Laurel O'Donnell's Blog, page 39
January 19, 2016
January 17, 2016
January 14, 2016
First Kiss Friday – Sweet on You by Marianne Rice
Today’s First Kiss Friday featured guest is Marianne Rice, author of contemporary romance Sweet on You. Welcome Marianne!
Designed by TOJ PUBLISHING SERVICES
www.tojpublishing.com
A bit about Sweet on You –
Rayne Wilde wants the husband, the house full of children and the white picket fence. Which is why she cannot sleep with Trent, the confirmed bachelor whom she’s befriended. As their friendship grows and skeletons creep out of their closets, their relationship is put to the test. Stakes get higher, and the spark between them burns hotter than ever before. Can they handle the heat when life-changing secrets are exposed, or will the fear of being burned send them on two different paths?
First Kiss from Sweet on You –
Trent stormed in the house and zeroed in on Rayne. Cote and Thomas were flirting shamelessly with her and Claire in the kitchen. Not caring how cavemanish he looked, he grabbed Rayne by the arm and pulled her down the hall. “Come with me. Now.”
Shoving open his bedroom door, he pulled Rayne inside, slamming it behind her, then stalked up to her, pinning her to the wall with his body. Almost. He didn’t dare touch her. But he had to fix this mess.
“Trent, what’s wrong? You look…” She reached up to touch his face but he grabbed her wrist and pinned it to the wall above her head. Her gasp turned him on far more than it should have. He braced himself, propping his body away from hers.
“I…” he crushed his mouth to hers quickly, “…am not…” he whispered now, staring down at her pink, wet lips, and slowly brushed them with his mouth. “Gay.” He opened his mouth and prayed to God she would let him in. No coaxing necessary. Rayne opened up and gave him free rein.
It was true bliss. Strawberries and cream. He licked her, played with her, and she gave as much as she took. Her free hand fisted his shirt and pulled him closer. Damn. He could do this all day. The bed was five steps behind him. He knew he could dance her over, lay her down and strip her of her tight denim shorts and sexy-as-sin red tank top. And she’d love every minute of it.
Someone moaned.
Rayne Wilde had lips and a body that were meant for loving—but no, Rayne Wilde was made for more than that. For true love. White knight. House. Kids. Promises. Trent was none of those things and he respected her too much to pretend otherwise. And making out with her like a dog in heat would only fill her head with romantic thoughts. And Trent was anything but romantic. And the exact opposite of relationship material. Damn. She molded her body to his, asking—hell, begging—for him to give her more. Rayne didn’t deserve this. He couldn’t let her think the kiss was anything more than a point being proven. Next thing he knew she’d be picking out flowers for the wedding.
Reluctantly, Trent pulled back and leaned his forehead against hers. “Clear?”
“Wow.” Her milk chocolate eyes darkened, and he imagined what they’d look like if he touched more than just her lips.
Yeah, totally shouldn’t have done that. She wanted a husband and kids. Badly. And she had a guy in the other room who was probably willing to give her a multitude of babies and the American Dream.
“I’m not, never have been, and never will be. Got it?”
“Hmm?”
“Gay. I’m not gay.”
“What?” She seemed to wake up now. Loosening her grip on his shirt, she tried to step back, but the wall prevented her from moving.
Realizing he had her trapped, Trent moved away, allowing her some room.
“You’re not gay?”
Trent rubbed both hands up and down his face. “Not even close. Why the hell would you think that?”
If he could only read the thoughts going on in that sexy mind of hers.
“But…Zumba?”
“Zumba? Zumba made you think I was gay?”
“No, well, yeah.” She pulled her hands through her hair—which she wore down, and damn if he didn’t find that sexy—and sighed. “The only men who have ever taken my class have been…gay.”
“We’ve been friends for over a month, talk almost every day, hang out a few times a week, and you hadn’t figured out that I’m not?”
“Well.” She was flustered and adorable, her lips begging to be kissed again. “Then there was Faith.”
“Faith told you I was gay?”
