Carrie Ann Ryan's Blog, page 181

Writer Wednesday: Dance Me to The Stars (an exclusive excerpt)

Dance Me To the Starsby Marie Astor
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
Twenty-eight-year-old Claire Chatfield has everything a girl could possibly wish for: looks, a promising career at New York’s top architectural firm, and an engagement ring from one of New York’s most eligible heir-bachelors! Life should be a dream, but when Alec Brunell, a sexy tango dancer, moves into the apartment one floor above from Claire’s, he unwittingly awakens Claire’s old insecurities, making her question her life choices. Will Claire brave her fears and allow herself to take a chance on Alec, or will she continue to play it safe?

In order to secure his place as his father’s successor, thirty-three-year-old David Lawson must settle down with a wife befitting the future head of Lawson Enterprises - and who could fit the prerequisite better than the stunningly beautiful and incredibly bright Claire Chatfield? There is just one glitch – David Lawson is in love with another woman – a Hollywood Legend Claudia Block.

A successful tango instructor, Alec Brunell has never lacked for women’s attention, but he finds himself at a loss when faced with his downstairs neighbor, Claire Chatfield. Upon hearing of his occupation, most women swoon with desire, but Claire runs for the door. Still, her iciness only adds fuel to his fire, as Alec is determined to change Claire’s view of him.

Dance Me to the Stars is a love story about finding one’s perfect match - sometimes following one’s heart is as convoluted as learning the steps of tango.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~


AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Marie Astor is a die-hard romantic who wholeheartedly believes in true love, which is why she writes in the contemporary romance genre.
Marie is the author of contemporary romance novels Dance Me to the Stars, On the Rim of Love, Lucky Charm, and a short story collection, A Chance Encounter and Other Stories.
Currently, Marie is working on her next novel – a first installment in a romantic suspense series that is scheduled for release in mid-summer of 2012.
If you would like to receive updates about Marie’s book releases and events, please visit Marie’s website at: www.marieastor.com and join her distribution list through the Contact page or visit Marie at her Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/marieastorcollectionor Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4665230.Marie_Astor or Twitter: @marieastor.

Books by Marie Astor:
Dance Me to the Stars:http://www.amazon.com/Dance-Me-Stars-Contemporary-ebook/dp/B0078IPNCW/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_3
Lucky Charm:http://www.amazon.com/Lucky-Charm-Contemporary-Romance-ebook/dp/B005BZL3L4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1331599360&sr=8-1
On the Rim of Love:http://www.amazon.com/Rim-Love-Contemporary-Romance-ebook/dp/B005TOWI7K/ref=pd_sim_kstore_3?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2
A Chance Encounter and Other Stories. http://www.amazon.com/Chance-Encounter-Other-Stories-ebook/dp/B004E112TO/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_4

                                                                       ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
An Exclusive Excerpt:“Hey!” Claire saw Lindsay, already seated with a huge cup of coffee in front of her, wave.“Someone looks awake.” Claire took a seat.“Yeah.” Lindsay grinned. “Sorry for barking at you earlier.”“Rough night?”“Very – I had to cover three openings last night. I got home around six a.m., and then I had to organize my notes, so that I could get the report out to my editor. I finally crashed at around eight and then had the pleasure of being woken up by you.”“Geez, Lindsay, I’m sorry – I had no idea you burned the midnight oil like this.”“That’s the life of a tabloid reporter, and ever since the new editor took over, it’s gotten even more intense.” Lindsay shrugged. “But don’t you worry, one day I’m going to write for New York Times, and then everything will be different - no more sweaty nightclubs or teenage celebrities - it will be museum galas and charity balls and socialites.” Lindsay’s eyes lit up.“I’m sure it will happen soon.” Claire felt lame for her platitude, but she was as remote from the world of reporting as she was from dancing. “Should we order? I’m starving and you promised to buy me breakfast.” Lindsay turned her attention to the menu. “I’m gonna have a ham and cheese crepe. Do you want to share a Nutella crepe?”“I’ll just have some coffee.”“You’ve got to have more than coffee – you’ll make me look like a glutton.”“I just had bacon and eggs with David – I can’t splurge on calories like you.”“Please.” Lindsay rolled her eyes. “You don’t need to be on a diet.”“Easy for you to say – you can probably still fit into your high school jeans,” Claire added wistfully – not that she wanted to fit into her own high school jeans – not fitting into her high school jeans was a blessing and she intended to keep it that way.
Marie will be giving away three prizes of custom made jewelry to three randomly drawn commenters during the tour (Continental US only).:  Prize #1: Coral necklace sterling silver chandelier coral earrings set, Prize #2 Blue opal sterling silver plated necklace and Prize #3 Sterling silver chandelier earrings with green aventurine, rose quartz and amethyst .
Stop by more the of the tour by clicking here for more chances to win.

