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Regan Hastings Awakening Series

Visions of Magic 

(The Awakening #1)

In the ten years since magic has reemerged in the world, witches have become feared and hunted. For weeks Shea Jameson has been haunted by visions of fire. When she unintentionally performs a spell in public, she becomes one of the hunted. Her only hope is Torin, a dangerously sensual man who claims to be her eternal mate.
“Magic, passion, and immortal warriors — this fabulous new series has it all.”
– NYT Bestselling Author Christina Dodd
BUY AT: Amazon | B&N | Borders


Visions of Skyfire 

(The Awakening #2)

Every witch has a destined mate, an Eternal who will serve as her guardian and complete her powers. Once the coven has awakened, the witches must race against time to join with their Eternals and protect the relics that will prevent the destruction of the world…
The Awakening is upon Teresa Santiago. Despite training for this moment since she was a child, Teresa is unprepared for the vastness of her power or for her attraction to Rune, her Eternal protector and destined mate.
United by purpose—and passion—Teresa and Rune must locate one of the missing artifacts before its power unleashes the forces of darkness on the world. His strength and her ability to summon lightning should be enough to protect them from the government agents charged with imprisoning witches. But their enemies are both mortal and magical—and danger follows Teresa at every turn.
In this ultimate battle between good and evil, only through sacrifice will love conquer all…
BUY AT: Amazon | B&N

Visions of Chains

(The Awakening #3)

Tentative release date June 2012

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Interview & Giveaway with Carrie Pulkinen

Hi Carrie, Welcome to Books-n-Kisses.  I am happy to have you visiting today so that we can talk and learn more about you and your books.

Carrie: Hi! Thanks so much for having me!

Q1) Tell us how you got into writing Erotic Paranormal stories?

Carrie: I’m a hopeless romantic, so I’ve always been drawn to romantic elements in stories. As for the paranormal, I grew up next door to a cemetery. Literally. As a child, I thought my parents owned it. So, I’ve always been fascinated by ghosts and anything paranormal.

Q2) Have you always wanted to write in this genre?

Carrie: I guess I have. I never really thought about a genre when I started writing fiction. This is just what came out, so I suppose it’s meant to be.

Q3) Do you think you will write in other genres?

Carrie: I really enjoy reading suspense novels, so one day, I may venture into that genre. But, it will probably be romantic suspense.

Q4) Share with us a little about your newest release. Her Guardian Lover

Carrie:  April is a small town high school teacher with big plans to achieve the American Dream. But, her future is derailed when she’s caught in the middle of a school shooting. The only person who can help her recover from the tragedy is her sexy coworker Damian—but she despises him. Will she accept all he has to offer and follow her destiny? Or will she fall back into her old life?

Q5) How do you come up with these steamy sex scenes?

Carrie: I really get into my characters as I’m writing. I sort of “become” them. So, when it’s time for a sex scene, I write what feels natural for the characters.

Q6) Best advice you ever got about becoming an author

Carrie:  The best advice I’ve gotten is to never give up. Just because someone rejects a manuscript, it doesn’t mean that someone else won’t love it.

Q7) Favorite all-time author and why

Carrie: My favorite author is Paulo Coelho. He writes in a completely different genre, but his stories and so compelling I can’t put them down. He’s truly inspirational.

Q8) Your thoughts on e-books vs. paper books

Carrie:  I don’t know if paper books will ever go away, but I definitely think they are becoming less and less popular. Especially with teens and young adults. Everything else they do is electronic, so why not reading too?

Q9) What is your current work in progress?

Carrie: I’m currently polishing up an urban fantasy/paranormal romance that I wrote a while back. It’s full of magic, romance, vampires, and reincarnation.

Q10) Anything else you would like to add?

Carrie: Thanks for interviewing me. It was fun!

Books-n-Kisses: Carrie, again Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to sit down with me and share your story.  I look forward to reading more of your books in the future. 


Her Guardian Lover 
by Carrie Pulkinen

Guarding April isn’t easy. Loving her could be the end of life as he knows it.

April May Carter, a twenty-nine-year-old small town high school teacher, dreams of finding a man to whisk her away from the hickville she’s stuck in. She wants it all—the husband, the house, the kids, the car. But her dreams of living the perfect life are shattered during a school shooting.
Damian is supposed to keep her safe. But a tragic event in his past has left him so bitter and resentful, he’s blindsided by the angelic beauty who’s awakened a part of his soul he thought had burned out long ago. He won’t let anyone get close enough to care about him. April should hate him. But she sees through his abrasive exterior and finds the compassionate, loving man beneath. Can Damian let go of his past, accept his responsibilities, and let her love him? Or will he spend the rest of his existence alone and miserable?

Excerpt:

She turned back to Damian, but the moment was gone. The overwhelming need to lay it all out for him gave way to her practical side. He’d have to let go of his past before he could make a future with her. Besides, she wanted to hear him say it first.
Sitting across the table from the most beautiful Angel in Heaven was like a dream. He knew about her desire to travel, and bringing her here was the perfect setting for their first official date.
Her smile brightened the entire room, and her eyes sparkled as she admired the architecture. “When was this place built? It’s incredible.”
“Around the twelfth century. It’s beautiful, isn’t it? And it really hasn’t changed much since then.”
“You were here when this was built?”
He shrugged. “Sure. I told you, I’m as old as dirt.”
She giggled until she was gasping for air. Her laugh was like beautiful melody in his ears.
“Wow. I’m on a date with a geezer. How gross.”
“Well, maybe I shouldn’t be robbing the cradle. Isn’t there a law about that?” He winked, and they both laughed.
“I am not a child, mister. I’m more woman than you could handle.”
“Mmm…We’ll see about that. You ready to get out of here? See the sights?”
“I’d love to.”
He savored one last bite of his meal, and then led her out into the street. They ambled, hand-in-hand, through a courtyard and down three blocks of cobblestone. The Leaning Tower of Pisa stood just across the street, and he paused to watch her reaction.
But she wasn’t looking at the tower; she was gazing up at him. Her eyes were more beautiful than the Italian countryside, and he forgot all about the sights of the city. He forgot about everything else in the world when he leaned down to kiss her.
Her lips were so soft, her taste so sweet, his head spun. He shouldn’t have been kissing her. He needed to take it slowly, but he didn’t care. At that moment, the only thing that mattered was having April in his arms.
She slid her hands over his shoulders and pulled him closer. He could have drowned in her essence right there on the sidewalk. The need to be with her surged through his body, and he had to pull away before he took her to his bedroom and made love to her all day.
He tucked a piece of hair behind her ear and tried to find his voice. But what could he say?
Her expression was one of anticipation. Longing. She looked at him like she wanted him. “That was…nice.”
“Yeah, it was.”
She wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head on his chest. “We should do it more often.”
“Sounds good to me.”
“Oh my gosh! It’s the Leaning Tower of Pisa.”
He chuckled. “Yeah. That’s what I brought you here to see. Want to get a closer look?”
“Uh, yeah.”
They darted across the busy street and walked up the path to the tower. She put her hand over her heart as she admired the structure.
“It’s amazing that the foundation shifted so much for it to lean like that. But it still stands. They just don’t make ’em like that anymore.” She grinned and tousled his hair. “But I bet you remember when it stood straight.”
He felt the heat rush to his cheeks, though he didn’t know why he was embarrassed. He shrugged and kicked at the dirt with his foot. “Yeah. I guess I remember. But it’s no big deal. A thousand years from now, we’ll be looking at present day skyscrapers and saying, ‘Remember when’.”
“True. But I bet skyscrapers won’t be around a thousand years from now.”
“Wanna put money on it?”
She flashed a mischievous grin. “Okay. I’ll give you a trillion dollars if they’re still standing in a thousand years.”
“You’re on.”
“But that means you’ll still have to be speaking to me. No more games.”
He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. “You don’t have to worry about that.”
They spent the rest of the afternoon lazily roaming the city. They strolled along the river bank and settled on a patch of grass in a secluded spot to watch the sunset. If only Angels had the ability to freeze time; he could have lived in that moment forever.
With his arms wrapped around her, she snuggled into his side and sighed. “Thank you for this. The whole day, you, everything. It was perfect.”
He closed his eyes and inhaled her sweet scent. The day really was perfect. She was perfect, and he didn’t want it to end.

Giveaway Time:  
We are going to try something new….. Please use the following forms to enter. 






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Book Feature: Sweet Irish Kiss by Joanne Kenrick

*Waves hi* Thanks so much for hosting a stop on my Sweet Irish Kiss book tour with Sizzling PR. I’m psyched to be here, and to share an excerpt from my first addition to the multi-author www.decadentpublishing.com series called 1NightStand. Yes, I said my first. That’s because I’ve a second coming out; Dracula’s Kiss releases in October, and if you love vampire romance, and are rather partial to a sexy Scotsman and spooky castle ruins with connections to Bram Stoker’s Dracula, then you’ll LOVE IT!
But first, we get to enjoy my hottie Irish Bar dude. Here’s the book trailer, blurb and buy links…you know, in case you feel compelled to want this Irish hottie in your eReader 🙂 Psst, the full recipe for an Irish Kiss, a Baileys cocktail almost as smooth as Shaun Bell, is within the story…as is the recipe for Shaun’s version.

BLURB: Shaun Bell, a divorced workaholic, spends all his time tending bar in his Irish Pub. He’s ready to love again, but the women who visit his bar are only after his infamous Irish cocktails. At the advice of his darts team over a tanker or two of Beamish, he applies to 1Night Stand to get back into the swing of things and enjoy the company of a woman specially selected for him by Madame Evangeline.
Rachel Taylor has issues. Her father broke her mother’s heart with his cheating and Rachel swore never to let that happen to her, but one ruined relationship after another and she’s realized she’s got to get over being closed off to men. Perhaps a one-night stand is just the baby step she needs to begin to build trust again.
A match seemingly made in heaven…until morning rolls around and Shaun can’t bring himself to say good-bye. Can he win her over with his secret weapon, a Sweet Irish Kiss, or is Rachel still too scared to love?
BUYLINKS

BOOK TRAILER TO BE INSERTED BY BLOGGER:

This excerpt has been ‘bleeped’ out to make it a PG-13. Please keep in mind that Sweet Irish Kiss does contain mature content and is not suitable for minors. Thank you.

Shaun spun and checked himself in the pristinely clean glass door that led into the penthouse suite. Ugh. His hair sat all skewed to the right, so he ran his fingers through his thick, deep brown locks and attempted to sort his style out. Instead, his actions forced the front to revolt and flop over his face in true Hugh Grant style.
“For bleep’s sake.He tapped his fingers on the tempered glass and frowned at his reflection. Not too shabby, he figured, besides the hair. Plain black slacks and a pin-stripe cotton shirt. His mum had always said darker colors flattered him because he worked out, and his shoulders and arms had attracted most of the bulk. Of course that could also have something to do with the fact he rode a motorbike to work every morning. London traffic was bloody awful and he’d quickly learned to maneuver in and out like a pro. Moving a bike like that was bound to build up certain muscles.
It had been overcast and drizzly all day. True to typical Brit weather, not knowing if it was coming or going, the mid-August evening air had warmed up.
He undid a couple of shirt buttons and made himself comfortable on a sun chair to enjoy the scenery. He could see Knightsbridge below and the London Eye in the distance.
Impatience grabbed at him and edged him to fidget and count the seconds drag by. He stood and paced the tiny space the balcony offered, sipping on an iced whiskey from the mini bar and watching people scurry by below. Each time he saw a woman alone, he wondered if it was her. But they all passed by.
“She’s not coming. Stood up by a sure thing. Stood up by a paid sure thing. That could only happen to me.”
“Rachel.He smiled. R-rachel.He liked the way her name sounded, and the way the R resonated in his mouth and rolled off his tongue.
He checked the time again. Ten minutes late, but it felt more like an hour.
He finished another drink and readied himself to hit up the mini bar, again. The clicking and fumbling sounds of someone trying to get a card key to work and a woman swearing several times made him glance toward the door. Rachel, he presumed, and chuckled. Before he could even debate heading over to help, the doors swung open like they’d been forced apart by a crowd of vampire hunting, log lunging, flaming torch throwing villagers. Or his regulars at Bell’s ready for happy hour
And there she stood. Holy mother of….
Would ya look at that.

