Kristine Cayne's Blog, page 15

What Makes a Man an Alpha Hero? - #AlphaHop with Kristine Cayne

As some of you may know, I write romantic suspense, which like paranormal romance, is a genre that often has alpha heroes. Today, I’d like to talk about what makes a man an alpha, and why they are sometimes perceived as being asses.

What Makes a Man an Alpha?
Rémi Whitedeer, Deadly AddictionThere is a tendency for authors to idealize their heroes. This isn't surprising, of course, since as women we write men the way we think we want them to be. We make them say the things we want to hear. What happens? We write heroes (and sometimes villains) who sound and act like women. We make them ultra PC, with no faults at all. The result is a man whose reactions, thoughts, language, and feelings are toned down. A man who is too perfect to be true.

An alpha is, first and foremost, a leader. He is a person who makes the decisions that no one else will make. He cannot second-guess himself because doing so might mean that someone dies. He makes mistakes, but he is brave enough to own up to them. Rémi Whitedeer, the hero of my Deadly Addiction, the second book in my Deadly Vices series, is a perfect example of this. He is a leader in his community, and he is forced to make difficult choices for himself and his people.

The alpha hero must be a match for the villain. His edges might be rough; he might be arrogant; he might be cruel; his thoughts might be extreme or black and white. He might be willing to do things that others find reprehensible in certain situations. He might be a warrior rather than a protector. He might be on the offensive rather than the defensive. Again, Rémi is definitely a match for the antagonist in Deadly Addiction. And in the end, he must act like the warrior he is and do the thing he hates the most to save those he loves.

Alphas and Ethics
Particularly in romantic suspense, the hero and heroine (who can also be an alpha) will need to deal with people (villains) who compel them to act in ways they normally wouldn't  They may need to push the boundaries of what’s ethical to succeed.

Heroes, especially military or law-enforcement type, are often trained killers. Ethics becomes a big issue for them. How far will they go in their quest to succeed in the mission or vanquish the villain? Will they kill? If so, does it have to be justified? They don’t always get to kill in self-defense. They may have to make a choice, a split-second decision. To win, they often need to embrace their darker side, even if they don’t want to.

Alphas and their Mouths
Language and cursing is another tricky issue. Many women don’t like cursing, some even abhor it. As writers, we strive to achieve a balance between being true to the character and not offending (the mostly female) readers. I don’t buy an operative in deep cover with South American drug lords who never swears. I don’t buy a gang leader villain who never swears. That’s not to say all heroes or villains need to swear, but one who doesn't is a stand-out. Not swearing is a character trait specific to him. Not every hero or villain an author writes can have this same unusual trait.

Alphas and Sex
Nic Lamoureux, Deadly Obsession
Just as I don’t buy alphas who never swear, I don’t buy alphas who only ever have ultra-romantic, it’s-all-about-you-baby, missionary sex. Alphas have strong emotions and even stronger desires. Every once in a while, they need to get it their way: hard and fast, up against a wall, in the car, in an alley, in a changing room at the mall. Sometimes your alpha needs it and he needs it right now.

Men, especially alphas, are visual creatures and their vocabulary with regards to sex and sexual body parts is much more graphic than womens’. No alpha will refer to a woman’s pubic area as her mound. He’ll call it a p*ssy, as will most men. I must admit that I was hesitant to use this word in my writing, because I know many women don’t like it. Still, in my sex scenes from the hero’s point of view, I try to use more direct words and avoid flowery euphemisms.

Nic Lamoureux, aka Nic The Lover, the hero of Deadly Obsession is no exception to this. Like most sexy, virile Hollywood stars, he has his choice of women, and he knows what to do with them. There's very little he hasn't tried in bed, and he doesn't hesitate to call a spade a spade.


Deadly Obsession (Deadly Vices, Book 1)
RT Book Reviews 4 1/2 Stars Top Pick!
Winner for Best Romance - 2012 eFestival of Words Best of the Independent eBook Awards
Finalist in Romance - Kindle Book Review's Best Indie Books of 2012  
Currently on sale for 99 cents at Amazon and B&N


When an Oscar-winning movie star meets a department-store photographer…

Movie star Nic Lamoureux appears to have a playboy’s perfect life. But it’s a part he plays, an act designed to conceal a dark secret he carries on his shoulders. His empty days and nights are a meaningless blur until he meets the woman who fulfills all his dreams. She and her son are the family he’s always wanted—if she can forgive a horrible mistake from his past.

A Hollywood dream…

Lauren James, a widowed single mother, earns barely enough money to support herself and her son. When she wins a photography contest and meets Nic, the man who stars in all her fantasies, her dreams, both professional and personal, are on the verge of becoming real. The attraction between Lauren and Nic is instant—and mutual. Their chemistry burns out of control during a photo shoot that could put Lauren on the fast track to a lucrative career.

Becomes a Hollywood nightmare

But an ill-advised kiss makes front-page news, and the lurid headlines threaten everything Nic and Lauren have hoped for. Before they know what’s happening, their relationship is further rocked by an obsessed and cunning stalker who’ll stop at nothing—not even murder—to have Nic to herself. When Nic falls for Lauren, the stalker zeroes in on her as the competition.

And the competition must be eliminated.


Available from: Amazon ebook | Amazon print | Amazon UK | Barnes and Noble | Smashwords | All Romance eBooks | Kobo | iTunes/Apple USA | Diesel | Sony


Deadly Addiction (Deadly Vices, Book 2)
Night Owl Reviews - "This is a read that will have you staying up late to not only enjoy Alyssa and Remi's out of this world chemistry, but so see what lengths some will go to in order to preserve what they feel is right." ~ 4.5 Stars, Top Pick 
All Romance eBooks - "...gritty, gripping and unpredictable, all qualities I enjoy in a good novel." ~ Top Pick, Recommended Read
RT Book Reviews - "...Cayne creates an entertaining tale, packed with distinctive characters and a suspenseful storyline."


A proud people. A nation divided.

