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Interview with Robin Perini


Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Robin Perini to the blog today. We are going to be talking about her new book In Her Sights
Robin: Thanks so much for inviting me to be here. I’m thrilled. It’s so exciting because this is my debut novel, and this is my very first blog tour. Please be gentle…

Q1) Can you tell us a little about yourself?
Robin: I lost my heart to storytelling when I was a child, sitting at the knee of my great-aunt. She mesmerized me with her tales of ‘The Little Match Girl’ and ‘How the Tiger Got its Tail.’ She wrenched my heart, made me laugh and cry. She fed my love of reading and learning. Perhaps it was inevitable that I followed in her footsteps.
I dreamed of others reading my stories and experienced a rainbow of emotions: fear, joy, love, pity, anguish, forgiveness, hope. Somehow my dream came true this year, but it wasn’t easy. I wrote. I studied. In fact, some might know me because of the writing workshops that I’ve given all across the country – on my own or with award-winning author Laura Baker in our standing-room-only workshop, Discovering Story Magic.
In 2011, I sold my first book to Amazon’s Montlake Romance. I’d finally harnessed my secret inner commando and created stories I loved that resonated with people other than my friends and family who love me. Books of suspense and peril. Of family relationships and poignant emotions. Books that bring to life my motto: when danger and romance collide, no heart is safe.
Within months I sold three more novels to Harlequin Intrigue. I’m still floating on the ceiling. My great-aunt has long since passed away, but I look up and smile sometimes. My inner fire for storytelling was her gift to me. I pray I do her justice.

Q2) Have you always wanted to be an author?
Robin: For me, there is no ‘want.’ There just is. I am a storyteller. There was a time where I stopped writing for a few months. It was so hard. I’d just received several rejections letters. I asked myself what I was doing. Then I started dreaming the stories again, and I realized that whether I wanted to be or not, I am a storyteller.

Q3) Who are some of your favorite writers? Who do you feel has influenced your writing?
Robin: I have so many authors who have brought me incredible joy since I was a child. In fact, on my website (http://www.robinperini.com) I have included a page listing many of my all-time favorite books and authors.
Those books typically evoke deep emotions within me. They are my window into pain, joy, insight, and wisdom. One of my favorite authors is Sharon Sala. This New York Times Bestselling Author has written novels that twist my heart through a painful journey, but end in hope. Her ability to touch my soul makes me go back to her stories again and again. That’s what I hope to do in my stories.
Even more than that, Sharon Sala is a mentor to me. She read In Her Sights several years ago. She believed in me and my book at a time when it was hard to believe in myself. I’m not sure I would be here today without her encouragement. She is an amazing writer, of course, but even a more amazing person.
I’d like to be her when I grow up.

Q4) Can you tell us what a typical writing day for you is like. 
Robin:  Okay, I must confess, I’m a bit of a nut. Just ask my friends and family. I’ve tried a million different ways to write over the years, and for now, this works for me. First, I should say that I have a day job, so I work writing around paying the mortgage, and of course the rest of my life—family, exercise, chores, and occasionally a little fun. 🙂
I’m actually one of those irritating morning people. I write from 5:30 am – 7:00 am weekdays. Mostly to get the adrenaline pumping because I thrive on deadlines—and being panicked! With only an hour and a half, I have to make the most of every second. Also, I write in ‘sprints’. 20 minutes of writing and a 10 minute break. This idea was introduced to me by fellow writer, Angi Morgan (www.angimorgan.com) and it really works for me. If nothing else my body doesn’t go numb from sitting in the chair.
On Saturday, I write for about 5 hours in the morning, and on Sunday, after church, I write for three hours.
I usually write new material on those shorter stretches on the weekdays and revise on the weekends. As for promotion—like working on my website, blogs, designing romance trading cards, Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads, I work on those in the evenings as needed—or as the deadlines loom.

Q5) Can you tell us a little about you book In Her Sights?
Robin: This is my debut novel, so it’s a real dream come true for me to even be here. For a long time, I had to wonder if it would happen. Jazz’s story has been with me a long time, and while I’ve written other manuscripts since she first came to life in my heart, this has always been a story I really wanted to tell. I’m so thankful that Jazz found a home at Montlake Romance.
Jasmine “Jazz” Parker is the only female sniper on Jefferson County’s SWAT team. Always at the ready with calm nerves and steady hands, she never misses a shot. Strong, dedicated, and dependable, Jazz has committed her life to defending the helpless by exacting swift and uncompromising justice, all the while harboring dark, devastating secrets from her past. Secrets she thought she’d buried for good as a teenager.
To keep her past hidden, Jazz keeps a low profile and avoids getting too close to anyone, including the one man she thought she could love—ex-Army Ranger turned reporter Luke Montgomery. So when Luke runs a front page story about Jazz, calling her a hero for her recent victory—saving the life of the governor’s daughter—she feels uncomfortable with the exposure, and rightly so. A vicious enemy from her past takes notice of the article and sets out on a mission to reveal Jazz’s secrets and ruin her life in the process. At the same time, a corrupt cop is out to take Jazz down at any cost.  As her world begins to unravel, Jazz is forced to rely on Luke for help—putting his life and the lives of those closest to him in danger.
You can view the In Her Sights book trailer, read excerpts, read reviews, sign up for my mailing list and even request trading cards or a Kindlegraph on my website at www.robinperini.com.

Q6) How did you come up with the idea for this story?
Robin:  I love learning, and one of the opportunities I try to take advantage of is a day-long research event hosted by the Kiss of Death chapter of Romance Writers of America®. One year, the group visited the Arvada Police Department in Denver, Colorado. And the SWAT Team was there. I stood back as others asked questions and studied the interplay between the elite members of this team. My mind started whirling. What kind of man would be a sniper? What would his relationship be with the other members of his team? Then I learned that a woman could be a SWAT team member as long as she could meet the physical requirements. I didn’t really put it all together until I was speaking to another writer friend. I told her that women could be members of SWAT. She asked, “What if your sniper IS your heroine?”
Lightening struck!
Jazz was born. In Her Sights was born. All the questions I’d been asking—including what does it take to be a sniper—crystallized, and the story was inevitable from that moment on.

Q7) What is up next for you?
Robin: November 29, 2011—the release date of In Her Sights—was the culmination of a lot of years of dreaming, and I hope the beginning of dreams I never imagined. So much has already happened since I sold In Her Sights. Within months I sold three more novels to Harlequin Intrigue.
So, in 2012, three romantic suspense novels will be released from Harlequin. Finding Her Son, which won the 2011 Romance Writers of America ® Golden Heart® Award in Contemporary Series Romance: Suspense/Adventure as Stolen Lullaby, will be released in March 2012. In the story, a woman determined to find her kidnapped son, and who is suspected in her husband’s death, reluctantly teams with the embattled SWAT cop assigned to prove her guilt. Cowboy in the Crossfire, in which a woman desperate to protect her young son after he witnesses a murder, is forced into an alliance with the disgraced Texas Sheriff who her family framed, will come out in July, 2012. A third book will hit the shelves, Christmas, 2012.
I truly hope there are many more stories to tell!

Q8) What is the next book on your To Read Pile that you are dying to jump into?
Robin: I can’t wait to read my friend Darynda Jones’ Second Grave on the Left. I loved First Grave on the Right, but my writing schedule hasn’t allowed me to read the second book. I just love her wit. She’s a special writer.

Q9) Is there anything else you would like to add?
Robin: Just a small note to the readers out there. Readers. What an amazing thought. Thank you for taking a chance each time you open a book in the hopes that the story will mean something to you. If I could ask something of you, it would be to keep reading and share your love of reading with others so that the world of stories and books expands and grows and remains strong.

