A Holiday Hiatus for Novel Thoughts

Happy holidays, everyone! Novel Thoughts will be taking a holiday hiatus this year as we spend time with our families but we will be back after the New Year. Thank you to all the readers and authors who have made this such a fun year! May your holidays be filled with family, friends, love, and book store gift cards! 😀

See you all in January!

Mad & Lillie

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Winners!

bellesblue

wins digital books by Gretchen Chambers

*

Margay

wins 7 Minutes in Heaven by Rhian Cahill

*

Jess1

wins Kissing Her Scrooge by Kinley Cade

*

Tammy M.

wins Tinsel My Hear by Christi Barth

*

Congrats! To claim your prize, please email lillie80 @ gmail.com (without the spaces). You have 48 hours to email before a new name is chosen.

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Christi Barth – Guest Blog and Giveaway

Becca Huntley’s produced the Lyndale Park Player’s over-the-top Christmas pageant for ten years. The beloved Minneapolis tradition is the theatre’s main fundraiser. But this year’s production is almost canceled when their director disappears into rehab at the last minute. Good thing his directing partner steps in to save the day. Except for the minor fact that he hates everything about Christmas.

Jack Whittaker wiped the Twin Cities off his shoe with his graduation tassel and never looked back. But duty compels him to fulfill Tyler’s promise to direct the show. Even though it means working side-by-side with Becca, the girl he always wanted, lost to Ty, but never forgot.

It’ll take more than a few handfuls of tinsel to soften Jack’s heart toward Becca’s favorite holiday. Steamy kisses that melt the snow right off his boots are a step in the right direction. They’ll both discover that Christmas is about making each other’s dreams come true. But will doing so destroy their chance at a happily-ever-after together?

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One of my favorite guest posts to write for every release blog tour is the research post. Yes, I’m a contemporary romantic comedy author. I write about people living in today’s world, with today’s clothes and smart phones and bar food. Sounds uncomplicated, compared to my ever-toiling historical author friends, right? Well, we contemporary authors have to do research, too.

Some of my research is quite serious. Every book has a conflict. In my latest release Tinsel My Heart (which I promise is entirely lighthearted, funny and sexy!), the hero’s best friend and partner just got sent to rehab. I had to research how long an initial stay is supposed to be, what sort of contact with friends and family is allowed, if at all, and after how much time has elapsed. The entirety of that knowledge probably takes up three paragraphs, at most. But it is too important not to spend the time to get right.

Then there’s the research I do just for the sake of a punch line. Given the style of books I write, that probably accounts for ninety percent of my research. But when you write funny books, even the throwaway lines have to ring true. Here’s a long-winded example of why I had to research the different Defcon levels:

“Sweetheart, I’m about to start rehearsing a cast of amateurs, kids and goats. I’m gonna do nothing but worry for the next ten days.”

Three hours later, Jack was considering changing his tune. Oh, he’d still worry. Any director worth a damn maintained a certain level of rampant panic over every last second of stagecraft right up until the first curtain. Worry that the actors might forget their lines. Forget their blocking. Hell, this show was a musical, so that brought in a whole other level of problems. No dancing—not a lot of polka numbers in the old King James version—so that was good. But the microphones might crap out. The recorded orchestra track might blip. And yes, for the first time, Jack actually had to worry about a goat taking a dump in the middle of the stage. That was a new one.

But his worry wouldn’t be at Defcon Ten. Threat Level Midnight. Code Red. Whatever. Turned out that this ragtag bunch of rank amateurs actually knew their shit.

Yup. Talk about a tossed-off line. Inner monologue, no less! But I still took the time to make sure it was accurate. Here’s one more example of my painstaking research. This one was to pin down a fancy and famous shopping district in Italy…and to be able to describe it to my readers:

Jack picked up his clipboard, then twisted in the seat to look for her. And had to grip the armrest to keep from launching into the aisle when he saw a man swaggering toward him. A man in those stupid, skinny-cut pants that screamed Eurotrash paired with a freaking bolo tie and a leather duster that matched Jack’s.