JoAnne Kenrick, an ex-Ghost Tour Guide and Holistic Therapist, is a Welsh lass who has lived in various countries around the world. She now calls North Carolina her home, where she lives with her husband, two children and a lazy cat. When they aren’t demanding her attention, she can most likely be found watching a vampire movie, reading or baking up a British storm in her N.C. kitchen. That is, when she isn’t writing or chatting up a storm on social networking sites. www.joannekenrick.com

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Winner

The winner of Gena Showalter’s 
The Darkest Surrender 

is
Amy
angeldream3(AT)gmail(dot)com

Amy, please email me your snail mail address. 

Winner has been notified by email 
Winner chosen by random.org
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Guest blog with Regan Hastings (& giveaway, 1 here and 1 over at Regan’s blog)

Regan Hastings’ Self-Indulgent Fantasy
Regan Hastings is the dark alter ego of USA TODAY bestselling author Maureen Child. VISIONS OF SKYFIRE, the second book of The Awakening series of dark paranormal romances, is available now.
I’m a writer, so by definition, I have a very active imagination. Lately, I have begun to fantasize about taking a bath. Is there anything more deliciously self-indulgent than a bubble bath? I’ve been forced to satisfy myself with quick showers for a couple months.

You see, my house is on the market, so I have a nightmare that the minute I step into a tub, a real estate agent will show up with a suburbanite couple and their 2.5 children. And of course, I will have forgotten to lock the bathroom door. Which means Realtor Bob, Mr. and Mrs. Straightlace, and their kids Billy, Sally, and Halfsie will hover in the doorway in open-mouthed shock at the lady in the fluffy towel who is frantically trying to distract them with the beautiful tile floor … which they would appreciate if only they would avert their eyes!
(I did mention I have an active imagination, didn’t I?)
In VISIONS OF SKYFIRE, the second book of The Awakening, Teresa Santiago is on the run with her Eternal mate, Rune, desperately fleeing the Bureau of Witchcraft. Teresa is a witch, and the BOW won’t rest until she’s dead.
The worst thing about being on the run, to me, would be not being able to take a bath. (Well, okay, the worst thing would be the gunfire … but not being able to take a bath is a close second.) Here’s a brief excerpt from VISIONS OF SKYFIRE, showing Rune’s wildly romantic surprise for his witch …
Taking her hand, Rune led her toward the far wall of the sumptuous cave and then behind yet another wall of crystal-studded rock. He lit the torch within to display even more wonderful secrets.
“A hot tub?” She bent over the rocky ledge of a pool of steaming water and dipped one hand into the froth. Heat pulsed through her and she nearly sighed with pleasure.
“It’s not a shower,” he told her with another smile, “but I think it’ll do.”
“Are you kidding?” she asked. “It’s great.”
“Glad you approve. It’s fed from an underground spring,” Rune told her, then showed her another alcove. “It drains through here . . .”
Teresa looked, realized what she was seeing and laughed, delighted. It wasn’t the Ritz, and in fact it looked more like what she assumed a medieval garderobe was like, but at least she wouldn’t have to run into the desert at night to relieve herself. “This is so great, Rune. I don’t even know what to say.”
She turned to smile up at him and found him watching her with amusement and something . . . else in his eyes. Those pale gray depths were awash with secrets and emotions. As if she could sense exactly what he was thinking and feeling, she shivered in response. That low curl of heat and expectation at the very core of her had returned and it was all she could do not to moan softly as need pulsed inside her along with the beat of her heart.
“You feel it, don’t you?” he whispered, even that faint hush of sound seeming to echo against the rocks.
“Yes,” she said, not bothering to pretend she didn’t know what he was talking about. What would have been the point?
“We begin the Mating tonight.”
She lifted her chin to meet his gaze squarely, so that he could see her own determination to accept their joined destiny. She only hoped he couldn’t read her trepidation as easily. “Yes, we will.”
What do you do that’s self-indulgent? What’s your pleasure – bubble baths or something else?
If you enjoyed the excerpt of VISIONS OF SKYFIRE, please visit www.reganhastings.com to read the first chapter. If you answer a simple question, you’ll be in the running for a $50 Amazon e-gift card. You can use it to buy a wicked cool Halloween costume, or you can use it to buy books. Up to you! The winner will be chosen at random from among all the correct answers on October 15.
Giveaway Time: 
Because I love Regan’s books so much I will be giving away an e-copy of Visions of SkyFire (purchased by me) to one commenter. 
To Enter: 
Go over to Regan’s Blog www.reganhastings.com
Read the 1st Chapter of Visions of Skyfire and
answer Regan’s question to enter her giveaway.
THEN come back here and tell me you entered. 
Please leave your email (NO email, NO Entry)
Being a blog follower is always good. 

Extra Entry for every place you share this post
Facebook, Twitter, Your Blog, Good reads
Please leave link. 

My giveaway will end Oct 14th. 
Winner will be announce Oct 17th

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The Birth of Jaiden by Jennifer Malone Wright

The Birth of Jaiden
Jennifer Malone Wright

Long ago, a prophecy was foreseen. A child would be born, a child who held the power to destroy the world. Now, it is up to Alexander Lucas, a one-hundred-year-old vampire, to keep the baby girl safe from his arch enemy Malcolm.
In order to save her, Alexander must raise the child as his own. Will he be able to resist his vampire tendencies to care for a human baby? With the help of the wisest of the supernatural, an organization called The Great Council, Alexander must face many battles to ensure the safety of this very special child.
Jennifer Malone Wright resides in the beautiful mountains of northern Idaho with her husband and five children. Between the craziness of taking care of her children, whose ages range from fifteen all the way down to one year, and being a homemaker, Jennifer has little time left for herself. The time she does have left, usually leading far into the night, is spent working on freelance work or her beloved fiction.
When she grew up, Jennifer always had her nose in a book. She has been writing stories and poems since grade school. This love of the written word and her strong interest in the paranormal is what has led to her first novel “The Birth of Jaiden.”
In addition to being a mother and homemaker, Jennifer is also a very proud military wife. Moving around the country for the last ten years has made her a bit of a nomad and she finds it difficult to be in one place for too long.
Links
Website / Facebook / Twitter / Trailer

