Sky Purington's Blog, page 25

September 12, 2014

Loving the Enemy. Faith of the Highlander- The MacLomain Series: Next Generation.



It’s that time again! As you know I’ve been staying very busy this year writing The MacLomain Series: Next Generation. The past few months have been especially interesting as I got to know Grant MacLomain better. Imprisoned for more than half his life by the evil Keir Hamilton, he finally gets a chance at freedom. And who’s there to help him through the turbulent feelings of being out from beneath Keir’s tyranny? None other than Sheila.
I really enjoyed writing about these two and helping them through their struggles. Of all the couples in this series, I felt they deserved to find one another the most. So I won’t keep you waiting a minute longer. Faith of the Highlander is available now!Blurb
Like her cousins, Sheila wears a Claddagh ring meant to connect her Broun lineage with the MacLomain clan. Already having witnessed the strife ravaging the medieval Scottish highlands she’s eager to once more be thrust back in time…even if it’s into the arms of the enemy. 
Imprisoned fourteen winters and now first-in-command of the enemy’s army, Grant MacLomain must find a way to save all those he cares for. Though under the watchful eye of his master and chieftain, Keir Hamilton, he unleashes his plan the moment he connects with a lass from the future. 
Through hardship, forgiveness and even acceptance, Grant and Sheila struggle to push past their abused hearts and the war that divides them in, Faith of the Highlander. 
Excerpt
Sheila started to tremble when he broke free from the last of whatever or whoever had imprisoned him. A shiver raced through her and she knew.
Grant had just broken free from Keir Hamilton’s mental hold over him.
He tore off his tunic and whipped it aside. With nothing but the Hamilton’s plaid hung low on his waist, he was an impressive sight. Legs braced, arms by his side, fists clenched, he closed his eyes. Cast in the soft, flickering glow of a single sputtering torch, sweat slicked muscles rippled down his long warrior’s body. Was he praying? Long moments passed. Every one of them a lifetime as her heart thundered. Then, as if replacing one swift divine moment with another, his eyes snapped open and met hers.
It felt like a freight train hit her.
“Och, my wee geal,” he whispered.
Wee what?
Sheila made to speak but the words died on her lips when in two swift strides, he pulled her into his arms. The word ‘wee’ seemed a massive understatement when up against him. Though she was fairly tall at five foot seven, he had to be a foot taller. Lord, she felt tiny! What had been but a tremble became a harsh fiery heat that whiplashed through her body. Emotional state and sensory awareness in overdrive, she put her hands against his hard chest.
“Oh, I shouldn’t have done that,” she murmured. But she didn’t pull her hands away.
No, if anything she pressed tighter and curled her fingers slightly. It was one thing to meet a man in your mind, another thing entirely to feel him pressed up against your body. When he tilted up her chin, her eyes slid shut. Why, she’d never know. She supposed somewhere deep inside she wasn’t ready to look too closely into his eyes.
But why?
Perhaps she was afraid of what she’d see there. Perhaps though he seemed so strong she’d see years of mental abuse flicker in his gaze. Mental abuse inflicted by Keir being twisted within his mind for so long. The very idea of it made her sick to her stomach.
But none of that mattered when she felt his warm breath whisper over her lips. Close, so very close. She could all but feel his mouth hovering over hers. Time slowed as her lips fell open. Sensation heightened. A slow burn covered her cheeks. An ever so slight throbbing began first on the sides of her neck as emotion welled. Her heart pounded so strongly that her lips pulsed, ready for the pressure, the weight of his mouth against hers.
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Published on September 12, 2014 02:00

September 9, 2014

Born to Protect, Ruled by Passion. Dark Sentinels Series by Dariel Raye.



"Dark Sentinels" Born to protect, ruled by passion


"Dark Sentinels Prequel" Blurb
Washington State native, Syreena, learned at an early age to depend on her twin brother, Sable, and herself, but when conversations with a Georgia sentinel prompt her to surprise him with an impromptu visit, the realization of Cord’s greatest fear seems inevitable.
5*****Colleen Everly says: Loved it! Having already read the next two books in the series this is a great prequel. ...I loved the way the author gave you a glimpse to see what the next books were/are about. I also loved how this female is a bit like his lost sister. Great series.
5*****Jacklynn Sizemore says: Just amazing!!! ... So looking forward to the three book to this series!!! It's a must read!!!!
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"Dark Sentinels Book One: Sable" Blurb

Akila is a veterinarian with a soft heart. Sable is a sentinel wolf shifter. Together, Sable and Akila must learn to trust each other enough to overcome a new, deadly enemy.
5*****Studentwriter says: ...it is brilliant! ...it will flow with great excitement and likable characters from the first page....Very exciting! Of course, the good guys will win in the end. That end does not come in Book One, but the interim sex is so good, we don't mind!
5*****PRG )Paranormal Romance Guild) says:...This is a novella but it reads like a full novel, mystery, betrayal, love and romance. This is the first in the Sentinel’s series and I can’t wait for more. Although a short story, it was very entertaining. Akila is a wonderful character and her devotion to animals is beautiful.

http://www.paranormalromanceguild.com/reviewsdarielraye.htm  Amazon Barnes and Noble


"Dark Sentinels Book Two: Torin" BlurbWhen greedy land developers set their sights on Dark Sentinel land, Torin, a sentinel wolf shifter, turns to attorney Stephanie Bates for help. His greatest challenge, however, is uppity human Attorney Stephanie Bates and the surprising effect she has on his heart, and she'll need his protection to stay alive long enough to protect his land.
5*****PRG says: ...In this book we are also brought up to date on what happened with Sable and Akila. ...This was every bit as wonderful as the first, romance, sex and the constant presence of evil.....I can’t wait for the next book so I can get some more answers and meet another hunky alpha and another amazing potential mate.
5*****Catrina Barton says: Wow! Torin DuMont is larger than life, and commands attention from the first moment we meet him. He's brash and very much an alpha male. ... Their exciting adventure is full of many unexpected twists.... The book will grab your attention and run away with it. Dariel Raye certainly knows how to keep the pages turning.
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Excerpt from "Dark Sentinels Book Two: Torin"


She was too tired to argue with the dictator, his unfriendly sister and their silent, dangerous-looking friends, so she quietly slid into his SUV as soon as he opened the door for her and relaxed against the leather seat. Uneasy about the break-in and the whole situation, she jumped as Torin whipped the seatbelt across her waist and clicked it in place before walking around to the driver seat.
“Um, thank you.” She smiled, unable to remember a time when anyone had ever fastened her seatbelt for her before Torin. Even that strange action was oddly comforting. She found herself wondering if he did that for anyone else.
She turned toward him, struck by the hard lines of his profile and his broad shoulders. His clothes were worn, a black T-shirt washed nearly dark gray to match his eyes, revealing a sculpted six-pack and fitted blue jeans that hugged a perfect, muscular ass and an impressive front bulge. Steph looked away, embarrassed by the direction her mind kept taking with a man who had shown no interest in her other than responsible concern.
She crossed her arms over her breasts. “So…did you get things taken care of?”
Torin shook his head once, watching the road. “No.”
When he didn’t elaborate, she tried again. “Sounded like it was pretty important. I’m—”
“Don’t want to talk about that. You have any neighbors around during the day?”
Now it was Steph’s turn to shake her head. “No, not really. I’m pretty sure most of them work.”
Torin glanced at her with emotion in his eyes just a moment before he turned back to the road. Was that warmth or pity?
It occurred to her that she would have been more than annoyed with anyone else who abruptly changed the subject on her like he’d just done, but somehow she was learning to accept his differences. She realized in the moment that Dr. Torin DuMont could very likely get away with things she wouldn’t tolerate from anyone else.
Steph caught herself staring at his hands as he gripped the steering wheel. She couldn’t help imagining them on her body, replaying steamy scenes from her dreams. She took a deep breath and turned to look out of the window, seeking the same mental escape she’d sought the first time she’d been in his SUV.
Torin glanced at Steph when they arrived at her apartment, silently commanding her to wait until he opened her door.
She took his hand, allowing him to help her out of the SUV. Heat suffused her entire body, an electrical current sizzling along the path from her breasts to her core as soon as she touched him. The intensity of his touch, his very presence, elicited flashes of something wild, uncontrollable.
He froze, a nearly inhuman stillness, a slight frown marring his handsome features. He felt something, too, and he didn’t appear to be happy about it.
Tasha, Moon, and Sphynx got out of Steph’s car and stepped up behind Torin.
It wasn’t until he released her that she realized Torin had been holding her hand while he was standing completely still.
Torin reached in the back seat and removed what looked like a medical bag, then glanced at her briefly before walking toward the apartment complex, Sphynx, Moon, and Tasha falling in behind him.
“Oh no!” The pitiful moan escaped Steph’s lips as soon as she saw the condition of her apartment again, this time getting a better look at it since the initial shock had worn off. Drawer contents littered the floor, closet doors were open, and cushions were ripped, their stuffing adding to the chaos.
Torin touched her hand, eliciting a visceral response, despite the situation. He was donning gloves, and with those gloved hands, he removed something from his bag, then turned to her again. “While we see what we can find, pack what you need.”
“Pack? Why? Where am I going?”
“You’re coming with me.” He stepped away from her and started dusting every surface, placing items in plastic bags, as if no one would dare ever question his commands. Obviously, in his world, his word was final.
“I’m what?”
Torin turned toward her again, addressing her as if she was a distraction. “You’re coming with me. I can’t protect you from a distance, and I certainly can’t be in two places at once.”
“But I-I can’t just drop everything and go with you.”
He made a sweeping motion across the room. “Would you rather stay here? I’m not gonna argue with you, Ms. Bates. You called me. If you want my help, you’ll do as I say, and you’ll do it now. It won’t take us long to sweep your place even in this condition.” His raspy voice seemed to grow even deeper as he spoke barely above a whisper, his demands allowing no argument.
Steph rolled her eyes, then headed to her bedroom to start packing. Torin was no diplomat, but he would keep her safe. This was no time to let her pride get her killed. The sight greeting her as she stepped in her bedroom was even more depressing than her living area. Packing would be no easy feat with her belongings dumped from her drawers, clothes strewn across the floor. She couldn’t possibly find, let alone pack what she needed in a few minutes.
She had second thoughts and nearly turned around to tell Torin she had someplace else to stay, but the time for wishful thinking—let alone prideful stupidity—was over. She couldn’t stay here, and there was no place else to stay. She needed his help now more than ever, even if she didn’t want to need anyone.
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Published on September 09, 2014 10:10

