Nikki Duncan's Blog, page 4

Why do NDcent Dames read romance?

We’ve had a lot of awesome guests this month, but I didn’t think the HER MIRACLE MAN party would be complete without introducing the NDcent Dames, and launch team made up of some amazing women.

I asked them to share a little bit about why they read romance, because isn’t that what we’re all here for?

Here’s what they had to say.

Stephanie – Live. Laugh. Romance.

I read romance for the happily ever afters. Each book takes you on a journey of two people going through their own trials to find each other. No matter what happens you know they will find a way to be together.

Life is full of uncertainty and unexpected tragedies. I love knowing the characters i invest in will be happy and find love.

Reading is special to me because I shared my love of romance books with my mom. She gave me my first romance book. Now that she’s gone I love how reading makes me feel close to her.

Laura – The Revolving Bookcase

I’ve loved reading my whole life, but I didn’t start devouring books until about age 13 or so when I discovered romance novels. My first ones were Barbara Delinsky and Sandra Brown – my mom wouldn’t let me read any “bodice rippers” or Harlequin series because she thought they had too much sex in them. (little did she know what was in those other books!). Then a few friends and I started swapping romance novels in high school and I was hooked. I’ve probably read over 2,000 and I never get tired of them.

I not only love reading, I love books themselves. Even if I had a million books on my ereaders, I’d still go out and buy books to keep around my house. I have some in every room, they are like art to me. My favorite places are libraries and bookstores. I love the way they smell and how there is an infinite amount of things to learn just by walking into one. The possibilities are truly endless and you never know where you might go just by opening a book. And that is why I love to read.

Kristin – Book Sniffers Anonymous

“I haven’t always been a big reader. In fact it was only four years ago that I actually started picking up books to read for fun. I must admit that it all started with Twilight. I was totally against it with all the hype buzzing around the movies but I finally caved and read the first book. Before I knew it I had finished the series and was looking for something to fill the void. It wasn’t until I started blogging that I realized that my preferred genre of choice is romance. I always shied away from it at the library because of the cheesy Fabio covers, but there’s just something about the romance in books that really grabs my attention. Now looking back, I’ve always found romance in the movies that I had watched as a kid. For instance, The Lion King had Nala and Simba, 101 Dalmatians had Pongo and Perdita, Lord of the Rings had Aragorn and Arwen, okay and it also had Orlando Bloom in it.

I’m not overly overly sure what it is exactly that draws me to the romance in a story. Maybe it has to do with the fact that no matter who you are be it race, gender, sexual orientation, we’ve all fallen in love. Some of us may have been lucky with love and have found that special someone and some of us are still out there kissing toads looking for their Prince Charming. All I know is that romance is a huge part of what draws me into a story. That’s not saying that I haven’t read books that have had zero romance in it, but I tend to find my favorites where there is romance involved.”

Julie – Julie’s Blog

I used to swap books at lunch with girlfriends in high school. The Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith was a favorite.

Besides romance I enjoy the classics, Hemmingway, Steinbeck are my most favorites.

When I was around 5 I used to have to read with a magnifying bar-that I still have-52 years later to remind me how bad my vision was. Since cataract surgery a few years ago with some implant lenses I can actually read regular print books now for the first time ever. Prior to that I read large print and listened to a lot of books on tapes. I still continue the books on tape but there are so many books available to me that I feel I am playing catch up. I did a reading challenge this year at Goodreads and I was averaging a book and a half a day. Some days more, some days less. I tend to find the 900 page books as of late.

Because I read and post my reviews online the publishers are friends of mine now sending me more books every month to read and post. They and many other authors like the pomo work I do for them.

To date I really like 2 things in a book: the places a book will take me away to as being cooped up in the house all the itme because I am blind I need to go somewhere and 2. learn something new-could be about a plant, a recipe, etc. I do like the extras in books-recipes, knit patterns, etc

I love that reading books on my pc via kindle I am also able to knit for charity as I just have to hit the space bar to turn a page. I would never want to give up these things I treasure. I like how romance books are like just regular people that I could meet on the street, sometimes they do not have happy endings and sometimes they do.

ORDER UP! A week of boring. Maybe a week UNDER THE CARIBBEAN SUN.

Gee, Thanksgiving!

I’ve always thought Thanksgiving was the perfect holiday. In theory. Food and family, nothing more. Turkey, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie. What could go wrong?

Well, there was the year we were planning to tell the family we were pregnant again, but skipped the announcement because as soon as we got to my folks house the three of us came down with a violent stomach bug.

And then last year, when the neighbor’s giant cedar crashed our party, uninvited I might add. Quite the excitement for our already full house.

