Mandy Harbin's Blog: Mandy's Blog, page 8

Surrounded by Woods to be Released This Month!

Okay, I've been busy getting my two books that are under contract ready for publication, updating my website and blog, and working on a new erotic romance that I haven't had time to write blogs about other authors. I'll get back to them as time permits. In the meantime, I have greaaat news…I'm so excited to announce Surrounded by Woods will be released this month on 7/22/2011! I've updated my website with release info and posted an excerpt, which I've copied below. FYI, the links to purchase Surrounded by Woods and Digital Possession are not activated since they are not actually on sale yet. I've also posted a link for an except on Digital Possession, but I won't be putting up anything until I get the go ahead from the publisher (I just wanted to go head and get it ready, so it'd be easy for me to update when I could).

Now for the excerpt from Surrounded by Woods. Enjoy!

Mikaela stomped around her room, ripping off her suit, and hastily donning her PJs while her anger fumed. The nerve of that man! First, Josh acted like he was totally interested in her, then he abruptly changed his tune. Now, he was acting like some jealous lover. She yanked the brush through her snarled hair and realized she was too pissed to go to sleep. She wanted answers, and she was getting them. Right now!

Storming down the hallway, Mikaela didn't even knock when she reached the third door on the left. She gripped the cold knob and pushed it in, slamming the door shut behind her.

Josh's head snapped up when she walked in. He was unbuttoning his shirt and had most of the buttons unfastened. His lightly furred chest stood proud, and Mikaela's fury briefly halted by the beauty of that man.

Briefly.

Stiffening her back and throwing her hands on her hips, she glared at him. "What the fuck's your problem?" she yelled.

His hands dropped from his shirt and balled at his sides. She saw his jaw ticking while he glared back, speechless.

Stewing over the fact that he refused to answer, she took two steps toward him while she tried to calm her tone. She could be mad, but she didn't want to just give him the upper hand by screaming a litany of questions. "What's the matter? Cat got your tongue?" she asked, barely controlling the volume of her voice.

His hands relaxed, and he chuckled without humor. It almost seemed as if he was laughing at some ironic, unfortunate, inside joke. "Yeah," he finally said, returning to his task of unbuttoning his shirt.

Was he dismissing her? Why, that egotistical son of a bitch! "So you come on to me, ignore me, then act possessive? Why? If you're not interested in me—"

"Not interested?" He advanced on her, stopping inches from her. His eyes were green fire, heated from the depths of his soul. But he quickly shut his eyes, shook his head, and cleared his throat. When he opened his eyes again, they were back to that cool, green color, displaying that forced lack of interest.

"Right," she mumbled, turning for the door. Who was she kidding? If he didn't want to fess up to his actions, she couldn't make him, and if he wasn't interested in her, then standing here raving on about him only made her look that much more pathetic. The last time she felt like that was when she'd walked in on Joel and his secretary. Not a feeling she enjoyed.

As she whirled, she noticed his eyes lit on her breasts. Only then did she realize how revealing her pajamas were. The pants clung to her like a second skin, and the camisole top had sheer lace covering threadbare satin at her breasts. Not only were her nipples hard, he could make out the shape and shade of them. Knowing he peaked, whether he wanted to or not, only fed her irritation. He was a man. It was her experience that men looked at a nice pair of tits whenever the opportunity presented itself. It didn't mean anything. She stomped to the door and yanked it open. "Goodnight, asshole," she said as she slammed the door shut.

Once in the hallway, she heard a bloodcurdling roar from his bedroom that made the hair on her neck stand. She'd heard him growl at her when she left after dinner and wondered how he managed to sound like that, but this roar sounded animalistic. No way could a man make that sound. A feeling of foreboding prickled her, so she quickly went back to her room.

As she climbed into bed, she couldn't help but think of Josh. Who was he really? What was his deal? And why was she so attracted to him? She allowed her mind to wander, her imagination getting the best of her at times, until sleep found her.

When she awoke, she was no closer to any answers, so she did the only thing she could think of. She renewed her purpose. Rather than avoid Josh, she would treat him like he was one of the others. Unexplained feelings or not, whatever had happened between the two of them would be forced behind her.

 

Jaci Burton's The Perfect Play is the Perfect Read!

Okay, so if you've been reading my articles over the last several weeks, you know that I've been highlighting books from my favorite authors. After I scanned through the ones I've written so far, I realized I hadn't talked about a book that has been recently released, so I decided that this week I'd focus on a new(er) release. And the decision was easy! The Perfect Play by Jaci Burton is one amazingly hot—and I mean HOT—book!

Since Burton is listed as one of my favorite authors, I own several books by her. I've read some of her series and stand-alone romance books, and there is such variety in the books she's written that you're sure to find something you'll love—in fact, my husband has hijacked my ebooks and is reading her Wild Riders series now. Since I love me some Jaci Burton, I keep track of her new releases, and when I read the blurb from her website on The Perfect Play, I had to buy it! Here's what it says:

Football pro Mick Riley is an all-star, both on the field and in the bedroom. But a sexy, determinedly single mom just might be the one to throw him off his game…

For years Mick has been taking full advantage of the life available to a pro athlete: fame, fortune, and a different girl in every city. But when he meets and beds confident, beautiful event planner Tara Lincoln, he wants much more than the typical one-night stand. Too bad Tara's not interested in getting to know football's most notorious playboy any better.

