Happy Day All!
I wrote a review for the new book about Quentin Tarantino. If you’re like me and like his movies but knew nothing about the filmmaker then this is a must-read book.
Check out my review on Gothamology.com
http://www.gothamology.com/entertainment/quentin-tarantino-the-iconic-filmmaker-and-his-work-review/
Celebrity Status is on the Book Hooks Blog Hop this week!!
What’s is Celebrity Status about? Let me tell you 🙂
Famous Hollywood actress, Elizabeth Stanfield, has a glamorous lifestyle with a lavish house, glittery parties, a people magazine’s fifty most beautiful people fiance and best friend Billy Stone – Famous actor, producer and secret organized crime enforcer.
Everything is not as it seems…Elizabeth’s fiance cheats on her, a studio head and director are hell-bent on making her life miserable and it gets harder to keep her secrets protected.
The only good thing in her life is Billy, their budding romance, and connections that give them the freedom to do whatever they want in Hollywood.
Will their connections be enough to keep their secrets hidden and Celebrity Status safe or are they doomed to be torn down?
You can buy it here: Amazon
Here’s an excerpt for you to enjoy and hopefully will entice you to read more 🙂 🙂
With our security detail leading the way, Billy and I were brought through back entrances, private tunnels and elevators to get up to our suites.
“Well, mission accomplished,” Sonny said, as he joined Billy and I on the terrace of my suite. “I wanted you guys to draw more business in here and now I’ve easily got two hundred reporters and paparazzi hanging out in the casino since I tossed them from the lobby. They are all waiting for an appearance from you.”
“You’re welcome,” I sarcastically answered him.
“Did he really cheat on you and knock her up?” Sonny asked me directly.
“Sadly, yes,” I confirmed.
Sonny stood at the edge of the table Billy and I were seated at and didn’t say anything, just looked thoughtful.
“She doesn’t want to face anyone yet,” Billy explained. “Unfortunately, those guys will probably be hanging around for a while.”
“That’s no problem,” Sonny responded. “The longer they stay, the more money they spend on drinks and gambling. Is there anything I can do?” Sonny had turned to me.
“I’m hungry,” I answered, honestly.
“That’s not what I meant,” he answered, as if truly annoyed.
“I know what you meant, but Billy here, won’t let me make any decisions right now.”
“Really?” Sonny turned to Billy. “But he cheated on her.”
“I am aware of the situation but I don’t want anything to happen to him for the time being. It’ll make Elizabeth look guilty.”
Sonny and I both shook our heads, in disagreement.
“Hey,” Billy addressed both of us. “Don’t get mad at me. You’re going to regret anything you do right now and I’ll get the blame for letting you go ahead with it.”
“I will regret nothing,” Sonny told Billy.
“Not you, I know it won’t disturb you, but she will regret it.”
“Don’t be so sure about that,” I answered.
“You aren’t giving any orders to do anything,” Billy strongly retorted. “Got it?”
“Yes, holy geez, relax Commander,” I said, leaning back in my chair with my hands up.
“Thank you,” Billy visibly relaxed.
“So,” I looked at Sonny. “Where are we on the food?”
“What do I look like to you, a fucking waiter? Call room service.” He turned and left.
“Only you could get away with treating him like that,” Billy laughed.
“He asked if he could do anything, he could get us some food. What’s wrong with that?” I genuinely questioned.
Billy shook his head in response and went to call room service.
***
“You had to make sure everyone knew about me and Brianna, didn’t you?” Cal demanded, as I entered my trailer, the next morning.
“What the hell are you doing here? Where the hell is my security?”
“Answer my question, why did you tell the entire world about me and Brianna? I was perfectly fine letting everyone think you and I had a mutual break up.”
“You did, did you?”
“Yes, I did, but now you made everyone think I’m a cheating scumbag.”
“If the truth fits…now get out.”
“It’s not the truth. I didn’t see anyone else while we were together until she came along six months ago.”
“How honorable of you, but that’s still cheating.” Was he really that stupid? Why hadn’t I seen that before?
“Elizabeth, is everything okay in there?” Vince called, from outside the trailer door.
“No, it’s not,” I glared at Cal. “I have an intruder that needs to be removed.”
Within seconds, Vince and Tony were inside the trailer. Vince grabbed both of Cal’s arms behind his back and expertly began to push a struggling Cal outside, while Tony held the door open.
“We’re not done, Elizabeth,” Cal struggled, in vain, against Vince’s strength.
“Yes, we are. Just show him off the premises, boys, no need to hurt him,” I instructed. “Yet.”
“You’re not the only with powerful friends, you know,” Cal shouted, as he was about to be taken out the door.
I put my hand on Vince’s shoulder to pause him, “When did you get any friends at all, let alone powerful ones?” I asked Cal.