He remembered the day they’d bought the coats in a little shop on the Ponte Vecchio in Florence. They’d been celebrating their win the day before of the coveted Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. It had been a surreal feeling, strolling along the ancient bridge with his best friend and the new phenomenon of a shitload of cash in his pocket.
The whole book takes place in Minneapolis. Do my readers have to know what it feels like to shop in Italy? Technically, no. Was it intrinsically important to the plot? Heck, no. But if I want them to thoroughly experience the point of view of the hero, a mega-star of a director who jets from movie sets to red carpet premieres, then yes, I do have to show them details like that. I have to immerse them in the life of the hero. All of it. Ultimately, I do the research to make the best book possible. And if it quirks somebody’s lips up in an extra smile for a couple of seconds, it’s worth it!

Purchase at * Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Carina Press

Website | Blog | Pinterest | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page |Facebook

Bio: Christi Barth earned a Master’s degree in vocal performance and embarked upon a career on the stage.  A love of romance then drew her to wedding planning.  Ultimately she succumbed to her lifelong love of books and now writes contemporary romance.  She is the award-winning author of the Aisle Bound series. Christi is President of the Maryland Romance Writers and lives in Maryland with her husband.

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For the chance to win a digital copy of Tinsel My Heart, just leave a comment below. Good luck!

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Kinley Cade – Guest blog and giveaway

Every Christmas, Hannah Jones makes it her mission to give her hometown the perfect pageant. Even malfunctioning inflatable Santas and lost students can’t stop the self-proclaimed Miss Holiday. But the teacher may have met her mismatch in sexy but antisocial tree farmer Griff Green. Hannah’s been lusting after her new neighbor for months—and she’s determined to melt his heart by being naughty as well as nice…

He may sell trees, but Griff doesn’t do Christmas. He’s known as the town humbug—and he likes it that way. Which is why he’s been avoiding Hannah, despite the sexy visions of her that have been dancing through his head. When a surprise visit leads to a passionate kiss, he can’t deny the attraction any longer.

When Hannah discovers Griff isn’t the Scrooge he pretends to be—and she exposes his secret to the whole town—it may take a holiday miracle for their budding relationship to survive into the new year.

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When the holidays are hilarious

 

I finished holiday shopping for my husband and my parents and I probably went about it wrong. Mostly because I giggled the whole time. And there might have been the occasional cackle.

 

It started out innocently enough, but it quickly went downhill. I started by searching for something simple, but then it would show an example of other things I might want and it was totally me looking at the picture and thinking, YES! That is much better.

 

That’s hilarious and I have to get it! *insert cackle*

 

My husband basically watched me the whole time I was doing this because he was at his desk and we were in the same room.

 

He would just give me that look. He has this look he gives me that goes beyond the realm of words. He doesn’t need to say anything. He just needs to look. It perfectly summarizes his feelings which are basically, You’re crazy/How did I end up here?/Why is this happening to me?

 

With love, of course. Don’t forget the love.

 

I really wish I could share how I managed to take something completely appropriate and make it full of innuendo, but on the off chance my husband reads this blog, I don’t want to spoil the surprise.

 

He honestly is ridiculous when it comes to guessing presents. I’ll make one offhand comment and he’ll be like, “Seahawks’ pool cue.” I will be like… how did you even…?

 

I mean that is a very specific guess. Maybe I’m super obvious. That wouldn’t surprise me. But if you want to know what I got after the holiday season, there’s no way I won’t be blogging about it at http://kinleybaker.wordpress.com.

 

Then my husband had the sobering reminder that went something like, “Your mom better be as amused as you by these presents.”

 

And I got to thinking… They won’t possibly be as amused as I am. Maybe I did this whole gift buying thing wrong.

 

But I do think they will like their presents! They’re just going to have a little patience and remember that they chose me.
Well, my parents, bless their hearts, didn’t choose me but I constantly have to remind my husband he chose to be here experiencing this moment which is inspiring the look.

