Carrie Ann Ryan's Blog, page 189

April 5, 2012

Fresh Friday Reads


Hi All!!

What have you been reading this week? Well, here is what I have bought or read!!! Let me know what you have since I always like finding new authors

Beneath the Skin - Lauren Dane

I'm in love with Lauren Dane. But those of you who've read any of my blog posts already know that. This a great entry into her werewolf world. Plus Gibson...OMG. I want him. Like now. Beautifully written and entertaining.

A whole world exists…beneath the skin. 

Gibson de La Vega is the Bringer, one of the Alpha's right-hand cats. It is his job to mete out justice and defend the law that holds their jamboree together. 

After a contentious meeting with another jamboree, he's shot—Mia stumbles onto the scene and saves his life. He's immediately drawn to the female who dug three silver bullets from his body. Even after he discovers she's a Porter, a family his own harmed grievously half a century before. 

Mia has enough in her life. She's recovering from a vicious hate crime—an attack using silver has affected her ability to do what she loves most. The last thing she needs is a bossy alpha cat like Gibson. A de La Vega no less. 

Despite the myriad reasons to stay away, even as they continue to hunt down the would-be killers, their attraction deepens into something else entirely. 

The answers they find bring that threat far closer to home than anyone could have imagined and it'll be up to Gibson to end the mess once and for all. And up to Mia to stand at his side, even as he risks his life…

Sweet Addiction - Maya Banks

Maya did it again. This was one hot book. I love her other series more, but her Sweet series is always a combustible way to enjoy the day. 

He awakened a need within her… 

Cole is successful beyond his dreams. He can have any woman he wants, but there's only one he can't stop thinking about. His childhood sweetheart, Renita. He's never forgotten his first taste of innocent love and the desire that consumed them—or the pain he brought upon her… 

But now she belongs to another… 

Her long ago brush with submission awakened a longing in Ren that drove her to walk the darker edge of desire. She's become a beautiful woman at ease with her sexuality and unapologetic about her need for a dominant man. When Cole finds her again, he's gutted that she belongs to another. Ren's current master agrees to give her to Cole for a short time, but then she must return to his keeping. And though Cole agrees to this bargain, he knows he will never be able to let Ren go again…

The Duke's Perfect Wife - Jennifer Ashley

Hart's book!!!! This series restored my faith in historicals. I had always gotten bored after a few series, honestly. But this one is amazing. Ian's book is still my favorite because he was just an intriguing character, but Hart stole a piece of my heart.

Lady Eleanor Ramsay is the only one who knows the truth about Hart Mackenzie. Once his fiancee, she is the sole woman to whom he could ever pour out his heart. 

Hart has it all--a dukedom, wealth, power, influence, whatever he desires. Every woman wants him--his seductive skills are legendary. But Hart has sacrificed much to keep his brothers safe, first from their brutal father, and then from the world. He's also suffered loss--his wife, his infant son, and the woman he loved with all his heart though he realized it too late. 

Now, Eleanor has reappeared on Hart's doorstep, with scandalous nude photographs of Hart taken long ago. Intrigued by the challenge in her blue eyes--and aroused by her charming, no-nonsense determination--Hart wonders if his young love has come to ruin him . . . or save him.

Wrath - Denise Tompkins

This is Denise's second book and didn't disappoint. Legacy, the first book in the series, was my favorite new author of 2011. I'm so proud of this woman and her world I could burst.

Haunted by personal betrayal, stalked by a murderer and taunted by destiny. Finding justice—not to mention a little faith—has never been so hard. 

A murderer is terrorizing the streets of London, targeting women who look suspiciously like Maddy. Under the mantle of darkness, the killer attacks his victims from behind, severing their heads with startling efficiency and single-minded brutality. A single gold coin is left at the scene of every crime, buried in the neck of each victim. Nothing adds up, and the deeper Maddy gets into the investigation, the more she learns that there are hostile eyes in every faction—some malicious, others murderous. 

Amid her struggles to stop a seemingly unstoppable killer, Maddy learns that dreams are far too fragile to juggle. Her newfound love is crumbling around her under the burdens of guilt and blame, and where one man abandons her, another is slated by the gods to take his place. Defiant, Maddy finds her struggles with free will versus destiny have only just begun. 

Figuring out whom she should trust, and when, will force Maddy to reassess her alliances…and reaffirm her fragile mortality. 

Warning: Contains Scottish and Irish brogues, heads that—literally—roll, seriously random acts of violence, heartbreak and hope, explicit m/f sex in a variety of locations, a voyeuristic vampire and one dinner table that will never be the same.

I've also read/bought this week (because I could only pick 4 LOL):

Magic without Mercy - Devon Monk
About the Night - Julie James
Hunter's Rise - Shiloh Walker
Skies of Fire - Zoe Archer
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Published on April 05, 2012 21:01

Fresh Friday Reading


Hi All!!

