The Romance Reviews

The Romance Reviews

Monday, January 30, 2012

Monday Pick Me Up




Welcome to Monday Pick Me Up.


     This is one drool worthy, beautiful male! I've always had a thing for dark haired men. You may have notice I changed the layout of my blog just a little bit. With so much going on this year I needed to space all the good stuff so you can check out my blog hops and the conventions I'm attending this year. I hope this makes it easier for you all.

    Besides being hard at work with three different books in progress - something that keeps me from the dreaded writers block - I have quite a bit going on in February. For this week my blog will guest host Ashlynne Laynne and Morgan Kerns. Ashlynne will be my guest on Wed. Feb. 1st where she will be giving you all a taste of her soon the be released The Progeny. Mogan Kerns will take the spotlight on Thursday's regular time slot and you will have a great chance to get to know this successful self-pubbed author and you latest book. She is also having a giveaway!

     I will be guest blogging on Skhye Moncreif's blog talking about world building around the Dark Breeds. How did I get the idea for these scrumptious supernatural warriors? You will just have to check out Skhye's blog on Friday for the answer to that.

    In other news, I  My Monday Pick Me Up for Feb. 6th will be moved to the 7th since Blog Hop Romancing Valentines starts on that Monday. Check out the link and see what I'm giving away for prizes. I will be announcing the winner to Small Blogs Big Giveaways as soon as I get them so look forward to that as well.

So much to do and so little time to do it in, Sigh.

Well, I better get cracking on all this work. Hope you all have a safe and productive week and I'll be checking in on Tuesday next week.

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Author Spotlights Kenra Daniels


Today I have a very special guest for my Author Spotlight. Kenra Daniels is a pre-published author who has inspired me with her energy and drive. I look forward to watching her career take off and flourish.
So get your coffee or tea and curl up next to your computer and meet the next up and coming author who no doubt will be on your TBR list.


Do you do anything to get you into the zone to write? I always see authors talking about what they do to get in the zone, but all I need is my laptop (or a pen and paper, even a napkin will do. :0) ). I write in the car while hubby drives, in the midst of my 3 toddler/preschool grandsons playing. I just open a document and start writing.



 What made you want to write was there some pivotal point that brought this about?  I've always been a writer. As a very young child, I would dictate "stories" to my mother, then illustrate them. If she was too busy to write them down for me, I would fill line after line, page after page, of her letter tablet with this cramped little scribbling. When adulthood hit, being a wife and mother, and career, took precedence over writing fiction, but I continued to dabble. Several years ago, chronic health problems put an end to my career, and after a time, I turned back to writing.



What is your favorite book, character and why? I love all of JR Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood series. Choosing a favorite from it is impossible for me. Her style of writing just pulls me straight into her world. Vishous is my favorite of her characters. He's so complex and multi-faceted. Every time I read one of the books he's in, I learn something else about him.



Do you prefer to write erotic or sweet? Erotic. I simply can't do sweet. When my Hero and Heroine get together, the sparks start flying.



Which famous person, living or dead, are you drawn to? Hmmm. That's a tough one. I don't do the celebrity thing – couldn't care less who they're screwing, LOL. It would definitely be an historical figure, but at the moment, I'm drawing a blank.



Where do you see yourself in five years? Still writing, multi-published with a New York publisher, and earning a decent income.



Finish this sentence: I know I’ve made it when_______________? Readers enjoy my books enough to recommend them to others, and look forward to my next book.



What advice about writing has made the most impact on you? Write every single day, whether you feel like or not, whether you're inspired or not. Set a reasonable daily word count goal, and don't stop for the day until you hit it. Push to make that first draft as clean as possible the first time around. Read at least as much as you write.



Do you make a yearly goal to meet if so what are they? This is the first year I've really put writing goals in writing. I want to finish up my revisions of Blood Dragon and find a publisher for it. I want to finish the first draft and edits of Blood Dragon II and with the publisher. I want to rewrite the first two weredragon stories I wrote and get them out there. I'm developing a brand new paranormal creature, unlike anything you've ever read – I want it finished and the first draft of its first story completed. I have some short stories I want to clean up and self-publish. I know there are others, but those are the big ones.



If you could have one superpower what would it be and why? Super speed. I'd get all the housework done, and write as fast as I think of the stories. I've realized that, at 44, when a 2 year-old, and a 3 year-old head in different directions, I better get to the one headed for the biggest trouble first. With super speed, I could catch them both and still manage to do whatever the 8 month old is demanding.



What time of the day are you at your best to write? Late night. From 10pm until 2am, I'm more focused and productive, and more likely to have fewer interruptions.





And now for something completely different…



What do you look at first with an attractive man or woman, face, body or smile? It depends on the situation, but generally, I'll pay attention to a man's eyes and smile first.