September 6, 2014

Will Her Past Destroy Her Future? Coming to Terms with Love by Dilys J. Carnie.



Today it’s my pleasure to feature Coming to Terms with Love by Dilys J. Carnie.
Blurb
Will her past destroy her future? 
But when Beth meets this giant of a man her heart beats a little faster. But no man would look at her, and she has a son…a son who she will fight to keep. 
He tries to fight the attraction, but can he resist this woman? 
Corey can’t help falling in love deeper than he ever wanted to. And when an old enemy of Beth’s turns up on the doorstep he steps forward to put an end to her past. 
Will this be the beginning of their future together or the end of their dreams?
Excerpt
The air was like a magnetic field, as if sparks were pinging around them in the air. She watched as he controlled himself, she admired the way he had not argued with her. Her own heart hammered against her ribs, it had been so close…so very close she couldn’t imagine the horror that would have been on his face if he had moved his hand any closer.
Beth tried to catch her own breath as she watched him in the moonlight. It seemed that every nerve ending in her body was tingling in a way she had never experienced before.
“I should apologize…only I’m not sorry,” he whispered in between the harshness of his breathing.
He looked at her and she trembled all over again. “Apologize for what? It was just a kiss.”
He stood straight moving closer to her making her take a step back.
“Just a kiss?”
“I…well a good kiss,” she stammered.
He laughed out loud. “Good? Be serious, Beth, you felt that as much as I did.” He took a step closer tilting her chin with his fingers. His gaze penetrated hers and she shook her head dislodging his fingers, taking a step back.
“Okay it was sensational…you’re a good kisser. So what? Plenty of men are.”
He sucked in a breath before he spoke.
“I touched you and the searing heat from you set me on fire, when we kissed your tongue wrapped itself round me so hard that I became part of you. The air around us is so charged that if someone dropped a match, it would explode.”
They were words she didn’t want to hear, she didn’t need him to tell her how it was for God’s sake she knew but…but there was no way in hell that she was ready for this. How could she expect someone else to accept her body when she was still coming to terms with it herself. The verve of the last few minutes started to leave her body and the realization of what had happened took over.
“Beth—”
She knew he was waiting for her to say something; she wanted to try and be as honest as she could. “You’re right, we did…connect but it can’t go any further than this…I don’t want it.”
“Baloney.” He pushed his hands into his pockets scowling at her. “The minute we set eyes on each other we knew what it would be like once we touched, why the hell did you think that I left so quickly the other day?”
Buy Links
Secret Cravings PublishingAmazon
About the Author

My home is on the beautiful island of Anglesey on the west coast of North Wales with my family. I am extremely close to all my family members and enjoy spending time with them. I am the proud mother of two grown up *children* My daughter Emma is a primary school teacher and my son Christopher is part of the family business. Anglesey has been my home since the age of eleven after moving here with my mum and dad and three sisters from Scotland.
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Published on September 06, 2014 02:00

September 2, 2014

Will His Touch Claim Her or Kill Her? Through His Touch by Deborah Camp.



Today I’m thrilled to welcome over Deborah Camp, author of Through His Touch, A Mind’s Eye Novel, Book Two, a Romantic Suspense/Paranormal.
Number of pages: 321 pagesWord Count:  87,862
Cover Artist: Cover to Cover Designs

Giveaway! Be sure to enter the Rafflecopter after this post for a chance to win one of ten $20 Amazon gift cards. 
Book Description
Psychic Trudy Tucker would love . . .
 . . . to breach Levi Wolfe’s defenses and show him that his heart has nothing to fear from her.
Psychic Levi Wolf would love . . .
 . . . to protect Trudy’s gentle heart by keeping her away from his dark, treacherous past.
But is love enough when someone with a heart full of hate has chosen Trudy as the next one to die?
Through His Touch
Will his touch claim her or kill her?
Book Trailer

