Posted in Book Winners, July 2014 on July 20, 2014| 1 Comment »
wins A Kiss on Crimson Ranch by Michelle Major
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wins Body Games by Jessica Clare
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wins a digital copy of Behind the Glass by Kristen Morgen
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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.
Posted in Giveaway, Guest Blogger, July 2014 on July 17, 2014| 3 Comments »
Rebecca Jordan’s life is simple, disciplined and uncomplicated, at least on the surface. Then she meets a handsome stranger/secret admirer named Michael Vale one fateful late night at a bookstore café. As a focused but struggling photographer with a passion for art, her outwardly happy world is turned upside down during this life-changing encounter when she quickly realizes she has met her soul mate. The undeniable attraction between them and their intense, immediate connection seem picture perfect as they discuss the shop’s local artwork, until Rebecca abruptly ends the chance meeting with no explanation.
Betraying Brett, her loyal, loving boyfriend is something she can never bring herself to do. Driven by a strong moral code and molded by divorced parents and a tumultuous childhood, she struggles to stay away from Michael, but fate and circumstance intervene, bringing them back together time and time again. As much as she resists, there is no denying her true feelings for him and the simple fact that Michael understands her in a way Brett never has. Michael proves to be everything she’s ever wanted, but remains just out of her reach.
Behind the Glass tells the story of Michael and Rebecca’s extraordinary love and the many unconventional stages their relationship must go through. Their morals and their faith in true love and in each other will be put to the test as they learn that meeting one’s soul mate does not come without obstacles.
When I began writing Behind the Glass, I did it for me. Plain and simple. With those first taps on the keyboard, I set out to write a love story that I wanted to read. I didn’t worry about what anyone else thought, only that I, as a reader, was satisfied with the end result. I had the general story outlined and knew exactly who my characters were, but it wasn’t until each chapter slowly evolved that I really understood what I wanted to say.
Like many people, I’ve always been fascinated with the idea of love at first sight. Is it real? Can it happen in real life? And if it does, do people really live happily ever after? It was definitely the main theme for the story, but as a lover of romance novels, that would have been way too easy. So, what if two people met, fell in love, and were without a doubt, meant to be with each other, but had all the odds constantly stacked against them? If it truly is love at first sight, then in the end, it has to be a love worth fighting for.
I love stories that torture you a little bit and make you really root for the main characters throughout the course of the story. Characters with depth and complexity have always appealed to me as a reader and I wanted to bring that complexity to this story as a writer. Life is not simple, and neither is love. Rebecca and Michael’s story is the culmination of a lot of themes I’ve always been fascinated with as a reader and as this book evolved, it became more about the unbreakable connection between two people and taking chances together, no matter what the odds.
About the Author
Kristen Morgen, an up and coming new adult contemporary romance author, can’t remember a time in her life when she didn’t crave designing, creating, discovering, and using her imagination in some way. Educated and trained as a licensed architect and working at her own architectural firm for many years, her true passion has always been writing. An avid reader from a very early age, the romance genre is admittedly her favorite guilty pleasure – a hopeless romantic to the end.
Kristen loves the art of shaping words and sentences into relatable stories while creating rich characters for her readers to connect with. She enjoys exploring relationships and discovering the little reasons people fall in love with each other while uncovering deeper truths. Honing her craft in her free time and choosing exactly the type of story she wanted to tell, Kristen presents Behind the Glass as her debut novel.
Originally from Madison, Wisconsin, she currently resides in Connecticut with her husband and two daughters. Never one to let her creative mind sit idle for very long, in her free time she is currently hard at work on her next novel and reads almost anything she can get her hands on.
Kristen’s Social Media Accounts:
Website: http://www.kristenmorgen.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KristenMorgen
Facebook: Kristen Morgen Facebook
Goodreads: Kristen Morgen Goodreads
Where to find Behind the Glass:
Amazon: Behind the Glass Amazon
Goodreads: Behind the Glass Goodreads
E-BOOK GIVEAWAY:
For the chance to win a digital copy (mobi or epub format) of Behind the Glass by Kristen Morgen, just leave a comment below. Two winners will be drawn. Good luck!
