Release Day Tuesday~~ March 13th
Guest blogger: Elise Whyles
Books-n-Kisses is pleased to let Elise Whyles take over the blog today.
Finding a happy place with a writing partner.
When I came up with the idea of a series about mythical beings I never believed it would ever get as large as it did. I was thinking four books maybe, but I knew I couldn’t do it alone.
So I approached my writer friend Ciara Lake
When you have two distinct personalities and writing voices working together there are always going to be bumps in the road no matter how close the writers are. Countless hours were spent discussing things like who was writing what? When were the books due in? Who would we submit them to? What exactly was each author responsible for?
Not all easy to answer questions. We’d discuss something, get it worked out and move on only to find ourselves having to revisit the topic because we’d missed the mark in some fashion. Communication in writing is a key element in my opinion. We’ve done a lot together, worked hard on this series and we’ve had a blast.
At the same time we missed the boat on several things – and found out after the fact there were things which didn’t sit well with one or both of us. Back to the drawing board lol, so we hashed it out. Debated, discussed, asked for outside input, and reach a decision we’re both happy with.
There are moments when I think an author needs to be aware of their motivations, their goals. In a single career there’s never any question about this because we’re all aware of where we want to go. When you have a partnership with a co-author then you have to rely on contracts, communication, and an open discussion to help guide you.
Our journey to the ‘happy-place’ has been long, with a few minor bumps, but over all we’ve had fun, and we’re both learning. Doesn’t mean we both always are happy – but that’s life and art. Sometimes you just have to compromise on the small stuff to keep the bigger picture in vivid Technicolor.
Among us walk immortal beings – cursed to hide within the shadows they live along side us as they have for centuries. Using, feeding, living off the mortals so reviled for their weakness – yet there are some who will be awakened and immortality will be given.
Now, an ancient evil stirs – rising to threaten not only the Immortal Realms but the mortal world. A cursed vampire General stirs, plotting his revenge on those who have forsaken him…but he’s forgotten about the innocent, who like him have been punished.
There are those who are Forsaken.
It could be anyone among us…
The first book, Forsaken Heart by Elise Whyles is set to release in April 2012.
The second book Curse of a Dargon’s Claim by Ciara Lake will release shortly after.
Guest bloggers: Brenda Woody & Steve Tindle
Hi Kelly! Thank you for featuring us on your blog and introducing us to your followers. First we’d like to share our latest release Rainie’s Lake with the readers and then let everyone know how we began writing together, and a little bit about our back list books. BTW, there’ll be a drawing for one lucky commenter. See details below!
Rainie’s Lake is our first paranormal erotic romance. We’ve been told to warn the readers to have a box of tissues handy! Rainie has received 5 star reviews. You can read the reviews on Amazon.
Taking a long over due vacation, Art Instructor, Dylan Bishop is eager to start his trip to the cabin in the mountains. When he saw the photo online with the rental ad, he knew this was his destination. Being drawn to the lake nestled behind the cabin with a private dock, Dylan hopes to regain his inspiration to paint.
His vacation takes an erotic turn when he meets Rainie Marks on a foggy morning by the dock. She is the most beautiful woman he has ever seen. However, there is sadness and a mystery about her. Finding his inspiration, he sketches her one evening and unable to resist the passion that has sparked between them, Rainie and Dylan share a sensual night together.
When Rainie tells him the truth about her past and the lake, the mystery she hides unfolds. The key to everything is the lake. Will Dylan be able to help her put the past to rest?
Buy Links
Now fans have told us how we met again is the start of a romantic story and we should write a book. Who knows maybe we will. *both of us smiles*
Steve Tindle and Brenda Woody were high school friends in Georgia
Best Lover in Town
Janet Anderson is searching for sexual magic in the man who can match her in the bed. Janet suspects all this and more lies within her handsome boss, Nathan Lovett. During a work-related visit to Janet’s home, Nathan and Janet give in to an attraction beyond their control, and soon find themselves immersed in a pleasurable night of uninhibited sex and heated passion. To their dismay, their luscious interlude is interrupted, and Nathan must leave on a plane to a far away place; their whirlwind coupling on hold.
Three years pass, and with Nathan gone, Janet’s co-worker and best friend, Madison, urges Janet to end her mourning and explore other possibilities. Janet attends parties and events to fill the void left by Nathan, meeting four other men. Though she experiences new sexual delights and discovers more about herself; her suitors fall flat, and Janet is left longing for the touch of her Nathan. Will the best lover in town return to finish what he started?
Brenda moved to Dallas
The publisher asked us to write a short story to be featured in an upcoming anthology. He liked the story so much he asked us to write more and dedicated the book to our work.
Temptation Triggers
Temptation Triggers captures the wickedness of sexual fantasy, the mystery of unexplored territory and the fulfillment of open communication. Among these thought-provoking stories, two friends find themselves drawn into a dark erotic world, a woman encounters a mysterious man and a mature couple discovers hush-hush desires about each other. With different styles of writing, Temptation Triggers reveals erotica that is passionate and spellbinding.
