Beth Kery's Blog, page 26

Tessa Adams and a Giveaway!

Please join me in welcoming the wonderful and talented Tessa Adams (a.k.a. Tracy Wolff) to my blog. Her dragon books are something truly special that you need to know about!

I'm thrilled to be here today, talking about my new book, Forbidden Embers I've been a huge fan of Beth's since I read her second book, Daring Time, and also think she's one of the nicest, most wonderful people I've ever met.

Anyway, Forbidden Embers is the third book in my Dragon's Heat series, and it's a little different than the two that came before it. In this book, Logan (my psychic charmer of a dragon) goes deep undercover in the heart of the enemy clan in an effort to help find a solution, once and for all, to the virus that is ravaging his clan. But once there, he ends up falling for the enemy—the princess of the Wyvernmoon clan who was never meant to be queen. To say that sparks fly is a bit of an understatement, especially since Cecily can more than hold her own against Logan.

Here's a quick excerpt for you—I hope you enjoy! And leave a comment at the end of this thread, letting me know what your favorite type of romance is, for a chance to win Hidden Embers, the second book in the series.

Excerpt

Logan stood by the edge of the lake, staring up at Cecily in awe as she streaked through the skies in dragon form. She'd told him that she had always been able to shift that quickly, but he figured a part of him had still disbelieved his eyes—at least until she'd done it again.

Still, he wasn't one to let his shock and marveling keep him on the ground, not when catching her meant he'd finally be able to get rid of this hard-on he'd been sporting for what felt like forever. Besides, two could play her game.

Throwing every ounce of mental acuity he had behind it, he shifted as fast as he could. It was nowhere near as fast as what Cecily could do, but he was still up and flying in a little under two minutes, which was pretty much a record for him. And then the chase was on.

She had a hell of a head start, and in dragon form they were a lot more evenly matched than they were as humans. Which meant that no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't quite catch up to her as she streaked and rolled and zoomed through the sky around him.

He almost got her when she flew extra close, but right before they collided, she somersaulted away and then went into a steep dive that was beautiful to watch even as it gave him a little bit of a heart attack.

Pull up, Cecily! he sent to her mentally. When she didn't immediately obey, just turned to stare at him with wide dragon eyes, he yelled it at her again, even as he raced toward her. Damn it, Cecily, pull the fuck up.

She did and narrowly avoided crashing into a sheer wall of rock. He shuddered at her close escape, then took off after her, determined that playtime was over. That's it, he projected into her mind again. Let's land.

But you haven't caught me …

She spoke back to him, and the second he heard her voice in his head, he nearly fell out of the sky. It was like that sometimes, albeit rarely. But it did happen, when he was completely overwhelmed from the feel of someone's mind brushing against his own. He'd lived long enough to know that it usually only happened with people who were going to be important to him. Which was the last thing he wanted to think about right now, but there it was.

For one brief second, Cecily's mind completely opened to him—spreading out before him like a beautiful, golden map. She shimmered with light and incandescent joy, determination, and a conviction that was rare to find. At the same time, there were hints of fear and resignation—he could see the darkness of the emotions marring the purity of the rest of her mind. She was at a crossroads and desperately afraid of taking the wrong path.

He raced to get closer to her—mentally and physically. Tried to throw himself into the psychological chart of her mental processes laid out in front of him, so that he could have a better idea of what was going on inside her and the Wyvernmoon clan. But the second he tried to touch it, to touch her, the map disappeared.

Desperate to get his hands on her now that he'd seen what was inside of her, Logan sped up, arrowing straight at Cecily. Using every ounce of speed and strength and concentration he had, he tackled her in mid-air, sent her sprawling. And then the two of them were rolling and spinning through the air, their bodies winding around each other.

Hi, there, she told him as she stopped trying to flee and simply surrendered her body into his keeping.

Hi there, yourself. His beast reveled in the feel of hers wrapped around it, and so did he. The trust implicit in the act, the way she'd left both her jugular and her underbelly open to him got to him in a way little had in a very long time. Dragons rarely let themselves be that vulnerable, and the fact that she'd made the conscious decision to leave herself that way with him stunned and overwhelmed him.

