Nona Raines's Blog, page 13

#Guest post & #Review WINNING STREAK by @KatieKenyhercz

Hello Divettes!

I'm back again with a guest post and review of Winning Streak by the wonderful and talented Katie Kenyhercz!



As the new head of public relations for the Las Vegas Sinners hockey team, Saralynn Reese wants to leave behind the frivolity of her popular girl image. Unfortunately, her first big assignment is to clean up the media messes of the team's assistant general manager, Madden Vaughn. He's flirty, impulsive, and self-centered; he also happens to be drop-dead gorgeous. Could there be more to Madden under the Ralph Lauren surface?Having struggled with a gambling addiction since his early twenties, Madden's finally moved past it and into a secure, corporate job working for his sister, the one person who means the world to him. When rumors fly and the team and his family both doubt his word, an unlikely ally pulls him out of his funk with a manicured hand: Saralynn.He's tired of chasing the same type of unattainable girl, and this up-and-coming publicity dynamo fits that mold perfectly. But she also challenges him and believes in him like no one else. Can they help each other keep their feet on solid ground . . . or will these twin hearts find themselves skating on thin ice?

Rach's Review: 5 out of 5 DivasHeat level: 3.5/5 
I've got to say, I really loved this book. Now, I admit I might be a tiny bit biased, as I was one of Katie's critique partners way back when on the first book in this series, On the Fly, and I had a good long while to fall in love with Madden in that book! So when Katie told me he was getting his own book, I was ecstatic! And Winning Streak definitely does not disappoint! I loved this book start to finish. Madden and Saralynn both have some serious issues, and the obstacles to their relationship are many and intense. These were both stellarly believable characters and their time together on the page sizzles. This story really touched my heart and gave me some warm fuzzies, in addition to some serious sexual tension that threatened to burn up the pages! Can't recommend this book highly enough. Or the series for that matter. I've always been a bit of a hockey fan, but not hugely into the sport, so don't let the hockey scare you off. This is a wonderful series, and I can't wait to see what's in store next for the Las Vegas Sinners.



From the author:
Winning Streak is an anomaly in the Las Vegas Sinners series because I never intended to write it. I'd planned to have a hockey hero in every book. However, when On the Fly came out, I got a lot of reader feedback asking for Madden's book. They fell in love with Jacey's sweet but hapless brother and wanted more for him. I'd already planned Full Strength, the goalie's story, for book 2, but when it came time for book 3, I put a poll out to my readers. Who did they want first, Madden or Dylan Cole, the rookie turned young captain? Madden was the resounding winner.
I started writing Winning Streak and hit wall after wall. I knew I had to deal with Madden's gambling addiction, but beyond that, I wasn't sure what to do with a non-hockey playing hero. Enter young professional and relationship train wreck, Saralynn Reese, the goalie's younger sister from Full Strength. Saralynn is a former mean girl looking to better herself, and that made her both a challenge and a joy to write. I had to keep her sympathetic and show her depth but still hold onto the snark and a bit of the high maintenance that makes her funny. I had the best time writing her because she is almost nothing like me, which was different from writing Jacey and Allie, my two previous heroines. 
The fun of Winning Streak is that you have two people who are broken in the same amusing way. They were beautiful and shallow for most of their lives (at least that's what most people saw) and now both want to improve. Throwing them together is like the blind leading the blind, but they do learn about themselves through each other, and I love that. Madden's struggling to gain his sister's trust and respect after a gambling relapse years back, and Saralynn's trying to get people to take her seriously by taking charge of the Sinners PR department. Her first assignment is to clean up one of Madden's media messes.
I love the way these two play off of each other, and they both go through some rough growing pains but struggle to do their best.
The 4th Sinners book, Home Ice, is already out, and naturally focuses on young NHL phenom, Dylan Cole, who hits his first ever slump and can't seem to deal. He falls for America's figure skating sweetheart, Lorelai Kelly, who broke her ankle in the last Olympic Games and is struggling to get back on her blades and stay in the spotlight while she moonlights as the star of Sin City on Ice.
The 5th and final book in the Sinners series is Fair Trade, and it will release this December. It follows Grayson Gunn, a player in his early 40s who's looking to retire at the end of the season. He'd played his whole career for his home team out of loyalty but they never made the playoffs, and they mercy trade him to the Sinners for one last chance at the Cup before he hangs up his skates. He's intrigued by the new team assistant physician, Olivia Parker, who had worked for an AHL team before getting the Sinners' offer. They're both recovering from painful divorces and trying to get their bearings in Las Vegas when an unexpected chemistry pulls them together even as they try to stay away.
I still plan to write a collection of short stories catching up with each couple from the series and entitle it What Happens in Vegas because I've had several readers say they wanted to know what happened to everybody. Happy to oblige!

I will be very sad to see this series end :-( But I am so excited that Home Ice is Dylan Cole's story and I can't wait to read it!

Grab your copy of Winning Streak here:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1hvuerP 
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1TpgSco 

Thanks for stopping by today, Katie! It was great to have you.