Rayne laughed. “No.” She relaxed a little and finally made eye contact. Damn those silky eyes. They made him think of erotic images of chocolate sauce and sweet whipped cream and all the wonderful ways he and Rayne could experiment and play. “Brian came in with her and you two seemed so sweet together with the baby. And she looks like him and also like you…I know that doesn’t make sense. She couldn’t obviously be both of yours but it’s clear how much you both love her and each other.”
“Faith is my niece, my only relative other than Claire, and I love her dearly. Brian, well, yeah, I love him in the brother way, not…” He gestured with his hand.
“And you dismiss the looks and pick-up lines from so many women like they mean nothing to you. It’s like you’re embarrassed because they don’t know your secret. And the way you treat me…our friendship. You’ve never treated me like a piece of meat, or like you were trying to get in my pants. I thought you actually wanted to be…friends.”
Trent cursed. Friends. The worst F word in the dictionary. She wanted his friendship and so she’d have it. Obviously hurt after years of being raked over the coals by so many men, she didn’t need him pawing at her.
“Definitely friends, Rayne. Always friends. I’m sorry I kissed you. I shouldn’t have. I just…needed you to know that I’m not…gay. It won’t happen again. We’re cool, right?”
BUY LINKS:
amazon.com/author/mariannerice
http://www.limitlesspublishing.net/product-category/pre-orders/
Laurel O'Donnell - Medieval Romance Novels, Paranormal Romance Novels and Urban Fantasy
January 11, 2016
New Book Set!
You love medieval romance? Can’t get enough of it? I’ve put together a set of four of my highly acclaimed medieval novels for your pleasure! Four full length novels for only $2.99! Heroic Tales of Medieval Romance! Get your medieval fix now!
Laurel O'Donnell - Medieval Romance Novels, Paranormal Romance Novels and Urban Fantasy
January 10, 2016
January 7, 2016
First Kiss Friday – Marie Higgins
Today’s First Kiss Friday featured guest is Marie Higgins, author of historical romance Secrets and Lies. Welcome Marie!
A bit about Secrets and Lies –
On secret assignment from President Grant, Nicole Bastian is tasked with investigating a string of train robberies in which government money was stolen. The stakes are high and she is utterly devastated when she uncovers information that indicates the man of her dreams, Ashton Lee, one of the wealthy owners of Conrail is the number one suspect. Desperate to remain cool and impartial, Nicole strives to keep her suspicions quiet until she learns what Ashton is keeping from her. At the same time, she’s determined to keep her own secrets from Ashton, hoping he never finds out.
Ashton Lee is immediately attracted to the woman he’d met at the masked ball. Unfortunately, there’s something not right about her, and he can’t put his finger on why he thinks this way. She’s mysterious, beautiful, but very secretive. Dare he allow her to soften his heart? And more importantly, will she understand why he keeps secrets from her?
First Kiss in Secrets and Lies –
“Tell me, Miss Bastian, why are you grinning right now?”
She shrugged. “As hard as it is for me to admit, I was thinking the same thing as you—about getting away from those men. I find it quite humorous that you can read my mind.”
If only Ashton could read it now. The way her stare latched onto him made him wonder what else was going through her mind at this moment. He stepped closer and dared do what he’d wanted to do a few minutes ago when she’d taken off her mask. He ran the back of his knuckles over her soft cheek. Her skin was just as smooth as he’d imagined. “I would like to read your mind now.”
Suddenly, the laughter left her expression, and in its place was desire. He liked seeing that. Liked it too much.
“No,” she said in a soft voice. “Reading my mind now would not be a good thing.”
“And why not?”
The side of her mouth pulled up into a half-grin. “What would you say if I admitted that you are no longer my Prince Charming?”
“I’m not?” His heartbeat stalled, not knowing if that was a good thing—or bad.
“No. You’ve swiftly become my knight in shining armor, instead.”
Peace settled inside his chest. “Why, may I ask?”
“For rescuing me.”
Strange emotions surrounded his heart and crawled up his neck, making it hard to swallow. “Oh.” His voice came out much too low. “I’ve just seen the way those men are with women. They aren’t very respectable, and that’s when they are sober. I don’t want to know how they would act around a woman as lovely as yourself when they are filled with liquor.”
