Archive for 2008

Hellooooo Dollies!

December 15, 2008 | Cooking, Holidays

G’ morning!

Celia Kyle here and the first to kick off Sloane’s series of yummy holliday sharing and I can’t wait to give ya’ll the low down on one of my traditions.

Now, first, you have to recognize what an accomplishment it is for me to even COOK.  Like, ever.  For example, my typical holiday feast consists of a ham from the Honey Baked Ham Company (yes, a company that sells fully cooked hams, woot!), boxed mashed potatoes, boxed stuffing, bottled gravy, canned cranberry sauce and sweet potatoes.

Notice a trend?  Celia, she does not cook.  However, there is always one exception to every rule and for me, that’s Hello Dollies.

Ingredient Group 1:

1 Cup Graham Cracker Crumbs
1/2 stick butter Melted

Ingredient Group 2:

1 1/2 Cup Chocolate Chips – Semisweet
1 Cup Chopped Walnuts
1 Cup Coconut – Shredded
1 Can Eagle Brand Condensed Milk

Combine the Graham Cracker Crumbs and melted Butter, mixing thouroghly and then press into a 9′ x 11′ pan.  Then, sprinkle the ingredients listed in group 2 in the order which they appear above.  First, Chocolate Chips followed by Walnuts and finally the Coconut.  Then, pour the can of condensed milk over it all and press down with a spoon (the back) to make sure it’s all snuggly in there.  Then, bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.  Voila!  Take one bite and you’ll be shouting “Hello Dolly” right along with me this holiday season.

And for those you who may be as clueless as I was when I started making these… you can buy a box of graham cracker crumbs at the grocery store.  You know, instead of using a plastic bag and rolling pin to crush your own…  Not that I ever did that or anything.  😉

Now if you’d like an interesting holiday cocktail, why not try…

SILK PANTIES

Ingredients
1/2 oz Peach Schnapps
1 1/2 oz Vodka
1 Sexy woman with a penchant for silk

Lisa Bradenton is breaking out of her shell. What better way to take a walk on the wild-one-night-stand-side than a visit to the infamous Del Fantasma? At the urging of her friends, Lisa goes to the bar with the hopes of finding a lover to take her mind off her ex-boyfriend. Soon after walking through the doors she’s overwhelmed by the sexy bartender who has a quick smile, sexy eyes and deep rumbling voice. He is definitely one-night stand material. Definitely.

Jonathan and his inner beast crave the sexy, sultry and curvy siren’s touch. A smile and good conversation aren’t enough for him. Even after he’s gotten her in his bed, he still craves everything about the seductress. Her looks reeled him in, but her uncertainty and open nature snare him forever. But after one night of bliss, she disappears. What the hell is he supposed to do now? Lisa is his mate and without her, he’s lost.

Buy it NOW from Aspen Mountain Press!

Happy holidays!!!!

Celia
http://www.celiakyle.com/

2 Comments

Hot Sex with Melissa

December 14, 2008 | Friends

Hi Everyone, my name is Melissa Bradley and I am here to par TEE on the final day of celebrations with my good friend Sloane. Happy Birthday, girl!! Thanks for letting me spend this wonderful December Sunday with you.

For those of you who are not familiar with me, let me tell you all a little bit about myself. I am from the south side of Chicago and a rabid Bears fan. I come from a storytelling family and grew up listening to tales spun by my dad, grandpa and Uncle Moose (his real name was Donald, but no one ever called him that), of giants, goblins and other assorted creatures. My family also loves, loves, loves books of any kind and Library Night was a big part of my childhood. We would walk up to the local branch of the Chicago Public Library and wander around, practically closing the place, picking out as many books as we could carry and then head home to start reading til bedtime.

I realized my dream of being a published author this year with my story, MICHAEL’S KEEPER. It was selected as a winner in the Amber Heat Wave contest over at Amber Quill Press. Since then I have published two more stories, DREAM ON and LOVE HAIGHT, with more on the way for next year.

In honor of Sloane’s birthday and mine (it’s tomorrow), I am going to give away a present, a free pdf download of one of my stories, your choice. I want you to go HERE, read the LOVE HAIGHT excerpt and email me at melbwrites@gmail.com with the answer to the following question…What flavor sundae does Joe compare Lily to? Please put BIRTHDAY CONTEST in the subject line. I will take entries until 10:00PM Central Time tonight and then post the winner here on the blog.

Now to help you get started on thinking about which story you would pick if you won, here’s a little bit about each of my three books.

LOVE HAIGHT
Amber Quill Press

It is 1967 and the Summer of Love has just begun to light up San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury. Lily Roberts, a Vietnam nurse, has come here to lose herself in the psychedelic scene and forget the horrors of war. For Joe Sullivan, a rocker on the rise, the vibrant atmosphere is the perfect place to launch his band to the heights of success.

Ever since Lily’s return from Southeast Asia, she’s been disconnected, angry and plagued by nightmares. She attempts to forget everything through parties, drugs and alcohol. Her heated encounter with Joe scares her. He reawakens things deep inside she thought were long dead, but she’s afraid to reach out, to trust in these feelings.