What have you been reading this week? Well, here is what I have bought or read!!! Let me know what you have since I always like finding new authors

Beneath the Skin - Lauren Dane

I'm in love with Lauren Dane. But those of you who've read any of my blog posts already know that. This a great entry into her werewolf world. Plus Gibson...OMG. I want him. Like now. Beautifully written and entertaining.

A whole world exists…beneath the skin. 

Gibson de La Vega is the Bringer, one of the Alpha's right-hand cats. It is his job to mete out justice and defend the law that holds their jamboree together. 

After a contentious meeting with another jamboree, he's shot—Mia stumbles onto the scene and saves his life. He's immediately drawn to the female who dug three silver bullets from his body. Even after he discovers she's a Porter, a family his own harmed grievously half a century before. 

Mia has enough in her life. She's recovering from a vicious hate crime—an attack using silver has affected her ability to do what she loves most. The last thing she needs is a bossy alpha cat like Gibson. A de La Vega no less. 

Despite the myriad reasons to stay away, even as they continue to hunt down the would-be killers, their attraction deepens into something else entirely. 

The answers they find bring that threat far closer to home than anyone could have imagined and it'll be up to Gibson to end the mess once and for all. And up to Mia to stand at his side, even as he risks his life…

Sweet Addiction - Maya Banks

Maya did it again. This was one hot book. I love her other series more, but her Sweet series is always a combustible way to enjoy the day. 

He awakened a need within her… 

Cole is successful beyond his dreams. He can have any woman he wants, but there's only one he can't stop thinking about. His childhood sweetheart, Renita. He's never forgotten his first taste of innocent love and the desire that consumed them—or the pain he brought upon her… 

But now she belongs to another… 

Her long ago brush with submission awakened a longing in Ren that drove her to walk the darker edge of desire. She's become a beautiful woman at ease with her sexuality and unapologetic about her need for a dominant man. When Cole finds her again, he's gutted that she belongs to another. Ren's current master agrees to give her to Cole for a short time, but then she must return to his keeping. And though Cole agrees to this bargain, he knows he will never be able to let Ren go again…

The Duke's Perfect Wife - Jennifer Ashley

Hart's book!!!! This series restored my faith in historicals. I had always gotten bored after a few series, honestly. But this one is amazing. Ian's book is still my favorite because he was just an intriguing character, but Hart stole a piece of my heart.

Lady Eleanor Ramsay is the only one who knows the truth about Hart Mackenzie. Once his fiancee, she is the sole woman to whom he could ever pour out his heart. 

Hart has it all--a dukedom, wealth, power, influence, whatever he desires. Every woman wants him--his seductive skills are legendary. But Hart has sacrificed much to keep his brothers safe, first from their brutal father, and then from the world. He's also suffered loss--his wife, his infant son, and the woman he loved with all his heart though he realized it too late. 

Now, Eleanor has reappeared on Hart's doorstep, with scandalous nude photographs of Hart taken long ago. Intrigued by the challenge in her blue eyes--and aroused by her charming, no-nonsense determination--Hart wonders if his young love has come to ruin him . . . or save him.

Wrath - Denise Tompkins

This is Denise's second book and didn't disappoint. Legacy, the first book in the series, was my favorite new author of 2011. I'm so proud of this woman and her world I could burst.

Haunted by personal betrayal, stalked by a murderer and taunted by destiny. Finding justice—not to mention a little faith—has never been so hard. 

A murderer is terrorizing the streets of London, targeting women who look suspiciously like Maddy. Under the mantle of darkness, the killer attacks his victims from behind, severing their heads with startling efficiency and single-minded brutality. A single gold coin is left at the scene of every crime, buried in the neck of each victim. Nothing adds up, and the deeper Maddy gets into the investigation, the more she learns that there are hostile eyes in every faction—some malicious, others murderous. 

Amid her struggles to stop a seemingly unstoppable killer, Maddy learns that dreams are far too fragile to juggle. Her newfound love is crumbling around her under the burdens of guilt and blame, and where one man abandons her, another is slated by the gods to take his place. Defiant, Maddy finds her struggles with free will versus destiny have only just begun. 

Figuring out whom she should trust, and when, will force Maddy to reassess her alliances…and reaffirm her fragile mortality. 

Warning: Contains Scottish and Irish brogues, heads that—literally—roll, seriously random acts of violence, heartbreak and hope, explicit m/f sex in a variety of locations, a voyeuristic vampire and one dinner table that will never be the same.

I've also read/bought this week (because I could only pick 4 LOL):

Magic without Mercy - Devon Monk
About the Night - Julie James
Hunter's Rise - Shiloh Walker
Skies of Fire - Zoe Archer
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Published on April 05, 2012 21:01

April 4, 2012

It's my Birthday Friday, so I threw a Birthday BlogHop!