Explain your perfect day. I'd start by having a leisurely cup of coffee with hubby. I wouldn't have to do any housework, so I'd read for a couple of hours, then spend the bulk of the day writing.



What is the most decadent desert you can’t say no to? Chocolate cheesecake from a small family-owned local grocery.



What words best describe you. Creative, quiet, hard-working, honest, dedicated, determined… That's all I can think of at the moment, LOL.










LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/kenradaniels


You can also find me at http://gravetells.com as a reviewer and contributing writer

Monday, January 23, 2012

Monday Pick Me Up Plus Current Blog Festivities


Happy Monday!
Hope everyone is having a fantastic start to the week. Here is a little eye candy to get you going. Just a reminder that I'm a featured author on Small Blogs Big Giveaways Edition 7. It runs through to January 7th so be sure to enter since there are tons of books and some gift cards to win. just go to click on

Other than that is business as usual for me. working on several different stories. I'm getting ready to go into deep hibernation next weekend since I have no obligations to fill and the weekend will be all mine to do as I please. I may be able to kick out most of one stories and have significant progress on the other two. Hey, a gal has to have a goal to keep focused.
I'm also waiting for the second round of edits for Passion's Flight. They should be in anytime and looking forward to having it put to bed and out to all of you with a set date in February.

In other news, I will be attending Rom Con this year in Denver, CO. Very excited! As an attending author of the event I will be doing author signings plus many other events that I will let you in on as they are set. I will have more information set up on my blog on where I'll be as later this week. As you can see I'm doing quite a few Blog Hop Giveaways up through March so you will be hearing a lot about them as the time gets closer.

Well, that's all for now. Have a fantastic week!

Friday, January 20, 2012

Smoking Saturday



I have a special treat for you. I've opened my blog to all paranormal romance authors so YOU, my dear friends can put some wonderful books on your TBR pile. I'll start things out with two blurbs.

Get ready for the second book coming in February with the first book that started it all!

Dark Passion Rising: A Dark Breed Novel

Blurb:
Tambra Ellis has just had her world turned upside down! Surviving a bite from a Lycan, attracted to one hot vampire guy and now she has to look forward to turning into something from some bad werewolf movie.

          Marcus Valerian has enough on his plate without the added complication of Tambra Ellis. Fiery and independent? Sure. Beautiful with a body made for sin? Oh Yeh. And a human cop. Tambra is everything he needs to stay away from.

    As leader of the Tribunal’s enforcers it’s up to him to find out why the Dark Breeds are going feral and killing humans in ever increasing numbers. Tambra’s life is in the balance as the secrets of her past place her in the middle of old deceits and a betrayal that will change the world forever.

     Will Marcus and Tambra’s love survive or will it be too late.


Available now at:






And

Beloved Wizard: Knights of Excalibur One


Blurb:
Arthur and his Knights are back and ready to kick ass!
Merci Tramaine is not happy to be called back into service by her old boss Arthur, especially when she is charged to find her missing ex lover. Drake Monroe is Merlin reincarnated, with his powers bound by the Goddess Nimue he has become a skilled fighter, but no match for Nimue who kidnapped him determined to destroy him forever.
The bloodline of Morgan Le Fey taints Merci keeping her on the edge between light and dark, the Goddess’s wicked trap springs shut leaving both Drake and Merci racing against the clock. Passions ignite once again, but are they too late to plan a future or will they be torn from each other?
This time for eternity.
Buy Links:



Thursday, January 19, 2012

7th Edition Small Blogs Big GAway



Welcome to my Blog. I am participating in this awesome giveaway and when they say it's big, well that's not an understatement. For my part I am giving away the following:
1PDF copy of Dark Passion Rising: A Dark Breed Novel
1PDF Copy of Beloved Wizard: Knight of Excalibur One
PLUS
A $20.00 Amazon Gift Card

How do you enter?
This is different from other blog hops where you leave a comment and the author picks through Random Number. Even though I love it when I get comments *Wink*

Good Luck!

Author Spotlights Skhye Moncreif

I am very excited about this Author Spotlight. Skhye Moncreif is an author I have been fortunate to meet and must say am fast becoming one of her fans. She writes paranormal, fantasy and sci-fi romance with a keen sense of wit and strong characters. I just recently started her Time Guardian series and have to say I'm hooked.  So grab you coffee and get ready to meet one awesome Lady.

Do you do anything to get you into the zone to write?


I'm a kinesthetic learning type (for the most part) so I need a blanket, a drink (green tea), and my hair out of my eyes. Or everything will drive me crazy! Noises. Hair tickling my face. The fact I'm freezing cold. So, I take care of everything to focus.

 Which authors inspire your writing?

