Alison Kent's Blog, page 18

Portia Da Costa's POWER OF THREE

It's no fun being dumped almost at the altar, but newly not engaged Laurie decides to make the best of things and enjoy her honeymoon at an exotic Caribbean resort all on her own. The plan is to lie in the sun, read a book, do a bit of birdwatching and exploring… anything to take her mind off her rat of an ex fiance and the bimbo he got pregnant.

But it's not easy to forget about love and sex when everyone around her at the resort is getting in on. Pretty soon, she's using her binoculars to spy on creatures a bit higher up the evolutionary scale – the hot threesome in one of the adjacent cabanas, and the gorgeously hunky gay couple who are also staying just across the courtyard.

These delicious men – Denny and Ed – especially fire her senses and make her forget her romantic woes, and when she realises that they're watching her while she's watching them, what else is a girl to do but accept the invitation of a lifetime, and become part of a threesome herself?

But what if her luscious faux honeymoon menage is only the beginning of better and hotter things to come?

Read an excerpt of Portia's newest at Walk on the Wild Side Books!

Portia Da Costa's FORBIDDEN TREASURES

Check out the latest from Walk on the Wild Side Books!

When Alice Porter finds a chest full of vintage curiosa at an antique market, she little realizes how her discovery of the forgotten treasures of an Edwardian disciplinarian will change her life. The sexy hoard includes a punishment ledger and a well used rattan cane, and the bygone items intrigue her husband Julian too. Sharing and experimenting with the writings and the wicked implement, the lovers begin a voyage of forbidden sensuality that shocks and thrills them both, revealing dark secrets from Julian's past and bringing the two of them closer together than they've ever been before.

A bit of gardening excitement!

For those who don't keep up with Texas weather (and why should you?!?), we've hit record temps at least 5 days this month (as in 105 twice, ack), meaning my garden is having issues. I keep the soil moist, I feed as required, I mist throughout the day to cool the plants, yet my tomatoes have stopped making flowers already. ;( This makes me very sad. On the other hand, my banana peppers are popping out all over.

My jalapenos are doing pretty well, too, and are SOO good.

I am enjoying the tomatoes that were already growing before the heat wave, and I'm hoping with some tender lovin' care and more normal temps, they'll bloom again.

But what I'm so excited about is that finally, FINALLY, I have bell peppers! They're the size of baby grapes at the moment, but they are THERE! They've produced flowers for weeks, but the blooms kept falling off. I don't know if they needed the heat that has hurt the tomatoes, but YAY! If I get three peppers out of the deal, I'll be happy.

A recent & timely Note from the Universe

I get daily recipes. I do NOT get daily horoscopes. But I DO get daily Notes from the Universe. This one arrived a few weeks ago, and I've been rereading it often.

In life, Alison, you can only ever be scared, when you believe in limits.

You can only ever feel lonely, when you stop doing things.

You can only ever become bored, when you no longer follow your heart.

And you can only ever get overwhelmed, when you think the illusions are real.

Whew! Who knew it could be so easy to get back on track?

The Universe

And here's the official Publisher's Marketplace listing for my sale to Berkley:

Alison Kent's UNDENIABLE, in which three hellraising cowboys return home to Texas to revisit the past, stir pots long settled, and cause the sexiest kind of trouble for the women in town, to Wendy McCurdy at Berkley Heat, in a nice deal, in a two-book deal, by Laura Bradford at Bradford Literary Agency.

Thank you, everyone, for sharing this fun news with me. I'm excited to be writing for Berkley Heat, and since I LOVE my Dalton Gang, it's that much more so!

ANNOUNCEMENT! I'm back in the saddle again!

