Jessica E. Subject's Blog, page 132
October 17, 2013
200th 1Night Stand Celebration! Key elements to a #1NS story from editor Valerie Mann & Giveaway!
Please welcome the amazing Valerie Mann to my blog. Not only is she one of the awesome editors at Decadent Publishing, but she’s also one of the co-creators of the 1Night Stand series. And this week, we’re celebrating the 200th 1Night Stand story with a ton of giveaways!
Thank you, Jessica, for letting me visit!
For those of you who don’t know, Jessica was one of the early 1Night Stand authors, and definitely our very first author of alien romance! Plus, she’s super nice, so we love having her as part of the 1NS fam.
A lot will be written about during this week’s 1Night Stand 200th book party, but since Kate Richards and I are the creators of the series (along with Olivia Starke, who tends to remain behind the scenes, cooking up more plots), I’m taking Jessica’s suggestion for a topic:
What do we look for in a 1Night Stand story?
Kate and I are the managing editors of the series at Decadent Publishing, which includes acquisitioning the stories and editing them. We promote, search for new authors, invite authors we’d like to have participate in the series, and generally eat, drink, and sleep the series. We have a great job!
That being said, if you want to write for the series, here are some pretty cut-and-dried rules:
Follow the series guidelines outlined on the 1NS blog for your story. Don’t try to bend, break or otherwise change the rules. They’re important to maintain the series integrity and we will make you follow them. And Madame Eve will get cranky. You don’t want to make her cranky. (Don’t know who Madame Eve is? She’s the brain behind the 1NS dating service. You can read a little bit about her here: Madame Eve Speaks)
Think outside the box. We love a new twist on an old theme. Like, say, aliens. One big advantage of this series is you already have readers suspending disbelief to a certain extent. I mean, Eve is mysterious! She knows all. She can find the perfect match, even if it means pulling someone out of the Dark Ages and into the present for his 21st century mate. Wait, that hasn’t been written yet, but, man, what a cool plot!
This is an erotic romance series. Meaning *gasp* there is going to be some sex. How much you want to have—wait, I mean how much your characters have—is up to you. Condoms are a must-have fashion accessory in 99% of the dates, as well. Keepin’ it safe is critical.
Write it well. Submit it clean. Expect to be edited mercilessly. You think I’m joking…I’m not. There is nothing more frustrating for Kate and I, or sadder for the author, than to have an awesome story come in that is poorly written. Editing can only fix so much and frankly, we don’t have time to teach authors how to write. Please, please, please, submit your baby wearing her best outfit, all shiny and clean, fresh diaper…you get the point. We have taken oodles of well-written stories that needed work on plot, conflict, etc. But when that amazing story comes in with newbie author mistakes, grammar issues, poorly-formatted, etc…it’s heartbreaking to say no.
Once we have it under contract and in our hot little hands, we will whip out our red Sharpies and start to hack. Do not be offended by this. We know what we’re doing, honest. We wouldn’t be celebrating the 200th release in two-and-a-half years if we let bad stories get released.
Do we make mistakes? No. Wait, yes, we do. Sorry. But Kate and I strive to make sure if your story is part of Decadent Publishing’s 1Night Stand series, it is a fabulous addition.
I’m also the submissions specialist for Decadent Publishing, so any submission questions can be directed to me: submissions@decadentpublishing.com
We hope in two-and-a-half years, we’ll be celebrating the 400th book, and yours is one of them!
If you *only* read these books, leave a comment and tell me which one you like the best. I’ll send one commenter an e-copy of her choice from the 1Night Stand series! And don’t forget to enter to win with our Rafflecopter!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Available from Decadent Publishing and other ebook retailers.
Available from Decadent Publishing and other ebook retailers.
About Valerie Mann:
Valerie Mann is the superwoman every woman tries to be…mother of five attractive, successful children, vixen in and out of the bedroom, runway model fashionista, extreme gardener, and just recently crashed on bestseller lists as a romance author.
In real life, Valerie is the mother of five lovely, but ordinary children. Sure, she’s a vixen in and out of the bedroom, which explains the herd of kids. The closest she gets to a runway is an airport, and while she thinks gardens of all sorts are wonderful, she figures that hobby can wait until retirement, if her knees last that long. And that crashing you heard was Valerie collapsing on the couch at the end of a very long day. As for romance, she writes and likes to think she can tell an amazing tale of love or two. Her husband of nearly thirty years won’t read her stories because they make him blush but is content in the knowledge he’s the inspiration for every one of them.
