Laura Kaye's Blog, page 68

#SixSunday 57 Gotta love a man with a plan... #HerForbiddenHero

Happy Sunday everyone! I'm crazy excited this week to share with you the first excerpt from my brand new contemporary romance novel HER FORBIDDEN HERO !!! (Betty is the nickname for his '67 Mustang...)

Marco stepped out of the shower and pulled on his jeans and T-shirt for work, a plan forming in his mind. No more chitchatting with her, no more rides in Betty, no more letting her hug him—that one was critical.
Simple as pie.
After all, he’d been in the United States Army Special Forces, fuck you very much. You might take the man out of the SF, but you couldn’t take the SF out of the man. He’d been up against some of the world’s meanest and toughest, so goddamn straight he could work his way around one young woman.

Buy at Barnes & Noble | Amazon
Should be totally easy, don't you think? *winks*
Oh, and meet Italian actor Giulio Berruti, my inspiration behind hero Marco Vieri!!!
Be sure to check out the Other Sixers' Posts and follow the #sixsunday hashtag on twitter! Thanks to everyone for reading and hopefully commenting, too!
Laura

Click here for my FOREVER FREED Birthday Giveaway & 99 Cent Sale Celebration!

#ForeverFreed Birthday Celebration & 99 Cent Sale!

I'm so excited to celebrate the first publication anniversary of my debut novel, a vampire romance called Forever Freed! This book was the first I wrote and first I sold, and it remains very dear to my heart. Forever Freed has had a heck of a year:

WON the NJRW Golden Leaf Award for Best Paranormal of 2011!Finaled for the NJRW Golden Leaf Award for Best First Book of 2011!Finaled in the GDRW Booksellers' Best Contest for Best Paranormal of 2012!Finaled in the GDRW Booksellers' Best Contest for Best First Book of 2012!Gothic Romance Amazon Bestseller!

So, with all these reasons to celebrate, I thought I'd throw a birthday weekend celebration with a giveaway and a sale on the book!

For a limited time, the ebook of Forever Freed, which normally sells for $5.99, is just 99 CENTS! That's amazing for a 332-page novel-length award-winning romance!   
Buy Forever Freed on Amazon, Barnes & Noble or The Wild Rose Press Publisher Store! 

Need a little more information? Check out the awesome review excerpts here or note the 4.7 / 5-star rating average on Amazon! Woot!
And, while I was at it, I thought I'd also offer a super cool giveaway! Here's what you can win: GRAND PRIZE: A Forever Freed Vampilicious Gift Bag set with a signed paperback, "Fangs are Fabulous" tote bag and notebook, a signed notebook with Laura's covers, two bags of chocolate, a "Have you hugged your vampire today?" bumper sticker, vampire temporary tattoos, and assorted pens, bookmarks, lipbalm, coupons, etc. AND the 1 of the last 2 remaining sets of Forever Freed romance trading cards!SECOND PRIZE: A $10 amazon or B&N gift cardTHIRD PRIZE: A signed set of THE LAST SET of remaining Forever Freed romance trading cards!
Rules:1. Complete the form below to enter to win. Only required entry is to comment on this post.2. All prizes are open to international.3. Contest runs through midnight EST Tuesday May 224. Winners will be chosen by random.org and will be announced by May 25
What to comment?Tell me who is your FAVORITE fictional vampire and why!
Thanks so much for celebrating with me and for stopping by! Good luck! (and stop back by June 1, when my third vampire romance, Seduced by the Vampire King, releases!)
Laura
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Six #Vampire Heroes to Die For...

Today is Day 4 in the six-author, six-day VAMPIRE ROMANCE TO DIE FOR event I'm participating in with Joyee Flynn, Lisa Kessler, Laurie London, Caridad Pineiro, and Elisabeth Staab! We met at the Romantic Times convention where we hosted the super fun Name That Vampire game, so we thought we'd keep the vampirific festivities going!

See below for our awesome giveaway!

Dark. Sexy. Powerful. Immortal. Vampire heroes can send your pulse pounding and your blood racing through your veins. And we know you love it. So, without further ado, here are six of our vampire heroes you’ll simply die for...
[image error] Laurie: Jackson Foss, the dark hero of Tempted By Blood, is hiding some terrible secrets and because of those secrets, he behaves rather badly, as evidenced below... 

Jackson Foss didn’t play by the rules, and he sure as hell wasn’t going to start tonight. Besides, he hated being rushed. Reluctantly, he raised his head and turned toward the door, feeling his pupils dilate even more than they already were. This was the second time Mitch had interrupted him, and if it happened again, Jackson, swear to God, was going to storm out there and acquaint his knuckles with his partner’s face.Techno music blared from the ceiling speakers. Although it was loud inside the tiny room, its walls upholstered in tufted pink vinyl, he didn’t have to raise his voice. His buddy would be able to hear him just fine.“I said I’ll be right out.” But he lied—he’d need at least a few more minutes.He turned his attention back to the woman beneath him. He was aroused but didn’t feel like using what the good Lord gave him. That wasn’t what he was after. At least not this time.Soft waves of hair tickled his nose as he settled in again. The too-sweet smell of her drugstore perfume was so concentrated, so overpowering here at the base of her neck that he almost sneezed. He tried like hell to ignore it and placed his hand to her temple anyway.With a jolt, her energies shot through his palm and up his arm, static electricity popping in his veins, leaving in its wake a warm, numbing sensation.Heaven.Inch by inch, his muscles unknotted, the gnawing hunger in his gut subsiding. Clarity settled over him, the clutter in his mind evaporated. Now he’d be able to concentrate on the things a Guardian should be doing. Walking the streets. Monitoring the police bands. Hanging out in alleys, searching the shadows for those who lived on the fringe of their secret but civilized society.For a short time at least.

