Krista Ames's Blog, page 80

Wicked Takeover by Tina Donahue

WICKED TAKEOVER
by Tina Donahue





Blurb:
She’s just inherited a tattoo parlor…and the hunk who comes with it.
Lauren’s in a helluva mess. Not only has she lost her corporate job, her long-absent father just left her a struggling tattoo parlor along with the virile dude who runs it. Dante’s sinfully hot with a killer smile and inked biceps. Lauren’s full-figured, sorta pretty and wanting him badly. Dream on. She’s here to sell the place as quickly as possible for some much-needed cash.Dante sees the heat in Lauren’s eyes despite her conservative appearance. He recognizes the dynamite woman she could be if she’d just loosen up and have some wicked fun. Dominance and submission. Making love in a public place. Having her lush body always accessible to and ready for his. Carnal games that seduce them until lust turns to surprising need and friendship to something deeper that might just change their futures.


     Buy Links:  Ellora's Cave   (Amazon &  B&N  coming soon)



Excerpt:
Growling, Dante not only participated, he fucking claimed her, slipping his arm around her waist, holding her tight enough that Lauren knew she wasn’t going anywhere. Oh hell yeah. She moaned wantonly. He delivered more pleasure, his tongue pushing hers aside so his could fill her mouth. The scent of coffee lingered on his breath. His skin smelled clean and musky. Lauren sagged into him.He got all protective and possessive, tensing his arm to support her weight. With his free hand, Dante cupped her boob, his passion matching hers. There wasn’t a bit of hesitation or tenderness, only pure hungry male as he squeezed the soft swell of her breast then thumbed her nipple, making the tip so tight it hurt. The ache felt good. Needed. Lauren opened her mouth even more, her tongue dancing with his. She ground her pussy against his cock.They made hungry, shameless sounds that fueled their desire, their kiss going from out of control to beyond anything Lauren had experienced with another man. She dragged her fingers over his shoulders, down his biceps then around to his back, greedy to touch as much of him as she could. Dante was the same, his hands roaming everywhere, not content to settle on one part of her. Finally, he pulled his mouth free and lifted his face to the ceiling. His chest pressed against Lauren’s as he gulped air.She stared at his Adam’s apple, transfixed at the way it bobbed with his hard swallow. The shadow of beard on his throat was hotter than sin. Lauren licked those short dark hairs and suckled his neck.A lewd noise rumbled from Dante, mingling with the music. The Spanish guitars were gone, replaced with a sultry Cuban beat that spoke of tropical nights, fevered kisses and balmy air scented with sex.Lauren’s ears buzzed. She pressed closer.Dante whispered something in Spanish that she didn’t understand. Didn’t matter. His actions spoke volumes.He cupped her ass and pulled her into his rock-hard cock that surely demanded a soft, heated pussy. The ends of his hair brushed her neck as he trailed kisses from her cheek to her temple then to her ear. After licking her lobe, he snuggled his tongue inside.A shock of desire tore so ruthlessly through Lauren she wilted against Dante, wanting every intimate and carnal act that he’d be willing to share with her.For now, he concentrated on her throat, suckling it. Ohhhh. Bursts of heat and crazy good sensations had her gasping in pleasure. Gripping his tee, she twisted the stretchy fabric in her fists, wanting to tear it from him.Dante pressed his mouth to her ear and whispered, “You all right?”Too lost in the moment to speak, Lauren nodded.“Good.” Far more swiftly than she would have imagined, he pulled her away from the wall and slung her over his shoulder.Lauren yelped and gripped his ass for support. His solid muscles flexed beneath her fingers. She let out a crude, wanting moan.Despite her weight, Dante strode down the hall easily, heading toward the backroom. Visions of melting Dove bars filled Lauren’s brain. She murmured, “What are you doing?”“Nothing.” He ran his hand over her ass, his thumb on her cleft. “Yet.”Her pussy got even wetter. She dropped her head and bit her lip at the sweet scent of his tee and the fragrance of pure man beneath.His steps slowed when he’d reached his workstation. He carried her inside and kicked the door closed. The sharp sound of metal hitting metal told her he’d locked it. With that finished, he set Lauren on her feet.Unsteady, she staggered back. Dante gripped her wrist to keep her from falling.She stared at him. He stared at her. This was really happening. The thought was so welcome and outrageous the room lurched.Dizzy, Lauren lowered her face.Dante stroked her wrist. “You’re sure you’re okay.”She’d never be that way again, not after knowing him. Thankfully, she’d have some dynamite memories once this was over, which it would be. Lying, Lauren nodded.Dante released her wrist.She felt the loss of his touch and heat immediately, wanting it back. Lifting her chin, Lauren spoke in the firmest voice she could muster. “I’m ready for anything.”Bring. It. On.“Oh yeah?” His smile turned wolfish. “Get naked.”


BIO:
Tina Donahue is an award-winning, bestselling novelist in erotic, paranormal, contemporary and historical romance for Samhain Publishing, Ellora’s Cave, Siren Publishing, and Kensington. Booklist, Publisher’s Weekly, Romantic Times and numerous online sites have praised her work. Three of her erotic romances (Adored, Lush Velvet Nights, and Deep, Dark, Delicious) were named finalists in the 2011 EPIC competition. The French review site, Blue Moon reviews, chose her erotic romance Sensual Stranger as their Book of the Year 2010 (erotic category). The Golden Nib Award at Miz Love Loves Books was created specifically for Lush Velvet Nights, and two of her titles (The Yearning and Deep, Dark, Delicious) received an Award of Merit in the RWA Holt Medallion competition (2011 and 2012). Take Me Away and Adored both won second place in the NEC RWA contest (different years). Tina is featured in the 2012 Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market. She was the editor of an award–winning Midwestern newspaper and worked in Story Direction for a Hollywood production company.
FB Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/TinaDonahueBooks Email: tina@tinadonahue.comWebsite: http://www.tinadonahue.com/ Blog: http://www.tinadonahue.com/blog/Twitter: http://twitter.com/tinadonahueFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/tina.donahue.75Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/146988.Tina_DonahueTriberr: http://triberr.com/tinadonahuePinterest: http://pinterest.com/authortina/my-books/Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/author/tinadonahueMy page at TRR: http://erotic.theromancereviews.com/mypageprofile.php?location=tinadonahueEC Author Page: https://www.ellorascave.com/index.php/authors/index/author/slug/tina-donahue/Samhain Author Page: http://store.samhainpublishing.com/Tina-Donahue-pa-1630.html

Author, author... Bad Blood by Nicky Peacock

...read all about it !!





Bad Blood by Nicky Peacock – Out Now !


“I am Britannia. I am your protector. I will fend off the hungry hordes of undead hands that reach toward you. I am your steadfast defender. I will stand between you and the zombie masses as they try to taste your flesh. I am strong, unyielding, and dedicated to your survival. All I ask from you… is your blood.”  A five-hundred-year-old bloody game of vengeance will need to be put on hold if vampires are to survive the zombie uprising. Britannia and Nicholas, bitter enemies and the only two surviving vampires left in London, have to work together to save un-infected humans and deliver them safely to a vampire stronghold in the Scottish Highlands. Unable to drink the zombie ‘bad blood’, the remaining vampires need the humans to stay alive. But will the vampires tell the survivors who they are and what they want from them? Will Britannia be able to hold back her vengeance for the greater good? Is survivor Josh the reincarnation of Britannia’s murdered true love? And can she bring herself to deliver him to the ‘safe’ hold? Survival instincts run deep, but bad blood can run deeper.