 

Relationships are so strange to me and the dynamics have always intrigued me. You basically choose someone who you will be with (in theory) everyday of your life. It’s kind of like forcing two people who don’t know each other to share a room in college.

 

If you really thinking about it, it’s bizarre. But that’s why I love romance and exploring just why two people could possibly want to be together.

 

I’m a romantic and happy endings are a necessity. Writing contemporary romance has really given me an appreciation of the power of a relationship.

 

Even if at the end of the day, all you’re left with is the look. I admit I am amused by the look.

 

Don’t tell him though. It will be our secret.

 

Have you ever bought a gift for someone else that amused you? It worked out well, right…?

 

BIO

 

Kinley Cade has a terminally tender heart and an inconvenient sense of humor. She loves puppies and cries at celebrity weddings. Kinley believes “happy ever after” isn’t only for the normal. Kinley Cade’s contemporaries are known for their sexy heroes, resilient heroines and memorable characters, however, she also writes sexy paranormal heroes, resilient heroines and memorable characters as Kinley Baker. To learn more about her contemporary romances please feel free to peruse http://www.kinleycade.com. To check out her paranormal romances visit www.kinleybaker.com. And for just Kinley you can visit her at her blog kinleybaker.wordpress.com or on twitter at http://www.twitter.com/kinleycade. Find out more about her latest release, Kissing Her Scrooge, on her website.

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For a chance to win Kissing Her Scrooge, just leave a comment below. Good luck!

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Are You Game? By Rhian Cahill

I’ve always loved reading series books. There’s just something about getting to go back and visit with favorite characters while on the journey with a new set. I guess that’s why I seem to end up writing series stories. My latest is a spin-off of another series I wrote and revolves around a company called Are You Game? They’ve got a game for every occasion. 😉

Today marks the release of the first book in the series, 7 Minutes In Heaven, and I’m so excited to finally see Cassie and Luc step out in the big wide world. 🙂 And to help celebrate I’m sharing an exclusive snippet and one lucky reader who comments will win a digital copy of 7 Minutes In Heaven.

 

 

Excerpt –

 

He flattened his hands on the wall beside her head so he wouldn’t give in to the temptation of grabbing her and dragging her into the bed she’d offered him. He’d be a fool to rush her. She’d never let him get closer if he used their sexual chemistry to win her over. How he knew that he wasn’t sure, but he did. If he wanted to get to know Cassie, spend time with her, he’d have to tread carefully—needed to produce some of his legendary control and back away.

Only that wasn’t so easy when her mouth ate at his like she couldn’t get enough. When she gripped the back of his shirt like it was a lifeline. Or when she came up on her toes, arched into him and rubbed against his straining flesh. With a growl, he tore his lips from hers.

“Fuck.” Luc laid his forehead on Cassie’s and tried to catch his breath. Pleased to note her breathing came in ragged gasps as well. “Damn, you’re potent.”

“Me?” She fisted her hands in his shirt and he couldn’t recall when she’d moved them from his back to his chest.

“Yeah, you.” He raised his head a few inches and met her gaze. “You scramble my brains without trying.”

Cassie laughed and pushed him away. “Pot, meet Kettle.”

Luc grinned. He liked that she wasn’t playing coy or using his reactions to her against him. She was a breath of fresh air and Luc couldn’t wait to saturate his blood with her. But not yet. Tonight they needed to get their balance, regain some sanity and think about where this was leading. Well, at least he did. “So, is there anything you want me to do? Unpack the van?”

Her smile faltered. “Ah, no. We’ll do that in the morning when we get to the warehouse.” She ducked her head, but before she could sneak under his outstretched arm and escape, he slid his hands lower down the wall, effectively trapping her.

“Look at me, Cass.” He waited long seconds for her to comply. When she finally did, he could see the uncertainty swirling her eyes. “Make no mistake that I want you in that bed.” Luc tipped his head to indicate the room beside them. “But I want far more than a quick tumble, and if you’re honest I think you’ll admit you do too.”

She started to shake her head, but he stopped her by gripping her chin in his hand.