Triangle of Secrets, Book One, a ménage M/M/F story, was published October 2011. This was our first ménage. We enjoyed writing Triangles so much we are working on six installments featuring various relationships; F/M/F, M/F/M, F/F/F and so on. Steve is looking forward to completing the F/F/F! LOL
Triangle of Secrets, Book One, is the story of three ordinary people trying to make their way in the corporate world and keeping their personal lives out of it. Morgan, the Vice President of a prestigious company, dates her best friend and co-worker, Derek, to hide her secret affair with Scott, the much younger mail clerk. Derek appears with Morgan socially to hide the fact he is gay. He is afraid his lifestyle will hinder promotions. Scott wants out of the mailroom and will do anything his lover asks of him. What happens when Derek and Scott meet at Morgan’s house to fulfill her wildest fantasy? Will the triangle break or will it be completed?
Black & White Affair, submitted in a holiday contest 2010 and received 3rd place, was expanded and is available as a short read for $0.99.
Works in progress include Scarlett’s Cowboy and TOS, Bk 2 and 3 to be released 2012. We also have an erotic romance time travel in notes to work on.
As you can see we’ve been busy since we met up again. Our stories are penned with the perspective of both male and female point of view regarding sexual desires and pleasures. We both write the POV for male and female, and have been told by readers they can’t tell who wrote what. We compliment each other is this area. This is why it’s awesome writing as a team. We’re both open-minded and not worried at all about asking each other questions.
We’d also like to mention our new website with Author Tonya Kinzer. A Naughty Reader’s Boudoir is a place for readers and authors to meet, and chat about the naughty books they read and write. Naughty Reader’s features authors who tantalize your erotic fantasies with wicked words. For readers, we provide author interviews, contests, books to explore and blog hops. For authors, we have created advertising packages to meet anyone’s budget and help them promote their work.
Our links:
Purchase sites:
Temptation Triggers on B&N
TT on Fictionwise
Kelly, thank you again for allowing us to visit! Readers, there’ll be a drawing. All you have to do is leave a comment with your email address. That’s it! The lucky winner will receive a copy of Rainie’s Lake (eBook format winner’s choice from Smashwords). To enter use the Rafflecopter form below. Leave a comment by March 19th. We’ll draw on March 21st. Winner will be drawn through Random.org.
Guest blogger: Joan Swan (&giveaway)
Books-n-Kisses is so very, very excited to have my pal Joan Swan on the blog today to talk about her HOT hero in her debut novel FEVER. And really who doesn’t like a super hot hero? Will read on to find out how Joan builds just such a man….. Take it away Joan.
Building an unforgettable hero by Joan Swan
There is no formula, no right or wrong. These are some of the elements I put into play when I built Teague, my hero in FEVER. For those of you who haven’t read—or even heard the premise of—the book, here’s the elevator pitch:
FEVER is about a man with unusual powers whose been convicted of a murder he didn’t commit and imprisoned for life. He has lost the daughter he lived for, the career as a firefighter he loved and been denied an appeal. With no hope left, he plans an escape. But his plan goes wrong when the woman he kidnaps as leverage to get his daughter back turns out to be someone else. And this woman quickly clues into the abilities he tries to hide, creating a bond neither can afford while they’re on the run from both the cops and undercover operatives who want Teague silenced. This time, permanently.
Step One: Background
The base model of the hero. The before in the before-and-after picture.
Teague’s background prior to the warehouse fire was quite fulfilling. His life as a firefighter was the most defining element in his life. This is who he as a man, at his core, beneath the violent inmate façade he is forced to take on to stay alive in prison.
As a fireman, Teague was gregarious, confident and intelligent. He is loyal to the bone; his fellow firefighters, his wife and unborn daughter come first—even before himself. He’s dependable and steadfast. After working for a decade with fire, every type of emergency and tragedy, Teague has learned how to persevere under the worst circumstances—physically and emotionally. He has developed a myriad of skills in all areas of life encompassing everything from breaking into a car to saving a life.
Step Two: Torture
Ah, my favorite part. Let’s take this seemingly awesome dude, and put him to the test! A person’s true character comes out during times of stress.
Teague loses everything. He’s falsely convicted of murder and imprisoned for life. He loses the daughter he lived for, the career he loved and is denied all possibility of appeal.
This is where boys are separated from the men… or in our case, the good guys are separated from the bad. In the face of no hope, who does this man become? This is the key element of a hero (or heroine).
In hardship, a person’s deepest traits intensify and rise to the surface. For Teague, that was his loyalty to his daughter and his perseverance, his willingness to do anything to get back to her.
FEVER is, essentially, a story about that very journey and all Teague is willing to sacrifice to reach that goal.
Step Three: Strength of Character
But sacrifice alone isn’t enough, for a hero wouldn’t be very hero-like if he lost sight of all his values while pursuing his goal.
Throughout FEVER, Teague’s values are tested. He is constantly forced to choose between what he desires and what his conscience tells him is right—with Alyssa, with his accomplices, with the police, with other members of his team and ultimately, with his daughter. And each time an obstacle forces him to choose, his internal landscape shifts, pushing him to become the best version of himself, even when that may mean losing everything he wants. Everything he lives for.
Step Four: Surrender
This is the heart-melting moment for the reader, when the hero actually becomes the hero.
