Sarah Ballance's Blog, page 22

Jane Beckenham: Christmas (and Summer!) in New Zealand (#Recipe)

Having spent my every Christmas in the USA has left me wondering from time to time what it would be like to experience a “warm” Christmas. Fortunately, Jane Beckenham is here…and she has answers. Take a little trip with us, and before you head back home be sure to check out Jane’s new release, THE HIGHWAYMAN’S BRIDE, available now from Entangled Scandalous.

Jane Beckenham: Christmas in New Zealand

Christmas is nearly here, and for most of you who are reading this, it will be winter time and you’ll have snow and ice and be bundled up in winter woolies and drinking egg nog.

Spare a thought for me.  I’ll be swimming in the pool, or whiling away hour at the beach, having barbecues and it’ll be our long summer holidays.

Yes. It’s summer downunder and Christmas for us means summer time and barbies, and the end of the school year.  So the kids are out, beaches are full, and everyone is going away for their long summer break.

The mossies (mosquitos) are out too, and its hot and sticky and humid, and where I live which is about an hour out of the city on a ten acre block the ground will be drying out and cracking, the grass dead and brown by mid January.

But still as we race towards Christmas day what do we see.

Santa in his red suit and long fluffy white bed, sweating profusely LOL

Chrsitmas trees are decorated in shops and malls, and even some still use that fake spray on snow.  It seems even though New Zealand has been settled for over 150 years there is that hankering for a winter Christmas.

Santa still comes down the chimney – I always did wonder how Santa came down chimneys in the northern hemisphere winters because if the fire is going the poor chap’s butt might just get a tad singed!

Christmas dinner is still surprisingly traditional. Turkey and ham, though we have lots of salads and shrimp salads, desert is Pavlova – named after the famous ballerina. Imagine a lovely meringue styled desert that is soft and marshmallowy like in the centre, topped off course with lashings of whipped cream and slices of kiwifruit – of course.  This is a traditional kiwi (New Zealand) desert and is served on special occasions.  Trifle is another desert, but that originated in England – broken up bits of sponge, mixed with fruit, topped with custard (cold) and then whipped cream.  I’ll add some links for these recipes below.

Summer and Christmas in New Zealand also mean the flowering of the Pohutukawa tree. This is a native tree for us and is typically abundant around the coastal regions. It has beautiful scarlet brush type fronds and Maori legend has it that if it flowers early (November) we’ll have a great summer.

Here’s a picture of the tree in full bloom.

Click image for additional views.

 

Here’s the Pavlova Recipe

New Zealand Pavlova
Recipe By     : Edmonds Cookery Book
4   Egg Whites                                                1 1/4  cups  Caster Sugar
1tsp White Vinegar                               `            1 tsp vanilla essence
1  Tbsp Cornflour (corn starch)                             
1/2  litre Cream (whipping cream)
2 Kiwi fruit                                            
4 Passion fruit
Preheat oven to 180 C. Using an electric mixer, beat egg whites and sugar for 10 minutes or until thick and glossy. Mix vinegar, vanilla and cornflour together. Add to meringue. Beat on high speed f r a further 5 minutes. Line an oven tray with baking paper (Don't grease). Draw a 22 cm circle on the baking paper. Spread the pavlova mixture to within 2 cm of the edge of the circle, keeping the s ape as round and even as possible. Smooth top surface over. Place pavlova in oven then turn oven temperature down to 100 C. Bake pavlova for 1 hour. Turn oven off. Open oven door slightly and leave Pavlova in oven until cold. Carefully lift pavlova onto a serving plate. Decorate with whipped cream, sliced kiwi-fruit and the pulp of fresh passion fruits.

And so the countdown is on to the big day. Yes we are in different seasons, but the one thing that is universally true, is that this is a time for family and friends. For sharing. For hope and love and caring.

So from me to you, wherever you may be, wishing you a wonderful festive season and may joy be yours…and let’s hope Santa doesn’t eat too much and still get down the chimney!

Merry Christmas

Happy reading

Jane Beckenham

PS:  I’ll be celebrating big time this year as The Highwayman’s Bride is being released today. So that’s the best Christmas present of all.

THE HIGHWAYMAN’S BRIDE

England, 1813

Forced into a marriage . . .

Compelled by her uncle to marry a man who has a predilection for violence, Tess Stanhope resorts to a ploy from her favorite novels to fund an escape—highway robbery. But her attempt is botched by a maddening, handsome rogue named Aiden.

Driven by revenge . . .

Aiden Masters, the Earl of Charnley, is hell-bent on avenging his sister’s brutal treatment at the hands of the criminal Florian Nash. He single-mindedly seeks vengeance at the expense of all else—even by furtively roaming the highways at night.

Blackmailed for love . . .

At a London party Tess meets up with Aiden once again and blackmails him…marry her or she’ll divulge to society his clandestine life as a highwayman. She desires a marriage in name only—but the more time they spend fighting their desire, the closer they come giving in.

Find it @ Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Excerpt

Her mind reeled at his closeness, a sensory world of heat and touch. Of sinful thoughts. Concentrate. Stick with the plan.

What plan? This had been a spur of the moment idea. Now she had to make it work.

A flurry of nerves and fear coiled tight in her gut. This man was big. Her gaze dropped to his hands. Big hands. Hands that could break her with one flick of his wrists.

Tess knew she tempted him, which was exactly as it needed to be if she were to succeed. Then he did something she hadn’t expected. He lifted a hand to her neck, scraping the back of his fingers along its curve. Her breath hitched for a heartbeat.

Do it, Tess. He’s your only hope.

“I desire the independence of a married woman,” she said in a rush.

His eyes darkened to the color of the deepest night sky. “And?”

The tip of her tongue slid along the rim of her mouth, and butterflies fluttered in her stomach. “Marry me, Aiden, and you’ll never see me again. Marry me, or I will announce to the world your penchant for robbery.”

His hand fell away, his expression instantly stony. “You are either very brave, Tess Stanhope, or extremely foolish.”