Expert from The Birth of Jaiden

Electric tingles of nervousness that vampires seldom feel
traveled through Alex’s body. The colossal sky slowly
turned from black, to gray, and even more slowly to blue.
They kept their thoughts to themselves as they waited in
silence. Alex squeezed Danielle’s hand and thought of how
all those years, with all of his hopes and dreams, he had
never thought he’d ever get to see another sunrise, the thing
he wanted more than anything.
Slivers of clouds mingled together in a pastel dance of
pinks, purples, and hazy oranges, then parted again and
made way for the huge ball of fire that rose into the sky.
Every emotion took its turn with Alex. Excitement replaced
the nervousness and he wondered how a dead heart could
beat so wildly. As the tip of the sun rose, his eyes slammed
shut in pain.
“Aaaahhhh!”
His free hand flew up to his head while a million tiny
knives stabbed into his brain.
“Alex! Are you ok?” Danielle asked.
“I’m fine.” He pried his eyes open slowly, trying to give
them time to adjust. There was no way anyone could spend
years in darkness and not feel tremendous pain with their
first glimpse of sunlight. The burning continued intensely,
but he had every intention of seeing this through.
While the sun rose ever so slowly, he felt joy spreading
within him but it also felt like there was a molten warmth
spreading there as well. Determined to ignore any feelings of
discomfort, he kept his eyes on the expanse before him.
The sun made its final assent when a volcano erupted
inside of him and filled his veins with scorching lava.
“Noooo!” Alex cried out and clutched his free hand to his
stomach.
“Jeremiah! His hands!” Now, Danielle’s voice was close to
hysteric. Even as Alex crumpled to the ground, she would
not let go of his hand.
His skin felt like bubbling hot wax. He wrenched his eyes
away from the sunrise to look at his hands and saw large
smoking burns on his skin. His mouth opened to scream, yet
nothing came out.
Alex quickly returned his eyes to the sky. He didn’t care
that he was burning or that he couldn’t speak; it seemed as if
every feeling and thought faded into the background. He
knew he was in some kind of trouble, yet, to him, it was all
happening in slow motion.
Alex refused to look away from the sun.
“Alex! Close your eyes!” Jeremiah hollered at him.
He didn’t think about Jaiden or Isabella or even God, only
about himself. Overcome by the joy of the moment, he
refused to see what was happening to him.
“Alex, do it!”
He heard Danielle’s voice in the distance.
“Danielle, take his legs.”
Smoke rose into Alex’s line of vision.
“We have to get him into the basement. It is the safest
place,” Jeremiah told Danielle.
“Hurry, let’s get him.”
Alex couldn’t speak. He couldn’t tell them to stop. He
wasn’t sure if it was because he could not speak or because he
was so mesmerized by the rising sun. He could feel them
dragging him across the porch.
No, no, no, he told himself. He wouldn’t let them take
from him what he had missed most all of those years. Anger
welled up inside him. How could they do that, knowing how
much it meant to him? How could they take away his
moment?
Alex had no idea how badly he was injured. He had no
idea what it could do if he stayed in the sunlight much
longer. Danielle, who was very strong, was at his feet, but
Jeremiah was mortal and old, which made him weak.
Jeremiah held him underneath each of his arms and
attempted to drag Alex into the house. Suddenly, to their
surprise, Alex twisted violently and landed face down on the
wooden porch.
His legs had come free from Danielle’s grip and he started
to crawl back into the sunlight.
Danielle screamed, “Get him, Hurry!”
Jeremiah grabbed the back of his coat and yanked back
but his strength was nothing compared to Alex’s. Jeremiah
lost his grip and fell on his backside.
Yes, yes! Alex thought. I am going to make it. I am going to
live in the day!
Common sense had completely left him and they were
dealing with a crazed vampire.
Suddenly, his head was forced down onto the porch and
the rest of his body was flattened against it too. Danielle had
tackled him like a football player. She sat atop his body and
held his hair in her fist.
“I’m sorry, Alex.”
With that, she pulled his head back and slammed it into
the porch, face first, with her incredible strength.
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Guest Blog & Giveaway with Naima Simone

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to let Naima take over the blog today and talk about Fairy Tales. 
Take it away Naima. 



