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Interview with L.J. Garland

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to host L.J. Garland on the blog today.  



1. Can you please share with us a little about yourselfWell, to start…L.J. Garland isn’t just one person! It’s two! Laura & Jeff – We’re a husband-wife writing team. We met in college over 20 years ago and have been driving each other nuts ever since. Hey, after that long, ya gotta have a since of humor for sure! We have tons of hobbies and interests—but we have two that top our list.
First, we’re both licensed helicopter pilots with hundreds of hours of flight time. On our 10thwedding anniversary, we flew from the east coast to west and celebrated our special day in the honeymoon suite in Palm Springs. Course, we were so exhausted, we passed out. I’m still chewing nails over not getting to check out that humongous Jacuzzi tub! *sigh* Anyway…books. Chances are good you’ll see one type of flying machine or another in our stories…and the landings won’t always be pretty. But hey, any you walk away from are good, right? lol

The second thing that tops our list is we practice with a variety of weaponry from long bows to high-powered combat rifles. This, along with years of military experience, gives our books a heightened sense of reality. So, fire, fireworks, guns, pretty much anything that goes Boom!…yeah, it’s all good. You’ll see that in our stories as well. High-action adventure and romance…and a happy-ever-after.

On the home front, we enjoy a life in a house filled with love, laughter, and tenuously restrained chaos. We have three cats, one whistling guinea pig, and three boisterous sons—who conspire to ensure there’s never a dull moment. It’s awesome!


2. Have you always wanted to be an author?
Wow…come to think of it, we never really decidedto become authors. It was a long, surreptitious process, and it wasn’t long before I found myself obsessing over it. And now, crafting stories has become kinda obsessive/compulsive, but we won’t talk about that right now. <g>
Jeff and I both have always enjoyed science fiction and have read voraciously since childhood. Later, I branched out into romance. I truly loved the happy ever after that it offered…that one way or another, the hero and heroine would end up together no matter how daunting the obstacle. SFR offers a wide cross genre…horror, military, paranormal, time travel, steampunk, the list goes on and on…even westerns, as given by FireFlyand Cowboys and Aliens. The possibilities are endless – which is one of the wonderful aspects that attracted us both to SFR.
3. Can you share with us your typical writing day.  Is there anything you have to have while writing?
COFFEE! Oh, gosh, personally I can’t get through the day without it! I get up and get Jeff out the door, fix breakfast for the kids, then I sit down with them for home schooling. Somewhere in there we have lunch, play outside. After that, I edit manuscripts, do all I can to keep in touch with the writing community, blog, interview authors, answer emails. All the while, the clothes washer and dishwasher are churning in the background.  Then dinner, the dreaded bath and brushing of teeth (boys and water don’t mix for some reason…sheesh, they act like it’s acid or something! “I’m melting!” Who knew little boys were sooo dramatic? lol) At last, we tuck the little angels into bed, hugs and kisses. Then I collapse…maybe type a paragraph or two on a story…and pass out to do it all again the next day. Whew!

4. Most challenging or rewarding part of writing?
Between kids and house and editing for epubs, it’s more like writing minutes. LOL However, all those ‘distractions’ allow for my subconscious to work out plot issues and also gives me time to write and rewrite the next chapter in my head before I sit down to the computer. Most times I have a really good idea where the scene is going and a good bit of the characters’ dialog as well. And then there are the bubble baths where Jeff and I brainstorm stories and work out plot problems. Needless to say, we’re squeaky clean. Somehow it works….

5. Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?
Raven is on a suicide mission. Jex is a biomech on a mission to save humanity. They discover their mutual passion to destroy the enemy isn’t their only desire.
A war against the Darch has raged for years, and humanity is on the verge of extinction. Scientists have created biomechs to supplement as warriors, but it’s just a temporary fix on what appears an insurmountable problem. One desperate scientist injects JXS241, a biomech warrior, with what he hopes is the solution for mankind’s survival. But the biomech is captured by the enemy.
Raven Nirvanni survives on the fringes of a shattered culture. While on a self-imposed suicide mission to annihilate an enemy destroyer, she encounters the imprisoned biomech. Deciding the fate of humanity far outweighs the destruction of a single ship, she rescues him and decides to ensure he reaches his destination. With the enemy anticipating their every move, Raven is completely taken aback when she realizes she’s falling for JXS241. But can she really love a machine? And if so, can he reciprocate?
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6. How did you come with the idea for this story?
Well, we were in the bathtub, enjoying a hot bubbly soak…um, ahem. The story, right. lol The inspiration started with the basic questions: What if a woman fell in love with a machine…only to discover that the machine, which wasn’t supposed to have feelings, had also fallen in love with her? How would they deal with their relationship and what others might think? Would they even care? And from that came MechMan!

7. Can you share with us your current work in progress?
We’ve got a romantic suspense, Sins of the Mind, co-written with the wonderful Debbie Gould, set to release April 20thfrom Decadent Publishing. It’s a story about a woman, who after years of therapy from a horrible incident, decides it’s time to live again…but then all the people she loves start being brutally murdered one by one.
The other story is a short (12K) SFR, Dead or Alive, coming from Decadent’s 1Night Stand series. It’s about a guy who is falsely accused of murder and ends up turning toward the one woman who can help him, a bounty hunter who’s been after him for years. Together, they uncover conspiracies on both Earth and their homeworld, use some fun high-tech gadgetry, and even visit Area 51.