“I know what I want.”

“So do I.”

Then he kissed her—and that changed everything.

Find it @ Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About the Author

For author Jane Beckenham there’s nothing better than people watching. In her world, she never knows what story it may inspire her to write.

Jane’s world is one of happy ever afters which is just as well, since after a blind date Jane found her true love and married him eleven months later.

Life has been a series of  ‘dreams’ for Jane.  Dreaming of walking again after multiple surgeries. Dreaming of raising a family and subsequently flying to Russia to bring home her two daughters. And dreaming of writing.

Writing has become Jane’s addiction – and it sure beats housework.

Visit Jane’s web site www.janebeckenham.com
Email neiljane@ihug.co.nz
Twitter @JaneBeckenham
Facebook  www.facebook.com/JaneBeckenham

“White Lie Christmas” by Christine Bell & Riley Murphy (Penguin #Giveaway)

Yes, I did say “penguin giveaway.” Stay tuned to see what’s up with that…right after you check out this new release from Entangled Flirt.

White Lie Christmas

Entangled Flirt
ISBN: 9781622664191

The holidays are here, and Leah Latrelle has made a mess of them. When her out-of-town parents’ concern over her non-existent love life threatens to interfere with her father’s health, she invents a boyfriend who quickly turns into a fiancé. Her family is thrilled, and they change their Christmas plans last minute to meet their future son-in-law. Now Leah has no choice but to come up with the goods. She needs a man, fast. When her friend and business partner, Mick, offers himself up as a sacrifice, she’s all over it. He’s handsome, dependable and available for the job.

What could go wrong?

Tis the season, and Mick Kilpatrick can’t say no to a damsel in distress. Especially when that damsel is his luscious business partner who has been the object of his reluctant desire for the past year. He hasn’t pursued anything because being a dad is still priority number one. A sexy woman like Leah will only distract him from what’s really important and he can’t have that. He’ll pretend to be her fiancé, but when it’s over, everything will go back to normal. Sure, he’s fantasized about her once or…a million times but that doesn’t mean he’s in love with her. Does it?

Find it @ Amazon  |  BN

About the Authors

Christine Bell

Christine Bell was born and raised in Connecticut, where she spent most of her childhood outdoors catching salamanders, frogs and colds. When she wasn’t terrorizing Mother Nature, she was curled up under the covers with her nose in a book. As an adult, she’s stopped stalking amphibians, but still loves books. When she isn’t reading, she likes to spend her time people-watching. In fact, she’s probably watching you RIGHT NOW .

She’s also pretty obsessed with writing YA books, but if she had to pick another profession she would be a ninja…or a Professor of the Dark Arts.

Website: http://www.christine-bell.com/
Blog: http://chrisbwritin.blogspot.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/_ChristineBell
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Christine-BellChloe-Cole-Author/150917174953849
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4466856.Christine_Bell

Riley Murphy

Hmm… about me. You know? I had a whole list of things to talk about. How I’m an artist, a university graduate, I was a stay-at-home mom who’d been president of condo associations, home owners associations and PTAs, but once the kids were grown, I became an entrepreneur who built and ran two successful businesses….and right there I stopped. What does all this stuff have to do with my writing career?

Oh sure that was the external fuel that got me to this point in life, but it’s the internal stuff that matters, right? So, about me? Here’s what’s important. I’m a wife, a mother, a daughter and a sibling in that order. I’ve been married to the same man for twenty-five years and I still get a thrill when he walks in the room. I have two children who -if they weren’t my kids- I’d be proud to call them friends. I have an elderly parent who lives with me now and I feel fortunate to be in a position to gracefully accept the responsibility of my mom’s care. And I have siblings. All of whom understand the journey I’m on and support it.

In a nutshell? My life has always been centered around the people I love. Just as my writing is centered around the characters I adore. I’ve waited a long time to for this and I can’t tell you how happy I am to be here.

I hope you like my guys as much as I do. They really are so bad – they’re good!

Website: www.AuthorRileyMurphy.com
Blog: http://www.badboyscanbefun.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Riley__Murphy
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/riley.murphy.9469
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5764709.Riley_Murphy

Tour-wide Giveaway

 

1 “Petey The Penguin” gift basket (US ONLY)
1 25.00 Amazon gift certificate
1 25.00 Barnes & Noble gift certificate

Click here to enter to win!

 

Ellen Butler: A Walk in Emma’s Shoes (“Second Chance Christmas” Blog Tour and $25 Gift Card #Giveaway)

Please welcome author Ellen Butler as she talks about her new novella, SECOND CHANCE CHRISTMAS, and takes us on a walk in Emma’s shoes. 

Ellen Butler: A Walk in Emma’s Shoes

The setting for our estranged lovers in Second Chance Christmas takes place in the bustling suburbs of Washington, DC. I decided to locate Emma and Colton’s story here for a couple of reasons. Mark Twain once coined the adage, “write what you know.” I’ve lived in the outskirts of DC for many years, and know it is home to a vast array of military personnel. Moreover, it’s a location that is host to a bevy of three lettered intelligence agencies, including military intelligence at The Pentagon; a good place for our hero, Colton Evans to be stationed. Additionally, in 2008 it was estimated that there were approximately 80,000 lawyers working in DC and its suburbs; a perfect location for our junior partner Emma Taylor. Finally, I decided to set the story here because Washington, DC is unarguably a majestic city, and it is injected with a singular beauty during the holidays. In this article I seek to share a small part of the history of the area in which Emma and Colton reside.

Old Town Alexandria

We start with Emma’s home-base of Old Town Alexandria. Founded in 1749, historic Old Town Alexandria was once a busy port, an important tobacco trading post, and housed some of the largest slave-trade companies of its day. In 1791 Alexandria became part of Washington, DC and was later retroceded back to Virginia in 1846. Located approximately five miles south of DC, Alexandria is an easy commute into the city and plays home to numerous government, military and professionals working there. It’s a quaint, walkable town and a perfect location for a single lawyer such as Emma to live.