~ Rach

#Review & #Giveaway: Circling Back @_Amanda_Young #erotic #menage #secretbaby

Title: Circling BackAuthor: Amanda YoungGenre: Erotic MMF RomanceRelease: August 10, 2015
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25915837-circling-back
Blurb:
A second chance is only the beginning...
Stella fled home at seventeen with a broken heart, an unplanned pregnancy, and a vow never to look back. Twenty years later, she has a career she enjoys and a solid relationship with the child she placed for open adoption. When that child goes in search of her birth father and calls for assistance, Stella is forced to return to her hometown and face the men who broke her heart, one of whom fathered her child.
Gavin and Holden raised a lot of hell as teenagers. They broke the law, broke their mother's hearts, and almost broke each other before they finally got their act together. Through all the ups and downs, they stuck by each other and managed to build a happy life together. The one thing they couldn’t do was forget the woman they’d loved and lost.
Forced to face the past and each other after so many years is no small feat. The trio does their best to make amends and put the past behind them while forging new bonds. Old feelings are rekindled and new emotions emerge from the ashes of their youthful indiscretions. Something remarkable could be on the horizon if they’re strong enough to navigate the pitfalls of a triad relationship and stand strong against the outside forces conspiring to bring them to their knees.
Buy Links:
Amazon: http://goo.gl/9oZhELAmazon CA: http://goo.gl/qkMF5bAmazon UK: http://goo.gl/Y4AolOAmazon AU: http://goo.gl/vPn6sqKobo: http://goo.gl/nxp9gE
Barnes & Noble: http://goo.gl/HWEhMP
Excerpt:
She glanced at Gavin and found his gaze headed south of her lower back. “See something you like?”“I see something I love.” Gavin moved in close behind her and ran the outside of his thumb down her bare arm. “I love every inch of your beautiful body, from your beautiful, long hair all the way to your cute little toes.”Stella basked in Gavin’s admiration. “That’s good to know.”“You could make yourself more comfortable and let me express my regards for your many, many charms.” Gavin nuzzled the curve of her throat and pressed his warm lips against the sensitive skin beneath her ear.The sensual touch sent a shiver down Stella’s spine and made her nipples tighten in anticipation of taking Gavin up on his offer. “I really wish you could.”“We can.” Gavin pulled her ear lobe into his mouth, nibbled, and released it.“We really can’t. Holden and Mae will both here soon.”Gavin slid an arm around her waist and pulled her back tight against him. “We could be quick.”Stella could feel the long, stiff length of him pressed against her bottom. She closed her eyes and prayed for the strength to resist. “You’ll just have to be patient and wait until tonight.”Gavin groaned. “You’re so mean to me.”Stella couldn’t help but laugh. She turned and wrapped her arms around Gavin’s neck. “You pitiful, pitiful man. Would a kiss make you feel better?”“That might tide me over until later as long as it’s a good one.”“I think I can meet your needs.” Stella brushed her fingers through the soft hair at Gavin’s nape and pulled him down to meet her as she lifted up and glided her lips over his. She kept the caresses soft for the first few passes and then pressed up a little harder and licked across Gavin’s lower lip. The tip of Gavin’s tongue met her own and flicked back and forth, taunting her into giving chase and deepening the kiss. Gavin’s mouth tasted sweet and minty, like he’d ate a piece of candy right before she’d arrived. Delicious.Something banged in another room and then Holden’s voice called out. “Honey, I’m home.”Gavin retreated and opened his eyes. He smiled at Stella. “Looks like we’ll have to pick this up later.”Stella blinked up at Gavin. “Yeah. Later.” Definitely later. She could hardly wait. All she’d had was a little taste of what being with them was like. She couldn’t wait to discover what else they had in store for her.With that thought in mind, she trailed back down the hall behind Gavin. He rounded the corner ahead of her and she heard his breath catch a second before her gaze landed on Holden and the spectacular bruise blossoming across his right cheekbone.“Jesus fuck,” Gavin exclaimed. “What happened to your face?”“Are you okay?” Stella asked, walking forward. “Did someone hit you?”“Tell us what happened.” Gavin cupped Holden’s jaw in both hands.“I got to meet Joanna’s ex. It was a real pleasure, let me tell you.”“And he punched you?” Gavin asked.It took Stella a moment to place the name as the guy’s old shop steward. “Why would her ex assault you?”Holden shook his head. “He thinks I’m hiding Joanna from him or some shit.”Gavin pushed Holden’s chin up and to the side, inspecting him. “Is this the worst of it or is there more hiding under your clothes?”Holden caught Gavin’s hands and held them trapped within his own. “I’m fine. He caught me by surprise when I was leaving, shoved me into the building, and got off one sucker punch. Believe me, he looks worse than I do.”“That’s better than nothing, I guess.” Gavin looked down at their clasped hands. “Your knuckles are a mess. Go wash up and I’ll come in and put some antiseptic on them.”“Yes, Mom.” Holden brought Gavin’s hands up to his mouth, kissed, and released them. He stopped next to Stella and smiled at her. “Hey, pretty lady. I’m glad you’re here. Just let me scrub off the day and I’ll greet you properly.”“Go look after yourself. I’ll be here when you’re finished.” Stella patted him on the butt.“Hey now,” Holden said. “No getting fresh until I can do something about it.”Stella grinned at him. “Don’t worry. There’s a lot more where that came from.”“I’ll hold you to that,” Holden said over his shoulder as he walked out of the room.