Posted in C - D Authors, Contemporary, Giveaway, Guest Blogger, July 2014 on July 16, 2014| 9 Comments »
Annabelle Tucker is still reeling from last season’s Endurance Island, when the man she loved played her for a fool. When producers ask her back for a new season it’s the last thing she’s interested in…until she hears her ex, the gorgeous but duplicitous Kip, will be there. Revenge and a grand prize? Yes, please!
But someone’s there to throw a kink into her plans. Someone tall and cut, and with the sexiest gray eyes. Jendan Abercrombie’s on an opposing team, but it doesn’t mean that Annabelle can’t lust after him, right? She’ll just have to save all that lusting for post-show, when she’s free to follow where her loins lead.
When a tribal twist puts them both on the same team – naked – will Annabelle be able to resist his very apparent charms? Or will she have to vote Jendan out to save her game?
Hi guys!
It’s no secret that I’m a reality TV junkie. While a lot of people can sit down and watch Law & Order for hours on end (cough my husband cough), I’m the one squirreling up copies of old seasons of reality TV shows. Paradise Hotel, anyone? Expedition: Impossible? Naked and Afraid? Oh yeah. I’m all about me some TV competitions. I actually wrote WICKED GAMES (the first Games book) simply because I wanted to read a Survivor-type romance and I hadn’t found one. Simple answer – write one myself! I did, and it sat on my hard drive for years, long before Rob and Amber hooked up in All-Stars and before this whole ‘self publishing’ thing ever rolled around. Reception was good, so I decided to write more in the series. They’re light, fun beach reads, right?
These books are EASILY the most difficult ones that I’ve written and involve the most planning. You wouldn’t think so, but it’s true! Not only am I fleshing out the hero and heroine and plotting out their romance ARC, but I’ve also got to come up with a gameshow. I’ve got to make the rules, create other contestants, and then create challenge after challenge to put my characters through. Not only am I showing what’s happening through the heroine’s eyes, but I’ve got to somehow show my hero’s ARC as well, and make it exciting show-wise without it being the same old story every time.
Oh, and did I mention the locations? Because I have to study those, too! No good reality TV competition would be perfect without local cuisine, sights, smells, sounds, you name it. I basically spend weeks researching and mapping out things before I start writing. Book two – PLAYING GAMES – was based off of The Amazing Race and so I threw in all the places I’d ever wanted to visit, like Cappadocia or Troy or the Great Pyramids. Experiencing it through characters is almost as much fun as visiting.
I also fudge the rules and reality a bit for my characters. I mean, on Survivor, no one’s being waxed or handed razors and there’s probably no condoms on the island. But this is romance! I can’t imagine rubbing 3-week stubbly legs up against the hero, so I have to keep the ‘fantasy’ going a bit more. So if the heroine’s ass is covered in bug-bites, well, it’s played down enough for some sexy time on the beach anyhow. 😉
Most of all, I just try to have fun with things. I hope you have as much fun reading as I do writing them (maps, character grids, and all!).
About Jessica Clare:
Jessica Clare is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author who writes under three different names. As Jill Myles, she writes a little bit of everything, from sexy, comedic urban fantasy to zombie fairy tales. As Jessica Clare, she writes erotic contemporary romance.
She also has a third pen name (because why stop at two?). As Jessica Sims, she writes fun, sexy shifter paranormals. She lives in Texas with her husband, cats, and too many dust-bunnies. Jill spends her time writing, reading, writing, playing video games, and doing even more writing.
To read a few snippets of Body Games click here. And for a chance to win a digital copy of Body Games by Jessica Clare just leave a comment below. Good luck!
Posted in Giveaway, Guest Blogger, Harlequin, July 2014, M - N Authors on July 15, 2014| 27 Comments »
Former child star Sara Wellens has hit a dead end in Hollywood. When she inherits half of a crumbling guest ranch in Crimson, Colorado, Sara figures she’ll sell her portion to get back on her own two feet and be back in the black in no time at all. No harm, no foul…right?