“You can lie to me, but don’t lie to yourself, Cass.” He brushed his thumb over her bottom lip and watched it tremble under his touch.

“I don’t have time to get involved. Don’t want to,” she whispered.

Luc could understand her hesitancy, but he wasn’t about to ignore the intense attraction between them. And it was between them, her body told him she was as equally affected even if her mouth didn’t. “I’m not sure what exactly it is between us but it’s far more than one night of pleasure, and I’m willing to wait because I know we’ll end up in that bed eventually.”

A burst of air fanned over his thumb when she gasped, and a shudder rolled through him as he thought about how her warm breath might feel on other more sensitive parts of his body. Leaning forward, he planted a quick, hard kiss on her lips before he stepped back and broke all contact.

It was the hardest thing he’d done in recent memory, but Luc smiled and said, “See you in the morning.” He strode into the bedroom and closed the door behind him before he could change his mind and take her against the wall.

 

Available from

Samhain Publishing ~ Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ iTunes ~ Kobo

 

Rhian Cahill

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

 

To be in the running for a chance to win a digital copy of 7 Minutes In Heaven just tell me in the comments what’s a childhood game you remember playing. Easy-peasy. 🙂

 

 

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Gretchen Chambers – Guest blog and giveaway

Mira Avalon is a witch without power, burning silently for her handsome and mysterious colleague, Sol Ribero Santos.

When Mira happens upon an ancient amulet, her powers come to life, and things between her and Sol start to heat up. With her new powers come new dangers, however, and the force that brought her and Sol together now threatens to consume them both… unless Mira can tame the fire within herself.

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I never set out to write a romance novel.

Or an erotic novel.

Or any type of novel at all, really.

After all, I’m a cellist! (A semi-retired one now.) I went to music school! The last time I had to write anything over five pages was… a long, long time ago.

But my love affair with reading started when I was four, and discovered picture books about mermaids. As a child, I was amazed at the plethora of worlds I could just jump into. Picture books about mermaids led me to chapter books about spunky girls, which led me to series about teenage wizards, which led me to… well…. everything else. When I was sad, when I was lonely, when I was deliriously happy, when I didn’t want to practice my cello… I always had a book with me. Sometimes, the experiences of certain characters seemed more real — or more important — than the actual events unfolding before me. Always, books were a source of entertainment, of pleasure, of delight.

I’ve read everything from high fantasy to pulpy thrillers to YA dystopias to non-fiction. Always, there is a common theme in the books I most treasure. The characters feel alive, the setting is arresting, and the heroine — and there is always a heroine — isn’t completely brainless. If there is ethnic or religious diversity, so much the better — we don’t live in a monochromatic world! And, of course, there is romance — always, always, romance. A novel without a hint of romance is like bread without yeast — flat and heavy and just not as good. (I’m a novice baker. It’s been a good year for acquiring hobbies.)

I was recovering from an unpleasant Life Surprise earlier this year — the kind that comes out of nowhere and tries its damndest to make you angry and sad — and found myself with a lot more time on my hands than I had had before. Time to think critically about the things I loved and the things that made me happy. I took stock of my life and the choices I had made, and somehow, what started as me sitting down to write a list of Things I Would Like to Change suddenly turned into Me Scribbling Into the Night As My Husband Tried Fruitlessly to Get Me to Go to Bed. I was haunted by this question — what do we do when everything around us, everything in our lives, turns sour and dark and miserable? How do we deal? How do we move on?

Through this process, I was was haunted by an image of a girl — dark-haired, like me; a little unsure of her place in the world, like me — who found herself at a sudden crossroads, who had to make a choice.

Thus Mira Avalon was born.

The characters in Consumed are flawed. My heroine, Mira, is in way over her head. She discovers an ancient amulet that unleashes powers she didn’t realize she had, and her attempts to tame her new magic are often dangerous, foolhardy, and self-destructive. She’s mostly alone, scarred by trauma and isolation, and must relearn how to trust, how to navigate a world that has shifted around her overnight.

And on top of that, she must renegotiate a relationship with the man she’s desired for years.