Valerie currently works as a managing editor for an electronic publisher and is the co-owner of a company that provides editing services for writers.
Email|Twitter|Facebook|Blog|GooglePlus
Amazon|Goodreads|Manic TRR
October 16, 2013
Looking for a HOT Druid? Check out DRUID MINE by @KerryAdrienne & enter to WIN 1NS Giveaway!
Druid Mine
by Kerry Adrienne
Anya’s wish for a normal date—away from the old man she is caretaker for—comes true in unexpected ways when she finds herself whisked to an ancient Irish stone circle on solstice eve.
Carrick’s decision to follow the path to become an Ovate druid has not come lightly, and he plans to spend the solstice eve in meditation unless fairies or evil spirits disrupt the circle. When a feisty girl walks right up to the fire, more than sparks fly.
They each seek healing and a connection, but the darkness of summer is short, and once the solstice sun breaks through the circle at dawn, the magic of the night will be over. Even Madame Eve can’t stop the day from rising.
Excerpt:
Maybe I’m the first person Madame Eve can’t find a match for. And how was it any better than just picking someone up from one of the dozen bars along the street?
Bile filled her throat. Being caretaker for the old man had filled her days but left her empty inside. I’m lonely. I need this 1Night Stand. She stifled a sob. Crying wouldn’t help anything. She had chosen her path knowing full well what the consequences would be. Maybe she hadn’t foreseen how deeply alone she’d feel, but she’d known what she was getting into, work-wise. She used to be a risk taker, impulsive and willing to try new things. Why was she so willing to settle for security now?
The town’s few buildings rose in shadowed relief in the dusky twilight around the city center like tall stones. Guardians, perhaps. Behind them lay the mountains, the wild unknown. She sat straight and leaned into the faint spray from the fountain. The cool mist spread across the back of her arms. Closing her eyes, she lifted her long hair so the moisture could reach the back of her neck.
“Aine?”
Anya dropped her hair.
“Hello?” No one.
“Aine. Let’s go.” The voice floated on drops of water and fell through the air.
“What?” No one was near.
“I’m here.” The voice settled softly like dew on her skin. The air wavered over the fountain and the water slowed.
I only had one beer.
“Come. He awaits.”
For the briefest moment, a golden light eclipsed the edge of Anya’s vision then darkness slid over her.
About the Author:
Kerry loves history and spends large amounts of time wondering about people who lived and walked on Earth in the past. She’s a mom to three daughters, six cats, and various small animals. Her husband says she’s a marketer’s dream, as she often believes everything she hears—at least initially. Her shoe horde will attest to her fine shopping skills.
In addition to writing, she’s a college instructor, costumer, MFA candidate at Seton Hill University, Senior Editor for Decadent Publishing, and freelance editor.
Her new love is her Mini Cooper Convertible, Sheldon, and they have already gone on many adventures.
Author Giveaway!!
To celebrate the 200th published 1Night Stand story, Kerry Adrienne is offering a $25 Amazon gift certificate. Simply visit her blog for your chance to WIN!
Grand Prize Giveaway!!
1Night Out on 1Night Stand’s Madame Eve!
Grand prize is a $25 Fandango gift card plus 5 1NS titles of the winner’s choice
2nd prize is a paperback from the vault plus swag
3rd is 2 1NS ebooks of winner’s choice (5 winners)
*Must be 18 or older to enter.
October 15, 2013
Hump Day Hook – Her date is an alien… Enter the 1Night Stand Giveaway! #HDH #1NS #scifirom
Hello everyone! Today is an extra special Hump Day Hook here on the blog, as Decadent Publishing is celebrating their 200th published 1Night Stand story this week. Woot!
I’m visiting a few different blogs, but I thought I’d bring the giveaway here, too.
In honor of this event, I’m going to share an excerpt from my first 1Night Stand story, Celestial Seduction, which is #17 in the series. Enjoy!
Lifting one hand up, she gently placed it on the side of his face. “Will you show me what you really look like? I can see your real eyes, but I want to see the rest.”
“You won’t run away?” She winced seeing all of the confidence he’d had at the beginning of the night gone, but it made her trust him even more. “Whatever you do, please don’t scream.”
Available From:
Decadent Publishing | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | All Romance eBooks | more
Giveaway!!
WIN a signed print edition of Intergalactic Heat by Jessica E. Subject and book swag (Canada and US only) or an Intergalactic Heat eBook Bundle (International). Simply enter using the rafflecopter form. No purchase necessary. Must be 18 or over to enter. Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Grand Prize Giveaway!!