Misfits: The Fairy Tales’ Misunderstood

So lately I’ve been kind of preoccupied with fairy tales. It’s almost as if I’m writing a series on them with some really cool, sexy name like Fairy Tales Unleashed. Or something like that. As I was saying, I’ve been reading a lot of fairy tales lately. You have your old favorites. Sleeping Beauty. Snow White. Beauty and the Beast. And then there are your lesser known tales. Brother and Sister. The Six Swans. The Bushy Bride. Seriously, I did not make that up. Reading these stories have brought back so many memories of my mother, sister and I sitting on the couch while she read The Boy Who Cried Wolf and Billy Goat Gruff to us. *sigh* Those were great times. Great stories. And some serious WTF moments. Listen, I know the great thing about fairy tales is the happily-ever-after but, man, some characters were stuck with really raw deals! I mean they were shafted! I know what you’re thinking. That’s crazy talk! Or get a grip! But follow me here for a moment…
The Six Swans. In this story the most obvious people wronged are the six brothers that were turned into swans by their evil stepmother. But the sister, who not only has to sew—sew?? For real??—six shirts for them is also struck mute and is unable to laugh for six years—the number of years she has to complete these shirts before the enchantment is permanent. Raw deal #1. Then a king sees her, is mesmerized by her beauty and marries her. All good, right? But no, another wicked stepmother steals all three babies she births and blames their disappearance on the sister/queen. Does king-y stand by his woman? Nooo. Instead she’s sentenced to burn at the stake. Shaft #2. Just as the match is ready to be set to kindle, the six swan brothers flock to her, she throws the shirts that she’s finally finished in the air and her brothers return to human. Yay! Except, here’s Shaft #3. She didn’t have time to finish the sleeve of the youngest brother’s shirt so he has to live life with one wing. *&^%$#!!!
Rumpelstiltskin. The princess was treated so wrong, right? Wrong! There was one character in this story crying out here. And that was Rumpelstiltskin! Rumpy—as we’re calling him because, hey, Rumpel-etc.-etc. is simply too much to type!—is used for his talents, lied to, cheated on and he’s the bad guy. Now the miller’s daughter is conscripted into doing the impossible—turning straw into gold—because of liar-dreams-of-grandeur father. She faced execution from the greedy king but Rumpy shows up and does the task for a small price. I mean really, what’s a ring and necklace compared to her life? Well when Rumpy requests her firstborn in exchange for the last ginormous pile of straw, the miller’s daughter agrees. I mean she never imagined the greedy-selfish-fill-my-coffers-with-gold-or-I’ll-decapitate-you king would offer his hand in marriage and she would actually have a baby. So of course that’s enough reason to renege! What did Rumpy do but hold up his end of the bargain? He didn’t throw his daughter to the wolves. The miller did that. He didn’t threaten an innocent woman with beheading over the idea of gold. No, the kind did that. And he didn’t go back on his word, not delivering on his end of the bargain. The queen did that. So what does Rumpy get for being a man of his word? One foot in hell. Literally. Now I know what you’re thinking. But he wanted her baby. Look, I have kids and let’s face it. After one week with the kid, he would’ve given it back!
 Sleeping Beauty. Just purge the Disney version of this tale out of your mind. Sleeping Beauty had her happily-ever-after but she went through straight Not-Heaven before she got it! First because Queen Mom neglected to invite one pissed-off fairy, Sleeping Beauty ended up with a curse over her head that they didn’t tell her about! Forget the fact that due to mom’s mistake—drink more ginkgo, lady!—a lot of people lost their livelihood with the banishment of the spindle! If they had only told Sleeping Beauty about the curse she wouldn’t have went anywhere near that spinning wheel, not to mention the creepy old lady locked up in a room she knew nothing about! That’s sooo not a red flag. So she pricks her finger and falls into a coma-like sleep for one hundred years. One hundred years! Do you know how many balls, parties and fashions she missed in a century? So she awakens to a kiss from a prince with no gum in sight. Que music. They all lived happily-ever…*screech* Nope, that’s so not the end of this story. The prince secretly weds Sleeping Beauty and keeps her his little secret from his stepmother. In the meantime he continues to make booty calls and she has two children. Where do these princesses in these tales find these men? Well when his father kicks the bucket, he ascends to the throne—and surprise!—springs his ready-made family on the stepmother, who happens to be wicked (No! Didn’t see that coming!) and of ogress lineage. Talk about the mother-in-law from hell! Her husband leaves on some kingly duty and abandons his wife and children to the tender care of his stepmother. Tender as in tender meat, because that’s what she tries to turn them into. Succulent tender meat on her dinner table. Long story short, Sleeping Beauty has to face the voracious appetite of her Shrek-like mother-in-law, save her kids from becoming rack of lamb and elude a pit of vipers. King shows up just in time and stepmother ends up in her own viper pit. All this because Sleeping Beauty’s mother forgot a name…this whole thing could have been avoided if her mother had just made an invite list to that doggone christening!
Did I make a believer out of you yet? Do you see what I mean about raw deals? Ooh! Speaking of raw deals…that was a smooth introduction, wasn’t it…in my most recent release, A Perfect Fit: Fairy Tales Unleashed, Book 2, you’ll read about another fairy tale character who was incredibly misunderstood. See what I mean in the blurb below:
by Naima Simone

Blurb:

Once upon a time, there was a young woman of beauty, grace, and good nature…
Blah. Blah. Blah.
Rowyn Jeong knows her no-nonsense, less than warm personality cannot compare to her stepsister Cindy’s bubbly charm and beauty. Hey, everyone has their niche, right? But being the plainer, wicked stepsister has never bothered her more than when Darius Fiore reappears in her life. Darius Fiore, the man she indulged in a one-night stand with six months ago, the businessman threatening her position within her stepfather’s company, and the man her sister has her eyes—and hands—on.
Rowyn has never forgotten the man who allowed her to be someone else for a few sex-filled hours. Now that Darius has turned up in her territory, will he see past the hard exterior to the woman beneath, the one hungry for love and acceptance?
Link to booktrailer on You Tube:
A Perfect Fit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ND6qyU8KO80
Buy link: http://www.breathlesspress.org/Book/365

GIVEAWAY TIME!
This is a winner’s choice giveaway of E-Book  
You get your choice of A Perfect Fit or Loving the Beast (to learn more about Loving the Beast check out Naima’s website HERE)
Tell me which book you would e-book you would like. 
Leave me your email address 
Be a follower of my blog. 
Extra points:
+1 for sharing this guest blog on Facebook, Twitter, or your blog (please leave link) 
+1 Follow by email–>> over to the right under followers. 
Giveaway will end on Oct 10th
Winner will be announce Oct 12th. 
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Interview & Giveaway with Virna DePaul

Books-n-Kisses is very happy to welcome back Virna DePaul to the blog today.  

Virna DePaul is a former criminal prosecutor whose debut paranormal romantic suspense novel, Chosen by Blood (Book 1 in the Para-Ops series), came out May 3, 2011 by Berkley Books. Chosen by Fate (Book 2 in the Para-Ops series) launches October 4, 2011.
In addition, Virna writes contemporary romantic suspense for Harlequin Romantic Suspense (Dangerous to Her, September 2011) and HQN (Shades of Desire, April 2012).
Visit her at www.virndepaul.com

Books-n-Kisses:  Hi Virna, Welcome back to Books-n-Kisses. Last time you were here we talked about Chosen by Blood.  But today we are going to talk about book two in your Para-Ops series Chosen by Fate.  Thank you again for taking time out of your busy schedule to sit down and talk with me about your book series.
Virna: I am so happy to be back!  Thank you for having me again.
Books-n-Kisses: Last time you were here we learned a little about you. Let’s learn a little more
Q1):  Can you share with us something off of your bucket list?
Virna:  I’d love to be able to spend months at a time in Europe.  Right now, I’m thinking France!  J

Q2):   Let’s talk about your newest book Chosen by Fate.  Can you tell us a little about your book without giving away too much?
Virna: The Para-Ops team, the first special ops team formed by the FBI to recruit both humans and Otherborn, was introduced in Chosen By Blood.  In that book, we met Wraith and Caleb O’Flare, who tried very hard to deny the sexual attraction between them. Wraith and Caleb are the hero and heroine of Book 2, Chosen By Fate.  Wraith is the walking dead with no memory of her human life.  She has blue-tinged skin, hazy-eyes, and can’t be touched without feeling pain.  Caleb is the team’s human psychic shaman.  He wants only to heal Wraith.  Wraith and Caleb have to deal with the tension between pain and pleasure, a dichotomy that is brought to the forefront when they set out on their next mission, investigating a series of crimes in the feline community.