Happy Birthday to me!!! (LOL)

Yep. I'm offically *cough* 26 on April 6th. Le sigh. To my students, I am old. To everyone else, they say I'm a baby. I just say I'm me. *shrugs* Every year I usually work and spend time with the hubby. Yes, I'm boring, but what can I say. This year, my friend and fellow author Angela Stone, is coming down from Canada to visit on her way to RT, so I'm going to have a blast!!

But anyway, I'm here to share an awesome blog hop with y'all!!!! Over 60 authors and bloggers are doing giveaways on their blogs. Plus, we are giving away TWO grand prizes.

All you need to do to enter is comment with your email and sign up for my newsletter (if you're already signed up, your're already entered for that part) You can sign up HERE.


Now what are we giving away?


1) A Kindle Touch
2) A $60 Amazon or Barnes&Noble Gift Card.


PLUS I'm giving away an autographed swag pack and this necklace to a lucky commenter!!!

So please! Hop around and have fun and talk about your favorite birthdays!!!


Oh and since you're here, I thought I'd talk about my release from this week, Trinity Bound
AmazonBarnes&Noble, and ARe


Trinity Bound Blurb
Hannah Lewis, a rare earth witch, is taken from the only life she's ever known. Held at her will by a sadistic wolf, she almost gives up hope that she'd ever see her real life again. But as her fellow captive, a werewolf named Reed, tries to calm her fears, she begins to feel a spark of something she never thought she'd feel – love. But is Reed, alone, enough to get her out of this dark basement so she can move on with her life?Reed Jamenson, the artist of a werewolf Pack of Alpha males, knows instinctually that Hannah is his mate. Thus, despite their imprisonment, he will do all to protect her and then worry about their hearts. But is he strong enough to find a way for both of them to escape? And why does he feel as though something else is missing?Josh Kolb, an ex-military human, stumbles upon Reed and Hannah and finds he must trust this new world of supernatural beings to survive. But that desire will lead the three to a triangle of attraction that will test the boundaries they all possess and its consequences in defeating the enemy. Can they all trust one another to save themselves and life as they know it? Even at the cost of their own hearts?




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Published on April 04, 2012 21:01

April 3, 2012

Tortured Heroes with Rebecca Royce

Tortured Heroes
Why do we torture our heroes so?  Oh the poor, sweet (sometimes), good (sometimes), men that our heroines love.  How we torment you!!
But why do we do it?  Because, well, who doesn't love a tortured soul? We love to love them, we love to save them, we love to redeem them.  Following them in this journey is half the fun of reading a romance and taking them on that journey is half the fun for the author. 
In Love Beyond Sight, the hero, Samuel Quinn carries burn marks all over his body.  He can't stand the idea of the heroine, Eden, rejecting him so he does not show her his true face.  One of his powers is shape shifting so Eden does not get to se him, not in his real form.  The problem?  She can't fall in love with anyone but her soul mate and he just doesn't look…right to her.
Plus, they have a demon after them and a war to enter.  I'd say Samuel is tortured.  Poor guy.
As a teenager, Rebecca Royce would hide in her room to read her favorite romance novels when she was supposed to be doing her homework. She hopes, these days, that her parents think it was well worth it.Rebecca is the mother of three adorable boys and is fortunate to be married to her best friend. They live in northern New Jersey and try not to freeze too badly during the winter months.She's in love with science fiction, fantasy, and the paranormal and tries to use all of these elements in her writing. She's been told she's a little bloodthirsty so she hopes that when you read her work you'll enjoy the action packed ride that always ends in romance. Rebecca loves to write series because she loves to see characters develop over time and it always makes her happy to see her favorite characters make guest appearances in other books.In Rebecca Royce's world anything is possible, anything can happen, and you should suspect that it will.
Blurb:
In Love Beyond Sanity, Eden Roan awoke in a mental hospital, unsure of how she got there. Nearly discovered by a demon, she is rescued by a voice in her mind who saves her life by transforming her figure into something the demon doesn't want to look at.  The voice tells her she is his but that they will never, ever meet.  As time progresses, Eden becomes more and more convinced that the voice is just her imagination playing tricks on her.  It can't possibly be her destined soul mate.Or can it?
Samuel Quinn was horribly disfigured by the demon when he was a child.He can't stand looking at himself and does not want Eden to see him.Luckily, his powers allow him to hide himself using other people's features as his own.  But when Eden needs him, Samuel will have to step forward to save her even if he can never let her see the real him.
Can there be love without sight? Or will the demon finally have them all just where he wants them?
ExcerptI'm alone in the house.             Eden Roan swallowed away the lump in her throat.  Why hadn't she known everyone was leaving? Her heart rate picked up, thumping hard against her ribcage. She hadn't been alone in six months. Not since Charma and Marina had found her, nearly comatose, locked up in a mental institution in New Jersey.              She swung around calling out into the living.  "Hello? Anyone here?"              Even as she called out, she knew she need not have bothered. No one was home.  She could feel the emptiness around her.  Loneliness assaulted her soul and she nearly doubled over from the feeling before she pulled herself together.  Wow.  She was being really, really ridiculous.              It didn't mean anything that everyone had left and no one had said goodbye.  Probably, they didn't mean to all leave. Each one must have thought someone else remained in the house.  No way, no how would she be left, by herself, in their huge house on their private island in Maine.              Except that it was December and getting back and forth from the island in the middle of winter took advanced planning.  They would have all have had to board the boat at the same time.  Marina would have had to spell cast the water to keep it calm…            No, there was something terribly wrong.  She took off at a run. Her large, sturdy feet bracing her body for the run she made down the hall.  Sebastian, the demon, must have gotten to them.  They were all dead. That was the only explanation.              "I've got your mind, Eden."  She heard the voice of the demon resonate through the halls of the too empty house.  Even though she had personally never spoken with him before, she had no doubt he was who tormented her now.  "I've killed the others and now I'll spend eternity torturing you with just what I want you to see."  

