Guest Post: Does Size Matter? by Andrea Laurence

Five years ago, high school sweethearts Ivy and Blake’s relationship imploded and both their lives were changed forever. Ivy became a rock star and Blake lost not only his dreams of a successful NFL career, but his reputation. Ivy’s angry song about their breakup, called “Size Matters”; hit the top of the charts and Blake became a national laughingstock. He’s salvaged his career and returned to Rosewood to be the high school football coach, regaining his status as town hero and leading the boys to the state championships.

 

When a tornado whips through town and destroys the high school gymnasium and stadium, a committee is formed to help rebuild and plan some charity fundraisers. Blake’s grandmother requests that Ivy return to Rosewood for the events. Forced back together for the good of their hometown and their careers, Ivy and Blake have no choice but to put aside their differences, stop running from their pasts, and finally face the music.

~~~*~~~*~~~

 

Does Size Matter?

Did that title get your attention? I’m betting so. In my new southern contemporary, Facing the Music, the heroine is a rock star that has made her career writing songs about her exes that aren’t so flattering. Ivy’s first song, her breakout hit, was called “Size Matters”. It was written about her high-school sweetheart after she finds he’s made out with a cheerleader while they were apart. The song becomes an anthem for underwhelmed women everywhere and her ex, Blake, becomes a national laughingstock.

 

Now, in full disclosure, the song isn’t really about Blake’s junk. It’s about the size of his heart and how he was holding back in their relationship, but you’d only get that if you really listened to the lyrics. If you just sang along with the chorus, it’s all about a woman who admits she’s lied when she told her lover that size didn’t matter. Here’s a few lines from the song:

 

Size matters…

I said it didn’t, I didn’t mean it

I told you everything was fine

But size does matter

 

Blake and Ivy have a big hurdle to get over when she returns to her home town and they’re forced to work together for the common good. Both of them have some apologizing to do, some growing up to do and some lost time to make up for.

 

But it does raise an interesting and controversial question.

 

Does size matter?

 

As with all romance heroes, Blake is not lacking in the physical attributes department, which Ivy finally admits. If romance novels are supposed to be driven by women’s fantasies, it would seem that size does matter. And yet, is there too much of a good thing? Is it more about what you can do with it? Let’s have a discussion. Be honest and tell me what you think and maybe we can answer this question once and for all…

 

— Andrea Laurence

 

Excerpt from Facing the Music

 

“I wish I could silence every iPod in America,” Blake retorted. “I would consider it a public service—protecting the general population from bitter, autotuned, subpar pop music.”

 

“First,” Ivy said, taking a few steps toward him. Her spine was ramrod straight and defiant, pressing her breasts against her silky top and giving him unhelpful flashbacks to today’s earlier encounter. “My music is not autotuned. I am not a belly-baring teenage pop princess. I play my own instruments. I perform live. I write my own music. And if that music is bitter, you’ve got no one to blame but yourself.”

 

“Blame?” Blake laughed. “I think I should get a cut of those four million sales. Before I broke your heart, your songs were nothing but the sad refrains of coffeehouse open mic nights.”

 

Ivy’s mouth fell open, her response stolen from her lips. It was a low blow and he knew it. Ivy had struggled with her music for months. He knew how hard she’d worked and how her professors just hadn’t seen the emotion and spark that made her songs special.

 

Grant sidled up. “That’s probably not the best idea,” he noted. “Never piss off a woman with a dart in her hand unless you fancy an eye patch.”

 

Blake smiled and shook off his brother’s suggestion. “I’m not too worried about that. I remember watching her out on the field during gym in high school. Her aim was never that great.”

 

“It may not be,” Ivy said, recovering herself. “But at least if I stuck something in you, you’d notice.”

 

A roar of voices and laughter followed her insult. Blake sighed. Why did she always go for the small-dick jokes? He didn’t have one. He wanted to scream it at the top of his lungs, but it would only make him look like he protested too much. No one would believe him, and he wasn’t about to start wagging it at strangers on the street to prove his point. It was above average. And an excellent performer, too, if his reviews could be trusted. He’d never heard any complaints.

 

Ivy, of course, didn’t count.

 