Q3):  What did you find the hardest part about writing Fates?
 Virna: The story is much more relationship-based than the first, so I really wanted to delve into the relationship while still giving the reader the action, complex world, and fast pace of Book 1.


Q4):  In 140 characters or less tell us about Wraith.
Virna:  A prickly, foul-mouthed ghost with blue skin and hazy eyes can’t be touched without feeling pain but desperately wants to belong to someone. 

Q5): Wraith’s Awakening, is a prequel to Para-Ops series.  I really enjoyed this free read; it gave me a great insight as to who Wraith is going to be. Where can the readers find this free read? 
Virna: I’m so glad you enjoyed it!   It’s the first story I’ve written in the first person and I loved getting so “close” to Wraith.  Here’s the link: ttp://hipwritergirls.typepad.com/justsoldabook/2011/06/free-prequel-novella-to-chosen-by-blood-wraiths-awakening.html


Q6):  What would you say is the most challenging & rewarding part of being an author?
Virna: The most challenging part is the self-doubt and having to hear how you’re vision of the story didn’t quite work for someone else.  The best part, of course, is hearing that a reader loved the story and connected with the characters.


Q7):  What gives you inspiration? Places, Music, Pictures, People?
Virna: All of the above.  I love beautiful surroundings and all kinds of music, but nothing beats being around the people I love.


Q8):  Do you have any writing rituals, things you have to have while you write?
Virna: Other than my laptop, no.  I am so amazed by people who can write out their stories.  I get too distracted by trying to be neat and can never write fast enough to keep up with my thoughts. 


Q9):  If you could sit down and ask any of your characters and ask any questions and they HAD to answer.  Who would you ask and what would you ask?
Virna:  Well, that’s easy. I’ve created a goddess, Essenia, in the Para-Ops Novels.  So I’d ask her the tough questions about creation and death. 

Q10):  Have you ever thought about co-writing a book? If yes, with who & why
Virna: I’ve thought about it several times.  Many of my friends are writers who have different strengths than I do.  It would be fun to see the different directions we could take a story.  However, I’m more of a “binge” writer.  I write in huge chunks rather than a little everyday.  I’m not sure that’s conducive to co-writing.


Q11): Who has been your most challenging character to write?
Virna: Knox Devereaux, the leader of the Para-Ops team, because he is a bundle of contrasts.  He reveres duty but yet feels deeply, and his desires don’t always coincide with his duty.  He’s a powerful leader who goes after what he wants, plus he’s an immortal vampire; it was a challenge to make him relatable to a reader. 


Q12):  Do you ever get writers block?  What do you do to get past it?
Virna:  I definitely get stuck.  Usually it’s because something about the characters or plot is eluding me, and I need to figure it out before I can really become immersed in the story.  I have a lot of good friends I can brainstorm with and that’s invaluable.


Q13):  What would you say is your biggest vise? Books, Shoes, Coffee, Hershey Kisses
Virna:  Books, definitely.  I have a Kindle, but I still prefer print books.  I have a hard time letting go of books even if I know I probably won’t get around to reading them. 


Q14):  Do you prefer to write series or stand-alone books? And Why?
Virna: I love writing series because I get to amp up the layers and subtleties, weaving them into the current story while at the same time knowing they will gain even more significance as the series continues.  I also love the idea of readers becoming attached to the world and characters I’ve created.  With each book, I’m challenged to create something that fits what came before but also has its own unique and compelling presence.


Q15):   Favorite Supernatural creature and why?
Virna: I love how vampires are often portrayed as both elegant and primal.  Weres are great because they are more overtly savage, but vampires have more of a seething, mysterious quality.  Maybe because I’m quiet but also complex, I like that vampires are multi-faceted.


Q16):   When did you decide you wanted to try your hand at writing a book?
Virna:  I first tried writing a novel after the birth of my first son in 2000.  I wrote about seven pages and then let self-doubt stall me.  I didn’t begin writing again until years later, when I was miserable at my law job and unwilling to let insecurity derail me.  

Q17):  Best piece of advice you ever received?
 Virna: Move forward despite your fear.
Q18):  What is the one book you think everyone should read?
Virna: I was going to say Macbeth, but I honestly don’t think there’s one.  People can read the exact same book and have totally different interpretations and experiences.  In a way, books mirror not only the author but also the reader—each is going to relate to the characters through their own unique circumstances. 
Q19):  What is next in the Para-Ops Series
 Virna:  I’m currently working on Chosen By Sin, which is about the team’s werebeast, Dex Hunt. 
Q20):  Is there anything specific you’d like to say to your readers and fans while we have you with us today?
 Virna: Just that I appreciate anyone who takes a chance on me, whether it’s by reading me for the first time, or reading my next story.  I’m a huge reader who has been inspired and empowered by books, and I would love to bring that experience to others.  
Books-n-Kisses:  Virna, it has been a pleasure to get to know you better thank you so much again for joining us today!  We have really enjoyed hosting this web Event for you and getting the word out about the new Para-Ops series.
Virna:  Thank you so much for having me, Kelly!  Sometimes I can’t believe I’m actually writing stories that others are reading.  I hope to do it for a long time!
Giveaway Time:
Virna is going to be giving away a $10 Amazon gift card.
To Enter:
Be a follower of Books-n-Kisses blog
Please leave email address
Extra entry for each place you share this giveaway Facebook, Twitter, Your Blog.  Please leave link
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Musa Publishing Launch!!!!