www.rebeccaroyce.com


Current and Upcoming Works
The OutsidersLove Beyond TimeLove Beyond Sanity Love Beyond Loyalty Love Beyond Sight
Westervelt WolvesHer WolfSummer's WolfWolf RebornWolf's ValentineWolf's MagicAlpha WolfAngel's WolfDarkest Wolf (coming soon.)
The WarriorInitiationDriven
The ConditionedEye ContactEmbraced
Sexy SuperheroesScrewing the SuperheroBanging the Superhero
Other WorksBehind The Scenes First DimensionYes, CaptainReturn to the SeaOne Night With A WolfAnother ChanceLight Me UpI'll Be Mated For Christmas 
Rebecca will be giving away a $50 Amazon.com GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Be sure to leave your email.
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Published on April 03, 2012 21:01

April 2, 2012

Tasty Tuesday - A Night Away


Welcome to Tasty Tuesday!! Isn't he delish? What do you think his name would be if he were a werewolf? Hmm.... *drools*
Tasty Tuesday is a chance every Tuesday to see some drool-worth men and read an excerpt from our WIPs. Head over to Tempeste's when you have a chance to read some more!
And here is an excerpt from my current WIP, A Night Away, book 3.5 in the Redwood Pack Series.

He left Finn's room and walked to kitchen where Mel stood in one of his old T-shirts and a pair of volley-ball shorts. She rocked from foot to foot, a cookie in hand, and her eyes closed, as she hummed a tune off-key.Damn. His woman was sexy.Kade prowled behind her, the gold glow of his eyes, evidence of his arousal, marking his path. He wrapped his calloused palms around her hips and she swiveled. His erection dug into his zipper and he growled.
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Published on April 02, 2012 21:01

April 1, 2012

A Birthday BlogHop is Coming!

Hi All!

April 6th is my birthday. Watch out! LOL. And to celebrate, around 60 of my author and blogger friends are hosting a hop for two days!! Whoot!

Each author is going to talk about their favorite birthdays or why they love (or hate) them. Really its a free for all because I actually like birthdays.

What does that mean for you as a reader?

Well, each author is giving away a prize at their blog. AND we're giving away TWO grand prizes.

1) A Kindle Touch
2) A $60 Amazon or Barnes & Noble Gift Card

Yep. You can comment on each blog and enter to win! How great is that? So on April 5th the hop begins and you have until 11:59PM on the 6th to participate!

Thanks so much and I hope to see you there!!!
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Published on April 01, 2012 21:01

March 31, 2012

Trinity Bound - Six Sentence Sunday #34

Hi!

Thanks for coming y'all!!!! I had a WONDERFUL release day of Trinity Bound on Friday! I hope y'all got a chance to check it out. If not, you can find it here:

AmazonBarnes&Noble, and ARe

Here is a snipped of what Reed is feeling when he sees Hannah and Josh.


He was too busy looking at the rosy-cheeked beauty walking towards them.Still barefoot, she'd wrapped herself in one of the furs on the mantel and looked like a sexy cavewoman with her curly hair going every which way.Reed rubbed the back of his neck, trying to release some of the sexual tension piling onto the tension from their imprisonment. His cock rubbed against the zipper of his jeans, threatening to leave a permanent scar. Tingles shot up his arms as her bitter apple and honey scent floated on the air to him, mixing with Josh's ponderosa pine and he held back a groan. These two would be the death of him.
Thanks so much for coming!!!!
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Published on March 31, 2012 21:01

March 29, 2012

Trinity Bound Release Day!!!!


Its here! Its here! Can you believe it?!?!? Trinity Bound is the third book in the Redwood Pack series and is Reed, Hannah, and Josh's book.

