Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Book Spotlight & Giveaway: Erasing Shadows by K.D. Rose

Erasing: Shadows
Erasing Series
Book One
K.D. Rose


Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Lycaon Press
Date of Publication: December 17, 2013
Number of pages: 169
Cover Artist: Fiona Jayde


Amazon | Lycaon Press | ARe Bookstrand Barnes and Noble

Book Description:
Generations of mystery smash together when a seemingly traditional family must shatter their illusions of normality to confront themselves and their friends, leaving no possibility unexplored in order to rescue- well, who exactly? Watch the Ross family, the High Five Gang, and multiple generations dig into an innovative explosion of imagination where they must confront numerous realities, real-world danger, and worst of all—their own teenage hormones!
In a place where nothing is as it seems and shocks are around every corner, even the people you thought you knew may find themselves strangers in this moving and provocative reality-bender. With breathless pacing and psychological intrigue, Erasing: Shadows and the High Five Gang will keep you guessing until the very end.


About the Author:

K.D. Rose is an author and poet and currently has "Heavy Bags of Soul", "Inside Sorrow" and “I AM (Poetry in Motion)” on sale at Amazon.com. Look for The Erasing Series, Book 1-“Erasing: Shadows” for Lycaon Press available on all publishing platforms. Erasing: Shadows is the first of a Seven Book Series for New Adults in the Paranormal Genre.
"K.D. Rose's writing will set your neurons on fire." – Tophat Raven Art and Literary Magazine.
K.D. Rose is now also an author with Lycaon Press.  For more adult-themed books, her alter ego, H.K. Sterling is an author for Breathless Press. K.D. also continues to write poetry and recently created a new literary and art magazine with five other authors around the globe. K.D.'s poetry has been featured in a number of magazines online.
K.D. has an eclectic mind and loves language, physics, philosophy, photography, design, art, writing, symbolism, semiotics, spirituality, and Dr. Who. K.D. is an avid supporter of music, the arts, cutting edge science, technology, and creativity in all forms that encourage us to expand and explore past the artificial limits we often set for ourselves in order to see the everyday connections that exist among all things.

Author Contacts:
Website | Amazon Author | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Lycaon Press | Goodreads



Giveaway
3 ebook copies of Erasing: Shadows

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Guest Blog and Spotlight: A Portal in Time by Claire Fullerton

A Portal in Time
Claire Fullerton

Genre: Paranormal/Historical Romance
Vinspire Publishing


About the Book:
It is the year 2000: Enigmatic and spirited Anna Lucera is gifted with an uncanny sixth-sense, and is intrigued by all things mystical. When her green, cat-eyes and long, black hair capture the attention of a young lawyer named Kevin Townsend, a romance ensues which leads them to the hauntingly beautiful region of California’s Carmel-By-The-Sea, where Anna is intuitively drawn to the Madiera Hotel. Everything about the hotel and Carmel-By-The-Sea heightens her senses and speaks to Anna as if she had been there before.
It is the year 1902: Young Valeria Sienna has never been in love until she meets the mesmerizingly  handsome artist, Anders Kristiansen, at an art gallery in San Francisco.  She must make Domenico Sienna, her formidable and prominent Italian father, consent to allowing Anders Kristiansen to court her, and she knows her adored sister, Francesca, along with her genteel, Italian mother, Adriana will help.
Combined, the three women will convince Domenico that the elegant Norwegian artist, Mr. Kristiansen, is worthy of Valeria in every way, even though he is not of their Italian lineage.
Rich in history, mystique and foreshadow, “A Portal in Time” is an intertwined story of two romances that are steeped in the language and social mores of two different time periods. The words and actions of the unforgettable characters fit seamlessly together, and bridge the time frames like pieces of a puzzle, creating an intriguing whole.
That which draws two people into the arms of love is often times eerily familiar, and that which resounds in the depth of our memory can sometimes spring from a portal in time. 


Amazon | BN

MRP is delighted to welcome author and guest blogger, Claire Fullerton~
Inspiration for a novel can come from the most unusual of circumstances, and the idea for “A Portal in Time” is no exception. In the year 2000, my husband and I took a trip up the California coast to Carmel-by-the-Sea on the hauntingly beautiful Monterey Peninsula.  As it was our one year wedding anniversary, we had reservations for the weekend at Carmel's historic, La Playa Hotel-- a hotel we'd never stayed in before.  Everything about the lobby of the antiquated hotel piqued my interest, and as my husband checked us in, I let my imagination roam free, taking in every inch of the opulent lobby with its travertine floors, sand-stone fireplace, and sweeping Mediterranean tiled staircase.  I explored a particular hallway looking at architectural maps of various stages of the hotel's growth that hung beside sepia tinted photographs of people in period clothing.  By the time my husband came to find me, I had already envisioned myself living in a house of this exact constitution, wearing a dress exactly like the one I saw in one of the photographs.  Next, I started thinking of what it was like to be alive at the turn of the 19th century, living in a house by the sea along with how it would feel to have it as the setting of my life.  I decided I would love it-- that there would be a fabulous, interesting, fully-realized life at play with myself at the center of a thriving artistic community and oh the thrill of the environment.
But it occurred to me that life is life, and things happen to people unwittingly, and the story of people’s lives tend to happen in increments of cause and effect no matter where one lives. 
My eyes kept returning to the lobby’s staircase, and I wanted to climb them to their top.  When I did, I was drawn to a wooden cathedral door at the end of a long hallway.  I stood looking down the hall thinking, “If this were my house, the master bedroom would be at the end of this hall with a bay window overlooking a garden.”  I could feel myself standing before the window as if I were looking at my garden, then I started asking, “Now why would I be here looking out the window?”
“A Portal in Time,” my paranormal/historical novel, is the explanation of an entire imagined life that brought me to that window at the top of the stairs in Carmel’s La Playa Hotel.  I decided the story would be best told in oscillating time periods in order to lend an eerie, mystical feel. I like to give my readers an experience by taking them on a journey.  I want them to see and hear and feel everything for themselves by giving them a specific reality, and in this case, the reality is “A Portal in Time.”