****Nona's review of Circling Back****


Last week I featured the cover reveal of Circling Back and was so intrigued by the blurb I asked the author, Amanda Young, if I could sign up to review the book. Besides featuring same-sex love and menage shenanigans, it also includes the secret baby trope and a BBW as the heroine, both of which I love. I'm so glad I had a chance to read an advance copy of Circling Back!Back in high school, Stella realized she loved Holden and Gavin, but didn't know that they were a couple as well. When she discovered them in an intimate situation, she ran away, convinced they'd only used her as a beard to hide their own activity. After she found herself pregnant, she surrendered the baby in an open adoption and moved on with her life.Years later, her daughter is an adult who wants to meet her father, who may be either man. This forces Stella to confront her past and reunite with the two men, who had no idea of Stella's pregnancy. Holden and Gavin are still together after all this time, and once they get over the hurt of Stella keeping her pregnancy secret, they realize they still want her. And she wants them, too.I thought the story might involve more drama surrounding their birth daughter, but instead Circling Back focuses on the threesome and how they get to know each other again. There are a lot of sexy scenes between Stella, Gavin and Holden, one on one and all together. Lovers of menage will not be disappointed, nor will those who enjoy same sex romance. Holden and Gavin's relationship is firm, but they are eager to open up to accept the woman they both love. It's nice to see Stella, whose sexual and romantic life has been in a holding pattern, getting her groove on. I enjoyed the sexiness of the story and also appreciated the way the characters struggled with day to day problems of job stress and being in a long distance relationship. There's also some suspense as the men try to help a friend who's been pursued by an abusive ex.
Gavin and Holden were awesome heroes in every way—sexy, strong and caring. I liked how Stella started out a bit hesitant, then made up her mind to "go for it" when the guys showed their interest. We should all be so brave in going after what we want! I highly recommend Circling Back to everyone who enjoys MMF menage romance.


About the author:Amanda Young lives in Virginia with her husband, daughter, and two pampered pooches. When she’s not writing, she can usually be found chasing after a mischievous toddler or daydreaming about the characters in her next book. She loves to hear from her readers, and can be found on Facebook and Twitter. Her website, www.amandayoung.org, is where you can find up-to-date information on all of Amanda’s current and upcoming releases.
Find Amanda online:Website: http://www.amandayoung.orgFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmandaYoungFanPageGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/531738.Amanda_YoungTwitter: https://twitter.com/_Amanda_YoungEmail: authoramandayoung@gmail.comAmazon: http://www.amazon.com/Amanda-Young/e/B002BLWA18Newsletter:  http://eepurl.com/bsoF6n
a Rafflecopter giveaway

#Cover Reveal & #Giveaway: Circling Back @_Amanda_Young #erotic #menage

Good morning! Nona here. I'm happy to share the cover reveal of fellow Loose Id author, Amanda Young, for her upcoming release, Circling Back. To celebrate the new artwork for Circling Back, Amanda is offering a $10 Amazon gift card to one lucky reader. Just enter using the Rafflecopter below and the winner will be notified by email on August 5th.


Title: Circling Back
Author: Amanda Young
Genre: M/M/F Erotic Romance
Book Release Date:  August 10th
Blurb:A second chance is only the beginning...
Stella fled home at seventeen with a broken heart, an unplanned pregnancy, and a vow never to look back. Twenty years later, she has a career she enjoys and a solid relationship with the child she placed for open adoption. When that child goes in search of her birth father and calls for assistance, Stella is forced to return to her hometown and face the men who broke her heart, one of whom fathered her child.
Gavin and Holden raised a lot of hell as teenagers. They broke the law, broke their mother's hearts, and almost broke each other before they finally got their act together. Through all the ups and downs, they stuck by each other and managed to build a happy life together. The one thing they couldn’t do was forget the woman they’d loved and lost.
Forced to face the past and each other after so many years is no small feat. The trio does their best to make amends and put the past behind them while forging new bonds. Old feelings are rekindled and new emotions emerge from the ashes of their youthful indiscretions. Something remarkable could be on the horizon if they’re strong enough to navigate the pitfalls of a triad relationship and stand strong against the outside forces conspiring to bring them to their knees.
About the author:Amanda Young lives in Virginiawith her husband, daughter, and two pampered pooches. When she’s not writing, she can usually be found chasing after a mischievous toddler or daydreaming about the characters in her next book. She loves to hear from her readers, and can be found on Facebook and Twitter. Her website, www.amandayoung.org, is where you can find up-to-date information on all of Amanda’s current and upcoming releases.
Find Amanda online:Website: http://www.amandayoung.orgFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmandaYoungFanPageGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/531738.Amanda_YoungTwitter: https://twitter.com/_Amanda_Young

a Rafflecopter giveaway

#Prizes, #Fun and #Romance from the @ngwngroup in July and August!

Happy Friday, friends! Nona here, to share some fun news with you. I belong, with several other sexy romance authors, to the Nice Girls Writing Naughty Facebook Group. We are a collection of authors and readers who have a lot of fun sharing sexy pics, chatting about romance and just having a great time together. We also have monthly events featuring cool prizes.

This month, we've been celebrating our one-year anniversary with the July Jubilee. Each Friday, several authors take turns playing games and sharing bits of their work. Today is the last day of our event, and from 7 to 10 p.m Leela Lou Dahlin, Mia Downing and Taige Crenshaw will be taking over our Facebook page.  The Grand Prize is a Margarita Maker, including fixings! What an awesome way to celebrate a long, hot Summer.

