Carly Fall's Blog, page 23
April 9, 2012
CBLS – "Kiss Me Slowly" by Amber Lea Easton
Today I'm really happy to host Amber Lea Easton. Amber is here today to talk about why she writes romance, and then we are going to find out about her book, Kiss Me Slowly.
There comes a time
when nothing is meaningful
except surrendering to LOVE.
Do it!
~Rumi
I'm a firm believer in romance and love. Call me naive if you'd like or a Pollyanna if you choose, but there's something about a happy ending that really lights up my world.
Let me tell you about my own love story. When I was twenty-seven, I met a tall, blond-haired, blue-eyed mountain boy named Sean. He swept me away from our first meeting and proposed to me three weeks later after filling his apartment with wild flowers he'd picked along side the road. I said yes without hesitation. Yes, yes, yes!
My "yes" sent my friends into intervention mode. I was never the relationship type and my friends knew this. I couldn't care less about having a boyfriend, let alone getting married. Oh, I loved men, that's true. Back in my twenty-something days, I had more guy pals than girlfriends. I was okay with being single. But Sean…wow…the man sent my nervous system into electrical overload. Ba-da-bing-ba-da-BOOM!
Long story short–we married six months later and ended up having two gorgeous kids. Happily ever after, you ask? No. He died six years ago, leaving me a widow with two kids to raise solo.
I still love him, probably always will. That doesn't mean I can't love someone else one day–I'm sure I will–but Sean is imprinted on my heart.
Love is like that, you see. It doesn't end despite the vows that say "til death do us part". Its reach is infinite. But, because I love love, I know I'll find space in my heart to love someone again. Differently, yes. Equally, I hope so.
So, you see, I write romance because I believe in true love, soul mates and passion. I know love exists. I also believe that, if you're not in love with something whether it be your hobby, your life, your pets, yourself…if you're not passionate about something…then what's the point? Yes, I'm a widow who's flying solo at the moment, but I love my writing, my kids, my pets, my friends, the view outside my window, my ability to laugh at myself…I love.
To me, love is all that matters at the dimming of the day…and that's why I write romance novels.
AND NOW ABOUT THE BOOK
Title: Kiss Me Slowly
Author: Amber Lea Easton
Publisher: BookStrand.com
Length: 315 Pages
Genres: Contemporary Romantic Suspense
BLURB:
Trapped in a set-up that could have him in jail or dead by Monday, Jonathan Alexander trusts no one in his inner circle. It's Saturday. His only hope is Grace Dupont, the best forensic accountant in Miami. But there's a glitch with that idea. She's also his ex-girlfriend who'd rather watch him drown than throw him a life vest. Going to her feels desperate…because he is.
Grace enjoys seeing Jonathan squirm. On your knees boy, she thinks as he pitches for her help. Always a sucker for the dark-haired-blue-eyed boys, she risks her precariously balanced life of secrets to help him. Helping him slaps a target on her back–she's the key to proving his innocence and that's a bad, bad thing.
Tangled up in a whirlwind of conspiracy, murder, million dollar money trails and diamond smuggling, Jonathan and Grace flee to the sea to stall for time to prove his innocence. Romance sizzles beneath Florida Keys' sunshine. Both scoff at happy endings. Both doubt justice. Both know each kiss could be their last.
AN EXCERPT FROM THE BOOK:
"You have blood on your dress." He fingered the strap in question that had slipped off her shoulder. "You should probably take it off."
"Careful. We can't go there." Sand clung to her neck and stuck to the tangles in her hair. The light from the bedside lamp shadowed her face.
"I meant change out of it, not…well, maybe I meant take it off. But then we'd be crossing lines that you don't want to cross." He let his fingers trail down her arm. "That would be wrong. Terribly wrong."
"You are nothing but trouble."
"You always liked trouble." He rested his right palm against the bed, supporting his weight on his healthy arm.
"Listen carefully to me." She pressed her finger against his lips. "I'm high on adrenaline, we're alone, no witnesses, no regrets. One kiss won't hurt anyone."
"No witnesses, no regrets…" Heat flooded his veins. "Adrenaline…"
"If I don't do this now, I'll hate myself in the morning."
"You mean you'll regret it when they lock me up in the morning and throw away the key because you didn't kiss me one last time?"
"Exactly." She straddled his lap.
"You weren't supposed to agree." He smiled despite the circumstances.
"Shut up, sailor boy. Kiss me."
She kissed him as if savoring the taste. Her hair fell forward, locking them in a caramel-colored veil of intimacy. Eyes open, they stared at each other as their lips moved against each other's.
His hands slid up her long thighs, over her panties and pressed against the smoothness of her back. Every stroke of her lips against his awakened pure need in his veins. He no longer cared about what was right or wrong. All he wanted was her mouth on his, his hands on her body and her skin against his.
With a quick yank, she pulled her dress over her head. Breasts bared, she pressed him down on the bed and laughed against his mouth. "This is crossing all kinds of boundaries and breaking every rule I can think of."