About the Author: 
Claire Fullerton is a two-time, award-winning essayist, a newspaper columnist and a contributing editor for numerous magazines. She hails from Memphis, Tennessee, and now divides her time between Malibu and Carmel-By-The-Sea, California with her husband, two German shepherds, and two black cats. Claire's second novel, "Dancing to an Irish Reel" will be released in 2015.
Author Links: 

Monday, April 28, 2014

Boxed Set Spotlight: SEALs of Summer, Devlin, Hamilton, Marsh, Seton, York, Riviera, Butler, Troutte, Lowery, James


SEALs of Summer

A military super-bundle of ten novellas and novels by New York Times, USA Today and award-winning bestselling authors: Delilah Devlin, Sharon Hamilton, Anne Marsh, Cora Seton, Zoe York, Roxie Riviera, S.M. Butler, Kimberley Troutte, Jennifer Lowery, Elle James. IT TAKES A SEAL by USA Today Bestselling author Delilah Devlin: When Susan heads to the Bahamas, she thinks the sexiest part of the trip is that she can count it as a tax deduction. After all, her agency has new offices in the Bahamas, and she needs face-time with her employees, who also just happen to be her best friends. However, things go quickly awry when their island benefactor comes under threat. After a night of partying on his yacht, she awakens to discover she’s stumbled into a sting operation to lure the bad guys into the open. She’s got to pretend she’s the billionaire’s trophy girlfriend, which isn’t hard when the man taking his place is a sexy ex-SEAL. When the bad guys kidnap the couple and imprison them on a deserted island, it’s up to ex-SEAL Justin to orchestrate an escape.
SEAL MY HEART by New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Sharon Hamilton: Kate Livingstone’s engagement is at risk the instant she sets eyes on the handsome elite warrior sitting next to her on a plane trip to visit her sister. Navy SEAL Tyler Gray had thought he knew what he wanted in life, until he meets Kate and their obvious attraction for each other sparks something deep in his soul. What starts out as innocent letters between friends turns out to be much more. Can someone fall in love deeply just with words and letters exchanged, or is this just a pleasant fantasy that will ruin their lives forever?
SMOKING HOT by National Bestselling author Anne Marsh: When an ambush kills his teammate, Navy SEAL Tye Callahan steps in to fulfill the fallen man's obligations. He vows to spend the summer in Strong, California, fighting fires with the smoke jumper team and looking out for Katie Lawson, his teammate's fiancĂ©e. Now, as the summer heats up, they must decide if the chemistry burning between them might just be their second chance at living their own lives… together.
THE NAVY SEAL’s E-MAIL ORDER BRIDE by National Bestselling author Cora Seton: Mason Hall, Navy SEAL, has fought insurgents, drug lords and terrorists, but his current mission is one for the records. Not only must he find a wife—and get her pregnant—or forfeit the ranch his family has prized for over a hundred years, he also must convince his three brothers to marry, too—before the year is up. Who knew one city girl and three wayward brothers could put up such a fight?
FALL OUT by Zoe York: Drew Castle is a Navy SEAL with a bad case of indifference. Until Annie Martin shows up on his doorstep, scared out of her mind, and all of a sudden, keeping her safe becomes the most important mission of his life. And this time, he’s on his own. Annie knows that letting Drew whisk her away under the guise of protection is a recipe for disaster, but he's the only person she can trust. Drew's strange mix of laid-back bossiness takes some getting used to, but as they escape to a Caribbean hideaway, she finds herself wondering what it would be like if they came together at a different time. As the threat is resolved, a new danger arises: one of passion, heat and desire so overwhelming neither can resist, no matter the cost.
CLOSE QUARTERS by Bestselling author Roxie Rivera: When Navy SEAL Leland Gates runs off to his family's secluded cabin to lick his wounds, he never expects to find makeup heiress Jamie Pearson hiding out there. His sister's best friend swears she's only there for a weekend of relaxation, but his well-honed instincts tell him that she's in big trouble. Getting tangled up in Jamie's latest hot mess—or her sheets—is the very last thing he needs, but in close quarters like these, there's no denying the white-hot passion blazing between them.
KILLING HONOR by International Bestselling author S.M. Butler: Returning home after a disastrous extended deployment, Navy SEAL Brody Battles struggles with nightmares and government secrets building a wall between him and his wife, Devyn, especially when a security breach compromises his identity. While they’re adjusting to being a family again, an old enemy waits in the shadows, salivating for the sweet taste of revenge.
COMING IN HOT by Award-winning author Kimberley Troutte: For Navy SEAL Mack Riley, rescuing a family in Colombia is not as hard as seeing the admiral’s daughter again. He’d sworn a vow to steer clear of that heartbreaker. But since the family was taken hostage on Jenna’s watch, she’s determined to join the rescue team. When the admiral orders him to protect Jenna, Mack is forced to keep her as close as body armor. In the heat of battle, love Mack and Jenna deny breaches their defenses. With missiles locked onto their coordinates…can they save the family and get out alive?
A SEAL’s SONG by Golden Heart Finalist Jennifer Lowery: Navy SEAL Jack Taggart’s plans to catch some much-needed downtime between deployments are demolished when he risks everything to rescue beautiful wedding singer, Darci O’Shea, from a band of thieves. Will the battle between their inner demons be the hardest one to fight, or will they find rescue in each other’s arms?
SEALS’s EMBRACE by USA Today Bestseller Elle James: Navy SEAL, Ceasar Sanchez has it bad for Army Lt. McGee, a nurse at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan. When a rescue mission goes bad and he ends up being medically evacuated, she’s there. Not sure whether he’ll walk again, he’s afraid to pursue the pretty nurse, not wanting to shackle her with half a man. Lt. Erin McGee is a Critical Care Air Transport Team nurse, responsible for ensuring her patients arrive alive at the next level of health care. Fighting an attraction to a sexy Navy SEAL she outranks, she resists the risk of losing her commission for fraternization. But one sensual tryst behind a supply building isn’t enough and the SEALs determination to see her wear at her resolve. Ceasar and Erin share a medevac plane ride to Germany with a critically wounded Taliban leader who could provide information to the whereabouts of four missing soldiers. Transferred to the hospital at Landstuhl, Caesar undergoes surgery, restoring movement to his legs in time to stop a hostage takeover of the ICU where Erin is in charge of the Taliban leader’s care. Together they fight to save lives and halt a Terrorist attack, while finding that love trumps rank every time.

