Cara Faith Donvovan's Blog, page 91

Freeing the Beast - Tina Donahue

This Magic Moment
I love reading and writing paranormal romances. The otherworldly aspect of the beings and creatures make them so much fun.
When I was planning my Taming the Beast series, I wanted it to be sexy and playful with a lot of humor. What I came up with for Freeing the Beast, book one, is simply magical between Becca and Eric. Two star-crossed lovers who’ve never gotten romance right, despite their powers, until they met each other.
Of course, even true love is never easy as they prove time and again in this magical romance. But they hang in there for a happy ever after that will leave you smiling. Sighing too. J
Freeing the Beast – erotic paranormal - is available for pre-order – ready to read March 10 (details at these links):
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1z1GIIkSamhain: http://bit.ly/1C3HCas
B&N: http://bit.ly/1zaLecb
Please support my Thunderclap campaign for Freeing the Beast: http://thndr.it/1z2lkHH

Here’s a blurb and an excerpt to give you an idea of the story:
Blurb:
No more Mr. Nice Guy.
Taming the Beast, Book 1
Magic is Becca Salt’s business, but it ain’t happening in her bedroom. The half-witch proprietress of From Crud to Stud performs miracle makeovers for paranormal creatures. Once she’s done with them, they’re out the door hunting for hot babes, not hanging around for a too-curvy, plain Jane like her.
Her newest client is hot, hung, mouthwatering perfection. What could she possibly improve upon?
Eric Diletto. Descendant of Cupid, bred for courtship, courtesy, and all that other gentlemanly junk. What has it gotten him? Dumped time and again for bad boys. He needs Becca’s help for an entirely different reason—regression therapy to release his inner beast. Grrrr.
Two potions later, they’re crawling all over each other. Becca aches for a man who loves her as she is, not because he’s under the influence. But Eric isn’t as impaired as she thinks. And he intends to take Becca here, there, and everywhere—anything to convince her his desire isn’t just the potions talking.
Product Warnings
A witchdoctor’s nightmare. Contains potions with weird side effects, a sorceress with limited magical skills and a yearning heart, plus a minor god who wants to get down and dirty. Bad, bad boy!
EXCERPT:
Heat and humidity poured inside, along with the racket from the street party. Drunken voices mingled with throaty laughter, pounding drums and trumpets reaching then holding their highest notes. Becca’s pulse thumped in her ears, drowning out the other sounds.Damn.The guy who’d come inside was something. At least six-three, he had the build of an athlete, lean and muscular with broad shoulders, narrow hips and powerful thighs. Without meaning to, Becca stepped closer, drinking him in. Classically handsome, he wore his hair preppy style, longer on the top, shorter on the sides. It was a warm chestnut brown streaked by the sun and slightly tousled, begging for a woman’s fingers to smooth it back.Becca brought down her hand, suddenly realizing she’d lifted it.His golden complexion spoke of days spent outdoors, possibly skinny-dipping in a pool, water streaming over his firm pecs and abs, being trapped in his nest of dark curls…his rock-hard cock jutting from it, inflexible as iron, sleek as a spear. Suppressing a shiver of delight, Becca took in his leather loafers, beige khakis and white shirt opened at the collar with the sleeves rolled up to mid-forearm.Masculine yet civilized. Very nice.Zoe, you did good. Aw, sweetie, more than good. She deserved part ownership in this place for having done such a fantastic job on him. This guy had been made over to the nth degree from…Becca wasn’t certain what kind of demon he was, or his level in Hell, never having met him before the makeover. Maybe that’s why he’d taken so long to get here. He couldn’t pull himself away from the god he now saw in his mirror.While Becca ogled him, he regarded the reception area’s feathery ferns and potted plants as though seeing them with different eyes. A mortal’s eyes. The room’s faux brick floor, coral walls and gas wall fixtures radiated warmth, an earthy, sensual feel in keeping with the area’s culture.It was also decidedly romantic.And the reason most of these guys signed up. They were having problems with babes and wanted a solution, even if it was painful.Hissing noises came from behind a door on the right. On the left, a muffled groan sounded faintly sexual.Could be that was why this guy was late. He’d already seduced a babe and had been reluctant to leave her.Becca glanced at his fly, the thick ridge behind it. Some women had all the luck. She, on the other hand, had a business to run.Reining in her desire, she joined him in the reception area. “Do you have any idea how late it is?”He turned. His attention zipped from her flame-red hair, cut in a chin-length bob with bangs, to her dramatic makeup. Heavy black liner surrounded her blue eyes. Her maroon lipstick was just a shade lighter than black and quite a contrast to her pale skin. He lifted his eyebrows slightly, then regarded the black silk top tied beneath her breasts, her silver navel jewelry, black harem pants, anklets, toe rings and high-heeled sandals.Even at five-seven, and with the extra three inches the shoes gave her, Becca felt positively dainty next to him. Quite a feat considering she’d always been too tall and curvy. In school, they’d called her the f-word.Well, fuck ’em, right? So she’d never be skinny or a beauty. Not like her mom. Unfortunately, Becca took after her dad. A great guy, but no hunk in the looks department.“We can’t wait forever,” she said. “Let’s go.”She headed down the hall. Hearing only her footfalls, Becca stopped and looked over.He hadn’t taken one step in her direction. He was far too busy studying her ass. Intently. Appreciatively…if his crooked smile was any indication. How awesome was that?Was it something Zoe had taught him?“You coming?” Becca asked.He actually blushed beneath his tan. What appeared to be carnal hunger blurred his expression as he regarded her. “Where?”His voice was even deeper than the howlers that came here for treatment. Way huskier than Zoe’s when she got riled. Becca moved toward him again, drawn by his potent masculinity, until she forced herself to stop and pointed over her shoulder.He approached with the grace of a well-behaved panther. Loose limbed and composed, not cocky or predatory. Shit. Zoe was a miracle worker.“Sure,” he said.Becca swallowed. His eyes were the color of honey with flecks of green. Given his laugh lines, he looked to be in his early thirties—if she was using mortal time—just a couple of years older than her.Not that their ages mattered. Why should they? Once his photo shoot was over, he’d be gone. Back in bed with his babe.“There.” She pointed to the side, trying not to drool over him.He kept checking her out too and gave her another crooked grin. “There what?”Damned if she knew. His adorable smile continued to tangle her thoughts. Becca lowered her head and took a deep breath. “Door on the right. Go in that room. Take off your clothes. I’ll get the photog—”The rest of her words and all the spit in her mouth dried up as his fingers curled around her wrist, keeping her from moving away.He murmured, “What?”That voice. His touch. Her knees sagged. With great effort, Becca turned back to him.He gave her a questioning look and waited.Becca wanted to ruffle his long, dark lashes, kiss his silky eyebrows, then suck his lower lip into her mouth while she crawled all over him. “Briefs or boxers?”He pulled back slightly, but didn’t let go of her wrist. “What?”She cleared her throat. Her voice still jiggled and rasped. “What are you wearing? Briefs or boxers?”He looked down as though to check. “Boxers.” “The stretchy kind or the baggy ones?”He let go of her wrist. “They’re not that baggy.”Hmm. She’d hurt his feelings. A nice human touch Zoe must have taught him. Like having him stare at a female’s ass, rather than simply grabbing it, to make her feel sexy and desired. “I’m sure they’re not. Still, we prefer the snug ones.”The kind that would hug his fleshy balls and caress his rigid cock. On wobbly legs, Becca went to the hall closet and pulled out a navy pair.“Here.” She flung them at him.They landed on his deliciously broad shoulder.Becca backed away. “Strip down, then put those on. We can’t screw around any longer.”“Sure about that?”

