Krista Ames's Blog, page 105
September 11, 2013
Review: Riversong by Tess Thompson
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RIVERSONGRiver Valley Series
By: Tess Thompson
Blurb
Riversong (The River Valley Collection #1)
[image error] When Lee Tucker's husband commits suicide, he leaves her pregnant and one million dollars in debt to a loan shark. Out of options, she escapes to her deceased mother's dilapidated house located in a small Oregon town that, like her, is financially ruined, heartbroken and in desperate need of a fresh start. Lee's resilience leads to a plan for a destination restaurant named Riversong, to new chances for passion and love, and to danger from her dead husband's debt as her business blooms.
A surprising mix of romance, humor, friendship, intrigue and gourmet food - Riversong entertains while reminding you of life's greatest gifts.
Buy links: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iTunes, Kobo
My Review:
I really love to read books in a series so I jumped at the chance when this one came across my email.
I immediately felt such compassion for the heroine, Lee, and all the she had to endure from day one. Losing her husband, finding out about his secret life and the debt that he'd left her with. How does one even deal with that, thinking you knew someone only to lose them then find out such madness during your grieving. Add to that finding out that she's pregnant and I wanted to jump into the story and help this poor woman out. Thank goodness after fleeing from the debt collectors and such, she at least has a house to go to that's all hers. And how clever to go hide in the one place the loan sharks should have known to look in first but didn't, her home town.
I find it delightful to read books that put the characters in everyday real-life situations and Ms. Thompson portrayed Lee beautifully! I love her enthusiasm at taking over the Riversong to make it successful. A little charm and some great food goes a long way!
With much pleasure, I look forward to reading the next book in this series and highly recommend book 1 of the River Valley series.
Author Info
[image error] Tess Thompson is a novelist and playwright with a BFA in Drama from the University of Southern California. In 2011, she released her first novel, Riversong, which subsequently became a bestseller.
Like the characters in the River Valley collection, Tess is from a small town in Oregon. She currently lives in a suburb of Seattle, Washington with her two young daughters, Emerson and Ella. She is inspired daily by the view of the Cascade Mountains from her home office window.
Tess is working on her next novel and regularly blogs about her journey as a mother, author and friend at www.tesswrites.com.
Author Links
www.tesswrites.com
@tesswrites
http://www.facebook.com/AuthorTessThompson?fref=ts
http://www.amazon.com/Tess-Thompson/e/B004W3WOTG/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
http://pinterest.com/tesswrites/
Rafflecopter Giveaway ($10.00 Amazon or B&N Gift Card and Digital Copy of
CARAMEL AND MAGNOLIAS)a Rafflecopter giveaway
September 10, 2013
Review: Unexpected Forever by Marissa Dobson
Unexpected Forever
A Clearwater Novellaby
Marissa Dobson
Pregnant…The stick turned blue and Tessa Bradley’s world fell apart. But unplanned turns out to be the best thing that ever happened to her. Add a marriage of convenience to her best friend and unplanned just might give her the happily every after with the man she’s always loved.Deployment…Gunny Cameron White devoted his life to God, country and the Corp. Marriage has never been a blip on his radar. When his best friend—a woman he’s always loved—turns up pregnant and alone, he throws out the rule book and commits to her like a Marine.Marriage…Can two people overcome the choices of their past when an unplanned baby gives them the chance of an unexpected forever?
My Review:Hmmm, how to start this review...I loved it, what a fantastic book, it made me cry more than once... I could go on and on.
Seriously though, all of Marissa Dobson's books I have read have been great and this one didn't disappoint at all. I have a thing for military guys :) and I loved Cameron literally from the very beginning. He was one of those best friend kinda guys that you just wanna fall for.
This was a fantastic story with characters I felt like I knew so well. They were descriptively well rounded and had an unbelievable amount of heart. I swear my husband probably thought I was nuts when he saw me crying but I just couldn't help it. Their real situations were portrayed in such a way that I felt the joys and the heartaches right along with Cameron & Tessa.
I'm ready for a trip to Clearwater myself :) Do yourself a favor and get this book, you won't be sorry !
Absolutely warrants my 5 stars !!!Excerpt:Pregnant? Tessa Bradley’s hand slid across her abdomen, was there really a little person growing inside her? Her doctor’s voice droned on, but she couldn’t hear him. She was twelve weeks pregnant without a father for her baby, and after today’s shift—an unemployed mother-to-be.It can’t be…I was so careful.She hit the end button on her cell phone, and slipped it back into her pocket. During the last nine weeks, she’d worked as the secretary for a law firm in town, while their permanent one was on maternity leave—talk about irony.How was she supposed to be a mom when she didn’t even know how to take care of herself?“Tessa, there you are.” Mr. Jacob smiled as he stepped into the office. “I wanted to give this to you before you left. It’s just a token of my appreciation for stepping into Bev’s shoes while she was on leave. I thought this might turn into a permanent position when I hired you, but Bev obviously has other plans. She wants to come back. If things change, you’ll be my first call.” He offered her a plain white envelope.“Thank you. I appreciate it.” She accepted it with a small, honest smile. Mr. Jacob was a wonderful boss and a good lawyer. He truly cared about his clients and did everything he could to fight for them both inside and out of the courtroom.“Very well, it’s Friday and we have no more clients booked for today. Why don’t you take off and enjoy your weekend?”She grasped at the generous offer, especially after the doctor’s call. She needed to get out; maybe a walk in the park would help her clear her thoughts. Maybe then, she would have a better idea what to do about her situation. In a daze, she moved around the office and gathered her things.“Thank you again for the job Mr. Jacob.” She called to him from the door as she slipped her purse over her shoulder, and let herself out for the last time.The air felt cool against her flushed skin, and the wind tugged her long brown hair, but she didn’t care. Heading into the park, she made her way past the children’s playground.One day I’ll be one of those frantic mothers watching from the bench praying my child doesn’t get injured.The countdown to ‘one day’ ticked faster than she’d ever imagined.“Tess?” He looped his arm around hers, startling her out of her reverie and pulling her to a stop. “Aren’t you supposed to be working?”Cameron White stood before her in his breath-stealing, damn-isn’t-he-good-looking crisp blue Marine uniform. The medals on his chest made her proud—and served as the steel fence between the future she’d wanted and the life he’d chosen fifteen years ago. He was a fine specimen of manhood—over six feet, muscular from his military training and hours in the gym, and shoulders wide enough to carry the world.Over the years, she’d nursed a long-standing fascination and attraction for Cameron, one he refused to acknowledge after he joined the Marines. She tried to supplant the desire, redirect it to someone else, but even Brian didn’t measure up to the yardstick she judged all men by. They weren’t Cameron.Young Marines spoke of him with respect, edged with fear. She knew he was strict, and expected only the best from his men, but he was also fair. Whenever someone needed a helping hand he was there, helping, guiding, but he expected his men to learn from their mistakes—to pay for their mistakes with pushups, loss of leave, whatever it took to drill the message home. He pushed his men to the breaking point, making them the finest Marines he could and he wouldn’t stand for them to give less than one hundred and ten percent.“Why are you in your dress blues?”“I just left John’s wedding, they pushed it up so they could be married before he ships out. It was a nice ceremony by the lake.”She heard him but it was as if his words came through a haze, distant and she couldn’t focus. Her legs felt heavy, and her head swam. “What’s wrong Tessa? Are you feeling okay?” He cupped a hand under her arm and guided her over to a bench.“I’m fine…I just need to go home.” God help her it was good to see him. He was like a port for a ship lost at sea but she needed to wrap her mind around what she was going to do—and how could she tell him? She didn’t think she could bear his disappointment.“Come on, I’ll take you home.” Arm around her waist, he pivoted neatly and guided her toward the street.“I’m fine. My apartment isn’t that far, I can walk. I’m sure you have other things you need to do before you have to go.” Even to her, the words sounded flat and they wouldn’t convince him, but it was all she had left.“You’re all that matters today. I was coming over once you got off work.”Even if he didn’t believe her, he didn’t force the subject. Maybe all the years they had known each other had enlightened him to the fact that if he pushed she’d only shut down more. What am I going to tell him? She tried to think of something, anything as he led her towards his car. They only had a few days left together before his upcoming deployment. She didn’t want to ruin the time she had left with him by bringing up her mistakes.Just the thought of another deployment was enough to send her into panic mode. Yes, he was career military and that was part of his job, but it scared the hell out of her every, single time. In truth, he married the Marines from the day he enlisted. He wouldn’t be there for their weekly movie date, or nightly chats. Selfish? Yes, but he was such a large part of her life, she didn’t know how to give it up—even for only a short time—without her heart breaking.If she were honest with herself, she’d admit she was in love with him, and had been since they were sixteen. Fifteen years later nothing had changed, at least not for her. For Cameron, he’d chosen the Marines, and that loyalty was absolute. He left no part of himself free for a girlfriend, let alone a wife. No matter how much she’d always wished otherwise, Tessa had accepted they would never be anything more than friends. Cameron wouldn’t allow anything more. He said something else, but she didn’t really understand it, the world around her tilted and she swayed. Blackness swamped her vision and everything faded.
