Mari Carr's Blog, page 90
December 9, 2011
Jingle Bell Hop!
This weekend I'm participating in the Jingle Bell Hop. Lots of cool prizes and one lucky winner will walk away with a Kindle Fire! Check it out here!
I thought I'd share a snippet from my upcoming release, Wild Irish Christmas, to get us in the spirit of the season. It releases on December 20 at Amazon and Barnes and Noble, then on Dec. 22 everywhere else! 
"I still can't believe you're all spending the night here."
Keira grinned. "We're here because it's the holidays, Pop. You haven't been yourself the last few months. We worry."
Patrick grasped his oldest daughter's hand. "I'm a tired, old fool. I suppose I lost my way for a bit. Let the daily grind get me down. You crazy kids have reminded me what's important in life with this gesture. It's a lovely gift."
Keira squeezed his hand. "We love you. It's been years since the eight of us were alone together in this apartment…all busy with kids and jobs. We thought it was time we took a night to reconnect. To remember where we came from."
"Oh," Sean added, "and a word to the wise, Pop. Next year, when the girls ask you what you want for Christmas, say a flashy tie or an animal-print Snuggie or some bull like that. Don't say, I only want you all to be happy and healthy. Leaves too much room for interpretation—especially from Riley."
Riley picked up a pillow and lobbed it at her younger brother's head. "Way to ruin Keira's sappy speech, smartass."
"Language, Riley," Patrick said, the words a familiar joke more than a true rebuke.
"Sorry, Pop." Her face told him she wasn't sorry at all.
Tris lifted the whiskey, proposing a quick toast. "We're here, Pop, because we're family. To the Collins clan." He took a swig from the bottle and passed it to Teagan, who followed suit with her own cheers.
Patrick wasn't sure what it said about his character that he was proud of the way all seven of his offspring could hold their whiskey.
As the bottle moved from hand to hand, they each offered up words of thanks or wishes for the New Year. When it reached Patrick, he lifted the bottle and proposed a toast he hadn't used since the last Christmas he'd celebrated with his wife, Sunday.
"To Conall Brannagh."
Ewan took the bottle from his father. "Who?"
"Conall Brannagh," Patrick repeated. "If your mother had chosen him over me, none of us would be here tonight."
December 7, 2011
Smutketeer Holiday and News!
AND I have a fun little announcement! Wild Irish Christmas is available for preorder NOW at Amazon. It should hit Barnes and Noble any day now…I'll keep you posted. Wanna know a little Christmas secret? Check the release date at Amazon.
December 5, 2011
Quote of the Day
To get us into the holiday spirit, I thought I'd share some of my favorite Christmas quotes during this month. Today we're starting off with a classic!
"Strange, isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?" – Clarence, It's a Wonderful Life
December 4, 2011
Six Sentence Sunday
How about a bit from my current Work in Progress? This is from Screwdriver, book two in the Cocktales series. **Rubbing hands together** Diving into a new m/f/m menage story! Woot!
"What the fuck were you doing?" Gabe's question was murmured, but even in the quiet tone, Casey could detect the anger.
"Taking a break."
"With your clothes off?"
"I've been in this godforsaken sweat box for nearly two hours," Casey retorted.
"Why was Jordan in here?"
Want more six sentence fun? Check it out here.
December 3, 2011
Saturday Snippet
There are some secondary characters who become as important to a book as the main characters. I believe this is especially true of the Compass Brothers series I am co-writing with Jayne Rylon. The parents of our cowboys, JD and Vicky, play a major role in the recurring theme of the series. They are central to the idea of home and family. I thought I'd share a snippet from the latest release in the series, Eastern Ambitions. It's book three and it's available now. The last book, Western Ties, will release in March.
Snippet:
"You should have seen them. Smoking hot quadruplets, Sam." Sawyer bragged about his most recent conquest to Seth and Sam over the open videoconference link while they waited for Silas to join in the call. "Two for you, two for me."
"Sawyer Compton, what kind of trouble are you getting into now?" Vicky, their mom, laughed at the horror on her youngest son's face when she popped into the last quadrant on the screen. Silas had returned to Compass Ranch. Too bad his trip had been courtesy of an oil rig explosion that had nearly killed the tough son of a bitch.
"Dude, a little warning would have been nice before you tossed Mom on the line." To see the Coastie blush made Sam's day. Even better was the hazy image of Silas in the background, looking mostly in one piece. His leg would be jacked for months, maybe forever. Otherwise, he'd recover. Funny how hearing the news hadn't convinced Sam as much as that one glimpse of home and his family out west.
Four pictures divided his screen. He'd placed the images of his brothers as they were situated around the country. His window on the right. Sawyer—in San Francisco—on the left, Silas—home from Alaska—on the top and Seth—in Texas—at the bottom.