You can find it here:

AmazonBarnes&Noble, and ARe

Please go out and enjoy it! I'm soooo happy right now! LOL


Trinity Bound Blurb
Hannah Lewis, a rare earth witch, is taken from the only life she's ever known. Held at her will by a sadistic wolf, she almost gives up hope that she'd ever see her real life again. But as her fellow captive, a werewolf named Reed, tries to calm her fears, she begins to feel a spark of something she never thought she'd feel – love. But is Reed, alone, enough to get her out of this dark basement so she can move on with her life?Reed Jamenson, the artist of a werewolf Pack of Alpha males, knows instinctually that Hannah is his mate. Thus, despite their imprisonment, he will do all to protect her and then worry about their hearts. But is he strong enough to find a way for both of them to escape? And why does he feel as though something else is missing?Josh Kolb, an ex-military human, stumbles upon Reed and Hannah and finds he must trust this new world of supernatural beings to survive. But that desire will lead the three to a triangle of attraction that will test the boundaries they all possess and its consequences in defeating the enemy. Can they all trust one another to save themselves and life as they know it? Even at the cost of their own hearts?
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Published on March 29, 2012 21:02

Fresh Friday Reads

Hi!

What have you read this week!?

Well I hope its Trinity Bound! Its out TODAY!!!!

You can find it on:

Amazon, Barnes&Noble, and ARe


Trinity Bound Blurb
Hannah Lewis, a rare earth witch, is taken from the only life she's ever known. Held at her will by a sadistic wolf, she almost gives up hope that she'd ever see her real life again. But as her fellow captive, a werewolf named Reed, tries to calm her fears, she begins to feel a spark of something she never thought she'd feel – love. But is Reed, alone, enough to get her out of this dark basement so she can move on with her life?Reed Jamenson, the artist of a werewolf Pack of Alpha males, knows instinctually that Hannah is his mate. Thus, despite their imprisonment, he will do all to protect her and then worry about their hearts. But is he strong enough to find a way for both of them to escape? And why does he feel as though something else is missing?Josh Kolb, an ex-military human, stumbles upon Reed and Hannah and finds he must trust this new world of supernatural beings to survive. But that desire will lead the three to a triangle of attraction that will test the boundaries they all possess and its consequences in defeating the enemy. Can they all trust one another to save themselves and life as they know it? Even at the cost of their own hearts?
Darkest Wolf - Rebecca Royce
Oh I love this series. It just keeps getting better and better. And all of you know how much I love Rebecca. If you haven't tried out this series yet, you're missing something!

Rex Kane has always known he was different than his brothers, down to the fact that when he shifts into his wolf form, his coat is completely black. Always in trouble, he is given one more chance by his brother Tristan, the Alpha of the Westervelt pack, to bring back to their island a witch who can stop some of the magical assault that has plagued their war-torn home. Rex knows he has one last chance to set things right. Everything depends on him and he cannot fail.

Elizabeth Willow has been cursed to look so repulsive no human eyes can bear to view her. Raised in a gentle coven of witches, she is ill prepared for the realities of the harsh world she now lives in. Raised to mistrust wolf-shifters as witch-killers, she cannot seem to help being drawn to Rex. Even if she doesn't believe she is his so-called mate. He can see her as she really is and is the first person to look her in the eyes in years. Although she is not naturally devious, she sees no choice but to use Rex to gain her own freedom and her families' safety.

Together, Rex and Elizabeth will see just how evil the people around them can be. If they can trust their hearts, perhaps they will survive another night. If not, both of their battles will never be won.
 


Lover Reborn - JR Ward
So I've been waiting for this book for so long. I'm not part of Warden's crew, but I'm darned close. This book was soooooo emotional, be sure to bring a box of tissues.I REALLY REALLY want Quinn and Blay's book. Just saying.
In the darkest corners of the night in Caldwell, New York, a conflict like no other rages. The city is home to a band of brothers born to defend their race: the warrior vampires of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. 

Now back in the Brotherhood - and unrecognisable as the vampire leader he once was - Tohrment is physically emaciated and heartbroken beyond despair. When he begins to see his beloved in his dreams - trapped in a cold, isolating netherworld - Tohr turns to a self-serving fallen angel in hopes of saving the one he has lost. When he's told he must learn to love another to free his former mate, Tohr knows they are all doomed . . . 

Except then a female with a shadowed history begins to get through to him. Against the backdrop of the raging war with the lessers, and with a new clan of vampires vying for the Blind King's throne, Tohr struggles between the buried past, and a very hot, passion-filled future . . . but can his heart let go and set all of them free? 

Bear Meets Girl - Shelley Laurenston
This is such a funny snarky series that I love reading it when I need to step away from the hard core sad novels LOL. I wasn't really waiting to read about this couple, but I'm still glad I did. Shelley did it again!
He's big, burly, and way smarter than your average shapeshifting bear. He's also about to get trapped by own his game. . .Lou Crushek is a reasonable, mellow, easygoing kind of guy. But once someone starts killing the scumbags he works so hard to bust, that really gets under his fur. Especially when that someone is a curvy she-tiger with a skill set that's turning Crush's lone-bear world upside down--and bringing his passion out of hibernation. . .As a member of an elite feline protection unit, Marcella Malone has no problem body-dropping anyone who hunts her kind. But Crush is proving one major pain in her gorgeous tail. The only reason she's joined forces with him is to track down the wealthy human who's got her entire species in his ruthless sights. It sure isn't because Crush's stubborn and contrary attitude is rubbing Cella in all the right ways. . .