Contact Elspeth McClanahan                                    
Permission to forward granted
Phone 919-877-0375                                                   
For Immediate release
Email Promotions@MusaPublishing.com
Ebooks,Penumbra eMag, and so much More
Musa Publishing Opens its Electronic Doors
After months of editing, designing, contracting, and formatting Musa Publishing launches on October 1, 2011. The E-publisher opens with a large catalogue including Penumbra Speculative Fiction eMag, new works by three bestselling authors, and the full backlist of Aurora Regency, featuring traditional Regency romances and historical fiction.
Penumbra eMag  http://www.musapublishing.com/index.php? main_page=product_info&cPath=6&products_id=12
Penumbra’s inaugural issue is a collection of speculative fiction stories that encompass the arts–the arts we love and revere. Some of these stories deal with the arts we’re familiar with. Some create arts we haven’t thought of and some resurrect arts buried in the depths of the past.  And yet, all of these offerings celebrate the creative process, which makes them a fitting theme to launch Penumbra–an enterprise that will showcase the creative work of speculative fiction authors each month with a new collection of works within the genre.

New Works by


Gini Koch

The Martian Alliance 1: The Royal Scam
http://www.musapublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=6&products_id=13
Things aren’t what they seem to be when Princess Olivia of Andromeda jumps aboard a spaceship to escape a loveless marriage.
Join the crew of the Hummingbird as they take on the rich, famous and sleazy of the galaxy. They’re also on a long-term secret mission, so it’s a good thing they’re the best con artists, spacers, and roughnecks in the Milky Way, because they need all their skills to pull off this particular Royal Scam.

Cindi Myers

West with the Wind
http://www.musapublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=8&products_id=19
More than gold awaits two lovers at the end of the trail.
Mariah Tate and her dog, Worthy, persuade veteran guide Campbell Jefferson to let them join his expedition headed to California. Camp can’t say no to the beautiful widow, but his need to protect her soon clashes with her need to keep secrets. Mariah left more than bad memories behind in Pennsylvania and her growing attraction to the stoic but surprisingly sensitive Camp forces her to face up to the consequences of the choices she’s made. Camp doesn’t know what Mariah’s hiding, but he’s determined not to let the only woman who ever made him want to settle down get away. He pursues her across the prairies, through stampedes, Indian raids, desert drought and mountain snows. In the gold camps of California, Camp will discover Mariah’s secret, and prove the love she wants most isn’t out of reach.
And the return to writing after five years for USA Today Bestselling Author
Sharon De Vita
The Estrogen Posse http://www.musapublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=20
“The Estrogen Posse is a hoot! I laughed, I cried, I couldn’t put it down! For every woman who needs a pick me up, this is the book for you!”
Janet Evanovich, NYT bestselling author of the Stephanie Plum mystery series
Once upon a time Ellie Briotti had a quiet life as a suburban housewife.
Until…she confronts her wealthy husband Nicky about doing the pecker polka with another woman, and Nicky tosses Ellie out of his life like some misbehaved household pet.
Until…Gram Crackers, her dotty mother begins passing out house keys to homeless bums.
Until…Joey, her eleven-year old son starts on a new career path: breaking and entering.
Until…Rina, her best friend, a single, successful, entrepreneur learns she’s about to become a mother.
Until…Candi, Nicky’s 22-year-old mistress turns up murdered with traces of furniture polish on her bare backside!
A rip-roaring ribald mystery about a woman’s journey to discover what she really wants in life. Now, if Ellie can keep her son from becoming a second-story man, while trying to hide everything from the gorgeous cop who’s started sniffing around, Ellie might be able to get a new life.
That is—if she doesn’t go to jail for murder first!

Aurora Regency

Musa has acquired Aurora Regency and Aurora Regency Historicals. Within the next month over forty books in this line will be available to Regency and Historical Romance buffs to enjoy.
Stop by www.MusaPublishing.com check out the books already for sale as well as those coming soon. Over the next few weeks, Musa will offer literature geared for every reader’s tastes. Musa aims to offer well writing, interesting stories, all at a price that doesn’t bite into your check book.
  
“Hearts set upon song, spirits free from care”~ Hesiod
# # #
If you’d like more information about Musa Publishing, please contact Elspeth McClanahan at Promotions@Musapublishing.com or go to our blog http://musapublishing.blogspot.com/
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Winner

The winner of  Virna DePaul’s Chosen by Blood 
 is 
Alainala
Please email me your Snail Mail 
to 
books.n.kisses (AT) gmail(DOT) com

winner has been notified by email
winner pick by random.org

Posted on

OMG!! I have been Nominated for an award!!!

I am so extremely flattered that The ParaNormal Romanace Party has nominated Books-n-Kisses for The Harder,Better, Faster, Stronger Award. The award was created to honor those whose blogs who exemplify the qualities Katherine “Kitty” Katt has — those who always stay cutting edge, who always find the fun, the funny, and the cool, and who are always one step ahead of the competition.



I am so honored and totally & absolutely surprised.  Thank you to the ParaNormal Romance Party Blog and a HUGE THANK YOU to GiniKoch for hosting this AWESOME award.  So to show my love I am nominating 5 other bloggers who I think would live up to Kitty high level of standards.

Nominees, your mission if you choose to accept it is to go here http://ginikoch.com/winstuff.htm and follow the instructions listed at Gini Koch’s website.
Posted on