1Night Out on 1Night Stand’s Madame Eve!
Grand prize is a $25 Fandango gift card plus 5 1NS titles of the winner’s choice
2nd prize is a paperback from the vault plus swag
3rd is 2 1NS ebooks of winner’s choice (5 winners)
*Must be 18 or older to enter.
Be sure to visit the Hump Day Hook blog to see who else is participating this week.
October 14, 2013
Fantasies the will make you see stars – Romancing the Stars @KaceyHammell #romance #newrelease
Romancing the Stars Anthology
Kacey Hammell, Emma Lai, Sandra Sookoo, Marie Tuhart, Lacey Wolfe
Publisher: Sybarite Seductions
Genres: New Adult, Contemporary Erotic Romance, Multicultural/Interracial
144 Pages
ASIN: B00FE2IACY
Romancing the Stars
~Fantasies that will make you see stars
Sexy stars abound in this collection of five, naughty stories that take you from red carpet premieres to time off from the screen and the auditioning, filming, and parties in between. Featuring young love rekindled, old lovers reunited, multicultural and interracial red carpet hook ups with the potential for more, and a BDSM couple with unexpected proclivities, there’s something to curl everyone’s toes and leave fans craving more.
A Sunday Kind of Love by Kacey Hammell
For Sunday Reardon, once an A-list actress, leaving the spotlight, hectic schedules and tabloid gossips behind for the quiet tranquility of her hometown was the best decision she ever made. She’s surrounded by her family, her gardens and has everything she needs. Except the love of her life, a past co-star who offered so many promises years ago, only to break them all.
When she’s nominated for an Academy Award, Sunday’s world shifts into confusion and what-might-have-beens as she comes face to face with the one man who broke her heart…and still sets her body on fire.
Read more about each Romancing the Stars story from these talented authors:
Emma Lai, Sandra Sookoo, Marie Tuhart, Lacey Wolfe
Excerpt © Kacey Hammell, 2013:
“God, you feel so amazing in my arms. I wish you could come with me.”
Eyes closed, she nodded. “I can’t. I’m sorry.” Opening her eyes, she gazed at him. “Once the editing is finished, I need to get away from all this. I can’t deal with it any longer. And you know my dad’s having hip surgery. I need to help my mom.”
Shifting his stance, he slid his hands over the globes of her ass, urging her closer. “I know, babe. It’s okay. I won’t be gone long.”
She dug her fingers into the hair at the nape of his neck. “Nine months seems likes forever. You won’t forget me will you?”
A moan erupted from his throat as he dipped his head and latched his mouth onto hers. She savored him in her arms, revelling in his tongue dancing with hers. Passion, yearning, hunger, it was all there in his kiss.
Flexing his hips, Josh shifted his shaft to fit in the V between her legs. She gasped, her head falling back. Josh kissed his way down her neck, nibbling, biting, and driving the temperature a million times higher. She wanted to succumb to him now, to finally make love to him, but they couldn’t risk being caught.
He hauled her tighter, holding her so close she could barely breathe. But Sunday didn’t care. All she would ever need was this man in her arms. Feeling him against her, his body fevered against hers—nothing else mattered.
Josh lifted his head, his forest green eyes bore into hers. She could drown in his loving and hungry gaze. He knew her better than anyone else. While filming, they’d enjoyed so many secreted-away moments, revealing hopes and dreams and shared childhood stories imparting laughter. He was everything she’d ever need. And she couldn’t wait to tell the world.
But they couldn’t. Not yet.
“I know my leaving, since filming of my next movie is starting sooner, throws a kink in what we’d planned, but I promise, babe, I’ll be back as fast as I can. I’d rather be with you, starting our journey toward what I think will be a great future together. If I had any other choice—”
Understanding about commitments and responsibility, she covered his lips with her hand. “I know. It’s okay. We have time. We do. I’ll be waiting for you.”
He sighed. “I love you more than anything else.” He caressed her face. “I’ve waited so long for you already, it’ll be hell, but I know it will be worth it. Especially when we’re far away from prying eyes.”
She smiled, her heart booming with happiness. “And I love you.”
His cell phone vibrated. He yanked it from his pocket and groaned. “Damn, I have to go. They’re looking for me. Our flight leaves in forty-five.” His lips captured hers.
She poured all the love, hope, and belief of their relationship into the kiss. He had to come back. She couldn’t live without him now.