Buy links:Sunshine Press ~ Kindle ~ Nook ~ Smashwords ~ All Romance Ebooks ~ Kobo
Release Day Blitz ~ Armed & Desired by DC Stone
Happy Release Day D.C. Stone
Armed & Desired
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Blurb:
Being a cop can be a dirty job … but somebody’s got to do it.
Sergeant Alyssa Bloom, assigned as Patrolman Nate Wilshire’s trainer, knows what it means to stay in control, be alert to her surroundings, and keep a level head. Not so easy to do around the hot, young rookie.
Nate has the best job in the world—police officer with the sexiest partner a guy could ask for. Alyssa might be training him, but he has a few things he’d like to teach her. Unwilling to act on his desires and risk unprofessional conduct, he asks Madame Eve to find him someone to scratch the itch Alyssa can’t.
With the need to let loose hitting the red zone, Alyssa agrees to contact 1Night Stand. When her date is none other than her sexy partner, she has a decision to make—maintain professionalism and leave…or let her heart finally take control.
Buy links:
Amazon ~ B&N ~ Decadent Publishing
Excerpt:
Nate waited at the floor-to-ceiling window of the hotel room and stared out across downtown San Diego. Tall skyscrapers soared around the city, their tops dusted with popping colors of green, blue, and red. Cars passed by in a blur, and with dusk only minutes past and the weekend kicking off, nightlife began to bloom along with his own anticipation.
He tucked his hands inside the charcoal dress pants and rocked back and forth in the uncomfortable black dress shoes. After spending days in his boots and uniform, the toes of the shoes pinched at his toes, and the soles unforgiving. He did not miss them. At all.
The door behind him clicked and a brush of air alerted him someone entered the room. He stilled, his heartbeat kicking out an erratic tempo in his throat, but he didn’t turn, instead watching a woman cross the threshold in the window’s reflection. She assessed the larger-than-normal hotel suite before her gaze settled on his back.
Perplexed, he tipped his head, recognizing her familiar features. She progressed with a lethal grace only a trained law enforcement officer would know, her steps purposeful, but silent, even in heels higher than he’d ever seen her in.
Standing to the side, she set her purse and a small black bag on a table, giving him her profile. A flash of deep red hair grabbed his attention. He sucked in a breath and pivoted in slow motion, refusing to allow hope to grow any more than it had, yet at the same time, fear sliced through. The one person he needed to get out of his system stood in the same room as he.
The night was about to go to hell. Facing away from him, she took in the overwhelming luxury of the room. Desire slammed into him, he came to life with a kick against his fly.
Alyssa.
Author Bio:
D.C. Stone is an e-book author and full-time fraud investigator when she isn't diving into the world of Fiction.
She lives in the north-east with her incredibly supporting husband, two kids, and the all American black Labrador puppy. She’ll deny any association with the grumpy cat that also resides in the house, but he is there, never-the-less.After serving eight years of service with the United States Air Force, she went on to transition into the world of Financial Crimes and became a lead investigator for many years.
Reading has always been a passion of hers, getting lost in a good, steamy romance one of her favorite past times. That passion took a back seat as soon as she discovered her own love for writing and recreating her own stories and characters. Her writing concentrates on Romance with specifics in Paranormal, Suspense, and Erotica.
Now, when she isn’t trying to solve a new puzzle in the world of fraud, she is engulfed with coffee, her laptop, and all those crazy characters in her head. Trying to keep up with that crazy bunch is a skill many would yearn to have.
She is a member of the Romance Writers of America, New Jersey Romance Writers, Kiss of Death, and the Liberty State Fiction Writers. Come stop by on Facebook, Twitter or her website and say hello!
Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
Website: http://www.authordcstone.com
September 9, 2013
Release Day Blast: Sisters in Love + giveaway
Sisters In LoveThe Snow Sisters Series Book OneBy: Melissa Foster
Blurb
Danica Snow has always been the smart, practical, and appropriate sister. As a therapist, she prides herself on making reasonable, conservative choices, even if a bit boring, and as part of the Big Sister Program, she has little time for anything more in her life.Blake Carter is a player. He never gets bored of conquering women, and with his sexy good looks and successful lifestyle, he has no trouble finding willing participants. When his friend and business partner dies in a tragic accident, he suddenly, desperately, wants to change his ways. The problem is, he doesn’t know how to stop doing what he does best.When Blake walks into Danica’s office, the attraction between them is white hot, but Danica isn't the type to give into the heat and risk her career. Danica’s desire sets her on a path of self-discovery, where she begins to question every decision she’s ever made. Just this once, Danica wants to indulge in the pleasures of life she’s been so willingly ignoring, but with her Little Sister in turmoil and her biological sister’s promiscuousness weighing heavily on her heart, she isn’t sure it’s the right time to set her desires free.SISTERS IN LOVE is a light, uplifting work of women's fiction and will resonate with readers who enjoy emotional journeys of the heart with strong heroines and sexy, lovable heroes. Readers of books by Jane Porter and Beth Kendrick will enjoy Danica and Blake's story.Buy Links: Amazon Barnes and Noble
Excerpt: http://www.melissafoster.com/content/sisters-love-excerpt
Link to Follow Tour: http://tastybooktours.blogspot.com/2013/08/now-booking-release-day-tasty-book.html
Author Info"Melissa Foster is a wonderful connector of readers and books, a friend of authors, and a
tireless advocate for women. She is the real deal"-- Bestselling Author Jennie Shortridge"What sets Melissa Foster apart are her compelling characters who you care about... desperately. This is psychological suspense at its most chilling. I dare you to read the first chapter and not be hooked." International bestseller, M.J. Rose Melissa Foster is an award-winning, International bestselling author. Her books have been recommended by USA Today's book blog, Hagerstown Magazine, The Patriot, and several other print venues. She is the founder of the Women’s Nest, a social and support community for women, the World Literary Café. When she's not writing, Melissa helps authors navigate the publishing industry through her author training programs on Fostering Success. Melissa is also a community builder for the Alliance for Independent Authors. She has been published in Calgary’s Child Magazine, the Huffington Post, and Women Business Owners magazine.
Author LinksWebsite: http://www.MelissaFoster.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MelissaFoster... @Melissa_FosterMy social network for women: http://www.TheWomensNest.comWorld Literary Café: http://www.worldliterarycafe.comFostering Success: htto://www.fostering-success.comFacebook Melissa Foster: http://www.facebook.com/MelissaFoster... (Fanpage)Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
Rafflecopter Giveaway (Three Digital Copies of SISTERS IN LOVE)a Rafflecopter giveaway
August 23, 2013
Author, author....Guest blogger Annika James
Please give a super warm welcome to
Author Annika James
Today she shares with us her ...
Top 10 Vampires in the Movies
First of all, thank you so much for having me today!
I love Top 10 lists, I love vampires, and I love movies - so let’s combine all three into one post… I will probably miss some great vampires, but that’s where you, the reader, comes in. Feel free to comment after the post with your favorite movie vamps. I had to do a little bit of research to complete this one. But watching vampire movies as research sounds good to me. It was hard to rank these, so they are not particularly in order.
9. Jerry from “Fright Night” - probably one of the first vampire movies I remember watching, “Fright Night” was creepy and cool all at the same time. Jerry was tall, dark, and handsome. He had charm until the fangs came out. I’m referring to the original “Fright Night” as I haven’t seen the remake yet. Let me know if it’s as good as the original.
9. Dracula from “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” - The ultimate vampire, Gary Oldman’s Dracula was spot-on and creepy as all get out. As gross as he was, there was still the hint of romance as he searched for love. He had all the stereotypical vampire powers combined in one.
8. Victoria from “Twilight” - yes, I picked Victoria. She is beautiful and deadly, and I like that combination. In “Eclipse,” she hunts Bella, and she was lethally intelligent in the way she went about it, it’s pretty admirable. She is smart, sexy, and scary. She might sparkle in the sunlight, but she’s no broody vamp.
7. Lothos from “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” - He was kind of sexy in an older man way, deadly because even Buffy fell under his spell, and funny with the one liners. I can’t help it, maybe I just love Joss Whedon, and I definitely love Buffy, I still like this movie, and the vampires in it make me chuckle.
6. The vampires in “30 Days of Night” - talk about scary. This was probably the first vampire movie I watched that freaked me out. I can handle gore, but there was something just heart dropping about this movie. There was little hope for survival, and the vampires were ruthless. No romantic vampires here - these were stone-cold killers who got uglier as they vamped. These are the nightmare vampires.
