Carrie Ann Ryan's Blog, page 184

Fresh Friday Reads: Sexy Wolves, Cowboys, Dukes, oh and More Cowboys

Hi All! I'm in edit mode right now, but still reading!! What have you read this week!


Tangle of Need - Nalini Singh

I love this woman. But you know that already don't you? This book was just about about Riaz and Adria as it was about Hawk and Sienna. I'm in love with Hawke. He's mine. You can't have him. *cough* But Riaz and Adria's story was really heartbreaking. I like how Nalini went a little differently than she did with her other books in this series and she's getting ready to start a whole new plot arc. Highly recommend this series!


Adria, wolf changeling and resilient soldier, has made a break with the past--one as unpredictable in love as it was in war. Now comes a new territory, and a devastating new complication: Riaz, a SnowDancer lieutenant already sworn to a desperate woman who belongs to another.

For Riaz, the primal attraction he feels for Adria is a staggering betrayal. For Adria, his dangerous lone-wolf appeal is beyond sexual. It consumes her. It terrifies her. It threatens to undermine everything she has built of her new life. But fighting their wild compulsion toward one another proves a losing battle.

Their coming together is an inferno...and a melding of two wounded souls who promise each other no commitment, no ties, no bonds. Only pleasure. Too late, they realize that they have more to lose than they ever imagined. Drawn into a cataclysmic Psy war that may alter the fate of the world itself, they must make a decision that might just break them both.

Big Sky Country - Linda Lael Miller

So I really enjoy Linda's books. I love cowboys and she does a good job of bringing a new world to us. I didn't feel the romance as I usually do with her, however everything else was just so amazing, that it made up for it. I'm eager to read the rest in the series!


The "First Lady of the West," #1 New York Times bestselling author Linda Lael Miller is back with a new series about Parable, Montana-where love awaits. The illegitimate son of a wealthy rancher, Sheriff Slade Barlow grew up in a trailer hitched to the Curly-Burly hair salon his mother runs. He was never acknowledged by his father-until now. Suddenly, Slade has inherited half of Whisper Creek Ranch, one of the most prosperous in Parable, Montana. That doesn't sit well with his half brother, Hutch, who grew up with all the rights of a Carmody. Including the affections of Joslyn Kirk, homecoming queen, rodeo queen, beauty queen-whom Slade has never forgotten But Joslyn is barely holding her head up these days as she works to pay back everyone her crooked stepfather cheated. With a town to protect-plus a rebellious teenage stepdaughter-Slade has his hands full. But someone has to convince Joslyn that she's responsible only for her own actions. Such as her effect on this lawman's guarded heart.

A Night Like This - Julia Quinn

Julia Quinn is one of the few historical authors I read. However, I love her. She is so quirky and cute with her words that I fall for her characters so fast! This one was no exception!


Anne Wynter’s job as governess to three highborn young ladies can be a challenge – in a single week she finds herself hiding in a closet full of tubas, playing an evil queen in a play and tending to the wounds of the oh-so-dashing Earl of Winstead. After years of dodging unwanted advances, he's the first man who has truly tempted her, and it's getting harder and harder to remind herself that a governess has no business flirting with a nobleman.

Daniel Smythe-Smith might be in mortal danger, but that's not going to stop the young earl from falling in love. And when he spies a mysterious woman at his family's annual musicale, he vows to pursue her. But Daniel has an enemy, one who has vowed to see him dead. And when Anne is thrown into peril, he will stop at nothing to ensure their happy ending . . .

Endless Heart - Emma Lang

I love Emma Lang/Beth Williamson. LOL. Her cowboys are sexy. Her worlds are gut wrenching. Really liked this book!


She’s learning to live. He’s forgotten how. Love will be their teacher.

Heart, Book 3

Lettie Brown has lived in the shadow of violence. After escaping her brutal past, she’s finally at home in Forestville, Wyoming, where she would live a normal life—if she knew how. She’s content working at The Blue Plate and printing the town newspaper, if not happy. Then a stranger stumbles into her world and turns everything upside down.

Shane Murphy is a shell of a man, destroyed by the aftermath of the war, his personal tragedies and a penchant for cheap whiskey. When he lands, literally, on Lettie’s feet, his future takes a hard right turn.

As they fumble through a relationship that should not have been, a deep love takes root, one that cannot be denied. Together they discover a bond as unbreakable as steel and as undeniable as life itself—until the past rears its ugly head and threatens the happiness they’ve found in each other. 

Product Warnings
Get ready for a deep, intense love story that will leave you crying, cheering, shouting, squirming and sighing. Prepare for a hero who needs to be held, a heroine who needs to be loved, and a story that needs to be told.