August 1 is Saturday, and we will kick off that month by participating in the "My Sexy Saturday" blog hop at the Nice Girls Writing Naughty Blog. Each Saturday we authors will feature sexy snippets from our books and mini-prizes along with a Grand Prize basket of books and goodies!

Please join us in these sexy celebrations of Summer at our Facebook page and blog. Keep cool and happy reading!

Nice Girls Writing Naughty Blog: 
nicegirlswritingnaughty.wordpress.com 

Nice Girls Writing Naughty Author/Reader FB Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/NGWNreaders/


Have a wonderful weekend, all!Nona Raines
Hot Contemporary Romance
Edgy ~ Emotional ~ Erotic
www.nonaraines.com
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#Guestblog & #Review of STEEL VICTORY by J.L. Gribble (@hannaedits)

Hello Divettes!

It's been a dog's age since I've been around the blog, and I have immense apologies and updates on that coming very soon!

But today, we have a lovely guest post by a new friend and fellow author, J.L. Gribble.

J.L. and I met last month at the In Your Write Mind conference in Greensburg, PA. Her debut novel dropped on June 26, at a fabulous book signing, and sold like hotcakes! There's a lot of reasons for that: number one, because the book is fantastic! (more on that in a moment) First, some of the nitty gritty - the book cover and blurb, and our post from J.L. ;-p Enjoy.

One hundred years ago, the vampire Victory retired from a centuries-long mercenary career. She settled in Limani, the independent city-state acting as a neutral zone between the British and Roman colonies on the New Continent.
Twenty years ago, Victory adopted a human baby girl, who soon showed signs of magical ability.
Today, Victory is a city councilwoman, balancing the human and supernatural populations within Limani. Her daughter Toria is a warrior-mage, balancing life as an apprentice mercenary with college chemistry courses.

Tomorrow, the Roman Empire invades.




Hello! My name is J.L. Gribble, author of the urban fantasy/alternate history novel STEEL VICTORY, and I’m popping in because I heard this is where all the sexy books were. (I have not been disappointed.)
Our lovely hosts invited me to add to the discussion and introduce you all to my new novel, which features vampires and other paranormal races, along with human magic users. Traditionally, in paranormal romance and much of “standard” urban fantasy, these are the characters getting all of the sexy bits. Unfortunately, I’ve got bad news for you. There’s no sex in my book.           “Oh geez,” you’re all thinking now. “What the hell is she doing here then?”
Well, hopefully you’ll stick with me while I try to explain my reasoning. STEEL VICTORY was written as my thesis novel in graduate school, which I attended during the height of the Twilight craze. I’m a bit of a closet hipster, so I was determined to go against the grain. My vampire was not going to have a sex scene in my book. While I definitely appreciate the sex appeal inherent in the vampire state (in fact, the 20-page research paper I wrote on this in college goes into quite a bit of detail on this aspect of the traditional “horror” monster), I didn’t feel that it was a necessary part of the character itself. 

My goal was to write supernatural creatures with just as much depth and complexity as any “human” character, without taking the shortcut of only leaning on their otherness as a substitute for proper character development.That’s not to say that Victory, Master of the City of Limani, is an asexual creature or without any sort of companionship. In fact, as of the events of the novel, she has been in a committed (romantic and sexual) relationship with her daywalker (my variation on the “human servant” trope) for almost a hundred years. However, I believe that in every good story, regardless of length, every scene and every interaction should have a purpose. And I could not find a place or a purpose for a sex scene in my book. 
One of the methods of conflict that I employ often in my own storytelling is the idea of pushing my characters to the limit. I put them through hell. And part of putting Victory through hell was putting Mikelos, her daywalker, in a position where the two characters having sex was out of the question, while also doing so in a way that has the reader accepting and supporting that narrative decision. (Nope, I won’t tell you how I manage it. Sorry not sorry. Spoilers….)Take a moment to think critically about the best erotica you’ve ever read. Chances are, every sex scene in the book had a greater purpose than just titillating the book’s audience. I had to do the exact opposite: make every scene between Victory and Mikelos serve a purpose that did not lead them to having sex.Thanks for hanging out with me while I critically discuss my own work, and hopefully you’re intrigued enough to give STEEL VICTORY a chance.
Despite the lack of sex.
And now for my review! Five out of Five Divas! 
So this story was a bit on the outskirts of what I usually read. But like J.L. said - give it a chance, despite the lack of sex! I did, and boy am I glad for that. This story transports you to the beautiful world of Limani, full of intrigue, paranormals, and wonderful characters. I enjoyed getting transported to this new world and getting inside the heads of Victory and her daughter Toria. These ladies eat danger for breakfast, and I couldn't wait to see what trouble they found around every corner, as they worked to save Limani. The heat level, of course, is 0 Divas, but don't fear, Divettes, this book won't leave you wanting. As soon as I was done reading, I went, "where's the next one????!!!" Well, I know that J.L. is working hard on the next book in this series, and I, for one, can't wait for the next installment. 

And I have it on very good authority that there is hope for readers to get to see behind the curtain of the beginning of the relationship between Mikelos and the lovely Victory. 