5. Blade - Ok, technically, he’s only half-vampire - but I think he still counts. He is so bad-ass, it’s ridiculous. I just remember him being practically silent for the better part of the first movie, every now and then throwing out a sassy one-liner. He hunts and kills his own kind, and he’s cooler than they are because he can walk in the sunlight. Imagine - all the strength of a vampire, with none of the weakness. Can you blame all the vampires for wanting him dead?
4. David from “The Lost Boys” - another movie from my childhood. David was the ultimate bad boy. Bleach blonde hair, leather trenchcoat, motorcycle - those all added up to one hot guy. He only came out at night and dang, did he look good. When he vamped out, he was also deliciously scary. Kiefer Sutherland played this part to a T, and started my obsession with bad-boy vamps. I can’t mention this movie without mentioning Corey Haim and how much I loved him in this movie. If you haven’t seen this one, watch it - there are some classic lines here!!
3. Selene from “Underworld” - I like a sexy vamp who can kick butt, and Selene is definitely that. Her wardrobe is amazing and I wish I could get away with head to toe leather. She’s a vampire with deadly fangs, but uses guns and other weapons to fight the Lycans. Kate Beckinsale does an awesome job with this role and Selene is one of my favorite vamps of all time. Not to mention the cool blue her eyes turn when she’s vamping out.
2. Lestat from “Interview with a Vampire” - he had it all - Lestat was beautiful and charming, yet deadly. He had little conscience and killed without remorse, yet did it in such a way, you would almost willingly submit to him. Tom Cruise played him brilliantly. I picked Lestat over Louis because I like my vampires a little less broody and a little more “I’m immortal, let’s live it up.” and that is Lestat - he took advantage of all that being a vampire had to offer.
That’s all I could come up with. Sad, I know… I also love Parker Posey’s vampire in “Blade Trinity” and although he doesn't go full-on vamp - Jim Carrey is hilarious in “Once Bitten.” So, who are your favorite vamps? Who did I miss? What are some movies I need to check out to help fill my list?
Annika, the pleasure was truly all ours ! I love Vampires and definitely have a few favorites in the list you gave. Now let's hear a little about your latest release.
WantedAnnika James“When you’re a powerful witch, every guy in school wants to bite you.”
Blurb: “Attacked as a young witch and left for dead, Ashlinn is deathly afraid of being bitten again. Having survived until she’s almost eighteen without donating blood to any of her vamp friends, Ashlinn figures she’ll continue to live bite-free. After her crush reveals how powerful she is, however, the Vampire Council declares she be claimed as a familiar, which requires biting. Ashlinn doesn’t want to be owned, even by hot vamp, Conor. Luckily, her best friend, Matt, volunteers for the job. She is given one week to choose her protector, and the list of willing biters keeps growing. Will she go with best friend Matt, hot vamp Conor, or someone else to protect her? Will she be able to get her power under control by then? Will she overcome her phobia of being bitten? And who says she needs to be protected, anyhow?”Excerpt:I could tell he was still looking down at me. His hand rested on the shelf nextto my head and his other hand came up on the other side, trapping me between his arms. I looked up shyly. How many times had I pictured being alone with Conor? It was like a dream, and I was frozen, unsure of what to do, unsure of what he wanted from me. What was he playing at?
He leaned toward me, holding my gaze with his. I forgot how to breathe, howto think. Then his lips touched mine, electricity exploding up and down my body.Soft and gentle, they probed, tasting, testing. I didn’t move to touch him, justremained frozen. There was only the kiss. His mouth moved to my jaw, kissing hisway down to my neck. His teeth grazed my skin.
I unfroze and found my voice. “No!” I felt a surge of power push through me.Conor flew backward across the room. He crashed into a bookcase, sending anavalanche of books over him as he fell to the floor. He slumped there, holding his head, dazed. He looked up in confusion, mouth opened ready to speak. At that moment, my muscles remembered how to move and I ran for the door. It opened in front of me, not of my power, and Matt appeared. He’d probably felt my surge of power. I hadn’t meant to throw Conor. Panic had overtaken me and I had lost control for an instant.
I flew into Matt’s arms and he embraced me. Matt was my rock. His presencecalmed me, it always did. He was like a protective big brother. I knew heunderstood the whole scene in the seconds before I’d found his arms. I buried myface in the T-shirt pulled tight across his strong chest, and breathed in his scent, amix of fabric softener and cologne. It was familiarity, it was home, and it helped to center me. I peeked out at Conor. He stepped out of the pile of books andstraightened his clothing.
Tourwide GiveawayWin one of three copies of Wanted by Annika James
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Author’s Bio:Annika James lives in small-town Wisconsin with her husband and two beautiful kiddos. She spends her days working to pay the bills and her nights dreaming of more fun ways to do so. Her passions include writing, reading, music and traveling with her family. She dreams of a world where vampires and powerful witches really exist, because life would be so much more interesting.
Website Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, MuseItUp, Amazon, Barnes & Noble
August 22, 2013
Author, author.... Spotlight on Heat Wave by Taryn Kincaid
Heat WaveTaryn Kincaid
Blurb: Sent into the human realm to retrieve prodigal princess, Zena Night, Bhyrne Raines is shocked and unprepared for his carnal reaction to the sexy succubus. In service to the succubus queen, the rugged enforcer must stifle the instant passion exploding within him. Fulfilling his royal duty doesn’t allow for quickie dalliances. His biological clock is ticking, and he begins to enter breedspawn, an intense and unstoppable frenzy of mating all fire-demon males must endure. But the more he wants to avoid Zena, the more he’s drawn to her. Reluctant to give up her carefree life of partying among the mortals when the hot-as-sin Bhyrne comes to fetch her for the queen, Zena uses her succubus wiles to entice him, or at least delay the inevitable trip to the royal court. Once in the demon stronghold, hidden deep within the Catskill mountains, she learns the reason for the summons: she must choose a consort within two days.Zena needs a mate. Bhyrne needs to mate. With time running out for both of them, they each turn to 1Night Stand. Can Madame Eve come to the rescue?
Excerpt:
Holy freeze gun, Batman. The words died before she managed to expose them to air. Her mouth snapped shut.
One of the Queen’s guards stood before her, huge and tall, nearly twice the size of most of the other males in the joint, a hella hunka supernatural male. Clearly not human, although Hugo Boss’d to his Adam’s apple in an apparent bid to fit in among the humans trolling for hot sex, illicit drugs, watered-down booze and loud music. Beneath the fabric of the unstructured designer suit, the toned muscles of a demonic warrior rolled like tidal waves. Even without the small lapel pin the uninformed might mistake for the The Rolling Stones’ logo, she’d recognize him for a captain of the guard. Maybe the Queen’s own Captain.
Hellfire and cotton candy. Trouble. T-R-O-U-B-L-E.
But, by the goddess, whattahottie!Despite her certainty that his presence in the club corridor boded ill for her, the force of her sudden hunger shook her.
Like lightning.
Thunder.
A desperate bolt out of the blue.
Instant connection to him on the paranormal plane, as if he’d wrapped her aura in gold chains and tugged her to him. But did that fast lane to heaven run one way or two?
A grim expression straightened the lines of what otherwise might have been a generous, sensuous mouth. A military buzz cut had weed-whacked hair the color of iron. And it didn’t stop there. Without doubt, metal fortified every single cell in the massive male’s body, pure titanium flowing in his veins. The stern planes and angles of a hard-edged, swoon-worthy face set grimly as cement. Though he lounged in the hallway like any Archie or Jughead waiting in line to discharge his rented beer in a urinal, he exuded authority, his carriage and bearing such that he made the others look like a pack of Twizzlers. Oh. Yeah. More than a mere guardsman, she guessed. An enforcer.Ruh-roh.
Buy Links: Decadent Publishing
Amazon: US | UK | Canada
ARe | CTR | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords
Author’s Bio:
Taryn is an Olympic caliber athlete egg roller and spends a great deal of her time petitioning the U.S.O.C. to introduce a fantail shrimp competition. When she's not bungee jumping off the Palisades or parasailing up and down the Hudson River, she devotes her time to caring for her aging pet walrus, arranging her voodoo doll-pin collection and practicing rhythmic chants. At this moment, she is busy sweeping up the loose masala chai tea leaves she spilled all over the kitchen floor. (Probably because she needs COFFEE.) Wait. Is that something…sparkly?
Taryn hangs around a lot on Facebook and Twitter with her trillions of fans and pops in at Goodreads from time to time. You can catch her on her website, http://tarynkincaid.com, and her blog, http://dreamvoyagers.blogspot.comwhere she lives for comments!
Website| Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon
Giveaway:
Taryn is giving away a copy of an ebook from her list of titles to
one tour wide winner.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
August 21, 2013
Author, author....Release Day Blast !! Operation Wedding Crash by Sandra Sookoo
...read all about it !!
Operation Wedding Crash
By
Sandra Sookoo
BlurbUntil death—or a secret—make them part.
