Lacey Wolfe's Blog, page 23

Crossfire of Love by Ella Jade #onsale #1.99 #kindle #nook

Please welcome Ella Jade to the blog today! And learn a little more about her book Crossfire of Love, which is currently on sale for $1.99!
* * * *

I’m celebrating the one year anniversary of the release of my contemporary romance Crossfire of Love. In honor of that milestone my fabulous publisher Beachwalk Press has lowered the price of the book to $1.99. That’s 60% off! You can purchase the novel wherever you buy your eBooks including Amazon, B&N and Are for the entire month of March. 
Can an arranged marriage lead to love?

Recent college graduate Gabriella has finally married the man of her dreams, the older, charismatic attorney Lorenzo Martinez. She's had a crush on him for as long as she can remember and always imagined they'd one day find their happily ever after. Unfortunately, they enter into a union arranged by their fathers.

Lorenzo is charming, protective, and loyal to his crime lord father Carlo. When Carlo asks Lorenzo to marry Gabriella he jumps at the opportunity. He's been drawn to her for many years and knows by marrying her he's helping to protect her father.

Gabby is resentful and won't be Lorenzo's charity case. But sparks fly and the couple soon gives into their desire, realizing they were meant to be together.

What happens when Carlo's enemies threaten their future? Will someone get caught in the crossfire?

Content Warning: graphic sex, some violence

Buy Link - http://beachwalkpress.com/crossfire-of-love/
Also on Amazon | Nook

Excerpt Lorenzo walked up the porch steps, turning to stare at her. "Are you coming, Gabriella?" No one but Lorenzo and his father called her by her full name. She liked when Lorenzo said it. He'd always made it sound so formal and sexy.

These were the first words he had spoken to her since they left the courthouse. They were married in the chambers of the prestigious Judge John Cartwright. He'd been a family friend of the Martinezes for many years. He was their go-to man whenever they needed something done fast and legally. Well, legal in her new father-in-law's eyes anyway.

She hurried up the steps and followed Lorenzo inside their new home. It was built within a matter of months after she'd agreed to marry him. Carlo wanted them to have their privacy, but he also wanted to keep them close. He didn't trust she'd hold up her end of the bargain, and keeping her on the property was the best way to ensure she wouldn't run.

It was silly, really. How could she run from a family like this? They had ties all over the world. There wasn't any place she could escape to that they wouldn't know about. She was a woman of her word. She said she would marry Lorenzo and she did. She'd find a way to cope. She always had.

Lorenzo pulled his jacket off, poured himself a scotch, and then loosened his tie. "Would you like a drink?"

"No, thank you," she said.

Most brides would be dancing the night away and drinking champagne by this point in their wedding night. She didn't think that was part of Lorenzo's plan.

"I didn't think you'd go through with it." He sipped the amber colored liquid as he looked her over.

"I said I would."

"I know, but when push actually came to shove, I thought you'd run."

"You don't know me that well," she said. "I don't run."

"Good." He smirked as he put the glass to his lips.

Gabby couldn't take her eyes away from those lips. She'd never had the pleasure of having them on her own. Judge Cartwright hadn't asked him to kiss his bride. She hated herself for thinking about him that way.

"You could've stopped this. Why didn't you?" she asked.

As they stood in front of the judge, she kept hoping he'd put an end to the charade and stop the wedding. It didn't make sense to her why he had agreed to marry her. She didn't have a choice. Her father's gambling debts made sure of that. But she didn't understand why he'd allowed things to get as far as they had.

"I was just as trapped as you were." He downed the rest of his scotch.

She didn't believe that. She knew he respected his dad, but she didn't get why he wouldn't have put his foot down and said no to such a life-altering decision.

"You could've told your father no from the beginning. Why would you agree to marry someone if you didn't have to?"

"Look." He shook his head. "It's done now. We're going to have to make the best of it."

"Make the best of it?" She plopped down on the leather sofa. "I'm twenty-two years old. I just graduated from college, and you want me to make the best of it?"

"I know this isn't what you might have wanted, but it is what it is. You agreed, and now it's done. You can't go back on it now. My father won't forgive that."

Giveaway Please enter the rafflecopter for your chance to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card during the month of March. Like my FB page for details about the swag I’m giving away to celebrate the sale!

You can connect with me at http://ellajadeauthor.blogspot.com or on FB http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ella-Jade-Author/186959391390708?ref=hl

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Finding An Agent by @TheLiteraryMom #wwow

I'm very excited today to have guest Amy N. Newman on the blog today. And she has a great topic. Getting an agent. I don't personally have one, but debated on getting on last year when I was trying to find a home for my sweet full-length. Which happened to get a home at Etopia Press, where this fabulous author currently has a release at. Sit back and learn a little more about Amy's story on acquiring an agent. It's a good one!

****
“I have an agent.”

As any writer knows, those are magic words. If you’re anything like me you’ve spent a good deal of time working toward being able to say those words. You’ve probably even fantasized about what it would be like to have an agent. I know I did. Let me tell you a little secret; it’s just like your fantasies, but even better!
My journey toward acquiring an agent started way back in 2008, when I finally finished my first complete manuscript. It was a little romance novel, that will probably never see the light of day. I queried Harlequin with it and it was rejected, so I moved on.

