Mara Jacobs's Blog, page 2
June 24, 2015
Cover Reveal for Worth The Price!
WORTH THE PRICE, book 5 in the New York Times bestselling Worth Series now has a cover! Look for Twain Beck's story to be available late this summer. Make sure you're signed up to receive a notification. -------->
March 21, 2015
Just a quick update...
In Too Hard is now available! The freshman roommates trilogy is now complete. And to celebrate, I'm offering the first in the series (IN TOO DEEP) for FREE!
You can get IN TOO DEEP free here:
Kindle | iBooks | Nook | Kobo
and IN TOO HARD (book 3) here:
Kindle | iBooks | Nook | Kobo
My writing schedule, in case you're interested, will be (in order):
Worth 5 - WORTH THE PRICE - Twain Beck's book
Worth 6 - WORTH THE (?) - Huck Beck's book
Anna Dawson 3 - AGAINST THE (?)
Anna Dawson 4 - AGAINST THE (?)
Blackbird/Confessor 2 - LEARN TO FLY
That ought to keep me busy for a while!
Thanks for reading, everybody!
In Too Hard Just Released!
In Too Hard is now available! The freshman roommates trilogy is now complete. And to celebrate, I'm offering the first in the series (IN TOO DEEP) for FREE!
You can get IN TOO DEEP free here:
Kindle | iBooks | Nook | Kobo
and IN TOO HARD (book 3) here:
Kindle | iBooks | Nook | Kobo
Thanks for reading, everybody!
November 18, 2014
Guest Blogger: Author Liz Kelly
On the day of her newest release, TOP DOG: Heroes of Henderson ~ Book 3, my good friend Liz Kelly talks about her writing process...well, sort of.
How to Write a Sex Scene When
Your Father's Your Number One Fan
While I was writing my first books, I was just putting it out there. My head was in the story. Maybe I was thinking about what my critique partners were going to think, but they read romance, they knew what to expect, and more importantly, they liked sexy, sensuous, no-holds-barred love scenes. So I gave them that.
And then I became a published author.
I was so excited my story was out in the world and people were reading it. And liking it. My parents were thrilled for me. My mom who loves hot and steamy romance loved the story. Dad loved it too. He couldn’t get over I had finally done it. He bought up books and gave them to all their friends. He told me over and over again how proud he was of me. Literally, without doubt, to this day my dad is my number one fan.
So now I’m writing the next book in the series. A bigger book. A little sexier book. Actually a much sexier book because there was a hot and steamy secondary romance going on all the way through it. And during the re-writes, I start second guessing myself on the love scenes. I’m finding I’m starting to tone down the language in the love scenes.
I send a revised version off to one of my critique partners and she asks why. Why am I messing with the love scenes?
Why? Why? Because now everyone I know is going to be reading this! My father is going to be reading this! My father is going to buy this book and give it to all his friends. And what’s worse, I’ve gotten to the point where I’m now imagining my father reading the love scenes as I’m trying to write them.
Yeah. That was not helping my creative process. In fact, that thought threw cold water all over my hero and heroine as I was trying to involve them in a hot and heavy love scene.
Luckily my friend Mara Jacobs had the answer. Well, her mother did. Mara told me that when she mentioned to her mother she was going to start writing romance, her mother told her to ‘write like everyone you know is dead.’
Best advice ever.
Because no matter how many books my dad buys and gives away, he’s not going to put me on the best seller list. My dad is not my target audience. Neither are my best friends, my neighbors, or especially my book club. Avid romance readers are my target audience. The readers who like to read what I like. And I need to give them what they want.
So, when I get started down the path of “oh my gosh, my father is going to be reading this,” I stop, take a deep breath, and remember who I’m really writing for.
The second best writing advice I ever heard? “Write the book you want to read.” Kathleen Woodiwiss said that’s what she did, and she ended up changing the world of romance. Aren’t we glad she wasn’t worried about her father?
My latest full-length novel
Top Dog
is now available and is the third book in the Heroes of Henderson series. Here’s an excerpt.
Crain Carraway slipped inside the luxurious bathroom of his Las Vegas suite and shut the door quietly. Even though he couldn’t sleep, it seemed that his beautiful bride was out cold after a very lengthy, highly energetic, totally off the charts, roll-me-over-and-do-that-again consummation of their marriage. God, she was something. Something fine looking and brilliant and just as sweet as the cherry on top of his old-fashioned. He couldn’t believe she was his. All his. And he couldn't sleep because he wanted the world to know it.
Starting with his parents.
He dialed their number, checking the time on his watch. Dallas was two hours ahead of Vegas and, on a weekday morning, his parents should be up and at ’em. No doubt this would get their day started with a bang.
“Honey Bear!” his momma said in greeting, as if he wasn’t thirty-five years old.
