by Sarah | Aug 19, 2013 | Character Interview, Guest Authors, Writing
Geoffrey: Welcome, everyone! I’m Geoffrey, a page living at Arnhem castle, and I’m going to interview the newest page. She’s a girl! Can’t get over that.
*Aislinn punches him*
Geoffrey: What was that for? Anyhow, Aislinn, what’s your story?
Aislinn: I’m just a girl who wants to become a knight. My older brother died shortly after getting his shield. I want to honor my family and take his place.
Geoffrey: I guess that makes sense. But you’re so small. Aren’t you afraid that being a girl on the battlefield that you…you know…fail?
*Aislinn punches his shoulder*
Aislinn: I’m going to earn my shield and make Arnhem proud. I’ll show you. And Calean too!
Geoffrey: So I guess that means you don’t think you have any weaknesses. *coughs* What about strengths?
Aislinn: Maybe being able to take stupid boys by surprise by wielding my sword better than them.
*Geoffrey steps away to make sure she doesn’t try to hit him again*
Geoffrey: How does your family feel about your training?
Aislinn: Mother hates it. Father… I’m not sure. I don’t want to let either of them down.
Geoffrey: Well, that was depressing. How do you envision your future?
Aislinn: I’ll be a lady knight of course! *glares at him for asking such a silly question*
Geoffrey: What about love?
Aislinn: What about it?
Geoffrey: Do you think you’ll ever get married?
Aislinn: If my mother has her way, yes.
Geoffrey: But you don’t want to?
Aislinn: I don’t know. Maybe. If I found someone.
Geoffrey: Have anyone in mind? *sidles a little closer*
Aislinn: No!
Geoffrey: What about me?
Aislinn: We’re friends, if that.
Geoffrey: No one’s caught your eye? Not Caelan?
Aislinn: That stuffy-headed entitled pompous prince? Never! Interview’s over.
*Aislinn stomps off*
Geoffrey: Well, I guess that ends our interview. Aislinn, wait up. Want to go to the swimming hole?
Aislinn: You know I can’t swim!
Geoffrey: How about a horseback ride then?
Aislinn: Dream Rider still doesn’t listen to my commands. I’m going to train with a knife.
*Geoffrey shrugs*
Geoffrey: Guess I’ll go find Caelan. I don’t think I want to be around Aislinn and pointy objects right now.
*~*~*~*
| [amazon_link id=”B0021L9YDK” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Amazon[/amazon_link] | B&N |
Blurb:
Aislinn of Bairbhe dreams of becoming a lady knight to honor the death of her fallen brother. To her mother’s horror, King Patrick grants Aislinn’s wish and she begins her long years of training.
Despite the mockery of the other pages, and the disdain of Prince Caelan who also trains to be a knight, Aislinn commits herself to her dreams and embarks on a journey of self-discovery and bravery. Through the years, Aislinn and Caelan grow from sparring classmates to good friends. They both know that someday Caelan will marry for the sake of the kingdom, but even that cannot keep them from falling in love.
*~*
Excerpt:
“Is there anyone else that you have feelings for, Aislinn? Is that why you don’t want to be with Geoffrey?”
Aislinn blinked, thinking about his question. “I haven’t thought about such things. I’m too focused on becoming a knight. That’s all I’m worried about.”
Caelan pushed back his chair and stood. With him on his feet, Aislinn had to tip back her chin to look him in the face, he had grown so much in the years since they’d first met. “There is no one else?”
She shook her head.
Caelan took a step closer to her, stepping so close he only had to whisper for her to hear him. “What if I told you that Geoffrey isn’t the only one who favors your company?”
His closeness overwhelmed Aislinn and she tried to take a step back. Her shoulders bumped the bookshelf behind her and several books shifted, but none made enough noise to draw the attention of anyone else in the library. Caelan lay a hand against her cheek, his thumb beneath her chin, and with a gentle touched, forced her to look at him.
Her heart pounded hard in her chest like a caged bird and Aislinn caught her breath.
“Caelan,” she whispered softly, but before she could say more, his lips covered hers.
Aislinn froze for a second as he held his mouth against hers, then heard herself sigh when he pressed closer and moved his lips. Aislinn’s eyes fluttered closed and she raised her hands to lay them on his chest, feeling his heart pound as hard as her own. Then reality snapped at her and she shoved him away.
“Stop it!”
She pushed past the prince and rushed from the library, with several squires and younger pages turning at her escape. Aislinn ran to her room and slammed the door shut. She leaned against it and slid to the floor, her head in her hands.
How dare he kiss me!
But the worst realization was that she’d kissed him back. Even the memory now made her insides tremble and her hands shake.
*~*
Bio:
Nicole Zoltack loves to write fantasy/paranormal, romances, horror, historical, for adults and young adults, novels, short stories, and flash pieces. She doesn’t want to get boxed in 
by genre — she might be claustrophobic! She’s also an editor for MuseItUp Publishing and works as a freelance editor.