Author Biography

Andrea Laurence has been a lover of reading and writing stories since she learned to read at a young age. She always dreamed of seeing her work in print and is thrilled to finally be able to share her special blend of sensuality and dry, sarcastic humor with the world. A dedicated West Coast girl transplanted into the Deep South, she’s working on her own “happily ever after” with her boyfriend and their collection of animals including a Siberian Husky that sheds like nobody’s business.

Social Networking Links

Website: http://andrealaurence.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAndreaLaurence

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Andrea_Laurence

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5398672.Andrea_Laurence

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GIVEAWAY

For the chance to win Facing the Music by Andrea Laurence just leave a comment below. The winner will be drawn on Sunday. Good luck!

 

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Lisa Kleypas News!! *dancing in seat*

Avon Books Welcomes Home Bestselling Romance Author Lisa Kleypas:

Leading Romance Imprint to Publish Seven New Titles from Top Women’s Fiction Author

 

 

For Immediate Release

NEW YORK, NY (May 8, 2014) – Avon Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, is proud to announce  a major new deal for seven original novels (North American rights) with New York Times bestselling author Lisa Kleypas.  The author first published with this leading romance imprint in 1993, writing some of the most beloved romances of all time under the Avon imprint.  “No one writes romance like Lisa Kleypas,” says Senior Vice President and Publisher Liate Stehlik, “and we’ve been hoping for the opportunity to work with her again for many years.  The excitement we feel over Lisa returning to publish with us cannot be easily quantified.  We’re overjoyed that she is coming home.”

 

The “homecoming” sentiment is echoed by Senior Vice President/Executive Editor Carrie Feron, who worked with Mel Berger of William Morris Endeavor (WME), to ink the deal.  “We are celebrating Lisa’s return!  She has an incredibly rich backlist with us: 19 novels and two short stories.  Lisa is an important part of Avon’s history.  This deal will allow us the pleasure of working closely with her into the future, on both historical and contemporary romance titles.”

 

Lisa Kleypas, who has been called a “truly talented storyteller” and a “master of her craft is one of the most prolific – and popular – romance authors today.  Readers and reviewers alike have fallen in love with her original brand of romance, where love never comes easily.  Her novels are captivating, filled with humor, life and a compelling touch of pathos.  RT Book Reviews offers compelling insight on the Kleypas allure: “unforgettable story…remarkable characters…a depth of emotion that will leave you breathless with the wonderment of knowing what falling in love is really like.”  The Post and Courier agrees that her work “will steal the hearts of readers.”

 

“I’m absolutely thrilled by the opportunity to work with the extraordinarily gifted Carrie Feron, who is known for bringing out the best in her authors, and Liate Stehlik, who is a brilliant and creative publisher,” says Kleypas.  “As I know from past experience, everyone at Avon Books brings the highest level of passion and commitment to the romance genre, so I’m thankful – and excited! – to be part of Avon’s future. Without a doubt, our best work is ahead of us.”

 

About the author:  Lisa Kleypas is a New York Times bestselling author of both historical and contemporary romance novels. Her intensely passionate, emotional and humor-filled stories have earned widespread critical acclaim, including starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Booklist.  In 2013, 12 of Lisa’s novels were listed on the All About Romance reader’s poll of their top 100 all-time favorite romances.  Her 38 novels and four novellas have been published in 28 languages and are bestsellers around the world. After graduating from Wellesley College with a political science degree, Lisa sold her first book and made a full-time career of writing the kinds of romance novels she has always loved to read.  Lisa is living her own happily-ever-after in Washington State with her husband Greg and their two children.

 

For more information about Lisa Kleypas, please visit www.lisakleypas.com.

For more information about Avon Books, visit www.avonromance.com.

 

ABOUT HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS:

