Rebecca Zanetti's Blog, page 16

Happy Thanksgiving to those in the USA!

Filed under: Random thoughts

Tequila, pool volleyball, a Spanish computer and guns at LAX = My Vacation

So I’m back from Mexico, and we had an absolute ball.  We went with four other couples and rented a house outside of Cabo.  This is the view when you first walk inside the house.  It had 5 nice bedrooms, an infinity pool, a pool bar, and was right on the ocean.  Wonderfully beautiful!  The concierge took good care of us, and the chef brought us fresh guacamole and salsa every day.  They also cooked us a couple of authentic Mexican meals that were terrific!!!

My laptop experienced a screen problem on the plane ride down, so I was in a total panic because I needed to write while there.  (Under deadline, as usual).  So, we went to the local Costco and bought a laptop after being assured that I could easily change the language from Spanish to English.  NOT!  After two hours of trying, and after speaking to at least four people at HP, none of us could change the laptop to English.  So, we took it back.  Later in the pool that day, my friend Jess mentioned that she’d brought a laptop.  :) Doye!  So, I borrowed hers, and all was well.

Then we were in terminal 5 at LAX Friday night trying to get home when all hell broke loose.  People ran in terror through the terminal, other people flattened themselves on the ground, and others yelled, “Shots fired.”  We ran and hid in a vestibule for a while before TSA evacuated us to sweep the terminal.  In the picture to the left, Tony is the tall guy with the black hat on, next to Travis with the red hat and Mike with the backward white and black hat.  We girls are in front of them, but you can’t see us. An hour later we went through security again and boarded our plane – getting home a few hours later than planned.  It turned out a car crashed in front of the terminal, and it sounded bad, so people ran, leaving bags everywhere.  All is well now.

Our trip was relaxing and full of adventure and tequila.  Here’s an awesome list we came up with about our vacation at the pool that was compiled by our trip planner and best friend Brandie:

1 short travel day
1 breath taking Casa Lolita
2 amazing Chefs (Lil & Israel. . . Muchas Gracias)
1 Joaquin (Best Concierge EVER!)
18 cases of beer, 8 bottles of vodka, 5 bottles of wine, 2 bottles of tequila, 10 cigars
150 lbs of ice, 25 lbs of frozen strawberries, 1 “still functioning” blender, 500 bottles of water
15 bottles of sunscreen, 25 pairs of sunglasses
34 different bikinis, 18 pairs of swim trunks, 3 animal pelt jocks,
1 “On Fire” speedo
68 Juevos, 12 lbs of fresh guacamole, 10 bags of bagels (weight gained. . . don’t ask!)
multiple white whale sightings (both types)
1 full day fishing trip cut drastically short, several failed Dramamine attempts, lots of “man made” chum, 1 broken rib
endless games of pool volleyball, 1 cactus impalement, 1 “borrowed” 84 Grand Cherokee, 1 trip to the Office, multiple bug bites, 1 never ending game of 80′s Name That Tune with 1 “disputed” winner
“No Gracias” said too many times to count
1 Brett Michaels look alike
1 spanish speaking. . .laundry doing. . . “Helper”
1 butchered spanish language. . . . como si dice “Bar”?. . . .LO SIENTO
10 kids back in the states, 11 grandparents & 1 Britnay we would like to thank, (p.s. next year it’s 2 weeks!)
1 NOT SO SHORT travel day
1 LAX lockdown/evacuation, many prayers answered
plus 10 best friends equals “BEST ADULT TRIP EVER” and stories to tell for a lifetime!! Cheers to the travel crew!!

Filed under: Random thoughts

Halloween Blog Hop with Entangled Authors…and Giveaways

Hi All!  Welcome to my blog on the Halloween blog hop.  I love October because of the changing of the leaves, and I love Halloween because of the thinning of the veil between the realms.  Okay.  I also love dressing up like Wonder Woman and eating candy.  Who doesn’t?

My family has fun decorating the house and then going trick-or-treating, and we catch up with family members and play a bit.  In the PAC NW, where I live, sometimes we have sun, sometimes rain, often snow, and once-in-a-while crazy hail.  Who knows what’ll hit us this year.

So Entangled Publishing is having a fun blog hop for authors, and we’re all giving away prizes.  I’m giving away a digital copy of AGAINST THE WALL, which is my first book in the Maverick Montana series.  All you have to do to be entered into the contest is answer what you plan to do on Halloween this year…if anything.  After leaving your comment, click on the hop logo up to the left, and head on back to the hop to enter other contests.

