

Book one of the P.J. Stone Gates Trilogy

 

Preorder link: B&N

Expected publication: January 2013
For P.J. Stone, being a “Seer” who has never seen anything is less than fun. And P.J. isn’t known for her patience.

To make matters worse, she must choose a suitable mate to continue the Seer bloodline. Duty always comes before her heart…at least that’s what her parents taught her. When she finds herself wanting someone who is considered off-limits, P.J. is forced to question everything she believes.

As if navigating her love life isn’t complicated enough, P.J. finally receives a vision—of a threat to her world that only she can perceive. But no one will believe a fledgling Seer’s warnings. With nowhere else to turn, she may decide to trust a stranger with her life, her world, and maybe even her heart.

 

 

Author Bio:

Cynical-Optimist. Chocolate-holic. Sarcasm Addict. Paranormal Believer. Self-Imposed Insomniac. Sci-Fi Geek. Animal Lover. Writer…are just a few words to describe D.T. Dyllin. She was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and now lives in Nashville, Tennessee with her husband and two very spoiled GSDs.

Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads

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Jennifer’s review of All Afternoon with a Scandalous Marquess by Alexandra Hawkins

TITLE: All Afternoon with a Scandalous Marquess
AUTHOR: Alexandra Hawkins
PUBLICATION DATE:   7/31/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: Simon Jefferes, the Marquess of Sainthill, has done the unthinkable–he’s fallen in love. The so-called “Saint” has spent his life gambling, dallying with women, and satisfying his every whim.  And he fully intended to continue his wicked ways, until he met the mysterious, exotic, and irresistible Madame Venna–the one woman he can’t have…and the only one he’s ever wanted for more than an evening.  The proprietress of the Golden Pearl, one of London’s most exclusive brothels, Madame Venna takes pride in the lush, decadent club she’s created.  With a half-mask to conceal her identity, she’s careful to safeguard something even more valuable–her heart.  But Saint is determined to tear down the walls she’s built around herself, and to finally expose the truth–that Madame Venna is a woman very much in love…with him.

REVIEW:  I have always heard great things about Alexandra Hawkins’ books and this is the first one that I have read in the Lords of Vice series.  Saint is the typical playboy who spends most of his time gambling and bedding different women.  His friends are getting married and settling down around him while he believes that he will never find a woman that will capture his heart.  Madame Venna is the owner of the Golden Pearl, London’s most famous brothel, and does everything in her power to hide her true identity by wearing a mask until the one night that she decides to take Saint to her bed. One night of passion between the two of them leads to intense feelings that neither one of them are able to ignore.

I loved Madame Venna because she came from a horrible childhood and used that pain to become one of the richest and most powerful women in London.  She didn’t need help from anyone and she had decided to live her life by her own rules.  She also wouldn’t let anyone close to her heart because she wasn’t going to be hurt again and that included Saint.  I was very impressed by her character while at other times in this book that I wanted to hit Saint on the head. There is another storyline in this book where Saint becomes acquainted with Madame Venna on the street while she is living as her alter ego.  She wasn’t wearing her normal half-mask and he never realized who she was.  I couldn’t believe that he slept with her and then he wasn’t able to recognize in the street without her mask.

I liked this book and I am looking forward to reading the rest of the books in the Lords of Vice series.  My only complaint with this book would be there was no resolution with Madame Venna and the adoptive family that had caused her so much pain growing up. They always seemed to be trying to blackmail her and destroy what she had built at the Golden Pearl during the course of this story.  Towards the end of the book, she had a meeting with someone who was acquainted with them but there was no resolution to that dilemma.  I am hoping that this issue would be solved in a future book and not just an oversight by the author.