The one thing she didn’t count on was her partner-in-property, hunky former bull rider and single dad Josh Travers. Sara is surprised at how quickly she bonds with the charming cowboy and his daughter. But she insists that she’s definitely not looking for a forever family. Can the rancher and the starlet let down their guards to find their own Hollywood happy ending?
As a romance reader, I love books in a series. I have to admit, I especially enjoy when I discover a new (to me) author and can binge-read several series books in a row. It’s not great for the laundry or dust bunnies but is so much fun. Of course, it’s also a huge rush when a new book in a well-loved series that I’ve pre-ordered arrives.
As a writer, creating a new series is one of my favorite things. There’s so much potential to create characters, relationships, the town and the people who inhabit it. Sometimes when I’m working on one book, characters for the next one pop on the scene and I get to figure out who need the next story.
My latest release, A KISS ON CRIMSON RANCH, is the first book in a new series set in the fictional town of Crimson, Colorado outside of the real-life mountain town Aspen. I’m a born and raised Midwestern girl, but I’ve lived in Colorado for over twenty years. There are so many things I love about the mountains and the west. It’s been a great joy to add so many of my favorite Colorado details into the Crimson stories. There are three more coming in 2015 and I hope readers enjoy this town as much as I do!
GIVEAWAY:
What’s your favorite setting for a romance? Do you like small-towns, beach communities, big cities, the west or….? For a chance to win a signed copy of A KISS ON CRIMSON RANCH comment below.
Posted in A - B Authors, Ellora's Cave, Excerpts, July 2014 on July 14, 2014| Leave a Comment »
So Inked, Book 3
A woman who loves too much…
When Autumn’s best friend proposes a pretend marriage, the chance to make all the kisses she’s imagined real is too much for her to pass up. She seduces him with her body and enjoys pushing his boundaries and fulfilling their sexual fantasies—but her heart isn’t supposed to be part of the bargain.
A man about to take his last breath…
Sammi has just weeks left to live out his dying wish—the white picket fence, the house and the wife. If Autumn is the last woman he gets to taste he’ll die a lucky man. Her body, her heart—everything about her calls to him. But love isn’t supposed to be in the plans.
In the crucible of passion, these two lovers will find out what they’re really made from, and just how long I do lasts.
Purchase from: Ellora’s Cave | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | All Romance eBooks
It can never be said that Sidney Bristol has had a ‘normal’ life. She is a recovering roller derby queen, former missionary, and tattoo addict. She grew up in a motor-home on the US highways (with an occasional jaunt into Canada and Mexico), traveling the rodeo circuit with her parents. Sidney has lived abroad in both Russia and Thailand, working with children and teenagers. She now lives in Texas where she splits her time between a job she loves, writing, reading and belly dancing.
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Excerpt:
Autumn pinched her forearm. The sharp bite of pain told her everything she needed to know.
This is not a dream.
“Autumn?” Her best friend, Samuel “Sammi” Zimmerman lowered to one knee, placing his hand on her bare thigh. Fantasies, dreams of those same hands doing other things to her body were not far off.
“Oh—my—god.” Autumn gaped at him. This couldn’t be happening.
Sammi’s gaze bored into her with an intensity she’d only ever imagined him turning on her. Usually he was talking business in rapid-fire language she didn’t hope to understand. He’d taken a one-eighty and now it was as if she’d stepped onto the pedestal of importance in his life.
“It’s just a question,” he said.
Autumn pushed his hand off her leg. “It’s a pretty serious question, if you ask me.”
She needed to think. Actually use her brain. Reacting on emotions and engaging situations based on her feelings was her norm. This—this situation required thought.
Autumn stood and strode across the hardwood floors of Sammi’s condo. Her heels clicked with an authoritative sound. Something about a great pair of stilettos always made Autumn feel a little more in charge, but that was typically because of the way it made her legs and ass appear to the opposite sex. She’d never been a saint. As a teen she’d been aware her body made men want to promise and do things for her. And she had no regrets she’d used it to her advantage. Or at least she’d thought so.