“Momma Bear,” he said back, playing her game. “Put me on speaker and round up Papa Bear. I have big news.”
“Big news?”
“Texas-sized news.”
His mother laughed. “Bigger than when you started CC Dallas, Inc.? Lucius,” his mother shouted. “Your son has Texas-sized news he wants us to hear together.”
“May as well grab a bottle of champagne while you’re at it, Ma. You’re gonna need it,” Crain said.
“I'll bet that luxury suite at Cowboys Stadium came through,” his father’s voice echoed over the phone.
“Even better than that,” Crain grinned at himself in the bathroom mirror. “Dad, do you remember that statuesque blonde I pointed out when you stopped in the office a month ago? The one trying to hide all that beauty under those smart-girl glasses?”
“Do I? That pretty, little gal had you drooling like a bluetick coonhound.”
Crain chuckled. “Guilty as charged. Well, it took some doing, but I finally got that pretty, little gal to agree to a dinner date. I took her to Nick & Sam’s.”
“Best steakhouse in Dallas,” his dad said.
“And she loved it. In fact, the date went so well she agreed to meet me for drinks at the Ice House the next night. One thing led to another very good night, and although I will admit she was a little bit tipsy when I asked her to accompany me to Las Vegas, I assure you she was completely sober when I asked her to marry me.”
“You’re engaged?” his mother exclaimed.
“Better than that. We’re married.”
“Married?” Papa Bear sounded astonished.
“We eloped. Last night. It was just…right. Everything about it was perfect. And I’m sorry you weren’t here, but I know you’re gonna forgive me when you meet my bride.”
“Wha…ah…well of course we’ll forgive you,” his mother stuttered. “But darlin’ boy, this is all so quick. So sudden.”
Crain smiled, softening his voice in an effort to soothe his momma. “I know it seems that way, I truly do. But you know I’ve dated a lot of wonderful women over the years. And every time I figured out what I didn’t want, I knew better what I did want. And this one, this one is the complete package. Underneath her bright and engaging business persona, there’s a bewitching temptress just as sweet as praline pie. She’s the one I’ve been looking for all my life, Momma. She’s the one I want.”
“You sound so certain.”
“Because I am. I was certain the first time we met, and after date number two, all I could think was ‘how fast can I get this girl to the altar?’”
“Any faster and you’d catch up to yesterday,” his father said.
“And now I’m burning daylight, so let me get back to my bride,” Crain countered.
“Wait,” his mother cried. “What’s her name? Who are her people?”
“Well, I don’t exactly know who her people are, Momma, because I’ve been solely focused on sweeping her off her feet. But I’ll tell you what. Anybody who can raise a woman like her can’t be all bad. Now I’ve got to go and talk my bride into a nice long honeymoon in Hawaii, so if you two don’t hear from me for a couple weeks, don’t fret. And in the meantime, Momma, you can start planning whatever extravaganza you’ve got in mind to introduce my bride to our people.”
“I can tell you one thing,” his momma scolded. “It’s gonna look a whole lot like a church wedding and a big fat reception. You tell my new daughter-in-law the first thing I plan to do is to take her shopping for a wedding dress. I love you, but I am not particularly happy about this.”
“Oh, come on,” he goaded. “You know you’re a little happy about this.”
“I’m very happy you’re happy, darlin’ boy. But I sure don’t like missing my own son’s wedding. Now bring that girl home, so I can hug her neck.”
“Will do, Momma. Will do. Papa Bear, I am signing off.”
“I’ll take care of your momma. You go take care of your bride.”
“Over and out.”
Crain hung up. And then he did what turned out to be about the dumbest thing a man with a Texas A&M degree could do. He took the time to text everybody he knew, telling them he had married the cutest Ole Miss Hotty Toddy ever found in Dallas. Yep, he was one happy groom. Right up until he made his bride a cup of coffee just the way she liked it—with a whole lot of cream and sugar—and carried it into the bedroom.
“Sweetheart,” he whispered, until he realized the bed was empty. “Sugar?” he yelled, looking around the room, his eyes coming to rest on the note written with her preferred red Sharpie. “Honey?” he said, moving forward to pick up the note.
Four little words. Four little words Crain Carraway had no idea what to do with. Four little words that left him certain of absolutely nothing.
I’m sorry – cold feet.
Top Dog
Crain Carraway, Dallas business tycoon and sports fanatic, is not from Henderson. But his wife is. No one knows that though, because she managed to get cold feet after their impromptu Vegas wedding. Hiding out in her hometown, she’s sicced her lawyer on him, doing her best to buy his silence and a quickie divorce.
Like hell.
It’s taken him way too long to find the perfect Mrs. Carraway, and now that he’s had the fortuitous luck to stumble into Henderson and his bride, he’s not about to let her go.
