Amanda McIntyre's Blog, page 11
August 15, 2013
On the Front Porch: Nikki Duncan!
Today I have the vivacious and talented Nikki Duncan visiting to share with us about a hot new series over at Samhain Publlishing called WHISPERING COVE!
In the next few weeks, I'll be introducing the talented creators of WHISPERING COVE and their individual stories! So be sure to stop by , sit a spell, and ask your most burning questions about this wonderful new series!!
Let's start with getting a sneal peek behind this formidable writer!
About Nikki:
Heart stopping puppy chases, childhood melodrama and the aborted hangings of innocent toys are all in a day’s work for Nikki Duncan. This athletic equestrian turned reluctant homemaker turned daring author, is drawn to the siren song of a fresh storyline. Nikki plots murder and mayhem over breakfast, scandalous exposes at lunch and the sensual turn of phrase after dinner. It is the pleasurable excitement and anticipation of unraveling her character’s motivation that drives her to write long past the witching hour.
The only anxiety and apprehension haunting this author comes from pondering the mysterious outcome of her latest twist.
So tell us, what's the inspiratiion behind Whispering Cove?
NIKKI: Small towns, close knit friends, meddling grandfathers, and steamy nights. It all makes for a perfect melting pot for pairing up couples who belong together, even if it means pulling strangers into the mix.
Whispering Cove is a small, coastal town, created by Cathryn Fox, Mackenzie McKade, and myself. Cobbled streets, colorful buildings and flavorful characters make the place home and a home away from home for tourists. It's one of my favorite places to escape to.
And what about your story? Can you give us some insight how you came up with these characters?
NIKKI: When I began planning BURNED, I knew exactly which characters I
would write about. Delving into their lives and the idea of why these two best friends had avoided a more personal relationship was only some of the fun. The biggest excitement for me, beyond the couple, was watching three people (father, daughter and best friend) come together as a family. Family, after all, is one of my hot buttons - I think everyone deserves one, in whatever shape or form that's right for them.
I LOVE stories that mesh a variety of people--especially friends, family and community! Maybe you could share an excerpt with us?
Excerpt of BURNED~
Hours later, after Sophie had gone to bed and Hauk was locking up behind the last patron, with the lights in the town going down as volunteers wrapped up their work on the festival booths, Vic turned her stool to watch him.
Pent-up rage drove his steps, as it had driven every move he’d made all night. It was an aggressive, dominant side of him she hadn’t seen in full swing before. She loved it.
“What are you doing, Vic?” He stopped a few feet away. His jaw flexed with tension.
“Looking for talent for the festival. Did you forget we were supposed to be working together?” She grabbed her drink, and without breaking their stare, she used her tongue to find the straw. Hauk practically growled, but he didn’t move.
“I’ve forgotten nothing.”
“I have some ideas on the headliner and have been thinking about some singing games that could be played to raise money for the community center. Night games mainly because they’re not exactly kid friendly.”
“Of course you have.” The energy he’d held in all evening snapped in each syllable he spoke.
“So.” She set her drink down and hopped off the stool. Moving around him, walking in a tight circle so she brushed his body, she smiled. “The first game is a sort of singing dating game.”
“How would that work?”
“We erect a screen with one chair on one side and three on the other. The bachelor…” sliding a finger down his spine, she lingered behind him, “…or bachelorette, sits in the one chair and asks questions of the contestants on the other side.”
His back rippled beneath her touch. “That’s not singing.”
“The questions have to be song related.”
He looked over his shoulder at her. “Like what?”
“Like…” She paused, leaned up on tiptoe to whisper at his ear. “How does it make you feel to hear a woman singing about the power of a kiss?”
Her breasts brushed his back and they both trembled. Her thong was getting wet as she seduced herself as much as Hauk. “Or, what would you sing to a woman you want to seduce?”
“This—” His voice cracked. “This is a dangerous game.”
She circled to his front, running her hand along his waist. Each step rubbed the moist lace against her clit, heightened her fever. “But is it one you want to play?”
Whoa! This sounds delish!! Where can readers find your books??