Tasty Tuesday: Dust of My Wings

Oh...my....that....tat....


And here is a snippet from Dust of My Wings! 



She nodded toward the end of the hall, and he brushed against her nipple again. His eyes were hooded, and she bit back a moan.“I’m going to make love to you, Lily.”“Now?”He chuckled deeply. “Yes, now.”“Good.”







Go find our other Tasty Tuesdays!!! Lia Davis & Tempeste O’Riley & Divinities
They'd love to have you! Share this with your friends and maybe we'll get some more Tasty Tuesdays in the future!

A Response to The R Word

Below is something that I don't normally write and I may delete it later...it just had to be said. At least for the moment.

I'm not a political person. I'm not. I'm someone who keeps their opinions to themselves because, frankly, I don't know everything.

Shocker.

And yes, this is my pen name, not my real name. I talk freely with my real name because those people know be and don't rely on me for being a "public figure". (Even though I don't think of myself as that either)

I only know what I think and what I research. So I don't feel informed enough to talk about certain things.

But after reading The Escapist: The R Word, I really had to type something out. I mean...I know everyone won't agree with me, but this is what I have to say.

Rape is a word I don't like to hear.

I don't.

I can read about it, hear about it, and learn about it if I know the information is coming to me. If someone is telling their experience, I will sit with them or read about because I know how hard it is to tell your story. I can read it in books and even write about the aftermath in my books--because I am ready for it in terms of fiction.

But I don't like telling my story.

I don't like letting everyone know that when I was 14, I tutored an 18 year old boy in math he decided to tutor me in something else. He put a knife to my throat and took my virginity. I remember every single thing about it.

Every single thing.

He decided.

I didn't.

He then told his friend that I was easy and liked it so I gained a reputation. His brother was a cop so he got away. My parents were in another country serving ours. My guardian fought for me...but it wasn't enough.

I am long past the need to point fingers and put blame. The man who raped me died two years later because he thought he was a thug and got himself shot in a gang shooting.

I'm not sorry about that.

I shouldn't have to be.

But I shouldn't have to hear the word rape in a funny connotation. I've been hearing it for years in the gaming and university world. Where one person wins a game therefore they "raped" the loser. Or when someone gets "raped" by an exam I give.

Or when I pass by Family Guy on the TV and have to listen to Peter make rape jokes.It's ridiculous.By saying a word over and over again we don't get over it or let it desensitize us. By doing that, we make people who haven't been touched by the rape think it's okay to say those things. By doing that, we make the people who have been touched by rape want to dry heave....or worse.

I'm sick of reading about people being horrible on Twitter, Facebook, or the news, seeing it in my classrooms or out in public.

I can't tell you what to say and you don't have to agree with me. But as with The Escapist, hearing the word in that context brings me back to when I was a 14 year old girl with a knife to my throat.

I don't want to be that girl anymore.

Okay. I'm off my soapbox or whatever the hell it is. I'll probably delete this post later. But I had to write it.

Angels and Demons are Coming!