Time to Interview!
What inspired you to write this book?
This book has been kicking around in my head for 10 years! I have met several psychics and have known one in particular since I was a teenager. Therefore, the paranormal and mediums have fascinated me for a long time. However, I wanted to write about mediums in a real world sense as opposed to a “wooo-wooo” sense. I wanted to show how growing up psychic could be traumatizing and learning how to live with this kind of gift/talent could also be a huge challenge. The characters of Levi Wolfe and Trudy Tucker are complex and I have a lot of material in them that I can use, which is why I decided on a series – The Mind’s Eye series. Levi can communicate with the deceased and he has “place memory” too. Trudy, on the other hand, is a vessel in which a murderer, rapist, kidnapper, etc. can slip into so that she experiences what they’re experiencing in real time. This kind of clairvoyance is rare. So, between the two of them, they can deal with the perpetrator and the victims to solve crimes and track down evil-doers.
Tell us about your book cover and how it relates to your story.
The book cover has to do with the murders of women Levi knows. The girl on the photo is the first murder victim in the book. The tagline is: Will his love claim her or kill her? Someone is stalking Levi in the book and then a woman Levi has been involved with is murdered and Levi’s life goes into a tailspin.
Are you currently working on another story? If so, we’d love some details.
I’m working on the third book in the Mind’s Eye series. I’m outlining it now. After I finish it, I’m going to switch gears entirely and write another historical romance set in the west right after the Civil War. Then, if the Mind’s Eye series seems to be selling relatively well, I will write #4. The third book in the series will deal with Trudy’s life in Tulsa, Levi meeting her family, and Levi’s problems with his own father. The main plot revolves around the kidnapping of a child Trudy is working on.
What sort of personality does your hero have?
Levi is conflicted. He had a difficult childhood and grew up not being loved or appreciated. He was also abused as a child. He has a master’s degree in psychology and a degree in parapsychology. He’s smart, intense, sexy as hell, and as handsome as the devil. For all his outward appearance of having everything, inside he’s anything but confident. He feels broken. He’s been in therapy for several years, trying to dispel his phobias and be “normal.” Trudy is a beacon of hope for him. He learns how to love and be loved thanks to Trudy.
What sort of personality does your heroine have?
Trudy has always battled her psychic abilities. In the past few years, she has learned to channel them and use them to help people (and to make a living for herself through them). Earlier in her life, she even contemplated suicide because her “visions” were keeping her from sleeping, resting, and living a normal life. Through it all, however, she is a loving, caring, young woman with a smart mouth and sharp mind. She’s brave and desperately wants to help people by finding and stopping murderers, rapists, molesters, and kidnappers.Tell us about your favorite writing environment. Is it indoors, outdoors, a special room, etc.
I use to write at my dining room table. Then I made an office out of the spare bedroom and I wrote there every day. When I moved to my present house, I converted the entire upstairs to office space/library. However, with laptops and tablets, I now write all over the place – the den, the living room, the dining room, the kitchen, the sun porch . . . oh, and sometimes I even work upstairs in my office! But not often.
It’s time to promo. What is your favorite marketing tool?
I do love Facebook and I’m on there every day. I like a good chuckle and I can always find one on Facebook and I enjoy sharing photos of hunky guys with my friends and followers. It’s also a good way to keep up with bloggers and find out what good books are coming out and find authors I haven’t read before (which is one of my favorite things to do!). I’m a new Pinterest convert. I use it as my novel scrapbook – putting photos there of my hero, heroine, other characters, clothing, their residences, their cars, etc. It’s a wonderful tool! It’s fun for my readers to go there and “see what I see.”
Are your book/books available in audio? In other languages? If so, give us more details about where we can get them and what languages they’re in.
Most of my books are available on Audible. The historical romances are especially good. My favorite one on Audible is “Fire Lily.” The narrator did a terrific job with it! My romances have all been published in other countries – Japan, Great Britain, Brazil, Germany, France, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Turkey, Greece, and many others.
How long have you been writing? How long have you been published?
I’ve been writing since I was in grade school. My major in college was journalism and I was a newspaper reporter before becoming a fulltime novelist. My first book was published in 1979. I have more than 45 titles in print. Excerpt
Levi crossed his arms and tucked his hands in his armpits in a stance that was clearly defensive. “With all of that shit going on, no wonder I dreamed of the box again. I haven’t had a nightmare about that place in a long time.”
“What’s the box?” Trudy watched with growing concern as his face tightened, jaw muscles flexed, and his eyes clouded with turbulent memories.
“A root cellar. A small place. Standing up, you could extend your arms out from your sides and touch the walls. It was cool and damned cold in there at night.”
“Where was this?”
“The Missouri Ozarks. Out in the wilds. It was a school set up on an abandoned farm property. They’d turned the farmhouse into a dormitory and the barn into a school.” He made a scoffing sound. “Not that they provided much of an education. Mostly, we read and memorized the Bible. There were classes in literature, English, math, a little science and geography here and there, but that was about it.”
“How old were you when you went there?”
“Nine. When I arrived I had just turned nine. I left when I was almost eleven to go to a school in Wyoming.”
“Nine.” She took up her own defensive stance, hunching her shoulders and rubbing her hands up and down her arms. Thinking of him as a nine-year-old being carted off to a place where he was schooled in a barn made her skin break out in gooseflesh. “I don’t know how your parents could send their little boy away like that.”
He gave an indolent shrug that she didn’t buy for one second. “They were trying to chase the devil out of me.”
“Idiotic,” she murmured.
“They put us in the box when we were bad.” One corner of his mouth lifted fractionally. “And I was bad. Bad to the bone.”
“What do you do that was so terrible?” She couldn’t imagine any sane reason to put a child down into a hole.
“I refused to say that my father was right and that I was a liar.”
“About your psychic abilities,” she clarified. “So, it was a religious thing with your parents? They truly felt that your abilities were a sign of evil . . . of the devil?”
“That’s what my father thought . . . or that’s his story and he’s sticking to it.” A quick, half-smile flitted across his lips. “He’s an intelligent man, so I’ve always believed that he’s mainly intimidated by my abilities. He’s a classic narcissist. Therefore, it must be impossible for him to think that I can do things he can’t. As for my mother?” He gazed up at the stars and violet shadows caressed his achingly handsome face. “I don’t know. She probably wished I’d just tell my father what he wanted to hear and do what he said to do. That’s what she did. She went along with whatever shit he shoveled out.”
She wanted to touch him. No, she wanted to hold him, but she stood still as her heart constricted with pain for him. She wanted to cry, but she knew he didn’t want her tears, so she swallowed the burning ball of emotion in her throat. He was talking and she was grateful, but what he was saying was difficult to hear. His upbringing had been a long nightmare from which he couldn’t awaken – and he was just scratching the surface. That’s what bothered her more than anything. His traumas ran deep. Soul deep.
“And the box?” she asked in a whisper. “How long did they keep children in there?”
“An hour at first. Then hours. I graduated to all day and then to all day and all night. The nights were the worst. It was cold in there and black as pitch. That’s when the rats would come out.”
Trudy couldn’t stop the shudder that shook her from head to toes. She cleared her throat. “R-rats?”
“Big mother-fuckers. Of course, I was only a kid, so they seemed like they were the size of Volkswagens. I couldn’t see them, but I could hear them scurrying around and I could feel them. They’d run across my feet. One of them jumped on my shoulder and bit my neck. I screamed and screamed. Screamed my fucking lungs out that night.” He glanced at her from the corner of his eyes. “That’s why my voice is husky. I damaged my vocal chords. I couldn’t talk above a whisper for a couple of months after that and my voice never fully recovered.”
“I love your voice,” she said, the declaration lifting from her heart onto her lips.
“Really?” He shook his head and sent her a baffled grin. “I think I sound like a bad actor doing a commercial for sore throat lozenges.”
She shook her head and decided to allow her heart to keep talking. “Your voice matches the rest of you. Sexy as hell.”
His arms slipped down his body and his shoulders lost some of their stiffness. He held out a hand to her. “Come here, you.”



What Readers Have to Say About Deborah’s Books...
Too Tough to Tame
"THIS IS A WONDERFUL BOOK."The book is funny and touching. I have read this book over 50 times already and I never get tired of it. Tess is so cute while Storm is strong and loving. They made a great couple.  -- Amazon review from Snowstar
“Through His Eyes” 5 star Amazon Review….
“This book is amazing, Deborah Camp has written one heck of a sexy thriller! How can you go wrong with two sexy psychics and a serial killer? Levi and Trudy both have abilities, Levi can talk to the departed and Trudy can see right into a killer’s mind. The question is how far can he see back into hers? Follow these two as they scorch the pages in the bedroom and the high octane roads it takes to catch the killer before Trudy is the next one on his list. These two are so hot, I thought I was going to have flames shoot out of my Tablet. That little hook at the end will have you waiting as impatiently as I am for the next Deborah Camp Novel.”-- Lia Hearn
Cheyenne's Shadow
"ONE OF THE BEST!"One of the best romance novels I have ever read. There is excitement, sadness, and passion in this book. I know I have read this book at least five times since I bought it.-- Amazon review by S. Ceballos
A Tough Man's Woman
"FIVE STARS!"I really enjoyed this book as it was one that kept you guessing most of the time.-- Amazon review from Phyl
Lonewolf's Woman
"WONDERFUL STORY!"Ah, fascinating to the last drop (or page). Highly recommended. Surely, a keeper!-- Amazon review from M. Hartmann
Black-eyed Susan
"FIVE STARS!"I found it hard to put down. It made me realize how things were in those years (long before I was born). I looked for more books by the same author.-- Amazon review from C. Schmidt
About the Author

Author of more than 40 novels, Deborah lives in Oklahoma. She has been a full-time writer since she graduated from the University of Tulsa. Her background as a reporter for newspapers helped her to write fast and enjoy research. After she sold her first few books, she quit newspaper work to become a freelance writer and novelist.
Deborah's first novel was published in the late 1970s and her books have been published by Jove, New American Library, Harlequin, Silhouette, and Avon. She has been inducted into the Oklahoma Authors Hall of Fame and she is a charter member of the Romance Writers of America. She is also a member of the Author's Guild. She was the first recipient of the Janet Dailey Award.
Through His Eyes (April, 2014) is her first romantic suspense book. It has paranormal elements and is erotic. It’s the first book in the Mind’s Eye series.
Through His Touch (September, 2014) is the second book in the Mind’s Eye series featuring psychic detectives Trudy Tucker and Levi Wolfe.
Lover of the west and the people who tried to tame it, Deborah likes to write about strong, independent women and the men who are their equals. She grew up on a diet of TV westerns which have served her well. Living in Oklahoma has also been a godsend. Since she appreciates men with devilish twinkles in their eyes, she likes to mix laughter in with the love scenes in her books.
Also widely published in non-fiction, she and writes and edits for a magazine focused on small businesses. Deborah taught fiction writing for more than 10 years at a community college. She has been a guest speaker at numerous writers’ conferences, including Romance Writers of America (RWA), Writers, Inc., and the Oklahoma Writers Federation, Inc. She has served as a judge in numerous writing contests throughout the United States and has judged manuscripts in RWA’s Golden Heart Awards and RITA Awards. She is currently working on her next historical romance set in the wild, wonderful west.
In 2012 her books were re-issued on Amazon for Kindle Direct and have attracted tens of thousands of new fans. Her books have made the Amazon bestseller list and “Too Tough To Tame” hit the #1 historical romance spot for Kindle Readers.

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Published on September 02, 2014 02:00

August 22, 2014

To Tame a Highland Earl by Tarah Scott.



Today it's my pleasure to feature Tarah Scott, author of To Tame a Highland Earl
TARAH SCOTTtscott@tarahscott.com
WEBSITE | BLOG | FACEBOOK | TWITTER


Award winning author Tarah Scott cut her teeth on authors such as Georgette Heyer, Zane Grey, and Amanda Quick. Her favorite book is a Tale of Two Cities, with Gone With the Wind as a close second. She writes modern classical romance, and paranormal and romantic suspense. Tarah grew up in Texas and currently resides in Westchester County, New York with her daughter.

