Starla Kaye's Blog, page 11

Spotlight: Mickie Sherwood and Christmas Crush

I am happy to welcome Mickie Sherwood to my blog today with her holiday story, CHRISTMAS CRUSH.

BLURB – Christmas Crush

Although Ashley Wagner feels more like Scrooge than Santa, she keeps her promise and accompanies her sister back home for a Christmas wedding. Her three-day weekend is off to a rocky start, thanks to the unexpected run-in with her womanizing ex-husband, and his very pregnant new wife. She manages to get away with her dignity intact, but later, with old wounds ripped open, the professional crisis manager ends up in the middle of her own life-altering predicament.

Then, sports journalist Craig Johnston, wheels to her rescue.

Will Ashley spend Christmas brooding over bitter memories? Or will Craig, a dynamic paraplegic, present the deserving divorcée with a gift she can’t resist?

BUY LINKS:     Amazon     B & N     Kobo     Createspace

 

CHARACTER INTERVIEW – Christmas Crush

Can you tell the readers a little about yourself.

Hello, everyone. I’m Ashley Wagner. First, I’d like to thank Starla for having me here today.

My family and friends tell me I’m a control freak. Of course, I totally disagree. If that is true, it works in my favor. I make my living as a professional crisis manager, managing other people’s chaos.

What makes you blush?

Private thoughts.

Spotlight: Elite Ghosts Boxed Set

Today I am welcoming six authors to my blog with their ELITE GHOSTS: Six-Novel Cohesive Military Romance Boxed Set. The authors include Jennifer Kacey, Anna Alexander, Heather Long, Sabrina York, Rebecca Royce, and Saranna DeWylde.

For more than two years they’ve been ghosts. Nothing but names on empty tombstones. Men and women forced to fade into the background after being pulled from the rubble. Dead Marines saved from a fate worse than death, but ordered to stand down while their lives disappeared all around them.

Some knew it could happen if a mission exploded. Double crossed by more than just Red Wolf. But now is their time to be reborn from the flames of a Phoenix. No longer imprisoned in the shadows. A half-life between them and their future. To make things right coming back to life is their only option.

Loyalty is their salvation but damage is always more than skin deep.

A new hope. A new family. Elite Ghosts.

BUY LINKS:   Amazon     Barnes & Noble     All Romance eBooks

Kobo     Smashwords     iBooks

BOOK TRAILER

BLURBS

Target: Tungsten by Heather Long

Bradley “Tungsten” Peck. Marine. Lover. Friend. He’s the man who can get anything, find anyone, and accomplish every goal. At least he was, before he lost the only woman who mattered…he won’t stop until he gets her back or she puts a bullet in him.

After Operation Phoenix went to hell, Gunnery Sergeant Bradley Peck woke to a world that believed him dead—worst the woman he loved had no idea he was still alive. Ordered to keep his silence and remain “buried” he joined his fellow “survivors” to discover what went wrong and who betrayed them all. Determined to clear Copper’s name, he’s not prepared to have her within arm’s reach and not be able to touch her. He didn’t know the definition of hell until he had to watch Copper fall in love with someone else.

Thriving as they develop their work and personal relationship, Copper and Gabriel are not prepared for the revelation that not only is Brad alive, he’s been there the whole time. Angry and hurt, Copper has zero interest in the next assignment she’s handed. Their teams aren’t the only one who’ve found out he’s alive—an old enemy has put a bounty on Brad’s head and she’s the best suited to help him disappear for the time being.

Unwilling to let Copper face her ex-lover alone, Gabriel joins them on the mission. Brad wants Copper back, but Gabriel is not backing down. Even if Tungsten can earn her forgiveness, will these two men find a common ground in the woman they both love? Orders are orders, but when danger comes gunning, Target: Tungsten may cost them all.

 

Zinc’s Heart by Rebecca Royce

Zinc has nothing to prove–and everything to lose.

Zachary ‘Zinc’ Daniels lost everything in Operation Phoenix—his identity, his fiancé, and even, for a moment, his very life. Bitterness, like an infection, has festered in his stomach and right or wrong he knows the one man he wants to blame for his troubles: Adam Steele.  The man he considered his brother should have made sure his body didn’t get left behind for anyone to mess with.  But when Steele’s younger sister, Sarah is taken prisoner by one of Red Wolf’s attorneys, Zinc will need to show he can still be the man he used to be, only ten times smarter.

Sarah Steele doesn’t usually need rescuing.  She’s a CIA operative and tough as nails.  When her brother and Zach died years earlier, she swore to find out what happened to them.  Since she has Zach back, she intends to use the time to show him he belongs with her, always did, and that he can do better than the women he used to choose.

On the run, to keep Sarah alive, can they leave the past dead and buried? Or will the pain destroy their future?

 

Lithium’s Rescue by Sabrina York

He will save her…unless she saves him first.

Michelle Parsons is on the run. She has evidence of a plot that could destroy the country, but in order to stop her boss and his extremist cohorts from taking over the US Senate, she needs to get the information into the right hands. Trouble is, her contact, the only man she trusts, has been neutralized. She’s all alone. No one can help her.

No one, but the Elite Ghosts.

It’s a shame then, that when Benedict Butler—Codename: Lithium—shows up to bring her in from the cold, she doesn’t know if she can trust him or not. And when their relationship evolves into something more…he’s not sure he can trust himself either.

She does something to him, changes him. Heals him, somehow. And in the end, it’s difficult to say who rescued whom.

 

Thallium’s Submission by Anna Alexander

From now on the only orders he will follow are hers.

Timothy “Thallium” LaStrange is the perfect Marine, taking the phrase “live to serve” to an entirely new level as he carries out any order he is given. His mission: Protect the wife of the president of one of the most notorious motorcycle clubs before she testifies to put him away forever. When their location is compromised, Thallium is cut off from his team and must now take the lead to keep him and his charge alive. A task that

becomes increasingly difficult the longer he spends with the sexy, dynamic woman who makes him want to fall to his knees in worship.