Tall, Dark, and Texan - Jodi Thomas

I read ALL of Jodi Thomas this week. I mean ALL of hers LOL. This one was my favorite of the bunch. The way the tough man broke down to be a husband and a father and the was the tough woman let her shell collapse for just a moment to fall in love, made it worth it. Not a sexy book - but a great one!!!!

Teagen McMurray would ride to hell and back to protect his land. He'd certainly never felt that way about a woman. At least not until Jessie Barton showed up with her three little girls, desperate for a place to stay. Suddenly he finds himself proposing marriage, telling himself it is only to protect her and her children ...

Jessie had no place to go except Whispering Mountain --- and to Teagen, the one person who couldn't deny her, thanks to the correspondence he shared with her dead husband. But what will happen once the man she's loved through his letters discovers her tangle of lies?

Two Wild for Teacher - Delilah Devlin

Speaking of sexy books.....Damn. Delilah did it again! I really enjoy this series, though you'll need a cold glass of water to read it with!


It’s double the trouble when two ornery cowboys come courtin’, Texas-style...

Lone Star Lovers, Book 6

Sam Logan’s hell-raising twin sons have a bad rep in Two Mule, Texas. All of it earned. When it becomes clear those two troublemakers won’t settle down without another nudge—make that a boot to their butts—Sam reissues his challenge. Find a wife.

There’s only one woman who’s ever held Mace and Jason Logan’s attention for more than one night. Molly Pritchet, their former teacher. She’s been too worried about a pesky morals clause to let them close, but they’re older now and ready to prove to her that some rules are meant to be broken.

Molly thought her path was clear: always a teacher, never a mother or a wife. Until she finds those two Logan “boys” in her backyard, all grown up and digging around in her business. More accurately, starting her koi pond for her without asking. Well, it’s about time someone taught the Logan twins some manners.

A little mud, a lot of yearnings she thought she’d suppressed, and Molly realizes she’s the one being schooled in the art of indulging in forbidden desires.

Product Warnings
Two hot-as-sin twins romance their former high school teacher. Things are bound to get down and dirty quick as two bad boys tag team to sweep one curvy, sexy woman off her feet.

Finding Redeeming Qualities in a Hero

Finding Redeeming Qualities in a Hero
Heroes and heroines come in many shapes and forms. Traditionally you might expect them to be physically and emotionally strong, leaders of armies in battle or political leaders that really do care about the welfare of the people they govern. They can be musicians that capture the imaginations of a generation or scientists whose groundbreaking work has benefited millions. For all these qualities though, the truth is that no one is perfect. We all have our flaws but heroes transcend the average person and have something special about them that overshadow their weaknesses. My novels are set in the world of Elenchera and, like our world, there are all manner of characters of different social standings and perspectives. Monarchs rule the kingdoms, while councils govern the republics but beneath their pristine residences are the ordinary inhabitants of the towns, cities and villages and it is here where I will often search for the heroes of my novels. There are few, if any, characters in Elenchera that do not have weaknesses or issues that they try to overcome. Some don’t succeed but others face up to every challenge and emerge stronger for it. They are the heroes and heroines whose stories I look to share.I personally believe that heroes have strength of character whether they believe it or not. It’s not always about being physically strong that defines a hero. In Fezariu’s Epiphany my protagonist, Fezariu, is physically strong, being an exemplary warrior in the Merelax Mercenaries but he is an emotional maelstrom, one whose waters began to churn way back in his childhood. Fezariu deals with the scars of an upbringing that was defined by the abandonment of his mother and the murder of his stepfather. While Fezariu leads bands of mercenaries into battle in burning cities we see aspects of a hero in him, but my main focus is the emotional turmoil that is tearing him apart inside. These feelings are Fezariu’s weaknesses and as the novel progresses he has to find the strength to face up to that difficult childhood. Fezariu can’t do it alone. Though he is taciturn and withdrawn, he still makes a trio of friends in the mercenaries, ones that help him to feel purpose and worth about himself, to capture those qualities that are quintessential to being a hero. In my second novel, A World Apart, the two central characters are childhood friends, Demetrius and Eleyna, who fall in love in their teens but due to a series of misunderstandings, Eleyna marries their mutual friend Halcyon instead. Like Fezariu, Demetrius turns his back on the past and fulfils a family tradition in joining the army. Demetrius never forgets Eleyna but he is too physically and emotionally strong to face the future with anything other than confidence. Eleyna begins the story as a somewhat weak character, physically inferior to the two boys she grows up with, but as a woman Eleyna learns to stand tall and fight her corner. Hers is an admirable journey of survival but her strengths, although heroic, ultimately become overcome by her weaknesses, which lead her down a path of violence and hatred. The characters in A World Apart are more challenging to the reader than those in Fezariu’s Epiphany in that they are not as likable. Any redeeming qualities they have are superseded by selfish natures. Demetrius sees a place in the army as the be all and end all of life, even more than devotion to friends and family. The stronger Eleyna becomes the more she focuses purely on her own survival and, like Demetrius, it’s to the detriment of others. I like to emphasise the flaws in characters and their weaknesses when it comes to my writing. At the same time I want the readers to connect with the characters. If they fall, I want the readers to will them to pick themselves up again. If they overcome adversity by drawing on hidden strengths then I hope the reader will be cheering and feel uplifted. Most of all I want my novels to show that ordinary people can transcend their seemingly ordinary status to become heroes and heroines. It’s not about riches or fame, but standing tall and facing up to your challenges, however impossible they may seem.  Fezariu, Demetrius and Eleyna are at their most heroic when they face their fears and the choices they make take into account the feelings of others rather than themselves.