Samhain Publishing Amazon Barnes and Noble Sony Kobo All Romance e-Books
!!!CONTEST!!!
What do you look for in an escape? Commenters today will be entered into a drawing for a .pdf of WICKED or BURNED (winner's choice.)
Want to hang out with Nikki?? Follow (don't stalk! ;)
Website Twitter Facebook
Thank you Nikki for stopping by! Visiting soon!! More Whispering Cove-- with August 22-Mackenzie McKade August 29-Cathryn Fox
In the next few weeks, I'll be introducing the talented creators of WHISPERING COVE and their individual stories! So be sure to stop by , sit a spell, and ask your most burning questions about this wonderful new series!!
Let's start with getting a sneal peek behind this formidable writer!
About Nikki:Heart stopping puppy chases, childhood melodrama and the aborted hangings of innocent toys are all in a day’s work for Nikki Duncan. This athletic equestrian turned reluctant homemaker turned daring author, is drawn to the siren song of a fresh storyline. Nikki plots murder and mayhem over breakfast, scandalous exposes at lunch and the sensual turn of phrase after dinner. It is the pleasurable excitement and anticipation of unraveling her character’s motivation that drives her to write long past the witching hour.
The only anxiety and apprehension haunting this author comes from pondering the mysterious outcome of her latest twist.
So tell us, what's the inspiratiion behind Whispering Cove?
NIKKI: Small towns, close knit friends, meddling grandfathers, and steamy nights. It all makes for a perfect melting pot for pairing up couples who belong together, even if it means pulling strangers into the mix.
Whispering Cove is a small, coastal town, created by Cathryn Fox, Mackenzie McKade, and myself. Cobbled streets, colorful buildings and flavorful characters make the place home and a home away from home for tourists. It's one of my favorite places to escape to.
And what about your story? Can you give us some insight how you came up with these characters?
NIKKI: When I began planning BURNED, I knew exactly which characters I
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would write about. Delving into their lives and the idea of why these two best friends had avoided a more personal relationship was only some of the fun. The biggest excitement for me, beyond the couple, was watching three people (father, daughter and best friend) come together as a family. Family, after all, is one of my hot buttons - I think everyone deserves one, in whatever shape or form that's right for them.I LOVE stories that mesh a variety of people--especially friends, family and community! Maybe you could share an excerpt with us?
Excerpt of BURNED~
Hours later, after Sophie had gone to bed and Hauk was locking up behind the last patron, with the lights in the town going down as volunteers wrapped up their work on the festival booths, Vic turned her stool to watch him.
Pent-up rage drove his steps, as it had driven every move he’d made all night. It was an aggressive, dominant side of him she hadn’t seen in full swing before. She loved it.
“What are you doing, Vic?” He stopped a few feet away. His jaw flexed with tension.
“Looking for talent for the festival. Did you forget we were supposed to be working together?” She grabbed her drink, and without breaking their stare, she used her tongue to find the straw. Hauk practically growled, but he didn’t move.
“I’ve forgotten nothing.”
“I have some ideas on the headliner and have been thinking about some singing games that could be played to raise money for the community center. Night games mainly because they’re not exactly kid friendly.”
“Of course you have.” The energy he’d held in all evening snapped in each syllable he spoke.
“So.” She set her drink down and hopped off the stool. Moving around him, walking in a tight circle so she brushed his body, she smiled. “The first game is a sort of singing dating game.”
“How would that work?”
“We erect a screen with one chair on one side and three on the other. The bachelor…” sliding a finger down his spine, she lingered behind him, “…or bachelorette, sits in the one chair and asks questions of the contestants on the other side.”
His back rippled beneath her touch. “That’s not singing.”
“The questions have to be song related.”
He looked over his shoulder at her. “Like what?”
“Like…” She paused, leaned up on tiptoe to whisper at his ear. “How does it make you feel to hear a woman singing about the power of a kiss?”
Her breasts brushed his back and they both trembled. Her thong was getting wet as she seduced herself as much as Hauk. “Or, what would you sing to a woman you want to seduce?”
“This—” His voice cracked. “This is a dangerous game.”