Books-n-Kisses: Robin, again thank you so very much for making Books-n-Kisses a stop on your book tour. I have enjoyed learning more about you and your book. I look forward to reading and see what you come up with next.
Robin: Thanks so much for having me here. I’ve had a blast. And I do love to hear from readers. Please connect with me. You can get in touch via my website, www.robinperini.com where you can view the In Her Sights book trailer, read excerpts, read reviews, sign up for my mailing list and even request trading cards or a Kindlegraph. I’m also on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads. I’d love to hear from you.

In Her Sights Book Summary
Jasmine “Jazz” Parker, Jefferson County SWAT’s only female sniper, can thread the eye of a needle with a bullet. But she carries a secret from her past that she thought she buried for good at the age of fifteen. Two years ago she even drove away the one man she believed she could love—ex-Army Ranger turned reporter Luke Montgomery—to keep her past hidden. Now, in a fleeting second, the time it takes for one clean shot, one perfect hit, to save the life of the governor’s daughter, Jazz’s world begins to crumble around her.

Luke splashes her face and name across the front page of the newspaper, reawakening her past with a vengeance. A vicious enemy is now bent on destroying her life, forcing Jazz to turn to the one man she can never have in order to stop a killer before she and everyone she cares about pays the ultimate price. Full of explosive action and almost unbearable suspense, In Her Sights is a relentless, steamy thriller surprisingly infused with soul and poignancy.

Robin Perini Bio:

Award-winning author Robin Perini’s love of heart-stopping suspense and poignant romance, coupled with her adoration of high tech weaponry and covert ops, encouraged her secret inner commando to take on the challenge of writing romantic suspense novels. Her mission’s motto: “when danger and romance collide, no heart is safe.”

As a writer, Robin is devoted to giving her readers fast-paced, high stakes adventures with a love story sure to melt their hearts. Robin’s strong characters and tightly woven plots have garnered her seven prestigious Romance Writers of America Golden Heart® finals, and Golden Heart Winner in 2011. Stolen Lullaby, will be published by Harlequin Intrigue® in May, 2012 as Finding Her Son. Her other 2011 Golden Heart® Finalist, In Her Sights, will be published by Amazon’s Montlake Romance November 29, 2011.

By day, she works for an advanced technology corporation, and in her spare time, you might find her giving one of her many nationally acclaimed writing workshops or find her training in competitive small-bore rifle silhouette shooting. She’s a voracious reader and a die-hard fan of the T.V. series, BONES.

YouTube video book trailer embed code:
<iframe width=”350″ height=”208″ src=“http://www.youtube.com/embed/BDHzP2rewP0?rel=0” frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen></iframe>

Paperback
Price: $13.95
ISBN: 9781612181523
Pages: 262
Release: November 29, 2011

Amazon buy link
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/161218152X/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=tributebooks-20
Barnes&Noble.com buy link
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/in-her-sights-robin-perini/1106436852?ean=9781612181523&itm=1&usri=in%2bher%2bsights
 eBook
Price: $7.99
Kindle buy link
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0053TIBCM/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=tributebooks-20

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Winter’s Favorite Giveaway Day~~13

Welcome to day 13 of Winter’s Favorites. On the blog today I have JK Coi sharing her favorite thing about Winter.
My favourite thing about winter is the food. I know, sounds crazy, right? But there are certain foods that make me feel warm and protected, and they all come in winter.
1) Clementines. Have you had these tiny oranges before? They’re so sweet and juicy, and the citrus smell sticks to your fingers after you peel them. It’s cozy and invigorating at the same time, as impossible as that seems.
2) Specialty coffees. There are so many different coffees that come out just for the holiday season. After playing with my son outside, or when it’s snowing and I’m stuck at the computer, the flavoured coffees make me feel just a little bit happeier. Starbucks has an AMAZING egg nog latte that I cannot get enough of. When I bring my laptop and hunker down in one of their corner couches to try and write, it’s the perfect drink to keep me focused.
3) Turkey. Man, I love turkey. And in our family, we have turkey on Christmas day. When I make it at home (depending on who is hosting the family dinner that year) I always get an extra big bird because I love to have leftovers for making sandwiches with in the week after Christmas when you’ve gorged yourself for so long you can’t bear to make a real dinner until the new year.
4) Nuts. Why is it that nuts are a holiday snack, but it’s true. For some reason I only buy them at this time of year. Cashews and walnuts, and chestnuts. Oh, chestnuts. I like roasting them and serving them nice and hot.
5) Cookies. My grandmother makes the best cookies, and only at Christmas. Lemon cookies, almond half-moon shaped things, shortbreads, gingerbreads, sugar cookies in the shape of cute Christmas trees. I gain 10 pounds just because of these, but it’s completely worth it!
What are your favorite treats of the holiday season? Does your family have a recipe that only comes out at this time of year?
Thanks to Kelly for giving me the opportunity to be a guest today! To say thank you, I’d like to offer a copy of my holiday steampunk novella from Carina Press, FAR FROM BROKEN, and a set of romance trading cards featuring all of the novellas in A Clockwork Christmas.
Far From Broken 
Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 322 KB
Publisher: Carina Press (December 5, 2011)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
Language: English
ASIN: B005Z1CTZI
27,000 words
Order HERE
Blurb:
Soldier. Spymaster. Husband.
Colonel Jasper Carlisle was defined by his work until he met his wife. When the prima ballerina swept into his life with her affection, bright laughter and graceful movements, he knew that she was the reason for his existence, and that their love would be forever.
But their world is shattered when Callie is kidnapped and brutally tortured by the foes Jasper has been hunting. Mechanical parts have replaced her legs, her hand, her eye…and possibly her heart. Though she survived, her anger at Jasper consumes her, while Jasper’s guilt drives him from the woman he loves. He longs for the chance to show her their love can withstand anything…including her new clockwork parts.
As the holiday season approaches, Jasper realizes he must fight not just for his wife’s love and forgiveness…but also her life, as his enemy once again attempts to tear them apart.

To enter for a chance to win JK’s Steampunk novella & trading cards please tell JK your favorite holiday food. Then head over to the MAIN Winter’s Favorite page (<< — Click link) to enter the giveaway.
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Guest Blogger Kristen James

Romance Mini “The Look”
Kristen James
The pouring rain outside made it feel more like late evening than six in the morning. Annalisa stared out into it, her back to the office door. Sounds banged and clicked in from the busy shop outside as she tried to jumpstart herself.

The sound of the door swinging open did it. The outside noise jumped in volume, then dimmed again as it slammed shut. She spun around.

“We don’t need some change agent coming in here. We can handle this ourselves!” A very fit man with a long sleeve shirt and jeans threw a stack of papers onto her desk. Some slid across it and hung over the edge on her side. Spotting her, he stood mid gesture and blank faced, watching her push the papers back into a somewhat neat stack.

The day went from bleak to super charged in 2.3 seconds, and not because he’d burst into the office. This guy needed to be in a clothing ad, maybe for outdoor gear. He had a movie star, Brad Pitt type face, and she imagined running her hand along his jaw, checking for stubble.  

She sat and leaned back in her chair. “What kind of ideas do you have?”

“Who are you?”  

“Looks like I’m the person you’re looking for. Mr. Rici brought me in to see how we can improve the processes out there.” She glanced down at his papers to keep her eyes away from his tall and lean figure, the piercing blue eyes set in a firm face. Soon she realized he had thoughtfully written out several process improvement ideas with calculations on how much time each would save.

Sometime during her scanning, he asked, “Do you have a name?”