Surrender for a hero (in a romance) means giving up his own needs and wants in the best interest of someone he loves.
Because FEVER is a romantic suspense with paranormal elements, Teague must surrender on several levels. He must surrender to love: In the romance, he must choose between his freedom and his love for Alyssa. He must surrender to power: In the suspense, he must choose between his need for vengeance and his need to get his daughter back. He must surrender to fate: In the paranormal, he must choose between accepting his powers, using them for good and ignoring them, continue hurting others.
A true hero must surrender in the end because the journey has changed him. He is no longer the man he was when the story began and he cannot go back to wanting what he did then or acting the way he did then.
Step Five: Make them hot.
Yes, hot, as in attractive. J But men can be attractive in a variety of different ways, not just physically. Or they can have one or two standout physically attractive features that really do it for the heroine – which in turn, usually do it for the reader.
With Teague, I used several elements of all the above to make him hot.
Physically: His body is ripped. But not randomly, because it’s convenient for a romance. He’s ripped because 1) there’s not much else to do in prison but work out and 2) being ripped keeps other inmates at a distance, which in turn keeps him safe in the prison environment. Being ripped fits with his character….and, yes, it’s an added benefit for the romance.
Emotionally: Traits ingrained as a firefighter come out more and more as the story goes on—he’s protective, respectful, dependable. Traits he’s developed as a father show up now and then—he’s sensitive, gentle, thoughtful.
Temperamentally: Teague is an intriguing mix between the harsh prisoner and the strong fireman. He’s fierce when he needs to be, but has control over his emotions. He is patient but firm, understanding yet direct.
Other traits that don’t fit into these categories that make Teague attractive as a hero—confidence, intelligence, paternal instincts and, hell, he can cook!
How would you build the perfect hero?
Fever
By Joan Swan
Buy links: Amazon| Barnes & Noble | Booksamillion
Dr. Alyssa Foster will admit to a bad boy fetish…
But when she finds herself face to face with a convicted murderer with determination for freedom and an eye on her as his get out of jail free card, Alyssa knows she’s in deep trouble…. Not just because Teague Creek is a prisoner desperate for freedom, but because his every touch makes her desperate for more.
A man with a life sentence has nothing to lose…
Teague Creek has one shot at freedom, but his plan to escape with a hostage develops a fatal flaw: Alyssa. On the run from both the law and deadly undercover operatives who know of his strange abilities, he needs to avoid trouble, but every heated kiss tells him the fire between them could be just as devastating as the flames that changed him forever.
Joan Swan is a triple RWA® Golden Heart finalist and writes sexy romantic suspense with a paranormal twist. Her debut novel with Kensington Brava, FEVER, releases February 28, 2012. Her second novel, BLAZE, follows in October, 2012.
In her day job, she works as a sonographer for one of the top ten medical facilities in the nation and lives on the California central coast in beautiful wine country with her husband and two daughters.
Giveaway:
· A print copy of FEVER, US/Canada shipping.
Fill out Rafflecopter form below.
· All comments are eligible for tour grand prize of either a COLOR NOOK or KINDLE FIRE. Enter: http://joanswan.com/giveaways/blog-tour-ereader/
Interview with Orpheus & Skyla from Elisabeth Naugthon’s Enraptured (& giveaway)
Kelly: “HI Orpheus & Skyla, Welcome to Books-n-Kisses. Thank you so much for agreeing to sit down and answer a few questions.”
Orpheus: Crosses his arms over his chest and leans back in his seat. “Don’t thank me. I’m not here by choice.”
Skyla: Shooting Orpheus a look. “Hush up and be nice. You can put up with a few moments of pain for a lifetime of pleasure.”
Orpheus: Leaning toward Skyla with a sly smile. “What kind of pleasure do you have in mind, Siren?”
Skyla: Rolls her eyes. “You’re impossible.”
Orpheus: “Yeah, but that’s why you love me.”
Kelly: Clears her throat. “Um, I hate to interrupt but we’re on a little bit of a time limit here. Can we get started?”
Orpheus: Frowning. “Fine by me. Sooner we get this over with, the sooner I can get the hell out of here.”
Skyla: Smiling Kelly’s way. “Ignore him. He’s in a mood. Gryphon had a bad day.”
Kelly: “Oh, no. That was one of my questions. How’s he doing?”
Orpheus: Clenches his jaw and looks away.
Skyla: “It’s a touchy subject. He has good days and bad days.”
Kelly: “I can only imagine.”
Orpheus: “I can hear you both, you know.”
Skyla: Looking his way. “I know, demon. You hear everything.”
Orpheus: Snorts.
Skyla: Glancing back at Kelly. “Maybe we should change the subject.”
Orpheus: “Good idea.”
Kelly: Chuckles and grins at Skyla. “You definitely have your hands full with that one.”
SKyla: Shaking her head. “You have no idea.”
Kelly: “Okay, question one. This is for ‘O’. Can you tell us your first impression of Skyla?
Orpheus: Glances Skyla’s way and studies her with heated eyes.
Skyla: “Uh oh. I know that look.”
Orpheus: Grinning. “This is my question, Siren. Not yours.” Looks to Kelly. “Very first impression in that concert crowd? Hot as sin. Second impression when she tried to kill me with her freakin’ arrow? Balls of steel.”