Howdy y'all!

Guess what happens starting on Thursday? We're hosting a Blog Hop! Me, along with 102 other Authors, Bloggers, and Reviewers are hosting an Angels vs Demons Blog Hop!

We want to know: Angels or Demons...who do you want?

From June 28th - July 1st, you can HOP around the blogs, comment on each and follow their rules, and be entered to win over 100 giveaways.

Yep. I said 100 GIVEAWAYS.

Each blog will have it's own giveaway, PLUS we have TWO grand prizes.

ONE Commenter from the blogs will win a KINDLE TOUCH

another Commenter will win a $60 Amazon or Barnes & Noble Gift Card!

Yep! We're doing THAT MUCH. You can comment on 1 or all 103 and be entered up to 103 times for the grand prizes.

So come around those days and do your best to win!

Good luck y'all!

Manic Monday Updates: Time? What Time?

Happy Monday!!! I'm super busy with edits, hops, drafts, teaching, and kittens! I think my cats are taking up more of my time than ever LOL! They are so needy. But really, I'm just going day to day. You know me, quite boring!




Waiting for:
A new cover and graphics are coming.My publishing company, Fated Desires, also does graphics and COVERS!!! So if y'all need promo goodies, banners, website graphics...and more, let us know! We also have a new website!!Working on:
I have ANOTHER series in mind now. OMG. I need to stop myself!Revisions for Charmed Spirits. I finished the draft last week so I want to do a couple of read throughs before it goes to my editor.Writing:
Enforcer's Redemption (Redwood Pack 4). I'm working on this slowly. I'm trying to get Charmed Spirits done first, but sometimes Adam needs to talk first.Other:
I've joined Pinterest and made boards for each of my books and series. Come on over and tell me what you think. Each board for each book has their characters, covers, and key moments in the book that will help you picture my world.And that's about it! Go on over to other Manic Monday Updates with: Lia Davis , Lacey Wolfe , Fated Desires,   and  The Divinites

Dust of my Wings - Six Sentence Sunday #44

Hi All! Below is a snippet from my upcoming Dust of My Wings (out July 27th!) Thanks for stopping by!!!
“No, keep looking at me, Lily. I want to see your reaction.” He brushed a finger over her nipple through her bra, and she swayed in his hold.“That feels so good, Shade.”             “You have no idea how you look right now, your pale cheeks flushed, her eyes bright. You’re so responsive. 

Fresh Friday Reads: Demons, Shifters, Italians...and Julian. Mmm.....

Welcome to another fabulous week of reading! This week I read a few new releases and some back lists as well. Here are just a few. :-) Tell me what you've read!!


Destiny Bewitched - Leia Shaw

This series just gets better and better! I love reading about Leia's world and diving right in. Geo is freaking hot and so worth taking time away from my day so I can get to know him better! And Sam is a very strong heroine who I want to be when I grow up.

Deemed “trailer trash” by humans and the daughter of the most disgraceful family of witches and warlocks since the Puritan age, Samantha is used to fighting her own battles. When her younger sister is taken to the Underworld, Sam doesn't hesitate to rescue her. To survive the harsh land, she makes a deal with a demon — the most dangerous of creatures in the realm. Even with those lustrous horns, Geo is as hot as the hell she's stuck in. Fighting nasty beasts in a supernatural version of the gladiator games is easy compared to falling in love with a man who has no future to offer.







Cynful - Dana Marie Bell

First, look at this cover. Yum. Just OMG, yum. Okay, I'm back. And, yeah, YUM, can work for this book as well. I've been not-so-patiently waiting the release of Julian's book. When I first met him in book 1, I wanted his story NOW. But then Dana Marie Bell decided to work on her other 40 AMAZING series...so I guess I'm all right LOL.


But WOW. I want Julian. Can I have him?


Amazing writing, plot, characters, just everything!


To save the woman he loves, he must push his gifts to the brink. 