Athena knew what she risked in trying to put all of the ugliness in her life it to an end. And now that included a young, battle-scarred Marine who was the only thing standing between her and death.  Thallium’s strength and honor are too beautiful to put in harm’s way, and when he admits his need to submit to her every desire, she’ll do anything in her power to protect him. Anything.

 

Nickel’s Wounds by Saranna DeWylde

Hell hath no fury like a Marine who’s lost her way. Beauty was once her currency, but for a woman who can’t feel anything but agony, she has nothing left. Except the vengeance that could destroy the one man whose love could teach her how to save herself.

Operation Phoenix almost destroyed Katarina “Nickel” Dupree. She may be breathing, but she’s still a ghost, a pale shadow of the woman she once was. All she has left is revenge. It’s the only thing that makes her come alive and the only thing she wants to feel, the only thing that makes the constant pain bearable. When the opportunity presents itself to deal Red Wolf a serious blow by going deep undercover into a sex trafficking ring, she takes it. Even though it’s her deepest, darkest fear—after being assaulted, it’s the monster under the bed. But it’s their turn to be afraid. Katarina will be the name whispered on the lips of the dying as they beg for merciful death.

Marcus “Tin” Grant won’t let her go into that hell alone. A former Blood enforcer, he knows just how far she has to fall before the honorable, brave Marine he knew is gone forever. He’d had more death on his hands by the time he was seventeen than all the lives he’s taken as a member of Elite Metal. Katarina saved his life and he figures he owes her the same. He vows to catch her before she hits bottom, but finds himself rocketing past the point of no return right next to her.

When they’re forced into a compromising situation, his tenderness shows Nickel just where her wounds are. His patience teaches her how to breathe again. And just maybe his love will break the chains she’s wrapped around her heart and Katarina Dupree will save herself from the dark.

 

Titanium’s Sacrifice by Jennifer Kacey

Titanium. Warbucks. Commander. Brother. He is all of those things. And none of them. Giving up everything to save the men and women under his command was easy until it comes to one…last…sacrifice.

Integrity. A U.S. Marines code to live by. Doing what is right even when no one else is watching. And that’s what Titanium did. At least that’s what he thought he did when he saved the men and women entrusted to his command. Saved them from capture. From torture. Death.

But what if he made the wrong choice? What if turning them into ghosts, becoming Warbucks and creating Elite Metal was the path he should have ignored? No Marine Left Behind. But what if that creed was one he should have left dead and buried on the snow banks of Moscow?

He lost everything by choosing to survive. He lost his legs, his sight, and something much more important. The respect of his men. Their loyalty. Friendship.

Earning them back becomes his only priority because he’s never known the true meaning of family. Of love. Until he chooses to make one…last…sacrifice.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Jennifer Kacey

Jennifer Kacey is a writer, mother, and business owner living with her miniman in Texas. She sings in the shower, plays piano in her dreams, and has to have a different color of nail polish every week. She’s the Amazon top seller and award winning author of the Members Only Series and the Surrender Series along with several standalone novels and novellas. The best advice she’s ever been given? Find the real you and never settle for anything less. Connect with her on twitter @JenniferKacey and Facebook. And don’t forget to sign up for her newsletter so you can hear about all of her new releases and giveaways!!

Social Media Links:

Website     Blog-The Decadent Divas     Newsletter Sign Up    Facebook     Face book author Page     Twitter     Amazon Author Page     Goodreads     Pinterest

 

Anna Alexander

Award winning author Anna Alexander is the author of the Heroes of Saturn and Sprawling A Ranch Series. With Hugh Jackman’s abs and Christopher Reeve’s blue eyes as inspiration, it is her mission to give superheroes their happily ever after. To give back to the writing community that has taught her so much, Anna has served on the board of the Greater Seattle RWA as chapter president and been on the committee of the Emerald City Writers Conference. She also teaches workshops on the business of writing and has been fortunate to promote the romance genre at events such as the Emerald City Comic Con and Geek Girl Cons. Learn more of Anna’s world at her website AnnaAlexander.net

Sign up to receive news about Anna’s latest releases at http://eepurl.com/Q0tsz

Social Media Links:

Website     Blog-The Decadent Divas     Facebook     Facebook Author Page     Twitter     Amazon Author Page     Goodreads

 

Heather Long

National bestselling author, Heather Long, likes long walks in the park, science fiction, superheroes, Marines, and men who aren’t douche bags. Her books are filled with heroes and heroines tangled in romance as hot as Texas summertime. From paranormal historical westerns to contemporary military romance, Heather might switch genres, but one thing is true in all of her stories—her characters drive the books. When she’s not wrangling her menagerie of animals, she devotes her time to family and friends she considers family. She believes if you like your heroes so real you could lick the grit off their chest, and your heroines so likable, you’re sure you’ve been friends with women just like them; you’ll enjoy her worlds as much as she does.

Social Media Links:

Website     Blog     Facebook Author Page     Twitter     Amazon Author Page     Goodreads     Pinterest

 

Sabrina York

Her Royal Hotness, Sabrina York, is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of hot, humorous stories for smart and sexy readers. Her titles range from sweet & sexy to scorching erotic romance.  Connect with her on twitter @sabrina_york, on Facebook or on Pinterest. Visit her webpage at http://www.sabrinayork.com to check out her books, excerpts and contests. Free Teaser Book: http://sabrinayork.com/home-2/sabrina-yorks-teaser-book/ Get updates, alerts and giveaway announcements from Sabrina here: http://eepurl.com/bj8tKb And don’t forget to enter to win the royal tiara!

Social Media Links:

Website      Blog     Blog-The Decadent Divas     Blog-Sweet N Sexy Divas     Facebook     Facebook Author Page     Twitter     Amazon Author Page     Goodreads     Pinterest

 

Rebecca Royce

As a teenager, Rebecca would hide in her room to read her favorite romance novels when she was supposed to be doing her homework.