For Joe, his band is on the brink of stardom and the last thing he needs is a relationship, yet Lily has gotten under his skin and into his heart. He can’t let her go, but she’s on a self-destructive path he may not be able to save her from…

For the steamy excerpt and the contest answer go HERE.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

DREAM ON
Amber Quill Press

Nina is having a disastrous fortieth birthday. She overslept, was late for work and managed to get herself pulled over by the hottest young cop she’d ever laid eyes on. The last thing she expects is to cross paths with Officer Alex Torres again.

That evening at an Aerosmith concert, the sparks fly, plunging Nina and Alex into a blazing night of passion neither can forget or give up. To Nina’s surprise, the two forge a relationship that will change everything. But age isn’t the only hurdle they face. Friends, family and career threaten to tear them apart.

For a sizzling excerpt click HERE

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MICHAEL’S KEEPER
Amber Quill Press

Ryanne Night-Walker is a paranormal investigator dealing with everything from ghosts and curses to poltergeists and hexes. She’s also the Crossroads Gatekeeper, charged with protecting humanity from all demonic activity. The last thing she expects when the handsome stranger walks into her office is a firestorm of sex and magic that changes her reality forever. Michael St. John, alpha werewolf, is desperate to save his pack from destruction at the hands of a demon and the Crossroads Gatekeeper is his only hope. He never anticipated she would also be his mate.

Their relationship can never be. As Gatekeeper, Ryanne is forbidden to love. Nothing must come before the good of humanity in the eyes of the Celestial Council. They must defy the power of Heaven itself to save Michael’s wolves and remain together.

A red hot excerpt can be found HERE.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thank you all for reading and celebrating Sloane’s birthday with me. Remember for the contest click on the link in LOVE HAIGHT and read the excerpt. Then email me at melbwrites@gmail.com with the words BIRTHDAY CONTEST in the subject and tell me what flavor sundae Joe compares Lily to for your chance to win a free pdf download of your choice of one of my stories.

I love hearing from people so feel free to visit me at http://myspace.com/melbwrites

Have a wonderful and peace-filled holiday season. Take care, Everyone. And thank you, Sloane, for allowing me to participate and help you celebrate. I’d love to do this again sometime.

Melissa Bradley
http://myspace.com/melbwrites
LOVE HAIGHT
DREAM ON
MICHAEL’S KEEPER

11 Comments

WHERE DANGER AND PASSION COLLIDE

December 13, 2008 | Friends

Hello from snowy and icy Maine! Thanks, Sloane, for inviting me to blog today. I’m Pam Champagne and I write a bit of everything, although my favorite genre is suspense. I live in the woods of Maine at the end of a ½ mile discontinued town road, so we don’t have neighbors except for the four legged wild ones.

DEAD HEAT
Wild Rose Press
Amazon

Photobucket

Blurb:
Jenna Green struggles to make a name for herself on the racetrack after her father’s untimely death. Rye Cameron’s offer of a job to train his horses comes out of the blue. Aware of his reputation with women, she accepts the job despite her doubts. Soon she discovers the real reason Rye hired her and finds herself fighting for her life.

I drew on my experiences on the racetrack to write this story. I just received notification that DEAD HEAT placed third in the 2008 Barclay Gold RWA Contest.

BED OF LIES
2008 Eppie Romantic Suspense Winner
Samhain Publishing

Bed of Lies 2

Blurb:
Can separated soul mates learn to trust each other again before a ruthless killer ends their second chance?

Drug Enforcement Agent Ace Bear returns to Spruce Harbor, Maine to investigate a deadly cocaine ring. He’s prepared to deal with the town’s bigotry against his Cree heritage, but when he comes face-to-face with the woman he loved twelve years ago, passion flares. He realizes the ties between them cannot be broken.
Brenna McKenzie is furious the man who deserted her the day their infant daughter died has dared to show his face. When she discovers why Ace is in town, however, fear for her brother, who she suspects is a drug addict, forces her to swallow her animosity. Ace’s return ignites a chain of events and soon Brenna’s own life is in jeopardy.

As Brenna and Ace struggle to understand the treachery that once ripped them apart, they fight to stay one step ahead of the danger that threatens to put an end to their reunion—and their lives.

A trailer for BED OF LIES is on MySpace.

CHRISTMAS REUNION
A free short read from Samhain Publishing.

Christmas Reunion

COMING SOON

ALASKAN HEAT, Samhain Publishing will be released in March, 2009. I do not have a cover yet.

Blurb:
FBI agent Sophie Branson has been lusting after Agent Joe Hawkins since the night he drank too much tequila, made love to her and then passed out leaving her sexually unsatisfied. Now that he’s been framed by rogue agents, it’s her job to keep him and bring him home. She picks him up on the Alaskan Highway and together they make the long drive to Eagle, Alaska where Hawk thinks his friends will help clear his name.

During the trip on the trip, Sophie and Hawk get more than they’d bargained for, including fighting with the bad guys and the best sex either of them has ever had.

DANCE FOR ME, Siren Publishing in April, 2009.