Good luck, and have a wonderful Halloween!!!

Filed under: Blog Hop

Win the Plus One Chronicles by Jennifer Lyon!

I’m tired.  Really, really tired.  You know why?  Because I found out last night that OBSESSION had been released, and I stayed up late reading it.  LOVED IT.  I mean, I really, really, really loved this book.  This is the third book in the Plus One Chronicles featuring bad-ass wounded hero Sloane Michaels and sweet, kindhearted, fiercely protective Kat Thayne.  So, make sure you start with the first book, which is THE PROPOSITION.  The second book is POSSESSION, and then you can read the fiery, sexy conclusion in OBSESSION.

These days, with three series going,  I don’t get a lot of time to read.  So when I do take the time, I need to be swept away in a story that’s so good I forget I’m a writer.  I don’t edit, I don’t critique, I just get lost.  This three-part series completely took me away into another world, and I just loved it.  I’m pretty sure I have a major crush on Sloane, but that’s okay.  We won’t tell anybody, right?

To celebrate how much fun I had reading Sloane and Kat’s story, I’m going to give away the three books in digital form.  The winner can let me know if they want kindle, nook, sony, iTunes, etc.  To make this fun, you only have the weekend to enter.  As soon as I get a chance Monday morning (probably about 10am PST), I’m going to randomly draw a name from the comments below. 

So, just a leave a comment, and you’re in.  If you need a prompt, let me ask you this:  Why do you think we love wounded heroes so much?  Or, if you don’t want to think too deeply, how about you tell me your favorite dessert?  The heroine in the Plus One Chronicles owns a bakery, so this question fits, too. 

Filed under: On Writing Tagged: Jennifer Apodaca, Jennifer Lyon, Kat Thayne, romance, series, Sloane Michaels, The Plus One Chronicles, wounded heroes

SHADOWED is available NOW!

I am so excited that SHADOWED is finally available to readers.  A lot of us have been through some difficult times with Jase Kayrs, and it’s so nice to see him finally get enough page time.  The guy has certainly earned it. 

Here’s an excerpt that you haven’t seen yet:

Jase slid to the edge of the chair and loomed over her, his thighs bracketing her. Trapping her. Then his mouth covered hers. The kiss the other day had been nothing. A mere meeting of mouths.

This one was Jase Kayrs in full force. Deep and hard, he took. Holding her where he wanted her, he did as he pleased. Dark pleasure cascaded from him and heated the air around them.

Brenna opened to him, helpless beneath his onslaught. His tongue claimed her mouth, learning every curve. Firm lips, strong hold, devastating motions. All she could do was feel. So much pain, so much pleasure, so much damn demand. He tasted of red wine and determined male. The world narrowed to him.

The kiss went on forever. He didn’t touch her anywhere else, yet her entire body burned for him. Desperate and primed. Slowly, he softened his assault and leaned back.

Clarity rushed into her brain. She’d never be able to match him. He watched her, his eyes hard, his sharp features wearing that male expression that said, I warned you. Now you’re on your own.

Filed under: DARK PROTECTORS Tagged: book release, Dark Protectors, Jase Kayrs, paranormal, Realm, release day, Shadowed, vampires

SWEET REVENGE – Cover and Back Cover Blurb Revealed

I am so excited to show everybody the cover for Matt’s story!  Sweet Revenge is book 2 in the Sin Brothers series, and it’ll be released in digital form on December 3rd at a discounted price.  The price will go back to normal when the print book is released about six months later.  Here are some quick buy buttons, and then there’s the back cover blurb, which tells a bit about the book.  What do you think? 

Filed under: Sin Brothers Series Tagged: book release, Forever, Forgotten Sins, Grand Central, Gray brothers, Hachette, Romantic Suspense, series, Sin Brothers, Sweet Revenge

Guest Blogger Mina Kahn Announces a New Release

Thanks Rebecca for hosting me and celebrating my release! I’m thrilled to share my novel, Wildfire: A Paranormal Mystery with Cowboys and Dragons, with you and your readers. Check out my cover:

 Lynn Hana Alexander is a 25-year-old Japanese American shape-shifter haunted by guilt. She’s been questioning herself and her dragon abilities ever since she failed to save her grandmother.

 When her best friend is threatened by mysterious fires burning up acres of West Texas, Lynn rushes to the rescue determined not to fail again. However, with a tempting firefighter, a flirty city developer and dragon pheromones distracting her, how is she going to find the arsonist?