Top Dog is available wherever e-books are sold. Here is the link to the Kindle version on Amazon.
PLUS
Right now there is a great deal on Good Cop, the first novel in the Heroes of Henderson series. Purchase the Passionate Kisses Boxed Set for $0.99 and receive Good Cop along with 9 other full length romances. This offer ends soon.
Visit my website for excerpts of all my books.
www.LizKellyBooks.com
How to Write a Sex Scene When
Your Father's Your Number One Fan
While I was writing my first books, I was just putting it out there. My head was in the story. Maybe I was thinking about what my critique partners were going to think, but they read romance, they knew what to expect, and more importantly, they liked sexy, sensuous, no-holds-barred love scenes. So I gave them that.And then I became a published author.
I was so excited my story was out in the world and people were reading it. And liking it. My parents were thrilled for me. My mom who loves hot and steamy romance loved the story. Dad loved it too. He couldn’t get over I had finally done it. He bought up books and gave them to all their friends. He told me over and over again how proud he was of me. Literally, without doubt, to this day my dad is my number one fan.
So now I’m writing the next book in the series. A bigger book. A little sexier book. Actually a much sexier book because there was a hot and steamy secondary romance going on all the way through it. And during the re-writes, I start second guessing myself on the love scenes. I’m finding I’m starting to tone down the language in the love scenes.
I send a revised version off to one of my critique partners and she asks why. Why am I messing with the love scenes?
Why? Why? Because now everyone I know is going to be reading this! My father is going to be reading this! My father is going to buy this book and give it to all his friends. And what’s worse, I’ve gotten to the point where I’m now imagining my father reading the love scenes as I’m trying to write them.
Yeah. That was not helping my creative process. In fact, that thought threw cold water all over my hero and heroine as I was trying to involve them in a hot and heavy love scene.Luckily my friend Mara Jacobs had the answer. Well, her mother did. Mara told me that when she mentioned to her mother she was going to start writing romance, her mother told her to ‘write like everyone you know is dead.’
Best advice ever.
Because no matter how many books my dad buys and gives away, he’s not going to put me on the best seller list. My dad is not my target audience. Neither are my best friends, my neighbors, or especially my book club. Avid romance readers are my target audience. The readers who like to read what I like. And I need to give them what they want.
So, when I get started down the path of “oh my gosh, my father is going to be reading this,” I stop, take a deep breath, and remember who I’m really writing for.
The second best writing advice I ever heard? “Write the book you want to read.” Kathleen Woodiwiss said that’s what she did, and she ended up changing the world of romance. Aren’t we glad she wasn’t worried about her father?
My latest full-length novel
Top Dog
is now available and is the third book in the Heroes of Henderson series. Here’s an excerpt.Crain Carraway slipped inside the luxurious bathroom of his Las Vegas suite and shut the door quietly. Even though he couldn’t sleep, it seemed that his beautiful bride was out cold after a very lengthy, highly energetic, totally off the charts, roll-me-over-and-do-that-again consummation of their marriage. God, she was something. Something fine looking and brilliant and just as sweet as the cherry on top of his old-fashioned. He couldn’t believe she was his. All his. And he couldn't sleep because he wanted the world to know it.
Starting with his parents.
He dialed their number, checking the time on his watch. Dallas was two hours ahead of Vegas and, on a weekday morning, his parents should be up and at ’em. No doubt this would get their day started with a bang.
“Honey Bear!” his momma said in greeting, as if he wasn’t thirty-five years old.
“Momma Bear,” he said back, playing her game. “Put me on speaker and round up Papa Bear. I have big news.”
“Big news?”
“Texas-sized news.”
His mother laughed. “Bigger than when you started CC Dallas, Inc.? Lucius,” his mother shouted. “Your son has Texas-sized news he wants us to hear together.”
“May as well grab a bottle of champagne while you’re at it, Ma. You’re gonna need it,” Crain said.
“I'll bet that luxury suite at Cowboys Stadium came through,” his father’s voice echoed over the phone.
“Even better than that,” Crain grinned at himself in the bathroom mirror. “Dad, do you remember that statuesque blonde I pointed out when you stopped in the office a month ago? The one trying to hide all that beauty under those smart-girl glasses?”
“Do I? That pretty, little gal had you drooling like a bluetick coonhound.”
Crain chuckled. “Guilty as charged. Well, it took some doing, but I finally got that pretty, little gal to agree to a dinner date. I took her to Nick & Sam’s.”
“Best steakhouse in Dallas,” his dad said.
“And she loved it. In fact, the date went so well she agreed to meet me for drinks at the Ice House the next night. One thing led to another very good night, and although I will admit she was a little bit tipsy when I asked her to accompany me to Las Vegas, I assure you she was completely sober when I asked her to marry me.”