Buy Link:  Evernight Teen


About the Author: I guess I’ve always been a storyteller, not in a ‘liar liar pants on fire’ kind of way, although I do work in advertising! When I was little, kids would crowd around me in the playground and I’d tell them tales of blood soaked horror filled with vampires, werewolves, ghosts and more. Yes, most would consider me a disturbed child, but my playmates couldn’t help themselves, they’d huddle around me every break time like an ancient tribe feeding off the fear; and that’s how I learned that horror stories hold a certain power, no matter what some might say, everyone is addicted to a good scare, especially if it is somewhat rooted safely in unrealistic beings… or are they unrealistic?
Writing was really a natural progression. Right now I’m obsessed with writing: a YA Urban Fantasy novel, a Paranormal Romance novella series, and several short horror stories! So I’m currently living in a functional fiction coma – and loving it!I’ve so far been published in 5 countries: USA, UK, Australia, Ireland and Canada and had short stories included in 40 anthologies with over 17 publishers.
Blog: http://nickypeacockauthor.wordpress.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/nickyp_authorFace Book Page: https://www.facebook.com/NickyPeacockYaBooksAmazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/Nicky-Peacock/e/B007UH2ACW/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_4Good Reads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/list/4958833.Nicky_PeacockPinterest: http://pinterest.com/nickypauthor/Tumblr: http://nickypeacock.tumblr.com/


Excerpt: We ran to the hospital. On the way, we encountered hardly anyone, alive or dead. Where were they all? When we arrived at the hospital car park, I understood. Zombies were pack animals. A massive crowd of them were crammed in and around the main building like they were waiting for a concert to start, all barely paying attention to their surroundings and seemingly swaying against the force of gravity. The other thing was the smell. When watching horror films filled with shuffling zombies, the horror came from their ghastly looks—the reminder that death has a tight grip on us all, well, most of us. But what the filmmakers should focus on—if they could—was the acidic rank odor zombies gave off. They had been dead barely twenty-four hours. It took a normal human body at least thirty-six hours to really start to smell, and that was with a vampire’s heightened senses. These guys smelled like they’d been out in the sun for three weeks covered in rubbish and besieged by wily maggots. They were mostly intact, though. Maybe this hospital had been Zombie Ground Zero. Most had turned so quickly their comrades hadn’t had time to feed.“Maybe we should try a less populated target.” Nicholas twitched his nose and turned away from me to dry retch.“Maybe you should grow a pair.”“Maybe you should act like a lady.” He now had his hands on his hips, squaring up for yet another argument.“Acting like a lady isn’t going to help now, is it? What do you want me to do? Drop my handkerchief in front of the zombies and watch them fight one another to scoop it up for me? Moron!”“Always to the ‘nth degree with you, isn’t it?”“Shut up. Look, the doors are holding, and they’re outside, not inside, which means there must be some people left in there alive to have barricaded this place so tight.”“Or maybe there are just more zombies in there.”“Well, there’s definitely a blood bank in there, and that’ll help matters no end!”Nicholas looked thoughtful then nodded. He of course didn’t want to actually say aloud that I’d had a good idea. “So, how do we get past them?”I assumed it was a rhetorical question, so I started down to the car park entrance, where most of the zombies were mobbing. I opened the outer door as quietly as possible.“Ladies first,” Nicholas whispered in my ear.“I thought we’d agreed I wasn’t a lady.” And with that, I shoved him as hard as I could into the throbbing throng of zombies.
Published by Evernight Teen http://www.evernightteen.com/

Author, author... Fat Girl by Leigh Carron + #giveaway

...read all about it !!




Fat Girlby Leigh Carron
Genre: Romance (Contemporary, Steamy, Adult Content)
About Fat Girl: Years after fleeing small-town Springvale, Illinois, Deanna Chase has picked up the pieces of her shattered heart and built a new life for herself as a child advocacy lawyer. Her food addiction is quasi under control, her secrets are buried, and she has even made a tenuous peace with her plus-size body. Until…Micah Peters—the very sexy and now famous man she fled— walks through her office door and sends Dee reeling. His demand that she help a young boy caught in a custody battle will reunite her with the past she left behind. Torn between duty and self-preservation, Dee isn’t easy to convince. But when obligation wins, the former lovers get more than they bargained for—a searing passion that burns hotter than ever and startling revelations about what really happened the fateful night she left.Will the truth set Dee free to love again? Or will past hurts and lingering insecurities destine her to walk away from her heart again, this time for good?Fat Girl is the first book in this provocative two-part series about love and self-acceptance.
Now available at Amazon.com/Kobo/Smashwords





Praise for Fat Girl“An addictive, steamy read.” —Wynne Channing, best-selling author “This was one HOT, emotional, and all-around EXCELLENT contemporary romance!” — Romance Novel Giveaways“This is one of those books that sucks you in and keeps your interest until the very end.” —Jodie's W.I.N.E. List“Emotional and captivating!” — CrazyDaisyBookWhore“This was a refreshing, real story that had me captivated from the first page. Dee and Mick were wonderful characters full of real flaws, real strengths and real passion.”  — Beth S“A Story with Hope, Heat, and Heart.” — KarinK“A brilliantly written, steamy, sexy, thought-provokingly wonderful novel.” — Olivia P “A MUST READ!!!” — Christine K
About Me: An American living in Canada. Chocolate snob. Recovering yo-yo dieter. Devoted mom and wife, blessed with a brilliantly witty daughter and unintentionally humorous husband. My wacky family feed my creativity and fuel my passion. Most nights, you will find me either curled up with a great book or, more often, sitting at my computer, tapping out the countless visions in my head. 
To me, there is nothing better in a narrative than perfectly flawed but strong characters and intense romance that is sexy, deep, and sensual. Mm…I liken such stories to a box of Godiva. Decadent and delicious! You can’t stop at just one. In fact, I’m now hard at work on my next novel— A Naked Beauty , the conclusion to Fat Girl.
Stay Connected at:
Website: http://www.leighcarron.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leighcarronebooks?ref_type=bookmark Twitter:@LeighCarron

 
Excerpt  (Mild heat and moderate language)There’s a good musical groove going on inside the packed Glam Bar. The three of us are standing around a black-and-chrome pub table, sipping our drinks. Well, my friends are sipping their drinks. I’m pretty much chugging mine. The bass percussion of the techno music resounds in my chest and vibrates beneath my feet. Having downed enough cranberry martinis to loosen me up, I move to the rhythm and soak up more alcohol. After nearly two years of therapy, I know better than to trade one binge for another. But by the time our server with the Angelina Jolie lips delivers my fourth drink, I’m past rational thought. But not numb.I still want numb.Lexie and Jordyn urge me on to the crowded dance floor. And for the next hour, I paste on a smile, I drink, I pretend to laugh, I drink, I dance, I drink. Before long, my smile and laugh aren’t fake anymore. The alcohol surging through my bloodstream makes me feel bold and confident, even in my fat-hugging jeans. I find myself flirting back with men I don’t know. That’s not my usual MO. I’m guarded. I was guarded even with the small handful of lovers I’ve had since Mick. But tonight the attention feels good…better than good. It feels fanfuckingtastic. But once I stop dodging grabby hands, Jordyn plucks the glass from my fingers and separates me from Ted or Ed. “Let’s go,” she says, placing an arm around my waist and leading my wobbly form to a cab. “Your chariot awaits, Princess.”  “No…no…no…” I wave my finger at her. “DontsyoucallsmePrincess.” “Ookay.” She’s humoring me. But I know what I mean. The cab drops me off first, and Lexie and Jordyn watch from the vehicle until I get inside. I stumble to my bedroom. I’ve got just enough wherewithal to change into a T-shirt and crawl into bed. Blissfully numb, I’m dozing off when the shrill ring of the phone pierces my partial slumber. I debate letting it go to voice mail. But if it’s one of my friends calling to check up on me, she’ll be worried.I get out of bed and sway. Whoa.With no idea where I’ve left the cordless, I attempt to steady myself by bracing my hands on the walls as I follow the incessant sound through the darkened house. The flashing light in between the potted plants catches my bleary gaze, and I stagger over to the ledge that divides the living room from the kitchen nook. Without checking Caller ID, I jab my index finger at the speaker button, apparently with a little too much gusto, and send it crashing to the floor. “Damn it!” I kneel down and pat the hardwood until my hand closes around the upended plastic. Fully expecting to hear Jordyn’s or Lexie’s voice on the other end, I climb shakily to my feet and answer, “Don’t worry, that wasn’t me. I’m still standing.” “Dee?” My head spins. But it’s not from the alcohol. I grab the ledge for support. “How did you get my number? I’m not listed.”“I have my ways.”Of course, he does. Being rich and powerful would get him any information he wanted, which brings me to the more important question: “What do you want, Mick?” He doesn’t answer immediately. Makes me wonder if he’s pondering that question himself. Then he says, “I wanted to thank you.”“Oh, I suppose I scored some brownie points for taking the case,” I reply, the liquor freeing my tongue. “Well, before you go applauding yourself for my reform, just know you weren’t a factor in my decision.”“Whatever your reason, Dee, I’m still grateful.”“No, you’re nots,” I say, slurring the last word. “You’re an arrogant ass.”“And you’re drunk.”His tone rubs me the wrong way. I’m tired of Mick flip-flopping between insults and apology, between thanks and judgment. I’m just tired. “So what?” I retort. “I needed to unwind from a miserable couple of days.” Let Mick read into that anything he chooses. “Have I made you miserable?”
I say nothing. I’ve already given him more than enough ammunition.“Have I made you face things you hoped to run away from? Have I made you think about us? About our nights at the lake?” I gasp, startled by his reference to our sexual past. And yet the memory incites an erotic need in me that won’t stand down. But I dismiss his taunt: “That’s ancient history.” “History has a way of repeating itself.” “Not this time.”  “Oh, we’re going to happen again, Dee.” His silky rasp licks across my skin. “And soon.” “See? Arrogant! You assume because you’re Micah Peters, I’ll fall into bed with you on command.”  “I don’t assume it. I know it. And not because of my fame—that wouldn’t matter to you. I know you will because of how your body has always responded to mine.”My thighs squeeze together against an achy wetness. “You’re delusional.”“I’m right and my memory’s long,” he counters in a low, sexy timbre. “I haven’t forgotten I was the first man to touch you. The first man to be buried deep inside you. The first man to make you come.”A moan snakes up my throat.  “And you haven’t forgotten either. Sleep well, Dee.”