Fezariu's Epiphanyby David M. Brown
12-year-old Fezariu thought his mother died when he was little, but when his beloved stepfather dies the boy discovers she is alive and well - and working at the most famous brothel in all of Elenchera. When she cruelly rejects him it's more than he can bear, and he runs away to join a band of ruthless soldiers for hire. The Merelax Mercenaries will fight for anyone who can pay them, no matter the justice of the cause.

Fezariu grows up among the soldiers and becomes one of them. He thinks his time with the mercenaries has hardened him. But a campaign in his old home town pushes him too far, and he discovers what really happened to his mother. Maybe there are some things money shouldn't buy... and maybe it's time Fezariu took his revenge.
Excerpt: As the hours passed, Redemption slowly came back to life as families braved the streets and began the painful process of putting this latest display of insurgence to one side. Only when the last of the graves had been erected would the residents of the city be able to focus fully on maintaining the prosperous empire Eligantiar had built through its many colonies in the west. The dawn of a new day brought hope in the form of the Eligantians’ continued resilience. Many rebellions they had faced since first landing in Emeraldon but they still remained to this day, defiant masters of the continent with the native valkayans the reluctant victims of relentless imperialism.Only when Vintaro had exhausted his supply of Mizuansi did the trio stand and make their way back into the heart of the city. Their minds and bodies yearned for rest and the warm embrace of the nearest bed to assuage their fatigue. As the trio wandered along the streets they spoke of their first assignment, the adversities that they had faced and how together they had cemented the glowing reputation of the Merelax Mercenaries in completing their task with resounding success.The trio parted ways when they reached the central square. Fezariu returned to the inn where General Bayard was staying and where Arshea had died. He settled in a vacant bed in General Bayard’s room, convinced he would not rest.Fezariu thought over the choices he had made in getting to this point in his life, leaving Alycea and Edward, risking everything by pursuing his dream of becoming a mercenary, and now finding that his hopes of having no one to care for or to disappoint had failed to come to fruition. The Merelax Mercenaries, for so long Fezariu’s sanctuary and escape from the haunting memories of Clarendon, had now left him feeling vulnerable.
REVIEW SOUND BYTESThere are many plot twists and turns in this masterfully written book chronicling the life of a mercenary named Fezariu. Fezariu's Epiphany is a fantasy work on a grand scale in which you enter an imaginatively drawn world filled with many lands and spanning great periods of time.   Jason Sullivan - Different Outcomes and author of The Dark Yergall 
When a reader that normally does not like fantasy novels set in world with unknown names falls in love with a book from that genre, then you know the author did a spectacular job of bringing their story to life for all to enjoy.    Talina Perkins - Bookin' It Reviews/Night Owl Reviews   Night Owl Reviews "Top pick" 
You can almost smell the filth and corruption that permeates Clarendon, a true cesspool of a city. This is a story of how a boy grows into being a man and accepting his faults and redeeming his failures. I recommend it.   William Bentrim - Azure Dwarf and author of The Adventures of Hardy Belch

David Brown could be considered a fantasy fanatic, especially since he has spent the last 10 years developing a 47,000-year history for his fictional world of Elenchera. When converting his obsession into literary form, David commits himself to a rigorous writing and editing process before his work can meet his approval. Combined with the critical eye of his wife and a BA Honors in History and English, David's dedication leads him to his goal of inspiring readers through heartfelt stories and characters.Although David is inspired primarily by fantasy fiction, he also finds his muse in the form of anime, world cinema, history, and biographies. His own books, Fezariu's Epiphany and the in-progress A World Apart, combine aspects from worlds both old and new into compelling tales of a world not soon forgotten., David himself certainly does not lack a spirit of adventure; in fact, he left his job in 2007 in order to spend a month traveling. Second only to meeting and marrying his wife, David counts this as one of the most amazing experiences of his life.
The Elencheran Chronicles: http://elenchera.comThe World According to Dave: http://blog.elenchera.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/elencheraFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/fezariuGoodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11451305-fezariu-s-epiphany (book page)Amazon: http://amzn.to/revenge-saga


 




PRIZE INFORMATIONDavid will be giving away a $25 Amazon gift card to one randomly chosen commenter at the end of the tour.