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

4 Hearts
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Kimberly’s review of Against His Will by Trish Jensen

TITLE: Against His Will
AUTHOR: Trish Jensen
PUBLICATION DATE:   08/10/12
ORDER LINKS: Amazon|B&N

 

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Get Ready For…The Time of Your Life! FBI agent Jake Donnelly is not a happy camper. His favorite aunt is gone and he’s gained…not the childhood retreat he loves, but custody of a bulldog. Worse still, the terms of the will require him and Muffin to spend two weeks at a dog spa owned by a quack canine shrink named LeAnne. But after one look at the luscious LeAnne, Jake knows the dogs aren’t going to be the only ones drooling at the Hound Dog Hotel. At a place where doggie astrologists talk about the Puppy Love dating service and breakfast is eaten at the Chow Chow diner, it is easy for desires to be unleashed. Private therapy sessions with the lovely doctor soon have Jake eating out of her hand and deciding maybe Muffin is mans best friend if he can bring his owner and his trainer together for good.

REVIEW:
This is a very cute story wrapped around a man, a woman and a dog. And I think the dog steals the show. This book is a re-release from 2000 and some small parts of it feel a little dated but not enough to distract the reader. The relationship between Jake and LeAnne is nice but Jake and Muffin is the part that is so endearing. Muffin seems to understand more than a real dog ever could but that is ok since it is fiction and just for entertainment.

I wish there had been more with LeAnne and Muffin though. I feel we missed a bit of who they both are by not having this interaction.

I have always enjoyed Jensen’s work and this book is no exception. This is a cute read and if you like a book wrapped around animals than this is one not too miss.

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

4 Hearts
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Interview & Giveaway with Sara Humphreys

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Sara Humphreys to the blog today to talk about her upcoming release UNTAMED.

Sara, can you please share with us a little about yourself?
SH: Sure! I’m 42 years old. I’ve been married to my college sweetheart for just over 18 years and we have four sons, ages 17, 14 and 11 yr old twins. I am a sci-fi dork and my daydreaming used to get me in trouble in school but now I use it to make a living. I quit my day job three months ago and now write full time.

Have you always wanted to be an author?
SH: I’ve always loved to create stories and when I first started college, I wanted to write for film and television but once I got bitten by the acting bug…all bets were off. I focused my creative energy into the acting world for many years but then marriage and kids took center stage. A few years ago, I began writing again because I needed a creative outlet. I adore creating stories that carry people away from their troubles for a little while.

Who are some of your favorite writers? Who do you feel has influenced your writing?
SH: There are far too many to list here but my two biggest influencers would be Christine Feehan and Lori Handeland.  They’re both brilliant authors and lovely people to boot!

How did you get into writing in this specific genre?  Have you ever thought about writing in a different genre?
SH: I love the paranormal but I am branching out into contemporary romance. I have a new series in the works, Holding Out for a Hero, which features men in uniform. I’m super excited to jump into a new genre.

What are some of your writing rituals?
SH: It all starts with daydreaming and listening to music. Once I have the inspiration, then I sit down at my computer and write. I can’t listen to music during writing but before and after is very helpful. Sometimes I’ll put on instrumental music and my noise cancelling headphones are a great help too.

Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?
SH: I’d love to! Untamed is the third book in the Amoveo Legend series and features two characters that readers have met previously. In the first two books, the heroines didn’t know that they were human-Amoveo hybrids but the heroine in Untamed knows exactly what she is. Layla Nickelesen is half human and half Amoveo from the Cheetah Clan. She was raised by a foster family in rural Maryland and has two adopted sibliings, Raife and Tatiana, who are also half Amoveo. Layla has lived in fear that an Amoveo man would come along and drag her off like a caveman. She cherishes her independence and is terrified that her fate could be out of her control. The hero in Untamed is William Fleury, a pure blood from the Gyrfalcon Clan who is known for his cold, calculating demeanor. He doesn’t believe in love and thinks the concept is silly. However, when he meets Layla his orderly, uptight world is rocked. The poor guy is simply befuddled and doesn’t know what to do with the spirited woman that fate has brought him.

How did you come with the idea for this story?
SH: William has been a part of the series from the beginning and he’s so flippin’ uptight that I couldn’t wait to give him a spunky woman to loosen him up. I wondered what would happen if he ended up with a woman who was his total opposite. I also asked myself what would happen to a hybrid who actually knew what they were but only knew bits and pieces. I wanted to know what that would look like and we get up close and personal with a situation like that in Untamed.

Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?
SH: You bet! I’m working on the copy edits for Undone, the fourth Amoveo novel (in stores May 2013) and I just turned in the manuscript for my upcoming vampire series. Tall, Dark, and Vampire (August 2013) is the first book in the Dead in the City series which is about a coven of vampire chicks who live and work in NYC. The heroine in Tall, Dark, and Vampire is introduced in Undone, which is a “crossover” book and will give readers a taste of the vampire world.

What would you be if you were not an author?

SH:  A frustrated actor.

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?
SH: I am dying to read Julie Ann Walker’s Black Knights series and Terry Spears’ new Jaguar series! Also, Olivia Cunning’s latest novel in her Sinners on Tour series. Shall I go on?

Is there anything else you would like to add?
SH: I just want to thank my readers! Thank you for coming with me on this journey and I hope that my books make you smile.

 

UNTAMED

BY SARA HUMPHREYS 

IN STORES NOVEMBER 2012

Amazon |B&N
icon

An ancient race of shapeshifters has lived secretly among humans for thousands of years…they are…the Amoveo

HER WORST NIGHTMARE IS COMING TRUE…

Layla Nickelsen has spent years hiding from her Amoveo mate and guarding a devastating secret. But Layla’s worst fear is realized when the man who haunts her dreams shows up in person …

HE HAS FINALLY FOUND HER…

William Fleury is as stoic as they come, until he finds Layla and his feelings overwhelm him. She won’t let him get close, but then an unknown enemy erupts in violence and threatens everything Layla holds dear…

 Praise for the Amoveo Legend series:

“Compelling… Deft world-building and sensuous love scenes make this paranormal romantic thriller an enjoyable journey.” —Publishers Weekly

“The characters haunted my dreams…I thought about this book constantly.” —Long and Short Reviews

“I loved the book. I’m looking forwards to many more in this series.” —Night Owl Reviews, Reviewer Top Pick

“Fast-paced paranormal romance with fantastic world-building.” —The Book Girl

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sara Humphreys has been attracted to the fantasies of science fiction, paranormal, and romance since her adolescence when she had a mad crush on Captain Kirk. An actress and public speaker, Sara lives in Bronxville, NY, with her husband, who is very considerate of her double life, and four amazing boys. For more information about her books and to join her street team, please visit www.sarahumphreys.com or follow her on Twitter, @AuthorSara.

 

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Guest blogger: Shelly Holt

Tasting Fire is a sexy, adventure filled paranormal romance unlike any other.  Many thousands of years ago, an infection caused by bacteria that live only in hot springs all over the planet resulted in the merging of human and animal DNA.  For self protection they have allowed their very existence to become the substance of only myth and legend.  The story begins as advances in modern genetics are about to reveal them to the world.

Kai Tenzin is the self appointed leader of the Pari people.  He and his kind evolved from the most reclusive predators on earth, the Asian Snow Leopard.  They live and hunt in the most fearsome and rugged terrain known to man, the Himalayas.  Kai leaves his small village where the mountains touch the heavens, determined to do anything to protect his people.  He is forced by circumstances to enlist the aid of the beautiful American scientist Dr. Rae Hales, the last thing he expects to find is a woman who will ensnare his heart and endanger them all.

As a life long reader and lover of mythology and folklore, I decided to take the plunge and try my hand at writing a paranormal romance last March.  I knew from the beginning I would be competing against hundreds of other similar books and to succeed, I had to write a very different type of story. I decided on using the Asian Snow Leopard as my shape-shifter in part because it had rarely been done and also the animal itself is the most exotically beautiful and powerful high altitude predator on earth. (What can be sexier than that?)

Thanks for inviting me on Books n Kisses today to share my experiences of writing Tasting Fire with you.

 

 

 
Amazon

Blurb: 

Shape-shifters have always walked the earth. Shrouded in myth and folklore, hiding in the shadows, watching and waiting. Advances in modern science are now about to reveal them to the world. Kai Tenzin is the self appointed leader of the Pari people. He and his kind evolved from the most reclusive predators on earth, the Asian Snow Leopard. They live and hunt in the most fearsome and rugged terrain known to man, the Himalayas. As a young man, Kai left his small village where the mountain touches the heavens, determined to do anything to protect his people. When he is forced to enlist the aid of the beautiful American scientist Dr. Rae Hales, the last thing he expects to find is a woman who will ensnare his heart and endanger them all. Their action-packed adventure will take them around the world to discover the truth behind the legends and reveal the future of humanity.