8. Who are some of your favorite authors?
Anne McCaffrey – her stories are so creative, yet easy to visualize. Her detailed worlds and series are inspirational, not to mention fun to read!
Henry Beam Piper – his Little Fuzzy series is creative and memorable for sure!
Orson Scott Card – Ender’s Game and all that came after was amazing. And he also did a nice twist on ‘What you think is true, might not be.’
Stephen King – because he didn’t write horror just for the sake of writing horror, there was a deep, psychological aspect that caused the blood to run cold.

Dean Koontz – because his style of writing drew me. The way he wove his earlier stories was unusual, never in a straight line, which left me wondering how these diverse characters would ever collide.

Suzanne Brockmann – for her high-action stories and her hero’s perspective.

Robert Jordan – for his epic stories.

Thomas Harris – psychologically terrifying.


9. Do you feel that any of your favorite authors have inspired your writing style? 
Absolutely! The stories we read for pleasure are because we love the author and the genre. We can look at the list above and see bits of them all in our stories.

10. What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?
Linnea Sinclair’s Rebels and Lovers
Dean Koontz’s Dead and Alive
Stephen Hawking’s The Grand Design

11. Is there anything else you would like to add?
We can be tracked down at www.lj-garland.com. Or we can be caught at http://www.garland-and-gould.blogspot.com/where we blog, chat about stuff, and interview other authors. Or, we can be emailed at mail@lj-garland.com– We love hearing from people who have enjoyed our stories.
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Guest Blogger: Emily Cale

Books-n-Kisses is please to let Emily Cale take over the blog today as part of her Getting Ahead blog tour. She is talking about the appeal of cowboys.  



Appeal of a Cowboy

What is it about cowboys that attract our attention? I grew up seeing and talking to cowboys (and girls!) on a daily basis and never gave it a second thought. It wasn’t until I was older that I started to realize how sexy they are. It’s not just me either. A quick look around Amazon shows an abundance of Westerns, both in the romance genre and in other genres. It’s stood the test of time for many decades.

So what is it that makes cowboys so alluring? For me, it’s several things. First, I love the thought of a man working out on the land all day. He not only has to use his muscles (and they are wonderful), but his mind as well.
Second, they usually come across as serious family men. They work the same land that their father and grandfather did. The whole family gets on taking care of the property, from the smallest child up to the oldest adult. Even with all that work, they still find time for a little fun (If you’re one of my characters, you find time for A LOT of fun).
Finally, something about the way they say “ma’am” and “pardon” makes my heart skip a beat. I’m not sure if it’s the accent or the sincerity, but I can’t help but swoon over it. Yes, I did just say swoon.
What about you? Do you love cowboys? How come?


Getting Ahead Blurb:
Colton is exactly the kind of distraction Amber doesn’t want, but he might be exactly what she needs to get back on track.
Recovering from a bad fall during competition, Amber McDonald decides to spend her last week of training before her next rodeo at a Colorado ranch, away from any and all distractions. It’d be the perfect arrangement—if only her fear wasn’t stopping her from getting back on her horse.
Then Colt Riley steps in. He’s sexy and seems to have incredible insight into her situation, but he’s everything she’s been trying to stay away from.
Colt knows exactly what Amber is going through…because he’s been there before. Forced to give up his riding career after an accident, he sets his mind to helping her get back on track. All that’s easier said than done, especially when she discovers his hidden past. Will his efforts be enough to help her get ahead?

Buy Links:
Publisher: http://www.breathlesspress.com/getting-ahead
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007B25V7M/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wwwbreathless-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B007B25V7M
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/getting-ahead-emily-cale/1109505995?ean=2940033070534
All Romance ebooks: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-gettingahead-728018-340.html

Author Bio:
Emily Cale spent the majority of her childhood as a visitor to the worlds of her favorite authors. With encouragement from her English teachers, she put pen to paper and began imagining her own stories. Preferring the fascinating lives of her characters, she majored in creative writing. When not lost in a manuscript or a good book, she enjoys crocheting, rock climbing, and playing board games. She currently lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with her husband and a very spoiled cat.
You can find Emily online on her blog (http://www.emilycale.blogspot.com) or on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/emilycale. 
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Kelly’s (ARC) review of Grimm Tiding by Shiloh Walker

TITLE: Grimm Tidings
Book #6 in the Grimm Circle Series
AUTHOR: Shiloh Walker
PUBLICATION DATE:   04/24/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:

Never fear the pain. Fear what lies behind it…

Grimm’s Circle, Book 6

In his mortal life, the only thing Jacob liked better than money was a good brawl—until he stuck his fist into the wrong fight, and a demon sent him spinning into a new life as a Grimm.

Now, a hundred years later, he’s been called to protect someone too much like himself. A woman who could let the chains of her past drag her down unless she learns to let go. A woman who fights like there’s no tomorrow, because she clearly doesn’t want a tomorrow.