 Initially, my writing was inspired by Karen Marie Moning. But my writing style is more my own after years of writing and my preferences evolving from whatever spurred my writing from what I enjoyed reading. I have no idea how to describe my writing style. A reviewer was kind enough to pigeon-hole the "genre" I write…Um, apparently that's difficult too. Because it's Mainstream with a whole lot of every kind of paranormal. *snort*


What is your favorite book, character and why?

 My favorite book is Desiree Gelsi's DEADLY SUBMISSION. OMG, the hero is INCREDIBLE. He's terrifying, mysterious, and sexy. Then you get to know him and sympathize with him…Oh me. Oh my! The plot blew me away. I couldn't put the book down. I had to give it to my critique partner the next morning so I could "let go" and "move on" to my work. Oy! She had THE SAME problem. LOL I bought her a copy too. Because you know you want your critique partners to have your same woes. After all, there's no reason you should wallow in misery alone! By the way, this book had horrible reviews on Amazon. My first thought was WHY? I had no idea what those people were grousing about. So, don't go by the reviews at Amazon if you're questioning giving this book a try. And then I went to find the rest of the series. NO! There wasn't a thing to read! *sniffle*

Do you prefer to write erotic or sweet?
 I'll have to go with erotic because nothing I write is sweet--less than spicy. Sexual tension is loads of fun to read and write. And to make my spicy stories more marketable, I had to crank up the heat. So, I'm into naughty by default!


Which famous person, living or dead, are you drawn to?
 Okay, I studied archaeology forever and can't peg one. So, I'm going with the nameless big hunky sweaty muscled guy in sexy clothes. He doesn't need a name. His physique speaks for him. J

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Still sitting on the couch with chronic fatigue syndrome hoping my Lyme is gone…


Finish this sentence: I know I’ve made it when

I no longer have to promo.

What advice would you give aspiring writers?

OMG, hang in there. I'm still hanging in there.

What do you see yourself writing in the future?

The same thing I'm writing now--sexy hunky muscular men with wit and expressive eyes. They can live anywhere I place them. Just wait to see what I do with black holes! Really. I'm so going there!!!


If you could have one superpower what would it be and why?


I'd have energy again. Lyme sucked me dry  years ago.


What time of the day are you at your best to write?

 I usually can write at any time. My problem is the brain fog. Lyme is evil. And the insomnia…Oy! Without writing, I'd be far nuttier than I am.


And now for something completely different…
What do you look at first with an attractive man or woman, face, body or smile?
BODY--man (I'm into muscles) & arses
Explain your perfect day.
Nobody bothers me. Nothing needs to be done. I already exercised. I have lots of energy. And the snacks aren't calling my name. (Can you tell I'm a mom? *snort*)


What is the most decadent desert you can’t say no to?

Chocolate-covered chocolate with chocolate sprinkles and chocolate syrup on top! If there's a bottle of caramel sauce on the side, even better.

Do you have a favorite holiday what is it and what makes it special to you?

 My favorite holiday(s) involve my receiving gifts. (I'm really not narcissistic.) If I don't get a gift on that holiday one year, it doesn't fall under "favorites". LOL Otherwise, it's more fun to give gifts. So, those holidays are equally important. And I get to throw parties for my daughter. I love pulling parties together. *wink* Hmm, does all of that rambling equal birthdays?

What key words describe you best?

People say I’m high energy. ??? REALLY? And I'm dogmatic. I can write a novel a month and submit them almost as quickly. Probably because I'm "most responsible" under the Myers-Briggs' personality typing (Field Marshal) and suffer from insomnia. Writing keeps me sane. And then I'm mean old bossy Mom (Cancer) with Gemini rising (schizophrenic-looking). So, the twins keep the creative cancer busy busy… That's me. I think. Or so I've been told. I'm the world's biggest pessimist when it comes to myself. So, I usually go by what other people say about me. Then I don't look narcissistic. (Or that's the internal anthropologist knowing what I'm really doing. LOL) I would truly die if I appeared narcissistic! Psst…So now you know the real me! ~Skhye

Skhye is giving any reader who emails her a special gift.

 I have romance trading cards. I love to give them away. I made them myself!!! (I'm really not narcissistic!) *snort* And as long as I have some, I'll mail them to people who request them.
 Just shoot me an email at skhye@skhyemoncrief.com with your mailing address and I'll pop them in the mail!


Thanks for sharing your time with me, Shannan!  ~Skhye


You can find out more about Skhye at:

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Special Author Spotlights Adonis Devereux


There are some authors that you can't pass up no matter how booked you may be. When I heard that the team Adonis Devereux would like to be on my little old blog, well I jumped at the chance to have them. So settle in for a nice chat with this talented husband and wife team.


Do you do anything to get you into the zone to write?