“I miss you already,” Josh whispered when he stepped back. His gaze travelled over her face as if memorizing every facet. Then he leaned down for his duffel bag. Straightening, he said, “I love you, Sunni.”
Tears in her eyes, she watched him walk toward the door. “I love you.”
He stared at her from across the room. Sunday wanted to rush over, wrap her arms around him and beg him not to go. But she couldn’t do that. She loved how dedicated and honest he was. There was no way she’d ever ask him to break his word.
With a last long, deep breath, he turned the door handle then exited the trailer. Feeling alone already, she sat in the vanity chair and gazed into the mirror. The love of her life had just walked out the door for war-torn Afghanistan. She worried for his safety but knew his people and the movie company would keep him safe while filming. All she could do was hold the love she had for him in her heart, and wait.
Available from:
Sybarite Seductions
Amazon US / Canada / UK
ARe
Smashwords
About Kacey Hammell:
Avid Reader. Romance Author. Redhead…
Canadian-born author, Kacey Hammell is definitely a book-a-holic, who began reading romances at a young age and became easily addicted. These days, as a multi-published erotic romance author, she enjoys adding a lot of heat, sass and emotion to the Contemporary Romances she writes.
A mom of three, Kacey has made certain 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. She lives her own happily ever after with her perfect hero in Ontario, Canada, and is a true romantic at heart.
Connect with Kacey…
Website / Newsletter / Facebook / Facebook Author Page / Twitter / Amazon / Goodreads / Pinterest / Instagram
Sex with Aliens & a HUGE @DecadentPub Celebration! #1NS #1NightStand #giveaway
Hello! Today, I’m talking about Sex with Aliens for Monday Morning FIKA at Governing Ana. Stop on by and join in the discussion!
Also, today begins the HUGE event at Decadent Publishing to celebrate the 200th 1Night Stand story published. Many of the 1Night Stand authors, including me, are participating, which means tons of prizes to be won!
Here are the places you can enter my giveaway this week, as well as Decadent’s:
October 14 - Offbeat Vagabond*
October 15 - Tracy Riva’s blog*
October 16 - Lily Van Horn’s blog*
October 16 – Hump Day Hook on my blog*
October 17 - Backward Momentum*
October 19 - Ramblings from this Chick*
October 11, 2013
Jake refuses to let her give up in #MySexySaturday from ACCIDENTAL ROMANCE #newadult #western
Hi peeps! It’s the 20th week of My Sexy Saturday. Here are the details:
every Saturday, published and unpublished authors will be sharing 7 words,
sentences, or paragraphs from a work-in-progress or an already published story.
Here’s seven from ACCIDENTAL ROMANCE,
a contemporary western new adult romance.
This excerpt happens after Leanne’s accident when Jake is driving her home from the hospital. She lost her right hand in a grain auger accident. And Jake is the farmhand, and the one who saved her. Enjoy!
“So, what are you going to do all day? Sit on your ass? That’s not like you, LA.” He started the truck and drove out of the parking lot with a heavy foot. “You can’t stop living because one of your hands is gone.”
She couldn’t grab the “holy shit” bar and planted her feet on the floor instead. She didn’t need a lecture, just someone to understand. “And what if it were you, Jake? What if you lost your hand? I can’t even write my own name without the letters looking like someone in kindergarten printed them.”
Reaching for her hand, he intertwined his fingers with hers. Yet, he remained focused on the road, slowing down to a reasonable speed. “I wouldn’t give up if it meant I could still see you every day.”
She drew in a quick breath. Her body filled with a tingling warmth she hadn’t experience in a long time, one she had never expected to feel again. But Jake was still by her side, calling her his girl, saying he’d never give up on her. And now, he held onto her as he drove. Had he been interested all along and she too blind to see him as more than a friend? At the moment, though, she needed someone who was simply there for her. Besides, what would happen when he realized her limitations? Would she lose him forever?
“Jake, it’s best if we—”
“Shh, I know. And I’ll always be here, whether as a friend, or…whatever.”
She relaxed in the silence, Jake released her hand only to turn the corners then quickly clasped it again. She welcomed his touch, not dwelling on the meaning behind his actions, but finding comfort in knowing he was there. She wasn’t alone.
Accidental Romance
The Challenge series
At twenty-two, Leanne Declan has graduated from college and hopes to take over the family farm until a tragic accident changes her life forever. Unable to do the simplest everyday chores, she must depend on her family and friends as she learns to face life’s challenges. But when her fears threaten to destroy her future, can an unexpected love be strong enough to help her dreams come true?