HarperCollins Publishers, one of the largest English-language publishers in the world, is a subsidiary of News Corp (NASDAQ: NWS, NWSA; ASX: NWS, NWSLV). Headquartered in New York, HarperCollins has publishing groups around the world in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and India. HarperCollins is a broad-based publisher with strengths in literary and commercial fiction, business books, children’s books, cookbooks, narrative nonfiction, mystery, romance, reference, pop culture, design, health, wellness, and religious and spiritual books. With nearly 200 years of history, HarperCollins has published some of the world’s foremost authors, including winners of the Nobel Prize, the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, the Newbery Medal, and the Caldecott Medal. HarperCollins is consistently at the forefront of innovation, using digital technology to create unique reading experiences and expand the reach of its authors. You can visit HarperCollins Publishers online at: http://www.harpercollins.com

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Amber Leigh – Guest Blog and Giveaway

 

It’s a special thing – setting a romance in the same small, coastal town you grew up in and fell in love in yourself. My Harlequin Superromance novel, A Place With Briar, is a bit of a tribute to life on the U.S. Gulf Coast where I’ve spent over half my life. And, naturally – everything about this place and the people who live here have informed who I am and those who came before me.

 

But today I’m going to talk about one of the big downfalls about settling down on the southern coast. That is hurricane season. I’ve experienced quite a bit of tropical weather – from tropical storms to Category 3 hurricanes. (Anything bigger than Cat. 3 usually means RUN!) While rewriting this book, I came to the middle of the manuscript and thought, “Something’s missing….” The inn where most of the story takes place is on the Eastern Shore of the Mobile Bay, which feeds into the Gulf of Mexico. It also takes place during June, the first month of hurricane season. I came to the swift conclusion that unfortunately what this manuscript needed was a named storm. It helped that at that moment there just happened to be a tropical storm by the name of Lee sitting on top of our area. It was all the inspiration I needed.

 

The situation was ideal for that point in the storyline. The hero and heroine are stuck inside the inn together. The power’s out. There’s not much they can do but wait it out. Grab a little bit of comfort from each other, of course. Hurricanes can be a harrowing, especially if you live in the direct impact zone….

 

Late in the summer of 2004, my family was enjoying the sun on one of our local, white-sand beaches. At that same moment, hundreds of miles away from impact, Hurricane Ivan was gathering strength and speed in the middle of the Gulf. The high-cresting waves were the only indication that a natural disaster would occur in a few days’ time. While wading on the shore, I watched a small shark’s tail pop out of the surf as it fought the rough tide. Days later, the eye of Ivan made landfall less than a mile from where we had been enjoying the beach. While accessing the wreckage with my husband in his Jeep, I was heartbroken. Our beaches were ripped to shreds. Water had crashed inland, flooding nearly the entire island of Gulf Shores. Sand had been pushed into the lower levels of high-rise condos, which along with miles of beach-houses were reduced to rubble on their Gulf-facing facades. Costs for damage was far into the millions. Several acquaintances lost their homes. National Guard patrols took over the streets to catch looters and enforce strict curfews for those who were able to return home. For two weeks, the region felt like a war zone. Aside from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, it was the worst beating Alabama beaches have taken in my lifetime.

 

It was important for me to show that neither of my characters were foolish for staying in the Category 3 storm’s path, they were respectful and cautious enough of the potential of a hurricane this size, and that they were prepared for the worst. On another level, as all frightening experiences go, the storm gives the hero and heroine a chance to mend the emotional bridges between them and bond as only survivors can. It gives them an added push toward one another and fuels them in their quest to clean up the damage the storm leaves behind. It also forges a deeper part of their relationship, enabling me to get them from the middle of the storyline to the third act climax and finally to their well-deserved HEA.

 

Here’s a little storm snippet from A Place With Briar, which is on shelves now in stores and online….

 

It didn’t take long for the wind to start howling. First it came as a kettle whistle. Then it strengthened into a steady, wolfish wail, interrupted only by brunt gusts that tossed limbs against the side of the house. The inn began to groan loudly, as if the storm’s elements made it feel its age like never before.

 

