Melissa Snark's Blog: The Snarkology, page 39
April 6, 2015
The Snarkology: Switching Leads by Mia Downing #GLBT #eroticromance
Switching Leads
Author: Mia Downing
Genre: M/M
Tags: #mm #glbt #eroticromance #college
Length: 28,000
Coach John Graham needs a new assistant coach for Cathia U’s equestrian team. The last person he expects to get the job walks into the barn and stops his heart. How is he supposed to focus on the team when his ex-lover—sexy horse trainer Finn Parker—wants back into his life?
Finn has had a hell of a bad year, ending with a horrible riding accident. Instead of looking forward to winter in sunny Florida training horses for the show circuit, he ends up going home to snowy Cathia, NY to heal, physically and emotionally. He’ll endure John’s frosty reception if it means he’ll get what he wants most. He’s used to taking the reins…for love will he switch leads?
Excerpt from Switching Leads (Campus Cravings: Higher Learning series)
A soft knock rattled the door. John pushed away just as it opened and Finn shoved his head in.
“Oh, hey,” Finn said. “Can I talk to you?”
“Busy,” John managed, his throat tight, choking down any other words that wanted to come out. Of course, it had to be Finn. He strode over to the desk and shuffled papers through his trembling hands, hoping it all looked natural. Just close the door and go away.
“You okay?” Finn slid through the small gap and shut the door behind him.
Was he? His hand froze on the note Rob had left him earlier, reminding him about Finn starting today, knowing John rarely checked email on the weekend. “Fine.”
“You have to talk to me at some point.” Finn cocked his head. “It’s just a matter of time.”
John whirled and leaned against the desk, his heart racing. Talking wasn’t good. If he was already seeking Finn’s approval, how long would it be before Finn coaxed him into bed? March? February? Hell, next week? Did he have that much will power? How long before his heart would be trampled again?
Available now!
Add to your wish list on Goodreads .
More About Mia Downing…
Mia Downing started creating heroes at age four, but her heroes back then rode ponies to rescue the princess and only kissed her on the cheek. Today, Mia’s heroes still rescue those in need, but the price of their toys and the expertise of their seduction leads to a lot more than a peck on the cheek. When Mia isn’t busy creating new stories for her readers she fills in as an underwear model for a prestigious lingerie company. She also lives in New England with her family and enjoys horses and knitting.
Fun facts: Mia can juggle (poorly,) create balloon animals and face paint. She was the hit entertainment of two family parties. No clown suits were involved.
Find Mia on the Web!
April 5, 2015
The Snarkology: A chat with Laura Freeman (Contest) #TWRP #Romance
The author is sponsoring a giveaway for an ebook copy of “Impending Love and War” to one lucky commenter. So comment for a chance to win!
Laura, please tell us what your writing space looks like?
I find I write better when it’s quiet so I use a spare room with no television or radio. A large table, which initially had plenty of open space, now contains two laptops, two printers, a lamp, and an assortment of supplies. In addition, I have two bookcases filled with research, four filing drawers for writing projects, and a small desk with my dictionary, thesaurus, and current work. It appears I hate empty space.
How long have you been writing?
I’ve been writing stories since I was twelve after reading Gone With The Wind. I took writing courses in college, earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism/communication at Kent State University in Ohio. I’ve worked as a reporter for the past ten years covering businesses, government, and crime. My first novel, Impending Love and War was published in 2014 by The Wild Rose Press. I’ve completed my manuscript, Impending Love and Death, and I am working on a third novel, Impending Love and Lies as well as a Valentine’s Day novella for next year.
What inspired your current book?
I’m working on the third book in my Impending Love series in which Colleen Beecher is expecting a proposal of marriage from her suitor, Simon, and discovers through an announcement in the newspaper, Simon is marrying someone else. The idea is similar to Scarlet in Gone With The Wind finding out Ashley is marrying Melanie. But instead of pining for Simon like Scarlet did for Ashley, she begins her adventure to find who she is beyond some man’s wife.
How do you name your characters?
Several years ago I researched my ancestry. I combine my family genealogy and history to create some of the fictional characters in my books. The Beecher name and father figure is based on a real relative. Sterling Beecher was my great-great-grandfather but died young, leaving two daughters to be raised by their mother. I gave him a new life with six daughters. Like Cory in Impending Love and War, I am distantly related to Harriet Beecher Stowe.
If you could choose any actor/actress (living or dead) to play your protagonist, who would it be and why?
I like the female protagonist to be sassy and independent, so I would choose someone like Myrna Loy or Claudette Colbert. They don’t swoon at the sight of a bare-chested man, and they speak their mind with a touch of humor.
Who are your favorite authors?
My favorite book, like many, is To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. She combined 
interesting characters with an intense plot. I look forward to seeing how her recently discovered book, Go Set a Watchman, measures up.
Has anyone in particular been an influence on your writing?
I think Janet Evanovich influenced my sense of fun in writing an imperfect character determined to find a solution to her problem. I also enjoy J.D. Robb aka Nora Roberts who has fast plots with plenty of mystery, but I fall back on the old romances by Laurie McBain and Kathleen Woodiwiss, who inspired me to write romance.
Tell us something strange or interesting about yourself.
For nine years I played on a women’s ice hockey team, The Twisters, with our home ice at Kent State University. I pieced together my equipment from my sons who played, and a recreational group created to teach mothers the fundamentals of the game became a competitive league and a lot of fun.
Favorite food? Chocolate
Favorite color? Peach
Favorite animal? Jaguar
Biggest pet peeve? Rude drivers
Dream Car? One that never needs maintenance or gasoline and drives itself.