Rémi Whitedeer, police officer turned substance-abuse counselor, dreams of restoring order to his tribe. Violence and crime are rampant throughout the unpoliced Iroquois reserve, and a civil war is brewing between the Guardians, a militant traditionalist group, and other tribal factions. As the mixed-race cousin of the Guardians’ leader, Rémi is caught in a no-man’s land—several groups lay claim to him, but all want him to deny his white blood.

A maverick cop on an anti-drug crusade.

When she infiltrated the Vipers to take down the leader of the outlaw biker gang responsible for her brother’s death, police sergeant Alyssa Morgan got her man. But her superiors think she went too far. Her disregard for protocol and her ends-justify-the-means ethics have branded her an unreliable maverick. To salvage her career, she accepts an assignment to set up a squad of native provincial officers on a reserve.

A radical sovereigntist bent on freeing a nation.

Decades of government oppression threaten the existence of the Iroquois Nation. But one man, Chaz Whitedeer, is determined to save his people no matter what the price, even if it means delving into the shadowy world of organized crime.

When Rémi and Alyssa uncover the Guardians’ drug-fueled scheme to fund their fight for true autonomy—a scheme involving the Vipers—Rémi must choose between loyalty to family and tribe or his growing love for Alyssa.

Can Rémi and Alyssa leave everything behind—even their very identities—for a future together?

Available from: Amazon ebook | Amazon print | Amazon (UK) | Barnes & Noble | ARe | Kobo | Sony | Smashwords | Apple/iTunes | Diesel


Questions for You
As a reader, what are your expectations regarding an alpha hero? Do you like heroes who aren't very nice? Who aren't quite tameable? How do you feel about heroes who curse, who have rough sex? Do you like them tough and dangerous, even if you’d never want a man like that in real life?

Or do you like your heroes more sweet, more toned down? More like the men we deal with in our normal lives?

I think your answers might vary depending on the genre of book you prefer, so please include that in your responses.


Blog Hop Grand Prizes
We've got some great giveaways for this blog hop.


1st Grand Prize: A Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet2nd Grand Prize: A $130 Amazon or B&N Gift Card3rd Grand Prize: The following Swag Pack!


To enter: post a comment answering the question above, and include your email address. Any comments not including an email address will be discarded. Prizes are international except for the Swag Pack which is US-only due to shipping costs.

My Blog Giveaways
Don't leave yet! Thanks to some of my fellow authors, I've got some great alpha heroes to giveaway. *grins* Fill out the rafflecopter for a chance to win one of these great books. Make sure give me your email address in a comment or I may not be able to locate you if you win.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

2 e-copies My Familiar Stranger by Victoria Danann


Minutes ahead of inevitable assassination, Elora Laiken is forcibly transported to an alternate dimension similar, but not identical, to her own. She is stranded. Alone. Far from home. A stranger in a "strangish" land.

Of course a girl could suffer worse problems than having gorgeous suitors. Perhaps more importantly, in the midst of an epidemic of vampire related abductions, can she stay alive long enough to choose between an honor debt, true love, or the breathlessness of single-minded passion?
Amazon: http://amzn.com/B007V8RAKW



2 e-copies The Witch’s Dream by Victoria Danann

He was left behind when Elora Laiken made her choice. Now he’s had it with love, but a transplanted witch who happens to be the world’s best tracker hopes she can change his mind.

The Witch’s Dream begins with B Team on temporary assignment to Black Swan headquarters in Edinburgh where they are supposed to fill in for stretched-thin resources and assist with a werewolf issue. They’ve been given permission to stop in Ireland for a few days and help celebrate a handfasting at the palace in Derry.

When they reach Edinburgh, the afterglow of an elftale wedding quickly turns all business. A missing person report turns into a demon abduction. A simple werewolf sanction becomes a diplomatic issue requiring the one thing Elora is no longer willing to give - finesse.  Amazon: http://amzn.com/B009LXOKQW


1 e-copy Redemption in Blood by Tara Wood

Murder is serious business among vampires. If you kill, so do they. They are the Penitent – a military order among vampire society charged with one task only. Execute the condemned.

Vesper Hyde is a model Penitent. Solitary. Skilled. Deadly. Only once has she ever lost a target, even though it almost cost her life. Now the one that got away is back with a vengeance, and this time he's determined to finish the job. She needs to overcome the whispers of doubt and let her instinct and training take over to redeem her failure. But on this second time around, she doesn't expect a sidekick. A very sexy, stubborn, human sidekick.

Homicide Detective Decker Price has seen it all, including the murder of his wife at the hands of a twisted serial killer. When another murder pitches him headfirst into a world of vampires, witches, and sorcery, he is given a chance to mend shattered parts of his soul. But Vesper's world is as dark and alluring as the Penitent herself and he will come face to face with echoes of his past in order to help her keep a vicious enemy at bay.

If they are to succeed, they will need to push aside both their failings and work together to ensure the balance of their worlds remains unchanged. Redemption comes at a cost – is their love worth the price? Amazon: http://amzn.com/B007NZWK0S


1 e-copy of Save My Soul by K. S. Haigwood

Kendra Larkin had everything going in the right direction. Her life was seemingly perfect, and she wouldn't have changed a thing about it. Unfortunately, the course of her life was about to be forever altered. A tragic rappelling accident lands her on Dr. Adam Chamberlain's operating table.

She agrees to a deal proposed by a guardian angel to help save the soul of the man who is both her doctor and soulmate. If she is successful, she gets to keep her life. However, she later learns that it isn't just her life that's in jeopardy, but her soul as well.

Even with the help of her handsome guardian angel, Rhyan, it seems there is no happy ending in sight. Torn between her newly discovered love of Rhyan, and the undeniable attraction she has for Adam, Kendra finds herself at a crossroad. With Adam's steadfast rejection of God, and his guardian demon conspiring against her, she fears her soul may already be lost.