“I’m going to ruin you in Hollywood,” Cal threatened. “Because you told everyone about me and Brianna, I’m going to make sure everyone will find out about Billy and his Michelleti family connection. The world may be interested to know how you guys get everything you want and need in this town.”
“Are you sure you really want to do that?” I questioned in a deadly tone.
He held my glare and in the same vicious tone he replied, “I’m going to make it my life’s ambition.”
***
You can buy it here: Amazon
Follow me on social media!! I would love to meet you all!
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Celebrity Status is being released this week!! Wednesday to be exact. Only 4 days left!!!
Famous Hollywood actress, Elizabeth Stanfield, has a glamorous lifestyle with a lavish house, glittery parties, a people magazine’s fifty most beautiful people fiance and best friend Billy Stone – Famous actor, producer and secret organized crime enforcer.
Everything is not as it seems…Elizabeth’s fiance cheats on her, a studio head and director are hell bent on making her life miserable and it gets harder to keep her secrets protected.
The only good thing in her life is Billy, their budding romance, and connections that give them freedom to do whatever they want in Hollywood.
Will their connections be enough to keep their secrets hidden and Celebrity Status safe or are they doomed to be torn down?
Ebook preorder available now:
Thank you for having me on your blog today, Angela. I’m super excited to be here.
When I started the Dragon series, it was the result of needing something to balance out the darkness around me. It was my response to postpartum depression and grieving. Having a spark of an idea, I threw myself into researching everything I could find out about the Norse gods, and Viking life.
Most of us are aware of Greek and Roman gods, and Marvel has taught us a lot about Thor, Loki and Odin, but once I pulled back the veil, boy was I amazed. The tales were so epic.
I wanted my characters to be influenced by these deities, but also I wanted to infuse my world building with historical details. The first story I set in 1520, which is the time of the Protestant Reformation, and I wanted paganism and this new religion to interact. The second story then takes us to France in 1799, after the French Revolution and right before the rise of Napoleon. This time period is full of conflict, and so I was able to also include historical figures, referencing them in dialogue.
I have a graduate degree in religion, and love history. So, for that simple reason, I love to bring history to life – be it part of Church History, and referencing how Magic was regarded and punished, to the Haitian Revolt and the names of the prominent leaders behind it all. My goal is for my reader to leave with a nugget of truth.
For the first book, I took a college course through the University of Barcelona on Magic in the Middle Ages. I wanted to make sure that I had those facts correct to be able to present the conflict in such a way that the reader would understand the overlying threat of being a time-traveling fish out of water.
For the second story, A Dragon’s Desire, I researched colonialism, the Haitian Revolt, the French Revolution in all of its progressions, and the life of Napoleon – this included devouring anything that I could get my hands on regarding France at that time (for example the ceruse paint that they wore contained lead; and their eyebrows were made out of mice skin).
In this world building, I’m excited to see where the story takes us next, but also when. I’m ready to explore more of this grand world, and interact with these characters who’ve taken me from darkness into the light.
When you make plans, the gods laugh. All decisions come with consequences.
In this second book of the Dragons series, time travel and fantasy weave together in a fantastical romance.
Although Jaz is a dragon, the fact that the paranormal exists hasn’t made life any easier. The Norse gods are a little too active in her life, and her lover, Erich, the necromancer, a Viking and demigod, is acting distant. His going from extremely hot to cold has her second guessing everything, and wondering if his proclamation of love was just simple manipulation, and if their relationship has lost its like new car smell.
When trouble comes, it comes in heaps, and right at Jaz’s feet. This trouble happens to send her back to 1799 to Étretat, France. The political upheaval combined with Napoleon’s forces and the threat of the Reign of Terror leaves her wondering who she can trust — one wrong move and she’ll lose more than her dragon head.
Relationships are built not only on the love that the couple has for one another but also on their shared experiences. In 1520, while back in time learning about the great Black Knight, I’d also learned a lot about my handsome man. Staring at his profile now, his dark brown hair no longer flowed as it had, but his austere appearance did not mar the attractiveness of his strong features. A neatly trimmed beard rested along a strong jaw and if I told a joke or two, I was sure I could get those gray eyes to turn silver. I loved him, and he kept my heart safe. I’d do whatever it took to keep those seeds of love alive.
His eyes grazed over my body, and in one nanosecond, all the magic I’d been storing up formed into a tight, bright orange ball and then exploded around us.
“What did you do?” Tink asked.
Her question made me stop giving Erich my come-hither stare. Would I be a bad friend if I admitted that I wanted to kick out Tink, his non-blood relation who he called sister on this earthly plane, so that I could explore where his hot gaze might lead?
Tink snapped her fingers before my eyes.
“Jaz,” she screamed. “What did you do?” She backed up until the kitchen table jammed into her side.
It was then I noticed the army of fire ants that paraded down the wall and marched toward her. Climbing on top of each other, they quickly formed a three-dimensional shape resembling a moving wave.
“Make it stop!” she said.
