Debra L. Martin's Blog, page 233

#Excerpt: TO TEMPT AN ANGEL by Patricia Grasso

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Patricia will be awarding a free eBook from Lachesis Publishing to a randomly drawn winner via the rafflecopter at the end of this post during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

NOTE: this book is FREE everywhere!  Buy links are at the end of this post -- why not download your own copy today?

Angelica Douglas has no idea that she’s the Countess of Melrose. What she does know is that she needs to support her family as a card shark, while finding a way to seek revenge on the men who ruined her father and sent her family spiralling down into poverty.

Robert Campbell, Marquess of Argyll, heir to the Duke of Inverary, has no idea who Angelica truly is. He just wants to watch over her and make her his mistress.

Angelica thinks Robert is simply a dashing rogue who is far too dangerous for her peace of mind. Robert thinks Angelica is an angel except when she’s being a pain in the behind.

When Robert finds out that his own father may have been one of the men who ruined Angelica’s family, he vows to keep a careful eye on her. When Angelica finds out that Robert’s father may have been one of the men responsible, she vows to stay as far away from Robert as possible. But when danger threatens, both Robert and Angelica must face the truth and let fate take the upper hand.

Enjoy an excerpt:

Angelica tossed the dice. A six and a one showed up.

“I’ll pass,” she announced, dropping the one hundred and twenty-eight pounds into her pocket.

Afraid to look at her victim, Angelica walked away without another word. She hadn’t gone more than a few feet when someone grabbed her arm. She whirled around, ready to defend herself.

“May I escort you home?” Robert asked, his smile charming.

Angelica was instantly suspicious. Did he want to steal her winnings? Or was his intention even more sinister? He was incredibly handsome, but her family came first. They depended on her for their survival.

“No, thank you,” she refused.

“You need protection,” he told her. “You carry a great deal of money.”

“Who will protect me from you, sir?” Angelica asked, arching a perfectly shaped brow at him.

“You don’t trust me?” Robert asked, giving her a lopsided grin.

“I trust no one,” she told him. “Especially men I don’t know.”

“We are merely friends who haven’t known each other very long,” Robert argued. “I let you cheat me out of a hundred and twenty-eight pounds. The least you can do is allow me to escort you home.”

“I never cheat,” Angelica insisted, and walked away.

“I suppose you don’t lie either,” he called.

Angelica quickened her pace. She squelched the urge to turn around to see if he was following her.

I'm a dog person. Who lives with 10 cats. Get the picture?

My first brush with the romance genre happened in my high school junior year. I discovered Gone With the Wind and hid it behind my American history book to read during class. (The Civil War is American history.) The ambiguous ending left me dissatisfied, though. Rhett and Scarlet needed a happily-ever-after. Believing in happily-ever-afters positively screams romantic-at-heart.

On the other hand, I love murder and mayhem as much as happily-ever-after. My usual television fare is fiction and nonfiction crime shows, not love stories. Which accounts for the mysteries I sneaked into my historical romances. Now I'm trying my hand at writing a humorous mystery, sans historical and sans emphasis on the love interest. I even prepared for my mystery-in-progress by attending the local NRA's Pistol School. Shooting pistols is great fun. I adore the .22 semiautomatics.

After graduating from high school without distinction, I earned both Bachelor and Master degrees at a state college. Again, without distinction. I held several part-time jobs during my college days: file clerk in an insurance company, long-distance telephone operator, kimono-wearing waitress in a Japanese restaurant.

And then I began my teaching career, eighteen years in the eighth grade and thirteen years at the high school. Weary with the same old routine, I decided I needed a creative outlet. So I decided to write a romance novel but only managed to talk about writing one. After five years of listening to me, a friend said to stop talking and start writing.

So I did.

I made every mistake known to man. Blunder would be a more appropriate word, but I did learn using the trial and error method. As well as studying the works of authors I admired.

After five years of writing for nothing but love, I sold my first novel. Since then, I've sold eighteen novels and won several awards--- National Readers' Choice Award New England Readers' Choice Award, Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice and KISS Awards, B. Dalton and Bookrak Awards for best-selling author. My novels have been translated into fifteen languages and sold in twenty countries.

If I had my life over, would I become a writer? Nope. I would enjoy being a Victoria Secret model. Perhaps in my next incarnation I won't be too old, too short, or too unphotogenic.

www.patriciagrasso.com

https://www.facebook.com/patricia.grasso.902

BN http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/to-tempt-an-angel-patricia-grasso/1005102935?ean=9781927555071

Kindle http://www.amazon.com/To-Tempt-Angel-Book-Douglas-ebook/dp/B00A2WZ1IC/ref=twoen-20

Kobo http://store.kobobooks.com/en-CA/ebook/to-tempt-an-angel-2

iBooks https://itunes.apple.com/ca/book/to-tempt-angel-book-1-douglas/id576045599?mt=11

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#Excerpt: LUCK OF THE DRAW by Cheri Allan

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Cheri will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift card to a randomly drawn winner and a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift card to another randomly drawn winner via the rafflecopter at the end of this post.