It also shamed him. How could it not? Oh, he would never go for her jugular, never physically hurt her—he couldn't, after everything they'd already shared. But that didn't mean he wasn't going to destroy her in the end. Because he might, hell, he probably would. He couldn't afford to worry about how the Wyvernmoon princess was going to take his duplicity, not after her clan had done everything in its power to wipe the Dragonstars out of existence.

The Winners!

Hi all!

The winners of the 4 Samhain 5.50 gift cards are: Mahlet, Elaing8, Cecile and Chelsea! Ladies, write to me at www.bethkery.com, and I'll send you your codes.

The winners of their choice of either Liam's Perfect Woman OR Addicted to You are Leagh and Jillian! Ladies, write to me with your addresses and choices at www.bethkery.com

Thanks for stopping by to all, and be sure to look for Silken Rapture November 22!

~Beth

New cover and a Big Giveaway!

Hi all! I received my new cover for the next novel in the Princes of the Underground series, Silken Rapture. I have four $5.50 Samhain gift cards to give out, plus two signed copies of my latest, Liam's Perfect Woman OR Addicted to You by Bethany Kane, to give out to six commenters here at the blog! Just leave a relevant comment to enter. I'll announce the randomly chosen winners next Friday, so be sure to come back and check.

Now…about Silken Rapture.

Genre: Erotic Paranormal

Publisher: Samhain

Release: November 2011

Length: Novel

Series: Princes of the Underground, Book 2

He is her captor…
She is his soul…

When Blaise Sevliss, Lord Delraven, rescues a young woman from the clutches of his vampiritic clone the sheer amount of soul energy blazing from her unconscious body stuns him…and awakens a primal, parasitic hunger he has fought for centuries to quell.

Determined to keep her safe from the ravenous Scourge horde, Blaise must hide her in his underground stronghold. Where the powerful urge to consume her gnaws at the last shreds of his control.

With a touch, Isabel Lanscourt can divine the darkest of secrets. Her ability is little help, though, when she awakens in a lush world where sensuality rules. Her shining spirit is a beacon to all the powerful immortals in Sanctuary, but only one can touch her. The enigmatic Lord Delraven, whose brusque coldness is belied by the heated need in his eyes.

In a dangerous zone between temptation and memory, desire ignites an explosion of luminescent beauty. And Isabel's healing touch begins to fill his emptiness with an impossible gift: a soul. But Blaise holds a dangerous secret, one that could extinguish Isabel's inner light. And cast his lonely world into eternal darkness.

Warning: Step into a sensual world of vampires who love to feed and love to…er…feast, where sexual variety is the spice of their lives. No sweetness and light here, this is one vampire who can put the "B" into "bad guy" without batting an eye.

It's Fall, and I'm Back!

Hello! I'm only back in the blog sense, as I really haven't been anywhere else but here, writing, enjoying the summer…writing.

It's that time of year again, when the kids are back and school, when both autumn and summer seem to linger in the air at once and thoughts turn to the upcoming year. Do you have any big plans on the horizon? Vacations? New ventures? House renovations?

I'm glad to say the Home to Harbor Town series has been getting some great reviews and feedback. I've finished the third book in the series–Colleen's and Eric's story–and I'm not working on that feisty, wonderful, wounded Deidre's novel. Both will come out next year, along with a fifth book from Harlequin.

Check out some of the latests reviews for the Home to Harbor Town series:

A Review–It has been a long time since I have read such a compelling love story.Grade A from The Good, The Bad and the Unread

I highly recommend reading this series—a visit to Harbor Town is a perfect escape. The Romance Dish

It was easy to fall in love with Harbor Town and the people who live there. The Barnes and Noble Heart to Heart Blog

Very sexy and sensual–I'm a fan of Beth Kery's voice and look forward to more. Smexy Books

PLUS: I thought you'd get a kick out of this. I saw the cover for The Hometown Hero Returns in England/France/Spain etc. Here it is–I could only get a small version of it. Gave me a smile. Funny, how different markets respond to different covers.