[image error] Caridad:  Sexy Irish vampire Adrian is a skilled lover who gives amazing pleasure in exchange for a satisfying bit of blood.  But Adrian has yet to put the bite on the one person whom he truly loves:  Eliza.  Until now . . .

            With his breath and heartbeat slowing until he would seem almost dead with the advent of dawn, Eliza also gradually relaxed, allowing herself to slip into a half-sleep so that when the time was right she could escape from his bed.            It was in that slumberous state hours later that she experienced the unexpected stirring beneath her thigh as Adrian roused.  It was near dawn and she had not expected him to become active again.  Yet there was no denying the erection growing ever larger and more insistent against the soft skin of her thigh.  No way to ignore the leisurely journey of his hand along the back of her thigh to cup her ass and urge her closer.  Or the way Adrian shifted and continued the journey with that hand ever upward to cradle her breast.            “Adrian,” she warned and took hold of his wrist, but even as she did so her heartbeat quickened in anticipation.            He bent his head and whispered along the shell of her ear.  “You smell so good.  Like fresh laundry in the summer sun,” he said and drew in a long breath. “Feel as soft,” he whispered before strumming his thumb along the tip of her breast, drawing a hesitant sigh from her. “I want to feed,” he said and the rasp of his fangs came along the side of her neck.  Her heart skittered in her chest, but he continued his tardy pleasure at her breast, driving away the fear.            He had fed from her before.  Had offered her the vampire’s kiss which had kept her alive for so long.  But he had never fed from her while touching her like this and a part of her worried that she’d lose the rest of her soul to him if they continued along this path.            “I’ll get you a bag, Adrian,” she offered, shifting away from him, but he spread his hands across her back to keep her close.            “I want to feed from you, Eliza.  Nothing else will do.”

[image error] Elisabeth: When King of Darkness opens, Thad's parents have just died. His race is being killed off. He has not been gifted with a supernatural power like a good vampire should have, and he has no queen to rule by his side so that he can present a united front for his kind. A prophecy has foretold a queen who will unlock his powers... too bad she's not interested:  
Thad leaned in more, legs apart, elbows on his thighs. “Look,” he said. “I get that this sounds pretty insane, but believe me when I say I’ve got better things to do with my time than make up stuff like this. If I didn’t think there was something to it, I wouldn’t have been combing half the country looking for you.“I thought it was all a crock of shit too, ya know?” He sat back up and studied her face for a second. Her expression was blank and her mouth was slack again, like she couldn’t quite process what he was saying. But his jaw was tight and his blood pounded in his ears with the urgency of what still remained to be said. So he kept going.“The Oracle you asked about is long dead. My parents—both of them—are also dead. I am close to a century old, and I have no power whatsoever. When word gets out about that factoid, it’s gonna put a crack in the ice. My experience and training up to this point have been completely theoretical. I’m running out of time to officially announce my ascension, and our race needs to have faith in its leader.“We are down to tens of thousands, Isabel. Thousands. On a planet of billions of humans. We work damn hard to keep the communities protected from wizard attacks, but if the folks get scared, they might scatter. And if they scatter…” He closed his eyes and shook his head slowly.

[image error] Joyee: Maverick has been head of security and the warriors in Greece for almost two thousand years. The man knows when to take charge and oozes power. Hell, one of his gifts is to give orgasms. 

“As your mate I command you to shift back and talk to me, or I will walk out that door and leave. I am not a threat to you, and it hurts me that this is how you’re treating me on our first meeting.” I heard a gasp of shock behind me but I ignored it.Tyler whimpered before rolling over to expose his belly to me. I didn’t know much about shifters, but I knew that was a sign of submission for a wolf. “Please don’t make me. You won’t want me when you know how fucked in the head I am. Just leave me be.”“I can’t do that, cub,” I whispered, a little shell-shocked I could hear him in my head. “If you want, I can see it all without you having to explain it to me.” I rubbed his stomach as he eyed me warily. “I’ll be gentle, I swear it to you. If I drink from you, then I can see your memories.” He started to shake again. “Or I could use my other gift and make you orgasm right here in the middle of the foyer with witnesses and embarrass you for being a bad mate.”The air around him vibrated and suddenly I was rubbing Tyler the man. “That’s not much of a threat.”“I know it’s not,” I replied cheekily. “But it still worked.” He nodded and bared his neck to me. I moved over him, not giving two shits where we were or who was watching.

Laura: Meet Nikolai Vasilyev, vampire warrior king hero of Seduced by the Vampire King (releases June 1), and the ultimate self-loathing, guilt-ridden tortured hero! Don’t you just love when I guy like that loses control? Read on...

            He couldn’t let himself be seduced by an impossible idea. He sprung to his feet and made for the door, still open from his earlier rushed entry. “I have to go.”            “Why?” She followed after him, the alluring beat of her heart and intoxicating femininity revealing her place within the room.            He couldn’t stop, couldn’t reply, couldn’t look at her. If he did, there’d be no going back.            He grasped the edge of the door.            Small hands fisted in the back of his shirt. “Wait. Why are you leaving? I mean, did I—”            He halted, heart slamming against his sternum, fangs stretched out and aching. “Release me,” he rasped.            She heaved a shaky breath he felt against his arm. “I…can’t.”            “Release. Me,” he said louder. Competing emotions warred within him until he thought he might split apart.            “Nikolai—”            It was his name rolling off her tongue that did it.            He whirled and buried his hands in her hair. He pulled her to him, causing them both to stumble, and he backed her into the ancient bars of the door. It clicked shut, sealing them in and cutting off the last of his restraint.            Tilting her head back, Nikolai devoured her mouth. His lips sucked, his tongue explored, his fangs rubbed against her moist flesh. Oh, God, she was so sweet and warm and wet. He stepped into her, forcing their bodies together from chest to thighs. And, dammit, she was soft everywhere he was hard.            Her hands curled around his neck and climbed into his hair, fingers tangling and tugging. She pulled him in tighter and surrendered to the kiss. She met him stroke for stroke, their tongues curling and twining together.            And Nikolai no longer knew who was surrendering to whom.