"Just like the old days." He smiled against her lips. His hands moved over her bared breasts. The pain in his shoulder failed to slow him down. He didn't know who groaned or if they both did, but the sensation of her flesh filling his palms trumped common sense.
Her bare foot slid over his leg, hands curled into his hair, and body flattened against his. All the anger, the terror and confusion poured from him as he deepened the kiss with an urgency that bordered on desperation. The silky warmth of her mouth erased his pain. Kissing her felt like coming home from an exhausting, lonely journey.
"A kiss…that's all I wanted," she muttered against his chin. A shiver quaked through her body when she sighed.
"I want more."
"Impossible. We can't."
"We can do whatever the hell we want, Grace." Despite the burning pain in his left shoulder, he maneuvered so that his body covered hers. He wanted more than a kiss. He wanted more heat.
WHERE TO BUY LINKS:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/rUH17M
Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/vafDAb
Bookstrand: http://bit.ly/v0HczI
VIDEO BOOK TRAILER:
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Amber Lea Easton grew up in Hartford, South Dakota, where she spent her time daydreaming of big adventures over the horizon under a giant blue South Dakota sky. Now living in Colorado, she is an avid traveler who incorporates her real life travels into her novels as much as possible (minus the illegal activities her characters become immersed in–she swears). To her, setting is another character in the novel and often serves as an inspiration. Although she is a romantic suspense author, she's an avid reader of all genres or "whatever turns her on in the moment". Love is her motivation for all things–whether it be writing, traveling, playing with her dogs or hanging with her two teenagers–if it's not done with love, then what's the point?
To stay up to date with Amber Lea Easton's new releases and events, check out her website at http://www.amberleaeaston.com, subscribe to her author blog at http://amberleaeaston.blogspot.com or email her at amber@amberleaeaston.com. Follow her on Twitter as @MtnMoxieGirl or on Facebook.
April 8, 2012
Six Sentence Sunday 4/8/12
Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you are having a wonderful Easter. I'm neck deep in family today, so please excuse me if I'm tardy in making my SSS rounds.
I'm continuing with my still untitled WIP…
To set up this six, Beverly has just been told, in a nutshell, "we can do this the easy way, or we can do this the hard way, but either way, your coming with me," by my hero Rayner from Finding My Faith. He's basically kidnapped her, but in a nice way.
They've been riding in a car for a while…
"Beverly," Rayner said, breaking the silence, "I need you to put this on around your head like a blindfold. I'm sorry, but I can't let you see where we're headed."
She took the pillowcase from him, running her finger over the Ritz Carlton emblem stitched in the fabric. "I don't know where we are, Rayner. I'm not from this area. And why wouldn't I be able to see where we're going?"
Thanks again for stopping by, and comments are always appreciated 
April 5, 2012
Hoppy Easter Blog Hop
Thank you for stopping by. I'm giving away an ebook copy of each of the books in the Six Savior Series for the Easter Bunny to put in your basket. See the blurb below each picture, and you can click on the picture itself to read an excerpt.
***Please note: Even though these are part of a series (The Light Within Me is #1, Finding My Faith is #2) these are stand alone titles. You don't have to read them in order.***
Growing up in a small Northern Arizona town, Faith Cloudfoot's life was spent playing in the forests surrounding her house under the protective eyes of her father, and learning about the legends of her Native American heritage. Yearning for more out of her life, she moves to Phoenix, Arizona at the age of twenty-three where she is kidnapped and almost killed.
Rayner has a special ability, one that weighs on him like a curse. He can see spirits trapped in between life and their final resting place. Because he can't do much to help them, he studiously ignores them. He concentrates, instead, on working with his fellow warriors to right the wrongs caused by the evil criminals from his home planet.
When Rayner sees Faith in her spirit form while investigating a lead in Phoenix, his attraction to her is immediate, yet he follows his own personal code and ignores her cry for attention. When he realizes that she may be a stepping stone to getting him home to his own universe, he engages Faith and begins to use her as a means to an end: going home.
As the attraction grows stronger, Rayner finds himself breaking all sorts of self-set rules, as well as the code of ethics set by him and his fellow warriors. When Faith nears death, Rayner realizes that he must do everything in his power to save her, because if he doesn't, he may just lose himself.
As a shy, awkward social misfit, Abby has gone her whole life feeling as though she's different from everyone else and she simply doesn't fit in well with society as a whole. She longs to feel a real connection with someone, and she finally does when she meets Noah.
Unbeknownst to Abby, Noah is from another world, here to hunt down the evil of his people that has been unleashed on Earth, and he's been at it a very long time. He's certain he isn't going to be able to return home, and anger and the need for revenge are his constant companions. His focus has been eradicating the evil and making them pay for taking his life on his world away from him.
When Abby and Noah meet, there is an electric sexual attraction between them that can't be denied by either of them, an attraction that Noah tries to fight so he can keep his focus on his mission. But when Abby gets dragged into the evil from Noah's world, he realizes that maybe with Abby he can find a home here on Earth…if he can save her in time.
