Kerry Freeman's Blog, page 4

Quick Update

Hi everyone! Everything is still proceeding on schedule for the book release, and I'm getting ready to go to GRL. I've also started a newsletter, which will send out exclusive content each month. Go here to sign up:

http://eepurl.com/pkZ95

The schedule for GRL should be out soon, and I'll let you know when my reading will be.

Music Monday: Unintentional fan service

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fan service

fan ser·vice  noun \ˈfan ˈsər-vəs\

: giving the fans what they want [from the anime and manga fandoms]

Oh, Ed, why do you have to give me more plot bunnies?!

Music Monday: Even if it breaks your heart

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If you’re a country music fan, you’ve probably heard The Eli Young Band’s number one song “Even If It Breaks Your Heart.” What you may not know is that the original is by the song’s writer, Will Hoge. We saw Will play at Vulcan Park in Birmingham, Alabama last year, and he told the crowd how excited he was that the band was going to record his song. While I like the new version, the original is still my favorite.

Some dreams stay with you forever

Drag you round and lead you back to where you were

Some dreams keep on getting better

Gotta keep believing if you wanna know for sure

Wordy Wednesday: An excerpt from Rush by Beth Yarnall

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Happy Humpday everyone! This week I’m happy to bring you an excerpt from Rush by Beth Yarnall.

Blurb

Someone is stalking Miyuki Price-Jones.

As the host of a very successful home shopping TV show that sells adult toys, Mi has become the object of an ex-con’s obsession, requiring the services of ex-Navy SEAL turned bodyguard, Lucas Vega. As the attraction between Lucas and Mi grows, Lucas has a difficult time keeping his feelings for Mi separate from his mission to keep her safe. A mission that is more challenging than anyone could have predicted.

Damaged by their pasts, Lucas and Mi find more in common than they could have imagined and secrets they thought would tear them apart could be the ties that bind them together forever. But with the stalker growing bolder, Lucas and Mi must learn to trust each other or risk losing more than their hearts.

One of them could lose their life.

Excerpt

Mi wandered over to the window and looked out. Forty-two floors was a long way up… or down, depending on your perspective. Lucas came up behind her, but didn’t touch her. Warmth radiated off him and into her.

“I bought the place for the view.” His voice lowered, sending a deep rumbling through her. He was so close.

“It’s beautiful.” Her words came out breathless, almost sultry.

He traced a finger down the side of her throat. “Hmm, it is.”

She had a sudden vision of him pressing her against the glass, lifting her skirt and tracing kisses along the line his finger had drawn. He’d take her hard and fast, right there while the whole city watched, her palms sliding down the panes. She swallowed hard, fighting back the urge to lift her skirt for him and beg him to do it. She wanted to lose herself in the mindless give and take, the blinding, driving need. For just a moment, she wanted something for her. To come apart in arms that would support her when she came back together, back to herself.

She took a sliding step to the side and spun away from him. This was not for her. He was not for her. She had to remind herself that this man was a stranger, paid to protect her and nothing more.

Author Bio

Beth Yarnall writes romantic suspense, mysteries and the occasional hilarious blog post. Beth lives deep in the heart of `The O.C.’ California with her husband, two sons, and their dog where she is hard at work on her next novel. For more information about Beth and her stories please visit her website – www.bethyarnall.com.

Follow Beth on Twitter

Buy Rush on Amazon

Find Rush on Goodreads

Music Monday: Mumford & Sons, Chinese food, and the f-word

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My husband and I are huge Mumford & Sons fans. We saw them live at the Ryman Auditorium, and they were incredible (yes, I am aware I say that a lot, but, damnit, they were). I could pretend I’m all hipster and always knew about all the Americana/folk rock/new folk bands, but it was Mumford & Sons that turned me onto it. Hubby and I were sitting in a Chinese restaurant, and I noticed the song on the piped-in music.

Me: Do you hear that song?

Hubby: Yeah. *sucks down more lo mein*

Me: Seriously, listen. Do you think the restaurant realizes that they’re singing the f-word?

Hubby: *now seriously listening* Shit, probably not. Who is this?

Me: *holding up my cellphone and running Shazam* Hmm, Mumford & Sons.

Hubby: We gotta download that when we get home. *attacks a chicken wing*

I was going to post their new song, but instead I think I’ll post my husband’s favorite:

Hear ye, hear ye! A new book cometh!

Tiverton Town Council/Flickr

I am so excited to announce the official title and release date of my next book! *happy dancing*

Pine Tar & Sweet Tea (M/M Contemporary Romance) will be released by Loose Id on October 9th.

Here’s a (very) unofficial blurb:

After playing eleven years in the Minor Leagues, Coach Matt Hawley has returned to his tiny Alabama hometown to lead his old high school baseball team to their first state championship. At the other end of the state, René Días, who left the Major League after one season, is getting his team ready to defend their state title for the second straight year. One is in the closet. The other is between relationships. Neither has any intention of hooking up at the state tournament.

Then they see each other.

Pre-game lust turns into an intense one-night stand neither man can forget, and when their best friends embark on a romance, Matt and René are thrown together again. This time they decide it won’t be for just a single night.

But the fear of disappointing his minister father and shaming his family forces Matt to keep one foot in the closet, even as he and René find their lust is maybe something more. Will Matt endure a life of hiding or will he surrender and become free?

This story has been in my head for over two years. Those of you who have known me since my fandom days remember the premise from then. I kept my star-crossed baseball coaches in my heart all this time, and I sat down and wrote their story this summer. (P.S., if you want to know what they look like in my head, it’s sorta like this and maybe a little like this.)

I can’t wait for everyone to meet Matt and René, and I’m sure they’re glad to finally be out of the dark recesses of my brain. I’ll share the cover as soon as I can [image error]

Oh, and what am I happy dancing to? So glad you asked *evil grin*

Wordy Wednesday Guest Post: Book series… and how to make sure they don’t take over your life by Lori Toland

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For today’s WW, I’m happy to have a guest post by Lori Toland, author of The Long Con. Thanks Lori!

Do you ever read a book and love the background characters so much you want to see their books too? Yeah, that happens to me all the time! The heroes get their happily ever after and ride off into the sunset holding hands but what happens to the best man that sits at the bar long after the happy couple hits the honeymoon suite? Or how about the minister perhaps?

I think everyone deserves a happy ending, even if that winds up being with yourself [image error] and series are a great way to revisit old characters to see how they are doing. Do they fight long even after they have professed undying love? Are they still snarky to each other? Is Nathaniel Bradley still a jerk? Is Blaze still wide eyed and innocent?

Leaving questions unanswered in earlier books is a great way to keep storylines going, especially if it messes with that happily ever after that was at the end of the previous book. Sometimes readers pick up on it, and other readers may find it a complete surprise when the surprise comes about from the previous book.

Or perhaps the universe you’ve built for a book needs to keep going, because the story isn’t done yet. Like in my SOCA series, which started with The Long Con, the theft still hasn’t been solved. There is a clue in the first chapter but no one has picked up on it yet.

But when two new characters get a chance to step in the spotlight for their chance at a happily ever after, like Drake and Robbie from my latest book, the focus turns to them. Can they set aside their differences and work together to stop the criminals? Will their love be a distraction on their mission? And for goodness sakes, will Bradley stop being a jerk?

The answer to the last question is no. I claim no responsibility for my characters Tony and Bradley falling in love. ☺ I’m just here to write their stories.

Eventually all good things must come to an end but in our minds, our characters will always live on. As long as readers crave the hard won HEA, I will continue writing. A huge thanks to Kerry for having me by!

Blurb

British Agent Nathaniel Bradley is tasked with bringing home a stolen heirloom. After tracking the Faberge egg all the way to a group of criminals in New York, Bradley infiltrates a ring of con artists and gets sucked into the role of a high priced prostitute.

While hoping for a chance to take back what is rightfully his, Bradley’s sole mission becomes to seduce Tony Terranova, Jr, the heir to a notorious mafia dynasty. Though Tony is strikingly handsome, the usually dominant Bradley is hesitant to submit to the sexual whims of a dangerous Mafioso.

What Bradley doesn’t expect is for Tony to fall to his knees so eagerly for him, leaving him blindsided by how intensely their dark tastes complement each other. Now Bradley is caught up in a deadly game of lies and desire, where what he truly wants may not be what duty requires.

Buy from Loose Id

Buy from Amazon

Lori’s Blog

Lori on Twitter

Lori on Facebook

Wordy Wednesday Special Edition: An exclusive excerpt from The Druid Stone by Heidi Belleau and Violetta Vane

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No, you haven’t been sucked into a time warp. Today I’m bringing you a special Wordy Wednesday from Heidi Belleau and Violetta Vane, who are sharing an exclusive excerpt of their new book The Druid Stone.

Blurb

Sean never asked to be an O’Hara, and he didn’t ask to be cursed by one either.

After inheriting a hexed druid stone from his great-grandfather, Sean O’Hara starts reliving another man’s torture and death…every single night. And only one person can help.

Cormac Kelly runs a paranormal investigation business and doesn’t have time to deal with misinformed tourists like Sean. But Sean has real magic in his pocket, and even though Cormac is a descendant of legendary druids, he soon finds himself out of his depth…and not because Sean’s the first man he’s felt anything for in a long time.

The pair develop an unexpected and intensely sexual bond, but are threatened at every turn when Sean’s case attracts the unwelcome attention of the mad sidhe lords of ancient Ireland. When Sean and Cormac are thrust backward in time to Ireland’s violent history—and their own dark pasts—they must work together to escape the curse and save their fragile relationship.

Excerpt

It took three rings on the buzzer before he finally heard footsteps, trampling down a steep set of stairs by the sounds of things. He licked his palm and flattened a cowlick out of his hair. He hadn’t rested or washed or changed since he’d left Boston, and he was starting to feel a little worse for wear. Not the best way to make a first impression, but it would have to do.

The door swung open. “Siobhan, you bloody know I—”

The man stopped midsentence, staring wide-eyed at Sean and clinging to the doorknob as if he was about to fall over. He looked sleep-tousled, his face warmly flushed and his short sandy blond hair a bed-head mess of waves and curls. He was…shirtless. Abs. Chest. Hickey on his collarbone. No, three hickeys.

Sean forced himself to look back up at his face. Which wasn’t much better, actually, what with the shocking blue eyes and deep scores under his cheekbones, the sort of unconventionally handsome—weirdly compelling—sort of weathered look about him, the shallow lines in his forehead and at the corners of his eyes, looking more windblown than old.

Sean had tried not to build up a mental image of the guy. He probably doesn’t have a long white beard, he’d told himself. But the reality was so incongruous that he could hardly reconcile it.

“You’re Cormac Kelly?” he asked, a bit incredulous.

“I am.” Cormac sounded impatient. “Did you need something from the shop? Because sorry, it’s my day off, you’ll have to wait until Siobhan decides to drag her lazy arse out of bed.”

“No!” Sean protested. This is going all wrong. “I mean, the shop’s open. I don’t need anything from the shop. I’m here to see you. I’m—”

“Sean fucking O’Hara,” Cormac finished, groaning and smearing an exasperated hand down his tired face. Had he made that much of an impression? “Christ, I should have known—I should have predicted—”

“Can you do that?” Sean blurted. “I mean—”

“No, no I cannot. Now go the fuck away, there’s nothing I can do for you. Catch the next bus to New-grange with all the rest of the bloody sidhe-chasing tourists and leave me alone.”

About

The Druid Stone is available from Carina Press, Amazon, B&N and ARe. For other retailers and links to other stops on the blog tour, please visit knockmanovel.com. You can can also get in touch with Violetta and Heidi at their websites.

Word Wednesday Special Edition: An exclusive excerpt from The Druid Stone by Heidi Belleau and Violetta Vane

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No, you haven’t been sucked into a time warp. Today I’m bringing you a special Wordy Wednesday from Heidi Belleau and Violetta Vane, who are sharing an exclusive excerpt of their new book The Druid Stone.

Blurb

Sean never asked to be an O’Hara, and he didn’t ask to be cursed by one either.

After inheriting a hexed druid stone from his great-grandfather, Sean O’Hara starts reliving another man’s torture and death…every single night. And only one person can help.

Cormac Kelly runs a paranormal investigation business and doesn’t have time to deal with misinformed tourists like Sean. But Sean has real magic in his pocket, and even though Cormac is a descendant of legendary druids, he soon finds himself out of his depth…and not because Sean’s the first man he’s felt anything for in a long time.

The pair develop an unexpected and intensely sexual bond, but are threatened at every turn when Sean’s case attracts the unwelcome attention of the mad sidhe lords of ancient Ireland. When Sean and Cormac are thrust backward in time to Ireland’s violent history—and their own dark pasts—they must work together to escape the curse and save their fragile relationship.

Excerpt

It took three rings on the buzzer before he finally heard footsteps, trampling down a steep set of stairs by the sounds of things. He licked his palm and flattened a cowlick out of his hair. He hadn’t rested or washed or changed since he’d left Boston, and he was starting to feel a little worse for wear. Not the best way to make a first impression, but it would have to do.

The door swung open. “Siobhan, you bloody know I—”

The man stopped midsentence, staring wide-eyed at Sean and clinging to the doorknob as if he was about to fall over. He looked sleep-tousled, his face warmly flushed and his short sandy blond hair a bed-head mess of waves and curls. He was…shirtless. Abs. Chest. Hickey on his collarbone. No, three hickeys.

Sean forced himself to look back up at his face. Which wasn’t much better, actually, what with the shocking blue eyes and deep scores under his cheekbones, the sort of unconventionally handsome—weirdly compelling—sort of weathered look about him, the shallow lines in his forehead and at the corners of his eyes, looking more windblown than old.

Sean had tried not to build up a mental image of the guy. He probably doesn’t have a long white beard, he’d told himself. But the reality was so incongruous that he could hardly reconcile it.

“You’re Cormac Kelly?” he asked, a bit incredulous.

“I am.” Cormac sounded impatient. “Did you need something from the shop? Because sorry, it’s my day off, you’ll have to wait until Siobhan decides to drag her lazy arse out of bed.”

“No!” Sean protested. This is going all wrong. “I mean, the shop’s open. I don’t need anything from the shop. I’m here to see you. I’m—”

“Sean fucking O’Hara,” Cormac finished, groaning and smearing an exasperated hand down his tired face. Had he made that much of an impression? “Christ, I should have known—I should have predicted—”

“Can you do that?” Sean blurted. “I mean—”

“No, no I cannot. Now go the fuck away, there’s nothing I can do for you. Catch the next bus to New-grange with all the rest of the bloody sidhe-chasing tourists and leave me alone.”

About

The Druid Stone is available from Carina Press, Amazon, B&N and ARe. For other retailers and links to other stops on the blog tour, please visit knockmanovel.com. You can can also get in touch with Violetta and Heidi at their websites.

Music Monday: The Lumineers

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Growing up in the South, I have listened to lots of country, folk, and bluegrass in my time. Some of my best memories from my childhood are of our family sitting around my father as he played and sang. I’m sure that’s why my brother and I love music so much, and why the newer Americana and folk rock/country acts are some of my favorites.

This week I wanted to share a song from another folk rock band I like: The Lumineers. Love the sing-along quality of it, which means, of course, that I sing along during my commute [image error]