“You’re engaged?” his mother exclaimed.
“Better than that. We’re married.”
“Married?” Papa Bear sounded astonished.
“We eloped. Last night. It was just…right. Everything about it was perfect. And I’m sorry you weren’t here, but I know you’re gonna forgive me when you meet my bride.”
“Wha…ah…well of course we’ll forgive you,” his mother stuttered. “But darlin’ boy, this is all so quick. So sudden.”
Crain smiled, softening his voice in an effort to soothe his momma. “I know it seems that way, I truly do. But you know I’ve dated a lot of wonderful women over the years. And every time I figured out what I didn’t want, I knew better what I did want. And this one, this one is the complete package. Underneath her bright and engaging business persona, there’s a bewitching temptress just as sweet as praline pie. She’s the one I’ve been looking for all my life, Momma. She’s the one I want.”
“You sound so certain.”
“Because I am. I was certain the first time we met, and after date number two, all I could think was ‘how fast can I get this girl to the altar?’”
“Any faster and you’d catch up to yesterday,” his father said.
“And now I’m burning daylight, so let me get back to my bride,” Crain countered.
“Wait,” his mother cried. “What’s her name? Who are her people?”
“Well, I don’t exactly know who her people are, Momma, because I’ve been solely focused on sweeping her off her feet. But I’ll tell you what. Anybody who can raise a woman like her can’t be all bad. Now I’ve got to go and talk my bride into a nice long honeymoon in Hawaii, so if you two don’t hear from me for a couple weeks, don’t fret. And in the meantime, Momma, you can start planning whatever extravaganza you’ve got in mind to introduce my bride to our people.”
“I can tell you one thing,” his momma scolded. “It’s gonna look a whole lot like a church wedding and a big fat reception. You tell my new daughter-in-law the first thing I plan to do is to take her shopping for a wedding dress. I love you, but I am not particularly happy about this.”
“Oh, come on,” he goaded. “You know you’re a little happy about this.”
“I’m very happy you’re happy, darlin’ boy. But I sure don’t like missing my own son’s wedding. Now bring that girl home, so I can hug her neck.”
“Will do, Momma. Will do. Papa Bear, I am signing off.”
“I’ll take care of your momma. You go take care of your bride.”
“Over and out.”
Crain hung up. And then he did what turned out to be about the dumbest thing a man with a Texas A&M degree could do. He took the time to text everybody he knew, telling them he had married the cutest Ole Miss Hotty Toddy ever found in Dallas. Yep, he was one happy groom. Right up until he made his bride a cup of coffee just the way she liked it—with a whole lot of cream and sugar—and carried it into the bedroom.
“Sweetheart,” he whispered, until he realized the bed was empty. “Sugar?” he yelled, looking around the room, his eyes coming to rest on the note written with her preferred red Sharpie. “Honey?” he said, moving forward to pick up the note.
Four little words. Four little words Crain Carraway had no idea what to do with. Four little words that left him certain of absolutely nothing.
I’m sorry – cold feet.
Top Dog
Crain Carraway, Dallas business tycoon and sports fanatic, is not from Henderson. But his wife is. No one knows that though, because she managed to get cold feet after their impromptu Vegas wedding. Hiding out in her hometown, she’s sicced her lawyer on him, doing her best to buy his silence and a quickie divorce.
Like hell.
It’s taken him way too long to find the perfect Mrs. Carraway, and now that he’s had the fortuitous luck to stumble into Henderson and his bride, he’s not about to let her go.
Top Dog is available wherever e-books are sold. Here is the link to the Kindle version on Amazon.
PLUS
Right now there is a great deal on Good Cop, the first novel in the Heroes of Henderson series. Purchase the Passionate Kisses Boxed Set for $0.99 and receive Good Cop along with 9 other full length romances. This offer ends soon.
Visit my website for excerpts of all my books.
www.LizKellyBooks.com
Guest Blogger - Liz Kelly
On the day of her newest release, TOP DOG: Heroes of Henderson ~ Book 3, my good friend Liz Kelly talks about her writing process...well, sort of.How to Write a Sex Scene When
Your Father's Your Number One Fan
While I was writing my first books, I was just putting it out there. My head was in the story. Maybe I was thinking about what my critique partners were going to think, but they read romance, they knew what to expect, and more importantly, they liked sexy, sensuous, no-holds-barred love scenes. So I gave them that.
And then I became a published author.
I was so excited my story was out in the world and people were reading it. And liking it. My parents were thrilled for me. My mom who loves hot and steamy romance loved the story. Dad loved it too. He couldn’t get over I had finally done it. He bought up books and gave them to all their friends. He told me over and over again how proud he was of me. Literally, without doubt, to this day my dad is my number one fan.