I also heard from my editor that everything is on track for the second book in the Princes of the Underground series to come out from Samhain. I should be getting the cover soon, so I'll share it when I do, plus do a giveaway of a bunch of Samhain gift cards I received at RWA! Silken Rapture is going to be out in November of this year.

I hope you're having a great start to the beginning of autumn! I'll see you soon.

~Beth

The Winner of the Paul M. contest is

Jen B!

Jen, write me at bethkery@aol.com to claim your prize.

Thanks to everyone who participated! It was fun hearing your faves.

Liam's Perfect Woman is Available on Amazon and Nook Today! (And a Paul M. contest!!)

Happy August to all! Time to get out and do all those summer favorite things soon, or time will soon be out!

Just a heads up that the second book in the Home to Harbor Town series, Liam's Perfect Woman, is now availble in Kindle and Nook for 3.99!

Guess who I saw last night? Paul McCartney in concert, and he was FABULOUS. Talk about a showman. He just kept rockin' it, giving his all. He played every song I hoped he would, and much, much more…Maybe I'm Amazed, The Long and Winding Road, Yesterday, Let it Be, Hey Jude, Eleanor Rigby, Live and Let Die (for which there was a huge flame and firework accompaniment) and the list goes on. I hope I have as much energy as he does at age 70.

I'll give away a copy of winner's choice of Liam's Perfect Woman,The Hometown Hero Returns OR a $5.00 Samhain gift card to one commenter who answers the following question: Do you have a Beatles, Wings or McCartney song that's a favorite? If not, surely one of them sticks in your mind, as pervasive as the songs are in our culture. Tell us about it, and qualifty to win. :) If you like, include the link to your fave on U-tube for others to enjoy.

The Winner of the Liam's Perfect Woman Prize is

Maria D!!

Maria, write to me at bethkery@aol.com to claim your fifty dollar gift certificate!!

Thanks to everyone who participated. If you see Liam on the shelf, check him out. ;)

Happy Reading,

~Beth

Fifty Dollar Gift Card, Liam's Perfect Woman Contest

Looking for that perfect beach read to cozy up with on a hot summer day? I have a suggestion, Liam's Perfect Woman from Harlequin Special Edition–sizzling romance set in a charming beachside community, a shy, but determined heroine intent on finding the answers to her past, and a sexy, bold cop who finds himself trapped between old family secrets and a plea for help from a stunning, enigmatic woman.

Even better? How about a fifty dollar gift certificate to buy more of those books you crave? That's what I'll be giving away to one commenter here at my HQ blog. Just leave a comment on the excerpt from Liam's Perfect Woman, and you'll be in the draw to win. Winner chosen randomly. Winner announced here on Wednesday, July 20).

It happened one summer…

The moment Liam Kavanaugh first glimpsed the exotic beauty dancing across a moonlit beach, he was smitten. But he was in for the surprise of his life when she turned out to be Natalie Reyes! The big-city cop had returned to Harbor Town to be the chief of police. Instead, he was battling an intense attraction to the woman who was forcing him to confront his past…

The lone survivor of the crash that had destroyed their families, Natalie needed Liam's help to finally move past the tragedy that shattered her life. Yet the innocent beauty wasn't prepared for the passion that flared between them. And now her very future was in the hands of a man who just might be able to heal her heart with his loving touch…

Excerpt: Liam's Perfect Woman by Beth Kery

Book 2: Home to Harbor Town series

"Please sit down. Thank you again for agreeing to see me." She was pleased to hear that her voice didn't tremble.

"I still can't imagine why you wanted to," he said before he shut the door. Natalie jumped slightly at the brisk bang. She held herself unnaturally still as he sauntered toward a chair in front of her desk, all careless ease, a male animal in his prime who was supremely comfortable in his own skin. As he started to sit he leaned forward several inches, peering into the light cast by the single dim lamp on her desk.

Natalie moved subtly back into the cloaking shadows.

