Vivian Arend's Blog, page 68

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Check out Guilty Pleasures Review of Rocky Mountain Haven. They added the most incredible features to it!

 

 

How I spent my Wednesday (aka THANK YOU!)

We're still in Ecuador, and yesterday we'd arranged to go on an excursion to the nearby Isle de la Plata– an hour+ boat trip followed by a hike, lunch and some snorkling.

We had an amazing day, seeing Blue-footed Boobies, Frigate birds and an incredible coastline. It was sunny all day, and in spite of the high-test sunscreen, I still got a new layer of colour.

Then we hit the ocean for the snorkling. There were huge plate sized bright blue and yellow tangs, whole schools of…ouch…these smaller…ouch!

Well, it turns out there was an entire ocean of baby jellyfish! And I mean baby. Clusters of 10-15 made a clump the size of a fingertip. Some were in long long strands of over a 100 that looked like barbed wire…and in the ten minutes I was in the water before realizing what was up, I got branded a whole ton of times.

Then we came home, and I discovered that Rocky Mountain Haven had hit the USA Today bestseller list (#102). Maya Banks emailed me about 2 minutes before I walked in the door. She also tweeted the news, and I was so excited! I've never seen my tweetstream move that fast, all my friends and readers RTing and messaging me to say congrats.

Then Maya tweets the book also hit the New York Times list (#31). This time I was at the computer as the news came through. My hubby was standing across from me and when I shrieked (yes, loudly…did you hear me in Texas?) he was all "…what? What? OH YEAH, NEW YORK, RIGHT?"

I love that man.

And I love my friends, and I love you readers so much. Because you're the ones who did this! Thank you so much for supporting me in my writing. For enjoying my books and telling your friends, and now, making something I'd never dreamed of happen.

Holy Moly, dudes, I'm a New York Times bestselling author!!!

Thank you. So, so much.

**Raises glass and cheers all you awesome people**

(And the jellyfish were still really cool to see…)

Give away WINNER~ Rocky Mountain Haven

Thanks everyone for stopping in, and for all the well wishes. I'm so happy to hear many of you are enjoying Daniel and Beth's story.

The winner of the Rocky Mountain Haven gift pack is….  elaing8

Hurrah! Use the contact button to send me your info, and I hope you enjoy. Everyone else…want a little taste of book 3?

~~**~~

Nothing comes easy. You've gotta work for it.

Matt Coleman always figured at this point in his life, he'd be settled down with a family. Since his ex split for the big city, though, no way will he give anyone else the chance to drop-kick his heart. Physical pleasure? Hell, yeah, he'll take—and give—with gusto, but nothing more.

Hope Meridan is working long hours to hold on to her new quilt shop, going it alone since her sister/business partner ran off. Sex? Right, like she's got the time. Not that she doesn't have the occasional dirty fantasy about Matt. Fat chance he'd dream of knocking boots with her—the younger sister of the woman who dumped him. Nope, she'll just have to settle for the F-word.

Friends would be far easier if there wasn't something combustible going on between them. And when casual interest starts to grow into something more, their tenuous bond strengthens in the heat of desire. But it may not survive the hurricane-force arrival of the last person either of them ever wanted to see again…

Warning: Small-town rivals, men in pursuit and family meddling—in good and bad ways. Look for a cowboy who knows how to rope, ride and rein in a hell of a lot more than eight seconds of sheer bliss.

~~**~~

By the time they were through the door, Matt's teeth were chattering like the gears on the old Ford. "Strip."

He had already gotten off his winter coat and was working on his boots before he noticed Hope stood motionless in front of him.

"Hope, you listening?"

She lifted her hands to paw at her zipper before letting her arms fall. "I'm here. The brain is working, honest, but not the fingers. Can't. Too cold."

He dragged off his final boot and wondered what he'd done to deserve this kind of punishment. "Okay, I'll help you. Just…relax."

She nodded, eyes closed. That made it easier—not having to watch those expressive orbs as he peeled off her outer layers and got her down to her T-shirt and slacks. Goose bumps rose on her arms, and he was a bastard for noticing her nipples were rigid under the thin layers of her top. When he led her into the bathroom, she went without a complaint.

He turned on the taps for the tub and she nodded. "Oh yeah, that's what I need. Perfect."

