Carly Phillips's Blog: Carly's Web Blogs, page 65

The Bachelor

BLOG: The Bachelor … no I don’t mean my book but the show.  I really am not a fan of the television show. I don’t like that 27 women (or men on The Bachelorette) are vying for one man.  It’s gross.  He’s kissing everyone.  He can’t say I love you.  They do, not knowing what’s at the end. Where’s the self respect? That said, it makes DARN GOOD TV.  There.  I admitted it.  But I do think it was more this season because there was just so much DRAMA.  Even this bachelor managed to create drama around himself.  HE CRIED.  Often.  Not just because I write manly Alpha men in my books but to me? That’s a turn off.

This year’s bachelor started off with everyone loving this sexy Latin man.  Let’s face it, Juan Pablo is a good looking guy!  But have you ever seen a bachelor who started off so wanted become so hated so fast? Andi went into the fantasy suite half in love with him and came out totally repulsed and done.  Two women left – not because of anything at home, not because the drama was too much for them, but because of HIM.

Still, last night’s The Women Tell All definitely showed women with sour grapes. That wasn’t as interesting as the women who really got close to him and had something to say.  I had blast watching it.  I’m not ashamed to admit it, although to quote Kelly Ripa, “I may feel a little dirty” afterwards, LOL.  After all … It’s all right!

Okay … let’s go.  Did you watch? Not watch? What did you think? Did you enjoy it on a laughter level like I did?

Book of My Heart

BLOG – Warning, Long Post ahead … but keep reading for the first ever teaser for DARE TO SURRENDER! July 15, 2013. 

For years, I was scheduled with books that I owed to a publisher and had no time to think about what, if anything, OTHER I’d like to write.  Interviewers and Bloggers would ask, what would you like to write that you haven’t already and I always said, I’m writing what I love.  And this was true.  100 % true.  Then, in the summer of 2012, my dad was dying.  We knew it, the doctors told us, and we were just waiting.  The last thing I could focus on was something I owed, something I had to do.  But being a writer, I still needed the escape.  That was part 1. 

Part 2 was that for about a year and a half prior to that, I’d been reading hotter romance.  BDSM romance.  Erotic romance.  And first person romance.  There as so much talk between me and Janelle (if you don’t know Janelle Denison aka Erika Wilde, she’s my BFF and my long time critique partner.  She reads everything as I write it.  And we talk books all the time.  So along with this “new to me” erotic romance market came the “Indie author” explosion.  And in this Indie Revolution as it’s been called, all the rules that we, as traditionally published and trained authors, who had been first bought and published by Harlequin or a NY Publisher, all the rules we’d been taught went out the window.  What rules you ask? Hard to explain but we just knew there were “Do’s” and “Don’ts”.  Suddenly I was reading first person romances that were all heart.  Authors were doing things traditional publishers frowned on or wouldn’t buy (Until these authors began hitting lists, then publishers lined up for them but that’s for another blog, LOL!).  Point is, my eyes had been opened to different and fabulous anyway writing.

Which leads me back to the book of my heart.  During that difficult summer, I opened up a blank page and started writing.  No plotting ahead, no prethinking, just writing.  Before I knew it, I had 100 pages of a “new and different” Carly Phillips book.  I did run it by a publisher, but it wasn’t what they wanted from ME.  And because I’d gotten behind on what I did owe during the time my dad was sick, I put the story away in a file labeled “Secret Project.”

Fast forward to a month or so ago when I was asked to be part of the INVITATION TO EDEN series with authors I’d been reading during this time and really really loved.  And you all know, I’ve always talked about what books I’m reading on my Facebook Fan page, and tried to steer you all towards those authors too.  Well, I had a thought – what if I took my secret project — made the hero a Dare Cousin – and finish this book of my heart and make it part of the DARE TO LOVE series … as well as the INVITATION TO EDEN series? 

This weekend, I reread and reworked those 100 pages of what is now called DARE TO SURRENDER and I am weepy when I say, it’s as awesome working on it as I remembered.  I hope hope hope you all love it as much as I do once it’s released in July.  But the truth is, I am in love.

TEASER: FIRST EVER! MEET ISABELLE:

I was arrested a mile outside of Manhattan.  Grand theft auto, the cop said.  Bullshit, I replied.  The baby Benz belonged to me.

Still, he cuffed me and hauled me to the nearest police station.  He said his name was Officer Dare and he was a dark haired man, tall, taller than Lance, who prided himself on his height, and broader from what I could tell beneath his uniform.  His intense expression never wavered.  All seriousness, all the time, but I sensed he’d be handsome if he smiled.  So far, he hadn’t.