On her journey, she encounters dark magic, dangerous characters, and self- destructive situations. She learns how to be a friend. How to be a lover. How to be her own person. (And, perhaps most importantly, how to rock a super-tacky amulet that clashes with everything.)

Mira’s problems aren’t my problems, and Mira isn’t me. (For one, I am a lot less… uh… uninhibited.) I made her journey both completely fantastical and exceptionally erotic, partially for my own amusement and partially because so often, fantasy books are total sausage-fests. I wanted to inject the fantasy genre with a little sass, a little pizzaz… a little sex appeal.

Consumed was my first novel. It isn’t perfect, but it represents the first step in a journey of discovery — for me as well as for Mira Avalon.

I hope you enjoy it, and I hope you find a little of yourself within its pages.

Love,

Gretchen

I am always happy to continue the conversation on Twitter, Tumblr, Goodreads, or my blog. (I have a Facebook, but I rarely use it.) And I love comments and reviews — honest, constructive feedback helps me produce better work.

 

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For a chance to win Gretchen’s four short stories plus Consumed, just leave a comment below. Good luck!

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Winners!

Stephanie F.

wins a swag pack and a digital book from Carrie Ann Ryan’s backlist

*

AlisonBliss, Susan Rice, Janina, theresafortier, Michelle Curry, and Karen

wins Christmas Curveball by Shari Mikels

*

flchen1

wins a book from Leah Braemel’s backlist

*

Congrats! To claim your prize, please email mad @ romancereaderatheart.com (without the spaces). You have 48 hours to email before a new name is chosen.

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Megan Mulry – Guest blog and giveaway

SECOND CHANCE…

The Marchioness of Wick is about to get a second chance at life…whether she wants it or not. After twenty years in a loveless marriage to a duplicitous British aristocrat, Claire Heyworth Barnes finds herself broke and alone. Encouraged by her dynamic American sisters-in-law, the shy royal decides to start over in New York City. When she lands a job with a famous interior designer, Claire accidentally reconnects with the first—and only—man she ever loved.

FIRST LOVE…

Benjamin Hayek has never forgiven Claire for the heartless way she left him when they were teenagers in the south of France. And even if he could, Claire’s not sure she has the courage to contend with how he makes her feel. Can they build a new love from an old flame? Or will a bitter history and a complicated future stand in their way?

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * iTunes

 

 

Dear Lillie,

 

Thanks so much for having me here at Romance Readers at Heart! Being asked to write “on any topic” is particularly vexing for me and when I am vexed (or happy or sad or breathing) I turn to Twitter. So I asked The Great Twitter what I should write for your blog and Ann Marie Gamble asked:

 

Is it tough to read recreationally these days?

 

Her question took me back to my last month in college. I remember, when I was about to graduate, I had a “to do list” that consisted of at least five ten-page papers and myriad final exams and group projects and moving out of my college apartment and getting a job and All The Things. Of course, I chose that moment to start reading Marjorie Morningstar.

 

I just couldn’t put it down. There I was in the midst of the most pressing academic responsibilities, at the most pivotal crossroads of my young life, and instead of looking harder for a real job or trying harder for the A instead of the reliable B, I followed the exploits of a rather unlikeable protagonist through her rather unlikeable exploits right through all Seven Hundred And Sixty Two pages to her VERY unlikeable end.

 

The irony is: I finished all of those final exams; I wrote all of those final papers; I graduated from university; I did all that. And do I remember anything from my Japanese Civ final (other than the fact the professor used the word hegemonic on the final and none of us knew what it meant)? No. But I remember so much about Marjorie. About her obsession with Noel. About (what I saw as) her capitulation to normalcy. About how bittersweet it is to give up obsessions. When are obsessions dreams worth pursuing? When should we give them up? When are they healthy motivations to achievement? When are they destructive paths to self-loathing?

 

And what is more germane today, Japanese Civ or Marjorie? You guessed it. Marjorie.