After a health scare with my eldest, we planned on a very low-key Thanksgiving in pajamas. Just our little family, movies, football, and our holiday favorites. My eldest requested croissants, a two day endeavor. After his excitement I was saying yes to pretty much anything he asked for. We brined the turkey, prepped the sides, and started the day with fresh cinnamon rolls. The turkey cooked perfectly. It was time to pop in the side dishes and the croissants.

And the oven died.

The annoying oven and I do not have the best relationship. We’ve replaced parts in the overpriced-to-begin-with beast every six months. The last time was the last time. And really, freaking out when I had spent two days prepping croissants? Like Taylor says, we are never, ever, ever getting back together. It’s unforgivable.

So our Black Friday? Getting a new range. Our vacation savings? Completely gone – between the new stove and having to take down our own giant cedars so they didn’t impose on anyone’s hospitality this storm season, we’re tapped out.

I think it’s time for me to escape. Maybe to the Caribbean. There’s this gorgeous island I know, Anguilla. I make up fun stories Under the Caribbean Sun… Maybe I’ll read over Caribbean Christmas before diving into the edits of Caribbean Casanova…

Anything crazy with your Thanksgiving that you need to escape from?

 

And here’s the blurb for Jenna’s Christmas story. We share a release day this week, so don’t hesitate to stock up on your Christmas Love this Tuesday! 

’Tis the season for unwrapping the gift of pleasure.

Under the Caribbean Sun, Book 1

When Saskia snags a last-minute ticket home to the Caribbean isle of Anguilla, she intends to surprise her workaholic father and to reconnect over Christmas. When she finds he’s away on business, there’s still plenty to fill her time while she waits. Sailing, snorkeling…and an unexpected, very adult attraction to her girlhood crush.

Joe Prinsen is certain Saskia has returned to the island only to ask for money. He feels it’s time she learns the truth about her father’s depleted financial situation from the man himself. And he intends to make sure she sticks around long enough to hear it.

Except the girl he remembers has matured into a devastatingly sexy woman. She’s taking all his noble intentions and unwrapping them, one by one, until their shared desire is revealed in the warm Caribbean water. Saskia’s only home for Christmas. And once she finds out the secret he’s hiding, she’ll no doubt leave the Caribbean, and him, for good.

Pre-Order Your Copy!

 

When Chatting Pays Off

The Saturday Giveaway is back. There’s only one left, so don’t stop chatting on the blogs. If you’ve already chatted this month you’re already entered into next week’s BIG giveaway, but wouldn’t you like to have more chances to win? We’re talking about a prize of 2 airline tickets to 1 of 50 destinations. I have to tell you that when I bought the prize I was tempted to keep it for myself.

Instead, I decided that I’d also like to hear about someone else having a great time.

For now, it’s time to announce this week’s winner. The prizes for this week are the brown Locks of Love Teddy Bear,  another amethyst Her Miracle Man ring and a $25 gift card to either Amazon, B&N or Samhain (winner’s choice.)

And the winner is

PamK!

Pam, email me to claim your prizes.

I need your mailing address and your preferred gift card.

Doesn’t everyone want LOVE FOR CHRISTMAS?

This has been a roller coaster of a year for me. Last year at this time I was finishing up the planning for my daughter’s wedding on December 6. This was after having had brain surgery in July and taking a month off work to recover. Luckily, I was between edits on two of the four stories that would be released this year. It was helpful to remember when I couldn’t seem to string more than two words together that things happen in their own time and, despite my frustration, I would eventually finish another book. It has been a daunting task and I’m an excruciatingly slow writer. Of course, the fact that I work a full-time job and lead the youth group at my church has to be factored in.

So, when I was finishing the edits on my August release (Family Scandals) and my editor asked me what else I had in the pipeline, I mentioned a short I’d written some years ago. It was a Victorian Christmas story and the hero/heroine were two of the secondary characters from Family Scandals. She immediately asked for it. The problem was that I had always planned to expand it to something longer than it currently was (5,000 words), so I set to work and quickly re-wrote it to almost 20,000 words. Of course, it didn’t come out exactly the way I wanted it to (they never do), but I love the ending much more than the one I’d planned anyway.

So, here’s the blurb for LOVE FOR CHRISTMAS: ’Tis the season—for love.

Falling in love at first sight—with another man’s wife—was hell for Phillip Houghton. Never mind that he knew Julianna’s husband to be a thoroughly unsavory man, the ring on her finger meant she was off limits.

Even after the man’s untimely death, Phillip put even more distance between them, leaving the country to give her time to heal. Three years later he is back, and determined that nothing will let her slip through his fingers. Not even his status as a second son.