Lisa: This scene from Night Walker takes place after Kate has been mugged.  Calisto slammed the mugger into a brick wall, killing him instantly, so he’s trying to get an unconscious Kate and her car far from the crime scene, but he can’t drive a stick-shift so he keeps stalling it.  While the car lurches forward down the street, Kate wakes up.
He whispered against her hair. “You are safe. No one will ever harm you again.”Something about the way he said it made her believe him. She felt protected in his arms, and gradually her tears faded.“I hoped I would see you again, but this wasn’t how I pictured it would happen.”Calisto smiled, drawing back to meet her eyes. “I was under the impression you wanted nothing more to do with me, no?”“I’m not sure what I want anymore,” she said.He placed a tender kiss to her forehead and held her close. “Mercy Hospital is not far from here.”“No, we don’t need to do that.” Just the thought of the health insurance nightmare of going to an emergency room made her head hurt. “I’m just scraped and shaken up. I’ll be all right.”“Where are you staying? We can park your car and I will call a taxi.”“No,” Kate trembled, shaking her head slowly. “I’m sorry. I don’t want to be alone just yet.”“Then come back to my house. I will clean your wounds and you can rest.”She winced when she pulled back to meet his eyes. “Are you a nurse?”He tenderly brushed the backs of his fingers down her uninjured cheek.“Do you need one?” He smiled.Grinning, she asked, “Do you ever answer questions?”“My answers do not please you?”Kate rolled her eyes at him, laughing again, and flinched. “Stop it… It hurts when I laugh.”“I am sorry. I would rather see you laugh than cry.”She smiled. “Let’s find a safe place to leave my car… And I better drive before you give us both whiplash.”Calisto nodded and handed her the keys. “As you wish.”
About the Authors
Joyee Flynn dreams of one day living on enough land to have a few horses, and find a couple of cowboys or pool boys of her own. She loves to get lost in fantasy that only books can bring. Her wide interest in reading is reflected in her writings, whether short stories, romance, or mystical. Buy Joyee ’ s Books Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter
Laura Kaye is the bestselling and award-winning author of over a half-dozen books in paranormal, contemporary and erotic romance. Her debut novel Forever Freed is a 2012 Booksellers’ Best Double Finalist for Best Paranormal and Best First Novel, and won the NJRW Golden Leaf Award for Best Paranormal of 2011. Buy Laura ' s Books Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Newsletter SignUp
Lisa Kessler loves to make up stories. Her work has been featured in print anthologies, and her vampire story "Immortal Beloved" was a finalist for a Bram Stoker award. She was also a finalist in RT Book Review magazine’s “Writing with the Stars” contest.  Her debut novel, Night Walker is a Bookseller’s Best Double Finalist for Best Paranormal and Best First Novel. Buy Lisa ' s Books Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Newsletter SignUp
Laurie London is the award-winning author of the Sweetblood series. The hotly-anticipated third book, TEMPTED BY BLOOD, is available now, and the fourth book, SEDUCED BY BLOOD, comes out in late July.   Buy Laurie ’ s Books Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Newsletter Signup
Caridad Pineiro is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author and RITA® Finalist.  Caridad is the author of over thirty published novels and novellas. Caridad’s latest paranormal romance release is THE CLAIMED, the second book in the Sin Hunter series.  For more information, please visit www.caridad.com. Buy Caridad ' s Books Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Newsletter Signup
Elisabeth Staab still lives with her nose in a book and at least one foot in a fantasy world. Her bestselling paranormal romance novel, King of Darkness , is available now. Her second book, Prince of Power , releases in January. Buy Elisabeth ' s Books Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Newsletter Signup

Giveaway!Wanna talk vampires? Wanna winvampires?? Follow along the Vampire Romance To Die For Tour all week for both!Here’s the schedule:5/14 Caridad Pineiro5/15 Lisa Kessler5/16 Joyee Flynn5/17 Laura Kaye5/18 Elisabeth Staab5/19 Laurie LondonHere’s what you can win:1) A grand tour-wide prize of a $60 amazon or B&N gift card!2) Each blog hostess is also giving away a book! HERE you can win an ebook of my June 1 release Seduced by the Vampire King!What are the rules?:1) You must comment to enter to win with your email address. Blog follows are appreciated but not required2) Contest is open until midnight EST Monday, May 213) Winners will be announced on May 224) Open to international5) Winners to be picked using random.org6) Participating authors not responsible for biting, blood loss, or swooning-related accidents

Thanks so much for reading everyone! Did you find a favorite vampire hero here? *grins* Please visit the other five authors' sites and comment at each for an extra chance to win the gift card and vampire books!
Laura