First thing we do is banish our six children from our presence! Then we settle in with a nice drink. He gets a tea with honey and milk; she gets a coffee. This is usually in the evenings when the little ones are in bed. The big girls can entertain themselves, usually with a kindle or card games. Once everything is quiet, we figure out who's turn it is to write that night and then get on with it.

 Which authors inspire your writing?

J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Herman Melville, Dorothy Sayers, Agatha Christie, P.D. James, John Keats, William Shakespeare, Stephen Lawhead, Isaac Asimov, William Faulkner, Jane Austen, Emily Bronte, John Steinbeck...we'll stop there before this listt gets too long and boring.

What is your favorite book, character and why?

She: Favorite book – The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien. It has the breadth and scope of an entire mythology with the focus of a modern novel. It is the most beautiful story I've ever read. Favorite character – Juliet. She displays the entire range of human emotions, and there is no hero to match her in all of Shakespeare. Not even Hamlet. Juliet is genuinely selfless.
He: Favorite book – Moby-Dick by Herman Melville. Who would've thought whale-hunting (which I disagree with , by the way) could be so epic? Favorite character – Judas in The Man Born to Be King. This portrayal gave me a completely new insight into Judas and the decisions he made.

Do you prefer to write erotic or sweet?

We prefer a bit of both. We don't want our stories to be raunchy and just about the sex, but at the same time we don't want to close the bedroom door. Story takes precedence. It is more important than just showing how tab A goes into slot B.

Which famous person, living or dead, are you drawn to?

He: No one in particular. I give no famous person more thought than any other.
She: St. Joseph.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Our oldest will be leaving home, and our youngest will be starting first grade, so just as one leaves, the other will be getting started. It will be a bittersweet time, the first disruption to our perfect, domestic bliss!

Finish this sentence: I know I’ve made it when we can live off our writing income!

What advice would you give aspiring writers?

Don't try. You probably won't make it. The odds are stacked against you. You should devote your energies to something that you have a chance of succeeding at. (Now, if that person then promptly ignores this advice, maybe he/she was meant to be a writer!)

What do you see yourself writing in the future?

We're working on a contemporary, paranormal romance set in Scotland. Then we'll return to Gilalion, the fictional world of Worth His Freedom and Bride for the God-King.

If you could have one superpower what would it be and why?

She: Telepathy. What's more powerful than mind-reading and mind-control?
He: Energy absorption and density control. Just watch X-Men: First Class and see Sebastian Shaw.

What time of the day are you at your best to write?

Whenever the kids are being quiet.


And now for something completely different…


What do you look at first with an attractive man or woman, face, body or smile?

He: Body.
She: Face.

Explain your perfect day.

She: The day starts with sex, the children behave themselves, after lunch go out for coffee and chatting with him, come back home to a dinner I didn't have to cook, some family time, some writing, and then sex before bed.
He: A day without having to go out to work, can spend time with her and the children, pressure-free schedule that allows writing, and, of course, sex.

What is the most decadent dessert you can’t say no to?

He: Her black forest pie.
She: Caramel apple oat-bars.

Do you have a favorite holiday? What is it, and what makes it special to you?

Christmas! We never travel at Christmas. It's very important to us that our nuclear family is together safe and warm in our house on Christmas eve and morning. There is simply no better time of year. It's cliché, but the song is right: “it's the most wonderful time of the year”.

What key words describe you best?

She: (answered by him) Pious, forgiving, good, beautiful, modest, matchless cook, dynamite in bed, patient, kind, genius, polyglot.
He: (answered by her) Brilliant, driven, hard-working, persevering, great teacher, unbelievable lover, gorgeous, strong, my protector and my shelter.
They are also going to be giving One free eBook copy of Bride for the God-King.

 
Just comment in the comments section and be sure to include your email address.

The winner will be announced one week after this interview goes live.

Good luck to you all and Thanks Adonis Devereux for taking the time to come over to my blog.

Monday, January 16, 2012

Pick Me Up Monday

Good Morning my Friends. 
I hope everyone is fantastic and prepared to face the week. Here is a yummy hunk I don't mind looking at all week. Hum...where my mind goes, well you can fill in the blanks for yourself.
Any way back to business.
I have been a bit busy with the second installment of Knights of Excalibur plus several outlines I'm in the process of getting down and writing. Best way for me to fight a writers block is to have several books going so my muse will have different stories to play with.
I have several things coming up this week so mark your calenders. First up, I have a TWO Author Spotlights. the first is on the 17th with Adonis Devereux. A very talented husband and wife writing team. On the 19th I have Skhye Moncreif on my second Author Spotlight.
I have a blog hop starting on Friday 1/20 ending 1/27. I'll have more information up on this a little later but there are tons of prizes to give away!
Three words come to mind. Free books anyone?