Friday, April 25, 2014

Book Spotlight, Excerpt and Giveaway: A Taste for Killing by HK Sterling

A Taste For Killing
Chasing the Taste
Book 1
H.K. Sterling

Genre: Mystery Suspense Romance Thriller
Publisher: Breathless Press
Date of Publication: February 21, 2014
Number of pages: 48
Cover Artist: Fiona Jayde

Book Description:
 Mystery and Romance blend together when competing detectives Carolyn Woods and Jack Heart are both hired to solve the murder of Pete Wallace, only to realize they are working the same case.
 To complicate things, Carolyn and Jack have an on again-off again relationship. Then there is Evan Jones, a handsome architect— but he's also a suspect.
 Can Carolyn manage to solve the case as more and more murders pile up? Will her relationship with Jack hinder their investigations? And what about Evan Jones? He seems like the perfect man, but could he actually be the murderer?
 One thing is for sure: someone close to both Carolyn and Jack has A Taste For Killing.



 Excerpt
He had six-pack abs, and I wanted to feel the carbonation. This one dressed like the stereotype of a construction worker, down to the handkerchief he used to wipe sweat off his forehead. I don't know if he or the hot day brought it out, but sweat poured off of me too. He had no interest in me as a person, though. I was invading his territory. Still, I enjoyed the view. For my part, I knew my clothes looked crappy. I didn’t have to wear uniforms anymore, but my street clothes, well they were very—street. So there I stood, a turd in the sun in front of this Adonis. Oh well.
He pointed to a small trailer up a muddy hill. The supervisor I asked to see apparently stayed in there. Stayed, as in never left. Great. Mud. Now I'd be a dried turd in the sun. Adonis went back to digging and I started the trek up the hill. At least I came with boots. Steel toed.
Once I made it to the trailer, I heard an argument going on inside.
"Look, I don't care who you are. The plans are publically filed. Go get them yourself!" yelled someone.
Then I heard a voice I knew. Calm, cool, subversive. "Is there any reason you're being so difficult? A man did die on your watch."
An encounter I hadn’t planned on. Well, at least not until later tonight. I knocked loudly on the door and with my sweetest voice said, "Hello, boys. Am I interrupting something?"
"Great," groused the supervisor. "A party." He appeared to me like another stereotype, puffing on a cigar over a fat jowl line and rotund stomach that threatened to overturn the small desk he was behind. I guess there's a reason for stereotypes. He looked about four hamburgers away from a heart attack.
On a wooden chair in front of the supervisor sat Jack. A fellow independent detective, an ally at times, a competitor...and my on and off lover.
"Well, well, well," he said smiling, but I could tell he wasn’t happy to see me. Not here. It meant we were both working the same case. "Hello, Carolyn. Who hired you?"
"Parents."
"Girlfriend," he answered back.
We stared at each other. Complications.
The supervisor didn’t give a damn and said to me, "Well, missy, I'll tell you the same thing I told this guy." He jerked his thumb around to Jack. "The plans are publically filed and that’s all I have to say about it."
I tried a different tactic. "That’s fine with me. I have no problem going downtown for a copy." I wore my practiced, saccharine smile. "But I wonder, could you tell me the name of the architect? Please?" I smiled again. God, this job sucks at times.
The supervisor sighed. "Jones, Evan Jones."
"Thank you so much," I said, smiling my best smile again. "I'll get out of the way and leave you two boys to...whatever you were doing."
I opened the door to go and started to shut it only to find Jack following me out.
"Sure, flash your tits and get what you want." Boy was he in a bad mood.
"There was no tit flashing in there. Face it, testosterone was not a good choice in that situation."
Jack's response: a grunt.
"Besides," I tried to placate him, "I didn’t get the plans either."
"No, you did one better."