Be sure to pick up your copy at these locations: 


Amazon http://amzn.to/1NPyBrBDirect from publisher: http://rawdogscreaming.com/books/steel-victory/



By day, J. L. Gribble is a professional medical editor. By night, she does freelance fiction editing in all genres, along with reading, playing video games, and occasionally even writing.Previously, Gribble studied English at St. Mary’s College of Maryland. She received her Master’s degree in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, and STEEL VICTORY was her thesis novel for the program. This is her debut novel.
She lives in Ellicott City, Maryland, with her husband and three vocal Siamese cats. Find her online (www.jlgribble.com), on Facebook (www.facebook.com/jlgribblewriter), and on Twitter and Instagram (@hannaedits). She is currently working on more tales set in the world of Limani.

Well that's it for us today, ladies and gents.

Thanks so much for stopping by!! 

#Sale! Love's Battle by Angela Hayes #fantasy #99cents @imahayes

Good morning! Today I am featuring fellow Wild Rose Press author Angela Hayes. Her book Love's Battle is on sale for only 99 cents--an awesome bargain! Enjoy!

“If love isn’t worth fighting for, what is?”

Love's Battle by Angela Hayes
Love Howard has more than a knack for matchmaking. Born from a forbidden passion and a twelve-hundred-year-old promise, she and her sisters can literally see true love. And while Love has no problem bringing other couples together, her own romantic life could use a little help.
Danton DeAngelo has always been well grounded in reality. So it throws him for no small loop when the woman he’s fallen for believes that she’s been reincarnated eleven times and can actually see true love.
Now Danton is faced with the biggest decision of his life. Accept Love for who she really is, or walk away from her forever.


How much of ourselves do we put into our characters?
               It’s a question many authors are asked at one time or another in their career.               For me, there is a very good bit of myself in Love Howard, main character of my debut novel, Love’s Battle.               I spent the majority of my childhood in Maryland, where Love’s Battle takes place and have been to nearly all of the places mentioned in her story.               There’s the Inner Harbor- amazing in and of itself.               Camden Yards- I can’t tell you how many summers I spent with my family a few rows behind home plate oogling Baltimore Oriole, Brady Anderson from the stands.               Steamed crabs, doused in Old Bay are delicacy that are often imitated, but never duplicated!               Ellicott City- a fun little town               And much more. But that’s where the similarities end. Love after all, is a figment of my imagination. And creating her, I gave her a few things I only dream about.               Love is multi-lingual. I remember only basics of four years of French and the only Spanish I know is not enough to ask how to get to the bathroom.               Her shoes collection and closet is to envied by all. It’s amazing.               She’s got a brilliant memory. Able to remember every single moment of the twelve hundred years she’s lived.               Her car, an Alpha Romeo 8 C Spider, is the stuff dreams are made of.               She can play the harp like a goddess. I’m green with jealousy. I can barely read music!

               And to top it off, she can see true love. How can you beat that? 



Excerpt from Love's Battle:

            “That was close,” I breathed when we were outside, an entire building between myself and the best man.            “It’s about to get even closer.” Faith smiled, making me instantly wary. I knew what was coming. She’d seen it. They both had.            “What do you mean?” I asked, playing dumb.            “Look at him again, and you tell us,” Hope challenged.            Dutifully I opened the door. Keeping to the shadows, I stepped inside, just enough to get another look at Danton DeAngelo. There he was laughing with his friends, what a beautiful sight. Male perfection bathed in the same powder blue light that all souls gave off when they were destined to be together. Blowing out a breath, I closed the door and faced my sisters.            “He’s blue.”            “He’s not the only one, honey.” Hope smiled, holding out a compact mirror she had pulled from her purse.            Snatching it from her, I peered into the reflecting glass. There was my image, the one I’d spent twenty five years looking at, the one I saw mirrored in the face of my sisters. Except, unlike yesterday, I could now see a telltale blue glow around my face. Faint at first but growing stronger with every second. Closing the compact I could see the glow encompassing my hands. I looked down and around. Like a bad rash, it was all over me.            “I’m blue!” I declared, pointing out the obvious.            “True blue, true love. YOU are the future Mrs.Danton DeAngelo.” Hope gloated taking her compact back.            “Ah damn!” I whined.

BUY LINKS:

Amazon       Amazon UK      The Wild Rose Press  
Barnes and Noble      All Romance Books     Bookstrand      Itunes
Book Trailer:http://youtu.be/t2_eJMzk9wA   
Author Bio: A married mother of two, I split my time between bringing characters to life by computer, and yarn to life with needle and hook. You can find me at www.authorangelahayes.blogspot.com where I help connect readers and the authors they love.
Other places you can find me:www.facebook.com/imahayeshttps://twitter.com/imahayeswww.pinterest.com/imahayeshttp://www.manicreaders.com/AngelaHayes/ www.amazon.com/author/angelahayes
https://www.goodreads.com/author_angelahayes

#New! Even the Score @KittyMeader #contemporaryromance #giveaway @entangledpub

Even the Scoreby Kate Meader  Tall, Dark  and Texan
Publication Date: July 21, 2015 
Genres: Contemporary, Romance

 
Amazon • Amazon CA • Amazon UK • B&N • Kobo • iBooks
Synopsis: He’ll make her an offer she can’t refuse…
Actress Tess McKenzie is performing in the Tenth Circle of Showbiz Hell—dinner theater. All she really wants is to start a theater of her own. Then Tess receives an offer she can’t refuse. She’ll get her funding…if she pretends to be the fiancée to her nemesis, Texan property tycoon Hunter Dade. If she’s going to pull this off, she’ll need all the luck she can get. Break a leg, indeed.