Skyla: Looking pleased. “I can live with hot balls of steel.”
Orpheus: Chuckling. “Wait ‘til I get you home, Siren.”
Kelly: Clearing her throat again. Question two: Skyla, same questions. First impression of Orpheus?
Skyla: Turning Orpheus’s assessing look back on him. “Dangerous. Good thing I have a bad boy fetish.”
Orpheus: Looking shocked. “You never told me that.”
Skyla: Rolls her eyes. “I’m with you, aren’t I, demon?”
Orpheus: “Yeah, you are. Don’t forget it, gorgeous.”
Kelly: Question three: You two make a really good team, well once you got over the ‘I don’t need anyone part.’ How do each of you feel about having someone in your corner?
Skyla: “Oh, he totally needs me more than I need him.”
Orpheus: Snorts. “Yeah, right. She lies. She was trained by the gods. That tells you a lot right there.”
Skyla: Grinning. “You know you can’t live without me, demon.”
Orpheus: “I’m not arguing that. See what I have to put up with?”
Kelly: Laughing. “Okay, okay. So not a whole lot has changed. Moving on to question four. Can you tell us a little about your latest adventure?”
Skyla: Shoots Orpheus a look before turning to Kelly. “What adventure? Mr. Argonaut over there doesn’t think I’m used to my new body yet.”
Orpheus: “You’re not. Your reflexes are still slow. You’re not going out on any adventures until you’re back to one hundred percent. And don’t call me an Argonaut.”
Skyla: “I can take you down anytime, demon.”
Orpheus: Grinning. “I don’t doubt that, Siren. And I’m ready, any time, any place. You just say when.”
Skyla: Exasperated. “Sometimes I wonder what the hell I got myself into.”
Kelly: Grinning again. “Question five. Skyla, can you tell us a little something about ‘O’ that he wouldn’t share about himself?”
Skyla: “He hates old people and dogs.”
Orpheus: “Okay, that’s just not true at all.”
Skyla: “Correction. He used to eat old people and dogs.”
Orpheus: Rolling his eyes. “I give up.”
Kelly: Trying hard not to laugh. Question six. ‘O’, can you tell us a little something about Skyla that she wouldn’t share about herself?
Orpheus: “You bet. She snores.”
Skyla: “I do not.”
Orpheus: “LOUD. Like a chainsaw. Why do you think our room is in the tallest tower at the colony? Because she’d scare the crap out of the colonists if they heard her.”
Skyla: Crosses her arms over her chest and shakes her head.
Kelly: Question seven. How do you feel about Elisabeth telling your story?
Skyla: “She did a pretty good job.”
Orpheus: “She did a great job. I got a lot of sex.”
Skyla: “It always comes down to sex with you, doesn’t it?”
Orpheus: “Pretty much. I’m a guy.”
Kelly: Question eight. Do you think that she kept it true to the real story or did she fluff it or exaggerate it at all?
Orpheus: “Well, if we’re talking fluffers—”
Skyla: “Oh, good gods. Do not go there.”
Orpheus: Looking pleased and chuckling.
Skyla: “She stayed true to the story.”
Orpheus: “Personally, I could have done without the hell part.”
Skyla: “Yeah, me too. That sucked.”
Kelly: Question nine. Did Elisabeth leave out any parts you really, really, really wanted in? Maybe more roof top scenes?
Orpheus: Grinning. “Yeah, another rooftop scene would have been great. Especially the snow part.”
Skyla: “Ignore him. I wish she would have let me take a crack at Athena.”
Orpheus: Sobering. “Don’t worry, Siren. Her day will come.”
Skyla: Looking his way with tender eyes. “And this is why I love you, demon.”
Kelly: Senses their focus is waning as they stare at each other like she’s not even in the room. “Question ten. ‘O’ have you finally come to the realization that you really are one of the good guys?
Orpheus: “No.”
Skyla: Smiling. “He’ll never admit it.”
Kelly: “Question eleven. So, what do you two see in your future? Maybe babies?
Orpheus: Chokes and nearly falls out of his chair.
Skyla: Looks around the room with a nervous expression like she didn’t hear the question.
Kelly: Waits several minutes. Then smiles. “Okay, I guess that answers the baby question. Can either of you give us any hint about Gryphon’s story?”
Orpheus: “All I know is I don’t like it.”
Skyla: “It’s awesome. Trust me.”
Orpheus: Looking Skyla’s way. “You’ve turned into one of those sappy romantics.”
Skyla: Brushing her hand over Orpheus’s jaw. “All thanks to you, demon.”
Kelly: “‘O’ & Skyla, Thank you so very much for taking time out of your busy life to talk
with me. I wanted to let you know that I loved your story and look forward to reading more about you in the future. “
Orpheus: “Great. Are we done?
Kelly: Smiling. “Yes, we’re done.”
Orpheus. Grasps Skyla’s hand and pulls her from her chair. “Awesome. The Siren promised to take me down.”
Skyla: Grinning over her shoulder as he drags her out the door. “Ah, the things I put up with.”
Kelly: *Stares after Orpheus and Skyla*: I think that went well.
