Zara Stoneley's Blog, page 4

Written Fireside - On Valentine's, Part 4

If you've missed any of the earlier parts of this story, you can catch up here -

Part 1 - by Lori ConnellyPart 2 - by Lynn Marie HulsmanPart 3 - by Angela Campbell  
If you're up to date, read on!
On Valentine's - Part 4


"Well," he rocked back on his heels and studied her for a moment.  One large, capable looking hand just inches from her knee. "I guess I could be your knight in shining armour and dash off to summon help." He grinned, a fan of wrinkle lines spreading out from his eyes. "But, that could take a while, and I'm not so sure I want to leave you here on your own."
"I'm fine, honest. Or, I can come with you, I'm not a complete invalid. "Cat made a move to get up, and winced as a sharp pain shot from her shoulder down to her elbow. On second thoughts, maybe she just needed to sit for a while.
"I don't think balancing on my handlebars cross country would be a good idea to even if you hadn't done yourself an injury." The deep chuckle made Cat forget the pain for a moment, and drew a smile onto her own face. "There's just me and my mountain bike I'm afraid, on a get away from it all weekend. Which is why Danny dropped me off. "
Cat met his gaze, and for a moment those clear blue eyes made her forget why she was here. They took her back, in an unexpected rush, to a long, hot, summer, years ago. "I do know you, we've met before haven't we?"
He nodded, and she felt the heat rush to her cheeks, and hoped I didn't remember it quite like she did. Those carefree days spent here at the cabin, swimming in the lake, hiking in the hills, evenings sat by the fire eating, drinking, four kids having fun ... until she'd made a complete fool out of herself with her teenage crush on Danny . At the time she'd been devastated that he'd brushed her off and been more interested in having fun with his mate, Jed. Then, she'd just hoped with a passion that Makayla hadn't noticed, even though she'd known the quiet, watchful Jed had witnessed the whole humiliating incident.
But the summer had ended, and so had her obsession. Danny had gone back to just being her best friend's older brother. And the whole thing had been consigned to a distant memory, until now.
"It was a long time ago." Jed stood up abruptly, broke the spell. "How does it feel?"
For a moment Cat was confused, then remembered. Of course, the arm. He was talking about her arm. "Fine, I'm sure it will be fine."
"You sure?" She nodded. "It's getting a bit late for me to go out now, it'll be dark soon. How about we settle down for the night and I'll go first thing? Here, let me help you get those boots off. "And as he tugged gently at her laces Cat wasn't sure if it was embarrassment, or something quite different, that was sending a fluttering sensation deep down inside her.

Next week you can read Part 5 on Sue Fontin's  blog here, 

'My Writing Process' Blog Tour - sex and smiles!

Today I’m taking part in the ‘My Writing Process’ blog tour. Thank you to my lovely fellow HarperImpulse author, Nikki Moore, for inviting me to join in. You can find her post from last Monday here - http://nikkimooreauthor.wordpress.com/blog-posts/ Please do pop over and check it out.

So here is a bit about my own writing process….
1) What am I working on?
I’m currently doing final edits on my next story for HarperImpulse, which is due out on 27th February. It’s called ‘Love Is A Four Letter Word’.

Take one rich girl who has a thing for the bad boys.
Take one tough guy who thinks possession is nine-tenths of the misery law.
Mix generously with a land dispute and a whole lotta lust…. And what have you got?
Sometimes being bad can be just too good to miss.

Now, I'm not sure if I'm supposed to be showing you this yet, but here is a sneaky preview of my very hot cover!

I must say, I liked the cover HarperImpulse designed for me for 'Summer of Surrender' but they've gone one better this time, I love it!

So, back to the story.... It’s an erotic romance, featuring a very sexy bad boy and his motorbike (interested yet?), some hot sex (in very naughty and imaginative positions and places!), a bohemian artist, and a girl who just can’t resist the bad boys – because a good one might expect her to commit and settle down…. But sometimes love can just creep up on you and catche you unawares.