Next, I wrote a YA fantasy, which was published by a small press. And it was exciting, but I wanted more. I wanted the big time. So I kept writing. I wrote a historical romance that’s buried on my computer somewhere. I never even queried that one. And then I wrote a dark, contemporary YA. A novel that spilled out of my heart and onto paper (and yes, sometimes I actually do still write on REAL paper! Shocking, I know!). I knew right away that this novel was different. It was the best thing that I had ever written.

The agents seemed to think so too. Once I started querying, the requests poured in. I got a few rejections, revised based on their rejections, and sent out more. Then something shocking happened. I got an offer of representation.

Those words still give me a chill. An agent likes MY work enough to offer me representation! And she wasn’t the only one either! Suddenly, I had a choice of agents to pick from! I chatted on the phone with them, and two agents really stood out. Michele Rubin of Writers House and Bree Ogden of D4EO. It was a hard decision because I felt like I really connected with Bree, but in the end I went with Michele because it had always been my dream to work with Writers House.

We worked on revisions and were just starting the submission process when Michele told me the sad news; after 22 years in the business, she was leaving. I’m not going to lie, I cried, ate a bunch of ice cream, and then got to work. Yup, I had to re-query agents and do the whole process all over again.

Having Michele as my agent certainly opened doors for me. This time when I queried agents I only had one single rejection. A part of me couldn’t forget Bree, so of course, I included her too. In fact, I’d thought about her many times since I had signed with Michele; I had really felt like we clicked. She quickly got back to me. And joy of joys, she still wanted it!

I knew right away that I would probably turn everyone else down, but I went through the motions, giving everyone time to reply. No one had impressed me as much as Bree. And so last week I signed with her.

It was a great decision. Her ideas for my work and my career, mesh with mine and make them stronger. I know she’s in my corner and willing to fight for me and my work. Not only that, she’s put up with my millions of questions and concerns, and been nothing but patient and understanding.

Yesterday, Bree submitted my manuscript to the big publishers. In less than 24 hours, we’ve had five requests! Five! Even if they all reject it, it’s so exciting that they liked my premise and writing enough to request my novel. Okay, honestly, I’d be crushed. Secretly, I hope that they all love it and there is a huge bidding war for it! But if I wasn’t a dreamer, I wouldn’t be a writer, would I?

Where to find Amy Website / Twitter / Facebook A kingdom shrouded in darkness. One girl who can save it all.

On her sixteenth birthday, Ellie Lyons discovers her entire life has been a lie. Kidnapped, she finds herself in a strange kingdom—Alladon—a kingdom she was born to rule, ruled already by those who would see her dead. The children have been imprisoned, caged and awaiting a fate Ellie can only imagine, and only she can save them. But to do so, she must master the skills of a warrior and learn to contain the magic that roars through her veins and burns everything she touches.

But when Morfan, the king’s advisor, sends an assassin to kill her, Ellie finds herself falling for the dark, dangerous Devin. Though she knows her life is at stake, she can’t seem to stay away from him, even as her feelings become strong enough to scare her, and strong enough to disturb Vance, Devin’s second. Vance is the opposite of Devin—blonde, charming, seductive. But his heart holds a kernel of something darker, something that makes him dangerously unstable, especially once he realizes he has feelings for Ellie that Ellie doesn’t share…


Amazon |  Nook Want More Wisdom? #WWOW or Writers Word of Wisdom - A Smart & Savvy Group of Authors who write a weekly feature for their blog -Writer's Words of Wisdom- each Wednesday. The goal is to impart what we've learned about writing, editing, getting published, book promotion, and more along the way.

Carol Burnside / Annie Rayburn: http://AnnieRayburn.com/blog
Paloma Beck: http://RomanceBeckons.blogspot.com
Tammy Dennings Maggy http://tammydenningsmaggy.blogspot.com 

Player by Laura DeLuca #yalit

Fun fact before you learn about this book. I went to high school with the cover model. Yup....be jealous! :)

Joshua Handover had it all. He was handsome, rich, athletic, and had always been popular with the ladies. Yet, until he gets paired up with his beautiful but shy lab partner, Rosa, he never allowed himself to fall in love. As the chemistry between them grows, Josh realizes that his player days have come to end. But it seems his change of heart has come too late. Not only is Rosa leery of his bad boy reputation, he has four vindictive ex-girlfriends who are on a rampage. At first he doesn’t take their threats seriously, but then his tires are slashed, someone tries to poison him, and one of the girls turns up dead. Josh doesn’t know who to trust, but one thing is certain. It definitely isn’t worth the price he’s paying to be a player. 

Excerpt Someone else came over to offer Nadine their congratulations, so Josh said goodbye and went to his locker to get his backpack. He figured he would meet up with Andrea and Rosa in the parking lot. He fumbled with the combination before finally getting the door to swing open. Something glittered on the top shelf and caught his eye. He reached for it, and a small scrap of paper fluttered to the floor.