Elisabeth has giving me an ARC of Enraptured to give away to one of my followers.
Eternal Guardians, Book 4
Sourcebooks Casablanca
Paranormal/Fantasy Romance
April 3, 2012
ISBN-13: 9781402262128
ISBN-10: 1402262124
Read an Excerpt »
Order Here:
Sourcebooks Casablanca
Paranormal/Fantasy Romance
April 3, 2012
ISBN-13: 9781402262128
ISBN-10: 1402262124
Read an Excerpt »
Order Here:
ORPHEUS—To most he’s an enigma, a devil-may-care rogue who does whatever he pleases whenever he wants. Now this loose cannon is part of the Eternal Guardians—elite warriors assigned to protect the human realm—whether he likes it or not.
Orpheus has just one goal: to rescue his brother from the Underworld. He’s not expecting a woman to get in the way. Especially not a Siren as gorgeous as Skyla. He has no idea she’s an assassin sent by Zeus to seduce, entrap, then ultimately destroy him.
Yet Skyla herself might have the most to lose. There’s a reason Orpheus feels so familiar to her, a reason why her body seems to crave him. Perhaps he’s not the man everyone thinks… The truth could reveal a deadly secret as old as the Eternal Guardians themselves.
To enter please feel out the Rafflecopter form below.
Spotlight Feature & Giveaway of C791 by Eve Langlais
C791
by Eve Langlais
Machines aren’t supposed to feel, but this cyborg can’t help falling in love.
Assigned as a specimen collector for a captured cyborg, Chloe is intrigued by the machine disguised as a man. Kidnapped during his daring escape, he takes her on an erotic adventure and shows her that despite the chip in his brain, his humanity is not completely lost.
Formerly known as unit X109GI, Joe is on a quest to discover his origin. While he doesn’t find the answers he’s looking for, he does discover that affection and lust aren’t just for humans. But when it comes to a battle between logic and love, which side will the cybernetic organism–once a man–choose?
Evaluating his feelings will have to wait though, because the military isn’t done with Joe. When they threaten the one thing he wants above all else, he’ll discover something shocking that will rock the new cyborg nation—and fuel a desire for vengeance.
Excerpt (Adult Content Ahead):
The sight of Chloe and Seth so at ease with each other, and worse, touching each other set something off inside Joe, a combination of irrational anger sprinkled with a covetousness he’d not experienced but had heard of. Jealousy.
Whatever the name for the emotion, he found himself unable to halt it as he ripped Seth away from Chloe’s side and sent his fist into the grinning face. He maintained enough control to not beat his friend to a pulp — barely — but he couldn’t stop himself from slinging Chloe over his shoulder and stomping off to their room.
“What the heck was that about?” she exclaimed as she dangled down his back.
“You seem to have forgotten who you belong to.”
She didn’t say anything for a moment. “Are you jealous?”
“No.” Yes!
“It’s normal to feel that way. It just never occurred to me you would.”
“I don’t. Jealousy is a human emotion. I am a cyborg. We are above such petty wastes of our time.”
“Really. Well then, someone should probably explain that to Seth’s face,” she drawled.
“This is not entertaining. You were practically inviting him to take ownership of your body.”
“I was not,” she exclaimed, and a small rational part of him knew she spoke truly, but he’d lost the ability to decipher logic from madness where she was concerned.
Arriving at their room, he tossed her onto the bed and quickly tore at his clothes.
“What are you doing?” she asked, her eyes wide, but not with trepidation if the protruding nipples through her shirt were any indication.
“Showing you who owns your body.”
“Me.”
“Wrong answer,” he growled. “I do. And it seems I must show you.”
He fell on her, and despite her previous defiant answer, she welcomed him with open arms and a fierce kiss. Her legs spread wide to accommodate his body, but while he’d denuded his frame, she remained dressed. Their hands met at the closing to her pants, their impatient battle to remove them more of a fumbling parody. When he finally managed to strip them from her, he was ready to sink himself into her. He retained enough wits though to realize she required preparation for his penetration. With sex bots, that never proved a concern as they arrived to service pre-lubed. Human females however, according to his studies, required stimulation to achieve the same state. He slid a hand between her thighs and, to his relief, found her already soaking wet. It pleased him, on a level he did not understand, that Chloe achieved this state around him without means of manipulation.
He wasted no more time. He propped himself above her and thrust into her sex. Oh, the exquisite, unexplainable feel of her channel clamping tightly around his cock. He would never tire of it. Never tire of her. But did she feel the same about him? He had to know.
“Tell me who you belong to.”
Her eyes opened part way, her lids heavy with arousal. “Why do you care?”
He rammed into her hard. She gasped.
A growl left him. “Do not toy with me. You are my female. Not Seth’s. Not anyone else’s. Say you belong to me.” He almost roared the words, desperate to hear her say it.
For a moment defiance flashed in her gaze. “And if I don’t?”
Giveaway: To enter for a chance to win an e-copy of C791 please fill out the Rafflecopter below.
Continue reading “Spotlight Feature & Giveaway of C791 by Eve Langlais”
Review of The Shoppe of Spells by Shanon Grey
Book 1 in the Gatekeeper Series
Shanon Grey
When is a whole more than the sum of its parts?