Falls Church

Cooper and Ginny reside in another suburb of DC, Falls Church, Virginia. After WWII, Falls Church, which was considered to be rural farm area, exploded in housing growth for middle-income families. In 1948 the City of Falls Church was incorporated mostly due to residents call for better schools. The town, is approximately ten miles Southwest of DC, and according to a 2010 census report, the City of Falls Church ranks second in the United States for the number of its citizens holding advanced academic degrees. I’ve located Cooper and Ginny in a post-war, 1950s style rambler in a family friendly neighborhood.

Arlington National Cemetery

In the story, Colton’s best friend, Captain Luke Bellamy is laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery. The mansion at the Cemetery was once the home of Mary Randolph Custis, Martha Washington’s Great-granddaughter, and her husband Robert E. Lee, Brigadier General and Commanding Officer of the Confederate Army. Once Virginia seceded from the Union, federal troops crossed the Potomac River and set up military installations around the 1,100-acre home. In January 1864 the mansion and estate were put up for public auction, due to unpaid property taxes, and was purchased by the tax commissioner, for “government use, war, military, charitable and educational purposes.” On May 13, 1864 the first soldier laid to rest was Pvt. William Christman, a twenty-one year old infantry man. In addition to active duty military, veterans and their spouses, Arlington National Cemetery is a resting place for presidents, congressmen, and Supreme Court justices. Apollo 1 Astronaut’s Gus Grissom and Roger Chaffee are also buried at Arlington Cemetery. In 2001, Section 60 became the burial ground for military personnel, fighting the Global War on Terror, killed in Afghanistan or Iraq.

The Pentagon

Finally, we come to Colton’s place of business, The Pentagon. Located in Arlington, Virginia, across the Potomac River from Washington, DC, The Pentagon is headquarters to the United States Department of Defense. Construction started on the mammoth structure September 11, 1941 and finished approximately 16 months later to the tune of $83 million. The 6.5 million square foot edifice (approx. 17.5 miles of corridors), houses upwards of 31,000 military and civilian workers. The building has five concentric rings of corridors that radiate out from a central courtyard, five above ground floors, and two basement levels. On its 60th Anniversary of the groundbreaking, The Pentagon fell victim to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks when a Boeing 757 crashed into the western side of the building, killing 189 people. The death toll would have been higher had The Pentagon not been undergoing renovations at the time, leaving many of the offices unoccupied due to the construction.

I hope you enjoy Second Chance Christmas and the highlights of this small pictorial history lesson about its setting. Perhaps one day, during your own travels, you’ll get a chance to visit the Washington, DC area and walk in the steps of Emma and Colton.

Second Chance Christmas

Entangled Flirt
ISBN: 9781622663804

Prominent DC attorney Emma Taylor is pulled away from a promising date the week before Christmas to pick up her ex-fiance from the ER after a bar fight. She’s in no mood to re-open old wounds, but it’s Christmas and she can’t just leave him alone and injured.

Eight hundred eighty-four days. That’s how much time has passed since Major Colton Evans made the biggest mistake of his life. Even after two tours of duty and too much shrapnel in his leg, it’s still the loss of Emma that haunts him. And if he can win her back, he’ll take any chance.

When she insists he stay with her during the holiday, they put out enough sexual electricity to rival the most decorated house on the block. But will it be enough to light the way to a future together?

Find it @ Amazon  |   BN

About Ellen Butler

I am an old, new writer. In other words, old to writing, new to novel writing. My history includes a long list of writing and editing for dry but illuminating professional newsletters and journals, and windy papers on public policy and political science. The leap to novel writing is simply a creative outlet for my over active and romantic imagination to run wild.

My genre is Women’s Fiction and Romance. I like to provide strong female characters, romance, and suspense in my novels. I work hard to envelop you in the story, to make you root for the heroine by laughing with her or yelling at her when she makes mistakes.

Website: http://www.ellenbutler.net/
Blog: http://www.ellenbutler.net/blog/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/EllenButlerBooks
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/8183693-ellen

Tour-Wide Giveaway

Click here to enter to win a $25 gift card to Amazon or Barnes & Noble (winner’s choice).

elle

Rebecca Thomas: Favorite Lines from “The Blacksmith’s Son” (Gift Card #Giveaway)

Please welcome author Rebecca Thomas with her favorite lines from her new release, THE BLACKSMITH’S SON.

Rebecca Thomas: Favorite Lines from “The Blacksmith’s Son”

My debut novella, The Blacksmith’s Son, is out into the world. It’s kind of surreal. You work on something so long, and so diligently, and then it’s time to push it out of the nest. Then you hope, and pray, and cross your fingers that it can fly. Humm…sound familiar? I think everyone can relate on some level to what it’s like to launch a first book. There is a first for everything, and though the second, and third will be wonderful too, it just won’t be the same as the first.

One of the most rewarding things about writing a novel is to read it much later and think, wow, that’s not bad, did I write that? So with that theme in mind I’m going to share a few of my favorite lines and/or parts of the book and tell you why they are my favorite. I don’t want to give too much of the book away, just a few snippets and hope I pique your interest.

She couldn’t be a woman; she must remain hidden from the world as a boy. Her life depended on it.

These lines pretty much encapsulate the theme of most of the book. Ally truly believes her life is in danger (with good reason), therefore being in disguise is an absolute necessity for her survival.

“I’m without clothing, in a room with a stranger. I hardly think I should appreciate my circumstances. Give me back my clothes.” Ally pulled the coverlet higher as though a piece of fabric could put distance between them.

I like this part of the story because it shows Ally’s spunk and moxie.

He was incapable of functioning appropriately in British society again—just look how poorly he’d handled the vulnerable woman in his room.

I love how Quentin is aggravated with himself. He’s a sea captain. He’s commanded entire crews, but when it comes to Ally, he’s frustrated by his attraction to her. He wants to be a proper English gentleman, but he’s finding it difficult. Come on ladies, let’s be honest, we love it when this happens. The man in our life is so head-over-heels for us he can’t function properly. J

Another line that shows Quentin’s level of exasperation is; Now that Quentin knew exactly what lay beneath the baggy trousers and loose fitting shirt, he stood captivated by her, stunned he had ever thought her a boy.