 And worse: is her primary suspect a malicious rogue dragon or the love of her life?

Want a taste? Here’s an excerpt:

Closing her eyes, Lynn Hana Alexander inhaled the dank smell of the bayou and summoned the change.

Heat crackled across her skin, filled her mind, as blue-green scales rippled over her body giving her tan a bronze sheen. Lynn’s core dissolved to molten lava, reformed and hardened. Muscles stretched and grew stronger, bones pushed and molded flesh. Nubs emerged from her back, elongated and flared into wings. A deep burn spread from her gut, igniting cell after cell, until she shook like a live wire juiced on raw power.

Her leathery wings flailed behind her as she stumbled around a bit before settling into the new weight. One would think a five foot one and half-inch Asian American woman would transform into a delicate, miniature-poodle type of dragon. Not so. In dragon-form, Lynn was seven feet of sharp scales, sinuous muscle and steely strength.

She raised her face to the moon and launched from the roof. Below her, Buffalo Bayou wound through downtown Houston glittering like a net of diamonds under the silver moonlight. The tremendous beat of her wings drowned out her worries for a moment.

 Buy Links: Smashwords  Amazon  B&N  ARe  Kobo

Here’s a question for you: What’s your favorite dragon book? Why do love it?

Giveaway:

If you’d like a signed paperback copy of Wildfire, check out my Goodreads giveaway!

Also, I have created a special giveaway to celebrate Wildfire release with dragonlicious prizes! Check out the raffle copter.

Author Bio:

Mina Khan is a Texas-based writer and food enthusiast. She writes about djinns (genies), dragons, hunks and whatever else sparks her fancy. She also writes a weekly food column for the San Angelo Standard-Times as Rashda Khan. Originally from Bangladesh, she is now a proud West Texan.

Her first published work, The Djinn’s Dilemma, won the novella category of the 2012 Romance Through The Ages (published) contest. A Tale of Two Djinns won the 2013 Readers’ Crown for best paranormal romance.

Filed under: Guest Blogger Tagged: blurb, dragons, Guest blogger, new release

FATED is on sale for .99 a Very Limited Time

HUGE DISCOUNT!  WOWZA!  I just found out that FATED, Book 1 in the Dark Protector series, is on sale in digital form for less than a dollar to celebrate the upcoming release of SHADOWED!  That’s ten dollars off!  I’m really excited about the sale, but I know it won’t last long.  No way, no how.  So, if you or any of your friends have been wondering about the Dark Protector series, you can download for less than a dollar to see how it all begins.  Enjoy!  I’ve put the buy buttons for where I know the sale is going on – if I find out more places, I’ll add more buttons. 

 

A quick excerpt from FATED:

Talen’s grip tightened on her wrist. “Vampire.”

Cara coughed out a laugh. “You’re a vampire?” Her gaze swung to the door.

Issuing another deep sigh she started to equate with him, he smiled. Two sharp canines instantly emerged.

“Oh God.” Cara struggled to yank back her hand.

“Do I need to bite you for you to believe me?” Interest and something darker wove through him, into her. She fought to block herself from his emotions.

“No. No biting.” Her mind reeled while reality spun away. “And you drink blood?”

“Only in extreme situations.”

“Extreme?” This couldn’t be happening.

“During a fight or sex.” He voice lowered to the growl he’d uttered just before deepening their earlier kiss. Something skittered through her belly in response.

“Oh.” Her mind flashed, unbidden, to his fangs. And sex. Her heart thumped once. Hard. She stopped fighting. For the moment. “Earlier you didn’t sound sorry peace is over.”

Deceptively normal canines flashed in a grin. “We were made to fight. Plus, living amongst you, yet having no contact has been difficult. We need humans.” Golden heat ran over her face.

“For blood.”

“That too.” His voice lowered.

Everything in her stilled, and even her heart may have stopped for a second. She lacked the focus to block the feelings coming from him now. “What else?” Her voice cracked.

“Both races are born male. Only. Our mates are human. And Cara,” his voice dropped to a rumble, “you’re mine.”

Filed under: DARK PROTECTORS Tagged: beginning of a series, Book 1, Cara Kayrs, Dark Protectors, Fated, K Marking, Kayrs, paranormal, series, Talen Kayrs, vampires

Giveaway from the 2013 Authors After Dark Vampire Ball Hostesses

JOIN THE AFTER PARTY!