She is the mother of three adorable boys and is fortunate to be married to her best friend. They are transplants from the northeastern part of the United States to the great state of Texas, specifically Austin.

She is in love with science fiction, fantasy and the paranormal and tries to use all these elements in her writing. In her world anything is possible, anything can happen, and you should suspect that it will.

Social Media Links:

Website     Blog     Facebook     Facebook Author Page     Twitter     Goodreads     Amazon Author Page     Pinterest

 

Saranna DeWylde

Saranna De Wylde has always been fascinated by things better left in the dark. She wrote her first story after watching The Exorcist at a slumber party. Since then, she’s published horror, romance and narrative nonfiction. Like all writers, Saranna has held a variety of jobs, from operations supervisor for an airline, to an assistant for a call girl, to a corrections officer. But like Hemingway said, “Once writing has become your major vice and greatest pleasure, only death can stop it.” So she traded in her cuffs for a full-time keyboard. She loves to hear from her readers and to check out her contemporaries you can find her at www.sarasasek.com (website coming soon).

Social Media Links:

Website     Facebook     Facebook Author Page     Twitter     Amazon Author Page     Goodreads     Pinterest

 

 

 

 

 

 

The post Spotlight: Elite Ghosts Boxed Set appeared first on Starla Kaye.

Spotlight: Alice Orr and A Vacancy At The Inn

My special guest today is Alice Orr, author of the Riverton Road Romantic Suspense Series. Today she is promoting her Christmas novella, A VACANCY AT THE INN. Before we get to that, she has some thoughts to share with everyone.

My Brother’s Gifts

My brother was always late for Christmas. “Where’s Michael?” would be the question floating around. I heard a story once about an answer to that question. It may have happened or it may have been a Michael legend. There are many of those.

“Where’s Michael?” someone is supposed to have asked as the gift-sharing moment approached. “He’s over in the corner making a vest out of baloney,” was the answer. Legend or not – that would have been a knowing response in more ways than one. First – Michael did handmade gifts most of the time. Second – he did them at the last minute.

For example his wedding gift to Jonathan and me was a song he wrote titled “Take My Hand.” The ceremony was scheduled for 5 p.m. At 3 p.m. Michael was still in the field behind our house finishing the lyrics. I knew nothing about any of this of course.

I’d designed the ceremony as my gift to Jonathan. I guess Michael and I shared that handmade and heart-made gene. Still it was best I didn’t know Michael would be an unscheduled participant in the service. I was freaked out enough already by everything else.

Then Michael stepped onto the apron of the altar space. I’d seen him on many stages before – acting or singing or simply showering his charisma over everybody present. “This is my gift to my sister and my new brother-in-law,” he said.

On that day in 1972 his hair was still long and in curls always just unruly enough. He had big blue blue eyes with long also curly lashes to die for. He was tall and rangy and had a loping slightly sidewinding gait and a super-wattage smile.

He had a beautiful singing voice too and he played the six-string like a master. One chord and a hush fell over the hundred or so people in the pews. He had them in his palm immediately – just as he’d intended he would.

“Take my hand” he sang. “And walk here by my side. Take my hand and you will be my guide.”

I don’t remember the rest of the words because I lost it instantly all over the makeup job my bridesmaids had so carefully applied. As I recall there were teardrops dripping off my nose. There are tears now as well while I write this.

I miss Michael a lot – especially at Christmas. And this year I really wish I had a vest made out of baloney.

Alice Orr – http://www.aliceorrbooks.com.

 

 

A Vacancy at the Inn

Riverton Road Romantic Suspense Series Christmas Novella

Luke & Bethany’s Story by Alice Orr

BUY LINK:  Amazon

 

On a cold December day Bethany Miller and her son Michael arrive in Riverton.

She grew up on Riverton Hill in remote upstate New York where her complicated family still lives. She moved away to escape all of that and more. Now she’s back because of complications in her present life with what is best for her son. She hopes the Miller family will be a Christmas blessing for Michael. She’s less hopeful about what this homecoming will be for her.

The last thing Bethany wants is further complication. That means the last person she needs to see is Luke Kalli staring down at her from the roof of Miller’s Inn. They shared a glorious connection before she fled from here. The power of that encounter and the deep feelings she experienced came at a tumultuous moment in her life. They were yet another strong reason to leave Riverton Hill on Riverton Road and never return – until today. She has no idea this place will put her son in peril.

A Vacancy at the Inn is the first Novella of the Riverton Road Romantic Suspense Series featuring the Kalli family and now the Miller family too in stories of Romance and Danger. A Wrong Way Home is Book 1 of the series. A Year of Summer Shadows is Book 2. A Villain for Vanessa will be Book 3 – coming soon.

All titles are available at http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B000APC22E.

 

AUTHOR BIO – Alice Orr

“Alice Orr is a brilliant writer who has a Number One best seller hidden in her pocket. I look forward to more of her work,” says one Amazon reviewer. I say “Thanks!” I love to write. Especially romantic suspense novels and blog posts. I’ve been a workshop leader, book editor and literary agent. Now I live my dream of writing full-time. I’ve published thirteen novels and four novellas – both traditionally and independently – plus a memoir so far. I wrote my nonfiction book, No More Rejections, as a gift to the writers’ community I cherish. A revised edition is now in progress. Amazon says, “This book has it all.” About my romantic suspense, Amazon says, “Alice Orr turns up the heat.” Most of all, I like to hear from readers. Visit my website at www.aliceorrbooks.com. I have two grown children and two perfect grandchildren and I live with my husband Jonathan in New York City.

 

AUTHOR LINKS:   Website     Facebook     Twitter

 

The post Spotlight: Alice Orr and A Vacancy At The Inn appeared first on Starla Kaye.