Nora “Can’t Say No” Lenhart’s life is way past complicated. To add stress to everything, she’s just been appointed maid of honor for the upcoming wedding of the World’s Worst Boss and her ex is the best man. Looks like she’ll need to buy stock in an antacid company and try her best to ditch the green-eyed monster of wedding envy.
Camden Webber is an FBI agent with a massive chip on his shoulder—namely not being able to forget the woman whose usual inability to say no didn’t keep her from shooting down his proposal five years before. Though he has jaded views on weddings and marriage, Cam agrees to stand at his best friend’s side.
When Nora and Camden are thrown together at an engagement dinner, despite their tumultuous romantic history, they devise a plan to break up the ill-suited bride and groom. As the big day nears, emotions hit a breaking point, proving that wedding planning is more suited to a reality show and while happy endings are optional, they exist amidst the rubble, if the couple looks hard enough.
Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/Operation-Wedding-Crash-ebook/dp/B00ENJIWL8/ref=sr_1_31?ie=UTF8&qid=1376955462&sr=8-31&keywords=sandra+sookoo
Feel free to visit the other stops on the tour as well: http://tastybooktours.blogspot.com/2013/08/now-booking-release-day-tasty-book_8.html
Author InfoSandra is a writer of romantic fiction. Her portfolio includes historical, contemporary, sci-fi, and paranormal romances in full-length books as well as shorts and novellas. No matter if the heat level is spicy or sweet, she loves to blend genres and oftentimes will add humor to the mix.When not immersed in creating new worlds and engaging characters, Sandra likes to read, bake, taste new teas, watch The Big Bang Theory, and Psych as well as Finding Bigfoot and travel. Her favorite place to spend vacation hours is Walt Disney World: it’s where dreams come true and the soul can play. When she’s not writing, she’s keeping things interesting at her Believing is Seeing blog or spending time with her husband, who patiently answers questions she has about men, sci-fi-related subjects, and the odd “what if”.Sandra loves to hear from her readers. You can write to her at sandrasookoo@yahoo.com, visit her website at www.sandrasookoo.com, or look her up on Facebook and Twitter. All links are provided on the front page of her website.
Author Linkshttp://www.sandrasookoo.com/ https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sandra-Sookoo-author/149098339126https://twitter.com/SandraSookoo http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2931453.Sandra_Sookoo http://sandrasookoo.wordpress.com/
Operation Wedding Crash
By
Sandra Sookoo
BlurbUntil death—or a secret—make them part.
Nora “Can’t Say No” Lenhart’s life is way past complicated. To add stress to everything, she’s just been appointed maid of honor for the upcoming wedding of the World’s Worst Boss and her ex is the best man. Looks like she’ll need to buy stock in an antacid company and try her best to ditch the green-eyed monster of wedding envy.
Camden Webber is an FBI agent with a massive chip on his shoulder—namely not being able to forget the woman whose usual inability to say no didn’t keep her from shooting down his proposal five years before. Though he has jaded views on weddings and marriage, Cam agrees to stand at his best friend’s side.When Nora and Camden are thrown together at an engagement dinner, despite their tumultuous romantic history, they devise a plan to break up the ill-suited bride and groom. As the big day nears, emotions hit a breaking point, proving that wedding planning is more suited to a reality show and while happy endings are optional, they exist amidst the rubble, if the couple looks hard enough.
Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/Operation-Wedding-Crash-ebook/dp/B00ENJIWL8/ref=sr_1_31?ie=UTF8&qid=1376955462&sr=8-31&keywords=sandra+sookoo
Feel free to visit the other stops on the tour as well: http://tastybooktours.blogspot.com/2013/08/now-booking-release-day-tasty-book_8.html
Author InfoSandra is a writer of romantic fiction. Her portfolio includes historical, contemporary, sci-fi, and paranormal romances in full-length books as well as shorts and novellas. No matter if the heat level is spicy or sweet, she loves to blend genres and oftentimes will add humor to the mix.When not immersed in creating new worlds and engaging characters, Sandra likes to read, bake, taste new teas, watch The Big Bang Theory, and Psych as well as Finding Bigfoot and travel. Her favorite place to spend vacation hours is Walt Disney World: it’s where dreams come true and the soul can play. When she’s not writing, she’s keeping things interesting at her Believing is Seeing blog or spending time with her husband, who patiently answers questions she has about men, sci-fi-related subjects, and the odd “what if”.Sandra loves to hear from her readers. You can write to her at sandrasookoo@yahoo.com, visit her website at www.sandrasookoo.com, or look her up on Facebook and Twitter. All links are provided on the front page of her website.
Author Linkshttp://www.sandrasookoo.com/ https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sandra-Sookoo-author/149098339126https://twitter.com/SandraSookoo http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2931453.Sandra_Sookoo http://sandrasookoo.wordpress.com/
Author, author... Sassy in Stilletos by Nana Malone
Sassy in Stilettos by Nana Malone
USA Today Bestselling Author
Today we are blessed with a one on one interview with Nana Malone, USA TODAY Bestselling Author of the In Stilettos Series.
Welcome Nana, so great to have you here with us. Can you tell us a little about yourself? Oh, I’m just your average Ghanaian/American girl who lives in sunny San Diego with an American husband who thinks my family is crazy. My Big Fat Greek Wedding has nothing on us. In my infinite spare time, I chase around my two year old trying to tame her wild mane of hair and corral my spunky Scottie and occasionally let my hubby pamper me.
Do real life events find their way into your stories? Sometimes, especially if they are world-wide life changing events. But for the most part I use my imagination.
Do you ever mimic family members or people you know when you choose characters? LOL! Have you been talking to my mother? It’s difficult not to. As a writer, you spend a good amount of time observing people.
Do you find yourself going back to the same inspiration for each story or is it always something different? Sometimes. It’s a hard call. You want every story to be fresh.
When do you write? Early morning? During the day sometime or all day? After the kids go to bed? I’m lucky enough to write all day, but I’m much more productive in the mornings.
How do you feel about marketing your book? It’s the worst. I would rather just write. But I’m business minded enough to know it’s a necessary evil.
What social sites do you feel work best for marketing? None. Social sites work best for getting to know people. That's their point and intent. If you rely on them too heavily for marketing, you will irritate people. That said, I do do FB events and let my FB fans and Twitter followers know about book inspirations upcoming releases etc. For marketing, I rely on certain promo groups like Korner Kafe and What to read after 50 Shades of Gray.
Do you like to pitch stories to your publisher or do you wait until you have written the story and have a final manuscript to turn in? When I’m working with a publisher, I like to turn in a finished story. I prefer to know it’s done than to have to then write to something I pitched. I change my mind so often that the story I start with is often not the story I finish with.
Is there any other genre that you would love to try writing? If so, what is it? I’d love to give New Adult a try. When I first started writing, that was my intended market only to discover that it didn’t exist as a market. Now times have changed. Lol.
Do you always/ever see yourself as the heroine/hero when you write a story? Every character I write contains some sliver of my personality, so yeah, sometimes J
Just for fun, I have a few personal questions, Favorite 5 1) Favorite Male Actor - For a long time it was Josh Hartnett, but these days it’s Gabriel Macht from Suits.2) Favorite vehicle – Mini Cooper3) Favorite way to relax- Read4) Favorite ice cream – Rainbow Sherbert5) Favorite outfit – Hmmm, good one, White skinny jeans with an opaque peach top and wedges.
And for a bonus: If you could pick any place in the world to live, besides where you are now, where would it be? (Of course, without the hindrance of jobs or money needed)
I’d move home to Ghana. And if not Ghana, then I’m be making my home in London town
Where can our readers find you?? Email: nana@nanamaloneromance.comTwitter: www.twitter.com/nanamaloneFacebook: www.facebook.com/nanamalonewriterWebsite/blog: www.nanamalone.comAmazon author page: www.amazon.com/author/nanamaloneGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4341612.Nana_Malone
Is there an upcoming or current release you would like to share with us today and where can we find it? My current release is:Sassy in Stilettos (A Sassy Contemporary Romance)
Blurb: Smart mouthed and in charge, magazine editor, Micha Bennett, has learned the hard way to choose her career over love. When she’s up for the job of a lifetime, the competition becomes deadly fierce. To protect their best asset, her company hires the one person who’s ever put Micha on edge and threatens her sense of control. Sexy, security consultant, Caleb Atkins, knows what he wants and it’s Micha Bennett. He just has to convince her she wants him too. With ugly shadows in his own past, he’ll die before he lets anything harm the woman he loves. Too bad Micha doesn’t think she needs his protection or his love. Can Caleb convince Micha to let go of control long enough to fall in love? Or will fear and danger tear them apart? Warning: Sexy, sass talking women will make you laugh, cry and want a pair of killer footwear.