When she isn’t writing about girls wanting to be knights, talking unicorns, and zombies, she spends time with her loving family. She loves to ride horses (pretending they’re unicorns, of course!) and going to the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire, dressed in period garb.
To learn more about Nicole and her work, visit her website at www.NicoleZoltack.com or her blog at http://NicoleZoltack.blogspot.com.
All of my books on Amazon:http://www.amazon.com/Nicole-Zoltack/e/B00304YARW/
by Sarah | Aug 16, 2013 | Guest Authors, Saturday Spotlight, Writing
| [amazon_link id=”B00E9WB37E” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Amazon[/amazon_link] | B&N | Red Sage |
Blurb:
Love smolders and the sex is red hot when Cassianna Baxter leaves behind a glamorous teaching career in Italy to return to her old Alma Mater, Lewiston Academy for Girls as the Deputy Head Mistress.
No sooner does she arrive at the Academy than she walks smack into sexy Lawrence Taylor, her first love and ex lover. He’s been looking for her ever since he was forced to leave her — now that she is back at the Academy, he knows he has to win her back. And not just in his bed.
Tour:
EXCERPT
Cassianna looked around her impressive wood paneled office and went right to the row of leaded windows that looked out on the Quad. She found herself searching for the ‘disappearing man’ she had seen a few minutes before. She could have sworn it was Lawrence. That was crazy. He had left Lewiston years ago and obviously had no intention of returning, judging by the speed at which he’d abandoned her so many years ago.
Across from her office was Mackenzie House, her old residence. The Virginia creeper had grown over most of the front of the building but she remembered her room well, it had a clear view of the riding arena and she used to rise early each day just to catch a glimpse of Lawrence as he went about his morning duties at the stables. She’d sit in her window late at night, reliving the intimate moments they had shared that day tucked away in his loft far from the prying eyes of the school. Those memories were best left unremembered, she told herself.
A knock at the door startled her.
“I hate to interrupt,” Millie said with hesitation as she stepped inside the office, “I know you’ve just arrived but there’s a family at the office, The Stevens family, and they’d like a tour of the school.” Millie paused, then whispered, “The girl’s parents are very generous benefactors of her brother’s school up in Newhaven.” Cassianna was well aware that benefactors were what funded private schools and were not to be taken lightly when they requested a tour. Jet lag or no jet lag, she took her first official school duty seriously and went off to meet the family.
Cassianna greeted the Stevenses and their daughter Penny, showing them around the grounds, the best she could remember. She wished now she had read up on the academy, so many things had changed since she was a student. Answering a multitude of the prospective family’s questions, they toured the Student Block, the cafeteria, the residences, and the sporting arena. Penny’s main interest was horses so Cassianna had saved the best for last.
“Would you like to see the Equestrian Center?” Cassianna asked the young girl.
“Would I? I love horses, Miss Baxter.” Penny beamed back at her and started to walk faster. Had it not been for her parents’ watchful eyes, she was sure the girl would have launched into a full gallop down the Equestrian Path.
Cassianna was as impressed as Penny and her parents with the brand new Equestrian Center. They admired the extensive stables and the new indoor and outdoor riding rings. Leading them to the outdoor Dressage Ring, Cassianna recalled stories of her horse, Raphael, and the painstaking hours she had spent practicing with him. She omitted the part about her torrid affair with Lawrence and her abrupt departure from the academy.
They stood ringside, the smell of hay and sawdust filling the sunlit air, watching a student being coached through a difficult dressage routine. At the far end of the ring a man called out instructions. Cassianna was glad there was such a high level rider in the ring to impress Penny and her family.
“Hello, can I help you?” A deep voice startled them from behind. Cassianna’s chest tightened and a spark shot through her heart.
Slowly, she turned toward the voice.
Those sensuous green eyes, that wavy sandy blonde hair. Her heart stopped for a moment.
“Lawrence?” Cassianna squeaked, in a voice that was definitelynot her own. His eyes held hers and her body trembled.
“Cassianna?” Lawrence asked, a stunned look on his face.
Silence hung in the air.
She had not seen Lawrence in almost twelve years, but there he was before her. His rugged, handsome good looks unchanged. His muscled body evident with his shirtsleeves rolled up, she could see those strong forearms and his adept hands. Oh, what he could do with those hands. She was unable to take her gaze from his. Words would not form in her mouth as she stared at him.
Lawrence stepped forward, extending his hand to Mr. Stevens. “I am pleased to meet you. I’m Lawrence Taylor,” his voice deep and confident, “chairman of the board of trustees for the academy.”
Cassianna’s jaw dropped, but she quickly closed it, struggling to regain her professionalism. She hoped she appeared cool on the outside, inside her mind was racing even faster than her pulsing heart.