Not thinking about that now…
She wrestled her thoughts into the present but it was difficult. Sammi was a silent presence at her back. Autumn could smell his cologne. He may be close enough to touch but she didn’t dare look at him. Looking at him short-circuited her brain. He was just too damn handsome. And knew it. He breathed confidence in all things, and right now she had none.
I’m really not dreaming?
“Can you run this by me one more time?” she asked.
Maybe if she wasn’t looking at him, if his charm wasn’t amped up to eleven and aimed at her, she could comprehend what he was asking of her.
Sammi stepped next to her and leaned against the glass window, hands in the pockets of his gray slacks. He had just enough stubble and a natural tan to appear the high-powered playboy he was. She’d pegged him as a “love ’em and leave ’em” kind of man the moment he stepped into the So Inked tattoo shop.
And she’d been right.
The first time she’d seen Sammi, he’d come to tell the owners, Mary and Kellie, that his father had passed away. Since the family owned the building their shop was in, they would be dealing directly with him pertaining to their lease.
Since then, Autumn had sat on the sidelines and watched enough women go in and out of his bed to know the score and that she didn’t want to play. Not with a man so emotionally unavailable.
It was easy to relegate Sammi to the friend zone, but she’d never stopped wanting him.
Autumn broke first, glancing at him.
He peeked sideways at her, flashing a smile full of sensuality. Her lady parts quivered but she held herself back.
Think. Don’t feel.
“I was kind of hoping you’d agree,” he said.
Autumn turned to face him. What? Did he think she’d blindly go along with whatever he said? She had the sudden urge to scratch one of his eyes out. “Grabbing a burger, seeing a movie, going to Cancun, those are all things I don’t have to think about before saying yes. This, this is different!”
“Okay, I’m sorry. I’ll explain,” he said quickly, yet he lapsed into silence, staring out the windows looking onto the lake.
The momentary excitement fizzled, leaving her cold inside. There were perks to being friends with Sammi. He was wealthy, liked to party in style, and so long as a girl was beautiful or sexy or adventurous or entertaining, he’d extend an invitation and pick up the bill. Once you scratched the surface he was a good guy, deeply attached to his family, hardworking to a fault and generous. But none of that gave him license to use her.
Of all Autumn’s sins, trading her body for what she wanted had never been one of them. She crossed her arms, suddenly wishing for more clothing, but the sweltering Texas heat made anything beyond abbreviated hemlines and skimpy tops uncomfortable.
Sammi’s voice was deep, rich like melted chocolate when he spoke. His gaze dropped to the floor, as if he were seeing the past in his mind’s eye. “When I was a kid I got sick. Doctors said one thing was wrong with me, others diagnosed me with something else. No one could figure it out. I went from being on the football starting line to a wheelchair—and no one could tell my family why.”
Autumn’s heart leapt into her throat. She’d had to watch firsthand a friend losing all mobility. Carly, their shop manager, had been paralyzed in an accident a year before. It still haunted them all, and watching Carly struggle was the worst of it.
Sammi’s gaze flicked to her face, his demeanor serious. “I was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome. It’s a disorder where the immune system gets confused and attacks part of the nervous system. I spent my middle school and most of my high school years being treated. I was in a wheelchair for about two years. They didn’t think I would live to be an adult.”
“Oh Sammi— I— Don’t know what to say.” She blinked back the moisture in her eyes.
Sammi caught her hand, pressing her knuckles to his lips. His touch was sweet, but the glance he cast her way was all playboy. “Say yes?”
“I don’t understand how all of this is connected.” Autumn pulled her hand from his grasp.
Use what’s upstairs, girl.
“You drive a hard bargain.” He sighed dramatically and turned to give her his full attention, all business. “The truth? In Jewish culture it’s emphasized that men will get married and provide an heir. I honestly never thought I’d live this long, and maybe it’s cheesy, but whatever. I always wanted to get married, have the white picket fence. All of it.”
Autumn rocked forward on her toes, hanging on his words. There was a catch coming, she could sense it.