Halle Shifters, Book 2

Julian DuCharme, a rare Spirit Bear with legendary healing powers, is finally free from the threat of death, finally free to claim his mate—but she’s not having it. While his Bear screams it’s time to mate, the love of his life wants to date.

Holding his Bear in check while convincing her he’s not out to control her won’t be easy. She’s stubborn and a closeted geek—in other words, perfect for him.

Cynthia “Cyn” Reyes, owner of Living Art Tattoos, thinks Julian is the hottest thing on two legs. That doesn’t mean she’s going to roll over for his masculine charm. She watched her mother flounder when her father passed away, and she’s determined to never lose herself to someone else. Not even a man who would jump the moon for her, if she asked that of him.

When the women of Living Art are targeted by a killer, Julian doesn’t think twice about pouring out his last drop of power 
to keep Cyn safe. But it’s Cyn who’ll give up everything—her independence, even her humanity—to keep a terrifying vision 
from coming true.

One of his death.


Warning: This novel contains explicit sex, graphic language, a tattooed heroine and the Bear who loves her. Maybe he’ll finally convince her to tattoo him with “Property of Cyn”.

The Sparkling One - Susan Mallery

So I'm starting on Susan Mallery's work. I've never read her before--I know---gasp! But I REALLY liked this one. Yes, I wanted to kick some of their asses and say get into the 20th century, but again, the characters wanted to do the same thing.


I'm going through the rest of the series and her back lists now and enjoying my sefl. Ms. Mallery has found herself another fan.

For the Marcelli sisters of California wine country, the season is ripe for romance!
A party planner extraordinaire, Katie Marcelli loves her big, boisterous family -- even when their chronic matchmaking drives her crazy! In the Marcelli household, fine wine and good food are as celebrated as true love, so when her eighteen-year-old sister announces her engagement, Katie promises her the perfect wedding. There's only one hitch: the father of the groom, Zach Stryker, who is adamantly opposed to his son marrying so young. Now, despite her instant attraction to the handsome, arrogant attorney, Katie must approach with caution: Zach, who hired Katie for a major fund-raiser, holds the fate of her business in his hands -- and how can she trust a man who is willing to break her sister's heart? It will take a passionate battle of wills to determine if wedding bells will ring for a Marcelli bride, and to unlock the deepest desires -- for family, love, and home -- inside a strong-willed man's heart.

A Few Good Men - Cat Johnson

You know, I really like these books. Short, hot, and a great plot. Plus, I love military men.

He has met the enemy…but he’s never fought desire like this.

Red, Hot & Blue, Book 7

Deployed in the deadliest place on earth, Army Staff Sergeant John Blake relies on caffeine, adrenaline, years of training and sheer force of will to get through his days. He has no problem with his tank crew passing around a sexy romance novel, but John’s a fighter, not a lover. He’ll pass.

Winding up as the author’s accidental pen pal wasn’t in his plan, but there’s something about her sweet, caring emails that has him looking forward to checking his inbox.

Week after week, Maureen Mullen, aka erotic romance writer Summer Winters, has dated one loser after another in a quest to find the last decent man on earth. Now it seems she’s found him—halfway around the world. When it comes to falling for unavailable men, she’s batting a thousand.

Gradually, the emails between the war-hardened warrior and the writer of passionate prose heat up to the point of keeping them up warm and wanting at night. Soon they’re wondering if it’s possible to build something solid out of cyberspace, or if it’s just an emotional mirage that will dissolve in the heat of reality.

This book was previously published.

Product Warnings
Contains some steamy phone calls from the war zone and one hell of a sexy first meeting between two strangers who are already in love.

Running Wild - Joely Skye

I've been keeping up with this series because its a shifter m/m and liking it. Pretty short, but good.

The road to believing can be one wild ride.

A Northern Shifters book.

Seamus O’Connor thought his friendship with Zachariah Smithson was just that—a relationship born on one horrific night seven years ago. He never thought he’d end up inheriting the old man’s farm.