At first he wasn’t sure what he was holding. It was a pink plastic tiara with some big gaudy plastic jewels. It was the type of thing he had seen in dollar stores for little girls’ birthday parties. It was practically broken in half, and the edges were sharp. Josh pricked his finger on the jagged point, and a few drops of blood welled from the small wound. He put his finger in his mouth as he bent to pick up the paper that had fallen. When he read it, the broken crown suddenly made sense and he wondered how he could have been so naïve. He should have realized from the instant he saw it what it meant.

“Josh decided to play around
Now one of his girls is under the ground.
Another has a big bump on her head.
And by the end of the dance, the queen will be dead.”

Buy Links Amazon     Smashwords     Barnes & Noble  
About Laura DeLuca Laura "Luna" DeLuca lives at the beautiful Jersey shore with her husband and three children. She has been writing stories for as long as she can remember. Old high school friends would tell you she was always scratching in her notebook instead of paying attention in class and the children she used to babysit for always loved to hear her scary stories at bedtime. In addition to writing fiction, Laura is also the sole author of a popular review blog called New Age Mama. She is an active member of her local pagan community, and has been studying Wicca for close to eight years.  She loves writing young adult novels, because it keeps her young at heart. She is the author of three published works including Destiny, Destiny Unveiled, and Phantom, and has several more projects in the works.


Author Links:
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HerStory is Told! Release Day Bash!!

In ancient times, women were regarded as sacred. They were thought to hold the mystical power of creation—responsible for the continuation of our species. With the rise of Science and Religion, these myths were dispelled and their plight began.

HerStory: Fiction Honoring Women’s History Month is a collection of Flash Fiction and Short Stories from today's top authors featuring female characters that exemplify strong strength of mind, body, and character. Some of these tales are based on real people while others are purely fictional. However, all are standing up for themselves and what they believe in.

Grab yourself a glass of wine or favorite hot beverage and get comfortable as you read about the lives of women who will light the fire in your soul.

It's finally here. HerStory. Available to the masses. And to honor release day, we're having a party. Use the Rafflecopter below to enter to win some terrific prizes. *U.S. residents only*

Here's what's up for grabs.
Grand Prize Because they have the same agenda: empowering girls/women, Keira's Kollection owner Mr. Wagstaff has graciously agreed to donate a Strong is Beautiful T-shirt. One very lucky woman is not only going to walk away with apaperback copy of HerStory and be empowered through words, but she will also be showing her empowerment right there on her shirt.

And that's not all, the grand prize winner also gets a pair of earrings from Cathy from Etsy, who runs Yesware. The earrings sparkle one side and have a message on the other side: the greatest story never told.
Only, we're telling it, the authors of HerStory. We are telling it.
Second Grand Prize Author Laura DeLuca has donated an incense diffuser to go along with some handmade soap from Greenchild Creations.

And we're throwing an e-book into this mix. Why soap and diffusers? What does that have to do with women's history?

In HerStory, Mathilda of Ringelheim runs a bath house. It seems appropriate to honor herstory this way.

AND as Mathilda seems to know, every woman needs soap and every woman needs time to relax. So one lucky winner will take a nice long shower with her fantastic handmade soap, set her diffuser on a table, and curl up with HerStory on her kindle. Who says you can't be relaxed and empowered at the same time? (and smell good)
Third Grand Prize Another donation from Laura DeLuca: an ebook, a Japanese tea set, and an Oriental incense diffuser. How does this tie into HerStory?


In Please Stay, Asuka, a Japanese wife of the 1600s, is preparing the evening meal while awkwardly trying to discuss a matter--somewhat delicate--but of great importance with her husband.

As you get lost in your ebook, in Asuka's story (penned by Becca Diane), you can pretend you are there. Perhaps you feel your husband's penetrating stare. But you serve him his tea, straighten your spine, and say what needs to be said...then wait, breath held, for his reply, incense lightening the tension in the air...
Fourth Grand Prize One lucky winner will have a chance to make their voice heard on the radio...with a $25 Amazon gift card burning a hole in their pocket!

HerStory goes behind the scenes to locate the stories of women who lived, laughed, and touched the lives of generations...

Now, here is your chance to have your story told to the world....or your mother's...it's your chance to talk about the most inspiring woman or women in YOUR life. Shout it out! Tell listeners everywhere about this amazing person. Honor her!

This prize is being donated by Indie Reviews Behind the Scenes.
Prize 5,  Four Winners, Four Tins of Empowemints Four of these tins of mints are being donated by the Unemployed Philosophers Guild. That means four lucky winners are going to win a tin of mints to carry around in their pockets and every time they look at the tin, they'll be empowered!

The tin is also the perfect size to serve as a pillbox once the mints are gone. This is something you can keep for a LONG time.
Prize 6, Two winners, Cross Stitch Wall Hangings Author and editor Tara Chevrestt has a secret addiction and hobby. It makes her feel like an old lady, so she keeps it under wraps, but now the truth is out...

She likes to cross stitch!!!

And with the suffragette tales (Sister Suffragettes by Dahlia DeWinters and Chevrestt's own From You No and Silent Suffragette) in the back of her mind, she found a pattern on Etsy by Patternbird and set to stitching.

Two lucky winners will walk away with these. They are 3.25" by 6" and have a hard backing so they may be placed on a wall. Prize 7, One Winner, Flapper-Style Hat Donated from Rakestraw Book Design.