I had no idea how to make fire ants obey me. Hell, I didn’t even know I could conjure them up. Like a madwoman, I gathered pots and pans and began to scoop them up, while saying every Latin word I could think of. “Sic semper tyrannis,” I said, as if the motto of the Virginian flag might help.
Instead the ants continued to pile on top of one another. Tink scampered away, and still they came.
She followed my lead and started to bang together pots and pans to knock them away.
“Say something to stop this,” I said.
Tink waved her hands. Nothing happened. “I can’t. You’re magical. Your magic is not like anything I’ve ever handled. You have to learn how to hone in and control it.”
“Brutum fulme” I then shouted, as if calling forth senseless lightning would cause a bolt to come through and fry the pesky things. Still nothing happened.
“I’m so not qualified for this,” I screamed. Frustration caused a tingling in my fingers, which rose up my arms like I’d touched a hotplate.
“Jaz,” Erich interjected, “concentrate.”
I closed my eyes, took a deep breath and focused on the dragon resting just below my skin. I felt her stir, awaken. Fire grew in my belly. My lips puckered and uttered the words the beast had whispered to me, “Carpe noctem.” Seize the night!
The ants stopped mid-step, frozen.
Hearing the beast, I repeated what it ordered: “Transit umbra, lux permanet.” Shadow passes, light remains. The fire ants disintegrated, leaving not even a speck of dust behind.
Tink hurried to her cauldron, which was boiling over, vomiting a cloud of what looked like pixie dust on to the counter and removed her black choker with Chakra stones. “I’ve read of many wearing talismans until they are able to get control of their powers. This will protect you. Do NOT take it off, do you hear me?”
“Sure, sure,” I nodded my head, but really, I just wanted to push her out of the door. “Thanks, Tink.”
Tink looked first at me and then at Erich.
Instead of moving towards the door, I wished for it to open, and it did.
“I guess that’s my sign to leave,” she said and quickly packed everything into her wicker basket.
“I didn’t know I could do that.”
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XFW7DCG/
Tina Glasneck is a writer of crime fiction and fantasy romance. Her imagination thrives when it comes to hot coffee, great music and laughter. She believes in miracles, the power of positive thinking, and that in each of us a dragon lurks. Learn more about Tina on her website: http://tglasneck.wixsite.com/tglasneck
Today we have Patricia Bond joining us!
Take it away Patricia!
*****
For those of you near the shores of Lake Ontario in New York State, please join me at Murphy’s Orchard in Burt, N.Y. where I will be signing copies of my books on Sat., 2/11/17 from 11:00am to 2:30pm. I’m very excited to be at Murphy’s Orchard, since it is a designated historic site as a waystation from the Underground Railroad. By happy coincidence, my characters in By Love’s Honor Bound happen to be VERY involved with the Underground Railroad.
By the way, Murphy’s has a wonderful tea room where they serve sandwiches, tea and desserts, as well as a gift shop filled with specialty jams and jellies all made with their own fruits, and so much more….
Come on down! I’d love to meet you.
Someone is killing Conductors on the Underground Railroad one by one. With a cellar full of runaway slaves, Olivia June Mathieson must decide – is the handsome Fenton Pierce-Smythe savior or traitor?
Both Fenton Pierce-Smythe’s fiancee and grandfather were killed when runaway slaves spooked their horses. Determined no one else will face that pain, he hunts runaways to return them safely to their owners. But can he remain unmoved by their plight? And unaffected by the beautiful woman who risks her life to lead them to freedom?
Excerpt:
He was, he admitted grandly, ever so slightly foxed.
Hell, what would you expect after spending the entire evening in a tavern drinking cheap whiskey? As he stepped outside, the cold night air struck him in the face like a loose sail, and he knew he’d have a devil of a headache tomorrow.
And for what? The night had been an abysmal failure. He hadn’t found out one thing about the Underground Railroad here. Nor had he heard anything about any runaways. It had been a total waste of precious time, except perhaps for that blond.
He smiled as he walked unsteadily to his horse, thinking of the girl. She’d been eye-catching, no doubt. The memory of her silken speaking voice washed over him and he found himself thinking of the “O” her mouth had made when she’d poured the coffee on him. The soft pucker just begged to be kissed.
But, that coffee! He grimaced as he ran his hand over his thigh and the front of his trousers. They were dry now, but he was still a tad tender to the touch. Thank God he’d been quick enough to escape most of the hot liquid.
He reached his horse, Thunderbolt. Stupid name for a horse that ran slow as molasses in winter. He’d received the animal for his sixteenth birthday, and had chosen the name with visions of a dashing hero dancing in his head. He’d seen himself riding through storm-tossed nights, rescuing fair damsels in distress, and receiving his loving rewards from them. Of course, he’d been sixteen, and his blood had run as hot and randy as any young man’s.
Now, at the ripe old age of twenty-nine, he’d learned fair damsels seldom needed rescuing. And especially not by a man named Fenton, riding the slowest thunderbolt known to nature.