Know which one you want?
Great!
April 1, 2012
Six Sentence Sunday 4/1/12
Thank you for stopping by. I always appreciate your comments!
In this weeks six, I'm still going with my untitled WIP.
Hudson and Beverly are in bed for the first time together…
"You need to go," he repeated. "I can't do this."
She let her eyes drop to his lap. He certainly looked more than ready to do exactly "this."
"I don't understand," she said.
"You don't need to."
For the rest of the great authors, please click the banner above, and thank you again for visiting!
March 26, 2012
CBLS – "Valkyrie's Vengeance (Maidens of the Shield, Book 1)" by Suzie Grant
Today I'm very excited to be hosting Suzie Grant. She has also offered a book for a giveaway! So please leave a comment to grab the book.
Title: Valkyrie's Vengeance (Maidens of the Shield, Book 1)
Author Suzie Grant
Publisher: Night Shift Publishing
Length: 70,000 words
Sub-Genres: Action/Adventure, Historical, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
BLURB:
Stranded on foreign soil. Rescued and raised by the enemy. Tyra Svensdottir declares war on her own people after witnessing the death of the very woman who'd saved her life. Kidnapping the man who wields the sword of the underworld — Hel's Hammer — Tyra forces him to repair her shipwrecked vessel. Her quest to kill the swordsman's king takes them across frigid waters on a myriad of adventures and a voyage of sensual discovery.
Rorik Thorlicksson uncovers treachery within his clan but in order to return home to warn of the impending attack, he must yield to the woman holding him captive. Along their voyage he unravels the mystery behind his captor. He discovers she is the woman promised to him in wedlock at birth though her disappearance years ago released him from his betrothal. Dissuading the little heathen from her purpose and into his bed becomes a more appealing prospect with every passing day.
Blood vengeance brings them together even as desire binds their hearts. Amongst the secrets and obscurities of their destinies, they find a love that spans a lifetime as well as an end to A Valkyrie's Vengeance.
EXCERPT #1:
Off the coast of England – 901 AD
Thwack, thwack, thwack. Arrows embedded into the beached ship with every step Tyra Svensdottir took, missing her ankles by mere inches.
She dove for cover inside the grounded longship's hull. Her heart stalled and then nearly pounded its way outside of her chest. She placed a hand there as if she could stop the horrendous hammering, or at least quiet it somewhat. Eyes wide, she spat the mouthful of salt water out and rose to her knees, making sure to stay hidden. The hull tilted on its side like a great fish dragged from the sea. Leaning against the wooden planks, Tyra summoned the courage not to cry. Who shot at her? How had they found her?
For the last three days, she'd wandered the beach alone. She wasn't even sure where she was. Her gaze roamed her surroundings. Early morning mist swept the beaches in its wispy grasp and limited visibility. But she could hear voices. She couldn't locate from whence they came.
Tyra slogged through the calf-high water, leaning low, to the front of the ship. Her fingers shook as she reached out to grasp the edge of the jagged planks where the hull had struck stone, causing the vessel to sink. Waves lapped at her ankles and washed the sand out from under her bare toes as she stepped over one of the bloated, dead bodies. Bile rose in her throat and she tamped it down. The rancid scent of rotting flesh permeated the air around the longship's belly and her empty stomach protested the smell.
Her lips quivered. From fear? Cold? Both. She only wished to go home. Her father had warned her— when the gods grant our desires we may find we no longer wish for them, Tyra. An ache developed in her chest and she could almost hear the deep timbre of his voice. Why hadn't she listened to him?
Bodies littered the beach in various positions. Her brother…her cousins…all dead. She'd been the sole survivor. Of the twelve men, only four had washed ashore so far. She covered her mouth, to hold in the scream forming in the back of her throat.
A deep, hearty laugh caused her to stiffen as she waited for further movement. She peered around the edge of the shattered boards and a single arrow thumped into the side of the ship next to her face. She leapt back with a gasp.
The laughter grew louder. They were toying with her now. They must know she was alone. Her legs were weak and wobbly from lack of nourishment and her vision blurred. Voices carried to her and she knew the enemy was closing in.
Tyra could not wait here to be slaughtered like an animal. She must move to a better battlefield. She scanned the area. The beach faded into a dark cluster of trees. If she made it there, she would have a better chance of survival with more places to hide.
But running from here to there…a single arrow would kill her. Tyra choked back her tears.
Taking a deep breath, she burst from the opening and plunged headlong down the stretch of open beach toward the cover of the trees. Her legs pumped furiously and she squealed at the swish of an arrow flying past her.
She gasped for breath and her lungs burned from lack of air. Plink. Plink. Two arrows hit the face of the rocks ahead of her and fell harmlessly to the ground.
Tyra grabbed one as she ran past. A weapon would even the odds somewhat. She might only be twelve-winters-old, but her father had taught her from an early age how to protect herself. He appreciated strength in a woman and had encouraged her to take up arms. A woman's place was beside the hearth, but a woman also protected the hearth while the men were away.