2) How does my work differ from others of its genre?
Although I write erotic romance, with lots of hot sex, I like to bring out the sensual side, genuine feeling and passion between the main characters. I want readers to smile, cry and get hot and bothered! I do have a soft spot for alpha heroes, but they usually have a sense of humour, and the banter between the characters, and the growing relationship between them is as important as the heat in the sack. I also hope that although a lot of romance tropes are used all the time, I do put my own unique twist on the ones I use.

I also love writing contemporary romance, and the next story I’m working on combines all of this – a true bonkbuster based in the English countryside, look out for it!

3) Why do I write what I do?
I write the type of stories that I love to read. About real life characters I can believe in, but with that element of escapism. My favourite films, and books, are true love stories, but have a humorous edge to them that leaves a warm and fuzzy feeling. I really hope that my stories leave that feel good feeling behind as well.

4) How does my writing process work?
Something I read or see usually triggers off a ‘what if?’ and from that I get a gorgeous hero, or sparky heroine, and a very vague plot which includes a start and an end and not much about what happens in the middle! This is followed usually by a first chapter that I have to write before I do any planning at all. I then need a title – I can’t get any further until I have that, plus character names that I love.

With most of my books, I’ve then plotted out the main turning points and the black moment, so I’ve got the four quarters of the book. I then plot out the first quarter in more detail chapter by chapter to make sure I have character development, believable conflicts etc. After I’ve written this I then plot out the next quarter.

But, just to throw a spanner in the works, my latest book isn’t following this route at all! As it is a bonkbuster, with lots of characters, most of my work has been around really getting under the skin of the characters. I need to really know them, and what is going to happen to each of them during the course of the story. How they interact, and how their actions have an impact on everyone else is key. So this one is definitely character driven!
I do have a title (of course), a beginning (which is based on true events), and know the end!


So, that's a brief look at my writing process, which is constantly changing!
Next Monday, 24th check out the posts from these wonderful authors;
Amanda Jane Ward, who you can find <here>Or visit her website at http://amandajward.weebly.com/to find out more about her and her books!

Aurelia B Rowl- find her post next week <here>Aurelia B. Rowl lives on the edge of the Peak District in the UK with her very understanding husband, their two fantastic children, and their mad rescue mutt who doesn’t mind being used as a sounding post and source of inspiration. She regularly wows them all with her curious, hastily thrown together meals when she gets too caught up with her latest writing project… or five!… and she has developed the fine art of ignoring the housework.Aurelia B. Rowl writes Young Adult/New Adult crossover fiction and contemporary romance. To find out more about Aurelia, or check out which project she’s working on right now, you can visit her website: www.aureliabrowl.com

And on 3rd March Christy McKellen – her post is <here>B.K. (Before Kids) Christy worked as a Video and Radio Producer in London and Nottingham. After a decade of dealing with nappies, tantrums and endless questions from toddlers, she has come out the other side and moved into the wonderful world of literature. She now spends her time writing flirty, sexy romance with a kick (her dream job!). Her website address is: www.christymckellen.com

New Release! Braedric's Bane by A J Nuest

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 13th MARKS THE RELEASE OF Braedric's Bane , Book IV in The Golden Key Chronicles!
Find out more about the final installment in this epic fantasy romance! Advance praise for Braedric's Bane: 5 STARS from Comet Babes Books! Amazing 4th book. What more can you ask from a fantasy series--time travelling, costumes and even a fight. Add the sexy hero and it has everything you could want in a book!5 STARS from Follow the Yellow Book Road! An epic fantasy, adventure and romance with a dash of comedy rolled into one fabulous book. I literally read it in one sitting. To escape the clutches of the evil Wizard Gaelleod, Rowena and Caedmon flee to the future. With her memories intact and the help of her dear friends, Rowena is confident they can uncover the clues behind her connection to the key.Yet Violet's dire prophecy does more than detail their history. Caedmon's worst fears are confirmed. Though they must return to his realm, everything he loves stands to be ripped from his grasp.Join Caedmon and Rowena as they embark on an epic battle to protect the Austiere Kingdom and fight to safeguard their love in Braedric's Bane, Book IV of The Golden Key Chronicles.   Available February 13th on AMAZON and AMAZONUK!
Praise for The Golden Key Chronicles:57 FIVE STAR REVIEWS on Goodreads42 FIVE STAR REVIEWS on Amazon US/UK