Excerpt:Micha shifted uncomfortably in her seat, certain Jaya was trying to torture her. Why had Jaya insisted they all bring dates? All week Micha tried to rustle up a date but had come up empty. Eventually she’d stuffed her poor assistant into a monkey suit and told him he had to escort her. She’d rather have taken a bullet to the eyeball than show up alone tonight. Why the hell Jaya had opted to seat her next to Caleb during the rehearsal dinner was beyond her. And now she could feel him staring at her. Oh, he wasn’t blatant about it, a sly look here, a drifting glance there. Every time she moved, his knee nudged hers. She reached for her wine glass and grazed his arm. Every time accidental contact occurred, it sent electric jolts through her body, and her skin felt like she had a prickly heat rash.Refocusing, she turned to her date. Smile pretty, Micha. Don’t be a bad host. She should at least make an effort. “So, Ryan, you were telling me you like rafting?” There, she’d made her effort. Next to her, Caleb shifted in his seat and turned to face Ryan’s direction as her assistant told everyone about the class five rapids and his less-than-experienced trip buddies. Without concentrating, she could actually feel Caleb’s breath, tickling her spine. Curse Jaya and Ricca for suggesting she wear her unruly curls up. Sure, they liked to wear their hair up because it gave their honeys easy access for nuzzling. Immediately, a memory flashed of her and Caleb on the dance floor the night they’d met. The way he’d leaned in to whisper to her that he wanted to take her out. Wait for it. Ah, there it was—her body softened for him immediately, responding to the memory. God, she had to get laid and pronto, before she gave in and actually slept with Mr. Handsome as Sin. Micha crossed and uncrossed her legs again.When Caleb leaned in to whisper in her ear, a shiver stole down her back.“Seriously, Micha, you need to stop moving around. Why are you so antsy?”As if he didn’t know. She whispered back through a false smile, tight enough to crack her molars. “Why are you watching me so close, Atkins? See something you like?”His answer was immediate. “Yes. But then, you already know that.” The timber of his voice was low, and his words rolled over her like whiskey on a cold night. Hell, that man was sexy. She turned her attention to her date more resolutely. You will not sleep with Caleb Atkins. You. Will. Not. Sleep. With. Caleb. Atkins.She met Ricca’s gaze across the table, and when her friend beamed at her, Micha couldn’t help but relax a little. Ricca was also blissfully in love. She had that totally sated been-on-honeymoon look on her face that all newlyweds wore. They weren’t married yet, but if Micha had to bet money, it was only a matter of time. And as for Jaya, well, she’d found her Mr. Right. Alec was the perfect complement to her friend’s serious type-A personality. He actually forced her to have some fun. For years, that had been Micha’s job, but it was nice to see Jaya happy. Both her friends would tell her to date Caleb already. But it wasn’t that easy. Micha hadn’t had a real relationship since leaving New York. Finding out she’d been living with a married man and that his wife was crazy enough to try and carve little chunks out of her, had sort of soured her on the whole happily ever after thing. And she would never forget how Simon hadn’t even bothered to try and see her or apologize. Her judgment had been all wrong about him, and she’d vowed she would never let herself be blinded by feelings again. No matter how genuine they may seem.She’d dated plenty. But she never let any guy get too close. Even when she tried to let people in, it was like an invisible barrier repelled her from whoever she was with. She’d made pushing people away an art form. After what Simon had done to her, she had no intention of getting hurt like that again. Add to that, Caleb wasn’t just any guy, but practically family. She wasn’t going anywhere near a relationship with him. If she messed with him, Alec and Beckett would be all up in her business. Everyone would. And that wasn’t in the playbook. Caleb was the kind of guy who wanted open and uncomplicated, and she was complicated as hell. When it didn’t work, it would be her fault. She liked her privacy. She liked her freedom. Eventually, no matter how hot and heavy they were, she’d feel hemmed in, and then it would be messy and ugly for everyone. Especially me. But maybe if she scratched that itch, she’d get Caleb out of her system. Who was she kidding? Once wouldn’t be enough. He seemed like the slow lover type. Micha shook her head, trying to get the image of him over her out of her head. Fantasies would get her nowhere. It’s available now at the following outlets:
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/12HruJV
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/137rx1q
Nook: http://bit.ly/1bWY557
Kobo: http://bit.ly/17yxw2U
ARe: http://bit.ly/1bo7NijiTunes: http://bit.ly/12J3eXG
ABOUT THE AUTHORUSA Today Best Seller and iTunes Breakout Books author, Nana Malone's love of all things romance and adventure started with a tattered romantic suspense she borrowed from her cousin. It was a sultry summer afternoon in Ghana, and Nana was a precocious thirteen. She's been in love with kick butt heroines ever since. With her overactive imagination, and channeling her inner Buffy, it was only a matter a time before she started creating her own characters.While she waits for her chance at a job as a ninja assassin, in the meantime Nana works out her drama, passion and sass with fictional characters every bit as sassy and kick butt as she thinks she is.Nana also writes sizzling erotic novellas as Q. MaloneWEBSITE TWITTER FACEBOOK
USA Today Bestselling Author
Today we are blessed with a one on one interview with Nana Malone, USA TODAY Bestselling Author of the In Stilettos Series.
Welcome Nana, so great to have you here with us. Can you tell us a little about yourself? Oh, I’m just your average Ghanaian/American girl who lives in sunny San Diego with an American husband who thinks my family is crazy. My Big Fat Greek Wedding has nothing on us. In my infinite spare time, I chase around my two year old trying to tame her wild mane of hair and corral my spunky Scottie and occasionally let my hubby pamper me.
Do real life events find their way into your stories? Sometimes, especially if they are world-wide life changing events. But for the most part I use my imagination.
Do you ever mimic family members or people you know when you choose characters? LOL! Have you been talking to my mother? It’s difficult not to. As a writer, you spend a good amount of time observing people.
Do you find yourself going back to the same inspiration for each story or is it always something different? Sometimes. It’s a hard call. You want every story to be fresh.
When do you write? Early morning? During the day sometime or all day? After the kids go to bed? I’m lucky enough to write all day, but I’m much more productive in the mornings.
How do you feel about marketing your book? It’s the worst. I would rather just write. But I’m business minded enough to know it’s a necessary evil.
What social sites do you feel work best for marketing? None. Social sites work best for getting to know people. That's their point and intent. If you rely on them too heavily for marketing, you will irritate people. That said, I do do FB events and let my FB fans and Twitter followers know about book inspirations upcoming releases etc. For marketing, I rely on certain promo groups like Korner Kafe and What to read after 50 Shades of Gray.
Do you like to pitch stories to your publisher or do you wait until you have written the story and have a final manuscript to turn in? When I’m working with a publisher, I like to turn in a finished story. I prefer to know it’s done than to have to then write to something I pitched. I change my mind so often that the story I start with is often not the story I finish with.
Is there any other genre that you would love to try writing? If so, what is it? I’d love to give New Adult a try. When I first started writing, that was my intended market only to discover that it didn’t exist as a market. Now times have changed. Lol.
Do you always/ever see yourself as the heroine/hero when you write a story? Every character I write contains some sliver of my personality, so yeah, sometimes J
Just for fun, I have a few personal questions, Favorite 5 1) Favorite Male Actor - For a long time it was Josh Hartnett, but these days it’s Gabriel Macht from Suits.2) Favorite vehicle – Mini Cooper3) Favorite way to relax- Read4) Favorite ice cream – Rainbow Sherbert5) Favorite outfit – Hmmm, good one, White skinny jeans with an opaque peach top and wedges.