Steep, craggy rocks settled at the base of an incline. She leapt over a small boulder and burst through the edge of the trees. There was no path here, and she knew not where to go, but she could not falter now.
The sound of the chase followed her as the enemy crashed through the brush behind her. Their harsh breath broke the silence of the forest as the men sucked air into their lungs. Tree limbs slapped against her face and stung her tender skin.
How many were there? Did she dare look? If she fell she would never be able to get away once they caught her. She could not look and risk losing her small advantage.
They laughed and taunted in a foreign tongue, and they were closing in. Lengthening her strides, she dodged a maple tree and leapt over a dead, fallen trunk.
Why had she stowed away on her brother's ship? Why had she not stayed home where she belonged? Hugh had been headed to Jorvikskyr on a trading expedition, and her father had forbidden her to go. Determined, she had hidden away in an empty trunk. A storm had brewed so suddenly, near falling right atop them, leaving the crew little time to sail safely to land.
And due to her foolish pride she was left running for her life in an unknown land.
The terrain dipped and she slid down an embankment. She sprang forward and raced north. Several seconds later she realized she heard no sound.
Her footsteps slowed. She gasped for breath and leaned a hand against a thick oak, while her other settled against her heart. Dropping to her knees, she hid behind the large trunk, and searched the area. The mist weaved between the carpet of trees, Tyra studied the wall of green for the slightest movement. Nature's breath seemed to be silenced as she waited for some sound.
Where had they gone? Had they given up the search?
The mist thickened amongst the vegetation and descended into a moist cloud just above her head. Everything beyond her reach faded into a grey haze.
A limb snapped. She shrank back, the bark of the tree scrapping against the soft flesh of her forehead. Hot, silent tears coursed down her cheeks. She'd wished for adventure. And now she wished for home.
Silence hung in the air like the weighty fog. It was there and she felt it. But it was the danger within she feared, not the fog itself.
She swallowed. Her parched tongue scratched against the roof of her mouth. Three days since she'd had any nourishment. Three days since she'd had shelter. And three days since she'd seen another human being. Alive at least.
To have endured the storm stowed away in a trunk and survived the crash—only to die on land at the hands of strangers seemed one of Loki's cruel jests.
By Odin, she refused to be his entertainment and she refused to die here in a land not her own, amongst a people not her own.
BUY LINKS:
Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Valkyries-Venge...
Smashwords
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...
BOOK TRAILER:
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Suzie still believes in happily-ever-after and after growing up reading classic adventure literature like Treasure Isle, Robinson Crusoe, and The Swiss Family Robinson tales, as well as epic novels like Gone with the wind, Suzie would dream up adventures of her own.With her love of history she brings the action of thrillers to historical romance with steamy, love scenes and a pace that will leave you breathless!
She lives happily ever after with her new beau, three boys and one little Shih tzu named Peppy Le'Pew in NC. One day she plans to retire and sail along the east coast an adventurer to the end.
Website link: www.suziegrantauthor.com
Blog link: www.adventureunleashed.blogspot.com
CBLS – "Life in Death (Kari Marchant Series, Book 1)" by Harlow Coban
I'm pleased today to be hosting Harlow Coban and letting you know about her book, Life In Death, which is a story that pulls situations from her own family history. Harlow has also been generous enough to donate an ebook up for grabs! Leave a comment and the winner will be picked randomly and notified by email.
Title: Life in Death (Kari Marchant Series, Book 1)
Author: Harlow Coban
Publisher: Wine Not Publishing
Length: 25,000 words
Sub-Genre: Mystery/Thriller
BLURB:
When a girl that social worker Kari Marchant places in foster care is brutally murdered, she's compelled to learn why. Her quest for the truth pits her against friends and coworkers. As Kari works to solve the horrific plot, more people die. How far should she go to learn the truth—even if it threatens her life?
When homicide detective Rance Nicolet meets Kari, his attraction to her is powerful—and the feeling is mutual. But things between them go terribly wrong when Kari's old lover is found murdered with a letter from her in his pocket. The evidence against Kari is damning. Rance's personal and professional lives collide. Does he blindly believe the woman he's falling in love with or follow the evidence no matter where it leads?
EXCERPT #1:
"Frost. Call on line one." The voice boomed overhead and interrupted Scott Frost mid-climb. He jumped off his truck, pushed up the sleeves on his dingy green work shirt and walked to the phone mounted on the wall, his face a scowl of irritation.
He grabbed the receiver. "Hello."
"They found Patience," his wife, Andrea, whispered.
Mammoth garbage trucks rumbled and shook the walls as they rolled out into the street for the day's work, their giant bellies hungry for trash. Scott strained to hear his wife over the noise.
"I told you never to call me here."
"Do you know what they did to her?" Her voice rose an octave.
"Hold it together." He clenched his fist and resisted the impulse to smash it through the wall. "She's the one who ran off."
"She didn't deserve that. Nobody deserves that."