And one more line: The captain looked down and kicked his booted toe in the dirt. “You must think me quite a fool, then. Hoping to rescue you?”

This is another favorite part of the book for me because Quentin is trying unsuccessfully to “rescue” Ally, and Ally insists she doesn’t need rescuing. So when he openly admits this to her, it’s completely endearing to me and I can’t help but love Quentin. He truly is hero worthy.

Thank you Sarah, for having me as your guest today.

The Blacksmith’s Son

Entangled Flirt
ISBN: 9781622663798

Captain Quentin Drake returns home after his naval commission ends to find a groom being beaten in the village stables. He refuses to turn a blind eye to the lad’s mistreatment and intervenes, taking the lad to his room. Only to discover the boy…is a woman.

After Ally Lockwood witnesses an earl committing murder, she fears for her life. She flees his estate and masquerades as a blacksmith’s male apprentice. Her ruse is up when a handsome stranger tending to her wounds disrobes her. Captain Drake lures Ally into believing she can return to life as a woman, but it may draw the killer back on her trail.

Find it @ Amazon  |   BN

About Rebecca Thomas

I enjoy a love-hate relationship with Alaska, where I live with my husband and two teen-aged sons. While I struggle with some aspects of the 49th state (darkness, cold) I have grown to appreciate the unique things the last frontier has to offer (no traffic, 24 hour daylight, privacy). When I’m not reading, writing, or playing board games, I’m cheering for my sons at their hockey games and tennis matches. I write historical and contemporary romantic fiction and I’m a member of Romance Writers of America.

My first book, a historical romance, will be available on November 25, 2013.

The Blacksmith’s Son is with Entangled Publishing’s Flirt imprint.

Awards: My work has won first place in the Ignite the Flame, Emerald City Opener, Gateway to the Best, and Merritt writing contests.

Website: www.rebeccathomas.org
Blog: www.FromHeretoThereRomance.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Rebecca_Thomas3
Facebook: www.facebook.com/beccawriter

Tour Wide Giveaway

Click here to enter to win a $50 Amazon or Barnes & Noble e-gift card (winner’s choice)

 

Spotlight: “Conned” by Chloe Cole (Gift Card #Giveaway)

“Conned” by Chloe Cole

ISBN: 9781622664085
Entangled Flaunt

Human sexuality professor Cricket Malloy typically likes bad boys, but when buttoned-up science teacher Tucker Lamb needs help with an experiment on aphrodisiacs, she goes the extra mile to help him out. After all, what could go wrong? He’s totally harmless…

Tucker Lamb was born into a life of a grifter. He used to pride himself on his fast fingers and quicksilver tongue, but ever since being placed in the witness protection program, he’s been on the up and up. Still, something about Cricket Malloy makes him ache to see if his tongue is as fast as it used to be.

Amazon     BN    Goodreads

About the Author

Chloe Cole is the erotic romance pen name for USA Today bestselling contemporary romance author, Christine Bell. She and her handsome hubby currently reside in Pennsylvania with a four-pack of teenage boys and their two dogs, Gimli and Pug. She doesn’t like root beer, clowns or bugs (except ladybugs, on account of their cute outfits), but lurrves chocolate, going to the movies, the New York Giants and playing Texas Hold ‘Em. Writing is her passion, but if she had to pick another occupation, she would be a pirate…or, like, a ninja maybe. She loves writing fun, sexy romances, but also hopes to one day publish something her dad can read without wanting to dig his eyes out with rusty spoons. Chloe also writes YA fiction as Christine O’Neil.

She loves to stay in touch with readers, so please feel free contact her via her website http://www.christine-bell.com/ChloeCole/ and on Twitter @_ChristineBell

Website: http://www.christine-bell.com/ChloeCole/
Blog: http://chrisbwritin.blogspot.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/_ChristineBell
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Christine-BellChloe-Cole-Author/150917174953849
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4467117.Chloe_Cole

Blog Tour  Giveaway

Click here to enter to win (one) $50 and (one) $25 e-gift card. Winner’s choice: Amazon/B&N

Diane Alberts: Taking Chances (#Giveaway – “Take a Chance” Blog Tour)

Please welcome author Diane Alberts, who is here with her new Entangled Flaunt release and an awesome giveaway!

Diane Alberts: Taking Chances

With the Take a Chance books, there is one theme that interlaces through them all. The books are all about people who are willing to take a chance on someone. All of the characters in my books are flawed. I love flawed characters. I mean, who wants to read about some perfectly perfect couple that live a perfect little life in the perfect house in the perfect world? Boring!

But with my Take a Chance series (Try Me, Love Me, Play Me, Take Me) the characters are more flawed than normal. They are recovering from a wound, or maybe a divorce. Others are widowed, while some are just commitment-phobes. Okay, pretty much all of them suffer from that last ailment.

But the same thing that rings through all of the books? Being willing to take that chance, even when everything inside of you is screaming not to. How many of us are willing to ignore all the facts staring us in the face? Or all the heartbreak ripping us apart?

How many of us will Take a Chance on love? On a second chance at happily ever after?

I’d like to think I would. Would you?

Take a Chance – Series Bundle

Diane Alberts
ISBN: 9781622664221
Entangled Flaunt

Try Me -  Take a Chance Book 1

What happens in Vegas…can lead to romance. It took one wild night for Sergeant Jeremy Addison to realize that Vegas? Was a bad idea. Bloody. Bruised.

Dehydrated. Abandoned in the desert, and left to stagger down the road. The only way this leave could get worse was if his savior was his ex-best friend’s sister…and the girl he’d loved since childhood.