Wanted: Undead or Alive - Kerrelyn Sparks
Dr. Phang is in the house!!! I'm sooo happy he ended up with Bryn and not that WOMAN with the tabasco. I loved Bryn and her brother so I'm glad that Phineas got a story of his own. So sexy, funny, smart, and awesome.
He's a vampire from the big city . . . 

Phineas McKinney thought New York City was tough, until he was attacked by Malcontents—evil vampires who consider mortals to be snacks. Saved by the good vampires, Phin swore to devote his now undead life to stopping the Malcontents. He's got his job cut out for him when word comes that their enemy may be hiding in Wyoming. What does a city boy like him know about horses and campfires? Good thing he's got Brynley Jones with him . . . if only she didn't hate every vampire on earth. 

She's a werewolf princess . . . 

Bryn believes vampires are seductive and charming, and that makes them dangerous. So she's more than a little annoyed about teaming up with Phin, even if he is the only bloodsucker able to make her inner wolf purr. But as they hunt down the new leader of the Malcontents, danger threatens . . . and Phineas and Brynley discover a passion that will rock the foundation of their supernatural world. 

I've also read and/or bought this week:
A Perfect Storm - Lori FosterA Week to be Wicked - Tessa DareHot Under Pressure - Louisa EdwardsJericho Junction - Marie HarteLove Beyond Sight - Rebecca RoyceOmegas in Love - Annie Nicholas
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Published on March 29, 2012 21:01