Excerpt: 

 Rae took an admiring look at the vista below as she dropped her heavy pack on the ground.  The mountains in the distance looked purple and the desert brush spread out below them like a master oil painting.  It was awe inspiring to human eyes.  Rae wondered what would it look like to a snow leopard.  She suddenly realized many a biologist would sell their very soul for the opportunity she had at that moment.  Rae turned to Kai who had been sitting on the ground with his pack and fishing around for lunch and asked him  “what is it like when you’re in your Shan form out in country like this?”  Kai rewarded Rae with the most brilliant smile she had yet seen to grace the handsome shape-shifter’s face.  He seemed truly delighted to discuss the subject with her.  Kai stood up to answer Rae’s question.  He addressed the human scientist.  “It’s like nothing you can imagine Rae.  Every sense is in tune with the planet.  See that tree over there” he pointed a few yards away at an ancient gnarled pinyon.  “Yes”  Rae replied.  Kai walked up behind Rae and put his hands on her shoulders and directed her to look even closer at the tree.  He whispered intimately in her ear as if they were in a church or another sacred space “when you look at that tree with your limited human vision, the average person can certainly appreciate its form and color.   A biologist like yourself would ask what type of tree is it and how old it is.   A philosopher might ask who may have sat underneath it in the past or who might sit underneath it in the future.  All of you might even wonder when will it die.  That’s the limit of your human perception.  When you’re in Shan form every single leaf will bid you a glorious greeting as you walk up to the tree for the first time.  Every drop of sap tells you the history of the tree’s life like an intimate biography written in the utterly sensual language of scent.  The tree itself will tell you if it’s healthy or sick.  You can smell if the water that nourishes it is bitter or sweet.  If you deeply pay attention you can smell every animal that has ever been there.”  Kai looked to Rae like he was experiencing a spiritual moment and Rae suddenly realized he was.  The enthralled shape-shifter continued to explain to Rae the nuances of the animal world  “when you are ready to move on to another place you reach up with your powerful claws and dig deep into the bark to mark the tree with your scent.  It’s added harmoniously to the scent of hundreds of other animals.  You do this not just to mark your hunting territory, but to tell every animal after you have left this world that you lived and breathed here at one time in the great mystery that is life.  That is your only immortality in the animal world.  There are no monuments to mark a man’s ego, or family albums for a mother to remember her children by, but neither is there hate, nor fear of the future or regret of the past.  You are fully alive in each and every moment.  It’s a wonderfully free existence.  I wish I could truly share it with you… words, words pale in comparison.”   Kai looked so happy at that moment.  Rae was so moved by what he had just shared with her that all she could do was reach out and touch his wrist. “Thank you!” she whispered.  Kai nodded at her in acknowledgment, but he was too emotional to even speak.

 

BIO

 My name is Shelly Holt and I live in the middle of the harsh and unforgiving Mojave desert. I write my stories looking out of a window that shows sweeping desert views. Outside is a barren and severe landscape, yet inside my head lives a world filled with exotic shape-shifters come to life, pulled from the pages of myth and legend, ready to entice and seduce any reader brave enough to take them on.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shelly-Holt/443904305648848

Twitter : https://twitter.com/ShellyHolt9

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Kelly’s review of No Flowers Required by Cari Quinn

TITLE: No Flowers Required
AUTHOR: Cari Quinn
PUBLICATION DATE: 8/23/12
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
He’ll give her everything she desires…except his identity.

Flower shop owner Alexa Conroy had it all before the recession hit and her customers fled to cheaper shopping grounds. Desperate to make ends meet, she sells her dream home and moves into the rundown apartments above her shop. When she spots six feet of sexy distraction—complete with muscles, piercings, and tattoos—ripping up flooring, Alexa knows the karmic windfall she’s due just landed on her doorstep.
And the attraction’s definitely not one-sided.