"That's assuming the architect will have anything to do with me and cooperate." A thought occurred to me. "So are you going there too?"
"No, I might as well wait and see what you turn up. Besides, I have my own leads."
"Are you planning to share?" Just call me hopeful. As in full of shit, because that’s where hope always seemed to lead.
"No," he said, still grumpy.
"I see. So it's gonna be like that."
"I guess so."
 I felt like such a female. Damn. But I had to ask.
"Are we still on for tonight?"
"Yeah."
I wasn’t convinced but didn’t push it. God, sometimes I hated myself. But we were good together—when it was good—when his competitive edge didn’t get the better of him. Though I was one to talk. I did the same thing at times. Hence our on and off status. But currently we were supposed to be on. So, I kept it light in the spirit of things to come.
"Okay, master detective, I'll leave you to your leads. See ya."
"See ya," he replied, already preoccupied, pondering a piece of paper he'd taken from his pocket.
I made my way down the hill in my muddy boots.

  
About the Author:

H.K. Sterling is an author with Breathless Press known for stories with imagination, intelligence, a kick, and twist endings. H.K. likes to focus her writing on suspense, science-fiction, shorts, and anything that is spicy and unexpected. Sometimes her books may even go dark. H.K. lives in Virginia with her husband who graciously puts up with her passion for writing.
H.K. currently has a Mystery/Thriller out: A Taste For Killing; and two short stories in the Breathless Press Anthology, My Bloody Valentine. Her new book, A Taste For Danger has just been accepted for publication and Breathless Press also just published H.K.'s short-short titled Eyes Only. H.K.'s books are suitable for 18+.
Catch up with H.K. Sterling on the following social media:

Author Links:

Giveaway:
5 kindle copies A Taste for Killing

Book Spotlight & Review: In Love and War by Tara Mills

In Love and War
Tara Mills



Genre: Contemporary Romance

About the Book:
Sometimes love really is worth fighting for, but picking your battles isn't so easy—especially when lives are at stake

Personal tragedy and the loss of both parents at a young age made Ariela Perrine cross self-sacrificing hero types off her datable list. But Ariela is literally swept off her feet when an accident brings her face to face with an unforgettable pair of blue eyes, a playful smile, and an overly affectionate dog.


Oh yes, journalist Dylan Bond makes her sizzle, but dare she risk it?  After all, he's just returned from covering conflicts around the globe. With his assurance he'll be handling domestic stories from now on, Ariela's weak resistance crumbles and their relationship intensifies at a dizzying speed. Then an unexpected phone call lures Dylan back to Iraq and he falls off the radar. His disappearance will test them both in ways neither expected. Will it bring them closer or destroy their fragile peace forever? 


My Review: 

I might be called stingy in doling out five stars, but that is because I believe a story needs to knock my socks off to get all five, and it needs to earn them on all levels. The story itself needs to make me sit up and take notice; the author needs to have the ability to deliver clear, concise and compelling material, and there can’t be any shortcuts (no deus ex machina) in delivering any of it.
Well, OMG, then one comes along that demands six stars…or maybe seven, and In Love and War is one such. Tara Mills has outdone herself. She had me in tears at times, laughing my head off at times, and just plain not wanting the story to end, ever, all the time. There is darkness in here, and grit, but such, unfortunately, are the stuff of life. However, while delivering ‘real life’ Ms. Mills is careful to bring us back, to recall those beautiful moments that make the dark parts bearable for all of us. Not only do I give this book and it’s author five (6? 7?), well-deserved stars, I’m also cheering her on, because she is an excellent author. VERY well done!