To Tame a Highland EarlAMAZON | B&N | KOBO | ARe  iTunes
 A man torn between two worlds. Both need him...neither wants him.
Groomed for a life amongst the English aristocracy, Lord Erroll Rushton is unexpectedly thrust back into his father’s Scottish world when the Englishwoman he compromises refuses to marry him.
No gentleman breaks into a lady’s bedchamber...but then, no lady sleeps with a pistol under her pillow.
Miss Eve Crenshaw will marry for love or won’t marry at all. When London’s most notorious rakehell breaks into her bedchamber in the dead of night and compromises her beyond repair, Eve plans a daring escape that shocks even the Earl.  

To Tame a Highland Earl
My newest book, To Tame a Highland Earl: A MacLean Highlander Novel, is now available for preorder for the sale price of $2.99. 
Excerpt--
March 1807Manchester, England
If ever a woman deserved to be shot, it was Miss Crenshaw. But dawn appointments weren’t meant for the weaker sex. Weaker sex. The lady was anything but weak, which is why Erroll intended to throttle her.
Erroll laid a shilling in the innkeeper’s palm. “You understand the need for discretion.”
“Indeed, I do, my lord,” the man replied. “Your betrothed’s reputation is safe with me.”
Erroll managed to maintain a bland expression as the innkeeper handed him the key to the lady’s room. So news of his impending nuptials had sped from Coventry to Manchester even quicker than he had—which meant London society would hear the news by morning light and the story would cross the border to Edinburgh just as quickly.
Which of the gossipmongers had he to thank for that? He was grateful to the heavenly powers that his mother had remained in Scotland and not accompanied his father to England this month. God help him if she got wind of this entanglement before he had a chance to extricate himself from the tenacious claw of the husband-hunting wench.
“A beautiful woman is hard to resist,” the innkeeper said.
“Indeed,” Erroll murmured, glad the man had interrupted the mental picture of his mother outfitting the deceitful huntress in her wedding dress. No bachelor’s mother was more determined to see her son wed than Erroll’s own dear mamma, and since his return from the navy, his father had put his considerable weight behind her efforts.
He whirled toward the stairs, climbed to the second floor and made a left down the hall. At the third door on the left, he stopped. Erroll had endured his father’s hour-long diatribe that ended with the command to marry the woman who had accused him of compromising her—a woman he’d never laid eyes on—before he finally broke away to discover his accuser had fled Coventry. The hard five hour ride to catch her before she reached her father’s estate would have been in vain if not for the fact a wheel on her carriage broke forty miles distance from Manchester. 
This experience would teach him to dally with the women outside of London. Had he satisfied himself with the eligible ladies in Town—if those females could be called ladies—he wouldn’t have gone to Coventry and attended the damn house party that had gotten him into trouble. The fact he’d spent a pleasurable hour with a lady in the hostess’ gardens had only served to put him in the very place his accuser said he’d been. Erroll felt sure the cunning creature was well aware he’d been in the gardens, and therefore claimed to be the object of his attentions.
Erroll quietly unlocked the door, slipped into the darkened room, then eased the door shut and slipped the key into his pocket. Faint moonlight filtered in through thin curtains and outlined the sleeping figure in the bed. Erroll crept forward until he reached the bed. He braced a knee against the side of the mattress, then placed a hand on each side of the woman and brought his face to within an inch of hers.
 She shifted in her sleep and lush breasts grazed his chest. He wondered how long it would be before she became aware a man was in her bed, then concluded that since she hadn’t awoken with a shriek she must be accustomed to having a man in her bed. He should ravish her as she’d said he had just for good measure. The thought froze at the pressure of a pistol jammed against his abdomen.
“I am a crack shot.” The feminine voice was steady—as was the hand holding the gun. “But even the worst shot in Great Britain couldn’t miss.” The gun dug deeper into his belly. “Move away.”
Erroll considered. Her calm response to his presence almost made him think she’d expected him. “If I’m to be shot, I should at least commit the crime for which I’m accused.” The click of the pistol’s hammer being pulled back was his answer. “I see you do not agree.” He straightened off the bed.
“Step back,” she ordered.
He retreated two paces.
“More.”
He moved back another two paces.
“I promise you, sir, my aim is as true at such short a distance as it was when you were an inch from my face. Back against the door.”
Erroll complied. A light click indicated she had released the hammer back into place. She rose, a small figure in the shadows, and picked up something from the night table. The clink of glass was followed by the scrape of a match on wood, then light flared and he got his first look at the woman who claimed he had ravished away her innocence. Dark brown eyes pinned him with a hard stare. Honey-brown hair tumbled down her shoulders. The top of her head was no higher than his chest.
The muff pistol remained pointed at him as her attention shifted to the lamp on the nightstand. She bent slightly and her full breasts strained against the nightgown as she lit the wick. His cock jerked and he couldn’t deny his good fortune in not having met her at Lady Baldwin’s party. He very well might have fallen prey to her charms and been guilty of her accusations.
She blew out the match and tossed it onto a metal tray, then took a step toward him. The lamplight illuminated the outline of her body through the nightgown. The curves he discerned were fuller than were fashionable and the kind he’d sought without success. His cock began to lift. He might end up shot after all.
“You are no common housebreaker,” she said. “Who are you?”
 Erroll’s mind snapped to attention. The wench didn’t recognize him. Fury doused his lust. He gave a mocking smile and bowed. “Lord Erroll Rushton, at your service.”
Shock registered on her face, then an answering fire appeared in her eyes. “I see we shall have to break you of the habit of entering a lady’s room uninvited.”
“You use the term lady too loosely.”
“That is the pot calling the kettle black.”
He nearly laughed.
“One would think a prospective groom could keep his cock in his pants with his wedding but two days hence,” she said.
“Three days,” Erroll corrected. That was how long it would take him to get the special license his father ordered him to procure. “Pray tell, what sort of lady carries a gun?” He didn’t ask what lady used the word ‘cock’ as easily as the word ‘groom?’ That was perhaps too obvious.
“The sort who knows what to expect of a man,” she replied.
“The very sort who understands a man might object to being forced into marriage?” he said.
She gave a derisive laugh. “You are a rakehell, sir.”
“I never denied being a rake, madam, but I am no liar.”
She wasn't what he’d expected. He’d been told this was to be her second season, but this woman was no debutante and, given the way she unabashedly stood before him in her nightclothes, he would wager she was no virgin.
“Surely, you’re a little old for this game?” he drawled.
Her brow knit, but he detected no shame. She was too collected. But a level head—along with a liberal dose of nerve—is exactly what it took to accuse a complete stranger of compromising her.
“Did you really think you could get away with it?” she asked.
The question startled him.
“Now who is the pot calling the kettle black?” he said. She shifted and Erroll could have sworn he discerned a dark patch between her legs. “A shame we met under these circumstances.” He flicked a glance at her breasts. “We could have been friends.”
Her mouth thinned. “By God, I really should shoot you.”
“Tut tut, love, not until the vows are said and I claim what is left of your virtue.”
She drew in a sharp breath.
“Your righteous anger is completely undone by the fact that you’re nearly naked.”
Her mouth twisted in a derisive smile. “Forgive me, my lord. Had I known you were coming, I would have dressed for the occasion.”
“You are impeccably dressed for the occasion.”
Did she have any idea how visible the contours of her body were with the lamplight behind her…or how her nipples pressed against her nightgown? She shifted, widening her stance slightly and his cock jerked harder. Oh yes, the witch knew.
“I should send you to hell this instant,” she said.
He lifted a brow. “The marriage vows will take care of that—had I any intentions of marrying.”
“My father will ensure that you do not escape this time.”
“That sounds as though you think I am getting what I deserve.”
“You do not deserve such a good and innocent wife.”
Erroll laughed. “Innocent? A woman who puts herself in such a position is no innocent.”
“How dare you?” she hissed.
“How dare I? I understand there were several suitors for the honorable Miss Crenshaw’s attentions at Lady Baldwin’s party. I wager none of them were as good a prospect as I, which is why you gambled that no one would notice if I was included on that list.”
He didn’t miss the way her fingers flexed on the gun.
“Everything I’ve heard about you is true,” she said. “You have no conscience.”
“In that we are alike. Should my father succeed in coercing me into marriage, I will make the worst sort of husband you can imagine. I will not settle down and sire an heir as he expects. Instead, I will send my wife to the family estate in Scotland while I go about my pleasures in London.”
“So the choice is desertion or ruination?”
“Be honest, the ruination was done long before you concocted this plan.”
“Plan?” she repeated. “I feel certain I can convince the magistrate of self-defense. After all, you broke into my room.”
“Think again.” Erroll reached into his pocket.
“Beware,” she said.
He slowly withdrew the key from his pocket and held it up. “The innkeeper was very obliging. He feels nothing should stand in the way of true love.”
She frowned, then comprehension cleared her expression. “I should have guessed. You think you can browbeat me into helping you avoid the marriage vows. You, sir, are the worst sort of knave.”
“So we do understand one another.”
“You are a fool,” she muttered.
He’d had enough. “You are the fool if you believe I will marry you.”
“Marry me? What—”
Erroll started toward her.
She took a faltering step backwards and he lunged. She gave a startled cry. He seized the hand holding the gun and shoved it upward in their tumble backwards. They landed on the bed, him on top of her. Her lush body yielded beneath his hard planes—his stiffening cock in particular. To his surprise, she didn’t struggle, but released the pistol. The weapon bounced off the mattress and struck the carpet with a thud.
“Is this how you described my having ravished you?” he demanded.
Shock registered on her face. He blew out a frustrated breath. He’d come ready to battle the vixen and she was already crumbling. Moisture appeared in her eyes. Ah, there it was. She was simply moving onto another tactic.
“Lies, pistols, tears, and…” He moved suggestively against her breasts and felt the rigid nipples beneath his shirt. “Your arsenal of weapons is impressive, madam.”
“I tell you, mamma, I heard a scream.”
A woman’s voice penetrated the door on the right wall. Erroll jerked his gaze in that direction as the door swung open. Two women stood in the doorway staring, one young—in her second season, he would guess—the other, the mamma the girl had addressed.
Erroll looked at the woman lying beneath him. “I thought that was a closet.”
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Published on August 22, 2014 02:00

August 15, 2014

Moonseed Trilogy. Borrowed Promises by Judith Ingram.



Today I’m thrilled to welcome over Judith Ingram, author of Borrowed Promises, Moonseed Trilogy, Book 2, a paranormal romance. So cozy in and read a fabulous interview!
Publisher: Vinspire Publishing, LLC 
Date of Publication: May 31, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-9890632-4-1ASIN: B00JD0H2ZE
Number of pages: 249 pagesWord Count: 73,300 (approx.)
Cover Artist: Elaina Lee/For the Muse Designs
Giveaway! Be sure to enter the Rafflecopter after this post for a chance to win one of the following: 4 signed paperback copies of Borrowed Promises with bookmarks, 4 ebook copies (.pdf or .epub) of Borrowed Promises, 4 sets of Moonseed notecards; each set of six cards features scenes from the story, sketched by artist Amy Wong, 4 Amazon gift cards at $25 each or 4 coffee mugs featuring the book cover for Borrowed Promises along with tagline, "The past isn't always behind you…".
Book DescriptionOn the night of the new spring moon, a near-fatal accident propelled Victoria Reeves-Ashton over a century back in time to awaken in the body of Katherine Kamarov. 
Now, after three months of pretending to be Katherine and laboring to repair relationships damaged by Katherine's brash and selfish personality, quiet and gentle Victoria finds that her heart is putting down roots in Katherine's world, in her family relationships, and especially in a deepening friendship with Katherine's winsome cousin Michael. 
Hidden letters reveal the story of other moonseed-time travelers like herself-and Victoria realizes that she and Katherine will likely be returned to their own times the following spring. Tension mounts when a rich and handsome suitor applies to marry her, and Victoria must choose whether to accept him for Katherine's sake or to follow her own heart. 
Ryan Ashton, the husband Victoria left behind, is baffled by the woman his wife has suddenly become. Unwilling to believe her story about an exchange in time, Ryan struggles to understand the stark transformation of his timid, remote wife into a sexually aggressive and captivating siren. Against his better judgment, he falls hard for this new woman who is a perplexing mixture of cruelty, sensuality, and tenderness, a woman who he suspects has the power to either break his heart or heal the aching loneliness he has lived with all his life.
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Time to Interview!
How did you come up with the title?
My time travel romance trilogy, Moonseed, began as one long book. Its title came from a happy coincidence of the moon's mysterious power over the characters and the true name of a Chinese drug that also figures into the story's mystery. When I restructured the story into three volumes, the titles for each came directly from the content of each volume. In Book 1, Bridge to the Past, a real bridge has a reputation of being haunted and serves as the physical link between the present and the past, or between Victoria's world and Katherine's. Book 2, Borrowed Promises, follows the two women through a summer season of putting down roots and finding love in those borrowed lives they may have to give up when their year of exchange runs out. The possibility of being thrown back into their own times looms large in Book 3, Into the Mist, where the "mist" symbolizes the uncertain future and features significantly in the final scenes of the novel.
What made you choose the main setting for your book?
My book has two main settings, and both are nearby favorite spots for me. San Francisco is a beautiful, magical city with a romantic history. I loved doing research into old San Francisco as the backdrop for Victoria's excursion back in time. Sonoma County is the other setting, in the heart of California wine country, and who could resist falling in love with a setting like that? The story begins at Fort Ross, on the northern California coast, which I visited as a child and never forgot. The rich heritage of Russian and Spanish and Native American cultures adds depth and significance to the story as it plays out—especially in Book 3, Into the Mist, which is scheduled for release next year from Vinspire Publishing.
If you could spend an hour in real life with one of your characters, who would it be and why?
I would choose Ana, Katherine's Russian aunt. I would love to pick her brain about her home in old Russia that she left behind when she married Katherine's uncle and journeyed to California in the 1870s. My maternal grandmother also immigrated from Russia, and I've always been fascinated with Russian traditions, folk stories, and art. Listening to Ana's heavily accented English would be like sitting at my grandmother's feet, watching her hands busily crocheting doilies while she rocks to and fro in her chair and tells me stories, her head nodding rhythmically, her drop earrings swinging.
Tell us about your book cover and how it relates to your story.
I'm very excited about the cover of Borrowed Promises! It's beautiful and illustrates a significant, recurring dream in which Victoria encounters a deer in the forest. The cover also depicts the mysterious coin falling through time, which began Victoria's time travel adventure. Artist Elaina Lee perfectly captured the mood of the novel.
How long have you been writing? How long have you been published?
I've been writing ever since I could hold a pencil. In first grade I wrote a short story about a poodle, and it got published in the school newsletter. My first published work! I've always written poems, newsletter articles, short stories, and some technical manuals. I enjoy putting words together. My first published book was a Christian nonfiction book called A Devotional Walk with Forgiveness, released in 2011. The Moonseed trilogy is my first published novel. I also publish a weekly devotional about forgiveness on my inspirational blog at JudithIngram.com.
What genre/genres do you prefer to write? Are there other genres you'd like to write in the future?
I like to write what I like to read: romantic suspense, historical romance, women's fiction, some literary stuff. I have a serious temperament, so I like to read about things that matter and write about things that will help people—especially women—live better lives. My Christian faith is central to my life, and my writing reflects those values that matter most to me.
Do you prefer to write short stories, novellas, or novels? Why?
I like to write novels because I can get deep into the layers of my characters. My short stories always turn into something longer. I also like to read novels more than I like shorter pieces, for several reasons: I get to delve deep into a character's mind and motivations; I have time to think about the characters and the story and play out in my imagination what might happen next if I were writing the story; and I get to spend some time living in the characters' world before I have to leave it. (Leaving always hurts if I'm enjoying the story!)
Do you write books in a series? If so, share a bit about the series you currently have published or are coming soon.
Yes, my Moonseed trilogy is being released in series. Books 1 & 2 are available now: Bridge to the Past and Borrowed Promises. Book 3, Into the Mist, will be released next year. Aside from being released in three volumes, the story itself reads like two parallel stories: Two young women awaken in each other's lives and pursue a parallel existence over the same twelve months but a hundred years apart. Victoria and Katherine are about as different, physically and temperamentally, as two women could get. Yet they both suffer the anguish of a painful past and of not valuing themselves. Being thrust into each other's lives by a quirk of fate unexpectedly releases them to pursue love and discover hidden resources within themselves. Most women can identify with these issues, but we don't have the luxury of time travel to help us discover our true selves. I'm hoping that readers will find hope and encouragement through the story as well as a satisfying read.
Excerpt
I bit my lip, wanting to avoid any subject that could ruin the easy camaraderie of our afternoons together. Michael had been friendly and funny, teasing me gently, treating me with the easy affection of an older brother. Once or twice I'd caught him watching me with a fierce intentness that made my heart skip. But then he'd grin or offer a quip that made us both laugh, and the uncomfortable moment would pass.
I enjoyed the lightness of our friendship, grateful for the reprieve. In the rose garden at Summerwood and later on the trip to San Francisco, I had felt the slow but persistent budding of a new feeling that both thrilled and frightened me. The lightest touch of Michael's hand pricked up hairs along my skin like electricity; his boyish grin twisted a slow, sweet pain deep into my body. His clean, male scent in close proximity could stun me with unexpected waves of need, often forcing me to look away so he wouldn't see the flame in my eyes.I couldn't allow Michael to guess where my heart was taking me—because of Raymond.
Although many things were unclear to me, one fact seemed certain—Katherine must marry Raymond Delacroix and have at least one child with him. If I gave in to my new feelings for Michael, and if I were cruel enough to let him see them, then I risked both hurting him and ruining Katherine's chances with Raymond when she came back to her own time.
And Katherine would come back. I was convinced of it, all my desperate wishes to the contrary. She would marry Raymond, give birth to Elise, and secure a future that would eventually lead to her daughter painting a picture of Katherine and me at the bridge over Two Trees Creek. By the same token, I would return to life as a lingerie model and a cold marriage with Ryan Ashton. Ryan.
"What?" Michael's voice made me jump and turn my head.
"What?"
"You said 'Ryan' again."
"I did?"
Michael had removed his glasses, and he blinked at me from only a foot away. God, he has beautiful eyes, I thought. Soft gray-green depths that held me breathless, fighting a slow, aching pull to be in his arms.
"He's…nobody," I said.
Michael was studying me, his eyes so solemn and searching that I couldn't look away. He didn't speak, but in that moment my heart yearned toward him, and he saw it. His expression changed. His gaze moved slowly from my eyes to my mouth.
I turned my face away and shut my eyes over a sudden sting of tears.
"Kat?" he said softly.
His voice held a new, cautious note of intimacy. A moment later his thumb brushed my wet cheek, and the tenderness of his touch wrenched a low cry from me. I pushed his hand away and struggled to sit upright.
"Don't touch me!" Pain made my voice sharp. "You can't touch me, Michael!"
But his hand was already under my elbow, helping me to sit. He pushed a handkerchief into my hand."Here. Take it." He sounded bewildered and hurt. "Seems you'd rather do the job yourself."
He watched me wipe my eyes and blow my nose with his handkerchief. I couldn't look at him, and after a moment he reached for his glasses and slipped them on.
In a tight voice he asked, "Do you still want to visit Union Square?"
I pressed the soggy handkerchief to my lips and nodded.
Michael pushed himself to his feet and thrust out a hand to help me up. We folded the blanket between us, careful not to touch each other's fingers, and he picked up the hamper. As we crossed the grass in uneasy silence, a fresh roll of tears made me reach into my handbag for a clean handkerchief. A flash of copper tumbled into the grass.
I stopped quickly, but Michael was quicker. He scooped up the coin, examined it briefly, and gave it back to me.
"You still carrying that thing around?"
I looked up at him, my handkerchief arrested halfway to my face. "My coin? What do you know about my coin?"
He squinted at me and frowned. "You're kidding, right? I was with you when you paid a nickel for that worthless thing at the county fair. You said it was good luck, and you carried it around in your pocket for years." He stopped at my look. "What is it?"
"Michael, are you certain this is the same coin?"
I handed it back to him. His gaze lingered on my face, puzzled, before he examined the coin. He weighed it briefly on his palm, flipped it over, and gave it back to me.
"Of course I'm certain." He pointed his finger at the familiar nick in the rim. "There's where the wagon wheel ran over it, and you were so furious because you thought the magic was ruined." He screwed up his eyes against the sun and studied me. "What's the matter with you, Kat? You're looking at me like I've got two heads."
I shook my head in dazed wonder, suspended once again in that universe where Katherine's world and mine overlapped and where it made perfect sense that her lucky coin should have somehow come to me—twice.
About the Author

Judith Ingram weaves together her love of romance and her training as a counselor to create stories and characters for her novels. She also writes Christian nonfiction books and enjoys speaking to groups on a variety of inspirational topics. She lives with her husband in the San Francisco East Bay and makes frequent trips to California's beautiful Sonoma County, where most of her fiction characters reside. She confesses a love for chocolate, cheesecake, romantic suspense novels, and all things feline.
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Published on August 15, 2014 02:00

August 12, 2014

Passion. Undying Love. Emerald Fire by Valerie Twombly.



Today it’s my pleasure to welcome over Valerie Twombly, author of Emerald Fire, Demon Heat, Book 2, a Paranormal Erotica. So sit back, relax and check out a great interview!
Publisher: ResplendenceDate of Publication: 7/2/14 
ISBN: 978-1-60735-787-2ASIN: B00LHCCQRA
Number of pages: 103Word Count: 30K
Cover Artist: Les Byerley
Giveaway! Be sure to enter the Rafflecopter after this post for a chance to win 1 prize pack open to US shipping-containing: 1 ebook copy of Amazon Heat, Demon Heat #1, Signed copy of Eternal Flame, Guardians #1, Book Swag and a $10 Amazon card.
Description
Ever since Brock lost his mate and son in a tragic murder, he’s been unable to move on. When urged to go back home and bury his past, he never expected to meet Sarah. The demon is strong, sexy, and kind-hearted. Everything a man could want in a woman.
Sarah has longed to discover the mate who completes her and finds herself wondering about the demon who left the house next door shrouded in magic. After he appears in her camera lens, it’s an instant attraction and doesn’t take long to realize he belongs to her.
When Elias steps into the picture, Sarah must fight the urges he stirs inside her. She can’t believe fate has given her two mates. Now she is faced with a decision. Choose the one who promises nights of passion and undying love, or the other who can only offer her his broken heart.
Available at Amazon  Resplendenceand ARe
Interview time!
What inspired you to write this book?
The fans actually. I had several asking for Brock’s story and it was time.
How did you come up with the title?
The setting and combined that with the skyline and of course the fire between the characters.
What made you choose the main setting for your book?
I’ve been to Emerald Isle a couple of times and loved it. I thought it would be fun to have the beach as a backdrop.
Tell us a little bit about the conflict in your story. 
Our hero, Brock has had a huge loss in his life and it’s time to get over it except he can’t. In walks our heroine, Sarah who has been searching for her mate. Add Elias and now Sarah has to choose between two potential mates. One who can’t let go of his past and the other who promises her love.
If you had to sell your book based on one run of dialogue (start quote to end quote), which would it be?
“Darlin’, I was thinking of laying you out on top of this bar and having you for dessert.”
Tell us about your book cover and how it relates to your story.
I love this cover. The artist we have at Resplendence always to an exceptional job. Being that the backdrop is the beach it fits perfect.
Are you currently working on another story? If so, we’d love some details. 
I have a novella that will be out this Sept about a Jinn who is cursed to earth with no powers. It’s called Spanish Nights, A Jinn’s Seduction. Here’s a little blurb for you.
After a bitter divorce from her cheating husband, Makayla searches for her muse in the remote hills of Spain. When she flings open the door of her villa, she finds it in the form of intense blue eyes and a killer body attached to a thick Spanish accent. 
Armand has lost everything. His magic and his freedom are taken when an evil curse is placed on the Jinn, bounding him to earth. With only his immortality and ability for seduction, he sets his sights on the dark haired newcomer in town. 
What begins as desire in the steamy nights of Spain, quickly leads to something more meaningful. However, when evil emerges from the shadows, Makayla learns she must choose between her mortality and Armand’s freedom.
How long have you been writing? How long have you been published?
I’ve only been writing for 2 years and my first novel, Eternal Flame was published last Oct.
Do you prefer to write short stories, novellas or novels? Why?
I actually prefer novellas as I can get them out quicker. My Guardians series, those are novels.
Do you write books in series? If so, share a bit about the series you currently have published or are coming soon. 
I do. Emerald Fire is actually the second book in the Demon Heat series, but it can be read as a stand-alone. I expect one more in that one and then it will be complete. My Guardians series has two books right now. Eternal Flame and Fatal Desire. Those really should be read in order. Book 3 is scheduled for Jan 2015. That series could have as many as six to eight books with possible spin offs.
A Jinn’s Seduction will contain Spanish Nights as book one and I plan two more for that one and then will make it box set.
Excerpt
Sarah stood outside the house and watched while Brock unraveled the magic woven around it. The demon fidgeted and paced, and on more than one occasion, she worried he would run from her. She hoped, once inside, he would be able to find peace. Something in her gut told her his jitters were not all due to the opening of old wounds. She realized she actually made him nervous. When she’d caught him admiring her assets, she’d been anything but angry. His roving eyes had sent moisture between her thighs and a longing that nearly had her shoving him to the floor to sate her desire. Hot, inviting, he made her mouth water. She wondered if he tasted anything like the spicy cinnamon scent she inhaled every time she got near him and decided she needed to find out. Would it be in poor taste to seduce him when he was at his weakest? For some reason, she didn’t care, and that was really out of character for her.
“Sarah?”
She looked up and met his dark, brown eyes, noting a twinkle of mischief in them.
“Find something you like?” he chuckled.
Shit. She’d been caught staring at his ass. Well, it wasn’t her fault he filled out a pair of jeans like nobody’s business. Not to mention he was standing two steps up from her which put the muscular perfection right at eye level. She curled her lips upward. “As a matter of fact, yes. Yes, I did.” There, let him chew on that! She hoped he’d take it as a hint of her interest.
He tipped back his head in laughter. “Well, I guess I deserve that after I gawked at you.”
He pushed the door open, his features immediately schooled. Her heart ached for him and longed to see the sexy smile again. Her new goal was to get him through this and help him move on. She wanted to get to know the real Brock. The one who wasn’t in pain. “I’ll go first just to make sure it’s safe.” He slipped past the threshold and disappeared. Sarah remained on the first step, waiting for him to give her the all clear. Minutes later, he stuck his head out, his face ashen. “You can come in.”
She made her way up the remaining steps and through the doorway, not sure what she would find inside and half expecting her senses to be assaulted. She took in a deep breath and found the air to be crisp and clean. She must have had a puzzled look on her face.
“The spell kept everything out so there’s no mildew or mold,” he stated matter of fact.
She glanced around the spacious kitchen and felt as if she’d stepped back in time. The white porcelain refrigerator and gas range with its side storage compartment were state of the art for the period when the house had been previously occupied. Everything glistened as if freshly cleaned, waiting for the museum patrons to walk through the time capsule. She noticed Brock no longer stood next to her so she moved across the linoleum floor to the beige carpeted living room. She found him standing in the center, staring down at the floor.
“Brock?” She walked up and stood next to him. He didn’t respond and almost seemed to be mesmerized except that his hands balled into fists then released, only to repeat the process. Her heart fractured. Clearly, this was where he had found his mate. She reached out to touch him but hesitated unsure how he would respond. “Brock, maybe this wasn’t a good idea. I think we should leave.”
He lifted his head and glanced around the room. “No. I need to face my ghosts. I guess I wasn’t expecting it to be this difficult.” He ran his fingers through his short, blond hair. “Hell, I’m not really sure what I was expecting.”
It was heartbreaking to see him so vulnerable. This time, she didn’t stop herself from placing a hand on his arm.
“Is this where…?” She couldn’t finish the question without her voice giving away her emotions.
About the Author
As a child, Valerie would often get into trouble for peeking at her mother’s favorite TV show, Dark Shadows. She can still hear her mother saying “It will give you nightmares.” She was right of course, but that did not stop Valerie from watching. As an adult, her love of the fanged creatures never waned. She would watch any vampire movie she could find.
Being a true romantic, Valerie was thrilled when she discovered the genre of paranormal romance. Her first read was one of Lara Adrian’s, Midnight Breed Series and from there she was hooked.
Today, Valerie has decided to take her darker, sensual side and put it to paper. When she is not busy creating a world full of steamy, hot men and strong, seductive women, she juggles her time between a full-time job, hubby and her two German shepherd dogs, in Northern IL.
Valerie is a member of Romance Writers of America and Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal Romance Writers. 
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Published on August 12, 2014 02:00

July 28, 2014

Love. Lust. Power Games. Five Sizzling Hot Fantasy Romances.



Time to bundle it up again! This go around I’ve teamed up with four amazing authors to bring you 100% Fantasy Romance. So cozy in and check out some steamin' hot reads!
Steal the keys to five realms with these five fantasy romances for a mere $.99 with this bundle simply bursting with love, lust, and power games. From witches and werewolves to Greek mythology and even Scottish magic, these tales offer an eclectic mix sure to stoke your summer's heat into a solar storm! So, summon your inner warrior princess and ready your charms. Prepare for the battle of the sexes and wizards with hexes, because the only way to defy all evil is to fall in love...and maybe invoke a god!
His Forbidden Fruit by Jaide Fox: First she would become his captive...then he would capture her heart....With his lands cursed to wither and die, a desperate Lord Dominic Rainier learns from a witch that the only way to save his people is to capture the lovely Lady Lilith Somerset … and impregnate her before the next full moon….
Touch of the Gods by D.X. Luc: When Love and War make a wager, what could possibly go wrong? Hephaestus has lived a life of harsh abuse. The lame god knows heartbreak and doesn't believe love is in the stars for him. Little does he know, Eros and Ares puts his love life to the test and leads him to the full bodied, mortal Vanessa. Does he take a chance to open up or continue to believe he's destined to suffer for eternity?
Swordsong by Skhye Moncrief: He's arrived to help her create the perfect bride. His ticket home relies on a lonely woman haunted by more than apparitions. If time-travel duty, romance, and a bit of magic don't help them realize their destiny resonates in mysterious fairy SWORDSONG, all known history could change.
Sylvan Mist by Sky Purington: Coira refuses to acknowledge the Scotsman haunting her.Why should she? She carries no magic and is newly engaged. Though well aware of the mysterious tie between the medieval MacLomains and her Broun heritage, she prefers a proper English gentleman to a barbarian living six hundred years in the past. However, as one whirlwind day will prove, she has little choice in the matter.
Circle City, Lord of the Wolfen by Alisha Paige: Axl Wolfdorn is coming of age, ready for his Unleashing and on the hunt for his Moonswan, the female he will choose for the Chase and the royal Feral Consummation. But how can he consider bonding with a mate when the only scent deep within his nose is the tangy scent of the woman he must now kill to avenge his mother's death?
*These books contain very strong sexual content and are recommended for a mature 18+ audience*
Touch of the Gods- “If you like reading about the Greek Gods, well you'll have your eyes and imagination full. This is the side they didn't teach in Lit class.” A. Hayden
Swordsong- "Moncrief creates a unique culture from which Murdo comes and weaves it in with the present culture, making a compelling, sparkling love story with a unique twist near the end." ~Camilla, The Long and Short Reviews
His Forbidden Fruit- “The story is fast paced. It's well-written and creative…The lovemaking was hot and sensual.” K. Hill
Circle City: Lord of the Wolfen- “Fast paced and detailed…action packed...The plot line is deep and the twists and turns of the book will keep you wondering how things will happen and how it will end.” Stacy Eaton
Sylvan Mist- “A great book, mixing magic with history and time travel with romance, all following a family line through time. I loved the storyline and the great characters.” Night Owl Reviews
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Coming soon to iTunes and many online bookstores.
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Published on July 28, 2014 08:36

July 18, 2014

Magic. Betrayal. Power Struggles. Shawndirea by Leonard D. Hilley II.



Today I’m thrilled to welcome over Leonard D. Hilley II, author of Shawndirea, Chronicles of Aetheaon, Book I, a Fantasy (Epic, Adventure, Sword/Sorcerer) novel.
Publisher:  DeimosWeb PublishingDate of Publication: June 27, 2014
ISBN: 9781310304965 
Number of pages: 536 printed pagesWord Count:  148,000
GIVEAWAY!! Be sure to enter the Rafflecopter after this post for a chance to win one of 5 free ebook copies of Shawndirea via Smashwords. 
Book Description