Buy Links:
Amazon (Canada/US/UK) | Decadent Publishing | All Romance | Barnes&Noble | more
For more My Sexy Saturday postings, check out the participants’ list here.
October 10, 2013
Why I LOVE Science Fiction Romance? Guest Post by @Nina_Croft #SyFy #scifirom #giveaway
Why I love Sci-Fi Romance…
Guest Post by Nina Croft
The Descartes Legacy came about because one morning, over breakfast, my other half glanced up from his newspaper and said to me—Nina, why don’t you write a good book? He survived…just (it’s pure coincidence that he hasn’t been seen since.) Once the knives and forks stopped flying we got to discussing what he meant by a ‘good’ book; basically, no romance, no vampires or werewolves and no science fiction (all my favorite things). Now, I like a challenge, so I said I’d have a go and set out to write a thriller.
Sadly, (for my other half anyway) things didn’t go smoothly. I have to say I succeeded in the no vampires and werewolves, but a whole lot of romance slipped in, and while we didn’t actually get to go into space, there’s more than a hint of science fiction.
I couldn’t help it. I love sci-fi romance. But it did get me thinking as to why I love the sub-genre so much. At first sight, science fiction and romance may seem like a bit of a mismatch, but dig a little deeper and there are a whole load of reasons why the combination works. Here are just a few that occurred to me…
Bad boys in space.
Right at the start, I have to admit to a few things. Firstly, I fell in love with Han Solo at a very impressionable age. Second, growing up, I dreamed of being Doctor Who’s assistant (I still do in fact) and of course, he’d fall madly in love with me. Finally, more recently, my devotion to Han has been severely tested by my growing attraction for Captain Mal Reynolds… among others. So I’m predisposed to love sci-fi romance.
But there’s a reason most of my love affairs (imaginary at least) have been with ‘space men’. I adore a bad boy hero, and space men, whether human, alien or something else entirely, can be the ultimate bad boys; living on the edge of civilization, boldly going…. Pirates, bounty hunters, cops, gun fighters (albeit with a laser pistol rather than a six shooter.) In sci-fi romance, there’s no limit but your imagination to what your hero can do and be.
Kick ass heroines
I’ve loved reading romance from an early age, and I grew up on those fantastic bodice rippers of the Eighties where the men were gorgeous, larger than life, and just a little bit on the forceful side. And the heroines were often… well feeble. They tended to be young, ravishingly beautiful, innocent, and in desperate need of some man to come along and save them. Give me a heroine like that these days, and I’d probably throw the book across the room (or more likely delete it from my kindle).
I want heroines who match their heroes, who are just as likely to save the hero as vice versa. And in sci-fi romance, more often than not, they more than match their male counterparts. Jenna, my heroine in The Descartes Legacy, spends much of the book on a journey of self-discovery, but by the end of the adventure she’s probably the strongest character and quite capable of rescuing my hero.
Opposites attract
I’ve always loved romances that focus on people from diverse backgrounds and cultures. I enjoy the clash of different beliefs and discovering how couples overcome those differences to fall in love. Mixing science fiction and romance allows you to push that premise to the limit, bringing together people from not only different backgrounds but also different planets and even different species. The possibilities are endless.
Anywhere
I think one of the reasons people love to read romance is to be carried away to exotic locations, and the opportunities for that in science fiction are unending. Space ships, different galaxies, Earth of the future, even Earth of the past (if you happen to come across a time machine.)
Any time
People often think of science fiction as happening in the far future, but it could take place at any time. Who doesn’t want to know what the world will be like ten years from now, or a hundred or a million.… Or maybe we’ll take a trip in that time machine and visit a long ago era. We can walk with the dinosaurs or meet a real live pirate. The Descartes Legacy takes place in the present time, but how do we really know what’s going on laboratories around the world today—with science fiction, anything is possible.
What do you love best about sci-fi romance? Let me know for a chance to enter the blog tour giveaway.
The Descartes Legacy
Lucas Grafton has spent the last ten years hunting the Conclave, a secret organization who took everything from him: his wife, his child, his very identity. Now he has a lead—an imminent terrorist attack on London—code-named Descartes.
Born with a genetic illness, Jenna Young has always known she was different. But the unexpected death of her father catapults her into a world of murder and terrorism she never expected. In order to stay alive, she must solve a twenty-five year old mystery—and her only ally a hard bitter man in search or retribution, her only clue the Descartes Highlands, an area on the near side of the moon.