The phone slipped a bit in his sweaty hand. Tolerance had never been one of Scott's virtues, and what little he did have waned with each whiny word his wife uttered. "It'll all be over soon, you know that."
"They won't let us out."
He gnashed his teeth together until the noise in his head drowned out the roar of garbage trucks. The pumping of his heart escalated and Scott imagined he could feel his blood pressure rising.
"Damn it, Andrea, take a valium. These people are dangerous. They'll kill us if we flake out."
BUY LINKS:
Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007B4S9JW
BOOK TRAILER:
YouTube – http://youtu.be/wwG47m3TyxM
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Author Harlow Coban was born in Kansas City, MO, but grew up in Denver, CO. She relocated to North Carolina five years ago with her husband, two dogs, and 16-year old twins.
She shares a birthday with the notorious Napoleon Bonaparte. In keeping with his legacy, she is currently working on taking over the world. Harlow's positive attitude and fresh take on life are her tools and conquest is certain.
She spends her free time writing, dancing, traveling and defending mailboxes from her 16-year-old twins' driving.
Her debut novel, LIFE IN DEATH (February 2012), is a murder mystery which pulls from real-life situations from her own family history. She felt compelled to share her story with the world while offering a thrilling, entertaining, and amusing escape for readers.
In keeping with her commitment to improving the lives of children, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of her book will be donated to the Boys and Girls Club in her home state of North Carolina.
Where to Find Harlow
Twitter: @HarlowCoban
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Harlow-Coban/174596219285270
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5345608.Harlow_Coban
Blog: http://www.harlowcoban.com/?page_id=53
To find out where else Harlow will be stopping by, please click below.
March 25, 2012
Six Sentence Sunday 3/25/12
After a fabulous vacation, I'm back.
Of course, I'm trying to recover from the fabulous vacation, and I think I need another vacation in order to do so.
This week I'm going with my still untitled, still unedited WIP. My imaginary friends Hudson and Beverly are not cooperating with me, and frankly I'm a little frustrated with both of them.
But onward….
In this scene, my hero Hudson is with his daughter Abby, remembering her mother…
Abby had the same warm brown eyes as her mother, yet they held love for him. The last time he had seen her mother's eyes, he remembered the irritability and discontent that had glowered from them as he fought to be a part of her life, and Abby's. And that was also the day the fissure in his soul had began to open, leading now to the chasm he couldn't deal with any longer.
It was difficult to think about the woman who had ate his soul, chewed it up, spit it out and then stomped on the remains every time he looked at Abby. Yet, Abby's gaze traveled through him and went beyond that point of agony to hit bulls eye on the sweet spot filled with nothing but love and admiration for the woman looking at him.
She came toward him, the spitting image of the woman he had loved so long ago, the woman who had crippled his soul.
March 23, 2012
Drinking and Winning Giveaway Blog Hop
I'm really exited to be a part of Reading Romance's Blogiversary Party!
Congratulations, Nat!
Since this is a celebration, I think a little cocktail is in order, don't you? Of course you do!
My Warriors in the Six Savior Series all love their cocktails, each preferring a different one. Since book 2 of the series just came out, titled Finding My Faith, I will have to go with his love of
Tequila!
So whip yourself up a margarita, don't forget the limes, and enter to win a set of the Six Savior Series!
You can click on each picture for blurbs, excerpts and reviews of the books.
March 22, 2012
"Illusions (In the Arms of the Law, Book 1)" by Kacey Hammell
I'm very happy to have Kacey Hammell here today to talk about her book Illusions (In the Arms of the Law, Book 1). I had the opportunity to review this book before Kacey stopped by. So without further ado, let's take a look at the book, I will give you my thoughts, and then we will meet Kasey!
BLURB:
Protection. Adventure. Love.
It's all found within The Arms of the Law…
Detective Isabella Knowles, a tough-as-nails cop, lives by the law, and knows what she wants out of life. And it doesn't include marriage or all that comes with it. Everything Isabella has ever known seems like an illusion when a new relationship makes her feel more alive than ever before. She isn't happy about it and fights it every step of the way.
Burned by his fiancé years ago, seer and P.I., Brady Jacobs never wants another commitment in his life. But his bachelorhood and heart are threatened when he has one of his visions and see a killer striking too close to the woman he has recently come to love.
Danger lurks close to home and neither Brady nor Isabella like that they can't control every situation…especially matters of the heart.
EXCERPT #1:
"What's this? A party and no one told me?"
At the newest addition to the conversation, Isabella's pulse accelerated double-time. She looked toward the door.
Man, I don't need this today.
Brady Jacobs walked—no, sauntered—into the office and heading toward Ethan, spared her not a glance.
Black denim jeans encased his firm, shapely ass like a second skin and a black T-shirt with sleeves rolled over his beautiful biceps. He looked good enough to eat. A flood of heat coursed through her body. Brady was a man who was confident in himself and when he entered the room, there was a ripple effect. Everyone sat up to take notice of him and women practically swooned, eager to catch his eye. But Brady rarely gave any one woman the time of day. He was adamant about keeping his personal life private, and his no-commitment rule was always in full force. Something he was always upfront about with the ladies.