Driving sheets of rain drilled the Eastern Shore in sporadic bands. One minute the wind was all that existed, the next stinging nettles of water pounded the roof.

 

As the night wore on, it escalated. Endless wind, endless rain coupled with several hotspots in the fast-moving clouds. Then the sky rumbled its fury and deadly bolts forked overhead, illuminating the hampered world with blinding, white light.

 

And finally, the hail. The clouds littered rocks of ice on the bay. As soon as Briar heard their chilling cacophony, she knew Hurricane Brett was closing in.

 

The power lasted longer than she would’ve wagered, but when it shut down, it did so without a warning flicker. The house fell dead around her. There’d been no television or radio on, no noise inside the house. But without the fan spinning above her, without the drone of the air conditioner or the refrigerator, and without the comfort of light, she felt little between the storm and herself.

 

The generator growled, hesitated then roared. Lantern in hand, Briar waited to make sure it would keep running. Satisfied, she picked up several lengths of ready extension cord and unraveled it as she made her way toward the kitchen.

 

It took a minute to wrestle the refrigerator away from the wall, but once she put her back into it, it scraped across the floor with a shriek. First cord in hand, she unplugged the fridge and fit the cable into the extension. A spark from the surge between the two zapped her palm and she dropped both with a clatter, cradling her numbed hand as the fridge hummed to life.

 

“Are you all right?”

 

Heart launching into her throat, she pressed her back to the wall, blood draining from her head as she glanced up into what she thought for a moment was the face of a ghost. Then she blew out a shuddering breath. “Oh, dear God, Cole. Where did you come from?”

 

“Upstairs,” he said, pointing toward the ceiling. At her blank look, he added, “I…never left.”

 

“Your motorcycle’s gone,” she pointed out, puzzled.

 

“I moved it onto the side porch. I thought that would keep it out of the worst of the storm.”

 

As she struggled to her feet, holding her numbed hand in the other, she frowned at him. “Why didn’t you leave?”

 

He lowered his eyes, lifted a shoulder. “I couldn’t leave you here. All alone in this.”

 

Blurb:

 

He’s in some serious trouble…. 

 

Cole Savitt does not want to deceive Briar Browning. But if he hopes to see his son again, he has to find the weaknesses in her charming bed-and-breakfast, then get out of town fast! But the quaint inn isn’t the only thing charming him….

 

Cole’s straightforward plan becomes anything but when he begins to fall for the beautiful innkeeper. Suddenly everything’s on the line—his future with his son, a chance at happiness and the love of a good woman. Cole must rethink his priorities…and the stakes have never been higher.

 

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Place-Briar-Mills-Boon-Superromance-ebook/dp/B00FTQIM64/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1392412584&sr=8-1&keywords=a+place+with+briar

 

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-place-with-briar-amber-leigh-williams/1117254426?ean=9781460329351

 

Harlequin: http://www.harlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=51153

 

www.amberleighwilliams.com

http://twitter.com/ALeighWilliams

http://www.facebook.com/amberleighwilliams

 

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Amber will be giving away a $15 Books-a-Million gift card to one lucky reader. Leave a comment for a chance to win.

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Cover Reveal – All Fired Up by Vivian Arend and Elle Kennedy

Welcome to the DreamMakers trilogy. A new collaboration from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Vivian Arend and Elle Kennedy, author of the bestselling Out of Uniform and Killer Instincts series.

All Fired Up
DreamMakers, Book 1

He’s ready to lead the way

Parker Wilson never thought he’d go from battle-hardened soldier to romance expert, but after his stint in the Rangers, that’s exactly what happened. As the owner of DreamMakers Inc., he helps other men win in the love department, using every resource available to plan the perfect date. When a routine recon turns into an unexpected night of passion, Parker’s mission becomes more personal—and he won’t give up until Lynn Davidson is all his.

She’s more than willing to follow

Lynn is a goner from the moment she lays eyes on the delectable Parker. She’s just ditched her boring almost-boyfriend and is tired of sticking to the straight and narrow. It’s time to walk on the wild side, and what better way than in the arms of the most irresistible man she’s ever met? But when their red-hot affair is threatened, it’ll take a team effort to make their dreams come true.