The last person Erica expected to find on the roadside was her high school crush. She hadn’t seen Jeremy in seven years—ever since the night he said he loved her, and she ran away. Losing him then had been a mistake, but wanting him now could be catastrophic if he discovered the secret that chased every other man from her life. But with a tall, tattooed Marine determined to prove he’s always been faithful, can Erica resist his advances…or will she surrender ground and give love a try?

Love Me -  Take a Chance Book 2

Thomas Jones has come to Vegas to win yet another account for his marketing company. But when he sits across from beautiful and sensual Brianna Falk to deliver his pitch, his desire to leave Vegas as quickly as possible is replaced by the need to get closer to her.

Yet she resists his charm.Brianna knows a date with Thomas could jeopardize her job, but he’s so maddening and insistent, she has a hard time denying him just one date. But that’s all it can be: one date. Because she has to protect her job and her secrets, even if it means giving up a chance at a life she never thought she’d have again.

Play Me -  Take a Chance Book 3

Even the best-laid plans can go awry.

Single-mom Kiersten Worth knows a bottle of champagne and night of hot, no-strings-attached sex is the perfect solution to her jilted bride blues…and Garrett Kelly, long-time friend and her teenaged son’s sexy basketball coach, is just the stud for the job.

Garrett wants more from the elusive temptress than a casual affair, but he never expects it to come in the form of an unexpected pregnancy. When he proposes an unorthodox solution—move in and raise their baby together—Kiersten has to decide whether to let down her guard and open her heart to the man who secretly loved her for years, or risk losing his tender embrace for good.

Take Me -  Take a Chance  Book Four

Married in the morning…

Professional heartbreaker Mike Worth thrived on the chase—and dancer Morgan Collins represented the ultimate prize. But there was no way he was going to throw away his single-man status…not even for an elusive redhead with sparkling eyes and mile-long legs. So how did he let one drunken Vegas night end with I do instead of hell no?

Morgan’s life revolved around her career and she had no intention of letting a man interfere—even if Mike made her question all her rules about love. At his urging, she reluctantly agreed to give their spur-of–moment marriage a chance. But once their trial-honeymoon ended, would she choose to follow the dance and leave her unforgettable husband behind?

Find it @ Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Blog Tour  Giveaway: click here to enter to win a $10 Amazon or Barnes & Noble e-gift card (winner’s choice)

About the Author

Diane Alberts is a multi-published, bestselling contemporary romance author with Entangled Publishing. She also writes New York Times and USA Today bestselling new adult books under the name Jen McLaughlin. ON ONE CONDITION hit #18 on the Barnes and Noble bestseller list, and TRY ME hit #76 on Amazon. CAPTIVATED BY YOU hit #31 on the Barnes and Noble bestseller list. Diane is represented by Louise Fury at The Bent Agency. Her goal is to write so many fantastic stories that even a non-romace reader will know her name.

Diane has always been a dreamer with a vivid imagination, but it wasn’t until 2011 that she put her pen where her brain was, and became a published author.  Since receiving her first contract offer, she has yet to stop writing. Though she lives in the mountains, she really wishes she was surrounded by a hot, sunny beach with crystal clear water. She lives in Northeast Pennsylvania with her four kids, a husband, a schnauzer mutt, a cat, and a Senegal parrot. In the rare moments when she’s not writing, she can usually be found hunched over one knitting project or another.

Website: www.dianealberts.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DianeAlberts
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/DianeAlberts6
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5081315.Diane_Alberts

Giveaway

Click here to enter to win a $10 gift card to Amazon or Barnes & Noble, winner’s choice.

Audra North: Christmas Cinderella (#Giveaway) – “Falling for the CEO” Blog Tour

Please welcome author Audra North, who is talking Christmas Cinderella stories and her brand new release, FALLING FOR THE CEO.

Falling for the CEO

Finance genius Meredith Klaus prefers numbers to people, especially around the holidays. At least the large sum of money that’s mysteriously vanished from the company accounts will distract her from the ghosts of Christmases past. Until her sexy boss asks her to be his last-minute date to a fundraiser gala, that is, and the promise of a special evening calls to something long-buried in her.

Andrew Stanton, Manhattan’s best-known philanthropist, has worked hard building his reputation in the industry. He offers to work closely with Meredith to fix his company’s financial crisis, but the more time they spend together, the harder it becomes to look at her as just a colleague.

A beautiful dress. A handsome man on her arm. A challenge she can’t refuse. Can they find the missing money and fulfill their holiday wishes, or will Meredith be unable to overcome the demons of her past and lose her chance at happiness?

Find it @ Amazon | BN | Goodreads

Audra North: Christmas Cinderella

There is something so satisfying about Cinderella stories. For me, they represent a fantasy that I admit to dreaming about at various points in my life; namely, being rewarded for simply being who I am. Because ultimately, that’s what lies at the heart of every Cinderella story. A character who is hard-working and kind—but struggling in some way—gets a chance to be someone else for a moment in time. That chance not only opens the doors for positive change, but the character realizes that she has actually been that “someone else” all along.

In Falling for the CEO, Meredith Klaus is what I like to call a self-sufficient Cinderella. She is smart, financially successful, kind-hearted and conscientious. She isn’t struggling against a cruel stepmother and a life of servitude, but she is lonely in her own way. She is struggling against a prison of her own making.

Andrew Stanton, the CEO of Harbor Technologies, where Meredith works, is not a typical prince, either. He works as hard at ruling his tech company kingdom as he does at giving back to society. He depends on Meredith to manage his organization’s finances—he doesn’t think of her as just a pretty face (In fact, he thinks she’s rather clumsy!) But most importantly, he makes mistakes.

What’s a Cinderella story without a little magic? Not actual magic, in this case, but I chose to set the story during the Christmas holidays because the joy and festivity that is so present during this season has a real life magic all its own. Even a self-sufficient Cinderella like Meredith isn’t immune to it—she and Andrew come together in this story in a way that I tried to make as magical as possible, without sacrificing any of the real conflict—and real heat. I hope you enjoy it!