Will she find a way to overcome the evil her life is suddenly burdened with? Or will Adam's guardian demon win both their souls and make Kendra his own personal puppet in Hell?
Amazon: http://amzn.com/B007LB76A8

1 e-copy of Forbidden Touch by K. S. Haigwood


Ciera has to break the ultimate vampire law to save Mitch, her mortal soulmate, from a terrible fate. Dane, the vampire who would do anything to win her affection, is responsible for Mitch being framed for murder. A fast chain of events is set in motion, which leads to the soulmates being torn apart and Ciera to lose her heart to the one person she has always despised, Dane. She finds herself completely in love with both men. But a rogue vampire puts them all in grave danger. Can she keep them both? Or will she have to accept one lover’s sacrifice, to save the other?
Amazon: http://amzn.com/B008DKORNU



What's Next?
Click on the links below to visit other sites participating in the Alpha Male Blog Hop. At each site, you can enter for the grand prizes again, and you can win the individual blog prizes as well. Hop on, friends!




Thank you all so much for visiting my blog hop stop, today.

Happy hopping!
Kristine

Are You Living Next Door to a Serial Killer? A Guest Post by Alexa Grace

Please join me in welcoming Alexa Grace to the blog today. Alexa is a fellow indie author who's had tremendous success with her romantic suspense Deadly Trilogy. It freaks me out how charismatic and handsome--how normal--some serial killers can appear. And the women who fall for them, defending them long after the evidence is clear, astound me.  Because the villain in Deadly Relations is a serial killer, I asked Alexa to tell us a little about what she learned in her research on this fascinatingly creepy subject.

Take it away, Alexa!

Guest Post by Alexa Grace

Of all the acts of violence, there are none as difficult to understand as serial murder.  Perhaps this need to understand is the reason why we are curious to the point of fascination about serial killers.

Although there is no cookie-cutter template to identify a serial killer, there are some interesting factors discovered by investigators:
• Serial killers are driven by their own unique motivations or reasons.
• The majority of serial killers derive sexual satisfaction during violence.  For many, sexual satisfaction and violence are intertwined in their psychological makeup.
• Typically serial killers have an exaggerated sense of self-worth, are pathological liars, and are experts in manipulating others.  In addition, these types of murderers have a total lack of remorse for the results of their violent behaviors as well as an absence of empathy for others.
• Surprisingly, most serial killers think they are far more intelligent than law enforcement so they will never be caught.

The logical steps that law enforcement usually takes to solve homicide cases, do not work with serial killings.  Most homicides are committed by someone known to the victim, so detectives focus on the victim's relationships.  However, for the most part, serial killers are not acquainted with or involved in a relationship with their victims.

Four types of serial killers have been identified:

(1) The Visionary Motive Type
This type of serial killer often hears voices in their head that tell them to commit murders.  David Berkowitz, Son of Sam, is a good example of this type.  He told investigators that the howling dogs in his neighborhood were sending him messages from demons to kill women.

(2) The Missionary-Oriented Motive Type
Killers of this type are on a mission to rid the world of those whom they deem unacceptable for whatever reason.  In Deadly Offerings, character Charles Beatty, is a serial killer whose mission was to kill anyone related to his firing from a computer repair company, where he worked as a service technician.

According to Beatty, the loss of his job resulted in the foreclosure of his home.  Before long, his wife and children leave him alone and angry.  Instead of taking responsibility for his behavior and learning from past mistakes, he focuses his rage on the female co-owner of the company, Anne Mason.

Beatty starts his reign of terror by taking the lives of the two female customers who complained when he made inappropriate advances toward them during service calls.  The killings continue as targets Anne Mason as his next victim.  Beatty punishes and tortures Anne by leaving the bodies of his victims on her farm.  Leaving threatening notes, he continues killing until he is able to abduct her.

(3) The Thrill-Oriented Motive Type
Serial killers of this type get a high from killing. Of the four types, this one is the one who enjoys killing very sadistically.  He is into the killing for excitement and as he gets better and better at it as he perfects his mode of operation.  The efficiency of killing skills typically improves as the number of his/her victims increases.

Before writing Deadly Relations, I learned from the research of Louis Schlesinger that the number one way serial killers are apprehended is by a surviving victim.  Especially early on, serial killers make mistakes because he/she has not perfected his/her techniques.  Therefore, if law enforcement officers access sophisticated databases like that of FBI's ViCap, they can input the distinctive M.O. of their killer and may match other murders or attempted murders with the same M.O.   With this information, they may get lucky and find that surviving victim.

(4) The Lust Killer
The lust killer is sexually motivated, killing for the pure turn on. These killers derive pleasure from torturing their victims.  The more they make their victims suffer, the more they are sexually aroused. Most serial killers are of this type.

Unfortunately, this type of serial killer is very difficult to distinguish from the average person as they are quite apt at maintaining relationships and functioning in society.  Once caught, neighbors and friends will find it hard to believe that he/she could ever commit the acts of violence he or she is charged with.

Damon Mason, the serial killer in my latest book, Deadly Relations, is a combination of the thrill-oriented and lust killer types.  Damon abducts young women, duct-tapes them to a table, and beats them with a leather belt, much like the one used by his mother on him since early childhood.  The beatings begin as a reenactment of what he endured as a boy, but he soon realizes the beatings and raping of his victims as he chokes them to death give him a sexual release like no other.  Thus, he continues.

Damon Mason is quite handsome and prides himself on his ability to hunt and capture his "prey".   Like serial killer Ted Bundy, Damon is charming and persuasive, normal and unthreatening.  He is able to convince the most cautious and experienced young women to drop their guard, trust him and go off with him willingly.

In the book, Damon has a fantasy to torture women using the same type of belt beatings he suffered as a child.  Typically, serial killers have dysfunctional family dynamics.  In Damon's case, he had a mother who was domineering, aggressive and cruel.  Thus he chooses only women as victims.  He may have fantasized since childhood about repaying his mother's cruelty by beating and killing women.

Character, Carly Stone, who is an FBI profiler in Deadly Relations, describes the unknown killer well: "It's feasible that your killer leads a normal life and functions well in society, but he has this other dark side to his personality."  This could be said of many serial killers who were discovered to not only have steady jobs but also were married with children.

While crime scene investigation makes for popular television programming, I believe it also makes it more difficult for law enforcement because criminals become more savvy about eliminating trace evidence after watching these programs.

If there is one thing that my books which feature a serial killer accomplish, I hope it's the realization that serial killers don't necessarily look like monsters.  Some of them are good looking and live "normal" lives but are also vicious predators.