Toni Rakestraw, one of the HerStory contributors, is stitching this hat so one lucky reader can--in her mind--march in a suffragette parade as she reads HerStory. Or perhaps this is something Margaret Sanger would have worn as she leaves the workhouse in The Woman Rebel. Prize 8, One Winner, One Painting You've heard the term multi-published and many of HerStory's authors can place that before their name, but how about multi-talented?

Author Morgan Summerfield can not only write as she shoes us in Adella, but she can paint too! She is kindly donating a painting 27" wide by 11" high, titled Morning Poppies. The frame is handmade with real wood and she stretches all her own canvases. It is hand-painted-by her!-in multi media.
Prize 9, One Winner, One Pendent And last, but certainly not least, we have a lovely Coco Chanel quote pendant donated by the lovely Jewelry Designs by Lula. One winner will win this delightful pendant that says  A girl should be two things: WHO and WHAT she wants.

We could not have said it better.






Enter for all prizes using the Rafflecopter form below. Giveaway is for three weeks. Winners will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to respond with their snail mail addresses. After 48 hours, new winners will be chosen.

Thank you and enjoy HerStory! Be empowered! Learn something. Believe in yourself and womankind.

Buy Links Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Smashwords 
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Please welcome fellow GA Girl - Vanessa North #newrelease #romance

I'm super excited to have author Vanessa North stopping by today. Not only because she is super talented, but also because she, like me, lives in Georgia. 
Today Vanessa is going to tell us a little about her new story -- which is also a m/m romance! And judging this book by the cover, it looks HOT!

**** 
Hi Lacey, thanks for having me here today!

Since Lacey and I are both Georgia girls, I thought I’d talk a little bit about writing a southern hero for Shifter’s Song. While Shifter’s Song takes place at the Wiccan Haus, Lincoln Tucker brings a bit of “hey y’all” to the Haus with him.

Lincoln grew up in North Carolina, somewhere west of Winston and East of Asheville, and has a deep love for his mountain music and his drink of choice: Cheerwine (sadly, not served in the Wiccan Haus dining room). From the moment Lincoln strutted onto the page, I knew he was a Carolina boy. I saw him struggling to play connect the dots with his public persona and his very private one, and taking solace in the familiar rhythms of old folk songs. And every time I wrote a bit of his dialogue, it came spilling out in a perfect western Carolina accent.

 He might look out of place among the good ol’ boys in his skinny jeans and guyliner, but when he opens his mouth to sing, pure Carolina gold is what comes out. 
About The Book When his brother goes missing en route to the Wiccan Haus, Edouard discovers an unexpected ally--and more.

Edouard Bonsaint has a bear-sized problem. He hasn't shifted in ten years, and isn't sure he even can anymore. Chaperoned by his youngest brother, Bruno, he heads to the Wiccan Haus to ask Rekkus for help. But when Bruno doesn't show up on the other side of the portal, Edouard's inability to shift is no longer his biggest problem.

Lincoln Tucker has it all: money, fame, and a golden voice. But he's in the closet twice over--few people know he's gay, and even fewer know he can shift into a songbird at will. Downtime at the Wiccan Haus between tours allows him to be himself. Throw a big toppy bear-shifter into the mix, and Lincoln might just have all he's ever wanted--if he can trust himself to hold on to Edouard.

With passions and tempers burning hot, can Lincoln help Edouard bring forth the bear and save his brother?
Excerpt “Tell me about your brother,” Lincoln finally said, setting down the cup of tea Sage had brought him.

“Bruno is…quiet. He’s the kind of guy who thinks about everything at least three times before he actually does it. He’s a writer, and he doesn’t seem to mind if most of his friends are fiction. He’s kind of a loner.”

“I’m sorry he’s missing.”

“Yeah.” Edouard tried to swallow a bite of his food but it felt like it would stick in his throat. Finally, he managed to get it down and took a sip of water. He looked back across the table at Lincoln and his hand paused halfway back to the table, forgotten.

The look on Lincoln’s face was thick and carnal, determined. He’d seen that look on the dance floor of the gay bar he visited in Quebec City sometimes—when another man looked at him that way, it usually meant he was going to get lucky. Edouard felt heat flood his gut as he met Lincoln’s eyes. Lust, hot and sharp, flared up, and his jeans suddenly seemed three sizes too small. Paired with it was a raging sense of guilt that he was even thinking about sex while his brother was missing.

“What do you do? For a living, I mean,” Lincoln asked.

“I’m a wildlife photographer. I sell prints through my website, and I’ve had some pieces in some pretty big magazine spreads. Being not-quite-human helps me get closer to the animals. I understand them better.”

“What do you shift into?” Lincoln asked. Edouard bristled, then realized Lincoln was just making typical Para small-talk. Still, he was surprised as anyone when he answered.

“I don’t, that’s the problem—why I came to the Haus.”

“Okay, what are you supposed to shift into?” If there’d been any mocking to Lincoln’s voice, Edouard wouldn’t have answered, but all he heard was curiousity.

“The Bonsaints are a very old brown bear clan.” He pushed his food around on his plate some more as he said it, uncomfortable with this line of questioning. He could talk about photography all night long, but shifting…no.