Once inside the typical looking police station – not that I’d seen the inside of one before – but what I’d thought one would look like from Law and Order – he sat me beside his wooden desk, and cuffed me to the desk! 

I ought to be scared but some stupid part of me had already decided this new part of my life was some grand adventure.  At least it was until Officer Dare asked me to empty my pockets and divested me of my last $500 dollars, cash I’d taken from the extra stash I kept in my nightstand.

He thumbed through the bulging stack of twenties in never ending silence.

The money represented my lifeline.  “I’ll need to eat when I get out of here,” I told my jailer.

He didn’t look up.  “You’ll get it back.”

“All of it?” I asked, as if I seriously believed a member of the police force would take a down on their luck woman’s chance at food. 

He set his jaw in annoyance.  “We log it and count it.  In front of you.  I was just about to do that … Ma’am.”

For some inane reason, I burst out laughing.  I’d gone from living in denial to homeless and arrested in a ridiculously short time.  This whole turn in my life really was absurd. 

I rubbed my free hand up and down over one arm.  “Don’t I get one phone call?”

He nodded and reached for the telephone on the desk.

I frowned, suddenly realizing I had no one to call.  Lance was out of the question and our friends were really his friends.  As for my parents, they didn’t remember my birthday, so something told me a late night call to pick up their daughter from jail would not be their number one priority. 

“Never mind,” I said softly.

The officer stared at me, confused.  “Now you don’t want to use the phone?”

“No thank you.”  Because I was totally, utterly alone. 

Nausea rose like bile in my throat and I dug my nails into my palms.  When I forced myself to breath deeply, the familiar burning in my chest returned and I realized I’d walked away without the one thing I never left home without and it wasn’t my license. 

“Any chance you’ve got some Tums?” I asked.

He ground his teeth together and I swear I heard his molars scraping.  “Okay, yeah.  I’ll get right on that,” he muttered and strode off. 

“I’ll just wait here,” I called back.  I lifted my arm the short distance the cuffs would allow and groaned. 

What felt like an endless stretch of time passed during which I reviewed my options, of which, once again, I had none. 

Now what, I wondered, utter and complete despair threatening for the first time.  Eventually I swallowed back the lump in my throat and forced myself to make the best of the situation. 

I kicked my feet against the linoleum floor.  Leaned back in the chair and studied the cracked ceiling.  Hummed along to the tune crackling on the radio in the background.  And yeah, I tried not to cry.

“You know, I thought it would take me longer to get you in cuffs.”  A familiar masculine voice that oozed pure sin sounded beside me.  @CP Publishing 2014, on sale July 15, 2014

Exclusive iBooks Preorder! CLICK HERE

All other outlets, book available on release date!

BACK COPY …

After ending a relationship to a cheating, domineering man, Isabelle Masters takes off in her leased Mercedes, only to be arrested for grand theft and hauled to a local police station. To her surprise, she is rescued by the most unlikely person possible, Gabriel Dare, a man she’s been attracted to for far too long. Gabe offers Isabelle freedom along with an invitation to Eden, an exclusive island resort where everything and anything is possible.

Although Gabe yearns to possess Isabelle, he knows all too well he must fight his primitive need to bind her to him, and instead help bring out the independent woman she yearns to become – or risk losing her for good.

A woman who needs to run her own life. A man who needs to exert control. Can she surrender to his erotic demands without losing her sense of self once more?

So … ??? What did you think?

 

Winners!

BLOG – Lots of Winners announced today!

~~ Friday’s Contest Winner – Heather Coulter ~~

The GOODREADS Giveaway  Winners:

~~ $20 Gift Card Giveaway Winner is: Cinnamon Chaisson ~~

6 – $10 Gift Card Winners!

1. Randi Nasen Newman

2. Miranda Lewis

3. Sue Peace

4. Gina Burgos

5. LaTanya Lawson

6. Alexa Marlene Woodin

Note – winners have already been contacted via email!

CONGRATULATIONS ALL and HAPPY SUNDAY!

DARE TO DESIRE BOOK TRAILER REVEAL!

Check out this fantastic video hosted by Ana’s Attic Book Blog!  To view: CLICK HERE or copy and paste:

http://anas-attic.com/anas_diary/dare-to-desire-by-carly-phillips-trailer-release-and-giveaway/

Video created by The BookChick Trailers.

 
Pre-order Dare to Desire, Coming April 10th. 2014
Amazon US | Amazon UK | iTunes

Also remember DARE TO DESIRE will be available at all online booksellers on release date (including print!).

So … what do you think of the video!?

Sharing Book Recs!