Luke’s need for revenge collides with Jenna’s hunt for the past, and together they must stand against the Conclave. All the while uncovering the truth behind Jenna’s illness, a truth that will make Jenna question her very humanity.
Available From:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iTunes
Excerpt:
Luke felt her go soft and boneless against him. His body was totally relaxed, but something niggled at his mind, and he realized with a start that he felt cheated, used. The thought almost made him smile. Although he was all for role reversal, he wasn’t sure he liked this one.
But he understood why she had acted as she had.
He’d used sex the same way, many times. Used it to block out the bad memories for a little while. But casual sex always left him with a feeling of emptiness, and now, he was filled with the need to make her see him as more than just a means to forget—he wanted to be someone she would remember.
She was the most beautiful woman he had ever slept with. Probably the most beautiful he had ever seen. As he pulled away to look into her face, a shiver of unease ran through him.
Truth was, she was almost too perfect. Her bone structure was flawless, her skin without blemish, her nose straight, her mouth ideally proportioned.
Her eyes were closed, and they blinked open as if she could sense his stare. “What?”
He smiled. “I was thinking how perfect you were.”
Something flickered across her face. “I’m not perfect. I might look okay, but it’s a pretty, pointless facade that covers up the crap underneath. I’m flawed—about as far from perfect as it’s possible to get.”
The bitterness in her voice was clear. For a moment, he had no clue what she was talking about. Then he remembered. He hadn’t thought much about her illness since she’d mentioned it yesterday, but now he realized how big a part it played in her life and in her perceptions of herself as a person.
Stroking the hair from her face, he leaned close and kissed her gently. “It’s a small part of you. It’s not who you are.”
The moment she opened her mouth to protest, he stopped the words with a kiss.
Their legs were tangled together. He was still deep inside her, and at the taste of her mouth, his cock hardened. Her hips shifted against him, and he knew she’d felt it too.
He deepened the kiss, and rocked against her.
This time their lovemaking was slow and erotic. He kissed her mouth, her lashes, pressed his lips to her pulse, nipped the tender spot where her shoulder met her neck, and took one taut nipple between his lips. When she writhed under him, urging him faster, he held her tight against him, kept his movements slow and controlled. His balls ached for relief, but he dragged out the pleasure, feeling her excitement rise with each slow flex of his hips.
Shifting his hands, he spread her legs, pushing her sex close, grinding against her, rotating in small tight circles against the sensitive spot between her thighs until her breath quickened. Her skin glowed with a fine sheen of sweat, and she strained toward him, her eyes fluttering open as his hand moved between their bodies. His fingers slid through the curls at the base of her belly, and he held her gaze as he pinched the swollen bud between his finger and thumb.
Her eyes widened with shock, her back arched, and she screamed. He soothed her with his thumb then pinched again, feeling her inner muscles contract around him. Finally, he released his control, and his own orgasm ripped through him, on and on as she clenched him tight inside her.
She fell asleep in his arms almost immediately. Luke held her close while her limbs relaxed.
He should get up—go and do some research. Start analyzing the information they had retrieved from Merrick’s house. Instead, as he had the night before, he held Jenna tight and closed his eyes
Author Bio
Nina Croft grew up in the north of England. After training as an accountant, she spent four years working as a volunteer in Zambia, which left her with a love of the sun and a dislike of 9-5 work. She then spent a number of years mixing travel (whenever possible) with work (whenever necessary) but has now settled down to a life of writing and picking almonds on a remote farm in the mountains of southern Spain.
Nina writes all sorts of romance often mixing in elements of the paranormal and science fiction.
Find Nina at:
Author Giveaway!!
Nina Croft will be giving away a $25 gift card at the end of the tour.
Answer the above question and include your email address
in the body of your comment for your chance to WIN!
On tour with HEY, SANTA – Enter to WIN ebooks, gift certificates & more! #holiday #romance
Good morning! Today begins the blog barrage for Hey, Santa,
where you can WIN a $10 Amazon gift certificate!
October 10, 2013
Book Reviews by Xunaira J.*
Booker like a Hooker (Review)*
Kristy Centeno*
Musings and Ramblings*
We Love Kink*
October 11, 2013
Aspired Writer*
Book Reviews*
Bunny’s Book Reviews*
Lusty Penguin Reviews*
My Devotional Thoughts*
Snarky Mom Reads*
Words of Wisdom from The Scarf Princess (Review)*
deal sharing aunt*
I am also participating in today’s TRS Release Party!