Giveaway: An ecopy of Fat Girl at each stop, and four tour prizes: 1) A signed paperback copy of Fat Girl , bookmark, and $20 Visa gift card, 2) a $15 Amazon gift card, 3) $10 Body Shop gift card, and 4) $10 Starbucks gift card. 

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Jennifer Anderson with Small Town Charm, Love and Mystery + #giveaway

Please welcome our guest Jennifer Anderson !!!


Confessed Lover of Love by Jennifer Anderson
I’m a sucker for a romance and I have to have a HEA. I tend to read a lot of YA (totally disappointed with the Divergent ending) and NA (rock star stories are my fave!). Don’t get me wrong, I don’t escape to a romance read to live vicariously. My husband and I have been happily married for almost 15 years, 3 kids and we’re high school sweethearts. We’re good. I love romance because, and this is going to sound sappy, I love, love. Movies, TV shows or books. I’m an equal opportunity lover! I can be channel surfing, see a couple kissing or share a longing look and stop. And don’t even get me started with Hallmark Channel or ABC Family. And with any good love story, I think there is always an element of mystery. Even if we know there is a HEA, the how and why are the best part. You knew Edward and Bella were going to end up together but the dips, turns and OMG scenes, or chapters, made the journey the best part.


That is why I think Small Town Charm, Love & Mystery fit so well together. Each story holds an element of mystery. Surprise. Intrigue. Even murder. And what’s better than plopping those characters in Small Town USA, where knitting circles cluck about the latest gossip, most likely the main characters and high school friends try to find love among the city limit signs. In Ice Princess, Mya Newman starts her senior year hoping for some excitement in the quiet town. What she gets, she’s not prepared to handle. Her father dies and her best friend falls for the new girl. Little does she know that she loves her best friend, Michael, too. What’s a girl to do to catch the eye of her BFF when he’s into another girl?


Here’s an excerpt from Ice Princess...“Okay. Stop me if you’ve heard this one. A farmer and a pig….” “Stop,” I yelled without looking up. “I already told you that one?” “No, but any joke starting with a farmer and pig can’t be good.” I rolled over on the large towel we’d spread across the sand. It was the last day of summer vacation, and Michael and I agreed to spend the day together doing nothing but enjoying the sun. Living in Ohio, we weren’t sure how many more days we had left. Soon the leaves would fall showing off snow-covered cornfields. “Can you toss me a Dr. Pepper?” “Sure.” Without looking, I reached into the small red Igloo cooler we brought and produced a cold dripping can. I knew it was for him since I preferred bottled water to soda. Not Michael. The kid lived on caffeine and sugar. Which made the lack of fat on his body hard to explain. Not that I’d ever noticed. Michael Graves was my best friend. And nothing more. “So, you ready for tomorrow?” “Sure, I guess,” I answered. “How’s it any different than the last three years at Fayette County High? Really, we’ve known the same people and gone to school with them for the past twelve years. We all know who we’re gonna eat lunch with or who we’re gonna sit with at opening assembly. Boring.” I wasn’t a pessimist or a Debbie Downer, but Honey Creek needed some excitement and I didn’t think our senior year would prove to be any different unless something unusual happened. “Ok. So why don’t we spice it up a bit.” “Like what?” “Let’s start a nasty rumor or sit at a different table at lunch.” “Ooh, Michael, you’re so scandalous! Have I been rubbing off on you?” “Hardly. I think the most daring thing you’ve ever done was streak across my yard when we were five because you’d heard wearing your bathing suit gave you tan lines. Even though you had no idea what tan lines were, I might add,” he said with a smirk. The afternoon sun danced across his blonde moppy hair, intensifying his golden highlights. He sat next to me in a short beach chair staring out at the water. Everyone we knew was out enjoying the last weekend of August. All of the rental cottages were empty from the few Honey Creek vacationers that came to visit the lake. It was a manmade watering hole, but that didn’t take away from the fun had there. Boats skidded across the water pulling skiers or tubers in their wake. The sand was dressed with towels and blankets full of half-clothed bodies soaking up the sun like Michael and me. “So word around town is there’s a new kid coming to school.”
4 Star LASR Review: Great Read!“It is a wonderfully emotional short story with just the right balance of sweetness and sadness. I recommend it to anyone who relishes a charming story of love and friendship.”

"The emotional scenes in the hospital and day of funeral are great - I know I cried when I reviewed initially, and I cried again in both read throughs this week - I'm such a sap :-)" -Wendy on GoodReads

Mya Newman never minded the routine or quiet that came with living in Honey Creek, Ohio. For her senior year, she craves something exciting to happen instead of it melting into a cookie cutter routine like the previous years.

When a new girl, Audrey Moore, moves to town, Mya finds herself caught in a triangle. She discovers hidden feelings for her best friend, Michael Graves, but he seems to have eyes for the new girl.

After Mya's father becomes ill and eventually passes, she turns to her best friend, Michael. He never leaves her side, but she wonders if he'd rather be elsewhere. With fear of rejection and loss of friendship, Mya decides she can't confess her recently discovered feelings.

When Michael and Mya share a dance at the Winter Formal, does she open her heart to him? Or does she shy away, forever longing to be the princess who finds her prince?



Thank you for having me *wink wink*. Small Town Charm, Love & Mystery is available wherever e-books are sold. Amazon   Barnes&Noble   iBooks   TMP Bookstore  Smashwords   ARe  
About Jennifer Anderson:

I'm a Mommy, wife and now author. Even though I've spent many years on either coast, I've spent a majority of my life in the Midwest. Here is where my heart grows with the love and support of my family and friends and here is where I find inspiration for my stories.I'm also excited to announce Spider, my first non-series YA novel will also release in 2013. My Brother's Wedding, a contemporary romance, releases in e-book only in August 2013. Stay tuned for more news.My complete list of releases:
Ice Princess, Honey Creek Royalty Book 1
Prince Charming, Honey Creek Royalty Book 2
Queen Mean, Honey Creek Royalty Book 3
King of the Lake, Honey Creek Royalty Book 4
Spider, May 2013
My Brother's Wedding, August 2013Print edition of Books 1-3 from Honey Creek Royalty Series are now available!You can visit me at www.jenandersonauthor.com and www.musingsfromthepeanutgallery.blogs...   
Twitter: @JenniA8677

 
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Author, author... The Lone Sheriff by Lynna Banning + #giveaway

...read all about it !!