“I’m dying, Autumn. I have a limited amount of time left. Very few people get Guillain-Barré twice in their life and it looks like I’m that unlucky bastard. It’s too late to do marriage the way my mother would want, but that’s not what I want anyway. I want to enjoy the time I have left. Maybe knock some things off my bucket list. One of those is getting married. Now I know we’re only friends and this is crazy, but I’m prepared to offer compensation. I’ll take care of my medical expenses and hospice care. I just want to spend the good times I have left with someone I like. Someone who can have fun. I’m telling you, my lawyer and my doctor, no one else.”
“But why me?” she blurted. Why not his ex-girlfriend? Or the long line of girls who wanted a chance to be with him?
Sammi blinked at her as if he didn’t understand the question. “Why not you? You’re my best friend. I have the best time with you. Who else would I want to spend the rest of my life with?”
Autumn’s breath caught in her throat. They were perhaps the most beautiful words anyone had ever spoken to her, and for the most heartbreaking reason.
He wanted a friend, not a lover.
Sammi dropped to his knee again.
Oh god…
He dug in his pocket for a moment before producing a ring with a stone big enough to knock a linebacker on his ass.
This is happening…
“What do you say? Will you marry me?”
What do I say?
Posted in Book Winners, July 2014 on July 13, 2014| 1 Comment »
wins an Animal Magnetism book from Jill Shalvis
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wins a book by Jennifer Faye
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wins the first three Wicked Warrens books by Marie Harte
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wins A Midsummer’s Night Fling by Beth Matthews
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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.
Posted in Contemporary, Giveaway, Guest Blogger, July 2014, M - N Authors on July 11, 2014| 6 Comments »
After dating her childhood sweetheart Max on and off for years, aspiring actress Nicola Charles is finally ready to move on. It’s time for her to focus on her stage career and stay away from Max–before he can break her heart again.
Max regrets hurting Nicola, but he wants another chance. So when his play loses its leading lady, giving Nicola the part seems like the perfect opportunity to win back his old flame.
But the course of true love—and a theater production—never do run smooth. As Max fights to reignite Nicola’s love, the onstage antics can’t rival the bedlam backstage: a neurotic cast, a prickly crew, and an evil diva of a director who’s got designs on Max.
As Nicola and Max battle to keep the drama onstage, Max can’t help wondering if their romance will end with the last performance. Or have the two of them finally captured what they’ve dreamed of all their lives? True Love.
One of my favorite “tropes” in romance novels is the actor hero/heroine. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to get this right. One of my biggest pet peeves is when the lead character is an actor but you never get to watch him act!
I can never get enough of actor books, though, which is probably why I’m writing the Stage Kiss Series, a whole series of nothing but actor heroes/heroines! The first book A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S FLING came out this month, and tells the story of two reunited lovers trying to work out their issues amidst all the bedlam backstage at a theater company.
See, I like books where you see the character on set, working on their part, getting their costume fitted, on location, etc. All the nitty gritty behind the scenes stuff. (I’m also a sucker for DVD extras and commentary tracks, incidentally…)
One book that really gets the actor stuff right for me is BETWEEN THE LINES by Tammara Webber (the first book in her Between the Lines NA series). I love this book because we see the actors working on location, working on their scenes, auditioning. And the book is really sexy too.
Speaking of working on location, THE WHITE KNIGHT by Josh Lanyon, a M/M romance, has some great on-location scenes for its actor hero. Also, it’s Josh Lanyon, who is an incredible writer, and the couple in this book have great chemistry. (It’s number two in the series, though, so probably start with THE DARK HORSE if you’re a series completist like me. 😀 )
Another favorite of mine is ALL OVER YOU by Sarah Mayberry. The heroine is a writer and script supervisor on a soap opera, and the hero is one of the stars who’s started directing for the show too. She’s sassy, quirky, and a fan of vintage fashion. The hero is smoking hot and a little awkward sometimes, which is charming. And the way they hook up is by being thrown together on a big project for their show. It’s an actor book AND a workplace romance.
OK, so if I’m a really picky “actor hero” reader, you’re probably wondering what my very, very favorite actor book is, right?