She circled to his front, running her hand along his waist. Each step rubbed the moist lace against her clit, heightened her fever. “But is it one you want to play?”
Whoa! This sounds delish!! Where can readers find your books??
Samhain Publishing Amazon Barnes and Noble Sony Kobo All Romance e-Books
!!!CONTEST!!!
What do you look for in an escape? Commenters today will be entered into a drawing for a .pdf of WICKED or BURNED (winner's choice.)
Want to hang out with Nikki?? Follow (don't stalk! ;)
Website Twitter Facebook
Thank you Nikki for stopping by! Visiting soon!! More Whispering Cove-- with August 22-Mackenzie McKade August 29-Cathryn Fox
August 14, 2013
Rafflecopter today at Kimberlys Book-Obsessed Book Chicks and Blog!
Celebrating Kimmie's BD month!!! Rafflecopter contest for an eBook copy of Amazon's bestselling western romance--
RUGGEDHEARTS!! Click here and enter to win!!
August 7, 2013
Aug 8: MONICA BURNS visits the Front Porch
Today on the Front Porch we have my good friend and talented author, Monica Burns. Monica and I met a couple of years back at Lora Leigh's Reader Appreciation Weekend. Vivacious and with a heart of gold, I'm pleased to heave her visiting today at the Front Porch!
Amanda: Finally , you made it!! I'm very excited to hear more about this book in particular. But before we get to your book, let's hear a bit about you---
A bestselling author of spicy historical and paranormal romance, Monica Burns
penned her first short romance story at the age of nine when she selected the pseudonym she uses today. Her historical book awards include the 2011 RT BookReviews Reviewers Choice Award and the 2012 Gayle Wilson Heart of Excellence Award for Pleasure Me. She is also the recipient of the prestigious paranormal romance award, the 2011 PRISM Best of the Best award for Assassin’s Heart. From the days when she hid her stories from her sisters to her first completed full-length manuscript, she always believed in her dream despite rejections and setbacks. A workaholic wife and mother, Monica believes it’s possible for the good guy to win if they work hard enough.
Amanda: Before I go any further, as I do with all my guests, they must come bearing a recipe to share--today, because of the sinfully decadent tone of this book, I want to hear more about this luscious Butter Cake that you make!!
Butter Scrumptious Cake(I make this cake only once a year for our 4th of July celebration. The kids look forward to it immensely)
2 cup flour1/2 cup butter2 teaspoon baking powder8 ounce cream cheese1/2 teaspoon baking soda2 eggs, unbeaten1/2 teaspoon salt1 teaspoon vanilla1 1/4 cup sugar1/2 cup milk
TOPPING1/4 cup butter1/2 cup flour1/2 cup brown sugar
Cream butter and cream cheese. Gradually add sugar into creamed mixture. Blend well. Blend in the eggs and vanilla. Beat well. Mix all dry ingredients. Alternate adding dry ingredients to the creamed mixture with the milk. Pour into a 13x9" pan and sprinkle with topping. Bake at 350F or 30-40 minutes.
To make the topping, cut butter into flour and brown sugar until crumbly. For a really moist cake, double the topping.
Amanda: Accomplished cook, prolific and determined writer--an unstoppable combo, certainly! I'm curious, what inspired you to write this particular story?
Monica: I wrote this story about eight years ago, and at the time, there were few, if any, older heroines in romance. And at the time, I couldn’t even find an older woman, younger man historical. So I simply decided it was about time someone wrote one. Love’s Revenge was first published in 2005, and I’ve always loved Sophie and Quentin. When I decided to reissue the book this year, I went back to the older book and revamped it for improved characterizations. I love this book. Maybe that’s because I’m an older woman to my husband’s tender years.
Amanda: I LOVE the premise of an older woman , younger man! I love when authors take risks in their writing-period! This is going on my TBR stack, for sure! And what a gorgeous cover!! Please give us an overview of this story!