Dana Delamar and her Sexy Stories

Hi! Thanks so much for coming today. Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Hi Carrie, thanks so much for inviting me to your site! I write romantic suspense and have just released the second book in a series set in Italy among the Calabrian Mafia. I’ve been to Italy twice, fell utterly in love with it, and have written three books set there. The first book I wrote—a contemporary romance—isn’t at all ready for prime time, but it still has a special place in my heart. Someday I may dust that book off and rework it—once I’m brave enough to share it with my critique partner (the amazing Kristine Cayne). I’m afraid she might die of laughter. I tried to cram just about every idea—and style—of romance I’d ever wanted to write in that book. My poor sister is the only person I’ve ever inflicted it on, and she said I need to pick a tone and stick with it—and come up with a coherent plot too instead of a series of episodes—even if they were steamy. ;)Even though that book is a mess, it actually provided the inspiration for the Mafia series—rather than try to fix that book, I decided to start over from scratch. The only thing I planned to keep was the Italian setting; everything else was up for grabs. So I started asking “what if” questions about the premise and the characters, and when I asked myself, “What if the hero *isn’t* such a nice guy?” the concept of him being in the Mafia popped into my head, and the ideas flowed fast and furious after that.
Tell us a bit about your book.
Retributionis about Nick Clarkston, a young Interpol agent, who learns that his estranged father is a Mafia don. Determined to take his father down, Nick goes undercover, posing as a dirty agent, and teams up with his father’s worst enemy. Nick soon falls in love with the mobster’s alluring daughter, Delfina Andretti, who sees Nick as her ticket out of the Mob—until she realizes that he may very well put everyone she loves in jail.
Is this part of a series?
Yes, Retributionis the second book in a four-part series. The series, Blood and Honor, is about the long-standing feud between two Mafia families and the ties—both criminal and romantic—between them. Think The Godfather meets Romeo and Juliet, and you have a pretty good idea of what the stories are about. “Gritty, steamy romantic suspense” is how I describe my books.
What did you find the hardest part of writing it to be?
I had to restructure Retribution a couple times before I felt the story was flowing the way it should. Nick got cut out of my first book, Revenge, and I think he was having his “revenge” on me because of that! He’s the son of Enrico, the hero in the first book, and even though I really, really wanted to write about Nick in that book, I eventually concluded that he deserved his own. True confessions time: there’s a bit more to the story than that. Quite frankly, Nick was screwing up the plot in Revenge, and I ended up with a major case of writer’s block because of him! Trying to keep him in that book was giving me fits and making it too complicated, and I got stalled for a long time until some writer friends gently showed me that taking him out was the right thing to do, as much as I rebelled against it. Despite the difficulties he gave me, I have a major soft spot for Nick—he’s actually the reason the series came to be. Revenge started out as a single title, but with Nick demanding his own story, I saw how much more there was to explore in this world, and the idea for the series was born.
What was your favorite part?
Definitely the sex scenes! They’re always my favorite parts to write. Even though some of my family members and friends think my books are too sexy, I don’t care. I write the stories I want to read. And I know I’m not the only one who enjoys a steamy story!
Rate your story in terms of steaminess
Hmm… something Italian… sports cars, espresso, food… On the sports car scale, definitely 5 Ferraris out of 5! On the latte scale, it’d be a quintuple-shot mocha with extra whip!On the gelato scale, 5 scoops of nocciolato (hazelnut-chocolate)!Okay, I’ll stop there before I start obsessing about chocolate, hazelnuts, and the utter heaven that is nocciolato gelato, which I had to try at least once in every Italian city I visited… *drools on shirt*
Who is your favorite romance author?
J.R. Ward. I love her Black Dagger books!! A close second is Larissa Ione (just got my copy of Lethal Rider today. Squee!). Hmm… sexy vamps, sexy sex demons… perhaps there’s a pattern?
What is your favorite romance book or series?
In the Black Dagger Brotherhood series, my favorite is Lover Awakened, Zsadist’s story. I’ve read it twice, and I almost never do that because I have so little spare time. But that story just grabbed me and wouldn’t let go. I wasn’t a fan of Z earlier in the series, but once I got to know him, I fell in love with the wounded soul behind the snarl. Plus, I’m a sucker for redemption stories.
Who is your favorite romance character? If you could go on a date with that person, what would you do? Details please! *wink*
Well, is it horrible to say that I adore Enrico Lucchesi, the hero of my first book? He’s tall, dark, handsome as sin, and bears a strong resemblance to David Gandy. (Those Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue ads, where Gandy’s lying back in the boat off the coast of Capri, looking all tanned and gorgeous and come hither my sweet? Totally my inspiration! *goes to look at the Gandy pix on her Pinterestboards, fans self, finally remembers she’s doing an interview*) Where was I? Oh yes—the date! We’d go to Capri, this utterly perfect tropical paradise off the Italian coast, have a light dinner at a small café, then find some secluded spot on the beach… and do our best to get arrested for indecent exposure! (Full disclosure: This very date takes place in Revenge. Except—wah—I’m not the heroine!)
Boxers or Briefs?
How about those boxer-briefs from Calvin Klein? Remember David Beckham in those??? *wipes up drool again, makes note to purchase bib and add Beckham to Pinterest*
What is next for you?
I’m hard at work on Redemption, book 3 in the Blood and Honor series. This book tells Antonio’s story. From the very first review that came in, readers have been asking for his story, and I’m glad to finally be working on it! He’s a character who seems to steal everyone’s heart, including mine, which is funny because when I started the series, he was just “bodyguard #2,” but he became so much more once I got to know him.