That would have to be AGAIN by Kathleen Gilles Seidel. This book features a Regency era soap opera (with lots of Georgette Heyer in-jokes for all you Regency fans), the hero is an actor, and the heroine is the head writer/creator of the show. Fabulous romance and so much juicy acting stuff! This is one of my favorite romances period; Seidel is a very talented author. The heroine is a tomboy and wicked smart. The hero is just wonderful: tender, nurturing, but he’ll still take you down if you mess with his woman.
Are any of you fans of the actor hero trope? Did I leave some of your favorite books off this list? Tell me, tell me! As you probably know by now, I’m always on the lookout for another great actor book. 😉
Book Buy Links:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LHDTHF8
http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/a-midsummer-night-s-fling
https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-amidsummernight039sfling-1562514-149.html
My info:
Website: http://bethmatthewsbooks.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Beth-Matthews/244314945645273
Twitter: @IAmBethMatthews
Author bio:
Beth Matthews is a California girl, born and raised. She’s a total geek, a movie buff, and a mediocre swing dancer. She lives in sunny SoCal with her boyfriend and two of the neediest housecats on the planet.
GIVEAWAY
For the chance to win a digital copy of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S FLING by Beth Matthews just leave a comment below. The winner will be drawn on Sunday. Good luck!
Posted in G - H Authors, Giveaway, Guest Blogger, July 2014 on July 7, 2014| 21 Comments »
From secretly watching a sexy man flaunt his assets to a charming southern boy needing a strong woman to keep him in check, the Wicked Warrens started out with a bang and ended up with fireworks.
Five books in, I’ve come to the end of a charming group of heroes and heroines with Bending the Rules. The Warren brothers love their mother. They’re close, and they give each other a hard time when needed, or because it’s just plain fun. Three books and three happy endings later, the series should have been done. But two more men popped up out of nowhere. A rival for one of the heroine’s affections stayed with me, as did another heroine’s best friend. Getting Faith and Brian together was magic (Making the Grade). And then when the series—again—should have been done, Brian’s best friend Rex, that kinky devil, appeared.
Rex Samson is a smart-mouthed southern boy with a kink to be dominated. I’d never written a submissive hero before, and I had so much fun with Rex. He’s strong when it counts, loves pleasing women and men, but gets an extra kick out of following a woman’s orders. He’s no pushover, and he certainly knows what to do between the sheets. But it takes a strong woman to rein him in in the bedroom. Enter Nat Wielder, a tough-as-nails city planner with no time for nonsense or rich playboys. Rex more than has his work cut out for him convincing Nat he’s just what she needs.
To celebrate the end of the series, I’m giving away the first three Wicked Warrens books—Enjoying the Show, Closing the Deal, and Raising the Bar—to one lucky winner. Simply comment here to be entered to win, and thanks for sharing in my series.
Wicked Warrens book 5
A little southern charm, and a Yes, Mistress, goes a long way
Rex Samson is at the top of his game. His business is booming, his family loves him, and there’s not a woman—or man—he can’t charm. Until he meets Natalie Wielder, a tough-as-nails city planner who doesn’t fall at his feet. She’s firm, sexy, and exactly what he needs. A woman to put him in his place.
Nat has better things to do than play with the mayor’s golden boy, but orders are orders, and she accompanies him to a mandatory social function. To her shock, she thoroughly enjoys herself…and breaks rule number one—No dating the enemy.
Rex is charming, sexy, and fun to be around. Even a brief encounter with a sexy stranger can’t put her off memories of Rex’s smile. Except her sexy stranger and Rex turn out to be the same man. Now her secrets are exposed, his are shockingly arousing, and her policy on not mixing business and pleasure—rule number two—has gone by the wayside.
What else can she do but say yes when Rex has no problem letting her take the lead in bed? Before long, she knows she can’t live without him. But Rex’s kinky proclivities mirror hers—neither of which are good for her career. Loving him might mean losing what she’s worked so hard to attain. But soon she’ll have to figure out what’s important in life. Her rules, or love?
Warning: Contains a successful, carefree hedonist who wants to be dominated, and a sexy, career-minded vixen who is more than willing to oblige. Not one drop of vanilla in sight. Enjoy!