On the verge of a big business deal, Hunter needs to hire a fiancée. He hasn’t quite forgiven Tess for ruining his wedding, but when their chemistry goes from combative to straight-up lust, the “no sex” clause in their mutually beneficial arrangement is tested. Which is a serious problem, because if Tess isn’t careful, she’ll go from breaking a leg to breaking her heart…



Excerpt
    Tess’s opaque gaze cleared and was replaced by something more challenging.“And the proposal was perfect.”The proposal? Shit, the proposal. With Jenna, he had taken her to the Signature Room on the ninety-fifth floor of the Hancock, a traditional place for romantic dates and the unveiling of engagement rings. Soft music, so-so food, a stunning view of the city: all calculated accessories to the perfect popping of the question. Sliding his ring on Tess’s finger ten seconds before they arrived at the ranch had been the opposite of romantic. Funnily, it had felt a hundred times more real.The ladies leaned forward in expectation. “Tell us about the proposal!” Denise chirped. “I love a good proposal story.”“Yes, do tell, honey,” Tess murmured, the little minx. A few seconds ticked over while Hunter scrambled for a likely tale. It would have to be something unique, something worthy of this special woman. His neurons untangled for a brief, illuminating moment.“Tess is on her feet a lot with this latest show of hers, so she’s rather partial to foot rubs.”“While eating ice cream,” Tess added, quick as a whip. “Ladies, you haven’t lived until you have your man rubbing your feet while you eat ice cream.”“Sounds like heaven,” Tawny said, a hint of green in both her skin tone and voice.“So we were on the sofa at home, just our usual. Foot rubs, ice cream, chatting about our day,” Hunter went on, warming to the tale while his palm heated on the silky soft skin of Tess’s ass. A flash fantasy of their “usual” becoming a reality tried to take hold, but he shoved it deep into his brain’s attic. “And I slipped the ring on her pinky toe.”He looked into Tess’s eyes, seeking approval. The catch in her throat and the bloom on her cheeks were his answer. Relief flooded his veins at pleasing her. Raising her left hand, she rocked the perfect Home Shopping Network move with her fingertips on his chest, displaying the sapphire engagement ring to perfection.Atta girl.“I asked her if she’d be okay with me giving her foot rubs for the rest of her days and—”“I took another bite of Phish Food first.” Tess sounded a tad breathless. “For strength, and well, no life-changing decision should be made without the benefit of ice cream. Amirite, ladies?” The ladies nodded in awe, even the usually skeptical Buffy who hung on every single word. Christ, they were knocking this out of the park.“Hunter had already eaten all the chocolate fish, so I had to have a serious think about whether I was prepared to spend my life with someone who steals the best part. But…” She paused, her eyes filled with warmth and love. Hell and damn, she was something else. “I decided he’d already stolen my heart and soul. And I deserved those foot rubs.”About Kate Meader Originally from Ireland, Kate cut her romance reader teeth on Maeve Binchy and Jilly Cooper novels, with some Mills & Boon thrown in for variety. Give her tales about brooding mill owners, oversexed equestrians, and men who can rock an apron or a fire hose, and she’s there. Now based in Chicago, she writes sexy contemporary romance with alpha heroes and strong heroines who can match their men quip for quip.Website • Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads

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Hearts Akilter by Catherine E. McLean #fantasy #romance #preorder

Hearts Akilterby Catherine E. McLean
A novella coming soon from The Wild Rose Press!
Visit the author's website to enter to win a $50 gift card as part of the book launch.
Love, vengeance, attempted murder, and a bomb...No reason to panic.
When a medical robot insists he's having a heart attack, Marlee Evans, a pragmatic maintenance technician, has every reason to panic. There's a bomb inside him.  Since Marlee can't risk the bomber discovering she's found the device, her only option is to kidnap Deacon Black, an unflappable bomb expert, and secretly convince him to disarm it.  Things go slightly awry when Deacon sets a trap for someone who is trying to kill him, and inadvertently captures Marlee instead.  Instantly intrigued by her refreshingly forthright and gutsy attitude, he's smitten.  Unfortunately for Deacon, Marlee recently hardened her heart and swore off men, especially handsome ones with boy-next-door grins.  But as Marlee and Deacon attempt to identify and prevent the bomber from detonating the device, they discover that love may be the most explosive force of all.
Available for Pre-Order Now:
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Excerpt
HEARTS AKILTERBy Catherine E. McLean @ 2015
The bomb. Right. Dismantle the bomb. In this lift? No, that was insane. “Marlene, if the bomb goes off accidentally—”“It’ll blow the station to kingdom come?”He nodded.     “Not to worry.”She said that with such nonchalance that he found himself speechless. He cleared his throat. “Why not? Did you snatch the portable Bomb Disposal Unit, too?”“Better.” “What’s better than a BDU?”“Garbage incinerators.”“What?” He glanced out into the darkness beyond the lift.Giant machinery stood silhouetted and veiled in shadows. “Where are we?”“Deck forty-three, Ring D zero three. Relax. Don’t panic.  They once accidentally incinerated a torpedo in number four, over yonder.”She pointed to the left. “Nobody heard or felt it explode, and there wasn’t even a drail’s worth of damage done to the incinerator, or anything else.”               “I don’t believe you.”               “It happened three years ago. I was there, a deck above.Never mind.”Henry manipulated his finger appendage, grabbing and briefly tugging the shirt sleeve of Deacon’s good arm. “Marlee would never lie about anything so important.”“Does she lie about unimportant things?” He instantly regretted his caustic remark.“I do not know.” Henry spun sideways, facing Marlee. “Do you lie about unimportant things, Marlee?”“I have been known to tell a white lie now and then to spare someone’s feelings, but on the whole—” She looked away from Henry.
As her blacker than black eyes met his gaze, Deacon felt pinned to the wall.
About Catherine E. McLean
Besides Catherine being a wife and mother, she has ridden and exhibited Morgan Sport Horses. She's an avid clothing and costume designer, an award-winning amateur photographer, a 4-H leader, and a Red Hatter who loves bling.
She lives on a farm nestled in the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains of Western Pennsylvania. In the quiet of the countryside, she writes fantasy, futuristic, and paranormal stories where a reader can escape to other worlds for adventure and romance.
Her short stories have appeared in hard-copy and online anthologies and magazines. Besides having two novels published, soon to be released is her lighthearted fantasy/sci-fi romance HEARTS AKILTER. Catherine also gives writing workshops, both online and in-person. A schedule is posted at http://www.writerscheatsheets.com/workshops.html
Catherine's website for writers is  http://www.WritersCheatSheets.com and she blogs at http://writerscheatsheets.blogspot.com/
Hub Website: http://www.CatherineEmclean.com
Connect with Catherine at: http://www.catherineemclean.com/contact-me.html