Caridad Pineiro Talks Movies/TV & Writing Inspiration! #TheClaimed

Hey everyone! I'm very excited to welcome to the blog today my good friend and awesome paranormal romance author Caridad Pineiro, recently a nominee for the extremely prestigious RWA RITA Award for The Lost, the first book in the series she's here to share with you today ! Woot! So, read on for a hugely fun post about inspiration and the writing process!
Take it away, Caridad... 
Laura, thank you so much for letting me come and visit with you.  I appreciate you letting me give some behind the scenes inspiration for my new paranormal romance, THE CLAIMED, the second book in the SIN HUNTERS series.
When I set out to create the new SIN HUNTERS paranormal romance series, I wanted to do something very different from the vampires and demons populating so many stories in the genre.  I also wanted the mythology to be thought-provoking to readers by creating a concept that would have them thinking about whether or not it was possible that a race like the Hunters could actually exist.
[image error] Christopher Sombrosa, the hero in THE CLAIMED, is a Shadow Hunter, one faction of a race of energy gatherers whose destiny was forever changed by the arrival of the Conquistadors and the smallpox brought to the Americas.  The pox has contaminated the Shadow Hunters and they must constantly feed on energy in order to keep the illness at bay.
The other faction of the ancient race is the Light Hunters.  Many of the Light Hunters can no longer gather energy and must rely on their leaders to sustain them.  Despite that, the energy they can gather is pure and because of that, some Shadow Hunters are content to catch and drain the Light Hunters in order to keep the smallpox from eating away their bodies.
That destiny has Light Hunter battling Shadow Hunter in a civil war which is coming to a head when THE CLAIMED begins.  Especially since at a local gathering, Christopher meets and is attracted to Victoria Johnson.  There is just one problem.  Victoria is the heiress to her Light Hunter clan.
You could say that THE CLAIMED is a paranormal Romeo and Juliet as Christopher and Victoria must find a way to bring peace to their warring clans in order to have their happily-ever-after.  The book is action-packed and sexy as Christopher and Victoria fight for their survival and explore the unique bonding of their Hunter energies.
As you can imagine, it took time to build a mythology and history for the Hunters and THE CLAIMED.  To do so, I took inspiration from various history books and studies into the different concepts regarding the control and enhancement of life forces and energy.  I was also inspired by trips along the Jersey Shore and the connection I felt to the ocean and nature.
Because I’m motivated by visual things, I will almost always write with the television on while I am working.  I’ll play movies and television shows that fit the mood of what I am writing.
Here are five movies I will oftentimes watch while I write and maybe they are some of your favorites as well!
[image error] KING ARTHUR with Clive Owen and Keira Knightley.  Honorable hero and a gang of friends who each bring something different to the mix at the round table.  A kick-butt heroine in the form of a warrior Guinevere.  Amazing action scenes with one of my favorite sword moves.
UNDERWORLD with Kate Beckinsale and Scott Speedman.  Tortured kick-butt heroine, honorable hero and an ages-old battle of vampire versus werewolf.  Futuristic-type action sequences and weapons ramp up a traditional vampire mythology. TWO WEEKS NOTICE with Sandra Bullock and Hugh Grant.  What can I say, but the sight of Hugh Grant flopping around on a mattress like a fish pulled out of water is classic.  Humor.  Even in the darkest paranormal there has to be that hint of humor that humanizes both hero and villain.
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER television series with Sarah Michelle Gellar.  Tortured, kick-butt heroine (are you noticing a theme?) and unexpected heroes in the form of Spike and Angel.  The Scooby Gang of friends.  More importantly, amazing metaphors, story arcs and word play that is as sharp as any punch that Buffy might throw.
A WALK IN THE CLOUDS with Keanu Reeves.  Lush cinematography brings to life the California wine valleys and is so real you think you could step into the landscape.  A sweet romance filled with amazing sexual tension and the conflict of both cultures and expectations.
I hope you’ll check out some of my favorites as well as THE CLAIMED, the second book in the SIN HUNTER paranormal romance series.  If you haven’t read the first book, THE LOST (which is nominated for a RITA by the way), never fear.  THE CLAIMED stands alone although many readers are going back to catch up on what they missed in THE LOST.

Find Caridad and her books here:Buy The Claimed on Amazon | B&NWebsite | Twitter

Thanks so much for coming on the blog, Caridad! Hey guys, what do you think of her cool mythology in the Sin Hunters series???
Thanks for reading!Laura

HER FORBIDDEN HERO Hot Cover Reveal!!!! #Indulgence

I'm very excited to share the release of my sixth book today, a contemporary romance in Entangled's Indulgence line called HER FORBIDDEN HERO! Check it out!

She’s always been off-limits...
Former Army Special Forces Sgt. Marco Vieri has never thought of Alyssa Scott as more than his best friend’s little sister, but her return home changes that…and challenges him to keep his war-borne demons at bay. Marco’s not the same person he was back when he protected Alyssa from her abusive father, and he’s not about to let her see the mess he’s become.
...but now she's all grown up.
When Alyssa takes a job at the bar where Marco works, her carefree smiles wreak havoc on his resolve to bury his feelings. How can he protect her when he can’t stop thinking about her in his bed? But Alyssa’s not looking for protection—not anymore. Now that she's back in his life, she’s determined to heal her forbidden hero, one touch at a time...

Buy at Barnes & Noble | AmazonAdd to your Goodreads Shelf
I'm so excited to share this one with you, guys! Here's the image of Marco I had in my head while writing!!!
So, what d'ya think?
Thanks for stopping by! I would love any likes on B&N and likes/tags on Amazon if you have a minute! Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
Laura

Welcome Guest Author Minta Hall! #Indulgence

Welcome guest authorMinta Hallto the blog today! 

See below for her giveaway!