What were your first impressions of each other?
Nick: I thought Delfina was a total knockout, but she didn’t seem to like me one bloody bit! I distinctly recall her mouthing “Go” at me and looking very unhappy when I tried to catch her attention. I’m not used to having that effect on women, so she definitely intrigued me.
Delfina: Nick can be so obtuse! He couldn’t see that I was trying to save him from my father. That said, I immediately fell under the spell of his sea-green eyes and his heart-stopping, devilishly devastating smile. But I couldn’t let him know that. ;)
What are your favorite parts about each other?
Nick: She’s got the sweetest bum. I can never resist giving it a squeeze.  And I love her mouth. And her eyes, and… well, I just love her.
Delfina: He’s got a great bum too, but I adore his sexy chest and abs. Did I mention he has a to-die-for smile? And I simply can’t forget that he’s put his life on the line for me. That’s true amore! How many women get to say that?
What’s next for you?
Delfina: We’re enjoying married life and thinking about starting a family after I get established in the fashion world. And perhaps I’ll model (for Nick only) some sexy new lingerie I’m designing … but don’t tell him. It’s a surprise!
Nick: Did someone mention lingerie? I love those fancy red knickers Delfi wears! What was the question again? Oh yeah—honestly, I hadn’t thought much beyond how many places in the flat we’ve yet to christen besides the bed… but yeah, kids are next, whenever my lovely wife decides!
Question for readers: Who’s your favorite romantic suspense or paranormal hero and heroine and why?
Retribution description: An Interpol agent playing a dangerous game. A Mafia princess desperate to escape. A man determined to exact retribution…
Nick Clarkston, a young Interpol agent, threatens to undo the fragile peace between the Lucchesi and Andretti families when he tries to take down the Mafia don father who abandoned him. He allies with his father’s sworn enemy, a mobster both devious and ruthless. The mobster’s alluring daughter helps Nick negotiate the murky criminal underworld, but he soon learns she’s using him. Trapped, and with nowhere to turn, Nick makes a tragic mistake that plunges him further into danger.Delfina Andretti appears to be the typical Mafia princess—but this princess wants out. Delfina dreams of being a fashion designer, and hooking up with Nick is her ticket out of an arranged marriage. Her feelings for Nick are genuine, but he’s leery of her. Even worse, his heedless drive for justice threatens to get them both killed and to put everyone Delfina loves behind bars—unless she and Nick can forge a new future for their warring families.An excerpt from RetributionNick turned the music up and caught Delfina’s eye. Was it just his imagination, or had she been admiring his bare arse? “Watching me, were you?” he asked, keeping his voice pitched low.She blushed, roses staining her cheeks. His chest felt lighter than it had in weeks. “I’m not answering that.”He strode over to her and leaned in, forcing her to sprawl back on the bed, caged within his arms. He placed his lips near her ear. “Your blush told me everything. Every single naughty thought you were having.”“Madonna,” she muttered and braced her hands against his chest. “You’re getting a swollen head.”He darted his tongue out and ran it along the edge of her ear. “Most certainly.” He put a knee up on the bed and rubbed his swollen length along her thigh.She laughed and pushed against him, but he didn’t budge. “Time to get undressed,” he whispered. Her hands went to the buttons that ran down the front of the silk blouse tucked into her skirt. She played with the top one. “Now?” she asked, her voice lilting and playful.“Now.” He rumbled the word in her ear and she shivered. “Take it off. I want to see you. All of you.”An excerpt from Retribution: Delfina reached up and stroked Nick’s hair, saying nothing. After a time, his hold slackened, then he pulled away, wiping his cheeks on the sleeve of his suit. She started to sit back on her heels, trying to figure out how to broach the subject of his father, but he took her face in his hands and pressed his lips to hers, stunning her. She started to resist, but he let out a little sound of protest. What could it hurt, really? She relaxed into him. It was just a—what had he called it?—a snog. A silly word for a silly thing. But it did feel good, the brush of his lips on hers, his fingers caressing her cheeks and jaw, the way he tugged her closer until she was sitting in his lap. He kissed her gently for a while, then with a moan, his mouth opened slightly and his tongue sought hers. A thrill ran through her body at the invasion, at his deepening desire for her. They shouldn’t be doing this, she shouldn’t be letting him kiss her, but she didn’t want to stop. He tasted of Scotch, the liquor dark and smoky. She let him in, parting her lips beneath his, her eyes closing and all her senses concentrating on the touch of his mouth, his tongue. His hands left her face, one of them twining in her hair, the other spreading across her upper back, enclosing her in his warmth.She’d been kissed before, but only by boys. Nick was a man—there was nothing tentative about his kiss. Nothing rough about it either, even though he was drunk. He didn’t grind his lips against hers, though their touch was firm, insistent. And his tongue was wicked—light and flickering one moment, demanding the next.Where can I get it?Special bonus: To celebrate the release of Retribution, I’ve put book 1, Revenge, on sale now for only 99 cents! (Note that the sale price is not yet reflected on Kobo.)Revengeand Retribution are available in both paperback and ebook formats. You can find them at these retailers: Amazon (print and ebook) Barnes & Noble SmashwordsAppleKoboSonyAuthor bio and link: An avid traveler, Dana Delamar is forever curious about the various peoples and cultures that make up the world. Her fascination with the darker side of the human mind has led to her love of steamy, gritty stories of strong people pushed to the edge and tested by their circumstances. When she’s not writing, Dana is zipping off to visit new locales, dreaming about her next trip to Italy, or narrowly avoiding car accidents while she conjures up exploits for her characters. You can visit her at http://www.danadelamar.com.
Giveaway info: I’m giving away three ebook copies of Retribution (your choice of format). You must comment and provide your email address to enter the giveaway.