~~~~~~~~~~

Available April 22^nd, 2014

Want to be notified when it’s available for release? Click this link to sign up for a one time notification!

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Release Day: Love & Other Games Anthology

Today, we’re celebrating the release of Love and Other Games, a collection of four sexy new adult stories centered around athletes competing in the Winter Games by Ana Blaze, Melinda Dozier, Aria Kane, and Kara Leigh Miller.

Worth More Than Gold by Ana Blaze

Amy Pierce, the klutzy sister and manager of America’s Skating Sweetheart, is used to being invisible. But when a friend drags her to a party near the Olympic Village, Amy catches the eye of a sexy Norwegian ski jumper. It’s a magical night, but an awkward next morning has her running.

Everyone knows Erik Andresen’s best shot at an individual medal was back in 2010, before an injury pulled him from the competition. He’s there for his team, but a hot night and a remarkable final training session have him wondering if a gorgeous good-luck charm could give him another chance at the podium. With a little bit of luck, these two might have a shot at something worth more than gold.

Ana Blaze’s: Website | Twitter | Facebook

Trouble With Gold by Melinda Dozier

US snowboarder and notorious prankster, Ty (Trouble) Madsen is only getting a taste of his own medicine when his Olympic teammates shackle him to a fence wearing nothing but his boxers.

Reception and protocol volunteer, Nadia Hoffman, gets up close and personal with the sexy snowboarder to rescue him, but she’s not the kind of girl who lets her hormones get in her way. A professional performance could help her land her dream job at Olympics Committee Headquarters, but her new assignment supervising the rambunctious US Snowboarding Team is making that difficult.

Can she see behind the snowman in the community center bathroom and into the warm heart of the man everyone calls Trouble?

Melinda Dozer’s: Website | Twitter | Facebook

The Girl Behind the Gold by Aria Kane

Greek aerial skier Lia Milonas’s parents are about to lose the family farm. Saving it means medaling and landing a huge sponsor. While her no-nonsense attitude has her well on her way to a medal, it hasn’t won her a place in fans’ hearts.

“Come back with a story that will make readers cry, or don’t come back.” This is what Brandon James’ boss told him before he left New York to cover the Winter Games for Moment Magazine. With a wink and a smile, he can charm his way into any invite-only party, but that career-making story is nowhere to be found – until he meets Lia.

The two strike a deal that should get them both what they want – but neither would have guessed they’d also find what they need.

Aria Kane’s: Website | Twitter | Facebook

Ice Gold by Kara Leigh Miller

Colton Campbell thrives on the fast paced, adrenaline rushed lifestyle of being an Olympic hockey player. Despite Brenna Jessup’s abhorrence for the games and the athletes, she’s hand-picked as the official photographer for the U.S. Olympic Hockey Team. When a faux pas by Brenna almost costs Colton his career, she owes him. Too bad for her, Colton doesn’t want apologies — he wants retribution! And he knows just how to get it — and her — in the process.

Kara Leigh Miller’s: Website | Twitter | Facebook

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

The authors are hosting a Facebook party on release day filled with fun, surprises, and PRIZES! You can find the event here!

Be sure to check out the #OtherGames hashtag every day in October for winter Olympian sexiness! 

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Cover Goodness: East of Ecstasy by Laura Kaye

Annalise Fallston made peace with postponing her big-city dreams to care for her ill father, but lately she’s been filled with a restlessness not even her beloved painting dispels. Worse, the colors don’t speak to her as they always have, and all her efforts produce dark, foreboding images of a dangerous man and a terrifying future.

Devlin Eston, black-souled son of the evil Anemoi Eurus, is the only one who can thwart his father’s plan to overthrow the Supreme God of Wind and Storms. But first, Dev must master the unstable powers he’s been given. Distrusted and shunned by his own divine family, he never expected to find kindness and passion in the arms of a mortal.

But Devlin’s love puts Annalise in the path of a catastrophic storm, and in the final Armageddon showdown between the Anemoi and Eurus, sacrifices will be made, hearts broken, and lives changed forever…or lost.

 

 

April 22, 2014

 

http://www.laurakayeauthor.com

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Cover Goodness: Bite Me by Shelly Laurenston

*dancing in my seat* A new Shelly Laurenston book! Color me oh so very happy since I have mad love for this series of hers. Mad. Love. 😉

Livy Kowalski has no time for idiots. When you shapeshift into a honey badger, getting through life’s irritants is a finely honed skill. Until she gets stuck housing her nutso cousin and dealing with her dad’s untimely and unexplained demise.

That’s where Vic Barinov comes in—or his house does. Vic can’t step outside without coming back to find Livy devouring his honey stash and getting the TV remote sticky. It gets his animal instincts all riled up. But he’ll have to woo her at high speed: all hell is breaking loose, and Livy is leading the charge…

Excerpt

Release Date: March 25, 2014

www.shellylaurenston.com

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Love & Other Games Anthology

Love and Other Games is a collection of four sexy new adult stories centered around athletes competing in the Winter Games by Ana Blaze, Melinda Dozier, Aria Kane, and Kara Leigh Miller. It releases October 1^st from Swoon Romance in all major electronic formats.