So now I’m writing the next book in the series. A bigger book. A little sexier book. Actually a much sexier book because there was a hot and steamy secondary romance going on all the way through it. And during the re-writes, I start second guessing myself on the love scenes. I’m finding I’m starting to tone down the language in the love scenes.
I send a revised version off to one of my critique partners and she asks why. Why am I messing with the love scenes?
Why? Why? Because now everyone I know is going to be reading this! My father is going to be reading this! My father is going to buy this book and give it to all his friends. And what’s worse, I’ve gotten to the point where I’m now imagining my father reading the love scenes as I’m trying to write them.
Yeah. That was not helping my creative process. In fact, that thought threw cold water all over my hero and heroine as I was trying to involve them in a hot and heavy love scene.
Luckily my friend Mara Jacobs had the answer. Well, her mother did. Mara told me that when she mentioned to her mother she was going to start writing romance, her mother told her to ‘write like everyone you know is dead.’
Best advice ever.
Because no matter how many books my dad buys and gives away, he’s not going to put me on the best seller list. My dad is not my target audience. Neither are my best friends, my neighbors, or especially my book club. Avid romance readers are my target audience. The readers who like to read what I like. And I need to give them what they want.
So, when I get started down the path of “oh my gosh, my father is going to be reading this,” I stop, take a deep breath, and remember who I’m really writing for.
The second best writing advice I ever heard? “Write the book you want to read.” Kathleen Woodiwiss said that’s what she did, and she ended up changing the world of romance. Aren’t we glad she wasn’t worried about her father?
My latest full-length novel Top Dog is now available and is the third book in the Heroes of Henderson series. Here’s an excerpt.
Crain Carraway slipped inside the luxurious bathroom of his Las Vegas suite and shut the door quietly. Even though he couldn’t sleep, it seemed that his beautiful bride was out cold after a very lengthy, highly energetic, totally off the charts, roll-me-over-and-do-that-again consummation of their marriage. God, she was something. Something fine looking and brilliant and just as sweet as the cherry on top of his old-fashioned. He couldn’t believe she was his. All his. And he couldn't sleep because he wanted the world to know it.
Starting with his parents.
He dialed their number, checking the time on his watch. Dallas was two hours ahead of Vegas and, on a weekday morning, his parents should be up and at ’em. No doubt this would get their day started with a bang.
“Honey Bear!” his momma said in greeting, as if he wasn’t thirty-five years old.
“Momma Bear,” he said back, playing her game. “Put me on speaker and round up Papa Bear. I have big news.”
“Big news?”
“Texas-sized news.”
His mother laughed. “Bigger than when you started CC Dallas, Inc.? Lucius,” his mother shouted. “Your son has Texas-sized news he wants us to hear together.”
“May as well grab a bottle of champagne while you’re at it, Ma. You’re gonna need it,” Crain said.
“I'll bet that luxury suite at Cowboys Stadium came through,” his father’s voice echoed over the phone.
“Even better than that,” Crain grinned at himself in the bathroom mirror. “Dad, do you remember that statuesque blonde I pointed out when you stopped in the office a month ago? The one trying to hide all that beauty under those smart-girl glasses?”
“Do I? That pretty, little gal had you drooling like a bluetick coonhound.”
Crain chuckled. “Guilty as charged. Well, it took some doing, but I finally got that pretty, little gal to agree to a dinner date. I took her to Nick & Sam’s.”
“Best steakhouse in Dallas,” his dad said.
“And she loved it. In fact, the date went so well she agreed to meet me for drinks at the Ice House the next night. One thing led to another very good night, and although I will admit she was a little bit tipsy when I asked her to accompany me to Las Vegas, I assure you she was completely sober when I asked her to marry me.”
“You’re engaged?” his mother exclaimed.
“Better than that. We’re married.”
“Married?” Papa Bear sounded astonished.
“We eloped. Last night. It was just…right. Everything about it was perfect. And I’m sorry you weren’t here, but I know you’re gonna forgive me when you meet my bride.”
“Wha…ah…well of course we’ll forgive you,” his mother stuttered. “But darlin’ boy, this is all so quick. So sudden.”
Crain smiled, softening his voice in an effort to soothe his momma. “I know it seems that way, I truly do. But you know I’ve dated a lot of wonderful women over the years. And every time I figured out what I didn’t want, I knew better what I did want. And this one, this one is the complete package. Underneath her bright and engaging business persona, there’s a bewitching temptress just as sweet as praline pie. She’s the one I’ve been looking for all my life, Momma. She’s the one I want.”
“You sound so certain.”
“Because I am. I was certain the first time we met, and after date number two, all I could think was ‘how fast can I get this girl to the altar?’”