Visit any of my posts to find out how you can WIN one of my back list titles.
Plus, you can still get it on the Hey, Santa blog tour.
Enter to WIN 1 of 4 of my alien romance stories!
Here are the stops:
October 3 - Hawt Reads and Dirty Talk*
October 4 - Tawania’s Wicked Readings*
October 5 - Multi-Verses of Liza O*
October 7 - Tracing the Stars*
October 8 - Kacey Hammell’s blog*
October 9 - Zee Monodee’s blog*
And after you’ve visited all of those stops, check out my post on Backward Momentum.
It’s all about Superman, my favorite superhero.
October 8, 2013
Enter @CE_Kilgore’s Tracing The Stars tour #giveaway! Multiple gift cards to be won! #scifirom #sfrb
Tracing The Stars
by CE Kilgore
Space Opera / Science Fiction Romance
Synopsis:
Hankarron Eros has loved Tara since she had pigtails, but his fear of losing the strength and support that their friendship provides leads him to keep his heart’s desires locked away. When the truth about his family is exposed and leaves him grasping to hold onto his ship, his crew and his sanity, words are spoken that can’t be taken back and the presence he had grown so used to having at a convenient reach is gone.
Tara Flint has never denied her heart’s attraction to the floppy-haired, brown-eyed Hankarron, even if he can be a stupid limik sometimes. Her strong will falters as she is forced to decide between a promise she made to her father, a boy she has loved since she had pigtails and the possibility of finding out what her life might be like without the presence of Hankarron always by her side.
When you get knocked down, you get back up and hit the other guy harder. Trip ‘Wild Fists’ Weston is a Runata’ji combat fighter at the top of his career with a fame and fortune he doesn’t want and a Lucky Clover tattooed across his heart to remind him of the girl who is always just out of reach. When Tara’s luck lands her in his lap without Hankarron on her heels, Trip wonders if this is his chance to capture his Clover, or if Tara’s luck has other ideas in mind. Fate doesn’t always give you want you want, but it will always give you what you need.
Jennadri Szina doesn’t have time for matters of the heart or trying to get two wayward agents back on track. She’s got a mission to run, a Director who is dying and a mother who isn’t easy to impress. When Jehdra sends her to save Hank and Tara, Jen takes her mother’s mission on at full speed, but she isn’t prepared to manage ‘Wild Fists’ Weston and his damn dimple.
They say that the stories of our time will one day be traced into the stars to help guide others home. Fate strings intertwine with skipping stones across the stars of the universe, pulling it forward and writing new lines in the night sky as the Corwint Central Agent saga continues to lead Ethan, Orynn and Jarren towards a collision that holds the power to change everything.
Excerpt from Tracing The Stars
Hankarron and Tara’s first confrontation after Hank manages to screw everything up.
Hank stumbled unceremoniously onto the paved terrace after a not-so-gentle shove from Trip. The click of the door behind him let Hank know he was now completely alone with Tara. Alone and about to bet his entire future on the next words to come out of his mouth. Despite having created quite a good speech in his head, the words became impossible to remember as he stared at Tara’s backside, her eyes focused on the sea and her loose brunette hair whipping in the wind. Her shoulders flinched as he stepped around a planter box, coarse gravel crunching under his boot, but he kept his feet moving forward.
There was no turning back now. No running this time. He was out of chances. Out of excuses. The fear of losing her friendship by taking it to that step beyond was now a shallow whisper compared to the fear of losing her from his life completely. With a deep inhale, Orynn’s words echoed in his head. There is no going back. Only moving forward.
“Tara,” Hank stopped a few paces from her back and waited for her to turn around. When several moments passed and she continued to stare out at the rolling waves, he felt the delicate world beneath his feet crack. “Tara, I’m so sorry for what I said to you. I was drunk and hurt and… I’m not trying to excuse it… I just got so fucked up in the head and then the whisky and being in that solarium and…” The words were tumbling past his lips without any kind of plan or coherence. “And I… I… brought your jacket.”
He winced as what he intended to say came out as that last line of brilliance instead and his arm held her jacket up like a really lousy peace offering. He knew full well it wasn’t what he should be saying or what she wanted to hear from him to end this warring battle of their hearts and wills. Why couldn’t he just say it? His whole future was standing right there in front of him and all he could mutter was a half-assed apology. Then she faced him, glistening tears in the bright emeralds of her eyes, and he knew this was it. One last try. If he failed, the chasm between them would be too wide for either to cross.