"Hey, pal. Great game this morning." Brady slapped Ethan on the back.
"Shit, Jacobs. You kicked my ass and then some." Ethan chuckled. "My head just wasn't in it today." Isabella could see Ethan's gaze move again toward the newspaper on Alicia's desk.
If it wouldn't be obvious, I'd snatch it and run to burn it.
"Morning, Ms. Alicia. How's my sugar-girl today?" Brady headed over to Alicia's desk, ruffling her hair as he stepped behind her, as if she were his little sister.
Leave it to Brady. Always make the ladies feel special.
"Get lost, Jacobs. I'm sick of seeing you around here," Alicia said flippantly.
She must really be pissed about the photo. Isabella let out a frustrated sigh, causing three sets of eyes to look her way.
"Morning, Brady." Isabella smiled, hoping she looked like a woman with not a care in the world. "What brings you to the precinct this early in the morning?"
Brady's gaze held hers for seconds longer than she would have liked.
"Actually, I came to see Alicia. I need to go over the Vaughn case with her. I had another vision last night." He spoke without hesitation.
Trenton's finest P.I. had become the city's favorite after his first vision had saved the Walker twins eight years ago. The twins, then seven years old, had wandered off into the woods behind their family home one afternoon. When they didn't return to the house for dinner that night, their frantic mother had called the police, begging someone to help her find her missing boys.
Within hours, an Amber Alert had been called and hundreds of citizens and every cop available had combed the Walkers' woods, looking for the boys. After six hours without success, exhaustion had set in with many of the volunteers. Everyone had worked tirelessly, but when there seemed to be no hope in sight, Brady showed up, at a frantic near-run, and charged into the woods. Within thirty minutes, he came back out with a boy tucked under each arm.
Only after the Walkers had been calmed, the boys tucked into bed, did Isabella and Connor question Brady. With much resistance, Brady confessed to his ESP, the visions that had begun during his stint in the Marines.
Most times, out of nowhere—Brady could be sleeping, driving, taking a shower—and a vision would claim him. In the eight years since the Walker incident, Brady had probably saved more lives than most cops.
While he didn't have visions for every beating, murder, kidnapping, or mugging in New Jersey, high-profile incidents seemed to find a channel in Brady.
With each high-profile case solved successfully, Trenton's citizens claimed him as a favorite son. If a child ran away, parents would hire Brady to assist in bringing them home. If there were a murder, police at a dead end would call Brady in.
No one thought anything unkind about him or his visions.
It made his P.I. business a huge success and he took it all in stride. Isabella admired him for it.
"Damn, Brady. Why didn't you call me immediately?" Alicia growled in a disgruntled voice.
"I am telling you, Alicia. I had to get the whole thing in order before contacting you." Brady shook his head and headed for the window overlooking West Street, the one she had just moments ago been staring out of.
"Well? What have you got for me?" Alicia demanded.
With a chuckle, Brady turned back to Alicia. "Impatient damn woman, aren't you? Just like your cousin. Always impatient for more."
Isabella felt her cheeks burn and prayed Brady wasn't being an ass on purpose to start further questions running through Alicia's mind. She didn't need them from her.
"If people would deliver, Brady, I wouldn't need more," Isabella declared with some satisfaction. His eyes turned a darker grey than their normal silver color.
Don't mess me with me and think you'll win, big guy.
BUY LINKS:
Amazon (Kindle Edition) – http://www.amazon.com/Illusions-Arms-Law-ebook/dp/B007E3FBDW/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1330450661&sr=1-2
Decadent Publishing – http://www.decadentpublishing.com/product_info.php?products_id=489&osCsid=534ladib313mjfmjbr83bc7e47
Smashwords – http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/136898
MY THOUGHTS – 4 out of 5 stars:
I really liked Brady and the paranormal twist that was thrown in with his special ability. I liked that Isabella was tough, and that she fit right into the "man's world" of a police department, although her tough as nails attitude sometimes grated on my nerves a little bit, as well as all of the guilt she carries at the end of the book.
The book was non-stop action. There was never a time during reading the book that I wanted to skip over paragraphs because of boredom. The book held my attention from beginning to end.
I felt this story could have been longer. It seemed hurried, and some of the scenes seemed to get wrapped up way too quickly for my taste.
But speaking of scenes, the sex scenes were HAWT. Very nicely done. I had to reread the "door scene" to make sure I was picturing everything right.
Brady and Isabella's relationship start out as nothing but sexual, and both begin to have feelings for each other. I would think that those feelings would bleed into their lives and we would see some tender moments, but we really don't until all hell breaks loose.
Overall, I enjoyed this story very much. It was a quick, fun read, and I would definitely recommend it!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Canadian-born author, Kacey Hammell is a self-proclaimed book-a-holic, who began reading romances at a young age and became easily addicted. As a Mom of three, Kacey has made certain that each of her children know the value of the written word and the adventures they could escape on by becoming book-a-holics in their own right.