This time it was her turn to move closer as she placed a hand on his chest. Her touch almost shot his breath right out of his lungs as warmth spread through him, starting where her hand rested.
“Then indeed, you are my knight,” she said.
He took hold of her hand, but kept it against his chest as he stared deep into her shadowed eyes. Desire stirred in him like never before. This wasn’t good at all! “Miss Bastian, you shouldn’t say such things to me.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’ve never felt more like a man than I do right now in your presence.” He slid his free arm around her waist, and closed the space between them. “And that, my dear, could get very dangerous out here, all alone with me in the shadows, and in the moonlight.”
A small gasp sprang from her throat, but she didn’t move her hand, nor did she pull away. Her head tilted back as she gazed up into his face. Heavens, she looked so lovely. He really needed to get control over his emotions. Feeling like this for a woman he didn’t fully trust was not a good thing. But being with her had indeed made him feel more like a man than anytime he could recall.
The smile remained on her pleasant expression. “Once again, Mr. Lee, your words have warned me to stay away from you, but your actions speak something entirely different. Do you or do you not want me to leave?”
Chuckling softly, he shook his head. “I wish I knew my own mind right now, but I fear I cannot even govern my own thoughts, because although you should leave, I want you to stay in my arms.”
He leaned in further, wanting to kiss her so badly, but he fought the urge. Instead, he closed his eyes and rubbed his cheek against hers. Skin as soft as silk smelled faintly of roses. He could easily get lost in her fragrance. Her free hand slid up his arm to his shoulder, then to his hair as her fingers threaded through his hair. The warmth from her touch melted him, and although he knew this shouldn’t be happening, he had no power to stop it.
A quiver rushed inside him, and her body trembled against his. Smiling, he continued to rub his cheek against hers, but soon his face dropped to the curve of her neck. Her delicate skin was so close to his mouth, he just had to rub his lips over her flesh.
Another gasp escaped her, this time it was much lower than before. No more were her hands stroking over his prince costume, instead they were grasping the material as if she didn’t want him to pull away.
Her breathing grew heavy and breezed against his ear. This woman definitely knew how to make him come alive—which had never happened to him before. He didn’t know if it was their costumes, their roles of Cinderella and Prince Charming, or if it was just because he was looking for a distraction from the stress happening in his life right now, but Miss Nicole Bastian was certainly affecting him in ways he could not comprehend. Perhaps he should worry about it, but right now, he’d just relax and enjoy the moment.
“Ashhh-ton,” she sighed deeply, “what are you doing to me?”
The sound of his name on her lips was like Heavenly harps playing in his ears. He wanted to laugh with delight, knowing he was affecting her the same way she was doing to him. But laughing would only ruin the mood right now, and he could not have that.
He lifted his head just enough to peer into her face. Her eyes had been closed, but then opened slightly as she met his gaze. His heartbeat pounded so fiercely like a runaway train, and he knew he must kiss her or collapse.
“What am I doing to you, Nicole?” he whispered.
The smile touched her eyes seconds before her mouth stretched wider. “You’re making me believe in fairytales. You’re making me think dreams really do come true.”
Releasing a groan, he pressed his mouth against hers. Immediately, her arms wrapped around his neck and she responded to his kiss just as he hoped she would. Fireworks exploded behind his eyes. Indeed, he’d never experienced such a kiss, and Heaven help him, he wanted more kisses like this…more from her and only her.
Buy on Kindle – http://amzn.com/B00US3BKAI
Buy paperback – http://amzn.com/1519332718
Laurel O'Donnell - Medieval Romance Novels, Paranormal Romance Novels and Urban Fantasy
January 1, 2016
December 20, 2015
Inspirational Quote Monday! #29 of 2015
Thank you all for sharing the year with me!
Laurel O'Donnell - Medieval Romance Novels, Paranormal Romance Novels and Urban Fantasy
December 17, 2015
First Kiss Friday – SNAP: The World Unfolds by Michele Drier
![WEB_SNAP1_Cover_M [2215200]](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1450484080i/17432515.jpg)
Today’s First Kiss Friday featured guest is Michele Drier, author of paranormal romance SNAP: The World Unfolds. Welcome Michele!