#Review & #Giveaway: Beauty Submits to Her Beast @Sydneystclaire #erotic #BDSM

Sydney St. Claire will be awarding a randomly drawn commenter via Rafflecopter a $20 Amazon/BN gift card, so please make sure to enter!
BLURB:
War hero and Dominant, Damon Steele is a loner. His failure to keep his men alive destroyed too many hopes and dreams. He won’t be responsible for anyone else's life or happiness ever again. There’s no room in his life—or his heart—for romance. Instead, he satisfies his needs at BDSM clubs and never with the same sub. Taking part in the fairy tale event at Pleasure Manor is difficult enough, but when Beauty challenges him both in the bedroom and out, he’s not sure he can control his inner beast.


EXCERPT
She licked her lips, suddenly nervous again. How did a person begin a cold turkey sexual fling? She didn’t engage in one-night stands, always dated and got to know her past lovers first. “I’m Caitlin. I’ve never been here before. What now?”
He inclined his head. “I’m Damon. I’ll be your Dom for the weekend. Find the X on the floor and stand on it.”
Damon. To tame. Oh, yes, she wanted to tame her beast. Like a flame set to gas-soaked briquettes, his gaze on her breast, along with his sexy, deep baritone voice, ignited the ball of lust swirling in her center.
Whew, this won’t be so bad. In fact, if she hadn’t been cuffed, she might have jumped him, tumbled them both onto the couch.
He snapped his fingers, bringing her back to the here and now. “First rule. I don't give instructions more than once. Do as I ordered.”
The lust in her veins cooled and once again, indignation threaded with anger took hold. “Excuse me?” No one had ordered her around since she was thirteen and assumed the role of parent to her younger siblings and caregiver to her mother.
“Your choice is to obey or leave. If you want to leave, I’ll remove the cuffs and let Hastings arrange for you to be taken home.”
Go before she sampled this hunk? Nope. No matter how much she hated being told what to do. Her curiosity was piqued, and her body ached to have this man kiss her. And fuck her like a stallion claiming his mare. This Belle wanted her Beast.