Worth More Than Gold by Ana Blaze

Amy Pierce, the klutzy sister and manager of America’s Skating Sweetheart, is used to being invisible. But when a friend drags her to a party near the Olympic Village, Amy catches the eye of a sexy Norwegian ski jumper. It’s a magical night, but an awkward next morning has her running.

Everyone knows Erik Andresen’s best shot at an individual medal was back in 2010, before an injury pulled him from the competition. He’s there for his team, but a hot night and a remarkable final training session have him wondering if a gorgeous good-luck charm could give him another chance at the podium.With a little bit of luck, these two might have a shot at something worth more than gold.

Ana Blaze’s: Website| Twitter | Facebook

Trouble With Gold by Melinda Dozier

US snowboarder and notorious prankster, Ty (Trouble) Madsen is only getting a taste of his own medicine when his Olympic teammates shackle him to a fence wearing nothing but his boxers.

Reception and protocol volunteer, Nadia Hoffman, gets up close and personal with the sexy snowboarder to rescue him, but she’s not the kind of girl who lets her hormones get in her way. A professional performance could help her land her dream job at Olympics Committee Headquarters, but her new assignment supervising the rambunctious US Snowboarding Team is making that difficult.

Can she see behind the snowman in the community center bathroom and into the warm heart of the man everyone calls Trouble?

Melinda Dozer’s: Website| Twitter | Facebook

The Girl Behind the Gold by Aria Kane

Greek aerial skier Lia Milonas’s parents are about to lose the family farm. Saving it means medaling and landing a huge sponsor. While her no-nonsense attitude has her well on her way to a medal, it hasn’t won her a place in fans’ hearts.

“Come back with a story that will make readers cry, or don’t come back.” This is what Brandon James’ boss told him before he left New York to cover the Winter Games for Moment Magazine. With a wink and a smile, he can charm his way into any invite-only party, but that career-making story is nowhere to be found – until he meets Lia.

The two strike a deal that should get them both what they want – but neither would have guessed they’d also find what they need.

Aria Kane’s: Website | Twitter | Facebook

Ice Gold by Kara Leigh Miller

Colton Campbell thrives on the fast paced, adrenaline rushed lifestyle of being an Olympic hockey player. Despite Brenna Jessup’s abhorrence for the games and the athletes, she’s hand-picked as the official photographer for the U.S. Olympic Hockey Team. When a faux pas by Brenna almost costs Colton his career, she owes him. Too bad for her, Colton doesn’t want apologies — he wants retribution! And he knows just how to get it — and her — in the process.

Kara Leigh Miller’s: Website | Twitter |Facebook

To celebrate the cover reveal, the authors are giving away a $20 gift card to the bookstore of the winner’s choice. Check out the rafflecopter below to enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rafflecopter direct link

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Elle Kennedy – Guest blog and giveaway!

She wears a thousand deadly identities.
He sees through them all.

A master of disguise, Isabel Roma spends her life pretending to be other women.  Normally, her emotions are reined in tight—but sexy mercenary Trevor Callaghan has a knack for getting under her skin. The elite operative’s quiet strength and raw magnetism affect her in ways she’s never felt before, a distraction that can quickly turn deadly in their dangerous line of work.
 