And for a bonus: If you could pick any place in the world to live, besides where you are now, where would it be? (Of course, without the hindrance of jobs or money needed)
I’d move home to Ghana. And if not Ghana, then I’m be making my home in London town
Where can our readers find you?? Email: nana@nanamaloneromance.comTwitter: www.twitter.com/nanamaloneFacebook: www.facebook.com/nanamalonewriterWebsite/blog: www.nanamalone.comAmazon author page: www.amazon.com/author/nanamaloneGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4341612.Nana_Malone
Is there an upcoming or current release you would like to share with us today and where can we find it? My current release is:Sassy in Stilettos (A Sassy Contemporary Romance)
Blurb: Smart mouthed and in charge, magazine editor, Micha Bennett, has learned the hard way to choose her career over love. When she’s up for the job of a lifetime, the competition becomes deadly fierce. To protect their best asset, her company hires the one person who’s ever put Micha on edge and threatens her sense of control. Sexy, security consultant, Caleb Atkins, knows what he wants and it’s Micha Bennett. He just has to convince her she wants him too. With ugly shadows in his own past, he’ll die before he lets anything harm the woman he loves. Too bad Micha doesn’t think she needs his protection or his love. Can Caleb convince Micha to let go of control long enough to fall in love? Or will fear and danger tear them apart? Warning: Sexy, sass talking women will make you laugh, cry and want a pair of killer footwear.Excerpt:Micha shifted uncomfortably in her seat, certain Jaya was trying to torture her. Why had Jaya insisted they all bring dates? All week Micha tried to rustle up a date but had come up empty. Eventually she’d stuffed her poor assistant into a monkey suit and told him he had to escort her. She’d rather have taken a bullet to the eyeball than show up alone tonight. Why the hell Jaya had opted to seat her next to Caleb during the rehearsal dinner was beyond her. And now she could feel him staring at her. Oh, he wasn’t blatant about it, a sly look here, a drifting glance there. Every time she moved, his knee nudged hers. She reached for her wine glass and grazed his arm. Every time accidental contact occurred, it sent electric jolts through her body, and her skin felt like she had a prickly heat rash.Refocusing, she turned to her date. Smile pretty, Micha. Don’t be a bad host. She should at least make an effort. “So, Ryan, you were telling me you like rafting?” There, she’d made her effort. Next to her, Caleb shifted in his seat and turned to face Ryan’s direction as her assistant told everyone about the class five rapids and his less-than-experienced trip buddies. Without concentrating, she could actually feel Caleb’s breath, tickling her spine. Curse Jaya and Ricca for suggesting she wear her unruly curls up. Sure, they liked to wear their hair up because it gave their honeys easy access for nuzzling. Immediately, a memory flashed of her and Caleb on the dance floor the night they’d met. The way he’d leaned in to whisper to her that he wanted to take her out. Wait for it. Ah, there it was—her body softened for him immediately, responding to the memory. God, she had to get laid and pronto, before she gave in and actually slept with Mr. Handsome as Sin. Micha crossed and uncrossed her legs again.When Caleb leaned in to whisper in her ear, a shiver stole down her back.“Seriously, Micha, you need to stop moving around. Why are you so antsy?”As if he didn’t know. She whispered back through a false smile, tight enough to crack her molars. “Why are you watching me so close, Atkins? See something you like?”His answer was immediate. “Yes. But then, you already know that.” The timber of his voice was low, and his words rolled over her like whiskey on a cold night. Hell, that man was sexy. She turned her attention to her date more resolutely. You will not sleep with Caleb Atkins. You. Will. Not. Sleep. With. Caleb. Atkins.She met Ricca’s gaze across the table, and when her friend beamed at her, Micha couldn’t help but relax a little. Ricca was also blissfully in love. She had that totally sated been-on-honeymoon look on her face that all newlyweds wore. They weren’t married yet, but if Micha had to bet money, it was only a matter of time. And as for Jaya, well, she’d found her Mr. Right. Alec was the perfect complement to her friend’s serious type-A personality. He actually forced her to have some fun. For years, that had been Micha’s job, but it was nice to see Jaya happy. Both her friends would tell her to date Caleb already. But it wasn’t that easy. Micha hadn’t had a real relationship since leaving New York. Finding out she’d been living with a married man and that his wife was crazy enough to try and carve little chunks out of her, had sort of soured her on the whole happily ever after thing. And she would never forget how Simon hadn’t even bothered to try and see her or apologize. Her judgment had been all wrong about him, and she’d vowed she would never let herself be blinded by feelings again. No matter how genuine they may seem.She’d dated plenty. But she never let any guy get too close. Even when she tried to let people in, it was like an invisible barrier repelled her from whoever she was with. She’d made pushing people away an art form. After what Simon had done to her, she had no intention of getting hurt like that again. Add to that, Caleb wasn’t just any guy, but practically family. She wasn’t going anywhere near a relationship with him. If she messed with him, Alec and Beckett would be all up in her business. Everyone would. And that wasn’t in the playbook. Caleb was the kind of guy who wanted open and uncomplicated, and she was complicated as hell. When it didn’t work, it would be her fault. She liked her privacy. She liked her freedom. Eventually, no matter how hot and heavy they were, she’d feel hemmed in, and then it would be messy and ugly for everyone. Especially me. But maybe if she scratched that itch, she’d get Caleb out of her system. Who was she kidding? Once wouldn’t be enough. He seemed like the slow lover type. Micha shook her head, trying to get the image of him over her out of her head. Fantasies would get her nowhere. It’s available now at the following outlets:
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/12HruJV
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/137rx1q
Nook: http://bit.ly/1bWY557
Kobo: http://bit.ly/17yxw2U
ARe: http://bit.ly/1bo7NijiTunes: http://bit.ly/12J3eXG
ABOUT THE AUTHORUSA Today Best Seller and iTunes Breakout Books author, Nana Malone's love of all things romance and adventure started with a tattered romantic suspense she borrowed from her cousin. It was a sultry summer afternoon in Ghana, and Nana was a precocious thirteen. She's been in love with kick butt heroines ever since. With her overactive imagination, and channeling her inner Buffy, it was only a matter a time before she started creating her own characters.While she waits for her chance at a job as a ninja assassin, in the meantime Nana works out her drama, passion and sass with fictional characters every bit as sassy and kick butt as she thinks she is.Nana also writes sizzling erotic novellas as Q. MaloneWEBSITE TWITTER FACEBOOK
Author, author... Melissa Stevens with Robin's Nest
...read all about it !! (sorry for the small glitch in posts today)
Very pleased to say I have a one-on-one with Melissa Stevens :)
Great to have you Melissa, can you tell us a little about yourself?
hm, let’s see… I’m a 35 year old stay-at-home mom to 3 kids, and one child-like (in a lot of ways) husband. I often list my occupation House Elf, but honestly, I love being able to spend the time with my kids and make sure they’re raised the way I want them.
What or who initially inspired you to become a writer?
I’ve always had a bit of writer in me. It’s always been easier for me to express myself in written form rather than out loud, and I’ve dabbled in it for years. Then in October of 2009 I received and email about NaNoWriMo. For those of you who don’t’ know it’s an international challenge to write 50,000 words in 30 days, in the month of November to be exact. My first instinct was that’s insane. I threw the email away. But the idea had been planted, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Within a week I not only knew I had to try, I knew I could do it. And I did. That first book was really rough, I’ve been through it, revising, editing and rewriting about a million times, but actually… This is it. I’ve released others first but Robin’s Nest is the first one I wrote.
What kind of research do you do for a novel and how extensive do you get?
It depends on the situation that arises. I’ve been to most of the places in my books (so far) but for different situations, I do different things. For instance, in Fight, Nickie is kidnapped and chained in the back of the van. I called my dad, he’s a machinist and an ex-police officer, he’s familiar with the strength of chains, metals, cuffs, etc. and I explained the situation, and then I asked him, other than bones, which would snap first, the chain or the cuff. Some things I look up online. I spent an hour lost on the Jeep website when writing Robin’s Nest to find the right shade of green for her. Typically, if I don’t know an expert, I’ll find one to ask.
Do you have a special place you like to do your writing? Such as an office, a spare room, the dining room table, your couch?
Probably 75% of my writing happens at my desk. But when things get slow, I’ll change it up, I wish I had a spare room, I’d set it up as an office and hole up, instead, I have a lap desk and I can often be found sitting on my bed with it while I work on a piece, or when I’m really desperate, I’ll hit Starbucks, get a black tea and sit in the corner with my headphones on.
As a reader, what types of works do you like to read and do you think they influence the genre/genres you write in?
Of course they do, everything you read influences how you write in some way, even if you think “I never want to write like that.” I read a lot of Paranormal, a lot of Erotica, because it does things for me, some Romance, and some Horror. I tell people I’ll read pretty much anything as long as it’s fiction. Though I don’t read as much as I once did, writing take a lot of time, that’s still pretty much true.
What is your favorite method of writing...as in laptop, desktop, Ipad or the old fashioned pencil and paper?? And do you plot out your story or go with the flow of your muse?
Favorite method is on my desktop, but I actually get more done on my laptop, I’ll take notes on my Kindle Fire sometimes, but when I’m really stuck, or out doing things with the kids (3 kids in sports means I’m on the run a lot.) I carry a composition book and a pen. I get a lot done that way, usually notes and ideas, but sometimes whole scenes or several.
I have a basic, loose plot. I know where it starts, I know a couple of points along the way and I know, generally, where it ends. The rest is worked out along the way as the characters tell me who they are and how they’ll react.
When you need a break or some time off from the trials of being a writer, what can you be found doing?
Reading. Watching movies, or whole series on Netflix or Amazon Prime. Sometimes knitting, though not so much these days. I spend a lot of time with my family as well, often with a notebook not far away.
Is there anything about yourself nobody knows that you would like to share with our readers??
I’m shy.
For fun, I have a few personal questions,
Your Favorite 5
1) Favorite color –Green2) Favorite dessert - Chocolate3) Favorite Season –Anything but summer (Summer here hits 120 plus, yuck)4) Favorite sad song-It’s a detour from my favorite genre, I listen to a lot of hard rock, Staind, Nickelback, Saving Abel, Etc. But my fave sad song is If I Don’t Make it Back by Tracy Lawrence.