Blurb:
Detective Lara Stevens has her hands full. Not only does she have to investigate a series of bizarre serial murders without her trusted partner, she has to deal with Reino Larkin, a man twelve years her junior. With several exotic dancers murdered, Lara goes undercover as a stripper at the club where the victims worked, and Reino is more than happy to cheer her on. But can she keep her cool professional kick ass attitude when all she wants to do is get naked with Reino? Seeing the way he watches her on stage, his eyes full of desire, gets her juices flowing. Then there is the murderer, watching…waiting.

When Reino discovers his murdered friend had been an exotic dancer, he becomes a regular at the Beaver Lodge where she danced. When Lara struts onto the stage, wearing a cowboy hat and not much else, the heat rises and with it his protective instincts.

Direct links along with full list of available books can be found on my website.

Thanks, again, Sloane, for thinking of me. I hope everyone has a peace-filled holiday season and a healthy new year.

Pam Champagne
http://www.pamchampagne.net/index.php

3 Comments

Melanie Atkins has Guys with Guns

December 12, 2008 | Friends

I’m excited to report that I have book coming out soon from The Wild Rose Press. Skeleton Bayou is a full length romantic suspense set in the Deep South. I don’t have a release date or any cover art yet, but I’m pretty sure it will come out in 2009.

Here’s a blurb:

Savannah Love is emotionally and physically battered, but is determined to survive after escaping the hellish imprisonment imposed on her by her psychotic cop-husband. After seven months in hiding, she resurfaces at Mossy Oak, her ramshackle family home on a Louisiana bayou, and attempts to restart her life. The empty house provides shelter, but isn’t the fortress she needs when her cruel ex comes calling.

Mack O’Malley, former cop turned handyman conflicted over a bad shoot on the job, comes to Savannah’s rescue when the psychopath draws them into a deadly game of cat and mouse. Fearful of Mack at first, she soon discovers that beneath his steely exterior lies a resolute defender with a heart hungry for love. Will their alliance save them, or will they fall victim to the Legend of Skeleton Bayou?

Excerpt:

“I’m not going to jump you,” he said, challenging her with his inscrutable gaze, “if that’s what you’re worried about.”

She didn’t know that for a fact, not really. But right now she trusted him more than she did herself.
Desire swirled inside her like lava churning in a volcano. It had been a long time since she’d felt a man’s gentle touch, since she’d been kissed and treated like a lady. She was afraid she might let him hold her, and then who knew what might happen?

Careful to keep her distance, she folded her arms. “I’m not used to being with a kind man.”

“I’m not used to talking to a woman I can trust.”

“Well, then.” She let a tiny smile ghost over her lips. “We’re both damaged goods.”

“I prefer to call us weathered.”

She laughed, and was amazed by how good it felt. She hadn’t done it in a very long time.

He cupped her jaw. She flinched.

“Relax.” He smiled and stroked his thumb down her cheek. “I want you to get used to my touch.”

“Not now.” Her stomach knotted. She had no business enjoying the feel of his hands on her. She pulled back. “We have to keep our focus on Vince.”

“I’m ready for him.” Mack dropped his hand.

“I hope so,” she said, determination welling within her. She had to keep her thoughts off Mack. “I want him out of my life for good. Whatever it takes.”

Melanie Atkins
Chilling suspense…dreamy romance
http://www.melanieatkins.com/

5 Comments

Beth Anderson Comes Out

December 11, 2008 | Friends

Hi, Everybody!

First, let me congratulate our Hostess with The Mostest, Sloane Taylor, on her nine thousandth birthday. She conceals it well, doesn’t she? Happy Birthday, my friend, and a whole new year of even more success, which I know is coming to you!

Okay, I’ll start by telling you I’m Beth Anderson, not that this means a whole helluva lot to you, probably, unless you’re one of my kids, all of whom call me “Oh, it’s just Mom.” I decided that instead of boring y’all with a bunch of links and me blathering on about my books, I’d bore y’all by letting one of my lead characters in each book tell you something about each of their books. Just a little, I promise, unless they get carried away, and I know a couple of them, at least, probably will try.

My first sub-contracted blog guest today is Joe Barbarello, the hero in my first Amber Quill book, NIGHT SOUNDS. Okay, Joe, take it away!

Hey, Folks, this is Joe, and I want you to know Beth Anderson dragged me through one of the most traumatic experiences of my whole life, which I still think about from time to time while I’m sitting alone, playing on the white baby grand piano you see on my cover. I also want you to know that while this is a murder mystery, it’s still erotic in quite a few places, because the main theme of the book is my overwhelming sexual obsession with a woman named Zoey.

Zoey, when the book starts, is gorgeous beyond belief, and very rich, which I am not, being a struggling jazz pianist in Chicago trying to make it big with my group. She is also, as the book starts, the prime (and only) suspect in the knife murder of her newly departed lover up in her Gold Coast penthouse just five days before this July night. Having been busy with my band rehersals and lousy at keeping up with the news anyhow, I had missed that little detail, doesn’t that figure. Anyhow, I walked off the stage and introduced myself to Zoey, wined and dined her, then went home with her where we…well, what didn’t we do, but we spent three days and nights doing it. When we came up for air, I found myself, compliments of two hard-nosed but entertaining (if you’re not me) Chicago detectives, who had already decided I was Zoey’s co-suspect. They weren’t one bit interested in my side of the story, that I hadn’t met Zoey or even known about her at the time of the murder. That’s how it began. Then–

Yo, Joe, that’s enough for this time. I hope they all want to know what happened to you and they’ll go take a look. My next co-guest is Marty, also a Chicago detective. (Do I have a hot thing for detectives? Well, read on, because I fell madly in love with this guy myself.) Marty of MURDER ONLINE, over to you, and keep it short and sweet, okay? I can’t hold up Sloane’s readers too long, they all have things to do this close to Christmas.