When it has ties to the quaint little town of Ruthorford, GA, as Morgan Briscoe discovers when a cryptic message threatens to change her life forever.
Morgan’s relatively normal life is turned on its ear when she learns not only that she is adopted, but her birth parents are dead and she now holds half-interest in a business with their ward, Dorian Drake. Dorian is running The Shoppe of Spells and despite his riveting good looks, he can barely conceal his hostility toward his new partner.
Morgan discovers that she is more than she seems and together she and Dorian have the ability to control a portal to another dimension.
Unable to control their growing attraction, Morgan and Dorian dance around their desires and her burgeoning abilities, until danger forces them to face their destiny.
Review by Flying Frog Fairy :
This story leaves you with more questions than answers. Mostly in a good way. It starts of slowly, introducing you to Morgan and the quiet life she leads. Then with the arrival of one letter her whole life and everything she thinks she knows about it is changed. Suddenly she has an inheritance from parents she never knew she had. We find out she was adopted and that her parents should have told her by the time she turned 25. The author never really gives a satisfactory explanation as to why 25 was the important year. That is just one of the many details that the author brings up but then never really explains. But there is a lot going on and the details are small so most of them can be forgiven.
One thing that tweaked me a little was the introduction of the character Jasmine. She is made out to be a protagonist with no redeeming qualities and then the author does a complete 180 and makes her a victim. I had a hard time reconciling this. And the explanation that is given for her actions was not supported by previous descriptions of her, or her prior actions.
There is a lot going on what with the alternate dimensions, the historical details and the perfect mate scenarios. There are a lot of characters to keep track of and this is obviously because the author is making this a series. As I mentioned before, there are a lot of unanswered questions and unexplained details left at the end. It may sound like I didn’t like this book but I did. Somehow it all works and keeps you intrigued enough to want to read the next book in the series to see if you find some answers.
So I do recommend this book. The second book in the series is due out this year and the heroine is Jasmine. I am curious to see if the author will be able to redeem her character enough, at least in my eyes, to make her heroine worthy.
Guest reviewer Natasha’s review of: Of Saw Dust & Seduction
Of Saw Dust and Seduction
By Amy Valenti
Zoë has always been attracted to her boss, Adam. He’s hot, funny, friendly…and has more skills than she’s ever imagined.
He puts her willpower to the test on a dateless Valentine’s night, inviting her home to help him with a woodworking project. She soon discovers she has a serious weakness for men in sawdust-covered blue jeans and that Adam has a few abilities that defy logical explanation.
What would it be like to have sex with a man who could touch you from across the room and send provocative images into your mind? Zoë can’t wait to find out.
Guest Reviewer Natasha’s Thoughts:
What a fun short story. I instantly liked Zoe and Adam’s chemistry and playfulness. I loved the slight paranormal aspect in this story; it brought it off the page just a little bit more. I would like to see this story extended, just so we can see a little bit more of what happened after the ending. I certainly wouldn’t mind seeing much more of these two! Great quick read!
Vi Carious’s review of A Facebook Affair by Tara Chevrestt
Facebook Affair
By Tara Chevrestt
When Kelly and Brandon rediscover each other on Facebook after twenty years apart, it sparks an attraction that even distance can’t extinguish. Do they truly have a future, or is this just a Facebook affair?
Kelly Littleton takes the plunge and finally joins Facebook to socialize without the limits that her hearing impairment gives her. On a whim, she looks up a childhood friend. In sending him that first message, she ignites the memories of a crush from twenty years ago. But will they turn into the flames of romance, or end up the ashes of a Facebook affair?
Brandon Hopkins has a lot on his plate. A recent divorce, a pregnant sister, and now, he realizes he’s in love with a woman who lives states away. Can he overcome the boundaries of internet romance to make this desire turn into something real, or will adversity and distance be their undoing?
Vi Carious’ Thoughts:
Have you ever thought of looking up your first love on Facebook? Do you wonder what would happen?
Kelly was always the one in school everyone made fun of. She needed hearing aids and talked funny because of her lack of hearing. In second grade she has to go to a new school in Oklahoma and becomes the target of ridicule from most of her classmates. Everyone except Brandon. Now 20 years later she decides to look up Brandon on Facebook.
Brandon is going through a divorce and is being the “man of the house” for her sister while her husband is deployed. Life is not what he wanted it to be, then suddenly a message comes from Kelly through Facebook and they begin to talk…
Can you really turn back the hands of time?
Each chapter begins with a memory of school days for Kelly and some of them are heartbreaking. It makes you wonder where the teacher was while this child is bullied and abused. The “mean girls” (one being Brandon’s sister Lindsey) are just that and more. Everything you have ever heard of happening in school is addressed in this story (from being picked last to being shoved into lockers, etc). The writing of the facebook messages are a little corny and not really sure that most people would have conversations in the way this was written but maybe that is just me. It just seems too “high school” for characters who are now 28 (I mean does a 28 year old say ‘rents for parents?) and my goodness the use of LOL is beyond normal speech. The ending of this book is a little corny too but a “feel good ending” all the same.