Often the smallest unexpected surprises garner the most demanding dilemmas, which proves to be the ordeal that entomologist Ben Whytten faces.  While netting butterflies to add to his vast collection, he mistakenly sweeps what he thinks is the most spectacular butterfly he has ever seen into his net.  Upon examining his catch, Ben is horrified to discover he has captured a faery and shredded her delicate wings into useless ribbons.
Devastated, Ben vows to take Shawndirea back to her realm, Aetheaon; but he discovers that doing so places their lives into immediate danger.  To get to Aetheaon, they must pass through a portal rift deep inside the haunted cavern, Devils Den.  
Once they cross the rift, Ben enters a world where mysteries, magic, betrayal, and power struggles await. He must adapt quickly or die because Aetheaon is filled with enchanted creatures and numerous races where chaos often dominates order.  And since Shawndirea’s destined for the throne of Elvendale, opposing dark forces plot to prevent her from ever reaching her kingdom again.  The faery's magic isn't enough to fully protect them, so he must trust other adventurers to aid them during their journey.
Available at Amazon
Interview Time!
What inspired you to write this book?  
Shawndirea was originally meant to be a novella as a backstory for Devils Den (setting is twenty years after Shawndirea) that was published a couple of years ago.  My plan had been to explain the history behind several characters, primarily Ben and the faery, Shawndirea. However, the characters had something greater in mind.
Most of the characters in these two books originated with a book I trashed almost twenty years ago. Although I killed that novel, the characters stuck around in my head and matured. After twenty years, when the opportunity presented itself, they decided to hijack my novel and let their voices be heard. 
This is the longest novel I’ve written, and never has one of my novels flowed so rapidly. It was difficult for me to keep up with them.  There were many days with 12+ pages came with ease.
How did you come up with the title?
Shawndirea is the faery’s name. Giving the book a different title would have dishonored her.
What made you choose the main setting for your book?
The opening setting for Shawndirea and Devils Den is a fictional town (Cider Knoll) in Kentucky near Somerset.  Devils Den is the name of an enchanted cave that leads to a different realm, or realms depending upon how the maze passageways direct. 
When I wrote Devils Den and the rural town, I had never been to Somerset, Kentucky. After I had written the novel, I decided to drive out to Somerset with my wife and kids. The eerie thing is a lot of the descriptions I wrote about in the book were actually there. The old general store and other landmarks were there. It brought chills when I realized how much description my muse had instructed me to put on the page.
Tell us about your book cover and how it relates to your story.
The faery on the front cover is Shawndirea.  I scanned book covers online for hours and found this one.  The second I saw it, I knew that was her. http://www.selfpubbookcovers.com/Tigerlily
I was blown away. While the image is great online with Kindle, Nook, and other digital readers, the paperback cover takes the breath away.  
Are you currently working on another story? If so, we’d love some details.
I’m currently working on two novels. I’m working on the sequel to Shawndirea, and already a few chapters into it. I’m also working on a sci-fi novel based off a screenplay I had written while working on my Master’s thesis. This one should be a stand-alone novel and current word count is 25,000 words. 
Tell us about your favorite writing environment. Is it indoors, outdoors, a special room, etc. 
It varies from day to day. The majority of the time I write in my recliner while my 24-toed black cat, Slinx, watches from his perch above my head.  Since I teach at a local junior college, I find that I have to write in my office between classes sometimes. Other days I go to the university library and hide in a cubicle on the top floor and write.  That’s the good thing about having a laptop because you can write almost anywhere.
Are your book/books available in audio? In other languages? If so, give us more details about where we can get them and what languages they’re in.
I’m currently working on audio and hoping to get translations in German, Spanish, and other languages before the year is out.
How long have you been writing? How long have you been published?
I’ve been writing stories since I was 10 years old. For a time, I drew my own comics. I’ve loved books since I was three years old. I read everything I could get my hands on in school, and eventually decided to write books that I’d like to read except they didn’t exist. So I had to write them.
My first novel was published in 2007.
What genre/genres do you prefer to write? Are there other genres you’d like to write in the future?
I tend to write in cross genre. My first series was sci-fi suspense/thriller with other elements mixed in. I also love writing fantasy. And later this year I will be starting my teen mystery series.  These will be shorter novels, but I already have three solid plots worked out.
Do you write books in series? If so, share a bit about the series you currently have published or are coming soon. 
My Darkness Series consists of four novels: Predators of Darkness: Aftermath; Beyond the Darkness; The Game of Pawns; and Death’s Valley. There is an air of dystopia in the first novel, but one of my characters is a genetically altered cat that can talk. Morton has a smart mouth, but readers love him. I love him. But he’s the hardest character for me to write. Since he’s a cat, he’s just that stubborn. He only speaks when he chooses.  Believe me. When he talks, I write it down.
Thanks so much for the opportunity to let me share about my writing. All my best to you and your followers!
Thanks for joining me today, Leonard! Wishing you much success always.
About the Author 

Leonard D. Hilley II currently lives in the mountains of Kentucky with his wife, Christal.  He is a biologist that has also earned his MFA in creative writing.  Having a passion for books at an early age, he knew he wanted to author his own creative works.  He wrote his first novel at the age of eleven and has never lost his love for books.
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Published on July 18, 2014 02:00

July 17, 2014

Paranormal Romance. Burdened by Peiri Ann.



Today I’m thrilled to welcome over Peiri Ann, author of Burdened, A Burdened Novel, Book 1, a Paranormal Romance.
ISBN: 9780991381104ASIN: B00JYOLZA2
Number of pages: ebook (381) Number of pages: paperback (423)Word Count: 142K
GIVEAWAY!! Be sure to enter the Rafflecopter after this post for a chance to win.

Book Description

Tracey Warren has everything an eighteen year old girl should. She lives a life of expectancies; go to school, please her parents, party with friends, and revel in life as a young adult. 
That is until she experiences an unexpected life changing accident caused by Nathan Newcomb; an illegally attractive yet perplexed guy who has her fumbling over her words and cracking her head on the concrete. In being enthralled by his overwhelming existence, Tracey neglects his promise of death (which never falls short of Nathan) and in ignoring his guarantee, she chooses to give into love over sanity and risks her life for the opportunity of being with him. 
Nathan, knowing the risks gives into this want to have Tracey presuming it may be better to jeopardize their possible ending, than to allow her to endure the pain of his devoid. Nonetheless, with him being a burdened Sephlem, not only are they burdened by their adversaries who will risk everything but the exposure of their existence to see Nathan fall. But Nathan and Tracey come to find that their most sinister enemies lie under their same roof and regrettably share the same bloodline.
Book Trailer


Available at Amazon and BN
Interview Time!
Thanks for joining me today, Peiri!
Thank you for having me at A Writers Mind. 
What inspired you to write this book?
I was inspired to write Burdened when I was reading a lot of books that didn’t give me exactly what I wanted. They either had whiny heroines, not enough actions, not enough sex, the hero was too soft or too darn aggressive. And I wanted other PR with a strong romance base that wasn’t with vampires and werewolves. And I love writing. 
How did you come up with the title?
Burdened was written before I came up with the title. Because crazy and inconveniencing things happen throughout the story – when it seems as if everything is just getting better- I saw my character’s story as a burden. Plus my main character is a burdened Sephlem. So the title fit right in. 
If you had to sell your book based on one run of dialogue (start quote to end quote), which would it be?
Tracey: But if you murder your father, wouldn’t you kill your mother as well?
Nathan: No, she will remain alive, but she will be miserable and out of character.
Tracey: Wait, I’m confused. I thought one could not live without the other?
Nathan: The female can live without the male, but not the other way around. Remember, your heart beats in replacement of mine. So if I die, your heart will still beat, but if you die, that’s it for the both of us.
Tracey’s thought ‘That’s some crazy shit.’
Are you currently working on another story? If so, we’d love some details. 
I’m currently working on a fiction sci-fi/paranormal romance. It has a military base, genetically altered humans, aliens, and zombies. Yeah, an entire mixture of things that all role up into a wide ride called Diminish that will release early winter. 
What sort of personality does your hero have?
Nathan (the hero) is confident, charming, suave, reliable, keen, intelligent and fearless. He gives it to you straight forward and does not like to be BSd.
What sort of personality does your heroine have?
Tracey (the heroine) is conscientious, imaginative, capable, precise, and demanding. She wants what she wants when she wants it and hand has a good head on her shoulder... except when it comes to Nathan.
Did you enjoy writing one scene above all the rest? If so, share.
Yes. So there is this scene when Tracey and Nathan (my two main characters) get a little steamy. No, not a little, they get really steamy. Only when they are “steamy” can Tracey get in his head (Not hear his thoughts, but she can feel what he feels and see what he sees.) So, of course they are in there moment and she can feel the way she feels to him (as he’s feeling her) and sees how he sees her. What makes this scene my favorite is that it’s interrupted and at the worse possible “moment”.
Tell us about your favorite writing environment. Is it indoors, outdoors, a special room, etc.
My favorite writing environment is indoors surrounded by music sitting at my desk on this comfy spot of my couch where the cushions separate with my legs crossed Indian style and the laptop in my lap. (The best scenes and characters come to me when I’m like that.) 
Do you prefer to write short stories, novellas or novels? Why?
I like to write novels because I like to read long books and extended stories. Short stories and novellas bother me if I’m really into it and love the characters and I can’t get enough. 
Do you write books in series? If so, share a bit about the series you currently have published or are coming soon. 
I do write books in Series. Burdened is a part of A Burdened Novel book series. It’s four of them. Book two, “Tainted” will release this coming winter. 
If you could make changes to a story you’ve already written, which would it be and why?
One change I would make to a story I’ve already written is pushing out the relationship between my characters. Although if I did, it would really mess up the story’s plot. But because I don’t really like insta-love, yet I wrote it, that’s something I would change.
About the Author

A love for reading transpired into an admiration for writing at a young age for Peiri Ann. Starting off in writing poetry and short stories she indulged in the possibilities of creating new worlds and lives to live within them opening a window of unanticipated possibilities. In high school a pin and notebook never left her grasps and in college the pin was replaced by a keyboard and the notebook replaced by a computer screen. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and certified in business management. 
When Peiri Ann is not writing, reading, doing homework, or working in the downtown of Chicago she enjoys spending time with her little girl, watching action flicks, and spooning peanut butter from the jar as a midnight snack.
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Published on July 17, 2014 02:00