Vivian Arend's Blog, page 84

New Cover! Rising, Freestyle

Coming July 5

Xtreme Adventures #2

Stuck between a rock-solid man and a hard place…

Melanie Dixon's body may have recovered from a horrific climbing accident, but her nerve is long gone. So is the natural enthusiasm for life she took for granted. Tired of being scared, beyond ready to conquer her fears, she pulls up stakes and moves to her brother's new hometown to start over. Her first step is the most terrifying—to tackle the wall at the local climbing center.

Derrick James is mesmerized by Melanie's dark beauty, and equally impressed with her climbing abilities and determination. Watching her retune rusty skills spurs a desire to partner with her—on and off the ropes. Melanie's a compelling mix of wit, sensuality and vulnerability, and it's his delicious task to convince her the scars on her body are no match for the heat rising between them.

Then a man from Melanie's past shows up, pushing their relationship to the edge. Nathan King wants photographs for a "where are they now" series, but his side agenda is more personal in nature. A proposal that brings her out of her sensual shell and onto a precarious sexual ledge. Where trust is crucial…and too easily shattered.

Warning: This book may cause heart-pounding, body-shaking adrenaline attacks—and that's before they leave the climbing gym. Contains blindfolds, ropes and a healthy dose of voyeurism. Go on—you know you like to watch.

Wip snippet

Just a tiny tease from Rocky Mountain Hope…

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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 them fall to her sides. "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. Other than what he'd already confessed to. "Okay, I'll help you. Just…relax."

She nodded, eyes closed again. 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. Goosebumps 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.

Sharing the Love for Dear friend

A good friend of romance lost her husband in a tragic shooting early this week. Fatin not only works to share her love of romance with everyone through her website, she's worked closely with many authors, including me. She's stepped in since January to help keep me in line and out of chaos, and I already don't know how I did without her.

An auction is being organized with donations from all kinds of authors. Have a writing bent? There are critques, and even things like a lunch at RWA with a published author who will help you polish your pitch.

And readers? Lots for you as well. If you simply want to donate, there will be a button for that too.

My donation? A 'Wolfie Pack'.

-Print copy Under The Northern Lights

-Full set of the Granite Lake Wolves ebooks (Wolf Signs, Wolf Flight, Wolf Games, Wolf Tracks)

- Stuffed Wolfie

PLUS I'll use the winner's name in one of the upcoming Takhini Wolves books. 

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I hope you will support Fatin and her family in this difficult time.

I'll post the link to the auction as soon as I find out the rest of the details-late March. There's more information here at Lauren Dane's site.

Viv

Cool Books- Wilder's Mate by Moira Rogers

True confession- I'm friends with Bree and Donna who make up Moira Rogers. Because of that, I got a chance to read this book ahead of time. Second confession–I finished reading and went back and did an instant re-read. I loved it that much.Wilder is just so…Oh My.

Mine. He's mine, that's what he is. I've never gotten to claim anyone's hero before, and I'm starting with Wilder.

It's a new type of word- a Wild West, with scary creatures tossed in. Steampunk– if that's something new to you, this would be a good book to start with. It's adventure and paranornal and just a great read.

It's available now at all the booksellers, including Samhain at 30% off.

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Think a vampire-hunting bloodhound is dangerous? Try threatening his woman.

Bloodhounds, Book 1

Wilder Harding is a bloodhound, created by the Guild to hunt down and kill vampires on America's frontier. His enhanced abilities come with a high price: on the full moon, he becomes capable of savagery beyond telling, while the new moon brings a sexual hunger that borders on madness.

Rescuing a weapons inventor from undead kidnappers is just another assignment, though one with an added complication—keeping his hands off the man's pretty young apprentice, who insists on tagging along.

At odds with polite society, Satira's only constant has been the aging weapons inventor who treats her like a daughter. She isn't going to trust Wilder with Nathaniel's life, not when the Guild might decide the old man isn't worth saving. Besides, if there's one thing she's learned, it's that brains are more important than brawn.