TODAY’S BLOG: I haven’t had a lot of reading time since I was busy finishing DARE TO DESIRE (For preorder links click on title, go to home page and watch scrolling screen) but … a few titles to share -

1. I had an early read of KIT ROCHA’S– BEYOND JEALOUSY – and I loved it as much as I loved every other book in the series. Just remember it’s Dystopian and hard core erotic romance.  Beyond sizzling and the relationships are awesome.

2. I’m currently reading JULIANA STONE’S — TUCKER — where we get to see Betty Jo Barker again – Woo Hoo! And if you haven’t read the Barker Triplets what in the world are you waiting for?

3. I also read WHISPER OF SIN a novella by the ever awesome NALINI SINGH and her Psy series. 

Maybe I’ve read more than i thought. WHAT ARE YOU READING?

Friday Giveaway!

OK so I still have the GOODREADS GIVEAWAY going on and today I’m giving a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

CLICK HERE TO ENTER!

.99 Sale

It’s important to me to let you know about sales … for ONE DAY ONLY — TRULY MADLY DEEPLY — my boxed set of older Carly Phillips novels (Perfect Partners, Solitary Man, The Right Choice) is on sale for .99! Since this is part of a promotion with other authors, I’m listing them for you here! Head on over to the online store links and buy what appeals to you!
Happy Reading!

 

For one day only, some of the RockStarLit PR Authors have come together to bring you an awesome sale! With titles from ME, Elle Chardou, Karla Doyle, Emma Grayson, Kendall Grey, Sloan Johnson, Kimberly Knight, Emily Minton, LB Simmons, and Tara Sivec all on sale for only 99¢!

All the titles and the links are below, so pick up a few great reads for the weekend or for when you need to curl up with a good book! But either way, be sure to grab them at this great price while you can!

Goodreads Amazon US | Amazon UK Barnes & Noble  

Goodreads Amazon US | Amazon UK Barnes & Noble

Goodreads Amazon US | Amazon UK Barnes & Noble

Goodreads Amazon US | Amazon UK Barnes & Noble

Goodreads Amazon US | Amazon UK Barnes & Noble
 
Goodreads Amazon US | Amazon UK Barnes & Noble
 

 

Goodreads Amazon US | Amazon UK Barnes & Noble

Goodreads Amazon US | Amazon UK Barnes & Noble

Goodreads Amazon US | Amazon UK Barnes & Noble

Goodreads Amazon US | Amazon UK Barnes & Noble

                                                                                   

Pick One …

Pick one item you tend to want to replace more often than it needs to be replaced.

Me – Handbag. I’m addicted to new purses.

Your turn. Ready, set, GO!

Carly Travel Stories

If you used to follow me on the Plotmonkeys Blog, you’ll know I am infamous for horror travel stories. 24 hours to get to Reno, stranded in Chicago, an hour and a half trip to a hotel in Denver that should only have been a five minute trip from the airport … well yesterday I came home from Florida and I am happy to say it was DRAMA FREE! Who knew I was capable? Just had to share that, LOL!

Other news … while away (it was school break so we were in Florida with family), I finished DARE TO DESIRE (4/10/14). Whoop! It involved 8-10 hour days but Alex and Madison are in the hands of my copy editor! Closer to being ready for you!

All that said, I’m beat! So I guess I’ll just ask a couple of unrelated questions …

1. Did you used to be a Plotmonkeys visitor or are you brand new to me blogging?

2. Are you a lucky or unlucky traveler?

DARE TO DESIRE & DARE TO SURRENDER PREORDERS!

Really exciting news! You can NOW PREORDER the next two books in the DARE TO LOVE series!

Dare to Desire – Alex and Madison’s story is available NOW for preorder at both Amazon & iBooks!

Dare to Surrender/ Invitation to Eden is available NOW for EXCLUSIVE preorder at iBooks!

Now a summary of how and when to get/buy/preorder the books in the DARE TO LOVE SERIES:
1. Dare to Love – available everywhere online in eBook and paperback now! Buy links at www.carlyphillips.com
2. Dare to Desire – available for preorder at both iBooks & Amazon – links in another post on this page and at www.carlyphillips.com
3. Dare to Surrender – available for preorder only at iBooks right now.

NOTE – ALL BOOKS IN THE SERIES will be available in eBook and paperback online ON THE DAY OF RELEASE so if you can’t preorder at your retailer of choice now, you WILL be able to purchase the books when they’re on sale. Check graphic or page header for release dates!

COMING SOON!

Dare to Love – in Audio!

Dare to Love – possibly in large print! Working on that as we speak!

QUESTION OF THE DAY: For those of you who still read in print only – HOW DO YOU PURCHASE YOUR BOOKS?

1. Online only – they come in the mail

2. In Bookstores only – which ones? Are you willing to order online if you can’t get my books any other way?

3. Whatever you want to tell me about this subject!

xo