A decade ago, while working for multiple review sites, Kacey quickly discovered that she was developing the writing bug. Thanks to the encouragement of her own beloved hero husband, she decided to try her hand at writing.
With a love of contemporary settings, modern day romances and the happily ever after, as well as the excitement of suspense, Kacey creates stories in genres she's familiar with and that she loves most. She also loves vampires who nibble the necks of the heroines, ghosts who can't leave a loved one, shape-shifters who are sexier than hell and the thought of her very own werewolf or were-cat to tame makes her tremble!
Where to Contact Kasey:
March 21, 2012
CBLS- "Accidentally In Love With…a God (Accidentally Yours Series, Book 1)" by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff
Today I am really excited to have Mimi Jean Pamfiloff here. I absolutely love the premise of this book, the excerpt (below) is hysterical, and wish I had time to do a review before Mimi stopped by for a visit.
First, I want to tell you about this book, and then we'll chat a little bit with Mimi.
What it's About:
Twenty-two-year-old Emma Keane has a secret friend. He's powerful, mysterious, and devastatingly handsome. In her dreams, anyway.
In real life, he's an enigma. Maybe just a teensie jealous. Definitely overbearing. He's also a voice only she can hear.
So who or what is he? He won't say. But if she wants to be free, to be normal, Emma will have to trek to the jungles once ruled by the Mayans and find the forgotten ruin holding the answers.
However, the ruthless deity she's about to unknowingly unleash on the modern world might not be so easily extracted from her life. Bottom line, he's got enemies, and now, so does she.
Excerpt:
Chapter 1 – Present Day
Wasn't dating supposed to be fun? Because this was anything but. At any moment, a man I'd never met—approximately six-foot-three, brown hair, and soul-piercing blue eyes, according to his online profile—would walk through the door of the Conga Lounge, give his name to the hostess, and scream hysterically at the sight of me. Okay. He wouldn't scream. Aloud, anyway. Not that I was heinous, but anyone who looked closely enough might notice I was…different.
I eyeballed the door, contemplating making a mad dash before he arrived.
No, you can do this, I thought while staring at the condensation channeling down my glass of water, my leg bouncing under the table. Why had my date picked a corny theme-bar that looked like Gilligan's Island threw up? What sort of man goes novelty on the first date? Bad sign. Bad sign.
At least the other patrons—seated around the faux-torch lit room, leisurely sipping Bahama Mama's and Mai Tai's—were oblivious to my impending meltdown.
I felt the gentle whoosh of summer evening air as the door swung open and the noise from the traffic-packed New York street poured in. A tall man with sun-kissed skin, broad shoulders, and tousled brown hair floated in—yes, floated—as if he'd ridden in on a cloud straight from Hot-Man Land. He wore a black polished-cotton shirt, which hugged his well-constructed chest, and low slung jeans that molded to his lean physique. He wasn't just good looking, he was Milan runway edible.
"Oh, sweet Virgin of Guadalupe, please be Jake," I muttered under my breath.
Like a cliché from a movie, our eyes met from across the room, and his face lit up with a dimple-framed smile. My heart nearly stopped. "Thank you, Virgin," I said, releasing my breath.
He strutted across the restaurant, a magnet for every female in the room.
"Emma?" he said in a deep slow-churned voice then smiled and held out his hand. I stood up in a daze, mentally pinching myself.
"You are Emma, right? Curly, shoulder-length, red hair, five-three. Several crazed female stalkers for best friends?"
Oh, no. What had my roommates done? Since the whole online-blind-date thing was their idea, they assured me they'd carefully "screened" the guy. But I thought they were just joking about breaking into his apartment and rummaging through his underwear drawer. And dammit, they hadn't even bothered to dish. Tighty whities or boxers?
I looked down at his outstretched hand. Oh, shoot. Shake hands. "Sorry, it's just—I wasn't expecting someone so…" I swallowed and placed my palm in his. It was warm and inviting, just like his eyes. "Um…so tall."
"And I wasn't expecting a woman so…" He paused to look me over like a dog eyeing a giant juicy steak. "…adorable."
"Adorable?" said the deep male voice inside my head. "What kind of moron compliments a woman with the word 'adorable'? Does he think you're a goddamned puppy?"
Couldn't I have one, just one lousy day without the voice? My blood began to boil instantly, but I resisted the urge to snap back with something lame like, "Well, maybe Jake senses I want to lick him from head to toe. Maybe even have a go at his leg." But then I thought better of myself. Because tonight, I was on a mission, and nothing would stop me from climbing my own mental Mt. Everest: convince myself that I, Emma Keane, could feel attraction for a real live man with ten fingers, ten toes, arms and legs, and the other necessary dangly bits needed to make a relationship normal. All I needed was the right man.
The catch?
The other person I needed to prove this to wasn't exactly a person. Okay—truth be told, he was a mysterious voice only I could hear. Yes. A luscious, deep velvety voice so seductive that it could turn me into a quivering mindless puddle of need with one little sigh. Sound crazy? That wasn't the half of it. But it was why I had to do this. If I wanted a shot at normal, I had to take this first step.