She finally looked up and realized he’d sat down and had been watching her for several minutes. Evaluating her. Memorizing her. His face had softened considerably and now he stared at her in wonder. She’d been about to compliment his ideas but got caught up in gazing back at him.

Oh, yeah, her name.

“I’m Annalisa Gildhart, and you?”

“Dan.” He extended his hand in a polite gesture that threw her. His shake was firm but not too hard…and they didn’t break the physical contact right away. He nodded toward the papers. “You know, people aren’t expecting you to listen to our ideas.”

She smiled, thankful for his honesty. “I’m here to help, believe it or not, and that means working with you to keep this place running. These are great ideas, Dan.”

A slow smile spread across his face, and the flirtatious tilt to it made her think he’d reacted more to her smile than her words. Still, he looked much more at ease.

It was her that was tingling inside.

 Dan leaned back and studied her. Change always made people nervous, but he almost looked like he’d be willing to drop the old us-against-you routine. Oh, she hoped he’d keep that attitude and prevent a hotbed of tension. Everyone would have to work together or this place would be closing within three months.

“So you might be around a while?” The smile lifted even more on one side.

“Yeah.” She was local too, but kept her answer short.

They were smiling across the desk at each other when someone else rapped on the door and cracked it. “Mrs. Gildhart, you’re on. Everyone’s gathered for the morning meeting.”

She pulled in a deep breath as she rose, then grabbed the papers. She’d like to show them she was on their side and wanted their ideas.

Dan gave her a reassuring smile. “This revamp is starting to look much better than I anticipated.” The gleam in his eye sent shivers up her back as she stepped out of the office.  Annalisa agreed. She just hoped she could concentrate on work with him around… but, wow, those jeans looked good on him.
About Kristen James
Kristen James is a bestselling Kindle author of romance, general fiction and Native American fiction. She lives on the river in Oregon enjoys travel, cycling, hiking, berry and mushroom picking, fishing and activities with her family. Her favorite fishing stories include hooking a sting ray in Costa Rica and fighting a few monster salmon in her home state. Learn more at about Kristen and her writing at  www.writerkristenjames.com.
More Titles by Kristen James
Kauai Spy Games – Co-Written with Jeff Ivanov
A Cowboy For Christmas
More Than Memories
The Enemy’s Son
The River People – Native American Fiction
A Miraculous Fate –  Co-Written with Tommy Garrison
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Eve Langlais Giveaway Blitz

How can she make him stop thinking of her as a freakn’ sister?
Jealous and Freakin’
Book 2 in Freakin’ Shifter series
by Eve Langlais
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace (November 17, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1467957526
ISBN-13: 978-1467957526
Order here:  Amazon | B&N

Blurb: Francine’s loved Mitchell, a wolf like herself, since she first set eyes on him back when they were just kids. However, Mitchell’s never seen her as more than another annoying sister. Determined to make him realize she’s all grown up, she enlists the aide of Alejandro, a gorgeous cat shifter. She never counted on wanting them both.
Alejandro knows Francine is special from the first moment he meets the fiery plump wolf, which is why he suggests she use him to make Mitchell jealous. A great plan, especially if it means getting to kiss those luscious lips. One taste though, and he’s addicted, but how does he make her see past the man she loves to realize she’s also meant to be his mate.
For a long time now Mitchell’s been running from Francine, certain she’s mistaken that their destiny’s lie together. However, the little girl he remembers is all grown up, and when he sees her in the arms of another, a need to claim her overrides all his common sense. But, he’s waited too long and fate has decided that he’s going to have to share. Can he bend enough to accept Francine and another man, or will his jealousy keep him freakn’?
Warning: Excessive amounts of heat may be generated when reading this story. Do not sit or stand near flammable objects unless they happen to be your partner. Please note, that while the heroes sustained injuries during the course of the story, Francine did eventually kiss them all better, naked of course. This is a ménage romance, with heavy emphasis on the romance. It does contain multi partner, sexual situations that some people may find titillating. Reader discretion is advised.




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Winter’s Favorite Giveaway Day 12

Welcome to day 12 of Winter’s Favorites.
Today I have 2 of my absolute favorite authors on the blog today.  I have had the great pleasure of meeting both of these wonderful ladies and spend a great deal of time with each of them.
So without further ado please welcome the Super Sweet Laurie London and the Scandal Queen Delilah Marvelle.

Please welcome Laurie London:
Thanks, Kelly, for having me on today!
I wanted to share with your readers a very special recipe I make for the holidays.
If you’ve read my books, you’ll notice there’s usually an important scene that revolves around food. It might be a sexy scene, one where secrets are revealed, or just two people getting to know each other. For instance, in Enchanted By Blood, my story in the anthology A VAMPIRE FOR CHRISTMAS, Trace and Charlotte first talk at an all-night diner over coffee and stale doughnuts.
Food connects us to our past and helps keep memories alive. My grandma used to make this wonderful Eggnog Pie for the holidays. I’m thankful she contributed her recipe to the Cedar Creek Grist Mill Cookbook, published in 1991, because otherwise, I wouldn’t have had it.

Several years after she passed away, I was missing her and made the pie for my grandpa at Thanksgiving, using my own chickens’ eggs. It made him so happy that I started making it for all the holidays.

Gommo’s original recipe calls for making a regular pastry crust. I did that at first but found we all preferred a graham cracker crust. Sorry, Gommo! (Even Poppo liked it this way too.) It’s even easier.

1 tsp. Knox gelatin
1 Tbsp. water
1 c. milk
1/2 c. sugar
2 Tbsp. cornstarch
Pinch of salt
3 egg yolks, beaten
1 Tbsp. butter
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. heavy cream, whipped
Nutmeg
1 graham cracker crust pie shell

1. Soak gelatin in the water to soften. Set aside.
2. Scald milk in top of double boiler.
3. Combine sugar, cornstarch and salt. Add to scalded milk and cook until smooth, stirring constantly.
4. Stir small amount of hot mixture into the eggs to temper them, then return to the double boiler and cook three to four minutes longer, stirring constantly with a whisk.
5. Remove from heat. Add gelatin mixture and butter. Whisk till smooth. Cool.
6. Add vanilla. Fold whipped cream into custard mixture. Pour into pie shell and sprinkle with nutmeg. Chill pie until ready to serve.