To all outward appearances, Julianna is content with her life as a widow with two small children. On the inside, the scars of her husband’s abuse feed her general distrust of men. Phillip makes her painfully aware of how lonely her life truly is, but why marry again when she has all the family, and security, she needs?

Yet as Phillip wins over her parents and children, she finds herself drawn to him. Dare she trust her mind—and her heart—for a second chance with forever written all over him?

And let’s not forget Samhain’s signature warnings. I love the one for this story:

Warning: Never underestimate a man who is willing to deal with a two-year-old in tantrum mode.

If I was a young, single mother, I’d definitely fall head-over-heals for a man willing to deal with a two-year-old about to have a meltdown. And, if he’s handsome, charming and makes my heart beat too fast as well, so much the better. How about you?

I will be giving away a $15 gift card to Amazon. The winner will be drawn tomorrow at noon EST and their name will be posted shortly after.

Denise Patrick

www.denisepatrickauthor.com

Which is the hottest Samhain Publishing cover? Let’s vote!

Samhain Publishing is pretty well known for the awesome covers they produce. I thought it would be fun to vote on the hottest covers. These are a few of Samhain’s New and Coming Soon releases, so tell me, which of these is your favorite?!

Commenting enters you into tomorrow’s Saturday Giveaway drawing. The prizes (for one winner) will include:

~ An ARC of HER MIRACLE MAN

~ $15 Amazon Gift Card

A Thankful Miracle

This week’s miracle is going to go along with Thanksgiving and things to be thankful for.

From the moment I met my editor Tera I liked her. Now I flat out adore her.

She’s sassy and smart and smart mouthed like me. We get along so great and have so much fun together I can’t imagine what my life would be like without her. I’m thankful to have her as an editor, but more thankful to have her as an editor. I’m especially thankful that when a teenager who wasn’t paying attention Saturday night ran a red light and smashed Tera’s jeep with her and her hubby in it that she wasn’t hurt too badly.

What/who are you thankful for this year?

Survival is a Miracle

Join Heather Long today as she talks about her Marine series. Chatting enters you in her giveaway as well as in the Saturday giveaway, so don’t be shy!

According to casualty reports, over two thousand U.S. military personnel have given their lives since the beginning of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan on October 7, 2001. Over one thousand of those deaths can be attributed to IEDs – improvised explosive devices. In 2002, seven thousand U.S. troops were on the ground in Afghanistan. By 2007, the number climbed to over twenty-three thousand troops.

In 2012, the U.S. military is still in Afghanistan and the men and women who serve our country still lose their lives. For more than a decade, we have been engaged in conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. Virtually no military family has been left untouched by these events. War is hell and our generation will be forever changed by these events defined by four acts of brutal terrorism on September 11, 2001.

When I sat down to write the very first Always a Marine, I knew I wanted to incorporate elements of these events because even those serving on domestic bases would be providing support to those deployed overseas. You can’t escape this singular reality of our lives. Deployment comes at a cost—a personal one and that sacrifice is made not only by our troops, but by their families as well.

In Retreat Hell! She Just Got Here, I introduced the characters of Logan, Zach, and Jazz. All three are Marines. Logan and Zach took terminal leave after grave injuries sustained from an IED. While there is no such thing as an ex-Marine, recovery still took time. Jazz remained on active duty, serving in the sandbox. The concept of the one night stand allowed these three to meet, share a fantastic evening and then return to their lives—it was a respite in the middle of a brutal storm.

But their story wasn’t over, because Jazz went back to Afghanistan while Logan and Zach continued their work at Mike’s Place with recovering vets. These formerly active Marines now kept the home fires burning, literally being on the other side of that shoe—the side of those who wait. When Jazz was injured, they experience the fear, the worry, and the trauma of not knowing along with the brutal reality of learning the extent of her injuries.

No Regrets, No Surrender was a very difficult and emotional story to write. I wanted to do justice to these characters, to their service, and to their determination.  I loved them when I met them—sassy Jazz, cheerful Zach, and moody Logan. I fell in love with them all over again, weeping for their ups and downs.  Survival is a miracle and recovery a hard won reward.

A portion of the proceeds from the sales of No Regrets, No Surrender will be donated to Fisher House—the real life Mike’s Place.

About the Book

The emotional sequel to Retreat Hell! She Just Got Here.  Readers wished for more Jazz, Logan and Zach and the threesome are reunited when the unthinkable happens.