Spotlight: Jessica E. Subject with Alien Attraction

ALIEN ATTRACTION

Alien Next Door book three

By Jessica E. Subject

Erotic Sci-Fi Romance

ISBN: 978-0994843111

She wants to be more alien.

He wants to be more human.

Born a galaxy apart, will Angela and Chal have a chance at love, or will their extraterrestrial secrets leave them running to stay alive?

Available From:

Amazon US / UK / Canada / Germany / Australia

All Romance | Barnes & Noble | Coffee Time

Google Play | iBooks | Kobo | Smashwords

Add to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27280631-alien-attraction

 

Related titles:

Alien Adoration (Alien Next Door book one)

Alien Admirer (Alien Next Door book two)

Excerpt (Adult) – Alien Attraction

Resting his palm on her hip bone, he resisted the urge to scoop her up in his arms and take her to the bedroom. Could living in this part of the world be so easy for his kind? “What about you? Could you fall in love with an alien?”

She smiled, her body relaxing again. “I am absolutely sure I could.”

“What about a regular human being?” Slowly gathering her skirt up her legs, he waited for her answer. Would she reject him?

“Could I fall in love with someone from Earth? Sure.” She moved her hand down and began to rub his inner thigh. “If that someone is you.”

Lust oozed out of her pores, accelerating his desire. He sat up, anxious to kiss her sweet lips. So soft and tender. She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned back, pulling him on top of her. Chal plunged his tongue into her mouth the way he wanted to experience other parts of her.

Angela held the hem of his sweater, drawing the material up until he was forced to draw back for a moment to get the dang thing off. As she trailed her palms up and down his back, Chal slipped his hands under the skirt of her dress. He yearned for more. All of her. No internal warnings with his neighbor. Every inch of his being encouraged him on, to make the ultimate connection with the woman who said she could love an alien.

Clasping her waist, he ran his thumbs along the edge of her undergarments. With a throaty moan, she thrust toward him. Encouragement?

He lifted his head and gazed into her honey-colored eyes. “Do you want this?”

She nodded and pulled him back down, claiming his mouth the way he yearned to claim her. When she elevated her hips, he slid his fingers beneath her undergarments and shimmied them down her thighs.

AUTHOR BIO:

Jessica E. Subject is the author of science fiction romance, mostly alien romances, ranging from sweet to super hot. Sometimes she dabbles in paranormal and contemporary as well, bringing to life a wide variety of characters. In her stories, you could not only meet a sexy alien or two, but also clones and androids. You may be transported to a dystopian world where rebels are fighting to live and love, or to another planet for a romantic rendezvous.

When Jessica is not reading, writing, or doing dreaded housework, she likes to get out and walk with her giant, hairy dog her family adopted from the local animal shelter.

Jessica lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband and two energetic children. And she loves to hear from her readers. You can find her at jessicasubject.com and on twitter @jsubject.

Website/Blog | Newsletter | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads | Amazon | Authorgraph

The post Spotlight: Jessica E. Subject with Alien Attraction appeared first on Starla Kaye.

Spotlight: Kathryn Lively and Sexy To Go

I am welcoming Kathryn Lively to my blog today, part of the SEXY TO GO, Volume 10 boxed set. And now she will take over the conversation….

Thanks for joining me today! I am thrilled to show off the cover of the latest SEXY TO GO box set, for Volume 10! My contribution is the fifth part of my serialized romance, “Geek Overboard.” I anticipate completing the story in the next installment of Sexy To Go, if not in two installments. We are getting to a critical point in the story and things are getting hot at sea!

Buy Links: ARe   ~   AMZ   ~   BN   ~   KOBO   ~   ITUNES

I’ve been asked if Geek Overboard will be released on its own, and that is the plan in the future. When I do, though, I will expand the story to bring in more of the supporting characters so you can see others get their happily ever afters, too.

This is the first time I have attempted a serial, and I must say it’s been an enlightening experience as a writer. I don’t know if I will do so again on this scale. I may try a few three-part stories in the future. We’ll see where inspiration takes me. Enjoy this reveal and preview!

About Geek Overboard

Natalie can’t tell a Wookie from a Dalek, and when her boyfriend ditches her on a sci-fi convention cruise she gets a crash course in geekdom. Luckily there’s a handsome man at the ship’s pool to cure her boredom.

Colin Dawson, Daws to friends and fans, doesn’t mind playing third-tier celebrity at a fan event, but welcomes a boost to his public image, and career. Maybe if people believed he’s turned over a new leaf and married a pretty lady…

Natalie could get used to playing the role of celebrity wife, but when Colin’s fans and a popular entertainment blogger want details of her life with her new “husband” it gets sticky. Who knew a fake relationship was so much work?

Geek Overboard, Part 1: ARe ~  AMZ  ~  BN  ~  KOBO  ~  ITUNES  (in Volume 6)

Geek Overboard, Part 2: ARe ~  AMZ  ~  BN  ~  KOBO  ~  ITUNES  (in Volume 7)

Geek Overboard, Part 3: ARe ~  AMZ  ~  BN  ~  KOBO   ~  ITUNES  (in Volume 8)

Geek Overboard, Part 4: ARe ~  AMZ  ~  BN  ~  KOBO  ~  ITUNES  (in Volume 9)

 

About Part Five

What happens on the Atlantic Princess stays…or does it? Natalie and Daws enjoy rocking the boat, but what happens when it docks?

Preview

“What are you thinking about?” he asked. “You got all serious there for a second.”

Natalie gripped the arms of the lounger. Just contemplating if this will support the both of us. “I was wondering about that couple from the con, getting married on this ship.”

He nodded and reclined back, looking at the stars.

“It’s always interesting to hear how people meet, and where they get married. I met Karl at a bar. He’d gone there for a trivia night thing, and I met some co-workers after a long day.” At the moment, however, her recall of the evening faded. What exactly about him attracted her enough to give up her phone number?

“I bet that couple met at one of these things,” she added. “They’re secure in their love and share the same interests. I don’t think they’d get hitched at a science fiction convention otherwise.”