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***Nona's Review of Beauty Submits to Her Beast***
This is the fourth installment in the author's Once Upon a Dom series. Each story in the series features couples donning fairy tale characters' disguise to enact kinky sex games and find true love in the bargain. In Beauty Submits to Her Beast, Caitlin spends her life rescuing horses and running her ranch. She's used to being in charge. But her love life is decidedly lackluster, so she jumps at the chance to spend a weekend at a BDSM getaway. This will be her opportunity to experience the awesome sex she dreams of.    At the getaway Caitlin finds her disguise is that of Belle and her Dom aka "Beast" is Damon. Though Caitlin finds it hard to hand over control, Damon more than delivers on his promise of sexual adventure. While he introduces her to all kinds of delights, their relationship deepens as they get to know each other. Caitlin discovers Damon, a former SEAL, is tortured by memories of his lost comrades and consumed by guilt, believing he was responsible for their deaths.    Though I've read and enjoyed two previous entries in this series, I must say I liked this one best. Because it is considerably longer than the earlier novellas, there's more room for character development (not to mention plenty more hot sex!) I liked Caitlin's self-assurance and the way she owned what she enjoyed sexually. Her efforts to be a "good sub" were sometimes comical, in that submitting was so unlike her nature. Damon was a super-hot hero and his struggle to overcome his past was very touching. I loved how deeply Caitlin cared and how much she wanted to help him. Her plan to give him room to battle his demons was very wise. I enjoyed the reappearance of several characters from earlier stories--especially Glorie, the Domme. I really hope she gets her own story. And I loved the description of the treehouse--I want one for myself!
    I highly recommend Beauty Submits to Her Beast as an awesome erotic read. Everyone who loves feisty heroines and tortured alpha heroes should give this book a try.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Sydney St. Claire is the pseudonym of Susan Edwards, author of 14 Historical Native American/Western/Paranormal romances and the author of the popular “White” Series. Sydney loves writing and sharing stories of love, happiness and dreams come true with her readers. She credits her mother for her writing success.  Encouraged to read as a child, she always preferred happy endings which meant romances were her favorite genre.  Sydney takes her readers into the world of erotica romance where her characters come together in explosive passion as they solve life’s problems and find true love along with the best sex our hero and heroine have ever experienced.
Sydney’s office is quite crowded with three dogs at her feet and five cats to keep her company while she writes. Three cats always insist on beds on her desk, barely leaving enough room for her monitor and keyboard. Life gets fun when all five insist on supervising…
When not writing, she enjoys crafts of all sorts including quilting, sewing, cross-stitch and knitting. She and her husband of 30 + years are avid gardeners. He takes care of the veggies, and Susan is in charge of the ‘pretties’. Her medicine wheel garden is in a contact state of war: flowers vs. weeds. Sadly, right now the weeds are wining…
While writing, she listens to a wide variety of music. Her current favorites are Blackmore’s Night and David Lanz.
Contact Links:  Email:              Sydney@sydneystclaire.comTrailerWebsite:          http://sydneystclaire.com                          http://susanedwards.comTwitter:           https://twitter.com/SydneystclaireFacebook:       https://www.facebook.com/sydneystclaireBlog:                http://sydneystclaire.wordpress.comGoodreads:     https://www.goodreads.com/sydneystclairePinterest:        http://www.pinterest.com/sydneystclaire/


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#New: His Millionaire Maid @ColeenKwan #contemporary #giveaway

His Millionaire Maidby Coleen Kwan  
Publication Date: July 7, 2015 Genres: Contemporary, Romance 
Publisher: Entangled Publishing

Amazon • Amazon UK • Amazon CA • B&N • Kobo • iBooksSynopsis: His new hire has a secret...As far as Nina Beaumont is concerned, money ruins everything. Leave it to her wealthy family to screw up her professional life and her personal life. When she crashes and her car sinks, sending her identification and all her belongings spiraling into the watery abyss, Nina sees her chance to escape. And stumbles into a job with the hottest man she’s ever met…as his maid. Between running an inn, caring for his grandmother, and trying to keep the dirty-dealing Beaumont Corporation from stealing his land, Joe Farina's plate is full. He doesn't have time for romantic entanglements—especially not with the suspiciously bad maid he just hired, no matter how much he needs her…both in and out of his bed. Screwing with her life is one thing, but Nina’s not about to let her family screw with Joe. That is, if she doesn’t lose him when he finds out who she really is.


Excerpt:     Joe’s shoulders bunched up as his fingers got busy with her shirt. It had a tight fit and a long row of buttons.    “Don’t want to tear your shirt,” he said as he wrestled with the buttons.    Oh, that was sweet of him, trying to preserve her cheap shirt because he was under the impression she was poor. Her breasts ached for his touch, but she waited until he was done. Finally he pulled off her shirt along with her jacket and tossed them to the ground. The sight of her black bra made him pause.    “Oh, yeah. I like this.” He ran a finger lightly over the lace trim, leaving her flesh burning.    Lava heat pounded in her breasts, gathered in a liquid pool between her legs. “Why are you waiting?” she breathed, legs trembling. “You’ve seen the goods before.”    “I like seeing them wrapped up in a pretty package.”His eyes feasted on her as he drew his fingers over one bra cup and rested them against the peak. The way Joe ogled her breasts made her feel like a centerfold model. He curved his hands around her waist, found the zipper of her skirt, and made short work of it. The skirt fell around her feet with a soft whoosh.    Eek. Now he could see the plain beige panties she’d been forced to buy. She hadn’t minded showing them when they’d jumped off the cliff, but now they were in his bedroom, and she wished she had her usual sexy silk thongs. Suddenly self-conscious, she crossed her hands over the bargain-basement panties.    “Hey, what’re you trying to hide?” Joe tugged at her hands, grinning.    “Uh, the general store was fresh out of Victoria’s Secret.” She reluctantly allowed him to lift her hands away. “It was either this or great big granny panties.”    Joe stared greedily at her panties, and then he brushed his palm over them, making her squirm. He chuckled low in his throat. “I can’t believe you’re embarrassed over this.”    Shoot, she was in danger of giving herself away. Ordinary working-class people didn’t get hung up because they weren’t wearing expensive lingerie.    “I just want to look my best, Joe.”    His eyes flared. “Sweet pea, you could make even granny panties look sexy.”    “I’ll have to test you out on that,” she said, snickering.    He groaned. “You’re testing me right now.” Taking hold of both her hands, he eased them behind her back and lowered his head to her neck. “And I can’t resist…”  About Coleen Kwan Coleen Kwan has been a bookworm all her life. At school English was her favorite subject, but for some reason she decided on a career in IT. After many years of programming, she wondered what else there was in life — and discovered writing. She loves writing contemporary romance and steampunk romance. Coleen lives in Sydney, Australia with her partner and two children. When she isn’t writing she enjoys avoiding housework, eating chocolate, and watching TV shows like Criminal Minds and Masterchef.
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