Please welcome the best selling author, Lynna Banning !!We were lucky enough to be able to interview her today :)


Do real life events find their way into your stories?

        Absolutely.  My first book (“Western Rose”) was based on my grandparents’ rather stormy courtship, and a later novella, “Gauchos & Gumption:  My Argentine Honeymoon,” is based on the true story of Grandmother Banning’s honeymoon on a cattle ranch in Argentina, where my mother was born (after a 1,000-mile cattle drive to Buenos Aires). 


Do you ever mimic family members or people you know when you choose characters?

        Yes!  My grandmother and my mother serve as role models for female characters, and my Grandfather Banning is often reflected in my heroes.  Grandma and Mama had smarts and courage in small, quiet ways; Granddad Banning was “old west” through and though—he always stood up for what was right.


Do you find yourself going back to the same inspiration for each story or is it always something different?

        Yes, I do find myself going back to characters who intrigue me (admirable but conflicted) and situations that are interesting—usually the “small person against the crowd” or a “fish-out-of-water” situation.”


When do you write?  Early morning? During the day sometime or all day?  After the kids go to bed?

        I write mostly at night, propped up in bed with a notepad on my lap (I start off writing in longhand, then transcribe it the next morning on the computer, print it out, and make revisions during the day). 

  How do you feel about marketing your book?

        Actually, I dislike it, but what I value highly is the response from and connection with readers.  I don’t write for money… readers’ enjoyment is much more important to me.


What social sites do you feel work best for marketing?
        This blog/book tour is great!


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?

        Since I work with an agent, I usually submit a story idea of about 3 pages to my editor, and if she is interested, I write the whole story and turn in the completed manuscript through my agent.


Is there any other genre that you would love to try writing?  If so, what is it?

        I’d love to try writing my autobiography… growing up/high school/college in the ’50’s and ’60’s; early married life; teaching school in the ’70’s, etc. etc. 

  Do you always/ever see yourself as the heroine/hero when you write a story?

        Always.  All my life I admired my mother and try to be like her—I use her character (and myself) as the basis for my heroines.


Just for fun, I have a few personal questions,  Favorite 5 1)     Favorite Male Actor  -       Robert Redford2)     Favorite vehicle -              Subaru Forester (what I’m driving now)3)     Favorite way to relax -       Reading or practicing music4)     Favorite ice cream -   Peppermint stick with chocolate chips5)     Favorite outfit -                 Jeans and a shirt
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 pick Paris, because of its old, old history and because when I visited there some years ago I didn’t see nearly enough.  (Also it would improve my French…)

Where can our readers find you??  Mailing address:  P.O. Box 324, Felton, CA 95018Email:   carowoolston@att.netFacebook:  www.facebook/lynnabanning            website:  www.lynnabanning.netAmazon author page: https://www.facebook.com/lynna.bannin...Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...


Is there an upcoming or current release you would like to share with us today and where can we find it?

        My new September release is “The Lone Sheriff,” which is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and independent bookstores.
        Publisher:  Harlequin Mills & Boon        Blurb:   As if tracking down train robbers isn’t hard enough, now Sheriff Jericho Silver’s backup arrives and she’s a beautiful, rich, gun-slinging Pinkerton lady detective who sure spells trouble and won’t take No for an answer.


Buy links:      Amazon     B&N      Harlequin Romance




Excerpt:None of them looked remotely like a Pinkerton man.  A Pinkerton agent would no doubt be wearing a proper suit.  But the only male who looked the least bit citified was Ike Bruhn, home from his honeymoon with his new bride.  Sandy jiggled at his side.  “Ya see ’im?”“Nope,” Jerico grunted.“Maybe he missed the train,” his deputy suggested.“Naw, must be here somewhere.  Look for a gent in a gray suit.”  Pinkerton men always wore grey to blend in with crowds.  He scanned the thronged station platform again.“Check inside, Sandy.  Maybe he slipped past me.”His deputy jogged off and Jericho perused the crowd a third time.  Nothing.  Maybe Mr. Detective had chickened out at the prospect of fingering an elusive outlaw gang that was robbing trains.  He narrowed his eyes and turned to check the station once more when someone stumbled smack into him.“Oh, I am terribly sorry.”  An extremely pretty young woman carrying a green-striped parasol gazed up at him.  Her voice sounded like rich whiskey sliding over smooth river stones and for a moment Jericho forgot what he’d come for.  She only came up to his shoulder and on her dark, piled-up hair sat the most ridiculous concoction of feathers and stuffed birds he’d ever laid eyes on.  He sucked in a breath to apologize, then wished he hadn’t.  Goddam she smelled good.  Soap and something flowery.Made his head swim.  He stepped back.  “’Scuse me, ma’am.”She waved a gloved hand and peered at his chest.  “Oh, you are the sheriff.”“Yeah, I am.”She smiled and his mouth went dry.  “You are just the man I want to see.”Jericho swallowed.  “You have a problem?”“Oh, no.”  She twirled her parasol.  “You have the problem.  I have come to help.”  She waited, an expectant look on her face.“Help?” Jerico echoed.  “Of course.”  The whiskey in her voice was now sliding over some pointy rocks.  “I am Madison O’Donnell.  The Smoke River Bank hired me to help catch the gang robbing their gold shipments.”Jericho stared at her.“I believe you were expecting me?”He snapped his jaw shut.  He sure as hell wasn’t expecting her.  The last thing he’d expected was this frilly-looking female with her ridiculous hat.  In her green-striped dress and twirling her parasol like that she made him think of a dish of cool mint ice cream.  “Whatever is the matter, Sheriff?  You have gone quite pale?  Are you ill?”He jerked at the question.  Not ill, just gutshot.  “Uh, yeah.  I mean No, I’m not ill.  Just . . . surprised.”She lowered her voice.  “Most Pinkerton clients are surprised when they meet me.  It will pass.”Hell no, it won’t.  Madison O’Donnell picked up her travel bag.  “Shall we go?”Not on your life.  “Uh, my deputy’s inside the station house.  ’Scuse me, ma’am.”  He strode past her without looking back.  Inside, he found Sandy talking to the ticket seller.“Charlie says nobody’s come in except the two Weatherby women.  You want me to hang around and – ?”




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& share!

        Here’s a recipe for “Blondies” (like brownies):
        2 cups graham cracker crumbs        1 can Eagle brand sweetened condensed milk        1 package chocolate chips        1 teaspoon vanilla        Mix it all up together (it will be stiff) and press into a greased 9” pan.        Bake at 350 for 23-25 minutes (don’t over-bake). 

TWISTED by Joey Jameson ~ +giveaway

Twisted: A Gay Erotic Thriller
By Joey Jameson

 


Imagine another person, the mirror image of you but yet different in every way… Everly and Hadley Stone are identical twins.
Growing up the boys were inseparable, always at each other’s side and experiencing everything together as one. It seemed like nothing was strong enough to break the bond between the two brothers. Until now…
On the eve of their birthday the twins meet a man who is literally to die-for, causing them both to fall helplessly at his feet. But what any unsuspecting man should know, is that wherever the Stone brothers go, trouble follows. Their story is one of secrets and lies which will have you guessing till the brutal end who’s good, and who’s very, very bad. Light or dark? Sweet or sexy? Quiet or confident? Innocent or deadly. Pick your flavour.


 Buy Links:  Chances Press   Amazon   Smashwords



About the Author: Joey Jameson lives in Brighton, UK; a world of decadence, glamour and intrigue. He believes life is better when drizzled with naughtiness and drenched in layer upon layer of sparkling glitter. His work is best appreciated with a hard drink and the lights down low and will leave you wondering just what goes on in his twisted little mind.
He is the author of “Candy from Strangers”, “Blackout” and the recently released short “Interview with the Porn Star.” Keep your eyes peeled for more titilating adventures that are yet to come.