March 28, 2012

An Interview with Liz Crowe

Hi! Thanks so much for coming today. Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I own a craft microbrewery. I pay a bunch of guys to brew beer for me. I also handle everything marketing/sales/promotions related to the brewery and I blog as the A2 Beer Wench…with a following that is rabid at best.  I started writing fiction in earnest about 3 years ago with this very series, that started life as a large novel with a sequel. I was once a Realtor. A pretty good one at that. I channeled my experiences and my "hmm..what would happen if…" to create this series.
Tell us a bit about your book.
The Realtors is an epic novel of a couple. Jack and Sara are real, compelling, extraordinarily imperfect and at times aggravating individuals that so far, are charming reviewers and readers alike.  I chronicle their growth, development, faults, failures, triumphs and tragedies alike and like to think these two bring an intensity to a non-traditional romance story that will make you clamor for more.
Is this part of a series?
Yes Floor Time released Jan. 25Sweat Equity Feb. 25 and the final chapter, Closing Costs will release March 25.
What did you find the hardest part of writing it to be?
Depends on what stage I'm at. While in creative mode I struggle with not becoming obsessed with the manuscript. While in editing I am in constant ego rasslin' mode. Once past that I'm trying to balance promotion with not being too annoying.
What was your favorite part?
Creative, without a doubt.
Rate your story in terms of steaminess
All three books in the Realtors series are (and according to reviewers I'm not exaggerating) Off The Wall Hot, cold shower inspiring, fan-your-face H-O-T. 2 scenes in particular are worth noting from Floor Time:The Hallway (Jack and Sara's first actual "encounter')The Open House (you will never attend one with the same perspective ever again.
And from Sweat EquityAt the Stewarts Party…after the "Olympics"The Swim Lesson
Who is your favorite romance author?
Okay, here is true confessions time. I am not a mainstream romance reader. Many of the names that get tossed around I have to look up to have a frame of reference for.  I am a mainstream fiction reader, always have been.  I have a few "go-to" erotic romance authors like Shayla Black, Lauren Dane,  JR Ward for my vamp fix, and I am really getting attached to a few new ones like Laura Harner, Lee Brazil, Nina Peirce, Laura Kaye and Roni Loren.
What is your favorite romance book or series?
Yeah, so, I'm gonna just say that I don't have one. I got briefly attached to the Black Dagger Brotherhood but am willing to wait for my library copy of the next one. Most series fiction is paranormal these days and that is just not my cup of tea, generally speaking.  There is a 3 book series by Lauren Dane I really like though.
Who is your favorite romance character? If you could go on a date with that person, what would you do? Details please! *wink*
Jack Gordon. My guy from the Realtors. And I am gonna let him wine and dine me like only a guy like he can. Period.
Boxers or Briefs?
Boxer briefs.
What is next for you? 
I have a ton of projects in editing with Decadent Publishing and Ellora's Cave.  I'm working on a new novel for EC (or whoever takes it I guess) and a series based on a fictional major league soccer expansion team in Detroit.
What were your first impressions of each other?
Jack:  Well, I know she was totally in lust with me at first sight. (runs a hand through his thick, black hair)Sara:  Spare me Gordon.  I was mainly struck by how flipping gigantic your ego was. Jack: Well, "gigantic" for sure but not my ego.Sara: (rolls eyes and leans in to interviewer) He was totally into me from the get go.  Jack: (leans into interview, making her nervous) I'm into her, yeah. No big secret.
What are your favorite parts about each other?
Jack: Her ass followed closely by this little spot on her neck, right at the spot on her collarbone….(He leans in and licks that spot)Sara: His tongue followed closely by his right hand index finger.Jack: (winks and puts arm around her whispering in her ear, making her giggle and blush)
What's next for you?
Jack: Huh? Oh, sorry. (steps away from Sara, and adjusts his suit coat over his …) Yeah, so I've got this new building we just renovated, and am working on filling. I moved my office over there. It's awesome. And I have my eye on some space over on Ann Arbor's west side for a restaurant.Sara: (still blushing) I have a bunch of new transactions to close, which will keep me pretty busy. And you know, when you live on one hundred percent commission it's pretty much a battle every day to stay on top of things. 
The Realtors:  Life in the House Lane Love is an easy word to use, a hard one to demonstrate, and sometimes impossible to trust.             The Realtors is a sweeping epic, encompassing over ten years in the lives of two people who know how to love with their bodies, how to please and get pleasure, to control and be controlled.  When it comes to the deeper meaning of the one word they both need however, their strong personalities get in the way. While their physical connection sizzles they continue to disappoint one another emotionally.            Jack Gordon has it all--money, success, a string of women—but sustains a deep longing for something more. When he thinks he finds it with Sara Jane Thornton, his world is never the same again.  Sara releases his natural Dom, a side of him he'd thought buried out of frustration and unhappiness. Sara learns a true submissive must trust implicitly, something she cannot associate with him, no matter how many times she tries, and he fails.            With a rich cast of secondary characters, including a young man who presents a near-perfect foil to Jack's intensity, and who falls hard for Sara; The Realtors series is a romantic saga with an emphasis on contemporary life and love, with a healthy dose of white-hot eroticism. Modern, busy, driven characters living lives of purpose and real-time stress, seek the ever-elusive and highly coveted combination --a friend, lover and trusted advisor who will be there for the long haul.
Floor TimeJack Gordon is Ann Arbor's most delectable bachelor.  At age thirty-five, he's made millions as a top-selling Ann Arbor real estate broker and has the right connections to close a deal by any means necessary. With his rugged good looks and compelling personality, he has a virtual black book most men would kill for and he uses it often, never settling for one woman for very long. While his D/s past remains buried, exactly where he wants it, an undercurrent of boredom and dissatisfaction runs through his life now.  A disastrous experience years earlier made him swear off the whole scene, but the more Jack suppresses his natural Dom, the more his frustration grows.   Sara Thornton, a rookie in the real estate game, has fast-tracked herself to the top of the Ann Arbor market. Her life reflects a disciplined and focused routine, exactly the way she wants it.  However, as her career takes off, the fulfillment she seeks remains inexplicably out of reach.  The one thing she knows for sure, she will not join the Jack Gordon groupies in her company, no matter how tempting that might seem.
Sweat Equity
Jack Gordon thought he'd finally made it.  He had a wildly successful career, money in the bank and even returned to his life as Dom, putting an end to a string of unfulfilling sexual encounters. Now that he's made the ultimate commitment to Sara Thornton, he believes all is right in their world. However, a series of misunderstandings and a dose of self-fulfilling prophesy bring his perfectly crafted house of cards tumbling down around him, forcing him to confront lingering misgivings about marriage and trust.  Could those be the only two things he can never achieve? Sara struggles with her intense need for Jack and her desire for less volatility in her busy life, two goals which appear to be mutually exclusive. Although willing to put in the time and emotional effort to make their relationship work, she finds it futile and frustrating, littered with clashes thanks to near-identical personalities and temperaments. Given Sara's history, easing back into the comfortable status quo becomes easier than fighting a war with the one person who should be her safe haven. But will the easier choice satisfy her the way only Jack can? Is her "war" one that comes from without or within?Buffeted by circumstance, temptation and distraction, Jack and Sara's tenuous relationship crumbles, sparking a continuous quest for the ever elusive: trust, love and acceptance. By the time they rebuild a foundation for renewal, fate has other plans. This leaves them both reeling, once again questioning their destiny.
Closing Costs
Love conquers all? Not likely, according to Sara Thornton. She's spent eight years coming to terms with the new parameters of her life while resigning herself to the idea that "happily ever afters" are best left to fairytales.  Sales manager for her successful real estate office and juggling an added element of responsibility she never thought she'd face, Sara continues to struggle with the men in her life.  Love, for her, has only meant hurt, broken trust and anger; all of which she's completely banished from her life, so she claims.                Jack Gordon has come a long way since his early The epic conclusion to The Realtors series, Closing Costs brings Jack and Sara truly full circle. Proving that the heat of lust and obsession; the need for control and to be mastered in many areas of life can lead to love —surprising you when you least expect it – if you will only allow it.  