Like the best fairy tales, Rowena’s Key captures the imagination and the heart with a bonus undercurrent of spicy romance. 5 Stars on AmazonAJ, why do you have to write the most wonderful heroes? Aaaahhhh!!! Now I'm hooked and begrudgingly wait for Book 2. I can't believe this is happening! 5 Stars on AmazonCrazy good! A total fan of the first book, the second did not disappoint at all. I swear I could smell leather while reading this book I was sooooo into it. 5 Stars on AmazonI liked Rowena in Rowena's Key. Candra's Freedom just made me fall in love with her! Fierce and headstrong, she is everything a heroine should be. 5 Stars on GoodreadsI absolutely adored the first two in this series, with Rowena’s Key being one of my favorite romance reads of 2013, so I had high hopes (read: desperate cravings) for Caedmon’s Curse – it did not disappoint! 5 Stars on GoodreadsHonestly, if there were more than 5 stars, I would give them to Caedmon's Curse and the whole Golden Key Chronicles. So well written, the story flows seamlessly from one danger to the next. The romance between Caedmon and Rowena is sexy, honest, and fresh. 5 Stars on Goodreads 
AJ is a multi-published, award-winning author who lives in the middle of a cornfield in NW Indiana. Her loving husband, two beautiful children and a bevy of spoiled pets have agreed to stay and, in exchange for three rations per day and laundry service, tolerate her lunacy. While she spend most days happily ensconced in crafting romance across a multitude of genres, an underground coup has been percolating. The dogs just informed her the cat is secretly vying for dictatorship.  WEBSITE / BLOG / FACEBOOK / TWITTER / PINTEREST

Happy New Year!

Just a quick post.... I hope you had a wonderful Christmas, I did, and I'm ever optimistic that 2014 will be a great year for all of us.

© Vedmochka |
Dreamstime Stock Photos &Stock Free Images
I haven't made any New Year resolutions as such, but I have done some thinking and decided that for me this year is all about trying to achieve the right balance. I've posted more over on my Susie Medwell blog and I'd love to hear what you think! (More about the hamster over there!)

Thank you to everyone for making 2013 such a fun, busy year. I've signed new contracts, made new friends and I can't say thank you enough to everyone who has bought, read and reviewed my books. Have a great 2014 - whatever you are planning.

Zara x

Winter Warming Bargains! My top 5 sizzling stories reduced - one #FREE, three at under a $1!!

I'm finally getting into that festive mood, and I've got lots to celebrate - so I thought I'd kick off by adding to the offers that my publishers have put in place!

So here's a collection of hot and steamy stories to warm up cold December days (or just put you in the right mood for a fun and festive Christmas!)...

FORFEIT - now only 35p on Amazon.co.uk and $0.99 on Amazon.com
Break the rules, pay the forfeit....
Cat’s life is falling apart – her boyfriend’s dumped her, she’s lost her home and she’s about to quit her job. Her boss, Brent, has a solution: become his wife for a year, to help him land a big promotion. But Cat’s had a taste of Brent before, and she knows he’s a bad boy who loves women and leaves them. So she agrees to marry him, but tells him there’s to be no sex. He adds his own condition: if she as much as talks to another man in that time, she must pay, by acting out of 12 of Brent’s kinkiest sex fantasies. When she breaks the rule, the forfeit is on: but opening up and letting Brent into her heart, as well as her bed, could be the most dangerous game of all …