Welcome, Minta!  Please share a little about yourself, your genres, any other pen names you use.
I think I was born with a pen (or maybe a computer) attached to one hand. I’ve known I wanted to write since I was a girl. Romance was the perfect genre for me because it was a great counterpoint to working in the computer industry. Maybe because computers tend to be all serious and don’t (usually) display much of a sense of humor, I like my romances to be steamy, humorous, and just a little bit twisted. In a good way, of course!  (You knew that, right?) A little funk is a good thing, don’t you think?
I totally agreed! Tell us a little about your latest or upcoming release.
THE MAGICIAN OF WALL STREET is my first book with Entangled; it’s in their Indulgence line of category romances. Oliver Pendragon (a.k.a. “The Magician of Wall Street”) may be a financial wizard, but when it comes to hanging onto the love of his life, he’s not nearly so successful. Abby Daltry left him to move across country to San Diego, where she is now owner of a funky New Age bookstore. Unfortunately, Oliver’s former business partner has brought down Oliver’s company and now threatens to hurt—or kill!—Abby. Oliver’s protective instincts run smack-dab into Abby’s determination to keep her independence.
Oh, what a story! Which character is your favorite and why?
I really do love all my characters, but I especially love the ones who surprise me. I think that’s a great feature in a person, don’t you? It’s hard for me to choose, but, if you set aside Oliver and Abby (because the hero and heroine are too obvious!), I can think of several favorites. There’s the elderly sisters Griselda (“Grizzy”) and Eunice who always seemed to appear just in time to stir up the pot a little. There’s also a young man who pops in just once to give Oliver a Dire Warning. (I love Dire Warnings, don’t you?) He doesn’t even have a name, but I’m sure he’ll be back sooner or later. And then there’s Selena, Abby’s partner in the store, and Jake, the owner of the security firm Oliver hires to help him protect Abby. Just between you and me, I suspect there’s something going on with those two. How could they be at each other’s throats for such trivial reasons if there’s not a whole lot of steam under the surface bubbling out? I think those two bear watching, don’t you? And then, there’s a total favorite of mine: a seven-foot tall wooden statute of a sasquatch standing in the corner of the store, generally arrayed in colorful silk saris. He’s a little bit like a gun placed on a mantel in the opening scene: you just know that eventually someone will grab that gun and shoot somebody with it! Well, Big Foot doesn’t have more than a bit part in this story, but I have a hunch that he’ll take a strong supporting role sometime in the future.  And he looks really cute in those saris…
LOL All these characters sound like a total hoot! Will there be any sequels or other books in the same series?

You bet!  Though, come August, the series moves from the Indulgence line to Entangled’s new Covet line of paranormal romances. The stories will all be centered around the customers and employees (and friends and family) of the Tarot-A-While bookstore.  They’ll vary in tone from quirky and funny to adventurous, but all will have a strong paranormal twist.
Awesome! Can’t wait for the Covet line… What was the hardest thing for you about writing this story?
Wow. I think the hardest thing of any story is getting the first chapter correct. I always have a hard time with Chapter 1. It has to do so many things in story-telling: introduce characters, establish the story world, bring the hero and heroine together, present at least an initial sense of the conflict between them, and introduce the story question that will drive the story from start to finish. That’s a lot of stuff to pack into a relatively few pages!
Yes, for sure! What are you working on right now?
The next two stories in this series!  In the next story, the attention shifts a bit inland to one of the Tarot-A-While’s customers who lives in Julian, CA, a small mountain town about 50 miles east of San Diego.  I can’t say too much about it just now, but this is a really fun story!
Good luck! What happened to the first book you ever wrote?
With any luck, it has disintegrated into dust!
LOL! What do you find easiest and hardest to write?
I think writing dialogue and repartee is easiest for me.  The hardest is always-always-always that first chapter!  And usually Chapter 5 for some reason that totally escapes me!
What would your readers be surprised to learn about you?
That I am under the mind control of a determined Feline Manager. We humans tend to believe we domesticated the cat. Not true! Clearly they domesticated us. Consider the evidence: I work hard all day to provide my Tonkinese Feline Manager with her every desire, while she spends her time moving from warm sunny spot to warm sunny spot to lap to warm kitty bed. In between she watches the birdies on the feeders on the deck for entertainment (a feeder I maintain for her amusement), occasionally watches a 1950s sci-fi monster flick or an episode of Too Cute! or Walking with Dinosaurs (she loves the T-Rex!), and nibbles on her favorite munchies whenever the hungries strike.
I think there’s a reason my friends keep a list of who gets to be reincarnated as my next cat! (I’ve heard they’re talking about auctioning off the top spot on eBay…)
Bwahaha! Okay, now, just for fun (like we haven’t been having that already! *winks*):
Milk chocolate or dark chocolate? Oh, dark. Sinfully dark and rich and…oh, my. I think I need to go have a chocolate break. Back in a minute…
Salty or sweet? Sweet—but not too much so. Cinnamony-sweet is best.
Bed or kitchen table? Kitchen. For sure.
Beach or mountains? Beach—but I have to slather on pounds of sun block. I’m one of those unfortunates who can get sun poisoning while wearing a tee-shirt and sun block. Just call me Minta Mushroom.
Give or receive? Definitely both. What kind of choice is that?
Where can we find you on the web?
Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon Author Page

He'll have to win her heart...and save her life
Oliver Pendragon’s days as the Magician of Wall Street are over. He’s lost everything: his business partner, his reputation, and the love of his life, Abby Daltry. When Abby’s father offers him a way to get everything back—including Abby—Oliver can’t refuse.
Abby Daltry wants nothing more than to break away from the controlling men in her life. When a tarot reading reveals that she’s in danger and that her ex‐lover will be returning to her life, she’ll do whatever it takes to prove her independence.
Oliver will stop at nothing to prove his love and to protect her from the man out to kill them both, but Abby finds out the truth about his deal with her father and issues an ultimatum: he can have her or the company. As danger looms and shots fly, will Abby give into the passion that rises to the Magician’s command—the Magician who all-too-easily controls her heart?

