Lisa Kumar's Blog, page 3

Romancing the Valentine Bloghop Update

Thanks to everyone who stopped by and commented! The randomly chosen winner of my giveaway, Bound by the Mist, is Shadow Kohler.

I'll be participating in more blog hops over the next few months, so drop in to hop with me:)

Featured Author Carrie Ann Ryan--A Taste for a Mate

Please welcome Carrie Ann Ryan! She's the author of the popular Redwood Pack series. Read on to find out about her latest release,  A Taste for a Mate.

A Tastefor a Mate Blurb
Jasper Jamenson's only responsibility to being the Beta ofthe Redwood Pack, second son of the Alpha, is to protect the Pack fromthemselves and the human world. After a century of selfless service, hisbrother's new found mating forced him into taking a good look into his life. Heisn't sure he wants a mate, but fate may have other ideas.
Willow Delton is a skinny, bakery owner – the type mostwoman love to hate. Being without family, she finds herself alone to the Greek godwith green eyes who saunters into her bakery every morning. Her desire tofollow him, to be with him, overrides every rational sense she possessed.
Jasper and Willow are drawn together, despite everynuisance that works against them. But evil beyond even Jasper's supernaturalcompensation will make war against him, by going after the only thing in hiseternal life he desires – Willow. Is Willow's heart enough to overcome Jasper'ssoul to save her life? A fight he cannot win, but to save her life – he must.

Excerpt
JasperJamenson fought himself as he walked into the bakery that morning. This wouldbe the seventh week in a row in which he came here every day but Sunday. Andthat was only because the damn store was closed. As good as the cinnamon rollswere, and they were little tastes of heaven, it was the woman behind thecounter that brought him there every morning.Followinga particularly bad night in the forest on a hunt Jasper was pissed and hungry.Another wolf tried to play a dominant game, forcing Jasper to hurt him. Thestench of other's defeat remained on him, only angering Jasper just that much more.The scent of the morning's freshly baked goods pulled him through the quaintand welcoming door while the slender goddess who served him brought thoughts ofa different form of servicing to mind. Slightlyabove average in height, he would guess about five foot seven; she was theperfect height to settle against his body. For someone who owned and operated abakery she was as skinny as a rail. However, if he looked close enough he couldsee the telltale signs curves. He knew that just a little bit of his help andpampering she would gain well-needed cushion but no matter what, she would lookamazing underneath him. Long, light brown hair was constantly in a bun on thetop of her head. His fingers ached to pull out the pins and watch it tumbledown her back. Hazel eyes sought him and begged for his protection. Damn, hewas willing.

Carrie Ann Ryan is a paranormal and contemporary romanceauthor. After spending too much time behind a lab bench, she decided to diveinto the romance world and find her werewolf mate - even if its just in herbooks. Happy endings are always near - even if you have to get over thechallenges of falling in love first.Her first book, An Alpha's Path, is the firstin her Redwood Pack series. She's also an avid reader and lover of romance andfiction novels. She love meeting new authors and new worlds. Any recommendationsyou have are appreciated. Carrie Ann lives in New England with her husband andtwo kittens.Carrie Ann loves hearing from readers. Youcan find her at:

WebsiteBlogFacebookAuthor PageFacebook FriendGoodreadsTwitter: @CarrieAnnRyan

An Alpha's Path
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Alphas-Path-Redwood-Pack-ebook/dp/B006GHBSA2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1326396851&sr=8-1Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/an-alphas-path-carrie-ann-ryan/1107828923
A Taste for a Mate
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Taste-Mate-Redwood-Pack-ebook/dp/B0073WA12K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328133523&sr=8-1
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1108508709?ean=2940014077125&itm=1&usri=a+taste+for+a+mate

100-Followers Giveaway on Booked Up Reviews

Drop by Booked Up Reviews (clickable link) for your chance to win an e-copy of Bound by the Mist! 

While you're there, check out the awesome review of Through the Rabbit Hole that Dolce Amore gave me. 

Where I'm at today--and yesterday!

I'm at Daryl Devore's blog today! And yesterday my characters Cal and Relian from Bound by the Mist were at J.F. Jenkins' blog, doing a character interview.

Come and visit me if you have a moment!

Featured Author Casea Major--One Knight in Brooklyn

The author I'm featuring today is a good friend and critique partner of mine--Casea Major. We're sharing her latest release, which I have to say is a fun, sexy short full of adventure and romance. If you want to be swept away for an hour, pick this tale up!



After signing up for a one-night stand through an exclusivematching agency, hopeless romantic Marianne Caldwell is swept away to amedieval land where she hopes to spend the night with a worthy man of honor.
Unsure of how she got from the Castillo Hotel in Las Vegasto a castle in the English countryside, Mare finds Robert, whose stunningphysique and winning smile immediately convince her he's the Robin Hood she'sbeen seeking.  But despite his efforts insaving her from a corrupt sheriff, his Jersey Shore accent and coarse waysunravel her romantic visions.
With her fairytale fantasies coming unhinged, Mare mustdecide if Robert is just a crass car salesman from Brooklyn or the chivalrousknight she's looking for.