For more on Joey Jameson, please visit www.chancespress.com.
http://www.facebook.com/joeyjamesonauthor

Giveaway:  One free ebook copy per blog tour stop ~  Please leave a comment on this post to be entered and one of you will be a lucky winner !!!



Excerpt:  I writhed underneath his bulk, my raging hard-on pressing up against my jeans to the point of causing me to chafe inside my trousers. Before I could respond, he drove his tongue deep into my mouth again; hot and wet it explored, licking and sucking in a rhythmic manner. His hands moved up my muscular torso, finding their way under my top and running his fingers over the deep grooves of my abs. A moan escaped my lips at the sensation of his smooth palms making contact with my nipples. My mouth opened further, inviting him deeper inside me. Lying on his sofa, I could feel how cheap it was as the rough coiled-springs drove up uncomfortably into my back causing it to arch unwillingly and force my crotch up even further against his own.  He responded by driving his pelvis harder to meet me half-way, the sensation sending sparks of colourful pleasure dancing through my bloodstream. I opened my eyes for a moment and searched his face, trying desperately in vain to remember his name. Dan…Darryl…Donnie…Didn’t matter anyway, it wasn’t like we were going to be friends afterwards. I pushed him off me, forcing him to sit up and causing a look of hurt to flash across his features before quickly evaporating into lust as I lifted my black t-shirt off over my head; stopping only for a second to let him admire my sculpted chest before I started to unbuckle my shorts. I could feel his eyes roll over my naked torso; pausing at the broadness of my tanned shoulders and trickling down over my round pecs. I slipped a hand into the waist band of my denim cut-off shorts and let my eyes close as I grabbed my dick and adjusted it in the confines of my underwear. When I opened them he was practically drooling at the sight of me touching myself. I unzipped the crotch and nodded in his direction, silently motioning for him to get naked too. He stood and clumsily tore at his shirt, letting it fall discarded to the floor. As he fumbled with his own trousers, desperate to get back to touching my skin, I stood and let my shorts and underwear fall to the ground in a pool at my feet. He was hot. There was no denying it; similar in build to myself, same deep V definition under his abs and with just a light dusting of hair over his generously perk pectorals. The muscles in my stomach constricted as lust swept over me, and I realised just then how horny I actually was. As he swiftly removed the last of his clothing revealing a hard-on that sliced through the air like a sword as it was released, I was on him in a flash, taking his dick in my right hand and forcing him down on his tacky old sofa. He groaned in response to my grip and laid himself back with his hands behind his head. Lowering myself down I took him into my mouth, all at once I forced the muscles in my throat to relax as I led him deep inside my mouth, trailing my wet tongue down his girth. I paused for a moment as my head relaxed further and he slid obligingly even deeper until he practically grazed my tonsils. With one hand I worked the skin around his penis in a circular motion as my tongue licked and lips sucked expertly at his head. My other hand found my own cock and worked a similar motion on myself, mirroring what I was doing to him. He arched his own back now, driving him further inside me as his hips began pumping slowly into my face. I responded by gently grazing my teeth up and down his shaft once, sending him the message to chill the fuck out. He half-groaned and half-laughed as he got the hint that I was in charge. “Fuck yeah, baby, keep doing that.”My mouth sucked harder and harder, my tongue licking and spitting as it went to town on his smooth glistening mushroom head. My own strokes became shallower as I began to feel the orgasm building inside me causing my own cock to moisten. “Jesus, you give good head,” he whispered as he took my head in his hands and knotted his fingers in my dark hair. I loved dirty talk. The filthier the better. The more a guy talks smut to me the fucking hornier I get. I groaned in response, my desire boiling up inside of me and coming out in grunts through my stuffed mouth.

Spotlight ~ Small Town Charm, Love & Mystery Boxed set ~ #Giveaway

Small town America has its charm—not to mention its fair share of romance and mystery!

***

Everyone knows small towns have their own unique charm, that’s why they make fabulous settings for stories!
 Turquoise Morning Presspresents the best of their small town settings—all in one volume, and for one very small town price!
From Drakes Springs, Florida, to Briny Bay, North Carolina, to Wheeler, Texas, where a little romance and a lot of murder 
and mystery take center-stage—and then to Honey Creek, Ohio  and Legend, Tennessee, where home-grown romance blooms, and love lives right next door.
Eight fabulous authors share their views of small town charm, love and mystery in this eight book boxed set—providing you with a satisfying glimpse into the lives and stories of the quirky characters who live in these charming settings.
(Young Adult to Adult Sweet/Sensual Romance)
Retail Price: $5.99      Promotional Price:  $0.99

Turquoise Morning Press AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | IBOOKS | KOBO 
| SMASHWORDS | ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS


THE BOOKS Bloom by Julie Anne Lindsey In a town filled with her past, she never expected to find her future. Seven years ago Cynthia left Honey Creek with a broken heart. Three years ago Mitchell arrived with one. If they let it, love will find a way to bloom. 
Julie Anne Lindsey really brought me back to the books that made me love to read. Amazon Reviewer, 5 Stars; Bloom is one of those romances that transports you back in time. Amazon Reviewer, 5 Stars



Buried in Briny Bay by Bobbye Terry Roxie Turner finds herself up to her neck in trouble her lifelong nemesis, Georgia Collins, is discovered buried in the town’s landfill. Worse, with her characteristic Southern sass, Roxie has been saying she’d kill Georgia for more than twenty years. 

I had Janet Evanovich, Julie Garwood, Jill Shalvis and Pamela DuMond all grouped together for this category. But I think the crazy sisters, Roxie and Trixie just had to come out on top. What a feel good book Buried in Briny Bay was, as it kept me smiling from the first page till the last. 

Another Look Book Reviews Award, Best Book to Bring on Smiles

Midnight in Legend, TN by Magdalena Scott. Midnight Shelby has grand ideas to help her adopted hometown, and she's not going to let a stick-in-the-mud realtor get in her way. 

 I loved this book and highly recommend it. I must warn you, however, that [Magdalena Scott] will quickly become addictive. 

Brenda Tulley of The Romance Studio, 5 Hearts





Murder at the Blue Plate Café by Judy AlterSmall towns are supposed to be idyllic and peaceful, but when Kate Chambers returns to her hometown of Wheeler, Texas, she soon learns it is not the comfortable place it was when she grew up.  

Alter serves up a delicious whodunit by stirring up a healthy serving of suspense and a splash of romance, then bakes them to downhome perfection. Add an appealing protagonist, and you have Murder at the Blue Plate Café. 

Highly recommended. Polly Iyer




Shades of the Future by Suzanne Lilly Mariah Davis loves animals, running, and her hunk of a boyfriend, Kevin Creamer. Everything looks bright for her until the day she finds a pair of sunglasses that allows her to see the future. 

 Suzanne Lilly weaves an engaging world populated with charming and eccentric characters that readers will want to visit again and again. 

Brenda Hiatt, Award winning romance and young adult author




 
Heart to Heart by Jan Scarbrough When Jeremy’s aunt gives him a second chance, he must decide if he believes in the unbelievable and the pet psychic who teaches him about faith…and love.  

If you want a humorous, sweet book for a quick read at the pool or beach, this is it. Ms. Addie is still stirring up things in the town of Legend, even after her death. 

Amazon Reviewer, 4 Stars




Rebuild My World by Cheryl Norman More than anything, Taylor Drake wants her life back. Suffering from the agoraphobia that has plagued her since a brutal attack, the once confident and successful photographer now cowers behind closed doors with a loaded pistol. 

…Ms. Norman is a gifted storyteller. I loved Rebuild My Worldand eagerly turned the pages, excited to see what event would next happen to keep this story moving. Not only is it well plotted, but the characterizations draw you into the lives of these people. Ms. Norman tells a compelling tale that keeps you guessing. Vine Voice Amazon Reviewer, 5 Stars




Ice Princess by Jennifer Anderson Mya Newman never minded the routine or quiet that came with living in Honey Creek, Ohio. For her senior year, she craves something exciting to happen instead of it melting into a cookie cutter routine like the previous years.  