As the single mother of a teenage son, the last thing Tara needs is the jet-set lifestyle of Mick Riley; even though their steamy and passionate one-night stand was unforgettable. Tara's life is complicated enough without being thrust into the spotlight as Mick's latest girl du jour. Tara played the game of love once and lost big, and she doesn't intend to put herself out there again, especially with a heartbreaker like Mick.

But when Mick sets his mind to win, nothing will stop him. And he has the perfect play in mind.

Okay, who doesn't love the idea of a star quarterback wooing the hardworking average lady? Anybody? I think not. This book was not only sexy, it was funny, and dang it, it made me giddy at times! But the story isn't just about romance—it also has substance. I found myself unwilling to put this book down! And for those of you who like to read series, this is the first book of a new series. Yea! The second book, Changing the Game, is slated to be released in August, so read this one first, and you'll be itching to buy the next one…just like me.

For more information about her books, check out her website at www.jaciburton.com

Oh, and the cover of this book is fire!

Novella Love Part II: "In Ice" by Crystal Jordan

This week, I'm continuing with my novella appreciation in honor of my two novellas being accepted for publication. Yea! If you read last week, you know I purchased the Sexy Beast books because I was into the Wolf Tales series, and there's no surprise that I discovered this week's featured author by stumbling onto her in that anthology. Just like Shelli Stevens last week, once I discovered Crystal Jordan, she immediately became one of my favorite authors—one that I consistently monitor for new releases. And it all started when I read "In Ice."

"In Ice" is a story featured in Sexy Beast V where an American woman crash lands on another planet. Below is the expert from Jordan's website:

When Jain Roberts' ship crashes on a distant, futuristic planet, she's rescued by Kesuk, the lusty clan leader of the Arctic Bears. This magnificent creature with white-blond hair and a potent masculinity haunts her dreams—dreams he intends to make deliciously real, as he draws her into a realm of complete sexual abandon.

I loved this story! Jordan creates a believable world of were-people aliens that feels so real you don't feel like you're reading a book about…well,  aliens that turn into animals. The chemistry between Kesuk and Jain is hot! Besides the romantic element, you feel the weight on Kesuk's shoulders as leader of his clan, and you understand Jain's struggle to accept what's happened to her.  Seriously, I loved this story so much I almost suggested to my husband that my nickname at deer camp be changed to Little Bear.  :P

As an added bonus, you can follow the characters mentioned in this story in her Carnal Desires book.  (*clears throat*) I really, really liked "In Mist," too.  And there's a little treat in that story for those who love Kesuk and Jain. I love it when an author throws us a bone like this!

If "In Ice" hadn't hooked me on Crystal Jordan, then another novella of hers would've. When I was reading the stories in Sexy Beast 9, I read "Between Lovers" and loved it so much, that I looked up the author and was tickled to see it was by her, too! I've since purchased several of her books—I even still have Untamed and Primal Heat in paperback sitting on my nightstand from when I pulled those out for another read a few months ago!

I love it when reading a novella opens me to an author's other works, so I hope you'll check out "In Ice" from Sexy Beast V and her other books as well. You will not be disappointed!

Check out her website for information on her books: www.crystaljordan.com

Novella Love Part I: "His to Reclaim" by Shelli Stevens

In honor of recent news that both my novellas have been accepted for publication, I've decided to spend the next couple of articles on two authors that I first got exposed to by reading shorter works. I already know which two I'm going to write about, so these are in no particular order. This week I'm writing about "His to Reclaim" by Shelli Stevens, and the convoluted way I stumbled across it.

"His to Reclaim" can be found in the book Sexy Beast VII. What could be better than an anthology that exposes readers to various authors of the same genre? When that book inspires you to buy more books, that's what. Okay, I'll admit it. The only reason I bought this book was because I was into the Wolf Tales series by Kate Douglas. Those of you who know about this already know she published novellas in the Sexy Beast books in between the releases of her Wolf Tales novels. I was late coming to that party, so by the time I'd discovered it, she'd released all but the last two books in her series. Yes, I went to the book store and bought the first two or three to see if I'd like it after reading an excerpt online. And yes, I went back to the book store and bought every one of the Wolf Tales and Sexy Beast books after reading those initial books. While I was in the middle of getting my Wolf Tales fill, I only read the Chanku books in the Sexy Beasts series. But a couple of months later, I figured what the hay? I'd read the other stories in those books, too.

Boy, was I glad I did! The Sexy Beast books were filled with some great stories, but "His to Reclaim" was one of my favorites.  The story grabbed you from the first page and kept you hooked through the end. It was both sexy and interesting, which can be difficult in erotica (I've read some books where I've skipped over the sex to get to the story and I've read others were I've skipped over the silly story to get to the sex). Shelli Stevens does an excellent job balancing both while creating a world with shape shifters that is believable. I liked this story so much that I read it two more times in the months following that first read (hmmm…I'm about due for another go!). Here's the blub about the book from her website:

Five years ago Gemma gave her heart and soul to a fellow werejaguar only to have him disappear. Now Hunter has come back and kidnapped her on her wedding day in order to make her his again, and he will tempt, tease and taunt her body to the heights of hedonistic pleasure to get exactly what he wants…

Seriously, after reading this story, I went online and searched for this author, hoping she'd written a follow up book about Megan and Brad, minor characters in this story. No such luck, but I did buy several of her other books over the last year and have really enjoyed them. I especially liked her Seattle Steam and Holding out for a Hero series—in fact, I was tickled to see she'd come out with a four book about the cousin, so I bought that sucker tonight!

Shelli Stevens is one of my favorite authors, and it all started with an electrifying little novella, "His to Reclaim."

Check out her website  to see her list of published books. www.shellistevens.com