One Knight in Brooklyn Excerpt:
"Well, Dallas, what did a pretty gal like youexpect from this deal?"There was no way in hell she would answer thatquestion. So she employed her stellar skills of diversion and subterfuge. "Whatdid a guy like you expect from this deal?" Okay, maybe not the cleverest lineshe'd ever come up with, but this guy with his mesmerizing eyes messed up hermojo.He leaned back with his elbow on the mattress andflashed a brilliant smile. She swallowed hard. "To get to know a lovely youngwoman such as yourself and have a little adventure. You think you can handlethat?"Could he be any more cocky? His thinly veiledinnuendo struck her with the delicacy of a baseball bat. No question he washot. From a purely physical standpoint, he was perfection, but did anythingrattle around behind those blue eyes?She crossed her arms over her chest and tilted herchin. "What I want to know is, can youhandle that?"Oops, she hadn't meant for that to sound like achallenge or an invitation, but even to her own ears, it did. He stood, hislong legs closing the distance between them in two strides. She braced her legsto hold her ground, but retreated toward a wall. So much for holding my ground. Pressing her head back against abranch, she looked up into his even stare. God, his eyes were Ceylon blue, hislips full and lush. He stopped in front of her, but continued to lower his headtoward hers. Other than the rustling wind, only her ragged breathing soundedamongst the leaves.Robert braced his hands on either side of hershoulders, effectively trapping her between him and the tree. Every cell in herbody buzzed with electrical current, and her gaze helplessly transfixed on him.The lids of his eyes lowered, and his straight nose brushed against hers."Can I kiss you?" His whispered request tickled herskin.Chills swept over her heated body. Her knees gaveway, and she sighed out some inaudible response he apparently took asaffirmative. He brushed her lips with a kiss.With agonizing leisure, his mouth eased over hers,first feathering her closed lips then caressing each one between his. Hisvelvety flesh wisped like flower petals against hers, and the aroma of freshmint scented his breath. The languid motion of his kiss ignited a desire thatthrobbed all the way down between her legs. The longer he lingered, the hottershe burned. He never sped his pace or reached for her in any other way. It wasonly a kiss, yet so much more.His warm tongue slipped between her lips and slowlyexplored her mouth, sliding across her teeth and stroking her tongue. A softmoan escaped her and excruciating tension built in her core with each lazythrust. She wrapped her arms around his waist and trailedher fingers down his hips as she molded to his body. He gasped and ended thekiss. The staggering length of his arousal pressed into her abs and the burn inher sex flared into a raging inferno. He rested his forehead against the tree, and shelaid her hands on his chest with his body lightly molded to hers. The heatradiating between them smoldered hotter than the Vegas asphalt at high noon.His breaths were steady, but his heart pounded against her open palms.His voice, deep and husky, sounded near her ear."Maybe. Maybe not, Dallas."She opened her eyes. "Huh?"He kept his eyes closed and rubbed his cheekagainst hers. "I was just answering your earlier question."She couldn't remember the question. She'd be luckyto remember her own name. 


Major Love ~~~ Major RomancePrior to becoming a writer of romantic fiction, Casea Majorworked in the legal field for a non-profit dispute resolution company for tenyears.  She is now a full-time mom tothree preschool children with whom she and her husband live happily...most ofthe time.  When she isn't chained to herlaptop, she enjoys Cary Grant movies and crocheting.
Website / Facebook / Twitter

Thanks for stopping by and visiting Mare and Robert!

Featured Author Brenda Dyer--Love's Prophecy

This is my first Featured Author post! Every few days I hope to share some basic info (author bio, latest book, blurb, etc.) on a new and upcoming author here on my blog. Though the posts will appear on my Home page, you can find all the authors I spotlight in alphabetical order on the Featured Author page in the menu top.

Now on to my first Featured Author, Brenda Dyer! I'm reading her release, Love's Prophecy, right now. So far it's awesome! If you love the paranormal genre, hot vampires, and spicy romance, this book is a definite must-not-miss!