Excerpt:

From: The Magician of Wall Street, by Minta Hall. © 2012. Available from Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
Oliver Pendragon opened the door of the Tarot-A-While Bookstore and strode in with more assurance than he felt. Never show weakness. Never mind that the object of his quest could toss him out on his butt before he could say three words.
Never mind that if he failed, she’d be dead in a week.
He stood by the shop door, eclipsing the sun’s final evening glimmerings, but no one inside took the slightest notice of his entry. A small clutch of women huddled in the far corner. They sat on folding chairs and leaned forward, breathless as they focused on a woman sitting at a rickety card table.
The shop had the paradoxical charm of a little old lady in black motorcycle leather and spike-heeled boots. Despite the store’s predilection for mind-boggling merchandise in confusing disarray, Oliver noticed a state-of-the-art point-of-sale terminal on the sales counter.
Yes, this store suited Abby.
Anticipation throbbed through him, but he suppressed it. He’d known for months that the day would come when he’d at last be free to claim Abigail Daltry again. But now that he was here at last, he wanted to savor each moment of this long-delayed reunion as much as he wanted to swoop in and whisk her back into his life.
Back into his arms.
Back into his bed.
Oliver stepped forward, still shadowed by the tall shelves, his curiosity piqued by the intensity of the group. The woman at the table held a pack of battered, oversize cards and laid them out in a peculiar pattern on the table. For a moment, he thought she was playing solitaire, then realized the cards weren’t standard playing cards.
He took another step closer, then halted. There, seated in front of the woman with the cards, was Abby. He took a deep breath, fighting for control, and found himself listening with unexpected interest to the other woman’s explanation.
The reader spoke quickly. “...The ninth card reveals your hopes and fears.” A practiced flick of her fingers flipped the card face up. Her face drained of color.
Abby leaned forward just as he was about to move. “What’s wrong?”
The reader looked Abby straight in the eye and her voice took on an ominous note. “Your reading is filled with warnings of a deceiver, a man who is not who he claims, not who you think he is. Beware this man.” With a sure movement but keeping her eyes on Abby, she tapped the last card. “This card shows the final outcome. It reveals the answer to the struggles you face.”
“Turn it over,” Abby said.
The reader hesitated for a moment, then turned up the card. “The Magician,” she whispered as she looked up, straight into Oliver’s eyes. “Beware the Magician,” she warned, while holding his gaze with a commanding glare.
Abby must have noticed the new focus of the reader’s attention because she turned and stared at him, too, causing the rest of the ladies to turn. He fell under the microscopic survey of a suddenly hostile audience.
Visibly gathering her composure, Abby stood and gestured toward him in a mock-courteous introduction. “Welcome to the Tarot-A-While Bookstore, Oliver. Ladies, may I present Mr. Oliver Pendragon? You may have heard of him. He’s known as...” Abby faltered under his glare.
Oliver’s voice felt rusty and his words came out harsher than he intended. “Say it.”
Abby glanced again at the reader and at the cards that accused him from the card table.
She reached down and lifted the final card in the layout, holding it out in sardonic offering. “The Magician. Oliver’s called the ‘Magician of Wall Street.’”

Giveaway!One commenter who leaves their email address will win an ebook of The Magician of Wall Street! Open to international! Contest to run through midnight EST Thursday, May 17! Winner to be chosen by random.org. Good luck!

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING MY GUEST!

And thank you for giving me the opportunity to talk with you and your readers!  It’s a real pleasure.
Thanks for reading everyone! Please leave Minta some new release love!

Laura

#SixSunday 56 Oh yeah, he's man enough to... #NorthofNeed

My mom, who died way too young

Happy Sunday everyone, and HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all the mothers visiting today! 
I had three books I could've picked today, and I decided to go with six from NORTH OF NEED, book 1 in my Hearts of the Anemoi series, because the mass market trade paperback is releasing this Tuesday, May 15. This is the one that has the new beautiful matte cover and reformatted size/pagination to match the books in the rest of the series that will be released to bookstores. So, without further ado, a cute, sexy moment between Owen and Megan:

“You totally have a thing for feeding me.”
He tossed more berries between his full lips. “I’m man enough to admit that. I like seeing you healthy and sated, and I like to have a hand in making you that way.”
Good God. What he didn’t do with his heated gazes or godlike body, he could always do with his words.

Buy on Amazon | B&N
Don't forget to check out the Other Sixers' Posts and follow the #sixsunday hashtag on Twitter! Thanks for reading and hopefully commenting, too!
Laura

Deadly Secrets #DeadSexy Cover Reveal! Check it out!

I'm very excited to be a part of the big cover reveal for DEADLY SECRETS, LOVING LIES, the flagship title to Entangled Publishing's new romantic suspense line, Dead Sexy! Congratulations to Cynthia Cooke on what sounds like one roller coaster ride of a hot story! Now, without further ado, here's the cover goodness:

Family secrets must be kept, and painful wounds must be ignored.
After an all-out assault by a vicious terrorist bent on destroying her entire family, a former government agent must break the strict rules she has always lived by when she emerges from hiding to reluctantly accept the help of her all-too-sexy ex-lover. Running a deadly race against time, they rush to rescue her kidnapped sister, find her missing father, and bring the notorious villain to justice. But nothing ever goes as planned. Bullets fly, danger abounds, and their passion reignites even faster than the lies are flowing. But their stubbornly held secrets just might spell the end of their rekindled love and hopes for the future...as well as their very lives.

On sale everywhere starting TODAY!!!
Be sure to connect with Cynthia at: Cynthia@cynthiacooke.com https://www.facebook.com/cynthia.cooke.authorpage https://www.facebook.com/cynthia.cookeauthor http://twitter.com/CynthiaCooke5 http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4302001-cynthia-cooke
So, what do you think? Thanks for reading,
Laura

Welcome Guest Author Lillie Spencer #RomanticSuspense

Welcome guest authorLillie Spencerto the blog today!

See below for her giveaway!