“Any faster and you’d catch up to yesterday,” his father said.
“And now I’m burning daylight, so let me get back to my bride,” Crain countered.
“Wait,” his mother cried. “What’s her name? Who are her people?”
“Well, I don’t exactly know who her people are, Momma, because I’ve been solely focused on sweeping her off her feet. But I’ll tell you what. Anybody who can raise a woman like her can’t be all bad. Now I’ve got to go and talk my bride into a nice long honeymoon in Hawaii, so if you two don’t hear from me for a couple weeks, don’t fret. And in the meantime, Momma, you can start planning whatever extravaganza you’ve got in mind to introduce my bride to our people.”
“I can tell you one thing,” his momma scolded. “It’s gonna look a whole lot like a church wedding and a big fat reception. You tell my new daughter-in-law the first thing I plan to do is to take her shopping for a wedding dress. I love you, but I am not particularly happy about this.”
“Oh, come on,” he goaded. “You know you’re a little happy about this.”
“I’m very happy you’re happy, darlin’ boy. But I sure don’t like missing my own son’s wedding. Now bring that girl home, so I can hug her neck.”
“Will do, Momma. Will do. Papa Bear, I am signing off.”
“I’ll take care of your momma. You go take care of your bride.”
“Over and out.”
Crain hung up. And then he did what turned out to be about the dumbest thing a man with a Texas A&M degree could do. He took the time to text everybody he knew, telling them he had married the cutest Ole Miss Hotty Toddy ever found in Dallas. Yep, he was one happy groom. Right up until he made his bride a cup of coffee just the way she liked it—with a whole lot of cream and sugar—and carried it into the bedroom.
“Sweetheart,” he whispered, until he realized the bed was empty. “Sugar?” he yelled, looking around the room, his eyes coming to rest on the note written with her preferred red Sharpie. “Honey?” he said, moving forward to pick up the note.
Four little words. Four little words Crain Carraway had no idea what to do with. Four little words that left him certain of absolutely nothing.
I’m sorry – cold feet.
Top Dog
Crain Carraway, Dallas business tycoon and sports fanatic, is not from Henderson. But his wife is. No one knows that though, because she managed to get cold feet after their impromptu Vegas wedding. Hiding out in her hometown, she’s sicced her lawyer on him, doing her best to buy his silence and a quickie divorce.
Like hell.
It’s taken him way too long to find the perfect Mrs. Carraway, and now that he’s had the fortuitous luck to stumble into Henderson and his bride, he’s not about to let her go.
Top Dog is available wherever e-books are sold. Here is the link to the Kindle version on Amazon.
PLUS
Right now there is a great deal on Good Cop, the first novel in the Heroes of Henderson series. Purchase the Passionate Kisses Boxed Set for $0.99 and receive Good Cop along with 9 other full length romances. This offer ends soon.
Visit my website for excerpts of all my books.
www.LizKellyBooks.com
August 14, 2014
Cover Reveal for IN TOO FAST
In Too Fast, book 2 in the Freshman Roommates Trilogy, is Jane's story and will be available in mid-to-late September.So, is Jane in this car with...
A) Montrose
B) Stick
C) Somebody else
D) All of the above (it's a very crowded car...the photo is just cropped - ha!)
If you haven't already, make sure you sign up to receive a notification email when In Too Fast is available.
June 23, 2014
Guest blogger Liz Kelly talks about her heroes and an AWESOME boxed set bargain!
Dueling HeroesOur fabulous hostess, Mara Jacobs, and I participated in an anthology together titled Countdown To A Kiss. In my portion of the story, I needed a couple of characters to egg my hero, Duncan, into taking a bet where he would be pitted against my heroine, Annabelle. So I created his two best college buddies, Brooks and Vance, to do what college buddies are so good at—egging best friends into all sorts of trouble—to help get the romance for Duncan and Annabelle rolling.
Mara and I worked together to add her story’s hero, Lewis Kampmueller, to this mix of “buddies” which was great fun entwining the stories a bit. And, it turns out that Mara’s heroine just happens to be Brooks’ kid sister. Who knew?
So Countdown To A Kiss gets written, and I’m trying to decide what to write next, when Mara suggests she’d like to see my college buddies, Brooks and Vance in a 3-way.
A 3-way? Really?
Do I even write 3-ways?
Regardless, the idea was definitely intriguing. So, I started working with the premise of what if they wanted a 3-way, or what if one of them wanted a 3-way, or what if there was a 3-way romance. A love triangle, involving two best friends who have been through too much together to have a young, pretty, long-legged brunette come between them.
Only she does.
Yeah, what if that happens?
So now you have two heroes—dueling heroes—in one story. Kinda tricky because as the author, I love them both, and I want you, as the reader, to love them both too. And you do know how this romance thing works, right? In the end only one of them is going to get the girl.