“You’re kidding me.”

Edouard looked up to see Lincoln laughing.

“What?”

“Bear? It’s just…” Lincoln’s laugh died down and he glanced around the room, as if to be certain no one listened. “…the beard, the muscles…”

Ah. Yeah, that. He was pretty sure Lincoln was gay now. Otherwise he wouldn’t be snickering at Edouard with that sly little smile on his face. Okay, it was a little funny. Guilt-be-damned—he smiled back. Fine, he could be just as unsubtle when it suited him.

“So what does a twink like you shift into?”

“How do you know I’m a shifter?” Lincoln leaned close and Edouard breathed in his scent. Clean and cold, nothing he’d ever smelled before, but also sex and magic, as familiar as it was strange. The combination sent a shudder of lust through Edouard, and one look at Lincoln’s face, eyes sparkling with challenge, and he knew he’d sensed it too. Maybe Lincoln wasn’t a shifter, but he certainly hadn’t objected to being called a twink. Too young for you, Edouard.

“So what are you? Changeling? Fae?”

“No, you were right the first time.” Lincoln sat back in his seat. “Tell you what, I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.”

Edouard, unfortunately, chose the exact wrong moment to take a sip of his water, because at Lincoln’s innuendo-laden statement, it sprayed out his nose and started a coughing fit.

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me. Wake the bear, and I’ll show you what I look like in my other form.”

“No. Of all the people on this island, you’re the last person I’d want to see that part of myself.”

Lincoln’s face stiffened into a smiling mask, and Edouard glanced away. It’s for your own good, kid.

Buy http :// musapublishing . com / index . php ? main _ page = product _ info & cPath =25& products _ id =552

Crossfire of Love by Ella Jade #1.99 #eroticromance

Crossfire of Love's Anniversary Tour 
Crossfire of Love will be on sale for $1.99 for the month of March.
Can an arranged marriage lead to love?

Recent college graduate Gabriella has finally married the man of her dreams, the older, charismatic attorney Lorenzo Martinez. She's had a crush on him for as long as she can remember and always imagined they'd one day find their happily ever after. Unfortunately, they enter into a union arranged by their fathers.

Lorenzo is charming, protective, and loyal to his crime lord father Carlo. When Carlo asks Lorenzo to marry Gabriella he jumps at the opportunity. He's been drawn to her for many years and knows by marrying her he's helping to protect her father.

Gabby is resentful and won't be Lorenzo's charity case. But sparks fly and the couple soon gives into their desire, realizing they were meant to be together.
What happens when Carlo's enemies threaten their future? Will someone get caught in the crossfire?

Content Warning: graphic sex, some violence
Excerpt Lorenzo walked up the porch steps, turning to stare at her. "Are you coming, Gabriella?" No one but Lorenzo and his father called her by her full name. She liked when Lorenzo said it. He'd always made it sound so formal and sexy.

These were the first words he had spoken to her since they left the courthouse. They were married in the chambers of the prestigious Judge John Cartwright. He'd been a family friend of the Martinezes for many years. He was their go-to man whenever they needed something done fast and legally. Well, legal in her new father-in-law's eyes anyway.

She hurried up the steps and followed Lorenzo inside their new home. It was built within a matter of months after she'd agreed to marry him. Carlo wanted them to have their privacy, but he also wanted to keep them close. He didn't trust she'd hold up her end of the bargain, and keeping her on the property was the best way to ensure she wouldn't run.

It was silly, really. How could she run from a family like this? They had ties all over the world. There wasn't any place she could escape to that they wouldn't know about. She was a woman of her word. She said she would marry Lorenzo and she did. She'd find a way to cope. She always had.

Lorenzo pulled his jacket off, poured himself a scotch, and then loosened his tie. "Would you like a drink?"

"No, thank you," she said.

Most brides would be dancing the night away and drinking champagne by this point in their wedding night. She didn't think that was part of Lorenzo's plan.

"I didn't think you'd go through with it." He sipped the amber colored liquid as he looked her over.

"I said I would."

"I know, but when push actually came to shove, I thought you'd run."

"You don't know me that well," she said. "I don't run."

"Good." He smirked as he put the glass to his lips.

Gabby couldn't take her eyes away from those lips. She'd never had the pleasure of having them on her own. Judge Cartwright hadn't asked him to kiss his bride. She hated herself for thinking about him that way.

"You could've stopped this. Why didn't you?" she asked. 

As they stood in front of the judge, she kept hoping he'd put an end to the charade and stop the wedding. It didn't make sense to her why he had agreed to marry her. She didn't have a choice. Her father's gambling debts made sure of that. But she didn't understand why he'd allowed things to get as far as they had.

"I was just as trapped as you were." He downed the rest of his scotch.

She didn't believe that. She knew he respected his dad, but she didn't get why he wouldn't have put his foot down and said no to such a life-altering decision.

"You could've told your father no from the beginning. Why would you agree to marry someone if you didn't have to?"

"Look." He shook his head. "It's done now. We're going to have to make the best of it."

"Make the best of it?" She plopped down on the leather sofa. "I'm twenty-two years old. I just graduated from college, and you want me to make the best of it?"