CONTEST
a Rafflecopter giveaway


I’m offering one winner her (or his) choice of THREE of my backlist ebooks from this list for the Rafflecopter contest:
1. Adored – RWA award-winning; EPIC 2011 Finalist; 4 Stars RT2. Deep, Dark, Delicious – EPIC 2011 Finalist; Holt Medallion Award of Merit3. Lush Velvet Nights – EPIC 2011 Finalist; Golden Nib Award4. In His Arms – SIX 5 Star Reviews; 4 Stars RT5. Sensual Stranger – 2010 Book of the Year (erotic); 4 Stars RT6. The Yearning – Top Ten Bestseller7. Take Me Away – #1 Pick, Miz Love Loves Books8. Unending Desire – Best Book Rating LASR9. SiNN – Nominated for Book of the Week LASR10. Sinfully Wicked – Magnificent – Romancing the Book11.  Claiming Magique – Top Pick – NOR12. Illicit Desire – Four Stars Romantic Times13. Come Fill Me – Five Stars – Guilty Pleasures14. Losing Control - Four and a Half Stars - Sensual Reads15. Shameless Desire - Four and a Half Stars - The Jeep Diva16. Illicit Intent – Four and a Half Stars – Sensual Reads17. Deep Within Me – Four Stars – Romantic Times18. Seven Sensuous Days – Four Stars – Long & Short Reviews19. Stolen Desire – Five Hearts – Novel Broads


About Me:
I’m an award-winning, bestselling novelist in erotic, paranormal, contemporary and historical romance for Samhain Publishing, Ellora’s Cave, Siren Publishing, Booktrope, and Kensington. Yay! Booklist, Publisher’s Weekly, Romantic Times and numerous online sites have praised my work, and trust me, I’m forever grateful for that. I’ve had my books reach finals in the EPIC competition, one title was named Book of the Year at a review site, and others have won awards in RWA-sponsored contests. I’m actually featured in the 2012 Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market. Talk about feeling like a freaking star. Before my writing career, I was the editor of an award–winning Midwestern newspaper and worked in Story Direction for a Hollywood production company. Outside of being an admitted and unrepentant chocoholic, I’ve flown a single-engine plane (scary stuff), rewired an old house using an electricity for dummies book, and have been known to moan like Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally whenever I’m eating anything Mexican or Italian. Yeah, I like to eat (burp).
You can check me out here – yes, I am everywhere!  J
FB Fanpage: http://on.fb.me/1ChWdD7Email: tina@tinadonahue.com
Website: http://bit.ly/15Xy6LIBlog: http://bit.ly/1yRB9k9Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1wFmIu6Twitter: http://bit.ly/1ziy4IUFacebook: http://on.fb.me/1Dl8DHyTriberr: http://bit.ly/1CE2ec7Pinterest: http://bit.ly/1yFLeMxAmazon author page: http://amzn.to/1ChWFkOMy page at TRR: http://bit.ly/1vb7eEcEC Author Page: http://bit.ly/1Dh9worSamhain Author Page: http://bit.ly/1Bvw6mLSweet ‘n Sexy Divas: http://bit.ly/1ChWN3KRomance Books 4 US: http://bit.ly/1JPtfeSBook Escape (FB): http://on.fb.me/1HmfHtA



Thanks for joining us at Tears of Crimson. Home to Bestselling Author Michelle Hughes,and all the Friends of Crimson!