If you missed the Authors After Dark Vampire Ball, don’t despair! The dark mistresses of the night are here to provide you with a taste of something sweet–a chance to win a pile of books from the authors who sponsored the Vampire Ball, and a limited edition booklet only available to Authors After Dark attendees!

Click here to go to the entry form:       a Rafflecopter giveaway

Many Books Signed by the Authors! Giveaway Open to the U.S. and Internationally!

ABOUT THE VAMPIRE BALL SPONSORS

JESS HAINES

Author Bio: Jess Haines writes about furred and fanged things that go bump in the night. Best known for the H&W Investigations urban fantasy series, she’s been writing since she was a teenager and was first published in 2010. Visit the author at www.JessHaines.com for the latest news and updates.

Type of Books: Jess Haines writes dark, daring and funny urban fantasy novels that follow the (mis-)adventures of human private investigator Shiarra Waynest. Praised by RT Book Reviews, Library Journal, and many more, the latest release is Forsaken by the Others (Kensington/Zebra; July 2, 2013).

JOEY W. HILL

Bio/Books: Winner of the Romantic Times Career Achievement award, Joey W. Hill has published over thirty contemporary and paranormal BDSM erotic romances, including four series. Her emotionally-intense love stories offer everything from vampires, mermaids, witches and angels, to boardroom executives, cops and simple housemaids. Free excerpts from all her works are available at her website, www.storywitch.com. Additional vignettes, character interviews and graphics inspired by the work are at the fan forum site, accessible through www.storywitch.com/community.

JAYE LYNNE DAVIES

Author Bio: Jae Lynne Davies is an author, wife, and mother who wishes there were more hours in a day to balance all three and a full-time job. But whenever she finds a spare moment (usually in the late hours of the night when her husband and two young children are visiting the land of dreams), you’ll find her sitting in front of her laptop typing the next chapter!

Type of Books: Striving to share her passion of the written word, Jae Lynne pens stories of conflict and believable, but forbidden relationships between extraordinary characters. In fact, the more complex, the better, which might explain her desire to create erotically-charged paranormal tales of romance and urban fantasy that she hopes leaves readers thirsting for more.

REBECCA ZANETTI

Author Bio: USA Today Bestselling Author Rebecca Zanetti has worked as an art curator, Senate aide, lawyer, college professor, and a hearing examiner – only to culminate it all in stories about Alpha males and the women who claim them. She writes the Dark Protector vampire series, the Maverick Montana cowboy series, and the Sin Brothers romantic-suspense series.

Type of Books: Rebecca writes steamy romances featuring Alpha males and smart, determined heroines.  Whether the characters are paranormal creatures, wild cowboys, or dangerous soldiers…there’s adventure, hot romance, and deadly fun in Zanetti’s worlds.

MK MANCOS

Author Bio: Nightmares as a child forced MK Mancos to begin telling herself stories before going to sleep. Thus began the lifelong love of a good pulse-pounding tale and lives not her own. MK resides in New Jersey with her wonderful husband, Dave, and dog, Lily.

Type of Books: MK Mancos writes anything that strikes her fancy. From tales of the Jersey Devil, to magical Leprechaun gold. She writes paranormal & fantasy as MK Mancos and futuristics and sci-fi under the name Kathleen Scott.

TJ MICHAELS

Author Bio: Back in 1994, TJ picked up her first romance novel by Heather Graham. It was love at first page. Years later, after raising her family and establishing her career, TJ wrote what became her first published work. Writing like a madwoman, TJ hasn’t lost steam. Her mind may be gone, but steam there is a-plenty!

Type of Books: TJ is an award-winning author of paranormal, fantasy, sci-fi and urban fantasy romance. No matter the genre TJ is penning, her favorite thing to do is build worlds. To take you somewhere extraordinary. To transport you to a place where you can close your eyes and slip into your fantasy…

MARIANNE MOREA

Author Bio: Marianne Morea is a New Yorker, and her stories embody the grit and complexity of the city that never sleeps. An avid traveler, she uses experiences from around the world in all her books. Her love affair with the paranormal is born of fantasies, transporting her into a world of what if?

Type of Books: Dark Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy Suspense are the hallmarks of Marianne Morea’s writing style. Stories filled with underworld violence and the desire to transcend a broken soul, readers are thrust into a world where the city never sleeps because the nightmares are real.