Damn, he’d never liked his name. Fenton. He snorted, wishing to hell his mother had never read that silly novel. Why couldn’t he be named something dashing like Drake, or historical, like George or Alexander? Or even biblical, like Abraham. At least those were names that engendered respect. But Fenton? For God’s sake!
He swayed slightly while his clumsy fingers worked to untie the reins. With a wry smile, he admitted to himself that having that name taught him a lot about self-defense. He’d had to fight his way through school from the time he wore short pants. Still fumbling with the reins, he wondered if his young temperance singer could give herself to a man named Fenton.
Testing the sensitivity of his thigh again, he found he could touch it almost without pain now, although even in the dark he could see a definite stain from the coffee. He’d had to put up with a lot of ribbing in the tavern. His fellow drinkers had made numerous comments regarding his ability to control himself around beautiful women. It had taken all his control to laugh along with them instead of smashing in a face or two.
After several frustrating minutes, he finally managed to loosen the reins. He didn’t remember leaving them in such a muddle when he’d gotten here. Someone must have been playing a joke, he decided, untangling the leather from around his fingers.
He led the horse to an open area, lifted his foot to the stirrup . . . and missed. Thunderbolt nickered softly and Fenton patted the animal’s neck. “C’mon, Bolt. There’s a good boy.” He felt the first drops of rain start to fall. Great. More rain. Just what he needed. He didn’t care at all for the idea of riding the thirty miles back to Baltimore in a rainstorm.
He raised his foot again, and missed the stirrup a second time. “Dammit, stand still!” he hissed in an annoyed whisper.
Thunderbolt turned his head and snorted into his master’s face.
Fenton was ready to try once more when he heard a vaguely familiar feminine voice raised in entreaty coming from just up the road. She sounded as though she were in trouble. Had some rogue accosted her, trying even now to have his way with her?
Thoughts of rescue and rewards sprang to his mind. He dropped his reins and slogged as fast as he could through the mud left by an earlier rain, plotting his attack on the ruffian as he went.
The sounds were coming from a modest buggy stopped under a bare-branched tree.
Fenton ran around the side and threw himself into the vehicle, landing in a soft lap.
Livvy would have screamed, had the man who leaped into her buggy not knocked all the air from her lungs. As it stood, she was just barely able to hold onto her reins. “What are you doing?” she finally demanded, shoving him off to the side.
“Saving you. Where is he?” Fenton looked around the buggy wildly, his eyes searching the darkness.
“Where is who? There is no one here but the two of us.”
“You sure?” he asked, squinting at her.
“And Rosabelle,” she said, indicating her horse.
“But I heard you. You were begging to be let go.”
“I was saying ‘Let’s go.’ To Rosabelle. We’re stuck.”
“Stuck?” he asked, his face a study in confusion.
“In the mud,” she said with great deliberateness.
“Oh. Well then, let’s have a look,” Fenton said, hopping down from the seat and stumbling only a little as he landed. He walked around the back of the buggy and peered through the darkness at the wheels. “Everything’s fine here.”
He came around the front and studied the closest wheel. She could see him sway as he stood. The odor of cheap whiskey she’d smelled when he landed on her wafted up on the night wind. Finally he looked up at her, grinning.
“You, madam, are stuck in the mud.”
Livvy rolled her eyes heavenward before answering. “And you, sir, are drunk.”
Buy links:
Love’s Honor Bound: Amazon
Building a Christmas: Amazon
Arms of an Angel: Amazon
About the Author:
Books, history, hooped skirts and happily ever after. Those are just a few of local author Patricia Bond’s favorite things that she weaves into stories. Add in a dashing hero and an intrepid heroine and you’ve pretty much got her recipe for a historical romance.
America’s history is so rich and full, it serves as a natural backdrop for her books, and she tries to take full advantage of it, along with its incredible landscape. Her settings have run from the Great Lakes, to rural Pennsylvania, to Baltimore/Washington and the Chesapeake Bay.
Wife, mother, and grandmother, she loves being retired and living near the Great Lakes where she’s free to indulge her other passions besides writing. An award-winning amateur photographer and member of the local knitting guild, you may find her at the lakeshore, notebook in hand and camera at her side drawing inspiration from her amazing surroundings.
New Erotic Romance Release from Adriana Kraft!
The Gift Exchange by Adriana Kraft ~ There’s still time for some holiday pleasure! Also, keep reading below for an excerpt for her novel The Heist!
It’s Christmas Eve—what gifts will Mack, Carol and Tara unwrap together?
BLURB
What is Carol up to now? Mack has always known his free-spirited wife is bisexual, but it seems she has new adventures on her mind this Christmas season.
Carol has long entertained fantasies of a threesome with herself, her husband, and their attractive nearby neighbor, Tara. Now that Tara’s troublesome ex is out of the picture, is this the season to make her fantasies come true?