Welcome, Lillie!  Please share a little about yourself, your genres, any other pen names you use.
Hi!  Thanks for having me!  My name is Lillie Spencer.  I like to joke that I am a mother, author, and wife - usually in that order.  My debut novel is a contemporary romantic suspense, but I also enjoy writing paranormal romance.
Awesome! So, tell us a little about your latest or release.
MANHUNT is a romantic suspense novel about a young woman, Nikki, who wakes up in the hospital with amnesia, only to be kidnapped by a handsome stranger named Michael who claims to be her first and only true love.  As she begins to remember more about their life together, she finds herself drawn to him, only to learn that he is wanted for the murder of her ex-boyfriend. 
At its heart, MANHUNT is a story about love, loss and redemption. 
Oh, interesting! Which character is your favorite and why?
Christian, Michael and Nikki's best friend.  Getting into his head was so much fun.  He has such a unique outlook on right and wrong, is irreverent and funny, but viciously loyal to those he loves.
He sounds great! Will there be any sequels or other books in the same series?
I have an outline sketched out, focusing on Christian's life and how he came to be the way he is. 
What was the hardest thing for you about writing this story?
I put the characters in this book through the emotional wringer quite a bit, and I felt oddly guilty about torturing them the way I did.  Sometimes it's easy to forget they're fictional characters.
LOL! What are you working on right now?
THE CIRCLE, a paranormal romance about a two thousand year old shapeshifting druid priest who has wandered the world alone, hiding from those who seek to destroy him, until he meets a woman whose love he can't deny, no matter how much he wants to.
Wow! Very cool! Have you incorporated actual events or people from your own life into your books?
No actual people or events, but from an emotional perspective, there are definitely pieces of me in this one, more so than anything else I've written. 
Is there a theme or message that runs through your work?
The good guy isn't always perfect, and the bad guy isn't always evil.  It's a thread I find myself weaving in almost everything I write, even when I don't intend to.  I am fascinated by what makes people who they are, what lurks underneath, and I think that fascination helps make my characters three-dimensional.
This is great! What would your readers be surprised to learn about you?
My background is actually wildlife biology.  I used to do raptor rehab and conservation research.  I also interned at a roadside zoo that didn't exactly follow strict procedures about animal handling.  I've been hugged by a real bear, groomed by a monkey, raced a panther and got crapped on by a komodo dragon.  It was amazing, and stupid, and the only thing I regret was I didn't get more pictures.
What an awesome set of experiences! Which romance book or series (or other genre, if you don’t write romance) do you wish you had written?
Anne Rice's Interview with a Vampire series, without a doubt.  I fell in love with Louis, Lestat and Armand, but more than that, the way she drew you in, made you feel as though you were actually there with them was breathtaking.
One of my all-time faves! Okay, now, just for fun:
Milk chocolate or dark chocolate?   Dark chocolate, definitely.  With a glass of red wine.
Salty or sweet?  Both.  I love the combination.  Not too long ago I made chocolate covered pretzels with hazelnuts on top -- yummy.
Bed or kitchen table?   Kitchen table, definitely!  ;)
Beach or mountains?   Hmmm... this is a tough one.  I'm going to say the mountains.  I live a mile and a half from the beach, so I'm probably spoiled and take it for granted.  But I grew up in West Virginia, and hiking through the mountains was as easy as taking a stroll through the park.  There's something almost spiritual about being in the middle of the woods on top of a mountain where the air is clean, the stars are bright and the world is absolutely silent except for the crickets and the owls.
Give or receive?   Receive. I'm selfish that way. I give as good as I get, but I want mine first.

Sometimes you have to forget it all to remember what really matters.
Michael Brennan's life and career come to an abrupt halt when he receives a phone call telling him the love of his life, Nikki Wright, is in the hospital after another attack by her ex-boyfriend Sebastian Cross. Rushing back to Hershey, PA, Michael turns up at Nikki's hospital bedside covered in Sebastian's blood and tells her they have to leave immediately. Though her injuries have induced amnesia, Nikki inherently feels she can trust this man with her life. Soon, they find themselves on the run from both their own troubled pasts and authorities hunting for Sebastian's killer. But with each new day and each touch drawing her further into Michael's embrace, Nikki remembers more about this fugitive she once loved, and who still loves her enough to risk everything to protect her and keep her safe.

Thanks for coming on the blog! Where can we find you on the web?Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads| Amazon Author Page
Excerpt:
“You shower first while I unload the car, then I’ll redress your bandages,” Michael instructed. Nikki nodded, and Michael closed the door behind him. She began slowly stripping in front of the mirror, truly looking at herself for the first time. Nikki touched each scrape, each blackened bruise, each swollen red abra­sion. She set her jaw, straightened her back and met her reflection in the eye. She did not cry.She had some trouble unwrapping the tape from around her ribs, and considered asking Michael to cut it off. But, no, she was too self-conscious, even though the thought of his hands on her skin sent a little thrill through her. He had said they weren’t together, but had been at one point. Nikki had no idea about the specifics of their relationship. Had she slept with him? Had she slept with anyone? Those were questions she was sure he wouldn’t answer, even if she weren’t too embarrassed to ask. She forced them to the back of her mind as she stepped into the tub, wishing they had bought some flip flops so she wouldn’t have to touch the tub with her feet, and scrubbed her torso, unable to bend enough to clean her legs. Her modesty was short-lived, however, when a huge spider lowered itself from the ceiling in front of her face. Nikki screamed and Michael came barging in, panicked. “Nikki! Are you all right?” The spider had made its way to the bottom of the tub, forcing Nikki to cower in the corner, trapped by the eight-legged beast. She pointed at the wretched creature with a shaky hand. Michael lifted his leg into the tub and stomped on it, making an exceptionally satisfying squishy sound. His clothes already soaked, he kicked his shoes off and climbed in the shower, taking a shaking Nikki in his arms, tucking her head into the crook of his neck and holding her to him while rubbing his hand up and down her back comfortingly. “Shhhh, Nikki, it’s okay.” She didn’t move. Something about her forehead against his neck felt famil­iar, and in a good way. A very good way.“I don’t like spiders,” she mumbled against his collarbone. His chuckle rumbled throughout his chest. “No, you don’t. You never did, especially not after…” Michael let his sen­tence die off, leaving Nikki curious about what he was hiding from her this time. He pulled back and kissed her forehead. “Let’s get you cleaned up. It’s been a long day and you need your rest.”