She startled at the sudden touch of Daws’s hand on hers again. He smiled at her, his bright eyes heavy-lidded and lending him a sleepy, sexy look. She could easily wake up next to that smile.

“Is that your heart’s desire?” he asked. “To marry one day?”

“If it happens, that’s great. I’d be happy with a soul mate to stay with me, though.” Somebody like you…she let the thought settle in her mind and mingle with the last lingering touch of margarita. Before she realized it, she was squeezing his hand and tugging him closer.

What brought this on? She couldn’t blame this on drink—she felt totally in charge of her faculties. Blame it on the moonlight, the gentle hum of ship slicing through the ocean, the idea of a romantic and sexy fling out in the open. It had ticked her off when they were interrupted the last time they fooled around, but at the same time the prospect of getting caught in the act thrilled her.

What if they started doing it, right here on the lounger, and somebody walked past? Sheena might freak and run off, Steve and Frida might ask to join in on the fun. The crew couldn’t very well evict them, right? Put them in cruise jail?

“You’re not thinking about science fiction weddings anymore, are you?” Daws teased.

She smiled and held up his hand for a moment, studying his large fingers and twining them with hers. He flexed and brushed them against her skin, then shook free to stroke the side of her face. “Come here,” he whispered.

He scooted to the edge of his lounger, eased it all the way down, and reclined on his side, inviting her to lie against him. The thick vinyl straps groaned under their weight, but they settled in nicely for a long, deep kiss. Daws supported her close to him, palming her backside with one hand while the other snaked around her waist.

She pulled back a moment for a breath before slanting her mouth back over his. The tang of citrus and the smoky residue of bacon assaulted her senses as much as the stiffness nudging her thighs excited her. She draped a leg over his hip to bring him in tighter, all the while regretting the eventual end of this tryst before it got interesting. She definitely hadn’t bothered to carry protection—how could she with no pockets on her shorts? He’d find no condom indentation in her badge holder, either, so unless he had an emergency rubber in his wallet they were sunk.

GIVEAWAY

To celebrate, I’m giving away a copy of my other box set contribution, FALLING IN LOVE, to one commenter on this post. I’ll gift through Amazon so you can download the book easily.

If you’d like to receive word when the next SEXY TO GO box set comes out, sign up for my monthly alert email.

 

 

The post Spotlight: Kathryn Lively and Sexy To Go appeared first on Starla Kaye.

Spotlight: Christmas Revels II

I love the holiday time of year and all of the new stories that come out from wonderful authors. Today I am letting four Regency authors promote their anthology, CHRISTMAS REVELS II, with four Regency novellas.

CHRISTMAS REVELS II

Let the Revels begin—again! Four new stories with four distinctive voices.

The Vicar’s Christmas – by Anna D. Allen

Margaret Trent never needs anything or anyone, but when two London solicitors show up on her doorstep, she needs a hero. Enter Henry Ogden, mild-mannered village vicar. Hardly the stuff of heroes . . . until adversity brings out unexpected talents.

A Christmas Equation – by Hannah Meredith

A chance meeting between a reluctant viscount and a self-effacing companion revives memories of their shared past—a time when they were very different people. With secrets to keep, Sarah Clendenin wishes Benjamin Radcliff gone . . . but he’s making calculations of his own.

Crimson Snow – by Kate Parker

A trail of blood drops leads Jane Merrywether to a wounded stranger—the only person standing in the way of her wicked guardian becoming an earl. John Rexford, long-thought dead, has returned to claim his inheritance and his promised bride . . . if he can survive a murderous Christmas.

A Perfectly Unregimented Christmas – by Louisa Cornell

After years at war, Viscount Pennyworth returns to his ancestral home to find some peace and quiet and to avoid the holiday he loathes. But four naughty boys, a bonnet-wearing goat, a one-eyed cat, a family secret, and one Annabelle Winters, governess, make this a Christmas he’ll never forget..

 

BUY LINKS:   Amazon     Barnes & Noble     Apple     Kobo

EXCERPT – A Christmas Equation – by Hannah Meredith

Ben transferred his gaze from the dogs quartering the field to Sarah. How could he make her see she was not alone in her disappointment? “I wouldn’t wish being the last sprig on an aristocratic family tree on my worst enemy,” he said. “I didn’t want the responsibility of trying to rescue estates that have been poorly managed for years. I had other plans. But this is the life I’ve been handed, and I’m trying to make the best of it.”

“You don’t understand.” She turned away, effectively hiding her expression behind the brim of that damned bonnet.

Without thought, he grasped her by both shoulders and spun her to face him. “What don’t I understand? I know you’ve lost the great love of your life. And I know that a life with me would be a second choice. I’m neither a poet nor famous. But I am offering you a real life, not the shadow existence you now have.” His voice had risen, and he noticed both dogs were returning to see if there was a problem. “I’m offering you a life where you don’t have to wear ugly gray bonnets and old-lady caps.”

He released her arms and began jerking on her bonnet ribbons. She tried to stop him, but he brushed her hands away. In a trice, he’d pulled the bonnet from her head and snatched off her disgusting widow’s cap. Stuffing the cap inside the bonnet, he held the items high above his head. Sarah reached her hands up and jumped to retrieve them. She was tall for a woman, but she had no hope of retrieving what he held aloft.

“Give me back my bonnet!”

He laughed, suddenly feeling carefree, as if he were indeed guilty of her taunt that he’d failed to mature. “I don’t think so.” Then he shouted, “Meg. Catch.” and launched Sarah’s bonnet into the air. The hat made a poor projectile and tumbled earthward. Before it reached the ground, however, a flash of red and white grabbed it and streaked away.