That's when the lights went out.

A million scenarios flashed through Matt's brain where this would be a good thing. If he'd rescued some random damsel in distress from the side of the road who he'd taken back to a hotel and the power had gone off, they'd have to share body heat to survive. One thing would lead to another, and the heat they generated would be most enjoyable.

Hope. This is Hope.

"Matt? I've got candles."

She bumped into him. He'd half-expected it though and managed to keep his balance. Logic and self-control were going to be the only way out of this mess with his sanity intact. "You need a hand?"

"Yeah, but just wait." She snuck past him, clinging to his waist for a second. Something clattered to the floor then a drawer opened. She groped her way down his arm just before icy cold fingers pressed the hard surface of a lighter into his palm. A rosy glow filled the room as he followed her directions and lit the couple dozen tea lights arranged around the room.

"Convenient."

"Pretty," she corrected. "It's a part of my relaxation therapy. Never thought I'd need them for this."

Steam rose from the tub. "Thank God for gas hot-water heaters. I didn't make it too hot though—you're too cold. We can add hotter water once you've warmed up."

Hope nodded. "Matt? You're not thinking of leaving, are you?"

He was thinking things that were going to send him to hell. He undid the button on her jeans as quickly as possible, opening the zipper. Ignored her soft gasp as his cold knuckles bumped the heated skin of her bare belly. "I'm not leaving until I know you're okay. Take off your pants and get in the tub."

She obeyed clumsily. "You too, right?"

Bloody hell. "Yes, me too. I'm fucking freezing and I'm soaking wet. Don't worry, it'll be crowded, but your virtue is safe."

Hope laughed as she lifted one long leg over the edge of the tub, the sound turning to a moan of pleasure as the water surrounded her.

Matt was a dead man walking. He couldn't get in the tub now, not without her knowing he had a woody the size of a bull's. How he had gotten a hard-on when he was this bloody cold, he had no idea, but the damn thing was there. Insistently there.

She was all the way in, liquid soaking her T-shirt and making it cling to her body. He stared and reconsidered. He could strip and wrap himself in blankets in the living room. He'd already taken a step toward the door when she spoke.

"Matt? I know this is awkward, but if you don't get your ass in the tub right now I'll track you down and make you regret it. I don't care if you've got a hard-on, I've seen one before. I know it's a natural reaction, and it doesn't mean anything."

Shit. "What the—"

"I danced for years, Matt. Put myself through school showing skin, and I know the female body turns guys on even if their brain isn't engaged. I understand what happened this summer. Enough. It's forgotten. Just get in the tub."

Matt figured he was about fifty shades of red, but obeyed. Dragged his jeans down his thighs, deliberately not looking to see if she was watching. Because if she had her gaze on him and there was even a hint of attraction, he wouldn't know what to do.

And if she was watching with total disinterest that might be worse.

~~ Amazon | Barnes & Noble ~~

Still working through the bugs.

While the website is back up, there are still a few bugs in the system. I've got a call into my webmaster to help me figure out why you can't send any comments.

Thank you all for the well wishes on Haven's release–y ou can still reach me on twitter, but hopefully everything is settled ASAP. I'll post when I know all is fixed, and we can have a comment party. LOL.

 

New Release- ROCKY MOUNTAIN HAVEN

 Yeah! I have a website back in time to celebrate. Welcome back to Rocky Mountain House and the Coleman ranch for Daniel and Beth's story!

Six Pack Ranch, Book 2

I t's the quiet ones that take you by surprise.

Beth Danube's emotionally abusive husband is dead and buried. So is her heart. It's no big deal, she has all she wants: her three little boys and a fresh start in a small Alberta town. What she doesn't want is another man in her life—not now, maybe not ever.

After ten years of unsatisfactory, missionary-position sex, she never expected her libido to reawaken. One look at sex-in-boots Daniel Coleman in a Calgary bar, though, blows the dust off her sexuality.

Sensing an edge of desperation, even fear, beneath Beth's come-on, Daniel finds himself giving in to the powerful urge to let his normally subdued desires run wild. The lady wants non-judgemental, non-vanilla sex? She's got it—in and out of the bedroom.