No Regrets, No Surrender

Always a Marine #6

Publisher: Decadent Publishing

ISBN: 978-1-61333-420-1

Release Date:  20 Nov 2012

This sixth installment of the Always a Marine series for Decadent Publishing and a first for the series, as a spinoff of Retreat Hell! She Just Got Here. Jazz, Logan and Zach met via a 1NightStand. This is the business name of an exclusive online dating service run by Madame Evangeline who provides her clients with a possibility of happily ever after or happily for now.

BLURB:

At the end of their night of frenzied passion, Jazz Winters walked away from the only two men who’d ever made her feel like a woman. Logan Cavanaugh and Zach Evans let her go, but only if she swore all her future leaves to them.

Waiting fourteen excruciatingly long months, visiting Jazz when they can, is harder on the guys that they like to admit. But their work at Mike’s Place, a veteran’s rehabilitative facility, only lets Zach and Logan go one at a time. Jazz fears their unconventional relationship can’t last a lifetime. The stress of years of military service in hot zones, combined with life-threatening injuries pushed her to the edge. But when she comes home a wounded warrior, not the woman she believes they want, Zach and Logan are right there to help her, even when she resists.

She’s not alone. Whether she chooses one or both, they have no regrets and they won’t surrender.

 Website | Always a Marine Series | Facebook | Twitter

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Decadent Publishing

 

Giveaway: How have the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq touched your life?  All comments will be entered to win one eCopy of a book from the Always a Marine series—winner’s choice.

Between The Covers, An Artist Interviewed

Blogging with us today is Angela Waters, one of the amazing Samhain cover artists. Have any questions for Angela? Have any opinions on what you love and hate on covers? Chat it up and be entered into the Saturday giveaway prize drawing. There are still a lot of great prizes up for grabs!

Can you tell us a little about what goes into creating the awesome covers we love so much? Time? Photo shopping?

What goes in to a cover depends on the book. When I get an art form I read the descriptions and blurb included but I also check out the author’s website for more information. It helps me to get a feel for what the author likes and their writing style. Because I am a visual person, I also check out locations so I can get a good idea of the setting. Time involved varies on what is in the design.  Some of the designs are photo manipulation only and others have portions that I have painted. Looking for photos can sometimes take longer than designing the cover.

I took a graphics class once where we put a book cover together. I don’t have the eye or the skill you do. Can you show us a little before and after of a cover?

The graphics class sounds like it would have been fun I haven’t taken any classes but art in all it’s forms is a big part of my life. Many of my family members are traditional artists including my daughters.

What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced putting a cover together?

The challenges change as we have more stock available. Time period clothing in stock photos was very hard to find but now it is getting easier as more photographers take specialty stock. I have also designed covers with 5 or more people on them. These can be a challenge because you want to make sure that the end product doesn’t look like you used individual stock photos. You also have a very limited canvas area.  Kate’s Crew by Jayne Rylon was my first cover design with 5 or more people.

Sometimes authors have a point to their story that they dig their heels into. It’s something we can’t let ourselves let go of. Sometimes that detail spills onto the cover. I’ve always tried to be easy going on my covers because as long as the get the message of the book across I’m cool. With Her Miracle Man I had one of those points. I wanted a red wagon on the cover, but it couldn’t be any red wagon. It had to be the right red wagon. Lucky for me, since Tera had done the research trip with me, she knew just how big a deal the right red wagon was so she went with me. And then the perfect solution came from the least expected place.

When you were working on Her Miracle Man, how bad were you cursing Tera and me over the red wagon? It feels like we sent that cover back tons of times saying “that’s the wrong red wagon”. You had to be thinking “You asked for a red wagon. It’s a red wagon.” Right?

I had no problem with the change out. We actually only edited the cover twice and replacing the wagon was an easy thing to do. I was just thankful that your sister had one of the actual wagons. With her photo I was able to give you the authenticity you wanted

What’s your favorite treat while shopping for the perfect man or woman to be on the cover? Chocolate? Coffee? Tea?

I found out that my preferred treat was Hershey’s kisses. My sister gave me a crystal candy dish and a bag of them in a gift basket for Christmas. I made the mistake of putting it on my desk. Before I knew it they were gone O.O Sexy men and chocolate *sigh* I LOVE my job. The offending candy  dish is no longer in my office! I now do my browsing with a cup of coffee.

Finally, can you share some of your favorite covers that you’ve done?

There are so many it is hard to choose so I had my family pick a couple out (these are some of my favorites too ). They like Mud Creek by Cheryl Holt, Blade Song by Shiloh Walker, Dead of Winter by Brian Moreland, and The Children Chronicles by Wayne Greenough. I would also have to say that Elementum by Toni L. Meilleur is also one of my favorites. It was the first cover I ever designed and it also won an Ariana Award from epic.org (These covers are attached )

   

You can check out my website or Facebook to see more of my designs.