After putting his tragic past behind him, Trevor is ready to focus on his future—and he damn well intends for Isabel to be in it. When their entire operation is thrown into chaos, Trevor enlists Isabel’s talent for deception. And as they attempt to save their team in a world where the stakes are high and the danger is grave, Trevor must convince Isabel that the woman beneath all the disguises is the one worth having…

~~~*~~~*~~~

 

Top 3 Challenges when writing Midnight Games

 

1) Research, research, research!

 

When I’m reading a book, I don’t spend much time thinking about all the research the author had to do to make the story come alive. I just soak it all in and get lost in whatever world the author has created for me. But once the book is done, the writer in me realizes just how much work went into creating that believable world for reader me.

 

As a writer, I spend hours and hours researching. Plot points, settings, character backgrounds. Google is my best friend. Travel is my second best friend. And of course, I could never live without the friends and fellow writers who let me IM or call them at all hours with questions about anything and everything. Midnight Games required a ton of research. A lot of it probably landed me on Internet watch lists. And who can forget the look on my pharmacist’s face when I asked, “If I wanted to knock somebody out using a drug that won’t show up on tox reports, what would I use?”

 

 

2) Giving my characters sexy times in the middle of a dangerous mission

 

A lot of readers I know can’t seem to suspend their disbelief when it comes to characters having sex when there is danger all around them. I get it. It’s not crazy realistic—I mean, who has time to get naked when there’s stuff blowing up all around you and people trying to kill you?

 

In Midnight Games, creating those little opportunities for Trevor and Isabel to connect both emotionally and sexually was tough. But definitely necessary. Romantic suspense needs the romance part, even when the suspense is at an all-time high. One of the biggest challenges I faced was finding that balance, and allowing for my hero and heroine to get some action in the middle of so much action 😉

 

 

3) Killing off a character

 

I knew from the moment I started writing this story that a sacrifice would be required. I would need to kill someone off, which would result in hurting one of my characters deeply. I also know that someone else has to die in future books. Killing characters I care about is seriously painful for me. It’s like losing a good friend. Heck, one time I injured a dog in a book and cried about it for hours afterward. So when you’re reading Midnight Games and you reach the part I’m hinting about, trust me when I say that writing that scene was not fun. At all.

 

With that said, I hope you all enjoy the book! The Killer Instincts series holds a soft spot in my heart. The characters are fun, exciting and feel like my friends, and the situations I throw them into are always a blast to write about.

 

I’m giving away a copy of the first two books in the series to one commenter. Midnight Rescue and Midnight Alias feature Trevor and Isabel, the hero and heroine of Midnight Games, so if you haven’t read their journey yet, comment on this post for a chance to see how they got to where they are now!

 

Elle

www.ellekennedy.com

 

Midnight Games buy link:

http://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Games-Killer-Instincts-Novel/dp/0451240022/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371440102&sr=8-1&keywords=midnight+games

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DFRAT – Hidden by Selena Laurence

Nick Carlisle comes to Hawaii to hide—from what happened during his service in Afghanistan, from relationships, from his future. Lyndsey Anderson came to Hawaii to hide too—from the man who abused her, from the sacrifices she made, from her dark past. But when Nick meets Lyndsey, Hawaii gets a whole lot hotter, and they find they can’t hide their hearts. As Nick fights to come to terms with what he’s done, Lyndsey struggles to forgive herself for the choices she’s made. But when the dangerous past threatens the beautiful present, can they survive to learn how to love? And who will finally reveal what’s hidden?

 

~~~*~~~*~~~

 

Excerpt

 

Stumbling out of the water, I leaned down and unhooked the board from the safety strap around my ankle. Before I knew what was happening Nick was there, lifting me up in his arms and shouting.

“You did it!” he hollered. “You fucking rocked it, Lyndsey! That was the greatest first run I’ve ever seen.” He set me back down and held on to my upper arms as he leaned back and looked down at my face. I grinned.

“I did it, didn’t I?” I asked, amazed by the whole thing.

“Hell yes, you did!” He sounded like a proud father. “I told you you’d be great. You’re a natural.”

I laughed. “Oh my God, I really did it. I really did it!” I squealed, jumping up and down. Nick grabbed me and swung me around again. When he stopped spinning I was breathless. He looked at me as he slowly slid me down his body back to earth. When my feet touched the sand he kissed me softly on the lips.

It was nothing like the kiss he’d given me before I went out on the water. This one was slow and sweet and full of unsaid things. I felt my pulse skyrocket and his hands slipped lower on my hips as he pulled me closer. I felt his bare chest pressed against my nearly bare one, and the butterflies in my stomach went wild, having little butterfly seizures all over the place. Then, as quickly as it had started, it was over. Nick pulled away and certain parts of my anatomy screamed, Wait! Come back!

 

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To find out more about Selena Laurence, visit selenalaurence.com. And for chance to win a digital copy of Hidden, just leave a comment below. Good luck!

 

 

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