Dana Delamar's Blog, page 16
November 11, 2013
Tag, You're It! Blog Hop
Today Nancy S. Thompson, author of the romantic thriller
The Mistaken
(a very good book, BTW--you should read it!) tagged me for the Tag, You're It! Blog Hop. Here's how it works:
I answer the following four questions, then tag three others. Here we go!
1. What are you working on now?
I'm wrapping up Redemption, the fourth book my Blood and Honor romantic suspense series, about two warring Mafia families in Italy. This book is about Antonio, who readers first met in Revenge. He's a flirty bad boy and has been a reader favorite from the beginning. In this book, we learn about his past, see him struggling to adapt to his new role in the family, and find out what happens when Bianca, the one woman he's never been able to forget, walks back into his life--just as everything in it is blowing apart. An even bigger problem? Bianca's brother wants Antonio dead, and it's not clear whose side she's on.
2. How does it differ from other work in its genre?
A lot of romantic suspense books star cops, firefighters, or military heroes. I love the genre, but I wanted to do something a little different. I also wanted to set my first series in Italy, and I love Mafia stories, so it seemed like a no-brainer to set a story in that world. I hadn't quite counted on the depth of research I'd end up doing, or the difficulties of writing about a country that I love but haven't lived in for any significant amount of time. Nor had I bargained on how complicated it is to write what's essentially a family saga as well. This idea originally started off as one book. Now it's a five-part series! But I'm having a blast writing it, and I'm really going to miss it when I'm done.
3. Why do you write?
I started out writing romance novels (well, more like novellas) when I was a teenager. I'd write stories starring me or my sisters or friends and whatever rock stars we happened to be in love with at the moment. My sister and I later wrote a historical romance (still starring all our favorite rock stars, but behaving as we imagined they would during the Regency period). That story had twin princesses in it who (of course) are kidnapped by handsome highwaymen, who (of course) weren't really highwaymen... I think you can imagine how the rest of that went!
In college, I studied writing, but despaired of ever authoring the next Great American Novel. I'm just not that kind of writer! And though I later took a number of stabs at writing a book (usually some kind of thriller or suspense story), it wasn't until almost two decades later that I realized I'd better actually get off my butt and finish something, or being a writer would never be more than a dream. I also looked myself square in the eye and admitted that I loved romance novels. I'd quit reading them some time in my early twenties (I thought I ought to read something less frivolous), but I'd always been attracted to love stories, the more romantic, the better. So I got hooked up with Romance Writers of America and went back to my first love, romance!
All of this is a long way of saying that I write because I've always pictured myself as a writer. It was the only job I ever thought I'd have. I took a two-decade detour into computer software (where I worked as an editor and writer), but creative writing always owned my heart.
4. How does your writing process work?
I didn't used to outline or plot, but now I do. Partially because writing suspense kind of demands it, and partially because I got tired of writing and then tossing out half a book every time! I still can't make myself write a very detailed outline, but I'll have at least a dozen pages with chapters, scenes, and as much detail about each scene as I can think of, including lines of dialogue. I also spend some time brainstorming beforehand with my critique partner, the awesomely talented Kristine Cayne, and I try to develop GMCs (goals, motivations, and conflicts) for each major character, as well as mini bios that provide the highlights of significant (often formative) events in their lives leading up to where they are now. In other words, I like to know where their damage comes from and what kind of baggage they're toting around. Because then I get to torture them with it later! (I'm evil like that.)
Thanks again, Nancy, for tagging me. This was fun! :)
So here are my choices (victims?) for who to tag next!
Kristine Cayne
Rhonda Hopkins
P.T. Macias
I answer the following four questions, then tag three others. Here we go!
1. What are you working on now?
I'm wrapping up Redemption, the fourth book my Blood and Honor romantic suspense series, about two warring Mafia families in Italy. This book is about Antonio, who readers first met in Revenge. He's a flirty bad boy and has been a reader favorite from the beginning. In this book, we learn about his past, see him struggling to adapt to his new role in the family, and find out what happens when Bianca, the one woman he's never been able to forget, walks back into his life--just as everything in it is blowing apart. An even bigger problem? Bianca's brother wants Antonio dead, and it's not clear whose side she's on.
2. How does it differ from other work in its genre?A lot of romantic suspense books star cops, firefighters, or military heroes. I love the genre, but I wanted to do something a little different. I also wanted to set my first series in Italy, and I love Mafia stories, so it seemed like a no-brainer to set a story in that world. I hadn't quite counted on the depth of research I'd end up doing, or the difficulties of writing about a country that I love but haven't lived in for any significant amount of time. Nor had I bargained on how complicated it is to write what's essentially a family saga as well. This idea originally started off as one book. Now it's a five-part series! But I'm having a blast writing it, and I'm really going to miss it when I'm done.
3. Why do you write?
I started out writing romance novels (well, more like novellas) when I was a teenager. I'd write stories starring me or my sisters or friends and whatever rock stars we happened to be in love with at the moment. My sister and I later wrote a historical romance (still starring all our favorite rock stars, but behaving as we imagined they would during the Regency period). That story had twin princesses in it who (of course) are kidnapped by handsome highwaymen, who (of course) weren't really highwaymen... I think you can imagine how the rest of that went!
In college, I studied writing, but despaired of ever authoring the next Great American Novel. I'm just not that kind of writer! And though I later took a number of stabs at writing a book (usually some kind of thriller or suspense story), it wasn't until almost two decades later that I realized I'd better actually get off my butt and finish something, or being a writer would never be more than a dream. I also looked myself square in the eye and admitted that I loved romance novels. I'd quit reading them some time in my early twenties (I thought I ought to read something less frivolous), but I'd always been attracted to love stories, the more romantic, the better. So I got hooked up with Romance Writers of America and went back to my first love, romance!
All of this is a long way of saying that I write because I've always pictured myself as a writer. It was the only job I ever thought I'd have. I took a two-decade detour into computer software (where I worked as an editor and writer), but creative writing always owned my heart.
4. How does your writing process work?
I didn't used to outline or plot, but now I do. Partially because writing suspense kind of demands it, and partially because I got tired of writing and then tossing out half a book every time! I still can't make myself write a very detailed outline, but I'll have at least a dozen pages with chapters, scenes, and as much detail about each scene as I can think of, including lines of dialogue. I also spend some time brainstorming beforehand with my critique partner, the awesomely talented Kristine Cayne, and I try to develop GMCs (goals, motivations, and conflicts) for each major character, as well as mini bios that provide the highlights of significant (often formative) events in their lives leading up to where they are now. In other words, I like to know where their damage comes from and what kind of baggage they're toting around. Because then I get to torture them with it later! (I'm evil like that.)
Thanks again, Nancy, for tagging me. This was fun! :)
So here are my choices (victims?) for who to tag next!
Kristine Cayne
Rhonda Hopkins
P.T. Macias
November 6, 2013
Win a Sexy Ebook from Sabrina York!
Today's the official release date for Sabrina York's latest book, Making Over Maris! Let's take a moment to gaze at the cover, shall we? It features gorgeous cover model DiAngelo!
So What's It About?
If your Kindle melted while you were reading the scorching first books in this series— Adam’sObsession and Tristan’s Temptation —you’re going to want to read Making Over Maris, the third book in the award-winning Wired Series.
Featuring über-nerd Jack Maris and his co-worker (and secret crush) Sara Grant, this steamy novel continues the erotic story lines of the Trillo-Maris Gang…and steps it up a notch. Jack asks, cajoles, and bribes Sara to help him become attractive to women. What she doesn’t realize is that Jack doesn’t want to be attractive to other women—he wants to be attractive to her. Sara also has no clue that Jack has secrets and is battling a dark past. They go on a series of fake dates, each hotter and more sinful than the last. It’s not long before Sara discovers Jack’s secret desire to be dominated and what began as an arrangement becomes something amazing—something that could be real.
Whew! Sounds like loads of hot, sinful fun!
Purchase: Ellora's Cave
Let's read a little excerpt:
“So… Have you thought about it?” Jack could have kicked himself. He hadn’t intended to burst into her office and blurt it out like that. He’d meant to be suave and slick.
He should have known better.
He’d never been suave and slick.
No. He’d hovered in the vicinity of Sara’s office—after sending Kenny on a meaningless errand—and barged through the door and pounced upon her as soon as Kat left.
“Sit, Jack.”
He plopped into the chair and, because he didn’t know what to do with his hands, laced his fingers.
Sara studied him, dissecting him in that way she had, with her head tipped to the side, wrinkling her button nose. She was so cute when she wrinkled her nose. He forced himself not to wriggle. His cock didn’t listen. Something about her eyes, her lips, her scent, always stirred him.
He shouldn’t have this kind of reaction to her. In the office. Everywhere. But he couldn’t help it. He just did. Always.
When she looked at him like that, when she spoke to him in that clear, commanding voice, it was even worse.
Or better, depending on one’s perspective.
She cleared her throat. “Okay. I’ve thought about it.”
His pulse jerked. “And…?”
She dropped her attention to her blotter and meticulously rearranged several deformed paper clips. His heart pounded a painful tattoo as he waited for her response. “And…” She met his eyes—God, she was gorgeous. “If I do this, we need to have an understanding.”
Relief, or something like it, trickled through him. An understanding was awfully close to an agreement. A promise. “Okay.”
Sara sucked in a breath. “First of all, we need to agree this is an impossible task.”
“Not impossible,” he grumbled. Surely not impossible.
“Okay. Improbable then. My chances of success are…dismal.”
Dismal? Jack’s belly dropped. He fiddled with the wiry hairs on the back of his neck. He didn’t like the way this was going. It was depressing that she thought so poorly of him. “Am I that hideous?”
Her eyes widened. A flush rose on her cheeks. “Oh my God, Jack. No. I didn’t mean it that way.”
“It sounded that way.”
“Jack…” She rubbed her hands over her face. “Okay. How about this? We have a long way to go. Can we agree on that?”
“Sure.” He knew he was pouting. But he had a damn good excuse. She’d pretty much come out and said making him attractive to women—to her in particular—was a hopeless cause.“My worry is this. I can teach you all the right things to say and coach you on how to act around women, prescribe a diet and exercise plan and even give you a makeover. But if you don’t listen to me—if you don’t follow the plan—I fail.”
“I’ll listen. I’ll follow the plan.” Hell. He’d follow her anywhere she wanted to lead. If she only knew…
Something fierce stirred in her eyes. “It’s not going to be easy, Jack. I’m gonna work you.” Why he shivered at the tone in her voice, he had no clue. Or maybe he did. “I want you to agree to honor our contract—even if you drop the ball.”
“Of course.” He always kept his promises.
“You swear?”
He put a hand over his heart. “I swear.”
She sat back. The fire in her eyes flickered and sputtered out. “Okay. So next week I’m going back East to spend some time with my mother—”
“How long will you be gone?” Damn. He hated it when she was gone.
Pain flashed across her features; her voice dropped. “She’s…not doing well.”
His heart squeezed and he wanted to say something comforting but couldn’t find any words. Sara’s mother had been in and out of the hospital for a year. They were very close. Each time her mother had a relapse, Sara suffered.
Jack had never had a mother so he couldn’t relate but he imagined having one and losing her would be even harder than never having one at all.
“In the meantime, I’ll put together a plan for you.”
“A…plan?” His mind spun. How on earth was this going to work if she wasn’t even here?
“Yes. And you have to follow it.”
“I will.”
She put her hands flat on the desk and skewered him with a glower. “Religiously, Jack.”
“Okay.” He tried to not wriggle in his seat. He loved it when she got all…adamant. “So you’ll do it?”
“Yes,” she sighed. “I’ll do it.”
Relief cascaded through him. Relief and hope. It was a tiny sprig of hope, but hope was hope. “So when do we begin?”
She gazed at him. Some strange emotion he couldn’t interpret flashed over her features. “Now.”
Oh. God. Excitement and satisfaction and panic surged through him. “Now?”
“Yes. I need to do an assessment. You know. To figure out exactly where we are.”
He swallowed. “An assessment?”
“Of your game.”
“Okay.” He liked games. He scooted to the edge of his seat.
“Let’s pretend I’m a woman—”
“You are a woman.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Be serious, Jack.”
“I am being serious.” He was.
“Let’s pretend I’m a woman you see at a bar. And you’re interested.”
Oh. He was.
“What’s the first thing you do?”
Okay. He could wrap his brain around this. He shifted to the side and pulled out his wallet. Found his trusty cheat sheet and unfolded it and spread it flat on the desk.
“What the hell is that?” She gaped at the rumpled, well-worn paper.
“It’s my flowchart.” Duh.
Sara blinked. “You have a flowchart for picking up women.” Not a question.
“Naturally.” Didn’t everyone?
“Let me see that.” Before he could stop her she snatched the paper away. Scanned it. “Oh God.”
He knew what she was seeing. He’d studied this flowchart a hundred times. Still, when she read it aloud, he winced.
“Picking Up Chicks.” She grimaced. “Seriously, Jack? That’s what you named it?”
“Yes.” What else would he name it?
“‘Step One. Assess the situation’. Okay. That works. ‘Does she seem cranky?’ Cranky? Seriously, Jack? Cranky?”
He shrugged. “It’s a critical variable.” It was. It was exceedingly difficult to pick up a cranky woman. “Statistically speaking—”
But Sara ignored him. “‘If Yes: Charm her from her bad mood. If No: Proceed with caution.’” Sara sighed and glanced up at him. “Proceed with caution? We’re not wild animals, Jack.”
“You kind of are.” This he muttered. She didn’t hear. Or maybe she did. Maybe she was ignoring him again. She did that.
With a derisive snort, she crumpled up his precious template for seduction and tossed it in the trash.
With a strangled “eep” he dove in after it, dug it out, refolded it and tucked it back into his wallet. It had never worked but it was all he had. He needed it.
She glared at him. And then for some reason she softened. “Women are not an empirical science, Jack.” She gestured to his wallet. “We’re not all alike. There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to winning someone’s heart.”
Yeah. He got that. “But you need to have a standard operating procedure—”
“No, ya don’t.” She blew out a breath. He loved the way it made her bangs flutter up. “Don’t you see? This kind of thing comes off as cheesy. Planned. Practiced.”
“And that’s…bad?” How could planning and practice be bad?
“Women don’t want to feel like they’re an insect being dissected or analyzed. They don’t want to be one option in a sea of possibilities. They want to be special. They want a guy who responds to them on an instinctual level. A guy who is so interested, he can’t help but be charming. Not a guy who has to be reminded to be seductive—by an SOP.”
He shook his head. This was all so…alien. “I don’t get it.”
She buried her face in her hands. “No. You don’t. That’s the point. Oh Jack, I’m going to need a couple days to think about this.”
His pulse stuttered. “But you already promised…”
“No. I’ll do it. I did promise to do it. I just need to think about how to do it.”
He relaxed. Okay. Okay. Okay. It would be okay. “Thank you, Sara.”
“Yeah.” Her cell phone buzzed and she picked it up to check the screen. Her lips tightened and she set it back down. “No prob.”
Damn. Why did she seem so dispirited? He’d seen the tears on her cheeks when he interrupted her meeting with Kat. He’d hated her tears. Hated even more that he didn’t have any right to wipe them away.
“Sara.” He waited until she met his gaze. “Thank you.”
This meant everything to him. More than she could ever know.
“Sure, Jack. Give me a couple days to think about this.”
“Sure.”
She stared at him for a minute and then said in a very small voice, “You can go now.”
Right. He could go. But he didn’t want to. He didn’t want to go. He wanted to fold her in his arms and hold her and make whatever was making her sad disappear.
He didn’t have that right either.
And he never would.
But for the next few months, he’d have her attention.
And that would be worth a thousand trips to Paris.
Ebook Giveaway!
To celebrate the release of Making Over Maris, Sabrina is offering a free ebook to one lucky winner! To enter, follow the instructions in the RaffleCopter below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
So What's It About?
If your Kindle melted while you were reading the scorching first books in this series— Adam’sObsession and Tristan’s Temptation —you’re going to want to read Making Over Maris, the third book in the award-winning Wired Series.
Featuring über-nerd Jack Maris and his co-worker (and secret crush) Sara Grant, this steamy novel continues the erotic story lines of the Trillo-Maris Gang…and steps it up a notch. Jack asks, cajoles, and bribes Sara to help him become attractive to women. What she doesn’t realize is that Jack doesn’t want to be attractive to other women—he wants to be attractive to her. Sara also has no clue that Jack has secrets and is battling a dark past. They go on a series of fake dates, each hotter and more sinful than the last. It’s not long before Sara discovers Jack’s secret desire to be dominated and what began as an arrangement becomes something amazing—something that could be real.
Whew! Sounds like loads of hot, sinful fun!
Purchase: Ellora's Cave
Let's read a little excerpt:
“So… Have you thought about it?” Jack could have kicked himself. He hadn’t intended to burst into her office and blurt it out like that. He’d meant to be suave and slick.
He should have known better.
He’d never been suave and slick.
No. He’d hovered in the vicinity of Sara’s office—after sending Kenny on a meaningless errand—and barged through the door and pounced upon her as soon as Kat left.
“Sit, Jack.”
He plopped into the chair and, because he didn’t know what to do with his hands, laced his fingers.
Sara studied him, dissecting him in that way she had, with her head tipped to the side, wrinkling her button nose. She was so cute when she wrinkled her nose. He forced himself not to wriggle. His cock didn’t listen. Something about her eyes, her lips, her scent, always stirred him.
He shouldn’t have this kind of reaction to her. In the office. Everywhere. But he couldn’t help it. He just did. Always.
When she looked at him like that, when she spoke to him in that clear, commanding voice, it was even worse.
Or better, depending on one’s perspective.
She cleared her throat. “Okay. I’ve thought about it.”
His pulse jerked. “And…?”
She dropped her attention to her blotter and meticulously rearranged several deformed paper clips. His heart pounded a painful tattoo as he waited for her response. “And…” She met his eyes—God, she was gorgeous. “If I do this, we need to have an understanding.”
Relief, or something like it, trickled through him. An understanding was awfully close to an agreement. A promise. “Okay.”
Sara sucked in a breath. “First of all, we need to agree this is an impossible task.”
“Not impossible,” he grumbled. Surely not impossible.
“Okay. Improbable then. My chances of success are…dismal.”
Dismal? Jack’s belly dropped. He fiddled with the wiry hairs on the back of his neck. He didn’t like the way this was going. It was depressing that she thought so poorly of him. “Am I that hideous?”
Her eyes widened. A flush rose on her cheeks. “Oh my God, Jack. No. I didn’t mean it that way.”
“It sounded that way.”
“Jack…” She rubbed her hands over her face. “Okay. How about this? We have a long way to go. Can we agree on that?”
“Sure.” He knew he was pouting. But he had a damn good excuse. She’d pretty much come out and said making him attractive to women—to her in particular—was a hopeless cause.“My worry is this. I can teach you all the right things to say and coach you on how to act around women, prescribe a diet and exercise plan and even give you a makeover. But if you don’t listen to me—if you don’t follow the plan—I fail.”
“I’ll listen. I’ll follow the plan.” Hell. He’d follow her anywhere she wanted to lead. If she only knew…
Something fierce stirred in her eyes. “It’s not going to be easy, Jack. I’m gonna work you.” Why he shivered at the tone in her voice, he had no clue. Or maybe he did. “I want you to agree to honor our contract—even if you drop the ball.”
“Of course.” He always kept his promises.
“You swear?”
He put a hand over his heart. “I swear.”
She sat back. The fire in her eyes flickered and sputtered out. “Okay. So next week I’m going back East to spend some time with my mother—”
“How long will you be gone?” Damn. He hated it when she was gone.
Pain flashed across her features; her voice dropped. “She’s…not doing well.”
His heart squeezed and he wanted to say something comforting but couldn’t find any words. Sara’s mother had been in and out of the hospital for a year. They were very close. Each time her mother had a relapse, Sara suffered.
Jack had never had a mother so he couldn’t relate but he imagined having one and losing her would be even harder than never having one at all.
“In the meantime, I’ll put together a plan for you.”
“A…plan?” His mind spun. How on earth was this going to work if she wasn’t even here?
“Yes. And you have to follow it.”
“I will.”
She put her hands flat on the desk and skewered him with a glower. “Religiously, Jack.”
“Okay.” He tried to not wriggle in his seat. He loved it when she got all…adamant. “So you’ll do it?”
“Yes,” she sighed. “I’ll do it.”
Relief cascaded through him. Relief and hope. It was a tiny sprig of hope, but hope was hope. “So when do we begin?”
She gazed at him. Some strange emotion he couldn’t interpret flashed over her features. “Now.”
Oh. God. Excitement and satisfaction and panic surged through him. “Now?”
“Yes. I need to do an assessment. You know. To figure out exactly where we are.”
He swallowed. “An assessment?”
“Of your game.”
“Okay.” He liked games. He scooted to the edge of his seat.
“Let’s pretend I’m a woman—”
“You are a woman.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Be serious, Jack.”
“I am being serious.” He was.
“Let’s pretend I’m a woman you see at a bar. And you’re interested.”
Oh. He was.
“What’s the first thing you do?”
Okay. He could wrap his brain around this. He shifted to the side and pulled out his wallet. Found his trusty cheat sheet and unfolded it and spread it flat on the desk.
“What the hell is that?” She gaped at the rumpled, well-worn paper.
“It’s my flowchart.” Duh.
Sara blinked. “You have a flowchart for picking up women.” Not a question.
“Naturally.” Didn’t everyone?
“Let me see that.” Before he could stop her she snatched the paper away. Scanned it. “Oh God.”
He knew what she was seeing. He’d studied this flowchart a hundred times. Still, when she read it aloud, he winced.
“Picking Up Chicks.” She grimaced. “Seriously, Jack? That’s what you named it?”
“Yes.” What else would he name it?
“‘Step One. Assess the situation’. Okay. That works. ‘Does she seem cranky?’ Cranky? Seriously, Jack? Cranky?”
He shrugged. “It’s a critical variable.” It was. It was exceedingly difficult to pick up a cranky woman. “Statistically speaking—”
But Sara ignored him. “‘If Yes: Charm her from her bad mood. If No: Proceed with caution.’” Sara sighed and glanced up at him. “Proceed with caution? We’re not wild animals, Jack.”
“You kind of are.” This he muttered. She didn’t hear. Or maybe she did. Maybe she was ignoring him again. She did that.
With a derisive snort, she crumpled up his precious template for seduction and tossed it in the trash.
With a strangled “eep” he dove in after it, dug it out, refolded it and tucked it back into his wallet. It had never worked but it was all he had. He needed it.
She glared at him. And then for some reason she softened. “Women are not an empirical science, Jack.” She gestured to his wallet. “We’re not all alike. There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to winning someone’s heart.”
Yeah. He got that. “But you need to have a standard operating procedure—”
“No, ya don’t.” She blew out a breath. He loved the way it made her bangs flutter up. “Don’t you see? This kind of thing comes off as cheesy. Planned. Practiced.”
“And that’s…bad?” How could planning and practice be bad?
“Women don’t want to feel like they’re an insect being dissected or analyzed. They don’t want to be one option in a sea of possibilities. They want to be special. They want a guy who responds to them on an instinctual level. A guy who is so interested, he can’t help but be charming. Not a guy who has to be reminded to be seductive—by an SOP.”
He shook his head. This was all so…alien. “I don’t get it.”
She buried her face in her hands. “No. You don’t. That’s the point. Oh Jack, I’m going to need a couple days to think about this.”
His pulse stuttered. “But you already promised…”
“No. I’ll do it. I did promise to do it. I just need to think about how to do it.”
He relaxed. Okay. Okay. Okay. It would be okay. “Thank you, Sara.”
“Yeah.” Her cell phone buzzed and she picked it up to check the screen. Her lips tightened and she set it back down. “No prob.”
Damn. Why did she seem so dispirited? He’d seen the tears on her cheeks when he interrupted her meeting with Kat. He’d hated her tears. Hated even more that he didn’t have any right to wipe them away.
“Sara.” He waited until she met his gaze. “Thank you.”
This meant everything to him. More than she could ever know.
“Sure, Jack. Give me a couple days to think about this.”
“Sure.”
She stared at him for a minute and then said in a very small voice, “You can go now.”
Right. He could go. But he didn’t want to. He didn’t want to go. He wanted to fold her in his arms and hold her and make whatever was making her sad disappear.
He didn’t have that right either.
And he never would.
But for the next few months, he’d have her attention.
And that would be worth a thousand trips to Paris.
Ebook Giveaway!
To celebrate the release of Making Over Maris, Sabrina is offering a free ebook to one lucky winner! To enter, follow the instructions in the RaffleCopter below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
November 1, 2013
Win Books and a $175 Amazon Gift Card at the Great Autumn Harvest Book Giveaway!
Welcome to the Great Autumn Harvest Book Giveaway Event (Nov. 1 - 3, 2013)
Cool weather, colorful leaves, and a warm cocktail. What could be better? We are over 35 authors giving away a ton of great ebooks and prizes. Keep reading to find out what they are!
The Great Autumn Harvest Book Giveaway Event
Have you joined our event on FaceBook yet? Please take a moment to do so and invite your friends. We are using the event page to highlight the books that are being given away on our blogs. We're also having some games you can play to earn additional entries in the giveaways. Come on over so you don't miss out on anything!
Facebook event link: https://www.facebook.com/events/657344800953475/
Book Prizes
We have over 35 ebooks to give to our readers! Each blogger is giving away 3-4 of them. You can win one of three right here on my blog.
Hot & Sassy (De La Cruz Saga) by P.T. Macias - Veronica De La Cruz is the bebe (baby) of the familia (family). She’s an intelligent, beautiful, elegant, and sexy mujer (woman). She’s been in love with her novio (fiancé) Christopher Rosas for years. They've waited anxiously for their wedding day. One of her dreams is to become his wife.
Veronica’s other dream is to be an Eve’s Pleasure model. This is the only dream that she’s not shared with Christopher. Veronica has kept this from him. She knows in her heart that he’s totally old school and has macho convictions. She knows that he’ll never accept his wife to model.
Christopher Rosas is an FBI agent and Veronica’s twin sister’s partner. He’s totally devoted to Veronica. Christopher is forced to ask Veronica to help the FBI to locate her twin.
Will their amor be strong enough to survive her silence? Can Veronica save her amor and twin before time runs out?
Kindle US | Kindle UK | Smashwords www.ptmacias.com
Logan's Acadian Wolves by Kym Grosso - Deep in the heart of New Orleans, Acadian Wolves’ Alpha, Logan Reynaud, rescues a beautiful woman in the dead of night. Intrigued by the mysterious human, the commanding Alpha is determined to elicit all of her secrets, including her deepest fantasies. After tragedy strikes, Logan discovers dangerous adversaries are planning an attack in his city. Driven by responsibility and honor, Logan must protect both his pack and the woman who’s captivated his attention.Dr. Wynter Ryan, a leading virologist, is fascinated with her charismatic protector. As the chemistry ignites between her and the dominant Alpha, she relinquishes her ties to the past, embracing ecstasy and submission within his arms and intrepidly acquiescing to her own adventurous instincts. Succumbing to desire, she learns to trust her Alpha, discovering what it means to be wolf.
Passion and mystery on the bayou stirs Logan’s wolf, demanding he claim his mate. Yet Wynter’s a distraction he can’t afford when his priority is to lead his new pack. Will Logan surrender to the uncontrollable need to claim Wynter as his mate? And will he be able to keep her alive, finding the killer who threatens the Acadian Wolves?
Warning: This book contains several erotic love scenes, including m/f/m menage, and is intended for adult readers only.
Kindle US | Kindle UK | Smashwords www.KymGrosso.com
Finding Esta by Shah Wharton - Do you love your mystery to have a paranormal theme? Do you enjoy characters who evolve, but come with cracks? Do you love urban fantasy with soul? Read on....Finding Esta is the tumultuous tale of one extraordinary woman's journey of self-discovery within a supernatural underworld.
Numerous psychic flaws have cursed Luna - a fledgling journalist - forever. All she wants is validation from cruel parents, and physical intimacy without physical pain or mental anguish. But she is denied both. She does have Flo and Ada; two best friends who have one incredible thing in common: They're dead!
Flo lives within Luna's mind - like house-share. But Ada prefers to kick dark Shadow bootie in the Shadow Lands.
When Luna's investigation into the abduction of baby-Esta leads her to an underground supernatural community, she loses all contact with her life-long Shadow friends, and her weak sense of identity implodes, as each incredible revelation steers her to a singularly mind-blowing question: "What am I?"
Luna refuses to believe that she is being called by fate, by the power of the moon, by an alien species, and by a vampire who visits her dreams, to begin her destiny as defeater of evil, and the hybrid liberator of all Supes. "I mean, come on!"
Twenty-three years left in tatters at her feet, Luna's mind further fractures beneath the weight of loss and temptation, all obscured by an innate suspicion of everyone and everything.
Will Luna find her Shadows again? Will she possess strength enough to deal with unearthly creatures, chronic indecision, and a growing dissociation with everything she once believed? Will she ever melt her parents icy hearts? And in the end, will she find poor Esta, or live long enough to tell her story?
Be aware: The answers to these questions are not what you might think!
Kindle US www.shahwharton.com
Here's how the book giveaway works : There are eleven of us who are featuring the giveaway books on our blogs. The books will be won individually so your chances of winning are very high. Be sure to go to all eleven blogs to maximize your odds.
To enter: Fill out the Rafflecopter below. The more actions you do, the more entries you get!
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Grand Prize
Now for the grand prize. We are also giving away a $175 Amazon gift card!
To enter: Fill out the Rafflecopter below. Complete as many of the actions as you can to increase your odds of winning!
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What Now?
For more great ebooks to win, please return to the Great Autumn Harvest Book Giveaway Event page. We'll be highlighting more ebooks, and the blogs where you can go to win them.
Thanks for joining us!
Dana
October 23, 2013
Win a $55 Gift Card and Other Prizes at the Quarterly Release Blog Hop!
Hi everyone and welcome to the
Quarterly Blog Hop!
We're a group of writers who have come together to let you know about our new releases. And to thank you for stopping by and checking out our books, we're giving away some cool prizes! Each writer is giving away a prize, and the group itself is giving away a grand prize that includes a $55 Amazon gift card, so that's 20 chances to win!
So what's my latest release?
I'm very pleased to announce that Malavita, the prequel to my Blood and Honor series, is FREE on all retailers!
Praise for Malavita
"This is the first book I have ever read by this author and I have to say I couldn't put it down till I finished it. What a ride I got! Love, action, excitement, crime families, heck, what more could you ask??" - Cedarblue, Amazon reader
"I just love Dana's writing, the plot is very well thought out, fast paced and full of action, and as I've said before with her work, every word is relevant. The story has everything, romance, revenge, 'blood', 'honor', suspense, action, you name it this book covers it. Dana Delamar is definitely an author to watch." - Lindsay and Jane's Views and Reviews blog
"...once I got started with Malavita, I could not, would not put it down. The storyline is captivating from the beginning.... Not only do you have a fantastic love story, but the Mob is involved...I felt dirty (in a good way) just reading it. Written expertly. Exciting, fun, action, suspense, love, honor, loyalty....just fantastic!!" - Liz Cabrejos, Amazon reader
What's it about?
A son determined to avenge his family. A daughter desperate for peace.
Two fathers intent on destruction...
Enrico Lucchesi never wanted anything to do with the Mafia. But when his brothers were murdered, he accepted that he would someday be the next don. However, he doesn't accept that he must marry the daughter of the man who killed them. Enrico will never trust an Andretti, never mind love one. The Andrettis are up to something with their so-called "truce"--and Enrico must avenge his siblings. But will his dark secret spell the end of his vengeance--and possibly the Lucchesis?
After Antonella Andretti's father tries to destroy the Lucchesis, she persuades him that an alliance--achieved by her marriage to Enrico, the "golden boy" she's loved from afar--would be in everyone's best interests. As her wedding day approaches, people close to her father start dying, and her fiancé's behavior is suspect. When she learns Enrico's true feelings about her--and what her father's actual plans are--will Antonella damn their families to eternal war, or will she broker a peace that might destroy her heart?
Excerpt:
Enrico offered Antonella a hand up. She rose from the stone floor of the loggia and dusted off her dress, then turned her back to Enrico. “Do I look all right?”
His hand brushed along her hip, leaving tingles in its wake. “You look lovely.”
The deepened tones of his voice, the slow, appreciative way he delivered the compliment, started her heart pounding, made her breath catch in her throat. Could he possibly mean what he was saying? Well, he had kissed her, and then when he’d taken her hand and placed it on his…
She could hardly believe any of it had happened. But it had. That kiss, so soft, so gentle, so delicious. And then that hardness—she’d caused that. She had.
It was enough to make her head spin.
Enrico’s fingers closed around hers and he tugged her to him. “I’m sorry we were interrupted,” he said, a smile curving his mouth.
The fluttering in her chest intensified. Was he going to kiss her again? She’d dreamed of this moment for so long, she felt almost sick with anticipation—and fear. What if she disappointed him? What if he laughed at her?
What if… he was toying with her?
She searched his face, trying to read his intentions. His chocolate brown eyes twinkling, he bent down until his lips hovered over hers. “I promise to be a gentleman,” he said before kissing her again, more firmly this time, his lips coaxing a soft sound out of her as an indescribable pleasure swept through her body.
Every place they touched, every bit of skin, lit up as if it were giving off sparks. He slid a hand up to cup the base of her skull, and the other pressed against her lower back, urging her against him once more. But it was his mouth—his wonderful, sinful mouth—that truly undid Antonella. His lips parted, moving against hers in a slow feathering caress that she mimicked, pleased to hear him groan low in his throat and clutch her more fiercely.
His mouth opened wider and his tongue traveled across the seam of her lips. Did he want her to…? He did it again, and she opened up for him, shocked and amazed when his tongue swept inside her mouth, finding hers and stroking it. She’d never have guessed she’d enjoy such a thing, but now she understood why the girls in her class had giggled about it.
She clutched at his broad shoulders, her knees feeling suddenly weak. How had he reduced her to a quivering mass so quickly? She was nothing but raw emotion, raw reaction. It was all so overwhelming, she needed to sit down. She broke the kiss, and his eyes opened. He looked as stunned as she felt. “Are you okay?” he asked.
He hadn’t let go of her, and she was grateful for it. “It’s just so… much,” she finally whispered. Dio, she must sound like an idiot! Heat raced over her neck and face, making her ears burn.
He chuckled, but he still held her. “I’d forgotten.”
“What?”
“My first kiss. It shocked the hell out of me.”
Jealousy swamped her. Someone else had kissed her Rico. She straightened and held his gaze. “I’m not shocked.”
“Surprised, at least?”
“A little,” she allowed.
“Want to do it again?” he asked, a wicked grin on his face.
Kindle US | Kindle UK | Kindle CA | Nook US | Nook UK | Apple iTunes | Kobo | All Romance eBooks | Smashwords
If you prefer paperback, you can find Malavita here:
Print US | Print UK
Prize Giveaway!
To thank you for visiting my blog and participating in the Quarterly Release Blog Hop, I'm giving away a $15 gift card to Amazon or Barnes & Noble (winner's choice)! To win, you must post a comment with your name and email address. Comments without an email address will be discarded. (Blog comment email addresses are required in case of typos in the Rafflecopter entry; they aren't used for any other purpose.)
For additional chances to win, follow the instructions in the RaffleCopter.
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GRAND PRIZE -- $55 Amazon Gift Card
and Swag Pack!
To enter our grand prize drawing, follow the instructions in the RaffleCopter below.
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Click the next link in the list below to keep hopping! ');
October 10, 2013
Upcoming Events!
Hi everybody! October and November are going to be chock-full of cool stuff!
October 19th: I'll be signing books at the Emerald City Writers Conference (ECWC) from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm at the Bellevue Westin Hotel.
October 24-31: I'll be participating in a blog hop with a bunch of other authors. Details to come!
November 2-3: I'll be signing books at Northwest Bookfest! I'll be there from 2-4 on Saturday and 1-3 on Sunday in the Eastside RWA booth. If you're in the area, stop on by!
Other authors at the Eastside RWA booth:
Kristine Cayne
Crista McHugh
Nancy S. Thompson
MK Harkins
Lucy Carol
Jami Davenport
Chantilly White
Alexa Darin
April Rickard (Dewpoint Studios)
Anna Alexander
November (exact date TBD): I'll be releasing Redemption, the third book in the Blood and Honor series. This is Antonio's story, which many readers have been asking for since the moment he showed up in book 1.
October 19th: I'll be signing books at the Emerald City Writers Conference (ECWC) from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm at the Bellevue Westin Hotel.
October 24-31: I'll be participating in a blog hop with a bunch of other authors. Details to come!
November 2-3: I'll be signing books at Northwest Bookfest! I'll be there from 2-4 on Saturday and 1-3 on Sunday in the Eastside RWA booth. If you're in the area, stop on by!
Other authors at the Eastside RWA booth:
Kristine Cayne
Crista McHugh
Nancy S. Thompson
MK Harkins
Lucy Carol
Jami Davenport
Chantilly White
Alexa Darin
April Rickard (Dewpoint Studios)
Anna Alexander
November (exact date TBD): I'll be releasing Redemption, the third book in the Blood and Honor series. This is Antonio's story, which many readers have been asking for since the moment he showed up in book 1.
September 19, 2013
Giveaway at the Romance Authors Sweet Fall Blitz!
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Welcome to the Romance Authors Sweet Fall Blitz!
(September 13-October 4th)
For the next three weeks, Steph's Book Retreat is sponsoring a really cool giveaway with the 20 authors listed above. Over 14 ebooks are up for grabs, along with gift cards!!
Each author has answered a list of sweet and spicy questions posed by Stephanie. I'm featured today (September 19th). Want to see how I answered my questions? You will have a chance to win one of two ebook copies of Malavita (Blood and Honor, Prequel) and a $10 Amazon gift card! To enter the giveaway, visit Steph's Book Retreat blog or Steph's Book Retreat Facebook page!
September 16, 2013
Review: SUGAR AND SIN Romance Bundle
Today I've got a book review for you. My wonderful critique partner, Kristine Cayne, asked if I'd be willing to review Sugar and Sin, a bundle of six full-length contemporary romances that she's part of. Having already read books by several of these gals, I eagerly jumped on board, and I'm so happy I did!
Book Description
In the land of Happily Ever After, six romance writers banded together to bring readers a super-sexy dose of Sugar and Sin, a bundle of six full-length books (over 1000 pages!) with fun, sassy heroines and the oh-so-sexy men who fall for them. If you like your contemporary romance on the steamy side, this book is for you!
My Review
Wow! What a great bundle of books! Every single one has something to recommend it. I was alternately laughing, fanning myself (these books are all HOT!), or worrying about the characters in each story.
Chasin' Mason by Stacey Joy Netzel
Catch the stallion ~ win the ranch. A simple competition between bitter enemies, but once tempers and passions flare in the Texas heat, all bets are off.
I enjoyed this story right from the start. Tripp and Reggie are both great characters with believable flaws and a past marred by conflict and misunderstanding. The characters are well-drawn and there's off-the-charts sexual tension and just plain good sexy fun. Oh, and there are horses and a contemporary western backdrop too! Tripp is one very sexy cowboy, and I liked that Reggie was his equal in every way.
Deadly Addiction by Kristine Cayne
A violent clash of cultures tests the forbidden love between a Native American man and a white female cop.
I *love* this story. It's got thrills, chills, red-hot sexual tension, and scorching sex--on top of a bang-up, downright exciting plot and a great setting (an Iroquois reservation in Canada). This is the second in Kristine Cayne's Deadly Vices series, but this book certainly stands alone. The two leads, Alyssa and Rémi, are both damaged people who come together and make each other whole... and when they're not getting shot at, they're burning up the sheets. Trust me on this!
His Lady Godiva by L.C. Giroux
A disabled surgeon and a damaged patient find healing in their love for one another.
I was intrigued by the idea of a disabled hero, and I fell in love with this great story about taking risks and making yourself vulnerable. Michael and Violet make a great couple and their chemistry is sizzling; in fact, this story was borderline erotic romance, in my opinion. I was definitely fanning myself while reading it! I liked that Violet does not pity Michael in any way, and he proves to be well worth all the effort she puts in to convince him that they can be great for each other.
Love By Design by Liz Matis
Sex in the City meets HGTV when an uptight interior designer has to deal with a hunky, rough-hewn cohost from Down Under.
Another great story--I laughed out loud over and over again. There were so many great lines in this! I could definitely see this book being made into a romantic comedy. I liked Victoria quite a bit, and oh man, you can give me a hot Aussie like Russ any day! The secondary characters were well-drawn and the story moves swiftly and effortlessly. It'll go down as nicely as a vodka martini!
Run Rosie Run by C.C. Mackenzie
She’s wasted enough of her life madly in love with a man she can never have... or can she?
I'd read and enjoyed Reckless in Rome (the first book in The Ludlow Hall series), and I really loved Rosie in that one, so I was looking forward to her book. Alexander seemed like a bit of a stuffed shirt in Reckless, but oh no--we learn in this one that he is an alpha male, through and through. Lots of laugh-out-loud lines and blazing hot sex (did I mention it was on fire? It so was!), not to mention getting to visit with Bronte and Nico again and see that their marriage is still sizzling, make this book a definite must for fans of the series and anyone who's suffered through a long-term unrequited love. Although I got a wee bit impatient with Rosie at times (the girl needs to learn to open up!), her pain and angst over a man she's loved for ages (about half her life or more) are understandable and made me feel her turmoil. And Alex's ham-handed initial response doesn't help matters!
Sexy in Stilettos by Nana Malone
A hyper-organized event planner meets a carefree playboy... and sparks fly. But can they make it work?
This book starts off with a bang and sucks you right in. I liked Jaya and Alec from the start, and oh boy did I love Jaya's best friends, Micha and Ricca! They're a total hoot, and I laughed out loud many times while reading this book. This is another that could make a really good romantic comedy. And oh man, was the sex ever *scorching*! These two have amazing chemistry and I was rooting for them the entire time. A bang-up read, and a great ending to this bundle. Now I've got several new authors to follow!
SALE! SALE! SALE!
I'd be remiss if I didn't point out that Sugar and Sin is available now for only .99/.77p (it's normally $5.99). It's a huge bargain at 5.99, but a total steal at .99. Where else can you get that much entertainment for only a buck?
Amazon (US) | Amazon (UK) | Kobo
Book Description
In the land of Happily Ever After, six romance writers banded together to bring readers a super-sexy dose of Sugar and Sin, a bundle of six full-length books (over 1000 pages!) with fun, sassy heroines and the oh-so-sexy men who fall for them. If you like your contemporary romance on the steamy side, this book is for you!
My Review
Wow! What a great bundle of books! Every single one has something to recommend it. I was alternately laughing, fanning myself (these books are all HOT!), or worrying about the characters in each story.
Chasin' Mason by Stacey Joy Netzel
Catch the stallion ~ win the ranch. A simple competition between bitter enemies, but once tempers and passions flare in the Texas heat, all bets are off.
I enjoyed this story right from the start. Tripp and Reggie are both great characters with believable flaws and a past marred by conflict and misunderstanding. The characters are well-drawn and there's off-the-charts sexual tension and just plain good sexy fun. Oh, and there are horses and a contemporary western backdrop too! Tripp is one very sexy cowboy, and I liked that Reggie was his equal in every way.
Deadly Addiction by Kristine Cayne
A violent clash of cultures tests the forbidden love between a Native American man and a white female cop.
I *love* this story. It's got thrills, chills, red-hot sexual tension, and scorching sex--on top of a bang-up, downright exciting plot and a great setting (an Iroquois reservation in Canada). This is the second in Kristine Cayne's Deadly Vices series, but this book certainly stands alone. The two leads, Alyssa and Rémi, are both damaged people who come together and make each other whole... and when they're not getting shot at, they're burning up the sheets. Trust me on this!
His Lady Godiva by L.C. Giroux
A disabled surgeon and a damaged patient find healing in their love for one another.
I was intrigued by the idea of a disabled hero, and I fell in love with this great story about taking risks and making yourself vulnerable. Michael and Violet make a great couple and their chemistry is sizzling; in fact, this story was borderline erotic romance, in my opinion. I was definitely fanning myself while reading it! I liked that Violet does not pity Michael in any way, and he proves to be well worth all the effort she puts in to convince him that they can be great for each other.
Love By Design by Liz Matis
Sex in the City meets HGTV when an uptight interior designer has to deal with a hunky, rough-hewn cohost from Down Under.
Another great story--I laughed out loud over and over again. There were so many great lines in this! I could definitely see this book being made into a romantic comedy. I liked Victoria quite a bit, and oh man, you can give me a hot Aussie like Russ any day! The secondary characters were well-drawn and the story moves swiftly and effortlessly. It'll go down as nicely as a vodka martini!
Run Rosie Run by C.C. Mackenzie
She’s wasted enough of her life madly in love with a man she can never have... or can she?
I'd read and enjoyed Reckless in Rome (the first book in The Ludlow Hall series), and I really loved Rosie in that one, so I was looking forward to her book. Alexander seemed like a bit of a stuffed shirt in Reckless, but oh no--we learn in this one that he is an alpha male, through and through. Lots of laugh-out-loud lines and blazing hot sex (did I mention it was on fire? It so was!), not to mention getting to visit with Bronte and Nico again and see that their marriage is still sizzling, make this book a definite must for fans of the series and anyone who's suffered through a long-term unrequited love. Although I got a wee bit impatient with Rosie at times (the girl needs to learn to open up!), her pain and angst over a man she's loved for ages (about half her life or more) are understandable and made me feel her turmoil. And Alex's ham-handed initial response doesn't help matters!
Sexy in Stilettos by Nana Malone
A hyper-organized event planner meets a carefree playboy... and sparks fly. But can they make it work?
This book starts off with a bang and sucks you right in. I liked Jaya and Alec from the start, and oh boy did I love Jaya's best friends, Micha and Ricca! They're a total hoot, and I laughed out loud many times while reading this book. This is another that could make a really good romantic comedy. And oh man, was the sex ever *scorching*! These two have amazing chemistry and I was rooting for them the entire time. A bang-up read, and a great ending to this bundle. Now I've got several new authors to follow!
SALE! SALE! SALE!
I'd be remiss if I didn't point out that Sugar and Sin is available now for only .99/.77p (it's normally $5.99). It's a huge bargain at 5.99, but a total steal at .99. Where else can you get that much entertainment for only a buck?
Amazon (US) | Amazon (UK) | Kobo
September 13, 2013
Romance Authors Sweet Fall Blitz Giveaway Sponsored by Steph's Book Retreat!
Welcome to the Romance Authors Sweet Fall Blitz!
(September 13-October 4th)
For the next three weeks, Steph's Book Retreat is sponsoring a really cool giveaway with the 20 authors listed above. Over 14 ebooks are up for grabs, along with gift cards!!
Each author has answered a list of sweet and spicy questions posed by Stephanie; the answers will be posted on Steph's Book Retreat according to the following schedule.
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I'm featured on September 19th. You will have a chance to win one of two ebook copies of Malavita (Blood and Honor, Prequel) and a $10 Amazon gift card!
To enter the giveaway, follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter below, and be sure to visit Steph's Book Retreat blog and Steph's Book Retreat Facebook page to see what prizes are available and to see what sweet and spicy things these authors had to say!
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/a06eb30/
Save 50 Percent at Kobo Until September 30th!
Wow! Kobo is running an incredible deal right now through the end of September!
You can use the 50% off coupon code below on as many titles as you want. This coupon applies to over one million books on Kobo, so there's bound to be something for everyone!
Click Here to Save 50% with Code Sept50
Valid in UK, Canada, and USA
Now to Monday September 30th at 11:59 pm EST
Coupon/Promo Code: Sept50
Don't have a Kobo reader? Shop Kobo ereaders!
Have a smartphone? Download the free Kobo app!
August 30, 2013
Awesome Giveaway -- 34 Books Plus Gift Cards!
Nancy S. Thompson, author of The Mistaken , has a 1000 Likes Giveaway happening now! There are 34 prizes in all, including 31 ebooks, 5 signed paperbacks & swag, plus a $10 Amazon or B&N gift card & a $5 Amazon gift card!
To enter, follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter on Nancy's Facebook page. Here's the link:
https://www.facebook.com/NancySThompsonAuthor/app_228910107186452
You could win one of two ebook copies of my book, Malavita !