My Website: www.angelawatersart.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1056186082

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/AngelaWatersArt

Thank you for being here today, Angela. And thanks for not saying no to my perfect red wagon.

Traditions and Thankfulness

It’s November. Can y’all believe it? Beyond the middle of the month, too. Thanksgiving is later this week as well. I just can’t believe how this year has flown by, but it seems all the years are flying by nowadays.

Speaking of Thanksgiving… Are y’all cooking? I am. We don’t have family coming to visit and we’re not going to visit anyone due to DH’s work schedule so I am cooking. I usually start on Wednesday morning with casserole dishes and desserts (pecan pie, peanut butter pie, apple pie). Thursday is reserved for cooking the turkey and appetizers (sausage and cheese balls are a staple in our house from Thanksgiving to New Year’s). Our menu rarely changes and our holiday weekend plans rarely change. We are creatures of habit for Thanksgiving. Cooking, football (NFL on Thanksgiving Day), eating, napping, football (college and NFL), more eating, more napping, putting up Christmas decorations, the tree, and the first of many seasonal viewings of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, even more eating, and even more football (annual Florida State Seminoles/Florida Gators game)…

Are you sensing a pattern here? You should…

I am thankful for so many things. Family, friends, traditions, that we have all our needs met, and love.

Tell me, what are your Thanksgiving traditions? Plans? Favorite food you can’t live without? I’ll be giving away a $10 Amazon gift card to one commenter.

I want to say I am exceedingly thankful to Nikki for having me today. I wish you all a very safe and happy holiday season.

Of course, what is a blog post without a little shameless self promotion? One of my books, Melting Jane, has been nominated for the 2013 Authors After Dark Bookie Awards in the category of Ebook Only Short Story of the Year. It’s a favorite of mine, dealing in chocolate truffles, a younger man and an older woman, a meddling gay best friend, and winter in Denver.

Graham Hall is a twenty-six year old Texan with the job of his dreams: being a freelance travel writer for a national publication. He’s just finished his latest article about small winter resort destinations in Colorado and has earned some personal down time. With the six month lease not yet up on the small cabin he rented, Graham decides to stick around the area for a while and in the process, finds himself agreeing to a blind date with a feisty, down on her luck in the love department, candy maker named Jane.

After all, what could it hurt?

Jane, completely oblivious to the set up, arrives at Graham’s isolated little valley cabin to deliver a box of her handmade Chocolate Kick truffles. From the moment Graham opens the door, Jane is tongue tied and ticked off. Edward, her business partner and most certainly former best friend, set her up. When she regains her ability to put two coherent words together, plus size, mid-thirties Jane apologizes for intruding and assures Graham that she will take care of the mistake.

What ensues is a series of encounters and confrontations between Jane and Edward, Jane and Graham, and Edward and Graham. At the heart of it all, is Jane’s happiness. Edward wants this for her more than anything. Graham finds himself caught up in her tart tongue and curvy body and isn’t about to call his all too real pursuit a failure, no matter how many times she says no.

With her inability to continue denying herself the man she affectionately refers to as Cowboy Surfer in her head, she gives in and is rewarded with scorching hot sex and a lot of follow-up phone calls after she learns the truth of Graham’s attraction. His persistence leads Jane to believe that life doesn’t have to revolve around chocolate truffles, but rather should revolve around a delicious, well traveled and well built younger man.

Available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and All Romance eBooks

If you wish to find out more about me, please visit me in one or all of the following places: Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest

Living in North Carolina, talented, multi-published author, Lissa Matthews, writes contemporary erotic romances with Southern ties, delicious food, copious amounts of coffee, and spankings for those who are extra naughty.

And Then On The 17th Day, It Was Proclaimed…

That the 3rd winner in the November HER MIRACLE MAN blog party would be Flchen!

This week, Fedora wins:

~ A $25 Samhain Publishing Gift Card

~ A sterling silver/diamond dolphin necklace

~ An ARC of HER MIRACLE MAN

~ From Donna Alward, a copy of SLEIGH RIDE WITH THE RANCHER (part of a Holiday Miracles trilogy from Harlequin) and a Holiday Miracles Christmas ornament.

Congratulations Fedora!!

Don’t stop chatting because there are still a lot of prizes to come! Also, spread the word about the RaffleCopter Contest that’s ending soon!

Prizes to come include:

~ The brown Locks of Love Bear

~ A second Her Miracle Man amethyst ring

~ Gift Cards

~2 Airline Tickets to one of 50 destinations