She tried to center her thoughts; averting her gaze from Lawrence’s. She struggled with her composure and found her voice.
“The Stevens are here for a tour of the school and were just admiring the Equestrian Center,” she said in Penny’s direction. She feared that making eye contact with Lawrence would have her completely unglued. “And Penny is keen to join the riding team,” Cassianna stuttered, nodding to the young girl.
“Is that so?” Lawrence smiled encouragingly at Penny. “I’m a bit of a horse man myself.”
That’s an understatement, Cassianna thought, given the hours he’d spent coaching her years ago. And not just in the ring. Lawrence had been a talented and devoted lover, but now was not the time to think about that. She couldn’t help but notice that devastatingly charming grin that hadn’t changed, the way one corner of his mouth raised slightly higher than the other. She knew every nook and cranny of that mouth. A hot flush rushed between her thighs as her eyes lingered on him, remembering just how strong her attraction to him was all those years ago. Struggling to ignore those thoughts, she smiled at the eager young girl as Lawrence discussed the riding program in more detail with Penny and her parents.
Cassianna tried to gather her wits as she watched Lawrence, disbelieving that he was really there in the flesh. How could he be here? At Lewiston? And what is he doing being chairman of the board? That was what he said, wasn’t it? Now she couldn’t even think straight. She was trying to pull herself together, but she kept staring at his green eyes, as they flashed with animation.
There was an awkward silence as Lawrence and the Stevenses finished their discussion of the riding facilities while Cassianna just stood there lost in her thoughts.
“Well we’d best be getting back to the office,” Cassianna announced, rejoining the conversation. “Thank you, Mr. Taylor,” she said politely as her eyes met his, a bolt of intense heat rippled through her from head to toe.
*~*
About Kate: Kate Deveaux is a contemporary erotic romance writer and die-hard romantic. A former wedding planner, she has always been “in love” with love! Kate is currently working on several fictional stories – each filled with sexy romance, heroines who are no shrinking violets and heroes who make your heart skip a beat. She is a member of Savvy Author, Romance Writers of America (RWA) and their erotic romance chapter, Passionate Ink. Kate currently resides with her husband in Arizona.
Author website: http://www.katedeveaux.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kate-Deveaux/349294291841235?fref=ts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KateDeveaux
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/katedeveaux
Total E-Bound: http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=2139
Red Sage: http://eredsage.com/store/DEVEAUX_KATE.html
by Sarah | Aug 15, 2013 | Friday Dialogues, Guest Authors, Writing
Have you ever had one of those days?
I decided after I dropped the kids off at school that I was going to clean the cat boxes. I get downstairs… no litter. I can’t even blame it on anyone because I clean the box and I buy the litter… so I decide to run to the store (I have to pick up a prescription anyway, they called yesterday and said it was ready).
I get to the store, get the litter – pharmacy doesn’t open for another 15 mins so I look around and, yes, I do have a problem, I’m an impulse shopper – which means 20 mins and $50 in stuff later I go to the pharmacy for the prescription. Um, yeah, it’s not ready. They don’t know why they called and said it was ready, ’cause it’s not. I can come back Monday and get it.
Ok, I figure, I’m out, I’ll get some nice fresh fruit and have fruit salad for lunch. I don’t like the fruit at this store, so I go across the street to another store where the fruit is better priced. I find some fresh stuff – strawberries, blackberries, raspberries – and I get some jarred stuff – not as healthy, I know, but tasty and I love jarred pears and peaches.
So, I get all my stuff, lug it out to the car, drive home and start bringing my goodies inside. And of course, it’s me, so the bag breaks in the driveway and all my fruit goes splattering everywhere. There’s glass all over, the strawberries and raspberries popped out of their plastic containers and are scattered across the driveway. I live in a suburban neighborhood, the houses are fairly close together. The woman two doors down does daycare out of her home, my neighbor is retired, the guy across the street works weird hours…
My reaction to seeing my beautiful fruit salad colorfully decorating my driveway is to yell “F—!” I then realize that someone may have heard me and yell “Ohhh S**t!” while looking around. Realizing that I’ve done it again, I mutter “Dammit! Dammit! Dammit” under my breath.
I decide to take my other purchases inside – I have some hamburger meat that I don’t want to get warm outside. So I take my blackberries – which has popped open, but is salvageable – along with my other stuff and put it inside the doorway. I figure I’ll throw the blackberries in some vanilla yogurt – not as good as the fruit salad idea, but at least I have my blackberries.
I get a broom and start cleaning up the sticky mess and proceed to cut my finger. Not a bad cut, just enough to p* me off a little bit more. I get the mess in the driveway cleaned up and leave the broom in the sink – now I have to rinse that because it’s all sticky – and get ready to put stuff away.