“Oh, my bonnet—”

“—was exceedingly unattractive,” Ben finished. He tilted her face up toward him with one finger under her chin. Her bright, honey-colored hair, loosened when he jerked off the cap, was already dancing in the breeze. How he loved her hair, alive and uncontained. This was how she was meant to be. “Don’t you see that I would buy you a dozen pretty bonnets, if you would just give me the chance? I understand that I’ll never be your grand passion. I can live with that, especially since I think we both will still be able to find contentment, and perhaps joy.”

Then he slowly lowered his head toward hers. His intent had to be clear. If she objected, he would release her. She had only to say no. But she said nothing. She did not turn her face away. He slowly settled his lips on hers, and it was like coming home.

MEET THE AUTHORS

Anna D. Allen resides in the deep woods with too many books and not enough dogs. She spends most winters snowed-in and trying to remember what “warm” was. She holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Arts in Language and Literature. Her available works include two eclectic short story collections, one YA adventure novel, the Regency Romance Novelette “A Christmas Wager,” a novella in CHRISTMAS REVELS, and a host of boring, scholarly stuff. When not writing or reading, Anna can be found in the kitchen. In the virtual world, she can be found on Facebook at http://tinyurl.com/k4gmanr  or at her website: http://beket1.wix.com/annadallen.

Hannah Meredith is an English instructor who escaped to become a real estate broker when she discovered more people wanted houses than grammar. An abiding interest in English history and the vagaries of the human heart led her to write historical romance. She currently has four available: KESTREL, A DANGEROUS INDISCRETION, INDENTURED HEARTS, and KALEIDOSCOPE. Hannah was also a contributor to the original CHRISTMAS REVELS. She’s been married to her high school sweetheart for nearly half a century. She and her “half-life” picture may be found at http://www.hannahmeredith.com and http://www.facebook.com/HannahMeredithAuthor

Kate Parker grew up reading her mother’s collection of mystery books by Christie, Sayers, and others. Now she can’t write a story without someone being murdered, and everyday items are studied for their lethal potential. It’s taken her years to convince her husband that she hasn’t poisoned dinner; that funny taste is because she just can’t cook. Four books in her Victorian Bookshop Mystery series, THE VANISHING THIEF, THE COUNTERFEIT LADY, THE ROYAL ASSASSIN, and THE CONSPIRING WOMAN, are currently available. Her mystery-romance appears in CHRISTMAS REVELS. She may be found at www.KateParkerbooks.com and www.Facebook.com/Author.Kate.Parker/

LOUISA CORNELL earned four music degrees and studied for a year of at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria, before embarking on a singing career in opera houses in Germany, Austria, and most of Eastern Europe. Now retired from an active career in opera, Louisa has returned to her first love—writing Regency-set historical romance. She is a two-time Golden Heart finalist, three-time Daphne du Maurier winner, and three-time Royal Ascot winner. Her debut story in CHRISTMAS REVELS won the 2015 Holt Medallion for Best Romance Novella. Louisa lives in rural LA (lower Alabama) where the people are friendly and internet is not. She can be found at www.louisacornell.com and www.facebook.com/RegencyWriterLouisaCornell.

 

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Trusting Love Again released

I am always excited to announce the release of a new novella. TRUSTING LOVE AGAIN has just been published by Black Velvet Seductions. This is book one in my contemporary Wounded Hearts Series.

BLURB

All she wants is to start over, live a peaceful life…

After an abusive marriage and an ugly divorce, Toni needs to rebuild her self-confidence and start a new life in her hometown. Going home again and confronting people she’d hurt when she’d left is never easy. She’d hung onto the idea of buying a long-abandoned old house and remodeling it to help her recover. But a man from her past has recently purchased it for his business. That’s her emotional breaking point and she does something reckless. Now she must pay the legal consequences of her foolish actions…by working for him.

All he wants is to focus on his work…

Chad’s job as a lawyer working to protect the rights of the abused elderly consumes his time and energy. It cost him his marriage and an aborted child he hadn’t known about. Now he works harder, guards his bruised heart. Yet the return of someone he’d held secret feelings for comes back to town. She upsets his world, starting with minor destruction of his business property and causing him minor injury. He shouldn’t become involved in helping this troubled woman, yet he can’t keep from doing so.

Two heart-damaged people have trouble trusting love again.

 

BUY LINKS:  Amazon     Barnes & Noble

Genre: Contemporary romance

Heat Rating: 3

The post Trusting Love Again released appeared first on Starla Kaye.

Trusting Love Again

Trusting Love Again

Available at: Amazon     Barnes & Noble     iTunes     Kobo

Genre:  Contemporary romance, sensual

Heat Rating:  3

Page Count:  9

BLURB

All she wants is to start over, live a peaceful life…

After an abusive marriage and an ugly divorce, Toni needs to rebuild her self-confidence and start a new life in her hometown. Going home again and confronting people she’d hurt when she’d left is never easy. She’d hung onto the idea of buying a long-abandoned old house and remodeling it to help her recover. But a man from her past has recently purchased it for his business. That’s her emotional breaking point and she does something reckless. Now she must pay the legal consequences of her foolish actions…by working for him.

All he wants is to focus on his work…

Chad’s job as a lawyer working to protect the rights of the abused elderly consumes his time and energy. It cost him his marriage and an aborted child he hadn’t known about. Now he works harder, guards his bruised heart. Yet the return of someone he’d held secret feelings for comes back to town. She upsets his world, starting with minor destruction of his business property and causing him minor injury. He shouldn’t become involved in helping this troubled woman, yet he can’t keep from doing so.

Two heart-damaged people have trouble trusting love again.

The post Trusting Love Again appeared first on Starla Kaye.

Barbara White Daille with Court Me, Cowboy

Today I’m welcoming Barbara White Daille with her short contemporary romance, COURT ME, COWBOY.

BLURB – Court Me, Cowboy

The End…or Just the Beginning?

Gabe Miller’s marriage ended so fast it had hardly begun. Which is why he couldn’t quite believe his luck—or his “ex”—when she returned a few months later with the news that legally they were still husband and wife. And that the child she was carrying was his son.