Tons of chores and hard work are nothing new for Seamus. The farm comes equipped with all he needs—and something he didn’t expect. Unsettling, late-night visits from Zachariah’s grandson Ri, a man who appears and disappears like a ghost.

Ri has had little contact with the outside world, with good reason. Horse shifters aren’t any human’s idea of normal. Plus, he’s wary of being the next target of the werewolves who took his twin brother. Trust his matchmaking grandfather to give him a reason to come home—Seamus.

As Seamus gradually learns the truth of Ri’s life, their relationship tentatively grows—and danger grows closer. For it was Ri who rescued Seamus on that terrible night long ago. Seamus is about to realize he’s had his own encounters with werewolves. He just doesn’t know it—yet.

Writer Wednesday: Rough Surrender with Cari Silverwood

Please help me welcome Cari Silverwood to the blog! She has a new release that is definitely worth a read!!
Cairo, 1910.When history and BDSM collide, you get a book like Rough Surrender. Romantic yet sexily hot, with the fun bits of history interwoven into the story in a way that helps the plot accelerate and colors in the characters. You’ll wish you could go back to that time to climb the pyramids (which we can’t do anymore), or to watch the old canvas and timber airplanes purr overhead. And of course, so you can also go back to meet my Dom, Leonhardt Meisner and Faith Evard, a woman who is exploring her need for submission.
The Wright brothers only flew a few years before the time of my story, in 1903. Yet in 1910 the first great meet of pilots and their flying machines occurred on the African continent – the Heliopolis, Le Grand Semaine de L’aviation. Here is the time of Rough Surrender. Thirty or forty thousand people attended that meeting.
I modeled Faith’s love of flying her Bleriot plane after the very first woman to get a pilot’s license, Baroness de Laroche. Learning to fly in 1910 wasn’t a sedate affair, and might mean someone running or bicycling alongside the plane you were taking off in, while yelling instructions at you. Hair-raising, I’m sure. So I think you’ll understand why Leonhardt Meisner was horrified at the prospect of Faith flying.
When you put together two strong people with divergent views of something that one of them wants dearly, and then combine sexual attraction and the power exchange inherent in BDSM, you get an explosive situation.
If a man cares for you deeply, and only wishes to protect you from what he sees as a terribly dangerous pursuit, what do you do when you unearth his secret? Can love survive such a deception? Add in a series of murder with bodies being found in the river Nile after the crocodiles have had some time with them, and you have my latest release from Lyrical Press, Rough Surrender.
Blurb:
At a time when airplanes are as new-fangled and sensational as the telephone, Faith dares to fly. The one territory she has not explored is her own sexuality. In Leonhardt she discovers the man who can teach her how a woman surrenders her body and her mind. However, Leonhardt has a shadowed past and his own learning to do. He doesn't have the right to keep Faith from flying, even if he thinks airplanes are flimsy death-traps made of canvas, timber and their inventor's prayers.

Faith has her limits, Leonhardt has his flaws, and sometimes the nicest people get murdered by unscrupulous bastards. Even if Leonhardt can save the woman he loves, the battle for Faith’s heart will be the hardest one of all.

WARNING: BDSM, anal sex, orgasms galore, and a Dom who likes to claim his property with pen, ink and bondage.