Love's Prophecy 


Darkwarriors of might...
Mel is a vampire warrior sworn to hunt and killdemons in the dark streets of Vancouver. But he's burdened with a newassignment: find the meaning behind the Vampire Prophecy. Having no faith inthe gods and their empty words, he believes there's no truth to the ancientlegend until he meets Breeana, a human woman who bears the mark of the prophecyand resembles the mysterious woman haunting his dreams. When a vengeful demonspies Breeana in his arms, she is marked for death. He must take her from theworld she knows until he can eliminate the threat. But the real danger is therole Breeana must play in fulfilling the prophecy and the intense feelings shebrings out in him. Mel is forced to choose between his obligations to his kind,the world, and the woman he loves. Does he have the courage to let the onewoman who could heal his wounded heart and soul go, or will he risk her lifeand bind her to him for all eternity?
Smallwarriors of light...
Veterinarian, Dr. Breeana Spencer yearns forlove and companionship, but the disappointment of failed relationships has lefther bitter. She now finds solace in romance novels. But when she meets amysterious stranger, she's drawn to him by a connection so forceful it shattersall reason, leaving her incapable of resisting him. Yet there's more to himthan smoldering good looks and a rock-hard body. As she's drawn deeper into hisdanger-filled world, she learns she's part of an ancient vampire legend.Breeana fears her future is no longer hers and will not include Mel. As theirenemies close in, desperate to destroy them both, she must fight to convinceMel her place is at his side. A  life-alteringchoice is before her—one that will take all her courage and love to make.

Excerpt: 
Breeana staredat Mel, appalled by his words. The gardens—the beauty of the evening—forgotten.
He cleared histhroat. "The first memory I had as a child was of my father dragging me fromthe slave dungeon and locking me in the killing cage."
She jerked back.His arm slid from around her shoulders. "The what?"
His eyelidslowered as he looked at the grass. "It was an iron box suspended outside fromthe top of the castle by a chain. The front had narrow slits, just wide enoughto allow the morning sun to shine in. He used the cage to punish his slaves orhis soldiers, hell, sometimes just for sport."
"Oh my God!"
Mel's gazedrifted out over the yard. The look on his face told her he no longer saw thegardens or smelled the perfume scented air. His mind must have drifted backhundreds of years, reliving what sounded like a horrific nightmare.
"When I realizedwhat he was about to do, I panicked. I fought back but I was young, maybe fouror five. My arm snapped as he shoved me inside but I didn't feel the pain, itpaled in comparison to the terror I felt when I heard the lock click."
His eyes filledwith terror and bounced around like the eyes of a trapped, frightened animal."I knew what was coming. I'd heard the screams of others who had burned alive."He swallowed. A trickle of sweat coursed down his temple. "I clawed at thebars, pleaded with my father, but he just laughed. The look in his eyes waspure hatred."
His wordschilled her to the bone. Nausea churned her stomach.
"I tried tosift—disappear—but vampires can't sift through metal or rock, and the spacesbetween the bars were too narrow. I was trapped. I…I continued begging myfather to release me. Then as the first rays touched my skin, just when the painbegan, he ordered his soldiers to pull the cage back in."
Numbness spreadthrough her. She opened her mouth, but shut it. What did you say to someone whohad lived through such a traumatic experience?
"That was thefirst, but not the last time he locked me in," he said in a flat tone. "Eachtime he pulled me back in. I don't know why he didn't end it there."


Author Bio


Brenda Dyer lives in the small town of Sooke off the coast of British Columbia with her husband, two teenage boys, and an assortment of animals.
She is a graduate from LongRidge Writers group.
When she isn't writing you can find her out in her gardens or working with her two miniature horses.Brenda loves to hear from readers. If you would like to contact her, visit her website.http://www.brendamdyer.com 


Links
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrendaMDyerW... http://www.brendamdyer.comTwitter: twitter.com/brendaMDyer
Buy Links: 
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00702YWF0Sm... https://www.smashwords.com/books/view... romance e-books: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/produ...

Featured Author Brenda Dyer

Love's Prophecy 


Darkwarriors of might...
Mel is a vampire warrior sworn to hunt and killdemons in the dark streets of Vancouver. But he's burdened with a newassignment: find the meaning behind the Vampire Prophecy. Having no faith inthe gods and their empty words, he believes there's no truth to the ancientlegend until he meets Breeana, a human woman who bears the mark of the prophecyand resembles the mysterious woman haunting his dreams. When a vengeful demonspies Breeana in his arms, she is marked for death. He must take her from theworld she knows until he can eliminate the threat. But the real danger is therole Breeana must play in fulfilling the prophecy and the intense feelings shebrings out in him. Mel is forced to choose between his obligations to his kind,the world, and the woman he loves. Does he have the courage to let the onewoman who could heal his wounded heart and soul go, or will he risk her lifeand bind her to him for all eternity?
Smallwarriors of light...
Veterinarian, Dr. Breeana Spencer yearns forlove and companionship, but the disappointment of failed relationships has lefther bitter. She now finds solace in romance novels. But when she meets amysterious stranger, she's drawn to him by a connection so forceful it shattersall reason, leaving her incapable of resisting him. Yet there's more to himthan smoldering good looks and a rock-hard body. As she's drawn deeper into hisdanger-filled world, she learns she's part of an ancient vampire legend.Breeana fears her future is no longer hers and will not include Mel. As theirenemies close in, desperate to destroy them both, she must fight to convinceMel her place is at his side. A  life-alteringchoice is before her—one that will take all her courage and love to make.