Tara’s felt a little deprived since cutting things off with her ex, and she’ll admit she envies what Mack and her best friend Carol seem to share. If they invite her to join them, will she dare?
EXCERPT
“Let’s see.” Carol handed one light package to Tara and they both began to carefully pull at the tissue paper.
“Oh my,” Tara gasped. “Santa has sexy naughty taste.”
“He does, doesn’t he?” Carol held up a sheer pale white camisole and watched Tara do the same.
“They match,” Tara said as if surprised.
Mack cleared his throat. “Wow.”
“Do you think Santa got the right sizes?” Carol looked at Tara.
Tara made a show of carefully examining the thin material. “Hard to tell. He must’ve forgotten to get us bottoms.”
BUY LINK http://www.extasybooks.com/the-gift-exchange/
GOODREADS https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33232939
A heist? A murder? It’s villain’s choice.
A special-order art theft? Tedious, but seamless – until small town museum director Kara Daniels calls in the experts. Furious her favorite trio of priceless impressionist paintings has been stolen from its traveling exhibit on her watch, Kara is determined to save not only the paintings, but her future in the art world. She’ll stop at nothing to entrap the thief.
Ted Springs knows the underbelly of the criminal world a little closer than he might like—but he’s turned it to good advantage, first as a police officer, and now as detective for the Upper Midwest Arts Council. His job? To guarantee the security of the valuable paintings in the Council’s traveling exhibits.
Heat sizzles when Ted and Kara collide—can they work together, before it’s too late?
EXCERPT
Setup: Ted’s been called in to solve a break-in at the small-town museum where Kara is curator. He’s bumped into Kara once before, very pleasantly so, from his perspective – she’s more ambivalent. They’re in her office discussing next steps…
Ted exhaled slowly. “And do you think I’ll ever get to know you?”
Kara giggled softly. “Not in the way you’re thinking.” She thrust out her chin. “At least not while you’re working this case.”
He took his time to chew on that information. “Fair enough,” he said. He wished he knew what he done or said to disarm her. Maybe it had been the memory of their brief encounter. “Not that I need more incentive to wrap this museum situation up quickly.” He paused. “Do you suppose we’ll be able to hug now and then like friends, now that we’ve cleared the air? Shaking hands seems so stodgy.”
Kara laughed quickly and then peeked over at him with a devastating smile. “As long as you don’t paw my boobs.”
Smiling, he didn’t miss a beat. “How about your rear?”
She arched an eyebrow at him. “That is a different matter. Your large hands did leave a pleasant impression on my ass.”
So she didn’t mind a little flirting even while he worked the case. “Good. I believe in first impressions, and I always like to be clear about the rules of the game. Now maybe you should tell me how you think one or more people entered the museum supposedly without a key.”
She scrunched her mouth. “So do you play by the rules?”
“I didn’t say that. I just like to know what they are.”
REVIEWS
Five stars at Goodreads: “The sex is hot and I loved the phone sex scenes. Never did I expect the ending. It was brilliant. The Heist is a winner!” Sheila G.
Five stars at Amazon: “Very hot…engaging, entertaining, funny and serious, well written and extremely enjoyable to read.” Donna H.
BUY LINK http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LNE7366
About Adriana Kraft:
Winner of the 2014 Bisexual Book Award for erotic fiction, author Adriana Kraft is a married couple. We write our erotic stories to entertain, of course, but most of all we write them because we believe in happy endings for all who fall in love, whatever their gender, sexual orientation or numerical combination.
We love hearing from readers at adrianakraft99@yahoo.com , and here are our other links:
Website: http://adrianakraft.com
Facebook: Adriana Kraft
Twitter: @AdrianaKraft
Google+ Adriana Kraft
It’s January 9th and it’s never too late for a Christmas read! Snowbound with Mr Wrong by Barbara White Daille sounds so good, I’m loading it up on my kindle now 🙂
From the cover of Snowbound with Mr. Wrong:
Worst. Day. Ever. After Lyssa Barnett’s sister tricks her into reprising her role at Snowflake Valley’s annual children’s party, she doesn’t think anything can be worse than squeezing into her too-small elf costume. Then tall, dark, and way too handsome Nick Tavlock shows up to play Santa…and an unexpected storm leaves them snowbound in the isolated lodge.
The last thing Nick wants is to spend a cozy Christmas Eve with a trio of kids and the woman who dumped him. But as much as Lyssa frustrates him, he can’t stop thinking about her. And soon, he’s fighting very un-Santa-like thoughts of kissing a certain sexy Miss Elf under the mistletoe. As Nick starts to fall for Lyssa all over again, he knows it will take nothing short of a miracle to have Lyssa in his arms on Christmas Day.
Excerpt:
Someone’s going to pay for this.