All her life, Sophie’s tried to earn her father’s love to no avail. Even her one chance for happiness was crushed beneath his tyrannical thumb, leaving her firmly on the shelf at forty-one. Sophie accepts her fate until she impulsively uses her father’s criminal activities to escape a life of servitude and right a wrong at the same time. She never really expected the Devil of Devlyn to actually accept her rash proposal, and she certainly hadn’t planned on falling in love with a younger man.
When Quentin Blackwell, Earl of Devlyn, discovered the woman he loved was carrying another man’s child, he refused to marry her. In retaliation, her father ruined Devlyn. When Sophie Hamilton, the man’s eldest daughter, comes to him with an unexpected offer, Devlyn seizes the chance for vengeance. What he doesn’t bargain on is how revenge could cost him the one thing he wants the most. Sophie’s love.
Amanda: This sounds downright scandalous and delightful! How about an excerpt??
Excerpt from Love's Revenge:
“Please, my lord. It was a mistake to come here.”
“Perhaps, but nonetheless, I’ll have an answer from you.”
“Or what?” The sudden challenge in her voice amused him. Sophie Hamilton had backbone. He liked that.
“Hmm, what could I do to persuade you to answer?”
His fingers touched the snowy cravat tied around her neck. With a lazy movement, he gently tugged at one of the ties. She went rigid as his forefinger slipped between her skin and the white material before he slowly pulled the loose knot away from her throat. The cravat tumbled open to expose her creamy throat. God, she was a tempting wench. Quentin tensed at the way his body was reacting to her. Without thinking, he pressed his thumb against the hollow of her throat enjoying the way her gasp moved her skin beneath his touch. Again, the netting fluttered wildly against her face.
“My lord, please.”
“Please is a subjective word, Miss Hamilton. Are you asking me to do something wicked? Or are you begging to tell me your reasons for this interesting proposition of yours?”
“I…I wish to…oh bloody hell!”
Her oath was so completely unexpected as she jerked away from him that he found himself choking in an effort to swallow his laugh. Sophie Hamilton was far more interesting than any woman he’d ever met.
Read the complete first chapter on Monica’s website
If you wish to get your hands on this deliciously wicked story, pick your favorite bookstore right her, right now!!AmazonBarnes and NobleKobo BooksSmashwordsAll Romance E-BooksCreate Space-Print
Join Monica's social networks!!WEBSITEFACEBOOKTWITTERNEWSLETTER
More good reasons to buy this book!!
“…The sex scenes are scorching, but the love between her hero and heroine is better.” — RTBOOKReviews – 4 Stars
“Erotically crafted and sensually woven, this tale is interspersed with smoking hot love scenes and pithy dialogue between Devlyn and Sophia. Even as they circle each other like a couple of spitting cats, the desire between them sizzles, flourishes, and explodes..” ― Fallen Angel Reviews – Recommend Read
Amanda: Finally , you made it!! I'm very excited to hear more about this book in particular. But before we get to your book, let's hear a bit about you---
A bestselling author of spicy historical and paranormal romance, Monica Burns
penned her first short romance story at the age of nine when she selected the pseudonym she uses today. Her historical book awards include the 2011 RT BookReviews Reviewers Choice Award and the 2012 Gayle Wilson Heart of Excellence Award for Pleasure Me. She is also the recipient of the prestigious paranormal romance award, the 2011 PRISM Best of the Best award for Assassin’s Heart. From the days when she hid her stories from her sisters to her first completed full-length manuscript, she always believed in her dream despite rejections and setbacks. A workaholic wife and mother, Monica believes it’s possible for the good guy to win if they work hard enough.Amanda: Before I go any further, as I do with all my guests, they must come bearing a recipe to share--today, because of the sinfully decadent tone of this book, I want to hear more about this luscious Butter Cake that you make!!
Butter Scrumptious Cake(I make this cake only once a year for our 4th of July celebration. The kids look forward to it immensely)
2 cup flour1/2 cup butter2 teaspoon baking powder8 ounce cream cheese1/2 teaspoon baking soda2 eggs, unbeaten1/2 teaspoon salt1 teaspoon vanilla1 1/4 cup sugar1/2 cup milk
TOPPING1/4 cup butter1/2 cup flour1/2 cup brown sugar
Cream butter and cream cheese. Gradually add sugar into creamed mixture. Blend well. Blend in the eggs and vanilla. Beat well. Mix all dry ingredients. Alternate adding dry ingredients to the creamed mixture with the milk. Pour into a 13x9" pan and sprinkle with topping. Bake at 350F or 30-40 minutes.