Tara looked at the jacket in his outstretched hand as if it were made of everything wrong in her life. “You came all this way to bring me my jacket? You could have just mailed it. Or kept it. Or burned it.”
“Burned it?” Hank’s mouth filled with ash. “Tara, I couldn’t burn this jacket. It would be like burning part of you.”
Her shoulders shrugged lightly as she tried to remain strong. “It’s just a jacket, Hank.”
“It was also a promise.” He moved closer as she glanced away. “Brom told me about the promise you made to your dad. The promise that I made you break, and I’m so sorry for that. I could say I’m sorry a million times and it still wouldn’t be enough.”
“Then why are you here, Hankarron?”
The hope in her voice and the way she said his name sent Hank on a tailspin. Grabbing the control stick, he pulled up hard and finally let his soul hang bare, knowing it was that or crash and burn. Going out in a blaze of glory was highly overrated. “I’m here because I love you, Tara.”
Her eyes flicked up to his face and searched him, a quiet uneasiness still lingering in her voice. “I know you do.”
“No, you don’t.” The hand holding her jacket lowered so he could clear the remaining distance between them. “I love you. I’ve been in love with you since I was ten years old. Since you had pigtails, I’ve been in love with you, Tara Flint.” His chest heaved with the effort of trying to keep the pounding heart in his chest contained. “I just… God, I’m just such an idiot, and such a God dammed coward. I love you so damn much but I was so afraid of exactly this happening! I thought sure as shit that I would screw us up, and I did.”
His shoulders sagged as his voice caught in his throat on the breath of a sob. He was losing his shit again, right in front of her, but he didn’t care. “Tara, I…”
The patio door slammed open as Jen pushed through it. “Sorry kids, but we gotta book it.”
Check out the other books in this series, too!
Book 1: Ghost In The Machine – FREE full length novel
Space Opera / Science Fiction Romance
Get it FREE here!
Book 2: Whispers From Exile
Space Opera / Science Fiction Romance
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Author bio:
C.E. Kilgore (1981 – ) has always had a love of romantic stories and science fiction. Although active in the writing community during her undergraduate studies, she chose to focus on her love of history and culture. Graduating with an HBA in History and a BA in Cultural Anthropology, she puts a deep emphasis on creating characters and environments within her writing that are full of both culture and history. The relationship development between characters and the worlds they live in is also an important aspect of her stories. Sarcasm, comedy, hidden “modern” references and subtle hints at underlined universal meanings are common within her writing style, but there is always plenty of action and a darker side lurking just around the corner.
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ATTENTION book bloggers, reviewers and authors! I need your opinion.
Hello and thank you so much for stopping by. I’m in a bit of a pickle right now with my current work-in-progress. You see, I’m rewriting it. I’ve learned so much since I first wrote the story, and I’ve had a few authors go over it and give suggestions on what needs to be changed or made stronger. That has helped immensely.
The only problem is, I have to decide on the POV (point of view) for the story.
I have four characters that could all be my main character. Here’s a bit about them:
Lindsay – The Princess of Alectrona. She fled to Earth to escape the Erebus (another species of alien), and fulfill the prophecy that her child would save her people. She married a man on Earth, gave birth to his child (who bears the mark indicated in the prophecy) and tries to blend in on the planet.
Bryce – Alien Hunter come to Earth to track and kill the Erebus who are also on this planet. He is also searching for the Princess of Alectrona who fled their home planet years ago. Little does he know that the princess is also his soul mate.
Katrina – She is Lindsay’s daughter, unaware of who her mother really is. She is sick and tired of her over-protective mother and just wants to hang out with her friends. But when she finds out what she is, and that everyone is after her, she just wants to be normal.
Isabel – She is the main antogonist. Her husband is an alien like the others, and she didn’t find out until he confessed when she miscarried their child. Now, she bides her time, pretending to be okay with his alien heritage while she learns more about the species and where they are on Earth. She plans to eliminate them all, and when she is approached by the Erebus for help, she puts her plans into action.
The genre is Urban Sci-Fi, but there is the romantic aspect between Lindsay and Bryce that is also very important to the story. There will be two more in the series after this, where Katrina is a little older, and having her own romance. Lindsay and Bryce play minor roles in the second and third books.
So, my question to you is, would you prefer a story like this in multiple point-of-views? One character only? Maybe two? And which characters would you prefer as the POV character?
Thank you for your help!
~Jess 