SUMMER OF SURRENDER - now only 0.99p in the UK
Sex is the only thing they have in common. Total surrender the name of the game.
James had it all. Good education. City job and a wife he would have been willing to die for. Their motto had been work hard, play hard, but she’d pushed the boundaries too far and he’d walked. Became the man he felt he needed to be. Detached. In control.
Free spirit Kezia lives each day at a time; sharing, loving and giving are unconditional. And sex is part of the sharing.
When fate leaves James and Kezia trapped together for the summer, her openness is an invitation he just can’t resist. The attraction is instant, the sex all-consuming. And as their fantasies become reality, James begins to realise that willing surrender is a far different pleasure to forced submission…

And because the complete 'Good Enough' series is now available, I want to say a massive thanks to everyone who has supported me, and offer you a chance to grab all three at a cut down price -

GOOD ENOUGH TO SHARE  now only 77p on Amazon.co.uk and only $0.99 on Amazon.com
Would you dare to share?
One Christmas, four friends - but will they still be together by New Year?
Divorce wasn't part of the plan for Holly, but then again nor was spending the festive period with two sexy men and Santa's little helper! With a disastrous marriage behind her, and three good friends who are willing to share, moving on could be fun - if only she can accept that sometimes her heart is wiser than her head.
Dane doesn't do commitment, which suits Holly just fine. But when things heat up between the four friends, he's forced to face up to his past. Will realising he's good enough mean he no longer wants to share...?
Laid back Charlie knows that if his best friend becomes his lover he could end up losing big time. But can he resist? And when the girl he once loved comes back, who will he decide to spend the New Year with?
...And Sophie just wants to have fun. She's got the answers to everyone's problems, except her own .... is she the one who needs good friends most of all?
Will a caring, sharing, lust and love filled Christmas lead to the happy ever after they all desire?
WARNING - Christmas may never seem the same again!

GOOD ENOUGH TO TRUST  now only 77p on Amazon.co.uk and only $0.99 on Amazon.com
Do you trust the boy you loved, or the man you might?
Sophie has only one thing on her New Year’s resolution list – sorting out her life.
But with a hunky farmer, his sexy brother and a herd of bullocks to deal with, how is a girl supposed to keep her mind on her mission?
Facing up to the man she once loved, and the family she lost, is something fun loving Sophie isn’t going to dodge second time round though. She always knew that retracing her steps was never going to be easy, she never realised that risking her heart again would be even harder.
And when there's two men to choose from will it be easier to trust the man she's never stopped loving, or the one that might give her the new start she needs?


My latest release MAKING IT GOOD ENOUGH will be on offer #FREE! Tuesday through Thursday, check it out on Amazon UK  and Amazon COM.
Holly is happy, or at least she thinks she is. Until Dane's glamorous ex-wife, Sally, arrives on the doorstep - and refuses to leave. With trouble brewing and secrets being uncovered, is his determination to spice up their sex life a smokescreen, or love?
Charlie’s got the girl he loved back. But this time can they go all the way – if it means accepting the lifestyle that he ran away from? Falling in love with Anna is one thing, but is a society wedding a step too far?
Who will be walking up the aisle? Will the friends get their happy ever afters – or will an uninvited wedding guest ruin it all?
With disastrous parties, lustful fantasies and alarming announcements, can any of them make it good enough to last? So, you can snap up the  complete Good Enough trilogy for the grand total of £1.54 or less than $2!

*** I'm not sure how long the promotions will last - so grab them while you can :-) ***

If you're spoiled for choice then pop over to my website www.ZaraStoneley.com to read excerpts and reviews! (Or why not buy all five?!)

And now I suppose I really should start thinking about getting a Christmas tree, presents and cards!

Christmas is coming...

Photo courtesy of www.stockvault.net Wow, what a whirlwind year this has been - and with Christmas on my mind it means there is less than a month until a New Year sweeps in with all its promise of resolutions, bright and shiny new ideas, and hope for the future.