 

The happiest people I know eventually do what they love: their recreation becomes their occupation. So it is with my writing. So it is with Claire Heyworth, the heroine of my newest book, IN LOVE AGAIN. (See how I did that?) All Claire ever wanted was to have a loving family in a beautiful home—dreams that seemed modest to her young, privileged mind. But her first husband basically made her feel like those were shitty dreams.

 

So when she starts over in New York City and she is able to get a job working at an interior design firm—getting paid to do what she loves—it is a twofold victory. Not only is she earning her own living for the first time in her life, but her interests are being validated by everyone around her. Then she reconnects with a man who is also eager to start a family—a part of her own dreams that she had been forced to abandon years before. What can I say? Claire had a hard go of it so I thought she deserved the glamorous job and the hot, loving hero. So sue me.

 

I think when we put our dreams out there—dreams like I want to write books! Or I’m 38 and I want to have another baby!—sometimes they really can come true. A lot of that dream-coming-true-business has to do with that recreational bit. The loving bit. I think they’re related.

 

I’d love to hear your blog visitors’ thoughts about dreams versus obsessions, recreation versus occupation. When is it time to dig in? When is it time to move on?

 

Thanks so much for having me!

 

Megan

 

Megan Mulry writes sexy, stylish, romantic fiction. Her first book, A Royal Pain, was an NPR Best Book of 2012 and USA Today bestseller. Before discovering her passion for romance novels, she worked in magazine publishing and finance. After many years in New York, Boston, London, and Chicago, she now lives with her husband and children in Florida. You can find her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Goodreads, or on her website.

 

 

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Christmas Curveball by Shari Mikels – Giveaway!

When newly-single Rachel Tanner finds out that pro pitcher Kevin Ganlin has come home to recover from an injury, her heart skips a beat. She’s loved him from afar since her preteen years, never bold enough to let him know.

Kevin is less than thrilled when Rachel shows up at his doorstep. She’s his best friend’s little sister and officially off limits. Besides, he’s staring early retirement in the face, a one-man pity-party with no interest in anything more serious than quick flings on the road. Until an icy mishap lands Rachel cozied up on his sofa, irresistible in his practice sweats.

A little game of Truth or Truth reveals much more than Rachel had ever dared to hope and leads to a midnight make-out session that leaves them both panting. But can she trust that he’s truly changed his ways? This Christmas, Kevin will do whatever it takes to make Rachel understand she’s the only one for him.

www.sharimikels.com

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For the chance to win a digital copy from Amazon or B&N, just leave a comment below. Five winners will be drawn on Sunday.

*Giveaway sponsored by Novel Thoughts

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Leah Braemel – Guest blog and giveaway

Thanks to Novel Thoughts for inviting me to be on their blog today to talk about my newest book, Slow Ride Home. Yes, it’s a story about cowboys living on a huge ranch in Texas, but it’s also about lost love and lost dreams and whether they can be found again. The older generation of Gradys have created a lot of drama that Ben Grady and his brother Jake are now having to clean up. With a little help from Ben’s old girlfriend Allie—a woman he once loved but who his family destroyed. So there’s a lot of angst for those two to overcome. I decided to take a different approach to today’s post and borrowed a few questions I found in older Novel Thoughts posts, along with a few others that readers have asked lately:

 

In 5 words describe Slow Ride Home:

 

Cowboys. Reunited Lovers. Regret. Secrets. Hope.

 

What’s your favorite place to write?

 

Although I spent a great deal of effort setting up an office, I find I write best away from the desk. There’s something about sitting down at the desk, surrounded by the pile of receipts waiting to be entered, the sticky notes reminding me of blog posts to be written and administrative things to be done that diminishes my creativity. So I set up a comfortable wing chair with its own monitor in the corner, and have a special computer that I can easily turn off the net so I can’t “just pop over to FB to check something” that forces me to concentrate just on my story. Now to get over there more. Ideally I’d have two rooms for my office, one that has a huge 60 inch flat screen hooked up to my lap, a wireless keyboard for me to sit in a big comfy chair — or even better a chaise longue or day bed, and that’s it. (Except for all the plotting boards/sticky notes that ONLY talk about my story, not administrative stuff.)