At first, friends with blazing-hot benefits is more then enough. Then she realizes Daniel is burning away the protective fortress around her heart…and the guilty secret she dare not reveal.

Warning: One woman determined to retake control of her life, a man with the single-minded purpose of offering her—and her body—everything she needs. Inappropriate behaviour in barns, change rooms, and oh-my-gawd phone sex with a cowboy.

~~** Amazon | Barnes & Noble  **~~

Once I'm sure things will stay up around here I'm going to re-post the contest I announced right when the website fell prey to hackers. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy Haven!

Rocky Mountain Haven- prize pack

 

It's a week until the release of ROCKY MOUNTAIN HAVEN. I've got some places I'm visiting online this week, but here at the blog it's going to be pretty quiet.

So…I thought we could have some fun. Mainly because I spotted this lunch box, and Holy MOLY it was so cute I couldn't resist. Especially since there are three adorable little boys in the story who I think would love the lunch box!

I've filled it with some fun cowboyish things, like pretty bandanas and a print copy of Linda Lael Miller's High Country Bride. There's a pair of aromatherapy socks, which aren't really country, nor do they smell like the country (thank goodness) but they make me think of curling up and reading.

Oh, and I'm kicking in a $25.00 gift certificate to the book store of the winner's choise.

To be eligible to win? Add a comment to this post. If you want to post the pretty banner that's over there ====> at your blog or facebook or wherever to share the news, feel free, but that's not required to be entered. I'm going to post the buy links for Haven here so they're available if you want them, but basically, this giveaway is for you. I'll pick a winner on January 9 (if my internet cooperates-otherwise asap after release as I can.)

(Note- My blog cross posts to Goodreads and Amazon. For this giveaway, you'll have to post at the actual website blog, please. Otherwise I will lose your entry. Sorry–traveling makes things more complicated…)

Thanks for  coming out and supporting me in my writing. I'm loving these cowboys very hard, and I hope you love them as well.

 ~~** Amazon | Barnes & Noble **~~

New release & a Cool Book- DESTINY

I have a new release today–the print version of TURN IT UP  is now available. Since my books are all digital first, this is exciting as my 5th print book, but I'm even more excited about a friend's release!

Carly Phillips is a lovely, lovely lady who writes the most amazing stories, and book 2 in her newest series is now available. DESTINY. I fell in love with Carly's writing–she knows how to write people in a way that make me want to sit down and have a cup of tea with them, or kick them in the butt, or drool over them, in the case of her heroes!

Information regarding the entire series can be found here: Serendipity.

I also snuck over to the bookstore and spotted what Carly had to say to readers, and for those of you who are new to her and Sernedipity, I thought I'd let her share!

Dear Readers,

Welcome back to the town of Serendipity.

DESTINY is the second in my contemporary romance series that I began in SERENDIPITY. In Destiny, you will learn more about the town of Serendipity, the Barron brothers, and the past they've tried so hard to run from … and in some cases, to hide. Like any other town, Serendipity has its secrets, scandals, pain, heartache and love, but there is also an implied promise of fortune and good luck, along with people at changes and crossroads in their lives.

You already met Ethan Barron, the bad boy who has come home to make good and Faith Harrington, the girl who got away. DESTINY is Nash Barron and Kelly Moss's story and coming in May 2012 is Dare Barron in KARM.

I hope you'll continue to take this new journey with me and enjoy!

Happy Reading,

Carly Phillips

~~**~~

I'd like to celebrate with Carly today, and I hope you'll join me. Everyone who leaves a comment here for Carly will be entered to win a print copy of TURN IT UP- see? Double celebration!! I'll pick the winner of the print book on the weekend.

There's also another contest & celebration starting tomorrow in preparation for the release of Rocky Mountain Haven, so leave a comment today and come back tomorrow to see what fun I've got planned!

And from me to you, Carly, congratulations on the new release, and yes,  I'm eager to return to Serendipity!

…hello 2012

Oh you pretty new year, what marvelous things will you bring our way?