Its A Hero's Blog Hop Sign Up

Hi All!

I'm doing it again! A Blog Hop! This time, along with my publishing Fated Desires and Heartthrob Haven, we're bringing you a blog hop dedicated to heroes. Yep. You guessed it, authors and bloggers will be posting blogs from the POV of their hero. And if you're a blogger and not an author, they'll be posting about why they love their favorite hero!

Starting July 27th and ending July 31st, readers, authors, bloggers, everyone, will be able to HOP from blog to blog and read about heroes, enter a variety of giveaways, and see what books are out there to purchase!

I love doing blog hops and I know y'all love doing them with me! So sign up, copy the picture, and link it to this post so others can sign up as well!

http://www.carrieannryan.blogspot.com/2012/05/its-heros-blog-hop-sign-up.html

Soon, I'll be emailing you with more info and exactly how this whole thing works! So what do you say? Come on over and sign up! We want you!

Redwood Pack Giveaway

To celebrate my bestselling Redwood Pack Series, I'm going a little crazy! I'm giving away a necklace and a $50 Amazon gift card!!! Be sure to follow the instructions and Good Luck!


The Redwood Pack is a centuries old Pack of werewolves led by the Jamenson family. Throughout the ages the strongest of them – the eldest son – has led with power and dignity. They immerse themselves in their land yet integrate within society. Their secrets are held true through strength and trust.Edward and Patrica Jamenson have six sons and one daughter. Each must find their mates and succumb to their fate. An evil shadow is coming and the Jamensons are on the front line. Will you be there to follow their journey? Reading Order An Alpha’s Path A Taste for a Mate Trinity Bound A Night Away Enforcer’s Redemption




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Tasty Tuesday: Charmed Spirits

So...what supernatural creature do you think he is???
And here is a snippet from my WIP Charmed Spirits

She rolled her eyes and squinted until she saw the first building. Ah, downtown Holiday. Still as adventurous as ever. With the ten buildings on main street, it was a regular old metropolis. She already missed take-out and late night movies. No matter, she’d only be here for a few weeks. Two months tops. Then she’d drive off like a bat out of hell—again.


Don't forget to stop over on Tempeste O’Riley for some more Tasty Tuesday!

Manic Monday Updates

So I'm HOME! After two weeks of traveling and family seeing, I'm home. Thank. God. I'm done. LOL. I haven't written a word in so long I'm shaking. So this update will be short. I'm back and ready to roll!

Charmed Spirits will be my baby for the next couple of weeks while I also work on Dust of My Wings revisions  so I can get it to my editor. I'm glad I got a rest though because as soon as I'm finished with Charmed Spirits, I'm off to Adam's book.

Yep.

It's time for that man to get his happy ending. Maybe.

That's all for now!

Go stop by Fated Desires, Lia Davis and Lacey Wolfe for more Manic Mondays.

Fresh Friday Reads: Horsemen, Mysterious Guys, Demons, Sons of Gods, Cowboys, and Changes

So I went on a trip that included 2 five hour flights. I read like 19 books this week LOL. Tell me, what have you read?