Okay, people, hi, I’m Marty. Unlike Joe, who was only 28, I’m 53 when this book begins and I meet the mother of a young female murder victim in my Chicago precinct as she’s coming to collect her late daughter’s belongings. As you all probably know, it’s not good form to go falling in love with any relative of any victim, but in my defense I didn’t even know it was happening, for a while anyhow. It was just one of those ‘everybody knew but me’ things.

I wasn’t looking for romance. Far from it, I was looking to retire in three years and go fishing off the coast of Florida and out of the cold chicago winters that kept my knees wanting to lock. Then Claire walked into my office and for the first time, I was completely unable to stay detached, as a good detective must. But there she was, and I was gone. I think it was the blue sweater that got me, or maybe it was the shoes she was wearing, which reminded me of my mother. Whatever it was, I found myself wanting to run downstate at every opportunity to talk to the vic’s mother. Claire really gave me a run for my money because she was hellbent and determined to solve her daughter’s murder HER way, disregarding the fact I was determined to solve the murder MY way, which of course was by the book. So–

Stop, Marty, don’t tell them any more! I know you love to talk, but I have to move on to SECOND GENERATION. This time I’ll let my heroine, Leigh, tell you a little about her story. Leigh, it’s your stage, make the most of it. Not that you won’t.

Hello, folks. Beth’s just sniping at me because I knew when I was only eight or nine that I wanted to be the first female President of the United States, and so did she, but she never went after it. This book isn’t only about how I got as far as I did, it’s the story of a woman–me–who has to contend with one tragedy after another on my way to the White House. It’s about the three men who meant most to me at different times of my life. It’s about discovering sex at a very young age, and the repercussions that followed and dogged me all the way through my story.

If only my father hadn’t stolen all those emeralds… If only I hadn’t given in to that overwhelming urge so early and paid for it so soon… If only I hadn’t forced the university to let me try for a law degree when women just didn’t do such things… If only–

Thank you, Leigh! Folks, this one was the book of my heart and it took me a long time to get it right. It’s also won five awards and many, many people have loved it. Maybe not as much as I do, because it takes you through the womens’ movement from the fifties up through the eighties, and it has a torrid, sweeping love story that runs almost all the way through it. What will she choose, and will she win?

This link is for both Murder Online and Night Sounds, one of Amber Quill’s famous Amber Pax collections, which are all e-books. You can find this inexpensive little gem right here:

http://www.amberquill.com/SalePax_Anderson_SuspensePax.html

For separate buy links, I’m gonna try to make this very easy for all of us. To see any of these three books, NIGHT SOUNDS, MURDER ONLINE, and SECOND GENERATION, including excerpts, reviews, and clickable buy links for both print or ebooks, not to mention my photo and general ramblings, here’s the link to my Amber Quill bio/books page, where you can find, at the bottom of the page, clickable thumbnails to all three books.

http://www.amberquill.com/bio_Anderson.html

Or you can go straight to Amazon.com and find most of the same information there. Just type in Beth Anderson and pick out the Amazon link you want to follow, Easy, ain’t it. (I can hear Sloane Taylor’s exasperated sigh now.)

While I’m at it, my website contains loads of writing information on my “Lectures” page. http://www.bethanderson-hotclue.com/lectures

(Yanno, now that I’m looking at all this, it would probably have been easier to put a link beneath each book description. Just think of this as me helping you burn more calories over the holidays. Moving your fingers DOES burn calories, doesn’t it? Statistics, anyone?)

Hey, Happy Holidays, everyone, and Happy Birthday again, Sloane. Loved being here with all of you. Stay safe, stay warm (for Sloane’s readers, stay HOT, and you will, guaranteed!) Most of all, stay happy.

Love, Beth Anderson
http://www.bethanderson-hotclue.com
(I’ll let you figure out for yourselves why my alter ego is called Hotclue.)

6 Comments

JLo is in the HOUSE

December 10, 2008 | Friends

Hello, my name is Jennifer Loy. Most people call me JLo because there are always a lot of Jennifer’s, but I promise my hips are smaller than the real JLo.:)

I’ve been writing for three years and after two companies closed with my precious novels attached, I have finally found new publishers. Three infact. I’ve put my eggs in three baskets. The Wild Rose Press, Red Rose Publishing, and Champagne Books. I write in all genres, romantic comedy being my favorite to write, but I also write fantasy, suspense, and am working on a sci/fi-time travel.

Tomorrow, Dec. 11 my first ebook will release from Red Rose Publishing. I’m on the Coming Soon page. Yeah! I’m so excited! My new book is a romantic comedy entitled “There Goes the Neighborhood“. You can check it out on my website.