Enjoy!
You can find Laurie here: Website | Facebook | Twitter
Please welcome Delilah Marvelle:
12 Things I Love about Winter
Born and raised in Chicago where winter not only nips your nose but your ass straight through your jeans, you better believe a girl like me has to find joy in
winter or just altogether die from it.  I prefer to find joy in it and what better way than by sharing it with the world.  So in honor of what we know to be the 12 days of Christmas,
I’m doing my own version of 12 Things I Love about Winter.
1.)  I can stay in the house, remain dressed in flannel Pj’s, write and drink tons of hot chocolate spiked with hazelnut and vodka without coming across as a slob, a recluse and an alcoholic.
2.)  I can wear a warm, fuzzy hat on my head so I don’t need to spend time straightening my hair or messing with it.  I stay warm AND look good with no hassle.  Imagine that.
3.)  Boots, boots, boots!!!  I’m a boot girl and I get to pull out all 10 pairs of my boots that sit in my closet and wear them all (though not at the same time….obviously).
4.)  I get to bake.  Gingerbread girls with short skirts and gingerbread men with buff arms (you think I’m lying?!).  I loooooove baking.  As a culinary chef who worked with a top notch pastry chef before my writing swept me away from it, I learned how to do everything from ganache to apricot glazes sage cookies to glass windows for ginger breads houses made out of sugar.  I love how my house smells like cinnamon and sugar cookies naturally, instead of those plug in wall thingies that would kill you if you tried to lick it…
5.)  I get to buy sweaters!  Every winter, I buy two new sweaters to snuggle into.  Call it a winter tradition, but I love nestling into a sweater when the cold rolls in.
6.)  Sledding.  Omgosh, as a girl, I loved tugging up that sled and feel the rush at the cost of nothing but my sore legs going up and down the hill.  And I still love it!!  Only now, I get to do it with my kids (and realize I’m getting old when they beat ME up the hill…)  Sadly, in Portland, Oregon snow is rare, but we have mountains we can hunt down within an hour’s time.  AND it does snow on occasion.  When it does snow, I love running out with the kids and feeling like I’m in the movie Edward Scissorhands and seeing snow for the first time.  It feels new every year I see it, especially with me now living in Portland, seeing snow is rare.
7.)  I get to make stews and soups galore and no one complains about it (because they all want comfort food right along with me!).
8.)  Winter means my favorite holiday is coming: Christmas.
9.)  I get to ice skate, ski and snowboard!  Ice skating I’ve done in downtown Chicago since I was old enough to walk, but skiing?  The first time I ever hit the slopes was when I came to Oregon and hit up Mount Hood at the age of 23.  We don’t have mountains in Chicago and they don’t let you ski off the Sears Tower (Sigh.  I know.).  My first experience was…scary as hell.  My husband (Mr. Ski pro) bought me skis and together we took the lift up the mountain (because I’m like ‘Bring it.’  Heh).  That’s right…no ski experience whatsoever and I decided to take on Mount Freakin Hood like some city girl wearing heels on ice.  And I not only took on Mount Hood but I did the BLUE run instead of the easy Green.  Because I just had to impress my husband.  It took me over an hour to get down that mountain (it took my husband 15 minutes).  Every breath I thought I was going to die or that my legs were going to snap and when I saw a guy in front of me lose control and disappear off somewhere, that’s when I took off my skis and trudged down the mountain before I ended up like him.  But guess what?  I put those skis back on and went up again…and again…and again until I no longer took off my skis but actually went down the mountain.  I’ve been hooked ever since.
10.)  Seat warmers in the car go on.  It sounds totally stupid but having the seat warmer on in the car makes this girl HAPPY.  Who knew having a warm butt could bring so much joy?
11.)  The skies at night look so much crisper and cleaner.  I don’t know why, but I get this “I’m alive feeling” when I walk around at night and it makes me SO happy.
12.)   And my favorite…I get to bundle up in bed with my hubbie. I love bundling up with him in bed. The guy is like Jacob from Twilight, he’s always unusually warm at night (high metabolism). During the summer, it sucks, and I roll away from him because I’m trying to stay cool, but during the winter? You better believe I get in extra snuggle time. He keeps me warm alllllllll winter long and that alone is why I love winter 🙂
You can find Delilah here: Website | Facebook | Twitter

Laurie is offering a signed copy A Vampire for Christmas. 
Delilah is offering a signed copy of her upcoming release Forever & a Day. 
To enter please tell Laurie & Delilah your favorite thing about winter and then head over to the MAIN Winter’s Favorites page (<<—– click link) and enter on the main page. 
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Book Spotlight Feature of Unwrapped by Cari Quinn & a giveaway

Thanks to Kelly for allowing me to tell you all a little about my brand spanking new Christmas release, UNWRAPPED, which came out 12/6 from Loose Id! The blurb and a short excerpt are below. Leave a comment answering the question I pose to you and you’ll be in the running for your choice of ebooks from my backlist!


UNWRAPPED
By Cari Quinn

Caitlyn Sachs has a great life. A family she loves, check. An incredible design job working with her best friends, Tristan and Matt, check. An amazing home she shares with the guys, double check. But her upcoming twenty-fifth birthday and the desire to shed the burden of her virginity have spurred her to consider something shocking. All she wants is one uncomplicated night with one of her best friends, no strings attached. But how can she choose?
Except there’s another problem. Tristan and Matt are already involved sexually with each other, much to Cait’s shock. And both men have long harbored feelings for Cait that go way beyond friendship. When they whisk her away for her birthday to a cabin in the mountains, she discovers the extent of their lust—and her own. The gift they give her is one she’ll never forget.
But when the weekend’s over, will she retreat to the safety of the status quo, if they’ll even let her? Or will she finally embrace what she’s secretly craved for so long?
http://www.loose-id.com/Unwrapped.aspx
Excerpt:
Cait strolled down the hall that branched off into three sections. Matt’s was first, hers in the middle. But instead of heading straight for her set of rooms, she hesitated.
It was too quiet. Unnaturally so.
A line of sweat trickled down between her shoulder blades. Slowly, she unwound her scarf. She’d forgotten to take off her outer clothes. No wonder she was hot. She had no reason to be nervous in her own house.
Did she?
Then she heard a heavy scraping sound, like furniture being moved, and she pressed her back to the wall. Oh God. She’d known something was wrong. The lights were off, so who the hell would be moving furniture? Maybe someone had broken in and overpowered the guys. They could be tied up even now or worse. Maybe the serial killer was rolling their bodies up in the rug in Tristan’s living room.
She shoved her fist into her mouth to keep from making a noise. The smart thing to do would be to run downstairs and get help. Maybe the police would arrive in time.
A groan ripped through the air, disturbing the silence so fully that the sound echoed. And it sure didn’t seem like pain. Well, not regular pain. She’d heard that particular sound before when guys —
Again. A long, low sound of pleasure. She bit down on her knuckles, forgetting the cheese puffs she held under her arm. The bag clattered to the floor, but whoever was boinking in the bedroom couldn’t hear. Not when they were now screwing so loudly that the bed was moving. Tristan’s bed. That had been the noise she’d heard. They were going at it so hard that the frame kept slamming against the wall.
Creak. Creak. A pause. Slam.
Her stomach twisted, hard. The beer suddenly tasted rancid on her tongue.
Why should she be jealous? Stupid. He was a talented lover. Of course women wanted him. Matt too. Women wanted Matt, she amended, only half-aware that her feet were carrying her closer to the bedroom instead of away.
The door to Tristan’s section was shut. Though this level had been split equally into three distinct areas, the doors that separated them from one another were usually only closed when someone had a girlfriend or boyfriend over. Even then Matt in particular could be counted on to leave the door cracked, as if he got off on the idea of making his roommates listen to his bedroom antics. He was noisy as hell in bed, grunting and yelling with the best of them. Honestly, she envied him. She sure hadn’t ever experienced anything to elicit sounds like he regularly made. Moans, sure. But grunts wrested from the depth of her soul?
That would be a no.
She stopped, her throat convulsing at the new groans reverberating down the hall. That wasn’t Tristan. No way. Matthew was in Tristan’s apartment, but why? Did they have a girl in there? Were they having a threesome? They’d never told her they did stuff like that, but single guys in their late twenties were apt to do any damn thing.
More than ever, her virginity felt like a giant weight pressing down on her chest. And other overstimulated parts of her body.
If they were having a threesome, why hadn’t they asked her? She was their frigging best friend. The one who cleaned them up and dumped them into bed when they’d had too much fun on Saturday night, the one who picked out presents for Matt’s mom because he hated to and sent out office Christmas cards because Tristan’s handwriting looked like a mass murderer’s. They were a trio, and as such, if they’d progressed to ménages, it only made sense that she be the third spoke of their sexfest.
She rubbed her knuckles against her hip and inhaled deeply. Wait, what? What in God’s name was she thinking? She didn’t want to have a threesome. With them or anyone. Ordinary twosome sex was vexing enough.
Fisting her hands, Cait continued on until she reached Tris’s door. She pushed it open as quietly as possible and stepped inside the darkened living room. Silence prevailed but only briefly. Then the bed banging erupted again, more violently than before. The moans that sliced through the night mixed and mingled, though each was distinct and completely recognizable.
Jerks.