This is a e-book that sells for around $4. Go ahead pick it up. Have it ready for when you need a quick read. It may not end up being on your favorites list but what it will do is make you wonder WHO SHOULD YOU LOOK UP ON FACEBOOK?
NOTE: The reader needs to remember also that this was written some time before Facebook made more of it’s many changes. It uses icons, boxes, etc that are no longer being used on Facebook.
Guest blogger Natasha’s review of Aries Unleashed
Aries Unleashed
The Zodiac Club book 2
By Tammy Valentine
Twelve star signs, four friends, one extraordinary year. After Foreplay, Izzy launches into her journey of sexual discovery through the zodiac.
Izzy Morgan is a girl on a mission. When her friend Jessica reveals a remarkable talent for identifying men’s star signs purely from their sexual performance, an intrigued Izzy takes up an exhilarating challenge. Join her as she unleashes Aries, the first sign in her journey of sexual discovery through the zodiac.
Guest Reviewer Natasha’s thoughts:
I love how Izzy is straight to the point without any apologies. She has her mind set on what she’s looking for and she’s moving forward as she wants to. This short read was exciting, hot, and romantic all at the same time. I loved the humor in this short read, I found myself laughing out loud many times. The chemistry between the two characters was palpable. I’d love to see more of these two.
Kate Douglas’ DemonSlayer Series
DEMONFIRE
1st book of the DEMONSLAYERS Series
Amazon | B&N | Books-a-Million
Since time began, the Earth has served as a balance between the world of darkness that is the Abyss, and the paradise known as Eden. Now the battle between good and evil has reached a tipping point, and survival depends on one fallen demon–and the woman he can’t resist. . .
Hellfire
Book 2
Amazon | B&N | Books-a-million
A new, more dangerous vortex has opened in the besieged Earth and the innocent souls of animals are being invaded by the malevolent strength of a powerful demon. For Ginny Jones, there can be no greater wrong – and to make it right, she joins forces with the Lemurian, Alton, a hard-bodied hero not of her world.
Under a black moon, pitched battles for the survival of all that is good will be fought once more. The heat of their sensual passion emboldens the two warriors…but such passion may well betray them…Yet Alton is willing to make the ultimate sacrifice – life itself – for the human woman he loves. But time is fast running out…and time, like fire, devours all…
Excerpt: http://www.katedouglas.com/id52.htm
Crystal Dreams
Novella found in Nocturnal
Book 2.5
Amazon | B&N | Books-a-Million
When Lemurian Guard Mica chases a demon spirit to Earth, he faces a lethal battle between good and evil. His ally is Mari, a breathtakingly beautiful human who unknowingly holds the key to victory. But before the war is over, Mica’s desire for his mortal companion threatens to erupt—and could cost Mari her life…
Starfire
Book 3
Amazon | B&N | Books-a-million
The women of Lemuria are still in chains. The daughter of an enslaved warrior, brutally attacked by a vicious guard, Selyn has survived–barely. Beaten and terrified, she must overcome her fear and trust her life to the only man who can help her: Dawson Buck, one from Earth who has crossed through the portal, a gifted healer. His skills and knowledge renew her body and strengthen her spirit–and awaken a compelling passion she has never known. But she cannot yield…
Selyn seeks revenge for herself and her mother and all the Forgotten Ones who toil in secret. If Dawson helps her, his own life may be forfeit. And for Selyn, true love does not ask such sacrifices. . .
Excerpt: http://www.katedouglas.com/id56.htm
Crystalfire
Book 4
Amazon | B&N | Books-a-Million
The Demon King still lives, stronger than ever, devouring souls in search of immortality. Against him stands the scholar Taron, a newly-minted warrior of Lemuria, and Willow, a woman of unearthly loveliness, born of mist…
Spellbound
Spellbound
Taron must pass through the waterfall of molten gold that shields the secret portal to his beloved land. His brilliant mind and the speaking sword called CrystalFire are his weapons against evil. But nothing can protect him from the power of love. Willow, whom he once knew as a sprite who could dance in his hand, has been changed by a master stroke of magic into the form of a beautiful, highly sensual woman, desiring a thousand pleasures that she insists he alone can give her.
Innocent and eager, Willow arouses his deepest needs and sexual hunger–and his love. He will risk all to save her, even if it means a battle to the death with the ultimate foe…
Excerpt: http://www.katedouglas.com/id59.htm
Excerpt of The Danger that is Damion by Lisa Renee Jones
The Danger that is Damion
ZODIUS #3
By Lisa Renee Jones
Sourcebooks Casablanca (May 2012)
Read an EXCERPT
Pre-order at Amazon|Barnes and Noble
General Powell from book 1 has returned and he’s developed a way to create and control a new generation of female GTECHs. He plans to use these women to bring both, the Renegades and the Zodius soldiers, back under his command. The world will be his. Now, Damion, a Renegade, who readers met in book two, will be pitted against one of those soldiers, a woman destined to be both his Lifebond and his enemy. Damion will become her only hope of salvation and their trust in each other the only chance they have to save the world from a madman.
Excerpt ONE
Setup– They are in an elevator about to exit into a hidden underground facility. Heroine is the hero’s captive. They both think the other one is the enemy.