Gabe feared Marissa would bolt again, making a custody battle his only option—unless he could turn back the clock and woo her the way he should have during their whirlwind romance. But even with his boy’s future at stake, mending fences with a woman—especially the one he loved—wasn’t something the strong, silent type found easy to do….

BUY LINKS:   Amazon     Barnes & Noble     Harlequin     Kobo

EXCERPT – Court Me, Cowboy

Gabe put his arm around her shoulders.

And now she couldn’t suppress the shiver of pure wanting that shot through her. Mortified by her own instinctive response to him, she clenched her teeth but managed to force her lips into a smile.

“Huh-uh-uh, Marissa. Not very natural. Looks like you just backed into a prickly pear.”

He slipped his arm to her waist. Even above the loud conversations and laughter flowing around them, she could hear her breath catch.

“C’mon, now,” he murmured. “Gotta convince the neighbors, remember?  Show ’em the happy bride and groom?”

“I’ve acted happy all evening.”

“From the other side of the room. I sure can’t play the ever-loving husband with my wife half a house away.”

Now, the truth was out. She had known he had brought her to the party only so he could show her off as his wife. She had expected that. Had braced herself for it.

And, finally, their paths had crossed. Her reprieve had ended. She had made the agreement with Gabe and had to stick with it. But he didn’t have to have it all his way.

“I’ve been socializing,” she pointed out. “You’ve been busy, too.”

“I’m here now. Time to act like the perfect couple. We dressed for the parts, all right.”  He caught her left hand and lifted it to his lips. His gaze refused to let hers go, forced her to watch him as he pressed a kiss against her wedding band.

Then he turned her hand over to kiss her palm.

Her heart gave a sickening lurch.

Wrong. All wrong. Acting like her loving husband was just that for Gabe—an act—while she hadn’t the performance skill to hide her reaction to his every glance, his every touch.

To her dismay, he wrapped his other arm around her, bringing their bodies close together.

“Hey, Miller,” shouted one of the men in the crowd, “ain’t your honeymoon finished yet?”

Looking over her shoulder, Gabe called back, “Heck, Charlie, it’s just getting started.”

“The mistletoe’s over yonder,” a woman called.

“See,” he murmured in her ear, “it’s working already.”  He took her by the elbow and moved forward.

Unless she wanted to make a scene in front of all these people she already liked and who already seemed to like her, unless she wanted to look like Mrs. Scrooge instead of Gabe’s blushing bride, she had no choice but to move with him.

AUTHOR BIO – Barbara White Daille

Barbara White Daille lives with her husband in the sunny Southwest. Though they love the warm winters and the lizards in their front yard, they haven’t gotten used to the scorpions in the bathroom.

Barbara’s new series, The Hitching Post Hotel, features a matchmaking grandpa determined to see his three granddaughters wed. The series began in April 2015 with The Cowboy’s Little Surprise and continues with A Rancher of Her Own (July) and The Lawman’s Christmas Proposal (December).

 

AUTHOR LINKS: Website     Blog     Newsletter

Twitter     Facebook     Goodreads     Amazon Author Page

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Mistletoe, Marriage, and Mayhem

My guest today is Mariana Gabrielle, one of the authors part of the Bluestocking Belles. The seven authors involved in the boxed set, MISTLETOE, MARRIAGE, AND MAYHEM, include Mariana Gabrielle, Amy Rose Bennett, Susanna Ellis, Sherry Ewing, Jude Knight, Caroline Warfield, and Nicole Zoltack.

FEATURING:

’Tis Her Season: A Royal Regard prequel novella, by Mariana Gabrielle

Charlotte Amberly would rather eat a lump of coal for Christmas dinner than marry the Marquess of Firthley, so when her parents cancel her London Season in favor of a rush to the altar, the feisty debutante takes husband-hunting into her own hands.

Alexander Marloughe, reluctant heir to a marquessate, would rather not spend his holiday dashing through the snow after a flibbertigibbet just out of the schoolroom, but no woman before Charlotte has ever led him such a merry chase.

For a bit of fun, Charlotte Amberly and Alexander Marloughe, from ‘Tis Her Season, have graciously agreed to answer some questions for their readers.

Charlotte Amberly believes, as a viscount’s daughter, the world will do her bidding, but when she runs away from home to find a husband, her station in life can’t save her from the ton, her irate mother, or the wicked man who will try to win her against her will.

 

 

 

Alexander Marloughe, Earl of Herrendon, son of a disgraced British nobleman and reluctant heir to a marquessate, wants nothing to do with England or an adventurous debutante, but fate is not running in his favor.

 

 

 

Can you tell the readers a little about yourself?

“Thank you very kindly for inviting me, Miss Kaye,” says Charlotte Amberly, daughter of Viscount Effingale and sisterly cousin to Bella Holsworthy of Royal Regard. “I am so grateful for the chance to talk a bit about my prequel novella.”

“Do you not mean our prequel novella?” asks Alexander Marloughe, Earl of Herrendon. “Of course, I must also extend my gratitude to you, Miss Kaye, for there are many in London who have not yet decided whether they will receive me. I am not even remotely baseborn, but in the eyes of the wealthy and ennobled, am as close as one can be and still be in line to inherit a title.”

What are a couple of random thoughts about yourself that will surprise the readers?

“After everything written about me in Royal Regard and now in ‘Tis Her Season,” Charlotte sighs, “and with my sister, Bella’s, far-too-public life in the Bluestocking Bookshop and her regular appearances in the gossip column in the Teatime Tattler, I hardly think there are any surprises left. I suppose that to some, it might be shocking that I would commit any act short of murder—and possibly wouldn’t stop at that—to save pain for the people I love. ”

“I have known you but a short while, Miss Amberly, and I could have guessed that,” Lord Herrendon observes.

“Many seem to think me an entirely self-centered ninny.”