Excerpt:
 “Please, come in.” Ariela grabbed her sweater off the hook on the wall and slipped it on, feeling a little underdressed in her pajamas.
What on earth was he doing here, and how had he found her? Not that she was complaining. Oh no, far from it. He’d made a startling impression on her earlier today. When he’d smiled at her, she could have sworn his brilliant blue eyes were dancing like fairies at a midsummer frolic. Odder still, when he spoke she’d imagined butterflies circling her head. She’d heard tinkling bells. At the time, she hoped it was because of the knock on her head. Now she wasn’t so sure. Just looking at him again was doing crazy things to her mental and physical circuitry.
The guy entered the apartment and gaped at the furniture right out of the sixties. Very familiar with this reaction, Ariela laughed.
“Yeah, I get it. The Jetsons meet Beetlejuice, right? Probably not the dĂ©cor you’d expect two interior designers to have.”
He shook his head, still blinking as he took it all in.
Overlapping the edges of her unbuttoned sweater, she hugged herself, painfully aware she wasn’t wearing a bra. “Well, there’s a simple explanation. When you’re cash poor and starting a business with next to nothing, you can’t exactly go wild in your own apartment right off the bat. We’re still living with the furniture we had during college, courtesy of Uncle Henry and Aunt Rose—with a few freebies thrown in to make it really eclectic.”
She gestured to their space-age teal sofa. “Please, have a seat. Appearances aside, it’s actually quite comfortable. Can I get you something to drink—juice, tea, coffee maybe?”
 Anything, anything at all?
Turning, he flashed a little dimple. “No thanks. I’m fine.”
He’d get no argument from her.
They sat down and he looked pained when she settled into the bright tangerine-colored armchair. Understandable. It did clash jarringly with her pajamas—pastel balloons floating across a soft pink background. The poor guy blinked several times, seemingly trying to handle the color overload. Biting her lip so she didn’t break out laughing, Ariela tucked her feet up and gave him a slow, curious smile.
He sat up straight, recognizing his cue. “Right. Sorry. I suppose you’re wondering why I’m here.”
“It crossed my mind,” she admitted.
“I didn’t get a chance to give you that business card before they carted you away.”
“Oh, and you brought it to me? That’s so nice of you. Thanks.”
He peered at her intently, more serious now. “How are you?”
Even though she didn’t know him, there was something in his expression that made her believe he could be trusted, and more importantly, he wouldn’t have asked about her if he didn’t honestly want to know. The naked concern radiating out of his deep blue eyes transformed his handsome face into something miles beyond devastating.
“I have a mild concussion.” Why was she blushing?
The corner of his mouth curled up a smidgen. “Headache?”
She felt her warm cheeks flare hotter. What was wrong with her? “Not anymore.”
“Good.” He broke into a full-blown smile and settled back on the sofa, apparently satisfied.
Still reeling from the power of his smile, Ariela shifted uneasily in her chair. “I have a confession— I can’t remember your name. It’s really bugging me.”
His head dropped back and he laughed. “Dylan Bond.”
She brightened. “Like in Bond, Dylan Bond?” She’d remember it now.
His eyebrows flicked up in amusement. “Something like that.”
“Dabbles in international intrigue?” She was toying with him, but it was fun.
He flashed a sexy-assed smile. How many kinds did the guy have? “I’m comfortable being in the middle of the action, but I’m back to working domestically again.”
Say what? Ariela’s eyebrows rose so high she felt her hairline shift. “I think I need a translation. What is it you do?”
He had a great laugh. “I’m a journalist. I just finished a stint in Iraq, but I’m back now. It’s nice not having to deal with body armor and helmets.”
Looking skeptically back at him, she assumed he was putting her on. “Is that right?”
“Actually, yes.” He shifted onto one butt cheek and pulled out his wallet. A second later, he handed her a press pass from a recent event. “I’m working out of my house now—mostly covering the political side of the war.”
She read the pass, her doubts dissolving. “You actually live around here?” She handed the card back and he put it away.
“Sure, why not?”
Shrugging, she said, “Well, Lewiston isn't exactly Washington DC.”
“With the internet and a telephone, you can stay connected from pretty much anywhere. Still, I do plenty of traveling and Washington is only a two hour drive. I can be there and back before Max even notices I'm gone.”
“Max?”
His blue eyes were dancing again. Hello tinkling bells. “My retriever.”
“Ah yes, I remember him now.”
Dylan grinned. “He’s probably the reason you woke up wanting a wet wipe.”
She laughed and his smile deepened. That dimple of his was growing on her.
“Listen,” he said, leaning forward, elbows on his knees. “How about going out with me sometime? We can do something gentle—bumper cars maybe?”
She waited for her retreat mechanism to kick in. It was strangely silent. “Here I was, hoping you’d suggest hang gliding or bungee jumping.”
“Anything you want. I’m flexible.”
Another perfect smile flashed at her and Ariela’s heartbeat spiked. “Sure, why not?”
“Good.” He stood and pulled the business card out of his front pocket. “Here, before I forget.”
Ariela unfolded her legs and reached for the floor with her bare feet. When she rose he was right there with the card. Taking it, she noticed he was taller than she’d initially thought. She supposed that made sense. How well can you judge anyone’s height when you’re on your back?
She walked him to the door. Opening it before she could, he turned and asked, “When?”
“When what?” She watched his eyes move as he took an unabashed tour of her face.
“When can I take you out?”
The birds in her stomach were back, fluttering away. Good thing they were keeping the noise down. “Whenever?”
Dylan gave her a meaningful look, full of promise. “Expect a call.”
Ariela closed the door behind him and fell against it. If she hadn’t locked her knees, she would have been a puddle of melting woman on the floor. As Dylan’s footfalls faded out and the back door shut, she pressed a hand to her excited heart. Something told Ariela that she was in for a wild ride with this one. Hell, just sitting in a quiet room with Dylan was exhilarating. Now she knew it wasn’t just the concussion. There was far more at play here. Scary.