So now the dilemma is—how is that a satisfying ending for readers who hopefully love both of the heroes?
So I kept writing and kept writing until both heroes were happy. Only that didn’t make Mara happy. Mara loved hero number two so much she insisted he have his own full-length romance. (Lord what I won’t do to please this woman.)
So, my book Good Cop, Bad Cop became two full-length romances. Good Cop and Bad Cop. And if you think you might like reading about dueling heroes, I have a great deal for you.
For a limited time, Good Cop is available as part of the ebook Passionate Kisses Boxed Set where you get ten full-length contemporary romances all for the mere price of $0.99. Here are the links, and may your favorite cop win.
Passionate Kisses Boxed Set at Amazon Kindle Store Barnes & Noble or iTunes
March 3, 2014
My Writing Process - Blog Hop
I was tagged on the Writing Process blog hop by Maris Soule. Here is a bit about Maris, one of my Mid-Michigan Romance Writers of America chapter-mates.Maris Soule was born and raised in California. She was working on a masters in art history when she met a red-head with blue eyes who talked her into moving to Michigan–for just a couple of years. She’s still married to that man and still lives in Michigan (though she migrates to Florida in the winter).
Maris has had 25 romances published by Harlequin, Silhouette, and Bantam (she’s a 2 time RITA finalists) and 2 mysteries published by Five Star. (Her P.J. Benson mysteries or “Crows” series.) In addition to writing mysteries, Maris has been putting some of her early romances out as e-books, and she recently signed a contract with Robert Hale Ltd. for a suspense about a woman in her 70s with a deadly past.
Every Wednesday Maris writes a blog that generally deals with writing.
You can find Maris here:
Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
And Now For My Part...What am I working on?
I'm actually working on a couple of things. Worth The Price, book 5 in the Worth series. Plus, I'm also working on a New Adult trilogy, starting with In Too Deep. The trilogy will tell the story of three college freshman roommates and their various romances. I love the late/post-teen angst of these stories. I'm hoping to have both out this summer.
How does my work differ from others of its genre?
I've been told my characters are a bit more real-to-life than some contemporary romances. I don't know if that's true, but I tend to write more beta males than the typical alpha males we've come to see (and love!) in our romances. (Petey Ryan withstanding!)
Why do I write what I do?
Plain and simple...I'm a sucker for a happily-ever-after ending.
How does my writing process work?
As far as writing time, it varies. I try to write in the morning before heading to the day job. I can only do that for a while before I start getting really crabby, so then it shifts to evenings. The good news is, as of April 7, I'll be writing full time, so the early mornings and late nights of writing may even out a little bit.
And, as to process, I lean to the plotter side of writing. I do a very rough outline, but it's not in stone, and really only hits the character arc points. How to get those characters to those growth points...well, that's the stuff that makes me crabby at 5:30 a.m.
February 8, 2014
Baby, It's Cold Outside
We're having a Winter (capital W) here in Michigan, as is most of the country. (world?) I'm currently in the East Lansing area, and we're getting more snow than I can remember in recent history - but nothing compared to the U.P.I thought I'd share some images from the Copper Country, where the Worth books take place. This is my brother and sister-in-law's (and nephews'!) home in Hancock, taken in January. The pile from shoveled snow of the walkway from the driveway to the door is so high, they can barely see out their windows.
And the snow removal is constant...sometimes to the point of synchronized snow blowing with the neighbors.
If you were to drive to Copper Harbor (where Sawyer's ice house, from Worth The Effort, is built) you'd pass the record snowfall "thermometer", shown here in the fall. (image from Wikipedia with permission to share, though I know I've got a bunch of photos of this marker that I've taken over the years...but mine all have my girlfriends and me being wacky in front of it...and possible proof of underage drinking. What's the statute of limitations on Minor In Possession? Is it over 10 years...phew, I'm safe) (Okay, yes, VERY safe, because I'm well over 28 years old)
The Keweenaw Peninsula has a current snowfall this year of 230" (yes, you read that right!), with 45" currently on the ground.
The record snowfall, and what this marker tops out at, is 390.4" (yes, you read THAT right!) in the winter of 1978-79. I was a kid in Hancock that winter, and don't remember it any more vividly than any other winter, though I do remember one glorious winter when we seemed to have a lot of snow days. Perhaps it was that year.
So...will the record be broken this year?
September 27, 2013
Guest Blogger Nan Reinhardt
Please welcome guest blogger and fellow author Nan Reinhardt. Nan has a new series releasing this week. It sounds like a great series, and something I'll be checking out. (and it takes place in Michigan - double score!)And, as you'll find out, Nan is also celebrating something else.