BLURB:
Victoria Slater is struggling through a busy tax time with April fifteenth just around the corner. Working out of her home doesn’t help when someone begins to play practical jokes on her. From mice in her kitchen to embarrassing singing telegrams. She doesn’t have time for the messes the culprit is causing and certainly not the two male neighbors, Christian Taylor or Kirk Jacobson; she’s dealt with for half her life.

Victoria decides to retaliate against Christian. He’s the only one who could be causing the trouble, her enemy since the eighth grade. It couldn’t be Kirk, her all time crush. After visiting a fortune teller she finds out that two men are pursuing her and one is misleading her.

With multiple misunderstandings, a year book note she never found, a sudden change of address, and a tenth year reunion, Victoria learns the true meaning of There Goes The Neighborhood.

EXCERPT:
Christian had turned on the kitchen light. I limped down the hall and watched him put pizza on two plates. I opened the drawer next to the phone and saw the handcuffs. I pulled them out. Christian heard the rattle behind him and turned around.

“Maybe I should do what I said. It’s the only way to keep track of you. The only problem is nothing could happen tonight at my house because of two reasons. You’re locked up or the real culprit takes a break. Then my theory wouldn’t work.”

Christian walked closer with a wide grin and his hand out.

“Or something does happen to your house, and I’m off the hook for good.”

I smiled and saw his point. “What side of the bed do you sleep on?” I asked.

“Left.”

“So do I, you lose,” I said and bent over. I quickly cuffed his left ankle to my right ankle.

“Why do I lose?”

“I’m the guest.”

“So, when I sleep over at your house, I get the left side?”

“Not gonna happen, this is only temporary.”

Christian let out a sigh. “I hate temporary,” he said and tried to walk back to the plates. “Come on, woman.”

“You know what? I have to use the bathroom before we permanently attach. Where’s the key?”

Christian raised his eyebrows and took both my hands.

“What do you mean where’s the key? Wasn’t it in the cuffs?”

“No,” I said, as we both leaned down to check the cuffs and bumped heads.

“Ouch!” he said and rubbed the side of his head.

“Oh, come on, I’ve been run over by a dog, slid naked across my grass, bitten by ants, listened to a fortune teller tell me I’d find a guy with a ck sound dog name, and stepped on a massive piece of glass. That didn’t hurt!”

“Kimo,” he said.

I squinted at him and hadn’t thought about his dog.

“Well, whatever,” I said. “Where would the key be?”

“Maybe it’s in the drawer?” he said, rummaging through it.

I started getting hot. I fanned myself with a piece of his mail.

“How can you be hot? It’s cold outside, and you’re in a pair of pajama boxers. By the way, they look extremely sexy on your beautiful long legs.”

I fanned faster then pushed him out of the way. “Let me look!” I pulled the drawer out and emptied it on the counter.

“Hey, I was working on it!”

“I’m too impatient for your rummaging.”

“This was your idea.”

“I know, it was a bad idea, okay? I admit it.” I organized the drawer as I put things back.

Christian stood there and folded his arms.

“I’m hungry.”

“So, eat,” I said, putting paperclips and rubber bands in their place.

“I can’t reach it.”

“So stretch.”

I felt my right leg rise up about a foot. I threw the last pen in the drawer and turned around.

“How long can you stand like that?” he asked.

“Like what?”

“On one foot?”

“I have good balance. Look at the size of my feet,” I said and hopped toward him. “Where else could the key be?”

“I have no idea. It was in there.”

“Let’s just take our pizza to bed,” I suggested.

He handed me a plate. “I thought you had to use the bathroom.”

“I’ll hold it.”

“All night?”

“I’m a big girl.” I walked by his side down the hallway.

“I forgot the kitchen light,” he said, and we doubled back.

He turned it off, and we walked into his room. I sat down on the chair and looked out the telescope. He sat at the foot of the bed and ate his pizza. All the lights were off in the house.

“Should we bring the dog in?” I asked.

“No, he can stay out tonight.”

“He was wet.”

“He’s made for the snow. He’ll be fine.”

I finished my pizza and looked at Christian.

“Thirsty?”

“Yes,” I said and got up. We made our way back to the kitchen. “This sucks.”

“It’s not so bad.” He said pulling two cups from the cupboard.

“This is bad,” I said disagreeing.

“I can think of a way it wouldn’t be bad.”

“Keep that thought to yourself.” I filled my cup with water.

We crawled over the bed and pulled the covers over us.

“We’re terrible spies,” I said yawning.

“I’ll call my cousin in the morning. He’s got to have a spare key.”

I turned to my left side and felt Christian’s leg on mine. He pulled back and turned to his right side. My leg pulled back. I opened my eyes and sighed. I rolled to my back and scooted closer to him.

“You cold?” he asked.

“No, uncomfortable.”

“Sorry,” he said. He rolled to his back, took my hand, and squeezed it. “Remember how we’re supposed to tell each other everything?”