Celeste thought her second chance at life would be an opportunity to fix some of her worst mistakes, to set things straight. She couldn’t have been more wrong. She’s trapped by the past and her regrets, and nothing—not even her darkly sexy new trainer, Jacob—has a blade sharp enough to cut her loose.

Chains are Jacob’s specialty, but his help comes with a price. To her, the cost is her heart. To Jacob…something much more.


REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Kelly            
NUMBER OF STARS: 4 Stars

Jacob knows a thing or two about the chains of the past.  How that harder you hang on to them the worst your future will be.  It has taken him over 200 years to learn to deal with his past mistakes.  While not perfect he now has to help the newest baby Grimm deal with hers.

Celine can not let go over her past.  She has regretted the choices she has made for the last 4 years.  But it will take almost losing everything in her life for a second time to make her open her eyes and realize that past is the past.  

Jacob & Celine are two peas in a pod.  Both have pasts that they have fought to get over.  Both are fiercely independent, strong, loyal, and totally lost without each other.  

I have be dying for this Grimm book since I finished Locked in Silence book 5 in the Grimm Circle series.  I love Shiloh’s Grimms.  I love trying to figure which fairy tale the character are based off.  Let me tell you I was WAY off on who I thought Grimm Tiding was about.   While this was not my favorite Grimm story of the series.  I still really really enjoyed the story and SO can’t wait for the next Grimm Circle.  

If you have not read any of Shiloh’s Grimm’s. You really need to pick up one. You have never read a fairy tale like this.  

*Huge thank you to Shiloh for allowing me to read her story*  

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Day 6 of Rebecca Zanetti Hunted Tour: Interview with Conn & Moira

Welcome to Day 6 of Rebecca Zanetti’s Hunted Tour.  We are super excited to have Connlan & Moira on the blog today. They agreed to sit down and chat with me about their upcoming story.  I hope you enjoy Conn & Moira.



BnK:  Hi Conn, Hi Moira. 
Conn: Hi
Moira: Hello


Bnk: Are you ready to get started? 
Conn: Sure
Moira:  Yep

Q1) Conn, I have to ask about the pink apron?  Do you lose at checkers on purpose or does Janie win fair and square?
Conn: What pink apron?  If you don’t have a picture, there’s no pink apron.  Period.  Well, of course I don’t lose on purpose.  I mean, I’m a soldier.  Janie is just that good at checkers.  Though, you probably don’t know this, but she makes up her own rules as she goes.  For example, if I have the opportunity to get crowned, I have to name every single Pony from her favorite movie before I can move…and there’s a time limit.  So, see?  She wins fair and square.

Q2) Can you tell us how you two met?
Conn: Well, about a hundred years ago, I was training some soldiers in a field and took my shirt off, and Moira was sneaking and watching along with her older sister.  She made some comment about hoping I shucked my pants, not knowing how good a vampire’s hearing is.  Well, then the little witch tripped and fell in the stream.  I, of course, hurried over and helped her out of it.  I may have mentioned that I wasn’t taking my pants off for her…or maybe not.  J

Q3) Moira, Conn gave you 100 years.  Looking back on it are you glad he did or do you wish he came for you earlier?
Moira:  What a fun question!  For quite some time I was a bit miffed that he didn’t head on over and take me out on a date or two, but considering we all went to war, I’m glad I had that time to train.  When you read Hunted, you’ll see why we both needed the century to learn each other’s skills and prepare for war.

Q4) Conn, what was the hardest part about staying away from Moira for those 100 years?
Conn: That’s a good question, too.  Once a vampire mates, it’s forever, and that person is in our blood.  I knew she was in danger even while training, and I had to fight my own instincts in going over and yanking her to safety.  I was extremely happy when the 100 years was up, though I knew I’d have a fight on my hands.  Mainly from Moira.

Q5) Plane sex… Any other exciting place you two have had sex?
Conn:  No.
Moira:  Oh, knock it off.  That’s a fun question, too.  Well, let’s see.
Conn:  Stop talking.
Moira:  No. There’s the beach, the king’s desk, the Council of the Coven Nine headquarters on the bench, that restroom as the Four Seasons, the movie theatre, the training room…

Q6) Conn, do you think you and Moira will make a good fighting team?
Conn:  Yes, I think we make a good team, so long as Moira remembers to stay safe.  I mean, there’s no reason to tempt fate, now is there?  The woman truly has a penchant for finding danger—and danger is my job.
Moira:  Whatever.

Q7)  How do you feel about Rebecca telling your story?
Conn:  I’m pretty sure the story won’t be told.  We need to remain secret.
Moira:  I think the book is called Hunted, which will be released on April 24th.  The story is sweet and sexy, so I figured, why not?  The world can read it.
Conn:  You what?

Q8) Do you think that she kept it true to the real story or did she fluff it or exaggerate it at all?
Moira:  Oh, it’s true to life.  If anything, I asked her to tone it down a little considering my mother (and hers) might read it.  But, she shook her head, so maybe she included everything.  Oh My.

Q9) Did Rebecca leave out any parts you really, really, really wanted in?  
Moira:  It’s funny you ask that.  In Rebecca’s original draft, she included a prologue detailing when, ah, we mated and how the brand appeared on Conn’s hand and my, er, body.  But she took it out because it overshadowed the first few chapters of the book.  I hope she puts it up on her website sometime in the future as a free read because it’s…HOT.