After a few antsy weeks waiting to hear on the submission of my partial to Berkley Heat, I am antsy no more … except for the writing part and the deadline part and the will readers like these stories part and the do I remember how to ride a bike part … ;)

The call came from my lovely agent on May 31 (and I've kept quiet for over a WEEK!). This is the announcement sent to Publishers Marketplace. It hasn't posted yet but I CAN'T WAIT ANOTHER MOMENT now that I have the go ahead to share:

Alison Kent's UNDENIABLE and a second book in her Dalton Gang series, where three hellraising cowboys return to Crow Hill, Texas to revisit the past, stir pots long settled, and cause more trouble than ever for the women in town to Wendy McCurdy at Berkley Heat by Laura Bradford at Bradford Literary Agency.

Here's a brief overview of the Dalton Gang series (name subject to change) some of which was copied above for the deal listing (because why rewrite what worked!):

Summers in Crow Hill, Texas belonged for years to the Dalton Gang—three hellraising teens who spent weekends and vacations working on Tess and Dave Dalton's ranch. Dax Campbell, Boone Mitchell, and Casper Jayne were friends as well as enemies. They drank too much, took half the care shooting off their mouths they took with their guns, and never met a saddle they couldn't talk their way into. A decade after graduation, the three inherit from the childless Daltons equal shares of the ranch. They return to Crow Hill to revisit the past, stir pots long settled, and cause more trouble than ever for the women in town.

Since these books will be under the Berkley Heat imprint, they'll be HEATED and more so than my Bravas were. Definitely more so than my Blazes were. Probably even more so than AT HIS MERCY. Plus, they'll be longer … and deeper and harder. ;)

The best part of all? They'll be about COWBOYS! Yee-haw!

I DOUBLE DARE you to read this post!

New today from Walk on the Wild Side Books, DOUBLE DARE by Saskia Walker, an 80,000 contemporary erotic romance, yours for only $3.99!!

Two hearts entangled in a steamy affair and a truth or dare game brought about by a mutual desire for erotic discovery.

Investment broker Abigail Douglas has got it all, but Abby—the woman—longs for a secret affair, a playmate who knows nothing about her high-powered business world, and Zac Bordino might just be the man. He's mysterious and sexy—just right for Abby's walk on the wild side—but very soon she finds that she wants more, and his mysterious, evasive nature makes her curious. Is there more to this sexy, entrepreneurial club owner than meets the eye? And why does she suddenly feel as if her every move is being watched?

Zac Bordino is perplexed when he realizes that the woman managing his business investments is the same woman he's having an affair with. She's pretending to be a little nobody out for a good time, and because she's a red hot number he plays along, cautiously observing her to get to the truth. From high-powered offices in London to pulse-pounding nightclubs in Paris, they find an insatiably perfect match in business and in pleasure. But when Zac begins to fall for Abby, he has to decide whether to reveal the secret link between them, or try to win her heart first.

Think I'll do a giveaway today!

Five copies of AT HIS MERCY in either .pdf, .mobi (for Kindle), or .epub. And I would love it if you would leave a review at Amazon or BN or Goodreads or anywhere, but it's not required! Just leave a comment below (indicating which format you'd like) and I'll draw 5 winners from all those posted by June 5, 2011, midnight, CDT.

WITCHES OF EAST END – a review

June 21, 2011

Witches of East End by Melissa de la Cruz

Hyperion

Paranormal, Fantasy, Suspense

ISBN: 978-1-4013-2390-5

Reviewed by Miranda

Joanna Beauchamp and her two daughters, Freya and Ingrid are the Witches of East End. Only these witches are forbidden to use their magical gifts. As summer arrives in North Hampton the ladies are finding it hard to resist using their magical talents. Fearful of the council that punished them they start off using small amounts of magic to help people in need. People start behaving erratically and someone goes missing. The Beauchamp's become the perfect target for hysterical people looking for someone to blame. To find the cause behind the mysterious happenings in North Hampton the ladies will have to use more magic than ever. Can they find the darkness that has invaded their town before it's too late or will it find them first?