Buylinks
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0088P3Z9C
http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-roughsurrender-819094-147.html
http://www.lyricalpress.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=81&products_id=518

This is the website for the book
(educational yet kinky)
http://roughsurrender.weebly.com/
And my website
http://www.carisilverwood.net/
Faith halted at the door, put her palm to the wood while her other hand brushed her fringe back as well as she could without a mirror--needing that moment to compose herself.Liar. Damnable liar. She had let him do that. She couldn’t trust herself.“Leonhardt,” he said.“What?” Frowning, she turned. At least, this time he’d kept some distance, a few feet, between them. Not enough. Her treacherous tongue curled out to touch her lip. Why did she do that? As if...as if she could taste him on the air. Her nostrils flared. She could smell him, though: tobacco and soap and sweat, but even in winter, Cairo would make anyone sweat.“Leonhardt. Call me that.”“I doubt that would be appropriate, Mr. Meisner.”His mouth curved in a small smile. “You lied before. Of course.” He took an unhurried stride forward, brought up his arms and braced them either side of her head.Hell.“If it weren’t for that adorable tongue of yours, I’d have let you go. Now, I’m going to see what you taste like.” He lowered his head.Faith strained away, the back of her skull smacking lightly into the timber.“Don’t move.” Those two words were like nails driving her into place. He covered her lips with his and she gave a muffled groan as his tongue slid into her mouth alongside hers.All resistance vaporized. She fought to stay aware and upright though her legs threatened to collapse and her logical brain had disintegrated into a swirl of lustful thoughts. Nothing mattered except the feel of him inside her. His lips pressed and slid, his teeth caught her flesh here, there...his breath merged with hers. This was a man who knew how to take.His body moved in, squeezing her between timber and man. If she needed to breathe, she must accept what he gave her. If he didn’t hold her there, she’d fall. The world shifted on its axis.Sweet Jesus, she loved it.This time, when he drew away, she kept her fingers hooked into the heavy fabric of his coat. Something hard and long pulsed against her stomach--his manhood. All of their own accord, her hips arched forward. Her panting came a little faster.“We’d best be leaving.” He stroked the side of her face with his knuckles.“Mmm.” Someone had put glue on her tongue and throat“Mmm? You kiss like an angel come down from heaven, sweetheart. Tell me the truth this time, before I let you go. Did you like that?”Before I let you go That matter-of-fact statement shook her. Her eyes swept up, found his--so striking, so intense. She searched for a word to describe them. Animalistic? When eyes were given out, he’d been given the wrong ones--those of a hawk or wolf.She considered lying but couldn’t, not while he held her still in place. “Yes,” she whispered. “I did.”His knuckles feathered over her lips and, on impulse, she licked at them. His eyes darkened.A hiss escaped from between his teeth. “You tempt me too much.” Then he stood, moved back and gestured at the door.It took a moment for her to adjust to the loss--of feeling his body on hers.By the time he slid back the door and guided her toward the motorcar with his hand low on her back, she’d done some thinking. If she’d doubted his effect on her, she now knew for certain. He’d given her an entirely new understanding of kissing. Mr. Meisner...Leonhardt, could own her without doing anything more than saying a single word.He opened the passenger door. Their eyes met.Well, two words. She wasn’t that easy.Don’t move. The memory of her response scalded her. Like a cat on heat, she wanted to lie down at his feet and arch her back. Whatever am I going to do?

Street Pack Members Wanted

If you're interested in joining my "Street Pack" for publicizing/promoting my work, and getting some nifty goodies in return, sign up and me or my admin will contact you (we DO need a way to contact you). Street Pack duties would be passing out postcards to stores and at conventions, posting notes on your blogs/websites when a book is due out, making sure any paranormal lists you have are updated with the release date info, reviews, etc.


Please comment on this post and leave your email address. We'll get back to you as soon as we can.

Tasty Tuesday: Dust of My Wings

Well....what do you think? He's dreamy....And I LOVE his tats.


And here is a snippet from Dust of My Wings! 


She wouldn’t go down easy. Twisting and screaming, praying her neighbors would hear, she tried to break free. His hands dug into her arms, and she screamed again. God, it hurt. He threw her across the room, her body landing on her glass tabletop. Shards of glass punctured her skin, sending fire through her veins. 







Go find our other Tasty Tuesdays!!! Lia Davis & Tempeste O’Riley & Divinities
They'd love to have you! Share this with your friends and maybe we'll get some more Tasty Tuesdays in the future!