Cory Beecher didn’t mean to shoot handsome Tyler Montgomery and only kisses him so he doesn’t find the runaway slave in the barn. Abolitionists never considered marrying slave owners, but her world explodes with new found desire when her lips touch his. Can she go through with her carefully crafted plans to marry math instructor Douglas Raymond when her heart longs for another?
Tyler Montgomery needs to find the runaway slaves before his rival Edward Vandal captures them. Although he doesn’t want to involve the fiery and beautiful Miss Beecher, once she kisses him, all his plans unravel. As his rival closes in on the quarry, he hesitates to leave, knowing she’s marrying the wrong man. But what does an unemployed lawyer with questionable parentage have to offer the woman he loves?
Paperback for $16.99 ISBN 987-1-62830-508-1
Digital for $4.99 ISBN 987-1-62830-509-8
Buy links
The Wild Rose Press www.thewildrosepress.com
Excerpt:
Both turned at the sound of a thud against 1 Nell’s wooden wall.
“It’s Nell kicking the wall,” Cory excused.
“I better check.” Tyler grabbed the burning lantern from her hand.
Cory followed behind him. She needed to prevent him from discovering the slave’s hiding place. She couldn’t overpower him. What could she do?
Tyler’s body blocked the lantern’s light, and Cory bumped into him when he stopped at the stall wall. Her instinct was to back away, but instead, she reached out with her hands to locate him. She ran her fingertips upward to his shoulders as she pressed herself against him. Cory rested her cheek against the bare skin of his wide back. “Your skin is so cool.”
He froze.
Now what? She remembered something her mother did when her father had an exhausting day. She caressed his shoulders with her hands, shocked by the hardness beneath smooth flesh. Her fingertips danced downward along the damp skin of his back and circled beneath the strip of white bandage to hold him in a gentle grip. “I’m so hot.” Her lips brushed against his back. “Let’s get out of here.”
The lantern shook in Tyler’s hand. He placed it on the stall wall, turned, and captured her in his arms. “Let’s see what I can do about the heat.” His deep, throaty tone sent a shiver through her body.
Cory had started something she had no way of stopping. She recalled her parents always retired to bed after one of her mother’s massages. Why hadn’t she remembered that earlier? She panicked as Tyler drew her close against his body.
Web:
Email – lefreeman15@neo.rr.com
Blog- https://authorfreeman.wordpress.com/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/laura.freeman.5648
Twitter – https://twitter.com/LauraFreeman_RP
Amazon Author Page – http://www.amazon.com/Laura-Freeman/e/B00UY3DUFU
Author Bio:
Laura Freeman has been a reporter for ten years for Record Publishing Co. in Kent and covers the historic town of Hudson, Ohio. She has won the Press Club of Cleveland’s Ohio Excellence in Journalism award in 2013 and 2014 and the Ohio Newspaper Association awards in 2011, 2013, and 2014. Her novel “Impending Love and War” takes place in the fictional town of Darrow Falls and includes the Underground Railroad, a canal boat ride and a courtroom drama in 1860 Akron, Ohio.
April 3, 2015
Subtext: Beyond the Mechanics of Dialogue… April 2015 InD’Tale Magazine
“Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.”
~The Princess Bride
Do you remember this bit of dialogue from The Princess Bride?
Of course you do.
Now, I want you to do something for me. Close your eyes and recall the scene. Summon it forth into your imagination, and absorb all of the vivid details. Live it.
Got that?
Good. I’ll explain in a bit.
Let’s talk about dialogue. It is one of the most challenging aspects of writing a scene between two or more characters. Good dialogue is snappy and flows. It seldom sounds like actual speech, which is layered with ‘ums’ and ‘ohs’. Wouldn’t it be incredibly annoying if your characters fell into the repetitive use of words, such as “like”, the way real people are prone to do?
Read the rest at InD’Tale Magazine p. 38
Check out my cool full-size ad beneath the cut!
April 2, 2015
The Snarkology: Those Dastardly Villains: The villains we love to hate by Kayden Claremont #TWRP #amwriting
Villains. In our culture we love to hate them. But why? Is it our need that good triumphs over evil? Is it ingrained into our brains through stories that have been handed down through the millennium?
Without strong villains most stories would be flat and uninteresting. Great villains give the storyteller wonderful conflicting relationships.
What would Sherlock Holmes be with Moriarty, Harry Potter without Lord Voldermort or even Peter Pan without Captain Hook?
Story need a strong something to force the protagonist to do something he or she wouldn’t normally do. So what is that something story needs?
The villain has no consistent character traits because they tend to be the main characters opposite or their shadow. We all know that we have good and bad in us and we have learned that being bad has consequences.
Here are some observations of the villains that I write.
Not all my villains are evil but they are always the opposite of the main character. Sometimes I put more than one villain in a story just to keep the reader guessing. However I always have one internal villain (fear, lust for power, control etc.) but I can have that mirrored in more than one character.
Because I believe that the villain in a story is the shadow form of the character the best way to defeat the villain is to defeat the shadow or the main character must make peace with his or her fear, lust for power or want of control.
How do you find the shadow of your characters? It is their weakness, what they need to learn, overcome in order to grow.
Have you ever had a boss, client, customer, or co-worker that did things that you shared with your friends? Did you laugh? Did you shake your head? Did you tuck the stories away in your brain for use at a later time? If you’re a writer the answer is yes. We all do. And then when we least expect it a composite of all these people come together and hit the page.