Take it away, Nan!
Yesterday was my birthday. I turned sixty. Not particularly fodder for the six-o’clock news, but there’s some history I need to share with you. My mom, who was a vital and interesting woman, died when she was sixty years old. That was 25 years ago and for the last 25 years, dying at sixty has been my biggest fear.
I know, I know… I’ve heard all the reasonable arguments for why this is a foolish fear. Mother was a noncompliant diabetic who ate whatever she wanted, didn’t take her meds regularly, and thought exercise was turning the pages of a book. I am a healthy, strong woman who, although overweight, does take good care of herself. I swim, I ride my bike, I try to eat right most of the time, and I follow doctor’s orders. I am not my mother.
But you know, genetics is a wicked bitch, and every time I feel a twinge of muscle pain in my left arm or an ache in my shoulder or a moment or two of acid reflux, I wonder if this is the “big one.” The fear has been getting alternately better and worse as I’ve gotten closer to sixty. Lately, it’s been worse. I debated a while about what I could do to ease my own mind, when it occurred to me that I needed to be celebrating sixty, not dreading it.
When my editor, the fabulous Lani Diane Rich of StoryWonk, convinced me to go indie with the first novels in The Women of Willow Bay series, I knew it would be a great idea to release them on my birthday. After all, I’m turning sixty and my books are all about women in their prime. Baby Boomers who are living life to the fullest and not worrying one damn bit about their ages. What better way to celebrate turning sixty than by putting my work out there and anticipating a glorious future doing what I love to do most in the world—writing.
I like to think of it as a sort of virtual thumbing my nose at my own stupid fears and I know Mom’s right here, standing near me saying, “That’s my girl!”
Check out Nan's New Releases:
Once More From the TopWhat do you do when the one who got away… comes back?
Carrie Halligan never regretted the choice she made sixteen years ago to raise her son Jack by herself in Willow Bay, Michigan. A successful photographer by day, at night Carrie satisfies her musical passions by playing piano at a hotel bar, maintaining a balance that works for her and Jack. Walking away from Maestro Liam Reilly without telling him she was pregnant with his child may have been the hardest thing she’d ever done, but it was definitely the right thing.
When Liam shows up in town to perform a benefit concert with the local symphony, however, Carrie’s carefully crafted life spins out of control. After sending Jack to summer camp, she realizes she can’t keep Liam in the dark forever. Telling the truth to the man she once loved more than life itself isn’t near as hard as spending time in his presence and realizing that the years haven’t diminished his power over her heart. Will her lie be too much to get past, or will the spark of passion between them overcome everything?
Once More From The Top on Amazon
Sex and the Widow MilesHis life ended. Hers didn’t.
Model-thin, beautiful, and aging gracefully, Julie Miles was looking forward to retirement with her husband, Dr. Charlie Miles, in their idyllic Willow Bay, Michigan home. But when Charlie dies of a heart attack, simply getting out of bed becomes a daily struggle. Desperate for a change of scene, she leaves her home to stay in her friend Carrie’s unoccupied Chicago apartment.
Her handsome and young new neighbor, Will Brody, seems to enjoy his assignment to keep an eye on her, and Jules can’t help but be flattered. She embraces life—and sex—again, until the discovery of a dark secret shatters her world once more. She knows her feelings for Will are more than casual, and he’s made it clear he wants her, but how can she ever trust a man again when her perfect life turned out to be a lie? Determined to get to the bottom of it all, Jules goes in search of the truth and discovers that there’s always a second chance to find real love.
Sex and the Widow Miles on Amazon
About Nan:Nan Reinhardt is a writer of romantic fiction for women in their prime. Yeah, women still fall in love and have sex, even after 45! Imagine! She is also a wife, a mom, a mother-in-law, and a grandmother. She’s been an antiques dealer, a bank teller, a stay-at-home mom, a secretary, and for the last 17 years, she’s earned her living as a freelance copyeditor and proofreader.
But writing is Nan’s first and most enduring passion. She can’t remember a time in her life when she wasn’t writing—she wrote her first romance novel at the age of ten, a love story between the most sophisticated person she knew at the time, her older sister (who was in high school and had a driver’s license!) and a member of Herman’s Hermits. If you remember who they are, you are Nan’s audience! She’s still writing romance, but now from the viewpoint of a wiser, slightly rumpled, menopausal woman who believes that love never ages, women only grow more interesting, and everybody needs a little sexy romance.
Her first novel Rule Number One is available at Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com. The other two, which are the first novels in the Women of Willow Bay series, are being released exclusively at Amazon on September 26, 2013.
Visit Nan’s website: www.nanreinhardt.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authornanreinhardt
Twitter: @NanReinhardt
Talk to Nan at: nanleigh1@gmail.com