Lethal Rider - Larissa Ione

Just Wow. I'm in love with this series. Than was freaking amazing. Hot, caring, and badass. And Regan? Strong, yet in need of him. Totally amazing.


They're here.

They ride.

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

Born of a match between good and evil, four siblings stand between hell's minions and everything they want to destroy. They are the Lords of Deliverance, and they have the power to ward off Doomsday . . . or let it ride . . . 

LETHAL RIDER

Thanatos, the most deadly Horseman of the Apocalypse, has endured thousands of years of celibacy to prevent the end of days. But just one night with the wickedly sexy Aegis Guardian, ReganCooper, shatters centuries of resolve. Yet their passion comes with a price. And Thanatos must face a truth more terrifying than an apocalypse-he's about to become a father.

Demon-slayer Regan Cooper never imagined herself the maternal type, but with the fate of the world hanging in the balance she had no choice but to seduce Thanatos and bear his child. Now, as the final battle draws closer and his rage at being betrayed is overshadowed by an undeniable passion for the mother of his child, Thanatos has a life-shattering realization: To save the world, he must sacrifice the only thing he's ever wanted-a family.

Lucky in Love - Jill Shalvis

We finally meet the Mysterious Cute Guy!!! Sweet, funny, sexy, and all around amazing! I soooo want to be his bad girl!


Mallory Quinn has had enough of playing it safe. As a nurse and devoted daughter, she takes care of everyone but herself. And as the local good girl, she's expected to date Mr. Right. But for once, she'd like to take a risk on Mr. Wrong. And who could be more wrong than Ty Garrison? The mysterious new guy in town has made it clear that he's only passing through, which suits Mallory just fine. Besides, his lean, hard body and sexy smile will give her plenty to remember once he's gone...

For the first time in his life, Ty can't bear to leave. Helping this sexy seductress-in-training walk on the wild side is making him desire things he shouldn't -- including leaving the military for good. As their just-for-fun fling becomes something more, Mallory and Ty wonder if they could really be this lucky in love. After all...anything can happen in a town called Lucky Harbor.

Marked - Elisabeth Naughton

I read this whole series on my trip! Soooooo good. I actually think the later books get even better. The world building is fantastic and I'm glad I had time to actually sit down and immerse myself in it!



THERON—Dark haired, duty bound and deceptively deadly. He’s the leader of the Argonauts, an elite group of guardians that defends the immortal realm from threats of the Underworld. From the moment he walked into the club, Casey knew this guy was different. Men like that just didn’t exist in real life—silky shoulder-length hair, chest impossibly broad, and a predatory manner that just screamed dark and dangerous. He was looking for something. Her.She was the one. She had the mark. Casey had to die so his kind could live, and it was Theron’s duty to bring her in. But even as a 200-year-old descendent of Hercules, he wasn’t strong enough to resist the pull in her fathomless eyes, to tear himself away from the heat of her body.As war with the Underworld nears, someone will have to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Going Cowboy Crazy - Katie Lane

This was a trilogy that caught me by surprise. It was funny, sweet, and just a little bit sexy. I really recommend it if you're looking for a slightly western feel.

DOUBLE TROUBLE
Faith Aldridge wants answers. Bramble, Texas is the only place she can find them . . . as well as Hope, the identical twin sister she never knew she had. But the townsfolk reckon that shy city-girl Faith is really her long-lost sister Hope, back in Bramble at last. And they're fixin' to do whatever it takes to heat things up between her and Hope's long-time flame, Slate Calhoun. If that means rustling her car, spreading rumors like wildfire, and reining in some explosive secrets, well, there's no way like the Lone Star way . . . 
But Slate's no fool. The woman in his truck may look like Hope, yet the way she feels in his arms is altogether new. He's determined to keep thistwin in his bed and out of his heart. Trouble is, the real Hope is headed home, and she's got her own designs on Slate. If Faith wants to avoid heartbreak, she'll have to show a certain ruggedly handsome cowboy that this crazy-impossible love is worth fighting for.

Faith & Fidelity - Tere Michaels

So....this trilogy made me sob. Its an m/m trilogy surrounding two couples. Please go out and read this. Just.....wow.

New York City Vice Detective Evan Cerelli has lost his wife, the only person he ever loved and slept with. He's trying to get on with his life, build a life for his children. Former Homicide Detective Matt Haight is a ladies’ man, all sex/no commitment. He's depressed, having a midlife crisis, and not sure where his life is headed.

The two find friendship in the bottom of a shared bottle. When the friendship turns to love, it shakes two straight men to the core and flips their lives inside out. Kids, families, careers that are not gay-friendly -- can all the love in the world overcome the obstacles to faith and fidelity?