 …a wonderfully emotional short story with just the right balance of sweetness and sadness. I recommend it to anyone who relishes a charming story of love and friendship. 
LASR Review, Great Read! 4 Stars





THE AUTHORS
Julie Anne Lindseyis a multi-genre author who writes the stories that keep her up at night. Julie writes sweet romance for Honey Creek Books, the Calypso series with Lyrical Press/Kensington and pens the The Patience Price Mysteries for Carina Press/Harlequin.

Bobbye Terry is a multi-published author of romantic comedy, fantasy and suspense-writing where southern charm sometimes meets macabre reality.  Her awards include Eppie Finalist and two-time finalist of Detroit's Bookseller's Best Award

Magdalena Scott lives in her own fantasy world of Magdalenaville, Indiana, and spends her time writing stories with small town settings.  Magdalena knows that life in a "burg" is seldom dull-if you're paying attention.  She is the Amazon bestselling author of the Ladies of Legend romance series.

Judy Alter, award-winning author, penned the five books in the Kelly O’Connell Mysteries series. With Murder at the Blue Plate Café, she moved from inner city Fort Worth to small-town East Texas to create a new set of characters in a setting modeled after a restaurant that was for years one of her family’s favorites.
Suzanne Lilly writes lighthearted young adult stories with a splash of suspense, a flash of the unexplained, a dash of romance, and always a happy ending. Her short stories have appeared in numerous places online and in print. She lives in Northern California where she reads, writes, cooks, swims, and teaches elementary students.
Jan Scarbrough is the author of the popular Bluegrass Reunion series, writing heartwarming contemporary romances about home and family, single moms and children, and if the plot allows—horses. She is an Amazon bestselling author of the Ladies of Legend contemporary romance series and a RWA Golden Heart finalist.
Cheryl Norman turned to fiction writing after a career in telecommunications and won the 2003 EPPIE award for her contemporary romance, Last Resort. A mention in Publisher's Weekly called her one of ten new romance authors to watch. She resides in Florida and is currently writing the Drakes Springs romance series.
Jennifer Anderson wears the hats of Mommy, wife, cat owner, author, and marketing coordinator. She has lived either coast, but has spent the majority of her life in the Midwest, where she says her heart grows with the love of family and friends, and where she finds inspiration for her young adult and romance stories.
SOCIAL MEDIA Website: http://www.turquoisemorningpress.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TurquoiseMorningPress Twitter: https://twitter.com/turquoisemorn  @turquoisemorn #TMPeditor
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Someday, My Forever by Carrie Fox

Someday, My Forever  Carrie Fox  New Adult, @25k words


Rae Ann Bailey has focused on her family and education for her entire life. Now a college freshman, she’s looking forward to everything that being in college entails. She has always thought about what everyone wants and making them happy, so she’s relieved to be out on her own and making her own decisions.

Sam Jenks is a junior, and a vital part of the college rowing team. Studying and getting his team to the national championships are his only priorities. He doesn’t have the time or the desire for a girlfriend

When Sam and Rae Ann meet, they have an instant connection that neither of them can deny. As they get closer, his commitment to the rowing team strains their new relationship, and Rae Ann has to decide if she can handle rowing being number one. Just when it seems that things are going well, someone from Sam’s past threatens to tear them apart. Can Sam and Rae Ann move past their obstacles and decide that their forever is worth it?




Buy Links:   Amazon US     Amazon UK

Excerpt:

Several minutes later, Heidi breezed back inside and smiled widely.  "Let's celebrate our freedom!", she exclaimed.

I shot her a confused look and she laughed.

"Rae Ann, you and I are at the UW, free of parents...it's time to cut loose!"

Gib smiled at Heidi.  "It's good to see you again."  He looked over quickly and waved me away.  "Go on, she won't take no for an answer."

Sighing resignedly, I followed her onto the elevator, which quickly rose to the 6th floor.  We made our way down our way down the hall in a comfortable silence.  I knew the night ahead would be an adventure.


~  ~  ~



Author bio:
Carrie Fox has been an avid reader since childhood.  Since discovering the Indie author community, she has become a blogger and joined street teams for established authors.  Someday, My Forever is her first published work.

Facebook Page     Goodreads Link

Hot and Cold by Amelia Swan

Hot and Cold By Amelia Swan


Authors Bio: Amelia Swan writes contemporary, erotic, and new adult romance. She’s interested in characters that are smart, sincere, and somewhat artistically inclined. All of her heroines are girls she could totally see herself being friends with.  Reader Email: Amelia@ameliaswan.comhttps://www.ameliaswan.com/https://twitter.com/byameliaswanhttps://www.facebook.com/people/Amelia-Swan/100008365479767



Excerpt:  
“Well, then you’ll just have to show them you can. I mean-” Molly stopped herself mid-sentence, her big blue eyes widening as she spotted something across the rink. I looked in the direction of whatever had caught her interest. “What’s up, Moll?” She turned to me, her full cherub cheeks red from the cold and from excitement. “Hot Hockey Dad, straight ahead.” My eyes widened as I searched the snack bar area outside of the rink for the man Molly and I had been lusting after for months. He was leaning up against the painted brick wall of the snack bar, watching our figure skating girls twirl and glide about. I would never get over how hot he was. His warm, olive-toned skin was complemented by close-cropped, jet black hair and emerald green eyes. Despite the fact I’d never seen him wear anything other than a suit, I could tell his tall, broad frame was covered with a patchwork of well-defined muscles. Muscles that strained ever so slightly against the fabric of his suits. He always looked so dapper. So well put-together. So damn sexy. And there was something undeniably charming about the fact he never seemed to miss his son’s practices or games. Oh, and he never wore a wedding ring. “You’re staring, ladies,” Evan, another coach and friend of ours, said with a smile as he skated by, trailing one of his students while she stroked around the rink. If he wasn’t in the middle of a lesson, Evan would be leaning up against the boards and staring with us. I turned to look at Molly. “He’s right, you know - we’re like school girls with this crush.” Molly, on the other hand, didn’t avert her gaze. “He’s just so...so…” She tried to find the right words to describe Hot Hockey Dad as she ran her fingers through her platinum blonde ponytail, primping for his benefit, hoping he’d finally notice her after months of pining for him from afar. Knowing Katie had three more laps to complete and didn’t need my full attention, I looked back over at the object of our admiration. “Hot. So incredibly, out-of-this-world hot.” We sighed in unison, lost in a haze of lust as we eyed Hot Hockey Dad from across the ice and through the rink’s expansive glass doors. I watched as his impossibly bright green eyes scanned the rink, paying attention to no one person or thing in particular...until they landed on me. My breath hitched as his gaze lingered on my body, returning my blatant stare with one of his own. His eyes narrowed as he studied me, one side of his mouth curling up into the most seductive smile I’d ever seen.

Cowboy Up!

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Seven men as tough as the west…          Seven women who know how to... Cowboy Up
A boxed set of seven romantic novellas by seven award-winning authors experienced with writing about the men of the West.
 Buy Links:   Amazon   B&N    ARe