It's like a clean page, an open fresh document, waiting for the adventure story to be written. Although I already know SOME of the chapters…

Releases for 2012:

Jan 3- Turn It Up- print

Jan 10- Rocky Mountain Haven- ebook

March 13- Rocky Mountain Desire- ebook

April 3- Storm Swept- print

June 5- Freestyle -print

June 12- Wolf Line- ebook

July 3- Tropical Desire- print

August 7- Black Gold- print

Sept 11- Silver Mine- ebook

Oct 2- Rocky Mountain Heat- print

Dec 4- Rocky Mountain Haven- print

March 23, 2012= third anniversary of being published. BIG PARTY!!!

Where I'll be in 2012:

March-St Patty's day book signing in Las Vegas!

April- Romance Times convention in Chicago

July- Romance Writers of America in LA

…other conferences as  I figure then out.

Goodbye to 2011…

What a rush. Recap:

Releases:

Feb: Turn It Up- ebook

April 6- Stormy Seduction-ebook

May 4- Silent Storm- ebook

July 3- Breaking Waves-print

July 11- Rising, Freestyle- ebook

Aug 23- Exotic Indulgence-ebook

August 23- Paradise Found-ebook

Sept 13- Black Gold- ebook

Oct 4- Under the Midnight Sun-print

Nov 15- Rocky Mountain Heat- ebook

Places visited:

Florida up the eastern coast to Canada, Prince Edward Iland, Newfoundland, Quebec, Ontario, across the northern states to Alberta and home to British Columbia. With excursion to LA and NY added. Also, Ecuador.

Number of weeks lived in a house: 17

Number of weeks on the road: the rest of them

Number of incredibe experiences? Uncountable

Number of friends made through writing and traveling: Uncountable.

Thanks for being there for the adventure!!

12 Days of Giving- winners

It's time! First though, thank you so much to everyone who stopped in and help me celebrate the holidays in the right way–with my friends!

I have the first five charity donations under control. Thank you for your suggestions and I'm honoured to support them for you. (Just to let you know that because I'm out of the country, I'll be contacting them once I'm back–I found out last year that it's much easier to do the gifting from a home computer, etc.)

Here is the list of the rest of the people who won gifts. If you're on the bottom part of the list, I need you to contact Fatin and let her know which prize you won and any specific details she needs, such as which book you want, and in what format, or your mailing address if it's a print book, please include that as well. Yes, what you won is written here, but because I'm on the road, Fatin is being my hands for me. In the interest of a timely delivery, sending Fatin the specific information means she can get your gifts out to you a lot faster. Email her at : novelsidekick at gmail.com

AND as always, if by some chance you don't get your gifts, please contact me–I'd hate to have it happen, but it occasionally does. Goofs are meant to be fixed!  

Main gifts- 5x$100 to Charity of choice. I'll be sending them out ASAP

- Colleen's suggestion of the AZ humane society

- CrystalGB : Ronald McDonald House

- elaing8 : Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation

- Maria E. : Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

- Jane : Save the Children

 

Day #2   $15 giftcard Starbucks: elaing8

Day #3   Soap and scrubby thing: Cherly McInnis

Day #4 Ebook of choice from Samhain: Sullivan McPig

Day #6    Ebook ARC of ROCKY MOUNTAIN HAVEN: Jen B.

Day #7

Courtney Milan's UNCLAIMED: Chelsea B

Jenna Bayley Burke's COMPROMISING POSITIONS: JenM

Day #8    Noisy sticks, cards and dog tag: Nancy Gilliland

Day #9  Choice of Vivian Arend print book or 2 ebooks from backlist:

winner #1: Elizabeth

winner #2:  CrystalGB

Day #10    $10 Amazon/B&N  gift card: June M.

Day #11

Moira Rogers book- Colleen

Lauren Dane book- JenB

Ann Aguirre book- KittyKelly

Maya Banks book- Ilona F

~~**~~

And that's it for now. My next couple of releases are fast approaching. TURN IT UP is out in print Jan 3, completing the Turner Twins series. If you're waiting on book 2 in the Six Pack Ranch series, we've got 2 weeks to go to ROCKY MOUNTAIN HAVEN. I'll be running a special giveaway for readers starting January 4- an easy to enter, strictly for fun event. I'm thankful for you guys who come out to the blog so faithfully, even when I'm galavanting all over! There is a lunch box involved…;) And books.

If you want a reminder of my releases or other news, make sure you're signed up for my newsletter. Otherwise, thank you again for stopping in and making this holiday season special.

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