On Saturday the 21st I am opening my blog to all paranormal authors. They will be putting in their blurbs and buy links on my comment area so you have several opportunities this week to check out new Authors.

That's all for this week. Whew, and I have a day job too! Time for extra vitamins.


Thursday, January 12, 2012

Author Spotlights Siobhan Muir

                                           Debut Author from Evernight Publishing!

Today is a very exciting one for me. It's not everyday I get to introduce a brand new talent and when that talent is from Evernight Publishing that just puts the proverbial cherry on top of my hot fudge sunde.
So get your coffee friends and get ready for a great treat as I introduce Siobhan Muir to my blog. I know you will love her as much as I do.

Coming in March from Evernight Publishing!






 Bridget Shanahan doesn't believe in vampires or werewolves, but that doesn't stop one from kidnapping her.

BRIDGETSHANAHAN’S life seems bleak and boring until she gets mugged and abductedfrom her favorite coffee shop by thesexiest man she’s ever met. Unfortunately, he’s a lunatic who believes he’ssome kind of vampire savior surrounded by a security force of werewolves andhe’s determined to keep her.
FREDRICKMACGREGOR hasbeen having visions of this woman in danger for the last six months, a woman hemust protect because she’s the Avatar of the Goddess. However, when he bringsher home, she doesn’t believe he's a vampire or that she is the Avatar, and shedefinitely doesn't want to stay. But the sense of danger persists and he'll doanything to keep her safe, even if it means risking the loss of the only womanwho makes his endless life bearable again.


EXCERPT:


Bridget immediately recognized the handsome man from Snickerdoodles and her heart fluttered with excitement. He was here in her bedroom. Wait, what was he doing in her bedroom? Her eyes snapped to the bedspread again. This wasn’t her bedroom!

            “Where am I?” she asked as she struggled to sit up, but aborted the effort when pain shot through her side.

“Just rest for now. You aren’t ready yet.” His familiar voice settled some of her uncertainty and fright.

            “Why do I hurt? What’s wrong with me?”

The pain felt like she’d literally been hit by a baseball bat beneath her ribs on the left side. What was wrong with her? She hadn’t felt this bad, even after the British had come to the farm in her dream. She slid her hand down to test her injury, but she couldn’t feel anything.

            “Do you remember me, Bridget? I met you at Snickerdoodles.”

            Oh, she remembered, all right. She remembered the scent of his skin and the warmth of his body beside her. At least, she thought she did. He’d wrapped his cloak around her, hadn’t he?

            She closed her eyes and shook her head to clear the cobwebs of mixed memories.

            “I returned your book and tried to hail a cab for you. Do you remember that?”

            No. Wait. Yes, she remembered the terrible kidnapping scene in the book and how she’d left it on the table in the coffee shop. Her memories played out in a reel until it ended with red eyes and searing pain.

            Bridget’s eyes flew open and she stared at her companion with dawning unease. His expression filled with concern and compassion, his eyes a deep chocolate brown. No sign of red anywhere. They weren’t even bloodshot.

            “You’re Fredrick MacGregor.”

            “That’s right.” A smile flitted over his lips.

            “And you smell like spiced apples and vanilla.”

            His black eyebrows disappeared into his hairline, one tendril falling across an eye. It looked soft and smooth and she wanted to push it behind his ear for him, but his smug look banished any tender feelings that might have developed.

            “You were stabbed in the side and I brought you to my home here in Gloucester to take care of you.”

            Stabbed? She’d been stabbed? Gasping, she wrenched the bedclothes away from her body and scanned the skin of her belly. The bruised pain she felt directed her eyes to her left side but there was nothing there, not even discoloration. If she’d been stabbed, where was the scar, the scab?

Is he just teasing me? What kind of a jerk does that? Then the rest of his words sank in.

            Gloucester?”

            “Yes. It was the safest place I could think to take you.”

            Bridget narrowed her eyes as she raised her gaze to meet his again, her hands still holding the bedclothes up.

            Safe for whom, you chocolate-eyed kidnapper?

“Normally you take injured people, like those with stab wounds, to the hospital. Or at least call the paramedics.” What was she doing in Gloucester in a richly decorated bedroom? Was it his bedroom?

There are worse places to be, a traitorous voice remarked.

“There was no time and I knew I could care for you as well or better than any hospital,” Fredrick replied to her unasked questions.

Riiiiggghhhtt, that’s what all the sociopaths say to their victims.

            “I have to go,” she croaked out as she tried to sit up again. She’d make it home come hell or high water. Goosebumps zinged along her leg when it appeared out of the covers.

“Whoa!” She jerked her legs back under the bedclothes and stared incredulously at the man sitting next to her on the bed. “Where are my clothes?”

            “I haven’t had time to get any from your apartment,” he explained, his eyes never dropping from hers. “I’ll send someone presently.”