A bit about SNAP: The World Unfolds –
SNAP, a multinational celeb TV show and magazine, is the holy grail for Maxie Gwenoch. When she snags the job as managing editor, she’s looking for fame, fortune and Jimmy Choos. What she finds is a media empire owned by Baron Kandesky and his family. A family of vampires. They’re European, urbane, wealthy and mesmerizing. And when she meets Jean-Louis, vampire and co-worker, she’s a goner.
The Kandesky vampire family rose in Hungary centuries ago. They gave up violence and killing to make a killing on the world’s commodities markets and with that beginning they built SNAP, an international celebrity multimedia empire. Now cultured…and having found food substitutes for killing…they’ve cornered the world market for celebrity and gossip journalism.
They haven’t fully left the past behind. Their Hungarian neighbors and rival vampire clan, the Huszars are starting to ramp up attacks, maybe looking to start a war to take over all the Kandeskys have built.
Maxie believes she’s found her ultimate career. She doesn’t understand that she’s found a family feud like none other, a centuries-old rivalry between vampire families, with her as the linchpin. Bells ring with Jean-Louis, but she only realizes they’re alarm sirens when she learns that Jean-Louis is second in command of the Kandeskys, and by then it’s too late.
The first kiss in SNAP: The World Unfolds –
I went into the cabin, looked at the big bed, chose a side, turned on a bedside lamp and got ready to read myself to sleep. Sometime later I jerked awake. Someone was in the room with me. I wasn’t awake enough to remember this room was at 35,000 feet; I screamed. A short scream and just one sound before Jean-Louis put his hand over my mouth. “Hush.”
He was glimmering and his eyes were so dark they looked black. He smiled at me, broad enough that I glimpsed his fangs as he leaned toward me. I lurched upright and shrank away.
“Maxie, what’s wrong?’
His voice, soft and lulling, brought me fully awake. “I’m sorry, I guess I was still asleep.”
“Dreaming again?”
“No,” I shook my head. Had I been dreaming? There weren’t any noises like before. No vestiges of chases or feelings of fear.
“I wanted to talk to you about the plans. Stefan has allocated a suite of eight rooms for you. It’s in the same wing as my suite. You have your apartment and your maid has a room as well. We know, or we assumed, that you’ve never lived with other people and servants around, so we set it up to give you as much privacy as possible. We, I, want you to feel this is your home”
I got stuck on “your maid,”
“I have a maid assigned? Who?”
“Lisbet’s sister has agreed to come and work for as long as you’re there. She’s been working in Budapest but was glad to come home. Her name’s Elise. I think you’ll like her.”
Once again, the vampires had done it right. They were courtly, mannered, urbane. I flashed on suggesting that they give lessons to the world’s diplomats.
“If we were great at diplomacy, we’d have won over the Huszars by now,” his glimmer got stronger. He ran his hand down my face and my skin tingled.
This time, when he leaned toward me, I didn’t flinch. His lips caressed my face, my ear lobes, my eyebrows. I closed my eyes, my bones melting, and began an almost purr as he kissed my eyelids.
“You are soft,” he whispered as his hands pulled up the shirt I was sleeping in. He found my mouth with his tongue and sucked my tongue into him. Fangs? No, they were gone. His kiss was so deep I couldn’t breathe. He touched my breasts and ran a hand down, over my thigh. I couldn’t resist. My body was limp and I silently told him to do whatever he wanted to. He heard my language, and slowly, slowly made love to me. It was outside any sensations, any sex, I’d ever had and after it was over, we lay twined together.
If this was an introduction to my new world, I was ready.
Buy Links –
https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/snap-the-world-unfolds (Kobo)
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/snap-michele-drier/1112308381?ean=2940012818157 (Nook)
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id683793091 (iTunes)
http://www.amazon.com/Michele-Drier/e/B005D2YC8G/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0 (Amazon author page)
Laurel O'Donnell - Medieval Romance Novels, Paranormal Romance Novels and Urban Fantasy
December 10, 2015
First Kiss Friday – Bloodstorm by Amber Kallyn
Today’s First Kiss Friday featured guest is Amber Kallyn, author of paranormal romance Bloodstorm. Welcome Amber! Today is an extra special feature as this book is FREE at all e-retailers!