Nick Tavlock stared at the woman in the elf costume and swore under his breath. When his so-called friend and associate Michael DeFranco had roped him into playing Santa at his lodge for a second year, he’d agreed to do the man the favor. Michael brought a lot of business his way. But this was pushing friendship and client satisfaction too far.
He’d had Michael’s word there would be a new elf this year.
He swallowed his irritation. Or tried to. “Lyss—”
“Hello, Santa!” she interrupted with a meaningful glance at the kids around them.
“Saved by an elf,” he murmured. “Almost put my boot in my mouth with that one, didn’t I?” He was still trying to pick his jaw up off the floor after the enthusiasm of her greeting. Too bad she hadn’t meant that beautiful smile for him. Too bad she had dumped him months ago, or he’d have had more chances to see that smile of hers. “Thanks for the warm welcome. A big surprise, considering the chill of your last good-bye.”
“Those Arctic blasts at the North Pole will do that to an elf.” She smiled again, but her eyes didn’t meet his. “So…Santa, are you ready to hear some wish lists?”
“Sure am,” he said in his best jolly-old-Saint-Nick voice.
He followed her to the velvet-covered chair set in a cleared space beyond the fireplace. Though the flames danced behind a safety screen several yards away, he’d already started to sweat. And it didn’t have a thing to do with the fire or the extra padding inside this Santa suit. His quick inspection of Lyssa had his temperature soaring, something he should have anticipated. She had always managed to get him overheated—in the best way possible—every time he was around her.
“Santa?” Her brows rose to fur-trimmed cap level.
“Huh?” Great. After all the years he’d spent attending his parents’ cocktail parties, that was the best he could do? But any sophisticated comment he’d ever learned had flown right out of his head.
He couldn’t let Lyssa throw him. Clamping his jaw closed, he resettled his own cap firmly and raised his brows back at her. She gestured with both hands, indicating the mob of children now surrounding him. How had he missed that?
Lyssa provided more distraction than he needed.
No, Lyssa didn’t provide anything for him anymore.
“Are you ready?” she asked.
“Yeah,” he muttered.
She frowned at him over the kids’ heads. Her cheeks had turned pink, and not from the fire, he’d bet. The glow certainly didn’t come from overheating herself, either—not in that skimpy elf suit. That outfit led him naturally to other visions of her he’d had the pleasure of seeing over the past year. But this wasn’t the time or place to relive those memories.
Chapter One and book links:
Find the complete Chapter One of Snowbound with Mr. Wrong and links for many of your favorite booksellers here: http://bit.ly/swmw-pg
About the Author:
Barbara White Daille lives with her husband in the sunny Southwest. Though they love the warm winters and the lizards in their front yard, they haven’t gotten used to the scorpions in the bathroom. Barbara also loves writing, reading, and chocolate. Come to think of it, she enjoys writing about those subjects, too!
Barbara wrote her first short story at the age of nine, then typed “The End” to her first novel many years later…in the eighth grade. Now she’s writing contemporary romance on a daily basis, with a brand-new series from Entangled Bliss (Snowflake Valley), an ongoing series from Harlequin Western Romance (The Hitching Post Hotel), and many more books on the schedule.
She would love to have you stop by her website and to look for her on Facebook and Twitter.
Social Media Links:
Website http://www.barbarawhitedaille.com
Blog http://www.barbarawhitedaille.com/blog
Newsletter http://www.barbarawhitedaille.com/newsletter
Twitter https://twitter.com/BarbaraWDaille
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/barbarawhitedaille
Amazon Author Page http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B002J6B0QQ
Keta Diablo is visiting today with her new historical romance book! Take it away, Keta.
* * *
Hi everyone,
Thanks so much for stopping by Angela Scavone’s blog today.
I have a new release to show off and thank you so much in advance for reading about it.
SKY DREAMS is Book 3 in my historical romance Sky Series set in Minnesota. The first two books, Sky Tinted Water, Book 1 and Sky Dance, Book 2 feature Dawson and Rory Finch (resident hero and heroine). Both books have an element of suspense and a Native American slant. The 1862 Dakota Uprising took place and was a very turbulent time for many of the small communities in southern Minnesota. And we can’t forget about the Civil War (Minnesota fought for the North) so that made for an exciting, if not a bit dangerous time, for Rory and Dawson.
In Sky Dreams, Book 3, their daughter, Haven Finch Morgan is featured. You can read more about her plight in the blurb below. I’ve supplied plenty of angst for our heroine while she navigates through widowhood and struggles to find love again.
But isn’t that what romance is all about?
About Sky Dreams, Book 3
A sweet historical romance
Keta Diablo
In Sky Tinted Water (Book 1) and Sky Dance (Book 2) you met Dawson and Rory Finch and shared in the journey of their love. Now, in Sky Dreams (Book 3), meet their daughter, Haven.
In 1893, Haven Morgan is a young widow. Heartbroken and alone after her husband’s tragic death, she travels to Cobb’s Grove, Minnesota to teach at the country school.