Q10) So, what do you two see in your future?  Babies?
Conn:  Yes.  Probably not until we win the war and life is safe, but I’d love a couple of talented little vampires running around.
Moira:  Talented vampires who can practice witchcraft, of course.
Conn:  Of course.


Bnk:  Conn, Moira, Thank you so much for taking the time to sit down and talk with me.  I loved your story. And don’t worry your secret is safe with me.. I won’t tell the world about you…. Oops… *grinning*  Anything else you would like to add before you take off? 

Moria: So, Rebecca would like to thank Books N Kisses for having this fun interview today.  She’s also like to thank Kelly Mueller for organizing the blog tour for Hunted!  As a thank you, she’d like to give away copies of either Fated or Claimed to five commenter’s here on the blog.  Yes, five!  Winners can choose either Fated or Claimed

So…why do you think people like vampires?

Hunted 
By Rebecca Zanetti
Release date 4/24/2011
Ready or Not
Moira Dunne is a witch–the quantum physics kind.  Time and space are her playthings.  Which might explain why her one-night stand from a hundred years ago has turned up to “claim” her–and request her family’s assistance with the war he’s brewing.  But the more she learns about Connlan Kayrs, the more she comes to think this is normal behavior for him…
There’s Nowhere to Hide
When Conn and Moira tumbled on the moonlit grass, Conn hadn’t meant to mark her for his mate for all time.  She was only twenty!  But it wasn’t easy to wait for her.  It was even harder to forget her.  So when he finally returns for his wicked-hot witch, he’s ready to let the sparks fly.  Even if he burns up in flames…
To enter for a chance to win one of five copies of either Fated (bk#1) or Claimed (bk#2)  please fill out the Rafflecopter form below. 


a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Kimberly’s review of The Unseen by Heather Graham

TITLE: The Unseen
AUTHOR: Heather Graham
PUBLICATION DATE:   03/27/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
1800s. San Antonio, Texas: In room 207 at the Longhorn Saloon, in the long shadow of the Alamo itself, a woman renowned for her beauty was brutally murdered. Her killer was never found. One year ago: In that same historic room, another woman vanished without a trace. Her blood was everywhere…but her body was never recovered. Now: In the last month, San Antonio has become a dumping ground for battered bodies. All young women, all long missing, almost all forgotten. Until now. Texas Ranger Logan Raintree cannot sit by and let his city’s most vulnerable citizens be slain. So when he is approached to lead a brand-new group of elite paranormal investigators working the case, he has no choice but to accept the challenge. And with it, his powerful ability to commune with the dead. Among Logan’s new team is Kelsey O’Brien, a U.S. marshal known for her razor-sharp intuition and a toughness that belies her delicate exterior. Kelsey has been waiting all her life to work with someone who can understand her ability to “see” the past unfolding in the present. Now she has her chance. Together, Kelsey and Logan follow their instincts to the Alamo and to the newly reopened Longhorn, which once tempted heroes with drink, cards and women. If the spirits of those long-dead Texans are really appearing to the victims before their deaths, only Kelsey and Logan have the skills to find out why. And if something more earthly is menacing the city’s oldest, darkest corners, only they can stop it – before more innocent women join the company of San Antonio’s restless ghosts…

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Kimberly Wise            NUMBER OF STARS: 3 Stars

REVIEW:
*3.5 Stars*  This is the first in the new Texas Krewe of Hunters. While most of Graham’s books have been set in Florida (mostly Key West) or some in New Orleans this is set in San Antonio, Texas. It is the start up of the new Krewe of Hunters. A new branch of the Harrison Investigation/Krewe of Hunters in New Orleans series.

Logan is a Texas Ranger who is coming back from losing his wife three years ago after a revenge killing for putting a man into prison. Kelsey is a US Marshal from Key West. Neither of them knows why they are being called to San Antonio except there is going to be a new job offer but neither has an idea of what kind of job or why them. When Jackson Crow (Krewe leader of the New Orleans branch) explains why they have been asked to help they learn women are being killed and left around the city. Jackson feels there is something going on and because The Alamo has such history maybe Logan and Kelsey with the “gifts” they have can get to the answers before another woman goes missing.

This is a very typical Graham ghost story. And ghost stories are where Graham should stay. She has a way of writing that draws the reader in. I guess you could say that Graham writes it all. Her books fall under “Paranormal Romantic Suspense”. Her books are not the same when she does not write about ghost. Thankfully we have three in this book to enjoy. The problem was I never felt a connection between Kelsey and Logan. Their relationship felt more like a working affair and when the case was over they would go their separate ways and be fine with it. What keeps this story going? The suspense of who-dunnit (which I am not sure I have ever figured out in one of Graham’s books and I read a lot of suspense books) and the history of the area she is writing about. The history that we find out through Graham’s writing is incredible and it makes you want to go visit. In this case it was The Alamo which of course was part of our history class growing up but Graham wraps a story around that history and brings the area to life. Is this one of her best ever? Maybe not. But I did enjoy it. And if you are a fan of Graham’s then you will as well. No one tells a ghost story like Graham!

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Kelly’s Review of Alpha Instinct by Katie Reus

TITLE: Alpha Instinct
Book #1 in the Moon Shifter Series
AUTHOR: Katie Reus
PUBLICATION DATE:   02/07/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Fear has a scent. So does desire…

Ana Cordona has been a strong leader for the lupine shifters who survived after all the males and most of the females in her pack were mysteriously poisoned. As tough as she is, with no Alpha male, the pack is vulnerable to the devious shifter Taggart, who wants to claim both their ranch and Ana as his own. When Connor Armstrong comes back into her life, promising protection, it’s almost enough to make Ana forget how he walked out on her before—and reluctantly accept his offer to mate.

The minute Connor sees Ana again, it reawakens a raw hunger. He must have her for his bondmate—his wolf cries out for it. But his human side knows he must proceed with caution because of their complicated past. If he is to truly have her body and soul, he must go beyond his burning desire and win back her heart. Whatever it takes, he is determined not to leave her side again.

But Taggart and his rival pack are not their only enemies. A human element in town is targeting shifters. Their plan not only threatens Ana and Connor’s future, but the lives of the entire pack…


REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Kelly            NUMBER OF STARS: 4 ½ Stars

REVIEW:
Connor is back and he wants Ana.  He has waited a very long time for her and now he won’t take no for an answer.  But sometimes strong handing the woman you love is not the best way to convince her you are the love of her life.  Sometimes you have to be an Alpha.  When Ana’s pack is under attack yet again by an unknown force, Connor will do anything and everything in his power to protect his woman and his new pack

Ana is now the leader of her pack, after someone poisoned and killed all the males and pregnant females of her pack.  Not only does Ana have to worry about who poisoned her pack coming back, the neighboring pack is trying to take over her pack.  Ana needs to find a way to prove to the other pack that just because she is a female doesn’t mean she is going to let them push her around.  But when a meeting with the rival pack leader goes wrong Ana finds herself in very big trouble with no way out.  That is until Connor, the love of her life, the man who left without a word steps in and saves her.   While Ana is thankful for Connor’s help, she can’t understand why he is back. But she promises herself that she will not fall for him again.

Connor and Ana are a great couple.  They both love each other so much, but don’t know the best way to show it and with so much history between them it is hard to know if this time is real.  Ana fears Connor will walk out on her again, while Connor fears that he will never be good enough for Ana.  When in all reality they are a great Alpha team and when they learn to work together their pack will be stronger than ever.

I really enjoyed this first book in Katie Reus new Moon Shifter series.  Katie does a great job of setting up the Moon Shifter world.  Rival packs, murders, kidnappings, lost loves, new loves, Alpha males vs Alpha females.   I am very much looking forward to Katie’s next installment in the Moon Shifter series an e-novella Lover’s Instinct (Aug 2012) and book 2 Primal Possession (Sept 2012)

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Kelly’s Review of Vampire Awakening by Eliza Gayle

TITLE: Vampire Awakening
AUTHOR: Eliza Gayle
PUBLICATION DATE:   03/26/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Abby Douglas has lived in the dark for six months. Until a mysterious package and a voice in a dream spark a chain of events she didn’t see coming. To futher complicate matters, a lethally stunning stranger walks into her life and awakens erotic needs inside her that run deep. Now she has to decide how much she’ll give up to unlock her memories.

Caleb Barrett, a vampire on a mission, pursues Abby while on the hunt for a homicidal vampire. Instead he’s captured by a silken voice and haunting eyes that stir an insatiable hunger. An instant connection is forged and Caleb marks her as his own with no intention of letting her go. When she runs from him all bets are off and this dead sexy cowboy will do whatever it takes to find out what secrets her mind harbors before it’s too late. Rules or no rules.

Suddenly being careful what you wish for is more than just another cliché, it’s life or death.

This books contains one sexy as sin, motorcycle riding, black leather wearing vampire with a two track mind. Sex and blood.

Please note: This book was previously published as Awaken and has been revised and re-edited for re-release.


REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Kelly          NUMBER OF STARS: 4 Stars

My summary of this book will be short.  As it was a short book and I don’t want to giveaway to much.  This was a great, hot, sexy quick read.  I think I knocked this book out in just little over an hour.  


I really enjoyed this story. I loved Caleb. He is smokin’ hot!! Totally bad-ass kind of hero that completely knocks the socks off Abby. From the moment these two meet not thing will ever be the same for either of them. If only Caleb can keep Abby safe.


Now, if you don’t like extremely hot, sexy vampires that wear leather, a cowboy hat and ride a motorcycle then this book is not for you.  But if you like all of those then you really need to pick up a copy of Vampire Awakening. 



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Flying Frog Fairy’s Review of Leather & Lace by Melody Snow Monroe

TITLE: Leather and Lace
AUTHOR: Melody Snow Monroe
PUBLICATION DATE:   Available Now
ORDER LINKS:   Siren Bookstrand

BOOK SYNOPSIS:

Wade and Heath Watson, two ranchers in Intrigue, Wyoming, have yearned to make Samantha Callen their own for years. When they find her bleeding to death by the side of the road after rustlers shoot her, they make a pledge to take care of her. Getting the feisty woman to let them help, however, is no small feat. Only when more cattle are stolen and her barn is set on fire does she turn to them for aid.
As their passions flare, they tell her she needs to get comfortable with her feminine side or chance losing them. She fears if she acts too sexy, she’ll lose the respect of her ranch hands and maybe even her ranch. How can she find a way to keep the men she loves and still be a successful rancher in an industry dominated by men?




REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Flying Frog Fairy           NUMBER OF STARS: 5 Stars

REVIEW:

This book is the first book in Ms. Snow Monroe’s new series: The Callens. In this first book we are introduced to Samantha Callen. The author does a good job of setting up the series with some backstory about the Callen family. However, this story focuses on the eldest daughter Samantha. The book starts off with a bang, literally. The main conflict is revealed immediately when Sam is shot by rustlers. I like that the author included a little intrigue in this story. Personally, I prefer my stories with a little mystery mixed into the romance, and Ms. Snow Monroe delivers. I figured out the mystery pretty quickly, but I’m getting ahead of myself.

When Sam is shot she is rescued by her neighbors, Wade and Heath. They see this as the perfect chance to convince her that she is meant for them, but Sam is stubborn. The character of Sam is that of a woman who is trying to succeed in a male dominated profession, and failing. With the added complication of the rustlers she begins to realize that ranching may not be for her. The book does a good job of detailing the problem and resolution of how she can maintain the ranch that she loves and still be a woman. This book is a fun and satisfying read that i recommend. I can’t wait to read more about the Callen family in the next book: Truth and Seduction.

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Kimberly’s review of Angel on Fire by Jacquie Johnson

TITLE: Angel On Fire
AUTHOR: Jacquie Johnson
PUBLICATION DATE:   03/31/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
All Angela wants is to understand why her father, security specialist Mac McKenzie, dropped dead on a sidewalk in Boston. Instead, she is thrust into the midst of an international conspiracy when she discovers that her father was working on a classified project at the time of his death. Now, the FBI, a terrorist and a killer have her in their sights.

Former Navy SEAL turned undercover operative, Chase Romero thinks his boss is overreacting when he orders Chase to small town America to protect Angela. But he changes his mind when her home is burglarized and “accidents” begin to happen. The real question becomes, how can he keep her safe if he keeps tripping over his own heart?

After shooting an intruder, Angela flees the scene, and the FBI issues a warrant for her arrest. On the run for her life and her freedom, she places her trust in Chase. As they travel from New England, to the nation’s capital, to the shores of Lake Michigan, the trail – and their attraction – grow hotter. Together, they team up to prevent a global financial market meltdown and face a killer who will stop at nothing to get his hands on the project Mac protected with his life.


REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Kimberly            NUMBER OF STARS: 3 Stars

REVIEW:
First let me say this is the first book written by Johnson and I can not wait until the next book to come out! I was surprised how much I enjoyed this book!

Angela’s father recently died of what they are saying is a heart attack but Angela does not believe that. So many things seem suspicious about what was going on and when she starts getting threatening phone calls and too close for comfort accidents she thinks she may be right that something is going on. And she is going to find out what come hell or high water. Chase is asked by his boss to keep an eye on his God-daughter Angela. Chase is not thrilled at first but when he sees all the incidents taking place he has to wonder if maybe his boss was right to worry. When Chase feels like he has to do more than watch from afar he and Angela begin a journey towards answers and love.

Angela is a strong woman in life but when her life turns upside down she is not sure where she can pull the strength she needs from until she meets Chase. Chase is a self-proclaimed “dominant, aggressive and possessive man” and a ex Navy SEAL. Both characters are written really well. It does not take long to get wrapped up in this book. The story line is really interesting and I enjoyed every moment of it. The only reason I gave it 3 stars instead of 4 is there was a couple of things that just did not get finished in the storyline or was forgotten. (example: one chapter Angela has bruised ribs that she is babying while just walking and the next chapter the ribs are never mentioned again and she is running and being thrown around.) Also the epilogue has a very abrupt ending. I wanted another page or at least a paragraph or two more. But really I enjoyed this book very much. I hope Johnson plans on writing more and really hope the next book is Sean and Emily’s story (hint hint)!

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Ilona Andrews’ Kate Daniels Series