She was about to find out whether Dylan’s hands were capable and steady on the wheel, because he was already in her driver’s seat. She knew it, and judging by the look he gave her on the way out, he knew it too. Suddenly the Beatles were singing Drive My Car in her head.


About the Author:

I’m a pampered wife, mother to three fantastic sons, one super daughter-in-law, and proud nana. I write the stories I like to read. Life is difficult. Love makes it bearable.

Author Links:


Thursday, April 24, 2014

Book Spotlight: His Temporary Wife by Leslie Garcia

His Temporary Wife
Texas Heart and Soul Series
Book 2
by Leslie Garcia

Publisher: Crimson Romance
Genre: Contemporary Romance

About the Book:
When Esmeralda Salinas left her childhood home, she left behind the judgmental lectures and cold, unaffectionate parents who never found her good enough to compete with her brother Beto. Esme fashions herself into her own woman, and refuses to let others dictate her behavior or her dreams. After a love affair goes wrong in Rose Creek, Texas, she packs up her horse and moves to even tinier Truth, Texas.
When Esme finds herself singing country karaoke in her aunt’s bar, she can deal with that. But when TĂ­a demands that Esme consider a job offer from devastatingly sexy Rafael Benton, Esme realizes that the small town of Truth might harbor some horrific lies revolving around Rafael and his recently deceased sister Cody, who had reached the pinnacle of the country music season only to crash and burn.
Still, Esme listens to Rafael’s sales pitch and can’t believe what he offers: almost a quarter million dollars to marry him for the summer.

Rafael talks a good game, and Esme knows she could enjoy the benefits of marriage to him, with or without the formalities and pre-nuptials and pretense. But sleeping with a man for the thrill is one thing. Marrying him for money is another. Can she accept a job that would make her rich but might destroy all she holds sacred?


About the Author:
Author and educator Leslie P. Garcia spent much of her childhood moving from one state to another with her six siblings.  She thought her family had settled in rural Georgia permanently, and had big plans for the roadside amusement park she and her brothers and sisters created in  the middle of nowhere, but when her parents moved once again, she oversaw dispersal of the animals and went west again.
After a stint in the hill country, she married and moved to south Texas, where she has been for the last 30 or so years of her life, surrounded by a large family and annoying animals.
Love of family and animals make appearances in many of her works, including her current titles with Crimson Romance, His Temporary Wife, Wildflower Redemption, Unattainable, and Take Me Out. 
           

Author Contacts:



Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Book Review and Spotlight: Lady Broke by Rachel Donnelly

Lady Broke
By Rachel Donnelly

Publisher: Crimson Romance
Genre: Historical Romance

About the Book:
A timeless, rollicking adventure of unlikely lovers, set in the Wild West.
East meets west when a high-principled Boston socialite teams up with a revenge driven bounty hunter to catch a gang of outlaws. 
It’s tough being a witness when the last one turned up dead.  But Christie Wallace is determined to bring the Everett gang to justice.  Unfortunately, the law can’t protect her from pistol-toting outlaws or the intoxicating lure of a dangerous man.  But, after escaping the suffocating prospects of an arranged marriage she has no intention of allowing her heart to rule her head, even when temptation comes in the form of an incorrigible lawman named Nat Randall.              
Dead or alive—it made no difference to Nat Randall.  He’d tried to bring the Everett gang to trial once before, but the law let him down.  It seems frontier justice is all he has left. But, he doesn’t count on protecting a bewitching Easterner whose courageous spirit challenges him as much as her beauty distracts. It’s not long before he’s torn between pursuing her or the outlaws.  

My Review:
This story had me hooked from the beginning. I worried I would find endless clichĂ©s and Wild West ‘jargon,’ but I needn’t have worried.
When the very proper East Coast socialite, Christie Wallace is able to identify a notorious criminal seen in a dusty Nevada backwater, her unbending principles won’t allow her not to bear witness – even though other witnesses have come to untimely ends before convictions could be had. Much to the consternation of bounty hunter, Nat Randall, the beautiful and very annoying miss Christie just keeps getting in his way. Doesn’t she understand the danger she’s put herself, and everyone else in, or does she refuse understand?