Her curiosity is piqued when she meets the handsome supervisor of the local lumber mill, Cade Kincannon, but the trauma of her husband’s death haunts her days and torments her dreams.
Can Cade break through the veil of darkness shrouding Haven, forge a path to her heart and convince her it’s all right to love again?
Setup and Excerpt: Haven relives her husband’s death while riding the train to teach school at Cobb’s Grove, Minnesota.
Haven’s heart raced, beads of perspiration erupted on her brow. Bile choked her throat when her mind returned to the nightmarish images seconds later.
The severed, crumpled bodies appeared in a rush. Blood, so much blood against the stark white landscape. Shep had been tossed a rod from her husband’s body and stomped to death, his lifeless form flat as a fence board. Sprawled out on his side, crimson streams had arced and pumped from deep gashes in Champion’s withers and belly. A pinkish-foam oozed from the horse’s nostrils, the once beautiful brown eyes now closed in death. Underneath Champion’s still form lay her beloved Mathias, his feet still hooked into the stirrups.
She’d clutched her hand to her throat, dismounted in one swift movement and trudged through drifts up to her calves. Dropping to her knees, she’d tried in vain to pull his lifeless form out from under the horse. And then she saw his face. The earth spun out of control. The brown eyes that had gazed at her with so much longing and tenderness that morning were open, like his mouth. His chest was still, his skin pale gray, as if all the blood had been siphoned from his beautiful face.
A long time later, exhausted from crying out her anguish, she turned a ravaged face to the sky and cursed God. Swore she’d never put her faith in him again, questioned his all-encompassing compassion. How could a loving God allow this to happen to Mathias…to her?
The unmistakable grunting and pawing of a large beast drew her from her misery. Without looking at her nemesis, she pulled her husband’s rifle from the scabbard and rose to her feet on that icy battleground. With tear-stained face, her body racked by sobs, she faced the culprit of her agony. A wreath of white snow encircled his massive head as he pawed and stomped at the ground, intent on destroying yet another human who dared enter his territory.
She took aim and emptied the rifle into the monster that had crushed her world, and then she mounted Bluebelle and headed for home in a fog of despair.
* * *
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Happy Holidays and Happy Reading,
Keta Diablo
Today we welcome Cailin Briste and her Science fiction erotic romance Maon: Marshal of Tallav #2 – Sons of Tallav. Check it out…it’s hot!
Maon Keefe has always embraced the player lifestyle, until he discovers a mysterious Domme who brings him to his knees.
Blurb:
Maon Keefe has always been told he’s doomed to fail as a husband. He decides never to marry instead focusing on living life as a player and becoming a capable marshal of Tallav. When he is shot and the most-wanted criminal he’s escorting escapes, he fears that his career, his one success in life, is doomed. Assigned to ferret out the cause of missing shipments for a VIP aristocrat, he meets Selina Shirley CEO of the House of Shirley. He finds himself inexplicably attracted to her despite her frumpy appearance. When he meets a hooded and masked, scorching hot Domme, Lasair, at his friend’s BDSM club, he’s torn between the two women. Both fire his imagination and call to his submissive nature. Either might be the woman to change him into successful husband material.
Selina Shirley organizes her life like she organizes her business, taking control of all aspects of each. She’s concluded that she must marry to get an heir and that her future husband must be totally submissive. Mentored by the sector’s most famous sadist, she learns what it takes to be a proper Domme. Then, hidden behind a hood and mask, as Lasair, she meets Maon and her instant attraction to his full submission at the BDSM club leads her to break her own rules and become involved with him. But he’s also the marshal assigned to investigate thefts at her company. When his broad streak of protective alpha male comes into play, it obvious he’s not a 24/7 submissive. To stick to her plan to marry the perfect husband, she must ignore her heart and dump Maon.
Excerpt:
Space travel held no appeal for Selina. The CEO of the sector’s leading fashion house, she’d accepted it as the necessity it was, but she’d be glad to get her feet on solid ground again. Her nose alone told her she wasn’t there yet. The air filtration system on the Beta Tau station did a better job than most at removing the metallic tang of C-trol, the fuel ships ran on in hyperspace that permeated all space stations. A harsh aftertaste still clung in silvered wisps to the more mundane odors of fried foods and roasting meats that tempted travelers to part with credits before heading down world or returning to space. No, she wasn’t there yet.
The strap of the portfolio slung over her shoulder slipped. A nudge and it was back in place. A trio of vacationers passed her, their excitement palpable in the pitch and volume of their voices. They hadn’t noticed Selina, but who would? Hidden inside the drab, shapeless dress that constituted her armor against amorous attentions, she was perfectly content to be overlooked. No one would credit the truth. She was on her way to the Whip Hand to meet the owner and notorious sadist Randolph Meryon. The drawings she carried in her portfolio were the first installment of a trade she’d made. He would become her mentor while she explored sexual domination, and she would design exclusive apparel for his staff.
