Shyla Colt's Blog, page 6
February 25, 2015
Spot Light. Divided Heart : Queen of Kings Book 2 by La Quette
SPOT LIGHT
Divided Heart.: Queens of Kings Book 2 By La Quette
**#1 International��Amazon Best Seller**
Queens of Kings Series��Book 2
She broke his��heart…to rebuild his soul.
The last two years of��Heart MacKenzie Searlington’s life have been a constant forward motion of��change. She’s been promoted to NYPD captain of the seventy-fourth precinct in��Brooklyn, a job she��never wanted, but is slowly finding her way through with the help of a��dedicated second in command and a house full of exemplary officers.
Married to the sexy and��powerful mogul, Kenneth Searlington, Heart is living all of the dreams she��never knew to ask for before she fell in love with the man that stole her heart.��Although Kenneth bathes��her in his love and devotion, insecurities from the past still haunt her and��cast a dark veil over their union.
Kenneth Searlington��knows only one thing, he worships his wife. He has a singular purpose: to love��her as hard as he can for the rest of their lives and to neutralize any threat��that dares to come up against them. But how does he protect them when that��threat comes from the woman he loves?
Thrown by a devastating��loss, Heart allows pain and despair to drive a wedge so large between them they��may never be able to recover. Pushed beyond his limits, excluded and taken for��granted, Kenneth has to decide whether to allow darker urges to control him, or��to use his rage to��fight for the one thing he adores, Heart.
Can they mend the rift,��or will a divided heart end their legendary love?
**Disclaimer: This title contains explicit language and graphic descriptions of sexual acts��between consenting adults.�� Reader��discretion advised.**
**This book is part of a series and should be read in the order it was written.**
Heart of the Matter:��Queens of Kings Book 1
Divided Heart: Queens��of Kings Book 2
Purchase Book 1 Here��
Purchase Book 2 Here��
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February 24, 2015
Change is a difficult thing. Even when it’s a transforma...
Change is a difficult thing. Even when it’s a transformation for the better, some of the stages are none too comfortable. In a way, it’s a grieving process. We’re saying goodbye to the old and familiar, and hello to the new and unknown. That can be a scary place to be in.
I’ve had a lot of change in my life over the past six months. The Marine left the military and started school full time. We moved across the country from California to Ohio, and bought our very first home. If that isn’t enough, my oldest is starting school for the first time this year. It’s been a whirlwind that’s brought happiness, sadness, frustration, stress, and growth. So much growth.
The thing about scaling a mountain is once you reach the peak, you know you can do just about anything. You’re stronger than you thought. You stand a little taller, walk with a bit more swagger, and feel the stirrings of bravery you might’ve forgotten.
Once you accomplish a task you didn’t believe you could achieve it’s so easy to look back and feel like superwoman. We realize we really are stronger than we ever thought. I did a resolution that would challenge me this year. Every month I have to do something that scares me. This month it was writing out my comfort zone. I just finished my first new adult with a non-Interracial love match. It was difficult. I second guessed every chapter. I walked away and came back, contemplated throwing the entire thing in the rubbish bin, and continued ahead, regardless. In the end, after numerous rounds of self-editing, I’m pleased with what I turned into my editors. It’s by no means finished. (Thank God for editors and all the polishing they do to turn rough rocks into gems. ) But I’m proud to say I did that. It’s a scary thing stretching your wings and exploring new places. Especially when you’re so comfy cozy in your well-worn nook.
My rallying cry to you would be task risk. Shake things up. ( not too much now. *winks). Make sure you’re really living and not existing or letting things hold you back. I had a real heart to heart with myself. There were things I liked, some I didn’t and blocks I was allowing to happen. I cleared them out, faced the scary bits, and got on with the active search and journey that is happiness. I went back to basics, really thought of what I want to say this year, how I want to say it, and what inspired me to pick up a pen and paper in the first place. So, you may notice differences in my upcoming writing. It’s my hope that you’ll enjoy what you read, and as always voice your thoughts and experiences. Your journeys mean so much and really keep me inspired. Thank you for sharing a part of your Tuesday with me. I’d love to hear about what your goals are, or the things happening for you. Have you begun to do something you love recently?
Soundtrack to Change
1. Changes by Ozzy
2. It’s Time by Imagine Dragons
3. Don’t you Worry Child by Swedish House Mafia
Change is a difficult thing. Even when it���s a transfor...
Change is a difficult thing. Even when it���s a transformation for the better, some of the stages are none too comfortable. In a way, it���s a grieving process. We���re saying goodbye to the old and familiar, and hello to the new and unknown. That can be a scary place to be in.
I���ve had a lot of change in my life over the past six months. The Marine left the military and started school full time. We moved across the country from California to Ohio, and bought our very first home. If that isn���t enough, my oldest is starting school for the first time this year. It���s been a whirlwind that���s brought happiness, sadness, frustration, stress, and growth. So much growth.
The thing about scaling a mountain is once you reach the peak, you know you can do just about anything. You���re stronger than you thought. You stand a little taller, walk with a bit more swagger, and feel the stirrings of bravery you might���ve forgotten.
Once you accomplish a task you didn���t believe you could achieve it���s so easy to look back and feel like superwoman. We realize we really are stronger than we ever thought. I did a resolution that would challenge me this year. Every month I have to do something that scares me. This month it was writing out my comfort zone. I just finished my first new adult with a non-Interracial love match. It was difficult. I second guessed every chapter. I walked away and came back, contemplated throwing the entire thing in the rubbish bin, and continued ahead, regardless. In the end, after numerous rounds of self-editing, I���m pleased with what I turned into my editors. It���s by no means finished. (Thank God for editors and all the polishing they do to turn rough rocks into gems. ) But I���m proud to say I did that. It���s a scary thing stretching your wings and exploring new places. Especially when you���re so comfy cozy in your well-worn nook.
My rallying cry to you would be task risk. Shake things up. ( not too much now. *winks). Make sure you���re really living and not existing or letting things hold you back. I had a real heart to heart with myself. There were things I liked, some I didn���t and blocks I was allowing to happen. I cleared them out, faced the scary bits, and got on with the active search and journey that is happiness. I went back to basics, really thought of what I want to say this year, how I want to say it, and what inspired me to pick up a pen and paper in the first place. So, you may notice differences in my upcoming writing. It���s my hope that you���ll enjoy what you read, and as always voice your thoughts and experiences. Your journeys mean so much and really keep me inspired. Thank you for sharing a part of your Tuesday with me. I���d love to hear about what your goals are, or the things happening for you. Have you begun to do something you love recently?
Soundtrack to Change
1. Changes by Ozzy
2. It’s Time by Imagine Dragons
3. Don’t you Worry Child by Swedish House Mafia
February 12, 2015
Valentine’s Day Give away
I’ll be giving away the Wesson Rebels Book set.
In order to enter all they have to do is follow my twitter account. Click here
February 1, 2015
Red Hot Cajun Nights!
R
Red Hot Authors
Present
Red Hot Cajun Nights Blog Hop
February 1 – 7
This Mardi Gras Season, Let the Sinful Good Times Roll!
Let your imagination take you all the way to New Orleans for Carnival season as eight sexy romance authors bring you eight fabulous $.99 books to warm your winter.
~ Our website: http://redhotauthors.com/red-hot-cajun-nights/
~ Our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/RedHotAuthors
Blurb
The world as we knew it didn’t end in fire or nuclear radiation. It ended the same way it began, with magic. Once the creatures that lived in the darkness stepped into the light, the world changed forever.
As the people of New Orleans crawl their way from the ruins of an old life, new alliances must be made. Delta always knew she���d take her place as Queen of the Bayou witches, but she never imagined marriage to shape shifter King, Ridge Tassin would be part of the deal.
The fire burns bright between them, and what seemed like a curse may be the best thing that���s ever happened. Under the glitz and glamour of the first Madi Gras since the world burned, they will say their vows and assume power, or perish trying.
This Mardi Gras season, let the sinful good times roll with Behind the Veil, part of the Red Hot Cajun Nights multi-author series (stands alone for reading enjoyment)
Buy Links
Want even more prizes? We���re having a huge Mardi Gras Facebook Party on Tuesday, February 17. Click on the link then Join the party to hang out with us on Mardi Gras Day. You can bet we���re going to have some sinfully awesome giveaways! https://www.facebook.com/events/1401340946828665/
Come and read about our brand new Mardi Gras books as well as every book from each of our Red Hot holiday collections at our website: http://redhotauthors.com/red-hot-cajun-nights/
For ��chance to win a $10. Amazon Gift Cards tell me what you like best about Dystopian fiction!
CONTEST ENDS (MIDNIGHT, FEBRUARY 7)
Use this Rafflecopter to enter the grand prize drawing for:
1) A Kindle
2) A box of paperbacks
3) Swag from all the authors
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/4cd6141215/”; rel=”nofollow” data-raflid=”4cd6141215″ data-theme=”classic” data-template=”” id=”rcwidget_28h8c8o8″>a Rafflecopter giveaway
Now be sure to hop to each of these other Red Hot Authors��� blogs to leave a comment for your chance to win that author���s prizes:
Desiree Holt at www.desiremeonly.com
Magen McMinimy at http://www.magenmcminimy.com/
Jodi Redford at http://jodiredford.blogspot.com
Randi Alexander at http://randialexander.com/blog-3/
Christin Lovell at www.christinlovell.com
Rene Folsom at www.renefolsom.com
Sable Hunter at http://sablehunter.com/
Shyla Colt at www.shylacoltsstraightshot.wordpress.com
ADD YOUR CLOSING COMMENT HERE
January 31, 2015
Saturday Soul Search��� I ran a 5k���what the hell was I thinking?
I think we���re all amazing. Every woman I know is beautiful, strong, powerful, and utterly unique. The problem is; we often forget that. We get caught up in a routine, bogged down by responsibilities, and our pension for putting ourselves last. Being a nurturer is a great thing. But it can also cause certain issues if we aren���t careful. That desire to give and provide has to be balanced with self-care and saying no when necessary.
I looked around at the end of 2014, and I realized, I didn���t remember that I was awesome. While I couldn���t give you a list of exactly why. I knew this, I certainly didn���t feel like I rocked. I���ve always been the type of person who believes, just about anything is possible if you���re willing to put the work in. I���d stopped feeling that way. I���d grown stagnant.
So, I decided to change things, and step out of my comfort zone. I needed to be reminded I could do what I set my mind too, and allow myself to be uncomfortable. It sounds funny, I know. But stepping outside of our comfort zone helps us grow. Growth is the polar opposite of stagnation, which is why I began planning.
Every month I���ll be doing something that frightens, or challenges me. Not the belly dropping to your feet when you ride a roller coaster or enter a haunted house. The sweaty palms, racing heart moments when you enter your first race, or travel by airplane for the first time. It���s taking that painting class you always wanted to, but always felt too nervous to commit to. This is me, pushing my boundaries to come out on the other side a happier, healthier, and hopefully stronger person.
First on my list was running a 5k. I used to run long distance when I was younger. I loved it. The feel of my feet against the ground. The music in my ears, and the steady rhythm that allowed my mind to go blessedly blank. I���m a writer, and I have one of those brains that���s always ���On���. So I enjoy the times when I can actually just veg. I have a thing with public exercise. I���m klutzy, so I���m hyper aware when I���m working out in public, which made this challenging for me.
I���d been training for about two weeks to get back to a ten-minute mile when a candid conversation with a good friend lead me to enter my first 5k. After that, the pressure was on to really push myself. The Mr., amazing man that he is, hopped on board, and agreed to run the race with me.
This morning D-day arrived. We ran the frozen race and did it under an hour. I can���t explain to you how good it felt to cross that finish line. To fight up those hills, around the bends, and walk when I needed to. With every small victory, I gained back a piece of myself. I refueled some of my hope, wonder, and bad-assery. You know that feeling when you want to look in the mirror and strike a Charlie���s Angel���s pose. As I plan my next adventure for February, I can���t help but be excited. I hope you���ll stick with me, and maybe even set some goals for yourself.
December 15, 2014
9 Smoking tales for only .99 to help a wonderful Cause
Today I’m doing something near and dear to my heart. I’m co-publishing a book with eight other phenomenal authors , and donating the proceeds to St. Jude’s.
Its nine tantalizing tales of Supernatural love for only .99
A Wolff’s Love, Wolff’s Mystical Realm By P.T. Macias
A young, successful scientist meets up with her past. She’s changed. She lost weight and is now a confident young woman. But deep inside, she’s the same sweet girl. And she’s deeply in love.
The brilliant, famous, and sexy scientist returns to claim her in more ways than one.
ZOEY: A ‘Not-So’ Zombie Love Story By Julia Mills
Imagine having everything you want.
The job you always dreamt of, a guy that loves you completely and unconditionally just the way you are, and parents you’re not embarrassed to call your own.
Imagine losing it all in the blink of an eye.
TWICE FATED SHIFTER by C.A. Tibbitts
Zane Adams stepped up to take responsibility for his son, Clark. A note was the only warning Zane had to Dixie’s disappearing act. Two years later, when she returns, Zane brings Dixie into his and Clark’s home. There is more to Dixie than meets the eye.
The Vaqud Mate By Shyla Colt
This is a world unlike any we’ve ever known. In exchange for the technology to fix out failing planet, humans have offered up suitable woman to the Vaqud. The humanoid group of aliens were on the verge of dying out due to lack of females for repopulation when they discovered their compatibility to the human race. A deal is struck, and women with the right genetic marker are separated from the rest of the population. This women are raised to be the perfect mate until they are twenty-five, and the claiming process begins.
Kenna is one of the few females who possess the genetic make-up that allows them to breed with the Vaqud. When she turns twenty-five she’s brought to the Claiming she discovers things are not what they appeared to be when she’s paired with Vaqud warriors, Doce and Devass. Their mating might bring more than happiness. It could bring about change.
Sister Witches By K. K Weakley
Lisa Johnson is a witch with a secret. Powerful, beautiful and in love with Veronica Young. Both of the Sisterhood of North America, where unlike Lisa, Veronica longs for a life someplace free of death, furthermore a life free of the Supernatural World. That is until the younger generation of witches begin to go missing. Joining forces alongside werewolf Jimmy Knowles and necromancer Sean Mac Donald, they discover the Sisterhood is malicious from the inside out. Time heals all wounds…Or does it?
Stone Hearts By Diana Marie Dubois
Daphne Lavain lives in the illustrious city of New Orleans and owns a quaint antique shop on Magazine Street. After her husband’s death, she never thought she would find love again. But when her friend Ava convinces her to seek out the Loa Goddess of Love everything changes.
Jasper Lafavre, a 100 year old gargoyle in hiding, stumbles upon Daphne’s antique shop. Inspired by an object in the window, he realizes, he may be able to find love again since the murder of his beloved.
Beautiful Noise By: Tasha Gwartney
Mena has a secret that she must protect with her life. She has finally found someone, Reese, that accepts everything about her. Or so she hopes… But can she trust her instincts when everything around her seems to be falling apart. Mena must make a decision. Trust. Or throw it all away because of the chaos of Beautiful Noise that her life has become.
Better off Sleeping By E. L. R. Jones
Kiya awakens from a coma and remembers nothing about herself or her life. Strange occurrences continue to happen. She finds herself becoming more and more confused by the moment. The man/beast that keeps appearing does nothing, but confuse her more. He says that he is her husband, Phillip Belle, and she is supposedly Aurora Belle.
There is magic in the air. Every time they are near one another, sparks fly. There is a call on the wind and she doesn’t understand any of it. Her heart is torn between what it is that her mind is telling her and what her heart wants. Finding out the state of his life is dependent upon her remembering, isn’t helping speed matters along.
Teaser The Vaqud Mate By Shyla Colt
Kenna opened her eyes, and found herself greeted by a darkened room. In the early morning light, the living area was silent. A rarity for the dormitory. There were no whispered conversations, rustling clothing, or creaks of beds as they fought to hold on to the last vestiges of sleep. It was the middle of December in Northern Ohio, and the chill has seeped under the door and in through the faulty seals on the windows. She rolled over onto her side, pulling the thin yellow blanket closer to her body. She scanned the rows of women still sleeping in their bunks. It was the last time she’d see this sight. Normally, the quiet was a welcome break. Today, it was the cloying quiet of a tomb. Her mind rewound the years. She closed her eyes and sanctioned her trip back to a place in time where things were normal. Before the Earth became desperate enough to auction off its women in exchange for the alien technology that would fix the mass quantities of damage inflicted to the planet. Everyone had to pay the piper for their choices eventually. This time, the human raced dodged a bullet by placing the female population on the chopping block.
She could still smell the cinnamon and molasses scent of freshly baked gingerbread cookies cooling on the metal rack her mother insisted on. A tall woman with curve for days, long black hair, and bright brown eyes, Shauna Klein loved to cook, play hostess, and laugh. The ever-present floral scent her mother wore seemed to waft from the blankets. Twinkling white lights lined the window in the kitchen and wound their way around the gold themed six-foot tall Christmas tree that sat in the corner. She could still see the joy in her sister Kendra’s doe-shaped brown eyes as the two of them ripped into their perfectly wrapped presents. Her mother was always a master at attending to details. The thought of Kendra happy and independent always kept Kenna going. Her baby sister didn’t share the genetic marker that sentenced Kenna to this life. She’d have to live for the both of them.
Kenna replayed the last moments of her innocence. The cutting of the cake that happened every year after dinner. The small personal gifts always held back to allow her to feel special, despite her Christmas birthdate. She basked in the happy memories, avoiding the truth staring her in the face. This year, there would be no presents, Christmas lights, or cookies. Instead, she’d lose her freedom permanently. Today, she’d be claimed by a Vaqud. The alien saviors turned monsters who required breeding mares to continue their race.
A bed creaked in the distance. She carefully stored her joy-filled memories away, and gathered herself to face the day. Weakness wasn’t a luxury she could afford to have. Not here, in the place that fed off terror and sadness, and especially not on this day.
If she fell apart, it would bring down the morale of the other girls left behind to wait for their twenty-fifth birthdays. Once you entered the processing center, any sense of individuality was stripped away. Similar to a military base, they ate together, trained together, and lived secluded from the rest of the world. From sixteen on, all they had was one another. It was supposed to be more humane. That was a joke. As if depriving them of their freedom earlier made them less aware of the sacrifice looming over their heads like an invisible clock ticking down until the magic age.
She inhaled and exhaled slowly. Remain calm and in control. For the others, it’s just another day. She didn’t want to make it any harder than it had to be. They all felt it keenly when one of them was lost to the claiming. So they did their best to face it bravely, keeping as much dignity intact as possible. When there were no choices, the only thing you could regulate was your response. Still, she couldn’t help but envy them as they continued to slumber. She’d been prepped for this day from the minute the Vaqud made their demands, and testing showed she had a genetic disposition required to be compatible with them. None of it made this moment any easier.
Lights flickered on above their heads. People began to wake. Beds creaked. Bodies slid from their beds, and the daily grind started. She stayed in bed as long as she dared, clutching the final moments of normalcy like a lifeline. When the room was nearly cleared, she forced her tense limbs from the warm nest she made among her bedding, slipped her feet into her sandals, and joined the crowd moving to the bathing area. They marched toward the showers in two lines, clad in the standard issued white boy shorts, white tank tops with thick straps, and white shower thongs. Kenna grabbed her government issued white shower caddy from her cubby and ignored the stares and whispers swirling around her.
Review for Heart of the Matter by La Quette
Heart of the matter is a well written romance with spice, grown-folks sexy, mystery, and adventure. The story line is fast moving, but easily understood, and full of so many twists, I thought I was on a country road.
La Quette is a chess master moving pieces across a board, and never revealing her game plan until she’s ready to finish the game. I love strong females, so I enjoyed seeing police Lieutenant, Heart “Mac” Mackenzie bold, fearless, and in-charge. She commanded respect, lived by her own rules, and still managed to be extremely vulnerable, like any real women. I don’t want to give away too much of the story, but I will say this. Even the strongest person has a weakness, it’s what makes them human. Mac has spent most of her adult life filling a void left after a traumatic event in her youth shook her foundation. As the saying goes, you can run, but you can’t hide.
Kenneth Searlington is a sleeper hero! When I first met him, I wanted to slap the taste out of his mouth. Wealthy, arrogant, confident, and commanding he made assumptions about Mac he shouldn’t have. Of course, she set him straight, and the push and pull began. The tension between them was delicious, and kept the story fresh and unpredictable. As the story unfolded and I learned more about him something strange happened. I changed my opinion, and he blossomed. No one is who they appear to be at first glance. La Quette showed that well with this one.
December 4, 2014
Color of Love Blog Hop and Giveaway
Originally posted on Sharon C. Cooper:
Hi All!
What better way to kick off the holiday season than with some awesome books and great giveaways? It’s that time of the year where we celebrate our love for characters of color in romantic fiction in the Color of Love Blog Hop. From December 4th thru December 8th, not only do you get to meet some great writers, but you also get a chance to win LOTS of books and prizes (including a $50 gift card)! But first, let me tell you about my Color of Love featured novel.
I enjoy reading and writing romance. Not just because you’re guaranteed a happily-ever-after, but also because love has no color. As an author who usually writes multi-cultural and African American romance, I recently released my first interracial romance – ALL YOU’LL EVER NEED, book 2 of the Jenkins Family Series. Check it out:
Blurb
A woman wants what a…
View original 1,298 more words
December 3, 2014
Color of Love Hop Dec 4th- 8th
My mission to Diversify
The main driving force behind my writing, other than the voices in my head that won’t stop until I tell their story, is the desire to see the stories I’d like to read. Stories with strong, yet vulnerable heroines of all shapes and sizes and colors. Books where the female lead sometimes looks and acts like me. I’ve always been a book worm, and growing up I always craved stories that I could truly relate to. With every story I create I remember that feeling, and strive to reach out to others who may feel the same. It’s my hope that every time someone reads my story their eyes and minds are opened along with their heart.
Grand prizes:
1st prize $50 Amazon GC + 7 ebooks
2nd prize $25 Amazon GC + 7 ebooks
3rd prize $15 Amazon GC + 7 ebooks
4th prize $10 Amazon GC + 6 ebooks
5th prize $5 Amazon GC + 6 ebooks