Dawn Sullivan - Guest Host Tears of Crimson Debut 4-5

Dawn Sullivan Author of the Rare Series 4-5 Host



Tears of Crimson is excited to welcome Dawn Sullivan to the Tears of Crimson debut.  Remember you can chat live with Dawn for the next hour at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1526839977599137/  



RARE: Rescue and Retrieval Extractions 
-they took on the missions that 
no one else wanted and didn’t 
stop until the job was done 


With her daughter missing and no leads, Jenna 
asked for help from the only place she could turn 
to. When RARE agreed to help, they had no idea 
how complicated one mission would get. Now the 
race was on to not only save Lily’s life, but the lives 
of several others. RARE doesn’t back down. RARE 
doesn’t give up. And when Nico discovers that 
Jenna is his mate, he will move heaven and earth 
to keep both Jenna and Lily safe.

Purchase on Amazon





RARE: Rescue and Retrieval Extractions 
-they took on the missions that no one else wanted and did not stop until the job was done 
After a long stint in the military, Phoenix hooked up with RARE so he could continue to do what he did best…..Rescuing people and dispensing punishment to those who deserved it. However, lately he had been feeling like something was missing in his life. 

Serenity had been running for several years from her pack who wanted to use her for her special healing abilities, and from a psychotic wolf shifter who insisted she was his mate. She had not realized there were worse things to be running from until she was kidnapped by the General’s men. After several months of being held in captivity, a rescue attempt was made by RARE at the facility where she and several other women were being held. During the chaos, Serenity and one of the RARE team members were taken by the General. Once Phoenix finds out Serenity is his mate, nothing will stop him from finding her and freeing her. 

When Serenity’s demons from her past come back to haunt her, Phoenix must keep her safe not only from the General, but also from her past if they want a future together.

Purchase on Amazon





RARE: Rescue and Retrieval Extractions  -they took on the missions that  no one else wanted and did not  stop until the job was done 
Trace has found his mate, but before he can claim her, he must eliminate the threat from his past. Returning to the place where all of his nightmares began, Trace must fight for his life and his future. Jade was stolen when she was a child and was held captive by the General for most of her life. She was rescued by RARE and reunited with the mother she thought she lost so long ago. 

Jade spent the past 20 years hiding her true nature, allowing others to see only a sweet, gentle Omega wolf. After being set free, she is slowly allowing her true self to show. Jade has found her mate, but now must wait for his return. When she finds out Trace is in trouble, she vows to bring him home and nothing or no one will stand in her way. 

RARE must once again do what they do best. Track down Trace and eliminate the evil that threatens them. 

Jade's strength and determination are tested in the process. But her pull to Trace will not let her admit defeat. They say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, but will Jade survive if RARE doesn’t make it to Trace in time? 

Purchase on Amazon

Author Dawn Sullivan
I have a wonderful, supportive husband and three beautiful children. I enjoy spending time with all of them which normally involves some baseball, shooting hoops, taking walks, watching movies, and of course reading.My passion for reading began at a very young age and only grew over time. Whether I was bringing home a book from the library, or sneaking one of my mom's romance novels and reading by the light in the hallway when we were supposed to be sleeping, I always had a book. 
I read several different genres and subgenres, but Paranormal Romance and Romantic Suspense have always been my favorites. I read anything by Katie Reus, Lora Leigh, J.R. Ward and Rebecca Zanetti. 
I have always made up my own stories, and have just recently decided to start sharing them. I hope everyone enjoys reading them as much as I enjoy writing them.
Discover more about Dawn:
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/dawnsullivanauthor     

Thanks for joining us at Tears of Crimson. Home to Bestselling Author Michelle Hughes,and all the Friends of Crimson!

Blood & Shattered Glass - Tyffani Clark Kemp

Blurb-Four months ago, a traumatic accident put Trista in the psych ward. They were supposed to help her deal with the events that transpired, but something happened to her in there. Something changed her and Jeremi Lloyd can’t figure out what it is. As her guardian, it’s Jeremi’s job to make sure Trista is taken care of. During the day, Trista is happy and content with the best fiancé in the world, but at night, horrible nightmares plague her sleep. But Jeremi has a huge secret, one the doctors say Trista isn’t ready to handle. It’s a secret that could shatter what little bit of happiness and stability Trista has been able to find. When Jeremi learns that strange things are happening at the psych ward where Trista was being helped, he starts to wonder if her nightmares and her mental instability aren’t really her fault. And he wonders if the secrets he’s keeping are worth it. As the answers begin to surface in ways neither Trista or Jeremi could have imagined, so does a level of danger that could be the end of them and their friends. Can they figure out the truth before they’re both committed?

Links-
Goodreads- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23514161-blood-and-shattered-glass Smashwords- http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/507523 Amazon-
US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RS96NPMUK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00RS96NPM?*Version*=1&*entries*=0CA: http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00RS96NPM?*Version*=1&*entries*=0
About the Author-

Tyffani Clark Kemp might be the quietest person in the room, but that just means she’s probably the biggest freak too. She is a multi-genre author with a gift for the written word and a desire to help all Indies reach their full potential. In 2012, she and her best friend Kimberly Fudge started SideStreet Cookie Publishing for authors who want to remain independent, but don’t have the time or the knowledge to do it all themselves. From the age of eleven she dedicated her life to writing and making sure she was good at her craft. Now, she passes that knowledge on to others. Her friends would describe her as determined and giThanks for joining us at Tears of Crimson. Home to Bestselling Author Michelle Hughes,and all the Friends of Crimson!