A bit about Bloodstorm –
When duty forces a shaman to stop a vampire from her revenge, love doesn’t just burn… it bites.
For two hundred years, Niki DeVeraux has been tracking the monster who murdered her family and made her a vampire. She finally catches up to him only to face more than she bargained for in a too-sexy sheriff who makes her remember she’s still a woman. With duties as Keeper of the Peace and sheriff, Shane Spencer must protect humanity and stop the friction between the local Arcaine races before it turns into an all out blood war.
First Kiss in Bloodstorm –
There was little warning as the air stirred. The sheriff slammed his hands on the fence, one on either side of her, trapping Niki between his body and the wood.
She glanced up at him, amused.
He practically bit out his words. “I have a dead shifter with vampire marks, a truce close to breaking, though hell if I can figure out all the whys, and a Rogue vampire in town.”
His scent overwhelmed her and Niki couldn’t resist playing with fire. Just a little. She leaned closer. “And I’m obviously guilty. After all, I’m a murderer merely because I’m a vampire.”
She bared her fangs.
He didn’t flinch. His face reddened and he glanced past her, to the wooden fence, before meeting her gaze once more. His voice softened the tiniest bit. “I didn’t mean that the way it sounded.”
“Oh? It was pretty clear to me.”
He opened his mouth, then snapped it shut. Niki continued to stare at him, wondering what he’d been about to say.
“Look,” Shane said, his voice soft and seductive now. She didn’t trust it. “I believe you didn’t do this. But if you know who’s behind the killings, I need to know too.”
“You can’t con me with sweet smiles and pretty words,” she replied, though her breath came just a little faster at his nearness. He smelled of soap and smoke and spice. It set her nerves on edge and she could barely think as his scent filled her.
His eyes widened as if he could read her thoughts. She licked her lips and his gaze drew lower, to her mouth. He swallowed loudly, drawing a tiny bit closer.
As if pulled by some magnetic field emanating from him, Niki leaned in.
She stared into his golden eyes, unable to break from his gaze, to move back from the hot energy rolling off his body.
“Niki,” he whispered huskily, need in his voice. His shoulders tightened and his jaw clenched.
If she hadn’t been who she was, her body would have melted into a puddle, right then and there. She couldn’t bring herself to pull away.
Time stood still, the rest of the world fading into nothingness. Thoughts of her duty faded. All she could do was stand before him as her body came alive, reminding her she was a woman.
Shane growled, crossing the last hairsbreadth of distance between them. He pressed his lips to hers, firm and warm.
Gasping against his mouth, she drank in the feeling.
His touch was electrifying. Inside her, something long dormant and frozen for centuries began to wake. The short stubble on his chin scraped against her skin deliciously.
An unbidden desire to embrace him fully pushed at her. Her hands curled with the thought of what his skin, his flowing hair would feel like. The thought finally gave her a sliver of control. She broke away, slipping beneath his arm and backing up to the other side of the alley.
She stared at him, breathing fast and sharp.
He seemed shaken. As unsteady as she felt.
“I don’t…” he stopped, as if unsure what to say.
She remained mute, confusion fogging her mind. Then a survival instinct kicked in. She had to get away from this powerful man who could make her feel. She turned and raced into the night.
Buy Links:
Free at all E-tailers
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Bloodstorm-Heart-Vampire-Book-1-ebook/dp/B007R730AQ
Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bloodstorm-amber-kallyn/1110202585?ean=2940044763555
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/bloodstorm-heart-of-a-vampire-book-1
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/bloodstorm-heart-vampire-book/id545540711?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Amber_Kallyn_Bloodstorm?id=A-qmAgAAQBAJ
Laurel O'Donnell - Medieval Romance Novels, Paranormal Romance Novels and Urban Fantasy
Laurel O'Donnell's Blog
“What do you want from me?”
Perhaps it was ridiculous, Ryen thought. Men never seemed to have a problem with taking what, ...more
- Laurel O'Donnell's profile
- 243 followers