On the writing front, 2013 crept in quietly! In April I had two new releases hit the shelves - on the 1st of the month 'Spice It Up', my erotic romance novella, was published by Xcite, which captured my love of tapas, wine and all things Barcelona!  A day later, 'Good Enough to Trust', the second book in the Good Enough series hit the e-shelves, a much more thought provoking story with a backdrop of the often stormy Cornish coast. North Cornwall is an evocative part of the country for me, the passion of the coastline, dramatic scenery, pagan rituals, colourful history and temperamental weather make it a place I want to return to and explore time after time.

The autumn brought my exciting new contract with HarperImpulse (Harper Collins). My first release with them, 'Summer of Surrender', is out now (still on offer at 99p in the UK as I write!), my second is on my editor's desk awaiting her verdict. With both these books I had the chance to combine my love of horses with my passion for sexy heroes - a win, win situation!

My publishing year ends with the release of 'Making It Good Enough', the third and final book in the series. I will be so sad to leave Holly, Sophie, Dane and Charlie. I've had so much fun writing about, and sharing, them with you - and I've been overwhelmed at how people have taken them into their hearts. To hit a best seller list on Amazon in both the UK and the US has been a dream come true! Thank you to everyone who has read, reviewed, or just chatted to and supported me!

So what does 2014 hold? If it is anywhere near as good as 2013 I will be happy. I'm over on the HarperImpulse blog next week - chatting about what (who!) I'd like to find in my Christmas stocking. Please pop over if you have time and join in the discussion! 

Meanwhile, I am eagerly awaiting edits on my bad biker boy story (well, more cheeky than bad!), and then have an exciting new project to work on with Charlotte, my editor at HarperImpulse. I also have an awesome new cover for 'Riding High' which will be out in paperback next year - keep an eye out for it!

I will be around and about on my blog, facebook, twitter and other places on the internet during December - but this is my last update here. So here's hoping you have a wonderful Christmas, with good company and many kisses under the mistletoe - and that your dreams come true in 2014.

Thank you for sharing 2013 with me!
Zara x

12 Days of Christmas Tour with Jane Lark

12 Days of Christmas Tour with Jane Lark
Welcome to the 12 Days of Christmas Tour with Jane Lark. After signing with publisher Harper Impulse, Jane, author of the smash-hit Marlow Intrigues series, has decided to end 2013 with a bang! She’s gathered together some of the industry’s best authors to create one enormous Christmas giveaway.The huge prize is made up of more than 30 books, a combination of signed paperbacks and eBooks, and two gorgeous book bags. It’s the perfect early Christmas present for any bookworm and all you’ve got to do to win is feast your eyes on the details below and enter via the Rafflecopter . . .To kick off the prizes, Jane is giving away copies of her much loved The Illicit Love of a Courtesan and its highly anticipated follow-up The Passionate Love of a Rake 
Jane's books have been a huge hit with fans, leading to an ever-increasing fan base and comments such as:"Jane Lark has an amazing talent to draw the reader in from the first page onwards." - CosmoChickLitanAnd to celebrate her upcoming December release of NA novel I Found You, you could also win a unique rucksack.The book is already causing excitement among readers and looks set to be the must-read NA of 2014. 
 
But that's not all folks! As if Jane's books weren't enough, check out the other amazing books included in the prize pot, you're sure to find one or two of your fav authors getting involved . . .   
Entry to Jane Lark's 12 Days of Christmas giveaway extravaganza is easy, just follow the authors on Facebook or Twitter, plus maybe give the comp a shout-out tweet (or two) all via the Rafflecopter below and you're golden. But don't forget to keep your fingers crossed too!  a Rafflecopter giveaway
Please take a moment to read through the giveaway terms and conditions:This is an international giveaway.Signed paperbacks are to be sent from the authors themselves. Jane Lark, BestChickLit and/or any authors involved accept no responsibility for delivery failures. The winner must be open to accepting eBooks in any format i.e. Kindle copies and via iTunes voucher, from different sources. In the event of .mobi copies, the winner must have an Amazon Kindle account and be prepared to add selected addresses as approved emails on their Personal Document settings.Some of the books involved in the giveaway contain adult and sexual content and this should be taken into consideration before reading. Jane Lark, BestChickLit, Harper Impulse and any of the participating authors are free to amend any of the giveaway details at any time.Good luck!