So tell me…do you enjoy m/m/f romances? Why or why not? A random commenter will get their choice of ebooks from my backlist (including UNWRAPPED!)
Visit Cari Quinn at www.cariquinn.com

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Winter’s Favorite Giveaway Day 11

Welcome to day 11 of Winter’s Favorites.
I have the very Spunky Maggie Wells sharing her favorite (and very naughty) thing about Winter…. Take it away Maggie.
What do I love most about winter? Body heat, baby!
Is there anything better than a little shared warmth? I think not. Cold, dark mornings are made for snooze buttons and snuggling up to my own personal human oven. My hero’s hands are always toasty, no matter the temperature, but more important; he’s willing to share the sizzle. I don’t mind winter’s fast approach. There’s nothing better for chasing away the worries of short, chilly days than long, red hot nights!
Cuddle up, Buttercup!

Maggie’s Bio:
By day Maggie Wells is buried in spreadsheets. At night she pens tales of people tangling up the sheets. She’ll tell you she’s a deep down dirty girl, but you only have to scratch the surface of this mild-mannered married lady to find a naughty streak a mile wide. The product of a charming rogue and a shameless flirt, she just
can’t help herself and that’s part of her charm. Learn more about Maggie at: www.maggiewells.weebly.com
Maggie has offered me an e-copy of Seducing Steve to giveaway and after twisting her pal Margaret Ethridge arm she convinced Maragaret to donate two of her ebooks to the Winter’s Favorites Giveaway.  Below you will find a description of each of the books. To enter for a chance to win one of these wonderful books please leave Maggie a comment and let her know your favorite thing about winter. Then head over to the MAIN Winter’s Favorite page (<<—-Click on link to take you there) to enter.

Seducing Steve by Maggie Wells
Erotic romance novelist Sara Wright yearns for passion that leaps from the page. After a marriage that proved to be more fizzle than sizzle, Sara’s writing reflects her growing frustration and also her secret passion for her best friend and muse, Steve Larson.
Steve Larson is anything but your typical romance hero. A redheaded computer nerd with a slow, southern drawl, Steve is neither a cattle baron nor a titan of industry. The one thing he does have going for him is that he has loved Sara from the moment he met her.
When she confesses that he has long served as her inspiration, Steve leaps at the chance to take things to the next level. Determined to be the man to make her fantasies come true, he takes a page from Sara’s own books and plots a passion so intense it threatens to consume them and the friendship they both cherish.
When friends turn into lovers, love can get lost in the shuffle. Fact becomes tightly cocooned in fiction as both Sara and Steve learn to balance their desires with the needs of their hearts.
Paramour by Margaret Ethridge
Two men: one living, one dead, and both vying for her love.
Camellia Stafford has never been alone in her room. For twenty years, she’s been engaged in a fierce power struggle with her bedroom’s previous tenant, Frank DeLuca, the ghost trapped in the light fixture above her bed.
Caustic and cranky, Frank has one soft spot—Cam. Over the years, their feelings for one another have evolved from grudging friendship to an enduring love that burns white-hot until Frank puts his feelings for Cam on ice.
When she suffers the loss of her beloved father, Cam returns home to say good-bye, and confront her feelings for Frank. She finds an unexpected shoulder to lean on in neighbor, Bradley Mitchum. Cam falls hard and fast for the handsome ad man’s charming smile and passionate nature, but Brad’s easy-going exterior masks a steely backbone tempered by adversity.
Now Cam must choose— Is her heart strong enough to determine which dream could lead to a love that will last a lifetime?
Contentment by Margaret Ethridge
Tracy Sullivan seems to have it all, a handsome, devoted husband, three beautiful children, a steady career, and the perfect suburban home; but she isn‟t happy.
The petty resentments that have built over fifteen years of marriage surface when Tracy tells her husband, Sean, that she is no longer interested in sex, and their marriage threatens to implode.
For the sake of their children, Tracy and Sean agree to lead separate lives under the same roof. With the help of a healthy dose of adult-rated fiction and some gentle prodding from a good friend, Tracy begins to rediscover who she is, what she wants, and the reasons she fell for Sean once upon a time.
After two years of soul-searching, Tracy is finally ready to embrace her happily ever after having learned that while happiness may be fleeting, contentment can last a lifetime.
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Gena Showalter’s Alien Huntress Series

Awaken Me Darkly
Book 1
RIDDING THE WORLD OF EVIL, ONE ALIEN AT A TIME: That’s Mia Snow’s job.
Snow is in the forecast.
In a time and place not too far away, Mia Snow is an alien huntress for the New Chicago Police Department. Heading up her expert team of Alien Investigation and Removal agents, Mia’s unmatched at battling the elusive enemy among us, and she’s the perfect girl for the job. She’s seen her brother die at the hands of aliens. She’s earned each of her scars. And she’ll die before she cries. Now, a series of killings have Mia and her partner Dallas tracking alien suspects — but a sudden blast of violence leaves Dallas fighting for his life.
They are ice and fire.
The chance to save Dallas appears in the form of a tall, erotic  stranger. An alien. A murder suspect. Kyrin en Arr, of the deadly Arcadian species, holds the power to heal the injured agent but not without a price. For Mia Snow, that price is surrendering to Kyrin’s forbidden seduction…and embracing their electric attraction. She’s walking a knife’s edge, risking her badge and even her life. The closer she gets to Kyrin, the more Mia learns about her own heart, her human needs — and the shocking secret that will shatter everything she’s ever believed.
Find your copy at
Amazon *  Barnes and Noble  *  Kindle  *  Nook * BAM
Or, get the first three books in the Alien Huntress series for your Kindle here!
Or, test out the first books in the Immortals After Dark (Kresley Cole) the Sharie Kohler werewolf series, and the first Alien Huntress book in Origins.  
Enslave Me Sweetly
Book 2
Eden Black walks among humans, protecting them from the murderous evil of other-worlders who abduct and enslave. And though she appears to be human herself, Eden is an alien, a Raka, distinguished by her golden hair and skin, and gifted with the ominous ability to kill without remorse — and with total accuracy. That is, until the fateful night she has one shot to eliminate her target, a human slaver — and misses.
“Failure” is not in Eden’s vocabulary. Neither is “partner” — but that’s what she is forcibly assigned after recovering from her disastrous mission. A sexy, steely-nerved human agent, Lucius Adaire enjoys nothing more than sparking the fury — and rousing the desire — of the fiery female assassin too proud to admit defeat. Locked in an assignment they cannot afford to lose, Lucius and Eden find themselves bound in two high-stakes, heart-pounding games: the sensual web of kill or be killed, and the erotic dance of seduction. 
Read an excerpt here.
Buy from:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Pocket
BAM
 To download a copy of Enslave Me Sweetly, Savor Me Slowly and Seduce the Darkness, go here!