Interference - Dakota Madison

Title: InterferenceAuthor: Dakota MadisonGenre: Adult, Sports RomanceRelease Date: February 9, 2015
USA TODAY Bestselling Author Dakota Madison returns with another spicy sports romance. This story set in the world of college basketball. 
Neuroscience student SEDONA MILLER is perfectly imperfect. She’s slightly nerdy and slightly eccentric, but completely brilliant. 
When an unfortunate accident leaves Sedona with an injured arm and she’s fired from her part-time job shelving books at the university library she has to find a new gig fast. 
The only job available mid-semester is working as a tutor for the athletic academic center. And the notorious bad boy of the university’s basketball team, JESSE WALKER, is the one and only guy on the new tutor’s roster.
But when SEDONA discovers a secret that could ruin the school’s winning basketball team doing the right thing could mean destroying the only guy she’s ever loved.

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Amazon Amazon CA Amazon UK Amazon AU
B&N smashwords iTunes

Excerpt from Interference © Dakota Madison
When I finally hit the last room in a long row of rooms I see a guy sitting there looking bored and staring at two fast food containers in front of him on the table.He glances up at me when I enter. The first thing I notice is his piercing green eyes. I don’t think I’ve ever seen eyes that green on a human being that weren’t Photoshopped The second thing I notice is his messy, light brown hair. It doesn’t look like it’s been combed it in a week. It makes me wonder if it’s some new hair trend or if he just doesn’t bother to style it. Not that I have too much room to talk when it comes to hair. My curly red mop has been the bane of my existence since I was a kid. About the only thing I can ever do with it is pull it back into a pony tail.  “Sedona?”I nod.“Have a seat.” He points to the chair right next to him. I remember Lewis’s warning and take a seat across the table instead. I want to be as close to the door as possible. The guy is big and muscular and much more intimidating than I imagined he’d be. My heart is thumping in my chest because his size and rough demeanor are making me nervous. When he pushes one of the fast food containers in my direction I cringe. I rarely eat fast food and when I do it’s from Just Veggies, an organic vegetarian place near campus.He doesn’t hesitate to open his container and take a bite of the messy burger that’s dripping some kind of white sauce all over his pile of fries. My stomach turns in response. “I bought you a burger.” He points to the second container he’s pushed in my direction. “Ambrose scheduled our sessions during lunch.”I make a point of pushing the container back over to him. “No thank you.”He frowns. “It’s from Frankie’s. Everybody loves Frankie’s burgers.”“Clearly not everyone.”His brows knit like he can’t believe I refused the food he bought.“You don’t want it?” He actually sounds hurt.“No, I don’t.”“Why?”I lift my book bag from the ground and point to one of the many political cause buttons I have covering the knitted tote my mom made for me. He barely acknowledges it. “What is that supposed to mean?”Now I’m the one who’s frowning. “Meat is murder. It’s a slogan. It means that I don’t eat animal flesh.”“You’re one of those vegans?” He doesn’t bother hiding the condescension in his voice.“Technically I’m a vegetarian. I eat free range, organic dairy products.”“Fine. I’ll eat the burger.” He glares at me as he opens the second container and takes a huge bite of the burger.I’m appalled until I notice that he slyly pushes both containers away and doesn’t take another bite of either burger.“I guess I should have brought an apple for the teacher.”“Only if it’s organic. And I’m not actually a teacher. I’m a tutor.”We both stare at each other for a long moment. Awkward does not even begin to describe our pairing. We’re like two people from different planets trying to communicate when we don’t speak each other’s languages.I remove a slip of paper from my bag. “Mr. Ambrose gave me your schedule of classes for the semester. You’re taking Film Appreciation, The History of Jazz, Advanced Yoga and Stress Management. What’s your major?”He shrugs. “Undeclared right now. But I’ll probably go with Sports Management.”“So these are Gen Ed classes?”He cocks his head and looks confused. “General Education classes,” I clarify. “Elective classes you need to take to fulfill requirements that aren’t directly related to your major.”“I guess so.”I’m a little disturbed by his lackadaisical attitude, but I let it go for the moment. We’re clearly not going to be able to develop much of a rapport so maybe it’s best just to get down to business.“We’re just handed a class schedule,” he clarifies. “Assigned classes. We don’t pick them ourselves.”“And they assigned you the History of Jazz? That’s the class that you’re having trouble with?”“The dude who was supposed to teach the class croaked and they got this new chick who apparently doesn’t like basketball.”There is so much wrong with his statement I don’t even know where to begin. “Might I suggest that you call your professors either professor or doctor and not chick.” I bristle at my own use of the derogatory word, but I continue, “And what does her not liking basketball have to do with your performance in the class.”At this he gives me a sly smile. “Let’s just say she’s not willing to play ball the way the other professors are.”I’m not sure exactly what he means by that, but there seems to be some kind of sports reference that is lost on me.“So you’re saying your other classes are going well and you’re just having trouble with the one class, History of Jazz?”He leans back in his chair and eyes me for a few seconds before he nods. I don’t like when he looks at me like that. It’s like he’s examining some weird, new specimen and trying to make sense of it.“All of my other teachers are huge basketball fans and they know I’m the in the starting lineup. I’m not sure what the jazz goddess’s problem is.”I take in a deep breath before I say something that’s sure to get me fired. “Why don’t we start by calling her Dr. Fisher? I think that might help. And why do you think she has a problem?”“She doesn’t like basketball. That’s not normal. Everybody loves basketball. This entire campus lives and breathes the sport.”“I don’t love basketball. I don’t even like it. Not even a little bit.”He actually looks stunned for a moment. Like I slapped him. Then he regains his cocky composure.“You’re one weird chick,” he mutters almost to himself, but still loud enough that I can hear him.“Excuse me?” I say even though I heard him. I just didn’t like having an insult hurled at me by someone I don’t even know.“You. Are. One. Weird. Chick.” His words are slower and louder as if I didn’t hear him the first time.“I actually heard what you said. I just didn’t like it.”A smug smirk appears on his face that I would love to slap right off if I could. I continue. “In case you haven’t noticed I’m not a bird I’m a human being. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t refer to me as a chick.”He bites his bottom lip as if he’s actually giving it some thought. Then he says, “You’re one weird woman. Is that better?”“I’m not sure why you have to bring gender into the equation at all. Why not just call me a weird person?”That makes him laugh. “You don’t care that I think you’re weird. You just don’t want me to call you a chick?”“I’ve been weird my whole life. I’m used to it.” “At least you’re willing to own it.”“So did you bring your textbook with you or are you just going to spend the next ninety minutes taunting me?”
“I kind of like taunting you.”