New Release! 'A Little Mysterious' by Elodie Parkes

Hi, thank you for inviting me to the blog today with my new Evernight Publishing release, ‘A Little Mysterious’.I’m talking about the inspiration behind the book today.I’ve had Dhruv in my mind for a couple of years, his name and his personality, but his looks and the complete story only gelled for me after a guy came into the place I work and he was ‘just Dhruv’. Right way I knew I’d met Dhruv. (Laughs) I got the name from some work I did when I was on a traveling holiday in Australia. I had to book appointments for a company, and there was a client named Dhruv Mystery. I loved the name and stored it in my memory for future use, though my Dhruv doesn’t have a surname. Also, the sight of an entire flock of black swans swimming in a river estuary near where I rented a holiday home stayed with me until the story poured out onto my laptop after, as I said, actually ‘meeting Dhruv’. The man, who was just passing through the antique emporium where I currently work, was just gorgeous. His looks are described exactly in the book. (Smiles)


A Little Mysterious
He’d been sent off course…he thought he was lost…until he found Daisy.
His vampire abilities were special. He belonged to an elite group. Moving home, they are set off course by a storm that lands Dhruv alone, hungry, and desperate in a strange town. A story of lust, love, and coincidence.



Read an excerpt: 18+“Hi, Dhruv. What can I get you?” She gave him a special look. It said he could ask for anything he wanted.Dhruv waited for a few seconds before he answered. He leaned on the counter top with his elbows and returned her look. “I think you know, Daisy.” There was more said in his tone of voice than the words.They gazed at each other, and Daisy was mesmerized by his beauty. She gave an involuntary sigh as she looked at him. She wanted him so badly it made her dizzy. Each night she thought about him as she lay in bed waiting for sleep to overtake her. He would kiss her, not waiting long to put his hand inside her panties and feel her. Feel the throb between her legs, as she got wet wanting his fingers in her, wanting his cock in her. It made her needy. Sometimes had to reach her fingers down and stroke her clit for relief.“Black coffee, please.”Daisy broke into a grin. “One day, Dhruv, you’ll surprise me.” She left him watching her with his cool stare as she went to get his coffee.Copyright Elodie Parkes 2013
Buy the book:Not yet available
About Elodie:Elodie Parkes is a British author writing romance, erotic, contemporary, and often with a twist of mystery, paranormal or suspense. Her books are always steamy, cool stories and hot love scenes.Elodie lives in Canterbury with her two dogs. She works in an antique shop by day and writes at night, loving the cloak of silent darkness that descends on the rural countryside around her home.Elodie writes for, Hot Ink Press, Moon Rose Publishing, Eternal Press, and EvernightShe has also released titles as an individual indie author.
Find Elodie online: Blog  Tumblr  Facebook  Twitter  Google +  Pinterest  YouTube  Amazon USA  Amazon UK  Smashwords  Barnes and Noble  ARe  Bookstrand  Evernight

Written Fireside November: His Way Home, Part 3

If you've not read the previous parts yet, catch up with Part 1 and Part 2 before reading on!