The villain in my paranormal erotica novella Hell’s Bounty is a bad guy, a bad boss and a really bad demon. He is based on every bad boss I’ve ever had. Now not all my bosses were bad, but there were a few that left an impression on me.
The one that comes to mind used to lock his door after lunch every day. We all thought he had a liquid lunch and fell asleep but when the police come into the office one day and arrested him for gambling with the company money, it not only shocked us but amused us as well. It was at the moment that I realized I had a story to tell over and over again.
When writing a villain, just find what the main character’s goal is and us that to thwart them.
Title: Hell’s Bounty
Published by The Wild Rose Press
Release date: Oct 2014
Genre: Paranormal Erotica
76 pages
Buy links
The Wild Rose Press – 25% off code
Raven Hart, a succubus bounty hunter from Hell, is on a hunt. With her query in sight, she hits a brick wall, or rather the very hard chest of a giant sexy man. She might have lost the prize for now, but she’s a winner when the hottie wants to get physical.
Marcus Dionysius, a Nephilim working for Heaven, has one mission – to prevent Hell’s beauty from stealing souls meant for the higher plane. But he soon realizes he’s met his sexual match. She’s naughty enough to tempt his senses, but her innocence means he can’t walk away when she needs him most.
Working together to discover who’s snatching souls from Heaven, they realize the true danger is falling in love.
Excerpt
A giant of a man ducked as he entered the bar, paused, took off his sunglasses, tucked them into his jacket pocket, and waited for his eyes to adjust to the dim lighting. He surveyed the bar, then decided his path. Keeping his head high and his eyes skimming the people, he avoided eye contact with everyone.
She watched him. An undeniable current of electricity pulsed through him. Stopping beside her, he dwarfed her slight stature with colossal height, muscular build that showed through the suit, and an air of confidence that made everyone in the bar notice him. He signaled the bartender for a single-malt whiskey, neat.
Once the drink showed up, he cradled the glass in his immense hands, then nodded at her and took a sip of the golden liquid. Pure ecstasy showed on his face. “You waiting for someone special?”
Raven tried to fight the attraction arcing between them. “Everyone is special”
A smile crept across his generous lips, and humor twinkled in his mocha eyes. “I guess.” He took another sip.
Scanning him from head to toe, she asked, “How tall are you?”
He looked down at her with choirboy eyes and his smile widened. “Seven-five, give or take.”
Running her fingertips around the top of the glass she surveyed him once more. If Raven didn’t know better, she’d think he was an immortal, but she could usually sense them. Each immortal had a unique aura about them, a distinct imprint whether fae or shifter or undead.
See the video https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyTlCs84dLR5D3MJw25yrBQ
Author Bio
Kayden loves sexy, well-crafted stories of lust and love. Her sensuous style drives the characters in lustful romps.
Hell’s Bounty is published by The Wild Rose Press.
Kayden is a member of Romance Writers of America, Toronto Romance Writers;
She lives outside Toronto with her husband.
Visit her at:
Website: kaydenclaremont.com
Blog: https://kaydenclaremont.wordpress.com/
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/…/9136748.Kayden_Claremont
April 1, 2015
The Snarkology: Those Dastardly Villains: What bad guys bring to the story by Lisa Rayns #amwriting #paranormal #romance
The only thing more fun than reading a dastardly villain, is writing one. Of course, it’s not always easy. Villains need as much attention and forethought as the hero and heroine, because their background, their details, their motives can do so much for a story. In my opinion, they help the story the most in four main ways – Balance, Conflict, Believability, and Interest.
Balance. A demon and an angel will both make a pretty good plea – Equally matched and equally motivated with opposing interests. In the same way good and evil balance out the world, a villain and a hero can balance out a story. Sometimes the hero is faced with overwhelming odds, but most often, the villain and hero should be well-balanced to make the odds fair. Authors don’t want to make the hero’s journey too hard, but we don’t want to make it too easy either or there is no conflict.
Conflict. Without conflict, there is no story. Not every story has a villain, but every story must have conflict and struggle or it won’t be interesting enough to engage readers.
Believability. Why would anyone go against the story’s hero? Hopefully, throughout a book you will slowly uncover the villain’s reasoning and begin to understand why they are the way they are and why they do the things they do. This adds depth, meaning, and even empathy for the villain which makes them believable.
Interest. I’d wager everyone has seen an episode of CSI or a related crime show. Why? People are naturally curious about the psychological profile of criminals. It’s interesting to find out what drove the villain to his actions. A villain doesn’t have to be a criminal, of course, but it’s the same concept. I prefer highly intelligent villains because I find them damn interesting. And if they’re sexy too… Score!
In the Wanted: Vampire Trilogy, I had a ton of fun with my dastardly villain, Malik Drake. Throughout the first two books, he is accurately defined as ‘a savage predator whose favorite pastimes include violence, cruelty, and psychological mindfucks.’ As a vampire, he has lived and killed for centuries. Alone. He spoiled himself. He gave into his every desire, took whomever he wanted, mastered in game play, and mostly, he thrived off human fear and screams that made him feel alive.
If I were to ask Malik what he feared, the answer would be simple. Boredom.
He is the villain in book 1, a strong antagonistic force in book 2, and in book 3, he actually became a hero! Crazy, right? How could a creature as dastardly as Malik possibly become worthy of the title hero?
Just like regular people, great, believable villains don’t change overnight. They must confront their past actions, they must learn to feel remorse for what they’ve done, and sometimes, they even have to go through hell to make up for their downfall. For Malik, it took 18 years and an innocent redhead who asked him to give up his greatest conquest.
Did he redeem himself? Check out the Wanted: Vampire Trilogy, and you be the judge. J
Thanks for reading!
Wanted: Vampire – Written in Blood
Book 3 in the Wanted: Vampire Trilogy
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Rating: Adult
When Annabelle Cox is forced to return to her hometown of Medford, she is anxious to tell a certain vampire he’s had her heart for years. Malik Drake is sexy as hell and completely irresistible, but the bad boy is also engaged to marry her mother the moment her father dies.
Ignoring the complications, she’s determined to tell him how she feels in hopes of changing his plans for the future. But the closer she gets to him, the more powerful a hidden adversary becomes, and their sizzling attraction may not stand a chance in Hell.
(See excerpt – click here.)
About the Author
Lisa Rayns, author of the Wanted: Vampire Trilogy, weaves romantic stories rich with action, suspense, and her own personal flavor of the paranormal. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys spending time with her family and Siamese cat. For more information about Lisa and her books, visit her website.
Follow the Author: Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads
March 31, 2015
THIS HEART OF MINE by Brenda Novak (Contest) #Romance @Goddessfish
4.5 Stars TOP PICK from RT Book Reviews!
First love. Second chance?
As the daughter of a hoarder, Phoenix Fuller had a tough childhood. So when the handsome, popular Riley Stinson became her boyfriend in high school, she finally felt as though she had something to be proud of. Phoenix was desperate not to lose him—especially once she found out she was pregnant. Yes, she might have acted a bit obsessive when he broke up with her. But she did not run down the girl he started dating next.
Unfortunately, there was no way to prove her innocence. Now, after serving her time in prison, Phoenix has been released. All she wants to do is return to Whiskey Creek and get to know her son. But Jacob’s father isn’t exactly welcoming.
Riley doesn’t trust Phoenix, doesn’t want her in Jacob’s life. He is, however, ready to find someone to love. And he wants a good mother for his son. He has no idea that he’s about to find both!
Excerpt:
Once again, Phoenix’s eyes were riveted on her son. Only this time, she felt such a surge of emotion she almost darted into the bathroom. She could not break down.
Please, God, don’t let me cry. He won’t come within ten feet of me if I do.
But the harder she tried to hold back her tears, the more overwhelmed she became. In a panic, she slipped around the corner, into the small alcove by the bathrooms, and leaned her head against the wall.
Breathe. Don’t blow this.
The bell over the door jingled, telling her that Riley and Jacob had stepped inside. She imagined them looking around, maybe getting annoyed when they didn’t find her. But she was frozen in place. She absolutely could. Not. Move.
“Hey,” she heard the hostess say with a familiarity that hadn’t been present in her greeting to Phoenix. “We’re busy this morning, like we are every Saturday. But if you can wait for a few minutes, I’ll get you a table.”
“We’re actually meeting someone who should be here.”
That had to be Riley, but Phoenix couldn’t say she recognized his voice. Her memories of him were vivid. But they’d both been so young, and he’d changed a great deal. No longer the skinny teenager she’d known in high school, he was a man with plenty of hard muscle on his solid frame, a man in his prime, and that had been more than apparent as she’d watched him walk, shoulder to shoulder, with their son a few seconds earlier.
“Who are you here to meet?” the hostess asked.
“Name’s Phoenix Fuller,” came his response.
“What does she look like?”
“I’m not sure these days,” he said, and Phoenix winced. Her shoulder-length dark hair wasn’t bad. It was thick, probably her best asset. Her hazel eyes weren’t unattractive, either. She didn’t feel she was ugly. But the scars on her face would be new to him. She hadn’t had those when she went to prison.
“She wasn’t very tall,” he added, as if that might be the only detail still applicable.
“There was a woman who said she was expecting two more to join her,” the hostess said. “But I don’t know where she went…”
Determined not to miss this opportunity after waiting so long for it, Phoenix curved her fingernails into her palms, took a deep breath and stepped around the corner. “Sorry I…I had to wash my hands.”
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Author Brenda Novak is the author of fifty books. A four-time Rita nominee, she has won many awards, including the National Reader’s Choice, the Bookseller’s Best, the Book Buyer’s Best, the Daphne, and the Holt Medallion. She also runs Brenda Novak for the Cure, a charity to raise money for diabetes research (her youngest son has this disease). To date, she’s raised $2.4 million. For more about Brenda, please visit www.brendanovak.com.
Website
https://www.facebook.com/BrendaNovakAuthor
Book Review & Character Interview: The Christmas Dragon / Strings by Ruthanne Reid
Character Interview: Grey, Unseelie Prince
If you had a free day with no responsibilities and your only mission was to enjoy yourself, what would you do?
Is this a joke? What I do every day: whatever I want. It’s one of the benefits of running away from all responsibility and everyone who knows me. I make the rules, yeah?
What impression do you make on people when they first meet you? How about after they’ve known you for a while?
They always find me beautiful, of course. My people are always beautiful, but I’m particularly blessed with a blend of good genetics and magic. Even my ears are perfect – did you notice? Long as my forearm, so thin the light shines through them, delicately pointed and smooth. They are perfect Fey ears.
And as for the second question, people generally don’t have the privilege of knowing me for long. The few that do either hate me (understandably) or think I’m better than I am (bafflingly). You’d have to ask Notte why that is. I personally have no idea.
What’s your idea of a good marriage? Do you think that’ll happen in your life?
I… I can’t answer that. What kind of a question is that? Did my father put you up to this?
What are you most proud of about your life?
Sorry for the delay there. I don’t really know how to answer that. I’m not really proud of anything.
So then what are you most ashamed of in your life?
Look, I’m a disgraced prince subsisting on stolen love I conjure with magic. If I let myself feel shame, I wouldn’t be able to do that to people, would I? I’d starve. And nobody wants that.
Do you think you’ve turned out the way your parents expected?
Hahaha! Oh, were you serious? That’s even better! Hahahahaha!
Tell me about your best friend.
I don’t really have a lot of friends, so I’ll answer that the way I want to: I have a new friend. Her name is Katie. I’ve never known anyone quite like her before, but weirdly enough, she thinks of me as a friend. I’ll take it.
What would you like it to say on your tombstone?
“Died free.” The thing is… that’s not going to happen. My father will catch up with me someday. The Throne won’t accept anyone not of her line, so it has to be me. It just has to be me. Until that time, however, I will live the way I want, and damn the consequences.
*The Christmas Dragon*
All Katie Lin wants is to get away from her family: from the magic, from the mayhem, and from the never-ending war.
Unfortunately, someone has other ideas, and sends her a box. A box that jumps.
The tiny fire hazard inside may just force her back to Wales – and right into the path of a dragon war, the Crow King, and at least one reluctant elf prince. Sometimes, running away just doesn’t work as planned.
Buy Links for The Christmas Dragon:
Nook http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-christmas-dragon-ruthanne-reid/1118633594?ean=2940046391596
Kobo http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-christmas-dragon-4
Google https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Ruthanne_Reid_The_Christmas_Dragon?id=rR8jBQAAQBAJ
Play https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Ruthanne_Reid_The_Christmas_Dragon?id=rR8jBQAAQBAJ
iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-christmas-dragon/id938466009?mt=11
Scribd https://www.scribd.com/book/245759443/The-Christmas-Dragon
Oyster https://www.oysterbooks.com/book/yLST8g9AEjN6HLEYrnCg7D/the-christmas-dragon
Flipkart http://www.flipkart.com/the-christmas-dragon/p/itmefs7gphzcxghg?pid=DGBEFS7EUNFQZSKF
Txtr http://us.txtr.com/catalog/document/uk7arr9/the-christmas-dragon–ruthanne-reid/
Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/490331
Paperback http://bit.ly/thechristmasdragonprint
IndieBound http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780985260033
Bookfinder http://www.bookfinder.com/search/?keywords=978-0985260033&new_used=&lang=&st=sh&ac=qr&submit=
Powell’s http://www.powells.com/biblio?isbn=978-0985260033
*Strings*
Need help? You probably shouldn’t ask Grey.
A runaway Unseelie prince, Grey feeds on love – a commodity he conjures via music and magic in late-night Manhattan. It’s a sweet gig, if lonely, and Grey is almost sure the dire warnings he was given about New York in December won’t come true.
Then a monster from his childhood attacks in the middle of the night, and everything changes.
He survived, but he’s marked, and more monsters are coming for him and everyone who survived. Grey has no plans to be a hero but fate doesn’t care what he wants. Sometimes, no matter what you do, you aren’t the one pulling the strings.
Buy Links for Strings:
Nook http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-christmas-dragon-ruthanne-reid/1118633594?ean=2940046391596
Kobo http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-christmas-dragon-4
Google Play https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Ruthanne_Reid_Strings?id=YB4jBQAAQBAJ
iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/strings/id938467660?mt=11
Scribd https://www.scribd.com/book/245764553/Strings
Oyster https://www.oysterbooks.com/book/sGJFQSm8q6QaKHSFteUqtK/strings
Flipkart http://www.flipkart.com/strings/p/itmefs9gpxtfkq7h
Txtr http://us.txtr.com/catalog/document/uk7bhr9/strings–ruthanne-reid/
Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/490332
Paperback http://bit.ly/readstringsprint
IndieBound http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780985260057
Bookfinder http://www.bookfinder.com/search/?keywords=978-0985260057&new_used=&lang=&st=sh&ac=qr&submit=
Powell’s http://www.powells.com/biblio?isbn=978-0985260057
Excerpt:
The Christmas Dragon
The box jumped.
Boxes are not supposed to jump. It’s a law somewhere, I think. Maybe Guyana. Apparently not in New Hampshire, because the box kept jumping.
I sat in my idling car, puffs of exhaust rising in my rear-view mirror, and stared at the uncoordinated box-dance. It was wrapped in the loveliest paper, too, which was a shame, because bouncing on my boot-scraper had roughened all the corners and torn one edge. The bow was big and purple and covered in small green somethings. I wasn’t close enough to make them out.
I didn’t want to be close enough to make them out.
If I didn’t do something soon, the neighbors would notice. The box probably hadn’t been jumping all morning, or there’d be a crowd. Or maybe it was already on YouTube. I didn’t know.
So much for a safe, boring life among the Ever-Dying. New Hampshire, you have failed me.
I turned off the car. Time to go see what invaded my (mostly) magic-free space.
Excerpt:
Strings
My music made a lovely magic. It was tiny magic, sure, but effective: it thickened the air and deepened the candles’ warm light, caressed the listener like intimate fingertips and teased sleeping nerve-endings toward a gently quivering wakefulness.
Go, me. I made it all happen.
Generally speaking, humans suck at love. They go into it selfishly, thinking of themselves and not the needs of the other, already planning in their little heads what they’ll do when it doesn’t work out. Idiots. Does anything else work that way? Can you learn art or become a mechanic without devoting yourself to those crafts? Can you graduate from college without paying attention to a coursework’s needs, without being willing to spend time feeding it what it requires?
Well, yes, you can, but not well. And yes, colleges have needs, too. Every living thing does.
I could help the lovelorn attendees of tonight’s bar-hop, and I had every reason to. Helping them helped me. The more they loved, the more I fed—and while humans do suck at getting love started, once it takes root in them, it grows like Kudzu. (That Kudzu-thing was one of my cousin’s ideas, by the way. Don’t look at me. I’m not a plant-wizard.)
Review by Melissa Snark:
I found The Christmas Dragon and Strings to be wonderfully imaginative and whimsical. Both stories are just bursting with vivid imagery and I really longed to be able to fully submerse myself in the stories. However, I found the first-person narrative jarring at points. Ultimately, those narrative glitches are what lead me to rate these stories as charming instead of over the top amazing.
I really love both covers. The black and white themes are very cool.
The protagonist is The Christmas Dragon is different from the hero in Strings. I liked Katie better than Grey, but their interactions were very fun to read about. They had good chemistry together and their banter was entertaining.
The plot pacing was quick and a little rough. Given the novella lengths, I felt like the author left money on the table. There were a great many fascinating concepts and intriguing scenes that could have been developed to full novel lengths. Merlin alone has so much potential but throw in the Wild Hunt and Fae mythology…
Wah. I really wanted for the stories to scratch deeper and penetrate the surface for an in depth examination of characterization, relationships, and legends. Even so, both were short, highly entertaining reads and I would recommend this author in the future.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Indie author Ruthanne Reid writes about elves, aliens, vampires, and space-travel with equal abandon. She is the author of the series Among the Mythos, and believes good stories should be shared. Subscribe to her free email newsletter for free books and more at http://amongthemythos.com. You can connect with her on Twitter (http://twitter.com/ruthannereid), Facebook (http://facebook.com/mythos), or Tumblr (http://ruthannereid.tumblr.com), where she looks at too many kittens and Avengers blogs.
Ruthanne’s love of magic, urban environments, and deep space birthed a strange world with undercurrents of faith, magic, villainy, and heroism (along with swords and lasers, on occasion). Among the Mythos showcases aliens with all-too-human feelings, entire societies on the decline due to greed and fear, protagonists who might actually be the bad guys (or vice-versa), and endings every bit as messy as the world that creates them.
Ruthanne knows from experience that endings are messy. No matter how exotic the setting, how many limbs the characters have or what (if any) genders, the problems and questions addressed by a good story are very real, and that’s why they have power. If she has a theme, it is this: keep fighting, and keep pushing toward hope, because the struggle is worth the finish-line.
Links
Website: http://amongthemythos.com
Blog: http://amongthemythos.com/blog
Twitter: http://twitter.com/ruthannereid
Facebook: http://facebook.com/mythos
ARC Offering: LOVE BURNS by Babette James #contemporary #romance
Author Babette James has an ARC offering for 20 advance review copies of her contemporary romance, LOVE BURNS. Interested reviewers will receive an free Pdf, Mobi, or Epub ebook of the book in exchange for agreeing to leave an honest review on Amazon, Goodreads, or Barnes & Noble.
This is a new release that will be available on April 17, 2015, so the author would like reviews posted on the release date.
Please leave a comment with your name and your email address. All ARC copies will be distributed by the author only. Email addresses are absolutely mandatory to participate in this offering.
URLs for posting reviews:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25183227-love-burns
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/love-burns-babette-james/1121492974
Sometimes fanning the flames is better than running…
Smokejumper Dave Knight lives by two simple rules—Play hard, work harder. Heartache taught him love and commitment don’t mix with his high-intensity lifestyle. That hot kiss with the classy Olivia Benedetti-Harper was a mistake, but he walked away in time. Too bad he can’t run from the memories. Then a plane crash shatters his future, forcing him to face the ashes of his past, the woman he can’t forget, and the toughest challenge of his life: Stop running.
The right man broke her heart. How could the wrong man heal it? Obedient daughter and dutiful wife, Olivia always followed the rules—only to be abandoned by her unfaithful husband. As she rebuilds her life, bad-boy Dave is a sizzling temptation she can’t afford. However, breaking the rules with the wrong man might be the best mistake this good girl’s ever made for love.
Excerpt:
“Come here.” Dave held out his hand. “You’ll need your back done.”
Olivia handed him the sunscreen bottle and knelt.
He lightly kissed her nape before drizzling the lotion over her back. He smoothed both hands along her spine to the cleft of her bottom and to her hips, gliding, sliding, over waist, ribs, shoulders, and neck, turning the simple lotion application into a sensual massage. Her sigh escaped as a dreamy groan.
“Turn around.” His low husky voice drew a deep shiver through her core.
She shifted around, and her mouth dried at his simmering gaze.
He squeezed more lotion onto his fingertips. “Shut your eyes.”
Bright sunlight glowed through her closed eyelids. Cool touches of lotion brushed her face and throat, and she shivered under Dave’s delicate touch.
“Keep your eyes shut.”
She heard him shift on the blanket. His fingertips traced her face, trailed down her throat, and his breath whispered over her face, the scent of apple warning how close his lips were to hers. More gentle sweeps followed, ever lower, to the curves of her breasts.
His lips brushed hers and he dusted kisses across her cheek and jaw, and the tip of her nose, which made her giggle. His warm hand cupped her breast and, at the rough graze of his thumb, she shivered, nervous, yet greedy for more. As he drifted more lazy kisses lower, his thumb played a mesmerizing rhythm, setting her pulse to anxious dancing.
Stop, let him play. This is what you’ve craved: to play, to be wanted, to feel.
Carefully following the rules had brought her heartbreak. Breaking the rules couldn’t be any worse. Right?
The world spun for a second as he rolled Olivia under him.
She gasped and blinked, startled, but intrigued. Yes, she trusted he’d honor a no, but all she could think was oh, yes.
March 29, 2015
Tarnished Gold by Brita Addams (Contest) #Romance #GLBT
![SOR_Tarnished_Gold_VBT_Banner[1]](http://i2.wp.com/www.thesnarkology.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/SOR_Tarnished_Gold_VBT_Banner1.png)
Genre: M/M Romance
Tarnished: Book One
In 1915, starstruck Jack Abadie strikes out for the gilded streets of the most sinful town in the country—Hollywood. With him, he takes a secret that his country hometown would never understand.
After years of hard work and a chance invitation to a gay gentlemen’s club, Jack is discovered. Soon, his talent, matinee idol good looks, and affable personality propel him to the height of stardom. But fame breeds distrust.
Meeting Wyatt Maitland turns Jack’s life upside down. He wants to be worthy of his good fortune, but old demons haunt him. Only through Wyatt’s strength can Jack face that which keeps him from being the man he wants to be. Love without trust is empty.
As the 1920s roar, scandals rock the movie industry. Public tolerance of Hollywood’s decadence has reached its limit. Under pressure to clean up its act, Jack’s studio issues an ultimatum. Either forsake the man he loves and remain a box office darling, or follow his heart and let his shining star fade to tarnished gold.
Buy Links: Amazon DreamSpinner Press
~Excerpt~
Since the day he’d seen Wallace Reid in The House of Silence at the Prytania, all he could think of was going to Hollywood and becoming a star. Maybe one day he’d even meet his idol.
Jack checked his pocket watch, a birthday gift from his father. The train would leave at six thirty, and with the three-hour leeway they’d allowed, they’d get to New Orleans Depot with little time to spare.
Andrew, his unwitting accomplice, would make it easier to get past his parents and out of the house, before they forced him to damn himself to eternal hell with more lies.
Jack could barely button his Sunday shirt for his trembling fingers. He donned his waistcoat and trousers, already feeling hotter than he had just out of his bath. Before he slipped into his church coat, he applied pomade to his unruly hair, then raked a comb through. He’d always admired the shine of Wallace Reid’s hair and did his best to emulate it every Sunday for church.
He ticked off another box on his mental checklist. Dressed and ready to go. He’d already hidden his meagerly supplied valise behind the barn.
He cast a gaze around the dusty, cramped attic room he and his brother had always shared. His unmade bed made him wonder how easily he’d take to another one. On impulse, he fluffed up his pillow and put it back in place. Bad enough his mother would find his farewell note propped up against it, no need for her to see the impression of his head to make her even sadder.
He so wished he could have the life he wanted without hurting those he loved, but sadly, he saw no other way. Years of working in the cane fields was no life for a guy with his ambitions.
“Emery’s here,” Andrew shouted up the stairs.
His heart leapt. Just a few more moments, and he’d be in the clear. “Coming.”
He patted his waistcoat pockets. Pocket watch in one and his life savings in the other. He walked out the door without a second thought, and down the stairs.
His sickly father, Wilfred, sat in his favorite chair, reading the newspaper as he did most every day. He’d likely head back to the cane fields after the heat of the day dissipated somewhat.
His father glanced up over his glasses when Jack entered the room. “Where you headed?”
Jack decided he wouldn’t miss his father’s gruffness. “The picture show.”
Wilfred shook his head. “You spend entirely too much time with your head in the clouds, boy.”
Predictable response and nothing he hadn’t heard a million times before. “Yes, sir.”
“You are mighty dressed up for the picture show,” his mother said from across the room. “Andrew said you’re meeting Bessie.”
“Yes, Mama,” he said, his fingers firmly crossed behind his back.
“I’m so happy to hear that. She’s a nice Catholic girl. You know we’d like to see you married soon. You’re twenty, time you settled down.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Jack said, his eyes trained on the door, Emery, and freedom.
“We need more help in the fields. I ain’t gonna live forever.”
“Yes, Papa. I’ve got to go.”
His mother shouted after him as he leaped off the porch. “Dinner at six. Invite Bessie for some birthday cake.”
He waved, but didn’t answer. One less lie to cross his lips.
~Giveaway~
Brita is giving away an eBook of her backlist (For Men Like Us, Tarnished Gold, Tarnished Souls or Freedom in His Arms)
For a chance to win please fill out the rafflecopter below.
~About the Author~
Born in a small town in upstate New York, Brita Addams has made her home in the sultry south for many years. In the Frog Capital of the World, Brita shares her home with her real-life hero—her husband, and a fat cat named Stormee. All their children are grown.
Given her love of history, Brita writes both het and gay historical romance. Many of her historicals have appeared on category bestseller lists at various online retailers.
Musa Publishing publishes Brita’s heterosexual historical romances, including the rewritten and expanded, best-selling Sapphire Club series, each with new titles. Again, each of the titles have again hit the best-selling lists at various online vendors.
Tarnished Gold, the first in her gay romance Tarnished series for Dreamspinner Press, was a winner in the 2013 Rainbow Awards, Historical Romance category. The book also received nominations for Best Historical and Best Book of 2013 from the readers of the Goodreads M/M Romance Group.
A bit of trivia—Brita pronounces her name, Bree-ta, and not Brit-a, like the famous water filter. Brita Addams is a mash-up of her real middle name and her husband’s middle name, with an additional d and s.
Author Links: Site Twitter Facebook Facebook Fan Page Pintrest Booklikes
March 27, 2015
A chat with Anita Kidesu || South Seas Seduction #Romance #TWRP
Hi Anita, please tell us about yourself and your writing.
I was born and raised in a small town in southern Wisconsin. I have a pet hamster named Digger, who buries himself in his shavings when my two cats, Midnight and Charlie come to hassle him. I enjoy reading, watching people, fishing, jogging, playing board games, and going out with my friends.
What does your writing space look like?
I live in a small, no make that a tiny, two-bedroom apartment. After my grandmother died, my grandfather gave me her roll-top desk. I guess it’s more like a secretary. It sits in between two windows in the extra bedroom. On the top of the desk is a Joe Bonamassa statue, a basket of chocolate, tea warmer, a bobble-head dog that used to ride in the rear window of Grandma’s fin-tipped caddie. Most of the walls are lined with bookshelves, but since I’ve run out of room for my books, they are piled on the floor throughout the room. They’re even piled in the cats’ beds since they never use them. My CD player sits on a small plastic table, close to my desk so I can easily change my music. I need to listen to instrumentals while I write. Songs with lyrics interfere with my writing.
How long have you been writing?
Like most authors, my writing has had its twists and turns. I dabbled, cringed at my dabbling, gave up, started again, etc., etc., etc. But, I’m an avid reader. Several years ago I heard about the Romantic Times Convention and decided it sounded like fun. The first year I went as a reader, but the enthusiasm of the authors I met, gave me the incentive to pursue my hidden dream of becoming published. The second year I went, I checked the box for “Aspiring Author” and even pitched a book idea. This year I’m finally going as “Published Author!” South Seas Seduction was released March 13 of this year.
Do you have process for coming up with character names and book titles?
I’m terrible at coming up with book titles. I recently sent off a book to my editor. She told me I’d need to change the title. So far nothing has popped into my head. As for my characters, I do a character chart so I know what he/she looks like, how old, job, ethnicity, etc. Then I toss names around in my head and see if they fit the character. I once had a name in mind for a character and half-way through the book, she wanted a different name. Thank heavens for the Search and Replace option on Word. First names are easier than last names. I have a character naming book that I’ll go through for last names.
What is your favorite book genre? Who are your favorite authors?
I read everything except science fiction and paranormal, although I’ve been drawn into a few books that I didn’t realize were paranormal, but were so well written, they sucked me in. I fell in love with Janet Evanovich, so I have all her books on my keeper shelf. I also like LaVeryle Spencer, Nora Roberts, Christie Craig, Iris Johansen, Tess Gerritson. There are so many I enjoy. I’m finding more and more with my new publisher, too. So many books, so little time.
Has anyone in particular been an influence on your writing?
I was raised by my grandparents after my parents were killed in a plane crash when I was six. My grandfather gave me my love of the Packers, building things from wood, and running. My grandmother taught me to love books, fishing, camping, and writing. While she was never published, she was always working on honing her craft. She enjoyed teaching her students how to write well-crafted and edited stories and even had a few students become published. She taught me to never give up on my dream of being published.
Tell us about your current work in progress.
The one I’m working on now (in the edit stage) is a contemporary mystery. When I wrote it years ago, it was a simple romance, but I’ve added mystery to hopefully make it more interesting. Of course, when you change one little thing in a work in progress, it can snowball to hundreds of changes.
Quick quiz:
Favorite food? Veggie quesadilla with pineapple
Favorite color? Blue
Favorite animal? Birds
Biggest pet peeve? People who are rude.
Dream car? Ford F150 pickup truck.
Sheltered all her life as the daughter of an ambassador, Emma Labonte boards a small plane on a trip from Australia. One hijacking and a plane crash later, she finds herself on a deserted island and stranded with three different yet equally sexy men. With no hope for rescue, the four begin to carve a semblance of a life in their tropical setting. Closeness breeds curiosity, and naive Emma begins to wonder what it would be like to be loved by these three men. The adventurer Jack, Toby the intelligent doctor, and shy English professor Steve–each carve a special place in her heart. When her three men launch seduction in the South Seas, how can she resist?
Buy Links:
Excerpt:
Thinking about the men’s needs, she also thought about hers. She needed to set up a plan to keep some kind of control and not be simply a plaything, available every time one of them felt the urge and crooked their finger at her. No, she needed to retain some independence. With her eyes closed she ran through several scenarios. Details had to be finalized before giving them her decision.
Activity always made her think better. Her wrinkled skin itched. Emma got out of the pool, air drying her body before getting dressed again. The sun reflected off her wedding ring. She stared at her finger.
What if she had married the real Jean Paul? Would she have liked him better than the fake one? Would she be mourning his death? She’d liked his parents. How will they feel when they found out he was dead? Of course, that wouldn’t happen unless they were rescued.
What if they weren’t rescued? What if Francois gets away with the murder of Jean Paul and the near murder of herself?
Her mind whirled with the ‘what ifs.’
“Dammit,” she whispered, closing her eyes, tears leaking at the corners.
Before she changed her mind, she yanked off the ring, swung her arm behind her head, and tossed the offending piece of jewelry into the jungle, hoping it would rot with the rest of the vegetation.
Social Media Links:
Website: https://anitakidesu.com
Blog: https://anitakidesu.wordpress.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnitaKidesuAuthor?ref=hl
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/AnitaKidesu/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8=%E2%9C&query=anita+kidesu
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