“Well, I am not certain one negates the other, but I have the highest regard for your sense of filial duty. Ahem… well… yes… Something surprising about me? Your readers might not expect I would prefer nothing to do with inheriting a marquessate. I would rather be in Crete with my mistre—excuse me, Miss Amberly. I simply mean… I’d rather be in Crete.”

What makes you blush?

“Nothing,” Charlotte says, her eyes sliding to the left.

Alexander laughs. “You? Everything. I’ll wager half a pony on it.”

She proves him right, to her great consternation. “Can we move on to the next question, please?”

What upset your ordinary world and brought you into contact with each other?

“My first betrothal,” Charlotte says without hesitation. “Had my father not insisted I marry the Marquess of Firthley, I might never have met the Earl of Herrendon.” She turns her nose up and sniffs. “And I might be better off for it.”

“I heartily concur, my charming, little featherhead; we both might, indeed. In my case, the catalyst was Napoleon, though I hardly expect Miss Amberly to understand the causation. Had he not commandeered my family shipping fleet, I might yet be in Greece, not entertaining the unfortunate notion of being a British peer. And I would absolutely be better off for that.”

What was your immediate reaction to each other?

Charlotte twists her fingers in her skirt and tilts her head, twisting her forefinger through a ringlet of her hair. “I found him… rather…” she trails off.

“Fascinating,” he prompts, a sly smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “You can say it. And handsome… No one will think any less of you for telling the truth.”

With that, she spits out, “I found him crass, ill-mannered, and utterly lacking in social graces or good sense. Quite without redeeming value.” She nods her head decisively, clenching her jaw.

“What did I think of Miss Amberly?” he asks, chuckling. His glance caresses her shoulder. “I found her a stunningly beautiful liar and schemer, acting with no conscience or compunction, wearing the ugliest gown I have ever seen.”

What do each of the lead characters think about “love and romance”?

“Love and romance are rather silly, on the whole,” Charlotte says, eyes shifting away from Lord Herrendon. “Having a husband who loves you must be better than one who does not, but the goal of marriage is the joining of noble names and the production of noble heirs—the nobler the better.”

“I agree, in the main. Romance is an excellent diversion before one must buckle down and choose a noble bride. And depending on the bride one chooses, after.”

Who took the first step in heating things up between you?

“H…heating…? Charlotte stammers. “Mercy, you ask probing questions, do you not?”

Alexanders snickers.

“Do stop laughing at me, you horrid man.” She narrows her eyes and glares at him. “There is nothing warm to speak of between us.”

Alexander smiles with a sardonic shrug and arch of his brow, “I would never gainsay a lady. Miss Amberly is entirely correct. I truly am a horrid man, and she is glacial to me, no matter how my heart might burn for her.”

Would you rather be caught in a wild moment of passion or tied down and taken?

Charlotte snaps, “That is an entirely inappropriate question.”

Alexander nods and frowns. “I find I must agree with Miss Amberly.” A twinkle breaks loose in his eye, though, when he adds, “Though I do hope, for the sake of her future husband, whoever he might be, someone warns him to lay in an adequate supply of rope, for if her wild moments of passion are anything like her wild flights of ridiculous fancy, he will not be able to hold her down long enough to consummate the vows.”

Who made the first compromise in your relationship?

Alexander flushes to the tips of his ears and says not a word.

Charlotte smirks.

 

ABOUT MISTLETOE, MARRIAGE, AND MAYHEM

In this collection of novellas, the Bluestocking Belles bring you seven runaway Regency brides resisting and romancing their holiday heroes under the mistletoe. Whether scampering away or dashing toward their destinies, avoiding a rogue or chasing after a scoundrel, these ladies and their gentlemen leave miles of mayhem behind them on the slippery road to a happy-ever-after.

Genre: Regency romance, historical romance, charity anthologies

Heat Rating: G to PG-13

Page Count: 400

***All proceeds benefit the Malala Fund.***

 

OTHER STORIES IN THE BOXED SET

All She Wants for Christmas – Amy Rose Bennett

The Ultimate Escape – Susana Ellis

Under the Mistletoe – Sherry Ewing

Gingerbread Bride – Jude Knight

Dangerous Nativity – Caroline Warfield

Joy to the World – Nicole Zoltack

 

BUY LINKS

Amazon     Amazon UK     Amazon Australia     Amazon Canada

Smashwords     Barnes & Noble     iTunes     Kobo

CreateSpace     Goodreads Reviews

 

ABOUT MARIANA GABRIELLE

Mariana Gabrielle is a pen name for Mari Christie, who is not romantic–at all. Therefore, her starry-eyed alter ego lives vicariously through characters who believe in their own happy-ever-afters. And believe they must, as Mariana loves her heroes and heroines, but truly dotes on her villains, and all bring hearts bruised, broken, and scarred long before they reach the pages of her books.

She is a professional writer, editor, and designer with almost twenty-five years’ experience, and a member of the Bluestocking Belles, the Writing Wenches, and the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers. She has written two Regency romances, Royal Regard and La Déesse Noire: The Black Goddess, and will soon release three Royal Regard prequel novellas and a mainstream historical, Blind Tribute.

MEDIA LINKS – Mariana Gabrielle

Website & Blog     Facebook     Twitter     Pinterest

ABOUT THE BELLES

The Bluestocking Belles’ books carry you into the past for your happy-ever-after. When you have turned the last page of our novels and novellas, keep up with us (and other historical romance authors) in the Teatime Tattler, a Regency scandal sheet, and join in with the characters you love for impromptu storytelling in the Bluestocking Bookshop on Facebook. Also, look for online games and contests and monthly book chats, and find us at BellesInBlue on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. Come visit at www.BluestockingBelles.com and kick up your bluestockinged heels!

MEDIA LINKS – Bluestocking Belles

Website     Facebook     Twitter     Pinterest

Bluestocking Bookshop online storytelling

Support the Bluestocking Belles’ Fundraising campaign for the Malala Fund

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