What People Are Saying About the Book:
EDITORIAL REVIEW (AMAZON.COM):
Mimi Jean Pamfiloff is hysterical. This is the first in her Accidentally Yours series. Can't wait for more.
You will love Emma and the arrogant god she can't see. She does not dare let people find out she has a relationship with someone she only knows through dialogue in her thoughts. Her friends and family will think she is bonkers.
But when he calls her into the heart of the Mayan jungle to free him from some ancient ruins, with a promise to finally leave her alone after that, she finds that he is not only real, (and gorgeous) but about to further turn her world upside down.
Her desire to have a normal life, without some voice bothering her, may be a futile desire. Because desire is the word. This ruthless warrior-god is the most amazing male she has ever seen or imagined.
Emma is in big trouble. She realizes that her god is as dangerous as the other crazy gods, including my total favorite, wild and crazy Cimil. You are going to love Cimil and laugh out loud at her antics. Is she going to help Emma with the evil that has been unleashed into the world, the terrifying Uchben, or is she only going to make things worse?
Where to Buy:
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/123362
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
I absolutely love the premise of this book and wish I had time to review it before you stopped by. What was your inspiration for this story?
First, a special thank you to Carly for hosting me!
I love PNR. If I could spend every waking moment reading it, I just might do that. When I woke up one day (about 4 years ago) and said, "Hey, it might be fun to write one," I decided to build the story around the things that make me melt, swoon, and go "ga-ga." Hey, at least if no one bought the book, I'd have fun writing it!
So, if you've ever seen photos of Bacalar, Mexico, then you'd know why that was on my list of things I swoon over. It's a lake near the border of Belize, but looks just like the tropical ocean from those Corona commercials. But it doesn't have the downside associated with the ocean (no jelly fish, sharks, or salty waves). Sitting on one of its docks, sipping an ice-cold beer, swimming in the bath-like water…there's nothing like it.
Aside from that, I studied in Mexico and always loved the pre-Hispanic culture. Now those were some creative people! It's pretty easy to find inspiration in there.
In any case, the long and short answer is that I write about what I know and love then try to make it fun and different. I'm really, really lucky to have found people who happen to appreciate the things I wrote about.
What was the most difficult character of this story to write?
Emma. Most of the book is from her POV, and I tried to make her likeable. It's hard because I am a quasi-cynic. But writing her (and Helena in Book 2) forced me to see the world through a different lens. Very therapeutic.
What was the most enjoyable character of this story to write?
Cimil! OMG. She cracks me up. No one will believe me, but she writes herself. I am NOT that funny of a person.
Do your characters talk to you? And if so, what do they say?
No (yes). Because that would be crazy (please don't have her committed). And any writer who admits their characters speak to them is (brilliant) clearly deranged. (Note from Carly: I'm going with brilliant on this one, Mimi, or we're both in trouble!)
How long did it take you to write this book?
Yikes. About 3 years. I rewrote or edited each time I learned more about writing. I think it should be finally done in about one more year. (Ha ha.)
What's better – spearmint or cinnamon? And why?
Spearmint. Because it's coooool.
What is one thing that readers don't know about you?
The readers don't know anything about me at all, actually. First, because I've only been published for a few short months. Second, because I really want the books to be all about the story and the person reading it. Maybe it's just in my head, but sometimes seeing the author (and getting to know them) detracts from the fantasy. This is especially true for romance.
Imagine you just read the hottest story ever. It had you sweating and panting for more. But then you flip to the back of the book and see some guy with a horrible toupee, rotten teeth, and five chins. You find out he cleans up road kill for a living. I'd have a hard time picking up another one of his books and sharing a sexy fantasy with him again…no matter how good the story.
That was an extreme example, I know. And, no, I'm not an old yucky man. I'm a fairly normal, middle aged woman with a very, very busy life. The point is, I am like everyone else, and when it's time to escape, I want it to be the best escape possible. I want that for my readers, too, and that means I stay behind the curtain.
That said, I love it when readers reach out to me! Romance fans are so kooky and fun and passionate about the genre. I love it!!
More About Mimi…
Before taking up a permanent residence in the San Francisco Bay Area, Mimi spent time living near NYC (became a shopaholic), in Mexico City (developed a taste for very spicy food), and Arizona (now hates jumping chollas, but pines for sherbet sunsets). Her love of pre-Hispanic culture, big cities, and romance inspires her to write when she's not busy with kids, work, and life…or getting sucked into a juicy novel.
She hopes that someday, leather pants for men will make a big comeback (note from Carly – me too!:) ) and that her writing might make you laugh when you need it most.
Where to find Mimi:
Website: www.mimijean.net
iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/mimi-jean-pamfiloff/id498303364?mt=11
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/MimiJeanRomance
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mimi-Jean/218935048190356
Email: mimi@mimijean.net
To see where else Mimi will be, please click here:
