Ranae Rose's Blog, page 12
June 19, 2013
Inked in the Steel City Book 3 Cover, Title & Blurb Reveal
Dedicated Ink
Inked in the Steel City Book 3
A one night stand has never gone so wrong … or so right. Two months after one scorchingly hot July night, tattoo artist Abby is pregnant and the man who showed her everything she’d been missing is nowhere in sight. When he walks into the Hot Ink Tattoo Studio looking for much more than some new ink, she risks their rekindled connection by confessing that she’s pregnant … with his twins.
Sworn to serve and protect, Pittsburgh police officer Sam isn’t one to back down from responsibility, and he’s definitely not going to let the woman who’s been haunting his dreams all summer get away again. But two babies on the way means a reunion that’s anything but what he imagined. Can unforgettable chemistry evolve into real love before her due date arrives?
Releasing Summer 2013. Exact date TBA soon.
Check out the rest of the Inked in the Steel City Series.
Be the first to know when Dedicated Ink releases - sign up to receive a one-time e-mail alert as soon as it hits virtual shelves.
June 17, 2013
Attack of the Car(r)i(e)s!
Today I'm sharing my blog with a couple of my favorite Car(r)i(e)s - authors Carrie Ann Ryan and Cari Quinn. They've both got new books releasing today, and I'm joining in the celebration by sharing some irresistable excerpts from Shattered Emotions and Dirty Distractions. Enjoy! ;)
A Message from Carrie Ann: Thank you for stopping by to watch Cari Quinn and I go crazy. Well, maybe not crazy, but a little quirky never hurt anyone. When we realized we both had a release on the same day, it was only natural that we showed you guys what it meant to be a Car(r)i(e). I do hope you get a chance to check out our newest editions!
A Message from Cari: Thanks so much for hosting me and the fabulous Carrie Ann Ryan. I love that girl and I’m so excited to read her Redwood Pack series! If only I could read as fast as she writes! J
Shattered Emotions
Maddox Jamenson is the Omega of the Redwood Pack, the one burdened by emotions stronger than his own. He's spent his entire life shrouded in the secrets of his "gift" and the price he has to pay to keep it, yet the cost just escalated. He's known a mate could be in the cards for him, but he can't have what he wants. Not when the battles he has yet to fight could destroy her.
Ellie Reyes was the Central's princess, the daughter of the most hated Alpha of all time, yet not prized. No, she's spent her life as the toy of her brother's sadistic torture and has endured a pain that no one else should have to even contemplate. Though when she's rescued, the one person who could help her, her mate, turns his back on her for reasons unknown to her. As each day passes, the strength that everyone sees in her dwindles to a point that there may be no coming back from.
When the Centrals find a new way to attack, leaving Ellie's only protection a mate that she doesn’t think wants her, they’ll both have to overcome their fears and fight for something stronger than their pain. The war isn't over and new players are coming that will decide the outcome. Maddox and Ellie's connection will be tested even as their fragile bond is only newly forming.
Available at...
Amazon B&N ARe Kobo iTunes
\Read on for an Excerpt...
Ellie Reyes gripped Maddox’s hand as tight as she could. Yes, it was the first time he’d voluntary touched her since he’d picked her up out of the back of the Jeep when they’d first met, but, honestly, that wasn’t important now.
She’d think about the calloused hands of a hard worker—one who helped his Pack and brothers, not necessarily in his job—and how they would feel against her skin. She’d think about what it all meant later.
Maybe later she could even relish his touch and imagine the scents of wolf and forest washing over her.
Later.
Right now, all she wanted to do was hide in a corner so the others would stop staring at her. Or, she could raise her chin at them all and show them they couldn’t hurt her. Her wolf whimpered at the thought, not knowing if that were possible. She didn’t know if she was broken or strong anymore.
She’d been hurt far more than they could ever imagine. They had no idea what she could endure. Oh, they’d all guessed and given her their pitying looks, but they didn’t know.
They couldn’t know.
About Carrie Ann
Carrie Ann Ryan is a bestselling paranormal and contemporary romance author. After spending too much time behind a lab bench, she decided to dive into the romance world and find her werewolf mate – even if it’s just in her books. Happy endings are always near – even if you have to get over the challenges of falling in love first.
Carrie Ann’s Redwood Pack series is a bestselling series that has made the shifter world even more real to her and has allowed the Dante’s Circle and Holiday, Montana series to be born. She’s also an avid reader and lover of romance and fiction novels. She loves meeting new authors and new worlds. Any recommendations you have are appreciated. Carrie Ann lives in New England with her husband and two kittens.
www.carrieannryan.com
* * * * *
Dirty Distractions
She wants a fling, and he wants forever…
Zoologist Sara Carmichael’s active social life is the envy of all her friends, but she has a secret. She’s bored senseless. If she has to go to one more bird sanctuary fundraiser with some guy who thinks his little sports car makes him “hip”, she'll scream.
Enter Brad O’Halloran, her best friend Kim’s much younger brother. A guy who’s picking up the pieces after a quickie marriage and even quicker divorce. A guy so hot he makes her body scream with frustration.
Until Sara’s apartment is renovated, they’re all living at Kim’s place. Despite her determination not to salivate at glimpses of Brad’s finer-than-fine body in nothing but a low-slung towel, flirtation escalates to the brink of something more.
Now one of them has to back down…or ante up for some good, dirty fun with the unspoken understanding that when the time comes, they’ll make a clean break. Neither anticipated they’d make the most complicated connection of all—love.
Warning: This book contains a hero who knows how to make engines— and women—purr, seduction while on cold meds, and a heroine who might be a little older but still enjoys learning a few naughty new tricks.
Available at...
Samhain Amazon B&N iTunes Kobo
Read on for an excerpt...
Lips curving, Sara reached for her body wash and squirted a huge dollop into her palm. She set aside the bottle and rubbed the soap over her torso, her smile turning impish.
“Uh-oh. That smile scares me.”
She laughed and trailed bubbles over Brad’s chest, leaning forward to nip the corded muscles in his shoulders. He tensed, his pecs flexing under her meandering fingers.
“I want to watch you touch yourself.” She looked up at him under her lashes. “That’s not scary, is it?”
“No.” His throat rippled as he swallowed. “And I do aim to please.”
He didn’t hesitate to load up his hands with the body wash she even now worked into his ropey upper arms. This was a man for whom life itself was a workout. She would bet he didn’t even have a gym membership. He just worked and played hard.
And she had a feeling he had sex the same way. God, she couldn’t wait to find out.
They soaped each other for a couple minutes, the only sounds the rushing water and their increasingly heavy breathing. Without a word, he reached down and gripped his cock. When he began to move up and down in short strokes, her breath caught. So hot. She’d seen men do that in adult movies but never in reality. Never right in front of her.
His arm muscles flexed as the first fat drop of precome seeped down his shaft before being washed away. He sped up, working himself hard. Noting his firm hold, she bit her lip. Maybe she’d been too careful when touching prior lovers. Not that she’d gotten any complaints, but the harsh pumps of his hand gave her pause. They also provoked a low moan.
The sexiest part of this? His low-lidded, burning blue eyes were focused on her. Right now she was the fuel for his fantasies. Knowing that brought a fresh rush of moisture between her thighs.
Riveted, she cupped her own breasts, hardly aware of what she was doing. But then she sneezed again, and he choked out a laugh. “I’m going to get an erection every time I hear you sneeze from now on. You know that, right?”
Instead of responding in kind, she stared at his hand, now moving slower than before, and unwittingly pinched her nipples. The pinch twanged in her lower belly, swift and sharp.
“Damn, baby, that’s beautiful.” Reverence filled his tone.
She splashed a little water on them to wash off the last of the body wash. After she turned off the tap, she stepped closer and gazed deep into his eyes. What she saw there made her heart flutter and her core clench. “Tell me what you imagine when you’re doing this alone.”
“I usually pretend you’re riding me. Your hair loose, your breasts bouncing. I knew they’d be like this.” He molded her flesh, his tanned fingertips against her pale skin an incredible turn-on. “Not too big. Not too small. And your nipples…they’re the same cinnamon brown I always pictured. Almost as pretty as those light brown eyes of yours.”
That his attention returned to her face as he spoke inflamed every dormant nerve inside her body. He captured her lips, tormenting her with light, teasing kisses that made her want to grab his arms and drag him against her. But she reached for his cock instead, desperate to learn how he would feel in her hand.
In her mouth. Inside her. Everywhere.
She shuddered, and he palmed her cheek. “Let’s go in the bedroom.” Each subtle throb of his thick, velvety flesh told her how much his own monologue had affected him. “It’s too cold in here, and you’re all wet.”
“That won’t improve if we go in the bedroom.”
His rich, appreciative laughter wound around her while he nudged her out of the shower and bundled her into one of her thick, Egyptian cotton towels. He folded another around her hair and led her into her room, then tugged her onto the bed. When he started to pull her on top of him, she put up a fight, enjoying the fierce flare of arousal on his face as he finally pinned her beneath him.
“Like it rough, hmm?”
“Maybe.” She blew an escaped strand of damp hair out of her eyes. “But it was more that. I had an ulterior motive. I wanted you just like this.”
He arched a brow. “That so?”
“Oh yeah.” Watching his face, Sara stroked the delicious erection flush against her belly. Then she licked her palm and slickened his length, repeating the move until his cock glistened. “Because you’re not finished.”
About Cari...
USA Today bestselling author Cari Quinn saves the world one Photoshop file at a time in her job as a graphic designer. At night, she writes sexy romance, drinks a lot of coffee, and plays her music way too loud. When she’s not scribbling furiously, she’s watching men’s college basketball, reading excellent books, and causing trouble. Sometimes simultaneously.
www.cariquinn.com
A Message from Carrie Ann: Thank you for stopping by to watch Cari Quinn and I go crazy. Well, maybe not crazy, but a little quirky never hurt anyone. When we realized we both had a release on the same day, it was only natural that we showed you guys what it meant to be a Car(r)i(e). I do hope you get a chance to check out our newest editions!
A Message from Cari: Thanks so much for hosting me and the fabulous Carrie Ann Ryan. I love that girl and I’m so excited to read her Redwood Pack series! If only I could read as fast as she writes! J
Shattered Emotions
Maddox Jamenson is the Omega of the Redwood Pack, the one burdened by emotions stronger than his own. He's spent his entire life shrouded in the secrets of his "gift" and the price he has to pay to keep it, yet the cost just escalated. He's known a mate could be in the cards for him, but he can't have what he wants. Not when the battles he has yet to fight could destroy her.
Ellie Reyes was the Central's princess, the daughter of the most hated Alpha of all time, yet not prized. No, she's spent her life as the toy of her brother's sadistic torture and has endured a pain that no one else should have to even contemplate. Though when she's rescued, the one person who could help her, her mate, turns his back on her for reasons unknown to her. As each day passes, the strength that everyone sees in her dwindles to a point that there may be no coming back from.
When the Centrals find a new way to attack, leaving Ellie's only protection a mate that she doesn’t think wants her, they’ll both have to overcome their fears and fight for something stronger than their pain. The war isn't over and new players are coming that will decide the outcome. Maddox and Ellie's connection will be tested even as their fragile bond is only newly forming.
Available at...
Amazon B&N ARe Kobo iTunes
\Read on for an Excerpt...
Ellie Reyes gripped Maddox’s hand as tight as she could. Yes, it was the first time he’d voluntary touched her since he’d picked her up out of the back of the Jeep when they’d first met, but, honestly, that wasn’t important now.
She’d think about the calloused hands of a hard worker—one who helped his Pack and brothers, not necessarily in his job—and how they would feel against her skin. She’d think about what it all meant later.
Maybe later she could even relish his touch and imagine the scents of wolf and forest washing over her.
Later.
Right now, all she wanted to do was hide in a corner so the others would stop staring at her. Or, she could raise her chin at them all and show them they couldn’t hurt her. Her wolf whimpered at the thought, not knowing if that were possible. She didn’t know if she was broken or strong anymore.
She’d been hurt far more than they could ever imagine. They had no idea what she could endure. Oh, they’d all guessed and given her their pitying looks, but they didn’t know.
They couldn’t know.
About Carrie Ann
Carrie Ann Ryan is a bestselling paranormal and contemporary romance author. After spending too much time behind a lab bench, she decided to dive into the romance world and find her werewolf mate – even if it’s just in her books. Happy endings are always near – even if you have to get over the challenges of falling in love first.
Carrie Ann’s Redwood Pack series is a bestselling series that has made the shifter world even more real to her and has allowed the Dante’s Circle and Holiday, Montana series to be born. She’s also an avid reader and lover of romance and fiction novels. She loves meeting new authors and new worlds. Any recommendations you have are appreciated. Carrie Ann lives in New England with her husband and two kittens.
www.carrieannryan.com
* * * * *
Dirty Distractions
She wants a fling, and he wants forever…
Zoologist Sara Carmichael’s active social life is the envy of all her friends, but she has a secret. She’s bored senseless. If she has to go to one more bird sanctuary fundraiser with some guy who thinks his little sports car makes him “hip”, she'll scream.
Enter Brad O’Halloran, her best friend Kim’s much younger brother. A guy who’s picking up the pieces after a quickie marriage and even quicker divorce. A guy so hot he makes her body scream with frustration.
Until Sara’s apartment is renovated, they’re all living at Kim’s place. Despite her determination not to salivate at glimpses of Brad’s finer-than-fine body in nothing but a low-slung towel, flirtation escalates to the brink of something more.
Now one of them has to back down…or ante up for some good, dirty fun with the unspoken understanding that when the time comes, they’ll make a clean break. Neither anticipated they’d make the most complicated connection of all—love.
Warning: This book contains a hero who knows how to make engines— and women—purr, seduction while on cold meds, and a heroine who might be a little older but still enjoys learning a few naughty new tricks.
Available at...
Samhain Amazon B&N iTunes Kobo
Read on for an excerpt...
Lips curving, Sara reached for her body wash and squirted a huge dollop into her palm. She set aside the bottle and rubbed the soap over her torso, her smile turning impish.
“Uh-oh. That smile scares me.”
She laughed and trailed bubbles over Brad’s chest, leaning forward to nip the corded muscles in his shoulders. He tensed, his pecs flexing under her meandering fingers.
“I want to watch you touch yourself.” She looked up at him under her lashes. “That’s not scary, is it?”
“No.” His throat rippled as he swallowed. “And I do aim to please.”
He didn’t hesitate to load up his hands with the body wash she even now worked into his ropey upper arms. This was a man for whom life itself was a workout. She would bet he didn’t even have a gym membership. He just worked and played hard.
And she had a feeling he had sex the same way. God, she couldn’t wait to find out.
They soaped each other for a couple minutes, the only sounds the rushing water and their increasingly heavy breathing. Without a word, he reached down and gripped his cock. When he began to move up and down in short strokes, her breath caught. So hot. She’d seen men do that in adult movies but never in reality. Never right in front of her.
His arm muscles flexed as the first fat drop of precome seeped down his shaft before being washed away. He sped up, working himself hard. Noting his firm hold, she bit her lip. Maybe she’d been too careful when touching prior lovers. Not that she’d gotten any complaints, but the harsh pumps of his hand gave her pause. They also provoked a low moan.
The sexiest part of this? His low-lidded, burning blue eyes were focused on her. Right now she was the fuel for his fantasies. Knowing that brought a fresh rush of moisture between her thighs.
Riveted, she cupped her own breasts, hardly aware of what she was doing. But then she sneezed again, and he choked out a laugh. “I’m going to get an erection every time I hear you sneeze from now on. You know that, right?”
Instead of responding in kind, she stared at his hand, now moving slower than before, and unwittingly pinched her nipples. The pinch twanged in her lower belly, swift and sharp.
“Damn, baby, that’s beautiful.” Reverence filled his tone.
She splashed a little water on them to wash off the last of the body wash. After she turned off the tap, she stepped closer and gazed deep into his eyes. What she saw there made her heart flutter and her core clench. “Tell me what you imagine when you’re doing this alone.”
“I usually pretend you’re riding me. Your hair loose, your breasts bouncing. I knew they’d be like this.” He molded her flesh, his tanned fingertips against her pale skin an incredible turn-on. “Not too big. Not too small. And your nipples…they’re the same cinnamon brown I always pictured. Almost as pretty as those light brown eyes of yours.”
That his attention returned to her face as he spoke inflamed every dormant nerve inside her body. He captured her lips, tormenting her with light, teasing kisses that made her want to grab his arms and drag him against her. But she reached for his cock instead, desperate to learn how he would feel in her hand.
In her mouth. Inside her. Everywhere.
She shuddered, and he palmed her cheek. “Let’s go in the bedroom.” Each subtle throb of his thick, velvety flesh told her how much his own monologue had affected him. “It’s too cold in here, and you’re all wet.”
“That won’t improve if we go in the bedroom.”
His rich, appreciative laughter wound around her while he nudged her out of the shower and bundled her into one of her thick, Egyptian cotton towels. He folded another around her hair and led her into her room, then tugged her onto the bed. When he started to pull her on top of him, she put up a fight, enjoying the fierce flare of arousal on his face as he finally pinned her beneath him.
“Like it rough, hmm?”
“Maybe.” She blew an escaped strand of damp hair out of her eyes. “But it was more that. I had an ulterior motive. I wanted you just like this.”
He arched a brow. “That so?”
“Oh yeah.” Watching his face, Sara stroked the delicious erection flush against her belly. Then she licked her palm and slickened his length, repeating the move until his cock glistened. “Because you’re not finished.”
About Cari...
USA Today bestselling author Cari Quinn saves the world one Photoshop file at a time in her job as a graphic designer. At night, she writes sexy romance, drinks a lot of coffee, and plays her music way too loud. When she’s not scribbling furiously, she’s watching men’s college basketball, reading excellent books, and causing trouble. Sometimes simultaneously.
www.cariquinn.com
June 16, 2013
Innocent Ink Now Available in Paperback & Other News
It's been a while since I've shared any news at all here! I recently moved and wound up spending three weeks without a home / office internet connection (*tortured sigh*). I'm back online now, and have got a few things to share...
Innocent Ink (Inked in the Steel City Book 2) is now available in paperback. You can find the paperback edition at Amazon , and it'll be available at B&N soon too. As always, asking your favorite brick-and-mortar book store to order in a copy for you is an option, too.
The ebook edition is available at all major ebook retailers.
In other news, the kindle version of my Clandestine Classics edition of Wuthering Heights is temporarily half-price at Amazon only. You can find it for $2.99 here at Amazon .
Last but not least...
I'm preparing to make a big announcement related to the Inked in the Steel City Series - the Book 3 cover, title & blurb reveal. I don't have everything quite ready to post yet, but it's coming soon ... based off of the cover comp (final edition is in the works), I think you're going to like the looks of Book 3's hero. Can't wait to share! ;)
I've also got a sign-up form on my website where you can join a one-time mailing list to be notified when Book 3 releases. If that interests you, you can find the sign-up form right here on the 'Newes & Coming Soon' Page.
Innocent Ink (Inked in the Steel City Book 2) is now available in paperback. You can find the paperback edition at Amazon , and it'll be available at B&N soon too. As always, asking your favorite brick-and-mortar book store to order in a copy for you is an option, too.
The ebook edition is available at all major ebook retailers.
In other news, the kindle version of my Clandestine Classics edition of Wuthering Heights is temporarily half-price at Amazon only. You can find it for $2.99 here at Amazon .
Last but not least...
I'm preparing to make a big announcement related to the Inked in the Steel City Series - the Book 3 cover, title & blurb reveal. I don't have everything quite ready to post yet, but it's coming soon ... based off of the cover comp (final edition is in the works), I think you're going to like the looks of Book 3's hero. Can't wait to share! ;)
I've also got a sign-up form on my website where you can join a one-time mailing list to be notified when Book 3 releases. If that interests you, you can find the sign-up form right here on the 'Newes & Coming Soon' Page.
May 26, 2013
Innocent Ink Release Day Celebration & Giveaway
Today is Memorial Day, and it doesn't seem right to say anything about my books or commence with my giveaway without first acknowledging how much I appreciate being able to enjoy the life I choose, thanks to the many men and women who have paid the ultimate price for our collective freedom. I am grateful & especially mindful of their bravery today.* * * * *
Today is also release day for Innocent Ink, Book 2 in my Inked in the Steel City Series. It's kind of hard to believe that it's been a year and half since Book 1, Hot Ink, released. (Don't worry - you won't have to wait nearly as long for Book 3!) I'd like to thank everyone who encouraged me to continue with the series. It feels good to finally have Karen & Jed's story out there.
Photographing exceptional tattoos for the Hot Ink Tattoo Studio turns into much more than just a job when Karen meets Jed, the sexy-as-sin owner. With attraction sizzling between them, each photo shoot is a labor of love … and a chance to get closer to the man of her increasingly naughty dreams.
Curvy, vivacious Karen is everything Jed would want in a woman, if he wanted one at all. But a relationship seems like too dangerous a gamble for someone who’s loved before and suffered the ultimate loss. So why can’t he resist when he discovers the attraction is mutual? Even if he were willing to risk everything again, Karen’s too young, too full of life to be burdened with someone whose heart bears scars as permanent as the ink in his skin.
When the two finally face what lies between them, the passion is undeniably real, but will the unexpected extinguish the spark of their love, or fan the flames?
Read a free excerpt here at my site.
Available for download at...
Amazon B&N ARe
More retailers + a paperback edition coming soon.
And now for the prizes...
To celebrate, I'm giving away an Inked in the Steel City prize package. It includes:
-1 satin Inked in the Steel City cosmetic bag (8"x5")-1 signed paperback copy of Hot Ink (Inked in the Steel City Book 1)-1 'ink is sexy' Inked in the Steel City button-A variety of signed postcards
Here's a picture of the cosmetic bag. Holds your favorite make-up, easy to keep in your purse.This contest is open to residents of: USA, Canada, UK and Ireland. My apologies to anyone located outside of those countries. Contest ends 06/06/2013 at 11:59 pm. A winner will be randomly selected & contacted via e-mail on 06/07/2013.
Entering is easy - just use the Rafflecopter widget below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thanks for stopping by and helping me celebrate! :)
May 20, 2013
Signed Hot Ink Paperback Giveaway + May Newsletter Contest Winner Announcement
Now that I'm back from the Frederick Book Festival, I'm running a contest for those who weren't able to be there. While I was there, I gave away free paperback copies of Hot Ink, and I wanted readers who couldn't be at the event in Maryland this past Saturday to have a chance to win one, too. :)
At the Frederick Book Festival. Left to right: me, Gabrielle Bisset, Carrie Ann Ryan.
But first, the winner of my May newsletter contest giveaway...
Kristine L.
Congrats Kristine, and thank you to everyone who participated. Kristine won the prize package I put together at this year's RT Booklovers Convention. As usual, there will be another giveaway in next month's newsletter.
Here's the giveaway for a signed paperback copy of Hot Ink + a goodie pack including post cards, a button and a key chain like those I gave away on Saturday.
Please include your e-mail address in your comment so I can contact you if you win.
Contest ends Wednesday at 8pm EST. One winner will be randomly selected & contacted via e-mail on 5/22. Please note that this contest is US only.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
My apologies to those located outside the US. If you're looking for an international giveaway, try my newsletter. I hold international subscribers-only giveaways every month. ;) If you're not a subscriber but would like to be, you can sign up here .
At the Frederick Book Festival. Left to right: me, Gabrielle Bisset, Carrie Ann Ryan.But first, the winner of my May newsletter contest giveaway...
Kristine L.
Congrats Kristine, and thank you to everyone who participated. Kristine won the prize package I put together at this year's RT Booklovers Convention. As usual, there will be another giveaway in next month's newsletter.
Here's the giveaway for a signed paperback copy of Hot Ink + a goodie pack including post cards, a button and a key chain like those I gave away on Saturday.
Please include your e-mail address in your comment so I can contact you if you win.
Contest ends Wednesday at 8pm EST. One winner will be randomly selected & contacted via e-mail on 5/22. Please note that this contest is US only.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
My apologies to those located outside the US. If you're looking for an international giveaway, try my newsletter. I hold international subscribers-only giveaways every month. ;) If you're not a subscriber but would like to be, you can sign up here .
May 14, 2013
MMA Romance Sale - Battered Not Broken $1.99 Today
Starting today, I've got a special two week sale promotion going on with what's currently my most popular book, Battered Not Broken. Now through May 29th, the ebook edition is half price - only $1.99.
I hope that's good news if you've been waiting to get Ryan & Ally's story on your ereader. ;)
War and violent crime cut deep - can love for another person run deeper than the scars left behind?
Ryan Moore forged his own path when he defied his wealthy family's expectations by joining the United States Marine Corps as an enlisted man. After a period of service that's cut short by an IED explosion, the lingering physical and mental effects of war result in an isolated struggle to exist in the civilian world. He throws himself into competitive MMA fighting - the one thing he's still able to excel at, even if every match is a risk he can't afford to take.
His first encounter with amateur female fighter Ally Rivera ignites a spark of desire he hasn't felt since before a bomb left its marks on his life and his body, but his flirtation with her turns out to be anything but harmless. She's struggling to hold together a family ravaged by violence - a feat that isn't easy when her father has been imprisoned, leaving her vulnerable to relatives who run a local gang. Can two unrelenting fighters overcome challenges they couldn't defeat alone, or do the wounds of war and crime run too deep for even love to heal?
Full-Length Novel. (Approximately 110,000 words.)
Read a free excerpt here .
Download Battered Not Broken for $1.99 at...
Amazon Barnes & Noble
May 9, 2013
RT Convention 2013 - My Photo Recap
I spent the first week of May attending the 30th Annual RT Booklovers Convention. Since I attended last year, I knew it'd be a great time. And I certainly wasn't disappointed! Here's my photo recap...
This year's RT Convention was held in Kansas City. I took this photo from the Liberty Memorial.
At the Welcome Party with authors (from left to right): Elise Marion, RK Ryals and Carly Fall (that's me on the far right). One thing I love about RT and other events like it is getting to meet friends I've only known online. All these ladies are just as awesome in person as they seem online!
At the formal ball - a highlight of the week, IMO - with Elise and RK.
At the formal ball with an old friend I always look forward to seeing, Alanna Coca.
After the ball (left to right): me, Daisy Harris, TA Chase, Devon Rhodes, Marie Sexton and Alanna Coca.
You always meet new people at RT, too. Here I am with Stacey (editor in chief of Total-E-Bound Publishing, aka Devon Rhodes) and EL James (author of Fifty Shades of Grey).
With the lovely authors Graylin Fox (center) and Alanna Coca (right), my buddies from RT in Chicago.
Of course, I signed some books while at RT. Thanks to everyone who came to see me at the official signing and at my FANtastic Party signing!
It wouldn't be RT if it wasn't for all the swag. This year I gave away these buttons. There was an awesome waitress in the bar who wore hers while she worked. LOL :)
As usual, there was a big crowd at the book fair.
I got to meet one of my favorite authors, Susanna Kearsley! I had no idea she was going to be at RT, so it was a really pleasant surprise. I got two signed books, including an ARC. :)
I love seeing the elaborate costumes people come up with for the themed parties! Check out these awesome historical ones.
It wouldn't be RT if I didn't make time to goof off. When Alanna Coca & I discovered some (non-RT) guys who'd been wandering down promo lane & picking up cover flats so they could put their heads on cover models' bodies, we knew we had to try it too. Here, Alanna skillfully cut out the female model's face so mine could go there. Check out my book boyfriend! LOL
I didn't forget about the models. Here's Nick Soto posing with his centerfold. If you've read my May newsletter, you know that I'm giving one of these calendars away! Thanks Stacey for the picture.
Alanna Coca & I went adventuring in Kansas City in high heels (big mistake not putting on different shoes, BTW) and visited the National WWI Museum. It's the only museum dedicated solely to WWI in the country, and I highly recommend it if you're ever in Kansas City.
Climbing the stairs at the Liberty Memorial WWI Museum. There's a fantastic view of the city at the top!
Thank you to all the friends, readers, new acquaintances and - of course - the event organizers who made RT so much fun. See you next year in New Orleans! ;)
P.S. I'm giving away a gift and souvenir package from RT as my May newsletter giveaway. If you're a subscriber and haven't already seen the newsletter, check your inbox. If you're not a subscriber but would like to be, signing up is simple here . Subscribe before the contest end date (05/19) and I'll make sure you receive the May edition.
This year's RT Convention was held in Kansas City. I took this photo from the Liberty Memorial.
At the Welcome Party with authors (from left to right): Elise Marion, RK Ryals and Carly Fall (that's me on the far right). One thing I love about RT and other events like it is getting to meet friends I've only known online. All these ladies are just as awesome in person as they seem online!
At the formal ball - a highlight of the week, IMO - with Elise and RK.
At the formal ball with an old friend I always look forward to seeing, Alanna Coca. 
After the ball (left to right): me, Daisy Harris, TA Chase, Devon Rhodes, Marie Sexton and Alanna Coca.
You always meet new people at RT, too. Here I am with Stacey (editor in chief of Total-E-Bound Publishing, aka Devon Rhodes) and EL James (author of Fifty Shades of Grey).
With the lovely authors Graylin Fox (center) and Alanna Coca (right), my buddies from RT in Chicago.
Of course, I signed some books while at RT. Thanks to everyone who came to see me at the official signing and at my FANtastic Party signing!
It wouldn't be RT if it wasn't for all the swag. This year I gave away these buttons. There was an awesome waitress in the bar who wore hers while she worked. LOL :)
As usual, there was a big crowd at the book fair.
I got to meet one of my favorite authors, Susanna Kearsley! I had no idea she was going to be at RT, so it was a really pleasant surprise. I got two signed books, including an ARC. :)
I love seeing the elaborate costumes people come up with for the themed parties! Check out these awesome historical ones.
It wouldn't be RT if I didn't make time to goof off. When Alanna Coca & I discovered some (non-RT) guys who'd been wandering down promo lane & picking up cover flats so they could put their heads on cover models' bodies, we knew we had to try it too. Here, Alanna skillfully cut out the female model's face so mine could go there. Check out my book boyfriend! LOL
I didn't forget about the models. Here's Nick Soto posing with his centerfold. If you've read my May newsletter, you know that I'm giving one of these calendars away! Thanks Stacey for the picture.
Alanna Coca & I went adventuring in Kansas City in high heels (big mistake not putting on different shoes, BTW) and visited the National WWI Museum. It's the only museum dedicated solely to WWI in the country, and I highly recommend it if you're ever in Kansas City.
Climbing the stairs at the Liberty Memorial WWI Museum. There's a fantastic view of the city at the top!Thank you to all the friends, readers, new acquaintances and - of course - the event organizers who made RT so much fun. See you next year in New Orleans! ;)
P.S. I'm giving away a gift and souvenir package from RT as my May newsletter giveaway. If you're a subscriber and haven't already seen the newsletter, check your inbox. If you're not a subscriber but would like to be, signing up is simple here . Subscribe before the contest end date (05/19) and I'll make sure you receive the May edition.
April 24, 2013
RT Con is Next Week - The Scoop For Those Who'll Be There & Those Who Won't
In a few days, I'll be leaving for the 30th Annual RT Booklovers Convention in Kansas City. For those of you who will be there, I have some info on where / what I'll be signing, etc. And for those of you who won't be there, I have some info on what I'll have for you when I get back. :)
A snapshot I took at last year's RT Welcome Party. This actually only shows a fraction of all the attendees, and this year, attendance is at a record high. The 30th Annual RT Booklovers Convention has completely sold out on registration, and attendees have booked two hotels almost completely solid. Should be a good time!
I'll be attending for the entire convention, and on Thursday 05/02, I'll be signing books at the E-Book, Indie Published and Graphic Novel Expo from 4pm - 6pm. I'll have some paperback copies of Rough Around the Edges, Battered Not Broken and Hot Ink there, which will be available for purchase at a discounted price. Ebooks can also be bought electronically at this event, and I'll have post cards to sign and other free goodies to give away. Hope to see you there!
Also, if you're a Kansas City local (but not attending the convention), the signing is open to the public, at a door cost of $5. You can find detailed info on the event & location here.
For those who won't be attending the convention, don't worry - when I arrive home, I'll be sending out my May newsletter, which will include a giveaway of some signed paperbacks and other assorted goodies from RT. So even if you can't be there in person, you can still enter to win some cool stuff from RT, and I'll have plenty of photos to share.
Well, it's back to work for me. I've got a lot to do before leaving for Kansas City. I want to be ready to work hard on Innocent Ink with my editor when I get back, and announce an official release date soon after.
Since I'll be away next week, I won't be doing my usual Wednesday blog post, but I'll have plenty of fun photos the week after. I plan to do my usual recap in photos post, like I did last year for the RT Con in Chicago. :)
P.S. If you're in the Maryland / Northern VA / Southern PA or Eastern WV area, you may be interested in another fun book event & signing I'll be at on May 18 - the Frederick Book Festival (Frederick, MD).
A snapshot I took at last year's RT Welcome Party. This actually only shows a fraction of all the attendees, and this year, attendance is at a record high. The 30th Annual RT Booklovers Convention has completely sold out on registration, and attendees have booked two hotels almost completely solid. Should be a good time!I'll be attending for the entire convention, and on Thursday 05/02, I'll be signing books at the E-Book, Indie Published and Graphic Novel Expo from 4pm - 6pm. I'll have some paperback copies of Rough Around the Edges, Battered Not Broken and Hot Ink there, which will be available for purchase at a discounted price. Ebooks can also be bought electronically at this event, and I'll have post cards to sign and other free goodies to give away. Hope to see you there!
Also, if you're a Kansas City local (but not attending the convention), the signing is open to the public, at a door cost of $5. You can find detailed info on the event & location here.
For those who won't be attending the convention, don't worry - when I arrive home, I'll be sending out my May newsletter, which will include a giveaway of some signed paperbacks and other assorted goodies from RT. So even if you can't be there in person, you can still enter to win some cool stuff from RT, and I'll have plenty of photos to share.
Well, it's back to work for me. I've got a lot to do before leaving for Kansas City. I want to be ready to work hard on Innocent Ink with my editor when I get back, and announce an official release date soon after.
Since I'll be away next week, I won't be doing my usual Wednesday blog post, but I'll have plenty of fun photos the week after. I plan to do my usual recap in photos post, like I did last year for the RT Con in Chicago. :)
P.S. If you're in the Maryland / Northern VA / Southern PA or Eastern WV area, you may be interested in another fun book event & signing I'll be at on May 18 - the Frederick Book Festival (Frederick, MD).
April 18, 2013
April Newsletter Giveaway Winner
I just finished the drawing for my April newsletter giveaway. And the winner is...
Theresa E.
Congrats, Theresa! If that's you, there's an e-mail from me waiting in your inbox.
And a big thank you to all who participated. As always, there will be another subscribers-only giveaway next month.
Not a subscriber? You can sign up here for monthly news & exclusive giveaways.
Theresa won a t-shirt from my merchandise store.
Speaking of my store, I have some good news -- all t-shirts are now available in plus sizes. You can check out everything that's available here .
Thanks again to all my subscribers and giveaway participants. Next month I'm planning to give away some signed books, postcards and other goodies (the same stuff I'll have for readers at the RT Convention), so even if you can't be there, you can still win some cool convention stuff without having to make the big trip. ;)
Theresa E.
Congrats, Theresa! If that's you, there's an e-mail from me waiting in your inbox.
And a big thank you to all who participated. As always, there will be another subscribers-only giveaway next month.
Not a subscriber? You can sign up here for monthly news & exclusive giveaways.
Theresa won a t-shirt from my merchandise store.
Speaking of my store, I have some good news -- all t-shirts are now available in plus sizes. You can check out everything that's available here .
Thanks again to all my subscribers and giveaway participants. Next month I'm planning to give away some signed books, postcards and other goodies (the same stuff I'll have for readers at the RT Convention), so even if you can't be there, you can still win some cool convention stuff without having to make the big trip. ;)
April 16, 2013
Announcing the Inked in the Steel City Series & Book 2, Innocent Ink
It’s been a long time coming - Hot Ink is now officially the first book in a series. Over the course of the year and a half since Hot Ink's release, I've had lots of inquiries about a second book. At the time, I could only say that one was planned - now I can happily tell everyone that Book 2 in the Inked in the Steel City Series is Innocent Ink and will be releasing in late spring 2013 (exact date TBA soon).Although Innocent Ink focuses on a new couple (Karen & Jed), Mina and Eric also make appearances, and those who've wanted to know more about their wedding won't be disappointed. ;)
Innocent Ink also includes the elements that defined Hot Ink - a heroine who puts family first, and of course, a sexy hero with a big heart and lots of ink. (I really think fans of Hot Ink will love Jed. Or maybe that's just me projecting my latest book boyfriend crush onto all of you. Either way ... I promise you're in for another sexy tattooed hero! LOL)
Photographing exceptional tattoos for the Hot Ink Tattoo Studio turns into much more than just a job when Karen meets Jed, the sexy-as-sin owner. With attraction sizzling between them, each photo shoot is a labor of love … and a chance to get closer to the man of her increasingly naughty dreams.Curvy, vivacious Karen is everything Jed would want in a woman, if he wanted one at all. But a relationship seems like too dangerous a gamble for someone who’s loved before and suffered the ultimate loss. So why can’t he resist when he discovers the attraction is mutual? Even if he were willing to risk everything again, Karen’s too young, too full of life to be burdened with someone whose heart bears scars as permanent as the ink in his skin.When the two finally face what lies between them, the passion is undeniably real, but will the unexpected extinguish the spark of their love, or fan the flames?* * * * *Additional books are planned after Book 2.* * * * *Optional: Sign up to be notified when Innocent Ink releases. Click the link below for an easy sign up form. You will receive a one-time release notification e-mail. Signing up for this does not sign you up for Ranae’s monthly newsletter, and your contact info is never shared or sold.Subscribe to our newsletter* * * * *Get the latest updates anytime at the Coming Soon page.