Magic Bites
Kate Daniels #1
by Ilona Andrews  
When the magic is up, rogue mages cast their spells and monsters appear, while guns refuse to fire and cars fail to start. But then technology returns, and the magic recedes as unpredictably as it arose, leaving all kinds of paranormal problems in its wake.
Kate Daniels is a down-on-her-luck mercenary who makes her living cleaning up these magical problems. But when Kate’s guardian is murdered, her quest for justice draws her into a power struggle between two strong factions within Atlanta’s magic circles.
The Masters of the Dead, necromancers who can control vampires, and the Pack, a paramilitary clan of shapechangers, blame each other for a series of bizarre killings—and the death of Kate’s guardian may be part of the same mystery. Pressured by both sides to find the killer, Kate realizes she’s way out of her league—but she wouldn’t have it any other way…
Magic Burns
Kate Daniels #2
by Ilona Andrews
Down in Atlanta, tempers — and temperatures — are about to flare…
As a mercenary who cleans up after magic gone wrong, Kate Daniels has seen her share of occupational hazards. Normally, waves of paranormal energy ebb and flow across Atlanta like a tide. But once every seven years, a flare comes, a time when magic runs rampant. Now Kate’s going to have to deal with problems on a much bigger scale: a divine one.
When Kate sets out to retrieve a set of stolen maps for the Pack, Atlanta’s paramilitary clan of shapeshifters, she quickly realizes much more at stake. During a flare, gods and goddesses can manifest — and battle for power. The stolen maps are only the opening gambit in an epic tug-of-war between two gods hoping for rebirth. And if Kate can’t stop the cataclysmic showdown, the city may not survive
Magic Strikes
Kate Daniels #3
by Ilona Andrews
Drafted to work for the Order of Knights of Merciful Aid, mercenary Kate Daniels has more paranormal problems these days than she knows what to do with. And in Atlanta, where magic comes and goes like the tide, that’s saying a lot.
But when Kate’s werewolf friend Derek is discovered nearly dead, she must confront her greatest challenge yet. As her investigation leads her to the Midnight Games- an invitation only, no-holds-barred, ultimate preternatural fighting tournament- she and Curran, the Beast Lord, uncover a dark plot that may forever alter the face of Atlanta’s shapeshifting community.
Magic Bleeds
Kate Daniels #4
by Ilona Andrews
Atlanta would be a nice place to live, if it weren’t for the magic. When the magic is up, rogue mages cast their spells and monsters appear, while guns refuse to fire and cars fail to start. But then technology returns, and the magic recedes as unpredictably as it rose.
Kate Daniels works for the Order of the Knights of Merciful Aid, officially as a liaison with the mercenary guild. Unofficially, she cleans up the paranormal problems no one else wants to handle—especially if they involve Atlanta’s shapeshifting community.
When she’s called in to investigate a fight at the Steel Horse, a bar midway between the territories of the shapeshifters and the necromancers, Kate quickly discovers there’s a new player in town. One who’s been around for thousands of years—and rode to war at the side of Kate’s father.
This foe may be too much even for Kate and Curran, the Lord of the Beasts, to handle. Because this time, Kate will be taking on family…
Magic Slays
Kate Daniels #5
by Ilona Andrews
Plagued by a war between magic and technology, Atlanta has never been so deadly. Good thing Kate Daniels is on the job.
Kate Daniels may have quit the Order of Merciful Aid, but she’s still knee-deep in paranormal problems. Or she would be if she could get someone to hire her. Starting her own business has been more challenging than she thought it would be—now that the Order is disparaging her good name, and many potential clients are afraid of getting on the bad side of the Beast Lord, who just happens to be Kate’s mate.
So when Atlanta’s premier Master of the Dead calls to ask for help with a vampire on the loose, Kate leaps at the chance of some paying work. Turns out this is not an isolated incident, and Kate needs to get to the bottom of it—fast, or the city and everyone dear to her might pay the ultimate price . .
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Interview & Giveaway with Erin Kellison

Books-n-Kisses is super excited to welcome Erin Kellison to the blog today.  
We are chatting about her new novella Shadow Play and her next novel Fire Kissed. 




1.      Can you please share with us a little about yourself 
Hi everyone! I’m Erin Kellison. Nice to meet you all.  I write contemporary dark fantasy romance, with a twisted take on fairy tale.  I’m generally a little twisted myself, though in day-to-day life I appear to be a mild-mannered mom of two little ones. I share my office with Henry the hamster, who drives me insane when he runs on his wheel.

2.      Have you always wanted to be an author?
Yes! I asked for a typewriter for Christmas when I was in fourth grade, but never got much further than typing the title. I always have a story going on in my head, and have been known to make them up about strangers I see at stoplights or at adjacent tables in restaurants.
3.      Can you share with us your typical writing day.  Is there anything you have to have while writing?
My typical writing day begins with waving bye-bye to the little ones. I hit my email and social networking first, usually quickly, and then dive into the current work in progress. (Okay, that’s a lie. I also check blogs, celebrity gossip, read, debate shoes at zappos, snack, and nap.) I need snacks when I write. I’m pseudo-healthy in my selections, but after lunch usually break down and go for the chocolate.
4.      Most challenging or rewarding part of writing?
It’s a challenge to make myself stay focused on the WIP. Sometimes I’m restless with the words. Sometimes a plot point won’t cooperate. Sometimes I’m cheating on the story with the Shiny New Idea. But most often, I am lured to the time-suck of the Internet. I used to have my husband shut off all online access to the house (not kidding), but now I use a program called Freedom, which allows me to shut off my laptop’s access for a specified amount of time.

The best thing is getting lost in a scene, so excited that my fingers can’t keep up with what I want them to type. I love those scenes. I love to see the story unfold. I love the high moments and lows. I love the craft of it. I love working out my structure. I love the moment when a character becomes more than my initial construction. And I love when the story gives me ideas, what I think of as gifts, that I had not dreamed of upon setting out.