MELISSA SCHROEDER

Author Bio: A military brat and wife, Melissa Schroeder has a Monty Python type of humor meaning she is usually politically incorrect. She is busy raising two human and two dog daughters and is looking forward to her move back to Virginia after her husband finishes his career with the Air Force.  More info can be found at: www.melissaschroeder.net

Type of Books: With over 50 novels, novellas and short stories published, Melissa has stories that span historical to futuristic time periods. Her ADD allows her the ability to write paranormal to straight romance, always with a touch of humor. She is best known for her Harmless series.

HEATHER LONG

Author Bio: A national best selling author, Heather Long lives in Texas with her family and their menagerie of animals. In addition to military romance, Heather writes a wide variety of romance from paranormal historical western romance to contemporary romance and romantic suspense. She loves characters and the stories they have to tell. As a child, Heather skipped picture books and enjoyed the Harlequin romance novels by Penny Jordan and Nora Roberts that her grandmother read to her. Heather believes that laughter is as important to life as breathing and that the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy and Santa Claus are very real. In the meanwhile, she is hard at work on her next novel.

Type of Books: Heather writes paranormal romance, contemporary romance, military romance, and westerns with a paranormal twist. Her focus is on characters and the emotions that drive them to love, hate, live life and survive – romance with an edge.

ANN JACOBS

Author Bio: Seventeen years and over a hundred books later, I’m still a quiet wife, mom and grandma who dotes on kids, cats and a growing collection of orchids that sometimes rewards me with an exotically beautiful blossom. One might say I’ve explored my wild life vicariously through the people in my stories. Although I’ve won several prestigious awards over the years, the compliments that mean most to me are those that come from readers who’ve been touched deeply by my stories.

Type of Books: I write romances, from “vanilla” erotics to kinky BDSM,  in settings both familiar and fancifully exotic. All of my books have the proverbial “happily ever after” in common, though my lusty heroes and heroines follow many different and rocky roads to that happy, committed relationship.

C.J. ELLISSON

Author Bio: USA Today and New York Times bestselling author, C.J. Ellisson, lives in northern VA with her supportive husband, two children who listen at their whim, two dogs that worship her, a cat she’s allergic to, and two lizards she wishes lived somewhere else. She’s been writing for a four and half years and can’t imagine ever returning to her previous day job of real estate and property management.

Type of Books: C.J. spins tales containing adventure, intrigue, action, a little bit of mystery, and a whole lot of steam. She firmly believes hot monogamy exists and all her books, whether erotica, urban fantasy, or contemporary erotic romance, reinforce her views on the magic two people can share.

KRISTEN PAINTER

Author Bio: Kristen Painter likes to balance her obsession with shoes and cats by making the lives of her characters miserable and surprising her readers with interesting twists. She currently writes award-winning urban fantasy for Orbit Books.

Type of Books: Gothic urban fantasy featuring vampires, courtesans, shifters and fae.

Filed under: Random thoughts

Authors After Dark, Rain Storms, and Vampire Panels

Howdy!  It’s storming like crazy here in Savannah, which is perfect for the vampire ball tonight!  So far, this has been a wonderful conference.  The vampire and witch panels were a lot of fun, and the ‘tying up loose ends’ with Kate Douglas was hilarious.  Kate is always funny.  Here’s a picture with MaryJanice Davidson from our vampire panel.  Yeah, I had a bit of a fan girl moment there.

A few of us managed to get away from the conference hotel last night for dinner, and here’s a picture of Lynn Rush/Reese Monroe and Kendall Grey at dinner.  We were heading back for the Bookie Awards and got caught in a deluge—I ended up soaking wet and with crazy hair.  I mean, crazy, crazy, hair.  Sue Brown from GraveTells stopped on the way (Sue’s the smart one) and bought an umbrella.  I was running too fast to snap her picture, but here’s a pic of Sue with a Caribbean Marg.  Looks good, right?

Hey – guess what?  TWISTED won a bookie award for best novella/short story.  I gave a quick thank you speech and have no clue what I said.  I wasn’t expecting to win and hadn’t prepared…plus I was a little nervous being in front of all those people at a podium.  It’s a lot easier to be on a panel.

Other than that, I’ve hung out with the magnificent Justine from Kensington, and we truly enjoyed the grilled cheese sandwich from Blue, here in the hotel.  Also, here’s a quick picture of opening day…see what was on the table. 

 

 

 

Filed under: Random thoughts Tagged: AAD, Authors After Dark, Justine Willis, Kate Douglas, Kendall Gray, Kensington, Lynn Rush, MaryJanice Davidson, Reese Monroe, vampires