***
Being trapped with her back to a big, dangerous GTECH, not once, but twice in an hour, growing more physically ill with each passing second, didn’t exactly invite more of her bravado, but nevertheless, Lara gave it a whirl. “Are we really doing this little game again?” she demanded, trying to keep her voice as cool as the el- elevator wall that her hands pressed against, only to sound breathless, as though she were affected by her captive position, by the heat radiating off his big body into hers.
“You mean the one where I search you to make sure you don’t get to keep your promise to kill me?” he said, his body framing hers, his hands sliding to her waist. “Yeah. We are.”
“I guess Renegades don’t believe in facing their en- emies head on?” she taunted, trying to get him to turn her back around, before he found her weapon. Fighting him would be wasted energy she’d need when a real opportunity to escape materialized. Saving her weapon had to be her goal. “You just prefer to stab them in the back.” That last part wasn’t a question. She knew it was true. She’d witnessed it firsthand.
“I’m not the one threatening to kill you,” he re- minded her.
“It’s not a threat,” she managed, and to her dismay, he slid his leg intimately between hers and spread them wide. A sudden, unforgiving ache spread between her legs, an ache that belied who and what this man was. An ache he had to be creating, just as he was weakening her physically. He was messing with her mind, her skills, her body. “Then you know why you’re facing the wall, and I’m not,” he said, his tone low and sandpaper rough. “In fact, keep your hands on said wall until I tell you to move them.”
“In other words, don’t reach for the gun my bikini is hiding so effectively?” She tried to look over her shoulder at him, but froze when he framed her body, his hands covering hers and pressing them to the wall. His palms slid back down her arms, leaving a sizzling burn in their wake.
“Exactly,” he agreed, his fingers framing her waist, and she could hear the smile in his voice as he added, “I fully admit to a macho need to be the only one of the two of us armed and dangerous in this relationship.” His palms skimmed over her hips and down her thighs, until he was squatting down beneath her skirt, patting down her shoes.
“We don’t have a relationship,” she said, hating the unsteady, telling note in her voice that having this man sitting beneath the hem of her dress had created. “We are experiencing an unfortunate encounter that is out- lasting its welcome.”
“Sounds like the beginning of something wonderful to me,” he commented, a moment before his warm, cal- lused fingers traced her calves and moved to her knees.
“Hey!” she objected, reaching down and catching his hand, as she met his gaze. “Not under the dress.”
“Oh yes,” he assured her, an evil glint of mischief in both his voice and his expression, “under the dress. I promise to make it fast and painless. Now be a good girl, and put your hands back on the wall.”
Why did this man telling her to be a “good girl” and ordering her to put her hands back on the wall sound sexy, rather than insulting?
“Painless for you,” she ground out, clenching her teeth. “And I swear to you if I get even a hint of an idea you’re enjoying this, you’ll be sorry.” She cut her gaze to the wall and steeled herself for his exploration—the outcome. He was going to find her knife. “Do it, and get it over with.”
“Now there’s a line to break a man’s heart,” he said with a chuckle, wasting no time skimming her skirt up- ward, over her thighs, until he caressed her hips and then her backside. She squeezed her eyes shut as his fingers slid to the V of her legs.
Instinctively, she squeezed her legs shut, and what a mistake that was. “You’re pushing your luck,” she panted, his hand now firmly planted between her thighs.
“I never had any luck to start with,” he said, the fingers of his free hand splaying across her stomach. “Which is why I can’t leave any bit of tiny bikini cloth unexplored.” Before she could stop him, his hand slid between her breasts and pulled the blade free. A sec- ond later, her dress fell back into place, and he waved the leather-pouched knife between them. “Good thing I don’t believe in luck.” The knife disappeared.
“One last little inspection,” he said softly, and pressed her head forward, brushing the hair from her neck. She froze with the knowledge of what he was looking for, with the sudden spike in sexual energy between them, with the sensual feel of him stroking the delicate skin of her nape.
Seconds ticked by, silent seconds in which the air seemed to thicken, and her skin tingled. She was warm all over, aware of this GTECH on levels she shouldn’t be, and guilt twisted inside her. He was a GTECH, a Renegade, a betrayer and killer.
But when he turned her to face him, his hands going to the wall above her head, and she was captured in his downright scorching gaze, she was lost all over again.
“Just confirming you don’t wear a Lifebond mark,” he said.
The mention of the tattoo-like double circle that ap- peared on a woman’s neck the first time she had sex with her intended mate set her pulse racing, though she couldn’t say why. Of course, he wanted to check for the mark. If she had a Lifebond, he’d be hunting for her. He’d kill for her.
“I knew what you were looking for,” she said, her throat ridiculously dry. She was a GTECH. She should have better control than this. But when his gaze slid to her mouth and lingered, and she knew he was think- ing of kissing her, Lara burned so badly for that kiss. Wanted it to the point where she could have justified it, could have told herself it was to manipulate him, to earn her freedom.
“It appears,” he said in a whisky-rough voice, “you belong to no one.”
When Lara normally would have snapped back some reply like, “I’ll never Lifebond with a GTECH,” instead, for some reason, she simply said, “I belong to myself.”
“Correction,” he said. A hint of a predatory gleam flickered in his eyes. “Right now, you belong to me.”