Dillon James, reluctant heir to the corporation about to foreclose on Alexa’s shop, is not about to jeopardize their scorching chemistry by admitting he’s not the building’s handyman. But with only weeks until her business goes under and his identity is revealed, Dillon must find a way to convince Alexa cooperation isn’t a dirty word, help her save the shop from his brother’s greed, and persuade her that he’s not the enemy…or risk losing the only woman who’s seen the real him.

REVIEW:
In No Flowers Required we meet flower shop owner Alexa Conroy.  Alexa is a fiercely determined woman and she will not let a little thing like no money and way too many overdue bills stop her from fulfilling her dreams of making the flower shop a success.  The only thing Alexa never planned on was Dillon, the super hot handyman who works in her apartment building.

Dillon has been fighting fate for a very long time.  He doesn’t want to take over the family business.  But when the newest tendent of his apartment building turns his head and ask for help he can say no.  Dillon starts to rethink how his brother is running the family business and decides it is time to step up.

Dillon & Alexa are great together.  They feed off each other so well.  But while they both really like each other one of them is hiding a secret that could ruin everything.

This was another great book from Cari Quinn.  If you are a fan of Cari’s you will love No Flowers Required.  If you are new to Cari, No Flowers Required can easily be read as a stand alone book.  So go out and pick up your copy today.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. The following review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

4 Hearts
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Kimberly’s review of Forever Werewolf/Moon Kisses by Michele Hauf

TITLE: Forever Werewolf/Moon Kisses
AUTHOR: Michele Hauf
PUBLICATION DATE:   09/03/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N
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BOOK SYNOPSIS:
FOREVER WEREWOLF
Alexis Conner, princess of the Alpine pack and pureblood werewolf, hides a painful secret-she has never shifted. If she can’t shift, she can’t mate, and so Lexi resigned herself to a lifetime of loneliness. But then a stranger arrives, and Lexi senses that her world will never be the same….
A massive avalanche might be to blame for Trystan Hawkes getting stuck at Castle Wulfsiege, but after one look at Lexi, Trystan is not about to leave. Lexi is strong, smart and incredibly sexy. Not that it matters. Tryst is an omega-the fabled lone wolf. Even more damning is his mixed vampire heritage. Lexi knows that the vampire blood running through Tryst’s veins makes him off-limits, but what if he’s the one man who can rouse her inner wolf?

MOON KISSED
Escaping from bloodthirsty vampires, Belladonna Reynolds ran straight into the arms of a werewolf. As a man Severo drew her in with his dark good looks; as a beast he astounded her with his insatiable sensual appetite. Whether afraid or aroused, Bella fled to his lair when threatened by an evil monster of the night…. Severo tried to keep Bella–his mate–safe from the vampiress who held a malicious desire for revenge against him, but he alone wasn’t enough. Now Bella had taken the form of his most cursed enemy. How could he desire the very thing he’d spent his life destroying? And even if he did, what would the werewolf do to Bella on the next full moon?

REVIEW:
This book contains two stories. Reviewed separately.
FOREVER WEREWOLF
3 Stars… Honestly I am not sure how I felt about this story. While I wanted to know what happened and wanted to read to the end of the book I also wondered why I wanted to do that. The characters were written in such a juvenile way (especially in their speech) that I actually went back to check to see if this was YA, which it was not. The sex scenes later would give that away. The story was interesting and kept me interested but I was just never into the characters. Tryst seems like some kind of childish man who idolizes the idea of living in a pack and Lexie is very cold. But something does seem to click with them eventually. This is my first story from this author so I am not sure of her normal writing but something is just different about it.

MOON KISSED
3 ½ Stars… Based on the first book (see above) I was not sure about reading this story but it was much better than the first one I read. This story was more mature and the storyline was very good. I enjoyed the characters of both Bella and Severo even though I felt the writing did not keep to the character of Severo toward the end and changed him which was disappointing. Bella is a bit of a desperate woman to me but yet something about her is very intriguing. This is a good werewolf story that any fan of the genre would enjoy.

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