There are ups and downs, grit and sorrow, and plenty of tension…of all sorts. I had a great time reading this story. Very well done.
-Cary Morgan Frates

About the Author:
Rachel Donnelly is a Golden Heart and Golden Pen Finalist. She lives in Canada with her husband, two children, and a crazy cat.
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Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Book Spotlight & Review: The Road to Comfort by Becky Lower

The Road to Comfort
by Becky Lower




About the Book:
Juliette St.James has only done two impetuous things in her life, and the first resulted in her becoming a single parent at age 18. Now, she’s embarking on a cross-country trip to celebrate becoming an empty-nester. Not sure of what she will do now that she’s flying solo, she comes face-to-face with her worst nightmare—a cowboy.

Cyclone Kelley is a former rodeo cowboy who has broken one too many body parts to continue on the rodeo circuit. But the one body part that can’t be fixed by putting it into a cast is his heart, which was broken when his wife died. He wasn’t home to save her, and feels he’s unworthy for any kind of lasting relationship with a woman, so his life has been a meaningless string of one-nighters.

One broken car and an equally broken cowboy later, they are forced to decide if love is worth gambling on what could be. Or if tornadoes, and Cyclones, are better left alone.


My Review:

Oh, am I ever happy I read this book. It is sweet, funny, poignant, and very, very worth picking up – and then not putting down again until you’ve turned the last page. 
On a whim, college Prof Juliette St. James takes off on a cross-country trek after her only child leaves the nest for good. When she becomes stranded, just as violent storms threatens, farmer Cy, her handsome knight in chaps and Stetson shows up, literally on horseback, and carries her off to safety. Grand as all that sounds, and as you might imagine, there are bumpy roads and battered hearts ahead.
The rest of the world faded away as I passed some lovely hours in Comfort, NB. I must say, I’ve driven through NB several times, usually spend the night in Kearney, and have found the people and landscape to be every bit as beautiful and ‘real’ as they are portrayed in this story – pity I didn’t find a cowboy like Cy while there, or I would’ve stayed, too.

It was my delight and pleasure to ride along with Cy and Juliette, and discover just how they go about falling in love and making a future together, out of two very different lives. Very well done.
-Cary Morgan Frates

About the Author:

Becky Lower has traveled the country looking for great settings for her novels. She loves to write about two people finding each other and falling in love, amid the backdrop of a great setting, be it present day middle America or on a covered wagon headed west in the 1850s. Contemporary and historical romances are her specialty. Becky is a PAN member of RWA and is a regular contributor to USA Today’s Happy Ever After column. She has a degree in English and Journalism from Bowling Green State University, and lives in an eclectic college town in Ohio with her puppy-mill rescue dog, Mary. She loves to hear from her readers.

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Monday, April 21, 2014

Author Interview & Book Spotlights: Juli Page Morgan



Juli Page Morgan
Author of Romances that Rock

More Romance Please would like to extend a warm welcome to Juli Page Morgan, author of Crimson and Clover, Athena's Daughter, and Songs Without Words.  
Juli, first please tell us where you are from and who or what most influenced you to become a writer? 
I've always made up stories in my head, and even tried to write a book when I was in 7th grade. (I'm sure it was horrible, but I wish I still had it!) But it was while reading a story some online friends were posting in increments in a forum that I seriously considered writing the story in my head of a flower child with heart of June Cleaver who falls in love with a British rock god in Swinging London. That story turned out to be my first book, Crimson and Clover!
If you were to be left alone on an island, what three books would you take with you? 
Gah! You know, I ask authors who visit my website this same question, and they always cuss me out. Now I know why! LOL Do series count as one book? I'm saying series count. So I'd take Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series, Elizabeth Corva's Angel Interceptor series, and Old Dogs by Debi Matlack.
What are your most and least favorite movie genres? 
I'm pretty open when it comes to movies, and like everything from Gone with the Wind to Pulp Fiction. I do tend to avoid the "grown men acting like adolescent boys" type movies, though.
If you could choose any man for your next book cover, who would he be? 
Easy - Brazilian model Douglas Hickmann. (Google him. You won't be sorry!) In fact, I'm in negotiations with a photographer to use a photo of him on my next book cover! *squee*
When you are on a deadline, what aspect of your ‘regular’ life suffers most?
Food. I'm never going to be someone who forgets to eat, but when I'm buried in a book I tend to grab things like those packets of crackers with cheese instead of a meal. The wrapper says they're made with "REAL CHEESE!" so I can fool myself into thinking it's somewhat nutritious. Plus, my husband and I are both now on a first name basis with all the delivery drivers at our local Papa John's.
What advice would you give aspiring authors? 
Never give up. Just sit down and write the thing. You can always go back and clean it up later.
What advice would you give seasoned writers? 
Never give up. Just sit down and write the thing. You can always go back and clean it up later. :)
When reading for pleasure, do you prefer a physical or electronic book? 
As much as I love the convenience of my e-reader, I have a deep abiding love for a physical book. I love the way it smells, I love the way it feels in my hands, I love the heft of it. (And, yes, I write romances that get quite steamy. LOL)
From the first stroke of a pen (or laptop), how long did it take you get published? 
Several years. Maybe four? When I started my first book, publication wasn't even a blip on my radar and I had no freakin' clue what I was doing. Reading a book and writing one are two different beasts, and I found that out after I ended up with over 200,000 words, 100,000 of which were crapola. Thank goodness I took the time to educate myself and take a year to clean it up before I submitted that monster!
Did you ever feel like calling it quits? 
Oh, yes. Especially after reading the 100,000 crapola words. I'm so glad I got over myself and didn't give up!
What did you do when you got your first contract? 
I scared the dog. It may have been the scream when I read the email from the publisher, or it might have been the ugly dancing which followed. Then I sent a mass text message to everyone on my contact list. Then I just sat in a bliss-induced stupor the rest of the day.  
Thanks so much for having me on More Romance Please. I really enjoyed being here! It's been so much fun!
You're welcome, and thank you so much for joining us today, Juli. We really enjoyed the insights. Good luck with all your wonderful books. 