USA TODAY Bestselling Author Karen Mueller Bryson writes romance novels under four pen names: Dakota Madison, Savannah Young, Sierra Avalon and Ren Monterrey. She lives in a small town outside of Phoenix, AZ with her husband and their bloodhounds.



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HOSTED BY:Thanks for joining us at Tears of Crimson. Home to Bestselling Author Michelle Hughes,and all the Friends of Crimson!

Interview with Sandra Boutwell-Falcone

We lured Sandra into the Tears of Crimson Mansion today to talk with her about her work.  Pull up a chair and get to know this incredible author.  We promise we're letting her leave unscathed!
What do you consider success, when it comes to writing? 

I really felt like a success when I sold my first book to someone I didn’t already know. But, in writing, successes come in small increments for me. When I get a passage just right, I feel that is a success. If I have someone read a few pages for me and I see them laugh or cry or get angry, I feel a tremendous success. If I can move a person to an emotional response, as a writer, I have done my job.

Many authors have a muse that they believe gives them ideas. Do you have one? If so tell us about them.

I don’t have a muse in particular. I get inspired by things I see. A hike in the woods or people watching at the airport both can inspire characters or scenes. Because I write in the fantasy genre, movies and gaming also give me ideas from time to time.

If you had to choose a reading audience, what would you like them to be interested in? 

My reading audience should like fantasy, magic, animals, and adventure.

What’s your stand on bookstore verses digital book purchases? 

I think there is room for both. Anything that gets people reading is worthwhile. I have a Kindle app and have read a few books in the digital format. Personally I prefer to have a book in my hands, pages I can turn. I like the weight of it. I like to see the volumes on my shelves. There is something more permanent about a real book.

What age group do you write for? 

I write for anyone who enjoys fantasy fiction but my first book is appropriate for juvenile readers.  I wanted my young nieces to be able to enjoy it.  I consider this series to be teen fantasy fiction. There is violence but only implied sex.

How do you find or make time to write? 

Sometimes I find it quite difficult. There always seems to be some distraction that can take me away from my work. My problem is not so much finding time, but finding my focus during the time that I have. Sometimes I get up in the middle of the night. When the rest of the world seems asleep, I can hear the voices in my head. Not creepy voices, just the stories I have rattling around in there. I have to pretend the internet doesn’t exist.

When and why did you begin writing?

I began writing as a small child of 6 or 7. I grew up in a sparsely populated rural area. My brothers were all grown and gone from home by the time I was 7 years old. I made up stories and talked to myself even before I could write them down. Once I did begin to write, it was just the natural thing for me to do. I wrote really bad teen angst filled poetry in junior high school. I helped establish our high school newspaper, the Tomahawk. I was the editor, feature writer, and comedic advice columnist.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

 I suppose I have always considered myself a writer. I did feel confirmed as a writer when I received the proof for my first novel.


What inspired you to write your first book?

When I was in college, my friends and I played Dungeons and Dragons. I, of course, wrote an origin story for one of my characters. It was about 6 handwritten pages in a notebook. Many years later, I found myself out of work and stir crazy. My husband suggested I write something… anything. I found those handwritten pages in a notebook and turned them into a novel.

Do you have a specific writing style? 

I write fantasy but I try to make the people and situations as real and relatable as possible. I’m not sure that’s a particular style.


How much of the book is realistic?

My characters are based in reality but the setting is a fantasy world so anything can happen. I have based many of my characters on traits I have observed in real people but no character is solely formed after a particular person.

Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life? 

I have taken character traits and physical attributes of people I know or people I have seen and formed my characters. There is a little of me in a few of them. I did rewrite one scene with more emotion after I experienced a death in my family. It became more personal.


What books have most influenced your life? 

The Bible. C.S. Lewis Chronicles of Narnia and Perelandra for their innocence and imagination. Ann Rice, Interview with the Vampire and Witching Hour for her wonderful descriptive powers. The works of Tolkien for creating worlds and because they are brilliant. And of course Shakespeare wrote every original story line.