"I know this isn't what you might have wanted, but it is what it is. You agreed, and now it's done. You can't go back on it now. My father won't forgive that."


Buy Links:   Beachwalk Press    Amazon    Barnes & Noble   About the Author Ella Jade has been writing for as long as she can remember. As a child, she often had a notebook and pen with her, and now as an adult, the laptop is never far. The plots and dialogue have always played out in her head, but she never knew what to do with them. That all changed when she discovered the eBook industry. She started penning novels at a rapid pace and now she can't be stopped.
Ella resides in New Jersey with her husband and two young boys. When she's not chasing after her kids, she's busy writing, attending PTO meetings, kickboxing, and scrapbooking. She hopes you'll get lost in her words.

Author Links:   Site      Facebook Author Page      Twitter

Make Time to Write #wwow

Hi and thank you for stopping by. Today I'm going to chat a little about making time to write. 

Whether you're published or not, I assume if you're reading this you're at least interested in it. In a perfect world, we could plant our booties down in a chair from 8-5 everyday and write until our hearts are content. The words would flow, there would be no writers block, nobody would want to talk to you while you write, and everyone will love your story. Right...perfect world. Doubtful you live there. I know I don't.  But being an author is my choice of a career. And the only way to bring money in is to write. And I don't live in the perfect world I described. I have two kids, a husband, I get writers block and stuck on stories, and not everyone loves each of my stories. 

I try to write everyday if I am working on a story. I don't always have a work in progress going. A majority of the time I do though. 

It's easy to get distracted by facebook or other avenues of life. But if you want to write and be serious about it, even if it's just a hobby, you have to make the time. Even if you devote an hour a day to writing and nothing else, you'll be happy you did. Keep that commitment. Even if during your scheduled time you stare at the screen and pick your nose, at least you were there and committing to the hour. Be sure if you're writing on your computer that you've got the browser closed, your phone on silent. I use a neat app on my cell phone that when I get a text, it responds for me that I'm writing. And then I don't feel the need to check the message. They got an auto-reply and when I'm done, I'll get back to them.

While these aren't dramatic tips on making time, I do hope they help. If you have any tips to share on what you do to make sure you're committing to your writing time, I'd love to hear them. Want More Wisdom? #WWOW or Writers Word of Wisdom - A Smart & Savvy Group of Authors who write a weekly feature for their blog -Writer's Words of Wisdom- each Wednesday. The goal is to impart what we've learned about writing, editing, getting published, book promotion, and more along the way.

Carol Burnside / Annie Rayburn: http://AnnieRayburn.com/blog
Paloma Beck: http://RomanceBeckons.blogspot.com
Tammy Dennings Maggy http://tammydenningsmaggy.blogspot.com 

Interview with Author Suzi Love and #giveaway!

1.Tell us a little about yourself.
I’m an Australian who has traveled around a fair bit and lived in two Pacific Island countries for 14 years. All that gave me a love of discovering the history of places and gave me great love of the weird and wonderful characters I met. When a medical accident stopped me from any more full time work, I decided this was the perfect opportunity to start getting all my story ideas down on paper. Definitely a find the silver lining in every cloud moment but I’ve loved every minute of my journey to becoming a published author. 

2. What genre do you write?
I mainly write historical romance, set around the late Regency to very early Victorian years so roughly 1815 – 1845, and either sexy or erotic historical romance. 
3. Please tell us about your latest release and how you came up with the idea.
Embracing Scandal is the first in my series about five scientifically gifted siblings and the name for this book grew from Lady Rebecca Jamison’s investing in railway shares, something that then involves all the siblings and the challenges they face when an illegal syndicate of their peers threatens their newly-found financial security, and their lives.

Both Becca and Cayle, Duke of Sherwyn, stand up to their critics and ignore the scandal created by a woman trading in shares and involving herself in the steam engine industry, areas that are clearly marked by society as exclusively male domains. They both embrace the changes in their lives and accept that a bit of scandal will not deter them from bringing the culprits to justice via Scotland Yard.

4. Is it part of a series?
In one way or another, all the siblings will eventually ‘Embrace Scandal’ as they battle to save themselves and the destitute women they teach at their Women’s Advancement Society so each book will follow their progress, first to secure the family and secondly to secure their own happiness by falling in love and marrying.

The second book will be published this year and features Lady Laura Jamsion and Cayle’s cousin, two more peers facing society’s criticism when  they take up the battle against more criminals from their own class.

5.  A must have snack while you write.
My must have snack is a mug of tea… and another…and yet another.

Can’t do without my cuppa.

6. A fact that someone might not know about you.
Well, my family and close friends do know this but I hide my secret ‘adoration’ from people who might label me ‘obsessed’.

I have life size posters around my office walls of a tall, dark, and handsome person I admire. And have actually met twice, though only long enough to shake hands and be totally dumbstruck. Sigh!

I read numerous accounts of Keanu Reeves’s generosity to crew on sets etc when he was in Australia filming the Matrix trilogy and was amazed and fascinated by how humble he appeared in interviews. Everyone commented on the high-brow books he read, his quick intellect, his love of chess etc etc… Far, far different to how  he’s often portrayed.  