The women who are victims in Deadly Relations are those who did not pay attention to their surroundings, and placed their trust in a man because he was good-looking and wore a uniform.

To stay safe, we should listen to our intuition about people.  If you feel something is off about a person, there probably is.  So react in ways that allows you to protect yourself.

He is usually male, between the ages of 25-35, and he is usually white. His intellect ranges from below average to above average. He is from all walks of life, as are his victims. The majority of the time, he will kill within his own ethnic group. The ages of his victims will vary greatly, depending on his particular "interests." He doesn't usually having any prior contact with his victims, and thus no particular hatred for them; though, the victims may be symbolic to him in some way. He may be married with children, have a job, and be just like the guy next door...Or, he may be socially inept, unable to maintain relationships, and a complete loner.

Source: Serial Murder, Multi-Disciplinary Perspectives for Investigators, Behavioral Analysis Unit, National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime, Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2002.

Book Synopsis
Deadly Relations, the third book of the Deadly Trilogy, was published on September 21.  Here is a brief description of the plot.

In Deadly Relations, a serial killer of young women hides in plain sight in a quiet county in the Midwest.  Concealed behind a friendly and trustworthy face, no one knows he has a rage to kill he can't control — until it's too late.

Detective Jennifer Brennan, still haunted by her abduction five years before, devotes her life to serve and protect others.  So when three young women go missing and are found murdered on her watch, she vows to find the killer — or die trying.

A personal relationship with her partner, Detective Blake Stone, would be career suicide. But the connection Jennifer has with him is nothing short of electric.  Working with Blake daily and denying her attraction is hard.  But when he moves in to protect her, resisting him becomes pure torture.

As they fight temptation, two detectives race against time to find the killer before he strikes again.  It is the most important case of their careers.  It could be their last.

Amazon U.S.  http://amzn.com/B009EJ1BDS
Amazon U.K.  http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B009EJ1BDS
Smashwords   https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/237887

What can we expect from you in the future?
My next book Profile of Evil will be published in the spring of 2013.  It is the first book of the Profile Trilogy. Here is a brief description of the plot.

Carly Stone is a brilliant FBI agent who's seen more than her share of evil.  Leaving the agency, she becomes a consultant for Indiana County Sheriff Brody Chase.  He needs her help to catch a savage killer who is luring teenaged girls to their death in the handsome sheriff's community.

The two are determined to stop a dangerous predator before he takes another life — at any cost.

How can we find out more about your books?
Deadly Offerings, Deadly Deception and Deadly Relations are sold on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Smashwords, Kobo, Sony, Diesel and more.  Deadly Offerings is FREE on Amazon.

How can readers contact you?
Website: http://www.alexa-grace.net/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/AlexaGrace2
Facebook Author Page:  https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAlexaGrace
Facebook Alexa Grace Street Team: http://www.facebook.com/AlexaGraceStreetTeam

Author Bio

Alexa's journey started in March 2011 when the Sr. Director of Training & Development position she'd held for thirteen years was eliminated. A door closed but another one opened. She finally had the time to pursue her dream of writing books -- her dream since childhood. Her focus is now on writing riveting romantic suspense novels.

Alexa earned two degrees from Indiana State University and currently lives in Florida. She's a member of Romance Writers of America (national) as well as the Florida Chapter.

Her books Deadly Offerings and Deadly Deception have consistently been listed on Amazon's Top 100 Bestselling Romantic Suspense Books. She was recently named one of the top 100 Indie authors by Kindle Review.  A chapter is devoted to her in the book Interviews with Indie Authors by C. Ridgway and T. Ridgway.

Her writing support team includes five Miniature Schnauzers, three of which are rescues. As a writer, she is fueled by Starbucks lattes, chocolate and emails from readers.

Deadly Relations Excerpt

Jennifer left the Sugar Creek Cafe, where she’d filled her thermos with hot coffee.  She walked down Main Street toward the county sheriff’s building, where Catherine Thomas’s latest search efforts were being organized.  March had been fickle thus far, alternating between unseasonably warm or frigid weather.  Today, it was chilly, so she tightened the belt on her coat and lifted her collar as she walked against the wind that whipped her hair about, stinging her face and eyes.  Though she’d never admit it, she was exhausted and had averaged around four hours of sleep per night since Catherine went missing.  When she wasn’t in her car searching for Catherine, she was sitting in front of her computer using the methods Frankie had taught her to look for a missing person.  Her cousin, Frankie, was a private investigator with an expertise in technology, and Jennifer had worked for Frankie prior to going to the Police Academy.  But Frankie’s sure-fire methods hadn’t worked to find Catherine.

One look at the gray clouds overhead confirmed what the TV weather guy had said.  There was a chance of rain today.  At least, she hoped it was just rain.  If the temperature dipped below thirty-two degrees, there was a good chance they’d get freezing rain, or what people called “black ice.” That made the roads treacherous to drive, let alone search for a missing person.

The majority of the businesses in the historic downtown area were located on Main Street for six blocks or more. Most of the buildings had been built a hundred or so years before.  They’d been preserved by massive renovations and modernization as time went on.

The wind was playing havoc with Catherine Thomas’s missing posters,  which peppered the trees and light posts.  Lining the inside of nearly every shop or restaurant window was the poster for the world to see, with the silent prayer that someone would find her.  Fred and Julie Thomas worked tirelessly to get the word out about Catherine’s disappearance.

Jennifer gritted her teeth as she thought about Catherine.  She’d been abducted.  Though there was no evidence, she was sure of it.  Catherine had been taken against her will, just as Jennifer had been taken years before. The girl was looking forward to going to the police academy. She was not a runaway. There was no way Jennifer would believe Catherine left on her own volition.  She had an ominous feeling that time had run out, and their chances of finding Catherine alive were nil. Catherine’s parents hadn’t lost hope of finding her alive, but Jennifer had. She knew the more time that elapsed, the less likely they would find Catherine alive.  Like most detectives, Jennifer knew that time and again when they didn’t find the missing person within forty-eight hours, it was likely the person was dead.