Savor Me Slowly
Book 3
HALF HUMAN, HALF MACHINE…ALL WOMAN
Mishka Le’Ace was created to be an undercover operative…literally. Her beautiful body has been mechanically augmented to give her superhuman strength — strength she’s going to need. Her latest mission sends her to rescue Alien Investigation and Removal agent Jaxon Tremain from torture and death. With him, she discovers a passion unlike any other. A passion she was forbidden to know….
From the moment they meet in a darkened cell, Jaxon craves her touch. But the machine half of Le’Ace forces her to do things she doesn’t always want to do. Even betray him…and ultimately destroy him. Now Jaxon must battle the man controlling Le’Ace, and even Le’Ace herself, to at last claim the woman he’s come to love. 
Read an excerpt here.
Buy from:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
BAM
To download a copy of Enslave Me Sweetly, Savor Me Slowly and Seduce the Darkness, go here!
Seduce the Darkness
Book 4
HE HAS A BODY MADE FOR TEMPTATION…
AND A KISS TO DIE FOR.
The war between otherworlders and humans changed Earth beyond recognition. It also saved Bride McKells’s life. Before, the gorgeous vampire was a target for every fanatic with a stake and a crucifix. Now, she’s free to roam the streets — and desperate to find others of her kind. One man claims to have the answers she seeks. Devyn, King of the Targons, is a warrior and a womanizer, and he makes no secret of how much he wants Bride — and how dangerous he could be to her in every way.
An avid collector of women, Devyn easily seduces human and otherworlder alike. Until now. Not only does Bride resist him, but she leaves Devyn feeling something entirely new…a bone-deep need bordering on obsession. Her blood is the key to curing a vicious alien disease, but helping Bride uncover her origins will compel her to choose between electrifying passion and a destiny that could tear her from Devyn’s side forever.
Read an excerpt here.
 Buy from:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
BAM
To download a copy of Enslave Me Sweetly, Savor Me Slowly and Seduce the Darkness, go here!
Ecstasy in Darkness
Book 5
New York Times bestselling sensation Gena Showalter enthralls with a dark, tantalizing world of humans, otherworlders, powers beyond imagining, and a seductive vampire undone by his insatiable hunger for one woman. . . .
Growing up poor on New Chicago’s meanest streets, Ava Sans had two options: be the predator, or be the prey. No contest. Now, working for Alien Investigation and Removal, she’s been ordered to capture the biggest, baddest warrior of all—a vampire too beautiful to be real, with the ability to manipulate time. Once the leader of the entire vampire army, McKell has been deemed savage and unstable, spurned even by his own kind.
To McKell, humans should be nothing more than sustenance. Yet the petite, golden-skinned Ava is a fascinating contradiction—vicious yet witty, strong yet vulnerable, lethal but fiercely loyal.  Against his better judgment, McKell craves that loyalty, and much more. When the chase leads to seduction, McKell and Ava will race to discover the truth about his past. But the answers will come at a price, even for a woman who thought she had nothing left to lose. . . . 
Read the first three chapters here!
Buy the book:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
BAM
and here (Pocket)!

Dark Taste of Rapture
Book 6
New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter captivates with a dark, tantalizing world of humans, otherworlders, and a powerful AIR agent consumed by his desire for a woman he can never have. . . .
 With one caress, he can give unforgettable pleasure…or unending pain…
 Hector Dean is shaved, tattooed, and totally ripped — and he has a deadly secret.  He is a walking weapon, capable of killing with a single brush of his fingertips.  Little wonder he’s determined to remain on his own.  But Noelle Tremain is a temptation like no other.  She is beautiful and rich, with a party girl smile that hides a shocking vulnerability, and from the beginning his sizzling attraction to her is undeniable.  For the first time, his stone-cold resistance is tested.  But to be with her, he risks destroying her.    
When a wealthy businessman is murdered in New Chicago’s seediest district, the two are partnered, and there’s no escaping what they both want: each other.  Yet neither Hector nor Noelle knows what to fear more—the killer case, or their own lethal desires. . . .
To order your copy, go to: 
Amazon  * Barnes and Noble  *  Books A Million  *  Kindle  * BAM  *  Kindle  *  Nook  *  Sony  *  Powells  *  Books on Board  *  Pocket *  Kobo  *
To read a deleted scene from Dallas’s point of view, go here!
Read an excerpt here http://members.genashowalter.com/page/dark-taste-of-rapture
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Winter’s Favorite Giveaway Day 10

Welcome to Day 10 of Winter’s Favorites
I have the Wonderful Patrica Leever and the Very Talented Jaci Burton on the blog today talking about their favorite thing about winter.  
Ready Ladies?   Take it away Patty….

Hidey ho-ho-ho my little snowy love monkeys! I’m here at Book-N-Kisses to share with you my favorite things of winter.
Now, as a born and raised Southern Californian, my scope of winter may be slightly skewed. I know not of this fluffy white stuff called snow or this slippery business known as ice. I’ve heard stories from some of my wonderful friends across these great United States about snow days, ice scrapers and salt trucks. These are concepts that are completely lost on me as I’m still not 100% certain what a salt truck is and/or what it does. And you know what I’m perfectly fine with that. So I guess you could say that one of my favorite things about winter is that I live in Southern California.
However, my most favorite thing (well, things if we are going to get technical) about winter is that every one of my four children were born in winter. They may drive me bonkers on the regular but they are my greatest accomplishment and my greatest love and by far my most favorite things about winter!
Happy Holidays everyone!
Patty <3
Find Patty here WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER

Jaci, Please tell the peeps your favorite thing about winter…..

Winter is not typically my favorite season. I’m not a fan of cold weather at all. I love summer. Flip flops and tank tops and riding on the Harley with my husband.

But there are some advantages to winter. First, all the bugs die—especially the flies. I hate flies with the passion of a thousand suns. So in the winter, after a few hard freezes, they’re gone, and I have a few months bug free. Win!
The other thing I love about winter is the food factor. In the summer it’s all about showing skin, so you have to watch what you eat. In the winter, everyone’s bundled up, and we all tend to eat a little more to stay warm. Or at least that’s what we do at my house. I make a lot of chili, stew and chicken and dumplings in the winter. Nothing like a little comfort food on a cold day, is there?
Hope you all stay warm this winter!
Jaci
Website: http://www.jaciburton.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/jaciburton
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJaciBurton
All She Wants for Christmas
Book One in the Kent Brothers Series

Big Star, Small-Town Christmas
Country singer Riley Jensen would never have returned to her small Missouri hometown if her publicist hadn’t come up with the scheme to tape a Christmas special there. So she never would have known that the man who broke her heart at eighteen—causing her to flee to Nashville—was now a widower with a seven-year-old daughter. Riley has ten years of angst-filled hit songs and Grammy awards to prove she doesn’t need Ethan Kent. But suddenly, she can’t help thinking of all she gave up by running away…
Ethan Kent knew Riley had the talent and the drive to make it as a singer. He also knew she wasn’t going anywhere if she stayed in their nowhere town for him. Then one night and one huge mistake sent her running on the road to fame. Which doesn’t mean he ever stopped loving her…
But with so much separating them, can Riley and Ethan find their way back together one magical country Christmas?