As the search stretches far longer than Wilder planned, he finds himself fighting against time. If Satira is still at his side when the new moon comes, nothing will stop him from claiming her. Worse, she seems all too willing. If their passion unlocks the beast inside, no one will be safe. Not even the man they're fighting to save.

Product Warnings

This book contains a crude, gun-slinging, vampire-hunting hero who howls at the full moon and a smart, stubborn heroine who invents mad-scientist weapons. Also included: wild frontier adventures, brothels, danger, betrayal and a good dose of wicked loving in an alternate Wild West.

Disney World and a contest!

Celebration time! I handed in the full book for the next in the wolfies. So its HOLIDAY TIME!!  I'm in Disneyworld and area for a while, and since that means MORE reasons for me to be offline, I'm going to have a contest.

All you have to do is leave a comment here at my blog about your favorite Disney character, and when I get back from my holiday, I'll use random.org to pick a few winners. Probably Disney swag, with an ebook or two thrown in for good measure. Have fun sharing!!!

Surfacing briefly

With the combination of finally finding warm weather, and a couple deadlines, I've been scarcer than usual. I'm almost done polishing Black Gold. So far my beta readers have loved Shaun and Gem.

Yes, I like them as well. Very much.

This weekend I'll do the last passes on it, and then book is off to my editor, and I'll be full time on the cowboys. Oh, with a little holiday break to hit Disney first!

March I hope to return to more regular blogging.

Hi from Florida!

I'm finally in the sunshine. And I'm STAYING. **puts down an anchor and clings to it**

What can I tell you? I've been busy with many things lately as well as traveling with the family- writing the new wolfies book, edits on Rising, Freestyle out in July. Planning for the cowboys…

COWBOYS!

There we go. I'll tell you a little bit about the cowboys. I've started writing the additions to Rocky Mountain Heat. Yes,there will be more story added, but I'm trying to make sure that if you don't want to purchase the new versions, and want to wait for the new release of book three, you'll be fine.

Except the boys are planning all kinds of mischief. The fun part for me is that I'm getting to add in some of the other boy's escapades, and introduce a few of the cousins from the area. Things I couldn't really do when the story was a category length. Extra word space means more Colemans.

So I know there are things like the Moonshine Wars (couple of the Uncles had issues…) mudbogging and this very interesting club that some of the gang likes to go to. Oh, and the swimming hole. And the horses.

Anything else cowboyish you're hoping to see?

Working hard!

Edits on Rising, Freestyle, coming out this July. Book 2 in the Xtreme Adventures series:

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Beta: Climbing slang that means to gather information about a route.

"Go on, you can do it."

Melanie remained immobile, gaze glued to where her fingers wrapped around the holds on the climbing wall. The dark Adonis holding her safety rope had been nothing but positive and upbeat with her since she'd signed up for the private climbing lessons. Even without looking she could picture him, his wide smile bright against his tanned skin. Dark hair slightly messed, dark eyes that made her think all kinds of naughty things.

"The next hold in the route is that blue one, off to the right. Match your feet, transfer your weight and you'll be there in no time."

As she moved to follow his instructions she wondered for the millionth time in the past three weeks if he was staring at her butt simply to help her find the best route, or if he was staring at her butt for more nefarious reasons.

She could only dream it was the second.

Derrick James was everything she'd dreamed of in a guy. Tall, dark, and good with ropes. Now if she could get up the nerve to make a move on him other than when they were checking each other's harnesses for secure straps.

And…another!

It was a busy day! Look what else arrived.

For the print cover of TURN IT ON. This is my only cover made by Scott Carpenter. Hey Scott!!

So that makes 3 covers, including the ebook cover for Wolf Games last March. If you are interested in voting, the lists are here:

Ebook Poll

http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22BUZDZ2YE9/

Print Poll

http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22BUZUD3975/

Hey Look!

Dear Viv,

The Mod Squad is very pleased to announce that your cover art for the ebook release Wolf Tracks is the Ebook Cover Art Winner for October 2010 and is now a finalist in that category for the 2010 SAMMIES!

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Neat, eh? Yah to Angela Waters for her awesome sauce work on my covers!!