If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book? 

Absolutely! I would seek out a professional editor that I could afford. I love my story and characters but I know a professional edit would give it the polish it deserved. It is impossible to edit yourself to a polished finish. Your own work is just too familiar.


Can you share a little of your current work with us? 

Right now, I am working on

MARABELLA, DISCOVERING MAGICS           Sandra Boutwell-Falcone
Introducing a new heroine. Marabella is an uncommon girl growing up in Common Valley. Discover with her friendship and magics. When the mysterious Demalion people take an interest in her and her family, their lives change for the better. She discovers her magics and her new friends insure her training. Observe as her power grows with her despite the tragedies she endures. Aided by a magical creature and her Demalion friends, she learns to fight and focus her magics, skills she will need to battle for her life. Mourn her losses, cheer her victories and fall in love with Marabella. Her adventure is just beginning.


Marabella, Quest for Magics. I have only just begun. Here is an excerpt from my first novel Marabella, Discovering Magics. 

The morning of Mara's honor service dawned cold and gray.  Belle stood in the room that had once been her mother's.  She had finally allowed Ma Nan to clean away (almost) all evidence of the violence that had occurred.  The bloody mattress, linens, and rugs were gone; taken away and burned, finally allowing the stench of death to be released into the air rising with the smoke into the clouds.   The stains were gone.  Ma Nan had worked hard on the floor and walls, mopping up buckets of red tinged water.  The splinters of the smashed dressing table were gone.  Along the walls were new shelves.  Belle could smell the freshly hewn lumber.  All Mara's belongings were clean and folded, placed neatly on the shelves together with her books.  The damaged bead curtain was gone, replaced with a simple sheet of pale blue, hanging on an ornate rod over the entrance to the room and held back with a braided cord.  A simple, hastily built table and straight back chair were placed in the room as if to keep it from feeling too empty.  But the changes in the room only magnified the emptiness in Belle's heart. Mara was gone.

The only thing left untouched was under Mara's green shawl, hung on a nail by the entrance to the room.  Under it sat a small lamp stand and lamp.  Belle had arranged it so and asked that it not be touched.  All the floors and walls had been scrubbed and scrubbed with sand and soap and scented oils.  All but the one area behind the green shawl.  Behind the shawl was the bloody hand-print with the outline of a scar.  It was the signature of Mara's murderer and Belle intended to keep it intact.

While Ma Nan bustled about the kitchen arranging and rearranging the many gifts of food from folks in the village, Belle pushed back the shawl and looked long and hard at the mark on the wall.    She memorized each line, each droplet of the stain, now dried brown on the painted wall.  She burned the image into her mind and locked it away, a sad keepsake to fuel her vengeance.

She left the hand-print hidden under the shawl and walked around the room.  Her fingers traced along the handle of Mara's brush.  Belle touched the dark strands captured in the bristles and felt a tightness in her chest.  She moved down the shelves, touching Mara's clothes, her shoes, her sewing basket.

There were stacks of fabric, waiting to be cut, cut garment pieces, waiting to be sewn, half completed garments, waiting to be finished.  Like juggler's balls thrown into the air that would never fall, these things seemed to be frozen in time.

 Want to discover more about Sandra?

Blog – marabellaspeaks.blogspot.comWebsite – sbfalconewrites.wix.com/s-b-falconeFaceBook – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Marabella/505991099535227Twitter - @Sbfalcone
Instagram – sbfalcone
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Fatal Obsession - Lynn Stookes

