Riley Shane's Blog, page 5

What's on your nightstand?

I've slightly switched gears in my reading this week and am enjoying Finding Deaglan by George Seaton. It's an engaging paranormal fiction novel and the author so seamlessly weaves together multiple plot threads that I'm in awe:

Finding Deaglan by George Seaton
MLR Press
Paranormal Fiction [image error]
ISBN: 978-1-60820-298-0 (e-book), 978-1-60820-297-3(print)
Click here to buy from MLR Press

A coterie of inheritors of Denver's old money, including twenty-four year old Stephen Thaxton, find themselves inextricably entwined in an imperative to close a hoary circle left open in the other world, the other side where retribution is sought for wrongs committed by their progenitors a century before; wrongs that eradicated wolves from Colorado, and saw the indigenous Indian tribes of Colorado robbed of their lands, all to enhance the wealth and privilege of those who now find themselves the last of their family lines.

What's on your nightstand?

The writing madness continues and I haven't had much time to read. I have, however, been torturing myself with trips to my favorite independent bookstore, buying up all kinds of things to add to my insanely huge TBR pile.

How about you guys? Anything interesting in your TBR piles?

I'm not reading anything at the moment, but I did recently sneak in some time to read a charming, unique steampunk novel:

Soulless by Gail Carriger
The Parasol Protectorate, Book 1
Steampunk [image error]
ISBN: 978-0316056632
Description from Amazon:

Alexia Tarabotti is laboring under a great many social tribulations. First, she has no soul. Second, she's a spinster whose father is both Italian and dead. Third, she was rudely attacked by a vampire, breaking all standards of social etiquette.

Where to go from there? From bad to worse apparently, for Alexia accidentally kills the vampire -- and then the appalling Lord Maccon (loud, messy, gorgeous, and werewolf) is sent by Queen Victoria to investigate.

With unexpected vampires appearing and expected vampires disappearing, everyone seems to believe Alexia responsible. Can she figure out what is actually happening to London's high society? Will her soulless ability to negate supernatural powers prove useful or just plain embarrassing? Finally, who is the real enemy, and do they have treacle tart?

Two-Man Advantage now available on Amazon and ARe!!!

I've had people ask me when Two-Man Advantage would be available All Romance ebooks and Amazon. Good news: they went on sale this week!

Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Two-Man-Advantage-ebook/dp/B004TH0INO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1301026447&sr=1-1-catcorr

ARe link: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-twomanadvantage-528193-144.html
(Note: If you're searching for Two-Man Advantage by title at ARe, leave out the dash.)

And for those who prefer to buy their books at ARe, my first story, The Taste of Magick , is also available: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thetasteofmagick-508475-143.html ;)

Book News: Chasing Alex

I'm very excited to announce that I'll have a new story out this summer. Chasing Alex will be available June 1st as part of Dreamspinner Press's Daily Dose: First Time for Everything line.

Chasing Alex is a male/male contemporary romance that's a bit sweet, very sexy, and features two hard-headed cowboy heroes. I'll post more information closer to the release date, but I will say that I had a blast writing this story and I love hot-as-hell cowboys.

I'd also intended for Chasing Alex to be a standalone, but...well, let's just say a certain hero busted into my brain this morning, laying claim to Alex's brother. So look for news as I write Claiming Braden this spring/summer (depending on my schedule). I'm sure Braden and Donovan will take me on one hell of a ride. Braden doesn't want to be "claimed" by anyone, least of all a smooth-talking country singer like Donovan Lane.

Before I get ahead of myself, it's time to get back to work on In the Penalty Box. Those hockey players sure do like to drive me crazy ;)

What's on your nightstand?

First: Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!!

Second: be sure to check my website next week. I'll be posting some book news. Want a hint as to what the story is about? I've got a famous Big & Rich song stuck in my head at the moment ;)

Third: I've been hard at work on In the Penalty Box, book 2 in my Seattle Marauders series, so I haven't had much time to read. I have, however, been listening to audio books. This week the story on my iPod is J.P. Bowie's Lunches in Laguna:

Lunches in Laguna by J.P. Bowie
Total-E-Bound
Contemporary Male/Male Romance [image error]
ISBN: 978-1420106817
Click here to buy from Total-E-Bound

Scott is intrigued by an art collection in a Laguna gallery, but it's the gallery manager, Michael, who gets his full attention!

By his own admission Scott Stevenson is a rough and ready kind of guy, but even he can appreciate art on occasion, especially when it comes in the form of Michael Taylor, the manager of a Laguna Beach art gallery. Invited to spend a lunch hour with Michael, Scott doesn't hesitate to let his new friend know he considers him a perfect work of art.

The attraction is mutual and the two men start seeing each other regularly for 'lunch'. But when Michael fails to show up at the gallery one day Scott discovers that his perfect man may have an imperfect past, and if Scott wants lunch to progress to dinner he'd better ensure that those who are threatening Michael aren't around for dessert!

Take a peek inside the Marauders' locker room

I'm hard at work on the second Seattle Marauders book (still untitled, but hopefully that problem will be fixed shortly) which will feature Gregory Samson, one of the Marauders' defensemen. For those hockey-loving fans who are hoping to spend more time on the ice, you're in luck – this book takes place during the season. And for those who loved Kyle and Nate in Two-Man Advantage : 1) Thank you! and 2) They'll be back in Samson's book for at least a small portion of the story. Kyle couldn't bear being left out and he's dragged Nate along for the ride.