Crimson and Clover
by Juli Page Morgan

About the Book:
Under Katie Scott’s flower child exterior beats the heart of June Cleaver.  Though she digs her bellbottoms and love beads, she longs for the idyllic family life she was denied as a child.
Laughed out of San Francisco’s Haight Ashbury after the Summer of Love for believing rock ‘n roll and white picket fences can coexist she decides to try her luck in the bohemian neighborhood of Ladbroke Grove in London.
When she discovers her new friend Adam is starting a band with Jay Carey, she’s ecstatic.  She’d admired the British guitar god from afar for years, and when she and Jay finally meet the attraction between them is instantaneous.
But life with a rock ‘n roll star doesn’t lend itself well to white picket fences.  And when Katie tells Jay the secret she’s carried for two years it may end the dream before it begins.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING: “This is a must-read for anyone who loves classic rock and roll. Better yet, this is a must read for someone who’s looking for something real.” – Terri Herman-Ponce, author of In This Life and Covet

Athena's Daughter
by Juli Page Morgan


About the Book:
Seven years ago Athena Hill made a hasty decision that hurt the two people she loves most, only they don't know it. Yet.
When Athena fell in love with up-and-coming rock guitarist Derek Marshall on her vacation to England, she thought the rest of her life was mapped out - marriage to Derek, a home in London, and a happily ever after. But an expired visa sends her back home to Memphis where she discovers she's pregnant. Believing Derek betrayed her after she left, she takes her sister's advice to keep the baby a secret from him.
Now Derek's band is at the top of the music charts, and he thinks he has it all. Until he walks into a record store in Memphis, Tennessee and sees the woman who shattered his heart. Shock turns to white hot anger when he learns about the child he never knew he had.
Now Athena’s daughter has the father she always wanted and needed, and Derek is overjoyed to have his child in his life.  But as for Athena? Derek still treats her like someone he used to know. Can he forgive her for what she did, or has the past destroyed any chance of happiness with the man she still loves?
A 2014 RONE Award Nominee!

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING: "A wonderfully emotional story where the characters leap off the page right into your heart!” – InD’Tale Magazine

Song Without Words
by Juli Page Morgan

About the Book:
Top jock Spencer Moretti owns the New Orleans Rock radio airwaves. A veteran of countless band interviews at the age of 22, she’s ready for her own world-wide syndicated program. All she needs is one big break, and she finds it during a chance meeting with Geoff Lane, former guitarist for the legendary UK band Axis.

When Spencer discovers that Geoff has a secret music project in the works, one that’s sure to reignite his career, she ropes him into an exclusive interview, determined to snag the juicy details. Intrigued by the lovely disc jockey’s feisty nature and her spitfire temper, Geoff is determined to snag something too - Spencer!

Spencer and Geoff make sweet music together until death strikes their circle of friends. As the body count mounts, it’s clear that someone will go to any lengths to stop them cold. Can they keep a killer from destroying all they have, or will their love song become a murder ballad?
A 2014 RONE Award Nominee!

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING:  "Part love story, part murder mystery, and wholly a tribute to the fading glory days of FM Rock radio. Intrigue, tension, smokin’ hot love scenes and fascinating characters!" – Elizabeth Corva, author of the Angel Interceptors series


About the Author:
Juli Page Morgan is a former rock ‘n roll radio announcer who had the great luck to meet and interview lots of bands over the years. During those interviews she heard some interesting stories, but it was when the microphone was turned off and they were just hanging out that she heard - and saw - the really juicy stuff! Incorporating these revelations in her books (with names and locations changed to protect the innocent, and often the not-so-innocent!) lets her take her readers on a hard rocking journey full of love, music and happy endings while giving a “backstage peek” at some of the things that really happened.  Her Romances that Rock™ include Crimson and Clover, and RONE Award nominees Athena’s Daughter and Song Without Words. Look for Sister Golden Hair in the summer of 2014.
Juli lives in Arkansas with her husband. When she’s not writing, she’s recording voiceovers for television commercials, remodeling her old house,  and trying to convince her husband the world won’t come to an end if the television is turned off.  She also listens to a lot of music at maximum volume and has never met a speed limit she didn't exceed.  Juli’s an unapologetic lover of rock ‘n roll, Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page, and French onion dip, not necessarily in that order.

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