            She raised her eyebrows. “Presently? Who uses words like ‘presently’? And how do you know where I live–” She groaned, frowning. “You looked in my wallet from my coat.”

            “That seemed to be the most logical place to look for your name and home address.”

            “That’s just great. A perfect ending to a perfect day,” she growled, slumping back in the bed. “Stabbed, kidnapped, and naked in a stranger’s bed. It just doesn’t get much worse.”

            “Except, perhaps, being kidnapped by a vampire with a house full of werewolves,” he suggested, a half-smile curling his kissable lips.

            She snorted. “Thank God there’s no such thing as vampires or werewolves.”

            He stilled as if the life within him bled away, leaving nothing but a quiet, waxen shell, and his face lost the humor in it. Unease crept through her as she stared hard at him, clutching the covers so tightly her knuckles turned white. The scent of spiced apples shifted to a dirt smell, like moist earth or the desert after the rain, and her stomach cramped with visceral fear.

Do you do anything to get you into the zone to write?
Nothing really specific, except make sure the kids are occupied so I have some time to think. ;)

 Which authors inspire you and your writing?
There are so many. I first started writing because of Anne McCaffrey and Mercedes Lackey. I loved the fantasy of dragons and talking horses. But as my tastes became refined, I found Elizabeth Kerner (Fantasy), Suzanne Brockmann (Romantic Suspense), and Monica McCarty (Historical).

What is your favorite book, character and why?
The one book I re-read is The Deed of Paksenarrion by Elizabeth Moon. Paksenarrion starts out as a sheepherder’s daughter who doesn’t want to get married and progresses into a knight of the gods, essentially. I loved how the trials she experienced pushed and stretched her into the spiritual connection she found at the end, all through everyday life events. The story really resonated to me.

Do you prefer to write erotic or sweet?
Oh, Erotic, definitely. I want to tell my readers what’s really going on! ;)

Which famous person, living or dead, are you drawn to?
The philosopher James Arthur Ray. I love his line “When would now be the right time for change?” The line really puts it into perspective for me. Change only happens when I decide now is the time.


Where do you see yourself in five years?
Multipublished in Las Vegas. :D I see my name on Kindles, Nooks, and iPads all over the country. I want to be a household name like Lora Leigh, Larissa Ione, Gena Showalter, and Jennifer Ashley.

Finish this sentence: I know I’ve made it when_______________.
Ironically, I already feel like I’ve made it. It doesn’t show in obvious ways, but I’m already successful as a writer and my career is only improving. I think my family might look at it as when they can hold one of my books in their hands, though. :)

What advice would you give aspiring writers?
The tagline on the bottom of my blog: “If you want to be a writer, don’t think about writing or talk about writing. WRITE! And never give up on the stories.” I also like to say “Never give up; never surrender.” Writing is tough. It’s the only profession that requires you to have produced a product before you get hired. But if you never give up, you’ll get your stories out there and get published.

What do you see yourself writing in the future?
I’m a huge fan of romance and science fiction/fantasy. I will continue to write paranormal romance and fantasy with romantic elements because I love magic in my stories.

If you could have one superpower what would it be and why?
It would be the power to manipulate energy like the Green Lantern. I could fly anywhere I wanted to go and make my own personal dragon. ;)

What time of the day are you at your best to write?
The best time for me to write is in the morning. I’m focused and energized and usually full of ideas from the dreams I’ve had the night before. :)

And now for something completely different…


What do you look at first with an attractive man or woman, face, body or smile?
The overall proportions of the body – do all those beautiful attributes fit together well? Then I take in the face and smile.

Explain your perfect day.
It depends on my mood. Some days I love the rain slanting down. Makes me want to sit and write, read, and drink coffee. Other days, I want the sunshine to light up my mood. I love hiking in tropical jungles and alpine forests, and my mood reflects those disparate climates. Any day I get a lot of writing done is an awesome day. :)

What is the most decadent desert you can’t say no to?
Ha ha, Chocolate Decadence, a dense, rich, chocolate mousse cake.

Do you have a favorite holiday what is it and what makes it special to you?
I like Christmas time, not the religious aspects of it, but the giving and the friendly connections you can make with everyone, including strangers, at that time of year. Family and friends are important to me and it’s a good time to express gratitude to them for being in my life.

What key words describe you best?
Gregarious, Enthusiastic, Determined, Direct

Thanks for having me, Shannan.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

January Release's from Evernight Publishing


Comming Jan 6th from Evernight Publishing
BLURB:
Lucas Manning, Sr. is married to Winnie, Roy Grayson's mother. Trouble ensues from the moment authorities arrest her son for stalking and terrorizing Lucas' daughter-in-law. Winnie feels guilty and withdraws from the Manning family. Suddenly a threatening phone call disturbs their lives even more as Winnie becomes a target. Can Lucas convince her of her worthiness and save their marriage? Or will danger and loyalty to her son drive a further wedge between them?