“Yes,” I said and got ready for his confession. Maybe he had waited until we were handcuffed, so I couldn’t kill him. Then the cops would surely know who did it. There was a long pause.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I will be running a contest today. Just contact me through my website www.jenniferloy.com and tomorrow I will pick a name out of a hat and the winner will receive my romantic comedy There Goes The Neighborhood on pdf format as an ebook. Go to Contact and message me… label the email “I want your book!” Of course put your name on there as well. Also, join my yahoo group to stay in touch and see when my new books are releasing.

Happy Holidays!

Jennifer Loy
http://jenniferloy.com/
Myspace

7 Comments

And the Winner…

December 9, 2008 | Contests

From yesterday’s Birthday Bash drawing is:

KIMMY who chose TEDDI TURNS ON!

I want to thank everyone who has been playing. The turnout has been amazing. Remember to send me an email, sloanetaylor@comcast.net, with you choice of book title from my releases to be in the daily drawing. Please type BOOKS in the subject line.

Tabitha Shay has been called away on an emergency. I’m not sure if she will be able to post today. Hopefully later this afternoon Tabs will be freed up to blog with you all.

Alternative-Read has given PHOTO OP! a fantastic review and I have to share it with you.

Title: PHOTO OP!
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Aspen Mountain Press
Publication Date: October 2008
ISBN:978-1-60168-139-3
Length: 69 Pages
Format: eBook- PDF, HTML, MobiPocket
Price: $3.50

How far would you be willing to go for a story? Renowned photojournalist, Emily Peters is willing to do just about anything to get the scoop on the famous (infamous) S and G Club. It’s the devilish man she runs into who ties her in knots.

Who is Nicholas Caine? Other than the man who is determined to savor the statuesque woman who’s just entered the one place he would never expect to see her. Now it’s become a simple matter of pleasure – theirs.

This is a bit different than the norm and quite frankly I adored it. I wasn’t too sure of how it ended until I realized it left the perfect opportunity for another wow part (hint, hint). The woman was just the way I like to read them; strong, intelligent, yet at the same time vulnerable, while the male was assertive, smart, and able to be tender at the same time. It was a mix made in heaven (and the mind of a talented writer) which is easily one to read over and over.
Alternative-Read.com reviewer: WitchGiggles

BUY LINK

Sloane Taylor
Sweet as Honey…Hotter than Hell
TEDDI TURNS ON 2009 EPPIE Finalist – Erotica www.aspenmountainpress.com
FRENCH KISS www.eternalpress.ca
www.sloanetaylor.com www.myspace.com/sloanetaylor

2 Comments

Free Books & MORE!

December 8, 2008 | Contests, Holidays

December is my birthday month and I’m CELEBRATING! Friends are dropping in daily until December 14. I hope you’ll join us at https://www.sloanetaylor.com/blog for a fun time.

Each day I’m giving away a free download to one person in a simple contest. The winner gets to select the book of their choice from my releases. All you need to do is email me sloanetaylor @ comcast.net, no spaces, on the day you wish to enter the contest. Type BOOKS in the subject line and the title you’d like in the body of your email. Told you it was easy! You can enter as many times as you like. I’ll draw a winner each day and announce them on my blog.

Here are the winners for December 6 and 7;

LB who chose TEDDI TURNS ON.
JULIE who chose FRENCH DELIGHTS.
Their prizes have been sent.

Since today is special for me, I’ve decided to give out 8 books to people who’ve entered and not yet been drawn. The winners and their books are:

BRIANFRENCH KISS
DEIDREFRANCINE IN FIRE
JANE and MOLLY who each chose TEDDI TURNS ON
LESLIE and LEXEE who each chose FRENCH DELIGHTS
LORETTAFRENCH TART
MICHELLEFRENCH TWIST

Congratulations to all the winners and I look forward to giving away even more books!

Below are the marvelous authors and their days. Be sure to check them out. They’re a lot of fun and filled with amazing talent. You’re sure to find an exciting new author to read. Feel free to ask anything you like. These folks will check in throughout the day and evening to answer.

8 Sloane Taylor
9 Tabitha Shay
10 Jennifer Loy
11 Beth Anderson
12 Melanie Atkins
13 Pam Champagne
14 Melissa Bradley

Also, if you like bookmarks and postcards send your snail mail address to me, sloanetaylor @ comcast.net, no spaces, with FREEBIE in the subject line. I’ll be happy to send you a packet no matter where in the world you live.

Hope to see you on at least one of the days!

Sloane Taylor
Sweet as Honey…Hotter than Hell
TEDDI TURNS ON 2009 EPPIE Finalist – Erotica www.aspenmountainpress.com
FRENCH KISS www.eternalpress.ca
www.sloanetaylor.com www.myspace.com/sloanetaylor

7 Comments

A Writer’s Life

December 7, 2008 | Friends, Holidays

So ever wonder what a writer’s life was like. Well let me tell you, it’s great.  Only thing is when the writing life is great, the real life sucks LOL

What do I mean by this you ask? Well the day I fond out my book Bare Bones was going print, I also found out my landlord was entering my apartment to snoop around back home. (Yes I was at the mine site while all this was happening and couldn’t do anything to stop it.)