Part 3...
Walter ran a leathery finger down the edge of the wallet, then tried to pull the photograph free, frustration flickering across his face as his arthritic fingers struggled with the task.“Here, can I help?” Beth put a hand out hesitantly, not wanting to interfere, but Walter nodded instantly.“Thank you, dear.” She teased the worn picture out from the sleeve in the wallet, laid it carefully on the table between them. It was a moment before Walter touched it, lifted it up with an age mottled hand that shook, slowly turned it over.“Alice Rose Dolvin.” He read the words that were traced out in a spidery script on the back.“Do you know who she is?”“I’m not sure. I should, but….” He took a sip of the cocoa that had sat untouched next to him, his gaze never leaving the picture of the woman. “It’s in her eyes, those eyes are so like Rose’s you know. And she’s even got that same dimple.” One finger rested lightly on the photograph, traced the outline of the face. “Who’d have known?” His voice had drifted and Beth instinctively reached out to touch him. He shook his head, gave her a reassuring smile. “I’m okay, my dear. I remember now.”Relief surged through Beth as she smiled back. Matthew had often spoken to her of the confusion concussion patients could suffer from, and although Walter seemed far from frail he was elderly and who knows how long he had been out in the cold.“Alice.” His voice seemed stronger, conviction in it now, “Alice Rose Dolvin is our daughter.”“But, but she’s the same age as you, she can’t be your daughter...” The relief she’d felt had been chased away by panic. He needed help. Oh, why wasn’t Matthew here now? Walter’s tone was soft, but firm. “Oh yes, my dear, she is. It’s our little Alice.  I was sent back to help her.” He looked up at Beth, but the clear blue eyes were focussed on some place far away, “I need to get back, I really do need to get home now. They need me.”


To be continued Tuesday December 3rd byLynn Marie Hulsman on her blog
While you are waiting, why not check out her book?Irish PantryComing next...
Part 4 by Lynn Marie Hulsman on Tuesday December 3rdPart 5 by Romy Sommer on Tuesday December 10thPart 6 by Jane Lark on Tuesday December 17th
Part 7 by Teresa F Morgan on Tuesday December 24thPart 8 by Carmel Harrington on Tuesday January 7thPart 9 by Sue Fortin on Tuesday January 14thPart 10 by Erin Lawless on Tuesday January 21stPart 11 by Mandy Baggot on Tuesday January 28th

Horses and hot romance! #giveaway #review

I've just got back from the Festival of Romance - exhausted but happy! It was brilliant to meet up with the rest of the HarperImpulse team again, and to make new friends.

Sadly, I wasn't there on Saturday night at the Ball to see the awards, but was so pleased to hear that Carmel Harrington (best romance ebook), Linn B Halton (innovative author) and HarperImpulse (publisher innovation) were winners! Massive congratulations to them, and all the other nominees and winners.

It was the first time I had attended the Festival and it was wonderful to chat to readers, make new friends and meet face to face so many of the people I chat to on Facebook and Twitter every day.

I did a reading from 'Summer of Surrender' (a first), sold nearly all the books I had taken with me, signed autographs (another first!) and got home to find a wonderful review (which brings me on to horses!). Thank you so much Kinky Book Klub -

'Between the book cover and the description I thought I was in for a hot and steamy book, instead I found a beautiful story. Don’t get me wrong it has it’s hot moments, but this book is about the sensual side, letting go, the difference between submission and surrender, between what’s healthy and loving and what is twisted and controlling.....'

' ....the scenes with the horses are really well written, James is a bit of a horse
whisperer, Kezia is just loud, jerky and the antithesis of James. It makes for some really lovely scenes.'

You can read the whole review here at <Kinky Book Klub>. This review really captures what the book is about, and by coincidence I recently wrote about the part horses play in my writing over on <Tea Cooper's blog>. This is the horse, Flash, that plays such an important part in the book (renamed Red!).


If you want to find out more about the story, I'm on tour! Please stop by and say hello, and enter the giveaway -

Nov 12th- Book Reviews and More by Kathy
Nov 13th- A Tasty Read Book Reviews
Nov 15th- The Revolving Bookcase

Nov 18th- Literal Hotties Naughty Book Reviews (Promo)
Nov 19th- Crossroad Reviews
Nov 20th- Romance Bookworm
Nov 21st- Reviews Unleashed
Nov 22nd- I am, Indeed
(Stop 2) Escaping Reality One Book at a Time