I find the blackberry container, but all the blackberries are missing. I’m thinking WTF. I look down and there’s a dog toy next to the plastic container. Oh S**t! And I mean Oh S**t because the damn dog can’t eat stuff like that cause it gives her the runs. I then start to put my stuff away… well, it’s all sticky. I have to rinse everything and I don’t want to put it away wet, so I leave all my stuff spread all over the counter.
Okay, now I can finally clean that cat box. I go down and start cleaning and realize that I’m going to have to drag the vacuum down two flights of stairs because my broom is sticky. As I’m vacuumming, I look over, and the cats are out of food. Dammit! That’s The Boy’s job! Why didn’t he feed them?
I decide I should go and check on Gus – the old man kitty – to make sure he’s ok. He’s got a nice little bed with a heater under it cause he gets cold – which is in the other room. I peek around the corner and – I’m not kidding – there’s a paper plate next to Gus’ bed filled with chips! The Boy fed the 19 year old cat chips!!
I feed the cats, finish the catboxes and rinse the broom. I’m sticky and covered in cat litter dust plus whatever else I’ve encountered on my travels through my house that has decided to stick to my fruity sweatpants, so I decide I need a shower.
I get in the shower and am all wet and realize dammit! I left my new disposable razor that I just bought downstairs. I end up using my old one which is totally dull – the reason I bought the new one.
I am ready to wash my hair and Oh My God there’s no shampoo!! Dammit! I find The Girl’s No More Tears Smurf Berry Shampoo and end up using that.
Now I am sitting at my laptop, it’s lunchtime, I haven’t gotten any work done, I don’t have any fruit salad, my armpits are stinging like crazy, I smell smurfberrylicious and I’m waiting for my dog to crap all over my house…
| Amazon | B&N | Breathless Press | Are | Bookstrand | Smashwords |
Blurb: Tessa is having one seriously bad day. After agreeing to dress as a cheesy mascot at a convention for her boss, her clothes get stolen, she gets chased through a sinister parking garage, and her apartment gets broken into and turned upside down.
Gray, an off-duty police officer, can’t resist the sexy legs he sees in costume at a hotel convention. When he catches sight of her running for her life through a dark car lot, he’s determined to find out what her story is and ends up promising to keep Tessa safe…even if that means taking her home with him.
Excerpt:
Gray stepped outside of the hotel ballroom hoping the air would be cooler out there. He hated stuffy gatherings. Hell, he hated weddings. How two people could think they’d love each other forever was beyond him. Gray didn’t do love. Which was why he was stag at a co-worker’s wedding. He’d originally planned to invite Monique, but several months back she’d become demanding and talked about moving into his place with hearts and flowers in her eyes. So he’d ended it. Deep down, he’d known that she didn’t really want him. She wanted any warm body that would take care of her. She had slowly been trying to mold him into some GQ tycoon, telling him what to wear, how to act, and even going as far as telling him what he needed to do career-wise.
A loud crash on the other side of the hall caught Gray’s attention. In the open ballroom across the way he saw legs. Glorious legs in strappy high heels. The beautiful legs were tangled on the floor and attached to an ass that was just as gorgeous. After taking a closer look, Gray realized that above the amazing ass was an enormous, white light bulb-shaped head with blue googly eyes. It had blonde hair and wore a glittery purple hat. The tangled-up legs and heels were flailing around in a pile of what looked like empty light bulb boxes. Several gentlemen nearby were quick to help Legs get her feet beneath her. From their smiles and laughter he could tell that they were all quite happy to be of assistance. Gray didn’t blame them.
He watched Legs find her balance in those high heels, and with a little wiggle and tug of her skirt she went on her way.
*~*
About The Author:
Edie Hart was born in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago, where she now resides with her husband, two children, dog, and three cats. After spending her childhood making up stories in her head, she finally decided to put them on paper. What came of it was her first novella, One Bad Day. Edie is a die-hard romantic and believes that everyone deserves to be loved unconditionally—both in print and real life.
Edie also admits that “Edie Hart” is a pen name and an alter ego to an otherwise boring wife and mother. Edie is 20 pounds lighter, loves to skydive, travels to foreign places, and is a total sex kitten as compared to the uninteresting other half who is none of those things.
In reality the counterpart of Edie is a lackluster 40-something-year-old, whose main goal is to keep The Big One (The Boy) from torturing The Little One (The Girl). This week he hit her in the head with a 12-pack of Juicy Juice. Last week he left ravioli handprints on the back of her white T-shirt. The week before that he told her she was adopted and she believed him.
To learn more about her, and find out what The Big One and The Little One are up to, visit her via her website, Facebook, or Twitter:
Website
Facebook
Twitter
by Sarah | Aug 14, 2013 | Character Interview, Guest Authors, Thursday Tell All, Writing
- What is your story? Heartland (Black Irish #2)
- Who are you? Abigail O’Riley
- Do you think the author portrayed you accurately? I do. I think Tricia did a fantastic job.