So while I should be excitedly promoting my buns off, I am packing to move. Ever try packing to move kowing you have to leave for work until christmas eve? Anyway the important thing here is that my Book is going print! Woooohooooooo

So without further ado, here is a little on my book….Bare Bones

Bare Bones Blurb

On the run from the Lycan who turned him during the full moon on All Hallows Eve, Christian Clarke isn’t happy when he finds Joanna wandering through the woods searching for him. His inner wolf refuses to leave her side, yet his inner man wishes to keep her at arm’s length for fear that he won’t be able to control his inner demons.

 

Hearing her whispered profession of love, he reveals himself. Can he keep her safe from the pack that hunts him? Will Joanna love the beast he’s become?

Excerpt :

 

Throwing Joanna over his shoulder, he moved quickly and stealthily through the trees. It wasn’t hard avoiding Cain and his men. Despite his many years as a werewolf, the man still couldn’t walk through the forest when in human form without sounding like elephant in heat. Just because Cain had never added a woman to the pack, didn’t mean he never would and once he set eyes on Joanna it would be a fight to the death to keep her out of his hands. It still might…

 

Entering his cabin, he quickly bolted the door before taking Joanna into the back room and laying her on the bed. Standing back, he looked her over, running his eyes over every inch of her body like a man dying of thirst. She was still beautiful; nothing would ever change that. But she looked tired and worn. That wasn’t normal for her. Her long, raven colored tresses were tied loosely in a ponytail, strands escaping from the ribbon messily. She looked wild, free, and never more beautiful. Her skin was pale and she looked thinner than the last time he saw her. He hated seeing her this way; he liked her curves.

 

Joanna stirred as a shiver passed through her. Reacting instinctively, Christian fetched a blanket from the closet and gently covered her with it. “What do I do with you now, my dear Joanna? I can’t let you leave, not while Cain is out there hunting me. He’d take one look at your beauty and snatch you away for himself. Then I’d have to kill him for touching you.”

 

A barely legible murmur escaped her lips, pulling a smile from his lips. There were some advantages to be a Lycan. He heard every deliciously whispered word. No, he couldn’t let her leave; only now his reasons weren’t so unselfish. He wanted to keep her for himself, lose himself in her arms, and lips. Christian finally understood what his subconscious had been trying to tell him for the past year, that he needed her. She was his sanity, the thing that kept him holding on.

Reviews:

 

Dog Wild Blog Spot Review

 

Another quick story, but in the shape-shifter genre, was offered up by Aline de Chevigny in Bare Bones. Joanna didn’t realize she’d lost the true love of her life until he disappeared. On the one-year anniversary of his disappearance she feels compelled to try to find Christian one last time… These are two people who know each other, are comfortable with one another and are taking that last step to cementing their bond with each other, for a short story it accomplishes a lot.

 

To see review: http://dogwild.blogspot.com/2007/12/more-reviews.html

 

Romance Junkies Reviews: Blue Ribbon Rating: 5.0 Recommended Read

 

     Ms. De Chevigny has a masterpiece in BARE BONES.  It captivated me from start to finish.  I longed to be Joanna despite the possible danger.  Christian is the perfect alpha wolf, everything a woman dreams of.  It was a page turner.  I had to discover everything I could about Christian.  Rich scenery, heated intervals and a love to die for makes a perfect romantic dream.  This book has it all.

 

To read full review: http://romancejunkiesreviews.com/artman/publish/paranormal/Bare_Bones.shtml

 

Red Roses for Authors Reviews: 4 Red Roses

 

     This was a fun book to read. The characters were very engrossing. This is a short story that is very entertaining.

 

To read full review: http://redrosesforauthors.blogspot.com/2008/04/bare-bones.html

 

Two Lips Reviews: 4.5 lips

 

In Bare Bones, Aline de Chevigny spins a wonderful short story of a love that lasts through time, even when threatened by regret and horror. Christian’s love for Joanna has kept him forest-bound, fearful of doing her harm. When Cain and his pack threaten her, Christian knows he will fight to the death to keep her safe. This is a very hot little read, that will leave readers applauding!

 

For Full Review: http://www.twolipsreviews.com/content/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3039&Itemid=36

 

Bitten By Books Review: 3.5 Tombstones

 

The two main characters interacted well but it all came together a little too neatly for my taste. I’ve read other things by Aline de Chevigny and enjoyed them and will continue to read her writing, but this one just wasn’t for me.

 

For Full Review: http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=395

 

The Romance Studio Review: 4 Hearts

 

Aline de Chevigny has written a rather light hearted story of friends who have known each other for twenty years finally admitting to the love between them. The dialogue is often tongue in cheek funny.

 

For Full Review: http://theromancestudio.com/reviews/reviews/barebonesdechevigny.htm

 

 

Happy Holidays!
Aline de Chevigny
www.alinedechevigny.com

4 Comments

You can never have too much Sole. Linda that is!

December 6, 2008 | Friends, Holidays

Today we have Linda Sole, an amazing author, as our guest. Linda has over 80 published books, most of which are in print, and everyone one a treasure to read. Please give her a warm welcome and be sure to check out Linda’s contest shown below.