Excerpt: 
Breeana staredat Mel, appalled by his words. The gardens—the beauty of the evening—forgotten.
He cleared histhroat. "The first memory I had as a child was of my father dragging me fromthe slave dungeon and locking me in the killing cage."
She jerked back.His arm slid from around her shoulders. "The what?"
His eyelidslowered as he looked at the grass. "It was an iron box suspended outside fromthe top of the castle by a chain. The front had narrow slits, just wide enoughto allow the morning sun to shine in. He used the cage to punish his slaves orhis soldiers, hell, sometimes just for sport."
"Oh my God!"
Mel's gazedrifted out over the yard. The look on his face told her he no longer saw thegardens or smelled the perfume scented air. His mind must have drifted backhundreds of years, reliving what sounded like a horrific nightmare.
"When I realizedwhat he was about to do, I panicked. I fought back but I was young, maybe fouror five. My arm snapped as he shoved me inside but I didn't feel the pain, itpaled in comparison to the terror I felt when I heard the lock click."
His eyes filledwith terror and bounced around like the eyes of a trapped, frightened animal."I knew what was coming. I'd heard the screams of others who had burned alive."He swallowed. A trickle of sweat coursed down his temple. "I clawed at thebars, pleaded with my father, but he just laughed. The look in his eyes waspure hatred."
His wordschilled her to the bone. Nausea churned her stomach.
"I tried tosift—disappear—but vampires can't sift through metal or rock, and the spacesbetween the bars were too narrow. I was trapped. I…I continued begging myfather to release me. Then as the first rays touched my skin, just when the painbegan, he ordered his soldiers to pull the cage back in."
Numbness spreadthrough her. She opened her mouth, but shut it. What did you say to someone whohad lived through such a traumatic experience?
"That was thefirst, but not the last time he locked me in," he said in a flat tone. "Eachtime he pulled me back in. I don't know why he didn't end it there."


Author Bio
Brenda Dyer lives in the small town of Sooke off the coast of British Columbia with her husband, two teenage boys, and an assortment of animals.She is a graduate from LongRidge Writers group.When she isn't writing you can find her out in her gardens or working with her two miniature horses.Brenda loves to hear from readers. If you would like to contact her, visit her website.http://www.brendamdyer.com 


Links
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrendaMDyerW... http://www.brendamdyer.comTwitter: twitter.com/brendaMDyer
Buy Links: 
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00702YWF0Sm... https://www.smashwords.com/books/view... romance e-books: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/produ...

Romancing the Valentine Giveaway Hop

Welcome to my stop on the Romancing the Valentine Giveaway Hop! To celebrate the romantic holiday, I'm offering up one e-copy of my newly released fantasy romance, Bound by the Mist to U.S. residents. The winner will be chosen by Feb. 16. To enter, just leave your email address and a comment in the comment box below.

A magic that's fading
Relian has lived a life that hasn't changed in millennia,and he likes it that way. As Prince of the Erian people, he has his conscriptedduties. And a human, even one as desirable as Cal, does not fit into them. Butas the enemy darkindred knock on the borders and the magic of his people fades,he might just have to find room.
A love that's binding
College Student Cal Weston spends a good portion of her timetrying to keep people from thinking she's crazy, including herself. And withgood reason. But her carefully constructed reality is turned upside down when shediscovers that Relian, the seductive elvin prince who has been starring in hersensuous fantasies, isn't merely a myth and his magical kingdom really exists.Now she's bound to an elf and stuck in a land where no one, least of allRelian, is willing to spill any answers about the truth of her arrival.
Two people, two worldsmeet in the mist
Even as love grows between them, can they lay aside theirdifferences to embrace a life together?


Thanks for stopping by!

Return to the blog hop here.

Snippet Sunday

This Sunday I'd like to share a few lines from my newly released fantasy romance, Bound by the Mist, with you.


"My lady, who are you, and what are we doing here?"An elegant sounding voice icily cutinto Cal's thoughts, disrupting her comforting mantra and returning her to the mist.


The voice, it was...it sounded....

She froze before she jerked around. In spite of the mist, she instantly recognized that nobleface and bearing. That hair, there was no mistaking it.


Arctic air infiltrated her veins, and she felt her features go slack. 


Thanks for stopping by!

Reader Rally Winner!

It's time to announce the Reader Rally winner! But first I would like to thank everyone who stopped by, especially those who commented. I enjoyed reading what everyone wrote.

Now on to the winner (though I wish everyone could win):

Lindsay, you won my giveaway! I've already emailed you with the details.

Thanks for dropping by!