- Do you have any special strengths? Patience. I live with a very sexy, fast tempered Irishman. I have to be able to soothe him at time while keeping myself in check.
- Do you have any special weaknesses? The same dark, sexy Irishman.
- What makes you happy? My husband, Sloan. And my extended family – my Mom, Gordon, Maggie, Bartholomew. Oh, and Robert. I guess.
- What are you afraid of? I am afraid of losing Sloan. There is a large price on his head and many evil men who want him dead.
- What in your past had the most profound effect on you? I was bullied in high school. It made me kind of an introvert. It also caused me to be very critical of myself seeing myself as the bullies saw me. Sadly, they didn’t change even though we’re adults.
- Who is your true love? Sloan O’Riley.
- What is the most important thing that ever happened to you? Why? The most important thing that happened to me was the day I married Sloan. The funny thing is that we did it so he could get a visa to stay in the United States. I thought he was gay. Little did I know he was telling me a little white lie so I would stay in New York City with him.
- Was there a major turning point in your life? When I discovered Sloan’s lie I ran. I didn’t know my ex-boyfriend stole all my money. I was left alone and penniless in New York City.
- What is your most closely guarded secret? My closely guarded secret is Sloan’s. Not many people know he used to be a member of the Irish Republican Army. And he’s still a wanted man for murders he didn’t commit.
- Do you have any hobbies? Writing, reading, running the gallery with Sloan.
- Name five items in your purse, briefcase, or pockets. My cell phone that I’m not allowed to turn off per my husband (“Non-negotiable” he says), pre-natal vitamins, Kleenex (my pregnancy is making me emotional), the gold shamrock pin Sloan gave me in New York City and a small sea shell we found on the beach in St. Thomas.
- How do you envision your future? I envision a house full of children with black hair and blue eyes, just like their Daddy.
- What is your most prized mundane possession? Why do you value it so much? My gold shamrock pin. Sloan pinned it on me personally before our meeting at Panda Publications to see our first book in print. Every time I see it I remember him smiling at me with his beautiful blue eyes.
- What was your family like? It was just Mom and me. I have no siblings. My dad left us when I was little. I’m glad. He wasn’t very good to my Mom.
- What is your worst childhood memory? My entire high school experience. There were three popular girls – Dani, Violet and Sami – who made it their personal mission to make my life horrible. Unfortunately they succeeded
- What is the perfect romantic date? Cuddling on the couch to watch TV after a wonderful dinner I cook with my husband.
- What is more important – sex or intimacy? Why? Intimacy. I want to be part of Sloan’s heart and soul. We can only get there through intimacy. Sex is just the bonus.
- How private of a person are you? Why? I am a very private person. Which doesn’t exactly work well when I’m married to the great Sloan O’Riley.
- If you were to gain an obscenely large sum of money (via an inhertiance, a lawsuit, a lottery, or anything else) what would you do with it? *giggles* Sloan is a billionaire. He has an obscenely large amount of money. I did buy a firetruck for our town, Mount Vernon. They desperately needed it.
- What would you wish for if you found a genie? To keep Sloan and our family together and safe forever.
*~*~*~*
| SCP |
Blurb:
Sloan and Abbey move to Abbey’s hometown of Mount Vernon, Iowa, to start their new lives together away from the chaos of New York City. And they are not alone – they are joined by Gordon, Maggie, and Bartholomew each looking for a fresh start and new love in the small rural town.
Their marriage is put to the test by the reappearance of Abbey’s father, bullies from her high school days, a business opportunity in Miami, and a new baby on the way. When a person from their past comes back looking to make Abbey his own again, will he be able to tear Sloan and Abbey apart forever?
Excerpt:
Abbey stepped aside to open the glass door wider. Nathan brushed past her into the spacious, opulent penthouse grasping the handles of a bulging leather briefcase. Before she could offer him a seat, he sank into the chocolate brown leather armchair.
She wrinkled her nose in disgust. That was Sloan’s chair. It’s where he sat to watch SportsCenter and read the paper. They cuddled in that chair. They made love in that chair. Seeing another man sitting in it seemed wrong. Very, very wrong.
“Can I get you something to drink?” Her voice slightly betrayed her insincerity. She really wanted him to leave.
“No, thank you. Sit,” Nathan commanded. He reached across to the sofa and patted the cushion. “We have a lot of ground to cover, and I have another appointment in an hour.”
Abbey complied hesitantly. “If we need to do this another day…”
Nathan unzipped his briefcase and pulled free a stack of documents. The pile was easily over two inches thick. “No, we need to do this today. Sloan insisted.”
“Do what?”
Nathan carefully arranged the stack of paper into several neat piles. “Sloan called me the other day to have me draw up some additional contracts for San Francisco. He told me the news of your nuptials and the little one coming. I advised him that we strong arm you into a post pre-nup to protect his investments.” Nathan looked up at her from sorting. His glare gave Abbey the chills. “By the way, congratulations.”
Classy. Abbey fought the sneer from her face. “Thanks,” she responded sarcastically. “So, this is the pre-nup?”
“No. I barely got the word pre-nup out before Sloan laid into me. Hard. I’m glad he’s in San Francisco, or he would have torn me limb from limb. After calling me some very colorful names, he very distinctly and clearly ordered me to add you to his accounts. Immediately.”
“His accounts?”
“As his wife, you share in his assets—bank accounts, properties, car titles, etc. Billions of dollars’ worth of assets.”
Abbey’s eyes flew open wide. “B-b-billions?”
*~*
Bio:
Tricia Andersen lives in Iowa with her husband, Brian and her three children – her sons, Jake and Jon, and her daughter, Alex. She graduated from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Arts in English and from Kirkwood Community College with an Associate of Arts degree in Communications Media/Public Relations. Along with writing (which she loves to do), Tricia coaches and participates in track and field, does kickboxing, reads, sews and is involved in many of her children’s activities. Tricia is also the co-host of Freshly Booked on Blog Talk Radio. Freshly Booked is a member of Writers Online Network.
Tricia is a member of the Romance Writers of America and RWA Chapter 177 From the Heart Romance Writers.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/t.l.andersenauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/triciaandersen
Blog: http://insidethiswritersmind.com/
Website: www.triciaandersen.com
by Sarah | Aug 12, 2013 | Guest Authors, Top Ten Tuesday, Writing
Roxy’s Top Ten Heroes for 2013
I’ve been reading romance stories since I was about ten or eleven years old. First, there were the Sweet Dreams Series I gobbled up every week, starting with Barbara P. Conklin’s P.S. I Love You, and then there was Francine Pascal’s Sweet Valley High Series which I absolutely adored. Of course, I graduated to reading more adult romance stories and now I’ve begun writing stories of my own, starting with He’s So Into You.
I know each romance story I’ve come to love is just that, a story. Yet, I can’t help falling in love with the hero, no matter how flawed, gorgeous, brave, rich or even scary.. yes, scary, he might be. If a hero is too perfect, or too-good-to-be-true, I wouldn’t dislike him, but he certainly wouldn’t tickle my fancy, because he would just bore me to death.
This year I’ve read dozens and dozens of romance novels and even though there are still a few months to go before the year ends, I’m going to share with you my Top Ten Heroes, so far. So here goes:
- 1. Reluctant Hero – [amazon_link id=”B00C7Z1WWQ” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Captured by the Bodyguard [/amazon_link]by Dez Burke
I don’t think any other hero I’ve read so far tried to fight against the attraction he felt for the heroine as Cane Hutchinson did.
2. Long Distanced Lover – Marine Ever After by Heather Long
Paul Torres was a hero who showed Lily how good love could be, even from a distance. Click here to read my review.
3. Hero with Physical and Emotional Scars – Bargain With the Beast by Naima Simone
Because Xavier St. James was so badly scarred during an accident, he built a wall of hostility to protect himself from feeling emotional pain. However, there was one woman who was capable of melting his heart.
4. The Lousy Lover – His Right Hand by Silence O’Shea
In the thirty years of reading romance stories, I’ve never, ever met a hero who was so terrible in bed he left not one, or two, but several lovers dissatisfied with his performance. Yet, you couldn’t help but love Mike Jasper. Click here to read my review of this story.
5. Best Schemer – Persuasion Skills by Laurel Cremant
Jaxon Grey wanted his woman on his terms, and he made damn sure he got what he wanted. Boy oh boy, Jax was such a schemer, you actually rooted for him to woo and win Pepper Holts.
6. Best Friend turned Lover – Give Me You by Tia Kelly
Nothing is sweeter than falling in love with your best friend. And Donovan Sinclair was determined to prove to Mya that it is a real good thing when friends become lovers.
7. The Compassionate Hero – Scarred by Jennifer Willows
Benjamin looked beyond Amelia’s physical imperfections and saw her beauty, which lie both within and without.
8. The Techie – Jaded by M.j. Kane
It was Zachariah Givens’ competence in technology which allowed him to come into Jasmine Phillips’ life, and it was his love for her which kept him there. Click here to read my review.
9. Military Hero – The Santinis: Gianni Book 3 by Melissa Schroeder
Gianni conquered every obstacle (age, ethnicity and educational background) which threatened to keep him from Kianna Jones. Click here to read my review
10. Lover – Promises Kept by Erosa Knowles
Cannon was so adept in bed, Karyn yearned to make love to him over and over again.
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| [amazon_link id=”B00CWKHKTU” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Amazon[/amazon_link] | Bookstrand | SCP | ARe |
Blurb:
Being badly injured in a plane crash and feeling responsible for losing his fiancé keep Jordan Cooper from getting involved with another woman, but his best friend Caleb talks him into going on a blind date. He’s surprised that in a short time his feelings for Raina Abbott runs deep. Jordan wants more than just one night with her, but he has to convince her first.
Leaving an abusive ex and ending an unhealthy relationship with food still aren’t enough to help Raina Abbott overcome her feelings of insecurity, but her best friend Jayce convinces her that going on a blind date is the first step to boosting her self-confidence and feeling good about herself again. Jordan Cooper shows her that she’s beautiful, both inside and out, but can a date and one night of passion assure her that he’s really into her?
Excerpt:
“May I ask you a question, Raina?
“Sure.”
“I just wondered why you’re here with me.”
“Because you invited me to your room, remember?”
It was obvious she evaded his question. It was the first time Jordan noticed Raina wasn’t altogether comfortable. So why in the world is she here?
“You know what I mean. Why are you on this date?
“Why shouldn’t I?”
“You’re beautiful, charming and intelligent. I would think you’d have men lining up just to be with you.”
Raina laughed without humor. “The trouble is, the guys I know either don’t want to be romantically involved with a full figured woman or just pretend they do.”
“You’re telling me you’ve never been seriously involved with anyone? Never been in love?”
“What’s love anyway?” she asked mockingly, and then shrugged her shoulders. “Maybe it’s just the irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired.”
“You think quoting Robert Frost is a satisfactory answer?” Jordan shook his head. “Be honest with me.”
Raina stopped swaying to the music and looked at him seriously. “Okay, you want to hear the truth? The truth is, I met a man who threw kindness my way, flowers, late night phone calls, the works. Within three months I moved in with him, much to the angst of my family. It didn’t dawn on me that he never took me anywhere, never invited his family or friends to our apartment, until I had invested so much time and effort in the relationship, I felt I shouldn’t leave him. He treated me like crap, insulted me, nothing I said or did met his approval. I became a chicken-shit, afraid of him, afraid of my freaking shadow, for god’s sake. I felt like such an idiot, because I didn’t even realize what I had become. Everyone noticed but me.”
*~*
Author Bio:
Roxy Wilson is a self-professed junkie whose excessive consumption of traditional and electronic books is legendary.
As a graduate with a degree in Education, she writes blogs which help readers to think critically about and appreciate poetry. In July, 2012, however, she decided to delve into the world of writing romance stories.
When she is not reading or writing, she spends her time cooking, listening to music and visiting the various islands of the Caribbean.
Follow me on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/roxy.wilson.737
Twitter – https://twitter.com/roxywilson17
My website/blog – https://roxywilson.wordpress.com/
Goodreads – http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7094458.Roxy_Wilson
by Sarah | Aug 8, 2013 | Friday Dialogues, Guest Authors, Writing
*Disclaimer: Two of the covers shown in this post are racier. They are shown below the fold, but do not open at work. Thank you.
Can you tell us a little about yourself?
Sure. I’m 28 (just!) and from Derbyshire in the UK. I divide my time between running my own business (http://www.writermarketing.co.uk) and writing (http://lucyfelthouse.co.uk). I also love reading, watching TV and films, spending time in the countryside walking and visiting places.
Are you a pantser or a plotter?
A little bit of both. For the most part I’m a pantser. But in the past few months I’ve been writing longer works (I started out in short stories) and I’ve found that they often need more plotting to make sure they’re the best they can be, and that I don’t lose my thread.
Can you tell us about the challenges you faced getting your first book published?
I was actually incredibly lucky when it came to getting my first short story published. I sent it off to Xcite Books, who included it in an anthology called Seriously Sexy 3. As it happens, Xcite is also publishing my first novel, Stately Pleasures, which I wrote last year. It went to a couple of other publishers, one of which didn’t respond at all, and the other that is no longer publishing erotic romance. So I sent the book out a third time, and luckily, Xcite accepted it. It should hopefully be published towards the end of 2013.
What was your favorite chapter to write and why?
I’ll answer this in regards to my two latest releases, Testing Tom and A Taste of Paris, which came out within days of one another.
For Testing Tom, it would probably be the last chapter. I can’t really say why without giving it away, but let’s just say I didn’t plan this book and so that chapter came as a total surprise!
For A Taste of Paris, I would say it’s the scene in the peep show. Again, I don’t want to give too much away, but bear in mind this book is aimed at men, and so is harder and with zero romance. That scene was just fun!
Were all of your characters easy to write, or did some of them give you trouble? Any particular character you didn’t like at all?
In the aforementioned books, I’d say yes, they were all easy characters to write. So far, I haven’t really written any characters that I didn’t like. I’m sure I will at some point!
Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
Read lots in your chosen genre, learn to edit yourself and pay attention to what publishers are looking for.
In researching your book what did you learn that surprised you? Or, alternatively, what thing did you research that you never thought you would (and considered deleting from your browsing history)?
Well, Testing Tom and A Taste of Paris both have some pretty hardcore scenes in them, but I didn’t do that much online research. The vast majority of Testing Tom was purely from my warped imagination. I did search for collars, though. And for A Taste of Paris I asked a friend that had been to a peep show to describe it, which was really useful, as often the Internet isn’t that good for absolute specifics.
Narrow down your novel. Why must we read it? (besides the obvious, it’s awesome answer…because of course it is!)
You should read Testing Tom because it’s fun, filthy and yet very romantic. The hero goes through an awful lot to prove to the heroine that he loves her and is worthy of her.
You should read A Taste of Paris… only if you’ve read A Taste of London. The books do stand alone, but you’ll have a much better reading experience if you read book one first. You should check them out because they’re lighthearted, sexy and fun, and the characters are gorgeous!
Do you have any unique talents or hobbies?
I’m afraid I’m pretty dull in that respect. Unless you count enjoying visiting stately homes and historical monuments as unique…
Which character speaks the loudest to you?
Ryan Stonebridge speaks loudly to me. He’s the main character in the A Taste of… series. I think he speaks loudly because he’s very similar to how I would be if I was an eighteen year old male travelling the world. He’s just so much fun to write.
Do you have another book coming out soon?
I sure do. My good friend Lily Harlem and I co-authored a novel back at the beginning of the year, and we just recently had a release date. Grand Slam is a BDSM erotic romance that is due out on the 23rd August from Ellora’s Cave. It’s released in time for the US Open, as there’s where some of the action takes place. I can’t wait for people to meet Travis Connolly and Marie Sherratt.
How many books can we expect to see in your series? Is the number tentative or set?
For the A Taste of… I don’t have a set number. In terms of location, I’m writing what I know. I visit London a lot, so that was easy. I’ve also been to Paris (latest book), Rome (the next book) and Amsterdam (the book after that). I’m hoping to go to Barcelona in 2014, so that will be where the book after Amsterdam is set. After that, I’m bringing the boys home for a while, I think, so I have chance to make enough cash to take another holiday! But basically I’m hoping to have enough books to cover their whole gap year before they start university. And who knows, if people like the boys enough, I may even follow them to university. Watch this space.
For the Raw Talent series, of which Grand Slam is book one, we don’t have a clue yet. We only decided to make it into a series when we were almost finished writing the first book. We’ve started book two and are planning to write two novels in the series per year, depending on our other commitments. So I guess we’ll do that until we run out of inspiration… which may be never!
*~*~*~*
Testing Tom is a femdom erotic romance novella. Here’s the blurb:
When Katrina’s ex, Tom, turns up on her doorstep, he’s literally the last person she was expecting to see. After dumping her and running off with a vanilla chick, Tom broke the Domme’s heart and left her seriously hurting. So when he returns, begging for another chance, Katrina is understandably very confused and protective of her bruised feelings. She finds it very difficult to believe that he’s turned his back on a vanilla lifestyle for good and wants to be with her, a professional dominatrix. Rather than letting her head or her heart figure out what to do, whether to forgive him, she decides to put Tom through a series of challenges that will prove his devotion to her—or not. Testing Tom is not something she’d ever expected she’d have to do, but to her, it’s the only way she can be sure whether he’s back for good.
More info, excerpt and buy links here: http://lucyfelthouse.co.uk/published-works/testing-tom/
Add to Goodreads here: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18147133-testing-tom
A Taste of Paris is book two in my A Taste of… series and is an erotic short story. Here’s the blurb:
Ryan Stonebridge and his friend Kristian Hurst are traveling on their year off before going to University.
Unfortunately, Kristian has been called back home due to a family emergency. Ryan continues on to Paris alone, hoping his friend will join him again soon.
In the meantime, Ryan’s lucky streak with women continues, and by the time Kristian makes it to Paris, Ryan’s bumper box of condoms is depleting rapidly. However, there are more than enough women to go around, and Kristian intends to have some sexy fun of his own, and when the boys get a chance to play with two sexy ladies at once, they certainly aren’t going to turn it down.
More info, excerpt and buy links here: http://lucyfelthouse.co.uk/published-works/a-taste-of-paris/
Add to Goodreads here: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17368766-a-taste-of-paris
*~*~*
Lucy Felthouse is a very busy woman! She writes erotica and erotic romance in a variety of subgenres and pairings, and has over seventy publications to her name, with many more in the pipeline. These include Best Bondage Erotica 2012 and 2013, and Best Women’s Erotica 2013. Another string to her bow is editing, and she has edited and co-edited a number of anthologies. She owns Erotica For All, and is book editor for Cliterati. Find out more at http://www.lucyfelthouse.co.uk. Join her on Facebook and Twitter, and subscribe to her newsletter at: http://eepurl.com/gMQb9
by genre — she might be claustrophobic! She’s also an editor for MuseItUp Publishing and works as a freelance editor.