Hello Everyone,

A bit about me, I live in England and write every day of the week, even when I am on holiday in Spain. Sometimes I do just an hour, mainly when I am on holiday, but at other times I will put in a full day. Usually, it is when I am near to completing a book that I put in the extra hours, because I can feel the excitement of seeing a book come to its conclusion. And because I write for three or more publishers, I have to put a lot of hours in to keep up with my contracts!

I am up by about seven most mornings. I have breakfast wearing a bathrobe, catching a bit of the news on TV before coming upstairs to run my bath. I always open my email while the water is running, and when there is a heavy post from one of my groups I sometimes have to run to turn it off – usually too late! After the bath I take a walk to fetch the paper if it is an at-home day rather than a shopping day, and then I get to the computer. I like to write between ten and twenty pages a day – up to about five thousand words on a good day. If I do that I’m shattered when I’ve finished, because it takes so much out of me.

Some days I finish writing at lunchtime and then I like to sit in the sunroom, perhaps with a book or just talking to my husband. If the weather is nice we often go for a walk together, especially when we are in Spain. Over there I do a lot more walking, swimming and dining out on the sea front. I love people watching! I love the sea too, and we go quite often, perhaps once a week in summer. When I’m in my study I can watch the squirrels jumping through the trees in the wood opposite my window. It makes a break to watch them, and I feed them so they come often to our garden.

I write as Linda Sole for Red Rose Publishing and also in hardback for Severn House. However, I am probably better known for my Anne Herries books, which are usually in the Best Sellers at Amazon and sometimes in The Bookseller. I am quite often reviewed in Booklist, which is a magazine for libraries and publishers.

Cassie’s Sheikh, Chateau Despair and A Kind of Loving, all Linda Sole books will soon be in paperback with Red Rose Publishing. There are many more books to discover at my website, including the popular Upstairs/Downstairs series. You can find more information on my books at www.lindasole.co.uk

I am offering a bonus prize for one lucky winner who sends me a cover from an Anne Herries book – the prize is an ebook, winner’s choice of several. I will choose from whoever sends in to linda@lindasole.co.uk

You can find more information on my books and about me at www.lindasole.co.uk
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CASSIE’S SHEIKH
by Linda Sole
Red Rose Publishing

BLURB:
Will the preconceived notions and stereotypes keep them apart or do opposites really attract?

Kasim has heard about a writer he thinks writes for a filthy rag, as he calls magazines that do personal stories. When he discovers that the daughter of the trainer his uncle is intending to use for his horses at Newmarket is that writer, he is scornful.

Cassie tries to persuade him she is fit to take over as a temporary trainer when her father needs time off for illness, but she isn’t prepared for the love/hate relationship between them.

Can she convince Kasim that she isn’t what he thinks – and can they overcome the differences between them?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LOVE IS NOT ENOUGH
by Anne Herries
Published by Severn House
ISBN Number: 978-0727855946
Available from Amazon UK

BLURB:
1913. Beautiful but spiteful Marianne Trenwith has everything her younger sister, Sarah, wants, including the dashing Troy Pelham. But in a fit of petulance Marianne breaks of her engagement, much to Troy’s relief and her family’s mortification. As Lady Trenwith says, nobody likes a jilter, and Mariannes future, once so rosy, now looks bleak. As sarah and Troy’s friendship blossoms, Marianne warns her sister that a match will never be permitted and their parents will do anything to avoid a scandal. But with the war clouds gathering and women’s emancipation taking root, Sarah senses time is precious; how can social conventions be more important than the man she loves, soon to begin officer training?

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A SHAMEFUL SECRET
by Anne Ireland
ISBN: 978-1-934475-41-6 (ebook)
ISBN: 978-1-934475-56-0 (print)
Amira Press

BLURB:
When Hester was young she was seduced by a man she believed loved her, but he left her and she discovered that she was with child. In the nineteenth century this was shocking and her parents sent her away to have the child, which Hester was told died soon after it was born. Hester has been subjected to humiliation by her family ever since. However, things begin to change when her aunt begs for her company on a visit to Bath.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SONG OF THE MOUNTAINS
By Anne Ireland/Linda Sole
Eternal Press

EXCERPT:
They were swimming towards her, racing each other and calling out excitedly in the way young men will, reminding Morwenna of her young brothers who sometimes swam in the lake near her home at Bala. As they came nearer, she saw their shoulders were naked and realised they must have removed much of their clothing before plunging into the water. One of them had reached the bank a short distance from where she was sitting. He had not seen her because of the reed bed that partially obscured her and them.

She had a clear view of the man, who hauled himself from the river and stood shaking his long hair like a hound, the droplets sparkling in the sunshine as they flew around him. He was completely naked. His strong, muscled body open to her curious gaze as he stood laughing at his friend, clearly unashamed of his unclothed state and pleased to have won his race.
He was beautiful! Morwenna drank in the sight of his power and grace. The colour of his skin seeming to indicate this was not the first time it had been exposed to the elements, gleaming wetly like pale copper in the sun’s rays.

Song Of The Mountains is my latest book as Anne Ireland from Eternal Press. I have two others with eternal Press : Too Hot To Handle/Linda Sole and Trial by Fire/Anne Ireland.

I love to hear from my readers, so do visit my website and enter the contests or write to me.

Best Wishes,

Linda
www.lindasole.co.uk

7 Comments