5) Favorite Romantic movie –Does the Fast and Furious series count as romantic? Honestly, the last romantic movie I watched over and over was Dirty Dancing. The Notebook was outstanding but not something I’d watch over and over like F&F. Give me action or adventure any day over romance movies.
And a bonus, what is your ideal romantic vacation??
My husband took me on the greatest one for our 10th wedding anniversary. We left the kids with my sister and he took me on a 2 week cruise tour to Alaska. I’d love to go back. We’re considering retiring up there.
Where can our readers find you??
Website ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ Twitter
Is there an upcoming or current release you would like to share with us today and where can we find it?
Robin's Nest
Blurb:After a car accident puts her in a coma, Samantha awakens to find her best friend, Robin, never left her side. While she recovers, Sam realizes there’s more between them than just friendship, but she’s afraid. What if it doesn’t work out between them, and it ruins their friendship.
Sam’s brush with death gives her a renewed understanding of how short life really is. Deciding the possible benefits are worth the risk, she faces the challenges from her over-protective family head on and leaps into life with both feet. When more challenges come their way, can Sam and Robin handle them together?
Excerpt:
As I drew closer, I saw Robin push himself off the side of the truck and stand to his full height of 6'1". He opened his pickup door and reached for something inside. I pulled the Jeep off the highway, and watched as he locked and closed the door then crossed the highway and rounded the Jeep to the passenger side. Robin isn't a particularly large guy. Yeah, he's tall, but he's lean, like the basketball player he'd been in high school. I leaned across the seat and lifted the lock on the door to let him in.
"So, what's the problem this time?" I asked as he climbed inside and closed the door.
"Damned rotor again," he replied, tossing his baseball cap with his keys inside onto the dash. He ran his hand through his shaggy blond hair. It stayed back for maybe three seconds before falling on either side of his face again, framing his deep green eyes. I waited while he buckled his seatbelt, then checked for cars before pulling back onto the highway. Only going far enough to make a U-turn without hitting his truck, before heading back into town.
"I thought you kept an extra one in the glove box for when this happens?" I asked.
"I do, but I used my last one a couple of months ago and I forgot to get more on my next trip to Safford, then I just spaced it." He ran his hand through his hair again, only to have it fall right back where it started. "Of course, it was about time for Murphy's Law to smack me upside the head again, so here we are."
I couldn't help but laugh. "Are you about ready to give up on that antique or are you gonna buy another case of rotors for it?" Ribbing Robin about his stubbornly keeping the old pickup, despite its oddities, was an old habit between the two of us. Though we dig at each other and bicker once in a while, I don't think we've had more than two or three real fights in our entire friendship.
"So it eats rotors. So what? They're cheap. The frame, body, and motor are all in good condition. Why junk a good machine for one small, and relatively inexpensive, inconvenience?" He easily fell right back into the old game.
"It's broken down, and left you stranded along the side of the road, how many times now?"
"A few," he admitted, "but I can usually repair the problem in less than fifteen minutes and be back on my way. It's my own fault I ended up stranded tonight. Besides, if you'd been busy I would have found someone else, or eventually, someone would have come along and given me a ride into town."
He's right, someone would have come along. It was barely eight o'clock, and not quite dark yet. However, this wasn't the most used road out of town and he might have had to wait a couple of hours before someone came along.
"What were you doing out here?" I glanced at him before looking back at the road.
"I was on my way back from a meeting in Lordsburg."
"That sounds fun." My tone was dry. I didn't know what the meeting was for, but if had been something he had enjoyed, he would have shared more about it.
"Any leads on a new job?"
"Not yet." I shrugged. "I'll find something, I'm sure. The question is, how long until I do?"
"If you need something to make ends meet, I can put you to work. It's long hours and muddy as hell, but it's work."
"I'll keep that in mind, thanks. I've got a while before I have to worry, though. I have a good chunk in savings and since I don't have a house payment or rent, it will go a lot farther."
"That's true."
I reminded him that I'd pick him up at eight the next morning as I dropped him off in his driveway. I waited until he made it to the door before turning around and heading home.
Pulling out onto the highway my mind raced ahead. My thoughts were already back at the house. It was only eight thirty, I still had plenty of the evening left. I could settle back onto the sofa, but the thought of a hot bath was even more enticing.
Suddenly, I was drawn back to what I was doing by bright lights directed at my face. I shook my head and barely had time to register the vehicle that was supposed to be in the left lane, it was in mine instead. I had nowhere to go. I couldn't avoid it. The last thought that went through my mind was "How badly is this gonna hurt?" then everything went black.
Available at Amazon
One last thing before we let you leave us today :) Do you have a favorite recipe you'd like to share? I like to cook and am always looking for new recipes to try and share.
I do, a few months ago I went wheat free. Not because I have an allergy but because I had noticed I just didn’t feel good after eating bread. So I have a wheat free cookies recipe I love.
1 C sugar (white or brown works go with your preference, I like brown)1C peanut butter1 tsp vanilla1 egg Mix well and roll in to tbsp. size balls, mash with a fork and bake abt 10 mins at 350.
They’re to die for, or you can not bake them, eat the dough and have what my 13 year old calls “no bake cookies”
About the Author:
Melissa was born and raised in Arizona, she’s spent her entire life living across the southern half of the state. She’s found that, along with her husband and three children, she prefers the small towns and rural life to feeling packed into a city.
She started reading at a very young age, and her love for series started early, as the first real books she remembers reading is the Boxcar Children series by Gertrude Chandler Warner. Through the years she’s found that there’s little she won’t read, and her tastes vary from westerns, to romance, to sci-fi / fantasy and Horror.
*****
Melissa thanks so much for sharing with us today and I am anxious to read Robin's Nest!
Please make sure to stop by again any time !
Until next time, happy reading !
Krista
Very pleased to say I have a one-on-one with Melissa Stevens :)
Great to have you Melissa, can you tell us a little about yourself?
hm, let’s see… I’m a 35 year old stay-at-home mom to 3 kids, and one child-like (in a lot of ways) husband. I often list my occupation House Elf, but honestly, I love being able to spend the time with my kids and make sure they’re raised the way I want them.
What or who initially inspired you to become a writer?
I’ve always had a bit of writer in me. It’s always been easier for me to express myself in written form rather than out loud, and I’ve dabbled in it for years. Then in October of 2009 I received and email about NaNoWriMo. For those of you who don’t’ know it’s an international challenge to write 50,000 words in 30 days, in the month of November to be exact. My first instinct was that’s insane. I threw the email away. But the idea had been planted, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Within a week I not only knew I had to try, I knew I could do it. And I did. That first book was really rough, I’ve been through it, revising, editing and rewriting about a million times, but actually… This is it. I’ve released others first but Robin’s Nest is the first one I wrote.
What kind of research do you do for a novel and how extensive do you get?
It depends on the situation that arises. I’ve been to most of the places in my books (so far) but for different situations, I do different things. For instance, in Fight, Nickie is kidnapped and chained in the back of the van. I called my dad, he’s a machinist and an ex-police officer, he’s familiar with the strength of chains, metals, cuffs, etc. and I explained the situation, and then I asked him, other than bones, which would snap first, the chain or the cuff. Some things I look up online. I spent an hour lost on the Jeep website when writing Robin’s Nest to find the right shade of green for her. Typically, if I don’t know an expert, I’ll find one to ask.
Do you have a special place you like to do your writing? Such as an office, a spare room, the dining room table, your couch?
Probably 75% of my writing happens at my desk. But when things get slow, I’ll change it up, I wish I had a spare room, I’d set it up as an office and hole up, instead, I have a lap desk and I can often be found sitting on my bed with it while I work on a piece, or when I’m really desperate, I’ll hit Starbucks, get a black tea and sit in the corner with my headphones on.
As a reader, what types of works do you like to read and do you think they influence the genre/genres you write in?
Of course they do, everything you read influences how you write in some way, even if you think “I never want to write like that.” I read a lot of Paranormal, a lot of Erotica, because it does things for me, some Romance, and some Horror. I tell people I’ll read pretty much anything as long as it’s fiction. Though I don’t read as much as I once did, writing take a lot of time, that’s still pretty much true.
What is your favorite method of writing...as in laptop, desktop, Ipad or the old fashioned pencil and paper?? And do you plot out your story or go with the flow of your muse?
Favorite method is on my desktop, but I actually get more done on my laptop, I’ll take notes on my Kindle Fire sometimes, but when I’m really stuck, or out doing things with the kids (3 kids in sports means I’m on the run a lot.) I carry a composition book and a pen. I get a lot done that way, usually notes and ideas, but sometimes whole scenes or several.
I have a basic, loose plot. I know where it starts, I know a couple of points along the way and I know, generally, where it ends. The rest is worked out along the way as the characters tell me who they are and how they’ll react.
When you need a break or some time off from the trials of being a writer, what can you be found doing?