The Texan's Touch - Jodi Thomas

These were historical westerns. I'm soooo happy I found them! LOVE it! LOVE it! I'm going to go read her entire backlist! Just wow!

Captured by Confederate spies to heal their comrade, Yankee doctor Adam McClain realized the man in grey named "Nick" was actually a woman! Her beauty and bravery struck him to the core, and after a brief kiss, she helped him leave her life forever...
Nichole never forgot the man who'd evoked powerful new feelings within her. And months later, she was sent to the Texas frontier to ask for his help once again. But could she also hope for love from this handsome Texan?

SEASWEPT SEDUCTION SERIES By Tracy Sumner

SEASWEPT SEDUCTION SERIESByTracy Sumner

Tides of Passion:


She is his greatest temptation.

He is her forbidden desire.

A battle of wills leads to love.


Spirited Savannah Conner is passionately committed to stamping out social injustice. Yet when she arrives in the seaside town of Pilot Isle, North Carolina, ready to take up a new cause, she quickly finds herself on the outs with the town constable. Zachariah Garrett is the most arrogant, infuriating, maddeningly attractive man it’s ever been her misfortune to meet. And suddenly, Savannah is fighting a whole new battle – this one against her own yearning for a man who is impossible to resist.


Ever since his wife’s death two years ago, Zachariah Garrett has dedicated his life to keeping the peace. So when he sees the pretty newcomer atop a wobbly wooden crate stirring up the crowd, he doesn’t hesitate to haul her off to jail. But Savannah Connor isn’t any ordinary law-breaker. She’s a beguiling beauty with the power to awaken emotions he thought he’s never feel again, and the tenderness to help him forget his fears…and risk his heart once more.
TIDES OF LOVE 
He left all he loved behind...

Will he be able to return and win her heart?
A SPURNED WOMAN

Elle Beaumont has learned life's lessons the hard way--by foolishly exposing her youthful heart to love, only to have it broken when her true love fled Pilot Island, North Carolina. Now Noah Garrett is back, rekindling dreams she'd given up for lost, and turning her world upside down. Elle's girlish yearning for him has become something more powerful than she'd ever imagined.

AN HONORABLE MAN

A man dedicated to science and rational judgment, Noah rejects all notions of romance...until the girl who used to cling to him like a shadow begins haunting his every thought. But even as he struggles to resist Elle's sensuous beauty and the wildfire attraction erupting between them, Noah cannot deny that their passion is as irresistible and endless as the tides of love.

REVIEW SOUND BYTES
“I picked up Tides of Love…just to give the book a quick peak. That quick peak turned into four hours of reading that didn’t stop until I finished the book!”—The Romance Reader
“A powerful relationship novel that explores the heartache and triumph of love.”—Romantic Times


AUTHOR INFORMATION:

Tracy’s story telling career began when she picked up a copy of LaVyrle Spencer’s Vows on a college beach trip. A journalism degree and a thousand romance novels later, she decided to try her hand at writing a southern version of the perfect love story. With a great deal of luck and more than a bit of perseverance, she sold her first novel to Kensington Publishing.
When not writing sensual stories featuring complex characters and lush settings, Tracy can be found reading romance, snowboarding, watching college football and figuring out how she can get to 100 countries before she kicks (which is a more difficult endeavor than it used to be with her four-year-old son in tow). After stops in France, Switzerland and Taiwan, she now lives in the south. However, after spending a few years in “the city”, she considers herself a New Yorker at heart.
Tracy has been awarded the National Reader’s Choice, the Write Touch and the Beacon – with finalist nominations in the HOLT Medallion, Heart of Romance, Rising Stars and Reader’s Choice. Her books have been translated into German, Dutch, Portuguese and Spanish. She loves hearing from readers about why she tends to pit her hero and heroine against each other and that great novel she simply must order in five seconds on her Kindle.

LINKS:

www.tracysumner.com@SumnerTracyFacebo... http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...



PRIZE INFORMATIONTracy will be giving away a Kindle to one randomly drawn commenter at the end of the tour.

A Message from Matt...and Jordan

Hi All! Matt here. I'm just stopping by to say hi since Carrie Ann is in and out of town for another week. When she's not going to graduations, weddings, births, and meetings, she's also working on my book, Charmed Spirits. So yeah, she's a little busy.

But she's always here on her phone in email and facebook or Twitter. So make sure you say hi, because she misses you!

As for me, I have a certain bewitching woman to find...


Okay, so Matt is a dork. But once you meet him, you'll understand why its so hard to let him go...so hard.

*sighs* Anyway, its busy here in Holiday, Montana and wherever the hell Carrie Ann is this week, but she's reading and writing in her free time and loving it.

So make sure you're prepared for it because she has so much in store for you, its a bit crazy.

Thanks for letting us stop by and *shhh* don't tell Matt I stopped by...yet.