If only life had a refresh button...

Kate Mitchell never planned to be a 31 year-old widowed single mom, but when her soon-to-be-EX husband up and dies, her dreams of finishing college and starting over are thrown in the air like a game of 52 pick-up. When she’s given a leave of absence from work and told to “quit or recommit,” Kate retreats to idyllic Sugar Falls, New Hampshire, to figure out whether she can discover her passion and pay the bills. Cue the fresh air, summer sunshine and one sexy local contractor.

Tall, dark, and handy…

Volunteer fireman and all-around hunky guy in a toolbelt, Jim Pearson has sworn off complicated women with messy baggage. They cling to his nice-guy stability and skills with a power saw just long enough to straighten out their lives and move on… but then he meets the cute single mom staying at Grams’ lake house for the summer.

While a sizzling attraction draws them together, Jim's distrust of complicated women and Kate's incredibly complicated life threaten to pull them apart. But forces beyond their control--match-making grandmothers, the lazy backdrop of summer, and their own reckoning with the past--conspire to make them risk it all... and bet on love.

Now enjoy an excerpt:

“I don’t mind you standing there,” he added as he pushed aside the curtain and stepped from the tub, scrubbing his hair with the towel. “But you are somewhat to blame for this.”

“I am?” she squeaked. Heavens, he was good-looking all wet and frumpled. His water-soaked T-shirt was plastered to his chest. Kate’s tongue became the Sahara.

“Mmm hmm,” he nodded. Now he was finger-combing his hair, a crooked grin making his face boyishly appealing as he dropped the towel on his toolbox. “I was thinking about you, you see—”

“You were?” Kate backed up against the sink, the small bathroom feeling suddenly much smaller. Dangerously small. As small as the pocket in her lungs still capable of holding air. “What were you thinking?”

He paused, his eyes dancing. “I’m thinking I ought to keep that to myself.”

“Why?”

“I don’t think we know each other well enough for me to tell you that.”

Suddenly the flannel of her robe felt very hot on her skin. Kate sucked air through her nose and stared at his lips, that crooked smile teasing her, beckoning her.

“I want to know,” she said, her voice barely a whisper…

Cheri Allan lives in a charming fixer-upper in rural New Hampshire with her husband, two children, one dog, four cats and an excessive amount of optimism. She’s a firm believer in do-it-yourself, new beginnings and happily-ever-afters, so after years of wearing suits, she’s grateful to finally put her English degree to good use writing romance. When not writing, you might find her whizzing down the slopes of a nearby mountain or inadvertently killing perennials in her garden.

Cheri loves to hear from readers! E-mail her at cheri@cheriallan.com, friend her at facebook.com/cheriallanauthor, or visit her website and blog at www.cheriallan.com. Luck of the Draw, Book 1 in the ‘Betting on Romance’ series is available now from Amazon and Smashwords. Smashwords:  https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/448863

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cheri-Allan-Books/143131549193624

https://twitter.com/CheriAllan

http://www.cheriallan.com/

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Interview with Beth Matthews

What inspired you to write A Midsummer Night's Fling?I've been in A Midsummer Night's Dream twice as an actor (once as a fairy and once as Hermia, the ultimate Shakespeare bimbo) and I met my boyfriend during one those productions. So, for various reasons, it's kind of my sentimental favorite of Shakespeare's plays. Reunited lovers is also one of my favorite tropes so, when I started brainstorming ideas for a contemporary, the idea of reunited lovers having to work together to play Titania and Oberon (the ultimate Shakespeare power couple) just got all of my creative juices flowing.
What scene was the hardest to write? Why?When I was doing research for A Midsummer Night's Fling I read this great story about Richard Burton and JFK having a contest at a party to see who could remember the most Shakespearean sonnets. (Burton won, by the way.) I knew I had to steal this for my book--and I did! The hero and several of the other actors have a "Sonnet Faceoff"--but working the contest into the story was difficult. I had to keep the pace moving and find a balance between working the sonnets in but not drowning the reader with them. I think I finally nailed it, but it took a LOT of drafts.
What's your favorite moment from your book?I really love this exchange between the hero and heroine right after she joins the play:"I should have asked for more money to do this play," she said.            Max nodded. "Probably."            "And my own dressing room."             "Definitely.""And some sort of cabana boy to feed me grapes in the breaks between scenes."            "Well," Max paused, putting on a thoughtful expression. "We don't have anyone like that on staff, but maybe one of the interns."
Who's your favorite character in A Midsummer Night's Fling?Well, of course I love the leads and I love their chemistry together, but one of the secondary characters snuck up on me too and became a real scene stealer. That was Lachlan, the hero's main rival in the theater company. Lachlan is really fun to write because he is snarky and sneaky and British and sexy as hell. (He might or might not be based a little bit on Tom Hiddleston…) Lachlan is going to get his own book at some point--he's just too much fun to write!
What is your next project, and when will it be released?Right now I'm polishing up a New Adult romance, Love's Last Call, for release later this year. It's about a dorky bouncer and the cocktail waitress he's sure is out of his league. If people want to learn more they can check out the book's info-page on my website. AUTHOR BIOBeth Matthews is a California girl, born and raised. She’s a total geek, a movie buff, and a mediocre swing dancer. She lives in sunny SoCal with her boyfriend and two of the neediest housecats on the planet.
Author links: Website: http://bethmatthewsbooks.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Beth-Matthews/244314945645273Twitter: https://twitter.com/IAmBethMatthewsNew Releases Mailing List: http://bethmatthewsbooks.us8.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=afe659016f3b2739f82f02001&id=258a959e69Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22667014-a-midsummer-night-s-fling

Book & Author Details:A Midsummer Night’s Fling by Beth Matthews
(Stage Kiss Series #1)
Publication date: June 2014
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Synopsis:After dating her childhood sweetheart Max on and off for years, aspiring actress Nicola Charles is finally ready to move on. It’s time for her to focus on her stage career and stay away from Max–before he can break her heart again.
Max regrets hurting Nicola, but he wants another chance. So when his play loses its leading lady, giving Nicola the part seems like the perfect opportunity to win back his old flame.But the course of true love—and a theater production—never do run smooth. As Max fights to reignite Nicola’s love, the onstage antics can’t rival the bedlam backstage: a neurotic cast, a prickly crew, and an evil diva of a director who’s got designs on Max.
As Nicola and Max battle to keep the drama onstage, Max can’t help wondering if their romance will end with the last performance. Or have the two of them finally captured what they’ve dreamed of all their lives? True Love.
A contemporary romance that should appeal to fans of the wry humor and playful sexiness in the works of Julie James and Victoria Dahl.
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22590949-a-midsummer-night-s-fling
Purchase:Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LHDTHF8
BN: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-midsummer-nights-fling-beth-matthews/1119924812
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id898654610
Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/a-midsummer-night-s-fling
ARE: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-amidsummernight039sfling-1562514-149.html

Interview with Anna Kashina

Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series?“The Guild of Assassins” is book 2 in the Majat Code series, sequel to the “Blades of the Old Empire” released earlier this year. Like its prequel, the Guild is a fantasy adventure with lots of action and high-level martial arts.  Even more than book 1 in the series, it also has a lot of romance.
This book follows up on the conflict set up in the Blades, but I hope it can also be enjoyed as a stand alone. In “The Guild of Assassins” Kara, an elite Majat warrior, must face the consequences of her prior actions, as she disobeyed an order from her guild to save Prince Kythar--a good man, one she was falling in love with. The penalty for disobedience is a death warrant from the Majat Guild, but the man sent to kill her, Mai, had made a decision to spare her life. And now, Mai is the one to be punished, and Kara is determined to stop this from happening.  This is the start of “The Guild of Assassins”, which leads up to the events in the book.
Do you have a favorite character?Like in book 1, my favorite character is Mai. In “The Guild of Assassins” I indulged myself in showing different sides of his personality and driving him to all kinds of extremes. He really rewarded me by the way he responded to these extremes, and I have enjoyed getting to know him, and even swooning over him along with some of my characters.
Have you ever had a minor character evolve into a major one? Did that change the direction of the novel at all?Yes, this tends to happen to me all the time. Originally, Mai was conceived as a minor character. Then he just grew out of these bounds, and ended up dominating the story.
Another character that surprised me even more recently was Magister Egey Bashi, a member of the scholarly Order of Keepers who accompanies the main characters on their journeys because of his extensive knowledge of the kingdom’s affairs.
When I wrote “The Guild of Assassins”, Egey Bashi quickly became one of my favorite point-of-view characters. He is smart, capable, compassionate, and cynical, all in the right proportions, and he introduced the corresponding angles into the story that other characters could not cover because they were too closely involved in the events. Egey Bashi is the only one who sees the good and the bad in each person very clearly, without exaggerations or excessive idealism. He grounds the story, and all the characters. And, on top of all that, he is just so much fun.
I ended up bonding with Egey Bashi so much that I also wrote a short story about his past, “The Majat Testing”, that shows some of his passionate side from his younger days. This story is available for free at all on-line retailers, and I hope my readers and fans will enjoy bonding with this character all over again.
If books were movies, which movies do you think would appeal to the same audience as “The Guild of Assassins”?I think it should be a range of movies with good action a traditional fantasy elements. “Pirates of the Caribbean: the Curse of the Black Pearl” is the one I was aiming for (without any explicit similarities). When I watch this movie, all elements of the story just click into place. I hope to achieve the same effect with my books -- although in my version Elizabeth would have definitely chosen Jack Sparrow over Wil Turner.
Another angle in my story should appeal to the fans of “Star Wars”, if only for the subtle parallels between the Majat and the Jedi knights.
When I wrote the book, I also watched “Kill Bill”, for the action. This movie has little in common with my book, but the style of the action helped. Some of my readers may pick up on the connection, minus the gore and the harsh realism. Incidentally, the prototype for orbens--the weapons favored by the bad guys in my book--is briefly shown in Kill Bill, a spiked ball on a long chain. It really exists, and is a very difficult weapon to defend against in martial arts. And, it has nothing to do with a mace, an analogy which has somehow been triggered by my original description in the Blades and caused some confusion among the first batch of readers.
How long before you got your first contract? Was it for your first novel?My path to publication has been too long and thorny for one interview. Let’s just say that I wrote my first “novel” when I was six, and published my first book with a small press twenty or so years later. Technically, this was my first contract, with a publisher called Herodias, which started up and then folded within a year or so back in 2000. The contract I think about as my first was with Angry Robot Books, which I signed last year. This contract was for my fifth novel, not counting the six-year-old’s opus that did not survive to posterity.
What is your writing process? Do you listen to music or do you like silence?Normally I cannot work to music, too much distraction. However, in the case of “The Guild of Assassins”, my work on this novel coincided with my infatuation with the soundtrack for “Totem” by Cirque du Soleil. A lot of the scenes were conceived and executed to this music, and to me these scenes bear the marks of the rhythms in the music and the show.
Do you outline your story or just go where your muse takes you?It varies for me, but in the case of the Guild I did have an outline. This outline was mostly driven by the fact that after I finished the first draft of the Blades back in 2009, I just had to write on, and went through the whole story, shaping up some scene and leaving empty spaces in between. At that time I believed a sequel to the Blades will never get written, but I just had to get some of the things that happened between the characters off my chest.
When I returned to the Guild later on, I followed this outline and filled in the blanks. It made my work on the novel so easy, since I barely needed to think of the overall story, just describe the immediate events.
Do you find it difficult to juggle your time between marketing your current book and writing your next book?I do, sometimes. My writing time is limited, sandwiched between a demanding day job and two small children who expect all my attention. When I need to do something related to marketing, it taps directly into my writing. This is probably one of the reasons my blog tends to be sporadic, not as regularly kept as it should be.
I believe marketing is important, and even though I am backed by the terrific Angry Robot team who really do most of the essential things without my involvement, I still struggle to keep up with the bits that do require my input. In the end, though, it is so rewarding to see the marketing efforts pay off and help my books reach their audience.
What advice would you give a new author?My most important advice to anyone is: “believe in yourself, and never give up”. This is the mantra that carried me through all my low points and brought me to publication. Of course, right behind that come the ideas about hard work, perfection, and self-criticism. But these are definitely secondary to the main thing. You have to be certain that writing is something you love, something you need, something you cannot live without.
What’s next for you?I am working on book 3 in the series. Its title has not been finalized yet, but many of the events have been, and I am so thrilled to see how things are turning out!

New #fantasy Release: DREAMPIRE by Matthew Keith

Book blurb:

For Trevor Pine, everything is going great. He's graduated high school, started at a local college, and moved in with the perfect girl. 

Until the night he delivers pizza to the chemical lab where his best friend works. 

Trevor is tricked into drinking an untested formula, one that gives him unexpected and terrifying abilities. Confused, afraid, and unable to control his new powers, Trevor goes on the run from those who would use him for his abilities, and from the police who believe he is a murderer. 

And the worst part for Trevor is, he's guilty.
Buy links:
 Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Dreampire-Watchers-Night-Book-4-ebook/dp/B00M491EKU/ref=twoen-20
BN: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dreampire-matthew-keith/1120022636?ean=2940045664318
ITunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/dreampire/id903969743?mt=11

Book 1 is FREE!

#Excerpt: STEALING THIRD by Marta Brown

Book & Author Details:Stealing Third by Marta Brown
Publication date: July 2014
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance
Synopsis:For Emily, going to camp, the summer before college starts, means leaving her feuding parents alone for the next eight weeks, and coming back to divorce papers is a risk she can’t take.

But no matter how many meddling phone calls, questionable hair decisions, and possibly illegal hookups she plans, her parents still march her off to Camp Champ totally against her will.

No matter. A few broken rules, and Em will be home free. That is, until she learns Tyler Ford, her baseball coach father’s star player and her drunken party hookup, is at camp, too.

For Tyler, summer is the onramp to the biggest decision of his life: med school or major leagues. Mega hot, possibly underage Emily? A complication he does not need.

But as the summer heats up with strikeouts and stolen bases will Tyler and Emily hit a home run and get what they’re after? Or will they both be thrown a curveball…in the game of love?
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22531286-stealing-third?ac=1
Purchase:--Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00M3K6JVY--BN: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/stealing-third-marta-brown/1119980092?ean=2940045643047
AUTHOR BIOMarta Brown grew up in the Pacific Northwest and was a teenager when Doc Martens, Pearl Jam and flannel were the norm and Dylan loved Kelly forever. (Beverly Hills 90210 shout out)

She still lives just outside Seattle, now with her husband and cat, and loves the rain.

When she’s not writing about cute boys, first kisses and the magic and wonder of being seventeen, she’s watching The CW. And she sleeps in. Late.
Author links:https://twitter.com/martabrownbookshttps://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4756509.Marta_Brownhttp://www.martabrownbooks.com/
Excerpt: Emily
Tyler’s question catches me off guard, since getting in trouble on purpose is all I’ve been trying to do since I arrived at camp, but right now, that’s not why I’m here. Unless giving Tyler hell can get me in trouble. “Well?” Tyler asks. His breath, minty and cool, rushes over my face, reminding me just how close we are. “If you’re not here to see Todd, then what are you doing here?” His jaw is tense and flexes as he stares at me.I bite my lip, unsure how to answer now that I’m here and we’re standing so close I can feel the soft fabric of his Henley brush against my slightly sunburned skin. Tired of all the games we’re playing, I drop my eyes to the ground and fidget with the frayed hem of my jean shorts. “I…I came to see you,” I admit, trying to keep an edge of anger in my voice, but it comes out sounding exactly the way I feel. Vulnerable.“Why?” he whispers, angling his head so our foreheads almost touch, the space between us so small I worry he can hear my heart thudding in my chest.I swallow hard. Why am I here?My mind races with the excuses I used to justify stomping over here—but with his body so close, and his eyes so intense—flirting with Jenny right in front of my face, or teasing me on the dock, or his antics on the field when I could have sworn he was about to kiss me, all seem irrelevant. The truth is—I wanted to see him. “I came to…uh…wait—” I know why I stomped over here to see him, mad, and jealous, and determined to stop this game we keep playing, but why is he so mad? Because I’m breaking the rules? Or is it because of something else?Putting a hand on my hip, I pull away so I can see his face, hoping I’ll find an answer there. “Why do you care if I was here to see Todd or not?”Tyler blinks like the question has thrown himoff guard. He steps backwards and rakes his hands through his hair, taking with him the heat from his body, and sending a chill up my arm in its absence. “You should go, Emily.” The intensity in his stare at war with his words.“Why?” I take a step towards him, wanting to feel his body close to mine again, wishing he’d tell me to stay. “Emily.” It’s a plea. I press again. “Tell me? Why would you care if I was here to see Todd?” Tyler drops his hands to his sides, sucks in a deep breath, and then lets it out in one quick push of air. “Because the idea of him kissing you, or touching you, or even being near you infuriates me,” he says so deep, and quiet, it comes out more like a growl. My breath catches as I stare into his eyes—and unlike today on the field—this time he doesn’t hesitate.###

Interview with Hilary Wynne

Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series?
I currently have two books out in the Alexa Reed series and am working on the third.  ~Set against the steamy and sultry world of South Beach, Florida, a modern romance unfolds in Stay. Alexa is beautiful, independent and hard to resist for serially unattached Julian. Neither one is looking for a relationship, but their palpable chemistry and instant emotional connection is too strong to ignore. 

For the first time in years, Julian is interested in more than just sex. He wants a relationship with intoxicating Alexa, but it's not that simple. Not only are Julian and Alexa struggling with the intensity of this new relationship, but they also have to contend with Luke, Alexa's best friend, whose own love for her leaves him willing to do anything to convince her that Julian is not the man for her. 

Luke's determination and Alexa's secret past threaten to tear Julian and Alexa apart as she struggles to open her heart to love. Julian and Alexa embark upon a roller-coaster ride of emotional and physical passion that both pulls them apart and holds them together. 

Despite their affinity for each other, Alexa fears that Julian will leave when he learns about her past and Julian is unsure he can love a woman who in so many ways remains a mystery, a woman who keeps threatening to run, a woman who can't decide if she is going to STAY.
Have you ever had a minor character evolve into a major one? Did that change the direction of the novel at all? YES! I have a love triangle that I didn’t plan out. Luke became a MAJOR player when he never was intended to be one. It changed everything about the story and I loved writing it!
Did you try the traditional route to publishing, i.e. querying agents/publishers? No, I just went the self-publishing route. I was impatient and wanted to get my books out right away.
If you used a graphic designer/publisher’s designer, how involved were you during the creative process for your cover? I was totally involved. I had a very strong idea of what I wanted and helped make it happen. I worked with a great designer and am very pleased with the results.
What is your writing process? Do you listen to music or do you like silence? I listen to music the whole time. I have to. It helps set the tone and lets me block everything else out. I have certain playlists for certain themes of the book. Music plays a big part in my books.
Do you outline your story or just go where your muse takes you? I had a basic outline but my muse takes over and does her thing. I swear the characters started to speak for themselves early on!
Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing? Yes. I had a professional editor help out. It is a necessity if you ask me. I love working with her and I feel confident that my best work is going out with her guidance.
Besides Amazon, are there any other sites where your books are for sale? My books are also on Barnes and Noble, Kobo and Itunes.
What kinds of marketing [twitter, facebook, blog, forums] are you involved with for promoting your book(s)? I’m on Facebook (three pages) Twitter, Goodreads, Pinterest and Google+. Come find me!!
Some fun facts about you, which do you prefer – dogs or cats? Chocolate or vanilla? Coffee or Tea? Talk or Text? Day or Night? Dogs – Chocolate – Coffee and talking!!
Book & Author details:Stay by Hilary Wynne
(Alexa Reed #1)
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Synopsis:Set against the steamy and sultry world of South Beach, Florida, a modern romance unfolds in Stay.

Alexa is beautiful, independent and hard to resist for serially unattached Julian. Neither one is looking for a relationship, but their palpable chemistry and instant emotional connection is too strong to ignore. For the first time in years, Julian is interested in more than just sex. He wants a relationship with intoxicating Alexa, but it’s not that simple. Not only are Julian and Alexa struggling with the intensity of this new relationship, but they also have to contend with Luke, Alexa’s best friend, whose own love for her leaves him willing to do anything to convince her that Julian is not the man for her. Luke’s determination and Alexa’s secret past threaten to tear Julian and Alexa apart as she struggles to open her heart to love. Julian and Alexa embark upon a roller-coaster ride of emotional and physical passion that both pulls them apart and holds them together. Despite their affinity for each other, Alexa fears that Julian will leave when he learns about her past and Julian is unsure he can love a woman who in so many ways remains a mystery, a woman who keeps threatening to run, a woman who can’t decide if she is going to STAY.
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18958819-stay?ac=1
Purchase:--Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Stay-Hilary-Wynne-ebook/dp/B00H1YRUIS/ref=twoen-20--B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/stay-hilary-wynne/1117471060?ean=9781491713952
AUTHOR BIOHave you ever woken up one day and said, “Today’s the day I’m going to do (insert thing here)?” Well, I did, and the result is my first novel, Stay. I always thought of myself as a decent writer, and then a trip down memory lane through my ninth grade book of poetry confirmed it. I realize that I have always had a romantic side and a way with words. With support from my husband and kids (and an unspoken agreement to leave me alone for a few hours every night), I embarked on this incredible writing journey.

I’m originally from sunny Southern California and spent my summers in South Florida. I attended college at FSU and received my Masters in New Mexico. I finally settled in the Washington, DC area. My happy place has always been anywhere near the water.

When I’m not writing, I help run a business with my husband, watch an inordinate amount of sports (my kids play something 365 days a year), indulge my competitive spirit on the tennis court, and spend time with my awesome family and friends.

I am an avid reader, but find my characters feel neglected when I hang out with other author’s characters for too long. When I do read, historical fiction is my favorite genre. I love traveling and experiencing different cultures, places, and times.

I feel so blessed that my love of books inspired me to finally do something that I forgot I had always dreamed about doing.

My someday has arrived!
Author Links:http://www.hilarywynne.com/https://www.facebook.com/HilaryWynneAuthorhttps://twitter.com/hilarywynnehttps://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7431853.Hilary_Wynne
Giveaway:Open to US and Canada--Signed copy of Stay--25$ Amazon Gift Card--A swag pack ( mug, pen, postcards )

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#Review: GUILD OF ASSASSINS by Anna Kashina

 
  5 of 5 stars

GUILD OF ASSASSINS is the second book in the Majat Code and what a fantastic book it is. Ms. Kashina weaves a powerful story of honor, loyalty and the bonds of love that drive this story forward following two assassins, Kara and Mai as they face the consequences of their actions. Mai is being recalled to the Guild House to face his punishment for sparing Kara's life and Kara cannot let him face it alone. Together the two powerful Diamond assassins are a force to be reckoned with, but there is a greater evil sweeping the land, the Kaddim, a brutal guild of brothers who are bent on ruling the Kingdom.
Ms. Kashina never lets up in the action. Just when you think Mai and Kara are safe, she throws another heart wrenching twist into the story. It makes it impossible to put the book down. All of the characters are nicely fleshed out, but my favorite is the reserved Mai. The reader is privy to his inner thoughts and it makes him come alive as one of the greatest fighters the Kingdom has ever seen while harboring a deep and personal secret. No spoilers here. Fans of epic fantasy will thoroughly enjoy this story. Can't wait to see where the author will take the story next. Highly Recommended.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

#Excerpt: FOUND IN US by Layla Hagen

Book & Author Details:Found in Us by Layla Hagen
(Lost #2)
Publication date: July 24th 2014
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance
Synopsis:**This can be read as a STANDALONE. The second book in the Lost series tells Jessica and Parker’s story.**

All Jessica wants -as a college graduate — is to be a good girl. She landed the job of her dreams at a museum and is trying to eliminate temptations. No more short skirts (when she can help it). No wild parties. And no men.

She particularly excels at that last thing. . .

Until her path crosses Parker’s. Again. Jessica remembers the last time their paths crossed very well. She was left with a seriously bruised ego. She knows it would be best to avoid him altogether. But the charming Brit makes it hard for her to elude his electrifying pull. He is as irresistible as he is captivating.

And enigmatic.

Because underneath the sleek Armani suit and the sweet British accent that makes her crave his touch, Parker isn’t the perfect gentleman everyone thinks he is.

He’s exactly what Jessica doesn’t want, but desperately needs.
A bad, bad boy.
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20686393-found-in-us?ac=1
Purchase:http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00M2F2F7Chttp://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00M2F2F7C?*Version*=1&*entries*=0http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/found-in-us-layla-hagen/1119999641https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id902880011http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/found-in-us
AUTHOR BIOMy name is Layla Hagen and I am a New Adult Contemporary Romance author. I fell in love with books when I was nine years old, and my love affair with stories continues even now, many years later.

I write romantic stories and can’t wait to share them with the world. And I drink coffee. Lots of it, in case the photo didn’t make it obvious enough 
Author Links:http://laylahagen.com/https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7520984.Layla_Hagenhttps://www.facebook.com/LaylaHagenBookshttps://twitter.com/laylahagen


Excerpt:I decide to use the dress as an excuse to leave early. To my dismay, Parker is leaning against the wall farther down the corridor, one or two turns away from the entrance to the bar. His eyes rest on the stain on my dress for a few seconds and my cheeks flare up instantly. I'm sure he can see the redness in them even in the dim light. "I have to go," I say. "My dress is soaked.""I'll drive you home," he says, walking toward me. "No, you just got here. I'm sure you and Dani have lots to talk about." I actually take a step back, only to hit the wall behind me."I'd just drop you off and return. Are you afraid of being alone with me, Jessica?""No . . . it's just not necessary. I can take a cab.""What are you afraid of?" he insists, stepping right in front of me. "That I'll try to seduce you and take you to bed? Do I really strike you like that kind of guy?"Every inch of my body commands me to say yes. In my experience, men who don't look even half as godlike as he does are after one thing only. But his humiliating rejection all those months ago proves he isn't one of them. And nothing I've seen or heard about him indicated he’s a womanizer. But being so close to him makes it impossible to think rationally. I push him away, but with one swing he grabs both my hands and pins them against the wall above me. His lips are inches away from mine, the fingers of his free hand tracing the contour of my lips, leaving a trail of fire behind them. He's so close to me that I can feel every single hot breath against my lips. He locks eyes with me, and it's the sight of his blue eyes boring into mine—more than his proximity and his touch—that sets me on fire, causing an almost unbearable pressure between my thighs. He trails his fingers from my lips down to my chin and then slowly over my neck. I bite my lip when he presses gently with his thumb on the hollow of my neck, then proceeds with his torture farther down. His fingers peruse the hem of my neckline, at the exact point where the soaked fabric of the dress meets my skin, then slip under the fabric. Just a fraction of an inch.Not enough to actually touch my breast. But more than enough to send me over the edge. "Damn you, Parker, kiss me," I whisper. He doesn't answer, the corner of his lips lifting in a delicious smile as he removes his hand from my neckline, letting it fall by his side. His eyes never leave mine. I wait, sucking in my breath, for him to lean forward and kiss me. After what feels like hours, he finally leans forward and kisses me. On my goddamn forehead.###
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#Excerpt: FOREVER SHELTERED by Deanna Roy

Book & Author Details:Forever Sheltered by Deanna Roy
(The Forever Series #3)
Publication date: July 23rd 2014
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance
Synopsis:Tina would rather sew up her girl parts with dental floss than go on a second date with a man. She’s been dumped enough to know not to get attached.

But when Dr. Darion Marks comes into her art therapy room to ask a favor for a special patient, Tina recognizes the haunted look he buries beneath his stoic professionalism. So rather than be forced to ditch the handsome doctor after a single night, she decides not to date him at all.

So how exactly DO they end up half-naked in Surgical Suite B?

Dr. Darion has a lot to hide. His baby sister is the only family he has left, and he’s not leaving her treatment to some incompetent hack.

But now he’s breaking every hospital rule imaginable. He lied about his sister so he can manage her care, and now he’s banging the art therapy teacher between patient rounds like a fraternity boy at a keg party.

Nobody believes this can end well, not Tina’s friend Corabelle, who is overcoming a tragic history much like Tina’s, or even pink-haired Jenny, who thinks sex with strangers is good for your metabolism.

But Dr. Darion and Tina have one thing going for them – a fierce passion for each other that just might obliterate all their doubts, and solve all their problems.

Forever Sheltered includes many favorite characters from Forever Innocent and Forever Loved, as well as the much-anticipated wedding of Gavin and Corabelle.

It is a standalone HEA that does not require reading any other parts of the Forever series.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22068681-forever-sheltered?ac=1
Purchase:Amazon: http://bit.ly/Amazon-ForShelt
BN: http://bit.ly/BN-ForSheltiTunes: http://bit.ly/itunes-shelterGoogle Play: http://bit.ly/Sheltered-GPKobo: http://bit.ly/sheltered-kobo

AUTHOR BIO: Deanna Roy is a passionate advocate for women who have lost babies. She founded PregnancyLoss.Info in 1998 and runs many online and in-person support groups. She is the author of several two-hankie reads, including Forever Innocent, Stella & Dane, and Baby Dust.
Author links: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4999150.Deanna_Roywww.deannaroy.comhttps://twitter.com/deannaroy
Excerpt:The voice that came from the door was like an icy blast. “Do you have any more personal questions that are completely out of line for your relationship with my patient?”I whipped around. Dr. Darion stood in the door, glowering like a gargoyle.“I—I was just asking about a song Cynthia performed for me yesterday.”His eyes narrowed. I wondered what I possibly saw in him before, because now he was clearly the biggest jerk in the universe.He snatched my arm and dragged me from the room.I tried to wrench free as he moved us down the hall. “What is going ON with you?” I asked.“Hush,” he said.We turned down a narrow corridor, and he buzzed us through a door with his ID. I had never been in this part of the hospital and tried to figure out where we were. The back side of ICU, maybe.He shouldered open a door marked Surgical Suite B. The room was dim and empty. Boxes were stacked along one wall, and it had an unused smell to it, stuffy and antiseptic. A pair of gurneys were pushed together next to a line of cabinets.“What is this about?” I asked, jerking my arm out of his grasp.“Why were you in Cynthia’s room asking questions?”“Why are you dragging me through the hospital like a lunatic?”We were only inches apart, me defiantly on my toes to try to eliminate the advantage of his height.“You have no business questioning my patients or their family.”Oh, I wanted to punch him. My hand curled into a fist. “You are an awful man, Darion Marks.”His Adam’s apple bobbed up, then down, like he had swallowed something nasty. “I’m sorry I dragged you down here,” he said.I shoved at his chest. “Sorry? You just embarrassed the hell out of me! No telling who saw that.”I pushed him again. I was really in a fury. “Are you TRYING to get me fired?”The contact between us sparked, like a match being lit. I forgot why I was mad. He was so freaking close. He wore cologne, just a hint of it. He smelled like heaven. My heart sped up. Crap. I tried to think how to get out of this. I needed to just walk away. We were alone in a dark room.Shoot. I could already tell my body was getting ahead of my head. It was calculating distance. Seeing how far I could push this man. How close I could get.Remembering how long it had been since my last tryst with anybody.I would have to do the one-and-done with Dr. Darion after all.I leaned in, just to see what he would do.###

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