EXCERPT (from Book Two: SWEAT EQUITY ) PG Rated
Sara smiled at the man next to her. He'd taken her world and yanked it into his orbit so hard and fast her head still spun some days. God help her she did love him. She put a hand on his sweat-slicked chest, and draped a leg over his. The smell of sex permeated the bedroom. She propped up on her elbow and touched his check. 
"Hmm?" his sleepy voice reminded her how much they both needed more shut eye having passed out rather than actually rested last night. He pulled her close. "I'm sorry," he muttered into her hair. "It's just." She nodded into his shoulder. "Shit week, you know. All this wedding talk is not my thing or something. I don't know. I do know I don't deserve you." 
"Yeah, that is true. Look, we still have dinner with my parents tonight. My dad is a know-it-all doctor. I dread having the two of you in the same room, frankly, but we have to do it. They're my family and they want to meet you." 
She felt him tense beneath her. 
"That's fine. I'll be on my best behavior. But I don't want him paying for any of this," he swept a hand towards the small table where she'd piled up magazines and spreadsheets of wedding planning paraphernalia. "I'm doing it. You're grown, not some little girl needing daddy's money anymore." 
She bit her lip. "If he wants to I'm not going to stop him. It's his prerogative. Can't you just go with it?" She sat up, swung her legs to the floor. 
Dear God he was so unbelievably stubborn! 
He sang the same song, different verse, every time. They'd fight, he'd make up by making love to her. She'd let him. They wouldn't talk about it. Again. 
Sighing she stood, stretched her sated and tingling body, her mind back on the massive list of shit to do today. Glancing over her shoulder, she allowed herself a long look at the man who would be her husband. His six-foot five-inch frame firm, legs and arms covered with a light dusting of black hair; torso mostly bare, but for a line of jet-black hair beneath his navel leading down to the part of his body that he had, apparently, shared with so many. Her eyes trailed up, to his firm, square jaw, in need of a shave. Her palm itched to reach out, feel the sandpapery rasp of it, keeping him real. 
Mine. 
How completely unreal this still seemed, even now after he'd given her yet another mind-boggling set of back-to-back orgasms. That should've been solid evidence he was there, with her, "hers" even. But he wasn't. That small voice in her head, the "Old Sara," with its nagging and worry, poked her psyche once again. You're too alike. It will never work. Jack's eyes opened, at the sound of his own light snore. His sleepy grin made her smile in spite of her heavy heart. 
She was no sap. Her own parent's relationship had made her a cynic to the extreme when it came to men. She knew it. She fully acknowledged her own emotional constipation. Yet, she let the man who currently held her heart in his large, talented hands tug her down onto the bed, into the circle of his arms. His skin, smell, and feel eased her as always. She closed her eyes, just for a few minutes. 

About the Author
Microbrewery owner, multi-published author, beer blogger and journalist, mom of three teenagers, and soccer fan, Liz brings years of experience in sales and fund raising, plus an eight-year stint as an ex-pat trailing spouse PLUS making her way in a world of men (i.e. the beer industry) to her life as erotic romance author.  When she isn't sweating inventory and sales figures for the brewery, she can be found writing, editing or sweating promotional efforts for her latest publications.
Otherwise, look for her doing pounds of laundry for her athletic children, watching La Liga on the Fox Soccer Channel, or trying to figure out what to order in for dinner. Liz loves her Foo Fighters Pandora station, and watching reruns of Deadwood, when there isn't any decent sports on the telly (like during "golf season").  Her beer blog a2beerwench.com is nationally recognized for its insider yet outsider views on the craft beer industry. Her books are set in the not-so-common worlds of breweries, on the soccer pitch and in high powered real estate offices.  Don't ask her for anything "like" a Budweiser or risk painful injury.
Publishers include: Tri DestinyEllora's CaveDecadent PublishingRebel Ink PressBreathless Press
LINKS:www.brewingpassion.comwww.facebook.com/lizcroweauthorwww.twitter.com/beerwencha2http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-floortime-675855-144.html  (FLOOR TIME buy link)
PRIZE INFORMATION: One random commenter at each stop will win either one of five $10 Amazon gift cards, one of three winner's choice of a book from Liz's backlist, or one of two $20 Zinterman's gift certificates. Zingerman's is an Ann Arbor institution, world famous for its gourmet deli items, breads and desserts all of which can be ordered and shipped ANYWHERE in the world. www.Zingermans.com.
You need to be sure to leave a question for Liz AND your email to enter to win





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Published on March 28, 2012 21:01