So Keanu became the real life inspiration for my fictional heroes. Men who are rich, yet rather than flaunting their wealth they give it away to those in need.  Heroes who are rogues and rakes and have lived wild lives yet, being true gentlemen at their cores, would lay down their lives for those they love. Namely, my fictional heroines.

So my excuse is that the posters are purely for ‘writing’ inspiration. Not for drooling over. Do you believe me???? Grin!

7. What type of hero do you enjoy writing about?
I’m laughing here because I’ve discovered that, unconsciously, I create heroes of basically the same type.  Apart from the requisite tall, dark, and handsome, all my men are rogues in their own way and yet, deep down, they live by a code of ethics that marks them as true gentlemen who would never knowingly hurt any of the heroines they come up against.

Though they do have some fiery battles of will when they try to be overly protective and my heroines never like that very much, being strong women themselves.

Thank you so much , Lacey, for having me here and letting me tell my story.

About The Book After Lady Rebecca Jamison, a mathematical genius, saves her family from financial ruin by secretly investing in railway stocks on the London stock exchange, a greedy syndicate, desperate for Becca’s calculations and predictions, murders her friend and threatens the Jamison family, forcing Becca to beg assistance from her childhood friend, Cayle St. Martin.

The newly titled Duke of Sherwyn has returned to London after five years on the continent extending his family’s shipping interests. He’s shunned his privileged London life and his father’s unbending attitudes, and becomes committed to employing the spying tactics he learned on the continent to help Becca indict the syndicate—and using his skills as a lover to seduce her into his bed.

But how will Cayle be able to convince Becca, a determinedly self-sufficient spinster, that he can be more to her than just a protector?

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Check out Chapter One of Not Just Friends #romance #comingsoon

Today I thought I would share with you, the first chapter of NOT JUST FRIENDS - releasing March 29th. This will be the next story in the Brookfield Series. Enjoy this sneak peek. :)

Chapter One

Alyssa Duncan’s alarm clock beeped on the front desk, alerting her that it was her favorite hour in her book store. Closing time.

 It wasn’t because she disliked owning The Reading Corner. No…quite the opposite. This was her time to be alone with all the books. She got to walk around and put each one back in its place. She rubbed her hands down the line of books on the shelves, making sure they were pushed all the way back.

Oftentimes, she would find a book she’d yet to read and would take it upstairs to her apartment. Alyssa was lucky. Her shop was one of the few stores left in Brookfield with an apartment above it. She loved living above her store.
Tonight Alyssa was in the mood for a historical romance. She wanted to be swept away to the 1700s. Perhaps she could read about a widowed duchess and a proclaimed rake. Those were always fun. She skimmed the titles until something caught her attention. One of her regular customers had been in last week gushing about it. Alyssa tugged it from its place and read the blurb.

It was perfect.

She did one last check to make sure everything was in order.  She went to the glass front door to see if she’d locked it, when someone across the street caught her attention. Connor Phillips sat in front of the town’s bakery, The Cookie Shop. A tall bombshell of a blonde was sitting opposite him, giggling. Alyssa could see Connor smiling. He had one of those movie star grins. A slight curl to the lips and it would instantly melt any girl’s heart.

Connor was a friend of hers. He had a secret that she bet none of these women who flocked after him knew. He was an avid sci-fi reader and gamer. The sexy playboy was a deep-down nerd. And that was the only reason he ever had anything to do with her.

Willing herself to look away, she pushed her feelings of jealousy deep within her.  She turned off the lamp on the front desk and left for her apartment. As Alyssa entered her home, she was greeted right away by her black cat Zoe. The cat rubbed against her legs and softly meowed.

Alyssa reached down, picking her up. “Did you miss me today?”

She waited a moment, but as usual, the cat didn’t answer. Zoe leapt from her arms and made her way to a corner, where she bathed herself.

Alyssa popped a frozen meal into her microwave and went to change into some sweatpants and an oversized T-shirt. She pulled her dark locks up into a messy bun. In the bathroom she removed her contacts and put on her glasses. Ahhh, now she could fully relax.

The microwave dinged. She used a potholder to get her meal and plopped down at the kitchen table. She’d begin her book as she waited on the food to cool. Flipping the book open, she read the acknowledgements as she always did. She liked to see who helped the author along the way. As she opened the book to chapter one, her phone chirped, letting her know she’d received a text. She decided to ignore it. She never liked to be disturbed when she read. But whoever it was didn’t want to be ignored, since her phone chirped again.

Alyssa groaned, dug it out of her purse, and read the two messages.

Can I come up? – Connor

Put the book down and let me in. *wink wink* - Connor

She giggled and wondered what he stopped by for, especially since she’d just seen him on a date. The new book he wanted didn’t come out until next week. She made her way back downstairs to the bookstore, where she saw Connor standing at the door, smiling while holding two paper cups she assumed was coffee. God, he was a sight. Dark, almost black hair that he always wore with that just-out-of-bed look, with ice-blue eyes that bore into one’s soul.

She unlocked the door and let him in. “Hey, Connor. What can I do for you?”

He handed her a coffee. “It’s Sunday evening and you’re closed tomorrow, which means you’ll be on a reading binge tonight. Figured you could use some coffee.”