 Giveaway!Lillie is giving away an ebook (pdf, mobi, or epub format) of Manhunt to one commenter who leaves their email address. Open to international. Contest will run through midnight EST Monday, May 14. Winner will be chosen by random.org. Good luck!

Thanks so much for reading everyone! Now, please leave Lillie some debut novel love!Laura

Welcome Guest Author Cindi Myers! #Indulgence

Welcome guest author Cindi Myers to the blog today!

See below for her giveaway!

Welcome, Cindi!  Please share a little about yourself, your genres, any other pen names you use.
I sold my first book back in 1999 and since then I’ve published around 50 books. I started out writing western historical under my maiden name, Cynthia Sterling, but those have all since been re-issued under Cindi Myers. All my books since then have been written as Cindi Myers, with the exception of one YA I wrote as Jaime Sterling.  I write historical and contemporary romance and contemporary women’s fiction.
Wonderful! Congratulations on so many books! Amazing! Okay, so, tell us a little about your latest or upcoming release.
I’m very excited about my new book with Entangled Publishing’s Indulgence lineALWAYS A BRIDESMAID, the story of what happens when two people who think they have more important things to do than fall in love get together and try to fight their instant attraction. The heroine, Jennifer, has been burned twice by love, so she's turned her focus to getting her master's degree while divorced dad Mike is concentrating on raising his son. The two end up as roommates and learn what they think they know about love is no match for what they feel in their hearts.
Sounds like so much fun! Which character is your favorite and why?
I really like my hero, Mike in Always a Bridesmaid because he is that wonderful, sexy combination of a really strong guy on the outside who’s emotional mush on the inside. He was really hurt by his divorce and is determined not to show it, he really wants to be a great dad to his little boy, and he really wants to avoid hurting Stephanie and himself. All those traits add up to a guy with a great potential to love.
Aw, your description makes me want to give him a big hug! *grins* As the author, what surprised you about this story?
I started out writing this light-hearted comedy, but my characters turned out to have a lot of emotional depth. There are still funny moments in the book, but the heart-wrenching emotion that showed up surprised me. Those surprises are a wonderful thing about writing.
Yes, they truly are! What was the hardest thing for you about writing this story?
Digging out all the layers. And in revision I had to give up a scene I thought was really funny – Stephanie’s dad is trying to find a guy for her and is suggesting all these really unsuitable candidates. But the editor was right – it didn’t have a purpose in the story other than slapstick comedy. Still, I liked it.
Oh, yes, those are hard moments for a writer! What are you working on right now?
I’m working on a women’s fiction novel for a Colorado set series. The first book in the series, The View From Here, will be out around Thanksgiving.
Congratulations on a new series! What happened to the first book you ever wrote?
It’s in a box in the basement somewhere. Where it will stay!
LOL! What do you find easiest and hardest to write?
Easiest – dialogue. My characters like to talk. Hardest – hmmm – the middle of the book is always slow going. And I usually have to rewrite my endings multiple times to get them right.
Have you incorporated actual events or people from your own life into your books?
Sometimes I put in funny things that happened to real people I know. Or I’ll give a character one trait from someone I knew. I’ve never used a real person, though.  I like to use real places – Always a Bridesmaid is set in Evergreen, Colorado, a town a few miles down the road from where I live.
Ooh, I like to use real places, too! Is there a theme or message that runs through your work?
Finding a home or finding your place in the world tends to be a theme I revisit a lot in my books.
I love that! So, what would your readers be surprised to learn about you?
I met my husband on a blind date. We’d known each other exactly six weeks when we got engaged, and six months after that first date we were married. That was over 32 years ago.
And one of my hobbies is belly dancing. I belong to a local troupe, the Mountain Kahai Dancers – we dance at local festivals and other events around town.
What an awesome story about how you met your husband! And woot to belly dance – I think we need a picture! *grins* Which romance book or series (or other genre, if you don’t write romance) do you wish you had written?
I wish I had written Kristin Higgins’ Catch of the Day – it’s just an awesome book.
Love her stuff! Of all the characters you’ve ever written, who is your favorite and why?
That’s like asking a mother to pick among her children! Honestly, after 50 books, I would have trouble choosing a favorite.
Okay, we’ll let you get away with that! *winks* So, now, just for fun:
Milk chocolate or dark chocolate? Dark!
Salty or sweet? Sweet – though a combination is best – Dark choc with sea salt.
Bed or kitchen table? Bed for sex – table for breakfast.
Beach or mountains? Mountains!
Give or receive? Probably give, though sometimes receiving is best.

She's sworn off weddings…

After two failed relationships and six stints as a bridesmaid, Stephanie Ludlow is convinced she’s man-poison. So when her hormones point due south to her sexy—but not so charming—new landlord, she can't help the sparks that fly. It’s a good thing she’s declared a strict "no sex" policy, because Mike Brubaker might as well have “it’s not happening” tattooed across his delectable chest.

He's sworn off love…

Spurned single dad Mike has learned the hard way women are the source of all evil and should be avoided at any cost. And that definitely includes his gorgeous new tenant. But when they're thrown together in the wedding party from hell, both will stop at nothing to fight the heat building between them. Giving in is not an option for either of them.

Thanks for coming on the blog! Where can we find you on the web?
Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon Author PageBuy Always a Bridesmaid on Amazon | B&N

Giveaway!One commenter who leaves their email address will win an ebook of Always a Bridesmaid! Contest open through midnight EST May 13! Open to international! Winner to be chosen by random.org. Good luck!

Thanks so much for reading, everyone! Please leave Cindi some new release love!
Laura