Amazon http://tinyurl.com/lg8am8t
B&N http://tinyurl.com/llhvcxc
Kobo http://tinyurl.com/n8jds3k
iTunes http://tinyurl.com/kmw55wu
Samhain http://tinyurl.com/n3vmal4
Are http://tinyurl.com/q8x4md9
Happy Reading!
Marie
Caffeine addict, boy referee, and romance aficionado, USA Today bestselling author Marie Harte has over 100 books published with more constantly on the way. She’s a confessed bibliophile and devotee of action movies. Whether hiking in Central Oregon, biking around town, or hanging at the local tea shop, she’s constantly plotting to give everyone a happily ever after. Visit http://marieharte.com and fall in love.
Posted in Excerpts, Fantasy Romance, Giveaway, Guest Blogger, July 2014, Kensington, Paranormal Romance on July 7, 2014| 17 Comments »
We’re all meant to root for heroines in books. The female who brandishes her wits like a sword to cut down her foes, whose beauty is more than skin deep, and who can seduce the hero while saving herself, thank you very much.
But what about the other females in the book? Even secondary characters, even those with roots in mythology, can have very real feelings. For instance, in Goddess Awakened, another goddess guards the gates of Tartarus, which is located just outside Hades proper. She’s one of the three Harpies, also called the Erinye. Her name is Tisiphone. Terrible to look upon, and even more terrible to smell, lol,
Tisiphone must make sure no one escapes the outer boundaries of Hell. It’s a lonely and tedious job patrolling the gate of Hell, but someone has to do it. Still, a girl has feelings. She likes to be invited out once in awhile, or at least keep up with the gossip from the outside world. Or world above, as the case may be. So when the hero, Eric, is kidnapped and trapped in Tartarus, and runs into Tisiphone at the gate, he unwittingly hurts her feelings by filling her in on the latest news: there’s a war between demons and fae in his hometown. As usual, no one thought to tell Tisiphone.
Eric, being a veterinarian, recognizes Tisiphone has a skin problem. Nice guy that he is, he offers to provide her with some creams and ointments. Did I mention Tisiphone has the head of a dog? Yep. A mangy one!
So if she happens to let the gate slip so Eric can slip through, well… who can blame her? Every goddess needs a little love.
The research for this novel led me deeper and deeper into mythology. I loved learning about the Goddess Iris – messenger to the gods, and also Goddess of the Rainbow, the bridge between the worlds.
Goddess, Awakened, is the first book in The Goddess Connection series, which says: Every woman should embrace her inner goddess. What’s your connection?
I have several more novels in this series in mind to follow. In each, the heroine will be somehow connected to a goddess. Her lifelong quirks will become strengths once she finds her true place in the world, and accepts herself for who she really is.
Something we should all do! Every woman should be treated like a goddess, don’t you think? 😉
Blurb
With a little help from a goddess, battling evil is a piece of cake for Jocelyn Gibson.
A descendant of the goddess Iris, Jocelyn Gibson may have forgotten about the realm of magic, but it hasn’t forgotten her. When Eric Hendricks is targeted by a demon, Joss must step in to battle the evil and save the town’s awkward, but endearing, vet…who also happens to be the man she loves.
Joss’s new inn, a culinary career specializing in cooking with lavender and a new love all make for a fine recipe of disaster. She needs to embrace her inner goddess and harness the powers she never knew she had before it’s too late.
Goddess, Awakened
The Goddess Connection Book 1
Fantasy/paranormal romance novel
About 89,700 words
Amazon | Barnes & Noble |All Romance eBooks| Kensington
About the Author
Cate Masters has made beautiful central Pennsylvania her home, but she’ll always be a Jersey girl at heart. When not spending time with her dear hubby, she can be found in her lair, concocting a magical brew of contemporary, historical, and fantasy/paranormal stories with her cat Chairman Maiow and dog Lily as company. Look for her at http://catemasters.blogspot.com and in strange nooks and far-flung corners of the web.