Always, Cowboy by Allison MerrittBlurb:The past is better left behind, unless it offers a brighter future.Brody Longtree's first love was bull riding, but he loved beauty queen Libby Dempsey equally as hard. When she turned down his marriage proposal, everything from his rodeo career to his love life went to hell. His love ran too deep for blame, so he made the best of what life threw at him. Things finally get back on track...and then she almost runs over his dog.When her pageant dreams died in an embarrassing display of nerves, Libby made a new, cowboy-free life for herself. One where she could train other girls who want to be pageant princesses. One that doesn't give her any reason to dwell on what might have been with Brody until his dog bounds into her heart. And she bounds into Brody's bed.Despite the differences in their lives, they mesh together, the way Brody always knew they would. No matter what, he's waiting until he's certain Libby is ready to get married before he asks again, but their relationship comes under fire when one of her friends reveals a secret about a little girl Libby is awfully attached to—a girl who's the right age to be Brody's daughter.
Excerpt:Under that snap front western shirt, did he still sport six-pack abs? She couldn't count the number of times she'd helped him out of a similar shirt and put ice on his bruises after a ride. Or how often they'd parked at the lake and explored one another under the stars.“Hot?” Brody asked.“What?”“You're flushed. We could go sit in the stands, maybe catch a breeze.”“Yeah, I guess.”“Can I ask you something, Lib?” Brody rose. His dark eyes were serious and a few lines bracketed his mouth. “Why'd you come tonight?”Libby swallowed hard. “You asked me.”“Really?”“I only live an hour away and I didn't have anything else to do tonight.” Tell him you miss him.“You used to be more honest.” He slipped his hand around her wrist. “You missed me.”“I—” Electricity buzzed through her from his touch. “Maybe a little.”“Maybe a lot.” He pulled her into his arms. “You wouldn't be here otherwise.”About Allison Merritt:A love of reading inspired Allison Merritt to pursue her dream of becoming an author who writes historical, paranormal and fantasy romances, often combining the sub-genres. She lives in a small town  in the Ozark Mountains with her husband and dogs. When she's not writing or reading, she hikes in  national parks and conservation areas.Allison graduated from College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri with a B.A. in mass communications that's gathering dust after it was determined that she's better at writing fluff than hard news.Blog  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Google+  |  Goodreads  |  Pinterest
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Cowboys Don’t Cry by Vickie TaylorBlurb:A broken cowboy with nothing left to lose…except his heart.Dash Connaway is hell-bent down a highway to nowhere. But he can’t outrun fate. Just a few months ago, he’d had a new album shooting up the country music charts, a luxury tour bus prepped for gigs in 39 cities, and a live-in girl friend he’d been thinking of asking to marry him. Now he’s just another drifter with an old guitar, a beat-up pickup, and a dog named Bill for a bed mate…until he meets Maggie McCain.Maggie isn’t your ordinary Oregon rancher. She’s more into organic gardening and hand-spinning yarn from the fleece of her prized alpacas than breeding stinky old cattle. She’s a nurturer, a giver, so when Dash steps into her life from nowhere, she’s ready to trade in her solitary existence on the farm in favor of a husband to grow old with and a passel of children to care for.But when she learns the real reason for Dash’s commitment to life on the road, she’s faced with a difficult choice and a lesson in the fallacy behind the old saying “Cowboys don’t cry.” Only time will tell just how potent the healing power of love can really be.Excerpt:“It’s a girl,” he pronounced cradling the newborn alpaca in his arms.The woman wiped her grimy chin with the back of her grimier hand. Tears tracked through the dirt on her cheeks. “You did it.” She pushed to her feet, but her legs looked none too steady. She picked up the rifle and leaned on it like a crutch.Dash went to her, ready to catch her if she fell. “We did it,” he corrected.“Yes, we did.”He smiled and reached out to her free arm. It was meant to be  celebratory brush, a comfort…but it lingered a moment too long. The air changed.Without warning, she swung her rifle up and rested the barrel against his chest. “Now who the hell are you, and what are you doing on my land?”About Vickie Taylor:Vickie Taylor published her first book in 1999 and quickly rose to the ranks of national best-selling and award-winning author. She enjoys all types of books, but especially paranormal, suspense, and western contemporary with the unifying theme being romance. Vickie always enjoys a good love story. She is the author of sixteen published novels and is a four-time nominee for the Oscar of the romance world, the Romance Writers of America Rita award. When she’s not writing or reading, she’s usually out riding horses, training search and rescue dogs, or volunteering with her local humane society. She is an avid supporter of the campaign to preserve America’s wild horses, and her latest release, Cowboys Don’t Cryis the first book in a new series featuring her beloved mustangs. Sign up for her newsletter to be notified when the next book in the series, The Horseman’s Widow, coming October, 2014, is available. Vickie loves to hear from readers and can be contacted via the methods below:Website  (where you can also sign up for her newsletter announcing new releases.)  |  Facebook  |   Twitter 
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A Cowboy’s Heart by Leslie GarciaBlurb:Teenage lovers torn apart by betrayal. Have seventeen years changed everything—or nothing?Star-crossed lovers in their south Texas hill country high school, torn apart by a best friend’s lie, a mother’s cold hatred, and a father’s lack of trust…High school junior Illy Kingston turns to varsity football star and cowboy in training Gil Salas when her father, a Border Patrol agent, is killed under suspicious circumstances.Their hormone-fueled, all or nothing affair ends when betrayal tears them apart.Years, later, Illy returns home, at loose ends after her disastrous marriage to a reality show rock star ends with an embarrassing photo gone viral and a divorce.When Gil and his mounted Border Patrol make an unannounced civic call at a local elementary school, Gil is shocked to see Illy lurking in the shadows, threatening to upend his existence once again.The old passion still burns—but neither can go back to the innocence of their high school affair. Illy swore never to love a man wearing a uniform that didn’t involve jeans, a western hat, and boots. Gil has a price on his head.And star-crossed love doesn’t usually work for cowboys, either.Excerpt:He stopped abruptly. Illy had told him to stop, and he hadn’t thought she meant it. The memory of her reacting to him, caressing him, wanting him, stormed back. And then, when Emma called, she’d turned off and fled in a fury.Did she think he’d seen the picture? He’d seen it online, like the entire world had, according to all the social media. What if she thought he was just acting out what he’d seen? No matter how much the photo enraged and sickened him, he could only imagine her horror that her marriage was over, but that episode never would be.Did she feel strange at all, being in his arms after that very public display with her ex-husband? His heart thudded dully. She must know he’d seen the picture, but what would it do to her if she knew the truth?He closed his eyes. She was out of his life, and that was best for him. Because truth be told, he didn’t know if he could take her again and not remember the second most painful night of his life. The night he’d happened on Illy making love to her rock-star husband in public.About Leslie Garcia:Leslie P. García grew up lost among a crowd of six siblings and a menagerie that included more than twenty horses and ponies, uncounted dogs and cats, possums, raccoons—even a lion and monkeys. Then she moved to Texas, fell in love, was disowned—and embarked on her real adventures, raising 4 children, teaching hundreds, and loving 9 grandkids through forty years of marriage. The fabric of that colorful life has always been writing. In A Cowboy Heart, Leslie celebrates two of her passions—cowboys and the ever present chance at redemption in spite of past mistakes. Leslie loves hearing from readers and can be found all over cyber space, including these places:Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Pinterest  |  E-mail: lesliegarcia2000-author@yahoo.com