EXCERPT:

The warm water sluiced over their hot bodies in a rushing stream as they stood entwined in the tiny stall. Her kisses tasted like chocolate mint from the candy bars they’d snacked on earlier.
She poured a liberal amount of his shower gel into her palm. “Turn around.”
He did as requested, and she dutifully soaped his back. As her hands moved to soap his chest, she rubbed her breasts against him, and he shivered in response to the sensations rioting through his body. When her hands reached to soap his cock, he gasped, taking in a mouthful of water, which he promptly spewed out.
“Lady, you sure are full of surprises,” he said as he turned to face her, rinsing off under the spray before turning the taps off. He grabbed a towel and dried her body, his ministrations causing exquisite little moans to escape her lips. Quickly drying himself, he tossed the towel aside and wrapped an arm around her waist.
Side-by-side, they walked through to the bedroom where he could make love to her in comfort. He loved this woman. He’d shown her every day in every way he could, but the words themselves didn’t come easy, not since his first wife died and took a piece of his heart with her.
As they lay down, he cuddled close and worshipped her body with his hands and mouth, old memories pushed to the farthest recesses of his mind.
Her breasts spilled from his hands as he massaged their silky softness. “So damned soft. I could play with them all night long.”
She clutched his head urging him forward to taste her rosy buds. “Be my guest.”
He laved a tongue over a nipple, teasing before pulling it into his mouth, his hand pinching the other one. Her soft murmur of delight spurred him on. He let go of her breast, with a light bite, trailing kisses down over her abdomen to reach the honeyed prize nested in reddish curls. Her legs spread for him, the most feminine part of her open and waiting for his attention.



                                                                                                                                                                                   

Coming January 12th from Evernight Publishing!


      BLURB:

When firefighter Alex Giovanni returns to his old neighbourhood to fulfill family obligations, he is reunited with the woman inhabiting his dreams. The sexy siren ran out on him after one explosive night many years ago. Hiding behind her sensible clothes she portrays the perfect image of Miss Prim and Proper and Alex vows to unlock the passionate woman he remembers. Mixing business with pleasure has never been so much fun.

Kitty Jenkins’ orderly life gets turned upside down when Alex walks into her school. Their passion filled night four years ago has left her with a secret that threatens to tear them apart. Giving into Alex is out of the question, regardless of how much her body craves his touch.

When secrets spill and disaster strikes,can their passion turn into love?

EXCERPT:

Kitty’s heart beat a strange staccato against her breastbone. What had possessed her to slip back into her school girl outfit, she would never know. Yet here she was, dressed like some third-rate hooker, about to embark on a one night stand. Taking a deep, fortifying breath, she knocked on the door of Alex’s hotel room. All was quiet on the other side, and she was just about to turn round when the door opened; and Kitty’s greeting stuck in her throat
Dressed in nothing but low riding jeans, Alex smiled at her, and she hastily wrenched her eyes upwards from the incredible abs on display. Covered with a light dusting of chest hair that trailed down to his jeans, they would give any model a run for his money, and Kitty swallowed. Dressed he was bad enough, but like this he was breathtaking, and judging by that lazy smile he knew it, too.
“Room service around here just keeps on getting better.” Alex’s husky voice raised goose bumps on her exposed skin. “Coming in?”
He hooked one finger under her chin and tugged the end of her shirt tails with the other hand, forcing her to take a step toward him.
“I-I shouldn’t be here, really. I’m not sure why I’m even here.” Kitty mumbled the words, and heat spread into her cheeks.
Alex merely smiled and pulled her closer still. “Liar, we both know why you’re here. Question is, my naughty little girl, will you step through the door and expand your curriculum?” Alex’s heated whispers against her ear sent her heart into overdrive, and she lent into his warmth.  His clean, male scent wrapped itself round her senses, and her stomach flip-flopped in delicious anticipation. It had been so long since any man had held her. That had to be the reason for her immediate reaction to this man.
“Well, Sir, that all depends what you have in mind, because I have been very naughty.”
Alex went very still at her breathy statement, and Kitty bit her lip. Has she read this wrong? Was he not up for a little role-play? She hesitantly raised her eyes to his face to read his expression, and the heat in his gaze scorched her skin.
“So, I’ve heard. Come here, and take your punishment.” His deep voice had dropped several octaves, and he grabbed her by the wrist and spun her into the room. The door clicked shut, the sound loud in the quiet room, and before she could even blink, he had her pinned against the wall. One jeans clad thigh spread her legs wide, and he raised her hands high above her head, whilst his other hand blazed a trail of heat along her exposed tummy. His mouth claimed hers in a bruising kiss, and she opened to his quiet demand automatically. His tongue found hers in an erotic dance that left her jelly-legged, breathless, and grateful for his big body holding her up against the wall.
He groaned his approval when she kissed him back, and he deepened the kiss, his fingers slowly slipping south, until they dipped under the elastic of her thong.
“My, you are a naughty girl. What have we here?”
He chuckled into her neck, and Kitty gasped when he thrust one finger into her wet core.
“So wet already, and we’ve only just started.” He flicked her clitoris once, and the slight pain caused a renewed burst of moisture to coat his fingers as he inserted another finger into her and found her g-spot. Kitty moaned into his shoulder as sensations built deep inside her core, and he licked himself down the column of her throat towards her breast. She screamed when he bit one nipple through the shirt and bra and thrust her hips at him, desperate to reach the release his talented fingers were driving her toward.
“Not so fast. You’re being punished, remember.”
Alex smiled and withdrew his fingers.  He licked each digit in turn, murmuring his approval and then stepped back, his heated gaze roaming over her body. Kitty clenched her thighs together in a vain effort to relieve the hot ache in her pussy.
“Spread your legs, naughty girl.” Alex growled the demand, and Kitty’s eyes widened at the steely determination she saw in his face. “You will not come until I give you permission. Do you hear me?”
“Yes.”  Good God, does that porn star voice really belong to me?
Alex’s eyes narrowed, and Kitty automatically dropped her gaze. She licked her lips, seeing the huge erection straining the flies of his jeans. Oh my. He was clearly as turned on as she by their little game. But how far would he take this? And did she trust him enough to find out?
“Yes, what?” His deep voice held an edge of steel, and she bit back her moan. That voice alone would send her over the edge. Who’d have thought a little role-play could be so erotic?
“Yes, Sir.”
“Good girl. Now strip – slowly.”
Alex’s voice brooked no argument, and Kitty hastened to comply. She fumbled with the tails of her blouse until Alex stepped forward and ripped the thing clean off her.
“Not that slowly.”
His eyes wicked, he unhooked her bra and sent that, too, flying. He whistled his approval as her breasts fell free. He cupped each mound in turn, and spun her around and toward the double bed, which took up one side of the hotel room. The slap on her ass took her by surprise, and she yelped. He soothed the sting with his large hand massaging her ass cheeks, and he chuckled into her neck.
His fingers once again dipped into her wet folds, and she froze when he inserted one digit, slick with her juices, into her anus.  Heaven help her, that felt way too good. Heat spread across her skin, and Alex bit into her earlobe, as his fingers continued their erotic dance in and out of her forbidden passage, and her body betrayed her arousal by a renewed gush of moisture between her legs.
“That’s my naughty girl.” Alex’s erratic breathing into her neck pitched her own arousal sky high, and she put up no resistance when he urged her onto the bed, his naked, warm, torso heating her back.
“Get on all fours for me.”



BLURB:

Liz Triest just moved into a row house in an historic neighborhood of Albany, New York.  After a break up with her fiancé of seven years, she is determined to make a fresh start, and most of all, never to fall in love again.  But, even Liz’s self-protecting walls built from a broken heart are not strong enough to withstand the unrelenting force of the beautiful, mysterious, and supernatural Isaac Ainsley.


Danielle E. Gauwain leads us through a sensuous tale of love, obsession, and the struggle between fate and free will.  A must read!

EXCERPT:
The usual hunt was on.  He needed to sustain his existence.  He closed his eyes and allowed his mind to travel over the trees and wind through the unsuspecting neighborhoods, until his body sensed what he was looking for. 

            He opened his brilliant blue eyes to see where his instinct had brought him that evening.  When he saw what lay before him, he smiled at the irony.  He stood before the familiar white stone steps that he visited earlier in the night, the same white stone steps that his instinct had brought him to night after night.

            He stared at the open window above, and could hear her rhythmic breathing.  He envisioned her naked body, covered only by a simple white sheet.  His pulse quickened as he closed his eyes and began calling.

            “Elizabeth.... Elizabeth, come to me.”

            She stirred and mumbled inaudibly.  Then, nothing. 

            “Elizabeth, why do you keep me waiting? Come to me at once.”  His voice floated on the night breeze and swirled through her open window.  He tried to caress her with his words. 

            “Elizabeth, let me in.” Her eyelids fluttered.  He waited in anticipation.  Then, nothing.

             He was intrigued, as she was the first woman that had ever been able to resist him.  She slipped through his grasp night after night, as if she had walls that were too high to climb.  His instinct centered him, telling him it was too soon.  He would be back.  He would be back when the moon rose.  He would bring her walls down.  He would have her.   

 You can purchase these book and so many more at Evernight Publishing