Patrica is offering an e-book of Cat O’Nine Tales and Swagbag
Jaci is offering an e-book of All She Wants for Christmas…. 
So to enter, Please tell Patty & Jaci your favorite thing about Winter, then head over to the MAIN Winter’s Favorites page (<– Click the link it will take you to the page) to enter.  
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Winter’s Favorite Giveaway Day 9

Welcome to Day 9 of Winter’s Favorites
I have one of my all-time favorite authors Laura Wright and a new to me author that I freakin’ love Eliza Gayle. 
I will stop talking and let the ladies take over. 
Christmas Eve; The First Kiss
By Laura Wright
I’ve always thought that there was nothing more sacred, more special or more holy than Christmas Eve night. It’s my absolute favorite night of the season. Don’t get me wrong, I love Christmas Day. But the two occasions have such completely different vibes, and I seem to gravitate toward the still and silent night.
I’ve had many amazing Christmas Eves in my forty-one years, but this one is etched in my memory forever because it was spent with my first official boyfriend instead of my family. And it was when he told me he loved me. We were both sixteen and wild about each other. I spent more hours in that boy’s home on any given week than in my own, and when I was invited to Christmas Eve dinner, I well, jumped at the chance.
*Side Note: At this dinner I tried steamed artichokes dipped in butter for the first time too, and that love affair is still with me today.
Anyway, the dinner was absolutely lovely, but it was the walk afterwards that made that Christmas Eve so special. Picture it: A Minnesota night that wasn’t frigid, but perfectly cold, a tree-lined street frosted in that morning’s new fallen snow. The pale, ethereal light of the street lamps interspersed with the charming, homey glow of the neighbors house lights. And the hand of the boy you’ve had a crush on for two years reaching out to hold yours.
Then it starts to snow.
Gently, sparsely at first. Perfect little miniature doilies falling all around you, and the he stops and turns, and with those killer blue eyes looking into yours, he says two things…
Merry Christmas Eve, and I love you.

Laura’s Quick bio:
I was born and raised in Minnesota. It’s where my love of all things green, wet and grown in the ground comes from. Before writing I was an actor, singer and dancer, specifically a BALLROOM dancer – an instructor and competitor as well. That work took me to many places like New York, Ohio and Wisconsin. I live in Los Angeles now, but I’m always thinking about greener pastures – literally.


Find Laura here: WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER
           



Eliza Gayle’s Favorite thing about Winter:
Winter Is All About The Hot Cocoa
Living in the South, I yearn for the cold, crisp air of winter and an escape from the oppressive heat. That first cool, clear night where I can go outside and smell winter in the air is heaven. The first thing I have to do is pull out my special winter mug reserved especially for the dark chocolate hot cocoa I love. To me the cold air enhances the flavors and aroma of what you’re drinking. J The next thing is the purchase of a brand new pair of warm, fuzzy slippers. This year it’s a pair of purple furry booties that make me smile when I put them on.
Unfortunately, I am not a coffee drinker so a warm drink on a cold winter morning is a special treat for me. Often times my schedule precludes me from taking the time to bake and cook all the fun things I enjoy, but I can always afford a few minutes to make a simple and delicious chocolate treat. Since I love to share I’ve included a quick recipe for you all to enjoy along with me.
Sinless Dark Chocolate Cocoa
1 c. skim milk
1 inch cinnamon stick
2 tsp dark unsweetened cocoa
2 tsp sugar
2 tsp warm water
1/4 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 dash chili powder (optional)
8 mini marshmallows
In a mug, combine the cocoa powder, sugar, and water. Heat the milk and the cinnamon stick until slightly bubbling. Remove the cinnamon stick and add the milk to the mug. Combine and add the vanilla extract and slight dash of chili. Top with mini marshmallows.
Coats, hats and gloves, oh my.
Back to winter, and all her glory. Where I live we don’t get snow very often so when we do it’s something to be savored. Kids haul out the heavy coats and gloves and start cutting up cardboard to create makeshift sleds. It’s pretty funny to watch. But when it comes to snow there is one rule that can never again be broken.
Eliza is not allowed to drive.
Seriously. Every single time I try to drive in the snow I wreck a car. It’s pretty cringe worthy. I blame it on the fact that I am a Florida native born and raised. So now, I walk outside, I make snowballs and play with my husky as he frolics and rolls but under no circumstances may I drive. Lol
My love of winter doesn’t end there. I live away from most of my family, but every year my mother knits me a fabulous new hat and scarf to brighten up my winter. I LOVE these. I have several colors and varieties to choose from and I cherish wearing them.
Nobody is a stranger in wintertime.Winter in the South also seems to change more than just the climate. With the heat temporarily gone, neighbors wander out of the house to enjoy the cooler air, people linger in the winter sunshine and we gather in coffee houses and cafes for good cheer and good food. In fact, here in Charlotte we have the ultimate French bakery that is open twenty-four seven, 365 days a year. Somehow I always end up there more often in the winter to people watch, write and savor the amazing treats.
Eliza’s bio:
Eliza Gayle lives a life full of sexy shapeshifters, blood boiling vamps and a dark desire for bondage…until she steps away from her computer and has to tend to her family.
She graduated Magna Cum Laude (which her husband translated into something very naughty) from Park University with a dual degree in Human Resource Management and Sociology.  That education, a love of the metaphysical and a dirty mind comes in handy when she sits down to create new characters and worlds.  The trick is getting her to sit still.
…Join her in her world.  The door is always open and the next red hot adventure is just a page away.
Find Eliza here: WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER

Laura is offering an Audio of Eternal Hunger (bk1) & 
a Mark of the Vampire Swag bag. 
Eliza is offering up one back list book.

To enter please leave a comment for Laura & Eliza about your favorite thing about winter.  Then head over to the MAIN Winter’sFavorite page and enter for a chance to win. 
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Interview with Billi Jean


Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Billi Jean to the blog today. We are going to be talking about her books Midnight Star & Silvers Chance

Billi Jean has been writing since high school when she couldn’t wait for Robert Jordon to write his Wheel of Time series faster. She writes from home in a little two hundred year old farm house in Western Massachusetts where she shares her space with her active children, an old dog, and two lazy cats.
 Her first book, Midnight Star, has won numerous awards and was voted Best Book by Long and Short Reviews. Her next installment in the Sisters of the Moon series, Silver’s Chance, hit the shelves in August 2011. The next, A Spartan’s Kiss will arrive right on Valentine’s Day, 2012.
Stop by her blog http://readingwritingromance.blogspot.com/and leave a message! She can also be found on twitter and Facebook. For more information on what’s coming up in her series, friend her on Goodreads, or follow her blog for snippets of her upcoming stories in the Sisters of the Moon series.

Billi: Thank you! I’m thrilled to be here today. I’ve been following your blog for a while and enjoy all the interviews and giveaway’s. I can completely relate to your somewhat dim look on winter. I am so not looking forward to the snow, shoveling, and driving in the fluffy white stuff! J

Q1) Can you tell us a little about yourself?
Billi: Well, Iet’s see….I think I’m a pretty normal, average woman….with really hot fantasies I can write about! J  Seriously, I’m a mother of a very active six-year-old going on 30 and a teenage son ready to leave the nest. Sadly, I really don’t want him to go! I guess I’m pretty normal in that, too. The fun I find in life, what I do for on my free time from my day job is writing. I love creating a world and filling it full of people with great personalities and problems.

Q2) Have you always wanted to be an author?
Billi: Well, I’ve always written, but never thought I’d be an author until just a few years ago when I got a chance to sit down and write. Since then, I’ve pushed myself to be a writer, and to write well.

Q3) Who are some of your favorite writers? Who do you feel has influenced your writing?
Billi: Oh, my favorite authors? I have a ton! My favorites at the moment are Jambrea Jones, Rhian Cahill, Samantha Kane, Lexxie Cooper, and Gena Showalter! And of course there are a bunch more that I’ve not mentioned!

Q4) Can you tell us what a typical writing day for you is like. 
Billi:  For me writing is either at night, after my family is in bed, or on the weekends. I start the day by getting coffee, making my bed, organizing the house a bit – laundry, dishes, trash – then I sit down and open up the manuscript I worked on the day before. I edit the last bit of that to refresh my mind, and to simply edit for a bit before I dig into a new scene. I typically write a lot in one sitting. I can do up to 5-8K without a break if it’s flowing and it’s my first run through. I like to push myself to keep the pace going because when I hit a snag, then it slows the pace down considerable!