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The Heartsong Cowboy by Melissa KeirBlurb:
Can two people, one horse and the power of love cure a little girl?Angela French blames herself for her daughter’s lack of voice. Determined to do anything to correct the situation, she seeks out Jake Kyncade, the owner of The Heartsong Ranch.Jake Kyncade hides his own sorrows behind his no-nonsense demeanor. Helping children becomes one way to correct his past. Using equine therapy, he sets out to make a difference.Can Jake help Angela’s dreams come true or will Jake’s past bring more heartache? Will love save them all?
Excerpt:With Taylor asleep on the couch, Angela snuck the magazine out of her daughter’s sleeping hands before carrying her to her bed. After making sure her baby was tucked in, she turned out the lights and went to the kitchen. She sat down at the table to study the article about the horse whisperer. The photos gave off a peaceful feeling—so much so, she longed to jump into the images. Along with the horses, there were shots of children laughing and petting the animals. The article mentioned a little boy with Down’s Syndrome whose language increased after a week of animal therapy. The Heartsong Ranch. Even the name sounds encouraging. Dare I get my hopes up?One photo in particular captured her attention. The owner, Jake Kyncade, wore jeans and a cowboy hat as he stood next to the ranch sign. She took a deep breath as butterflies circled in her abdomen. He’s sexy. Very different from Mike. Mr. Kyncade has this wounded look in his eyes. I wonder what his trauma was. I’ve gotten better at noticing it in others. Still, he’s good looking. Probably married with his own children.
About Melissa Keir:Melissa Keir has always wanted to be an author when she wasn’t hoping for a career as a race car driver. Her love of books was instilled by her mother and grandparents who were avid readers. She’d often sneak books away from them so that she could fantasize about those strong alpha males and plucky heroines. In middle school and high school, Melissa used to write sappy love poems and shared them with her friends and still has those poems today! In college her writing changed to sarcastic musings on life as well as poems with a modern twist on fairy tales and won awards for her writing. You can find many of these musings along with her latest releases on her website and blog.As a writer, Melissa likes to keep current on topics of interest in the world of writing. She’s a member of the Romance Writers of America, Mid-Michigan RWA Chapter, and EPIC. She is always interested in improving her writing through classes and seminars.  Melissa doesn’t believe in down time. She’s always keeping busy. Melissa is a wife and mother, an elementary school teacher, a movie reviewer, an owner of a publishing company as well as an author. Her home blends two families and is a lot like the Brady Bunch, without Alice- a large grocery bill, tons of dirty dishes and a mound of laundry. She loves to write stories that feature happy endings and is often seen plotting her next story.Website  |  Blog  |  Facebook  | Facebook Page  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Cowboy Trouble by Autumn PiperBlurb:She’s decided to make some bad choices this weekend.Susie Howell has always done what her family expects of her, but they don’t know about the divorce papers she’s just signed, or the secret torch she carries for sexy ranch hand Cash. When keeping the secret gets to her, she flees her brother’s wedding reception. Determined to live a little, she swipes the nearest truck from the ranch and heads to Sin City.Cash Acosta has worked hard for everything he has, and nobody is taking off with his truck. When he sees it driving away, he jumps in—and becomes the unwilling passenger of a ready and willing woman he’s forbidden to touch. Hell-bent for trouble, the boss’s sister has already earmarked him as one of her “bad choices”.And Susie intends to get what she wants.
Excerpt:“So that’s why you’re runnin’.” Under the parking lot lights, his eyes were pitch black. He thumbed a tear from her cheek.She tried for a more ladylike sniffle, blinked away her tears. Nodded, for lack of a better reply.“When I hear a beautiful woman wants to make some mistakes, my gut instinct is to help her out with that.” His thumb brushed her lower lip. “Hearin’ she’s single…that’s another checkmark in the pros column.” Hypnotized, she barely breathed as he cupped her jaw in his fingers and that gaze riveted on hers. “Seein’ her cry? What choice do I have?” He bent to her, his lips hot and strong, skilled as they teased hers apart, his tongue waking feelings she’d forgotten. And Lord, it may be too soon, it may be wrong, but she wanted. Wanted Cash, his hands, his mouth, his… She grabbed onto his hard shoulders, slipped her hands up his neck, buried her fingers in that thatch of hair. And kissed him like there was no tomorrow. Of course there was. Sexy, brooding, womanizing Cash wanted her, and he’d be hers, at least for this trip.About Autumn Piper:Born and raised in itty-bitty Rifle, Colorado, Autumn Piper studiously avoided trouble…but is now inclined toward it, particularly in her novels. She thinks the best things in life are funny, and the runners-up, romantic.An admitted carb addict, Autumn writes, edits, manages two teenagers, two cats, a box turtle with a huge personality, one husband and many supersize houseplants, and does the cooking and cleaning when forced to.To sign up for Autumn’s occasional newsletter: http://mad.ly/signups/105424/joinWebsite |  Blog  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads  |  Amazon Page 
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Chasing a Cowboy by Sara Walter EllwoodBlurb:He’s running from heartbreak. She’s chasing after love… Their hearts will never be the same. 

 Paige Morgan has lived her entire life in the glare of her fraternal twin sister's star.  Although the sisters are as different as sun is from the moon, Paige fell in love with the same man as her famous swimsuit model sister.  When country superstar Chase Jordan is dumped at the altar by her twin, Paige sees an opportunity to go after the one thing of her sister's she's always wanted.  She finds Chase in Cabo San Lucas nursing his broken heart in the true country song fashion-with a bottle of Jose Cuervo-and reminds him of the desire he once felt for her.  Will this singing cowboy change his tune as they set the tropical nights on fire?  Or will Paige be the one singing the blues when her sister shows up wanting her man back?

Excerpt:All of his hopes and dreams shattered on what should have been the happiest day of his life. Today, instead of settling in for their two-week vacation and only getting out of bed to eat, he was nursing a bottle of Jose Cuervo. Why had he come here? His brother was right; he could have easily eaten the cost of the trip. Chase had insisted that he had to escape for a little while, lick his wounds and come up with a plan before he had to go back on tour in a few weeks. Jack accused him of wanting to punish himself. Why else would he go to the place he and Kayla were to have their honeymoon? Had he come here to remind himself of what should have been? He shook his head, hoping to dislodge the thoughts, and turned to gaze out the other side of the bar.A woman stood on the walkway staring at him through a pair of Aviators. Her long blonde ponytail shimmered in the sun like spun gold. He narrowed his eyes. Was he now hallucinating?She entered the bar and headed toward him. Sitting on the stool beside him, she removed her sunglasses to reveal a pair of expressive hazel eyes. “Surprise.”“Paige? What the hell are you doing here?”About Sara Walter Ellwood:  

Although Sara Walter Ellwood has long ago left the farm for the glamour of the big town, she draws on her experiences growing up on a small hobby farm in West Central Pennsylvania to write her contemporary westerns.  She's been married to her college sweetheart for over 20 years, and they have two teenagers and one very spoiled rescue cat named Penny.  She longs to visit the places she writes about and jokes she's a cowgirl at heart stuck in Pennsylvania suburbia.  Sara Walter Ellwood is a multi-published author and publishes paranormal romantic suspense under the pen name Cera duBois.
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Cowboy Bred, Cowboy Born by D’Ann LindunBlurb: Freedom or family?  Only love can make the choice.Photographer Alannah Murphy refuses to be tied down. She watched her parents struggle to hold onto their dairy farm until it killed them. The mere thought of the same fate makes her shudder. When she meets rancher Sterling Gentry she has to face her fears, or lose him. Sterling Gentry longs for someone to hand his ranch down to. Like his father before him, he has sacrificed everything to hold onto the land his ancestors settled. But finding Ms. Right proves harder than he imagined. Then he meets Alannah Murphy with her big city ways. How he can ever take a chance with a woman exactly like his mother, who abandoned him when he was a child? Despite their determination to stay the course they’ve each chosen, attraction pulls them together as steadily as a nail to a magnet. Can these two find a way to mesh Alannah’s need for freedom and Gentry’s desire to hold onto his land?Excerpt:Still snapping photos, the woman approached him. When she came within speaking distance, she waved. “Hello.”“Who the hell are you? And what are you doing in the middle of the road? Don’t you know better than to stand in the way when somebody’s herding stock?”Her mouth opened and closed a couple times. “I didn’t think—”“Hell no, you didn’t think,” Gentry shouted. “Damn it anyway.”“I’m sorry,” she said in a small voice. “The shot was just so good…”The shot?She’d ruined hours upon hours of exhausting work because she’d wanted a picture? Who the hell would do something so stupid? Only a damn greenhorn. For the first time he noticed her get-up. A straw hat only a city girl would wear, floaty pink top with tiny straps that left her bare shoulders exposed to the unforgiving Arizona sun, cut-off jean shorts and red cowboy boots. Daisy Duke personified. He shook his head in disgust. Reality crashed over him. The New York photographer his mother had enticed out here, hoping an article in The Cowboy magazine would bring attention to the Santa Gertrudis cattle they raised. Damn.
About D’Ann Lindun:Falling in love with romance novels the summer before sixth grade, D’Ann Lindun never thought about writing one until many years later when she took a how-to class at her local college. She was hooked! She began writing and never looked back. Romance appeals to her because there's just something so satisfying about writing a book guaranteed to have a happy ending. D’Ann’s particular favorites usually feature cowboys and the women who love them. This is probably because she draws inspiration from the area where she lives, Western Colorado, her husband of twenty-nine years and their daughter. Composites of their small farm, herd of horses, five Australian shepherds, a Queensland heeler, two ducks and cats of every shape and color often show up in her stories! D’Ann loves to hear from readers! Please contact her at:Website  |  Facebook Page  |  Twitter  |  Amazon Page  | Email:  dldauthor@frontier.net