More details on Samson's book are sure to come. In the meantime, why not take a peek inside the Marauders' Locker Room ? The Locker Room is still under construction, but it has a partial Marauders roster, player information, and - would ya look at that - even some gossip about one Gregory Samson ;)

What's on your nightstand?

I've been pounding away at the keyboard, working on a few books, so I haven't had much time for fun. Still, even when things get crazy it's good to take some time to read, right? ;)

On my virtual nightstand this week is Diana DeRicci's Beneath the Shield, a sexy male/male contemporary romance novella:

Beneath the Shield by Diana DeRicci
MLR Press
Contemporary Male/Male Romance [image error]
ISBN: 978-1420106817
Click here to buy from MLR Press

Jack Torres has been harboring, zealously nurturing a hidden guilt for three years. This mire of emotions has hardened his heart and his want to reconnect to the living world, keeping him isolated and unapproachable.

Brant Teller is a chance encounter Jack keeps from growing physically violent in a crowded nightclub. Parting ways, Brant doesn't expect to see the brooding, silent officer again. Yet when a domestic violence call brings the surly officer right to his ER, Brant takes a chance. What begins as a Sunday of football has the possibility to become so much more. If Jack will open himself up enough to release the agony of his own personal nightmare.

What's on your nightstand?

Things have been crazy here in Riley Land, so I haven't had much time to read. The good news is, now that Two-Man Advantage has been out for a little over two weeks, I've finally stopped climbing the walls. Now it's time to catch up, write more, and see what other people are reading.

And if you're curious about some of the projects I'm working on, I've listed a few on my coming soon page ;)

On my virtual nightstand this week is Rebel, the third book in Zoë Archer's Blades of the Rose series:

Rebel by Zoë Archer
Blades of the Rose, Book 3
Zebra
Paranormal Historical Romance [image error]
ISBN: 978-1420106817
Description from Zoë Archer's website:

On the Canadian frontier in 1875, nature is a harsh mistress. But the supernatural can really do you in...

A LONE WOLF

Nathan Lesperance is used to being different. He's the first Native attorney in Vancouver, and welcome neither with white society nor his sometime tribe. Not to mention the powerful wildness he's always felt inside him, too dangerous to set free. Then he met Astrid Bramfield and saw his like within her piercing eyes. Now, unless she helps him through the harsh terrain and the harsher unknowns of his true abilities, it could very well get him killed…

AND THE WOMAN WHO LEFT THE PACK

Astrid has traveled this path before. Once she was a Blade of the Rose, protecting the world's magic from unscrupulous men, with her husband by her side. But she's loved and lost, and as a world-class frontierswoman, she knows all about survival. Nathan's searing gaze and long, lean muscles mean nothing but trouble. Yet something has ignited a forgotten flame inside her: a burning need for adventure, for life—and perhaps even for love...

Two-Man Advantage has arrived!!!

The wait is finally over - Two-Man Advantage , my first Seattle Marauders book, is now on sale HERE at Loose Id! I hope you all enjoy reading Two-Man Advantage as much as I enjoyed writing it :)

[image error] When Professor Nathan Troy walks into his cabin and finds a naked man in his bed, he figures his one-man vacation to snowy Lake Tahoe can't get any worse. It's not that Nate doesn't appreciate the view...he'd just prefer he knew the man in question.

Kyle Harper has come to Lake Tahoe to escape the memories of his former life -- one where he was a star hockey player until a career-ending injury shattered his dreams forever. All Kyle wants is peace, and he certainly isn't going to get it with a prickly, stubborn man waking him up, insisting that Kyle is in his cabin.

An accidental double-booking and a wary compromise puts the two in close quarters. Attraction heats things up, but Nate's not about to let his libido lead him into making the mistake of getting involved with his unexpected roommate. Kyle, however, seems determined to get under his skin at every turn. Both men soon learn that they can't outrun desire. But lust is easy; it's opening their hearts that's hard. Each will have to let go of the past before they can take advantage of the future the two of them could have together.

Buy Link: http://www.loose-id.com/Two-Man-Advantage.aspx

First Lines

We're only ONE day away from the release of Two-Man Advantage . Nervousness has set in, but as I was anxiously reviewing the manuscript for the eight billionth time I got to thinking about first lines. For example, the first line of Two-Man Advantage is:

"There was a naked man in his bed."

Now, I'm fairly attached to this sentence, mostly because I can clearly hear Nate in my head (unavoidable author bias). But, looking at that sentence made me think about my general affection for the first sentence (or even first few sentences) of a book. Great first line(s) can be a breath of fresh air, the herald of good things to come. Quite honestly, there's something just plain fun about a fantastic hook.

Here are four of my favorites:

"Yesterday, Carl Hades had been shot at by a man wearing a black thong and a pink silk nightie. Even in his line of work, that was hard for a devout heterosexual male to digest." – Weddings Can Be Murder by Christie Craig

"The voice on the phone rasped, 'Bones of anger, bones of dust, full of fury, revenge is just. I scatter these bones, these bones of rage, enemy mine, I bring you pain. Torment, fire, death the toll, with this hex I curse your soul. So mote it be.'
"I handed the receiver to Angus, who was facing out the 'We Recommend' stand by the counter. 'It's for you.'" - The Hell You Say by Josh Lanyon

"Being dead didn't make Jack Mercy less of a son of a bitch." - Montana Sky by Nora Roberts

And the granddaddy of them all:

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." - Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Do you have any favorite opening lines? Let me know in the comments (and since I'm always looking for book recommendations, let me know if the book as a whole is something I should be adding to my TBR pile).

Oh, and if Two-Man Advantage's first line intrigued you, check out the entire excerpt here ;)