"Hello, my sons." Vicky tried a little finger wave, giggling at the reflection of herself on the screen.
"Hi, Mom." They answered her together.
"All right, I see I'm crashing this party. Just wanted to see my boys a second. Have fun and call me soon. I love you."
A chorus of "Love you too" echoed through the state-of-the-art conference equipment in Sam's high-rise office. He steepled his fingers and waited.
The snick of a door closing bounced off his glass desktop and the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Manhattan skyline before Silas announced, "Okay, she's out."
"How much of that did she hear?" Sawyer adjusted his uniform. He must be on a dinner break. It was nearly quitting time for Sam despite his ridiculous hours. If it weren't for his ten o'clock dinner with Belinda, he might have stayed past midnight again.
The promise of some extra-sweet dessert, assuming he could negotiate the merger he'd been considering for a while, lured him from his workaholic tendencies.
"Obviously I missed a good story." Si let Sawyer off the hook. "Nothing but the last few words came across. You're clear."
"Holy shit, I almost had a heart attack." Sawyer clutched his chest. Served him right for gloating.
"You know, her and JD aren't exactly prudes." Seth—kicked back in jeans and no shirt with a beer in hand after a long hard day—supplied some dirt. "I heard from Jim Spade they tore it up back in the day. Plus, remember the time Sam walked in on them in the kitchen?"
"Gross. I could have gone my whole life without thinking about that again, fuckwad." Sam adjusted the sleeves of his Burberry shirt to keep them from wrinkling any worse. At least his suit coat hung neatly from the rack in the corner. He focused on a vision of Belinda in the slinky designer dress she'd promised to debut for him later to erase the lingering horror of JD and Vicky's overwhelming passion. If they weren't his parents, he'd have been impressed.
Eastern Ambitions is available at Samhain, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Sony, Kobo and All Romance Ebooks.
Check out some more Saturday snippets!
November 29, 2011
The Lost books…
My first book, Erotic Research, was published in March 2008. Since then, I have been EXTREMELY blessed to contract and release 33 more ebooks! I look at that number and pretty much freak out. I wake up every day feeling like the luckiest person on the planet. Some of my books have sold extremely well (like blow-my-mind well). Eastern Ambitions recently hit the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists and I'm still shaking my head in "dream come true, holy hell, pinch me" amazement.
Other books, however, have fallen into what I call my "lost books" category. I have several books I've loved that (for whatever reason) readers didn't go for. I have lots of conversations with writer friends, my editors, and others in the publishing industry about what makes a book sell. Today…I'm asking for your help, for your expert opinions as readers and consumers.
Below are my "lost books." I'm going to post the cover, the blurb and an excerpt. Here's what I'm asking. Based on what you see, what would keep you from buying that book? Cover? Genre? Subject matter? Maybe it's a book you didn't know existed. I'm genuinely curious what you look for when selecting a book.
In fact…let's make it a contest. One commenter will win their choice of one of my "lost" ebooks.
Lost Book #1 – Do Over
Sometimes once is not enough…
After twenty-five years of marriage, Faith Wainwright wonders what she'll do next. Her kids have moved out and sometimes she feels so distant from her husband, Troy.
Right before their anniversary, Troy gives Faith an unexpected gift: a journey through their hometown to reenact all their "firsts". Their first date. Their first kiss. And especially the first time they made love—only better.
Each stop on their tour becomes an opportunity for Faith and Troy to rediscover how explosive their passion could be. Now Faith knows exactly what she's going to do—Troy, over and over again….
Read an Excerpt.
Lost Book #2 – Covert Lessons
Gangs are taking over the hallways of Lowell High School. Desperate to save her alma mater, English teacher Kelly Finch reaches out to at-risk students in an effort to steer them from more dangerous pursuits. Still, gang activity is rising, and when the superintendant seeks help from an undercover task force, Kelly is forced to play host to the most arrogant, infuriating, sexy man she's ever met—Lt. Jared McNally.
The opinionated pair clash constantly, especially when Mac sets his sites on Kelly's favorite student. As the intensity of the mission grows, so does their attraction, leading to an erotic "punishment" for Kelly when she consistently disregards her own safety.
But the stubborn beauty's devotion to her students continues to bring her closer to the escalating gang violence. If Mac can keep her safe long enough, she'll definitely need a few more sensual, covert lessons.
Publisher Note: For more sexy suspense featuring staff from Lowell High, check out Retreat.
Excerpt of Covert Lessons.
Lost Book #3 – Slam Dunk
Slam Dunk Black & White Collection, Book 6
Who says you can only score on the court?
When Ellie "Hottie" Hunter lands a job teaching science in the same high school as Trey Donovan, he knows the basketball gods are smiling on him. He's in need of an assistant coach and Ellie fits the bill perfectly. In fact, if Trey plays his cards right, Ellie may be his perfect match off the court as well as on.