Title: Fatal ObsessionSeries: Harden #1 Author: Lynn StookesGenre: Adult, RomanceRelease Date: January 1, 2015Kylie Delaney had the perfect life until one night changed everything. Now she’s moving back to her hometown to escape the pain and start over, but someone won’t let her forget the past.
Detective Blake Winters moved back to his hometown to escape the violence of the city, but when bodies start showing up murdered, he questions his decision. That is until the girl he wanted as a teenager moves in across the street. Then all bets are off.
Now, Kylie must face the past with Blake, the one man who broke her young heart. Can they explore a new relationship and both stay alive as they search for the person behind the murders? li {display:inline;} a.buttonlist {color:rgb(255,255,255);} .buttonlist { -moz-box-shadow:inset 0px 1px 0px 0px #ffffff; !important -webkit-box-shadow:inset 0px 1px 0px 0px #ffffff; box-shadow:inset 0px 1px 0px 0px #ffffff; background:-webkit-gradient( linear, left top, left bottom, color-stop(0.05, #f0c895), color-stop(1, #a8814d) ); background:-moz-linear-gradient( center top, #f0c895 5%, #a8814d 100% ); filter:progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.gradient(startColorstr='#f0c895', endColorstr='#a8814d'); background-color:#f0c895; -webkit-border-top-left-radius:20px; -moz-border-radius-topleft:20px; border-top-left-radius:20px; -webkit-border-top-right-radius:20px; -moz-border-radius-topright:20px; border-top-right-radius:20px; -webkit-border-bottom-right-radius:20px; -moz-border-radius-bottomright:20px; border-bottom-right-radius:20px; -webkit-border-bottom-left-radius:20px; -moz-border-radius-bottomleft:20px; border-bottom-left-radius:20px; text-indent:0; border:1px solid #f0c895; display:inline-block; color:#ffffff; font-family:Georgia; font-size:15px; font-weight:bold; font-style:normal; height:50px; line-height:50px; width:100px; text-decoration:none; text-align:center; text-shadow:1px 1px 0px #000000;} .buttonlist:hover { background:-webkit-gradient( linear, left top, left bottom, color-stop(0.05, #a8814d), color-stop(1, #f0c895) ); background:-moz-linear-gradient( center top, #a8814d 5%, #f0c895 100% ); filter:progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.gradient(startColorstr='#a8814d', endColorstr='#f0c895'); background-color:#a8814d;} .buttonlist:active { position:relative; top:1px;} div#centralbuttons { width: auto; text-align: center; } ul#storebuttons {padding: 0.5em;}
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Sitting in the car, I wait for her to leave the house. She gets into her black car waiting in the driveway and drives away. Today, there seems to be an extra bounce to her step. I’ve been watching her for weeks. Sticking to her routine, she leaves for work the same time every morning and arrives home the same time every evening. Today is no different.Once I’m positive she’s far enough away, I look around at my surroundings to see if anyone is watching me. Satisfied no one will see me, I climb out of my truck and rapidly walk across the street and around to the back of the house. I reach the back door and pull out the key I stole months ago. The dog growls from the other side of the door. The first time I entered the house, she caught me off guard and actually bit me. Having learnt my lesson, I pull out the tranquilizer gun I bought. Swinging the door open, I aim and shoot the dog. She whimpers before hitting the ground.I enter the house and shut the door behind me and quickly entering the security code. Unhurriedly, I walk through the house, running my hands over her things as I make my way upstairs to her bedroom. Last week, I spent time in the attic and found her childhood journals. She’d never miss them, so I took them with me and have been reading about every piece of her life.Opening the door to her room, I walk towards the bed and pick up her pillow, bringing it to my face to inhale the sweet smell of strawberries from her shampoo. I’ve been collecting every bit of information I can about her. After I place the pillow back on the bed, I walk into the bathroom to find out which products she uses, so I’ll be prepared when she comes to me. I open the cabinet underneath the sink and look around at the products when I see it. A pink box sticks out at the back of the cabinet. My heart starts racing. No, she can’t be. I grab the box to see it’s been opened and one is missing. Throwing the box on the ground, I search the trash can next to the sink and find what I’m looking for.Fuck. This is going to ruin everything. She’s supposed to be mine after this is all over. How are we going to handle this? I pace the small bathroom as I think.Suddenly, an idea hits me and I smile. I’m going to make her mine. One way or another. SHE WILL BE MINE.

 
Lynn Stookes was born and raised in the amazing state of Texas where she currently resides with her husband of four years. They have one son and two furry children that create complete chaos she couldn’t live without.
One day, Lynn took her passion (maybe obsession is more apt) for romance books and mystery shows to write her first romantic suspense novel, Fatal Obsession.
In her free time, Lynn enjoys reading anything she can get her hands on, spending time with her family and friends, coffee breaks, and country music.
She is currently working on her second novel in the Harden Series. 
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Taming Evangeline - C.L. Matthews

Title- Taming EvangelineSeries- Shattered Souls #1By- C.L. Matthews Genre- Erotic Romance

Blurb- Gideon Blackwell is the bad boy; the guy every girl wants.But he has his eyes set on the forbidden fruit, Evangeline Carpenter. She is untouchable and he can’t stand for that. He wants to claim her first. She doesn't want him and it makes him want her all the more. He'll do anything to be the first to taste her even if it breaks her in the end. His goal: to have her no matter what it takes, even if it is only once.

Evangeline is the 'nerdy' school girl that doesn't stand out. She is a book worm with high hopes, just trying to make it through school to make her dad proud. She has no intention of liking Gideon but she gets swept off her feet by his bright green eyes and soft composure.
She never expects to fall for the school womanizer but we never choose our fates.

One night is all it takes, everything changes.

Will Gideon ruin the girl she's always wanted to be or will he unleash the beast that lies inside her?

When they both lose themselves, nothing will ever be the same again.

ADD IT TO YOUR TBR.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23784487-losing-gideon?from_search=true
www.tsu.co/CLMatthewsAuthor/33705440

About the Author-C.L. Matthews resides in Utah, the state with the best snow on earth. She is not a fan of the snow but loves her state just the same. She is known for her swag business and creative pieces. C.L. Matthews is a college student, swag maker, and new author, it isn't an easy task but she wants to succeed in many things. Her hobbies consist of crafting, drinking coffee until she can't consume any more, and reading until she falls asleep with books in her lap. C.L. Matthews is married to her childhood best friend, she got her happily ever after.

Links- Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/pages/CL-Matthews/482558545218327?ref=br_tf

Thanks for joining us at Tears of Crimson. Home to Bestselling Author Michelle Hughes,and all the Friends of Crimson!

Title- Taming EvangelineSeries- Shattered Souls #1By- C.L...

Title- Taming EvangelineSeries- Shattered Souls #1By- C.L. Matthews Genre- Erotic Romance Expected Publication Date- February 1st, 2015
Blurb-
About the Author-C.L. Matthews resides in Utah, the state with the best snow on earth. She is not a fan of the snow but loves her state just the same. She is known for her swag business and creative pieces. C.L. Matthews is a college student, swag maker, and new author, it isn't an easy task but she wants to succeed in many things. Her hobbies consist of crafting, drinking coffee until she can't consume any more, and reading until she falls asleep with books in her lap. C.L. Matthews is married to her childhood best friend, she got her happily ever after.
Links- Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/pages/CL-Matthews/482558545218327?ref=br_tf Tsu-Instagram-
Thanks for joining us at Tears of Crimson. Home to Bestselling Author Michelle Hughes,and all the Friends of Crimson!