It was Thursday and Catherine had been missing for five days — a time period painfully realized by every member of the county sheriff department.  The staff took it personally. The sheriff, each of his officers, and all the admins wore a yellow arm band that matched the yellow ribbon tied around a huge oak tree in the Thomas’s front yard. People don’t go missing on their turf, on their watch.

So much time had elapsed that most of the sheriff’s team had lost hope that Catherine was alive, just as Jennifer had.  The sense of loss made them more determined to find her body so they could focus on what happened to her.  While there was a lot of information they’d gain by finding a dead body in terms of prosecuting a killer, there was a lot more satisfaction in finding the missing alive.

Fear ran rampant, as was evident by increased calls to the station. Paranoid citizens were reporting suspicious strangers, or strange noises outside their homes.  High school girls, much to their distress, found themselves with early curfews and increased parental surveillance.  Local restaurants were filled with anxious chatter about Catherine, and gossip ran rampant.  People were angry, too, firing blame at the county sheriff’s office for not finding Catherine.

For the first time since Jennifer could remember, people were locking their doors at nights and leaving on their outside lights. The quiet street she lived on was usually dim at nightfall, with only a few street lamps to light the way.  Since Catherine went missing, the street was flooded bright by house, porch, and garage lights.

Giveaway

As a special treat to our blog, Alexa is giving away two copies of the print edition of Deadly Relations! To be entered in the drawing, leave a comment on this post, including your email address. Contest ends October 18th at 11:59 PM Pacific Time. Winners will be picked using random.org.

A Word From Kristine

Alexa, thank you so much for the great post and contest.

After you're done commenting on this post and leaving your email address so you'll be entered into the drawing for Alexa's fabulous book, hop on over to the Romance in the Rain release party. Fill out the rafflecopter for a chance to win great prizes and find out about this new anthology, which contains my novella, Aftershocks, the prequel to my new firefighter romance series.

Best of luck to everyone!

~Kristine

Romance in the Rain - Happy Release Day!!

After almost six months of working to put together the Romance in the Rain anthology, the Rainy Day Writers and I are thrilled to announce that release day has arrived! So come celebrate with us. Let your friends know and earn yourself chances to win a prize!



Available at: Amazon, Amazon UK, B&N, Kobo, and ARe for the promotional launch price of only $2.99! Also available at Smashwords for $3.99.

What is Romance in the Rain?

From the pioneer days of Seattle through the smoke-filled clouds of WWII and into the present, Romance in The Rain takes readers on a journey with four generations of the strong-willed and passionate Caldwell family. The anthology of six novellas is a collaboration of the Seattle-based Rainy Day Writers group.

Splendor in the Moss by Charlotte Russell—By the spring of 1853 Englishman James Caldwell has traveled thousands of miles in a quest to find a place to call home. Newly settled Seattle isn’t that place and he’s ready to move on again when widowed Mattie Jensen marches into his life as somber as a cloudy day. But James can see through the solemn haze to Mattie’s strength and passion. Now he has a reason to stay, if he can just convince Mattie to take a second chance on love—and him. (22,000 words)

Final Approach by Marianne Stillings—With the world at war, Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Service pilot Lt. Charlene (Charlie) Thompson faces personal battles as well. Pearl Harbor left her a widowed bride, certain love would never come again – but battle-scarred Capt. Joe Caldwell has other ideas for the beautiful lady flyer, if he can just keep her safe from the secret saboteur who's already taken the life of Charlie's best friend. (18,000 words)

Love Phantom by Dawn Kravagna—University of Washington, 1983: A great place to get an education and meet single men. Drama major Kara Caldwell prefers to hide behind the characters in her plays, yet feels pressure to live up to the example set by her brave and witty grandmother, a veteran of WWII. Can she learn to overcome her reticence and prejudices to discover which guy truly cares for her--and who is just putting on an act? (17,000 words)

What’s Wrong with Mr. Perfect? by Sherri Shaw—No sooner did Chef Ivy Turin wish to meet the perfect man than Sam Rockney walked into her restaurant. But is the sexy Seattle quarterback for real or is there something wrong with Mr. Perfect? (17,000 words)

Shelter from the Storm by Clare Tisdale—Seven years and one broken heart later, JD Caldwell returns to Seattle to pick up the pieces of his old life, never imagining he will fall for Maya—the mysterious woman who lets him into her house and bed but keeps the door to her heart tightly closed. When their summer fling takes an unexpectedly serious turn and Maya gives him his walking papers, JD has to decide whether their love—and his legacy—is worth fighting for. (21,000 words)

Aftershocks by Kristine Cayne—When Seattle is struck by a devastating earthquake, technical rescue firefighter Jamie Caldwell must save his estranged wife and daughter from the wreckage of a collapsed building. He's defied the odds hundreds of times, but will his luck finally run out for good? (24,000 words)


Who are the Rainy Day Writers?


The Seattle-based Rainy Day Writers group is a group of six women who have banded together in their love of telling stories. I've been a part of this group for three years, and I feel privileged to know these fabulous authors. You will love each of their stories and their unique voices. Get to know us by visiting our group site: www.seattlerainydaywriters.com. Excerpts of each story can be accessed via the Excerpt menu.

Who Wants to Win a Launch Day Prize?

What's a party without prizes? Boring :) So, here we go. We've got two $5 Amazon or B&N giftcards. To win, fill out the rafflecopter. I can't wait to read your comments, but be sure to fill out the rafflecopter to be included in the drawing for the prizes.


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Let's get this party started!!

If you have a minute to spare, please help us by liking and/or tagging Romance in the Rain at any of the following sites: Amazon, Amazon UK, B&N, Kobo, ARe, Smashwords.

~Kristine

DEADLY OBSESSION - Celebrating 6 weeks in the WTRAFSOG Top 50 List!!

Some of you may have read this post title and wondered: What's the WTRAFSOG list?

WTRAFSOG is the acronym used for the What to Read After Fifty Shades of Grey Facebook page. This page was put together by author Summer Daniels and is a place where romance readers who enjoyed Fifty Shades of Grey can go to find new books.

Is it only for erotica or erotic romance? Not at all. The books, posted by either the author or an enthusiastic reader, run the gamut of sensuality levels from mild to scorching.