Contact Details
Website: http://catemasters.blogspot.com
Email: cate.masters@gmail.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cate-Masters/89969413736?ref=ts
Twitter: @CateMasters
Mini excerpt for GODDESS, AWAKENED:
In starting her life over, Joss had expected some resistance, even some trouble, but not this. The bedroom floor boards trembled beneath her golden-slippered feet. Tendrils of an unseen power curled upward from deep within the ground, tingling through her toes. She paused to steady herself, then continued to put the finishing touches on her costume. The tremors grew into rumbles and their hum seeped beneath her skin. When their tiny wisps twined through her mind, she clenched her hands. Enough. Go away.
Thick as starlight on a clear summer’s eve, sweet as the lavender blossoms she had yet to plant, energy whooshed up through the cracks of the worn wood and out into the October night.
She gripped the bureau until it passed, the vibrations rolling over her in lessening waves. Bubbly, effervescent waves. “Third time tonight, Taz.” Each departure took longer, and more of the essence remained.
When the dog whined, she stroked his fur. “Don’t worry, it won’t hurt you.”
Even if tonight the waves were palpable enough to make her hairs stand on end. Oh, no, please.
Nothing could ruin tonight. More than a party, this event would determine her future. And after three years of grief, she’d never allow anything to trap her in its clutches again.
Giveaway!
Do you love to read paranormals? Do you have a favorite goddess? Leave your reply on this post for a chance to win an ebook from my backlist (your choice – find all the titles at http://catemasters.blogspot.com). Be sure to include your email address in the comment! Good luck!
Posted in E - F Authors, Excerpts, Giveaway, Harlequin, July 2014 on July 2, 2014| 14 Comments »
The guy from the wrong side of the tracks…
Being promoted should be a dream come true, only it means working closely with Cleo’s childhood crush, Jax Monroe. Jax may no longer be the rebel she remembers, but he still gets her heart racing like no other.
Jax cares too much about Cleo to let her get too close—but keeping his distance is proving impossible! As Jax reveals the extent of what he’s been through, will Cleo show him that some things are too precious to put off until tomorrow?
EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT:
The fact that Cleo felt comfortable enough to open up to him warmed a spot in Jax’s chest. But he couldn’t let himself read too much into it. She was probably lonely being so far from her family. And it wouldn’t do either of them any good if he tried to fill that empty spot. It’d only make it that much harder to walk away.
“You know, I can be on my own today. I don’t want to take up all of your time. I’m sure by now you have other guests to look after.”
“Actually you’re my one and only guest. Mr. Burns has me on a very short leash.” Cleo’s cherry-red lips lifted and her eyes sparkled. “So name your pleasure and I’ll make sure it’s provided.”
The sweet lilt of her voice and the sight of her tempting lips sent his mind spiraling back in time. He clearly remembered the one and only kiss they’d shared. He hadn’t even seen it coming and it was over before he could react. The strange thing was that after all of these years, he had never forgotten that innocent moment. He’d been kissed countless times since then and by experienced women who knew how to turn a kiss into an adventure. So why had the memory of those other kisses faded while hers stood the test of time?
Every detail of that moment stood out in his mind. He recalled how the morning sun peeked over Cleo’s shoulder. The golden rays made her hair glisten, giving it the illusion of a halo. Her cheeks were rosy with color and her eyes sparkled like fresh-cut emeralds.
He’d been so mesmerized by the stunning image that he hadn’t expected her to lift up on her tiptoes. Her gaze met and held his as she leaned forward. Her puckered lips pressed to his mouth. In the next heartbeat, she pulled away. And then, as if horrified, her eyes grew round. She’d pressed a hand to her mouth and run off.
Amazon | Amazon – UK | Barnes & Noble | Harlequin | Kobo | iTunes
BOOK DETAILS:
AUTHOR BIO:
Award-winning author, Jennifer Faye pens fun, heartwarming romances. Jennifer has won the RT Book Reviews Reviewers’ Choice Award, named a TOP PICK author, and been nominated for numerous awards. Now living her dream, she resides with her patient husband, amazing daughter (the other remarkable daughter is off chasing her own dreams) and two spoiled cats.
Jennifer loves to hear from readers—you can contact her via her website.
FOLLOW JENNIFER via:
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GIVEAWAY
For a chance to win one of Jennifer Faye’s books, answer the following question. What quality in a bad boy do you find attractive?
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