She grinned. He knew her so well. Too bad he’d never see her the way she did him. “I picked up a historical romance.”

“Did you try the book I recommend yet?”

Sci-fi wasn’t for her. She had tried it, but couldn’t get into it. “Soon.”

“I don’t believe you. Maybe we should take a bet.” He leaned against the wall.

“A bet? Are you serious?”

“Dead serious. I bet by the end of the week you still haven’t read it.”

She took a sip of her drink. Ah, her favorite. Mocha with a splash of raspberry. “What are the terms of this bet?”

“If you have, dinner’s on me. If you haven’t, dinner’s on you. And I warn you, I have expensive taste.”

Alyssa’s heart fluttered. Dinner? A meal together? They’d never gone anywhere. In fact, she didn’t know if anyone knew they were even friends.

Connor reached out, touching her shoulder. “Do we have a deal?”

Oh God, she was supposed to speak. She wasn’t sure that part of her was working any longer. “Uh-huh.”

Connor grinned at her, a dimple forming on his cheek. “What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue?”

No, a cat did not have her tongue. In fact, if a cat did, she was pretty sure she’d be screaming right about now, not being mute.

“You kinda threw me off, asking me to dinner.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. Was that something you weren’t interested in?”

Ha ha, there wasn’t a woman around who didn’t want to have dinner and more with Connor Phillips. She just never thought it would be her. “We have a deal.”

“Good.”

Alyssa wondered if this meant he might be interested in her. That he could possibly have eyes for her. As she stared at him with a God-knew-what kind of smile on her face, she didn’t notice at first the blonde bombshell she’d seen earlier was now standing outside waiting. Alyssa glanced back at Connor, who caught her focus and turned to glance at the woman.

“Crap, I forgot about her.”

Alyssa raised an eyebrow. “Date?”

“For this evening.”

Her heart sank. Connor wasn’t interested in her. She would never look like blondie out there. He wanted to take her out as a friend. That was it. It was time she realized it and the fact they would never be anymore than they were. And after tonight, the woman standing out in the cold would know the same thing.

“I guess I better get out there.” He took a sip of his drink and stepped away from the wall.

“Yeah, she seems a little mad.”

Connor leaned closed and whispered to her, “She’ll get over it.” He brushed a light kiss on her cheek. This was the first time he’d ever been that close to her.

The woman outside tapped on the door, obviously not liking what she had seen.

“You better go,” Alyssa said. “Besides, I think my dinner’s cold. I’d just taken it out of the microwave before you got here.”

“Enjoy your meal and the coffee as well.” He waved and then went back out the door, greeting the woman waiting for him.

Alyssa wanted to watch but didn’t. It was hard enough knowing the man she secretly fantasized about was once again out with another woman.

Blurb Can the quiet bookstore owner land the playboy?

Alyssa Duncan’s life revolves around books. If not for the fact the town’s playboy Connor Phillips has a secret reading addiction, she most likely wouldn’t be on his radar…or his friend.  The two personalities just don’t mesh…or do they? She gets a chance to find out when a book-reading bet leads to dinner. Alyssa experiences a wide a range of emotions. She’s elated her beyond-friendship feelings seem returned, but his reputation precedes him. Is she just another gullible female in a string of women? As a relationship begins to develop with Connor, going past the limits of friendship, things grow muddled and complicated when an ex-boyfriend shows up in town and things aren’t what they seem. 

When the dust finally settles, will Alyssa find true love with someone or end up with just another friend?

**Add it to your Goodreads list.**

Making Out In A Truck. #sexysnippets - Opposites Attract (Hot Bods 4) #eroticromance

It's time for the Sunday Sexy Snippets. This week I am going to bring you another 7 sentences from my latest release, Opposites Attract. A first kiss in the same truck they lost their virginity in.

The next thing Francesca heard was her and Randall’s song come from the speakers. She looked at him and saw he was already inching closer. Before she knew what she was doing, her hands were wrapped around his neck, pulling him toward her.

She saw passion flood his eyes, and it took him no time to touch his lips to hers. She froze a moment from the intensity, but as the soft kiss began to heat up, she yanked his body into hers. His tongue thrust inside her mouth, and her world stopped. He could still take her breath away and make her feel complete with just a kiss. Francesca thought she knew what she wanted in life until one stormy night when she got a blast from the past.

When Randy receives a call at his auto shop one night from a woman whose car has broken down and needs a tow, he never imagined he'd be coming face-to-face with his high school sweetheart. Randy has never loved a woman the way he loved Francesca, but she broke his heart, claiming he could never provide the life she was determined to have. That was years ago, but he's still bitter about the way she tossed him aside.

Seeing Randy again, Francesca realizes what a mistake it was to breakup with him. She'd like to try to rekindle the old flame, and she can tell he's still attracted to her too, but every time they're together, all they do is argue. Can she convince Randy she isn't the girl he remembers and that she can settle for love even if it comes without money?

Content Warning: explicit sex

Amazon / Nook / Beachwalk Press / Kobo / All Romance / Bookstrand 
For my Sexy Snippets, be sure to drop by the main page HERE.

See ya next week!