5.      Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?
My latest book, Fire Kissed, comes out July 1 and is book one in a new series based on my Shadow world. But my latest release is a novella, Shadow Play, which comes out April 24. It’s a stand alone, but the characters were introduced in Shadow Touch (the first novella). Here is the blurb:

Shadow
The world is growing dark with it as mysteries from antiquity and legend creep into our time, bringing a new world of danger, beauty and…
Magic
Dr. Cam Kalamos has dedicated his life to studying its strange properties, but nothing is more intriguing than a woman whose soul is split in half, one part under her control, one part bent on…
Seduction
How can he resist the lure of a lover with no inhibitions and an insatiable desire to possess him? Both Ellie and her shadow want Cam, but there is an innocent child to be rescued from the forest and the strange fae creatures of…
Twilight
Love, loyalty, betrayal – which will rule? As Ellie sends her other self into the darkness, there is only one certainty: Trusting in shadows is a dangerous game.

Fae Fire
It is Kaye Brand’s power to wield. But outcast from her kind, she’s been selling herself to the highest bidder—money for her survival in exchange for a magic glimpse into the flames of the future.
Angel Ice
One of the angelic Order, Jack Bastian has no use for a female like Kaye, as provocative and unexpected as her blazing beauty. Yet he has no choice but to hire her to uncover the secrets of his sworn enemy and her former fiancé, Ferrol Grey.
Magekind
War is inevitable between the defenders of the Order and the mage Houses who threaten to engulf the world in Shadow. For Jack, mage-born Kaye is off limits, no matter how hot the impossible attraction between them. But in the coming darkness, beset by danger and desire, everything is about to change.
6.      How did you come up with the idea for this story?
My Shadow series explores the idea that Shadow (capital S) is magic and that it is seeping back into the world. While I was writing those books, I thought a lot about shadow and its different permutations. I wondered what it would be like if a person’s shadow were able to move and act independently of their body. Eleanor Russo, my heroine, was born. Her shadow is the personification of her id—it acts on impulse and primal desires. Ellie has to contend with this deepest, darkest part of herself. Luckily, she’s found a man, Cameron Kalamos, who understands and is in awe of her split existence. They meet in ShadowTouch, the first novella in the series. And in Shadow Play, they team up to find a young boy who has been lost to the faery world.
7.      Can you share with us your current work in progress?
I’m working on Shadow Hunt, the third novella in the series, which follows the romance and development of Ellie and Cam as a kick-ass team. The third installment is shaping up to be a dark, sexy, dangerous ride. I’m having a lot of fun with it.
8.      Who are some of your favorite authors?
I have a million favorites, from Jane Austen to Lois McMaster Bujold to Karen Marie Moning to Patrick Rothfuss to Stephen King. I tend to lean toward genre fiction over the literary stuff (which I studied in college).  I love them all, and further, I am so grateful for their amazing characters and stories. I don’t know what my life would be like without them.

9.      Do you feel that any of your favorite authors have inspired your writing style? 
I like fast reads, propelled by strong characters. And I owe many authors a huge thank you for so many great examples of pacing and character arcs. Often I will stop in a book and curse at an author’s brilliant technique and then try to discover the building blocks of how that particular moment came together. Every book is different, so I don’t think that there is a direct transfer, but I know trying to get an idea of the inside of the construction and voice and power of a great book has made me a better writer.

10.  What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?
My TBR… Hmmm… Actually it’s full of YA. I have one of those Shiny New Ideas and I’m immersing myself in that subgenre for a while. I recently finished Jenna Black’s Glimmerglass and Dan Well’s Partials(both awesome). I’ve got Brenna Yavanoff’s The Replacement right here. I’m itching to start both Leanna Renee Hieber’s Darker Still series and Jaime Reed’s The Cambion Chronicles series. I’m currently reading Sean Cumming’s Poltergeeks.  I know my kindle is loaded as well (bwahahahaa). I eat books, buy a ton at once (I should own my local B&N), so this summer will be a blast of good reading.

11.  Is there anything else you would like to add?
Yes! I’ve got a freebie and a giveaway! I dipped my toes into SF romance this year with the Hotter on the Edge anthology.

It’s a 4 1/2 stars—Top Pick from Night Owl Reviews: “HOTTER ON THE EDGE is an exceptional trio of Sci-fi romance novellas… Creativity, strong characters and interesting plots make this one a winner.” My story is “All That Glitters,” and here is the blurb:

Cheated out of a fortune by the Sol royal family, lowborn Simon Miner will do anything to get his revenge, no matter how ruthless. When Princess Mica Sol, a terraforming expert, is shot out of the sky on the way to her sister’s lavish wedding, she fears the worst—scavengers—and flees into an alien jungle to avoid capture. But the man who pursues and captures her is none other than Simon, her former lover. Passions reignite as violence rocks Sol City, and Simon and Mica must fight for love, family, and their world… or lose everything.

It’s available free at Smashwords in all e-formats with promo code UW37U.

AND….

I’m offering a set of my Shadow series (Shadow Bound, Shadow Fall, and Shadowman) to one lucky commenter who tells me the title of their favorite book ever.
            
AND x2…
I’ll be giving away a Kindle Fire soon, so make sure to “like” me on FB for details. You can also find me at:
My website: www.erinkellison.com
Twitter (@ekellison): www.twitter.com/ekellison
Facebook: www.facebook.com/erinkellisonauthor

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