 

What do you have on your desk?

 

Far too much. Mainly piles of paper — things like a printout of my latest manuscript, invoices for swag, the inevitable bills, at least a half dozen sticky pads, my regular glasses (I wear a special computer-distance set when working at my computer), a glass case, coffee cup, an extra mouse, a jar of hand cream, and (don’t laugh too hard) a single sock that I took away from my puppy (who loves to raid my laundry basket.—at least it wasn’t my underwear this time.)

 

What things do you need to write?

 

The main thing I need is quiet—no interruptions of puppies or cats clamoring for attention, no phone calls. Oh, and a laptop — I rarely write by hand since my writing can’t keep up with my brain, and when I try I can’t read my writing afterward. (Found that out after I wrote ten pages by a river one day and then tried—unsuccessfully—to decipher it the next day.)

 

5 random things about yourself

 

• I’m terrified of glass elevators, and heights for the most part.
• I suck at small talk or going up and introducing myself to strangers, especially in large crowds. I just don’t know what to say so I tend to be a wall flower so if you meet me at a conference I’m not being offish.
• If there’s a choice between chocolate or something salty like chips, I’ll choose salty 9 times out of 10.(though I am intrigued by the chocolate coated chips that are now available.)
• I make a killer chocolate macaroon that my hubby and kids will fight over. (I added the recipe below)
• I’m a champion procrastinator.

Chocolate Macaroons

2 cups white sugar

½ cup milk

½ teaspoon salt

½ cup butter

3 cups rolled oats

½ cup cocoa

1 cup coconut

1 teaspoon vanilla

 

Boil sugar, milk, salt and butter for 5 minutes.  Bring to a rolling boil, then turn down the heat to keep it rolling but don’t over-boil or the mixture will be too dry. Remove from heat and add 1 teaspoon vanilla.

Add oatmeal, cocoa and coconut mix.

Using a teaspoon (or for teen boys, a tablespoon), drop on wax paper to cool.  Work very quickly as mixture dries fast.

 

 

The only woman in a houseful of men (even the cat and dog are male), Leah Braemel loves hiding away from all the dust bunnies while she writes sexy heroes and heroines finding true love. To read more about Slow Ride Home or any of Leah’s other books, you can visit her website, follow her on Twitter, or on Facebook.

Slow Ride Home

 

Losing his father was hard enough, but now Ben Grady must face the fact that he and his brother may not be sole owners of their beloved ranch. To protect his family’s legacy, he’s forced to rely on the legal prowess of the woman who stars in his erotic fantasies: Allie O’Keefe. Ben’s never forgotten the illicit encounter they shared fifteen years ago—or forgiven himself for letting her go.

Allie thought she’d moved beyond the scandal that cost her Ben in the past. But working so closely with the seductive rancher arouses the wild child within the cautious woman she’s become. Though she tries to keep business and pleasure separate, Allie soon gives in to temptation, and discovers Ben’s sensual skills surpass even her X-rated memories…

Allie has every intention of leaving Bull’s Hollow forever after her investigation is complete. But there are a few complications. Not the least of which is that while saving the ranch, Allie’s lost her heart.

Want to read more? http://leahbraemel.com/books/the-grady-legacy/slow-ride-home/slow-ride-home-excerpt/

Buy it at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EFPNV5W/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00EFPNV5W&linkCode=as2&tag=offiwebsoflea-20

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/slow-ride-home-leah-braemel/1116394183?ean=9781426897351

Carina Press: http://ebooks.carinapress.com/92B6C96A-B4E1-4C7C-B8F6-96CF911A92B0/10/134/en/ContentDetails.htm?ID=3AE90FE4-FD3F-4435-B694-0CB1992C6C01

Or buy the audio book from Audible: http://www.audible.com/pd/Romance/Slow-Ride-Home-Audiobook/B00GA5KR16/ref=sr_1_1?qid=1383444529&sr=1-1

 

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