Melissa de la Cruz's Witches of East End is full of witchy goodness and a bit of wicked naughtiness as well! The Beauchamp family has its share of mysterious secrets which seem to make them all the more alluring. Joanna the matriarch may have the power to resurrect the dead but she cannot help someone she loves. The pain Joanna feels regarding her perceived failures throughout her long life is palpable. Joanna more than anyone else struck an emotional chord pulling at my heart. Freya may have a talent with love potions but her love life is a mess. It took me awhile to warm up to Freya. At first it seems she doesn't care about anyone else's feelings, especially considering she is torn between two brothers but it doesn't take long to learn there is more to Freya. Ingrid has the gift of foresight and reading auras but she's not very good at reading men. Ingrid does come off as the frigid sister but there is so much more going on underneath her steely exterior. Plus I just love that she's in love with books and is in charge of the North Hampton Library. Books are cool you know!

It did take me a little bit to warm up to the story. The first little bit was all about getting to know the ladies and perhaps that is why I felt like it was a bit slow. Once the ladies decided to forgo the council edict and use magic it picked up marvelously. I also felt that once they did start using their magic I got my first look at their true natures. The ladies became who they were born to be when magic is brought back into their lives. I love that I was kept guessing until the very end. Every time I thought someone was evil my theory would be turned upside down. I get such a thrill out of a book that keeps me guessing. The last section kept me on the edge of my seat! I was so nervous for the ladies and the town! Witches of East End is a hauntingly sexy suspenseful tale full of shocking surprises!

This is my first Melissa de la Cruz title; I have heard great things about her other titles so I was curious to sample her first adult series. I was not disappointed! Ms. Cruz has created a fabulous world filled with intriguing characters that I can't wait to read more about. This is the perfect summer read. Sitting poolside with one of Freya's cocktails would be perfection. Witches of East End features many ups and downs, thrills and chills, and let's not forget the 'holy cow' ending that will leave you breathless and begging for more!

*****

I've got another copy of this book to giveaway courtesy of the publisher. If you're interested, post a comment below and I'll draw a name from all those left by Wednesday, June 8, 2011, 6:00 a.m. CDT.

Win a copy of AT HIS MERCY from @LaurieJD

Laurie Damron who reviews at Laurie's Laudanum is giving away THREE copies of AT HIS MERCY (NO and WILD CITY NIGHTS.

     

Have I mentioned my latest …

That I will have a new release this year? On approximately December 5th? From a publisher I've never written for? With an editor who will be new to me as well?



That's right, folks! Jaci Burton and Shannon Stacey and HelenKay Dimon have already shared the news, and somehow I've managed to not think to blog about it because I am lame, but I am the fourth wheel in the Carina Press Christmas anthology this year, woot!

I don't have a title, and I'm not ready to say much about the story, though I can tell you that the hero looks like Andy Whitfield minus his Spartacus gear. And because teasing is what I do best, I'll give you this very short UNEDITED snippet to hang on for six months …

Brenna supposed there was a lot more to see, but her gaze was snagged and held by the man sleeping on the sofa in front of the fire. He was stretched out on his back, his boots on the floor beside him, his socked feet crossed at the ankles, an arm thrown over his eyes.

All she could see of his face was his nose, his mouth, his very square and very strong jaw, and his end-of-day beard that appeared darker than his short hair crushed flat to his head by hours under his hat. But his body … she could see almost all of it, and another of her first impressions was proved right.

He was a big man. Tall and fit and dressed like he belonged on horseback, in jeans and a yoked western shirt. His big black hat hung on a peg with two others beside the front door, and his heavy coat that had kept her so warm hung on a coat rack nearby.

The only item out of place was his brass belt buckle. She was too far away to make out the engraving, but thought it looked more military than rodeo cowboy. Interesting, and unexpected, here on Gran's mountain. Who was this man? How soon could he get her to her grandmother's house, and why was she suddenly in no hurry?

But the most important question was. what had he done with her pants?