 

About Audra

Audra North fell in love with romance at age thirteen and spent the next twenty years reading as many romance novels as she could.  Even now, after having read over one thousand of them, Audra still can’t resist the lure of a happily ever after, and her collection continues to grow.  She lives near Boston with her husband, three young children, and a lot of books.  Visit her website at audranorth.com or find her (way too frequently) on Twitter @AudraNorth.

Website: audranorth.com
Twitter: twitter.com/AudraNorth/
Pinterest: pinterest.com/audranorth/falling-for-the-ceo/
Facebook: facebook.com/audra.north.94

Giveaway

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Inara Scott: Holding Out for a Hero (#Recipe and #Giveaway) – “Falling for Mr. Wrong” Blog Tour (Entangled Indulgence)

Inara Scott: Holding Out for a Hero

When women read romance novels, they’re naturally going to put themselves in the place of the heroine. I mean, you’re not reading romance to analyze the actions of unpleasant characters, right? Leave that for the literature section. When you read romance you want to live through the experience of the characters. That means the heroine’s got to someone you can empathize with and understand, and the hero’s got to be someone you can fall in love with.

He’s got to be a true hero. A fantasy.

But he’s also got to be real. No one wants to fall in love with perfect. We fall in love with flawed characters that are just perfect enough to make our hearts beat faster, but just complex enough to put their happily ever after at risk. After all, if there was no risk, no conflict, then what would you be reading? A very, very short story.

So here’s my three-part recipe for a hero:

1)     Handsome. Let’s not beat around the bush. We want our hero to be hot. We want a nice pair of biceps, a strong jaw, and a washboard stomach. There is a time and a place for a less classically handsome hero, but it’s not in my romance novel. Sorry love handles! I do adore you in real life, but not in the pages of my book.

2)     Alpha. This requires a little explanation, because some people mistakenly think alpha means bossy. That’s not it at all. A true alpha is a natural leader. When he walks into the room, people notice. He doesn’t have to be bossy—when he makes suggestions, people follow them because he inspires confidence. He knows exactly what he wants to do, and he’s usually right. He’s competent, self-assured, and strong. Never bossy.

3)     Vulnerable. This is another characteristic people get confused about. They think an alpha can’t be vulnerable. Not so. He doesn’t like to show his vulnerability, but he feels deeply, and he’s got flaws. Of course, when he falls in love, it’s like a felling a redwood. He falls hard. And then he’s got to find a way to get past the vulnerability to win her love.

What do you think? Sound like a hero to you?

Falling for Mr. Wrong

Looking for Mrs. Right…

Single father of three, Ross Bencher, knows the kind of woman he wants: someone predictable, reliable, and safe, who can give his kids the security they deserve. Someone entirely different from high-altitude mountaineer Kelsey. Kelsey bewitches him with her long legs and wild passion and is about as far from his ideal as a woman can get, but try telling that to his body. Or his heart…

Falling for Mr. Wrong…

When Kelsey agreed to fill in as a temporary nanny for her best friend’s agency before a big climbing expedition, she had no idea she’d be working for drop-dead sexy Ross Bencher, a man she can’t seem to keep her hands off. She knows if she wants to bring herself—and her father—back alive from the Himalayan Mountains, she can’t afford second-guessing, attachments, or distractions. But Ross’s blue eyes and strong hands leave her gasping…and questioning everything she’s ever known about love…

Find it @ Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo Books | iTunes

Excerpt

“Ross,” she said, swallowing hard to clear the lump from her throat. “I realize I’m not the traditional nanny, and I know I was your last choice for a babysitter. But I can’t do this anymore.”

His gaze flickered from her mouth to her throat.

Her bones began to melt. All at once, her skin seemed to tighten, and her stomach began to fall as her brain fogged over.

He shook his head. “You’re absolutely right. I can’t keep doing this, either.”

“What?” She narrowed her gaze suspiciously.

“Looking at you.” His voice dropped. “Staring at your lips. And wondering if they can possibly taste as good I remember.”

Inara Scott

Bestselling author Inara Scott grew up on a steady diet of true love, heaving bosoms, and happily ever after. Romance inspired her first novel, penned at the age of 14, titled A Wild and Stormy Passion. Today, Inara writes anything and everything, including young adult fiction and adult romance. Inara loves to hear from readers, and can often be found avoiding actual work by playing on Twitter (@inarascott) and Facebook.

Stalk her @ Inara’s Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Giveaway

Click here to enter to win ebook copies of the following books.

Rules of Negotiation

He let her make the rules…

NYC’s most eligible bachelor, Brit Bencher, is also known as The Slayer for his reputation in the boardroom…and the bedroom. And he’ll do anything to take care of his family, even seduce high-powered corporate attorney Tori Anderson in the hopes of getting her to reveal confidential information about one of her clients. But for the first time in his life, he finds he’s falling for a woman.

…and then he started to break them.

After juggling the demands of her career and the stress of caring for her ailing mother, Tori Anderson doesn’t have time for relationships—but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t want to feel like a woman. When Brit offers a no-strings attached fling, it sounds like exactly what she needs. But what will she do when Brit decides he won’t take “one night stand” for an answer? When Tori uncovers his lies, will he lose his chance with her forever?

The Boss’s Fake Fiancee

Is she his worst nightmare…

No relationships, that’s billionaire Garth Solen’s rule–especially not with a woman like his new employee Melissa Bencher, who thinks with her heart and not her head. But all bets are off when Melissa’s attempt to make her jerk ex-boyfriend jealous by suggesting that she’s dating Garth. To protect his ailing grandmother, he is forced to play the part of Melissa’s adoring fiancé.

…or a dream come true?

Melissa couldn’t begin to imagine all the trouble one impulsive act could cause. Now she’s trying on rings and posing for the paparazzi with her gorgeous boss. The game is clear: for one month, they play the part of an engaged couple, and then they part ways. No emotions. No entanglements. But when it comes to matters of the heart, Melissa’s never been good at following the rules…

Bethanne Strasser: So, There Were Moves Involved… (#Giveaway)

Please welcome author Bethanne Strasser with a guest blog, a new release, and an awesome giveaway!

Bethanne Strasser: So, there were moves involved…

After chatting with my sister about that one trip she took with the youth group in which she first became acquainted with her now-husband, she laughed saying, “we really hung out in different groups that trip! He didn’t start making his move until the pilgrimage to the last Mass.”

And that’s when I knew I had a topic for a blog!

No matter what your background or where you hail from, in the dating ritual, there’s always a move involved. In Letters From Home, Zack made a move that was an immediate failure. The fact that this woman he had feelings for was about to be deployed and go overseas for entire year hit him—hard, right in the heart. But his efforts to see her before she left were thwarted by fate.

And she was gone.

So, he made another move. He began writing letters to her.

Let’s make a list! You add to it in the comments. Do you remember your significant other’s first move? Did you make the first move? What was it?

1) Ask for a smoke—okay, yes. I used this, even though now, I don’t recommend it—unless you’re a smoker. [okay, and if you’re a smoker, please quit! It’s too expensive!] In college, there was this way handsome guy who worked at the Student Union, and I so wanted to hang out with him. You can imagine the horrible disappointment when I found out about his engagement. But guess what? The following semester found him single again. I jumped on that wagon—with no regrets. Still got him, too.

2) Offer a helping hand—nothing more attractive than a guy who is helping a friend. Heck, he doesn’t even need to offer to help the love interest! He could come in on the sly and offer to help the best friend or the buddy.

3) Use a cheesy line—we’ve all heard them, in movies, in books, in jokes. How about the one, “Are you tired? Because you’ve been running through my mind all day.” Seriously, if the girl [or guy] sticks after a line like that, don’t ever let go!!

4) Sing—Lord help me, we’ve all seen Top Gun [okay, if you haven’t seen Top Gun, you need to watch Top Gun]. Maverick’s move in that movie is classic!! There hasn’t been a move like that since…well, ever.

5) Read—Let’s face it, Ladies. Sometimes a move is no move at all. Just a glimpse of a handsome fellow in the back corner of the library—in one of those comfy chairs—reading a book. And he makes you want to know…everything. What is he reading? Where is he from? You might think you need to make the first move, but he’s already done it…and then he lifts his eyes from the page, finds you staring, and smiles.

YOUR TURN!! Give me a move for a chance to win in the drawing.

Letters From Home | excerpt

Zack finally caught Lena’s gaze from across the table, and he lifted a brow as if to ask her, what is this?

Not that he didn’t enjoy spending time with the family. As a matter of fact, until the holidays had come around, there’d only been a few dinners since summer ended. School, work, and life had taken precedence.

Lena shrugged and a slight flush rose on her cheeks.

“Lena, you and me, at the pool table for a game.” When it looked like she might refuse, Zack stood and went around the table.

“I play winner.” Juan called out.

“Oh, no. I can’t. I stink at pool, Zack. You know very well how badly I play pool.”

“Come on. Smart girl like you should have no problem setting up a table and sinking a few balls. Practice, that’s all.” Zack tugged on Lena’s chair. He took her hand and was surprised to feel a slight tremble in it. He tightened his grip. “Relax, I’m not going to bite. It’s just a friendly game of billiards.”

She laughed, almost nervously. He let her hand go when they reached the little cove with a table in it. They were just hidden from view, enough to be able to talk privately, or make out. But that was just his imagination running away with him.

They both took a cue, and Zack set the table. Her silence put him on edge. Usually he knew what she was thinking, now he felt out-of-sorts. He’d asked her out on a date—hadn’t he?

She’d come with an entourage.

“Zack?”

He looked up and found her waiting for him. He made the opening break and nodded to her. “Your turn.”

She stared at him with a blush rising on her cheeks. “Where do I start?”

He relaxed, smiled at her then studied the table, looking for her first move. “Over here,” he started and took her arm to guide her around to where the cue ball sat. “Go for the solids. You can hit the four in, no problem. Easy peasy.”

She stood behind her cue and leaned over the table.

“No. Not like that.” Zack moved in behind her.

The idea hadn’t started out as a ploy, but now that he was here, breathing in the delicious scent of her perfume, he enjoyed the heat of her against his skin where his arms met hers. They were hip to hip. He cupped her hand in his and rested the cue stick on top of it. She fit perfectly under his arm and against his body.

He cleared his throat as lust shot straight through his bones. “Ready?”

She turned her head and eyed him suspiciously. Her gaze fell to his lips for a fraction of a second, but she turned back to the table and took her shot. The light bracelets at her wrists chimed, and the purple ball rolled into the corner pocket. “Okay.” She grinned, turning into his space. His hands went to her shoulders where they met skin, supple and smooth.

“That wasn’t too hard at all,” she whispered. Her breath seemed caught in her throat, as if maybe, maybe she felt something too.

Letters From Home

Bethanne Strasser
Entangled Flirt
ISBN: 9781622663835

An Army doctor, Lena Rodriguez has always been too busy with school or the Army for romance. But the letters she received during deployment have captured her heart. Back home for the holidays, she awaits Christmas morning to meet the man who has turned her life upside down.

When Zack Benson watched his best friend’s sister Lena leave for Afghanistan, he knew he had to tell her he loved her. So he sent her anonymous love letters. Now that she’s home, he realizes he’s made a tactical error. Lena has fallen for the man in those letters but still thinks of him as a brother. He has to convince her otherwise because if he succeeds, he’ll get the best Christmas present ever. But if he fails, he could lose her for good.

Find it @ Amazon  |  BN

About the Author

I strive to live my dreams.

A couple of years ago, my husband took that step and joined the Army. An accountant by trade and finally fed up with a life that aggravated and frustrated…always reaching for the almighty dollar, he came to me and said, what if I join the Army?

Sure! Please, join the Army. I want my happy husband back. I took my cue from him. Though writing has been a part of my life for a long time, my drive had settled in to an easy-going 55 mph. Not too fast, not too slow, with an occasional burst of speed to thrill me.

I write romance–suspense, contemporary, and an occasional paranormal. My stories are full of life, family, and love. I write a lot. I have a lot to share. I love stories that encompass the world. You can find me reading just about any genre of romance, but my favorites are fast-paced suspense, where life is on the line and love is the only saving grace. I want a book that makes my heart pound and my pulse race.

Website: http://www.bethannestrasser.blogspot.com
Blog: http://www.throughheartshapedglasses.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Bethanne_writes
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bstrasser35
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6094582.Bethanne_Strasser

Letters from Home Giveaway

Click here to enter the giveaway for (1) dogtag necklace with the Hero and heroine’s name on it and 12.25.4ever.

Lucianne Rivers: The Real-Life Adventure Behind “Hold Me” (#Giveaway)

Please welcome author Lucianne Rivers with the story behind her new Entangled Flirt novella HOLD ME and a fantastic giveaway!

Lucianne Rivers:
The Real-Life Adventure Behind HOLD ME

I spent Christmas in Guatemala three years ago. Jane Caldwell’s nightmare journey to El Remate from Mexico is based on my own sweaty, bumpy, toilet-less, bus ride through Belize and into the jungles near the Mayan ruins of Tikal.

Back then, there was no toddler to contend with, only my own teeny bladder and inability to fend off mosquitoes despite copious amounts of OFF. Unlike Jane, I remembered to pack hiking boots, thank goodness.

We stayed at El Gringo Paradiso, a “five star” (by Guatemalan standards) lakeside hotel. That same lake is pictured on the cover of HOLD ME. Our room had no fourth wall and looked out on the blue-green water. The bed was surrounded by netting, but that didn’t stop the tarantulas from coming in.

We awoke one morning to squeals from the neighboring room. A family had woken up to one such hairy legged creature, attached, upside down to the ceiling above their bed. When they asked an attendant to remove the spider, he shrugged and said it’s “muy tranquilo.” The American visitors left that same day.

A Christmas Day trek through the ruins of the Mayan City of Tikal was made even more memorable by our hung-over tour guide. With one haphazard hand, he waved us towards the steep side of a pyramid and happily sank onto a stone bench, head cradled in a shaky hand.

I didn’t brave the croc-infested waters of Lake Peten Itza, but did frequent the many roadside taverns that lined its banks. Built back into the jungle, these establishments would peek out through the green foliage and beckon to tourists and locals alike, saying, “Beer here!”  Along with fried plantains served with a yoghurt-like sauce called crema.

Unlike my heroine, I did not meet the love of my life in El Remate, but the trip did provide me with the inspiration for Jane’s journey into the depths of the jungle and her heart.

Read about it, high-heels and all, in HOLD ME.

Her Hot Pursuit: The Caldwell Sisters Trilogy

Hold Me, Thrill Me, Entice Me
Lucianne Rivers
Entangled Flirt
ISBN: 9781622664306

Hold Me

Still reeling from her mother’s death, news anchor Jane Caldwell’s life is upended further when she learns the father she lost twenty years ago is still alive. Her mother’s will unleashes a manhunt—the Caldwell sisters must find their father, or their mother’s estate will not be settled, and their questions about his disappearance will remain unanswered.

Jane’s search leads her to Guatemala to investigate a man who claims to be her father and heir to the family fortune. Needing a translator, she enlists enigmatic Harrison DeNeuve, a sexy ex-patriot with a penchant for wearing dark sunglasses in public.

As Jane struggles to reunite with her would-be father, Harrison fights to suppress his desire for Jane. He has a secret—one he’s sequestered himself in a third-world jungle hideaway to keep safe—and falling for Jane puts more than his heart at risk.

Jane finds two men in Guatemala—a father and a lover—but can she trust either of them?

Thrill Me

Santa Fe Police Detective Margo Caldwell needs a vacation, but the wild goose chase her mother’s death triggers isn’t quite what she had in mind. Margo and her sisters must locate their father, or the Caldwell estate will remain unsettled—and they’ll never know why their father didn’t return from the Gulf War.

Pursuing a lead, Margo heads to the Virgin Islands in search of Zach Caldwell. To navigate the waters of the Caribbean, she needs a boat and a captain. Too bad Captain Adrian Prince, with his mesmerizing muscles and wicked grin, may be a gunrunner.

Adrian takes Margo on his delivery route to small islands near St. Thomas that hide more than wildlife, booze, and sexy boaters. On a remote, mangrove-ridden patch of sand, they find gun-toting Zach Caldwell. When their mission turns deadly, Margo must save Adrian’s life—and her own—even if she loses her heart in the process.

Entice Me

Robert Rivera, private investigator and former Navy SEAL, alerts Allison to new intel identifying her father as a P.O.W. in Afghanistan. With her sisters out of the country pursuing leads, Allison insists on heading to the war-ravaged country to find him. Robert doesn’t want his naïve client to take the risk. He knows what danger lays in that godforsaken land…he’s lived through it. Barely.

But Allison is determined to go, and Robert can’t let her travel alone. Reluctantly appreciative, Allison quickly realizes how much she needs his guidance and protection, and how deeply she longs for his love. Robert struggles to understand her effect on his battle-weary heart.

The path to Allison’s father is blocked by terrorists, traps and treachery—all demons of Robert’s past. Can he survive a second round with the enemy and keep Allison out of harm’s way?

Find it @ Amazon  |  BN

About Lucianne Rivers

Lucy was born and raised in Ireland. She moved to Santa Fe in 2007 and has a beautiful young daughter. Lucy is a published poet and author of women’s fiction; also a singer, professional actress, and lover of all things related to exercise. The former Program Director of a not for profit, from 2007 to 2011, she is happy to be back in that role after a brief career as a law enforcement officer. Lucy is a student of criminal justice and lover of all things equitable. She advocates for women’s rights, especially in the arena of domestic violence and sexual assault policy.

Website: www.luciannerivers.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/luciannerivers
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5039713.Lucianne_Rivers

Giveaway

Click here to enter to win a $100 Southwest Air gift card