My Paranormal Experiences before Tears of Crimson

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My journey into paranormal started long before I started writing books about it.  Growing up in a haunted house, I just assumed what I experienced was normal.  It wasn't until later in life that I discovered people didn't experience things the way I did.  I guess I was about three, that's my first recollection of strange things happening at my grandmother's house.  Chairs rocking back and forth, entities that came and went at will.  Like I said, I just thought these were normal occurrences.  It wasn't until a tragedy happened in my teen years that I became frightened of the things going on.

I remember the night of that event vividly.  One of our neighbors committed suicide.  My baby sister, who must have been nine or so at the time, woke up screaming that man was standing by her bed with a bandage around his head.  We were sleeping together and after she finally settled down, I was still terrified by her nightmare.  Then the most god awful roar sounded, the back door flung open, and these pounding footsteps moved through the house, waking the entire family.  After that happened my grandmother got the call from the neighbor about the suicide.  It was a night I won't ever forget.

There had always been strange things in my Granny's house but after that night they escalated.  A little girl without a face, my mother saw her often.  Objects disappearing, that were later found in the attic.  A feeling of being touched, or pushed, never uncommon.  Doors slamming, glasses falling out of cabinets, and strange feelings of dread that would just overcome you at times for no reason at all. Still to this day, I blame my grandfather's suicide which happened years later, on the things going on in that house.  My grandmother's death as well because while hers was ruled accidental overdose of insulin, it never made sense.  Obviously those deaths were very traumatic for me, so I can accept that my opinion might be a touch biased.

My grandfather before that horrific event, claimed that there were people in our home trying to steal things.  He would constantly ask if we saw them.  His physician chalked that up to his illness, but seeing the thing I'd grown up around, that never seemed valid.  My grandmother in her last days talked about aliens and spirits constantly and again, it was ruled as part of her illness.  I think the last straw for me was when my twins were born.  Having them covered up by invisible hands was impossible to ignore and I wouldn't set foot in that place again for all the money in the world.  That house was sold, and surrounding neighbors had their own haunting experiences.  It would be a ghost hunters dream if they ever did decide to investigate, I just won't be part of it.



I guess you might be asking yourself how vampires and the other forms of supernatural came from a haunting?  That's an interesting story in itself!  When all those tragedies were taking place in my life, I couldn't cope and suffered severe depression.  I was fifteen at the time, and dealing with puberty on top of those horrible events.  It's not something I talk about much today because I'm a very positive person, but during those days I was done with everything!  That's when Rafe came to me in dreams.  He was my salvation, literally.  The dreams began with me standing in a beautiful field and a planet of brilliant white coming down from the heavens.  I reached out to touch it in a dream, and my adventure with the man I consider my muse and guardian, began.Every night for ten years, he would visit me in those dreams, taking me to a world that can't compare with anything I've seen here on earth.  Other nights we'd walk the abandoned streets of New Orleans, which is somewhat strange because I'd never visited the city in those days.  They were very passionate dreams and to me they were as real as me discussing this on the Tears site today.  Tears of Crimson is based on those dreams and the beautiful, yet haunting paranormal world that Rafe opened my eyes to.  Is any of it true?  In my dreams it happened, and if you believe that dreams are simply our walk in an alternative world, then who knows?  When you read Cara and Rafe, you're stepping inside the world that shaped who I am today.  Cara was always one of my favorite names.  I mentioned my twin daughters earlier, well what most people don't know is that I was supposed to have triplets.  One of them didn't survive and she would have been Kara.  So in my mind, I've immortalized her memory while sharing the story that's been with me all my life.
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Moonlight Fade by Sabrina Archer

Are you Ready?   
Moonlight Fade bySabrina Archer Release Date:  February 3, 2015
Synopsis


With all darkness there is light. Sometimes you have to look really deep within yourself to see it and if you don't the darkness will consume you.

Scarlet Coxs world has been turned upside down. Her best friends birth mother has taken away everything from her and in a chaotic turn of events she meets someone she has seen in her vision. This man with his bright hazel eyes and dark auburn hair turns out to be much more than she anticipated.

The darkness in her soul, as a result of a curse placed on her by a scorned woman, grows stronger with each passing day. With Madeline and Ravens help her curse is broken, but not entirely. The darkness lingers within and is a constant threat to her soul. With a blooming romance and a fear of what she has seen, Scarlet must make the ultimate decision before the darkness becomes all consuming. Will Madeline be able to pull her from the brink? Can she stay and risk becoming the weak link or must she go to ensure the survival of those she now calls family?


Goodreads







Hello. I'm Sabrina! I'm a mother of three ages 3, 6 and 9. I'm a full time cake decorator, full time mom and have recently written my first official book. I've written for years and have always wanted to be published. It's a dream I've had since I was diagnosed with leukemia at 11. Here I am 23 years later finally fulfilling that dream. I studied business administration and management at Gulf Coast State College. I never have been able to do much with that living in a small town. I do enjoy my job, I get to be creative and messy, ( think finger painting for adults) and it inspires me to write. 
My book may not be literary work of art but it was fun to write!


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Thanks for joining us at Tears of Crimson. Home to Bestselling Author Michelle Hughes,and all the Friends of Crimson!