Ellie's coming out of a bad relationship that not only broke her heart, but cost her the job she loved. Turning over a new leaf, she approaches her fresh start with a positive attitude and new rule—no more workplace romances. Unfortunately, her undeniable sexual attraction to Trey weakens that resolve. Maybe she could fudge the rule…just a little. Casual sex doesn't count, right?
Right?
Warning: Lots of red-hot, half-dressed court presses complete with sex toys, food, bubble baths, strip poker and, oh yeah, balls.
Read Excerpt.
Lost Book #4 – Because of You
Because of YouSometimes what you're looking for is closer than you think.
Jessie's life is a mess. In the eight hellish months since her husband died in a freak accident, she's been mugged, her house has been trashed, and now she's receiving frightening pranks calls. Still, she resists a friend's offer of a weekend getaway—her grief is too fresh to consider meeting anyone new.
Then again, since it's a party for gay men, there won't be any pressure, right?
ER doctor Caleb James feels perfectly at ease among his gay brother's friends, but one look at Jessie sparks a sexual tension that's impossible to ignore. A few drinks and a few hours of conversation later, things move a lot faster than either of them expects. Jessie is left confused and Caleb aches with regret—and love for a woman who is still guarding her heart.
Pressure is the last thing she needs. But as it becomes apparent that her string of misfortunes trace back to her husband's death, help is what she's going to get. Caleb's help…ready or not.
Warning: This title contains a two adults playing doctor. But that's okay, one of them is licensed to practice. A prescription for extra-strength Kleenex may be required.
Excerpt for Because of You.
Lost Book #5 – No Recourse
June Girls, book oneThey say lightning doesn't strike twice, but it might with the passing of two hundred years…and a little magic.
2008 is one year that Hayley Garland would like to forget. Devastated by the disappearance of her best friend, she's spent the year in limbo. But now she's back to where it all went wrong. Returning to Fernwood Grange in the hopes of finding out what really happened to Erin seemed like a good idea, but Hayley can't find anything more than a stormy English night and an old oak tree. If only she could go back in time….
Captain Jack Campbell is searching the Dover shoreline for another missing girl. Racing through the woods, he's caught in a sudden downpour. Drenched and in need of shelter, Jack is stopped short when lightning strikes a tree in his path. The split trunk reveals a young woman, in obvious pain, and he reaches out to her just before she loses consciousness.
Desperate to find Julia, a local woman who has disappeared recently, and escape the powerful storm, he heads to a small cabin in the woods, determined to question the unconscious woman in his arms. Little does he know, Hayley is not what she appears to be, and this woman is about to change his future drastically. Because in Jack's world the year is 1818.
EXCERPT of No Recourse here.
The Lost books…
My first book, Erotic Research, was published in March 2008. Since then, I have been EXTREMELY blessed to contract and release 33 more ebooks! I look at that number and pretty much freak out. I wake up every day feeling like the luckiest person on the planet. Some of my books have sold extremely well (like blow-my-mind well). Eastern Ambitions recently hit the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists and I'm still shaking my head in "dream come true, holy hell, pinch me" amazement.
Other books, however, have fallen into what I call my "lost books" category. I have several books I've loved that (for whatever reason) readers didn't go for. I have lots of conversations with writer friends, my editors, and others in the publishing industry about what makes a book sell. Today…I'm asking for your help, for your expert opinions as readers and consumers.
Below are my "lost books." I'm going to post the cover, the blurb and an excerpt. Here's what I'm asking. Based on what you see, what would keep you from buying that book? Cover? Genre? Subject matter? Maybe it's a book you didn't know existed. I'm genuinely curious what you look for when selecting a book.
In fact…let's make it a contest. One commenter will win their choice of one of my "lost" ebooks.
Lost Book #1 – Do Over
Sometimes once is not enough…
After twenty-five years of marriage, Faith Wainwright wonders what she'll do next. Her kids have moved out and sometimes she feels so distant from her husband, Troy.
Right before their anniversary, Troy gives Faith an unexpected gift: a journey through their hometown to reenact all their "firsts". Their first date. Their first kiss. And especially the first time they made love—only better.
Each stop on their tour becomes an opportunity for Faith and Troy to rediscover how explosive their passion could be. Now Faith knows exactly what she's going to do—Troy, over and over again….
Read an Excerpt.
Lost Book #2 – Covert Lessons
Gangs are taking over the hallways of Lowell High School. Desperate to save her alma mater, English teacher Kelly Finch reaches out to at-risk students in an effort to steer them from more dangerous pursuits. Still, gang activity is rising, and when the superintendant seeks help from an undercover task force, Kelly is forced to play host to the most arrogant, infuriating, sexy man she's ever met—Lt. Jared McNally.