The underlying frisson of unease that always attended her in space was sliding up and down her spine. But the churning in her stomach, while she walked along the companionway from the private ship docks, wasn’t caused by her fear of space. Her father’s death over a year ago had cemented a number of things in her mind. One was the need to acquire a husband. Knowledge that she was on the marriage market would set in motion the machinations of the aristocratic mamas of Tallav—some because of her wealth and others for the connection. She wrinkled her nose. Not going that route.
Her Domme lessons with Randolph were the initial step in a concise plan to find her perfect husband. Emphasis on her. Implementing that plan was the root of her anxiety, akin to the strain of her first business negotiation for the House of Shirley.
A couple, the woman tipping along in platform heels, were cuddling and cooing while they walked toward Selina. She averted her face, seeing but not really taking in the concourse bar she was approaching. Then her gaze met a stranger’s, and for an interminable moment, his eyes ensnared hers. She blinked, and the spell was broken. His lips moved in a smirk while he continued to stare at her.
Damn playboy.
When she yanked her head away, the oversize art case slipped down her arm, the strap tangling in her long dark hair. Rather than stop to fix the problem, she kept walking while struggling to release the strands that were pulling painfully on her scalp. Portfolio back in position, she sped up.
That man was the exact opposite of her ideal mate, although he was Tallavan. The string tie he wore made his Tallavan citizenship a possibility, but the badge clipped to his belt settled it. He was a Tallavan marshal. Despite his tousled sandy-brown locks that were made to comb through and pull, he wouldn’t make the cut on her very exacting list of requirements. Even before he’d smirked at her, it was apparent he was a player. He’d been sitting still on a bar stool, but swagger oozed from his pores. His navy-blue eyes were full of a boldness that reached out to her and offered her more fun than she could imagine.
What the heck are you thinking, Selina? He’s a snack and nothing more.
Buy Links:
About the Author:
Cailin has been writing fiction for five years and non-fiction for two decades. Her non-fiction work has been published in magazines and in a non-fiction anthology. She’s a member of Romance Writers of America, the RWA Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal Chapter, and the RWA Passionate Ink Chapter.
Cailin likes to flip convention on its head, creating a universe in which each planet is a study in different what ifs. What would happen to alpha men on a matriarchal planet where the women are not Dommes in the strictest sense but certainly have the attitude down pat? How would society handle it if girls born on their new planet developed empathic senses? Cailin throws her characters into these settings, heroes and heroines whose kink is a major defining attribute of their personality.
Marcia James is here today with the first three novellas in her Klein’s K-9s Series. This is a series of contemporary romance novellas featuring service dogs and rescue pets. How can you say no to that?
Racing Hearts
Stock car legend, Tom “Torque” Tyler, faces a bleak future following an off-track car wreck. Thanks to a traumatic head injury, he’s developed epileptic seizures and may never drive again. To avoid tabloid reporters and well-meaning friends, Tom holes up in a cottage surrounded by high walls. Now he just needs to figure out the rest of his life.
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1OzgWn9
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/racing-hearts-9
Apple: https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/book/racing-hearts/id1067050913?mt=11&at=11lopo
8 Hounds a-Howling
Celebrity photographer “Jax” Jackson volunteers to shoot the Klein’s K-9s service dog facility’s fundraising calendar. His agenda: Convince past love and calendar coordinator Amy Walters to give him a second chance.
Producing the dog-themed “12 Days of Christmas” calendar includes dodging dive-bombing birds, tackling runaway pigs, and handling 78 dogs who’d rather play than pose. In the midst of the chaos, will the reunited lovers find their happily ever after?
Buy it here:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1RrGHf8
B&N: http://tinyurl.com/goockbq
Kobo: http://tinyurl.com/hysgahc
Apple: http://tinyurl.com/j7lzjb6
Nothing But a Hound Dog
After a night of raucous partying, country music star Ryan “Rowdy” Gates is sentenced to community service at the Jenkins Animal Shelter. To his surprise, he bonds with the caring shelter workers and with a tiny, abandoned Basset Hound puppy. Cindi Landon, shelter director and his high school crush, offers Ryan something he’s never had—a home, a family, and unconditional love.
Buy it here: Amazon: http://amzn.to/1RTfRYm
About the Author:
Marcia James finaled in eleven Romance Writers of America contests before selling her first contemporary romance. A national and international ebook bestseller, she writes hot, humorous romances featuring heroines you can root for, heroes to die for, and funny dogs. In her eclectic career, Marcia has shot submarine training videos, organized celebrity-filled nonprofit events and had her wedding covered by People Magazine. After years of dealing with such sexy topics as how to safely install traffic lights, she is enjoying “researching” and plotting her novels’ steamy love scenes with her husband and hero of many years. To enter her monthly contest or sign up for her newsletter, visit her website: www.MarciaJames.net
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Angela Scavone 