"I'm not accustomed to meeting strangers in dark rooms, Ms. Reyes. How do I know you're not planning to jump me?"

For a few seconds, she was too knocked off balance to reply. His eyebrows went up in wry amusement and he leaned back in the chair. He, too, became shrouded in shadows with the exception of an angle of light that fell across his lower face, allowing her to see his mouth. It was a compelling mouth…decisive. Made for giving orders and laughing and…

Other things.

His lips tilted ever so slightly, as if he'd read her mind.

Cocky bastard.

"I can assure you I have no plans to 'jump' you, Mr. Kavanaugh," she replied with what she hoped was cold austerity.

"Too bad. A little action might have spiced up my evening."

"I'm sorry to have disappointed you."

He gave a slight shrug, ignoring her sarcasm. "No need to apologize. I'll get used to the slug's pace of Harbor Town before long."

"Do you already miss it, then?"

She sensed his muscles tensing despite his seemingly negligent posture. "What? My old job?"

"Yes."

"What do you know about my old job?"

She set down the pen she'd been nervously twisting in her lap on the desk. She could feel his gaze on her hand, which shown clearly in the pool of light cast by the shaded lamp.

"I'm friends with your sister-in-law, Mari. She's the one who told me you'd retired from your position at the Chicago P.D. and were returning to Harbor Town to become our police chief. Congratulations on your new position. We're very lucky to have a detective who has been decorated so many times and has so much experience."

He remained unmoving and silent. She found herself leaning forward slightly into thelight, trying to assess his expression.

"You don't believe me? Why?" she asked quietly when she saw his lips were tilted slightly in skepticism…or was it derision?

"I'm sorry, I'm just finding it hard to believe you invited me into your office to welcome me to Harbor Town and extol my virtues. I'm a Kavanaugh, after all. You're a Reyes."

For a few taut seconds she heard nothing but her heart pounding in her ears.

"I'm an individual, Mr. Kavanaugh. Not a history."

He laughed, the low, rough quality of it taking her by surprise.

"Stop with the Mr. Kavanaugh. I'm Liam."

"Fine. I'm Natalie," she replied breathlessly.'

"And nothing against your individuality or anything, but I doubt even if you'd been marooned on a desert island for the past sixteen years you'd be unaffected by our history. So why don't you just tell me why you asked me here tonight?"

In case you're interested, I'm also giving away a fifty dollar gift card at my Harlequin blog. Comment there to double your chances of winning!

Booklover's Review of Liam's Perfect Woman

Liam's Perfect Woman will be hitting stores very, very soon! Check out this advanced review of it at Booklover's Inc. And there's a giveaway of the Home to Harbor Town books, too.

Sizzling Summer Sales!

Need a steamy beach read? Many of my books are on sale this summer! All of the books on sale mentioned below are novel-length.

Gateway to Heaven, a poignant, sexy story about an unlikely romance between a rock star and a shy artist, is available now at Smashwords for 1.99! It should also be available at Kindle within the next twenty-four hours. I recently received back the rights on this novel, and I'm proud to say it's been spiffed up with a new cover and updated editing. Here's some reviews on Gateway and the spiffy new cover from artist/author/friend Fiona Jayde.

5 Enchantments, Enchanting Reviews– Ms. Kery did a fabulous job painting her scenes with words. I sat down to read it and within minutes I was enthralled. I will read this again. If you are a romantic at heart, this is definitely a must read!

B+ Rating, Dear Author–This was a lovely (and sexy) love story in which you truly believed that this rock star and shy artist could make a life together.

5 Books, Long and Short Reviews– I highly recommend this well-written, emotional story.

Night Owl Review Top Pick–I loved the book and can't wait for more by this talented author.

Paradise Rules in paperback is on sale now at Barnes and Noble for 1.99!

PLUS, many of my backlist Ellora's Cave novels are currently on sale for $1.49 at Amazon Kindle, including Through Her Eyes (erotic paranormal), Flirting in Traffic (contemporary romance), Fire Angel (erotic paranormal) and the entire Subtle series (erotic paranormal).

Yay for summer sales!