I first heard about the WTRAFSOG page from a guest post Summer did on JA Konrath's blog (see it here) where she talked about her Summer's Journey erotic romance series. What is amazing about this page is that it now has over 20K fans. That's 20K people to who see your book post. 20K fans of romance. Wow.

The best thing about this page? Summer doesn't charge authors a dime for "advertising." She is an Amazon Affiliate and earns some cash on the side that way, which compensates a little for the huge time outlay needed to maintain this page.

Summer also sends out a Daily Digest via email to those who subscribe to it, listing all the day's posts. This is great for people who want to follow the page, but don't always have time to visit it on FB.



The WTRAFSOG Top 50 List

Because she has an Affiliate account, Summer can apply codes to the book links on the WTRAFSOG page, and she can know how many of each book were bought via her links. Using this information, she compiles a weekly Top 50 List. These are the books that have sold the most via her links.

Six Weeks in the Top 50 List

This week marks the sixth consecutive week that DEADLY OBSESSION has appeared in the Top 50 List. It is currently sitting at #12, but each week it rises a notch or two. Seeing my book rise the ranks of this list has been a huge moral booster. I've received heart-warming reviews from readers who've found my book on this page and loved it. If you're a fan of romance, please check out this page. You'll find great book deals, recommendations, and even freebies.

In Celebration




Since DEADLY OBSESSION has been doing so well at its sale price of $0.99 (£0.77), I've decided to leave it at this price on Amazon and Barnes and Noble for a little while longer before putting it back to its regular $3.99 price.

If you're interested in trying it out, and helping me keep my spot on the WTRAFSOG list, here are the links:
#12: Deadly Obsession (Deadly Vices) by Kristine Cayne

Kindle US | Paperback US | Kindle UK | Paperback UK | Nook


Happy Reading!
~Kristine

Spotlight: L.H. Thomson, author of Quinn Checks In

I'm excited to be hosting L.H. Thomson, the author of Quinn Checks In, presented by Making Connection Book Tours. This was my first time reading one of Lowell's books and, let me tell you, I was blown away. I'll tell you about the book first, but keep reading for my review.



Author: L.H. Thomson
Title: Quinn Checks In
Series: Liam Quinn Mysteries

Genre: Hard-boiled mystery

Book link: Amazon ebook










Synopsis

Liam Quinn is back in his hometown Philly after three years in the pen for forgery. Now the ex-boxer, ex-art student has been given a chance to make amends by working as an insurance investigator, restoring a little of his family's pride and getting another chance at Nora Garcia de Soria, the woman of his dreams.

But a gallery heist isn't what it seems, and pretty soon, Quinn is running out of people to trust. The biggest mobster in town, a sweetheart named "Vin The Shin," is calling him out; a steady string of lowlifes want his head, and the local police think he's hiding something.

Hey, when trouble comes knocking?

That's when Quinn Checks In.

Excerpt from Quinn Checks In

IN ART, THE ARC OF A CURVE can be a beautiful and important thing. In Art Deco, for example, the consistency of its curves gives each design a sense of cleanliness and function, of uniformity.

When I was an art forger, a perfect curve was one of my best friends.

So believe me when I say that the arc of the pool cue slicing through the air towards my head was a thing of beauty, a mighty cut that in that split second, with Boston’s classic rocker “Smoking” cranking on the jukebox in the corner, made me wonder why the giant biker swinging it had opted for a life of vice and violence, instead of baseball.

My name is Liam Quinn, and I've been a fighter most of my life. One of the blessings of two decades of boxing has been a sort of athletic sixth sense. Some pros call it being “in the zone”, that split second where your adrenalin peaks, your instincts take over, and everything just seems to slow…

Right.

Down.

I ducked, dropping between the two tree-trunk arms around my chest, and the pool cue continued its arc. If he’d swung with a tighter reach, instead of stepping into it so directly, he’d have come up short and gone over my head while still missing his enormous bald-and-goateed companion.

But then it wouldn't have been perfect.

Instead, the cue smashed into his buddy’s temple with a hollow clack, like a brick dropped on hard cement.

Kristine's Review of Quinn Checks In

The above excerpt is a perfect example of why I enjoyed this book so much. The duality in Quinn's character drew me from the first couple of paragraphs, as did the quality of L.H. Thomson's prose. The character development, the growth and resolution of the mystery, and the pacing of the book kept me enthralled from start to finish.

Quinn is an art forger turned insurance investigator. I loved this! He's basically a good guy, an artistic type. But he is also adept at boxing and has spent time in prison. Not at all the usual type of protagonist we see in most mystery novels.

Another aspect of this book that I enjoyed a lot were the relationships in the book. Quinn's father and one of his brothers are cops. Imagine being a cop and your son or brother is locked up? And not for a tough-guy crime like bank robbery either. No, it has to be art forgery. Quinn works at rebuilding these relationships, but it's a hard road and one I hope will continue across the series.

The romance lover in me also got a kick out of Quinn's relationship with his childhood "best-friend," Nora. He's had a thing for her since junior high school. But all she wants is to be just friends. Or at least that's what Quinn seems to think. I kept hoping he'd open his eyes and see what I see. Looks like I'll have to wait for the next book to see what happens with these two.

The only quibble I have with this entire book is that the final show-down seemed a bit rushed to me. I expected more of a build-up, so that I, as a reader, could follow Quinn's logic as he developed it. On the other hand, it was a good surprise.

I give this book five stars for the intriguing storyline, the amazing writing, and the wonderful characters who stayed with me long after I reached "The End."


About the Author

A 20-year veteran newspaper reporter and editor, L.H. Thomson has written seven novels. When he’s not writing strange newspaper and web columns about the impacts of neuroscience on sociology or the losing ways of his beloved Toronto FC, he lives in Edmonton, Canada with his wife Lori – a quality assurance manager for a major utility company who helped develop the Liam Quinn character – and their six adopted pets, who didn't make the process any easier at all.








Links

Lowell's blog
Lowell's books on Amazon
Quinn Checks In on Amazon



Kristine: I'd like to thank Lowell and all you wonderful readers for joining me today. I hope you enjoyed the excerpt of Quinn Checks In and that you'll check Quinn out :)

Happy Reading!
Kristine

Hosts Needed - Romance in the Rain is Going on Tour!

As some of you may know, I'm writing a new rescue firefighter romance series. We had great fun here on the blog suggesting great series titles, and then we put the suggestions to the vote. The people who suggested the top three titles won the super sexy 2013 NYC Firefighters Calendar. The calendars have been ordered, and they should be on their way soon.
Great News!
But here's the great news: "Aftershocks", the prequel novella to my rescue firefighter romance is coming out in just two weeks! It's part of the Romance in the Rain anthology of six novellas, put together by the Seattle-based Rainy Day Writers group. 
I'll talk more about the Rainy Day Writers, but first, let me tell you more about my novella. Aftershocks is the catastrophic incident that sends reverberations throughout my team of rescue firefighters long after the earthquake is over. The series will follow these brave men and women into their personal lives as they re-evaluate what's important to them. Some will delve deeper into existing relationships, while other will take on new and unexpected partners. Believe me, more than a few are in for some big surprises! 
Given that Romance in the Rain is a collective effort, I wrote "Aftershocks" as a romantic suspense. The series that follows is erotic romance.


Rainy Day Writers - Who Are We?
The Rainy Day Writers is a group of six authors that was first put together by Marianne Stillings, award-winning author of humorous romantic suspense. We meet about twice a month to share our stories and get feedback. We help each other stay abreast of publishing news, and we celebrate and commiserate the ups and downs of our respective journeys.
So, without further ado, please meet the Rainy Day Writers!


To fill the need to surround herself with like-minded obsessive-compulsive self-doubting lunatics, in 2005,  Marianne Stillings , who writes Romantic Suspense, established what came to be known as The Rainy Day Writers. 
Charlotte Russell joined the group in 2006 at the suggestion of a former member. Charlotte writes Historical Romance.
Dawn Kravagna became a member in the spring of 2007 because of a writers' list where Marianne had posted looking for new members. Dawn writes Comedy and Mystery.
Sherri Shaw found her way to the group in the autumn of 2007 because she and Marianne happened to sit at the same table at the Emerald City Writer's Conference that year. Sherri writes Historical Romance and Paranormal Historical Romance.
Clare Tisdale joined in 2008 as the result of an email Marianne posted on the Greater Seattle Chapter Romance Writer's list seeking new members. Clare writes Contemporary Romance.Ro Kristine Cayne found the group in 2009 because she won Marianne's raffle basket at the Emerald City Writer's Conference that year. The basket included an offer to critique the winner's manuscript—an evaluation that resulted in an invitation to join. Kristine writes Romantic Suspense.
For more information on Romance in the Rain and the Rainy Day Writers, visit them at www.seattlerainydaywriters.com (not live yet).

Tour Hosts Needed!
Now onto the good stuff :) The Rainy Day Writers are going on tour with Romance in the Rain! From October 22 - November 21, we'll be bringing our stories to the blogosphere with the help of a fabulous new outfit called Romantic Maidens Book Tours. 
They've put together a lovely sign-up page for the tour where bloggers can request a variety of posts and they can even specify which of the six authors they want to provide it. Imagine, six authors for the price of one! We'd love some reviews as well and will provide the anthology in .mobi or .epub format to anyone who is signed up for the tour. Please note, Romance in the Rain is well over 100K words. It is not a collection of short stories, but rather, a collection of true novellas.
Are you interested in hosting us? If so, please hop on over to the Romance in the Rain Book Tour sign-up page and let the wonderful Romantic Maidens BT ladies know what type of post you want. We'll do everything in our power to accommodate you. We've also got some great tour prizes lined up, including a super-tastic Seattle-themed gift basket!



I hope to see you all on the road :D
~Kristine

Kristine Cayne's New Firefighter Series - Title Poll Results

Hello readers! First off, I want to thank everyone who offered up a title and everyone who participated in the poll. I received over 90 fabulous suggestions, and an astounding 119 votes in the Top 10 poll. I'm really happy with how all this turned out.



So here are the poll results:

Question: My new rescue firefighter romance series needs a title. Which ones are your favorites? (Poll Closed)

Seattle Heat  20.17%  (24 votes)
Men of Fire  17.65%  (21 votes)
Six Alarm Sexy  13.45%  (16 votes)
Hazardous Duty  9.24%  (11 votes)
Blazing Desires  8.4%  (10 votes)
Five Alarm Heroes  8.4%  (10 votes)
Rain City Heat  8.4%  (10 votes)
Heroes of Station 44  6.72%  (8 votes)
Hard, Hot, and Heroic / Hard, Hot Heroes  4.2%  (5 votes)
Fire and Rain  3.36%  (4 votes)

Total Votes: 119

Which title will I use for my new rescue firefighter series? 

Hmm... I'm still debating that. I love all of these titles and would be happy going with any one of them, really. I'm working with a cover artist and a photographer to create the cover of the first book in the series, Under His Command. I think that my choice will be based on what works best with the book titles and cover branding I decide to use. It will most certainly be one of the top three.

Who gets a super sexy 2013 NYC Firefighter Calendar?

In all likelihood, I'll be picking one of the top three titles, I've decided to give a calendar to all three wonderful readers who suggested the top three titles.

Congratulations!!!!
Seattle Heat - Rhonda (slinkydennis)Men of Fire - Lillie (PolarisGreen)Six Alarm Sexy - Karen Dailey
I will try to contact each of you to get your mailing information. If you don't hear from me by tomorrow morning, that means something is wrong with your email address. So, please email me at kristine (at) kristinecayne (dot) com

Thank you all for your participation and for making this such a fun process!

~Kristine

Guest Post by Barbara Phinney: A Very Dangerous Occupation--Spending Time with an Author

Readers, it's my great pleasure to host Barbara Phinney today. Like myself, Barbara writes romantic suspense. But she also writes romantic comedy, which will be more than evident as you read this hilarious explanation of some of her book-related escapades. Take it away, Barbara!



A VERY DANGEROUS OCCUPATION – SPENDING TIME WITH AN AUTHOR

It all started when I convinced my friend to sneak over the border in broad daylight.
And she did.
But she was caught.
Ahh, the things we do for a good story idea.

When I mention that I'm a writer, the first question is, invariably, "Where do you get your ideas?"

So naturally, I've decided to answer that question here.  (And maybe explain my opening sentences.) Here's the answer. There is no simple answer. Ideas, to writers, are as nebulous as mists and as concrete as, well, concrete. Ideas, those tiny kernels that eventually become novels come from anything from newsclips, such as the town deciding to take the law into its own hands, as in Deadly Homecoming, a visit to my sister's home in Colchester, England,  as in Bound to the Warrior, (March 2013 ), or as I eluded in my opener, sneaking over the border and getting caught as with Desperate Rescue .

And as I promised, I will explain my nefarious conduct. My family and our friends were over in Maine, at a Christian camp there, just after I learned that my Love Inspired Suspense proposal was accepted. Now I needed story stuff. And what better way than to actually experience it. So my friend, also a Barbara, and I took a short trip to see what the 'longest undefended border' looked like. Well, guess what?  It was just a wooden fence.


"Climb over it, Barbie," I suggested slyly. "I'll take a picture of you sneaking into Canada."
Well, sneaking isn't the right word here. Did you know they have cameras on the border?  And that a border guard can be anywhere within minutes? (I didn't)

Well, a very nice young man arrived, and as a 'slightly older' lady, I began to explain that I was a writer and began to pump him for information. This nice young man was patient, professional, and obviously wanting us to just climb back over and leave the area. We did, but I got what I wanted and so the story, Desperate Rescue, was born.

Now, sometimes, stories come from something as odd as a dress. All For A Good Cause , my wedding caper, began from a friend who belonged to a Society for Creative Anachronism and who once wore a stunning 13th-century gown, complete with all the appropriate bling. I envisioned my heroine in a long gown. And stifling in the summer's heat, for charity function.



With Hard Target , ( I found my story came from two sources.  Another friend worked as security chief at a South American embassy, and, years later, I had the honor of taking two mission trips to Bolivia. From those two unrelated incidents, Hard Target was formed.



So although writers get their ideas generally from one source, be it a setting, a news article or a personality, all writers will admit that they can come from anywhere. And what the most interesting part is, is that like a seed, the final product will never resemble that kernel of the first idea.

Which is probably a good thing, otherwise I'd be writing this from a jail in Maine.

Barbara's Links

Her blog: http://barbphinney.blogspot.ca/
Her website: www.barbaraphinney.com
Twitter: @BarbaraPhinney

KC: Thank you, Barbara! I loved hearing about where you the inspiration for your stories. Readers, if you have any questions for Barbara, or any comments, please feel free to leave them in the comments section.

Happy reading!
Kristine

Visit Kristine Cayne at the #NWBookFest Book Signing, Sept. 22-23

Readers, let me tell you about this wonderful event! The Northwest Bookfest is put on each year by the King County Library System with the goal of connecting readers with writers. How awesome is that?!

This year, the bookfest is taking place on September 22-23, 10am - 6pm, Peter Kirk Park, 202 3rd St., Downtown Kirkland, WA. The bookfest is packed with workshop and author panels. Many local authors will be on hand in the booths to sign books. Check out the full schedule of events here.

Here are some important times I want to highlight for those of you who are in the area:

Sat. 9/22: 10:00 - 12:00PM
Book Signing - Crista McHugh is in the Eastside RWA books, signing books and giving away goodies.

Sat. 9/22: 2:00 - 4:00PM
Book Signing - Kristine Cayne will be in the Eastside RWA booth, signing copies of Deadly Obsession and Deadly Addiction . The fabulous Dana Delamar will also be there, signing copies of her tremendously powerful Blood and Honor series ( Revenge  and Retribution ).

Sat. 9/22: 7:00 - 9:00PM
Hot and Spicy: Milagro Cantina, 148 Lake St., Kirkland
J.D. Munro, Shelli Stevens, Audrey McManus – Marketing/Education Coordinator,
Babeland Seattle will be chatting it up with readers and talking about the sexier side of romance.


Sun. 9/23: 11:30 - 1:00PM
11 Edits You Must Make to Look Like a Pro: Kirkland Community Center, Room 3
Want to strengthen your character development, tighten and intensify your dialogue, mprove your pacing? Join Christine Fairchild, romantic suspense author and editor, for this fabulous workshop guaranteed to improve your writing.

Sun. 9/23: 12:00 - 1:00PM
Book Signing - Crista McHugh is in the Eastside RWA books, signing books and giving away goodies.

Sun. 9/23: 1:00 - 2:30 PM
Queens of Romance Tea at the Park Place Center (space #418), reservations required. (See here for more details.) Local writing superstars Elizabeth Boyle, Yasmine Galenorn, Teresa Meyers, and Susan Wiggs will be talking about romance in all its sub-genres. Note: I'll be at this tea since my RWA chapter is co-sponsoring it!

Sun. 9/23: 4:00 - 6:00PM
Book Signing - Kristine Cayne will be in the Eastside RWA booth, signing copies of  Deadly Obsession  and  Deadly Addiction . The fabulous Dana Delamar will also be there, signing copies of her tremendously powerful Blood and Honor series ( Revenge  and  Retribution ).

If you can, please drop by to show your support of KCLS and your local authors :)
~Kristine

New Firefighter Series Title - Vote For Your Favorites!

On Monday, I asked readers to suggest titles for my new sexy rescue firefighter series. The response was tremendous! Thank you so much to everyone who participated. All the ideas were wonderful, but I did have to make a short list so we could vote on them. The winner will get this 2013 NYC Firefighter Calendar!


Now for the specifics:

I received almost 90 entries. Wow! With the help of a few close friends, I narrowed the list down to what are for me the top 10 title suggestions. Congratulations to all who made the short-listed suggestions!

Readers, it's your turn now! Vote for all your favorite titles, listed here in no particular order. (Yes, you can vote on more than one.) The poll will close on Monday night (9/17/2012). Please let your friends know so they can join in the fun too :)




My new rescue firefighter romance series needs a title. Which ones are your favorites?

Thank you!
~Kristine