Let’s talk about your books

Order HERE
Q5) Can you tell us a little about Midnight Star?
Billi: Midnight Star is a love story between a beautiful vampire, Star, and a hotheaded, but honorable lyake, Ranger. Ranger makes quite a few mistakes in his pursuit of Star, starting by not liking what fate drew as his mate – a vampire. It’s a story of growth for both characters. Ranger does some heavy soul searching even when he’s tricking Star to keep her down in a disgusting cave system so he can have a chance with her. J What can he say? He finally has her alone long enough to make up for his stupidity, and yet, when he gets his chance, his stupidity continues. Don’t get me wrong, he means well – and he’s not stupid – he just makes ‘male’ centered choices and forgets to think outside of that narrow slice of intellect. But in the end, that stupidity – wins Star over to believing he is truly in love with her. I mean, he kept her down in slimy caves, almost got her killed a few times, and all for a chance to spend more time with her? What girl wouldn’t fall for that?

Order HERE
Q6) Can you tell us a little about Silver’s Chance?
Billi: Well, Silver’s Chance is more about letting go of your inner turmoil and insecurities than proving your love through any underhanded means necessary! J Derrick and Samantha are the main characters and both are driven, intelligent, honorable characters with hidden insecurities. After Samantha rescuing him from his imprisonment, Derrick fears his sanity and his wolf’s growing power over him. Samantha, on the other hand, is busy trying to save her sister and beating herself up over having lost her sister, that she feels guilty simply thinking about the sexy overgrown warlord – Derrick. But in the end they both are the cure for the other so to speak, and form a bond that they are both stronger for. Their story falls before Star and Ranger’s story, but because of my own personal issues (ie, first time published author here!) Silver’s Chance released in August of 2011.

Q7) How did you come up with the idea for this story?
Billi: The series was always lurking in the back of my head, I think. The world, the struggles and then the characters just grew with time. I sat down and started to write and the images were so clear it was hard to stop long enough to go pee, let alone sleep.

Q8) What is up next for you?
Billi: Up next for the series (and me!) is Tabithia’s story – A Spartan’s Kiss. After that, and hopefully this next year, will be Golden’s Rule – the story of Susanna—the missing twin!

Q9) What is the next book on your To Read Pile that you are dying to jump into?
Billi: I’ve got several – but Mari Carr and Jayne Rylon’s Northern Exposure is high on the list!

Q10) Is there anything else you would like to add?
Billi: I’d just like to say thank you for having me on your site and I hope to come back soon! If anyone has any questions about the series, please drop me a line!

Books-n-Kisses: Billi, again thank you so very much for making Books-n-Kisses a stop on your book tour.  I have enjoyed learning more about you and your book.  I look forward to reading and see what you come up with next.
Billi: Thank you again!!! Hugs! 

You can find Billi here:
Website / Facebook / Twitter / Manic Readers / Bitten by Books
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Interview & Giveaway with Kiru Taye

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Kiru Taye to our website today. 

Kiru: It’s great to visit Book-n-Kisses on this beautiful day. Thank you for inviting me.

Q1) Can you tell us a little about yourself
Kiru: My name is Kiru. I was born and grew up Nigeria but now live in the UK.  I’m married to my very own alpha hero. We have two your children – my daughter is 6 years old and my son is 4 years old.
I write romance stories—contemporary, historical and paranormal—set in Africa. My stories feature dark tortured heroes and strong sassy heroines.
When I’m not writing, you can find me reading – romance, thriller, fantasy fiction novels. I also love travelling and fashion. Most of all I enjoy spending my time with close family and friends.
Q2) Have you always wanted to be an author?
Kiru: As a child I wanted to be an Engineer because my father was one. So I studied Electronics Engineering at Uni. Plus my parents are Africans. African parents are mainly only interested in the professions – law, medicine, finance, business, etc. So doing the Arts was never really an option for me as a child.
Q3) Who are some of your favorite writers? Who do you feel has influenced your writing?
Kiru: Writers who have influenced me mostly include James Clavell and Jacqueline Susann. I read their books as a teenager and wanted to write like them.
Q4) Can you tell us what a typical writing day for you is like. 
Kiru: My writing day starts at 9am after the morning school run and ends at 2.30pm before the afternoon school run. I sit at my desk in the upstairs study and work on whatever new story I’m writing. On a good day, I can write anything up to 6000 words. But my writing day isn’t just about writing. It’s also about communicating with people – my editor via email, my readers via blog posts and friends/other writers via facebook and twitter. So some days I don’t get to write at all, especially at weekends.
Q5) Let’s talk about your new book His Treasure.  Can you tell us a little about it
Kiru: His Treasure is a historical romance novella set in medieval West Africa. It’s about a man who loves his wife unconditionally and would do anything to keep her; and a woman who is determined to make her own choices, though she’d been coerced to marry a man she knew little about.
In this story I wanted to write about an alpha hero who didn’t stump about demanding his rights a husband but through consistent measured actions, won his wife over.
Here’s the blurb:
In a time when men ruled their households with firm hands, can a quiet man tame his rebellious wife with persevering love?
Angry at being forced to marry a man not of her choosing, Adaku stubbornly shuns her new husband on their wedding night. However, she soon discovers there are worse things than giving in to a man whose touch awakens her deep desires. In a land where fruitfulness is celebrated, she could soon be labeled a barren woman.
Obinna knows there are several ways to tame a rebellious woman. Patience and perseverance are two of them. Adaku is his treasure and he will never let her go. When her fears push her into his arms, will he be able to convince her to stay with him forever by unleashing the passion within her?
Q6) How did you come up with the idea for this story?
Kiru: I love reading historical romance especially those set in medieval times.   I especially love reading the sensual Historical Undone line by Harlequin. Most of it is set in Europe and America. But when I read a story by Jeannie Lin set in ancient China, I thought why not write a historical romance story set in Africa. That’s how His Treasure was born.
Q7) What is up next for you?
Kiru: His Treasure is part of a series titled Men of Valor. Book 2, His Strength is currently going through editing and will be out February 10, 2012. I’m currently writing Book 3, His Princess. I also recently completed a contemporary romance novella which will be out in February 2012 as part of an Anthology for Romance Writers of West Africa.
Q8) What is the best piece of advice you would give to a buddy author?
Kiru: Write what you love, write what you know. Be professional.
Q9) What is the next book on your To Read Pile that you are dying to jump into?
Kiru: There are four books waiting for my reading attention as soon as possible. A Touch of Crimson by Sylvia Day, Hardware by Jayda McTyson, Fallen by Elise Marion and Scandinavian Scandal by Doris O’Connor.
Q10) Is there anything else you would like to add?
Kiru: I’d like to say a big thank you to Books-n-Kisses for hosting me on this beautiful day. I’d also like to thank all the readers for stopping by and leaving a comment.
I’m giving away one electronic copy of His Treasure to one random commenter who answers this question correctly. Remember to leave your email address so you can be contacted.
Question: Apparently, I write like a very famous fiction writer. Who is he? The correct answer is shown on the left-hand bar of my blog.
Kiru again thank you so very much for making Books-n-Kisses a stop on your book tour.  I have enjoyed learning more about you and your book.  I look forward to reading and see what you come up with next.
Kiru: His Treasure published by Breathless Press is out now on eBook.
You can buy it via http://www.breathlesspress.com/his-treasure and other online book retailers.
Kiru Taye can be contacted via her blog: http://kirutayewrites.blogspot.com

To enter for a chance to win an ebook of His Treasure please use the Rafflecopter form below.