The opinionated pair clash constantly, especially when Mac sets his sites on Kelly's favorite student. As the intensity of the mission grows, so does their attraction, leading to an erotic "punishment" for Kelly when she consistently disregards her own safety.
But the stubborn beauty's devotion to her students continues to bring her closer to the escalating gang violence. If Mac can keep her safe long enough, she'll definitely need a few more sensual, covert lessons.
Publisher Note: For more sexy suspense featuring staff from Lowell High, check out Retreat.
Excerpt of Covert Lessons.
Lost Book #3 – Slam Dunk
Slam Dunk Black & White Collection, Book 6
Who says you can only score on the court?
When Ellie "Hottie" Hunter lands a job teaching science in the same high school as Trey Donovan, he knows the basketball gods are smiling on him. He's in need of an assistant coach and Ellie fits the bill perfectly. In fact, if Trey plays his cards right, Ellie may be his perfect match off the court as well as on.
Ellie's coming out of a bad relationship that not only broke her heart, but cost her the job she loved. Turning over a new leaf, she approaches her fresh start with a positive attitude and new rule—no more workplace romances. Unfortunately, her undeniable sexual attraction to Trey weakens that resolve. Maybe she could fudge the rule…just a little. Casual sex doesn't count, right?
Right?
Warning: Lots of red-hot, half-dressed court presses complete with sex toys, food, bubble baths, strip poker and, oh yeah, balls.
Read Excerpt.
Lost Book #4 – Because of You
Because of YouSometimes what you're looking for is closer than you think.
Jessie's life is a mess. In the eight hellish months since her husband died in a freak accident, she's been mugged, her house has been trashed, and now she's receiving frightening pranks calls. Still, she resists a friend's offer of a weekend getaway—her grief is too fresh to consider meeting anyone new.
Then again, since it's a party for gay men, there won't be any pressure, right?
ER doctor Caleb James feels perfectly at ease among his gay brother's friends, but one look at Jessie sparks a sexual tension that's impossible to ignore. A few drinks and a few hours of conversation later, things move a lot faster than either of them expects. Jessie is left confused and Caleb aches with regret—and love for a woman who is still guarding her heart.
Pressure is the last thing she needs. But as it becomes apparent that her string of misfortunes trace back to her husband's death, help is what she's going to get. Caleb's help…ready or not.
Warning: This title contains a two adults playing doctor. But that's okay, one of them is licensed to practice. A prescription for extra-strength Kleenex may be required.
Excerpt for Because of You.
Lost Book #5 – No Recourse
June Girls, book oneThey say lightning doesn't strike twice, but it might with the passing of two hundred years…and a little magic.
2008 is one year that Hayley Garland would like to forget. Devastated by the disappearance of her best friend, she's spent the year in limbo. But now she's back to where it all went wrong. Returning to Fernwood Grange in the hopes of finding out what really happened to Erin seemed like a good idea, but Hayley can't find anything more than a stormy English night and an old oak tree. If only she could go back in time….
Captain Jack Campbell is searching the Dover shoreline for another missing girl. Racing through the woods, he's caught in a sudden downpour. Drenched and in need of shelter, Jack is stopped short when lightning strikes a tree in his path. The split trunk reveals a young woman, in obvious pain, and he reaches out to her just before she loses consciousness.
Desperate to find Julia, a local woman who has disappeared recently, and escape the powerful storm, he heads to a small cabin in the woods, determined to question the unconscious woman in his arms. Little does he know, Hayley is not what she appears to be, and this woman is about to change his future drastically. Because in Jack's world the year is 1818.
EXCERPT of No Recourse here.
November 28, 2011
Quote of the Day
CONTEST WINNER announced– JOANNE B! You were the winner of my Shameless Begging contest. I'll email you shortly about your prize. Thanks to everyone else for helping me spread the word about White Knight's release.
I went to see Wicked on Broadway over Thanksgiving weekend. Loved, loved, loved it. As a result, I will be subjecting you to a Wicked quote!
"I'm through accepting limits cuz someone says they're so…" – from the song, Defying Gravity
Quote of the Day
I went to see Wicked on Broadway over Thanksgiving weekend. Loved, loved, loved it. As a result, I will be subjecting you to a Wicked quote!
"I'm through accepting limits cuz someone says they're so…" – from the song, Defying Gravity
November 27, 2011
Six Sentence Sunday
[image error]White Knight was my latest release from Ellora's Cave. Today's sentences are from that story…
"What brings you from Vegas to L.A.?"
"I needed a fresh start."
It was an innocuous answer and fired a whole list of new questions in his mind. "Sounds dire. What happened in Vegas?"
"Given the city's motto, I'm afraid I'm not at liberty to say."
White Knight is available at Ellora's Cave, Amazon, and All Romance Ebooks.
Want more six sentence fun? Check it out here.