Guest blog with Minnette Meador

I am so glad to be here at Books N Kisses to celebrate the release of THE GLADIATOR PRINCE, the third book in the Centurion series. Unlike the first two books, this story is a completely standalone novel. I thought I’d share an excerpt, sort of the classic “marry me and I will save your love” moment! We’ve been having a blast on the tour and I was very excited to share one of the last days with my good friend Kelly! So, here we go…
THE GLADIATOR PRINCE
By Minnette Meador
CHAPTER XXXVIII
By the end, Phaedra found herself inside Hasani’s arms, sobbing against his shoulder.
Pulling in a shaking breath, she finally pushed herself away from him and gathered her arms around her chest. Moving deeper into the shadows, she leaned against the wall, fighting to get her emotions in check.
“Let me take you to the ship.”
“No,” she replied quietly. “I have to save them.”
The hand on her shoulder tightened, and he turned her around to face him. “How?” he asked harshly. “Do you expect to march into the arena and carry them away?” His face softened, and he tucked two fingers under her chin. “I am sorry, Phaedra, but you need to face facts. There is nothing you can do on your own.”
She pulled her shoulder out of his hand and turned away. “Maybe not.” Turning back, she laced her fingers together and stared up at him. “You could help me.”
Hasani’s eyes narrowed, but he gave her a half smile. “Perhaps.” He stroked his chin and searched her face. “What is there for me? Granted, even if we could come up with a plan to get them out of there, then what? You go back to your gladiator.”
“If you were a decent man…”
“I believe my decency has been well established,” he said. “Something else.”
Phaedra pushed down her disgust and swallowed. “I could pay you.”
“I do not need money,” he said coldly.
Phaedra licked her lips. “We can help you escape the Romans. You are wanted…”
He laughed out loud and it startled her. The sound echoed down the portico and came back to them in an eerie chorus.
“The Romans have always wanted me, little sparrow, and yet I still come and go as I please in this city.” His eyes twinkled in the torchlight. “No, something more.”
Stepping away from him, Phaedra hit the wall, afraid of what she saw in those eyes. “If it is my body you desire then take it!” she spat at him. “Just help me.”
Hasani circled to her right and leaned against the wall very close to her. She could feel his hot breath on her neck. “Trust me, if it were only your sweet body I wanted, I would have taken it before now.” She lifted her hand to strike him, but he caught it and kissed each finger. “No, little bird, I want only what is my due. You were promised to me in marriage. That is what I will take in exchange for their lives.”
She glared at him. “There was never any real promise of marriage. You know that.”
“Guarantees were made and an agreement signed by myself and your father.” He pulled her face toward him to look into her eyes. “Your dowry sits safe and sound in a chest on my ship and a handsome one at that.”
Pulling away from him, Phaedra stepped back in wonder. “You are not serious.”
“Quite serious.”
“You would let Bahar die, if I do not promise…”
“In a fleeting heartbeat, my love. You underestimate the power you have over my soul. I have loved you since I saw you flitter through the garden at your father’s home toward the ludus. Believe me, when I set my mind on something, I will not be denied. If I could not take you in slavery, then I will take you in marriage.”
Phaedra’s heart quickened and she turned away from him, trying to get her wits wrapped around what he was saying. “I do not love you. I love Thane,” she whispered more to the wall than to him.
A hot hand slid down her bare arm sending shivers through her. “I do not need your love. Only your obedience. Love will come when it may.”
“What if I refuse you?”
He wrapped his other arm around her waist and pulled her quickly to his chest. She could feel his bulging manhood against her back and his hot breath against her ear. “Then I leave Bahar and the gladiator to their fate and sail you to your father. I hope you do not have delusions that you could possibly escape me,” he added. “The voyage back would prove… interesting.” His lips touched the back of her neck, and she struggled to get out of his arms. His grip was as tangible as iron.
It was hard to push the words out of her throat. Her stomach twisted into knots making her nauseous. “If I agree,” she breathed, “you will promise to help me. On your word?”
“My word is fickle at best, little bird, but I will give you what assurances I can. I swear to you, if you promise to become my wife, I will use everything at my disposal to rescue Bahar and even Thane. Do I have that promise?”
She could not get the words out of her mouth. A rush of gall trapped in her throat that she had to swallow. In a quick rush, Hasani twirled her around until he pinioned her against the cold marble pillar. His dark eyes were stern, yet amused.
“Quickly, beauty, or I may change my mind. Do I have your promise?”
The late evening darkness fell like a veil over her eyes, and they shut over hot tears. Behind them Thane’s handsome honest face stared down at her, and those bright blue eyes pieced her heart.
“Yes,” she whispered. “I give you my promise.”
Pulling her close, Hasani crush her lips with his, and Phaedra’s world slipped away.
THE GLADIATOR PRINCE
a historical romance
by Minnette Meador
Book III of the Centurion Series
(a standalone novel)
RELEASE DATE: August 17, 2011
Resplendence Publishing

Prince Thane is the last surviving royalty of the Trinovantes Tribe in Roman Britannia, having surrendered to the Romans to save his two young daughters, whose identities he sacrifices his freedom to protect. He is condemned by Nero himself to become a gladiator, to fight until he dies in the arena. When his two daughters are taken in a slaver’s raid, Thane escapes to find them. 
Phaedra holds a terrible secret that would mean the death of her younger brother. Her only hope is to force the gladiator to protect them as they flee to Rome. He reluctantly agrees. Little does he know that the beautiful Syrian woman holds not only the key to his passion, but a secret that triggers a disaster that ignites the world. Will this spoiled willful girl betray him in the end or sacrifice herself to save them all? 

Minnette loves to hear from her readers.  Information about her work can be found at her website, and her blog is a bit less formal and a great place to interact with her!

Minnette’s Web Site ~ Amazon Author Page ~ Facebook ~Twitter ~ Blog
Minnette’s Other Books:
THE CENTURION SERIES:
THE GLADIATOR PRINCE ~ THE CENTURION & THE QUEEN ~ THE EDGE OF HONOR
PARANORMAL ROMANTIC COMEDY:
 A GHOST OF A CHANCE
EPIC FANTASY (YA APPROPRIATE):
STARSIGHT I ~ STARSIGHT II
URBAN FANTASY THRILLER – October 26th Release!
COMING OCTOBER 29TH!

THE BELL STALKER – Excerpt
an urban fantasy thriller
by Minnette Meador
RELEASE DATE: October 26, 2011
Resplendence Publishing

For a year, Belle Stark has struggled to conquer fears plaguing her since being attacked by a maniac who continues to roam free and the murder of her father. And she nearly succeeds, until she discovers her lover’s murdered body spread over the furniture, making Belle a prime suspect. Certain her attacker is to blame, she seeks help from her ex-husband, homicide detective Mike Cranston, the one person she swore she would never let back into her life, or heart. In their hunt for answers, the two uncover more than a lunatic: a supernatural underworld hidden beneath the tall skyscrapers of the city and a secret that could kill them both. Faced with a terrible choice, Belle surrenders herself to the hands of a monster and Mike must solve an ancient mystery before it’s too late to save her—
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thanks again, Kelly for putting up with all this frivolity. It has been an honor. M:o)