Reading. Watching movies, or whole series on Netflix or Amazon Prime. Sometimes knitting, though not so much these days. I spend a lot of time with my family as well, often with a notebook not far away.
Is there anything about yourself nobody knows that you would like to share with our readers??
I’m shy.
For fun, I have a few personal questions,
Your Favorite 5
1) Favorite color –Green2) Favorite dessert - Chocolate3) Favorite Season –Anything but summer (Summer here hits 120 plus, yuck)4) Favorite sad song-It’s a detour from my favorite genre, I listen to a lot of hard rock, Staind, Nickelback, Saving Abel, Etc. But my fave sad song is If I Don’t Make it Back by Tracy Lawrence.
5) Favorite Romantic movie –Does the Fast and Furious series count as romantic? Honestly, the last romantic movie I watched over and over was Dirty Dancing. The Notebook was outstanding but not something I’d watch over and over like F&F. Give me action or adventure any day over romance movies.
And a bonus, what is your ideal romantic vacation??
My husband took me on the greatest one for our 10th wedding anniversary. We left the kids with my sister and he took me on a 2 week cruise tour to Alaska. I’d love to go back. We’re considering retiring up there.
Where can our readers find you??
Website ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ Twitter
Is there an upcoming or current release you would like to share with us today and where can we find it?
Robin's Nest
Blurb:After a car accident puts her in a coma, Samantha awakens to find her best friend, Robin, never left her side. While she recovers, Sam realizes there’s more between them than just friendship, but she’s afraid. What if it doesn’t work out between them, and it ruins their friendship.
Sam’s brush with death gives her a renewed understanding of how short life really is. Deciding the possible benefits are worth the risk, she faces the challenges from her over-protective family head on and leaps into life with both feet. When more challenges come their way, can Sam and Robin handle them together?
Excerpt:
As I drew closer, I saw Robin push himself off the side of the truck and stand to his full height of 6'1". He opened his pickup door and reached for something inside. I pulled the Jeep off the highway, and watched as he locked and closed the door then crossed the highway and rounded the Jeep to the passenger side. Robin isn't a particularly large guy. Yeah, he's tall, but he's lean, like the basketball player he'd been in high school. I leaned across the seat and lifted the lock on the door to let him in.
"So, what's the problem this time?" I asked as he climbed inside and closed the door.
"Damned rotor again," he replied, tossing his baseball cap with his keys inside onto the dash. He ran his hand through his shaggy blond hair. It stayed back for maybe three seconds before falling on either side of his face again, framing his deep green eyes. I waited while he buckled his seatbelt, then checked for cars before pulling back onto the highway. Only going far enough to make a U-turn without hitting his truck, before heading back into town.
"I thought you kept an extra one in the glove box for when this happens?" I asked.
"I do, but I used my last one a couple of months ago and I forgot to get more on my next trip to Safford, then I just spaced it." He ran his hand through his hair again, only to have it fall right back where it started. "Of course, it was about time for Murphy's Law to smack me upside the head again, so here we are."
I couldn't help but laugh. "Are you about ready to give up on that antique or are you gonna buy another case of rotors for it?" Ribbing Robin about his stubbornly keeping the old pickup, despite its oddities, was an old habit between the two of us. Though we dig at each other and bicker once in a while, I don't think we've had more than two or three real fights in our entire friendship.
"So it eats rotors. So what? They're cheap. The frame, body, and motor are all in good condition. Why junk a good machine for one small, and relatively inexpensive, inconvenience?" He easily fell right back into the old game.
"It's broken down, and left you stranded along the side of the road, how many times now?"
"A few," he admitted, "but I can usually repair the problem in less than fifteen minutes and be back on my way. It's my own fault I ended up stranded tonight. Besides, if you'd been busy I would have found someone else, or eventually, someone would have come along and given me a ride into town."
He's right, someone would have come along. It was barely eight o'clock, and not quite dark yet. However, this wasn't the most used road out of town and he might have had to wait a couple of hours before someone came along.
"What were you doing out here?" I glanced at him before looking back at the road.
"I was on my way back from a meeting in Lordsburg."
"That sounds fun." My tone was dry. I didn't know what the meeting was for, but if had been something he had enjoyed, he would have shared more about it.
"Any leads on a new job?"
"Not yet." I shrugged. "I'll find something, I'm sure. The question is, how long until I do?"
"If you need something to make ends meet, I can put you to work. It's long hours and muddy as hell, but it's work."
"I'll keep that in mind, thanks. I've got a while before I have to worry, though. I have a good chunk in savings and since I don't have a house payment or rent, it will go a lot farther."
"That's true."
I reminded him that I'd pick him up at eight the next morning as I dropped him off in his driveway. I waited until he made it to the door before turning around and heading home.
Pulling out onto the highway my mind raced ahead. My thoughts were already back at the house. It was only eight thirty, I still had plenty of the evening left. I could settle back onto the sofa, but the thought of a hot bath was even more enticing.
Suddenly, I was drawn back to what I was doing by bright lights directed at my face. I shook my head and barely had time to register the vehicle that was supposed to be in the left lane, it was in mine instead. I had nowhere to go. I couldn't avoid it. The last thought that went through my mind was "How badly is this gonna hurt?" then everything went black.
Available at Amazon
One last thing before we let you leave us today :) Do you have a favorite recipe you'd like to share? I like to cook and am always looking for new recipes to try and share.
I do, a few months ago I went wheat free. Not because I have an allergy but because I had noticed I just didn’t feel good after eating bread. So I have a wheat free cookies recipe I love.
1 C sugar (white or brown works go with your preference, I like brown)1C peanut butter1 tsp vanilla1 egg Mix well and roll in to tbsp. size balls, mash with a fork and bake abt 10 mins at 350.
They’re to die for, or you can not bake them, eat the dough and have what my 13 year old calls “no bake cookies”
About the Author:
Melissa was born and raised in Arizona, she’s spent her entire life living across the southern half of the state. She’s found that, along with her husband and three children, she prefers the small towns and rural life to feeling packed into a city. She started reading at a very young age, and her love for series started early, as the first real books she remembers reading is the Boxcar Children series by Gertrude Chandler Warner. Through the years she’s found that there’s little she won’t read, and her tastes vary from westerns, to romance, to sci-fi / fantasy and Horror.
*****
Melissa thanks so much for sharing with us today and I am anxious to read Robin's Nest!
Please make sure to stop by again any time !
Until next time, happy reading !
Krista
August 20, 2013
Review: Jasmine's New Love by Denali + giveaway
Jasmine’s New Love
by
Denali
The monotony of her life has Jasmine questioning her every move. It’s not that she doesn't love her husband and her kids, she does. It’s just that she aches for something more. Her every day routine has grown a tad boring, and she yearns for some excitement. There must be something out there that will make her life worthwhile.
The arrival of an unexpected postcard soon piques her interest. The thought of letting loose and having fun draws her in. Her husband won’t be around, and she’ll be able to explore something new. What could go wrong, right?
Thrown into a world where inhibitions fly out the door, and things can happen within the blink of an eye, Jasmine’s life soon takes a different turn. Her new endeavor is the perfect excuse to let her hair down and enjoy what she’s been offered. When anything is possible, the opportunity must be taken. She now has a chance to explore another side of herself one she never knew existed.
Facebook Website
My Review:This is the very first story released by Author Denali and what a hot little number ! Being a stay-at-home mom of 4, I could immediately relate with Jasmine in how mundane the routine sometimes gets. Everything else seems to take presidence; dishes, laundry, cooking dinner and those little voices hollering mommy a thousand times a day.
I found it extremely interesting that she got a postcard from the local club and curiosity would have gotten the best of me too, to at least go see what it was all about. I think each visit to the club got more hot :)
Denali did a great job creating characters with everyday issues, the actual story line will keep readers reading more and I definitely loved the twist revealed at the end.
I will anxiously be awaiting more novellas by this up and coming author !!
I think Denali deserves 5 stars for her first novella !!
Excerpt:
Thursday came just like any other day. It wasn't until the mail person brought the mail that a glimmer of change appeared.
There in her mail was a postcard. Not just any postcard, either, but rather one that showcased the new private club in town. This club was called the Ties That Bind. The card had her name on it, and on the back it said, looking for something new? Then we’re your place. Join us Friday for some fun. Jasmine had heard of the club, and secretly wished to be invited, but as far as she knew, none of her friends went there.
Should I go or not? Should I be daring, or stay in my comfort zone?Excitement tingled through her body, and she felt her pussy getting wet at the prospect of going to the club. It would be fun. At least, she hoped it would be. Then again, new things scared her. Being out of her safety zone and going where she didn’t know anyone scared her.
Links:
Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Jasmines-Love-B...
Barnes & Noble - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books...
Kobo - http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/eboo...
Sunshine Press – http://sunshinepressbooks.com/shop/ja...
All Romance Ebooks – https://www.allromanceebooks.com/prod...
Smashwords – https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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