To make the topping, cut butter into flour and brown sugar until crumbly. For a really moist cake, double the topping.
Amanda: Accomplished cook, prolific and determined writer--an unstoppable combo, certainly! I'm curious, what inspired you to write this particular story?
Monica: I wrote this story about eight years ago, and at the time, there were few, if any, older heroines in romance. And at the time, I couldn’t even find an older woman, younger man historical. So I simply decided it was about time someone wrote one. Love’s Revenge was first published in 2005, and I’ve always loved Sophie and Quentin. When I decided to reissue the book this year, I went back to the older book and revamped it for improved characterizations. I love this book. Maybe that’s because I’m an older woman to my husband’s tender years.
Amanda: I LOVE the premise of an older woman , younger man! I love when authors take risks in their writing-period! This is going on my TBR stack, for sure! And what a gorgeous cover!! Please give us an overview of this story!
All her life, Sophie’s tried to earn her father’s love to no avail. Even her one chance for happiness was crushed beneath his tyrannical thumb, leaving her firmly on the shelf at forty-one. Sophie accepts her fate until she impulsively uses her father’s criminal activities to escape a life of servitude and right a wrong at the same time. She never really expected the Devil of Devlyn to actually accept her rash proposal, and she certainly hadn’t planned on falling in love with a younger man.
When Quentin Blackwell, Earl of Devlyn, discovered the woman he loved was carrying another man’s child, he refused to marry her. In retaliation, her father ruined Devlyn. When Sophie Hamilton, the man’s eldest daughter, comes to him with an unexpected offer, Devlyn seizes the chance for vengeance. What he doesn’t bargain on is how revenge could cost him the one thing he wants the most. Sophie’s love.
Amanda: This sounds downright scandalous and delightful! How about an excerpt??
Excerpt from Love's Revenge:
“Please, my lord. It was a mistake to come here.”
“Perhaps, but nonetheless, I’ll have an answer from you.”
“Or what?” The sudden challenge in her voice amused him. Sophie Hamilton had backbone. He liked that.
“Hmm, what could I do to persuade you to answer?”
His fingers touched the snowy cravat tied around her neck. With a lazy movement, he gently tugged at one of the ties. She went rigid as his forefinger slipped between her skin and the white material before he slowly pulled the loose knot away from her throat. The cravat tumbled open to expose her creamy throat. God, she was a tempting wench. Quentin tensed at the way his body was reacting to her. Without thinking, he pressed his thumb against the hollow of her throat enjoying the way her gasp moved her skin beneath his touch. Again, the netting fluttered wildly against her face.
“My lord, please.”
“Please is a subjective word, Miss Hamilton. Are you asking me to do something wicked? Or are you begging to tell me your reasons for this interesting proposition of yours?”
“I…I wish to…oh bloody hell!”
Her oath was so completely unexpected as she jerked away from him that he found himself choking in an effort to swallow his laugh. Sophie Hamilton was far more interesting than any woman he’d ever met.
Read the complete first chapter on Monica’s website
If you wish to get your hands on this deliciously wicked story, pick your favorite bookstore right her, right now!!AmazonBarnes and NobleKobo BooksSmashwordsAll Romance E-BooksCreate Space-Print
Join Monica's social networks!!WEBSITEFACEBOOKTWITTERNEWSLETTER
More good reasons to buy this book!!
“…The sex scenes are scorching, but the love between her hero and heroine is better.” — RTBOOKReviews – 4 Stars
“Erotically crafted and sensually woven, this tale is interspersed with smoking hot love scenes and pithy dialogue between Devlyn and Sophia. Even as they circle each other like a couple of spitting cats, the desire between them sizzles, flourishes, and explodes..” ― Fallen Angel Reviews – Recommend Read
